Some roads lead you away. Some bring you home.
The Roadto Athens

A novel by Karl Cordes

Some roads lead you away.
Some bring you home.

A heartfelt coming-of-age story about first love, enduring friendship, redemption, and the unforgettable miles that shape who we become.

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First loveLate ’80s nostalgiaSecond chances
The Road to Athens by Karl Cordes book cover

The story

Bad decisions.
Second chances.
New love blossoms.
A lifetime changed.

Set against the vibrant backdrop of college life in the late 1980s, The Road to Athens follows Ethan Brooks and Jessica McCormick as they navigate first love, unexpected hardship, and the relationships that ultimately shape their futures.

Before smartphones and social media, conversations happened face-to-face, friendships were forged in residence halls and coffee shops, and every road trip held the promise of becoming an unforgettable adventure.

“The best stories don’t simply entertain us—they remind us who we are, where we’ve been, and why the people we meet along the way make every mile worthwhile.”— Karl Cordes

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Portrait of author Karl Cordes

Meet the author

Karl Cordes

Karl writes the kind of stories that remind readers why they fell in love with novels in the first place.

His fiction blends heartfelt romance, unforgettable friendships, humor, nostalgia, and personal redemption. Seventeen years in radio and more than two decades in technology gave Karl a front-row seat to the stories, voices, and communities that shape American life.

Read Karl’s story