The saying goes, “Life happens when you least expect it.” Does that apply to love, too? In The Side Road by Sarah Lahey, Mia is about to find out. She’s an emotionally scarred 37-year-old woman from Sydney who moved to Eagle Nest, opened a knitting business, and enjoys the peace she never had in the city. Her quiet world is turned upside down when Oliver, a handsome, slightly younger mechanic with a tragic past, returns to his hometown to raise his daughter. He’s almost immediately drawn to her, while she tries her best to resist him. Their connection starts slowly, but naturally, and grows over their shared pain, quiet kindness, and simple everyday moments that neither of them expected. They may not have planned on falling for anyone, but—as the saying goes—life or love happens when you least expect it. Will they decide if that love is worth it?

I found The Side Road by Sarah Lahey to be a satisfying and refreshingly honest read. I couldn’t put it down. Lahey writes with warmth and wit, capturing the slow, realistic building of trust between two people in an authentic way. It had me rooting for their future. Mia’s reflection that gossip is “unconfirmed discrimination that says more about the gossipers than the person they’re talking about” stayed with me. It reminded me of Eleanor Roosevelt’s quote: “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” It’s a theme that seems to be prevalent throughout the story. Mia and Oliver learn to rise above the small-town whispers and embrace something real. Their chemistry is undeniable, and the writing strikes a perfect balance between cozy moments and romantic tension. The Side Road is about more than romance; it’s about letting go, finding quiet courage, and discovering the place where you were always meant to be.

The Side Road by Sarah Lahey first introduces Mia, a dog-lover and owner of a knitting shop in Eagle Nest. Her Aunt Blanche calls because of a family emergency involving her eccentric uncle, Leo. The narrative introduces a significant mystery with a call from Oliver, who informed Blanche about the death of her second cousin, Elsie Buchanan, who was his mother-in-law. This brings Oliver, a former MotoGP champ, back to town to reunite with his young daughter Tasha, who discovered her grandmother's body after her passing. Oliver soon finds out that nearly $200,000 is missing from Elsie's bank account, which he had been contributing to for the repair and renovation of his home, the old parsonage where she lived. This prompted a hunt for the missing money. This move brought the family and neighbors closer, especially Oliver and Mia, drawn to each other by undeniable chemistry. Will they succeed in finding the money that Elsie seemed to have stolen? And will Mia’s past fears and traumas taint her budding romance from becoming a meaningful relationship with Oliver?

The Side Road by Sarah Lahey is well-structured and engaging, primarily because it intertwines romance with a mystery and good character development. The main characters, Mia and Oliver, have their distinct struggles and pasts. The plotline creates an element of intrigue and adds purpose to the characters' actions. It also sets up a compelling dynamic between them that paves the way for an interesting dalliance as their journeys converge. The witty dialogue and humor offer dark comedy and sarcasm, making all the characters feel authentic and the story entertaining. The author effectively uses the small town as a character in itself. The descriptions of the town's landscape, historical buildings, and close-knit community create a charming, laid-back, and homely atmosphere while also providing the perfect backdrop for the plot threads to unfold. This quick-to-moderately paced narrative deals with anxiety, grief and loss, divorce, and pregnancy, among others, which is counterbalanced by themes of love, serendipity, relationships, togetherness, and humor. It is a lighthearted yet emotionally resonant story with a well-written and absorbing plot, highly recommended for rom-com and cozy mystery fans.