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Because You'll Never Meet Me #2
Nowhere Near You
Ollie and Moritz might never meet, but their friendship knows no bounds. Their letters carry on as Ollie embarks on his first road trip away from the woods--no easy feat for a boy allergic to electricity--and Moritz decides which new school would best suit an eyeless boy who prefers to be alone. Along the way they meet other teens like them, other products of strange science who lead seemingly normal lives in ways Ollie and Moritz never imagined A boy who jokes about his atypical skeleton; an aspiring actress who hides a strange deformity; a track star whose abnormal heart propels her to victory. Suddenly the future feels wide open for two former hermits. But even as Ollie and Moritz dare to enjoy life, they can't escape their past, which threatens to destroy any progress they've made. Can these boys ever find their place in a world that might never understand them?Because You'll Never Meet MeA William C. Morris YA Debut Award finalist
419 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 7, 2017
88 people are currently reading
3647 people want to read
About the author
Leah Thomas
39 books593 followersLeah Thomas once wrote from a house in the woods, and now an apartment more or less by the sea (well, less). Her debut novel BECAUSE YOU'LL NEVER MEET ME was a 2016 Morris Award finalist, and its sequel, NOWHERE NEAR YOU, is out now from Bloomsbury. Her third YA science fiction novel, WHEN LIGHT LEFT US, hit shelves this February.
A graduate of Clarion 2010, her short fiction has appeared in Asimov’s, Black Static, Ideomancer, and Three-Lobed Burning Eye, among others. She's mostly a dork and always feels uncomfortable about author bios. If she's not writing, she's likely teaching or cosplaying. Follow her on instagram (@fellowhermit), or on tumblr (cuttoothom).
A graduate of Clarion 2010, her short fiction has appeared in Asimov’s, Black Static, Ideomancer, and Three-Lobed Burning Eye, among others. She's mostly a dork and always feels uncomfortable about author bios. If she's not writing, she's likely teaching or cosplaying. Follow her on instagram (@fellowhermit), or on tumblr (cuttoothom).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 294 reviews
March 7, 2018
will i ever stop crying about ollie paulot and moritz farber?
the answer is no.
"Together we pass for human, Oliver Paulot. Veins pulsing with lightning."
damn leah thomas knows how to pull at my heartstrings. i care about these characters so so so much and watching them grow and develop has been a privilege. honestly. where is the hype for this series? please, if you haven't read it, give it a chance!
the writing is wonderful, the characterisation is incredible and the plot got even more exciting. duuuddee i never thought the letter format would work for me, but oh boy, i bawled like a baby. i also adored all of the new characters in this- especially bridget and molly!!
... and that laST PAGE I'M STILL SCREAMING AAAAHHHH IT WAS SO !!!!!!!!!!!!!
(and please please please let there be a third book! i would give a kidney- hell, i would give both kidneys).
the answer is no.
"Together we pass for human, Oliver Paulot. Veins pulsing with lightning."
damn leah thomas knows how to pull at my heartstrings. i care about these characters so so so much and watching them grow and develop has been a privilege. honestly. where is the hype for this series? please, if you haven't read it, give it a chance!
the writing is wonderful, the characterisation is incredible and the plot got even more exciting. duuuddee i never thought the letter format would work for me, but oh boy, i bawled like a baby. i also adored all of the new characters in this- especially bridget and molly!!
... and that laST PAGE I'M STILL SCREAMING AAAAHHHH IT WAS SO !!!!!!!!!!!!!
(and please please please let there be a third book! i would give a kidney- hell, i would give both kidneys).
February 20, 2017
3.5 Stars. I didn't enjoy this as much as Book 1 but overall, I still enjoyed it. It is a sweet story and I love the focus on the awesome friendship between Ollie and Moritz.
My biggest problem with this book was that I didn't feel any excitement from reading it. I liked reading it, obviously, but when I was away from it, I just didn't really want to return to it. I had the same problem with book 1 but I feel like book 1 had a better story. The other problem I had was with Ollie. At times I just found him straight up unbearable. I know that he was going through a lot and that he was immature but I just didn't like him that much. Sometimes reading his letters bored me because of my feelings towards him. I also didn't really like anyone in his life except for Bridget. It's just a good job I loved Moritz so much. He was a sweetheart and I liked everyone in his life. Plus his story was much more engaging. I liked the Sci-fi bits in this book, I just wish we could dig a little deeper.
The writing in this book is just as good as the writing in the first one. Leah Thomas is good at writing different POV's and she's good at writing teenagers. The pacing was alright but quite slow in a lot of places.
I would recommend this series to others and I would read more by Thomas in the future.
* I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"To all the friends who won’t let me go: I don’t deserve you."
"I guess old habits are vampires, immortal and hungry to exist."
"That’d be the cherry, Moritz Farber. You’re the ultimate cherry."
"But those undead habits: for years I dodged projectiles before they could come close to hitting me."
"“Ollie, when you’ve been numb for a long while, numbness becomes a comfort. Pain is most immense right after anesthesia wears off. There’s nothing so frightening as the full weight of who you are.”"
"If you don’t feel things as they happen, those things creep up on you like a rash, and then you can’t breathe, and you just want to clutch your stomach and say, “She’s gone, she’s gone,” until the words sound like lies. Until you don’t know what you’re saying anymore, or if you’re saying it clearly, or if language can even capture being that alone."
"Maybe closure is something you only get in fiction."
My biggest problem with this book was that I didn't feel any excitement from reading it. I liked reading it, obviously, but when I was away from it, I just didn't really want to return to it. I had the same problem with book 1 but I feel like book 1 had a better story. The other problem I had was with Ollie. At times I just found him straight up unbearable. I know that he was going through a lot and that he was immature but I just didn't like him that much. Sometimes reading his letters bored me because of my feelings towards him. I also didn't really like anyone in his life except for Bridget. It's just a good job I loved Moritz so much. He was a sweetheart and I liked everyone in his life. Plus his story was much more engaging. I liked the Sci-fi bits in this book, I just wish we could dig a little deeper.
The writing in this book is just as good as the writing in the first one. Leah Thomas is good at writing different POV's and she's good at writing teenagers. The pacing was alright but quite slow in a lot of places.
I would recommend this series to others and I would read more by Thomas in the future.
* I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"To all the friends who won’t let me go: I don’t deserve you."
"I guess old habits are vampires, immortal and hungry to exist."
"That’d be the cherry, Moritz Farber. You’re the ultimate cherry."
"But those undead habits: for years I dodged projectiles before they could come close to hitting me."
"“Ollie, when you’ve been numb for a long while, numbness becomes a comfort. Pain is most immense right after anesthesia wears off. There’s nothing so frightening as the full weight of who you are.”"
"If you don’t feel things as they happen, those things creep up on you like a rash, and then you can’t breathe, and you just want to clutch your stomach and say, “She’s gone, she’s gone,” until the words sound like lies. Until you don’t know what you’re saying anymore, or if you’re saying it clearly, or if language can even capture being that alone."
"Maybe closure is something you only get in fiction."
February 9, 2017
Quite The Novel Idea ~ Words from the Clouds
In 2015 I read a very special book. A book told through letters between two boys that would probably never be able to meet. A book that some of my friends did not enjoy that much because it was marketed as Contemporary while it's actually closer to Speculative Fiction or very very soft Sci-Fi. I went into it expecting Contemporary. However, what I got was so much more. And I just went with it. I suspended my disbelief and all that jazz. Because the story just had me hooked. The characters were in my heart. And they have been since I finished that book in May 2015. I've been waiting for its follow-up, Nowhere Near You, ever since. Safe to say I had a lot of expectations, which can be dangerous, but in this case... it wasn't. Because Nowhere Near You met every single one of my expectations and went far past them. Safe to say I loved this book just as much as that first one.
Nowhere Near You continues the story of Ollie and Moritz through their letters to each other. And while the letter format doesn't always work for me, it somehow works perfectly with this book and its predecessor. While other books don't give enough developement to their characters and the story because of the format, this book actually succeeds big time on both parts. The writing is so gripping and it just hooks me instantly from the first page. Ollie's and Moritz's voice are so unique and distinct, which is SUCH a hard thing to accomplish even without the format this is written in. So major props to Leah Thomas for this. I worship at your feet. And I will beg you for another book with these characters until I have one. Who needs knees anyway?
As for the actual story... Well, what do you want me to say? I love it. I went through all the feels about a hundred times and it was flinging me back and forth and I loved every second of it. It could've have easily been boring given how long it is, but it never was to me. If anything, I craved more at the end of it. So much more. Nowhere Near You continued Ollie & Moritz's story perfectly and introduced new characters for me to love and ended so amazingly that I just... I want more. I will always want more. My heart is so full right now and I can barely contain all the feelings I'm having right now. Can you tell?
Now what can I say about the characters that I haven't said in my review of the first book? I still love them just as much. No, more actually. Ollie and Moritz keep going and being brave and strong and they lean on each other even when they're nowhere near each other. Their friendship is beautiful and it's everything. I cannot possibly describe how much I love these two. It's impossible really. They have my heart, these two. Speaking of hearts... There are a few new characters introduced in this book and I don't want to spoil anything but I do want to mention that I loved them. Arthur, Bridget and Brian in particular. So much love for you three. But also Molly and Klaus and the returning characters from the first book. I love you all and I want more time with all of you.
Honestly, I could talk about this book for ages but that would just be boring to you after a while so instead you should go read this book instead. If you haven't read the other one, Because You'll Never Meet Me, then please start with that one. And then get your hands on Nowhere Near You. Pretty please?
In 2015 I read a very special book. A book told through letters between two boys that would probably never be able to meet. A book that some of my friends did not enjoy that much because it was marketed as Contemporary while it's actually closer to Speculative Fiction or very very soft Sci-Fi. I went into it expecting Contemporary. However, what I got was so much more. And I just went with it. I suspended my disbelief and all that jazz. Because the story just had me hooked. The characters were in my heart. And they have been since I finished that book in May 2015. I've been waiting for its follow-up, Nowhere Near You, ever since. Safe to say I had a lot of expectations, which can be dangerous, but in this case... it wasn't. Because Nowhere Near You met every single one of my expectations and went far past them. Safe to say I loved this book just as much as that first one.
Nowhere Near You continues the story of Ollie and Moritz through their letters to each other. And while the letter format doesn't always work for me, it somehow works perfectly with this book and its predecessor. While other books don't give enough developement to their characters and the story because of the format, this book actually succeeds big time on both parts. The writing is so gripping and it just hooks me instantly from the first page. Ollie's and Moritz's voice are so unique and distinct, which is SUCH a hard thing to accomplish even without the format this is written in. So major props to Leah Thomas for this. I worship at your feet. And I will beg you for another book with these characters until I have one. Who needs knees anyway?
As for the actual story... Well, what do you want me to say? I love it. I went through all the feels about a hundred times and it was flinging me back and forth and I loved every second of it. It could've have easily been boring given how long it is, but it never was to me. If anything, I craved more at the end of it. So much more. Nowhere Near You continued Ollie & Moritz's story perfectly and introduced new characters for me to love and ended so amazingly that I just... I want more. I will always want more. My heart is so full right now and I can barely contain all the feelings I'm having right now. Can you tell?
Now what can I say about the characters that I haven't said in my review of the first book? I still love them just as much. No, more actually. Ollie and Moritz keep going and being brave and strong and they lean on each other even when they're nowhere near each other. Their friendship is beautiful and it's everything. I cannot possibly describe how much I love these two. It's impossible really. They have my heart, these two. Speaking of hearts... There are a few new characters introduced in this book and I don't want to spoil anything but I do want to mention that I loved them. Arthur, Bridget and Brian in particular. So much love for you three. But also Molly and Klaus and the returning characters from the first book. I love you all and I want more time with all of you.
Honestly, I could talk about this book for ages but that would just be boring to you after a while so instead you should go read this book instead. If you haven't read the other one, Because You'll Never Meet Me, then please start with that one. And then get your hands on Nowhere Near You. Pretty please?
May 2, 2017
Trigger warnings: attempted rape.
I was THRILLED when I saw that this book was coming out. Like, Because You'll Never Meet Me *could* have been a standalone, but it also could have been the start of a series, and I love Ollie and Moritz to death so obviously I nearly died of excitement when I saw that a sequel was coming out.
As it was, this was...darker and sadder than I anticipated. Moritz is struggling with Real Life Shit (including ). Ollie's struggling to adapt to life on the outside and meeting other kids and realising that not everyone is as enthusiastic about the world as he is.
Bridget was such a heartbreakingly wonderful character. I loved her, and I had a lot of feels about whatever the heck was going on between her and Brian. Her story was definitely the highlight here for me.
The ending gave me all of the feels, but I also wanted there to be, like, two or three more chapters. Because while the ending was great, I also wanted answers to a few more things that we didn't get, and ARGH.
So yeah. I didn't love it QUITE as much as I loved the first one. But I still really really liked it...
I was THRILLED when I saw that this book was coming out. Like, Because You'll Never Meet Me *could* have been a standalone, but it also could have been the start of a series, and I love Ollie and Moritz to death so obviously I nearly died of excitement when I saw that a sequel was coming out.
As it was, this was...darker and sadder than I anticipated. Moritz is struggling with Real Life Shit (including ). Ollie's struggling to adapt to life on the outside and meeting other kids and realising that not everyone is as enthusiastic about the world as he is.
Bridget was such a heartbreakingly wonderful character. I loved her, and I had a lot of feels about whatever the heck was going on between her and Brian. Her story was definitely the highlight here for me.
The ending gave me all of the feels, but I also wanted there to be, like, two or three more chapters. Because while the ending was great, I also wanted answers to a few more things that we didn't get, and ARGH.
So yeah. I didn't love it QUITE as much as I loved the first one. But I still really really liked it...
March 18, 2017
5 Beanie Guy and dolphinmo stars!
We will find her!
(On second thoughts, we did find her. :-/ Never mind; I just had to be a part of the mob that I worship. Their anthem is my own ;))
Nowhere Near You, sequel to Because You’ll Never Meet Me, by Leah Thomas, tells the tale of two Blunderkinders (I hate to call them that, Specialkinders would be more apt) who have taken it on themselves to get out of their boundaries and find a place for themselves in the world.
I’m not going to narrate much about the book, as that is something Leah Thomas does best.
Rather, I would speak of what this book taught me.
There will/ has been a stage in a person’s life when he/she is suddenly exposed to what people call, the real world. At one point, it seems impossible. Living all your life in a cocoon of your own making, walking with feet, wobbly, unsteady because what if you are caught in some treachery? What if you fell and kept falling and your feet crave for the ground that never comes, for the hand that never arrives to pull you up?
Contrary to this storm inside, life demands to go on. People will expect you to head out and live.
So you take the chance, reducing all those wary uncertainties inside your head to a mumbling. Struggling, filling the void with exultant thoughts, full of hope. Optimism.
But the paradigm on which reality is based suffers a major flaw. The pathos of going through life can only be felt when you’ve walked through the dense canopies that lay ahead of you. Whether you bleed and make your own way or you get lost on the way is your own calling.
However, it never ends without lessons learnt. Survival, even in the impossibility of the world. Even on a lost track, the indomitability of the spirit can break through the desolation. Added to that, the company of someone who somewhat, mirrors your soul, who speaks the same verbatim as yours, who makes you live like there is no tomorrow is comparable to a blessing in disguise.
This is what Ollie and Mo stand for. An epitome of friendship, they go through hidden inscrutabilities of the universe together, even if that meant that they are close to being crippled. Even if that seized them to death or shoved them into an infinite abyss of complicated relationships- they knew they had each other.
Also, some of the side characters blew my mind away.
Bridget. People who have given in to escapism in their lives even once, will know what she means. She is a living allegory. Overwhelming situations,expectations, emotions that you are new to.. when every chaos adds to your nightmarish anxiety.. the only route that seems plausible is that of running away, dodging yourself, surrendering to darkness, never giving in to your heart and all that it made you go through. Hers was one character I felt through and through, in all dimensions.
Molly. Ongoing turmoil in her head, with each second of her existence. Some days when you’re at your worst, the negativity screeches from the background lapsing into reality, shadowing every nook, every corner. Imagine waking up to those screams everyday, pulling you back with the smallest step you take ahead. Imagine still holding you head high, and facing a crowd with the incessant churning of disapproval inside your own head. Imagine still making the crowd applaud.
Told you, these are Specialkinders, superior to Homosapiens in a hundred ways unfathomable.
So, fellow hermits of Glockenspiel, I hope I could tell you about this book of magic that filled me with courage and hope and love. That told me how every risk is worth a try, because you’ve not lived it until you’ve tried it. That told me of the miracle that is life which makes you meet amazing people like Ollie and Mo.
Even if they’ll never meet me.
Even if they’re nowhere near me.
5 flawless stars!
P.S. Again thanks to Numey and Purvika for pulling me in to read with them, for being my Geborgenheit, for being some of the best people in my world. :)
We will find her!
(On second thoughts, we did find her. :-/ Never mind; I just had to be a part of the mob that I worship. Their anthem is my own ;))
Nowhere Near You, sequel to Because You’ll Never Meet Me, by Leah Thomas, tells the tale of two Blunderkinders (I hate to call them that, Specialkinders would be more apt) who have taken it on themselves to get out of their boundaries and find a place for themselves in the world.
I’m not going to narrate much about the book, as that is something Leah Thomas does best.
Rather, I would speak of what this book taught me.
There will/ has been a stage in a person’s life when he/she is suddenly exposed to what people call, the real world. At one point, it seems impossible. Living all your life in a cocoon of your own making, walking with feet, wobbly, unsteady because what if you are caught in some treachery? What if you fell and kept falling and your feet crave for the ground that never comes, for the hand that never arrives to pull you up?
Contrary to this storm inside, life demands to go on. People will expect you to head out and live.
So you take the chance, reducing all those wary uncertainties inside your head to a mumbling. Struggling, filling the void with exultant thoughts, full of hope. Optimism.
But the paradigm on which reality is based suffers a major flaw. The pathos of going through life can only be felt when you’ve walked through the dense canopies that lay ahead of you. Whether you bleed and make your own way or you get lost on the way is your own calling.
However, it never ends without lessons learnt. Survival, even in the impossibility of the world. Even on a lost track, the indomitability of the spirit can break through the desolation. Added to that, the company of someone who somewhat, mirrors your soul, who speaks the same verbatim as yours, who makes you live like there is no tomorrow is comparable to a blessing in disguise.
This is what Ollie and Mo stand for. An epitome of friendship, they go through hidden inscrutabilities of the universe together, even if that meant that they are close to being crippled. Even if that seized them to death or shoved them into an infinite abyss of complicated relationships- they knew they had each other.
Also, some of the side characters blew my mind away.
Bridget. People who have given in to escapism in their lives even once, will know what she means. She is a living allegory. Overwhelming situations,expectations, emotions that you are new to.. when every chaos adds to your nightmarish anxiety.. the only route that seems plausible is that of running away, dodging yourself, surrendering to darkness, never giving in to your heart and all that it made you go through. Hers was one character I felt through and through, in all dimensions.
Molly. Ongoing turmoil in her head, with each second of her existence. Some days when you’re at your worst, the negativity screeches from the background lapsing into reality, shadowing every nook, every corner. Imagine waking up to those screams everyday, pulling you back with the smallest step you take ahead. Imagine still holding you head high, and facing a crowd with the incessant churning of disapproval inside your own head. Imagine still making the crowd applaud.
Told you, these are Specialkinders, superior to Homosapiens in a hundred ways unfathomable.
So, fellow hermits of Glockenspiel, I hope I could tell you about this book of magic that filled me with courage and hope and love. That told me how every risk is worth a try, because you’ve not lived it until you’ve tried it. That told me of the miracle that is life which makes you meet amazing people like Ollie and Mo.
Even if they’ll never meet me.
Even if they’re nowhere near me.
5 flawless stars!
P.S. Again thanks to Numey and Purvika for pulling me in to read with them, for being my Geborgenheit, for being some of the best people in my world. :)
October 6, 2023
I breathed in through my nose. Thought of your video to the masses. Thought of the womble you sent me. Thought of you calling me good. Thought of you, just you-
Galley provided by publisher
Rep: blind mc, gay mcs
Because You'll Never Meet Me is one of my favourite books, and I was all set for it to be a standalone, for Moritz and Ollie never to have contact beyond letters, for there to be a maybe less-than-satisfactory conclusion to their story. And then there came this.
If the first book was good, then this one was great. Everything steps up a notch, with Ollie out in the world for the first time, and Moritz also, in his own way. At the same time, almost every page I read made me want to cry. There's Ollie keeping secrets and how he feels from Moritz, trying to make his letters upbeat. There's Moritz having trouble with his boyfriend, and moving to a new school. Basically, I was a mess.
As per the first book, both Ollie and Moritz are amazing characters, but I loved seeing more of the "Blunderkids", as Ollie takes to calling them. As a supporting cast, they were amazing. Molly had to be my favourite (her and Klaus was so great, I loved them), but Bridget and Arthur followed close behind.
I read this while I should have instead been doing reading for an essay, and every time I finished a chapter I thought to myself, maybe I should start that instead. But the lure of the next chapter was too much and I inevitably continued reading. It's one of those books, one that you don't want to put down because each chapter solves one mystery but reveals another and you just want to know exactly what's going on. And also whether Moritz and Ollie will actually get to meet. (And whether Auburn-Stache will actually tell Ollie the truth and stop hurting him by not.)
Long(ish) story short, this is probably one of the best books I've read this year.
February 10, 2017
I received a free digital copy from the author/publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest feedback.
In Nowhere Near You, Ollie and Moritz - two boys who are both living with strange disabilities meaning they can never meet - continue on with the journey they started in Because You’ll Never Meet Me.
I don’t want to say too much about this book as I wouldn’t want to spoil the wonderfulness that is the first book Because You’ll Never Meet Me but I can say this book was just as fantastic as the first. I actually think Nowhere Near You will appeal to people who like Ransom Rigg’s Miss Peregrine’s trilogy as the reader gets to meet more children like Moritz and Ollie with all sorts of strange and wonderful oddities and/or disabilities.
Ollie and Moritz’s connection continued in this book and even got stronger at times with the two of them continuing to talk about personal things and even broaching tough topics with each other but all the time respecting each other which I loved. They are the bromance to covet, while at the same time you kind of ship them at the same time.
They both went through some incredible character development in this book, particularly Moritz. He was always so sombre and collected and he really came out of his shell in this book. I mean he did acting classes! I also loved the way his echolocation began to mature and transformed into “emolocation” as well. I think if there’s a next book it would be great to see how he controls this. One of the things I disliked about this book was Moritz’s friendship with Fieke and Owen. I always found it odd, even in the first book, the way they would regularly drop off the fact of the planet - normally when Moritz needed them. And while I understand Moritz didn’t treat Owen the best, there was a lot of confusion going around about the whole thing and I just felt they weren’t really ‘friends’ to him (and of course, they reappeared at the end so are back in the good books). I loved Klaus and Molly though, particularly Klaus.
Ollie’s own journey was both difficult and wonderful to follow as he literally entered a whole new world - adventuring into the world of electricity and power for the first time. I thought his time at real school was endearing and hilarious and of course, he’s Ollie so everyone loved hm.
The ending made me want to weep with a mixture of happiness and sadness. It was bittersweet and I just hope Leah Thomas gives us a third book as I am so not done with Ollie and Moritz right now.
In Nowhere Near You, Ollie and Moritz - two boys who are both living with strange disabilities meaning they can never meet - continue on with the journey they started in Because You’ll Never Meet Me.
I don’t want to say too much about this book as I wouldn’t want to spoil the wonderfulness that is the first book Because You’ll Never Meet Me but I can say this book was just as fantastic as the first. I actually think Nowhere Near You will appeal to people who like Ransom Rigg’s Miss Peregrine’s trilogy as the reader gets to meet more children like Moritz and Ollie with all sorts of strange and wonderful oddities and/or disabilities.
Ollie and Moritz’s connection continued in this book and even got stronger at times with the two of them continuing to talk about personal things and even broaching tough topics with each other but all the time respecting each other which I loved. They are the bromance to covet, while at the same time you kind of ship them at the same time.
They both went through some incredible character development in this book, particularly Moritz. He was always so sombre and collected and he really came out of his shell in this book. I mean he did acting classes! I also loved the way his echolocation began to mature and transformed into “emolocation” as well. I think if there’s a next book it would be great to see how he controls this. One of the things I disliked about this book was Moritz’s friendship with Fieke and Owen. I always found it odd, even in the first book, the way they would regularly drop off the fact of the planet - normally when Moritz needed them. And while I understand Moritz didn’t treat Owen the best, there was a lot of confusion going around about the whole thing and I just felt they weren’t really ‘friends’ to him (and of course, they reappeared at the end so are back in the good books). I loved Klaus and Molly though, particularly Klaus.
Ollie’s own journey was both difficult and wonderful to follow as he literally entered a whole new world - adventuring into the world of electricity and power for the first time. I thought his time at real school was endearing and hilarious and of course, he’s Ollie so everyone loved hm.
The ending made me want to weep with a mixture of happiness and sadness. It was bittersweet and I just hope Leah Thomas gives us a third book as I am so not done with Ollie and Moritz right now.
April 2, 2017
That ending! Surely we're deserving of a third book.
Because You'll Never Meet Me was extraordinary and Nowhere Near You is no exception. The narrative begins with Oliver exploring his new environment beyond the woodland cabin, impatient and enthusiastic to be introduced to his peers. Oliver is exuberant and his positivity is infectious. He's determined to engage with other teens that were part of the scientific program and capture their own personal experiences. Arthur with fragile bones and elongated limbs, can regenerate the healing process and Bridget, a young woman who's childhood was depleted by the foster care system. These special adolescents are remarkable, leaving their imprints on Oliver by sharing their own personal journeys.
Moritz is on the verge of his maiden year at Myriad, a performing arts college for gifted children and continuing to appreciate Oliver's unconditional support. Moritz's character has developed into a confident and assertive young gay man. He no longer conceals his sexuality and is exploring same sex relationships. Moritz is indecently assaulted at Myriad and manipulated by a notorious student which seemed to be normalised by other students, rather than addressing the incident and speaking about consent. The reader is reintroduced to Molly, who also attends the performing arts college and Owen, who a gentle and passionate boy wanting to pursue a relationship with Moritz.
Leah Thomas is a wonderful storyteller. Although Nowhere Near You doesn't conjure feelings of intensity as it's predecessor, it's quiet, captivating and enchanting.
Because You'll Never Meet Me was extraordinary and Nowhere Near You is no exception. The narrative begins with Oliver exploring his new environment beyond the woodland cabin, impatient and enthusiastic to be introduced to his peers. Oliver is exuberant and his positivity is infectious. He's determined to engage with other teens that were part of the scientific program and capture their own personal experiences. Arthur with fragile bones and elongated limbs, can regenerate the healing process and Bridget, a young woman who's childhood was depleted by the foster care system. These special adolescents are remarkable, leaving their imprints on Oliver by sharing their own personal journeys.
Moritz is on the verge of his maiden year at Myriad, a performing arts college for gifted children and continuing to appreciate Oliver's unconditional support. Moritz's character has developed into a confident and assertive young gay man. He no longer conceals his sexuality and is exploring same sex relationships. Moritz is indecently assaulted at Myriad and manipulated by a notorious student which seemed to be normalised by other students, rather than addressing the incident and speaking about consent. The reader is reintroduced to Molly, who also attends the performing arts college and Owen, who a gentle and passionate boy wanting to pursue a relationship with Moritz.
Leah Thomas is a wonderful storyteller. Although Nowhere Near You doesn't conjure feelings of intensity as it's predecessor, it's quiet, captivating and enchanting.
May 10, 2021
Kitap iyiydi de kurgunun bu şekilde uzatılmasına gerek var mıydı bilmiyorum. İlk kitabın sonu güzelce toparlanıp olay tek kitapta bitseydi keşke diye düşündüm hep okurken. Konu uzatılıp, bir sürü dramatik olay eklenince ilk kitabın etkisi azaldı gözümde 😑
March 3, 2017
*ARC provided by Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review*
"Beyond parks are often graveyards."
This was the second book I've ever read by Leah and... it might be my last. Not because it wasn't for me, but because it tore into me with a ferocity that I haven't felt in a long, long time. It reduced me to a hollow shell of the human being I used to be. That quote above most definitely captures what I'm feeling. Desolate and forgotten. I experienced one of the worst emotional roller coasters ever with this book and I don't think I have it in me to go through this again. I felt like I was suffocating with every word since it was so hard to swallow them. Hopefully this review gives this masterpiece the praise it deserves because in my mind, it deserves every single one in the book.
"Don't tell me fiction is fruitless, Moritz. Sometimes it's the only escape we got."
For those of you who don't know this already, this is a sequel to Because You'll Never Meet Me. It continues to tell the story of two of the most unique (and phenomenal) characters I've ever read about. Ollie and Moritz are not your typical pen-pals and this story is told only through the letters they send each other. The last book left us in such a cliffhanger that I was hoping would happens so this sequel was one of my most anticipated sequels ever. If I would've known how shattered I would be at the end of it all, I might have put it off longer. I was still treasuring every word through out the month it took me to read it but it wasn't long enough for me.
"There's nothing so frightening as the full weight of who you are."
This book was inundated with beautiful and mind-blowing quotes which is why I couldn't just choose one to feature. Revisiting these characters was everything I knew it would be, plus everything I didn't. My heart was completely stolen by Ollie and Moritz by the end of book 1, so it was astounding to witness as they managed to steal it a second time around. Ollie's optimism and ridiculous humor was the light of my life until it dimmed. Moritz' pain was my own until he learned to accept it and work to end it. These two made my maternal instincts go haywire; I was utterly protective of them which backfired on me. I had to witness life throw some horrible things their way without any way of helping them shoulder the pain. I felt useless and I wanted it all to stop, but Leah only enhanced it, breaking me even more. These two have come so far from book 1 that my heart was unbelievably heavy with pride whenever they learned new things about themselves and how to navigate the world around them. To think, that their lives are just beginning and they've already experienced so much... It was a tough thought to wrap my mind around. I absolutely loved seeing the world through Ollie's fresh and untrained eyes. It enabled me to change my perspective over the smallest of things; So not only did Leah give me stunning characters to meet, but she also made me learn things about myself.
Speaking of main characters, they aren't the only ones we meet. The side characters that Ollie and Moritz meet throughout their journey are as memorable as the two of them. They easily crawled into my heart where there will always be a special place for them. I was 100% invested in all of their lives and they all ripped ugly sobs from me with their life stories.
"Sometimes we only have delusions and sometimes that's better than remembering."
There is another quote that captivated my entire being but I won't write it down here because it has the potential of being a spoiler, if you look hard enough. So I'll just tell you, that I will definitely be getting a tattoo that represents said quote.
This book has torn me apart in every way possible which by doing so, it gave me an experience I will never forget. It deserves to be in so many more bookshelves, and hearts, so I will make sure to help with that. This book was raw, heavy, and most of all, uplifting at the most dire of moments. This was 400 pages of glorious heartbreak. It had the most beautiful ending, but being the greedy person that I am, it ended too soon. This book is utterly precious to me and it has become one of my absolute favorite reads of ALL TIME.
10/5 stars.
"Beyond parks are often graveyards."
This was the second book I've ever read by Leah and... it might be my last. Not because it wasn't for me, but because it tore into me with a ferocity that I haven't felt in a long, long time. It reduced me to a hollow shell of the human being I used to be. That quote above most definitely captures what I'm feeling. Desolate and forgotten. I experienced one of the worst emotional roller coasters ever with this book and I don't think I have it in me to go through this again. I felt like I was suffocating with every word since it was so hard to swallow them. Hopefully this review gives this masterpiece the praise it deserves because in my mind, it deserves every single one in the book.
"Don't tell me fiction is fruitless, Moritz. Sometimes it's the only escape we got."
For those of you who don't know this already, this is a sequel to Because You'll Never Meet Me. It continues to tell the story of two of the most unique (and phenomenal) characters I've ever read about. Ollie and Moritz are not your typical pen-pals and this story is told only through the letters they send each other. The last book left us in such a cliffhanger that I was hoping would happens so this sequel was one of my most anticipated sequels ever. If I would've known how shattered I would be at the end of it all, I might have put it off longer. I was still treasuring every word through out the month it took me to read it but it wasn't long enough for me.
"There's nothing so frightening as the full weight of who you are."
This book was inundated with beautiful and mind-blowing quotes which is why I couldn't just choose one to feature. Revisiting these characters was everything I knew it would be, plus everything I didn't. My heart was completely stolen by Ollie and Moritz by the end of book 1, so it was astounding to witness as they managed to steal it a second time around. Ollie's optimism and ridiculous humor was the light of my life until it dimmed. Moritz' pain was my own until he learned to accept it and work to end it. These two made my maternal instincts go haywire; I was utterly protective of them which backfired on me. I had to witness life throw some horrible things their way without any way of helping them shoulder the pain. I felt useless and I wanted it all to stop, but Leah only enhanced it, breaking me even more. These two have come so far from book 1 that my heart was unbelievably heavy with pride whenever they learned new things about themselves and how to navigate the world around them. To think, that their lives are just beginning and they've already experienced so much... It was a tough thought to wrap my mind around. I absolutely loved seeing the world through Ollie's fresh and untrained eyes. It enabled me to change my perspective over the smallest of things; So not only did Leah give me stunning characters to meet, but she also made me learn things about myself.
Speaking of main characters, they aren't the only ones we meet. The side characters that Ollie and Moritz meet throughout their journey are as memorable as the two of them. They easily crawled into my heart where there will always be a special place for them. I was 100% invested in all of their lives and they all ripped ugly sobs from me with their life stories.
"Sometimes we only have delusions and sometimes that's better than remembering."
There is another quote that captivated my entire being but I won't write it down here because it has the potential of being a spoiler, if you look hard enough. So I'll just tell you, that I will definitely be getting a tattoo that represents said quote.
This book has torn me apart in every way possible which by doing so, it gave me an experience I will never forget. It deserves to be in so many more bookshelves, and hearts, so I will make sure to help with that. This book was raw, heavy, and most of all, uplifting at the most dire of moments. This was 400 pages of glorious heartbreak. It had the most beautiful ending, but being the greedy person that I am, it ended too soon. This book is utterly precious to me and it has become one of my absolute favorite reads of ALL TIME.
10/5 stars.
April 7, 2017
This is not science fiction.
August 11, 2016
I had the privilege of reading this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy, and, wow, am I happy I did.
If I had to choose the one thing that makes me love a book, it would be its ability to make me feel. And this book summoned that giddy feeling I sometimes get in my abdomen and left me crying not tears of sadness exactly, but tears of emotion. I was initially blown away by Leah Thomas’s Because You’ll Never Meet Me over a year ago, and was wonderfully shocked to see it had a sequel. It did not disappoint. I will leave the plot description to the book’s blurb, but will say I would follow Ollie and Moritz anywhere.
I sure hope there is a third book in the future.
If I had to choose the one thing that makes me love a book, it would be its ability to make me feel. And this book summoned that giddy feeling I sometimes get in my abdomen and left me crying not tears of sadness exactly, but tears of emotion. I was initially blown away by Leah Thomas’s Because You’ll Never Meet Me over a year ago, and was wonderfully shocked to see it had a sequel. It did not disappoint. I will leave the plot description to the book’s blurb, but will say I would follow Ollie and Moritz anywhere.
I sure hope there is a third book in the future.
May 25, 2022
Definitely not ok after this one. So many feelings, too much caring, not enough love.
This books was somewhat faster than the first book, regarding storyline because we get to move outside the safe perimeter our characters have set up, but at the same time sometimes it felt a bit slow when one of them went silent for a long time.
But yeah, going to need some time to think this over. I love them both.
This books was somewhat faster than the first book, regarding storyline because we get to move outside the safe perimeter our characters have set up, but at the same time sometimes it felt a bit slow when one of them went silent for a long time.
But yeah, going to need some time to think this over. I love them both.
November 14, 2016
I am sorry, but this book is not for me. Maybe because I haven't read the first one, maybe because I couldn't care for the characters or the plot, maybe because language alternated between pompous and what-not depending on the character who was narrating, but one quarter into the book and I coukdn't keep reading.
February 14, 2017
ACTUAL TEARS
THIS BOOK MAN
THIS BOOK
IT'S SO GOOD
I COULD READ A THIRD BOOK
AND A FOURTH
AND TEN MORE
THESE CHARACTERS ARE SO GREAT
EVERYTHING IS GREAT
THIS.
BOOK.
MAN.
YES.
THIS BOOK MAN
THIS BOOK
IT'S SO GOOD
I COULD READ A THIRD BOOK
AND A FOURTH
AND TEN MORE
THESE CHARACTERS ARE SO GREAT
EVERYTHING IS GREAT
THIS.
BOOK.
MAN.
YES.
June 14, 2017
Rating: 3.0/5.0
I feel the first book had better atmosphere than this sequel. The sequel turns the dark story into a lighter science fiction where we get more weird characters like a girl who can take her heart out of her chest or a guy whose bones can regenerate etc.. The same problems I had with the first book are still present here. The format of the book is really confusing specially now that there are more characters. You just forget at some point who is talking, who is being addressed and who is engaged in a conversation. I did not like that. It made the book very confusing and the reading more complicated.
This book reveals in the last few chapters a secret about Oliver's condition and the main reason why he was kept in isolation in the woods but I feel the ending (Last chapter) was very rushed and could have been elaborated more while other parts of the book reduced. Of course unless the author is planning a third book in the series to expand the events that happen after the last chapter. Although the book was OK (Not better than the first) I don't find myself having the desire to continue with this series if there is a third book.
I have won a free copy of this book after participating in a giveaway.
I feel the first book had better atmosphere than this sequel. The sequel turns the dark story into a lighter science fiction where we get more weird characters like a girl who can take her heart out of her chest or a guy whose bones can regenerate etc.. The same problems I had with the first book are still present here. The format of the book is really confusing specially now that there are more characters. You just forget at some point who is talking, who is being addressed and who is engaged in a conversation. I did not like that. It made the book very confusing and the reading more complicated.
This book reveals in the last few chapters a secret about Oliver's condition and the main reason why he was kept in isolation in the woods but I feel the ending (Last chapter) was very rushed and could have been elaborated more while other parts of the book reduced. Of course unless the author is planning a third book in the series to expand the events that happen after the last chapter. Although the book was OK (Not better than the first) I don't find myself having the desire to continue with this series if there is a third book.
I have won a free copy of this book after participating in a giveaway.
February 23, 2017
I honestly almost gave up on this book at the beginning. It was so different from the first one and so disappointing that I almost DNF'd it! But I am so glad I pushed through it, because half way through everything became so much better!
Thank God for Briget's character! I absolutely loved her story! The moment she was introduced everything got more interesting! And even Ollie who I found annoying at the start redeemed himself and I just loved him all over again!
Bottom line: Except for the slow begging it was sooo worth the read in the end for sure! I ended up LOVING IT!
Thank God for Briget's character! I absolutely loved her story! The moment she was introduced everything got more interesting! And even Ollie who I found annoying at the start redeemed himself and I just loved him all over again!
Bottom line: Except for the slow begging it was sooo worth the read in the end for sure! I ended up LOVING IT!
July 22, 2016
I FINISHED AND I'M ALIVE.
I am honored to be the first one on Goodreads to have read and posted about this book. If I'm the first person on the planet to have read this ARC, I will die happily.
Okay, I can't really review this book right now, but I thought I'd just say my feelings! Feelings are abounding right now, I loved this book a ton. It did live up to the first one. Just so many feelings. So many feelings. I need a third book though, I need more.
It's so lovely.
I am honored to be the first one on Goodreads to have read and posted about this book. If I'm the first person on the planet to have read this ARC, I will die happily.
Okay, I can't really review this book right now, but I thought I'd just say my feelings! Feelings are abounding right now, I loved this book a ton. It did live up to the first one. Just so many feelings. So many feelings. I need a third book though, I need more.
It's so lovely.
Want to read
January 3, 2020Omg!! How did I not know that there was a sequel to Because You'll Never Meet Me?!!! I loved that book, so it's really great that there's one more book of Ollie and Moritz! And the blurb is so exciting!! Also, it's getting published next year, on my birthday!! Eeeps!! Can't wait to get the copy of this book!! <3
November 18, 2017
How are there so few reviews? This book made me feel SO DANG MANY EMOTIONS. I can't recommend it to enough people. Read it!
June 3, 2021
4.5/5
Ben bu seriyi seviyorum, gerçekten çok seviyorum ama sürekli kötü şeyler, kaos, dram, daha çok dram, acı çekme gibi olaylar olduğu ve saniyelik olarak mutluluklar yaşayabildiğimiz için bir miktar okurken psikolojimi bozduğunu düşünüyorum. Küçük çocukların başına gelen bu kadar üzüntüyü kaldıramıyorum. İlk kitabı ilk okumamda saatlerce ağlamıştım ve psikolojik olarak berbat bir hale gelmiştim. Ama bu demek değildir ki herkes benim gibi düşünecek. O kadar da üzücü olmadığını düşünen çok kişi olabilir.
Artı olarak kitaplarda depresyonun çok iyi bir şekilde yansıtıldığını düşünüyorum. Ve bununla edilen mücadelenin de.
Son olarak kitaptaki her çocuk (acımasız olmayan her çocuk) ve arkadaşlıklar çok ama çok güzeldi. Hepsini yine evladım olarak görüp bağrıma bastım okuduğum süre boyunca.
Ben bu seriyi seviyorum, gerçekten çok seviyorum ama sürekli kötü şeyler, kaos, dram, daha çok dram, acı çekme gibi olaylar olduğu ve saniyelik olarak mutluluklar yaşayabildiğimiz için bir miktar okurken psikolojimi bozduğunu düşünüyorum. Küçük çocukların başına gelen bu kadar üzüntüyü kaldıramıyorum. İlk kitabı ilk okumamda saatlerce ağlamıştım ve psikolojik olarak berbat bir hale gelmiştim. Ama bu demek değildir ki herkes benim gibi düşünecek. O kadar da üzücü olmadığını düşünen çok kişi olabilir.
Artı olarak kitaplarda depresyonun çok iyi bir şekilde yansıtıldığını düşünüyorum. Ve bununla edilen mücadelenin de.
Son olarak kitaptaki her çocuk (acımasız olmayan her çocuk) ve arkadaşlıklar çok ama çok güzeldi. Hepsini yine evladım olarak görüp bağrıma bastım okuduğum süre boyunca.
August 14, 2022
Is there a third book?
Why do I feel like there's a 3rd book?
Anyways, the Ollie's are always my favourites.
There's just something about people who choose to not be bitter, who deny the world everytime it tries to bring them down.
Good story, this book was a bit rushed on the plot. But besides Moritz being super clingy, the characters develope nicely. They allow you to love them.
Made me want to write more letters.
I guess that's all I have to say.
Why do I feel like there's a 3rd book?
Anyways, the Ollie's are always my favourites.
There's just something about people who choose to not be bitter, who deny the world everytime it tries to bring them down.
Good story, this book was a bit rushed on the plot. But besides Moritz being super clingy, the characters develope nicely. They allow you to love them.
Made me want to write more letters.
I guess that's all I have to say.
Read
October 11, 2022JE VOUS L'AVAIS DIT QUE JE LE FINIRAIS EN FIN DE SEMAINE 🤪
March 26, 2017
I'm rating this 6/5. Now will this author write us a fluffing third book or is she going to leave me hanging?!
September 19, 2017
A copy of this novel was provided by Bloomsbury Australia for review.
How do I even begin to talk about this book that I love so much? When I read Because You’ll Never Meet Me for the first time, I rated it four stars. I loved a lot about the book, mostly the two boys. Because it had been so long since I read the first book I decided to re-read it in preparation for Nowhere Near You. And I rated it five stars the second time because I just love that book a lot? And Ollie and Moritz were somehow even more special the second time around? Because You’ll Never Meet Me seriously cemented itself as one of my all time favourite books upon the second reading.
And then when it came time to read Nowhere Near You afterwards, there was a slight feeling of wariness on my behalf because I had just discovered that these boys mean so much to me, and we all know that second books can be not-so-great. Well, I can honestly say that Nowhere Near You was just as good as its predecessor. The tone was still the same, the boys were just as special and lovable, and everything was perfect.
Nowhere Near You is quite different to Because You’ll Never Meet Me because Ollie is out in the world (!!!) and Mo is attending a new school. I thought I wouldn’t like this, because so much of the first book’s beauty was in the fact that the boys were such outcasts and found friendship and love in each other. But this didn’t change. Even though they grew as people, their friendship stayed the same, and they were still each other’s ~person~.
The themes in Nowhere Near You were quite a bit darker than Because You’ll Never Meet Me, but I was okay with that. The boys were learning new things about themselves, and about the people around them, about the world, and about the lab where they were subject to terrible things. If anything these darker elements made me want for their happiness even more than I had before, which should have been impossible.
Moritz’s love for Ollie is hands down my favourite aspect of this series. It broke my heart when, relatively early on, Ollie asks Moritz to stop talking about how much he loves him. I was in actual pain. I don’t want to give too much away in terms of what happens regarding this but I can say that I was extremely happy and that if people don’t see it then they are erasing identities because yes.
I honestly and truly and wholeheartedly need a third book in this series. I cannot live without more Ollie and Moritz. There were so many questions left unanswered, and I need to know how everything pans out. I want more from my boys. I want more of their happiness, and their love, and them growing up. I sincerely hope this isn’t the last I am going to see of them because they mean a helluva lot to me (they feel so real. So very real).
If this review hasn’t convinced you to read this series then I am not doing my job very well. Because you should read this series. You need to read this series.
© 2017, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.
trigger warning: reference to death of mother (via cancer), death of a friend (via cancer), reference to bullying, reference to attempted drowning, forced drug use, attempted sexual assault, bus crash (no deaths, only injuries), physical assault, use of ableist language, and depictions of anatomy (external heart) in this novel
How do I even begin to talk about this book that I love so much? When I read Because You’ll Never Meet Me for the first time, I rated it four stars. I loved a lot about the book, mostly the two boys. Because it had been so long since I read the first book I decided to re-read it in preparation for Nowhere Near You. And I rated it five stars the second time because I just love that book a lot? And Ollie and Moritz were somehow even more special the second time around? Because You’ll Never Meet Me seriously cemented itself as one of my all time favourite books upon the second reading.
And then when it came time to read Nowhere Near You afterwards, there was a slight feeling of wariness on my behalf because I had just discovered that these boys mean so much to me, and we all know that second books can be not-so-great. Well, I can honestly say that Nowhere Near You was just as good as its predecessor. The tone was still the same, the boys were just as special and lovable, and everything was perfect.
Nowhere Near You is quite different to Because You’ll Never Meet Me because Ollie is out in the world (!!!) and Mo is attending a new school. I thought I wouldn’t like this, because so much of the first book’s beauty was in the fact that the boys were such outcasts and found friendship and love in each other. But this didn’t change. Even though they grew as people, their friendship stayed the same, and they were still each other’s ~person~.
The themes in Nowhere Near You were quite a bit darker than Because You’ll Never Meet Me, but I was okay with that. The boys were learning new things about themselves, and about the people around them, about the world, and about the lab where they were subject to terrible things. If anything these darker elements made me want for their happiness even more than I had before, which should have been impossible.
Moritz’s love for Ollie is hands down my favourite aspect of this series. It broke my heart when, relatively early on, Ollie asks Moritz to stop talking about how much he loves him. I was in actual pain. I don’t want to give too much away in terms of what happens regarding this but I can say that I was extremely happy and that if people don’t see it then they are erasing identities because yes.
I honestly and truly and wholeheartedly need a third book in this series. I cannot live without more Ollie and Moritz. There were so many questions left unanswered, and I need to know how everything pans out. I want more from my boys. I want more of their happiness, and their love, and them growing up. I sincerely hope this isn’t the last I am going to see of them because they mean a helluva lot to me (they feel so real. So very real).
If this review hasn’t convinced you to read this series then I am not doing my job very well. Because you should read this series. You need to read this series.
© 2017, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.
trigger warning: reference to death of mother (via cancer), death of a friend (via cancer), reference to bullying, reference to attempted drowning, forced drug use, attempted sexual assault, bus crash (no deaths, only injuries), physical assault, use of ableist language, and depictions of anatomy (external heart) in this novel
October 30, 2016
THIS BOOOOOOOOOOK.
I don't know why, but after I first read Because You'll Never Meet Me and completely and utterly fell in love with it, I never realized that there was going to be a sequel. Then I happened to catch a blog post on one of my favorite blog's about Nowhere Near You and the happy squealing was immense. When I was contacted to actually read and review this book, it's a miracle I was actually able to form a coherent sentence to reply to that email. I'm still incredibly awed that I was able to read this book, before it was even published. I don't think it's something I'll ever get over and I plan on keeping this ARC forever after.
I suppose it would help if I could be a little more succinct about why these books are so lovely and important to me. It's important to note that they're incredibly different from one another, too. Because I'll Never Meet You is much more character-driven than the plot-driven Nowhere Near You. Luckily I love both types of stories and getting such different narratives offers not only a well-rounded view of our narrators but an exciting and different worldview. We don't even know much about the world that's shown in this sequel until close to the end of the first book. While book one masquerades a bit more like contemporary fiction, book two is science fiction through and through. And it's amazingly charming and witty in the way it works these very improbable characters into a world just like our own.
Well, not exactly like our own, because then we would have our own Moritz and Ollie. Flawed though they may be, they've successfully captured my heart because they're so incredibly sweet with each other. Even when Ollie is being a rambling annoyance or Moritz is so consumed by his own dark thoughts that he drags down anyone in the vicinity as well. Their friendship (which I know, I know, may possibly turn into more but I'm TRYING not to get my hopes up) is so real. They've never met each other. They can't meet each other. But even through the letters they share, they know one another more intimately than most people have the privilege to ever know another person. They can make each other laugh (I know, with Moritz it seems near impossible). They fight with each other. But they always make up in the end, as stubborn friends tend to do.
There isn't anything I could honestly say I disliked about Nowhere Near You. It was more than a solid sequel; it would be great wholly on its own. The cover is gorgeous. The characters are gripping. I absolutely can't wait to see what could possibly happen next . . . although I'm not entirely certain there's going to be a book three. I wasn't even expecting #2, so I'll take what I can get and be happy with it.
I can't recommend this book enough and know that, once you get your hands on it, you'll be extremely jealous that I was able to read this beautiful story months before you were. And now you'll be left itching for more, too. You're welcome.
I don't know why, but after I first read Because You'll Never Meet Me and completely and utterly fell in love with it, I never realized that there was going to be a sequel. Then I happened to catch a blog post on one of my favorite blog's about Nowhere Near You and the happy squealing was immense. When I was contacted to actually read and review this book, it's a miracle I was actually able to form a coherent sentence to reply to that email. I'm still incredibly awed that I was able to read this book, before it was even published. I don't think it's something I'll ever get over and I plan on keeping this ARC forever after.
I suppose it would help if I could be a little more succinct about why these books are so lovely and important to me. It's important to note that they're incredibly different from one another, too. Because I'll Never Meet You is much more character-driven than the plot-driven Nowhere Near You. Luckily I love both types of stories and getting such different narratives offers not only a well-rounded view of our narrators but an exciting and different worldview. We don't even know much about the world that's shown in this sequel until close to the end of the first book. While book one masquerades a bit more like contemporary fiction, book two is science fiction through and through. And it's amazingly charming and witty in the way it works these very improbable characters into a world just like our own.
Well, not exactly like our own, because then we would have our own Moritz and Ollie. Flawed though they may be, they've successfully captured my heart because they're so incredibly sweet with each other. Even when Ollie is being a rambling annoyance or Moritz is so consumed by his own dark thoughts that he drags down anyone in the vicinity as well. Their friendship (which I know, I know, may possibly turn into more but I'm TRYING not to get my hopes up) is so real. They've never met each other. They can't meet each other. But even through the letters they share, they know one another more intimately than most people have the privilege to ever know another person. They can make each other laugh (I know, with Moritz it seems near impossible). They fight with each other. But they always make up in the end, as stubborn friends tend to do.
There isn't anything I could honestly say I disliked about Nowhere Near You. It was more than a solid sequel; it would be great wholly on its own. The cover is gorgeous. The characters are gripping. I absolutely can't wait to see what could possibly happen next . . . although I'm not entirely certain there's going to be a book three. I wasn't even expecting #2, so I'll take what I can get and be happy with it.
I can't recommend this book enough and know that, once you get your hands on it, you'll be extremely jealous that I was able to read this beautiful story months before you were. And now you'll be left itching for more, too. You're welcome.
March 3, 2017
The thing is, I loved Because You'll Never Meet Me SO much that I think any sequel would have left me wanting. And this one was lovely--heartfelt, heartwarming, heartbreaking, all of it. I def wanted so much more, especially with the side characters that were introduced (though that may be the mark of a good book, where I loved the side characters too?) and I CANNOT BELIEVE the book ended where it did because skdjfhskjfhskfjhsdkfhsdf.
February 25, 2017
4.5 stars
These books definitely aren't for everyone, but I honestly love them. I love how endearing, and happy, and sad they are. I love the characters, both the main and secondary ones, and I love how weird everything is. And even though the writing is kind of difficult to follow at times, I still love that, too.
Not everything makes complete sense, and as with most books written in letter form, the characters remember more than humanly possible about the details of their lives, but I don't care that much, because in my opinion, it's much more important how a book makes me feel. And this one made me feel so much.
These books definitely aren't for everyone, but I honestly love them. I love how endearing, and happy, and sad they are. I love the characters, both the main and secondary ones, and I love how weird everything is. And even though the writing is kind of difficult to follow at times, I still love that, too.
Not everything makes complete sense, and as with most books written in letter form, the characters remember more than humanly possible about the details of their lives, but I don't care that much, because in my opinion, it's much more important how a book makes me feel. And this one made me feel so much.
March 17, 2017
I am sorry but NO.
Big, big NO!
First and biggest bother in this book?
The German!
I am sorry we are living in an era where everyone can either learn or get in contact with a person that speaks the language you want to use in your book!
But why do that?
You can just use shoot-y google translator instead and put that in your book!
The only think that was actually correctly translated? "Überraschung", because yes believe it or not the one word actually means "Surprise" which honestly was the biggest surprise in itself because it was correct! Look at that!
Maybe i am a bit overly picky but i HATE it when people try to set a book in a country with a different language and than DO NOT BOTHER TO DO THE TRANSLATIONS CORRECTLY!
That is just not okay.
And please don't tell me i am wrong about the translated german in this book. German is my mother language and the one i am currently speaking everyday, english is my second language! So if i make any mistake in a language English would be the one!
Needless to say this book started to go downhill very, very fast for me when in the second chapter Moritz started to say words in german and then translate them wrongly into english. I wanted to bash the book into pits.
I didn't, but only because electric devises are expensive!
Combine that with the fact that i didn't even see the need for this book and this story didn't bring anything to the first book or plot or...
this book didn't work for me, and while i am sorry to write such a negative review (which i always hate to do because books take such a long time to actually get to the publishing point!) this book just was not good at all for me.
And i don't like writing something nicer than what i am feeling right now. And what i am feeling right now? utter frustration and a good amount of anger!
Big, big NO!
First and biggest bother in this book?
The German!
I am sorry we are living in an era where everyone can either learn or get in contact with a person that speaks the language you want to use in your book!
But why do that?
You can just use shoot-y google translator instead and put that in your book!
The only think that was actually correctly translated? "Überraschung", because yes believe it or not the one word actually means "Surprise" which honestly was the biggest surprise in itself because it was correct! Look at that!
Maybe i am a bit overly picky but i HATE it when people try to set a book in a country with a different language and than DO NOT BOTHER TO DO THE TRANSLATIONS CORRECTLY!
That is just not okay.
And please don't tell me i am wrong about the translated german in this book. German is my mother language and the one i am currently speaking everyday, english is my second language! So if i make any mistake in a language English would be the one!
Needless to say this book started to go downhill very, very fast for me when in the second chapter Moritz started to say words in german and then translate them wrongly into english. I wanted to bash the book into pits.
I didn't, but only because electric devises are expensive!
Combine that with the fact that i didn't even see the need for this book and this story didn't bring anything to the first book or plot or...
this book didn't work for me, and while i am sorry to write such a negative review (which i always hate to do because books take such a long time to actually get to the publishing point!) this book just was not good at all for me.
And i don't like writing something nicer than what i am feeling right now. And what i am feeling right now? utter frustration and a good amount of anger!
January 14, 2017
Man this was good.
RTC.
RTC.
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