No Place Like Here by Christina June (TLC Tour)

How I Heard About It:  This young-adult novel came to me via the TLC Book Tours (BLINK).  I've reviewed for them before and it is always wonderful to receive a new title from them, do some reading, and write a review of the novel.  

What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:  
1.  *Ashlyn has just completed her junior year at a boarding school.  Before this year, she went to a regular high-school in the town she lives.  

2.  *After getting arrested, for a crime she didn't commit, her parents sent her to the boarding school for a new start.  She made the best of it.  She got good grades, tried to put the past behind her, but didn't make many "good" friends.

3.  *Ashlyn is excited now that her junior year has come to an end and she can spend summer at home with her mother and father.  She is quite surprised when her father informs her she will NOT be spending the summer with them.

4.  *Her father will be spending time in prison, for tax evasion, and her mother is heading to a rehabilitation center for depression.  Ashlyn will spend the summer at a camp with her cousin.  She is less than thrilled about this new plan.

5.  *Ashlyn is not an outdoors girl and really knows nothing about camping, the woods, or "roughing" it.  While at camp she is forced to deal with her own story, her parents, and the new people she meets along the way.  


What I Thought Of It - FIVE Observations/Reflections:
1.  *The beginning of the story started out with a bang:  a girl sent to boarding school, a father heading to prison, and a mother dealing with her own "issues".  

2.  *I sympathized with Ashlyn and the situation her own father put her in.  The author did a tremendous job of describing her father and "helping" the reader dislike him a whole lot.  

3.  *Once Ashlyn and her cousin arrived at camp, I thought the story slowed down a bit.  There were a few surprises, twists, and turns while at camp; but overall the drama was kept to a minimum.  I was hoping more would happen.

4.  *The transformation of Ashlyn from a "Yes daddy girl" to an independent young women was well thought-out and progressed at a realistic pace.  

5.  *This young-adult story wasn't my favorite, but I'm sure I'm not exactly the target audience for the particular story.  

Who Should Read It:   In my opinion, this would be the perfect novel for a high-school female.  She would be able to relate to the relationships that Ashlyn formed with both her female and male friends.  I'm sure they could also understand her strained family dynamics with both her father and mother.  Happy Reading!  


Rating:   3 STARS out of 5 Stars!