Must-Read: Let’s Get Lost by Adi Alsaid

[Feature image: Christiaan Triebert]

Title: Let’s Get Lost, Adi Alsaid

The Skinny: 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.

Why you should read it: This book was offered to me as an early review from the publisher’s book company. I don’t normally do these, because somehow I always wind up having to review a gawdawful vampire story.

But I was intrigued by this read, mostly because I’ve never read YA travel fiction. I feel like it’s kind of an untapped market or something. I mean, kids are big dreamers. Why not dig into their travel dreams? If you write fiction, AND travel, this book is worth examining.

What I learned from it: We got off to a rocky start — I’m a little “over” the whole adorably petite-but-tough girl deal. I mean why can’t the lead character be a badass bulky ginger or something? But then I realized I was over-thinking it and I should probably get a grip. It’s for teens, after all. And nothing here is sugar coated, which I also like. I ended up getting pretty hooked by the end of it. I flew through this book rather quick. It’s a nice light read for your summer enjoyment.

Basically, when you’re reading this, consider what makes it YA. I like Alsaid’s way of not sugar coating anything. He discusses big themes for teens, including sex and alcohol. You don’t find that in a lot of YA reads.