While Covid played havoc with all our lives, it probably affected the lives of health care workers even more so. Nurse Wendy never questions the need for a drink or two, or more, to help her deal with the stress of her work, but she does wonder why her family seem to be so antagonistic towards her and decides to take a six-month rental in France to figure out how to move forward with her life. When a local woman helps her to face her addiction to alcohol, life becomes much clearer for Wendy.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Where Do We Go From Here?' by Nick Alexander

'Where Do We Go From Here?' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Nick Alexander discusses/includes COVID, alcoholism and grief.

Wow!!!! Just flipping wow!!!! What an absolutely epic page turner!!! Well done Nick!!! How on Earth have I never read any of your books before? Absolutely smashed it!!!!!!! I have absolutely no idea how this is the first time I have read one of this incredible author's books but I am so glad I have rectified that problem and I cannot wait to get hooked into more books by the extremely talented Nick. I cannot wait to get stuck into the rest of his books as I can guarantee they are all amazing even if they are just half as good as this book they are guaranteed to be epic which means I will fly through them like I did with this book!!

WOW!!!! What can I say?!?! What an absolutely beautiful book that I fell in love with front the first chapter!!! I cannot wait to read more books by this extremely talented author! This book is beautifully written with vivid descriptions setting the picture perfectly in the readers mind. The title, description and cover works perfectly with the storyline.

This book is an absolutely gorgeous, compelling and emotive page turner!!! It is an absolute rollercoaster ride of emotions that will have you smiling one chapter and crying the next so make sure you have the tissues at the ready as well as a free day as you will not be able to put it down. In this immersive and addictive page turner Nick transports his readers to a beautiful cabin in the French Alps where they will meet Wendy. Wendy is married to Harry but her marriage is falling apart, she has two children Todd and Fiona but their relationship isn't great, is struggling with the grief and trauma from losing her Mum and works as a nurse. If all this was not enough she also worked during COVID where she was surrounded by loss, grief and death. Thankfully she has a best friend Jill who has a home in the French Alps that she rents out as an Air B&B. Wendy has inherited some money from her Mum's death and decides to take a 6 month sabbatical at Jill's holiday home to find herself again. With the help of Manon the post lady she meets will Wendy discover herself again? Grab your copy to discover Wendy's story for yourself and I can guarantee that you will not regret it!! You may even discover a new favourite author just like I have!! With a storyline ram packed with emotions, friendship, self-discovery, escapism, reality, healing, reflection, stunning settings and so much more what on Earth are you waiting for?? I was completely swept in the storyline and I absolutely loved the realism of it. It was also nice to discover a male author that wrote about females in a realistic way and with the everyday problems that women do deal with. The fact that Nick has done his research shines through the storyline. It is one of my pet hates when an author does not do enough research on the topic they are writing about as it can lead to unnecessary mistakes which can spoil the storyline for me so a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS Nick. This book really is a rollercoaster ride of emotions. I was utterly glued to the pages and I could not bring myself to put it down. I was carrying my kindle around and reading it every chance that I got. I adored the ending and would love to see this book turned into a movie. I don't want to say anything else about the storyline as I don't want to give to much away but I do want to mention two more things. Make sure you have your tissues at the ready as I am only normally emotional when it comes to animals but even I had tears streaming down my eyes when certain events happen and make sure you clear your schedules as you won't be able to put this stunning and compelling book down!!! Nick's evocative writing skills will take you straight to France and into Wendy's life at the turn of a page. A gorgeous page-turner filled with history, mystery, friendship, hope and overcoming fears that will warm your hearts . I am off to add the rest of Nick's books to my Amazon wish list as soon as I've finished this review!!

Clear your schedules as this is one gorgeous and unputdownable stunner

The characters are strong, realistic and I became completely invested in each and every one of them. They all had their own problems, secrets, feelings and all had unique personalities and I just absolutely loved getting to know them all. I felt each of their love, friendship, pain, heartbreak, happiness, worry, happiness, fear, sorrow and so much more. I loved getting to know Wendy and seeing her change throughout the pages, including how I felt about her from when I started to the end. My heart went out to her for everything that she was going through and had gone through in the past, especially as a nurse and one during COVID. I also loved getting to know each and every other character that we met during her life time and seeing how her relationships and friendships changed throughout this beautiful book. Nick really does do an absolutely amazing job of bringing the story to life and the characters leap out of the pages as your turning them thanks to his evocative writing skills!! It is so hard to say what I feel about the characters without giving anything away so I won't say anymore about them as I don't want to go into too much detail at the risk of spoiling it for other readers but Nick really has done an amazing job at bringing each of the characters to life and I am missing them already. Well done Nick!!!

Congratulations Nick on an absolutely gorgeous, emotional rollercoaster filled with everything you could ask for in a page turner!!! I am looking forward to reading more of your books and I would absolutely love to see this book turned into a movie!!! This is why I would like to welcome you to my favourite author list and here's to your next success

Overall an absolutely gorgeous book that will take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions !!!

Overall a compelling, addictive, emotive, beautiful and fantastic page turner!!

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Alexander is a new-to-me author, so I only had the strength of the book's blurb to go on. Turns out I needn't have worried as the book was thoroughly enjoyable.

It's an uplifting story that deals with some hard hitting subjects and we go on quite the emotional journey with main character Wendy.

Wendy is quite a vulnerable character who has hit rock bottom and needs time to recoup to rediscover herself and heal. I had so much empathy for her character and I just wanted to give her a hug and tell her that 'what now?' does get better.

Alexander's writing style is akin to another of my favourite author's - Mike Gayle. So I'm already looking to invest in more of his works.

It has been a long, long wait but finally one of my favourite authors, Nick Alexander has published his latest novel “Where Do We Go From Here? Talk about being excited, I felt as though all my Christmases had come at once!

The story is set just after the pandemic. Being a nurse in the NHS meant Wendy has been in the thick of it throughout, sometimes having to put her patients’ wellbeing above her family’s. Now she is burnt out, her children are leaving home, and her marriage is on its last legs. The time has come to put herself first for a change.

Nick’s eye for detail is truly remarkable. His description of the cabin in the South of France, overlooking the mountains with the sea in the distance, gave me a bird’s eye view of the surroundings that Wendy had escaped to. Even his mention of the cold made me shiver.

Wendy is a beautiful, flawed and complex character and Nick really brings her to life. He depicts all the conversations between Wendy and her family and friends with an inherent and raw honesty that really touched my heart and made me feel quite embarrassed at times on our heroine’s behalf.

I love how the author goes back in time to tell how Wendy and Harry first met. He portrays a couple whose lives were filled with love, laughter and caring. This is in stark contrast to how they react towards each other now. His words just carried me along, but they also made me stop and think “how and why have they arrived at this point?

He never spares Wendy’s feelings in his exploration of her life and the choices she makes. His writing really did make me sit up and think. He doesn’t preach and though his words are harsh at times, he tempers them with compassion. He knows and understands her mindset and this goes a long way to showcasing to us, his readers what an incredible talented writer he really is.

This deeply moving and emotional story will capture your heart. Wendy is so memorable that I will remember her for a long, long time….. probably until Mr Alexander publishes his next book.

After the stress of the pandemic and her mother’s horrible cancer death, English nurse Wendy can only think about getting away from it all by herself.
She books an extended stay at an isolated mountain cabin in France and it soon becomes apparent to the reader that things aren’t that rosy between Wendy and the family she has left behind - her teacher husband Harry and two adult children.
With the weather much colder than she had anticipated, and the cabin more rustic too, Wendy has plenty of time to reflect on her life. Then her best friend Jill comes for an unwelcome visit and matters get out of hand.
This is such an emotionally raw story about a woman who’s been living in denial about her life falling apart, and the slow reveal of the root cause behind her troubles was handled so well. It’s been my favourite read so far this year.

I have been a big fan of this author since like forever it seems! Starting way back with his Fifty Reasons series and continuing through all his duologies and standalones right up to this, his latest offering.
In this book we meet Wendy, warts and all. And there are quite a few warts, which I will obviously leave you to discover, as she herself discovers as the book progresses. She is a wife and mother of two and, when we first meet her, she has run away to a remote cabin in France to, well, kinda find herself and also, if truth be told, to try and force her family to worry and miss her. She's not an easy character to like! But she has been through quite a lot in recent years, stuff falling on her shoulders before the previous stuff has been dealt with meaning that it has all compacted and is totally weighing her down.
Sounds all doom and gloom doesn't it? Well, it is quite heavy on the emotional side but also quite funny in places too. This is well aided by the setting and the perils and pitfalls of living in a remote cabin in a place where you don't really know the language well. Especially when your power comes from a source which is rather weather dependent!
We also have a great relationship between Wendy and Manon but again, I will leave you to discover that for yourself. Other characters include Wendy's family - husband and two children - and how their behaviour also affects Wendy. Again, you'll see how as the book progresses but I do feel like they contributed their fair share to quite a few of her woes... It takes two...
And then there's the cat!
It's all about soul searching and honesty, about facing things rather than pushing them down. Working through things and not running away from them, even though it takes running away to face them. And yes that does make sense! Something I think we could all do a bit of every so often - the working not the running. It also contains some of the uglier side of the Covid pandemic which I know is still raw for some people. But all that said, I felt completely safe all the way through reading. There's always that spark of hope, occasionally out of reach, but always there for the taking... And although the ending was perfect, I would really love to reconnect with Wendy and her family in the future. Pop in, see how they are doing. They kinda gripped me that way...
All in all, a cracking addition to an already well impressive back catalogue. Roll on next time.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I really wanted to like this novel because it felt similar to the vein of Matt Haig's Midnight Library, but in France and the main character is a woman who has a husband and children. I guess I just wasn't in the mood, but I'm not sure because I'm always in the mood for this type of literature. Anyway, the story didn't really grip me, and I didn't like that the main character smoked and didn't think much of her best friend; she DID think of her best friend, but not in a way you expect old friends to think of each other. I just found this book to be an uninteresting mid-life crisis for the main character.

The author approached the topics of trauma and addiction with thoughtful sensitivity. While I found it challenging to connect with the main character, I recognize that she was conveyed effectively since she was experiencing these emotions in her life.
I felt the character development could have been stronger, but still found the story enjoyable.

Based on the synopsis, I expected to absolutely love this book however it fell flat in every way possible.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Where Do We Go From Here?’ written by Nick Alexander in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Wendy and Harry’s marriage has reached the point where they’re barely communicating. Wendy thinks she needs a break to give herself time to think and rents a secluded cabin in the South of France where she intends staying for six months. While there she has time to contemplate her life – past, present and future – decide what’s important to her and where she goes from here.

‘Where Do We Go From Here?’ is a gentle novel that explores human frailties such as alcohol addiction, depression and lack of self-confidence, as Wendy uses the solitude to examine her feelings and decide where her future lies. I’ve enjoyed reading the descriptions of the places in France that Wendy visits, the friendship that forms between herself and the French post woman Manon, and how the feral cat Mittens gradually warms to her, although I did worry who was going to feed Mittens when she left. This is a thought-provoking novel of love, loss and new beginnings, that’s been beautifully written and is easy to read. It’s a heart-warming story with a perfect ending that I can recommend.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Wendy lives near Nice in a B&B, away from her family. She wants to take time to think of what’s happened in her life and what she wants to do next.

She was working as a nurse during the pandemic and also lost her mom. Turning to drink, she’s forgotten who she was, as well as what her family were to how they are now.

This was a well researched, well written story, about love, life, and also it gives the messsge that we never know what is going on in other people’s lives.

I highly recommend this book.

I have read five other books by Nick Alexander The Other Son, The Road to Zoe, From Something Old, The Bottle of Tears as well as Perfectly Ordinary People and they were all four or five-star reads for me. He is an author that NEVER disappoints, so when I have a chance to read one of his books, I grab it.

As always, Nick has written an emotional and inspiring story about self-discovery, healing, and the power of love. The story is about Wendy, a nurse who is also a wife and mum. Wendy feels lost and is burnt out, so she goes to a cabin in France to get some alone time. But when she gets there, the cabin isn’t exactly what she hoped. It’s very isolated, but that makes Wendy face her feelings, such as grief, trauma and how her family is falling apart. Nick Alexander writes women believably. He is one of few authors who have impressed me with this capability. He captures Wendy’s emotions, vulnerability and growth very authentically.

I loved the relationship between Wendy and the postwoman. They supported each other and became friends despite their differences. Wendy found strength within this friendship. As always, Alexander found humour in the everyday, and he created relatable characters. The French Alps are a character themselves, and they’re a beautiful part of the story. This was such a touching story about personal growth and resilience, and it made me feel all the feels in equal measure.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The story flowed well, and I particularly liked the conversational moments. The plot took an unexpected turn, which kept me engaged, and I ended up reading it over just two evenings.

The book explores many important themes: grief, addiction, loneliness, friendship, depression, and the power of human connection. Maron is a likeable and kind character, while Wendy isn’t always easy to warm to, but I found myself rooting for her by the end. The book left me feeling confused at times about why her family wasn’t more supportive, but I realise now that was intentional, and it helped me see things through Wendy’s eyes. In the end, everything became clear.

I loved the descriptions of the French countryside: the scenery, the pastries, even the grocery shopping! I read an advanced review copy from NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

Author Nick Alexander is one of my favorite writers of UpLit, a genre that blends uplifting, optimistic stories with heavier undertones. I always think of it as fluff with teeth, which is a perfect description of this, Nick’s latest novel,

Where Do We Go from Here is ultimately a heartwarming tale of second chances and new beginnings but, in getting there, also explores themes of grief, PTSD, social isolation and addiction. There’s a lot to unpick — just the way I like it —making for an immersive, thought-provoking read.

Estranged from her husband and adult children, nurse Wendy has taken herself off to a remote, off-grid cabin in the South of France for a period of reflection and renewal. She’s worn down by the traumatic death of her mother and the stress of working on Covid wards and needs time to figure out what she wants from life. It’s a decision that involves facing up to some unpalatable truths.

Nick is one of a small cadre of male authors that can write convincingly from a female perspective. And here, he beautifully portrays Wendy’s sense of dislocation, and her difficult journey of introspection, self-realisation and transformation. She’s not an easy character to warm to, but as the story unfolds and the reasons for her choices are revealed, she slowly garners sympathy.

I loved Nick’s descriptions of the French countryside and village life, which transported me to the rolling hills of Southern France and the spectacular views over Antibes and the Mediterranean. It was easy to believe that Wendy was in a place of nurture.

I also appreciated how Nick snuck in some commentary on the disaster that is Brexit and how it has negatively impacted the lives of British citizens resident in both the UK and Europe. It’s the first time I’ve seen this woven into fiction.

What more can I say? It’s another cracker of a read from Nick Alexander.

now, someone could you please take me off to a cabin in France? and even as im saying this im coming up with reasons why not. namely no wifi,no things to keep me distracted, wheres the supermarket!? and these are fickle things i could get over if i wanted to. so nothing compared to what our main character is going through.
non of us are immune to struggles. non of us can ever say we wont become ill be it mental or physical. but im remind of this quote as i read this book. "wherever you go, there you are" because as much as a idyll in france sounds like the answer to our main characters dreams. as much as it might sound it to alot of us... well, you yourself and i will still be there. so if youve got more going on, then your traumas and "illness" will still follow you. so a cautionary tale is to always be going somewhere with safety and knowing its truly the right decision. there is a difference between running away to get away or running away to be away.
this book isnt easy. it isnt always hard though either. its just very real and very raw. our main character is so poorly for most of us that is clear to see. for those who have seen this in people before its even starker to see. and you want to both shake her and cuddle her tight at the same time. you do just root for her though. to come to realize things she needs to and somehow reach out for that help she desperately needs. to realize what he problems are and just put the bottle down. but thats not going to happen until it happens sadly and this is the problem with addiction. because its also never about the drink etc. that is simply the weapon of choice used to cope with the pain they cant cope with. and that is something I thought was really well told in this book. our character wasnt loving the life of sadness and drinking. she just wasnt coping with the pain on the inside and that had to come out in another way.
but Wendy our nurse has had so much to deal with. she has been a nurse in the middle of the pandemic. she has troubles in her marriage and she has lost her mother. this is a woman dealing with too much to the point she cant deal with it anymore. so off she runs to a cabin in France. but sadly falling into herself isnt the ideal. and being alone with it all isnt either. so slowly and sadly she falls deeper. but her turn around and those who support her to do so is well worth the hopeful read. this book isnt all doom and gloom. no no its really not. its such a strong and brave and hopeful book too. its just a really good book. really true. really real. just really good. and the emotion depth in these pages is written to perfection. you feel so much for all involved in this book. and you want Wendy to be ok so badly.

Where Do We Go from Here by Nick Alexander

A moving and emotional read that delves into the challenges of being a nurse, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The story feels authentic and deeply relatable, especially for nurses who have faced similar hardships.

The book offers a powerful portrayal of the trials and tribulations nurses endured during the pandemic, while also navigating their own personal struggles. Though at times a sad read, it ultimately delivers an uplifting message, emphasizing resilience and reclaiming control after trauma.

The protagonist is especially relatable for those in the nursing profession.

While the pacing felt a bit clunky midway through, the ending was satisfying.

Where Do We Go from Here is a compelling story that will resonate with readers who appreciate narratives about overcoming adversity.

Publication date 23 April 2025.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this Advanced Release Copy.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

I really enjoyed the journey the main character went through—her growth felt genuine and I found myself rooting for her the whole time. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the husband though. He just didn’t seem like he was trying that hard to be in the relationship, and maybe that’s because we didn’t get much of his POV, but the cheating really rubbed me the wrong way. It also felt like he was lowkey teaming up with the kids, which made things even more frustrating.

That said, the book was super engaging and definitely held my attention. I liked the time jumps—they added a nice layer to the storytelling without being confusing. The ending was really sweet too, which left me with a good feeling overall.

Turning the corner from trauma and anger; real🤔

A very thoughtful look into the disintegration of a British woman's connection with her family and friends in the era of pandemic, and the long road to self awareness and healing rifts. Wendy the female lead is a nurse, caught up in the COVID pandemic and the tragic loss of her mom. I found every step in her journey totally real. Her hurt and bewilderment at husband Harry and their teenagers as they grow distant and resentful, her journey to an isolated cabin for soul searching and her reaction to the hard truths of her life: all very relatable. And the unexpected push she gets from a sympathetic French postwoman to see what she's become and where she's heading seemed totally logical, since an outsider's insight had frankness and weight that her loved ones were unwilling to risk.

A profound thought from Wendy at a crucial turning point really hit me: "I just saw who I had become. And caught a glimpse of the person I could be instead." Very take control and make her choices count.

Not a quick or easy read, but I was happy with the way Wendy and her family handled things once the lightbulb went off and Wendy understood what she and they needed to move forward. Though the ending was a bit abrupt.

There were no villains per se. Just a group of normally flawed people. The family members too cowardly to broach the big issues; the wounded woman who has major problems getting over her anger and finds comfort in the bottle; the friend and brother who accept distance rather than admitting to their own crisis.

This one took me longer than normal to read and digest, but it really made me think and appreciate that old saying about not knowing a person until you've walked a mile in their shoes. Well, I feel like I've walked in Wendy's and learned plenty.

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Review shared on 4/12/25 on Waterstones, Goodreads and Bookbub, and with Barnes & Noble and BAM.

Having enjoyed Nick Alexander's previous works, it's a pleasure to report that his latest novel, "Where Do We Go From Here?", is another compelling read. The book offers a heartbreaking yet ultimately uplifting story exploring mid-life relationships and new beginnings. Fans of Alexander's signature style will find this novel to be just as engaging and emotionally resonant as his earlier books. I found the end to be just a bit too neat and tidy but that’s often what makes for a joyful read and a delightful escape from everyday life.

This is an enjoyable read with well-developed and realistically flawed characters. Thankfully, the love angle progresses at a believable pace, and the characters must face relatable challenges. There is a lot of character growth, particularly with Wendy. Themes of self-discovery and trust run throughout the novel. This story is a reminder that love can show up in unexpected ways. It's not your typical romance novel. I really enjoyed the setting.