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Somewhere Only We Know
"What if we could go there? Somewhere that makes us normal? I mean, hypothetically of course... If that place existed, would you want to spend eternity there with me?" Sadie Bradford’s life is one anxiety attack after another. All she wants is to escape life's realities for the summer and hang out with her best friend Aaron. But her grandmother has other Sadie will get a job. Sadie will do volunteer work. Sadie will make new friends - friends without brain injuries that make them forget everything...friends that aren’t Aaron.While Sadie struggles to survive her anxiety with all these new changes, she finds an escape when she dreams herself into the beautiful world of Isola Fiona. It’s a place that cures memory loss and anxiety. It’s a place where she and Aaron can fall in love. But after dragging Aaron along with her to her dream world, things take a turn. Every time they return home, Sadie’s anxiety is a little better but Aaron’s memory is still gone. And Isola Fiona may not be much of a dream after all. As Sadie realizes that Isola Fiona is as real as her anxiety, she rushes to change the course of fate and make things right, but she may be too late...
233 pages, Paperback
First published June 15, 2014
3 people are currently reading
972 people want to read
About the author
Cheyanne Young
15 books584 followersCheyanne Young lives in Houston, Texas and is an award-winning author of several books for young adults, including The Last Wish of Sasha Cade, which is being adapted into a TV mini-series by Waterside Studios. She has a Master of Library Science degree from Texas Woman’s University and works as a Teen Librarian.
Cheyanne has a fear of cold weather and a coffee addiction that probably needs an intervention. She loves books, glitter, and sarcasm. Her hidden talents include being able to say the alphabet backwards and typing 130 words per minute. She lives with her family, two spoiled rotten dogs, and a cat that is most likely plotting to take over the world.
Cheyanne has a fear of cold weather and a coffee addiction that probably needs an intervention. She loves books, glitter, and sarcasm. Her hidden talents include being able to say the alphabet backwards and typing 130 words per minute. She lives with her family, two spoiled rotten dogs, and a cat that is most likely plotting to take over the world.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 30, 2016
Sadie and Aaron are best friends with very different afflictions. Sadie has a high level of anxiety that prevents her from being sociable. Aaron has short-term memory loss stemming from a childhood illness. They also have differing home lives. Sadie has a helpful grandmother who prods her into getting a job and doing volunteer work to bring her out of her shell, while Aaron’s family is negative, particularly his horrible aunt with her putdowns.
When Aaron gives Sadie a ring, she has no idea what she’s in for. The ring is magical and transports her to a place, Isola Fiona, where her anxiety leaves her. When she pulls Aaron into this world, his brain works fine there. The world is healing. When some parts of their real life get better and others worsen, there’s the question of whether they should stay or leave this realm. Being in Isola Fiona also reveals the true feelings they have for each other. They’re more than just best friends.
The two characters have a beautiful friendship and a sweet budding romance. Isola Fiona had decent world-building, although I had questions about the realm that were never answered . The emotions, heartaches, and losses were saddening—and filled me with sympathy for the characters—but the thread of romance and hope balanced them out. Overall, I would recommend this great read to YA lovers.
When Aaron gives Sadie a ring, she has no idea what she’s in for. The ring is magical and transports her to a place, Isola Fiona, where her anxiety leaves her. When she pulls Aaron into this world, his brain works fine there. The world is healing. When some parts of their real life get better and others worsen, there’s the question of whether they should stay or leave this realm. Being in Isola Fiona also reveals the true feelings they have for each other. They’re more than just best friends.
The two characters have a beautiful friendship and a sweet budding romance. Isola Fiona had decent world-building, although I had questions about the realm that were never answered . The emotions, heartaches, and losses were saddening—and filled me with sympathy for the characters—but the thread of romance and hope balanced them out. Overall, I would recommend this great read to YA lovers.
May 10, 2015
I would like to thank the author, Cheyanne Young, for giving me a copy of this book to read and review. To be honest, I thought that Somewhere Only We Know was going to be a love story, plain and simple. On the contrary, it goes so far beyond and does not fit neatly into any genre. Sadie and Aaron are best friends with crippling disorders: Sadie has social anxiety to the point that she barely leaves her house, and Aaron has short term memory issues stemming from a childhood illness. When a found item helps them to get lost in a dream world, real life problems become easier and more complicated at the same time. The author does a masterful job at creating both the real and imaginary worlds, with characters that you fall in love with and feel sorry for at the same time. With a fast paced plot and well defined characters, this is a poignant story with an unexpected ending. Somewhere Only We Know is a quick read, but wonderfully written.
January 1, 2015
3.5 star rating
"The great thing about dreaming is that in dreams, you can do whatever you want. Sure, you may not always realize you're dreaming at first, but even when the scary parts happen, you'll wake up. I never have to stay stuck in a dream that I don't want to be in."
This book was unique and special. Yes, it actually does have a huge meaning behind it, and that was one of the reasons why I did adore this and give it all of my time and pleasure for. The author has a story behind it, and the concept of anxiety and mental disorders make it even more special.
Sadie has lived with anxiety for the past three years, and the only person who could help her feel better at times is her best friend, Aaron, who has short-term memory loss after a high fever when he was young. This summer, Sadie's grandmother would like Sadie to go social and drop all of her worries and get a job and live. One night, Aaron and Sadie are dragged into a dream world where the anxiety is gone. But what's better--the dream world or reality?
I loved the concept of this book. You could tell that it was researched and had a lot of thought put into it to make it amazing. The concept was 100% perfect, and I ended up having no regrets with the way it went with the mentality and reality of the characters. These types of things the characters were going through were no joke, but Sadie's depression and anxiety did begin to fade away as she learnt to live and not worry about the thoughts that haunt her.
Sadie had a huge problem, but either way, I loved her as a character and main protagonist. She was strong and dealt well with her personal demons. Characters like her are truly ones to remember, and I totally praise them up to the bookish gods. *grows a halo* She was a person that created the somewhere only she knew.
Aaron was... eh.
He was cute and all, but it's not like I chose him to be my book boyfriend or anything. He was just adorable in his own way, but no crush or anything. He was perfect for Sadie, though, and I was glad that he made her feel better through her problems.
The plot was weak at times. It was very thin and the dream world should've been a little more thought through. I found that the characters were put the most thought and detail into, while the world-development stayed at risk and put readers in questioning. I wish that more of my questions were answered, since this was a standalone fascinating story itself. Sure, it was fast-paced and got to the point, but the few tweaks were spotted missing.
"What if you had to give up your whole life here and never see anyone else again? Would you still come with me?" Aaron leans in closer and whispers so no one can hear. "Of course I would."
The relationship that Aaron and Sadie had was indescribable. Their romance and friendship left me breathless, especially because they were so alike in so many ways. Not only because of their emotional struggles, but also because of their personalities and the way they took things. They might have not seen it, but they were really formed beautifully. Let's thank the author for that beauty.
Chey really shocked me by the end. She left many plot twists that really got us thinking about what this novel really meant to the average YA reader. It was a unique read that was fairly enjoyable and absolutely recommended, despite the review tweaks needed to be looked over.
"The great thing about dreaming is that in dreams, you can do whatever you want. Sure, you may not always realize you're dreaming at first, but even when the scary parts happen, you'll wake up. I never have to stay stuck in a dream that I don't want to be in."
This book was unique and special. Yes, it actually does have a huge meaning behind it, and that was one of the reasons why I did adore this and give it all of my time and pleasure for. The author has a story behind it, and the concept of anxiety and mental disorders make it even more special.
Sadie has lived with anxiety for the past three years, and the only person who could help her feel better at times is her best friend, Aaron, who has short-term memory loss after a high fever when he was young. This summer, Sadie's grandmother would like Sadie to go social and drop all of her worries and get a job and live. One night, Aaron and Sadie are dragged into a dream world where the anxiety is gone. But what's better--the dream world or reality?
I loved the concept of this book. You could tell that it was researched and had a lot of thought put into it to make it amazing. The concept was 100% perfect, and I ended up having no regrets with the way it went with the mentality and reality of the characters. These types of things the characters were going through were no joke, but Sadie's depression and anxiety did begin to fade away as she learnt to live and not worry about the thoughts that haunt her.
Sadie had a huge problem, but either way, I loved her as a character and main protagonist. She was strong and dealt well with her personal demons. Characters like her are truly ones to remember, and I totally praise them up to the bookish gods. *grows a halo* She was a person that created the somewhere only she knew.
Aaron was... eh.
He was cute and all, but it's not like I chose him to be my book boyfriend or anything. He was just adorable in his own way, but no crush or anything. He was perfect for Sadie, though, and I was glad that he made her feel better through her problems.
The plot was weak at times. It was very thin and the dream world should've been a little more thought through. I found that the characters were put the most thought and detail into, while the world-development stayed at risk and put readers in questioning. I wish that more of my questions were answered, since this was a standalone fascinating story itself. Sure, it was fast-paced and got to the point, but the few tweaks were spotted missing.
"What if you had to give up your whole life here and never see anyone else again? Would you still come with me?" Aaron leans in closer and whispers so no one can hear. "Of course I would."
The relationship that Aaron and Sadie had was indescribable. Their romance and friendship left me breathless, especially because they were so alike in so many ways. Not only because of their emotional struggles, but also because of their personalities and the way they took things. They might have not seen it, but they were really formed beautifully. Let's thank the author for that beauty.
Chey really shocked me by the end. She left many plot twists that really got us thinking about what this novel really meant to the average YA reader. It was a unique read that was fairly enjoyable and absolutely recommended, despite the review tweaks needed to be looked over.
January 19, 2015
Read on the Blog
My Summary:
Sadie has major anxiety attacks which makes her closed off to other people but Aaron.
Aaron has memory loss so him and his best friend Sadie always have each others' back.
But what happens when one day Sadie gets sucked into a dream world called Isola Fiona, a place that can cure illnesses? Well, she does the logical thing and drags her best friend their too by accident of course.
What happens when feelings are revealed? How will they make it work?
My Thoughts:
The beginning of this book was really good because sometimes when you're reading a book the first chapter or first few chapters are like , "eh its ok" but I wasn't bored. Actually, come to think of it this book had no dull moments! I like the concept that she has this dream world and the place which is called Isla Fiona can cure sicknesses.
Personally, I like reading paranormal so when Erika told me about this I was like sure I'll read it, it sounds interesting and it was! Gosh, when I reached the ending of this book I started pacing around the house, crying, and wailing how much I'm pissed off at Aaron for doing something stupid and irritating I just wanted to punch him in the face! Uurrggg!!!!!
Until now, I'm still so pissed about it because what he did affected Sadie too and what happened to Sadie because of Aaron... You know what I think if Sadie wasn't a great best friend like the BESTEST friend ever that wouldn't have happened to her but NOOOOO bad things always happen to nice people! Then I was already making weird sounds cause i ran out of tears... Guys, I started crying half way through the book! Gosh. I'm so emotional.
Now lets talk about the characters:
Okay, so Sadie is kind of a loner cause of her anxiety problems but through out this book you'll really see how Isla Fiona helps her. Every time she comes out of Isla Fiona she gets better and better so she starts going out, getting a job (well that's actually cause of her grandmother you'll find out more about her when you read the book;)) finds knew friends but while all these good things are happening to her, Aaron feels a little forgotten.
Now we talk about Aaron, Aaron is sweet and all but he tends to forget things A LOT cause he suffers memory loss but when Sadie brings him to her dream world he remembers every thing as in everything but when he goes back to the real world he forgets again. He doesn't even remember that he ever went to Isla Fiona but when he is there, he remembers he has feelings for a certain someone *Wink**Wink*.
Do you think that Sadie and Aaron will have a happily ever after? Well, I'm not going to tell you:)
READ!READ!READ! Its really a great book.
Great job Cheyanne Young:)
My Summary:
Sadie has major anxiety attacks which makes her closed off to other people but Aaron.
Aaron has memory loss so him and his best friend Sadie always have each others' back.
But what happens when one day Sadie gets sucked into a dream world called Isola Fiona, a place that can cure illnesses? Well, she does the logical thing and drags her best friend their too by accident of course.
What happens when feelings are revealed? How will they make it work?
My Thoughts:
The beginning of this book was really good because sometimes when you're reading a book the first chapter or first few chapters are like , "eh its ok" but I wasn't bored. Actually, come to think of it this book had no dull moments! I like the concept that she has this dream world and the place which is called Isla Fiona can cure sicknesses.
Personally, I like reading paranormal so when Erika told me about this I was like sure I'll read it, it sounds interesting and it was! Gosh, when I reached the ending of this book I started pacing around the house, crying, and wailing how much I'm pissed off at Aaron for doing something stupid and irritating I just wanted to punch him in the face! Uurrggg!!!!!
Until now, I'm still so pissed about it because what he did affected Sadie too and what happened to Sadie because of Aaron... You know what I think if Sadie wasn't a great best friend like the BESTEST friend ever that wouldn't have happened to her but NOOOOO bad things always happen to nice people! Then I was already making weird sounds cause i ran out of tears... Guys, I started crying half way through the book! Gosh. I'm so emotional.
Now lets talk about the characters:
Okay, so Sadie is kind of a loner cause of her anxiety problems but through out this book you'll really see how Isla Fiona helps her. Every time she comes out of Isla Fiona she gets better and better so she starts going out, getting a job (well that's actually cause of her grandmother you'll find out more about her when you read the book;)) finds knew friends but while all these good things are happening to her, Aaron feels a little forgotten.
Now we talk about Aaron, Aaron is sweet and all but he tends to forget things A LOT cause he suffers memory loss but when Sadie brings him to her dream world he remembers every thing as in everything but when he goes back to the real world he forgets again. He doesn't even remember that he ever went to Isla Fiona but when he is there, he remembers he has feelings for a certain someone *Wink**Wink*.
Do you think that Sadie and Aaron will have a happily ever after? Well, I'm not going to tell you:)
READ!READ!READ! Its really a great book.
Great job Cheyanne Young:)
September 1, 2016
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I received this book to give an honest review.
I was really amazed at this story and the way the ending came about. Sadie has severe anxiety and her best friend Aaron helps calm her down even though he has a memory issue. The two are perfect best friends and you just hope that they fall for each other because you just know that has to happen right?
Well things happen to change over the summer Sadie has to live a "normal" life one that doesn't revolve around Aaron and Aaron has to start writing things down so he can remember what he needs to do on a daily basis.
When another world is what I would call it comes into both Sadie and Aaron's life it seems like it is too good to be true, it honestly can not be real right? Isola Fiona just seems like a very amazing place to be at because no matter what issues you had before they are all gone when you enter. The only downside is you can not stay forever or can you?
I loved that in this world Aaron can say how he feels for Sadie and remember when he returns because once back in the real world he doesn't remember which is quite sad.
We see how Sadie juggles her new life while Aaron struggles with not only his memory lose but the issues going on at home. No wonder Isola Fiona seems like the perfect place to be.
The characters were pretty good and I loved how the author really captured how they struggled with the things they had to deal with on a day to day basis.
There are a few things I wish the author would have dived in more on were the world of Isola Finoa we got just a taste on who would have I guess invented this world but why did he exactly? I felt that the author could have elaborated more.
Why didn't Sadie really try to explore Isola Fiona? It was like she mostly seemed to stay in one spot until Finoa had her go through the forest.
I received this book to give an honest review.
I was really amazed at this story and the way the ending came about. Sadie has severe anxiety and her best friend Aaron helps calm her down even though he has a memory issue. The two are perfect best friends and you just hope that they fall for each other because you just know that has to happen right?
Well things happen to change over the summer Sadie has to live a "normal" life one that doesn't revolve around Aaron and Aaron has to start writing things down so he can remember what he needs to do on a daily basis.
When another world is what I would call it comes into both Sadie and Aaron's life it seems like it is too good to be true, it honestly can not be real right? Isola Fiona just seems like a very amazing place to be at because no matter what issues you had before they are all gone when you enter. The only downside is you can not stay forever or can you?
I loved that in this world Aaron can say how he feels for Sadie and remember when he returns because once back in the real world he doesn't remember which is quite sad.
We see how Sadie juggles her new life while Aaron struggles with not only his memory lose but the issues going on at home. No wonder Isola Fiona seems like the perfect place to be.
The characters were pretty good and I loved how the author really captured how they struggled with the things they had to deal with on a day to day basis.
There are a few things I wish the author would have dived in more on were the world of Isola Finoa we got just a taste on who would have I guess invented this world but why did he exactly? I felt that the author could have elaborated more.
Why didn't Sadie really try to explore Isola Fiona? It was like she mostly seemed to stay in one spot until Finoa had her go through the forest.
June 2, 2015
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REVIEW
I really, really wanted to like this book. It screamed interesting, exciting even. Yet when I turned the final page I was left rather annoyed by the whole book.
Sadie for me wasn't a likeable character, I felt most the time she wanted to have anxiety because the times she felt fine, she would pop a pill because being fine is not right for her. I didn't get Sadie & Aaron's relationship either, I personally found their connection to be more hostile than a friendship. Which leads me to the third problem, Jeremy, who was down-to-earth and cool character but nothing came of him, and I mean nothing. He was just a total lose end by the time the story finished and I just didn't understand why.
Overall I felt like this story was more of a first draft than a finished product, even though I was intrigued enough to finish the book, it did nothing to satisfy me.
REVIEW
I really, really wanted to like this book. It screamed interesting, exciting even. Yet when I turned the final page I was left rather annoyed by the whole book.
Sadie for me wasn't a likeable character, I felt most the time she wanted to have anxiety because the times she felt fine, she would pop a pill because being fine is not right for her. I didn't get Sadie & Aaron's relationship either, I personally found their connection to be more hostile than a friendship. Which leads me to the third problem, Jeremy, who was down-to-earth and cool character but nothing came of him, and I mean nothing. He was just a total lose end by the time the story finished and I just didn't understand why.
Overall I felt like this story was more of a first draft than a finished product, even though I was intrigued enough to finish the book, it did nothing to satisfy me.
February 21, 2021
This is a beautiful story, and I cannot explain how much I loved Sadie and Aaron's relationship. Hell, I can't explain how much I loved Aaron period. I wanted to wrap this poor boy up in a bear hug. He's kind, sweet, and doesn't realize what a beautiful person he is. His family berates him and makes him feel small for something that he can't help. I could empathize with Sadie as well, but in the end, my absolute favorite character in this book is Aaron.
However, there were a lot of elements to the plot that I felt ended up being insignificant/unresolved (Jeremy/his mother/the hints that Sadie was going to take over for Gideon/honestly the entire Gideon plotline). The Isola Fiona world is intriguing, but bare bones; elements of the world, such as the fireflies, needed some severe fleshing out, imo. The pacing near the end also was an issue; TBH, I think there was a lot of wrap-up that needed to happen here that just didn't occur.
I tend to love a story that doesn't drag out, but I think in this case if the book had an extra, say, 100 pages, it would actually fix a lot of these problems. Really, the story here is unique, and I cannot stress enough how much I love these characters; there's a great structure here; it just needs some additions to make the story make full sense.
However, there were a lot of elements to the plot that I felt ended up being insignificant/unresolved (Jeremy/his mother/the hints that Sadie was going to take over for Gideon/honestly the entire Gideon plotline). The Isola Fiona world is intriguing, but bare bones; elements of the world, such as the fireflies, needed some severe fleshing out, imo. The pacing near the end also was an issue; TBH, I think there was a lot of wrap-up that needed to happen here that just didn't occur.
I tend to love a story that doesn't drag out, but I think in this case if the book had an extra, say, 100 pages, it would actually fix a lot of these problems. Really, the story here is unique, and I cannot stress enough how much I love these characters; there's a great structure here; it just needs some additions to make the story make full sense.
May 22, 2015
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This will not affect my opinion of the book.
Anxiety rules Sadie's life. She is a slave to the pills that she is supposed to take once a day, but many days she end up swallowing three or more and the panic still haunts her.
Aaron does what the pills cannot--make her feel normal, even though he is far from normal himself. Sadie has anxiety issues, but Aaron cannot even remember his problems due to a memory disorder.
Summer is in full swing and Aaron and Sadie have everything planned out, until Sadie's grandmother gives her own plan. This summer, Sadie is supposed to do normal things, like get a job, volunteer, and most importantly, hang out with normal people who can actually remember what they had for breakfast that morning.
Following her grandmother's regimen keeps Sadie away from Aaron, but she does not have to stay away during her dreams when she visits Isola Fiona. There, Sadie does not have anxiety and Aaron can remember everything with perfect accuracy. At first, it is just a silly dream, but there may be more to Fiona Isola than Sadie really thought.
Somewhere Only We Know is a great story on the surface, but there were underlying problems and an ending that disappointed me.
First, the main characters were realistic, bold, and cute.
I watched Sadie struggle with her anxiety and eventually overcome it. She is a new kind of hero. In most YA, the hero is the person with the special powers, the one who discovers they have special powers, or something else like that. For better or for worse, Sadie does not have magical powers of any kind (I promise), but she is still a hero to me.
She started the novel with crippling anxiety that prevented her from doing the simplest things in life, like get a summer job or make new friends. As the story progresses, she turns into a confident young women.
Aaron was also an interesting character. I like how his mental disabilities were highlighted in the book and not ignored. He obviously struggled to live with his memory issues, but nothing stopped him from wanting to live a normal life.
Together, Sadie and Aaron were the cutest pair of best friends that I have read about in a while. Their relationship is so fluffy, loving, and just gosh darn adorable that I had no choice but to love them.
Overall, I loved how mental illness was treated in this book. The main characters struggled with it, but it was most the only focus of their personalities.
I also really enjoyed the secondary characters. There was a variety of different people who made up the cast of this book, but none of them really had the spotlight as long as I would have wanted, which is my main issue with this book.
Nothing was really ever delved into except for the romance and anxiety parts of the plot.
For example, there was a big deal in the beginning of the novel about Sadie's mother committing suicide, but after the first couple of pages it was kind of forgotten about. I want to know how that affected Sadie and her family and just her life in general. I wish I knew more about Sadie's life before the novel. The contrast between her life before anxiety and the transition into the life of torture would have been heartbreakingly awesome.
I also wanted to know more about Isola Fiona and the people that lived there. The questions of why and how were never really answered beyond the fact that the guy that created it was an "alchemist." That revelation was treated like it was completely normal and did not warrant any further explanation.
I just wish that I knew a lot more about the world and the characters in this novel, which is good and bad.
On the good side, Young creates a captivating world that I would love to know more about. She made me care about the characters and wonder more about their lives. On the other hand, a lot was left unanswered and buried underneath the romance.
Overall, Somewhere Only We Know is a great representation of mental illness and a relationship between two best friends. The plot is a little bit thin and the resolution is not as complete as I would have liked, but it was a pretty good fluffy read.
I give Somewhere Only We Know by Cheyanne Young 3 stars.
This review and many others are posted on my blog, Crazy for YA
Anxiety rules Sadie's life. She is a slave to the pills that she is supposed to take once a day, but many days she end up swallowing three or more and the panic still haunts her.
Aaron does what the pills cannot--make her feel normal, even though he is far from normal himself. Sadie has anxiety issues, but Aaron cannot even remember his problems due to a memory disorder.
Summer is in full swing and Aaron and Sadie have everything planned out, until Sadie's grandmother gives her own plan. This summer, Sadie is supposed to do normal things, like get a job, volunteer, and most importantly, hang out with normal people who can actually remember what they had for breakfast that morning.
Following her grandmother's regimen keeps Sadie away from Aaron, but she does not have to stay away during her dreams when she visits Isola Fiona. There, Sadie does not have anxiety and Aaron can remember everything with perfect accuracy. At first, it is just a silly dream, but there may be more to Fiona Isola than Sadie really thought.
Somewhere Only We Know is a great story on the surface, but there were underlying problems and an ending that disappointed me.
First, the main characters were realistic, bold, and cute.
I watched Sadie struggle with her anxiety and eventually overcome it. She is a new kind of hero. In most YA, the hero is the person with the special powers, the one who discovers they have special powers, or something else like that. For better or for worse, Sadie does not have magical powers of any kind (I promise), but she is still a hero to me.
She started the novel with crippling anxiety that prevented her from doing the simplest things in life, like get a summer job or make new friends. As the story progresses, she turns into a confident young women.
Aaron was also an interesting character. I like how his mental disabilities were highlighted in the book and not ignored. He obviously struggled to live with his memory issues, but nothing stopped him from wanting to live a normal life.
Together, Sadie and Aaron were the cutest pair of best friends that I have read about in a while. Their relationship is so fluffy, loving, and just gosh darn adorable that I had no choice but to love them.
Overall, I loved how mental illness was treated in this book. The main characters struggled with it, but it was most the only focus of their personalities.
I also really enjoyed the secondary characters. There was a variety of different people who made up the cast of this book, but none of them really had the spotlight as long as I would have wanted, which is my main issue with this book.
Nothing was really ever delved into except for the romance and anxiety parts of the plot.
For example, there was a big deal in the beginning of the novel about Sadie's mother committing suicide, but after the first couple of pages it was kind of forgotten about. I want to know how that affected Sadie and her family and just her life in general. I wish I knew more about Sadie's life before the novel. The contrast between her life before anxiety and the transition into the life of torture would have been heartbreakingly awesome.
I also wanted to know more about Isola Fiona and the people that lived there. The questions of why and how were never really answered beyond the fact that the guy that created it was an "alchemist." That revelation was treated like it was completely normal and did not warrant any further explanation.
I just wish that I knew a lot more about the world and the characters in this novel, which is good and bad.
On the good side, Young creates a captivating world that I would love to know more about. She made me care about the characters and wonder more about their lives. On the other hand, a lot was left unanswered and buried underneath the romance.
Overall, Somewhere Only We Know is a great representation of mental illness and a relationship between two best friends. The plot is a little bit thin and the resolution is not as complete as I would have liked, but it was a pretty good fluffy read.
I give Somewhere Only We Know by Cheyanne Young 3 stars.
This review and many others are posted on my blog, Crazy for YA
May 7, 2015
*This will also be posted on Goodreads.
**I got an ebook version of this to review from Xpresso Book Tours.
Rating: 3.5/5
BOOK DETAILS:
Title: Somewhere Only We Know by Cheyanne Young
Publication date: June 15th 2014
Genres: Romance, Young Adult
Synopsis
Sadie Bradford’s life is one anxiety attack after another. All she wants is to escape life’s realities for the summer and hang out with her best friend Aaron. But her grandmother has other plans: Sadie will get a job. Sadie will do volunteer work. Sadie will make new friends – friends without brain injuries that make them forget everything… friends that aren’t Aaron.
While Sadie struggles to survive her anxiety with all these new changes, she finds an escape when she dreams herself into the beautiful world of Isola Fiona. It’s a place that cures memory loss and anxiety. It’s a place where she and Aaron can fall in love.
But after dragging Aaron along with her to her dream world, things take a turn. Every time they return home, Sadie’s anxiety is a little better but Aaron’s memory is still gone. And Isola Fiona may not be much of a dream after all. As Sadie realizes that Isola Fiona is as real as her anxiety, she rushes to change the course of fate and make things right, but she may be too late…
***
The concept of this book, this story, is great, and the writing flowed well. You could tell the author did her research on depression, anxiety, and short-term memory loss, as Aaron and Sadie felt real and the information was correct. I don't know a whole lot about short-term memory loss, but everything made since while reading and there was some medical talk as well a few times that you would have had to research anyway. I actually really enjoyed reading about Aaron and Sadie, about how they both had problems to deal with and how they dealt with them. It was just an overall enjoyable read.
I like how Sadie had to get a job because her Grandma was worried, and how she made friends and got responsibilities and slowly got rid of her anxiety (mostly, and thanks to Isola Fiona as well). I like how Aaron and Sadie fit so well together, how they care about each other so much and are always there for another. I just really like their bond. I also like how Jeremy and Jaz fit in, even though they seem more like temporary characters now. Overall, I like the characters and the flow of the writing, and the story all together.
However, while I liked Isola Fiona, I feel like the world-building could have been better. I still have so many questions about Isola Fiona and Gideon, and all we really know about it is that it isn't a magic world that Gideon made and that you're stuck there forever. Who is Gideon, really? What happened to him? Where is Isola Fiona? How is it not a magic world? Why was it described as a scientific world made by Gideon? How is that possible? How do they get there in the first place? Does your soul go into the ring or something, to take you inside of it which could possibly be Isola Fiona? Or is it something completely different? How can you survive in a scientific world made by a man when said man is dead or at least has disappeared? I just wish we had more information on Isola Fiona. And more details about its appearance and workings as well, as all we really know is that the sky is black with no stars, there's many trees of which they hand bulbs on to put the fireflies they catch every year in, and that it has a place where you can come and go if you wear the ring until you start to glow. Who is in charge? How do they maintain control? How do they get food and water and how do they cook it?
Other than that, though, I really liked Somewhere Only We Know and I recommend this for lovers of romance, fantasy-like aspects, and YA books. I think most people would enjoy this book, and so I recommend it.
**I got an ebook version of this to review from Xpresso Book Tours.
Rating: 3.5/5
BOOK DETAILS:
Title: Somewhere Only We Know by Cheyanne Young
Publication date: June 15th 2014
Genres: Romance, Young Adult
Synopsis
Sadie Bradford’s life is one anxiety attack after another. All she wants is to escape life’s realities for the summer and hang out with her best friend Aaron. But her grandmother has other plans: Sadie will get a job. Sadie will do volunteer work. Sadie will make new friends – friends without brain injuries that make them forget everything… friends that aren’t Aaron.
While Sadie struggles to survive her anxiety with all these new changes, she finds an escape when she dreams herself into the beautiful world of Isola Fiona. It’s a place that cures memory loss and anxiety. It’s a place where she and Aaron can fall in love.
But after dragging Aaron along with her to her dream world, things take a turn. Every time they return home, Sadie’s anxiety is a little better but Aaron’s memory is still gone. And Isola Fiona may not be much of a dream after all. As Sadie realizes that Isola Fiona is as real as her anxiety, she rushes to change the course of fate and make things right, but she may be too late…
***
The concept of this book, this story, is great, and the writing flowed well. You could tell the author did her research on depression, anxiety, and short-term memory loss, as Aaron and Sadie felt real and the information was correct. I don't know a whole lot about short-term memory loss, but everything made since while reading and there was some medical talk as well a few times that you would have had to research anyway. I actually really enjoyed reading about Aaron and Sadie, about how they both had problems to deal with and how they dealt with them. It was just an overall enjoyable read.
I like how Sadie had to get a job because her Grandma was worried, and how she made friends and got responsibilities and slowly got rid of her anxiety (mostly, and thanks to Isola Fiona as well). I like how Aaron and Sadie fit so well together, how they care about each other so much and are always there for another. I just really like their bond. I also like how Jeremy and Jaz fit in, even though they seem more like temporary characters now. Overall, I like the characters and the flow of the writing, and the story all together.
However, while I liked Isola Fiona, I feel like the world-building could have been better. I still have so many questions about Isola Fiona and Gideon, and all we really know about it is that it isn't a magic world that Gideon made and that you're stuck there forever. Who is Gideon, really? What happened to him? Where is Isola Fiona? How is it not a magic world? Why was it described as a scientific world made by Gideon? How is that possible? How do they get there in the first place? Does your soul go into the ring or something, to take you inside of it which could possibly be Isola Fiona? Or is it something completely different? How can you survive in a scientific world made by a man when said man is dead or at least has disappeared? I just wish we had more information on Isola Fiona. And more details about its appearance and workings as well, as all we really know is that the sky is black with no stars, there's many trees of which they hand bulbs on to put the fireflies they catch every year in, and that it has a place where you can come and go if you wear the ring until you start to glow. Who is in charge? How do they maintain control? How do they get food and water and how do they cook it?
Other than that, though, I really liked Somewhere Only We Know and I recommend this for lovers of romance, fantasy-like aspects, and YA books. I think most people would enjoy this book, and so I recommend it.
June 3, 2015
To view the full review use the link below
http://misslittlebookaddictya.blogspo...
I won't start this with a quote, but I will say that Cheyenne Young hit on a lot of quotable, almost philosophical things in SOMEWHERE ONLY WE KNOW. Let me start by saying I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Sadie has massive anxiety problems. The book opened with a very punchy scene where we see just how much she suffers. She was diagnosed three years ago and the only person who gives her any kind of comfort is her best friend, Aaron, who suffers from his own mental problems. Dealing with her anxiety is not easy, especially when her grandmother insists that she get a job and start socializing with other people outside Aaron.
It doesn't go over so well, then somehow her and Aaron end up being puled into this dream world where they don't have their mental disorders and they can feel like normal people.
Sadie was a very strong protag, even if there were times I got frustrated with her. She takes meds for her severe anxiety, supposed to be one a day, yet she almost always ends up taking three or more. This is a good and bad point for me. I very much appreciate how the author showed mental disorders and handled them with respect and care, but Sadie taking more than her prescribed amount of pills is call addiction, a subject that is never touched on, yet I thought should have been.
The romance, the dreams, the mental health issues were the only focuses in SOMEWHERE ONLY WE KNOW, and they were great, but there were other things, that I felt, tied very closely to the overall plot that were left out, aka the drug abuse.
Don't get me wrong, it's not done in a bad way, and it's not written like a horrible thing, but I felt if you're taking on the mental health issue, you should hit all the aspects you set up with it.
Aaron is a very unique character, much like Sadie. He had a very bad fever when he was a kid that gave him a very bad short term memory disorder. He can barely remember what he had for breakfast. As a YA hero, he wasn't my favorite, but I loved the bond between him and Sadie. I loved how they supported each other and the dreams they shared........loved them.
On the top layer of this story, this book is good, but, there felt like there was no real depth or development. I wanted more.
A terminal case for me lately.
I liked that Sadie overcame her anxiety in the end, and I enjoyed the who debate of which is better: Reality or Dreams, but I felt like there were things lacking.
I very much appreciate that Sadie and Aaron weren't the typical YA protags with magical power, they were very real and human. But again, I wanted more overall, despite how unique and special SOMEWHERE ONLY WE KNOW was.
I would recommend the book to those who have their own struggles, and those who want to read a YA that doesn't involve magic. I think it would be a good light read for the summer.
~Dynomoon
http://misslittlebookaddictya.blogspo...
I won't start this with a quote, but I will say that Cheyenne Young hit on a lot of quotable, almost philosophical things in SOMEWHERE ONLY WE KNOW. Let me start by saying I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Sadie has massive anxiety problems. The book opened with a very punchy scene where we see just how much she suffers. She was diagnosed three years ago and the only person who gives her any kind of comfort is her best friend, Aaron, who suffers from his own mental problems. Dealing with her anxiety is not easy, especially when her grandmother insists that she get a job and start socializing with other people outside Aaron.
It doesn't go over so well, then somehow her and Aaron end up being puled into this dream world where they don't have their mental disorders and they can feel like normal people.
Sadie was a very strong protag, even if there were times I got frustrated with her. She takes meds for her severe anxiety, supposed to be one a day, yet she almost always ends up taking three or more. This is a good and bad point for me. I very much appreciate how the author showed mental disorders and handled them with respect and care, but Sadie taking more than her prescribed amount of pills is call addiction, a subject that is never touched on, yet I thought should have been.
The romance, the dreams, the mental health issues were the only focuses in SOMEWHERE ONLY WE KNOW, and they were great, but there were other things, that I felt, tied very closely to the overall plot that were left out, aka the drug abuse.
Don't get me wrong, it's not done in a bad way, and it's not written like a horrible thing, but I felt if you're taking on the mental health issue, you should hit all the aspects you set up with it.
Aaron is a very unique character, much like Sadie. He had a very bad fever when he was a kid that gave him a very bad short term memory disorder. He can barely remember what he had for breakfast. As a YA hero, he wasn't my favorite, but I loved the bond between him and Sadie. I loved how they supported each other and the dreams they shared........loved them.
On the top layer of this story, this book is good, but, there felt like there was no real depth or development. I wanted more.
A terminal case for me lately.
I liked that Sadie overcame her anxiety in the end, and I enjoyed the who debate of which is better: Reality or Dreams, but I felt like there were things lacking.
I very much appreciate that Sadie and Aaron weren't the typical YA protags with magical power, they were very real and human. But again, I wanted more overall, despite how unique and special SOMEWHERE ONLY WE KNOW was.
I would recommend the book to those who have their own struggles, and those who want to read a YA that doesn't involve magic. I think it would be a good light read for the summer.
~Dynomoon
August 29, 2014
My Review:
This is a hard one to review, I would love to hug Cheyanne for doing an amazing job writing this amazing book. A book that has me trying to find words to do it justice. With so much emotion and moments I didn't see coming this book completely blew me away.
Sadie suffers from anxiety and her BFF Aaron suffers from short term Memory issues when they are both wisked away to a world because of a ring Aaron gave her they realize that they feel a lot more for each other then friendship. Isola Fiona is a dream like world that cures you of all your aliments but when you leave all your issues come back. So no matter how much Sadie and Aaron tell each other how they feel when they come back to the real world Aaron doesn't remember.
I want to go into details about what happens, I honestly don't want to spoil it for you. So much happens toward the ends that as one point I yelled Oh My God! and then started crying for the next 2 chapters and my heart ached. This is an amazing book.
The characters in this book you really feel for, watching Sadie suffer from anxiety and realizing no one really gets how she feels is heartbreaking and the way Aaron's family treats him is frustrating, you find yourself wanting to yell at them, it made me so angry. I am not a fan of his Aunt Shelly at all not matter if she had his best interest in mind. I thought Pippa was adorable, she is such a cute and sweet girl. I enjoyed all the characters in Isola Fiona however I wished they had more background, they are great characters I'm just not sure they are developed enough. I found the entire world build of Isola Fiona not detailed enough, I loved the idea of it and I just wanted more. I felt it wasn't a perfect utopia and I'm not sure it was meant to be. I just needed more history and details about it because I loved the idea of it and I loved the Fireflies.
The overall story is amazing and it's a really quick read because you pretty much wont be able to put it down. I gave Somewhere only we know 4.5 / 5 stars regardless of my issue with the world build of Isola Fiona I found this book to be outstanding and I loved the story, characters and feels that it brought out in me. I'm a huge fan of Cheyanne and she writes some of my favorite books. I not only recommend this one 100x over but all of her books. You wont be disappointed!
This is a hard one to review, I would love to hug Cheyanne for doing an amazing job writing this amazing book. A book that has me trying to find words to do it justice. With so much emotion and moments I didn't see coming this book completely blew me away.
Sadie suffers from anxiety and her BFF Aaron suffers from short term Memory issues when they are both wisked away to a world because of a ring Aaron gave her they realize that they feel a lot more for each other then friendship. Isola Fiona is a dream like world that cures you of all your aliments but when you leave all your issues come back. So no matter how much Sadie and Aaron tell each other how they feel when they come back to the real world Aaron doesn't remember.
I want to go into details about what happens, I honestly don't want to spoil it for you. So much happens toward the ends that as one point I yelled Oh My God! and then started crying for the next 2 chapters and my heart ached. This is an amazing book.
The characters in this book you really feel for, watching Sadie suffer from anxiety and realizing no one really gets how she feels is heartbreaking and the way Aaron's family treats him is frustrating, you find yourself wanting to yell at them, it made me so angry. I am not a fan of his Aunt Shelly at all not matter if she had his best interest in mind. I thought Pippa was adorable, she is such a cute and sweet girl. I enjoyed all the characters in Isola Fiona however I wished they had more background, they are great characters I'm just not sure they are developed enough. I found the entire world build of Isola Fiona not detailed enough, I loved the idea of it and I just wanted more. I felt it wasn't a perfect utopia and I'm not sure it was meant to be. I just needed more history and details about it because I loved the idea of it and I loved the Fireflies.
The overall story is amazing and it's a really quick read because you pretty much wont be able to put it down. I gave Somewhere only we know 4.5 / 5 stars regardless of my issue with the world build of Isola Fiona I found this book to be outstanding and I loved the story, characters and feels that it brought out in me. I'm a huge fan of Cheyanne and she writes some of my favorite books. I not only recommend this one 100x over but all of her books. You wont be disappointed!
January 6, 2016
Originally posted at Fathomless Reveries
This is the first time I read a book with a story like this, and I love the whole concept. It was like 50 First Dates, well, on the part of Aaron's. It must have sucked so much on how he couldn't remember things so regularly. I may not be able to relate with what is happening to Aaron, but I pretty much could understand on why he did some things. Although, I think that if I was the one involved in the story, I probably wouldn't have understood it that way. It was great to see things in a different perspective.
On the part of Sadie, whenever she has anxiety attacks, her anxiety gets transferred to me. I could feel her anxiousness and all her emotions which was amazing. It also got me to see what it was like to be anxious all the time, and I really couldn't imagine what it must be like. Even now that I get anxious so rarely annoyed me so much. What more on Sadie's part? Aside from this, though, I didn't like Sadie that much because she started to forget what her past life and who stuck with her amidst all her struggles. She was also clingy to Aaron, and I really really really tried to understand that it was because Aaron was her only friend, but it still irritated me.
Both characters' story were spectacular and unique. It made me delve into the pages because I want to know how things will end for them. However, I didn't really feel very invested in this book. Rather, I felt somehow detached and indifferent. Before I knew it, I was already finished reading the book. Looking back, there were some parts that would have probably made me teary-eyed, but didn't. I don't know why. Maybe I'm just weird this time around.
Somewhere Only We Know is a beautiful and unique story about two teenagers trying to live a normal life despite having anxiety and memory loss. It was about finding love in the places they thought they'd never be able to. Young adult, romance readers should give this book a try, and they might like this more than I do.
This is the first time I read a book with a story like this, and I love the whole concept. It was like 50 First Dates, well, on the part of Aaron's. It must have sucked so much on how he couldn't remember things so regularly. I may not be able to relate with what is happening to Aaron, but I pretty much could understand on why he did some things. Although, I think that if I was the one involved in the story, I probably wouldn't have understood it that way. It was great to see things in a different perspective.
On the part of Sadie, whenever she has anxiety attacks, her anxiety gets transferred to me. I could feel her anxiousness and all her emotions which was amazing. It also got me to see what it was like to be anxious all the time, and I really couldn't imagine what it must be like. Even now that I get anxious so rarely annoyed me so much. What more on Sadie's part? Aside from this, though, I didn't like Sadie that much because she started to forget what her past life and who stuck with her amidst all her struggles. She was also clingy to Aaron, and I really really really tried to understand that it was because Aaron was her only friend, but it still irritated me.
Both characters' story were spectacular and unique. It made me delve into the pages because I want to know how things will end for them. However, I didn't really feel very invested in this book. Rather, I felt somehow detached and indifferent. Before I knew it, I was already finished reading the book. Looking back, there were some parts that would have probably made me teary-eyed, but didn't. I don't know why. Maybe I'm just weird this time around.
Somewhere Only We Know is a beautiful and unique story about two teenagers trying to live a normal life despite having anxiety and memory loss. It was about finding love in the places they thought they'd never be able to. Young adult, romance readers should give this book a try, and they might like this more than I do.
August 17, 2014
A sweet, emotional YA romance that I quite enjoyed, Somewhere Only We Know was a great read. It dealt with an anxiety-stricken girl and a memory-troubled boy and how they helped each other and discovered a world where they could be cured. I thought it was a well done, nice read.
Both characters were good. Sadie's anxiety was well portrayed at first, though after they went into Isola Fiona, it seemed like the issue dropped. Aaron was a self-conscious boy, often treated like a child because of his memory issues, but he was very sweet and smarter than he was given credit for. I thought both were likable characters.
The romance was sweet, though light. It only existed in the alternate world, both Sadie and Aaron being too shy to address it in the real world. That struck me as odd, but I went with it. They were very loyal to each other and truly had each other's best interest at heart. I thought they were a sweet couple.
The plot moved quickly and I was kept interested the entire way through. I wish there had been more of an explanation about what exactly Isola Fiona was. It mentioned that it had something to do with medieval alchemy, but I didn't quite get it. I enjoyed the story and the ending was...good. It was bittersweet and I'm still not sure what to make of it. A part of me wishes it ended differently, but I also see that the story couldn't have ended any other way.
Somewhere Only We Know was a lovely YA read. It was a sweet romance, with some fantastical elements, and I enjoyed reading it. YA lovers, this might be a book you'll want to check out.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Both characters were good. Sadie's anxiety was well portrayed at first, though after they went into Isola Fiona, it seemed like the issue dropped. Aaron was a self-conscious boy, often treated like a child because of his memory issues, but he was very sweet and smarter than he was given credit for. I thought both were likable characters.
The romance was sweet, though light. It only existed in the alternate world, both Sadie and Aaron being too shy to address it in the real world. That struck me as odd, but I went with it. They were very loyal to each other and truly had each other's best interest at heart. I thought they were a sweet couple.
The plot moved quickly and I was kept interested the entire way through. I wish there had been more of an explanation about what exactly Isola Fiona was. It mentioned that it had something to do with medieval alchemy, but I didn't quite get it. I enjoyed the story and the ending was...good. It was bittersweet and I'm still not sure what to make of it. A part of me wishes it ended differently, but I also see that the story couldn't have ended any other way.
Somewhere Only We Know was a lovely YA read. It was a sweet romance, with some fantastical elements, and I enjoyed reading it. YA lovers, this might be a book you'll want to check out.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
May 17, 2015
(From my blog)
I read the blurb and I was like "Oh my... I have to read this !". So I was really happy to get the copy of Somewhere Only We Know in exchange for an honest review. And here it is !
This novel is a short read, funny and deeply moving. I loved the characters but hated what they had do deal with : Sadie's anxiety is making her feel like a monster, she's scared of everything, even breathing. And Aaron, I wanted to give him a hug everytime ! It's not pity because of his illness, it's more that I wanted him to be cured all the time so he could finally have what he needed and wanted : Sadie, normalcy and his memory. It was heart breaking because they both are endearing and beautiful characters.
The world Sadie and Aaron discovered was strange, nice and attracting, interesting too. It was the place to be. I wish we could know more about it : its origins, its running or just its characters. But in the end, everything felt right and kind of realistic. For instance the characters' reaction regarding the possibilities Isola Fiona offered. I also think there are topics to think about : life, death, freedom, love and illness.
I loved the end of the story, of course, but let me tell you that there are a few twists ! The last chapters were a bit surprising for me. And so it made the reading experience more and more intense and amazing.
To conclude, I LOVED Somewhere Only We Know ! I love the writing, the depth of the story and how it made me feel. I recommend this book to all of the fans of YA romance with a little paranormal touch. Oh and trust me, Aaron is totally book boyfriend material !
Happy reading !
I read the blurb and I was like "Oh my... I have to read this !". So I was really happy to get the copy of Somewhere Only We Know in exchange for an honest review. And here it is !
This novel is a short read, funny and deeply moving. I loved the characters but hated what they had do deal with : Sadie's anxiety is making her feel like a monster, she's scared of everything, even breathing. And Aaron, I wanted to give him a hug everytime ! It's not pity because of his illness, it's more that I wanted him to be cured all the time so he could finally have what he needed and wanted : Sadie, normalcy and his memory. It was heart breaking because they both are endearing and beautiful characters.
The world Sadie and Aaron discovered was strange, nice and attracting, interesting too. It was the place to be. I wish we could know more about it : its origins, its running or just its characters. But in the end, everything felt right and kind of realistic. For instance the characters' reaction regarding the possibilities Isola Fiona offered. I also think there are topics to think about : life, death, freedom, love and illness.
I loved the end of the story, of course, but let me tell you that there are a few twists ! The last chapters were a bit surprising for me. And so it made the reading experience more and more intense and amazing.
To conclude, I LOVED Somewhere Only We Know ! I love the writing, the depth of the story and how it made me feel. I recommend this book to all of the fans of YA romance with a little paranormal touch. Oh and trust me, Aaron is totally book boyfriend material !
Happy reading !
September 3, 2014
I am so happy to have had the chance to read this book! On a book blogger's busy schedule it is hard to find time to read the books in your personal TBR. I was ecstatic to be on this tour!
From start to finish I was enveloped in this story. Fully immersed in Sadie and Aaron's world! The MC, Sadie was a really great character and her counter part Aaron was fabulous and quite swoon worthy as well. I liked the dynamic that the two best friends had and all of the depth that their individual struggles brought to the story.
The plot was fantastic and the very idea of Isola Fiona was amazingly done. The entire cast of characters was a good one and easily goes into my favorite characters file and I even felt a connection to the ones I didn't like. It all seemed so tangible and I easily lost myself to the read. I really liked Jeremy's character, hello, hawt!
The storyline had me all caught up and I went through a ton of emotion in this read. And boy was there some gut punches and all around stunners in there, sheesh! It was very well paced and I easily read it in a day and managed to cook and clean! I am so a fan of Cheyanne young and look forward to reading more. I have no clue if this cast of characters will be revisited but I really hope so.
I recommend this YA read a million times over! It was just great! You don't want to miss this one! It's getting 5 stars because I can't give it 10!
From start to finish I was enveloped in this story. Fully immersed in Sadie and Aaron's world! The MC, Sadie was a really great character and her counter part Aaron was fabulous and quite swoon worthy as well. I liked the dynamic that the two best friends had and all of the depth that their individual struggles brought to the story.
The plot was fantastic and the very idea of Isola Fiona was amazingly done. The entire cast of characters was a good one and easily goes into my favorite characters file and I even felt a connection to the ones I didn't like. It all seemed so tangible and I easily lost myself to the read. I really liked Jeremy's character, hello, hawt!
The storyline had me all caught up and I went through a ton of emotion in this read. And boy was there some gut punches and all around stunners in there, sheesh! It was very well paced and I easily read it in a day and managed to cook and clean! I am so a fan of Cheyanne young and look forward to reading more. I have no clue if this cast of characters will be revisited but I really hope so.
I recommend this YA read a million times over! It was just great! You don't want to miss this one! It's getting 5 stars because I can't give it 10!
November 8, 2015
In An Oyster Shell-
If you are looking for something a bit different, with a more aggressive main character and bittersweet ending give this a book try. In the end I liked it and would recommend it sparingly. It's not for everyone.
The Pearls –
I was frustrated with the Sadie at first she was too abrasive for me. Though I wonder if I was uncomfortable with her because she was uncomfortable with herself. It's possible and if that's the case. The author got me into the character's head. It was not nice but that's some great skill on Cheyanne Young's part.
Though I was distracted with my dislike with Sadie, somewhere along the way of being pulled into the fantastical storyline of Sadie growing out of her anxiety into herself with the help of Isola Fiona, I lost myself! The book changed so quickly. One minute I was begrudgingly moving through the storyline and the next thing I know I'm shaking my fist and yelling at my kindle. It's not every day (for me at least) that a story elicits a violent reaction from me. I had fun with it.
The complete review is at Writing Pearls
If you are looking for something a bit different, with a more aggressive main character and bittersweet ending give this a book try. In the end I liked it and would recommend it sparingly. It's not for everyone.
The Pearls –
I was frustrated with the Sadie at first she was too abrasive for me. Though I wonder if I was uncomfortable with her because she was uncomfortable with herself. It's possible and if that's the case. The author got me into the character's head. It was not nice but that's some great skill on Cheyanne Young's part.
Though I was distracted with my dislike with Sadie, somewhere along the way of being pulled into the fantastical storyline of Sadie growing out of her anxiety into herself with the help of Isola Fiona, I lost myself! The book changed so quickly. One minute I was begrudgingly moving through the storyline and the next thing I know I'm shaking my fist and yelling at my kindle. It's not every day (for me at least) that a story elicits a violent reaction from me. I had fun with it.
The complete review is at Writing Pearls
March 23, 2016
You can tell this book is bad just by the badly-designed cover (which even lacks the publisher's logo). Inside, it gets worse, not just in terms of form, with the blank pages at the end of *some*, not all chapters, but also in terms of content.
The world-building is weak and badly-developped, the "teen talk" often sounds forced and I felt like we didn't get to see enough of Sadie's anxiety. The book starts with an interesting description of one of her attacks, but from then on everything's suddenly fixed. I realise that was the idea, but without understanding her struggle in more depth, I can't even be happy that she's getting better.
Aaron, on the other hand, is what makes this book a three-stars guilty pleasure of mine. In Isola Fiona he seemed like a completely different person (not just an "enhanced" version of himself), but in our world he was a sweetie and I definitely sympathised with him throughout the whole story.
And finally, the biggest question of all: what the hell was thrown into Jeremy the book for?
The world-building is weak and badly-developped, the "teen talk" often sounds forced and I felt like we didn't get to see enough of Sadie's anxiety. The book starts with an interesting description of one of her attacks, but from then on everything's suddenly fixed. I realise that was the idea, but without understanding her struggle in more depth, I can't even be happy that she's getting better.
Aaron, on the other hand, is what makes this book a three-stars guilty pleasure of mine. In Isola Fiona he seemed like a completely different person (not just an "enhanced" version of himself), but in our world he was a sweetie and I definitely sympathised with him throughout the whole story.
And finally, the biggest question of all: what the hell was thrown into Jeremy the book for?
April 20, 2015
Somewhere Only We Know was a very unique and eye-opening read for me. Sadie, our main girl, suffers from severe anxiety. The only person she feels comfortable around is Aaron, her best friend, who happens to have short-term memory loss. Then Sadie discovers a dream world, Isola Fiona, where things can be better. Where mental illnesses can be cured. Feelings and memories are brought back in this dream world, but in the real world Aaron still doesn't seem to remember.
Like I said, this was a very unique read for me. It goes deeper into mental illnesses than I expected it too. I have a family member who suffers from anxiety and I never really understood it, but as this was an eye-opener, I think I could understand better now. I liked the story, but I loved the characters. They were extremely well developed. *hint* If you check out Cheyanne Young's website you can see where Somewhere Only We Know stemmed from and it is beautiful!
The characters made the book and I love that I had the opportunity to read a great book! - Bianca
Like I said, this was a very unique read for me. It goes deeper into mental illnesses than I expected it too. I have a family member who suffers from anxiety and I never really understood it, but as this was an eye-opener, I think I could understand better now. I liked the story, but I loved the characters. They were extremely well developed. *hint* If you check out Cheyanne Young's website you can see where Somewhere Only We Know stemmed from and it is beautiful!
The characters made the book and I love that I had the opportunity to read a great book! - Bianca
November 4, 2015
3.5 Stars ~
It took a little while for me to get into this one. Then I vacillated between enjoyment and boredom for most of the book. The last 30% kept my full attention, though.
Mostly I found myself getting bored when Aaron & Sadie weren't together. I really enjoyed their dialogue together, but there just wasn't nearly enough for me. Overall, I would have liked the story if there were more moments with the two of them together. I wanted to feel a little more connection between them.
There was one exciting twist towards the end that amped things up a bit. But, then it ends rather abruptly. I guess it's a good sign that I wanted more, though. Other than that, the kindle edition could use a bit more editing.
warning: strong language
It took a little while for me to get into this one. Then I vacillated between enjoyment and boredom for most of the book. The last 30% kept my full attention, though.
Mostly I found myself getting bored when Aaron & Sadie weren't together. I really enjoyed their dialogue together, but there just wasn't nearly enough for me. Overall, I would have liked the story if there were more moments with the two of them together. I wanted to feel a little more connection between them.
There was one exciting twist towards the end that amped things up a bit. But, then it ends rather abruptly. I guess it's a good sign that I wanted more, though. Other than that, the kindle edition could use a bit more editing.
warning: strong language
August 31, 2015
4.5 stars
The storyline for Cheyanne's Somewhere Only We Know blew me away. Imagine a YA version of 50 First Dates, make the guy the one with the memory issue, add a fantastical element, and you have yourself this book. Oh, and pizza. If you like pizza (or sandwiches) you'll appreciate this. Wait wait wait I forgot to mention romance! (Duh!) Fun, quick read that'll leave you wanting more of Sadie and Aaron. I promise!
Note: I'd say this book is upper YA due to underage drinking and language.
The storyline for Cheyanne's Somewhere Only We Know blew me away. Imagine a YA version of 50 First Dates, make the guy the one with the memory issue, add a fantastical element, and you have yourself this book. Oh, and pizza. If you like pizza (or sandwiches) you'll appreciate this. Wait wait wait I forgot to mention romance! (Duh!) Fun, quick read that'll leave you wanting more of Sadie and Aaron. I promise!
Note: I'd say this book is upper YA due to underage drinking and language.
January 7, 2015
I would recommend Somewhere Only We Know to everyone who knows what pain is and how beautiful life is once we learn how to get through the pain that life presents us.
Full review on my book blog: https://bibliophilesoprano.wordpress....
Full review on my book blog: https://bibliophilesoprano.wordpress....
July 28, 2014
Why did you make me cry?!?
Check out my blog for the review. http://wp.me/p31bhm-kB
Check out my blog for the review. http://wp.me/p31bhm-kB
July 14, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the pace and the characters.
October 8, 2015
i loved this book this book is awesome i love this so much it is romantic and all i just love itttttt
February 20, 2018
really unique story and concept.
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