Off the Map

„Off the Map“ had a lot of potential, but ultimately didn’t live up to my expectations. I appreciate the inclusion of issues like dementia and loss, but would have wished it all to have been explored a little better.

When they first meet, Carla and Eamon are polar opposites. While she’s a traveler and never stays too long in one place, Eamon doesn’t go on trips at all. Together they embark on a roadtrip that should have been short and simple, but after a few detours it turns into an adventure of discovery in more ways than just one. Having a soft spot for Ireland myself, I was really happy to stumble upon a romance set on the Emerald Isle. Unfortunately, „Off the Map“ did not really live up to my expectations, though. Carla and Eamon’s backstories and the circumstances that shaped them are rather intriguing, but could have been explored a little bit more, in my opinion. Instantly attracted to one another, it doesn’t take long for things to heat up between them – which is fine – but their supposed connection didn’t really translate, in my opinion. Also, considering this book is also about a roadtrip, it’s a shame that we don’t get to see them exploring more. The steamy scenes are way more detailed than anything else, which is just a shame. Until the very end – when Carla finally decides to visit her father – the story felt pretty run of the mill to me, almost bland. Only then did things start to get interesting, especially in regards to his dementia and all that. „Off the Map“ had a lot of potential, but ultimately didn’t live up to my expectations. I appreciate the inclusion of issues like dementia and loss, but would have wished it all to have been explored a little better.