Finding Home

by Erin Mahoney

Kiley is spending the entire summer in a small town in North Carolina with her late father’s family. Her mom decided to spend the summer traveling with her most recent boyfriend. Kiley is looking forward to a summer of fun with no responsibilities. The only downside is her boyfriend, Josh, is at home, hundreds of miles away. Kiley instantly bonds with Renee, an employee at her uncle’s bookstore. Renee grew up in this small town and introduces Kiley into her laidback lifestyle filled with friends and family. Included in Renee's family, is her brother Austin, who has a thing for short-term relationships. Austin isn’t looking to settle down any time soon, he loves playing the field. But then he meets Kiley, and everything he believes is turned upside down. From the first moment they meet, he knows there’s something special about her. Kiley, Renee, and Austin each start the summer out on separate paths. But their journeys intertwine and bring them closer to becoming who they’re meant to be. As the sun sets on summer, they each find a part of themselves they never knew existed.

408 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 17, 2016

About the author

Erin graduated with a degree in dance. She is now using that degree to pass her knowledge onto little dancers. She teaches dance five days a week. In her spare time she loves to write about young adults and the secret, crazy adventures they go through. She is a Boston native but now resides in New Jersey. Her newest novel, Reaching Home, is available now!

Reviews

[Kaylin Beach · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You're part of my family. They all love you. And that's all family is...love."

I was immediately drawn to this book because of the cover! I absolutely love books that take place in the summer time and at the beach. I have never read anything by Erin Mahoney before and after reading Finding Home, I will definitely be reading more by her! Finding Home went above and beyond my expectations! I devoured this book in one sitting because I had to keep reading. I didn't have a choice.

Erin Mahoney introduces us to a young girl named Kiley. Kiley and her mom do not have the best relationship so Kiley goes to North Carolina to visit her Aunt, uncle, and cousins for the summer. When Kiley decided to leave home for the summer, she also decided to leave her boyfriend Josh for the summer as well. Josh was upset but he did not care like Kiley wanted him to. Josh was slowly changing and Kiley can not seem to figure out why. Kiley begins to make friends out in North Carolina and actually starts to have fun, while still worrying about Josh of course! Everyone likes Kiley! Kiley is the "new girl" so boys are going crazy over her. Kiley ends up establishing a really good friendship with a girl named Renee. Renee has an older brother, Austin, who is also into Kiley. That is when things get a little crazy! Renee does not want Kiley to date Austin, but at the same time, Renee would rather have Kiley date Austin than Josh. Renee really hates Josh! Will Austin ruin Kiley and Renee's friendship? Does Kiley even like Austin? But what about Josh? Kiley is still dating Josh! Will Kiley give up Josh for a fling with Austin that may only last the summer?

There is so much going on in this book! I absolutely love it! I love the romance and I love the drama! Austin is totally book boyfriend material and I love him! Erin gives us many amazing characters to fall in love with! I loved how she allowed us to read the book in multiple Character's points of view! I really enjoy that, because we are able to get a little glimpse inside everyone. I also loved her hockey references! I love hockey so I really enjoyed the fact that Kiley's mom was dating Mike off the LA Kings at one point in her life. Go Kings Go! (I never thought I would be able to write GKG in a book review! hah)

Erin Mahoney's writing is so wonderful! I could read her work all day, every day! She really has a way with words and allows each and every little detail to flow effortlessly throughout your mind. This book flowed so beautifully, it was as if I was watching a movie right there before my eyes. This book would make an awesome movie by the way! I loved the book, the story, the setting, the characters, and the drama. I would not want this book any other way. It is perfect!

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full Review can be found at http://thegraduatedbookworm.blogspot.ca

First, I want to say thank you so much to Erin Mahoney for sending me a copy of Finding Home for an honest review! Also, so sorry it took this long to get your review done!

So this story has a lot going on, and it honestly left me with a mix of emotions. Personally, I loved how there were different points of view, but I felt like there were two stories written in here, where it could have been separated into two books instead with both lives and POV (Kiley and Renee).

I felt like although the characters were adult age, they didn't always seem to be perceived as it. I felt like they came off more as teenagers by their language and actions.

Alright, moving on, let me explain what I really did love about this book! Personally there was one section of the book where I honestly felt like I had something lodged in my throat, because it was so sad and heartbreaking to read. I obviously don't want to ruin it, so I'll try my best to explain. You really feel the pain she has throughout the novel, even though there were moments that kind of brought on out of nowhere. Truth be told, I could connect with that because there have been many moments where things just randomly pop into my head and change my entire day!

I really hope that there is a second book to this, because I didn't feel like anyone's ending was finished. I wasn't to read more about Kiley, Austin, Renee and the family. Including a not so great character finally get what they deserve! I felt like Kiley really started to grow in this book, and you see her from the beginning to end, get more of a backbone, and take on the things she knew she wanted, even if it meant not getting everything she wanted. She made decisions based on how she was feeling and what she wanted, and it was pretty awesome!

Overall I really did like the novel! It had a lot of great components that I was captured with and felt honest feelings for. I just felt that it was maybe too clean and not as raw with the language or actions. I would recommend checking it out, because like I've said before, we all like different things! It was a cute love story, with real decisions and problems.

[Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a typical young-adult love story and an easy read. Good book for the pool.

*I won this book in a goodreads giveaway.*