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Reviewed by Demetria Head for Readers' Favorite
In Excess Baggage by Jodi Culliney, readers are introduced to Tess, who is a baker in Brooklyn. She is preparing to marry Josh, her longtime partner. But in the meantime, she is headed on a cross-country trip all the way to San Francisco by train with her sister Ruth. Their celebratory trip turns into a time to reflect as Tess thinks about the life she has carefully planned with the man she has loved since high school. During her train ride, she meets Sam Charles, a writer who is on his way to Lake Tahoe for a bachelor’s party with his frat brothers. He is contending with writing pressures and a failed marriage. But after his and Tess’s encounter, they both realize there is a connection between them. With shared moments and conversations, Tess finds herself reevaluating what love and fulfillment really mean.
Jodi Culliney’s romance is engaging and thoughtful. It alternates between Tess’s and Sam’s perspectives, bringing out each character’s vulnerabilities. I loved seeing their connection naturally evolve. I also loved how the author highlighted the realities of men and women dealing with insecurities. The way Tess viewed body image, family, and commitment resonated with me. I think that readers will also be able to relate to Sam’s struggles. Culliney did a great job of showing how creative pressures and personal loss affected him. The train journey was the perfect backdrop for the setting. Readers who appreciated similar works like Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation would most enjoy Excess Baggage: Love, South Dakota Style.
