Thriller about friendships, lies and a cult like commune, I enjoyed the writing style but could not connect with the characters and their actions. Lenna is a young woman who suffers from OCD and anxiety. She works as a copy writer and has trouble making friends. One day she meets Rhiannon in a clothing store and is quickly taken under the outgoing woman's wing. I found their friendship to be very intense and it seemed more like high school girls rather than young working women. Most women in their 20's are involved in their careers, travel, hobbies, dating and other things besides just having a best friend. There is also a third woman named Gillian; Gillian has some mental health issues and tries to hang around Lenna and Rhiannon although they don't want to be friends with her. Gillian becomes a stalker of sorts and even clones one of the women's phones in an effort to gain control of her life.

The commune comes in a bit later and is like all the communes in books; run by an older woman with a crew cut and a hatred of the world outside. The women have to give up their money and freedom and work hard at various chores dictated by the owner. This comes into play a few years after the first section of the book when Lenna is a mother to a baby named Jacob who cries a lot and she discovers Rhiannon has moved to the commune and now has a young toddler of her own. Lenna is married but is upset that her husband doesn't seem to take a lot of interest in the baby although he does love her and does a lot for her around the house. When Lenna arrives she finds that the commune is not what she was looking for and wants to go home to her husband but not sure she can leave.

There are a lot of secrets between all of these women plus another woman named Sadie who was Gillian's roommate. All of the women lie to each other and try to hide parts of their lives and there are various betrayals. I found the very end of the story to be a bit unbelievable and again it just didn't seem like these characters were women in their 20's. . i did want to find out what would happen to Lenna but I didn't find her or any of the other characters likable. I just didn't buy her reasoning for going to the commune in the first place and her description of Rhiannon as the first real love of her life seemed silly based on their short and kind of one sided friendship.. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for a review.

This was a fast paced story. It is multiple POV and dual timeline. (2 years prior & present day) while it was intriguing and I liked the explaining of how the women's lives intertwined, it was a little much like a lifetime movie in being just unrealistic. The ending was also not great which was disappointing.....

I requested this book through Netgalley. thought this was a really great read. There's a lot of twist a turns. Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen something changed. There's a few questionable characters that made the read even more interesting. I'm a fan of PLL. I thought this book was going to be similar to that series but it wasn't. I would reread it again.

As a fan of Pretty Little Liars, I was super excited to read this book and it did not disappoint! The prologue drew me in immediately and I was hooked!

The book alternates between 3 different female's points of view - Lenna, Rhiannon, and Sadie (Sarah), as well as two different timelines - the present and 2 years prior. As the book progresses, you slowly start to learn how each of them are intertwined in each other's lives, which then ultimately leads to the ending of the book. It may seem like it's difficult to follow along, but it's really not.

As for the ending, I was a little disappointed. I don't want to spoil anything, but it just didn't seem realistic to me and seemed a little far-fetched. I wish there was more character development for the "villain" of the book, and I wish we had more of a background story.

I did, however, enjoy the mysterious feel with the ending of the book. The author does a great job leaving the readers contemplating. Soo....who saved them at the end? We will never know.......


Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book has a projected publishing date of February 2024.

#1 New York Times Best Selling Author @saracshepard Nowhere Like Home follows a group of moms who lives in an odd “mommune”. When Lenna gets a call from a friend she hasn’t spoken to in awhile she becomes confused. Oddly enough she now lives in a mysterious offgrid commune. What will happen when Lenna joins her old friend at the mommune? What is Lenna hiding? I was so excited to learn that I got approved to read an advanced copy of one of my favorite authors from when I was in highschool. I was on the edge of my seat while reading this one. I had a few theories but was completely shocked in the end. Thank you to @netgalley @saracshepard and @duttonbooks for this Advanced Readers Copy of Nowhere like home. Publication date is February 20th 2024. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This book was fine. I appreciated the understanding around how tough motherhood truly can be. I did not expect the final twist and overall enjoyed it, it just didn't blow me away

Thank you for the ARC! I expected to really like this because I am a big fan of PLL but this really didn’t do it for me. The story was rushed, the twists were obvious, and the writing was full of cliches.

Thank you, NetGalley and Penquin Group Dutton for this ARC.

Can we say toxic friendships? I really don't know what to say since mental issues are real and should be taken lightly, so I won't make light of those issues. With that said. Lenna, Gillian and Rhiannon should never have crossed paths. They were so toxic and each needed serious help. I believe Sadie is the true victim in this book and my heart breaks for her. I will also say that communication was lacking in their friendships and they all played too many games. If they had just talked to each other, really talked then none of this craziness could have been avoided. I couldn't believe what I was reading and I couldn't put it down.

I'm ready for the sequel!

Sara Shepard was an auto buy author for me for so many years when I was a teenager. The grip the Pretty Little Liars series has on me was intense. I was so excited when I stumbled upon Nowhere Like Home by the queen herself, Sara Shepard. Now that I am a "grown up" the fact that I can enjoy one of my favorite authors from when I was a kid in an adult setting was amazing. Author adoration aside, I really enjoyed this read. It started off a touch slow while we were building up the story line and the character relationship but then it just went full force. I was very curious on how all the character connections were going to come together but I personally did not see any unfinished points. I enjoyed the multiple POVs and all the twists throughout the story. Some might say the overall twist would be predictable but all the little twists I never saw coming. This is a friendship suspense thriller where you never know who is lying. I totally got that eerie feeling while reading this book, you never know who to trust.

A super engaging thriller with twists that will keep you hooked!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!!

This book was really difficult to get into. Most of the time I could not keep up with what was going on with the characters or the storyline, perhaps it was me. Disappointed as I usually super love this author and everything they put out. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

this book was such a great way to get out of a reading slump. despite being a little unlikely, the twists and turns in this book kept me so intrigued and they just kept coming! each new part of the book made me go o a very enjoyable read for fans of pretty little liars! finished it in 24 hours because i couldn’t put it down!

Sara Shepard has done it again! one of my favorite authors manages to give us another amazing mystery

Sara Shepard's "Pretty Little Liars" series jump started my love of reading again.. I devoured all 18+ books and their spin offs. So when I saw that she had a new book I jumped on it. "Nowhere Like Home" really kept me guessing and I loved that. It did have a small "Pretty Little Liars" feel as you are trying to figure out who the some cryptic messages were coming from but I was all for it. It mixed mystery, thriller, murder and cults with a millennial twist. Great story from start to finish. Rest assured, If Sara Shepard writes it, I am gonna read it. Fan through and through.

I received this advance copy from net galley in exchange for a review.
It was a pretty quick read, starting off about a woman trying to befriend a couple of other women she sees around frequently. Meanwhile she's writing a blog about her social anxiety, updating her followers about her attempts and her failing friendship with her roommate.
I found it really difficult to follow and get into the characters at first, and then it shifted, and it was more interesting and easier to follow. However, then it shifted again and it was really tough to follow and believe for the whole last stretch. It seemed kind of contrived and very unbelievable. I expected some of the characters to be more intertwined than they were, and then others were more than I expected. However, the connections weren't as cleverly laid out as they could have been.

As I delved into this new literary journey crafted by the brilliant author renowned for the highly celebrated "Pretty Little Liars" series, I encountered a flurry of mixed reviews. However, I decided not to be swayed by them, for there are moments when I relish being the voice of dissent amidst the clamor of anticipation surrounding popular reads. I clung to my optimism, determined to explore every facet of the narrative, even as I grappled with moments of repetition that seemed to stretch the pacing, like filler chapters preluding the grand crescendo. My experience with this wild ride was not as exhilarating as I had anticipated, as my expectations soared high. But before I delve into the details of my musings, let's explore the elements I found commendable in the author's creative performance. Here are my pros:

Intriguing Cult Premise: The concept of a commune known as the "mommune," comprising women who are both mothers and prospective mothers, never ceases to fascinate. It lays the foundation for a unique and engrossing backdrop.

Multi-Perspective Narrative: The author effectively employs multiple characters and varying perspectives, coupled with a well-structured timeline that navigates between past and present. This narrative technique enriches the story's depth and complexity.

Clever Final Twist: The final twist, undoubtedly, was a testament to the author's clever storytelling. It added an element of surprise and intrigue to the tale. However, its impact wasn't substantial enough to warrant a higher rating, though I wished it were otherwise.

However, let us also address the aspects that did not resonate with me:

Difficulty Connecting with Characters: Despite my best efforts, I struggled to form a meaningful connection with Lenna, the central character, or any of the supporting cast. This emotional disconnect hindered my immersion into the story.

Incongruous Dialogue: The dialogues among the characters felt more fitting for a younger demographic, possibly teenagers, rather than adults. Had the narrative focused on young mothers, this stylistic choice might have found a more suitable context.

These reservations had a notable impact on my reading experience, causing the story to drag at times and delaying my journey towards the conclusion.

Now, let me provide a concise overview of the plot:

Lenna, who had severed ties with her friend Rhiannon two years prior, owing to her own marital and maternal challenges, decides to rekindle their friendship when Rhiannon reaches out. Intrigued by Rhiannon's description of the "mommune," a community of mothers offering mutual support, Lenna embarks on a journey to see life from her friend's perspective. However, as she approaches the commune, she realizes that there is no phone reception, and access is restricted by a padlocked gate. Gradually, she begins to suspect that Rhiannon may harbor ulterior motives for bringing her here. Lenna soon discovers that she is not the only one burdened with long-held secrets, and some of these secrets may drive individuals to protect them at any cost, even if it means jeopardizing her life.

In conclusion, while my enjoyment of this book was not as high as I had initially hoped, I acknowledge its merits and commendable aspects. Sometimes, heightened expectations can influence one's perception. Regardless, I remain an ardent fan of the author and eagerly anticipate her future literary endeavors.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for the opportunity to explore this digital reviewer copy in exchange for my candid and honest reflections.

As a die-hard fan of Sara Shepard and Pretty Little Liars I was really excited when I got approved to read Nowhere Like Home. The first thing I will say is that you cannot go into this book thinking it’s going to be like Pretty Little Liars, it’s definitely a different vibe. As a mom who has social anxiety, I really appreciated the characters and the struggles they had. I think the main character was a little too dependent and focused on finding friendships so she didn’t follow her instincts which caused a lot of trouble for her. I liked how it was written in different perspectives. I really enjoyed the “mommune” scenes and that’s when the book really was hard to put down for me. I was really happy with the main characters growth and and the ending. I read this in a day, it was hard to put down and it was a fun read.

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.