Release Date - July 29, 2014
Publisher Website - Harlequin TeenPublisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 352 pages
My Rating - 3/5
**received in exchange for an honest review**
Here is the Goodreads synopsis
Five strangers. Countless adventures. One epic way to get lost.A road trip with a mysterious purpose. Four very different people linked by a chance meeting with one girl. Let's Go Lost had all the ingredients to be a fantastic summer read. It hinted at secrets, and romance, and friendships. While there is much to love within these pages, there were elements that caused me not to fall in love with it the way I had hoped to.
Four teens across the country have only one thing in common: a girl named LEILA. She crashes into their lives in her absurdly red car at the moment they need someone the most.
There's HUDSON, a small-town mechanic who is willing to throw away his dreams for true love. And BREE, a runaway who seizes every Tuesday—and a few stolen goods along the way. ELLIOT believes in happy endings…until his own life goes off-script. And SONIA worries that when she lost her boyfriend, she also lost the ability to love.
Hudson, Bree, Elliot and Sonia find a friend in Leila. And when Leila leaves them, their lives are forever changed. But it is during Leila's own 4,268-mile journey that she discovers the most important truth— sometimes, what you need most is right where you started. And maybe the only way to find what you're looking for is to get lost along the way.
Al Alsaid's writing is clean, to the point, and enjoyable. It helped the flow of the novel, and made it an easy read. His writing is what will make me check out another novel by him, as I did enjoy this aspect of Let's Get Lost.
The first 'section' of the novel is Hudson's story. It didn't connect with me at all. I would say it's my least favourite out of the all 'sections' included, and sadly, it also the first one we get to read. It started the novel on the wrong note for me, and this echoed throughout the rest of the novel.
The relationship in Hudson's story is the definition of insta-love and it painted Leila as a character who exists merely to fix other characters problems, and one who has very little characterization of her own. A manic pixie dream girl if you will. Sadly, this is the case through each of the sections. She floats into each of the character's lives and is there to fix their problems, or help them in some way, and move on. She is instantly accepted, and trusted by these strangers, and it made connecting with her nearly possible. She should have drove the story forward, instead she felt like an afterthought (until she becomes the focus later on).
Bree's 'section' was a particular favourite. Her motto of seizing every Tuesday felt invigorating. Her story may have resonated the deepest because what kept her running felt plausible, and the emotions she struggles with are all too easily felt.
Elliott's journey was a rather fun, charming ode to movies and taking chances for love. His story read, and felt like the 80's movies he loved so much. It was also the first instance where Leila's insertion into his life felt realistic and rather sweet. It may have been the most enjoyable section, and I could have read an entire book of this story.
Sonia's story is one of loss, love, and grief. It could have been poignant and beautiful, but I didn't feel as connected to it as I did the previous two stories. There were bittersweet moments that kept the story together, and the message is ultimately uplifting in this one, so it does fit in with the over theme.
Each of the stories are a snapshot of different kinds of love in a variety of forms and stages. It's only when you've read the full novel can you appreciate how this theme is woven into each story, tying them all together.
The novel comes together beautifully in it's final section and it's message of how we can touch other people's lives, no matter how briefly, shines brightly. We finally get a glimpse of who Leila is, finally, as the novel reaches it's ending. Sadly, it may be a little too late. This is one that is made worth the read because of how the author brings it all together, but I am not sure it's enough to make up for the lack of connection that preceded it.
