Title: No Place Like HereAuthor: Christina June
Series: Young Adult
Age: Young Adult
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Retelling
Publication Date: May 21, 2019
Publisher: BLINK
Source: Paperback
Purchase: Paperback | Kindle | Audible | B&N | Book Depository | IndieBound
Synopsis:
Life leads you to unexpected places. Love brings you home.
Ashlyn Zanotti has big plans for the summer. She's just spent a year at boarding school and can't wait to get home. But when Ashlyn's father is arrested for tax evasion and her mother enters a rehab facility for "exhaustion," a.k.a. depression, her life is turned upside down.
The cherry on top? Ashlyn's father sends her to work with a cousin she doesn't even know at a rustic team-building retreat center in the middle of nowhere. A self-proclaimed "indoor girl," not even Ash's habit of leaving breadcrumb quotes—inspirational sayings she scribbles everywhere—can help her cope.
With a dangerously careless camp manager doling out grunt work, an overbearing father trying to control her even from prison, and more than a little boy drama to struggle with, the summer is full of challenges. And Ashlyn must make the toughest decision of her life: keep quiet and follow her dad's marching orders, or find the courage to finally stand up to her father to have any hope of finding her way back home.
From Christina June, author of It Started with Goodbye and Everywhere You Want to Be, comes No Place Like Here, a modern twist on Hansel and Gretel.
My Rating:
My Thoughts:
This was a pleasant surprise. At first I wasn't enjoying this at all. I thought that the characters were all whinny and mean, but as the story progressed I began to truly enjoy the characters and family dynamics.
Ashlyn is such a strong character. She starts off a bit weak and quiet, but she reminded me of a quiet storm. She was much stronger than she gave herself credit for. She was thoughtful, kind, hardworking, a problem solver and solution finder. I loved the boldness she found as the story progressed. She was a pretty darn good character, especially with all she had to face.
Marcus seemed like a great guy at first. The bad boy with a sweet heart, however, when things changed he became a major dick. He was really pushy in a subtle way.
Baxter was an awesome guy. He wasn't pushy. He was tentative. He showed true interest. He was helpful with family issues and giving sound advice. Everything about him screamed prince. He didn't have to walk around showing how macho and manly he was. He just was a friend when Ashlyn needed one. I loved him!
Hannah seemed like annoying cousin at first, but I enjoyed her bluntness. She was outspoken and didn't hold back. She was harsh at times, but she was great for motivating others.
Ashlyn's parents pissed me off at first. Her dad seemed heartless and cruel. Her mother seemed to just sit down and take mental abuse. However, learning about her parents helped me to understand her father a lot more. I enjoyed their individual growth as well.
Deb was a horrible boss. She was too into herself and creating what she wanted. She didn't take into account the safety of others. She was irresponsible.
The retreat center was such a great aspect and essential to the growth of Ashlyn as a character. It allowed her to interact with others and open up. She gained confidence and a voice while working there.
I enjoyed this story and all that it provided in the view of family, love and friendship.
About the Author
She is the author of IT STARTED WITH GOODBYE, EVERYWHERE YOU WANT TO BE, and the forthcoming NO PLACE LIKE HERE.
Prize: 5 Finished copies of No Place Like Here + book poster (USA only)
Starts: 5/27/19
Ends: 6/7/19
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