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Roadside Attractions
Stella and Roman were supposed to be forever.
However, that was before Roman left Stella with nothing but a note detailing vague plans to "find himself" and see new places. Now, it's just Stella, her broken heart, and an extra half of the rent to pay.
Enter Wyatt Song--free-spirited, infuriatingly attractive, and a notorious player. Roman's best friend, and the bane of Stella's existence. As it turns out, Stella isn't the only one Roman screwed over, and there's nothing like revenge to bring together two people who can't stand each other.
One uncharacteristically impulsive decision later, Stella ends up on a cross-country road trip to track down her ex with his (former) best friend. Somewhere along the way, between dodgy accommodations, car troubles, and misadventures, Stella finds herself battling her unexpected, and undeniable chemistry with Wyatt.
The last thing she needs is to fall for someone new when she's fresh off the heels of her heartbreak. But this whirlwind of a trip may not give her a choice in the matter.
However, that was before Roman left Stella with nothing but a note detailing vague plans to "find himself" and see new places. Now, it's just Stella, her broken heart, and an extra half of the rent to pay.
Enter Wyatt Song--free-spirited, infuriatingly attractive, and a notorious player. Roman's best friend, and the bane of Stella's existence. As it turns out, Stella isn't the only one Roman screwed over, and there's nothing like revenge to bring together two people who can't stand each other.
One uncharacteristically impulsive decision later, Stella ends up on a cross-country road trip to track down her ex with his (former) best friend. Somewhere along the way, between dodgy accommodations, car troubles, and misadventures, Stella finds herself battling her unexpected, and undeniable chemistry with Wyatt.
The last thing she needs is to fall for someone new when she's fresh off the heels of her heartbreak. But this whirlwind of a trip may not give her a choice in the matter.
331 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 8, 2024
6 people are currently reading
221 people want to read
About the author
Mara Quinn
1 book21 followersMara Quinn enjoys her love stories with a good dose of comedy, and a slew of lovable side characters. When she's not hunkered down over her laptop, you can find her complaining about the weather, rewatching her comfort sitcoms, or dancing around her kitchen.
Find her on Instagram @maraquinnbooks
Find her on Instagram @maraquinnbooks
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
October 1, 2024
DISCLAIMER: this novel was received as an ARC (advanced reader copy) in exchange for an honest review. this was my first ARC, and i’ll forever be grateful to mara quinn for trusting me with this very important task!
this book is as much as a mushy-gushy love story as it is witty, funny, smart, honest and quotable (“if there’s one thing a man will always have, it’s the audacity” - like COME ON). i adore that it’s canadian based story written by a canadian author that doesn’t try to hard to be canadian.
while the female main character (FMC), stella, was a bit off putting at the start, she grew on me very quickly. this is her self love, self compassion, and self growth story. we love stella. the male main character (MMC), wyatt, is the ultimate book boyfriend if i was forced to pick one (i do wish we got his point of view (POV) once in a while.) but i will die on the hill that noor is the best best friend a girl could ever have and, mara, please accept this as my formal request for a book about noor and her amazingness.
overall, this book is extremely fun and easy-going while tackling some hard issues. i laughed, i cried, and i resonate more than i expected with stella and her mother (who saw that coming?) i highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a good time, and i also highly recommend following their road trip across canada in the maps app on your phone (yes i did that, and no i’m not ashamed).
this book is as much as a mushy-gushy love story as it is witty, funny, smart, honest and quotable (“if there’s one thing a man will always have, it’s the audacity” - like COME ON). i adore that it’s canadian based story written by a canadian author that doesn’t try to hard to be canadian.
while the female main character (FMC), stella, was a bit off putting at the start, she grew on me very quickly. this is her self love, self compassion, and self growth story. we love stella. the male main character (MMC), wyatt, is the ultimate book boyfriend if i was forced to pick one (i do wish we got his point of view (POV) once in a while.) but i will die on the hill that noor is the best best friend a girl could ever have and, mara, please accept this as my formal request for a book about noor and her amazingness.
overall, this book is extremely fun and easy-going while tackling some hard issues. i laughed, i cried, and i resonate more than i expected with stella and her mother (who saw that coming?) i highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a good time, and i also highly recommend following their road trip across canada in the maps app on your phone (yes i did that, and no i’m not ashamed).
September 24, 2024
( This novel was received as an ARC in exchange for an honest review)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I read this book in under 24 hours because I could NOT put it down!
Setting ✨
This was my first ever road trip romance so I was a bit nervous that I would not like the layout. I LOVED IT, the use of rural Canada and various cities was an amazing idea. I never read books that take place there so it was very refreshing.
Stella ✨
The introduction to Stella (the narrator/perspective of the entire story) was well done from the introduction to the plots down to the character development throughout the road trip. She did drive me a bit insane at some parts but it was all for the sake of good story writing.
Wyatt✨
He is officially one of the best book boyfriends I have ever read about. I love a sweet romance, which was no different from what he delivered in his motivations and actions. His relationship to Stella and Roman was well thought-out and I was rooting for him from the first written interaction!
If you love a slow burn, grumpy x sunshine lovers plot, this is the book for YOU! I am also happy for the person of colour representation that felt natural and meant to be as it always should! I cannot wait to see what other stories the author of this novel conjures up!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I read this book in under 24 hours because I could NOT put it down!
Setting ✨
This was my first ever road trip romance so I was a bit nervous that I would not like the layout. I LOVED IT, the use of rural Canada and various cities was an amazing idea. I never read books that take place there so it was very refreshing.
Stella ✨
The introduction to Stella (the narrator/perspective of the entire story) was well done from the introduction to the plots down to the character development throughout the road trip. She did drive me a bit insane at some parts but it was all for the sake of good story writing.
Wyatt✨
He is officially one of the best book boyfriends I have ever read about. I love a sweet romance, which was no different from what he delivered in his motivations and actions. His relationship to Stella and Roman was well thought-out and I was rooting for him from the first written interaction!
If you love a slow burn, grumpy x sunshine lovers plot, this is the book for YOU! I am also happy for the person of colour representation that felt natural and meant to be as it always should! I cannot wait to see what other stories the author of this novel conjures up!
January 18, 2025
I wanted to really love this book, but I did find that the FMC made it hard for me to love it as much as I wanted to. 3/4 of the book was her being the densest person on planet earth, and fighting her feelings tooth and nail, I felt myself doing a fair amount of eye rolling. In the epiphany moment this book went from I can’t like him to I think I love him so fast it kind of gave me whiplash. I did really enjoy the premise of the book though, and the odd little scenarios and places the characters found themselves in, and the last 3rd of the book sort of pulled it together for me (minus some falling into old patterns) so I I would still give this book a 3.5.
October 4, 2024
Disclaimer: this book was received as an ARC in exchange for a honest review.
SOOOO cute. I will be completely honest, Canadian (mainly AB) locations give me the ick since I live here lol but this one was done well! It had a great build up, was very natural in its progression and I never wanted to put it down. It was cheesy and lovable - which sometimes you just need. And for a DEBUT novel? Pop off Mara!
My only (personal) flaw was that I desperately wanted Wyatt’s POV. It didn’t take away from not having it, but I would have loved to see things go back and forth.
SOOOO cute. I will be completely honest, Canadian (mainly AB) locations give me the ick since I live here lol but this one was done well! It had a great build up, was very natural in its progression and I never wanted to put it down. It was cheesy and lovable - which sometimes you just need. And for a DEBUT novel? Pop off Mara!
My only (personal) flaw was that I desperately wanted Wyatt’s POV. It didn’t take away from not having it, but I would have loved to see things go back and forth.
September 28, 2024
Thank you Mara Quinn for the ARC! This was incredible! I couldn’t put it down! I loved the road trip romance and how easy it was to follow! There were so many elements to the story which I wasn’t expecting and it had me flipping through the pages to find out what happened! The slow burn was perfect and Mara Quinn will definitely be an auto-buy for me moving forward. The banter and chemistry kept me on my toes and it felt like the perfect length.
October 3, 2024
Disclaimer: received as an ARC.
I LOVED this book so much! Mara did an amazing job with the characters! I love Stella, her charm, her eventual vulnerability coming together. She’s a strong FMC!🫶🏼 I loved the legit road trip you go on with the MC and you feel like you’re going across Canada with them. Do I want to stay in Elbow, SK likely not, but maybe I need to have a grumble convo with George 😂
I can’t wait to see what’s next for Mara Quinn, sign me up!📚💚
I LOVED this book so much! Mara did an amazing job with the characters! I love Stella, her charm, her eventual vulnerability coming together. She’s a strong FMC!🫶🏼 I loved the legit road trip you go on with the MC and you feel like you’re going across Canada with them. Do I want to stay in Elbow, SK likely not, but maybe I need to have a grumble convo with George 😂
I can’t wait to see what’s next for Mara Quinn, sign me up!📚💚
October 13, 2024
yall better mark your calendars for october 8th!!!! so so good!! such a funny, easy, cute and amazing read! I ate this book up soooo fast and I never wanted it to end😭 I even fucked up my sleep schedule for it (that's when you know it's good)
thank you so much mara for giving me the opportunity to beta read it! I had SO MUCH fun getting to experience Stella and Wyatt and I'm so excited for the rest of the world to get to experience it too!
full review on my insta:) https://www.instagram.com/p/DA6UxUYP_...
thank you so much mara for giving me the opportunity to beta read it! I had SO MUCH fun getting to experience Stella and Wyatt and I'm so excited for the rest of the world to get to experience it too!
full review on my insta:) https://www.instagram.com/p/DA6UxUYP_...
October 4, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
When I first saw a snippet of this book, I needed to read it immediately and I was so excited to have received an advance copy!
Roadside Attractions was a funny, heartwarming read and it was just what I needed. I loved the road trip aspect of it and the chapter titles having their current location.
The characters were realistic and you couldn't help but root for them! Getting to see the growth within and between the characters added so much depth to the story and made it that much better. We also have POC and LGBTQ+ rep in this book!
Let me tell you now, the slow burn was slooooow burning. But, it was absolutely perfect for the tropes and plotline of the story! I'm not typically a slow burn fan because I'm super impatient but, I loved this read.
Thank you to Mara Quinn for the ARC and the opportunity to read this lovely debut! All opinions are honest and my own.
When I first saw a snippet of this book, I needed to read it immediately and I was so excited to have received an advance copy!
Roadside Attractions was a funny, heartwarming read and it was just what I needed. I loved the road trip aspect of it and the chapter titles having their current location.
The characters were realistic and you couldn't help but root for them! Getting to see the growth within and between the characters added so much depth to the story and made it that much better. We also have POC and LGBTQ+ rep in this book!
Let me tell you now, the slow burn was slooooow burning. But, it was absolutely perfect for the tropes and plotline of the story! I'm not typically a slow burn fan because I'm super impatient but, I loved this read.
Thank you to Mara Quinn for the ARC and the opportunity to read this lovely debut! All opinions are honest and my own.
October 20, 2024
A billion stars, all the stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
”Despite how long we’ve known each other, I feel like you crashed into me. And now I don’t want to go back to what my life was before you.”
I swear to god Stella and Wyatt are soulmates and meant to be.
Roadside Attractions was the most wholesome romance of two people who didn’t realize they were meant to be together until a really terrible situation happened, and while they worked through that situation separate and together, they fell in love.
Tropes:
🗺️ Enemies to Lovers
🗺️ He falls first
🗺️ Opposites attract
🗺️ Slow burn (RE: the payoff in Chapter 25)
🗺️ Forced proximity
🗺️ Grumpy x Sunshine
🗺️ Ex-boyfriend’s best friend
When Roman left Stella, his girlfriend, with nothing but a note, Stella was left to mend the pieces of her broken heart, wondering why she wasn’t good enough for a goodbye. When Roman left Wyatt, his best friend, Wyatt was angry and wondering how his ‘brother’ could just pick up and leave with no explanation. Together, against their dismay, Stella and Wyatt team up on the ultimate cross-Canadian road trip from Toronto to Tofino to confront this jerk face to face.
Along the way, Wyatt helps Stella through her heartbreak, encouraging her to try new things and showing her a version of herself she didn’t know existed. Stella realizes that, amidst her heartbreak, she has become the best version of herself. Wyatt confesses his years-long love for Stella, and Stella opens her heart to the unexpected. (Cue the feet kicking!!!)
There’s also a sub storyline that was important between Stella and her mom, which truly resonated with me along the lines of narcissistic parent who “only wants the best for you” [her]. I truly feel like Stella working through this rocky relationship helped her personal growth as well, but it also helped her realize how in love with Wyatt she is (aka, not everyone will abandon you and treat you horribly).
This debut novel was out of this world fantastic and I could not get enough. My heart throbbed the entire time watching Wyatt break down Stella’s walls and seeing Stella slowly let him in. I’m a sucker for slow burn and the burn being worth it, and this checked all the boxes.
Bonus: the journey they took to Tofino reminded me of moving from Northern Ontario to Victoria (& back to Ontario lol) and the nostalgia behind it 🥹
Thank you Mara Quinn for the opportunity to read this ARC (your debut novel!!!) in exchange for an honest review! Please keep writing because this book was incredible.
”Despite how long we’ve known each other, I feel like you crashed into me. And now I don’t want to go back to what my life was before you.”
I swear to god Stella and Wyatt are soulmates and meant to be.
Roadside Attractions was the most wholesome romance of two people who didn’t realize they were meant to be together until a really terrible situation happened, and while they worked through that situation separate and together, they fell in love.
Tropes:
🗺️ Enemies to Lovers
🗺️ He falls first
🗺️ Opposites attract
🗺️ Slow burn (RE: the payoff in Chapter 25)
🗺️ Forced proximity
🗺️ Grumpy x Sunshine
🗺️ Ex-boyfriend’s best friend
When Roman left Stella, his girlfriend, with nothing but a note, Stella was left to mend the pieces of her broken heart, wondering why she wasn’t good enough for a goodbye. When Roman left Wyatt, his best friend, Wyatt was angry and wondering how his ‘brother’ could just pick up and leave with no explanation. Together, against their dismay, Stella and Wyatt team up on the ultimate cross-Canadian road trip from Toronto to Tofino to confront this jerk face to face.
Along the way, Wyatt helps Stella through her heartbreak, encouraging her to try new things and showing her a version of herself she didn’t know existed. Stella realizes that, amidst her heartbreak, she has become the best version of herself. Wyatt confesses his years-long love for Stella, and Stella opens her heart to the unexpected. (Cue the feet kicking!!!)
There’s also a sub storyline that was important between Stella and her mom, which truly resonated with me along the lines of narcissistic parent who “only wants the best for you” [her]. I truly feel like Stella working through this rocky relationship helped her personal growth as well, but it also helped her realize how in love with Wyatt she is (aka, not everyone will abandon you and treat you horribly).
This debut novel was out of this world fantastic and I could not get enough. My heart throbbed the entire time watching Wyatt break down Stella’s walls and seeing Stella slowly let him in. I’m a sucker for slow burn and the burn being worth it, and this checked all the boxes.
Bonus: the journey they took to Tofino reminded me of moving from Northern Ontario to Victoria (& back to Ontario lol) and the nostalgia behind it 🥹
Thank you Mara Quinn for the opportunity to read this ARC (your debut novel!!!) in exchange for an honest review! Please keep writing because this book was incredible.
January 2, 2025
When I say I couldn’t put this book down I really couldn’t!! This book was such a mushy love story between two people who were wronged by one person.
Stella (FMC) really grew on me quickly she gave me black cat vibes and I love when authors make the female characters grump 🤭. Wyatt (MMC) was so sweet and the ultimate book boyfriend, I did wish he had his on POV though.
The book was very easy and fun to read. I’ve never read a road trip romance this good honestly I felt like I was on the trip with them! Mara did a very good job with this book. 100% recommend!
Stella (FMC) really grew on me quickly she gave me black cat vibes and I love when authors make the female characters grump 🤭. Wyatt (MMC) was so sweet and the ultimate book boyfriend, I did wish he had his on POV though.
The book was very easy and fun to read. I’ve never read a road trip romance this good honestly I felt like I was on the trip with them! Mara did a very good job with this book. 100% recommend!
October 8, 2024
10s, 10s, 10s across the board 🙌🏽 this was an amazing debut, I absolutely fell in love with Mara’s writing, if you’re an Emily Henry girly I feel like you’ll definitely enjoy this.
This is a single POV, slow burn romance from the perspective of the FMC Stella, who has recently been dumped by her poet boyfriend Roman via letter. However she isn’t the only person he has wronged. His best friend Wyatt was also betrayed by him so Wyatt decides to take a road trip to find Roman and confront him, conveniently Stella has two weeks off from work and decides to join him on his quest to find her ex. The gag is she can’t stand Wyatt but the two must learn to get along if they hope to catch Roman in time.
Road trip romances are always a fun time because there are so many things that can go wrong along the way which Mara executed perfectly. The pacing of the book made me almost forget that this was taking place within two weeks because it felt like the two MCs got up to so much, everything came about quite naturally and didn’t feel forced and they had the best banter. The MCs have been in each others lives for four years only because of Roman but the road trip brought the two closer than ever as they realise they share more similarities than differences.
Although this is single POV I love the way Mara was able to convey Wyatt’s true feelings for Stella without even letting us get inside his mind! There were times on the trip where he tries to get Stella out of her comfort zone, even though he has romantic feelings towards her he didn’t act upon them, giving Stella that freedom to do what she wants as well as the push to get over her ex Roman. If he wanted to he could’ve taken advantage of that but he didn’t.
One thing that worked really well is the communication between the MCs. Stella brings up her insecurities about potentially being with Wyatt which I thought was so realistic because it meant that they didn’t just jump straight into a relationship after two weeks. Wyatt gives her the time and space to figure things out rather than being forceful or putting pressure on her.
This is a single POV, slow burn romance from the perspective of the FMC Stella, who has recently been dumped by her poet boyfriend Roman via letter. However she isn’t the only person he has wronged. His best friend Wyatt was also betrayed by him so Wyatt decides to take a road trip to find Roman and confront him, conveniently Stella has two weeks off from work and decides to join him on his quest to find her ex. The gag is she can’t stand Wyatt but the two must learn to get along if they hope to catch Roman in time.
Road trip romances are always a fun time because there are so many things that can go wrong along the way which Mara executed perfectly. The pacing of the book made me almost forget that this was taking place within two weeks because it felt like the two MCs got up to so much, everything came about quite naturally and didn’t feel forced and they had the best banter. The MCs have been in each others lives for four years only because of Roman but the road trip brought the two closer than ever as they realise they share more similarities than differences.
Although this is single POV I love the way Mara was able to convey Wyatt’s true feelings for Stella without even letting us get inside his mind! There were times on the trip where he tries to get Stella out of her comfort zone, even though he has romantic feelings towards her he didn’t act upon them, giving Stella that freedom to do what she wants as well as the push to get over her ex Roman. If he wanted to he could’ve taken advantage of that but he didn’t.
One thing that worked really well is the communication between the MCs. Stella brings up her insecurities about potentially being with Wyatt which I thought was so realistic because it meant that they didn’t just jump straight into a relationship after two weeks. Wyatt gives her the time and space to figure things out rather than being forceful or putting pressure on her.
October 2, 2024
*Received as an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
ROADSIDE ATTRACTION is Mara Quinn's debut novel, and I think it's a solid start that shows a lot of potential in Quinn to be a solid romance author.
Stella and Wyatt were a fun couple to read about and I liked their dynamic. I enjoyed their rivalry, and how they came together and sort of set aside their differences in the name of revenge (screw Roman, he was a grade A asshole). The bumps and twists their journey took were interesting and I liked how each one helped Stella warm up to Wyatt. You really got to see just how immature and toxic Roman was, and how his walking out on them both was really a gift in disguise.
✅POC rep
✅enemies to lovers
✅he falls first & hard
✅road trip in the name of sweet revenge
✅slow burn
I will say I think it could have been a bit more polished, and perhaps trimmed. A lot of their issues were rehashed when I really think it wasn't necessary. We know that Stella doesn't like him, we don't need to be reminded so frequently. The chapters are written in Stella's POV and quite a few times she says he's not someone she should fall for. If you're writing the story correctly, you don't have to continuously remind the reader of these facts. We're reading an enemies to lovers story, we have some idea of what to expect.
A personal quibble that might not bother other readers - I didn't like the cover. Don't get me wrong, its well done, but the characters look so young I found it hard to picture them as anything else and they're supposed to be in their mid-twenties.
Overall, I like Quinn's take on the road trip trope. I loved the representation (POC, LGBTQ+) and I'm interested to see what else Quinn comes up with.
ROADSIDE ATTRACTION is Mara Quinn's debut novel, and I think it's a solid start that shows a lot of potential in Quinn to be a solid romance author.
Stella and Wyatt were a fun couple to read about and I liked their dynamic. I enjoyed their rivalry, and how they came together and sort of set aside their differences in the name of revenge (screw Roman, he was a grade A asshole). The bumps and twists their journey took were interesting and I liked how each one helped Stella warm up to Wyatt. You really got to see just how immature and toxic Roman was, and how his walking out on them both was really a gift in disguise.
✅POC rep
✅enemies to lovers
✅he falls first & hard
✅road trip in the name of sweet revenge
✅slow burn
I will say I think it could have been a bit more polished, and perhaps trimmed. A lot of their issues were rehashed when I really think it wasn't necessary. We know that Stella doesn't like him, we don't need to be reminded so frequently. The chapters are written in Stella's POV and quite a few times she says he's not someone she should fall for. If you're writing the story correctly, you don't have to continuously remind the reader of these facts. We're reading an enemies to lovers story, we have some idea of what to expect.
A personal quibble that might not bother other readers - I didn't like the cover. Don't get me wrong, its well done, but the characters look so young I found it hard to picture them as anything else and they're supposed to be in their mid-twenties.
Overall, I like Quinn's take on the road trip trope. I loved the representation (POC, LGBTQ+) and I'm interested to see what else Quinn comes up with.
September 24, 2024
This book delivered 100% of its potential!!! I absolutely loved the road trip aspect of this book, it was different and unique.
Stella is a firecracker, she drove me insane though I wanted to shake her so badly in some parts. Wyatt is so sweet and loving, and I loved how much fun he added to the road trip. Their relationship was full banter from the get go and it turned so adorable!!! Big bonus point for the tattoos, I’m obsessed with those moments.
The only thing I wish was different is that I wanted dual POVs but honestly other than that this book was an amazing discovery, an easy and cozy read. I highly recommend!
𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨 :
• he falls first
• forced proximity
• grumpy x sunshine
• enemies to lovers
• ex boyfriend’s best friend
𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 : 4.25 ★
Thank you Mara Quinn for an e-ARC copy.
Stella is a firecracker, she drove me insane though I wanted to shake her so badly in some parts. Wyatt is so sweet and loving, and I loved how much fun he added to the road trip. Their relationship was full banter from the get go and it turned so adorable!!! Big bonus point for the tattoos, I’m obsessed with those moments.
The only thing I wish was different is that I wanted dual POVs but honestly other than that this book was an amazing discovery, an easy and cozy read. I highly recommend!
𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨 :
• he falls first
• forced proximity
• grumpy x sunshine
• enemies to lovers
• ex boyfriend’s best friend
𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 : 4.25 ★
Thank you Mara Quinn for an e-ARC copy.
October 6, 2024
This was a super cute debut novel! This was my first road trip read, and what I loved most was that it was across Canada so I could easily visualize their whereabuts. The banter and button pushing was great and, at times, had me laughing out loud. For my own personal liking, I felt like it was repetitive at times and missing something to have me fully engrossed in the story. The story is written in just Stella's POV, and I would have loved to know Wyatt's POV. Overall, it's super cute, fun, and an easy read.
October 9, 2024
4.5 stars.
Disclaimer: this novel was received as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely adored this book, I couldn’t put it down. I loved the rivalry between Stella and Wyatt and seeing it slowly becoming something more. This was the first time I’ve ever read a road trip romance which was one of the things that intrigued me about this book. Each place they visited brought a new side of them that they didn’t know about each other. I loved the diversity and representation throughout the book. I can’t wait to see what else Mara Quinn has in store for future works!!!
Disclaimer: this novel was received as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely adored this book, I couldn’t put it down. I loved the rivalry between Stella and Wyatt and seeing it slowly becoming something more. This was the first time I’ve ever read a road trip romance which was one of the things that intrigued me about this book. Each place they visited brought a new side of them that they didn’t know about each other. I loved the diversity and representation throughout the book. I can’t wait to see what else Mara Quinn has in store for future works!!!
October 7, 2024
I received this novel as an ARC for my honest review.
Overall 3.5 stars
Travelling across Canada is not for the faint of heart, I loved the little towns that were explored throughout the novel!
The slow burn took too long for me, I love an enemies to lovers and forced proximity - it just took too long. but I absolutely loved how the side characters are were all included and tied up by the end of the book - I loved that I felt complete at the end of the book.
Overall - amazing debut novel!
Overall 3.5 stars
Travelling across Canada is not for the faint of heart, I loved the little towns that were explored throughout the novel!
The slow burn took too long for me, I love an enemies to lovers and forced proximity - it just took too long. but I absolutely loved how the side characters are were all included and tied up by the end of the book - I loved that I felt complete at the end of the book.
Overall - amazing debut novel!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2024
(novel received as an arc in exchange for an honest review)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
this book was such a fun read!
this is Mara Quinn’s debut novel: it’s a slow-burn, grumpy x sunshine, close proximity road trip romance that keeps you hooked from the beginning. i enjoyed reading about the small towns they visited and loved the chemistry between the two characters, especially the banter between them! i loved the representation of POC main characters and LGBTQ+ characters included in this book.
i thoroughly enjoyed reading Roadside Attractions and i look forward to seeing what Mara Quinn does next.
thank you so much for gifting me this arc!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
this book was such a fun read!
this is Mara Quinn’s debut novel: it’s a slow-burn, grumpy x sunshine, close proximity road trip romance that keeps you hooked from the beginning. i enjoyed reading about the small towns they visited and loved the chemistry between the two characters, especially the banter between them! i loved the representation of POC main characters and LGBTQ+ characters included in this book.
i thoroughly enjoyed reading Roadside Attractions and i look forward to seeing what Mara Quinn does next.
thank you so much for gifting me this arc!
September 9, 2024
This is one of the coziest and cutest romance books of 2024 (and I’m honored to beta read it!)
September 27, 2024
4.5/5 stars! ⭐️ So honoured to have gotten to be an ARC reader for such an amazing debut!!
Stella and Wyatt embark on a revenge road trip across Canada and are met with unexpected stops and new (and old?) realizations.
As a fellow Canadian, I LOVED reading about their cross country road trip. So many fun, quirky side characters which made for incredible call-back jokes. This book was filled with great banter, great chemistry, a great great great MMC (i love Wyatt) and was such an enjoyable read.
Mark your calendars for October 8th!!! You can’t miss this one. 💚🚗🗺️
Stella and Wyatt embark on a revenge road trip across Canada and are met with unexpected stops and new (and old?) realizations.
As a fellow Canadian, I LOVED reading about their cross country road trip. So many fun, quirky side characters which made for incredible call-back jokes. This book was filled with great banter, great chemistry, a great great great MMC (i love Wyatt) and was such an enjoyable read.
Mark your calendars for October 8th!!! You can’t miss this one. 💚🚗🗺️
October 12, 2024
Disclaimer: this book was received as an ARC
First of all I’d like to thanks Mara Quinn for providing me this ARC because that was so good ?!??
You’re telling this was a debut novel ?? I was so excited to get it and it only got better when I had it under my eyes !!
I loved Stella and Wyatt, they were adorable and relatable and I really got to connect with each of them!
The writing was actually so good and I didn’t see time pass as I read Roadside Attractions.
The concept of a roadtrip is also super original and made me like the book tenfold more, feeling like I got to travel with them all along !!
To continue the fact that there was only one pov made it all better for the confessions and the dynamics between Wyatt and Stella and in the book overall.
The playlist was chefs kiss and made it all better and omg the banter between them ?? PER-FECT 🤌🏼
I’m so excited to see where Mara Quinn is headed next and let me tell you that I’ll 100% be behind her supporting her !!!
First of all I’d like to thanks Mara Quinn for providing me this ARC because that was so good ?!??
You’re telling this was a debut novel ?? I was so excited to get it and it only got better when I had it under my eyes !!
I loved Stella and Wyatt, they were adorable and relatable and I really got to connect with each of them!
The writing was actually so good and I didn’t see time pass as I read Roadside Attractions.
The concept of a roadtrip is also super original and made me like the book tenfold more, feeling like I got to travel with them all along !!
To continue the fact that there was only one pov made it all better for the confessions and the dynamics between Wyatt and Stella and in the book overall.
The playlist was chefs kiss and made it all better and omg the banter between them ?? PER-FECT 🤌🏼
I’m so excited to see where Mara Quinn is headed next and let me tell you that I’ll 100% be behind her supporting her !!!
September 26, 2024
I absolutely adore Wyatt and Stella!
He was honestly such a nicely written MMC and I loved the dynamic he had with Stella throughout the book. He loved to push her buttons when he could but was always making sure she was comfortable and didn’t push through her boundaries. He was overall very likeable. 9/10 book boyfriend for sure!
I also really enjoyed Noor as a side character, her support and love for Stella absolutely came through on the pages. I loved their phone calls together and I’m glad to see she got her HEA at the end of the series as well.
Stella as a character was nice to see. She wasn’t a “pick-me” kinda character that is found in romantic books right now. Instead she was strong willed, funny, determined, and tried to not let her break up experience get to her. Of course she’s only human and she’s allowed to feel sad and upset, especially after 4 years. And Wyatt was nothing but kind to her when she was having some of her sadder moments, which she finds so drastic since he used to be a bit of a jerk to her.
The story as a Canadian was SO nice to read about. As someone born in Ontario and currently living in Alberta, it was great to see a road trip across the country from ON to BC, visiting a bunch of little towns and provincial parks in between. It made me relate to the book just a little bit more since I knew the communities the FMC and MMC were from/visited. It definitely immersed me more into the story and I absolutely LOVED that.
I’m so happy that the characters get a HEA as far as we can tell. It took roughly 350 pages to get there but the buildup was well worth it. Their revenge on Roman was nicely handled and I didn’t see the plot twist about the plagiarism coming at all! It was great to see how Roman was the villain, who was also someone we could easily run into in our own lives. It made it much more believable. I do feel bad both ladies were deceived by Roman BUT I am thrilled that Margot wasn’t mad at Stella at all and they were both mad at Roman. All too often the women fight each other and blame each other, despite the man being the problem.
Overall a great romance book! I’d likely read it again on a nice cozy day. It’s not too long of a book and it’s nicely paced so I don’t feel like I’m missing out when I sadly have to book the book down.
Overall 5/5. I enjoyed the characters and the story greatly. I hope whoever reads this book enjoyed it as much as I did!
[As an ARC reader, I’m grateful for the opportunity to read this book early. My review is entirely honest and based on my own thoughts and experiences with reading this story, others might have different opinions that I do. I’m excited to provide fair feedback that will help both the author and potential readers.]
He was honestly such a nicely written MMC and I loved the dynamic he had with Stella throughout the book. He loved to push her buttons when he could but was always making sure she was comfortable and didn’t push through her boundaries. He was overall very likeable. 9/10 book boyfriend for sure!
I also really enjoyed Noor as a side character, her support and love for Stella absolutely came through on the pages. I loved their phone calls together and I’m glad to see she got her HEA at the end of the series as well.
Stella as a character was nice to see. She wasn’t a “pick-me” kinda character that is found in romantic books right now. Instead she was strong willed, funny, determined, and tried to not let her break up experience get to her. Of course she’s only human and she’s allowed to feel sad and upset, especially after 4 years. And Wyatt was nothing but kind to her when she was having some of her sadder moments, which she finds so drastic since he used to be a bit of a jerk to her.
The story as a Canadian was SO nice to read about. As someone born in Ontario and currently living in Alberta, it was great to see a road trip across the country from ON to BC, visiting a bunch of little towns and provincial parks in between. It made me relate to the book just a little bit more since I knew the communities the FMC and MMC were from/visited. It definitely immersed me more into the story and I absolutely LOVED that.
I’m so happy that the characters get a HEA as far as we can tell. It took roughly 350 pages to get there but the buildup was well worth it. Their revenge on Roman was nicely handled and I didn’t see the plot twist about the plagiarism coming at all! It was great to see how Roman was the villain, who was also someone we could easily run into in our own lives. It made it much more believable. I do feel bad both ladies were deceived by Roman BUT I am thrilled that Margot wasn’t mad at Stella at all and they were both mad at Roman. All too often the women fight each other and blame each other, despite the man being the problem.
Overall a great romance book! I’d likely read it again on a nice cozy day. It’s not too long of a book and it’s nicely paced so I don’t feel like I’m missing out when I sadly have to book the book down.
Overall 5/5. I enjoyed the characters and the story greatly. I hope whoever reads this book enjoyed it as much as I did!
[As an ARC reader, I’m grateful for the opportunity to read this book early. My review is entirely honest and based on my own thoughts and experiences with reading this story, others might have different opinions that I do. I’m excited to provide fair feedback that will help both the author and potential readers.]
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2024
I LOVED it. It’s everything I look for in a cutesy romance book. We have forced proximity, opposites attract, AND he falls first (and when I tell you he falls first, he falls first and HARD). It’s a spell for a book I will love, and I DO love it. I think the whole premise was so funny and creative. Roman literally dumps Stella and Wyatt and steals money from both of them while abandoning them. Stella and Wyatt, even though they really can’t stand each other, team up and road trip across Canada (love me some Canadian rep!!) to get their money back.
Stella and Wyatt are exactly the kinds of characters I eat up every time in a romance book. Their banter was perfect, the use of calling Stella her last name (or My Girl, or Stella Jane for that matter), the teasing, the back and forth, literally everything was great. They had cute little side journeys during the road trip and the writing style was one I slipped into very fast. I cared about what was happening and wanted to see revenge be dealt.
and dealt with it was.
When Stella unclasped the necklace Roman gave her and threw it in the trash in front of Wyatt? perfect
The finding out Roman has plagiarized his whole career and sends the proof to the magazine he just partnered with? perfect
Finding out Roman was cheating on Stella for MONTHS, only for that woman to be at the beach when Stella and Wyatt confront Roman and ends up leaving Roman after finding out she was the “other woman”? perfect
When Roman called Stella his “sloppy seconds,” Wyatt literally “lunges forward, his fist meeting Roman’s jaw with a sickening crack.” PERFECT
I did have to take away one star because there is one thing I have firm boundaries on and that’s the care and thought into tattoos. I love me a good tattoo but man it has to be done right. I hate how it was on a dare so then Stella can “prove” she is fun. I didn’t appreciate how it was blind and Stella had no idea what it was. I didn’t appreciate how the artist was super down with this. I feel like if it was really life the artist would have shut it down immediately. And sure the ending of the book was cute cause Wyatt got a semi-matching one but I’m still not sold.
I still loved this book and I can’t wait to see it out in the world!
This novel was received as an ARC (advanced reader copy) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Mara Quinn for allowing me to review this book early, I am forever grateful!
Stella and Wyatt are exactly the kinds of characters I eat up every time in a romance book. Their banter was perfect, the use of calling Stella her last name (or My Girl, or Stella Jane for that matter), the teasing, the back and forth, literally everything was great. They had cute little side journeys during the road trip and the writing style was one I slipped into very fast. I cared about what was happening and wanted to see revenge be dealt.
and dealt with it was.
When Stella unclasped the necklace Roman gave her and threw it in the trash in front of Wyatt? perfect
The finding out Roman has plagiarized his whole career and sends the proof to the magazine he just partnered with? perfect
Finding out Roman was cheating on Stella for MONTHS, only for that woman to be at the beach when Stella and Wyatt confront Roman and ends up leaving Roman after finding out she was the “other woman”? perfect
When Roman called Stella his “sloppy seconds,” Wyatt literally “lunges forward, his fist meeting Roman’s jaw with a sickening crack.” PERFECT
I did have to take away one star because there is one thing I have firm boundaries on and that’s the care and thought into tattoos. I love me a good tattoo but man it has to be done right. I hate how it was on a dare so then Stella can “prove” she is fun. I didn’t appreciate how it was blind and Stella had no idea what it was. I didn’t appreciate how the artist was super down with this. I feel like if it was really life the artist would have shut it down immediately. And sure the ending of the book was cute cause Wyatt got a semi-matching one but I’m still not sold.
I still loved this book and I can’t wait to see it out in the world!
This novel was received as an ARC (advanced reader copy) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Mara Quinn for allowing me to review this book early, I am forever grateful!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2024
Arc Review
Rating: 4 stars
spice level:
Tropes:
Forced proxmity
grumpy X sunshine
slow burn
Ha falls first
Ex-boyfriends best friend
" Enemies" to lovers
This was such a cute road trip book to read, I loved the cute storyline of this book. This book gave such funny and smiley feels, the banter and the cute little comments made by Stella and Wyatt. As a person who loves road trips, I loved all the cute vibes of this book. This book was so funny, I loved seeing these two fight their feelings out by making fun of each other, it was the cutest haha!
Stella Moore is the IT girl, a boss and the sassy queen. I loved her personality so much; I loved seeing her overcome her feelings down over the course of time. As being pit-perfect at her job and her life she learns how to control her emotions and live in the moment. Let's just say her little embarrass moments were so funny and the cutest to read. Stella deserves a man who meets her every need, and also loves her at his full potential. That's exactly what Wyatt did for her, taking care of her every need even at the time she doesn't think she needs anything. His cute gestures while on the road trip were the cutest.
Wyatt is known as the player in the friend group, the down to earth and chill personality. He goes with the flow, doesn't let the moment get to him. As he has a mission set in his head, he has a little sidekick tagging along. As his little sidekick getting on his nerves, I loved seeing him interact with Stella so gently, while also teasing her at the same time. Wyatt has such a sweet and caring soul towards stella. Wyatt stops at anything to make sure her wants and needs are taken care of while also trying to complete the mission set in his head. I loved seeing Wyatt's emotions being expressed throughout the story!!
I want to give a HUGE thank you to Ms. Mara Quinn for allowing me to read her book, I loved being able to read about something I enjoy the most, which is road trips hehe:) This book gave me such warm and adventurous feelings that I enjoyed every single second of it!! I love this author's writing; the chapters and writing fell so quickly and easily! I love reading this book so much, and not wanting this story to end at all :(
Rating: 4 stars
spice level:
Tropes:
Forced proxmity
grumpy X sunshine
slow burn
Ha falls first
Ex-boyfriends best friend
" Enemies" to lovers
This was such a cute road trip book to read, I loved the cute storyline of this book. This book gave such funny and smiley feels, the banter and the cute little comments made by Stella and Wyatt. As a person who loves road trips, I loved all the cute vibes of this book. This book was so funny, I loved seeing these two fight their feelings out by making fun of each other, it was the cutest haha!
Stella Moore is the IT girl, a boss and the sassy queen. I loved her personality so much; I loved seeing her overcome her feelings down over the course of time. As being pit-perfect at her job and her life she learns how to control her emotions and live in the moment. Let's just say her little embarrass moments were so funny and the cutest to read. Stella deserves a man who meets her every need, and also loves her at his full potential. That's exactly what Wyatt did for her, taking care of her every need even at the time she doesn't think she needs anything. His cute gestures while on the road trip were the cutest.
Wyatt is known as the player in the friend group, the down to earth and chill personality. He goes with the flow, doesn't let the moment get to him. As he has a mission set in his head, he has a little sidekick tagging along. As his little sidekick getting on his nerves, I loved seeing him interact with Stella so gently, while also teasing her at the same time. Wyatt has such a sweet and caring soul towards stella. Wyatt stops at anything to make sure her wants and needs are taken care of while also trying to complete the mission set in his head. I loved seeing Wyatt's emotions being expressed throughout the story!!
I want to give a HUGE thank you to Ms. Mara Quinn for allowing me to read her book, I loved being able to read about something I enjoy the most, which is road trips hehe:) This book gave me such warm and adventurous feelings that I enjoyed every single second of it!! I love this author's writing; the chapters and writing fell so quickly and easily! I love reading this book so much, and not wanting this story to end at all :(
October 12, 2024
✨💚 ARC Review 💚✨
Thank you so much @maraquinnbooks for sending me across a eARC copy of Roadside Attractions for an honest review. Trust me when I say this, this did not feel like a debut novel girl you rocked this in first chance, this was the perfect book from every aspect. I'm personally an Emily Henry fan, and this book had every vibes of her writing. Looking forward to more of your future works. ❤✨
My Ratings : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Okayy! So in short, this book follows Stella whose boyfriend dumped her with only a note and abandoned his best friend Wyatt. They both come together for a cross country road trip across Canada to confront ex-boyfriend/ best friend. And eventually during the whole trip, they start catching feelings for each other... 😍😍
I'm totally in love with this book, even words can't express. I love road trip romances, and this book had the most perfect setting. I felt I was having this road trip in Canada. The rural setting, all the stops in various cities, every description and detail made this book more alive. I loved their cute banter and the jokes they cracked, That porcelain dolls scene had me cackling in a creepy way!! 🤣🤣
Well now coming to our FMC Stella Moore (also the protagonist/narrator of this story) had a huge character development throughout the book. I loved how she changed from being this grumpy, self-reserved, heart broken, boring kinda girl to this cheery, free-spirited, not so self-reserved girl all because of Wyatt. I also loved her trans best friend Noor who always had her back.
Now coming to my Official Current Book Boyfriend Wyatt Song, I knew he loved her the moment he brought her favorite snacks and coffee while she was sleeping during a refill in a gas station. I loved how free-spirited he was and the way he adored Stella just the way she was. " I like when you're you " ~ Wyatt Song.
My favorite quotes : " You can pretend all you want Moore, But I remember every little thing you do " ~ Wyatt Song.
" Nah, not my type. I'm more into women who can't stand me". ~ Wyatt Song.
Pack your bags for October 8th.
Thank you so much @maraquinnbooks for sending me across a eARC copy of Roadside Attractions for an honest review. Trust me when I say this, this did not feel like a debut novel girl you rocked this in first chance, this was the perfect book from every aspect. I'm personally an Emily Henry fan, and this book had every vibes of her writing. Looking forward to more of your future works. ❤✨
My Ratings : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Okayy! So in short, this book follows Stella whose boyfriend dumped her with only a note and abandoned his best friend Wyatt. They both come together for a cross country road trip across Canada to confront ex-boyfriend/ best friend. And eventually during the whole trip, they start catching feelings for each other... 😍😍
I'm totally in love with this book, even words can't express. I love road trip romances, and this book had the most perfect setting. I felt I was having this road trip in Canada. The rural setting, all the stops in various cities, every description and detail made this book more alive. I loved their cute banter and the jokes they cracked, That porcelain dolls scene had me cackling in a creepy way!! 🤣🤣
Well now coming to our FMC Stella Moore (also the protagonist/narrator of this story) had a huge character development throughout the book. I loved how she changed from being this grumpy, self-reserved, heart broken, boring kinda girl to this cheery, free-spirited, not so self-reserved girl all because of Wyatt. I also loved her trans best friend Noor who always had her back.
Now coming to my Official Current Book Boyfriend Wyatt Song, I knew he loved her the moment he brought her favorite snacks and coffee while she was sleeping during a refill in a gas station. I loved how free-spirited he was and the way he adored Stella just the way she was. " I like when you're you " ~ Wyatt Song.
My favorite quotes : " You can pretend all you want Moore, But I remember every little thing you do " ~ Wyatt Song.
" Nah, not my type. I'm more into women who can't stand me". ~ Wyatt Song.
Pack your bags for October 8th.
September 30, 2024
First ARC ever read, and want to give a quick and honest review.
I had a lot of hopes for this book based on the premise and mentioned tropes, especially enemies to lovers and road trip across Canada. And there were definitely a lot of moments I enjoyed in the book from the romance to looking in the characters' broken pasts and the heartfelt connections our two MCs were able to make with each other. Of course, I loved the setting of all the different small towns across Canada and getting to watch them fall for each other. Additionally, there was a bit more diversity in terms of our characters, which we need more of in romance novels.
However, I did find some problems with the narrative and character background info. I felt like there were some points or scenes in the book that cut off at weird moments, or didn't exactly get the point of certain scenes. And while the characters' pasts were explored in later parts of the book, we aren't given a lot at the beginning and middle of the book or what was explained was very shallow, so I felt like I had an incomplete picture of the characeters. And this might be nitpicky, but, we got very few physical descriptions besides ethnicity, so I really couldn't picture what the characters looked like individually or in relation to each other eg. height. Overall, there was some dimension lacking in certain parts of the book as well as language choice (I think I prefer more lyrical writing when it comes to romance novels now, so the writing wasn't really doing it for me most of the time in this one). Oh and this isn't a problem for me but, there were 1-2? scenes in the second half with some spice/open door (fyi if that isn't your thing).
Overall, if you're looking for a fun, feisty enemies to lovers romance, then this is for you
I had a lot of hopes for this book based on the premise and mentioned tropes, especially enemies to lovers and road trip across Canada. And there were definitely a lot of moments I enjoyed in the book from the romance to looking in the characters' broken pasts and the heartfelt connections our two MCs were able to make with each other. Of course, I loved the setting of all the different small towns across Canada and getting to watch them fall for each other. Additionally, there was a bit more diversity in terms of our characters, which we need more of in romance novels.
However, I did find some problems with the narrative and character background info. I felt like there were some points or scenes in the book that cut off at weird moments, or didn't exactly get the point of certain scenes. And while the characters' pasts were explored in later parts of the book, we aren't given a lot at the beginning and middle of the book or what was explained was very shallow, so I felt like I had an incomplete picture of the characeters. And this might be nitpicky, but, we got very few physical descriptions besides ethnicity, so I really couldn't picture what the characters looked like individually or in relation to each other eg. height. Overall, there was some dimension lacking in certain parts of the book as well as language choice (I think I prefer more lyrical writing when it comes to romance novels now, so the writing wasn't really doing it for me most of the time in this one). Oh and this isn't a problem for me but, there were 1-2? scenes in the second half with some spice/open door (fyi if that isn't your thing).
Overall, if you're looking for a fun, feisty enemies to lovers romance, then this is for you
October 4, 2024
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Potential for minor spoilers (maybe), so tread lightly if that's an issue for you.
An enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, road trip romance that takes our MCs across Canada, where hijinks ensue! These are all tropes I'm into, so I was pleased to read this. The writing is easy, breezy, and fun. I appreciated both main characters, Wyatt (the MMC) in particular. I felt Quinn had put a lot of thought into him, his character, and how she wrote him.
I felt the initial stakes for Stella to join Wyatt's road trip were weak, and it took me out of the story from the beginning. Once back into the story, because the first few hiccups on their trip were really enjoyable, I started feeling strange about the pacing. It seemed like there was a lot going on, and the chapters did move, but I struggled around the 66% mark. It could be that things felt repetitious, or that each scene had something going on, but the momentum of the character development wasn't at the same pace.
It could also be that Stella and Wyatt needed more development in general besides their reason for road tripping. There's some nice tension covered with Stella's relationship with her mother. It feels underdeveloped though and their final reunion scene seemed out of place for me. I think the ending, in general, fell flat for me. I could've done without the last 5-6 chapters.
Other things that worked for me were the banter between Stella and Wyatt, Stella's relationship with Noor (her BFF), the hilarious moment when Stella has to drive, and the way Stella's transformation is felt and seen through how she dresses and does her hair. Quinn clearly cares about the details.
It's a solid debut, with room for improvement to consider for Quinn's next title.
An enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, road trip romance that takes our MCs across Canada, where hijinks ensue! These are all tropes I'm into, so I was pleased to read this. The writing is easy, breezy, and fun. I appreciated both main characters, Wyatt (the MMC) in particular. I felt Quinn had put a lot of thought into him, his character, and how she wrote him.
I felt the initial stakes for Stella to join Wyatt's road trip were weak, and it took me out of the story from the beginning. Once back into the story, because the first few hiccups on their trip were really enjoyable, I started feeling strange about the pacing. It seemed like there was a lot going on, and the chapters did move, but I struggled around the 66% mark. It could be that things felt repetitious, or that each scene had something going on, but the momentum of the character development wasn't at the same pace.
It could also be that Stella and Wyatt needed more development in general besides their reason for road tripping. There's some nice tension covered with Stella's relationship with her mother. It feels underdeveloped though and their final reunion scene seemed out of place for me. I think the ending, in general, fell flat for me. I could've done without the last 5-6 chapters.
Other things that worked for me were the banter between Stella and Wyatt, Stella's relationship with Noor (her BFF), the hilarious moment when Stella has to drive, and the way Stella's transformation is felt and seen through how she dresses and does her hair. Quinn clearly cares about the details.
It's a solid debut, with room for improvement to consider for Quinn's next title.
October 7, 2024
Thank you Mara Quinn for this ARC. What an amazing debut novel!
This book had me hooked from the very beginning, it was so funny! Stella is a classic black cat, she doesn't open up easily but she has a quirky sense of humour. Wyatt is her complete opposite, a golden retriever whose number 1 goal in life is to make Stella laugh. Reading about their road trip adventures, their dares, the car troubles and hilarious encounters was so refreshing and made me want to get in the car and start driving across the country. It was so sweet seeing how Wyatt worked his way into Stella's heart and how she slowly started opening herself up to him. Being Canadian, I absolutely LOVED the little comments about Canada, the weather, different cities - it felt so relatable. Altogether, a super sweet and heartwarming read - can't wait to see what else Mara has in store for us!
SUMMARY
Stella's world is turned upside down when her boyfriend of four years, Roman, leaves her with nothing but a breakup note and a "P.S. don't text." Heartbroken and stewing, her best friend convinces her to go out to a bar to unwind. There, she unexpectedly runs into Wyatt, Roman's former best friend - who she happens to hate. Wyatt reveals that Roman disappeared with not only Stella's heart but also Wyatt’s money. Wyatt reveals he's chasing Roman across the country to get his money back, and Stella unexpectedly joins him. As they embark on a journey filled with adventures, sparks fly, and Stella finds herself falling for the last person she expected.
✅ Black cat x golden retriever
✅ Dislikes to lovers
✅ Ex-boyfriend's best friend
✅ Forced proximity
✅ Cross-Canada road trip
✅ Romcom
🌶️2/5
This book had me hooked from the very beginning, it was so funny! Stella is a classic black cat, she doesn't open up easily but she has a quirky sense of humour. Wyatt is her complete opposite, a golden retriever whose number 1 goal in life is to make Stella laugh. Reading about their road trip adventures, their dares, the car troubles and hilarious encounters was so refreshing and made me want to get in the car and start driving across the country. It was so sweet seeing how Wyatt worked his way into Stella's heart and how she slowly started opening herself up to him. Being Canadian, I absolutely LOVED the little comments about Canada, the weather, different cities - it felt so relatable. Altogether, a super sweet and heartwarming read - can't wait to see what else Mara has in store for us!
SUMMARY
Stella's world is turned upside down when her boyfriend of four years, Roman, leaves her with nothing but a breakup note and a "P.S. don't text." Heartbroken and stewing, her best friend convinces her to go out to a bar to unwind. There, she unexpectedly runs into Wyatt, Roman's former best friend - who she happens to hate. Wyatt reveals that Roman disappeared with not only Stella's heart but also Wyatt’s money. Wyatt reveals he's chasing Roman across the country to get his money back, and Stella unexpectedly joins him. As they embark on a journey filled with adventures, sparks fly, and Stella finds herself falling for the last person she expected.
✅ Black cat x golden retriever
✅ Dislikes to lovers
✅ Ex-boyfriend's best friend
✅ Forced proximity
✅ Cross-Canada road trip
✅ Romcom
🌶️2/5
September 29, 2024
✨Thank you Mara Quinn for this eARC✨
🤍In true Canadian fashion this book has great representation for multiculturalism, many of the characters are from different backgrounds! I also liked the feeling of being in the various stops along the way. I’ve always wanted to do a cross Canada road trip so this felt right! I have only ever driven as far east as Manitoba. But the big city vibe was there! It felt like I was in Toronto.
💚 I really liked Noor, Noor is family to Stella, and I loved that she had someone like her. Also Noor isn’t afraid to kick Stella into gear when she’s being silly. There were times when I wanted to scream at Stella for being so dense!
🤍 There were so many moments where Wyatt made me smile and kick my feet with glee! He treats Stella so well, even though she hates him. He waits patiently for Stella to come around!
💚 Roman and Wyatt could not be more different. Roman expected too much in return for his grand and poetic gestures, while Wyatt notices little things about Stella and pays attention. He loves her without any condition or expectation of being loved back.
🤍 Stella has abandonment issues, and Wyatt understands that feeling from being neglected during his own childhood.
I loved the conflict resolution in this book. Stella is able to talk about how she feels with her ex, with her mom, and with her new guy she doesn’t want to lose. I saw a lot of growth with Stella and Wyatt in this book!
💚This book is such a good time! It’s fun and cute, but also deals with some very important topics! I highly recommend!
💚🤍Roadside Attractions is out October 8th!🤍💚
🤍In true Canadian fashion this book has great representation for multiculturalism, many of the characters are from different backgrounds! I also liked the feeling of being in the various stops along the way. I’ve always wanted to do a cross Canada road trip so this felt right! I have only ever driven as far east as Manitoba. But the big city vibe was there! It felt like I was in Toronto.
💚 I really liked Noor, Noor is family to Stella, and I loved that she had someone like her. Also Noor isn’t afraid to kick Stella into gear when she’s being silly. There were times when I wanted to scream at Stella for being so dense!
🤍 There were so many moments where Wyatt made me smile and kick my feet with glee! He treats Stella so well, even though she hates him. He waits patiently for Stella to come around!
💚 Roman and Wyatt could not be more different. Roman expected too much in return for his grand and poetic gestures, while Wyatt notices little things about Stella and pays attention. He loves her without any condition or expectation of being loved back.
🤍 Stella has abandonment issues, and Wyatt understands that feeling from being neglected during his own childhood.
I loved the conflict resolution in this book. Stella is able to talk about how she feels with her ex, with her mom, and with her new guy she doesn’t want to lose. I saw a lot of growth with Stella and Wyatt in this book!
💚This book is such a good time! It’s fun and cute, but also deals with some very important topics! I highly recommend!
💚🤍Roadside Attractions is out October 8th!🤍💚
October 11, 2024
I was gifted an E-ARC and this is my honest review.
In my opinion, Mara Quinn's Roadside Attractions is a must-read since it perfectly combines romance, humour, and drama. The story's most memorable moments is without a doubt the interactions between Wyatt and Stella, our two main characters; their witty banter (which I adored) and obvious chemistry kept me engaged throughout the entire book.
One thing that sets Roadside Attractions apart from any other book that I have personally read in awhile is the unique background storyline. As Wyatt and Stella embark on a kind of “forced” road trip together due to a toxic ex and bestie, travelling from one province to the next, we're treated to a journey filled with unexpected twists, turns and revelations . Despite the small, confined spaces of the car and various questonable accommodations, the tension between them simmers and eventually ignites into a fiery romance. Hello, chapter 25!
Even though the slow-burning romance occasionally tried my patience along with Miss Stella at times. Wyatt and Stella's bond eventually blossoms into something genuinely special, making the payoff worthwhile. Thanks to Mara Quinn's imaginative storytelling, the story line was so vivid and captivating in my mind that it was mimicking a movie taking place on the book's pages, so kudos to you, Mara Quinn.
In all honesty. Roadside Attractions is an absolute must-read for any fan of contemporary romance like myself. With its likeable characters, fun yet different storyline, and interesting appeal, this book is going to leave an impression on you just like it did on me, and I honestly look forward to reading more of Mara Quinn's books in the future.
September 30, 2024
4.5⭐️
Thank you Mara Quinn for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
This book follows Stella, a drive workaholic who gets dumped by her boyfriend of 4 years via a note. She then finds out that not only did he dump her and leave her also stole from her and his best friend Wyatt. They decide to take a road trip across Canada to confront the ex boyfriend and get their money back. Read to find out what happens next 🔥
…
This book was so cute! It is a slow burn book that keeps you wanting more at every stop. I loved watching their story come full circle. It is a contemporary romance with an enemies to lovers trope.
I absolutely loved the character development for Stella. Seeing how she grew and changed as a person on her journey to find out who she is without her BF. She is fiercely loyal and driven. To be loved by her is to be loved unconditionally.
Wyatt, a man who had pined for a girl for 4 years. Dedicated, patient and kind hearted. Remembering not to judge a book by its cover when it comes to Wyatt. I enjoyed getting to know him in real time alongside Stella.
This author is Canadian. It was really fun to read about a cross Canada road trip being from SK.
Overall, I enjoyed this slow burn. It was a nice change up from the fast paced romances I find myself reading. The spice level is lower but the tension throughout is enough to leave you wanting more!
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