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Wayfarers: A Road Trip Romance Novel in Verse for Teens
A must-read for fans of Morgan Matson and Kasie West, this YA novel in verse and conversation—cowritten by bestselling authors Jeff Zentner and Brittany Cavallaro—follows a girl trying to outrun her problems and a boy just discovering the outside world as they embark on a life-changing road trip.
What do you do
when there’s nothing
in this world you want
more than to spend two
more hours with someone
and nothing in the world
you want less than to only
spend two more hours
with someone?
Sylvie said she wanted to live the van life after high school, but all she really wanted was to escape. With unlimited resources and an escape-artist golden retriever by her side, she keeps her eyes on the road to distract her from everything she left behind.
Knox grew up on the edge of society, without a phone, a school, or a real name. He’s never felt like he had a firm place to stand, but he’s done writing his story in vanishing ink.
On one of the worst days of Sylvie’s life, Knox helps rescue her dog and breaks his arm in the process. To apologize, Sylvie offers him a ride. But Knox is keeping some big secrets, and so is Sylvie. They must decide: If the other person knew the whole story, would they take a chance on—and maybe even fall for—a wayfaring stranger?
What do you do
when there’s nothing
in this world you want
more than to spend two
more hours with someone
and nothing in the world
you want less than to only
spend two more hours
with someone?
Sylvie said she wanted to live the van life after high school, but all she really wanted was to escape. With unlimited resources and an escape-artist golden retriever by her side, she keeps her eyes on the road to distract her from everything she left behind.
Knox grew up on the edge of society, without a phone, a school, or a real name. He’s never felt like he had a firm place to stand, but he’s done writing his story in vanishing ink.
On one of the worst days of Sylvie’s life, Knox helps rescue her dog and breaks his arm in the process. To apologize, Sylvie offers him a ride. But Knox is keeping some big secrets, and so is Sylvie. They must decide: If the other person knew the whole story, would they take a chance on—and maybe even fall for—a wayfaring stranger?
432 pages, Hardcover
First published August 18, 2026
About the author
Jeff Zentner
13 books2,675 followersJeff Zentner is the author of The Serpent King, which Kirkus Reviews named one of the best books of the 21st Century, as well as In the Wild Light, Goodbye Days, Rayne & Delilah’s Midnite Matinee, Colton Gentry's Third Act, and Sunrise Nights, coauthored with Brittany Cavallaro. He has two books—Wayfarers and Love, Like Apples—forthcoming in 2026.
Among other honors, he has won the ALA’s William C. Morris Award, the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award twice, the Muriel Becker Award, the International Literacy Association Award, been longlisted twice for the Carnegie Medal, and is a two-time Southern Book Prize finalist.
His books have been translated into fifteen languages and been featured on The Today Show, Good Morning America, and in Vanity Fair and People Magazine. Before becoming a writer, he was a musician who recorded with Iggy Pop, Nick Cave, and Debbie Harry. He lives in Nashville.
Among other honors, he has won the ALA’s William C. Morris Award, the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award twice, the Muriel Becker Award, the International Literacy Association Award, been longlisted twice for the Carnegie Medal, and is a two-time Southern Book Prize finalist.
His books have been translated into fifteen languages and been featured on The Today Show, Good Morning America, and in Vanity Fair and People Magazine. Before becoming a writer, he was a musician who recorded with Iggy Pop, Nick Cave, and Debbie Harry. He lives in Nashville.
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Sometimes choosing yourself is brave. Sometimes it breaks someone else. Sometimes it's both at the same time
I don't even know how to explain what this book made me feel, but I'm going to try. Because I thought I was reading a book about teenagers having adventures while getting to know each other, it's so unassuming... this is wild y'all
Sylvie has had stability her whole life but wants escape, at least for a while. Knox has had nothing but movement and aches for a place to stay. Neither one is wrong. And I liked how we are not told good vs bad, or right vs wrong here. The authors managed to open two windows and let you look through both, you decide what to feel and what to think. I love a book that helps you see reality through different lenses and consider that your truth isn't the absolute truth.
What works for one person might not work for another, and I think that's such an important message right now.
I understood that what we take for granted is a privilege. To be able to say: that's where I fell off my bike; that's where I bought ice cream; that's where I grew up. Knox doesn't have a geography of memories. But then, there's a moment where Sylvie compares Knox using her phone to stepping on fresh snow and you realize that is also a privilege. She finally understands that his experiences aren't hers to walk through casually. And suddenly something ordinary becomes extraordinary.
I will pre-order this book for my daughter and her friends. I also need this in audiobook format because the way it is written was made to be heard.
**Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins Children's Books for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
I don't even know how to explain what this book made me feel, but I'm going to try. Because I thought I was reading a book about teenagers having adventures while getting to know each other, it's so unassuming... this is wild y'all
Sylvie has had stability her whole life but wants escape, at least for a while. Knox has had nothing but movement and aches for a place to stay. Neither one is wrong. And I liked how we are not told good vs bad, or right vs wrong here. The authors managed to open two windows and let you look through both, you decide what to feel and what to think. I love a book that helps you see reality through different lenses and consider that your truth isn't the absolute truth.
What works for one person might not work for another, and I think that's such an important message right now.
I understood that what we take for granted is a privilege. To be able to say: that's where I fell off my bike; that's where I bought ice cream; that's where I grew up. Knox doesn't have a geography of memories. But then, there's a moment where Sylvie compares Knox using her phone to stepping on fresh snow and you realize that is also a privilege. She finally understands that his experiences aren't hers to walk through casually. And suddenly something ordinary becomes extraordinary.
"Memory is a skin, not a shirt; something you wear and can't take off."
I will pre-order this book for my daughter and her friends. I also need this in audiobook format because the way it is written was made to be heard.
**Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins Children's Books for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to @netgalley @quillpress and @harpercollinsch for the gifted advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Peanut butter and chocolate. Chips and guacamole. Burgers and fries. Things that are outstanding by themselves, but when paired together become otherworldly. That is Jeff Zentner and Brittany Cavallaro—two phenomenally gifted authors who together create magic. They did it with SUNRISE NIGHTS and reunite for WAYFARERS, their latest novel in verse and conversation.
If you’ve never read a novel in verse or shy away from YA books, I encourage you to ignore your concerns and prepare to fall in love with Knox and Sylvie. Allow Zentner and Cavallaro to take you on an unforgettable road trip of discovery and healing.
On the surface, Knox and Sylvie are polar opposites. One lives a bohemian lifestyle, traveling from place to place with nowhere to put down roots. The other comes from a solid upper middle class background where material needs are never in question. In truth, they are more alike than different. Both carry secrets that make them question their worthiness to be loved. Over the course of a week and hundreds of miles, they form a connection that neither anticipated.
Through Knox and Sylvie, the authors give voice to the big feelings associated with finding your place in the world. They showcase the insecurities and vulnerabilities while still brandishing the boundless hope that is a hallmark of youth.
I honestly thought I would make it through this novel without shedding a tear. I was very wrong.
Peanut butter and chocolate. Chips and guacamole. Burgers and fries. Things that are outstanding by themselves, but when paired together become otherworldly. That is Jeff Zentner and Brittany Cavallaro—two phenomenally gifted authors who together create magic. They did it with SUNRISE NIGHTS and reunite for WAYFARERS, their latest novel in verse and conversation.
If you’ve never read a novel in verse or shy away from YA books, I encourage you to ignore your concerns and prepare to fall in love with Knox and Sylvie. Allow Zentner and Cavallaro to take you on an unforgettable road trip of discovery and healing.
On the surface, Knox and Sylvie are polar opposites. One lives a bohemian lifestyle, traveling from place to place with nowhere to put down roots. The other comes from a solid upper middle class background where material needs are never in question. In truth, they are more alike than different. Both carry secrets that make them question their worthiness to be loved. Over the course of a week and hundreds of miles, they form a connection that neither anticipated.
Through Knox and Sylvie, the authors give voice to the big feelings associated with finding your place in the world. They showcase the insecurities and vulnerabilities while still brandishing the boundless hope that is a hallmark of youth.
I honestly thought I would make it through this novel without shedding a tear. I was very wrong.
May 10, 2026
Jeff Zentner and Brittany Cavallaro’s Wayfarers is a road trip story about two people carrying far more pain than they know how to handle, slowly finding comfort and healing in each other along the way. The verse style makes everything feel really raw and emotional without ever feeling heavy handed. I loved how honest and vulnerable the characters felt, and how the book balanced grief and hope so naturally. Their connection felt real, messy, and comforting. This story completely pulled me in, and it’s one of those books that sticks with you after you finish it.
September 2, 2026
There are certain books where writing a review is hard for me, because nothing I say will live up to the beautiful story I've just read. This is one of those books. Told from alternating points of view between Sylvie and Knox, the prose weaves chapters in verse with the already stunning prose about these two teenagers and their road trip to North Carolina, and all the living and growing that tags along for the ride.
We only spend a few days with Knox and Sylvie, but not a moment is wasted, and by the end of the book I felt like I knew them, I rooted for them, and I really want to know how they're doing next year, 5 years from now, 25 years from now. Watching them grow and learn to trust each other and themselves was so healing and such a beautiful journey to be privileged enough to join them on.
This is labeled as a road trip romance for teens and this is absolutely accurate, albeit the subject matter is a little heavier than what you might expect from a typical "romcom" or YA romance. Expect a lot of depth in this one. This will make teens think and wonder and reflect and that is exactly what a book about teenagers, for teenagers, should do.
I highly recommend this one to teens and adults alike, and look forward to reading more from both authors!
Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books | Quill Tree Books via Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
We only spend a few days with Knox and Sylvie, but not a moment is wasted, and by the end of the book I felt like I knew them, I rooted for them, and I really want to know how they're doing next year, 5 years from now, 25 years from now. Watching them grow and learn to trust each other and themselves was so healing and such a beautiful journey to be privileged enough to join them on.
This is labeled as a road trip romance for teens and this is absolutely accurate, albeit the subject matter is a little heavier than what you might expect from a typical "romcom" or YA romance. Expect a lot of depth in this one. This will make teens think and wonder and reflect and that is exactly what a book about teenagers, for teenagers, should do.
I highly recommend this one to teens and adults alike, and look forward to reading more from both authors!
Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books | Quill Tree Books via Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
May 25, 2026
Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books, Quill Tree Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy to read and review before publishing. Thank you to Quill Tree Books and HarperAudio Children's for an ALC as well. Review updated 8/4/26 to include my audiobook review.
Zentner and Cavallaro have done it again. They have crafted a story through verse and prose that encapsulates the intricacies of adolescence while also exploring life events that shape who we are at our core.
By collaborating together, Zentner and Cavallaro bring a unique voice and perspective to Knox and Sylvie respectively. This allows the reader to connect with Knox and Sylvie individually while also appreciating the evolution of their friendship. Knox and Sylvie's voices expressed in verse draw the reader in at an emotional level might not have been achieved otherwise.
Jorjeana Marie and Michael Crouch ARE Sylvie and Knox. Their narration absolutely enhances Zentner and Cavallaro's writing to the point that you forget that you are reading. Jorjeana and Michael create an immersive experience with their characterization of Sylvie and Knox and allows you to not only understand and empathize with their experiences but to actually feel those same emotions yourself. I 100% recommend reading Wayfarers while listening as well so that you may immerse yourself in the captivating writing of Zentner and Cavallaro.
One of my favorite parts of the story structure is the road trip that Knox and Sylvie find themselves on. By framing the story through the lens of a road trip, Zentner and Cavallaro are able to put Knox and Sylvie in situations that give them opportunities to reflect on and voice their vulnerability and humanity bringing an authenticity to the story and characters that might not have been there otherwise. It also allowed for a levity that helps balance the life experiences that Knox and Sylvie have both had.
Zentner and Cavallaro are brilliant voices in the YA world, and I will gladly read anything they collaborate on.
Zentner and Cavallaro have done it again. They have crafted a story through verse and prose that encapsulates the intricacies of adolescence while also exploring life events that shape who we are at our core.
By collaborating together, Zentner and Cavallaro bring a unique voice and perspective to Knox and Sylvie respectively. This allows the reader to connect with Knox and Sylvie individually while also appreciating the evolution of their friendship. Knox and Sylvie's voices expressed in verse draw the reader in at an emotional level might not have been achieved otherwise.
Jorjeana Marie and Michael Crouch ARE Sylvie and Knox. Their narration absolutely enhances Zentner and Cavallaro's writing to the point that you forget that you are reading. Jorjeana and Michael create an immersive experience with their characterization of Sylvie and Knox and allows you to not only understand and empathize with their experiences but to actually feel those same emotions yourself. I 100% recommend reading Wayfarers while listening as well so that you may immerse yourself in the captivating writing of Zentner and Cavallaro.
One of my favorite parts of the story structure is the road trip that Knox and Sylvie find themselves on. By framing the story through the lens of a road trip, Zentner and Cavallaro are able to put Knox and Sylvie in situations that give them opportunities to reflect on and voice their vulnerability and humanity bringing an authenticity to the story and characters that might not have been there otherwise. It also allowed for a levity that helps balance the life experiences that Knox and Sylvie have both had.
Zentner and Cavallaro are brilliant voices in the YA world, and I will gladly read anything they collaborate on.
July 21, 2026
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗦
Sylvie is trying to outrun her problems with her dog Winslow, in a camper van headed to the wonders of North America.
Except, Sylvie can barely bring herself to leave her van, paralyzed by a past that she can’t outrun.
Her dog can, though, and on one such getaway, a boy her age offers to help and takes off after him…only to snatch the dog and end up with a broken arm as a thank you.
That would be Knox.
Knox who is making a break from his own past and learning the true meaning of freedom. See, he’s spent the majority of his life traveling around the country living the life of a vagabond.
The two team up on a road trip to reunite with Knox’s grandmother.
But it won’t be without trials and tribulations and truths.
𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦
What’s not to love?
Zentner and Cavallaro have created this niche that is absolutely tender and joyful and unexpected.
These two are wrestling with things big and small, wise beyond their years but still stuck in the emotional trappings of someone at the cusp of
And there were tears. In addition to the beauty of the language, the story packs a punch.
𝗩𝗜𝗕𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗖𝗞
This is a camper van, extended version trip reminiscent of Before Sunrise (complimentary) told in verse and prose.
𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗗
Are you actually asking this?
I hope these two continue to write novels together, exploring the intricacies of young love - continuing to give them a fullness other authors don’t always see in teenagers.
Sylvie is trying to outrun her problems with her dog Winslow, in a camper van headed to the wonders of North America.
Except, Sylvie can barely bring herself to leave her van, paralyzed by a past that she can’t outrun.
Her dog can, though, and on one such getaway, a boy her age offers to help and takes off after him…only to snatch the dog and end up with a broken arm as a thank you.
That would be Knox.
Knox who is making a break from his own past and learning the true meaning of freedom. See, he’s spent the majority of his life traveling around the country living the life of a vagabond.
The two team up on a road trip to reunite with Knox’s grandmother.
But it won’t be without trials and tribulations and truths.
𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦
What’s not to love?
Zentner and Cavallaro have created this niche that is absolutely tender and joyful and unexpected.
These two are wrestling with things big and small, wise beyond their years but still stuck in the emotional trappings of someone at the cusp of
And there were tears. In addition to the beauty of the language, the story packs a punch.
𝗩𝗜𝗕𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗖𝗞
This is a camper van, extended version trip reminiscent of Before Sunrise (complimentary) told in verse and prose.
𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗗
Are you actually asking this?
I hope these two continue to write novels together, exploring the intricacies of young love - continuing to give them a fullness other authors don’t always see in teenagers.
August 21, 2026
After high school, Sylvie wastes no time hitting the open road in her luxury van on a journey to outrun her guilt and trauma. Meanwhile, Knox, who grew up in a bit of a traveling commune, is trying to break free and find a path back to his real identity. Both are vulnerable in their own ways, standing at the cusp of adulthood, when happenstance brings them together. As they join forces on their road trip, they soon find a comfort they hadn't known they were missing within each other's company.
Written in verse and in conversation, 𝗪𝗮𝘆𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗿𝘀 is a beautiful and free flowing exploration of human connection. Their backstories and banter feel genuine. Even though Sylvie and Knox's upbringings vastly differed, there is a universal understanding between what they are each feeling that's heartfelt. Thus, the switch between their perspectives flows as seamlessly as the van cruising along and carrying them on their journey.
Cavallaro and Zentner write together in a way that is effortless and fluid. 𝗪𝗮𝘆𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗿𝘀 strikes a balance between healing and hope that's natural and compelling, proving once again that no matter how many times I say I don't read YA anymore, I will always make an exception for these two (and be thankful that I did).
🎙 Jorjeana Marie + Michael Crouch dually narrate the audio, bringing even more depth and beauty to the prose and characters. At this point, Crouch is synonymous for a coming-of-age story; he nails it every time.
✨ Thank you to Harper Collins & Quill Tree Books for my ARC/ ALC via Net Galley. 𝘖𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸!
Written in verse and in conversation, 𝗪𝗮𝘆𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗿𝘀 is a beautiful and free flowing exploration of human connection. Their backstories and banter feel genuine. Even though Sylvie and Knox's upbringings vastly differed, there is a universal understanding between what they are each feeling that's heartfelt. Thus, the switch between their perspectives flows as seamlessly as the van cruising along and carrying them on their journey.
Cavallaro and Zentner write together in a way that is effortless and fluid. 𝗪𝗮𝘆𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗿𝘀 strikes a balance between healing and hope that's natural and compelling, proving once again that no matter how many times I say I don't read YA anymore, I will always make an exception for these two (and be thankful that I did).
🎙 Jorjeana Marie + Michael Crouch dually narrate the audio, bringing even more depth and beauty to the prose and characters. At this point, Crouch is synonymous for a coming-of-age story; he nails it every time.
✨ Thank you to Harper Collins & Quill Tree Books for my ARC/ ALC via Net Galley. 𝘖𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸!
September 14, 2026
Another absolutely gorgeous book from Cavallaro and Zentner, written in a mix of prose and free verse poetry. What’s so impressive about this is how natural it feels – it’s cohesive, even though it’s co-written, and the blend of poetry and prose is absolutely seamless and beautiful. It’s the kind of writing that gets stuck in your head, and makes your own internal narration sound more like poetry.
I typically hate insta-love stories, because they never feel real to me. I never understand how people can fall in love in a matter of hours or days, without knowing anything about each other. But this is the type of insta-love of story that works, because the characters actually talk. A lot. For pages and pages that we actually get to read, not conversations that readers are just *told* happened. The banter is laugh-out-loud funny and natural, the stakes feel real and honest, and both characters have enough flaws to make them interesting.
The whole book is touching and real and beautiful. I really hope Cavallaro amd Zentner keep collaborating because they make an excellent team.
I typically hate insta-love stories, because they never feel real to me. I never understand how people can fall in love in a matter of hours or days, without knowing anything about each other. But this is the type of insta-love of story that works, because the characters actually talk. A lot. For pages and pages that we actually get to read, not conversations that readers are just *told* happened. The banter is laugh-out-loud funny and natural, the stakes feel real and honest, and both characters have enough flaws to make them interesting.
The whole book is touching and real and beautiful. I really hope Cavallaro amd Zentner keep collaborating because they make an excellent team.
September 17, 2026
SIX STARS! I’ve never read a book written like this before with verses instead of paragraphs unless the characters were having a conversation. IT WAS SOOOO GOOD! Only bad thing is it was very not Christian and dissed on Christianity like so many other books before this. Other than that, I loved the characters, I loved the plot, and I WANT TO READ SUNRISE NIGHTS NOW (I tried before and didn’t understand it, but now I think I will)
August 25, 2026
THANK you netgalley for the chance to read this! I knew I loved Jeff's writing but man...this is next level when he joins up with Brittany. 4.5 / 5 stars.
When Knox, a young drifter, runs into Sylvie, a young woman on the run from herself in a camper van, they end up going on a small roadtrip together to visit his grandmother. There are hijinks. Secrets. A fortune teller. A broken arm. A BOATLOAD of emotional trauma, healing, and love. All told in alternating POVs and verse.
VERSE. It's so freaking stunning. I'm not a poetry fan but MAN I wanted to read this outloud just to hear the rhythms in each piece. It's YA but never once feels it, unbelievably deep, and just so MOVING. These two have been through it and you feel it, at times both tragic and compelling, and even though its only told over the course of a few days, you feel as if their connection runs for eons.
When Knox, a young drifter, runs into Sylvie, a young woman on the run from herself in a camper van, they end up going on a small roadtrip together to visit his grandmother. There are hijinks. Secrets. A fortune teller. A broken arm. A BOATLOAD of emotional trauma, healing, and love. All told in alternating POVs and verse.
VERSE. It's so freaking stunning. I'm not a poetry fan but MAN I wanted to read this outloud just to hear the rhythms in each piece. It's YA but never once feels it, unbelievably deep, and just so MOVING. These two have been through it and you feel it, at times both tragic and compelling, and even though its only told over the course of a few days, you feel as if their connection runs for eons.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Quill Tree Books for this arc!
I am going to start out by saying that I am an avid Jeff Zentner fan and have been since I was in middle school, so as soon as I saw that this book was available to request on NetGalley I ran to the website! Even so, Wayfarers by Jeff Zentner and Brittany Cavallaro exceeded every expectation I could have possibly had. I devoured this story and read it every single waking second that I could.
The story follows two young adults, Sylvie and Knox, as they are first encountering the world on their own. Sylvie’s teenage years have been spent in AP classes, constantly accepting no less from herself than perfection, and taking care of everybody around her, except for herself. When she finally decides to follow her dreams, disaster strikes, and this novel begins as she is left to pick up the pieces. Knox’s teenage years have been pretty much the opposite. Always on the move, along with his mom’s chosen “family”, he’s never been able to settle down, fall in love, or truly make any choices for himself. When he decides that enough is enough, he’s truly on his own, until he meets Sylvie. Now that they are free of their past, they must discover who they are as their own person, side by side, to discover what they truly want.
These characters became parts of me as soon as I began to learn their stories. Sylvie’s perspective was extremely relatable, and I connected so deeply to her, and yet Knox’s character was so interesting and unique. The balance between the lightheartedness of their youth and adventure and the depth of their pasts and hidden secrets was incredible and kept me always longing to know more. This is the authors’ second shared novel in verse and conversation and somehow it is even better than the first. The switch between perspectives flowed seamlessly, even though the characters’ personalities were so different.
Overall, I loved every single second of reading this book. Zentner’s novels often make me emotional, and this one was no exception. This story is a showcase of the magic of human connection. I truly felt as if I was on a journey with these characters and this was exactly the kind of story that sticks with you and you keep coming back to over and over again. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone and am greatly looking forward to what comes next from these two authors!
I am going to start out by saying that I am an avid Jeff Zentner fan and have been since I was in middle school, so as soon as I saw that this book was available to request on NetGalley I ran to the website! Even so, Wayfarers by Jeff Zentner and Brittany Cavallaro exceeded every expectation I could have possibly had. I devoured this story and read it every single waking second that I could.
The story follows two young adults, Sylvie and Knox, as they are first encountering the world on their own. Sylvie’s teenage years have been spent in AP classes, constantly accepting no less from herself than perfection, and taking care of everybody around her, except for herself. When she finally decides to follow her dreams, disaster strikes, and this novel begins as she is left to pick up the pieces. Knox’s teenage years have been pretty much the opposite. Always on the move, along with his mom’s chosen “family”, he’s never been able to settle down, fall in love, or truly make any choices for himself. When he decides that enough is enough, he’s truly on his own, until he meets Sylvie. Now that they are free of their past, they must discover who they are as their own person, side by side, to discover what they truly want.
These characters became parts of me as soon as I began to learn their stories. Sylvie’s perspective was extremely relatable, and I connected so deeply to her, and yet Knox’s character was so interesting and unique. The balance between the lightheartedness of their youth and adventure and the depth of their pasts and hidden secrets was incredible and kept me always longing to know more. This is the authors’ second shared novel in verse and conversation and somehow it is even better than the first. The switch between perspectives flowed seamlessly, even though the characters’ personalities were so different.
Overall, I loved every single second of reading this book. Zentner’s novels often make me emotional, and this one was no exception. This story is a showcase of the magic of human connection. I truly felt as if I was on a journey with these characters and this was exactly the kind of story that sticks with you and you keep coming back to over and over again. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone and am greatly looking forward to what comes next from these two authors!
August 18, 2026
Absolutely magnificent.
September 7, 2026
Sylvie: Northwestern acceptance letter. Always the organized, responsible one, mom has trust fund & no job. BF Cal, both in 5 AP classes. Watches van life videos of girls deciding their own ways, NP pass in hand, maybe a boyfriend or a dog in a bandana. Takes Winslow golden retriever with her, rich girl in a van, girl with a choice
Knox: roaming off grid with mom , do what you want but do no harm
Highway fortune tellers pretty funny
Hot Ones mention
Luxury to pay for art over necessities
House on the rock Wisconsin - had to look it up
Lack of money was a higher form of freedom
Having money can also be its own form of shackles
Memories are a skin, not a shirt, something you wear, and you can’t take off
Grief is like a seashell, start at center working thru tight circles til they get bigger, guilt like this also.
Satisfying ending
Knox: roaming off grid with mom , do what you want but do no harm
Highway fortune tellers pretty funny
Hot Ones mention
Luxury to pay for art over necessities
House on the rock Wisconsin - had to look it up
Lack of money was a higher form of freedom
Having money can also be its own form of shackles
Memories are a skin, not a shirt, something you wear, and you can’t take off
Grief is like a seashell, start at center working thru tight circles til they get bigger, guilt like this also.
Satisfying ending
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wayfarers isn't just a novel; it's a whole experience. Sylvie is a recent high school graduate. She’s always been the most responsible person in her life. She wants to do something young and dumb for once, so she plans a road trip and a van life experience for herself. The only problem is her senior year didn’t end as planned and now she’s escaping more than experiencing. Knox grew up with a nomadic “family” on the road. They’ve bled the beast and been anti-society most of his life. Now he’s realizing that all he’s ever wanted is a sense of home. When Sylvie’s wily golden retriever runs off and Knox catches him, their paths cross and an infinite summer lies before them.
Written as poetry and dialogue from two points of view, this is another standout young adult story from the duo that brought us Sunrise Nights (one of my favorite 2025 reads). Zentner and Cavallaro write complex characters and capture the realities of young love, the need for belonging, and the questions that cross every emerging adult’s mind. Sylvie and Knox are both wrestling with their upbringings, considering family expectations and their own desires, and discovering who they’ll become. Their stories intertwine in unexpected ways and they see that their wildly different lives didn’t actually shape them into wildly different people. It’s funny and heartwarming, full of grief and questioning. It’s a perfect coming-of-age story.
If you’re an audiobook lover, the narration is also wonderful and brings a real cadence to the poetry sections. My one note is that the dialogue chapters can be harder to follow as there aren’t very many tags (she said, he asked, etc.). For that reason, I think this would have been just a hare better if produced as duet (narrators keeping their own lines within chapters) rather than dual narration, but I’m certain that’s a more expensive and time-consuming task.
Overall, I can’t say enough good things about Wayfarers or this writing duo. Keep YA like this coming. The world needs more of it.
Written as poetry and dialogue from two points of view, this is another standout young adult story from the duo that brought us Sunrise Nights (one of my favorite 2025 reads). Zentner and Cavallaro write complex characters and capture the realities of young love, the need for belonging, and the questions that cross every emerging adult’s mind. Sylvie and Knox are both wrestling with their upbringings, considering family expectations and their own desires, and discovering who they’ll become. Their stories intertwine in unexpected ways and they see that their wildly different lives didn’t actually shape them into wildly different people. It’s funny and heartwarming, full of grief and questioning. It’s a perfect coming-of-age story.
If you’re an audiobook lover, the narration is also wonderful and brings a real cadence to the poetry sections. My one note is that the dialogue chapters can be harder to follow as there aren’t very many tags (she said, he asked, etc.). For that reason, I think this would have been just a hare better if produced as duet (narrators keeping their own lines within chapters) rather than dual narration, but I’m certain that’s a more expensive and time-consuming task.
Overall, I can’t say enough good things about Wayfarers or this writing duo. Keep YA like this coming. The world needs more of it.
August 26, 2026
3.5/5
The romance in this one felt a little too convenient, but I otherwise liked the story. Zentner and Cavallaro have a way with words, and they help me forget that I'm not really a fan of verse. (I am a fan of theirs, though!)
Check out my full review at Forever Young Adult.
The romance in this one felt a little too convenient, but I otherwise liked the story. Zentner and Cavallaro have a way with words, and they help me forget that I'm not really a fan of verse. (I am a fan of theirs, though!)
Check out my full review at Forever Young Adult.
September 8, 2026
4.5*
This is such a lovely journey of a book, with characters who felt so very human. Sylvie and Knox meet at an RV park by circumstance, and it kind of changes their lives, to sum the whole thing up in one sentence. Without giving too much away, I loved nearly everything about this book: a fun road trip, a lot of soul-searching, young adults trying to figure out what they want from their lives (and who they want to let into their lives), and a ton of heart. My only minor complaint is that the ol’ “lie of omission” trope was very obviously going to come into play (not a spoiler, you know this from like, Chapter 1) and those just irritate me on a personal level. But because the characters are young, I can also understand it, so I won’t be harsh. Overall, it was a lovely story that I was quite satisfied with. Highly recommend.
This is such a lovely journey of a book, with characters who felt so very human. Sylvie and Knox meet at an RV park by circumstance, and it kind of changes their lives, to sum the whole thing up in one sentence. Without giving too much away, I loved nearly everything about this book: a fun road trip, a lot of soul-searching, young adults trying to figure out what they want from their lives (and who they want to let into their lives), and a ton of heart. My only minor complaint is that the ol’ “lie of omission” trope was very obviously going to come into play (not a spoiler, you know this from like, Chapter 1) and those just irritate me on a personal level. But because the characters are young, I can also understand it, so I won’t be harsh. Overall, it was a lovely story that I was quite satisfied with. Highly recommend.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Sylvie: silver-spoon fed, high school grad, reeling from tragedy, aching to getaway hits the road in her Sprinter van for the summer. Aimless and probably running from her problems instead of confronting them.
Knox: a lifelong wanderer born into a fast and loose, fuck-the-man lifestyle but wanting normalcy and home (wherever that may be).
Winslow: golden retriever and agent of chaos, he is the catalyst through which these two opposing poles point toward each other.
Sylvie and Knox are an improbable pairing but end up hitting the road together. Wayfarers is a book-in-verse that tells of their weak roadtripping and getting to know each other. They each hold back the deeply painful parts of themselves from the other during this fragile getting-to-know-you-through-forced-proximity stage but they can only hide for so long.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5
You all know I am a card-carrying member of the Jeff Zentner fan club and this book is yet another of the many reasons why. Co-written with his book-in-verse partner, Brittany Cavallaro (this being their second co-authored novel), the writing is absolutely gorgeous. These two write banter and angst so well. The characters they create are so memorable, earnest, and likable through their flaws.
The backstories of each character kept them both interesting. Sylvie comes from her bougie, white collar lifestyle where money is of little concern. Knox comes from a survivalist tribe of misfits and rebels, not that he ever really became one. The way these two characters process their lives, trauma, grief, and hopes together - as strangers who become much more - was uplifting and frankly, beautiful.
And of course, as with all good Zentner novels, there is a dog. He plays a big role. And he lives forever.
Knox: a lifelong wanderer born into a fast and loose, fuck-the-man lifestyle but wanting normalcy and home (wherever that may be).
Winslow: golden retriever and agent of chaos, he is the catalyst through which these two opposing poles point toward each other.
Sylvie and Knox are an improbable pairing but end up hitting the road together. Wayfarers is a book-in-verse that tells of their weak roadtripping and getting to know each other. They each hold back the deeply painful parts of themselves from the other during this fragile getting-to-know-you-through-forced-proximity stage but they can only hide for so long.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5
You all know I am a card-carrying member of the Jeff Zentner fan club and this book is yet another of the many reasons why. Co-written with his book-in-verse partner, Brittany Cavallaro (this being their second co-authored novel), the writing is absolutely gorgeous. These two write banter and angst so well. The characters they create are so memorable, earnest, and likable through their flaws.
The backstories of each character kept them both interesting. Sylvie comes from her bougie, white collar lifestyle where money is of little concern. Knox comes from a survivalist tribe of misfits and rebels, not that he ever really became one. The way these two characters process their lives, trauma, grief, and hopes together - as strangers who become much more - was uplifting and frankly, beautiful.
And of course, as with all good Zentner novels, there is a dog. He plays a big role. And he lives forever.
August 23, 2026
Oh my, I loved this so so much! It’s like a YA Coyote Sunrise and I adored it. It made me bawl. Love love love.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wayfarers is a book about Sylvie, an 18-year-old girl who is looking for an escape, and Knox, an 18-year-old boy who is looking to finally stop running. Although they are polar opposites, their stories intertwined in a captivating way, making you fall in love with both characters.
While this book is considered a romance, there is so much more to it than just that. The thing that makes both Sylvie and Knox so captivating is that they are normal people with semi-normal struggles. The story, although fictional, can read like a true story about people simply being people.
Overall, I would give this book five stars as it holds your interest from start to end and is told in a very interesting format.
Thank you Netgalley, Jeff Zentner and Brittany Cavallaro, and HarperCollins for the ARC!
While this book is considered a romance, there is so much more to it than just that. The thing that makes both Sylvie and Knox so captivating is that they are normal people with semi-normal struggles. The story, although fictional, can read like a true story about people simply being people.
Overall, I would give this book five stars as it holds your interest from start to end and is told in a very interesting format.
Thank you Netgalley, Jeff Zentner and Brittany Cavallaro, and HarperCollins for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Y’all, I have been fortunate as hell to have been introduced to @jeffzentner’s writing by his unofficial booksta fan group and I’ve never been more grateful to a group of passionate readers. 🙌🏻 Wayfarers is co-authored by @bricavallaro who is new to me, but with this gorgeous book, I’ll be digging into her backlist.
Wayfarers begins with Sylvie on a solo (well, with her dog companion ) camper van road trip. But something isn’t right. She’s just going through the motions, but where is the joy she’d expected? Counted on, really.
Things take a turn when she’s robbed, assaulted, and her dog runs off. This all brings Knox into her orbit. He’s dealing with his own issues, but the two of them sense they can trust the other even as they hold onto their secrets. Sylvie offers to drive him to his destination with a few detours along the way and they become closer.
What a beautifully written book! I love Sylvie and Knox. They’re young and complicated and imperfect and I wanted to keep reading their story.
HIGHLY recommended for lovers of complex feelings, road trips, and those early butterflies when you’ve met someone who will mean the world to you.
I received this DRC via @netgalley and @harpercollinsch. All thoughts are mine alone.
ya fiction | young adult novels | reading | road trip romance | Jeff Zentner | Brittany Cavallaro | Wayfarers | book recs | recommendations | book reviews | bookstagram | five star reads
Wayfarers begins with Sylvie on a solo (well, with her dog companion ) camper van road trip. But something isn’t right. She’s just going through the motions, but where is the joy she’d expected? Counted on, really.
Things take a turn when she’s robbed, assaulted, and her dog runs off. This all brings Knox into her orbit. He’s dealing with his own issues, but the two of them sense they can trust the other even as they hold onto their secrets. Sylvie offers to drive him to his destination with a few detours along the way and they become closer.
What a beautifully written book! I love Sylvie and Knox. They’re young and complicated and imperfect and I wanted to keep reading their story.
HIGHLY recommended for lovers of complex feelings, road trips, and those early butterflies when you’ve met someone who will mean the world to you.
I received this DRC via @netgalley and @harpercollinsch. All thoughts are mine alone.
ya fiction | young adult novels | reading | road trip romance | Jeff Zentner | Brittany Cavallaro | Wayfarers | book recs | recommendations | book reviews | bookstagram | five star reads
August 8, 2026
I loved this book SO much. If I could live in it and be Sylvie I so would because who wouldn’t want to have a van you live in and travel and see the world? All while meeting a friend who ends up becoming someone you can’t imagine not having in your life because you have been thru more in a week traveling together then most people go thru in a life time! This book was so comforting for me and I loved being able to experience the “great perhaps” thru sylvie and Knox
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2026
This writing duo has done it again. What a beautiful book of love and healing. The banter, the poetry, the depth of character development. Loved this and am so thankful to have received an ARC!
August 16, 2026
4.5 stars
Thanks to Quill Tree Books and HarperAudio Children’s for my free ARC & ALC! All opinions are my own.
WAYFARERS is a story of two young people from very different backgrounds happening upon each other when they both need someone to lean on. They are both at pivotal transition points from childhood to adulthood, working through personal demons and figuring out their next moves. It’s beautiful and bittersweet. It’s summer, freedom, confusion, and young love. And there are cute dogs!
I loved the idea of co-authors Jeff Zentner and Brittany Cavallaro writing this book back and forth to each other - a “yes, and” writing process in which Jeff took Knox’s parts and Brittany Sylvie’s. This is not the first time they’ve done this - their collaboration SUNRISE NIGHTS is on my TBR!
Audio thoughts: I preferred starting off with my ebook especially because the book is written mostly in verse. Once I got a feel for its rhythm, though, I loved listening to the audiobook especially while I myself was also on the road. Both narrators did a wonderful job bringing these characters to life.
Thanks to Quill Tree Books and HarperAudio Children’s for my free ARC & ALC! All opinions are my own.
WAYFARERS is a story of two young people from very different backgrounds happening upon each other when they both need someone to lean on. They are both at pivotal transition points from childhood to adulthood, working through personal demons and figuring out their next moves. It’s beautiful and bittersweet. It’s summer, freedom, confusion, and young love. And there are cute dogs!
I loved the idea of co-authors Jeff Zentner and Brittany Cavallaro writing this book back and forth to each other - a “yes, and” writing process in which Jeff took Knox’s parts and Brittany Sylvie’s. This is not the first time they’ve done this - their collaboration SUNRISE NIGHTS is on my TBR!
Audio thoughts: I preferred starting off with my ebook especially because the book is written mostly in verse. Once I got a feel for its rhythm, though, I loved listening to the audiobook especially while I myself was also on the road. Both narrators did a wonderful job bringing these characters to life.
September 5, 2026
This was so beautiful. The writing is brilliant, deceptively simple while observant, lyrical, visually evocative, and packing emotional punch. The central characters are layered and nuanced, both grappling with intense personal challenges, traumatic pasts, and inner conflicts while tenaciously clinging to hope and carving out moments for joy and awe. I loved the exploration of the ways two people from wildly different backgrounds can find common ground. This conversation feels so important right now, and it’s delivered so gently here. So warmly. So kindly. I loved the language. I loved the journey. I loved the dog. I loved the van. I loved the eclipse. I loved the love story. I haven’t read much YA in a while, but this is a reminder of why I’m so drawn to it, even as an adult. Revisiting the pivotal time of life when independence is just taking shape, questions abound, and the world seems both impossibly challenging and impossibly beautiful. Zentner and Cavallaro capture it brilliantly. An unforgettable read.
August 20, 2026
4.25
First, let me say I will read anything Jeff Zetner writes. I’ve never read anything by Brittany Cavallaro but I’m definitely going to check her out.
This book about two people searching for their way in life. They are both in pain and they are keeping alot of secrets. They meet when Sylvie’s dog escapes and Knox breaks his arm while catching him. Knox does have any money or a car or a place to
Stay and now his arm is broken and he will have difficulty working. Sylvie is alone and feeling responsible so the set out on roadtrip to drop Knox off at a bus stop and then later to his grandmother’s house. They are both from such different worlds. Knox is bohemian and lives off the grid, traveling from place to place by working as a day laborer across
The country. Sylvie is upper middle class and never has to worry about how she is going to pay for
Anything. The banter is cute. They have a lot of fun while they heal each other. I really enjoyed
This book. I read it in one sitting. I’m going to recommend it to friends and I’m also
Going to check out their previous collaboration. I think the narrators did a fantastic job.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me the audiobook for my honest review.
First, let me say I will read anything Jeff Zetner writes. I’ve never read anything by Brittany Cavallaro but I’m definitely going to check her out.
This book about two people searching for their way in life. They are both in pain and they are keeping alot of secrets. They meet when Sylvie’s dog escapes and Knox breaks his arm while catching him. Knox does have any money or a car or a place to
Stay and now his arm is broken and he will have difficulty working. Sylvie is alone and feeling responsible so the set out on roadtrip to drop Knox off at a bus stop and then later to his grandmother’s house. They are both from such different worlds. Knox is bohemian and lives off the grid, traveling from place to place by working as a day laborer across
The country. Sylvie is upper middle class and never has to worry about how she is going to pay for
Anything. The banter is cute. They have a lot of fun while they heal each other. I really enjoyed
This book. I read it in one sitting. I’m going to recommend it to friends and I’m also
Going to check out their previous collaboration. I think the narrators did a fantastic job.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me the audiobook for my honest review.
August 18, 2026
𝙒𝙖𝙮𝙛𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙧𝙨 tells the story of Sylvie and Knox, two young people from very different backgrounds, who meet at just the right place and time. Sylvie is on a road trip while dealing with a confusing loss, and Knox is trying to get out of the strange lifestyle of his upbringing. They meet up at a campground and through a series of events end up traveling together and getting to know each other. There is angst, grief, loss, confusion, some romantic feelings, but what really shines through is just that feeling of the in-between phase of childhood and adulthood - of trying to figure out their place in the world and who they really want to be. It's quiet but powerful.
This book is written "in verse and conversation" --I will admit, I didn't fully know what that meant. There are verses at the beginning of each chapture with a rythm and poetic feel to them. Honestly, I think this may have shined through slightly better with a tandem read and having the words on page, but the narrators also did a fabulous job. It took me a minute to sink into the rhythm but once I did, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I'm not a huge consumer of YA content, but if you are looking to dip your toes, this would be a perfect choice. And, if you are a YA lover, this is a MUST READ.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio Children’s for access to this ALC.
This book is written "in verse and conversation" --I will admit, I didn't fully know what that meant. There are verses at the beginning of each chapture with a rythm and poetic feel to them. Honestly, I think this may have shined through slightly better with a tandem read and having the words on page, but the narrators also did a fabulous job. It took me a minute to sink into the rhythm but once I did, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I'm not a huge consumer of YA content, but if you are looking to dip your toes, this would be a perfect choice. And, if you are a YA lover, this is a MUST READ.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio Children’s for access to this ALC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wayfarers by Jeff Zentner and Brittany Cavallaro (in verse and conversation)
Published by Quill Tree Books of Harper Children’s
Narrated by Michael Crouch and Jorjeana Marie
📖 Knox and Sylvie meet at a campgrounds, both trying to outrun something, and wind up taking a life changing and healing road trip together.
💭 This was my first YA novel since I actually was one (and likely my first novel written in verse and conversation), so I’ll first tell a story from childhood.
When I was a kid, I was obsessed with Babysitters Club. And while there is nothing wrong with that series or books, and I’m grateful for every series and book that made me a reader, my mom wanted me to read some “higher quality” books. So she’d take me to the library and stand me in front of the Newbery Award Winner books and make me pick one of those to read between every BSC or two. And I will now admit, those are the books that have had the longest lasting affect on me, some of which I hope my children will enjoy when the time comes. And Wayfarers is absolutely one of those books that I would have loved to read as a kid and young adult, and would have had a long lasting impact on me. The writing is beautiful, the characters big hearted and the banter is top tier. I highly recommend every parent or teacher of kids picks this one up for their kids.
🎧 or 👂 ❓ Audio is great in this dual narration and POV YA novel, and fans of Michael Crouch will enjoy hearing his narration of Knox. Jorjeana played a young character well. Can’t go wrong either format.
4.5
Thank you to Quill Tree Books and Harper Children’s for the advanced copies.
Published by Quill Tree Books of Harper Children’s
Narrated by Michael Crouch and Jorjeana Marie
📖 Knox and Sylvie meet at a campgrounds, both trying to outrun something, and wind up taking a life changing and healing road trip together.
💭 This was my first YA novel since I actually was one (and likely my first novel written in verse and conversation), so I’ll first tell a story from childhood.
When I was a kid, I was obsessed with Babysitters Club. And while there is nothing wrong with that series or books, and I’m grateful for every series and book that made me a reader, my mom wanted me to read some “higher quality” books. So she’d take me to the library and stand me in front of the Newbery Award Winner books and make me pick one of those to read between every BSC or two. And I will now admit, those are the books that have had the longest lasting affect on me, some of which I hope my children will enjoy when the time comes. And Wayfarers is absolutely one of those books that I would have loved to read as a kid and young adult, and would have had a long lasting impact on me. The writing is beautiful, the characters big hearted and the banter is top tier. I highly recommend every parent or teacher of kids picks this one up for their kids.
🎧 or 👂 ❓ Audio is great in this dual narration and POV YA novel, and fans of Michael Crouch will enjoy hearing his narration of Knox. Jorjeana played a young character well. Can’t go wrong either format.
4.5
Thank you to Quill Tree Books and Harper Children’s for the advanced copies.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really, really love a road trip book. I love road trips, period, and as an avid road tripper, I feel like the road trip book offers such a special peek into the author’s psyche. This format is uniquely able to present an array of places the author has visited, or wants to visit, or knows someone who visited, or researched while piecing together the plot. As a fellow writer, the road trip book reminds of what I love so much about crafting a story, the magic of pantsing (or at least plantsing, my personal method), of allowing oneself to be pulled along by the tide of an unfolding narrative. You, the author, are technically in the driver’s seat, much like the actual driver on a highway journey, but the road you’re on has secrets to reveal and gifts to bestow. I DIGRESS! (I love a book that reminds me how fucking FUN writing is!) WAYFARERS continues to deliver what SUNRISE NIGHTS brought: a meet-cute-in-verse to end all meet-cutes! In WAYFARERS’ case, the MCs are Sylvie, a trust-fund overachiever using #vanlife to outrun the big mistake that haunts her, and Knox, a longtime traveler looking to leave the band of crime hippies his mom brought him into as a small child. When their worlds collide at a campground via Knox colliding with the ground and breaking his arm while chasing Sylvie’s escaped dog, Winslow, the two pair up for a trip to get Knox to his long-lost mamaw’s house in NC. They can’t outrun their secrets and lies, though, even as they are falling for each other along the way. Both this book and SUNRISE NIGHTS deserve like a hundred times more attention then they get, so get thee to pre-order WAYFARERS or pick it up when it drops next week on 8/18! Big thanks to Quill Tree Books and Jeff Zentner & Brittany Cavallero for the e-ARC via NetGalley!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book in verse told in the voices of two older teens, Sylvie and Knox, follows them on a road trip around the USA. While they are both escaping different pasts, something about that brings them together–that and the fact that Knox rescues Sylvie’s dog, breaking his arm in the process and leading Sylvie to offer Knox a ride in her van, wherever he wants to go. As they see the country, they inevitably grow closer together, leading up to a sweet romantic ending.
Usually verse novels grab me and don’t let go. This one wasn’t sticking for some reason, although once I got about half way into it, I was committed to finishing. The romance was very slow–pretty much nonexistent until the end of the book, so to sell it as a romance doesn’t work for me. What this is is a road trip book about teens with troubled pasts who work out their issues together on the road. I enjoyed the places they went to, and the details about each place. It was fun to follow them around and witness the character growth and healing happening. Recommended for high school readers.
3.5 stars
Usually verse novels grab me and don’t let go. This one wasn’t sticking for some reason, although once I got about half way into it, I was committed to finishing. The romance was very slow–pretty much nonexistent until the end of the book, so to sell it as a romance doesn’t work for me. What this is is a road trip book about teens with troubled pasts who work out their issues together on the road. I enjoyed the places they went to, and the details about each place. It was fun to follow them around and witness the character growth and healing happening. Recommended for high school readers.
3.5 stars
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wayfarers
by Jeff Zentner; Brittany Cavallaro
Pub Date: Aug 18, 2026
Thank you, Jeff and Brittany, for creating another work of poetic art for my high school students to enjoy.
Knox and Sylvie couldn’t have had a more different upbringing. Pure-hearted Knox and his mom joined a traveling band of free loving, anti-establishment, (and quite often, thieving) nomads when he was young, while ever-prudent Sylvie grew up with a keeping-up-appearances (and lovers half her age) mom with a “just throw money at it” attitude, of which, apparently, she has plenty. Both have come to a time in their lives when they feel what their parents are offering them isn’t what they want out of life. Just as Knox tells his mom he will not be leaving their current campsite with “the family”, Sylvie, who has set off on a solo van camping adventure for her own reasons, comes crashing into his life.
While being completely themselves with each other, they each still hold back a huge truth from the other which could totally destroy the quickly igniting feelings growing between the two.
So much witty, but believable, banter infused with the wonder of young adulthood while taking the ultimate break-out-of-your-shell, post senior year roadtrip while falling in love with a stranger that just feels right makes this a warm, fuzzy adventure you can’t put down.
Written in prose, this is the second team-up of Jeff Zentner and Brittany Cavallaro, and while my students and I loved the first one Sunrise Nights, I think my students will love and relate to this one even more.
#Wayfarers
#JeffZentner
#BrittanyCavallaro
#netgalley
by Jeff Zentner; Brittany Cavallaro
Pub Date: Aug 18, 2026
Thank you, Jeff and Brittany, for creating another work of poetic art for my high school students to enjoy.
Knox and Sylvie couldn’t have had a more different upbringing. Pure-hearted Knox and his mom joined a traveling band of free loving, anti-establishment, (and quite often, thieving) nomads when he was young, while ever-prudent Sylvie grew up with a keeping-up-appearances (and lovers half her age) mom with a “just throw money at it” attitude, of which, apparently, she has plenty. Both have come to a time in their lives when they feel what their parents are offering them isn’t what they want out of life. Just as Knox tells his mom he will not be leaving their current campsite with “the family”, Sylvie, who has set off on a solo van camping adventure for her own reasons, comes crashing into his life.
While being completely themselves with each other, they each still hold back a huge truth from the other which could totally destroy the quickly igniting feelings growing between the two.
So much witty, but believable, banter infused with the wonder of young adulthood while taking the ultimate break-out-of-your-shell, post senior year roadtrip while falling in love with a stranger that just feels right makes this a warm, fuzzy adventure you can’t put down.
Written in prose, this is the second team-up of Jeff Zentner and Brittany Cavallaro, and while my students and I loved the first one Sunrise Nights, I think my students will love and relate to this one even more.
#Wayfarers
#JeffZentner
#BrittanyCavallaro
#netgalley
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