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aprilthelibrarian's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia
Moderate: Death of parent, Drug use, and Abandonment
kelly_e's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Title: Off the Map
Author: Trish Doller
Series: Beck Sisters, #3
Genre: Romance
Rating: 3.00
Pub Date: March 7, 2023
Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin for offering me a DRC and to Macmillan Audio for providing me with ALC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. #Gifted #Ad
T H R E E • W O R D S
Adventurous • Brisk • Cliché
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Carla Black’s life motto is “here for a good time, not for a long time.” She’s been traveling the world on her own in her vintage Jeep Wrangler for nearly a decade, stopping only long enough to replenish her adventure fund. She doesn’t do love and she doesn’t ever go home.
Eamon Sullivan is a modern-day cartographer who creates digital maps. His work helps people find their way, but he’s the one who’s lost his sense of direction. He’s unhappy at work, recently dumped, and his one big dream is stalled out—literally.
Fate throws them together when Carla arrives in Dublin for her best friend’s wedding and Eamon is tasked with picking her up from the airport. But what should be a simple drive across Ireland quickly becomes complicated with chemistry-filled detours, unexpected feelings, and a chance at love - if only they choose it.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I knew I wanted to continue of with book three in the Beck Sister series, even though I didn't absolutely love the first two books, likely because I appreciated the off-the-beaten path settings of the first two books.
What I liked:
• the scenic destinations. Ireland is a bucket list destination for me, so I absolutely loved getting to 'visit' some tourist spots. I also liked learning about Carla's other travels, especially her visits to national parks with Biggie. It sparked my wanderlust.
• the depth. Each book in this series deals with grief in a different manner, and the inclusion of dementia was probably my favourite part.
What I didn't like:
• the instalove. This is one trope that just doesn't work for me. It always seems so unbelievable, and more build up would have made it better.
• the spice. This book is a lot spicier than the first too and at times it really feels like all they are doing is having sex, which felt unnecessary.
• the pacing. It felt too surface level and rushed. There wasn't space for so many aspects to be fully fleshed out. The death near the end felt like it came out of nowhere and like the author was just trying to wrap the book up quickly.
I am glad to have read this third book in the series, which can easily be read as a standalone, but it was a highly forgettable read. The narration by Sarah Naughton is okay. If you're looking for something quick for your road trip this would be a great choice though.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of the instalove trope
• readers who enjoyed Float Plan and/or Something Wilder
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"There isn't just one kind of family, you know? There's the people you find along the way."
Author: Trish Doller
Series: Beck Sisters, #3
Genre: Romance
Rating: 3.00
Pub Date: March 7, 2023
Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin for offering me a DRC and to Macmillan Audio for providing me with ALC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. #Gifted #Ad
T H R E E • W O R D S
Adventurous • Brisk • Cliché
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Carla Black’s life motto is “here for a good time, not for a long time.” She’s been traveling the world on her own in her vintage Jeep Wrangler for nearly a decade, stopping only long enough to replenish her adventure fund. She doesn’t do love and she doesn’t ever go home.
Eamon Sullivan is a modern-day cartographer who creates digital maps. His work helps people find their way, but he’s the one who’s lost his sense of direction. He’s unhappy at work, recently dumped, and his one big dream is stalled out—literally.
Fate throws them together when Carla arrives in Dublin for her best friend’s wedding and Eamon is tasked with picking her up from the airport. But what should be a simple drive across Ireland quickly becomes complicated with chemistry-filled detours, unexpected feelings, and a chance at love - if only they choose it.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I knew I wanted to continue of with book three in the Beck Sister series, even though I didn't absolutely love the first two books, likely because I appreciated the off-the-beaten path settings of the first two books.
What I liked:
• the scenic destinations. Ireland is a bucket list destination for me, so I absolutely loved getting to 'visit' some tourist spots. I also liked learning about Carla's other travels, especially her visits to national parks with Biggie. It sparked my wanderlust.
• the depth. Each book in this series deals with grief in a different manner, and the inclusion of dementia was probably my favourite part.
What I didn't like:
• the instalove. This is one trope that just doesn't work for me. It always seems so unbelievable, and more build up would have made it better.
• the spice. This book is a lot spicier than the first too and at times it really feels like all they are doing is having sex, which felt unnecessary.
• the pacing. It felt too surface level and rushed. There wasn't space for so many aspects to be fully fleshed out. The death near the end felt like it came out of nowhere and like the author was just trying to wrap the book up quickly.
I am glad to have read this third book in the series, which can easily be read as a standalone, but it was a highly forgettable read. The narration by Sarah Naughton is okay. If you're looking for something quick for your road trip this would be a great choice though.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of the instalove trope
• readers who enjoyed Float Plan and/or Something Wilder
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"There isn't just one kind of family, you know? There's the people you find along the way."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia, Terminal illness, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Drug use, Abandonment, and Alcohol
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