No Place Like Home, by Barbara O’Neal, is a complex multi-generational family drama that takes readers on an emotional journey. Jewel, after falling in love with a musician and defying her father’s wishes, leaves her small community for New York City. Her husband's death leads her to form her own family community of friends, including Michael, her gay best friend who is dying from AIDS. Upon inheriting her grandmother’s house, she returns to her hometown, facing the challenges of reconnecting with her family and childhood community. This journey of love, loss, and family bonds is primary to the novel's theme.

A secondary plot introduces Malachi, Michael's brother, who has his own demons and refuses to settle in one place. As the novel unfolds, so do Jewel’s feelings for Malachi, but she’s looking to put down roots while he seems incapable of doing so. The book also focuses on Jewel’s son, who, initially angered by the move, learns the benefits of family and the journey to becoming oneself. The growth and transformation of these characters are prominent in the storyline.

Although the plot was somewhat formulaic and, at times, moved slowly, I found the character development and the exploration of complex family dynamics engaging. The author's ability to evoke empathy and connection in readers through the characters' experiences was a standout feature of the novel. Despite its predictable plot, I enjoyed reading the novel and would recommend it.

Thank you to Net Galley, the publisher, and the author, for an ARC of the book. I am happy to share an honest review.

This is a beautiful multigenerational saga and love story that I devoured and loved. There are story lines of love, loss, friendship and family. This story will stick with me for a long time.

Barbara O’Neal is one of my favorite authors. There’s always so many layers to her stories. The family drama feels so real. The estrangement between Jewel & her father. The unconventional self-made family between Jewel & Michael. The reunion with Jewel’s whole family when she moves back home. All of the characters have a rich backstory & she paints the picture so clearly it’s like watching a movie. The recipes sprinkled throughout are an added bonus. It’s a beautiful book filled with beauty, sorrow, joy, & loss. It’s absolutely worth the read.

Great story of a woman coming home to her family with family and reconciliation with this family, finding her roots, helping her best friend deal with his health, and a new love. Cried with this one.

Barbara Oneal always amazes me with her beautiful stories! This was a such a great read! I loved the characters and the storyline. Wonderfully done

I am a fan of this author, but this one is definitely not a favorite. So many stories available of the main character inheriting something or someplace from the place they ran away from years ago. Going back and reconciling with the past. A little slow, but it did pull on the heartstrings for wanting everything to work out.

This was a good read. Jewel has returned home to Pueblo, Colorado with her son, and her sick best friend. Jewell ran away from home almost twenty years ago with a muscian. She was madly in love with him, but he was never able to conquer his demons. He is now dead and Jewel can't afford to help Michael with his terminal illness and her lost son Shane. As luck would have it, Jewel inherits her aunts home and so she goes back. She worries about rebuilding bridges with her family, helping Michael with his illness, stopping her son from the reckless path he has started down, and even new friendships.

I enjoy Barbara O'Neal's books. The main character is often introspective and working out this own issues and striving for something better. The writing style is easy-to-read and the plot will give you food-fo-thought.

I’ve read several other novels by this author and have absolutely loved them. Unfortunately, No Place Like Home was a bit of a miss for me. O’Neal’s beautifully descriptive writing had me craving some home cooked family meals with the company of a large boisterous Italian family. However, the romance, main character, and conflict all seemed rather contrived and one dimensional. I definitely will read other books by O’Neal but this one was not one of my favorites.

This is basically a book about friendship and family, however add in a very sexual deprived character, then you have this book.

This was a slow, hard to get into book, which actual is a re-release of the original in 2002.

I was really expecting more out of this book and honestly, disappointed.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Barbara O'Neal is the queen of reuniting families after being gone for 20 years. No Place Like Home is No Exception.
While nothing can ever top When We Were Mermaids, I'm always happy to read a book about family exploration, returning to what was once home.

Jewel Sabatino, returns home, after a brief stint of stardom. We learn about her childhood, her children, family relationships, death, and her body size - being a size 14 is mentioned numerous times throughout the book.

All in all, if you are looking for a a genre of this kind - O'Neal is the one to turn to.

If there are two things I love about this author's books it is her way of fleshing out her characters, and describing her settings in such a way that you feel them as much as you see them. This book is no exception. I loved Jewel's ease with her sexuality and absolutely fell in love with Michael. Their friendship is the one everyone wants in their own life - true soul siblings. I also loved Jordan - she's the sister or best friend I would love to have!
The story revolves around Jewel's decision to move back to the town she grew up in and her extended family, due to finances and her need to support Michael through the end of his life. Most of her family are delighted to see her return, but others are uncomfortable with it, especially her father from whom she has been estranged since she left as a teenager. Jewel is also negotiating her relationship with her 17 year old son as she comes to terms with his growing up and wanting to stretch his wings, while she dances around a tentative relationship with Michael's brother. And finally, I look forward to the recipes that the author slips in.

I think the cover is very uninspiring and if it wasn't for the fact that I know I like Barbara O'Neal's books I would not have picked this up. Ultimately though, this was a good read with an easy writing style about complex relationships, compromise, and letting go.

I couldn’t put it down. Loved everything about this book. Be prepared to cry toward the end. This author has a way with words that keeps you captivated. Great book!

Barbara O’Neal’s books have quickly become an automatic read for me. This book was first published in 2002, and revised in 2024.

I love how some books seem to enter your life just when you need THAT sort of read. This book was that for me. If you follow me, you know I love a good emotional read. This book hit all the feels. O’Neal paints a picture of the Sabatino family, a tight knit, large Italian family. Jewel, the wild child, returns home with her teenage son and her gravely ill best friend. Estranged from her Dad, what transpires next more than she could ever dream of.

Family is at the center of this book, both the family we are born into and the family that we choose. I so enjoyed the big family and how there was so much love going on behind the scenes. Friends that become our family when times are tough and are always there for us, no matter what. Jewel made a tough decision at a young age, and had to live with the fallout. Things come full circle in a heartbreaking way bringing with it an unexpected but heartwarming ending. This story was beautifully written and so relatable. Very rarely do I read a story that I fall in love with all the characters. There is a tough facade to all but a softness underneath. This is a love story of parents, family, friends and lovers that come into our lives at perfect times. Jewel is so unapologetic with the decisions she made in the past, she owns it and makes no excuses. But she has grown up and now knows what she needs to do. She is in no rush and let’s things play out organically, which I appreciated. This shows how differently we look at things and people at different points in our lives.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This is an updated version that was previously released 20 years ago and it held up very well. Barbara O'Neal is one of my go to authors for a heartfelt book. This was no different! Lovely family driven storyline and memorable characters. Definitely recommend

This novel will definitely be one of my favourites this year!
I got lost in this wonderful story that is beautifully written. It had my emotions going in every direction.
A multigenerational family saga, love story, and deeply moving novel about love and loss, and the bonds of family and friends.
Highly Recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I always enjoy books by this author - they’re nice to get lost in. This was another good one, I enjoyed it.

"No Place Like Home" tells the story of Jewel, who left her traditional Italian Catholic family in Pueblo at 17 to follow her rock-star partner, Billy, and her best friend, Michael, to New York. After two decades and various challenges, including raising her son Shane, she returns to Pueblo to seek reconciliation and rebuild connections with her estranged family. The book explores themes of personal growth, redemption, and the enduring strength of family ties, with richly detailed settings and believable characters. Through heartfelt moments and emotional struggles, Jewel finds new love and a sense of belonging, making it a journey of forgiveness and healing.

A gorgeous tale about the complex nature of love, both platonic & romantic, & with family. O'Neal really captures the difficulty of parental relationships in particular & the confusing nature of pride vs wanting to let things go. She describes the protagonist's home town so richly, it was really easy to feel like you were there with her.

My only criticism was Jewel's constant references to being unhappy with her body size. It felt very dated & she was clearly a relatively slim woman & very attractive; she put herself down so frequently & that got tiring.

The ending of the book was beautiful though - it was so poignant & hopeful.

Love, family drama, and a little bit of food thrown in. I always enjoy Barbara O'Neal's books and this one wasn't any different. While the plot isn't something amazing, it is still a solid, entertaining read.

Jewel is going home. Aunt Sylvia passed and left her a home and some sizable acreage in her hometown. She is taking her best friend Michael who is dying of AIDS, and her son a fledgling musician who gets his talent from his dead father. It is a tough move. She hasn't been there in over twenty years and is estranged from her father who opposed her leaving with a tough guy musician just after high school graduation. Jewel, after all, had so much potential. She grew up immersed in cooking in the family restaurant surrounded by noisy Italians who loved and lived large. Food is big in this book. The plot is interesting and the characters are appealing but the food and recipes are a large part of the lives of the characters and are in the book as well. Michael, the AIDS afflicted friend has a very appealing younger brother who shows up to spend time with his brother in his last days. He too has father problems. Jewel and he bond but the bond is fragile and depends on the healing of the heart. Loved this book and Barbara O'Neal's storytelling as always is fantastic. Thanks to #NetGalley#NoPlaceLIkeHome for the opportunity to read and review this book. Find my review on https://www.facebook.com/thereadingandwritingsentinel/