Reviews

Book: The Geography of Lost Things by Jessica Brody

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The Geography of Lost Things by Jessica Brody

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publish Date:  October 2, 2018
Synopsis:  In this romantic road trip story perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Morgan Matson, a teen girl discovers the value of ordinary objects while learning to forgive her absent father.

A lot can happen on the road from lost to found…

Ali Collins doesn’t have room in her life for clutter or complications. So when her estranged father passes away and leaves her his only prized possession—a 1968 Firebird convertible—Ali knows she won’t keep it. Not when it reminds her too much of all her father’s unfulfilled promises. And especially not when a buyer three hundred miles up the Pacific coast is offering enough money for the car to save her childhood home from foreclosure. There’s only one problem, though. Ali has no idea how to drive a stick shift.

But her ex-boyfriend, Nico, does.

The road trip gets off to a horrible start, filled with unexpected detours, roadblocks, and all the uncomfortable tension that comes with being trapped in a car with your ex. But when Nico starts collecting items from the quirky strangers they meet along the way, Ali starts to sense that these objects aren’t random. Somehow they seem to be leading her to an unknown truth about her father. A truth that will finally prove to Ali that some things—even broken things—are worth saving.

I have enjoyed books by Jessica Brody for a while. Since her early books, I have always enjoyed her different stories with beautifully written characters. I tend to cry in a lot of them, and I wasn’t surprised when I had a moment of tears in this. So fair warning, there may be tears.

The Geography of Lost Things by Jessica Brody is a beautiful story about finding yourself in the shadow of grief. At first, I wasn’t sure if I was ready – 1) Contemporary stories and I don’t always get along; 2) I almost always avoid stories about grief. But Brody knows her audience, her returning and potential new readers, and her words held my hand throughout the whole story.

The Geography of Lost Things is a story about Ali, a young girl who has had a broken childhood. Her father’s departures throughout her childhood take a toil on her and her mother, leaving a trail of financial and emotional despair. Whether her father was physically or emotionally present, she had loved him. Until she didn’t. The story begins with news of her father’s death, and immediately, the theme of the story takes place. Ali is left with a car, which presents as a solution to their debt. The catch? She has to drive the car to the buyer with an unexpected guest.

Estranged fathers are always a touchy subject. I’ve read many stories where stereotypically, fathers and daughters either love each other or hate each other. Brody did very well talking about the fine line of the in between. She sets the story with flashbacks, and in these moments we see a painted picture of how things were, how things progressed, and the demise of the end. The moments were mimicked Ali’s feelings towards her father, all in varying stages of her life.

There are more components of the story, and a character that I loved. And while I want to continue this conversation for forever, I’ll minimize what I say to protect spoilers.

I loved this story. The writing was beautiful, the pacing was natural, and the characters? I loved them. Brody is an author that I will always support, because her writing seems like it was meant for me.

 

**Thank you to the publisher for providing an advanced copy for an honest review. My thoughts are my own. **

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