The Road Trip Romance

by S.E. Rose

Sophia Walsh has given up on her happily ever after. This divorced mom of two feels destined to live her mundane suburban life. That is until a movie star pops into her world, and changes everything.

Tate Anders is Hollywood’s “it” guy. He’s on top of the world until his girlfriend dumps him. When a public outburst combines with his failed relationship, he does the unthinkable. He secretly hops on a plane to go find the romance author whose book he has been wanting to make into a film.

But no sooner has Tate landed on Sophia’s doorstep when his fellow leading film star friends go in search of him. The three men arrive at Sophia’s home and devise a plan to get Tate back together with his ex-girlfriend. They talk Sophia into joining them on the road trip of a lifetime. With her kids away for the summer, Sophia jumps at a chance to do anything that isn’t her typical life.

These five new and old friends are about to embark on a journey that will change their lives. But the more time Tate spends with Sophia, the more intrigued he is by her. Will Tate get back together with his ex or will he find out he has more than a curiosity about his new author friend?

248 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 17, 2025

About the author

USA Today & International Bestselling romance author, S.E. Rose lives near Washington D.C. with her family. When she's not wrangling her cats or keeping up with her kids, she's plotting her next story.

She loves all things wine, coffee, and cats. In her non-existent free time, she enjoys traveling, going to concerts, binging on her favorite shows, and reading, especially if it's a good mystery or comedy.

Reviews

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sophie is a divorced single mom who juggles her life between her charity work and being an author. Tate is at the top of his world and when his girlfriend dumps him, he is on a mission to find a romance author whose work he wants to turn into a film. Three is Tate’s friends arrive and they convince Sophie to take a road trip with them, and as her children are away for the summer, she jumps at the chance of a road trip with the four guys.
This is a well written story which has family, friendships, emotions, friends / lovers, secret relationship, humor, witty and flirty banter, undeniable chemistry, and instant love, which leads to an entertaining, and compelling page turner.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.

[Dara Wasalino Tremblay · Rating 5 out of 5]

SE Rose’s The Road Trip Romance takes readers on an unforgettable journey filled with love, self-discovery, and the beauty of a spontaneous adventure. The novel follows our two main characters—suburban mom and part-time romance author and nonprofit grant writer, Sophie, and Hollywood heartthrob/action star, Tate—as they embark on an unexpected road trip together, with three of Tate’s mega-star friends in tow! What begins as an unusual, spur of the moment adventure soon evolves into something far deeper for Tate and Sophie, as the group bonds over their adventure. Seeing Sophie bonding with each guy on the trip was a lot of fun.

The chemistry between Tate and Sophie is undeniable, making their evolving relationship both fun and touching to witness. Rose has a knack for creating compelling characters who feel real and relatable. As the road trip progresses, so does their connection. And the spice is top-tier! Tate worships Sophie, and his dirty mouth in the bedroom is a terrific contrast to his public persona.

One of the standout elements of this book is the fantasy of having a hot Hollywood heartthrob mysteriously appear on your doorstep (and later his three hot friends) to see you and then to find out he holds the key to your opening up again to love after a divorce.

The Road Trip Romance isn’t without a FEW speedbumps on the way to an HEA, Sophie struggles with an inner battle of how well she and Tate fit together but how different their lives are and wondering how they can make the relationship work. As a reader, when a character gets too in their head about “why me?” and “I don’t deserve this”, it turns me off, but I enjoyed Sophie’s inner dialog and the fact she and Tate COMMUNICATED about their concerns and fears about their relationship (so refreshing!) and gave each other grace and patience, and space when necessary.

This book is funny, fast-paced, and the perfect blend of friendship, romance, and personal growth. Rose also expertly balances romance with personal growth, making the love story feel earned and not rushed.

In conclusion, The Road Trip Romance is a delightful read for fans of contemporary romance who enjoy character-driven stories. SE Rose delivers a heartfelt and entertaining story that reminds us that sometimes the best part of any adventure is the people you share it with.

[Joyffree · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Going on a road trip with four movie stars-will call later"

Like that isn't the opening line to what you know will be a grand adventure

"For the first time in my life, I'm exactly where I should be"
Take an average multi-tasking mom who is a writer, both grants and romances toss in a movie star who is experiencing a crisis of the? (I'll let you figure that one out) who suddenly shows up on her doorstep with a proposal
Now...
Add to that insanity three of his besties also randomly arriving on her doorstep worried that Tate is in a spiral because of a recent breakup
Now let's make this a bit more entertaining, shall we?
Let's decide that together we are going to mend the above-mentioned broken relationship - the five of us - because a grand declaration of romance needs a romance professional (that would be our Maya)
Let the ab workout begin

"F-fucking P-Penn and h-his d-dumb ideas"
One of my favorite pit stops ...lmao
And Penn I can not wait for his book

This is one of those reads that I will recommend to any and everyone
Light-hearted, funny with a touch of angst and personal growth - not enough that it weighs down the laughs a minute that just kept coming
Wonderfully crafted characters that you will instantly love
Wrapped in a storyline that will leave you with all the feels

My review won't do this story justice but I will say
A must-read for anyone who needs a little hope and a smile!
Fricking loved this!

[lowkeyreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished The Road Trip Romance, and it was such a fun and heartwarming read! This book perfectly captures the magic of road trip romances—forced proximity, shared adventures, and the slow unraveling of emotions as two people navigate both the open road and their feelings for each other.

The chemistry between the main characters was undeniable. Their banter was sharp and entertaining, and I loved how their relationship evolved naturally over the course of the journey. The road trip itself added a sense of adventure and spontaneity to the story, with vivid descriptions of their stops along the way that made me feel like I was right there with them.

What really stood out to me was how the story balanced humor with heartfelt moments. The emotional depth of the characters’ backstories added weight to their romance, making their connection feel authentic and earned. The tension created by external obstacles—whether it was family expectations or personal insecurities—kept me invested in their journey.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the book, some parts felt a bit predictable given the tropes often found in road trip romances. That said, the strong writing and engaging characters more than made up for it.

Overall, The Road Trip Romance is a delightful blend of humor, adventure, and love. If you enjoy stories about finding love on the open road with plenty of heart and charm, this one is definitely worth picking up. A solid 4 stars!

[❤️ Mandi Listens & Reads ❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

🎁Source: Thank you to Tantor audio for this free listen!
📚📖Title: The Road Trip Romance
✍️Author: S.E. Rose
🎙️Narration: James Cassidy and Lisa Larsen

🚙Dual narration
🗺️Open door
🚙Road trip
🗺️Single mom
🚙Opposites
🗺️Friends to lovers

My thoughts:
This was such a sweet and cozy listen. Tate and Sophia had wonderful chemistry, and their dynamic with the friend group during the road trip added so much charm and fun along the way. The whole vibe felt light, warm, and easy to cruise into. These two were absolutely meant to be, and watching them fall hard and fast made the journey even more enjoyable. A feel good listen from start to finish.

🎧Lisa was new to me, and I thought she slipped into the characters so naturally and I enjoyed her performance. James is always an easy listen for me, reliable, smooth, and consistently engaging. Together, they made such a great team. Both narrators showed wonderful range with the different voices and brought every moment to life. They delivered all the feels and made the entire road trip journey a cozy, fun, and completely enjoyable listen.

[Becky Wise · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Road Trip Romance is such a cute read. I loved this so much. I could not get enough of Sophia and Tate. The chemistry is amazing between them. Sophia is a single mom juggling her charity work and her author life. She has a deadline and hit a block. Tate is a Hollywood star who needs an escape. He fell in love with a book and has new ideas. Feeling lost in with his end state of a long term relationship he starts to question what he's missing. I love how Tate is with Sophia's kids. I love his dynamic with his friends that show up as he's hiding out. There are so many laugh out loud moments as Sophia and the four Hollywood men hit the road together. The relationship build between Sophia and Tate is so wonderful. I love how they get to know each other and work through how he really feels when it comes to his ex. I feel hard for this one. I hope we get more of Tate's friends Penn, Tex and Jordan. This is one road trip you won't want to miss. Go click this today.

[C.L. King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tate and Sophia are so cute and their journey to their HEA is one big adventure with a group of his friends. Not only do you fall in love with Tate and Sophia but you fall in love with his friends who welcome her as if she has been apart of their group forever. You end up cheering and rooting for everyone as each of them learn a bit about themselves on the road trip. I laughed out loud and felt like I was a part of the group and exploring the country with them.

I couldn’t put this book down. If you like romantic comedies then this book is for you. S.E Rose is a new to me author and I will for sure be going and reading her back catalogue. This is a book I will be recommending to all of my friends to read.

[Isabel Debono · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute read.
Sophia is a single mum who writes romance books and lives in the suburbs.
Tate is the beloved movie star who everyone wants.
Chances of them falling in love... Only in books you say 😉😂
There were so many laugh out loud moments about the road trip with the single mum, the actor and 3 of his famous friends who all seem to be MIA.
Brilliant build up the the end HEA.
Hoping we get to read more about the other guys.
Winderful read... Think i now need a roadtrip. 😂

I was given a complimentary copy but voluntarily chose to review.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite some issues I had with details, this book just really did it for me. It was the book I didn’t know I needed at this current moment. The story is charming, funny, and sweets. The flirty banter between Tate and Sophia, their chemistry, the way Tate’s friends automatically included Sophia into their group, it was just lots of feel good moments. Most of the book happens over a week, so it’s very insta-love, but at the same time, the pace of story gives it slow burn feels, and it just worked.

[Mandy Foley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fabulous read, full of emotion and laughter, emotional growth and great fun, single mum Sophia is juggling kids, a job and a writing career, when she receives the strangest call from her agent, which leads her on an adventure she never thought would happen to her. Tate is a famous actor who is experiencing a life in crisis,when he decides Sophia’s book needs to his first attempt at directing a movie, so he flys across the country to meet her and sets off a chain of events neither of them saw coming, but with little faith anything can and will happen!!

[Fleur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely floved this book, Sophia, her kids and even her ex are great, then we have Tate and his besties making this a top notch ensemble! Sophia is a woman I want to be friends with so right from the get go I was cheering for her, I also really loved Tate's vulnerability he showed not just to Sophia but also to his friends.
This is one heck of a road trip that in the end I think everyone needed, the laughs, hearts to hearts, revisiting memories and new beginning.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an amazing, fun, quick read that was hard to put down once I started! Tate and Sophia have an instant connection that gets stronger throughout the week long road trip. They have amazing chemistry and she gets along great with his friends on this road trip! Seriously you won’t regret this fun quick read!

[Rachel (Rrbookreviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fun, full of banter and love.
SE always writes books you get swept up in. It’s almost like a joke.. 4 celebrities and a single mom, romance writer go on a road trip…

I loved the pace of the book but also just the characters themselves. They adapted so easily and got into such a comfortable way with each other.

If you want a cute, quick, instalove book then this is for you!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fun book! I was drawn into it right away. I loved the duel point of view. I loved the interaction between all of the characters. The relationships were all very real, relatable and believable. I am really looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Crazy4more · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

Uber sweet romance that deal with reality shock... and those who still believed in grand gesture!

[Reading In the Red Room · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can you fall in love with a stranger on a week long road trip? Did I mention we are talking about a famous actor and a romance author. So yes, it is very possible to fall in love that quickly. Sophia is a romance author with two adorable children. Tate is a famous actor who is going through something. First he has a public outbursts, then decides to show up on Sophia’s door because he loved her book. Let’s add his three closest, equally famous buddies…we all need moral support. When these five decide to go on a road trip together it turns into magic….book magic. This book was hysterically funny, extremely entertaining and a just all around great read. All five main characters had personalities on top of their personalities. But Tate and Sophia had fun sassy banter and great chemistry. These two found something that they definitely were not looking for. I really enjoyed this quick paced read and I look forward to reading more books by this author.

[Jenn the Readaholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was all around fun. Honestly. Sophia and Tate have an amusing first meeting, then an even funnier encounter with…his entourage? And thus begins the planning. Then a grand idea is hatched, bags are packed, and they’re all on the road to check out some cliche tourist attractions, some not so cliche ones, and on the way to love. Not the love that everyone, or maybe just Sophia and Tate, thought would be found. Because Tate’s friends catch all the clues early on, so they just get front row seats to the infancy of what could be a great romance.

But things get in the way. Fears rear their heads. And someone actually takes the advice of those closest to the scared one, so we get some angst and misery also. The oddest part is that I loved the misery just as much as I loved the steam, the friends to everything, and the new friends found to last a lifetime. I kind of want more from Tate’s friends, so I hope we get to hang out with them again soon.