If you’re looking for an enjoyable romp through relocation, Alison Ripley Cubitt’s latest travel memoir, The Accidental Plus One Down Under has just released. I was fortunate to receive an advance review copy.
It is Book 2 in Alison’s Travel Tales From a Trailing Spouse series, and I have a confession to make – I haven’t yet read Book 1, but that doesn’t matter, since the story stands entirely on its own.
Here’s my review:
An authentic portrait of what it means to start over far from home
A warm, witty memoir for armchair travellers, those who enjoy quietly humorous anecdotes and stories of resilience, or anyone who’s ever jumped into a big life move only to mutter, “Well… that didn’t go entirely to plan!”
Alison Ripley Cubitt once again proves that life has a sense of humour. One minute she’s chasing sunshine and a new life in Australia, the next she’s trapped in the world’s longest lockdown in a “Faulty Towers” apartment that seems determined to collapse out of sheer spite. The author navigates everything from malfunctioning appliances to structural surprises with good humour and a healthy dose of disbelief.
The story unfolds at a relaxed pace in a series of scenes, sketches, and anecdotes. For me, highlights of the globe-spanning trips outside lockdown were the long train journeys – some of which I’ve experienced myself. Foodies will also find plenty to relish. Alison writes about her culinary discoveries with real enthusiasm. Her knack for spotting the absurd in everyday situations keeps the pages turning.
A warm, witty memoir for armchair travellers, those who enjoy quietly humorous anecdotes and stories of resilience, or anyone who’s ever jumped into a big life move only to mutter, “Well… that didn’t go entirely to plan!”
Buy The Accidental Plus One Down Under on Amazon UK
Buy The Accidental Plus One Down Under on your local Amazon store
Blurb and Links
New Year’s Eve 2019
While everyone else is popping champagne corks and ringing in a new decade, Alison—The Accidental Plus One—is crammed into a flying tin can somewhere over the Equator, obsessing over whether she remembered to lock the front door.
Can she really uproot her life halfway across the world—again?
Rural calm was sweet while it lasted, but when Alison’s partner’s job prospects dwindle, the lure of a new adventure on the far side of the planet proves irresistible.
This time, she promises herself, it’ll be easy. Fewer things to pack. No dog to uproot. Renting rather than buying. And before she knows it, Alison is heading for a land of giant spiders, the world’s longest lockdown and a place where strangers call you mate.
The Accidental Plus One Down Under is a heartwarming and humorous memoir that proves sometimes love leads us on the most unpredictable journeys.
Perfect for fans of:
- Real-life expat tales
- Heartwarming stories of starting over
If you love stories about the ups-and-downs of life far from home, you won’t want to miss this next hilarious chapter.
Book 2 of the Accidental Plus One series
Buy The Accidental Plus One Down Under on Amazon UK
The Accidental Plus One Down Under on your local Amazon store
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I too am a travel writer, and am launching my latest book, More Manchester Than Mongolia on 5th December 2025. It’s available for pre order now at the special launch price of 99p/99c across most markets. If you want to check out nearly 20 of Manchester’s five star advance reviews, you can find them here on Goodreads.
Although it is a standalone tale of an ill-fated road trip around some of Britain ‘s hidden places, ‘Manchester‘ is the sequel to the multi-award-winning Building The Beast, the funny true story of how we turned one very big truck into a ‘Go-Anywhere’ camper. I have just launched a second edition of Building The Beast with a flash new cover.
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World Wide Walkies 
What a fun review Jackie. This book sounds a good romp. Thanks for letting us know it’s a standalone. 🧡
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It sounds like a very interesting book. I’ve been to Australia. You wrote a great and very helpful review.
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Thank you, Thomas. Where did you go in Australia? I backpacked around the eastern and central part in my feckless youth! I’ve not been to Darwin or Perth, though. The book took in some of the places I visited, such as Melbourne.
If you check it out, I hope you enjoy it 🙂
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Thank you Jacquiline. We went to Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns and we spent a week scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef
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Wonderful! That’s pretty much the tour I did! I learned to SCUBA dive ahead of my trip to Australia and NZ. I wanted to dive the Rainbow Warrior and the Great Barrier Reef, but I had a cold in NZ and couldn’t dive, and there was a tornado ahead of my time at the Great Barrier Reef so the visibility was zero!
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