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A Thousand Miles
After a decade of silence, Dee and Ben reunite for a road trip they once promised to take. It's going to be a bumpy ride.
Dee Matthews is the cohost of the smash-hit podcast Did I Forget To Tell You?, where she interviews family, friends, and past lovers. Nothing is off limits, except for one man (known on the show only as Name Redacted) who happens to be her high school best friend Ben. During their senior year spring break, Dee and Ben took a road trip to visit Ben's grandma. They buried a time capsule in her backyard, pledging to return in ten years to open it. Then their friendship fell apart in spectacular fashion. They haven't spoken to each other since.
Ben Porter's life since that moment has been unexciting but comfortable, until his grandma reveals a family secret that flips his whole world upside down. Her dying wish is for him to stop doing what is safest and go after what he really wants. He starts by showing up on Dee's doorstep with every intention of fulfilling their long-ago promise. Despite her reservations, Dee can't say no. This trip could be her chance to give her listeners the Name Redacted interview they've been begging for--and finally put her unresolved feelings for Ben to rest.
As the miles fly by, Dee and Ben's friendship reignites. But the closer they get to reaching their destination, the more apparent it becomes that their attraction to each other cannot be ignored. Their last adventure ended in disaster, and they're about to find out if any hope of a future together is in the rear view mirror.
Dee Matthews is the cohost of the smash-hit podcast Did I Forget To Tell You?, where she interviews family, friends, and past lovers. Nothing is off limits, except for one man (known on the show only as Name Redacted) who happens to be her high school best friend Ben. During their senior year spring break, Dee and Ben took a road trip to visit Ben's grandma. They buried a time capsule in her backyard, pledging to return in ten years to open it. Then their friendship fell apart in spectacular fashion. They haven't spoken to each other since.
Ben Porter's life since that moment has been unexciting but comfortable, until his grandma reveals a family secret that flips his whole world upside down. Her dying wish is for him to stop doing what is safest and go after what he really wants. He starts by showing up on Dee's doorstep with every intention of fulfilling their long-ago promise. Despite her reservations, Dee can't say no. This trip could be her chance to give her listeners the Name Redacted interview they've been begging for--and finally put her unresolved feelings for Ben to rest.
As the miles fly by, Dee and Ben's friendship reignites. But the closer they get to reaching their destination, the more apparent it becomes that their attraction to each other cannot be ignored. Their last adventure ended in disaster, and they're about to find out if any hope of a future together is in the rear view mirror.
368 pages, Paperback
First published June 21, 2022
135 people are currently reading
23072 people want to read
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August 4, 2022
Well: road trip, estranged high school sweethearts, friends to lovers, second chances themes blended with extra entertaining podcast texts! I’m sold! I think I loved this book more than I expected even though I had hard time to get into the story and connect with characters at first chapters!
Let me make introductions to the characters:
Dee Matthews: 28, quick witted, straightforward, an adventurous Sagittarius woman, is co-host of “Did I forget to tell you” podcast with her friend Javi to share their ugly truths about themselves and help the audiences to be brave enough to come out clean.
Dee shared her problematic relationship with her mother, her money problems, her struggles to find her place in the world. Only thing she couldn’t truly come clean is true identity of “Name Redacted” who is her high school best friend and first love Benjamin Potter she hasn’t talked for 10 years.
And at the same day she breaks up with the mean guy she’s dating, a few seconds later somebody knocks her door. Yes: that somebody is name redacted Ben Potter: her Ben, her best friend who broke her heart and she never get over with. She’s promised to take a road trip ten years before from Illinois to Colorado. And Ben asks him to join her as if he hasn’t ghosted her for ten freaking years!
Dee cannot say no because they both promised to take this trip to Ben’s grandma and now she’s dead. And she cannot let Ben get away from her so easy after ten years of silence.
Ben; caring, sweet and also insecure guy who always chooses safe way which make him lost and unfulfilled. ( as a libra; he’s friendly, genuine, people pleaser who enjoys harmony and peace) After hearing his grandma’s big confession, he gets startled and rethinks the choices he’s made in the past. Now he’s so adamant to win Dee’s trust because he wants her in his life. But both of them’s bottled up feelings: resentments, unresolved issues are about to burst out during their journey!
I think I loved both Dee and Ben’s evolving, learning from their mistakes, confronting with their past mistakes but mostly I adored the podcast parts of the book: they were AMAZING, HONEST, SMART, GENUINE, ENTERTAINING. ( good to see Sloane Ford from Love Scenes made a cameo)
I added additional half stars and rounded up my 4.5 stars to 5 wow I loved this self growth, high chemistry, second chances story so much stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
Let me make introductions to the characters:
Dee Matthews: 28, quick witted, straightforward, an adventurous Sagittarius woman, is co-host of “Did I forget to tell you” podcast with her friend Javi to share their ugly truths about themselves and help the audiences to be brave enough to come out clean.
Dee shared her problematic relationship with her mother, her money problems, her struggles to find her place in the world. Only thing she couldn’t truly come clean is true identity of “Name Redacted” who is her high school best friend and first love Benjamin Potter she hasn’t talked for 10 years.
And at the same day she breaks up with the mean guy she’s dating, a few seconds later somebody knocks her door. Yes: that somebody is name redacted Ben Potter: her Ben, her best friend who broke her heart and she never get over with. She’s promised to take a road trip ten years before from Illinois to Colorado. And Ben asks him to join her as if he hasn’t ghosted her for ten freaking years!
Dee cannot say no because they both promised to take this trip to Ben’s grandma and now she’s dead. And she cannot let Ben get away from her so easy after ten years of silence.
Ben; caring, sweet and also insecure guy who always chooses safe way which make him lost and unfulfilled. ( as a libra; he’s friendly, genuine, people pleaser who enjoys harmony and peace) After hearing his grandma’s big confession, he gets startled and rethinks the choices he’s made in the past. Now he’s so adamant to win Dee’s trust because he wants her in his life. But both of them’s bottled up feelings: resentments, unresolved issues are about to burst out during their journey!
I think I loved both Dee and Ben’s evolving, learning from their mistakes, confronting with their past mistakes but mostly I adored the podcast parts of the book: they were AMAZING, HONEST, SMART, GENUINE, ENTERTAINING. ( good to see Sloane Ford from Love Scenes made a cameo)
I added additional half stars and rounded up my 4.5 stars to 5 wow I loved this self growth, high chemistry, second chances story so much stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
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January 19, 2022A THOUSAND MILES is unlike any other book of mine. I usually write about huge casts of characters. For the majority of this particular story, there are only two. Dee and Ben. Childhood best friends who had a major falling out their senior year of high school and haven’t spoken in a decade, reuniting to take a road trip from Illinois to Colorado.
It’s a really close book. Close in that we’re right beside Dee and Ben as they learn each other again, mile by mile. And close in that I feel this book deep in my heart. It’s sentimental and sweet in that aching, nostalgic kind of way. To me, rereading A THOUSAND MILES is like watching a memory play back on a VHS tape. Grainy and warm and treasured.
As for content warnings, there are three things I want to flag. First, Ben’s story deals with the loss of a relative (grandmother). He also finds out his dad is not his biological father. Neither of these things are spoilers. You learn them right at the top of the book! But a lot of Ben’s personal journey deals with the intricacies and grief that comes from these situations and the way they intertwine. Third, for people with emetophobia or anyone with a general dislike of throwing up, look out for Chapters 14 and 15. There are no explicit descriptions of anything, but I don’t want you to go into this book completely unaware. If I think of anything else, I will update this section accordingly.
I am so eager for you readers to come on this journey with Dee and Ben. I hope you laugh. I hope you smile. I hope it’s sunshine after rain for you.
Thank you for being here.
It’s a really close book. Close in that we’re right beside Dee and Ben as they learn each other again, mile by mile. And close in that I feel this book deep in my heart. It’s sentimental and sweet in that aching, nostalgic kind of way. To me, rereading A THOUSAND MILES is like watching a memory play back on a VHS tape. Grainy and warm and treasured.
As for content warnings, there are three things I want to flag. First, Ben’s story deals with the loss of a relative (grandmother). He also finds out his dad is not his biological father. Neither of these things are spoilers. You learn them right at the top of the book! But a lot of Ben’s personal journey deals with the intricacies and grief that comes from these situations and the way they intertwine. Third, for people with emetophobia or anyone with a general dislike of throwing up, look out for Chapters 14 and 15. There are no explicit descriptions of anything, but I don’t want you to go into this book completely unaware. If I think of anything else, I will update this section accordingly.
I am so eager for you readers to come on this journey with Dee and Ben. I hope you laugh. I hope you smile. I hope it’s sunshine after rain for you.
Thank you for being here.
August 4, 2022
Sadly I found this book boring and chemistry-less.
Dee and Ben reunite after 10 years of complete silence. They had a falling out but we don't know what happened until it's slowly revealed as the book progresses. They reunite to go on a road trip together.
The first half of the book is them driving cross-country reminiscing about their past relationship, going on about how perfectly in sync they were and how well the got along, so much so that ten years later they could pick up right where they left off. Problem was that I felt like a third wheel the whole time, sitting in the back seat listening to how cool they were and feeling completely left out instead of living vicariously through them. They're also incapable of any sensible communication. But wait they're super in sync soulmates. But they can't have a conversation about how they feel or felt about each other. Then they hook up and still can't talk to each other. But they're perfectly in sync soulmates. Or something.
The second half of the book is them each sorting through some dysfunctions and being super boring. And the podcasts? Why would anybody want to listen to that? I found it very unrealistic that a self-absorbed podcast would be able to support her financially and that anybody would actually listen to it.
I didn't care, I wasn't invested, they didn't have any chemistry, I didn't see the point of anything. And then the most cheesy ending imaginable to top it off. Not for me.
Dee and Ben reunite after 10 years of complete silence. They had a falling out but we don't know what happened until it's slowly revealed as the book progresses. They reunite to go on a road trip together.
The first half of the book is them driving cross-country reminiscing about their past relationship, going on about how perfectly in sync they were and how well the got along, so much so that ten years later they could pick up right where they left off. Problem was that I felt like a third wheel the whole time, sitting in the back seat listening to how cool they were and feeling completely left out instead of living vicariously through them. They're also incapable of any sensible communication. But wait they're super in sync soulmates. But they can't have a conversation about how they feel or felt about each other. Then they hook up and still can't talk to each other. But they're perfectly in sync soulmates. Or something.
The second half of the book is them each sorting through some dysfunctions and being super boring. And the podcasts? Why would anybody want to listen to that? I found it very unrealistic that a self-absorbed podcast would be able to support her financially and that anybody would actually listen to it.
I didn't care, I wasn't invested, they didn't have any chemistry, I didn't see the point of anything. And then the most cheesy ending imaginable to top it off. Not for me.
September 5, 2022
3.5 stars
A Thousand Miles was a cute second chance romance. I loved the road trip aspect and there were some really funny parts. I'm still not 100% sure why they quit talking ten years ago... but other than that it was a good one. I loved the podcast snippets and Ben was great.
A Thousand Miles was a cute second chance romance. I loved the road trip aspect and there were some really funny parts. I'm still not 100% sure why they quit talking ten years ago... but other than that it was a good one. I loved the podcast snippets and Ben was great.
Audio book source: Libby
Story Rating: 3.5 stars
Narrators: Brittany Pressley & Jonathan Todd Ross
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 9h 42m
July 25, 2022
4/5⭐
"A promise is a promise. Five words. After ten years. There’s so much more that needs to be said beyond those seven syllables. But I took one look at her face, and the rest seemed unimportant.”
This book is what I call random book of the month... why? It wasn't on my tbr, and I'd never seen it before on GoodReads or any social media. I liked the cover and the title, so without even reading what it was about, I decided to read it. It was a good decision because I really enjoyed it!
I think this just showed up in my amazon recommendations because it's the kind of book I've been reading lately. Childhood best friends decide to take things further and then something happens that breaks them up, then they reunite a couple of years later and work things out.
What I love about this trope, is how the truth slowly comes out. It starts with them talking again and reconnecting, and then they communicate their issues or talk about what happened all those years ago. It's not usually something surprising, but I like seeing both sides of the story and the misunderstanding. What I DON'T like is how they could've resolved it a decade earlier if they had COMMUNICATED. I hate the miscommunication trope! JUST FREAKING TALK. If they are best friends, they have TRUST in each other, they can talk about what's bothering them or whatever, but they always choose to not say anything and ruin a friendship or possible romance.
Both main characters are really cool, and I liked their adventures through the road trip and past memories. I enjoyed Dee's characters more, because of all the chaotic energy, it made it more entertaining, even if it felt like too much at times, I love her type of character. Ben's chapters seemed more boring, more vanilla... yk? Their personalities actually reminded me of Poppy and Alex (People We Meet on Vacation). They had great chemistry, but the second-act breakup is a NO for me, it always feels unnecessary, and then the big gesture thing is also a no... but overall I really enjoyed it!
Similar books to this one, if you're looking for more recommendations: People We Meet on Vacation, Love, and Other Words, Every Summer After, The Infinity Between Us...
If you liked any of those, then definitely read this one too! They all have second-chance romance and friends to lovers :)
"A promise is a promise. Five words. After ten years. There’s so much more that needs to be said beyond those seven syllables. But I took one look at her face, and the rest seemed unimportant.”
This book is what I call random book of the month... why? It wasn't on my tbr, and I'd never seen it before on GoodReads or any social media. I liked the cover and the title, so without even reading what it was about, I decided to read it. It was a good decision because I really enjoyed it!
I think this just showed up in my amazon recommendations because it's the kind of book I've been reading lately. Childhood best friends decide to take things further and then something happens that breaks them up, then they reunite a couple of years later and work things out.
What I love about this trope, is how the truth slowly comes out. It starts with them talking again and reconnecting, and then they communicate their issues or talk about what happened all those years ago. It's not usually something surprising, but I like seeing both sides of the story and the misunderstanding. What I DON'T like is how they could've resolved it a decade earlier if they had COMMUNICATED. I hate the miscommunication trope! JUST FREAKING TALK. If they are best friends, they have TRUST in each other, they can talk about what's bothering them or whatever, but they always choose to not say anything and ruin a friendship or possible romance.
Both main characters are really cool, and I liked their adventures through the road trip and past memories. I enjoyed Dee's characters more, because of all the chaotic energy, it made it more entertaining, even if it felt like too much at times, I love her type of character. Ben's chapters seemed more boring, more vanilla... yk? Their personalities actually reminded me of Poppy and Alex (People We Meet on Vacation). They had great chemistry, but the second-act breakup is a NO for me, it always feels unnecessary, and then the big gesture thing is also a no... but overall I really enjoyed it!
Similar books to this one, if you're looking for more recommendations: People We Meet on Vacation, Love, and Other Words, Every Summer After, The Infinity Between Us...
If you liked any of those, then definitely read this one too! They all have second-chance romance and friends to lovers :)
August 12, 2022
I’m probably being generous with three stars, but I did enjoy the ending of this book. Both main characters felt like an exercise in futility and self destruction which may have been the point but didn’t make for an enjoyable romcom read. The pacing was super slow, and I was bored most of this book, the banter between characters was entertaining and amusing but the chemistry between the characters was lacking for most of the book by the time it showed up it was too late.
June 24, 2022
Review coming soon.
July 25, 2022
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Imagine, you haven’t seen or spoken to your former best friend in many years, and they show up at your door so that you could fulfill a promise you made over a decade ago. That’s what happened to Dee, and what an incredible and emotion journey this was for me.
Packed with humor and shenanigans, this was a road trip for the ages. These two got into quite a few sticky situations, but they also managed to break through those protective walls they surrounded their hearts with. I was rooting so hard for these two, and it was terribly important for me that they work it out. When I got those peeks at the friendship they shared since kindergarten, I needed them to repair those broken bridges and to fortify them with a different kind of love. I just felt like they were tailor made for each other and seeing that friendship bloom again filled me with so much happiness.
Let’s hit the highlights:
Snarky and wonderful heroine
Sweet and soft hero
So much history
A cat rescue
Hilarious podcast episodes
Amazing friends
A heartwarming time capsule
A bit of family drama
Second chances
Road Trip
Nostalgic
This book was fun and emotional in the best way. Dee and Ben were perfection. It pained me that their incredible friendship was broken, but I cannot even express how my heart and soul filled with hope for them when they embarked on this one thousand mile trip. Simply a wonderful story of friendship, love, and second chances!
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
Imagine, you haven’t seen or spoken to your former best friend in many years, and they show up at your door so that you could fulfill a promise you made over a decade ago. That’s what happened to Dee, and what an incredible and emotion journey this was for me.
Packed with humor and shenanigans, this was a road trip for the ages. These two got into quite a few sticky situations, but they also managed to break through those protective walls they surrounded their hearts with. I was rooting so hard for these two, and it was terribly important for me that they work it out. When I got those peeks at the friendship they shared since kindergarten, I needed them to repair those broken bridges and to fortify them with a different kind of love. I just felt like they were tailor made for each other and seeing that friendship bloom again filled me with so much happiness.
Let’s hit the highlights:
Snarky and wonderful heroine
Sweet and soft hero
So much history
A cat rescue
Hilarious podcast episodes
Amazing friends
A heartwarming time capsule
A bit of family drama
Second chances
Road Trip
Nostalgic
This book was fun and emotional in the best way. Dee and Ben were perfection. It pained me that their incredible friendship was broken, but I cannot even express how my heart and soul filled with hope for them when they embarked on this one thousand mile trip. Simply a wonderful story of friendship, love, and second chances!
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
January 26, 2024
Catching up…
A Facebook memory reminded me that I had read this book, and it was time to bring my review to Goodreads.
Who doesn’t love second chances?
Or…
A fun romance between charming and refreshingly real characters? With a cat that sometimes steals the scenes?
This is…
A friends-to-lovers trope…
Although…
We have read-this-before, this one has a sweetness and cuteness to it that takes readers on a road trip towards learning what it takes to make a relationship work.
A Facebook memory reminded me that I had read this book, and it was time to bring my review to Goodreads.
Who doesn’t love second chances?
Or…
A fun romance between charming and refreshingly real characters? With a cat that sometimes steals the scenes?
This is…
A friends-to-lovers trope…
Although…
We have read-this-before, this one has a sweetness and cuteness to it that takes readers on a road trip towards learning what it takes to make a relationship work.
June 14, 2022
I ended up enjoying this book after what felt like a slow start. It was emotional, introspective and sparked the kind of nostalgia that brought back a lot of my own memories from high school.
Ben and Dee were best friends in high school. They were heading towards becoming something more, but a misunderstanding ruined their friendship and Ben left after graduation without a word. Dee is left with the heartbreaking task of moving on and learning to live without him. She does this by starting a podcast with her friend Javi, where she talks about her life and sprinkles in bits and pieces about her relationship with Ben, whose name she refuses to say. After experiencing a heartbreaking loss, Ben shows up on Dee’s doorstep after ten years of silence asking her to take a 1,000 mile road trip with him…one they promised they would take together years ago.
The book really just boils down to two people on a road trip that haven’t seen each other in ten years and they have a lot to hash out. There’s forced proximity, hilarious banter and longing on both of their parts. I love how easily they slip back into their easy rapport and how much they both want things to work out. I’m glad we are able to see the story from both of their perspectives because it’s important to understand where Ben was coming from. This is a story of how to forgive, make amends and go after what you truly want in life.
I loved Dee’s character. She’s tough and feisty but fragile at the same time. She had a difficult childhood and Ben’s friendship was the one thing really holding her together. The conflict between Dee and Ben felt real and relatable and shows the right amount of hurt that Dee would feel after ten years of silence from Ben.
Ben’s character was harder for me to relate to. He made a mistake in high school and then just left…without saying a word to this person that allegedly meant the world to him? And in the world of social media, never tried to reconnect? All of this gets explained of course, but that was hard to reconcile as a true possibility. I felt like both characters grew a lot as people during their absence from each other and that point is driven home more than once throughout the story.
While the book was mostly about just these two characters, the few supporting characters that are present, like Dee’s costar Javi, are well written and bring a lot to the story. I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and the feelings of nostalgia it evoked. There’s a vulnerability in these characters that could only be brought out with great writing.
This book had me reminiscing about a time and place that I’ve mostly stopped thinking about. I laughed, I swooned and I even teared up at times. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes a second chance, friends to lovers romance with a lot of depth and heart. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley for the advanced copy to read and review.
May 16, 2022
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. I really really wanted to love this book but sadly it wasn’t for me. I can see it’s appeal and would recommend it to any fellow romcom lovers out there to try out. It’s a great quick read for the beach or a day in on the weekend. An author I recently watched at an event said that second chance romances are hard because you have to make whatever happened in the past serious enough to justify the absence but also forgivable enough to make the second chance believable for the reader. That was my main issue with this book. I didn’t buy into the romance at all. I think I would have liked this much better if there had been a shorter gap, like five years instead of ten years. Although the characters were 28, they acted like they were 23. I didn’t think the reason for a ten year separation was good at all and the reconciliation from that was just too fast. I could have seen it differently if they had maybe gone to different cities for post high school life, lost touch, and then reconnected after college. Also I never really got the stakes. A lot of stuff was alluded to, like with Dee’s mom, but it never really explained it enough in depth to really care enough about the characters. Also, a super picky thing but I got so annoyed with Ben parroting that he was “a loose nail.” Say it once, maybe three times, but not like ten.
July 9, 2022
This second chance at love/road trip romance was just an okay listen for me. Even though the audiobook had a great cast of narrators, including one of my favs, Brittany Pressley, this former friends who reunite after ten years to go on a special road trip and dig up a time capsule was just a mediocre experience. I liked the podcasting episodes sprinkled throughout but I honestly didn't get invested in these characters. Sadly a bit of a miss for me but recommended for fans of People we meet on vacation. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance digital review copy.
August 8, 2022
4.5 stars, rounded up.
A second-chance romance with a road trip thrown in? Yes, please!! That's A Thousand Miles in a nutshell.
The last thing Dee expected one night was to find Ben at her apartment door. They were absolutely inseparable friends through high school and then 10 years ago, they stopped speaking to one another. Dee was so affected by the end of their relationship—and still is—that she refers to him as “Name Redacted” on the popular podcast she co-hosts, and it’s a program where everyone divulges their secrets.
Ben has missed having Dee in his life. But following his grandmother’s death and a revelation that shocked him, he’s vowed to go after what he wants. Ten years ago, they took a road trip to visit his grandmother in Colorado and buried a time capsule in her yard; they made a promise to come back 10 years later to open it. (And you can’t go back on a pinkie swear.)
Dee agrees to take the road trip with Ben, and they quickly fall into their old banter. The chemistry between them is intense, and they’re both determined not to make the same mistakes again. But if there’s ever a chance for them to remain in each other’s lives—especially as more than friends—they’ll have to confront what happened 10 years ago that ended their friendship.
I love second-chance romances and I loved the banter between the characters, as well as the supporting characters. The snippets from Dee’s podcasts were hysterically funny.
I’m always loath to compare books and authors but this almost had a bit of an Emily Henry feel to it, but it was not duplicative in any way. I just rooted for Dee and Ben (swoon) so much!!
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
A second-chance romance with a road trip thrown in? Yes, please!! That's A Thousand Miles in a nutshell.
The last thing Dee expected one night was to find Ben at her apartment door. They were absolutely inseparable friends through high school and then 10 years ago, they stopped speaking to one another. Dee was so affected by the end of their relationship—and still is—that she refers to him as “Name Redacted” on the popular podcast she co-hosts, and it’s a program where everyone divulges their secrets.
Ben has missed having Dee in his life. But following his grandmother’s death and a revelation that shocked him, he’s vowed to go after what he wants. Ten years ago, they took a road trip to visit his grandmother in Colorado and buried a time capsule in her yard; they made a promise to come back 10 years later to open it. (And you can’t go back on a pinkie swear.)
Dee agrees to take the road trip with Ben, and they quickly fall into their old banter. The chemistry between them is intense, and they’re both determined not to make the same mistakes again. But if there’s ever a chance for them to remain in each other’s lives—especially as more than friends—they’ll have to confront what happened 10 years ago that ended their friendship.
I love second-chance romances and I loved the banter between the characters, as well as the supporting characters. The snippets from Dee’s podcasts were hysterically funny.
I’m always loath to compare books and authors but this almost had a bit of an Emily Henry feel to it, but it was not duplicative in any way. I just rooted for Dee and Ben (swoon) so much!!
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
February 8, 2023
Argh this checked so many of the trope boxes I like: friends-to-lovers, forced proximity, second chance romance. I'm actually mad that I didn't like this more. I'm probably being a little too harsh about this book because of how high my hopes were.
I think most books that center around a podcast are risky to begin with. It's hard not to cringe when an author uses a podcast as a plot element. I feel like the days of "this is my life as a normal person and I'm interviewing my friends and it'll be a huge success" podcasts are like really far in the past. So it was going to be an uphill battle as it was. I found the podcast episodes to be very cringe. Just not the sort of thing I could EVER imagine anyone listening to.
I found the moments between the two leads to be considerably better than the podcast, but it still wasn't exactly what I wanted it to be. I'm not sure why I found Dee so grating (and it feels anti-feminist to admit this), but I did. And Ben's backstory, having just found out that his dad is not his biological father, felt like a complete afterthought for most of the book.
I'm a little out of my romance era, so maybe if you are deep in the romance genre, this outshines the average one? But I've read my fair share of good contemporary romances, and this one was just that: good, nothing special.
I think most books that center around a podcast are risky to begin with. It's hard not to cringe when an author uses a podcast as a plot element. I feel like the days of "this is my life as a normal person and I'm interviewing my friends and it'll be a huge success" podcasts are like really far in the past. So it was going to be an uphill battle as it was. I found the podcast episodes to be very cringe. Just not the sort of thing I could EVER imagine anyone listening to.
I found the moments between the two leads to be considerably better than the podcast, but it still wasn't exactly what I wanted it to be. I'm not sure why I found Dee so grating (and it feels anti-feminist to admit this), but I did. And Ben's backstory, having just found out that his dad is not his biological father, felt like a complete afterthought for most of the book.
I'm a little out of my romance era, so maybe if you are deep in the romance genre, this outshines the average one? But I've read my fair share of good contemporary romances, and this one was just that: good, nothing special.
July 13, 2022
Dee's experience cohosting the very popular podcast Did I Forget To Tell You? has made her bare her past in all its highs and lows, right to her listeners. While she's used to rehashing what she's been through, or interviewing others on what they have been through, there is but one thing that she's held off on talking about as honestly as she's grown accustomed to. She'll talk about trainwreck dates, pickup lines, bad sex experiences but talking about her former best friend, Ben? Not allowed. Ben isn't someone she's used to sharing like this and when she slips up in one episode, he is the first and only name on the show to ever be redacted.
In a surprising turn of events, Ben is on her doorstep. Unannounced. A promise is a promise and suddenly the two have to see if all those years of separation will make this somewhat spontaneous road trip to an old time capsule awkward and tense... or if they can fall back to where they left off last.
Ben's going through it dude. After losing his grandma, he learns about a piece of his life he never thought he'd be faced with and he has to come to terms with it. He doesn't know how to talk to his family and he's not sure he wants to right now. Digging up this time capsule and having Dee back by his side may just be exactly what he needs to get him through what's going on in his head. The longer they're together, the better it feels... but there is a lot that needs to be addressed. It doesn't help that the last trip they took a nosedive but this might be the full circle moment they'll need to heal what has been broken.
WELLLLLL WELL WELL!!!
Dude, I loved it. I adored it even. I loved the cover, loved the concept and NOW I love the book. I love a best friend romance but I love it even more when it's a second chance romance TOOOOO. It's so magical. I >:)
Dee and Ben were such an entertaining pair. I loved how quickly they fell back into their old habits but it made me anxious for the eventual confronting of their past. I wanted them to be better and fall back into things and I thought the way they eased into it was very well paced and just well DONE. I also really liked the intimacy of just following the two of them through the whole book. We have a couple of appearances but for the most part... this is Dee and Ben's road to fixing their relationship and we're just the quiet observers.
I also just love how their growth over the years was noted throughout. They had become such mature versions of their past selves and I think that Bridget highlights this really well. She makes it enjoyable and I'm thrilled it didn't turn into them competing over who was in a better place in their life than the other.
OVERALL I LOVED. I REALLY DID.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
In a surprising turn of events, Ben is on her doorstep. Unannounced. A promise is a promise and suddenly the two have to see if all those years of separation will make this somewhat spontaneous road trip to an old time capsule awkward and tense... or if they can fall back to where they left off last.
Ben's going through it dude. After losing his grandma, he learns about a piece of his life he never thought he'd be faced with and he has to come to terms with it. He doesn't know how to talk to his family and he's not sure he wants to right now. Digging up this time capsule and having Dee back by his side may just be exactly what he needs to get him through what's going on in his head. The longer they're together, the better it feels... but there is a lot that needs to be addressed. It doesn't help that the last trip they took a nosedive but this might be the full circle moment they'll need to heal what has been broken.
WELLLLLL WELL WELL!!!
Dude, I loved it. I adored it even. I loved the cover, loved the concept and NOW I love the book. I love a best friend romance but I love it even more when it's a second chance romance TOOOOO. It's so magical. I >:)
Dee and Ben were such an entertaining pair. I loved how quickly they fell back into their old habits but it made me anxious for the eventual confronting of their past. I wanted them to be better and fall back into things and I thought the way they eased into it was very well paced and just well DONE. I also really liked the intimacy of just following the two of them through the whole book. We have a couple of appearances but for the most part... this is Dee and Ben's road to fixing their relationship and we're just the quiet observers.
I also just love how their growth over the years was noted throughout. They had become such mature versions of their past selves and I think that Bridget highlights this really well. She makes it enjoyable and I'm thrilled it didn't turn into them competing over who was in a better place in their life than the other.
OVERALL I LOVED. I REALLY DID.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
March 6, 2022
I knew I’d love this because I knew from her first book that I’m addicted to Bridget’s writing.
Ben and Dee are some of the most vivid characters I’ve ever read. They’re challenges are as complex as their together.
The car trip was forced proximity to the max, and their chemistry and banter was through the roof.
Plus, I love that the last third of the book sun has tension without making the characters doing something to ruin everything.
A must read romance of the year!!
Ben and Dee are some of the most vivid characters I’ve ever read. They’re challenges are as complex as their together.
The car trip was forced proximity to the max, and their chemistry and banter was through the roof.
Plus, I love that the last third of the book sun has tension without making the characters doing something to ruin everything.
A must read romance of the year!!
July 4, 2022
This was a highly anticipated read for me and I’m so sad that I didn’t enjoy it. The chemistry was non-existent. I felt like the road trip was cringe worthy and so awkward. There was a lot of nostalgia that held them together, and I didn’t see how it would work in the future when the past was friendship. Just a second-chance romance that did not work for me.
November 20, 2022
I ate this up. This hit me in an emotional way I wasn’t expecting. I love a good second chance romance and this didn’t disappoint. Much love for Ben and Dee. 🤍
June 18, 2022
Highlights: friends-to-lovers, second chance, road trip, podcast.
If you enjoy the above tropes, you will probably like A Thousand Miles by Bridget Morrisey. Two estranged high school friends, Dee and Ben, decide to reconnect and go on the road trip from Chicago to Colorado, the same road trip they did ten years ago during their senior year. Ben's beloved grandma died, so he has to go to Colorado to sort her belongings. To rekindle their friendship Ben and Dee will have to deal with unresolved feelings and lingering hurts first.
The book is written in alternating POVs. I enjoyed Ben's POV a little more than Dee's. Dee has chaotic energy that I found a little too much sometimes. I liked their banter, their inside jokes, and the way they communicated with each other. Ben and Dee have great chemistry, but I wanted more steam from the book. Also, I didn't really understand why they stopped talking ten years ago. They made a big problem out of something that could've been easily resolved. I suppose when you are a teenager, everything is more dramatic!
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley
If you enjoy the above tropes, you will probably like A Thousand Miles by Bridget Morrisey. Two estranged high school friends, Dee and Ben, decide to reconnect and go on the road trip from Chicago to Colorado, the same road trip they did ten years ago during their senior year. Ben's beloved grandma died, so he has to go to Colorado to sort her belongings. To rekindle their friendship Ben and Dee will have to deal with unresolved feelings and lingering hurts first.
The book is written in alternating POVs. I enjoyed Ben's POV a little more than Dee's. Dee has chaotic energy that I found a little too much sometimes. I liked their banter, their inside jokes, and the way they communicated with each other. Ben and Dee have great chemistry, but I wanted more steam from the book. Also, I didn't really understand why they stopped talking ten years ago. They made a big problem out of something that could've been easily resolved. I suppose when you are a teenager, everything is more dramatic!
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley
January 6, 2023
2/5 stars
Whoever the opposite of me is, this book was definitely written for them. I hope they enjoyed it. But for me? Absolutely not. I'm just so glad I finished. Even if I skim read the last 100 pages or so.
Half way through this book, I thought to myself that I truly feel like a third wheel while reading it. And then, I saw someone say the exact same thing while scouring reviews. I didn't feel involved in any aspect of Dee and Ben's relationships.
Also, I was hoping we'd slowly see them learn to trust and appreciate each other again since they haven't seen each other in ten years, but an hour into the car ride they were sharing major life shattering events with one another that they'd never said out loud and kissing each other. So annoying. Give me a slow burn or give me death.
Don't even get me started on how they took a cat to a major league baseball game and thought it was funny when it got spooked and ran on the field 🙄. There's nothing funnier then scared animals and trespassing/interrupting events. but maybe the humor in this book just wasn't for me because I honestly didn't laugh once.
Whoever the opposite of me is, this book was definitely written for them. I hope they enjoyed it. But for me? Absolutely not. I'm just so glad I finished. Even if I skim read the last 100 pages or so.
Half way through this book, I thought to myself that I truly feel like a third wheel while reading it. And then, I saw someone say the exact same thing while scouring reviews. I didn't feel involved in any aspect of Dee and Ben's relationships.
Also, I was hoping we'd slowly see them learn to trust and appreciate each other again since they haven't seen each other in ten years, but an hour into the car ride they were sharing major life shattering events with one another that they'd never said out loud and kissing each other. So annoying. Give me a slow burn or give me death.
Don't even get me started on how they took a cat to a major league baseball game and thought it was funny when it got spooked and ran on the field 🙄. There's nothing funnier then scared animals and trespassing/interrupting events. but maybe the humor in this book just wasn't for me because I honestly didn't laugh once.
June 25, 2022
"A promise is a promise." Despite a ten-year gap since Dee Matthews and Ben Porter have seen each other, when Ben approaches Dee to ask him to help sort out his now deceased grandmother's belongings, Dee finds that she cannot say no. They were a couple in high school and thought they might be together forever. However, they experienced a bad breakup and the pair haven't seen or spoken to one another in a decade.
As a successful podcaster, Dee has talked about nearly every aspect of her life. There is one issue she won't talk about, or a name at least. That is Ben. In fact, if he does come up in her podcasts, he is only known as NAME REDACTED. Well, he is back, knocking on her door after she just kicked her current boyfriend out. Ben's grandmother has passed and he reminds Dee of that promise from years ago that they would visit her home, and at least dig up the time capsule they buried the one and only time Dee met Ben's grandmother.
Dee finds that she must fulfill her promise and accompany Ben on the thousand mile trek to his grandmother's home. During their travels, and as the story is related in their alternating points of view, one thing is made clear. They never stopped loving one another. However, with so much baggage to sort through, they each explore their feelings all while those long ago feelings quickly begin to resurface.
What an enjoyable read, and right on time for the summer. Second chance romances are always enjoyable to me and this one definitely hit the spot.
Many thanks to Berkley Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy the following YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/zgLyFyigI7U
As a successful podcaster, Dee has talked about nearly every aspect of her life. There is one issue she won't talk about, or a name at least. That is Ben. In fact, if he does come up in her podcasts, he is only known as NAME REDACTED. Well, he is back, knocking on her door after she just kicked her current boyfriend out. Ben's grandmother has passed and he reminds Dee of that promise from years ago that they would visit her home, and at least dig up the time capsule they buried the one and only time Dee met Ben's grandmother.
Dee finds that she must fulfill her promise and accompany Ben on the thousand mile trek to his grandmother's home. During their travels, and as the story is related in their alternating points of view, one thing is made clear. They never stopped loving one another. However, with so much baggage to sort through, they each explore their feelings all while those long ago feelings quickly begin to resurface.
What an enjoyable read, and right on time for the summer. Second chance romances are always enjoyable to me and this one definitely hit the spot.
Many thanks to Berkley Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy the following YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/zgLyFyigI7U
July 5, 2022
”A promise is a promise. Five words. After ten years. There’s so much more that needs to be said beyond those seven syllables. But I took one look at her face, and the rest seemed unimportant.”
I really enjoyed this. Our two MC’s have spent the last decade apart only to reunite to fulfill a promise to repeat a road trip they went on back when they were best friends.
I liked that the formula of this was different. I LOVED how so much time passed but their dynamic hadn’t. The way everything unfolded felt right to me.
I loved the banter, the dual povs and the overall rom com of it all.
This was a fun ride ☺️
4/5⭐️
I really enjoyed this. Our two MC’s have spent the last decade apart only to reunite to fulfill a promise to repeat a road trip they went on back when they were best friends.
I liked that the formula of this was different. I LOVED how so much time passed but their dynamic hadn’t. The way everything unfolded felt right to me.
I loved the banter, the dual povs and the overall rom com of it all.
This was a fun ride ☺️
4/5⭐️
August 15, 2022
This was a lovely roadtrip, ex bffs, second chance romance with uniquely likable characters.
In this book, we follow Dee and Ben as they take a road trip 10 years after their relationship went off the rails. I loved getting to know Dee and Ben, especially when they were together. Their relationship and personalities were unique and specific enough to be memorable and realistic. I didn't feel like I was getting regurgitated characters but people who were unique to the book and the plot.
I also really liked getting to read excerpts from Dee's podcast. It gave small insights into her personality and her relationship with Ben. Also, they were so funny! Dee in general was really funny, but her personality really shined in her podcasts.
The romance was so nice! There was a one-bed trope (!!!) and soooo much pining. Which, honestly, what road trip romance wouldn't be complete without a one-bed trope.
There was something missing from the novel which made it a book I liked rather than loved. The romance was awesome at the beginning and began to fizzle to boring towards the end. I loved the end grand gesture scene, but that last third section of their romance wasn't amazing.
Overall, this was a nice book. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and going through this adventure with them.
Similar books: People We Meet on Vacation, The Charmed List, Starry Eyes
Blog • Instagram • Twitter • TikTok
In this book, we follow Dee and Ben as they take a road trip 10 years after their relationship went off the rails. I loved getting to know Dee and Ben, especially when they were together. Their relationship and personalities were unique and specific enough to be memorable and realistic. I didn't feel like I was getting regurgitated characters but people who were unique to the book and the plot.
I also really liked getting to read excerpts from Dee's podcast. It gave small insights into her personality and her relationship with Ben. Also, they were so funny! Dee in general was really funny, but her personality really shined in her podcasts.
The romance was so nice! There was a one-bed trope (!!!) and soooo much pining. Which, honestly, what road trip romance wouldn't be complete without a one-bed trope.
There was something missing from the novel which made it a book I liked rather than loved. The romance was awesome at the beginning and began to fizzle to boring towards the end. I loved the end grand gesture scene, but that last third section of their romance wasn't amazing.
Overall, this was a nice book. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and going through this adventure with them.
Similar books: People We Meet on Vacation, The Charmed List, Starry Eyes
Blog • Instagram • Twitter • TikTok
June 2, 2022
This is the second time in the last few months that I’ve read a second chance romance that I’ve really enjoyed. I’ve always said that it’s not my favorite trope, but after two standouts I may need to quit saying and thinking that. Maybe I just need them to be really well executed to adore them and I think the author did a great job here. Dee and Ben are the real stars of the show here, I mean duh they’re the main characters, but what I mean is that the majority of the book is filled with scenes of just the two of them. This gave the book a really intimate feeling as they reconnect after ten years of total silence and have to really hash out some old issues if they want to move forward together. The road trip aspect was fun and summery and there was a real sense of nostalgia as well as they spend some time reminiscing about their high school days. Ben was the cutest most lovable hero and Dee was as well, but in a neurotic but wholly endearing way. I really enjoyed my time with these two, their connection was heavily apparent and the way they bantered back and forth showed just how true their friendship was and maybe still is.
February 3, 2025
Well, past Stacee needs to be pushed for taking so long in reading this one.
I love love loved Dee and Ben. They're both so good and I loved reading them figure out how to navigate past hurts and future love. There are a few other characters, but this is definitely the Dee and Ben story.
Plot wise, it's sort of a slow meandering filled with open conversations, fun roadside attractions, and sweetness. The break up wasn't a bad as I expected. And although I could have done with more pages of these two with their HEA, I loved the epilogue.
Overall, this was a wonderful story with characters I was really invested in.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
I love love loved Dee and Ben. They're both so good and I loved reading them figure out how to navigate past hurts and future love. There are a few other characters, but this is definitely the Dee and Ben story.
Plot wise, it's sort of a slow meandering filled with open conversations, fun roadside attractions, and sweetness. The break up wasn't a bad as I expected. And although I could have done with more pages of these two with their HEA, I loved the epilogue.
Overall, this was a wonderful story with characters I was really invested in.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
August 9, 2022
Overall I liked this! In general, neither second changes nor road trips work well for me, but I liked Love Scenes so much that I gave this a chance. And both elements worked for me! I really felt the history and regret between the two of them. (Though in some ways, I also didn't get a good sense of their past relationship.) And the road trip actually felt a lot like my family trips growing up with the fun random stops.
June 7, 2025
1 star because he drives a Gray Honda Civic ✨ and the other because he calls his Grandma "Gam" and I've never heard anyone else use that nickname.
Respectfully, I'm so glad to be done with this book. The characters were supposedly 28 but acted like middle schoolers.
Respectfully, I'm so glad to be done with this book. The characters were supposedly 28 but acted like middle schoolers.
June 4, 2022
A Thousand Miles is a friends to lovers road trip with a 10 year time gap/jump!
Let it be known that friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes. I was talking with a friend about how special it is when two people know each other so well but start to discover one another in new ways!
Dee is a podcaster. She essentially has made a name for herself by revealing too much about her life and talks about controversial and spicy topics. Ben is the one who left. One day is shows up at her door…10 years after a mystery blow up and convinces her to take a road trip…one they had promised each other in the past they would take.
I thought this book was highly readable. It’s one you can get through in a few days and has a lot of sweet moments. I appreciated the connection and the little moments of humor between Ben and Dee.
What was hard for me was that Dee is a little crass for shock value at times, I thought she was harder to relate to and there were a few times her humor was lost on me. I also did myself a disservice by reading this In tandem with People We Meet on Vacation…which I am absolutely adoring everything about so in retrospect I wish I would have spread these reads apart
Let it be known that friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes. I was talking with a friend about how special it is when two people know each other so well but start to discover one another in new ways!
Dee is a podcaster. She essentially has made a name for herself by revealing too much about her life and talks about controversial and spicy topics. Ben is the one who left. One day is shows up at her door…10 years after a mystery blow up and convinces her to take a road trip…one they had promised each other in the past they would take.
I thought this book was highly readable. It’s one you can get through in a few days and has a lot of sweet moments. I appreciated the connection and the little moments of humor between Ben and Dee.
What was hard for me was that Dee is a little crass for shock value at times, I thought she was harder to relate to and there were a few times her humor was lost on me. I also did myself a disservice by reading this In tandem with People We Meet on Vacation…which I am absolutely adoring everything about so in retrospect I wish I would have spread these reads apart
March 17, 2022
it is upsetting how raw, vulnerable, and exposed I felt after reading a book that also made me laugh so hard I cried.
better and more detailed review coming later but go ahead and preorder A Thousand Miles while I compile my thoughts.
updated review :
There was not one single moment of this book where I did not feel utterly exposed. I was hooked in the first line and it did not let up until the the last. The conflict between Dee and Ben felt completely earned and not at all a “miscommunication” or a “misunderstanding” but the exact type of conflict and real hurt that would after ten years of silence. The banter and way of slipping into old friendships felt effortless in a way that only can exist between old friends. These characters both grew and changed over the years and had to learn if these new versions of themselves could make space for each other. Bridget Morriessy has said this book was hard to write because it is so personal - I found that the vulnerability comes through beautifully.
better and more detailed review coming later but go ahead and preorder A Thousand Miles while I compile my thoughts.
updated review :
There was not one single moment of this book where I did not feel utterly exposed. I was hooked in the first line and it did not let up until the the last. The conflict between Dee and Ben felt completely earned and not at all a “miscommunication” or a “misunderstanding” but the exact type of conflict and real hurt that would after ten years of silence. The banter and way of slipping into old friendships felt effortless in a way that only can exist between old friends. These characters both grew and changed over the years and had to learn if these new versions of themselves could make space for each other. Bridget Morriessy has said this book was hard to write because it is so personal - I found that the vulnerability comes through beautifully.
dnf
July 4, 2022DNF @32%
Pretty meh here. Wasn't liking either MC. And there is no way these two are going to make me believe they're in love. Zero chemistry. Wet blankets the both of them.
Pretty meh here. Wasn't liking either MC. And there is no way these two are going to make me believe they're in love. Zero chemistry. Wet blankets the both of them.
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