You, with a View was a book I saw all over the place this summer and it sounded really good. Our main characters goes on a road trip and is stuck with her high school enemy for two weeks during their time on the road. I finally sat down to read this, so keep on reading to find out more about this book and what I thought!
Two weeks on the road… stuck in a car with your high-school enemy.
Noelle Shepard is grieving the loss of her beloved grandmother when she discovers decades-old photos and letters that hint to a forbidden love in her gram’s past. Needing to know the full story, she creates a TikTok video appealing for information – and it goes viral.
Through her video, she manages to track down her grandmother’s secret love, Paul, who offers to take her on the honeymoon road-trip he and Gram planned but never got to go on.
Noelle jumps at the chance to make this one last connection with her grandmother. There’s just one problem – Paul’s grandson is Noelle’s frustratingly handsome high-school rival Theo.
And Theo has to come, too.
It’s only two weeks. Surely Noelle can survive that long? But with one car between them – and often only one bed – it doesn’t take long for things to heat up…
Review
“Remember nothing lasts forever. You have to hold on to the good things, knowing you may be on borrowed time with them. And with the bad, recognize that eventually it will pass.”
As someone who was raised by my mom and grandmother, I definitely get the special bonds that you can have with your grandmother. It’s such a special bond, so I could definitely understand that Noelle wanted to know more about this secret life her grandmother seemed to have had.
Noelle thought she knew a lot about her grandmother, but when she finds a letter and it appears she had a love that no one seems to know about she wants to know more. She just never expects that her high school enemy recognizes the picture she posts, because Noelle’s grandmother’s forbidden love was Theo’s grandfather.
After losing my grandmother I can understand that Noelle wanted to hold on to her as long as she could. Before going on the road trip she’s kind of lost and not sure what she wants to do in life. Her love of photography seems lost as well. I loved the healing power of this road trip. While learning more about her grandmother’s past, she also finds her love of photography and gets some more confidence. Grieving is something we all do in our own way and I think this was her way in the end.
Then we have Theo. Noelle’s high school rival and someone she was always competing with. Except there is more to Theo than meets the eye. My only complaint is that I would’ve loved a few chapters from his POV. I think the little extra time with him would’ve made me love this story even more.
Watching these two slowly fall for each other while on the road trip with his grandfather was so sweet. I loved the secret game they played. The third act breakup actually worked for me as well, because while some communication would’ve helped, I really understood why the author chose to have it happen.
Besides this amazing emotional and heartwarming story with our main character we also meet some amazing side characters. I loved Noelle’s brother and his girlfriend/her best friend. You, with a View made me happy and had me tearing up at times. Jessica Joyce knows how to hit you in all the feels! I highly recommend this book.
You, with a View has been added to my favorite books of 2023! This was such an emotional ride, but so fun as well. I can’t wait to see what she writes next, because this was her first book. I’ve also come to the conclusion that I love road trip stories. Do you have any favorites? Let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear from you.
