Nowhere But HereAuthor: Katie McGarry
Series: Thunder Road #1
Published by: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: May 26, 2015
Format: eARC
Pages: 496
Source: Publisher
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.
I’ll be honest, I wouldn’t have read Nowhere But Here if Katie McGarry weren’t the author. One, I’ve grown tired of the YA genre and avoid it more often now. Second, I’m not into books revolving around motorcycle clubs, but not for reasons you probably think. I’m not going to get into all that, though. So despite having two negative marks against it going in, I actually wound up liking it.
When Emily reluctantly goes to visit her biological dad, whom she has only seen once a year for six years, things get a bit sticky. She ends up staying there for a few weeks because she’s in danger from a different motorcycle club, even though she’s not convinced there really is any trouble. She has ulterior motives for complying, though: to uncover the secrets from her parents past that affect her today.
My favorite part of the story is Emily getting to know her dad’s side of the family and discovering a whole new perspective on the club. She had a lot of preconceived notions that were planted by her mom, so it took her some time to judge based on her own experiences. I love her grandma, Olivia, the most. She’s feisty, crass and blunt, but she loves her family fiercely. The relationship and bond they formed was really touching.
Emily and Oz come from different worlds – he’s a bad boy immersed in the club, and she’s a good girl far removed from that lifestyle. I liked these two together, but I didn’t feel the chemistry was very strong. They had their moments, but overall, they were about a six out of ten on the swoon-o-meter. I definitely enjoyed them more when she got feisty and engaged in some banter.
Overall, Nowhere But Here is a good book, but nothing that blew me away. I mean, I liked it more than I had anticipated, and I think that’s because of Katie McGarry’s writing. I’m definitely curious about the next book and getting inside Razor’s head.
That sort of makes me sad it didn’t blew you away 🙁 I loved the author’s Crash Into You novel and Pushing The Limits was decent too. Atleast it was still good so I shall give it a go soon xD Lovely review!
I finally just read my first Katie McGarry book last week and loved it. I am looking forward to this one and glad you at least liked it even if it didn’t blow you away – Great review!
How Is the angst?
I don’t like MC novels because of how they portray the women. Even the smartest girls turn into bimbos.
I’m sure Katie didn’t do that here. It looks like she has another winner here
Sorry it didn’t blow you away, C. I’m oddly looking forward to reading this book. While you’re not a fan of MC tropes, I can’t get enough of them. Lol.
I usually gravitate and love tropes and such that I’m familiar with and relate to, but the MC trope in books like this usually make roll my eyes.
Sorry you didn’t LOVE the romance, but that’s good you liked the story more than you thought you might. Some YA just seems really overdone; I know what you mean.
Ha ha I think three of us posted a review for this today, kind of funny. 😉
Glad you liked this. I think I liked it more than you did but I agree, it is mainly because McGarry has a way of sucking you in. 😉
I’m reading this one right now, but just near the beginning, shortly after the funeral. I’m not blown away so far either, but I haven’t read Katie McGarry before either (even though I have several of her books). However, I love the mc romances, but this one might be just too YA… idk. Time will tell.
It is very YA. Out of all her books, this is my least favorite. I usually gravitate and love tropes and such that I’m familiar with and relate to, but the MC trope in books like this usually make roll my eyes.
I was super wary of the motorcycle club part of the book too, but and I was left a little confused towards the end as well.
I liked Oz and Emily’s chemistry a bit more than you did. I did really like watching Emily get to know her paternal family.
Lovely review!
Glad you ended up liking this one for the most part despite it not being what you’re into at the moment. I love it when I’m pleasantly surprised by something I had few expectations for. I can’t wait to read this one, and I have a feeling I’m going to be looking forward to Razor’s book as much as you are!
Well, guess you ended up enjoying it despite it not really being what you would have preferred to read and not being anything amazing…
I am with you and once again burned out on NA. I know how awesome this author is, but I just can’t do it right now. Maybe at a later date. I am thinking I need to go on a dystopian kick for awhile.
NA and I are still on good terms, depends on the book. YA, though … meh. It’s mostly YA contemporary. Fantasy and sci-fi have been saving my reading funk.
I’m a big fan of Katie McGarry, but as much as I’ve loved all of her previous books I have to agree with them not being anything out of the ordinary to be honest. Boy meets girl, one has a secret, he vows to protect her by pushing her away. It’s seems like the template for that YA / NA crossover read nowadays. I’ll still buy a copy, because it’s Katie McGarry, but to be honest I’m not expecting to be blown away. Just mildly entertained. Thanks for the wonderfully honest review Christy <3
Sorry to hear that you didn’t love it! 🙁
Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know
I did like it though. I’d be friends with it, but wouldn’t date it kind of like. lol.
I completely agree with you Christy! I am not a fan of story-lines that revolve around motorcycle clubs and I thought this book was just ok, the romance certainly didn’t wow me unfortunately but I’m still quite keen to read the next book.
A great review!
Great review girl, I enjoyed this one too. I can see what you mean about the chemistry between Emily and Oz not being as strong as you liked, but all the other elements were done well.
I love McGarry, but yeah, the concept is not my fav.
Oh, man! I haven’t read anything with an MC in a while. I have been seeing good reviews on this one.
It sounds ok, the setting doesn’t overly appeal to me either. And your reasons why not sound like a whole other story! I love Katie McGarry and her characters always make me feel everything so I’m sure I’ll get to it sooner or later.
Bummer it did not blow you away. I look forward to this one. New follower bloglovin
Too bad it wasn’t *that* good – but fortunately, you read it first so now I won’t have to ^^ Thanks !
This sounds like a good book overall, but I would have like a ten on the swoon meter 🙁 I like when a character’s preconceived notions get blown out of the water, and Olivia sounds like a character that I would love!
Glad to hear that the story was good for you despite having some things that aren’t on top of your list when choosing books. I still haven’t tried this author even though I’ve heard good things about her work, but I plan on soon.