From Publishers Weekly
This seemingly endless road trip novel has the potential to become a thrill ride, but it makes too many wrong turns and never gets above low gear. After receiving a kidney transplant, 28-year-old Leigh Fielding notices some strange developments: sudden interests in, for instance, graphic novels, kayaking and ethnic food. Convinced she's channeling the spirit of her donor, Larry Resnick, Leigh decides to go on an Unfinished Business Tour, visiting her best friend, an ex-boyfriend and her mother, and tracking down Larry's family. The notion of Leigh inheriting Larry's traits and tastes is explored amusingly and a few surprises pop up (a supposedly stranded teenage girl among them), but Riley puts too much stock in Leigh's voice, which, while sometimes funny, is too self-involved to leave much room for the reader. This particular trip is too long and exhausting for its own good. (May)
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Review
Praise for Driving Sideways:
"Leigh Fielding was diagnosed with kidney disease and recently received a transplant. Since then, she’s been trying all kinds of new things and comes to believe that she’s channeling the donor, Larry. She decides to leave her central Wisconsin home for a road trip to meet Larry’s family and see if he’s anything like the new personality she has acquired. Things go awry at the Minnesota border when a teenage girl named Denise steals Leigh’s purse and uses it to blackmail Leigh into giving her a ride to L.A. On the way they visit classic tourist traps and try to stay out of trouble, especially since Denise claims that it’s her crazy ex in the black sedan that seems to be following them. Leigh’s road trip continues, embracing both highs and lows, alternately hilarious, humiliating, and heartbreaking, often within the same sentence. Smart and funny without being forced, sentimental without being maudlin, Riley’s funny, picaresque vision of America will make readers wish they could go along with Leigh on her next trip."
— Hilary Hatton
"Driving Sideways is a gorgeous novel -- I LOVED it!! It's enjoyable, uplifting, and so so so funny and sparky. I found it hugely entertaining and very touching. Jess Riley's voice is irreverent and wonderful, and her writing is genius." -- Marian Keyes, author of Anybody Out There?
"A hopeful and hilarious debut ... Jess Riley may well be my new favorite author." -- Jen Lancaster, author of Bitter is the New Black
"Brilliant … Jess Riley proves herself a huge new talent." -- Kristy Kiernan, author of Catching Genius

I really enjoyed this book. I liked the characters and the friendships and the quirkiness of the journey.

Reservinf for my birthday exchange partner.

Thanks so much Alsgal for sending this to me in my fabulous birthday parcel!!

Leigh has PKD, a kidney disease that required her to have a kidney transplant from a donor she knows only as Larry. Being skeptical that she'll live past the age of 30, Leigh sets out on her "Unfinished Business" road trip. Her goals: visit her ex-boyfriend, pick up her best friend in Colorado, visit the family of Larry, and find her mother who abandoned her when she was five. What results is a highly entertaining journey. Leigh encounters many problems, including running out of gas in the middle of no where and having her purse held hostage in exchange for giving a ride to an orphan girl named Denise.

This book was a lot of fun. The characters were very easy to relate to, despite their extreme circumstances, and the lessons learned could apply to anyone. There were a couple of parts that had me chuckling and I wanted more when the book was finished.

The only thing I don't like is that the author doesn't have any other books for me to read! I'll be sure to keep an eye out for another other books coming from her.

This book is with me now!

Whenever my daughter or I read a great book we share it. Driving Sideways was first read by Lauren and she passed it along with a great review read by the author no less. Knowing that the author might read your review is very daunting to me. I am not an English major and tend to write in short but sweet sentences. But here goes.

Leigh Fielding has a kidney disease (PKD) and for the last five years has been on a restricted diet and constrained by being on dialysis. Now thanks to the late Larry Resnick and his transplanted kidney, she is free. She plans an adventure to Los Angeles. Leigh hits the road planning to stop in Colorado to pick up her best friend and see a few tourist sites in between Wisconsin and California.

What follows is a funny and sweet trip about friendship. Leigh is hi-jacked or rather her purse is, by a seventeen year old, Denise and forced to give her a ride. She also feels that she is finding new things to like because Larry is 'showing' her the way. Leigh wants to visit his family to thank them. Leigh also wants to re-connect with her long-lost mother.

The characters in this book are engaging and that is why it is a book you just can't put down.

Mailed today to Ri! Enjoy!!

Thanks so much, Lauren! I can't remember what this book is for, but it looks fantastic!!

In an effort to pare down the massive TBR pile and be realistic about what I am going to read in the near future, this little book needs to get back on its traveling way!

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