The Map That Leads to You: A Novel

"It was pretty to think so, wasn't it?"
I absolutely love, and hate, and love this book! Such an inspiring tale of love, adventure, and life lessons all rolled into one heart wrenching tale between two people on a quest with Hemingway through Europe. Jack and Heather's story begins on a train, which propels their relationship into the stratosphere and gives it a mystical quality. The characters are real, and their relationship true, which brings such poignancy, that you become invested in them and are rooting for them throughout all the enigmatic tones of their journey together.

"Love finds us, passes through us, continues." as it does in The Map that Leads to You. This one will stay with you long after you've put it down. The numerous show more highlights and rereads are already upon me, as I love, and hate, and simply love this book.

*I received an arc from NetGalley for an honest review show less

A perfect easy-read book with a little romance, a lot of travel, and a dash of mystery. Heather and her friends take a backpacking trip after college before their "real" lives begin. On a train from Paris to Amsterdam, Heather meets Jack. He's wonderful in all the right ways. They all continue to explore Europe and Heather's relationship with Jack deepens. They have just the right amount of witty banter and creative adventures to make the reader want to be right there with them. 2/3 of the way thru the book will give a tug to your heartstrings. Descriptions are great, emotions feel valid. I can see this book becoming a movie.

I have come to the conclusion that good dialogue can either make or break a book. In the case of "The Map That Leads To You" the dialogue was monumental to making this love story the success that it is. A happenstance meeting on a train ride in Europe starts a whirlwind travel adventure of two fated lovers. I will admit the initial encounter almost had me close the book. Their snarky battle of words told me the inevitable ending, but because their flirtatious bickering was so believable and the underlying attraction written so obvious (as opposed to the clichéd let's drag out this supposed dislike as long as we can) it kept me completely engaged. No false leads, no playing with the reader. Heather and her to long time best girlfriends show more are traveling Europe after graduation and before embarking on their lifetime careers. Jack is mostly solo, following his deceased grandfather's journal, written after the war and before coming back to his farm in Vermont. It's a very romantic, budding romance with a lot of sightseeing and off-the-wall adventure. Jack is a practicing bohemian and Heather is a month away from corporate in New York. The sidebar relations of each of their friends are like perfect condiments on your favorite sandwich. The textbook breakaways are written well enough to be forgiven and when that happy medium is attained it makes the impending twist a real befuddlement. To go any further would give away the ending and deprive you of a rich experience and feeling of completion. I loved the scenery in this book and the out of the ordinary way that they got to see Europe. When this book hits the market in June I recommend snapping it up. show less

"A romantic, vivid novel that takes place in the tender time of a young woman’s life: Heather has graduated from college and is traveling around Europe with her two best friends. She’s left school responsibility behind and adult responsibility is looming, but this is her one, ONE last summer to be free. Heather doesn’t expect to even meet Jack, let alone fall in love with him. Jack is an enigmatic Vermonter a few years older than she is, who is following his grandfather’s journal to various cities around Europe. But in the same way that forces are bringing Jack and Heather together, life and duty are pushing them apart. And Jack has a secret that is going to change absolutely everything."

I am willing to admit that I am a sucker show more for a good love story and though there were moments where I wasn't sure how I initially felt about the relationship between Heather and Jack, my heart was rallying for them in a big way.
Heather and Jack are such like-able characters. They have wit, charm, and a fabulous sense of humor. The dialogue/banter between them is enjoyable to witness and though it moved quickly, their love was beautiful to watch take shape. Of course, with every great love story, there is always something else lurking in the shadows. Jack's secret is that something else.
In addition to the sweetness of the Heather and Jack romance, you have the friendships that Heather has with Amy and Constance. How she speaks of her friends gives you everything you need to see how pure Heather's heart is and how much you want her to find her happy ending - whatever that may need to be.
Aside from the obvious love story, I also wanted to point out how beautifully the writer takes you through each city in this romantic European adventure. You are absolutely there with the characters, experiencing the culture in a new way.
This story flows naturally and does not disappoint. If you are a fan of NA/chicklit, I highly recommend this read.

I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. show less

image Kudos to J.P. Monninger for her storytelling in “The Map That Leads to You” by J.P. Monninger. OMG! I can’t believe that a book can emit so many emotions. I loved everything about this book, was happy, got angry, and cried hysterically.

The genres of this novel are Fiction, Women’s Fiction and Romance. This book has a touch of Nicholas Sparks, who does have a quote on the cover, “Romantic and Unforgettable.”

The characters are complicated and complex. They are mostly likeable, and at times not so likeable. This book reminds me of a rite of passage. Three friends who started college, graduate and celebrate by vacationing in Europe before they have to face their “grown up” lives and responsibility. The three young show more women start their adventure and meet some interesting characters that will change their lives forever!

I love the way that the author describes the many destinations in Europe. I felt and probably wished I was going for the ride on their adventure. One of the characters that the girls meet has his grandfather’s journal with drawings of pictures and places that the grandfather had been to. The author describes many of these places of personal significance to some of the characters.

In my opinion, the author describes this novel as a map of life, of youth, of growth, of learning, of disappointment, of happiness, of love and hope. Life is a cycle and this book is a cycle of life., a journey of life

I highly recommend this book and suggest that you have a box of tissues and a shoulder to cry on. Happy Reading! This is a book that I will read again and again! I can see this being made into a movie!! show less

I received an e-copy of this ebook for my honest review.
This book had the same effect on me that John Green’s “The Fault In Our Stars” had. No, I take that back. This book had more of an effect on me. With John Green’s book I knew after a few chapters that things may not end well, and I cried. But, it was at The End of that book that I had a book hangover and an ugly cry. In this book I didn’t realize how bad things were until the last chapter of Part 1. And that is when I had an ugly cry. By the time I was three quarters through Part 2 was when I had my Big Ugly Cry. At the end, I had my book hangover, and another Big, Big Ugly Cry. I am getting this book in print, because this is one of those books that you have to have. You show more need it so you can hold it, touch the pages, and press against you when you have the Big Ugly Cry. This is one of those books that you get so, when you need to, you can have a Big Ugly Cry. It’s a book you’ll have with you until the end of your days. It is That Good! show less

(3.4)Some great moments, totally addictive to read. Still puzzling out how it falls flat. There was a lot of good passages and dialogue but something felt off...

Review to be continued maybe.