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Nowhere Else But Here
“He was reckless. He was exciting. He was Theo.
And he was a breath of fresh air in my otherwise extremely dull life”
What if the missing person is your missing piece?
Rose has always played by the rules – now it’s time to break them.
Life’s easier when you stay away from other people. Rose Valentine knows that. But some people are impossible to ignore. Take Theo Lockhart. He’s handsome, funny and beyond intriguing. He’s a mystery; one that Rose dreams of solving.
Then one night the mystery deepens. Theo turns up on Rose’s doorstep, desperate to hide out at her house. He’s keeping secrets, and Rose has a million questions. Not least – why did he choose to run to her?
If Rose lets him in, she’ll be going against everything she holds true. It’s reckless, risky – and definitely not in the rulebook. But Theo makes Rose long to break the rules After a whirlwind week of brat-pack movies, midnight snacks and non-stop chat, where do Rose and Theo go from here?
And he was a breath of fresh air in my otherwise extremely dull life”
What if the missing person is your missing piece?
Rose has always played by the rules – now it’s time to break them.
Life’s easier when you stay away from other people. Rose Valentine knows that. But some people are impossible to ignore. Take Theo Lockhart. He’s handsome, funny and beyond intriguing. He’s a mystery; one that Rose dreams of solving.
Then one night the mystery deepens. Theo turns up on Rose’s doorstep, desperate to hide out at her house. He’s keeping secrets, and Rose has a million questions. Not least – why did he choose to run to her?
If Rose lets him in, she’ll be going against everything she holds true. It’s reckless, risky – and definitely not in the rulebook. But Theo makes Rose long to break the rules After a whirlwind week of brat-pack movies, midnight snacks and non-stop chat, where do Rose and Theo go from here?
284 pages, Paperback
First published May 3, 2018
6 people are currently reading
327 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Cotton
4 books23 followersRachel Cotton is the author of NOWHERE ELSE BUT HERE, a debut novel out in May 2018. She was born in the summer of 2000, but her writing life began as a thirteen-year-old on the self-publishing forum Wattpad, where she attracted more than 1 million hits and her dreams of becoming an author were truly ignited. Now that dream has come true, Rachel is working on her second novel for Ink Road. When she’s not writing, she can be found drinking copious amounts of coffee, reading and binge-watching TV box-sets. Rachel also enjoys going on long walks with her dog, Cassie.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
May 13, 2018
Overall, this book had its cute moments. But, ultimately, i don’t connect with it. The story fell flat for me and it was underdeveloped. Rose is willing to help a boy out who’s ‘missing’ just because she had a crush on him, so he hides in her room.
It more or less works out, because her parents are never there.
But it would’ve been nice if the story was possibly reversed..?
There was no concrete reason to help him, neither was there much point to the story for me.
The characters were developed nicely, but I didn’t grow to care for them. The timeline felt slightly off to me as well. There was constant reference to passing of time and I’m assuming it was there to move the plot forward, but if anything it disrupted it for me.
I do think however that Rachel Cotton herself has a massive amount of potential to grow as an author. The story kept me reading, but I just didn’t fall I love with it.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an arc.😃
It more or less works out, because her parents are never there.
But it would’ve been nice if the story was possibly reversed..?
There was no concrete reason to help him, neither was there much point to the story for me.
The characters were developed nicely, but I didn’t grow to care for them. The timeline felt slightly off to me as well. There was constant reference to passing of time and I’m assuming it was there to move the plot forward, but if anything it disrupted it for me.
I do think however that Rachel Cotton herself has a massive amount of potential to grow as an author. The story kept me reading, but I just didn’t fall I love with it.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an arc.😃
April 20, 2018
3.5/5
This book is a new contemporary debut that was so fluffy and cute, but also dealt with issues such as absentee parents, abusive parents and a little about anxiety too.
The story was a little cliched at times and also occasionally over descriptive, but generally really well written for someone of such a young age (17/18), especially as she's still at school.
I think this author will be on to watch in the future if she continues to write novels and publish books!
I really liked the two main characters and it was nice to see them grow through the book and mature and face their problems.
Generally I quite enjoyed reading this, and flew threw it in two days!
This book is a new contemporary debut that was so fluffy and cute, but also dealt with issues such as absentee parents, abusive parents and a little about anxiety too.
The story was a little cliched at times and also occasionally over descriptive, but generally really well written for someone of such a young age (17/18), especially as she's still at school.
I think this author will be on to watch in the future if she continues to write novels and publish books!
I really liked the two main characters and it was nice to see them grow through the book and mature and face their problems.
Generally I quite enjoyed reading this, and flew threw it in two days!
May 3, 2018
*Thanks again to Ink Road for sending me an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
“Nowhere Else But Here” tells the story of Rose and Theo, two students from England. The book starts shortly after Theo has run away from home and shortly before he turns up at Rose’s house, asking her to help him which she decides to do. And so she keeps him hidden in her room while everyone else keeps searching for him but they both know he can’t stay hidden forever.
First, I want to get everything that bothered me about this book out of the way. As I’ve said, Theo has already run away from home prior to the start of this book but I felt like the beginning was a little abrupt. I would’ve liked it better if the story had started a few days earlier and we would’ve still experienced Theo in school and had gotten to know him through his own actions. Since he had already disappeared by the time the story began, you only get to know him through descriptions from Rose’s point of view and thus I didn’t really have any interest in him at first and didn’t really feel bad about him having run away from home.
Another thing that happened very early in the book and bothered me was the fact that Rose mentions how she actually never really had a lot to do with Theo and they didn’t even talk to each other except when they were in Chemistry class since they were lap partners. But despite all of that, she very quickly agreed to help him and just let him stay in her room and that decision felt very random to me back then.
Furthermore, it took me more than half of the book to begin liking the Rose. I don’t think she’s a bad character or anything, I just felt like she was acting way too juvenile during the first half of the novel. Her age is never specifically stated but since they’re living in the UK and she’s already driving her own car, I’m guessing she must’ve been at least 17 years old. But especially at the beginning of the book she was often acting like a 13-year-old. There’s one scene in which Theo says that he actually prefers sleeping in his boxers when she offers him tracksuit bottoms and she pretty much freaks out about it. And then there’s a scene in which her brother uses the word “freaking” and she literally starts scolding him for using “bad language”. There were a few other scenes similar to those and I have to admit that it began annoying me after some time but thankfully, she mostly started acting her age during the second half of the novel and I began liking her a little better.
But even though there were a few things I didn’t like about the beginning of “Nowhere Else But Here”, I didn’t lose interest in the book and ended up enjoying it even though it definitely wasn’t a book I would ever give full stars to. It was a cute story and once I’d warmed up to the characters and had gotten into the book, I pretty much flew through it. I also think the book was quite well written, especially considering it’s the debut novel of a 17-year-old writer. Her first book wasn’t perfect but I’m sure she’ll improve with each book she’s going to write in the future and is headed in the right direction.
So overall, this was a cute and quick read which also dealt with some heavier topics like domestic abuse or what it feels like when parents constantly choose work over their children. It was an okay novel that had its flaws but nevertheless, I mostly enjoyed it which is why I decided to give it a three out of five stars.
“Nowhere Else But Here” tells the story of Rose and Theo, two students from England. The book starts shortly after Theo has run away from home and shortly before he turns up at Rose’s house, asking her to help him which she decides to do. And so she keeps him hidden in her room while everyone else keeps searching for him but they both know he can’t stay hidden forever.
First, I want to get everything that bothered me about this book out of the way. As I’ve said, Theo has already run away from home prior to the start of this book but I felt like the beginning was a little abrupt. I would’ve liked it better if the story had started a few days earlier and we would’ve still experienced Theo in school and had gotten to know him through his own actions. Since he had already disappeared by the time the story began, you only get to know him through descriptions from Rose’s point of view and thus I didn’t really have any interest in him at first and didn’t really feel bad about him having run away from home.
Another thing that happened very early in the book and bothered me was the fact that Rose mentions how she actually never really had a lot to do with Theo and they didn’t even talk to each other except when they were in Chemistry class since they were lap partners. But despite all of that, she very quickly agreed to help him and just let him stay in her room and that decision felt very random to me back then.
Furthermore, it took me more than half of the book to begin liking the Rose. I don’t think she’s a bad character or anything, I just felt like she was acting way too juvenile during the first half of the novel. Her age is never specifically stated but since they’re living in the UK and she’s already driving her own car, I’m guessing she must’ve been at least 17 years old. But especially at the beginning of the book she was often acting like a 13-year-old. There’s one scene in which Theo says that he actually prefers sleeping in his boxers when she offers him tracksuit bottoms and she pretty much freaks out about it. And then there’s a scene in which her brother uses the word “freaking” and she literally starts scolding him for using “bad language”. There were a few other scenes similar to those and I have to admit that it began annoying me after some time but thankfully, she mostly started acting her age during the second half of the novel and I began liking her a little better.
But even though there were a few things I didn’t like about the beginning of “Nowhere Else But Here”, I didn’t lose interest in the book and ended up enjoying it even though it definitely wasn’t a book I would ever give full stars to. It was a cute story and once I’d warmed up to the characters and had gotten into the book, I pretty much flew through it. I also think the book was quite well written, especially considering it’s the debut novel of a 17-year-old writer. Her first book wasn’t perfect but I’m sure she’ll improve with each book she’s going to write in the future and is headed in the right direction.
So overall, this was a cute and quick read which also dealt with some heavier topics like domestic abuse or what it feels like when parents constantly choose work over their children. It was an okay novel that had its flaws but nevertheless, I mostly enjoyed it which is why I decided to give it a three out of five stars.
May 10, 2019
What an adorable little romance!
Nowhere Else But Here follows Rose, a girl whose parents are often absent and leave her to go about her life alone. Taking care of herself and making sure to follow her own set of strict rules. She tries her best to stay away from others, although finds herself intrigued by someone almost impossible to ignore. Drawn to Theo Lockheart, a mystery that she dreams of solving. That is until he goes missing. Then the mystery deepens when he turns up on Rose's doorstep desperate for her help.
This was a very cute and quick read. I enjoyed the before and after aspects of the plot however I did feel as though it was a little anti-climatic. In the last half I was constantly waiting for something major to happen and it just didn't. That kind of fizzled how much I enjoyed the start and how the story was going. It started off very original but somehow became the usual YA contemporary I've read a million times. If you love a cutesy and light-hearted romance then this is a perfect read for you. But if you like a punch to your stories then this may be hit or miss. And honestly even though I really enjoyed reading it, it was rather average in terms of the plot. The first half was much more intriguing and I really quickly got into the heads of these characters. The author did a great job throwing you into Rose's life although it just felt like there was something missing. I guess it just wasn't for me.
The writing was extremely well done and the protagonists voice was very interesting and gripping. The side characters were also well done and I enjoyed the way the dynamic worked between the main character and her friends. However I would have liked more of that. Most of the book was focused on the relationship between Rose and Theo so there wasn't much in terms of side plot lines. Although the story does deal with instances of anxiety, absent parents and parental abuse. It just never seems to dig deep enough into why these things are happening. There wasn't enough explanation which led to a lack of depth and made the story as a whole not very satisfying. I guess I just wish there would have been more of a resolve to some of the problems. However even though I would have preferred this, I can't say that leaving things not neatly tied up is a bad thing because often thats what real life is like. So it definitely felt very realistic.
The character development was great and I enjoyed seeing the characters mature and really grow throughout the book. But the way in which time moves in the second half of the book is much faster than the first half and that made the plot feel rushed and jumpy. Which I think is the main reason I didn't like this book as much as I'd hoped to. Overall it was a great read but it had a few things that I just personally don't enjoy, but I know a lot of you will enjoy this so I would say to give it a go.
Thank you to Netgalley, Rachel Cotton and Ink Road (Black and White publishing) for giving me the chance to read an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Nowhere Else But Here follows Rose, a girl whose parents are often absent and leave her to go about her life alone. Taking care of herself and making sure to follow her own set of strict rules. She tries her best to stay away from others, although finds herself intrigued by someone almost impossible to ignore. Drawn to Theo Lockheart, a mystery that she dreams of solving. That is until he goes missing. Then the mystery deepens when he turns up on Rose's doorstep desperate for her help.
This was a very cute and quick read. I enjoyed the before and after aspects of the plot however I did feel as though it was a little anti-climatic. In the last half I was constantly waiting for something major to happen and it just didn't. That kind of fizzled how much I enjoyed the start and how the story was going. It started off very original but somehow became the usual YA contemporary I've read a million times. If you love a cutesy and light-hearted romance then this is a perfect read for you. But if you like a punch to your stories then this may be hit or miss. And honestly even though I really enjoyed reading it, it was rather average in terms of the plot. The first half was much more intriguing and I really quickly got into the heads of these characters. The author did a great job throwing you into Rose's life although it just felt like there was something missing. I guess it just wasn't for me.
The writing was extremely well done and the protagonists voice was very interesting and gripping. The side characters were also well done and I enjoyed the way the dynamic worked between the main character and her friends. However I would have liked more of that. Most of the book was focused on the relationship between Rose and Theo so there wasn't much in terms of side plot lines. Although the story does deal with instances of anxiety, absent parents and parental abuse. It just never seems to dig deep enough into why these things are happening. There wasn't enough explanation which led to a lack of depth and made the story as a whole not very satisfying. I guess I just wish there would have been more of a resolve to some of the problems. However even though I would have preferred this, I can't say that leaving things not neatly tied up is a bad thing because often thats what real life is like. So it definitely felt very realistic.
The character development was great and I enjoyed seeing the characters mature and really grow throughout the book. But the way in which time moves in the second half of the book is much faster than the first half and that made the plot feel rushed and jumpy. Which I think is the main reason I didn't like this book as much as I'd hoped to. Overall it was a great read but it had a few things that I just personally don't enjoy, but I know a lot of you will enjoy this so I would say to give it a go.
Thank you to Netgalley, Rachel Cotton and Ink Road (Black and White publishing) for giving me the chance to read an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
April 29, 2018
I got sucked in by that cover and the synopsis was intriguing, sadly I was disappointed.
I liked Rose and Theo well enough. They’re both struggling with some things and they find each other. There are a few other characters, but no one really stood out. I’m not sure if that was intentional to show how alone Rose felt.
Plot wise it was meh. A few of the plot threads seemed forced and several scenes that reminded me of similar scenes from other books. There was a bit of push and pull and more drama than I was expecting. The writing felt clunky and there was a lot of telling instead of showing.
Overall, the story had potential and I couldn’t stop reading it, but it mostly fell flat for me.
**Huge thanks to Ink Road for providing the arc free of charge**
I liked Rose and Theo well enough. They’re both struggling with some things and they find each other. There are a few other characters, but no one really stood out. I’m not sure if that was intentional to show how alone Rose felt.
Plot wise it was meh. A few of the plot threads seemed forced and several scenes that reminded me of similar scenes from other books. There was a bit of push and pull and more drama than I was expecting. The writing felt clunky and there was a lot of telling instead of showing.
Overall, the story had potential and I couldn’t stop reading it, but it mostly fell flat for me.
**Huge thanks to Ink Road for providing the arc free of charge**
May 5, 2018
I was on the promotional blog tour for this book, a big thank you to Ink Road Books for sending me a physical ARC for an honest review!
This is Rachel's debut novel, when I used to be active on Wattpad a few years ago, I used to see her Wattpad works trending on the charts. To see one of her stories in physical copies, I was literally so thrilled! Nowhere Else But Here was a good YA Contemporary that follows Rose, a girl in high school, part of a search for a fellow classmate called Theo who is missing from his home. Suddenly, Theo shows up outside her door, with hidden secrets regarding why he ran off. The problem is, he's too scared to go home and so, needs somewhere to stay. Rose has to lie to her parents, older brother and friends about this development. When suspicions start to arise, a chance at discovering happiness could vanish in an instant.
There are mentions of domestic abuse, a couple of paragraphs where Rose has an anxiety attack (personally, I can relate to the anxiety attacks), however, the pacing flowed well for me. I liked the second half of the book as the characters started to interact more. The first half was Rose and Theo together, at Rose's house hiding away. There were a lot of revealed secrets that I tried to keep track of. But overall, I did enjoy this one. I'm really excited to see what book Rachel comes out with next, definitely go and grab your copy readers!
Overall: Good dialogue, emotional story, Rose and Theo's interactions kept me reading until the final page.
This is Rachel's debut novel, when I used to be active on Wattpad a few years ago, I used to see her Wattpad works trending on the charts. To see one of her stories in physical copies, I was literally so thrilled! Nowhere Else But Here was a good YA Contemporary that follows Rose, a girl in high school, part of a search for a fellow classmate called Theo who is missing from his home. Suddenly, Theo shows up outside her door, with hidden secrets regarding why he ran off. The problem is, he's too scared to go home and so, needs somewhere to stay. Rose has to lie to her parents, older brother and friends about this development. When suspicions start to arise, a chance at discovering happiness could vanish in an instant.
There are mentions of domestic abuse, a couple of paragraphs where Rose has an anxiety attack (personally, I can relate to the anxiety attacks), however, the pacing flowed well for me. I liked the second half of the book as the characters started to interact more. The first half was Rose and Theo together, at Rose's house hiding away. There were a lot of revealed secrets that I tried to keep track of. But overall, I did enjoy this one. I'm really excited to see what book Rachel comes out with next, definitely go and grab your copy readers!
Overall: Good dialogue, emotional story, Rose and Theo's interactions kept me reading until the final page.
May 28, 2018
*I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
I’m going to start this review by mentioning some of the good things about this book. This book focused on the romance of Theo and Rose and the story was easy to follow and contained a few cute moments. However, the problem was I didn’t feel any sort of a connection to the characters and tbh I didn’t care about them. This book felt like a cliché YA book with absent parents a mysterious boy and a wishy washy MC. I think that this writing style might just not be for me and I’m sure lots of other people will love it. Due, to this I am going to give it one star.
I’m going to start this review by mentioning some of the good things about this book. This book focused on the romance of Theo and Rose and the story was easy to follow and contained a few cute moments. However, the problem was I didn’t feel any sort of a connection to the characters and tbh I didn’t care about them. This book felt like a cliché YA book with absent parents a mysterious boy and a wishy washy MC. I think that this writing style might just not be for me and I’m sure lots of other people will love it. Due, to this I am going to give it one star.
April 26, 2018
This book was simply okay, it had a lot of promise but fell flat. I also don't know where the love between the couple came from. Sure they were a cute little couple but being in love, seriously what? It also was way different from what I was expecting the description was very misleading. If you want a cute fluffy cute little read that deals with some parental issues this book is for you. If you are expecting something deeper look for something else.
April 26, 2018
Theo is a cute character. I like Rose the main character. It felt like the beginning of the book was quite rushed and over with too soon, I wish they’d spent more time looking for him and he didn’t turn up so quick. I like Rose and Theo’s relationship - I like the jokes they have with eachother and how easy they seem to get on.
I wish they’d told us more about Rose’s past and built her character up more. I do like though that she is a fellow control freak! I love the ups and downs of their relationship - it made it feel realistic. I love the authors writing style, it makes you connect to the story and characters very quickly. I can’t wait to read her future work!
I wish they’d told us more about Rose’s past and built her character up more. I do like though that she is a fellow control freak! I love the ups and downs of their relationship - it made it feel realistic. I love the authors writing style, it makes you connect to the story and characters very quickly. I can’t wait to read her future work!
May 12, 2018
#NowhereElseButHere #NetGalley
publisher synopsis: “He was reckless. He was exciting. He was Theo.
And he was a breath of fresh air in my otherwise extremely dull life”
What if the missing person is your missing piece?
Rose has always played by the rules – now it’s time to break them.
Life’s easier when you stay away from other people. Rose Valentine knows that. But some people are impossible to ignore. Take Theo Lockhart. He’s handsome, funny and beyond intriguing. He’s a mystery; one that Rose dreams of solving.
Then one night the mystery deepens. Theo turns up on Rose’s doorstep, desperate to hide out at her house. He’s keeping secrets, and Rose has a million questions. Not least – why did he choose to run to her?
If Rose lets him in, she’ll be going against everything she holds true. It’s reckless, risky – and definitely not in the rulebook. But Theo makes Rose long to break the rules After a whirlwind week of brat-pack movies, midnight snacks and non-stop chat, where do Rose and Theo go from here?
I really enjoyed reading this book until I found out why he was missing. It was a big letdown. He put his parents and possibly friends in a horrible position and wow... I can't imagine how sick parents would be in real life. After finding out how selfish and cowardly he was I had a hard time reading anymore.
I recieved an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
publisher synopsis: “He was reckless. He was exciting. He was Theo.
And he was a breath of fresh air in my otherwise extremely dull life”
What if the missing person is your missing piece?
Rose has always played by the rules – now it’s time to break them.
Life’s easier when you stay away from other people. Rose Valentine knows that. But some people are impossible to ignore. Take Theo Lockhart. He’s handsome, funny and beyond intriguing. He’s a mystery; one that Rose dreams of solving.
Then one night the mystery deepens. Theo turns up on Rose’s doorstep, desperate to hide out at her house. He’s keeping secrets, and Rose has a million questions. Not least – why did he choose to run to her?
If Rose lets him in, she’ll be going against everything she holds true. It’s reckless, risky – and definitely not in the rulebook. But Theo makes Rose long to break the rules After a whirlwind week of brat-pack movies, midnight snacks and non-stop chat, where do Rose and Theo go from here?
I really enjoyed reading this book until I found out why he was missing. It was a big letdown. He put his parents and possibly friends in a horrible position and wow... I can't imagine how sick parents would be in real life. After finding out how selfish and cowardly he was I had a hard time reading anymore.
I recieved an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
April 10, 2020
I thought this book was well done and very cute. so it follows a girl called Rose who one day has the missing boy from her town Theo turn up on her doorstep asking if she can help him to hide. The book follows their journey and what happens when her parents find out. I liked both our main characters rose and theo. From the outside they are both your avergae highschool students with amazing grades however deep under they both have some issue which i liked reading about. There was a whole diverse group of characters with two of the female side characters in a relatioship. The beginning half was plot heavy with the main thing being was that theo was hiding out in Roses bedroom and the second half is more the romance part.
This book deals with alot of topics that could be seen to be triggering. Theres Domestic abuse which pays a keypart to the story, Neglect also quite key, missing person, Anxiety attacks.
I gave this book 4 stars, it was cute.
This book deals with alot of topics that could be seen to be triggering. Theres Domestic abuse which pays a keypart to the story, Neglect also quite key, missing person, Anxiety attacks.
I gave this book 4 stars, it was cute.
January 9, 2019
This review was originally posted on That Book Gal.
This book is pure fluff. It doesn’t have a ton of depth, but it’s fun. I think that’s the beauty of it. People really underestimate fluff books. Their purpose is purely to make the read happy, and sometimes they aren’t deep, they don’t hav something to say. They’re sweet.
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the romance, while it was cheesy at many times. It’s just such a cute story!
While this book isn’t a favorite, and I didn’t always love it, it was Laos super funny, and not in the ways the author intended. I found a lot of the plot and romance funny because it was cheesy—it’s like how people watch romcoms purely for comedy.
I’m not going to lie though. This book drove me up a wall at times. It’s very unrealistic in my opinion, and maybe that’s just because of the cultural difference? It takes place in England and I’m American. But they kept like…. not being stressed out of their minds about college? And like right before college they had money to drop on a trip to Paris? Maybe it’s because Rose’s parents are more on the rich side, idk. But money was never discussed.
I also feel like Rose was really annoying. She kept pushing for Theo to open up to her, which I kind of understand but also he needs to open up in his own time, especially about the parental abuse he’s been through. She saw it all as secrets he was keeping from her, which was like super selfish.
Anyway, this was a cute story that’s a great fluff read. It annoyed me sometimes but I liked it! (I did overall enjoy this, so this isn’t a negative review or rating, I just don’t think it deserved 4 stars)
This book is pure fluff. It doesn’t have a ton of depth, but it’s fun. I think that’s the beauty of it. People really underestimate fluff books. Their purpose is purely to make the read happy, and sometimes they aren’t deep, they don’t hav something to say. They’re sweet.
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the romance, while it was cheesy at many times. It’s just such a cute story!
While this book isn’t a favorite, and I didn’t always love it, it was Laos super funny, and not in the ways the author intended. I found a lot of the plot and romance funny because it was cheesy—it’s like how people watch romcoms purely for comedy.
I’m not going to lie though. This book drove me up a wall at times. It’s very unrealistic in my opinion, and maybe that’s just because of the cultural difference? It takes place in England and I’m American. But they kept like…. not being stressed out of their minds about college? And like right before college they had money to drop on a trip to Paris? Maybe it’s because Rose’s parents are more on the rich side, idk. But money was never discussed.
I also feel like Rose was really annoying. She kept pushing for Theo to open up to her, which I kind of understand but also he needs to open up in his own time, especially about the parental abuse he’s been through. She saw it all as secrets he was keeping from her, which was like super selfish.
Anyway, this was a cute story that’s a great fluff read. It annoyed me sometimes but I liked it! (I did overall enjoy this, so this isn’t a negative review or rating, I just don’t think it deserved 4 stars)
April 30, 2018
30/4: I just learned that the writer is seventeen years old?! Like whaaatt that is so cool!!
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*3.5 stars! :)
Nowhere Else but Here was a an amusing and cute book, perfect if you're looking for a quick read that's not too heavy.
It was definitely enjoyable to read this book, but it didn't really meet my expectations. The characters were definitely cute, but I wasn't feeling as connected to the characters and as engaged as I wanted to. Still, some important issues were discussed in this book, although those didn’t have the focus.
Rose is a sixteen-year-old girl who is home alone a lot because her parents are lawyers who work very long days. As Rose is home alone one day, a boy rings her bell. He desperately needs somewhere to hide and asks Rose if he can stay with her for a few days. This boy is Theo, Rose's classmate. But is Rose able to hide him while her parents are home and when the whole town is looking for him?
———————
*3.5 stars! :)
Nowhere Else but Here was a an amusing and cute book, perfect if you're looking for a quick read that's not too heavy.
It was definitely enjoyable to read this book, but it didn't really meet my expectations. The characters were definitely cute, but I wasn't feeling as connected to the characters and as engaged as I wanted to. Still, some important issues were discussed in this book, although those didn’t have the focus.
Rose is a sixteen-year-old girl who is home alone a lot because her parents are lawyers who work very long days. As Rose is home alone one day, a boy rings her bell. He desperately needs somewhere to hide and asks Rose if he can stay with her for a few days. This boy is Theo, Rose's classmate. But is Rose able to hide him while her parents are home and when the whole town is looking for him?
September 10, 2021
maybe after this i’ll stop only reading romance novels lol
June 4, 2018
Unfortunately, this book didn't have enough depth for me and I didn't care about the characters.
May 13, 2018
I love the cover of this book. I was really excited for it after reading the synopsis. I felt like it fell short for me though. It took me half way through the book to really start liking anyone and I kept waiting for something good to happen.
Rose has a thing for this guy Theo that shares Chemistry class with her. They've never really talked or hung out but Theo goes missing and shows up at Rose's house. She has parents who aren't home much so she agrees to hide him in her bedroom. This whole thing is odd and I was hoping for a more exciting story. Finding out Theo's reason for hiding was heartbreaking though.
Thank you to NetGalley and Black & White Publishing for this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Rose has a thing for this guy Theo that shares Chemistry class with her. They've never really talked or hung out but Theo goes missing and shows up at Rose's house. She has parents who aren't home much so she agrees to hide him in her bedroom. This whole thing is odd and I was hoping for a more exciting story. Finding out Theo's reason for hiding was heartbreaking though.
Thank you to NetGalley and Black & White Publishing for this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
October 4, 2022
Thank you NetGalley, the author and the publisher for my free ARC in exchange for my honest review.
3.75/5
"Breathe, Rose," Theo whispered into my ear, and I realised that it was him I was holding on to; I was clutching him like I was drowning and he was the life jacket keeping me from sinking below the water. "Just breathe."
Meet Theo and Rose. In the beginning of the book, Theo has gone missing and suddenly shows up at Rose’s house, asking for her help. Rose is taken back, as she has been nothing more than his chemistry lab partner. So why would he turn to her for help?
And that's how the story begins. Staying spoiler free, the rest of the book follows the events and ramifications of Rose's decision to help Theo.
Theo and I were like two ships that were used to passing each other without any interaction, but now we had crashed into one another and we were trying desperately not to sink.
This book is cute. Like really cute. Rose is wonderful and sweet and learns to come out of her shell, while Theo, who is dreamy and damaged and unpredictable, is a great foil. Their scenes are adorable and funny and charming.
Plot-wise, there's not a ton going on. Most of the conflict stems from characters refusing to just talk to each other or share important information, which then leads to a lack of trust and hurt feelings. However, I honestly didn't mind too much. I loved Theo and Rose so much that I still found myself enjoying this story even without much happening outside of their relationship.
And, ultimately, I was letting him break down the walls that had taken me for ever to build up so he could worm his way into my hear, capturing it and claiming it for his own.
3.75/5
"Breathe, Rose," Theo whispered into my ear, and I realised that it was him I was holding on to; I was clutching him like I was drowning and he was the life jacket keeping me from sinking below the water. "Just breathe."
Meet Theo and Rose. In the beginning of the book, Theo has gone missing and suddenly shows up at Rose’s house, asking for her help. Rose is taken back, as she has been nothing more than his chemistry lab partner. So why would he turn to her for help?
And that's how the story begins. Staying spoiler free, the rest of the book follows the events and ramifications of Rose's decision to help Theo.
Theo and I were like two ships that were used to passing each other without any interaction, but now we had crashed into one another and we were trying desperately not to sink.
This book is cute. Like really cute. Rose is wonderful and sweet and learns to come out of her shell, while Theo, who is dreamy and damaged and unpredictable, is a great foil. Their scenes are adorable and funny and charming.
Plot-wise, there's not a ton going on. Most of the conflict stems from characters refusing to just talk to each other or share important information, which then leads to a lack of trust and hurt feelings. However, I honestly didn't mind too much. I loved Theo and Rose so much that I still found myself enjoying this story even without much happening outside of their relationship.
And, ultimately, I was letting him break down the walls that had taken me for ever to build up so he could worm his way into my hear, capturing it and claiming it for his own.
December 28, 2018
★★★☆☆/★★★★★
Book Review: Nowhere Else But Here by Rachel Cotton
Positives
🍫Rose and Theo were both likeable
🍫Cute, YA contemporary - if not a bit predictable
🍫I liked how we got more of the story after the HEA when most stories would end
Negatives
🍫The writing seemed quite clunky at times
🍫The timeline was wonky, or appeared that way to me
🍫Its very middle of the road for the genre - I've read worse but I've also read better
Cotton's debut YA contemporary is sweet but falls short of some of the other books in this genre that are our there right now.
Rose Valentine's chemistry lab partner has vanished and no one knows where he is. Theo Lockhart keeps himself to himself and doesn't get involved with anyone, unless their face is meeting his fist. Rose can't explain why she's so invested in finding out what happened to Theo, but when he shows up at her door and asks to stay in her house, in secret, she can't bring herself to say no, even if he won't tell her why he vanished. The longer Theo stays, the closer the two get and Rose begins to think she has solved the enigma that is Theo Lockhart.
I found it to be fairly predictable and rolled my eyes many times, and there was one part in particular that just screamed 'Twilight' at me; and there was a definite overuse of both of the characters names which irritated me no end.
I read it in one day and I did like it, but it meanders on at a leisurely pace and at times I wished for a bit more excitement. At 288 pages it's a quick, easy read and if you like the genre then it may be for you, it's not one I'll be holding onto though.
Book Review: Nowhere Else But Here by Rachel Cotton
Positives
🍫Rose and Theo were both likeable
🍫Cute, YA contemporary - if not a bit predictable
🍫I liked how we got more of the story after the HEA when most stories would end
Negatives
🍫The writing seemed quite clunky at times
🍫The timeline was wonky, or appeared that way to me
🍫Its very middle of the road for the genre - I've read worse but I've also read better
Cotton's debut YA contemporary is sweet but falls short of some of the other books in this genre that are our there right now.
Rose Valentine's chemistry lab partner has vanished and no one knows where he is. Theo Lockhart keeps himself to himself and doesn't get involved with anyone, unless their face is meeting his fist. Rose can't explain why she's so invested in finding out what happened to Theo, but when he shows up at her door and asks to stay in her house, in secret, she can't bring herself to say no, even if he won't tell her why he vanished. The longer Theo stays, the closer the two get and Rose begins to think she has solved the enigma that is Theo Lockhart.
I found it to be fairly predictable and rolled my eyes many times, and there was one part in particular that just screamed 'Twilight' at me; and there was a definite overuse of both of the characters names which irritated me no end.
I read it in one day and I did like it, but it meanders on at a leisurely pace and at times I wished for a bit more excitement. At 288 pages it's a quick, easy read and if you like the genre then it may be for you, it's not one I'll be holding onto though.
May 4, 2018
3.5
I would like to thank Netgalley and Black & White Publishing and Ink Road for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
First of all this is a debut was written by a 17 year old so that totally ups my rating.
This is a story about two students Rose and Theo. Rose the “good” student who never steps out of line and Theo the “loner” student who only keeps to himself. The story starts off with Theo missing and just about the whole school looking for him for days. After the second day of the search, Rose’s door bell rings and there stands Theo asking for her help.
I really liked Theo and Rose and I have to keep reminding myself they are still teenagers. Rose has trust issues and seemed to be a little immature at times. It’s like she wants Theo to tell her everything and if he doesn’t then she feels like he can’t be trusted. Henceforth, I had to remind myself that she is a teenager. I feel like since her parents are pretty much non existent she was forced to be in a role that she wasn’t ready for.
This is a cute little contemporary romance that I have to say did not go in the direction I thought it would. Actually, I’m not sure where I thought it would go but the way it started it just seemed a little dark and dramatic and totally did not end up that way. It was a little too much of a HEA. I think that a warning should be added since it does deal with domestic abuse. It is not a big part of the story but it is mentioned.
Congrats on your debut and I’ll definitely be watching for you in the future.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Black & White Publishing and Ink Road for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
First of all this is a debut was written by a 17 year old so that totally ups my rating.
This is a story about two students Rose and Theo. Rose the “good” student who never steps out of line and Theo the “loner” student who only keeps to himself. The story starts off with Theo missing and just about the whole school looking for him for days. After the second day of the search, Rose’s door bell rings and there stands Theo asking for her help.
I really liked Theo and Rose and I have to keep reminding myself they are still teenagers. Rose has trust issues and seemed to be a little immature at times. It’s like she wants Theo to tell her everything and if he doesn’t then she feels like he can’t be trusted. Henceforth, I had to remind myself that she is a teenager. I feel like since her parents are pretty much non existent she was forced to be in a role that she wasn’t ready for.
This is a cute little contemporary romance that I have to say did not go in the direction I thought it would. Actually, I’m not sure where I thought it would go but the way it started it just seemed a little dark and dramatic and totally did not end up that way. It was a little too much of a HEA. I think that a warning should be added since it does deal with domestic abuse. It is not a big part of the story but it is mentioned.
Congrats on your debut and I’ll definitely be watching for you in the future.
September 16, 2018
So okay, this was a quick and fluffy read.
Well, by fluffy I mean cute, and by cute I mean that it had it’s moments.
But overall, the story didn’t sit well with me at all. It seemed a bit like it missed the mark a lot with the writing and the character development; but I did still enjoy it. It starts pretty abruptly, with no really premise about what’s going on in their lives before Theo disappears (and later reappears at her house?)
Aside from the fact that the two talk for their chemistry class (they’re lab partners), Rose has this crush on him that means she decides to help him by letting him hide out in her home when he arrives. Even though they hardly talk. Like, ever.
The pace was stilted. Time passed, obviously, but it felt a little forced. The plot didn’t move the story forward, instead it was just referenced.
There was a heap of potential with this, I think, and I’d keep an eye on this author for future work but this book here, I reckon I would maybe pick up again. Maybe.
•
3/5
•
This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Well, by fluffy I mean cute, and by cute I mean that it had it’s moments.
But overall, the story didn’t sit well with me at all. It seemed a bit like it missed the mark a lot with the writing and the character development; but I did still enjoy it. It starts pretty abruptly, with no really premise about what’s going on in their lives before Theo disappears (and later reappears at her house?)
Aside from the fact that the two talk for their chemistry class (they’re lab partners), Rose has this crush on him that means she decides to help him by letting him hide out in her home when he arrives. Even though they hardly talk. Like, ever.
The pace was stilted. Time passed, obviously, but it felt a little forced. The plot didn’t move the story forward, instead it was just referenced.
There was a heap of potential with this, I think, and I’d keep an eye on this author for future work but this book here, I reckon I would maybe pick up again. Maybe.
•
3/5
•
This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 9, 2018
3.5 Stars
This was a very cute story with a different premise. I loved the way Rose helped Theo by letting him stay in her room. Those scenes were definitely some of my favorite.
I do wish we got to see a little bit of Theo and Rose interact before Theo disappears. The book started off abruptly and it feels a bit odd that Rose would help Theo out without having interacted with him much at school. Later on we find out why, but it could've been more clear or natural in the beginning.
I figured out the reason behind Theo's disappearance rather quickly. I wish that that storyline would have continued on a bit longer. It was 'resolved' less than halfway through the book. The rest of the book focused more on the relationship between Theo and Rose, which was super cute, but still had me less interested for some reason.
Overall, this was a really cute book that was very well written. I have to applaud the author, who by the way, is only 17 years old!
I was sent an eARC of this book by the publisher through NetGalley for an honest review.
This was a very cute story with a different premise. I loved the way Rose helped Theo by letting him stay in her room. Those scenes were definitely some of my favorite.
I do wish we got to see a little bit of Theo and Rose interact before Theo disappears. The book started off abruptly and it feels a bit odd that Rose would help Theo out without having interacted with him much at school. Later on we find out why, but it could've been more clear or natural in the beginning.
I figured out the reason behind Theo's disappearance rather quickly. I wish that that storyline would have continued on a bit longer. It was 'resolved' less than halfway through the book. The rest of the book focused more on the relationship between Theo and Rose, which was super cute, but still had me less interested for some reason.
Overall, this was a really cute book that was very well written. I have to applaud the author, who by the way, is only 17 years old!
I was sent an eARC of this book by the publisher through NetGalley for an honest review.
December 13, 2018
I love a good contemporary YA novel.. especially one with a cute romance and a fun storyline - this book just unfortunately didn't work for me.
The storyline sounded interesting enough but the writing style just wasn't for me and it felt like a lot of effort to just finish this book. This isn't helped by the fact that the characters were kind of boring. They were not well developed and so I had no connection with them at all.
A book can have an annoying/unrealistic storyline and I can still enjoy it if the characters are amazing and steal my heart. Unfortunately I didn't really care about Theo or Rose which is such a shame tbh bc I can admit that there were quite a few actually cute moments.
All in all, this book just wasn't for me but I can understand why some people love it! The author is so young so to publish this book is so admirable, and I feel like any future books she publishes will have a lot of potential!!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review
The storyline sounded interesting enough but the writing style just wasn't for me and it felt like a lot of effort to just finish this book. This isn't helped by the fact that the characters were kind of boring. They were not well developed and so I had no connection with them at all.
A book can have an annoying/unrealistic storyline and I can still enjoy it if the characters are amazing and steal my heart. Unfortunately I didn't really care about Theo or Rose which is such a shame tbh bc I can admit that there were quite a few actually cute moments.
All in all, this book just wasn't for me but I can understand why some people love it! The author is so young so to publish this book is so admirable, and I feel like any future books she publishes will have a lot of potential!!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review
May 9, 2018
I was amazed when I read that the author of this debut novel is only seventeen years old. On the strength of it she will have a great future.
It is a tale of teenage love. Not only between boyfriend and girlfriend but also between siblings and best friends.
The teenagers in the novel have a more privileged life than most in some respects. These are teenagers who can afford cars and champagne dinners. But their private lives are not as glamorous. When one lives in fear and one who goes about her life mostly unnoticed by her parents and secondary to work it tells you that something is not quite right.
It is a light and slightly fluffy read that is probably more convincing than some I have read recently in the same genre because the author is the same age as her characters. The matters that could cause concern have no great detail and most of the story is about love, loyalty and understanding and the romantic side of me loved it.
Rachel Cotton is an author who I will look forward to reading again.
April 28, 2018
Nowhere Else But Here follows Theo and Rose in their relationship.. From the moment Theo goes missing to the moment he ends up in Rose's bedroom..
Rose and Theo, off with a rocky start, soon become really close. Rose - being the control freak that she is- has to let go of some of her boundaries and beloved rules and Theo finally has to let someone get close, we can feel the tension as well as we can feel both of them gravitate towards eachother. I've absolutely loved this read. This lovestory made me feel all gooey and warm on the inside!
Rose and Theo, off with a rocky start, soon become really close. Rose - being the control freak that she is- has to let go of some of her boundaries and beloved rules and Theo finally has to let someone get close, we can feel the tension as well as we can feel both of them gravitate towards eachother. I've absolutely loved this read. This lovestory made me feel all gooey and warm on the inside!
April 29, 2018
NOWHERE ELSE BUT HERE is a sweet YA novel, from debut author Rachel Cotton. Rose and Theos is a touching romance story but it also tackles some sensitive subjects.
This is a story of young love and although i dont generally read YA/Teen books, i found myself really enjoying this one. Its hard to believe that this is the first book from an author who is still very young, and i think that Miss Cotton is definitely going to be one to watch in the future.
Thanks to Netgalley and B&W Publishing for my copy.
This is a story of young love and although i dont generally read YA/Teen books, i found myself really enjoying this one. Its hard to believe that this is the first book from an author who is still very young, and i think that Miss Cotton is definitely going to be one to watch in the future.
Thanks to Netgalley and B&W Publishing for my copy.
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February 9, 2019I’m not going to rate it or add it to my reading challenge because this book was ridiculous and I DNF’d 61 pages in.
The whole premise was crazy - a girl who never breaks the rules suddenly finds it in herself to hide a guy in her bedroom after he refuses to explain why he’s faked going missing and why he needs to hide? And you’re telling me her parents absolutely do not find out and in the process they fall in love? No thank you, my fanfiction days are over.
The whole premise was crazy - a girl who never breaks the rules suddenly finds it in herself to hide a guy in her bedroom after he refuses to explain why he’s faked going missing and why he needs to hide? And you’re telling me her parents absolutely do not find out and in the process they fall in love? No thank you, my fanfiction days are over.
May 24, 2018
Nowhere Else But Here by Rachel Cotton is a unique young adult romance. Theo goes missing, and while the whole town looks for him, he shows up at Rose's door, and ends up staying with her. Rose's parents are neglectful, and Theo's dad is abusive. This book covers some serious issues, but it is also a delightful love story.
I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
June 19, 2018
I got sent this book in exchange for a honest review, all my opinions are my own and thank you so much to the publishers for sending me this book!
I just really liked this, I read it awhile back when I got sent it but it was just overall a great fun quick read.
I just really liked this, I read it awhile back when I got sent it but it was just overall a great fun quick read.
September 13, 2018
I voluntarily reviewed an Reader Copy of this book which I received through
Netgalley. The cover is really sweet and I really like it. The story is also a little sweet with a serious topic underneath.
There was however a little trouble with the timeline, sometimes there was a mention of the passing of a lot of time and then it turned out to be just a couple days, but overall I really liked the story
Netgalley. The cover is really sweet and I really like it. The story is also a little sweet with a serious topic underneath.
There was however a little trouble with the timeline, sometimes there was a mention of the passing of a lot of time and then it turned out to be just a couple days, but overall I really liked the story
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