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The Wrong Side of Twenty Five
One family secret. One challenging road trip to freedom.
She's spent her life taking care of her alcoholic mother, her ungrateful sister, and putting her own needs aside. When one of her live in "uncles" chooses to never leave, a life long lie unravels. Blossom has no choice but to run, packing her beat up car with trash bags and broken suitcases containing her life's possessions. She's tired of small town gossip, box-dyed highlights in a neighbor's dusty rose colored bathroom, thrift store polyester autumnal sweaters, and discarded cups of whiskey. She wants new friends, a new life, and if it's possible, a new name.
Funded by her childhood piggy bank and the wild dreams of a woman finally coming in to her own, even if she's a very late bloomer on the verge of thirty, Blossom winds through roadside attractions and a rainbow of characters on her way to finding her freedom.
Thinking the only choices she has to make are to turn left or right until she runs out gas, Blossom finds herself falling into a series of life altering events with choices she's not prepared to make. Every choice has a price to pay, and maybe freedom isn't worth the toll afterall.
On the road to finding herself, will Blossom's naivety help her see the good in the world she's never known or lead her down a path worse than the life she wants to leave?
Written for fans of road trips, bad decisions, Americana, the art of saying, 'Fuck it,' and being brave enough to shed the skin other's gave you, The Wrong Side of Twenty-Five will leave you laughing, screaming, frustrated, and breathing a sigh of relief with a journey we all can relate to somewhere in our soul.
258 pages, ebook
First published August 14, 2018
1 person is currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Dionne Wright
9 books49 followersJessica Dionne is a dreamer with a chronic case of wanderlust. She has an affinity for lukewarm coffee laced with cinnamon, eating ice cubes, petting puppies, and anything with a dinosaur. She now lives in Munich, Germany with her adorably naughty street dog rescued during her six years living in India.
Jessica is an award winning book cover designer and internationally certified Life Coach, specializing in Goal Achievement and Lifestyle Design. After working with amazing authors, she focused her coaching practice on helping authors develop their business with the creation of Happy Writing Co (https://happywriting.co).
You can reach her on any social media channel under ImAHappyWriter
Jessica is an award winning book cover designer and internationally certified Life Coach, specializing in Goal Achievement and Lifestyle Design. After working with amazing authors, she focused her coaching practice on helping authors develop their business with the creation of Happy Writing Co (https://happywriting.co).
You can reach her on any social media channel under ImAHappyWriter
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 10, 2023
I really enjoyed this little book! Blossom is an endearing protagonist and I found myself rooting for her through every roadblock. Middle America is seen as quirky and kind with a hint of adventure in it. The ending was a well composed salute to the journey Blossom endured and was perfect in every capacity. Overall, this was very cute and very worth the read! I liked it!
September 12, 2018
A story of self discovery while along a solo trip across the country, Blossom encounters both the simple goodness and desperate horrors in every day people of the present while also trying to escape from the hardships and toxic relationships of her past. Debut novelist Dionne Abouelela is a master at word-smithing and spinning a relatively average random scene into a journey in and of itself with a wealth of description and insightful observations. This story also subtly explores the ruthless underbelly of small road side towns across America and what ugly secrets they hold, right alongside some of the odd treasures that make small town America so beloved, revered, and even interesting, too. And isn't that the way it is? Just like the people who make these places run, the stories are right in alignment with both the best and the worst in which we all live, no matter where we're from. I highly recommend this ultimately charming story with its moments of abject hilarity for all readers. If you have never been Blossom yourself, you will want to know her and be her friend.
October 7, 2018
I received a copy of this story from NetGalley for a honest review
The Wrong Side of Twenty-Five was an interesting read, it is not a romance, I would say it it Chick Lit if you want to label but it is well done. Blossom hates her life and wants to get out of her home town because she feels like there has to be more than just what she is living. This book is Blossom's journey into becoming what she wants to be as opposed to just living the life that has been presented to her so far. I enjoyed Blossom's journey and the people she met, the author did a great job balancing humor with some serious topics that Blossom encountered on her journey. I star ted this book late last night and couldn't stop reading until I finished Blossom's journey with her. Overall a good read, I like the fact that the author makes you reflect on your own life just by going on Blossom's journey with her. Definitely a re-read for me.
The Wrong Side of Twenty-Five was an interesting read, it is not a romance, I would say it it Chick Lit if you want to label but it is well done. Blossom hates her life and wants to get out of her home town because she feels like there has to be more than just what she is living. This book is Blossom's journey into becoming what she wants to be as opposed to just living the life that has been presented to her so far. I enjoyed Blossom's journey and the people she met, the author did a great job balancing humor with some serious topics that Blossom encountered on her journey. I star ted this book late last night and couldn't stop reading until I finished Blossom's journey with her. Overall a good read, I like the fact that the author makes you reflect on your own life just by going on Blossom's journey with her. Definitely a re-read for me.
September 5, 2018
A lovely story
The Wrong Side of Twenty-Five is a sweet story. Dionne Abouelela does an amazing job at balancing the naivety of Blossom. Sometimes she's a little bit of a brat that I wanted to shake and tell her to be thankful and keep moving, but most of the time I was really rooting for her and I am happy with the way things turned out.
I also loved the path she took and the things she learned along the way, and the people in the figurative village that helped her along the way. It made me think of all the women in my life who have helped me during desperate times, women I am forever grateful to.
The Wrong Side of Twenty-Five is a sweet story. Dionne Abouelela does an amazing job at balancing the naivety of Blossom. Sometimes she's a little bit of a brat that I wanted to shake and tell her to be thankful and keep moving, but most of the time I was really rooting for her and I am happy with the way things turned out.
I also loved the path she took and the things she learned along the way, and the people in the figurative village that helped her along the way. It made me think of all the women in my life who have helped me during desperate times, women I am forever grateful to.
October 11, 2018
An unusual adventure. Blossom ‘curve balls’ herself away from an unsuitable life; going from ‘shabby chic’ to adopting 'faux Southern small-town Midwestern drawl'. Blossom maintains throughout, as a 'Childlike glee continued to bubble and froth’ within the ‘Pit' of her 'empty stomach’.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book by Dionne Abouelela and found the prose very easy to read. Its a great 'Chic Lit' read for travelling.
Elle Harvey xx
I thoroughly enjoyed the book by Dionne Abouelela and found the prose very easy to read. Its a great 'Chic Lit' read for travelling.
Elle Harvey xx
September 3, 2018
This author keeps you spell bound as she draws the reader into the life of Blossom, revealing her pain, determination and hope. She writes with such a degree of openness and honesty I could not put the book down. It is a lovely read and I laughed, I cringed and I cried because there are parts I could relate to very much. Although the language is a bit raw, Blossoms journey is impactful and the lessons learned can be reminders to us all. I loved the book and that is why I gave it five stars. I think it ranks right up there with some of the New York Times best sellers.
November 25, 2018
What separates Dionne Abouelela's 'Wrong Side of Twenty Five' from a lot of recent novels I've read is the voice the author conveys through the book's main character. The main character, Blossom—which doubles as a great metaphor!—is quirky, funny, and self-effacing, and it totally works for this story. It pushes the boundaries without sounding trying-too-hard, which is something the faux-humorist crowd can't seem to manage and usually comes off as a blatant, unfunny schtick.
As Blossom veers from situation to situation, the cast of characters throughout 'WSoTF' reveal not just a tapestry of sit-com style shenanigans but also a tapestry of personalities and archetypes in today's America. Abouelela has a deft sense of the people she portrays, from epithet-spewing preachers to pushy, milkshake-hocking waitresses, and all the secondary people in between. As much as this book is a 'road trip novel,' it conveys the oddities of America with an almost Hiaasen-ic touch.
I was a big fan of this book and look forward to checking out what else the author has to offer.
As Blossom veers from situation to situation, the cast of characters throughout 'WSoTF' reveal not just a tapestry of sit-com style shenanigans but also a tapestry of personalities and archetypes in today's America. Abouelela has a deft sense of the people she portrays, from epithet-spewing preachers to pushy, milkshake-hocking waitresses, and all the secondary people in between. As much as this book is a 'road trip novel,' it conveys the oddities of America with an almost Hiaasen-ic touch.
I was a big fan of this book and look forward to checking out what else the author has to offer.
October 24, 2018
I liked the sound of this from the off, but it was so much more than I expected. Road trips? Check. Crazy encounters? Check. Raw, honest emotion? Check. General weirdness, and a whole lot of relatability, for someone approaching 25....? Oh, yes.
There are some fabulous characters here, who you can just see existing in these tiny small towns. Tyler is an absolute dream, and I would love to see more of him in the future. The main character, Blossom, is so wonderfully naive and wonderfully truthful, and encapsulates something we have in all of us - that urge to break out and drive, leaving everything behind, and actually appreciate when all our remaining belongings get destroyed.
Which brings me to the drama. There’s so much drama, and no dull moments, and I love the fact that it’s so realistic - on my own travels, I’ve come across strange older women, odd people at equally odd attractions, and people so weirdly sinister they don’t seem real - all of which feature here. Basically, it’s a rollercoaster of wacky and truth, and a whole lot of self discovery.
My only gripe is with the title - this book is so much more than a semi chick lit title suggests. Don’t judge a book by its title!!
There are some fabulous characters here, who you can just see existing in these tiny small towns. Tyler is an absolute dream, and I would love to see more of him in the future. The main character, Blossom, is so wonderfully naive and wonderfully truthful, and encapsulates something we have in all of us - that urge to break out and drive, leaving everything behind, and actually appreciate when all our remaining belongings get destroyed.
Which brings me to the drama. There’s so much drama, and no dull moments, and I love the fact that it’s so realistic - on my own travels, I’ve come across strange older women, odd people at equally odd attractions, and people so weirdly sinister they don’t seem real - all of which feature here. Basically, it’s a rollercoaster of wacky and truth, and a whole lot of self discovery.
My only gripe is with the title - this book is so much more than a semi chick lit title suggests. Don’t judge a book by its title!!
October 1, 2018
The Wrong Side of Twenty-five is a story that has been told before but is told so well by this author that I really recommend it! It’s the story of a young woman who runs away from her small town background in search of self.
See what I mean? Not a new concept. But the author handles this theme so well that it comes off as fresh and appealing. The story is narrated by the young woman herself and her voice—self-diminishing, angry, funny—is a big part of what makes the book. I was sucked right in by the contrast between anger and rollicking humor.
Then there’s her adventures. She meets a guy who gives her a list of odd roadside attractions to use as focus for her wanderings. So off she goes, lurching from a huge metal cross to a strange museum to a strip joint that is more than it appears…meeting people, good and bad, along the way. Like I said, this story has been told before—but this version is my favorite. I zipped right through the book, always looking ahead to her next eccentric adventure.
Highly recommended for readers who like books on this theme.
See what I mean? Not a new concept. But the author handles this theme so well that it comes off as fresh and appealing. The story is narrated by the young woman herself and her voice—self-diminishing, angry, funny—is a big part of what makes the book. I was sucked right in by the contrast between anger and rollicking humor.
Then there’s her adventures. She meets a guy who gives her a list of odd roadside attractions to use as focus for her wanderings. So off she goes, lurching from a huge metal cross to a strange museum to a strip joint that is more than it appears…meeting people, good and bad, along the way. Like I said, this story has been told before—but this version is my favorite. I zipped right through the book, always looking ahead to her next eccentric adventure.
Highly recommended for readers who like books on this theme.
October 7, 2018
I really liked Blossoms character! She was funny, a little sarcastic and she had guts! Not so much in a mouthy way, but she does things many of us wouldn't. Like running away from her alcoholic mum. Although there were also times I just wanted to shake her and yell 'what were you thinking??'.
The story takes us on Blossoms journey of self discovery. She makes friends (and enemies), sacrifices, and learns alot along the way.
Dionne is a fantastic author! She described Blossoms feelings in a way that made me feel them too. When she was sad, I felt sad for her. When she was happy, I laughed with her.
The Wrong Side Of Twenty-Five is a fun and uplifting read. Definitely one I would recommend!
The story takes us on Blossoms journey of self discovery. She makes friends (and enemies), sacrifices, and learns alot along the way.
Dionne is a fantastic author! She described Blossoms feelings in a way that made me feel them too. When she was sad, I felt sad for her. When she was happy, I laughed with her.
The Wrong Side Of Twenty-Five is a fun and uplifting read. Definitely one I would recommend!
October 6, 2018
I can’t tell you how happy I am that I have met Blossom. A young girl living in a small town in Indiana who decides to pack her bags and leave for a better life. A life without a drunk Mom and “Uncle”, a better life where she can find some true happiness.
I throughly enjoyed Blossom and her car Merle’s travels through the states where she is headed for a coast to be near an ocean. Blossom has some great experiences and not so great experiences in this journey but what was most enjoyable was watching her grow and learn what the rest of the world is all about!
You can’t help but root for Blossom to find her happy place and put down some roots and most of all to realize she is worth so much more than her family taught her.
A highly recommended wonderful story!
I throughly enjoyed Blossom and her car Merle’s travels through the states where she is headed for a coast to be near an ocean. Blossom has some great experiences and not so great experiences in this journey but what was most enjoyable was watching her grow and learn what the rest of the world is all about!
You can’t help but root for Blossom to find her happy place and put down some roots and most of all to realize she is worth so much more than her family taught her.
A highly recommended wonderful story!
October 22, 2018
Blossom grew up in a small town with her mother, sister and “uncle” in a small trailer home. After an unwanted revelation she decided to pack up her few belongings, gather up her small sum of money, pack everything in Merle - her car - and set off to start a new life. Blossoms adventure across America found her in some truly hard spots, finding less than admiral characters preying on her innocence yet also finding some truly beautiful soles who impacted her life in heart warming ways. A few unexpected friends made on the way to a new life, Blossom not knowing where she’d end up, just kept driving to get away from the life she once had.
A truly inspiring story, a great read and one I’d recommend to others.
A truly inspiring story, a great read and one I’d recommend to others.
October 29, 2018
This charming, sweet story felt like a breath of fresh air. This is a story of a girl called Blossom who leaves behind her toxic circumstances and embarks on a journey of self-discovery and finding happiness. The theme or concept of this book is not new but how the author, Dionne, treats this theme is very refreshing. She brings out various facets in the character of Blossom – naïve and funny, but also determined and adventurous. There is also a lot of world building and descriptions of the small towns and the people in them, which makes you feel that you are living Blossom’s life through this book.
There is a good balance of humor, emotions, and practicality of life. The language is very easy to read. Overall, it’s a lovely read.
There is a good balance of humor, emotions, and practicality of life. The language is very easy to read. Overall, it’s a lovely read.
December 6, 2018
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a new Author for me which I'm glad I came across...
This book was lovely and fun read! Just a young girl who packed up her bags from a small town in 'Indiana' and went on to try and discover herself and she did exactly that! I really enjoyed Blossom's road trip journey and all the people she met along the way! Great idea! She had some great experiences and then not so great ones, but that's what made it! I did wish there was more romance in it but still a great read!
Very much looking forward to reading more by this Author.
This was a new Author for me which I'm glad I came across...
This book was lovely and fun read! Just a young girl who packed up her bags from a small town in 'Indiana' and went on to try and discover herself and she did exactly that! I really enjoyed Blossom's road trip journey and all the people she met along the way! Great idea! She had some great experiences and then not so great ones, but that's what made it! I did wish there was more romance in it but still a great read!
Very much looking forward to reading more by this Author.
October 13, 2018
Blossom is fed up with her life living in Indianapolis with her family in a trailer park. She decides to take a road trip west and travel to Las Vegas. She doesn’t have a lot of money and is driving an old car. Along the way she meets some lovely people and not so nice, she has to deal with many situations. I loved how Blossom learned from her experiences I do wish she had spent more time with some characters.
One thing is for sure it’s not always best to to keep turning right, and sometimes things happen for a reason.
Definitely worth a 5 ⭐️ review I loved it.
One thing is for sure it’s not always best to to keep turning right, and sometimes things happen for a reason.
Definitely worth a 5 ⭐️ review I loved it.
October 22, 2018
I want to give this book 4 and a half stars. The writing was good and the storyline was good. This is a story of a girl who is determined to leave her old life behind after finding out what seemed to be a horrible truth to her. Along her journey she encounters some amazing people and some that are not that amazing. I did love the ending as well but I was hoping for a little more with Tyler. Overall it was a wonderful and funny read.
October 9, 2018
I enjoyed the story, but wished there was more romance or friendship between Blossom and Tyler . Instead, she forgot about him very quickly and he wasn't mentioned again, even though he was a big part of her new beginning.
I wasn't keen on the main character. She seemed very immature and acted more like a teenager than an adult. In al honesty I was convinced she was about 18, until I read she was almost 30.
However, I did enjoy reading about different places in the US, which I would love to visit one day.
I wasn't keen on the main character. She seemed very immature and acted more like a teenager than an adult. In al honesty I was convinced she was about 18, until I read she was almost 30.
However, I did enjoy reading about different places in the US, which I would love to visit one day.
November 3, 2018
I enjoyed the story of Blossom and her journey of self discovery... There was humour, emotion and most of all very relatable situations.
Blossom as a character is quite lovable too.
A good mix of fun and life lessons.
A kind of coming of age story of trying to forge a future different from the bleak past and all the troubles it held.
Blossom as a character is quite lovable too.
A good mix of fun and life lessons.
A kind of coming of age story of trying to forge a future different from the bleak past and all the troubles it held.
October 24, 2018
I'm so thankful that this book came into my life. It's well-written and an easy read too. This is a great beach read and I'm already missing having Blossom in my life. I do however wish that Tyler played a bigger role but such is life. Thank you Dionne for a lovely read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2019
The amount of emotion poured into this book is incredible. I had to put it down because I was so disgusted by what was happening to Blossom. But of course I then couldn't help but pick it up again and see how she climbed out of the hole. The ending is superb. This is definitely an author to watch.
October 28, 2018
I fairly enjoyed the story of Blossom on her. journey to self discovery. There were times where I wanted to shake her and tell her to stop being so naive. Her exploits along the way had me laughing and cringing but I'm glad I read this story and got to meet Blossom.
October 20, 2018
This book traveled through me with a certain level of hope, a moral compass for those of us who’ve experienced abuse in any form. Blossom embodies such a spirit of conflict and growth through her experiences on this journey to find herself. This story is a certain coming of age for a young woman tying to see how she fits in this world. She has to do it alone and the radiance of her beauty in her flaws and her mistakes feels human and authentic.
January 8, 2019
Blossom Springtime Weatherby Franklin decides to leave her mundane life in a small town, and the deceit from her parents do help to seal the deal for her. She doesn't know anything, but she does know that she needs to escape.
She decides to take her worldly possessions of approx. $270 and leaves with her car, Merle, and heads off to the unknown. The unraveling of a lifelong deceit sends her fleeing as far as she can from her mother, sister and “uncle”.
She is is determined to go the distance and start afresh, far from the countryside and the small town of Indiana.
She meets with a series of semi-hilarious and unfortunate events due to simply poor decisions. Her road trip makes her meet good people, as well as the not-so-nice ones.
Will she EVER find out what’s her purpose and motto in life? What is she capable of exactly?
The plot held promise.
But somehow, I didn’t relate to Blossom – her decisions, her gullibility/naïve behaviour.
It seemed a tad unrealistic.
It is worth a one-time read.
Because – it shows that if you have determination, you may be able to achieve a lot of things.
Even if it means, making wrong decisions in the process.
She decides to take her worldly possessions of approx. $270 and leaves with her car, Merle, and heads off to the unknown. The unraveling of a lifelong deceit sends her fleeing as far as she can from her mother, sister and “uncle”.
She is is determined to go the distance and start afresh, far from the countryside and the small town of Indiana.
She meets with a series of semi-hilarious and unfortunate events due to simply poor decisions. Her road trip makes her meet good people, as well as the not-so-nice ones.
Will she EVER find out what’s her purpose and motto in life? What is she capable of exactly?
The plot held promise.
But somehow, I didn’t relate to Blossom – her decisions, her gullibility/naïve behaviour.
It seemed a tad unrealistic.
It is worth a one-time read.
Because – it shows that if you have determination, you may be able to achieve a lot of things.
Even if it means, making wrong decisions in the process.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews