Going Places

by Kathryn Berla

Hudson Wheeler is a teen for whom everyone had high expectations, but since his father was killed when he was ten, he's felt unmotivated to pursue much other than his art. During his senior year, he decides to home school, thinking he will get to relax and focus on his two lazy businesses. But instead, he experiences love and rejection for the first time; meets an athletic girl who shows him by example what it means to be a man; and solves the painful mystery of the WWII vet whose poignant plight forces Hudson out of the comfort zone of boyhood.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Romance

275 pages, Paperback

First published March 20, 2018

Reviews

[Jessi ❤️ H. Vojsk [if villain, why hot?] · Rating 3 out of 5]

„How do you save someone by making them disappear?“

Story ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book is about being friendzoned by the girl you fell in love with,
it’s about friendship that comes in awkward surprising places.
It’s about seeing all the background story of older people and appreciating them.
It’s about dementia and seeing the signs in front of you.
And finally it’s about believing in yourself.
The story was slow, but I think the ending was really good.

Characters ⭐️⭐️⭐️
In this story you can see how Hudson grows from a shy, awkward boy to a boy who believes in himself and his art. He sees people clearly and not only as figures in the world.
At the end he was finally a little bit smarter than in the beginning. But just a little bit.
I adored Fritzy, she was strong and talented and so nice to Hudson, even though he was so awkward at the beginning.

Relationships ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hudson got friendzoned by Alana.
So no real romance in here.
But there is this adorable friendship between Fritzy and Hudson and of course Hudson’s friendship with the old man.
So friendship was a really big part of this story.

Writing style ⭐️⭐️⭐️
It’s a nice fluent writing style with some lists or emails in it. So it was okay.

[Dani ❤️ Perspective of a Writer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out more reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...

Hudson is a senior now who is on the cusp of taking that plunge into adulthood and much is expected from him. Without a father since he was 10, this is the year he learns what it means to be a man... Focusing on his two lazy businesses so that his mom will agree he can home school, he meets an athletic girl who teaches him the manly art, he falls in love with all the painful accessories and solves the mysterious plight of the WWII vet who challenges him to grow up.


The short review...

I really took to Hudson from page one! I really enjoy the rare male narrator and he was an outside the box thinker which I LOVE... There was this great combination of details that really made him come alive for me... The home schooling with 2 classes in the morning, the yoga class to meet girls, the guy he's gone to school with his entire life whom he accepts but finds truly annoying... Then there are the dogs he walks and their oddball owners! And the deal he makes with his mom so he can focus on his art... Berla is super good at delivering the details to make characters feel like real people!

This is certainly a slice of life story centered on Hudson and his senior year... perfect for those who love contemporaries. The plot is tight and oh so natural... The theme of first love is so relatable! I loved it with all its imperfections. For those seeking the more accurate sex in HS, this has that and it was realistic without being too sappy or too negative either. Really though where the story shined was with the mystery surrounding Mr. Pirkle, one of his elderly clients! This really proved to me that while Hudson is your average teenage boy he REALLY was going places... and so are ALL the teenage readers who read this book!


Cover & Title grade -> D

I really dislike this cover!! When I first looked at this book there was this gorgeous white cover with photography of a green path and modern typography. I was quite disappointed when that cover disappeared and the ARC cover popped up as if it were the real cover... The ARC cover has really nasty colors and the font is a grunge that has little to do with the story! GAH!!!! Covers sell books people...


Why did I LOVE this book so much?

-Alana Love!
Okay this may sound odd but, I’m not a fan of Alana Love (I know, I know these are reasons I LOVE the book...) The truth is I don’t think you're supposed to be. She is a spot on, flawed portrayal of what first love looks like... The one in love is NOT seeing the person as they really are, its really verging on a crush but they get to hang out with THE one... and yet THE one isn’t nearly as good as they are perceived... Truth be told though I can totally see why Hudson hung on so long. When you're first in the thrall you hope beyond hope that the first time will be more magical than perhaps reality allows... But that's okay because you have...

-Fritzy!!
Yes, two exclamation points and she deserves both of them. I just loved this girl from her first description. I loved how she ALWAYS told it how it was... how she persuaded Hudson to do "boy" things with her (which is athletics and what she excelled in). She wasn't classically beautifully or indie gorgeous (like Alana) but she wasn't sitting at home at night either! This is such a great portrayal of the other kind of girl there is out there. Fritzy was hands down my favorite character!! She's what a real friend IS and should be... and I super hope what it hinted at in the end is in her future!

-Mr. Pirkle!
I LOVE the inclusion of older people in YA stories... there is so much for both sides to learn from the other... and here it works so well. Pirkle is in need of some help BUT doesn't know it and Hudson is the teenager with the chupzah to bring him to reality. Honestly the only problem I had with this book is I could have done with a ton more Mr. Pirkle! I loved him almost as much as Fritzy... Really he was perfectly balanced in the story I just wanted even MORE... I don't want to ruin his part of the story so no more details, but YES! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE...


As a Writer...

Kathryn Berla is a STAR at writing characters and making me root for them and believe them... I TOTALLY admire her writing skills and have enjoyed both books I've read of hers. She really is an author to read if you want to understand about how DETAILS develop a world...

When we think of world building we think FANTASY! But contemporary and slice of life stories are also set in a world... Yes, its a world very close to reality but we still have to understand how that world is specific to the characters inside it... and that is where details come in! Get those balanced correctly like Berla does and those characters can take us anywhere...

Going Places is a great male narrated contemporary about finding yourself at a time when you aren't certain if you're going to just be ordinary or not... Like Hudson we learn that it's all about the effort we put in, and sometimes it just doesn't work, but that doesn't mean we aren't still going extraordinary places!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Authenticity
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Writing Style
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Plot & Pacing
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ World Building

BOTTOM LINE: Sick of Romance Centered YA! You Need Hudson Going Places...

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. It has not influenced my opinions.

______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my special perspective at the bottom of my reviews under the typewriter...

[Samantha (WLABB) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5 Stars

This is my second Berla book, and I have to say, she knows how to write a book that tugs at my heartstrings. I really loved being able to accompany Hudson on his journey, as he took a crooked path in trying to find his way back from his grief and towards his future.

•Pro: I instantly like Hudson. He had an interesting voice, and I was so happy to be with him on this crazy journey.

•Pro: There were a multitude of other characters to love as well. Fritzy and Mr. Pirkle were two stellar characters, who brought so much to this story. I must also share my love for Jennifer, the boy poodle, who they dyed pink. I smiled every time Jennifer was on page.

•Con: There were two romantic threads in this story. One thread was tied off, the other not so much. I sort of want to know what happened, because that was the ship I was rooting for.

•Pro: Yeah for older folks! This was the second book I read in two days, that showed some love for our seniors. I was so pleased with all the different ways Berla presented these characters, and think it's important to show seniors and teens interacting in positive ways.

•Pro: It was nice to see an "alternate path" presented in the story. Maybe traditional high school and college is not for everyone, and it's important to show that there are other avenues that can lead to success and happiness.

•Pro: Hudson's mom was sort of awesome. She didn't make these new life choices easy for Hudson, nor did she allow him to do it all on his terms. There was bargaining and compromise, and I loved the way she treated him as an adult.

•Pro: The main plot was one I love - a good coming of age, self-discovery type story, but there were a bunch of great sub-plots too, which were done in such a way, that I never felt overwhelmed by the amount of story I was getting.

•Pro: Connection is something I feel we don't have enough of these days, and part of what helped Hudson "find" himself, was connecting with others. In his effort to withdraw, he actually widened his social circle, and gained so many beautiful things by doing it.

•Pro: Hudson's struggle with trying to live up to other people's expectations and seeking validation gave me more to love. I think it's very human to need these these things, and I was really happy with the resolution Berla gave him concerning these needs.

•Pro: When Hudson finally opened up and shared some of himself, the concept for his graphic novel was born, and it brought tears to my eyes.

Mr. Pirkle told me that the most difficult thing a man has to do in life is to open his heart to someone. In his mind, he had failed, but I knew different. I knew he had succeeded. And I knew that one day I would too.

Overall: A beautiful story of love, loss, friendship, connection, and finding the places you will go.


*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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[Lucy Banks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Heartfelt story about being a teen, with thought-provoking sub-plots about loss and war.

I loved this story! It took me right back to the misery (and occasional joy) of being a teen in love - and how many wrong turns we take before finding the right person who 'gets' us.

Hudson is a teen who is 'going places', and decides that he wants to largely learn from home, only attending school for two lessons. At his yoga class, he swiftly falls for Alana, an 'alternative' kind of gal with a tattoo on her neck, who is already dating someone else. At the same time, he meets Fritzy, a sporty lady who swiftly becomes his best mate / sarcastic sparring partner.

In addition to the romantic relationships, there's also Hudson's clients (he runs two businesses from home) - in particular, Pirkle, a 90 year old with possible dementia issues, and a pink poodle (my favourite!).

So - what's good about this book? It is thoughtfully written, and really gets inside a teenager's head - the woes of being in love with the wrong person, and the complexities of forming relationships. There's a serenity to it that's pleasant too; no wild action or massive twists, just insightful, appealing explorations into character and the whole process of growing into an adult.

Really lovely stuff- thoroughly enjoyed.

[Ella Star · Rating 4 out of 5]

If ever there was a young man who was going places, it’s you Hudson.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Another NetGalley find I was really excited about, but couldn’t really get into for a while. The book really took off for me in the second half of the story, and that was when I started to enjoy it.

I struggled a lot with the narrator here, I just don’t think I like male narrators in YA very much. The writing style felt a little dry and cold and I really didn’t enjoy Hudson’s personality, which is why I couldn’t enjoy the book as much as I wanted to.

However, I did enjoy the second part of the storyline a lot more, I thought Mr. Pirkle was intriguing and I loved finding out more about him. The story’s twist came a bit too fast and I wished there had been more attention paid to the details.

All in all, a bit of a disappointment, but a quick read nonetheless. I probably won’t be seeking out more books by this author, although I’m not opposed to reading something else by her (especially if there is a female narrator as I’d like to see her handle that).

Would recommend for: fans of coming-of-age YA like The Perks Of Being A Wallflower, maybe even John Green without the sarcastic young voices.

[Darinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hudson is going places. That's what one of his grade school teachers said about him, but now he's a senior in high school and unsure about what that means. He wants to home school in his final year of school, so he can relax, focus on his two businesses, and create a graphic novel. However, his senior year ends up being one of growth and friendship in ways he never imagined.

Hudson was a typical, awkward teen. He wanted what many seventeen/eighteen year old young men want... a girl and plenty of time to relax. I enjoyed that Hudson was so normal, and that he came from a loving family. His father died when he was young and that was hard on Hudson, but he was close to his mother. They had a great mother and son relationship.

This story focused on relationships. Hudson was friendzoned by the girl he loved, he met a sarcastic, sporty girl that taught him to be a man, and he worried and cared about his clients. Hudson ran two businesses, a dog walking service and one that helped elderly people who were on their own.

This story dealt with being young, but it also dealt with aging and the elderly. Since one of Hudson's businesses was geared toward the elderly, that introduced aspects of growing old, like loneliness and regrets.

This was an easy reading novel. A sweet, sometimes humorous, and relatable story about growing up.

I received an ARC ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This book’s expected release is in March 2018

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hudson Wheeler is going places -- or so his 4th grade teacher had declared. That was before his died in Iraq. Now he is about to start his senior year and is determined to be homeschooled to avoid the memories of the best friends who are no longer able to join him at his high school.

As Hudson navigates the school year he thinks his ultimate goal is to get Alana Love to leave her jock boyfriend Bryce, but along the way he meets some new people who teach him lessons about life. There are humorous moments including his attempts to explain his senior assistance business to potential clients and his encounters with Fritzy the beautiful basketball Amazon. Also included are a mystery surrounding his WWII veteran client, reminders about the challenges our veterans and senior citizens face and aha relationship moments for Hudson. Recommended!

[Lindsey Ouimet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author's characters are always such a joy to read. The best part? They're flawed. Flawed, but utterly relatable.

And, as always, the voice is just right. A great read!

[Manon the Malicious · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This told Hudson’s story. Hudson is a senior in high school and decided to be homeschooled that year and to spend more time taking care of his two businesses. The first one is a dog walking business and the other a helping the elderly business.

I wanted to like this. This is the third book I’ve read by this author and I always end up disappointed…
I didn’t like the main character, I found him really antipatic and I just wanted to knock some sense into him.
That really kept me from getting into the story.
Thankfully, it was a fast read and overall, it was kinda ok though I did see some things coming...

[Lynda Dickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

His fifth grade teacher told him he was “going places”, but Hudson starts doubting himself. In his final year of high school, he doesn’t want to pursue the traditional path. Since he only needs to attend two classes, his mother agrees to let him be “homeschooled” for the rest of the time. But, with his school work, setting up a couple of home businesses, working on his graphic novel, and trying to get a girlfriend, this year is going to be anything but easy.

This is a true coming-of-age story, cute, funny, sad, poignant, and uplifting all at the same time. There’s even a bit of suspense/mystery thrown in. The (female) author does a remarkable job of taking us into the mind of a teenage boy. Hudson has a very engaging voice and is extremely likable. He is accompanied by a cast of colorful characters, including those of the canine variety. I especially loved Jennifer, the hot pink male poodle! The book is beautifully written, and I love the slow build. However, the ending feels a bit rushed. I would love to have spent more time with these characters.

Warnings: coarse language, sexual references, sex scene (not graphic).

I received this book in return for an honest review.

Full blog post (27 March): https://booksdirectonline.blogspot.co...

[Sibil · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's more 3.5 stars, to be honest.

Thanks to NetGalley and to the editor. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a fast reading and it’s not too demanding, and yet it deals with some important and delicate topics, like the loss and the war, for example. It’s a story about being young, dealing with first love, with friendship and with new responsibilities, and it’s about being old, with the loneliness that can entail but also with the friendship and relationships that are there, and the reality about living with your choices, both in the past and in the present.

It’s a short book, and it’s also a fast reading, and yet we have so much in these pages: we have a good MC, Hudson, that try to find a place for his own… he’s quite mature for his age, but he has yet to find his place in the world and live up to the expectations others put on your shoulders is not an easy task. Also, the life has expectations on her own: every choice and every action has consequences, and you have to live with that, even when you didn’t think about them in the first place (for example Hudson is an enterprising kid and the Distress Dial is a good idea, he set up a service for older people that can call him for everything that is just less than an emergency. Great idea, but the reality of it, well.. it reveals to be quite different from what he thought when he started it!). And then there is the first crush, his first love (I wasn’t a fan of Alana, but I think it may be the intent of the author… to represent the first love with all the good and all the bad wrapped up from the start) and some new friends, that he found in some uncommon places.

But we don’t have just Hudson, we have Alana Love, his crush, and Fritzy, who is a giant of a girl and has the habit to call people for their surname and not their name, who is honest to a fault, almost, and yet it’s as good a friend as you can find, I liked her character a lot and I’d like to see more people like her around me. And then we have the client of Distress Dial, the older people. And it’s quite unique. We don’t read many YA with old persons in them and, foremost, we don’t see a lot of books with them as real protagonists. And here we have the second big subplot of the book: if on one hand, we have the youth and all its problems, on the other hand, we have the old age, and I liked the way in which the author speak about it. Mr. Pirkle is really well developed as a character, and with him, we feel the importance of the past, and the problematics that are sadly typical of the old age, but not just of that. We read about a lot of things in this book, about dementia too, for example, about the war, about the loneliness and the importance to reach out.

I liked this book a lot, because it surprised me in a really good way. I liked Hudson, I liked his voice and I liked him as MC, and I liked also the secondary characters, or at least some of them, Fritzy and Mr. Pirkle over all, and I liked that it’s a really non-conventional coming of age tale. But there were some things that I didn’t love, to be honest.

At the beginning of the book we read about Hudson that tries to convince his mother to let him be homeschooled and the mother just agreed (ok, she’s not right away in with the idea, but she doesn’t struggle, she just gave in and then we don’t see her around a lot… we almost never see her, and that really bugged me. I know that the book is not about mother-son relationships, but we’re speaking about a teen who lives with the mother so, yes, I would have liked to see her around a little bit more!). Another thing that wasn’t quite right for me was the part about Mr. Scolari. I won’t say more because I don’t want to spoiler something for you, but really, the part about Scolari’s private life was really uncalled for. It didn’t add something to the story, it’s not a mystery book and it was totally unrelated to the rest. That part really bugged me because I can’t see a reason for it, and I have tried.

So… I was quite surprised by this book, I enjoyed the reading, even if yes, it’s not a perfect book, and I loved the originality of it. So if you want to read an original YA, a tale of coming of age that is different but not demanding, well, this is the right book for you!

[Suze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hudson's future once looked promising, he even has a letter from one of his former teachers saying that he's going places. Now that he's a high school senior Hudson isn't so sure about this. After the death of his father Hudson stopped caring about a successful future. He sees homeschooling as the ideal solution to stop dealing with teenage drama. In exchange Hudson has to take two classes at the local high school and he has to pay his mother rent. To make money Hudson starts two businesses, dog walking and an SOS service for seniors. Is this really as uneventful as he expected it to be?

Hudson meets new people. One of them, a client, is a marine veteran who fought during WWII. He also spends a lot of time with an athletic girl who's trying to get him in shape. Hudson has fallen in love with someone from his school, but will he be able to win the girl's heart? While dealing with the demands of his customers and making new friends Hudson's life becomes full and meaningful and Hudson is forced to grow up quickly, which isn't how he envisioned his senior year. Has he made the right choices?

Going Places is a fabulous story. Hudson is talented and smart, but he doesn't have the same goals and dreams most other teenagers have. Staying home to study and work might seem like the easy way out, but it's actually one big life lesson. Hudson needs to take responsibility. There's hardly any adult guidance, he has to make the decisions and hard work is the only way forward. Staying home to study makes his senior year unusual, but eventful. I loved everything he comes across. He learns about love, friendship, taking care of others and doing the right thing in a wonderful open and honest way that never feels forced. I liked that a lot and for me that made Going Places a true gem.

Kathryn Berla has a gorgeous writing style that is easy to read. I love her vivid descriptions of emotions, people and settings. I could effortlessly picture everything she writes about. I read Going Places in one sitting, it's a beautiful heartfelt story. I love it when a book manages to move me so much. Hudson is a fantastic original main character and I enjoyed reading about his friendships and the obstacles he has to overcome. Going Places is a terrific story that I highly recommend.

[steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

I liked that it was a male protagonist. I liked that it followed his senior and felt real to life but I didn't like how it suddenly jumped to neighbor-is-on-the-run-hiding-his-kid and we had to deal with that a bit. I felt that particular story line came out of nowhere.

Also I didn't know how I felt about most of the story lines by the end. The way things happened ....(especially on the romance front) left me feeling like what was the point of this book? What lesson did Hudson learn? He seemed like the same guy albeit more grown up perhaps by the end? I dunno. It was a good book but just one I thought I would like it more than I did especially judging from all the 5 stars review on here. So 4 stars

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Going Places by Kathryn Berla is a great YA novel with a coming of age/teenage angst, love, loss, living up to expectation, responsibility, believing in yourself, friendship, and also touches on some sensitive issues in a caring, but realistic way.
We follow Hudson, who really is a lot smarter and capable than I think he gave himself credit for. I enjoyed watching him develop and grow as the story progressed. He was a better, more confident version of himself by the end.
I have read several of Ms. Berla’s books now and liked them all, and this is one of my favourites of the them all, so far! I really appreciate how Ms. Berla writes such realistic and believable characters, and stories. With each book, she takes us on a journey of discovery, not only for her characters, but also for us, the readers.
As I have come to expect from Ms. Berla, the story is well written, with a great pace, a smooth flow, and is very easy to read. I thought the story was quite touching, and I loved how it focused on the relationships between the characters, and the complexities within them. The characters really make this story. There were parts of the story that were also quite thought provoking, insightful and poignant.
A really lovely story!

Thank you, Ms. Berla!

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going Places by Kathryn Berla ​is a story of a young man who finds his first love but is that love reciprocated? It is also about finding friends in unlikely places and where age is no barrier. The book is told in the main character, Hudson’s, point of view, which you don’t see too often.

The story is well thought out and well written and gives us a look at a young man who is navigating his way between being a teenager and becoming a man and knowing what he wants but coming to the realisation that we don’t always get what we want.

[Alja Katuin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Going Places follows Hudson, a 17/18 year old boy who - according to his 8th grade teacher- was going places in live. After the tragic death of his father he ended up on a slippery slope, caring for his mother and putting his own needs aside. 10 years later he finds himself writing his mom an email. '' I can do this, who needs to go to college anyway? The last year of high school pretty much consists out of nothing more than 2 hours a day to graduate and I don't need to go to college to become a graphic novelist!"

When his mom finally gave in (under a few conditions) his life changed drastically. The two hours of high school he had to do consists of two classes: Yoga and Art. The first one he picked because his mom told him he had to stay in shape and he'd meet loads of girls there. The second one.. Well.. If you want to become a graphic novelist?

In Going Places we meet Hudson, who meets Fritzy and Alana. We grow with him, his businesses and his relations. We figure out how annoying some particular ladies can be and we see Hudson transform from an independent guy into a puppydog following the person he likes and back to a man who takes his responsibilities.

The story is quite nice, it reads quickly and gives you a good laugh. I didn't feel like there was much grief involved, eventhough there was supposed to be some?
The characters are simple in the beginning, but grow as the story evolves. Just the way we all like it. They were realistic and sweet. It was amazing to read about how caring everyone in this novel turned out to be.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't quite sure what to expect with this one, but I was pleasantly surprised! When Hudson asks to be Homeschooled his senior year, I assumed he might be just another loner wanting to be out of school. But there's more to Hudson than meets the eye; he's truly "going places" with a dog-walking business and a senior-help business, a girl he's crazy about, and a girl who is teaching him to be an athlete. He's a typical teenager with a big heart and that leads to his involvement with Mr. Pickler, a 90-year old client who needs Hudson's help more than he knows. Filled with pathos and humor, this novel is a lovely coming-of-age story that will warm your heart and might just make you wish you were a teenager again!
Thanks to BookishFirst for the ARC!

[Kristy Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a genuinely heart warming story. I loved the main voice in this, a lovely, kind guy. I enjoyed the way the author showed him talking to Mr.Pirkle about his past, whilst unknowingly getting a little therapy over the loss of his father.
I wondered all the way through which girl he'd end up with and was content with his choice.
Great characterization with all the characters. Fab story. Well written as always from this author.
The ending had a twist I didn't see coming. It gave me goose bumps!

[Katie Kaleski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderfully written story that blends people of different generations and shows young or olds, you can make a difference in someone’s life. First off, love the name Hudson. I like his get up and go and his entrepreneurial spirit. And I like Fritzy and how great her and Hudson are together, and the touch of humor with Jennifer the pink male poodle is cute. And how Hudson comes to write his graphic novel and the topic is beautiful. A lovely read.

[Dora Okeyo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book to be insightful and positive. When a teenager, Hudson, feels as though he isn't all that, then those around him help him realize that he actually matters and he in turn believes in himself.
However, I found the pace slow in the first half of the book, but Hudson is quite a relatable character and you cannot help but be on his side from the beginning. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Nikki LeClair · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. I liked how it was written from a male perspective, and thought the author did a bang on job on nailing how a young man (Hudson) would think, behave, talk while in this kind of messy life. It was a sweet story, complete with plenty of LOL moments and a slew of colorful characters that had me smiling as I read along. My favorite part of the story was Mr. Pirkle, and I won't spoil it except to say the way that story wrapped up completely warmed my heart and surprised me. The secondary characters, from Mr. Pirkle to Hudson's mother and even Hudson's love interest really did it for me. Glad I read this book.

[Elyse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Won E-Book on BookishFirst.com through NetGalley.com.

I wasn't sure about this book when I read the excerpt but decided I would try and win it and give it a go. Well, I was surprised! It was actually pretty good and not just about a kid trying to get out of high school! It was about a kid trying to get out of high school, trying to find his way, and growing up. There was a LOT of different things happening in this book and it could've been incredibly confusing but it all flowed pretty well and the end result was good. I knew SOMETHING was going to happen, I just didn't know what or when! I didn't know where things were going with Mr. Pirkle, I didn't know where things were going with Alana, I didn't know where things were going with Fritzy, I didn't know where things were going with Hudson's graphic novel! But the point was that they all went into shaping Hudson! Great culmination.

[Gaby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kathryn Berla is such an incredible author. This is the third book I've read from her and has only solidified my love for her stories and her writing. Going Places is incredibly touching and profound and an important read. It's a reminder that everybody has a powerful story and that connecting with others is incredibly fulfilling.

[Heather Bass · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read from this author and she blew me away. I love to read new adult books but this story exceeded all my expectations. This character drew me in right from the start. I couldn’t put this book down. It only took me a few hours to devour this incredible story of a young man and his struggles to becoming a man.

Hudson Wheeler was told in the fifth grade that he will be going places. He is a very smart young man and now he is a Senior in high school. Hudson only has two more classes to take and he is done. After his two best friends leave him he wants to escape the world but his mom has none of that. He is trying to become a business owner and he is well on his way. Hudson already has some small businesses that he is trying to grow. He is also at that age where he wants to girlfriend and find out what love is. Hudson meets a very pretty girl in one of his classes and he feels a connection to her but she is not like most girls. He wants to try to win her heart but does she feel the same way? Will Hudson get the ending that he wants or does life have another plan for him?

This book is an incredible journey. The storyline has it all love, struggles, heartbreak, and healing. You will fall in love with Hudson. He is a teen boy that is trying to find himself in the world. Hudson went through a lot in his life but in the end it makes him stronger. I also fell in love with the other characters in this book. They made the story complete. I was so excited to read a story in a teen boy point of view. It opened up my eyes to what the teenage life is like nowadays. I can’t wait to see what this talented author has for us next.

[Tiffany Robinson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Going Places is about a teenager named Hudson. For his senior year of high school he decides he wants to be homeschooled and start a couple of businesses that he think will be easy money. We follow Hudson along his journey in finding himself and meeting some quirky characters along the way.
Going Places was not a book that grabbed my attention and left me feeling bored. The pacing was very slow which seemed to make the whole book drag on. It also didn't help that I thought the story was very repetitive so it didn't make for a very exciting read and it felt like it was going nowhere. It did seem to speed up a little near the end of the book which was very welcome at this point. For a book that was slow moving the entire way through the ending felt very rushed and cobbled together. This story is told through Hudson's point of view who is 17/18 but it felt like he was so much younger and I would forget that he was that age.
I was provided a free copy of this book.

[Dedra ~ A Book Wanderer]

I was provided an advance e-galley of this novel from the publisher through Netgalley and BookishFirst.

I must admit I did not finish this one. It's a cute story, with likable characters, but it read a little too young for me. I was excited about this one because of the homeschooling aspect, but it just wasn't keeping my attention. And I'm trying to be better about reading only books that truly engage me. Just because it wasn't my cup of tea, doesn't mean it won't be yours.

[Kelsie Hinz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a eBook Arc copy via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this novel with high hopes, and maybe I shouldn't have. Can I start off by saying it's described as a story that deal with grief, but where was the grief? Except maybe in the last couple pages...

The book follows Hudson, a 17/18 year old who has decided to homeschool him self for his senior year because... well lets be honest, he was jealous that his best friend had a girlfriend. he strikes up an agreement with his mother that he will pay rent and attend 2 classes at the school on top of his homeschool courses. He opts to take an art class as his one in school class, which is beneficial to him. He is an aspiring Graphic Novelist... that also has 2 "businesses" on the side. I use businesses lightly. he is a 17/18 year old that walks dogs and gives the elderly a helping hand.

The other class he takes is a beginner Yoga class. why? oh because he has a goal of loosing his virginity before the end of senior year. And according to his mind....any female will do.

To be honest Hudson is sort of a dick. He essentially thinks he will sleep with any girl but has to go after the "abnormal" ones cause he isn't a jock.... but whatever that's just my opinion.

I DID however liked the relationship between him and Fritzy, his basketball loving surprise friend. She was straight with him and didn't put up with his bull shit drama involving his other new friend Alana. Can we talk about Alana for a moment? She literally had nothing in common with her Boyfriend Bryce, who continuously did not include her in things because she wasn't what the social norm dictates for a jock to be with. She had no interest in supporting her boyfriend at his football games and his passion for the sport, yet got mad and upset when he didn't include her in other things with his teammates/friends.... what? And lets not even talk about how much of a horrible friend she actually is. she cared NOTHING for Hudson. she used him to make herself feel better about her relationship, he legitimately fell in love wither her and did everything he could to make sure she was happy, despite what was happening with him, and once he told her he loved her she completely dismissed his feelings....I mean, until she used him for rebound sex and then never talked to him again after....

*sigh*
Moving on.

The relationship between Hudson and Len Pirkle was adorable. Each taking on a roll that was missing from each others lives. Pirkle becoming the father figure Hudson had to grow up without since his own dads passing at the young age of 10. And Hudson being the grandson/son Pirkle never had, the family member Pirkle never opened up too.

The ending? The big climax? was so left field and had nothing to do with anything that I just sat there scratching my head wondering how we even got there. If the Author wanted to give the reader that big "What the fuck?!" moment, she succeeded.....but not in a good way. I was genuinely confused what Stella had to do with anything. it just sort of happened. (and no, giving a name tells nothing or even hints at anything, so you aren't spoiled)

I was drawn in by the cover and the synopsis and was severely let down.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Going Places is a young adult fiction novel by Kathryn Berla. It is the story about a young man named Hudson Wheeler, during his senior year of high school, who decides to be home-schooled since he only needs two more classes to graduate. Hudson is a really good artist and he wants to use his talents to write a really good graphic novel. Hudson's father died when he was 10 years old; he was a marine who died during the Iraq war. Hudson is an only child, who lives at home with his mom. Hudson's mom went back to college after her husband died, to study nursing. She has been working as an RN at a local hospital for a number of years. Hudson comes to an agreement with his mom about what classes he will take at his high school, (Physical Education and AP Art), agrees to pay his mom $200.00 a month in rent, and he also must apply to two colleges. Hudson has two businesses that he invented to make some money. The first is a dog walking business; Hudson walks four of his neighbors/clients dogs every day. Hudson's second business is called Distress Dial, and it's a business where Hudson buys a cell phone for an elderly client to call him on, because the client has no one else in their lives to help them if they have an “almost emergency” that is not bad enough to call 911 about. Hudson ends up with three clients during this story who pay him a monthly fee to be subscribed to this service.

Hudson ends up taking yoga for his PE class, in the hopes of meeting some girls, and ends up becoming very good friends with a girl named Alana. Alana has a boyfriend named Bryce, who is the quarterback of their high school's football team. Hudson develops a crush on Alana, and he sees her almost every day. Hudson really wishes Alana would break up with Bryce and fall in love with him.

Hudson also meets a girl named Lauren Fritz or Fritzy, which is what all of her friends call her. Fritzy lives across the street from one of Hudson's Distress Dial clients named Mr. Pirkle. Fritzy is a star basketball player at the high school across town, and is always outside shooting hoops when Hudson visits Mr. Pirkle. Fritzy invites Hudson over to play basketball with her one day, and they end up becoming really good friends.

This is a really good book that tells the story of an eighteen year old boy's life experiences during his senior year of high school. I had never read any books written by Kathryn Berla before this one, but
because she is such a good writer, I will definitely seek more out. The characters in this book all had amazing depth and personalities that were very interesting. This author shows us how Hudson matures during his senior year with the help of new friends and new clients, and the responsibilities that he takes on. This is a very sweet and sincere story, and I would definitely recommend this book to everyone!

[Ethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Let's take a drive in a car, he said. Where do you want to go?"

It is senior year, and Hudson has resolved to do things a little bit differently. He only needs a couple more credits to complete his diploma, so he doesn't see the need to be at school all day. If he were home schooled, he posits, he would have enough time to work on the graphic novel that he's been dying to start. Plus, graphic novelists don't necessarily need a formal education anyway. He shoots an email to his mom outlining all the positive effects of his plan, and with a few conditions of her own, she agrees!

Part of the agreement is for Hudson to pay monthly rent. He quickly grasps the entrepreneurial spirit by forming two business ventures. The first is a simple dog walking service. Each day, Hudson gathers the neighborhood canines and walks them. His other big idea is a little bit more obscure. He creates a service for elderly people that has him constantly on call. If any of his clients need him for any reason, he will be at their service 24/7. What seems like an easy way to make some extra cash soon becomes more of a burden. One of his clients, an elderly man who lives alone, keeps beckoning him through mysterious calls in the middle of the night.

Beyond his businesses, Hudson faces other challenges. His father was killed in the war when Hudson was just a young boy. He struggles to meet the promises that his father saw in him and longs for the days when he could turn to his dad for comfort and advice. Writing a graphic novel is turning out to be more trying than he expected. Striving for originality and deeper meaning in his work, Hudson ends up abandoning most of his attempts to start the novel.

In Going Places, author Kathryn Berla tackles the subjects of growing up, the creative process, love, and loss through a charming coming of age story. With yesterday being the 15th anniversary of the United State's occupation of Iraq, reading about Hudson losing his dad was even more difficult to stomach. There is an entire generation of young people who are facing this reality, and it was nice to see a young adult novel take on that topic. The best young adult novels are able to bridge the gaps between generations and appeal to the young and old alike, and this novel certainly does that. While I feel like Going Places could have benefited from a single element to drive the entire plot, the pieces that Berla presents managed to capture my imagination.

[Elisha Jachetti · Rating 4 out of 5]

GOING PLACES by Kathryn Berla is a coming-of-age novel that follows Hudson Wheeler through his senior year of high school. He only needs two classes to graduate, so he has plenty of free time to chase the edgy, art girl, run his two businesses, and start his own graphic novel. His life is unconventional, but then again, it’s been that way since his dad died in Iraq.

When his dad passed, Hudson thought his opportunity to be someone important did too. Instead of fighting that notion, he developed firm, nontraditional plans for the future that go unchallenged until he meets Mr. Pirkle, the old recluse, and Fritzy, the athletic girl who could kick his butt. With their help, Hudson begins to reexamine who he could be and starts to realize his full potential. He discovers there’s more than just hope for himself. He is indeed going places.

This book fully exceeded my expectations. After reading the jacket copy, I was prepared for a bland, standard, run-of-the-mill story, but what I got instead was a colorful and vibrant slice of life. GOING PLACES is funny, brash, heartfelt, mysterious, gripping, poignant, and human. It is everything you would want from a tale about growing up, and then some. I spent most of the novel laughing out loud and finished it in tears. I felt every emotion on the spectrum, mainly because the characters mirrored real people so exquisitely.

There were multiples times that I was surprised by a character’s behavior, not because it wasn’t what someone would actually do in the real world, but because it wasn’t what authors would typically allow their characters to do in the book world. Kathryn Berla went there without being heavy-handed. She didn’t wallow in the drama, but instead pushed her characters onward as people do to themselves in real life. She also gave Hudson strong agency, which made him likable.

Overall, GOING PLACES strings together many different plotlines seamlessly. It deals with dark and difficult themes, while also highlighting the absurdity of being a teenager. It is a delightful novel and I feel privileged to have read it.

Review originally posted on YA Books Central: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yaficti...