A Week to Remember: The Trip by Frank C. Senia An older man’s leisurely drive down the coast becomes an unforgettable adventure when he’s joined by a mysterious woman half his age in A Week to Remember: The Trip by author Frank C. Senia. From this simple premise comes a story as twisted as a coastal highway, one of discovery and revelation, fantasies, greed, and the wisdom of age.

When Joy slides into his Denny’s breakfast booth, Howard has no idea that his pleasant getaway is about to be happily hijacked by a woman who could really use his help. Letting his imagination run away with him, he agrees to let her join his jaunt, as she has no transportation and seems eager to get out of town. As the truth begins to unravel over the miles, Joy’s backstory come to the fore. Escaping an abusive relationship with a powerful casino owner, she has nowhere else to go and a life full of secrets and mistakes she’d rather forget.

With the potential promise of a major cash payday, the unlikely pair stick together, and Howard feels himself becoming more and more drawn into the drama of this significantly younger woman. Navigating his own emotions, his life goals outside of this fantasy encounter, and the realization that sometimes life deals you strange hands, Howard must make the ultimate decision about his future – laying it all on the line for a brand-new dream. As the real-world ramifications start to come into focus, however, both of these free-wheeling protagonists must make hard choices, and harder sacrifices.

Like Senia’s other work, A Week to Remember is a playful slice of fantasy, a what-if novel where unlikely hopes play out on the page. As a result, the book sometimes reads more as fantasy fulfillment than fiction. The writing skirts the surface, lacking much emotional depth or character development, and most of the plot points and character revelations are stated very plainly, leaving little room for readers to come to their own conclusions or feel drawn in to pay close attention. The scenes are authentic, but often abbreviated, with dialogue being a small part of most interactions. More ambiguity in the writing would make the plot feel less reactionary and procedural, rather than a list-like cadence with one thing leading to the next.

In terms of tone and technicality, there are some clunky passages that feel slightly misogynistic or shallow, where the author could have given more effort to expressing a nuanced desire or emotion, but chose against it. Howard is a character from another generation, but the narrative voice doesn’t have to solely follow that perceived worldview. Joy is also somewhat one-dimensional, a damsel in distress whose trauma isn’t directly considered or discussed, merely used as a broad character trait. The conclusion of the book feels rushed, with a rapid burst of violence before a conveniently clean wrap-up. Stretching out these final scenes could give the novel more of a well-rounded feel.

Despite these critiques, the novel is a gritty and quick read, with moments of comedy and splashes of wit tying together a truly wild story of unexpected connection. Ideal for a summertime escape, A Week to Remember is easy to read and heartfelt, delivering plenty of surprises along this winding road trip.

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