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Wayfarers
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 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 If the other person knew the whole story, would they take a chance on—and maybe even fall for—a wayfaring stranger?
432 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 18, 2026
About the author
Jeff Zentner
12 books2,661 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
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.
August 27, 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.
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 22, 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!
August 4, 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.
August 27, 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.
August 18, 2026
Absolutely magnificent.
August 17, 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.
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 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.
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.
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!
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
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!
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to HarperCollins and HarperAudio for the ARC and ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Sylvie recently graduated from high school and, determined to outrun a tragedy she can't talk about, sets off on a solo van-life road trip. Knox, used to a life on the road, is hoping to finally find a place he can call home. Their paths collide when Sylvie's golden retriever runs off and Knox chases him down, breaking his arm in the process. To make it up to him, Sylvie offers Knox a ride toward his long-lost grandmother's house, and what starts as a practical detour turns into a cross-country journey of healing, connection, and slowly-revealed secrets. Told through alternating verse and dialogue from both Sylvie's and Knox's perspectives, it's a tender story about two young people learning that where you're going matters more than where you've been.
When Jeff Zentner and Brittany Cavallaro write together, the result is a beautiful conversation in book form. Both Sylvie and Knox had distinct voices and they came together in a very real and emotional way to tell a story that felt so authentic as it evolved. Their dialogue was at times funny, awkward, and gut-wrenching. It takes a lot to carry an entire book on dialogue and, while I did at times wish for more plot, I ultimately think the character development and writing are enough to make this book a must-read for anyone who enjoys YA romance.
I ultimately chose to listen to the majority of this book, largely because Michael Crouch's narration draws me in every time. He is one of my favorite narrators and he never disappoints, including in Wayfarers. Along with Jorjeana Marie, the audio performance is fantastic. The verse sections were powerful in audio and they flowed seamlessly with the dialogue sections. These two narrators really embodied Knox and Sylvie and made the listening experience immersive and totally enjoyable.
Sylvie recently graduated from high school and, determined to outrun a tragedy she can't talk about, sets off on a solo van-life road trip. Knox, used to a life on the road, is hoping to finally find a place he can call home. Their paths collide when Sylvie's golden retriever runs off and Knox chases him down, breaking his arm in the process. To make it up to him, Sylvie offers Knox a ride toward his long-lost grandmother's house, and what starts as a practical detour turns into a cross-country journey of healing, connection, and slowly-revealed secrets. Told through alternating verse and dialogue from both Sylvie's and Knox's perspectives, it's a tender story about two young people learning that where you're going matters more than where you've been.
When Jeff Zentner and Brittany Cavallaro write together, the result is a beautiful conversation in book form. Both Sylvie and Knox had distinct voices and they came together in a very real and emotional way to tell a story that felt so authentic as it evolved. Their dialogue was at times funny, awkward, and gut-wrenching. It takes a lot to carry an entire book on dialogue and, while I did at times wish for more plot, I ultimately think the character development and writing are enough to make this book a must-read for anyone who enjoys YA romance.
I ultimately chose to listen to the majority of this book, largely because Michael Crouch's narration draws me in every time. He is one of my favorite narrators and he never disappoints, including in Wayfarers. Along with Jorjeana Marie, the audio performance is fantastic. The verse sections were powerful in audio and they flowed seamlessly with the dialogue sections. These two narrators really embodied Knox and Sylvie and made the listening experience immersive and totally enjoyable.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wayfarers is the 2nd book from the writing team of Jeff Zentner and Brittany Cavallaro.
"Sylvie has driven away from home in her camper van, running from an accident she can't bear to think about, much less talk about.
Knox is a boy who has lived a life of chaos and has had enough. He is despearate to get back to the little bit of home he vaguely remembers.
Knox helps Sylvie track her dog down and suddenly they're off on a roadtrip together - two damaged people who find that maybe there's room to heal."
Wow! Another great story from Jeff and Brittany. This is a story about healing and love. Not romantic love, but the love you can't exactly explain that pulls you toward someone - and you realize you don't want to live without them. It's about the forever pull of family - those happy memories we want to live over and over again. It's about forgiveness - forgiving others and yourself.
I love the way Sylvie decribes the relationship she doesn't want to be in and her efforts to get out of it. Knox is funny as a caveman - since there are so many things he has no idea about because of his family situation. Knox does have other skills though.
There are so many great quotes in this book - "I want whatever the opposite of chaos is" "It's the sound of someone gently dropping something they didn't want to carry anymore" "I have a void on the shelf in my heart with the label 'home' under it" "I want that. I want to love someone with such a fullness of my self that my body sings the undeniable truth of it always"
And I hope you had a Mamaw - because you can see, smell and hear this character. I love this ending.
If you read one YA book this year, let it be this one. You will be moved to tears and laughter (There's a reason the dog is named Winslow) And by the end you will love Sylvie and Knox.
"Sylvie has driven away from home in her camper van, running from an accident she can't bear to think about, much less talk about.
Knox is a boy who has lived a life of chaos and has had enough. He is despearate to get back to the little bit of home he vaguely remembers.
Knox helps Sylvie track her dog down and suddenly they're off on a roadtrip together - two damaged people who find that maybe there's room to heal."
Wow! Another great story from Jeff and Brittany. This is a story about healing and love. Not romantic love, but the love you can't exactly explain that pulls you toward someone - and you realize you don't want to live without them. It's about the forever pull of family - those happy memories we want to live over and over again. It's about forgiveness - forgiving others and yourself.
I love the way Sylvie decribes the relationship she doesn't want to be in and her efforts to get out of it. Knox is funny as a caveman - since there are so many things he has no idea about because of his family situation. Knox does have other skills though.
There are so many great quotes in this book - "I want whatever the opposite of chaos is" "It's the sound of someone gently dropping something they didn't want to carry anymore" "I have a void on the shelf in my heart with the label 'home' under it" "I want that. I want to love someone with such a fullness of my self that my body sings the undeniable truth of it always"
And I hope you had a Mamaw - because you can see, smell and hear this character. I love this ending.
If you read one YA book this year, let it be this one. You will be moved to tears and laughter (There's a reason the dog is named Winslow) And by the end you will love Sylvie and Knox.
August 28, 2026
WAYFARERS is a beautiful adventure for the soul 🚐❤️.
A road trip romance that serves as both a portal of nostalgia for adult readers and a threshold of awakening for teen readers. Rich in resplendent repartee and lush with lyrical lessons, it will appeal not only to fans of Zentner and Cavallaro (individually and their previous co-authored SUNRISE NIGHTS), but also to new readers seeking to savor a deliciously slow, satisfying, and, ultimately, sanguine journey through mistakes and reckoning, grief and healing, self-discovery and intimate connection, rupture and repair, support and emotional safety, and longing in all its forms.
It’s a warm and nostalgic reminder of the banal, silly, revealing banter that develops when friends spend endless, aimless hours chatting, slowly unfurling themselves through admissions and confessions, challenges and debates, jokes and personal quizzes.
The pitter-patter of the heart as new love blooms, in all its stages of attraction, from the first butterflies to the first touch, the sharing of past relationships to creating a shared future, tiny hurts and big apologies, small kindnesses and grand gestures.
The transition from child to adult, when the veil lifts, exposing the reality of adulthood and the adults in your life, and the terrifying and exhilarating separation from the world you knew to create the one you want.
The freedom and tenderness that come from the horizon of ‘after’—after high school, after the parental home, after the fresh wounds of childhood—when you face your values, dreams, and needs, with endless possibilities before you.
With unforgettable characters and so many deep insights and gorgeous lines that my copy is graffitied, this compelling and resonant story will stay tucked into my heart.
A 5/5 for both adults and teens.
A road trip romance that serves as both a portal of nostalgia for adult readers and a threshold of awakening for teen readers. Rich in resplendent repartee and lush with lyrical lessons, it will appeal not only to fans of Zentner and Cavallaro (individually and their previous co-authored SUNRISE NIGHTS), but also to new readers seeking to savor a deliciously slow, satisfying, and, ultimately, sanguine journey through mistakes and reckoning, grief and healing, self-discovery and intimate connection, rupture and repair, support and emotional safety, and longing in all its forms.
It’s a warm and nostalgic reminder of the banal, silly, revealing banter that develops when friends spend endless, aimless hours chatting, slowly unfurling themselves through admissions and confessions, challenges and debates, jokes and personal quizzes.
The pitter-patter of the heart as new love blooms, in all its stages of attraction, from the first butterflies to the first touch, the sharing of past relationships to creating a shared future, tiny hurts and big apologies, small kindnesses and grand gestures.
The transition from child to adult, when the veil lifts, exposing the reality of adulthood and the adults in your life, and the terrifying and exhilarating separation from the world you knew to create the one you want.
The freedom and tenderness that come from the horizon of ‘after’—after high school, after the parental home, after the fresh wounds of childhood—when you face your values, dreams, and needs, with endless possibilities before you.
With unforgettable characters and so many deep insights and gorgeous lines that my copy is graffitied, this compelling and resonant story will stay tucked into my heart.
A 5/5 for both adults and teens.
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
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.
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
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
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
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
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 ⭐️
Thank you, Quill Tree Books, for the gifted eARC to read and enjoy prior to pub day in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Thrown together after Sylvie is robbed at campsite and Knox has decided to leave the traveling family he’s belonged to his whole life, the two meet when he helps rescue her dog and subsequently breaks his arm doing so. She helps him in the aftermath and offers to give him a ride. They both have secrets. Pasts. And BAGGAGE. Yet, over the course of their life-changing road trip, the two experience beautiful healing.
Wayfarers is Jeff and Brittany’s second novel in verse and dialogue together. Somehow they masterfully co-write a beautiful story that not only switches POV, but switches style. The prose is stunning. The flow is smooth and easy. The pacing is perfect. If you haven’t read a book in verse, or tend to shy away from YA, I encourage you to give this a try.
Someone PLEASE let me hug Knox and Sylvie!!!! I loved their journey so much. If you like reading about teens waxing poetically and having philosophical debates…then this is the book for you. They both have such an innocence about them coupled with some deep pain and trauma, and the result of their forced proximity and growing friendship is something quite lovely. It’s one of those books where you are just minding your own business and then randomly crying. And then giggling. And then tearing up again. Let me say it again, someone let me hug Sylvie and Knox.
Thank you, Quill Tree Books, for the gifted eARC to read and enjoy prior to pub day in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Thrown together after Sylvie is robbed at campsite and Knox has decided to leave the traveling family he’s belonged to his whole life, the two meet when he helps rescue her dog and subsequently breaks his arm doing so. She helps him in the aftermath and offers to give him a ride. They both have secrets. Pasts. And BAGGAGE. Yet, over the course of their life-changing road trip, the two experience beautiful healing.
Wayfarers is Jeff and Brittany’s second novel in verse and dialogue together. Somehow they masterfully co-write a beautiful story that not only switches POV, but switches style. The prose is stunning. The flow is smooth and easy. The pacing is perfect. If you haven’t read a book in verse, or tend to shy away from YA, I encourage you to give this a try.
Someone PLEASE let me hug Knox and Sylvie!!!! I loved their journey so much. If you like reading about teens waxing poetically and having philosophical debates…then this is the book for you. They both have such an innocence about them coupled with some deep pain and trauma, and the result of their forced proximity and growing friendship is something quite lovely. It’s one of those books where you are just minding your own business and then randomly crying. And then giggling. And then tearing up again. Let me say it again, someone let me hug Sylvie and Knox.
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
"I think I loved you the second I saw you."
"And then your dog broke my arm and I knew it for sure."
I thought this was a cute book, but I couldn't get into it. I think part of it was my fault. I like poetry, but the poetry in this book seemed a bit clumsy and awkward to me when I was reading it. I also missed where this was a novel in verse, so that was my mistake. I think I still would have read it though. It was an interesting concept and some of them were actually really good. About half of the book is poetry, which is refreshing in a way. I liked the idea of telling a story through poems and getting a look into both Sylvie and Knox's thoughts when they put them into verse.
Essentially, this book is about two young people (Knox and Sylvie) who meet in an unexpected way and find themselves on a road trip that leads to them to find out they're both running from something and maybe it would be better to run with someone. Overall, it was a cute story that I had a fun time reading. It was funny, charming, and the Golden Retriever made it all the more entertaining.
Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books for providing this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
"And then your dog broke my arm and I knew it for sure."
I thought this was a cute book, but I couldn't get into it. I think part of it was my fault. I like poetry, but the poetry in this book seemed a bit clumsy and awkward to me when I was reading it. I also missed where this was a novel in verse, so that was my mistake. I think I still would have read it though. It was an interesting concept and some of them were actually really good. About half of the book is poetry, which is refreshing in a way. I liked the idea of telling a story through poems and getting a look into both Sylvie and Knox's thoughts when they put them into verse.
Essentially, this book is about two young people (Knox and Sylvie) who meet in an unexpected way and find themselves on a road trip that leads to them to find out they're both running from something and maybe it would be better to run with someone. Overall, it was a cute story that I had a fun time reading. It was funny, charming, and the Golden Retriever made it all the more entertaining.
Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books for providing this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars
Thanks to NetGalley and Quill Tree Books for an advanced copy of Wayfarers by Jeff Zentner and Brittany Cavallaro to review! I loved the format of Sunrise Nights when it came out last year, so I was excited to see that they paired together to write another book. And they always have the most gorgeous covers! Doesn't it just make you want to go on a spontaneous summer road trip?
From the beginning, Knox and Sylvie seem like opposites. They have drastically different backgrounds, and yet the find similarities with each other. They're both running from dark secrets, trying to change the way their futures unfold. Zentner and Cavallaro bring both of them to life, and capture their emotions with beautiful verse. And there are a lot of big emotions in this.
What I enjoyed the most about this book is that Knox and Sylvie seemed to meet each other at the exact time they needed. They form a quick connection, balancing the grief of their past with the hope they have for the future. This is definitely a book that will stay with you after you finish it.
If you like novels in verse that explore messy emotions, this is definitely the book for you!
Thanks to NetGalley and Quill Tree Books for an advanced copy of Wayfarers by Jeff Zentner and Brittany Cavallaro to review! I loved the format of Sunrise Nights when it came out last year, so I was excited to see that they paired together to write another book. And they always have the most gorgeous covers! Doesn't it just make you want to go on a spontaneous summer road trip?
From the beginning, Knox and Sylvie seem like opposites. They have drastically different backgrounds, and yet the find similarities with each other. They're both running from dark secrets, trying to change the way their futures unfold. Zentner and Cavallaro bring both of them to life, and capture their emotions with beautiful verse. And there are a lot of big emotions in this.
What I enjoyed the most about this book is that Knox and Sylvie seemed to meet each other at the exact time they needed. They form a quick connection, balancing the grief of their past with the hope they have for the future. This is definitely a book that will stay with you after you finish it.
If you like novels in verse that explore messy emotions, this is definitely the book for you!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you endlessly to Quill Tree Books for the advanced copy to review. Jeff and Bri are two of my most treasured writers and my god, this book was a revelation.
Knox and Sylvie were everything to me. From their meet cute turned meet disaster to their epic road trip to reunite Knox with his meemaw, I swear I was unwell the entire book. By the time we got to the last chapters I had tears streaming down my face and my heart was so incredibly full of love for this book. The secrets Knox and Sylvie were keeping while slowly letting each other in were captivating and their push and pull dynamic was explored beautifully.
The hypnotic and gorgeous prose, the witty and humorous banter and dialogue, the fiery passion of teens, and the surprises along the way had my heart pounding the whole time. There’s something so pure about a road trip novel that starts in my beloved Michigan. I truly cannot recommend a book written by this duo higher. If you pick it up, you’re in for a treat.
Thank you Jeff and Bri for yet another incredible read, full of everything I love about YA romance. I am in awe of you both.
Knox and Sylvie were everything to me. From their meet cute turned meet disaster to their epic road trip to reunite Knox with his meemaw, I swear I was unwell the entire book. By the time we got to the last chapters I had tears streaming down my face and my heart was so incredibly full of love for this book. The secrets Knox and Sylvie were keeping while slowly letting each other in were captivating and their push and pull dynamic was explored beautifully.
The hypnotic and gorgeous prose, the witty and humorous banter and dialogue, the fiery passion of teens, and the surprises along the way had my heart pounding the whole time. There’s something so pure about a road trip novel that starts in my beloved Michigan. I truly cannot recommend a book written by this duo higher. If you pick it up, you’re in for a treat.
Thank you Jeff and Bri for yet another incredible read, full of everything I love about YA romance. I am in awe of you both.
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