Welcome friend! Today I am writing about a contemporary romance novel about a road trip across the US. The Truth is in the Detours was a quick read for me! If you love old friends to lovers trope, you will like this even more.
Mara Williams | Goodreads
In this sharp-witted and poignant novel, two former friends with a complicated history are thrown together on an unexpected road trip, where old lies unravel and new truths emerge with every mile marker.
Ophelia Dahl has just buried her beloved father when she finds among his personal effects a blindsiding document. The mother Ophelia thought died thirty years ago isn’t dead after all—she abandoned her. But how could she, and where is she now? With some neighborly help, Ophelia’s going to find out.
Beau Augustin is an acclaimed author and Ophelia’s childhood bestie turned teenage nemesis, still chafing after all these years. As luck would have it, Beau’s current project—family deceptions—is set to take him across the West Coast. Ophelia has a brilliant Beau’s book. Her life. Win-win. In a Subaru filled with baggage, they hit the road.
Despite detours, dead ends, and old grudges, Ophelia is desperate to unravel a lifetime of lies. And Beau’s research is a little more personal than he’s letting on. Mile by mile, they’re getting closer to their truths—and to each other—than they ever thought possible.
The Truth is in the Detours – Book Review
Beau and Phe have the chemistry of childhood friends, and though they have been estranged for some years, they are able to pick it up. Phe is back in her childhood home to pack it up. Her dad recently passed away, and with no one else left of her family, she is grateful for Beau’s help in sorting through things. When she finds a piece of legal paper dissolving her mother’s parental rights, Phe’s world is scattered. She grew up thinking her mom had died in a car accident from which she herself has scars. She isn’t sure if she wants to reconnect with her mom, but she looks for her anyway. She believes she would know what she wants to do if she is able to find her.
“Clearing a lifetime of detritus is equal parts heartbreak and frustration.”
– pg 17
Beau has a complicated history with Phe. In their teenage years, he felt sorely used by her and shunned by her friends. He was always the one Phe turned to when she was in trouble. She doesn’t remember things the same way. Her teenage years are steeped with being with the wrong guy. They continued to see each other for many years after, and she regrets how long she stayed in that relationship. She isn’t sure she can do long-term with anyone. Beau, in the meantime, has led the perfect life. Married to a doctor, a history professor with two books under his belt, he is embarking on a road trip for his third book. It’s different from what he has written before. It will take him from one end of the US to the other. When Phe finds a trail of her mom’s addresses along the same path, she offers her virtual assistant services to Beau, and they embark on this excursion together.
“The book is a detour for me, but not as much as it may seem. Lies can change history — or our perception of it. […] Half of what we think we understand is fabricated — which can change the study of history itself.”
Beau, pg 32
Of course, being around each other after years of estrangement is easy and different. In some ways, they fall back into their friendship very easily. But there is also resentment and hurt that needs to be resolved. A decade has changed them a lot. Phe learns that Beau’s life is not as perfect as it looks, and the more time they spend together, the more attractive she finds him. Between managing her own work, his project, selling her childhood home, and looking for her mom, she has left little room to grieve for her dad.
The writing is humorous, and the banter is engaging. I found the last couple chapters emotional. I was quite moved by the side of Phe’s childhood that her parents had omitted to tell her. The author did a fantastic job of interweaving Beau’s project with Phe’s personal questions while showcasing the complexity of life. Beau does not want to judge the person who shares their secrets with him, but it is hard not to extrapolate on their impact on their immediate family. Both Beau and Phe have been lied to, and eventually, a confession comes up that shakes them, and they need each other to pick up the pieces.
“Our truths are pieces of ourselves. No one shares all of them with everyone because of embarrassment, fear, selfishness, or shame.”
Beau, pg 235
I ponder the concept of detours and the title of this book. In the story, the book is a detour for Beau but also a detour on the trip makes the unexpected space for Phe and Beau to reflect on their feelings for each other. But life doesn’t always have physical detours. Sometimes, our paths change metaphorically.
I look back at my early twenties, and I believe deviating from my path of doing a PhD in education was the detour of my life. If I had pursued that, I probably wouldn’t have started the blog in 2019. I definitely won’t have spent time in local schools. I probably would still not have my Canadian citizenship. That detour, when it happened, was stressful, but it was the making of me. It got me to truthfully sit with myself and ask myself what I wanted and if I was willing to stay the course. I love when books make me think of my life story through theirs.
The Truth is in the Detours is the perfect beach and road trip book! Give it a read if you are in the mood for a light romance with lovable characters, childhood friends to lovers, and a trip across the country learning people’s deep, dark secrets.
Many thanks to Over the River PR for giving me a chance to highlight this book on my blog in exchange for an honest review. My tour stop is tomorrow and I will be chatting with Mara.
Thank you for reading my thoughts. 🙂
See you tomorrow!
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