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Whenever I'm with You
A missing boy.
A road trip into the Alaskan wilderness.
A week that will change everything...
After Gabi’s parents’ divorce, she moves from California to Alaska with her dad. At first, it feels like banishment—until she meets Kai. He welcomes her into his life, sharing his family, his friends, and his warmth. But as winter approaches, Kai pulls away for seemingly no reason at all. He's quiet, withdrawn. Then one day, he disappears.
Kai’s twin brother, Hunter, believes Kai is retracing their missing father’s steps in the wilderness north of Anchorage. There’s a blizzard on the way, and Kai is alone out there. Gabi's frustration over his emotional distance quickly turns to serious concern. This is the boy who saved her from the dark. She can't lose him to it.
So Gabi and Hunter agree to head out together on a wild journey north—a trip that will challenge them physically and emotionally, as they try to convince the boy they love to return home.
A road trip into the Alaskan wilderness.
A week that will change everything...
After Gabi’s parents’ divorce, she moves from California to Alaska with her dad. At first, it feels like banishment—until she meets Kai. He welcomes her into his life, sharing his family, his friends, and his warmth. But as winter approaches, Kai pulls away for seemingly no reason at all. He's quiet, withdrawn. Then one day, he disappears.
Kai’s twin brother, Hunter, believes Kai is retracing their missing father’s steps in the wilderness north of Anchorage. There’s a blizzard on the way, and Kai is alone out there. Gabi's frustration over his emotional distance quickly turns to serious concern. This is the boy who saved her from the dark. She can't lose him to it.
So Gabi and Hunter agree to head out together on a wild journey north—a trip that will challenge them physically and emotionally, as they try to convince the boy they love to return home.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 3, 2017
32 people are currently reading
1232 people want to read
About the author
Lydia Sharp
8 books197 followersLydia Sharp writes young adult novels with lots of kissing and adventures.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
January 12, 2024
Gabi’s natural grace is fascinating. Poise, pragmatic manner and confidence rarely coexist in mere human beings; but this 17-year-old possesses all three. Of course, she doesn’t realize that. Her Alaskan acquaintances see only the novelty of a “rich Latina from L.A.” and they don’t even have as much information ‘about’ her as the tabloids do.
Kai is not like that, but he isn’t living the typical teen-age life either. When Gabi and her father moved in next door, Kai’s father had been gone for almost a year. His departure turned Kai and his twin brother, Hunter, from full-time high-school students to home-schooled home-makers. The boys cared for their younger siblings, their mother worked double shifts.
When Kai slips away to search for his father, he doesn’t tell anyone. He’s been alone in the Alaskan wilderness, following his father’s footsteps for a couple of days when Gabi and Hunter figure out where he’s gone. The two immediately realize the dire need to reach him ahead of an upcoming storm. Even an experienced, outdoors-loving-Alaskan could not be prepared for this.
The dangerous expedition is but part of the plot. Each twin has a secret and when secrets are shared it is as if someone pulled the missing piece of the almost-completed-jigsaw puzzle from a pocket and asks, “Were you looking for this?” Fiercely frustrating; a remarkable relief. Each person that participates in this quest has a solid strength inside. The individual discovery and use is a pretty great thing to witness.
Aside: I have a particular fondness for the West-Virginian transplant. Vicki easily embodied traits I recognize in the people from my home state; she amused and delighted me. Special thanks to Ms. Sharp for that.
This review was written for Buried Under Books by jv poore.
Kai is not like that, but he isn’t living the typical teen-age life either. When Gabi and her father moved in next door, Kai’s father had been gone for almost a year. His departure turned Kai and his twin brother, Hunter, from full-time high-school students to home-schooled home-makers. The boys cared for their younger siblings, their mother worked double shifts.
When Kai slips away to search for his father, he doesn’t tell anyone. He’s been alone in the Alaskan wilderness, following his father’s footsteps for a couple of days when Gabi and Hunter figure out where he’s gone. The two immediately realize the dire need to reach him ahead of an upcoming storm. Even an experienced, outdoors-loving-Alaskan could not be prepared for this.
The dangerous expedition is but part of the plot. Each twin has a secret and when secrets are shared it is as if someone pulled the missing piece of the almost-completed-jigsaw puzzle from a pocket and asks, “Were you looking for this?” Fiercely frustrating; a remarkable relief. Each person that participates in this quest has a solid strength inside. The individual discovery and use is a pretty great thing to witness.
Aside: I have a particular fondness for the West-Virginian transplant. Vicki easily embodied traits I recognize in the people from my home state; she amused and delighted me. Special thanks to Ms. Sharp for that.
This review was written for Buried Under Books by jv poore.
December 23, 2016
While writing WHENEVER I'M WITH YOU,
I listened to Rachel Platten's "Stand by You"
My favorite color is blue.
I like pink and purple too.
This is not a review,
but every sentence is true.
And rhymes. Except these two.
I listened to Rachel Platten's "Stand by You"
My favorite color is blue.
I like pink and purple too.
This is not a review,
but every sentence is true.
And rhymes. Except these two.
February 9, 2017
An Alaska Native reader who is Tlingit wrote to me (Debbie Reese, at American Indians in Children's Literature) to share concerns with Sharpe's book. As regular readers of AICL may recall, I get email from people who prefer not to be identified. Some worry about backlash on them or their children. I respect their requests and am grateful for their careful readings of children's and young adult books.
The Tlingit reader's concerns are as follows:
(1) Ambiguity of Native Characters
The two brothers in Whenever I'm With You are identified as having a Tlingit father and a Canadian mother, but no further information is provided. Are they enrolled? What part of Alaska is their father from? Were the two brothers raised outside their Tlingit community, and therefore, don't know enough about it to say more than they do? The idea of them being Tlingit is so lacking in detail to support it, that they could be Haida or a different Alaska Native tribe.
Because there is so little there, they could even be white and it would make no difference in the story. An example of them sounding white is in the way they speak about hunting. It doesn't sound the way Native Alaskans talk about hunting.
(2) Degrading and Exotic Attitude towards Native Culture
The main character in the story is Latina. She's wealthy. Throughout, she is snobby and says negative and degrading things. One example is the passage about akutaq. Gabi and Hunter are at a restaurant. He digs in to his "dish of chunky fluff. " Here's an extended excerpt of that part, from p. 80-81.
--(start of excerpt)--
"What is that?" I ask.
He swallows. "Something you should try."
It must be made of dog lips or something. "Don't avoid the question."
"All right, I'll tell you what this is, but only after you take a bite. Are you willing to trust me that it won't kill you? That you might even like it?"
"What doesn't kill us makes us stronger, right?" At least, that's what Kelly Clarkson says. And if Hunter can eat it without gagging, it can't be that bad. I scoop out a spoonful and force it into my mouth. It's sweet. The chunky part is definitely some kind of berry. And the rest of it has a consistency similar to... "Mousse? I mean the dessert kind."
Headshake. "It's called akutaq. Do you like it?"
"I wouldn't say like. But I wouldn't say hate, either." I take one more bite and push the rest of it away. That's more than enough sugar for me. "Okay, I tried it. Now, what's in it?"
"Whipped fat and berries."
He can't be serious. "Like, animal fat?"
"Yeah. And berries."
"But it's fat."
"And berries," he repeats, smiling, clearly enjoying my display of culture shock.
"The berries are only there to make it taste good. Because it's fat." How is this a real thing people pay to eat? How does he not understand this is gross? "It's flavored. Fat."
"And it's good." He scrapes the last of his out of the dish. "Even you said it wasn't bad."
"That's not the point!"
Hunter's laugh comes out in spurts, like he's trying to hold it in and concentrate on more important bodily functions, like chewing and swallowing and not spewing his akutaq all over the table. Although it probably wouldn't look much different in vomit form.
--(end of excerpt)--
The Tlingit reader who wrote to me is offended by the comparison of akutaq to vomit and imagines other Alaska Native readers would be offended by it, too. The reader wonders if--by way of passages like that--readers are supposed to dislike Gabi and her negative impressions of Alaska Native land, people, and culture. The reader further says that these passages mark the book as one NOT meant for Alaska Native readers. Another example of the author not considering an Alaska Native reader is where Alaskan lands are described as a giant expanse of nothing.
While, in some places, Gabi seems to like some aspects of Alaska Native culture, it comes off in a fetishizing way, like when Gabi wonders if a bear is her "spirit animal" (p. 161):
--(start of excerpt)--
Maybe it's my imagination, but I think the bear is looking right at me. Right into me. My heart thumps hard in my chest, my head, my ears, my throat; I feel it everywhere. But this thing I'm feeling isn't "scared." I don't know what it is. Exposed, maybe. Vulnerable. Or... trust? I'm putting my absolute trust in this creature not to charge and attack me. That has to be it--trust in its purest form--and the realization calms me. Tension falls away like I'm shedding a heavy coat. For the first time ever I let go of my control of a situation without feeling out of control.
Total serenity. From a bear.
It lazily turns its head back to the river, and soon we're riding off, every second giving us more and more distance from a possible threat. The moment is gone, but the impact of it stays with me all the way to Jack Randy's house.
Even if I had been paying attention to how we got here instead of contemplating whether the brown bear is my spirit animal, I couldn't find this place again if I had to.
--(end of excerpt)--
Debbie's response:
I'll order the book, but I can say right now that my notes and analysis will likely look exactly like what you've read, above. (Note: the quotes above are from what I saw in the book using Amazon's "look inside" and the preview in Google Books.)
Spirit animal?!
Who, I wonder, was the editor at Scholastic?! There are times when I think Scholastic is just a bit ahead of the field in terms of offering readers books with better representations of Native peoples, and then, they publish books like this one.
The Tlingit reader's concerns are as follows:
(1) Ambiguity of Native Characters
The two brothers in Whenever I'm With You are identified as having a Tlingit father and a Canadian mother, but no further information is provided. Are they enrolled? What part of Alaska is their father from? Were the two brothers raised outside their Tlingit community, and therefore, don't know enough about it to say more than they do? The idea of them being Tlingit is so lacking in detail to support it, that they could be Haida or a different Alaska Native tribe.
Because there is so little there, they could even be white and it would make no difference in the story. An example of them sounding white is in the way they speak about hunting. It doesn't sound the way Native Alaskans talk about hunting.
(2) Degrading and Exotic Attitude towards Native Culture
The main character in the story is Latina. She's wealthy. Throughout, she is snobby and says negative and degrading things. One example is the passage about akutaq. Gabi and Hunter are at a restaurant. He digs in to his "dish of chunky fluff. " Here's an extended excerpt of that part, from p. 80-81.
--(start of excerpt)--
"What is that?" I ask.
He swallows. "Something you should try."
It must be made of dog lips or something. "Don't avoid the question."
"All right, I'll tell you what this is, but only after you take a bite. Are you willing to trust me that it won't kill you? That you might even like it?"
"What doesn't kill us makes us stronger, right?" At least, that's what Kelly Clarkson says. And if Hunter can eat it without gagging, it can't be that bad. I scoop out a spoonful and force it into my mouth. It's sweet. The chunky part is definitely some kind of berry. And the rest of it has a consistency similar to... "Mousse? I mean the dessert kind."
Headshake. "It's called akutaq. Do you like it?"
"I wouldn't say like. But I wouldn't say hate, either." I take one more bite and push the rest of it away. That's more than enough sugar for me. "Okay, I tried it. Now, what's in it?"
"Whipped fat and berries."
He can't be serious. "Like, animal fat?"
"Yeah. And berries."
"But it's fat."
"And berries," he repeats, smiling, clearly enjoying my display of culture shock.
"The berries are only there to make it taste good. Because it's fat." How is this a real thing people pay to eat? How does he not understand this is gross? "It's flavored. Fat."
"And it's good." He scrapes the last of his out of the dish. "Even you said it wasn't bad."
"That's not the point!"
Hunter's laugh comes out in spurts, like he's trying to hold it in and concentrate on more important bodily functions, like chewing and swallowing and not spewing his akutaq all over the table. Although it probably wouldn't look much different in vomit form.
--(end of excerpt)--
The Tlingit reader who wrote to me is offended by the comparison of akutaq to vomit and imagines other Alaska Native readers would be offended by it, too. The reader wonders if--by way of passages like that--readers are supposed to dislike Gabi and her negative impressions of Alaska Native land, people, and culture. The reader further says that these passages mark the book as one NOT meant for Alaska Native readers. Another example of the author not considering an Alaska Native reader is where Alaskan lands are described as a giant expanse of nothing.
While, in some places, Gabi seems to like some aspects of Alaska Native culture, it comes off in a fetishizing way, like when Gabi wonders if a bear is her "spirit animal" (p. 161):
--(start of excerpt)--
Maybe it's my imagination, but I think the bear is looking right at me. Right into me. My heart thumps hard in my chest, my head, my ears, my throat; I feel it everywhere. But this thing I'm feeling isn't "scared." I don't know what it is. Exposed, maybe. Vulnerable. Or... trust? I'm putting my absolute trust in this creature not to charge and attack me. That has to be it--trust in its purest form--and the realization calms me. Tension falls away like I'm shedding a heavy coat. For the first time ever I let go of my control of a situation without feeling out of control.
Total serenity. From a bear.
It lazily turns its head back to the river, and soon we're riding off, every second giving us more and more distance from a possible threat. The moment is gone, but the impact of it stays with me all the way to Jack Randy's house.
Even if I had been paying attention to how we got here instead of contemplating whether the brown bear is my spirit animal, I couldn't find this place again if I had to.
--(end of excerpt)--
Debbie's response:
I'll order the book, but I can say right now that my notes and analysis will likely look exactly like what you've read, above. (Note: the quotes above are from what I saw in the book using Amazon's "look inside" and the preview in Google Books.)
Spirit animal?!
Who, I wonder, was the editor at Scholastic?! There are times when I think Scholastic is just a bit ahead of the field in terms of offering readers books with better representations of Native peoples, and then, they publish books like this one.
April 18, 2017
What I was expecting (based on cover): A cute swoony story about two teenagers falling in love, while on a journey to save someone.
What I got: ALASKA IS DANGEROUS
My reaction: wut.
What I got: ALASKA IS DANGEROUS
My reaction: wut.
March 21, 2017
"Not that I'm not enjoying the view of his lean, muscled body- all those square inches of bare skin in a shade that more closely resembles his Canadian mother than his Tlingit father- but this is not the scenario in which I imagined seeing him next to naked for the first time." pg 5-6
Not that I'm not liking this book. I HATE THIS BOOK ALREADY! How did this rubbish get published?! What color skin do Canadians have?
I would suggest looking at Debbie Reese's review for a more thorough write up of this book. I can tell you I only made it to pg. 61 and then the book sat on my nightstand for over a week. The character and the plot were not engaging. As a librarian living in Alaska, I was not able to suspend my disbelief long enough to finish this book. This may also explain why I had to interlibrary loan this work from a library in Arizona.
If you are looking for good Tlingit stories, I would suggest the works of Ishmael Hope and Ernestine Hayes. Both are amazing authors that share culture in a voice that speaks to a wide audience. Hayes is also the Alaska 2017 State Writer Laureate.
Not that I'm not liking this book. I HATE THIS BOOK ALREADY! How did this rubbish get published?! What color skin do Canadians have?
I would suggest looking at Debbie Reese's review for a more thorough write up of this book. I can tell you I only made it to pg. 61 and then the book sat on my nightstand for over a week. The character and the plot were not engaging. As a librarian living in Alaska, I was not able to suspend my disbelief long enough to finish this book. This may also explain why I had to interlibrary loan this work from a library in Arizona.
If you are looking for good Tlingit stories, I would suggest the works of Ishmael Hope and Ernestine Hayes. Both are amazing authors that share culture in a voice that speaks to a wide audience. Hayes is also the Alaska 2017 State Writer Laureate.
May 5, 2018
Fun read! An adventure through the Alaska wilderness in search of the truth behind a man’s disappearance... but it’s the ones uncovered about the teen characters inner selves that really matter. There’s fish-out-of-the-water Gabi, who moved to Alaska from SoCal to escape the scandal of her movie star mother’s divorce. And her boyfriend, Kai, a survivalist with a twinkle in his eye. And Kai’s more somber brother, Hunter, who doesn’t say a lot but knows what matters. This trio is full of feels, and blazing through the frozen forest forces them to confront their emotions. I really enjoyed getting to know these characters. However, the content around Kai and Hunter’s father’s indigenous heritage could have been handled better. Overall, Whenever I’m With You is an enjoyable story about wilderness survival, family, and friendship.
December 28, 2016
While the story moved decently and was interesting enough, it seemed like it was forcing itself to be some sort of deep revelation about how people cope and need to move past their demons.
Also, they were in the Alaskan wilderness yet somehow these twin teenage boys are able to survive so easily. The way they hunt and make fire so easily just seems too fake. Yes, they had basically trained their whole lives to be able to do those things with their father, but it's the ALASKAN WILDERNESS. Not everything happens so perfectly every single time like it appears to happen in this story.
What I'm trying to get across is that the story was too set up, too forced, and trying too hard to be some deep story with adventure.
Also, they were in the Alaskan wilderness yet somehow these twin teenage boys are able to survive so easily. The way they hunt and make fire so easily just seems too fake. Yes, they had basically trained their whole lives to be able to do those things with their father, but it's the ALASKAN WILDERNESS. Not everything happens so perfectly every single time like it appears to happen in this story.
What I'm trying to get across is that the story was too set up, too forced, and trying too hard to be some deep story with adventure.
March 10, 2017
Eh. This story had a wonderful premise, but the overall plot kind of lacked for me. I've never been to Alaska, but I have a hard time believing this journey was as simple as this story made it. Sure, things kept going wrong but there was always a convenient solution to make sure everything was quickly resolved. It just wasn't realistic. Also, I felt this story attempted to be diverse with the mentioning of various minorities (I mean, how cool would it have been to go into the Tlingit culture?) but completely fell short. It's a quick and easy read with a cool premise, but overall it just left me feeling unimpressed.
May 15, 2017
Book reviewer Debbie Reese has already addressed some of the cultural concerns that plagued me when I was reading this book, set in Alaska. In some respects, it seems to me that the author has gone to great pains to show just how naive and culturally unaware the book's protagonist is. Not only is she unaware of her own culture and her feelings, but she is disdainful--not deliberately so, but still, it is there--of anything that is different from the familiar world with which she has surrounded herself. She has been reared with the understanding that money can solve just about any problem. All of this is part of who she is at the time of the novel. When she tries akutaq for the first time, her disdainful reaction once she learns that it is essentially berry-sweetened animal fat is somewhat akin to that of someone trying pig's feet or grits, two Southern dishes that do not have a universal appeal, or even boiled crawfish or mudbugs in south Louisiana. Readers might want to consider how offensive it would be to have an outsider denigrate foods that are beloved in certain cultures. Still, her reaction seems to be absolutely what I would expect from someone new to this food. Despite some of the cultural bumps in the road that readers will encounter, the story itself concerns Gabi, who moves with her father to rural Alaska after her parents' marriage implodes. Her actress mother's celebrity and notoriety have prompted the two of them to get lost in a place far from LA's crowds. Gabi falls in love with Kai, but as the seasons start to change, he seems increasingly distracted. When he disappears, his twin brother Hunter decides that Kai is attempting to trace their father's last steps in the wilderness area north of Anchorage. Because a blizzard is on its way, Gabi and Hunter need to warn him or bring him home. But will they be too late? I found myself caught up in their journey even though the likelihood that they would stop at a cafe with a waitress willing to help them out and connect them to someone with a plane seemed pretty absurd. But then again, I've never lived in Alaska so who knows? Along the way, both Hunter and Gabi will be tested as they battle the weather and face threats from the wilderness. Although I can understand Gabi's concerns for Kai and his need to have his questions about his father's possible whereabouts answered since everyone needs closure, I was surprised that someone who grew up in the area would take such risks. Still, despite the book's flaws, including an encounter with a bear and Kai's and Gabi's need for counseling to deal with their separate issues concerning their parents, many teen readers will be riveted by this survival tale set in a part of the country that isn't often featured in YAL. While some relationships are worth taking risks, others certainly may not be. I recommend reading this one for its adventures and the growth of Gabi herself but taken with a big dollop of cynicism on the side. Even the cover itself is a bit misleading since it shows a couple sharing a milkshake while plotting out a journey on a map. Things would have been a lot less dramatic if that was how things went down here; instead, Kai drops vague hints about where he's going and then takes off. Too bad he didn't do this earlier in the year when it was safer. Reading this book only made me more fearful about ever veering from the beaten path if I happen to visit Alaska.
February 21, 2017
I wanted to love this book because the premise really appealed to me. A YA compared to Into The Wild (my all time favorite), sign me up.
That said, I was terribly disappointed in this book for so many reasons.
For starters, I would have loved for Kai and Hunter's Tlingit heritage to be more than just a quick line in the book. If not for that one sentence, I would have never guessed they were native. Their heritage seemed more like a "fun quirk" than a full bodied culture, and it was disappointing to not explore further.
And the brotherly drama between the two was weird.
Then there's Gabi. She was just basic minus her occasional use of Spanish. That could have been explored more too. Add that to the fact that her decisions were based solely on Kai, I didn't really relate to her.
The entire plot felt forced too. Everything that could go wrong, did, and I was exhausted by everything that kept happening. Nobody grew after these experiences and just kept on going.
Finally, the ending bothered me. They found the answers Kai wanted but he didn't really react much to what he found. It was just over. Then they went home and whatever.
That said, I was terribly disappointed in this book for so many reasons.
For starters, I would have loved for Kai and Hunter's Tlingit heritage to be more than just a quick line in the book. If not for that one sentence, I would have never guessed they were native. Their heritage seemed more like a "fun quirk" than a full bodied culture, and it was disappointing to not explore further.
And the brotherly drama between the two was weird.
Then there's Gabi. She was just basic minus her occasional use of Spanish. That could have been explored more too. Add that to the fact that her decisions were based solely on Kai, I didn't really relate to her.
The entire plot felt forced too. Everything that could go wrong, did, and I was exhausted by everything that kept happening. Nobody grew after these experiences and just kept on going.
Finally, the ending bothered me. They found the answers Kai wanted but he didn't really react much to what he found. It was just over. Then they went home and whatever.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2017
Full review over at The Bookaholic Blurbs!
Whenever I'm With You is likeable. But it would have been an unforgettable one if the execution isn't that of a let down. Giving it three stars for the attempt to show different sides of relationships which I appreciated and for the potential of the characters to see more of the world than just themselves.
Thank you, Scholastic Asia (Philippines) for the galley!
Whenever I'm With You is likeable. But it would have been an unforgettable one if the execution isn't that of a let down. Giving it three stars for the attempt to show different sides of relationships which I appreciated and for the potential of the characters to see more of the world than just themselves.
Thank you, Scholastic Asia (Philippines) for the galley!
July 13, 2018
You probably know this, I don't like romance that start before the book has begun like I just don't feel we know the full relationship and this is why I didn't fully love this book.
October 10, 2022
Probably the most underrated book I’ve ever read.
September 30, 2017
I loved this book. Might be my favorite :)))
March 3, 2017
That was an amazing read. 4.5 stars. A wonderful adventure story PACKED with suspense and intrigue. Oh my gosh, so good.
April 12, 2017
"Remember how it takes your breath away- remember that this is how I felt the first time I saw you, and how I've felt every day since then, whenever I'm with you. This is my version of heaven."
Whenever I'm With You is a quick read which features love and loss and how everyone copes differently and what they need to heal and move forward. I loved trekking though the Alaskan wilderness with these characters, the descriptions were vivid and I imagined myself there too. I'm excited to see what Lydia writes next!!
Whenever I'm With You is a quick read which features love and loss and how everyone copes differently and what they need to heal and move forward. I loved trekking though the Alaskan wilderness with these characters, the descriptions were vivid and I imagined myself there too. I'm excited to see what Lydia writes next!!
February 9, 2017
The cover shows a girl and her boyfriend sharing a milkshake while planning an adventure in Alaska, but it does the story injustice in that in the actual scene in the novel, the girl’s boyfriend has disappeared and she’s sitting up late in his kitchen, talking to his brother. They figure out he took off into the wilderness, heading to where his father died at a remote cabin the year before, and they plan how they’re going to track him down at dawn. To reach him before a blizzard comes in.
That dramatic scene sets up the rest of the novel, where they track down her boyfriend, only to find themselves joining him on his journey farther north. A journey in which they face many perils, including wolves, cliffs, and frozen lakes. They also meet a couple great characters - a waitress at a wilderness lodge and a cranky pilot who grows on you.
Throughout the story, Gabi’s on an emotional journey as well. All that’s happening with her boyfriend brings up the unresolved issues around her actress mother leaving her. They influence her choices of not lying to or abandoning those who need her, and in refusing to give in when things get tough.
She’s totally out of her element in the Alaskan winter, and yet as she goes further into the wilderness, she comes into her own and begins to find the strength she needs to start her new life.
That dramatic scene sets up the rest of the novel, where they track down her boyfriend, only to find themselves joining him on his journey farther north. A journey in which they face many perils, including wolves, cliffs, and frozen lakes. They also meet a couple great characters - a waitress at a wilderness lodge and a cranky pilot who grows on you.
Throughout the story, Gabi’s on an emotional journey as well. All that’s happening with her boyfriend brings up the unresolved issues around her actress mother leaving her. They influence her choices of not lying to or abandoning those who need her, and in refusing to give in when things get tough.
She’s totally out of her element in the Alaskan winter, and yet as she goes further into the wilderness, she comes into her own and begins to find the strength she needs to start her new life.
February 25, 2017
I enjoyed this book. It was a cute and adventurous kind of book.
Gabi is hiding from the life her mother has thrust upon their family. Kai refuses to admit the truth that his father is dead. When Kai goes in search of the truth Gabi and his twin brother head out to track him down before the big storm hits. Along the way everybody gets to know each other better, danger ensues and truths come out. Will these teens survive their journey? Will they turn back and go home without learning the truth about Kai and Hunters father? Is he dead like everybody thinks or still alive like only Kai thinks?
I love the characters. I enjoyed the adventurous side of this story as well as the romantic side of it. The writing style was fun and effortless. The flow was perfect. The pacing of the book was a slight struggle for me. It started out really slow and didn’t catch my attention right away but I’m glad I didn’t give up on it because about 35% in it started to get better and better. But the plot omg so good! I love the general idea and the fact that I never knew what would happen next.
I would definitely recommend this book to anybody looking for a good YA romantic adventure book. While it could us a little work on the pace it was really good!
Gabi is hiding from the life her mother has thrust upon their family. Kai refuses to admit the truth that his father is dead. When Kai goes in search of the truth Gabi and his twin brother head out to track him down before the big storm hits. Along the way everybody gets to know each other better, danger ensues and truths come out. Will these teens survive their journey? Will they turn back and go home without learning the truth about Kai and Hunters father? Is he dead like everybody thinks or still alive like only Kai thinks?
I love the characters. I enjoyed the adventurous side of this story as well as the romantic side of it. The writing style was fun and effortless. The flow was perfect. The pacing of the book was a slight struggle for me. It started out really slow and didn’t catch my attention right away but I’m glad I didn’t give up on it because about 35% in it started to get better and better. But the plot omg so good! I love the general idea and the fact that I never knew what would happen next.
I would definitely recommend this book to anybody looking for a good YA romantic adventure book. While it could us a little work on the pace it was really good!
September 25, 2025
The review is going to be short, just like the book...
First of all, the thing that is revolving around the mind constantly and the main reason for this rating...
The thing that the reader would be attracted to... will be the cover, the blurb, and the title. But after that, when they'll finally read it, one can be disappointed, like me, because of a lack of interesting situations.
First of all, the thing that is revolving around the mind constantly and the main reason for this rating...
The thing that the reader would be attracted to... will be the cover, the blurb, and the title. But after that, when they'll finally read it, one can be disappointed, like me, because of a lack of interesting situations.
March 7, 2022
This cover screams "chick-lit" but the book is also almost a Gary Paulsen's Hatchet worthy survival story. The characters are complex and real as they battle grief, divorce, sibling rivalry and interpersonal relationships on a week long road trip into the wilds of Alaska. All the great conflicts are there: human versus human, human versus self, human versus nature. The rustic lodge/diner reminds me of a few I've visited out west and I'm not sure which "fish out of water" I loved more, the California girl or the Southern one. I'd love to see a poll as to other reader's favorite twin. Mine was Hunter. Two thumbs up for this one!
January 29, 2017
Such a fun story. Genuinely loved the characters, and the adventure plot was superb. But there could've been more kissing. :)
May 28, 2019
A beautiful story about the journey Gabi goes on to save her warmth, her true love! It tells the story of a teenage girl who loves her Mami and Papi.
August 5, 2017
EDIT.: fakt nechápem, ako si niektorí autori môžu sami ohodnotiť svoju knihu
Neviem, čo som si myslela, keď som kupovala túto knihu. Anotácia znela tak super! Príbeh sa predsa odohráva v Aljaške a po New Yorku, Californii a iných super typických štátoch, bol toto taký svieži nápad. A keď už hovoríme o prostredí knihy... stalo sa vám niekedy, že ste mali taký klaustrofobicky pocit z čítania? Lebo ja som ho tu dostala. Vysvetlím:
Už z obálky sa dá ľahko zistiť o čom táto kniha bude. Je tam taký malý "roadtrip", kde dve z hlavných postáv hľadajú tú tretiu, ktorá záhadne odišla vez vysvetlenia. Je vám to známe?Ehm. Papierové mestá. All the Bright Places. Ehm. Ehm. Tento výlet alebo hľadanie sa odohráva väčšinou v aljašskej prírode, ktorá bola opísaná tak pochmúrne a depresívne a tak slabo, že som si popri čítaní googlila obrázky a porovnávala ich s opismi. Proste na mňa popri čítaní doľahla riadna apatia a únava a čítalo sa to tak hrozne pomaly. Ten štýl mi vôbec nesadol. To, čo malo byť opísané žiarivo a živo bolo pochmúrne a temné. Autorka opísala Aljašku ako keby to bola len nejaká nudná a chladná diera.
Príbehom nás sprevádza Gabi. Jej priateľ sa volá Kai. Jeho brat je Hunter a ich kamoška je Vicki. Gabi by mohla byť kľudne Vicki a Vicki by sa mohla premeniť na Huntera. Chcem povedať to, že tie postavy boli akési ploché. Nemám na to lepší názov. Mali len jednu typickú vlastnosť, no inak som ich rozoznať nevedela. Nestarala som sa o to, čo sa s nimi stane. Nikoho som si neobľúbila. Všetci boli depresívni. Gabi mala veľmi slabý background. Autorka sa nestarala o jej mamu ani o jej otca. Nestarala sa ani o postavy. Pre ňu bol dôležitý len dej a to, čo chce povedať a čo sa tam má diať. Postavy a nejaký ich vývoj odstavila na druhú koľaj a to mi vadilo. Kvalita sa tým znížila.
O tejto knihe sa nedá veľa povedať. Existujú oveľa lepšie, kvalitnejšie, zábavnejšie a iné "ejšie" knihy. Tejto sa neplatí venovať veľkú pozornosť.
Nothing worth having comes easy. So that's why he's so quiet and has no social life. It isn't that he's shy, or he doesn't like talking to me, or he doesn't want to go out with friends;
he's just busy and mentally exhausted. He's given it all up to pursue something "worth having".
Neviem, čo som si myslela, keď som kupovala túto knihu. Anotácia znela tak super! Príbeh sa predsa odohráva v Aljaške a po New Yorku, Californii a iných super typických štátoch, bol toto taký svieži nápad. A keď už hovoríme o prostredí knihy... stalo sa vám niekedy, že ste mali taký klaustrofobicky pocit z čítania? Lebo ja som ho tu dostala. Vysvetlím:
Už z obálky sa dá ľahko zistiť o čom táto kniha bude. Je tam taký malý "roadtrip", kde dve z hlavných postáv hľadajú tú tretiu, ktorá záhadne odišla vez vysvetlenia. Je vám to známe?
Príbehom nás sprevádza Gabi. Jej priateľ sa volá Kai. Jeho brat je Hunter a ich kamoška je Vicki. Gabi by mohla byť kľudne Vicki a Vicki by sa mohla premeniť na Huntera. Chcem povedať to, že tie postavy boli akési ploché. Nemám na to lepší názov. Mali len jednu typickú vlastnosť, no inak som ich rozoznať nevedela. Nestarala som sa o to, čo sa s nimi stane. Nikoho som si neobľúbila. Všetci boli depresívni. Gabi mala veľmi slabý background. Autorka sa nestarala o jej mamu ani o jej otca. Nestarala sa ani o postavy. Pre ňu bol dôležitý len dej a to, čo chce povedať a čo sa tam má diať. Postavy a nejaký ich vývoj odstavila na druhú koľaj a to mi vadilo. Kvalita sa tým znížila.
O tejto knihe sa nedá veľa povedať. Existujú oveľa lepšie, kvalitnejšie, zábavnejšie a iné "ejšie" knihy. Tejto sa neplatí venovať veľkú pozornosť.
November 5, 2017
This is a fast-paced contemporary YA read filled with adventure, romance, and life lessons, and the pacing and writing are all on-point... but at the same time, I have to think maybe it was all a bit too much and a bit too little in different ways. It tries to pack a ton into a small book, but probably because of that, the larger and more serious 'life lessons' and issues feel like they get glossed over, and offered somewhat too easily. The fact is, it's the emotion (of the romance, specifically) and the adventure that carry the book, whereas the larger issues that are meant to drive it actually serve to weigh it down--and to the extent that, in many ways, I'm not even sure I can say I really enjoyed the book. For such a fast and easy read, it was heavy... heavier than I'd like.
The other issue, I admit, was character. I didn't really like the narrator. I couldn't particularly engage with her, and I could feel every moment when the author was trying to make her likeable... and for me, it just didn't work. I actually think the book could have been a lot stronger if it had been shared between the viewpoints of the two main characters, or maybe even just left to Kai's, since he felt both more believable and more interesting than the narrator, Gabi, who... well, honestly, I just didn't really like her, or care much about her, and that's a problem in a book like this.
So, can I recommend it? I don't know. I think it suffers for being written to appeal to both adults and teenagers, and for trying to take on too much. Maybe I'd recommend it to someone trying to balance all of these areas in one book, but it's hard to tell; I'm afraid I'll forget it pretty quickly, much as I hate to say that about a book that really wasn't bad. All that said, would I read more by the author? I'm pretty sure I would if it weren't first person. If it were first person, and balancing all of the genres that came into play here... well, probably not.
The other issue, I admit, was character. I didn't really like the narrator. I couldn't particularly engage with her, and I could feel every moment when the author was trying to make her likeable... and for me, it just didn't work. I actually think the book could have been a lot stronger if it had been shared between the viewpoints of the two main characters, or maybe even just left to Kai's, since he felt both more believable and more interesting than the narrator, Gabi, who... well, honestly, I just didn't really like her, or care much about her, and that's a problem in a book like this.
So, can I recommend it? I don't know. I think it suffers for being written to appeal to both adults and teenagers, and for trying to take on too much. Maybe I'd recommend it to someone trying to balance all of these areas in one book, but it's hard to tell; I'm afraid I'll forget it pretty quickly, much as I hate to say that about a book that really wasn't bad. All that said, would I read more by the author? I'm pretty sure I would if it weren't first person. If it were first person, and balancing all of the genres that came into play here... well, probably not.
February 4, 2023
I don’t have many good words for this book. Starting off, I thought it would be a lovely romance novel filled with adventure and excitement! Don’t get me wrong, at some parts it definitely was, but overall, it bored me.
Gabi, the main character, gets on my nerves. She’s so self-involved and her constant relating of her parents divorce to the death of Kai and Hunter’s father disgusts me. Annoyingly stuck up is how I see Gabi.
As for the rest of the characters, I loved them! Especially Hunter and Vicki…I really hope they end up getting together even though the story ended before it could have happened.
The overall plot is great. It kept me on my toes and wanting to know what happens next—to a certain extent. Deep down, I always knew Kai’s dad was dead and that nothing would be found of their journey, but at the end when Gabi and Kai came upon a man claiming to know where Kai’s dad is, I had hope. And then the whole wolf situation happened and it just seemed unnecessary and very unrealistic. That broke my excitement for the rest of the novel, but my condolences go out to Kai, Hunter and their family. At least they got the closure they need.
The writing in this novel is childish. I know it’s more of an early teen book, but there is just no substance when it comes to a great depiction of the events at hand. There was a lot of useless commentary and inner monologue from Gabi that ruined my experience. If Gabi’s character was more humble and sensible and if the story did not fly by so quickly with the exciting parts being described more, I might have enjoyed this story much more. Even that last sentence…was an anticlimactic way to end the book. I thought it was terrible and the story could have been ended in such a deeper way with much more meaning and enjoyment.
Whenever I’m With You is a story worthy of 1.8 stars. It could have been a lot better, and in this case, the poor elements outweigh the good and this is a novel that is not worth the jump at reading.
Gabi, the main character, gets on my nerves. She’s so self-involved and her constant relating of her parents divorce to the death of Kai and Hunter’s father disgusts me. Annoyingly stuck up is how I see Gabi.
As for the rest of the characters, I loved them! Especially Hunter and Vicki…I really hope they end up getting together even though the story ended before it could have happened.
The overall plot is great. It kept me on my toes and wanting to know what happens next—to a certain extent. Deep down, I always knew Kai’s dad was dead and that nothing would be found of their journey, but at the end when Gabi and Kai came upon a man claiming to know where Kai’s dad is, I had hope. And then the whole wolf situation happened and it just seemed unnecessary and very unrealistic. That broke my excitement for the rest of the novel, but my condolences go out to Kai, Hunter and their family. At least they got the closure they need.
The writing in this novel is childish. I know it’s more of an early teen book, but there is just no substance when it comes to a great depiction of the events at hand. There was a lot of useless commentary and inner monologue from Gabi that ruined my experience. If Gabi’s character was more humble and sensible and if the story did not fly by so quickly with the exciting parts being described more, I might have enjoyed this story much more. Even that last sentence…was an anticlimactic way to end the book. I thought it was terrible and the story could have been ended in such a deeper way with much more meaning and enjoyment.
Whenever I’m With You is a story worthy of 1.8 stars. It could have been a lot better, and in this case, the poor elements outweigh the good and this is a novel that is not worth the jump at reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2017
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
Despite the title and cover this is not a love story, this is a story of discovery, loss and forgiveness.
Whenever I'm with You is a drama filled book that follows a broken girl and an even more broken set of boys as they all begin to heal.
I liked this book but honestly Gabi's character for me was annoying, trivial and very selfish. Thankfully she didn't constantly say every thing out loud, but mentally she was always talking about herself and her issues. I know she cared about the boys and their need to handle the loss of their father but with her constantly whining internally about her own issues I had a hard time seeing her as anything but shallow.
I did like that it wasn't a love story as I originally thought it was going to be. I liked that each of the main characters was able to discover things about themselves and their relationships and then use those discoveries to begin to forgive themselves and those in their lives. The ridiculous number of obstacles they ran into on their journey made it very unrealistic, but it was interesting.
While I did like that Gabi changed for the better I wasn't really a fan of her instant forgiveness of her mother. We never learn exactly what Gabi said to her mom at the airport and I understand not wanting whatever it was to be the last things she ever said to her mom but her mom most certainly did not deserve her to reach out with open arms. Gabi's mom has alot a issues and not coming when her daughter is missing in the Alaskan wilderness is at the top of the list, so what if she was the one to alert them of an issue any caring parent would be there regardless of their current relationship with their child.
Overall its a quick enjoyable read.
Despite the title and cover this is not a love story, this is a story of discovery, loss and forgiveness.
Whenever I'm with You is a drama filled book that follows a broken girl and an even more broken set of boys as they all begin to heal.
I liked this book but honestly Gabi's character for me was annoying, trivial and very selfish. Thankfully she didn't constantly say every thing out loud, but mentally she was always talking about herself and her issues. I know she cared about the boys and their need to handle the loss of their father but with her constantly whining internally about her own issues I had a hard time seeing her as anything but shallow.
I did like that it wasn't a love story as I originally thought it was going to be. I liked that each of the main characters was able to discover things about themselves and their relationships and then use those discoveries to begin to forgive themselves and those in their lives. The ridiculous number of obstacles they ran into on their journey made it very unrealistic, but it was interesting.
While I did like that Gabi changed for the better I wasn't really a fan of her instant forgiveness of her mother. We never learn exactly what Gabi said to her mom at the airport and I understand not wanting whatever it was to be the last things she ever said to her mom but her mom most certainly did not deserve her to reach out with open arms. Gabi's mom has alot a issues and not coming when her daughter is missing in the Alaskan wilderness is at the top of the list, so what if she was the one to alert them of an issue any caring parent would be there regardless of their current relationship with their child.
Overall its a quick enjoyable read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2017
I don't normally write reviews but there are so many things wrong with the book. As someone who has lived in Anchorage as a transplant it is clear the author has never lived there. The saying "write what you know" is popular for a reason. The author's main character acts like living in Anchorage is for people who are poor to middle class (while she is rich and so stands out due to her wealth) and all the kids do rural things like jump in ponds, fish out their backyard, and hunt. Kids in Anchorage do those things but it's a major city with art museums, galleries, theater, malls, etc. She totally missed that because the oil and gas industry the state is very affluent and many people have lots of wealth. Seeing people with money and lots of it is fairly common.
Then she writes about Alaska Natives, which I would hazard to guess she isn't one. That is problematic on so many levels. To have main characters be Latina and Native American when you are white minimizes their stories and culture. You can't just write white characters and then label them a different nationality to make your book more diverse. It's clear she did some (although minimal) research in Native Alaskan traditions and food, but she didn't write about their feelings and understanding about those traditions (because she can't). Alaska Natives have written reviews already with the offenses and I would refer to them, because honestly it's their voice that matters the most in this matter.
Lastly her main character isn't likable. She is snobby, stuck-up, and one-dimensional. Nothing about her made me want to root for her to have a happy ending. I was so excited to YA Romance that takes place in Alaska, and was so beyond disappointed.
Then she writes about Alaska Natives, which I would hazard to guess she isn't one. That is problematic on so many levels. To have main characters be Latina and Native American when you are white minimizes their stories and culture. You can't just write white characters and then label them a different nationality to make your book more diverse. It's clear she did some (although minimal) research in Native Alaskan traditions and food, but she didn't write about their feelings and understanding about those traditions (because she can't). Alaska Natives have written reviews already with the offenses and I would refer to them, because honestly it's their voice that matters the most in this matter.
Lastly her main character isn't likable. She is snobby, stuck-up, and one-dimensional. Nothing about her made me want to root for her to have a happy ending. I was so excited to YA Romance that takes place in Alaska, and was so beyond disappointed.
September 6, 2019
I really am not sure what to say about this book. while reading, there were some points where I was like wow and there were some points where I was second-guessing my decision to read it. before reading it I looked through the reviews on this book. there was one review that stood out a lot to me.
It was about how the author used some references to the natives in Alaska and how it was offensive. and then the review talked about how the Gabi sounded very snobby and that was not a good thing. I usually read reviews to get an overview of the book. this review gave me second thoughts about the book. I agree partially with the person who wrote the review (i don't remember who exactly). Gabi's background was supposed to be like that since she grew up in that sort of environment. The rest of the characters were great.
There were some downsides to it. First of all, the book cover. The cover is great but it doesn't match the story at all. tihs tory was more full of adventure than romance. The second thing is in pg 5 to pg 6.
Not that I am enjoying the view of his lean, muscled body-all those square inches of bare skin a shade that more closely resembles his Canadian mother than his Tlingit father- but this is not the scenario in which I imagined seeing him next to naked the first time.
The bold paragraph above is an excerpt from the book on pg.5 to pg.6. this got me very confused. I didn't even know what the skin color of a Tlingit person is supposed to look like. the author should have given at least a more detailed description.
Well, these are my opinions on the book. Do not make my opinions stop you from reading this book. You may have a different or better opinion of this book than mine.
It was about how the author used some references to the natives in Alaska and how it was offensive. and then the review talked about how the Gabi sounded very snobby and that was not a good thing. I usually read reviews to get an overview of the book. this review gave me second thoughts about the book. I agree partially with the person who wrote the review (i don't remember who exactly). Gabi's background was supposed to be like that since she grew up in that sort of environment. The rest of the characters were great.
There were some downsides to it. First of all, the book cover. The cover is great but it doesn't match the story at all. tihs tory was more full of adventure than romance. The second thing is in pg 5 to pg 6.
Not that I am enjoying the view of his lean, muscled body-all those square inches of bare skin a shade that more closely resembles his Canadian mother than his Tlingit father- but this is not the scenario in which I imagined seeing him next to naked the first time.
The bold paragraph above is an excerpt from the book on pg.5 to pg.6. this got me very confused. I didn't even know what the skin color of a Tlingit person is supposed to look like. the author should have given at least a more detailed description.
Well, these are my opinions on the book. Do not make my opinions stop you from reading this book. You may have a different or better opinion of this book than mine.
September 28, 2018
The book Whenever I'm With You by Lydia Sharp is about a teen girl named Gabi Flores. Gabi moved from California to Alaska with her father because of her mother's scandalous affair, Gabi and her father kept their wealth a secret. One day Gabi met Kai, Kai was a sweet and handsome boy who never let anyone do anything for him, eventually the two of them fell in love and had been together for a couple of months. Soon after Kai was acting weird around Gabi, she wanted to know what was going on, so she tried following KAi home and by the time she got there he was completely off the grid. When reading you'll find new twists and turns though out the whole book.
I though Whenever I'm With You by Lydia Sharp was a an ok book over all. The book did keep me entertained and I loved reading through out the book but there was one or two parts of the book where it would get extremely slow; meaning it took forever to get from one point of the book to the next. After reading while reading though those sections they were boring at times but I did get through them and finish the book.
Like I said before I rated the book Whenever I'm With You by Lydia Sharp a three (meaning I liked it over all) because there were points in the book that I did not like because of how slow they were. I think a reader who enjoys romance and adventure would like this book because you discover the feelings that Kai and Gabi have for each other and you see Gabi go looking for Kai on a quest like search to find him.
I though Whenever I'm With You by Lydia Sharp was a an ok book over all. The book did keep me entertained and I loved reading through out the book but there was one or two parts of the book where it would get extremely slow; meaning it took forever to get from one point of the book to the next. After reading while reading though those sections they were boring at times but I did get through them and finish the book.
Like I said before I rated the book Whenever I'm With You by Lydia Sharp a three (meaning I liked it over all) because there were points in the book that I did not like because of how slow they were. I think a reader who enjoys romance and adventure would like this book because you discover the feelings that Kai and Gabi have for each other and you see Gabi go looking for Kai on a quest like search to find him.
November 15, 2017
Gabi's mother is a famous actress and when her parents get divorced, her father takes her to Alaska. Gabi has an unlimited credit card, and can buy anything she wants. She has a boyfriend Kai, who seems to be pulling away from her. Kai is searching for his lost father and decides to go find him in the Alaskan wilderness. With out telling anyone, he takes off. His twin brother Hunter and Gabi go after him. Gabi is no survivalist, but fortunately, Hunter knows what to do. They meet Vicki at a restaurant and she joins them in the hunt for Kai. Will they be able to solve the mystery of Kai and Hunter's dad?
Ok... I liked the premise of the book. It seems to be a hunt more for closure and acceptance for all the characters. I realize the survival aspect is an important plot point, but really, it could have been set anywhere. The author says that Hunter and Kai have a "Canadian mother and a Tlinglet father" , so what does that mean? I was wondering if that was going play a part in the story, but it really didn't. I gave it two stars because it's an ok adventure story. Romance is limited to kissing, and few curse words. There are better survivalist stories in the market if you are looking for one with more depth. Read Debbie Reese's review for the Native American view.
Ok... I liked the premise of the book. It seems to be a hunt more for closure and acceptance for all the characters. I realize the survival aspect is an important plot point, but really, it could have been set anywhere. The author says that Hunter and Kai have a "Canadian mother and a Tlinglet father" , so what does that mean? I was wondering if that was going play a part in the story, but it really didn't. I gave it two stars because it's an ok adventure story. Romance is limited to kissing, and few curse words. There are better survivalist stories in the market if you are looking for one with more depth. Read Debbie Reese's review for the Native American view.
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