The Side Road

From award-winning author Sarah Lahey comes a standalone romantic comedy about life’s winding paths, the choices we make and the threads that tie us together.

When Oliver, a former MotoGP racer, returns to his hometown to raise his daughter, he doesn’t expect to find a party underway in his living room. The neighbours have gathered to celebrate the passing of his daughter’s grandmother. Among the revellers, he finds Mia, a newcomer to the small town, nursing a bottle of gin in his kitchen.
Seeking a fresh start, Mia has moved from the city, bringing her rescue dog, Snood, along for the journey. As the owner of the local craft store, she hosts the local Sit & Knit groups, where gossip flows as freely as the yarn.
Oliver and Mia find themselves drawn together in a way neither expected. But as their relationship deepens, shadows from Mia’s past threaten their blossoming romance.

Set against the stunning backdrop of wine country, Oliver and Mia’s love story unfolds amidst vintage motorbikes, a lively knitting circle, the ups and downs of raising an almost-teenager, and a colourful array of elderly relatives. But lurking beneath the charm lies a mystery – what happened to the missing money? Was the strict Baptist grandmother embezzling?