The Truth Is in the Detours

A Novel

De: Mara Williams

Narrado por: Barrie Kealoha

In this sharp-witted and poignant novel, two former friends with a complicated history are thrown together on an unexpected road trip, where old lies unravel and new truths emerge with every mile marker.

Ophelia Dahl has just buried her beloved father when she finds among his personal effects a blindsiding document. The mother Ophelia thought died thirty years ago isn’t dead after all—she abandoned her. But how could she, and where is she now? With some neighborly help, Ophelia’s going to find out.

Beau Augustin is an acclaimed author and Ophelia’s childhood bestie turned teenage nemesis, still chafing after all these years. As luck would have it, Beau’s current project—family deceptions—is set to take him across the West Coast. Ophelia has a brilliant idea: Beau’s book. Her life. Win-win. In a Subaru filled with baggage, they hit the road.

Despite detours, dead ends, and old grudges, Ophelia is desperate to unravel a lifetime of lies. And Beau’s research is a little more personal than he’s letting on. Mile by mile, they’re getting closer to their truths—and to each other—than they ever thought possible.

©2025 by Mara Williams. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Why does childhood sweethearts to estranged friends to lovers have to go so hard? I loved all the history between Ophelia and Beau in Mara Williams’s The Truth Is in the Detours, and I loved watching them fall for each other as adults with all the complications that come with having more life experience. By the time they finally hooked up, I had been dying for it to happen—these two were always meant for each other! Mara Williams is definitely a romance writer to watch.”—Alicia Thompson, USA Today bestselling author of Never Been Shipped

“Clever, funny, and wonderfully romantic, The Truth Is in the Detours tells the story of a woman who finally gets to know herself. It delivers all the best story elements: delicious banter, tension, a road trip, gorgeous California settings, and hot romance. I devoured this sharp story. Mara Williams is a talent.”—Sierra Godfrey, author of A Very Typical Family

“A rare gem of a book that captures the beauty and pain of grief, love, and finding yourself, while still feeling like a hug. With sentences that sing and settings that feel like characters, The Truth Is in the Detours is the perfect blend of frenemies-to-lovers road-trip romance that will steal your heart and set it racing, and a woman’s journey to finding herself as she searches for the truth about her family. An outstanding debut.”—Holly James, author of The Big Fix

Instant Favorite!

This is in my top three books of all time— and the Audible performance is flawless. The book is so well written it hits in every single feel. It cleaned my sinuses and left my heart, feeling better. The depth of writing, story connections, and descriptions are perfection. This should be a movie. Five stars, highly recommend.

great series

This was a really good book! I liked this author, I'll definitely have to read more!

Great book

Loved the story, some bits of storyline were left not dealt with…Characters could have more history explained and more developed…