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How To Be Nowhere
Annie Collier has a foolproof to vanish into thin air. Ditch the Hollywood glitz of her famous parents, her too-perfect fiancé, and a wedding that feels less like “I do” and more like “I have to.” So, like any self-respecting runaway bride with zero backup plans, she jets off to New York City armed with a suitcase, a prayer, and the audacious dream of becoming utterly nobody.
There’s just one invisibility doesn’t pay the bills. With no cash, no crib, and survival skills that wouldn’t impress a houseplant, Annie’s grand escape is about to flop spectacularly.
Enter Leo Roussos, the brooding neuroscience professor at Columbia whose idea of fun is dissecting brains—not hearts. His fiancée recently pulled a vanishing act, and his precocious five-year-old daughter, Emma, has successfully terrified six nannies in six months. Desperate, a little grumpy, and allergic to optimism, Leo hires Annie—the human equivalent of a walking rainbow—because, well, beggars can’t be choosers, and he’s one more tantrum away from total mental collapse.
She’s running from her past. He’s stuck in his. And somehow, in a cramped Upper West Side apartment with a pint-sized terror between them, they start to feel like something Annie swore she’d never believe in home.
But in a city that never sleeps, secrets are stealthier than a midnight subway rat and when the glittering world Annie fled comes crashing into the very fragile, very real one she’s built, she’ll have to is love a worthy reason to stop running, or just the best reason to start?
From the electric buzz of 1994 Manhattan to the tender chaos of an unlikely family, How to Be Nowhere is a witty, swoony, heart-tugging romp for anyone who’s ever realized that the best way to find yourself is to get a little lost sometimes.
There’s just one invisibility doesn’t pay the bills. With no cash, no crib, and survival skills that wouldn’t impress a houseplant, Annie’s grand escape is about to flop spectacularly.
Enter Leo Roussos, the brooding neuroscience professor at Columbia whose idea of fun is dissecting brains—not hearts. His fiancée recently pulled a vanishing act, and his precocious five-year-old daughter, Emma, has successfully terrified six nannies in six months. Desperate, a little grumpy, and allergic to optimism, Leo hires Annie—the human equivalent of a walking rainbow—because, well, beggars can’t be choosers, and he’s one more tantrum away from total mental collapse.
She’s running from her past. He’s stuck in his. And somehow, in a cramped Upper West Side apartment with a pint-sized terror between them, they start to feel like something Annie swore she’d never believe in home.
But in a city that never sleeps, secrets are stealthier than a midnight subway rat and when the glittering world Annie fled comes crashing into the very fragile, very real one she’s built, she’ll have to is love a worthy reason to stop running, or just the best reason to start?
From the electric buzz of 1994 Manhattan to the tender chaos of an unlikely family, How to Be Nowhere is a witty, swoony, heart-tugging romp for anyone who’s ever realized that the best way to find yourself is to get a little lost sometimes.
- GenresContemporaryRomance
535 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 20, 2026
3 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
March 20, 2026
3.25 ⭐️
˚ · .˚ ༘🦋⋆｡˚ After running away from her wedding and her famous parents in California, Annie Collier arrives in New York, feeling free and anxious about her new life as a nobody. The money she has is gradually dwindling, so she sets out to find a job. But Annie quickly realizes that not having any experience isn't working out for her, and she comes across an ad in the paper for a nanny. Does she know anything about kids? No, but she’s willing to learn anything and everything there is to learn because she really needs the money, and taking care of kids can’t be that hard, right?
Enter the serious and brooding Leo Roussos. After his fiancée ran off, Leo is juggling his job as a neuroscience professor at Columbia and being a single father to his little girl, Emma. He’s hired nannies to help care for Emma when he’s at work, but Emma’s having none of it and scares off each and every hire. So when optimistic Annie comes for the job, Leo is desperate enough to hire her and see where it goes. And as time goes on, the two of them can’t help but feel the spark between them and the warmth they get in their hearts when all three are together, like a family.
───※ ·❆· ※───
ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ: Autumn in New York by Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong
1:02 ───ㅇ───── 5:58
˚ · .˚ ༘🦋⋆｡˚ I came across this book on Instagram, and absolutely loved the sound of it. And when I saw that the author was allowing submissions to read the arc, I was pumped, so I filled out the form and prayed that I would be allowed to read it since I sent it a day or so after the deadline. But thankfully, I was sent the arc, and was over the moon!
*heavy sigh* I really wanted to love this. Now, I don't hate it. I enjoyed myself for the most part because it’s 90s New York, baby! I LOVED the aesthetic and feel of it all. You know, I’ve always envied people who knew their city so well that they know street names and can give directions like they were Google Maps. But not this girl. Do not ask me for directions to anywhere because I only know the landmarks surrounding your destination. Oh, are you looking for a McDonalds? There’s one by that junior high school that’s right next to the bank where that big, old tree is. I hope you find it!
Anyways, I’m not exactly sure why I didn’t love this. I’ve been thinking over it, and the reason might be that I didn’t exactly fall in love with the characters. I mean, I rooted for them, but I can do that for anyone, regardless of whether I like them or not, because I honestly don’t wish any ill will on anyone. Unless they seriously ask for it (like Annie’s parents, specifically her dad), then I’ll send down fire and hailstorms, believe you me. 😂 I don’t know. Annie and Leo were okay, but I didn’t like them very much. Emma was just any other kid to me, and the side characters were fine but not memorable. There was camaraderie and community, but I just didn't feel it. Sure, I chuckled and smiled at some things that were said and done, but there were no fond smiles, giggles of excitement, or gasps of wondrous shock. It was all…meh. And I hate that I just said that. 😭
I felt the same way about the romance. I didn’t even notice when Annie and Leo started having feelings for each other. I think I must’ve missed it or something, which is highly plausible because I sometimes miss things in books. 🤦♀ Unless that was intentional because sometimes love isn’t fireworks or big, dramatic moments of epiphany–sometimes love just comes softly. (If you understood the reference, you are officially my bff. 😂❤) And if that’s the case, then okay. I respect it and will stop talking about it.
But the cover!! The cover is sooo freaking gorgeous!! 😭😍 I love it! 🤭
All in all, this was an okay read. There were some sweet parts that I enjoyed, but this just wasn’t exactly for me. However, the reviews are all 4 and 5-star ratings, so I definitely recommend reading those because this was a “it’s not you, it’s me” thing. But I think a lot of readers will love this, so I recommend it! 💛💐
✿ Thank you SO MUCH to the author for allowing me to read the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. This book will be available on 03/20/2026! ✿
❗Content Warnings❗
Unexpected pregnancy, manipulative parents, & mentions homophobia.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: One open-door scene (🌶🌶🌶/5)
˚ · .˚ ༘🦋⋆｡˚ After running away from her wedding and her famous parents in California, Annie Collier arrives in New York, feeling free and anxious about her new life as a nobody. The money she has is gradually dwindling, so she sets out to find a job. But Annie quickly realizes that not having any experience isn't working out for her, and she comes across an ad in the paper for a nanny. Does she know anything about kids? No, but she’s willing to learn anything and everything there is to learn because she really needs the money, and taking care of kids can’t be that hard, right?
Enter the serious and brooding Leo Roussos. After his fiancée ran off, Leo is juggling his job as a neuroscience professor at Columbia and being a single father to his little girl, Emma. He’s hired nannies to help care for Emma when he’s at work, but Emma’s having none of it and scares off each and every hire. So when optimistic Annie comes for the job, Leo is desperate enough to hire her and see where it goes. And as time goes on, the two of them can’t help but feel the spark between them and the warmth they get in their hearts when all three are together, like a family.
───※ ·❆· ※───
ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ: Autumn in New York by Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong
1:02 ───ㅇ───── 5:58
˚ · .˚ ༘🦋⋆｡˚ I came across this book on Instagram, and absolutely loved the sound of it. And when I saw that the author was allowing submissions to read the arc, I was pumped, so I filled out the form and prayed that I would be allowed to read it since I sent it a day or so after the deadline. But thankfully, I was sent the arc, and was over the moon!
*heavy sigh* I really wanted to love this. Now, I don't hate it. I enjoyed myself for the most part because it’s 90s New York, baby! I LOVED the aesthetic and feel of it all. You know, I’ve always envied people who knew their city so well that they know street names and can give directions like they were Google Maps. But not this girl. Do not ask me for directions to anywhere because I only know the landmarks surrounding your destination. Oh, are you looking for a McDonalds? There’s one by that junior high school that’s right next to the bank where that big, old tree is. I hope you find it!
Anyways, I’m not exactly sure why I didn’t love this. I’ve been thinking over it, and the reason might be that I didn’t exactly fall in love with the characters. I mean, I rooted for them, but I can do that for anyone, regardless of whether I like them or not, because I honestly don’t wish any ill will on anyone. Unless they seriously ask for it (like Annie’s parents, specifically her dad), then I’ll send down fire and hailstorms, believe you me. 😂 I don’t know. Annie and Leo were okay, but I didn’t like them very much. Emma was just any other kid to me, and the side characters were fine but not memorable. There was camaraderie and community, but I just didn't feel it. Sure, I chuckled and smiled at some things that were said and done, but there were no fond smiles, giggles of excitement, or gasps of wondrous shock. It was all…meh. And I hate that I just said that. 😭
I felt the same way about the romance. I didn’t even notice when Annie and Leo started having feelings for each other. I think I must’ve missed it or something, which is highly plausible because I sometimes miss things in books. 🤦♀ Unless that was intentional because sometimes love isn’t fireworks or big, dramatic moments of epiphany–sometimes love just comes softly. (If you understood the reference, you are officially my bff. 😂❤) And if that’s the case, then okay. I respect it and will stop talking about it.
But the cover!! The cover is sooo freaking gorgeous!! 😭😍 I love it! 🤭
All in all, this was an okay read. There were some sweet parts that I enjoyed, but this just wasn’t exactly for me. However, the reviews are all 4 and 5-star ratings, so I definitely recommend reading those because this was a “it’s not you, it’s me” thing. But I think a lot of readers will love this, so I recommend it! 💛💐
✿ Thank you SO MUCH to the author for allowing me to read the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. This book will be available on 03/20/2026! ✿
❗Content Warnings❗
Unexpected pregnancy, manipulative parents, & mentions homophobia.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: One open-door scene (🌶🌶🌶/5)
March 9, 2026
ARC Review: How to Be Nowhere by Tierra Stockham
Some books are easy to forget, but How to Be Nowhere stayed with me. I expected a simple romance, but it ended up being more emotional and character-driven than I thought.
The story follows Annie Collier, who runs away from her wedding and the perfect life planned for her. When she ends up in New York with no real plan, she has to figure things out on her own. She makes mistakes along the way, but that’s what made her feel real.
Leo Roussos is a quiet, slightly grumpy professor raising his five-year-old daughter, Emma. Emma completely stole the show for me—she’s smart, stubborn, and adds so much humor to the story. Watching Annie slowly become part of their lives was really heartwarming.
What I liked most was the slow-burn relationship and the found family feeling between them. Set in 1990s New York, the story is about second chances, starting over, and finding where you truly belong.
Some books are easy to forget, but How to Be Nowhere stayed with me. I expected a simple romance, but it ended up being more emotional and character-driven than I thought.
The story follows Annie Collier, who runs away from her wedding and the perfect life planned for her. When she ends up in New York with no real plan, she has to figure things out on her own. She makes mistakes along the way, but that’s what made her feel real.
Leo Roussos is a quiet, slightly grumpy professor raising his five-year-old daughter, Emma. Emma completely stole the show for me—she’s smart, stubborn, and adds so much humor to the story. Watching Annie slowly become part of their lives was really heartwarming.
What I liked most was the slow-burn relationship and the found family feeling between them. Set in 1990s New York, the story is about second chances, starting over, and finding where you truly belong.
March 27, 2026
This book is absolutely beautiful. Tierra just knows how to pull your heart straight into the story, I felt like I was actually in the scene with each character, experiencing it alongside them.
You face the struggles of adulting, of trying to be both mom & dad at the same time, finding out who you are, how you like your eggs cooked (runaway bride), how to let yourself be open again after shutting your heart away. You feel like you’re right there with them as they face their realities.
Leo’s pov was so real, you’re right there with him as he deals with overcoming a major loss in his own life but also his daughters, learning how to be a better man than he was before. Balancing being both a mom & dad for his little girl, healing from the doubts of if he’s good enough. I absolutely LOVED his family, the Roussos family felt like a huge, warm hug for me. The unity, the overwhelming love that’s flowing out of them. It reminded me of my younger years with my sweet MawMaw & our huge family gatherings with all the aunts fussing about 💌
Annie’s pov was all about finding out how she liked her eggs cooked, who she was. Who she was without the shadow of who she was expected to be looming over her. It felt like I was right there with her in all of her new experiences & while she was figuring out what she wanted out of her life. How magical it is when you finally know how you like your eggs cooked & no longer strive to “fit in” to the molds of expectations. When you can confidently walk into a room & own who you are, that’s a gift indeed.
The strained relationship that Annie had with her parents is something I fortunately can’t relate to but I most definitely sympathized with her & rooted for the best outcome.
That epilogue was absolutely beautiful, I read the entire thing with a smile plastered on my face & tears in my eyes.
This book moved me, made me tear up & then break out in happy giggles. It’s so beautifully written & it most definitely transports you straight into a 90s romcom. I loved every second of it 💌
You face the struggles of adulting, of trying to be both mom & dad at the same time, finding out who you are, how you like your eggs cooked (runaway bride), how to let yourself be open again after shutting your heart away. You feel like you’re right there with them as they face their realities.
Leo’s pov was so real, you’re right there with him as he deals with overcoming a major loss in his own life but also his daughters, learning how to be a better man than he was before. Balancing being both a mom & dad for his little girl, healing from the doubts of if he’s good enough. I absolutely LOVED his family, the Roussos family felt like a huge, warm hug for me. The unity, the overwhelming love that’s flowing out of them. It reminded me of my younger years with my sweet MawMaw & our huge family gatherings with all the aunts fussing about 💌
Annie’s pov was all about finding out how she liked her eggs cooked, who she was. Who she was without the shadow of who she was expected to be looming over her. It felt like I was right there with her in all of her new experiences & while she was figuring out what she wanted out of her life. How magical it is when you finally know how you like your eggs cooked & no longer strive to “fit in” to the molds of expectations. When you can confidently walk into a room & own who you are, that’s a gift indeed.
The strained relationship that Annie had with her parents is something I fortunately can’t relate to but I most definitely sympathized with her & rooted for the best outcome.
That epilogue was absolutely beautiful, I read the entire thing with a smile plastered on my face & tears in my eyes.
This book moved me, made me tear up & then break out in happy giggles. It’s so beautifully written & it most definitely transports you straight into a 90s romcom. I loved every second of it 💌
April 8, 2026
First of all, I absolutely love the that MMC is a neuroscience professor! And I’m being totally serious when I say this because I LOVE psychology, and neuroscience is just an in-depth version of it! 😁💕
Second, I absolutely love Emma! Her character as a kid just fit the story SO WELL and had me laughing SO MUCH because I could actually hear her voice in my head, which just made the book 10x funnier for me!
My only thing is not knowing how to feel about the age-gap trope, especially since it was my first time reading a book with it included, but this is more just a personal note to myself, so don’t mind me 😂🤷♀️
Overall, I ADORE this book from start to finish—it’s nostalgic, playful, chaotic, and messy in all the best ways that romance readers love, so you should just take my recommendation and run! 😁👍🏼
Second, I absolutely love Emma! Her character as a kid just fit the story SO WELL and had me laughing SO MUCH because I could actually hear her voice in my head, which just made the book 10x funnier for me!
My only thing is not knowing how to feel about the age-gap trope, especially since it was my first time reading a book with it included, but this is more just a personal note to myself, so don’t mind me 😂🤷♀️
Overall, I ADORE this book from start to finish—it’s nostalgic, playful, chaotic, and messy in all the best ways that romance readers love, so you should just take my recommendation and run! 😁👍🏼
Review of advance copy received from Author
Somewhere 'Kiss Me' by Sixpence None the Richer is playing as I type this. Somewhere some millenial misses the nostalgia of the 90s and needs a book that teleports them back to the feeling of vinyl booth seating at dive bars, Central Park walks when the Twin Towers were still at thing of beauty, on the cusp of the world before technology became our very breath and our love of simplicity was no longer a thing.
It's me. I'm that millenial.
And HOW TO BE NOWHERE is that book.
As always, Tierra Stockham left me reeling with the biggest megawatt grin on the last page turn. I don't know what she puts in her books but DAMN do I love them! Her writing is simply some of the most emotive, most lyrically stunning, writing I've ever had the pleasure of reading - being an ARC reader for her isn't just something exciting for me, it's an honor I hold close to me like something cherished.
The story of Leo and Annie is for my babes that love the 90s/00's romcoms - Sleepless in Seattle, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Runaway Bride. The gritty romance interlaced with hope and fate and big loud citites and louder beautiful families. Where fashion is etched into the story, and the speed of the world is orbiting around two lovers trying to travel through it white-knuckled to hope of a happy ending. It's the warmth of the first spring day at the park after a long winter. It's the first falling leaf as autumn hits. It's comforting, it's beautiful, and it's got a soft glow to it you can't help but relish in.
I'm obsessed with how different this story was to Stockham's previous work. The details she puts into her work is one what lines her up with some of the great contemporaries of today - BK Borison, Ali Hazelwood, etc. She takes it SERIOUSLY and you can feel how much she's researched it for accuracy. So much so that when she talks about Annie running from her wedding and taking her first step into New York - you can envision yourself looking up at the high rises and can feel the reverbarations of taxis speeding past, the smog caking you like a second skin, the smell of yeast from a pizzeria nearby making you drool. Or when Leo is running over thoughts in his mind trying to equate his love for Annie and his daughter to that of neurons firing or the statistical probablity of this love being different from his ex, it's making you THINK just as much as it's making you FEEL, and you're left reeling and firing thoughts left and right wondering how fate shapes the design of your own life and how that relates to the page you're reading.
It's just THAT immersive I could never give it justice to its quality, but I loveeeee it.
I can't recommend this enough. As a love story. As a book of hope. As a 90s' babies' love of nostalgia. It's just so quippy, smart, cute, soft. It's EVERYTHING and I beg you to add it to your TBR and then run to my DMS on insta to yap about it!
AGE GAP
SINGLE DAD x NANNY
RUNAWAY BRIDE
90s NOSTALGIA
FOUND FAMILY
SCIENCE VS CHANCE
It's me. I'm that millenial.
And HOW TO BE NOWHERE is that book.
As always, Tierra Stockham left me reeling with the biggest megawatt grin on the last page turn. I don't know what she puts in her books but DAMN do I love them! Her writing is simply some of the most emotive, most lyrically stunning, writing I've ever had the pleasure of reading - being an ARC reader for her isn't just something exciting for me, it's an honor I hold close to me like something cherished.
The story of Leo and Annie is for my babes that love the 90s/00's romcoms - Sleepless in Seattle, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Runaway Bride. The gritty romance interlaced with hope and fate and big loud citites and louder beautiful families. Where fashion is etched into the story, and the speed of the world is orbiting around two lovers trying to travel through it white-knuckled to hope of a happy ending. It's the warmth of the first spring day at the park after a long winter. It's the first falling leaf as autumn hits. It's comforting, it's beautiful, and it's got a soft glow to it you can't help but relish in.
I'm obsessed with how different this story was to Stockham's previous work. The details she puts into her work is one what lines her up with some of the great contemporaries of today - BK Borison, Ali Hazelwood, etc. She takes it SERIOUSLY and you can feel how much she's researched it for accuracy. So much so that when she talks about Annie running from her wedding and taking her first step into New York - you can envision yourself looking up at the high rises and can feel the reverbarations of taxis speeding past, the smog caking you like a second skin, the smell of yeast from a pizzeria nearby making you drool. Or when Leo is running over thoughts in his mind trying to equate his love for Annie and his daughter to that of neurons firing or the statistical probablity of this love being different from his ex, it's making you THINK just as much as it's making you FEEL, and you're left reeling and firing thoughts left and right wondering how fate shapes the design of your own life and how that relates to the page you're reading.
It's just THAT immersive I could never give it justice to its quality, but I loveeeee it.
I can't recommend this enough. As a love story. As a book of hope. As a 90s' babies' love of nostalgia. It's just so quippy, smart, cute, soft. It's EVERYTHING and I beg you to add it to your TBR and then run to my DMS on insta to yap about it!
AGE GAP
SINGLE DAD x NANNY
RUNAWAY BRIDE
90s NOSTALGIA
FOUND FAMILY
SCIENCE VS CHANCE
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you so much, Tierra, for allowing be to be an ARC reader for this book!
In 1994, Annie Collier runs away from the wedding her famous parents had planned for her. With an one-way ticket to New York, she arrives with no real plans on what to do next. Luckily, she manages to find a place to stay and a job as a nanny. That’s when Leo Roussos enters. He’s a grumpy professor at Columbia, and also a single dad to his daughter, Emma. He also has the support of his loving (and meddling) family, who’d love for him to find love again.
If these tropes are your vibes, please read this book!
🗽 Set in 1994 New York
🤭 Grumpy x Sunshine
❤️🔥 Slow Burn
🥹 Found Family
⭐️ Age Gap (MMC 34, FMC 25)
📚 Columbia Professor MMC
💍 Runaway Bride FMC
👧🏼 Single Dad x She’s his nanny
🗓️ 90s Nostalgia
❤️🩹 Dual POV & HEA
My oh my, what a great time I had reading this story!! I fell in love with Annie, Leo and Emma. They’re a beautiful family. They were meant to find each other. They were each other’s fresh start.
The slow-burn was amazing! I could feel the love development in the small moments between them and it made it all so real and beautiful. They could talk for hours about anything and everything and it felt to natural, and it was something they haven’t experienced before.
I have to highlight the found family trope. I felt this trope between Leo (and his family) & Annie, but also between Annie and her roommates, Cori & Marcus. She truly found friends for life, who love her for who she is and not for what she could offer them through her connections.
Let’s take a moment for Emma! She is such a great character in this book, and I adored every scene we got with her. From her tantrums, to her giggles, to her love for her dad, and to all the small moments between her and Annie. She brought out so much joy and humor to this book.
Annie’s relationship with Eileen was so special, I teared up at how much Eileen cared for Annie and loved her like a daughter.
Leo’s friends, Joe and Allison, were very entertaining to read, as they teased him about Annie. Leo’s parents & sister were also awesome characters and I had so much fun with all the scenes they shared.
What a wonderful time I had watching Annie slowly become part of their little family, as well as the Roussos’ big family. Everyone is so welcoming and full of love to give. Annie found real, kind, genuine love in New York. Romantic love and platonic love.
This book also holds such a special meaning of finding second chances. Starting over in another place, and starting over after you gave up on love. It’s about being lost between the one version of yourself while you get to the next version. Holding onto the hope of having a second chance at life and at love.
The epilogue had me crying. What a special ending! It was really beautiful and it perfectly showcased how much love they had. What a beautiful story, family, and life they built.
In 1994, Annie Collier runs away from the wedding her famous parents had planned for her. With an one-way ticket to New York, she arrives with no real plans on what to do next. Luckily, she manages to find a place to stay and a job as a nanny. That’s when Leo Roussos enters. He’s a grumpy professor at Columbia, and also a single dad to his daughter, Emma. He also has the support of his loving (and meddling) family, who’d love for him to find love again.
If these tropes are your vibes, please read this book!
🗽 Set in 1994 New York
🤭 Grumpy x Sunshine
❤️🔥 Slow Burn
🥹 Found Family
⭐️ Age Gap (MMC 34, FMC 25)
📚 Columbia Professor MMC
💍 Runaway Bride FMC
👧🏼 Single Dad x She’s his nanny
🗓️ 90s Nostalgia
❤️🩹 Dual POV & HEA
My oh my, what a great time I had reading this story!! I fell in love with Annie, Leo and Emma. They’re a beautiful family. They were meant to find each other. They were each other’s fresh start.
The slow-burn was amazing! I could feel the love development in the small moments between them and it made it all so real and beautiful. They could talk for hours about anything and everything and it felt to natural, and it was something they haven’t experienced before.
I have to highlight the found family trope. I felt this trope between Leo (and his family) & Annie, but also between Annie and her roommates, Cori & Marcus. She truly found friends for life, who love her for who she is and not for what she could offer them through her connections.
Let’s take a moment for Emma! She is such a great character in this book, and I adored every scene we got with her. From her tantrums, to her giggles, to her love for her dad, and to all the small moments between her and Annie. She brought out so much joy and humor to this book.
Annie’s relationship with Eileen was so special, I teared up at how much Eileen cared for Annie and loved her like a daughter.
Leo’s friends, Joe and Allison, were very entertaining to read, as they teased him about Annie. Leo’s parents & sister were also awesome characters and I had so much fun with all the scenes they shared.
What a wonderful time I had watching Annie slowly become part of their little family, as well as the Roussos’ big family. Everyone is so welcoming and full of love to give. Annie found real, kind, genuine love in New York. Romantic love and platonic love.
This book also holds such a special meaning of finding second chances. Starting over in another place, and starting over after you gave up on love. It’s about being lost between the one version of yourself while you get to the next version. Holding onto the hope of having a second chance at life and at love.
The epilogue had me crying. What a special ending! It was really beautiful and it perfectly showcased how much love they had. What a beautiful story, family, and life they built.
Review of advance copy received from Author
“The thing about families is that they don’t start in one place. … They begin in pieces, scattered across years and cities and people don’t even know each other yet.”
Tierra did it again! This time she’s taking us to the streets of New York… in the 90’s.
A runaway bride from an affluent family meets a Greek Columbia Professor on the streets of New York. Their first encounter… not one his momma is happy about (iykyk 🤭). When our FMC shows up for the nanny interview 🫣 they weren’t prepared to see each other! I love the immersive description throughout each page. The picture Tierra paints is one that transports you back in time but it also consumes your entire soul. All of the nostalgia. All the feels. Tierra doesn’t miss a single detail. From the vibe of the 90’s but also the inner workings of our single neuroscientist dad.
But this book was also so much more than just a throwback. Annie, our FMC, is 25 and finds herself standing in a bridal room watching a frenzy around her of a life she knows she’ll suffocate in. The help of someone special and the course of her life is altered forever. Leo, 35, a Columbia Neuroscientist Professor, is a single dad is just trying to survive. Emma, his strong-willed little 4 year old, is Leo’s whole world but she’s striking out with nanny’s. She doesn’t want them around & they don’t want to be around her. What do all 3 of them have in common? The desperate need for peace, love, acceptance, and knowing they have someone in their corner they can count on and who stays.
The journey these 3 take is beautifully woven between living room forts, disposable camera captures, Central Park pretzels, Little Mermaid on repeat, learning how to cook, and the quiet moments in between. The way Annie can speak to Emma’s heart is truly so special. She is everything that little girl needs, and watching Leo’s defenses fall as he watches Emma open up pulls on your heart strings. Annie learning who she wants to be and standing up for herself is the moment you are pumping your hands in the air saying, “you go girl!” The epilogue? Perfect.
Tierra’s writing is truly magical and Annie, Leo, and Emma will stick with me for a long long time!
If you love a good age gap, single dad, Friends references, no 3rd act breakup, found family, and he’s her boss kind of fun, this one is for you!
Tierra did it again! This time she’s taking us to the streets of New York… in the 90’s.
A runaway bride from an affluent family meets a Greek Columbia Professor on the streets of New York. Their first encounter… not one his momma is happy about (iykyk 🤭). When our FMC shows up for the nanny interview 🫣 they weren’t prepared to see each other! I love the immersive description throughout each page. The picture Tierra paints is one that transports you back in time but it also consumes your entire soul. All of the nostalgia. All the feels. Tierra doesn’t miss a single detail. From the vibe of the 90’s but also the inner workings of our single neuroscientist dad.
But this book was also so much more than just a throwback. Annie, our FMC, is 25 and finds herself standing in a bridal room watching a frenzy around her of a life she knows she’ll suffocate in. The help of someone special and the course of her life is altered forever. Leo, 35, a Columbia Neuroscientist Professor, is a single dad is just trying to survive. Emma, his strong-willed little 4 year old, is Leo’s whole world but she’s striking out with nanny’s. She doesn’t want them around & they don’t want to be around her. What do all 3 of them have in common? The desperate need for peace, love, acceptance, and knowing they have someone in their corner they can count on and who stays.
The journey these 3 take is beautifully woven between living room forts, disposable camera captures, Central Park pretzels, Little Mermaid on repeat, learning how to cook, and the quiet moments in between. The way Annie can speak to Emma’s heart is truly so special. She is everything that little girl needs, and watching Leo’s defenses fall as he watches Emma open up pulls on your heart strings. Annie learning who she wants to be and standing up for herself is the moment you are pumping your hands in the air saying, “you go girl!” The epilogue? Perfect.
Tierra’s writing is truly magical and Annie, Leo, and Emma will stick with me for a long long time!
If you love a good age gap, single dad, Friends references, no 3rd act breakup, found family, and he’s her boss kind of fun, this one is for you!
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
How To Be Nowhere by Tierra Stockham completely stole my heart. From the very first pages I knew I was in for something special, but I did not expect to fall so deeply in love with Annie, Leo, and the beautifully messy little world they build together.
Annie Collier running away from her perfectly polished Hollywood life felt both hilarious and deeply relatable. Watching her arrive in New York with nothing but determination and a dream of becoming “nobody” was equal parts chaotic and charming. She is warm, impulsive, and full of heart, even when she has absolutely no idea what she is doing. I loved how real her journey felt as she slowly discovers that disappearing from your past does not mean you stop wanting connection.
Leo Roussos was the perfect contrast to Annie. He is broody, exhausted, and completely outmatched by his strong willed five year old daughter Emma. Their dynamic was one of my favorite parts of the book. Emma is funny, clever, and just the right amount of chaos, and watching Annie step into their lives brought so many sweet and emotional moments. The slow shift from strangers to something that looks a lot like family felt natural and incredibly heartfelt.
The setting of 1994 Manhattan added so much atmosphere to the story. The city felt alive on every page. The tiny apartment, the busy streets, and the feeling that anything could happen made the romance even more magical. Beneath the humor and swoony moments, the story also explores identity, second chances, and what it means to truly belong somewhere.
This book made me laugh, made me emotional, and left me with that warm feeling you get when a story really stays with you after the last page. It is witty, tender, and full of heart. If you love grumpy sunshine romance, found family, and stories about getting lost so you can finally find yourself, this one is absolutely worth picking up. I adored it.
How To Be Nowhere by Tierra Stockham completely stole my heart. From the very first pages I knew I was in for something special, but I did not expect to fall so deeply in love with Annie, Leo, and the beautifully messy little world they build together.
Annie Collier running away from her perfectly polished Hollywood life felt both hilarious and deeply relatable. Watching her arrive in New York with nothing but determination and a dream of becoming “nobody” was equal parts chaotic and charming. She is warm, impulsive, and full of heart, even when she has absolutely no idea what she is doing. I loved how real her journey felt as she slowly discovers that disappearing from your past does not mean you stop wanting connection.
Leo Roussos was the perfect contrast to Annie. He is broody, exhausted, and completely outmatched by his strong willed five year old daughter Emma. Their dynamic was one of my favorite parts of the book. Emma is funny, clever, and just the right amount of chaos, and watching Annie step into their lives brought so many sweet and emotional moments. The slow shift from strangers to something that looks a lot like family felt natural and incredibly heartfelt.
The setting of 1994 Manhattan added so much atmosphere to the story. The city felt alive on every page. The tiny apartment, the busy streets, and the feeling that anything could happen made the romance even more magical. Beneath the humor and swoony moments, the story also explores identity, second chances, and what it means to truly belong somewhere.
This book made me laugh, made me emotional, and left me with that warm feeling you get when a story really stays with you after the last page. It is witty, tender, and full of heart. If you love grumpy sunshine romance, found family, and stories about getting lost so you can finally find yourself, this one is absolutely worth picking up. I adored it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I came into How to Be Nowhere expecting a pretty standard, simple, sweet, single dad romance. While it is a sweet single dad romance, it is much more emotional than the typical ones I have seen. Honestly, I’m not usually a huge fan of them, especially with a nanny romance. But every single one of these characters felt so purposeful and real and pushed the story into a whole new place for me.
Stockham gave us a really great 90s slow-burn about starting over, finding out who you really are, and finding people who genuinely support you for who that is. This felt very much like the 90s romance movies I would watch with my mom growing up, but the characters feel like real people and less like I would dislike them if I met them in real life (you know how the characters in 90s and early 2000s romcoms were almost all questionable at best). The author also writes Emma, a very young child, with such understanding. A lot of children in books like this serve only as plot devices, with no genuine personality or thoughts that would ever come from an actual child. Emma is precocious, feels deeply but doesn’t yet know how to process big feelings, and loves to learn. Moreover, she pushes back on anyone who treats her like she doesn’t have her own thoughts and feelings. I see a lot of myself at that age in Emma, and I adore her.
I honestly could not help the warm grin on my face the whole time I read this book. Whether you are a fan of single parent romances or not, Stockham really elevates this story beyond the typical.
Stockham gave us a really great 90s slow-burn about starting over, finding out who you really are, and finding people who genuinely support you for who that is. This felt very much like the 90s romance movies I would watch with my mom growing up, but the characters feel like real people and less like I would dislike them if I met them in real life (you know how the characters in 90s and early 2000s romcoms were almost all questionable at best). The author also writes Emma, a very young child, with such understanding. A lot of children in books like this serve only as plot devices, with no genuine personality or thoughts that would ever come from an actual child. Emma is precocious, feels deeply but doesn’t yet know how to process big feelings, and loves to learn. Moreover, she pushes back on anyone who treats her like she doesn’t have her own thoughts and feelings. I see a lot of myself at that age in Emma, and I adore her.
I honestly could not help the warm grin on my face the whole time I read this book. Whether you are a fan of single parent romances or not, Stockham really elevates this story beyond the typical.
Review of advance copy received from Author
“Tequila. For courage. Or forgetfulness. Whichever you need.”
Well, Tierra, you’ve done it again.
Tierra has an incredible talent for writing very detailed, lived in prose. You feel like you’re actually in the book, and the characters all jump out at you like fully formed beings.
New York, aptly described as a “a river of relentless purpose” was captured perfectly — the energy, the sense of humor, the weird mundane beauty and grossness that is woven into the concrete and dirt and flower beds. New York was a character all on her own, and she was perfect.
Annie, for someone brand new to NYC, perfectly encapsulated what it’s like to search for yourself, your purpose, and maybe even your soulmate in a sea of 8 million plus. She wants a great love, a “love that’s a bit of a nuisance,” and boy does she find her perfect nuisance in Leo, who loves every bit of friction that Annie brings into his life. Their love story was a warm hug, and Emma was a standout.
Thank you to Tierra for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. And thank you for coining “collector of experiences” because, same.
4.75/5 ⭐️
Well, Tierra, you’ve done it again.
Tierra has an incredible talent for writing very detailed, lived in prose. You feel like you’re actually in the book, and the characters all jump out at you like fully formed beings.
New York, aptly described as a “a river of relentless purpose” was captured perfectly — the energy, the sense of humor, the weird mundane beauty and grossness that is woven into the concrete and dirt and flower beds. New York was a character all on her own, and she was perfect.
Annie, for someone brand new to NYC, perfectly encapsulated what it’s like to search for yourself, your purpose, and maybe even your soulmate in a sea of 8 million plus. She wants a great love, a “love that’s a bit of a nuisance,” and boy does she find her perfect nuisance in Leo, who loves every bit of friction that Annie brings into his life. Their love story was a warm hug, and Emma was a standout.
Thank you to Tierra for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. And thank you for coining “collector of experiences” because, same.
4.75/5 ⭐️
March 27, 2026
Oh mylanta! PLEASE READ THIS BOOK THIS SPRING!
How to be Nowhere by Tierra Stockham took me back to my childhood as a made in the 80’s and raised in the 90’s girl. Picture this: if Runaway Bride, Raising Helen, Friends and My Big Fat Greek Wedding all went out for coffee, this book would be the end product. Set in NYC in 1994, the FMC and MMC have the ultimate meet cute that plays out in the most hilarious ways. A California runaway bride Annie is searching for a fresh start while nerdy professor, single dad Leo is in desperate search for a nanny collide over a taxi. They don’t know it yet, but that late night meeting set so much in motion. You get the DUO POV the whole story and you instantly get sucked in with all the details of living in the 90’s. The family dynamic, friend group situation and character development is absolutely incredible. The friendship turned romance between Annie and Leo was so well thought out and playfully written, your heart bursts by the end. Leo’s daughter Emma is a terror but under the surface you feel all the feels at her circumstances but also get homesick for the simple life of being a kid and being obsessed with The Little Mermaid. This book pulled at my heartstrings and I definitely teared up at the end. My most favorite part is the Epilogue and don’t worry, no spoilers here. Thank you Tierra for an entertaining book to get me out of a slight reading slump and ready to focus on being somewhere instead of nowhere!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️
How to be Nowhere by Tierra Stockham took me back to my childhood as a made in the 80’s and raised in the 90’s girl. Picture this: if Runaway Bride, Raising Helen, Friends and My Big Fat Greek Wedding all went out for coffee, this book would be the end product. Set in NYC in 1994, the FMC and MMC have the ultimate meet cute that plays out in the most hilarious ways. A California runaway bride Annie is searching for a fresh start while nerdy professor, single dad Leo is in desperate search for a nanny collide over a taxi. They don’t know it yet, but that late night meeting set so much in motion. You get the DUO POV the whole story and you instantly get sucked in with all the details of living in the 90’s. The family dynamic, friend group situation and character development is absolutely incredible. The friendship turned romance between Annie and Leo was so well thought out and playfully written, your heart bursts by the end. Leo’s daughter Emma is a terror but under the surface you feel all the feels at her circumstances but also get homesick for the simple life of being a kid and being obsessed with The Little Mermaid. This book pulled at my heartstrings and I definitely teared up at the end. My most favorite part is the Epilogue and don’t worry, no spoilers here. Thank you Tierra for an entertaining book to get me out of a slight reading slump and ready to focus on being somewhere instead of nowhere!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️
Review of advance copy received from Author
Once again Tierra Stockham has taken a simple story of a runaway bride turned nanny who falls for her boss, and makes it into a melody of words that just consumes you. This book is an ode to finding romance in a different time. Reading this book is a quiet, sneaking full on immersive experience of living in NYC in the 1990s, but without ever leaving your couch or turning on the TV.
If you love Friends, You've Got Mail, My Big Fat Greek Wedding and a subtle 90s experience, you'll love this book. If you love an age gap romance between a California heiress in hiding and a gorgeous Greek Columbia professor who happens to be a single dad, this one is for you. For anyone who lived or grew up in the 90s, this book will force all your forgotten memories of everyday life in the 90s back to the surface.
Age Gap (He's 34, She's 25)
Single Dad
He's Her Boss, She's the Nanny
Runaway Bride
Found Family
Romance in the 90s
NO 3rd Act Drama
Dual POV & HEA
I read an advance reader copy of this book. This is my honest review.
If you love Friends, You've Got Mail, My Big Fat Greek Wedding and a subtle 90s experience, you'll love this book. If you love an age gap romance between a California heiress in hiding and a gorgeous Greek Columbia professor who happens to be a single dad, this one is for you. For anyone who lived or grew up in the 90s, this book will force all your forgotten memories of everyday life in the 90s back to the surface.
Age Gap (He's 34, She's 25)
Single Dad
He's Her Boss, She's the Nanny
Runaway Bride
Found Family
Romance in the 90s
NO 3rd Act Drama
Dual POV & HEA
I read an advance reader copy of this book. This is my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Firstly, thank you to Tierra for once again trusting me with an early copy - it’s always such an honour 🩷
Tierra has this incredible ability to balance ornate, carefully crafted prose with genuinely gripping plot lines and beautifully dimensional characters. The descriptions feel intentional and immersive, but never indulgent - and I absolutely had the classic “just one more chapter” experience. Hours disappeared without me noticing. And the epilogue? Truly perfect.
Annie is unapologetically herself as she navigates a world so different from the one she was raised in, learning how to stand on her own two feet. Leo’s journey - allowing himself to lean on Annie and grow into the father he wants to be - felt tender and earned. And Emma? An absolute firecracker. Passionate, fierce, and loving in that uniquely wholehearted five-year-old way.
This book somehow made me nostalgic for the 90s despite being born in 2003, which feels like its own kind of magic. Everybody should read this - and maybe learn a little about how to be nowhere 🩷🗽🎀
Tierra has this incredible ability to balance ornate, carefully crafted prose with genuinely gripping plot lines and beautifully dimensional characters. The descriptions feel intentional and immersive, but never indulgent - and I absolutely had the classic “just one more chapter” experience. Hours disappeared without me noticing. And the epilogue? Truly perfect.
Annie is unapologetically herself as she navigates a world so different from the one she was raised in, learning how to stand on her own two feet. Leo’s journey - allowing himself to lean on Annie and grow into the father he wants to be - felt tender and earned. And Emma? An absolute firecracker. Passionate, fierce, and loving in that uniquely wholehearted five-year-old way.
This book somehow made me nostalgic for the 90s despite being born in 2003, which feels like its own kind of magic. Everybody should read this - and maybe learn a little about how to be nowhere 🩷🗽🎀
March 19, 2026
ARC Review✨
New York ✅ 90’s nostalgia ✅ found family ✅
This was such a feel-good read. It captured the 90’s in the best way and had me feeling so nostalgic from start to finish.
I went in expecting a typical “runaway bride” story, but it turned out to be so much more. Tierra Stockham beautifully explores what it really means to find yourself and step into who you’re meant to be. Annie’s journey of learning to stand up for herself and embrace a different path than the one she always imagined felt authentic and empowering.
I also loved the way this story highlights found family—proving that the people who become your home don’t have to be related by blood to mean everything.
Annie’s relationship with Leo was quiet in the best way. There wasn’t any flashiness—just two people learning who they are while being with someone who brings out the best in them.
This was a heartwarming, nostalgic read that left me smiling long after I turned the final page—and I’d absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for a story about growth, love, and finding where you truly belong.
New York ✅ 90’s nostalgia ✅ found family ✅
This was such a feel-good read. It captured the 90’s in the best way and had me feeling so nostalgic from start to finish.
I went in expecting a typical “runaway bride” story, but it turned out to be so much more. Tierra Stockham beautifully explores what it really means to find yourself and step into who you’re meant to be. Annie’s journey of learning to stand up for herself and embrace a different path than the one she always imagined felt authentic and empowering.
I also loved the way this story highlights found family—proving that the people who become your home don’t have to be related by blood to mean everything.
Annie’s relationship with Leo was quiet in the best way. There wasn’t any flashiness—just two people learning who they are while being with someone who brings out the best in them.
This was a heartwarming, nostalgic read that left me smiling long after I turned the final page—and I’d absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for a story about growth, love, and finding where you truly belong.
March 25, 2026
5 stars, because, once again, Tierra Stockham made me cry.
I've loved everything I've ever read by Tierra Stockham, so I might be a bit biased, but this book was phenomenal. Life decided to get in the way, so reading took longer than I wanted it to, but once I got the time, this book just flew by. I couldn't stop reading it and falling in love with Leo right alongside Annie. Their love is so sweet, and with Leo being a single dad, their relationship had so many more layers than your usual romcom couple (unless it's another single parent trope of course!) I loved all of these characters and seeing them be able to grow and become who they're meant to be was so, so good!
I would love to see more of these characters (because let's face it, I always want to see more of Tierra's characters) but as a standalone, it's still absolutely perfect! If you love single dads living in 90s New York who fall in love with their 6-year-old's nanny, and learn that love exists in the gaps, then this is the story for you!
I've loved everything I've ever read by Tierra Stockham, so I might be a bit biased, but this book was phenomenal. Life decided to get in the way, so reading took longer than I wanted it to, but once I got the time, this book just flew by. I couldn't stop reading it and falling in love with Leo right alongside Annie. Their love is so sweet, and with Leo being a single dad, their relationship had so many more layers than your usual romcom couple (unless it's another single parent trope of course!) I loved all of these characters and seeing them be able to grow and become who they're meant to be was so, so good!
I would love to see more of these characters (because let's face it, I always want to see more of Tierra's characters) but as a standalone, it's still absolutely perfect! If you love single dads living in 90s New York who fall in love with their 6-year-old's nanny, and learn that love exists in the gaps, then this is the story for you!
March 20, 2026
My sweet, 90’s loving millennial heart was jumping for joy while reading this book. It gives “Friends” vibes in all the best ways.
Annie Collier is a runaway bride, leaving her life as a heiress and debutant behind to forge her own way in 90’s NYC. After landing a job as a nanny for Leo, a handsome Greek professor at Columbia University, Annie finds herself creating the family she always wanted and needed with Leo and his Daughter, Emma.
This story was so dang cute and honestly packed quite an emotional punch. The 90’s vibes were so nostalgic – disposable cameras, jumpers with turtlenecks, bangs and bouncy blowouts, no cell phones, just simple living in the moment. I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be checking out more work by Tierra Stockham!
If you love a romcom with some substance and immaculate 90’s vibes, this one is for you!
TROPES:
FOUND FAMILY
SINGLE DAD/NANNY
90’s ROMCOM
GRUMPY/SUNSHINE
RUNAWAY BRIDE
SLOW BURN
Annie Collier is a runaway bride, leaving her life as a heiress and debutant behind to forge her own way in 90’s NYC. After landing a job as a nanny for Leo, a handsome Greek professor at Columbia University, Annie finds herself creating the family she always wanted and needed with Leo and his Daughter, Emma.
This story was so dang cute and honestly packed quite an emotional punch. The 90’s vibes were so nostalgic – disposable cameras, jumpers with turtlenecks, bangs and bouncy blowouts, no cell phones, just simple living in the moment. I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be checking out more work by Tierra Stockham!
If you love a romcom with some substance and immaculate 90’s vibes, this one is for you!
TROPES:
FOUND FAMILY
SINGLE DAD/NANNY
90’s ROMCOM
GRUMPY/SUNSHINE
RUNAWAY BRIDE
SLOW BURN
March 13, 2026
•This book is everything that feels sacred about the 90’s. It’s a touching rom-com about a woman who has decided to take her life into her own hands, and a Greek Colombia professor who is just trying to raise his daughter alone. Moving to New York with barely enough money to survive, Annie, meets her two bestest friends that she never thought she would have. She found a job in an unlikely position, fell in love with a brilliant man whose spitfire of a 4 year old daughter is his entire world (& becomes her entire world). This book has so many adulting trials, emotional meltdowns, found family, and unexpected love. I can say with conviction that this is one of those books that doesn’t just pull at your heart strings it freaking yanks on them. It was an absolute pleasure to get to read. I really hope we will get more of this families story because I want to know everything!•
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2026
I received this book as an ARC and am so thankful I was chosen! This book from the outside seems like a simple love story and while parts of it were, there were also parts more complex. Annie and Leo's love story was great but what I didn't expect was to connect so much to Leo's daughter Emma. The relationship between Annie and Emma really melted my heart. This book is truly about Found Families in my mind.
My favorite parts of the book:
-Annie and Emmas connection
-Leo's greek background and all the greek family scenes
-All the 90's references!!
-The roommates of Annie were perfect comedic additions
-Leo being a protective father and partner (SWOON)
-THE PROLOGUE UGHHHH SO GOOD!
This was the first book I've read from Stockham and I'll deff be reading more. Her writing style was so descriptive you could picture every scene in your mind. She is deff on the way to being my favorite Indie author!
My favorite parts of the book:
-Annie and Emmas connection
-Leo's greek background and all the greek family scenes
-All the 90's references!!
-The roommates of Annie were perfect comedic additions
-Leo being a protective father and partner (SWOON)
-THE PROLOGUE UGHHHH SO GOOD!
This was the first book I've read from Stockham and I'll deff be reading more. Her writing style was so descriptive you could picture every scene in your mind. She is deff on the way to being my favorite Indie author!
March 22, 2026
“Because inevitably, love won’t be enough. It’s the starting point, not the finish line.“
The nostalgia of the 90s hit me square in the face while reading this book. I love love LOVE the New York setting in 1994, the grungy apartment, the way people behaved (or didn’t). Being able to disconnect and run away - it was a time! Tierra Stockham did an amazing job recreating the world as it used to be and writing a love story that had me screaming in joy, so angsty, and tearing up.
The main characters, Leo, Annie, and of course, Emma, were absolute loves but let’s also talk about her roommates and his family. Absolute perfection.
Tierra!! Again! You did it again. One of my best reads so far this year. I know this one is going to stick with me.
“You’re so afraid of how something ends that you’re missing the middle, Leo. The good stuff.“
March 21, 2026
“Love exists in the gaps. In the spaces in between. It’s the stuff you can’t measure.”
How To Be Nowhere is a romance set in 90s NYC. Annie is a runaway bride who moves to NYC and becomes a nanny for Leo. This book made me laugh, cry….it made me FEEL. Tierra’s writing style had me feeling like I was that sticky dive bar or in yiayia’s kitchen smelling all the good food and part of the family! This book had me feeling nostalgic for the 90s in a way most millennials can relate to. I loved Annie’s journey to finding herself while falling in love with Leo and his daughter, Emma.
This story really tugged on my heart strings, and I’m going to need a bit to come back up for air.
Tierra, thank you so much for a chance to be an ARC reader for this book!
How To Be Nowhere is a romance set in 90s NYC. Annie is a runaway bride who moves to NYC and becomes a nanny for Leo. This book made me laugh, cry….it made me FEEL. Tierra’s writing style had me feeling like I was that sticky dive bar or in yiayia’s kitchen smelling all the good food and part of the family! This book had me feeling nostalgic for the 90s in a way most millennials can relate to. I loved Annie’s journey to finding herself while falling in love with Leo and his daughter, Emma.
This story really tugged on my heart strings, and I’m going to need a bit to come back up for air.
Tierra, thank you so much for a chance to be an ARC reader for this book!
March 20, 2026
I saw a post on Instagram inviting people to apply to be ARC readers for “How To Be Nowhere,” and immediately felt called to apply. It was such a pleasant surprise days later to find it in my inbox.
“How To Be Nowhere,” provides a delightful trip to New York City in the ‘90s, romanticizing the world before computers and cellphones took over in a way that made me yearn for the past.
This story is full of heart and warmth. I particularly enjoyed the secondary and tertiary characters who added depth and feeling to the pages on which they appeared.
It’s clear that Tierra Stockham loves the characters as much as they love each other and that made it a joy to read.
“How To Be Nowhere,” provides a delightful trip to New York City in the ‘90s, romanticizing the world before computers and cellphones took over in a way that made me yearn for the past.
This story is full of heart and warmth. I particularly enjoyed the secondary and tertiary characters who added depth and feeling to the pages on which they appeared.
It’s clear that Tierra Stockham loves the characters as much as they love each other and that made it a joy to read.
March 20, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Author
I knew I was going to love this book as soon as I saw the playlist. It was just a preview of how beautiful and intentional everything about this book would be.
The way the author describes scenes truly made you feel like you were there and could feel what the characters felt. So much so that I was crying sweet, happy tears before I even finished the prologue. (And I'm not a crier! It just really pulls you into the emotions.)
From there, I didn't want to put the book down and continued to just fall more and more in love with the characters -- growing and learning alongside them.
I knew I was going to love this book as soon as I saw the playlist. It was just a preview of how beautiful and intentional everything about this book would be.
The way the author describes scenes truly made you feel like you were there and could feel what the characters felt. So much so that I was crying sweet, happy tears before I even finished the prologue. (And I'm not a crier! It just really pulls you into the emotions.)
From there, I didn't want to put the book down and continued to just fall more and more in love with the characters -- growing and learning alongside them.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I knew that How to be Nowhere was going to be a 6-star book from the very first page! This book was an absolute masterpiece and I’m completely obsessed with Annie, Leo and Emma!
This book transported me back in time to New York in the 90s and I did not want to leave!
Tierra Stockham has such a way with words, that I would read her grocery list if she let me!!
Read this book ASAP, I promise you won’t be disappointed!!
🌃 new york in the 90s
❤️single dad x nanny
👰🏻♀️runaway bride
☀️grumpy x sunshine
Thank you so much to Tierra Stockham for this ARC!
This book transported me back in time to New York in the 90s and I did not want to leave!
Tierra Stockham has such a way with words, that I would read her grocery list if she let me!!
Read this book ASAP, I promise you won’t be disappointed!!
🌃 new york in the 90s
❤️single dad x nanny
👰🏻♀️runaway bride
☀️grumpy x sunshine
Thank you so much to Tierra Stockham for this ARC!
March 29, 2026
My girl Tierra has released another great book!
When she announced she was writing a 90s themed set in NYC I was so excited. Single dad x nanny. Runaway bride. Yes please!
Annie runs away on her wedding day because she does not want a loveless marriage that’s been all planned out for her. She runs away to where she’s always wanted to go, New York City. She’s determined to make it all on her own.
Leo is a single dad to a 5 year girl who is just heartbroken and doesn’t know how to show her emotions after her mom just up and left. Nanny after nanny, Leo is desperate to find someone who can help with Emma
Annie & Leo’s meeting was absolutely hilarious. They were so funny and I loved watching their attraction just grow in the small moments. The way that Annie just related and connected with little Emma so quickly was so freaking cute. Emma was so funny, witty and added so much to the story. Also that epilogue in her POV I had so much fun reading and it made my heart so happy.
His Greek family was so much fun and just loved Annie from the start. But then you add in Annie’s new roommates, Cori and Marcus. Who truly just loved her without even knowing what she came from, just true friends. & I loved her relationship with Eileen and how much she cared for Annie as her own.
Thank you Tierra for the ARC. I love you so much!
When she announced she was writing a 90s themed set in NYC I was so excited. Single dad x nanny. Runaway bride. Yes please!
Annie runs away on her wedding day because she does not want a loveless marriage that’s been all planned out for her. She runs away to where she’s always wanted to go, New York City. She’s determined to make it all on her own.
Leo is a single dad to a 5 year girl who is just heartbroken and doesn’t know how to show her emotions after her mom just up and left. Nanny after nanny, Leo is desperate to find someone who can help with Emma
Annie & Leo’s meeting was absolutely hilarious. They were so funny and I loved watching their attraction just grow in the small moments. The way that Annie just related and connected with little Emma so quickly was so freaking cute. Emma was so funny, witty and added so much to the story. Also that epilogue in her POV I had so much fun reading and it made my heart so happy.
His Greek family was so much fun and just loved Annie from the start. But then you add in Annie’s new roommates, Cori and Marcus. Who truly just loved her without even knowing what she came from, just true friends. & I loved her relationship with Eileen and how much she cared for Annie as her own.
Thank you Tierra for the ARC. I love you so much!
March 24, 2026
4.75⭐️
I received this book as an ARC, and I'm leaving an honest review voluntarily.
I love the way Tierra Stockham writes a story. The story is engaging, thorough, good, heartfelt, intense, detailed, and memorable.
Leo is such a great MMC. He is kind, dedicated, loving, and special. Annie is a wonderful counterpart for him. And Emma was written perfectly!
This book is a great read! Highly recommend!!!
I received this book as an ARC, and I'm leaving an honest review voluntarily.
I love the way Tierra Stockham writes a story. The story is engaging, thorough, good, heartfelt, intense, detailed, and memorable.
Leo is such a great MMC. He is kind, dedicated, loving, and special. Annie is a wonderful counterpart for him. And Emma was written perfectly!
This book is a great read! Highly recommend!!!
May 2, 2026
Nostalgic, heartwarming, and cozy. I felt like this book was a warm hug and I had the best time reading it. Tierra finds a way to write so that we feel like we’re right there with these characters. This was so real and raw and emotional! I literally was tearing up in the first chapter! This felt like all of the best 90s romcoms, a little bit of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and Friends wrapped in one big bow. I absolutely loved this and adore Tierra’s writing!
March 13, 2026
Tierra Stockham is so underrated as an author! I have absolutely loved every book I’ve read by her, including her upcoming release How to Be Nowhere. Beautifully written. Very character driven. At the heart of the story is found family. Heartwarming. The end had me tearing up (tears of joy) and with a smile on my face. I recommend everyone to read this book’
Review of advance copy received from Author
such a wonderful book! the author has such a great grasp on character development and storytelling. i thoroughly enjoyed learning about Annie and Leo’s world and how they met.
this was my first foray into contemporary romance and it did not disappoint. one of the best romances i’ve read in a long time!
this was my first foray into contemporary romance and it did not disappoint. one of the best romances i’ve read in a long time!
March 30, 2026
Omg the vibes. The references. I love love loved this!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
How to be Nowhere was wonderful view into messy people learning from their messiness. It was just so beautifully written, the emotional depth of these characters was just so profound and I loved every second of it. The nostalgia that this book delivers was fantastic too. We meet Annie, daughter to Hollywood royalty, stuck with a family who wants to run her life. About to get married Annie makes a snap decision to run and everything in that moment changes. Off to New York in 1994, life is fast paced but wholesome. Finding an apartment with the most amazing roommates Annie realizes she needs to find a job. Other than her journalism degree she has no experience in comes broody Leo, a neuroscientist at Columbia (and also the man who yanked her from a cab after a night out). He needs a nanny for his daughter. Of course everything just slowly burns until it ignites. The chemistry between Annie and Leo is electric. Plus Emma his firey is just icing on the cake. I loved seeing these characters grow and change. It was a breath of fresh air.
If you enjoy nanny FMC, runaway bride, grumpy/sunshine, single dad, found family, 90s nostalgia then I definitely recommend this one!
If you enjoy nanny FMC, runaway bride, grumpy/sunshine, single dad, found family, 90s nostalgia then I definitely recommend this one!
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