I requested Nice Places almost immediately because it touches a question that has been sitting quietly in the back of my mind for a long time. What is the point of any of this. The book meets that question in a way that feels both strange and deeply familiar. The structure is a bit odd, almost disorienting at times, yet it works. It challenges ideas of joy, purpose, and the expectations we inherit without ever fully choosing. I found myself thinking about how easy it is to look at other people’s lives, their travels, their freedom, and convince myself that must be the answer.

The main character’s journey is dramatic, at times almost exaggerated, but still compelling. It reads quickly, yet leaves behind a quiet weight. I kept searching for clarity as I moved through the story, hoping for something definitive to hold onto. The ending did not fully give me that, which I suspect is the point. It gently pushes you back toward your own life and asks a harder question. What actually matters to you, beyond what society or family tells you should matter.

It is not a perfect book, but it is a thought provoking one. Strange, a little unsettling, and very human. I am still sitting with it, which might be the most honest measure of its impact. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you so much #NetGalley for the chance to read this and review it!
#NicePlaces

Thank you so much #NetGalley for the chance to read this and review it!

This is one of those books that you really don’t know quite what to expect but are pleasantly surprised. Humorous too! Quickly you are drawn in to the story and the mind of the central character Georgie. Georgie has always walked the line, done what was expected of him, no more, no less, held a steady job, has a home he calls his own. But wonders, has he ever really lived and just thrown convention out the window to see if there is more to life than what he is experiencing? Could he be more? Could he become a world traveler and change who he is into someone more exciting, more satisfied, more hopeful? Haven't we all been down that path in our minds?

This touches on some of these questions head-on. The desires of the main character are written in such a way that Georgie is relatable to anyone that has ever dared to dream. What if you/I had taken a different path, done this, or not done that, how would things be different? To see how the story plays out is to realize that none of us have a set path. The grass does appear greener on the other side, (sometimes it actually is, but not always!) and at the end of the day, reflecting on where you came from, where you currently are and where you are called to be is freeing and leaves less room for doubt for your calling in this thing we call life’s journey. Don't let others limitations limit you - trust your gut!

This book did take me on a mental journey, and it wasn’t anything expected.
The book is written in a third person point of view, current day in the U.S.

We follow Georgie on his quest for meaning, as he quits his corporate job and decides to go travel.
Yet, life’s unpredictability hits him right on the day of his planned departure.
He wakes up at a guest hostel in a part of town that few locals frequent.
As he’s forced to reassess what he’s going to do now, he makes a fortuitous encounter with Ant.
They become close and she’ll take him on a journey, but not the one he was imagining at first.

As I read this story I could hear Ewan McGregor’s voice speaking the author’s words, as he did in Trainspotting.
Fast-paced thoughts as they went through Georgie’s head. Yet in another part of this book I pictured Tom Hanks
in his role as Forrest Gump, the part when he decided to start running and after time just decided he was done with running.
That’s how Georgie’s journey came across to me towards the end of this story.

I had an existential crisis when I was thirty-five, and I could relate to many of the questions Georgie asked himself.
It makes sense to me that we all go through it, one way or another, at some point in our lives. And I too have found
the power to change my life and I’ve learned to be content with what I have. There’s accomplishment in that.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for granting me this opportunity.
I recommend reading this book.

This story is about Georgie, who quits his job at a technology company and plans to travel the world for a year. He just needs an escape and time to find himself, and he wants to do it in faraway lands. BUT (there's always a but), his plans hit a snag before they even get started. He gets robbed on the way to the airport and wakes up in a different part of his own city. Instead of coming clean, Georgie lies. He posts a photo of boat noodles, and when his friends and family think he's away, he decides to keep up the lie. He then begins to "travel" through his own backyard. A staycation, you may say, but he doesn't tell anyone that! Then, an artist named Ant wants to collaborate with Georgie on his fake journey.

I loved what the author is saying here. What Georgie does on social media is far from reality, and it shows you can never trust what you see online. I have watched so many "expectations vs. reality" videos (like "what I ordered vs. what I got"), and it blows my mind. The story also makes a bit of fun at the "go and find yourself" cliché... you don't have to go to any extremes to do that. Georgie feels small and adrift, and I think he was really just looking for a connection of some sort.

I also loved how Georgie started to find something good in the most mundane things, like a good bowl of boat noodles. For all the problems Georgie is feeling, this book didn't feel overly cynical. It's just a book about a man learning about himself and the human condition, and how complex both really are. It was filled with humour, empathy, and wit, and I enjoyed it very much.

This is far from a typical travel novel and I often found myself wondering where it would take me. It's at times hilarious, depressing, and philosophical.

Georgie is unsatisfied with life and decides to make a change by quitting his job to travel the world--but he ends up not getting far at all. At least, in a physical sense. The antics and adventures Georgie finds himself in all lead to personal growth, but not in quite the way he expected.

This book confronts its protagonist and its reader by challenging them both to see their daily life, everything from career goals to social media, through a new lens and challenge its perceived importance.

With writing that became stronger through the book, this is a book I would recommend to those who love to travel and self-reflect. It's also well-suited to a book club as there are a lot of philosophical questions to grapple with that would contribute to a lively discussion.

3.75/5

As someone recently let go from their long time job and trying to figure out next steps, I related the set-adrift feeling Georgie is navigating at the beginning of the book. I thought the 1st half was wonderful - arranging and setting out on this life changing journey only to be hiding out not far from home and faking his travels from a hostel with new friends grabbed me and I was all in on seeing how this experiment would go.

With the abrupt tone shift in the second half also came a pacing stumbling block that I found rough. You're rooting for the main character but it's difficult to see the natural progression to where he ends up. I did enjoy the writing and would read more by the author.

I enjoyed this book immensely. I loved how Georgie's failure to start his planned trip resulted in him becoming more open to people and the possibilities of a less material way of life. He develops relationships and realizes fulfillment in being creative. He learns to appreciate the small things in his daily existence.

The story is about Georgie, who leaves his job and plans to go travelling. Whilst on the way to the airport, he is conned and robbed of his belongings, so he decides to fake his travels whilst staying in a hostel close to his flat.

What starts off as a fun story and a witty observation about the lies social media can portray, turns into a sad story about the harsh reality behind the lies social media can portray.

I liked Georgie as a character, despite his flaws. It was hard to read in places but so well written, I felt with him the whole time.

A great concept, well executed.

I have to admit this one has a slow start that could have been condensed, but because I was so excited about the premise, I pushed through. Once the story gets going it is fantastic. I was drawn to this book by the Kate Folk blurb. I love her work and haven't seen many blurbs from her, so I thought that really said something. I think if you're a fan of Folk's characters in weird situations, you will absolutely love this novel. The premise seems simple, but in execution it is constructed into a rich absurdist narrative. Highly recommend!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.