ABL Review At-A-Glance
Ø Title: No Place Like Here
Ø My Rating: 4
Ø Genre: Young Adult
Ø Author:
Christina June
Christina June
Ø Format:
ARC Paperback*
ARC Paperback*
Ø Publication Date: May 21, 2019
Compare To:
Synopsis
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.
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.
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.
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.
My Thoughts…
No Place
Like Here is a quick read with a lot of heart. Christina June does a beautiful job of drawing
the reader into the story from the outset.
Ashlyn is introduced to the audience, but her life is almost immediately
upended by her father’s mistakes and her mother’s illness. This sudden change
creates a very fast emotional investment for the reader.
Like Here is a quick read with a lot of heart. Christina June does a beautiful job of drawing
the reader into the story from the outset.
Ashlyn is introduced to the audience, but her life is almost immediately
upended by her father’s mistakes and her mother’s illness. This sudden change
creates a very fast emotional investment for the reader.
I could 100% see myself as a teenager loving andimmediately identifying with Ashlyn.
Christina June odes a wonderful job of creating not only believable
teenage voices, which can sometimes come off as corny or clichéd; but, also,
giving those characters accessible feelings.
The description was a little misleading for me,
because I didn’t get much of a Hansel and Gretel retelling vibe. There is no mythical or magical element to
this story. This is a true to life,
coming of age story about a teenage girl finding friendship while finding
herself. There is no witch. There is no oven. There is no brother. You have to really look for the similarities
to the classic tale, so don’t go in expecting Wicked.
because I didn’t get much of a Hansel and Gretel retelling vibe. There is no mythical or magical element to
this story. This is a true to life,
coming of age story about a teenage girl finding friendship while finding
herself. There is no witch. There is no oven. There is no brother. You have to really look for the similarities
to the classic tale, so don’t go in expecting Wicked.
While this book is part of a series, I didn’t
read the first two. I don’t really think
it’s necessary, as they appear to be standalone books with a common theme. After reading No Place Like Here, I will definitely be checking 1 & 2 out
ASAP.
read the first two. I don’t really think
it’s necessary, as they appear to be standalone books with a common theme. After reading No Place Like Here, I will definitely be checking 1 & 2 out
ASAP.
What’s Missing…
This is a new feature for me that I am trying
out., so let me know what you think.
Essentially, if a book doesn’t reach 5 stars, I like to give a little
explanation as to why. In this book, I
felt like there needed to be more. It
was almost as if there was some depth missing from the story that prevented it
from vaulting into the amazing 5 Eiffel Tower (or stars to all other people)
territory.
out., so let me know what you think.
Essentially, if a book doesn’t reach 5 stars, I like to give a little
explanation as to why. In this book, I
felt like there needed to be more. It
was almost as if there was some depth missing from the story that prevented it
from vaulting into the amazing 5 Eiffel Tower (or stars to all other people)
territory.
No Place
Like Here could honestly have been a longer book. I felt like the climax happened too quickly
(stop giggling), and the problems developed and were dealt with without much
fuss. I just wanted more.
Like Here could honestly have been a longer book. I felt like the climax happened too quickly
(stop giggling), and the problems developed and were dealt with without much
fuss. I just wanted more.
* Special thanks to Christina June, Blink Publishing, and TLC Book Tours for providing a copy of No Place Like Here in exchange for an honest review.
I think my daughter would absolutely love this one and I would too because I'm a big fan of YA. Also, you're "what's missing" feature is a good touch! Thanks for being on this tour. Sara @ TLC Book Tours
Thanks so much! It's new so we will see if I stick with it, but it feels good to put into words why I didn't give something 5 stars. That way people aren't wondering. A younger teenager might like this book simply because it's shorter, so that wouldn't matter to them.