A Cross-Country Christmas

A Cross-Country Christmas by Courtney Walsh | 256 pages | 2021

Lauren Richmond isn’t a fan of Christmas. Which is why she rarely makes the trip home to the Midwest for the holidays. After all, she has plenty to keep her busy—namely, her duties as a set decorator on a TV sitcom. But this December, Lauren's brother and his wife are expecting a baby, so her brother arranges a ride home for her with his good friend, Will. Unfortunately for Lauren, she’s been trying to forget college baseball coach and childhood crush Will Sinclair for more than ten years. Now, thanks to her fear of flying, she’s stuck in a car with him from California to Illinois.

She’s circumspect and organized. He’s flirty and spontaneous. She’s convinced that people don’t change. He’s trying to prove to her (and himself) that he has. On this cross-country road trip, they’ll both discover that history doesn’t exactly repeat itself. . . but like any good Christmas carol, it does have a second verse.

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)

This story was a quick read, and cute in a Hallmark Christmas Movie sort of way. The banter and comedic moments were enjoyable, and I got a little misty-eyed at the end (before the cheese went off the charts).
Unfortunately there were things that kept pulling me out of the story, so I think it would have benefitted from better editing. Several typos were really distracting (including misspelling Keira Knightley's name wrong, twice), and there were some details about things like daily life and technology that were just kind of...not how things work. It also relied heavily on the "I'm going to keep my secrets and feelings to myself" trope, which has a tendency to drive me nuts. It wasn't hard to keep reading, but I don't think this will stick with me very long.

Road Trip by Gary Paulsen

 

Road Trip by Gary Paulsen -- 114 pages

Ben has just been informed he's going on a road trip with his father -- a road trip he's not sure he wants to go on.  He wants to rescue the dog there travelling to save.  But he doesn't want to spend any time with his dad.  So invites along his thuggish friend Theo.  Then they're joined by a cranky mechanic who lends them his school bus for the trip.  Next they're joined by a waitress who reads aura.  This is going to be one memorable road trip.

I listened to this on audio.  I found the story to be interesting and fun.  I loved the parts that were narrated by Ben's current pet dog Atticus.  I would definitely recommend this book (or audio).

Breaking the Rules by Katie McGarry

Breaking the Rules by Katie McGarry -- 304 pages

For new high school graduate Echo Emerson, a summer road trip out west with her boyfriend means getting away and forgetting what makes her so... different. It means seeing cool sights while selling her art at galleries along the way. And most of all, it means almost three months alone with Noah Hutchins, the hot, smart, soul-battered guy who’s never judged her. Echo and Noah share everything — except the one thing Echo’s just not ready for.

But when the source of Echo’s constant nightmares comes back into her life, she has to make some tough decisions about what she really wants — even as foster kid Noah’s search for his last remaining relatives forces them both to confront some serious truths about life, love, and themselves.

Now, with one week left before college orientation, jobs and real life, Echo must decide if Noah's more than the bad-boy fling everyone warned her he'd be. And the last leg of an amazing road trip will turn... seriously epic. 

You Are Here by Jennifer E. Smith

You Are Here by Jennifer E. Smith - 251 pages

Emma has always felt like something is missing -- that she doesn't fit into her family.  Then she finds out she had a twin brother who died right after birth.

Peter has always wanted to travel the world -- see new places.  He's never gotten the chance as his father is determined to keep them both in their small town forever.

Now they're on a road trip together.  Emma wants to find the brother she never knew and convinces Peter to go with her to find his grave.


I really enjoyed this book.  I liked the relationships between the various characters and how they change throughout the story.  I would recommend this to fans of Sarah Dessen or Morgan Matson.

In Honor by Jessi Kirby

In Honor by Jessi Kirby -- 235 pages

Honor receives her brother’s last letter from Iraq three days after learning that he died, and opens it the day his fellow Marines lay the flag over his casket. Its contents are a complete shock: concert tickets to see Kyra Kelly, her favorite pop star and Finn’s celebrity crush. In his letter, he jokingly charged Honor with the task of telling Kyra Kelly that he was in love with her.

Grief-stricken and determined to grant Finn’s last request, she rushes to leave immediately. But she only gets as far as the driveway before running into Rusty, Finn’s best friend since third grade and his polar opposite. She hasn’t seen him in ages, thanks to a falling out between the two guys, but Rusty is much the same as Honor remembers him: arrogant, stubborn . . . and ruggedly good-looking. Neither one is what the other would ever look for in a road trip partner, but the two of them set off together, on a voyage that makes sense only because it doesn’t. Along the way, they find small and sometimes surprising ways to ease their shared loss and honor Finn--but when shocking truths are revealed at the end of the road, will either of them be able to cope with the consequences?

Stranger Than Fanfiction by Chris Colfer

Stranger Than Fanfiction by Chris Colfer - 295 pages

Topher, Sam, Mo, and Joey have planned an epic road trip for their summer after high school.  The four have been the best of friends after bonding over their love for the popular Wiz Kids tv show.  So they are shocked when Cash Carter, the star of Wiz Kids, actually shows up after being invited to join their trip. 

I enjoyed this book.  It was fun.  I could see the twist coming from nearly the beginning, but it was still fun to read to see when the truth would be revealed.  This is a fun book for teens to read.

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson-344 pages

I started reading this for last month's challenge, but didn't finish it in time. I enjoyed reading this novel about Amy, a teenage girl from California, whose mom has moved across the country to Connecticut to start a new job. Amy's dad died in a car accident with Amy as the driver, so she is not driving at the beginning of the story. Her mom arranges for her to take their Jeep across country from CA to CT with a childhood friend, Roger. Amy and Roger deviate from the prescribed course of travel almost immediately and go on a much longer than anticipated road trip. Each learns some things along the way, and they begin to fall for each other as the trip progresses. Overall, this was a satisfying road trip novel.

The Lost Caves of St.Louis: a
History of the City's Forgotten
Caves by Hubert & Charlotte Rother
(144 pages)

The majority of the caves in this book were once used as cooling and storage areas for vats of beer and lager in the late 1800's to about the 1940's. Everyone has probably heard of the Lemp Brewery, but there were a few German immigrant families that started breweries in St. Louis, later to be bought out by other breweries or just go out of business. Some caves had sewer systems running within them and  one or two that were located under parks.
This was a fairly interesting book telling the location of the caves and a little of the history behind the caves.

Saint Louis Seen and Unseen by Michael Kilfoy

Saint Louis Seen and Unseen by Michael Kilfoy, 160 pages

This is a beautifully illustrated book with all the sights one thinks of when it comes to St. Louis.  Whether you are a resident of St. Louis or a tourist, you will enjoy this book.  Published in 2006, this book contains photos of the old Busch Stadium as well as the building of the new stadium.  From the Arch to the Jewel Box to the Fabulous Fox, this book will remind you why you love St. Louis.  Not only are the photographs fantastic, each page contains a few facts about the photos.

Weird Missouri by James Strait

Weird Missouri by James Strait, 253 pages

I bought this book about a year ago, and I love looking at it.  It has beautiful pictures of oddities all over the state of Missouri.  The Weird state books is a whole series, and I believe there is a book for most of the states.  I believe there is also a Weird US book.  This book includes roadside attractions, haunted places, and local legends.  Also, there is such a thing as a hair museum in Missouri!

The Lonely Planet Book of Everything by Nigel Holmes

The Lonely Planet Book of Everything: A Visual Guide to Travel and the World by Nigel Holmes, 203 pages

Written in 2012, this was fun to read if you plan on traveling anywhere.  The book contains beautiful illustrations and graphics and covers such topics as surviving a shark attack and saving yourself from sinking in quicksand.  The book also contains numerous facts like the longest rivers in the world, the highest mountains, and the tallest buildings in the world.  It also contains medical tips as well as what to tip at restaurants in foreign countries.  And, check out page 132 for the average price of coffee in major cities around the world.  It was interesting to read that NYC is not all that expensive for a cup of coffee as compared to Moscow.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul (#9) by Jeff Kinney

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul (#9) by Jeff Kinney-217 pages

I read this for the road trip challenge this month. Greg Heffley and his family (his parents and his brothers Manny and Rodrick) go on a surprise road trip and have many adventures along the way. He and his family go to a water park, stay in several motels, lose keys and other essentials (wallets, credit cards, ids), get in a car accident, and many other things. It is funny to read it from the perspective of a kid and his observations. I like Jeff Kinney's writing and his sneaky inclusion of libraries and a fake book series seemingly inspired by Captain Underpants. I enjoyed reading this short novel about a kid and his family's adventurous road trip.

Traveling Through Illinois by LuAnn Cadden & Ted Cable

Traveling Through Illinois: Stories of I-55 Landmarks & Landscapes Between Chicago and St. Louis by LuAnn Cadden & Ted Cable, 190 pages

If you have ever traveled to Chicago and driven on I-55, I would say this is a handy book to have.  As I have been driving between St. Louis and Chicago every year for the past year, I wish someone had written this book sooner.  Just about everything that you find fascinating along I-55 you will find written in this book.  Written by southbound then by northbound exits, it is fascinating to read what I have been missing all these years.  For instance, I must stop by the grain elevator museum sometime soon to see what I have been missing!

100 Things To Do In America Before You Die by Bill Clevlen

100 Things To Do In America Before You Die by Bill Clevlen, 173 pages

This is a very interesting read about some things to do in the United States while you are around to enjoy them.  Bill Clevlen is a local travel writer and broadcaster who lives in St. Louis.  I love the fact these are all based on sights in the USA, and they all seem doable.  I actually found that I have already done many of these, and he writes a page about each place.  He also includes trivia questions at the bottom of each page.  I learned that the Statue of Liberty use to be open to the top of the torch but was permanently closed during WWI.

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green-215 pages

I enjoyed reading this book, although it was probably my least favorite of John Green's novels. It's not because I didn't like it, but because I just like Paper Towns, The Fault in Our Stars, and Looking for Alaska more. It is a lot to compete with. That being said, it is still a good read. I enjoyed Colin Singleton (the protagonist), Hassan (Colin Singleton's best friend), and Lindsey Lee Wells (a secondary protagonist). Colin is a child prodigy who has been in a relationship with 19 Katherines, 18 of which dumped him (he later remembers he dumped 1 of them). He and Hassan decide to take a road trip and and up in Gutshot, Tennessee where they meet Lindsey Lee Wells and her mother Hollis (and other, less important, characters). It forever changes Colin's and Hassan's lives. My favorite part of the novel is the witty, albeit oftentimes unbeknownst to the character who says it, humor, such as using fug as a tribute to Norman Mailer. I would recommend this to anyone who likes John Green. I wanted to read this last month for travel, but did not get around to it, so I decided to read it now.

Paper Towns by John Green

Paper Towns by John Green - 311 pages

Quentin has been in love with next door neighbor Margo for most of his life.  Then one night she climbs in his bedroom window and takes him along on a night of pranks and revenge.  The next day she disappears.  Quentin follows a string of clues to find the real Margo.

I read this book as part of a book club with some friends.  I must admit that if I didn't have to finish the book for the book club I probably would not have finished reading it.  I found the story to be completely predictable.  Like in most John Green books the characters are very introspective and learn a lot of about themselves throughout the story.  Also like most John Green characters, they are very self-involved and egotistical.  I thought it interesting that the others in the book club were surprised and disappointed by the ending.  I thought it was typical of the way the author ends his books and they way that I wanted it to end.

Paper Towns won the 2009 Edgar Award for best Young Adult Mystery.

You Are Here by Jennifer E. Smith

You Are Here by Jennifer E. Smith - 251 pages

Emma has just stolen her brother's car and decided to try to find the grave of the twin brother she never knew she had.  Then the car breaks down.  She calls next door neighbor Peter to see if he could help and amazingly he does - having just "borrowed" a car himself to take a roadtrip to see Civil War battlesites.
I really enjoy Jennifer E. Smith's books.  They are great stories for teen girls dealing with death, relationships, and everyday life.  While I did not think this book was as good as Comeback Season or The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, it was still a very enjoyable read. 

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson- 368 pages

After Amy's father dies, she must take her mother's car from their home in California to their new house in Connecticut. Along for the ride is Roger, a college student on his way to his father's house in Pennsylvania. Ignoring the strict directions from her mother, Amy and Roger decide to take some adventurous detours, stopping in various places around the country including Yosemite park, Colorado Springs, and Louisville. Their weeklong journey has some really great moments, perfectly balanced between hilarious and touching. Both characters were very well-rounded, and the progression of their relationship from strangers to friends felt very natural. It was a wonderful road trip book and definitely one of my new favorites!