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Shut Up and Drive: A Closed-Door, Road Trip Rom Com
Two meddling mothers. One road trip. A million ways to throw Sera and Thane together.
After a humiliating breakup, fiery pastry chef Serafina Spencer is more than ready for a vacation. But the moment she pulls into her parents’ driveway for their annual summer trip, trouble greets her in the form of Thane Donnelly. No problem, the lake house is large. She’ll ignore him with headphones and novels in order to protect her peace. She needs solitude, not her past rearing its ugly head.
Thane has loved his best friend’s sister since his teenage years, and concealed his feelings by teasing her mercilessly. When life got complicated, he left home in the middle of the night without saying goodbye. After five years of living in the wind, he returns home and is instantly thrown into mothers’ matchmaking mayhem. They cancel Sera and Thane’s flights and strand them together, leaving them with the smallest rental car possible.
Now forced to drive together over seven hundred miles from New York to South Carolina, they have no other option than to clear the air between them before they reach the lake house where both of their families are waiting.
Sera wants to keep things surface-level. Thane wants to rip off the bandage and reveal the truth he’s kept hidden. The universe—and gas station burritos—have other plans.
They don’t know what will happen along the way, but one thing’s for certain:
All is fair in love and road trips.
For my beautiful blurb-skippers:
Shut Up and Drive is a closed-door (non-explicit,)
frenemies-to-lovers, second-chance romantic comedy.
After a humiliating breakup, fiery pastry chef Serafina Spencer is more than ready for a vacation. But the moment she pulls into her parents’ driveway for their annual summer trip, trouble greets her in the form of Thane Donnelly. No problem, the lake house is large. She’ll ignore him with headphones and novels in order to protect her peace. She needs solitude, not her past rearing its ugly head.
Thane has loved his best friend’s sister since his teenage years, and concealed his feelings by teasing her mercilessly. When life got complicated, he left home in the middle of the night without saying goodbye. After five years of living in the wind, he returns home and is instantly thrown into mothers’ matchmaking mayhem. They cancel Sera and Thane’s flights and strand them together, leaving them with the smallest rental car possible.
Now forced to drive together over seven hundred miles from New York to South Carolina, they have no other option than to clear the air between them before they reach the lake house where both of their families are waiting.
Sera wants to keep things surface-level. Thane wants to rip off the bandage and reveal the truth he’s kept hidden. The universe—and gas station burritos—have other plans.
They don’t know what will happen along the way, but one thing’s for certain:
All is fair in love and road trips.
For my beautiful blurb-skippers:
Shut Up and Drive is a closed-door (non-explicit,)
frenemies-to-lovers, second-chance romantic comedy.
Paperback
Published August 4, 2026
About the author
Noelle Davenport
5 books21 followersNoelle is a homeschooling mom of four amazing kids, and a wife of over twenty years to her favorite nerd. In 2021, she traveled around the USA for three years with her family in an RV, then fell in love with and moved to the Black Hills in South Dakota. Noelle loves taking drives with the dogs, frozen dark chocolate, baking, and watching rom coms. Feeding people is her love language.
She writes closed door romantic comedies full of laughter, chemistry and healing, but no explicit scenes. Noelle wrote her first book after a dream she had, and continues to write to glorify God. She loves hearing how her books make readers laugh and give them joy. As an indie author, lovely reviews are her favorite thing.
Get "Remaining ImParcel" free on noelledavenportbooks.com
She writes closed door romantic comedies full of laughter, chemistry and healing, but no explicit scenes. Noelle wrote her first book after a dream she had, and continues to write to glorify God. She loves hearing how her books make readers laugh and give them joy. As an indie author, lovely reviews are her favorite thing.
Get "Remaining ImParcel" free on noelledavenportbooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
July 11, 2026
Thank you Noelle Davenport for an arc read of Shut Up & Drive.
Summary:
Two childhood friends are forced together to confront the issues that have lingered since a painful falling out. Thane and Sera are pushed into close quarters by their meddling mothers as they embark on a 12-hour drive to South Carolina for a family lake trip. As old memories resurface, they must work through the painful moments that shattered their friendship, only to discover that the feelings of love they once shared never truly vanished.
Thoughts:
* This is such a beautiful closed-door romance story. I never realized just how much I could love this kind of romance.
* I loved Sera and Thane from the first few pages. Their chemistry is off the charts, and I was rooting for them the moment they saw each other again after five years.
* The tension in this book was so dang good, and there were moments when I was laughing at the situations the two main characters found themselves in on the journey to the lake house.
* This is such a fun summer romance read and the perfect rom-com read.
Summary:
Two childhood friends are forced together to confront the issues that have lingered since a painful falling out. Thane and Sera are pushed into close quarters by their meddling mothers as they embark on a 12-hour drive to South Carolina for a family lake trip. As old memories resurface, they must work through the painful moments that shattered their friendship, only to discover that the feelings of love they once shared never truly vanished.
Thoughts:
* This is such a beautiful closed-door romance story. I never realized just how much I could love this kind of romance.
* I loved Sera and Thane from the first few pages. Their chemistry is off the charts, and I was rooting for them the moment they saw each other again after five years.
* The tension in this book was so dang good, and there were moments when I was laughing at the situations the two main characters found themselves in on the journey to the lake house.
* This is such a fun summer romance read and the perfect rom-com read.
September 5, 2026
This second chance romance is brilliant. I couldn't put it down. The parent role in this book was genius, and the fact that everyone knew except Serfina and Thane. The mishaps on the road trip to their family holiday home are very good.
Then her ex-boyfriend was an interesting twist as well.
Then her ex-boyfriend was an interesting twist as well.
August 17, 2026
📚 Shut Up and Drive (Wayfinder Series)
🖋 Noelle Davenport
📖 Format: eBook
💫 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Operation Bisquick, the reboot: Thane and Sera
🚘 Second Chance
🥞 Frenemies to Lovers
🚘 Forced Proximity
🥞 Brother’s Best Friend
Thane and Sera absolutely stole my heart❣️
Shut Up and Drive is a sweet, humorous, and sometimes disastrous second chance romance, frenemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, brother’s best friend, ten days at a family lake house—and a whole lot of heavy baggage that neither Thane nor Sera has managed to leave in the past.
After getting out of a controlling relationship with her cheating ex-boyfriend Bradley, Serafine is headed to her family’s South Carolina lake house on Amethyst Lake. This trip is supposed to be about self-care, healing, and reclaiming a little piece of herself.
Unfortunately, Sera just found out that Thane will be there too.
From the very beginning, I loved Sera’s internal dialogue and descriptions. Sera desperately wants to convince herself that she can simply ignore Thane for ten days. But underneath all that irritation is something much more complicated. She doesn't really hate him. She needs to hate Thane because the alternative is admitting she might still love him.
And that history is where this story really got me...
As Thane and Sera start wandering down memory lane on their impromptu road trip, we get glimpses of the two people they used to be—the Oreos and milk🥛 , Waffle House, Rules of the Road, Operation Bisquick 🥞 and even Operation Burrito Backfire 🚽. I loved that their memories weren't all picture-perfect moments. They were funny, awkward, sweet and sometimes painful. They felt like real memories between two people who had once known each other for most of their lives.
Then there is the accident...
When Thane admits that the night of the accident happened differently than he told the police, my imagination immediately went somewhere much darker. Early on, I was convinced someone had died or been horribly injured! That mystery added another layer to everything I was learning about their past.
But what really made this a five-star read for me was the fantastic blend of humor and emotion.
This story understands that life and love rarely happen in perfect little moments. Sometimes they're ridiculous. Sometimes they're painful. Sometimes the memories that mean the most involve pancakes, road trips, Oreos, old jokes and front porch dreams.
By the time Thane and Sera gasp onto their happily ever after 💍, Thane had the perfect romantic gesture. But what they got was so much better because it felt authentically them—sweet, funny, emotional and perfectly imperfect.
Thane and Sera weren't getting a chance to erase their past and start over. 🗺️ They were getting the chance to take all those messy, funny, painful, wonderful memories with them and finally figure out where their road will lead them next 🏡.
https://linktr.ee/ravenblackbird74
#ShutUpandDrive #NoelleDavenport #brokenwingbookreviews #WayfinderSeries #Bookstagram
🖋 Noelle Davenport
📖 Format: eBook
💫 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Operation Bisquick, the reboot: Thane and Sera
🚘 Second Chance
🥞 Frenemies to Lovers
🚘 Forced Proximity
🥞 Brother’s Best Friend
Thane and Sera absolutely stole my heart❣️
Shut Up and Drive is a sweet, humorous, and sometimes disastrous second chance romance, frenemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, brother’s best friend, ten days at a family lake house—and a whole lot of heavy baggage that neither Thane nor Sera has managed to leave in the past.
After getting out of a controlling relationship with her cheating ex-boyfriend Bradley, Serafine is headed to her family’s South Carolina lake house on Amethyst Lake. This trip is supposed to be about self-care, healing, and reclaiming a little piece of herself.
💖 Sera ~ This “me-time” is like an Independence Day celebration for my soul..
Unfortunately, Sera just found out that Thane will be there too.
From the very beginning, I loved Sera’s internal dialogue and descriptions. Sera desperately wants to convince herself that she can simply ignore Thane for ten days. But underneath all that irritation is something much more complicated. She doesn't really hate him. She needs to hate Thane because the alternative is admitting she might still love him.
💖 Sera ~ It’s the only thing that keeps me from loving you again..
And that history is where this story really got me...
As Thane and Sera start wandering down memory lane on their impromptu road trip, we get glimpses of the two people they used to be—the Oreos and milk🥛 , Waffle House, Rules of the Road, Operation Bisquick 🥞 and even Operation Burrito Backfire 🚽. I loved that their memories weren't all picture-perfect moments. They were funny, awkward, sweet and sometimes painful. They felt like real memories between two people who had once known each other for most of their lives.
Then there is the accident...
When Thane admits that the night of the accident happened differently than he told the police, my imagination immediately went somewhere much darker. Early on, I was convinced someone had died or been horribly injured! That mystery added another layer to everything I was learning about their past.
But what really made this a five-star read for me was the fantastic blend of humor and emotion.
This story understands that life and love rarely happen in perfect little moments. Sometimes they're ridiculous. Sometimes they're painful. Sometimes the memories that mean the most involve pancakes, road trips, Oreos, old jokes and front porch dreams.
By the time Thane and Sera gasp onto their happily ever after 💍, Thane had the perfect romantic gesture. But what they got was so much better because it felt authentically them—sweet, funny, emotional and perfectly imperfect.
Thane and Sera weren't getting a chance to erase their past and start over. 🗺️ They were getting the chance to take all those messy, funny, painful, wonderful memories with them and finally figure out where their road will lead them next 🏡.
https://linktr.ee/ravenblackbird74
#ShutUpandDrive #NoelleDavenport #brokenwingbookreviews #WayfinderSeries #Bookstagram
August 4, 2026
If ever you wanted a rom com to feel more like your own reality than you have to pick up "Shut up and Drive" by Noelle Davenport.
I am normally not for miscommunication tropes, but Davenport set this story up to be just the right amount believable, relatable and hilarious, and yet still romantic.
After another humiliating breakup, fiery pastry chef Serafina Spencer is more than ready for a vacation. But the moment she pulls into her parents' driveway for their annual summer trip, trouble greets her in the form of Thane Donnelly. The boy next door who secretly fell in love with his best friend's sister and concealed his feelings by teasing her mercilessly throughout the years.
No problem, the lake house is large. She'll ignore him with headphones and novels in order to protect her peace. She needs solitude, not her past rearing its sexy (scratch that) ugly head.
When life gets complicated, Thane leaves home in the middle of the night without saying goodbye. After five years of living in the wind, he returns home and is instantly thrown into mothers' matchmaking mayhem. They cancel Sera and Thane's flights and strand them together, leaving them with the smallest rental car possible.
Now forced to drive together over seven hundred miles from New York to South Carolina, they have no other option than to clear the air between them before they reach the lake house where both of their families are waiting.
This is where the communication or the lack thereof comes into play. Sera wants to keep things surface-level. Thane wants to rip off the bandage and reveal the truth he's kept hidden. The universe-and gas station burritos-have other plans. Yes, you can probably guess where that one leads to and it is diabolical.
These two don't know what will happen along the way, but one thing's for certain:
All is fair in love and road trips.
The unbelievable banter and chemistry make this rom-com steamy in ways you wouldn't imagine. It often reminded me of my boyfriend and I when we were just friends trying to hide the fact we had a crush on each other.
The teasing, poking fun at each other, but then when someone was hurt or someone was hurting them the protectiveness and the need to be more than just that friend came into play.
Davenport's writing flows in a way that makes you want to consume the book in one sitting. Like a hallmark movie playing in your head.
The ending had me in tears and not wanting it to stop. Luckily, Davenport predicted those cries for more and added a ten year later chapter that will melt your heart.
While this story has come to an end it doesn’t mean that the fun has stopped. “Shut up & Drive” is part of The Wayfinders Series. A multi-author, closed-door or fade-to-black road trip romance series. The characters are not connected except by a road-trip theme, and they can be read in any order.
Overall, this book was everything I could hope for in terms of a summer read. I am rating this book 4 out of 5 stars and two chili peppers for her closed-door romance.
Thank you, Noelle Davenport, for sending me the ARC and allowing me this opportunity to review your book.
I am normally not for miscommunication tropes, but Davenport set this story up to be just the right amount believable, relatable and hilarious, and yet still romantic.
After another humiliating breakup, fiery pastry chef Serafina Spencer is more than ready for a vacation. But the moment she pulls into her parents' driveway for their annual summer trip, trouble greets her in the form of Thane Donnelly. The boy next door who secretly fell in love with his best friend's sister and concealed his feelings by teasing her mercilessly throughout the years.
No problem, the lake house is large. She'll ignore him with headphones and novels in order to protect her peace. She needs solitude, not her past rearing its sexy (scratch that) ugly head.
When life gets complicated, Thane leaves home in the middle of the night without saying goodbye. After five years of living in the wind, he returns home and is instantly thrown into mothers' matchmaking mayhem. They cancel Sera and Thane's flights and strand them together, leaving them with the smallest rental car possible.
Now forced to drive together over seven hundred miles from New York to South Carolina, they have no other option than to clear the air between them before they reach the lake house where both of their families are waiting.
This is where the communication or the lack thereof comes into play. Sera wants to keep things surface-level. Thane wants to rip off the bandage and reveal the truth he's kept hidden. The universe-and gas station burritos-have other plans. Yes, you can probably guess where that one leads to and it is diabolical.
These two don't know what will happen along the way, but one thing's for certain:
All is fair in love and road trips.
The unbelievable banter and chemistry make this rom-com steamy in ways you wouldn't imagine. It often reminded me of my boyfriend and I when we were just friends trying to hide the fact we had a crush on each other.
The teasing, poking fun at each other, but then when someone was hurt or someone was hurting them the protectiveness and the need to be more than just that friend came into play.
Davenport's writing flows in a way that makes you want to consume the book in one sitting. Like a hallmark movie playing in your head.
The ending had me in tears and not wanting it to stop. Luckily, Davenport predicted those cries for more and added a ten year later chapter that will melt your heart.
While this story has come to an end it doesn’t mean that the fun has stopped. “Shut up & Drive” is part of The Wayfinders Series. A multi-author, closed-door or fade-to-black road trip romance series. The characters are not connected except by a road-trip theme, and they can be read in any order.
Overall, this book was everything I could hope for in terms of a summer read. I am rating this book 4 out of 5 stars and two chili peppers for her closed-door romance.
Thank you, Noelle Davenport, for sending me the ARC and allowing me this opportunity to review your book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review:
I am cackling!! Like, full-on laughing out loud, spitting my drink out, and making my stomach hurt from laughing! One thing I love about Noelle’s writing is her ability to completely melt away my stress, leaving me with a smile in my heart long after I finish her books. And this story is no different!
On the surface, it appears to be a straight-up romantic comedy, which it is, but there are so many layers to this story including a heated, complicated past between the FMC and the MMC that feels like a chasm too wide to bridge.
I ADORED Thane! He is hilarious and pushes every single one of Sera’s buttons—think Buddy the Elf pressing every elevator button 🤣, complete with a step-by-step process. He is pure goodness, fiercely patient, wonderfully humorous, and a downright tease, even when his attempts at flirting fall flat 🤭. His humor reminds me so much of my husband’s, which kept me even more connected to the story!
“We make a terrible duo, don’t we?”
“The most amazingly terrible duo. But I wouldn’t trade any of this mess for perfection, would you?”
Sera is a feisty, fierce, stunning FMC. She can keep up with Thane, but also, karma is a girl’s girl (IYKYK), and I loved seeing her “revenge” play out. HILARIOUS!! Her quiet strength and gradual character growth felt so real and raw, and I loved watching her blossom into the woman she becomes by the end of the book. 🤍
The forced proximity from nearly the start of the story to the finish creates the perfect pressure cooker for Thane and Sera to work through their misunderstandings. It also features some of my all-time favorite micro-tropes, including meddling moms, and I am here for it! I am also a sucker for chapter titles that correspond with what happens in the story, and I loved each one of these!
This is the ultimate book to escape reality, share a laugh (or 30), and believe in second chances and communication!
Some favorite quotes and humorous moments:
“The scars and wounds of teenage Sera are stitched and healing, and the roots of something beautiful grow through the cracks left behind. It’s amazing how love can grow and bloom from the ashes of what was there before, and become more than ever imagined.”
‘-now I know why he insists on torturing me. It’s pretty fun to be on the other end of it.’
‘when she has disappeared down the trail, I stand and dance like an NFL player who just scored the winning touchdown.’
“There was a bee,”
“I’d rather have a gynecological exam from Edward Scissorhands than talk to that cheater”
Thank you to the author for my advanced copy! All thoughts are my own.
Content: closed door, mild language, past accident off page, no explicit content.
I am cackling!! Like, full-on laughing out loud, spitting my drink out, and making my stomach hurt from laughing! One thing I love about Noelle’s writing is her ability to completely melt away my stress, leaving me with a smile in my heart long after I finish her books. And this story is no different!
On the surface, it appears to be a straight-up romantic comedy, which it is, but there are so many layers to this story including a heated, complicated past between the FMC and the MMC that feels like a chasm too wide to bridge.
I ADORED Thane! He is hilarious and pushes every single one of Sera’s buttons—think Buddy the Elf pressing every elevator button 🤣, complete with a step-by-step process. He is pure goodness, fiercely patient, wonderfully humorous, and a downright tease, even when his attempts at flirting fall flat 🤭. His humor reminds me so much of my husband’s, which kept me even more connected to the story!
“We make a terrible duo, don’t we?”
“The most amazingly terrible duo. But I wouldn’t trade any of this mess for perfection, would you?”
Sera is a feisty, fierce, stunning FMC. She can keep up with Thane, but also, karma is a girl’s girl (IYKYK), and I loved seeing her “revenge” play out. HILARIOUS!! Her quiet strength and gradual character growth felt so real and raw, and I loved watching her blossom into the woman she becomes by the end of the book. 🤍
The forced proximity from nearly the start of the story to the finish creates the perfect pressure cooker for Thane and Sera to work through their misunderstandings. It also features some of my all-time favorite micro-tropes, including meddling moms, and I am here for it! I am also a sucker for chapter titles that correspond with what happens in the story, and I loved each one of these!
This is the ultimate book to escape reality, share a laugh (or 30), and believe in second chances and communication!
Some favorite quotes and humorous moments:
“The scars and wounds of teenage Sera are stitched and healing, and the roots of something beautiful grow through the cracks left behind. It’s amazing how love can grow and bloom from the ashes of what was there before, and become more than ever imagined.”
‘-now I know why he insists on torturing me. It’s pretty fun to be on the other end of it.’
‘when she has disappeared down the trail, I stand and dance like an NFL player who just scored the winning touchdown.’
“There was a bee,”
“I’d rather have a gynecological exam from Edward Scissorhands than talk to that cheater”
Thank you to the author for my advanced copy! All thoughts are my own.
Content: closed door, mild language, past accident off page, no explicit content.
August 21, 2026
Shut Up and Drive was such a fun, hilarious, and feel good road trip romance! Give me two people with years of history, unresolved feelings, a tiny rental car, and seven hundred miles of forced proximity, and I'm absolutely going along for the ride. 😂
Sera was such a great heroine. After a horrible breakup, all she wants is some peace and quiet, a good book, and a chance to escape. Unfortunately for her, her plans don't exactly survive the moment Thane appears.
Thane was probably my favourite part of the story. He's been secretly in love with Sera for years and has hidden those feelings behind teasing and playful behaviour. Learning that he left five years earlier without saying goodbye added another layer to their history and made me curious about what had really happened between them.
And then we have the meddling mothers! 😂 Their decision to cancel the flights and force Sera and Thane into the smallest rental car imaginable was absolutely brilliant. Seven hundred plus miles together means there's nowhere to hide, no easy escape, and plenty of opportunity for old feelings to come rushing back.
I loved the banter between them, but especially enjoyed watching them slowly start clearing the air. Beneath the teasing and frustration were years of hurt, misunderstandings, and feelings that neither had properly dealt with. The road trip gave them the perfect opportunity to finally confront all of it.
The little touches of humour, including the infamous gas station burritos, made the story even more entertaining and kept the journey light while the emotional side developed.
Shut Up and Drive was a fantastic friends to lovers/best-friend's-sister romance filled with forced proximity, family matchmaking, road trip chaos, hidden feelings, humour, and plenty of heart.
A hilarious road trip where the destination might be South Carolina, but the real journey is finally admitting what's been there all along. 🚗💕🛣️
Sera was such a great heroine. After a horrible breakup, all she wants is some peace and quiet, a good book, and a chance to escape. Unfortunately for her, her plans don't exactly survive the moment Thane appears.
Thane was probably my favourite part of the story. He's been secretly in love with Sera for years and has hidden those feelings behind teasing and playful behaviour. Learning that he left five years earlier without saying goodbye added another layer to their history and made me curious about what had really happened between them.
And then we have the meddling mothers! 😂 Their decision to cancel the flights and force Sera and Thane into the smallest rental car imaginable was absolutely brilliant. Seven hundred plus miles together means there's nowhere to hide, no easy escape, and plenty of opportunity for old feelings to come rushing back.
I loved the banter between them, but especially enjoyed watching them slowly start clearing the air. Beneath the teasing and frustration were years of hurt, misunderstandings, and feelings that neither had properly dealt with. The road trip gave them the perfect opportunity to finally confront all of it.
The little touches of humour, including the infamous gas station burritos, made the story even more entertaining and kept the journey light while the emotional side developed.
Shut Up and Drive was a fantastic friends to lovers/best-friend's-sister romance filled with forced proximity, family matchmaking, road trip chaos, hidden feelings, humour, and plenty of heart.
A hilarious road trip where the destination might be South Carolina, but the real journey is finally admitting what's been there all along. 🚗💕🛣️
August 5, 2026
This was an amazing start for the Wayfinder Series.
Sera and Thane are forced to take a road trip to their families’ vacation spot as a way to reconcile after years apart. She's fresh off a breakup with a very generic Brad, while he's finally returned after traveling the world.
“Because I knew I was running out of time to win you back.”
For two people who haven't spoken in years, you wouldn’t know it from their banter, inside jokes, or from the warmth between them (could be sparks or hellfire). These two are easily one of my favorite duos. They prove that genuine connection doesn't simply disappear because of time or distance.
As someone who has taken MANY road trips, I can say they really do strengthen bonds and make memories (good and bad). The meddling mamas are so extra, but amazing for kickstarting this journey. From hellish pit stops to a chastity blanket, to the power of farts, I’ve never laughed so much at a book (sorry to the people on the plane with me), nor have I felt so personally invested in two characters.
Davenport blended lighthearted, hilarious moments with the heavier conversations that needed to happen, and it pulled me into every scene and every moment Sera and Thane shared. The characters in the book are so well thought out, even those who only appear for a couple of chapters.
“It’s easier than you think to go from love to hate and back again. It's indifference you’ve got to worry about. If she feels nothing for you, that’s when you know you’ve lost her.”
Sera and Thane show that it’s possible to come back even stronger and to wade through grief and misunderstandings together. This was a beautiful story that left me with nothing but smiles and giggles.
I recommend this book to anyone looking for the kind of romance that makes you laugh until your stomach hurts, then reminds you how healing second chances can be.
Sera and Thane are forced to take a road trip to their families’ vacation spot as a way to reconcile after years apart. She's fresh off a breakup with a very generic Brad, while he's finally returned after traveling the world.
“Because I knew I was running out of time to win you back.”
For two people who haven't spoken in years, you wouldn’t know it from their banter, inside jokes, or from the warmth between them (could be sparks or hellfire). These two are easily one of my favorite duos. They prove that genuine connection doesn't simply disappear because of time or distance.
As someone who has taken MANY road trips, I can say they really do strengthen bonds and make memories (good and bad). The meddling mamas are so extra, but amazing for kickstarting this journey. From hellish pit stops to a chastity blanket, to the power of farts, I’ve never laughed so much at a book (sorry to the people on the plane with me), nor have I felt so personally invested in two characters.
Davenport blended lighthearted, hilarious moments with the heavier conversations that needed to happen, and it pulled me into every scene and every moment Sera and Thane shared. The characters in the book are so well thought out, even those who only appear for a couple of chapters.
“It’s easier than you think to go from love to hate and back again. It's indifference you’ve got to worry about. If she feels nothing for you, that’s when you know you’ve lost her.”
Sera and Thane show that it’s possible to come back even stronger and to wade through grief and misunderstandings together. This was a beautiful story that left me with nothing but smiles and giggles.
I recommend this book to anyone looking for the kind of romance that makes you laugh until your stomach hurts, then reminds you how healing second chances can be.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a review of an Advance Reader Copy Received from the Author.
Delightful, Heartfelt, and Witty Second-Chance Romance!
This beautifully written, closed-door rom-com was the absolute perfect summer read! The story is told through a dual POV and features a shifting timeline with flashbacks to the characters' teenage years. This structure keeps you thoroughly engaged as their deep history is slowly revealed alongside plenty of emotional upheaval.
The undeniable chemistry between Sera and Thane hits you immediately. Because he is her brother’s best friend, the connection is already there, and the story is completely full of delicious pining. I found myself rooting for them to get back together from the very moment they saw each other again after five long years apart.
A massive highlight of the book is the absolute mayhem of the road trip to the lake house. We need to give a huge round of applause to the meddling moms who orchestrated the entire trip! It sparks so many laughable moments and incredible character banter along the way. Once they finally arrive at the lake house, the drama ramps up when Sera's ex unexpectedly shows up. This leads to some absolutely hilarious antics as Thane and Bash, Sera's brother, team up to deal with him!
The story is light, charming, and highly enjoyable. The side characters are exceptionally well-developed, adding a wonderful layer of depth to the plot. While the emotional history keeps it grounded, the overall fun vibe makes it a fantastic escape.
This is a great start to the series, and I cannot wait to see what comes next!
**Note: This is book 1 of 8 in a multi-author series of rom-coms with varying spice levels. All have a road-trip theme. All are part of A Wayfinder Series**
Thank you Noelle Davenport for the eARC.
Delightful, Heartfelt, and Witty Second-Chance Romance!
This beautifully written, closed-door rom-com was the absolute perfect summer read! The story is told through a dual POV and features a shifting timeline with flashbacks to the characters' teenage years. This structure keeps you thoroughly engaged as their deep history is slowly revealed alongside plenty of emotional upheaval.
The undeniable chemistry between Sera and Thane hits you immediately. Because he is her brother’s best friend, the connection is already there, and the story is completely full of delicious pining. I found myself rooting for them to get back together from the very moment they saw each other again after five long years apart.
A massive highlight of the book is the absolute mayhem of the road trip to the lake house. We need to give a huge round of applause to the meddling moms who orchestrated the entire trip! It sparks so many laughable moments and incredible character banter along the way. Once they finally arrive at the lake house, the drama ramps up when Sera's ex unexpectedly shows up. This leads to some absolutely hilarious antics as Thane and Bash, Sera's brother, team up to deal with him!
The story is light, charming, and highly enjoyable. The side characters are exceptionally well-developed, adding a wonderful layer of depth to the plot. While the emotional history keeps it grounded, the overall fun vibe makes it a fantastic escape.
This is a great start to the series, and I cannot wait to see what comes next!
**Note: This is book 1 of 8 in a multi-author series of rom-coms with varying spice levels. All have a road-trip theme. All are part of A Wayfinder Series**
Thank you Noelle Davenport for the eARC.
August 4, 2026
Shut Up & Drive by Noelle Davenport
📚Book 1 in the Wayfinders Series
🚙 Road Trip
🚙 Bother's Best Friend
🚙 Frenemies to more
🚙 Meddling Mamas
🚙Second Change
This is the first book in the Wayfinders Series. Each book in the series is written by a different author. There are 8 books that each follows a road trip romance.
This is a close door romance following Thane and Sera. Sera is going home for their annual family vacation. When she arrives Thane is waiting in his parents driveway. He is the last person she wanted to see. He brings up feelings she wants to leave in the past. Thane is home for the first time in five year. He still loves his best friend's sister. Their mothers decided on a matchmaking mayhem. Instead on being on a flight with their families, they are stuck in a car driving to the vacation house.
This was a quick read. A book about childhood friends to strangers to second chances romance. Anything that can go wrong on a road trip went wrong. I love the writing style as it is easy to follow and the book was hard to put down. The atmosphere is amazing and the characters well written. They are set up to take a road together and the only way to make it to the other side is to go through all the bad.
I love how we got to see both POVs. There is suspense to find out what happened and how this is going to end. Their relationship, the banter, the jokes, a few pranks and just the familiarity between them was what made the book good.
I am looking forward to reading more of the book in this series.
Thank you Noelle Davenport for sending me this book in exchange for my honest review.
📚Book 1 in the Wayfinders Series
🚙 Road Trip
🚙 Bother's Best Friend
🚙 Frenemies to more
🚙 Meddling Mamas
🚙Second Change
This is the first book in the Wayfinders Series. Each book in the series is written by a different author. There are 8 books that each follows a road trip romance.
This is a close door romance following Thane and Sera. Sera is going home for their annual family vacation. When she arrives Thane is waiting in his parents driveway. He is the last person she wanted to see. He brings up feelings she wants to leave in the past. Thane is home for the first time in five year. He still loves his best friend's sister. Their mothers decided on a matchmaking mayhem. Instead on being on a flight with their families, they are stuck in a car driving to the vacation house.
This was a quick read. A book about childhood friends to strangers to second chances romance. Anything that can go wrong on a road trip went wrong. I love the writing style as it is easy to follow and the book was hard to put down. The atmosphere is amazing and the characters well written. They are set up to take a road together and the only way to make it to the other side is to go through all the bad.
I love how we got to see both POVs. There is suspense to find out what happened and how this is going to end. Their relationship, the banter, the jokes, a few pranks and just the familiarity between them was what made the book good.
I am looking forward to reading more of the book in this series.
Thank you Noelle Davenport for sending me this book in exchange for my honest review.
September 12, 2026
Shut Up and Drive by Noelle Davenport is one of those books you would love to read in a single reading session. It was really light, really fun and a very nice opening to an anthology.
The story was really fun to read. I loved seeing the banter between the two main characters. They were flawed but together they complemented each other very well. The story has a very good foundation because Thane wasn't just a random person in Sera's life. He was her brothers bestfriend. They already knew each other.
What I loved about the story is their roadtrip. I usually dont like when family members meddle in the relationship but for this one I found it very amusing. They were always like cats and dog and what better way to solve this issue that ultimately not just affects them but the people around them was to force them to drive together. Their chemistry is so fun to read that I started rooting for them from the very get go. Another highlight for me was her ex. Like I already dont like that guy but then I loved how they handled him.
Overall, I loved what I read! I didn’t exactly read the series in the “proper” order. Despite this being the first book in the anthology, I ended up reading it third. Thankfully, that didn’t really matter, since the stories aren’t directly connected. They simply share the same theme and overall vibe, making each book enjoyable on its own.
Many thanks to Noelle Davenport and all the other authors who contributed to the Wayfinder Series for the opportunity to receive an advanced copy of this book. I’m truly grateful for every opportunity to discover new books and authors. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this reviews are my own.
The story was really fun to read. I loved seeing the banter between the two main characters. They were flawed but together they complemented each other very well. The story has a very good foundation because Thane wasn't just a random person in Sera's life. He was her brothers bestfriend. They already knew each other.
What I loved about the story is their roadtrip. I usually dont like when family members meddle in the relationship but for this one I found it very amusing. They were always like cats and dog and what better way to solve this issue that ultimately not just affects them but the people around them was to force them to drive together. Their chemistry is so fun to read that I started rooting for them from the very get go. Another highlight for me was her ex. Like I already dont like that guy but then I loved how they handled him.
Overall, I loved what I read! I didn’t exactly read the series in the “proper” order. Despite this being the first book in the anthology, I ended up reading it third. Thankfully, that didn’t really matter, since the stories aren’t directly connected. They simply share the same theme and overall vibe, making each book enjoyable on its own.
Many thanks to Noelle Davenport and all the other authors who contributed to the Wayfinder Series for the opportunity to receive an advanced copy of this book. I’m truly grateful for every opportunity to discover new books and authors. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this reviews are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 stars
Note: I was provided an advanced copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Noelle Davenport and Book Funnel for my advanced reader copy.
Shut up and Drive is the first of an 8-book, multi-author series featuring romcoms of varying spice levels and each will include a road trip. This book features Sera and Thane. Thane is Sera’s older brother’s best friend and Sera’s first (and only) love. While Thane has been traveling the world for five years and Sera just ended a relationship, the two are reunited in a planned vacation with their respective families. Due to a disagreement and some well-intentioned meddling parents, the two end up on a road trip down the East Coast and to the summer home shared by the families. The road trip events were laugh-out-loud funny. While this was enough of a story with the forced proximity and feelings to navigate, the “ex”-boyfriend shows up to this trip and makes things much more interesting.
What worked:
Sweet with depth
Forced proximity
Meddling family
Dual POV and flashbacks from brief romantic involvement as teens
Imperfect people and just funny subsequent interactions
Closed door, but still tension and kisses
What didn’t work:
Someone should have punched that ex-boyfriend or force-fed him sugar or a burrito (just my opinion)
This was a quick read and a very strong start to this multi-author line-up.
Spice: 1/5 (kissing only).
Note: I was provided an advanced copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Noelle Davenport and Book Funnel for my advanced reader copy.
Shut up and Drive is the first of an 8-book, multi-author series featuring romcoms of varying spice levels and each will include a road trip. This book features Sera and Thane. Thane is Sera’s older brother’s best friend and Sera’s first (and only) love. While Thane has been traveling the world for five years and Sera just ended a relationship, the two are reunited in a planned vacation with their respective families. Due to a disagreement and some well-intentioned meddling parents, the two end up on a road trip down the East Coast and to the summer home shared by the families. The road trip events were laugh-out-loud funny. While this was enough of a story with the forced proximity and feelings to navigate, the “ex”-boyfriend shows up to this trip and makes things much more interesting.
What worked:
Sweet with depth
Forced proximity
Meddling family
Dual POV and flashbacks from brief romantic involvement as teens
Imperfect people and just funny subsequent interactions
Closed door, but still tension and kisses
What didn’t work:
Someone should have punched that ex-boyfriend or force-fed him sugar or a burrito (just my opinion)
This was a quick read and a very strong start to this multi-author line-up.
Spice: 1/5 (kissing only).
Review of advance copy received from Author
This felt like taking a road trip with two people who were always meant to find their way back to each other.
Shut Up and Drive is a sweet, funny second-chance romance that proves you don’t need spice to create chemistry. The humour landed perfectly for me, the pacing kept me engaged, and the road trip setting made it the perfect contemporary romance to escape into.
Thane and Sera’s history unfolded naturally through the dual POV and flashbacks, making their reunion feel earned rather than rushed. I especially loved the brother’s best friend dynamic and the way the story balanced heartfelt moments with genuinely funny ones.
My favourite part was the recharge scavenger hunt—it was such a cute, thoughtful moment that perfectly captured why these two belonged together.
The ending also surprised me with a twist I didn’t see coming, and I was glad Sera chose herself instead of settling for less.
The only reason this wasn’t a full five stars is that the final stretch felt a little repetitive. I found myself wishing it had been slightly shorter, with a little more descriptive imagery to bring some of the settings to life.
If you’re looking for a light-hearted contemporary romance to throw in your beach bag or read on your own road trip, this is a fantastic pick.
Tropes:
🚗 Brother’s Best Friend
❤️ Second Chance Romance
🗺️ Road Trip
👫 Childhood Sweethearts
📖 Dual POV
👨👩👧 Meddling Families
August 28, 2026
Shut Up and Drive is definitely worth picking up! 💕🚗
This was such a fun, feel-good romance! I absolutely loved Sera and Thane’s dynamic. Their banter, teasing, unresolved history, and undeniable chemistry made this road trip romance impossible not to enjoy.
The forced proximity was perfect, especially with their meddling mothers canceling their flights and leaving them stuck together for a 700+ mile drive. Reading abt Sera try to keep things surface-level while Thane finally decides it’s time to be honest about the feelings he’s been hiding for years made their journey both hilarious and heartfelt. And the tiny rental car and gas station burritos? 😂 Absolutely perfect rom-com chaos!
I loved the second-chance aspect and Thane’s devotion to Sera. Their history added so much depth to the romance, while the family matchmaking brought plenty of humor and entertaining moments. This was exactly the kind of closed-door romantic comedy I was in the mood for—sweet, funny, swoony, and full of heart.
If you love frenemies-to-lovers, brother’s-best-friend, second-chance romance, forced proximity, meddling families, and road-trip shenanigans.
I received this book as an eARC, although it had no effect on my ability to provide a thoughtful and honest review.
This was such a fun, feel-good romance! I absolutely loved Sera and Thane’s dynamic. Their banter, teasing, unresolved history, and undeniable chemistry made this road trip romance impossible not to enjoy.
The forced proximity was perfect, especially with their meddling mothers canceling their flights and leaving them stuck together for a 700+ mile drive. Reading abt Sera try to keep things surface-level while Thane finally decides it’s time to be honest about the feelings he’s been hiding for years made their journey both hilarious and heartfelt. And the tiny rental car and gas station burritos? 😂 Absolutely perfect rom-com chaos!
I loved the second-chance aspect and Thane’s devotion to Sera. Their history added so much depth to the romance, while the family matchmaking brought plenty of humor and entertaining moments. This was exactly the kind of closed-door romantic comedy I was in the mood for—sweet, funny, swoony, and full of heart.
If you love frenemies-to-lovers, brother’s-best-friend, second-chance romance, forced proximity, meddling families, and road-trip shenanigans.
I received this book as an eARC, although it had no effect on my ability to provide a thoughtful and honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC review
Anecdotal thoughts while reading
Part of the Wayfinder Series
Map at the beginning is cool to follow the road trips.
📱 Oh wow! The mental imagery of the caller✂️ !!
🍕 🚩 love the rebellion 😄
👙 📖 🌞 🌊
seat belt + 🪛 = release
Thane, you play dirty. 😆
Home Alone situation? 🙅♀️ 🛅 👪
🔑 🚘 😄 oops!!
Waffle House and Whataburger leading the charge to tell us how bad hurricanes and topical storms really are. True to life right there!
Oh Pearl 😚 🛏 🛏 👰♀ 😂🤣🤣🤣 I am here for all you have Pearl!!!
Love/hate > indifference
Nothing can go wrong with rules right...I don't like rule #5.
⛽️ 🚻 firetruck 🤣
Bradley, you are a horrific person!
🪓 🥴
I thought they needed to clear some property. I get that part is not what the story is about, but there has been no additional mentioning of that plan.
Thane and Bash together on a shared mission are a FORCE! I can only imagine the amount of kiddo mischief they caused over the years!!
☎️ There is no way this is going to be a cake order.
🚗 🚔 🏥
So many smiles on my face throughout this book. I can't wait to read others in the Wayfinder series.
Anecdotal thoughts while reading
Part of the Wayfinder Series
Map at the beginning is cool to follow the road trips.
📱 Oh wow! The mental imagery of the caller✂️ !!
🍕 🚩 love the rebellion 😄
👙 📖 🌞 🌊
seat belt + 🪛 = release
Thane, you play dirty. 😆
Home Alone situation? 🙅♀️ 🛅 👪
🔑 🚘 😄 oops!!
Waffle House and Whataburger leading the charge to tell us how bad hurricanes and topical storms really are. True to life right there!
Oh Pearl 😚 🛏 🛏 👰♀ 😂🤣🤣🤣 I am here for all you have Pearl!!!
Love/hate > indifference
Nothing can go wrong with rules right...I don't like rule #5.
⛽️ 🚻 firetruck 🤣
Bradley, you are a horrific person!
🪓 🥴
I thought they needed to clear some property. I get that part is not what the story is about, but there has been no additional mentioning of that plan.
Thane and Bash together on a shared mission are a FORCE! I can only imagine the amount of kiddo mischief they caused over the years!!
☎️ There is no way this is going to be a cake order.
🚗 🚔 🏥
So many smiles on my face throughout this book. I can't wait to read others in the Wayfinder series.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was so cute and so funny!! 😆 Sera and Thane are straight out of an early 2000s rom-com! Shut Up & Drive had me laughing out loud because of all their hilarious moments together while also making me blush during all their adorable, cutesy moments. 🤭
I will say, though… these two are NOT good at having hard conversations!! 😂 You guys are obviously down bad for each other! Can you please just address the elephant in the room already?! I mean, obviously if they did, the book would end way too fast, but oh my gosh… stop flirting with each other for two seconds and have the hard conversation! 😂
Also… Sera’s ex just showing up?! Dude! GO AWAY. NO ONE WANTS YOU HERE! 🙄 It was so satisfying watching Sera finally stand up for herself after everything stupid BRAD put her through.
Overall, this book was such a fun read, and I’m so glad I got to be on the ARC team! 🥰
Oh, and @Noelle Davenport… I saw that Chapter Seven title. Please tell me that’s a Jonas Brothers reference because that would absolutely make my day. 🤭
I will say, though… these two are NOT good at having hard conversations!! 😂 You guys are obviously down bad for each other! Can you please just address the elephant in the room already?! I mean, obviously if they did, the book would end way too fast, but oh my gosh… stop flirting with each other for two seconds and have the hard conversation! 😂
Also… Sera’s ex just showing up?! Dude! GO AWAY. NO ONE WANTS YOU HERE! 🙄 It was so satisfying watching Sera finally stand up for herself after everything stupid BRAD put her through.
Overall, this book was such a fun read, and I’m so glad I got to be on the ARC team! 🥰
Oh, and @Noelle Davenport… I saw that Chapter Seven title. Please tell me that’s a Jonas Brothers reference because that would absolutely make my day. 🤭
August 6, 2026
Sera and Thane are two characters that you will instantly relate to on some level. I enjoyed the banter between the two; their lifelong friendship fostered an incredible bond between them they knew when something was bothering the other, or if one wasn’t quite forthcoming with information. Forced onto a road trip by both of their mothers who knew the extended time with one another would have a way of working things out immediately begins with hysterical disaster. Their whole road trip had me giggling in public; the trip to Pats in Philadelphia was definitely a Philly experience; only in Philadelphia could that have happened.
I was really drawn into the story by the author and how you could see this whole thing unfolding through both characters eyes with her use of alternating point of views between both Sera and Thane. This closed door romcom will have you laughing out loud, make you want to cry, and then leave you feeling joy. The epilogue was beautifully written and I absolutely loved that the author told it from Thane’s perspective only.
I was really drawn into the story by the author and how you could see this whole thing unfolding through both characters eyes with her use of alternating point of views between both Sera and Thane. This closed door romcom will have you laughing out loud, make you want to cry, and then leave you feeling joy. The epilogue was beautifully written and I absolutely loved that the author told it from Thane’s perspective only.
August 19, 2026
Shut Up and Drive by Noelle Davenport grabbed me from the very first page and never let go. The characters’ personalities and chemistry are fantastic—real, electric, and completely addictive.
My favorite quote is literally on page one, which should have been my first clue this was going to be a five-star read:
“I’d rather have a gynecological exam from Edward Scissorhands than talk to that cheater.” — Sera
I absolutely loved Thane and Sera. The way they loved each other while still struggling to work past their pasts, personal hurts, grudges, and internal conflicts felt raw and human. Their push-and-pull dynamic kept me fully invested the entire time.
What really elevated the story for me were the hilarious, completely off-the-wall mishaps they get into on the road. Those chaotic moments add so much fun and heart without ever slowing the story down.
If you enjoy angst, sharp banter, strong chemistry, and characters who have to fight for their happy ending, this one is definitely worth picking up. I highly recommend it.
My favorite quote is literally on page one, which should have been my first clue this was going to be a five-star read:
“I’d rather have a gynecological exam from Edward Scissorhands than talk to that cheater.” — Sera
I absolutely loved Thane and Sera. The way they loved each other while still struggling to work past their pasts, personal hurts, grudges, and internal conflicts felt raw and human. Their push-and-pull dynamic kept me fully invested the entire time.
What really elevated the story for me were the hilarious, completely off-the-wall mishaps they get into on the road. Those chaotic moments add so much fun and heart without ever slowing the story down.
If you enjoy angst, sharp banter, strong chemistry, and characters who have to fight for their happy ending, this one is definitely worth picking up. I highly recommend it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review 📚
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Spice Level: ⭐ 1/5
Tropes: Forced Proximity, Second Chance Romance
Serafina and Thane were childhood friends... or maybe even childhood sweethearts. After a 5yr separation, their relationship is strained and filled with unresolved feelings. When they're forced to take a 12-hour road trip together, they have no choice but to confront the past and figure out if there's still something worth saving between them.
This book was witty, entertaining, and an overall fun read. I gave it 3.5 stars.
Thane was easily my favorite character in the entire series. THE BURRITOS!! 🌯😂 He brought so much charm and humor to the story. Sera was sweet and lovable, but I found myself wishing she had a little more backbone—especially when it came to dealing with her dusty, crusty, cheating ex.
Overall, this was a light, enjoyable second-chance romance with great banter and lovable characters.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Spice Level: ⭐ 1/5
Tropes: Forced Proximity, Second Chance Romance
Serafina and Thane were childhood friends... or maybe even childhood sweethearts. After a 5yr separation, their relationship is strained and filled with unresolved feelings. When they're forced to take a 12-hour road trip together, they have no choice but to confront the past and figure out if there's still something worth saving between them.
This book was witty, entertaining, and an overall fun read. I gave it 3.5 stars.
Thane was easily my favorite character in the entire series. THE BURRITOS!! 🌯😂 He brought so much charm and humor to the story. Sera was sweet and lovable, but I found myself wishing she had a little more backbone—especially when it came to dealing with her dusty, crusty, cheating ex.
Overall, this was a light, enjoyable second-chance romance with great banter and lovable characters.
Review of advance copy received from Author
**I received this as an ARC. This is my honest review. Thank you Noelle for my BookFunnel copy**
I had a bit of a slow start with this one. The constant bickering between the two main characters made it a little difficult for me to get invested at first. But once the humor really kicked in, I found myself genuinely laughing out loud. The gas station burritos, the Philly cheesesteak—those moments completely won me over and had me fully engaged.
One of my favorite parts of the story was the MMC's unwavering love for the FMC. Watching how deeply he cared for her, despite everything that happened, was incredibly sweet. I also appreciated learning more about his backstory and the reasons behind why he left—it added emotional depth and made his character even more compelling.
Overall, this was a fun, charming read with plenty of laughs and a heartfelt romance that made the slow beginning worth pushing through.
I had a bit of a slow start with this one. The constant bickering between the two main characters made it a little difficult for me to get invested at first. But once the humor really kicked in, I found myself genuinely laughing out loud. The gas station burritos, the Philly cheesesteak—those moments completely won me over and had me fully engaged.
One of my favorite parts of the story was the MMC's unwavering love for the FMC. Watching how deeply he cared for her, despite everything that happened, was incredibly sweet. I also appreciated learning more about his backstory and the reasons behind why he left—it added emotional depth and made his character even more compelling.
Overall, this was a fun, charming read with plenty of laughs and a heartfelt romance that made the slow beginning worth pushing through.
July 29, 2026
ARC COPY RECEIVED FROM AUTHOR
I just want to say thank you to Noelle Davenport for the opportunity to ARC- Read this book! That being said all reviews and comments and all thoughts/opinions are my own!
If you’re looking for the absolute perfect summer, read with dual point of view between longtime family friends+brothers best friend while having camping and road trip shenanigans this is definitely a book for you!! I absolutely ate this book up. It was so cute honestly, it had me kicking my feet and smiling the whole time.
The pure love and chaos between Sera and Thane hits you immediately. He’s her brother’s best friend. She’s the person he’s been after for years. They are honestly a couple that you can’t not root for.
Summary :
When Two childhood friends are forced together to confront the past trauma that has lingered since a painful falling out and accident.
Thane (Nathaniel,) and Sera are pushed into close a small car by their meddling mothers as they embark on a 12-hour drive to South Carolina for a family lake trip. As old memories/ shenanigans, resurface, they must work through the painful memories that ruined their friend/situation-ship. Only to discover that the feelings of love they once had for each other never truly vanished. So after meddling family and terrible Exe’s they embark on new journey together to get them together.
I absolutely loved this book! The characters fighting for each other without even knowing it was top tier. Again this is a book I couldn’t put down. It had me at every twist and turn.
Tropes:
Forced proximity
Brother’s best friend
Summer romance
He. Fell first
I just want to say thank you to Noelle Davenport for the opportunity to ARC- Read this book! That being said all reviews and comments and all thoughts/opinions are my own!
If you’re looking for the absolute perfect summer, read with dual point of view between longtime family friends+brothers best friend while having camping and road trip shenanigans this is definitely a book for you!! I absolutely ate this book up. It was so cute honestly, it had me kicking my feet and smiling the whole time.
The pure love and chaos between Sera and Thane hits you immediately. He’s her brother’s best friend. She’s the person he’s been after for years. They are honestly a couple that you can’t not root for.
Summary :
When Two childhood friends are forced together to confront the past trauma that has lingered since a painful falling out and accident.
Thane (Nathaniel,) and Sera are pushed into close a small car by their meddling mothers as they embark on a 12-hour drive to South Carolina for a family lake trip. As old memories/ shenanigans, resurface, they must work through the painful memories that ruined their friend/situation-ship. Only to discover that the feelings of love they once had for each other never truly vanished. So after meddling family and terrible Exe’s they embark on new journey together to get them together.
I absolutely loved this book! The characters fighting for each other without even knowing it was top tier. Again this is a book I couldn’t put down. It had me at every twist and turn.
Tropes:
Forced proximity
Brother’s best friend
Summer romance
He. Fell first
August 5, 2026
An absolute laugh-out-loud joy to read!
With meddling mothers, a too-small rental car, and an ex-boyfriend we love to hate, the scene is set for... Everything to go wrong in splendid fashion.
It's not the vacation Sera wanted, but maybe it's the one she needed.
Things don't start out the way Thane hoped, but the best things in life can't be rushed.
It takes a lot of misadventures and hard conversations to get these two back on the right route in life.
There was one part of the story that seemed to not fit quite right, but I was reading it from a white culture view. When read with the right frame, it makes a whole lot more sense.
Overall, I strongly recommend if you need a funny, closed-door romance.
* I was honored to be an early reader for this book. Though I did receive the book for free, I was not obligated to post a review at all, let alone a positive review. It really is a good book.
With meddling mothers, a too-small rental car, and an ex-boyfriend we love to hate, the scene is set for... Everything to go wrong in splendid fashion.
It's not the vacation Sera wanted, but maybe it's the one she needed.
Things don't start out the way Thane hoped, but the best things in life can't be rushed.
It takes a lot of misadventures and hard conversations to get these two back on the right route in life.
There was one part of the story that seemed to not fit quite right, but I was reading it from a white culture view. When read with the right frame, it makes a whole lot more sense.
Overall, I strongly recommend if you need a funny, closed-door romance.
* I was honored to be an early reader for this book. Though I did receive the book for free, I was not obligated to post a review at all, let alone a positive review. It really is a good book.
September 4, 2026
The real takeaway from "Shut up and Drive" is beware stubborn, meddling mamas. Seraphina and Thane share a past. He crushed on her, she saw him as her brother's friend. Crushing and pining teenagers.
Cancelled plane tickets later, we get a close proximity, second chance, apology road trip. In a Fiat. Sniping and sharing lives and secrets. Waffle Houses are always open even if it's by generator during a storm. Of course a two bed B&B ends up with only one bed.
Multiple tropes later, these two have a sweet chemistry. The dialog is full of banter, sharp, occasionally heartwarming. Fina and Thane are adorable together. There's glimpses into their pasts. Some are funny but a few made me sigh.
The moms provide great background support. Nothing stands in the way of their determination. Fina's we will talk about the Fiat later is greeted with laughter and her mom giving herself a pat on the back.
A quick, fun paced read. I received an advanced copy of this e book and this is my review.
Cancelled plane tickets later, we get a close proximity, second chance, apology road trip. In a Fiat. Sniping and sharing lives and secrets. Waffle Houses are always open even if it's by generator during a storm. Of course a two bed B&B ends up with only one bed.
Multiple tropes later, these two have a sweet chemistry. The dialog is full of banter, sharp, occasionally heartwarming. Fina and Thane are adorable together. There's glimpses into their pasts. Some are funny but a few made me sigh.
The moms provide great background support. Nothing stands in the way of their determination. Fina's we will talk about the Fiat later is greeted with laughter and her mom giving herself a pat on the back.
A quick, fun paced read. I received an advanced copy of this e book and this is my review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wayfinder Series: Thane and Sera
She’s his best friends little sister…
This story opens up with them very clearly rivals/ enemies, yet the story is released slowly as they’re forced into a road trip by their mums.
Dual timeline, you get a mix of road trip mayhem, emotional upheaval and their history being slowly revealed.
What I didn’t like (or get) was when her ex returns, and she just accepts his bs… that was just downright strange how he stalked her there, treated her horribly and she just accepted it. But, while I didn't agree with it, her decision-making was kind of explained a little later on...
Be warned, there are mentions of toxic emotional violence (fat shaming, coercive behaviour)!
What I did enjoye was his and her brother’s antics with the ex! They were amusing, even if a little juvenile.
Overall, a fun read that you can escape into.
She’s his best friends little sister…
This story opens up with them very clearly rivals/ enemies, yet the story is released slowly as they’re forced into a road trip by their mums.
Dual timeline, you get a mix of road trip mayhem, emotional upheaval and their history being slowly revealed.
What I didn’t like (or get) was when her ex returns, and she just accepts his bs… that was just downright strange how he stalked her there, treated her horribly and she just accepted it. But, while I didn't agree with it, her decision-making was kind of explained a little later on...
Be warned, there are mentions of toxic emotional violence (fat shaming, coercive behaviour)!
What I did enjoye was his and her brother’s antics with the ex! They were amusing, even if a little juvenile.
Overall, a fun read that you can escape into.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC review
Sera fell in love with her brother’s best friend… until he left without saying goodbye. Years later he returns for a group family vacation. Their mothers plot and make them roadtrip the 12 hours instead of take a flight.
First off this roadtrip was the roadtrip from hell. Anything that could go wrong went wrong. It was HILARIOUS. The banter between the characters was amusing and all the little hiccups that happened along the way.
This book reminded me of the movie parent trap but with the moms pulling the strings and then eventually Thaine (MMC) and Sebastian (FMC’s brother) pulling strings when Sera’s ex boyfriend shows up.
This book had me laughing to tears and staying up late to read it. But it was also beautiful watching Sera and Thaine heal from the past. Overall it was a perfect summer read! Love is messy, but it is worth it!
Sera fell in love with her brother’s best friend… until he left without saying goodbye. Years later he returns for a group family vacation. Their mothers plot and make them roadtrip the 12 hours instead of take a flight.
First off this roadtrip was the roadtrip from hell. Anything that could go wrong went wrong. It was HILARIOUS. The banter between the characters was amusing and all the little hiccups that happened along the way.
This book reminded me of the movie parent trap but with the moms pulling the strings and then eventually Thaine (MMC) and Sebastian (FMC’s brother) pulling strings when Sera’s ex boyfriend shows up.
This book had me laughing to tears and staying up late to read it. But it was also beautiful watching Sera and Thaine heal from the past. Overall it was a perfect summer read! Love is messy, but it is worth it!
August 6, 2026
What a FUN start to this road trip series! I enjoyed feeling like I was sitting in the backseat with Sera and Thane, absorbing all of their frenemy energy and forced proximity. This closed door romance brings a lot to the table that anyone can enjoy!
Even though these two haven't been around each other in years, they pick right back up where they left off. It reinforced how much they were meant to be! I couldn't help but giggle at how their moms orchestrated this plan of them having to road trip to the vacation house. The mamas knew exactly what they were doing!
The pacing, banter, and road trip antics all flowed to make this feel like a true trip. On a real-life road trip, I'm a passenger princess and easily become bored. But this book? I was awake for the entire ride!
Even though these two haven't been around each other in years, they pick right back up where they left off. It reinforced how much they were meant to be! I couldn't help but giggle at how their moms orchestrated this plan of them having to road trip to the vacation house. The mamas knew exactly what they were doing!
The pacing, banter, and road trip antics all flowed to make this feel like a true trip. On a real-life road trip, I'm a passenger princess and easily become bored. But this book? I was awake for the entire ride!
August 8, 2026
He’s her brother’s best friend.
He’s been in love with her for YEARS.
And then one day… he just LEAVES.
No explanation.
No goodbye.
NOTHING.
Five years later, they’re both headed on a family vacation, and their meddling moms decide these two need some quality time together.
Their solution? Make Sera and Thane DRIVE together.
And this road trip has EVERYTHING.
Old feelings
Love/hate banter
Brother’s best friend
Second chance
Forced proximity
Years of feelings hurt and love
Then they finally make it to the family lake house and WHO SHOWS UP?
HER EX.
And listen… Sera makes some decisions when it comes to this man that had me wanting to reach into my Kindle and shake her. GIRL. WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!
But Thane, has already walked away from Sera once, and he is NOT about to lose her again.
I absolutely loved these two. The history, the hurt, the tension, the road trip, and a couple who have loved each other for years but need to hear all the hard truths.
He’s been in love with her for YEARS.
And then one day… he just LEAVES.
No explanation.
No goodbye.
NOTHING.
Five years later, they’re both headed on a family vacation, and their meddling moms decide these two need some quality time together.
Their solution? Make Sera and Thane DRIVE together.
And this road trip has EVERYTHING.
Old feelings
Love/hate banter
Brother’s best friend
Second chance
Forced proximity
Years of feelings hurt and love
Then they finally make it to the family lake house and WHO SHOWS UP?
HER EX.
And listen… Sera makes some decisions when it comes to this man that had me wanting to reach into my Kindle and shake her. GIRL. WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!
But Thane, has already walked away from Sera once, and he is NOT about to lose her again.
I absolutely loved these two. The history, the hurt, the tension, the road trip, and a couple who have loved each other for years but need to hear all the hard truths.
August 6, 2026
Sera decides last minute to go on her family vacation; however, she was not expecting her brother's best friend to also be going on the trip. Forced to drive down together to get their stuff figured out, in a very tiny car , makes for a hilarious time. They have a lot to unpack and things seem to be going in a positive direction until her ex shows up at the cabin.
Loved the main characters of Sera and Thane. They have a great back and froth banter. Thane really knows how to push her buttons. I will say I did not like the ex, he was a jerk. I did not like how Sera acted around him. Glad it all turned out right in the end,
Loved the main characters of Sera and Thane. They have a great back and froth banter. Thane really knows how to push her buttons. I will say I did not like the ex, he was a jerk. I did not like how Sera acted around him. Glad it all turned out right in the end,
August 28, 2026
Banter, second chances and so many laughs. I absolutely loved this book and it will take me a long time to recover from the emotional damage. What a beautiful ending! Thane is loyal to a fault and carries so much pain. But what a mischief maker he is! Sera is like so many of us, protecting a broken heart and hoping it heals.
So beautifully written and the road trip had me laughing so hard, my sides hurt! That chastity blanket oh my word! Also Brad can absolutely go in the bin! What a brilliantly written antagonist. Yuk! I loved the adventure, because of the mishaps and pranks. The best memories are made that way!
So beautifully written and the road trip had me laughing so hard, my sides hurt! That chastity blanket oh my word! Also Brad can absolutely go in the bin! What a brilliantly written antagonist. Yuk! I loved the adventure, because of the mishaps and pranks. The best memories are made that way!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Sera and Thane have history. A history they both seem to be avoiding but when they’re forced together a beautiful story unfolds.
This book is funny! For all of the emotional tear-filled
Moments it has just as many that made me laugh out loud. The banter between characters is perfection. The characters are so well developed. I genuinely enjoyed everything about this story (well not Brad, he’s a jerk).
It’s been a long time since I’ve throughly enjoyed a book like this. Five stars all the way around.
This book is funny! For all of the emotional tear-filled
Moments it has just as many that made me laugh out loud. The banter between characters is perfection. The characters are so well developed. I genuinely enjoyed everything about this story (well not Brad, he’s a jerk).
It’s been a long time since I’ve throughly enjoyed a book like this. Five stars all the way around.
August 5, 2026
Shut Up & Drive is book 1 of the Wayfinder Series and I am fully obsessed! The main characters, Sera and Thane, were absolutely adorable together and I was rooting for them from the start. The forced proximity was great and the tension was real. I enjoyed the witty banter between Sera and Thane as well. The yearning that Thane had for Sera literally made my heart melt.
If you love forced proximity, second chances, and her brother’s best friend tropes then this book is definitely for you. This was an amazing read and is the perfect way to kick off the Wayfinder Series.
If you love forced proximity, second chances, and her brother’s best friend tropes then this book is definitely for you. This was an amazing read and is the perfect way to kick off the Wayfinder Series.
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