Read with Fern

Maeve and Therese Dunigan are sisters—but the two have been estranged for years. They could not be more Maeve, a rule-follower and Therese, a rebel. But when their mother’s death brings the family back together, the two find that they have inherited a painting—one that could be worth millions and could save each of them from their respective wolves at the door. The only issue is, the painting might be a fake and the only way the can solve the problem is to find the original. This means a road trip—to Ireland, to their family roots, and to a mysterious crime that occurred years ago. With tensions simmering, the two hit the road and find themselves on twisty lanes, in colorful villages, at local pubs, and with handsome men whose gift of the gab is surpassed only by their charm. Can Maeve and Therese find the real painting, remove a family curse, solve a cold case, and actually survive without killing each other?

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

To me, Mary Kay Andrews is the queen of a pool read. I pick her books whenever and wherever I can, mass market paperback preferred, and bring them to the pool or beach with me. It’s a guaranteed good read with a little romance, a ton of sass, and a decent mix of hijinks & hilarity thrown in for good measure. And her newest book, Road Trip, did not disappoint with any of those categories!

Road Trip follows the two Dunigan sisters, who’ve had a contentious relationship for decades. Older sister Therese is an almost-40 aspiring actress who’s flitted across the country searching for her big break. Maeve has stayed put in Savannah, Georgia, with their ailing mother. After their mother’s passing, the sisters learn that she had donated all of her money to a scamming televangelist, leaving the women without any inheritance except a rainy day fund with stipulations. And the stipulation is delightful. The two must travel to Ireland to track down more information about their Irish ancestor, Kathleen, who came to America in 1926.

What follows is a charmingly Irish jaunt into a tiny town with larger-than-life characters. The pair quickly meet a charming whiskey distiller, a curmudgeonly former aristocrat, an English Cocker Spaniel named Sinead O’Cocker, the town drunk, and a myriad of other vibrant folk. The present-day storyline alternates between Therese and Maeve’s point of view, with a few precious chapters from Kathleen back in the 1920s & 30s as well.

This was a perfect summer read, with some intense moments, deep emotional scenes, and an overall sense of literal good fun. I was smiling from ear to ear when I wasn’t literally grasping my chest in fear. I’d highly recommend this book, and specifically the audiobook narrated by Kathleen McInerney, which includes some delightful Irish brogue.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the free advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review!