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    Let's Get Lost: A coming-of-age novel
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    Let's Get Lost: A coming-of-age novel
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    Let's Get Lost: A coming-of-age novel
    Ebook322 pages4 hours

    Let's Get Lost: A coming-of-age novel

    By Adi Alsaid

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    Five strangers. Countless adventures.One epic way to get lost. 

    Four teens across the country have only one thing in common: a girl named LEILA. She crashes into their lives in her absurdly red car at the moment they need someone the most.  

    There's HUDSON, a small-town mechanic who is willing to throw away his dreams for true love. And BREE, a runaway who seizes every Tuesdayand a few stolen goods along the way. ELLIOT believes in happy endings until his own life goes off-script. And SONIA worries that when she lost her boyfriend, she also lost the ability to love. 

    Hudson, Bree, Elliot and Sonia find a friend in Leila. And when Leila leaves them, their lives are forever changed. But it is during Leila's own 4,268-mile journey that she discovers the most important truth sometimes, what you need most is right where you started. And maybe the only way to find what you're looking for is to get lost along the way.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarlequin
    Release dateAug 1, 2014
    ISBN9781460326718
    Unavailable
    Let's Get Lost: A coming-of-age novel
    Author

    Adi Alsaid

    Born and raised in Mexico City, Adi Alsaid is the author of several young adult novels including Let’s Get Lost, We Didn’t Ask for This, and North of Happy, a Kirkus Reviews Best Book nominee. He also wrote the middle grade books The Bravest Warrior in Nefaria and The Greatest Heist in Joviala and edited Come on In: 15 Stories about Immigration and Finding Home. He currently lives in Chicago with his wife and two cats, where he occasionally spills hot sauce on things (and cats).

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    Reviews for Let's Get Lost

    4/5

    88 ratings22 reviews

    What did you think?

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      I love this debut novel!LOVE.It's told from each persons viewpoint, normally I don't like that, but this book it worked. Actually, I would want it any other way. You get a sense of each character. Then there is this epiphany moment in each vignette. It's beautiful, sometimes making me tear up, and it hits the story home. Then it all comes together with this beautiful six degree of separation thing, and you literally close the book and go wow.At least I did.And this is a debut novel.... I can't wait to read his other works as well!
    • 3/5
      For a book subtitled "a coming of age story" I did not feel like that is what I was reading. A teenage girl must find herself, but it isn't because she is a teenage girl. This particular girl is holding on to a secret that makes her a little impulsive, and a little bit reckless, but extremely loveable. I didn't feel like the story was all that realistic, until I reminded myself that even though it is told from 6 different perspectives, it really is a book about one individual. I would be open to re-reading this book, now that I know how it ends. I feel like I would find a deeper connection with the characters a second time around, and maybe even enjoy the book more.
    • 3/5
      I don't usually read teen books, but I picked this one up because the premise sounded interesting. I was not disappointed. It is Leila's journey as well as the people she meets. I loved the journey she was taking and I was happy to go along with her. This is not filled with the typical teen angst that I find in teen books and that is why I found it so readable. Perhaps a few too many happy endings, but other than that a good read.
    • 4/5
      When I picked this story it was only because the cover caught my eye. I'm a cover junkie like that.ROADTRIP!!Everyone should have a good road trip story. Mine was from right out of high school, traveling coast to desert with a BFF in "Grandma Toad", a vintage, sage green, 1976 Plymouth Volare with tires balder than Vin Diesel's head. I still cannot listen to Joshua Tree by U2 or smell Funyons without thinking about that trip. See? Everyone should have a good road trip story.After the initial cover art, the reader finds inside a lovely handful of short stories careful woven together to make this summer read.People are fascinating to me so I love the theory of being able to pick up random people along the way to my Life Changing Destination and solve their problems while they teach me a bit about my own self, my family, my future, love, and what matters. The stories were quirky. Light on the angst scale but entertaining. I'd say this is a perfect summer read.I really had to push aside every story I heard about Ted Bundy or The Green River Killer to make road trip safety a plausible idea for a teenage girl interstate traveling whilst alone. The reality is more picking up hitchhikers or complete strangers and then being found by coyotes 3 weeks later buried in a shallow grave along the highway.I kept thinking I hope she got her teeth checked before she left on her trip because we're gonna need good dental records.I did love the full-circlatude (I just made that up) of the stories and the way our main character realizes the beginning is the end. I'm being cryptic. Just go read it yourself, be inspired to do your own road trip. Learn all about life. About people. About what makes people tick. What gives them drive (har, har)? Just take a bodyguard or two.Bottom line: Enjoyable, heart-felt at times, quirky, relate-able. Each story has its own section so it's easy to pick up and put down. Like at a dentists office. *sparkly white grins*
    • 5/5
      In LET'S GET LOST by Adi Alsaid, Leila is on a road trip to see the Northern Lights, and along the way, she comes across four other teens at crossroads in their lives. Hudson and Leila have an instant connection, and she arrives the day before the most important interview of his life. After leaving Hudson, Leila picks up Bree--a runaway who is trying to make every day an adventure in order to forget the pain she left behind. Next, Leila runs into Elliot as he is determined to make his life follow the script of a 1980s romantic comedy, but he's in despair because others can't be relied upon to speak the right lines. Finally, Leila finds Sonia who is in mourning after losing the love of her life, but Sonia is also wondering if life can only have one great love. Finally, there is Leila's own story and the culmination of her quest to find her own answers.I was absolutely enthralled by this book. Adi Alsaid's YA novel has the perfect blend of compelling plot, sympathetic and interesting characters, excellent dialogue, a bit of mystery, a lot of humor, and some heart-wrenching moments. I zipped through LET'S GET LOST in one day--staying up way past my bedtime to read it--and I can't say enough good things about it. I was sad when Leila's road trip came to an end.Kudos to Adi Alsaid on a great novel. I look forward to more from him!
    • 4/5
      This is an entirely enjoyable road-trip story featuring a girl (Leila) in her late teens who is driving from somewhere in the south to Alaska to see the northern lights. The story chronicles her encounters with different people along her zig-zag trip. For a while I wondered if Leila was in fact an real person, or an angel who happened to show up in these characters' lives when they needed a helping hand. That question is answered at the end of the book, as are many others that must occur to the reader, after Leila reaches Alaska. This is a lovely story, even if it's surprising that she could travel so far and so long without encountering an real danger to herself. I would recommend this book to teenagers over 16, or young adults, as a lovely tale. The book will be released in August 2014. Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me to read this advance copy.
    • 3/5
      For a book subtitled "a coming of age story" I did not feel like that is what I was reading. A teenage girl must find herself, but it isn't because she is a teenage girl. This particular girl is holding on to a secret that makes her a little impulsive, and a little bit reckless, but extremely loveable. I didn't feel like the story was all that realistic, until I reminded myself that even though it is told from 6 different perspectives, it really is a book about one individual. I would be open to re-reading this book, now that I know how it ends. I feel like I would find a deeper connection with the characters a second time around, and maybe even enjoy the book more.
    • 2/5
      I think I'm more inclined to give this book 2 1/2 stars.

      It's a classic road trip tale as a metaphor for growing up, leaving the past behind, and facing the future. I didn't find the characters particularly memorable or unique and the descriptions felt a little lackluster for a book so heavily invested in traveling. There were some leaps in logic that took me out of the story and some grammatical errors that were in the e-ARC that I'm assuming won't be in the final print. It felt like this whole novel needed to be tightened up and better paced.

      However, I liked the multiple narratives and Leila's interactions with the four teens along her journey, even as I felt she insinuated herself into other people's lives so quickly--but that's something other readers may find charming. Of the four teens Leila encounters, my favorite was Elliot and their attempt to reunite him with his secret crush. The madcap night and Elliot's determination to view his life as a classic teen "rom com" was good fun. The rest of the book felt too optimistic, with dramatic interludes that resolved without weighty consequences or any particular point.

      *Spoilers to follow!*

      The ending, especially, threw me, with Leila's love interest showing up at her door, after spending two weeks searching for her in a Texas town that she briefly mentioned but hadn't lived in since she was 11 years old. And what happened to the postcards she'd been sending him? And how the heck did he manage to find her in Louisiana when he never had her phone number or even a last name?!

      Overall, the relatively light consequences and overt dependence on the kindness of strangers made this too unrealistic to be believable. The book wasn't consistently funny enough to be a parody, and the serious issues were dealt with too quickly to feel substantial. There are instances of teen drinking, some make-out sessions, and a character called "Stoner Timmy" who has some possibly illegal connections across the Canadian border. Recommend this to fans of authors Lindsey Leavitt, Sarah Mlynowski, or Jennifer E. Smith. Thanks to Netgalley for the e-ARC.
    • 3/5
      The Five Stories Within Let's Get Lost:

      Just to let you know there are five sections of Let's Get Lost: Hudson, Bree, Elliot, Sonia, and Leila all get to tell their stories! The mini review for each section are below, plus my overall thoughts. Also, to clarify, Leila is in all of the sections, but only the last story is about her specifically. Now, Let's Get Started! Get it? Like the title?

      The Stories I Liked:

      I LOVED Bree's story. Her's was probably my favorite. She is wild and reckless... which was fun to read about! She and Leila made an awesome pair. Bree is hiding from her family, thinking she is seizing the day and being brave. However, as the story goes on she realizes that to actually be brave, she has to talk to someone who she treated terribly, and mend her family. This section was heartwarming, funny, and I highlighted so many amazing quotes!

      I also enjoyed Sonia's story. I loved her boyfriend, they made such a cute couple! This story was quite different from the others. It felt much more adventurous! They are stuck on the wrong side of the border... with the fate of the wedding in their hands!!! This story was just as hilarious and wise as Bree's. Amazing!

      Finally, we have Leila's story. There is a pretty cool and unexpected twist! However, I have to say I liked Leila's story less than Bree's and Sonia's. Still she's a pretty cool character and I loved learning more about her after her big roles in the four previous sections!

      The Stories I Didn't Like:

      Sadly, Hudson's story, aka the first story, was pretty dissapointing. I found Hudson a teensy bit boring, although I liked him better than What's His Name Elliot. Also, this story contained so much insta-love. Kill me now! I did enjoy one fun scene though... I'm not explaining it to you though because spoilers! Also, there is a pretty cool, and important message portrayed in this section. Basically, I didn't hate Hudson's story... but I didn't love it either!

      The other story I did not like at all was Elliot's tale. I kind of lost respect for him when a girl clearly told him NO and he kept pursuing her. It's not romantic... it is disrespectful! It wasn't really that bad, plus it was mostly Leila egging him on to "get the girl", but it still grated on my nerves. And the conclusion to the story made me really mad. There were some good aspects though! (Although at this point I really don't remember them.)

      Overall Thoughts:

      Let's Get Lost is the perfect Summer read. There is a variety of characters, although admittedly I didn't like all of them. Also, Adi Alsaid writes with humor and surprising wisdom. There were so many quotes... funny ones, meaningful ones, odd ones, you name it! Although Let's Get Lost isn't a favorite, I still would recommend it to many readers. Especially lovers of contemporary!

      3.5/5 Stars
    • 2/5
      Let's Get Lost
      by Adi Alsaid

      Thank you Harlequin Teen and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

      "Five strangers. Countless adventures. One epic way to get lost.
      Four teens across the country have only one thing in common: a girl named LEILA. She crashes into their lives in her absurdly red car at the moment they need someone the most."

      The premise of this story was intriguing. Leila traveling in her red car meets, Hudson, a teenage auto mechanic with plans to go to college to become a doctor, Bree, a runaway struggling to survive on her own, Elliot, a teen who views reality shows as the script for his own life story, and, Sonia, struggling with grief and giving herself permission to love again.

      The section that captured my attention the most was Leila's story. The author keeps her life secret until the end of the book and I would like to have seen it start developing within the other narratives. Her willingness to become immediately engrossed in the lives of others was too trusting and seemed reckless. The nonchalance of a border agent when discovering the girls trying to sneak across the Canadian border and a drug trafficker's willing to help with no recompense were unbelievable story lines.

      This coming of age story seemed contrived to me. The encounters she has with the other teens usually spanned 24-48 hours yet the each story developed life altering moments through chaos and improbable scenarios just because Leila would appear out of nowhere with a pile of napkins to sop up tears. I had no difficulty completing the book but I am not sure I liked it enough to recommend it.
    • 5/5
      This is the tale of Leila, who drives cross-country on a mission to find herself. Along the way she meets a variety of interesting people, changing their lives forever. There is Hudson, the auto mechanic, Bree, the runaway thief, Ellliot who believes in fairy tale love stories and Sonia who has lost the love of her life but could possibly find another. This is an absorbing tale.
    • 5/5
      Hudson is a small town mechanic, Bree is a runaway, Elliot is not Lloyd Dobler and Sonia is trying to heal her broken heart. Four strangers who all cross paths with one girl. Leila. Leila is slowly working her way north, with no real timeline or course mapped out, she takes her time. In each city she stops in she inevitable comes across someone who needs her help, some more than others but all equally worthy of her helping hand. When I first started this book I thought that Hudson was going to be the main character, I was completely shocked when I came to end of his 67 pages and the story moved on, not once, not twice, but three times. It usually takes me at least 50+ pages to really get to know a character, their story, their past, their future. And yet Adi didn't just write one book with "Let's Get Lost", he wrote five. Five fully developed stories with unique characters and places, all intertwined and connected. It never felt rushed or as if there wasn't enough back story. It was just the right amount of each character and their situation. Adi Alsaid can tell you more about a character in 50 pages than most can in 200 and that right there is why I loved this book. So if you want my opinion, seize Tuesday and go pick yourself up a copy! Until next time,Ginger
    • 3/5
      This book was different from what I had anticipated. I think I was expecting a YA version of On The Road written from the female perspective (I have to admit that I don't know why I expected this). Instead, this is a series of short stories that don't seem all that connected except through the presence of the main character. Each story is a nice chapter unto itself, but we don't learn a lot about the main character during the course of the book until we reach her story in the last chapter. I do think that the book is geared toward a different audience and that younger individuals attempting to find themselves may be able to relate more to the characters.
    • 4/5
      Some books are made for audio and Let's Get Lost fits the bill. This audiobook edition is narrated by Amanda Leigh Cobb and she gives a stellar performance breathing life into the characters of this quirky book. The book is broken into five vignettes each detailing a different character's adventure with Leila the MC of Let's Get Lost. Leila is a kind soul who is taking a road trip searching for answers and helping people along the way. I felt an instant connection to Leila who had a chirpy voice and a winning personality. This book is a fun, fast read with plenty of laughs and feel good moments. Although it was a bit predictable at times that didn't take away from my enjoyment of this impressive debut novel. If you are looking for great contemporary read with plenty of laughs and adventure gives Let's Get Lost a try. I'm looking forward to the next release from this author!
    • 5/5
      Leila is on her way to Alaska in her 'everything red' older car. She's bound and determined to see the Northern Lights, for reasons that only become clear near the end of the book. She's in no hurry, so the journey turns into more of an odyssey than a straight 'go there, see that' experience. Along the way, she meets four other teens, Hudson, Bree, Elliott and Sonia. More importantly, she profoundly affects each of their lives in a very short period of time.Hudson is a teen auto mechanic who agrees to work on her car when she pulls up at his dad's shop. He's pumped because he'll be meeting with a university official the next morning, a meeting that could net the scholarship which will lead to his eventually getting a medical degree. There's an instant attraction between Leila and Hudson, one that grows until they swim out to an island in the Mississippi and spend the night together. When she confronts him about what's really important to him the following morning, he's bitter and in denial, so they part on unfriendly terms.Next up is hitchhiker Bree, estranged from her sister after their parents died very close together in time. Neither sister has been able to break through their grief and connect, so Bree ran away, but being free and independent isn't what she thought it would be. Leila is able to open her eyes and help her begin the all important healing process.Elliott almost gets himself killed when he staggers into the road just as Leila drives past. He's disconsolate because his best friend who he professes his love for at the prom, rejected him in front of everyone. Despite throwing up on himself, Elliott connects with Leila who makes an impulsive decision to use '80s movie cheese to help him win over the girl of his dreams. How it plays out is pure reading enjoymentSonia is in a very tough emotional place. Her boyfriend of three years died suddenly last year while playing a game. His family had taken to her so much that she's still a part of it, but she's fallen in love with another guy who is also very close to her late boyfriend's family. She's terrified that if she comes out with her new relationship, her adopted family will reject her. Leila and Sonia embark on a cross border comedy of errors involving lost passports and wedding rings that's probably the best of the four stories within a story.When Leila reaches Alaska, we finally learn why she's so intent on seeing the Northern Lights and her motivation is sad, sweet and gut wrenching. How she resolves her own issues around loss and sadness are a terrific ending for one of the best books I've read this year. Teens who have experienced a personal loss, who like a great romantic tale or a story with bits of magical realism and mystery in it will love this book. It's a no-brainer add for libraries.
    • 1/5
      Manic pixie dream girl affects everyone's life. Felt derivative and unoriginal.
    • 4/5
      Leila is a high school senior on a road trip to see the Northern Lights, starting out in LetsGetLostLouisiana. Let’s Get Lost is her chronicle of four adventures along the way. First she meets Hudson in Vicksburg, Mississippi., the day before his interview for a college scholarship. Her car is limping along and he’s a mechanic in his father’s garage.Next is Bree in Kansas. She’s on a road trip as well. Her parents recently died and she didn’t get along with her older sister, Alexis, who is now her guardian. So, it’s better all around if she just left.Elliot in Minneapolis told his long time best friend, Maribel, that he’s in love with her. It’s high school prom night and his declaration didn’t get the desired result.Finally, Leila meets Sonia. Sam was her sole mate and one true love. Sam died during a basketball game due to a rare heart disease. She swore he’d be her only love but, she’s fallen for Jeremiah, Sam’s sister’s future brother-in-law. Is it a negation of all she and Sam had if she’s fallen in love again? And how will his family take it, a family that’s treated her as their own?In four novellas, Adi Alsaid recounts Leila’s interaction with these people, people she’s never met before but goes out of her way to help.The fifth and final novella gets Leila to Alaska and waiting to see the Northern Lights. This time it’s someone helping her to see the light (no pun intended). In every adventure, she asks What’s Your Story? In the final story, you get Leila’s.Let’s Get Lost is a pleasant read. I’ve never met anyone like Leila, willing to drop everything to help another human being. I wish the world was populated with more Leila’s. It would certainly be a better place. The stories are interesting. The characters are fun. If you’re looking for a fast, easy, put a smile on your face read, Let’s Get Lost by Adi Alsaid will fit the bill.
    • 3/5
      Thanks to Netgalley.com for access to this title.

      This is your basic road trip novel, equipped with crazy events and people. But at the same time, it's not, as it is told in small chunks and is also short stories all tied together with one character.

      I liked this, in that I'm always game for eccentric people and the crazy things they do. That's just part of life. But it wasn't the best road trip book I've ever read.

      Recommended for fans of Paper Towns and Wherever Nina Lies.
    • 4/5
      "People hurt each other," Leila said without much inflection in her voice. "It happens to everyone. Intentionally, unintentionally, regretfully or not. It's part of what we do as people. The beauty is that we have the ability to heal and forgive."

      The plot:

      Leila is on a roadtrip to Alaska to see the Northern Lights. I won't tell you guys why since that will spoil the story. On her way there, Leila met four people. Each of them have problems and even if these people are strangers to Leila, she tried to help them in her own little way. Leila felt lost and she wants to find herself but maybe some lost things are not meant to be found..

      This was such a delightful and heartwarming debut! I love the adventures and the feeling of anticipating what's next. I feel sad that I didn't know how to drive yet (yeah, ew) but when the time comes that I know how already, I will absolutely have a roadtrip of my own.

      The characters:

      Each characters in the book are different. They are flawed and complicated. They made excuses but Leila doesn't put up with them. She pushes them to live life, to continue even though it's better to give up, and to always seize the day.

      I really connected with the people in this story. I cared about them and kudos to the author for making me feel that way because it's hard to do. Sometimes, when I read I couldn't care less what happened to the people in the story.

      The only problem I have is that I wished these characters were explored more. Their encounter with Leila is good but it feels short to me.

      The ending:

      I know some people will react badly at that ending but not me. I kind of liked it. After everything that happened to Leila, she deserved her happy ending.

      I look forward to reading more of this author's works. Definitely recommended.

      Final Rating: 3.5/5 stars

      **ARC provided by publisher/author in exchanged for a honest review.
    • 5/5
      There are very few authors that can capture the true feeling of wanderlust - that deep desire to roam freely and find oneself. Adi Alsaid has not only captured the true essence of a self-journey, but he's also managed to bring five unforgettable main characters that . Through multiple points-of-view, we learn that Leila is a girl on a mission, she is heading to Alaska to see the Northern Lights. Why is this tiny girl traveling across the States all alone, no one is really sure. Each time someone asks, she's very vague and changes the topic. However, Leila doesn't mind getting sidetracked a few times, and it's during these times that we meet four people during the most pivotal moments of their lives. First we meet Hunter, sweet Hunter who is doing his best to stay out of trouble and get a scholarship to go to college. However, upon meeting Leila, he is smitten with her and after doing some maintenance work on her car offers to show her around town just so he can have as much time with her before she continues on. And then, it only takes one night to turn his life upside down, and Leila just happens to be there right beside him. Will he follow his heart? Or will he do what he thinks he's suppose to do?Next, we meet Bree, a runaway who has lost both her parents to illnesses and couldn't stand to be mothered by her sister anymore. Being on the road for months has made Bree a pro at choosing who to trust, and how to survive on pure adrenaline. Until she hits the ultimate high and finds herself in a very bad predicament, and poor Leila is right beside her. Is this the end of the road, for both Bree and Leila? There's only one option, and the percentage of that one thing working out is too close to 0.And then we meet Elliot, the boy who wears his heart on his sleeve and doesn't know it. The boy who is so crazy in love and needs to create a magical movie moment in order to claim it. However, even though we all know how those movies from the 80's go and end, Elliot is far off script. Leila is now the unforeseen twist to his plot... and every time everyone thinks things couldn't get worse, they do...And lastly, we meet Sonia who is grieving lost love in the throes of new love. Is it possible to love two people at the same time? Leila doesn't know the answer to that but is willing to help Sonia sort it out, even if it includes crossing the border illegally. Just like Leila, we briefly encounter each character during the most pivotal moments of their lives. Just like life, you never know who or what you'll come across. Leila's experiences will make you question yourself... can you really make a friend, find true love, forgive and figure out the most questionable things in life within hours of meeting the right person?The writing is poetic, imaginative but realistic, and heartwarming. I felt like I was in the backseat of Leila's car for every single second of her trip and experienced every single drop of each of the characters blood, sweat and tears. For me, the ending was unexpected and melted my heart, it was exactly what I had hoped for. I hope to see these characters again in the near future, perhaps in a novella or short story? I do wish to see how they're all doing now... Lovers of contemporaries, especially about books that include road trips and matters of the heart, will overly enjoy this and reread many, many times... again and again! I am really looking forward to seeing more from this author soon! He's already on my insta-buy list for sure!!! An ARC was provided from another blogger to share our love of books.All thoughts are mine and not influenced by any other.
    • 4/5
      Each section of the book focuses on a teen in need in some way and that person's encounter with Leila, a girl on a road-trip to see the Northern Lights. While Leila's background is blank most of the book, and for good reason, her spirit is infectious and she is able to connect with the other people she meets along the way from a quest to deliver rings to a wedding to a magical romantic night to shop-lifting gone wrong. An enjoyable book with quirky, interesting, complex characters.
    • 4/5
      At first Let’s Get Lost by Adi Alsaid appears to be about a teenage girl, Leila, and her road trip north to Alaska to see the Northern Lights. However, it soon becomes apparent that this book is actually a series of interconnected short stories, with Leila being the one thing they have in common. As Leila travels she meets other young people and she seems to arrive just when they really need someone to help them figure out their life. Leila gives advice on romance, family problems, university plans and over the course of one crazy prom night, how to get the girl of your dreams. When I started this YA book, I wasn’t sure that it was going to be a book for me, but the stories drew me in and I ended up really enjoying the experience. While Leila offers insight, advice, support and friendship to the teens she meets, she reveals very little about herself so I was anticipating the final story which I was sure would be about her. Like all good road trips, the destination isn’t as important as the actual journey and Let’s Get Lost was a fun trip. The author included plenty of humor and brought an overall feeling of lightness to the book, yet each story had a definite message to a pass along. I listened to an audio version of the book as read by Amanda Cobb whose voice perfectly suited these stories. Although I am far from the targeted age for this book, I nevertheless found it a nice escape read.