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Somewhere Only We Know
Boy meets girl…
Alex Bradley can't help but feel that life is rather passing him by. And not just life – promotions, invitations, romance; the girl he loves only has eyes for his flatmate and his 9-5 job as the Immigration department skivvy is slowly numbing his soul. Until he meets Nadia.
Girl meets boy…
Nadia Osipova is running out of time. With no money, no lawyer and a totally fictitious boyfriend, she’s got one last summer and one last appeal before the British government deport her back home.
Girl gets deported?
It's going to be a bumpy ride, one she's dragging her new friend Alex along for. As Nadia races through a list of all her favourite London adventures, for what may be the last time, Alex can’t help but start to see the city, and his life, through Nadia’s eyes.
From hazy summer days on the Common and heady nights in Soho’s basement bars, to twilight walks along the Southbank, will Alex realise what he’s got before it’s too late?
Funny, addictive and always honest, this is a love letter to London, friendship and the unexpected from the author of the bestselling The Best Thing I Never Had.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 11, 2015
About the author
Erin Lawless
15 books333 followersErin Lawless would probably love to be your Goodreads friend.
Although she's predominantly on here with her reader hat on, she's published a book of short stories and flash fiction - The Last Train Home & Other Stories - and two bestselling British contemporary romances for HarperCollins' award-winning romance imprint Harper Impulse, The Best Thing I Never Had and Somewhere Only We Know .
Her most recent release, The One With All The Bridesmaids , follows one bride and her four bridesmaids from proposal to altar - and according to one review is like the film Bridesmaids, but funnier..!
Outside of Goodreads (and the third person) she blogs about dreadfully interesting things at www.erinlawless.co.uk and chats rubbish / spams pictures of her baby on Twitter and Instagram as @rinylou.
Although she's predominantly on here with her reader hat on, she's published a book of short stories and flash fiction - The Last Train Home & Other Stories - and two bestselling British contemporary romances for HarperCollins' award-winning romance imprint Harper Impulse, The Best Thing I Never Had and Somewhere Only We Know .
Her most recent release, The One With All The Bridesmaids , follows one bride and her four bridesmaids from proposal to altar - and according to one review is like the film Bridesmaids, but funnier..!
Outside of Goodreads (and the third person) she blogs about dreadfully interesting things at www.erinlawless.co.uk and chats rubbish / spams pictures of her baby on Twitter and Instagram as @rinylou.
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November 21, 2013Book No.2!
Feast your eyes on my terribly awkward-British vlog cover reveal here!
SOMEWHERE ONLY WE KNOW. Starring:
A British guy
A Russian girl
London in summer
Extra-marital affairs
Too-large ribs
Suspicious cocktails
Admiral Nelson
Stolen kisses
Selfies
Brighton Pier
Bucket lists
Final Fantasy
Drag Queens
Innuendo
Cheap wine
Bad dates
Superhero film marathons
and unrequited love.
eBook: 11 June 2015
Paperback: 16 July 2015
CAN'T WAIT.
Feast your eyes on my terribly awkward-British vlog cover reveal here!
SOMEWHERE ONLY WE KNOW. Starring:
A British guy
A Russian girl
London in summer
Extra-marital affairs
Too-large ribs
Suspicious cocktails
Admiral Nelson
Stolen kisses
Selfies
Brighton Pier
Bucket lists
Final Fantasy
Drag Queens
Innuendo
Cheap wine
Bad dates
Superhero film marathons
and unrequited love.
eBook: 11 June 2015
Paperback: 16 July 2015
CAN'T WAIT.
August 12, 2015
This was such a great story - the first of Erin's that I have read (I will be buying her other books straight away) - with a brilliant sense of place. If I didn't already love London then I would now! The characters were fantastic, especially Nadia, and I loved her friendship with Holly and Caro and the other secondary characters including Rory. They were all very believable. Alex grew on me slowly but I really enjoyed the way Nadia brought him out of himself (don't want to give too much away here) and I liked the conflicts with other love interests, and of course the plan to #SaveNadia too.
The writing style was warm and open, and I stayed up way past my bedside to finish the book.The ending took me by surprise but was totally satisfying. This book made me smile, laugh and cry. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes fun fab chick lit / contemporary romance.
The writing style was warm and open, and I stayed up way past my bedside to finish the book.The ending took me by surprise but was totally satisfying. This book made me smile, laugh and cry. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes fun fab chick lit / contemporary romance.
May 28, 2015
www.snazzybooks.com
Somewhere Only We Know by Erin Lawless is a sweet, touching tale of friendship, love and identity in the 21st century.
First and foremost a ‘Boy Meets Girl’ story, the story also addresses issues surrounding immigration and citizenship, but manages to do so in a thoughtful, non-preachy way that encourages the reader to consider what life must be like for those who live here and contribute wholly to British society, yet can’t live without fear of being deported. Don’t think this novel is too heavy or depressing though (not that depressing means no good, of course)- the author mainly uses a light-hearted, upbeat tone throughout and it was really enjoyable to read.
The narrative flicks between Nadia and Alex’s point of view, and this way the reader gets to see what both characters are thinking about the same events. It is a great way to get into the mind of the character more.
Nadia seems like a really likeable, good-humoured character and much more likeable than Alex’s housemate’s girlfriend (and love of his life), Lila. The author is obviously trying to reinforce the idea that Nadia is a better fit for Alex and the more we learn about Lila, the less we like about her, so we’ll be rooting for Nadia and Alex to get together and live happily ever after!
I also really enjoyed reading about London. I find the city fascinating and as someone who has only ever visited London, never lived there, I like reading books set in our capital. A lot of the language was also uniquely British, and you could tell just from the way it was written that this author was British, not American or Australian or from any other English speaking country!
I really enjoyed this novel and the dry humour that Erin Lawless used throughout. I haven’t read her first novel, The Best Thing I Never Had, but a lot of people have commented that this is a much softer story. I would still like to read her debut though, as I really enjoyed Lawless’ writing. The ending also surprised me, and wasn’t necessarily what I expected or wanted, but I think it worked really well.
** Many thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy of this novel in return for an honest review **
Somewhere Only We Know by Erin Lawless is a sweet, touching tale of friendship, love and identity in the 21st century.
First and foremost a ‘Boy Meets Girl’ story, the story also addresses issues surrounding immigration and citizenship, but manages to do so in a thoughtful, non-preachy way that encourages the reader to consider what life must be like for those who live here and contribute wholly to British society, yet can’t live without fear of being deported. Don’t think this novel is too heavy or depressing though (not that depressing means no good, of course)- the author mainly uses a light-hearted, upbeat tone throughout and it was really enjoyable to read.
The narrative flicks between Nadia and Alex’s point of view, and this way the reader gets to see what both characters are thinking about the same events. It is a great way to get into the mind of the character more.
Nadia seems like a really likeable, good-humoured character and much more likeable than Alex’s housemate’s girlfriend (and love of his life), Lila. The author is obviously trying to reinforce the idea that Nadia is a better fit for Alex and the more we learn about Lila, the less we like about her, so we’ll be rooting for Nadia and Alex to get together and live happily ever after!
I also really enjoyed reading about London. I find the city fascinating and as someone who has only ever visited London, never lived there, I like reading books set in our capital. A lot of the language was also uniquely British, and you could tell just from the way it was written that this author was British, not American or Australian or from any other English speaking country!
I really enjoyed this novel and the dry humour that Erin Lawless used throughout. I haven’t read her first novel, The Best Thing I Never Had, but a lot of people have commented that this is a much softer story. I would still like to read her debut though, as I really enjoyed Lawless’ writing. The ending also surprised me, and wasn’t necessarily what I expected or wanted, but I think it worked really well.
** Many thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy of this novel in return for an honest review **
May 3, 2015
Engaging modern day romantic fiction, that will make you smile all the way through.
I am a big fan of Erin Lawless's debut novel, The Best Thing I Never Had and was delighted to receive an ARC of Somewhere Only We Know from the author. So much so, that it bumped it's way up to the top of my TBR pile.
Somewhere Only We Know tells the story of Nadia, a Russian student living in London, who is about to be deported and her friendship with Alex, who happens to work for the Immigration Department! As Nadia and Alex grow closer, so too does the date for Nadia's appeal to extend her visa and stay in London.
Nadia is a loveable, fun character that I found incredibly endearing. Alex, at time a little hapless, was nonetheless equally endearing and I found myself rooting for them both very early on. It was obvious to both their friends and the reader, that they were both falling for each other. The will they, won't they get it together, was reminiscent of Rachel and Ross in Friends and quite delightful. Every interaction between these two was utterly charming and totally believable.
Lawless has created a cast of colourful, diverse and interesting friends for them both, but they never overshadowed the main plot.
It was obvious that the author loves London and this book most certainly is a beautiful love letter to the city.
I couldn't wait to get to the last page, so that I could find out how it all ended. All I'll tell you, is that to me, it was the perfect ending.
I am a big fan of Erin Lawless's debut novel, The Best Thing I Never Had and was delighted to receive an ARC of Somewhere Only We Know from the author. So much so, that it bumped it's way up to the top of my TBR pile.
Somewhere Only We Know tells the story of Nadia, a Russian student living in London, who is about to be deported and her friendship with Alex, who happens to work for the Immigration Department! As Nadia and Alex grow closer, so too does the date for Nadia's appeal to extend her visa and stay in London.
Nadia is a loveable, fun character that I found incredibly endearing. Alex, at time a little hapless, was nonetheless equally endearing and I found myself rooting for them both very early on. It was obvious to both their friends and the reader, that they were both falling for each other. The will they, won't they get it together, was reminiscent of Rachel and Ross in Friends and quite delightful. Every interaction between these two was utterly charming and totally believable.
Lawless has created a cast of colourful, diverse and interesting friends for them both, but they never overshadowed the main plot.
It was obvious that the author loves London and this book most certainly is a beautiful love letter to the city.
I couldn't wait to get to the last page, so that I could find out how it all ended. All I'll tell you, is that to me, it was the perfect ending.
May 20, 2015
Alex works in immigration and a bit jaded with life. Nadia is a student facing probable deportation to Russia. She is putting an appeal in- but with no cash to pay a lawyer what is going to happen to her? Alex has her papers come through his desk and then they meet by chance.
She thinks he needs to make more of his life and they spend the summer visiting the places in London that Nadia wants to see incase she doesn’t get to stay when her appeal date comes through. It makes you want to book your own trip to London.
The book holds a lot of humour and as such makes for a lovely read. My first book by this author- but am now keen to read more.
With many thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book.
She thinks he needs to make more of his life and they spend the summer visiting the places in London that Nadia wants to see incase she doesn’t get to stay when her appeal date comes through. It makes you want to book your own trip to London.
The book holds a lot of humour and as such makes for a lovely read. My first book by this author- but am now keen to read more.
With many thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book.
May 26, 2015
I really wasn't too sure what to expect from this book. I know a lot of people enjoyed Erin's first book, but I haven't read it yet, and then I saw the word immigration in the blurb. I was very worried this would be some sort of highly political book potentially with an asylum seeker (and not really my sort of read). I could not have been more wrong.
This is actually a wonderful story about friendship. It just so happens that Alex, works in the immigration department, and remembered reading Nadia Osipova's letter, while applying for long term stay in the UK.
And then at a pub quiz that his flatmate and flatmate's girlfriend dragged Alex along to, he meets Nadia in person. Suddenly he is faced with a real person and not just a piece of paper. And what a real person Nadia is.
The whole book focuses around Nadia, who is Russian and been living in the UK since her early teens, having been sent to boarding school there. She is hoping against all hopes not to be deported, and the book takes us up right through to the appeal against the original decision.
While awaiting her court date she gets to know Alex as a friend, and since Alex doesn't really do much apart from hate his job, and play video games, she insists he comes with her, as she fills in her bucket list of things she want's to do around London, or wants to do a final time, in case she has to say goodbye to her home.
Alex is currently suffering from unrequited love of his flatmate, Rory's girlfriend Lila. Alex although cynical about Nadia's plan at first, soon starts to enjoy himself and find another side to his personality.
Somewhere Only We Know takes you to a London that isn't often seen, to a more hidden side of London, and as a North Londoner myself, the less often visited south of the river side of the capital. From some of the more obvious touristy things to do, to things completely off the beaten path, you discover parts of London, along with Nadia and Alex.
SOWK alternates between Nadia and Alex's view points, and with that you get to know a lot about their friendships and flatmates. I loved seeing the friendship grow from both perspectives.
I found Somewhere Only We Know to be a fantastic story, and a book that kept me guessing right until the end. There were a few obvious possible endings, and the outcome was one I hadn't seen coming. Always like a surprise somewhere in a story.
Although this book is published by Harper Impulse, a publisher that keen blog follower may have noticed I love, this book isn't really a romance like you often get. Yes there is some romance but what blew me away was the deepening emotional connection between Alex and Nadia.
This is actually a wonderful story about friendship. It just so happens that Alex, works in the immigration department, and remembered reading Nadia Osipova's letter, while applying for long term stay in the UK.
And then at a pub quiz that his flatmate and flatmate's girlfriend dragged Alex along to, he meets Nadia in person. Suddenly he is faced with a real person and not just a piece of paper. And what a real person Nadia is.
The whole book focuses around Nadia, who is Russian and been living in the UK since her early teens, having been sent to boarding school there. She is hoping against all hopes not to be deported, and the book takes us up right through to the appeal against the original decision.
While awaiting her court date she gets to know Alex as a friend, and since Alex doesn't really do much apart from hate his job, and play video games, she insists he comes with her, as she fills in her bucket list of things she want's to do around London, or wants to do a final time, in case she has to say goodbye to her home.
Alex is currently suffering from unrequited love of his flatmate, Rory's girlfriend Lila. Alex although cynical about Nadia's plan at first, soon starts to enjoy himself and find another side to his personality.
Somewhere Only We Know takes you to a London that isn't often seen, to a more hidden side of London, and as a North Londoner myself, the less often visited south of the river side of the capital. From some of the more obvious touristy things to do, to things completely off the beaten path, you discover parts of London, along with Nadia and Alex.
SOWK alternates between Nadia and Alex's view points, and with that you get to know a lot about their friendships and flatmates. I loved seeing the friendship grow from both perspectives.
I found Somewhere Only We Know to be a fantastic story, and a book that kept me guessing right until the end. There were a few obvious possible endings, and the outcome was one I hadn't seen coming. Always like a surprise somewhere in a story.
Although this book is published by Harper Impulse, a publisher that keen blog follower may have noticed I love, this book isn't really a romance like you often get. Yes there is some romance but what blew me away was the deepening emotional connection between Alex and Nadia.
June 9, 2015
I received a free digital copy from the author/publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest feedback.
Alex works a pretty boring desk job in the immigration office, pretty much going through the same motions every day until he comes across a visa application for a Russian girl called Nadia. Something about Nadia and her friend's character references sticks out and Alex remembers her. Like a twist of fate, Alex bumps into Nadia a week later and the two become unlikely friends - taking trips around London to brighten up Alex's life while also making sure Nadia sees everything she needs to see before her inevitable deportation.
I really loved this book. From the get go it was super cute and all the characters were very relatable and likeable. Alex had a cute shyness that reminded me of Lincoln from Attachments by Rainbow Rowell, as well as the slight likeness in getting to know Nadia through correspondence read in work. Nadia was very bubbly and hard not to like. She was kind and hard-working and didn't mope about feeling sorry for herself. I don't know much about immigration rules and about the visa process but I thought the novel was good in showing how frustrating it was to be waiting around for something that could change the rest of your life. The journey to her appeal was a pretty bleak one and Nadia had a wonderful support system - friends that were more or less her family. It's hard to imagine what something like that must be like for someone going it alone.
While this book was definitely full of the not-so-surprising twists and turns you'd expect in a rom-com book, it was just such a pleasure to read. I completely fell in love with all the characters, and the friend group had such a lovely dynamic that even included Alex and Rory (thankfully not Lili). I definitely recommend anyone to pick this up for a light-hearted yet touching read, plus it really gives you those London feels and made me want to back to the beautiful city straight away!
Alex works a pretty boring desk job in the immigration office, pretty much going through the same motions every day until he comes across a visa application for a Russian girl called Nadia. Something about Nadia and her friend's character references sticks out and Alex remembers her. Like a twist of fate, Alex bumps into Nadia a week later and the two become unlikely friends - taking trips around London to brighten up Alex's life while also making sure Nadia sees everything she needs to see before her inevitable deportation.
I really loved this book. From the get go it was super cute and all the characters were very relatable and likeable. Alex had a cute shyness that reminded me of Lincoln from Attachments by Rainbow Rowell, as well as the slight likeness in getting to know Nadia through correspondence read in work. Nadia was very bubbly and hard not to like. She was kind and hard-working and didn't mope about feeling sorry for herself. I don't know much about immigration rules and about the visa process but I thought the novel was good in showing how frustrating it was to be waiting around for something that could change the rest of your life. The journey to her appeal was a pretty bleak one and Nadia had a wonderful support system - friends that were more or less her family. It's hard to imagine what something like that must be like for someone going it alone.
While this book was definitely full of the not-so-surprising twists and turns you'd expect in a rom-com book, it was just such a pleasure to read. I completely fell in love with all the characters, and the friend group had such a lovely dynamic that even included Alex and Rory (thankfully not Lili). I definitely recommend anyone to pick this up for a light-hearted yet touching read, plus it really gives you those London feels and made me want to back to the beautiful city straight away!
February 8, 2015
*Book provided by the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
The blurb of this book instantly caught my attention. A great I idea and I couldn’t wait to dive into this story. I’ve read Erin’s The Best Thing I Never Had and wasn’t a big fan, but she surprised me with this one!!! I really enjoyed it.
The story follows Nadia, a Russian girl who’s about to be deported. Nadia is lovable, fun and very passionate. A great character to follow around. The same with Alex, he seemed a little boring at first, but the fact that he works at the immigration office made him more interesting. The more time Alex spends with Nadia the more I was able to warm up to him. It’s like she was able to crack his shell.
I absolutely adored their scenes, charming, sweet and also romantic (that part was a bit hidden).
They are just friends, only after spending a lot of time together their feelings become more obvious. They both have an interesting and diverse group of friends, who brought a lot of energy into the story.
I was eagerly awaiting the ending, not really knowing what to expect, I just hoped for the best. I think it’s a great ending, calling for a sequel ;).
Erin put a lot of love in this book, the way she describes the wonderful places in London is fab. She has a fresh, young and bubbly voice, with a unique charm. The storyline is catchy and gripping with a great flow.
Rating: 4.5/5
The blurb of this book instantly caught my attention. A great I idea and I couldn’t wait to dive into this story. I’ve read Erin’s The Best Thing I Never Had and wasn’t a big fan, but she surprised me with this one!!! I really enjoyed it.
The story follows Nadia, a Russian girl who’s about to be deported. Nadia is lovable, fun and very passionate. A great character to follow around. The same with Alex, he seemed a little boring at first, but the fact that he works at the immigration office made him more interesting. The more time Alex spends with Nadia the more I was able to warm up to him. It’s like she was able to crack his shell.
I absolutely adored their scenes, charming, sweet and also romantic (that part was a bit hidden).
They are just friends, only after spending a lot of time together their feelings become more obvious. They both have an interesting and diverse group of friends, who brought a lot of energy into the story.
I was eagerly awaiting the ending, not really knowing what to expect, I just hoped for the best. I think it’s a great ending, calling for a sequel ;).
Erin put a lot of love in this book, the way she describes the wonderful places in London is fab. She has a fresh, young and bubbly voice, with a unique charm. The storyline is catchy and gripping with a great flow.
Rating: 4.5/5
October 27, 2016
L'intégralité de ma chronique ici: http://lune-et-plume.fr/londres-avec-...
Après mon gros coup de cœur pour Meilleurs ennemis de Sally Thorne (si vous n’êtes pas encore au courant, foncez lire ma chronique, c’est très certainement la comédie romantique de cette fin d’année! ), il est temps pour moi de vous parler de Londres avec toi autre comédie romantique publiée dans la collection &H des éditions Harlequin. Une romance toute mignonne qui fut une agréable surprise. Une romance moderne et vraiment agréable à lire.
Par contre attention, la quatrième de couverture est fausse et l’histoire est bien meilleure que l’idée de base finalement. Cette histoire, c’est celle de Nadia londonienne de nationalité russe qui a fait toutes ses études en Angleterre, qui a même commencé à y travailler avant de perdre son titre de séjour et qui va devoir retourner vivre en Russie pays qui lui est finalement pratiquement inconnu alors qu’elle connaît Londres sur le bout des doigts et s’y sent chez elle. [...]
Après mon gros coup de cœur pour Meilleurs ennemis de Sally Thorne (si vous n’êtes pas encore au courant, foncez lire ma chronique, c’est très certainement la comédie romantique de cette fin d’année! ), il est temps pour moi de vous parler de Londres avec toi autre comédie romantique publiée dans la collection &H des éditions Harlequin. Une romance toute mignonne qui fut une agréable surprise. Une romance moderne et vraiment agréable à lire.
Par contre attention, la quatrième de couverture est fausse et l’histoire est bien meilleure que l’idée de base finalement. Cette histoire, c’est celle de Nadia londonienne de nationalité russe qui a fait toutes ses études en Angleterre, qui a même commencé à y travailler avant de perdre son titre de séjour et qui va devoir retourner vivre en Russie pays qui lui est finalement pratiquement inconnu alors qu’elle connaît Londres sur le bout des doigts et s’y sent chez elle. [...]
February 27, 2014
If you loved Erin's first book, The Best Thing I Never Had, (and if you haven't read it, then go buy it!), then you'll love her second, Somewhere Only We Know. It's modern and honest romantic fiction, which will make you desperate for a city break in London.
Somewhere Only We Know is something a bit different, it's genuinely funny yet surprisingly moving and a bit snarky. It's deeper than I expected.
Erin's tone is instantly recognisable from her first book. Her writing is original and fresh.
Somewhere Only We Know is uplifting escapism with a believable love story. It has an "I've been there" quality to it and you can identify with the characters. I was taken in by Alex and Nadia, occasionally wanting to prod them into action.
It's the summer's must read and I, for one, can't wait for Erin's next book!
Somewhere Only We Know is something a bit different, it's genuinely funny yet surprisingly moving and a bit snarky. It's deeper than I expected.
Erin's tone is instantly recognisable from her first book. Her writing is original and fresh.
Somewhere Only We Know is uplifting escapism with a believable love story. It has an "I've been there" quality to it and you can identify with the characters. I was taken in by Alex and Nadia, occasionally wanting to prod them into action.
It's the summer's must read and I, for one, can't wait for Erin's next book!
May 19, 2015
After reading Erin's debut novel 'The Best Thing I Never Had', it is safe to say I was very much looking forward to picking up another great work- and I was not disappointed!
The romantic tale of Alex and Nadia proved to be genuinely moving, and the dry humour and perceptive storyline always left me itching to read day after day. Another charming and original story from Erin Lawless.
I cannot wait for the next one!
The romantic tale of Alex and Nadia proved to be genuinely moving, and the dry humour and perceptive storyline always left me itching to read day after day. Another charming and original story from Erin Lawless.
I cannot wait for the next one!
November 28, 2016
Cela se lit pour le plaisir de sillonner Londres, pour oublier qu'il fait un froid de canard et pour savourer une jolie comédie aux rouages bien huilés : des potes, des soirées arrosées, de la répartie, des fous rires, des quiproquos, des déboires et de la patience pour décrocher les étoiles. Une lecture éclatante de vivacité & qui vous absorbe dans sa bulle. Effet cocooning assuré.
July 2, 2016
This was straightforward easy read which is exactly what I needed. No big surprises or plot twists here but really likeable characters and a decent plot.
February 8, 2015
At the back end of 2013, I was invited to take part in a blog tour for a book by a debut author. I wasn't told much about it; only that it was contemporary romance and centred around a group of friends at university. Despite being up to my eyes in Advent-ures in Fiction, my annual celebration of festive books that runs throughout December, I said yes. And I'm so glad I did, because that book, The Best Thing I Never Had, was one of my favourite reads not just of that year, but ever. I've been impatiently waiting for a new book from Erin Lawless for the past eighteen months. I've hounded the poor girl with tweets asking questions, like 'what's the new book called?', 'when's it out?', 'can't you just give me some teensy hints about what the characters are like?' And now, finally, I'm able to say I've read it, and I love it just as much as The Best Thing I Never Had. It is powerful and emotive, it made me laugh, and cry, and feel. Somewhere Only We Know is told from the viewpoints of two central characters- Alex, who works in the immigration department, and Nadia, who is waiting for the government to make a decision about whether or not she can stay in the UK. The pair start out as strangers, but from the moment Alex lays eyes on Nadia's application he takes a shine to this vivacious girl, someone who has friends fighting for her to be granted permission to stay, someone who loves British life, who has grabbed London by the scruff of the neck and desperately tried to experience all that the city has to offer. I'll admit it. At the start of the book Alex was a bit irritating. He comes across as a bit of a wimp. He's a games console geek who spends most nights playing gooseberry and feeling a bit jealous, because his best friend's going out with the girl he himself fancies. But, when Alex and Nadia's paths coincidentally cross, he's forced out of his shell. Alex tries new things, grows in confidence and becomes someone more fun-loving. More laid back. More like Nadia. Their friendship grows and soon they are spending more and more time together. What they have together is enviable and the easy openness Nadia and Alex share floods off the page. Honestly, this book gave me so many warm and fuzzies, it's untrue! Of course, what happens in the future depends on whether Nadia will be given Indefinite Leave to Remain and be able to stay in London. If she has to return to Russia, she'll be leaving not just Alex, but her friends Holly, Caro and Ledge, who are still backing her application with a desperate, but empty, hope. I cried during the opening chapters and I wept at the end. This book was devastatingly brilliant, and the warmth of Alex and Nadia's relationship radiated off every page. It's the kind of book that makes you want to tell those you love just how special they are to you and to wrap them in a bear hug and never, ever let go. Erin Lawless- you've done it again. Somewhere Only We Know is an absolute triumph. From now on, whenever I'm asked for my favourite authors your name is going to be right up there. So, I'd better head off to twitter because I've got just one more question...how long until book three's released?!
June 29, 2015
At the start of the book we're introduced to Alex who works for the Home Office, sorting through lots of applications for UK visa. He is not very keen on the job and his life seems to be lacking the spark. When Alex comes across a very quirky written application it puts a smile on his face and he is ready to go out that night and have some fun with his flatmate Rory and Rory's girlfriend Lila (also Alex's secret love interest). But Rory pulls out of the fun evening and leaves Alex and Lila battling out a pub quiz. Little Alex knows he is actually about to meet Nadia, a friendly Russian girl. Nadia and her friend join Alex and Lila's team for the pub quiz and from then on Alex unexpectedly becomes a part of Nadia life. Alex knows Nadia hasn't got much time left in the UK before she has to return to Russia so his is happy to tag along on Nadia's London adventures but as they race through all the favorite spots and sights Nadia and Alex friendship grows more meaningful by day.
I was absolutely in love with the story of Alex Bradley and Nadia( Nadezhda) Osipova. I am sure that anyone who every had or is having a visa crises can easily relate to the theme but the book is not only about that it is also about finding friends in the most unexpected places, opening up to new adventures and possibly altering ones life path.
When I started to read the first page I knew I am going to be taken on a wonderful journey. Nadia and Alex were wonderful main characters and I loved the dynamics between them, their easy banter, the dialogues and the way they just clicked together. It was adorable, funny, uplifting and in some moments even flirty. They definitely had the instant connection!
The secondary characters including Holly, Caro, Ledge and Rory were fantastic and I could not imagine the story without them. Erin certainly created a delightful bond between reader and all the characters that every time I open up my book and started to read it I felt instantly transported inside the story.
I lapped up the scenes where Nadia shows Alex her favorite spots in London, especially the ones involving walks alongside the river.
Nadia is such a strong, clever and independent woman and she certainly helps Alex to better his life in many ways.
The end of the story was surprising, heartwarming as well as hopeful.
This is the first book by Erin Lawless I had the pleasure of reading and it ticked all my boxes of a perfect book. In my humble opinion it was a truly flawless and captivating read and one that I very highly recommend.
I was absolutely in love with the story of Alex Bradley and Nadia( Nadezhda) Osipova. I am sure that anyone who every had or is having a visa crises can easily relate to the theme but the book is not only about that it is also about finding friends in the most unexpected places, opening up to new adventures and possibly altering ones life path.
When I started to read the first page I knew I am going to be taken on a wonderful journey. Nadia and Alex were wonderful main characters and I loved the dynamics between them, their easy banter, the dialogues and the way they just clicked together. It was adorable, funny, uplifting and in some moments even flirty. They definitely had the instant connection!
The secondary characters including Holly, Caro, Ledge and Rory were fantastic and I could not imagine the story without them. Erin certainly created a delightful bond between reader and all the characters that every time I open up my book and started to read it I felt instantly transported inside the story.
I lapped up the scenes where Nadia shows Alex her favorite spots in London, especially the ones involving walks alongside the river.
Nadia is such a strong, clever and independent woman and she certainly helps Alex to better his life in many ways.
The end of the story was surprising, heartwarming as well as hopeful.
This is the first book by Erin Lawless I had the pleasure of reading and it ticked all my boxes of a perfect book. In my humble opinion it was a truly flawless and captivating read and one that I very highly recommend.
May 12, 2016
Review first posted on my blog 'A Spoonful of Happy Endings': http://spoonfulofhappyendings.blogspo...
Twenty-something Alex Bradley doesn't particularly love his job at the UK Immigration department, but it pays the rent. One day, he finds himself with an interesting letter in his hand, namely a request for a Nadia Osipova to be allowed to stay on in the UK. Without any money, no steady job and no boyfriend, Nadia is on the verge of being back deported to Russia, even though she knows the UK is her real home since she arrived when she was just a teenager to go to boarding school. As if it was faith, Alex unexpectedly meets the real Nadia at a pub quiz at a local pub and they become friends. As Nadia gets ready to leave London, she takes Alex on a journey to visit all of her favourite spots and do the sightseeing she never got to do. Alex can't help but grow more and more fond of Nadia, but will he realise what's right in front of him before it's too late?
I'm really glad I got the chance to read and review 'Somewhere Only We Know' because I ended up thoroughly enjoying my first Erin Lawless novel, and I'm sure this won't be my last one! Erin has a great writing style that goes really well with the chick lit genre, in my opinion, and I loved reading about Nadia and Alex and their lives. I have to admit I was a bit doubtful about the topic of immigration playing an important role in this novel, because I had no idea which direction this would go in and how serious this would make the story, but the author really did a wonderful job tackling this topic and creating a fascinating and lovely story around it with some great characters at its core.
The story is told from both a male and female perspective in the form of Alex and Nadia. I really liked both main characters from the start, and especially the scenes in which they featured together were my favourite with the clear chemistry and fun dialogue between the two of them. There were several aspects to the main storyline with things going on in both Alex's and Nadia's lives, making sure to keep the reader's attention at all times. I was also quite surprised by the ending of the novel which I did not see coming, but I don't want to give anything away. Overall, 'Somewhere Only We Know' is a thoroughly entertaining, fun and well-written romantic comedy that I really enjoyed from start to finish, and enough for me to straight away add Erin Lawless to my list of authors to look out for!
Twenty-something Alex Bradley doesn't particularly love his job at the UK Immigration department, but it pays the rent. One day, he finds himself with an interesting letter in his hand, namely a request for a Nadia Osipova to be allowed to stay on in the UK. Without any money, no steady job and no boyfriend, Nadia is on the verge of being back deported to Russia, even though she knows the UK is her real home since she arrived when she was just a teenager to go to boarding school. As if it was faith, Alex unexpectedly meets the real Nadia at a pub quiz at a local pub and they become friends. As Nadia gets ready to leave London, she takes Alex on a journey to visit all of her favourite spots and do the sightseeing she never got to do. Alex can't help but grow more and more fond of Nadia, but will he realise what's right in front of him before it's too late?
I'm really glad I got the chance to read and review 'Somewhere Only We Know' because I ended up thoroughly enjoying my first Erin Lawless novel, and I'm sure this won't be my last one! Erin has a great writing style that goes really well with the chick lit genre, in my opinion, and I loved reading about Nadia and Alex and their lives. I have to admit I was a bit doubtful about the topic of immigration playing an important role in this novel, because I had no idea which direction this would go in and how serious this would make the story, but the author really did a wonderful job tackling this topic and creating a fascinating and lovely story around it with some great characters at its core.
The story is told from both a male and female perspective in the form of Alex and Nadia. I really liked both main characters from the start, and especially the scenes in which they featured together were my favourite with the clear chemistry and fun dialogue between the two of them. There were several aspects to the main storyline with things going on in both Alex's and Nadia's lives, making sure to keep the reader's attention at all times. I was also quite surprised by the ending of the novel which I did not see coming, but I don't want to give anything away. Overall, 'Somewhere Only We Know' is a thoroughly entertaining, fun and well-written romantic comedy that I really enjoyed from start to finish, and enough for me to straight away add Erin Lawless to my list of authors to look out for!
May 30, 2015
I was a fan Erin Lawless's debut novel The Best Thing I Never Had so I was eager to read her second. I'm happy to report that the second book from this newcomer lived up to the promise of the first.
I enjoy funny books, and while no one would classify this as a comedy, the dry humor an wry wit provided the exact right balance to some of the heavier themes and evens.
The story belongs to Nadia, a Russian student living in London, who is about to be deported and her friend Alex, a government worker at the immigration department. Alex first "meets" Nadia on paper, then gets dragged out to a pub night by a friend, at which he sees the girl in the flesh. The tough part of his job comes to the fore: He's not dealing with imaginary people, his decisions affect real people with real lives.
As Nadia and Alex grow closer, so too does the date for Nadia's appeal for papers that would allow her to remain in England.
Nadia is a bit of a firecracker, genuine and messy. She both reveals her feelings, and keeps things close to the vest. Putting all of her eggs in one basket could lead to heartache as she is most positively not in control of her own destiny. Alex, on the other hand, is a gamer, and a homebody, who is in love with a girl he can never have. He can be a bit of a sap, but he's very much an accurately drawn man/boy of his age. We all know the type! He's very appealing, despite the growing-up he needs to do, and it's easy to see why Nadia would turn her eye to him.
Nadia ropes him into a scheme that brings out the fun-loving, risk-taking qualities that have been dormant within him, and he grows and changes. Of course, as he grows, he's drawn toward Nadia. He can't go back to being the way he was.
This book is very "New Adult" in the emotional way that it examines the development of both Nadia and Alex as they are compelled to face real-world, grown-up choices. The nuances of two young people starting as friends and the push-pull of growing into something more, taking one step forward and two steps back drew me in.
This is a sweet book, and much softer than Lawless's debut. Fans of contemporary romance set against the backdrop of a city that becomes a character will enjoy the storyline. The ending is satisfying, and there is enough mystery about the outcome to keep it from being run-of-the mill.
Recommended!
May 19, 2015
First there was Bridget and Mark; then there was Em and Dex and now there is Nadia and Alex. Oh, my heart.
Somewhere Only We Know by Erin Lawless is a full on modern day romance centring on Home Office worker Alex – a man who is just being carried along by life rather than actually living it. His life consists of spending time with his flatmate Rory and Rory’s girlfriend Lila….who Alex is secretly in love with. When Nadia comes into his life everything is turned upon its head. She makes him start living rather than just existing. It seems that this project is her swan song as she is currently undergoing a trial that might extradite her from the country that she calls home.
Besides Somewhere Only We Know being a tradition love story between a boy and a girl it is actually a bit of a romance with the city of London. The London described is gorgeous; the best places – besides the obvious tourist spots – are shown perfectly. I wanted to go to those places; I wanted to spend time in the company of characters in those places too. It is this want to be in the story that I think makes Somewhere Only We Know a magical book.
You can’t help but fall in love with Alex and Nadia; you can’t help but yell at the book because you want them to realise that they love each other; you cannot help but swoon. This is the kind of book that makes you fall in love.
Somewhere Only We Know is the book I have wanted to read for a very long time; longer than it has been in existence. How is that possible you may be asking yourself? Well, let me tell you. It is a rare thing to be able to make the love between two fictional characters become so real that you actually champion their love from your very roots but this is exactly what I did for Nads and Alex. And I know you will too.
Somewhere Only We Know by Erin Lawless is available from June 11th 2015.
Follow Erin Lawless (@rinylou) on Twitter.
Somewhere Only We Know by Erin Lawless is a full on modern day romance centring on Home Office worker Alex – a man who is just being carried along by life rather than actually living it. His life consists of spending time with his flatmate Rory and Rory’s girlfriend Lila….who Alex is secretly in love with. When Nadia comes into his life everything is turned upon its head. She makes him start living rather than just existing. It seems that this project is her swan song as she is currently undergoing a trial that might extradite her from the country that she calls home.
Besides Somewhere Only We Know being a tradition love story between a boy and a girl it is actually a bit of a romance with the city of London. The London described is gorgeous; the best places – besides the obvious tourist spots – are shown perfectly. I wanted to go to those places; I wanted to spend time in the company of characters in those places too. It is this want to be in the story that I think makes Somewhere Only We Know a magical book.
You can’t help but fall in love with Alex and Nadia; you can’t help but yell at the book because you want them to realise that they love each other; you cannot help but swoon. This is the kind of book that makes you fall in love.
Somewhere Only We Know is the book I have wanted to read for a very long time; longer than it has been in existence. How is that possible you may be asking yourself? Well, let me tell you. It is a rare thing to be able to make the love between two fictional characters become so real that you actually champion their love from your very roots but this is exactly what I did for Nads and Alex. And I know you will too.
Somewhere Only We Know by Erin Lawless is available from June 11th 2015.
Follow Erin Lawless (@rinylou) on Twitter.
June 2, 2015
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I was looking forward to reading 'Somewhere Only We Know'. Its vivid characters, well researched setting and original take on girl meets boy, met all my expectations.
Nadia and Alex are complex, believable characters, Yin and Yang drawn together in a serendipitous way, they gradually discover what's been missing in their lives.
Nadia is likeable and despite her looming problems, reaches out to Alex shows him how to enjoy life. Alex is hiding secrets that may damage their fledgling relationship. Their London and south coast adventures are entertaining, realistic and make their growing attraction inevitable to everyone, including the reader, but not themselves.
The supporting cast are equally vibrant and showcase the main characters, without upstaging them. I would like to see what happens to Caro, Holly and Rory in another book, perhaps?
This is a story of young, sometimes emotionally immature adults. The romance is gentle and illuminates rather than dominates the story.
A great holiday read.
I received a copy of this book from Harper Impulse via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Erin Lawless
June 13, 2015
Nadia has been in the Uk since she was 11 years old, its all she knows all her friends are English, England is where she belongs but all this could change. Her Working Visa is being looked at as the home office feels she is no longer eligible to be in the Uk. The story reads from two peoples point of view Nadia’s and Alex’s. Alex works in the home office, his job is to look at every Visa that comes in and decide whether its eligible to go higher up the chain to be looked into. Alex receives Nadia’s visa application and due to the way its wittingly written he decided to put it through to the next stage. Then while on a night out they randomly (fate) meet up and Alex soon realises that this is the very same Nadia he read about. They end up going for late night walk and after a bit of a heart to heart Nadia decided that Alex isn't living his life to its potential. So they decide to spend some time together doing things they wouldn't usually do and visiting places in London that Nadia wants to tick off, should she not be granted residency.
I liked this story, they both become very close very quickly but neither of them realise what is happening. They both have separate relationships while still meeting as friends sharing new experiences together. In the meantime the clock is ticking. Nadia’s application was denied and now she has a court date to appeal. After lots of will they? wont they? this book keeps you on your toes the whole way through and I really enjoyed it.
I liked this story, they both become very close very quickly but neither of them realise what is happening. They both have separate relationships while still meeting as friends sharing new experiences together. In the meantime the clock is ticking. Nadia’s application was denied and now she has a court date to appeal. After lots of will they? wont they? this book keeps you on your toes the whole way through and I really enjoyed it.
October 10, 2014
I miss romantic comedies. They were nice pieces of film where you got to watch the two protagonists fall in love despite obstacles (ones that usually seemed realistic, therefore made the result seem realistic). I always feel really warm after watching a super good RomCom. I felt the same on finishing Somewhere Only We Know. I cannot think of a better equivalent than a RomCom in book form. It was decisively obvious that Nadia and Alex were going to fall in love, you could tell from the first meeting. But that says nothing to how much fun it was to watch it develop! More so than a slow-burn, you see two people really becoming friends before advancing it in any other direction. The side characters are also great, but this book has two strong POVs (which I felt easier to slip into than the multiple layers of Best I Never Had, but this is a different sort of book all together). Nadia and Alex are really likable and their troubles seem very routed in a realistic and almost relaxing sort of journey. I think what I liked most about the book is that it isn't filled with forced tension even considering Nadia's worry about her very likely soon-to-be expulsion from what she considers home. This book is about two people, two very nice people, who happen to fall in love at the absolute worst time for all the best reasons.
June 6, 2015
I was lucky enough to receive a copy of Somewhere Only We Know from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book I have read by Erin Lawless and it definitely won't be the last.
Russian born Nadia Osipova is on borrowed time. Although she has lived in England since her early teens and moved between various work and student visas, she is now at a point where she must apply to the Home Office to be granted an indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
She submits her application which is picked up and processed by Alex, and in a twist of fate they end up meeting at a pub quiz. This book follows Nadia in the run up to her court date and her blossoming friendship with Alex as she completes her bucket list of things to do in London before she could potentially get deported.
A wonderful heart-warming read that will keep you guessing the outcome to the very end. A thoroughly enjoyable book that I read in less than 24 hours and look forward to Erin's next book.
This is the first book I have read by Erin Lawless and it definitely won't be the last.
Russian born Nadia Osipova is on borrowed time. Although she has lived in England since her early teens and moved between various work and student visas, she is now at a point where she must apply to the Home Office to be granted an indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
She submits her application which is picked up and processed by Alex, and in a twist of fate they end up meeting at a pub quiz. This book follows Nadia in the run up to her court date and her blossoming friendship with Alex as she completes her bucket list of things to do in London before she could potentially get deported.
A wonderful heart-warming read that will keep you guessing the outcome to the very end. A thoroughly enjoyable book that I read in less than 24 hours and look forward to Erin's next book.
June 3, 2015
Somewhere Only We Know is the best type of chick-lit. It's a journey through a friendship that turns to romance. A tricky journey full of twists and turns, where you're never quite sure if things are going to work out, but it's fun to tag along and have some adventures along the way. Nadia is a whirlwind of a character - big and bold and full of character, for want of a better word. She incredibly sweet, full of life and zest, someone who really makes the most of their life. Alex, in comparison, is somewhat stuck in a rut. A bit shy, a bit inconsequential, he needs someone like Nadia to take his life up a notch, to make him more himself.
Somewhere Only We Know is, for the most part, a happy book to read. It's full of fun little adventures, amusing dialogue, and an adorable tentative romance.
Somewhere Only We Know is, for the most part, a happy book to read. It's full of fun little adventures, amusing dialogue, and an adorable tentative romance.
June 5, 2015
This is a very contemporary romance and is a really good read. Alex & Nadia form a friendship after meeting, but Nadia's probable deportation back to Russia hangs over them. The friendship develops against a backdrop of the best London has to offer.
The friends involved with both of them are strong characters as well - although Nadia wins hands down for a BIG personality!
This is a great summer read - set in a hot London with the theme of immigration as a strong thread. Will definitely look out for more from Erin.
The friends involved with both of them are strong characters as well - although Nadia wins hands down for a BIG personality!
This is a great summer read - set in a hot London with the theme of immigration as a strong thread. Will definitely look out for more from Erin.
October 6, 2015
This was just the book I wanted for a relaxed Sunday - I read all day very happily. It's classic chick lit that reminds me of early Lisa Jewell (who I admire a lot). A well-drawn central character, Nadia, with friendships that feel very real. The immigration obstacle, of not being in control of your future, is a constant shadow, adding suspense. It's also very topical and I love that the book tackles it.
I anticipated what would happen, but I enjoyed the journey all the same. A comforting, heart-warming, enjoyable novel. I'll definitely be reading more from Erin Lawless!
I anticipated what would happen, but I enjoyed the journey all the same. A comforting, heart-warming, enjoyable novel. I'll definitely be reading more from Erin Lawless!
February 24, 2014
*Advance review copy*
I might not be the target audience for this book and the blurb didn't get me interesting initially (sorry), but I loved it. A sweet and charming story, reading it was like spending time with good friends. I loved Erin's first book The Best Thing I Ever Had, and this is lighter, funnier and gentler, but it still packs a punch.
Glorious contemporary romcom. Alex and Nadia are so sweet, you won't be able to help getting carried away along for the ride.
I might not be the target audience for this book and the blurb didn't get me interesting initially (sorry), but I loved it. A sweet and charming story, reading it was like spending time with good friends. I loved Erin's first book The Best Thing I Ever Had, and this is lighter, funnier and gentler, but it still packs a punch.
Glorious contemporary romcom. Alex and Nadia are so sweet, you won't be able to help getting carried away along for the ride.
February 25, 2018
The first half of the book was kind of slow and I was about to give it a three star rating. But it did pick up, I liked the characters a lot and I actually had tears in my eyes in the end. This is a London love story, and after reading it (and especially Nadia's letter!) I kind of want to go back to London for an adventure in Nadia's footsteps.
Note: I read the Swedish translation, but couldn't find that edition on Goodreads.
Note: I read the Swedish translation, but couldn't find that edition on Goodreads.
August 12, 2015
This engaging novel takes you on a journey through the secret byways and clandestine treats of London by an author who obviously loves the place and knows how best to describe it! Narrated with skill and seemingly effortless fluidity, Erin Lawless creates an immensely readable storyline with believable, realistic characters.
January 22, 2016
I loved this book soooo much! I wanted to be friends with all of them!I could really identify myself with Alex! Slowly getting to really live your life! The characters are all very lovable (except for Lila.. couldn't get myself to like her)
If there would be a sequel just following the lifes of Nadia,Alex,Holly,Caro,Ledge,Rory I would totally read it :)
If there would be a sequel just following the lifes of Nadia,Alex,Holly,Caro,Ledge,Rory I would totally read it :)
September 29, 2014
Took me a while to get into (pesky work getting in the way) but then I couldn't put it down. Loved the two main characters and all their friends. A really warm love story. Fab read.
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