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The Secret to Belonging
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Expected 15 Sep 26A neglected teen travels to Norway for a fresh start in this stunning coming-of-age novel in verse about longing, love, and the courage to create joy from the ashes of despair by award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Megan E. Freeman.
You are invisible in your own family. Your parents spend all their care and attention on your brother, who is addicted to drugs. Your dreams don’t matter to anyone but you.
Your only ticket out is a college fund left by your grandfather—until your parents use it to pay for your brother’s drug rehab.
Just when your future seems about to collapse, you are offered a a scholarship to become an exchange student in a remote part of Norway. It’s an invitation to begin a new life in a new place with new people…a place where you might finally feel like you belong.
You are invisible in your own family. Your parents spend all their care and attention on your brother, who is addicted to drugs. Your dreams don’t matter to anyone but you.
Your only ticket out is a college fund left by your grandfather—until your parents use it to pay for your brother’s drug rehab.
Just when your future seems about to collapse, you are offered a a scholarship to become an exchange student in a remote part of Norway. It’s an invitation to begin a new life in a new place with new people…a place where you might finally feel like you belong.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 15, 2026
122 people want to read
About the author
Megan E. Freeman
6 books391 followersMegan E. Freeman attended an elementary school where poets visited her classroom every week to teach poetry, and she has been a writer ever since. Her New York Times bestselling novel in verse, ALONE, won the Colorado Book Award, the Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, and Vermont Children’s Book Awards, the High Plains Book Award, is an NCTE Notable Verse Novel, and is included on over two dozen "best of" and state reading lists.
Megan is also a Pushcart Prize-nominated poet and the author of the poetry chapbook Lessons on Sleeping Alone. An award-winning teacher with decades of classroom experience, Megan is nationally recognized for her work leading workshops and speaking to audiences across the country.
Megan used to live in northeast Los Angeles, central Ohio, northern Norway, and on Caribbean cruise ships. Now she divides her time between northern Colorado and the Texas Gulf Coast.
Megan is also a Pushcart Prize-nominated poet and the author of the poetry chapbook Lessons on Sleeping Alone. An award-winning teacher with decades of classroom experience, Megan is nationally recognized for her work leading workshops and speaking to audiences across the country.
Megan used to live in northeast Los Angeles, central Ohio, northern Norway, and on Caribbean cruise ships. Now she divides her time between northern Colorado and the Texas Gulf Coast.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
April 25, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book!
When I heard Megan E. Freeman was coming out with a YA novel in verse, I knew it would be special. This far exceeded my expectations. The story follows a teen who leaps at the opportunity to be an exchange student during her senior year of high school. This opportunity truly saves her life.
This book hit close to home in a lot of ways, and I know it will for many other readers, too. I will be thinking about this book for a long time.
When I heard Megan E. Freeman was coming out with a YA novel in verse, I knew it would be special. This far exceeded my expectations. The story follows a teen who leaps at the opportunity to be an exchange student during her senior year of high school. This opportunity truly saves her life.
This book hit close to home in a lot of ways, and I know it will for many other readers, too. I will be thinking about this book for a long time.
Read
April 3, 20264 stars; review to come September 2026
May 7, 2026
Absolutely astonishingly beautiful! So many times I reread pages because I wanted to savor them again. This YA novel in verse tells the story of a girl whose family uses her college fund for her brother’s rehab and steals her dreams. But she finds a different dream, something completely unexpected. Do NOT miss this book when it comes out in September!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Atheneum Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
If you’re looking for a quick read that still hits hard emotionally, “The Secret to Belonging” by Megan E. Freeman is one of those books you’ll probably finish in a sitting and then keep thinking about afterward.
First off, the structure is super unique. It’s written entirely in verse, in second person POV, so the main character is just “you.” No name, no traditional narration—just your thoughts, your feelings, your story. On top of that, there’s barely any capitalization or punctuation, so it reads like this raw stream of consciousness. The verse flows really easily and actually makes everything feel more personal and emotional.
The story itself is pretty heavy. “You” grow up in a family where your older brother’s addiction basically consumes everything, like your parents’ time, money, and attention. They’re so focused on trying to save him that you end up feeling invisible. And it’s not sugarcoated; you’re allowed to feel angry about it. The book does a really good job showing how complicated that kind of family dynamic is, where you can love people but also feel completely neglected by them.
Things start to shift when you get the chance to go to Norway as an exchange student, and this is where the book really shines. The setting is gorgeous. The descriptions of the landscape, the culture, even the weather; it all feels so vivid that you kind of fall in love with Norway right alongside the main character. It’s not just a backdrop either; it represents this fresh start where you finally feel seen.
In Norway, everything is new: new language, new family, new friendships, first love, first heartbreak. It all happens pretty fast, but that actually works because it mirrors how intense and overwhelming those “firsts” feel as a teenager. There’s this constant tension between wanting to stay in this new life where you belong and feeling pulled back to your old life out of guilt and obligation.
That’s probably one of the strongest parts of the book—the way it handles that question:
Do you owe your family everything, even if it’s hurting you?
The emotional payoff toward the end is rough in the best way. There’s a major turning point that forces the main character to finally confront everything she’s been avoiding, and it leads to a really powerful arc about self-worth and choosing your own life. It’s definitely a tearjerker, but not in a manipulative way. It’s more of a “this feels real” kind of way.
Overall, this book is simple but really impactful. It tackles big themes like addiction, family, identity, and independence without feeling overwhelming, and the verse format makes it feel intimate and immediate.
It’s short, emotional, and quietly powerful. If you like character-driven stories, unique writing styles, and books about finding where you truly belong, even if it means leaving things behind, this one is absolutely worth picking up.
If you’re looking for a quick read that still hits hard emotionally, “The Secret to Belonging” by Megan E. Freeman is one of those books you’ll probably finish in a sitting and then keep thinking about afterward.
First off, the structure is super unique. It’s written entirely in verse, in second person POV, so the main character is just “you.” No name, no traditional narration—just your thoughts, your feelings, your story. On top of that, there’s barely any capitalization or punctuation, so it reads like this raw stream of consciousness. The verse flows really easily and actually makes everything feel more personal and emotional.
The story itself is pretty heavy. “You” grow up in a family where your older brother’s addiction basically consumes everything, like your parents’ time, money, and attention. They’re so focused on trying to save him that you end up feeling invisible. And it’s not sugarcoated; you’re allowed to feel angry about it. The book does a really good job showing how complicated that kind of family dynamic is, where you can love people but also feel completely neglected by them.
Things start to shift when you get the chance to go to Norway as an exchange student, and this is where the book really shines. The setting is gorgeous. The descriptions of the landscape, the culture, even the weather; it all feels so vivid that you kind of fall in love with Norway right alongside the main character. It’s not just a backdrop either; it represents this fresh start where you finally feel seen.
In Norway, everything is new: new language, new family, new friendships, first love, first heartbreak. It all happens pretty fast, but that actually works because it mirrors how intense and overwhelming those “firsts” feel as a teenager. There’s this constant tension between wanting to stay in this new life where you belong and feeling pulled back to your old life out of guilt and obligation.
That’s probably one of the strongest parts of the book—the way it handles that question:
Do you owe your family everything, even if it’s hurting you?
The emotional payoff toward the end is rough in the best way. There’s a major turning point that forces the main character to finally confront everything she’s been avoiding, and it leads to a really powerful arc about self-worth and choosing your own life. It’s definitely a tearjerker, but not in a manipulative way. It’s more of a “this feels real” kind of way.
Overall, this book is simple but really impactful. It tackles big themes like addiction, family, identity, and independence without feeling overwhelming, and the verse format makes it feel intimate and immediate.
It’s short, emotional, and quietly powerful. If you like character-driven stories, unique writing styles, and books about finding where you truly belong, even if it means leaving things behind, this one is absolutely worth picking up.
April 13, 2026
Thank you to Atheneum Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I first want to say Megan Freeman is immensely talented. I’ve read both Alone and Away and was equally enthralled by both books. The Secret to Belonging is no different. It’s written in verse and the writing style is beautiful.
The Secret to Belonging takes place in the 1980’s, following an unnamed narrator as she goes to Norway as an exchange student for her senior year of high school. The narrator is desperate to get away from her highly dysfunctional family. Her brother is an addict, and her parents spend all their time and resources trying to help him get clean. As a result, our narrator feels like an invisible child in her family. She makes the decision to go to Norway when she finds out her parents have spent her college fund on another stint in rehab for her brother.
The majority of the book takes place in Norway as our narrator is immersed in the culture there. Her host family is kind, loving, and attentive, and in many ways the opposite of her family back home. She makes new friends, falls in love, learns a new language and culture, and finally finds a place that truly feels like home.
I enjoyed seeing the narrator’s growth throughout the story. The book explores themes of addiction, family dynamics, guilt and obligation, and the quest for independence. There are some tragic, dark elements in this book, so I’d recommend it for older teens. If you don’t consider yourself a fan of poetry, this book is still for you. It’s easy to read and understand. The story flows and moves quickly, making it possible to read this book in one or two sittings. Overall, this is a well-written, emotional story that will have you rooting for the narrator from the first page, and I look forward to reading more from Megan Freeman in the future.
I first want to say Megan Freeman is immensely talented. I’ve read both Alone and Away and was equally enthralled by both books. The Secret to Belonging is no different. It’s written in verse and the writing style is beautiful.
The Secret to Belonging takes place in the 1980’s, following an unnamed narrator as she goes to Norway as an exchange student for her senior year of high school. The narrator is desperate to get away from her highly dysfunctional family. Her brother is an addict, and her parents spend all their time and resources trying to help him get clean. As a result, our narrator feels like an invisible child in her family. She makes the decision to go to Norway when she finds out her parents have spent her college fund on another stint in rehab for her brother.
The majority of the book takes place in Norway as our narrator is immersed in the culture there. Her host family is kind, loving, and attentive, and in many ways the opposite of her family back home. She makes new friends, falls in love, learns a new language and culture, and finally finds a place that truly feels like home.
I enjoyed seeing the narrator’s growth throughout the story. The book explores themes of addiction, family dynamics, guilt and obligation, and the quest for independence. There are some tragic, dark elements in this book, so I’d recommend it for older teens. If you don’t consider yourself a fan of poetry, this book is still for you. It’s easy to read and understand. The story flows and moves quickly, making it possible to read this book in one or two sittings. Overall, this is a well-written, emotional story that will have you rooting for the narrator from the first page, and I look forward to reading more from Megan Freeman in the future.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was such a beautiful and thought-provoking read. At first, I thought the verse would keep me from extracting any connection to and emotion from the storyline, especially since the structure made it so I read it in a hour or so’s time. That was clearly a mistake in thinking, for the verse was what cultivated the connection in the first place.
While the themes of addiction, familial obligation, and the desire for independence and happiness are nothing new, Freeman’s choice to have the protagonist’s strife so clearly established at the very beginning (without creating a sense of guilt or remorse) made her conflict all the more pronounced. Thus, I was a bit thrown towards the end when she felt compelled to assist her family simply because they were family. The trepidation she felt at each turning point, wondering if she was going to resign herself to a life she did not want to lead or escape it entirely alluded to the conundrum each of us face in our own lives. What was most striking, however, was the fact the protagonist remained nameless, while those around her did not (though one assumes the story was autobiographical). Was this Freeman’s way of giving the reader a sense of ownership in the story— that we all could be/could have been her too?
I do find it interesting that the style changed from verse to standard prose in the last chapter and assume there are a myriad of reasons why this occurred. My own interpretation is that the protagonist found peace and stability in her life and thus, did not feel as disjointed as the style of verse can be (story wise at least).
Thank you to Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing, and NetGalley for the privilege to read this ARC!
While the themes of addiction, familial obligation, and the desire for independence and happiness are nothing new, Freeman’s choice to have the protagonist’s strife so clearly established at the very beginning (without creating a sense of guilt or remorse) made her conflict all the more pronounced. Thus, I was a bit thrown towards the end when she felt compelled to assist her family simply because they were family. The trepidation she felt at each turning point, wondering if she was going to resign herself to a life she did not want to lead or escape it entirely alluded to the conundrum each of us face in our own lives. What was most striking, however, was the fact the protagonist remained nameless, while those around her did not (though one assumes the story was autobiographical). Was this Freeman’s way of giving the reader a sense of ownership in the story— that we all could be/could have been her too?
I do find it interesting that the style changed from verse to standard prose in the last chapter and assume there are a myriad of reasons why this occurred. My own interpretation is that the protagonist found peace and stability in her life and thus, did not feel as disjointed as the style of verse can be (story wise at least).
Thank you to Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing, and NetGalley for the privilege to read this ARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The protagonist of this novel in verse has been ignored by her parents, whose lives are consumed by the codependent illusion that they can save her elder brother, an addict, from the troubles he creates for himself and others. She dreams of leaving home for college but then learns that her college fund is gone—along with all the family’s other resources. She jumps at an opportunity provided by a scholarship for an exchange program for her senior year, assigned, of all places, to a town in Norway beyond the Arctic Circle. There, for the first time, she experiences what a family that is not dysfunctional might look like.
This is quite a quick but really powerful read, because the verse form allows for much denser narration of events and emotions than regular prose would. It is also valuable that it avoids oversimplification to the effect of “so just leave, you left, good for you, done,” as it explores how all-encompassing the cycles of codependency can be. Some of the secondary characters are a bit schematic (I bet they also have their ghosts; it just wasn’t the focus of the novel), but there are a few really well-written supporting figures.
Publication date: Sep 15, 2026.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an eARC through NetGalley. The opinion above is my own.
This is quite a quick but really powerful read, because the verse form allows for much denser narration of events and emotions than regular prose would. It is also valuable that it avoids oversimplification to the effect of “so just leave, you left, good for you, done,” as it explores how all-encompassing the cycles of codependency can be. Some of the secondary characters are a bit schematic (I bet they also have their ghosts; it just wasn’t the focus of the novel), but there are a few really well-written supporting figures.
Publication date: Sep 15, 2026.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an eARC through NetGalley. The opinion above is my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is the story of a young girl, who remains unnamed throughout the book, as she decides to embark on traveling abroad for a year as a high school senior in order to escape her mentally and financialy abusive home situation in California.
In turn, she discovers her found family and embraces her life in a new country on the other side of the globe in Norway.
However, when her past starts to invade her new found life, both with a friend that she trusted and a tragedy back at home, she is quickly brought back to her childhood due to what she feels is obligation to her true birth family. She is then faced with trying to decide if she must stay because of genetics or to do what will make her happy.
I chose to read this middle grade/YA book as I am always looking for new things for my own children to enjoy and myself as well. This was my first time reading a novel in verse, as in the past I did not think it would be something that I would like, but I actually found myself liking the format and I think I went through all the emotions while reading it, finding ways that I could even connect to and empathasize with the narrator. This is one of the reasons I believe the narrator remains unnamed as it allows the reader to better connect with her and her emotions.
Although, I did enjoy this book, I personally would not recommend this to younger middle graders as I think some of the topics discussed in this book are heavy and might need to warrant discussion with an adult that they trust if they choose to read it. However, I do feel it will be appropriate for later middle grade and older.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All Opinions are my own.
In turn, she discovers her found family and embraces her life in a new country on the other side of the globe in Norway.
However, when her past starts to invade her new found life, both with a friend that she trusted and a tragedy back at home, she is quickly brought back to her childhood due to what she feels is obligation to her true birth family. She is then faced with trying to decide if she must stay because of genetics or to do what will make her happy.
I chose to read this middle grade/YA book as I am always looking for new things for my own children to enjoy and myself as well. This was my first time reading a novel in verse, as in the past I did not think it would be something that I would like, but I actually found myself liking the format and I think I went through all the emotions while reading it, finding ways that I could even connect to and empathasize with the narrator. This is one of the reasons I believe the narrator remains unnamed as it allows the reader to better connect with her and her emotions.
Although, I did enjoy this book, I personally would not recommend this to younger middle graders as I think some of the topics discussed in this book are heavy and might need to warrant discussion with an adult that they trust if they choose to read it. However, I do feel it will be appropriate for later middle grade and older.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All Opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
“One can travel anywhere, but never from oneself.”
🇳🇴
Feeling invisible in a family consumed by a sibling’s addiction, a teen watches their dreams slip away, especially when their college fund is used to pay for rehab. Just as hope seems lost, an unexpected opportunity arises: a scholarship to study abroad in a remote part of Norway. It offers a chance to start over, find independence, and finally discover a place where she truly belongs.
🇳🇴
Set in the 1980s, this was a very powerful novel-in-verse YA debut by @megan_e_freeman_writer that tackles tough realities while still offering hope. I can’t wait to share this with older teens. It’s a reminder that there is life beyond our circumstances and that we have the power to take control of our own futures. This was emotional, empowering and I adored it. This title releases September 15!
CW: fire, injury, drug use, toxic friendship, substance abuse, addiction, theft, suicide (mentioned)
🇳🇴
Feeling invisible in a family consumed by a sibling’s addiction, a teen watches their dreams slip away, especially when their college fund is used to pay for rehab. Just as hope seems lost, an unexpected opportunity arises: a scholarship to study abroad in a remote part of Norway. It offers a chance to start over, find independence, and finally discover a place where she truly belongs.
🇳🇴
Set in the 1980s, this was a very powerful novel-in-verse YA debut by @megan_e_freeman_writer that tackles tough realities while still offering hope. I can’t wait to share this with older teens. It’s a reminder that there is life beyond our circumstances and that we have the power to take control of our own futures. This was emotional, empowering and I adored it. This title releases September 15!
CW: fire, injury, drug use, toxic friendship, substance abuse, addiction, theft, suicide (mentioned)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A young adult (or middle-grade) novel told in verse is almost always guaranteed to captivate me. Given this was Megan E. Freeman (side note: Read Alone and Away while you're waiting for this to be released), I loved this. Set in the 80s, this is about a teen trying to find her place. She has a brother struggling with substance use, and his addiction has consumed her parents' time and family's resources. Wanting a fresh start, she decides to go abroad to Norway. While there, she finds a new place to be, but there are also still some layers of life she must navigate. This is a book that will break your heart with all its emotional happenings, but is also so, so, SO beautiful in the way that the story is told. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the look at this September 2026 read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I love verse novels, and I just returned from a trip to Norway, so I was especially excited to read this book. The story is full of emotions, both good and bad. The protagonist, a teen girl in California, feels completely invisible in her family. All her parents can see is her drug-addicted brother. All their attention, their love, their money -- including HER college fund money -- is spent trying to fix her broken brother. So when she is given the opportunity to become an exchange student, she grabs it. What ensues is life-changing. She is placed in a village in far-northern Norway, above the Arctic Circle. Life is fresh, clean, honest. She comes to realize that maybe, just maybe, there is a life for her too. Brutal at times, but filled with beauty and hope.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I loved this. It is written in poetry and it only took a little more than an hour to read it, but there is much to think about in the story. The girl in the story lives with a dysfunctional family. Her brother is trouble in elementary school, in high school and every time her parents find ways to excuse what he does. No one ever pays attention to her. She decides to participate in the exchange student program because then she can get a scholarship to college. She moves to Norway, where she finds a home, and discovers what a family could be like. I will purchase this for my high school library. Share with students who need encouragement to know they have the power to change their circumstances. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc with no pressure for a positive review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Simon and Schuster, and NetGalley for this advance reader copy of The Secret to Belonging by Megan E. Freeman, to be published on September 15th, 2026.
A book full of life, full of what it means to grow up in adversity and to choose your own path in life. Life isn’t always easy, and that is what you see in this book through the eyes of a young person. We all live different kinds of difficulties, and sometimes the age isn’t appropriate to deal with them because you don’t have the necessary tools. At the core of everything is the need to belonging, that all of us discover in many different ways. This book showcases one of them with several literary devices and a story that feels close to many homes ❤️🩹
A book full of life, full of what it means to grow up in adversity and to choose your own path in life. Life isn’t always easy, and that is what you see in this book through the eyes of a young person. We all live different kinds of difficulties, and sometimes the age isn’t appropriate to deal with them because you don’t have the necessary tools. At the core of everything is the need to belonging, that all of us discover in many different ways. This book showcases one of them with several literary devices and a story that feels close to many homes ❤️🩹
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Secret to Belonging is a beautifully written and deeply emotional novel in verse that explores identity, family, and the search for belonging. I was especially moved by how the story shows that neglect can exist even within seemingly “normal” families, and how there is more than one way to define what a family looks like. The writing is lyrical and powerful, and the verse format adds an extra layer of emotion that really highlights the main character’s inner struggles. I found it especially interesting that the protagonist remains nameless throughout the story, which made her experience feel even more universal. The characters are realistic, flawed, and incredibly easy to care about, and I felt so much while reading. This is the kind of story that stays with you long after you finish, and like many books by Megan E. Freeman, it’s one I know I’ll return to again. This is easily a five star read for me and I look forward to buying it for my daughters when it releases. Thank you to Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing, and NetGalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Secret to Belonging by Morgan E. Freeman was unexpected. The novel in verse follows an unnamed American female teenager living in California. Her home life is stressful and falling apart with parents wrapped around her drug addicted brother. She makes a big decision to apply to be an exchange student to escape home. She hopes for a French speaking placement, but ends up in Norway.
Told in 2nd person poetic verse, readers follow the protagonist through her feelings of her family and her exchange year in Norway. I was transported to Norway and am ready to add more Norwegian living to my daily life.
Told in 2nd person poetic verse, readers follow the protagonist through her feelings of her family and her exchange year in Norway. I was transported to Norway and am ready to add more Norwegian living to my daily life.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What a powerful, beautiful, and at times heart-wrenching novel-in-verse. A Secret to Belonging is a coming-of-age story unlike any I’ve read in a long time. There is such raw emotion and quiet power in Megan E. Freeman’s poetry; each poem lands with incredible impact.
While exploring a family’s struggle with addiction, this story also beautifully captures resilience, identity, and what it means to find your place in the world. Watching the main character slowly spread her wings and learn to fly despite the odds was deeply moving.
I read this book in one sitting and could not put it down! Another masterpiece from Megan E. Freeman. Highly, highly recommend.
While exploring a family’s struggle with addiction, this story also beautifully captures resilience, identity, and what it means to find your place in the world. Watching the main character slowly spread her wings and learn to fly despite the odds was deeply moving.
I read this book in one sitting and could not put it down! Another masterpiece from Megan E. Freeman. Highly, highly recommend.
April 3, 2026
I find this book to be well-written. It's written in verse and has many moments within it. The main character's name was not mentioned in the book. It’s written in her perspective.
The book is about a neglected teen's travels as an exchange student to Norway. She was looking for a fresh start. Her parents had to use her college funds to pay for her brother's drug rehab. Lucky for her, she has a scholarship as an exchange student.
This book shows that you have to find a way to belong. In addition, starting a fresh start in a different setting.
The book is about a neglected teen's travels as an exchange student to Norway. She was looking for a fresh start. Her parents had to use her college funds to pay for her brother's drug rehab. Lucky for her, she has a scholarship as an exchange student.
This book shows that you have to find a way to belong. In addition, starting a fresh start in a different setting.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What a beautiful story about a horrible dysfunctional family life that only the master Megan E. Freeman can tell. Your heart will feel every emotion from anger to relief from shock to joy just to start all over again. This book is heartbreaking because we all know teens that have lived these traumas, but we also know that in life there is always hope, and the understanding that hope can be found anywhere and everywhere in the world. Please read absolutely everything by Megan E. Freeman! You will never regret it!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks NetGalley for the free advanced reader's copy.
This is the first book I have read by Megan E. Freeman and I devoured it in pretty much one sitting. The character development was strong, and the verse style worked so well to convey emotion even with fewer words. You really feel the protagonists's feelings of abandonment and trauma from her brother's addiction. The Norway setting was a highlight, and I loved watching her grow, gain confidence, and learn more about herself during her foreign exchange. It's a quick read, but still packs an emotional punch.
This is the first book I have read by Megan E. Freeman and I devoured it in pretty much one sitting. The character development was strong, and the verse style worked so well to convey emotion even with fewer words. You really feel the protagonists's feelings of abandonment and trauma from her brother's addiction. The Norway setting was a highlight, and I loved watching her grow, gain confidence, and learn more about herself during her foreign exchange. It's a quick read, but still packs an emotional punch.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Get ready to travel to Norway and fall in love! Beautiful poetry, richly drawn characters, and atmospheric settings are your seatbelts for this ride that rockets you through all the human emotions...love, despair, disappointment, betrayal, hope, resilience, confusion, and joy (to name a few)! Be sure to carve out some time before you pick this one up, as you will absolutely not be able to stop reading. The whole book, including the cover and interior design, is gorgeous. I loved it! Thank you to Atheneum Books for Young Readers for sharing ARCs out into the world.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is what we have all come to expect from Megan Freeman. A book filled with raw emotion and beautiful verse, and yet it was not at all what I’ve come to expect from her. This YA novel-in-verse was a coming-of age story of longing, love and courage. I read it in one sitting and found myself filled with all sorts of emotions. Laughing, crying, raging, this book hit me with all the emotions. I know it is going to be a hit with YA readers and adults. Add it to your TBR, it comes out in September.
Review of advance copy received from Author
An evocative and compelling story of a young woman facing the heartbreak of a family that chooses her troubled brother to the point of destruction, who spends a transformational year as an exchange student in Norway, where she finds healthy relationships for the first time. When a tragedy at home pulls her back to her old life, she must decide whether and how to choose and love herself. An incredibly moving story told in powerful verse.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
i really enjoyed this! it was sad and beautiful and the imagery was so strong and made me want to do snow angels. I love a good story written in prose and this definitely provides that. lots of discussion of addiction and family and growing up and forgiveness. definitely a good YA read!
thanks netgalley for eaccess!
thanks netgalley for eaccess!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I'm a fan of everything this author has written, but this book will forever hold a special place in my heart. The second-person POV, the main character's difficult family situation, the beauty and complexity of her life as an exchange student, her healing--everything about this book broke and then mended my heart.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Freeman’s entry into the YA space is a winner!
With a moving and emotional opening, readers will instantly root for the main character. I appreciate the journey from hope, joy, struggle, back to hope. Freeman expertly handles the tough topics explored in this book with sparse, lyrical poems and language.
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC.
With a moving and emotional opening, readers will instantly root for the main character. I appreciate the journey from hope, joy, struggle, back to hope. Freeman expertly handles the tough topics explored in this book with sparse, lyrical poems and language.
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a read-it-in-one-sitting sort of novel. Gorgeous verse, a protagonist to fall in love with, and a trip to Norway to boot. Full of heartbreak and yearning, The Secret to Belonging is a coming of age story that you won’t be able to put down. My thanks to the author and Atheneum Books for Young Readers for the advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
EARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
This does not shy away from the reality of drug addiction and its impact on a family, and this author has once again told a story that will stay with readers long after they’ve finished reading.
This does not shy away from the reality of drug addiction and its impact on a family, and this author has once again told a story that will stay with readers long after they’ve finished reading.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Verse! 2nd POV! Loved this immersive and challenging story of a young woman trying to find herself in a family of dysfunction. Megan deftly weaves darkness and light in a quiet, yet propulsive narrative of pain, despair, hope and love. Great YA debut and a thoughtful addition to her catalog.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I just loved this book. Her evolution was so satisfying and the ending was perfect. Big bravo!
April 8, 2026
I’ve never read novel in verse before, but I’m a believer. Megan E. Freeman has a way with words. As someone who has addiction in their own family, this book was extremely cathartic to me.
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