I'd read the first book last fall, absolutely loved it, but felt a little hesitation at picking up the sequel. I don't the sequel had been planned, and honestly I wasn't sure it would live up to the first book. I re-read the latter for bookclub, and decided to read this one immediately afterward. I'm glad I did.

In the blurb, it calls this a "stand-alone companion" ... and I disagree with that. Even though the important facts are dropped, and you COULD read this as a stand-alone, I really think you need to have read the first book. Moreover, WHY read this one without having reading The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise first? I guess I'm a bit of a stickler for series/order.

I was able to borrow both the audiobook and the Kindle copy from the library. I went primarily with the audio. Very relieved to have the same narrator as the first book ... I don't think I could have coped with a change. I needed Coyote's "voice" to be the same in both the writing and narration, and it was.  Salvador is back, and there are some new friends along for the ride. Another quest ...

There were MANY times during the audiobook that I found myself smiling, or even laughing. Just cute statements and such. A few more profound ones that I tried to remember to note/look up and highlight. I really appreciated the discussion questions included with the first book ... I wished there were some for this. I tried Googling without luck.  I'm sure some would be about "hanging on" and letting go, maybe about what's right/wrong (how far you can go to achieve your goal), the goodness in people ...

*Sometimes maybe the best thing to say is just nothing at all
*It’s not the sandwich that matters, it’s someone bringing you the sandwich ...
*“I remember, sometimes, when I was trying to hang on, how my hands would hurt. And I would almost fall. So I would have to let go, with one hand, and shake it out. And then hold on again.” He had been looking away, out the window, but now he turned to look into my eyes. “Do you understand? To keep holding on, I had to let go. But I wasn’t really letting go. I was just … changing my grip. So I could hold on better.”

I remember Coyote said "fair" quite a few times (in response to a statement or thought). 

The first book was published in 2019 ... and this takes place a little bit after that one ends. So 2020. Covid Connection. Not the angst of the overall story, but it does facilitate them hitting the road (school is cancelled anyway), they are wearing masks, lots of places aren't open.

4.5* rating more just to differentiate the total feeling from the first 5*, but this was absolutely enjoyable, one I'd absolutely recommend to anyone who liked/loved the first book.