Road Trip by Mary Kay Andrews

A Mary Kay Andrews Read with a Travel Twist

If you are looking for a Road Trip review before picking up Mary Kay Andrews’ newest beach read, I would say this is a fun, easy recommendation for readers who like family drama, a little mystery, and a strong sense of place. I listened to an ARC audiobook through Libro.fm, and it gave me exactly the kind of relaxing, entertaining reading experience I usually want from Andrews.

Mary Kay Andrews is one of my mother’s favorite authors and one of mine, too. We both read at least a few of her books each year, especially when we are looking for something relaxing, fun, and enjoyable. I also recently had the chance to meet her at Poe and Company Bookstore near Alpharetta, where she was in conversation with a few other authors while promoting Road Trip.

She really is the queen of beach reads, and she does such a good job creating Southern characters who feel realistic and a little over the top in the best way. In Road Trip, she gives readers more of that same energy, but this time the story starts in one of my favorite cities: Savannah, Georgia.

What It Is About

The book follows sisters Maeve and Therese Dunigan, who are forced to reconnect after their mother’s death. Maeve has been the responsible sister, staying close and caring for their mother through her recent illness. Therese has been all over the place trying to kick-start her acting career, with little success.

Shortly after the funeral, the sisters realize their mother’s estate is in serious trouble. Their mother gave most of her money to an evangelist who bled her dry, to the point that she had taken out a second mortgage on the family home.

There is not a big inheritance waiting for them, but their uncle, who is helping with the estate, tells them their mother set aside money for the sisters to travel to Ireland and learn more about their family history. Maeve and Therese are so overwhelmed by the financial mess, and so uninterested in spending time together, that they do not see this trip as a gift at all.

Therese, however, discovers that a portrait their mother had hanging in the house all those years may actually be worth something. After doing a little investigating, she decides it might be worth going to Ireland to find out more. With few prospects for solving the estate problems and both sisters currently unemployed, Maeve and Therese head off together.

What Worked for Me

Once in Ireland, the sisters begin investigating the portrait and their family history while staying at the estate of their maybe-relatives. There is mystery, a little romance, and a whole lot of funny Mary Kay Andrews character interaction. That mix is what makes her books so enjoyable for me.

I also liked the dual timeline. The book explores both the sisters’ discoveries in the present and their long-lost relative’s experiences in Ireland and America. That touch of historical fiction gives the story more depth while still keeping the easy, entertaining feeling I want from one of Andrews’ novels.

The setting is another big strength. One of my favorite things about Southern writers is their ability to create a strong sense of place, and Andrews does that here. The book starts in Savannah, but once the story moves to Ireland, it still feels vivid and inviting.

Where It Fell Short

This is not a heavy or especially complicated read, and I do not think it is trying to be. Readers who want a tightly plotted mystery or a deeper historical novel may find it a little light. For me, though, that lighter touch worked because I went in wanting something fun, warm, and easy to stay with.

The family conflict between Maeve and Therese is also familiar territory, but Andrews makes it enjoyable through the characters, setting, and humor. I cared enough about the sisters to keep listening and wanted to see how their trip would change them.

Who Should Read It

I would recommend Road Trip to anyone who enjoys a good beach read, a fun mystery, or a little light family drama. If you already love Mary Kay Andrews, this has many of the things you probably come to her books for: likable characters, messy family history, humor, setting, and just enough mystery to keep the pages turning.

If you are looking for something very dark, literary, or suspense-heavy, this probably is not the book I would hand you first. But if you want a relaxing story with sister drama, a possible valuable painting, an Ireland trip, and a few twists along the way, this is a very pleasant pick.

Final Thoughts

I really enjoyed Road Trip. The plot was easy to follow, with some nice twists and turns, and as always with Mary Kay Andrews, the characters were easy to fall in love with. You want to keep reading so you can cheer them on.

My rating is 4.0 stars. This is exactly the kind of book I like to reach for when I want something comforting, entertaining, and transportive.