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The Group Trip
Firefly Lane meets Happy Place in this touching southern-set novel about what it means to grow up together–hopefully without growing apart.
Told through dual timelines, Ingram paints a stunning portrait of friendship for fans of Kristy Woodson Harvey.
Sloane and Alden. Chloe and sometimes Luke. Steady Marianne. Reserved Wyatt. The six friends meet in their freshman year of college and quickly become inseparable as they navigate the bumpy road into adulthood. Over the next decade, they support each other through love and heartbreak, promotions and burnouts, stupid mistakes and epic dance parties.
But when Chloe inexplicably refuses Luke’s long-awaited proposal, their breakup fractures the close-knit group. Uncertain about the future of their friendship, they all reluctantly agree to gather for a luxury getaway on Florida’s Emerald Coast. As Chloe struggles to mend what she broke, the friends discover they’ve all kept secrets from the people who are supposed to know them best. Between beach bonfires and fried seafood dinners, the friends confront who they’ve become while longing for their carefree past.
For everyone who has felt both the joy and pain of changing friendships, The Group Trip offers a poignant exploration into matters of the heart.
Told through dual timelines, Ingram paints a stunning portrait of friendship for fans of Kristy Woodson Harvey.
Sloane and Alden. Chloe and sometimes Luke. Steady Marianne. Reserved Wyatt. The six friends meet in their freshman year of college and quickly become inseparable as they navigate the bumpy road into adulthood. Over the next decade, they support each other through love and heartbreak, promotions and burnouts, stupid mistakes and epic dance parties.
But when Chloe inexplicably refuses Luke’s long-awaited proposal, their breakup fractures the close-knit group. Uncertain about the future of their friendship, they all reluctantly agree to gather for a luxury getaway on Florida’s Emerald Coast. As Chloe struggles to mend what she broke, the friends discover they’ve all kept secrets from the people who are supposed to know them best. Between beach bonfires and fried seafood dinners, the friends confront who they’ve become while longing for their carefree past.
For everyone who has felt both the joy and pain of changing friendships, The Group Trip offers a poignant exploration into matters of the heart.
318 pages, ebook
First published August 6, 2024
102 people are currently reading
3498 people want to read
About the author
Audrey Ingram
3 books362 followersAudrey Ingram is a native of Alabama and a graduate of Middlebury College and Georgetown University Law Center. She practiced law in Washington, DC for fifteen years. When not writing, she can be found digging in her garden or hiking the Blue Ridge mountains. Audrey currently lives in Virginia with her husband and three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 236 reviews
September 30, 2024
EXCERPT: Chloe swims out as far as she can and when she finally surfaces, it's the smell she notices first.
She doesn't think much of it, assuming it's another one of the elaborate bonfires being set up. Or maybe a spill of kerosene from the tiki torches. But when she hears the shriek, Chloe knows something is wrong.
Chloe turns around and sees flames on the back deck. They spread quickly, the entire back of the house soon engulfed. She swims to shore, her heart and breath in a competition to see which one is going to give out first. Her eyes scan the shoreline, trying to count the friends running out of the house.
It happens so fast. Chloe thinks that a whole home shouldn't burn so quickly. But it does. Giant clouds of grey smoke billow up into the sky as she hears sirens approaching.
When Chloe finally reaches the sand, she's grateful for the first time this week that they've gathered close together. The water beads on her bare skin as she joins her friends, their eyes focused on the flames. Everyone's breath is ragged. No one is speaking, paralyzed by shock and fear. Chloe counts. One. Two. Three, Four.
Sloane.
Alden.
Marianne.
Wyatt.
When the house explodes, the flames having reached the propane tank in the basement, Chloe's eyes dart back and forth from the house to the beach, scanning for another person.
'Luke!' Chloe screams.
But no one answers.
ABOUT 'THE GROUP TRIP': Sloane and Alden. Chloe and sometimes Luke. Steady Marianne. Reserved Wyatt. The six friends meet in their freshman year of college and quickly become inseparable as they navigate the bumpy road into adulthood. Over the next decade, they support each other through love and heartbreak, promotions and burnouts, stupid mistakes and epic dance parties.
But when Chloe inexplicably refuses Luke’s long-awaited proposal, their breakup fractures the close-knit group. Uncertain about the future of their friendship, they all reluctantly agree to gather for a luxury getaway on Florida’s Emerald Coast. As Chloe struggles to mend what she broke, the friends discover they’ve all kept secrets from the people who are supposed to know them best. Between beach bonfires and fried seafood dinners, the friends confront who they’ve become while longing for their carefree past.
MY THOUGHTS: Remember your young adult years, that tight group of friends that was the nucleus of your life? For most of us, that nucleus dissolves over the years as friends move away, get married, have children . . . but in this case it was Chloe who bowed out after refusing Luke's proposal. Sloane is determined to get Luke and Chloe back together, for reasons of her own.
The plot is engaging, and I enjoyed the to and froing between the current times - in their late twenties - and their college years. For Chloe and Luke, the attraction was instantaneous, like metal filings to a magnet. I loved the story of their relationship, not all of which is told until after Chloe refuses Luke's proposal. I must admit, that stunned me! But I did come to understand and respect her reasoning.
This is another good example of outsiders looking in at someone's seemingly privileged life and making the wrong assumptions. Even close friends can do the same, as is the case here. They all have problems and secrets that they're not as willing to share as they had been in earlier years and this put a strain on the friendships. One or two of the group are quite manipulative characters which leads to all sorts of dramas.
My favorite quote: There's never a good time to follow your dreams. You just do it.
I liked, but didn't love this novel. It was a quick easy read which kept me entertained, but I doubt I'll remember it in a couple of weeks time.
⭐⭐⭐.8
#TheGroupTrip #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Audrey currently lives in Virginia with her husband and three children. When not writing, she can be found digging in her garden or hiking the Blue Ridge mountains.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Alcove Press via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Group Trip by Audrey Ingram for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
She doesn't think much of it, assuming it's another one of the elaborate bonfires being set up. Or maybe a spill of kerosene from the tiki torches. But when she hears the shriek, Chloe knows something is wrong.
Chloe turns around and sees flames on the back deck. They spread quickly, the entire back of the house soon engulfed. She swims to shore, her heart and breath in a competition to see which one is going to give out first. Her eyes scan the shoreline, trying to count the friends running out of the house.
It happens so fast. Chloe thinks that a whole home shouldn't burn so quickly. But it does. Giant clouds of grey smoke billow up into the sky as she hears sirens approaching.
When Chloe finally reaches the sand, she's grateful for the first time this week that they've gathered close together. The water beads on her bare skin as she joins her friends, their eyes focused on the flames. Everyone's breath is ragged. No one is speaking, paralyzed by shock and fear. Chloe counts. One. Two. Three, Four.
Sloane.
Alden.
Marianne.
Wyatt.
When the house explodes, the flames having reached the propane tank in the basement, Chloe's eyes dart back and forth from the house to the beach, scanning for another person.
'Luke!' Chloe screams.
But no one answers.
ABOUT 'THE GROUP TRIP': Sloane and Alden. Chloe and sometimes Luke. Steady Marianne. Reserved Wyatt. The six friends meet in their freshman year of college and quickly become inseparable as they navigate the bumpy road into adulthood. Over the next decade, they support each other through love and heartbreak, promotions and burnouts, stupid mistakes and epic dance parties.
But when Chloe inexplicably refuses Luke’s long-awaited proposal, their breakup fractures the close-knit group. Uncertain about the future of their friendship, they all reluctantly agree to gather for a luxury getaway on Florida’s Emerald Coast. As Chloe struggles to mend what she broke, the friends discover they’ve all kept secrets from the people who are supposed to know them best. Between beach bonfires and fried seafood dinners, the friends confront who they’ve become while longing for their carefree past.
MY THOUGHTS: Remember your young adult years, that tight group of friends that was the nucleus of your life? For most of us, that nucleus dissolves over the years as friends move away, get married, have children . . . but in this case it was Chloe who bowed out after refusing Luke's proposal. Sloane is determined to get Luke and Chloe back together, for reasons of her own.
The plot is engaging, and I enjoyed the to and froing between the current times - in their late twenties - and their college years. For Chloe and Luke, the attraction was instantaneous, like metal filings to a magnet. I loved the story of their relationship, not all of which is told until after Chloe refuses Luke's proposal. I must admit, that stunned me! But I did come to understand and respect her reasoning.
This is another good example of outsiders looking in at someone's seemingly privileged life and making the wrong assumptions. Even close friends can do the same, as is the case here. They all have problems and secrets that they're not as willing to share as they had been in earlier years and this put a strain on the friendships. One or two of the group are quite manipulative characters which leads to all sorts of dramas.
My favorite quote: There's never a good time to follow your dreams. You just do it.
I liked, but didn't love this novel. It was a quick easy read which kept me entertained, but I doubt I'll remember it in a couple of weeks time.
⭐⭐⭐.8
#TheGroupTrip #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Audrey currently lives in Virginia with her husband and three children. When not writing, she can be found digging in her garden or hiking the Blue Ridge mountains.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Alcove Press via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Group Trip by Audrey Ingram for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
April 3, 2024
I am so very jealous of the friendships that Chloe has and has been able to sustain since college. Life changes for the friends over the years. This book is an account of life's ups and downs and how the circle of friendship is affected. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy!
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy!
June 27, 2024
Wow! Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for letting me read the e-arc for this amazing book. I will be forever grateful.
It is an amazing journey into the friendship of a group of six. Their story is told jumping between timelines from their college years to their late 20s, and I always love this writing style when the story is engaging, and it was, I couldn’t put this book down.
At the end of the book I felt like I was part of the group, or at least I loved these characters like they were my friends.
The book ends (or starts) with such a good metaphor for how their relationship became, I was overwhelmed by how superbly this story was executed.
On a personal note:
I treasure friendships more than most things in my life, I felt jealous of this friendship dynamic, but it also made me reflect on how beautiful and fulfilling my friendships are, how lucky I am to have my own friends just like Chloe, Sloane, Marianne, Alden, Luke and Wyatt have each other.
I’m not used to quote a book, but this is needed because it’s just too beautiful (I cried)
“Twenty years from now, she wonders what version [of themselves] they’ll be on. She hopes they will have tried on several, because watching your friends turn into adults is a privilege.”
It is an amazing journey into the friendship of a group of six. Their story is told jumping between timelines from their college years to their late 20s, and I always love this writing style when the story is engaging, and it was, I couldn’t put this book down.
At the end of the book I felt like I was part of the group, or at least I loved these characters like they were my friends.
The book ends (or starts) with such a good metaphor for how their relationship became, I was overwhelmed by how superbly this story was executed.
On a personal note:
I treasure friendships more than most things in my life, I felt jealous of this friendship dynamic, but it also made me reflect on how beautiful and fulfilling my friendships are, how lucky I am to have my own friends just like Chloe, Sloane, Marianne, Alden, Luke and Wyatt have each other.
I’m not used to quote a book, but this is needed because it’s just too beautiful (I cried)
“Twenty years from now, she wonders what version [of themselves] they’ll be on. She hopes they will have tried on several, because watching your friends turn into adults is a privilege.”
June 17, 2024
Thank you Netgalley for the advance copy!
This book follows the friendship of 6 friends, starting in college. I immediately felt like Chloe was a kindred spirit of mine. Imagine how much courage it takes to say no to a proposal from your boyfriend of almost a decade. The story is beautifully written & I loved the ending so much. The journey of these people is the best & i am so glad i took the time to read it.
This book follows the friendship of 6 friends, starting in college. I immediately felt like Chloe was a kindred spirit of mine. Imagine how much courage it takes to say no to a proposal from your boyfriend of almost a decade. The story is beautifully written & I loved the ending so much. The journey of these people is the best & i am so glad i took the time to read it.
June 16, 2024
This book pulled me in right from the beginning. I loved reading about the trials of their group of friends over the years since College. It was what I imagined I always wanted. I am so happy with the way the book ended. I highly recommend to everyone for a light summer read. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
July 1, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I flew through this book about 6 friends who met in college and all their trials and tribulations as they navigate the early years after college. It was fun that it was set in Seaside Florida as I have vacationed there and recognized restaurants and stores referenced in the book.
September 2, 2024
SO GOOD. LOVED IT. A perfect summer read with depth and real-world issues that friend groups face as they turn into adults. Think Happy Place but honestly, better. Book of the year contender 100%!
Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.
July 12, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
Chloe, Luke, Wyatt, Marianne, Noah, Sloane, and Alden have all been friends for over ten years. But things have been just plain awkward for the friend set since Chloe refused Luke's marriage proposal. But Chloe is encouraged to attend the friend reunion at the beach house. As events in the present show, Chloe is not the only one struggling. As the chapters alternate to the past, it is clear to see that as beautiful as the friendship was, Chloe and Luke had a very complex relationship.
When I started this novel, I felt that I was going to enjoy it but the opposite became true. Perhaps more time in the present would have been better. Maybe it would have been better if Luke and Chloe had talked earlier in the novel. I felt Marianne and Sloane's storylines were more angsty and relatable, I would have preferred them to Chloe.
Expected Publication Date 13/08/24
Goodreads Review 12/07/24
#TheGroupTrip #NetGalley.
Chloe, Luke, Wyatt, Marianne, Noah, Sloane, and Alden have all been friends for over ten years. But things have been just plain awkward for the friend set since Chloe refused Luke's marriage proposal. But Chloe is encouraged to attend the friend reunion at the beach house. As events in the present show, Chloe is not the only one struggling. As the chapters alternate to the past, it is clear to see that as beautiful as the friendship was, Chloe and Luke had a very complex relationship.
When I started this novel, I felt that I was going to enjoy it but the opposite became true. Perhaps more time in the present would have been better. Maybe it would have been better if Luke and Chloe had talked earlier in the novel. I felt Marianne and Sloane's storylines were more angsty and relatable, I would have preferred them to Chloe.
Expected Publication Date 13/08/24
Goodreads Review 12/07/24
#TheGroupTrip #NetGalley.
June 12, 2024
4🌟! I thoroughly enjoyed this. It wasn’t what I was expecting but at the same time I have no idea what I was expecting. First of all I do not like Luke at all he was just so icky. But the rest of the characters I really enjoyed. I liked the flashbacks compared with the present day POVs because it added depth to the story. I also loved the beach vibe it reminded me of “The Summer I Turned Pretty”. I feel like this is a very accurate representation of group friendships and dynamics and it was nice to see it be realistic rather than romanticised. Definitely check this book out it releases on the April 8 2025. Thanks so much to Netgalley, Alcove Press and Audrey Ingram for this ARC.
November 14, 2024
The Group Trip by Audrey Ingram is a treasure, and just what I happened to be in the mood for right now! I felt so many emotions while I was listening to this, and I feel like I both laughed and cried in equal measure. I loved that this focused on a group of 6 friends and the dual timeline really helps you get a picture of how they ended up where they are now as well as their relationships with each other. I didn't want to put it down, and I could have easily turned this into a one day read.
The audiobook is equally as fantastic as the book itself with Megan Tusing as the narrator, though I will say it helped that the entire story is told from Chloe's viewpoint. I can’t imagine anyone doing a better job than Tusing with these characters, and her voice and style were the perfect fit. There is also plenty of drama in The Group Trip as well as some romance and lots of secrets. I would make sure to check triggers prior to reading but would definitely recommend if you enjoy storylines about friend groups with jaw dropping moments and a beachy vibe!
The audiobook is equally as fantastic as the book itself with Megan Tusing as the narrator, though I will say it helped that the entire story is told from Chloe's viewpoint. I can’t imagine anyone doing a better job than Tusing with these characters, and her voice and style were the perfect fit. There is also plenty of drama in The Group Trip as well as some romance and lots of secrets. I would make sure to check triggers prior to reading but would definitely recommend if you enjoy storylines about friend groups with jaw dropping moments and a beachy vibe!
June 24, 2024
Chloe met Luke her freshman year of college and quickly became his girlfriend and joined his friend group. The six friends—Chloe, Luke, Sloan, Alden, Wyatt, and Marianne—survive college and adulthood until Chloe inexplicably says no to Luke’s proposal. In a last ditch effort to bring everyone back together, Sloan invites the friends to her home in Florida. Everyone is desperate to understand what happened between Chloe and Luke, but the friends soon realize they’ve all been keeping secrets.
I absolutely loved this! It’s sort of like a modern version of the show Friends: an inseparable friend group that overcomes relationships, breakups, marriages, kids, jealously, growing up, and everything in between. It was easy to tell where the story was going with the Wyatt storyline, but it didn’t make the plot any less interesting. Every character is likeable and unlikeable in their own ways, but they worked well as a friend group. They all face very real issues but support each other, no matter how messy it looks at times. I enjoyed the alternating timeline, switching from the present to the last 10 years of Chloe’s life with Luke and the friend group. Every character got their own version of a happy ending, and while I don’t think it was necessarily realistic, I’m glad it ended on a positive note. Thanks to NetGalley, Alcove Press, and Audrey Ingram for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I absolutely loved this! It’s sort of like a modern version of the show Friends: an inseparable friend group that overcomes relationships, breakups, marriages, kids, jealously, growing up, and everything in between. It was easy to tell where the story was going with the Wyatt storyline, but it didn’t make the plot any less interesting. Every character is likeable and unlikeable in their own ways, but they worked well as a friend group. They all face very real issues but support each other, no matter how messy it looks at times. I enjoyed the alternating timeline, switching from the present to the last 10 years of Chloe’s life with Luke and the friend group. Every character got their own version of a happy ending, and while I don’t think it was necessarily realistic, I’m glad it ended on a positive note. Thanks to NetGalley, Alcove Press, and Audrey Ingram for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 6, 2024
A good book, but not a fantastic one.
I'm not sure, but I think that I have never read a book with so many unlikeable characters before. We have wishy-washy Chloe and a selfish Luke, Sloane, who forces everyone to do what she wants, and Wyatt, who is hiding the biggest secret of all.
I DO understand that this is a novel about growing up and personality growth, but still. Another problem I had with this book is that it had so many characters that most of them got lost in the background. They never get fully fleshed out. Normally, this wouldn't be a problem for me, as every book needs secondary and tertiary characters. However, the problem here is that this book is about six people who are friends during college and remain so after college, right into mature adulthood - they ALL should have gotten their tales told. But they didn't. That is, of course, just my opinion, and many other readers will see it another way.
This story is told in split timelines, starting in the present and then interspersing each 'present' chapter with past years and how things came to be. It works its way to the end when we finally get to understand why and what was happening in the prologue.
This book mostly centers on Chloe and her relationship with Luke. It then throws in other people who are all holding on to secrets (the biggest one is really easy to guess), and some are even telling lies.
*This ARC was provided by the publisher Alcove Press, the author, and NetGalley.
I'm not sure, but I think that I have never read a book with so many unlikeable characters before. We have wishy-washy Chloe and a selfish Luke, Sloane, who forces everyone to do what she wants, and Wyatt, who is hiding the biggest secret of all.
I DO understand that this is a novel about growing up and personality growth, but still. Another problem I had with this book is that it had so many characters that most of them got lost in the background. They never get fully fleshed out. Normally, this wouldn't be a problem for me, as every book needs secondary and tertiary characters. However, the problem here is that this book is about six people who are friends during college and remain so after college, right into mature adulthood - they ALL should have gotten their tales told. But they didn't. That is, of course, just my opinion, and many other readers will see it another way.
This story is told in split timelines, starting in the present and then interspersing each 'present' chapter with past years and how things came to be. It works its way to the end when we finally get to understand why and what was happening in the prologue.
This book mostly centers on Chloe and her relationship with Luke. It then throws in other people who are all holding on to secrets (the biggest one is really easy to guess), and some are even telling lies.
*This ARC was provided by the publisher Alcove Press, the author, and NetGalley.
November 15, 2025
3.5⭐️ First, I love this cover. I read this book as part of a buddy read and based on the book summary I am not sure if I would have picked it up. The description reminds me a lot of Happy Place by Emily Henry which I wasn't the biggest fan of. I think there are a lot of similarities: friend group, dating with friend group, SECRETS. The story itself reads well and the writing is good. It is dual timeline: the present and the past 10 years (each go back is one year closer to present day). I liked this set up and it allow the characters and storyline to unfold. The first chapter plunges you into the "I need to know" moment. My issue with the story is the characters, especially Luke and Sloane. Their storyline would be so sweet/all green flags one moment and then self-centered/controlling in just a few pages. It just didn't feel real to me and I definitely wanted to throw Luke across the room more than once.
January 17, 2025
This was a great read. The two timelines showing how deep the friendships run was amazing. I did kind of see the love story coming.
It was great seeing this group of friends constantly be there for each other.
Definitely recommend!!!!
It was great seeing this group of friends constantly be there for each other.
Definitely recommend!!!!
August 1, 2025
I’m giving this book 4 stars, but it’s truly higher than that. A cute, quick summer read that goes through the changes of young adult life. You can find at least one character to highly relate to or a situation that you’ve encountered or are encountering. What a great little read! Great choice for Sooks & Books, Deanne! ❤️🦀📚
September 20, 2024
I LOVED The Group Trip! If you aren’t familiar with author Audrey Ingram, she needs to be on your radar! The Group Trip is a beautiful novel about a group of friends who meet in college and how their friendship is tested in the decade since they first met.
Chloe is an outsider. She moves across the country to attend college in Tennessee, chasing her dream of becoming an artist. Alone and missing her family in California, Chloe is ready to leave until she meets Luke. Charming and handsome, Luke introduces Chloe to his friends—Sloane, Alden, Marianne, and Wyatt. After one wild night at Waffle House, Chloe finds what she’s been missing—friends. As the group gets older, their lives change, each finding themselves on paths pulling them away from each other, except Chloe and Luke. What keeps them together is their annual group trip. Now, ten years later, Chloe is back where she started, alone. As the group comes together for a lavish beach trip along Florida’s picturesque 30A, secrets are revealed, and the group must decide if their friendship is worth saving.
I was hooked from the very beginning! I stayed up way too late at night reading because I could not put this down! The Group Trip is one of my favorite books that I read this summer! Even though the story is about the group of six friends, it is only told from Chloe’s perspective. For those who don’t like reading multiple POVs, there is no need to worry about trying to keep up with too many characters. Audrey has done an excellent job writing this book. I love how it is told in dual timelines, switching between the present and the years leading up to the cataclysm that tore the group apart.
If you love the TV show Friends and enjoyed Emily Henry’s People We Meet On Vacation and Happy Place, I think you will love The Group Trip! Do yourself a favor and add this to your TBR. I highly recommend it!
Chloe is an outsider. She moves across the country to attend college in Tennessee, chasing her dream of becoming an artist. Alone and missing her family in California, Chloe is ready to leave until she meets Luke. Charming and handsome, Luke introduces Chloe to his friends—Sloane, Alden, Marianne, and Wyatt. After one wild night at Waffle House, Chloe finds what she’s been missing—friends. As the group gets older, their lives change, each finding themselves on paths pulling them away from each other, except Chloe and Luke. What keeps them together is their annual group trip. Now, ten years later, Chloe is back where she started, alone. As the group comes together for a lavish beach trip along Florida’s picturesque 30A, secrets are revealed, and the group must decide if their friendship is worth saving.
I was hooked from the very beginning! I stayed up way too late at night reading because I could not put this down! The Group Trip is one of my favorite books that I read this summer! Even though the story is about the group of six friends, it is only told from Chloe’s perspective. For those who don’t like reading multiple POVs, there is no need to worry about trying to keep up with too many characters. Audrey has done an excellent job writing this book. I love how it is told in dual timelines, switching between the present and the years leading up to the cataclysm that tore the group apart.
If you love the TV show Friends and enjoyed Emily Henry’s People We Meet On Vacation and Happy Place, I think you will love The Group Trip! Do yourself a favor and add this to your TBR. I highly recommend it!
July 6, 2025
Would have been a 5 if it weren’t for the last two chapters! Still loved it though. Read in two days. Love flipping back and forth between timelines
January 15, 2026
4.5/5 — cute, fun, mindless novel. but ending was predictable and corny. Definitely a beach read
April 17, 2024
Since Ingram’s debut “The River Runs South” was one of my favorite reads of 2023, I was stoked to get an advanced copy of “The Group Trip” (shout out to Alcove Press and NetGalley!). The Group Trip definitely lives up to my high expectations. The characters all had such a depth to them. The story was intricately woven and tied in the full story line. It was powerful to get a view of the friend group over time - it was much more than just a group trip, and I’ll be recommending this book all year!
April 3, 2024
The Group Trip is a fascinating and binge-worthy coming of age story about a group of friends fractured after a romantic relationship within the group turns sour. Ingram brilliantly crafts a gripping tale, exploring the trials of friendship, the secrets kept close to the heart, and the bonds threatened to be broken when heartbreak enters the mix. Heartfelt, complex, and charming, with an unforgettable cast of characters—make time for this one!
July 12, 2024
Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this! Easily 4.5 /5 stars
This is a multi-timeline story about a group of friends from college, focusing on various trips they take together as the story jumps back and forth. Chloe, the female lead, breaks up with longtime seemingly perfect Luke at the very beginning, threatening the dynamic of the friendship group (Chloe, Luke, new mom Marianne, Wyatt, and married couple Sloane and Alden).
What I loved about this is the completely authentic view of friendships and the impact relationships can have. For me this hits incredibly close to my life in college and it felt like almost looking through a window to the past. I've been Chloe so I immediately connected to her fears of abandonment and worth. I loved that they were all hiding something from each other, but almost every secret was done out of genuine love for each other. I also really loved going back in time and understanding why Chloe would say no to the 'love of her life', and the introspection on how you can lose yourself in a relationship. It's not everything all at once.
I did think Wyatt's storyline was very obvious from the beginning, but I still really enjoyed it. I kinda wish Luke wasn't built to be SO kinda crummy, but it still works, and while the ending is overall cheery and maybe a bit too sunny, it is the best kind of summer read. I love happy endings and this delivered.
This is a multi-timeline story about a group of friends from college, focusing on various trips they take together as the story jumps back and forth. Chloe, the female lead, breaks up with longtime seemingly perfect Luke at the very beginning, threatening the dynamic of the friendship group (Chloe, Luke, new mom Marianne, Wyatt, and married couple Sloane and Alden).
What I loved about this is the completely authentic view of friendships and the impact relationships can have. For me this hits incredibly close to my life in college and it felt like almost looking through a window to the past. I've been Chloe so I immediately connected to her fears of abandonment and worth. I loved that they were all hiding something from each other, but almost every secret was done out of genuine love for each other. I also really loved going back in time and understanding why Chloe would say no to the 'love of her life', and the introspection on how you can lose yourself in a relationship. It's not everything all at once.
I did think Wyatt's storyline was very obvious from the beginning, but I still really enjoyed it. I kinda wish Luke wasn't built to be SO kinda crummy, but it still works, and while the ending is overall cheery and maybe a bit too sunny, it is the best kind of summer read. I love happy endings and this delivered.
August 11, 2024
Rounding up from 4.5 stars
The cover of this book makes it look like a light, beach read. However, this contemporary romance novel also has quite a bit of drama and a dash of comedy. I actually cried a few times.
The Group Trip follows 6 friends through college up to the present day. The chapters go back and forth between past and present detailing the ups and downs that each member of the group experiences over the years and their relationships with each other as they evolve and change. As the friends grow and move on with their lives they struggle to keep the same dynamic they had in college and not grow apart while keeping secrets from one another.
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The cover of this book makes it look like a light, beach read. However, this contemporary romance novel also has quite a bit of drama and a dash of comedy. I actually cried a few times.
The Group Trip follows 6 friends through college up to the present day. The chapters go back and forth between past and present detailing the ups and downs that each member of the group experiences over the years and their relationships with each other as they evolve and change. As the friends grow and move on with their lives they struggle to keep the same dynamic they had in college and not grow apart while keeping secrets from one another.
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 22, 2025
I really enjoyed this story of six friends who meet as freshmen in college and the years afterward as they navigate life and become real adults and all the accompanying challenges. These relationships are precious and dear, and all the changes as they mature are there for us to observe and ponder. I loved their friendship and the way they worked on not losing each other despite life’s twists and turns.
This one is four sparkling stars!
I received a copy of the digital ARC via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.
This one is four sparkling stars!
I received a copy of the digital ARC via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.
March 1, 2025
Absolutely loveeeed it. Jumping around on the timeline to give backstory and foreshadow kept me locked in. Also the realness of motherhood and hatingggg pumping and nursing but feeling guilty for leaving your baby and not wanting to miss anything was so relatable. The group was messy and so much drama, loved it bec I’m nosey as heck and want to know everyone’s secrets and it felt like i was just observing a real friend group.
August 7, 2024
The Group Trip follows a group of 6 very different best friends who have to learn how to navigate life after college. Their latest group trip is brought on by the secrets each of them has kept. As they start to see each other with changing perspectives, years of animosity between friends and ex’s is brought to the surface and tensions rise as the week continues. The jumps between past moments among friends to the present gave me such insight into each character.
It was easy to fall in love with not only the friendships the characters shared, but the characters themselves, especially Chloe. Her struggle with the messiness of transitioning into adulthood makes her relatable to everyone who has ever struggled to determine who they want to become. The Group Trip is a captivating story of friendship and love that explores the effects of making life altering decisions based on someone else’s or a whole group’s desires instead of your own.
Thank you to Alcove Press and Netgalley for the arc!
It was easy to fall in love with not only the friendships the characters shared, but the characters themselves, especially Chloe. Her struggle with the messiness of transitioning into adulthood makes her relatable to everyone who has ever struggled to determine who they want to become. The Group Trip is a captivating story of friendship and love that explores the effects of making life altering decisions based on someone else’s or a whole group’s desires instead of your own.
Thank you to Alcove Press and Netgalley for the arc!
January 17, 2025
This was really wholesome and cute. Makes me want to take a trip with my best friends.
July 12, 2025
Rounded 4.5. I really loved this book. I'm not giving it a 5 because I don't know that it's a book that I'm going to think about constantly or is going to change my life/view on life.
I read this book in less than 24 hours. I was immediately sucked into this friend group and their story. I found the characters enjoyable and the time jumps engaging. Overall a super delightful summer read.
I read this book in less than 24 hours. I was immediately sucked into this friend group and their story. I found the characters enjoyable and the time jumps engaging. Overall a super delightful summer read.
August 25, 2025
Audiobook - enjoyed the story of a group of friends. “Home is not a place when you’re with the right person”
June 20, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for an ARC of this book.
Following a dual timeline, The Group Trip takes us through the nearly decade-long friendship of 6 friends who met in their first year of college. In her misguided attempt to get Luke and Chloe back together after a year apart, Sloan sets into motion a series of events that inevitably reveals some of the group’s deepest secrets, including her own.
I saw that this book was compared to Firefly Lane and Happy Place, two books I loved, but for me it was a little less Firefly Lane and maybe a little bit like Happy Place but not so similar that it made it boring or predictable.
I liked the way the story was told from the present day while taking us through some of the bigger moments the group shared in the last 9 years as it’s a nice way to get to know our characters and helps to build suspense. The amount of times I went to bed during a cliffhanger at the end of a chapter because I had to be a responsible adult and not stay up until 2 am figuring out what happens next. Even though there were parts I predicted throughout the story, I still found myself surprised by some of the reveals.
This group of friends is admittedly a bit codependent but somehow it works. Like they’re way too tethered to one another and yet even when it causes disagreements, even when the group was nearly ripped apart completely, they eventually realize they wouldn’t have it any other way. Because they are the family that chose one another and there’s something really special, if slightly dysfunctional, about it. And really, whose family doesn’t have a little dysfunction anyway?
I loved that each friend seemed to have a specific purpose in the group and they were all so loyal and protective of one another, even at the expense of their own happiness sometimes. I could go into much more detail for each character, but at the risk of going on too long all I really want to say is the author really made me fall in love with Luke only to make me eventually hate Luke. And while the friend group can forgive him because that’s what friends do, I don’t know if I can. Now Wyatt…I know they’re fictional characters but him I definitely might be in love with.
Thank you to the author for this beautiful story of love, friendship, and overcoming some of the most difficult experiences a person can go through. And for writing characters I could relate to, fall in love with and yes thank you even for the one I came to hate.
Following a dual timeline, The Group Trip takes us through the nearly decade-long friendship of 6 friends who met in their first year of college. In her misguided attempt to get Luke and Chloe back together after a year apart, Sloan sets into motion a series of events that inevitably reveals some of the group’s deepest secrets, including her own.
I saw that this book was compared to Firefly Lane and Happy Place, two books I loved, but for me it was a little less Firefly Lane and maybe a little bit like Happy Place but not so similar that it made it boring or predictable.
I liked the way the story was told from the present day while taking us through some of the bigger moments the group shared in the last 9 years as it’s a nice way to get to know our characters and helps to build suspense. The amount of times I went to bed during a cliffhanger at the end of a chapter because I had to be a responsible adult and not stay up until 2 am figuring out what happens next. Even though there were parts I predicted throughout the story, I still found myself surprised by some of the reveals.
This group of friends is admittedly a bit codependent but somehow it works. Like they’re way too tethered to one another and yet even when it causes disagreements, even when the group was nearly ripped apart completely, they eventually realize they wouldn’t have it any other way. Because they are the family that chose one another and there’s something really special, if slightly dysfunctional, about it. And really, whose family doesn’t have a little dysfunction anyway?
I loved that each friend seemed to have a specific purpose in the group and they were all so loyal and protective of one another, even at the expense of their own happiness sometimes. I could go into much more detail for each character, but at the risk of going on too long all I really want to say is the author really made me fall in love with Luke only to make me eventually hate Luke. And while the friend group can forgive him because that’s what friends do, I don’t know if I can. Now Wyatt…I know they’re fictional characters but him I definitely might be in love with.
Thank you to the author for this beautiful story of love, friendship, and overcoming some of the most difficult experiences a person can go through. And for writing characters I could relate to, fall in love with and yes thank you even for the one I came to hate.
November 16, 2025
“You’re a painter, Chloe, not a canvas. Don’t let Luke design a life you don’t even want.” This was a quick read about a group of friends who met in college and how their relationships evolved over a nine year period.
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