Hitchhiking With Daisy : A novel

by Raluca M. Matara

Genres: LGBT

334 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 2, 2026

About the author

Raluca M. Matara writes romance and women’s fiction that celebrate diversity and center LGBTQ+ identities—with a special focus on sapphic love.

A Romanian who publishes exclusively in English (she blames her brain’s default settings), Raluca occasionally genre‑hops when a story demands a different canvas—always with authentic emotion and strong character arcs.

When she’s not writing, you can find her working on a new drawing, devouring books, or at her nine‑to‑five corporate job.

Happily partnered, she believes the best love stories are lived first and written second.

Reviews

[aurora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twyla, a woman with a dark past, meets Daisy, a famous gamer who has quite the reputation with women. Despite deciding to part ways after a one-night stand, circumstances bring them back together, leaving them stuck in each other’s proximity for the following few days.

The pacing was enjoyable and the plot kept me entertained until the very end. I loved both characters and the way their relationship progressed. There were so many swoon-worthy moments in the book that had me giggling and kicking my feet while reading. I also have to mention how well the author handled Twyla’s past experiences and trauma.

I finished this in one sitting, and it was honestly such an enjoyable reading experience. Will definitely check out more books from this author!

[Brigitte · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t know what to expect from this book. I thought it was some dark romance judging by it’s cover. And the description of gamer meets hurt lady. But it was nothing like that. Daisy is a lesbian who lost her parents in a car crash when she was eighteen. Her brother Liam was 10 at the time. She fought to become his legal guardian and quit her nurse school to become a professional gamer. It is also at an event where she meets Twyla. She usually picks up girls from events for one night. She even sets an alarm at 3am to kick them out (how rude!).
It goes the same with Twyla. She claims she wanted to leave herself anyway. Also only looking to scratch an itch. But was it that for them? The awesome night they shared together is playing through Daisy’s mind when she leaves from Texas to Seattle to attend her brother’s graduation ceremony. It is on the road where she meets Twyla again. Twyla is also on her way to her mother’s house. Twyla comes from a terrible marriage where her husband Jake physically and mentally abused her. She tried to escape him multiple times but everytime he was able to track her down again. Now she’s free, although not really. She has night terrors and severe panic attacks during the day and certain things can throw her back into a moment from her violent past. On top of that, she found out she carries the Huntington Disease gene. Her father already is suffering from it. She is in no shape to start a relationship.
Nevertheless Daisy takes Twyla in when her car breaks down and they try to travel to Seattle together. What follows is a pull and push love story that evolves between them.
I thought it was a nice romance between them. It was a bit overdone with all the presents Daisy is organizing for Twyla, come on, she doesn’t care about your wealth. She just wants your love, your warm and stable arms to carry her through her panic, and oh yeah your body..
It gets a bit thriller-like when the ghosts from the past are suddenly not ghosts… was not really fitting but oh well.
I thought the terror Twyla felt were well written. It reminded me a bit of The Lay of You from Corrie McKay, that also deals with panic attacks and violence. And the way Daisy was handling it all was so sweet and lovely. It’s everything you wish for in a partner.

And yeah, there’s also a good amount of hot spice and praise for the bisexual representation!

Thanks to #NetGalleyUK for the #ARC.

[Lirissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an early arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Overall really enjoyed it, it is a romance novel with a splash of thriller that makes it a unique and exciting read.

Ok wow. Was not expecting such an emotional roller coaster as the reader for this one!

Read all the trigger warnings before picking up this book, make sure you are ok with ALL of them, it is heavy with lots of trauma.

The toxic lesbians who’re really shouldn’t be together but can’t resist each other trope (is there a name for this?) is crazy. Like screaming at the book they should go their separate ways get therapy and not see each other for a good few years crazy. But weirdly it works once the book is done?

The thriller/mystery part I wished was a strong presence in the book, it is great but having more of a focus on it would make it more unique.

The spice be spicing, but I think some readers will be left unsatisfied depending on which character you lean into. I don’t want to share spoilers because it is still early, but the book is dual POV but there is a main character and the spice also revolves around her mainly.

There is room for one last round of strong editing, grammar and some pacing that can be improved. Since there is a few more months to publish I hope this is the plan.

Not going to lie. I almost dnfed about 200 pages in because of the MCs behaviour (the games…), but I read on and am really glad I did.

New to me author so interested in read other books now too!

[LezLibros · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a pretty emotionally heavy read (TW spousal abuse). Twyla is trying to overcome some pretty horrific trauma, and The romance between Daisy and Twyla is secondary to that but I think that is really the heart of the story. Honestly, it’s hard to like Twyla at the beginning of the book, but as her story unfolds through her nightmares and memories, you start to understand just how “damaged” she is, and why, and appreciate her character growth. Daisy is easier to like, but she is also carrying a lot of pain and loss. What I love about this book is that both Daisy and Twyla are imperfect, but that’s what brings them together. Daisy is so tender with Twyla, and Twyla’s love for Daisy ultimately helps her see the strength in herself. This is a story about healing, hope, and unconditional love, and that really brings the book together in a satisfying and positive way. I appreciate the author’s emphasis on the importance of therapy, and explaining the ins/outs of CPTSD. Overall, a well written book with an ending you won’t see coming!

[Sienna Zini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoa, what a roller coaster this was. I know the author, I know she’s good, but she keeps getting better. I’m not sure which of her characters I liked best. They’re so different, and yet so perfectly matched. So I’m going to say both, because why choose, right?
I won’t spoil the story because you need to enjoy every single second of it. But, as always in Matara’s books, it’s incredibly layered. You’ll laugh, cry, and get a little mad at the characters. You'll definitely root for them.
This time the themes are heavier, but they are handled perfectly. It’s a dark romance in its own right, but the MFCs are not the reason why.
So, in three simple words: I loved it. This is definitely a book I will re-read multiple times.

[Jen Betchie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t even know where to start with this book! It’s such a wild ride and keeps you hooked from the beginning! You’ll love and hate the characters in the same breathe as you scream at them to stop being dumb, but also cry for them as you feel their pain and trauma guiding their decisions. The complex trauma the characters carry in the story is so well written and authentic to what many survivors experience. It doesn’t paint them as a victim, healing isn’t linear or easy, and there are some things even ‘true love’ can’t fix. It’s real and raw and powerful. I loved this book so much and I can’t wait for it to be out in the world for others to enjoy!

Thank you so much to the author for providing me with an advanced copy of this book to read and review!

[Vicky Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story so much - it's now my favourite book by Raluca.
I was hooked from the start - eager to learn more about both MCs.
I love seeing bi rep in a sapphic story, and Twyla also being a bookworm made this bi bookworm very happy! And I just adore our gamer girl Daisy!
There are triggers within this story so do check before starting.
The characters are well written, and it really felt like I was on this journey with them - I laughed,I cried, there are difficult topics covered but handled beautifully.
I felt so honored that Raluca had me as part of her early arc team, thank you so much

[Donna Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thankyou for the opportunity  to ARC. I have not read about esport before, but the interaction  was fast paced and competitive.  After a one night stand  Daisy needs to drive across country to Seattle  for her brother's graduation. As the clever title suggests, Daisy picks up a Hitch hiker. There is so much about girl gamers that it's a fascinating  tale. There's also the added levels of anxiety and the Huttington gene. Recovery from Domestic abuse can take its time but Raluca has tender writing through the trauma and romance. Worth the read.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an early ARC of this book from the author and I loved it. The writing is fluid and Twyla and Daisy are well-rounded and complex characters. The alternating first person points of view give plenty of insight into each of the main characters. They've both been through so much in their lives. I was fully invested in Twyla and Daisy's journey. This will be one of my favorite reads of the year.

I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[May ✿ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this book down for long! I felt entertained the entire time

Twyla and Daisy had the chemistry, undeniable attraction, and they were able to keep me hooked from the beginning. They each had their own struggles and I loved seeing their relationship grow!

I found that this book did such a good job handling the heavy topics and keeping that a big part of their stories, it got its message across perfectly that despite what you go through and how much you go through, you can always find happiness somewhere and give them hope!

[Xiaoqing · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I ever read from the author and I like it very much! It is not a easy one to read, with heavy topics such as domestic violence, the cursed Huntington's disease (HD) genes, and tragic death of parents. But the story is addictive, the characters vivid and admirable, and the happy ending makes the book feel lighter. It also highlighted the importance of trust and honest communication!