ARC Review: The Long Way Around by Quinn Anderson

The Long Way Around

by Quinn Anderson
Published by Riptide Publishing
LGBT, contemporary, romance

A wrong turn could lead to Mr. Right. 

Sam Cooper is the definition of an introvert: shy, bookish, and the sort to think a wild Friday involves ordering takeout. He enjoys his quiet life, but after a bad breakup, he's been yearning for a change of scenery. Luckily, his best friend and former college roommate has the solution.

Wesley Reed - a jokester and expert Sam-handler - proposes an epic road trip to a wedding across the country. They're both between jobs and boyfriends. Why not hit the open road and make some memories?

Stuck in close quarters for the first time since their dorm days, they're both surprised at the heat that springs up between them. As best friends, they're shared so much over the years, so why does sharing a hotel room - and occasionally a bed - make them want more? Chemistry this smoldering is hard to ignore, but there are road blocks to their romance. Wesley's keeping a secret, and Sam can't rely on Wesley to drag him out of his comfort zone forever. If they're not careful, their relationship may take the ultimate wrong turn.

The Long Way Around is friends to lovers with an epic road trip to Montana, where Sam's sister is getting married. Sam and Wesley are best friends and out of jobs and boyfriends at the time, which makes it perfect time for road trip to Montana through all the major sites such as NYC, Washington DC, small towns, and New Orleans. At least Wesley is convinced of that, Sam's more unsure if he wants to go - mostly because he doesn't want to face his relatives in the wedding. Cool premise, right? Road trip, close quarters, and best friends sounds really good, especially with contrast between introvert Sam and outgoing Wesley, and oh boy do they have chemistry sizzling between them!

However, there was just a little bit too much telling for my taste, especially when it came to the destinations on the road trip. There was usually just a side note what Sam and Wesley had done, like a list with boxes to tick, but not actually taking the reader there with them. The focus of the story is the relationship and those moments that drove it forward, and everything else was skimmed over; it was disappointing because I was waiting for the road trip and all the destinations. However, Sam and Wesley's friendship and development of deeper feelings was extremely well done. A believable transition, and I never doubted their feelings for each other as they cared for each other very much. It felt natural, especially the pondering if it was worth possibly ruining their friendship that was so important for both of them.

Most problematic for me was Wesley's secret. It was easy enough to guess, but that wasn't the problem for me. It is just something I'm not comfortable with, and if I had known The Long Way Around tried tackling the subject, I most likely would have skipped it. Besides that, Wesley's secret wasn't handled with the care and seriousness it needed.

All in all, I feel like The Long Way Around is an okay read - it didn't wow me, but it wasn't bad either. I think the problem was that it had too much going on: the road trip, emerging relationship, Wesley's secret, and Sam and Wesley's futures (both between jobs, future uncertain). A little less stuff and more focus on few aspects would have done wonders for the story. Anyway, it's not a bad book - it might entirely be about finding the right reader for the story. I wasn't swept off my feet, but it was enjoyable enough, and if you find the blurb irresistible, you should give it a go.

3 of 5 stars

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Thank you, Riptide Publishing, for giving me a chance to read and review The Long Way Around!

(A copy of this ebook was provided in return for an honest review.)