August is the perfect time to watch escapist films, and The Map That Leads to You hits all the sweet spots you’d expect for a movie like this one. Outer Banks star Madelyn Cline plays Heather, who travels to Europe after graduation with her two best friends for some carefree fun before getting a job back in the States.
She eventually meets Jack (Riverdale’s KJ Apa), a hunky New Zealander who is travelling with a map his grandfather made of all the places he visited when he was younger. Heather instantly bonds with Jack, but their romance has a clear expiration date. Is she willing to risk heartbreak for a brief but potentially life-changing love affair?
Directed by Oscar nominee Lasse Hallström, The Map That Leads to You is a bit better than your average YA romance. The story charts a clear path, but the film is so charming and pleasing to look at, you go along with it. It’s hard to resist a love story with two leads who look as gorgeous as Cline and Apa and travel to tourist destinations that are even more breathtaking. Like most summertime romances, you won’t have any regrets after watching The Map That Leads to You, even if you might forget you’ve ever watched it by next summer.
