Seatmate (Love Lines #3) by Cara Bastone

 

Summary (from the publisher): I have exactly 5 hours and 10 minutes to get from Boston to New York City or the professional opportunity of a lifetime disappears. My only travel option? The second to last seat on a discount bus. Across from the bathroom. Wearing last night’s clothes (don’t ask). All worth it if I can make it in time.

My nerves almost get the best of me, but then there he is, sitting down in the seat next to me. Tall. Friendly smile. Bright indigo streak in his brown hair. The perfect distraction. Turns out he’s on his way to reconnect with an old flame. The one who got away. We can both make it on time - just barely - if the traffic keeps flowing.

Playing road-trip games, avoiding calls from his mother, and effortless conversation keeps us from clockwatching...until the bus breaks down. And my seatmate turns into my copilot as we wrangle a ride in a car three decades old. And hit all the traffic. And oh, Lord, the detours. And somehow, I end up careening cross-town on the handlebars of a Citi Bike carrying a box of kittens. (Yeah, don’t ask.)

He’s my hero every step of the way...and I might be falling for him. But what happens when we reach our final destination? Could my seatmate really be my soul mate?

Review: Gwen and Sam meet when they happen to sit down next to each other on a bus traveling from Boston to New York City. They get to talk and instantly have a connection. When the bus breaks down, Sam is determined to help Gwen make it back to the city on time for professional opportunity for a lifetime. 

UGH this series is just SO cute on audio!!! They were specifically written to be produced for audio consumption, which explains why this is almost fully dialogue. It functions so well to listen to it, and you get to know these characters so well as they bond and get to know each other on their long travel day. The audio is absolutely outstanding - the best of the best! Duet narration and sound effects really made this feel like I was listening to a tv show. It felt very performative. For instance, you hear the sounds of traffic, phone calls, meows of cats added into the background. It was subtle and not overbearing but absolutely added to the entertainment level. 

I loved how this book explores the possibility of how a random decision one day - sitting down beside a stranger on a bus - can change the whole course of your day and your life. Sam is such a good guy and seems to always be going the extra mile to help others and show up for his mom to whom he is very devoted. These two had great banter and chemistry and really cover a lot of ground in what they discuss and tell each other. Which is good, since this book is almost totally composed of dialogue. 

I did think this covered a little too much ground in their relationship. This book takes place over 5 hours in one day. I think you can absolutely feel a strong connection to someone after just a few hours, but they promised a bit much to each other at the end of the day and it didn't feel wholly believable. 

Also, just a note that while this is a series these are fully standalone with very different characters and can be read in any order.

Stars: 4

Related Titles: 

• Call Me Maybe (Love Lines #1) by Cara Bastone
• Sweet Talk (Love Lines #2) by Cara Bastone
  
• Ready or Not (Hearts of New York #1) by Cara Bastone
  
• Promise Me Sunshine (Hearts of New York #3) by Cara Bastone