A funny, touching, unforgettable memoir about the things we find out about ourselves when we leave the well-worn path behind
Rachel Friedman’s college graduation is quickly approaching and she has no idea what to do next. She has always been the consummate good girl who does well in school and plays it safe, so Rachel surprises no one more than herself when on a whim she buys a ticket to Ireland, a place she has never visited, in an effort to escape the impending life decisions awaiting her. There an ad for a housemate leads her to form an unlikely bond with a free-spirited Australian girl, a born adventurer who spurs Rachel on a yearlong odyssey that takes her to three continents, fills her life with newfound friends, and gives birth to a previously unrealized passion for adventure.
Rachel shares vivid recollections of her exploits abroad that crackle with humor and warmth. As her journey takes her to Australia and South America, Rachel discovers and embraces her love of travel, makes a lifelong friend out of a temporary roommate, and unlocks more truths about herself than she ever realized she was seeking. Along the way, the erstwhile good girl finally learns to do something she’s never done before: simply live for the moment. In a fresh, funny, and utterly charming debut, Rachel Friedman’s The Good Girl’s Guide to Getting Lost chronicles the adventures–and misadventures–of a young woman trying to find her place in the world.