Driving Lessons: A Novel

By Zoe Fishman

Sometimes life's most fulfilling journeys begin without a map

An executive at a New York cosmetics firm, Sarah has had her fill of the interminable hustle of the big city. When her husband, Josh, is offered a new job in suburban Virginia, it feels like the perfect chance to shift gears.

While Josh quickly adapts to their new life, Sarah discovers that having time on her hands is a mixed blessing. Without her everyday urban struggles, who is she? And how can she explain to Josh, who assumes they are on the same page, her ambivalence about starting a family?

It doesn't help that the idea of getting behind the wheel—an absolute necessity of her new life—makes it hard for Sarah to breathe. It's been almost twenty years since she's driven, and just the thought of merging is enough to make her teeth chatter with anxiety. When she signs up for lessons, she begins to feel a bit more like her old self again, but she's still unsure of where she wants to go.

Then a crisis involving her best friend lands Sarah back in New York—a trip to the past filled with unexpected truths about herself, her dear friend, and her seemingly perfect sister-in-law . . . and an astonishing surprise that will help her see the way ahead.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Apr 8, 2014
• ISBN: 9780062059833

Zoe Fishman

Zoe Fishman is the 2020 Georgia Author of the Year. She is the bestselling author of five previous novels and several awards including Booklist’s “Top 10 Books of the Year” and an IndieNext Pick.  She’s been featured on “City Lights” with Lois Reitzes, and in Publisher’s Weekly and The Atlanta Jewish Times among others. Her essays have been published in The New York Times, The Atlanta Journal Constitution and Modern Loss.   Zoe was the Director of The Decatur Writers Studio and a visiting writer at SCAD Atlanta. She lives in Decatur with her two sons.

Reviews for Driving Lessons

[bnbookgirl · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

(Heavy Sigh) I found this book to be ok. I wasn't voraciously turning the pages waiting to find out what would happen. I think it is a great beach read as you don't have to think. The story has some nice characters who I think women may relate to. The book has a message about friendship but a lot of books cover this theme so it is not unique. I did not get the ladybug references either. If you are looking for a quick, mindless read pick this up, if you are looking for substance and the need to keep finding out what happens, find another read.

[bwightman_3 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I received this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.The main plot of this book is about a New Yorker named Sarah who moves to rural Virginia after her husband finds a job teaching at a university. It deals with Sarah adjusting to a major life change using her taking driving lessons as a metaphor for taking control and changing the direction of her life. It's a quick read, but I didn't feel that it was very substantial. There's emotion and humor and it's an enjoyable story but it never left me feeling like I wanted to hear more about the characters or their lives.

[emkemi23 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the first novel I've read by Zoe Fishman and was pleasantly surprised at this easy read chick-lit with a lot more than just driving lessons involved. I loved the chapter headings referencing driving and trying to get clues of what the chapter would be about based on the road signs or "driving lesson." While Sarah learns to drive, she learns a lot more about hereself and the direction of her life. This will be a great beach read and should be on everyone's summer reading list!

[journeygirl_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I received Driving Lessons as part of the Early Reviewer program. In Driving Lessons, Sarah and her husband move from New York City to a small town in Virginia. Sarah leaves a thriving career behind and hopes to find a new focus for her life while facing her fears, both a fear of driving and a fear of having a child. She must return to NYC to nurse her best friend, who is in the midst of a medical crisis which will result in her inability to have a child. I enjoyed the book and Sarah's struggles kept me turning the page. Her relationship with her best friend is beautiful to read, and the interactions with her sister-in-law, a new mother, are funny. Overall, the book was a nice read, but not necessarily a book that will stay with me forever. I enjoyed it and would recommend it as a fun, beach read.

[reviewsbymolly · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel! First off, I was super excited to enter the giveaway for it, as I am a HUGE HUGE lover of Mason Jars........I collect them. I drink out of them....I store things in them, all of it. And the cover was just perfect for collecting! So that alone is a plus. Second, I loved the plot line and the characters. The characters were complex and captivated me, stealing my heart. Especially Josh. Sarah wasn't my favorite but she was okay. She added a bit of depth that was needed to keep me hooked. Over all, I definitely am happy that I read this story. Fast, easy read and I recommend it!

[marcyjill · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Driving Lessons is a typical light-hearted book about a young woman in a transition period of her life. There are some wacky side characters, a fish out of water scenario, a best friend, a perfect husband. Your basic formula is complete. Normally I really enjoy this kind of read when that's what I'm looking for, but this one lacked life. There were no bubbles and that's what always makes these books fun a great escape. The are some hints at good ideas though so I'd be open to trying something else from this author.

[micheller7_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Driving Lessons, by Zoe Fishman, belongs in the "chick lit" category. It is not one of the better ones. It seemed very formulaic to me. The summary sounded appealing. It revolved around a couple making the transition from Brooklyn to the rural south. Sarah, the wife, did not drive, making rural life a challenge. Many years ago I too moved from Brooklyn to upstate without knowing how to drive, so I really thought this book would resonate with me. It just didn't. The characters were pretty wooden and one-dimensional and the plot held no surprises with a very predictable outcome. A cute technique was the blurbs at each chapter heading that were from a typical driver's manual. That was about the most original part of the book. If you are at the beach or on an airplane and want a quick read this might make a passable choice.

[candyh_64 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This is the story of family and friends and the relationships, feelings and emotions that make up our lives. This novel is definitely not a gripping page turner. It is truly a ho-hum creation. I'm pleased to have been selected by LibraryThing to review this book, but I would not recommend it.

[godsgirl_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book. It was light enough to be a fun story, but not fluff like some other romantic comedy fiction. The characters were believable and showed a sense of integrity. Something that would be nice to see in other books these days. I will definitely be passing this on to my other friends and will be getting her other two books that I want to read now. Thank you for a lovely story.

[voracious_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sarah and Josh had grown tired of NYC life and after being married for a few years, were ready to settle down in a less chaotic town and have a family. Or at least Josh was ready for a family....Sarah was not so sure. After leaving her executive position at a major cosmetics company and moving to Farmwood, Virginia, Sarah was disappointed by small town life, which was not what she had expected. Not only was the pace slow, she had forgotten that she would have to learn to drive again. When her best friend from New York is suddenly diagnosed with cancer, Sarah rushes back to nurse her to health, and in the process, tries to figure out what she really wants for herself. I thought this was a pretty lighthearted women's novel. Although it was predictable, it was engaging and heartwarming. I read through it quickly and found I could relate to Sarah as she tried to acculturate and make decisions about her future.