Didn't realize that it was the second of a series, jumped right in with little need to catch up. Paige may be the most relatable character I've ever gotten to know. Her anxiety rules her life, almost derailing her whole plan, until she no longer let's it. I'd like to find out where their story goes.

I would give this book 3.5 stars.

Paige, Max and friends are back in this sequel to The Start of Me and You. This book picks up shortly after the first book ends. Paige and Max are back from their summer apart and ready to start their senior year of high school. But senior year is full of big, anxiety producing decisions, and their relationship is put to the test as the uncertainty of their future looms closer.

I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as the first one. Much of the plot is focused on Paige's college decision and how Max factors into that and the anxiety it produces. And after a while, that started to feel repetitive. But keep in mind that I am a middle age mom, so I'm not really the target audience for this book. A high school girl may find this book more relevant and engaging from beginning to end.

However, as a person who struggles with anxiety and the parent of a daughter who struggles with anxiety, I fully appreciated the way this book tackled the subject. I saw myself a lot in Paige's mom, and that was really eye-opening to me!!

I really love both Paige and Max as characters, so I did enjoy jumping back into their lives for this book. There is a section of the book where they write e-mails back and forth to each other, and I love the witty way that they communicate! This was a cute book, and while I didn't love it as much as the first one, I'm still happy to have had the chance to read it!

Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury YA for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review! This book will be available on January 7, 2020!

What I love about Emery Lord's writing is that her characters are realistic. She doesn't hold back on giving them real issues to deal with, whether that's mental illness, parental problems, or friendship struggles. Paige's thought process, while at times could be whiny or even annoying, felt real. There were moments while reading where I wish I could have reached into the book and grabbed Paige by the shoulders and tell her to breathe. 

And then there's Max. Oh, Max Watson. You adorable dork. I seriously thing the YA genre under-appreciates the sweet boy factor. I love Max so much. Even when he got on my nerves, I loved his character. 

I love all of the characters. Paige's friends, her sister, her parents and their odd relationship. Like I said, Emery has a way with writing characters that come across realistic and important. Side characters play just a big a part in Paige's life as her parents or Max. No one is left behind in this story. They are all important because they are important to Paige.

YA contemporary is slowly winning me over, and it's because of amazing authors like Emery Lord. Give me sweet boys and girls whose struggles are real and profound. Give me stories that make me laugh and cry and cringe and sigh. Show me how someone can become bigger than their anxiety. Bigger than their flaws and mistakes. Bigger than the thoughts pouring into their head. That's what this book did for me. I reminded me that no matter how much I worry or stress over things in life, there are people standing next to me ready to help me. Ready to catch me. I just need to remember to look.

I noticed that I shelved The Map from Here to There as “To-Read” on Goodreads back in September 2017. I was lucky enough to get an ARC and read this in September 2019. That is a long time to anticipate the book and hype it up. I wish I could say it met my very high expectations, but, unfortunately, it did not. Don’t get me wrong, there were still plenty of enjoyable moments. One of the things I loved about The Start of Me and You were the strong friendships and they were still on display here. Yes, there was some drama and fights, but they worked through them and were always there for each other. There were several funny, bantery moments that I enjoyed, as well. I also liked that Paige’s parents were a strong presence in the book.

There was a lot in this book that didn’t work for me, though. Paige had a lot of issues to work through in the first book and by the end she was starting to figure it out. Instead of her continuing to progress, she had a major relapse back into anxiety and it kind of made all the lessons learned in the first book obsolete. I did find the anxiety stuff relatable, but I would have rather seen Paige continue to grow, instead of spending the majority of yet another book as a mess (and still not communicating it) and then finally growing in the final couple chapters.

Some of the problems I had with this book are probably more my fault than the books, though. I wanted a cute book of Max and Paige being adorable together. Yes, I knew there would have to be some strife, but I thought (hoped) it would be a small part of the plot. Instead, we got very few scenes with them together, unless they were fighting. Paige treated him so, so unfairly and it drove me crazy. He was patient and understanding for awhile, but eventually reached a breaking point where he didn’t handle things well. There is a new character introduced – Paige’s co-worker at the movie theater – that Paige hung out with and talked to like she did Max in the first book. He was also there to stir some jealousy and insecurity in Max. And once that role was played out, we don’t really hear any more about him. Which annoyed me because even though I didn’t like his purpose in the story, he was sweet and funny and I liked him. But back to my original point, the story was much more about the anxiety about growing up and making hard decisions and dealing with change. And this made me feel a little too old for the story. As a cynical adult who has never had a job that utilized her college degree, nor is no longer friends with any of the people she was close to in high school and college, these major crises the characters faced felt a little trivial. I do remember being in high school and thinking these decisions were life and death, so I get it, but I’m just so far past that, that it was kind of hard to take so seriously. I also am not a fan of open-ended conclusions. The biggest focus of the book is where Paige will go to college and the story ends without a definitive answer and that kind of pissed me off.

Another thing that bugged me is that Tess and Ryan aren’t together. I felt it was very heavily implied in the first book that they would get together. I thought her whole arc in the story was how she was all closed off due to her abandonment issues with her parents, but Ryan slowly won her over. Instead, the author decided to fix the lack of LGBT+ diversity from the first book by giving Tessa a girlfriend instead. Not only did I not even get a hint of this in the first book, but it basically skips over the whole coming out part of the book by referencing how it happened in the summer, conveniently between the end of book one and start of book two. Don’t misunderstand, I support a more diverse cast of characters, but it annoyed me to see Tessa with anyone but Ryan.

Overall, The Map from Here to There was just ok for me. I enjoyed parts of it, but had a lot of issues with it, as well. I liked the first book much more, but I think people in the actual target audience age range will appreciate this book much more than I did.

Overall Rating (out of 5): 3 Stars

Thanks to Bloomsbury and Netgalley for the advance Kindle copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for this 1.7.20 release. I did not read the companion to this, but I pretty much got the gist of what came before. Paige, finally dating her best friend turned boyfriend, spends her senior year anxiously worrying about everything: college, the pressure to make her relationship perfect, her parents’ divorce that turned into them dating again, all with scars from her past, when her boyfriend early in high school drowned. This is a wonderful coming of age story with friendship, romance, and life decisions on the line; the author writes beautifully, and teens will love it. Recommended for grades 8+

**Thank you to Bloomsbury YA, Netgalley, and Emery Lord for a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review**

In the second installment of Paige's story, you get to see how her senior year of high school goes after everything that happened with Max. Paige is going through the age old struggle of trying to balance school, her future career, and a boyfriend. No matter what she does, one starts to fall and she can't bear to see it be her boyfriend. Mix in mental health issues causing severe anxiety to flare up - it's a roller coaster ride of a year. Of course, she's got her friends, but for how long? Who knows where everyone will end up at the end of the year and she is terrified of making the wrong choice.

I was super into the first book, The Start of Me and You. Watching Max and Paige's friendship and relationship blossom was beautiful, and so reminiscent of high school. I was less invested in the second book, because I don't feel like it really WENT anywhere. Things happened for sure - ups and downs, twists and turns. Paige puts herself out there in ways she didn't in the first book and grew up a ton. But it also came with some sacrifice and sadness as well.

I was not a fan of the ending. I almost felt like I read that whole book for... nothing? The ending doesn't really explain what happens or what Paige chooses - which is a pet peeve of mine for books. If you love a cliffhanger ending that leaves it up to you to decide what happens - I highly recommend. That just isn't my favorite writing style and I wanted oh so much more from my fave guy and and gal.

This duo is so beautifully written though. I love how LGBTQIA and mental health themes were added into the second book, because it's important to remember that these issues will affect teenagers. It also provided some good character definition for the characters who were affected.

Overall, a good ending to Paige's story, but I wish it didn't have to end. I'd read a play by play of Paige and Max's relationship for the next ten years if I could.

I really enjoyed a great many things about this book. Characters were fleshed out and the plot was well spaced. Some of the secondary storylines could've used a bit more page space but all in all an enjoyable read!

ngl, i was a bit scared to read this book bc it's been over 2 years since i read the start of me and you (and too lazy to reread) but just gotta say that i really really really freaking loved max. he has my whole heart.

i liked how real this book was at times. the typical high school struggles that come with college decisions, paige's anxiety... i could certainly relate to a lot of it. i also loved all the characters and i think having friends like "the core four" is important, and i admired how supportive they were to each other.

emery lord has a way of pulling at your heartstrings, i absolutely adore her and her books. can't wait for this book to be out in the world and see what else she's got up her sleeve.

I don't normally go for this genre of book, but the first in the series was popular in my library so I figured I would check out the second one.

Right off the bat I just want to note that The Map from Here to There was not quite as good as The Start of me and You. That being said, it was still a really solid book. Emery Lord captures the essence of being in High-school to a T, and this is coming from a High-school Librarian.

Another aspect I really appreciate from this book (and the first) is that it weaves a realistic high-school tale without depending a bunch on typical 'dark' tropes such as drugs, sex and swearing. Not that I hate any of these things, but I find that a lot of YA / Teen novels resort to them to be more appealing and relate-able.

On a different note though- yes I expected to get some heart break and hurt (and yes I love how anxiety is portrayed in this novel, ahem, not glamorized) but I did find this book to be quite angsty at times. So much that there were parts I just wanted to finish and never look back.

All in all I will give this one a 3.8/4.

Emery Lord is a good author. She proves that again in this book. The main character faces standard senior year woes with college dealing with friends. There were some moments when I felt like the main character seemed younger than she was, but otherwise, Lord tells a good, happy story.

While I overall liked the novel, I was disappointed in the discrepancy between what I was expecting (a fluffy slice-of-life romance) and the actual novel (a book about a girl who is struggling to communicate well and has many anxieties about impending changes in her life). The ending is left open and uncertain, which, while reflective of what real life is like, does not make for a very satisfying romance novel. Teen readers may connect more than adults to Paige and her anxieties about college decisions, long distance relationships, and fear of losing touch with high school friends.

3.5 Stars: OMG - I just realized that I am the 36 year-old version of Paige!!! Yikes! Seriously, reading this book was like reading about myself - aside from the trauma - my thought process very much mirrors Paige's and I think, to me personally, that's why this book resonated with me so much. Aside from this and from a more objective view - I think this follow up to the "Start of You and Me" was pretty good - I appreciated the issues that Emery Lord was tackling - making big decisions for yourself, handling long distance relationships, even fertility issues were all addressed thoughtfully. I think what I struggled with the most is the fact that, for the most part, every single one of these characters had their lives figured out in terms of what they wanted to do/be. It would have been awesome to have that one character that didn't know what they wanted to do - I feel like that's such a real struggle with teens today, not having it all figured out, and emphasizing the point that that's okay too. With the number of characters in the novel, it feels like there could have been at least one person who struggled with this. Also - it seems like everyone was applying to these big universities. What about community college? Is that not an option? I know these seem like minor gripes, but I think that it's important, particularly for books aimed at teen readers. Don't get me wrong - it doesn't take away from how much I loved the strong friendship bonds and the evolution of Max and Paige's relationship, but with how talented Emery Lord is, it would have been nice to see these issues addressed as well..

Overall, a great addition to YA collections and despite my minor complaints, I do still think that there is a lot here that teen readers will not only be able to relate to but will appreciate as well.

Emery Lord does a great job of capturing the nuance of high school and especially that senior year when all decisions are looming and you feel like one wrong turn will be the end of the world. I was 70% through this book before I realized it was a sequel, so the book definitely stands on it's own merits; although the beginning feeling when I was reading didn't 100% understand made a lot more sense. I loved Paige and Max together, but most of all I loved her friend group and their commitment and friendship.

Paige suffers from a really aggressive anxiety brought on my her life and the tragedy that's happened around her. Lord did a great job articulating the fears that come with that and making it relatable without showcasing it.

***This review will go live on my blog, The Library Lane, on December 18th, 2019.

Wow, this was everything I needed! Just like the first book, this one hit me right in the feels. I’m not sure I can fully explain how much I love these characters and this story, but I am going to try my hardest!

The Map from Here to There is a direct sequel to The Start of Me and You. This picks up right where the first book left off. We get to see all of the characters we know and love during their senior year of high school. This book is very much about making decisions on what to do after graduation. Where to go to college, what to major in, what career path to choose…those questions are a major part of this story.

I really enjoy Emery Lord’s writing. She makes it so easy to fall into the pages. I was so invested in the story that I didn’t want it to end! If it was at all possible, I would love to see these characters continue on. There are still questions I need answered!!

So many times in Young Adult books, the main character’s parents or family in general is absent from the story. With this book though, Paige’s family is a big focus and I really appreciated that! At times they may have drove me mad, but for the most part they were fantastic. Paige’s dad was just the sweetest and he was so proud of her. I particularly loved the scenes where Paige would talk to her mom about what was going on in her life. They would discuss friend trouble, boys and mental health. Those scenes were beautiful and made my heart happy.

The friendships are absolutely incredible. They are all so supportive toward one another. Definitely one of my favorite friend groups of all time! I also really loved the relationship between Paige and her coworker, Hunter. He was there for her when she really needed an outside opinion. Plus their banter was 10/10 amazing!

Then there is the romance…ugh my heart. In this book we get to see what it’s like after the curtain is drawn, after the happily ever after. We are there while Paige and Max navigate a brand new relationship. The ups, the downs and the cuteness…it’s all there. It’s definitely a roller coaster of emotions for the two, but I was rooting for them since the beginning!

I am so happy that the author touched more upon Paige’s passion for screen writing. I am a huge nerd and I love behind the scenes of TV and movies so I was geeking out a little bit. It was fun to see Paige and her friend Maeve have brainstorming sessions on what storylines they would create for projects in the future.

The Map from Here to There features wonderful mental health representation. Paige struggles with anxiety and it is something that plays a very big role in all of her decisions though out the book. I also want to mention that endometriosis and infertility were also talked about. Shout out to the author for including those topics in a YA!

Basically I loved this book! It was a realistic look at all the struggles a senior in high school goes through. If you liked The Start of Me and You, then you will definitely love this! If you haven’t picked up the first book yet, I HIGHLY recommend you do so!

3.5 Stars
The Map from Here to There is the sequel to Emery Lord's beloved The Start of Me and You. It begins at the end of summer before Paige's senior year of high school. Paige is excited for Max to return from Italy and for them to start their relationship and senior year together. The only thing standing the way of Paige's happiness is the pressure of choosing a college and what that means for her new relationship with Max.

I'm just going to be blatantly honest with you all. I did not love this book as much as The Start of Me and You. It had some of the things I loved from that book: Paige and Max, Emery Lord's addictive writing and the feels it gave me, all the friendships, the families, new characters to like, dealing with mental health issues. All of that should have been a recipe for success, but this was a case of the first book ending perfectly and the second book trying to mess with everything. I loved that the story was valid and very realistic, but Paige's anxiety made me anxious and sad, and her actions made me irritated. I just wanted to love it and I didn't love the feelings it gave me. I had to push myself to through parts of the middle to get me back to the things that made me love the first book so much.

BUT (and that's a big but) I recognize that The Map from Here to There wasn't written for me. I'm not a teenager. I can see a ton of value in this book for a teenager. It deals with a multitude of issues relating to senior year, picking colleges, relationships that might change with choices made for the future. It also does a good job portraying stress, anxiety, and being overwhelmed by the future. So while it wasn't my favorite read, I see a need for it. I see younger people connecting with and enjoying it more than I did and absolutely loving it.

Everything by Emery Lord is pure magic! The way that she captures the YA voice makes me think she is a YA herself... but I know she's not! Because I've met her - and she's just as charming in person. This is a must read for YA fans! :)

I have picked this book up and put it down at least three times now. I just cannot find the will to get more than 30% into it. It makes me really sad because I loved the first book so much. I'm just not reconnecting with these characters. I guess I only thought I need their story to continue, but my mind has closed off against reading any more.

I loved the first book and I really enjoyed this follow up!
Definitely worth the read for fans of The Start of Me and You!
I would recommend this book and it's predecessor to older teens looking for realistic fiction.

I loved the first book in this series and this one was no different! I can't wait to read more of this author in the future!

I realized while reading this book that I have not read new words from Emery Lord since 2017. (She did have a small story in an anthology from last year, I realized, but whatever.) That is EONS ago. I was obviously eager to read this book because THE START OF ME AND YOU is probably (???) my favorite Emery Lord book. I will tell you: I recommend rereading that one before this if you have a bad bookish memory. It's obviously a contemporary romance, which makes it less challenging to get up-to-speed on (IMO), but I still found myself completely forgetting who people were. It didn't take long to sink into her writing and characters though.

This story follows Paige and Max beginning at the end of the summer. Max, as we know, was in Italy for a summer experience. Paige did an NYU film program and came home to work at the local cinema. We're introduced to Hunter, her coworker that I LOVED, and I could just sense that some trouble may brew from their friendship down the line. Sidenote: give me a Hunter Chen book. PLEASE. PLEASE. PLEASE! Anyways, this story brings us through senior year moments and highlights (as well as some definite lowlights).

Paige is really struggling with her anxiety in this one and I definitely felt for her. I certainly deal with that on a daily basis but in a different way; it was challenging to see her unable to express her feelings. I wanted them to communicate so badly but I was right in her shoes, understanding and remembering MY relationship from senior year of high school. I was not good at communicating at all (granted my relationship was hot garbage and Paige's is much better) and a lot of drama ensued.

The passages with Paige's mom and discussing how much she worries REALLY resonated with me. I definitely inherited my general anxiety and worries from my mom too. So relatable and honestly hard to read as a result. While this book is a quiet exploration of senior year, growing up, first love, college plans, etc., it's also heavy and real in a lot of spots too. I hated so many parts of this book because I felt them so strongly. Remembered them. Saw what was going to happen next. This book was frustratingly real and that's the best way to describe it.  Messy, relatable, quiet, hopeful - all of the usual words to describe an Emery Lord novel.

I didn't fully love the ending, which is stupid, because it makes a lot of sense. I think this story will really stick with me because I love these characters and the journey they went on was messy but necessary. It brought my right back into my own head from senior year - so many decisions to make, both small and large.