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Where You'll Find Me
When Hanley Helton discovers a boy living in her garage, she knows she should kick him out. But Nate is too charming to be dangerous. He just needs a place to get away, which Hanley understands. Her own escape methods (vodka, black hair dye, and pretending the past didn't happen) are more traditional, but who is she to judge?
Nate doesn't tell her why he's in her garage, and she doesn't tell him what she's running from. Soon, Hanley's trading her late-night escapades for all-night conversations and stolen kisses. But when Nate's recognized as the missing teen from the news, Hanley isn't sure which is worse: that she's harboring a fugitive, or that she's in love with one.
Nate doesn't tell her why he's in her garage, and she doesn't tell him what she's running from. Soon, Hanley's trading her late-night escapades for all-night conversations and stolen kisses. But when Nate's recognized as the missing teen from the news, Hanley isn't sure which is worse: that she's harboring a fugitive, or that she's in love with one.
211 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 7, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
January 20, 2015
4.5 Stars.
I am absolutely blown away by this book. What I thought would be a light, easy YA read was anything but. Erin Fletcher's writing about several difficult, and sometimes uncomfortable subjects is absolutely stunning, heartfelt and had me in tears several times.
Where You'll Find Me is a book that I have struggled too put down, my housework and laundry is still waiting for me too start it, and I am pretty sure it will be a takeaway or tin of soup for me tonight for dinner as the grocery shopping has also been thrown by the wayside so I could finish Nate and Hanley's story.
Grief is the main theme here, and how we all deal with it in our own individual way. Hanley acts out, misbehaves and generally does the opposite of everything her parents expect. Nate appears in her garage one night with secrets of his own, but one thing is certain, he see's Hanley for who she is, and understands what she is hiding from. This story isn't what I was expecting, and it was so much bigger than it's synopsis.
I am absolutely stunned that this is Erin's first book, if this is the quality she delivers on her debut, I will be first in the queue to see what she releases next.I only hope that we go back to Visit Nate and Hanley again, even if it is just as secondary characters as I believe there are alot more stories to be told in particular Rosalinda and Misty.
ARC provided through Netgalley, and I am absolutely delighted to provide the above honest review.
I am absolutely blown away by this book. What I thought would be a light, easy YA read was anything but. Erin Fletcher's writing about several difficult, and sometimes uncomfortable subjects is absolutely stunning, heartfelt and had me in tears several times.
Where You'll Find Me is a book that I have struggled too put down, my housework and laundry is still waiting for me too start it, and I am pretty sure it will be a takeaway or tin of soup for me tonight for dinner as the grocery shopping has also been thrown by the wayside so I could finish Nate and Hanley's story.
Grief is the main theme here, and how we all deal with it in our own individual way. Hanley acts out, misbehaves and generally does the opposite of everything her parents expect. Nate appears in her garage one night with secrets of his own, but one thing is certain, he see's Hanley for who she is, and understands what she is hiding from. This story isn't what I was expecting, and it was so much bigger than it's synopsis.
I am absolutely stunned that this is Erin's first book, if this is the quality she delivers on her debut, I will be first in the queue to see what she releases next.I only hope that we go back to Visit Nate and Hanley again, even if it is just as secondary characters as I believe there are alot more stories to be told in particular Rosalinda and Misty.
ARC provided through Netgalley, and I am absolutely delighted to provide the above honest review.
December 22, 2013
When I received the ARC for “Where You’ll Find Me” by Erin Fletcher I was curious about the book. To be completely honest, I wasn’t expecting much. I mean, how many people willingly let someone they don’t know live in their garage? Even a teenager would most likely have an issue with this. So I was curious about how the author told the story rather than excited by the prospect of reading a good manuscript.
I have to admit, I was more than surprised by, not only how much I liked the story, but how much depth there was to it. Ms. Fletcher didn’t write a fluffy, teenager insta-love story about a homeless boy living in a garage of a girl who immediately falls in love with him. Nope. She wrote a story with depth of emotion. One that explores the ugly side of guilt, blame, shame and all-encompassing love.
Yes, Nate lives in Hanley’s garage. And, yes, she lets him. But she has her reasons, and they don’t center around an insta-love connection. Although, they do build a relationship throughout the book, but it’s real and relatable. Sounds odd, I know, but it worked.
Nate’s character was wonderfully written. He had just enough mystery surrounding him that kept me interested in him, but he wasn’t a dark and brooding lead. He was caring, understanding, and funny. I liked him a great deal. In fact, I probably would have let him live in my garage! But while he was open and caring with Hanely, he was guarded when it came to information about himself. He kept his secret hidden away, although it was somewhat easy to guess what the secret revolved around, even if the reader didn’t know exactly what it was. And it’s pretty obvious that this huge secret hanging over Nate’s head is the reason he’s running.
Hanley has her own secret. And while she doesn’t physically run like Nate, she runs from life by drowning herself in booze and partying. I liked her just as much as I did Nate. She was just as caring as Nate (hence letting him live in her family’s garage). They were both great characters. Broken, flawed, seemingly unrepairable, this is what made them relatable and loveable.
Secondary characters were developed fairly well. I would have liked more development, however, especially between Hanley and her sister. But I loved how their relationship morphed toward the end of the booked.
The plot was excellent and well thought out. The pace of the book was excellent. It kept my attention throughout. I didn’t feel my mind wandering. The writing style was one I liked and it was easy to let myself get drawn into Nate and Hanley’s world.
BOTTOM LINE: Erin Fletcher has written an incredible book that is not only a sweet romance between two teens, but also explores the dynamics of familial flaws. How easily it is for parents and children to blame each other for situations, how hurtful it can be and what the consequences of that blame can be. It touches on forgiveness, building stronger relationships, and learning to forgive yourself and let go of misplaced blame…because you can’t grab onto life if you’re holding on to the past.
Five stars all the way. There are so many layers to this book. It’s definitely worth the time to delve into them head first.
I have to admit, I was more than surprised by, not only how much I liked the story, but how much depth there was to it. Ms. Fletcher didn’t write a fluffy, teenager insta-love story about a homeless boy living in a garage of a girl who immediately falls in love with him. Nope. She wrote a story with depth of emotion. One that explores the ugly side of guilt, blame, shame and all-encompassing love.
Yes, Nate lives in Hanley’s garage. And, yes, she lets him. But she has her reasons, and they don’t center around an insta-love connection. Although, they do build a relationship throughout the book, but it’s real and relatable. Sounds odd, I know, but it worked.
Nate’s character was wonderfully written. He had just enough mystery surrounding him that kept me interested in him, but he wasn’t a dark and brooding lead. He was caring, understanding, and funny. I liked him a great deal. In fact, I probably would have let him live in my garage! But while he was open and caring with Hanely, he was guarded when it came to information about himself. He kept his secret hidden away, although it was somewhat easy to guess what the secret revolved around, even if the reader didn’t know exactly what it was. And it’s pretty obvious that this huge secret hanging over Nate’s head is the reason he’s running.
Hanley has her own secret. And while she doesn’t physically run like Nate, she runs from life by drowning herself in booze and partying. I liked her just as much as I did Nate. She was just as caring as Nate (hence letting him live in her family’s garage). They were both great characters. Broken, flawed, seemingly unrepairable, this is what made them relatable and loveable.
Secondary characters were developed fairly well. I would have liked more development, however, especially between Hanley and her sister. But I loved how their relationship morphed toward the end of the booked.
The plot was excellent and well thought out. The pace of the book was excellent. It kept my attention throughout. I didn’t feel my mind wandering. The writing style was one I liked and it was easy to let myself get drawn into Nate and Hanley’s world.
BOTTOM LINE: Erin Fletcher has written an incredible book that is not only a sweet romance between two teens, but also explores the dynamics of familial flaws. How easily it is for parents and children to blame each other for situations, how hurtful it can be and what the consequences of that blame can be. It touches on forgiveness, building stronger relationships, and learning to forgive yourself and let go of misplaced blame…because you can’t grab onto life if you’re holding on to the past.
Five stars all the way. There are so many layers to this book. It’s definitely worth the time to delve into them head first.
February 18, 2015
You can read this review and more on my blog:
I have read a lot of books in the Contemporary Romance genre over the past two years, but lately I have had a taste for more action and less romance. Because I am out of practise when it comes to romance novels, I was not sure if I would be able to give this book a proper review. But I am happy to announce that reading a particular genre after taking a long break from it is like riding a bike again after a few years. It takes a little while to get used to it, but once you settle in and go along for the ride, it is a lot of fun. At least that's how it feels when you luck out and read a good book!
Where You'll Find Me dealt with some heavy issues, but the overall tone of the book never became depressing.The only complaint I have about the story telling is that it was a bit rushed. Everything progressed too quickly. It's a short book, and I like the fact that it moved at a steady pace, but it could have benefited from an additional 50 pages. The characters were very interesting, and it would have been nice to spend more time with them.
When the story begins, Hanley (Love that name by the way.) has closed herself off from everyone around her. She hides behind sarcasm and drinks until she can't feel anything anymore. All her relationships are either superficial or antagonistic. Her best friend has been placed into a category of someone who is only good enough to drink and have mindless fun with, her sister is just a nuisance, and, of course, she fells like her parents don't understand or care about her. As the story progresses, Hanley learns that maybe she doesn't know everyone as well as she thinks she does and the people around her are capable of more than what she gives them credit. Often times when I read these types of stories, I find myself wishing that the main character would step outside of their own pain and look at things from another perspective. Hanley is one of the few characters that I've encountered who actually does this. She thinks about more than just herself, and I was impressed with all of the different emotions the author was able to explore in such a small amount of pages.
The relationship between Hanley and Nate was very sweet, but again I wanted more! I am not a fan of insta love, but even though the connection formed between these two overnight, it made sense in this setting. Hanley was suffering from grief over loosing someone very close to her, and was doing everything that she shouldn't to ease the pain. She internalized, pushed every one away, and drank way too much. It was very believable to me that she would form such a tight bond with some kid who sneaks in her garage at night because she was not making very smart decisions in other areas of her life. She was just lucky that it was Nate who showed up in her garage and not some deranged serial killer.
When reading a romance novel, the most important thing to me is that the bond between the two people feel real. I need to understand why they feel so strongly about each other. I don't care if it takes them 24 hours or 24 years, if I don't get why they have such intense feelings for each other, I chalk it up as a romantic failure. Even thought they fell for one another quickly, I know why Nate loves Hanley, and I am very sure of why Hanley loves Nate. They understand each other, don't judge each other, have some very important things in common, and meet each other in the right place at the right time. Everything aligned perfectly, and two kids that needed a friend met and found a safe place together.
There are a few twist and turns in the story that involve Nate and why an intelligent, charming, and seemingly normal young man has no place better to sleep at night than Hanley's garage. Even though I wasn't brought to tears, I felt for him and what he went through. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future because I think she can challenge her readers a bit more with a longer novel.
Where You'll Find Me is adorable and well written, and that is high praise coming from someone who has read hundreds of books in this genre. If you're in the mood for a very sweet book that will have your heart aching towards the end, then you should give this a read. It also had an ending that put a big smile on my face. ;)
Because of language and minor sexual content, I would recommend this book for ages 15 and up.
I have read a lot of books in the Contemporary Romance genre over the past two years, but lately I have had a taste for more action and less romance. Because I am out of practise when it comes to romance novels, I was not sure if I would be able to give this book a proper review. But I am happy to announce that reading a particular genre after taking a long break from it is like riding a bike again after a few years. It takes a little while to get used to it, but once you settle in and go along for the ride, it is a lot of fun. At least that's how it feels when you luck out and read a good book!
Where You'll Find Me dealt with some heavy issues, but the overall tone of the book never became depressing.The only complaint I have about the story telling is that it was a bit rushed. Everything progressed too quickly. It's a short book, and I like the fact that it moved at a steady pace, but it could have benefited from an additional 50 pages. The characters were very interesting, and it would have been nice to spend more time with them.
When the story begins, Hanley (Love that name by the way.) has closed herself off from everyone around her. She hides behind sarcasm and drinks until she can't feel anything anymore. All her relationships are either superficial or antagonistic. Her best friend has been placed into a category of someone who is only good enough to drink and have mindless fun with, her sister is just a nuisance, and, of course, she fells like her parents don't understand or care about her. As the story progresses, Hanley learns that maybe she doesn't know everyone as well as she thinks she does and the people around her are capable of more than what she gives them credit. Often times when I read these types of stories, I find myself wishing that the main character would step outside of their own pain and look at things from another perspective. Hanley is one of the few characters that I've encountered who actually does this. She thinks about more than just herself, and I was impressed with all of the different emotions the author was able to explore in such a small amount of pages.
The relationship between Hanley and Nate was very sweet, but again I wanted more! I am not a fan of insta love, but even though the connection formed between these two overnight, it made sense in this setting. Hanley was suffering from grief over loosing someone very close to her, and was doing everything that she shouldn't to ease the pain. She internalized, pushed every one away, and drank way too much. It was very believable to me that she would form such a tight bond with some kid who sneaks in her garage at night because she was not making very smart decisions in other areas of her life. She was just lucky that it was Nate who showed up in her garage and not some deranged serial killer.
When reading a romance novel, the most important thing to me is that the bond between the two people feel real. I need to understand why they feel so strongly about each other. I don't care if it takes them 24 hours or 24 years, if I don't get why they have such intense feelings for each other, I chalk it up as a romantic failure. Even thought they fell for one another quickly, I know why Nate loves Hanley, and I am very sure of why Hanley loves Nate. They understand each other, don't judge each other, have some very important things in common, and meet each other in the right place at the right time. Everything aligned perfectly, and two kids that needed a friend met and found a safe place together.
There are a few twist and turns in the story that involve Nate and why an intelligent, charming, and seemingly normal young man has no place better to sleep at night than Hanley's garage. Even though I wasn't brought to tears, I felt for him and what he went through. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future because I think she can challenge her readers a bit more with a longer novel.
Where You'll Find Me is adorable and well written, and that is high praise coming from someone who has read hundreds of books in this genre. If you're in the mood for a very sweet book that will have your heart aching towards the end, then you should give this a read. It also had an ending that put a big smile on my face. ;)
Because of language and minor sexual content, I would recommend this book for ages 15 and up.
December 24, 2013
I'm shocked I made it even past the first two chapters. But at 6% I am done with this and it's such a short story too. That's saying a LOT.
First of all, if you have read Hopeless by Colleen Hoover and disliked it because of how unrealistic it is, then don't read this book because the problems that I had with that novel are the same that I have with this one.
Hanley is such an idiot and being drunk isn't an excuse for her idiocy because she tells him to leave when she is drunk. But even excusing this, these are the things that made me stop reading this. Like we don't live in a world where you can just randomly drink water that a stranger gives you because you know that they won't drug you. The fact that the author failed to realize that and decided to make this story like that is ridiculous.
1. The second she realizes that there's a stranger in her garage, instead of running and screaming for help, she stands there and makes small talk with him because he says, "I'm innocent".
2. While looking at his mouth when he smiles at her (ugh) she imagines kissing him. Mind you, they just met like a minute ago.
3. He commands her to drink some water that he just so happens to have and you know what? She does. She doesn't know this guy, she dropped her keys on the ground and her ankle is killing her so she obeys this stanger guy and drinks some 'water'!
First of all, if you have read Hopeless by Colleen Hoover and disliked it because of how unrealistic it is, then don't read this book because the problems that I had with that novel are the same that I have with this one.
Hanley is such an idiot and being drunk isn't an excuse for her idiocy because she tells him to leave when she is drunk. But even excusing this, these are the things that made me stop reading this. Like we don't live in a world where you can just randomly drink water that a stranger gives you because you know that they won't drug you. The fact that the author failed to realize that and decided to make this story like that is ridiculous.
1. The second she realizes that there's a stranger in her garage, instead of running and screaming for help, she stands there and makes small talk with him because he says, "I'm innocent".
2. While looking at his mouth when he smiles at her (ugh) she imagines kissing him. Mind you, they just met like a minute ago.
3. He commands her to drink some water that he just so happens to have and you know what? She does. She doesn't know this guy, she dropped her keys on the ground and her ankle is killing her so she obeys this stanger guy and drinks some 'water'!
December 26, 2013
*If you read the blurb, there will be no spoilers*
I thought the book was going to be some silly love story filled with teenage drama. I was so wrong. The whole book was good but the last five chapters made me love it. I can't describe it but it became something meaningful to me. They are simply no words for it.
If you decide to read the book, don't be quick to judge Nate and Hanley. Because sometimes things are not how they seem to be and some actions are not easily made or seem right when you first look at them. What Nate did takes love and courage and I can't even think anything bad for his actions. And Hanley wasn't immature as I thought of her first. She was just trying to find an escape, to find a way to get rid of her feelings.
Hanley's friends weren't bad (much) and I would have loved to see what everyone would be doing 10 years after the events of the book. Despite Hanley's crazyness to let Nate live in her garage, I think that the decision was the best she ever made (or second best, I still have a little dilemma).
helped her with her relationships. I don't mean the relationships with boys but the ones with her family and friends. He made her open up and form a stronger bond with the people she cared about. And she gave him a home, a place to stay the cold nights of the Winter and a closure with the reasons that ran him away.
In case you missed it I loved the book. I was moved by Nate's action and I loved how Hanley fought for him.
I thought the book was going to be some silly love story filled with teenage drama. I was so wrong. The whole book was good but the last five chapters made me love it. I can't describe it but it became something meaningful to me. They are simply no words for it.
If you decide to read the book, don't be quick to judge Nate and Hanley. Because sometimes things are not how they seem to be and some actions are not easily made or seem right when you first look at them. What Nate did takes love and courage and I can't even think anything bad for his actions. And Hanley wasn't immature as I thought of her first. She was just trying to find an escape, to find a way to get rid of her feelings.
Hanley's friends weren't bad (much) and I would have loved to see what everyone would be doing 10 years after the events of the book. Despite Hanley's crazyness to let Nate live in her garage, I think that the decision was the best she ever made (or second best, I still have a little dilemma).
helped her with her relationships. I don't mean the relationships with boys but the ones with her family and friends. He made her open up and form a stronger bond with the people she cared about. And she gave him a home, a place to stay the cold nights of the Winter and a closure with the reasons that ran him away.
In case you missed it I loved the book. I was moved by Nate's action and I loved how Hanley fought for him.
January 3, 2014
Ramblings. Ha! Yes, Where You’ll Find Me is still part of my "eliminating ARCs that are January releases" mission. This book will be released on January 7th. Thank you, Netgalley and Entangled Teen for this ARC.
Immediate thought after reading this book. That sure was a very convenient, neat and HEA ending. I’ll try to elaborate on this statement later on.
Story Proper. Flat out lie in front of her parents’ faces, sneak in and out of their house, acquire detentions and party hard are what Hanley Helton knows best after experiencing such a traumatic and unfaithful event in the past. Alongside with the company of her friends Rosalinda and Misty, she embarks on this routine to avoid remembering and temporarily numb the guilt that she’s been imposing on herself ever since THAT happened.
One night, as she was about to sneak out of their house through their garage … she discovers that there’s a stranger living in with them. Screaming isn’t an option for her, if she still wants to sneak out and attend a friend’s party. She obviously wants that, so she decided to just deal the matter with herself. It ended up with her still leaving and going to the party, while Garage Boy with no other option handed out to him left the safety of their house.
Hours after they’ve separated ways, Hanley is in the position of being utterly drunk and can’t even place the key in its lock. Enter Garage Boy and whooping in to save the drunken damsel in distress. Acts of kindness does pay up big time (or maybe it’s just Hanley’s fuzzy brain), Garage Boy aka Nate ended up having a shelter for the night. A night which eventually turned into a series of nights…
Where You’ll Find Me is a story that tackles family issues, extreme guilt built up from the past and deals with the bonds and relationships a person should have. Join Hanley and Nate as they unexpectedly experience comfort and understanding in each other’s arms. Witness them as they maneuver through their own unforgettable pasts and how they break free from it.
My thoughts. This book is definitely a very fast paced one. I’m sure reader’s attention will immediately be captured because of how this book got started. Right off the bat, it will trigger you to keep on turning its pages. This one didn’t disappoint in sparking up my curiosity BUT sure enough there were parts of the book were I had problems with. Thus, the reason for my rating. Here you go…
Hanley’s reaction when she discovered Nate was not just realistic to me. Seriously? If I’m in her position, there are two possible things that I would’ve done: (1) screamed already at the top my lungs and waking up the entire neighbourhood or (2) stunned, figure a way to make myself move and grab the attention of my parents. THERE’S. A. FREAKIN’. STRANGER. IN. OUR. HOUSE. Hellooooo?! I wouldn’t even worry if I’m gonna be busted by my parents for sneaking out, as long as I tell them truth on what’s happening. And I wouldn’t even care if that stranger looks like a sex God! Just because he’s hot and charming, it doesn’t diminish the idea of him being dangerous and a threat to you and your family.
Hanley’s past. Readers will immediately take a hint that there’s something big that happened to Hanley it’s of the question of WHAT that’s you’re going to crave for during the course of the book. But here comes where I find the problem with the execution for the part of this book… Yes, Hanley’s back story was mentioned in the book but it wasn’t given that great EMPHASIS. It could've been explored a lot more. The way it was presented was just a normal narration; I didn’t feel any ounce of emotion or anything towards Hanley. It sort of just became secondary to Nate’s. With no emphasis about her past, it was still used as backbone idea that will knock some sense into the characters. Therefore, the idea that will weave everything. (So, what if nobody remembers and took notice of Hanley’s past because of how bland it was presented … uh oh, there you go.)
Nate. Nate's character will be the reader's driving force to continue on reading the story. There's so much mystery surrounding his character and just want to figure him all out. Questions like, why is he living in Hanley’s garage? Who is he running from? What could he possibly have done that will lead him to live in someone’s garage rather than stay in his own home? See.
Hanley and Nate. This is a case of insta-love. And this is a stupid kind of one, because of their situation. I can’t even fathom the idea of having a relationship with a total stranger. Yes, you may be having a conversation but given the scenes that I’ve read in this book, there’s no depth in those conversations. And yes, Hanley maybe revealing and divulging her past/problems to Nate but on the other hand Nate doesn’t do that. Things that they talked about were just the normal and superficial stuff.
Hanley’s relationship with her parents, Heather (sister) and friends (Rosalinda and Misty). This is the part of the book that I like the most. We see their relationships and their characters grow in this book. Heather and Hanley treats each other like sisters already rather than just continuing their non-existent relationship from the beginning of time. Rosalinda and Hanley opens up more towards the end of the book and creates this big step in their friendship.
THE Ending. Fletcher truly pushed it too far in the HEA zone for my liking. In my opinion, I would’ve liked it far better if she just omitted the last chapter. The book could’ve just ended with the hopeful note and leaning in towards a HEA, which (I think) Chapter 24 already gave. But then she decided to pull that last chapter, which just catapulted it to a mushy and convenient ending.
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
*I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and the publisher for an honest review*
Bye x
Immediate thought after reading this book. That sure was a very convenient, neat and HEA ending. I’ll try to elaborate on this statement later on.
Story Proper. Flat out lie in front of her parents’ faces, sneak in and out of their house, acquire detentions and party hard are what Hanley Helton knows best after experiencing such a traumatic and unfaithful event in the past. Alongside with the company of her friends Rosalinda and Misty, she embarks on this routine to avoid remembering and temporarily numb the guilt that she’s been imposing on herself ever since THAT happened.
One night, as she was about to sneak out of their house through their garage … she discovers that there’s a stranger living in with them. Screaming isn’t an option for her, if she still wants to sneak out and attend a friend’s party. She obviously wants that, so she decided to just deal the matter with herself. It ended up with her still leaving and going to the party, while Garage Boy with no other option handed out to him left the safety of their house.
Hours after they’ve separated ways, Hanley is in the position of being utterly drunk and can’t even place the key in its lock. Enter Garage Boy and whooping in to save the drunken damsel in distress. Acts of kindness does pay up big time (or maybe it’s just Hanley’s fuzzy brain), Garage Boy aka Nate ended up having a shelter for the night. A night which eventually turned into a series of nights…
Where You’ll Find Me is a story that tackles family issues, extreme guilt built up from the past and deals with the bonds and relationships a person should have. Join Hanley and Nate as they unexpectedly experience comfort and understanding in each other’s arms. Witness them as they maneuver through their own unforgettable pasts and how they break free from it.
My thoughts. This book is definitely a very fast paced one. I’m sure reader’s attention will immediately be captured because of how this book got started. Right off the bat, it will trigger you to keep on turning its pages. This one didn’t disappoint in sparking up my curiosity BUT sure enough there were parts of the book were I had problems with. Thus, the reason for my rating. Here you go…
Hanley’s reaction when she discovered Nate was not just realistic to me. Seriously? If I’m in her position, there are two possible things that I would’ve done: (1) screamed already at the top my lungs and waking up the entire neighbourhood or (2) stunned, figure a way to make myself move and grab the attention of my parents. THERE’S. A. FREAKIN’. STRANGER. IN. OUR. HOUSE. Hellooooo?! I wouldn’t even worry if I’m gonna be busted by my parents for sneaking out, as long as I tell them truth on what’s happening. And I wouldn’t even care if that stranger looks like a sex God! Just because he’s hot and charming, it doesn’t diminish the idea of him being dangerous and a threat to you and your family.
Hanley’s past. Readers will immediately take a hint that there’s something big that happened to Hanley it’s of the question of WHAT that’s you’re going to crave for during the course of the book. But here comes where I find the problem with the execution for the part of this book… Yes, Hanley’s back story was mentioned in the book but it wasn’t given that great EMPHASIS. It could've been explored a lot more. The way it was presented was just a normal narration; I didn’t feel any ounce of emotion or anything towards Hanley. It sort of just became secondary to Nate’s. With no emphasis about her past, it was still used as backbone idea that will knock some sense into the characters. Therefore, the idea that will weave everything. (So, what if nobody remembers and took notice of Hanley’s past because of how bland it was presented … uh oh, there you go.)
Nate. Nate's character will be the reader's driving force to continue on reading the story. There's so much mystery surrounding his character and just want to figure him all out. Questions like, why is he living in Hanley’s garage? Who is he running from? What could he possibly have done that will lead him to live in someone’s garage rather than stay in his own home? See.
Hanley and Nate. This is a case of insta-love. And this is a stupid kind of one, because of their situation. I can’t even fathom the idea of having a relationship with a total stranger. Yes, you may be having a conversation but given the scenes that I’ve read in this book, there’s no depth in those conversations. And yes, Hanley maybe revealing and divulging her past/problems to Nate but on the other hand Nate doesn’t do that. Things that they talked about were just the normal and superficial stuff.
Hanley’s relationship with her parents, Heather (sister) and friends (Rosalinda and Misty). This is the part of the book that I like the most. We see their relationships and their characters grow in this book. Heather and Hanley treats each other like sisters already rather than just continuing their non-existent relationship from the beginning of time. Rosalinda and Hanley opens up more towards the end of the book and creates this big step in their friendship.
THE Ending. Fletcher truly pushed it too far in the HEA zone for my liking. In my opinion, I would’ve liked it far better if she just omitted the last chapter. The book could’ve just ended with the hopeful note and leaning in towards a HEA, which (I think) Chapter 24 already gave. But then she decided to pull that last chapter, which just catapulted it to a mushy and convenient ending.
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
*I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and the publisher for an honest review*
Bye x
September 3, 2016
While sneaking out one night to go to a party, high school junior Hanley Helton gets the surprise of her life when she discovers Nate, a 17-year-old boy living in her garage. She runs him off and threatens to call the cops but when she finds out about the impending freezing temperatures, she feels bad for him and asks him to come back. The longer he lives in her garage, the deeper their feelings for each other get. But when she finds out exactly what’s got Nate running, Hanley questions whether what they share is real and how much she really knows him after all.
What I liked: I loved the idea for this story. Seriously, finding a hot guy in your garage? Awesome. I loved that Hanley was both cautious and willing to let her heart lead her.
Where You’ll Find Me deals with some pretty heavy stuff: trouble with the ‘rents, suicide, drinking, drugs, teen pregnancy, seriously–-a lot of issues. I liked that this story was so realistic, and that it dealt with things in ways that I’ve never experienced.
Nate. With his light brown hair, bright blue eyes, and amazing physique, Nate’s hot. Throw in his crooked tooth, and he’s a little dangerous. We love how he lets her know that she takes his breath away whenever he looks at her. We love how sweet he is.
I also loved the guy at the mall. He wasn’t a main character, but he definitely provided some comedic relief and direction for Hanley. I loved him!
I loved Hanley's character and thought she kicked ass. She was vulnerable on the inside but definitely tough girl on the outside. Her sister, Heather, turned out to be pretty awesome, and Hanley’s BFFs, Rosalinda and Misty, were great friends to have. Even though Hanley kept their relationships superficial at first, they proved themselves to be true friends, and I loved that.
Not so Much: When it was all said and done, I felt like this story was a little too wrapped up. Some of the things that happened at the end seemed too easy and made the story lose some of its authenticity for me.
On the flip side of that, there were also a lot of loose ends. I wanted to know more about what’s going to happen with everyone, mainly Rosalinda and Clinton.
A sweet story that deals with tough issues, Where You’ll Find Me is perfect for readers who want some swoon along with a realistic plot and likable characters.
--
What I liked: I loved the idea for this story. Seriously, finding a hot guy in your garage? Awesome. I loved that Hanley was both cautious and willing to let her heart lead her.
Where You’ll Find Me deals with some pretty heavy stuff: trouble with the ‘rents, suicide, drinking, drugs, teen pregnancy, seriously–-a lot of issues. I liked that this story was so realistic, and that it dealt with things in ways that I’ve never experienced.
Nate. With his light brown hair, bright blue eyes, and amazing physique, Nate’s hot. Throw in his crooked tooth, and he’s a little dangerous. We love how he lets her know that she takes his breath away whenever he looks at her. We love how sweet he is.
He leans in and presses his lips to mine. As my eyes fall shut, I melt into him. He kisses like it’s the first and the last time we’ll ever kiss. Always. He kisses his way down my neck to where the Petoskey stone rests against my skin. Lifting the stone, he blows a breath of cool air against the uncovered skin before pressing his lips there, too.
I also loved the guy at the mall. He wasn’t a main character, but he definitely provided some comedic relief and direction for Hanley. I loved him!
I loved Hanley's character and thought she kicked ass. She was vulnerable on the inside but definitely tough girl on the outside. Her sister, Heather, turned out to be pretty awesome, and Hanley’s BFFs, Rosalinda and Misty, were great friends to have. Even though Hanley kept their relationships superficial at first, they proved themselves to be true friends, and I loved that.
Not so Much: When it was all said and done, I felt like this story was a little too wrapped up. Some of the things that happened at the end seemed too easy and made the story lose some of its authenticity for me.
On the flip side of that, there were also a lot of loose ends. I wanted to know more about what’s going to happen with everyone, mainly Rosalinda and Clinton.
A sweet story that deals with tough issues, Where You’ll Find Me is perfect for readers who want some swoon along with a realistic plot and likable characters.
--
January 22, 2015
3.5 Stars
I know some people have dissatisfaction for the ending. I was not expecting one part of Nate's secret and I just don't know what to say about it. I mean, WTF? What were his parents thinking?! The storyline is shaky but the writing is really good and solid. I enjoyed the book. It was nice to read after a long day and it always held my interest and kept me entertained even when I was super tired. That's a pretty good commendation.
Hanley is a bit ditzy. But I suppose she needs to be that kind of heroine for this plot to work. She's a poor little rich girl and hates everyone including her family. She has An Incident in her past that has severely traumatised her.
I'm glad that Hanley isn't your normal, sweet girl. Hanley is messed up but for some reason I couldn't help but like her. Her voice is natural and I could relate to what she said. She's an extremely real character. With the appearance of Nate, she's finally looking out for someone other than her self. Seeing someone so much worse off helps her wake up to reality. I loved that knowing Nate makes her a better person all round.
Heather is Hanley's perfect sister. I liked her ride on the wild side and the way she and Hanley developed their sisterly bond.
Nate is really audacious. Considering his conditions he still has the nerve to flirt with her. He and Hanley share a really easy going relationship. I enjoyed their banter thoroughly. They never take themselves too seriously.
This is a pretty crazy book, but if you do pick it up, I don't think you'll regret it. It has a bit of everything. Suspense, friendship, healing, flirting, lots of kissing and a full-blown, cheesy, happily-ever-after ending.
I know some people have dissatisfaction for the ending. I was not expecting one part of Nate's secret and I just don't know what to say about it. I mean, WTF? What were his parents thinking?! The storyline is shaky but the writing is really good and solid. I enjoyed the book. It was nice to read after a long day and it always held my interest and kept me entertained even when I was super tired. That's a pretty good commendation.
Hanley is a bit ditzy. But I suppose she needs to be that kind of heroine for this plot to work. She's a poor little rich girl and hates everyone including her family. She has An Incident in her past that has severely traumatised her.
I'm glad that Hanley isn't your normal, sweet girl. Hanley is messed up but for some reason I couldn't help but like her. Her voice is natural and I could relate to what she said. She's an extremely real character. With the appearance of Nate, she's finally looking out for someone other than her self. Seeing someone so much worse off helps her wake up to reality. I loved that knowing Nate makes her a better person all round.
Heather is Hanley's perfect sister. I liked her ride on the wild side and the way she and Hanley developed their sisterly bond.
Nate is really audacious. Considering his conditions he still has the nerve to flirt with her. He and Hanley share a really easy going relationship. I enjoyed their banter thoroughly. They never take themselves too seriously.
This is a pretty crazy book, but if you do pick it up, I don't think you'll regret it. It has a bit of everything. Suspense, friendship, healing, flirting, lots of kissing and a full-blown, cheesy, happily-ever-after ending.
August 12, 2016
I can't believe this is a debut novel. Seriously this is good stuff! BUT here I am wondering, how I to write a review. Why do I find the good books so hard to review?
The story line is in some ways unrealistic. The whole situation of Nate is totally unrealistic. BUT Fletcher wrote this in a way that I honestly didn't care about it. The thing is the way Hanley reacted would have been very much how I would have reacted at her age. Lots of people who didn't like the book had issued with the dude in the garage... which made me stop and think about it. And you know what? I was one of those teens that snuck out, that blocked my family out and was up to stuff I knew were bad choice- and I wouldn't have told on him. Because it would have felt wrong? A wrong sense of rebel loyalty? I asked le DH what he would have done. He said the same thing.
Would I encourage that now? HELL NO!
The reasons why I was so blase about that potentially dangerous situation are two. I am from a small town in Switzerland, you don't think a stranger is an ax-murderer, simply because criminals are far and few between in Heidiland. So the reactions of several other reviewers made me pause and honestly realise they are right, but it wasn't my experience so it simply didn't occure to me. (I should know better, since I have lived in many places and other countries, non of which were as safe as my home town, current one included). The second reason being, that I got caught up in the character building. And we all know what a sucker I am for character driven novels...
The character building is what made this a really wonderful read for me. I could totally identify with Hanley, saw many behavior patterns I had in her. Nate was mysterious and cute - I simply adore him. And I would have so gone for him as a teeny.
I loved the romance part, it's subtle and way more realistic than the insta-love that gets thrown around so often these days.
The support cast was also quite good. I really liked how one's perception of people changed as Hanley's view of them got broadened.
I love how the characters did evolve and change, and essentially do some growing up.
I think this is a strong strong story about grief, accepting each other flaws, reaching out and building stronger relationships. It's full of anger, angst, secrets and silly teenage behavior- but for me that rang through, simply because I was like that.
I enjoyed Fletcher's prose. The story was well paced and so well written, that I read this in one sitting.
Though the year has just begun - I know this is one of my favorite for 2014. It's a book that reminded me of The Sea ofTranquility and The Silent Swan. A beautiful YA contemporary!
January 4, 2014
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Entangled Publishing, LLC and Netgalley.)
16-year-old Hanley is shocked when someone speaks to her in her dark garage when she is trying to sneak out to a party, but then asks ‘garage boy’ for help when sneaking back in!
17-year-old Nate may be living in her garage, but slowly a connection forms between the pair, and Hanley realises that she is falling for him. Nate has secrets though, and so does Hanley.
What happened to Hanley to make her so sad? And what did Nate do that was so bad he ended up living in Hanley’s garage?
This was a sweet contemporary romance, with some other issues woven in.
Hanley was an interesting character. She obviously was still trying to come to terms with something that had happened to her best friend, and it was sad that she didn’t get the support she needed from her parents and sister.
Nate was also a sweet guy. It was obvious that he wasn’t really supposed to be living on the streets, or Hanley’s garage, but it was nice how the two seemed to help each other.
The storyline in this was okay. I liked how original it was that the pair met in Hanley’s garage, and I liked the mystery of not knowing either Hanley’s or Nate’s secrets.
The romance between this pair was slow-building, and I liked how they each tried to take care of each other. This wasn’t a sudden romance, and I liked how initially Hanley kicked Nate out of her garage and told him off, even though she then worried about him when it started snowing.
There were a few twists and turns which I didn’t see coming, and I liked how everything worked out okay in the end. It would have been interesting to find out what happened to another of Hanley’s friends in the end, even though it was fairly clear what choice she was going to make.
Overall; a good YA contemporary romance with a touch of mystery.
7 out of 10.
16-year-old Hanley is shocked when someone speaks to her in her dark garage when she is trying to sneak out to a party, but then asks ‘garage boy’ for help when sneaking back in!
17-year-old Nate may be living in her garage, but slowly a connection forms between the pair, and Hanley realises that she is falling for him. Nate has secrets though, and so does Hanley.
What happened to Hanley to make her so sad? And what did Nate do that was so bad he ended up living in Hanley’s garage?
This was a sweet contemporary romance, with some other issues woven in.
Hanley was an interesting character. She obviously was still trying to come to terms with something that had happened to her best friend, and it was sad that she didn’t get the support she needed from her parents and sister.
Nate was also a sweet guy. It was obvious that he wasn’t really supposed to be living on the streets, or Hanley’s garage, but it was nice how the two seemed to help each other.
The storyline in this was okay. I liked how original it was that the pair met in Hanley’s garage, and I liked the mystery of not knowing either Hanley’s or Nate’s secrets.
The romance between this pair was slow-building, and I liked how they each tried to take care of each other. This wasn’t a sudden romance, and I liked how initially Hanley kicked Nate out of her garage and told him off, even though she then worried about him when it started snowing.
There were a few twists and turns which I didn’t see coming, and I liked how everything worked out okay in the end. It would have been interesting to find out what happened to another of Hanley’s friends in the end, even though it was fairly clear what choice she was going to make.
Overall; a good YA contemporary romance with a touch of mystery.
7 out of 10.
January 21, 2014
You can find my original review of this title
here
on The Book Hookup.
**SPECIAL NOTE:** An eARC of this title was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. However, that did not influence this review in any way. All thoughts, quotes, and opinions will be of this version and not of the published edition.
♥ Initial Thoughts and Rating: 3 stars! The summary instantly captured my attention, but I found the actual book to be a bit lacking. It was a good read- held my interest, made me laugh- but I felt like there could have been more below the surface if the author would’ve scratched a little deeper with the characters and the plot.
♥ The Lowdown: There’s not much here that I can tell you aside from what you already know from the book’s summary. Hanley Helton, young party girl who prefers to drown out her demons in copious amounts of alcohol and parties, is startled to find a boy her age living in her garage. She learns his name is Nate, but that’s about all she learns about him. After threats of calling the cops and charming rebukes of stalking, it takes one night of freezing temperatures for Hanley to let her walls crumble and she invites him to stay hidden in her garage? After all, what kind of person would she be if she let another person die?
Soon, these two are swept up in a youthful romance. All it takes is Hanley’s worlds colliding for everyone’s secrets to start being uncovered, and when Nate’s back is against the wall, he has no choice but to run. However, there’s something about Hanley that makes him want to stay and face his trouble head-on.
♥ My Thoughts: This was a good and quick read, I just felt like there were key elements missing for me. Even if I was able to push aside her inability to flip the hell out because a stranger was in her garage, their whole relationship seemed to develop too quickly for me to really appreciate it. I can understand compatibility and an instant connection, but everything about their love/romance felt really rushed to me . (Which, in a sense, I guess it had to be because this is only a two hundred page novel, but still…) Not only that, but a lot of their spark/chemistry never felt real to me either. It always came across as though the author was telling me about their feelings and never really letting the characters express it for themselves. The only thing I really got from Hanley (and her friends) was that she thought Nate was hot and that she found is crooked tooth and crooked smile really appealing. I just wanted more. To feel more invested, for the characters to feel more invested.
As for the actual characters, Nate, Hanley, and all the secondary characters were likable, but their personalities were a bit lackluster to me. Once again, I only ever felt like the Ms. Fletcher barely scratched the surface of who they really were. The potential for a better development was there because they each had a solid foundation to build off of, but in the end, my understanding of them only ever seemed skin-deep. Additionally, their individual “conflicts” were a little predictable and didn’t seem to “shock” me like I felt the author was pushing toward. Even more so, I felt like two of the secondary characters’ side-plot was a tad dramatic and didn’t necessarily move the plot forward at all. (I don’t know, maybe this was added in for a possible companion book or novella option?) Mostly, I was disappointed that the two main characters’ struggles weren’t given more emphasis and consideration in the resolution of the book. When Hanley finally allowed herself to open up to her parents, I was surprised that everything still appeared to be brushed under the rug which bummed me out and made me a little judge-y of her parents.
All that being said, I can definitely see where this book and characters could have that relate-ability quality. I may not have been thrilled with the parent portrayal in this novel, but perhaps teenagers would be able to connect to the angst, though I honestly wish it would have pushed for more positive outlets of dealing with these emotionally distressing situations in a better manner, even if it only would have came in the end.
♥ Rec It? I really feel like this is a case-by-case referral basis, meaning I can’t give a blanket “This book is for everyone!” statement, but I may know a few people that might would enjoy it. So, if a little angst with a side of fluff and a heaping of mystery sounds like your kind of book, then give this one a shot.
I know it probably seems like I came down hard on this novel and that I maybe didn’t enjoy it, but that’s not the truth. It was good and I read it in a few short hours. It made me laugh, there were a tiny sprinkle of swoons, the premise was interesting (though it lacked a little in execution), and the characters were good (but they really could have been great). In short, I saw how much promise Where You’ll Find Me had, if only the author really would have dug in deep and fully realized the potential her story possessed.
♥ A very special thanks to EntangledTEEN for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
**SPECIAL NOTE:** An eARC of this title was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. However, that did not influence this review in any way. All thoughts, quotes, and opinions will be of this version and not of the published edition.
♥ Initial Thoughts and Rating: 3 stars! The summary instantly captured my attention, but I found the actual book to be a bit lacking. It was a good read- held my interest, made me laugh- but I felt like there could have been more below the surface if the author would’ve scratched a little deeper with the characters and the plot.
♥ The Lowdown: There’s not much here that I can tell you aside from what you already know from the book’s summary. Hanley Helton, young party girl who prefers to drown out her demons in copious amounts of alcohol and parties, is startled to find a boy her age living in her garage. She learns his name is Nate, but that’s about all she learns about him. After threats of calling the cops and charming rebukes of stalking, it takes one night of freezing temperatures for Hanley to let her walls crumble and she invites him to stay hidden in her garage? After all, what kind of person would she be if she let another person die?
Soon, these two are swept up in a youthful romance. All it takes is Hanley’s worlds colliding for everyone’s secrets to start being uncovered, and when Nate’s back is against the wall, he has no choice but to run. However, there’s something about Hanley that makes him want to stay and face his trouble head-on.
♥ My Thoughts: This was a good and quick read, I just felt like there were key elements missing for me. Even if I was able to push aside her inability to flip the hell out because a stranger was in her garage, their whole relationship seemed to develop too quickly for me to really appreciate it. I can understand compatibility and an instant connection, but everything about their love/romance felt really rushed to me . (Which, in a sense, I guess it had to be because this is only a two hundred page novel, but still…) Not only that, but a lot of their spark/chemistry never felt real to me either. It always came across as though the author was telling me about their feelings and never really letting the characters express it for themselves. The only thing I really got from Hanley (and her friends) was that she thought Nate was hot and that she found is crooked tooth and crooked smile really appealing. I just wanted more. To feel more invested, for the characters to feel more invested.
As for the actual characters, Nate, Hanley, and all the secondary characters were likable, but their personalities were a bit lackluster to me. Once again, I only ever felt like the Ms. Fletcher barely scratched the surface of who they really were. The potential for a better development was there because they each had a solid foundation to build off of, but in the end, my understanding of them only ever seemed skin-deep. Additionally, their individual “conflicts” were a little predictable and didn’t seem to “shock” me like I felt the author was pushing toward. Even more so, I felt like two of the secondary characters’ side-plot was a tad dramatic and didn’t necessarily move the plot forward at all. (I don’t know, maybe this was added in for a possible companion book or novella option?) Mostly, I was disappointed that the two main characters’ struggles weren’t given more emphasis and consideration in the resolution of the book. When Hanley finally allowed herself to open up to her parents, I was surprised that everything still appeared to be brushed under the rug which bummed me out and made me a little judge-y of her parents.
All that being said, I can definitely see where this book and characters could have that relate-ability quality. I may not have been thrilled with the parent portrayal in this novel, but perhaps teenagers would be able to connect to the angst, though I honestly wish it would have pushed for more positive outlets of dealing with these emotionally distressing situations in a better manner, even if it only would have came in the end.
♥ Rec It? I really feel like this is a case-by-case referral basis, meaning I can’t give a blanket “This book is for everyone!” statement, but I may know a few people that might would enjoy it. So, if a little angst with a side of fluff and a heaping of mystery sounds like your kind of book, then give this one a shot.
I know it probably seems like I came down hard on this novel and that I maybe didn’t enjoy it, but that’s not the truth. It was good and I read it in a few short hours. It made me laugh, there were a tiny sprinkle of swoons, the premise was interesting (though it lacked a little in execution), and the characters were good (but they really could have been great). In short, I saw how much promise Where You’ll Find Me had, if only the author really would have dug in deep and fully realized the potential her story possessed.
♥ A very special thanks to EntangledTEEN for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
February 18, 2015
You can read this review and more on my blog:
I received this book for free from Entangled Teen Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I have read a lot of books in the Contemporary Romance genre over the past two years, but lately I have had a taste for more action and less romance. Because I am out of practise when it comes to romance novels, I was not sure if I would be able to give this book a proper review. But I am happy to announce that reading a particular genre after taking a long break from it is like riding a bike again after a few years. It takes a little while to get used to it, but once you settle in and go along for the ride, it is a lot of fun. At least that's how it feels when you luck out and read a good book!
Where You'll Find Me dealt with some heavy issues, but the overall tone of the book never became depressing.The only complaint I have about the story telling is that it was a bit rushed. Everything progressed too quickly. It's a short book, and I like the fact that it moved at a steady pace, but it could have benefited from an additional 50 pages. The characters were very interesting, and it would have been nice to spend more time with them.
When the story begins, Hanley (Love that name by the way.) has closed herself off from everyone around her. She hides behind sarcasm and drinks until she can't feel anything anymore. All her relationships are either superficial or antagonistic. Her best friend has been placed into a category of someone who is only good enough to drink and have mindless fun with, her sister is just a nuisance, and, of course, she fells like her parents don't understand or care about her. As the story progresses, Hanley learns that maybe she doesn't know everyone as well as she thinks she does and the people around her are capable of more than what she gives them credit. Often times when I read these types of stories, I find myself wishing that the main character would step outside of their own pain and look at things from another perspective. Hanley is one of the few characters that I've encountered who actually does this. She thinks about more than just herself, and I was impressed with all of the different emotions the author was able to explore in such a small amount of pages.
The relationship between Hanley and Nate was very sweet, but again I wanted more! I am not a fan of insta love, but even though the connection formed between these two overnight, it made sense in this setting. Hanley was suffering from grief over loosing someone very close to her, and was doing everything that she shouldn't to ease the pain. She internalized, pushed every one away, and drank way too much. It was very believable to me that she would form such a tight bond with some kid who sneaks in her garage at night because she was not making very smart decisions in other areas of her life. She was just lucky that it was Nate who showed up in her garage and not some deranged serial killer.
When reading a romance novel, the most important thing to me is that the bond between the two people feel real. I need to understand why they feel so strongly about each other. I don't care if it takes them 24 hours or 24 years, if I don't get why they have such intense feelings for each other, I chalk it up as a romantic failure. Even thought they fell for one another quickly, I know why Nate loves Hanley, and I am very sure of why Hanley loves Nate. They understand each other, don't judge each other, have some very important things in common, and meet each other in the right place at the right time. Everything aligned perfectly, and two kids that needed a friend met and found a safe place together.
There are a few twist and turns in the story that involve Nate and why an intelligent, charming, and seemingly normal young man has no place better to sleep at night than Hanley's garage. Even though I wasn't brought to tears, I felt for him and what he went through. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future because I think she can challenge her readers a bit more with a longer novel.
Where You'll Find Me is adorable and well written, and that is high praise coming from someone who has read hundreds of books in this genre. If you're in the mood for a very sweet book that will have your heart aching towards the end, then you should give this a read. It also had an ending that put a big smile on my face. ;)
Because of language and minor sexual content, I would recommend this book for ages 15 and up.
March 17, 2014
For more reviews & giveaways, go to Reviews from a Bookworm
Where You'll Find Me was a surprisingly short read. At just over 200 pages it makes for quick and fairly light reading, but it was enjoyable. It also wasn't what I was expecting at all, not that I can quite put my finger on what it was that I originally expected from the book. I think I thought it was going to be a darker, creepier read. But, I think that's the part of me that is freaked out by the idea of some stranger living in your garage without you realising it. It did make me glad that most of the houses near me are attached and I don't have a garage. Although, if the guy was as attractive and sweet as Nate turns out to be then I don't think I would mind half as much.
Where You'll Find Me had aspects that really showed the difference between where I am from and where the book is set. Hanley sneaks out a lot at ridiculous 0'clock in the morning to go to parties and get drunk. That just doesn't happen where I'm from, especially at her age. Not because we are all raised to be well behaved children who don't lie to their parents, but because at sixteen you'd still be living with your parents and there would be nowhere to have a party at 2am. Unless you were lucky, like my friend Scott, who's dad didn't care if he had people over drinking all night - which is where being a sneaky teenager and lying to your parents had to come into play. Also by age sixteen you kind of have more freedom and can go to parties and just be allowed to crash and spend the night. But, in these kinds of books there always seem to be absent parents who are 'out of town'. I just go with it because from reading books or watching films/TV shows set in the US, this is apparently totally normal and happens all the time. Hopefully strange boys living in your garage without you knowing is not as common.
Hanley and Nate are both great characters because they have their share of secrets. Hanley has no idea why Nate is living in her garage or why he won't tell her about his life. And Hanley is struggling to deal with feelings she has repressed since she lost her best friend years before. Hanley drinks to deal with her problems and Nate, apparently, runs away to get away from his. I was definitely intrigued to find out more about Nate and why he was there.
I didn't expect this to be as unbelievably cute as it was. I expected more secrets and intrigue but the romance was the main part of the story. I kind of got lost in it after a while and couldn't really care less what Nate had done to end up in her garage. These two together were super adorable and they had their fair share of awwww moments. The ending was a little too happy, happy. happy for me; a little too gushy and overly sweet but as a whole I really enjoyed this story.
4/5 Stars
This was a short read but it didn't feel like it missed out on anything. I felt like I really got to know the characters and the story developed well. Nothing felt rushed and this didn't need to be any longer than it was. It was a really enjoyable read, even if a little melodramatic at times. I probably won't reread it but it was a good read and the romance was really sweet.
*I received a copy of this novel from the author/publisher/publicist via Netgalley in exchange for a free and honest review and received no monetary compensation for this review.
Where You'll Find Me was a surprisingly short read. At just over 200 pages it makes for quick and fairly light reading, but it was enjoyable. It also wasn't what I was expecting at all, not that I can quite put my finger on what it was that I originally expected from the book. I think I thought it was going to be a darker, creepier read. But, I think that's the part of me that is freaked out by the idea of some stranger living in your garage without you realising it. It did make me glad that most of the houses near me are attached and I don't have a garage. Although, if the guy was as attractive and sweet as Nate turns out to be then I don't think I would mind half as much.
Where You'll Find Me had aspects that really showed the difference between where I am from and where the book is set. Hanley sneaks out a lot at ridiculous 0'clock in the morning to go to parties and get drunk. That just doesn't happen where I'm from, especially at her age. Not because we are all raised to be well behaved children who don't lie to their parents, but because at sixteen you'd still be living with your parents and there would be nowhere to have a party at 2am. Unless you were lucky, like my friend Scott, who's dad didn't care if he had people over drinking all night - which is where being a sneaky teenager and lying to your parents had to come into play. Also by age sixteen you kind of have more freedom and can go to parties and just be allowed to crash and spend the night. But, in these kinds of books there always seem to be absent parents who are 'out of town'. I just go with it because from reading books or watching films/TV shows set in the US, this is apparently totally normal and happens all the time. Hopefully strange boys living in your garage without you knowing is not as common.
Hanley and Nate are both great characters because they have their share of secrets. Hanley has no idea why Nate is living in her garage or why he won't tell her about his life. And Hanley is struggling to deal with feelings she has repressed since she lost her best friend years before. Hanley drinks to deal with her problems and Nate, apparently, runs away to get away from his. I was definitely intrigued to find out more about Nate and why he was there.
I didn't expect this to be as unbelievably cute as it was. I expected more secrets and intrigue but the romance was the main part of the story. I kind of got lost in it after a while and couldn't really care less what Nate had done to end up in her garage. These two together were super adorable and they had their fair share of awwww moments. The ending was a little too happy, happy. happy for me; a little too gushy and overly sweet but as a whole I really enjoyed this story.
4/5 Stars
This was a short read but it didn't feel like it missed out on anything. I felt like I really got to know the characters and the story developed well. Nothing felt rushed and this didn't need to be any longer than it was. It was a really enjoyable read, even if a little melodramatic at times. I probably won't reread it but it was a good read and the romance was really sweet.
*I received a copy of this novel from the author/publisher/publicist via Netgalley in exchange for a free and honest review and received no monetary compensation for this review.
January 7, 2014
Hanley hides behind many things, black hair, and attitude, alcohol and parties and her parents seem to be happy to ignore most of it. One day while she was sneaking out to another party she comes face to face with Nate in her garage. At first Hanley is frightened and kicks him out even though Nate seems polite and handsome, common sense says that if you find a strange guy in your garage at night who admits that he has been staying in your garage for a while you kick him out right away. When Hanley comes home completely drunk Nate helps her inside. As crazy as it sounds Hanley finds something in him she hasn't in so long she never thought she would so when freezing cold temperatures are announced Hanley does the only thing she can think of and offers him her garage.
The more time they spend together to more it becomes obvious that Nate has many secrets and that they are both growing to care about each other. Soon Hanley finds herself making excuses to her friends of why she can't go out and party so she can spend more time with Nate. As Nate and Hanley's relationship grows into more and Hanley finds herself wanting to not only tell Nate all of her painful secrets but find out all the secrets that caused Nate to live in her garage. When Nate begins to opens up more about the death of his brother someone recognizes Nate and Nate is soon taken away. Now Hanley will have to decide if she believes in Nate as well as their love or if she will let her own painful past and others influence not only her and Nate's happiness but maybe Nate's life as well.
I was really intrigued by this story when I first heard about but with it being a YA book I was a little leery, I will still read some YA books but I have found that I have outgrown them yet there was still something about this book that had me wanting to give it a chance and boy am I glad I did. This book was so much more than a YA book and I never guessed the turn this book would take. Hanley carry's her pain as a barrier from everyone and Nate is the only one who seems to really break though, she's had a wall up for so long she no longer see's the people around her who love her as people who love and want to help her.
Nate doesn't seem to be your typical homeless teen and he isn't he ran hoping for a different outcome than he got while trying to deal with a pain to hard to cope with. So when he found Hanley he never thought he would find love, acceptance and strength. Both Hanley and Nate's story was beautifully written. I found myself easily wrapped up in this book that was written so well and easy that I kept wanting to read just another page to see what happens. Hanley isn't just another angry teen and Nate isn't just another fluffy hero.
Another bonus I found while reading this book was the longer you read to more substance and depth we get from the side characters and I found myself not only wanting to see Nate and Hanley get a happy ending, but to see more of Hanley's friends and sister and know how their stories end. In fact I really hope Erin Fletcher writes stories for each of Hanley's friends and her sister.This is the first book I have read from Ms Fletcher, her writing was very effortless and easy and I'm excited to see what else she writes in the future. This book was a pleasant surprise that made me happy to once again take a chance, because this chance defiantly paid off.
Thank you NetGallery and Entangled Publishing for providing me with an ARC for my review.
The more time they spend together to more it becomes obvious that Nate has many secrets and that they are both growing to care about each other. Soon Hanley finds herself making excuses to her friends of why she can't go out and party so she can spend more time with Nate. As Nate and Hanley's relationship grows into more and Hanley finds herself wanting to not only tell Nate all of her painful secrets but find out all the secrets that caused Nate to live in her garage. When Nate begins to opens up more about the death of his brother someone recognizes Nate and Nate is soon taken away. Now Hanley will have to decide if she believes in Nate as well as their love or if she will let her own painful past and others influence not only her and Nate's happiness but maybe Nate's life as well.
I was really intrigued by this story when I first heard about but with it being a YA book I was a little leery, I will still read some YA books but I have found that I have outgrown them yet there was still something about this book that had me wanting to give it a chance and boy am I glad I did. This book was so much more than a YA book and I never guessed the turn this book would take. Hanley carry's her pain as a barrier from everyone and Nate is the only one who seems to really break though, she's had a wall up for so long she no longer see's the people around her who love her as people who love and want to help her.
Nate doesn't seem to be your typical homeless teen and he isn't he ran hoping for a different outcome than he got while trying to deal with a pain to hard to cope with. So when he found Hanley he never thought he would find love, acceptance and strength. Both Hanley and Nate's story was beautifully written. I found myself easily wrapped up in this book that was written so well and easy that I kept wanting to read just another page to see what happens. Hanley isn't just another angry teen and Nate isn't just another fluffy hero.
Another bonus I found while reading this book was the longer you read to more substance and depth we get from the side characters and I found myself not only wanting to see Nate and Hanley get a happy ending, but to see more of Hanley's friends and sister and know how their stories end. In fact I really hope Erin Fletcher writes stories for each of Hanley's friends and her sister.This is the first book I have read from Ms Fletcher, her writing was very effortless and easy and I'm excited to see what else she writes in the future. This book was a pleasant surprise that made me happy to once again take a chance, because this chance defiantly paid off.
Thank you NetGallery and Entangled Publishing for providing me with an ARC for my review.
January 2, 2016
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: Nate and Hanley find love in the oddest way, but will their secrets tear them apart, or will she be able to save him?
Opening Sentence: “The third step down holds my fate in its hands.”
The Review:
Hanley is sneaking back into her house from a night of drinking when she first meets Nate, or Garage Boy. She doesn’t realize at first that he is living in their garage, but she threatens him once she does. Until she realizes he has no place to go, and a dangerous night of cold forces her to offer up their garage just so he will stay safe. Hanley has been hiding from her secrets since the 8th grade when her life changed. She decides not to judge Nate for his secrets because she knows what it is like to live with one herself.
As they spend more and more time together, she finds herself falling in love with Nate until a conversation at a party forces Hanley to open up to Nate about her secret. After that he meets her parents and she finds out his secret when they call the cops on him because he is a missing teen from another city. But is it all what it seems or is there a deeper truth that only Hanley can help Nate and his parents come to terms with.
I didn’t know what to think about this book at first, but I was completely sucked in trying to figure out what Hanley and Nate are hiding. I hate that I can’t reveal it because I feel like there is so much more I want to say about this book. Like I want to ramble on about how great it is, needless to say though by the time you figure out her secret you are totally invested and blown away when you find out his. This book delivers the message that things aren’t always what they appear to be in a brilliant way. Along the way her fluffy friendship with Rosalind and Misty (who are just her drinking buddies) blossoms into a beautifully deep friendship, and Hanley is forced to confront her own demons.
She also forces her parents to acknowledge that pretending is what got them all in trouble. I was almost in tears at the end when Hanley has a conversation with Nate’s parents and forces them to see the ugly truth; that they have been trying so hard to ignore. This book seems wonderfully light, and even if you read the blurb you have no idea how deep and heavy this book is until you read it. It deals with a ton of important issues that teens can go through and handles them all. Simply put, I loved this book; I couldn’t put it down once I started reading it.
Notable Scene:
“My last thought before sleep overtakes me is wondering whether Garage Boy will follow me into my dreams.”
“The way he noticed my change without knowing the story.”
“A very homeless, potentially dangerous, insanely cute boy.”
“I’ve gotten good at telling them what they want to hear.”
“It’s the truth that hurts, and I see that hurt in Nate.”
“It’s the first time I’ve said those words out loud, and it hurts as much as I thought it would.”
“I roll over and close my eyes because in order to wake up from a nightmare you have to be asleep.”
FTC Advisory: Entangled Teen provided me with a copy of Where You’ll Find Me. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Nate and Hanley find love in the oddest way, but will their secrets tear them apart, or will she be able to save him?
Opening Sentence: “The third step down holds my fate in its hands.”
The Review:
Hanley is sneaking back into her house from a night of drinking when she first meets Nate, or Garage Boy. She doesn’t realize at first that he is living in their garage, but she threatens him once she does. Until she realizes he has no place to go, and a dangerous night of cold forces her to offer up their garage just so he will stay safe. Hanley has been hiding from her secrets since the 8th grade when her life changed. She decides not to judge Nate for his secrets because she knows what it is like to live with one herself.
As they spend more and more time together, she finds herself falling in love with Nate until a conversation at a party forces Hanley to open up to Nate about her secret. After that he meets her parents and she finds out his secret when they call the cops on him because he is a missing teen from another city. But is it all what it seems or is there a deeper truth that only Hanley can help Nate and his parents come to terms with.
I didn’t know what to think about this book at first, but I was completely sucked in trying to figure out what Hanley and Nate are hiding. I hate that I can’t reveal it because I feel like there is so much more I want to say about this book. Like I want to ramble on about how great it is, needless to say though by the time you figure out her secret you are totally invested and blown away when you find out his. This book delivers the message that things aren’t always what they appear to be in a brilliant way. Along the way her fluffy friendship with Rosalind and Misty (who are just her drinking buddies) blossoms into a beautifully deep friendship, and Hanley is forced to confront her own demons.
She also forces her parents to acknowledge that pretending is what got them all in trouble. I was almost in tears at the end when Hanley has a conversation with Nate’s parents and forces them to see the ugly truth; that they have been trying so hard to ignore. This book seems wonderfully light, and even if you read the blurb you have no idea how deep and heavy this book is until you read it. It deals with a ton of important issues that teens can go through and handles them all. Simply put, I loved this book; I couldn’t put it down once I started reading it.
Notable Scene:
“My last thought before sleep overtakes me is wondering whether Garage Boy will follow me into my dreams.”
“The way he noticed my change without knowing the story.”
“A very homeless, potentially dangerous, insanely cute boy.”
“I’ve gotten good at telling them what they want to hear.”
“It’s the truth that hurts, and I see that hurt in Nate.”
“It’s the first time I’ve said those words out loud, and it hurts as much as I thought it would.”
“I roll over and close my eyes because in order to wake up from a nightmare you have to be asleep.”
FTC Advisory: Entangled Teen provided me with a copy of Where You’ll Find Me. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
January 15, 2014
Also posted on The Procrastinator's Corner
Where You’ll Find Me is a very fast-paced read. With only a little more than 200 pages, it still managed to weave all the threads together and unfold the mystery quite wonderfully. I love that it started right off the bat and didn’t dwell too much in the unnecessary.
Initially, I had mixed feelings about Hanley and Nate’s first meeting. On one hand, it was interesting and smile-inducing. Hanley’s reaction afterwards, on the other hand, was not something I’d expect from someone who found out that she has a stranger living in her garage. But also at the same time, this is where the story got even more interesting – which is practically only a few pages from the first one – so you can see how I had such a hard time trying to put down this book. I was immediately curious about Nate. Nate is so very secretive that even I was quickly drawn to his mysterious past. I wanted to know what brought him to Hanley’s garage especially since he didn’t seem like a street person at all. It was this mystery combined with the different dynamics that got me absorbed in this book.
I loved that Erin covered not only the romantic relationship between Nate and Hanley, but as well as friendship and familial relationships. I’m a huge romance junkie and the relationship that I’m almost always interested in books is the romantic one, so it was very much surprising how I came to love the other dynamics almost more than the romance itself.
Apart from that, we also get to witness the remarkable growth in the characters. The synopsis makes it sound like a light and easy read, but it’s really far from that. This story has depth and both our characters have so many stories to tell. Nate and Hanley are both troubled by their own personal demons and they handle their problems in different ways but in the end, they learn to supplement what the other is lacking and together they overcome the obstacles that came with them.
I always tell myself that I don’t like stories with so much drama in it and I will still try to avoid them if possible but at the same time, what I love the most about this type of stories is how the characters stand up after falling so many times. I love the happy feeling I get when the characters finally get the happiness they deserve. Where You’ll Find Me comes with a beautiful story and wraps up with an equally wonderful ending. I know some people have mixed feelings about it but I’m thankful for Erin for including it! Where You’ll Find Me is Erin’s first novel but this surely won’t be the last of her that I will read.
Disclosure: An advance reading copy was received for review for the Where You'll Find Me blog tour. No compensation of any kind was received for this honest review.
Where You’ll Find Me is a very fast-paced read. With only a little more than 200 pages, it still managed to weave all the threads together and unfold the mystery quite wonderfully. I love that it started right off the bat and didn’t dwell too much in the unnecessary.
Initially, I had mixed feelings about Hanley and Nate’s first meeting. On one hand, it was interesting and smile-inducing. Hanley’s reaction afterwards, on the other hand, was not something I’d expect from someone who found out that she has a stranger living in her garage. But also at the same time, this is where the story got even more interesting – which is practically only a few pages from the first one – so you can see how I had such a hard time trying to put down this book. I was immediately curious about Nate. Nate is so very secretive that even I was quickly drawn to his mysterious past. I wanted to know what brought him to Hanley’s garage especially since he didn’t seem like a street person at all. It was this mystery combined with the different dynamics that got me absorbed in this book.
I loved that Erin covered not only the romantic relationship between Nate and Hanley, but as well as friendship and familial relationships. I’m a huge romance junkie and the relationship that I’m almost always interested in books is the romantic one, so it was very much surprising how I came to love the other dynamics almost more than the romance itself.
Apart from that, we also get to witness the remarkable growth in the characters. The synopsis makes it sound like a light and easy read, but it’s really far from that. This story has depth and both our characters have so many stories to tell. Nate and Hanley are both troubled by their own personal demons and they handle their problems in different ways but in the end, they learn to supplement what the other is lacking and together they overcome the obstacles that came with them.
I always tell myself that I don’t like stories with so much drama in it and I will still try to avoid them if possible but at the same time, what I love the most about this type of stories is how the characters stand up after falling so many times. I love the happy feeling I get when the characters finally get the happiness they deserve. Where You’ll Find Me comes with a beautiful story and wraps up with an equally wonderful ending. I know some people have mixed feelings about it but I’m thankful for Erin for including it! Where You’ll Find Me is Erin’s first novel but this surely won’t be the last of her that I will read.
Disclosure: An advance reading copy was received for review for the Where You'll Find Me blog tour. No compensation of any kind was received for this honest review.
August 10, 2016
Originally posted at Stay Bookish
If I discovered that a guy like Nate was living in my garage, I probably would have rejoiced and let the boy charm me off my pants rather than get freaked out of my mind. Okay, I’m kidding. Sort of.
There’s someone in my garage. A guy someone.
Anyway, when a voice from nowhere speaks to Hanley while she’s attempting to get away, she’s paralyzed and stunned to discover a mysterious boy with bright blue eyes. The right thing to do is alert the cops but Hanley shares a connection with the garage boy- they’re both keeping secrets, they’re both trying to escape. That as well as the undeniable sparks between Hanley and Nate, bring them closer. Falling for the garage boy is dangerous, but, for once, it feels right.
Where You’ll Find Me easily captured my attention- that plot in itself is very intriguing. Recommendations from other bloggers convinced me even more to read this and I found myself really liking the story. Hanley is a very convincing protagonist- I found no difficulty in appreciating her voice. She’s a girl who’s grief-stricken, she’s definitely got some angst, but I found her (and the story’s) tone generally light. There was definitely some growth in her character throughout the book and I found it satisfying.
I think sometimes it’s easier to pretend to be okay than it is to admit weakness.
Nate is also a good male lead. He’s desirable, sweet, caring, and funny. I insta-liked him, if you know what I mean. The guy is also enigmatic and you just get curious what he’s running away from. The answer- Nate’s dilemma- baffled me because I did not expect it. It also broke my heart and I really felt for Nate. His story is one of blame and guilt and family despairs. Although I liked the way the author handled these, I really wish they had been explored more.
Speaking of relationships, I think the ones in the book were pretty good. Hanley’s relationship with her parents and sister, her friends, and then Nate’s with his own family were told well. I especially liked Hanley’s friends- who had their own little subplots. I think they were nice background characters. Then, there’s Hanley and Nate’s relationship which I think went at an acceptable pace. Some might argue that there was instalove but it never crossed my mind while reading. I just really enjoyed the reading experience in general!
“She’s got mental tequila.”
“Mental tequila?” I ask. “Bravery,” she says. “It’s a simile.”
A story that will make you smile more than once and then make your heart hurt more than just a little bit, Erin Fletcher’s debut novel is one worth reading!
If I discovered that a guy like Nate was living in my garage, I probably would have rejoiced and let the boy charm me off my pants rather than get freaked out of my mind. Okay, I’m kidding. Sort of.
There’s someone in my garage. A guy someone.
Anyway, when a voice from nowhere speaks to Hanley while she’s attempting to get away, she’s paralyzed and stunned to discover a mysterious boy with bright blue eyes. The right thing to do is alert the cops but Hanley shares a connection with the garage boy- they’re both keeping secrets, they’re both trying to escape. That as well as the undeniable sparks between Hanley and Nate, bring them closer. Falling for the garage boy is dangerous, but, for once, it feels right.
Where You’ll Find Me easily captured my attention- that plot in itself is very intriguing. Recommendations from other bloggers convinced me even more to read this and I found myself really liking the story. Hanley is a very convincing protagonist- I found no difficulty in appreciating her voice. She’s a girl who’s grief-stricken, she’s definitely got some angst, but I found her (and the story’s) tone generally light. There was definitely some growth in her character throughout the book and I found it satisfying.
I think sometimes it’s easier to pretend to be okay than it is to admit weakness.
Nate is also a good male lead. He’s desirable, sweet, caring, and funny. I insta-liked him, if you know what I mean. The guy is also enigmatic and you just get curious what he’s running away from. The answer- Nate’s dilemma- baffled me because I did not expect it. It also broke my heart and I really felt for Nate. His story is one of blame and guilt and family despairs. Although I liked the way the author handled these, I really wish they had been explored more.
Speaking of relationships, I think the ones in the book were pretty good. Hanley’s relationship with her parents and sister, her friends, and then Nate’s with his own family were told well. I especially liked Hanley’s friends- who had their own little subplots. I think they were nice background characters. Then, there’s Hanley and Nate’s relationship which I think went at an acceptable pace. Some might argue that there was instalove but it never crossed my mind while reading. I just really enjoyed the reading experience in general!
“She’s got mental tequila.”
“Mental tequila?” I ask. “Bravery,” she says. “It’s a simile.”
A story that will make you smile more than once and then make your heart hurt more than just a little bit, Erin Fletcher’s debut novel is one worth reading!
September 13, 2016
I'm having a hard time reviewing this book because I am truly conflicted. On one hand there are things that I really enjoyed, but on the other hand are things that I couldn't stand. So this review could go either way....
I really didn't care for Hanley. I thought she was selfish and self-centered and immature. The entire book revolves around the fact that she lies to her parents and sneaks out of the house practically every night to go party with her friends. She spends all of her time devising ways to deceive her parents, planning and plotting her next great escape AND return - let's not forget that she also has to get back IN the house without being caught. Then she blames her lying and sneaking around on her parents because they didn't care to notice what she was doing. Wait. What? She also has this annoying habit of making everything about her.
Nate's story captured my interest and is what really kept me reading. I was curious about what happened to cause him be on the run and hiding out in Hanley's garage. He was a bit of a mystery and I wanted to figure him out. He seemed really sweet, and at times he acted weird and suspicious, but I still wanted to believe that deep down he was a good guy.
I found it really hard to root for Hanley and Nate as a couple. Aside from the insta-like (or is it insta-attraction?), their relationship had no depth. It was a bit painful at times because they were strangers and their conversations reflected the fact that only knew each other in the most superficial way. I feel honesty is important in any relationship, and they didn't have it.
I didn't enjoy how stupid Hanley's parents were made out to be. Especially since their stupidity is what made the entire plot progress. I take great offense in how clueless they were written. As a mother of 2 teenagers myself, I would like to point out that I know where my kids are at all times, and I would certainly know if a stranger were living in my garage. Just sayin'. This is lazy writing by the author, and all just to give Hanley a way to sneak out and run around without parental interference. The whole thing was beyond ridiculous and bordering on absurd.
Where You'll Find Me was a quick read, but definitely not light. The writing was pretty good, and the pacing is rather fast throughout. Near the end is when a lot of action occurred and I think the story was wrapped up way too neatly. I think it would have worked better and been more realistic if it had ended on a hopeful note rather than HEA (which was quite unbelievable, by the way.) Overall, I thought this was a good debut. I just wish I had enjoyed it more.
I really didn't care for Hanley. I thought she was selfish and self-centered and immature. The entire book revolves around the fact that she lies to her parents and sneaks out of the house practically every night to go party with her friends. She spends all of her time devising ways to deceive her parents, planning and plotting her next great escape AND return - let's not forget that she also has to get back IN the house without being caught. Then she blames her lying and sneaking around on her parents because they didn't care to notice what she was doing. Wait. What? She also has this annoying habit of making everything about her.
Nate's story captured my interest and is what really kept me reading. I was curious about what happened to cause him be on the run and hiding out in Hanley's garage. He was a bit of a mystery and I wanted to figure him out. He seemed really sweet, and at times he acted weird and suspicious, but I still wanted to believe that deep down he was a good guy.
I found it really hard to root for Hanley and Nate as a couple. Aside from the insta-like (or is it insta-attraction?), their relationship had no depth. It was a bit painful at times because they were strangers and their conversations reflected the fact that only knew each other in the most superficial way. I feel honesty is important in any relationship, and they didn't have it.
I didn't enjoy how stupid Hanley's parents were made out to be. Especially since their stupidity is what made the entire plot progress. I take great offense in how clueless they were written. As a mother of 2 teenagers myself, I would like to point out that I know where my kids are at all times, and I would certainly know if a stranger were living in my garage. Just sayin'. This is lazy writing by the author, and all just to give Hanley a way to sneak out and run around without parental interference. The whole thing was beyond ridiculous and bordering on absurd.
Where You'll Find Me was a quick read, but definitely not light. The writing was pretty good, and the pacing is rather fast throughout. Near the end is when a lot of action occurred and I think the story was wrapped up way too neatly. I think it would have worked better and been more realistic if it had ended on a hopeful note rather than HEA (which was quite unbelievable, by the way.) Overall, I thought this was a good debut. I just wish I had enjoyed it more.
August 11, 2016
This review can also be found at The Starry-Eyed Revue.
Where You'll Find Me does not attempt to be humorous or provide comic relief. But it does try a little too hard to be so terribly tragic. The two main characters are hiding their horrible pasts from each other and refuse to face their own pasts, each choosing their own manner of running away from their problems. But I didn't find either of their pasts all that terrible. Sure, their families' reactions to those events is kind of horrible but nothing a little grief counseling couldn't mend.
Everyone thinks their own personal tragedy is the worst. And some people might be right. So, I won't pass judgment on how unspeakable Hanley and Nate's tragedies are or even deign to compare the two. But I do think that the whole "guy living in your garage" aspect is a little hard to swallow, if not implausible. And trusting the guy living in your garage and aiding his refuge in your garage is even more improbable. Hanley questions his motives and how dangerous Nate is for all of about five minutes before agreeing to his cockamamie plan.
Le sigh. Teenagers don't always make the best decisions, though. In fact, I probably know a few who might be as easily coerced as Hanley. Especially if a hot guy was doing the asking. So, I guess I can overlook that point for now. Aside from that, I found the characters intriguing and I wanted to see how this whole scenario played out. And I have to admit, I was pulling for these kids to get their act together, even with parents who were so unable to see the whole picture.
This book is sad, but it has some uplifting moments, as well. I liked it. I could see myself reading more from this author. She made me feel for these characters even when I thought they were behaving stupidly. And there's something to that.
GIF it to me straight:
Where You'll Find Me does not attempt to be humorous or provide comic relief. But it does try a little too hard to be so terribly tragic. The two main characters are hiding their horrible pasts from each other and refuse to face their own pasts, each choosing their own manner of running away from their problems. But I didn't find either of their pasts all that terrible. Sure, their families' reactions to those events is kind of horrible but nothing a little grief counseling couldn't mend.
Everyone thinks their own personal tragedy is the worst. And some people might be right. So, I won't pass judgment on how unspeakable Hanley and Nate's tragedies are or even deign to compare the two. But I do think that the whole "guy living in your garage" aspect is a little hard to swallow, if not implausible. And trusting the guy living in your garage and aiding his refuge in your garage is even more improbable. Hanley questions his motives and how dangerous Nate is for all of about five minutes before agreeing to his cockamamie plan.
Le sigh. Teenagers don't always make the best decisions, though. In fact, I probably know a few who might be as easily coerced as Hanley. Especially if a hot guy was doing the asking. So, I guess I can overlook that point for now. Aside from that, I found the characters intriguing and I wanted to see how this whole scenario played out. And I have to admit, I was pulling for these kids to get their act together, even with parents who were so unable to see the whole picture.
This book is sad, but it has some uplifting moments, as well. I liked it. I could see myself reading more from this author. She made me feel for these characters even when I thought they were behaving stupidly. And there's something to that.
GIF it to me straight:
January 23, 2014
Where You’ll Find Me is a fun, quick read that really didn’t surprise me in any way. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed it, but it’s a rather predictable read that won’t really shock anyone.
Hanley might be one of the dumbest protagonists I’ve ever read about. She finds a random teenage guy living in her garage and one of the first things that pops into her mind is how attractive he is. I’m not even kidding. I don’t know about you guys but usually if there is some random person living in my garage, I think about calling the cops not about how pretty his eyes are. That’s not Hanleys reaction. She kicks Nate out but when he shows back up she decides to let him stay since it’s cold outside. No questions asked. This is even after he tells her that he can’t stay in a homeless shelter because they check ids. That’s kind of a red flag.
Nate is almost as bad. He’s this mysterious guy who is holing up in Hanley’s garage but he has money to buy food at the food court and clothes when Hanley wants to go on a date with him. How dumb is that? If I was homeless I would not be buying a new shirt for a date with the girl whose garage I’m living in. His reasoning for being homeless was not as bad as I expected and I actually found myself tearing up at his story. He was more fleshed out than Hanley and I appreciated that at least.
Hanley’s back-story really got on my nerves. She lost someone close to her and she completely shut down. She didn’t let anyone get close to her after that. That’s understandable to me but then she got mad at people for not trying to get close to her. She was very hot and cold. And then she meets a random homeless guy and decides to let him get close to her and know things that no one else does? It was unrealistic to me.
Overall, this review really doesn’t show any good things about Where You’ll Find Me but there were a few. It really was a fun read once I got past my issues with Hanley and Nate. If you have some free time on a rainy day, give this one a chance.
Hanley might be one of the dumbest protagonists I’ve ever read about. She finds a random teenage guy living in her garage and one of the first things that pops into her mind is how attractive he is. I’m not even kidding. I don’t know about you guys but usually if there is some random person living in my garage, I think about calling the cops not about how pretty his eyes are. That’s not Hanleys reaction. She kicks Nate out but when he shows back up she decides to let him stay since it’s cold outside. No questions asked. This is even after he tells her that he can’t stay in a homeless shelter because they check ids. That’s kind of a red flag.
Nate is almost as bad. He’s this mysterious guy who is holing up in Hanley’s garage but he has money to buy food at the food court and clothes when Hanley wants to go on a date with him. How dumb is that? If I was homeless I would not be buying a new shirt for a date with the girl whose garage I’m living in. His reasoning for being homeless was not as bad as I expected and I actually found myself tearing up at his story. He was more fleshed out than Hanley and I appreciated that at least.
Hanley’s back-story really got on my nerves. She lost someone close to her and she completely shut down. She didn’t let anyone get close to her after that. That’s understandable to me but then she got mad at people for not trying to get close to her. She was very hot and cold. And then she meets a random homeless guy and decides to let him get close to her and know things that no one else does? It was unrealistic to me.
Overall, this review really doesn’t show any good things about Where You’ll Find Me but there were a few. It really was a fun read once I got past my issues with Hanley and Nate. If you have some free time on a rainy day, give this one a chance.
May 5, 2015
You can also find this review on Divergent Gryffindor.
I received an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, and this, in no way, would affect my review. Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy!
When I first started reading the synopsis of this book, I was already intrigued and drawn in. The very idea of the book interested me so much that I just had to request it, and upon being approved, I immediately delved into the novel. This is my first read for the year 2014, and I'm glad I picked this, because it made me start my year great!
Hanley is a girl who uses alcohol and parties to escape her demons. Nate is doing the same, just in another way. He literally escaped his home, and one day, Hanley found him living in her garage. The connection they feel for one another is strong, and soon, talking to Nate is Hanley's new escape. They don't tell each other their demons, but someway somehow, they understand each other. These two couldn't be more perfect for each other!
I really liked reading Where You'll Find Me, and I really liked both the characters too! I felt like they're easily relatable, and I get what they are saying. I get wanting to escape, I get wanting to show the world that you're fine, and I get wanting to put the blame on someone else. This book isn't merely about romance, but also about the realities of life, and that made me like this book a whole lot better.
The pacing was a bit off for me, because I think that the "secret" was told in a bit of a rushed way, and not gradually from the middle of the book. It was all compressed at the end part of the novel. But that's easy to ignore, and other than that, I thought the book was amazing and worth giving a try. I fully recommend it to anyone looking for a book with equal parts drama, romance and realities of life.
I received an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, and this, in no way, would affect my review. Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy!
When I first started reading the synopsis of this book, I was already intrigued and drawn in. The very idea of the book interested me so much that I just had to request it, and upon being approved, I immediately delved into the novel. This is my first read for the year 2014, and I'm glad I picked this, because it made me start my year great!
Hanley is a girl who uses alcohol and parties to escape her demons. Nate is doing the same, just in another way. He literally escaped his home, and one day, Hanley found him living in her garage. The connection they feel for one another is strong, and soon, talking to Nate is Hanley's new escape. They don't tell each other their demons, but someway somehow, they understand each other. These two couldn't be more perfect for each other!
I really liked reading Where You'll Find Me, and I really liked both the characters too! I felt like they're easily relatable, and I get what they are saying. I get wanting to escape, I get wanting to show the world that you're fine, and I get wanting to put the blame on someone else. This book isn't merely about romance, but also about the realities of life, and that made me like this book a whole lot better.
The pacing was a bit off for me, because I think that the "secret" was told in a bit of a rushed way, and not gradually from the middle of the book. It was all compressed at the end part of the novel. But that's easy to ignore, and other than that, I thought the book was amazing and worth giving a try. I fully recommend it to anyone looking for a book with equal parts drama, romance and realities of life.
January 3, 2014
DNF
Sorry but I just can't go on anymore. I lost count on how many times I rolled my eyes while reading Where You'll Find Me, mind you that was only a few chapters (chapter 4 or chapter i-don't-know-wherever-i-was-because-not-f**king-care-because-yawns)
Again. I can't go on anymore. Let me explain.
Hanley is the main character. You know what, first chapter she already annoyed the hell out of me and that's a bad sign, a really bad sign. There's clearly a stranger in her damn house and all she thought about was his looks, like, seriously, girl, he might be a serial killer like Ted Bundy, for fuck's sake!!! I wanted to scream at her to call the police for god's sake because HELLOOOOO THERE'S A STRANGER IN HER GARAGE tell me that's not creepy? I know she warned garage boy so many times about calling the police but she really should have because that guy might be a serial killer or a rapist. Haven't this girl watch any CRIMINAL MINDS EPISODES? She just told him to leave but thank god, he did leave. Fast forward. When Hanley returned home drunk, there's the stranger again! LIKE ARE YOU KIDDING ME. Fast forward. When she was in the mall with her friends, hanley's friends told her that there's a guy staring at her and guess what, garage boy again. So Hanley confronted him and he just shrugged it off like ''you're the who's stalking me because I'm always here in the mall, you know, observing people because that's what serial killers or rapist do'' cocky bastard, isn't he? Fast forward. So after that encounter, Hanley's friends were like ''why are you such a bitch? he's way too hot for that'' GREAT. JUST GREAT. WAY TO GO BEST FRIENDS.
Sorry but I just can't go on anymore. I lost count on how many times I rolled my eyes while reading Where You'll Find Me, mind you that was only a few chapters (chapter 4 or chapter i-don't-know-wherever-i-was-because-not-f**king-care-because-yawns)
Again. I can't go on anymore. Let me explain.
Hanley is the main character. You know what, first chapter she already annoyed the hell out of me and that's a bad sign, a really bad sign. There's clearly a stranger in her damn house and all she thought about was his looks, like, seriously, girl, he might be a serial killer like Ted Bundy, for fuck's sake!!! I wanted to scream at her to call the police for god's sake because HELLOOOOO THERE'S A STRANGER IN HER GARAGE tell me that's not creepy? I know she warned garage boy so many times about calling the police but she really should have because that guy might be a serial killer or a rapist. Haven't this girl watch any CRIMINAL MINDS EPISODES? She just told him to leave but thank god, he did leave. Fast forward. When Hanley returned home drunk, there's the stranger again! LIKE ARE YOU KIDDING ME. Fast forward. When she was in the mall with her friends, hanley's friends told her that there's a guy staring at her and guess what, garage boy again. So Hanley confronted him and he just shrugged it off like ''you're the who's stalking me because I'm always here in the mall, you know, observing people because that's what serial killers or rapist do'' cocky bastard, isn't he? Fast forward. So after that encounter, Hanley's friends were like ''why are you such a bitch? he's way too hot for that'' GREAT. JUST GREAT. WAY TO GO BEST FRIENDS.
January 8, 2014
I received this galley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Entangled and Netgalley.
For a book that is so short, it sure does pack an emotional punch! After reading the synopsis, I was so intrigued. I wanted to know so badly why Nate would be living in Hanley's garage. I also wanted to know what Hanley experienced that would cause her to act the way she does. I was pleasantly surprised with both outcomes, as I was not expecting either.
Hanley has no idea who the boy living in her garage is. Nate's obviously homeless, but that is really all you know about him. Nate is also not your typical homeless kid. He's clean, wears designer clothes and doesn't seem angry. He is actually very sweet and he is just trying to deal with life day by day. I was so interested to see what would drive someone to leave their home to live outside in the freezing cold. Despite everything I thought it could be, I was way off, and I love that the author surprised me like that. Where I instantly loved Nate, it took me a little bit to warm up to Hanley. I found her very annoying at first, but the more I got to know her, the more I liked her. I enjoyed watching Hanley and Nate become friends. They were so sweet and cute together.
I really had no idea how this book was going to end. I was so stressed! I really had no clue how the author was going to fix the situation, and again she surprised me. Where You'll Find Me was just full of surprises! It was original and quite different from other YA stories out there.
For a book that is so short, it sure does pack an emotional punch! After reading the synopsis, I was so intrigued. I wanted to know so badly why Nate would be living in Hanley's garage. I also wanted to know what Hanley experienced that would cause her to act the way she does. I was pleasantly surprised with both outcomes, as I was not expecting either.
Hanley has no idea who the boy living in her garage is. Nate's obviously homeless, but that is really all you know about him. Nate is also not your typical homeless kid. He's clean, wears designer clothes and doesn't seem angry. He is actually very sweet and he is just trying to deal with life day by day. I was so interested to see what would drive someone to leave their home to live outside in the freezing cold. Despite everything I thought it could be, I was way off, and I love that the author surprised me like that. Where I instantly loved Nate, it took me a little bit to warm up to Hanley. I found her very annoying at first, but the more I got to know her, the more I liked her. I enjoyed watching Hanley and Nate become friends. They were so sweet and cute together.
I really had no idea how this book was going to end. I was so stressed! I really had no clue how the author was going to fix the situation, and again she surprised me. Where You'll Find Me was just full of surprises! It was original and quite different from other YA stories out there.
February 16, 2014
In Where You'll Find Me, Hanley likes to sneak out to parties in order to escape a past trauma. During one of these escapes, she finds a stranger staying in her garage. That stranger just happens to be seventeen year old Nate, who has secrets himself that he's trying to escape. The two begin an unlikely friendship which soon turns into more, but when Hanley learns Nate's secret it threatens their bond and his freedom.
This was a rather quick but enjoyable read. Even though it was so unrealistic, given Hanley's reaction to finding Nate and that ridiculously convenient HEA, I really liked the characters. Hanley and Nate grew on me, especially Nate, who carries most of the story. I just had to keep reading to find out Nate's secret. I also really liked all of the secondary characters, including Hanley's parents, sister, and her best friend, Rosalinda. I liked how Hanley changed and her relationships with everyone evolved as the story progressed. Hanley and Nate's romance was a case of insta-love but I'm still a fan. The only real downside for me was that ending. Had the author cut out that last chapter, I would have been happier. Also, Hanley's reaction to finding Nate was ridiculous. Any sane, normal person would have at least screamed. I also would have liked Hanley's backstory to have been fleshed out a bit more, but I would still recommend this book.
*I received an eARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
This was a rather quick but enjoyable read. Even though it was so unrealistic, given Hanley's reaction to finding Nate and that ridiculously convenient HEA, I really liked the characters. Hanley and Nate grew on me, especially Nate, who carries most of the story. I just had to keep reading to find out Nate's secret. I also really liked all of the secondary characters, including Hanley's parents, sister, and her best friend, Rosalinda. I liked how Hanley changed and her relationships with everyone evolved as the story progressed. Hanley and Nate's romance was a case of insta-love but I'm still a fan. The only real downside for me was that ending. Had the author cut out that last chapter, I would have been happier. Also, Hanley's reaction to finding Nate was ridiculous. Any sane, normal person would have at least screamed. I also would have liked Hanley's backstory to have been fleshed out a bit more, but I would still recommend this book.
*I received an eARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
January 3, 2014
The first page totally sucked me in and didn't let go! The first sentence says...
The third step down holds my fate in its hands.
That totally made me curious. As I continued to read I felt as if I was in Alice in Wonderland, curiouser and curiouser! I wanted to read everyone word but this is so good that I also wanted to speed read to find out what was going to happen!
The characters are fabulous. Hanley and Nate both have some serious issues but Erin Fletcher does a great job about just giving the tiniest bit of information about them, just enough to keep people interested but not so little that I ever felt like I was loosing interest. Every piece was like a bit of gold! And these two have some serious issues to work through which literally takes the entire book. I felt like I grew with them as I got to know their full stories.
And the sidekicks were absolutely fabulous. A bit of comedy with them but not enough to forget about the seriousness of the situations they found themselves in. Their use of the saying "Mental tequila" just had me cracking up! Much better then the normal way they would use to mentally strengthen themselves! The plot was perfectly timed and extremely emotional.
All in all I loved the characters, thought the plot was magnificent, and really enjoyed Erin's writing!
The third step down holds my fate in its hands.
That totally made me curious. As I continued to read I felt as if I was in Alice in Wonderland, curiouser and curiouser! I wanted to read everyone word but this is so good that I also wanted to speed read to find out what was going to happen!
The characters are fabulous. Hanley and Nate both have some serious issues but Erin Fletcher does a great job about just giving the tiniest bit of information about them, just enough to keep people interested but not so little that I ever felt like I was loosing interest. Every piece was like a bit of gold! And these two have some serious issues to work through which literally takes the entire book. I felt like I grew with them as I got to know their full stories.
And the sidekicks were absolutely fabulous. A bit of comedy with them but not enough to forget about the seriousness of the situations they found themselves in. Their use of the saying "Mental tequila" just had me cracking up! Much better then the normal way they would use to mentally strengthen themselves! The plot was perfectly timed and extremely emotional.
All in all I loved the characters, thought the plot was magnificent, and really enjoyed Erin's writing!
October 30, 2016
I didn't think I'd enjoy this book as much as I did. Albeit the boy-living-in-your-garage bit was a little impossible, it was still fun. This book definitely has a meaningful message.
Hanley and Nate both have secrets. Even though she doesn't know anything about the mysterious boy living in her garage, she helps him. The fact that they both have secrets brings them closer together. I think it's safe to say that they did not expect to fall in love but it happened naturally.
I was especially touched that Hanley believed in Nate's innocence when the truth came out. I love that she learned to finally ask for help. She didn't hide and pretend everything would be okay. She fought hard for Nate!! By opening up about her past (Kayla's suicide), she helped not only Nate but herself too.
The pacing of this book was great and every step building up to the final reveal was logical and flowed smoothly. This is a book that's definitely worth the time.
Hanley and Nate both have secrets. Even though she doesn't know anything about the mysterious boy living in her garage, she helps him. The fact that they both have secrets brings them closer together. I think it's safe to say that they did not expect to fall in love but it happened naturally.
I was especially touched that Hanley believed in Nate's innocence when the truth came out. I love that she learned to finally ask for help. She didn't hide and pretend everything would be okay. She fought hard for Nate!! By opening up about her past (Kayla's suicide), she helped not only Nate but herself too.
The pacing of this book was great and every step building up to the final reveal was logical and flowed smoothly. This is a book that's definitely worth the time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2015
3.5 stars. A story about a 17 year old boy a rebellious teenage girl finds living in her family's garage. He won't tell her why he's homeless but in getting to know each other they develop a camaraderie and then deeper feelings. It is quite a shocker when we find out why the boy is on the streets. And, I have to admit the whole story takes a little suspension of common sense to believe that the boy is living on the floor of a garage in the winter in Detroit but has clean laundry and finds somewhere to take a bath every day. But, if you can get past wanting to know these inconvenient details (and a few other convenient coincidences), this is a good story and how both these two found redemption in each other.
September 7, 2016
I am still unsure about this one.
The premise was interesting but I lost my interest quickly.
The more I read the less I believed that this all could happen - and in a contemporary read this is crucial for me. I need to relate with the characters, to understand them, to believe them.
The male character was too good to be true, a bit on the stalker type and I don't know how he could get around with all that he did. The romance was not that heartwarming but not bad either - it was just there and I didn't feel it that much. That's why the plot left me with so many doubts.
Anyways, I will think more about it and come back with a full review ;)
2.5-3 stars.
The premise was interesting but I lost my interest quickly.
The more I read the less I believed that this all could happen - and in a contemporary read this is crucial for me. I need to relate with the characters, to understand them, to believe them.
The male character was too good to be true, a bit on the stalker type and I don't know how he could get around with all that he did. The romance was not that heartwarming but not bad either - it was just there and I didn't feel it that much. That's why the plot left me with so many doubts.
Anyways, I will think more about it and come back with a full review ;)
2.5-3 stars.
August 18, 2014
Where You'll Find Me was a good read.
Hanley and Nate were both good characters, and i really liked them.
I had my suspicions on what Nate did, but i wanted to know for sure, so the suspense of it was driving me crazy.
I had my suspicions with Hanley too, but again, i wanted to know for sure. Her secret was revealed earlier though, so it wasn't quite so bad!
Overall, a good contemporary read.
Hanley and Nate were both good characters, and i really liked them.
I had my suspicions on what Nate did, but i wanted to know for sure, so the suspense of it was driving me crazy.
I had my suspicions with Hanley too, but again, i wanted to know for sure. Her secret was revealed earlier though, so it wasn't quite so bad!
Overall, a good contemporary read.
January 9, 2014
DNF
Everything was extremely stereotyped and nothing seemed new or interesting in any way. I was also bored with all the ordinary descriptions and information dumps. Rather than casually working in details, they were just written in chunks out by the narrator, and it was extremely awkward to read. Had to put this one down.
Everything was extremely stereotyped and nothing seemed new or interesting in any way. I was also bored with all the ordinary descriptions and information dumps. Rather than casually working in details, they were just written in chunks out by the narrator, and it was extremely awkward to read. Had to put this one down.
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