I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Looking to escape her grief, a woman and her best friend travel the American Southwest in author Christie Walker Bos’s “Patsy Hits the Road.”
The Synopsis
Combine one part road trip with one part journey of the heart, sprinkle generously with humor, add a healthy dollop of compassion, and you get Patsy Hits the Road.
Seventy-five-year-old Patsy tries to outrun grief and find new joy when she hits the road with her best friend, Rosa, in a cherry red Mustang convertible. Following Route 66 through the California desert, across Arizona, north to Santa Fe, and beyond, the women rescue a tortoise, consult a palm reader, dig up sacred dirt, and sled down a dune. On the adventure, they sprinkle her husband Carl’s ashes around the Southwest, as Patsy comes to terms with life without her husband. Patsy finds a dog, loses the dog, and ultimately finds herself.
For those familiar with the rugged beauty of the American Southwest and the quirky nature of Route 66, the story will evoke fond memories. For those who haven’t had the pleasure of a “Yellow Line Bovine” hamburger from the Roadkill Café or the thrill of filling your shoes and pockets with sand as you slide down a giant dune, this story will inspire a road trip of your own.
The Review
This was such a profound and compelling read. The author does a remarkable job of delving into the power of friendship and working through trauma in this narrative, as the protagonist works through profound grief over the loss of her husband. The bond between Patsy and Rosa, and the way their humor and vulnerability together were moving to read, made their experiences on the road much more pronounced. The fast-paced writing and the emotional depth of the characters’ arcs were so moving to read about.
While the emotional core of the story was Patsy and her journey through grief, the prominence of the American Southwest in the narrative felt like a character in its own right. The beauty and wildness of the road trip and the rich settings felt like stepping directly into American Southwest artwork, and it perfectly mirrored the experiences and personal journey Patsy and Rosa went on in this narrative, as well as the grief Patsy worked through.
The Verdict
Memorable, heartfelt, and engaging, author Christie Walker Bos’s “Patsy Hits the Road” is a must-read contemporary women’s fiction novel. The emotional twists and turns the protagonist must endure, and the way the author touches on not only working through grief and allowing oneself to feel it, but also on finding a way to enjoy and embrace life again in the wake of tragic loss, made this a stellar read. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
Christie Walker Bos fell in love with writing at the age of 12 when she received her first diary. Every entry began with “I woke up…” Thankfully, she has improved her writing skills immensely since then, although at 65-years-old, she is still happy that she wakes up every day!
A professional photographer and journalist in the seventies, a stay-at-home mom in the eighties, a journalist once again in the nineties, leading to the publication of her first work of fiction in 2003, Walker Bos has been writing for several decades.
“I am inspired by everyday people and how they manage to love and laugh even in the face of hardships and challenges. They are the heroes and heroines of my novels. Average people like you and me.”
Walker Bos lives in the Southern California mountain community of Big Bear Lake with her husband Robbie and dog Rae Skyler Walker.
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