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The Scenic Route
Driven by desperation to hit the road, a woman sees her life come into view in a powerful short story about starting over by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Exiles.
Once happily married with a young son, Jess takes to the road to escape her failed relationship and the disappointment of losing touch with her son. Four years into a nomadic existence, she has learned the hacks of van life and promotes a fantasy version of it on Instagram that bears little resemblance to her eclectic community of fellow travelers. But it’s that camaraderie, and the vastness of the great outdoors, that gives Jess the space she needs to find out what really matters to her. And act on it.
Once happily married with a young son, Jess takes to the road to escape her failed relationship and the disappointment of losing touch with her son. Four years into a nomadic existence, she has learned the hacks of van life and promotes a fantasy version of it on Instagram that bears little resemblance to her eclectic community of fellow travelers. But it’s that camaraderie, and the vastness of the great outdoors, that gives Jess the space she needs to find out what really matters to her. And act on it.
42 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 21, 2012
996 people are currently reading
2092 people want to read
About the author
Christina Baker Kline
25 books7,133 followersA #1 New York Times bestselling author of eight novels, including The Exiles, Orphan Train, and A Piece of the World, Christina Baker Kline is published in 40 countries. Her novels have received the New England Prize for Fiction, the Maine Literary Award, and a Barnes & Noble Discover Award, among other prizes, and have been chosen by hundreds of communities, universities and schools as “One Book, One Read” selections. Her essays, articles, and reviews have appeared in publications such as the New York Times and the NYT Book Review, the Boston Globe, the San Francisco Chronicle, LitHub, Psychology Today, Poets & Writers, and Salon.
Born in England and raised in the American South and Maine, Kline is a graduate of Yale (B.A.), Cambridge (M.A.) and the University of Virginia (M.F.A.), where she was a Hoyns Fellow in Fiction Writing. A resident of New York City and Southwest Harbor, Maine, she serves on the advisory boards of the Center for Fiction (NY), the Jesup Library (Bar Harbor, ME), the Montclair Literary Festival (NJ), the Kauai Writers Festival (HI), and Roots & Wings (NJ), and on the gala committees of Poets & Writers (NY), The Authors Guild (NY) and Friends of Acadia (ME). She is an Artist-Mentor for StudioDuke at Duke University and the BookEnds program at Stony Brook University.
Born in England and raised in the American South and Maine, Kline is a graduate of Yale (B.A.), Cambridge (M.A.) and the University of Virginia (M.F.A.), where she was a Hoyns Fellow in Fiction Writing. A resident of New York City and Southwest Harbor, Maine, she serves on the advisory boards of the Center for Fiction (NY), the Jesup Library (Bar Harbor, ME), the Montclair Literary Festival (NJ), the Kauai Writers Festival (HI), and Roots & Wings (NJ), and on the gala committees of Poets & Writers (NY), The Authors Guild (NY) and Friends of Acadia (ME). She is an Artist-Mentor for StudioDuke at Duke University and the BookEnds program at Stony Brook University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 419 reviews
June 10, 2023
3.5 "touching, tear jerking, second chance" stars !!
Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Original Stories as well as the author. I am providing my honest review. This will be released June 13, 2023.
What to do when your life falls apart again, when you are betrayed, when the past haunts, when you almost....
You mope and descend and then try to rebuild. Perhaps in a van and live an alternate life that numbs but the love never leaves your heart whether you were just a frail human or a minor villain.
A very sad tale of redemption and second chances. Excellent popular fiction prose that needed more exposition and development that was constrained by the short story format.
A very good short story in the contemporary women's fiction category. Believe me you will need some kleenex and wish that this had been at least a novella....
Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Original Stories as well as the author. I am providing my honest review. This will be released June 13, 2023.
What to do when your life falls apart again, when you are betrayed, when the past haunts, when you almost....
You mope and descend and then try to rebuild. Perhaps in a van and live an alternate life that numbs but the love never leaves your heart whether you were just a frail human or a minor villain.
A very sad tale of redemption and second chances. Excellent popular fiction prose that needed more exposition and development that was constrained by the short story format.
A very good short story in the contemporary women's fiction category. Believe me you will need some kleenex and wish that this had been at least a novella....
August 21, 2023
“In that moment I was aware of life pulsing all around me, indifferent to me. I was just a tiny part of a vast living, breathing ecosystem. I wasn’t at the center of anything. Maybe, I thought, life can really be this simple. Maybe I can just . . . exist.”
Jess once had a happy marriage, a son she doted on and another child on the way and a fulfilling career. But life took an unfortunate turn and for over the last four years she has been living the van life. Hers is a lonely journey with much hardship and no destination in sight, living in the present with only others whom she meets along the way as her community, each person with their own reasons to choose their way of life. Her life takes a dramatic turn when her son finds her in Arizona.
The Scenic Route by Christina Baker Kline is a well-written, emotional read that revolves around themes of motherhood, loss, family, community and second chances. I enjoyed this short story and the descriptions of van life. Though there is lot to unpack in this short read, the length of the story does not allow for a deeper exploration of the characters and their relationships, which is my only complaint.
“Stillness can’t really exist, she said, because even when we’re not moving, we’re breathing, and breath is movement. I’m here. I’m breathing.”
This was my Amazon First Reads selection for the month of August 2023.
3.75⭐
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
Jess once had a happy marriage, a son she doted on and another child on the way and a fulfilling career. But life took an unfortunate turn and for over the last four years she has been living the van life. Hers is a lonely journey with much hardship and no destination in sight, living in the present with only others whom she meets along the way as her community, each person with their own reasons to choose their way of life. Her life takes a dramatic turn when her son finds her in Arizona.
The Scenic Route by Christina Baker Kline is a well-written, emotional read that revolves around themes of motherhood, loss, family, community and second chances. I enjoyed this short story and the descriptions of van life. Though there is lot to unpack in this short read, the length of the story does not allow for a deeper exploration of the characters and their relationships, which is my only complaint.
“Stillness can’t really exist, she said, because even when we’re not moving, we’re breathing, and breath is movement. I’m here. I’m breathing.”
This was my Amazon First Reads selection for the month of August 2023.
3.75⭐
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
August 14, 2023
Stillness can't really exist, she said, because even when we're not moving we're breathing, and breath is movement.
I'm here. I'm breathing
Jess goes from mom and wife to shared custody mom with a restraining order. She takes up the van life and posts on Insta as jess_ on_the_Go. Four years later her son Charlie finds her in Arizona. Christina Baker Kline shows us this watershed moment in her new short story. I just finished reading about mom's and daughters in "Good Bad Girl" by Alice Feeney. So it seems fitting to ponder the mother-son bond next. I am also the mother of three sons and currently living the RV life with my husband. This story caused me to reflect on why we travel in houses on wheels and the attachments that I have to my boys over the ocean and miles that separate me from each one. A worthwhile read.
I'm here. I'm breathing
Jess goes from mom and wife to shared custody mom with a restraining order. She takes up the van life and posts on Insta as jess_ on_the_Go. Four years later her son Charlie finds her in Arizona. Christina Baker Kline shows us this watershed moment in her new short story. I just finished reading about mom's and daughters in "Good Bad Girl" by Alice Feeney. So it seems fitting to ponder the mother-son bond next. I am also the mother of three sons and currently living the RV life with my husband. This story caused me to reflect on why we travel in houses on wheels and the attachments that I have to my boys over the ocean and miles that separate me from each one. A worthwhile read.
August 15, 2024
Well this certainly educated my thoughts on living in a van. Hats off to you Jess.!
November 21, 2023
In a Nutshell: A great short story about overcoming grief and having second chances with family. Steady pace, interesting characters, nice setting, great writing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Story Synopsis:
This is a surprisingly impactful short story. Just about 43 pages long, it stills pack in a lot, including parenting issues, grief over broken relationships, loss of a child, “vanlifing”, forgiveness, and second chances. Despite the plethora of topics, the story never feels overwhelming as the core focus stays on Jess through her first person narration. The story also moves between flashbacks and the contemporary timelines, but this too is handled excellently. The pacing never dips, and the plot progression is steady till the end.
I loved the depiction of the nomad lifestyle of “van lifers”. I have always wondered how and why van dwellers live within a vehicle. Are they escaping something? Seeking some deep answers? Tired of being stuck in a routine? Enjoying the fruits of a retired life away from the urban rat race? This story casts an excellent light on what vanlifing actually involves. Though not a lifestyle for me, I still found it fascinating to learn what vanlifing actually involves. I especially loved how the story highlighted the difference between “houseless” and “homeless.” The author’s research is quite clear as she incorporates several key features of an itinerant lifestyle into the narrative.
Jess’s character is penned quite well. Her torn emotions over the past and the present, over what happened and what could have happened, over her present and the uncertainty of the future – all come out well in this little story.
To a certain extent, the story also explores the discrepancy between what influencers post on Instagram and what is actually their reality. As someone who has never warmed to the app because of all the inauthenticity on display, I enjoyed how the book subtly highlighted the fact that not everything on the app is to be believed. Don’t let this make you assume that this is a story about an influencer. It is not. (I wouldn’t have read it otherwise!) It is primarily about a woman who is trying her best to leave her past behind, but can’t.
There were a couple of scenes in the final quarter that didn’t work too well for me. Some of the characters’ life choices also needed more explanation. These might not have been a problem had the story been longer.
All in all, definitely recommended. This is a poignant read exploring human decisions, reactions, and emotions. It will work well for women’s fiction readers.
I have had this author on my radar since some time now, and this, my first exploration of her writing, proved more than satisfactory. I look forward to reading her full-length novels.
4 stars.
The digital version of this story is currently available free to Amazon Prime subscribers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Story Synopsis:
After a car accident changed her life, Jess took to the road. Since four years now, she has been living in her van, travelling wherever her heart desires and trying to forget the grief of the past. Many know her through her Instagram persona that depicts a woman enjoying the thrills of a nomadic life, which barely resembles her actual lifestyle. Then one day, someone from the past re-enters her life, and Jess is forced to take some tough decisions.
The story comes to us from Jess’s first person perspective.
This is a surprisingly impactful short story. Just about 43 pages long, it stills pack in a lot, including parenting issues, grief over broken relationships, loss of a child, “vanlifing”, forgiveness, and second chances. Despite the plethora of topics, the story never feels overwhelming as the core focus stays on Jess through her first person narration. The story also moves between flashbacks and the contemporary timelines, but this too is handled excellently. The pacing never dips, and the plot progression is steady till the end.
I loved the depiction of the nomad lifestyle of “van lifers”. I have always wondered how and why van dwellers live within a vehicle. Are they escaping something? Seeking some deep answers? Tired of being stuck in a routine? Enjoying the fruits of a retired life away from the urban rat race? This story casts an excellent light on what vanlifing actually involves. Though not a lifestyle for me, I still found it fascinating to learn what vanlifing actually involves. I especially loved how the story highlighted the difference between “houseless” and “homeless.” The author’s research is quite clear as she incorporates several key features of an itinerant lifestyle into the narrative.
Jess’s character is penned quite well. Her torn emotions over the past and the present, over what happened and what could have happened, over her present and the uncertainty of the future – all come out well in this little story.
To a certain extent, the story also explores the discrepancy between what influencers post on Instagram and what is actually their reality. As someone who has never warmed to the app because of all the inauthenticity on display, I enjoyed how the book subtly highlighted the fact that not everything on the app is to be believed. Don’t let this make you assume that this is a story about an influencer. It is not. (I wouldn’t have read it otherwise!) It is primarily about a woman who is trying her best to leave her past behind, but can’t.
There were a couple of scenes in the final quarter that didn’t work too well for me. Some of the characters’ life choices also needed more explanation. These might not have been a problem had the story been longer.
All in all, definitely recommended. This is a poignant read exploring human decisions, reactions, and emotions. It will work well for women’s fiction readers.
I have had this author on my radar since some time now, and this, my first exploration of her writing, proved more than satisfactory. I look forward to reading her full-length novels.
4 stars.
The digital version of this story is currently available free to Amazon Prime subscribers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
October 13, 2023
The Scenic Route by Christina Baker Kline is a Mix of Family and Women's Fiction!
At one point Jess has it all, a beautiful home, a wonderful marriage, a young son with one on the way, and a creative career. Then it all begins to fall away. Now she lives in her ex-husband's old van traveling to anywhere and nowhere for the past four years...
The Scenic Route is an interesting journey through a relatively short phase of Jess' life. I've been curious about this author's work and this sample is a satisfying dip in the waters of her writing style and storytelling.
I'm surprised by the amount of emotion inside this story with topics of loss and estrangement, forgiveness and second chances, personal rediscovery and the many faces of family. This author writes about how this woman feels in simple language that's realistic, yet beautiful.
The Scenic Route is a one hour listen I find both enjoyable and satisfying. The highlight of this Short Read is meeting Jess and her son Charlie, two characters I would like to spend more time with. I recommend this audiobook to those who enjoy a well-written story that's easy to fit in during a short walk/drive or just for the heck of it. No tissues are necessary!
3.75⭐rounded up!
At one point Jess has it all, a beautiful home, a wonderful marriage, a young son with one on the way, and a creative career. Then it all begins to fall away. Now she lives in her ex-husband's old van traveling to anywhere and nowhere for the past four years...
The Scenic Route is an interesting journey through a relatively short phase of Jess' life. I've been curious about this author's work and this sample is a satisfying dip in the waters of her writing style and storytelling.
I'm surprised by the amount of emotion inside this story with topics of loss and estrangement, forgiveness and second chances, personal rediscovery and the many faces of family. This author writes about how this woman feels in simple language that's realistic, yet beautiful.
The Scenic Route is a one hour listen I find both enjoyable and satisfying. The highlight of this Short Read is meeting Jess and her son Charlie, two characters I would like to spend more time with. I recommend this audiobook to those who enjoy a well-written story that's easy to fit in during a short walk/drive or just for the heck of it. No tissues are necessary!
3.75⭐rounded up!
September 7, 2023
4.5★
“Most people don’t get it. They think living in tiny houses on wheels is weird. But van dwellers tent to think that other people are the weird ones – stuck in concrete boxes that go nowhere, staring out at the same view every day: a sad little fenced-in yard, the vinyl siding of the house next door.”
Ok. When you put it that way, I can see the appeal of life always on the move. Changing scenery – taking the scenic route. Having watched and loved the recent moving film, ‘Nomadland’'starring Frances McDormand, I was familiar with what she describes about life on the road.
This short story is about a woman who comes completely undone from a family tragedy, followed by a betrayal, followed by despair and self-medication, followed by the obvious repercussions and then thoughts of the final escape. She stops herself short, still hoping beyond hope to reconnect with her child some day, and hits the road.
She doesn’t make it sound easy. She explains about the strange (and awful) things you need to do to deal with washing, toileting, and living in a confined space.
“Van life isn’t for everyone. There’s a lot to contend with: The cold, the dark, the rain. The loneliness. The lack of normalcy.”
But when she meets others and discovers they connect regularly “down the road” at convergences, she knows she has found a sympathetic tribe.
“But whatever your tolerance for healing crystals, convergences serve a real purpose. They allow van dwellers to dip in and out of each other’s lives like extended family at Thanksgiving, without the metaphorical baggage.
I’ve never been particularly woo-woo. But I appreciate the way my fellow travelers would go out of their way to embrace strangers, offering a chair and a paper plate at the supper buffet.”
I’ve never been particularly woo-woo either, and I also appreciate those who share unselfishly and don’t demand that you explain yourself – at least not until you’re ready. When you are, they are ready to listen.
How she gradually pulls herself together makes this seem bigger than the 40-something pages she takes to tell it.
Thanks to #NetGalley for #TheScenicRoute, another excellent Amazon Original Story. I’ve enjoyed many of these.
“Most people don’t get it. They think living in tiny houses on wheels is weird. But van dwellers tent to think that other people are the weird ones – stuck in concrete boxes that go nowhere, staring out at the same view every day: a sad little fenced-in yard, the vinyl siding of the house next door.”
Ok. When you put it that way, I can see the appeal of life always on the move. Changing scenery – taking the scenic route. Having watched and loved the recent moving film, ‘Nomadland’'starring Frances McDormand, I was familiar with what she describes about life on the road.
This short story is about a woman who comes completely undone from a family tragedy, followed by a betrayal, followed by despair and self-medication, followed by the obvious repercussions and then thoughts of the final escape. She stops herself short, still hoping beyond hope to reconnect with her child some day, and hits the road.
She doesn’t make it sound easy. She explains about the strange (and awful) things you need to do to deal with washing, toileting, and living in a confined space.
“Van life isn’t for everyone. There’s a lot to contend with: The cold, the dark, the rain. The loneliness. The lack of normalcy.”
But when she meets others and discovers they connect regularly “down the road” at convergences, she knows she has found a sympathetic tribe.
“But whatever your tolerance for healing crystals, convergences serve a real purpose. They allow van dwellers to dip in and out of each other’s lives like extended family at Thanksgiving, without the metaphorical baggage.
I’ve never been particularly woo-woo. But I appreciate the way my fellow travelers would go out of their way to embrace strangers, offering a chair and a paper plate at the supper buffet.”
I’ve never been particularly woo-woo either, and I also appreciate those who share unselfishly and don’t demand that you explain yourself – at least not until you’re ready. When you are, they are ready to listen.
How she gradually pulls herself together makes this seem bigger than the 40-something pages she takes to tell it.
Thanks to #NetGalley for #TheScenicRoute, another excellent Amazon Original Story. I’ve enjoyed many of these.
September 15, 2023
This is a short story from Amazon Originals which I read because I have previously enjoyed some of this author's novels, especially A Piece of the World.
The Scenic Route tells the story of a young woman, happily married with a son and a baby on the way, when everything goes wrong. As a result she takes to living a nomad's life in a van, effectively hiding from everything. She makes money by working online and it is her virtual life which eventually leads to her past catching up with her.
This is a very emotional short story, beautifully written of course, and full of detail on the way people live on the road. Very enjoyable and it has reminded me to look out for more of this author's novels.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The Scenic Route tells the story of a young woman, happily married with a son and a baby on the way, when everything goes wrong. As a result she takes to living a nomad's life in a van, effectively hiding from everything. She makes money by working online and it is her virtual life which eventually leads to her past catching up with her.
This is a very emotional short story, beautifully written of course, and full of detail on the way people live on the road. Very enjoyable and it has reminded me to look out for more of this author's novels.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
September 9, 2023
As you may or may not know, I'm not a fan of short stories. I find either I don't understand them or I end up wanting more of the story. Once in a while I come across one that I really enjoy and that was the case with The Scenic Route although I wouldn't have minded if it was a bit longer. As another reviewer commented, it reminded me a lot of the movie Nomadland which I also really enjoyed.
Once married and mother to a young son, now divorced and estranged from her son, Jess takes to the road to escape her life. I don't want to say too much because it is such a short story it'd be easy to give something away so I'll just say that the story stirs up a lot of emotions but it's very enjoyable. I have some of the author's other books on my TBR and I think I'll move them up closer to the top.
Thanks to a member of the Netgalley Readers group for putting this on my radar.
Thank you to Amazon Original Stories via Netgalley for the opportunity to read a copy of this short story which was published in June 2023. All opinions expressed are my own.
If you're interested the book's still available on Netgalley until the 15th and also free on Amazon with a Kindle Unlimited membership.
Once married and mother to a young son, now divorced and estranged from her son, Jess takes to the road to escape her life. I don't want to say too much because it is such a short story it'd be easy to give something away so I'll just say that the story stirs up a lot of emotions but it's very enjoyable. I have some of the author's other books on my TBR and I think I'll move them up closer to the top.
Thanks to a member of the Netgalley Readers group for putting this on my radar.
Thank you to Amazon Original Stories via Netgalley for the opportunity to read a copy of this short story which was published in June 2023. All opinions expressed are my own.
If you're interested the book's still available on Netgalley until the 15th and also free on Amazon with a Kindle Unlimited membership.
June 14, 2023
The Scenic Route is a short story by Christina Baker Kline released under the Amazon Original Stories banner. How easily events cascade to take Jessica from being a happily married pregnant mother of a toddler to being a divorced woman, estranged from her only son, a van lifer travelling around the highways of the USA in the Toyota Sienna she took from her ex’s driveway.
“Every person I met in the van-life community was escaping something. All of us out there seeking answers, trying to find a path forward. Looking for a way to get it right.”
After some years, she’s got it down to a fine art: she’s upgraded her van, has a dog from a shelter. She’s Jess_on_the_Go, making a living online through content marketing. There’s relief in the anonymity of this life, although she has made some friends amongst the van life community when Charlie, now teenaged, turns up. Time to stop running away?
A short but very moving read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories.
“Every person I met in the van-life community was escaping something. All of us out there seeking answers, trying to find a path forward. Looking for a way to get it right.”
After some years, she’s got it down to a fine art: she’s upgraded her van, has a dog from a shelter. She’s Jess_on_the_Go, making a living online through content marketing. There’s relief in the anonymity of this life, although she has made some friends amongst the van life community when Charlie, now teenaged, turns up. Time to stop running away?
A short but very moving read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories.
September 12, 2023
This was the first short story I read that I actually enjoyed. It was a beautiful story about a mother and her estranged son. She made a lot of mistakes which caused her ex-husband to keep her son from her. She then traveled around in a van. She describes van life and it sounds both beautiful and horrible at the same time. Eventually, they are reunited.
What I loved about this story is that it showed a mother who was broken and very flawed and managed to show her in a very poetic way. Usually, I find short stories so short that I can’t really get connected to the characters. This one I felt very connected. Incredible writing.
What I loved about this story is that it showed a mother who was broken and very flawed and managed to show her in a very poetic way. Usually, I find short stories so short that I can’t really get connected to the characters. This one I felt very connected. Incredible writing.
November 12, 2023
4.5 stars
Have never read a story about van life before and it made me very curious.
Every person I met in the van-life community was escaping something. All of us out there seeking answers, trying to find a path forward. Looking for a way to get it right.
Although short, I felt I got to know the main character thoroughly and could sympathize with her even while knowing no one who has ever lived in this way. A heart felt story for the times we're in.
A free Amazon Original short I picked up a while ago.
Have never read a story about van life before and it made me very curious.
Every person I met in the van-life community was escaping something. All of us out there seeking answers, trying to find a path forward. Looking for a way to get it right.
Although short, I felt I got to know the main character thoroughly and could sympathize with her even while knowing no one who has ever lived in this way. A heart felt story for the times we're in.
A free Amazon Original short I picked up a while ago.
September 4, 2023
A poignant story about motherhood, loss, and second chances. Christina Baker Cline's prose is lovely and full of emotion, and you can feel Jess's sadness and grief (and later, hope) in every sentence.
I thought that this story was the perfect length. It's long enough to get a glimpse into Jess's past, and of her struggle to forget the grief and pain that came along with it. At the same time, it's not so long that the reader has time to grow too weary of the constant unhappiness of her situation.
I also enjoyed learning more about the nomadic existence of van life, both the highs and the lows.
My complaints with this story pertain to the epilogue-y bit at the end. It's nice to have those few paragraphs of closure, but it would've been even nicer to have a few sentences describing how they got there. Was it a mutual agreement between the two parents? Is Charlie still technically a runaway? The answers to those questions could completely change how I feel about the outcome of this story. Should I be happy or worried about the way things played out? And how did they overcome the awkwardness and negative emotions of the earlier pages? It seemed just a little too saccharine to be realistic.
Still, this is a touching and emotional story that was worth the short bit of time that it took me to read it. Final rating: 3.49 stars, rounded down.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for providing me with a copy of this story to review.
I thought that this story was the perfect length. It's long enough to get a glimpse into Jess's past, and of her struggle to forget the grief and pain that came along with it. At the same time, it's not so long that the reader has time to grow too weary of the constant unhappiness of her situation.
I also enjoyed learning more about the nomadic existence of van life, both the highs and the lows.
My complaints with this story pertain to the epilogue-y bit at the end. It's nice to have those few paragraphs of closure, but it would've been even nicer to have a few sentences describing how they got there. Was it a mutual agreement between the two parents? Is Charlie still technically a runaway? The answers to those questions could completely change how I feel about the outcome of this story. Should I be happy or worried about the way things played out? And how did they overcome the awkwardness and negative emotions of the earlier pages? It seemed just a little too saccharine to be realistic.
Still, this is a touching and emotional story that was worth the short bit of time that it took me to read it. Final rating: 3.49 stars, rounded down.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for providing me with a copy of this story to review.
August 1, 2023
See You Down the Road...
THE SCENIC ROUTE by Christina Baker Kline
No spoilers. 5 stars. This short story was my Amazon First Reads selection for the month of August 2023...
Jessica (Jess) had been on the road nearly four years...
Hiding in plain sight...
Van life wasn't easy. The cold, the dark, the rain, the loneliness. The lack of normalcy...
One lazy morning was all it took for this nomad life to become unmanageable...
When you finally arrive at where you're going, you're still stuck in your van because your van is your home...
People got into the van life for various reasons, but for Jess, it was a last resort. Her life had skidded off the rails...
She once had...
A solid marriage to a decent guy, a kid, and a job she loved. When it all came crashing down, the only thing she could think to do was run...
See you down the road...
The selections this month were slimmer than last month, so I opted for a short story, but this short story was exceptional!
I wish it was longer because there was so much more to explore about life on the road, but such as it was, it was excellent.
THE SCENIC ROUTE by Christina Baker Kline
No spoilers. 5 stars. This short story was my Amazon First Reads selection for the month of August 2023...
Jessica (Jess) had been on the road nearly four years...
Hiding in plain sight...
Van life wasn't easy. The cold, the dark, the rain, the loneliness. The lack of normalcy...
One lazy morning was all it took for this nomad life to become unmanageable...
When you finally arrive at where you're going, you're still stuck in your van because your van is your home...
People got into the van life for various reasons, but for Jess, it was a last resort. Her life had skidded off the rails...
She once had...
A solid marriage to a decent guy, a kid, and a job she loved. When it all came crashing down, the only thing she could think to do was run...
See you down the road...
The selections this month were slimmer than last month, so I opted for a short story, but this short story was exceptional!
I wish it was longer because there was so much more to explore about life on the road, but such as it was, it was excellent.
September 13, 2023
3.5 🚐 🚐 🚐
September 3, 2023
From #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Exiles Christina Baker Kline, comes An Amazon Original Stories' Short Story, THE SCENIC ROUTE—a wife and mother’s life spins out of control, and she is left living the van life on the road alone. However, in the process, she learns about herself, finds solace through the pain, and ultimately life surprises her.
In Jess's case, van life was a last resort—a desperate attempt to make sense of a life that had skidded off the rails.
Jess was a happily married woman, a content creator with a young son, Charlie. She discovered her husband was having an affair—a divorce and married now to Courtney. Then there was the accident. A tragedy. Her life came tumbling down. Charlie now lives with her ex and their new daughter. Everyone turned their back on her.
She lost her marriage.
She lost her son.
She lost her job.
She lost her mind.
She stole a Toyota Sienna from her ex-husband, Nick's driveway. She had nowhere to go. She learned the #VanLife. The van is her home. Houseless, not homeless is a van-life mantra. Later, she sold it, bought a Chevy Astro, and named her Vanessa, shortened to Nessie.
"When you arrive at your destination, you're stuck in your van because it's your home. There's no solace or reprieve."
When you get lonely, you can meet up with your tribe. You find the tribe online, in chat rooms and forums. You can meet up with them in real life. Convergences, as van lifers call them, occur all over the country—Lost souls seeking communion in a field.
Convergences allow van dwellers to dip in and out of each other lives like extended families without the baggage.
EAT. SLEEP. TRAVEL. REPEAT. AND ALWAYS TAKE THE SCENIC ROUTE.
Every person she met in the van-life community was escaping something and seeking answers, trying to find a path forward—looking for a way to get it right.
Jess did not have an easy life starting from her childhood. A father who left when she was five, then a step-father, which was a nightmare. Everyone was wearing a mask. Does family dysfunction get handed down through generations?
While on the road picking up her content marketing (how to tell a story and to see the story) and posting on Instagram, she meets other van-lifers on the road.
Then, one day on the road, Jess receives a surprise.
"Stillness can't really exist, she said, because even when we're not moving, we're breathing, and breath is movement." —Paradox of Stillness
A beautiful short story! I was sad when it ended and would love for this to be an entire novel. Thought-provoking and emotional, a poignant, moving tale of mother/son relationship. Family baggage passed down.
I loved learning about van life, the pros and cons. THE SCENIC ROUTE is delightful, with themes of motherhood, loss, family, community, self-discovery, and second chances. For fans of Alice Feeney's Good Bad Girl and author Joyce Maynard.
I read the ebook (bookmarked many passages) and listened to the audiobook narrated by Amanda Leigh Cobb for an engaging listening experience.
Blog Review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Sept 1, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars
Sept 2023 Must-Read Books
In Jess's case, van life was a last resort—a desperate attempt to make sense of a life that had skidded off the rails.
Jess was a happily married woman, a content creator with a young son, Charlie. She discovered her husband was having an affair—a divorce and married now to Courtney. Then there was the accident. A tragedy. Her life came tumbling down. Charlie now lives with her ex and their new daughter. Everyone turned their back on her.
She lost her marriage.
She lost her son.
She lost her job.
She lost her mind.
She stole a Toyota Sienna from her ex-husband, Nick's driveway. She had nowhere to go. She learned the #VanLife. The van is her home. Houseless, not homeless is a van-life mantra. Later, she sold it, bought a Chevy Astro, and named her Vanessa, shortened to Nessie.
"When you arrive at your destination, you're stuck in your van because it's your home. There's no solace or reprieve."
When you get lonely, you can meet up with your tribe. You find the tribe online, in chat rooms and forums. You can meet up with them in real life. Convergences, as van lifers call them, occur all over the country—Lost souls seeking communion in a field.
Convergences allow van dwellers to dip in and out of each other lives like extended families without the baggage.
EAT. SLEEP. TRAVEL. REPEAT. AND ALWAYS TAKE THE SCENIC ROUTE.
Every person she met in the van-life community was escaping something and seeking answers, trying to find a path forward—looking for a way to get it right.
Jess did not have an easy life starting from her childhood. A father who left when she was five, then a step-father, which was a nightmare. Everyone was wearing a mask. Does family dysfunction get handed down through generations?
While on the road picking up her content marketing (how to tell a story and to see the story) and posting on Instagram, she meets other van-lifers on the road.
Then, one day on the road, Jess receives a surprise.
"Stillness can't really exist, she said, because even when we're not moving, we're breathing, and breath is movement." —Paradox of Stillness
A beautiful short story! I was sad when it ended and would love for this to be an entire novel. Thought-provoking and emotional, a poignant, moving tale of mother/son relationship. Family baggage passed down.
I loved learning about van life, the pros and cons. THE SCENIC ROUTE is delightful, with themes of motherhood, loss, family, community, self-discovery, and second chances. For fans of Alice Feeney's Good Bad Girl and author Joyce Maynard.
I read the ebook (bookmarked many passages) and listened to the audiobook narrated by Amanda Leigh Cobb for an engaging listening experience.
Blog Review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Sept 1, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars
Sept 2023 Must-Read Books
April 13, 2024
“Stillness can’t really exist, she said, because even when we’re not moving, we’re breathing, and breath is movement. I’m here. I’m breathing.”
A story about second chances and redemption. Not my favorite plot line but a decent story.
A story about second chances and redemption. Not my favorite plot line but a decent story.
September 12, 2023
Short & sweet! This is a family drama featuring a woman living the van life :)
September 16, 2023
I spent almost five years full-time RVing. Traveling throughout the US and Canada was beautiful and I wouldn't trade that time in my life for anything...so free but at the same time not easy. It's very difficult to just hit the road and problem solve every situation that comes along every day, but what a wonderful way for her to escape and put her world back together. People on the road make wonderful therapists... This short book about second chances was refreshing and just the right length.
"Stillness can't really exist, she said, because even when we’re not moving, we’re breathing, and breath is movement. I’m here. I’m breathing."
"Stillness can't really exist, she said, because even when we’re not moving, we’re breathing, and breath is movement. I’m here. I’m breathing."
January 25, 2024
Jess has a good life. Husband, son, house and successful job until it all falls apart and she takes the family van and hits the road to escape. What she finds is a world of nomadic people living the "van life" that are searching for something (the list is long and varied and as unique as each individual). This time gives her the break she needs to reflect on her current situation and begin to heal. This short story packs a lot and quite entertaining.
May 30, 2023
I loved Orphan Train and so immediately requested this short story by the author. Her writing is equally powerful here, where she tells a tale of a happy life gone awry, regrets, second chances and redemption.
Jess took to life in her van after her happy marriage imploded and she was separated from her precious only child. With thoughts of the way her life was destroyed, some of her own poor choices and her loneliness troubling her, she has her fellow van lifers only for company. As she reflects on everything that's gone wrong and her own unsuccessful attempts at reconciliation, she has to find the strength to continue.
I liked how the perspective of each character is presented very fairly and I especially loved how it ended.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Jess took to life in her van after her happy marriage imploded and she was separated from her precious only child. With thoughts of the way her life was destroyed, some of her own poor choices and her loneliness troubling her, she has her fellow van lifers only for company. As she reflects on everything that's gone wrong and her own unsuccessful attempts at reconciliation, she has to find the strength to continue.
I liked how the perspective of each character is presented very fairly and I especially loved how it ended.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 7, 2024
An interesting short story about grief, depression and the mask of social media. I actually think that this might have been better suited to being novella as opposed to short story as I feel like there are elements of the characters about whom I would like to read in more detail.
September 11, 2023
I really enjoyed this short story. A lot of stories about #vanlife get mostly into the social media aspect. This story was about a woman and her journey while living her van life. I know it is a short story but I could totally have gotten on board with more of Jess and Charlie's relationship and growth! Loved this.
September 5, 2023
This book hit me hard in the heart. My oldest son and I sort of grew up together. I was 19 when he was born and I was still learning how to be a grownup when I had to learn how to be a mom. I love that boy so much but so many things he does are because he didn’t get the good start that every child deserves. I treated him as an equal when I should have been cuddling and mothering him. Anyhow, on to a review of this lovely and very sweet short story.
Jess hits the road and becomes a van life influencer of sorts when her husband takes custody of her son from her. I enjoyed learning things about living in a van like where do you shower? How do you sleep safely? It was well written and very interesting. I enjoyed reading about the other travelers she meets and befriends. Then comes the day when she looks up and there is her son! He’s a teen and he’s angry but he came to find her. Oh my heart!
This short story is wonderful!
Jess hits the road and becomes a van life influencer of sorts when her husband takes custody of her son from her. I enjoyed learning things about living in a van like where do you shower? How do you sleep safely? It was well written and very interesting. I enjoyed reading about the other travelers she meets and befriends. Then comes the day when she looks up and there is her son! He’s a teen and he’s angry but he came to find her. Oh my heart!
This short story is wonderful!
October 5, 2023
Amazon Original short story. Just okay. Story centered around living in a van. Insinuated the need for likes as in YouTube. The story had too much going on, too many issues/problems. I think a good edit and the story could work.
September 21, 2023
A well-written short story about family drama and nomadic van life (I love reading about the latter). The ending though, feels a bit too neat and convenient.
September 11, 2023
A short story novella with both a cool title and cover that I decided to try from a new author. I kinda sensed it would be fairly introspective but it was ok, especially for a short story. I’ve thought about the lifestyle subject of this story before and I think the author did a good job portraying it.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this opportunity in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this opportunity in exchange for an honest review.
February 13, 2024
Reunion of a long lost son..,a mother losing her son in a custody battle and she roams around in a van. Her son shows up years later. Very emotional.
September 6, 2024
3.5 rounded up
August 25, 2023
On the Road
A well told story about a woman who lost her regular life and how she coped. I didn't like the end but that might just be me.
A well told story about a woman who lost her regular life and how she coped. I didn't like the end but that might just be me.
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