Be it via the Internet or fate that brought this pair together but whatever it was, they were a magical pair.
I loved this book from start to finish. This odd couple of strangers who both felt lost in society as we know it. A shared ed belief in each went a long way.
The magical car share journey will take you on your own journey.

Thank you NetGalley, author Zoe Brisby, and Hodder & Stoughton for giving me a free E-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
5 stars
Alex posted an ad for a ride share in order to get away from his life for awhile. Maxine decides to leave her retirement home in order to make the appointment in Brussels to end her life. That is when Maxine and Alex are matched up for a car share and that is where the book takes off.
This was an amazing book of two people who find themselves on more that just a car share trip, but a trip that will change their lives forever. Both characters were so well written and relatable. I loved how open Maxine was about embracing life and the opportunities that come about during their trip. She was so much fun and definitely what Alex's needs at this time in his life. While she might be chronologically 90 years-old, she has the mental age of someone in their early 20s. She found ways to help Alex with self discovery and trust that were not conventional. She was willing to help others with their griefs even when she herself has had her share of heartaches. I loved her purse! It really must have been borrowed from Mary Poppins. It had not only the average things one might carry in a purse, but also for things that one might need. I liked how she was willing to take charge of how she wanted her life to end.
Alex was such a sweetheart. While he has done all that his parents have asked of him, he is still not sure what he really wants out of his life. With his recent heartbreak, his doctor has diagnosed him with depression. As Maxine gets Alex to embrace life throughout their car share adventures, Alex begins to really see the simple things that can bring him happiness. I loved their relationship and the familiar bond that developed throughout their trip. Alex and Maxine really come to genuinely care for one another by the end. The ending was well satisfying and left me with happy feelings. Overall, I highly recommend this book to those who love road trip adventures. I can't wait to read more books by this author.

I was invited by the publisher to read an advance copy in return for an honest review. Which I am always delighted to be asked, and will always post my reviews.

This is a classic road trip formula. Alex chooses Max from a Car Share website, to travel to Brussels.
Both arrive with assumptions that are no where near the mark. Both make an unlikely car sharing duo with the classic journey learning more about themselves, rather than each other.

I loved this, what follows is a bit slapstick, but the journey they both go on make you stop and think about life, old age and your own choices about how you live your life, and what you expect.

I smiled when we got to the end only noticing at the end that you can email the author to get the 5 year review.

Lovely roadtrip to go on during a Level 5 lockdown, and Max will make you think very carefully about growing old.

An easy read exploring a new friendship across a wide generation gap.
Lots of misunderstandings add to the adventure of the road trip.

Good fun. This book will keep you entertained from the very first line to the very last. A story that starts with mistaken identity of sorts between a young man with depression and an old lady with Alzheimers and as the journey unfolds shows how their particular strengths and weaknesses help to find a perfectly balanced relationship. Not only does Zoe write a sensitive story but she does this with a style that is not only easy to read but well written at the same time. Thank you Netgalley and all for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Everyone knows the old saying - life is a journey, not a destination. That’s certainly true in Zoe Brisby’s uplifting novel, The Car Share.

Doesn’t the setup sound like the book would be bit of a downer? A 20-something man with depression (Alex) and a 90-something woman with early signs of dementia (Maxine) sign up via an online car-sharing service to travel together from France to Belgium. Well, it’s not a downer at all. In fact, the word that continually sprang to mind while I was reading it was “romp.” Romp (noun): a high-spirited, carefree, and boisterous play.

Other apt descriptors would be madcap, zany, and over-the-top. The Car Share may actually be one of the least subtle stories I’ve read in awhile. As the characters make their way through France, their various stops include a Pretty Woman-esque shopping trip, a holdup, and a trust fall exercise gone awry.

The novel is translated from French, which made Maxine’s frequent malapropisms interesting. It took me a few chapters to realize that the numerous misused words were Maxine’s errors and not the translators.

The end of the book includes Maxine and Alex’s Playlist, and the songs really help convey the overall vibe: Aretha Franklin’s “Respect,” Roy Orbison’s “Pretty Woman,” and Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” are just a few. There’s also an Author’s Note with a little Easter egg for those who wish to find it.

My thanks go to Zoe Brisby and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with a gifted copy to review via NetGalley. The Car Share is now available.

By reading the blurb I thought this was going to be a fun light heated read which it wasn't. It was a little heavy but over all very beautiful. Probably just the wrong time for me to read this particular book

What a delight! When I first started reading I thought it might be a sad story. A young man with depression is looking for someone to share a car share with him. Who signs up? An old lady who has been spending her recent years in a nursing home. What ensues is a beautiful and hilarious story of two people helping each other through their issues. It was tons of fun, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a heartwarming and funny tale.

Thank you to NetGalley, Zoe Brisby, and Hodder & Stoughton for allowing me to read and review this book.

Another fabulous, easy to read book that I enjoyed from start to finish!
At times this book had me literally laughing out loud and smiling like a Cheshire cat, because I loved the relationship and humour between the 2 main characters. I adore older people so this road trip sounded like great fun!
Great book, that I would definitely recommend :)

I wanted a nice easy lighthearted read and generally speaking that was what I got. When you keep in mind the book was originally written in French about a trip from France it makes more sense. Even so it wasn’t hilarious and nor did I feel very involved with the two main characters so hence three stars only.

I liked it! I loved the characters. I was expecting more of a romance novel, not so much a women's fiction. I liked the story, but it wasn't my thing.

What happens when a ninety year old (just barely, more like 50 if you ask her) with Alzheimer's and a 26 year old young man battling depression get together for a car share to Brussels?

An unforgettable madcap adventure with characters you grow to love.

I swear my heart swelled up while reading this. Maxine, you are everything I want to be in life. Oh, how I laughed. I giggled every time she pulled an item for her endless handbag. Alarm clock, shoe horn, taser - you name it and she's got it.

I adored watching her relationship with Alex evolve and grow. I enjoyed watching Maxine transform this young man from near debilitating anxiety to learning how to let loose a little.

We are only one this earth for a short time so stop regretting the past and worrying over the future. Both are out of our control. It's time to live fully in the present. I really love the message Brisby was sending us readers. If you are looking for something to warm your heart and tickle your funny bone then look no further as this is the book for you! Highly recommend. 4 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for my copy!

This laugh out loud book, follows the adventures of an elderly lady Maxine and young but depressed Alex on their adventures when they are thrown together on a car share site, both heading for Brussels. A funny yet moving story of how two incredibly different people, can help each other to enjoy life once more.

A wonderfully uplifting, charming, and heartfelt story

Alex, a twenty five year old male, is slowly filling out an online form looking for someone to car share a ride to Brussels as this story begins, his hesitation at each question shows his insecurities and indecisiveness, especially as he is recently diagnosed with depression. The doctor had told him he needed to ’see a therapist, take long walks,’prescribing him antidepressants. He decides to go to Brussels, hoping to find a girl he’d known in Year Five.

Max, Maxine, a ninety year old woman living in a Alzheimer’s care facility replies to Alex’s car share ad, thinking that Alex is short for Alexandra. When Alex arrives Max is standing near where he pulls up, but it takes a while before they realize that they are waiting for each other. What Alex isn’t aware of is why Max wants to go to Brussels, she has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and doesn’t want to spend the rest of her life slowly slipping away. She’s made an appointment to make sure that she doesn’t spend her last good days that way.

’At a certain age, we live more with memories than with the living; friendly shadows inviting us to join them.’

As the drive proceeds, Max’s departure from her care facility eventually comes to the attention of the faculty. Alex is unaware that Max left without ‘permission.’ When someone who had seen her get in his car describes him in an extremely unflattering light, news of her disappearance makes the news, and their innocent drive soon becomes an adventure neither was expecting. Max is quite the character, and I loved the yin and yang of this relationship as their time together brings Alex a bit out of his shell, as Max pushes him to figure out what he really wants for his life. They eventually find their drive fraught with both tension and a growing admiration and love. Maxine also comes a little bit out of her shell, sharing her story more fully as the story progresses.

I doubt I am alone in wanting a brief moment of something lighter, something that offered a brief respite after more this year plus that I’m sure we can agree has been difficult, at best. This was what I was looking for, and more. I hope this is made into a film starring Betty White as Max, something we can see in an actual movie theatre when this is all over.

Published: 25 Mar 2021

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Hodder and Stoughton
#TheCarShare #NetGalley

The Car Share by Zoe Brisby

This was an absolutely brilliant book. I loved the characters and the witty premise.
The car journey, undertaken by the unlikely pairing of Alex, a young man and Maxine, a much older woman, was totally believable as they share what turns out to be an exciting rollercoaster of events and emotions. With never a dull moment, the author combines warmth and humour to tackle a difficult subject. As the book hurtles along to what appears to be a sad and final conclusion, a sharp twist brings it to a perfect and uplifting ending. Congratulations to Zoe Brisby for creating such a exhilarating and satisfying read. I look forward to her next book. Highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley and to Hodder & Stoughton for letting me see an advance copy.

I did enjoy this story, though almost gave up near the beginning. I’m not sure if it is the writers style or something that got lost in the translation but it didn’t quite flow for me. That said, Max and Alex are likeable characters and the development of their relationship was very sweet. A few laugh out loud funny moments and many heartwarming ones. I’m glad I persevered!

There are plenty of things to love in the plot and concept of this book so I'm heartbroken at giving it a low rating. But as much as I enjoyed the idea of it, the execution left me wanting.
Telling a friend about the plot and the events of the book had us both laughing and enjoying the discussion of it but the book constantly left me feeling like I was about to fall asleep while reading and just walking away. The story of Alex and Max is enjoyable, and the things they get into are fun while also driving a very good message forward. I should have loved this book. I'm sad I didn't.
I wish I could point to a particular quirk of the writer's to better explain myself. I wish there was a way to point out why I was constantly finding an excuse to do anything but read it. I just can't.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the read!

Alex, a young man battling depression, decides to take a weekend trip to Brussels. To help with the cost of gas, he puts up a notice on a car share. He meets Maxine, a 90-year old woman, who has an important appointment in Brussels. As they drive, they each share bits of their lives. Can they help each other?

This book was charming, funny, and heart-warming! It is perfect for fans of Harold and Maude! The author was brave in writing a book with such an experienced character. It served as a gentle reminder of all of the benefits that our most learned citizens can offer, the history and life lessons that they can share, not to judge a book by its cover, that we are all only as old as we feel.

This book also contains a hidden secret - there is another chapter written 5 years after the end of this book. If you want to check in with these characters, you can email the author for a copy of the secret chapter. How cool is that!

*Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest opinion.

A ninety year old lady with Alzheimers, also one with decided views and opinions and a mild young man whose heart is broken go on a trip to Brussels, sharing a journey which is rife with so many ups and downs, quirky incidents and eccentricities which add to the story.

The book combines Maxine (Max) who is a thirty year old in an older body. Confident, sassy and bold she is going to Brussels to be euthanized. All this without informing the Retirement Home where she was resident. Alex is escaping the humiliation of a rejection and finds in Maxine a fascinating character who in turn attracts him (for her confidence and sass) and frightens him when he becomes a wanted character for abduction and kidnapping!

The book is charming (for Maxine's malapropisms) her way of handling situations and Alex's manner of a sort of "follow the leader".

Sometimes you meet characters within books that you simply feel sad saying goodbye to.

I absolutely adored meeting Maxine and Alex and sharing their road trip to Brussels. It was full of laughs, reflection, going on the run, making memories and friendship.

A fun portrayal of the power of an unlikely friendship and the impact of strangers on life choices.

My only tiny criticism is that I would have liked more of Alex’s backstory.