What do you think?
Rate this book
Where Do We Go From Here?
I remind myself that I wanted this break. For the first time in years, I am completely, blissfully alone. But as the days pass, I begin to realise a painful truth. For years I’ve been telling a story about my life – a story that stopped me from falling apart. But what if I have the chance to re-write it?
Wendy is a devoted wife and mother who has spent years working as a nurse, helping those in need. But with Wendy’s children flying the nest and her marriage hanging by a thread, she realises that she’s never really asked herself what she wants.
So, she decides to rent a remote cabin in France where she can spend her days in nature, away from everything she has ever known, to try and answer the what next?
Arriving at her new home, a rustic cabin with intermittent power, Wendy starts to regret her decision. Her retreat suddenly looks so very different from the dream. With no one else to care for or talk to, Wendy is forced to confront something she’s tried her best to the real reason her family is falling apart. But is she strong enough to face it alone?
And then, just when she’s hitting rock bottom, seemingly with nowhere to turn, she discovers that help can come from the most unlikely places. Wendy thought she knew how her story would end but she’s learning that this is only the beginning.
A heartbreaking yet uplifting story about love, loss, unlikely friendships and finding strength you never knew you had. Perfect for fans of Mike Gayle, Amanda Prowse and Matt Haig.
Wendy is a devoted wife and mother who has spent years working as a nurse, helping those in need. But with Wendy’s children flying the nest and her marriage hanging by a thread, she realises that she’s never really asked herself what she wants.
So, she decides to rent a remote cabin in France where she can spend her days in nature, away from everything she has ever known, to try and answer the what next?
Arriving at her new home, a rustic cabin with intermittent power, Wendy starts to regret her decision. Her retreat suddenly looks so very different from the dream. With no one else to care for or talk to, Wendy is forced to confront something she’s tried her best to the real reason her family is falling apart. But is she strong enough to face it alone?
And then, just when she’s hitting rock bottom, seemingly with nowhere to turn, she discovers that help can come from the most unlikely places. Wendy thought she knew how her story would end but she’s learning that this is only the beginning.
A heartbreaking yet uplifting story about love, loss, unlikely friendships and finding strength you never knew you had. Perfect for fans of Mike Gayle, Amanda Prowse and Matt Haig.
370 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 23, 2025
389 people are currently reading
232 people want to read
About the author
Nick Alexander
31 books663 followersMy novels:
Where Do We Go From Here (2025)
The Imperfection of Us (2023)
Perfectly Ordinary People (2022)
From Something Old (2021)
The Road to Zoe (2020)
You Then, Me Now (2019)
Things We Never Said (2017)
The Bottle of Tears (2016) (also published as Let the Light Shine).
The Other Son (2015)
The Photographer's Wife (2014)
Two novels featuring Hannah:
- The Half-Life of Hannah.
- Other Halves (Dec 2013)
Two novels featuring CC:
- The Case Of The Missing Boyfriend
- The French House (May 2013)
The Fifty Reasons Series, following the life of lovelorn Mark
- 50 Reasons to Say Goodbye
- Sottopassaggio
- Good Thing, Bad Thing
- Better Than Easy
- Sleight Of Hand
And the standalone novel
- 13:55 Eastern Standard Time
The Case Of The Missing Boyfriend, The French House, and The Half-Life of Hannah have all been huge kindle hits, reaching number #1 in Amazon's kindle chart.
I live in the southern French Alps with three mogs (Mangui, Pastel & Pedro) and a very special ferret.
Where Do We Go From Here (2025)
The Imperfection of Us (2023)
Perfectly Ordinary People (2022)
From Something Old (2021)
The Road to Zoe (2020)
You Then, Me Now (2019)
Things We Never Said (2017)
The Bottle of Tears (2016) (also published as Let the Light Shine).
The Other Son (2015)
The Photographer's Wife (2014)
Two novels featuring Hannah:
- The Half-Life of Hannah.
- Other Halves (Dec 2013)
Two novels featuring CC:
- The Case Of The Missing Boyfriend
- The French House (May 2013)
The Fifty Reasons Series, following the life of lovelorn Mark
- 50 Reasons to Say Goodbye
- Sottopassaggio
- Good Thing, Bad Thing
- Better Than Easy
- Sleight Of Hand
And the standalone novel
- 13:55 Eastern Standard Time
The Case Of The Missing Boyfriend, The French House, and The Half-Life of Hannah have all been huge kindle hits, reaching number #1 in Amazon's kindle chart.
I live in the southern French Alps with three mogs (Mangui, Pastel & Pedro) and a very special ferret.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
April 30, 2025
My Reviews Can Also Be Found On:
The Book Review Crew Blog
In an instant I went from wanting to save my marriage to wanting to stab him with one of our excellent Japanese knives.
I have read five other books by Nick Alexander The Other Son, The Road to Zoe, From Something Old, The Bottle of Tears as well as Perfectly Ordinary People and they were all four or five-star reads for me. He is an author that NEVER disappoints, so when I have a chance to read one of his books, I grab it.
As always, Nick has written an emotional and inspiring story about self-discovery, healing, and the power of love. The story is about Wendy, a nurse who is also a wife and mum. Wendy feels lost and is burnt out, so she goes to a cabin in France to get some alone time. But when she gets there, the cabin isn't exactly what she hoped. It's very isolated, but that makes Wendy face her feelings, such as grief, trauma and how her family is falling apart. Nick Alexander writes women believably. He is one of few authors who have impressed me with this capability. He captures Wendy's emotions, vulnerability and growth very authentically.
I loved the relationship between Wendy and the postwoman. They supported each other and became friends despite their differences. Wendy found strength within this friendship. As always, Alexander found humour in the everyday, and he created relatable characters. The French Alps are a character themselves, and they're a beautiful part of the story. This was such a touching story about personal growth and resilience, and it made me feel all the feels in equal measure.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
The Book Review Crew Blog
In an instant I went from wanting to save my marriage to wanting to stab him with one of our excellent Japanese knives.
I have read five other books by Nick Alexander The Other Son, The Road to Zoe, From Something Old, The Bottle of Tears as well as Perfectly Ordinary People and they were all four or five-star reads for me. He is an author that NEVER disappoints, so when I have a chance to read one of his books, I grab it.
As always, Nick has written an emotional and inspiring story about self-discovery, healing, and the power of love. The story is about Wendy, a nurse who is also a wife and mum. Wendy feels lost and is burnt out, so she goes to a cabin in France to get some alone time. But when she gets there, the cabin isn't exactly what she hoped. It's very isolated, but that makes Wendy face her feelings, such as grief, trauma and how her family is falling apart. Nick Alexander writes women believably. He is one of few authors who have impressed me with this capability. He captures Wendy's emotions, vulnerability and growth very authentically.
I loved the relationship between Wendy and the postwoman. They supported each other and became friends despite their differences. Wendy found strength within this friendship. As always, Alexander found humour in the everyday, and he created relatable characters. The French Alps are a character themselves, and they're a beautiful part of the story. This was such a touching story about personal growth and resilience, and it made me feel all the feels in equal measure.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
March 4, 2025
"You can’t really punish someone’s lack of interest in you. Specifically, you can’t starve people into missing you."
A very readable book with a thought provoking premise. A woman escapes into a rural cottage in the south of France. While there she comes to terms with the trauma she has experienced as she lost her mother, dealt with a rapidly deteriorating marriage, her older children becoming more distant, and the wounds as she worked as an emergency nurse during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Working in healthcare during the pandemic was like living in two different worlds- at the hospital you were seeing people die in front of you, you were protecting yourself and feeling helpless. Like a war nurse, it was easy to become overwhelmed by the unending supply of care. But instead, you would leave a shift, and enter a world where people were blind to the dangers, some of them fighting precautions, and terrified to pass the virus along.
I thought about my job and wished for a moment that I could take my family to work with me, for one day, so they had some conception of what I was dealing with.
So Wendy started staying at her friend Jill's AirBnb. It was empty anyway, she would rather not deal with worrying about the virus and her family's exposure, and it didn't seem like they wanted her around anyway. That's when she saw a photo on Facebook of a lakeside home with the challenge "could you live here with no internet, no people for a year for $100,000". I have seen that before, and when you are knee deep in the stress and pressure of the world, that really seems like a great idea. And Wendy had a small amount of inheritance from her mother, so she quit her job and went to France.
Today I am celebrating, by the grace of God, 14 years of sobriety thanks to AA. This book reminded me how lucky I am to have connection in my life, and how isolation plus trauma plus alcohol is a recipe for a rapidly deteriorating addiction.
Friends, you are not always going to like Wendy as you read this book. And you shouldn't. It is very easy to disconnect and think that numbing your pain is the best way to overcome it. But over time she journals, takes walks, and, apart from the real world, she learns who she is and how she needs to connect with her family and the broader world. I highlighted not only the touching lines but also those that made me laugh. Her relationship with her high school daughter and college son are very relatable.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC. Opinions are my own, I was not compensated for this review. Book to be published April 23, 2025.
A very readable book with a thought provoking premise. A woman escapes into a rural cottage in the south of France. While there she comes to terms with the trauma she has experienced as she lost her mother, dealt with a rapidly deteriorating marriage, her older children becoming more distant, and the wounds as she worked as an emergency nurse during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Working in healthcare during the pandemic was like living in two different worlds- at the hospital you were seeing people die in front of you, you were protecting yourself and feeling helpless. Like a war nurse, it was easy to become overwhelmed by the unending supply of care. But instead, you would leave a shift, and enter a world where people were blind to the dangers, some of them fighting precautions, and terrified to pass the virus along.
I thought about my job and wished for a moment that I could take my family to work with me, for one day, so they had some conception of what I was dealing with.
So Wendy started staying at her friend Jill's AirBnb. It was empty anyway, she would rather not deal with worrying about the virus and her family's exposure, and it didn't seem like they wanted her around anyway. That's when she saw a photo on Facebook of a lakeside home with the challenge "could you live here with no internet, no people for a year for $100,000". I have seen that before, and when you are knee deep in the stress and pressure of the world, that really seems like a great idea. And Wendy had a small amount of inheritance from her mother, so she quit her job and went to France.
Today I am celebrating, by the grace of God, 14 years of sobriety thanks to AA. This book reminded me how lucky I am to have connection in my life, and how isolation plus trauma plus alcohol is a recipe for a rapidly deteriorating addiction.
Friends, you are not always going to like Wendy as you read this book. And you shouldn't. It is very easy to disconnect and think that numbing your pain is the best way to overcome it. But over time she journals, takes walks, and, apart from the real world, she learns who she is and how she needs to connect with her family and the broader world. I highlighted not only the touching lines but also those that made me laugh. Her relationship with her high school daughter and college son are very relatable.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC. Opinions are my own, I was not compensated for this review. Book to be published April 23, 2025.
April 23, 2025
Happy publication day 🥳🎉🎧
This really should’ve been a 4 🌟 for the story and the narration. There were parts that were a bit clunky and disjointed/confusing, especially the conversational pars. The use of initials for characters felt like I was privy to the script rather than hearing the end result, which was a real shame because overall the premise and the story were excellent.
6 months of solitude in a cabin in the south of France sounds idyllic, for Wendy it’s a dream come true. Everything that she wanted. That is until she truly discovers who she is.
You won’t always like Wendy, yet she’s real and relatable land for that reason you will root for her, you will feel empathy for her, and you will celebrate her victories.
A moving and poignant tale that I half expected to say was too long, but actually it gave the whole story. It gives us multiple perspectives to Wendy’s story, which we don’t always get. 3.75 🌟
Eilidh Beaton narrates beautifully.
Many thanks to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
This really should’ve been a 4 🌟 for the story and the narration. There were parts that were a bit clunky and disjointed/confusing, especially the conversational pars. The use of initials for characters felt like I was privy to the script rather than hearing the end result, which was a real shame because overall the premise and the story were excellent.
6 months of solitude in a cabin in the south of France sounds idyllic, for Wendy it’s a dream come true. Everything that she wanted. That is until she truly discovers who she is.
You won’t always like Wendy, yet she’s real and relatable land for that reason you will root for her, you will feel empathy for her, and you will celebrate her victories.
A moving and poignant tale that I half expected to say was too long, but actually it gave the whole story. It gives us multiple perspectives to Wendy’s story, which we don’t always get. 3.75 🌟
Eilidh Beaton narrates beautifully.
Many thanks to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
April 26, 2025
I'd been wanting to read Nick Alexander for a long time so couldn't pass up the opportunity to listen to his latest book on audio.
Eilidh Beaton is a favourite narrator of mine, and she really brings this story to life.
It's a challenging read, in that we see someone go to rock bottom and try and turn their life around. But it addresses these issues well.
I'd love to read more from the author, particularly if they are narrated by Beaton!
Eilidh Beaton is a favourite narrator of mine, and she really brings this story to life.
It's a challenging read, in that we see someone go to rock bottom and try and turn their life around. But it addresses these issues well.
I'd love to read more from the author, particularly if they are narrated by Beaton!
February 28, 2025
This is not an easy read – accompanying someone in denial on a slow and painful journey to rock bottom is an emotional experience and the author skillfully leads us through the process.
Wendy is a middle-aged nurse who has been traumatized by her mother’s death and her obligations as a care provider during the COVID epidemic. Her coping mechanisms with the stress of long hours and a multitude of deaths, coupled with isolation from her family, have been cigarettes and alcohol. In a desperate attempt to shore up her life, she rents a cabin in a remote area of southern France with the intent to stay six months for self-reflection and healing. Wendy’s experience does not match her vision, but with the help of unexpected friendships, she confronts her demons and begins her journey of redemption.
This is a well-crafted story that has a deep emotional impact for anyone who has addressed addiction issues and/or been submerged in a caretaker role to the point of exhaustion or burn out. Wendy is not a particularly sympathetic protagonist for most of the book, but her honesty and commitment to rectifying her relationships is admirable, even heroic. I found the conclusion realistic and satisfying.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Wendy is a middle-aged nurse who has been traumatized by her mother’s death and her obligations as a care provider during the COVID epidemic. Her coping mechanisms with the stress of long hours and a multitude of deaths, coupled with isolation from her family, have been cigarettes and alcohol. In a desperate attempt to shore up her life, she rents a cabin in a remote area of southern France with the intent to stay six months for self-reflection and healing. Wendy’s experience does not match her vision, but with the help of unexpected friendships, she confronts her demons and begins her journey of redemption.
This is a well-crafted story that has a deep emotional impact for anyone who has addressed addiction issues and/or been submerged in a caretaker role to the point of exhaustion or burn out. Wendy is not a particularly sympathetic protagonist for most of the book, but her honesty and commitment to rectifying her relationships is admirable, even heroic. I found the conclusion realistic and satisfying.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
March 30, 2025
This is a heartbreaking but uplifting story about Wendy who decides she wants to take a break from life and go to a different city for a few months. She learns all about herself and I really enjoyed this story. Nick Alexander captured France beautifully in the book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published April 23, 2025.
April 7, 2025
For people who loved Where’d You Go Bernadette, Nora Goes Off Script Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, this novel is much more substantive than the fluffy romance vibes I got from the cover!
The sympathetic protagonist is doing her best as a wife and mother while also navigating the trauma and isolation from being a COVID-time nurse. As she spends time away, her relationships with her family, her best friend, anger and alcohol come more clearly into focus, and she has a lot to grapple with. It’s an honest exploration of what the line is between habit, coping and dependency; between acceptance and enabling.
3.5 ⭐️ Thanks to NetGalley for an opportunity to read this advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
The sympathetic protagonist is doing her best as a wife and mother while also navigating the trauma and isolation from being a COVID-time nurse. As she spends time away, her relationships with her family, her best friend, anger and alcohol come more clearly into focus, and she has a lot to grapple with. It’s an honest exploration of what the line is between habit, coping and dependency; between acceptance and enabling.
3.5 ⭐️ Thanks to NetGalley for an opportunity to read this advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 5, 2025
Solid 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It was heartbreaking and healing story at the same time. I love how author described that everyone always have second chance and it’s not always some magic, sometimes we can help ourselves.
Main character Wendy had long way of dealing with trauma and her own demons. Let’s be real, she didn’t even acknowledge fact of self destruction and the moment she faced that actually her life wasn’t perfect and she had way to improve it - she did it. At some pages that book break my heart and all I wanted was to hug Wendy and said that everything gonna be fine.
Anyway, that was a great story. Thanks author and NetGalley for opportunity to read that book
It was heartbreaking and healing story at the same time. I love how author described that everyone always have second chance and it’s not always some magic, sometimes we can help ourselves.
Main character Wendy had long way of dealing with trauma and her own demons. Let’s be real, she didn’t even acknowledge fact of self destruction and the moment she faced that actually her life wasn’t perfect and she had way to improve it - she did it. At some pages that book break my heart and all I wanted was to hug Wendy and said that everything gonna be fine.
Anyway, that was a great story. Thanks author and NetGalley for opportunity to read that book
April 11, 2025
Where Do We Go From Here? is a book which includes some surprisingly hard hitting issues. It’s about Wendy who takes a sabbatical of sorts and rents a house in a remote part of the south of France for six months. She is full of unresolved grief coupled with the enormous stress of being a front line nurse in a hospital during the COVID pandemic. Repression of her feelings mean that her relationships with her friends, her family and her colleagues are at breaking point.
It really was quite difficult to like Wendy at times. I had a lot of sympathy for her at the beginning but some of her behaviours were quite shocking. To use a cliché, she really does find herself in France: and finds she doesn’t like the person she’s become.
Wendy is of course a much nicer person by the end of the book. By working through so many issues and taking the time to involve her family and friends, she finds out a lot about herself and her family. Honesty with herself and with others becomes so very important to her.
The local post lady Manon is a wonderful character. As well as delivering the post, she often delivered the groceries and got Wendy out of difficult situations on more than one occasion. I did enjoy the smattering of French during the parts Wendy and Manon were together. Manon was wise beyond her years and after some tough love, such a support and encouragement to Wendy.
The narrator of the audiobook is one of my favourites, Eilidh Beaton. She was excellent as always bringing the story to life with her distinct voices for the various characters and great tone and pacing. I admit I was slightly surprised that she wasn’t using her Scottish accent that I am used to from her previous narrations!
Where Do We Go From Here? is a book I feel will resonate with many readers. I expect that many women of a similar age to Wendy whose family are reaching adulthood will have that feeling of wondering what life is all about and many may be dealing with those questions in the same unwise ways as Wendy. It’s a thought-provoking read with themes of friendship, second chances and finding strength to make a new start.
It really was quite difficult to like Wendy at times. I had a lot of sympathy for her at the beginning but some of her behaviours were quite shocking. To use a cliché, she really does find herself in France: and finds she doesn’t like the person she’s become.
Wendy is of course a much nicer person by the end of the book. By working through so many issues and taking the time to involve her family and friends, she finds out a lot about herself and her family. Honesty with herself and with others becomes so very important to her.
The local post lady Manon is a wonderful character. As well as delivering the post, she often delivered the groceries and got Wendy out of difficult situations on more than one occasion. I did enjoy the smattering of French during the parts Wendy and Manon were together. Manon was wise beyond her years and after some tough love, such a support and encouragement to Wendy.
The narrator of the audiobook is one of my favourites, Eilidh Beaton. She was excellent as always bringing the story to life with her distinct voices for the various characters and great tone and pacing. I admit I was slightly surprised that she wasn’t using her Scottish accent that I am used to from her previous narrations!
Where Do We Go From Here? is a book I feel will resonate with many readers. I expect that many women of a similar age to Wendy whose family are reaching adulthood will have that feeling of wondering what life is all about and many may be dealing with those questions in the same unwise ways as Wendy. It’s a thought-provoking read with themes of friendship, second chances and finding strength to make a new start.
April 14, 2025
This book is about Wendy, an essential worker during COVID, who rents a house in France for six months. It’s there that she deals with a lot of the things she’s been going through and ends up finding herself in the process.
There were a lot of moments throughout this story that I wasn’t Wendy’s biggest fan, but I still found myself rooting for her and liking her a lot more towards the end of the book. Wendy felt like a real and relatable person as she dealt with grief and stress and everything that goes along with that.
This was a touching and compelling story that will stick with you after you’re done reading it.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy of the book.
There were a lot of moments throughout this story that I wasn’t Wendy’s biggest fan, but I still found myself rooting for her and liking her a lot more towards the end of the book. Wendy felt like a real and relatable person as she dealt with grief and stress and everything that goes along with that.
This was a touching and compelling story that will stick with you after you’re done reading it.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy of the book.
March 28, 2025
I really enjoyed this audiobook. There were so many deeper meanings that were relatable. A fictional story with a splash of self help that I'm sure for many people can understand from their own lives or others around them. This book reveals various emotions and life changing events from the characters ranging from stress, loss, grief, alcohol abuse, to love, forgiveness, and happiness.
Wendy is a nurse during the pandemic and finds herself drinking more than usual. Her family have concerns that things are getting out of control as she isn't the same person she was, but who would be after nursing her sick mother to then having to accept her passing on in a difficult way whilst thereafter nursing many through a pandemic.
Wendy is then pushed aside by her family rather than supported as they simply don't know how to manage the ongoing issues after trying to communicate. Also, due to the pandemic it hust seems to make sense for Wendy to move out of the family home, which unfortunately isn't helpful for her emotional state at that time. During this time her brother is going through his own turmoil so he is of little support in caring for their mother however Wendy has no knowledge of his issues until later on in her recovery and only after her sabbatical trip to France where she more or less isolated herself does she begin to face herself and her problems.
When Wendy returns to the UK she works on mending her relationships with her husband Harry, her children and her brother due to her being able to accept and acknowledge her problems for herself she begins deep healing and recovery. The latter part of this story is where we see compassion, understanding, and forgiveness throughout all the family dynamics and various relationships and how important communication is. Although Wendy may have to accept the loss of friendships due to them being more based around her old self she accepts this may be a loss or just for now phase dependent on the others involved and how they move forward in life.
More so to know oneself and be able to move forward from old habits that may be used as coping strategies in order to have a happier, more fulfilling life really was a beautiful happy ending. Sometimes to get to a new better you, you have to be willing and able to let go of the old, release the past with grace, forgiveness and love and just get your feet back on the ground without outside influences.
This was well narrated so much so that at times I found certain characters irritating like why can't this be seen and understood etc so this shows how well delivered it was that the audio and writing style together had the required impact at each point. Absolutely fantastic overall and an easy, enjoyable listen about life, family dynamics, and so much more!
With thanks & gratitude to Netgalley & Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen to this ELC in return for an open, honest review. Best wishes for publication on 23rd April 2025. 📚🎧🙏🏼❤️
Wendy is a nurse during the pandemic and finds herself drinking more than usual. Her family have concerns that things are getting out of control as she isn't the same person she was, but who would be after nursing her sick mother to then having to accept her passing on in a difficult way whilst thereafter nursing many through a pandemic.
Wendy is then pushed aside by her family rather than supported as they simply don't know how to manage the ongoing issues after trying to communicate. Also, due to the pandemic it hust seems to make sense for Wendy to move out of the family home, which unfortunately isn't helpful for her emotional state at that time. During this time her brother is going through his own turmoil so he is of little support in caring for their mother however Wendy has no knowledge of his issues until later on in her recovery and only after her sabbatical trip to France where she more or less isolated herself does she begin to face herself and her problems.
When Wendy returns to the UK she works on mending her relationships with her husband Harry, her children and her brother due to her being able to accept and acknowledge her problems for herself she begins deep healing and recovery. The latter part of this story is where we see compassion, understanding, and forgiveness throughout all the family dynamics and various relationships and how important communication is. Although Wendy may have to accept the loss of friendships due to them being more based around her old self she accepts this may be a loss or just for now phase dependent on the others involved and how they move forward in life.
More so to know oneself and be able to move forward from old habits that may be used as coping strategies in order to have a happier, more fulfilling life really was a beautiful happy ending. Sometimes to get to a new better you, you have to be willing and able to let go of the old, release the past with grace, forgiveness and love and just get your feet back on the ground without outside influences.
This was well narrated so much so that at times I found certain characters irritating like why can't this be seen and understood etc so this shows how well delivered it was that the audio and writing style together had the required impact at each point. Absolutely fantastic overall and an easy, enjoyable listen about life, family dynamics, and so much more!
With thanks & gratitude to Netgalley & Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen to this ELC in return for an open, honest review. Best wishes for publication on 23rd April 2025. 📚🎧🙏🏼❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2025
Where Do We Go From Here by Nick Alexander
Today is publication day for Where Do We Go From Here by author Nick Alexander. A beautiful and heartbreaking story about the life of Wendy. A wife, mother and nurse whose life is at a crossroads. You see she’s spent so many years neglecting herself so that she could put her family and career first, but along the way she’s lost herself. She is a nurse working during Covid times, her children are reaching adulthood and resentful and distant, her marriage is in shambles and she’s trying to cope with the death of her mother. It’s all too much, and Wendy is at a breaking point. So when the opportunity arises to spend solo time in a remote cabin in France, exploring nature and pondering life, Wendy jumps at the chance. Wendy hopes that 6 months in a remote cabin, away from her family and chaotic life, will be what she needs. But it definitely isn’t as blissful as she thought it would be. The solitude and isolation force Wendy to face her demons and the impact these demons have on her family. While confronting her troubled life and dealing with her stress and grief, Wendy also begins a journey of healing and self-discovery.
Where Do We Go From Here is the first book of Nick Alexander’s that I have read, so I was not sure what to expect. Well this book was definitely for me. It was relatable in so many ways, as a mother, wife and care taker. That being said, at times I found Wendy rather unlikable. But I did appreciate how the author wrote such a raw and honest character. I truly loved the friendship that developed between Wendy and Manon, the local postwoman. She filled a void in Wendy’s life and offered a wealth of wisdom and support.
This was not an easy read. Where Do We Go From Here deals with some heavy topics but it truly is a fabulous book about self discovery, family, friendship, love and loss. I highly recommend this book and will be reading Nick Alexander’s back list of books.
Thanks so much Bookature for having me be a part of the review team. Also a big thank you to the author for sending me a copy of your book and other fabulous treasures.
Today is publication day for Where Do We Go From Here by author Nick Alexander. A beautiful and heartbreaking story about the life of Wendy. A wife, mother and nurse whose life is at a crossroads. You see she’s spent so many years neglecting herself so that she could put her family and career first, but along the way she’s lost herself. She is a nurse working during Covid times, her children are reaching adulthood and resentful and distant, her marriage is in shambles and she’s trying to cope with the death of her mother. It’s all too much, and Wendy is at a breaking point. So when the opportunity arises to spend solo time in a remote cabin in France, exploring nature and pondering life, Wendy jumps at the chance. Wendy hopes that 6 months in a remote cabin, away from her family and chaotic life, will be what she needs. But it definitely isn’t as blissful as she thought it would be. The solitude and isolation force Wendy to face her demons and the impact these demons have on her family. While confronting her troubled life and dealing with her stress and grief, Wendy also begins a journey of healing and self-discovery.
Where Do We Go From Here is the first book of Nick Alexander’s that I have read, so I was not sure what to expect. Well this book was definitely for me. It was relatable in so many ways, as a mother, wife and care taker. That being said, at times I found Wendy rather unlikable. But I did appreciate how the author wrote such a raw and honest character. I truly loved the friendship that developed between Wendy and Manon, the local postwoman. She filled a void in Wendy’s life and offered a wealth of wisdom and support.
This was not an easy read. Where Do We Go From Here deals with some heavy topics but it truly is a fabulous book about self discovery, family, friendship, love and loss. I highly recommend this book and will be reading Nick Alexander’s back list of books.
Thanks so much Bookature for having me be a part of the review team. Also a big thank you to the author for sending me a copy of your book and other fabulous treasures.
April 23, 2025
Had to think about this for a bit before I came here to write this…
This one is a hard one to read and digest. Especially since I’ve been a nurse for many years…
Wendy is a nurse who was in the thick of it during all the tumultuous times of Covid. She saw lots of lives lost, including some of her friends. And….to be honest…she can’t seem to get past it.
She’s now turned to drinking… with lots of wine….
When she realizes that her family is literally falling apart, she decides to take some time alone… in the south of France… to try to find herself…. and figure out the course of her life.
But it’s not all it’s cracked up to be… it’s really rural… with only intermittent power and heat and really the basics in life.
BUT, how she goes about her life there, the choices she makes, and the bonds that are formed… well, that really MAKES the whole book worth it!
There were times where I thought about giving up on this one, as it was just a bit too ‘off the rails’ for me, but I’m happy I stuck with it, as the ending put it all together just perfectly!
3 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 for me, rounded up to 4!
#WhereDoWeGoFromHere by #NickAlexander and narrated nicely by #EilidhBeaton.
***** THIS HAS NOT YET BEEN RELEASED!! Look 👀 for it on 4/23/25!! *****
Thanks so much to #NetGalley & #BookoutureAudio for an ARC of the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
This one is a hard one to read and digest. Especially since I’ve been a nurse for many years…
Wendy is a nurse who was in the thick of it during all the tumultuous times of Covid. She saw lots of lives lost, including some of her friends. And….to be honest…she can’t seem to get past it.
She’s now turned to drinking… with lots of wine….
When she realizes that her family is literally falling apart, she decides to take some time alone… in the south of France… to try to find herself…. and figure out the course of her life.
But it’s not all it’s cracked up to be… it’s really rural… with only intermittent power and heat and really the basics in life.
BUT, how she goes about her life there, the choices she makes, and the bonds that are formed… well, that really MAKES the whole book worth it!
There were times where I thought about giving up on this one, as it was just a bit too ‘off the rails’ for me, but I’m happy I stuck with it, as the ending put it all together just perfectly!
3 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 for me, rounded up to 4!
#WhereDoWeGoFromHere by #NickAlexander and narrated nicely by #EilidhBeaton.
***** THIS HAS NOT YET BEEN RELEASED!! Look 👀 for it on 4/23/25!! *****
Thanks so much to #NetGalley & #BookoutureAudio for an ARC of the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
March 30, 2025
I had the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Where Do We Go From Here through NetGalley, and I was deeply moved by this poignant and beautifully written novel!
The story follows Wendy, a nurse who, after enduring the chaos of Covid and the devastating loss of her mother, retreats to the mountains of France in search of clarity and healing. However, as she attempts to rebuild her life, she slowly realizes that she has been suppressing past trauma, numbing herself with alcohol instead of confronting her pain. Wendy’s journey is raw and deeply human—she is not a perfect protagonist, but that is what makes her so real! Her struggles with grief, self-discovery, and unhealthy coping mechanisms feel incredibly authentic, reflecting the many different ways people navigate loss.
What makes this novel so compelling is its ability to balance emotional depth with the beauty of its setting! The French landscape serves as both an escape and a backdrop for Wendy’s internal battle, making her story feel even more immersive! Themes of forgiveness and personal recovery are woven throughout the novel in a way that feels both heartbreaking and hopeful!
Nick Alexander has crafted a touching and introspective story that lingers long after the final page! Where Do We Go From Here is not just about grief; it’s about finding the courage to face your past and rebuild yourself, no matter how broken you feel! I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy deeply personal, character-driven narratives!
The story follows Wendy, a nurse who, after enduring the chaos of Covid and the devastating loss of her mother, retreats to the mountains of France in search of clarity and healing. However, as she attempts to rebuild her life, she slowly realizes that she has been suppressing past trauma, numbing herself with alcohol instead of confronting her pain. Wendy’s journey is raw and deeply human—she is not a perfect protagonist, but that is what makes her so real! Her struggles with grief, self-discovery, and unhealthy coping mechanisms feel incredibly authentic, reflecting the many different ways people navigate loss.
What makes this novel so compelling is its ability to balance emotional depth with the beauty of its setting! The French landscape serves as both an escape and a backdrop for Wendy’s internal battle, making her story feel even more immersive! Themes of forgiveness and personal recovery are woven throughout the novel in a way that feels both heartbreaking and hopeful!
Nick Alexander has crafted a touching and introspective story that lingers long after the final page! Where Do We Go From Here is not just about grief; it’s about finding the courage to face your past and rebuild yourself, no matter how broken you feel! I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy deeply personal, character-driven narratives!
December 31, 2025
This wasn't what I was expecting at all - a real surprise. I loved the setting of this, as well as Wendy's story - which slowly dawns on the reader in an emotional and believable way. Uplifting, despite some serious issues.
April 28, 2025
Nick Alexander’s books always get me emotional. There’s always at least one subject that resonates with me personally book. This book hit me hard. The subject of alcohol and about the deaths of some characters family members just reminded me of some of my past. Wendy reminds me of me to a point.
Nick, looks like you have yet another hit on your hands.
Nick, looks like you have yet another hit on your hands.
April 25, 2025
Wendy’s job as a nurse undoubtedly showcases her compassionate nature. However, her personal life leaves much to be desired. In fact, her husband urges her to leave. Go away. After the pandemic and the lockdown, Wendy and her husband, Harry, have drifted apart. With their children older, Wendy agrees to leave for a while.
Wendy’s absence from her family isn’t new. Due to her job as a nurse and her concerns about the pandemic, she had already been spending time away from home. So, when Harry suggests they take a break, Wendy agrees. Unsure about the future, Wendy tries to assess her life and problems, hoping to find solutions.
Deciding to spend time in picturesque France, Wendy embarks on a journey of self-discovery. She even comes to terms with certain aspects of herself that require serious consideration. Finding a new friend in France proves instrumental in helping Wendy unravel the root causes of her problems. This emotional story by Nick Alexander delves into challenging issues, allowing readers to witness Wendy’s struggles while holding onto the hope that her life may take a positive turn.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Wendy’s absence from her family isn’t new. Due to her job as a nurse and her concerns about the pandemic, she had already been spending time away from home. So, when Harry suggests they take a break, Wendy agrees. Unsure about the future, Wendy tries to assess her life and problems, hoping to find solutions.
Deciding to spend time in picturesque France, Wendy embarks on a journey of self-discovery. She even comes to terms with certain aspects of herself that require serious consideration. Finding a new friend in France proves instrumental in helping Wendy unravel the root causes of her problems. This emotional story by Nick Alexander delves into challenging issues, allowing readers to witness Wendy’s struggles while holding onto the hope that her life may take a positive turn.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
April 21, 2025
In this breathtaking yet vulnerable story, we follow Wendy, a wife, a mother and a nurse who is trying to find a balance so that she can stop her her work life interfering with her personal life.
Her marriage is failing, and her relationship with her children is hanging on by a thread. So when everything seems to be lost, Wendy decides to take a trip away to the South of France to figure out what she wants out of life.
Working in healthcare during the pandemic was also not the easiest. During Covid, I remember watching the news and hearing how the much the health workers were overworked and underpaid. So many people struggled and unfortunately lost their lives during the pandemic. It was an extremely hard time for everyone in the world, so I’m glad that this book made awareness to the struggles faced, especially in the NHS.
I really enjoyed this book. Literary fiction speaks to my soul, and I will always indulge in it. What I loved most about this book was how realistic the characters were portrayed.
Marriage is quite often romanticised, but from watching my own parents struggle in their marriage since I was a child; to watching the main protagonists (Wendy and Henry) struggle in their marriage, showed me that in order to have a relationship that lasts, love is unfortunately not enough.
The book also touches on the reality of the double shift and triple shift that women experience in domestic life. Women are often expected to dismiss their own personal needs and struggles for the sake of the family.
After a hard day at work, it is the woman that is excepted to come home take care of the family, feed the children, where she can barely take care of herself.
I thought that Wendy was often misunderstood and unseen throughout the book by her family, and it made me very angry. Imagine coming home to your husband and children after a long day of work and they tell you that your absence was the best part of their day. That would be my 13th reason.
** Thank you to the publisher for the ARC
Her marriage is failing, and her relationship with her children is hanging on by a thread. So when everything seems to be lost, Wendy decides to take a trip away to the South of France to figure out what she wants out of life.
Working in healthcare during the pandemic was also not the easiest. During Covid, I remember watching the news and hearing how the much the health workers were overworked and underpaid. So many people struggled and unfortunately lost their lives during the pandemic. It was an extremely hard time for everyone in the world, so I’m glad that this book made awareness to the struggles faced, especially in the NHS.
I really enjoyed this book. Literary fiction speaks to my soul, and I will always indulge in it. What I loved most about this book was how realistic the characters were portrayed.
Marriage is quite often romanticised, but from watching my own parents struggle in their marriage since I was a child; to watching the main protagonists (Wendy and Henry) struggle in their marriage, showed me that in order to have a relationship that lasts, love is unfortunately not enough.
The book also touches on the reality of the double shift and triple shift that women experience in domestic life. Women are often expected to dismiss their own personal needs and struggles for the sake of the family.
After a hard day at work, it is the woman that is excepted to come home take care of the family, feed the children, where she can barely take care of herself.
I thought that Wendy was often misunderstood and unseen throughout the book by her family, and it made me very angry. Imagine coming home to your husband and children after a long day of work and they tell you that your absence was the best part of their day. That would be my 13th reason.
** Thank you to the publisher for the ARC
April 20, 2025
For years, Wendy has put others first. A loving wife, mother and nurse, she has never taken time for herself. But now with her children flying the nest, she decides, alone, to rent a little house in a forgotten corner of the French Alps where she can try and answer the question: what next?
But when she arrives, Wendy starts to regret her decision. This retreat suddenly looks so very different from the dream. As she walks the hill paths alone, thoughts of her family leave her with a pang in her chest.
With no one else to care for, Wendy is suddenly forced to confront something she’s tried her best to hide: the real reason her family is falling apart. Is she strong enough to face it alone?
Then, just when she thinks she’s hit rock bottom, she discovers that help can come from the most unlikely places: a newfound friendship giving her the strength to start again. Wendy always thought she knew how her story would end but she’s learning that this is only the beginning.
This is a powerful heartbreaking but beautiful story told about love, loss, friendship and redemption. The MC takes you on a journey from her life as a nurse during COVID times to her alcoholism and the anger she appears to hold. It is an honest exploration within these themes and is a journey of self discovery written beautifully.
It was humbling to read Wendy’s story and evident that you never really know what’s going on in people’s lives. I loved the relationship between Wendy and the post lady who despite their differences, Wendy found a strength through their friendship.
This is a touching, poignant story and if you like Mike Gayle books I think you will enjoy this one too.
Thank you @bookouture for sending me this one. Released on the 23rd April.
But when she arrives, Wendy starts to regret her decision. This retreat suddenly looks so very different from the dream. As she walks the hill paths alone, thoughts of her family leave her with a pang in her chest.
With no one else to care for, Wendy is suddenly forced to confront something she’s tried her best to hide: the real reason her family is falling apart. Is she strong enough to face it alone?
Then, just when she thinks she’s hit rock bottom, she discovers that help can come from the most unlikely places: a newfound friendship giving her the strength to start again. Wendy always thought she knew how her story would end but she’s learning that this is only the beginning.
This is a powerful heartbreaking but beautiful story told about love, loss, friendship and redemption. The MC takes you on a journey from her life as a nurse during COVID times to her alcoholism and the anger she appears to hold. It is an honest exploration within these themes and is a journey of self discovery written beautifully.
It was humbling to read Wendy’s story and evident that you never really know what’s going on in people’s lives. I loved the relationship between Wendy and the post lady who despite their differences, Wendy found a strength through their friendship.
This is a touching, poignant story and if you like Mike Gayle books I think you will enjoy this one too.
Thank you @bookouture for sending me this one. Released on the 23rd April.
April 23, 2025
Thank you Bookouture for my #gifted copy of Where Do We Go From Here! #bookouture #WhereDoWeGoFromHere #NickAlexander
Title: Where Do We Go From Here
Author: Nick Alexander
Pub Date: April 23, 2025 - Out Now!
Where Do We Go From Here was such an emotional yet uplifting read. I am always drawn to these types of books about loss and family drama. I was drawn to the main character, Wendy, who was a nurse during the pandemic and always put the needs of others before herself. She is used to caring for others, but never herself. But her marriage is falling apart and she feels burnt out. So she decides it’s time to focus on herself and she rents a cabin in a remote area in France where she can spend some quiet time by herself and ask herself what is next. But when she gets there, she feels isolated and is finally forced to face past trauma. At times, Wendy was a hard character to like, but I also knew she was dealing with a lot and I kept that in the back of my heard as I was reading this book. I felt like Alexander wrote such an amazing and dynamic female character in Wendy and I thought the character development was superb. Perhaps my favorite part about this book was the relationship Wendy develops with the Post Lady. I just loved their unlikely friendship and found so much!
Title: Where Do We Go From Here
Author: Nick Alexander
Pub Date: April 23, 2025 - Out Now!
Where Do We Go From Here was such an emotional yet uplifting read. I am always drawn to these types of books about loss and family drama. I was drawn to the main character, Wendy, who was a nurse during the pandemic and always put the needs of others before herself. She is used to caring for others, but never herself. But her marriage is falling apart and she feels burnt out. So she decides it’s time to focus on herself and she rents a cabin in a remote area in France where she can spend some quiet time by herself and ask herself what is next. But when she gets there, she feels isolated and is finally forced to face past trauma. At times, Wendy was a hard character to like, but I also knew she was dealing with a lot and I kept that in the back of my heard as I was reading this book. I felt like Alexander wrote such an amazing and dynamic female character in Wendy and I thought the character development was superb. Perhaps my favorite part about this book was the relationship Wendy develops with the Post Lady. I just loved their unlikely friendship and found so much!
April 24, 2025
One will find a very relatable, realistic character dealing with a very real situation in this emotional, character driven novel of self-discovery. Needing some time for herself after feeling a bit burned out due to work, mothering, her troubled marriage and just life, Wendy heads to vacation in France. Her cabin is a bit more isolated than she was expecting, but she also formed unexpected friendships and a whole lot of reflection that aided her in her journey to find her purpose again. The plot moved a bit slow in some parts and I still find it is not my favorite thing to read plots that involve Covid (totally a personal choice) but overall an emotional, relatable story.
I was able to experience and enjoy this as a tandem read. The sole female narrator, Eilidh Beaton did a great job bring Wendy and her internal thoughts to life.
3.5 stars
Thank you to and bookouture for the eARC Bookouture Audio for the ALC.i
I was able to experience and enjoy this as a tandem read. The sole female narrator, Eilidh Beaton did a great job bring Wendy and her internal thoughts to life.
3.5 stars
Thank you to and bookouture for the eARC Bookouture Audio for the ALC.i
August 4, 2025
DNF @ 31% - where do we go from here? Seems like nowhere. This was utterly dragging on for me, and I didn't find myself rooting for Wendy at all. Premise seemed interesting enough, but it wasn't giving me anything to work with / keep me engaged.
Read
July 18, 2025DNF - I don’t need another book where a large part of the plot is about Covid
March 20, 2025
“The only person I met was myself. I just saw who I had become. And caught a glimpse of the person I could be instead”
Synopsis:
Wendy spent years working as a nurse for the NHS, but when life events cause a strain on her marriage and her relationships with her kids, she decides to rent a cabin in the middle of nowhere to get away from everyone. Once there she is faced with some ugly truths and important decisions to make.
My review:
This is such a gorgeous story about healing and finding yourself again after trauma and addiction. I could see myself and people I knew in each of these characters, they were so well-crafted and real. The setting and the character journey we see Wendy go on was so raw it was difficult to read at times, but ultimately rewarding and inspiring to be reminded of the power we have to change our own lives, but to have a positive influence on the lives of others.
I fear you will not like Wendy at times (I’m sure she would say the same thing about herself) but she is an important reminder to meet people with compassion and connection because we can all struggle.
So grateful to have been given an ARC of this story - it couldn’t have come at a better time for me to serve as a reminder of all the good there is still to come 🫶🏼
Out on 23rd April 2025 in paperback, ebook, and audio!
Synopsis:
Wendy spent years working as a nurse for the NHS, but when life events cause a strain on her marriage and her relationships with her kids, she decides to rent a cabin in the middle of nowhere to get away from everyone. Once there she is faced with some ugly truths and important decisions to make.
My review:
This is such a gorgeous story about healing and finding yourself again after trauma and addiction. I could see myself and people I knew in each of these characters, they were so well-crafted and real. The setting and the character journey we see Wendy go on was so raw it was difficult to read at times, but ultimately rewarding and inspiring to be reminded of the power we have to change our own lives, but to have a positive influence on the lives of others.
I fear you will not like Wendy at times (I’m sure she would say the same thing about herself) but she is an important reminder to meet people with compassion and connection because we can all struggle.
So grateful to have been given an ARC of this story - it couldn’t have come at a better time for me to serve as a reminder of all the good there is still to come 🫶🏼
Out on 23rd April 2025 in paperback, ebook, and audio!
March 1, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley & Bookouture for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for honest feedback.
This is my first Nick Alexander book & maybe I'm just not in the headspace for Where Do We Go From Here just now, but I couldn't click with it at all - I'm so sorry!
The mix between first and third person really confused me & the subjects within the book are quite deep / hard hitting, so it can be quite intense. I'm also not a huge fan of massive chapters, which this book has!
I appreciate the main character has a lot going on but it made it difficult to like her &, if I'm honest, I skim read the majority of the book after the first 4 chapters.
The other reviews love the book so it's probably just be me in the minority. I really appreciate the opportunity to read this book & I apologise for the negative review.
This is my first Nick Alexander book & maybe I'm just not in the headspace for Where Do We Go From Here just now, but I couldn't click with it at all - I'm so sorry!
The mix between first and third person really confused me & the subjects within the book are quite deep / hard hitting, so it can be quite intense. I'm also not a huge fan of massive chapters, which this book has!
I appreciate the main character has a lot going on but it made it difficult to like her &, if I'm honest, I skim read the majority of the book after the first 4 chapters.
The other reviews love the book so it's probably just be me in the minority. I really appreciate the opportunity to read this book & I apologise for the negative review.
April 4, 2025
Things at home aren't great, life seems to be stuttering along. Wendy begins to question what she really wants from life so she books a remote cabin in France so that she can spend time alone and figure out her future.
The cutesy cover for Where Do We Go From Here? by Nick Alexander drew me in and the blurb had me believing this was going to be the story of an English person struggling with life in France; misunderstandings, new friendships, some personal growth, all leading to a magical epiphany. How wrong I was!
There is a serious note to the opening chapters. Wendy was a nurse during the worst of COVID. Desperate to protect her family she lived in an Airbnb during the peak of the pandemic. Isolated from her husband and two children Wendy didn't realise that the tight unit they formed got used to her not being around. COVID was a bump in the road for lots of relationships, but for Wendy, it became a mountain. Unsure if she wanted her marriage to survive, even if her family still wanted her around, she decided she needed some "me time" in the form of six months alone in southern France.
It's at this point that things begin to take a more humorous turn. The cabin Wendy has rented is more rustic than she expected, cue issues with heating and electricity. Wendy quickly realises that her schoolgirl French is distinctly lacking and winter in her remote location is just as bleak, if not worse, than winter at home.
A visit from her teenage daughter over Christmas, along with a comment from the postwoman who delivers her groceries, brings things to a head when Wendy is forced to acknowledge her drinking. Wendy reasons that lots of people enjoy a drink on holiday, but when she looks back at her first few months she realises that her drinking is out of control, and has been an issue for a long time.
Once Wendy accepts her reliance on alcohol is a problem she then has to address why. My heart went out to Wendy as we learned about some of the difficulties she had faced. For me, the harrowing impact of being on the front line during the pandemic would have been a good enough reason to use drink as an emotional crutch, but for Wendy, her reason is far more personal and heartbreaking. Brilliant narration from Eilidh Beaton allowed me to empathise fully with everything Wendy was going through.
As Wendy addresses her drinking problem she also has to address the relationships she has with friends and family. What really hit home for me here is that we can never fully know what people are dealing with in their everyday lives, particularly people who don't openly share information. It was also gratifying to see that the author didn't wave a magic wand and make the ending magical, with everything suddenly being perfect, this reminds us that relationships have to be nurtured and not taken for granted.
If you enjoyed my review please check out my book blog, Reading For Leisure
https://readingforleisure.blogspot.com/
or follow me on Twitter; @Debbie_Hart_UK
or on Bluesky; @debbiehartuk.bsky.social
The cutesy cover for Where Do We Go From Here? by Nick Alexander drew me in and the blurb had me believing this was going to be the story of an English person struggling with life in France; misunderstandings, new friendships, some personal growth, all leading to a magical epiphany. How wrong I was!
There is a serious note to the opening chapters. Wendy was a nurse during the worst of COVID. Desperate to protect her family she lived in an Airbnb during the peak of the pandemic. Isolated from her husband and two children Wendy didn't realise that the tight unit they formed got used to her not being around. COVID was a bump in the road for lots of relationships, but for Wendy, it became a mountain. Unsure if she wanted her marriage to survive, even if her family still wanted her around, she decided she needed some "me time" in the form of six months alone in southern France.
It's at this point that things begin to take a more humorous turn. The cabin Wendy has rented is more rustic than she expected, cue issues with heating and electricity. Wendy quickly realises that her schoolgirl French is distinctly lacking and winter in her remote location is just as bleak, if not worse, than winter at home.
A visit from her teenage daughter over Christmas, along with a comment from the postwoman who delivers her groceries, brings things to a head when Wendy is forced to acknowledge her drinking. Wendy reasons that lots of people enjoy a drink on holiday, but when she looks back at her first few months she realises that her drinking is out of control, and has been an issue for a long time.
Once Wendy accepts her reliance on alcohol is a problem she then has to address why. My heart went out to Wendy as we learned about some of the difficulties she had faced. For me, the harrowing impact of being on the front line during the pandemic would have been a good enough reason to use drink as an emotional crutch, but for Wendy, her reason is far more personal and heartbreaking. Brilliant narration from Eilidh Beaton allowed me to empathise fully with everything Wendy was going through.
As Wendy addresses her drinking problem she also has to address the relationships she has with friends and family. What really hit home for me here is that we can never fully know what people are dealing with in their everyday lives, particularly people who don't openly share information. It was also gratifying to see that the author didn't wave a magic wand and make the ending magical, with everything suddenly being perfect, this reminds us that relationships have to be nurtured and not taken for granted.
If you enjoyed my review please check out my book blog, Reading For Leisure
https://readingforleisure.blogspot.com/
or follow me on Twitter; @Debbie_Hart_UK
or on Bluesky; @debbiehartuk.bsky.social
April 2, 2025
Nick Alexander delivers an emotional yet uplifting story in Where Do We Go From Here?, a novel that beautifully captures the turmoil of a woman at a crossroads. Wendy, a devoted wife, mother, and nurse, has spent years caring for others—often at the expense of her own well-being. Burned out from the trauma of nursing during COVID and struggling with the impact on her family, she makes the bold decision to rent a remote cabin in France for six months. With her children on the verge of adulthood and her marriage barely holding on, Wendy hopes that solitude will bring the clarity she desperately needs.
However, the reality of the cabin is far more challenging than she anticipated. Remote in every sense, it offers only intermittent power and a fireplace as the sole source of heat. As the days stretch into weeks, Wendy is forced to confront the truths she has long tried to suppress. Her isolation, coupled with the comforts she has relied on—like France’s renowned wine—only highlight the depth of her emotional struggles.
One of the novel’s most moving aspects is the friendship that develops between Wendy and the local postal delivery woman. Their bond is unexpected but profoundly life-changing, proving that help often comes from the most unlikely places. I especially loved that their connection continues even after Wendy returns home to England, reinforcing the novel’s message that healing and growth don’t happen in isolation.
Nick Alexander handles Wendy’s struggles with care and authenticity, making her journey deeply relatable. The depiction of PTSD, grief, and the emotional toll of caregiving is done with such respect that it’s impossible not to feel for Wendy. Her story is both heartbreaking and hopeful, reminding us that even when life feels like it’s falling apart, new beginnings are always possible.
The Narration:
I listened to the audiobook version, narrated by Eilidh Beaton, and her performance was outstanding. She brought Wendy’s voice to life with warmth and emotion, and her ability to convey the French characters with authenticity added an extra layer of depth to the story. Beaton’s narration elevated an already compelling book, making it an even more immersive experience.
Final Thoughts:
Where Do We Go From Here? is a powerful, beautifully written novel about love, loss, resilience, and the unexpected connections that help us find our way. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys deeply emotional, character-driven stories.
4.5 stars (rounded up to 5)
I received an ARC of this audiobook from the publisher but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.
However, the reality of the cabin is far more challenging than she anticipated. Remote in every sense, it offers only intermittent power and a fireplace as the sole source of heat. As the days stretch into weeks, Wendy is forced to confront the truths she has long tried to suppress. Her isolation, coupled with the comforts she has relied on—like France’s renowned wine—only highlight the depth of her emotional struggles.
One of the novel’s most moving aspects is the friendship that develops between Wendy and the local postal delivery woman. Their bond is unexpected but profoundly life-changing, proving that help often comes from the most unlikely places. I especially loved that their connection continues even after Wendy returns home to England, reinforcing the novel’s message that healing and growth don’t happen in isolation.
Nick Alexander handles Wendy’s struggles with care and authenticity, making her journey deeply relatable. The depiction of PTSD, grief, and the emotional toll of caregiving is done with such respect that it’s impossible not to feel for Wendy. Her story is both heartbreaking and hopeful, reminding us that even when life feels like it’s falling apart, new beginnings are always possible.
The Narration:
I listened to the audiobook version, narrated by Eilidh Beaton, and her performance was outstanding. She brought Wendy’s voice to life with warmth and emotion, and her ability to convey the French characters with authenticity added an extra layer of depth to the story. Beaton’s narration elevated an already compelling book, making it an even more immersive experience.
Final Thoughts:
Where Do We Go From Here? is a powerful, beautifully written novel about love, loss, resilience, and the unexpected connections that help us find our way. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys deeply emotional, character-driven stories.
4.5 stars (rounded up to 5)
I received an ARC of this audiobook from the publisher but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.
April 22, 2025
I have been a big fan of this author since like forever it seems! Starting way back with his Fifty Reasons series and continuing through all his duologies and standalones right up to this, his latest offering.
In this book we meet Wendy, warts and all. And there are quite a few warts, which I will obviously leave you to discover, as she herself discovers as the book progresses. She is a wife and mother of two and, when we first meet her, she has run away to a remote cabin in France to, well, kinda find herself and also, if truth be told, to try and force her family to worry and miss her. She's not an easy character to like! But she has been through quite a lot in recent years, stuff falling on her shoulders before the previous stuff has been dealt with meaning that it has all compacted and is totally weighing her down.
Sounds all doom and gloom doesn't it? Well, it is quite heavy on the emotional side but also quite funny in places too. This is well aided by the setting and the perils and pitfalls of living in a remote cabin in a place where you don't really know the language well. Especially when your power comes from a source which is rather weather dependent!
We also have a great relationship between Wendy and Manon but again, I will leave you to discover that for yourself. Other characters include Wendy's family - husband and two children - and how their behaviour also affects Wendy. Again, you'll see how as the book progresses but I do feel like they contributed their fair share to quite a few of her woes... It takes two...
And then there's the cat!
It's all about soul searching and honesty, about facing things rather than pushing them down. Working through things and not running away from them, even though it takes running away to face them. And yes that does make sense! Something I think we could all do a bit of every so often - the working not the running. It also contains some of the uglier side of the Covid pandemic which I know is still raw for some people. But all that said, I felt completely safe all the way through reading. There's always that spark of hope, occasionally out of reach, but always there for the taking... And although the ending was perfect, I would really love to reconnect with Wendy and her family in the future. Pop in, see how they are doing. They kinda gripped me that way...
All in all, a cracking addition to an already well impressive back catalogue. Roll on next time.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
In this book we meet Wendy, warts and all. And there are quite a few warts, which I will obviously leave you to discover, as she herself discovers as the book progresses. She is a wife and mother of two and, when we first meet her, she has run away to a remote cabin in France to, well, kinda find herself and also, if truth be told, to try and force her family to worry and miss her. She's not an easy character to like! But she has been through quite a lot in recent years, stuff falling on her shoulders before the previous stuff has been dealt with meaning that it has all compacted and is totally weighing her down.
Sounds all doom and gloom doesn't it? Well, it is quite heavy on the emotional side but also quite funny in places too. This is well aided by the setting and the perils and pitfalls of living in a remote cabin in a place where you don't really know the language well. Especially when your power comes from a source which is rather weather dependent!
We also have a great relationship between Wendy and Manon but again, I will leave you to discover that for yourself. Other characters include Wendy's family - husband and two children - and how their behaviour also affects Wendy. Again, you'll see how as the book progresses but I do feel like they contributed their fair share to quite a few of her woes... It takes two...
And then there's the cat!
It's all about soul searching and honesty, about facing things rather than pushing them down. Working through things and not running away from them, even though it takes running away to face them. And yes that does make sense! Something I think we could all do a bit of every so often - the working not the running. It also contains some of the uglier side of the Covid pandemic which I know is still raw for some people. But all that said, I felt completely safe all the way through reading. There's always that spark of hope, occasionally out of reach, but always there for the taking... And although the ending was perfect, I would really love to reconnect with Wendy and her family in the future. Pop in, see how they are doing. They kinda gripped me that way...
All in all, a cracking addition to an already well impressive back catalogue. Roll on next time.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
November 5, 2025
I received a free copy of the book via NetGalley, and the following review is entirely my own voluntary, and honest opinion.
Wendy’s story taught me many things – lessons I’m grateful to have learned not from personal or secondhand experience by a family member or close friend, but through the pages of a book.
This mother of two's marriage and the relationship with her children are falling apart, which she blames on the quarantine, the pandemic that caused it, and her job. This is not so far from the truth, since as a nurse, the threat of contamination loomed over her family after every shift, which further increased the tension at home. Eventually, she moves into her friend's empty Airbnb, initially for just a few weeks, which eventually turns into months. The emotional gap between her and her family only widens. Until one day, Wendy realizes that her children and husband are no longer waiting for her to return to their shared home and would rather spend Christmas without her.
It seems unfair, even cruel, since we see all this from the woman's perspective, who, in her initial resentment, finds it difficult to admit her own responsibility. Her family seems to believe some time apart would do them good, and she is unable to continue her work after the horrors she experienced during COVID-19, so she flees to France. She rents a beautiful but almost completely isolated cabin where she can be alone with her thoughts. She tries to understand what truly happened and what she wants from her life.
As the story unfolds, flashbacks to the past help us better understand what really happened. As we read, we realize – perhaps even sooner than Wendy would admit to herself – that the problems run much deeper, and the pandemic has merely brought them to light, made them more visible. Nick Alexander masterfully portrays how our protagonist reaches the point of admitting that she is struggling with alcoholism. Yet just when the reader thinks we have finally found the root of the problems, the author shows us that alcohol is merely a coping mechanism, not the only problem.
“Where Do We Go From Here?” is about ordinary people – people like us, or like our neighbours. It explores struggles that many of us can relate to. While every family and every addiction is unique, and grief looks different for everyone, I believe that at some point in this novel, we can all recognize a piece of ourselves.
Wendy’s story taught me many things – lessons I’m grateful to have learned not from personal or secondhand experience by a family member or close friend, but through the pages of a book.
This mother of two's marriage and the relationship with her children are falling apart, which she blames on the quarantine, the pandemic that caused it, and her job. This is not so far from the truth, since as a nurse, the threat of contamination loomed over her family after every shift, which further increased the tension at home. Eventually, she moves into her friend's empty Airbnb, initially for just a few weeks, which eventually turns into months. The emotional gap between her and her family only widens. Until one day, Wendy realizes that her children and husband are no longer waiting for her to return to their shared home and would rather spend Christmas without her.
It seems unfair, even cruel, since we see all this from the woman's perspective, who, in her initial resentment, finds it difficult to admit her own responsibility. Her family seems to believe some time apart would do them good, and she is unable to continue her work after the horrors she experienced during COVID-19, so she flees to France. She rents a beautiful but almost completely isolated cabin where she can be alone with her thoughts. She tries to understand what truly happened and what she wants from her life.
As the story unfolds, flashbacks to the past help us better understand what really happened. As we read, we realize – perhaps even sooner than Wendy would admit to herself – that the problems run much deeper, and the pandemic has merely brought them to light, made them more visible. Nick Alexander masterfully portrays how our protagonist reaches the point of admitting that she is struggling with alcoholism. Yet just when the reader thinks we have finally found the root of the problems, the author shows us that alcohol is merely a coping mechanism, not the only problem.
“Where Do We Go From Here?” is about ordinary people – people like us, or like our neighbours. It explores struggles that many of us can relate to. While every family and every addiction is unique, and grief looks different for everyone, I believe that at some point in this novel, we can all recognize a piece of ourselves.
January 1, 2026
https://openbooksociety.com/article/w...
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
Where Do We Go From Here? is the first book by Nick Alexander that I have read. My only question at this point in time is…why have I not read any books by this author? Well, I shall rectify that in the future – that is a given. This book had me run the gamut of emotions… a very well told story which had me thinking long and hard about the protagonists’ journey that she took.
Where Do We Go From Here? Is the story of Wendy (a nurse, mother and wife) as she contemplates life now that COVID is over, her children have grown and moved out and her marriage is hanging by a thread. Wendy embarks upon a soulful journey by renting a remote and rustic cabin in France and goes there to contemplate what is next in her life. Each day she learns more about herself, how she got to this stage of her life and what she wants for the future. Well, sort of. It is a mixed up kind of journey one has when they are soul searching…Regardless – the story is definitely engaging and had this reader thinking about Wendy’s journey.
We see Wendy develop a relationship with the postwoman even though they are quite different. Wendy also has seen to it that she has very little interaction with her husband and two kids. I suspect this both helped and hindered her self reflection and her future wants. It is so often the case that women have these struggles when we give up one thing for another (perhaps the wanting to stay home with our kids as they grow up versus the necessity of having to work to sustain a reasonable quality of life).
Wendy’s journey is up and down and it made this reader laugh and cry at times. I found it emotionally draining when Wendy was discovering (or actually acknowledging) some very hard truths about her behaviour. When she also confronted her addiction, loss of her mother and the fact that she was becoming an empty nester AND that she was disconnected from the love of her life – her husband.
I was impressed by the writing of Nick Alexander – he wrote such relatable women. And the fact that he was able to relay this woman at her lowest and the journey back again was on point.
If you only read one women’s fiction book this year – I highly suggest Where Do We Go From Here?. It will be an emotional ride (it was for me), but well worth the effort.
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
Where Do We Go From Here? is the first book by Nick Alexander that I have read. My only question at this point in time is…why have I not read any books by this author? Well, I shall rectify that in the future – that is a given. This book had me run the gamut of emotions… a very well told story which had me thinking long and hard about the protagonists’ journey that she took.
Where Do We Go From Here? Is the story of Wendy (a nurse, mother and wife) as she contemplates life now that COVID is over, her children have grown and moved out and her marriage is hanging by a thread. Wendy embarks upon a soulful journey by renting a remote and rustic cabin in France and goes there to contemplate what is next in her life. Each day she learns more about herself, how she got to this stage of her life and what she wants for the future. Well, sort of. It is a mixed up kind of journey one has when they are soul searching…Regardless – the story is definitely engaging and had this reader thinking about Wendy’s journey.
We see Wendy develop a relationship with the postwoman even though they are quite different. Wendy also has seen to it that she has very little interaction with her husband and two kids. I suspect this both helped and hindered her self reflection and her future wants. It is so often the case that women have these struggles when we give up one thing for another (perhaps the wanting to stay home with our kids as they grow up versus the necessity of having to work to sustain a reasonable quality of life).
Wendy’s journey is up and down and it made this reader laugh and cry at times. I found it emotionally draining when Wendy was discovering (or actually acknowledging) some very hard truths about her behaviour. When she also confronted her addiction, loss of her mother and the fact that she was becoming an empty nester AND that she was disconnected from the love of her life – her husband.
I was impressed by the writing of Nick Alexander – he wrote such relatable women. And the fact that he was able to relay this woman at her lowest and the journey back again was on point.
If you only read one women’s fiction book this year – I highly suggest Where Do We Go From Here?. It will be an emotional ride (it was for me), but well worth the effort.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews