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Wish You Were Here
'In this moment I am perfect. I am free to be whoever I want, and all I want to be is a woman in a red spotty dress, speeding into her future in a shiny red car.'
Raw, sharply funny and heartfelt, Wish You Were Here is a girl's own adventure with bite, a hilarious rollercoaster ride that will make you itch to escape the everyday and hit the road with this irresponsible and irresistible adventurer. Reeling from the devastating collapse of her marriage to the man she thought was the love of her life, after a late night enjoying smashing all her china a little too much Sheridan Jobbins decides she needs to do something drastic to save her sanity. Her solution is to buy a hot red car and drive across America. Hopelessly unprepared and heartbroken, she sets out on the road trip of a lifetime determined to find herself - and ironically finds love instead. But not before she has a whole bunch of crazy adventures and wrong turns along the way. Every woman with a heart and a sense of humour will want jump on board this unforgettable ride - and it's the best antidote for anyone who's ever had her heart broken and thought she might not survive.
Raw, sharply funny and heartfelt, Wish You Were Here is a girl's own adventure with bite, a hilarious rollercoaster ride that will make you itch to escape the everyday and hit the road with this irresponsible and irresistible adventurer. Reeling from the devastating collapse of her marriage to the man she thought was the love of her life, after a late night enjoying smashing all her china a little too much Sheridan Jobbins decides she needs to do something drastic to save her sanity. Her solution is to buy a hot red car and drive across America. Hopelessly unprepared and heartbroken, she sets out on the road trip of a lifetime determined to find herself - and ironically finds love instead. But not before she has a whole bunch of crazy adventures and wrong turns along the way. Every woman with a heart and a sense of humour will want jump on board this unforgettable ride - and it's the best antidote for anyone who's ever had her heart broken and thought she might not survive.
330 pages, Paperback
Published August 29, 2017
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August 19, 2017
4★
“I returned home from a business trip to discover the man I was married to had changed. It wasn’t a vague thing – there was a stranger in my bed. When pressed to define his problem, he relented, saying, ‘I just can’t stand the thought of sleeping with only one woman for the rest of my life.’ And that was that.”
Well, that’s interesting. Because the book dedication says: “For my husband, like, der” (which Americans would say, “like, duh”). Husband, eh?
Fun read and not like the gushy, blubbery Eat, Pray, Love. None of that meditation magic to stop the tears. Jobbins is made of stronger stuff, although she sheds a few tears here and there and blows her top more than once. And it IS all about her, of course, “like, der”, as she would have said.
The reason I read it is because of a couple of people who praised it: Mark Colvin (whom I loved) and Amanda Keller, who’s a bright funny girl herself. Then I googled the author and realised she moves in some interesting circles (film maker, screenwriter), so that was intriguing. And she does indeed cross paths with many interesting people, some famous (first names only, but “Mark” in London is Colvin) and some real down-home, genuine local characters.
After her husband decides to find himself by looking in different beds, she gradually pieces her life back together, although they stay married and best friends (mostly). He is “Pig” to her “Piggy”, and that’s how she always refers to him.
She decides she will do a Thelma and Louise, sort of, and travel across America, changing the scenery and refreshing her spirit. She hasn’t got much money, but what the heck? Her mother worries, but encourages, but worries, and . . . well, she’s a mother, and so it goes.
At one point in her travels, the author writes:
“‘Awesome,’ I said on entering the elegant Beaux Art lobby with its old world nymphs and vaulted grandeur. ‘It’s my mother made of marble and mortar.’
Aunty Sue to the rescue! She’s mid-generation, close enough in age to the author that she’s a lot of fun while adding an air of stability to the adventure. She offers to meet the author on the east coast and drive back with her on the way home. Whew - that will defray a lot of the cost.
Her family tends to hang on to the exes, and an ex-brother-in-law lives in L.A. so she starts off staying with him. L.A. she describes:
“The city is huge, monstrous, half the population of Australia living on a dot, and everyone’s here for glory. Wealth, beauty, brains: they’re all available for a price. Sure, that price seems to be your soul, but since it’s the richest city in America, you’ll probably get good money for it.
Now all Jobbins needs to do is find a car, and she grabs a classic 1989 red Chevy Camaro for $3600 US, just over her Aussie $5000 limit. If Aussie readers are not familiar with the Camaro, it’s a muscle car, think hoon, think head-turner, think less-than-subtle. She names it Betty. I’m not a fan of naming vehicles after women, but I do like her red Chevy, so I’ll forgive her.
She has a colourful time crossing the country and I enjoyed the whole ride. Yes, she does a bit of reflective navel-gazing (and if there were sailors, she’d do naval-gazing as well, as she likes the fellas). She’s a dreadful flirt, by which I mean incorrigible, not unsuccessful, and she was adventurous enough to talk to strangers everywhere and stay in out-of-the-way places . . . mainly because she had no money.
She hits the Grand Canyon, hikes, admires the scenery across the country, finds people to show us around and generally tells a good story. I found it fun, but then I’ve travelled many of the places she did, so it was kind of reminiscing for me, I suppose. Eventually, she ends up on the east coast, meets up with Sue, gets down to Washington DC, but Sue has to return urgently to Australia, so it’s off to England instead, since her flight allowed her another leg on her trip.
We learn about her childhood with an alcoholic father and her medical dramas trying to fall pregnant. There’s enough detail that we understand why she’s feeling chaotic but there’s so much fun and joy in the trip, that it's easy to admire how she’s decided to meet life head-on.
Alone, her mind starts to wander.
“Driving through the Badlands of middle America, I discovered the creative mind is like a cattle dog – you have to work it or you’ll come home and find it’s eaten the couch.”
She’s delighted to discover NPR (National Public Radio) which is a bit like Australia’s ABC and SBS. Keeps her mind going. She stays with more old friends, makes new friends, and one follows her back to the States and he and another new American friend drive back across country with her in a funny, awkward Three Amigos fashion. She needs them to be able to afford to get back to California.
She tells a good story, says and does things that would drive me nuts if I were one of the fellows she’s travelling with, but she obviously makes up for it with wit and a good sense of humour. They’re broke so they camp – on a building site, in stunning national parks – wherever they can.
Lots of funny anecdotes, which she’s probably been dining out on for years. If you’re an American, you’ll recognise your country and if you’re an Aussie you’ll recognise the traveller. In fact, if you’re English, you’ll be familiar with her time there and one of her ‘new friends’.
Most enjoyable! Thanks to NetGalley and Affirm Press for the preview copy from which I’ve quoted.
“I returned home from a business trip to discover the man I was married to had changed. It wasn’t a vague thing – there was a stranger in my bed. When pressed to define his problem, he relented, saying, ‘I just can’t stand the thought of sleeping with only one woman for the rest of my life.’ And that was that.”
Well, that’s interesting. Because the book dedication says: “For my husband, like, der” (which Americans would say, “like, duh”). Husband, eh?
Fun read and not like the gushy, blubbery Eat, Pray, Love. None of that meditation magic to stop the tears. Jobbins is made of stronger stuff, although she sheds a few tears here and there and blows her top more than once. And it IS all about her, of course, “like, der”, as she would have said.
The reason I read it is because of a couple of people who praised it: Mark Colvin (whom I loved) and Amanda Keller, who’s a bright funny girl herself. Then I googled the author and realised she moves in some interesting circles (film maker, screenwriter), so that was intriguing. And she does indeed cross paths with many interesting people, some famous (first names only, but “Mark” in London is Colvin) and some real down-home, genuine local characters.
After her husband decides to find himself by looking in different beds, she gradually pieces her life back together, although they stay married and best friends (mostly). He is “Pig” to her “Piggy”, and that’s how she always refers to him.
She decides she will do a Thelma and Louise, sort of, and travel across America, changing the scenery and refreshing her spirit. She hasn’t got much money, but what the heck? Her mother worries, but encourages, but worries, and . . . well, she’s a mother, and so it goes.
At one point in her travels, the author writes:
“‘Awesome,’ I said on entering the elegant Beaux Art lobby with its old world nymphs and vaulted grandeur. ‘It’s my mother made of marble and mortar.’
Aunty Sue to the rescue! She’s mid-generation, close enough in age to the author that she’s a lot of fun while adding an air of stability to the adventure. She offers to meet the author on the east coast and drive back with her on the way home. Whew - that will defray a lot of the cost.
Her family tends to hang on to the exes, and an ex-brother-in-law lives in L.A. so she starts off staying with him. L.A. she describes:
“The city is huge, monstrous, half the population of Australia living on a dot, and everyone’s here for glory. Wealth, beauty, brains: they’re all available for a price. Sure, that price seems to be your soul, but since it’s the richest city in America, you’ll probably get good money for it.
Now all Jobbins needs to do is find a car, and she grabs a classic 1989 red Chevy Camaro for $3600 US, just over her Aussie $5000 limit. If Aussie readers are not familiar with the Camaro, it’s a muscle car, think hoon, think head-turner, think less-than-subtle. She names it Betty. I’m not a fan of naming vehicles after women, but I do like her red Chevy, so I’ll forgive her.
She has a colourful time crossing the country and I enjoyed the whole ride. Yes, she does a bit of reflective navel-gazing (and if there were sailors, she’d do naval-gazing as well, as she likes the fellas). She’s a dreadful flirt, by which I mean incorrigible, not unsuccessful, and she was adventurous enough to talk to strangers everywhere and stay in out-of-the-way places . . . mainly because she had no money.
She hits the Grand Canyon, hikes, admires the scenery across the country, finds people to show us around and generally tells a good story. I found it fun, but then I’ve travelled many of the places she did, so it was kind of reminiscing for me, I suppose. Eventually, she ends up on the east coast, meets up with Sue, gets down to Washington DC, but Sue has to return urgently to Australia, so it’s off to England instead, since her flight allowed her another leg on her trip.
We learn about her childhood with an alcoholic father and her medical dramas trying to fall pregnant. There’s enough detail that we understand why she’s feeling chaotic but there’s so much fun and joy in the trip, that it's easy to admire how she’s decided to meet life head-on.
Alone, her mind starts to wander.
“Driving through the Badlands of middle America, I discovered the creative mind is like a cattle dog – you have to work it or you’ll come home and find it’s eaten the couch.”
She’s delighted to discover NPR (National Public Radio) which is a bit like Australia’s ABC and SBS. Keeps her mind going. She stays with more old friends, makes new friends, and one follows her back to the States and he and another new American friend drive back across country with her in a funny, awkward Three Amigos fashion. She needs them to be able to afford to get back to California.
She tells a good story, says and does things that would drive me nuts if I were one of the fellows she’s travelling with, but she obviously makes up for it with wit and a good sense of humour. They’re broke so they camp – on a building site, in stunning national parks – wherever they can.
Lots of funny anecdotes, which she’s probably been dining out on for years. If you’re an American, you’ll recognise your country and if you’re an Aussie you’ll recognise the traveller. In fact, if you’re English, you’ll be familiar with her time there and one of her ‘new friends’.
Most enjoyable! Thanks to NetGalley and Affirm Press for the preview copy from which I’ve quoted.
June 25, 2017
A couple of weeks ago, Not and I were sitting in the Hôtel des Bergues, the posh five star hotel round the corner, where our friend Sheridan had kindly invited us for afternoon tea as a birthday present. She also gave me an advance copy of this book. "It's just like that scene in the last volume of Min kamp!" I said. "Have you noticed that everyone here is a character in a novel?" It turned out that the fifth member of the party, a Canadian who was on a brief visit to Geneva, was another hardcore Knausgård fan. We spent some time swapping theories: was it appropriate to call Knausgård the Norwegian Proust, how much of the story was actually true, did it matter?
With that starting point, it was impossible to read Wish You Were Here without frequently making mental comparisons with Knausgård. It's easy to see why he's become the most talked-about novelist of our time. Knausgård, more than anyone, even more than Proust, is focused on what it means to be a writer. Once, novels about being a novelist were dry and abstract, but since the rise of the internet we've all become novelists. We're all blogging, Goodreading, Instagramming and Facebooking, turning our lives into text and trying to reassure ourselves that this is a worthwhile activity. Most of the time, it clearly isn't. The average post is lazy and boring, dishing out more obviously untrue nonsense about our perfect relationships and cute cats. But every now and then, we come across a genius like Knausgård who tells it like it is: how he's disloyal, bad and plain crazy, doing things he knows perfectly well he shouldn't because one day he'll be able to convert them into art, or, perhaps, just because he's that kind of person.
You can see why millions of people love Knausgård and a good many more hate him. He says all the things you're unwilling to say out loud, even to yourself; he makes some readers feel they're not alone, and others wish they were. Sheridan isn't as good as Knausgård, and I think it's unlikely that she'll ever be compared to Hitler or sued by a close relative in a high-profile case that will transfix a whole country for several months. But hey, this is her first novel and I think she's made a pretty good start: I felt genuinely shocked and disquieted several times, and laughed at quite a few passages in between. What more can you ask for? I can't wait for the next one.
With that starting point, it was impossible to read Wish You Were Here without frequently making mental comparisons with Knausgård. It's easy to see why he's become the most talked-about novelist of our time. Knausgård, more than anyone, even more than Proust, is focused on what it means to be a writer. Once, novels about being a novelist were dry and abstract, but since the rise of the internet we've all become novelists. We're all blogging, Goodreading, Instagramming and Facebooking, turning our lives into text and trying to reassure ourselves that this is a worthwhile activity. Most of the time, it clearly isn't. The average post is lazy and boring, dishing out more obviously untrue nonsense about our perfect relationships and cute cats. But every now and then, we come across a genius like Knausgård who tells it like it is: how he's disloyal, bad and plain crazy, doing things he knows perfectly well he shouldn't because one day he'll be able to convert them into art, or, perhaps, just because he's that kind of person.
You can see why millions of people love Knausgård and a good many more hate him. He says all the things you're unwilling to say out loud, even to yourself; he makes some readers feel they're not alone, and others wish they were. Sheridan isn't as good as Knausgård, and I think it's unlikely that she'll ever be compared to Hitler or sued by a close relative in a high-profile case that will transfix a whole country for several months. But hey, this is her first novel and I think she's made a pretty good start: I felt genuinely shocked and disquieted several times, and laughed at quite a few passages in between. What more can you ask for? I can't wait for the next one.
July 11, 2019
What's a thirty-five-year-old Australian woman to do when her husband of eleven years tells her he can't go on sleeping with only one person for the rest of his life so he leaves her?
Well, one will take a prolonged leave of absence from her job and go to the United States, buy a car and travel across America, West to East and back. Also, one will fly to the UK for a little while to visit with some dear friends.
This is Sheridan Jobbin's memoir-cum-travel book during a turbulent period in her life.
She's an interesting, vivacious, impulsive woman with a wicked sense of humour. This wasn't in any way preachy or I-did-that-you-can-do-it-too kind of book.
This was a pleasant enough road trip alongside Sheridan, with some highlights and some parts that were more mundane.
Generally, I enjoyed the time spent in its company although it didn't help my wanderlust.
The author was also the narrator of this audiobook and she did a great job.
Well, one will take a prolonged leave of absence from her job and go to the United States, buy a car and travel across America, West to East and back. Also, one will fly to the UK for a little while to visit with some dear friends.
This is Sheridan Jobbin's memoir-cum-travel book during a turbulent period in her life.
She's an interesting, vivacious, impulsive woman with a wicked sense of humour. This wasn't in any way preachy or I-did-that-you-can-do-it-too kind of book.
This was a pleasant enough road trip alongside Sheridan, with some highlights and some parts that were more mundane.
Generally, I enjoyed the time spent in its company although it didn't help my wanderlust.
The author was also the narrator of this audiobook and she did a great job.
August 31, 2017
After returning from a trip and discovering her husband of 11 years, the love of her life in bed with another woman ("I just can't stand the thought of sleeping with only one woman for the rest of my life."), journalist and screenwriter Sheridan Jobbins has trouble getting over him and getting her life back on track. She fights back by first therapeutically smashing all their defective crockery and then embarking on a trip across America in a red Chevy Camaro she names Betty.
Yes, it might sound cliched but what an excellent road trip she has! From LA to the East Coast, meandering on her own, finding unexpected sights and meeting people along the way as she reflects on her life so far with all the ups and downs, joys and heartache. After visiting friends in Connecticut, she takes a side trip to London where she stays with old friends and attends a party with Philosophers where she connects with a handsome younger man called Scott. Her original plan to share the return trip across America from Washington to LA with a good friend comes unstuck and instead she ends up on a road trip with Scott and Matt, an Australian she met while visiting friends in Washington. They end up bonding over a shared love of music and books, sharing the driving, and stopping where they want to pitch their tents to save money on accomodation. After shedding one of her companions in New Orleans, Sheridan continues on with Scott, a man she met in London, realising that she is both falling in love and learning to re-adjust to life without her long time husband and friend.
Filled with lots of humorous anecdotes and interesting people, Sheridan likes nothing better than to get off the beaten track and discover the quirky and unusual, collecting both kitsch and classic china (to replace the broken pile back home) along the way. She talks about trying to be happy in the moment and letting go of her angst and despair about her marriage and failed attempts to have a child, although there are times when her anger still breaks through and causes her to lash out at Scott and the world. By the end of her trip her bravery and impulsiveness in running away to drive across America has payed off and she is ready to go back and face her old life.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Hachette Australia for a copy of the book to read and review
Yes, it might sound cliched but what an excellent road trip she has! From LA to the East Coast, meandering on her own, finding unexpected sights and meeting people along the way as she reflects on her life so far with all the ups and downs, joys and heartache. After visiting friends in Connecticut, she takes a side trip to London where she stays with old friends and attends a party with Philosophers where she connects with a handsome younger man called Scott. Her original plan to share the return trip across America from Washington to LA with a good friend comes unstuck and instead she ends up on a road trip with Scott and Matt, an Australian she met while visiting friends in Washington. They end up bonding over a shared love of music and books, sharing the driving, and stopping where they want to pitch their tents to save money on accomodation. After shedding one of her companions in New Orleans, Sheridan continues on with Scott, a man she met in London, realising that she is both falling in love and learning to re-adjust to life without her long time husband and friend.
Filled with lots of humorous anecdotes and interesting people, Sheridan likes nothing better than to get off the beaten track and discover the quirky and unusual, collecting both kitsch and classic china (to replace the broken pile back home) along the way. She talks about trying to be happy in the moment and letting go of her angst and despair about her marriage and failed attempts to have a child, although there are times when her anger still breaks through and causes her to lash out at Scott and the world. By the end of her trip her bravery and impulsiveness in running away to drive across America has payed off and she is ready to go back and face her old life.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Hachette Australia for a copy of the book to read and review
April 25, 2019
*https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogsp...
Wish You Were Here is a heart-felt memoir filled with pathos and wry humour.
Feeling utter despair when her husband announces he doesn’t want to be married anymore Jobbins concocts a crazy plan to drive across America Thelma & Louise style.
I’ve never been much of a memoir reader. I tend to find them slow going and I find the first person past tense narration hard to get into.
What I did love about the story is Jobbins’ candour. She opens up to her readers and pours out all her dashed hopes and her fears. The story tells like a travelogue across America with humorous and sometimes life affirming situations occurring across the country as Jobbins travels from LA to Colorado, Nebraska and Pennsylvania via numerous wrong turns dropping in on an eclectic group friends and relatives along the way.
If you’ve ever felt like life has let you down and you just need to break free and find yourself again Wish You Were Here is the read for you.
*I received my copy courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley.
Wish You Were Here is a heart-felt memoir filled with pathos and wry humour.
Feeling utter despair when her husband announces he doesn’t want to be married anymore Jobbins concocts a crazy plan to drive across America Thelma & Louise style.
I’ve never been much of a memoir reader. I tend to find them slow going and I find the first person past tense narration hard to get into.
What I did love about the story is Jobbins’ candour. She opens up to her readers and pours out all her dashed hopes and her fears. The story tells like a travelogue across America with humorous and sometimes life affirming situations occurring across the country as Jobbins travels from LA to Colorado, Nebraska and Pennsylvania via numerous wrong turns dropping in on an eclectic group friends and relatives along the way.
If you’ve ever felt like life has let you down and you just need to break free and find yourself again Wish You Were Here is the read for you.
*I received my copy courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley.
August 28, 2017
I can't tell you how much I enjoyed Wish You Were Here by Sheridan Jobbins. Ok, I'm telling you. I enjoyed it a lot. The book was written as an anniversay present to her now husband Scott, a man I fell a little bit in love with as I read their story. As far as presents go I'd have to say I've never heard of a better one, and as far as third dates go this one takes the cake.
When we meet Sheridan she's trying to get over the shock of her failed marriage. They'd been best of friends and remained friends after the marriage broke down but whereas he moved on Sheridan was unable to. She seemed unwilling and unable to put the relationship behind her. She tries and sometimes feels she's succeeded, but other times she's overcome by anger and overwhelming grief. So she decides to run away, putting her life on hold and heading off to America for a coast to coast adventure. Personally, I'm not much into driving holidays but I so wished I was there. Without having to pack a thing her writing activated all my senses and took me on her journey of discovery. Through her words I explored the American landscape, enjoyed encounters with the locals, I tagged along as she re-discovered herself and lived vicariously as she moved beyond her grief and towards new love. I laughed out loud at her quirky (so very Aussie) sense of humour and agonised on her behalf when she occasionally flipped out, when words were used like weapons in a seeming attempt to sabotage this new relationship, or when her temper flared out of control. I loved her honesty about these and so many other aspects of her life. I couldn't help smiling at this passage describing her sometimes erratic behaviour "How reassuring to find something that was bedrock-stable while I ping-ponged from Nutsville to Love and back several times a day".
There's so much to commend in this book and it covers so much territory, both literally and figuratively. It's touching, it's funny, it encourages adventure, inspires action and has a gorgeous romance to cap it all off. Next time I travel I simply must have a mnemonic recording of my own, it was a stroke of genius. I loved it and pretty much everything about this book. A really enjoyable read.
Happy anniversay Scott and Sheridan. May your life continue to be filled with love. Many thanks to Hachette Australia and NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this book in exchange for an honest review. It was a real pleasure.
When we meet Sheridan she's trying to get over the shock of her failed marriage. They'd been best of friends and remained friends after the marriage broke down but whereas he moved on Sheridan was unable to. She seemed unwilling and unable to put the relationship behind her. She tries and sometimes feels she's succeeded, but other times she's overcome by anger and overwhelming grief. So she decides to run away, putting her life on hold and heading off to America for a coast to coast adventure. Personally, I'm not much into driving holidays but I so wished I was there. Without having to pack a thing her writing activated all my senses and took me on her journey of discovery. Through her words I explored the American landscape, enjoyed encounters with the locals, I tagged along as she re-discovered herself and lived vicariously as she moved beyond her grief and towards new love. I laughed out loud at her quirky (so very Aussie) sense of humour and agonised on her behalf when she occasionally flipped out, when words were used like weapons in a seeming attempt to sabotage this new relationship, or when her temper flared out of control. I loved her honesty about these and so many other aspects of her life. I couldn't help smiling at this passage describing her sometimes erratic behaviour "How reassuring to find something that was bedrock-stable while I ping-ponged from Nutsville to Love and back several times a day".
There's so much to commend in this book and it covers so much territory, both literally and figuratively. It's touching, it's funny, it encourages adventure, inspires action and has a gorgeous romance to cap it all off. Next time I travel I simply must have a mnemonic recording of my own, it was a stroke of genius. I loved it and pretty much everything about this book. A really enjoyable read.
Happy anniversay Scott and Sheridan. May your life continue to be filled with love. Many thanks to Hachette Australia and NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this book in exchange for an honest review. It was a real pleasure.
August 4, 2017
This may be the most subjective review you ever read. I wrote this book as a love letter to my husband. I wrote it with a full heart. When I finished, I sometimes lent it to girlfriends who were having a hard time. A broken heart. An illness. A new baby who won't sleep. Sometimes, at your lowest ebb, when you heart is empty, life fills it for you. I hope this book fills you with love.
August 6, 2017
I love that so many scenes in this book struck a chord with me. When a modified Jane Austin quote was slipped in, I knew it was my kind of book. When I recognised so many of the music and the books used as a backdrop to the journey, I had to pause for a minute and make a list to follow up later, thereby making my ever growing "to read" list even longer. As a fellow Australia, I found it refreshing to see America through the eyes of a fellow countrywoman. It was my kind of language, and I have to say, that I saw so much of myself in the author too. It takes a bucketload of honesty to look back and write out part of your story for public consumption, so kudos to her for putting it all out there.
This is wonderful book. It's a story about moving on from heartbreak which I know is a very depressing subject but the author seems to imbue it with a sort of je ne sais quoi. It it an uplifting story, that just so happens to be mostly true, which in my opinion makes it all the better. I feel like this is a book that has all the makings of a classic, and could even see it being made into a movie.
It's honest, there are laugh out loud moments, a side of heartbreak and it's just so honest and bare. I really enjoyed reading this book - I even feel like I've walked away with a host of things I'd love to read up on some more, so thanks for expanding my mind in multiple ways Sheridan!
I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in return for an honest review
This is wonderful book. It's a story about moving on from heartbreak which I know is a very depressing subject but the author seems to imbue it with a sort of je ne sais quoi. It it an uplifting story, that just so happens to be mostly true, which in my opinion makes it all the better. I feel like this is a book that has all the makings of a classic, and could even see it being made into a movie.
It's honest, there are laugh out loud moments, a side of heartbreak and it's just so honest and bare. I really enjoyed reading this book - I even feel like I've walked away with a host of things I'd love to read up on some more, so thanks for expanding my mind in multiple ways Sheridan!
I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in return for an honest review
July 2, 2017
I read this book thanks to Hachette Aus/NZ
I really enjoyed every bit of this book. The honesty of feelings, the thoughts and emotions shared with the reader all made for an excellent read.
I really enjoyed every bit of this book. The honesty of feelings, the thoughts and emotions shared with the reader all made for an excellent read.
January 5, 2018
A caveat for my first review of the year is that I am not usually drawn to memoirs of individuals indulging in protracted travels in order to ‘find themselves’. But I had heard good things about Wish You Were Here (Affirm Press, 2017, written by film-maker and presenter Sheridan Jobbins) (Wish You Were Here), and so I began my year with a memoir about…a woman travelling across America to find herself.
Australian Sheridan Jobbins was distraught by the end of her 11-year marriage. She and her husband (delightfully named ‘Pig’), soldiered on through years of failed IVF attempts and accompanying disappointment and dashed hopes. When it finally – irreparably – ended, she went slightly mad, smashing every piece of crockery she owned. Then she borrowed money, went to America, and bought a shiny red car (a 1989 Chevy Camaro…’a car favoured in certain quarters for gangland massacres’) and set about finding herself, or at least to drive across the country while trying. What follows is a self-deprecating, often funny, often moving account of the people she met, the landscapes she viewed, the experiences she had and the one very special man she encountered who would heal her heart and soothe her ‘inner crazy lady’.
This book is a strange hybrid of hilarity and tears. The most touching chapters are when Sheridan opens up and allows her emotions to flood the pages, her feelings about her IVF journey, her romances, her family, her friends. But this is tempered by her straight-talking, feisty attitude, her no-nonsense approach to said family and friends, and her ‘Thelma and Louise’ approach to the whole jaunt. She laughs most heartily at herself, and the funniest scenes are of her own ineptitude or bumbling incompetence, about which she is endearingly honest and frank. But despite her flaws in some areas, she makes up for them in sheer enthusiasm and persistence in others. She is determined to live this dream – of driving across America in one hell of a hot car – and she is determined to do it in style. Along the way, she makes friends with strangers (and annoys others), she tests the limits of herself, and she makes some decisions and choices about what she wants out of life.
Just when you are about to label the story one thing, it becomes another. Wish You Were Here has a romance at its heart, but it is not a tale of conventional romance, by any means. It’s a story of adventure, but it contains little vignettes of hearth and home. It features a strong woman, but she allows us to see her weaknesses. It rollicks along with some hearty laughs, and then sucker-punches you with a poignant and moving insight.
One of the loveliest aspects of the book is the descriptions of the states through which Sheridan travels. I have visited many of the same places, and her interpretations of places as diverse as the majesty of the Grand Canyon and the garish neon of Las Vegas, hit the mark. Her depictions remind us that America has some beautiful scenery and notable sights.
Her representation of people is also apt, and sometimes cringe-worthy. She describes Terry, her ‘sad little waitress’, as having ‘an ageless face – somewhere between high school and exhaustion.’ She is disarming in her descriptions of her lovers, and her relationships with them – sometimes this is almost uncomfortably hard to read, but it is certainly honest and ‘warts and all’.
The detail I enjoyed most about this trip was that along the way, she and Scott (her new man) made simple recordings – mnemonics – of special moments, like a sound version of a photograph. What a lovely idea.
If you enjoy a travel tale that explores new places, if you love fast cars and strong women with a sense of humour, and if you like your romance sensibly doused with a good dose of pragmatism, then you will coast through this book, laughing along the way.
Australian Sheridan Jobbins was distraught by the end of her 11-year marriage. She and her husband (delightfully named ‘Pig’), soldiered on through years of failed IVF attempts and accompanying disappointment and dashed hopes. When it finally – irreparably – ended, she went slightly mad, smashing every piece of crockery she owned. Then she borrowed money, went to America, and bought a shiny red car (a 1989 Chevy Camaro…’a car favoured in certain quarters for gangland massacres’) and set about finding herself, or at least to drive across the country while trying. What follows is a self-deprecating, often funny, often moving account of the people she met, the landscapes she viewed, the experiences she had and the one very special man she encountered who would heal her heart and soothe her ‘inner crazy lady’.
This book is a strange hybrid of hilarity and tears. The most touching chapters are when Sheridan opens up and allows her emotions to flood the pages, her feelings about her IVF journey, her romances, her family, her friends. But this is tempered by her straight-talking, feisty attitude, her no-nonsense approach to said family and friends, and her ‘Thelma and Louise’ approach to the whole jaunt. She laughs most heartily at herself, and the funniest scenes are of her own ineptitude or bumbling incompetence, about which she is endearingly honest and frank. But despite her flaws in some areas, she makes up for them in sheer enthusiasm and persistence in others. She is determined to live this dream – of driving across America in one hell of a hot car – and she is determined to do it in style. Along the way, she makes friends with strangers (and annoys others), she tests the limits of herself, and she makes some decisions and choices about what she wants out of life.
Just when you are about to label the story one thing, it becomes another. Wish You Were Here has a romance at its heart, but it is not a tale of conventional romance, by any means. It’s a story of adventure, but it contains little vignettes of hearth and home. It features a strong woman, but she allows us to see her weaknesses. It rollicks along with some hearty laughs, and then sucker-punches you with a poignant and moving insight.
One of the loveliest aspects of the book is the descriptions of the states through which Sheridan travels. I have visited many of the same places, and her interpretations of places as diverse as the majesty of the Grand Canyon and the garish neon of Las Vegas, hit the mark. Her depictions remind us that America has some beautiful scenery and notable sights.
Her representation of people is also apt, and sometimes cringe-worthy. She describes Terry, her ‘sad little waitress’, as having ‘an ageless face – somewhere between high school and exhaustion.’ She is disarming in her descriptions of her lovers, and her relationships with them – sometimes this is almost uncomfortably hard to read, but it is certainly honest and ‘warts and all’.
The detail I enjoyed most about this trip was that along the way, she and Scott (her new man) made simple recordings – mnemonics – of special moments, like a sound version of a photograph. What a lovely idea.
If you enjoy a travel tale that explores new places, if you love fast cars and strong women with a sense of humour, and if you like your romance sensibly doused with a good dose of pragmatism, then you will coast through this book, laughing along the way.
August 21, 2017
'Wish You Were Here' is the real story of Sheridan Jobbins as she impulsively decides to drive across America on a trip of self discovery and healing after the breakdown of her marriage. We follow her throughout all stages of her journey-from the very beginning as she finds her feet in America; when struggles with being alone and the reality of her life after marriage; trying to decipher the road maps and forgetting that distances are not in kilometers but in miles and becoming of schedule and lost; and all of the things in between as she drives across the states, spends some time in the UK and then travels back from the East Coast to the West. The writing is a little long winded, but Jobbin's adds some moments of sharp wit or just blunt humour to lighten the mood as she tells of her emotional and life changing story.
What I Liked
The honest emotions- I appreciated how honest and raw this book is. We see Sheridan as she is at her most vulnerable, for example driving recklessly at night as she acknowledges the path her life is taking or when she opens herself up to her new lover. Seeing this truth and vulnerability in a book really lets us relate and understand the storyteller more, and find some similarities in what we the reader have experienced. As this is a very personal story about something life changing, it gave the story the impact and gravitas it deserved.
The second half of the book- The first half of the book was incredibly slow and often boring at times (see below) but once it progressed into the second half of the book and the second phase of her journey, exploring her new relationship, it becomes instantly more enjoyable to read. I loved the interactions between her and Scott, how their relationship grew as they become more honest and open with each other throughout the second half of the book.
The contrast of light hearted moments with deep emotional scenes- Some of the reasons I don't normally read 'regular' fiction (as opposed to science fiction, fantasy or crime) is that it can either be to heavy and emotional, or too light hearted and meaningless. Jobbin's does a great job (haha) of merging the two together to created a story of ups and downs, mirroring her own experiences. We see her when she is at her worst, normally emotionally, as she explores her past relationships and current outlook on life, but also at her best as she explores some of the wonders of America on her trip and meets some interesting individuals.
What I Did Not Like
The first half was so slow and boring- While it was a rewarding read, there were so many points during this book, especially during the first 100 pages, where I was close to putting it down and not finishing it. Nothing happens for the majority of the first half was we follow Sheridan driving through small town after small town, making remarks about how it is similar to Australia but also not because it is in America. The story went nowhere but circles and while I appreciate it is an accurate retelling of her experiences, as a book, it needed something to keep me reading. I am a very stubborn person and will push through to finish a book, and once I broke through the first half the book became a little more interesting.
This book is definitely not something I would normally read, but I enjoyed the experience and reading the story of Sheridan as she healed from the breakdown of her first and only longterm relationship. Even though I cannot relate with most of what Jobbins' experienced, I still was able to take some key messages from the story about taking care of yourself and appreciating some of the small moments in life.
'Wish You Were Here' will be published next week on the 29th of August.
October 8, 2017
** I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own**
I had some reservations about this one to begin with, since the it starts off more divorce-memoir than travel- memoir, and I just wasn't really up for that. By the time the travel started I was hooked and I thought it was a fun and endearing read.
I had some reservations about this one to begin with, since the it starts off more divorce-memoir than travel- memoir, and I just wasn't really up for that. By the time the travel started I was hooked and I thought it was a fun and endearing read.
September 3, 2017
‘In this moment I am perfect. I am free to be whoever I want, and all I want to be is a woman in a red spotty dress, speeding into her future in a shiny red car.’
So, Sheridan Jobbins’s marriage collapses and then she smashes all her china. Life as Sheridan has known it has just ended. What will she do next? Well, what could be better than leaving Australia, and then buying a car and driving across America? Surely she’ll find herself along the way, and work out what to do next?
Thus begins a chaotic journey across the USA, through the past and into (eventually) a brighter future. Meet Betty, a red Chevrolet Camaro, not the most practical car for Sheridan’s drive, but she certainly turns heads. Sheridan Jobbins may not be very well prepared for this adventure, but she’s going to make the most of it.
While I enjoyed parts of this book, I kept shaking my head in disbelief. I couldn’t decide whether to admire her impulsive behaviour, or chide her for it. Still, she survived. And the journey itself is a discovery of self and a triumph of sorts. There is more than one way to find yourself, and this particular way worked for Sheridan Jobbins. Not a journey for me, but an interesting set of experiences, worth reading about.
Note: my thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
So, Sheridan Jobbins’s marriage collapses and then she smashes all her china. Life as Sheridan has known it has just ended. What will she do next? Well, what could be better than leaving Australia, and then buying a car and driving across America? Surely she’ll find herself along the way, and work out what to do next?
Thus begins a chaotic journey across the USA, through the past and into (eventually) a brighter future. Meet Betty, a red Chevrolet Camaro, not the most practical car for Sheridan’s drive, but she certainly turns heads. Sheridan Jobbins may not be very well prepared for this adventure, but she’s going to make the most of it.
While I enjoyed parts of this book, I kept shaking my head in disbelief. I couldn’t decide whether to admire her impulsive behaviour, or chide her for it. Still, she survived. And the journey itself is a discovery of self and a triumph of sorts. There is more than one way to find yourself, and this particular way worked for Sheridan Jobbins. Not a journey for me, but an interesting set of experiences, worth reading about.
Note: my thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
December 31, 2017
*This book was received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
After her marriage ends and she has smashed much of her beloved china, Sheridan Jobbins heads off on a journey that will change her life. Sheridan sets off on her journey of self-discovery driving across America in a new red car heartbroken although not for long. Not only does she find herself but she also finds love and trouble along the way. I really enjoyed the writing style and the raw honesty conveyed through the writing. I did at times find myself wanting to shake her though due to her impulsive decisions however it did lead to quite a few hilarious situations that made for a good read. Overall, this was a very humorous read with the mishaps Sheridan gets into very enjoyable to read about; although I'm sure they weren't enjoyable for her when she was experiencing them.
After her marriage ends and she has smashed much of her beloved china, Sheridan Jobbins heads off on a journey that will change her life. Sheridan sets off on her journey of self-discovery driving across America in a new red car heartbroken although not for long. Not only does she find herself but she also finds love and trouble along the way. I really enjoyed the writing style and the raw honesty conveyed through the writing. I did at times find myself wanting to shake her though due to her impulsive decisions however it did lead to quite a few hilarious situations that made for a good read. Overall, this was a very humorous read with the mishaps Sheridan gets into very enjoyable to read about; although I'm sure they weren't enjoyable for her when she was experiencing them.
June 21, 2018
3.5 I love road trip/my life has strayed from its course and I’m lost stories and this is WILD meets EAT PRAY LOVE with a dash of romance and loads of warmth and humour. I’m also currently listening to the podcast ‘Alone: a love story’ so feeling all the broken heart feelings. Women are extraordinarily resilient.
September 29, 2017
Such a fun read. Really enjoyed it.
A real life adventure of a woman who runs away from a failed marriage in Australia and thinks she'll find herself if she drives across American and back again.
Beautifully written, fun filled delight of a book.
A real life adventure of a woman who runs away from a failed marriage in Australia and thinks she'll find herself if she drives across American and back again.
Beautifully written, fun filled delight of a book.
November 16, 2017
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
Reeling from the devastating collapse of her marriage to the man she thought was the love of her life, after a late night enjoying smashing all her china a little too much Sheridan Jobbins decides she needs to do something drastic to save her sanity.
Her solution is to buy a hot red car and drive across America. Hopelessly unprepared and heartbroken, she sets out on the road trip of a lifetime determined to find herself - and ironically finds love instead. But not before she has a whole bunch of crazy adventures and wrong turns along the way.
Every woman with a heart and a sense of humour will want jump on board this unforgettable ride -and it's the best antidote for anyone who's ever had her heart broken and thought she might not survive.
*3.5 stars*
Heartbroken and newly single, Sheridan Jobbins sets off to the US on a voyage of self-discovery - and, amid all the twists and turns that the trip brings, she finds love along the way.
There was lots to love about this book - most importantly were the honest emotion that poured forth on every page. From her heartbreak and sense of loss, to the sense of adventure and humour, we get to feel everything Sheridan was feeling as she navigated through her life after marriage.
I was also intrigued by the cultural clashes as well - although America isn't that far removed from us in cultural terms, the gulf between us seems both wide and narrow on alternate pages. One minute she is freaking out about guns and religion, the next we are reading about good deeds done by strangers. It is compelling reading in that regard.
The main reason this didn't rate better than it has is simple - the start, maybe even the first half, of the book was so slow. Moved-like-molasses slow. I counted maybe 3 or 4 times when I felt like just deleting the book and fining something else to read. Which is totally unfair in the long run - it is a great story but I would have just preferred for the start of the book to really drag me into her story but it just didn't...
On the whole, this was a funny, yet touching, story that has a few minor issue with pacing. Would recommend for those who love a good second-chance romance story - but for real, not fictional.
Paul
ARH
Reeling from the devastating collapse of her marriage to the man she thought was the love of her life, after a late night enjoying smashing all her china a little too much Sheridan Jobbins decides she needs to do something drastic to save her sanity.
Her solution is to buy a hot red car and drive across America. Hopelessly unprepared and heartbroken, she sets out on the road trip of a lifetime determined to find herself - and ironically finds love instead. But not before she has a whole bunch of crazy adventures and wrong turns along the way.
Every woman with a heart and a sense of humour will want jump on board this unforgettable ride -and it's the best antidote for anyone who's ever had her heart broken and thought she might not survive.
*3.5 stars*
Heartbroken and newly single, Sheridan Jobbins sets off to the US on a voyage of self-discovery - and, amid all the twists and turns that the trip brings, she finds love along the way.
There was lots to love about this book - most importantly were the honest emotion that poured forth on every page. From her heartbreak and sense of loss, to the sense of adventure and humour, we get to feel everything Sheridan was feeling as she navigated through her life after marriage.
I was also intrigued by the cultural clashes as well - although America isn't that far removed from us in cultural terms, the gulf between us seems both wide and narrow on alternate pages. One minute she is freaking out about guns and religion, the next we are reading about good deeds done by strangers. It is compelling reading in that regard.
The main reason this didn't rate better than it has is simple - the start, maybe even the first half, of the book was so slow. Moved-like-molasses slow. I counted maybe 3 or 4 times when I felt like just deleting the book and fining something else to read. Which is totally unfair in the long run - it is a great story but I would have just preferred for the start of the book to really drag me into her story but it just didn't...
On the whole, this was a funny, yet touching, story that has a few minor issue with pacing. Would recommend for those who love a good second-chance romance story - but for real, not fictional.
Paul
ARH
October 2, 2017
'Wild' on wheels.
What do you do when your husband of 11 years cheats on you, you break every piece of fine china in your house and have less than 5K in your bank account?
You take a crazy-arsed (assed if you are American) road trip across the US of A, of course.
This is a very cool, very fun, very laugh-out-loud account of how one woman heals a broken heart by driving through America's heartlands.
Jobbins hails from Sydney - my home town. And her writing is full of Australian vernacular, witticisms and self-deprecating humour. Elements which make this sisterly travel tale "f-ing refreshing".
I don't want to give anything away. Just do yourself a favour, find yourself a beach and read the bloody book.
Final Analysis
Fun Factor- 8.5 out of 10 (and funny as hell)
Literary Score- This is not a literary book, but it's not, not literary either. Jobbin's has a pretty good grasp of the English language and she can extend your vocabulary, especially in the realm of Australian colloquialism.
Originality Score - 5 (ok...not the most original concept...but the way Jobbin's tell's it more than makes up for that)
Times I laughed out loud - 10+
Times I hit the thesaurus on my kindle - surprisingly 3 or more times
Would I read it again: Possibly.
Genre -Eat, drive, love. Travel memoirs, self discovery, romance.
Audience - Female Gen Xs, magical thinkers, wander-lusters, and anyone looking for love and a really good laugh.
Best place to read: On a lounge chair baby, by the beach.
Recommended: Absolutely
What do you do when your husband of 11 years cheats on you, you break every piece of fine china in your house and have less than 5K in your bank account?
You take a crazy-arsed (assed if you are American) road trip across the US of A, of course.
This is a very cool, very fun, very laugh-out-loud account of how one woman heals a broken heart by driving through America's heartlands.
Jobbins hails from Sydney - my home town. And her writing is full of Australian vernacular, witticisms and self-deprecating humour. Elements which make this sisterly travel tale "f-ing refreshing".
I don't want to give anything away. Just do yourself a favour, find yourself a beach and read the bloody book.
Final Analysis
Fun Factor- 8.5 out of 10 (and funny as hell)
Literary Score- This is not a literary book, but it's not, not literary either. Jobbin's has a pretty good grasp of the English language and she can extend your vocabulary, especially in the realm of Australian colloquialism.
Originality Score - 5 (ok...not the most original concept...but the way Jobbin's tell's it more than makes up for that)
Times I laughed out loud - 10+
Times I hit the thesaurus on my kindle - surprisingly 3 or more times
Would I read it again: Possibly.
Genre -Eat, drive, love. Travel memoirs, self discovery, romance.
Audience - Female Gen Xs, magical thinkers, wander-lusters, and anyone looking for love and a really good laugh.
Best place to read: On a lounge chair baby, by the beach.
Recommended: Absolutely
May 24, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this one! A USA road trip recounted with humour and honesty (and even a little history.) One of those books you find at an op shop and feel so grateful to have come across. Thanks for sharing, Sheridan Jobbins 🇺🇸 ❤️
January 19, 2018
I loved this authors honesty and reflections (even if at times they seemed to go round and around in circles), I enjoyed her adventures, I loved her car and the new man. I loved learning more about America and the life of this interesting woman.
September 18, 2017
After suffering a break up of some kind (whether it be a death or divorce/separation), a character going off on an overseas trip to ‘find her/himself’ has become a bit of a cliche for movies, books etc.
And this is the general premise of Wish You Were Here. However, in this case, don’t let it put you off reading Sheridan Jobbins’s memoir.
Jumping in a car and driving off into the unknown without any real plan of where to stay or what to do on the way is such a romantic dream for many, including me. But as there’s no way I could afford such a trip (that whole meme about wanting to travel but only affording to get to the bottom of the stairs could have been written by me), so I’m pleased to have hitched a ride with Sheridan in Betty’s passenger seat.
Sheridan has found out her husband is cheating on her, and he’s frankly unrepentant, so… road trip!
Sheridan buys a car (the aforementioned Betty, a name Jobbins uses so much throughout the book that I can’t really remember what make or model Betty was, only that she is big, noisy, very American and the wet dream of most of the males mentioned in the book) and sets off on a cross country trip through America, with a flight to England added in for extra spice.
The best thing about the book is its humour. I laughed so many times. I especially liked the insights into cultural differences. One that stuck with me (because I really notice it an awful lot in the online world) is that Australians normal way is to make jokes and try and be funny, and it's difficult to tell when they’re being serious, and that Americans are the opposite - that is, their normal state is serious and they need to work hard at joking (might explain why their comedy shows always need 40 writers too!).
Yes, Sheridan makes fun of the Americans on her trip quite often, but she evens it out by giving us several scenes where people she has only just met in the country carry out charitable acts without asking for any reward or payment in return whatsoever.
Sometimes the trip is downright frightening: so many guns (and even though I don’t think it’s ever specified, I get the sense this book is set about 15-20 years ago, so the thought of the guns in America now, in 2017, freaks me out completely), religious zealots, hotels with creepy dolls… But then Jobbins will again throw in one of those touching scenes that will warm your heart and restore your faith and you’ll forget about fretting and travel warnings.
Although a memoir, the book reads like a novel and I quite liked that about it. If I had a complaint, it would be that I sometimes got confused about the minor characters Sheridan knows/is related to/stays with. I didn’t really know who was who on occasion, and found I didn’t really care.
Too, I’m almost loath to admit (especially considering the dedication/author’s notes etc), that I found the romantic aspect of the book slowed down its pace. I thought Wish You Were Here rolled along much quicker in the first half, and it became a little bogged down with camping and tantrums and who was saying ‘I love you’ to whom. I will say, however, that there is an endgame with the romantic plotline. Sheridan comes through her ordeal (for wont of a better word) a better person who can move on and see her future and again, this was quite touching, in amongst the humour.
A strong 4/5
And this is the general premise of Wish You Were Here. However, in this case, don’t let it put you off reading Sheridan Jobbins’s memoir.
Jumping in a car and driving off into the unknown without any real plan of where to stay or what to do on the way is such a romantic dream for many, including me. But as there’s no way I could afford such a trip (that whole meme about wanting to travel but only affording to get to the bottom of the stairs could have been written by me), so I’m pleased to have hitched a ride with Sheridan in Betty’s passenger seat.
Sheridan has found out her husband is cheating on her, and he’s frankly unrepentant, so… road trip!
Sheridan buys a car (the aforementioned Betty, a name Jobbins uses so much throughout the book that I can’t really remember what make or model Betty was, only that she is big, noisy, very American and the wet dream of most of the males mentioned in the book) and sets off on a cross country trip through America, with a flight to England added in for extra spice.
The best thing about the book is its humour. I laughed so many times. I especially liked the insights into cultural differences. One that stuck with me (because I really notice it an awful lot in the online world) is that Australians normal way is to make jokes and try and be funny, and it's difficult to tell when they’re being serious, and that Americans are the opposite - that is, their normal state is serious and they need to work hard at joking (might explain why their comedy shows always need 40 writers too!).
Yes, Sheridan makes fun of the Americans on her trip quite often, but she evens it out by giving us several scenes where people she has only just met in the country carry out charitable acts without asking for any reward or payment in return whatsoever.
Sometimes the trip is downright frightening: so many guns (and even though I don’t think it’s ever specified, I get the sense this book is set about 15-20 years ago, so the thought of the guns in America now, in 2017, freaks me out completely), religious zealots, hotels with creepy dolls… But then Jobbins will again throw in one of those touching scenes that will warm your heart and restore your faith and you’ll forget about fretting and travel warnings.
Although a memoir, the book reads like a novel and I quite liked that about it. If I had a complaint, it would be that I sometimes got confused about the minor characters Sheridan knows/is related to/stays with. I didn’t really know who was who on occasion, and found I didn’t really care.
Too, I’m almost loath to admit (especially considering the dedication/author’s notes etc), that I found the romantic aspect of the book slowed down its pace. I thought Wish You Were Here rolled along much quicker in the first half, and it became a little bogged down with camping and tantrums and who was saying ‘I love you’ to whom. I will say, however, that there is an endgame with the romantic plotline. Sheridan comes through her ordeal (for wont of a better word) a better person who can move on and see her future and again, this was quite touching, in amongst the humour.
A strong 4/5
January 8, 2018
4/5 Enjoyable read. I liked Sheridan and her road trip in Betty, the big red car, was both hilarious and interesting....
October 27, 2017
I'm not sure how I feel about this book. On the one hand, there is a lot of interesting travel info., but on the other, there is a lot of story about her romantic life and how she met her second husband. I didn't expect that. I was looking forward to a travelogue, rather than a romance. I certainly wasn't keen to know about her sex life, or her infertility problems. But hey that's just me. I remember her as a reporter on the children's show she did years ago, so that was in the back of my mind as I read it. The story jumps around a bit from one continent to the other, so this tends to be a bit confusing too. I enjoyed her stories about travelling in Betty the big car, thru darkest USA, and the people she encountered. If you want a pure travel book, perhaps go somewhere else. I think it just felt like it was neither one thing nor the other. Not a travel book, not chick lit, not a particular genre. I read it all, and I mostly enjoyed it but I found the ending rather abrupt and a bit surprising. Suddenly she is married, and has been for some time, and her hubby has become Australian. Not a bad memoir, tho I think the cover should make it clearer that it ain't truly a travel book.
July 23, 2017
Sheridan Jobbins has done a stellar job writing about her heartache and her experience driving around in America.
Written in the first person point of view, she journeys from Grand Canyon to New York in a red Camaro. Men really like that car. Definitely a good way to mature, find yourself and a new love.
Written in the first person point of view, she journeys from Grand Canyon to New York in a red Camaro. Men really like that car. Definitely a good way to mature, find yourself and a new love.
February 15, 2021
I borrowed this book twice from two different libraries because I loved the cover so much, and each time very nearly didn't get past the first two chapters. This second time, I decided to press on, enamoured by the idea of Betty the Wide-Arsed Broad, the title of Chapter 3.
And then I was in. Talk to me about cars, about chicks not scared to drive something gutsy, about dreams, about a road trip, about the car's previous owners, throw in a little Thelma & Louise motif and a humorous breakdown of the emotional make-up and roles assigned to various car salesmen, and I was in.
All I had to do then was sit back and enjoy the ride.
And the ride was good although at times I wanted just a little more action. I know it's a memoir, but I kept waiting for Something Big to occur. Sure, shit and stuff happened, and ultimately, I reached the end and was happy with the ending, even though it wasn't what I expected. But that was enough.
For me the best part of the memoir was resonating with Jobbins' bad habits within relationships, and how the twitchy and bitchy could have sent it all south, very quickly. Luckily, the new relationship was able to weather the storm and I wondered if they weren't stuck in the Camaro coupe, often in the middle of nowhere and with nowhere really to go other than exactly where they were, would they have survived each other.
The relationship between Jobbins and the Welsh Scott was highbrow and fractious. It seemed like hard work and I quickly aligned myself to the third wheel, the Aussie actor Matt, who garnered attention for being a Matt Damon lookalike.
Jobbins said it herself, taking Matt along for the ride provided her and the fledgling relationship and uninvited paramour with the perfect foil.
Many moons ago, I also travelled along some of these paths, and judging by the use of public pay phones and lack of mobile phone mention, it was quite possibly at the same time.
I remember driving through Flagstaff and looking at the landscape and going wow. I marvelled at tumbleweed and quirky motels on the edge of the road, although I didn't stay in them, instead saving the money from the end of my around-the-world trip to pay for a disinfectant and stale cigarett smoke smelling frighteningly stained hellhole in Phoenix, Arizona. I wished I too could have had the financial ineptitude to have stayed in a decent place for that last night in the U.S.
All in all, I enjoyed being another traveller in Betty, crammed in with Matt's extensive luggage. I enjoyed revisiting diners and revisiting the historical home of first nations people who lived in apartments carved into the sides of caves. I didn't buy china cups, but instead a brilliant red tile with a desert scene from a carpark gift shop at my entrypoint to the Grand Canyon, where I too, struggled to make it even a third of the way down, before having to turn around, hot and exhausted, hair shoved into a very thin headband.
When I came home, that red dirt from the Grand Canyon stayed on my backpack in the corner of my room for months. A lazy reminder of the experience.
I felt Jobbins' pain at not having been able to conceive, making me grateful that even though I struggle now with being a new emptynester, that I was lucky enough to have that nesting time.
I didn't like the Pig character and got sick of hearing about him. Maybe I was jealous that Jobbins had a good exit relationship with the ex. If she didn't, would the memories and recollections have been cloying and even more annoying?
I loved her connections with randoms on the road. The guided tour by Laudable and even the incident with the baby bobcat at the end, that reminded me so much that often, when one part of life ends sadly, abruptly, another new part soon follows, snapping you right back into the moment.
Jobbins is a filmmaker and I can definitely see a roadtrip film in this. Throw in a few more all is almost lost crises and I reckon it would be a winner. Based on True Events.
And then I was in. Talk to me about cars, about chicks not scared to drive something gutsy, about dreams, about a road trip, about the car's previous owners, throw in a little Thelma & Louise motif and a humorous breakdown of the emotional make-up and roles assigned to various car salesmen, and I was in.
All I had to do then was sit back and enjoy the ride.
And the ride was good although at times I wanted just a little more action. I know it's a memoir, but I kept waiting for Something Big to occur. Sure, shit and stuff happened, and ultimately, I reached the end and was happy with the ending, even though it wasn't what I expected. But that was enough.
For me the best part of the memoir was resonating with Jobbins' bad habits within relationships, and how the twitchy and bitchy could have sent it all south, very quickly. Luckily, the new relationship was able to weather the storm and I wondered if they weren't stuck in the Camaro coupe, often in the middle of nowhere and with nowhere really to go other than exactly where they were, would they have survived each other.
The relationship between Jobbins and the Welsh Scott was highbrow and fractious. It seemed like hard work and I quickly aligned myself to the third wheel, the Aussie actor Matt, who garnered attention for being a Matt Damon lookalike.
Jobbins said it herself, taking Matt along for the ride provided her and the fledgling relationship and uninvited paramour with the perfect foil.
Many moons ago, I also travelled along some of these paths, and judging by the use of public pay phones and lack of mobile phone mention, it was quite possibly at the same time.
I remember driving through Flagstaff and looking at the landscape and going wow. I marvelled at tumbleweed and quirky motels on the edge of the road, although I didn't stay in them, instead saving the money from the end of my around-the-world trip to pay for a disinfectant and stale cigarett smoke smelling frighteningly stained hellhole in Phoenix, Arizona. I wished I too could have had the financial ineptitude to have stayed in a decent place for that last night in the U.S.
All in all, I enjoyed being another traveller in Betty, crammed in with Matt's extensive luggage. I enjoyed revisiting diners and revisiting the historical home of first nations people who lived in apartments carved into the sides of caves. I didn't buy china cups, but instead a brilliant red tile with a desert scene from a carpark gift shop at my entrypoint to the Grand Canyon, where I too, struggled to make it even a third of the way down, before having to turn around, hot and exhausted, hair shoved into a very thin headband.
When I came home, that red dirt from the Grand Canyon stayed on my backpack in the corner of my room for months. A lazy reminder of the experience.
I felt Jobbins' pain at not having been able to conceive, making me grateful that even though I struggle now with being a new emptynester, that I was lucky enough to have that nesting time.
I didn't like the Pig character and got sick of hearing about him. Maybe I was jealous that Jobbins had a good exit relationship with the ex. If she didn't, would the memories and recollections have been cloying and even more annoying?
I loved her connections with randoms on the road. The guided tour by Laudable and even the incident with the baby bobcat at the end, that reminded me so much that often, when one part of life ends sadly, abruptly, another new part soon follows, snapping you right back into the moment.
Jobbins is a filmmaker and I can definitely see a roadtrip film in this. Throw in a few more all is almost lost crises and I reckon it would be a winner. Based on True Events.
August 6, 2017
Your heart is broken, your marriage is in disarray, your life is in chaos and years of self-doubt come crashing down all at once, what do you do?
Well for Sheridan Jobbins in this slightly fictionalised memoir, her solution after a glorious scene of smashing the crockery is to go on a journey across the United States of America in a car called Betty. What is really nice is that you are invited as the backseat passenger as Jobbins looks for the reasons as how it all came to this point. Now there are many memoirs as to how men and women find their way of out a state of depression. For some they tell you about their descent into a world of drugs and alcohol and then crawling out the other side. This is not that kind of book and it is not ‘woe is me, look how much despair I am in and here is the magical cure’ kind of read. What we have is a really honest journey of the difficulty in moving forward and that there is no easy path, no magic words that will provide an easy answer when your life goes haywire.
Jobbins has such a deft touch with her writing as she brings humour, sarcasm, insight and humility in a memoir that resonates with hope. The writing is raw, truthful and as a writer Jobbins engages you in a conversation, making it easy to slip into the pages and lose yourself. Her descriptions really take you to the place ‘The day had turned white hot and airless. Even the trees were holding their breath.’ There are countless of other great moments beautifully captured.
The people come into Jobbins travel really bring texture to the story from Mavis the well-heeled woman in her early hundreds, to be given a guided tour by the local police officer and a bunch of 9 year olds enamoured with Betty the Camaro over a Ferrari.
I really loved was when Jobbins would describe how her and Scott would record the sounds of their journey. The Crockery Quilt, a patchwork of plates, cups and saucers that she collects that bring her back memories of place is a wonderful touch and in some ways reflects Jobbins experiences.
There are moments when Jobbins shares her insights as tries to unravel all that had come before that ‘Maturity doesn’t mean setting yourself, or hardening the resolution of who you are. It can also be a wild abandonment of constraint, a surrender to change.’
I laughed, empathised, I could hear the sounds of the diners they stopped in, took in the grand sweeping vistas and camped out under the stars. This is a wonderful book, beautifully written and that takes you a journey of personal discovery. Reminding you that life is to be lived and the biggest risk you take is on living the life you want.
Thanks to Hachette Australia and New Zealand for the read.
Well for Sheridan Jobbins in this slightly fictionalised memoir, her solution after a glorious scene of smashing the crockery is to go on a journey across the United States of America in a car called Betty. What is really nice is that you are invited as the backseat passenger as Jobbins looks for the reasons as how it all came to this point. Now there are many memoirs as to how men and women find their way of out a state of depression. For some they tell you about their descent into a world of drugs and alcohol and then crawling out the other side. This is not that kind of book and it is not ‘woe is me, look how much despair I am in and here is the magical cure’ kind of read. What we have is a really honest journey of the difficulty in moving forward and that there is no easy path, no magic words that will provide an easy answer when your life goes haywire.
Jobbins has such a deft touch with her writing as she brings humour, sarcasm, insight and humility in a memoir that resonates with hope. The writing is raw, truthful and as a writer Jobbins engages you in a conversation, making it easy to slip into the pages and lose yourself. Her descriptions really take you to the place ‘The day had turned white hot and airless. Even the trees were holding their breath.’ There are countless of other great moments beautifully captured.
The people come into Jobbins travel really bring texture to the story from Mavis the well-heeled woman in her early hundreds, to be given a guided tour by the local police officer and a bunch of 9 year olds enamoured with Betty the Camaro over a Ferrari.
I really loved was when Jobbins would describe how her and Scott would record the sounds of their journey. The Crockery Quilt, a patchwork of plates, cups and saucers that she collects that bring her back memories of place is a wonderful touch and in some ways reflects Jobbins experiences.
There are moments when Jobbins shares her insights as tries to unravel all that had come before that ‘Maturity doesn’t mean setting yourself, or hardening the resolution of who you are. It can also be a wild abandonment of constraint, a surrender to change.’
I laughed, empathised, I could hear the sounds of the diners they stopped in, took in the grand sweeping vistas and camped out under the stars. This is a wonderful book, beautifully written and that takes you a journey of personal discovery. Reminding you that life is to be lived and the biggest risk you take is on living the life you want.
Thanks to Hachette Australia and New Zealand for the read.
August 29, 2017
I was lucky enough to get an advance copy of this amazing book (which I was planning to buy anyway - and still plan to so I can give it to my Mum).
What can I say without sounding cliche? The book feels like a friend more than a book. And just like any great book, I was sad to finish it. Sheridan overcame a huge hurdle for me as a reader - being able to relate to a main character that loses their appetite. It's such a strange thing to write in a review, but I honestly can't stand it in books when a main character pushes away food (for me being sad is reason to eat more, not less!)... all this is to say, this is the little book that could, and it deserves all the success that I'm sure is coming to it. Sheridan is a screenwriter, which you can tell by just how easy it is to visualise what she's describing in the book. If the book were a chocolate, it would like a hazelnut swirl, the sweet and funny exterior, and the hard nutty melancholic interior, all wrapped in the glow of nostalgia. It's such an ode to the America that I always wanted to visit (Route 66) that I really think that the US Tourism Board to hop right onto it - because it sure rekindled my love for America (which has dwindled in recent years). It's a magical journey. And one that I'm sure many people will want to take (men and women)! Run, don't walk to the bookstore!
What can I say without sounding cliche? The book feels like a friend more than a book. And just like any great book, I was sad to finish it. Sheridan overcame a huge hurdle for me as a reader - being able to relate to a main character that loses their appetite. It's such a strange thing to write in a review, but I honestly can't stand it in books when a main character pushes away food (for me being sad is reason to eat more, not less!)... all this is to say, this is the little book that could, and it deserves all the success that I'm sure is coming to it. Sheridan is a screenwriter, which you can tell by just how easy it is to visualise what she's describing in the book. If the book were a chocolate, it would like a hazelnut swirl, the sweet and funny exterior, and the hard nutty melancholic interior, all wrapped in the glow of nostalgia. It's such an ode to the America that I always wanted to visit (Route 66) that I really think that the US Tourism Board to hop right onto it - because it sure rekindled my love for America (which has dwindled in recent years). It's a magical journey. And one that I'm sure many people will want to take (men and women)! Run, don't walk to the bookstore!
August 8, 2017
I received this as an advance copy from netgalley.
The book is basically a standard "finding yourself" memoir of the author's road trip across America and a bit of London. She has suffered a marriage breakdown and her response is to turn away and run as far as possible. There aren't really any surprises here with how things turn out - and she satisfyingly grows and learns throughout the journey - both physical and metaphorical. She does turn out to be a nicer human being at the end than at the start.
The author's style is very Australian - dry and tongue in cheek humour with a concentrated ability to poke fun at herself, even when it's clearly personally challenging to do so. It's a style I find very easy to read (as I'm also Australian) but may not be to everyone's taste. As an example - I'm not a great fan of Bill Bryson's treatment of the same journey. But Sheridan has a voice I can relate to.
All up it's a non-taxing read and I'd recommend it for airport novel status. Something to pick up and read and not worry too much if it got left behind somewhere.
The book is basically a standard "finding yourself" memoir of the author's road trip across America and a bit of London. She has suffered a marriage breakdown and her response is to turn away and run as far as possible. There aren't really any surprises here with how things turn out - and she satisfyingly grows and learns throughout the journey - both physical and metaphorical. She does turn out to be a nicer human being at the end than at the start.
The author's style is very Australian - dry and tongue in cheek humour with a concentrated ability to poke fun at herself, even when it's clearly personally challenging to do so. It's a style I find very easy to read (as I'm also Australian) but may not be to everyone's taste. As an example - I'm not a great fan of Bill Bryson's treatment of the same journey. But Sheridan has a voice I can relate to.
All up it's a non-taxing read and I'd recommend it for airport novel status. Something to pick up and read and not worry too much if it got left behind somewhere.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 27, 2017
I love this book. It’s like having a funny and perceptive friend curl up on the sofa next to you to regale you with her best stories: wonder and woe, riotous romance, toe-curling hilarity and awkwardness. Sheridan has nothing to hide from you and everything to give. There’s a particularly entertaining passage where she’s barrelling down a Midwest freeway in the middle of the night, too fast, too furious, sandwiched between three thundering lorries. At last she yells out: ‘What is this life? Where is my husband? Where are my babies?’ It's the very heart of the book: Sheridan is a woman in mourning, and this the painful preface to her quest to understand how and why. As she roars around the dust bowls and diners of America, introspection melds with insatiable curiosity and delicious madcap absurdity to drive her into all sorts of scrapes and surprises – even eventually into the arms of a dreamy new man, the husband to whom the book is dedicated. It's a raw and candid and hilarious read: an amazing debut novel. I hope there are many more to come.
August 13, 2017
Sheridan Jobbins has described her road trip across the USA after her marriage ended and incorporated a love story of how she met her second husband. At various times some 'fun facts' are included as they meander their way through America. As such it is rather an odd mixture told in a light, entertaining and witty way. Jobbins is pretty hard on herself and at times I felt quite uncomfortable as it exposed her vulnerabilities - a bit like reading someone's very private diary. At other times it felt too self-indulgent and in need of a good edit. She wrote it as a tribute to her husband and maybe that it part of the problem as there is little in it for the reader to identify with as Jobbins portrays herself as quite a unique person.
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