A Guide to Falling Off the Map

by Zanni L. Arnot

Simultaneously introspective and humorous, A Guide to Falling Off the Map is a funny, tender, messy, and authentic story about two teens who fall in love on the precipice of things falling apart.

Outgoing Vinnie Smith has her NYC future planned with her best friend Lilah. Meanwhile, her childhood friend Roo Carpenter is barely getting by, having dropped out of high school to work a shady job and support his mom.



But when Vinnie's world starts falling apart - plagued by severe headaches, rejected as drama captain, and betrayed by Lilah - she decides to fix Roo's life instead. They hit the road across inland Australia in her mom's old Kombi, reliving their past adventures.



As they travel, Vinnie's unresolved grief over her mom resurfaces, her health deteriorates, and unexpected, intense feelings for Roo begin to threaten their friendship. Can they navigate their emotions and find a way forward, or will everything they've ever known come crashing down?

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Mental Health, Young Adult Contemporary, Road Trip, Grief

304 pages, Hardcover

First published September 2, 2025

Reviews

[kaitlyns_library · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick dual-POV read about two teenagers trying to find their purpose. I love that this is sectioned into three parts (before caravanning, during and after) and that it deals with a variety of grief and angst throughout. I think this was executed well. While at times, the characters were being difficult, it was done in a way that wasn’t annoying to read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an emotional friends to lovers YA roadtrip romance that had two friends escaping for an adventurous trip through the Australian outback as they struggled with life difficulties. Vinnie is dealing with grief over losing her mother to suicide and also in denial that she may have MS like her mother did too. The cherry on the top comes when her best friend gets appointed drama captain over her, something that feels like a betrayal and the derailment for Vinnie's broadway aspirations.

Meanwhile Roo has quit school and is trying to work in order to help his mom who is having financial troubles. While I was hoping for more of a lighthearted roadtrip romcom, the roadtrip part of the book doesn't happen until well over halfway and then the romance felt kind of rushed. That said the disability and mental health/chronic illness rep was excellently done and it was good on audio. Still recommended for fans of authors like John Green.

[Ellie Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars I think - Read for work - AUS YA romance

Felt a bit flat & did not love as much as authors middle grade work. But ! Easy read & refreshing to read something set in Aus.

TW: suicide, death of parent, MS

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Authentic story of teens grappling with feelings, the future and their friendships. Expected to be on the road trip a bit sooner, but that was just me.

A bit teary there at the end, and not everything explained or sorted was lovely. Still lots going on with this pair who totally deserve each other and all the (other) good things.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss

More YA language than I had suspected. Interesting premise, and Australian setting.

[hannah! · Rating 3 out of 5]

loved the road trip and the mmc!

[Jennifer Abella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes you just need a low-stakes Australian coming-of-age dramedy road trip YA

[Nicole Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Scholastic for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“A Guide to Falling Off the Map” by Zanni L. Arnot is an introspective yet humorous coming-of-age story that explores grief and the unpredictability of life through a heartfelt road trip across Australia. With its dual perspectives, fast-paced chapters, and emotional depth, this book delivers a messy, tender, and authentic story about two childhood friends on the brink of major life changes. I do want to provide a content warning for off-page suicide involving Vinnie’s mother.

The story follows Vinnie Smith, an outgoing teen who has her future in New York City all planned out—until everything starts unraveling. Plagued by severe headaches, rejected from her dream role as drama captain, and betrayed by her best friend, she impulsively decides to "fix" the life of her childhood friend, Roo Carpenter. Roo, who has dropped out of high school to support his mother, reluctantly joins her on a spontaneous road trip across inland Australia in her late mother’s Kombi van. As they travel, Vinnie’s unresolved grief over her mother's suicide resurfaces, her own health declines, and she unexpectedly begins to see Roo in a new light.

The book is deeply character-driven, with both Vinnie and Roo given space to narrate their experiences. Vinnie, while a flawed and often selfish protagonist, struggles with the fear that an MS diagnosis—like her mother’s—will upend her life. Her avoidance of reality and tendency to push others away can be frustrating, but her emotional growth by the end feels earned. Roo, on the other hand, is a grounded and selfless counterpart, whose quiet struggles add a poignant contrast to Vinnie’s whirlwind emotions. The tension between them is beautifully written, though the romantic shift in their relationship feels somewhat abrupt—Vinnie’s realization of her feelings happens very suddenly despite knowing Roo for years.

The book’s strongest moments come once the road trip begins. The descriptions of the Australian landscape are vivid and immersive, making you feel like you are journeying alongside the characters. I absolutely loved the road trip moments in this book. However, the trip itself doesn’t start until more than halfway through the book, which feels late given that it is a central premise of the story. A bit more time spent on their journey could have deepened the emotional impact.

While the book is often lighthearted and humorous, it also tackles heavy themes, including grief and chronic illness. Vinnie’s mother’s death looms over the story, shaping Vinnie’s fear of her own potential diagnosis. These elements are handled with care, making the book both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant.

The ending is bittersweet yet hopeful—Vinnie and Roo find solace in each other, accepting that life’s uncertainties don’t have to be faced alone. While the resolution feels a little rushed, it leaves you with a sense of warmth and possibility.

Overall, “A Guide to Falling Off the Map” is a heartfelt and engaging read that balances humor with weighty emotions. It’s perfect for fans of introspective YA novels with complex friendships, slow-burning romance, and stunning road trip adventures.

[Sandy Quill · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and Scholastic Press for the ARC of "A Guide to Falling Off the Map" in exchange for an honest review.

My thanks to NetGalley and Scholastic Press for the ARC of "A Guide to Falling Off the Map" in exchange for an honest review.

Heartbreaking thunder from Down Under? Two hurting souls, friends since childhood, finally
realizing they're in love? And on top of all that, a rollicking (sometimes poignant) road trip though scenic Australia?

You had me at all of the above. I couldn't wait to sign on. And this book didn't disappoint in delivering two lead characters you can't help but worry about and care for.

Vinnie's a born theater girl, rocked by the suicide death of her performing arts loving mother. Big dreams possess her - Julliard, a life in NYC, Broadway stardom, and for the very right now, being picked as her school's Drama Captain. Her lifelong friend Roo dropped out of school to help support his mom and hopefully make something of his gifted eye for artistic photography.

But life and cruel fate have conspired to turn their lives and dreams upside down. Vinnie feels hurt and betrayed by her best theater pal Lilah, utterly demolishing their dreams of sharing starry acting careers together. Even worse, Vinnie's struggling with the early debilitating symptoms of MS, the disease that led to her mom's suicide.

Roo's dreams of a photography career flew off the rails too, as he's been bouncing from (and losing) one dead end, low paying job after another. But one thing remains constant for him and Vinnie - their fierce, unending devotion to a loving friendship forged in childhood.

Can anything heal and redeem these two broken extraordinary young friends. What else but......(let's shout it all together).....Road Trip!)

And off they do go, in a sputtering old Kombi van once belonging to Vinnie's mom. Planning success and fame for Roo, Vinnie encourages him to take enough memorable photos for her to arrange in a public exhibition. That he does, but Roo becomes well aware of Vinnie's escalating physical deterioration while they both cope with the reality that what they feel for each other is far more than friendship.

As the book keeps you glued to it, all you'll want to do is either hug the two lead characters or just push them into each other to they can they finally comprehend what we've known all along. But then again, if we did that too early, we'd miss out on seeing them take that postcard-worthy tour of Australia (and saving us airfare and hotel money)

For everyone who favors a heart tugging visit to "love-dawns-on-best-friends' territory, here's your next stop.

(and you'll find my other reviews at www.thesandyquill.blogspot.com)

[Bethany · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars

This review should have been based on an ARC ebook received for free from NetGalley, but I was too slow in getting to it so I ended up reading the library's copy. I am not being paid to review this book and what I write here is my own opinion. My rating scale is below.

The first half of this book looks a certain amount like Jane Austen's Emma from a certain slantwise view: the lead is a bubbly, ebullient, self-reliant young woman who loves a good plan and has a serious best friend who is much more mature than she is and does not love the limelight, she has a friend who is perpetually in her shadow who dares to emerge from it and the boy that friend likes actually likes the female lead instead, oh and the female lead lost her mother young and lives with her father, who worries about her health. So, you know. Similarities.

But there are complications, namely, Vin's mother didn't just die. She had MS and committed suicide rather than continue to fight the illness. And Vin is afraid that she's developing MS symptoms as well, and that underlies the entire book. Her friend, Roo (short for Reuben), is not actually very much like Knightley, being a self-sabotager who would rather give up at once (or not even try) than fail, and is constantly worried about money. Also, Vin decides to make out with her friend's crush when her friend reveals she's also planning to audition for Julliard, and when she's found out she decides to run away by convincing/forcing Roo to take a road trip with her that retraces some of the camping trips their families used to take together.

Over the course of the trip, Vin and Roo are forced to examine uncomfortable truths and memories, and redefine who they are, not just in relation to each other, but in life as a whole. I just finished reading a teens-on-a-trip book, and this one doesn't really compare favorably to it, I think mainly because there are a lot of opportunities for the author to go into real feelings and character development, but instead the book reads more like a school report with asides about how cute the narrators' travel companions are (so, so very, apparently), and so it kind of fell flat for me.

rating scale
1 star - I was barely able to finish it. I didn't like it.
2 stars - It was okay. I didn't dislike it.
3 stars - It was interesting. I liked it.
4 stars - It was excellent. I really liked it.
5 stars - It was extraordinary. I really hope the author wrote more things.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to netgalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own. This is a cute and sometimes sad story about Vinnie and Roo, childhood friends who are on different paths but then reconnect to go on a road trip when they’re both not quite where they plan to be in life. You get details about Vinnie’s mom and health as Vinnie herself is struggling with health issues while we get Roo’s story in pieces as he’s trying to help his mom make ends meet. I felt like the story progressed pretty well and seemed realistic, but I didn’t love Vinnie’s way of handling things were her other female best friend. The supposed betrayal wasn’t really much to me and seemed silly. I enjoyed seeing these teens navigate their lives and struggles and their road-trip where they were fidgeting things out together. While it wasn’t a favorite I’ve read, i did think it has appeal for some teens and that it has pretty solid characters/story. Family dynamics are great in this one. FYI some triggering things with suicide and chronic illness, some profanity

[Allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

After I realised that this was written by the same author at Queenie in 7 Moves I was excited to read this. Zanni’s first YA novel.
Set in the Northern Rivers around Lennox Heads, Vinnie is dealing with all things teenager. Mum who passed away (suicide) and had MS, and a best friend who share the same goals for the future. And then there is Roo who is a school drop out trying to earn money to help his single mum.
Vinnie is unwell and Roo is lost with his future so they head off in a Kombi to reconnect with their childhood past and explore the local region. Lots of local landmarks that I have visited so I was able to really connect with the story. Particularly with the padlock fence in Lennox Heads and the symbolicness of the location and the storyline.
I really rate her writing. More a Year 8 and above due tot the themes but nothing explicit

[lauren alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you so much NetGalley and Hachette Australia for the ARC of this book! A Guide to Falling Off the Map was such a cute ya romance. My favourite part was definitely the Australia setting because as an aussie book girlie it’s so fun when they mention familiar shops (like kmart). The storyline itself was also good as I loved how reflective yet wholesome it was, and the childhood friends to lovers trope was so cute. My only complaints is that it felt quite rushed and I wish some plot points were explored further. The characters also kinda annoyed me, as their lack of communication really got on my nerves.

[Alisha Neal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley & publisher for this ARC in exchange for honest review!


This was a cute read overall. I really liked the issues the two MC's faced; I think a lot of people in the targeted age group will be able to relate. I kept in mind that it's realistic for the characters to be a little immature, but to be seniors in high school, it got a little annoying at times. The ending felt rushed as well; the problems that the two characters dealt with throughout the book were all of a sudden okay?? No really working through it, just a impulsive decision to be okay about it. This was sweet and good for younger readers, but I feel like there could have been a lot more depth for the issues that were present in the book.

[Amanda Shepard (Between-the-Shelves) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This is a quick read, but it still manages to cover a lot of important emotional beats. Both Roo and Vinnie are both trying to figure out their purpose in the world, despite the challenges they both face. There's a sweet romance, a fun road trip, and learning how to process grief. Overall, it's a sweet story.

[Zoe Gaet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely inhaled this book! A beautifully written coming of age romance with fully realized characters, whose actions you will consider and discuss long after you have finished reading.

[D.J. Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully and sensitively written.

[Ari (Head in a Book) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an ARC and is not yet out to the public,.
I really loved the characterisation, and character development. It was really sweet