The Man I Love

The Road Trip #2

by Taylor Sullivan

Three thousand miles, two shattered hearts, and a new life on the way.

Three years after their life-changing road trip, Samantha Smiles and Tristan Montgomery are back at it again—only this time, the stakes are higher. Samantha is pregnant with Tristan’s child and they are no longer together.

Now, as they embark on another cross-country trip to move Samantha back to LA, the air between them is thick with unresolved pain and misunderstandings. Their once-passionate connection has been strained by time and separation. Samantha is struggling to navigate her own emotions while dealing with the realities of impending motherhood, and Tristan is haunted by the mistakes of their past and the burden of his own fears.

Forced into close quarters, old wounds are reopened and new truths are revealed. Can they mend their fractured relationship and find common ground for the sake of their child? Or will the weight of their past and the pressure of their future drive them further apart?

In a journey fraught with emotional turbulence and unexpected revelations, Samantha and Tristan must confront their deepest fears and rediscover the love that once bound them together. Will they find their way back to each other before it’s too late, or will their latest road trip be their last?

The Man I Love is a poignant exploration of love, forgiveness, and one choice. To cherish one another for the rest of their lives, or lose the love they once cherished forever.

Genres: Second Chance

313 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 27, 2025

Reviews

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 – 3.5 stars
I struggled with the first book in this New Adult contemporary romance duet, The Boy I Hate, and I found myself in the same situation with this sequel. Three years have passed, and the characters are in no better place than they were in the first book, in fact they are worse off. Although a lot has happened, the storyline feels quite predictable. Samantha and Tristan are embarking on another road trip after getting back together, but they seem more distant than ever.
This sequel is another emotional rollercoaster, filled with pain, hurt, angst, lies, love, and fear, to name a few. Misunderstandings and anxieties about the future are keeping them apart.
The characters are again confronted with secrets and emotional obstacles that have unravelled the bonds they once shared. Overall, The Man I Love explores themes of love, self-growth, self-worth, forgiveness, trust, and the challenges of overcoming insecurities.
I’m sure that New Adult fans will enjoy this story.

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in this impressive series, and this is a continuation of Samantha and Tristan’s journey.
This story picks up three years later, with Sam and Tristan embarking on another road trip, but this is to move her to LA. Sam is pregnant with Tristan’s baby, but they are no longer together, after being torn apart by secrets. Sam is struggling to deal with the emotions of impending motherhood, and Tristan is haunted by the mistakes of the past. Will these two confront their fears during their journey, or is it too late?
This is a well written easy to read, emotional roller coaster, with family, friendships, angst, misunderstandings, forced proximity, challenges, revelations, loss, trust issues, vulnerability, insecurities, twists, second chances, forgiveness, making choices, tension, secrets, undeniable chemistry, and love, which leads to an entertaining, heartfelt, and captivating page turner.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 - 3.5 Stars

The Man I Love is the second book in The Road Trip series by Taylor Sullivan. This is the sequel to Samantha and Tristan’s story that began with a road trip in the first instalment- and here, three years after that fateful trip, they embark on another road trip- only this time they carry a lot more ‘baggage’ than the first time around. No longer together, pain and regrets hang heavy in the air. This trip to LA is meant to close one door and be a new beginning for Samantha and the baby- but there is a lot of road to travel before they get there. Literally and metaphorically. Are the embers of love still there to fan into flames, or has that fire long since burned out? You will need to read the story to find out all the angsty details for yourself.
As with the first instalment, this is a contemporary NA romance with hurt, pain, regrets, misunderstandings, angst, emotion, drama, tension, chemistry, and a high stakes road trip.
Happy Reading…

Thank you, Taylor Sullivan!

[Micalah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m at about a 3.5 star rating for The Man I Love, I’m just not vibing with this series as I would expect to. I feel as if it’s more my headspace than anything as it’s not the writing. I’m just having a hard time wanting to get back into the story. I like the characters, but it’s not your typical romance as the issues the characters face are intense, with a baby on the way Samantha is a mess of hormones and crying, with Samantha and Tristan suffering lots of pain, heartache, and the will they, won’t they was kind of frustrating. There were parts that I really enjoyed though and I can see where people would totally love this book.

[Izza khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

FAV BOOK THIS YEAR SO FAR!! 🥹

Honestly, I don’t even know how to describe how this book made me feel. I cried, I laughed, I loved it some bits and other parts I absolutely hated it (because I needed them to be together!!) 😫

I think it was the perfect sequel to The Boy I Hate which is one of my all time favourite books. It was really nice to read more of Tristan and Samantha (they will always have a special place in my heart as both characters and as a couple).

This book basically broke my heart into a million pieces and then fixed it back together again.

[Ajla Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Took me ages to finish this one sadly. I loved the first book but this one just didn’t hit the same and Samantha was honestly so annoying.

[Jaimie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this series. It is about finding love where you least expect it, going through hardships, breaking up with the love of your life, becoming new parents despite how hard it can be to co-parent, forgiveness of others and one's self, and finding love again through this messy and hurt filled world. Very inspirational and there are a few key phrases that jump out and hold on to you. Like- how can you move on when you never talk about something, and there are always more sides to the story. Two big lessons when going through life. Anyway, to the book! This is book two to The Road Trip Duet and it did not disappoint. I didn't want to put it down. I was yelling at these characters, crying with them, scared for them, and wishing they would just talk and fix things! You really fall in love with these two (Samantha and Tristan) quick and get mad at them both. A lot. LOL. In this book they couple are broken up and Sam is pregnant with Tristan's baby. They are on another cross-country trip to move Sam back to LA after her big art opening. The tension is so thick that you can see it looking at them. There are unsaid and unresolved things and lots of misunderstandings that they need to get past. But how you can get past something when you never really talk about it? Avoiding isn't moving on, it's just covering it, to dig up later! During their journey of course things have to go haywire. And Sam being pregnant brings in some funny misadventures too! All I can say is "little white flowers". Hahaha. It doesn't look like they will stick to Sam's schedule very well at all! While stuck together old cuts are pried open, new truths are uncovered, and new understandings are brought to light but that doesn't mean all is forgiven. Can they both mend their hearts enough to co-parent well together? Will their past drive them apart even more? What about their future and their child? Secrets will come to light, but will they see past them enough to recover and move on? You have to read this series! And yes you have to start with book one!! You won't get some of characters or references otherwise. Very emotional book, but so so good!!

[Christie72 (Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Man I Love is a heartfelt, emotional second-chance romance! I was pulled in by the storyline and the characters. When I finished the first book, Samantha and Tristan were just beginning their happily ever after. This book explores the reality of being in a relationship.


A great deal has changed since their life-changing cross-country trip three years ago. Samantha is very pregnant with Tristan’s baby, but sadly, the two are not together anymore. As the two return to California, they are again forced to look inside themselves. They will have to reopen some past hurts and learn to trust one another if they will ever be able to co-parent their child together. Maybe, just maybe, they will find their way back together again.


I enjoyed the way Sullivan wrote the book. The book opens with Tristan coming to NY to move Samantha back to California. It’s obvious the two aren’t together. Sullivan gives her readers the answers to the break-up in flashbacks. Readers see the two blissfully happy but trust issues and long-distance doom the relationship. I was hoping this would be only temporary. I knew all along that this couple had always belonged together.


Sullivan made herself stand out in the genre with this book. There is angst, but it’s very relatable. It’s fiction, but yet it’s real-life. It’s what happens when a couple has gotten their happily ever after and how they navigate life with all the ups and downs that happen. There were times I wanted to throttle the two of them. If they had taken the risk and poured out their hearts with love and fear, they would have realized the love was still there. They just needed to communicate better, and isn’t that what all couples struggle with from time to time?


It’s a beautiful, emotional love story with some lighter moments. It’s about a couple who grow and mature and discover what lasting love looks like, which involves grace, forgiveness, and trust. It’s about a girl who once hated a boy but now loves the man he has become!

[Kerry carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in The Road Trip Series. I loved the first story and I couldn't wait to jump back into the story with Tristan and Samantha. Not gonna lie after the end of the first book when is seemed like they had their happily ever after I was a little sad and disappointed to see that they had split up. However once I started to read this story I understood the situation they found themselves in and their constant battle between following their hearts and their heads.

After Samantha leaves to pursue her dream of being an artist, things seem to be going her way. That is until a misunderstanding causes Tristan to leave without even waiting for an explanation. Leaving Samantha heartbroken she now believes that maybe she should never have trusted him with her heart after all if he could just leave her like that. However fate has a mind and plan of it's own and it's plan means that Tristan and Samantha will be tied to each other no matter what.

Tristian is having a hard time. Everything is going wrong, Samantha is away, his father keeps calling, and his business is going down the drain. Through all his struggles he can't wait to see Sam again but his visit ends abruptly when he sees his father and believes Sam has deceived him and set him up. The sense of betrayal he feels is overwhelming so he does what he knows and he leaves.
When he realises his mistake he comes back to Sam and gets a shock he wasn't expecting.

Now they are moving Sam back to New York with a little bundle of joy inside her. This journey is one that is filled with pain, angst, drama and love. Because despite how much both of them try to ignore or deny it they still love each other, but will this me enough to bring them back together or will they just co-parent their child and leave any chance of romance behind.

[Angela Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The man I love is the second book in this series and follows on three years from the first book. We pick up where Samatha has made a huge decision and moved for her art, while everything seems to now be in a line she is ripped from bliss by a misunderstanding and Tristain then decides to leave the relationship, leaving Sam utterly bereft and heartbroken.

Tristain is on his way to start moving Sam back to LA from New York via another road trip, but will this one try and mend the broken bridges he forced in their relationship or with this be a long road to drive. Sam is nervous about the road trip and the secret she has been keeping from Tristain from a while, so when Tristain see Sam and discovers she is pregnant with his child, he is determined to try and see where this relationship will go, but with both of them having secrets and hang ups will a road trip from NYC to LA be enough road.

This is the second book in this series and to be honest you really need to read the first book before attempting this book. Sam and Tristain were so happy at the end of the first book and in this book, you get to see more of the vulnerabilities and challenges each of the characters have with themselves and the relationship itself.

The book is well written, but I felt the story a little bit predictable as it follows although not quite the same format as the first book which is not a criticism but more of a lack of suspense within the story. The main characters were brilliant and opened more and showed more vulnerability which was a pleasure to read. The tension within the conversations between them where a joy to read and was wishing them to just give them a try and have a happy ever after.
Can wait to read more from this wonderful author in the future.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the sequel to ‘The Boy I Hate’ and continues Samantha and Tristan’s story. Having read and loved the first book I have been impatiently waiting to see what’s next for the couple.

The story starts three years after their first road trip which turned out to be life-changing for them both. Samantha and Tristan are no longer a couple but they are about to go on another road trip together. Samantha is pregnant with Tristan’s baby and is moving back to LA. Sadly the misunderstandings and unresolved pain of their separation is still to fresh resulting in a difficult trip. Whilst Samantha is struggling with her emotions about impending motherhood, Tristan is still troubled by the mistakes of their past.

The pair know that they need to repair their relationship, even if just as friends for the sake of their child. However, being stuck in a car together is causing old problems to resurface and new revelations being shared. Confronting their fears and rediscovering their lost love will either bring them closer together or further apart.

I felt so invested in Samantha and Tristan’s relationship, that I was taken on an emotional rollercoaster whilst reading this novel. Once again the characters and setting were brought vividly to life making me feel fully immersed in the story. The chemistry between Samantha and Tristan was still undeniable and came across in the narrative. The storyline had me hooked from start to finish, and I couldn’t put the book down!

Both book one and two in this ‘Road Trip’ series are enjoyable, engaging and emotional romances which I definitely recommend!

[Dre · Rating 1 out of 5]

I ended up skipping ahead to find out what the actual issue was. I get Sam was pregnant and hormonal, but you're going to be parents, and yet here you are still acting like a child. She cries about everything and is so upset that he clearly doesn't trust her about not finding out the sex of the baby. Honestly, who cares?! Yes, I get this is a big thing for pregnant couples, but seriously, something clearly happened to make him not trust you, so just say I wouldn't go back on my promise, I've just been calling the baby he for shits and giggles. But no, everything has to be dramatic, and she's always the victim.

Tristan's dad who cheated on his mom in the last book is now looking for a donor for his son with his mistress who has leukemia. His kids won't respond, so he shows up at Sam's gallery to try to talk her into talking to his kids. Now full well knowing the issues Tristan has had with his father, not just the mistress, Sam doesn't tell Tristan right away. He shows up to her gallery opening, and his dad is there. I think I skipped ahead again here cuz she blames the father for Tristan leaving, except she should have told him, then his father being there wouldn't have been such a shock. Take responsibility for your BS. I know Tristan was also hiding things from her, so he isn't blameless in their break up/issues either, but seriously, she acts like she's somehow morally superior and the only one who deserves an apology. I feel like this whole book was ridiculous and there was made up drama just so the author could write another book about a couple that got their HEA in the last book and should have been left to it.

[Beverly Finnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was different than romances I usually read. It’s filled with a lot of pain and heartache. The Man I Love is no walk in the park, it’s very real and relatable. Maybe not the situation that caused the pain, but the betrayal and lack of trust absolutely. The author brings us a story of two people who need to learn how to navigate life together for the sake of their child. Two people who were deeply in love, until things changed.
The book time jumps a little bit, because it starts off on a solemn note. The time jumps are an explanation of how it got there.
Samantha and Tristan are soul mates. Well they were deeply in love, till one night changed it all. Now there’s hurt, betrayal, heartache, and everything else you can think of, but despite all that they still love each other. Those feelings are buried deep. Tristan accused her of betraying him and ran before she could explain. Soul crashing on both accounts especially for Samantha because she missed a big night in her career. Only to find out she was pregnant with Tristan’s baby while they were dealing with the fall out.
How would they navigate this?
Deciding to co-parent while dancing around how they truly feel is their solution. Yet even so they can’t even peel back those layers without dealing with what happened. Samantha avoids that like the plague. While Tristan’s whole life is going up in flames behind him, and despite all that he realized he shouldn’t let her go.
Will he ever get back in her good graces?
Will he be able to win her back?
A sweet heartbreaking story that was wonderful in its own right. I hope you enjoy as much as I have!

[Ashley Lape · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three years earlier, Sam and Tristan made a life-changing 3,000-mile road trip across the country for Sam’s best friend, who also happens to be Tristan’s sister’s wedding. Sam, being an artist, gives Renee the only gift she could imagine—a sculpture. After the reveal at the wedding, Sam is approached by an art gallery owner. Offering Sam an opportunity to live in NY, create art, and have a gallery showcase her work was Sam’s dream come true. While Sam is thriving in NY, Tristan is falling apart back in California. Losing his company that he built for 5 years, his customers, all his equipment, and most devastating, Sam. Just like the rocky start their relationship had, these two can’t seem to stay on the same page. Sam not only finds out she is pregnant but she is also stuck in the middle of Tristan and his father. When Sam and Tristan find themselves stuck on another road trip back to California, will it help them realize the unresolved pain and misunderstandings that are between them? Will they finally listen to each other to re-spark their flame, or will they have to learn to co-parent together? This book was great. I missed the burning passion between Sam and Tristan that the first book in the series had, but overall it was a cute book to see how they grew as individual characters.

[Susan McWhinney · Rating 5 out of 5]

The continuing love story of Tristan and Samantha takes a turn when he finds Samantha hiding a secret that he feels he can never forgive her for. Secrets and lies lead to failures, and Tristan finds that with his failing business and failing relationship with Samantha, everything seemed to be so out of reach for him, he hides himself away.
Samantha being put in a position that she could not get out of, could not forgive Tristan for walking away!
Fool me once, shame on you....
Fool me twice, shame on me.......
So to never be put in that position again, Samantha cements up her heart and feelings, refusing to listen when Tristan finally decides he needs to clear the air.
This story has you hanging onto every word they say to each other....
like forgive one another already!!
Road trips are hard at any given time but to have to do it again with Tristan, and being pregnant and hormonal is not a good combination.
You too will want them to make it work, as Samantha struggles with life back in LA.
There is so much feeling of loss and angst it will twist your heart too.
A great conclusion to their story as they both struggle to forgive one another and reach for a HEA with their new baby.
Loved it, Another great 5 star read by Taylor Sullivan

[Audrie Harrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a little worried to read this book after the synopsis said that Sam and Tristan had broken up. I loved them so much in the first book and really enjoyed their story. This book went between the present and a year before and from LA to New York. Sam is working in New York as an artist for a year until she has a gallery opening. Tristan stays behind in LA and is running his pool business. They are making long distance work but missing each other like crazy. Tristan starts to have issues with his business and is ignoring all the phone calls and texts from his dad. Sam finds her real self and is loving living close to her best friend and Tristan’s sister, Renee. Sam gets put in the middle of a family issue and Tristan is shocked and walks away. Sam goes after him but he disappears and then doesn’t call. They break up and she finds out she is pregnant. Tristan comes to help move Sam back to LA after her year in NY and they are on the road again for a few days. They struggle even talking to each other but they both start to open up slowly on the drive. In order for them to move on and forgive each other they need to talk but it seems so hard. This was full of hurt and hope and love and it was so good!

[Trina Bagley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sam and Tristan are on another cross-country trip moving Sam back to LA after her art gallery opening. Only problem this time is that they are broken up! She is also pregnant with Tristan’s baby. You can feel the tension between them and find yourself wanting to shake them and make them talk to each other. You can also feel the love that they still have for each other. They also have some little misadventures along the way.
They finally must accept the fact that they need to talk to each other and try to resolve their issues before the baby comes. Hopefully, by talking to each other, they’ll be able to admit they still have feelings for one another and that they want to get back together. They must do some soul searching and put their pride aside so they can move forward.
I was so eager to read more about Samantha and Tristan! But I was mad as soon as I started reading but couldn’t put this down. Several times I wanted to yell at them because of their stubbornness! The story was so emotional and the characters so endearing that you find yourself laughing and crying right along with them.

[Janelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to start off by saying, The Boy I Hate is my all time favorite book. I looked back at my Amazon purchases and saw that I first bought it in 2018. It's the book I read when I'm in a slump, and it pulls me back out Every. Single. Time! I've probably read it 20+ times. Taylor Sullivan is one of a kind in her writing. Something about it pulls me in, and I can't stop reading until the end of the book.

When I heard a sequel to The Boy I Hate was being written, I was so excited. It did not disappoint. The Man I Love was the emotional roller coaster I didn't know I needed in Sam and Tristan's happily ever after. This book was full of twists and turns. I definitely teared up a few times. And that ending....was absolutely perfect.

I'm sad it's over, and I'll probably have to go read The Boy I Hate and The Man I Love right after it again. 😆

"Because perfect doesn’t have to be rose petals and champagne. Perfect can be Styrofoam containers and eating dinner on the kitchen floor when I’m with you.”

[Marni Ortiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading and falling in love with The Boy I Hate which is the beginning of Samantha and Tristan’s unforgettable love story , I actually thought to myself ( There Is No Way Anything could possibly outdo this !!! Well The Man I Love may be the continuation but it has certainly done just that . So beautiful and so extremely emotional, the way it tugged on all my heartstrings and the emotions it stirred in me ( I definitely was not expecting. Circumstances tore these two apart , now they’re having a baby together and their future is up in the air !!! How does it all turn out ? Well that’s something your going to have to find out for yourself by simply picking up and reading a truly fantastic and epic love story - because no words and I mean no words can possibly do it enough justice . I smiled, I laughed, I cried like a baby and yes I even had moments I was actually screaming outta pure frustration. What never wavered though was how invested I was and how hard I was cheering for a happily ever after Samantha and Tristan so clearly deserved ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
a few seconds ago

[Rosanna Ingram · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes place three years after the first book, The Boy I Hate. Sam and Tristan find themselves on another road trip...only this time it is to move a very pregnant Sam to California. Although the child is Tristan's, these two are not together. Nothing like a road trip to open themselves up, talk things out, and figure out if they will even be able to coparent this child. Throughout the road trip, we get flashbacks as to what has happened over the past three years which has brought them to the point they are at. Will these two be able to resolve their issues, or is there too much pain for them to take on this responsibility together?

I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed Sam and Tristan the first time around...and I enjoyed them even more the second time around. You feel pulled into the story...as though these are people that could be friends of yours that are going through a real situation. The focus on communication, being open and honest. and dealing with adult problems is something we can all relate to. I found it hard to put the book down!

[Michelle Mulvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. This was the 2nd part of the story. Book 1 was The Boy I Hate and Book 2 was The Man I Love. This book picked up where the last left off. Tristan and Samantha have known eachother forever. Samantha is best friends with Tristan’s younger sister Renee.
Tristan has a hard time opening up and with him and Samantha on opposite sides of the country, there are things happening that he can’t share.
When Tristan’s father visits Samantha asking for help getting his son to reach out to him, she doesn’t want to get in the middle but decides she will let Tristan know his dad came looking for him. A few days later, Mr Montgomery shows up unexpectedly at the gallery, Tristan walks in to see him and thinks Sam ambushed him. Can Tristan forgive her? She turns around and heads right back to LA. They do not speak for a while and big things happen in that time. Big things change in Tristan’s life and also in Sam’s.
Once everything settles down, things are shared…will they be able to talk about what happened or will they lose the bond they have? Such a great book! Loved it!

[Bobbi Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in this series which is just as great if not better than the second book. I highly suggest reading the previous book before this one to know where these characters have been to where they are now. It will also help with your enjoyment of this series and this author’s writing skills. Samantha and Tristan are back in another story but only this time stakes are higher. They are no longer together but they are bringing a baby into this world together. Their story is one of love, forgiveness and just maybe finding what they once had. I really enjoyed their story. They are great characters that bring their journey to life and what a journey it is. I enjoyed watching their growth throughout which made the story easy and entertaining to read. Their story is fast paced, engaging and hard to put down. This is a great story and I look forward to seeing what is next for this author. I highly recommend this book.

[melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

it’s always difficult to release a sequel years later. This didn’t live up to my expectations as expected but it was a nice enough quick read.

In my head i keep it separate from the first book tho.

I think the separation and their stubbornness was unrealistic and hence it seemed like a very dramatic plot which made it hard to truly relate to their emotions and reasoning. For a couple who’d been together for two years it was a bit alarming how bad their communication was and how angry samantha was. I actually found myself quite annoyed with her character in this book since she was called mature multiple times but didn’t act like it expecting tristan to basically do the whole apologizing. This made the book and the “problem” felt quite drawn out for no reason.

I liked the road trip to tie it back to the first book.

i don’t know if i regret reading it because i loved the first book sm and this didn’t hit the spot.

[Tausha Treadway · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Man I Love by Taylor Sullivan. This is the 2nd book in The Road Trip series and it is a continuation of book 1. The characters pick up 3 years down the road after their first road trip that changed their lives forever. Samantha and Tristan are no longer together but she is pregnant with his baby. Samantha is moving back to LA and Tristan has gone along with her to help. While on the road they are both very emotional, Tristan going over all the mistakes he made and realizing that for the sake of their child they have to at least be friends. Samantha is scared of becoming a mother and scared of being a single mom so she really wants them to become friends again so they can parent together. You can tell they still love each other but misunderstanding have kept from coming together. Will they rekindle their love on this journey to LA or will they realize they just can't be together as a couple. Such a emotional journey and I'm rooting for them so much!

[Heidi Sturgess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having recently read the first book i was already excited to delve into this read but i thought i was prepared I wasn’t !
I know how it ended so when i started this read i was a blubbering mess 🙈how did we get here ?! The only way was to jump in , ignore reality for a bit and figure out Tristan and Sammy Smiles 🥰📕

Tristan and Samantha reconciled the first time on a road trip will it ring true the second time round and there’s more at stake this time it isn’t just them to consider …..

My heart broke into a million pieces to know how much these to love each other but things happen that break them apart and it’s just a reminder that communication really is key so many times we see what we want and not what really is there ….

Watching these beautiful souls try to heal and navigate their lives was heartbreakingly beautiful and I’m grateful I could be part of it but earned you’ll need a steady supply of Kleenex and chocolate to survive 😉

Tristan and Samantha, I love you guys 🥰

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samantha has been offered the chance of a lifetime to work with a well-known art curator in establishing her art career. The only problem? She will need to be separated from her long-time boyfriend, Tristan Montgomery for an entire year. Sam’s learned to feel that being an artist is somehow less worthy than becoming a “doctor, nurse or social worker”. Filled with reservations, she decides to move forward. As Sullivan’s novel unfolds, Sam and Tristen are tried to the very depths of their souls - hold on to strong emotions of the past, or as Sam’s great-aunt sagely points out, “evolve, to change our minds, to make mistakes, and to learn …” A romance unlike many others, this one hits all the feels. You’ll find yourself alternating between relating, feeling disappointed, cheering, and in tears. This is not Ms. Sullivan’s first rodeo, and from her beautiful prose, she is definitely “on the mark” with her own career choice.

[Charlisa Wahtomy-Alba · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes place about 2.5 to 3 years after the first book. Samantha and Tristan are about to embark on yet another 3,000 mile journey to get Samantha back to Calofornia. She is also around eight months pregnant with their first child. We do find out exactly why Mr. Montgomery missed his daughters wedding. This story ties up any loose ends that concerned the Montgomery family in book one, however it gave us a whole new can of worms for Sam and Tristan's relationship. These two will need to figure out where they stand in each other's lives now that they aren't the only ones that will carry any type of emotional damage. A lot of hurtful things were said and done but will they be able to repair their very fragile relationship? Will 3,000 miles be enough to clear things up and get back together? This was a good series and I enjoyed every minute of it. It was definitely an emotional roller-coaster that brings a tear to the eye so have a box of tissues handy.

[Aline · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
Fiel al primer libro y con referencias ocurridas anteriormente. Divertido en algunas partes pero nostálgico en la mayoría.
Me gustó que es la narrativa de una pareja real y de lo que pasa después de un “final feliz” en un primer libro y que pasado un tiempo no todo es miel sobre hojuelas.
Se percibe una pareja con asuntos reales familiares, laborales y los problemas que conlleva la falta de comunicación.
Siento que estuvieron planteadas las problemáticas pero al final no se resuelven completamente, es decir, ellos se sinceran de lo que los aqueja pero realmente no hay una resolución en cuanto a todo aquello que los hizo separarse, ✨el poder de amor✨ fue quien logró el final feliz. Me hubiera gustado que se hablara del como le fue a Tristan despues del quiebre de su negocio y de cómo ella sobresalió siendo artista porque estas partes fueron parte importante de la trama y al final quedan olvidados estos argumentos.

[Brandy Jo Rymer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Man I Love is the second book in The Road Trip series. It focuses on Sam and Triston's lives and their relationship two years after the events of the first book. I love that the characters continue to develop throughout the story, where we get to see each navigate their love, loss, and the realistic scenarios that they face. This is such a heart-wrenching story and is so hard to watch as the characters face their struggles in a tough world of competition in the workforce and long-distance relationships. What an amazing story that is so full of great life experiences that help us to see what truly matters in life is the love we have for our friends and family. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a romance that demonstrates that all relationships take work and that every good love story has two sides to consider.
@Brandy Rymer
01/2025

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Let me ask, Did you read The Boy I Hate first? If not, please take the time to start there. As it will start Tristan and Samantha's beginnings. Their first road trip. So much was discovered and so many questions were answered. Being in close corters makes for great conversations. In book 2 Tristan and Samantha are back in the car traveling back to L.A. She is pregnant with Tristan's baby but they are no longer together. So will these two survive this trip? Will it be the last for them? I admire the author! Her story is right on point, the book is filled with true to life events. While reading I could feel both their pain, love and forgivenesses. The story is fast paced and keeps me turning the pages. Yet once I reached the end I wanted so much more. The writing is clear and makes you feel like you are in the car listening to their story. Fantastic story! A must read! Again!