Never in a million years would I have pictured myself as an axe-wielding, dragon lady, chopping up multi-colored flannel shirts into my very own plaid mulch. But here I am, chopping away my frustrations.It all started when my brother, Paul, convinced me to go on one last family road trip across the Mother Road with him and my dad.. Just like old times, right? Wrong. What Paul fails to mention is … is his best man, Porter, will be joining us, who just so happens to be my childhood crush and the man who broke my heart four years ago. What is supposed to be a fun, family bonding experience across Route 66 turns into a war of pranks, awkward moments and bathrooms full of dirty flannel shirts and day old beard clippings. Paul’s know-it-all attitude and Porter’s devilish charm brings me to the brink of my sanity on my seven day trek across the United States with three bearded men in a small 1980’s RV
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In The Mother Road, Meghan Quinn (author of The Virgin Romance Novelist) creates a crazy, nostaligic, tender road trip book that takes the younger sister/older brother’s best friend crush and turns it into a mature relationship — with plenty of obstacles along the journey. A fabulous romantic comedy, this standalone has heart — and plenty of laughs.
I floved this book! I have not laughed this hard while reading a story in a very long time. Marley, Paul & Bernie take a family adventure driving Route 66 in an old RV to finish the trip their mother planned. The addition of Porter, Paul’s best friend and Marley’ s childhood love interest to the trip, created so many stomach grabbing, breath stoppingly hysterical moments. Marley & Paul are the BEST brother & sister duo. Bernie is the father some of us wished we had. Those killer eyebrows – LOL. Porter & Marley connect on route 66 during the family trip. They are one hot and steamy couple. A sweet journey, steamy times and HEA for all.
I didn’t know what to expect from this book because I downloaded it based off a recommendation in a group on FB. I didn’t read the blurb, just downloaded it. I’m SO glad I did! I laughed my as* off, I cried, I wanted to throw and scream my kindle at some parts, and kick Porter in the balls SO many times and tell him to man the f*ck up and tell her his true feelings. Let’s say I went through some emotions I loved it so much.
This book was humorous and sweet. God, I loved Porter and how much of a softy/good guy he was. Paul, god not so much. He was funny but yet….. good lord. This is another Meghan Quinn win for me.
I might have peed my pants…
Okay, that’s not quite true, but I was damn close. Meghan Quinn proves once again it is not safe to read/listen to her books when in bed with a sleeping partner. I couldn’t supress the giggles, guffaws, and the “losing your mind, abs hurt, unstoppable laughing your ass off that starts with shudders and turns into an errupting volcano of tremors and sound” laughs. Not only did I wake him, keep him up, shake the mattress with supressed bouts of snort laughs, stomach clenching hoots, and generally disrupted his REM cycle with giggles that slipped out but I couldn’t control the tears either. I laughed so hard I cried multiple times. I laugh/cried so hard I almost puked and then Meghan gave me a real reason to puke.
Beware of old people especially around Blue Whales…
Meghan Quinn gave me the best ab workout I’ve had in months. I am appalled, horrified, and still unable to stop snickering at the things said, done, and thought on these pages/words. Meghan Quinn has both traumatized and enticed me. I am trying to decide if a road trip with her would be as traumatic as it was in this book. I’m almost certain it would be worth it anyway!
This laugh out loud novel will have people around you questioning your sanity. LISTEN OR READ RESPONSIBLY. (Means not in bed with you partner, probably should avoid public as well! I looked like a crazy person wiping tears and laughing so hard I was hunched over on Interstate 80.)
Love love love this book! Be prepared to snort laugh out loud!
*4 Stars*
Not really sure where to start with this one. I enjoyed this book, but probably not as much as other books I have read by Meghan Quinn. The storyline is a bit over the top, but at the same time, I think thats the whole point of it.
I had moments where I was literally laughing out loud. But the kind of laughing out loud where I was holding my stomach and rolling around. Can’t see straight, had to put my kindle down laughter. I loved some of the hilarity in this book, but sometimes it was too much.
I liked the characters in the book, but I think the Dad was probably my favourite. There were plenty of heartfelt moments too, particularly at the end which was a nice change from the other parts of the book.
I did enjoy this, it just wasn’t my fave of hers.
Omg this book was excellent I laughed so hard at points I had tears coming out of my eyes and my stomach hurt. Love Marley, Porter,Paul, and Bernie. This book had all the feels. Great characters and storyline Highly recommended. I loved this book
Meghan does it again. This book is so full of feels and laugh out loud funny stuff.
Marley is on a road trip with her dad and brother kind of a last hurrah before her brother gets married. Following Route 66 something her mom had planned for them. To her surprise her brother invited his best friend Porter who Marley had been in love with forever.
She is clumsy, scattered, awkward and sweet remembering her mom as well.
I loved this book tears and laughter.
I loved this book so so much. I read it in less than 48 hours. I really loved Porter and Marley and all the characters. What a great road trip romance. This book has it all: humour, steamy sex, romance, family.
Omg this is my first Meghan Quinn book and I’m totally impressed that this is the first author to make me lol so many times besides Tara Sivec. I was blown away by all the banter and pranks. I’m so glad my friend recommended me this book!
So freaking hilarious! Worthy of your time to read!!!!
I literally burst out laughing throughout this book. Yes, there was romance but these characters were regular people with regular lives. Their journey on the road was so well written! It was hysterical yet whimsical too. I would definitely recommend this standalone to anyone who enjoys humor and romance. It’s long but the build-up of stories is what defined this family and their Mother Road experience.
So good!
Meghan Quinn Hilarious
5 Stars
I took my time reading this one because I really wanted to savor this book. This book was Hilarious! I don’t think I’ve ever laughed at a book as hard as I did with this one. At one point I had tears rolling down my face from laughing so hard.
It’s truly a fantastic that I’m glad I decided to read. I love how disfuctional the family is but at the same time they are perfect. And the road trip reminds me of the movie RV it’s just to funny. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a good laugh.
4.5 stars
I absolutely ADORED this book! It was sweet, relatable, heartwarming, romantic & HELLA FUNNY!! It’s one of those stories that you never want to end but you can’t wait to devour its epilogue. 🙂
The characters in this book were EVERYTHING! Porter’s boyish charm, Marley’s sass, Paul’s eccentricities, Bernie’s presidential curse words … #priceless. The road trip games, the rules, the pranks & the traditions made for some of the most memorable scenes! Loved, loved, LOVED them; especially when Porter spooked Bernie & Paul thought he burnt his buns!!
Highly recommend this to anyone looking for a fun, entertaining & unputdownable read!
I will definitely be checking out more books by this author. The Virgin Romance Novelist, here I come!
I let everyone know that Meghan is in my top five authors. Even strangers that are looking at books at the store. I give zero pinches of Squirrel poop that they might not want my advice. I seriously want her to be my BFF. That being said, I love (and I mean LOVE) everything this woman writes. Every book vies to become my new favorite. Several come close but NONE of them can top this book. NONE of them. This is the best RomCom I have ever read. I cannot count the times that I had to stop reading because I was crying so hard from laughter that I couldn’t see and my glasses were fogged up.
This book wasn’t just funny though as there were moments of sweet as well as moments of reflection. The roadtrip was started to fulfill a promise (which invoked a sadness because of that reason). The book was heartfelt and poignant at the same time as being hilarious.
Marley, a beauty blogger (who gives some great tips), is one of the funniest of Meghan’s female characters. Paul, her brother, I wanted to murder but also hug had me dying at some of the pranks. Her dad was pure joy. My heart for his loss and the purpose of this last trip. Yet, that didn’t stop me from laughing with him numerous times. Porter, Holy sex on a stick. He was the President and founder of SwoonCentral. He looked at Marley like I want a man to look at me ( a look of love at the same time as pure moments of I want to get it on with this woman).
“I’ll admit it, I stare, and for longer than I should…I just can’t seem to peel my eyes off of her. She’s sexy, she’s sensual, she’s a tight little pocket of sassy and sweet. We’re supposed to be just friends, but if she ever gave me an inkling of anything more, I would hop on that train and ride her fucking caboose like I was the conductor. Choo, choo…”
I live for books. I read all sorts of genres. I read a lot of dark or angst filled books so I need something that can bring me joy to balance the dark. That is what I love about Meghan. She is the light to my dark, the happy to my sad, and ultimately is proof magic exists. She could rewrite the dictionary and I would still read it. I am sure it would be a remake of Urban dictionary and it would be awesome. Do yourself a favor. Read this book. You are welcome.
The Mother Road, is one of those stories that just sticks with you, well after you’ve finished reading. It was probably one of the funniest, most heartfelt books I’ve read in a long time.
Marley is a girl, she’s a blogger and she loves what she does. Four years ago a boy broke her heart. Not someone she’ll ever forget. On a clear sunny day, Her Brother and Father pull up in the old family RV aka Tacy. To do the RoadTrip that they’ve been destined to do! Their mother who pased away when they were younger, had planned this trip. And in honor of her, Marley’s brother Paul decides he wants to do it as part of his Bachelor party. Going on the road with his family and… you guessed it the best friend Preston. Not someone Marley ever thought she would really see again. Or cross paths with.
Let me just say.. Preston and Marley are probably one of best characters in a story. That I’ve ever met. I loved how Marley was with all of them. Yes, she could come off bitchy, but on the inside she was all heart, just like her mother. The series of events that follow this foursome, are hilarious but yet in a lot of ways heartbreaking.
‘.. But life isn’t worth living if you never put your heart on the line, if you don’t try new things. Pain can be short lived, ‘could have beens’ will live with you forever. Don’t live in a bowl full of regrets.”
This is the first book I’ve read written by Quinn. Just based off of this book, I can’t wait to read more from her. Overall, I can’t give anything less than a 5! I had a connection with these characters and seriously loved this story
I absolutely adore this book. First of all, it’s hilarious. I felt like I was reverted back to my childhood, being that inappropriately immature child that snickered at everything. OK, who am I kidding? I still do that. Let me start off with saying how much I love Marley. She is a breath of fresh air. She’s witty, stubborn, loyal, lovable and a huge spitfire.
” It’s true; I used to kick Paul a lot, especially in the balls. If he’s unable to have kids with Savannah, he can legitimately blame me. As a little sister, watching your brother buckle over in pain from getting hit in the crotch is just too precious. I promise, he deserved every blow to the nuts.”
The journey that the McMann family takes down The Mother Road (Route 66) is hysterical. From a dad who uses presidential names to swear, a brother who is a nerdy intellectual drama queen and a best friend who is a handsome rugged man that likes to instigate things between the siblings, we get one hell of a ride. It’s like everyone on the trip is that crazy uncle that always makes a scene at the family reunion.
Besides my growing lady crush on Marley, I loved the story of her relationship with Porter. It shows both of their vulnerable sides. There was a great mix of bringing out their love story without being overshadowed by the humor.
I can’t wait to see what Meghan writes for us next!
I’m gasping for breath, laughing and crying uncontrollably. I went into this book blind, and I’m glad I did. Two months after losing my own mother, I may not have gone for a book about a family road tripping across America to honor one of their mother’s last wishes. But this is far from a maudlin story; on the contrary, it’s an over the top humorous story about family dynamics while traveling in a smelly tuna can. It’s the story about a father doing his best to give his grown children a slice of the past, a drama queen brother celebrating his upcoming nuptials, and at its heart a young woman far from her family, and the childhood love who broke her heart. Grieving her mother, still trying years later to forget the love of her life, Marley embarks on a road trip of her mother’s making. Little does she know what awaits her. Porter. In all his grown up manly glory. The four of them journey up Route 66; reminiscing about their shared adventures, creating new memories, all while honoring the woman who loved them all. Did I mention they also torment each other as only family can? In epic, hilarious, and cringe worthy ways. I should have counted the bodily function jokes; they must have numbered in the thousands. Just when you think the author has gone too far, she reins it in and throws in something so wonderfully heartfelt and emotional that it gives you whiplash. Only in the best of ways, though. I loved this book; it’s one of those that will stay with me for a long to come.
Loved it! So funny and sweet- with its over the top potty humor, witty banter, and heartfelt moments. I adored the relationship between Marley, Paul, and the Bern Man. And Porter was just delicious.
Audiobook Review:
“So funny, but so touching!”
Where does The Mother Road rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
Probably somewhere in the middle- it was a very enjoyable listen.
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Mother Road?
I loved the scenes with Porter reminiscing about momma McMann and how wonderful she was to him- I teared up every time.
And when the Bern man would “curse”…so much fun!
What about Greyson Ash and J.F. Harding ’s performance did you like?
J.F. brought a lot of emotion to his performance, it was great. And I liked that Greyson sounded very age appropriate. Her performance was a little awkward at times, there were some pauses between words that threw me off a little, but other than that they both did a terrific job,
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
So many laugh out loud moments! I listened to this on my commute to and from work and I know I had to be getting some looks when I was cracking up!
And times I would be tearing up, and especially at the end I was flat out crying! I listened to the last couple of chapters at home, luckily, because they really did me in.
Any additional comments?
I know this story is a little over the top with some of the humor, but it truly is a really wonderful look at family and friendships. I loved it.
Laughed so much reading this book. Could totally see it as a movie.