Nowhere Like Home is about a group of women living in a commune out in the desert. They call it a “mommune” because they all either want to be mothers or already are. It certainly takes a village to raise children and this way, they have them. The main character Leena gets a call from her old friend Rhiannon to come stay for a couple days. Why not get some help from others and be around women who get it? But as Leena arrives, she learns about strange rules and suddenly she’s suspicious why Rhiannon wanted her out there in the first place. After all, Leena agreed to come to hash out some old drama with Rhiannon and get their friendship sorted out. Soon Leena realizes she isn’t the only one with secrets. Is she safe here with her son? What is Rhiannon’s ulterior motive? And most importantly, does anyone have a secret they’d kill to keep?

I really don’t know how to rate this one honestly. It all came together SO beautifully with a plot twist I did not see coming but some of the middle just felt so “fillery.” Some of the undertones of the book are so raw and real. Struggling friendships, motherhood not coming as natural as you thought and social anxiety. Such big topics that elicit such strong feelings and Shepard wrote them perfectly. I think I would’ve had a harder time finishing, if I didn’t relate to Leena so much. (yaknow, minus her rather large secret lol) Overall, I’m glad I read it but I don’t think I’d read it again. With that said… 3⭐️

A remote setting, suspicious characters, and toxic relationships. This book had it all, including past and present perspectives and multiple P.O.V's. This was quite the page turner and is great for a fun, quick read. I didn't necessarily care for most of the characters here though, especially the main protagonist. She was, with lack of a better word, annoying. While the story is a serious one, the ending was a little eye roll inducing with some explanations that were given. With that said, I don't mind books and stories like that and is great for an in-between, fast read and I would still read more by this author. Three and a half stars.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Dutton for this ARC.

I struggled to get past the beginning of this book. The characters were grating and made unbelievable decisions, the plot required a lot of suspension of disbelief, and I found myself just...annoyed by the series of events.

#1 New York Times bestselling author of Pretty Little Liars Sara Shepard's next adult novel follows a group of mothers living in a mysterious “mommune,” each of whom is running from something

This was fine, I guess. I feel like Sara Shepard's writing is only ever mediocre and she's not great with characters. But it was fine.

2 ⭐️⭐️. I requested this book on NetGalley even though the reviews are not so great because everyone has different opinions and there have been many low rated books that I really ended up liking. Well….not the case here. I guess the first sign that I should have stopped reading it, was when my friend (who was buddy reading it with me) quit after just a couple chapters. She thought the writing was bad from the start. I honestly didn’t think it was that bad until I hit about 35%. And then by 60% I just wanted to be done! It just felt very “amateur” to me in writing. The characters were not likable at all and I found many conversations to be annoying. I almost felt like I was reading a junior high book at times. The friendships were all strange and the storyline just dragged on and on. And to be completely honest, the ending was dumb. I hate to say that about a book but I just felt like after suffering through it all, maybe the ending would somehow have made it worth it….it did not. Sadly, I do not recommend this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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From Sara Shepard, the #1 “New York Times” bestselling author of “Pretty Little Liars,” comes “Nowhere Like Home,” an adult novel following a group of moms living in a mysterious “mommune,” each of whom is running from something.

When Lenna gets a call from her old friend Rhiannon, she is surprised. Rhiannon left Los Angeles two years ago, and Lenna hasn’t heard from her since. Lenna is even more shocked to learn that Rhiannon has a son and now lives off-the-grid with a group of mothers and children in a community in the Arizona desert. Rhiannon invites Lenna, a new mother herself, to join them. Struggling with her marriage and the hardships of being a new parent, Lenna decides to join Rhiannon at the “mommune.” As Lenna drives into the desert and her cell service gets weaker, she becomes more and more unsure of her decision. When Lenna arrives, she learns about the community's rules (no outside phone calls, no questions about people’s pasts) and sees the padlock on the gate that leads out to the main road. Who are these women, and why did Rhiannon invite her here? Lenna is suspicious of their motives, but she has other concerns, including secrets from her past that she doesn’t anyone to find out about.

As a fan of Shepard’s “Pretty Little Liars” series, I could not wait to read this book. Full of twists and turns, mysterious characters, and a unique setting, this book was a captivating page-turner. Told from multiple points of view in alternating timelines, I never knew who or what to believe, which made this a really fun read. Sure, some of the plot was a bit unbelievable, but that’s what makes a story interesting. I enjoyed reading this book overall, but at the end I was left wanting more. The characters were underdeveloped, and I honestly wouldn’t have minded several additional chapters fleshing them out a bit more. Overall, a thrilling adult novel from Shepard. If she writes it, I will read it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group/Dutton for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ohhh this book is RIGHT up my alley.

Nowhere Like Home follows Lenna as she joins a mom commune (mommune!) called Halcyon after being invited by her friend Rhiannon who she hasn’t spoken to in years. The story flashes back two years prior to dive into how the two became friends and why that changed. When Lenna gets to the commune, she realizes something is “off” about the women there including Rhiannon.

This book wove the twists of each timeline together in such a satisfying way. The ending left me wanting a *little* more but I still gave the book a solid 4.5 stars. Loved it!

Thank you to Netgalley and Dutton Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This book was a great read. I could not put it down because I was so intrigued in the storyline. It was not as focused on cult life as I expected, so that was good. I definitely did not figure out the ending. So good. A definite to add to your list.

This was an interesting read. Quite the take on just how easily we can be manipulated by others when we don’t really take the time to listen to our gut feelings. The plot twists just kept coming. I recommend this book highly.


Thank you to NetGalley and Sara Shepard for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my review.

As a mom, this was a fun read! I enjoyed learning about the four different women and thought it wrapped up nicely.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read/review this ARC. I was so excited to read this book by Sara Shepard since I've read her different book series growing up. With that being said reading this book took me back to my time reading her book series Pretty Little Liars. Nowhere Like Home captivated my attention that I finished the book in one sitting. I loved how many twists/ turns there were it kept me on the edge of my seat wanting more. I liked how it was more grown up characters compared to her other book series. I give it 4 Stars.

Definitely not what I'm looking for in thrillers. Hopefully other readers enjoy it more, but the writing and the story were just not for me.

This is just one huge big NO from me. The writing was juvenile, and the storyline was just dumb. If you want to read a book that describes every little detail about a commune, this is for you. It wasn't for me.

Thanks to Penguin and NetGalley for the ARC.
I’m not sure where to start. This one was a bit too far fetched for me. The wiring was not bad, but just not for me.

Nowhere Like Home features four women who are all struggling in their own way and looking for friendship, family, and a place that feels like home. Throughout the book we learn about what brings each woman to the "mommune" and how they are all connected to one another.

I really enjoyed the pace of this book and it did keep me wanting to know more. I thought the POVs and timelines were well written and flowed nicely in a way to connect everything at the end. I wasn't able to guess the twist (which I love!), and often caught myself reading faster just so I could know how it ended!

However, I did think the characters were a little underdeveloped and found myself wanting more from them. I wanted them grow up a little and often found myself wincing at their way of thinking and how they carried themselves.

Overall, I gave this book 3 stars and enjoyed the ride! If you love cults and moms, take yourself a trip the "mommune!"

This read is certainly a fun one, with twists and turns and multiple perspectives that you don’t necessarily see coming. I enjoyed the ride though I’m not sure it’s my favorite of Shepard’s. I’d definitely recommend it though.

Absolutely fantastic plot! Could not put the book down once I began reading it. Cannot wait for it to be released. I will recommend it to everyone I know!

Oh my goodness! This book took me back to my love of Pretty Little Liars! From the books to the show, I could not get enough. This book brought me back and I devoured every page of it! I also LOVED that it centers around moms. It was fun, it was twisty and y’all should read it. BRB. While I go rewatch Pretty Little Liars.

Thank you NetGalley and Dutton Books for this arc. All opinions are my own.

Nowhere Like Home is a twisty story! When Lenna decides to take her young son and leave her husband without notice, she makes the trip to see her estranged friend Rhiannon. Her old wild friend Rhiannon surprisingly also has a son and is participating in off-grid living in a commune called Halcyon. Lenna is suspicious of the mom-mune and is truly only interested in rekindling her relationship with her old friend. She has a secret to fess up to and is hoping for forgiveness. Every time she tries to get Rhiannon alone however, she is nowhere to be found.

Turns out there is much more to the story, the mommune and Rhiannon. Read on if you like reading about
communes and cults, parenthood and parent roles as well as secrets and adult friendships. It's enjoyable and mysterious, Nowhere Like Home. #Penguin #nowherelikehome #sarashepard

Thank you to Dutton for my arc!


This was basically pretty little liars with a mom cult? And I wasn’t mad at it.