Anywhere but Here

by Jenny Gardiner

Mary Kate Dupree has reached a crossroad in her lifeless life. Literally. While running an errand for her oppressively controlling husband, she encounters a handsome hitchhiker whose siren-like lure tempts her to do the unthinkable: pick up a strange man on the side of the road and keep on driving. Like the mesmerizing lip of Niagara Falls, which has tempted many an unsuspecting soul to plunge to an icy demise, the hitchhiker woos Mary Kate from her mundane existence into an adventure she could never before have imagined.

Randy “Smoothie” Cunningham is abandoning convention. After one too many life surprises thrown his way, he’s decided to chuck it all and take to the road. When meek and mousy Mary Kate unexpectedly picks him up, the two downtrodden souls embark on a road trip that eventually leads them to the source of Mary Kate’s temptation: Niagara Falls, where they confront the fabled water’s edge in search of elusive redemption.

Genres: Romance, Chick Lit, Ebooks, Fiction, Contemporary

238 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 20, 2010

About the author

Jenny Gardiner is the author of #1 Kindle Bestseller Slim to None and the award-winning novel Sleeping with Ward Cleaver. Her latest works are the It’s Reigning Men series, featuring Something in the Heir; Heir Today Gone Tomorrow; Bad to the Throne; and the upcoming Love is in the Heir. She also published the memoir Winging It: A Memoir of Caring for a Vengeful Parrot Who's Determined to Kill Me, now re-titled Bite Me: a Parrot, a Family and a Whole Lot of Flesh Wounds; the novels Anywhere but Here (soon to be re-released); Where the Heart Is; the essay collection Naked Man on Main Street, and Accidentally on Purpose and Compromising Positions (writing as Erin Delany); and is a contributor to the humorous dog anthology I'm Not the Biggest Bitch in This Relationship. Her work has been found in Ladies Home Journal, the Washington Post and on NPR’s Day to Day. She has worked as a professional photographer, an orthodontic assistant (learning quite readily that she was not cut out for a career in polyester), a waitress (probably her highest-paying job), a TV reporter, a pre-obituary writer, as well as a publicist to a United States Senator (where she first learned to write fiction). She's photographed Prince Charles (and her assistant husband got him to chuckle!), Elizabeth Taylor, and the president of Uganda. She and her family now live a less exotic life in Virginia.

Reviews

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, I am not surprised to give 5 stars to a Jenny Gardiner book. I loved Anywhere but Here for so many reasons. Mostly, anytime I can laugh along with the story I know I've struck gold. I'm a visual reader and Jenny makes that easy. She paints the perfect picture and as I read the words turn to a movie and I feel like I am pulled into the story with each character.

Again, we have a woman at a crossroads in life. Mary Kate is unhappy and in my opinion, rightfully so. She is married to a completely self absorbed and controlling person (he is a man but his behavior does not warrant the title of "man"). Watching as our gal realizes she is in control of her destiny and seeing her take the leap of faith is inspiring. It doesn't inspire me to want to pick up a hitchhiker, regardless of how intriguing he may be, nor does it really inspire me to take a roadtrip with said hitchhiker, but nonetheless I am inspired. Carpe diem should be her motto as she embraces all that those 2 words express.

We take a ride with Mary Kate and "Smoothie" and they humble us with the awkward conversations, support of one another eventhough they started out as strangers, meals at diners, and even shopping trips to WalMart.

What I took from this book was the thought that it is never too late to make a change. Each day is a new opportunity to make your life count ... carpe diem!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, it made me return from my lunch break later than I should have for a couple of days. It was inspiring to watch Mary Kate leave her abusive husband and figure things out for herself alongside Smoothie, the hot, younger Southern guy she picks up on the side of the road. Sure picking up a hitchhiker is a bad idea, but this is fiction and not an advice column for women. There was some great chemistry between the two main characters that kept the storyline fun and somewhat steamy. I am definitely going to read some of Jenny's other books.

[Rochelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF
The book kind of fell flat for me. Sure, Mary Kate is unhappy, and has an unfulfilled life filled with people who didn't truly love her, so yes, we should feel bad for her. But we shouldn't have to read about it.
I got 50% through the book and didn't go any further. I figure it's about 3 weak stars.

[spookimom reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was surprisingly funny. I had a hard time putting it down. It is a book that takes you away from your life for a short time and helps you to feel the adventure vicariously through the main characters.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! Laugh out loud. Great characters, great story.

[Kaye · Rating 1 out of 5]

Free kindle book - Well, I guess you get what you pay for.

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quirky, cute, predictable, a fun read.

[Tania · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick, easy to pick up and put down. Loved it and all of Jenny Gardiner's books that I've read.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the story line to be about self discovery and stepping outside your comfort zone. For many reasons some of us permit others to dictate our lives until we find the strength/courage/motivation to take charge of our own lives. Being able to share our hidden secrets and desires with someone we trust is life changing. Smoothie was the game changer.

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay story that kept my attention but not a lot of complex characters or storyline. Mary Kate walks out on her awful husband and finds her self entangled with a random hitchhiker who ends up being the best companion. He influences her to find her best self and along the journey to Niagara Falls does some uncharacteristic things.

[Zee Monodee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this! It was a slow start where I wondered how I could cheer for someone remaining with such a douche of a husband ... but the story then becomes about the emancipation of Mary Kate and it was a thrilling ride. Fell in love with Smoothie!

[Alison J Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely easy read, funny, light hearted, loved the characters. Slightly unbelievable of course but that was half of the appeal. I would like to read more of Jenny's books if they make me smile that much as this one

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

★ ★ 1/2

Every month my favourite GoodReads group does monthly buddy reads. This time I was partnered with a wonderful new friend and we decided since we both had gotten this one for free from Amazon that this should be one of the books we read together. I was really excited to start this one because last year I found one of the author's other books at my workplace and have been meaning to give her a try.

I was looking for something nice, light and easy to read with my buddy and this one had a really cute cover so I was hoping judging by the cover and the synopsis that I would love this book.

I didn't.

I mean I liked it well enough but it just fell sort of flat for me. I couldn't connect with Mary Kate or Smoothie. I did find both of them funny but I felt that they were both a little one dimensional. I felt bad for Mary Kate for how her husband Richard "The Dick" treated her I really did but to me it seemed strange that she didn't portray very much emotion through out the book which I feel kind of threw the book off balance. I thought she was strange too for picking up a hitch hiker (Smoothie) and running off with him to Niagara Falls where she plans to jump to her death just so she will have done something in her life.

Yes I get the fact that she was trapped in a loveless abusive marriage but come on the author seemed as though she were over reaching a bit trying to make this book really funny or quirky but for me it didn't work out that way.

It did have it's funny moments I mean Mary Kate when she gets nervous types weird things out with her fingers in mid air, and Smoothie's wife cheated on him with HER best FEMALE friend and then he later found out that the girl he diddled and lost his virginity to was his cousin just days after he left his wife was hysterical. However I don't think that the funny bits were enough to carry this book and I think the author should add more dimension to her characters and rely less on humour and more on her strengthening her story telling abilities. It was okay as a fluffy read but it fell wa short of my expectations. I do still plan on trying the other book I own by her out.

I do recommend this book though to people looking for a light, cheesy read with low expectations.

P.S. My Buddy rated this 4 stars so once again it depends on the person on how good a book is.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Why? It made me feel good, it made me laugh, it gave me hope and who doesn’t need that once in a while. Mary Kate hasn’t had a good marriage but she has stuck it out because isn’t that what she is supposed to do? Her husband has told her what to do for so long, she just goes with it and isn’t that what she is supposed to do? One day on an impulse, Mary Kate acts on her own desire and things begin to change. It all started with a hitchhiker on the street, Mary Kate’s husband has been warning her about them for years but today……she picks one up and well, her life starts to change. The one Mary Kate picks up is a male: muscular, tan and nothing like the low-life her husband has warned her about. Smoothie has no destination in sight and after some talking; Smoothie and Mary Kate are headed north, leaving all their troubles behind. Where did such irrational behavioral on Mary Kate’s part come from and how did Smoothie land on her side of the street is a fun adventure that as a reader, you just sit in the backseat and enjoy the ride. Great conversation, self discovery and history are shared on the stretches of miles before they reach their final destination. Can Mary Kate leave her previous life behind or is this just a small break from her normal life?

My heart fell for Mary Kate and her bullying husband. I had to laugh a few times when he was telling her what to do and what her reactions were to his comments. She really was disrespectful to him but she saw no way out until she finally acted on her own and just did something on her own. Smoothie was almost too good to be true for her and I almost thought he would be a vision of her own imagination and she would wake up and realize she was dreaming. Smoothie though also had some faults that they were able to work around while on the road. Great book and I will read more from Jenny in the future!

[Kimberly · Rating 1 out of 5]

As Abraham Lincoln would say, "If this is the type of book that you like, then you'll like this book" (paraphrased, of course). I really DISLIKED this book. I felt that all the plot point were predictable. The writing was stilted and not realistic.

If you like books by Jodi Picoult, Nicholas Sparks, and others of that ilk, I predict that you will love this book. If you like REAL writing and great literature, you will not care for this.

[Loraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little predictable but still an enjoyable read. Some of the descriptive text had rolling my eyes a little bit but this doesn't really take anything away from the story itself. A good, quick read about finding yourself and taking the first step towards changing your life for the better.

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a free kindle book. I read it while on vacation...that's the kind of book it is: easy and fun vacation reading. If you're looking for literary genius you won't find it here, but you will be entertained. You might also find yourself looking for sexy hitchhikers alongside the road;)

[Anja Mizner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book thoroughly enjoyed it, a story about a woman stuck in an abusive marriage and how 1 day she has just had enough funny in parts . Well worth reading

[Kerry Ann Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny, fresh, and fabulous read.

[Mindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little far fetched but a simple easy entertaining read

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A funny and enchanting story about two people running away from miserable relationships and eventually finding love against the odds.

[Jennykaye Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!! Running away should be so eventful.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was never quite sure where this story was going but I really did like the final destination. I'm glad Mary Kate took the chance to start her life anew. she and Smoothie are going to be alright.

[Pam]

Awful book .... Couldn't finish it.

[Holly Skinner · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a quick, cute, easy read :)

[Mitzi]

New Title: Anywhere But Here

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great voice. A nice read.