Road Trip
- Judith D Collins
- Jun 1
- 5 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
By: Mary Kay Andrews
Narrator: Kathleen McInerney
Macmillan Audio
ISBN: 978-1250372895
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: 06/02/2026
Format: Other
My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC) (ALC)
JUN 2026 MUST-READ BOOKS
Rolling hills, hot men with accents, and a trip to Ireland two sisters might not survive.
The queen of summer beach reads and New York Times Bestselling author, Mary Kay Andrews is crossing the pond!
Road Trip marks Andrews’ first novel in two years, the book was loosely inspired by her own family history.
Road Trip follows Maeve and Therese Dunigan, polar opposite sisters who have been estranged from each other for years. The two are only brought back together after their mother dies.
But when Maeve and Therese learn that their mom has left them a painting potentially worth millions, the siblings embark on a voyage across Ireland to discover whether or not it’s real. As they traverse local pubs and villages, and meet handsome men along the way, the sisters must reclaim their inheritance and end a family curse at the same time.
Andrews, known for summery hits like The Homewreckers and Summers at the Saint has long transported readers to memorable locations — but her latest book promises to be a romp they won’t soon forget.
My Review
A delightful, slow-burning Irish countryside contemporary masterclass.
"A charming summer escapist journey where bickering sisters must untangle deep family roots to solve an international art mystery."
In ROAD TRIP, New York Times bestselling author Mary Kay Andrews departs from her usual coastal beach-town settings to deliver a deeply atmospheric, multi-country Savannah-to-Ireland, contemporary fiction mystery. The story hinges on two estranged sisters navigating immense financial and emotional hurdles to verify an ancestral family heirloom. Bickering siblings vs. a generational mystery.
Elevator Pitch
Brought back together by their mother’s passing and a surprise $350,000 mortgage bill, two fiercely opposite, estranged sisters embark on an unexpected journey to the rolling green hills of Ireland to discover if a family portrait is their financial salvation or a dangerous fake.
Setting
The story opens in the historic, moss-draped neighborhoods of Savannah, Georgia before hitting the road across Ireland, moving from the vibrant streets of Dublin to the twisty lanes, cozy local pubs, and charming, small-town countryside of County Wicklow.
Vibe
Heartwarming, witty, and adventurous. It perfectly pairs the sunny, cozy charm of a classic summer escapist read with the slow-burning curiosity of an ancestral treasure hunt and a light touch of danger.
Genre:
Contemporary Women's Fiction / Sisterhood Drama / Mystery Romance.
Themes
~The Complexity of Sisterhood
~Elder Exploitation
~Ancestral Legacies
~Second Chances
MAEVE & THERESE: THE POLAR OPPOSITES
Turning a forced family inheritance into a vehicle for sibling reconciliation.
Standout Characters
~Maeve Dunigan: The protagonist, a rigid, guarded university teacher and ultimate rule-follower who shouldered the burden of caring for their motherwho shouldered the burden of caring for their mother.
~Therese Dunigan: Maeve’s estranged younger sister; a chaotic, fiercely independent, and unapologetic rebel struggling with a failing acting career.
Author Writing Standout
Andrews’s signature gift for creating quirky, unforgettable ensembles shines through in her meticulous, highly empathetic rendering of the sisters' rocky banter. She avoids making their polarization feel cartoonish, writing the everyday logistics of settling an estate, traveling abroad, and navigating life-saving clues with striking, tactile realism.
Takeaway
The most valuable heirlooms aren't the ones hanging on a wall, but the fractured human connections we choose to repair along the way.
Title Significance
Road Trip acts as both the literal, winding geographical framework of the novel and a psychological gauntlet. It represents the mandatory, unavoidable physical proximity that forces Maeve and Therese to finally confront each other, proving that you cannot outrun your past unless you face it together.
Metaphor
The mysterious ancestral painting serves as the central metaphor of the novel. It represents the Dunigan family identity itself—hidden under layers of dust and potential deception, requiring the sisters to scrutinize it closely to separate the true value from a beautiful fake.
Why You Should Read
Read this if you are a fan of heart-filled, atmospheric women's fiction like the works of Kristy Woodson Harvey or Elin Hilderbrand, or if you want an engaging, feel-good mystery complete with small-town Irish charm, bar brawls, and an adorable English Cocker Spaniel named Sinead O'Cocker.
My Thoughts
The novel succeeds beautifully in building a gorgeous, escapist atmosphere. The transition from Savannah to the Irish countryside is perfectly captured—not just through scenic backdrops, but through the heavy emotional weight of grief and the comedic friction of the sisters' clashing personalities. Both leads are highly memorable; their stubbornness and eventual growth make their bond incredibly grounded. A masterfully executed, satisfying climax.
Audio Standout
I had the privilege of immersing myself in the captivating world of the book, complemented by the enchanting audiobook narrated by the incredibly talented Kathleen McInerney, who is one of my favorites. Her skillful narration brought the setting to vibrant life, effectively capturing the mood and intricacies of the characters. Each word she delivered added depth and emotion, making for an engaging and thoroughly entertaining listening experience.
Verdict: 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Stars
"A charming, beautifully atmospheric contemporary novel that pairs a lighthearted sisterly road trip with a genuinely engaging international mystery."
Recs
~Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews (for more of the author’s signature, five-star mystery-tinged summer escapes)
~The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand (for another exceptional, high-friction story of estranged sisters switching lives and resolving old feuds)
Special thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Jun 2, 2026
June 2026 Must-Read Books
Praise for Mary Kay Andrews:
“[A] mesmerizing mix of mystery and romance . . . Series fans and newcomers alike will be riveted.”
―Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Mary Kay Andrews is the queen of beach reads.”
“Oh, just bring us the beach chair and fancy umbrella drink now. We’re in.”
“Mary Kay Andrews is having her moment.”
―Today Show
"A cozy romp that touches lightly on multiple genres to spin an intriguing tale: murder mystery, IRA art heist, coming-to-America immigrant story, justice for elder financial abuse, dual rom-com narratives, and an earnest story of two sisters learning to appreciate each other again. A delightful tale with vivid characters."
―Kirkus
About the Author
MARY KAY ANDREWS is the New York Times bestselling author of 30 novels (including The Homewreckers; The Santa Suit; The Newcomer; Hello, Summer; Sunset Beach; The High Tide Club; The Weekenders; Beach Town; Save the Date; Ladies’ Night; Christmas Bliss; Spring Fever; Summer Rental; The Fixer Upper; Deep Dish; Blue Christmas; Savannah Breeze; Hissy Fit; Little Bitty Lies; and Savannah Blues), and one cookbook, The Beach House Cookbook.
A native of St. Petersburg, Florida, she earned a B.A. in journalism from The University of Georgia. After a 14-year career working as a reporter at newspapers including The Savannah Morning News, The Marietta Journal, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where she spent the final ten years of her career, she left journalism in 1991 to write fiction.
Her first novel, Every Crooked Nanny, was published in 1992 by HarperCollins. She went on to write ten critically acclaimed mysteries under her real name, Kathy Hogan Trocheck. In 2002, she assumed the pen name Mary Kay Andrews with the publication of Savannah Blues. In 2006, Hissy Fit became her first New York Times bestseller, followed by fifteen more New York Times, USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestsellers. To date, her novels have been published in German, Italian, Polish, Slovenian, Hungarian, Dutch, Czech and Japanese.
She and her family divide their time between Atlanta and Tybee Island, GA, where they cook up new recipes in three restored beach homes, The Breeze Inn, Ebbtide, and Coquina Cottage—all named after fictional places in Mary Kay’s novels, and all available to rent through Tybee Vacation Rentals. In between cooking, spoiling her grandkids, and plotting her next novel, Mary Kay is an intrepid treasure hunter whose favorite pastime is junking and fixing up old houses. WEBSITE
