*I received a free copy of Nowhere But Here from Harlequin Teen via RT15. This has in no way influenced my voluntary review, which is honest and unbiased *
Nowhere But Here by Katie McGarry Series: Thunder Road #1
Published by Harlequin Teen on May 26, 2015
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 464
Format: ARC
Source: RT15
Seventeen-year-old Emily likes her life the way it is: doting parents, good friends, good school in a safe neighborhood. Sure, she's curious about her biological father—the one who chose life in a motorcycle club, the Reign of Terror, over being a parent—but that doesn't mean she wants to be a part of his world. But when a reluctant visit turns into an extended summer vacation among relatives she never knew she had, one thing becomes clear: nothing is what it seems. Not the club, not her secret-keeping father and not Oz, a guy with suck-me-in blue eyes who can help her understand them both.
Oz wants one thing: to join the Reign of Terror. They're the good guys. They protect people. They're…family. And while Emily—the gorgeous and sheltered daughter of the club's most respected member—is in town, he's gonna prove it to her. So when her father asks him to keep her safe from a rival club with a score to settle, Oz knows it's his shot at his dream. What he doesn't count on is that Emily just might turn that dream upside down.
No one wants them to be together. But sometimes the right person is the one you least expect, and the road you fear the most is the one that leads you home.
Wow! Just wow! Every time I read Katie McGarry I kick myself for not reading her more often. With Nowhere But Here , I’m doing it again. She delivered a riveting, angsty, romantic, and suspenseful story with a cast FULL of characters I now love. I look forward to continuing the series!
I so agree, Brandee! I don’t think I’ve read any McGarry since RT in Atlanta, and that’s a long time ago. I absolutely loved Nowhere But Here. For all the reasons you mentioned.
I was immediately drawn in to this story! Between being instantly smitten with Emily and Oz and needing to have all the secrecy around Emily explained, I was loathe to put this one down. I was a little upset with what I saw as Emily being judgmental even if I could forgive it since she’d been raised as she had. But when I thought on it, I realized Oz was a little judgmental as well. What I loved about them both was how they moved past it, got to really know one another and worked on understanding their different worlds. What about you? Were you pulled right in to the story? And what did you think about Emily and Oz?
I think I could understand Emily’s judgement easier than Oz’s. Oz should have realized that Emily had been raised differently – and even the way she had been taught to fear the club. And he was down on her straight away for judging, which I found to be both a bit ironic and a little hypocritical. I still loved Oz, though. But Emily was even better. I adored her!
It broke my heart for Emily and Oz to be experiencing Olivia’s illness. It made me so sad that Emily had been denied knowing her. And more sad because Oz was losing someone so integral in his life. I struggled with the decisions Emily’s and Oz’s parents had made in raising them even though I came to understand those decisions might have been best. But it all brought to light the importance of family – both the kind you’re born with and the kind you choose. Or choose you. What were your thoughts on McGarry’s statements about family?
I also felt bad for Olivia during her illness. Both she and Emily had been cheated of a true relationship. And I cried so hard at times because of that. Life is unfair sometimes, that’s for sure. I think that sometimes, even with family, it’s not easy to make the right decisions. We are so close to the people we love, and I think we’d do anything to protect them. Even if some of those things might hurt them. Plus, the family we chose is important, too! Just look at us 😉
In a book involving a Motor Cycle Club, you expect a large, close-knit cast of characters and McGarry delivered. Eli and his band of brothers spoke to the bond and camaraderie of men in an MC. Oz, Razer, Chevy, Stone, and Violet spoke to the issues of a new generation of MC. I’m enamored of them all and am very curious about their stories. And I can’t say which I’m more keen to know. Razor’s PTSD-like reactions and the case OR the tragedy that must have occurred between Chevy and Violet. At any rate, I’m eager to finish the trilogy. You?
Yeah, sorry, I’ve actually already finished the trilogy. I couldn’t wait any longer. I can still chat with you about their stories, too, though. And it was because of the fact that all those characters felt so realistic to me that I wanted to continue. And I also loved that we saw some characters from McGarry’s other series, too.
The stuff that went down at the climax? Holy shit! Right? I never saw any of that coming. Were you as shocked as I was?
I was so extremely shocked! I never saw it coming either. Nowhere But Here had a nice twist there…
There’s so much to say about Nowhere But Here. But maybe I’d like to say especially how proud I was of both Emily and Oz. They both learned that it was okay to think for themselves and make decisions based on what they wanted rather than what they thought others expected of them. Yeah, that was good stuff. McGarry definitely has a knack for crafting thought-provoking and gripping stories with engaging characters. Let’s finish this one soon, okay? Then maybe I’ll read more of hers so I can stop kicking myself when I have such a gap between her books. 😉
Aw. That’s really sweet – and in a way, it’s what we both want for our kids, right? If we raised them right, they’re able to make their own decisions, even if we might not agree with them. But that can all be scary for teens, they need to feel secure in who they are, and how their parents will deal with their decisions in order to do so.
You’re absolutely right, wifey. <3
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
About Brandee @ (un)Conventional Bookworms
Brandee is a mom of 3 and a soon-to-be empty nester. She is also an avid reader, a genre omnivore, and a compulsive one-clicker - but she's in recovery. Besides being a reader, she's also a writer and hopes to divide the vast quantities of spare time she'll soon have between reading and finally publishing her first book.
awww sometimes being in a club doesn’t make you bad for real
I’ve actually read this one back in 2015. I liked it okay but it wasn’t my favorite. But I’m glad you both liked it more than I did. 🙂
This makes me want to pick the trilogy up. I’ve loved Katie McGarry’s books in the past, and this setting for this one sounds great.
And you two, you’re so cute 🙂
I truly loved this one… and the whole Thunder Road series. I *think* I’ve read everything Katie has written and she just gets better and better. I really got pulled into Emily and Oz’s story and I loved the whole extended-family aspect of the motorcycle club.
This one sounds really good. I definitely need to check it out. 😀
I’m glad you guys enjoyed this one!
I was so surprised by how much I liked this book. I was sure about an MC book for me, but I should have trusted, that McGarry would deliver a story that would win my heart. I still wish she wrote another book or two in that series (Stone should have his own book too)
Twitter: Mollykatie112
I just looked. I’ve had this book sitting on my Kindle since 2015. I knew it was supposed to be good and now after your reviews, I know I need to pull it forward on my tbr list! Thank you!
Great review ladies! I read this one a long time ago. I loved how close the characters were in the MC too. I loved Oz and Emily, and watching them get closer. I was sad that Emily was denied getting to know this side of her family too.