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Another Place
A small town. A missing schoolgirl. A terrible secret. And one girl's fight to survive.
Sixteen-year-old Claudette Flint is coming home from hospital after an escalating depression left her unable to cope. She may seem unchanged on the outside; but everything's different. The same could be said about her seaside hometown.
A local teenager, Sarah, has disappeared. Sarah had a bad reputation round town; but now she's vanished the close-knit community seems to be unspooling.
As the police investigate and the press digs around for dirt, small town scandals start to surface. What nobody knows yet is that Claudette and Sarah had a secret friendship. And that the last secret Sarah shared may be the key to the truth.
After weeks of focusing solely on herself, Claudette realizes she is not the only part of the world that needs fixing - and that if she can piece together the fragments of Sarah's story, then maybe she can piece herself back together too.
Another Place is a novel about lost girls, recovered life - and the meaning of home.
Sixteen-year-old Claudette Flint is coming home from hospital after an escalating depression left her unable to cope. She may seem unchanged on the outside; but everything's different. The same could be said about her seaside hometown.
A local teenager, Sarah, has disappeared. Sarah had a bad reputation round town; but now she's vanished the close-knit community seems to be unspooling.
As the police investigate and the press digs around for dirt, small town scandals start to surface. What nobody knows yet is that Claudette and Sarah had a secret friendship. And that the last secret Sarah shared may be the key to the truth.
After weeks of focusing solely on herself, Claudette realizes she is not the only part of the world that needs fixing - and that if she can piece together the fragments of Sarah's story, then maybe she can piece herself back together too.
Another Place is a novel about lost girls, recovered life - and the meaning of home.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 3, 2017
21 people are currently reading
489 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Crow
42 books32 followersMatthew was born and raised in Newcastle and began freelancing for newspapers and magazines whilst still at school, writing about the arts and pop culture.
He has written four novels, Ashes and My Dearest Jonah - the second of which was nominated for the Dylan Thomas Prize for Literature - and one book for young adults, In Bloom, which was nominated for the Carnegie Medal and the North East Teen Book Award, and listed in the Telegraph's Best YA of 2014 List.
His fourth book, Another Place, will also be for young adults and was published by Atom in August 2017.
He has written four novels, Ashes and My Dearest Jonah - the second of which was nominated for the Dylan Thomas Prize for Literature - and one book for young adults, In Bloom, which was nominated for the Carnegie Medal and the North East Teen Book Award, and listed in the Telegraph's Best YA of 2014 List.
His fourth book, Another Place, will also be for young adults and was published by Atom in August 2017.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
July 17, 2017
I think I need more time to think about how truly great this book was, because I'm sitting on the fence between a four and five star rating. It was just so REAL. 'Another Place' is Matthew Crow's second book and it's miles better than 'In Bloom', which just felt like it was trying to be the UK's answer to 'The Fault in Our Stars'.
The writing was well executed, flipping seamlessly between the past and present to give you an idea of the relationship Claudette had with Sarah. The character descriptions were so precise that I knew exactly who everyone was. The conversations were gritty and sad, funny and heartwarming, depending on who Claudette was speaking to...I could go on and on.
I've read books about characters with depression before. I've read about troubled teenagers and criminals but never has that niche group being portrayal as well as they are here. If you liked the third season of 'Broadchurch' - for vibe and tone - this is the book for you.
I'd also recommend going into the book not really knowing much, so you can be surprised and intrigued by every page like I was. If I see this at YALC, you know I'll be snapping it up for sure!
The writing was well executed, flipping seamlessly between the past and present to give you an idea of the relationship Claudette had with Sarah. The character descriptions were so precise that I knew exactly who everyone was. The conversations were gritty and sad, funny and heartwarming, depending on who Claudette was speaking to...I could go on and on.
I've read books about characters with depression before. I've read about troubled teenagers and criminals but never has that niche group being portrayal as well as they are here. If you liked the third season of 'Broadchurch' - for vibe and tone - this is the book for you.
I'd also recommend going into the book not really knowing much, so you can be surprised and intrigued by every page like I was. If I see this at YALC, you know I'll be snapping it up for sure!
November 29, 2017
The one star is for the pretty cover.
November 20, 2017
Easily one of the best books I've read this year.
October 21, 2017
I didn't really connect with Claudette and honestly I felt like this story was so miss matched with different storylines, there wasn't one clear thing that happened.
January 13, 2020
Beautiful cover... boring book.
Ok boring is too harsh. It just wasn’t interesting. I found myself flipping through, trying to get to the end as fast as possible. Hoping for a pay off that never came.
I hate rating books low because they weren’t for me and I feel like I’m in a minority for disliking this. It’s a book for someone that’s for sure!
Ok boring is too harsh. It just wasn’t interesting. I found myself flipping through, trying to get to the end as fast as possible. Hoping for a pay off that never came.
I hate rating books low because they weren’t for me and I feel like I’m in a minority for disliking this. It’s a book for someone that’s for sure!
May 19, 2017
Anybody who has read 'In Bloom', Matthew Crow's previous book, will know he's a beautiful, truthful writer. 'Another Place' is further testament to that fact.
It is by turns gorgeous, tough, heartbreaking, funny, and shocking. It's refreshing to read a book featuring depression and mental illness that not only *gets it*, but is about someone familiar, almost comfortable with their illness, someone who is doing their best to rebuild themselves and find a way to live with it.
The characters are vividly drawn in all their complexity and contradiction, the setting is gloriously realised and grimy, and the whole thing is told in a tender, sardonic voice that it utterly compelling. 'Another Place' is highly recommended.
It is by turns gorgeous, tough, heartbreaking, funny, and shocking. It's refreshing to read a book featuring depression and mental illness that not only *gets it*, but is about someone familiar, almost comfortable with their illness, someone who is doing their best to rebuild themselves and find a way to live with it.
The characters are vividly drawn in all their complexity and contradiction, the setting is gloriously realised and grimy, and the whole thing is told in a tender, sardonic voice that it utterly compelling. 'Another Place' is highly recommended.
August 25, 2017
I liked this plot. I hated the main characters - all of them. Some of the plot made zero sense. Was hard to follow at times. Idk - maybe not the author for me?
May 14, 2020
I felt this offered a different view and perspective on mental health in a way I hadn't quite seen it represented before. I liked the way it was handled and discussed. I also thought the plot was leading up to a mystery that would capture my attention, but unfortunately this didn't happen.
However I do feel like the plot began to drop and as much as I tried to wait for something to peak again it never really did. I think the conclusion was clever but I also wanted more.
Some of the characters really grated on me and some of the plot I felt wasn't tied up. I really wanted more from it in some aspects and it seemed that what was tied up quite was done so quite easily without the tension I was hoping for. I just felt like I was expecting a bit more, however I do not dislike the story, I just felt it lacked a bit.
However I do feel like the plot began to drop and as much as I tried to wait for something to peak again it never really did. I think the conclusion was clever but I also wanted more.
Some of the characters really grated on me and some of the plot I felt wasn't tied up. I really wanted more from it in some aspects and it seemed that what was tied up quite was done so quite easily without the tension I was hoping for. I just felt like I was expecting a bit more, however I do not dislike the story, I just felt it lacked a bit.
December 7, 2017
★✩✩✩✩
another place is by no means a bad book, merely disappointing. i picked it up mainly due to the lack of any semblance of badly-written teenage romance in the description. to give the book some credit, there was no partaking in any awful romantic inclinations for the main character — unsurprising, really, considering claudette may well be one of the worst main characters i've ever had the displeasure to journey through a book with.
i think, unfortunately, claudette is the main reason this book falls short for me. i figured that maybe she would offer a realistic and accurate portrayal of bipolar disorder in contemporary fiction, but i was sadly mistaken. claudette is obnoxiously self-absorbed and incredibly rude, i was constantly in awe of how her fellow characters (particularly paula) could put up with her so well. i particularly hated her inclination to blame her poisonous personality on her mental illness and the way she easily fell into the victim role when it suited her.
another downfall of the book comes from its shoddy side-characters and subplots, ones that perhaps would be easier to care about if they weren't so dull and uninspiring. i was particularly unimpressed by the male characters of the book, who i found myself caring less and less about as the story 'developed'. i was especially disappointed by the book's conclusion.
the only redeemable quality of the book was the fact that it wasn't too long, meaning i could get it read and finished with quickly —a little harsh, but true nonetheless. i would recommend this book particularly to people who appreciate bleak, mindless plots and extremely unpleasant characters.
another place is by no means a bad book, merely disappointing. i picked it up mainly due to the lack of any semblance of badly-written teenage romance in the description. to give the book some credit, there was no partaking in any awful romantic inclinations for the main character — unsurprising, really, considering claudette may well be one of the worst main characters i've ever had the displeasure to journey through a book with.
i think, unfortunately, claudette is the main reason this book falls short for me. i figured that maybe she would offer a realistic and accurate portrayal of bipolar disorder in contemporary fiction, but i was sadly mistaken. claudette is obnoxiously self-absorbed and incredibly rude, i was constantly in awe of how her fellow characters (particularly paula) could put up with her so well. i particularly hated her inclination to blame her poisonous personality on her mental illness and the way she easily fell into the victim role when it suited her.
another downfall of the book comes from its shoddy side-characters and subplots, ones that perhaps would be easier to care about if they weren't so dull and uninspiring. i was particularly unimpressed by the male characters of the book, who i found myself caring less and less about as the story 'developed'. i was especially disappointed by the book's conclusion.
the only redeemable quality of the book was the fact that it wasn't too long, meaning i could get it read and finished with quickly —
October 2, 2017
Dreadful. Not worth a review.
February 6, 2023
3 stars.
A middling score (and a middling experience in general) for a book that I thought had a lot of potential from the premise. Reading other reviews, it sounds like Crow has a lot of promise too (I must find and read another of his), but at least for this one things just didn’t click. I found Claudette’s character written to be oddly unlikeable, for reasons that I never could figure out why, as it wasn’t like he was trying to make a point in this respect.
This book is largely centred around her coping with the grief of losing Sarah, and I thought it would have worked a lot better if I liked her as a character. Granted, someone losing a special person in their life would behave out of the ordinary, but there was sufficient room in the “background” chapters of the plot to have given the reader an insight into her usual behaviour, and then her reaction to Sarah’s disappearance might have been more relatable or at least understandable. The story also jumps around a lot, not always in a logical manner (or at least explained later), so it was difficult to follow.
A middling score (and a middling experience in general) for a book that I thought had a lot of potential from the premise. Reading other reviews, it sounds like Crow has a lot of promise too (I must find and read another of his), but at least for this one things just didn’t click. I found Claudette’s character written to be oddly unlikeable, for reasons that I never could figure out why, as it wasn’t like he was trying to make a point in this respect.
This book is largely centred around her coping with the grief of losing Sarah, and I thought it would have worked a lot better if I liked her as a character. Granted, someone losing a special person in their life would behave out of the ordinary, but there was sufficient room in the “background” chapters of the plot to have given the reader an insight into her usual behaviour, and then her reaction to Sarah’s disappearance might have been more relatable or at least understandable. The story also jumps around a lot, not always in a logical manner (or at least explained later), so it was difficult to follow.
January 19, 2019
I really liked this book because I felt it describes what depression and mental illness would feel like. I really liked the little gems of wisdom that each of her support people gave her. I loved learning through this character as she went on her journey of discovering what her own strength is and how she can focus her outcome differently. It has a lot of inner world reflecting the outer world themes and lessons.
April 21, 2018
3.5 stars.
I enjoyed this book. I liked the bluntness of Claudette and Mr Fitzpatrick. The characters felt real and I enjoyed their quips. It was refreshing especially when dealing with a topic such as depression. The setting with its background characters reminded me of my hometown which is probably why I personally didn't give it a higher score and that at times I didn't like Claudette. Overall its a solid book with a relatively engaging plot especially towards the end.
I enjoyed this book. I liked the bluntness of Claudette and Mr Fitzpatrick. The characters felt real and I enjoyed their quips. It was refreshing especially when dealing with a topic such as depression. The setting with its background characters reminded me of my hometown which is probably why I personally didn't give it a higher score and that at times I didn't like Claudette. Overall its a solid book with a relatively engaging plot especially towards the end.
April 7, 2018
This book was strange and a bit ridiculous lol. The writing was littered with clunky sentences and odd phrasing for things. It wasn’t necessarily bad, but it was a bit unsatisfactory
February 19, 2019
I'm just not sure I enjoyed this as much as I expected to. Didn't really like the characters that much - felt a bit like most of them could do with more development.
August 10, 2017
Another Place by Matthew Crow was published in paperback on 3 August 2017 by Atom.
Another Place is a book targeted at a Young Adult market. I am not a Young Adult. I haven't been a Young Adult for many many years. However, I am a huge fan of Matthew Crow. His last YA book, In Bloom remains one of my all time favourite books, I read and reviewed it here on Random Things back in 2013.
The sign, for me, of a great book, one that I have loved and enjoyed, is the number of folded back page corners in my copy. I fold back pages that contain beautiful phrases, wonderful description and writing that makes my heart sing. My copy of Another Place has lots of folded corners. There are too many marked parts to put into this review, if I included them all, you wouldn't really need to buy the book!
Another Place is Claudette's story. She's seventeen and lives in the North East of England, in a town that was once thriving, but is now dark and grey, with closed down shop fronts and an undercurrent of drug culture, and the violence and menace that goes with it. Claudette begins her story as she leaves hospital. She was there because she had a breakdown that involved broken glass and injured teachers. Claudette and her father live alone, her mother left years ago. She and her Dad have a fabulous relationship, he loves her and supports her. He is her tiger when she needs one. He also struggles to understand the scars on her arms and the moods.
Claudette is a strong and streetwise seventeen year old. No stranger to drink, or sex and not shy to confront anyone. It is the inner demons that she finds the hardest to confront, and the author's description of how she deals with the regular panic attacks is wonderfully blunt:
"It's fine, I have asthma, I said quickly, rather than the truth. ........... Asthma was a safer bet. Nobody ever wanted to talk about asthma. It was like saying you had stew for dinner. People accepted it and moved on."
Claudette is astute, and kind and determined. The town is buzzing because a young girl, Sarah, has disappeared. Claudette and Sarah had a strange relationship; a friendship that only they knew about. They confided in each other, they told the truth that was hidden from others, and Claudette is determined to find out just what has happened to Sarah.
Whilst the mystery of Sarah's disappearance is the centre of the story, the real detail is in the characters and the relationships between them. Matthew Crow has a magic touch when creating these. The blossoming friendship between Sarah and the elderly Mr Fitzpatrick is beautifully imagined, growing gently and exposing more truths that painfully bind them together.
The characters in Another Place are lively and so well rounded. Claudette's friend Donna is an absolute joy, her brother Adam is quieter but no less well defined, and then there is Paula. Paula is Claudette's Dad's partner and is probably my favourite of them all. So exquisitely detailed, I read this and I saw her:
"Paula was low-hanging fruit. She wore fleeces with Alsatians on them that she bought at the indoor market. She hand-made most of the presents she gave. She clipped a pedometer to the elastic of her jogging bottoms every morning without fail. She walked ten thousand steps a day and still ended up back in the same place she started."
Another Place is a wonderful book. It is heartwarming, yet gritty and down to earth. It is full of humour and sometimes is overwhelming in its sadness. It is an insightful and clever observation of the world of teenage mental health, grimy towns and people who will hurt others to protect themselves.
A truly beautiful story. Poignant, gripping and witty and deserves to become a classic.
https://randomthingsthroughmyletterbo...
Another Place is a book targeted at a Young Adult market. I am not a Young Adult. I haven't been a Young Adult for many many years. However, I am a huge fan of Matthew Crow. His last YA book, In Bloom remains one of my all time favourite books, I read and reviewed it here on Random Things back in 2013.
The sign, for me, of a great book, one that I have loved and enjoyed, is the number of folded back page corners in my copy. I fold back pages that contain beautiful phrases, wonderful description and writing that makes my heart sing. My copy of Another Place has lots of folded corners. There are too many marked parts to put into this review, if I included them all, you wouldn't really need to buy the book!
Another Place is Claudette's story. She's seventeen and lives in the North East of England, in a town that was once thriving, but is now dark and grey, with closed down shop fronts and an undercurrent of drug culture, and the violence and menace that goes with it. Claudette begins her story as she leaves hospital. She was there because she had a breakdown that involved broken glass and injured teachers. Claudette and her father live alone, her mother left years ago. She and her Dad have a fabulous relationship, he loves her and supports her. He is her tiger when she needs one. He also struggles to understand the scars on her arms and the moods.
Claudette is a strong and streetwise seventeen year old. No stranger to drink, or sex and not shy to confront anyone. It is the inner demons that she finds the hardest to confront, and the author's description of how she deals with the regular panic attacks is wonderfully blunt:
"It's fine, I have asthma, I said quickly, rather than the truth. ........... Asthma was a safer bet. Nobody ever wanted to talk about asthma. It was like saying you had stew for dinner. People accepted it and moved on."
Claudette is astute, and kind and determined. The town is buzzing because a young girl, Sarah, has disappeared. Claudette and Sarah had a strange relationship; a friendship that only they knew about. They confided in each other, they told the truth that was hidden from others, and Claudette is determined to find out just what has happened to Sarah.
Whilst the mystery of Sarah's disappearance is the centre of the story, the real detail is in the characters and the relationships between them. Matthew Crow has a magic touch when creating these. The blossoming friendship between Sarah and the elderly Mr Fitzpatrick is beautifully imagined, growing gently and exposing more truths that painfully bind them together.
The characters in Another Place are lively and so well rounded. Claudette's friend Donna is an absolute joy, her brother Adam is quieter but no less well defined, and then there is Paula. Paula is Claudette's Dad's partner and is probably my favourite of them all. So exquisitely detailed, I read this and I saw her:
"Paula was low-hanging fruit. She wore fleeces with Alsatians on them that she bought at the indoor market. She hand-made most of the presents she gave. She clipped a pedometer to the elastic of her jogging bottoms every morning without fail. She walked ten thousand steps a day and still ended up back in the same place she started."
Another Place is a wonderful book. It is heartwarming, yet gritty and down to earth. It is full of humour and sometimes is overwhelming in its sadness. It is an insightful and clever observation of the world of teenage mental health, grimy towns and people who will hurt others to protect themselves.
A truly beautiful story. Poignant, gripping and witty and deserves to become a classic.
https://randomthingsthroughmyletterbo...
November 4, 2018
Judging by the blurb, I really thought I'd like this book. A character who was just coming out of hospital after escalating depression left them unable to cope, a mystery in the hometown and a town who have no idea - about anything. But, the story fell really flat for me and was honestly incredibly boring.
Another Place follows the story of Claudette, a teenager who has just come out of hospital after her depression causes her to become a risk to herself. Shortly before she's home she learns of the disappearance of a local misunderstood girl, Sarah. Though the town knew of Sarah, they didn't know her. They just knew she had bad streaks and was running from something, but when she goes missing everyone wallows in what could have been and search high and low for someone they never paid attention to before. What nobody knows is, Claudette had become a good(ish) friend of Sarah's in her final months, and finds herself obsessed with the case, promising to herself that she'll find out what happened to Sarah in hopes it'll cure her depression.
Truthfully, I really enjoyed the beginning of the book. The way Claudette spoke of the hospital, her therapist and the notebooks full of tasks she had been discharged with were very real. They came from a rebellious teenager who wasn't ready for help, which was somewhat promising for me in the book as I thought it would unfold a little more within the overall plot. However, by the time Claudette was out and speaking to her friend Donna, who was painfully unlikeable (we'll get to that in a minute), I felt really bored by the overall plot. Claudette just seemed to fall flat after that. Her outlook on everything just became very cliched and some of the things she said were just painful.
By the end of the book I was just trying to get to the end of it. Claudette's plan to bring Sarah justice was so unnecessarily unrealistic, that I found myself rolling my eyes instead of not being able to put the book down. I'm not sure if it was the writing style or maybe just because I was so done with the book already.
All of the characters were really transparent. You have Claudette, who was just incredibly unlikeable. She had some rewarding moments but she just seemed like a very bratty teenager most of the time who acted like the world owed her a favour. Then there was Donna, a painfully unnecessary best friend role in the book who lacked attention and therefore lashed out. Not to mention, Donna's dialogue was somewhat cringe-worthy. Sarah, the missing girl, was a great character - had she been written better. The flashes of her memory and the very weak portrayal of her made her feel very weak. There's Jacob, a traveller who has come to this seaside town to save up some money to go back out with his expensive camera, who I can't decide whether he's creepy or just...odd. The list goes on.
I really wanted to like Another Place, but it just didn't do it for me. It had all the right ingredients but it just wasn't executed enough. It's probably great for those angsty young teenagers out there who could do with reading a 'thriller' (a word I am using very loosely here).
Another Place follows the story of Claudette, a teenager who has just come out of hospital after her depression causes her to become a risk to herself. Shortly before she's home she learns of the disappearance of a local misunderstood girl, Sarah. Though the town knew of Sarah, they didn't know her. They just knew she had bad streaks and was running from something, but when she goes missing everyone wallows in what could have been and search high and low for someone they never paid attention to before. What nobody knows is, Claudette had become a good(ish) friend of Sarah's in her final months, and finds herself obsessed with the case, promising to herself that she'll find out what happened to Sarah in hopes it'll cure her depression.
Truthfully, I really enjoyed the beginning of the book. The way Claudette spoke of the hospital, her therapist and the notebooks full of tasks she had been discharged with were very real. They came from a rebellious teenager who wasn't ready for help, which was somewhat promising for me in the book as I thought it would unfold a little more within the overall plot. However, by the time Claudette was out and speaking to her friend Donna, who was painfully unlikeable (we'll get to that in a minute), I felt really bored by the overall plot. Claudette just seemed to fall flat after that. Her outlook on everything just became very cliched and some of the things she said were just painful.
By the end of the book I was just trying to get to the end of it. Claudette's plan to bring Sarah justice was so unnecessarily unrealistic, that I found myself rolling my eyes instead of not being able to put the book down. I'm not sure if it was the writing style or maybe just because I was so done with the book already.
All of the characters were really transparent. You have Claudette, who was just incredibly unlikeable. She had some rewarding moments but she just seemed like a very bratty teenager most of the time who acted like the world owed her a favour. Then there was Donna, a painfully unnecessary best friend role in the book who lacked attention and therefore lashed out. Not to mention, Donna's dialogue was somewhat cringe-worthy. Sarah, the missing girl, was a great character - had she been written better. The flashes of her memory and the very weak portrayal of her made her feel very weak. There's Jacob, a traveller who has come to this seaside town to save up some money to go back out with his expensive camera, who I can't decide whether he's creepy or just...odd. The list goes on.
I really wanted to like Another Place, but it just didn't do it for me. It had all the right ingredients but it just wasn't executed enough. It's probably great for those angsty young teenagers out there who could do with reading a 'thriller' (a word I am using very loosely here).
June 7, 2021
Rather than 4, a 3.75 would be a more accurate rating from me.
Heartbreaking, beautiful, and a painful read. The themes of depression, suicide, self harm, missing girls, and friendship are my absolute cup of tea. The book is definitely above average, but there are still something that's kinda lacking to my preference.
To start with some things that is a bit off to me:
1. The buildup on Claudette's early journey into depression. I am not asking for a whole complete story about it, but I felt kinda lost. Like, what exactly is the reason that made Claudette depressed? (Or could it be just me that missed the details in the book?)
2. Some words that Donna said are kinda questionable and very triggering. The accusations she had against Claudette when the poor girl just wanted justice for Sarah, was very unnecessary. I would even say it's toxic. And the jealousy she had over Claudette and Jacob? Nah.
It just doesn't make sense for Donna to get triggered over trivial things. One thing that I do think is make sense, is when she thought they're getting apart ever since the Sarah case. (I would be like that too if I am getting further apart from my best friend all of sudden) The other emotional stuffs she said were unnecessary.
3. The mental illness was being represented in a good way, but I don't think there's anything very special to it. Like, I pretty much believe I've seen the same scripts for other depression-related theme books. The representations are good, but not much of any deep or awakening moments, hence the 3.75 stars.
But there are some parts that I personally really enjoyed reading them.
1. Crow was so good with words. I tabbed a lot of parts in the book because there were so many beautiful quotes in it!!!
2. I did shed some tears throughout the read. It was beautiful, and heartbreaking to delve into Sarah and Claudette's dark life, hence why I rate the book as above average.
3. I LOVE Claudette's characters. There's something about her character that made me adore her so much. Her relationship with Paula, Donna, her dad, Jacob, Ross and especially, Mr. F? Amazing! She's a broken girl, but at the same time, she was so perfect to me.
4. Love the friendship between Sarah and Claudette. There's something about their scenes together that made my heart so warm <3 Closeted, inclusive, and very private but also, very beautiful. Love it so much. And Sarah is definitely the character that I love the most after Claudette. And yes, I cried after finding out how she died :'( she deserves so muchhh better.
Yup, definitely worth a read.
@hannaz.hya
Heartbreaking, beautiful, and a painful read. The themes of depression, suicide, self harm, missing girls, and friendship are my absolute cup of tea. The book is definitely above average, but there are still something that's kinda lacking to my preference.
To start with some things that is a bit off to me:
1. The buildup on Claudette's early journey into depression. I am not asking for a whole complete story about it, but I felt kinda lost. Like, what exactly is the reason that made Claudette depressed? (Or could it be just me that missed the details in the book?)
2. Some words that Donna said are kinda questionable and very triggering. The accusations she had against Claudette when the poor girl just wanted justice for Sarah, was very unnecessary. I would even say it's toxic. And the jealousy she had over Claudette and Jacob? Nah.
It just doesn't make sense for Donna to get triggered over trivial things. One thing that I do think is make sense, is when she thought they're getting apart ever since the Sarah case. (I would be like that too if I am getting further apart from my best friend all of sudden) The other emotional stuffs she said were unnecessary.
3. The mental illness was being represented in a good way, but I don't think there's anything very special to it. Like, I pretty much believe I've seen the same scripts for other depression-related theme books. The representations are good, but not much of any deep or awakening moments, hence the 3.75 stars.
But there are some parts that I personally really enjoyed reading them.
1. Crow was so good with words. I tabbed a lot of parts in the book because there were so many beautiful quotes in it!!!
2. I did shed some tears throughout the read. It was beautiful, and heartbreaking to delve into Sarah and Claudette's dark life, hence why I rate the book as above average.
3. I LOVE Claudette's characters. There's something about her character that made me adore her so much. Her relationship with Paula, Donna, her dad, Jacob, Ross and especially, Mr. F? Amazing! She's a broken girl, but at the same time, she was so perfect to me.
4. Love the friendship between Sarah and Claudette. There's something about their scenes together that made my heart so warm <3 Closeted, inclusive, and very private but also, very beautiful. Love it so much. And Sarah is definitely the character that I love the most after Claudette. And yes, I cried after finding out how she died :'( she deserves so muchhh better.
Yup, definitely worth a read.
@hannaz.hya
July 30, 2017
Received from NetGalley for review.
2.5 stars
Even though I lost interest half-way through, Another Place is by no means a bad book; Matthew Crow has written about a teenage girl with depression with incredible realism and sensitivity, and does not shy away from the unpleasantness of it all. Although I found the actual plot too slow, I can only applaud Crow’s writing and the way he crafts his characters – every character was well-developed and had a unique voice, everyone had a purpose and something to add to the novel.
The story itself follows sixteen-year-old Claudette, recently released from a psychiatric hospital following a struggle with depression and a breakdown, and the disappearance of Sarah, one of Claudette’s classmates who seemed to exist within the darker side of society. The small town in which she lives is reeling from Sarah’s disappearance, as well as being unsure how to react to Claudette now that she’s out of hospital.
The good:
- Realistic depiction of depression in teenagers. I found Claudette to be a very real character; she’s only young and dealing with a lot in terms of her mental health, she has to learn how to cope with her depression and deal with the way it affects her life. I know that at sixteen I was not coping well, so Claudette being written as sometimes grumpy, listless, selfish, all felt authentic – mental illness sucks and should never be romanticised, and it hasn’t been here.
- Character interaction and development. The characters are brilliant, all their little quirks and nuances makes them feel like real people, and I loved the way Claudette and her dad interacted. So adorable.
- Hints at darkness. The story is set in a small town where everyone seems to know everyone, but there are hints early on at something darker going on within the town.
The not so good:
- Plotline. We know that Claudette has a breakdown, we know that Sarah has disappeared. After that there wasn’t much excitement for me – Claudette decides to solve the mystery of Sarah’s disappearance and delve into the town’s seedier underbelly, but I found it a bit slow and didn’t really care how things panned out.
- Fairly predictable plot. I mostly skimmed the last half of the novel and I wasn’t surprised how it ended, though this may not be the case for everyone.
2.5 stars
Even though I lost interest half-way through, Another Place is by no means a bad book; Matthew Crow has written about a teenage girl with depression with incredible realism and sensitivity, and does not shy away from the unpleasantness of it all. Although I found the actual plot too slow, I can only applaud Crow’s writing and the way he crafts his characters – every character was well-developed and had a unique voice, everyone had a purpose and something to add to the novel.
The story itself follows sixteen-year-old Claudette, recently released from a psychiatric hospital following a struggle with depression and a breakdown, and the disappearance of Sarah, one of Claudette’s classmates who seemed to exist within the darker side of society. The small town in which she lives is reeling from Sarah’s disappearance, as well as being unsure how to react to Claudette now that she’s out of hospital.
The good:
- Realistic depiction of depression in teenagers. I found Claudette to be a very real character; she’s only young and dealing with a lot in terms of her mental health, she has to learn how to cope with her depression and deal with the way it affects her life. I know that at sixteen I was not coping well, so Claudette being written as sometimes grumpy, listless, selfish, all felt authentic – mental illness sucks and should never be romanticised, and it hasn’t been here.
- Character interaction and development. The characters are brilliant, all their little quirks and nuances makes them feel like real people, and I loved the way Claudette and her dad interacted. So adorable.
- Hints at darkness. The story is set in a small town where everyone seems to know everyone, but there are hints early on at something darker going on within the town.
The not so good:
- Plotline. We know that Claudette has a breakdown, we know that Sarah has disappeared. After that there wasn’t much excitement for me – Claudette decides to solve the mystery of Sarah’s disappearance and delve into the town’s seedier underbelly, but I found it a bit slow and didn’t really care how things panned out.
- Fairly predictable plot. I mostly skimmed the last half of the novel and I wasn’t surprised how it ended, though this may not be the case for everyone.
January 2, 2018
Okay, firstly, do not let this book's beautiful front cover fool you: this story was seriously dark, much more so than I expected!! Secondly, the plot is hella similar to that of Lauren Oliver's Vanishing Girls (and vice versa, of course). Like I said in another recent review, I feel like I'm just getting bored of these stories about beautiful, troubled girls going missing...anyone else??
I'm definitely conflicted. I certainly preferred this story to Matthew Crow's In Bloom - for the most part, our protagonist here, Claudette, was much more likeable than In Bloom's. But still, at certain times, she was a little irritating. Also, I'm not sure what really happened to the mental health storyline - it felt like she was completely distracted by the hunt for Sarah and she barely seemed to mention her depression, unless it was in the past-tense...I don't know if I missed other, more subtle references to it, but it seemed a little lacking to read as utterly realistic, for me personally.
Claudette's best friend (whose name escapes me, sorry!!!) was hilarious and I really wanted more of her in the story. I also wanted to know more about her relationship with her dad and Paula. I enjoyed the flashbacks, explaining her relationship with Sarah, although they were seriously dark (stealing insulin and inhalers was taking it waaaaay too far for me, hated that), but the present-day pieces of narrative just fell flat for me.
As for the big twisty reveal?! It's not big or twisty at all, particularly. Kind of a letdown, overall.
I'm definitely conflicted. I certainly preferred this story to Matthew Crow's In Bloom - for the most part, our protagonist here, Claudette, was much more likeable than In Bloom's. But still, at certain times, she was a little irritating. Also, I'm not sure what really happened to the mental health storyline - it felt like she was completely distracted by the hunt for Sarah and she barely seemed to mention her depression, unless it was in the past-tense...I don't know if I missed other, more subtle references to it, but it seemed a little lacking to read as utterly realistic, for me personally.
Claudette's best friend (whose name escapes me, sorry!!!) was hilarious and I really wanted more of her in the story. I also wanted to know more about her relationship with her dad and Paula. I enjoyed the flashbacks, explaining her relationship with Sarah, although they were seriously dark (stealing insulin and inhalers was taking it waaaaay too far for me, hated that), but the present-day pieces of narrative just fell flat for me.
As for the big twisty reveal?! It's not big or twisty at all, particularly. Kind of a letdown, overall.
August 8, 2020
Seventeen-year-old Claudette is home after a stay in hospital, after being unable to cope with depression. Everything’s different for her now and also for her seaside hometown, with the disappearance of local teenager (with a bad reputation) Sarah. Claudette and Sarah were sometime friends so when the police and press start to dig around for dirt, Claudette realises she can stabilise her world if she finds out what happened to Sarah.
The blurb for this - and the reviews - made me keen to read it but, having done so, I have to say I don’t agree with them. Populated with stock characters (the kindly put-upon single Dad, his ‘girlfriend with a heart of gold’ who uncomplainingly puts up with all manner of aggro from Claudette, a best friend who trades in wisecracks but has very little to do, the local lost boys and girls) and taking unlikely plot lurches (is it about the disappearance, a scandal at a children’s home, the old man down the street or the local crimelord?), this also features a climax that revolves around a box of matches and Claudette doesn’t get hold of them until a minute before she needs them. Some of the writing is very smart but, unfortunately, most of that is put in as Claudette’s dialogue meaning she doesn’t even sound like a teenager and while the town is well used, none of it feels real. I couldn’t recommend it, sorry.
The blurb for this - and the reviews - made me keen to read it but, having done so, I have to say I don’t agree with them. Populated with stock characters (the kindly put-upon single Dad, his ‘girlfriend with a heart of gold’ who uncomplainingly puts up with all manner of aggro from Claudette, a best friend who trades in wisecracks but has very little to do, the local lost boys and girls) and taking unlikely plot lurches (is it about the disappearance, a scandal at a children’s home, the old man down the street or the local crimelord?), this also features a climax that revolves around a box of matches and Claudette doesn’t get hold of them until a minute before she needs them. Some of the writing is very smart but, unfortunately, most of that is put in as Claudette’s dialogue meaning she doesn’t even sound like a teenager and while the town is well used, none of it feels real. I couldn’t recommend it, sorry.
August 7, 2017
Another Place is Matthew Crow’s second book, and he is quickly establishing himself as a British author intent on writing beautifully honest YA fiction.
The story follows seventeen year old Claudette who has just returned home from hospital after her depression got out of her hands, to learn that one of her fellow classmates, Sarah, has gone missing. Claudette lives in a small town, and everyone wants to know what happened to Sarah, but no one it seems more than Claudette.
Flipping between the past and present seamlessly, Crow executes this story brilliantly giving a clear idea of the relationship Claudette had with Sarah. Each character is developed excellently, even the minor ones being given a description so precise that you could picture them all vividly.
This is heartbreaking, funny and shocking all at the same time. It is very refreshing to read a book dealing with mental illness that not only understands it, but is narrated by a character who is comfortable within themselves and is doing the best they can to rebuild themselves. The tender and sardonic narration is utterly compelling.
The story follows seventeen year old Claudette who has just returned home from hospital after her depression got out of her hands, to learn that one of her fellow classmates, Sarah, has gone missing. Claudette lives in a small town, and everyone wants to know what happened to Sarah, but no one it seems more than Claudette.
Flipping between the past and present seamlessly, Crow executes this story brilliantly giving a clear idea of the relationship Claudette had with Sarah. Each character is developed excellently, even the minor ones being given a description so precise that you could picture them all vividly.
This is heartbreaking, funny and shocking all at the same time. It is very refreshing to read a book dealing with mental illness that not only understands it, but is narrated by a character who is comfortable within themselves and is doing the best they can to rebuild themselves. The tender and sardonic narration is utterly compelling.
December 7, 2018
Another brilliant work from Matthew Crow. This novel had elements that reminded of Kevin Brooks' Black Rabbit Summer (one of my all time favourite authors) and had some of the most well written descriptions of living with depression I've ever read.
Claudette had returned home at the start of the book after a stay in hospital due to a massive manic episode she experienced at school. Her Dad is a solid rock for her and helps fight her corner in getting her back into school and into some kind of routine again.
Her community is wired with news of a missing girl from Claudette's class who she had a kind of friendship with. She becomes focussed (Some might say obsessed) with finding her and discovering the truth behind Sarah's shady lifestyle and disappearance.
This novel draws in so many character's threads to form a solid narrative. Sombre you get hints at, others are complete surprises and all area delivered as completely believable and never hyped.
I loved this book and I'm going to hunt for more by Matthew Crow right now!
Claudette had returned home at the start of the book after a stay in hospital due to a massive manic episode she experienced at school. Her Dad is a solid rock for her and helps fight her corner in getting her back into school and into some kind of routine again.
Her community is wired with news of a missing girl from Claudette's class who she had a kind of friendship with. She becomes focussed (Some might say obsessed) with finding her and discovering the truth behind Sarah's shady lifestyle and disappearance.
This novel draws in so many character's threads to form a solid narrative. Sombre you get hints at, others are complete surprises and all area delivered as completely believable and never hyped.
I loved this book and I'm going to hunt for more by Matthew Crow right now!
January 11, 2018
I was expecting to think this book was alright, meaning I didn't go in with high expectations.
I'd never read anything by the author before or even heard of them (not a subtle barb) and I bought the book because it was cheap, had a pretty cover and based on the synopsis I was pretty confident that I'd think it was, as I said, alright.
I was pleasantly surprised. Things didn't happen quite the way I expected them to, while I didn't like all the characters (you're not supposed to) they were for the most part well fleshed out and felt read, and the parts I enjoyed about the novel would usually be the things that would take a backseat for me.
It's hard to review this one really.
The writing is good. It's a short, quick read. You can feel that there was real emotion put into this book. Definitely worth a read.
After reading it I'm highly surprised by some of the very negative reviews it has received on here but each to their own.
I'd never read anything by the author before or even heard of them (not a subtle barb) and I bought the book because it was cheap, had a pretty cover and based on the synopsis I was pretty confident that I'd think it was, as I said, alright.
I was pleasantly surprised. Things didn't happen quite the way I expected them to, while I didn't like all the characters (you're not supposed to) they were for the most part well fleshed out and felt read, and the parts I enjoyed about the novel would usually be the things that would take a backseat for me.
It's hard to review this one really.
The writing is good. It's a short, quick read. You can feel that there was real emotion put into this book. Definitely worth a read.
After reading it I'm highly surprised by some of the very negative reviews it has received on here but each to their own.
August 27, 2019
From reading the blurb of this book I thought it was be more a crime and investigation sort of book, however, it was heavily based on mental health with regards to the main character. I couldn’t really relate to the main character at all, but I did find her character interesting. Once I knew that the book was more based on the main character and her dealing with her own issues, ( trying to find Sarah does play a part in it, a big part at the end ) but felt like it was more about Claudette- I lost interested and just wanted to finish the book.
A couple of guys are introduced in the book and I must have missed how because I didn’t really understand any of their characters.
The book felt like it was going on forever and ever.
Definitely feel like the book had an important message and if you love reading about mental health this book is for you
A couple of guys are introduced in the book and I must have missed how because I didn’t really understand any of their characters.
The book felt like it was going on forever and ever.
Definitely feel like the book had an important message and if you love reading about mental health this book is for you
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2021
A small town. A missing schoolgirl. A terrible secret. And one girl's fight to survive.
“𝙄’𝙙 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛.“
This book is about Claudette Flint, searching for Sarah Banks, her secret friend, who's gone missing. She really believed if she can find Sarah, she'll find herself too.
Claudette is known all over town as that girl who went mad, who is depressed, and obvious crazy, by some.
The writing is easy to understand, though sometimes it's too real, and sad. There are some scenes with pure emotion of the characters. The settings reminded me of UK a lot. More specific to Cardiff or Aberystwyth.
I like this book for how real the event is depicted by the author.
“𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙩.“
Some people just want to have a constant in their life. To not have something awaiting to attach them any moment. To have a hold on how they feel. ❤️
“𝙄’𝙙 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛.“
This book is about Claudette Flint, searching for Sarah Banks, her secret friend, who's gone missing. She really believed if she can find Sarah, she'll find herself too.
Claudette is known all over town as that girl who went mad, who is depressed, and obvious crazy, by some.
The writing is easy to understand, though sometimes it's too real, and sad. There are some scenes with pure emotion of the characters. The settings reminded me of UK a lot. More specific to Cardiff or Aberystwyth.
I like this book for how real the event is depicted by the author.
“𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙩.“
Some people just want to have a constant in their life. To not have something awaiting to attach them any moment. To have a hold on how they feel. ❤️
June 7, 2018
Claudette has bipolar one and after release from her section she finds that her distant friend Sarah has gone missing. Sarah grew up not knowing a true home as she grew up in care.
The streets are tough and we soon learn Sarah was mixed up in something bigger than herself. As Claudette focuses on Jacob, a photographer, Ross a local lad and Dan a dangerous individual whom many owe things too, she sets about discovering the truth of what happened to Sarah and if she's alive or dead.
It's gripping and worked well flashing back to the past seeing the girls become friends and how Sarah had to fight to survive. It combines so many issues from drugs, care, family and friendship as well as knowing who you can rely on to trust the most.
The streets are tough and we soon learn Sarah was mixed up in something bigger than herself. As Claudette focuses on Jacob, a photographer, Ross a local lad and Dan a dangerous individual whom many owe things too, she sets about discovering the truth of what happened to Sarah and if she's alive or dead.
It's gripping and worked well flashing back to the past seeing the girls become friends and how Sarah had to fight to survive. It combines so many issues from drugs, care, family and friendship as well as knowing who you can rely on to trust the most.
February 2, 2018
Another Place wasn't good, but it wasn't bad.
This book had no idea what it wanted to be. A mental health novel? A mystery/ crime? Who knows? It was supposed to be both, and it kind of worked, but it felt forced.
This book wasn't edited very well. There were multiple inconsistencies (a dog suddenly was a kitten), and missing words here and there. The writing is good for the most part. It can be a little slow, but the imagery was great. There were many good quotes and sentiments within the book.
One thing that bothered me was the timeline. This story takes place over a summer, but other than knowing that, you don't get anything else. So, I found it difficult to follow the days.
This book had no idea what it wanted to be. A mental health novel? A mystery/ crime? Who knows? It was supposed to be both, and it kind of worked, but it felt forced.
This book wasn't edited very well. There were multiple inconsistencies (a dog suddenly was a kitten), and missing words here and there. The writing is good for the most part. It can be a little slow, but the imagery was great. There were many good quotes and sentiments within the book.
One thing that bothered me was the timeline. This story takes place over a summer, but other than knowing that, you don't get anything else. So, I found it difficult to follow the days.
August 8, 2018
This was one of those books that I kept on the side and read a chapter here and there when I had the time.
It didn't completely take me in, it wasn't a book I felt inclined to sit and read until it was finished because of how good it was.
To me, if felt kind if average. The beginning was strong, it had a great premise and was very promising. The middle was average, and I lost a lot of interest when reading it. And the ending, well that was just a let down. Finding out about Sarah's death was such a disappointment.
Overall, it wasn't a bad book, but it wasn't a book that captured my attention and made me want to read through it really quickly.
It didn't completely take me in, it wasn't a book I felt inclined to sit and read until it was finished because of how good it was.
To me, if felt kind if average. The beginning was strong, it had a great premise and was very promising. The middle was average, and I lost a lot of interest when reading it. And the ending, well that was just a let down. Finding out about Sarah's death was such a disappointment.
Overall, it wasn't a bad book, but it wasn't a book that captured my attention and made me want to read through it really quickly.
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