Seatmate, the third book in the Love Lines series and an Audible original published in 2022, is available on Amazon in audiobook, Kindle, and paperback. The story features multiple points of view, primarily from the lead female and male characters, as well as other bus passengers, family, and friends. In the audiobook, each character has a distinct voice, narrated by Amanda Ronconi, Zachary Webber, Josh Hurley, Carol Monda, Corey Allen, Allyson Johnson, Eric Yves Garcia, Tanya Eby, and Dina Pearlman. This makes the listening experience vivid as the characters come to life.

Readers will recognize Bastone’s funny openness as they join Gwen and Sam on this endearing road trip. The pair find themselves in the worst seats across from the bathroom on a discount bus from Boston to New York. To distract themselves, they strike up a conversation that, to their surprise, feels effortless. Sam gets Gwen to open up, which she rarely does, and Gwen brings Sam out of his shell.

Cheryl, a fellow passenger who has taken the same bus with Sam several times, brings them treats and tells Gwen she must be a miracle worker to get Sam talking, rather than lost in his own world with headphones. Gwen is stressed as they hit traffic, worried they will not make it to New York in time for her most important interview. Meanwhile, Sam has been playing phone tag with his mom since she told him she set him up on a blind date with his high school crush when the bus arrives in New York. Sam does not want to go and hopes his mom will cancel. No wonder she is avoiding his calls and texts.

Bastone does not make it easy for the pair. The bus breaks down on the side of the highway, and Sam helps the passengers off, retrieves the luggage, and ensures Gwen gets to her big opportunity on time. He calls in a childhood favor to get them a car for the rest of the trip. The car is from the early eighties and filled with Sam’s friend’s kitchen contents in the back seat. After rescuing kittens on the highway, getting stuck in traffic, taking detours, and riding on the handlebars of a city bike, Gwen realizes that arriving on time no longer seems important. She feels pangs of jealousy as she sends Sam off to reconnect with his old flame.

The original meet-cute and comedic writing make for easy banter between the characters, and the entertaining storyline elevates this to a 3-star read.