Nowhere But Here

Thunder Road #1

by Katie McGarry

An unforgettable new series from acclaimed author Katie McGarry about taking risks, opening your heart and ending up in a place you never imagined possible.

Seventeen-year-old Emily likes her life the way it is: doting parents, good friends, good school in a safe neighborhood. Sure, she's curious about her biological father—the one who chose life in a motorcycle club, the Reign of Terror, over being a parent—but that doesn't mean she wants to be a part of his world. But when a reluctant visit turns to an extended summer vacation among relatives she never knew she had, one thing becomes clear: nothing is what it seems. Not the club, not her secret-keeping father and not Oz, a guy with suck-me-in blue eyes who can help her understand them both.

Oz wants one thing: to join the Reign of Terror. They're the good guys. They protect people. They're…family. And while Emily—the gorgeous and sheltered daughter of the club's most respected member—is in town, he's gonna prove it to her. So when her father asks him to keep her safe from a rival club with a score to settle, Oz knows it's his shot at his dream. What he doesn't count on is that Emily just might turn that dream upside down.

No one wants them to be together. But sometimes the right person is the one you least expect, and the road you fear the most is the one that leads you home.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, New Adult, Young Adult Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Fiction

496 pages, Hardcover

First published May 26, 2015

About the author

KATIE MCGARRY is an award winning and critically acclaimed novelist of the Witches of the Island series (A Wicked and Beautiful Garden), the Pushing the Limits, Thunder Road, and Only a Breath Apart series and the standalone novel, Say You’ll Remember Me. Katie is a lover of music, happy endings, reality television, and is currently living out her own love story with her husband, three children, her affectionate dog, Rachel, and her very needy cats.

Reviews

[Emily May · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh god. Why is it so difficult to find a sexy summer romance that isn't annoying or laden with cliched characters?

I didn't finish Nowhere But Here - and feel free to judge me for writing a little review anyway - but I just couldn't make it through all the constant irritations.

The female MC (Emily) is a bland "good girl" from the right side of town and she comes into Oz's "bad boy" life and turns his head away from the slutty, trashy girls he's used to sleeping with and forgetting about. Because Emily is mysterious and classy, not obvious and sexual like all those other girls who show their midriffs, god forbid!

Annoyance #1 : Slut-shaming
"Trash bitch woman wears skintight jeans, a tank top that exposes her midriff and, holy mother of God, flip-flops."

Annoyance #2 : Cliches and stereotypes
The bikers that Oz hangs out with must be the most cliched, one-dimensional bikers ever. Oz is openly described as a "bad boy". Emily is good and boring and I don't understand why anyone would care about her...

Annoyance #3 : The Collide
"She steps back and nearly knocks into me. I sidestep her, but I collided with someone else."
This happens in so many romance novels. The author thinks "how can I make Ms Good Girl meet Mr Bad Boy? I know...BAM!" They collide with one another. Because a handshake is so passé.

Good romance recommendations, anyone?

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re/read Still enjoyed it!



Old Review

I thought this was a wonderful book.

Emily is caught up in having to go spend some time with her biological father Eli, who is in a motorcycle gang. She thinks her father abandoned her and her mother when she was little but that is not the case. I was very surprised when I found out the truth of what happened!

Oz is a boy around her age and they fall in love over time as he is forced to watch over her because of some issues with a rival gang.

This story is about loyalty, love, hate, death and family. I very much enjoyed the characters in this book. I really want to know more about what is going to happen now that all of the things are out in the open. I want to know what is going to happen to Oz and Emily when she goes back to her real home.

All in all this is a great book!


www.melissa413readsalot.blogspot.com

[Jennifer Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4~4.5 Stars

”You’re smart. You know the truth. You haven’t been looking for someone to prove it. You’ve been searching to disprove it.”



This is a very pricey book and I’m on the fence as to whether friends will find the story “worth” the price however for me it definitely was. This story leads into some great new characters in an exciting new series centering around get this… a legit motorcycle club!!

This story brought a lot of mystery as our heroine, Emily is asked to attend her grandmother’s funeral by her mother and adopted father. The grandmother is on her birth father’s side and so we head to Kentucky to meet the Reign of Terror MC and a great cast of new characters and a story about family and love.

”I’m a relative by blood and blood alone.”

There is danger and secrets and I found this story really entertaining. Emily gets hit with some conflicting stories as to her mother and father’s past. Along the way, she meets Oz the hot prospect who is working on getting patched into the club with his biggest job of protecting her while slowly falling for one another.

”I will her to look away, but she doesn’t and I’m secretly proud the girl won’t back down. I hate this connection. I crave this connection. She’s continually messing with my head.”

I truly enjoyed the story’s pacing, the dual povs of Oz and Emily (though their relationship was very young for me) and the reveals were very clever. To be honest, the heroine’s birth father, Eli had major SWOON FACTOR. I hope that the author plans an adult book about Eli because he was wonderful!!!

[Shelby *trains flying monkeys*]

This book is damn stupid. I've been picking it up and throwing it down and finally even the boy child said to give it up. DONE

[Pearl Angeli · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Isn't it always the things that you can't see that hurt you?”

It took me two weeks to finish this book. It was a struggle. This book offered a lot of potentials but unfortunately it lacked on so many levels.

The plot was too weak and the pacing was too slow. I had very high expectations for this book because I enjoyed Pushing the Limits a lot that I was really certain I will enjoy this, too.

Nowhere But Here begins when Emily went to Snowflake and discovered that there are secrets that were being kept by her biological father Eli who is a member of a motorcycle club called Reign of Terror. While in Snowflake, her whole life shifted when she met her relatives and the people inside the Reign of Terror, including the brooding biker Oz who became her instant bodyguard. She became aware of how different her life has been while growing up with her mom and her step-dad in Florida compared to the way things were at Snowflake.

This book was really promising, but then, as I read more and more I became really exhausted with the way the author seemed to make everything lengthy. Too many secrets. Too little revelations in every chapter. I grew really impatient. Worse, I discovered that the major secret everyone was hiding from Emily just turned to be light. It didn't even get any reaction from me.

When it came to the characters, I admit I didn't like both MCs during the first parts of the book. Emily was a brat. She was also judgmental, whiny, and a bit sarcastic at times. And Oz-- he had an attitude. He was a dick to Emily and he complained a lot. Glad their characters improved in the middle up to the last parts of the book.

All in all, this book was not a great experience for me. Although it has a melodramatic and meaningful ending, still, I decided it was a little too late for that.

Rating: 2 Stars

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25



Nowhere But Here is the first book in a new contemporary young adult series from Katie McGarry. I really enjoyed this first installment, that focuses on the bonds of family, secrets and finding the truth. While Oz and Emily didn't really wow me, and their romance felt more like a side story, I adored the secondary characters. Olivia and Eli were excellent, they truly made the story for me. I would love to see Katie write Eli's story, and try something a little more adult.

“I learned a long time ago that I can’t control everything and now I’m learning I can’t control death. Sometimes I feel cursed. Like I get to watch everyone I love slip through my fingers.” -Eli

Emily is a happy 17 year old, living in FL with her mother and adoptive father. Arriving in Kentucky, Emily finds herself thrown into the family she thought didn't want her, she discovers that things aren't what they seem. She is curious about her biological father, Eli, a member of the Reign of Terror MC, but she is reluctant to open herself up to his world.

This family is full of love and our love story contains you. Without it, we’re missing a vital part of our soul.

Oz lives and breaths the club, growing up with the Reign of Terror, all he wants is to join the club he loves. At 18 with a prospect vest within reach, Emily shows up and things get complicated. A rival club sets its sights on Emily, Eli ask Oz to keep her safe. No one expects these two to fall for each other, but sometimes what you least expect ends up being the best surprise of all.

“I like how you smile and how you laugh. I like how you love and defend your family and I like how you’re trying to love mine. I love how you trust. But mostly, Emily, I like how I feel when I’m around you.”

[Lainey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Katie McGarry book I've read. Prior to meeting her at BEA, I remember reading the description to this book and knew I had to eventually get it. It's about motorcycle clubs and immediately my mind went to a YA Sons of Anarchy and I was so there. After finishing this book, I am not disappointed.

Because it dealt with heavier themes that most YA contemporary romances, I felt like it was high/ya low/na when it came to how this was written, the themes, the characters. Another thing about the structure I really enjoyed was that it was told in a dual perspective. When it comes to stories like these, I like being in the head of both the girl and the boy because I like learning about each character separately, but also getting perspective and insight from both sides as they build their relationship.

Quickly, this story takes place in Kentucky, where Emily goes to the funeral of a grandmother she's never met by her biological father she rarely sees. Things happen, and a quick trip turns into more of a summer where Emily learns more about the side of the family she doesn't know. Oz is a prospect-hopeful in the motorcycle club Emily's biological father and grandfather are a part of. This is the only life Oz knows and wants nothing more than to be a part of it. Oz and Emily - they start out hating each other so I was pretty much in love with these two when I discovered that because that is my favorite kind of relationship-starter.

I really loved Emily. I really related to her and really felt for her. We've gone through similar things and her conflictions with her adoptive father and her biological father were feelings that hit extremely close to home for me. I just really enjoyed this chick. I also really enjoyed Oz, he was awesome, I loved his chapters, especially the ones that tied closely to the motorcycle club and the inner-workings of it. It also got me extremely excited for the companion novels. We're introduced to other side characters like Violet, Chevy, and Razor where while I was reading it I knew that they would be the focus of the other companion novels. I enjoyed them so much, I was trying to guess which characters would be the focus next novel. Omg, Violet and Chevy break my damn heart. I want to know about that whole relationship, but I am SO excited that the next novel has to do with Razor. I love him and his dark, reserved behavior.

Another thing I loved was the length of the novel. At nearly 500 pages, this has got to be the biggest ya contemporary romance I ever read. Shit. And it didn't even feel that way! I inhaled this book and wanted more and when I finished, I thought I had read something that was more 300 pages (in a good way.) There's so much story in here, that I was so absorbed in not only Emily and Oz's, but everybody else's.

Of course, there were a few things I didn't like because if I liked everything, it would have been a 5 star book for me. I know the relationship between Oz and Emily has a lot of angst, but I wanted a little bit more romance on both ends. They built a good emotional connection, but hey, I came here for the romance and felt like there could have been more. Maybe I am just too used to NA at this point. Also, the pacing had some hiccups for me. Scenes would be skipped over or there would be some deal of summarizing. It's a hard balance to have and I just wanted some of those "few days" "the following week" transitions to be less that and more of the reader seeing Emily interacting with this side of her family she knew little about. And while everything made sense in the end with the mystery surrounding what happened in the past, getting there was tough for me. I was getting frustrated. BUT, I overall LOVED this book and am completely committed to the Thunder Road series.

Bring it.

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Harlequin (UK) Limited and NetGalley.)

“Why are you giving up?” I beg. “You swore to me you’d never give up.”



This was a YA contemporary romance about a girl with ties to a motorcycle gang.

Emily was quite a naïve girl in my opinion, I felt like she should have been a little more receptive to what was going on around her, and to have maybe thought a little more. It was like she didn’t compute things she was with her own two eyes, and didn’t come to logical conclusions, which was a little annoying at times.

“Either guest bedroom is yours to use. The one on the left belonged to you. You used to lie in your crib and watch the sunrise with a smile on your face.”



Oz seemed quite sure of himself and what he wanted to do with his life, but he also seemed to have big problems when it came to Emily. It was like his brain literally short circuited, and while he was capable of realising that sleeping when he was supposed to be watching her would get him in trouble, he wasn’t so worried about what being intimate with her would mean! It seemed obvious to me that getting involved with the boss’s daughter would not go down well, and yet he did it anyway!

“I like how you smile and how you laugh. I like how you love and defend your family and I like how you’re trying to love mine. I love how you trust. But mostly, Emily, I like how I feel when I’m around you.”



The storyline in this was about Emily meeting her father’s family, and learning a bit about them, as well as falling in love with Oz, and finding out more about her past, and the things that happened when she was really young that had been kept from her. This story in itself was okay, but the pace was way off for me. I felt like this book just moved so slowly, and it needed to be about half as long as it actually was. There just wasn’t enough going on in the book to warrant 500 pages.

"You're not a brother and as a woman you will never, be but you are important to this club. We will protect you."



The romance in this was okay, but I did find this pairs ignorance over how Emily’s biological father would react to be a bit of an oversight. I can’t say that I really liked the romance in this book all that much, although there was quite a sweet scene between Emily and Oz towards the end of the book. This felt a long time coming though.

“My heart bursts as the words tumble out. “I’m falling for you.””



The ending to this was fairly happy, and we did get a couple of good twists towards the end, the rest of the story was just too slow for me though.
6 out of 10

[Tamara Obradović · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll write my thoughts later when I stop sobbing.
(And yes, I was right. Isaiah's dad, James, IS in fact a part of this story. Well not really a part of it since he is dead, but he is mentioned a few times)

Okay, so overall I liked this enough to give it five stars, but I didn't love it as much as the PTL series (specifically Crash Into You).
With that said, I'd like to add that this was quite different from Katie's other books ( Crash Into You ).
As always, there's the dual point of view, the sweet and sizzling romance, the enemies to lovers relationship, but unlike PTL, Nowhere was really all about family and sticking together which I enjoyed very very much.
Yes, I do recommend this if you liked Katie's other books.
I'll go into details now, so be aware because it'll get spoilery.

I'm sad to say that Oz didn't wow me like I was hoping he would. I didn't feel that love for him like I do for Isaiah, which mostly disappointed me. His fantasies are what really put me off, though I did learn to love him by the end of the book and only because of the scene with Emily in his room.

“You’re beautiful inside and out. I like how you challenge me. I like how I can never figure out what you’re going to do or say. I like how we’ve thrown weird shit in your direction and you take it like a pro.” I cup her face with one hand and caress her soft skin. “I like how you smile and how you laugh. I like how you love and defend your family and I like how you’re trying to love mine. I love how you trust. But mostly, Emily, I like how I feel when I’m around you.”

Ah, the scene with Emily in his room. It started so nice and sweet but it ended up being so ew. I still don't know how I actually feel about the whole I-really-like-you-so-lets-make-out-and-take-off-our-clothes-and-dry-hump-even-tho-we-kissed-only-once-before thing going on.

I wasn't very fascinated with Emily either. She was just too bland and unspecial so I couldn't connect with her in any way.

BUT I did really love all the other amazingly cool side characters!!!
*squeals* Chevy Chevyy Chevyyyyyy!!!!!!! I lovelovelove Chevy!
Just imagine a really sad Isaiah, Dylan O'Brien and a magical fluffy unicorn all mixed into one and boom you got Chevy.

“We’re related?”
“By blood,” he admits, sharing my enthusiasm for this family reunion. “Our fathers were brothers.”

Eli and James were brothers.
Eli is Emily's dad.
James is Chevy's dad.
Let's just jump back to Isaiah and Melanie in Crash Into You for a moment:

“I knew he was your father the moment you walked into that visitation room. You look exactly like him, Isaiah.”
* * * * * * *
“James had a big family. A little odd, but great people. I wish I had known then that you belonged to him. They would have taken us both in.” She goes silent. “Or at least you. You should find them.”
I scratch the back of my head. Somewhere in Kentucky, I have a big family. “I’m not sure I’d want to go through a paternity test.” And be proved wrong.
“I can’t say they wouldn’t ask for one, but one look at you and they’d know. You’re all him. Right down to the earrings and tattoos.”
The thought makes me smile. “No shit?”
She laughs again. “He would have said that, too. James was good to me. We were friends, and I got stupid and took advantage of him. I never forgave myself for hurting him, and I feel awful that he never knew you existed.”

James is also Isaiah's dad. Emily, Chevy and Isaiah are cousins.
Even though Isaiah didn't appear in Nowhere, I'm hoping he'll appear in one of the future books, though I doubt it'll be the next one since it's going to be Razor's and Brianne's story, and it would only be fair that we see it all unravel through Chevy's eyes, since he would be meeting his half brother.
Oh and one other thing! If by any chance the third book turns out to be Chevy's, I want him with Violet because she's just pure awesomeness.

I flew by the first half of the book. It was sweet and funny and badass. Everything I wanted.
But then things went from complicated to sad to intense to really fucking intense, that my hands started shaking which was shortly followed by disgustingly horrible sobs. I did NOT see that type of ending coming.

We all knew from the beginning that Olivia wouldn't survive the cancer. But I was really hoping she'd at least survive this book and get to meet Isaiah. Isaiah strolling in with his Mustang... Isaiah reminding everyone of James because they look alike... Isaiah having a family... I'll stop now

Yes, I loved this even though I'm not Oz and Emily's biggest fan.
Yes, this book made me cry a lot.
And yes, I will definitely read Razor's story.
But for right now, here's Olivia at her best:

"Besides, you're a McKinley. We have fine asses. Be proud of your body, honey, it sags with time."

HEA:This is Katie McGarry we're talking about. Ofc it's a happy ending (except Olivia died but we all knew that would happen)
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
30.1.2015.
Well, the cover looks way better than I expected (:
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8.12.2014.
OMG I AM CRYING OMG OMG OMGGG THERE IS A BLURB AND AN EXCERPT IN BREAKING THE RULES AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA IM FREAKING OUTTTTT
OMGGGG I JUST READ OZ'S CHAPTER AAAAAAA I LOVE HIS NAME SO MUCHHHH
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
EDIT: 6.11.2014.
Is that the beginning of a cover I see?
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
EDIT: 24.10.2014.
I am still very patiently waiting for this book.


• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
EDIT: 30.7.2014.



TITLE! WE FINALLY HAVE A TITLE!



• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Also this happened:

[Amy | Foxy Blogs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a solid 4 star read for me. My love for motorcycle romance started years ago after watching the tv show - SOA (which really isn't a romance tv series). I was drawn to the gritty world of bikers. So, when I discovered there were books that were about motorcycle clubs and they had romance in them, I knew I found a genre I'd be reading a lot of.

Emily is a 17 years old who has spent her life in the dark about her mother and biological father's past. She's met her father a few times but she's been indifferent towards him. He gave up his rights to her when she was little and so she's given up really caring who he is.

Emily's world is full of secrets she's not privy to. Everyone around her feels it's in her best interest to leave those secrets buried except for one person. That person can't divulge the secret but they become the guiding light in helping Emily uncover what has been kept from her all her life.

I try to avoid books that have cancer in them and when I found out one of the side characters had cancer I was already invested in the story. So, I made the decision to continue on. I appreciated that even though the character had cancer the reader didn't have to go through all the symptoms of cancer with that character. We never even find out what type of cancer the characters has because it wasn't about the tragedic effects of cancer but instead how it brought an estranged family together.

This is my first young adult mc romance. For those who like the atmosphere of the club life but want a tamer version of that environment, this is a good one try.

NOWHERE BUT HERE is a young adult motorcycle romance. It's set in the same universe as Walk the Edge , Long Way Home, and Untitled. Each one can be read as a standalone but the characters are interconnected.


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[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Old school Katie McGarry, where did you go??

I usually love Katie McGarry. Her Pushing the Limits series was like popcorn for my angsty, YA-loving self. It was pure misunderstood teenagers living hard lives and battling their demons. This book felt like one giant tantrum.

I didn't like the MC, Emily, at all. She came across as spoiled, whiny, and judgmental, and I hated how she was all "purer-than-pure." She was pretty unlikeable for me. I also didn't really like Oz, who seemed like a caricature to me. It all felt so, so FAKE.

I also wasn't feeling the insta-attraction/love. I didn't get why the two MCs were so drawn to each other, since they both seemed really critical and set in their ways. To top it off, they went from hot and heavy, but basically platonic, to luuuurrve in only a few days. Ugh.

I can deal with characters that I don't really mesh with if the pace of the book is good and exciting, but this just dragggeed. It seemed endless and I couldn't wait to finish.

I'll give this book 2 stars because there were some moments of brightness there. I enjoyed the secondary characters, like Eli and Olivia, and I thought that they added a lot to the story. However, the book as a whole was not at the level I was expecting.

**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

[Angela]

VERY excited for this new series!

[Rachel L · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

This is a book that started out strong but then fizzled out a bit. Overall I still really enjoyed it, but it needed to be a lot shorter and there was some last minute drama thrown in at the end that I didn't enjoy. What I mean is the pacing was all off, very slow and then super fast!

I did love the writing and the characters and I want to read the other books in the series. This just isn't McGarry's strongest work.

Remember, as per Goodreads rating 3 stars means I liked it! So that's how I am rating.


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[AJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars - I love this book!

I’m a massive fan of Katie McGarry. She writes wonderful YA romantic drama, and when I heard that she was starting a new series featuring the younger generation of a motorcycle club, I knew I had to read it.

I went into it feeling nervous, because Pushing the Limits is one of my all-time favourite reads, and I didn’t want to unfairly compare this book to my obsession with Noah and Echo, but Katie has given us something original, exciting and completely engaging. The story is profound, it’s fun, it’s heart-achingly emotional, and the romance is beautiful. I was hooked from the very first page and devoured it, loving every moment.

17 year old Emily is a good girl. Sweet and mostly innocent, she has a great life, she does well at school, and she has a loving family that she loves in return. The man she calls her Dad adopted her when she was 5, when he married her mother. Her real father, Eli, is part of an MC, and she was told that he left her mother when she was pregnant. She sees Eli once a year when he comes to visit her, and while she is curious about him and his lifestyle, she doesn’t want to upset her parents with questions, so she’s content to take it as it is.

But when an unexpected visit to see Eli in his home town puts Emily in danger from a rival MC, she needs to be protected, and the safest place for her is with her father’s club - Reign of Terror. And so, a quick visit turns into a summer to be spent with a family and a life that she has never known. Very quickly, Emily discovers that what she has been told about her past isn’t the whole truth. There’s a secret that everybody is keeping from her, and she is determined to figure out what really happened between her mother and Eli, and what that means for her.

The story is set at the very tame end of the MC world. The club is legit, and do not engage in criminal activity. It’s a family, but a family with strict rules, and an MC ethos. They’re all about respect and integrity with a security business on the side. And being a part of the club is all 18 year old Oz has ever wanted.

“All that TV bull about how anyone who rides a bike is a felon – they don’t understand what the club stands for. The club is a brotherhood, a family. It means belonging to something bigger than yourself.”

Oz was raised within the club. His father is a member and Eli and his family were his mentors growing up, and remain the people that he is closest to. He wants nothing more than to join the MC, and when he is put on protection duty for Eli’s reluctantly returned daughter, he knows it’s his final challenge before membership – so that means he is by her side 24/7.

From the very beginning, I loved the dynamic between Emily and Oz. The story is written in dual POV, so we get to see everything that is going on with them, and I adored them both! Of course, they are both attracted to each other, but Emily initially wants nothing to do with the gorgeous bad boy from the MC, and Oz is mad at her for rejecting the family and the life that he loves. The fact that both of them are frustrated with the simmering chemistry between them just makes it so much better.

I will her to look away, but she doesn’t and I’m secretly proud the girl won’t back down. I hate this connection. I crave this connection. She’s continually messing with my head.

Their enforced time together leads to them getting to know each other and as Emily opens up to Oz, he helps her learn about his life, and by extension – her family. She begins to accept that everything she thought about these people may not be true. And as they begin to understand each other, their early antagonism slowly becomes a friendship. And as Emily tries to unravel her past, Oz is there with her. He’s working towards the only future he has ever thought about, so his loyalty is very much to the club, but the more he gets to know Emily, he begins to imagine other possibilities for the first time in his life, and his priorities begin to shift as they start to fall for each other.

This is an absolutely beautiful love story! Slow moving and natural, innocent yet passionate, I loved watching Emily and Oz open up to each other as their mad attraction become something incredibly deep.

“You’re beautiful,” I say, and the honesty of my words stings. “You’re beautiful inside and out. I like how you challenge me. I like how I can never figure out what you’re going to do or say. I like how we’ve thrown weird shit in your direction and you take it like a pro.”
I cup her face with one hand and caress her soft skin. “I like how you smile and how you laugh. I like how you love and defend your family and I like how you’re trying to love mine. I love how you trust. But mostly, Emily, I like how I feel when I’m around you.”
Shit. My heart bursts as the words tumble out. “I’m falling for you.”

Katie McGarry is a master at YA romantic drama, and she’s done a wonderful job with this story. I laughed, I cried, and I got completely swept up in this book. It’s almost 500 pages, but it certainly didn’t feel long or dragged out. There’s a lot going on, and the story is paced perfectly. The multiple storylines fit together brilliantly with family drama, mystery and romance all tied in with a sort of coming-of-age story as both Emily and Oz learn from all that they go through and find their way forward. And it all builds up to an intense climax that shocked me, and had me in tears

There’s a huge focus on family, and I love the way that the different aspects of that were explored. It forms an incredibly important part of the story, and it adds a lot of depth and emotion. I also loved getting to know the characters that I am assuming will make up the rest of this series. The younger generation is a core group, and with at least three more books easily lined up already, I’m so excited to read more.

I absolutely loved it – 5 stars.


An Advanced Reader Copy was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Lo Bookfrantic · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

I really loved Oz he is eighteen years old trying to prove himself in the eyes of his family to become the next prospect in the MC club. However his loyalty is put on the test when he is forced to babysit Emily, the daughter of one of the MC members.

Emily is seventeen years old, living in Florida she grew up with no worries or care in the world. She was an only child and she kinda got on my nerves at the beginning haha but I slowly warned up to her.

This story was different and refreshing once I started I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed everything about it. The slow tension between the main characters, the side characters were likeable. The entire plot was interesting and overall I really wished I would have read this sooner because I can honestly say i won't be forgetting this any time soon.

[Lindsey Rey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found these characters very difficult to relate to and they were very frustrating to read about. I'm not sure if I'll be continuing this series even though I love Katie McGarry.

[Maja (The Nocturnal Library) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars
It is now abundantly clear that McGarry and I will never find common ground. I’ve read several of her books by now, and while I tried very hard not to nitpick, I inevitably struggled to finish them. It needs to be said that I went into this book with the best of intentions. I was hoping that a new series would mean a clean slate, a new opportunity and a chance to build a very different opinion. Alas, it was not meant to be.

I have to say that I fully understand the appeal of Katie McGarry’s books. They’re passionate and clever and they rely on well proven formulas. McGarry always seems to know what she’s doing, why she’s doing it and how she should go about doing it, and the end result is always a YA contemporary romance built to please her readers.

The effect on me, however, is precisely opposite.

It is awfully nice to see McGarry move to a different settings, with different characters and different circumstances. Nowhere But Here takes us to the world of motorcycle clubs, be it legit or otherwise, and people who live within these brotherhoods and consider them to be more important than anything else in the world. I applaud McGarry for her attempt to show that bikers aren’t all criminals and brutes, but in order to actually achieve that, her characters needed much more nuance. I felt that Emily’s newly discovered family members were all clichéd and some scenes and descriptions made me slightly uncomfortable.

Emily herself was somewhat of a cliché, which bothered me to no end. In order to create a strong contrast between her and Oz, McGarry made her too innocent and pure, far too naïve and forgiving. It’s a common problem I have with her characters – they never quite seem real to me. Oz was even more of a cliché. A womanizer and a bad boy all around changed his ways the second he met a beautiful, innocent girl. But what really made me pause was how he seemed brainwashed at certain times, a club drone with no thoughts of his own. I understand now it was a journey he needed to take, but at times it was pushed too far.

There’s no denying the quality of Katie McGarry’s writing, though. She may re-write the same formulas, but she does it exceptionally well. Her style is clean, precise and capable of evoking just the right emotions at exactly the right time. It is, I dare say, her saving grace in my eyes and it’s why I kept trying with her books even after several disappointments.

It’s clear, however, that it’s time to give up. My aversion to contemporary YA is certainly to blame, but several authors like Melina Marchetta, Jandy Nelson, Kirsty Eagar, Cath Crowley or Laura Buzo have been able to temporarily cure me of it and yet Katie McGarry never did. I suppose that alone says all there’s left to say.

[Shannon A · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK TORE ME UP. I laughed, I cried and so many things in between. I wasn't sure how I would feel about a new series by Katie, since I really love her Pushing the Limits series but I am happy to say I loved it. ALL THE FEELS. I fell in love with these characters, each and every one. I felt like I was a part of the family and I was deeply invested in their fates.
Katie is a FANTASTIC contemporary author. This book borders the line between the line of YA and NA, which I think was refreshing and realistic. I appreciated the fact that there were young people of all different walks of life and levels of experience.
YES, this world reminded me of Sons of Anarchy (TV show) because it is the only other thing I have seen/read that involves motorcycle clubs. There are elements that reminded me of the show but it is a really different story and setting and I just wanted to put that out there in case you were like me and wondering how it compared.
I loved our main characters - Oz and Emily - the book worked perfectly as dual perspective, just as all of Katie's books have in the past. She is one of the authors who really knows how to execute dual narrative well.
And ultimately, I just loved this story. There were elements that some people might find cheesy, it's obviously not realistic for most teens, BUT that being said, I think it accomplished everything it set out to and I think it's a fantastic first book in Katie's new companion series. If I nitpicked, I might be able to find a moment or two to knock my 5-star rating, but honestly, I simply don't want to because my love for the characters and the story outweigh any minor issues. The next book is about Razor, and you KNOW I am excited for that.
PS - if you haven't picked up a Katie McGarry book, I would challenge you to give her a try because her books are SO GOOD and they are about family, love and growing up. She tackles real issues like broken homes, adoption, parent/child relationships (including unconventional parents), peer pressure, grief and loss, and finding your place in the world. And it doesn't hurt that Ms. McGarry can WRITE A ROMANTIC SCENE. *fans self* Basically I am telling you that I think she is worth the read and I hope you all pick up her books if you haven't already!!

REIGN OF TERROR: Can I be a Terror Gypsy?

[Kelli C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the start of something great for Katie McGarry! If you are looking for a really good young adult read then this should be an automatic one click!

Set in a small town run by a tight MC forged in brothethood, she delivers a journey of self discovery and first love for two young people that will steal your heart!

Emily is a 17 year old "all American girl" living her life happily until news from a town that claimed her mother's past changes her entire existence. Life in Snowflake is nothing compared to Florida. Here she will come to terms with her mother's past and ultimately find a new life...a new future...a new reason to live in the arms of the Reign of Terror and it's newest prospect Oz!

With a well developed story and age appropriate love and intimacy, Emily and Oz will melt your heart and make you realize all those feels of first love!. I cannot wait for the next journey to Snowflake!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have had this book on my shelves for sooooo long but had never gotten around to actually reading it. I absolutely adore Katie's YA contemporaries, but for some reason I just never picked this one up. When I drew this title from my TBR Jar for May, I could not have been more excited. I read it and ended up loving this book even more than I thought i would!

Emily has a pretty good life with a great mom and stepdad who are always there for her. At 17, she's used to only seeing her birth dad once a year. While she's always been curious about him, Emily knows that she'll never be a part of his world. But when word comes that her grandmother has passed away, Emily finds herself back in her parents' hometown and falls head first into her father's motorcycle club world where everything she's known might not all be the complete truth. Throw in the crazy things she's feeling for Oz, the recruit assigned to look after her while she's with her father, and Emily is definitely in way over her head.

I recently read my first adult motorcycle romance book and really enjoyed it, so I was excited to enter this YA motorcycle world. Oz's character is definitely an interesting one; he's been working his whole life to earn his cut for Emily's father's club and will do anything, including protect Emily, to earn his place. You can imagine the conflict he feels, then, when he starts to feel things for Emily, who is basically the boss's daughter. I loved their relationship and how they started off not really liking each other and then started to play with each other to get what they wanted. Emily may have never known the world her father was a part of, but she sure could hold her own there!

While I definitely loved the romance in this book, there was some mystery and danger in this book that had me very intrigued. So many of the characters were hiding things from Emily and wouldn't tell her in order to protect her relationship with certain people. We're just as in the dark as she was, which was infuriating and intriguing at the same time. What was the huge secret about her past?? The whole motorcycle family was very close and, while they did have their secrets, I enjoyed seeing how loyal they were and how close Emily grew to them by the end.

If you couldn't tell, I loved every second of this book. The romance was through the roof between Emily and Oz and there was also a very strong family dynamic that was really important to the plot line that I really enjoyed. With mystery, danger, romance, and some hot motorcycle men, you can't go wrong with Nowhere but Here.

[Vilma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sizzling, sexy, suspenseful and unputdownable. A gripping story about finding freedom, forgiveness and love.

I get it now. I get why there’s just something both intangibly and clearly special about Katie McGarry and her writing. Her stories. Her style. It’s stripped and gritty in a way that’s relatable… heck, that’s even so when she’s talking about motorcycle clubs and all kinds of things I’ve no experience in. But her voice is real and gripping and honest in a way that kept me flipping the pages addictively. I love that it’s not overdone. There’s nothing gimmicky. No filler. Just a great story—intriguing characters you want to know more about, complicated situations that keep things interesting, and identifiably complex dynamics amongst families and friends. Nowhere But Here is a story about sacrifice, freedom and risks. It’s about love, trust and forgiveness. It’s embracing the scary, opening your heart and learning to embrace a life that’s different than the one you know.

“The only way to break free is to understand the past so you don’t continue to follow in their footsteps.”

Seventeen-year-old Emily’s life quickly spins out of control when she’s pushed to visit her biological father over the summer. She has no interest in seeing him. She’s got the life she wants, with her Mom and the man who is Dad in every sense of the word. Eli, her biological father, abandoned them long ago, and with the exception of once-a-year visits, she’s got no relationship to speak of with him. On top of everything that’s happened in the past, he’s high up in a motorcycle club, the Reign of Terror, which just ratchets up the level of complication in this uncomfortable situation. When she arrives, nothing is at it seems and she’s thrust into a world she’s never experienced that is wholly frightening. She’s surrounded by family she doesn’t know and protected by a guy (Oz) that is equal parts frustrating and attractive. It’s certainly not the summer she’d planned out.

When we meet Oz, we see a boy just older than Emily, determined to join the club… to get the patch that would forever induct him into a brotherhood which symbolized family and loyalty. The last thing he needs is to be assigned babysitting duties for a girl who looks down on them. He’s tasked with protecting Emily, and if he can do this, it’s an open door into the Reign of Terror and the future he’s always wanted. Problem is, at first watch, things go wrong and he falters on the job. Worse yet, when he’s around Emily, he feels all kinds of things he should definitely not be feeling, despite the fact that it’s a certainty that the longer she’s there, the more she’s hurting those he loves.

“I hate this connection. I crave this connection. She’s continually messing with my head.”

The story races down an unexpected road when trouble starts gunning for Emily and secrets she didn’t even know existed suddenly come to light. Trouble is, the more secrets she uncovers, the deeper the real and elusive truth hides. Facing the potential that her entire life has been a lie, Emily must stick around to dig for what really happened between her mother and biological father so many years ago. And the more she sticks around, the more she begins to soften towards this crazy group of people that happen to be her family, and that boy she’s grown to trust more than anyone. Before too long, however, this big, elusive truth would shatter it all.

“This is your family … If you learn to love us then you will forever have our love in return.”

Katie McGarry does an amazing job of creating characters that seem so real and multifaceted. Even her supporting characters have stories that beg to be told, and that’s a nod to Katie’s character development expertise. There is an edge of danger and suspense with some really unexpected twists that had me relishing each page until the very end. There’s angst and action, sweetness and sadness, and just so many wonderful and gripping things that helped push the story forward in a way that was always engaging. It doesn’t matter if you’re a young adult reader or a new adult reader or whatever… pick this book up because it’s just damn good and fun to read.

✦ ✦ ✦ ✦

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[♥Rachel♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve really enjoyed Katie McGarry’s writing in the past, and the prospect of reading a young adult romance set within a Motorcycle Club had me really excited. While I did enjoy parts of Nowhere But Here there were a few complaints that kept it from being a knockout read for me.

Emily’s plans for the summer change when a member of her biological father, Eli’s, family gets sick. Eli is part of a Motorcycle Club, Reign of Terror, a legit club who obey the law of the land, but that doesn’t mean their lifestyle is anything normal to Emily. She’s been raised to think (by her mother) they are a dangerous and rowdy bunch, and Emily is not really an open minded girl when her visit begins.

Oz has been raised around the Reign of Terror and it’s his dream to finally get his patch and join the family security business. His plans are put on hold when he’s assigned to keep guard over Emily when her life is put in danger by a rival club.

I think my main issue with this story was the continual lies. Emily’s mother, adoptive father, biological father, and basically everyone else do nothing but lie to her, and as the reader I was in the dark, as well, on almost everything until about 80-85% mark of the book. Being that this is a long book, 496 pages, that’s a substantial amount of pages! I think this story would’ve greatly benefited from some editing down. I wanted to know what happened! I wanted Emily to know what happened so she would stop judging these people when it was pretty clear there was much more to her story than her father just abandoning her! Had the book been shorter or maybe if I was distracted by some danger or action maybe I would’ve been less frustrated. Or maybe if I could’ve felt the romance more wouldn’t have minded. As it was, Emily and Oz are mostly at odds for the first 65% of the book, alternately lusting after each other and then judging each other. I really wasn’t on board with them as a couple until the last 35% of the book. Plus, I couldn’t understand why Emily wasn’t grilling these people to get to the bottom of things when she supposedly stayed to find out the truth about her family.

Once the romance kicked into gear, I really wanted things to work out for Emily and Oz. I was happy with the choices Oz made when he stepped out of the Motorcycle Club mindset. Yes, he still loved the MC and his extended family, but Oz was in it on his terms by the end. I’m still a bit mixed over Emily. I wished she put more effort into trying (to get to know them, not be judgmental, get to the bottom of things!) with Eli’s family.

I know it sounds like I didn’t like this book at all, which is not the case. I was glued to the pages for the last 35% of the story. I finally got the answers, action and romance I wanted through the whole book. I did have some moments in the end there were I had to suspend my disbelief, although, that doesn’t necessarily put me off a story. This is fiction after all. With all of this it’s been really hard for me to come up with a rating. I’ve been trying to decide anywhere between 2-3.5 stars. In the end I think I’ll settle on 3 stars. I am excited for Razor's story next.

A copy was kindly provided by Harlequin Teen via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This review is also posted at The Readers Den.

[Jessica (Odd and Bookish) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I’ve been wanting to read more MC books and this was just what I needed. I find MC’s to be so fascinating. I loved learning about their world and how they operate.

Eli reminded me so much of FP Jones from Riverdale. Both are biker dudes who will stop at nothing to protect their kids.

I liked the romance even though it was a bit cliche.

I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the books and finding more out about the other characters.

[Lisa (lifeinlit) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talk about a book hangover. DAMMMMMMM! I’ve got it BAD!

I’ve loved Katie McGarry’s writing since the first book I read. The Pushing the Limits Series is one of my favorites. I’ve read them all, except for Take Me On, (which I have patiently waiting on my Kindle) and every single one of them has impressed me. This is an author that can have you smiling one minute, then BAM! tears galore the next. It’s always an intense experience when reading one of her books. I’m beyond excited about this new series of hers. And to be honest, I didn’t realize Nowhere But Here was going to be a series. I thought it was a standalone, and I was a little worried about that since I often find myself falling for her characters and wanting more. So when I saw this was a series and that the next book, Walk the Edge was going to be about Razor, let’s just say I was EXTREMELY happy. :)

Time for a little honesty. With this book nearing 500 pages I thought for sure I would end up putting it down halfway through. (For those of you who don’t already know, I’m not very good with long books. Once we hit the 350 page mark I usually lose interest.) The fact that I stuck with this and never once thought about the length means something. It was THAT good.

“I will her to look away, but she doesn’t and I’m secretly proud the girl won’t back down. I hate this connection. I crave this connection. She’s continually messing with my head.”

The relationship between Emily and Oz was torturous. They fought it as much as they could. For many reasons, they shouldn’t be together. The most important of those reasons would be their families. Their relationship could ruin Oz’s chance of becoming part of the club, which was his only dream in life. It was his entire future. And all of a sudden these feelings for Emily were interfering with it. I simply adored their friendship, and I loved the sexual tension between the two. As with all of Katie McGarry’s couples, it’s nearly impossible not to route for them. Entire different people, yet so good together.

“This is your family … If you learn to love us then you will forever have our love in return.”

I loved the emphasis on family in this book. From Emily’s parents (mother, adoptive father and biological father) down to Oz, his family, and the club, which was a family in and of itself, these characters had such a strong protectiveness for each other, especially when it came to one of them being in any type of danger. Olivia, who had raised Oz as a child, was one of my very favorite characters. So strong-headed, even despite her struggles. Such a powerful person to have as a part of their lives.

I also have to acknowledge the amount of knowledge Katie McGarry has of the motorcycle club lifestyle. I did see at the end of the book there was a note from the author that said how she spent a lot of time with a club to learn the ins and outs, and it really shows. Though I wasn’t directly involved with a motorcycle club, I was around one quite a bit a few years back, and I have to say her depiction was extremely accurate. Yes, every club is different… but the research and effort she put into getting her facts straight for this story are extremely apparent and should be commended.

This is one of my very favorite books so far of 2015, and that’s saying a lot because I’ve had great luck so far this year with fantastic books. (I’m not shy about giving 5 stars when a book really floors me… and this book deserves the ENTIRE 5 stars, plus a little extra. <3) It's a book I will continue to recommend to anyone who will listen to me. As with all of Katie's books that I've read so far, Nowhere But Here will keep your attention, have you routing for the characters, and will shock you with its fair share of smiles, gasps, and even tears. This is a book you don’t want to miss!

(Thanks to Harlequin TEEN for the review copy!)

Find this review and others like it at Lost in Literature!

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Also reviewed on Sophie Reads YA

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This is no way impacted in my view.

Nowhere But Here is my first Katie McGarry book, but I can definitely say it won't be my last.

In this book we meet 17 year old Emily, who is visiting her biological father's family for the first time ever. All her life she thought her father never wanted her, that her whole paternal family didn't want her, and she is now faced with the knowledge that there's a whole other life she could've had. Throughout the entire story Emily discovers new aspects to this world, a lot of which concern her. I especially loved the character development we saw in the majority of these characters, but especially Emily's development - I can't wait to see how she grows further in further instalments of this series. Emily was not the only memorable character though. Out of the whole cast, I especially loved Oz and Olivia, particularly the way they act towards, and around, Emily, who was, quite understandably, terrified to be thrust into a new world.

I've heard so many positive things about McGarry's writing, and especially her romance, and I was in no way disappointed here. I don't read many Contemporary YA's, or chose OTPs easily, but I can safely say that Emily and Oz are definitely my newest OTP. Their interactions were cute from the first meeting, and the intimacy just blossomed the more they were together. I ultimately loved the fact that it was not an "insta-love" situation here, that we could be there with the characters as their feeling grew - it undoubtedly made the book so much enjoyable, as if we were actually a part of the story.

I've never read anything to do with motorbike gangs before, nor seen Sons of Anarchy, which this book has been compared to, but the detail in which McGarry went to fully immerse the reader into this world was outstanding. Though I was scared at times of the craziness of gang, I loved that they were definitely close, they were a family.

The fact that it took me less than two days to basically devour a nearly 500 page book is testament to how amazing the plot line was, and how the writing just flowed, and was so enjoyable to read. I desperately can't wait to read book 2 (and books 3 & 4), and would encourage everyone who loves YA Contemporary novels to definitely try this book!

[Pavlina Read more sleep less blog]

[Aditi · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Focus on where you want to go not on what you fear. "

----Anthony Robbins


Katie McGarry, an American author, pens her new novel, Nowhere But Here which is the first book in the Thunder Road series. This book traces the journey of two teenagers trying to find the gravity and meaning of their lives, thereupon falling in love and realizing the difficulties attached with this sweet feeling, well, you can clearly say, this a book about teens and their road to self discovery.


Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Emily likes her life the way it is: doting parents, good friends, good school in a safe neighborhood. Sure, she's curious about her biological father—the one who chose life in a motorcycle club, the Reign of Terror, over being a parent—but that doesn't mean she wants to be a part of his world. But when a reluctant visit turns to an extended summer vacation among relatives she never knew she had, one thing becomes clear: nothing is what it seems. Not the club, not her secret-keeping father and not Oz, a guy with suck-me-in blue eyes who can help her understand them both.

Oz wants one thing: to join the Reign of Terror. They're the good guys. They protect people. They're…family. And while Emily—the gorgeous and sheltered daughter of the club's most respected member—is in town, he's gonna prove it to her. So when her father asks him to keep her safe from a rival club with a score to settle, Oz knows it's his shot at his dream. What he doesn't count on is that Emily just might turn that dream upside down.

No one wants them to be together. But sometimes the right person is the one you least expect, and the road you fear the most is the one that leads you home.


Emily's life is perfect like a princess, good set of family members, cool friends and a safe town to live-by. The only flaw would be Emily's biological father, who abandoned her mother in order to join a motorcycle club, instead of being a father. But when one summer, Emily's dad gets in touch with her, things change and Emily's feelings and emotions towards her father changes, which allures her to know more about this man and about his club in Kentucky.

Oz is a part of a motorcycle club family. All through his life, he has come to realize that people from motorcycle clubs are like a close-knit family where each member protect one-another. When Emily reaches Kentucky, she gets meddled into a rival motorcycle club's drama and Oz is asked to safe-guard Emily if he wants to join the biggest motorcycle club.

The idea about a motorcycle club featured in the book is quite fresh, since I never read any book about motorcycle gang, moreover, it's not everyday that you will stumble upon a book where such themes are portrayed through the story. And thanks to the author for changing my POV about motorcycle gang who are actually pretty cool and nice and kind-hearted people, instead of being gangsta or thugs.

From the very first page, I was glued to the story and to be honest, I actually loved this story a lot. The emotions that that author layered cleverly into her plot is quite amazing, since the book made me cry and laugh with it's rhythm. And with the progress of the story the story turned into something deeply intense that certainly ached my heart.

The characters are all quite striking and awesome, and surprisingly they make an impressionistic portrait about themselves. I liked how the author conveyed themes related to loyalty and friendship through the characters. And yes there definitely is a myriad cast of characters who are funny and kinda inspiring in nature. But Emily's character is little too flat and bit unrelatable especially the way she undergoes all the issues and the drama related to it.

Oz, an attractive young lad with all those chocolate boy kinda looks whose dream is to get into that club, no matter what. But as a human being, he is a really nice and warm guy who protected Emily like his own child.

The chemistry between Emily and Oz is more like a love-hate-relationship, where their inevitable attraction keeps taking them closer to each other whereas Emily's idea about him totally kept them pulling away from each other.

The author have tried to focus into many subjects related to human nature through this heart-breaking yet hilarious story. The climax made me wanna throw the book away from me, since I so wanted it to end otherwise, but it just simply broke my heart with it's shocking ending. In short, it was truly an engrossing read for me, no matter how sad I became after reading this book, and I'm definitely looking forward in reading the next book from this series.

Verdict: Recommended for all contemporary fiction and YA readers.

Courtesy: Thanks to the author's publicist, for giving me an opportunity to read this novel.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

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Nowhere But Here is the first book that I have read from Katie McGarry and I have to say that I am quite impressed with this book. Ms. McGarry took her readers like myself on an emotional, heartfelt, touching journey of a young girl rediscovering the truths about her family especially in regards to her biological father's side and the secrets her parents kept. Though this book started off a bit slow for me in the beginning but as I read further into the story line, Ms. McGarry allowed readers to be immersed with the many facets of characters that Emily meets along the way in her father's motorcycle club. What I really enjoyed about this book was that we got to see character growth from Emily..her once sheltered world soon begins to bloom when she sees a whole new side of living with one of the MC prospects named Oz. Though this book is told in dual POVs and there is a love/hate relationship between Emily and Oz, the main underlying thing about this book is to truly just live in the moment since we don't know how long our life is.

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Review can also be found on Four Chicks Flipping Pages: http://fourchicksflippingpages.weebly... Katie McGarry

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

My friend received this book from someone that she knew that thought because it said "Young Adult", and she obviously had no idea what that meant... that it would be appropriate for her 9-year-old granddaughter. It's about 5 or 6 years "too old" for a 9-year-old so I thought I'd give it a try for challenge. I had to keep reminding myself that this girl is supposed to be 17-years old. With that age in mind I would have to say that the character of Emily came off as weak and whiney, clingy and totally out to lunch about life in general. She's afraid of EVERYTHING. Did this girl spend 17 years living in a closet??? With encouragement of her stepfather and her grandmother, she goes to visit her biological father who is still a member of the motorcycle club, (The Reign of Terror), the club that he, 17 years ago ditched her Mom to remain with before she was born... here she find finds a guy that she's interested in, Oz. He's supposed to be a tough motorcycle dude but through the entire book he turns into a puddle of mush every time he's in Emily's presence...which is nearly all the time...since she was constantly being carried in someone's arms to the closest bed because she "swooned" over everything in life. Thankfully it seems she was just dumped in the bed and left because we are told several times that is a virgin...and I don't wonder. I think this was a good effort, but it failed miserably nonetheless. It did help me finish my challenge:)

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a sheltered young girl who is forced to go out of her comfort zone and discover the truth about her family and her past. Emily goes to Kentucky for a funeral but it turns out, the person is not dead but very much alive. It is a love story between people who grew up in different worlds. It explores various types of families, values and how they support each other.



My review!!

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Katie McGarry's writing is smooth and free-flowing. I liked seeing the 2 different pov's in this book although, from a critical point of view, I would have liked to see Oz's pov give more information to the readers that Emily could not.

Aside from that, their pov's contrasted beautifully. The ending of the book was a little anti-climatic for my tastes, I found most of the book very VERY predictable. Very few minor plot twists surprised me. Due to this, the ending was predictable.

Nevertheless, I felt for the character Olivia in the end (I don't want to spoil anything so that's all I will say). I enjoyed this book and really appreciated the writing. It is not 5 stars because I think there were opportunities to make the story even deeper, potentially more exciting and less predictable. It didn't 'wow' me.

ALSO!!!!

At the end of this book Katie McGarry added a playlist for this book! Kind of like the playlists from Since You've Been Gone, this playlist was at the end of the book and included songs that Katie was inspired by while creating certain scenes and certain characters. I love that she did that and love the songs she chose! I have made it a playlist on my phone and can't wait to listen to it, it lets readers connect with a book on a whole other level.



When I picture Oz and Emily, I picture them as the people from Chasing Liberty (from all my images above) driving around on his bike.