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Three Years A Traveler: One woman, One dog, Seven Rvs, and the path less traveled to heal the heart
Leslie White knew she wanted more out of life- She found it in an unlikely place.Devastated from the loss of both parents to cancer nine months apart, Leslie vowed to change her life. She bought the neighbor’s old motorhome, found a job as a traveling histologist, and hit the road.
But she found she could not trust the one person she was still holding onto.
Ride along for the sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes hilarious tale of traveling and working across America, and Alaska, and back. Leslie drove through depression and grief - to the other side - to acceptance, peace, and forgiveness.
The memoir, Three Years a Traveler, is a vivid, humorous, and moving recount of betrayal, grief recovery, and the jagged journey back to healing and happiness.
But she found she could not trust the one person she was still holding onto.
Ride along for the sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes hilarious tale of traveling and working across America, and Alaska, and back. Leslie drove through depression and grief - to the other side - to acceptance, peace, and forgiveness.
The memoir, Three Years a Traveler, is a vivid, humorous, and moving recount of betrayal, grief recovery, and the jagged journey back to healing and happiness.
- GenresMemoirTravelNonfiction
265 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2022
467 people are currently reading
355 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
March 12, 2024
A woman who turns her life into an adventure later in life. I like reading about people who set themselves free. I’ve read a few of these books.
September 10, 2023
Gah
Awful writing
Depressing and bland
I wish I had the time back that I put into this one
Stay away
Awful writing
Depressing and bland
I wish I had the time back that I put into this one
Stay away
December 16, 2023
A good read
If you’re an rv’er this is a must read. Even if you’re just interested in or enjoy traveling, Three Years a Traveler is a good read. Reflecting back on this book, I think it’s less about traveling and more about persevering through life’s experiences and challenges. Leslie gets knocked down and finds a way to get back up. There are a few references to Suzy her dog and traveling companion where Leslie doesn’t quite close the loop on how Suzy did in certain situations. I guess the story is about the author and not the author and her dog, but since we rv with our dog, she’s as much a part of the story as anything else, so I was really interested in what Suzy was doing or how she was handling different situations they got in. All in all, I’m glad I read it.
If you’re an rv’er this is a must read. Even if you’re just interested in or enjoy traveling, Three Years a Traveler is a good read. Reflecting back on this book, I think it’s less about traveling and more about persevering through life’s experiences and challenges. Leslie gets knocked down and finds a way to get back up. There are a few references to Suzy her dog and traveling companion where Leslie doesn’t quite close the loop on how Suzy did in certain situations. I guess the story is about the author and not the author and her dog, but since we rv with our dog, she’s as much a part of the story as anything else, so I was really interested in what Suzy was doing or how she was handling different situations they got in. All in all, I’m glad I read it.
March 9, 2024
Leslie, White. Three Years a Traveler. No city. No publishing company. No year published.
I have always enjoyed "road books," starting with On the Road by Jack Kerouac which I read in 1966.
Three Years a Traveler, a memoir, details a middle-aged woman's travels in seven RV's over three years. After buying her fifth or sixth RV, a dealer calls her an impulse buyer. You think?
The story is fine. She explains how she hates to back up her motor home, drive into a gas station, or park in a campground. White is a histologist and contracts for thirteen-week jobs in New Mexico, Florida, and Alaska. When she begins her travels, she has a boyfriend (BF), whom she finally unloads.
This book kept my interest although the problems with hauling an RV became tedious. Certainly BF became tedious. Get rid of him. It seems she made a lot of bad decisions by not making decisions. She let BF tag along even though she had been supporting him for years.
The writing could be better. Word choice was not a large concern to her. She uses "shitty" or some form of the word shit innumerable times. For example, she writes, "Also, I think the shitter valve was clogged.
When White writes a compound modifier before a noun, she seldom uses a hyphen. "I was the only cancer free family member left." Or "...from then on I enforced the no shit rule." I may be nit-picking, but two dozen of these errors finally grated on me.
I gave this book three stars, perhaps a little generous. As I said, I like road books, I wish she could have stayed on the road a little bit better.
I have always enjoyed "road books," starting with On the Road by Jack Kerouac which I read in 1966.
Three Years a Traveler, a memoir, details a middle-aged woman's travels in seven RV's over three years. After buying her fifth or sixth RV, a dealer calls her an impulse buyer. You think?
The story is fine. She explains how she hates to back up her motor home, drive into a gas station, or park in a campground. White is a histologist and contracts for thirteen-week jobs in New Mexico, Florida, and Alaska. When she begins her travels, she has a boyfriend (BF), whom she finally unloads.
This book kept my interest although the problems with hauling an RV became tedious. Certainly BF became tedious. Get rid of him. It seems she made a lot of bad decisions by not making decisions. She let BF tag along even though she had been supporting him for years.
The writing could be better. Word choice was not a large concern to her. She uses "shitty" or some form of the word shit innumerable times. For example, she writes, "Also, I think the shitter valve was clogged.
When White writes a compound modifier before a noun, she seldom uses a hyphen. "I was the only cancer free family member left." Or "...from then on I enforced the no shit rule." I may be nit-picking, but two dozen of these errors finally grated on me.
I gave this book three stars, perhaps a little generous. As I said, I like road books, I wish she could have stayed on the road a little bit better.
January 4, 2024
She had a great story to tell and she told it pretty well. There's a lot of repetition, which didn't annoy me all that much. I just blipped over it and carried on. Her motorhome tales are funny and somewhat heartbreaking--I wish I could have been there with her to encourage her to carry on. But she did, all on her own! Hurray.
For example, she struggles a whole lot early on with a complete and total inability to back up a trailer. I sympathize--been there, done that, struggled on my own. But why in the world could no one in her life ever help her out with that? It just takes a little good coaching to learn.
But spoilers aside, no one ever did and I'll leave it at that.
There is one minor problem that might completely ruin the book for readers of an editorial mindset--her use of tense is erratic. Even within a single paragraph, she jumps from present to past to future perfect and back. I was able to ignore it, most of the time. But it should have been corrected.
All the same, I loved her adventures well enough to ignore this and enjoy!
For example, she struggles a whole lot early on with a complete and total inability to back up a trailer. I sympathize--been there, done that, struggled on my own. But why in the world could no one in her life ever help her out with that? It just takes a little good coaching to learn.
But spoilers aside, no one ever did and I'll leave it at that.
There is one minor problem that might completely ruin the book for readers of an editorial mindset--her use of tense is erratic. Even within a single paragraph, she jumps from present to past to future perfect and back. I was able to ignore it, most of the time. But it should have been corrected.
All the same, I loved her adventures well enough to ignore this and enjoy!
October 8, 2023
interesting and an easy read
I enjoyed the journey although I’d hoped for a cameo appearance by my daughter who was in one of the towns mentioned at the time…oh well. Unlike many memoirs with hidden names for characters, I appreciated BF for who he was. Even with a nickname he came across rather (unfortunately) life like. I agonized with Leslie on her RV buying adventures; but my issues with solo camping have way more to do with lack of upper body strength than parking/towing but we each have our own cross to bear. I appreciated the healing insights as opposed to just descriptions of scenery, but remember, Eat,Pray,Love was fiction…makes it easier to get to a point of clarity.
I enjoyed the journey although I’d hoped for a cameo appearance by my daughter who was in one of the towns mentioned at the time…oh well. Unlike many memoirs with hidden names for characters, I appreciated BF for who he was. Even with a nickname he came across rather (unfortunately) life like. I agonized with Leslie on her RV buying adventures; but my issues with solo camping have way more to do with lack of upper body strength than parking/towing but we each have our own cross to bear. I appreciated the healing insights as opposed to just descriptions of scenery, but remember, Eat,Pray,Love was fiction…makes it easier to get to a point of clarity.
September 17, 2023
An almost perfect memoir
Well written travel memoir. Leslie White begins with the losses that help her make the decision to take on this travel/work adventure. Throughout the book, while sharing her adventures in travel she also shares her changing attitudes and growing confidence. That's what a good memoir does - shows us how the memoirist has changed. The only thing that would have made this better would have been sharing with us how she reached forgiveness for herself about being unable to help her older brother. Those insights would help most readers struggling with similar issues. But other than that an excellent, easy read.
Well written travel memoir. Leslie White begins with the losses that help her make the decision to take on this travel/work adventure. Throughout the book, while sharing her adventures in travel she also shares her changing attitudes and growing confidence. That's what a good memoir does - shows us how the memoirist has changed. The only thing that would have made this better would have been sharing with us how she reached forgiveness for herself about being unable to help her older brother. Those insights would help most readers struggling with similar issues. But other than that an excellent, easy read.
January 22, 2024
Leslie wasn’t a person I liked much at all sadly. I found her to be completely and totally irresponsible when it came to her cats. She also had a very bad habit of staying in toxic relationships for years yet all the while… bad mouthing and blaming the men in her life. I was totally turned off by all the negative things she said about her loser boyfriend yet she continued to make excuses for why she stayed with him. She definitely seemed to be independent and smart so why act so needy. The only part of the book I loved was the places she traveled and described and her times growing up on the farm. .
November 6, 2023
Hilarious, but rooted in real life experiences and emotions
I loved Leslie's feisty nature, as well as her ability to laugh at herself. Her traveling stories are a great read..I admire her gumption in just getting out there and facing the challenges.
The family memories and emotions were very moving, and stories of relationship woes help us know Leslie on a 360 degree basis. Her story(ies) are told with such honesty, laced with humor and sarcasm. What a great read! I felt I was riding along with her, and hated to see the journey end!
I loved Leslie's feisty nature, as well as her ability to laugh at herself. Her traveling stories are a great read..I admire her gumption in just getting out there and facing the challenges.
The family memories and emotions were very moving, and stories of relationship woes help us know Leslie on a 360 degree basis. Her story(ies) are told with such honesty, laced with humor and sarcasm. What a great read! I felt I was riding along with her, and hated to see the journey end!
January 3, 2025
Good beginning and ending, middle needs work
I hoped this book would focus more on the traveling and what the author saw and experienced. There is some of that, but the lengthy passages on the problems with BF, as well as the self-criticism wears thin very quickly. And the RV changes start out comedic and wind up dreadfully boring, as do the problems with backing up. Ms. White needed some specific driving lessons, and six months of counseling at a minimum. A good editor might have helped this book as well.
I hoped this book would focus more on the traveling and what the author saw and experienced. There is some of that, but the lengthy passages on the problems with BF, as well as the self-criticism wears thin very quickly. And the RV changes start out comedic and wind up dreadfully boring, as do the problems with backing up. Ms. White needed some specific driving lessons, and six months of counseling at a minimum. A good editor might have helped this book as well.
April 10, 2023
I love Leslie’s story! A snapshot into a turbulent time in her life emotionally, she shows the reader that anything is possible if you want it enough. Her tone made me laugh and I loved being right by her side through the ups and downs of camping life! Quite inspiring, maybe I’ll get an RV lol!
August 1, 2023
Really enjoyed this book. A nice relaxing read of a lady who traveled in her RV to work during the pandemic years and immediately prior. Listened to the audio version in which the author narrated the book herself.
November 30, 2023
Terrible writing and no editing made this a hard read. The only reason I read the whole book about this woman's travels and dating woes was to see if she finally stopped blaming being a middle child for all her problems. Spoiler alert! She did not.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2024
Inspiring
Inspiring story that confirms to me the importance that time well spent is more important than accumulating stuff and just totally living in our comfort zone , this is not really living but just existing and life is too short.
Inspiring story that confirms to me the importance that time well spent is more important than accumulating stuff and just totally living in our comfort zone , this is not really living but just existing and life is too short.
February 22, 2024
Awww bless this author’s heart. Clearly not a writer (fine, it’s a memoir), but also… I mean… I’m sorry it just wasn’t that interesting! (Sorry pls forgive me god! 😂)
June 2, 2025
by far the BEST RVing memoir!!
I love to read about other people’s RV experiences, as I’ve always wanted to try it! Unfortunately I’ve waited too long! Never could get my wife onboard, now I am my wife’s caretaker! We did own and enjoy some years of traveling and camping, sometimes a few days to maybe two months, and always had to return to our home, never was able to commit to a full time lifestyle in the RVing! So I’m reading all the samples on my kindle app and buying books!
Three years a traveler by Leslie, White was the best honest to God story I have read! Very close to myself and my wife. I still look at used RVs, we came very close to buying a couple times full-time RVs, 36 feet with five slide outs down to a class C 21/22 feet could not quite come together on the prices were getting up in the years now, and my wife would not even look at this point, and I understand why she feels that way,, I try to keep her happy, and life goes on I am happy with her! Would be no fun for me without my wife!
I love to read about other people’s RV experiences, as I’ve always wanted to try it! Unfortunately I’ve waited too long! Never could get my wife onboard, now I am my wife’s caretaker! We did own and enjoy some years of traveling and camping, sometimes a few days to maybe two months, and always had to return to our home, never was able to commit to a full time lifestyle in the RVing! So I’m reading all the samples on my kindle app and buying books!
Three years a traveler by Leslie, White was the best honest to God story I have read! Very close to myself and my wife. I still look at used RVs, we came very close to buying a couple times full-time RVs, 36 feet with five slide outs down to a class C 21/22 feet could not quite come together on the prices were getting up in the years now, and my wife would not even look at this point, and I understand why she feels that way,, I try to keep her happy, and life goes on I am happy with her! Would be no fun for me without my wife!
January 5, 2025
The author was devastated by the loss of both parents to cancer nine months apart. She then vowed to change her life.
White bought the neighbor’s old motorhome, found a job as a traveling histologist, and hit the road.
But she found she could not trust the one person she was still holding onto.
Follow along for the sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes hilarious tale of traveling and working across America, Alaska, and back.
Leslie drove through depression and grief - to the other side - to acceptance, peace, and forgiveness.
I enjoyed reading about her true life adventure across the United States and her setbacks from romance and travel.
If you ever wondered what it is like to take an RV cross country and follow your dreams while facing heartbreak, this book is for you.
White bought the neighbor’s old motorhome, found a job as a traveling histologist, and hit the road.
But she found she could not trust the one person she was still holding onto.
Follow along for the sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes hilarious tale of traveling and working across America, Alaska, and back.
Leslie drove through depression and grief - to the other side - to acceptance, peace, and forgiveness.
I enjoyed reading about her true life adventure across the United States and her setbacks from romance and travel.
If you ever wondered what it is like to take an RV cross country and follow your dreams while facing heartbreak, this book is for you.
July 3, 2025
The Road She Traveled
Being a full-time RVer, for real, I would say her book which is essentially a memoir or autobiography, seems true to me. We haven’t bought 7 RVs have ing spent two years researching what would work best for us, but her experiences are ones either we’ve had or traveling friends of ours have had.
Covid sent a lot of people out on the road without the length of time needed for most to make the best choices. Being a traveling nurse, PA, histologist etc is for real. The pay is great and you can go where you want and move frequently to other experiences. I’ve met many and a family member is a traveling PA currently.
Leslie wrote a real-life book with humor, and experience. I hope lots of people read this book and then try it!!
Being a full-time RVer, for real, I would say her book which is essentially a memoir or autobiography, seems true to me. We haven’t bought 7 RVs have ing spent two years researching what would work best for us, but her experiences are ones either we’ve had or traveling friends of ours have had.
Covid sent a lot of people out on the road without the length of time needed for most to make the best choices. Being a traveling nurse, PA, histologist etc is for real. The pay is great and you can go where you want and move frequently to other experiences. I’ve met many and a family member is a traveling PA currently.
Leslie wrote a real-life book with humor, and experience. I hope lots of people read this book and then try it!!
September 29, 2025
The first half is boring but gets a lot more interesting later especially the Alaska trip.
I spent some time in Alaska. She is very brave to hike alone unarmed. All the locals I knew would carry a gun when hiking most anywhere. The brown bears are fearsome. I was based in Anchorage and would not wish that town on anyone. It is run down, expensive, dirty and in parts dangerous with homeless drug addicts. Restaurant food is very expensive except for various types of salmon. The salmon is cheap and can be delicious. It was about all I could afford, meat is too expensive. You get fed up with it. The locals consider it dog food. Overall this book is a good read and you can skip the tiresome relationship details.
I spent some time in Alaska. She is very brave to hike alone unarmed. All the locals I knew would carry a gun when hiking most anywhere. The brown bears are fearsome. I was based in Anchorage and would not wish that town on anyone. It is run down, expensive, dirty and in parts dangerous with homeless drug addicts. Restaurant food is very expensive except for various types of salmon. The salmon is cheap and can be delicious. It was about all I could afford, meat is too expensive. You get fed up with it. The locals consider it dog food. Overall this book is a good read and you can skip the tiresome relationship details.
February 1, 2025
Sharing Her Road
As a part-time RVer for 20 years who recently retired from the 'Road' after my wife announced her RV days were through, I thoroughly enjoyed This book.
The author writes 'life' as she lived it, from devastation/depression to discovery. She is an excellent writer.
Her RV learning curve brought back amusing memories of our struggles. Many of her stops were places we enjoyed a glass(es) of wine around campfires with newly made friends.
The final ferry cruise mirrored ours, complete with the dog-walking in the hold as well as the spartan room and skinny bunks.
To the author: "Thanks for sharing."
Jeff Marschner
As a part-time RVer for 20 years who recently retired from the 'Road' after my wife announced her RV days were through, I thoroughly enjoyed This book.
The author writes 'life' as she lived it, from devastation/depression to discovery. She is an excellent writer.
Her RV learning curve brought back amusing memories of our struggles. Many of her stops were places we enjoyed a glass(es) of wine around campfires with newly made friends.
The final ferry cruise mirrored ours, complete with the dog-walking in the hold as well as the spartan room and skinny bunks.
To the author: "Thanks for sharing."
Jeff Marschner
December 26, 2022
More 3.5 but I found it interesting. This is a voyage of self discovery that never quite convinced me she was making progress. To me it almost seemed like stories that could be used as stand up comedy. ( I swear I am not an alcoholic). Lots of places and adventures are listed but her travels were dictated by her job. As a new to rv life myself I found lots of things to go "aha" about. It was an enjoyable read with some real truths and some real silliness.
I received this ARC from BookSirens and am happy to leave this reveiw.
I received this ARC from BookSirens and am happy to leave this reveiw.
February 16, 2024
Funny real and interesting!
I didn't want the story to end. I felt like I was right beside her in the passenger seat of every TV she drove....in the snow covered mountains and with her every step of the long ass hikes she ventured on alone. But she was never really alone at all she had her dog and the lord was always there with her yo pick her up when she fell and dust her off and give that little nudge to go farther and see whats just up over the next hill. To see the next sunset.
I will read this book again.
I didn't want the story to end. I felt like I was right beside her in the passenger seat of every TV she drove....in the snow covered mountains and with her every step of the long ass hikes she ventured on alone. But she was never really alone at all she had her dog and the lord was always there with her yo pick her up when she fell and dust her off and give that little nudge to go farther and see whats just up over the next hill. To see the next sunset.
I will read this book again.
August 31, 2024
I rarely write reviews but this book has brought me such joy I really must. I RV'd for years with my husband. I look forward to every story since I know we will have hada very similar trip! She writes with enthusiasm and her joy shows through. It makes me Lol!
I love that every adventure end with "it's time for a drink" because in fact it is. I think I'll go have one now!!
Thank you for the book.
I love that every adventure end with "it's time for a drink" because in fact it is. I think I'll go have one now!!
Thank you for the book.
January 4, 2025
This book was super similar to reading a blog. It doesn’t have a ton of depth, but was a good reminder that adventure doesn’t end with your youth. She definitely learns by trial and error and it does get a little old, the entire book is pretty repetitive but it was a quick read and overall pretty good. If I could rate it 3.5 stars I would
January 27, 2025
True story true life.
I loved her humor, her descriptions, her ability to write so much of my story and thousands of other women. I am older and nearly as brave but still travel solo when I want to be solo.
I hope the sales of this book have brought her a new measure of independence.
I loved her humor, her descriptions, her ability to write so much of my story and thousands of other women. I am older and nearly as brave but still travel solo when I want to be solo.
I hope the sales of this book have brought her a new measure of independence.
October 16, 2025
Didn't want to finish this book. 😉
Have you ever started to read a book and it was so good, you didn't want it to end? That's how I felt about this book. I love Leslie White's style of writing, her sense of humor and her ability to make the reader feel as if they are living and experiencing every moment in the book. Highly recommend this book!
Have you ever started to read a book and it was so good, you didn't want it to end? That's how I felt about this book. I love Leslie White's style of writing, her sense of humor and her ability to make the reader feel as if they are living and experiencing every moment in the book. Highly recommend this book!
October 11, 2023
awesome adventure
I loved this book. It is well written and the author is so much fun. I aspire to be like her. The trials and tribulations were exhausting but rewarding. What an incredible adventure she has.
I loved this book. It is well written and the author is so much fun. I aspire to be like her. The trials and tribulations were exhausting but rewarding. What an incredible adventure she has.
December 10, 2023
I really liked reading about her travels and her camping/RV issues….I think all things new RV’ers go through. I also liked her view on the different areas she went to. And the dog..:who doesn’t love a traveling dog!
January 10, 2024
Great read
Really enjoyed the writing style, good descriptions and interesting stories. I hope the author continues traveling so she can write more, maybe this time with a partner who enjoys the same things.
Really enjoyed the writing style, good descriptions and interesting stories. I hope the author continues traveling so she can write more, maybe this time with a partner who enjoys the same things.
February 28, 2024
Quite the Adventure!
I enjoyed the travels and the humor, but this would have been a better read if MS White would have cut back on the foul language. I've never heard of someone purchasing seven different RVs in a three-year period. Crazy!
I enjoyed the travels and the humor, but this would have been a better read if MS White would have cut back on the foul language. I've never heard of someone purchasing seven different RVs in a three-year period. Crazy!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews