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Driving Sideways
Leigh Fielding wants a life. Seriously. Having spent the past five years on dialysis, she has one simple to make it to her thirtieth birthday. Now, thanks to the generosity of the late Larry Resnick and his transplanted kidney, it looks like her wish may come true.
With her newfound vitality (and Larry’s kidney) in tow, Leigh hits the road for an excursion that will carry her from Wisconsin to California, with a few stops in Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, the Rockies, Las Vegas–and a memorable visit to thank Larry’s family for the second chance.
Yet Leigh’s itinerary takes a sudden detour when she picks up a seventeen-year-old hitchhiker, Denise, a runaway with a bunch of stories and a couple of secrets. Add a long-lost mother, a loaded gun, an RV full of swingers, and Hall and Oates’s Greatest Hits to the mix, and Driving Sideways becomes a hilarious and original journey of friendship, hope, and discovery.
Praise for Driving
“Driving Sideways is a gorgeous novel . . . hugely entertaining and very touching. Jess Riley’s voice is irreverent and wonderful, and her writing is genius.”
–Marian Keyes, author of Anybody Out There?
"A hopeful and hilarious debut ... Jess Riley may well be my new favorite author." –Jen Lancaster, author of Bitter is the New Black
“Brilliant . . . Jess Riley proves herself a huge new talent.”
–Kristy Kiernan, author of Catching Genius
With her newfound vitality (and Larry’s kidney) in tow, Leigh hits the road for an excursion that will carry her from Wisconsin to California, with a few stops in Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, the Rockies, Las Vegas–and a memorable visit to thank Larry’s family for the second chance.
Yet Leigh’s itinerary takes a sudden detour when she picks up a seventeen-year-old hitchhiker, Denise, a runaway with a bunch of stories and a couple of secrets. Add a long-lost mother, a loaded gun, an RV full of swingers, and Hall and Oates’s Greatest Hits to the mix, and Driving Sideways becomes a hilarious and original journey of friendship, hope, and discovery.
Praise for Driving
“Driving Sideways is a gorgeous novel . . . hugely entertaining and very touching. Jess Riley’s voice is irreverent and wonderful, and her writing is genius.”
–Marian Keyes, author of Anybody Out There?
"A hopeful and hilarious debut ... Jess Riley may well be my new favorite author." –Jen Lancaster, author of Bitter is the New Black
“Brilliant . . . Jess Riley proves herself a huge new talent.”
–Kristy Kiernan, author of Catching Genius
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
30 people are currently reading
2041 people want to read
About the author
Jess Riley
13 books107 followersWisconsin native Jess Riley spent much of her childhood being punished for lying and/or passing notes during class, both of which qualified her for a possible future as a novelist. She won her first short story contest in high school for a tale told through the point of view of a seven-year-old black boy living in Cabrini Green because as a middle-class white teenager, she knew a lot about that kind of life.
Jess has been a waitress, a blue cheese packager, and a school grant writer. She worked at a toy store during the Tickle Me Elmo craze and lived to tell about it. She's also worked at a medium-security men's prison, which was much less stressful. Jess graduated from UW-Oshkosh in 1998 with degrees in English and History. She shares a drafty old house in Oshkosh, Wisconsin with her husband and a neurotic dog that despises public radio.
Her debut novel, Driving Sideways, was released by Random House in 2008. Selected as a Target Breakout Book, it returned to press four times within three months of release. Jess drank lots of wine to celebrate. Her second novel, All the Lonely People, was released in 2012, and her third, Mandatory Release, was released in 2013.
Jess has been a waitress, a blue cheese packager, and a school grant writer. She worked at a toy store during the Tickle Me Elmo craze and lived to tell about it. She's also worked at a medium-security men's prison, which was much less stressful. Jess graduated from UW-Oshkosh in 1998 with degrees in English and History. She shares a drafty old house in Oshkosh, Wisconsin with her husband and a neurotic dog that despises public radio.
Her debut novel, Driving Sideways, was released by Random House in 2008. Selected as a Target Breakout Book, it returned to press four times within three months of release. Jess drank lots of wine to celebrate. Her second novel, All the Lonely People, was released in 2012, and her third, Mandatory Release, was released in 2013.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
September 19, 2008
I loved, loved, loved this book. Here are some of the reasons why:
1. The author points out how disconnected you feel when you're away from home and you see nothing but local TV commercials (and hear the jingles). She even mentions "Save big money at Menards."
2. Her pop-culture references are spot-on -- references to everyone from Georgia O'Keeffe to the Blues Brothers to the Las Vegas strip to Target.
3. Her main character is funny, self-deprecating and amusingly profane (and to all the prissy people who have complained about its "R-rated" incidents, its "bad language" and crassness: Either go get the stick removed, or go read "Christian fiction" if profanity gives you the vapors).
4. The characters make their way through my stomping grounds, old and new: Sioux Falls, Colorado, Las Vegas.
5. She didn't make a lot of self-conscious, first-time-author missteps (such as being afraid of using the word "said" or crafting some kind of awkward happy ending just for the sake of tying things up in a neat package).
Loved it. Did I say that already?
1. The author points out how disconnected you feel when you're away from home and you see nothing but local TV commercials (and hear the jingles). She even mentions "Save big money at Menards."
2. Her pop-culture references are spot-on -- references to everyone from Georgia O'Keeffe to the Blues Brothers to the Las Vegas strip to Target.
3. Her main character is funny, self-deprecating and amusingly profane (and to all the prissy people who have complained about its "R-rated" incidents, its "bad language" and crassness: Either go get the stick removed, or go read "Christian fiction" if profanity gives you the vapors).
4. The characters make their way through my stomping grounds, old and new: Sioux Falls, Colorado, Las Vegas.
5. She didn't make a lot of self-conscious, first-time-author missteps (such as being afraid of using the word "said" or crafting some kind of awkward happy ending just for the sake of tying things up in a neat package).
Loved it. Did I say that already?
July 2, 2021
The dark humor and the unfiltered thoughts in this book were relatable and funny. There were some things that got repetitive or felt like they didn’t make sense where they were stuck in, and it ended kind of abruptly, but overall I enjoyed it. The writing and humor felt natural, even though some jokes went over my head, and it really makes you think about the way your living your daily life. This is definitely not your light beach read, but I would recommend( for adult readers) if you’re looking for a story that will stick in your mind.
December 23, 2008
just finished this book today. I'm sad that it is over. Jess Riley is a great author and I hope to read more from her in the future. When I read this book, I wished Jess was the cool (as defined by me) older sister I never had. So many funny lines, but also inspiring at the same time. It inspired me to stop staying in (and drinking red wine) and "get a life if it kills me." Well maybe that will start tomorrow because I am definitely drinking out of the box of wine tonight.
November 19, 2013
Did I read the same book as these other people? Leigh has been through a LOT in her life, including lots of time in dialysis - but she finally got a kidney transplant and is off to enjoy her new life...
This sounds good on paper - and the write-up on the back of the book sounds hilarious. Instead, Leigh is selfish and immature, and her "adventures" are just annoying. The author tries to make all sorts of silly little inside jokes for someone of "her age" but it just comes off as flat. The language was pretty coarse at times, and I didn't think it really fit Leigh. Her best friend Jillian was a complete wack-a-doodle (and not in a fun way). It went on way too long, and I started skimming just to finish the book (not usual for me).
Glad it's over - won't be going on another ride with this author.
This sounds good on paper - and the write-up on the back of the book sounds hilarious. Instead, Leigh is selfish and immature, and her "adventures" are just annoying. The author tries to make all sorts of silly little inside jokes for someone of "her age" but it just comes off as flat. The language was pretty coarse at times, and I didn't think it really fit Leigh. Her best friend Jillian was a complete wack-a-doodle (and not in a fun way). It went on way too long, and I started skimming just to finish the book (not usual for me).
Glad it's over - won't be going on another ride with this author.
January 8, 2009
I picked up this book as a bit of "fluff" after reading a very depressing memoir. I expected it to be very forgettable. I was pleased and surprised to find that it was amusing, touching and witty. I didn't want to come to the end, and when I did, I wanted to know more. The only problem was the speed with which sarcasm and "one-liners" appeared. I felt that I was still appreciating the wit and language of one when another had already gone by. I do read very fast, so maybe the problem was mine..
February 10, 2021
I found that I loved and disliked this book at the same time. I found it hard to believe that Leigh is in her late 20’s, but then her childhood and her kidney disease have caused her to miss out on so much. Like Leigh I was disappointed that things didn’t work out as she hoped, but then life doesn’t always work out the way we want.
February 7, 2019
I like the idea of this book, but found the main characters kind of annoying. The main girl was so immature for a 28 year old. I think she should’ve been 19. I also thought the author tried so hard to make her funny but she came off as judgmental and rude. I never laughed once.
May 12, 2022
This is absolutely one of my favorite books of all time. The story is so captivating and I can see it in my head like I'm watching a movie as I read, which is how I know a book is good.
May 17, 2017
Driving Sideways, by Jess Riley
★★★ and a 1/2 (rounding up to 4)
Synopsis: Leigh Fielding wants a life. Seriously. Having spent the past five years on dialysis, she has one simple wish: to make it to her thirtieth birthday. Now, thanks to the generosity of the late Larry Resnick and his transplanted kidney, it looks like her wish may come true.
With her newfound vitality (and Larry's kidney) in tow, Leigh hits the road for an excursion that will carry her from Wisconsin to California, with a few stops in between: Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, the Rockies, Las Vegas--and a memorable visit to thank Larry's family for this second chance.
Yet Leigh's itinerary takes a sudden detour when she picks up seventeen-year-old hitchhiker Denise, a runaway with a bunch of stories and a couple of secrets. Add to the mix a long-lost mother, a loaded gun, an RV full of swingers, and Hall and Oates' Greatest Hits, and Driving Sideways becomes a hilarious and original journey of friendship, hope, and discovery.
In A Sentence: A fun and comfortably quirky novel.
My Thoughts: This was a decent read, really. I liked Leigh's quirkiness and felt that I could relate to her in many ways. That's always a plus, to be able to relate to the main character. The other characters were enjoyable as well: Wes, Jillian, Denise, they were all fun to read about. I also really liked how the plot went in unexpected twists and turns while at the same time traveling it's fairly predictable main route.
The plot had many fun moments. Some were pleasant to read about, some were hilarious, and some were downright outrageous. It had it's eye-opening moments as well, where things don't go as planned and subsequently change Leigh's outlook on life. Overall, this whole book was an interesting read.
There are some slight downsides to this novel, however. The writing is good, but not great, and sometimes it seems a little jerky. There were a couple times where I wondered where the author was going with the story, but in retrospect, the plot's pace made sense.
Overall, this is certainly a good story that goes in surprising, and sometimes amusing directions. I would say it's a light, but not too light, read. I had fun with it and I think generally, most readers would too.
★★★ and a 1/2 (rounding up to 4)
Synopsis: Leigh Fielding wants a life. Seriously. Having spent the past five years on dialysis, she has one simple wish: to make it to her thirtieth birthday. Now, thanks to the generosity of the late Larry Resnick and his transplanted kidney, it looks like her wish may come true.
With her newfound vitality (and Larry's kidney) in tow, Leigh hits the road for an excursion that will carry her from Wisconsin to California, with a few stops in between: Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, the Rockies, Las Vegas--and a memorable visit to thank Larry's family for this second chance.
Yet Leigh's itinerary takes a sudden detour when she picks up seventeen-year-old hitchhiker Denise, a runaway with a bunch of stories and a couple of secrets. Add to the mix a long-lost mother, a loaded gun, an RV full of swingers, and Hall and Oates' Greatest Hits, and Driving Sideways becomes a hilarious and original journey of friendship, hope, and discovery.
In A Sentence: A fun and comfortably quirky novel.
My Thoughts: This was a decent read, really. I liked Leigh's quirkiness and felt that I could relate to her in many ways. That's always a plus, to be able to relate to the main character. The other characters were enjoyable as well: Wes, Jillian, Denise, they were all fun to read about. I also really liked how the plot went in unexpected twists and turns while at the same time traveling it's fairly predictable main route.
The plot had many fun moments. Some were pleasant to read about, some were hilarious, and some were downright outrageous. It had it's eye-opening moments as well, where things don't go as planned and subsequently change Leigh's outlook on life. Overall, this whole book was an interesting read.
There are some slight downsides to this novel, however. The writing is good, but not great, and sometimes it seems a little jerky. There were a couple times where I wondered where the author was going with the story, but in retrospect, the plot's pace made sense.
Overall, this is certainly a good story that goes in surprising, and sometimes amusing directions. I would say it's a light, but not too light, read. I had fun with it and I think generally, most readers would too.
September 26, 2010
I really, really liked this book. I would recommend it to anyone who needs to get a little Perspective with a capital P, and who needs to realize that compared to the main character in this book, any problems you may have really aren't THAT bad. Leigh is 28 and is faced with spending the last several years of her life in and out of hospitals, on dialysis, and waiting for a kidney donor. She truly doesn't believe that she will make it to age 30. If that isn't enough, her mother abandoned her and her brother when she was very young, causing her father to commit suicide. I'm telling you, this girl has real problems.
You would think that this book would be depressing, but it isn't. The author must be right around my age, because there were a ton of pop culture references and jokes that I have actually heard (or said) in real life. There is so much humor that it makes the difficult subject matter downright enjoyable. I also really appreciated the message of this book, which is whatever life you have, it is your responsibility to make the best of it and live it to the fullest. Even if things aren't so rosy and don't turn out the way you would like. In the beginning of the book, Leigh, who has just received a kidney from a donor, believes that the kidney has given her some personality traits of the donor, personality traits that she really admires. She decides to go on a road trip to wrap up some unfinished business, and credits the kidney with giving her the guts to do it. By the end of the book, she learns that she doesn't need the donated kidney -or the personality attached to it- to be the person she wants to be.
This is one of those books that I am disappointed I got from the library, because I am sure I will want to read it again. Whenever I start to think that things in life aren't turning out the way I would like, this book will remind me that no matter what happens, I can always choose to live the life I want to live.
Okay, enough motivational mumbo jumbo. I better stop before I say that I live in a van down by the river- which is totally something the main character in this book would say. Just read it.
You would think that this book would be depressing, but it isn't. The author must be right around my age, because there were a ton of pop culture references and jokes that I have actually heard (or said) in real life. There is so much humor that it makes the difficult subject matter downright enjoyable. I also really appreciated the message of this book, which is whatever life you have, it is your responsibility to make the best of it and live it to the fullest. Even if things aren't so rosy and don't turn out the way you would like. In the beginning of the book, Leigh, who has just received a kidney from a donor, believes that the kidney has given her some personality traits of the donor, personality traits that she really admires. She decides to go on a road trip to wrap up some unfinished business, and credits the kidney with giving her the guts to do it. By the end of the book, she learns that she doesn't need the donated kidney -or the personality attached to it- to be the person she wants to be.
This is one of those books that I am disappointed I got from the library, because I am sure I will want to read it again. Whenever I start to think that things in life aren't turning out the way I would like, this book will remind me that no matter what happens, I can always choose to live the life I want to live.
Okay, enough motivational mumbo jumbo. I better stop before I say that I live in a van down by the river- which is totally something the main character in this book would say. Just read it.
February 16, 2009
A really good book about living your life and learning to be your own person. It's a story about Leigh Fielding who has PKD and has just had a kidney transplant, a miracle unto itself, she then decides to take a road trip so that she can see her mother,meet up with her best friend and essentially be free of her overprotective brother and her own limitations.
She gets "hostage-ed" into taking a 17 year old hitchiker named Denise with her to California and coincidentally, Denise is the name of her supposed Guardian Angel. Denise is both mysterious and bubbly and a little bit of a whacko.
With Denise, Leigh begins to express her spontaneous side and her 'did I just do that" side.
They pick up Leigh's friend Jillian who is with a shitty boyfriend and whom Leigh hates.
The road trip from Jillian's place in Colorado is another journey in which Leigh learns about friendship, decisions and what it is like to truly be your own person. She also sees just how much co-dependence can shape a person's life and psyche.
By the end, you are so enamored with Leigh and also worried about her increasing flu-like symptoms and fear that every time she goes to the bathroom, she'll find blood that by the time you get to the critical point in the story....you are right there with her.
All in all, it's a great story. It's at turns modernly philosophical, hysterical, sad and relative.
Recommended.
She gets "hostage-ed" into taking a 17 year old hitchiker named Denise with her to California and coincidentally, Denise is the name of her supposed Guardian Angel. Denise is both mysterious and bubbly and a little bit of a whacko.
With Denise, Leigh begins to express her spontaneous side and her 'did I just do that" side.
They pick up Leigh's friend Jillian who is with a shitty boyfriend and whom Leigh hates.
The road trip from Jillian's place in Colorado is another journey in which Leigh learns about friendship, decisions and what it is like to truly be your own person. She also sees just how much co-dependence can shape a person's life and psyche.
By the end, you are so enamored with Leigh and also worried about her increasing flu-like symptoms and fear that every time she goes to the bathroom, she'll find blood that by the time you get to the critical point in the story....you are right there with her.
All in all, it's a great story. It's at turns modernly philosophical, hysterical, sad and relative.
Recommended.
October 2, 2012
Driving Sideways by Jess Riley is yet another one of those books I acquired on a whim, added it to my "to be read" mountain with every intention of reading it quickly. Instead, it languished for years in the bottomless pit of my reading pile. With Driving Sideways, new to me author Jess Riley introduces us to Leigh Fielding, a dialysis patient who has recently received a kidney transplant and thereby a new lease on life.
I know it doesn't sound very appealing on the surface, but where this story really pulled me in and hooked me is when Leigh decides to hit the road, literally, on a road trip to visit her best friend, meet the kidney donor's family to thank them for the kidney and finally to track down the mother who abandoned Leigh and her brother when they were children.
Along the way, Leigh meets a teenage hitchhiker named Denise, who isn't all she seems but not completely in a bad way. The story is rich in pop culture references that gave me the real sense of being in the car with Leigh and Denise.
The story moved at a good pace, kept me plugged in and interested in what was going on and what was going to happen next. The characters were easy to get to know and felt realistic for their surroundings and place in the story. Don't make the same mistake I did. Get in the car and go on a road trip of your own to the bookstore to get this book. Every journey begins with the first step and I am sure this is one ride you will thoroughly enjoy.
I know it doesn't sound very appealing on the surface, but where this story really pulled me in and hooked me is when Leigh decides to hit the road, literally, on a road trip to visit her best friend, meet the kidney donor's family to thank them for the kidney and finally to track down the mother who abandoned Leigh and her brother when they were children.
Along the way, Leigh meets a teenage hitchhiker named Denise, who isn't all she seems but not completely in a bad way. The story is rich in pop culture references that gave me the real sense of being in the car with Leigh and Denise.
The story moved at a good pace, kept me plugged in and interested in what was going on and what was going to happen next. The characters were easy to get to know and felt realistic for their surroundings and place in the story. Don't make the same mistake I did. Get in the car and go on a road trip of your own to the bookstore to get this book. Every journey begins with the first step and I am sure this is one ride you will thoroughly enjoy.
August 16, 2008
This is the story of a kidney transplant patient with a new lease on life. After her transplant, Leigh Fielding decides to embark on a road trip from Wisconsin to California to settle various unfinished business. Of course, the road turns out to have more metaphoric bumps and detours than she expected.
Denise, a quirky 17 year old hitchhiker with a couple of little secrets, is my favorite character. With her carefree exuberance and capriciousness, Denise draws the narrator out of her egocentric reverie and helps her find and reveal additional facets of her personality.
This book reminded me of being regaled with crazy vacation stories from a good friend. The voice is familiar, witty, full of pop culture references, and at times, laugh-out-loud funny. I absolutely loved it right up until the denouement. At that point I felt it got a little sluggish, but redeemed itself with a decent wrap-up and an ending message that satisfied me.
I found the concept to be original and the characters believable. It left me wanting to take a road trip with a good friend…without kidney problems and car trouble, of course.
Denise, a quirky 17 year old hitchhiker with a couple of little secrets, is my favorite character. With her carefree exuberance and capriciousness, Denise draws the narrator out of her egocentric reverie and helps her find and reveal additional facets of her personality.
This book reminded me of being regaled with crazy vacation stories from a good friend. The voice is familiar, witty, full of pop culture references, and at times, laugh-out-loud funny. I absolutely loved it right up until the denouement. At that point I felt it got a little sluggish, but redeemed itself with a decent wrap-up and an ending message that satisfied me.
I found the concept to be original and the characters believable. It left me wanting to take a road trip with a good friend…without kidney problems and car trouble, of course.
June 1, 2016
This book was totally not my style. Not that it was badly written, but I simply couldn’t connect with any of the characters. On paper, Leigh Fielding seems like a fun young woman, but in fact she’s rather annoying, and is way too glib. I really couldn’t relate to the flippant manner she went about her life. This smart-alecky attitude started to irritate me after the first 100 pages. And what about the author’s anus fixation? What was that ABOUT?
In short this is the story about Leigh Fielding who decides to have her life back after having spent the past five years on dialysis and then finally getting a kidney transplant. With her new-found vitality Leigh hits the road for an excursion that will carry her from Wisconsin to California, with a few stops in between: Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, the Rockies, Las Vegas–and a memorable visit to thank donor Larry’s family for the second chance.
Honestly, I wish Leigh would have shut up once in a while, during this trip, and let the reader enjoy the scenery in what could have been a great road-trip! Nope, this book was not for me. *1,5*
In short this is the story about Leigh Fielding who decides to have her life back after having spent the past five years on dialysis and then finally getting a kidney transplant. With her new-found vitality Leigh hits the road for an excursion that will carry her from Wisconsin to California, with a few stops in between: Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, the Rockies, Las Vegas–and a memorable visit to thank donor Larry’s family for the second chance.
Honestly, I wish Leigh would have shut up once in a while, during this trip, and let the reader enjoy the scenery in what could have been a great road-trip! Nope, this book was not for me. *1,5*
August 11, 2008
This book is what I ultimately classify as my favorite term for a novel: subtle.
It was simply wonderful. It touched on a lot of the issues that I face as a so-called cancer survivor, except in this case, the narrator has PKD (a kidney disease I'm not quite adept at spelling). All the health insurance problems, life decisions, desire for independence and friends and a social life that does not revolve around hospital visits, etc...the author did a great job of getting it "right" - even though it was hard to read at times. (I'm 28, in remission, looking for my next great adventure...when did I turn into Leigh?)
It was simply wonderful. It touched on a lot of the issues that I face as a so-called cancer survivor, except in this case, the narrator has PKD (a kidney disease I'm not quite adept at spelling). All the health insurance problems, life decisions, desire for independence and friends and a social life that does not revolve around hospital visits, etc...the author did a great job of getting it "right" - even though it was hard to read at times. (I'm 28, in remission, looking for my next great adventure...when did I turn into Leigh?)
June 8, 2018
It took me a little while to get into this book, but once I did I enjoyed it. Leigh is recovering from a kidney transplant and decides that she wants to head out on a road trip by herself. This story becomes a hilarious series of unforeseen events, both serious and hilarious. I think this a story about a second chance at life and really finding yourself. Interesting characters and some moments that make you want to stop and think about your own life. The reason that I gave this book 3 stars was due to the fact that the ending didn't seem complete. I felt a bit cheated. I think the author should have at least written a few more chapters. Overall it was a good read.
January 6, 2009
WBC-10 pts---new author
I LOVED this book. It caught my attention from the first few pages and held it all the way through. I loved the fact that the main character made her way through South Dakota. Being from Sioux Falls, you don't find many books that deal with anything near here, but this one did. I also loved the ending. Not all the strings are tied up, but you get the gist of what is going to happen. I am a sucker for the happy endings, but the ones that allow you to make your own ending is better.
I LOVED this book. It caught my attention from the first few pages and held it all the way through. I loved the fact that the main character made her way through South Dakota. Being from Sioux Falls, you don't find many books that deal with anything near here, but this one did. I also loved the ending. Not all the strings are tied up, but you get the gist of what is going to happen. I am a sucker for the happy endings, but the ones that allow you to make your own ending is better.
January 2, 2016
3.5 stars...
Driving Sideways was a light, easy read. It made me laugh out loud which I don't do often when reading novels. Even though a lot happens in the book, I was never really hooked. But I'm glad I read it and would recommend it to any 20 or 30 something's looking for a quick, fun read.
Driving Sideways was a light, easy read. It made me laugh out loud which I don't do often when reading novels. Even though a lot happens in the book, I was never really hooked. But I'm glad I read it and would recommend it to any 20 or 30 something's looking for a quick, fun read.
December 5, 2011
this book was billed as a "hopeful and hilarious debut." I can agree with hopeful. it's definitely NOT a book I couldn't put down. in fact, I had to make a commitment to finish it. it's not a book I would recommend.
December 19, 2018
I want to take a road trip. Thanks for that, Jess Riley.
September 25, 2015
A good easy read about a young girl taking a road trip in search of some answers.
December 4, 2020
So I first discovered this book about a year ago, while browsing on this website for new and interesting books to read. Unfortunately, I had to put off reading it until now due to life. I'm glad I did. With not being able to travel lately, I was in the market for a book that I could dive into and essentially go traveling with. This is why I chose to read this one at this time.
Overall, I really liked this story, in particular the sarcastic, wry humor in it. I can't remember the last novel I read where I actually laughed out loud multiple times. I really clicked with the sense of humor and personality of the main character, Leigh. She has an adventurous spirit, which I can relate to. It was this part of her character that made this novel a strong storyline.
However, she was most definitely a flawed character. She seemed to act entitled often because of her disease and the hard times she has been through, which made her kind of annoying and act bitchy towards her caring brother, sister-in-law and best friend, Jillian. Also, there were moments during the story where I could not tell if she was naïve or just careless, specifically during moments when she basically caught Denise stealing and didn't do anything about it. This made me question her morals and if I really wanted to root for her character. Another occasion that made me question if I wanted to root for her was when she seemed quite dismissive towards Officer Hottie, who seemed like a likable character the little bit of the story he was in. And she was also dismissive of Chris for a time during the story too, thus making her lose support from me as a reader. In fact, I almost felt sorry for the character of her brother James who put up with her childishness, sassiness and lack of a sense of responsibility. I have to agree with some of the other raters on this page, Leigh seemed immature for a 28 year old, but then again, I wonder if that was an intention of the writer for this character and her moral/emotional development?
As for the story itself, I was a bit surprised by it. I mean you can be reading a funny scene in it one moment, but then a few pages later, you're reading about some hard subjects. I would warn anyone thinking of reading this book that the writer approaches some hard topics including: suicide (more than once), post-partem depression (which actually made for a sweet moment in the story), abandonment, family dysfunction, drug references, sexual harassment and depression references. The fact that these topics were covered make this book, in my opinion not a light, easy read that I feel some readers on here say in their reviews. I just don't think it lived up to it's lighthearted, vibrant synopsis. I did, however, enjoy the pop culture references!!
Also, I'm giving it a 3-3.5 stars here because I have to admit, I did not like the inconsistency of the pace of this story. For the most part, it takes place over one week of Leigh's cross-country travel, but the pace of the writing seemed like it was much more time than that. The story seemed to speed up and slow down too much for my liking. I mean 3/4 of the story takes place over one week. But then, the last part speeds up the story to cover a couple of months in just about 60 pages. That was not a good "feel" after staying on pace with the story. And I was annoyed by how the last 125 pages or so became a labor to read. No joke. It just seemed to go on and on with "scenes" I thought were unnecessary to the advancement of the plot. To me, there wasn't enough writing about how Leigh evolved as a character and really learned about herself. I was satisfied, that she seemed to create a happy-ish ending for herself by reaching out to Chris to see if there was potential romance still there and her decision to finish college then move to Chicago with Jillian. But I feel this ending could have been reached about 60 pages sooner than it did. For this reason, I dock a star off my rating.
Overall, I really liked this story, in particular the sarcastic, wry humor in it. I can't remember the last novel I read where I actually laughed out loud multiple times. I really clicked with the sense of humor and personality of the main character, Leigh. She has an adventurous spirit, which I can relate to. It was this part of her character that made this novel a strong storyline.
However, she was most definitely a flawed character. She seemed to act entitled often because of her disease and the hard times she has been through, which made her kind of annoying and act bitchy towards her caring brother, sister-in-law and best friend, Jillian. Also, there were moments during the story where I could not tell if she was naïve or just careless, specifically during moments when she basically caught Denise stealing and didn't do anything about it. This made me question her morals and if I really wanted to root for her character. Another occasion that made me question if I wanted to root for her was when she seemed quite dismissive towards Officer Hottie, who seemed like a likable character the little bit of the story he was in. And she was also dismissive of Chris for a time during the story too, thus making her lose support from me as a reader. In fact, I almost felt sorry for the character of her brother James who put up with her childishness, sassiness and lack of a sense of responsibility. I have to agree with some of the other raters on this page, Leigh seemed immature for a 28 year old, but then again, I wonder if that was an intention of the writer for this character and her moral/emotional development?
As for the story itself, I was a bit surprised by it. I mean you can be reading a funny scene in it one moment, but then a few pages later, you're reading about some hard subjects. I would warn anyone thinking of reading this book that the writer approaches some hard topics including: suicide (more than once), post-partem depression (which actually made for a sweet moment in the story), abandonment, family dysfunction, drug references, sexual harassment and depression references. The fact that these topics were covered make this book, in my opinion not a light, easy read that I feel some readers on here say in their reviews. I just don't think it lived up to it's lighthearted, vibrant synopsis. I did, however, enjoy the pop culture references!!
Also, I'm giving it a 3-3.5 stars here because I have to admit, I did not like the inconsistency of the pace of this story. For the most part, it takes place over one week of Leigh's cross-country travel, but the pace of the writing seemed like it was much more time than that. The story seemed to speed up and slow down too much for my liking. I mean 3/4 of the story takes place over one week. But then, the last part speeds up the story to cover a couple of months in just about 60 pages. That was not a good "feel" after staying on pace with the story. And I was annoyed by how the last 125 pages or so became a labor to read. No joke. It just seemed to go on and on with "scenes" I thought were unnecessary to the advancement of the plot. To me, there wasn't enough writing about how Leigh evolved as a character and really learned about herself. I was satisfied, that she seemed to create a happy-ish ending for herself by reaching out to Chris to see if there was potential romance still there and her decision to finish college then move to Chicago with Jillian. But I feel this ending could have been reached about 60 pages sooner than it did. For this reason, I dock a star off my rating.
December 20, 2022
So I first discovered this book about a year ago, while browsing on this website for new and interesting books to read. Unfortunately, I had to put off reading it until now due to life. I'm glad I did. With not being able to travel lately, I was in the market for a book that I could dive into and essentially go traveling with. This is why I chose to read this one at this time.
Overall, I really liked this story, in particular the sarcastic, wry humor in it. I can't remember the last novel I read where I actually laughed out loud multiple times. I really clicked with the sense of humor and personality of the main character, Leigh. She has an adventurous spirit, which I can relate to. It was this part of her character that made this novel a strong storyline.
However, she was most definitely a flawed character. She seemed to act entitled often because of her disease and the hard times she has been through, which made her kind of annoying and act bitchy towards her caring brother, sister-in-law and best friend, Jillian. Also, there were moments during the story where I could not tell if she was naïve or just careless, specifically during moments when she basically caught Denise stealing and didn't do anything about it. This made me question her morals and if I really wanted to root for her character. Another occasion that made me question if I wanted to root for her was when she seemed quite dismissive towards Officer Hottie, who seemed like a likable character the little bit of the story he was in. And she was also dismissive of Chris for a time during the story too, thus making her lose support from me as a reader. In fact, I almost felt sorry for the character of her brother James who put up with her childishness, sassiness and lack of a sense of responsibility. I have to agree with some of the other raters on this page, Leigh seemed immature for a 28 year old, but then again, I wonder if that was an intention of the writer for this character and her moral/emotional development?
As for the story itself, I was a bit surprised by it. I mean you can be reading a funny scene in it one moment, but then a few pages later, you're reading about some hard subjects. I would warn anyone thinking of reading this book that the writer approaches some hard topics including: suicide (more than once), post-partem depression (which actually made for a sweet moment in the story), abandonment, family dysfunction, drug references, sexual harassment and depression references. The fact that these topics were covered make this book, in my opinion not a light, easy read that I feel some readers on here say in their reviews. I just don't think it lived up to it's lighthearted, vibrant synopsis. I did, however, enjoy the pop culture references!!
Also, I'm giving it a 3-3.5 stars here because I have to admit, I did not like the inconsistency of the pace of this story. For the most part, it takes place over one week of Leigh's cross-country travel, but the pace of the writing seemed like it was much more time than that. The story seemed to speed up and slow down too much for my liking. I mean 3/4 of the story takes place over one week. But then, the last part speeds up the story to cover a couple of months in just about 60 pages. That was not a good "feel" after staying on pace with the story. And I was annoyed by how the last 125 pages or so became a labor to read. No joke. It just seemed to go on and on with "scenes" I thought were unnecessary to the advancement of the plot. To me, there wasn't enough writing about how Leigh evolved as a character and really learned about herself. I was satisfied, that she seemed to create a happy-ish ending for herself by reaching out to Chris to see if there was potential romance still there and her decision to finish college then move to Chicago with Jillian. But I feel this ending could have been reached about 60 pages sooner than it did. For this reason, I dock a star off my rating.
Overall, I really liked this story, in particular the sarcastic, wry humor in it. I can't remember the last novel I read where I actually laughed out loud multiple times. I really clicked with the sense of humor and personality of the main character, Leigh. She has an adventurous spirit, which I can relate to. It was this part of her character that made this novel a strong storyline.
However, she was most definitely a flawed character. She seemed to act entitled often because of her disease and the hard times she has been through, which made her kind of annoying and act bitchy towards her caring brother, sister-in-law and best friend, Jillian. Also, there were moments during the story where I could not tell if she was naïve or just careless, specifically during moments when she basically caught Denise stealing and didn't do anything about it. This made me question her morals and if I really wanted to root for her character. Another occasion that made me question if I wanted to root for her was when she seemed quite dismissive towards Officer Hottie, who seemed like a likable character the little bit of the story he was in. And she was also dismissive of Chris for a time during the story too, thus making her lose support from me as a reader. In fact, I almost felt sorry for the character of her brother James who put up with her childishness, sassiness and lack of a sense of responsibility. I have to agree with some of the other raters on this page, Leigh seemed immature for a 28 year old, but then again, I wonder if that was an intention of the writer for this character and her moral/emotional development?
As for the story itself, I was a bit surprised by it. I mean you can be reading a funny scene in it one moment, but then a few pages later, you're reading about some hard subjects. I would warn anyone thinking of reading this book that the writer approaches some hard topics including: suicide (more than once), post-partem depression (which actually made for a sweet moment in the story), abandonment, family dysfunction, drug references, sexual harassment and depression references. The fact that these topics were covered make this book, in my opinion not a light, easy read that I feel some readers on here say in their reviews. I just don't think it lived up to it's lighthearted, vibrant synopsis. I did, however, enjoy the pop culture references!!
Also, I'm giving it a 3-3.5 stars here because I have to admit, I did not like the inconsistency of the pace of this story. For the most part, it takes place over one week of Leigh's cross-country travel, but the pace of the writing seemed like it was much more time than that. The story seemed to speed up and slow down too much for my liking. I mean 3/4 of the story takes place over one week. But then, the last part speeds up the story to cover a couple of months in just about 60 pages. That was not a good "feel" after staying on pace with the story. And I was annoyed by how the last 125 pages or so became a labor to read. No joke. It just seemed to go on and on with "scenes" I thought were unnecessary to the advancement of the plot. To me, there wasn't enough writing about how Leigh evolved as a character and really learned about herself. I was satisfied, that she seemed to create a happy-ish ending for herself by reaching out to Chris to see if there was potential romance still there and her decision to finish college then move to Chicago with Jillian. But I feel this ending could have been reached about 60 pages sooner than it did. For this reason, I dock a star off my rating.
July 15, 2018
I feel as if I read a different book from everyone else who wrote RAVING reviews. I honestly couldn't wait until the story was over.
I'll just start off by saying that I was really looking forward to reading this. Road-trip adventures, spontaneous decisions, hitchhiker who has a few secrets of her own..sounds like a GREAT summer read! I was really just disappointed. Yes, the book had some parts where I actually laughed; however, there were plenty of times where I was just annoyed with Leigh.
After getting a kidney transplant, Leigh is able to live her life despite previously convinced that she wouldn't make it to age 30. She believes that she is 'channeling' Larry, the kidney donor. Leigh begins using that as a crutch to make decisions that she normally wouldn't make. I became very irritated how Leigh couldn't make a decision for herself, or at least take ownership of that decision. Instead, she would always say, "What would Larry do?".
While on the road trip, she ends up being blackmailed into picking up a hitchhiker, Denise. Along the way, she meets up with old friends and also meets the family of the kidney donor. While meeting Larry's grandmother, Leigh discovers that Larry was not anyone to admire. She then begins to become depressed and throws a pity-party.
At the end of the book, I also became frustrated. I feel like the ending was rushed and didn't answer all of the questions I had.
For example, did she eventually get a kidney? Since a fortune teller said that someone named Denise is Leigh's guardian angel, would Denise actually become Leigh's donor match?
At the end of the day, I did not enjoy this book at all. This book had so much potential to be a great read; disappointing that it was nowhere near that.
I'll just start off by saying that I was really looking forward to reading this. Road-trip adventures, spontaneous decisions, hitchhiker who has a few secrets of her own..sounds like a GREAT summer read! I was really just disappointed. Yes, the book had some parts where I actually laughed; however, there were plenty of times where I was just annoyed with Leigh.
After getting a kidney transplant, Leigh is able to live her life despite previously convinced that she wouldn't make it to age 30. She believes that she is 'channeling' Larry, the kidney donor. Leigh begins using that as a crutch to make decisions that she normally wouldn't make. I became very irritated how Leigh couldn't make a decision for herself, or at least take ownership of that decision. Instead, she would always say, "What would Larry do?".
While on the road trip, she ends up being blackmailed into picking up a hitchhiker, Denise. Along the way, she meets up with old friends and also meets the family of the kidney donor. While meeting Larry's grandmother, Leigh discovers that Larry was not anyone to admire. She then begins to become depressed and throws a pity-party.
At the end of the book, I also became frustrated. I feel like the ending was rushed and didn't answer all of the questions I had.
For example, did she eventually get a kidney? Since a fortune teller said that someone named Denise is Leigh's guardian angel, would Denise actually become Leigh's donor match?
At the end of the day, I did not enjoy this book at all. This book had so much potential to be a great read; disappointing that it was nowhere near that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2018
Leigh Fielding is going to drive across America to see her estranged mother that abandoned her years ago, and connect with her kidney donor. After spending years trying to control her PKD, going in and out of the hospital, on dialysis, she finally gets a kidney from Larry. Feeling empowered and connected by Larry's kidney she embarks on a hilarious journey. Larry influences her on the inside, determines her new hobbies, and gives her insight on life decisions; however, Larry is not what she expected when he was alive. On her way out of Wisconsin, she meets Denise, and estranged teenager who is trying to escape her abusive boyfriend to see her family in California. Throughout the journey, they go on many stops, the Badlands, Wall Drug, Vegas, and Colorado, picking up various characters along the way. The novel's end takes many twists and turns, eventually landing at an unexpected ending.
I love this book. LOVE. The author is absolutely hilarious, I’m also from Wisconsin, and reading books from here is amazing. I really liked Leigh's story. I thought it was unique and awe-inspiring. The ending is not what you expect either, her life does not go towards a happy conclusion as you want it too. She does find comfort and peace and hope for the future, but she also has a journey ahead of her before that happens. This is a great summer read, and I will be reading it again.
I love this book. LOVE. The author is absolutely hilarious, I’m also from Wisconsin, and reading books from here is amazing. I really liked Leigh's story. I thought it was unique and awe-inspiring. The ending is not what you expect either, her life does not go towards a happy conclusion as you want it too. She does find comfort and peace and hope for the future, but she also has a journey ahead of her before that happens. This is a great summer read, and I will be reading it again.
May 18, 2023
I loved this one. This book felt more like an autobiography than an actual fiction book, although it most certainly is fiction. I did some research and it sounds like the author doesn't have PKD (the awfully debilitating diagnosis that means your kidneys don't work properly), but has friends who have it. She really made that diagnosis come to life.
I felt the main character was 100% believable. Her asides and occasional stream of conscience were fun and full of relatable pop culture references (especially for me, an elder millennial). I loved that it wasn't just a romance (although I enjoy romance). Her romantic interest was just one small part of her road trip adventure.
I have some health issues myself and books that deal with health issues, or even day-to-day health concerns are few and far between. This book felt real because the author talked about dealing with real actual health problems. Looking at her pee. Feeling a sharp pain in her side. Worrying about a kidney transplant. All of those things made me love the main character. I would love to spend more time with this character but I also felt like the ending was good enough for me to feel complete.
I felt the main character was 100% believable. Her asides and occasional stream of conscience were fun and full of relatable pop culture references (especially for me, an elder millennial). I loved that it wasn't just a romance (although I enjoy romance). Her romantic interest was just one small part of her road trip adventure.
I have some health issues myself and books that deal with health issues, or even day-to-day health concerns are few and far between. This book felt real because the author talked about dealing with real actual health problems. Looking at her pee. Feeling a sharp pain in her side. Worrying about a kidney transplant. All of those things made me love the main character. I would love to spend more time with this character but I also felt like the ending was good enough for me to feel complete.
October 9, 2017
I am not usually a fiction book reader, but I really enjoyed this book. I had been looking up books with the subject of 'RV travel', and this came up. I kept expecting an RV to figure into the story... Meet Leigh, who has PKD (polycystic kidney disease), and has had a kidney transplant. Feeling sorry for herself, and seeking adventure, she takes off from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin towards California, to visit her estranged mother. Jess Riley has a wry sense of humor and brings that to Leigh. Meeting quirky characters on the way makes for a great adventure. Liked this a lot...
June 3, 2017
I will bet there are plenty of people that would love this book. I can't seem to get into it - I think some of the things that are supposed to be funny just rub me the wrong way. There is no other way to explain it. Did Not Finish after page 60ish. I tried. I'm the type of person who needs closure and finishes books no matter what. This might be my first DNF ever. I couldn't relate to the main character enough to care about the rest of the story.
December 30, 2018
Great main character
Fun, witty, sarcastic and interesting. I didn’t know what to expect which I really liked about this book. I also liked learning about pkd and getting some insight to how it would feel to live with dialysis. Glad I read it. I’m a nurse and it actually made me look up dialysis nurses for a possible future job.
Fun, witty, sarcastic and interesting. I didn’t know what to expect which I really liked about this book. I also liked learning about pkd and getting some insight to how it would feel to live with dialysis. Glad I read it. I’m a nurse and it actually made me look up dialysis nurses for a possible future job.
January 4, 2017
Laughed a lot at this one but felt the ending was a bit weird...almost like the author wasn't sure how to tie it up.
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