This is a perfect fit for readers who enjoy lighthearted, emotional, and humorous stories about self-discovery, family, and finding one's way again, especially those who appreciate a strong, flawed, and relatable female protagonist navigating life's ups and downs with wit and resilience.

Stuck in Second Gear was the first book I've read by Carmen Reid, and it definitely won't be the last. I really enjoyed the story, the characters, and the ending! I'm looking forward to exploring more of Carmen Reid's books in the future.

Publication Date- December 7, 2024
#StuckinSecondGear #NetGalley

I was hooked from the first few pages and once the road trip commenced especially I was totally enthralled by this book.

We have Lucie who is adamant she isn't going to her ex-husband's wedding, but then her pregnant daughter, Zoe needs a lift at the last min, as does Deva who is a cousin and somehow she is roped into the drive.

Deva is a breath of fresh air, I loved him from his first chapter as it turns out we both love musicals. He is also a massive Coco Chanel fan, and is hoping that he can persuade Lucie into some Chanel related detours.

Zoe and Lucie haven't been on the best of terms recently, so this drive is either going to make or break their mother / daughter relationship, and at times I really wasn't sure which way it would turn out.

The threesome have some great adventures on this road trip, including meeting some people that not everyone would have agreed to help. It's a fun and entertaining story that I totally whizzed through.

It might even be one of Carmen Reid's best standalone novels, although i still favour the Personal Shopper series over everything else! Enjoyed every word, and couldn't get enough of this fabulous story.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

This was a fabulous book, reading it enriched me. It was absolutely heartwarming to read and just see the humanity of all different kinds of people in different places in their lives. There is something for everyone to take away and relate to in this story.

In this chaotic and fun summery novel, Carmen Reid introduces readers to Lucie Marshal, a nearly bankrupt and recently divorced woman barely on speaking terms with her daughter, as she is en route to her ex-husband Miles’ influencer wedding to a younger woman. Having not intended to attend, when her pregnant daughter Zoe and nephew Deva need a lift to France, Lucie somehow agrees to take her father’s Jag on a road trip from England to France and the wedding site. With a pitstop in Paris, a car breakdown, new passengers, a showtunes soundtrack, and other unforeseen events in her future, this might be the best (or worst) road trip of Lucie’s life. The characters in this novel are definitely personalities with unique flaws and qualities which are brought out over the course of the novel and this road trip. As Lucie’s relationships with Zoe and Deva (and even Miles) evolve, readers see each character go on a trip of self-discovery in really satisfying circumstances. The emotional core of this novel and the characters’ relationships are the stars of this novel, and readers will love Reid’s characters for their individual growth and well-written personalities in this fun and entertaining new release.

Carmen Reid’s Stuck in Second Gear is a fabulously funny and feel-good read women everywhere will relate to.

Lucie Marshall’s life is in tatters. She once had it all and is now picking the broken pieces of her existence. The former wildly successful wife and mother is divorced, almost bankrupt and is barely on speaking terms with her grown-up daughter. Worse, her former husband Miles is about to get married again – to a woman who is much younger than Lucie! How did her life come to this? Forget about living life to the full, Lucie can barely survive from one day to the next!

Having been adamant that she would not be attending this wedding, Lucie finds herself having to give her pregnant daughter Zoe a lift to the nuptials. With eccentric nephew Deva also in tow, Lucie somehow ends up driving her dad’s old Jaguar across France to the wedding of the man she despises most in the world: her ex-husband.

However, could this trip be just what Lucie needed? Will she find herself on the open road? Will this adventure show her the woman she was always meant to be? Or will it just lead to heartache, embarrassment and regret?

Women everywhere will love Stuck in Second Gear. Carmen Reid writes brilliantly about women’s lives and in Lucie she has created a flawed, nuanced and believable character we can all relate to. Funny, heartfelt, sensitively written and a joy from beginning to end, Carmen Reid’s Stuck in Second Gear is an enjoyable read perfect for Milly Johnson fans.

There is nothing bad to be said about this book, I loved every word! There are sad undercurrents but this is a pure feel good read. The escapes are hilarious. I truly found it difficult to put this book down and was sad to leave them all to their happy endings. Great read and highly recommended!

Thank you Netgalley

I wasn't sure about this book when I started it, but it ended up being so much more than I was expecting. Very funny, yet sad in places too, but a really great read.

Lucie is divorced and her husband is remarrying in France, and somehow she ends up being persuaded to drive her pregnant daughter Zoe and nephew Deva (through marriage on her ex-husband's side of the family) to France for the wedding!

Deva is a fanatical fan of Chanel and ends up persuading Lucie to stop at various Chanel places during the journey, which are quite mad and very funny! We learn more about Zoe's partner, who seems to having difficulties with the whole partner/father issue, which I must admit I found annoying. Lucie is having issues of her own trying to find her own way in the world again after her divorce, along with the fact that her father is terminally ill.

But in the end the unexpected trip works out well and they all come out of the experience a lot happier. Very enjoyable read.

Lucie is having a tough time having got divorced, been ripped off by her ex and her Daughter is barely talking to her. She is therefore surprised to get an invite to her Exes wedding and what follows is the story of the car journey to France with her pregnant Daughter and Nephew. Overall a good read. Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the advance copy of this book with reviews all my own.

Invited to your ex-husband's wedding, not what Lucie had planned to do, but somehow she ended up driving her daughter and nephew to France for these nuptials.
Enjoyed this read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in return for my honest review

First time reading a book by Carmen Reid but I found it easy to read and get to know the characters. Lovely story of moving on after loss and finding a new path

The title doesn’t fit well here. The story was fine, with a bit too much emphasis on Chanel. Wouod like to have had more story for Deva. Overall a decent read though.

When I first read the synopsis, I was in two minds about the book. A woman goes to her ex-husbands WEDDING??!! There is no way I would do that! However, I like to give things a go, so I got stuck in and read the book.

I loved it! Lucie is a woman who is struggling to adapt, post-divorce. Her ex has left her with a big debt that wasn't hers and her daughter Zoe is pregnant with no sign of a wedding ahead. Somehow or another, she is roped into taking her dad's Jag for a road trip to France, with her daughter and her nephew, Deva, in the car.

Gotta admit that Deva was my favourite character in this book. He really comes into his own as the book goes on and I absolutely loved that :)

A gorgeous, modern tale that is well worth reading.

5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books.

This story is about finding yourself and learning to thrive with a new purpose. I enjoyed getting to know these characters and how well the family dinamics were exposed, but also all the love behind it all.

This was a super quick and easy read. My first by this author but definitely will not be my last.
A great story about family and creating a new life after divorce and losing a loved one.
Lucie’s daughter can’t get to her fathers wedding in France due to a train strike, so against her better judgment, Lucie sets off to drive her daughter and her nephew to his wedding in France, and an adventure awaits them all. While on the trip, her nephew Deva, talks her into a side trip to see the birthplace of his idol, Chanel, and we get a bit of history through his character. We also meet some refugees in a side storyline which really added an element of depth to the story that I didn’t even know I wanted.
Overall this was a fun, feel good read and I enjoyed the ride.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

When life gives Lucie lemons, what should she do?
Divorced, in debt, and dire times to go through.
When an invitation arrives from her ex
To his marriage in France, leaving her vexed.

A train strike leaves their pregnant daughter needing aid
So, with Lucie’s Dad’s help, new plans are made.
Then her nephew joins the travellers, too.
The start of an adventure that’s fun the whole way through!

A story of making the most st of your chances,
Daring to dream, helping others and romances.
A lovely story from beginning to end
A delightful read in which time to spend.

For my copy of this book I say thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

I loved the idea of this book - a divorced wife taking her nephew (whom she really didn't know until the trip!) and her pregnant daughter to the south of France for her ex-husband's wedding. It was lighthearted and funny, and I really loved the points-of-view and the way that this book was written. It was a really quick and fast read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Carmen Reid for this arc!

Even though this book deals with some heavy topics, there is enough humor woven in to balance it out. I found it to be a heartwarming story with characters I would enjoy taking a road trip with. It was also interesting to learn so many facts about Coco Chanel. I will be seeking out more books to read by Carmen Reid. Thanks to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the author for a copy to read and review.

This book was different than I was expecting. It is almost a 3 person POV but the main character and most of the story is about Lucie. The characters experienced a lot of growth, which I loved. The story took some very sad turns at times but everything works out in the end. I loved all the Coco Chanel facts and I think I might delve deeper into her story as well! Some of the dialogue felt a big stilted but for the most part the book was a great read. I loved traveling through England and France!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

Thank you NetGalley, Boldwood Books & Carmen Reid for my review copy. These are my thoughts:

When I applied for this book, I thought it would be a fun, light, entertaining read, filled with adventure and mishaps. I wasn’t wrong, but this book was so much more than that.

This book was entertaining and fun, but also bittersweet and heartwarming. From the characters and their struggles and issues, to the adventure they embark on, and even some over the top plot points, this was probably my favourite book of the month.

Recently divorced Lucie, is tasked with driving her very pregnant daughter and “strange” nephew to her ex-husband’s wedding in the south of France. She reluctantly drives them and what was supposed to be a straightforward journey, turns into an adventure - filled with sightseeing; a broken down jag and the “combing through” and mending of her relationship with her daughter, Zoe; as well as the blossoming of her nephew, Deva. With Coco Chanel as their guide, Lucie will discover that now is the time to start living and to start taking (calculated) risks.

What I liked about this book: how Lucie, Zoe and Deva bonded over the trip and helped each other. There was so much character growth. I loved Lucie’s father. He was so supportive and encouraging of his daughter and his relationship with both Lucie and Zoe was heartwarming.
I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation Lucie had with her ex-husband and how she told him off for the things he’d done. It made me proud of her. I also loved that Lucie got a second chance at love.

Themes of grieving, decision making, standing up for what you want and starting over, were very present with all the characters. As well as, not taking things at face value and with preconceived notions - it’s surprising the things you learn and find when you let go of prejudice (this will make sense when you read the book).

This book will have you thinking about human relationships; what you’re holding onto that is weighing you down and that life is full of possibilities and new beginnings.