Let's Get Lost

By Adi Alsaid

Five strangers. Countless adventures. One epic way to get lost.
 
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.

 A novel told in five parts, LET'S GET LOST is a bittersweet debut about love, loss and finding your way back home.

“Captivating, mysterious, fun, and deep...for readers of John Green or any realistic YA authors, I would highly recommend this new wonderful novel.” – Fresh Fiction

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Australia
• Release date: Aug 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781488721014

Adi Alsaid

Born and raised in Mexico City, Adi Alsaid is the author of several young adult novels including Let’s Get Lost, We Didn’t Ask for This, and North of Happy, a Kirkus Reviews Best Book nominee. He also wrote the middle grade books The Bravest Warrior in Nefaria and The Greatest Heist in Joviala and edited Come on In: 15 Stories about Immigration and Finding Home. He currently lives in Chicago with his wife and two cats, where he occasionally spills hot sauce on things (and cats).

Book preview

Back Cover Text

FIVE STRANGERS. COUNTLESS ADVENTURES. ONE EPIC WAY TO GET LOST.

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 offscript. 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.

Dedication

For my family.

LET’S GET LOST

Adi Alsaid

www.harlequinbooks.com.au

Contents

Contents

Hudson

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Bree

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Elliot

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Sonia

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Leila

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Questions for Discussion

Acknowledgments

Hudson

01_hudson.jpg

1

HUDSON COULD HEAR the car’s engine from blocks away. He stepped outside the garage and closed his eyes, listening, picking apart the sounds so that he would know exactly what he’d have to fix before he even popped the hood.

Standing there against the garage, listening to the still-far-off car, Hudson could forget about everything else. About school and girls and his future and whether his friends were actually jackasses or just acting like them. With his eyes closed, Hudson could reduce the world to a single engine and nothing more; a world where he could not only name every little part but knew what it was for, how it worked, how to fix it.

He opened his eyes when he heard the car’s brakes chirp as it slowed to turn into the garage. It was an old Plymouth Acclaim, the kind of car you either happily sent off to die or loved with your entire heart and refused to let go of. It had seen better days, its red paint job chipped and faded, its muffler not doing much muffling. He waved the driver forward to where he was standing. He was still identifying

the car’s problems when the girl killed the engine and climbed out.

He only allowed himself a quick glance at her, knowing as soon as he saw her that she was the kind of girl who could make you think your life was not complete unless she was in it. She was a jumble of contradictions: short but with long legs, fierce green eyes but a kind expression, baby-faced but wise. She was wearing a snug, plain red T-shirt that matched her car. Her hair was down, the black locks reaching just past her chin.

Afternoon, she said, offering a polite smile.

He replied in kind, trying to adopt the professional tone he used with most customers. He asked her to pop the hood and then walked to the front of the car to release the latch. He meant to bury himself in work right away, but against instinct he stole another glance. How long would the memory of her face haunt him? Days? Weeks? You having trouble with anything specific?

Well, not really, she said, slipping her hands into the back pockets of her shorts, which made her posture change in a way Hudson couldn’t help but notice. The quiet world outside the garage noticed the change in her posture, the damp Mississippi air noticed, even the various grease stains spread out on the garage floor noticed. I just got started on a road trip, and it’s making a lot of noise, so I wanted to be sure it’s in shape.

Hudson grabbed a clean rag off a nearby shelf and checked the oil and the transmission fluid. He liked working in relative silence, nothing but the subtle sound of the cooling engine, his hands and tools on the machine. Something about this girl, though, made him chatty. Where you goin’?

North, she said. All the way north.

You from around here? He suddenly felt self-conscious about his drawl, the hitch in his vowels, the overall lackluster quality of his presence.

Nope. You?

He chuckled as he ran his hands around the engine, checking for cracks in belts. Born and raised. He nodded to himself as he made a mental checklist of what he’d need to fix. Mind if I ask where you’re from, then?

I don’t, she said. He thought he heard her smile, but when he looked up, she was ambling around the garage, curiously examining the shelves and their bric-a-brac. I was born in Texas. A little town not unlike this one.

So, if you’re from Texas, and you’re going north, what brings you to Vicksburg? Not exactly on your way.

I needed my car fixed, and I heard you were the best around, she said. He looked up again, and she grinned. Weeks, he thought to himself. I’ll be thinking about that face for weeks. She walked around the car and joined him in front of the hood. So, what do you think? Will she make the trip?

When I’m through with her, yeah. I’ll flush out all the fluids, make sure your spark plugs are in shape. This belt might need replacing, but I think we’ve got the parts. I’ll check your brakes, too, ’cause they didn’t sound great on the way in. But nothing to worry about.

For a moment, Hudson forgot about the girl, thinking instead about getting his hands dirty, splotched by grease that he’d smear across his work pants, adding another battle scar to proudly display.

You like this, don’t you?

Hudson glanced up to find her standing so close that he could smell her scent fighting through the oil fumes in the garage. Like what?

My face, she said, then smacked him playfully on the arm. This, silly. Fixing cars. I can tell.

He shrugged, the kind of gesture one makes when there’s no choice but to love something. If you want, you can come inside while I write up an estimate.

No need, she said. Do whatever needs to be done. I trust you.

Um, this could take a few hours, he said. We’ve got coffee and a TV inside. Some magazines, too. There’s also a pretty good burger joint down the road... He trailed off, realizing that he didn’t want her to leave. Usually, no matter what distractions there were around, he could shut everything out and delve into his work. It was the same with studying at the library; friends could come by to tease him, cute girls from his class could take a seat and try to engage in conversation, but Hudson never let himself be swayed.

But there was something about this girl that made him want to hear her opinions on everything, hear about her day, tell her about his own.

Or, you could stay here and keep me company, Hudson said.

She stepped away from Hudson, but instead of leaving the garage, she grabbed a folding chair that was leaning against a wall and propped it open. If you don’t mind, she said.

Hudson breathed a sigh of relief. How quickly his luck had turned. He’d come home from school to a long, empty afternoon of worrying about tomorrow’s interview with the dean of admissions, with nothing but the occasional oil change to distract him. But now he had a full workload ahead of him and the company of a beautiful girl. He wiped his hands on the rag he’d grabbed earlier, and he got to work, racking his mind for something to say.

He could see her out of the corner of his eye, sitting quietly, moving just enough to look around the garage. Her gaze occasionally landed on Hudson, and his heart flitted in response. Did you know that certain mechanic schools have operating rooms with viewing areas, like you’d have in med school? Just like surgeons in training, there’s only so much you can learn in a classroom. The only difference is that you don’t have to get sterilized. Hudson peeked around the hood to catch her expression.

The girl turned to him, an eyebrow arched, containing a smile by biting her bottom lip.

I hear some students even faint the first time they see a car getting worked on. They just can’t handle the gore, he quipped.

Well, sure. All that oil—who can blame them? She smiled and shook her head at him. Dork.

He smiled back, then pulled her car up onto the lift so he could change the oil and the transmission fluid. What had driven him to make such a silly comment, he couldn’t say, nor could he explain why it had felt good when she called him a dork.

Have you ever been to Mississippi before? he asked, once the car was up.

Can’t say that I have.

How long are you planning on staying?

I’m not sure, actually. I don’t really have an itinerary I’m sticking to. I might just be passing through.

Hudson set up the funnel under the oil pan’s drain plug, listening for the familiar glug of the heavy liquid pouring down to the disposal bins beside the lift. He searched for something else to say, feeling an urge to confide. Well, if you want my opinion, you shouldn’t leave until you’ve really seen the state. There’s a lot of treasures around.

Treasures? Of the buried variety?

Sure, Hudson said. Just, metaphorically buried. He glanced at her, ready to catch her rolling her eyes or in some other way dismissing the comment. He’d never actually spoken the thought aloud to anyone, mostly because he expected people to think he was crazy to find Vicksburg special. This girl looked curious, though, waiting for him to go on.

Not necessarily buried, just hidden behind everyday life. Behind all the fast-food chains and boredom. People who like Vicksburg usually just like what Vicksburg isn’t instead of all the things it is. Hudson plugged the oil drain and started flushing out the old transmission fluid, hoping he wasn’t babbling.

Meaning?

It’s not a big city, it’s not polluted, it’s not dangerous, it’s not unfamiliar. God, he could feel himself starting to talk faster. All of which are true, and good, sure. But it’s not what Vicksburg really is, you know? That’s the same thing as saying, ‘I like you because you’re not a murderer.’ That’s a very good quality for a person to have, but it doesn’t really tell you much about them.

Well done, Hudson thought to himself. Keep on talking about murderers; that’s the perfect way to make a good impression. While the transmission fluid cleared out, he examined the tread on the tires, which seemed to be in decent shape, and tried to steer his little speech away from felonies.

I’m sorry, I usually don’t go on like this. I guess you’re just easy to talk to, Hudson said.

By some miracle, the girl was smiling at him. Don’t be sorry. That was a solid rant.

He grabbed a rag from his pocket and wiped his hands on it. Thanks. Most people aren’t so interested in this stuff.

Well, lucky for you, I can appreciate a good rant.

She gave him a smile and then turned to look out the garage, her eyes narrowed by the glare of the sun. Hudson wondered if he’d ever been so captivated by watching someone stare out into the distance. Even with the pretty girls he’d halfheartedly pursued, Kate and Suzanne and Ella, Hudson couldn’t remember being so unable to look away.

So, what are some of these hidden treasures? she asked.

He walked around the car as if he was checking on something. Um, he said, impressed that she was taking the conversation in stride. I’m drawing a blank. But you know what I mean, don’t you? How sometimes you feel like you’re the only person in the world who is seeing something?

The girl laughed, rich and warm. I’ll tell you one: It’s quiet here, she said. She wiped at the thin film of sweat that had gathered on her forehead, using the moisture to comb back a couple of loose strands of hair. He could hear his dad around the back, testing the engine on the semi that had come in a few hours earlier. Hudson returned his attention to the car, tomorrow’s interview being pushed to the back of his mind.

It reminds me of where I grew up, the girl said. Hudson heard her chair scrape on the floor as she scooted it back and walked in his direction. He expected her to stand next to him, but she settled in somewhere behind him, out of sight. At the elementary school that I went to, there was this soccer field. It seems like nothing but an unkempt field of grass if you drive by it. Hudson had to stop himself from turning around to watch her lips move as she spoke. But every kid in Fredericksburg knows about the anthills. There’s two of them, one at each end of the field. One’s full of black ants and the other red. Every summer the soccer field gets overrun by this ant-on-ant war. I’m not sure if they’re territorial or they just happen to feed off each other, but it’s an incredible sight. All these little black and red things attacking each other, like watching thousands of checkers games being played from very far away. And it’s this little Fredericksburg treasure, just for us.

Hudson caught himself smiling at the engine instead of replacing the spark plugs. That’s great, he said, the words feeling too flat. The girl hadn’t just let him ramble on; she’d known exactly what he meant. No one, not even Hudson’s dad, had ever understood him so perfectly.

There was a pause that Hudson didn’t know how to fill. He thought about asking her why the car was registered to an address in Louisiana instead of Texas, but it didn’t seem like the right time. He was thankful when the engine of the semi his dad had been working on started, and the truck began to maneuver its way out of the garage in a cacophonous series of back-up beeping and gear shifts.

When the truck had rumbled away down the street, Hudson turned around to look at the girl, but, feeling self-conscious under her gaze, he pretended to search for something on the shelves beside her. When I’m done with your car, want to go on a treasure hunt?

Hudson wasn’t sure where the question had come from, but he was glad he hadn’t paused to think about it, hadn’t given himself time to shy away from saying it out loud.

The question seemed to catch the girl off guard. You want to show me around? She glanced down at her feet, bare except for the red outline of her flip-flops.

If you’re not busy, I mean.

She seemed wary, which felt like an entirely reasonable thing for her to be. Hudson couldn’t believe he’d asked a stranger to go on a treasure hunt with him.

Okay, sure, she managed to say right before Hudson heard his dad enter the garage and call his name.

Excuse me just one second, he said to the girl, raising an apologetic hand as he sidestepped her. He resisted the urge to put a hand on her as he slid by so close, just a light touch on her lower back, on her shoulder, and joined his dad at the garage door.

Hey, Pop, Hudson said, putting his hands on his hips, mimicking his dad’s stance.

Good day at school?

Yup. Nothing special. I did another mock interview with the counselor during lunch. Did pretty well, I think. That’s about it.

His dad nodded a few times, then motioned toward the car. What are you working on here?

General tune-up, Hudson replied. Filters, fluids, spark plugs. A new V-belt.

I can finish up for you. You should get some rest for tomorrow.

I’m almost done, Hudson said, already sensing the discomfort he felt any time he had to ask his dad about something Hudson knew his dad wouldn’t approve of. There’s just... He looked back to see whether the girl was within earshot. Well, this girl, she wants me to show her around town. He waited to see if his dad would run a hand through his graying hair, his telltale sign of disapproval. I promise I’ll be back for dinner, Hudson added.

His dad glanced at his old Timex. One hour, he said, adding a reminder about how early Hudson would have to get up tomorrow to drive the fifty miles to the University of Mississippi campus in Jackson. We don’t want you to be too tired.

I won’t be, I promise, he said, tiny fantasies of the next hour with the girl already flooding his head. The back of their hands grazing against each other—not entirely by accident—as they walked; her leg resting against his as they sat somewhere together, getting to know each other. Already racking his mind for places where he could take her, Hudson thanked his dad with a quick hug and then went back to the front of the car. The girl had a hand resting on the hood, staring vaguely at the engine block. I just have a couple more things to do, and then we can get going, he said.

Great. Her lips spread into a warm, genuine smile, and she held out her hand. By the way, I’m Leila.

He wiped his hand off on his work pants and said his name as he shook her hand. Months, he thought to himself, his fingers practically buzzing at the touch of her skin. I’ll be thinking about her for months.

2

AFTER HE WAS done fixing Leila’s car, Hudson went to the back of the shop to change out of his work clothes while Leila settled the bill with his dad. When he came out, he saw her sitting in the front passenger seat of her idling car.

I’m driving? he asked as he opened the driver-side door.

You’re the tour guide, she said, making a sweeping gesture with her arm as if to indicate that the world beyond the windshield was vast and unexplored. Guide me.

She smiled at him, and he thought to himself that she was exceptionally good at smiling. He shifted the car into drive and pulled out onto the street, wondering where to take her, how to get her to smile more often. The obvious treasure was the oxbow, but it was too far away. Everything that was nearby held fond memories—the Coca-Cola museum he’d gone to on every birthday until he was twelve, the ice cream shop that invited its customers to suggest new, strange flavors and had once taken up Hudson’s request for Bacon Chocolate—but the only way to transplant memories onto places and make them feel like treasures to her was to talk. He usually didn’t have trouble talking to girls, even beautiful ones, but while he didn’t quite feel tongue-tied around her, he didn’t know how to begin. It’s very red in here, he said at last.

I know. It’s pretty much why I bought it. It was love at first sight.

So I’m going to go out on a limb and assume red is your favorite color.

I like red—don’t get me wrong. But I have a deep appreciation for anything that is willing to be totally and utterly itself. If you’re going to be red, well, then, be red, goddamnit. From your steering wheel to your hubcaps, be red.

Hudson could only nod to himself. He’d never met anyone who talked this way, the way he thought. The brakes chirped loudly as he slowed for a stop sign, and he assured Leila that they worked fine. They just liked to sing. He turned left on Maryland so that the sun wouldn’t blind him while he thought of something to show Leila. What about you? he asked after completing the turn. What are you?

Me? she said, feigning innocence. She kicked off her flip-flops and put her feet up on the dashboard. Hudson imagined what it would be like to be her boyfriend, which was the first time he’d ever had such a thought without immediately dismissing it. To go on long drives with her as she sang along shyly to music, to lie on the grass somewhere and confess things to each other, find ways to cuddle around movie-theater cup-holders. I am a treasure-tourist. And my tour guide has yet to show me a single treasure. Where are we going?

Hudson took her toward downtown. They passed a couple of motel chains off the highway, a spattering of restaurant and fast-food places, everything flat and that shade of beige that felt duller than gray. Nothing felt like enough of a treasure to show Leila.

Afraid that she’d grow bored, though, Hudson turned the car into the parking lot of the bowling alley as soon as he saw it. Through the large windowpane he could see that the place was full, fluorescent balls rolling down the eighteen lanes in varying speeds, ending in silent white explosions of pins.

When I was a kid, I came to a slumber party here, he said, looking out at the squat, sky-blue building. He was flooded by warm memories of the night and wished there was a way to share them with Leila, to show her just how special it had actually been. We bowled until two in the morning and then set up our sleeping bags on the lanes. Any time I drive by here, I wonder how many other kids have had the chance to sleep in a bowling alley before.

Hudson stared out the windshield, admiring how the bowling alley’s façade matched the cloudless sky, the tacky and faded window art that had been there since his childhood. He noticed Leila glancing around and realized he’d been quiet for a while. C’mon, I’ll show you around.

* * *

The place was loud with the usual sounds: balls rolling down the lanes, crashing into pins. A little boy tried to prevent a gutter ball by shrieking at it, and groups cheered a strike. The interior was painted the same baby blue as the outside. A wall of fame was on display by the shoe counter. The tiny snack bar practically dripped with pizza grease.

This turns into a salsa club on Tuesday nights, Hudson said. The lanes make for a great dance floor.

Leila smiled and gave him a light shove, letting him know that she wasn’t falling for it. But she looked around the room as if searching for clues that it might be true. As she swiveled her head, Hudson caught a glimpse of a scar poking out from her hairline behind her ear, just the tiniest sliver of damaged flesh. Then she turned back to him, combing a tress of hair over her ear and hiding the scar. There’s no way that’s true.

Please don’t argue with your tour guide, Hudson said, leading them to the shoe counter. Unlike other bowling alleys that invested in cubbyholes, Riverside Lanes had a much different storage system for their shoes.

This is ridiculous, Leila said, staring at the massive pile of shoes, more than a few of which had fallen off the counter. A group of junior high girls came by, chatting excitedly about weekend plans, each of them tossing a pair of shoes haphazardly onto the pile. It shifted, and Hudson saw Leila brace for the pile of footwear to come tumbling at them.

No, this is awesome, Hudson corrected. Whenever the pile falls, an employee yells out, ‘Avalanche!’ and then everyone in the house gets a free game.

Wouldn’t people just knock it over, then?

Hudson shook his head, as if no one had ever considered that before. Where’s the fun in that? He crossed his arms over his

Reviews for Let's Get Lost

[fredamans · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love this debut novel!LOVE.It's told from each persons viewpoint, normally I don't like that, but this book it worked. Actually, I would want it any other way. You get a sense of each character. Then there is this epiphany moment in each vignette. It's beautiful, sometimes making me tear up, and it hits the story home. Then it all comes together with this beautiful six degree of separation thing, and you literally close the book and go wow.At least I did.And this is a debut novel.... I can't wait to read his other works as well!

[startwithgivens · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

For a book subtitled "a coming of age story" I did not feel like that is what I was reading. A teenage girl must find herself, but it isn't because she is a teenage girl. This particular girl is holding on to a secret that makes her a little impulsive, and a little bit reckless, but extremely loveable. I didn't feel like the story was all that realistic, until I reminded myself that even though it is told from 6 different perspectives, it really is a book about one individual. I would be open to re-reading this book, now that I know how it ends. I feel like I would find a deeper connection with the characters a second time around, and maybe even enjoy the book more.

[neftzger · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book was different from what I had anticipated. I think I was expecting a YA version of On The Road written from the female perspective (I have to admit that I don't know why I expected this). Instead, this is a series of short stories that don't seem all that connected except through the presence of the main character. Each story is a nice chapter unto itself, but we don't learn a lot about the main character during the course of the book until we reach her story in the last chapter. I do think that the book is geared toward a different audience and that younger individuals attempting to find themselves may be able to relate more to the characters.

[brainannex · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Manic pixie dream girl affects everyone's life. Felt derivative and unoriginal.

[kalky_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In LET'S GET LOST by Adi Alsaid, Leila is on a road trip to see the Northern Lights, and along the way, she comes across four other teens at crossroads in their lives. Hudson and Leila have an instant connection, and she arrives the day before the most important interview of his life. After leaving Hudson, Leila picks up Bree--a runaway who is trying to make every day an adventure in order to forget the pain she left behind. Next, Leila runs into Elliot as he is determined to make his life follow the script of a 1980s romantic comedy, but he's in despair because others can't be relied upon to speak the right lines. Finally, Leila finds Sonia who is in mourning after losing the love of her life, but Sonia is also wondering if life can only have one great love. Finally, there is Leila's own story and the culmination of her quest to find her own answers.I was absolutely enthralled by this book. Adi Alsaid's YA novel has the perfect blend of compelling plot, sympathetic and interesting characters, excellent dialogue, a bit of mystery, a lot of humor, and some heart-wrenching moments. I zipped through LET'S GET LOST in one day--staying up way past my bedtime to read it--and I can't say enough good things about it. I was sad when Leila's road trip came to an end.Kudos to Adi Alsaid on a great novel. I look forward to more from him!

[susan.macura · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the tale of Leila, who drives cross-country on a mission to find herself. Along the way she meets a variety of interesting people, changing their lives forever. There is Hudson, the auto mechanic, Bree, the runaway thief, Ellliot who believes in fairy tale love stories and Sonia who has lost the love of her life but could possibly find another. This is an absorbing tale.

[bnbookgirl · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I don't usually read teen books, but I picked this one up because the premise sounded interesting. I was not disappointed. It is Leila's journey as well as the people she meets. I loved the journey she was taking and I was happy to go along with her. This is not filled with the typical teen angst that I find in teen books and that is why I found it so readable. Perhaps a few too many happy endings, but other than that a good read.

[lettypearl · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is an entirely enjoyable road-trip story featuring a girl (Leila) in her late teens who is driving from somewhere in the south to Alaska to see the northern lights. The story chronicles her encounters with different people along her zig-zag trip. For a while I wondered if Leila was in fact an real person, or an angel who happened to show up in these characters' lives when they needed a helping hand. That question is answered at the end of the book, as are many others that must occur to the reader, after Leila reaches Alaska. This is a lovely story, even if it's surprising that she could travel so far and so long without encountering an real danger to herself. I would recommend this book to teenagers over 16, or young adults, as a lovely tale. The book will be released in August 2014. Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me to read this advance copy.

[lillibrary · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I think I'm more inclined to give this book 2 1/2 stars.

It's a classic road trip tale as a metaphor for growing up, leaving the past behind, and facing the future. I didn't find the characters particularly memorable or unique and the descriptions felt a little lackluster for a book so heavily invested in traveling. There were some leaps in logic that took me out of the story and some grammatical errors that were in the e-ARC that I'm assuming won't be in the final print. It felt like this whole novel needed to be tightened up and better paced.

However, I liked the multiple narratives and Leila's interactions with the four teens along her journey, even as I felt she insinuated herself into other people's lives so quickly--but that's something other readers may find charming. Of the four teens Leila encounters, my favorite was Elliot and their attempt to reunite him with his secret crush. The madcap night and Elliot's determination to view his life as a classic teen "rom com" was good fun. The rest of the book felt too optimistic, with dramatic interludes that resolved without weighty consequences or any particular point.

*Spoilers to follow!*

The ending, especially, threw me, with Leila's love interest showing up at her door, after spending two weeks searching for her in a Texas town that she briefly mentioned but hadn't lived in since she was 11 years old. And what happened to the postcards she'd been sending him? And how the heck did he manage to find her in Louisiana when he never had her phone number or even a last name?!

Overall, the relatively light consequences and overt dependence on the kindness of strangers made this too unrealistic to be believable. The book wasn't consistently funny enough to be a parody, and the serious issues were dealt with too quickly to feel substantial. There are instances of teen drinking, some make-out sessions, and a character called "Stoner Timmy" who has some possibly illegal connections across the Canadian border. Recommend this to fans of authors Lindsey Leavitt, Sarah Mlynowski, or Jennifer E. Smith. Thanks to Netgalley for the e-ARC.

[begivens · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

For a book subtitled "a coming of age story" I did not feel like that is what I was reading. A teenage girl must find herself, but it isn't because she is a teenage girl. This particular girl is holding on to a secret that makes her a little impulsive, and a little bit reckless, but extremely loveable. I didn't feel like the story was all that realistic, until I reminded myself that even though it is told from 6 different perspectives, it really is a book about one individual. I would be open to re-reading this book, now that I know how it ends. I feel like I would find a deeper connection with the characters a second time around, and maybe even enjoy the book more.

[thebumblegirl · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

There are very few authors that can capture the true feeling of wanderlust - that deep desire to roam freely and find oneself. Adi Alsaid has not only captured the true essence of a self-journey, but he's also managed to bring five unforgettable main characters that . Through multiple points-of-view, we learn that Leila is a girl on a mission, she is heading to Alaska to see the Northern Lights. Why is this tiny girl traveling across the States all alone, no one is really sure. Each time someone asks, she's very vague and changes the topic. However, Leila doesn't mind getting sidetracked a few times, and it's during these times that we meet four people during the most pivotal moments of their lives. First we meet Hunter, sweet Hunter who is doing his best to stay out of trouble and get a scholarship to go to college. However, upon meeting Leila, he is smitten with her and after doing some maintenance work on her car offers to show her around town just so he can have as much time with her before she continues on. And then, it only takes one night to turn his life upside down, and Leila just happens to be there right beside him. Will he follow his heart? Or will he do what he thinks he's suppose to do?Next, we meet Bree, a runaway who has lost both her parents to illnesses and couldn't stand to be mothered by her sister anymore. Being on the road for months has made Bree a pro at choosing who to trust, and how to survive on pure adrenaline. Until she hits the ultimate high and finds herself in a very bad predicament, and poor Leila is right beside her. Is this the end of the road, for both Bree and Leila? There's only one option, and the percentage of that one thing working out is too close to 0.And then we meet Elliot, the boy who wears his heart on his sleeve and doesn't know it. The boy who is so crazy in love and needs to create a magical movie moment in order to claim it. However, even though we all know how those movies from the 80's go and end, Elliot is far off script. Leila is now the unforeseen twist to his plot... and every time everyone thinks things couldn't get worse, they do...And lastly, we meet Sonia who is grieving lost love in the throes of new love. Is it possible to love two people at the same time? Leila doesn't know the answer to that but is willing to help Sonia sort it out, even if it includes crossing the border illegally. Just like Leila, we briefly encounter each character during the most pivotal moments of their lives. Just like life, you never know who or what you'll come across. Leila's experiences will make you question yourself... can you really make a friend, find true love, forgive and figure out the most questionable things in life within hours of meeting the right person?The writing is poetic, imaginative but realistic, and heartwarming. I felt like I was in the backseat of Leila's car for every single second of her trip and experienced every single drop of each of the characters blood, sweat and tears. For me, the ending was unexpected and melted my heart, it was exactly what I had hoped for. I hope to see these characters again in the near future, perhaps in a novella or short story? I do wish to see how they're all doing now... Lovers of contemporaries, especially about books that include road trips and matters of the heart, will overly enjoy this and reread many, many times... again and again! I am really looking forward to seeing more from this author soon! He's already on my insta-buy list for sure!!! An ARC was provided from another blogger to share our love of books.All thoughts are mine and not influenced by any other.

[fueledbycoffee · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When I picked this story it was only because the cover caught my eye. I'm a cover junkie like that.ROADTRIP!!Everyone should have a good road trip story. Mine was from right out of high school, traveling coast to desert with a BFF in "Grandma Toad", a vintage, sage green, 1976 Plymouth Volare with tires balder than Vin Diesel's head. I still cannot listen to Joshua Tree by U2 or smell Funyons without thinking about that trip. See? Everyone should have a good road trip story.After the initial cover art, the reader finds inside a lovely handful of short stories careful woven together to make this summer read.People are fascinating to me so I love the theory of being able to pick up random people along the way to my Life Changing Destination and solve their problems while they teach me a bit about my own self, my family, my future, love, and what matters. The stories were quirky. Light on the angst scale but entertaining. I'd say this is a perfect summer read.I really had to push aside every story I heard about Ted Bundy or The Green River Killer to make road trip safety a plausible idea for a teenage girl interstate traveling whilst alone. The reality is more picking up hitchhikers or complete strangers and then being found by coyotes 3 weeks later buried in a shallow grave along the highway.I kept thinking I hope she got her teeth checked before she left on her trip because we're gonna need good dental records.I did love the full-circlatude (I just made that up) of the stories and the way our main character realizes the beginning is the end. I'm being cryptic. Just go read it yourself, be inspired to do your own road trip. Learn all about life. About people. About what makes people tick. What gives them drive (har, har)? Just take a bodyguard or two.Bottom line: Enjoyable, heart-felt at times, quirky, relate-able. Each story has its own section so it's easy to pick up and put down. Like at a dentists office. *sparkly white grins*

[68papyrus · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Some books are made for audio and Let's Get Lost fits the bill. This audiobook edition is narrated by Amanda Leigh Cobb and she gives a stellar performance breathing life into the characters of this quirky book. The book is broken into five vignettes each detailing a different character's adventure with Leila the MC of Let's Get Lost. Leila is a kind soul who is taking a road trip searching for answers and helping people along the way. I felt an instant connection to Leila who had a chirpy voice and a winning personality. This book is a fun, fast read with plenty of laughs and feel good moments. Although it was a bit predictable at times that didn't take away from my enjoyment of this impressive debut novel. If you are looking for great contemporary read with plenty of laughs and adventure gives Let's Get Lost a try. I'm looking forward to the next release from this author!

[ewyatt_16 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Each section of the book focuses on a teen in need in some way and that person's encounter with Leila, a girl on a road-trip to see the Northern Lights. While Leila's background is blank most of the book, and for good reason, her spirit is infectious and she is able to connect with the other people she meets along the way from a quest to deliver rings to a wedding to a magical romantic night to shop-lifting gone wrong. An enjoyable book with quirky, interesting, complex characters.

[margaraawr-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"People hurt each other," Leila said without much inflection in her voice. "It happens to everyone. Intentionally, unintentionally, regretfully or not. It's part of what we do as people. The beauty is that we have the ability to heal and forgive."

The plot:

Leila is on a roadtrip to Alaska to see the Northern Lights. I won't tell you guys why since that will spoil the story. On her way there, Leila met four people. Each of them have problems and even if these people are strangers to Leila, she tried to help them in her own little way. Leila felt lost and she wants to find herself but maybe some lost things are not meant to be found..

This was such a delightful and heartwarming debut! I love the adventures and the feeling of anticipating what's next. I feel sad that I didn't know how to drive yet (yeah, ew) but when the time comes that I know how already, I will absolutely have a roadtrip of my own.

The characters:

Each characters in the book are different. They are flawed and complicated. They made excuses but Leila doesn't put up with them. She pushes them to live life, to continue even though it's better to give up, and to always seize the day.

I really connected with the people in this story. I cared about them and kudos to the author for making me feel that way because it's hard to do. Sometimes, when I read I couldn't care less what happened to the people in the story.

The only problem I have is that I wished these characters were explored more. Their encounter with Leila is good but it feels short to me.

The ending:

I know some people will react badly at that ending but not me. I kind of liked it. After everything that happened to Leila, she deserved her happy ending.

I look forward to reading more of this author's works. Definitely recommended.

Final Rating: 3.5/5 stars

**ARC provided by publisher/author in exchanged for a honest review.

[itzey · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Let's Get Lost
by Adi Alsaid

Thank you Harlequin Teen and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

"Five strangers. Countless adventures. One epic way to get lost.
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."

The premise of this story was intriguing. Leila traveling in her red car meets, Hudson, a teenage auto mechanic with plans to go to college to become a doctor, Bree, a runaway struggling to survive on her own, Elliot, a teen who views reality shows as the script for his own life story, and, Sonia, struggling with grief and giving herself permission to love again.

The section that captured my attention the most was Leila's story. The author keeps her life secret until the end of the book and I would like to have seen it start developing within the other narratives. Her willingness to become immediately engrossed in the lives of others was too trusting and seemed reckless. The nonchalance of a border agent when discovering the girls trying to sneak across the Canadian border and a drug trafficker's willing to help with no recompense were unbelievable story lines.

This coming of age story seemed contrived to me. The encounters she has with the other teens usually spanned 24-48 hours yet the each story developed life altering moments through chaos and improbable scenarios just because Leila would appear out of nowhere with a pile of napkins to sop up tears. I had no difficulty completing the book but I am not sure I liked it enough to recommend it.

[emily_anne-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Five Stories Within Let's Get Lost:

Just to let you know there are five sections of Let's Get Lost: Hudson, Bree, Elliot, Sonia, and Leila all get to tell their stories! The mini review for each section are below, plus my overall thoughts. Also, to clarify, Leila is in all of the sections, but only the last story is about her specifically. Now, Let's Get Started! Get it? Like the title?

The Stories I Liked:

I LOVED Bree's story. Her's was probably my favorite. She is wild and reckless... which was fun to read about! She and Leila made an awesome pair. Bree is hiding from her family, thinking she is seizing the day and being brave. However, as the story goes on she realizes that to actually be brave, she has to talk to someone who she treated terribly, and mend her family. This section was heartwarming, funny, and I highlighted so many amazing quotes!

I also enjoyed Sonia's story. I loved her boyfriend, they made such a cute couple! This story was quite different from the others. It felt much more adventurous! They are stuck on the wrong side of the border... with the fate of the wedding in their hands!!! This story was just as hilarious and wise as Bree's. Amazing!

Finally, we have Leila's story. There is a pretty cool and unexpected twist! However, I have to say I liked Leila's story less than Bree's and Sonia's. Still she's a pretty cool character and I loved learning more about her after her big roles in the four previous sections!

The Stories I Didn't Like:

Sadly, Hudson's story, aka the first story, was pretty dissapointing. I found Hudson a teensy bit boring, although I liked him better than What's His Name Elliot. Also, this story contained so much insta-love. Kill me now! I did enjoy one fun scene though... I'm not explaining it to you though because spoilers! Also, there is a pretty cool, and important message portrayed in this section. Basically, I didn't hate Hudson's story... but I didn't love it either!

The other story I did not like at all was Elliot's tale. I kind of lost respect for him when a girl clearly told him NO and he kept pursuing her. It's not romantic... it is disrespectful! It wasn't really that bad, plus it was mostly Leila egging him on to "get the girl", but it still grated on my nerves. And the conclusion to the story made me really mad. There were some good aspects though! (Although at this point I really don't remember them.)

Overall Thoughts:

Let's Get Lost is the perfect Summer read. There is a variety of characters, although admittedly I didn't like all of them. Also, Adi Alsaid writes with humor and surprising wisdom. There were so many quotes... funny ones, meaningful ones, odd ones, you name it! Although Let's Get Lost isn't a favorite, I still would recommend it to many readers. Especially lovers of contemporary!

3.5/5 Stars

[mirandalg14 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Thanks to Netgalley.com for access to this title.

This is your basic road trip novel, equipped with crazy events and people. But at the same time, it's not, as it is told in small chunks and is also short stories all tied together with one character.

I liked this, in that I'm always game for eccentric people and the crazy things they do. That's just part of life. But it wasn't the best road trip book I've ever read.

Recommended for fans of Paper Towns and Wherever Nina Lies.

[sennebec · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Leila is on her way to Alaska in her 'everything red' older car. She's bound and determined to see the Northern Lights, for reasons that only become clear near the end of the book. She's in no hurry, so the journey turns into more of an odyssey than a straight 'go there, see that' experience. Along the way, she meets four other teens, Hudson, Bree, Elliott and Sonia. More importantly, she profoundly affects each of their lives in a very short period of time.Hudson is a teen auto mechanic who agrees to work on her car when she pulls up at his dad's shop. He's pumped because he'll be meeting with a university official the next morning, a meeting that could net the scholarship which will lead to his eventually getting a medical degree. There's an instant attraction between Leila and Hudson, one that grows until they swim out to an island in the Mississippi and spend the night together. When she confronts him about what's really important to him the following morning, he's bitter and in denial, so they part on unfriendly terms.Next up is hitchhiker Bree, estranged from her sister after their parents died very close together in time. Neither sister has been able to break through their grief and connect, so Bree ran away, but being free and independent isn't what she thought it would be. Leila is able to open her eyes and help her begin the all important healing process.Elliott almost gets himself killed when he staggers into the road just as Leila drives past. He's disconsolate because his best friend who he professes his love for at the prom, rejected him in front of everyone. Despite throwing up on himself, Elliott connects with Leila who makes an impulsive decision to use '80s movie cheese to help him win over the girl of his dreams. How it plays out is pure reading enjoymentSonia is in a very tough emotional place. Her boyfriend of three years died suddenly last year while playing a game. His family had taken to her so much that she's still a part of it, but she's fallen in love with another guy who is also very close to her late boyfriend's family. She's terrified that if she comes out with her new relationship, her adopted family will reject her. Leila and Sonia embark on a cross border comedy of errors involving lost passports and wedding rings that's probably the best of the four stories within a story.When Leila reaches Alaska, we finally learn why she's so intent on seeing the Northern Lights and her motivation is sad, sweet and gut wrenching. How she resolves her own issues around loss and sadness are a terrific ending for one of the best books I've read this year. Teens who have experienced a personal loss, who like a great romantic tale or a story with bits of magical realism and mystery in it will love this book. It's a no-brainer add for libraries.

[ginger_reader22 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Hudson is a small town mechanic, Bree is a runaway, Elliot is not Lloyd Dobler and Sonia is trying to heal her broken heart. Four strangers who all cross paths with one girl. Leila. Leila is slowly working her way north, with no real timeline or course mapped out, she takes her time. In each city she stops in she inevitable comes across someone who needs her help, some more than others but all equally worthy of her helping hand. When I first started this book I thought that Hudson was going to be the main character, I was completely shocked when I came to end of his 67 pages and the story moved on, not once, not twice, but three times. It usually takes me at least 50+ pages to really get to know a character, their story, their past, their future. And yet Adi didn't just write one book with "Let's Get Lost", he wrote five. Five fully developed stories with unique characters and places, all intertwined and connected. It never felt rushed or as if there wasn't enough back story. It was just the right amount of each character and their situation. Adi Alsaid can tell you more about a character in 50 pages than most can in 200 and that right there is why I loved this book. So if you want my opinion, seize Tuesday and go pick yourself up a copy! Until next time,Ginger

[deltaqueen50 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

At first Let’s Get Lost by Adi Alsaid appears to be about a teenage girl, Leila, and her road trip north to Alaska to see the Northern Lights. However, it soon becomes apparent that this book is actually a series of interconnected short stories, with Leila being the one thing they have in common. As Leila travels she meets other young people and she seems to arrive just when they really need someone to help them figure out their life. Leila gives advice on romance, family problems, university plans and over the course of one crazy prom night, how to get the girl of your dreams. When I started this YA book, I wasn’t sure that it was going to be a book for me, but the stories drew me in and I ended up really enjoying the experience. While Leila offers insight, advice, support and friendship to the teens she meets, she reveals very little about herself so I was anticipating the final story which I was sure would be about her. Like all good road trips, the destination isn’t as important as the actual journey and Let’s Get Lost was a fun trip. The author included plenty of humor and brought an overall feeling of lightness to the book, yet each story had a definite message to a pass along. I listened to an audio version of the book as read by Amanda Cobb whose voice perfectly suited these stories. Although I am far from the targeted age for this book, I nevertheless found it a nice escape read.

[edgoldberg · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Leila is a high school senior on a road trip to see the Northern Lights, starting out in LetsGetLostLouisiana. Let’s Get Lost is her chronicle of four adventures along the way. First she meets Hudson in Vicksburg, Mississippi., the day before his interview for a college scholarship. Her car is limping along and he’s a mechanic in his father’s garage.Next is Bree in Kansas. She’s on a road trip as well. Her parents recently died and she didn’t get along with her older sister, Alexis, who is now her guardian. So, it’s better all around if she just left.Elliot in Minneapolis told his long time best friend, Maribel, that he’s in love with her. It’s high school prom night and his declaration didn’t get the desired result.Finally, Leila meets Sonia. Sam was her sole mate and one true love. Sam died during a basketball game due to a rare heart disease. She swore he’d be her only love but, she’s fallen for Jeremiah, Sam’s sister’s future brother-in-law. Is it a negation of all she and Sam had if she’s fallen in love again? And how will his family take it, a family that’s treated her as their own?In four novellas, Adi Alsaid recounts Leila’s interaction with these people, people she’s never met before but goes out of her way to help.The fifth and final novella gets Leila to Alaska and waiting to see the Northern Lights. This time it’s someone helping her to see the light (no pun intended). In every adventure, she asks What’s Your Story? In the final story, you get Leila’s.Let’s Get Lost is a pleasant read. I’ve never met anyone like Leila, willing to drop everything to help another human being. I wish the world was populated with more Leila’s. It would certainly be a better place. The stories are interesting. The characters are fun. If you’re looking for a fast, easy, put a smile on your face read, Let’s Get Lost by Adi Alsaid will fit the bill.