Fun at Parties
by Jamie Harrow
Dutton
Spin instructor Quinn Ray’s brand is always upbeat, a positive asset when she’s leading online classes for an LA fitness company. When her boyfriend Caleb breaks up with her it throws shade over Quinn’s sunny outlook, and she vents on the topic in the middle of a class. Her boss Tracy orders Quinn to take a vacation, something she decides would be great for distancing herself from the meltdown fallout. A road trip across rural America to meet up with friends promises to be relaxing—until old crush Nate Reed asks to come along. Quinn didn’t think their friendship survived, but Nate seems focused on finding his friend Logan. Quinn lets him ride along. If Nate’s distracted then any chance of things becoming uncomfortable again are pretty remote, right?
They set off, and right away they realize the chemistry is still there, but Logan is elusive. Nate worries his buddy is shunning him. Quinn gradually finds out why Nate wants to talk to Logan so badly. Staying close to him has nothing to do with her growing desire for Nate, right? Tracy contacts Quinn. Her online blow-up is going viral, with thousands of new followers and comments endorsing Quinn’s take on relationships. The company wants Quinn to report on her new fun single-girl life. It’s something she’s really not sure she wants to share, especially when her ponzi-scheme notorious mom intrudes. The Logan Trail leads through Las Vegas, Denver, Kansas, and Nashville as the pair hit the party events of the season. It’s not quite the quiet scenic road trip Quinn anticipated, but maybe Nate’s just what she needs.
Jamie Harrow’s Fun at Parties is by turns funny, cringe-inducing, heart-warming and so relatable. Quinn is a great character willing for forgive herself and determine what she needs from life. Nate’s a great guy, but he really needs not to be so slow on the uptake. Quinn is just who he needs.
