Jannelle Reads | Books & Lifestyle Blog: Release Day Review

Hello everyone and happy Tuesday!

Usually, when I pick up a Young Adult novel, it's usually that of the fantastical variety. No shame because I love my YA Fantasy and Sci-Fi novels.

Before beginning to read Let's Get Lost, I saw a lot of hype on social media - Twitter, Facebook and even on Pinterest - and was kind of excited to jump in before even realizing that I was selecting to read a book outside of my comfort zone. Ever since reading Sarah Dessen's Dreamland and This Lullaby, I like to steer clear of the YA Fiction genre so as not to cry my eyes out (though I sincerely loved both Dessen books) and found myself pleasantly surprised.

Here's the blurb found on the back cover:

Five strangers. Countless adventures. One epic way to get lost.

Four teens across the country have only one thing in common: a girl named LEILA. She crashes into their lives in her absurdly red car at the moment they need someone the most.

There's HUDSON, a small-town mechanic who is willing to throw away his dreams for true love. And BREE, a runaway who seizes every Tuesday—and a few stolen goods along the way. ELLIOT believes in happy endings…until his own life goes off-script. And SONIA worries that when she lost her boyfriend, she also lost the ability to love.

Hudson, Bree, Elliot and Sonia find a friend in Leila. And when Leila leaves them, their lives are forever changed. But it is during Leila's own 4,268-mile journey that she discovers the most important truth— sometimes, what you need most is right where you started. And maybe the only way to find what you're looking for is to get lost along the way.

This book follows 5 different characters, each struggling with something in life - love, hope, loss, goals and acceptance - at least that's how I see it, anyways.
On the front cover of the book, you see what looks to be a road map with different spots highlighted along the way - kind of like pit stops. These are labeled as Loss, Hope and Love. I first thought that each of these feelings/stops on the map were significant to each character, individually, but in reality these emotions can be used to describe all of the characters in relation to whichever problem they are currently facing.
All these characters that we are introduced to are connected by one person - Leila. She is on a road trip to visit the Northern Lights on road trip up, and makes some friends along the way - Hudson, Bree, Elliot and Sonia.
Hudson is a small-town mechanic with dreams to become a doctor. When Leila meets Hudson, he is getting ready for the interview of his life which could guarantee him a full scholarship for Ole Miss.
Bree is a teenage girl, running away from her problems back home (and OK, maybe her sister). She is looking to hitch a ride wherever the driver is willing to take her when she runs into Leila.
Elliott is an 80's movie buff and love-scorned on his prom night when Leila's (and her car) meet him.
Sonia is celebrating her (dead) ex-boyfriend's sister's marriage and dealing with the guilt of a new love when she meets Leila.
And Leila - well, you'll have to read until the end to find out her deal and why those Northern Lights are so important to her... or they used to be.

All in all, Let's Get Lost is laugh-out-loud funny, provocatively thoughtful and insightful all at once. You won't be able to put it down and if you're like me, you'll be left wondering what all these characters got up to once Leila left them to continue their own journeys. And while I love reading series, I think this is a perfect standalone novel - you receive a somewhat "closure" at the end of Leila's visits with these friends she makes along the way but are also left curious as to what they will be facing on their personal road trips to come. Which is, you know, imperative to a kick-ass novel. When I am left thinking about the characters for hours or days after I have finished reading a book, it's a good one.

I also wanted to mention that it did NOT make me cry. Thank you, Adi Alsaid, for making me realize that there is more to YA Fiction than the promise of tears.

Basic info. about this book:

Name: Let's Get Lost

Author: Adi Alsaid
Review Source: Provided by Publisher (at RT14) in exchange for an honest review.

Publishing Company: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: July 29, 2014

Genre: Young Adult, Fiction, Contemporary, Romance(ish)

Rating (out of 5): 4.5

Recommend? Yes!

Where it can be purchased: The Book Depository | B&N | Amazon

Author online: goodreads | website | Facebook | Twitter

Hope you enjoyed the review and I will be seeing you very soon!

&& Because I had to, don't forget to: