Sara Shepard is one of the authors I credit with developing my love of reading, back when I was in middle school reading Pretty Little Liars as one of my first series books. So, you can only imagine my excitement when I got an advanced copy of her latest, Nowhere Like Home! Nowhere Like Home focuses on the female friendship of Lenna and Rhiannon, which started when they were younger but the story takes place in present day. In present day, Rhiannon finds a way to reconnect with Lenna and tell her about this commune in the desert where moms all work together to raise their children. Lenna, currently feeling overwhelmed with new motherhood and the secrets of her past, agrees to do this primarily because she feels there's still things her and Rhiannon need to workout from the past. Once Lenna makes it to the desert, though, she realizes that this invitation may not have been entirely innocent... and Rhiannon may of had ulterior motives, too. This was such a fun book and I love when I'm surprised at every turn along the way. Highly recommend!!

This book was very different than my normal genre. It’s about 20 year old moms who live in like a combine and I didn’t love it. I just can’t imagine living like that - all in one big space with a bunch of other moms?

Nowhere Like Home is a thriller about friendships, lies and the cult like commune. This book I enjoyed reading but I could not connect to the characters like I would have liked to and it was just a fun page turning read for me. The author did a good job writing this and I would recommend this to other readers especially if they like thriller books. Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton publisher for this ARC read in exchange of my honest review for this book.

Sara Shepard, known for her masterful storytelling in the Pretty Little Liars series, weaves a suspenseful tale in "Nowhere Like Home." The story unfolds when Lenna receives a startling call from her long-lost friend Rhiannon, who vanished without a trace years ago. Intrigued and hoping to mend their fractured relationship, Lenna embarks on a journey into the unknown, driving into the desert to a mysterious community called Halcyon.

The premise, initially suggesting a utopian escape for new mothers, takes a sinister turn as Lenna's suspicions grow amidst the community's peculiar rules and the padlocked gate. Shepard skillfully builds tension, prompting us to question the true nature of Halcyon and its secretive inhabitants. The sense of unease escalates as Lenna discovers the hidden motives behind her invitation, unraveling a web of secrets and lies that threaten to expose her own haunting past.

The exploration of complicated friendships and trauma adds emotional depth to the narrative, creating a multifaceted story that goes beyond surface-level suspense. Shepard's trademark twists come into play, keeping us on edge and ensuring that the unexpected revelations continue to captivate.

"Nowhere Like Home" adeptly combines psychological intrigue with themes of trust, betrayal, and the impact of past traumas. As Lenna grapples with her own fears and the unraveling mysteries of Halcyon, the novel navigates the complexities of human relationships and the lengths to which individuals will go to protect their secrets.

In true Sara Shepard fashion, this book delivers an engrossing and unpredictable narrative that keeps us hooked until the very last page. It is a compelling exploration of the darkness that can lurk beneath seemingly idyllic facades, showcasing Shepard's skill in crafting thrilling stories with unexpected twists and turns.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a readers copy of this book. My reviews never contain spoilers and are freely given.
The story alternates between present day and pasts of the characters involved, but it’s very easy to follow and understand how the past is impacting the present. The plot centers on 3 women whose friendships are sometimes honest, sometimes deceptive, and often damaging. Circumstances and a tragedy lead them all to a commune called Halycon, which is in the Arizona desert. Someone has brought them together for a purpose. No one is quite as they present themselves to be, and leaving is discouraged, and next to impossible.
I encourage readers to put this one on their TBR pile.

This book is a solid 3 for me. I liked how it was written, with the back story being slowly woven in as you navigated what was happening in real time. But it was so hard for me to believe that the characters were adults; they acted like teenagers. As such, it was hard for me to feel really connected to any of them and I essentially finished the book because I was curious how it would all tie together.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this!

If you're a fan of Sara Shepard's other novels like Pretty Little Liars, I think you'll be a fan of this book. It's got a cast of at least two-sided complex women and a sort of murder mystery at the heart. The other thing I think this book has in common with others Shepard has written is that I don't find any of the characters very likable. Lenna, the main character with the most POV chapters, is kind of like a wet blanket, and her "best friend" Rhiannon is almost a manic panic pixie dream girl.

Lenna meets Rhiannon in a department store and is drawn to her. Soon they are inseparable; Rhiannon even gets Lenna a job at the gossip magazine she works at. Then just as suddenly as their friendship seems to begin, Rhiannon disappears. There's a slight time jump, and Rhiannon reaches out to reconnect to Lenna. They're both mothers now, and wouldn't it be great if Lenna could come to this mothers-only commune? Of course, she goes off into the desert with a woman she hasn't seen in years, doesn't tell her husband she's leaving with their 5-month-old son for a desert commune.

Small spoiler: Lenna doesn't die. I genuinely thought she would. The newborn/early baby phase was hard, but leaving in the early morning without telling my husband and essentially kidnapping my own kid? That's a bit much. The novel is told between multiple POVs and jumps between two years ago and present day. I do think Shepard does a good job of building the characters out and allowing us to understand their motivations. They all have good backstories, but their interactions with each other are so bizarre.

Everything happens in an instant. Like Lenna and Rhiannon are instant BFFs. Lenna then latches onto another woman after Rhiannon disappears. For women in their late 20s and early 30s, they are terrible at making friends. When Lenna and Rhiannon reconnect, Lenna instantly distrusts the commune. Which, honestly, is fair. This is where the story starts to reach a climax, and there is a twist that I didn't see coming and I enjoyed.

This is a fun mystery, but the characters to me were unlikable. I didn't really want anyone to be happy.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Dutton for the ARC.

ARC REVIEW

No Where Like Home
BY Sara Shepard

Publishing Date 2/20/2024

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

Lennas friend Rhiannon vanished from her life years ago. Because of this, she's very shocked to hear from her out of the blue,  and even more surprised when Rhiannon invites her and her baby to stay at a women's only commune.

She decides to check it out in an attempt to heal their friendship, and it seems like a supportive place....at first.  As she learns the harsh rules of the commune (no phone calls, no google searches, no leaving the property without approval), she becomes worried a secret from her past will become unveiled. And when she learns that someone else on the property was a crucial part of  that secret, she's starts to feel as though her arrival to the commune was much more planned/intentional than she thought.

Review:
This was a twisty-turny adventure. It's a dual timeline and also multiple POV. As the story unfolds, we learn how the present is shaped by the past events of the characters' lives.

Personally, I really enjoyed the backstory.  I liked the characters and learning about their interwoven stories. Some of the characters suffered from deep anxiety, mental health, and also difficulty with pregnancy, just an FYI.

BUT the ending twist was an "eh" moment for me. It has several layers to it, but it was not an ending that shocked me. Normally, when the twist of a book is revealed, you have that "AHHH" moment because a character you felt you knew was not who you presumed? When that moment happened here, I didn't care about the character involved, resulting in disappointment.  The buildup to this moment was not worth the payout.

It was an okay read. It started out strong but felt a little drawn out, and the ending was a tiny bit far-fetched. But it's not a bad book!

Of course, a big thanks to @netgalley and @duttonbooks for the opportunity to read the arc early! Always an honor 🎖

The book had a good pace. Lots of twists and turns. It was sometimes far-fetched and not relatable. Definitely something with the cult aspect. Kept me guessing.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Random House for allowing me to read Nowhere Like Home by Sara Shepard in exchange for an honest review. This story follows a twisted friendship between Rhiannon, Lenna, Sarah, and Gillian. Their friendship is laced with lies, betrayal, deceit, and a twisted path. Lenna receives a call from her good fried Rhiannon after these two women have not been in touch for several years and invites Lenna to get away to Halcyon, a supportive mommune. As a new mom, Lenna needs a break from life and would like to reconnect with Rhiannon and talk about their mysterious sorted past. Upon arrival, Lenna discovers there is something amiss at Halcyon.

This book will take you on a wild ride. I really enjoyed reading the chapters from each character’s point of view. The beginning this book started out slow for me but about 60% in it started to pick up. I’m giving this book 4 starts because I did not see the twist coming. I’d recommend this book to others!

A gritty, intense, fast-paced, riveting, artful melding of stunning psychological thrills and nail-biting suspense. An edgy mystery full of dark secrets, shocking plot twists and pulse-pounding, palpable tension. A MUST for fans who thrive on superbly-written, unputdownable thrillers!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

That was definitely something!

Pros:
- Dives into female friendships
- Is good at making you want to know what happens next
- Love a good POV switch to go back to another character and get what actually happened
- So incredibly OTT you could not put a gun to my head and ask me to guess what happens

Cons:
- Girlie didn’t just have anxiety she was mentally ILL
- For the love of god please stop using Instagram posts in books, especially ones that don’t make any sense
- The dialogue just wasn’t great, half the time people wouldn’t say these things
- The most sane/relatable person in the book was a murderer??
- Hated all the characters, every single one

Overall, I was curious what was going to happen. The ending was a bit meh to me but Gillian just drove me bat shit crazy anyway so I guess that’s probably why I didn’t care that much. Wasn’t the worst but I also won’t think about it ever again!

I normally read a book in day or less. This book took me a week of reading and putting down thinking what?? (And not in a good way). Not that it was bad, it was confusing. I felt like I started one book and halfway through, it changed to another. Loosely stitched together. Even with that, I know who did what, and why,
Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this advanced copy.

Not my favorite. I'm not a fan of cult books, so I'm probably not the right audience for this one. I did enjoy some of the other aspects of it, so it may be a great book for a different audience.

As soon as I saw the author of Pretty Little Liars was delving into adult fiction, I knew I had to read it.
This was close to being 4 stars for me.
I loved the idea of a commune for moms, and I can easily see this all happening in real life.
All of the background stories were woven together nicely to make the twists believable. I also enjoyed the multiple POV, but I think there were 1-2 too many flashbacks, or maybe it was their placement. Either way, a solid start into adult fiction and I can’t wait to read more.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Part of the reason I picked this book up was because I was a Pretty Little Liars fan. This book beat all my expectations and became my first 5 star book in 2024.
This book was two stories interwoven into one. We get a great picture of Lenna and Rhiannon’s friendship from a few years ago in LA. Then we see their time at Halcyon commune in Arizona. I really enjoyed both parts.
This book also did a good job at making everyone look super suspicious. I was questioning everyone, even Lenna, at times. I had no one I could trust.
The pacing was great. It never felt slow to me. I was at the edge of my seat until the very end, and I was never disappointed.
We also get multiple POVs with 3 different people. I felt like this was done perfectly to show us the secrets and histories of these important characters.
This book was so great, and I definitely recommend it.

Nowhere Like Home is my first Sara Shepard novel and I finished it within a day. I absolutely was taken by this mystery of complicated and toxic friendships, trauma, and a "mom-une."

The writing itself was a nice mixture of atmospheric and tension along with the actual plotline between the characters. Shepard balances the narrative between three characters and does it with ease; she easily captures their individual voices and distinctions between them.

While I felt like it started a bit slow and confusing to me, everything quickly began to unfold. Shepard left an amazing amount of clues and hints along the way, but even so, I didn't guess the plot twist. She kept me on my toes and guessing, which I loved.

The twists and turns were delightful and I was racing to finish Nowhere Like Home.

Nowhere Like Home reads just like a season of Pretty Little Liars, fitting for a new novel by Sara Shephard! Lenna has found herself feeling complacent with life and out of touch with motherhood. She yearns for something more. When her long lost friend Rhiannon suddenly pops back up in her life and invites her to visit her women-only commune, Lenna jumps at the chance to run away from the real world for a short period of time. But once Lenna arrives at Halcyon, she may never leave. This novel goes back and forth between present time on the commune, and the past when Rhiannon and Lenna's friendship took off, and ultimately ended. This book definitely kept my interest, but was absolutely far fetched, again, in the vein of PLL (like literally I was expecting Rhiannon to be revealed as A.) But if you can suspend your belief, Nowhere Like Home will take you for a wild ride into the world of cults, obsession, and revenge.

Many thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for an ARC of this title in exchange for my honest feedback.

I read a good majority of the Pretty Little Liars series and was pretty hooked on the TV show, so I was pretty excited to have a chance to read Shepard's latest thriller, Nowhere Like Home. At first, I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about it. I couldn't relate to the characters as they were all moms or trying to become moms, and I wasn't quite sure how the mystery aspect was going to play out.

However, all of a sudden, the book took off and I was sucked in. Around the 30-35% mark, it starts to move a whole lot faster and I couldn't put it down. The twists in Nowhere Like Home kept coming too. While I wasn't crazy about the characters, I did find they were all well-developed. I felt like they may have been developed the way they were so the reader had a hard time liking them (just my opinion.)

The ending was strong and I enjoyed this book.
Thank you Dutton Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book had what could be an interesting plot and was a quick read. However, I struggled with the unlikeable, juvenile characters. It all seemed very silly. 2.5.