Ellie Dwyer's Great Escape

By: Diane Winger

Narrated by: Laural Merlington

You're never too old to run away from home.

Ellie Dwyer, 61, is convinced bad luck comes in threes, and not just garden-variety, oh-well bad luck. How many people have to flee not one, but two natural disasters? And in between the wildfire and the hurricane, her husband of nearly 40 years suddenly up and left her for no reason she could fathom, disappearing from her life without a clue to his whereabouts.

Determined to reinvent her life, Ellie sets out on a journey across the country. Along the way to nowhere in particular, she buys a camper, becomes friends with a remarkable octogenarian, and starts to believe that good luck might also come in threes.

Or does it? That depends on how she defines good luck.

©2019 Diane Winger (P)2020 Tantor

A newbie fellow a frame camper

Loved the story. As a new Aliner camper I identified with her original missteps handling the camper and camping challenges in general. The love story and forgiveness theme is moving and points to how complex love is.

Wonderful escapism! With practical advice!

Charming, human, endearing. A great adventure story! You’re never too old or too alone to do a wonderful thing

Good Read Full of Surprises that Touched my Heart

I loved this book. I went on a solo trip due to a life change about 15 years ago, and this book hit home for me. I am also an Aframe camper owner, so that picture on the cover was an instant attraction. There were parts that made me laugh, especially because some of the struggles a new camper owner has, Ellie faced. So did we.

I LOVED the narrator. It is a story told from an older woman's perspective, and they chose a woman to narrate that really fit that part and made it authentic.

Without telling any of the story, I wasn't expecting to cry, but I did. The main character experiences a life changing event, closure and a new beginning.

I am sincerely hoping that the rest of the books come out on Audible. In any case, I am looking forward to unplugging and reading them while sitting next to the Aliner Camper we named Luna.

Do yourself a favor and read this book. Bravo.

It was ok, not great

Very unlikely although she knew a lot about camping. The story was not that good.

This had so much potential

I immediately became sucked into Ellie’s story. It was so relatable.
The struggle and trial was relatable. The beautiful people she met along her journey only added to the appeal! But the ending ruined it. Just killed it.
-SPOILER ALERT-
I value the idea of closure and redemption as much as the next person.
But this story just needed a different outcome.