With You Everywhere: A Novel

by Amy Lea

Two complete opposites, accompanied by the spirit of the girl who brought them together, embark on a cross-country road trip in this bittersweet, heartfelt romance by the international bestselling author of Woke Up Like This.

After her free-spirited best friend Daisy dies, Indy Burton gets the surprise inheritance of her yellow Volkswagen Beetle, rusted and beyond repair. On the first anniversary of her death, the car magically roars to life, blasting Daisy’s favorite Fleetwood Mac song. It also comes with a final for Indy to fulfill the cross-country road trip they’d planned together to Driftwood Beach, California. There’s just one Daisy’s brooding twin brother, Jay, their Iowa small town’s resident bad boy, must come along for the ride.

Cramped together in the Bug with Fleetwood Mac on loop, the reluctant companions clash on nearly everything—routes, car snacks, the speedometer…all except a shared love for Daisy. Somewhere between the rolling hills of the Midwest, the rocky terrain of Colorado, and the deserts of Utah, they discover that even the best adventures—and love stories—can start with a wrong turn.

Genres: Romance

264 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 16, 2027

Reviews

[Katie’s Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️
This was very cute. Sad too, considering the entire plot revolves around Indy's best friend dying, but ends up being a very uplifting story about two young adults struggling and learning to cope with their grief.

I like how went Indy and Jay ended up working together and the really wonderful, open conversations they ended up having. These two are total opposites- Indy is straight-laced type A, introvert at heart. Jason is the local bad-boy, who is definitely more spontaneous and never has a plan. And somehow they mesh so well? Jay gets Indy to loosen up and live a little, and Indy gets Jay to admit that yes, sometimes he needs a plan and a gps.

I thought this story also dealt with grief and loss very well. The anger and sadness, the total sense of loss and being unsure what to do with it. I really liked that Indy and Jay had such open discussions about it and about Daisy and their lives.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Allison · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Thank you to Amy Lea and Skyscape for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Minus one star for implausible scenarios. Minus half a star for an implausible HEA.

Daisy, a popular and lively teenage girl dies of cancer before her senior year of high school. On the one year anniversary of her death, she has car given to her best friend, Joey, along with a letter asking her to take it on the cross country road trip they'd talked about since they were eight years old. Oh, and please take her twin brother Jason along for the ride.

The car is a 2009 disaster of a VW Beetle convertible named Stevie and it doesn't run. Except for when it does. Like, it turns itself, it's lights, and it's stereo on all by itself. Possibly without a key and definitely in defiance of all logic since the list of things wrong with it is lengthy and catastrophic. Yet, when it decides to run, it purrs. The theory adopted by Joey and Jason is that Daisy is responsible from beyond the grave.

So this is a cute story. I'm happy to suspend my disbelief and let Daisy haunt her loved ones by making a car run in the desert without coolant, but I can't extend this suspension to the farm in Nebraska. Several problems here.
1) Corn maze in Nebraska in June
-Farms are not planting corn in the shape of a maze.
-Farms are not harvesting corn in June to create a maze.
-Corn in June is, at best, chest high.
2) Corn maze closing early due to heat
-A corn maze is more likely to be open in the evening than the morning. Opening in the morning and closing at noon is bizarre.
-The farmer is going to keep working even if it's hot. That's what farmers do.
-What business owner is going to forget their ONLY customer of the day?

I'm also not buying the car smash and grab in Vegas, the night time temperatures, or how they're paying for all of this. I literally did a road/camping trip like this with my daughter in 2014 from Illinois across the northern states, down the Pacific Coast, then back along the path they drove. The timing works, but it's EXPENSIVE and you need to make reservations at all those camp sites. Sometimes months in advance.

So yeah, the details really took me out of the story. Also, the ending is a little ridiculous. I think it's supposed to be hopeful, but it's naive hope of teenagers who will soon be faced with reality which likely includes a break up.

[Kate Laycoax · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's such a gorgeous book and it will make you cry. Yes, it's a romance, but I think it's so much more about grief and loss and all the different kinds of love, like love for a best friend, love for a sister, and the way that love can bring two people together. I really loved Indy and Jay and their road trip together, and I thought the story did such a good job of pulling so much emotion out of everything, given the subject matter and the tragedy that brought them together. There was a heaviness to it all that really got to me (especially as the daughter of a parent who had cancer), and Indy learning how to move forward after losing Daisy was important to me.

Even though this is technically New Adult, it did feel a little more YA to me. Indy felt like she was really growing up and figuring herself out, and the romance felt a little less mature than some of the other books I've read in this genre. I also really wanted more from Jay! Since the entire book is in Indy's POV, I do wish we could get his perspective too because I wanted to know what he was thinking and feeling.

I loved all the Fleetwood Mac references and the whole road trip was so fun. Some of it was definitely predictable, but I didn't really mind because the story was still a good one. I do recommend if you are looking for an emotional romance because this one is it! It kind of reminded me of Voicemails to Isabelle, which I loved and I know others did too.

Thank you to NetGalley, Amy Lea, and Skyscape for the eARC of this book.

[bee · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, publisher and to NetGallery for this ARC ♡♡

Sadly, this book was a victim of my high expectations. I didn't connect with any of the characters, which meant that the heartbreaking scenes and storylines just landed a bit flat for me. I felt like this book told us about Indy's grief instead of showing how it impacted every area of her life and emotions. I wasn't too invested in the romance subplot either, I much preferred the 'magical realism' aspect of the novel. The premise of a magical car was really unique! Also, I love the book cover, so gorgeous! While this book wasn't bad, the premise has already been done (and better!) by other authors. I do love the cover and the premise of a magical car, I thought that was really unique!

[Keren P · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from NetGalley.

What a cute, but also sorrowful, story. Indy lost her best friend, Daisy, to cancer a year ago and hasn’t been ready to move on. Just before the one-year anniversary of Daisy’s death, Indy is gifted Daisy’s Volkswagen Beetle, along with a letter from her friends encouraging her to take the cross-country road trip they had always dreamed of. There’s just one catch: Daisy wants Indy to bring along her twin brother, Jay, someone she has very little in common with. The two set off on a road trip with very different ideas of how it should go. Indy has a full itinerary, and every detail planned out, while Jay prefers to be spontaneous.

What follows is a heartwarming story about two people learning to get along and bond over their shared grief. Throughout their journey, Indy and Jay discover that they can rely on each other as they navigate the pain of losing someone they love. This story explores grief, regret, and the struggle to move forward after loss. Both characters learn how to process these complicated feelings and find closure in the midst of their pain. I really enjoyed Indy and Jay’s character development, and although I would consider this a YA story, neither character felt immature.

The one thing that would have made this book stand out even more for me would have been Jay’s POV. From the beginning, I felt like his character had so much more to offer, and I would have loved to understand his thoughts and feelings more deeply. A dual POV would have added so much to this story and, in my opinion, made it even better!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

[Morgana Rosenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into With You Everywhere expecting a cute road-trip romance and somehow ended up emotionally invested in two grieving eighteen-year-olds and a possibly possessed Volkswagen Beetle.

Indy lost her best friend Daisy to cancer the year before graduation, and for the past year, she hasn't really been living. She wakes up, goes to school, barely interacts with anyone, works at a knitting store, goes home, sits on the couch, and does it all over again.
Then, on the first anniversary of Daisy's death, Indy inherits Stevie—Daisy's yellow Volkswagen Beetle. Except Stevie should not work.
Every mechanic agrees that the engine is basically toast and the car shouldn't even start. Stevie apparently disagrees because not only does she start, she drives perfectly when she feels like it, turns herself on in the middle of the night blasting Daisy's favourite music, changes songs whenever she wants, and gives Indy absolutely zero control over the radio. 😂

Indy finds two letters and a map in the glove compartment. Daisy had planned one final road trip, and she wants Indy to take it with her twin brother, Jay. The problem? Indy and Jay are basically strangers now.
They grew up together because of Daisy, but they were never close. They were kids, and I also feel like Indy is an extremely biased narrator when it comes to younger Jay. As the story progresses, we realize that her version of him wasn't the whole picture. The only thing these two really had in common was Daisy, and now she's gone.
So Daisy decides to fix this by throwing them into her haunted Beetle and sending them across the country together. And it works so well!

At its core, With You Everywhere didn't feel like a romance. It felt like a coming-of-age story about two young adults who have absolutely no idea what they're supposed to do with their lives after losing the person around whom their lives revolved. I also loved that the trip isn't magically fixing them. They're both still grieving and trying to figure out what the hell they're supposed to do next—their plans, their passions, what they actually want from life instead of what they think they're supposed to want or what their parents want.

Indy and Jay are complete opposites. Indy is basically a ball of nerves. She plans EVERYTHING, overthinks everything, and desperately wants to know what comes next. Jay is Mr. Nonchalant himself—or at least he wants everyone to think he is, because deep down that man is chalant as hell. 😂 And they work.

The romance is a sloooooow burn. Like, seriously slow. But I actually liked that because the relationship develops alongside their grief, they talk, they start understanding each other, they clear up misconceptions they've carried around for years, and they become the person the other needed at that moment.
I especially appreciated Indy questioning her feelings for Jay and wondering whether it was actually love or simply a coping mechanism. These two were seriously trauma bonding, so of course feelings were going to get complicated and I loved that the book actually addressed it.

And then there's Stevie, who honestly deserves an award.
The car constantly changes the music almost as if Daisy is still communicating with them, and neither Indy nor Jay can control the radio. Whether Stevie is genuinely carrying some piece of Daisy or the book is simply using the car as a little bit of magical realism, I loved it. Daisy is gone, but her love for her brother and best friend is there throughout the entire book.

My only real complaint? I wanted MORE of Jay.
Indy is our narrator, so naturally we experience everything through her, but there were moments when I desperately wanted to get inside Jay's head. He's carrying so much of his own grief underneath that nonchalant exterior, and I don't think we always got to explore it as deeply as I wanted. This was especially true with the Matty situation. I wish we had gotten a little more of what happens after these two finally met.

This was such a sweet, bittersweet story. It's a romance, yes, but for me it was just as much about grief, growing up, letting go, and figuring out what comes next when someone you thought would always be there suddenly isn't. Two lost eighteen-year-olds, one dead best friend/sister who apparently still has plans for them, and a yellow Volkswagen Beetle with absolutely no respect for personal boundaries or radio privileges.
I loved every single page of it.

I received an ARC of With You Everywhere through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Finkamundo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read the author's adult romance novels, and enjoyed those a lot. I thought this book was worth four stars as it's a very cute YA book, easy to read, yet handles the subject of grief with care. The two MCs go on a road trip together in a beat up old volkswagen beetle, instigated a year after their best friend/twin sister passed away from cancer. It's a romance novel with a HEA, closed door even though the main characters are 18.

The story is not very original though. It has the cancer trope, the best friend and brother trope, going roadtripping before college with some magic realism mixed in trope etc. It's a story that has been used for books, tv and film in many varieties before. But it's executed well, the story doesn't drag and the grief is discussed in a realistic and recognizable manner. The book is written in first person pov, which I liked. The first person, Indy, is obviously young, discovering the world and love, and has to deal with the shocking terrible loss of her best friend. I also liked that the author did not delve into details regarding which kind of cancer and the type of treatment or the fatal conclusion of Daisy's sick bed. It keeps the story lighthearted and sweet. One could argue that Jay's childhood traumas are glossed over, but that's also due to the first person POV and Indy's only starting to know Jay and actually acknowledges her lack of consideration towards the end of the novel.

Definitely recommend for a YA audience.
Many thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for the e-arc!

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't even know how to put into words just how beautiful this story is. I went into it thinking I'd love it, and I did, and more. All of the aspects of this book - coming of age, romance, grief, moving past comfort zones, etc, were all woven together with utmost care and it just left me in awe of how it came together. The portrayal of grief was so well written I could feel it while reading. And the dynamic of Indy and Jay? Fantastic! Their chemistry was sparking so much from the first time they interacted on the page, and how they softened to each other and opened up to each other during the trip was such a joy to read. Each experience they shared together brought them closer, but it was more than that. It wasn't just a romance, it was figuring themselves out. It was their relationship with grief and Daisy. How Indy realized that she doesn't need to move on, she needs to get out into the world and enjoy life while keeping Daisy with her. I also loved the surprising subplot the dropped in for Jay near the end. What a lovely thing that life brought him. I also appreciated the topic coming up of figuring out if what happened was real or just grief bonding. The letters. The ties to the past. The feelings. The romantic confessions. All of it. Breathtaking. The ending of the book where the title came into play really got into my heart too, it was beautiful!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

[Elia Winters · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

I am not usually one to enjoy New Adult/18-year-old romances but this one was very sweet and heartbreaking/heartwarming at the same time. The story focuses on the grief and life of those left after a loved one passes and how grief affects everyone differently. I loved following Indy and Jays' journey in Stevie as they slowly open up to each other on their feelings on Daisy's death and clear up assumptions made about each other in the past. It was so easy to relate to both of them on their feelings and I loved seeing them process some of their grief and have each other.

I love magical realism and the idea that Daisy's car 'Stevie' ,seemingly a junk car only worth parts, will only work for Indy when she agrees to go on their dream road trip with Jay. Stevie is a character in itself and I loved it! The road trip was such a perfect way to connect Jay and Indy after their only connection in the past was Daisy. As a reader, I appreciated the background on why Daisy and Jay were not super close siblings and how Indy was so close to Daisy and not Jay. The whole situation broke my heart but I also loved how Daisy made sure to bring the two people she loved most together in the end.

The journey was funny, heartwarming, sad, and such an enjoyable ride!

*Thank you to NetGalley, Skyscape, and Amy Lea for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a beautiful book. I hope to see it as a movie one day. This is a book that will definitely get you in your feels, but discusses grief and what comes after the passing of a loved one in such a sensitive and real manner. It also goes into depth of Jay's past traumatic experiences, and how those, combined with Daisy's passing, affect Jay's and Indy's relationship.

The ups and downs of the road trip were amazing, and it gave me such an urge to eventually go on a similar, planned out road trip one day. We got a front-row view to the slow burn of their relationship, as well as the hints of magic between Stevie and the Fleetwood songs on the radio. Not only do we get chemistry and the cute, feel-good moments of their relationship, we also see the deeper, grittier aspects that a lot of people their age don't have to deal with, and the author handled it in a beautiful way. There are so many life lessons wrapped up in this book.

I usually don't get much of an emotional reaction while reading books, and this one got me. I'm so so impressed with Amy Lea's writing. She has definitely earned herself a forever fan.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sue Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

With You Everywhere displayed such a new side of Amy Lea’s writing, beautifully balancing themes of grief, love, friendship, and new connections within a coming-of-age road trip. I loved how the story explored the different ways people experience loss and the process of learning to move forward while still keeping the memory of someone you love close.

I really enjoyed watching Indy and Jay's relationship develop throughout their journey. Their opposite personalities made for such a fun dynamic, and I loved seeing them slowly open up to each other, challenge their assumptions, and find comfort in their shared grief. The road trip itself was such a lovely addition, and I especially enjoyed the magical realism surrounding Stevie and the little touches of Daisy throughout the story.

My only wish was that we got more of Jay's perspective, as I would have loved to explore his emotions and grief on a deeper level. I also found a few aspects of the story a little predictable, but that didn't take away from how sweet and heartfelt the reading experience was.

Thank you to NetGalley and Skyscape for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Rheanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a super cute read! I’ve read some of Amy Lea’s adult contemporary romance, but this was my first YA book by her.

I loved Indy and Jay’s characters. They both felt immature at times, but I kept having to remind myself that they’re high schoolers so it’s okay. I loved how they were able to find healing together in the aftermath of Daisy’s death. Their relationship progression was done well, but I did finish the book wondering how successful it would be in the long term.

The road-trip setting was perfect for this story (though I do love a good road-trip trope). The side characters were done well, and I enjoyed reading about all the different places they went. Overall this was a fun, quick read that I would recommend for folks 15+!

Thank you to NetGalley and Skyscape for the gifted eARC

[Thanh Vo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never read anything from Amy so I went into this book completely blind and I absolutely adored it. The story follows Indy and Jay who go on a road trip to CA to honor Daisy’s (Indy’s best friend and Jay’s twin sister) last wish. On this trip, they connect and help each other deal with their grief at losing Daisy to cancer. It was such a sweet and heartwarming story. I was literally crying towards the end. I also enjoyed the coming-of-age aspect for Indy. I honestly connected with her when I was 18 and I felt her journey was realistic. The only thing I wished for in this book was Jay’s POV. I really wanted to know what was going through his mind at times. Other than that, I would recommend this book for a quick and easy read.

Thank you again to Netgalley and Amy Lea for this ARC!

(All opinions on this book are my own!)

[Becky Whaley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to admit, I had a bit of initial genre whiplash diving into this one, going straight from dark fantasy to modern slang was a bit jarring at first! But that's definitely a me problem and not the book haha. However, once I settled into the story, it completely won me over.

The road-trip setup combined with forced proximity made for such an endearing read. What really elevated the story for me was the emotional depth; the grief element and the connection between the protagonist and her late best friend's twin brother were handled with so much care. It was raw at times but had a great balance between heartfelt character development, genuine humor, and heartwarming romance.

A sweet, funny, and surprisingly emotional pre-college road-trip romance.

[Yanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved With You Everywhere! It is a beautiful story about two very different people on a long road trip in a cool vintage car that literally has a mind of its own (yes, it’s kinda haunted, and I loved it!). I loved the romance between Indy and Jay—it was so sweet, and watching their relationship grow was the best part. Their banter was great and kept me turning the pages late into the night. The book had some heavy themes like grief and losing someone you love. It was so emotional and definitely gave me tears, but honestly, it was still such a comforting read. If you like road trip books with a lot of heart and great characters, you should definitely read this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Maddy S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Advanced Reader Copy received from NetGalley.

I absolutely loved this book. The beginning seemed a little bit rough, but once I got going I couldn’t put it down.
My favourite part was the trip itself and how it revealed parts of both characters. They realize long know things to their harts together and I loved the evolution to both.
The pre-existing trauma and grief was a great way to bring them together and I loved that they finally saw each other for who they are after the common loss rather than experiencing it in the pages.
I appreciate the author’s way of making the trip and the car as a character too.
I am so glad I was able to read this book. The cover is cute and gives the feeling before the story actually begins.
Simple. Beautiful. Heartfelt love story. 💛

[Lyla Nadeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful story of grief, adventure, obstacles and growth! The writing was fantastic. Between the video entries and the story itself it put a heartwarming perspective on things. This story was so sweet and will have you crying by the end! Adored both the main characters!

[Savannah Khoury · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so cutie!!! A perfect summer romance, I loved Indy and seeing her work through her grief, and her and Jay had a very cute love story. I really liked the roadtrip setting, and I loved the magical realism with daisy and the car!! It’s pretty YA but it’s so fun and a very quick read, I really enjoyed it!! :)

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will always read an Amy Lea book, but I have come to the conclusion I might be aging out of YA. I do love a coming-of-age road-trip story, but the romance felt mashed in.

The Advanced Review Copy (ARC) was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Lovisa Sandström · Rating 4 out of 5]

With you forever is a beautifully written coming-of-age story about love, loss and healing. Daisy’s final wish was for Indy and Jay to take the road trip she never got to go on. It’s been a year since Daisy passed away but she’s still right there with them, every step of the way. From the magically fixed car, her favorite song playing on loop and the people they meet along the way.

It’s an emotional read. Losing your best friend and sibling is anything but easy. Jay and Indy are trying to make the best of it, honoring her memory and living life to the fullest. That’s what I took away from this book.

There’s plenty of banter, a budding relationship and of course a HEA. If you’re into ya this is a must-read.

Read this if you like
🌼Ya, coming of age
😭Emotional reads
🚙Roadtrips
🧁Best friends brother

[Hana · Rating 3 out of 5]

With You Everywhere is a heartwarming story about grief, healing, and the different kinds of love. It was lovely to see Indy and Jay on this road trip and watching them navigate their grief in different ways. Both our characters grew so much on this journey and it was beautiful to see. Absolutely loved whatever was going on with the car too.