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Start Here
Two teens go on a life-changing sailing trip as they deal with the grief of losing their best friend in this heart-wrenching, hopeful novel from the author of Something Like Normal and In a Perfect World.
Willa and Taylor were supposed to spend the summer after high school sailing from Ohio to Key West with their best friend, Finley. But Finley died before graduation, leaving them with a twenty-five-foot sailboat, a list of clues leading them to destinations along the way, and a friendship that’s hanging by a thread.
Now, Willa and Taylor have two months and two thousand miles to discover how life works without Finley—and to decide if their own friendship is worth saving.
From acclaimed author Trish Doller comes a poignant tale of forgiveness, grief, and the brilliant discoveries we make within ourselves when we least expect it.
Willa and Taylor were supposed to spend the summer after high school sailing from Ohio to Key West with their best friend, Finley. But Finley died before graduation, leaving them with a twenty-five-foot sailboat, a list of clues leading them to destinations along the way, and a friendship that’s hanging by a thread.
Now, Willa and Taylor have two months and two thousand miles to discover how life works without Finley—and to decide if their own friendship is worth saving.
From acclaimed author Trish Doller comes a poignant tale of forgiveness, grief, and the brilliant discoveries we make within ourselves when we least expect it.
368 pages, Paperback
First published August 13, 2019
24 people are currently reading
2102 people want to read
About the author
Trish Doller
10 books2,153 followersHi, I'm Trish! I don't really visit goodreads too often, but you can find me on both Instagram and Twitter as @trishdoller. Instagram is my favorite, so look there first. I don't bite, so come say hello!
(Note: I'm sorry that don't have any review copies for my books. You'll have to contact the publisher.)
(Note: I'm sorry that don't have any review copies for my books. You'll have to contact the publisher.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
October 12, 2019
Start Here by Trish Doller is a young adult contemporary novel that is a heart warming tale of two teens honoring their best friend's wishes after she had passed away from cancer. Finley, Willa and Taylor had been friends for years and were thought to be inseparable. Finley was the glue that held the group together and as the outgoing one she had come up with the idea of restoring an old sail boat and after graduating heading to Key West from their Ohio home near the Great Lakes.
After Finley's death Willa and Taylor grew apart and rarely even spoke to one another the rest of their high school days. When the day came that Finley had marked for their departure both girls could not let her done by not honoring her last wishes. Setting out the girls never expected the trip to bring them back together with a better understanding of one another.
I'm always a sucker for a book that is set in wonderful locales so I can virtually travel along with the characters and sailing out of the eastern US down the coast sounded like so much fun. Little did I know that along with an interesting journey would be a lovely coming of age story with plenty of emotion as the trip becomes a healing journey.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
After Finley's death Willa and Taylor grew apart and rarely even spoke to one another the rest of their high school days. When the day came that Finley had marked for their departure both girls could not let her done by not honoring her last wishes. Setting out the girls never expected the trip to bring them back together with a better understanding of one another.
I'm always a sucker for a book that is set in wonderful locales so I can virtually travel along with the characters and sailing out of the eastern US down the coast sounded like so much fun. Little did I know that along with an interesting journey would be a lovely coming of age story with plenty of emotion as the trip becomes a healing journey.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
March 1, 2020
I love Trish Doller's straightforward style. Two girls set out to honour their dead friend's wish to sail to Key West. I enjoyed this story about three young women who were fated to travel in different directions, but who learned something valuable from one another. Finley taught the other two girls to live life fully, believe in magic and follow your heart. Taylor and Willa were Finley's "rival best friends" - the loved Finley, but barely tolerated each other. Their growing friendship and the challenges they faced on their journey made engrossing reading.
Willa is bi-racial. Taylor's brother, Cam, is the proverbial college drop-out wastrel who scrounges up fake IDs and weed for Finley to help with her nausea. He also wouldn't mind a fling with Willa, but I was so proud of Willa for refusing to take her relationship with Cam unless she was ready. Cam behaved like the idiot that he is, but Willa was more than amply rewarded for listening to her inner voice. Sometimes we have to give our foolish heart time to settle down and make sure that we aren't wasting our time on someone who just wants to use you. Bravo, Taylor and Willa for growing into strong, courageous women after this eventful journey!
Willa is bi-racial. Taylor's brother, Cam, is the proverbial college drop-out wastrel who scrounges up fake IDs and weed for Finley to help with her nausea. He also wouldn't mind a fling with Willa, but I was so proud of Willa for refusing to take her relationship with Cam unless she was ready. Cam behaved like the idiot that he is, but Willa was more than amply rewarded for listening to her inner voice. Sometimes we have to give our foolish heart time to settle down and make sure that we aren't wasting our time on someone who just wants to use you. Bravo, Taylor and Willa for growing into strong, courageous women after this eventful journey!
September 6, 2019
Finley was the glue that kept Willa and Taylor's friendship together. Now that Finley is gone (she unfortunately died from cancer), Willa and Taylor's relationship isn't great. In fact, it's downright stressful. However, one of Finley's last wishes was for the girls to sail the Great Loop, which is the waterway from Ohio to Key West. That's the perfect adventure before college, right? Except now without Finley, how will Willa and Taylor make it work? They can't just blow off their plans though because not only did they make a promise to Finley, she also made a list of clues to help them while on their trip. While on this trip, both girls have to face important issues within their own lives as well as the hardship of facing life without Finley. Both girls will discover so much about themselves while on this life changing trip in Start Here by Trish Doller.
Read the rest of my review here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
Read the rest of my review here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
August 13, 2019
I’m a huge fan of Trish Doller, so I was beyond excited to get into her new book. From that cover, I was sort of expecting a sort of fluffy contemp, but don’t be fooled.
I really liked Willa, but Taylor took some time to get invested in. Both girls are dealing with Finley’s death and I really appreciated getting both of their POVs.
Plot wise, it did take me some time to get settled. As the story progresses and the trip gets closer to being complete, I was all in. And the growth of both Willa and Taylor was perfection.
Overall, it was emotional and messy and so easy to root for these girls. I would have liked a bit more at the ending, yet it really works for this story.
**Huge thanks to Simon Pulse for providing the arc free of charge**
I really liked Willa, but Taylor took some time to get invested in. Both girls are dealing with Finley’s death and I really appreciated getting both of their POVs.
Plot wise, it did take me some time to get settled. As the story progresses and the trip gets closer to being complete, I was all in. And the growth of both Willa and Taylor was perfection.
Overall, it was emotional and messy and so easy to root for these girls. I would have liked a bit more at the ending, yet it really works for this story.
**Huge thanks to Simon Pulse for providing the arc free of charge**
August 26, 2019
Trish Doller is one of my favorite authors who writes books that don't necessarily sound like my thing. Emma Mills and Tessa Dare, for example, right books that sound 100% like books written for me. Doller's tend to sound much more intense and darker, so, while obviously they've been interesting enough for me to pick up, it's always accompanied by a frisson of nerves. Start Here unsurprisingly didn't sound totally like my thing, but on the knowledge of how good all her prior books were, I downloaded a review copy. As expected, the book focuses less on romance and more on the emotional and physical journey, but it's also very excellent.
The premise of Start Here is a familiar one: a dying friend left a list of clues for her friends to solve as they sail from Ohio to Key West on a trip meant to be for the three of them. There are not-quite-innumerable books about the grieving dead friends, lists left behind, and/or emotional journeys spurred on by directions from a loving friend. Though the premise itself didn't feel particularly fresh, the way everything unravels does feel unique to the other narratives with a similar premise I've read.
That said, the one weakness of the book from my perspective was the character of Finley, who dies of cancer at the start, after a sole POV chapter where she's planning the list. Finley doesn't get enough development, and because both Taylor and Willa idolize her, she can feel like a manic pixie. Admittedly, many people might seem like manic pixies viewed through the lens of their best stories, so maybe that's making an interesting point about memory? The other issue I had with Finley is that the clues seemed needlessly vague. The girls swear they know what she meant, but in some cases I really think they were guessing and could have been wrong. Doesn't really matter for the emotional journey, though, which also may be part of the point.
Start Here uses dual third person limited POV's (aside from Finley's opening chapter), alternating between Taylor and Willa. The two were friends when the group was younger but later had a painful friendship breakup. The tensions between these two really drive the novel, and their character arcs are brilliant. That's the central core of Start Here, and it's a solid, emotional one.
Also, as anyone who has ever been in a friend group of three knows, that's a very difficult dynamic to sustain. With three people, there's usually either two who are closer leaving the third feeling left out or that one person the other two both have a closer bond to whose attention they compete for. The latter is true in this case. Finley's the glue holding together Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (their friend group name and the name of their sailboat), but it's ultimately jealousy over time spent with Finley that pushes Willa and Taylor apart.
Obviously Start Here is a book about grief, but it's not focusing on the depression part of grief. Though the premise is sad, the overall vibe of the book is much more hopeful and inspirational. Having watched a friend grieve this year, the timeline seems a bit optimistic for them to be doing this well, but the emotions themselves do ring true. The journey does probably serve as a great distraction from some of the pain while also being a wonderful way to remember Finley.
There are serious road trip vibes to Start Here even though obviously it's a boat trip. But they're not isolated on the water, stopping regularly in towns and cities and even having visits from family and friends in a few places. Though many of the places they stop aren't high profile or glamorous, the book definitely reminded me of how many cool places there are in the US and how you can find the fun anywhere if you look for it. I have a tendency to be more interested in places overseas, and I feel like Start Here was a nice perspective on what we have here.
There are romances in this book, which I was afraid there wouldn't be, but they definitely are not on the forefront of the novel. In fact, they're open-ended and mostly take place within a couple of chapters. Still, I will say that there's one f/f romance (Taylor's bisexual), which is cute, and I wanted more. Willa has a couple of love interests, and they're both so well-written. Though it's not a romance, this book made me want to read Doller's romances again because I'd forgotten how amazing she was at writing sexual tension and chemistry. The small tidbits here reminded me hard. Maybe time to binge some backlist?
One slightly strange thing I really loved about Start Here is the tenuousness of Willa and Taylor's relationship even at the end of the novel. They've rebuilt their relationship somewhat on a new foundation, but neither of them is totally sure they will continue to be friends from this point on. They might, but they also might find that they do not have much in common aside from Finley. Either way, though, they both understand it now, and they would grow apart with positive feelings rather than negative ones. It's very much a fact of life that some friendships don't survive high school, and these girls are, as the title says, only just starting out.
There's a reason Trish Doller's on my favorites list, and I always feel a bit more admiration when I love books I normally don't think I would.
The premise of Start Here is a familiar one: a dying friend left a list of clues for her friends to solve as they sail from Ohio to Key West on a trip meant to be for the three of them. There are not-quite-innumerable books about the grieving dead friends, lists left behind, and/or emotional journeys spurred on by directions from a loving friend. Though the premise itself didn't feel particularly fresh, the way everything unravels does feel unique to the other narratives with a similar premise I've read.
That said, the one weakness of the book from my perspective was the character of Finley, who dies of cancer at the start, after a sole POV chapter where she's planning the list. Finley doesn't get enough development, and because both Taylor and Willa idolize her, she can feel like a manic pixie. Admittedly, many people might seem like manic pixies viewed through the lens of their best stories, so maybe that's making an interesting point about memory? The other issue I had with Finley is that the clues seemed needlessly vague. The girls swear they know what she meant, but in some cases I really think they were guessing and could have been wrong. Doesn't really matter for the emotional journey, though, which also may be part of the point.
Start Here uses dual third person limited POV's (aside from Finley's opening chapter), alternating between Taylor and Willa. The two were friends when the group was younger but later had a painful friendship breakup. The tensions between these two really drive the novel, and their character arcs are brilliant. That's the central core of Start Here, and it's a solid, emotional one.
Also, as anyone who has ever been in a friend group of three knows, that's a very difficult dynamic to sustain. With three people, there's usually either two who are closer leaving the third feeling left out or that one person the other two both have a closer bond to whose attention they compete for. The latter is true in this case. Finley's the glue holding together Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (their friend group name and the name of their sailboat), but it's ultimately jealousy over time spent with Finley that pushes Willa and Taylor apart.
Obviously Start Here is a book about grief, but it's not focusing on the depression part of grief. Though the premise is sad, the overall vibe of the book is much more hopeful and inspirational. Having watched a friend grieve this year, the timeline seems a bit optimistic for them to be doing this well, but the emotions themselves do ring true. The journey does probably serve as a great distraction from some of the pain while also being a wonderful way to remember Finley.
There are serious road trip vibes to Start Here even though obviously it's a boat trip. But they're not isolated on the water, stopping regularly in towns and cities and even having visits from family and friends in a few places. Though many of the places they stop aren't high profile or glamorous, the book definitely reminded me of how many cool places there are in the US and how you can find the fun anywhere if you look for it. I have a tendency to be more interested in places overseas, and I feel like Start Here was a nice perspective on what we have here.
There are romances in this book, which I was afraid there wouldn't be, but they definitely are not on the forefront of the novel. In fact, they're open-ended and mostly take place within a couple of chapters. Still, I will say that there's one f/f romance (Taylor's bisexual), which is cute, and I wanted more. Willa has a couple of love interests, and they're both so well-written. Though it's not a romance, this book made me want to read Doller's romances again because I'd forgotten how amazing she was at writing sexual tension and chemistry. The small tidbits here reminded me hard. Maybe time to binge some backlist?
One slightly strange thing I really loved about Start Here is the tenuousness of Willa and Taylor's relationship even at the end of the novel. They've rebuilt their relationship somewhat on a new foundation, but neither of them is totally sure they will continue to be friends from this point on. They might, but they also might find that they do not have much in common aside from Finley. Either way, though, they both understand it now, and they would grow apart with positive feelings rather than negative ones. It's very much a fact of life that some friendships don't survive high school, and these girls are, as the title says, only just starting out.
There's a reason Trish Doller's on my favorites list, and I always feel a bit more admiration when I love books I normally don't think I would.
July 29, 2019
I’m not going to lie, I was super worried that when I started this book it was going to be another book that had me in tears because of the death of the main character. I’m happy to say that didn’t happen.
Don’t get me wrong, there are some super emotional spots here, especially in the beginning when you meet Finley, but it didn’t completely gut me.
Start Here is a coming of age story of two young girls trying to figure out who they are and who they can become without the one person who held their friendship together. To say that there is some resentment between Willa and Taylor would be an understatement. Their friendship is complicated and at the start of this journey, the only thing they feel like they have in common is the one person who is no longer there.
I’m going to be honest, I liked these characters but I’m not sure I loved them. I struggled a lot to connect with them throughout, but maybe that is part of their charm - These two very different girls who are struggling to understand what comes next for them, and learning that their life will go on and understanding that they don’t have to lose and forget Finley but they have to start living for themselves was an important message.
I really enjoyed the idea of the sailing trip as the backdrop for the story. It’s interesting to me that this is even a thing that people can do, but Doller does an amazing job of building this story around each of the stops along the way. The trials and tribulations that the girls have to experience helped to build their confidence in who they are and who they are becoming and the growth each of these girls goes through from start to finish was lovely to see.
The things that didn’t work for me… Cam as a character. He was interesting and a big part of the story and then suddenly he wasn’t. I supposed that’s sometimes how life is, but as a reader I wanted more of an explanation on his actions, even if he wasn’t going to be a part of Willa’s life. I also struggled a bit with the relationship with Wyatt. I get it sometimes fate just puts someone in your way that you immediately click with, but I felt like the romances weren’t fleshed out enough to be a part of the story in a resounding way, and I kind of wish they hadn’t been there at all.
Ultimately, at the end of the day, this book wasn’t supposed to be about romance. It is truly about two girls who need to learn to forgive each other for transgressions, grieve for the friend they lost and a future without her, and figure out what is next for them in their lives, and on those points, Doller delivers wonderfully.
If you’re looking for a book about friendship and loss and learning to live for yourself this will be the perfect story for you.
Thank you to the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
Don’t get me wrong, there are some super emotional spots here, especially in the beginning when you meet Finley, but it didn’t completely gut me.
Start Here is a coming of age story of two young girls trying to figure out who they are and who they can become without the one person who held their friendship together. To say that there is some resentment between Willa and Taylor would be an understatement. Their friendship is complicated and at the start of this journey, the only thing they feel like they have in common is the one person who is no longer there.
I’m going to be honest, I liked these characters but I’m not sure I loved them. I struggled a lot to connect with them throughout, but maybe that is part of their charm - These two very different girls who are struggling to understand what comes next for them, and learning that their life will go on and understanding that they don’t have to lose and forget Finley but they have to start living for themselves was an important message.
I really enjoyed the idea of the sailing trip as the backdrop for the story. It’s interesting to me that this is even a thing that people can do, but Doller does an amazing job of building this story around each of the stops along the way. The trials and tribulations that the girls have to experience helped to build their confidence in who they are and who they are becoming and the growth each of these girls goes through from start to finish was lovely to see.
The things that didn’t work for me… Cam as a character. He was interesting and a big part of the story and then suddenly he wasn’t. I supposed that’s sometimes how life is, but as a reader I wanted more of an explanation on his actions, even if he wasn’t going to be a part of Willa’s life. I also struggled a bit with the relationship with Wyatt. I get it sometimes fate just puts someone in your way that you immediately click with, but I felt like the romances weren’t fleshed out enough to be a part of the story in a resounding way, and I kind of wish they hadn’t been there at all.
Ultimately, at the end of the day, this book wasn’t supposed to be about romance. It is truly about two girls who need to learn to forgive each other for transgressions, grieve for the friend they lost and a future without her, and figure out what is next for them in their lives, and on those points, Doller delivers wonderfully.
If you’re looking for a book about friendship and loss and learning to live for yourself this will be the perfect story for you.
Thank you to the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 13, 2019
This review was originally posted on Andi's ABCs
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. It’s safe to say I’m a Trish Doller fan girl. I don’t think she could write anything that I won’t love. My love started with Something Like Normal, her debut, and has only grown. So when I heard about Start Here I was so excited. There is something I love about a good friendship book and mixing one of my favorite authors with a favorite kind of story? YES PLEASE! And I am happy to say Trish hit it out of the park with this one.
Start Here is the story of Willa and Taylor, two girls left behind after their best friend Finley dies. The plan was always for the three of them to sail from Ohio to Key West, but when Finley dies before graduation the two remaining girls reluctantly decide to go using the 25 clues that Finley left for them. With time and a lot of distance to go, Willa and Taylor try to figure out if they have a friendship without Finley or was she the glue that held them all together.
What I personally loved about Start Here was the journey. Not the literal journey of the 2000 miles from Ohio to Key West, but the journey of Willa and Taylor. Both of these girls are just lost without the one person that made them feel like they were special like they had someone to belong to. With her death, they were both gutted and not sure how they fit in the world or with each other. Over their trip and with the help of Finley’s clues, they learn who they are, what they are made of, and how they work as a duo instead of a trio. That was what I loved the most. Watching these 2 girls figure things out and have meltdowns and fights and breakdowns was what made this book a 5 star read. It captured the essence of loss and moving forward and uncertain friendships to perfection.
Start Here is a book that you definitely need to add to your TBR. It is romance light, but friendship heavy and something everyone should read. I highly recommend going on this journey with these complicated characters.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. It’s safe to say I’m a Trish Doller fan girl. I don’t think she could write anything that I won’t love. My love started with Something Like Normal, her debut, and has only grown. So when I heard about Start Here I was so excited. There is something I love about a good friendship book and mixing one of my favorite authors with a favorite kind of story? YES PLEASE! And I am happy to say Trish hit it out of the park with this one.
Start Here is the story of Willa and Taylor, two girls left behind after their best friend Finley dies. The plan was always for the three of them to sail from Ohio to Key West, but when Finley dies before graduation the two remaining girls reluctantly decide to go using the 25 clues that Finley left for them. With time and a lot of distance to go, Willa and Taylor try to figure out if they have a friendship without Finley or was she the glue that held them all together.
What I personally loved about Start Here was the journey. Not the literal journey of the 2000 miles from Ohio to Key West, but the journey of Willa and Taylor. Both of these girls are just lost without the one person that made them feel like they were special like they had someone to belong to. With her death, they were both gutted and not sure how they fit in the world or with each other. Over their trip and with the help of Finley’s clues, they learn who they are, what they are made of, and how they work as a duo instead of a trio. That was what I loved the most. Watching these 2 girls figure things out and have meltdowns and fights and breakdowns was what made this book a 5 star read. It captured the essence of loss and moving forward and uncertain friendships to perfection.
Start Here is a book that you definitely need to add to your TBR. It is romance light, but friendship heavy and something everyone should read. I highly recommend going on this journey with these complicated characters.
August 14, 2019
You know that feeling you get when you follow an author and read multiple of their books, and then a new one comes out and you feel like it has a special kind of magic the others (while they were great!) didn’t quite have?
I felt that way reading START HERE. The story seemed to come alive as I read it. I connected with the characters immediately. The “trapped on a sailboat with your frenemy to honor your best friend’s dying wish” plot was amazing and unique. I loved all the sailing stuff!
I sobbed with Finley as she made the video for her friends about the journey. Then I sobbed with Taylor and Willa as they grieved through that terrible loss. And, as the girls began to find themselves through the trip and learn to appreciate one another, I cried for how far they’d come.
This is the best kind of book to finish your summer with. It’s full of the kind of hope that only comes from grief transformed. It’s real and moving and full of surprise sweet and funny moments. I loved it. I read an electronic review copy, but I’m definitely ordering a finished copy of the book because I suspect it’s one I’ll return to again.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I felt that way reading START HERE. The story seemed to come alive as I read it. I connected with the characters immediately. The “trapped on a sailboat with your frenemy to honor your best friend’s dying wish” plot was amazing and unique. I loved all the sailing stuff!
I sobbed with Finley as she made the video for her friends about the journey. Then I sobbed with Taylor and Willa as they grieved through that terrible loss. And, as the girls began to find themselves through the trip and learn to appreciate one another, I cried for how far they’d come.
This is the best kind of book to finish your summer with. It’s full of the kind of hope that only comes from grief transformed. It’s real and moving and full of surprise sweet and funny moments. I loved it. I read an electronic review copy, but I’m definitely ordering a finished copy of the book because I suspect it’s one I’ll return to again.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
June 29, 2019
Reading a Trish Doller book never gets old. Each new story she has to tell will always find a special place in my heart. This one is no exception.
Start Here is a book about friendship, grief, letting go, & forging your own path. As three teenage girls made a promise to sail part of the Great Loop, just after high school, life decides to sway their plans. After one dies, the other two grapple with keeping that promise. What begins as a “we have to do this for our dead best friend”, morphs into a personal journey of their own.
I loved the attention to detail that Trish gave each point on the map as they sailed on through —a place in the Outer Banks with wild mustangs, especially. Knowing Trish & her personal life, it was neat to see her own stories scattered throughout the pages (especially those Ft Myers references!). This is a story that begins with a “Start Here” on a map, but truly it’s the final destination where both girls start the rest of their lives & learn they have the power to choose their own destinies.
Start Here is a book about friendship, grief, letting go, & forging your own path. As three teenage girls made a promise to sail part of the Great Loop, just after high school, life decides to sway their plans. After one dies, the other two grapple with keeping that promise. What begins as a “we have to do this for our dead best friend”, morphs into a personal journey of their own.
I loved the attention to detail that Trish gave each point on the map as they sailed on through —a place in the Outer Banks with wild mustangs, especially. Knowing Trish & her personal life, it was neat to see her own stories scattered throughout the pages (especially those Ft Myers references!). This is a story that begins with a “Start Here” on a map, but truly it’s the final destination where both girls start the rest of their lives & learn they have the power to choose their own destinies.
September 28, 2019
Also reviewed on my bookstagram.
Ugh, I love Trish Doller's writing.
I took a break from romance and read Trish Doller’s Start Here. The story was about two girls Taylor and Willa who were coping with the death of their best friend Finley. Finley was the glue in their friendship and after Finley passed, Taylor and Willa found themselves struggling to maintain their bond. The story was set throughout a sailing trip the girls took as a deathbed promise to Finley.
I love how this book made me feel. I remember the ups and downs of female friendships I had in high school, the fear of unknown after graduation... Start Here made me nostalgic about my youth *stares broodingly into the horizon*. I know next to nothing about sailing but I really enjoyed reading about it.
P.s. Trish told me that Harper and Travis from Something Like Normal made an uncredited cameo in Start Here so I kept my eyes wide open for them—and I found them!
Ugh, I love Trish Doller's writing.
I took a break from romance and read Trish Doller’s Start Here. The story was about two girls Taylor and Willa who were coping with the death of their best friend Finley. Finley was the glue in their friendship and after Finley passed, Taylor and Willa found themselves struggling to maintain their bond. The story was set throughout a sailing trip the girls took as a deathbed promise to Finley.
I love how this book made me feel. I remember the ups and downs of female friendships I had in high school, the fear of unknown after graduation... Start Here made me nostalgic about my youth *stares broodingly into the horizon*. I know next to nothing about sailing but I really enjoyed reading about it.
P.s. Trish told me that Harper and Travis from Something Like Normal made an uncredited cameo in Start Here so I kept my eyes wide open for them—and I found them!
February 21, 2020
I absolutely adored this book. Don’t get distracted or misled by this gorgeous cover. It IS a book about summer and sailing and two gorgeous girls. But what it is NOT is fluff. It is NOT the story of friends having an easy, breezy summer filled with boys and silly adventures. It’s the story of two girls, maybe more frenemies than friends, grieving over the death of their shared best friend, fulfilling her dying wish by taking a summer-long sailing trip. The actual sailing is extremely difficult. The tension between Willa and Taylor is taut. The impact of this trip on their lives is unquestionable.
Start Here is a road trip story that takes place on the water. And what a trip it is! I had no idea that sailing from Ohio to the Florida Keys was possible. Apparently, it’s a whole thing. Willa and Taylor are sailing half of “The Great Loop.” According to the National Ocean Service, The Great Loop is “a continuous waterway that recreational mariners can travel that includes part of the Atlantic, Gulf Intracoastal Waterways, the Great Lakes, Canadian Heritage Canals, and the inland rivers of America's heartland. Anyone who completes the journey is then named an official 'Looper.'” Within the first few days of their embarkation, the girls are faced with their first of many, many, many challenges - they must go through over 30 locks to get past Lake Erie and Lake Ontario to get to the Hudson River and then on to the intracoastal waterway of the Atlantic Ocean. Man, I love a book that makes me want to learn something! I spent a good amount of time watching YouTube videos of pleasure boats going through the locks on the Great Lakes. FASCINATING. This video was my favorite: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0aaU.... Of course, most teens aren’t going to care about all of the details involved in sailing difficult courses. But they will absolutely be interested in Willa and Taylor’s tenuous friendship and their often frightening but equally awesome adventures.
Start Here is a road trip story that takes place on the water. And what a trip it is! I had no idea that sailing from Ohio to the Florida Keys was possible. Apparently, it’s a whole thing. Willa and Taylor are sailing half of “The Great Loop.” According to the National Ocean Service, The Great Loop is “a continuous waterway that recreational mariners can travel that includes part of the Atlantic, Gulf Intracoastal Waterways, the Great Lakes, Canadian Heritage Canals, and the inland rivers of America's heartland. Anyone who completes the journey is then named an official 'Looper.'” Within the first few days of their embarkation, the girls are faced with their first of many, many, many challenges - they must go through over 30 locks to get past Lake Erie and Lake Ontario to get to the Hudson River and then on to the intracoastal waterway of the Atlantic Ocean. Man, I love a book that makes me want to learn something! I spent a good amount of time watching YouTube videos of pleasure boats going through the locks on the Great Lakes. FASCINATING. This video was my favorite: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0aaU.... Of course, most teens aren’t going to care about all of the details involved in sailing difficult courses. But they will absolutely be interested in Willa and Taylor’s tenuous friendship and their often frightening but equally awesome adventures.
August 5, 2019
Start Here is a young adult contemporary novel that includes elements that can be seen throughout John Green, Sarah Dessen, and Morgan Matson's novels. It had friendships, romance, and "summery" vibes that readers of YA literature can enjoy.
This book's a light-hearted read that can include some heavy topics, albeit it does not seem obvious judging by the cover. Grief's a subject that the characters go through and I enjoyed reading both perspectives from the two main characters, Willa and Taylor.
While this book was a good read, I liked the 3rd person perspective the least. In my opinion, it would've felt more personal if Willa and Taylor's pov were written in first person. Additionally, there were some cringey sentences in here that sounded like "I'm not a fake ID kind of girl. I'm more like a stay at home kind of gal" with a bunch of hyphens. Even if this had been the case, the main highlight in the story was Willa and Taylor's friendship. I think teens would enjoy reading about their journey and character development.
Start Here is a quick read that encompasses a coming of age story with full of heart. Not only is this book about friendship but it is also about self-discovery. I thought that the author did a great job writing about these characters. If you're looking for a heartfelt read, this is it!
*Huge thanks to the publisher for providing access to this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!
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This book's a light-hearted read that can include some heavy topics, albeit it does not seem obvious judging by the cover. Grief's a subject that the characters go through and I enjoyed reading both perspectives from the two main characters, Willa and Taylor.
While this book was a good read, I liked the 3rd person perspective the least. In my opinion, it would've felt more personal if Willa and Taylor's pov were written in first person. Additionally, there were some cringey sentences in here that sounded like "I'm not a fake ID kind of girl. I'm more like a stay at home kind of gal" with a bunch of hyphens. Even if this had been the case, the main highlight in the story was Willa and Taylor's friendship. I think teens would enjoy reading about their journey and character development.
Start Here is a quick read that encompasses a coming of age story with full of heart. Not only is this book about friendship but it is also about self-discovery. I thought that the author did a great job writing about these characters. If you're looking for a heartfelt read, this is it!
*Huge thanks to the publisher for providing access to this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!
BOOK BLOG // IG // TUMBLR // TWITTER
March 1, 2020
Oh this was excellent and heartbreaking and heartwarming all at the same time. Unlikely Duo Goes On Roadtrip is a wonderful trope & I liked the twist on that here where the thing they have in common is their best friend who died. Seeing Willa & Taylor's relationship grow seperate to their connection to Finney was so well done.
This also has shades of The Distance from Me to You & Starry Eyes, but sailing, and I was very into that. The Great Loop was not a thing I knew you could do, so this was truly a lot of fun to read.
This also has shades of The Distance from Me to You & Starry Eyes, but sailing, and I was very into that. The Great Loop was not a thing I knew you could do, so this was truly a lot of fun to read.
June 23, 2022
This story was cute and made me want to go on a road trip (or sailing trip?), but there could have been more character development to really leave an impact.
July 28, 2021
I was really disappointed in this book. The characters were not particularly likeable, which is always a red flag for me. And I feel like there was a lot of surface content, but nothing overly deep. I was getting more details about how to sail through locks than I was about the actual story and I wasn't a fan of that.
August 8, 2019
3.5
While this may look like a breezy summertime read, don’t be fooled by the vibes of this cover. This isn’t a serious issue book, but it does have a weight to it that most summery YA lit does not. This book follows two girls, Willa and Taylor who are friends, but not. They have been in each other’s lives for years but only because of their shared connection through their common bff, Finley, a young woman who recently lost her life to leukemia. Before Finley’s death, the three girls had planned to conquer “the loop,” a way to travel from the hometown on Lake Erie down through the Florida Keys. After her death, the two remaining friends decide that they are going to honor her wishes and set off on their shared sailboat with a list of clues Finley left them that of course starts with the words: Start Here.
There was a lot that I enjoyed about this book. The first was the growth that both girls (but imo, especially Willa) make throughout the course of the book. The girls are in that exciting and terrifying summer after high school and before what comes next, and the author does a great job making their voices authentic to that time.
The second thing I really enjoyed was the different stops along the way. I’ve been to their hometown of Sandusky, OH several times because it has one of the best amusement parks in the country. Trish Doller did a fantastic job of making each stop along their journey both believable and meaningful. Each stop was used in both a physical and emotional way — showing both the internal and external journey of the two girls.
I also really enjoyed learning more about sailing. I love sitting on a boat in a lake, but I have never been on a sailboat. Have you ever heard of the lock system in traveling canals and the Great Lakes? It’s insane! I would have been terrified to travel the way they did, but it did make me want to hop on a boat in the worst way.
Finally, and most importantly, what I loved most about this book is the way in which the author depicted the girls (somewhat non)friendship. The girls have a long history of grievances between the two of them. I have had three-way friendships and they can be, frankly, almost impossible to navigate. Both girls want to get along for Finley’s sake, but it is hard for them to be honest with each other about the scars that still exist for them both. Namely, jealously of Willa and Finley’s friendship on Taylors part, and Taylor always making Willa feel less than because she has grown up significantly poorer than her friends and feels she has to do so much more than them just to prove she isn’t “trailer trash.”
While I did enjoy this book, there were a couple of things I didn’t love. The biggest was Willa’s relationship with Taylor’s brother (and Finley’s crush). I won’t go into specifics as most of what I didn’t love happened once you are significantly in the story and I don’t want to spoil anything, but the romance aspect wasn’t my favorite. The pacing of the story was also a bit slow, dragging in the middle especially, although not enough to hinder my overall enjoyment of the story.
Overall, I would definitely recommend Start Here. Again, while this certainly isn’t an issue book that will have you bawling your eyes out, it does have follow a true-to-life experience of two girls at a turning point in their lives. I definitely want to hop on a boat now and travel the world.
*An arc of this book was provided to me via the publisher in exchange of an honest review.*
While this may look like a breezy summertime read, don’t be fooled by the vibes of this cover. This isn’t a serious issue book, but it does have a weight to it that most summery YA lit does not. This book follows two girls, Willa and Taylor who are friends, but not. They have been in each other’s lives for years but only because of their shared connection through their common bff, Finley, a young woman who recently lost her life to leukemia. Before Finley’s death, the three girls had planned to conquer “the loop,” a way to travel from the hometown on Lake Erie down through the Florida Keys. After her death, the two remaining friends decide that they are going to honor her wishes and set off on their shared sailboat with a list of clues Finley left them that of course starts with the words: Start Here.
There was a lot that I enjoyed about this book. The first was the growth that both girls (but imo, especially Willa) make throughout the course of the book. The girls are in that exciting and terrifying summer after high school and before what comes next, and the author does a great job making their voices authentic to that time.
The second thing I really enjoyed was the different stops along the way. I’ve been to their hometown of Sandusky, OH several times because it has one of the best amusement parks in the country. Trish Doller did a fantastic job of making each stop along their journey both believable and meaningful. Each stop was used in both a physical and emotional way — showing both the internal and external journey of the two girls.
I also really enjoyed learning more about sailing. I love sitting on a boat in a lake, but I have never been on a sailboat. Have you ever heard of the lock system in traveling canals and the Great Lakes? It’s insane! I would have been terrified to travel the way they did, but it did make me want to hop on a boat in the worst way.
Finally, and most importantly, what I loved most about this book is the way in which the author depicted the girls (somewhat non)friendship. The girls have a long history of grievances between the two of them. I have had three-way friendships and they can be, frankly, almost impossible to navigate. Both girls want to get along for Finley’s sake, but it is hard for them to be honest with each other about the scars that still exist for them both. Namely, jealously of Willa and Finley’s friendship on Taylors part, and Taylor always making Willa feel less than because she has grown up significantly poorer than her friends and feels she has to do so much more than them just to prove she isn’t “trailer trash.”
While I did enjoy this book, there were a couple of things I didn’t love. The biggest was Willa’s relationship with Taylor’s brother (and Finley’s crush). I won’t go into specifics as most of what I didn’t love happened once you are significantly in the story and I don’t want to spoil anything, but the romance aspect wasn’t my favorite. The pacing of the story was also a bit slow, dragging in the middle especially, although not enough to hinder my overall enjoyment of the story.
Overall, I would definitely recommend Start Here. Again, while this certainly isn’t an issue book that will have you bawling your eyes out, it does have follow a true-to-life experience of two girls at a turning point in their lives. I definitely want to hop on a boat now and travel the world.
*An arc of this book was provided to me via the publisher in exchange of an honest review.*
Read
July 8, 2019Willa, Taylor, and Finley were inseparable friends, though Finley was the glue holding the trio together. When they were young, they made a promise to sail from their home in Ohio through the Great Loop and down to the Florida Keys to celebrate the end of high school. Unfortunately, Finley dies from leukemia before she gets to take the trip but leaves Willa and Taylor with a set of clues for their trip that will honor her memory, as well as allow the two of them to bond outside of their relationship to her.
This is a fresh take on the road trip story, taking place entirely on a sailboat that navigates a series of locks, rough waters (literally and figuratively), as well as a rough hurricane. There's no denying the weather is symbolic here of the friendship that doesn't really exist between Willa and Taylor, both of whom are deeply grieving the loss of their friendship but who feel they have nothing in common with one another without Finley.
Willa is a mixed-race girl and Taylor is bisexual, and their identities play a wonderful role in the story as Willa confronts the realities of her race, as well as her economic challenges, while Taylor, who has access to much more than Willa, grapples with that as well as with who she feels she's ready to share her sexuality with. These become trigger points throughout the journey that ultimately help Willa and Taylor find love not just for their shared friend, but also for one another.
A really lovely, moving, and heartfelt story. It's perfect for readers itching for multiple voiced stories, for a sailing trip, for a book that really delves into what it means to be a friend -- or a best friend (that resonated so deeply for me!), and what it means to grieve someone, especially someone young who didn't get to see all of their biggest dreams come true.
Perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen.
This is a fresh take on the road trip story, taking place entirely on a sailboat that navigates a series of locks, rough waters (literally and figuratively), as well as a rough hurricane. There's no denying the weather is symbolic here of the friendship that doesn't really exist between Willa and Taylor, both of whom are deeply grieving the loss of their friendship but who feel they have nothing in common with one another without Finley.
Willa is a mixed-race girl and Taylor is bisexual, and their identities play a wonderful role in the story as Willa confronts the realities of her race, as well as her economic challenges, while Taylor, who has access to much more than Willa, grapples with that as well as with who she feels she's ready to share her sexuality with. These become trigger points throughout the journey that ultimately help Willa and Taylor find love not just for their shared friend, but also for one another.
A really lovely, moving, and heartfelt story. It's perfect for readers itching for multiple voiced stories, for a sailing trip, for a book that really delves into what it means to be a friend -- or a best friend (that resonated so deeply for me!), and what it means to grieve someone, especially someone young who didn't get to see all of their biggest dreams come true.
Perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen.
August 2, 2019
Soooo goooood! Also soooo saaaad!
♥ I got big The Last Wish of Sasha Cade vibes from this one (if you enjoy ripping your heart out, this one is excellent), as both feature a best friend who dies, but leaves a little instruction for her friends to help ease the pain when she's gone. In Start Here, Finley leaves behind a list of clues, leading them to places she hopes they'll stop along the during their sailing trip from Ohio to Key West. The thing is, not only is Finley dead, but Finley was the glue that held their trio together. Without her, Willa and Taylor never did anything on their own. Now that it's just the two of them all the time, they aren't sure if they can make it together on a sailboat for two months. Now that it's just the two of them, they aren't sure if they even like each other.
♥ After a few missteps, they take off anyway, and it is hardly smooth sailing (HAHA THAT'S A BOAT JOKE GUYS). They start to hit their stride once they get to Niagara Falls, which is also where they meet up with one of Taylor's older brothers, Cam. Finley had a major crush on him before she died, but he was always more into Willa, who would have never done anything to betray her friend. Once Finley is gone, though...look, all I'm saying is that something happens involving a beer of all things that had me fanning myself.
Does Cam turn out to be a dickwad? Does Willa find another hottie along the way? Does Taylor start to accept and explore her bisexuality? WHO KNOWS, READ IT YOURSELF!
♥ The most important relationship in this book is Taylor and Willa, though. They've hurt each other in the past, and right now they're both drowning in so much grief over losing Finley that it's hard to see past it. Even when they're getting along okay, one of them usually does something to mess it up again. A lot of this book is about how their relationship evolves, and what it means to be a best friend. What it means to lose a best friend before you even graduate high school.
♥ And okay, I'm not saying Trish wrote this book specifically for me, but I am saying that she referenced Youngstown, Ohio, which I'm pretty sure I've never seen in a novel before, and which happens to be where I attended college.
And look if that wasn't enough, Trish also makes not one, but two mentions of Put-in-Bay, Ohio, which is this tiny little town on Middle Bass Island in the middle of Lake Erie that my college boyfriend had a family summer house on. I visited once when we were dating and after we broke up I never heard about it ever again. I mean it disappeared so completely that sometimes I wondered if I just made the whole thing up BUT LOOKS LIKE I DIDN'T! (P.S. I just fell down a 2 hour rabbit hole of trying to find said ex online even though he disappeared from all social media immediately after we broke up and was never seen again. This is the third of my exes that ghosted the internet 100% after me, what do I do to these guys?)
Final Thoughts: Guys what else is there to say? It's a new Trish Doller. That should have been enough already. If you have somehow made it this long without reading her previous work, please do yourself a favor and read this, then go tear through her entire backlist.
Favorite Quotes: "Willa has never believed that heartbreak is a physical phenomenon, but now, as she stands in the place where her head and her heart intersect, the pain is breathtakingly real."
"In just a few weeks, she'll be at Kent State, where she might meet someone special. Or maybe not. But one of the things Whiskey Tango Foxtrot has taught her is that you get there when you get there."
"Maybe best doesn't mean forever. Maybe best is the person you get a time when you need her most and she stays only that long."
HUGE THANKS to the publisher for providing me with the ARC!
All quotes are taken from an uncorrected proof of the book
♥ I got big The Last Wish of Sasha Cade vibes from this one (if you enjoy ripping your heart out, this one is excellent), as both feature a best friend who dies, but leaves a little instruction for her friends to help ease the pain when she's gone. In Start Here, Finley leaves behind a list of clues, leading them to places she hopes they'll stop along the during their sailing trip from Ohio to Key West. The thing is, not only is Finley dead, but Finley was the glue that held their trio together. Without her, Willa and Taylor never did anything on their own. Now that it's just the two of them all the time, they aren't sure if they can make it together on a sailboat for two months. Now that it's just the two of them, they aren't sure if they even like each other.
♥ After a few missteps, they take off anyway, and it is hardly smooth sailing (HAHA THAT'S A BOAT JOKE GUYS). They start to hit their stride once they get to Niagara Falls, which is also where they meet up with one of Taylor's older brothers, Cam. Finley had a major crush on him before she died, but he was always more into Willa, who would have never done anything to betray her friend. Once Finley is gone, though...look, all I'm saying is that something happens involving a beer of all things that had me fanning myself.
Does Cam turn out to be a dickwad? Does Willa find another hottie along the way? Does Taylor start to accept and explore her bisexuality? WHO KNOWS, READ IT YOURSELF!
♥ The most important relationship in this book is Taylor and Willa, though. They've hurt each other in the past, and right now they're both drowning in so much grief over losing Finley that it's hard to see past it. Even when they're getting along okay, one of them usually does something to mess it up again. A lot of this book is about how their relationship evolves, and what it means to be a best friend. What it means to lose a best friend before you even graduate high school.
♥ And okay, I'm not saying Trish wrote this book specifically for me, but I am saying that she referenced Youngstown, Ohio, which I'm pretty sure I've never seen in a novel before, and which happens to be where I attended college.
And look if that wasn't enough, Trish also makes not one, but two mentions of Put-in-Bay, Ohio, which is this tiny little town on Middle Bass Island in the middle of Lake Erie that my college boyfriend had a family summer house on. I visited once when we were dating and after we broke up I never heard about it ever again. I mean it disappeared so completely that sometimes I wondered if I just made the whole thing up BUT LOOKS LIKE I DIDN'T! (P.S. I just fell down a 2 hour rabbit hole of trying to find said ex online even though he disappeared from all social media immediately after we broke up and was never seen again. This is the third of my exes that ghosted the internet 100% after me, what do I do to these guys?)
Final Thoughts: Guys what else is there to say? It's a new Trish Doller. That should have been enough already. If you have somehow made it this long without reading her previous work, please do yourself a favor and read this, then go tear through her entire backlist.
Favorite Quotes: "Willa has never believed that heartbreak is a physical phenomenon, but now, as she stands in the place where her head and her heart intersect, the pain is breathtakingly real."
"In just a few weeks, she'll be at Kent State, where she might meet someone special. Or maybe not. But one of the things Whiskey Tango Foxtrot has taught her is that you get there when you get there."
"Maybe best doesn't mean forever. Maybe best is the person you get a time when you need her most and she stays only that long."
HUGE THANKS to the publisher for providing me with the ARC!
All quotes are taken from an uncorrected proof of the book
August 14, 2019
ORIGINAL POST: http://www.nerdprobs.com/books/book-r...
**A copy of this novel was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
Start Here by Trish Doller was everything I would want in a great teen fiction novel and more. She guided me, the reader, through the emotional ups and downs of two teenage girls dealing with the loss of a best friend, rekindling a relationship, past grievances, and new summer love. I cannot praise it enough.
Taylor and Willa are the two main characters in this book, but we get to know their best friend Finley pretty well even though she has passed away when this book starts. The girls made a promise to sail from Ohio to Key West together, but Finley dies of Leukemia. So Willa and Taylor have to go but they aren’t really all that good of friends without Finley. I love the dynamic here. We have two individuals who know each other fairly well, but don’t really like each other even though they shared a best friend and spent a lot of time together.
This book digs deeper into how people handle grief differently. I love seeing how Willa and Taylor are different in this aspect, but yet so much alike in other ways. The author also did a fantastic job of showing their remorse and their personal growth along the journey. I felt I could see them maturing with every flip of the page. The characters were so well developed and we got little instances of flashbacks from the past to show us why they might be the way they are now.
Start Here is a true coming of age story about friendship and I love that it included hard hitting topics like death, lgbtq aspects, love, heartbreak, and so much more. I wish I had went on a trip like this when I was there age. What an amazing thing to do and it was such a joy to read. I would recommend this book to anyone, young and old alike. Made me feel young again just reading it. I’ll be checking out more from Trish Doller soon!
**A copy of this novel was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
Start Here by Trish Doller was everything I would want in a great teen fiction novel and more. She guided me, the reader, through the emotional ups and downs of two teenage girls dealing with the loss of a best friend, rekindling a relationship, past grievances, and new summer love. I cannot praise it enough.
Taylor and Willa are the two main characters in this book, but we get to know their best friend Finley pretty well even though she has passed away when this book starts. The girls made a promise to sail from Ohio to Key West together, but Finley dies of Leukemia. So Willa and Taylor have to go but they aren’t really all that good of friends without Finley. I love the dynamic here. We have two individuals who know each other fairly well, but don’t really like each other even though they shared a best friend and spent a lot of time together.
This book digs deeper into how people handle grief differently. I love seeing how Willa and Taylor are different in this aspect, but yet so much alike in other ways. The author also did a fantastic job of showing their remorse and their personal growth along the journey. I felt I could see them maturing with every flip of the page. The characters were so well developed and we got little instances of flashbacks from the past to show us why they might be the way they are now.
Start Here is a true coming of age story about friendship and I love that it included hard hitting topics like death, lgbtq aspects, love, heartbreak, and so much more. I wish I had went on a trip like this when I was there age. What an amazing thing to do and it was such a joy to read. I would recommend this book to anyone, young and old alike. Made me feel young again just reading it. I’ll be checking out more from Trish Doller soon!
May 16, 2025
I liked this. I enjoyed the concept of the story, and the storytelling. The way the girls shift back and forth on whether they’re getting along really annoyed me though because it never felt like there was an actual reason and it just seemed like pointless arguing. When Taylor and Willa were getting along and doing fun things it was great but when they weren’t both of them annoyed me. Overall it was a decent read though.
Read
August 15, 2019Graded By: Rosemary
Cover Story: Scrapbook
BFF Charm: Eventually x2
Swoonworthy Scale: 5
Talky Talk: She Said, She Said
Bonus Factors: Sailing, Scavenger Hunts
Relationship Status: Summer Summer Summertime
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Scrapbook
BFF Charm: Eventually x2
Swoonworthy Scale: 5
Talky Talk: She Said, She Said
Bonus Factors: Sailing, Scavenger Hunts
Relationship Status: Summer Summer Summertime
Read the full book report here.
August 1, 2019
Start Here was a beautiful, sweet, emotional book.
What do you do when you lose your best friend? This was something that Taylor and Willa had to find out for themselves, after their mutual best friend, Finley, died of cancer at age 17. When Finley was still healthy, the three of them had decided to sail from their home in Sandusky, Ohio, to Key West, Florida, after they graduated from high school. One of Finley's last wishes was for Willa and Taylor to make the trip together, leaving them kind of a scavenger hunt of places to visit along the way. The only thing is, Finley was the center of their trio of friends, and the two remaining girls aren't exactly fond of each other without Finley as the buffer.
The two girls don't get along at first. There are old hurts and jealousies between the two of them, but they're taking this trip for Finley's sake. Over the course of the trip, things change though. They enjoy fun times together, go through difficult times, and their relationship develops.
The characters develop in other ways too. The two girls learn more about themselves and what they want. They become stronger people, and as a reader, you know that whatever waits for them after college, you know that it is better because of this trip.
The trip itself and the locations they visit are wonderful. In a way, reading this book feels almost like taking the trip with them. I'd recommend reading this book in the summer, or when you're feeling a little cold and dreary and need to feel a few summer vibes.
Even though this book deals with the death of a friend, it's not a sad book. I did cry twice while reading this book — once during the first chapter, and once while reading the last chapter. Overall, it was a beautiful book about the friendship of two girls after a loss, and I highly recommend it.
What do you do when you lose your best friend? This was something that Taylor and Willa had to find out for themselves, after their mutual best friend, Finley, died of cancer at age 17. When Finley was still healthy, the three of them had decided to sail from their home in Sandusky, Ohio, to Key West, Florida, after they graduated from high school. One of Finley's last wishes was for Willa and Taylor to make the trip together, leaving them kind of a scavenger hunt of places to visit along the way. The only thing is, Finley was the center of their trio of friends, and the two remaining girls aren't exactly fond of each other without Finley as the buffer.
The two girls don't get along at first. There are old hurts and jealousies between the two of them, but they're taking this trip for Finley's sake. Over the course of the trip, things change though. They enjoy fun times together, go through difficult times, and their relationship develops.
The characters develop in other ways too. The two girls learn more about themselves and what they want. They become stronger people, and as a reader, you know that whatever waits for them after college, you know that it is better because of this trip.
The trip itself and the locations they visit are wonderful. In a way, reading this book feels almost like taking the trip with them. I'd recommend reading this book in the summer, or when you're feeling a little cold and dreary and need to feel a few summer vibes.
Even though this book deals with the death of a friend, it's not a sad book. I did cry twice while reading this book — once during the first chapter, and once while reading the last chapter. Overall, it was a beautiful book about the friendship of two girls after a loss, and I highly recommend it.
July 28, 2019
I've loved Trish Doller since I read Something Like Normal, but all of her books have been amazing. This one, though? This is my favorite.
I love books about friendship or grief or travel, so one that combines all three? YES, PLEASE. Except that's also not really accurate. Finley is all over this book, but it's also not really a grieving book. And Willa and Taylor have known each other for ages, but they were more friends with Finley than they were friends with each other.
Willa and Taylor make no sense together, but their tentative friendship is one of the best things about this book. They've wounded each other a lot in the past (mostly Taylor to Willa) but while their truce is extremely fragile, it's also true. Everything about this book feels incredibly authentic, and neither girl feels like an idealized version of reality.
I've never been particularly interested in sailing, but this made me want to change that. (Which is about as ridiculous as Happiness For Beginners making me want to hike, but there you have it.)
Highly recommended.
I love books about friendship or grief or travel, so one that combines all three? YES, PLEASE. Except that's also not really accurate. Finley is all over this book, but it's also not really a grieving book. And Willa and Taylor have known each other for ages, but they were more friends with Finley than they were friends with each other.
Willa and Taylor make no sense together, but their tentative friendship is one of the best things about this book. They've wounded each other a lot in the past (mostly Taylor to Willa) but while their truce is extremely fragile, it's also true. Everything about this book feels incredibly authentic, and neither girl feels like an idealized version of reality.
I've never been particularly interested in sailing, but this made me want to change that. (Which is about as ridiculous as Happiness For Beginners making me want to hike, but there you have it.)
Highly recommended.
August 20, 2019
Read with Rachel for Friends with ARCs!
3.5 stars. I don’t get to read books that feature travel by boat very often, and I find the idea fascinating (having never done something similar myself, with the exception of ferried), so you can imagine how excited I was to read Start Here. In true Trish Doller form, this was an enjoyable read! The two girls are fun perspectives to read from, and their sailing journey was definitely compelling. I do wish I’d been a touch more emotionally connected with the girls, but otherwise, this one makes for a lovely summer read.
3.5 stars. I don’t get to read books that feature travel by boat very often, and I find the idea fascinating (having never done something similar myself, with the exception of ferried), so you can imagine how excited I was to read Start Here. In true Trish Doller form, this was an enjoyable read! The two girls are fun perspectives to read from, and their sailing journey was definitely compelling. I do wish I’d been a touch more emotionally connected with the girls, but otherwise, this one makes for a lovely summer read.
July 22, 2019
This was the perfect summer read and now one of my favorite Trish Doller books. A perfect blend of heartbreaking and hopeful, this book will make you want to sail off on your own adventure asap. Full review to come over at The Young Folks.
August 8, 2020
Finley, Taylor, and Willa promised to take a sailing trip after high school and back when they were best friends. Come senior year, Taylor and Willa aren't talking, and Finley dies from Leukemia. However, Taylor and Willa take the trip anyway sending them on the adventure of a lifetime.
I haven't read a contemporary book actually worth remembering for a while now and it's getting annoying. Taylor and Willa were both extremely annoying and they were the main the focus of the book sooo...
Taylor was spoiled and treated everyone rudely. A lot of her comments were out of line and really hurtful, and even though she admits that what she says is wrong she never actually apologizes, she just wants for things to fix themselves and buys stuff to win their affection again. Nope, didn't like her character at all.
Willa was petty and even admits to it, but doesn't change anything at all. She spends the whole book picking out fights with Taylor, but won't forgive her for anything. Also, even though Willa is supposedly really poor, she is extremely careless with her valuables, including throwing her phone in a lake because she's mad, buying tickets for a concert she skips half of, and going on random thrifting sprees. Nope, not a fan of her either.
So the only characters I liked were only present for a couple of chapters. However, in addition to the annoying characters, the plot was weak and boring, and the writing was subpar. The ending was kind of good, except nothing was explained, but whatever.
Overall Rating: 1.5 stars
I haven't read a contemporary book actually worth remembering for a while now and it's getting annoying. Taylor and Willa were both extremely annoying and they were the main the focus of the book sooo...
Taylor was spoiled and treated everyone rudely. A lot of her comments were out of line and really hurtful, and even though she admits that what she says is wrong she never actually apologizes, she just wants for things to fix themselves and buys stuff to win their affection again. Nope, didn't like her character at all.
Willa was petty and even admits to it, but doesn't change anything at all. She spends the whole book picking out fights with Taylor, but won't forgive her for anything. Also, even though Willa is supposedly really poor, she is extremely careless with her valuables, including throwing her phone in a lake because she's mad, buying tickets for a concert she skips half of, and going on random thrifting sprees. Nope, not a fan of her either.
So the only characters I liked were only present for a couple of chapters. However, in addition to the annoying characters, the plot was weak and boring, and the writing was subpar. The ending was kind of good, except nothing was explained, but whatever.
Overall Rating: 1.5 stars
September 2, 2019
I picked up Start Here because I thought the cover looked cute and the premise was promising an emotional and enlightening rollercoaster of a novel. However, it lacked the emotional punch that it could have and was at best, a mediocre novel filled with clichés that populate young-adult novels. A best friend who dies of cancer? Check. Deathbed wishes that must be fulfilled? Check. Road trip before the freshman year of college? Check. List of things to do that gets edited at the end of the book to somehow create an emotional connection with the reader?
I did not like Taylor at all because she lacked a character arc. She was continuously a spoiled, selfish pain that did not contribute anything to the lessons of a book. All she seemed to do was flaunt her privilege and insecurities to Willa and only apologizes for her behavior after Willa calls her out. I didn't like how predictable the entire book was. I do admire Trish Doller exploring Taylor's bisexuality and the coming-of-age of a young woman who is struggling to define her sexuality.
It had a good premise, but it failed to deliver on the promises in its synopsis.
Happy Monday! Hope your day is going well. And if it isn't, I hope that tomorrow or sometime in the near future, it gets better. Because I promise that it will. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but soon.
Do things that make you happy, and above else, amor omnia vincent.
with love forever,
Reenie
💋
I did not like Taylor at all because she lacked a character arc. She was continuously a spoiled, selfish pain that did not contribute anything to the lessons of a book. All she seemed to do was flaunt her privilege and insecurities to Willa and only apologizes for her behavior after Willa calls her out. I didn't like how predictable the entire book was. I do admire Trish Doller exploring Taylor's bisexuality and the coming-of-age of a young woman who is struggling to define her sexuality.
It had a good premise, but it failed to deliver on the promises in its synopsis.
Happy Monday! Hope your day is going well. And if it isn't, I hope that tomorrow or sometime in the near future, it gets better. Because I promise that it will. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but soon.
Do things that make you happy, and above else, amor omnia vincent.
with love forever,
Reenie
💋
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2019
This book has so much heart and is the perfect summer read.
Full of adventure and friendship, but more than anything, this book is about strength and forgiveness. It is about believing in yourself and the people around you when you are in your deepest feelings.
I loved that each of the girls has her own transformation during their adventures. This journey made me love each girl for her own reasons.
I started out relating the most to Willa and thinking I was going to resent Taylor. The strength she shows time & again builds so much respect. She may seem harsh, but she is just a bit broken. Taylor's journey to putting herself back together is beautiful. Willa's forgiveness gives me so much hope.
By the end of this book, I found myself wanting to know how the girls are doing.
One thing that may be refreshing for readers who aren't usually into YA: Although the book has a hint of romance, it is not a romance. This book focuses more on the girls and their friendships than their love life.
Beautiful story. Grand adventure. Perfect beach read.
Disclaimer: I was given a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Full of adventure and friendship, but more than anything, this book is about strength and forgiveness. It is about believing in yourself and the people around you when you are in your deepest feelings.
I loved that each of the girls has her own transformation during their adventures. This journey made me love each girl for her own reasons.
I started out relating the most to Willa and thinking I was going to resent Taylor. The strength she shows time & again builds so much respect. She may seem harsh, but she is just a bit broken. Taylor's journey to putting herself back together is beautiful. Willa's forgiveness gives me so much hope.
By the end of this book, I found myself wanting to know how the girls are doing.
One thing that may be refreshing for readers who aren't usually into YA: Although the book has a hint of romance, it is not a romance. This book focuses more on the girls and their friendships than their love life.
Beautiful story. Grand adventure. Perfect beach read.
Disclaimer: I was given a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
June 16, 2019
Start Here by Trish Doller is perfect for fans of Morgan Matson and Jen Malone. It had the same friendships and traveling vibes and it's the PERFECT book to read in the summer or if you're just on vacation.
I really enjoyed reading this book and was glad that I have the new Nook Glowlight Plus because PDF's look GREAT on it. At least two out of three PDF's have looked like an actual book.
I wish we could have gotten to know Finley a bit better, though I get that she died and we couldn't really get to know her at all. I liked how Willa and Taylor were trying to become friends even though Finley was the glue. Also, Pumpkin was adorable, I love pets in stories. I really liked Wyatt and Willa.
This book is perfect if you're looking for books about summer or even if you just need a break from those cold winter nights in the winter. That cover is fun too!! Thank you Netgalley for giving me the chance to read this book. It was a four out of five star rating.
I really enjoyed reading this book and was glad that I have the new Nook Glowlight Plus because PDF's look GREAT on it. At least two out of three PDF's have looked like an actual book.
I wish we could have gotten to know Finley a bit better, though I get that she died and we couldn't really get to know her at all. I liked how Willa and Taylor were trying to become friends even though Finley was the glue. Also, Pumpkin was adorable, I love pets in stories. I really liked Wyatt and Willa.
This book is perfect if you're looking for books about summer or even if you just need a break from those cold winter nights in the winter. That cover is fun too!! Thank you Netgalley for giving me the chance to read this book. It was a four out of five star rating.
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