Reads and Thoughts

I've read a couple of Lauren Barnholdt's novels, but I guess Two Way Street is the one that really leaves a mark to the majority of young adult readers out there once the name of the author was mentioned. Yes, I do love road-trip stories that's why Two-way Street indeed appeal to me and this new novel of Ms. Barndholdt also appeals coz of road-trippy appeal but unfortunately it seem to be a mirror of Two Way Street even though it was a companion novel to that, it too much mirror to the first book.

Peyton needs to get away from her betraying mother and uses their trip to Florida to escape it all with her best friend. Unfortunately, her best friend couldn’t make it for her mom find out their plan leaving Peyton stranded in Florida - with no money and no phone. Then Jace came and the so-called road trip began...

From the beginning, we really don’t know what has gone down between these two and honestly that’s the only thing that keeps me on reading it. I wanted to really know what has gone down between them. I was expecting something big and shocking issue that lies between them, but once it was revealed I was baffled. I find the reasons too ridiculous. I find the circumstances of the characters underdeveloped and it lacked complete foundation. I also didn’t quite bond well with either Jace or Peyton. I’m waiting for a pinch of character growth and Peyton and Jace didn’t seem to reach that point.

The way this books ends definitely left me high and dry; it’s not enough for me and I'm really asking for more. There is no real resolution to the story and that is a great deal of unfortunate event for me.

Yes, it’s a road trip but the majority of the story was spent on both Peyton and Jace's rants about what happened to them. Yes, their circumstances were very much different from Courtney and Jordan from Two Way Street but the way their story was told seems to be a complete rip-off from the mentioned book. Some parts seem like nothing is really happening. Yes, the story was very straight to the point but it leaves me nothing to be excited and to look forward about. Sigh.

Despite my hesitations and complete lack of enthusiasm because of its complete likeness with Two Way Street, the book still managed to catch my attention in a way that makes me curios as to what really happened between these two sparring characters. Those mysterious parts that lead us until the very end gripped me and I appreciated Barnholdt’s ability to do just that. I also do appreciate that the story was told in dual narrative form. I enjoyed reading told in dual POV's. Plus there's also their before the trip and during the trip. It was a great way in telling the story.

Right of Way was an okay read but it definitely didn’t work well with me. I was expecting an awesome road trip story and awesome people but everywhere I look everything is flat. I do have high expectations but it didn’t quite well work. Maybe it will work for you, but meh. For me it didn’t do its magic.

*Thanks to Edelweiss and Simon Pulse for providing advance copy for review*