The Limited Edition Bicentennial Cadillac Convertible Joy Ride

The Limited Edition Bicentennial Cadillac Convertible Joy Ride by Michael Jai Grant follows the unlikely partnership of Eve, a restless and disillusioned Florida teenager, and Muriel, an octogenarian resident of a managed care facility, both running from the confines of their everyday lives. When a chance emergency leaves Eve temporarily in charge of Muriel and the keys to her prized 1976 Cadillac Eldorado, the two impulsively embark on a cross-state (and ultimately cross-country) road trip. Their journey, narrated with wry omniscience by the Cadillac itself, becomes a search for freedom, lost identity, and the meaning of home, as Eve flees family secrets and Muriel seeks to reclaim her past. Along the way, they confront their families’ betrayals and their own regrets, forging an intergenerational friendship that neither expected.

I will give it to you so quickly: this is like nothing I have read before—quirky, witty, and downright hilarious. But hey, the lessons are aplenty. This author succeeds in demystifying everything I thought I knew about dementia and the generational gap, delivering a tale that is wild in imagination, thoughtful in its humanity, and exciting in the adventure it offers. Michael Jai Grant’s novel is a fresh, emotionally resonant take on the American road trip. The narrative voice—that of the Cadillac—provides a blend of wit, nostalgia, and affectionate wisdom, grounding events in a sharply observed reality. Grant’s characters are fully realized: Eve is angry and broken, desperate to take control of her life; Muriel is sharp, occasionally lost to dementia, and brimming with a stubborn dignity. Their dynamic is hilarious, especially as they navigate banks, gas stations, and the painful truths of their pasts. Grant explores themes of generational disconnect, parental fallibility, and the redemptive power of chosen family, with keen attention to the sensory details of Florida and the iconic car itself. The Limited Edition Bicentennial Cadillac Convertible Joy Ride kept me awake through the night. It’s one of those fun reads I will revisit.