Anywhere You Go by Bridget Morrissey is a book about discovery one's self on a journey. Our main character Nora is dealing with the loss of her sister and sets out to a small town which holds meaning to her and her family. While there she meets Caleb. They are both on a journey and learn to open up and discover so much about eachother and themselves. I went into this book not knowing what to expect and ended up really enjoying it! I look forward to reading more from this author in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

The writing in this book is what kept me turning the pages as my goodness! The writing is just plain fun and witty - the characters are hilarious but I will say there are far too many to keep track of so really? Just go into this one for the *vibes*. The vacation shenanigans had me laughing on more than one occasion and it's all just overwhelming in a fun way. There's truly just so much going on - and once I gave up trying to keep the characters straight (though I loved Eleanor and Carson the absolute most! I need a book about them!) I just truly found myself laughing and being entertained by all of the subplots.

I am more than eager to go read other work by Morrissey as I just love her prose and humor SO very much!

If you’re a fan of The Holiday and have been craving a queer romance that captures that magical house-swap charm while delivering fresh emotional depth, Anywhere You Go is the perfect pick!

Bridget Morrissey gives us two compelling heroines—Tatum, a small-town waitress with dreams she hasn’t quite faced, and Eleanor, a high-powered New York press agent whose personal life has taken a backseat to her career. When both women’s lives implode at the same time, a spontaneous house swap sets the stage for personal awakenings, complicated family dynamics, and swoon-worthy romance.

I loved how Anywhere You Go pays homage to The Holiday (a personal favorite of mine!) but still manages to feel entirely its own. The dual love stories are incredibly satisfying—Eleanor’s chemistry with Tatum’s older sibling Carson is electric, and Tatum’s slow-burn romance with June is tender, authentic, and so rewarding. Morrissey’s signature warmth and humor shine through, and I especially appreciated the little cameos from her previous novels. It made the whole story feel like a cozy visit to the beloved “Bridget-Verse.”

I had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook, thanks to an advance listening copy from @prhaudio, and the performances by Jeremy Carlisle Parker and Mia Hutchinson-Shaw were phenomenal. They brought such distinct voices and emotional nuance to Tatum and Eleanor’s journeys—I was completely hooked from the first chapter.

Heartfelt, hopeful, and charming from start to finish, Anywhere You Go is a joyful reminder that sometimes it takes stepping outside your comfort zone to find your truest self—and the love you’ve been waiting for!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Berkley for the advance copy and to @prhaudio for the ALC!

Thank you Berkley for the free review copy

Rating: 4/5 stars
When I first started Anywhere You Go, I don't know if I misunderstood the blurb or what but I thought the whole story was going to be about Tatum & June. Don't ask me why I thought that, your guess is as good as mine, but I'm going to blame it on applying for the ARC late at night....So when I got to chapter 2 and it says "Eleanor" at the top of the page, my first thought was "who the hell is Eleanor, I thought her name was June??" and my second thought was "I don't really care for this person, get me back to Tatum's pov ASAP please." Harsh? Yes. But hear me out....Eleanor easily became my favorite character and I was much more invested in her relationship with Charlie by the end.

I very much enjoyed the plot as a whole, especially reading about people in my age group going through some hard times of self-discovery. I feel like both Tatum and Eleanor grew in impressive and admirable ways, but their relationships also grew and developed with them (not without their struggles, of course). I really liked the writing by Bridget Morrissey as well; this was my first book of hers and I'll have to pick up more.

I knocked one star off the rating for a few small things and one bigger thing: I was of the opinion that June's character felt underdeveloped. As one of the 4 main characters, I feel like I barely knew anything about her other than the fact that she has anxiety and she makes perfumes...Tatum is one of our main narrators and we get her whole perspective on her dad's previous affair and secret child and how the family dynamics have affected her as the middle child. Charlie is Tatum's sibling and we get their whole perspective on the dad thing as well as a look into their personal life. And we have Eleanor, whose parents died years ago in an accident and she's recently lost her job in a dramatic fashion and she's feeling very lost and lonely. And between the 3 of them, I feel like June just got left behind a little bit...

Things you can expect from Anywhere You Go:
-queer characters & queer romance
-the serious definition of the found family trope
-friends-to-lovers
-lovable characters, including side characters (Dawn <3)

3.5 stars - There's a lot about this book that I enjoyed. I thought the writing and pacing was good, there's a lot of fun banter, and overall concept was great. That said, I found myself way more invested in Eleanor and Carson's story than Tatum and June's. I would have been happy to have the whole story revolve around Eleanor and Carson and I found myself skimming the parts of the book they weren't in. Additionally, there were way too many subplots making the story unnecessarily layered and confusing at times.

Overall, I liked that this was a quick sweet story but I didn't totally connect to the whole book. Would still recommend to anyone looking for a fun summertime romance. Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for the eARC - all opinions are my own!

I enjoyed the premise of this book, however, I felt I would have benefitted from a differentiation in voice between our two narrators. They were beautiful written but often spoke in the same tone which made it hard to tell them apart initially.

If you’re into cozy, low-drama romance with a big heart, this sapphic take on The Holiday is totally worth picking up. It follows two women—Eleanor and Tatum—who swap homes to shake up their lives and end up finding love (and themselves) along the way.

There are two romances happening, both stories bring sweet moments, emotional growth, and plenty of charm. The book has all the good stuff: found family, quirky side characters, cute cats, and small-town coziness. It’s wholesome, warm, and full of those “falling in love when you least expect it” feels.

The witty banter and heartwarming vibes carry the book. Perfect for spring reading or anytime you need a soft, feel-good escape.

**Many thanks to Berkley and Bridget Morrissey for an ARC of this book provided via NetGalley!**

Think a sapphic retelling of The Holiday...but with a bit of sunshine, NYC, an unexpected family reunion and an unlikely relationship with a former Hollywood A-Lister thrown in...JUST for starters!

Tatum Ward and Eleanor Chapman: as disparate as these two names sound, their lives? Even more so. Tatum is a waitress in a small-town diner, making ends meet as best she can while trying to drown her feelings for a regular of hers, June. She feels a bit like she's failed to launch, still living at home on her parents property...but she can't help but feel grateful to end up with these regular glimpses of a woman she just can't stop thinking about. Eleanor, on the other hand, lives in the OPPOSITE of a quiet, easy small town - she is a high-profile publicist in NYC...well, she WAS a high profile publicist. Fresh off of losing her job in a very public and humiliating way, she is desperate for escape...and a MUCH needed change of pace.

The perfect solution to this quandary? Why, it's to swap houses with Tatum, of course!

As the two jump headfirst into one another's lives, Eleanor is shocked by the arrival of Tatum's non-binary sibling, Carson, who completely sweeps Eleanor off of her feet...and the two become immediately inseparable. Meanwhile, in New York City, Tatum and June have decided to make this journey together...and let's face it, New York City is THE perfect place to fall in love...and the more time she spends with June, Tatum's feelings all but consume her. It isn't all sunshine and roses, though; both of our main characters are dealing with past traumas, the fallout of their current situations, AND trying to find themselves along the way. But when the time for house swapping comes to an end, will they return to their former selves, remain closed off from the possibility of love, and take the safer - and lonelier - path? Or will their paths converge once again as both Tatum and Eleanor find discover that what they desire truly may have just been around the river bend all along?

It's funny, because I picked up this book not realizing it was at the very least INSPIRED by the Holiday, and The Holiday is one of my TOP tier Christmas movies...if not in my top 5 favorite rom-com films of ALL time. Between the brilliant and inspired direction of Nancy Meyers and the incredible acting and sizzling chemistry between the four leads (Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, and Jack Black, if you aren't familiar), it's pretty much as close to a perfect movie as I could hope for.

But the reason that this is a problem for me now (and perhaps was a subconscious issue for me while reading) is that while this plot might be a gentle nod to this fantastic film, having such a stunning film to compare it to only makes it that more painful to realize ALL of the elements that weren't clicking and didn't quite land for me in this book.

For starters, these two narrators, despite their different jobs and hometowns didn't read all that differently to me. Not only did this make it a bit frustrating to read, since we were bopping back and forth and some characters obviously crossed the narrative a bit, it became difficult to keep track of who was who and what was what throughout. I know I was supposed to feel invested in both of the traumas experienced by our main characters in their past, but to be honest, I never felt that emotionally connected to their backstories and they didn't leap off the page for me. I wanted to see more of a push and pull and a journey experienced by both of these MCs as they found their way, but I feel that instead we were supposed to make assumptions based on facts presented rather than SEEING the feelings displayed - telling and not showing always creates a bit of a speed bump for me.

It also felt like the 'stakes' presented for both of these characters were pretty low...all Tatum needed to do was actually START DATING June. It's not like June seemed uninterested in her...and the reason for not pursuing her from the beginning was a bit flimsy. As much as it was frustrating for Eleanor to lose her job, I felt like even this adversity in the context of the book was minimal. Her relationship with the former movie star also felt like a very obvious parallel to Kate Winslet's relationship with former Hollywood writer and legend Arthur Abbott (told you I knew the movie well!) and rather than being central to the plot again felt more like a throwaway comparison added for the sake of being there. Rather than making sense and being sort of central to the plot, the house swapping in this book in general also just felt included for the sake of being 'like the Holiday' rather than being necessary...and my theory is if so much of the story feels unnecessary, that can't be a good thing.

The one highlight were some of the scenes between Carson and Eleanor....PHEW. Color this one NSFW...and be warned some of these interactions start pretty early on in the proceedings. The insta-love is also a bit frustrating in this one...especially because while the Holiday had insta ATTRACTION the characters did a fair amount of questioning, back and forth, and waffling before moving forward...and it wasn't all alcohol fueled either. As much as I know I was supposed to root for these two pairs, I felt like one had been a couple all along before making it official and the other essentially fell in love based solely on appearances and 'vibes', without knowing much about one another at all...and that sort of setup is beyond challenging for me when it comes to buy in.

And while I absolutely respect and admire this author's intentions (and particularly her queer representation, which is top notch!) this one DID leaving me wanting to go....but sadly, it was to go anywhere ELSE but here.

3 stars

Pitched as a queer take on The Holiday meets The Switch, this was a heartwarming read about family and found family. Morrissey weaves a tale of self-discovery, family dynamics, and romance. Tatum's family was a typical overbearing but fun and loving bunch. The novel shines in its portrayal of complex relationships and personal growth - it is a testament to the power of stepping out of one's comfort zone and embracing change. I found it so relatable because all the best things in life have usually happened when I stepped into discomfort. I loved following the characters in their journeys!

Thank you to Berkley Romance for my free copy!

It’s always a plus when a book title has me humming a song. 🎶

You get a lot of bang for your buck with this one. Not one but 2 romances and a redemption story for a side character. While this may seem like a lot for one book, it was the perfect amount of story. Plenty of people to root for while smiling along.

If you take the plot of The Holiday, loosely, and throw in a couple of queer couples and terrific side characters, you’re all caught up in the plot.

I liked the house swap. It allowed for two diverse settings. NYC and a small town. I also liked the diversity of representation in the queer characters. All relatable and likable. The banter was terrific and getting to see the characters internal conflict drew me to them.

I’d categorize this as a rom com and definitely chuckled as I read and listened but it also has a lot of heart. Outside of the romance there are family and job issues. Just like all of us face in our lives. I think the two sides were well balanced.

At times I Iistened and loved the dual narration, which fit as the book is told from 2 POVs. I’ll admit to quite often missing chapter numbers when listening which could be my issue as I probably also missed the character name at the start of the chapter, but I often stumbled a little trying to figure out who was narrating the chapters. I always figured it out rather quickly but had a moment where I was momentarily lost. Or maybe Jeremy Carlisle Parker and Mia Hutchinson-Shaw’s voices weren’t distinct enough for me. I’m usually multitasking any not only listening while an enjoying an audiobook. But regardless it was a fun listen.

Sad to say, this was a miss for me. I loved the idea of a queer riff on The Holiday, and the two main characters are well-crafted foils to each other: lonely, isolated, and commitment-phobic Eleanor finds herself thrust into the center of Tatum’s large, loving, but complicated family, while Tatum, whose been held back by fear of making the same mistakes that so complicate said family, finds herself independent in Eleanor’s luxury New York City apartment. I also thought Tatum’s reasons for being guarded in romance were interesting and sympathetic, to a point: years ago, her father cheated on her mother, and the rift that caused in the family, and in her parents’ marriage, has never truly healed. Anyone would have complicated feelings about love, growing up in an environment like that, although I felt that Tatum’s belief that she might be “hardwired” to also betray people was slightly farfetched—especially considering that, in the same breath with which she admits to this belief, she professes that she would never, ever cheat on anyone. In any case, it was a juicy setup that I personally felt the book didn’t deliver on, on top of additional problems with pacing, approximately one million underdeveloped plot points (a friendship with a reclusive former actress! A secret half brother from the affair! All of this is interesting and none of it, I felt, had enough done with it!), and “hey, I just met you, and this is CRAZY but we’re gonna hook up now” plot for Eleanor and her love interest, Tatum’s older sibling Carson, that personally wasn’t to my taste. It’s a shame, because I had fun with Morrissey’s previous book (That Summer Feeling) and felt predisposed to enioy this, too.

Anywhere You Go took my favorite holiday movie and made it queer -- need I say more about why I enjoyed this book so much? The characters are all so deeply lovable, and I enjoyed that this story was so much more than their romances. There was so much in their storylines around their families, their friendships, their work that was so endearing and lovely to experience. This was a true delight to read.

This is a fun book that includes a house swap such as you have seen in the movie Holiday. Tatum and Eleanor both go through things personally and need a change so they switch houses which are in different towns. One goes to a small town, whereas one is in the Hollywood area.

It’s really fun to see how both characters adjust to being in different places and how it really makes them think about their own lives while they each by themselves falling for someone. There is wonderful banter throughout the book and all of the side characters are entertaining as well.

It’s a fun book.

Dnf at 28%. I wasn't invested in this at all, unfortunately. The premise sounded good, but the execution wasn't what I expected. Sadly, this was not for me.

Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5 stars)
This story is about self-discovery, healing, and the contrast between big-city ambition and small-town connection. I especially enjoyed the side characters, Carson and Dawn—they really brought the story to life and added charm and heart.

That said, I struggled to fully connect with the two main characters. I found both FMCs to be somewhat selfish in how they ran from their problems, and I had a particularly hard time warming up to Eleanor’s character.
However, I’m always a sucker for great banter, and this book delivered in that department! I’d happily curl up with a good book in Tatum’s cozy house any day. While I felt the romantic relationship between Tatum and June lacked depth and didn’t quite hit the emotional mark for me, I still found the story enjoyable overall.

Ok, sapphic twist on The Holiday was just what I needed. I loved all the sweet little details between the couples and all the family drama.

June and Tatum swap homes with Eleanor and leave their small town for a big adventure in New York, hoping to sell June's perfume business. Tatum needs to escape her family, and wouldn't you know it, she has always had a huge crush on June.

Eleanor needs to get out of New York stat when she finds out her fling is actually engaged, she gets fired from her job, and she is just an all-around mess. She jumps at the chance to swap homes and for a girl with a lot of romantic issues, meeting Tatum's sibling Carson is quite the distraction.

In New York, Eleanor's neighbor Dawn is an old famous actress, and she was one of my favorite characters. She was full of life but needed to be reminded how much of a badass she is. June and Tatum are able to get her to be social while she forces them to evaluate what is holding them back.

My second favorite character is Carson. The romance between them and Eleanor was so swoony, and I felt like they are the kind of person you want to orbit because being near them would make you happy. I think them as a couple was the best part of the book, and the way Eleanor gets to join in on the crazy family reunion Tatum has to skip out on.

Tatum was probably the hardest character for me to love. They felt extremely juvenile for their age, and I kept thinking she was 18-20, only to be reminded she was an adult almost in their 30s. I also felt a little less invested in her love story with June and while I liked them both fine, Carson and Eleanor were top tier for me.

If you are looking for a romcom with heart, this one will check those boxes.

This is the best romance book I have read in a while, no questions asked.

The writing style reminds me a lot of Casey McQuistions. It is very emotional, raw, and showcases the quiet delicacies of love that the characters feel for each other. They aren't things they say out loud, but things that as a reader, show us the intentionality and care for which they feel this love for each other. Simple things like Tatum squeezing June's hand when they're both in large crowds, or Eleanor thinking that looking at Carsons tattoos reminds her of getting lost in fairytale books. These are the things that make this book come to life, and they are sprinkled everywhere throughout. I adore them, and they help strengthen the emotional connection between the characters and the reader.

The character flaws were also so raw in the way they affected each character, and how they made each character move through the world. The character growth by the end of this book made be bawl my eyes out, and it's absolutely unforgettable.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone. Even if you aren't a romance reader, I think picking up this book is a great decision, and I'm so glad I read it.

A huge thank you to Berkeley Publishing Group for giving me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Berkley for providing me an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

This is the first time I have read anything by Bridget Morrissey, and I truly enjoyed it! I love stories that are Prince and the Pauper-esque where two characters switch lives and perspectives for a short period of time. Morrissey was able to craft a story that was lighthearted but also covered some more serious topics.

Morrissey’s writing is also comedic in a way that is similar to Alison Cochrun. Her scene building and bantery dialogue - especially between Eleanor and Carson - helped drive the story forward. Not to mention that Carson as a side character was SWOONWORTHY

Beautiful, soul-searching tale about figuring out where you belong and who you are meant to be - and finding your happily ever after, unexpectedly, along the way.

Tatum’s life in small town IL could not be more different than Eleanor’s in NYC. When she impulsively offers to travel with her crush, June, to NYC, she and Eleanor swap houses. Tatum wants to avoid family drama, and Eleanor is nursing pain she wants to temporarily leave behind.

Through their adventures away from home, both Tatum and Eleanor end up in some surprising - but not unwelcome - situations. Eleanor has a very fun meet cute with Tatum’s sibling, Carson, who is full of loving chaos. And Tatum and June grow closer as they learn more about each other. Lovely side characters abound, from the diner, to Eleanor’s glamorous neighbor, and Tatum’s whole family.

This was a great queer romance that I just adored.

I received an advanced reading copy, receipt of which did not impact my review.

10/10 the only thing I would change about this book is more-more-more! I didnt expect to have 4 main characters and I thought the author did an incredible job help us make emotional connections with each of them. And the writing? I thought Bridget's last book was awesome, but I dont remember her writing being this beautiful. This book is absolutely gorgeous inside out. I will definitely be going back to read this story again in the future.