Earlier this year I read It Goes Without Saying and loved the story. Taylor Danae Colbert is now back with Bumps Along the Way and I loved it even more than her first book! Thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC to read and review!

When Luci left Dalesville to pursue a career on the west coast, Della always secretly hoped that one day, her best friend would make her way back.

Luci is back, alright. But it’s because Della’s husband is killed, just as she’s starting her second trimester.

Now, Luci finds herself sitting at prenatal appointments with Della, buying diapers, and trying to help Della put her life back together.

And all the while, Luci is trying to avoid her own heartbreak in the form of Dayton Briggs, her high school-turned-college sweetheart who broke her heart all those years ago.

As Della is navigating her new life and preparing for motherhood, Luci has to decide if she wants to escape back to the west coast, or stay in Dalesville and risk having her heart broken all over again.

Review

Taylor already impressed me with her not so typical friends to lovers story in It Goes Without Saying, but she took her storytelling to a whole new level with Bumps Along the Way! This story definitely has a special place in my heart.

Bumps Along the Way starts out with us metting Della. She’s pregnant and while morning sickness is a big thing with her, she’s excited for the birth of their first child. That is until tragedy strikes. Della’s husband gets killed and this book had me crying along with Della. We only learn a little bit about him, but he seemed like the sweetest husband anyone could want!

Then comes Luci, Della’s best friend since childhood, who lives on the west coast building an amazing career! She’s basically all work. After some heartache from the past, relationships aren’t her thing!

After tragedy strikes, Luci rushes back home to be with Della, who of course is experiencing her worth nightmare while being pregnant. Luci and Della’s friendship is amazing and is one of my favorite things about this whole book! Luci is willing to give up everything just to make sure Della is okay. Della’s child is so important to Luci.

If you’re looking for a romance, Bumps Along the Way isn’t the book you’re looking for. Yes, we do get some romance. Luci runs into Dayton, the one who broke her heart. Things turn out to be something she didn’t expect, but is she willing to open up her heart all over again?

Bumps Along the Way does give you a lot of girl power! Luci and Della’s friendship is so special and is basically what this book is all about! Along with that is shows just how strong women can really be. Della lost so much and is facing her biggest challenge yet, raising a baby alone! Yes, she has her support system, but in the end it’s up to her!

During this book, Della slowly gets stronger and realizes how much she is capable of. She realizes she’s going to be okay and is open to see where life takes her. What I loved the most about this book is that the author didn’t introduce a new love to Della. In a lot of romances we see a prince charming coming to save the day, but Della realizes she doesn’t need a man to be whole.

This definitely isn’t a romance, but a book filled with girlpower! Even though something horrible happens, they learn to go on and remember the good times. Della and Luci will always have a special place in my heart!

It’s almost hard to put in words how this book made me feel! This author is definitely good in more than one genre and I can’t wait to see what she gives us next!