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The Geography of Lost Things
In this romantic road trip story perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Morgan Matson, a teen girl discovers the value of ordinary objects while learning to forgive her absent father.
After Ali’s father passes away, he leaves his one and only prized possession—a 1968 Firebird convertible—to his daughter. But Ali doesn’t plan on keeping it. Not when it reminds her too much of all her father’s unfulfilled promises. So when she finds a buyer three hundred miles up the Pacific coast willing to pay enough money for the car to save her childhood home, Ali can’t wait to get going. Except Ali has no idea how to drive a stick shift. But guess who does?
Ali’s ex-boyfriend, Nico. And Nico has other plans.
He persuades Ali that instead of selling the car, they should “trade up” the items they collect on their trip to eventually reach the monetary amount Ali needs. Agreeing with Nico’s crazy plan, Ali sets off on a unique adventure that is unlike anything she ever could have expected.
And it’s through Ali’s travels, through the strangers she meets and the things that they value—and why they value them—that Ali eventually comes to understand her father and how his life may not have been as easy and carefree as she previously thought. Because just like the seemingly insignificant objects Ali collects, not everything is exactly as it appears.
After Ali’s father passes away, he leaves his one and only prized possession—a 1968 Firebird convertible—to his daughter. But Ali doesn’t plan on keeping it. Not when it reminds her too much of all her father’s unfulfilled promises. So when she finds a buyer three hundred miles up the Pacific coast willing to pay enough money for the car to save her childhood home, Ali can’t wait to get going. Except Ali has no idea how to drive a stick shift. But guess who does?
Ali’s ex-boyfriend, Nico. And Nico has other plans.
He persuades Ali that instead of selling the car, they should “trade up” the items they collect on their trip to eventually reach the monetary amount Ali needs. Agreeing with Nico’s crazy plan, Ali sets off on a unique adventure that is unlike anything she ever could have expected.
And it’s through Ali’s travels, through the strangers she meets and the things that they value—and why they value them—that Ali eventually comes to understand her father and how his life may not have been as easy and carefree as she previously thought. Because just like the seemingly insignificant objects Ali collects, not everything is exactly as it appears.
458 pages, Hardcover
First published October 2, 2018
121 people are currently reading
9163 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Brody
60 books2,817 followersJessica Brody is the author of more than 20 novels for teens, tweens, and adults including The Geography of Lost Things, The Chaos of Standing Still, Amelia Gray is Almost Okay, A Week of Mondays, 52 Reasons to Hate My Father, the Unremembered trilogy, and the System Divine trilogy which is a sci-fi reimagining of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, co-written with Joanne Rendell. She’s also the author of the #1 bestselling novel-writing guides, Save the Cat! Writes a Novel and Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel as well as several books based on popular Disney franchises like Descendants and LEGO Disney Princess. Jessica’s books have been translated and published in over 20 languages and several have been optioned for film and television. She’s the founder of the Writing Mastery Academy and lives with her husband and three dogs near Portland, OR.
Visit her online at JessicaBrody.com or WritingMastery.com. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram @JessicaBrody
Visit her online at JessicaBrody.com or WritingMastery.com. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram @JessicaBrody
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 656 reviews
October 4, 2019
I love road trip books and I loved this book!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
January 2, 2020
This book was, in all honesty, simply nothing to me.
I felt nothing while I read it. No negative feelings. Definitely no positive feelings. I just read the words and waited for it to be over.
Of all the tropes that find themselves repeatedly in the young adult contemporary genre, the one that gets me EVERY TIME is the road trip. I love it. Give me ragtag groups of quirky teens and/or unlikely pairings of soon-to-be heterosexual couples (the two YA contemporary options), add in a trip to a Cool Emotional Bildungsroman-y place in a quirky car with pit stops for snacks and scenery, and I am one happy camper.
Which is why it’s disappointing that this road trip book didn’t feel very road trip-y to me at all.
There was not enough scenery. There was not enough Road Trip fun. There were not even enough late-night stops at convenience stores to get slushies and concerningly unhealthy bags of cholesterol.
Sigh.
Anyway. There was a lot of Emotion and Personal Growth in this, but I did not care for any of it.
I was mostly thinking about stops for snacks.
Bottom line: This was completely whatever for me.
------------
BUMMER.
review to come / 2ish stars
------------
i am a sucker for a book about a road trip
I felt nothing while I read it. No negative feelings. Definitely no positive feelings. I just read the words and waited for it to be over.
Of all the tropes that find themselves repeatedly in the young adult contemporary genre, the one that gets me EVERY TIME is the road trip. I love it. Give me ragtag groups of quirky teens and/or unlikely pairings of soon-to-be heterosexual couples (the two YA contemporary options), add in a trip to a Cool Emotional Bildungsroman-y place in a quirky car with pit stops for snacks and scenery, and I am one happy camper.
Which is why it’s disappointing that this road trip book didn’t feel very road trip-y to me at all.
There was not enough scenery. There was not enough Road Trip fun. There were not even enough late-night stops at convenience stores to get slushies and concerningly unhealthy bags of cholesterol.
Sigh.
Anyway. There was a lot of Emotion and Personal Growth in this, but I did not care for any of it.
I was mostly thinking about stops for snacks.
Bottom line: This was completely whatever for me.
------------
BUMMER.
review to come / 2ish stars
------------
i am a sucker for a book about a road trip
July 25, 2018
RATING: 4/5
e-ARC provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review
Another fun, romantic yet insightful novel by Jessica Brody. Having read and loved both A Week Of Mondays and The Chaos Of Standing Still, I had high expectations. Fortunately, this book did not disappoint. Jessica Brody is now an auto-buy author for me.
Ali Collins doesn’t have room in her life for clutter or complications. So when her estranged father passes away and leaves her his only prized possession—a 1968 Firebird convertible—Ali knows she won’t keep it. Not when it reminds her too much of all her father’s unfulfilled promises. And especially not when a buyer three hundred miles up the Pacific coast is offering enough money for the car to save her childhood home from foreclosure. There’s only one problem, though. Ali has no idea how to drive a stick shift.But her ex-boyfriend, Nico, does. The road trip leads Ali to an unknown truth about her father. A truth that will finally prove to Ali that some things—even broken things—are worth saving.
In some cases, a synopsis can make a book sound better than it actually is. The premise of this book, however, doesn't do it justice. You might get the impression that this is just another romantic YA. But I promise you, it is more than that.
Characters: (There’s only two relevant ones)
Ali: I loved her. Sometimes it's hard for me to get attached to the story's narrator. I either find them annoying or uninteresting. But connecting with Ali was effortless. She felt like an actual person with strengths and flaws, not a made-up fictional character. We get to witness her grow and develop emotional throughout the book and I enjoyed her self-reflection journey immensely.
Nico: He is so sweet, understanding and supportive of Ali's struggles. He's also really smart and patient. God, where can I find a guy like that? *sigh*
Plot:
Most of the events take place during the road trip. Nico suggests an alternative way of getting the money Ali needs. They begin to trade cheap objects for more expensive ones. it starts with a hair net and it escalates to chess sets, among other things. Eventually, Ali realizes that these objects are somehow connected to her father and his life (the life he lived apart from Ali and her mother when he abandoned them). The road trip was entertaining. It was fast-paced, so I never felt bored. I finished it a lot sooner than I anticipated.
Themes and moral of the story:
Forgiveness, love, family, shame, regret and nostalgia.
I think the moral of the story is that, no matter how broken something or someone seems to be, saving them is worth a shot. Ali liked to dispose of things that brought back painful memories, but she learned that it is better to embrace those memories and let them shape you into a better person. The things we lose in the past might find us again in the future.
...every once in a while, if we're lucky, a road can lead us right to where we need to go. Straight towards the things we lost
Overall, a great novel. I will keep it close to my heart. It definitely taught me an important life lesson. Would recommend!
e-ARC provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review
Another fun, romantic yet insightful novel by Jessica Brody. Having read and loved both A Week Of Mondays and The Chaos Of Standing Still, I had high expectations. Fortunately, this book did not disappoint. Jessica Brody is now an auto-buy author for me.
Ali Collins doesn’t have room in her life for clutter or complications. So when her estranged father passes away and leaves her his only prized possession—a 1968 Firebird convertible—Ali knows she won’t keep it. Not when it reminds her too much of all her father’s unfulfilled promises. And especially not when a buyer three hundred miles up the Pacific coast is offering enough money for the car to save her childhood home from foreclosure. There’s only one problem, though. Ali has no idea how to drive a stick shift.But her ex-boyfriend, Nico, does. The road trip leads Ali to an unknown truth about her father. A truth that will finally prove to Ali that some things—even broken things—are worth saving.
In some cases, a synopsis can make a book sound better than it actually is. The premise of this book, however, doesn't do it justice. You might get the impression that this is just another romantic YA. But I promise you, it is more than that.
Characters: (There’s only two relevant ones)
Ali: I loved her. Sometimes it's hard for me to get attached to the story's narrator. I either find them annoying or uninteresting. But connecting with Ali was effortless. She felt like an actual person with strengths and flaws, not a made-up fictional character. We get to witness her grow and develop emotional throughout the book and I enjoyed her self-reflection journey immensely.
Nico: He is so sweet, understanding and supportive of Ali's struggles. He's also really smart and patient. God, where can I find a guy like that? *sigh*
Plot:
Most of the events take place during the road trip. Nico suggests an alternative way of getting the money Ali needs. They begin to trade cheap objects for more expensive ones. it starts with a hair net and it escalates to chess sets, among other things. Eventually, Ali realizes that these objects are somehow connected to her father and his life (the life he lived apart from Ali and her mother when he abandoned them). The road trip was entertaining. It was fast-paced, so I never felt bored. I finished it a lot sooner than I anticipated.
Themes and moral of the story:
Forgiveness, love, family, shame, regret and nostalgia.
I think the moral of the story is that, no matter how broken something or someone seems to be, saving them is worth a shot. Ali liked to dispose of things that brought back painful memories, but she learned that it is better to embrace those memories and let them shape you into a better person. The things we lose in the past might find us again in the future.
...every once in a while, if we're lucky, a road can lead us right to where we need to go. Straight towards the things we lost
Overall, a great novel. I will keep it close to my heart. It definitely taught me an important life lesson. Would recommend!
August 31, 2019
I always enjoy Brody's books, but usually there's a little something that keeps it from getting those all-the-stars. That was not the case with The Geography of Lost Things! Seriously, this is what I looked like when I finished reading this book:
I was crying. I was smiling. I was crying AND smiling. I just loved this story.
Five things I really loved about The Geography of Lost Things
1. Brody really took me on a fantastic road trip. I got to travel through the picturesque Pacific Northwest, and Brody even took a little time out to visit some sights along the way.
2. This was both a physical and emotional journey. Ali learned a lot about her dad and herself. She discovered there were things were holding her back, and recognized that figuring out her relationship with her dad and her past was the key to her future.
3. Who knew Craig's List trading up could be so addictive. I found myself eager to see what they would barter for next, and even if it was fictional, I found the trades quite thrilling. I liked the additional characters these deals brought into the story as well. They all seemed to have some interesting personal stuff to add, which always had some sort of tie-in to Ali's situation. I also loved the idea of how an object can have multiple meanings depending on the person. This experience helped Ali see things in a different way, and each bit of progress she made was so gratifying for me.
4. There were two pieces of information Brody made me work for, which I was worried she wasn't going to reveal. One was Ali's legal name. It wasn't the name, but rather the origin of the name that got me right in the feels. The second thing was about Nico. It was forever before we found out his story, but it definitely made me understand and love him more. And seriously, Nico ❤️
5. There were all these little flourishes, which enhanced my enjoyment, such as: The Everything About Everything podcasts, all the little quizzes embedded in the narrative, the multitude of love for The Goonies, and the dogs! I believe I smiled every time one of these things popped up.
And I have to do a BONUS shoutout for the ending. Brody knows how to do an ending. I was so happy at that point in the books, I was bouncing up and down. Not only was it an ending that left me elated, it also answered a lot of questions, and for that, I am grateful.
Overall: A fun and emotional journey, which allowed Ali to untangle her past to make room for her future.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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I was crying. I was smiling. I was crying AND smiling. I just loved this story.
Five things I really loved about The Geography of Lost Things
1. Brody really took me on a fantastic road trip. I got to travel through the picturesque Pacific Northwest, and Brody even took a little time out to visit some sights along the way.
2. This was both a physical and emotional journey. Ali learned a lot about her dad and herself. She discovered there were things were holding her back, and recognized that figuring out her relationship with her dad and her past was the key to her future.
3. Who knew Craig's List trading up could be so addictive. I found myself eager to see what they would barter for next, and even if it was fictional, I found the trades quite thrilling. I liked the additional characters these deals brought into the story as well. They all seemed to have some interesting personal stuff to add, which always had some sort of tie-in to Ali's situation. I also loved the idea of how an object can have multiple meanings depending on the person. This experience helped Ali see things in a different way, and each bit of progress she made was so gratifying for me.
4. There were two pieces of information Brody made me work for, which I was worried she wasn't going to reveal. One was Ali's legal name. It wasn't the name, but rather the origin of the name that got me right in the feels. The second thing was about Nico. It was forever before we found out his story, but it definitely made me understand and love him more. And seriously, Nico ❤️
5. There were all these little flourishes, which enhanced my enjoyment, such as: The Everything About Everything podcasts, all the little quizzes embedded in the narrative, the multitude of love for The Goonies, and the dogs! I believe I smiled every time one of these things popped up.
And I have to do a BONUS shoutout for the ending. Brody knows how to do an ending. I was so happy at that point in the books, I was bouncing up and down. Not only was it an ending that left me elated, it also answered a lot of questions, and for that, I am grateful.
Overall: A fun and emotional journey, which allowed Ali to untangle her past to make room for her future.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
September 7, 2018
I received a digital arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely LOVE this book. It was enjoyable from beginning to end.
Ali is in financial trouble and is losing her childhood home if she can't come up with a hefty sum of money. Her father recently passed away and has left her a 1968 firebird convertible. She puts it up on Craigslist and a car collector offers more than enough money for it. There's just one problem. She can't drive stick and her ex-boyfriend can. Thus begins an adventure of a lifetime, which starts out at a 5 hour road trip and turns into so much more.
I found so much of this story to be enthralling and I was zipping through the pages to see where Ali and Nico were headed next. Ali is very hesitant to start the trip with her ex-boyfriend because they left so much up in the air when they broke up. You discover so much on their road trip, including why they broke up and that they clearly still have feelings for each other. Of course, there's a lot to the story that could be fixed with better communication but I'm not going to hold it against them. There's a nice simmering tension that lasts through much of the book that doesn't disappoint, Nico suggests that they begin trading up items to make the tip more interesting and to see if they can get more money. This part is probably my favorite part of the story. It's a unique adventure and I loved seeing what they traded, where they had to go, and just how far it got them. They run into big problems and you feel their pain right along with them. The reveals make your heart crack just a little bit and you want to reach through the pages to comfort them.
Intertwined with the current story are flashbacks of Ali's time with her father. He was not the greatest man and it's clear she was conflicted in her feelings for him with her memories. It wasn't my favorite part of the story, only because it detracts from the present adventure. I did also find that while there was a deadline to needing money, there wasn't as much of a sense of urgency as I had hoped. We have one conversation from the mother in the beginning and we never hear from her again. It seems odd that she never checks in on her daughter once throughout the story. Ali has only one change of clothes and Nico has none but they never talk about needing other clothes. They're on the road for a few days and I definitely would want to change. This is nitpicking because I enjoyed everything else enough for it to earn 4 stars.
I absolutely LOVE this book. It was enjoyable from beginning to end.
Ali is in financial trouble and is losing her childhood home if she can't come up with a hefty sum of money. Her father recently passed away and has left her a 1968 firebird convertible. She puts it up on Craigslist and a car collector offers more than enough money for it. There's just one problem. She can't drive stick and her ex-boyfriend can. Thus begins an adventure of a lifetime, which starts out at a 5 hour road trip and turns into so much more.
I found so much of this story to be enthralling and I was zipping through the pages to see where Ali and Nico were headed next. Ali is very hesitant to start the trip with her ex-boyfriend because they left so much up in the air when they broke up. You discover so much on their road trip, including why they broke up and that they clearly still have feelings for each other. Of course, there's a lot to the story that could be fixed with better communication but I'm not going to hold it against them. There's a nice simmering tension that lasts through much of the book that doesn't disappoint, Nico suggests that they begin trading up items to make the tip more interesting and to see if they can get more money. This part is probably my favorite part of the story. It's a unique adventure and I loved seeing what they traded, where they had to go, and just how far it got them. They run into big problems and you feel their pain right along with them. The reveals make your heart crack just a little bit and you want to reach through the pages to comfort them.
Intertwined with the current story are flashbacks of Ali's time with her father. He was not the greatest man and it's clear she was conflicted in her feelings for him with her memories. It wasn't my favorite part of the story, only because it detracts from the present adventure. I did also find that while there was a deadline to needing money, there wasn't as much of a sense of urgency as I had hoped. We have one conversation from the mother in the beginning and we never hear from her again. It seems odd that she never checks in on her daughter once throughout the story. Ali has only one change of clothes and Nico has none but they never talk about needing other clothes. They're on the road for a few days and I definitely would want to change. This is nitpicking because I enjoyed everything else enough for it to earn 4 stars.
October 19, 2018
Find this review and others at Carlene Inspired.
The Geography of Lost Things is, as the title suggests, a story about loss, lost things, and a road trip that teaches its main character about forgiveness and love. After her father passes away it seems the hits just keep on coming for Ali, first with her mother giving in to the letters left on their door and then with her dad's baby, his true love, his car, ending up in her possession. Ali doesn't hang on to things though and the car is the first thing on her list to get rid of. While a road trip might sound fun for some, Ali is dreading this one, especially when her ex-boyfriend points out that she can't drive stick and that he'll need to accompany her. Nico sets out to prove to her that they can take worthless items and turn them into money by trading up, hoping to convince her that the car's monetary value is not as much as the memories and lessons it holds. What starts as a mission to unload an ugly reminder of her past turns into an insightful journey that teaches her about her father and the impact he'd made on her life despite not being around for much of it.
The Geography of Lost Things is much more than the Young Adult storyline the blurb makes us believe it is. Jessica Brody has created characters who have experienced the same love and loss and hard lessons that many of us have. It's relatable and yet the story is incredibly unique. Ali is mature beyond her years, accustomed now at eighteen to having the same responsibilities as an adult. She works, is well aware of the financial struggles her absentee father put her mother through, and holds onto only the things and people she needs. What she doesn't realize though is how much her father's constant coming and going changed her, leaving her unable to trust and unable to leave the comfort of home.
Ali is so strong and stubborn, I loved every single bit of her as the narrator of this story. Nico, her not so welcome companion, is equally as stubborn and in many ways even more well-versed on the adult world each was thrust into oo young. The car, the one thing he leaves to her in his passing, holds more memories than Ali would like to remember in it and it is the answer to rescuing her mom from financial ruin. The majority of the story takes place on the road, with the one night trip turning into something much more as Nico trades one item for another, detouring them from their final destination, a car dealership. As they trade up the items Ali begins to realize that this road trip, the items, they're all things that remind her of her father and as she fights the love and memories she has for him Nico encourages her along patiently, standing beside her as she mourns a man she didn't know as well as a child deserves.
I loved that Jessica Brody explored family, forgiveness, love, and loss in The Geography of Lost Things, those emotions play such a massive role in every youth's life and the way they go through them is pivotal in growing up. Ali's father, though absent, shows immense love for his daughter in other ways and it is the journey that reveals that love to her. It was a fantastic novel and I highly recommend it to Young Adult readers.
ARC provided.
The Geography of Lost Things is, as the title suggests, a story about loss, lost things, and a road trip that teaches its main character about forgiveness and love. After her father passes away it seems the hits just keep on coming for Ali, first with her mother giving in to the letters left on their door and then with her dad's baby, his true love, his car, ending up in her possession. Ali doesn't hang on to things though and the car is the first thing on her list to get rid of. While a road trip might sound fun for some, Ali is dreading this one, especially when her ex-boyfriend points out that she can't drive stick and that he'll need to accompany her. Nico sets out to prove to her that they can take worthless items and turn them into money by trading up, hoping to convince her that the car's monetary value is not as much as the memories and lessons it holds. What starts as a mission to unload an ugly reminder of her past turns into an insightful journey that teaches her about her father and the impact he'd made on her life despite not being around for much of it.
The Geography of Lost Things is much more than the Young Adult storyline the blurb makes us believe it is. Jessica Brody has created characters who have experienced the same love and loss and hard lessons that many of us have. It's relatable and yet the story is incredibly unique. Ali is mature beyond her years, accustomed now at eighteen to having the same responsibilities as an adult. She works, is well aware of the financial struggles her absentee father put her mother through, and holds onto only the things and people she needs. What she doesn't realize though is how much her father's constant coming and going changed her, leaving her unable to trust and unable to leave the comfort of home.
Ali is so strong and stubborn, I loved every single bit of her as the narrator of this story. Nico, her not so welcome companion, is equally as stubborn and in many ways even more well-versed on the adult world each was thrust into oo young. The car, the one thing he leaves to her in his passing, holds more memories than Ali would like to remember in it and it is the answer to rescuing her mom from financial ruin. The majority of the story takes place on the road, with the one night trip turning into something much more as Nico trades one item for another, detouring them from their final destination, a car dealership. As they trade up the items Ali begins to realize that this road trip, the items, they're all things that remind her of her father and as she fights the love and memories she has for him Nico encourages her along patiently, standing beside her as she mourns a man she didn't know as well as a child deserves.
I loved that Jessica Brody explored family, forgiveness, love, and loss in The Geography of Lost Things, those emotions play such a massive role in every youth's life and the way they go through them is pivotal in growing up. Ali's father, though absent, shows immense love for his daughter in other ways and it is the journey that reveals that love to her. It was a fantastic novel and I highly recommend it to Young Adult readers.
ARC provided.
September 29, 2023
Holy cow. What did I just read because I think it changed my life.
From a birds-eye view, this story was instantly relatable for me. The writing was very authentic and genuine, and there were so many questions raised at the beginning that I needed answered as soon as possible! On top of that, the inventory line at the top of each chapter was an incredible storytelling device. And the flashbacks were perfectly paced to slowly reveal the past--especially in relation to Jackson--without dumping too much at once. Over all the story had a fantastic set-up and believable circumstances.
Jackson was such a great character. The author did a great job of representing alchohalism from a kid's perspective, and the kind of guilt that addiction builds within a person, even if on the outside it seems like they don't notice or don't care. It was an excellent exploration of a broken relationship between a father and daughter, and even though Jackson isn't around, a powerful story of healing that relationship.
The romance between Nico and Ali was a top-notch second chance lovers story. Their relationship was built on really a solid friendship but with all the butterflies and excitement of love. It was so sweet and fun to get to see them break down each other's walls and learn to trust, for real this time.
Ali was such a great protagonist and while our struggles and hurts are not the same, the way she reacted to pain was me to a tee. And honestly, it was majorly convicting by the end. The way that her character is set up from the very beginning foreshadows the lesson she needs to learn, and I honestly was crying by the end. The themes of not only forgiveness, but also the danger of assumptions and trying to protect yourself by projecting past hurts onto others really hit home for me.
This is one I will definitely be rereading again and often. A new favorite hands down.
"Writing a novel is a two way street, You have to like the idea that you're writing but the idea has to like you, too. It doesn't matter if you are in love with a story idea; if it wants out, there's nothing you can do to stop it.”
"People claim that guys like the ones I write about in my books don't really exist. There's no such man. No one would ever do the kind of things my characters do, go to the kind of lengths they go to. My response to those comments is always the same."
"What's that?" I prompt.
"I tell them that men like that do exist. They're just rare."
From a birds-eye view, this story was instantly relatable for me. The writing was very authentic and genuine, and there were so many questions raised at the beginning that I needed answered as soon as possible! On top of that, the inventory line at the top of each chapter was an incredible storytelling device. And the flashbacks were perfectly paced to slowly reveal the past--especially in relation to Jackson--without dumping too much at once. Over all the story had a fantastic set-up and believable circumstances.
Jackson was such a great character. The author did a great job of representing alchohalism from a kid's perspective, and the kind of guilt that addiction builds within a person, even if on the outside it seems like they don't notice or don't care. It was an excellent exploration of a broken relationship between a father and daughter, and even though Jackson isn't around, a powerful story of healing that relationship.
The romance between Nico and Ali was a top-notch second chance lovers story. Their relationship was built on really a solid friendship but with all the butterflies and excitement of love. It was so sweet and fun to get to see them break down each other's walls and learn to trust, for real this time.
Ali was such a great protagonist and while our struggles and hurts are not the same, the way she reacted to pain was me to a tee. And honestly, it was majorly convicting by the end. The way that her character is set up from the very beginning foreshadows the lesson she needs to learn, and I honestly was crying by the end. The themes of not only forgiveness, but also the danger of assumptions and trying to protect yourself by projecting past hurts onto others really hit home for me.
This is one I will definitely be rereading again and often. A new favorite hands down.
"Writing a novel is a two way street, You have to like the idea that you're writing but the idea has to like you, too. It doesn't matter if you are in love with a story idea; if it wants out, there's nothing you can do to stop it.”
"People claim that guys like the ones I write about in my books don't really exist. There's no such man. No one would ever do the kind of things my characters do, go to the kind of lengths they go to. My response to those comments is always the same."
"What's that?" I prompt.
"I tell them that men like that do exist. They're just rare."
July 24, 2020
I love road trips. They are one of my favorite things to do. Get your friends, some snacks and some good tunes and off you go. But I cannot imagine going on a road trip with an ex.
Life hasn't been kind to Ali lately. Her and her mother are about to lose their home and her non-existent father has passed away leaving them nothing but dept and an old car. Ali makes the split second decision to sell the car to try to save her childhood home, but she can't drive stick so she has no way to get the car up north. Enter ex-boyfriend Nico who offers his services for a measly 1 grand of her sale money. Ali agrees because she just wants to be done with her father and the two set off. What should have been an easy 5 hour trip there turns into something neither of them expected, but maybe just what they needed.
Don't get me wrong, the book was cute. But it wasn't really until the end that I finally got the emotional connection that I wanted. For a majority of the book I was frustrated with Ali because honestly, she's not very likable and extremely irrational. And for the most part Nico was kind of a dud. I figured out his story early on and it was just waiting for him to finally reveal his secrets. Both of them had trust issues so it was very easy to see why they didn't work out the first time.
The road trip itself was all right, but it wasn't really what I was looking for. And the whole plot with the trading up - I don't know if this is a real thing because I've never heard of it, but it didn't really make sense to me but I guess it served its purpose.
This was my first contemporary by Brody (I've read a fantasy of hers and loved it) and while it wasn't amazing, I did enjoy it and would definitely read more from her.
Life hasn't been kind to Ali lately. Her and her mother are about to lose their home and her non-existent father has passed away leaving them nothing but dept and an old car. Ali makes the split second decision to sell the car to try to save her childhood home, but she can't drive stick so she has no way to get the car up north. Enter ex-boyfriend Nico who offers his services for a measly 1 grand of her sale money. Ali agrees because she just wants to be done with her father and the two set off. What should have been an easy 5 hour trip there turns into something neither of them expected, but maybe just what they needed.
Don't get me wrong, the book was cute. But it wasn't really until the end that I finally got the emotional connection that I wanted. For a majority of the book I was frustrated with Ali because honestly, she's not very likable and extremely irrational. And for the most part Nico was kind of a dud. I figured out his story early on and it was just waiting for him to finally reveal his secrets. Both of them had trust issues so it was very easy to see why they didn't work out the first time.
The road trip itself was all right, but it wasn't really what I was looking for. And the whole plot with the trading up - I don't know if this is a real thing because I've never heard of it, but it didn't really make sense to me but I guess it served its purpose.
This was my first contemporary by Brody (I've read a fantasy of hers and loved it) and while it wasn't amazing, I did enjoy it and would definitely read more from her.
October 11, 2018
Yay my first Jessica Brody book!! I own several but it took her latest to finally get me to pick one up. So happy I finally did.
There was so much to love here:
Road Trip!!! Who doesn't love a good road trip in a book??Exes on the Road Trip. I mean you know it's going to be interesting when exes are stuck together for that long.
Craig's List. In order to get money they keep trading things up on Craig's List. It sounds silly but it was a really fun element to the trip.
Quizzes. Within the book there were all these little quizzes she does in her mind. I LOVE quizzes so they were an extra fun touch.
Beyond just those fun few items this book touched on a lot of good themes such a forgiveness, family and relationships. My biggest issue was with our MC Ali and just her stubborn way of thinking about things. I wanted her to be more open and a bit more realistic about things. Still, really enjoyed this one a lot.
This review was originally posted on Rebel Mommy Book Blog
There was so much to love here:
Road Trip!!! Who doesn't love a good road trip in a book??Exes on the Road Trip. I mean you know it's going to be interesting when exes are stuck together for that long.
Craig's List. In order to get money they keep trading things up on Craig's List. It sounds silly but it was a really fun element to the trip.
Quizzes. Within the book there were all these little quizzes she does in her mind. I LOVE quizzes so they were an extra fun touch.
Beyond just those fun few items this book touched on a lot of good themes such a forgiveness, family and relationships. My biggest issue was with our MC Ali and just her stubborn way of thinking about things. I wanted her to be more open and a bit more realistic about things. Still, really enjoyed this one a lot.
This review was originally posted on Rebel Mommy Book Blog
August 2, 2020
3.5 stars - this was a fun read. it was a little slow at times but i still enjoyed it overall. the romance was pretty underwhelming and i was expecting more, but it was still cute. overall, i recommend.
November 5, 2018
4.5 stars on the blog.
When I requested this on Netgalley I thought it was Adult Contemporary Fiction and when I started reading and realized it was YA, I braced myself for a slobbery romance overload, but it never raised its ugly head. Anyone who knows me knows I am allergic to romance, and even though this story does have it, it is not over the top in either amount or content. The author gets HUGE accolades from me for this.
There are a lot of heavy themes in this book: absentee parentism, addiction, and abandonment issues, but the author doesn't hit the reader over the head with them. The story felt real, like you could be reading a memoir. The relationship between the MC and her ex is believable. Everything that happens is plausible. These things are important to me in Contemporary Fiction. There is a solid growth arc, and a change arc and many things learned along the way. It is pretty much YA perfection in those aspects.
I have a problem with explicit sex scenes in YA because it is classified as being for twelve years of age and up, and what young readers might know and not know, and yes... what their parents might not want them to know varies widely between twelve and eighteen. The amorous moments in this story are written in a way where the reader is only going to visualize what they know. I like that.
The .5 deduction comes from a few musical element missteps. Characters who are musicians seem to be the popular thing in YA right now and if there are scenes or settings which involve the music business, and the author doesn't have firsthand knowledge, they should have someone who does read it over. There were some totally off assumptions.
There was a mystery of sorts in the story, too, and it was portioned out in just the right amounts and at the perfect pace. I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading this book.
I was approved for an eARC, via Netgalley, in return for an honest review.
When I requested this on Netgalley I thought it was Adult Contemporary Fiction and when I started reading and realized it was YA, I braced myself for a slobbery romance overload, but it never raised its ugly head. Anyone who knows me knows I am allergic to romance, and even though this story does have it, it is not over the top in either amount or content. The author gets HUGE accolades from me for this.
There are a lot of heavy themes in this book: absentee parentism, addiction, and abandonment issues, but the author doesn't hit the reader over the head with them. The story felt real, like you could be reading a memoir. The relationship between the MC and her ex is believable. Everything that happens is plausible. These things are important to me in Contemporary Fiction. There is a solid growth arc, and a change arc and many things learned along the way. It is pretty much YA perfection in those aspects.
I have a problem with explicit sex scenes in YA because it is classified as being for twelve years of age and up, and what young readers might know and not know, and yes... what their parents might not want them to know varies widely between twelve and eighteen. The amorous moments in this story are written in a way where the reader is only going to visualize what they know. I like that.
The .5 deduction comes from a few musical element missteps. Characters who are musicians seem to be the popular thing in YA right now and if there are scenes or settings which involve the music business, and the author doesn't have firsthand knowledge, they should have someone who does read it over. There were some totally off assumptions.
There was a mystery of sorts in the story, too, and it was portioned out in just the right amounts and at the perfect pace. I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading this book.
I was approved for an eARC, via Netgalley, in return for an honest review.
December 22, 2018
Anyone who follows my feed knows I don’t read a ton of ya books. It takes a special kind of ya book to draw me in.
This one got my attention because it involves a road trip which I love! It ended up being a cute story about two exes learning to forgive and trust each other with the big secrets in their lives. I really enjoyed reading this one and hopefully I can find something similar that peeks my interest soon!
This one got my attention because it involves a road trip which I love! It ended up being a cute story about two exes learning to forgive and trust each other with the big secrets in their lives. I really enjoyed reading this one and hopefully I can find something similar that peeks my interest soon!
September 5, 2018
An arc of this book was sent to me by Simon Pulse (Simon Teen) in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Rating: 3.5 / 5
The Geography of Lost Things is a fun, cute and quick contemporary read. It has the fun road trip setting, something I’m completely obsessed with. However, I found the book to be a wee bit boring in terms of the plotting. Don’t get me wrong, it was a pretty good book. It’s just I didn’t find it to be overly interesting.
— writing
When it comes to rating the writing style in contemporaries, I’m always quite lost. But this book was definitely cute, swoon worthy *coughs “Nico” coughs*, and cliché. What more could you ask for in a contemporary?
— characters
There are two main characters, Ali and Nico. They were super cute, and I LOVED THEM! Ali, also the narrator, was super relatable and I had an amazing time reading about her and watching her develop as a character. Nico, the ex, was super sweet and understanding of Ali. And geez was he patient with that girl. But seriously, where can I find a guy like that? 😭
— plot
This book takes place on a road trip. I found the first half of this to be super fast-paced, while the ending half to be slow and confusing. I also found the second half to be super predictable, but I kind of liked it? But I did find this book to be super entertaining and I highly recommend it if you like books set on road trips.
Rating: 3.5 / 5
The Geography of Lost Things is a fun, cute and quick contemporary read. It has the fun road trip setting, something I’m completely obsessed with. However, I found the book to be a wee bit boring in terms of the plotting. Don’t get me wrong, it was a pretty good book. It’s just I didn’t find it to be overly interesting.
— writing
When it comes to rating the writing style in contemporaries, I’m always quite lost. But this book was definitely cute, swoon worthy *coughs “Nico” coughs*, and cliché. What more could you ask for in a contemporary?
— characters
There are two main characters, Ali and Nico. They were super cute, and I LOVED THEM! Ali, also the narrator, was super relatable and I had an amazing time reading about her and watching her develop as a character. Nico, the ex, was super sweet and understanding of Ali. And geez was he patient with that girl. But seriously, where can I find a guy like that? 😭
— plot
This book takes place on a road trip. I found the first half of this to be super fast-paced, while the ending half to be slow and confusing. I also found the second half to be super predictable, but I kind of liked it? But I did find this book to be super entertaining and I highly recommend it if you like books set on road trips.
August 14, 2018
I really liked this one! RTC!
September 25, 2019
this book is great, trust me. it's not the writing or the setting or the story itself that made me give this book (only) 3 stars. it's mostly the main character. i don't know what it is, but she is .
May 22, 2023
Um…holy crap. This was amazing.
I related to Ali’s daddy issues SO HARD 😳 At first I was like, “Wow, so relatable, and so well written.” But as I read on, I got more of a grasp on just how meaningful this story was. I had chills a ridiculous amount of the time, especially near the end. Thematically, this novel was stunning. I connected to it. It nearly made me cry. It kind of inspired me? Like, wow, if this teenager can work through some of her trauma related to her dad, maybe I can 😅 And it just hit so true, like either the author had a horrible dad too and UNDERSTOOD or she’s some sort of mind reader. I just fully understood Ali that way. It may not have been a perfect book, but it had such incredibly important themes and felt VERY psychologically true to the experience of multi-dimensional, flawed, broken human beings.
I related to Ali’s daddy issues SO HARD 😳 At first I was like, “Wow, so relatable, and so well written.” But as I read on, I got more of a grasp on just how meaningful this story was. I had chills a ridiculous amount of the time, especially near the end. Thematically, this novel was stunning. I connected to it. It nearly made me cry. It kind of inspired me? Like, wow, if this teenager can work through some of her trauma related to her dad, maybe I can 😅 And it just hit so true, like either the author had a horrible dad too and UNDERSTOOD or she’s some sort of mind reader. I just fully understood Ali that way. It may not have been a perfect book, but it had such incredibly important themes and felt VERY psychologically true to the experience of multi-dimensional, flawed, broken human beings.
January 27, 2021
This book was so heart warming and I really enjoyed it:) 4.5 stars!
October 9, 2025
I have been in such a book slump recently... and this absolutely snapped me out of it!! LOVED the main character, loved the plot. It was completely clean which I appreciated... and the overall message of this book was just to take a second look. Like, don't take everything at face value because you can't always see the entire picture... So fun... loved the convertible... 10 out of 10 recommend!
December 30, 2018
THIS IS ANOTHER ROAD TRIP BOOK. And yes this does feature a romance and its all summer-y and I am reviewing this snuggled up under a blanket and definitely not in a car. Yes thats a long sentence and I do sort of regret writing it but whatever. ANYWAY. SO. Second chance romances? DO YA LIKE THEM? I do and this book features one.
Ali’s father passed away and all he left to her was his prized 1968 Firebird convertible. She should be sad but because of him, her mother is so far in debt that the bank is about to foreclose their home. The home that she has so many memories in. What is meant to be a short road trip to sell the car somehow turns into an adventure where they try to trade up items to something of value.
Of course, like any good road trip, Ali learns lessons about life, herself and her relationships with people around her. The Geography of Lost Things is another fun contemporary to cozy up to and features a good character arc!!
May 28, 2018
Ali's father has done nothing but take and take from her mother. When he dies, he leaves her with his vintage convertible, which he always seemed to care about more than her. When she finds out what it's worth, she decides to sell it so she can save her house from being repossessed. But her ex-boyfriend, Nico, is the only one who can drive a stick shift with her up the coast... and he's not sure that selling it is a good idea.
I raced through The Geography of Lost Things, much like Ali and Nico in her 1968 Firebird-- enthralled by the flurry of emotions and understanding Ali goes through. Between memories (both good and bad) of her father, her childhood, and her short lived love with Nico, pieces of what make Ali who she is are revealed in a beautiful, sharply orchestrated way. A gorgeous coming of age novel. I'm so thrilled that I got to take this journey, too.
July 18, 2023
This book was far too long for the total of 6 days it covers. Especially with the time jumps between events. The main character, Ali, is insufferable and her ex-boyfriend, Nico, just reminded me of Ryan Trahan with the whole trading up stuff. Finally writing about Ali’s realization of how awful she was at 88% of the way through this 455 page book was so upsetting. She spent the whole book being a stubborn and pessimistic asshole and the 55 pages spent of her trying to make up for it didn’t feel like enough. I will say the ending was good and it wrapped everything up perfectly, but everything else placed this book at a 1 star for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2022
This just wasn’t it for me. It was bland, predictable and rather samey-samey with other YA road trip books. Unfortunately this was a huge miss for me, and I had such high hopes too.
February 18, 2019
Trigger warnings: death of a parent, poverty as a result of a parent's actions.
3.5 stars.
So I'm a sucker for a roadtrip story. Especially when it's kind of a hate-to-love roadtrip story. And I really loved the idea of trading up to try and earn the money Ali needed. But at the same time, I didn't think the reason that she broke up with Nico was that big a deal and was more a case of USE YOUR FREAKING WORDS than anything.
I liked how much this dealt with grief and with the complexity of Ali's grief over the course of their journey. I liked that there were puppies. I kind of wished Ali's mum had been more present in the story than she was. And I kind of feel like this would make a better movie than it did a book. Which is a weird thing to say, but here we are.
It was fine. There was nothing spectacular about it. It was just a reasonably enjoyable YA contemporary that I'll probably forget all the details of within the next week. *shrugs*
3.5 stars.
So I'm a sucker for a roadtrip story. Especially when it's kind of a hate-to-love roadtrip story. And I really loved the idea of trading up to try and earn the money Ali needed. But at the same time, I didn't think the reason that she broke up with Nico was that big a deal and was more a case of USE YOUR FREAKING WORDS than anything.
I liked how much this dealt with grief and with the complexity of Ali's grief over the course of their journey. I liked that there were puppies. I kind of wished Ali's mum had been more present in the story than she was. And I kind of feel like this would make a better movie than it did a book. Which is a weird thing to say, but here we are.
It was fine. There was nothing spectacular about it. It was just a reasonably enjoyable YA contemporary that I'll probably forget all the details of within the next week. *shrugs*
November 12, 2018
I'll give this 3.5 stars rounded up for a goodreads rating...
I enjoyed this, it pulled at my heart strings and I flew through the last half, it was fun and had some really nice moments... but, it just didn't blow me away
What I liked:
I enjoyed the writing
It was cute
It wrenched my heart in a few places
Nico was lovely
Ali's character development
What I didn't like so much:
The thing that happened on the night they broke up was not that big of a deal IMHO
The sub plot which becomes the main plot then fizzles out which left me with a wtf happened vibe
I enjoyed this, it pulled at my heart strings and I flew through the last half, it was fun and had some really nice moments... but, it just didn't blow me away
What I liked:
I enjoyed the writing
It was cute
It wrenched my heart in a few places
Nico was lovely
Ali's character development
What I didn't like so much:
The thing that happened on the night they broke up was not that big of a deal IMHO
The sub plot which becomes the main plot then fizzles out which left me with a wtf happened vibe
August 5, 2020
This was a cute read. It was surprisingly a quick read, as well. I liked the road trip aspect and also the "quizes" in the story. I didn't like the curse words, but at least that was a rarity in the book. All in all, this was a fun story.
May 17, 2021
I so loved this! It's the perfect summer read, and just a fun story about two exes going on a road trip and the adventures they have along the way. I'm looking forward to reading more contemporary books by this author (and not sure why shortly after writing this one, she started writing fantasy?).
June 13, 2018
This was a cute book that I flew through in one sitting. It had a fun road trip element (which I am always trash for) which was my favorite part. Other than that, it wasn't amazing and I am probably going to forget everything that happened quite soon.
December 24, 2018
4.5 rounded to nearly five stars. What an amazing read that taught me about love and forgiveness!
March 6, 2019
The Geography of Lost Things was OK. I think I liked the concept more than the execution — Ali and her ex, Nico, hit the road with the goal of selling Ali's deceased father's vintage car, but along the way Nico decides that instead of selling the car, they are going to "trade up" to get the money Ali needs to prevent her house from being foreclosed. Starting with a rubber band, they are going to trade with strangers on Craigslist for items of increasing value. (For example, the rubber band gets them a broken "ancient" flip phone.) And in between trade-ups, Ali is contemplating the relationship she had with her mostly-absent father, Jackson, and the romance she and Nico once enjoyed until it came to fiery end a month before the book takes place.
Jackson was an alcoholic and a "groupie" of a 90s grunge band called Fear Epidemic, and when he leaves Ali and her mother, it's to follow the band around on their reunion tour. He pops back in their lives every now and then to ask for money and forgiveness, only to leave again, and Ali is tired of his lies when she cuts him off at age 13. Nico, meanwhile, was a new kid in school when he and Ali get together, and although they only date for a few months, she is intrigued by his craftsmanship and thoughtfulness — and intrigued by the parts of his life he won't let her in on, like his home, family, and past living in Reno.
There was just a lot I didn't really like about this book and not much that I did like. I found it hard to connect with both Ali and Nico; every single thing Nico does seems to trigger Ali into spiraling thoughts about what a liar he is and how similar he is to Jackson, and it got tiring to read about. Nico, as understanding and patient with Ali as he is, may have lied to her during their breakup for a reason — but he still lied to her, continued to hide things from her, and had terrible communication with her, and still expected her to trust him, so he wasn't exactly a love interest I was rooting for.
The book drags out the reason Nico and Ali broke up and Ali's full name (which she refuses to tell anyone) for so long before revealing them. This is a trend I've seen recently in books and I hate it; it's annoying and the "reveal" is never as rewarding as the buildup makes one think it will be. Some other things didn't fully land for me: "shiitake mushrooms" is the oldest "curse-without-cursing" joke in the world, and yet Ali and Nico have never heard it before? The trade-up thing has been done before, in real life, in an episode of "The Office," and more, so I don't think anything new was brought to this plot. The book's summary made it sound like the people Ali meets along the way, their stories and their possessions, would help her learn what was important in life and give her a new perspective on her dad and his most prized possession — but all the trades are pretty brief and routine, and we don't learn much of anything when it comes to Jackson and his car.
Weirdly enough, Jackson felt like the most developed character to me — the last few pages, where we find out why he kept leaving his family behind, were infuriating but heartbreaking. Ali's mother is barely mentioned at all, even though she and Ali are close. Somehow, Ali never contacts her or talks to her during her multi-day road trip? Ali's best friend June might as well have not been in the book either.
Overall...not my favorite. OK writing, forgettable characters, a pretty routine story.
Jackson was an alcoholic and a "groupie" of a 90s grunge band called Fear Epidemic, and when he leaves Ali and her mother, it's to follow the band around on their reunion tour. He pops back in their lives every now and then to ask for money and forgiveness, only to leave again, and Ali is tired of his lies when she cuts him off at age 13. Nico, meanwhile, was a new kid in school when he and Ali get together, and although they only date for a few months, she is intrigued by his craftsmanship and thoughtfulness — and intrigued by the parts of his life he won't let her in on, like his home, family, and past living in Reno.
There was just a lot I didn't really like about this book and not much that I did like. I found it hard to connect with both Ali and Nico; every single thing Nico does seems to trigger Ali into spiraling thoughts about what a liar he is and how similar he is to Jackson, and it got tiring to read about. Nico, as understanding and patient with Ali as he is, may have lied to her during their breakup for a reason — but he still lied to her, continued to hide things from her, and had terrible communication with her, and still expected her to trust him, so he wasn't exactly a love interest I was rooting for.
The book drags out the reason Nico and Ali broke up and Ali's full name (which she refuses to tell anyone) for so long before revealing them. This is a trend I've seen recently in books and I hate it; it's annoying and the "reveal" is never as rewarding as the buildup makes one think it will be. Some other things didn't fully land for me: "shiitake mushrooms" is the oldest "curse-without-cursing" joke in the world, and yet Ali and Nico have never heard it before? The trade-up thing has been done before, in real life, in an episode of "The Office," and more, so I don't think anything new was brought to this plot. The book's summary made it sound like the people Ali meets along the way, their stories and their possessions, would help her learn what was important in life and give her a new perspective on her dad and his most prized possession — but all the trades are pretty brief and routine, and we don't learn much of anything when it comes to Jackson and his car.
Weirdly enough, Jackson felt like the most developed character to me — the last few pages, where we find out why he kept leaving his family behind, were infuriating but heartbreaking. Ali's mother is barely mentioned at all, even though she and Ali are close. Somehow, Ali never contacts her or talks to her during her multi-day road trip? Ali's best friend June might as well have not been in the book either.
Overall...not my favorite. OK writing, forgettable characters, a pretty routine story.
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