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Almost There, Almost Me
Like a true millennial, she climbed the corporate ladder. Then she hit a wall she couldn’t out-work.
Burnout isn’t dramatic — it takes you apart until nothing feels easy anymore. Maria thought she could manage consulting, travel, deadlines, love, even distance. But when exhaustion becomes her baseline and the relationship she’s been holding together across continents begins to fray, she realizes something has to give.
She leaves Chicago and looks for new skies — Morocco, the Himalayas, Dubai. In the air, paragliding over glowing horizons, she finds the quiet she’s been chasing. But grounding doesn’t come from landing alone — it comes from choice.
There’s a man she loves — flawed, devoted, still learning.
There’s a marriage that finally ends.
There’s a second chance that doesn’t come easily — but comes anyway.
Maria must decide:
Can love survive distance?
Can you rebuild your heart without losing yourself?
And what happens when the life you worked for is the life that’s breaking you?
Almost There, Almost Me is a contemporary romance about millennial ambition, long-distance love, travel, and the difficult, deliberate act of choosing joy without shrinking yourself.
Burnout isn’t dramatic — it takes you apart until nothing feels easy anymore. Maria thought she could manage consulting, travel, deadlines, love, even distance. But when exhaustion becomes her baseline and the relationship she’s been holding together across continents begins to fray, she realizes something has to give.
She leaves Chicago and looks for new skies — Morocco, the Himalayas, Dubai. In the air, paragliding over glowing horizons, she finds the quiet she’s been chasing. But grounding doesn’t come from landing alone — it comes from choice.
There’s a man she loves — flawed, devoted, still learning.
There’s a marriage that finally ends.
There’s a second chance that doesn’t come easily — but comes anyway.
Maria must decide:
Can love survive distance?
Can you rebuild your heart without losing yourself?
And what happens when the life you worked for is the life that’s breaking you?
Almost There, Almost Me is a contemporary romance about millennial ambition, long-distance love, travel, and the difficult, deliberate act of choosing joy without shrinking yourself.
364 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 19, 2026
About the author
María Nightingale
1 book5 followersMaria Nightingale is a writer exploring millennial ambition, long-distance love, and the difficult, deliberate act of choosing joy. Her debut novel, Almost There, Almost Me (2026), is a contemporary romance about burnout, travel, and grown-up love with a true happy ending.
She has built a growing digital readership of over 10,000 followers, with more than 1.6 million views on content related to her work.
Before writing, she spent seven years in strategy consulting, living and working across the Gulf, Europe, and North America.
She has built a growing digital readership of over 10,000 followers, with more than 1.6 million views on content related to her work.
Before writing, she spent seven years in strategy consulting, living and working across the Gulf, Europe, and North America.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Almost There, Almost Home by Maria Nightingale is one of those books that doesn’t try to polish life into something pretty. It leans into the realness, and that’s exactly what pulled me in from the start.
This story sits in the uncomfortable spaces we don’t always talk about. The burnout. The constant mental load. The quiet, heavy weight of decisions that don’t have clean or easy answers. It captures that push and pull so well, the feeling of just trying to hold everything together while life keeps pressing in.
One thing I really appreciated was how uncertain I felt about Pete by the end. Not in a frustrating way, but in a very honest one. The author doesn’t force a clear-cut perspective. Pete is distant. The relationship feels one-sided when it comes to support. And yet, there’s still this lingering awareness that everyone is carrying something. Both sides, both relationships, are navigating their own hardships, and that complexity is never simplified.
It’s messy in the way real life is messy. And that’s what makes it hit.
Overall, this book feels like a reflection of real life. The highs, the lows, and everything in between. It doesn’t rush to resolve things neatly, and it doesn’t pretend that growth always looks obvious. Sometimes forward motion is just surviving the day, and this book understands that deeply.
Favorite quotes:
“I have three diplomas. I’m a consultant, a strategist—I’ve moved mountains before…but in moments like this, reasoning gives you no advantage; you can’t think your way out of overstimulation.”
“You don’t know what comes next, and you’ve stopped trying to pin it down. For now, it’s enough to tend what’s here—to keep the days intact, and trust that this, too, is a legitimate form of forward motion.”
“Any emotion lasts about 90 seconds. Emotions aren’t feelings, and we’ll deal with those later. If you overreact to an emotion—you provoke a cascade and amplify it; if you shove it down and pressurize it—you will cause a counter-reaction ten times stronger.”
This story sits in the uncomfortable spaces we don’t always talk about. The burnout. The constant mental load. The quiet, heavy weight of decisions that don’t have clean or easy answers. It captures that push and pull so well, the feeling of just trying to hold everything together while life keeps pressing in.
One thing I really appreciated was how uncertain I felt about Pete by the end. Not in a frustrating way, but in a very honest one. The author doesn’t force a clear-cut perspective. Pete is distant. The relationship feels one-sided when it comes to support. And yet, there’s still this lingering awareness that everyone is carrying something. Both sides, both relationships, are navigating their own hardships, and that complexity is never simplified.
It’s messy in the way real life is messy. And that’s what makes it hit.
Overall, this book feels like a reflection of real life. The highs, the lows, and everything in between. It doesn’t rush to resolve things neatly, and it doesn’t pretend that growth always looks obvious. Sometimes forward motion is just surviving the day, and this book understands that deeply.
Favorite quotes:
“I have three diplomas. I’m a consultant, a strategist—I’ve moved mountains before…but in moments like this, reasoning gives you no advantage; you can’t think your way out of overstimulation.”
“You don’t know what comes next, and you’ve stopped trying to pin it down. For now, it’s enough to tend what’s here—to keep the days intact, and trust that this, too, is a legitimate form of forward motion.”
“Any emotion lasts about 90 seconds. Emotions aren’t feelings, and we’ll deal with those later. If you overreact to an emotion—you provoke a cascade and amplify it; if you shove it down and pressurize it—you will cause a counter-reaction ten times stronger.”
Review of advance copy received from Author
Almost There, Almost Me by María Nightingale felt so raw, emotional, and real that it honestly hit me on a deeper level than I expected. This was not just a romance to me. It was a story about burnout, rediscovering yourself, learning how to breathe again, and finding love that grows with you instead of against you.
Maria was such a relatable FMC. Her struggle with exhaustion, pressure, and trying to hold everything together felt incredibly authentic. You could feel the emotional weight she was carrying in every chapter, especially as she tried balancing work, relationships, expectations, and her own happiness. I think so many readers are going to see pieces of themselves in her journey.
What I loved most was how beautifully this story explored healing and self discovery through travel and experience. The descriptions of Morocco, the Himalayas, and Dubai made the entire book feel immersive and emotional at the same time. It almost felt like every destination represented a different part of Maria learning who she really was outside of the life she thought she had to maintain.
The romance was such a beautiful slow burn. It felt mature, messy, vulnerable, and incredibly genuine. I appreciated that the relationship was not perfect because it made every emotional moment feel even more meaningful. Watching two people try to navigate love, distance, growth, and second chances in a realistic way made this story stand out for me.
There was something so comforting and hopeful about this book despite the heavier themes. It reminds you that sometimes happiness is not about having everything perfectly together. Sometimes it is about choosing yourself, choosing joy, and allowing yourself to start over even when it feels terrifying.
This book was heartfelt, emotional, beautifully written, and incredibly human. If you love contemporary romance with emotional depth, global settings, slow burn tension, and characters who feel real and flawed in the best ways, you absolutely need to pick this one up.
A truly beautiful 5 star read for me.
Maria was such a relatable FMC. Her struggle with exhaustion, pressure, and trying to hold everything together felt incredibly authentic. You could feel the emotional weight she was carrying in every chapter, especially as she tried balancing work, relationships, expectations, and her own happiness. I think so many readers are going to see pieces of themselves in her journey.
What I loved most was how beautifully this story explored healing and self discovery through travel and experience. The descriptions of Morocco, the Himalayas, and Dubai made the entire book feel immersive and emotional at the same time. It almost felt like every destination represented a different part of Maria learning who she really was outside of the life she thought she had to maintain.
The romance was such a beautiful slow burn. It felt mature, messy, vulnerable, and incredibly genuine. I appreciated that the relationship was not perfect because it made every emotional moment feel even more meaningful. Watching two people try to navigate love, distance, growth, and second chances in a realistic way made this story stand out for me.
There was something so comforting and hopeful about this book despite the heavier themes. It reminds you that sometimes happiness is not about having everything perfectly together. Sometimes it is about choosing yourself, choosing joy, and allowing yourself to start over even when it feels terrifying.
This book was heartfelt, emotional, beautifully written, and incredibly human. If you love contemporary romance with emotional depth, global settings, slow burn tension, and characters who feel real and flawed in the best ways, you absolutely need to pick this one up.
A truly beautiful 5 star read for me.
Review of advance copy received from Autor
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Almost there, almost me is a book that feels real. It is not painting the struggle and the burnout in a romantic way, or as an obstacle to beat. It straight forward shows you how it feels, how much it hurts, how much it affects your life.
Maria opens her heart for us, letting us take a look not only into her struggle, but also into her gealing process. And in that process we also se her heal her heart and learn to love and be loved(by others AND herself).
We get to see how paragliding helps her heal, and how even this seems affected by hervemotions. But it also affects her emotions, too. It was great to see a peek of the paragliding world an its views(not sure I would ever be brave enought to experience them first hand!)
The relationship in this story is not perfect, it has fights, it has tears, it is not easy. But no relationship is ever easy. We see how the struggle and the pain make both parts grow, learn, and ultimately decide to make the effort to make it work.
I felt this book deeply. As someone that has lived both trough the burnout and the long distance relationship, I saw myself many times while I was reading. I understood the feelings, the toughts and even the actions(tough I would be too scared to go paragliding).
If you have ever felt burntout, if you have ever doubted your relationship, if you have forgotten how to love yourself and need a reminder, this is the book for you. You wont regret it!
Almost there, almost me is a book that feels real. It is not painting the struggle and the burnout in a romantic way, or as an obstacle to beat. It straight forward shows you how it feels, how much it hurts, how much it affects your life.
Maria opens her heart for us, letting us take a look not only into her struggle, but also into her gealing process. And in that process we also se her heal her heart and learn to love and be loved(by others AND herself).
We get to see how paragliding helps her heal, and how even this seems affected by hervemotions. But it also affects her emotions, too. It was great to see a peek of the paragliding world an its views(not sure I would ever be brave enought to experience them first hand!)
The relationship in this story is not perfect, it has fights, it has tears, it is not easy. But no relationship is ever easy. We see how the struggle and the pain make both parts grow, learn, and ultimately decide to make the effort to make it work.
I felt this book deeply. As someone that has lived both trough the burnout and the long distance relationship, I saw myself many times while I was reading. I understood the feelings, the toughts and even the actions(tough I would be too scared to go paragliding).
If you have ever felt burntout, if you have ever doubted your relationship, if you have forgotten how to love yourself and need a reminder, this is the book for you. You wont regret it!
May 19, 2026
This book is a contemporary romance that looks closely and bravely at ambition, job burnout, and self-discovery.
The main character is Maria, a successful businesswoman whose "perfect" life begins to implode with the weight of her career expectations, constant travel, and her long-distance relationship with her partner of six-months, Pete.
The novel gently depicts Maria's mental health crisis, and her struggles with being exhausted, riddled with uncertainty, and balancing her work success against her personal contentment.
One aspect of the book I did not expect -- and really enjoyed - was the depiction of paragliding. The sense of freedom and community it invoked, the descriptive travel locations really added to my enjoyment of the story.
I really related to Maria and her quest for love and her hopeful vulnerability. I personally did not relate to Pete at all, although he did finally show some courage in loving Maria.
Overall, it is an enduring love story full of redemption and hope, with a happy ending.
QUOTES:
"The crack began to show -- the gap between the life I was supposed to be grateful for and the one I actually lived."
"If you can't look out for yourself, no one can." - Amy Winehouse
"We never know how high we are until we are called to rise." -Emily Dickinson
The main character is Maria, a successful businesswoman whose "perfect" life begins to implode with the weight of her career expectations, constant travel, and her long-distance relationship with her partner of six-months, Pete.
The novel gently depicts Maria's mental health crisis, and her struggles with being exhausted, riddled with uncertainty, and balancing her work success against her personal contentment.
One aspect of the book I did not expect -- and really enjoyed - was the depiction of paragliding. The sense of freedom and community it invoked, the descriptive travel locations really added to my enjoyment of the story.
I really related to Maria and her quest for love and her hopeful vulnerability. I personally did not relate to Pete at all, although he did finally show some courage in loving Maria.
Overall, it is an enduring love story full of redemption and hope, with a happy ending.
QUOTES:
"The crack began to show -- the gap between the life I was supposed to be grateful for and the one I actually lived."
"If you can't look out for yourself, no one can." - Amy Winehouse
"We never know how high we are until we are called to rise." -Emily Dickinson
May 18, 2026
Book Review
Almost There, Almost Me by Maria Nightingale.
If you enjoy slow burn romance, journaling and travel then you must read this.
The story starts with corporate burn out, mental health and work life balance struggles plus a long distance relationship. Maria takes a leave of absence and travels the world slowing re-building herself whilst trying to salvage her relationship.
Short chapters and beautifully written making you want to go enjoy these wonderful places she visited for the views and the food.
A wonderful love story.
This is a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me!
Thanks for e-ARC version ahead of the release date! Almost There, Almost Me is releasing tomorrow 19th May… get your copy now.
@maria_nightingale_writes @cmereadwritenow
Almost There, Almost Me is a contemporary romance about millennial ambition, long-distance love, travel, and the difficult, deliberate act of choosing joy without shrinking yourself.
If you love slow-burn romance, global settings, and grown-up love stories with a true happy ending, this book is for you.Perfect for readers of Carley Fortune and Christina Lauren.
#almosttherealmostme
Tropes: A Paraglider FMC, Slow Burn, Long Distance Relationship, Traveling the World, Finding Home, Healing from Burnout, A Happy ending
Almost There, Almost Me by Maria Nightingale.
If you enjoy slow burn romance, journaling and travel then you must read this.
The story starts with corporate burn out, mental health and work life balance struggles plus a long distance relationship. Maria takes a leave of absence and travels the world slowing re-building herself whilst trying to salvage her relationship.
Short chapters and beautifully written making you want to go enjoy these wonderful places she visited for the views and the food.
A wonderful love story.
This is a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me!
Thanks for e-ARC version ahead of the release date! Almost There, Almost Me is releasing tomorrow 19th May… get your copy now.
@maria_nightingale_writes @cmereadwritenow
Almost There, Almost Me is a contemporary romance about millennial ambition, long-distance love, travel, and the difficult, deliberate act of choosing joy without shrinking yourself.
If you love slow-burn romance, global settings, and grown-up love stories with a true happy ending, this book is for you.Perfect for readers of Carley Fortune and Christina Lauren.
#almosttherealmostme
Tropes: A Paraglider FMC, Slow Burn, Long Distance Relationship, Traveling the World, Finding Home, Healing from Burnout, A Happy ending
May 20, 2026
Wow, this book totally blew me away! "Almost There, Almost Me" by María Nightingale is an absolute must-read that hits you right in the feels. I'm giving it a solid 5 stars because it's not just a romance; it's a powerful journey of self-discovery, healing, and finding love that truly evolves with you.
Maria's story is incredibly relatable, especially for anyone who's ever felt the weight of corporate burnout and the pressure to have it all figured out. Her struggle to balance work, relationships, and her own well-being felt so authentic, and you can't help but root for her as she seeks new horizons in Morocco, the Himalayas, and Dubai. The way her travels mirror her internal healing and growth is just beautifully done, making you feel like you're right there with her.
And the romance? It's a gorgeous slow burn that feels incredibly real and mature. It's messy, vulnerable, and perfectly imperfect, showing that love isn't always easy, especially when distance and personal growth are involved. This book reminds you that choosing joy and rebuilding your heart is a brave, deliberate act. If you love a deeply emotional story with rich global settings, characters you can truly connect with, and a genuinely happy ending, you absolutely need to pick this up.
Maria's story is incredibly relatable, especially for anyone who's ever felt the weight of corporate burnout and the pressure to have it all figured out. Her struggle to balance work, relationships, and her own well-being felt so authentic, and you can't help but root for her as she seeks new horizons in Morocco, the Himalayas, and Dubai. The way her travels mirror her internal healing and growth is just beautifully done, making you feel like you're right there with her.
And the romance? It's a gorgeous slow burn that feels incredibly real and mature. It's messy, vulnerable, and perfectly imperfect, showing that love isn't always easy, especially when distance and personal growth are involved. This book reminds you that choosing joy and rebuilding your heart is a brave, deliberate act. If you love a deeply emotional story with rich global settings, characters you can truly connect with, and a genuinely happy ending, you absolutely need to pick this up.
May 22, 2026
There are books you read and books you live inside, and this one belongs firmly in the second category. I started highlighting passages somewhere around the Istanbul section and by Morocco my copy looked like it had been through a storm. Nightingale's prose has a lyrical quality that doesn't perform itself—it just arrives, clean and exact, and does something to you. The protagonist's depression is written without clinical distance or dramatic exaggeration; it's the quiet kind, the functional kind, the kind that lets you keep working until suddenly you can't. That resonated so deeply it frightened me a little. The Pete romance is what I'll be thinking about for a long time—the almost-ex-wife situation, the Dubai goodbye, the way two people can be completely right for each other and still keep getting the timing wrong. I read the letter chapter in a coffee shop and had to pretend I had allergies. The Mirleft paragliding sequence is astonishing—physically vivid and emotionally devastating at once. This is raw and emotional storytelling at its most controlled, which is somehow the most powerful combination. I've already recommended it to every woman I know who's ever chosen achievement over herself.
May 24, 2026
Loved this book!
The beginning is heartbreaking: descriptions of corporate work are a little too relatable even — they really hit a nerve. The contrast between vacation with friends and family and Zoom calls with bosses and clients is chilling. Burnout and depression ensue, and eventually the main character decides to travel since she might as well be miserable against a nicer backdrop. Thus begins her journey across continents that makes you, the reader, want to book a ticket to somewhere far, far away immediately. Ultimately though, simply getting away is not the answer for the MC: she has to find her peace within.
I don’t normally read contemporary romance, but this one has much more to offer and is really worth the time. You get not only breakups and reconciliations, but also oceans and deserts, cool friends and evil bosses, tragedy and humour, terrifying paragliding sequences and quiet evenings on the balcony. I especially loved the author’s clever narrative tricks: Zoom call transcripts, conversations with ChatGPT, inventive ways of writing about depression.
10/10 recommend
The beginning is heartbreaking: descriptions of corporate work are a little too relatable even — they really hit a nerve. The contrast between vacation with friends and family and Zoom calls with bosses and clients is chilling. Burnout and depression ensue, and eventually the main character decides to travel since she might as well be miserable against a nicer backdrop. Thus begins her journey across continents that makes you, the reader, want to book a ticket to somewhere far, far away immediately. Ultimately though, simply getting away is not the answer for the MC: she has to find her peace within.
I don’t normally read contemporary romance, but this one has much more to offer and is really worth the time. You get not only breakups and reconciliations, but also oceans and deserts, cool friends and evil bosses, tragedy and humour, terrifying paragliding sequences and quiet evenings on the balcony. I especially loved the author’s clever narrative tricks: Zoom call transcripts, conversations with ChatGPT, inventive ways of writing about depression.
10/10 recommend
May 24, 2026
I finished this on a Tuesday night after the kids were finally asleep, and I sat in the kitchen for a long time afterward just staring at the wall. There's a scene - the elevator scene - that I cannot stop thinking about, because it captured something I have never seen articulated in fiction: the specific shame of realizing you've optimized your entire personality for a job. Nightingale's writing is raw and emotional without ever tipping into self-pity, and the protagonist feels like someone I could have lunch with and immediately confide in. The Istanbul chapters were immersive in the best way, pulling me out of my own life completely. What resonated most deeply was how the book refuses to frame leaving consulting as either heroic or tragic - it's just human, complicated, and overdue. The Pete storyline snuck up on me; I thought I was reading a book about career reinvention and suddenly found myself crying over a handwritten letter. Beautifully written, and more necessary than I expected.
May 19, 2026
Thank you to The Indie Author Insider and the author, Maria Nightingale for an ARC for a review with my honest opinion.
The tagline for Almost There, Almost Me is "a contemporary romance about millennial ambition, long distance love, travel, and the difficult, deliberate act of choosing joy without shrinking yourself."
I thought the main character, Maria was very relatable (I say as a millennial myself). I thought the burnout and depression she went through was depicted perfectly. Even if you haven't been in her exact situation, I feel like what she went through is very relatable to everyone in one way or another. I appreciated how real and raw this book felt. Much different from what I typically read. The romance was a roller coaster, again raw and real. Like a friend was telling me about her life and relationship. I found myself really rooting for Maria and hoping she found her happiness.
Mental Health Rep • Travel • Long Distance Relationship
Rating: 🩶🩶🩶🩶
The tagline for Almost There, Almost Me is "a contemporary romance about millennial ambition, long distance love, travel, and the difficult, deliberate act of choosing joy without shrinking yourself."
I thought the main character, Maria was very relatable (I say as a millennial myself). I thought the burnout and depression she went through was depicted perfectly. Even if you haven't been in her exact situation, I feel like what she went through is very relatable to everyone in one way or another. I appreciated how real and raw this book felt. Much different from what I typically read. The romance was a roller coaster, again raw and real. Like a friend was telling me about her life and relationship. I found myself really rooting for Maria and hoping she found her happiness.
Mental Health Rep • Travel • Long Distance Relationship
Rating: 🩶🩶🩶🩶
May 19, 2026
Honestly, I rarely even open Goodreads because I rarely read books at all. But this one deserved a review.
A friend literally put it in my hands and told me not to give it back until I finished it. Now I understand why.
The story resonates even if you’re far removed from the corporate world, because at its core it’s about a kind of exhaustion that feels universal. It’s about choosing other people’s expectations over and over again until you can no longer hear your own voice.
From Istanbul to Dubai to Morocco, every place reveals something new about the heroine, and it all feels vivid and alive - never like a travel brochure.
Peter and his story are the definition of a true slow-burn romance: awkward, painful, and deeply real. And the scene with the letter? I actually reread it out loud. A book has never made me do that before.
An incredibly authentic story about how choosing joy can be an act of courage too.
A friend literally put it in my hands and told me not to give it back until I finished it. Now I understand why.
The story resonates even if you’re far removed from the corporate world, because at its core it’s about a kind of exhaustion that feels universal. It’s about choosing other people’s expectations over and over again until you can no longer hear your own voice.
From Istanbul to Dubai to Morocco, every place reveals something new about the heroine, and it all feels vivid and alive - never like a travel brochure.
Peter and his story are the definition of a true slow-burn romance: awkward, painful, and deeply real. And the scene with the letter? I actually reread it out loud. A book has never made me do that before.
An incredibly authentic story about how choosing joy can be an act of courage too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2026
Almost There, Almost Me by Maria Nightingale
This one was a "mayyyybe" for me. It follows an FMC in first person through personal and existential dilemmas about life and what we define as success and happiness in life. There's lots of travel, long distance love, some apprehensiveness about change, and is pretty relatable in that way. There were good parts and less than good parts that felt a little dragged on but made it easy to read through fairly quickly. I enjoyed the classical literature quotes at the beginning of each chapter and the formatting was kind of cool in parts to help emphasize a certain feeling or concept. Overall, not really my style but it wasn't bad! I didn't love the love interest in this and felt like the FMC could've done better but ended up settling (which honestly is just soooo real though!) If you liked reading or watching Eat, Pray, Love, then you'd likely love this one!
Thank you to The Indie Author Insider for the ARC copy to read and review!
This one was a "mayyyybe" for me. It follows an FMC in first person through personal and existential dilemmas about life and what we define as success and happiness in life. There's lots of travel, long distance love, some apprehensiveness about change, and is pretty relatable in that way. There were good parts and less than good parts that felt a little dragged on but made it easy to read through fairly quickly. I enjoyed the classical literature quotes at the beginning of each chapter and the formatting was kind of cool in parts to help emphasize a certain feeling or concept. Overall, not really my style but it wasn't bad! I didn't love the love interest in this and felt like the FMC could've done better but ended up settling (which honestly is just soooo real though!) If you liked reading or watching Eat, Pray, Love, then you'd likely love this one!
Thank you to The Indie Author Insider for the ARC copy to read and review!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book completely pulled me in emotionally. From the very beginning, there’s this quiet heaviness to the story that makes you instantly connect with the main character and everything she’s going through.
The writing felt raw, honest, and really personal — the kind of book that makes you stop for a second after certain chapters because they hit so deeply. I loved how it explored identity, healing, self-worth, and the feeling of trying to become the version of yourself you’re meant to be.
It’s emotional without being overly dramatic, and the character growth throughout the story was one of my favourite parts. Watching her slowly find herself again felt realistic and powerful.
If you enjoy emotional reads with vulnerable characters, personal growth, and a story that stays with you after the last page, this is definitely worth picking up. 💜📖
The writing felt raw, honest, and really personal — the kind of book that makes you stop for a second after certain chapters because they hit so deeply. I loved how it explored identity, healing, self-worth, and the feeling of trying to become the version of yourself you’re meant to be.
It’s emotional without being overly dramatic, and the character growth throughout the story was one of my favourite parts. Watching her slowly find herself again felt realistic and powerful.
If you enjoy emotional reads with vulnerable characters, personal growth, and a story that stays with you after the last page, this is definitely worth picking up. 💜📖
May 19, 2026
There’s something about reading a book that makes you feel genuinely seen - not flattered, but seen - and that’s exactly what happened with this one. I kept dog-earing pages in the Chicago chapters because the way Nightingale describes the particular loneliness of being the most capable person in the room hit so close to home. The paragliding sections in Mirleft and Bir aren’t just gorgeous set pieces; they carry this quiet metaphor about surrendering control that I’m still thinking about weeks later. And the romance with Pete - slow-burn doesn’t begin to cover it. The Dubai ending wrecked me in the best way. I cried in my chair with my scissors still in my hand, which tells you everything. The letter scene is the kind of moment you read twice, then a third time, just to sit inside it longer. Incredibly authentic storytelling.
May 20, 2026
“Almost There, Almost Me” is the kind of book that makes you pause and reflect on your own life. It beautifully explores the feeling of being stuck between who you were and who you are becoming. The emotions throughout the book feel raw, real, and incredibly human.
I especially appreciated how the author talks about insecurity, ambition, healing, and self-worth in such a natural way. There were many moments that felt very relatable and comforting, almost like having a conversation with someone who truly understands what it feels like to struggle internally while still trying to move forward.
The book is emotional without being overwhelming, and motivational without sounding unrealistic. It leaves you with hope and reminds you that growth takes time.
A meaningful and inspiring read for anyone navigating change, uncertainty, or personal growth.
I especially appreciated how the author talks about insecurity, ambition, healing, and self-worth in such a natural way. There were many moments that felt very relatable and comforting, almost like having a conversation with someone who truly understands what it feels like to struggle internally while still trying to move forward.
The book is emotional without being overwhelming, and motivational without sounding unrealistic. It leaves you with hope and reminds you that growth takes time.
A meaningful and inspiring read for anyone navigating change, uncertainty, or personal growth.
May 19, 2026
So where to begin... let's start with one of my favorite quotes in the 📖
" You don't know what comes next, and you've stopped trying to pin it down. For now, it's enough to tend what's here- to keep the days intact & trust that this too, is a legitimate form of forward motion."
This book, beautifully written by Maria Nightingale, touches on issues that are rarely discussed. Watching the romance build throughout felt both messy and genuine, and it made me appreciate each character and what they were feeling. To watch Maria open up to all & see the ups and downs truly spoke volumes to me. I had feelings I did not know I had from this book. If you ever doubted your relationship or you felt burnout this is a must 💯 read.
" You don't know what comes next, and you've stopped trying to pin it down. For now, it's enough to tend what's here- to keep the days intact & trust that this too, is a legitimate form of forward motion."
This book, beautifully written by Maria Nightingale, touches on issues that are rarely discussed. Watching the romance build throughout felt both messy and genuine, and it made me appreciate each character and what they were feeling. To watch Maria open up to all & see the ups and downs truly spoke volumes to me. I had feelings I did not know I had from this book. If you ever doubted your relationship or you felt burnout this is a must 💯 read.
May 21, 2026
I picked this up on a quiet Tuesday evening in Dubai and didn’t surface until well past midnight. There’s something almost uncanny about reading a book set partly in your own city - recognizing not just the skyline but the particular loneliness that can hide inside all that gleaming ambition. Nightingale’s protagonist carries that loneliness with her through every timezone, every journaling session, every terrifying leap from a cliff in Morocco. The paragliding scenes in Mirleft are written with a physical immediacy that made my chest tighten. What I love most is that this isn’t a story about being saved by love or travel or therapy. It’s about a woman learning to stay present with herself long enough to make one real choice. That felt incredibly authentic to me.
May 27, 2026
This is a millennial take on eat, pray, love and I ate it up! This was very relatable considering I am a millennial fighting to break generational trauma, all while experiencing the corporate burned out. It saddens me that corporations take a LOA and caring for your mental health as a sign of weakness. When in reality it allows the employee to strengthen themselves and return at optimal potential. Maria, priorities herself and in turn goes on a journey to find her true joy again. A beautiful journey filled with up and downs.
Maria must decide:
* Can love survive distance?
* Can you rebuild your heart without losing yourself?
* And what happens when the life you worked for is the life that’s breaking you?
Maria must decide:
* Can love survive distance?
* Can you rebuild your heart without losing yourself?
* And what happens when the life you worked for is the life that’s breaking you?
Review of advance copy received from Author
I read this as an ARC, and it has a very introspective, almost memoir-like feel, following the highs and lows of Maria’s life. The writing leans more into internal narration than dialogue, which gives it a reflective tone throughout, often breaking the fourth wall.
For me, the pacing felt slower at times, but readers who enjoy character-driven stories and immersive inner monologue will likely really connect with this one.
I believe this book has an important message of mental health and making yourself a priority. While I personally wish the book would have ended differently, I believe it still gives that “light at the end of the tunnel” feel.
For me, the pacing felt slower at times, but readers who enjoy character-driven stories and immersive inner monologue will likely really connect with this one.
I believe this book has an important message of mental health and making yourself a priority. While I personally wish the book would have ended differently, I believe it still gives that “light at the end of the tunnel” feel.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wow. This was heavy... but in a good way. This story was so emotional, but not overly dramatic.
I too have experienced the loss of my father, dealt with mental health issues, trying to find myself in the professional world and dealt with romance-related themes in my life.
I had to put down the book a few times, because things almost felt too real to keep reading. There were some chapters that I felt were written about me. I definitely cried a few times.
This book was beautiful, emotionally charged, characters who feel real, romance, and s story about finding yourself... this one is for you.
Thanks to Netgalley and the author for the advanced copy. The thoughts are my own.
I too have experienced the loss of my father, dealt with mental health issues, trying to find myself in the professional world and dealt with romance-related themes in my life.
I had to put down the book a few times, because things almost felt too real to keep reading. There were some chapters that I felt were written about me. I definitely cried a few times.
This book was beautiful, emotionally charged, characters who feel real, romance, and s story about finding yourself... this one is for you.
Thanks to Netgalley and the author for the advanced copy. The thoughts are my own.
Did Not Finish
May 16, 2026ARC- DNF
I was invited to read this ARC and unfortunately for me it fell short. At the beginning of the story I was invested in the Maria’s journey of discovering what made her happy. She goes through depression and is able to rediscover herself in the thrill of paragliding. She travels and her a description of the locations did captivate my attention.
This book is described as a romance but the character’s relationship with “Pete” seemed forced and I didn’t get a sense of the chemistry.
The book truly made me lose interest when the main character used CHATGPT asking about a type of analytical psychology that is rooted in theories of the unconscious. I had
I was invited to read this ARC and unfortunately for me it fell short. At the beginning of the story I was invested in the Maria’s journey of discovering what made her happy. She goes through depression and is able to rediscover herself in the thrill of paragliding. She travels and her a description of the locations did captivate my attention.
This book is described as a romance but the character’s relationship with “Pete” seemed forced and I didn’t get a sense of the chemistry.
The book truly made me lose interest when the main character used CHATGPT asking about a type of analytical psychology that is rooted in theories of the unconscious. I had
May 19, 2026
Advanced reader
Almost There, Almost Me is a beautifully honest story about love, burnout, and trying to find yourself while holding everything else together. Maria Nightingale captures the feeling of being “almost” happy, “almost” settled, and “almost” where you want to be in life in such a relatable way. The slow-burn romance, emotional depth, and stunning travel settings made this feel both comforting and deeply reflective. I loved how real the characters felt — messy, vulnerable, and still learning as they go. A heartfelt contemporary romance that reminds you it’s okay to still be figuring life out. ✨📖
Almost There, Almost Me is a beautifully honest story about love, burnout, and trying to find yourself while holding everything else together. Maria Nightingale captures the feeling of being “almost” happy, “almost” settled, and “almost” where you want to be in life in such a relatable way. The slow-burn romance, emotional depth, and stunning travel settings made this feel both comforting and deeply reflective. I loved how real the characters felt — messy, vulnerable, and still learning as they go. A heartfelt contemporary romance that reminds you it’s okay to still be figuring life out. ✨📖
May 23, 2026
Advanced Readers Copy from author. Objectively the themes of burnout, depression, and the re-discovery of self were raw and poetic. Structurally, I found it hard to follow at times, as though written in fragments of memories and emotions. I’m personally not a fan of breaking that fourth wall to address readers, it takes me out the groove of reading and harder to understand where the story continues. Overall, I think this is a book everyone should read. We all have burnout whether it’s because of work, partnership, or a mix of things. Ultimately this was a brave journey for someone so lost at one point, the journey in itself was strength
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2026
I've traveled enough to be quite a difficult reader when it comes to setting - I notice when a writer has simply googled a city versus actually absorbed it, and Nightingale passes every test.
The Istanbul sequences have that specific quality of a city that is simultaneously ancient yet relentlessly modern, and Maria doesn't flatten it into postcard imagery. The Mirleft paragliding chapters made me want to book my first flight immediately.
What surprised me: as much as I came for the travel, I stayed for the interiority. The journaling sections, which another writer might have made precious, feel genuinely urgent here - like watching someone think in real time.
The Istanbul sequences have that specific quality of a city that is simultaneously ancient yet relentlessly modern, and Maria doesn't flatten it into postcard imagery. The Mirleft paragliding chapters made me want to book my first flight immediately.
What surprised me: as much as I came for the travel, I stayed for the interiority. The journaling sections, which another writer might have made precious, feel genuinely urgent here - like watching someone think in real time.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this ARC from the author for a review.
This diary style novel follows the ups and downs of a person who gets burned out in the Corporate world and spirals in deep depression. Through her passion in travel and paragliding she learns to heal by slowing down all while navigating a long distance relationship. It’s messy, it’s real, you will laugh and you will cry. I was I 100% happy how things went. No. Is it my story to tell? Also, no. This is not my normal type of read but it was interesting nonetheless.
This diary style novel follows the ups and downs of a person who gets burned out in the Corporate world and spirals in deep depression. Through her passion in travel and paragliding she learns to heal by slowing down all while navigating a long distance relationship. It’s messy, it’s real, you will laugh and you will cry. I was I 100% happy how things went. No. Is it my story to tell? Also, no. This is not my normal type of read but it was interesting nonetheless.
May 19, 2026
Thank you so much author for this beautiful book.
Almost there, Almost me is a millennial life, ambition, travel and relationships book. The story is about Maria in her mid thirties, her life, long distance relationship and struggle between job and travel altogether with a happy ending.
The book is written beautifully, talks about travel, long distance relationships and life crisis. If travel, journaling, ambitions and slow burns interest you this is your sign to read this book.
I'll give ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Almost there, Almost me is a millennial life, ambition, travel and relationships book. The story is about Maria in her mid thirties, her life, long distance relationship and struggle between job and travel altogether with a happy ending.
The book is written beautifully, talks about travel, long distance relationships and life crisis. If travel, journaling, ambitions and slow burns interest you this is your sign to read this book.
I'll give ⭐⭐⭐⭐
May 19, 2026
I loved everything about this book. How raw, messy, vulnerable it was. As a millennial, I could totally relate to so much in this book. Working in corporate America, I can absolutely say that I have been burned out. I finally found my happily ever after and I am doing my best to heal from corporate burn out. I think it's so important to take time for yourself and find who you are. I love the slow burn in this book, that it is safe for every reader, and it leaves you feeling less alone! I loved this book!! And, I absolutely love that the author had a paraglider as her FMC!! How unique and fun!
May 23, 2026
I received an ARC on my kindle of this book. The way this book touched on the topic of anxiety/depression/mental health made it feel more relatable. Also enjoyed the paragliding being a way for the main character to find her escape from reality as this is not an activity that is normally done/mentioned in stories. If you enjoy reading about long distance romance that has some slow burn, almost forbidden love aspects; but the main character is also trying to find herself, I highly recommend this book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I read this book in 2 days. It hit a little close to home for me. If you've ever struggled with burnout. Where work, life, relationships, just get too much and your questioning why am I doing this, then this book is for you.
Maria tells you her story as she navigates through her mental health crisis through travel and being honest with herself with what she wants in life and her relationship with Pete.
Maria tells you her story as she navigates through her mental health crisis through travel and being honest with herself with what she wants in life and her relationship with Pete.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was so much more than I expected from a romance. It followed Maria through so much the good, the bad, the messy, the pretty, and everything else in between. That made the story feel raw and relatable beyond anything I’ve read lately. I felt like I was being pulled in and living her journey. The romance part of was also such a delicious slow burn that felt exactly right within this book. Overall great read.
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