I recieved a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an h ok nest review. Honestly, I didn't like this book. Right off the bat, I have to say the book was way too long. It just seemed to drag on and on especially the beginning. For a book with spies, vengeance, kidnapping, and romance it was dull.

Sophia has been dragged around the world by her parents that work for a shady government agency and she has apparently all the skills of a spy. First off what kind of agency would allow their spies to travel with a child? They whole it was the perfect disguise is stupid. As the story proves this only puts her in danger.

The romance also felt flat. I didn't care about Sophia and Aksel's relationship at all. They shot guns together, they skied together, blah blah blah.

Obviously, from other readers others may not agree with me but I just really didn't care about anyone in this story.

The first half was interesting, but didn't keep my attention throughout the book. I did like several scenes here and there.

Well, I'll say this: you definitely need to suspend your disbelief for this one.

Although it's described as a mixed action/romance, the story definitely tends more toward the former - maybe this will have more appeal for those who enjoy action films. I tend not to stay riveted by "I shot this guy, then ducked under the table and shot that guy" scenes even when presented visually, and simply reading through those sorts of passages really doesn't capture my attention so I ended up skimming a lot. I will say that a lot of the spycraft elements seem pretty solidly realistic to my eyes. Some of the early action might be of interest to those who enjoy survivalist/wilderness type books (by the 20% mark, there's been both an animal attack and an avalanche) but at least the latter half centers more strongly on fictionalized plots related to geopolitics and terrorists; lots of action and cookie cutter villains.

One of the biggest things I had to remind myself to suspend disbelief for was the simple fact of Sophia's upbringing, a key part of the basis of the story: considering her parents' lifestyle, I was baffled fairly early that the government/her parents' superiors would seemingly support her joining them, and my feelings about this only increased with the information revealed throughout the book. I also felt that her parents' culpability was not interrogated nearly strongly enough; a scene between Sophia and her mother toward the end of the book which is supposed to be heartwarming fell completely flat for me (as her mother proclaimed her complete lack of regret about having Sophia in her life, I sat speechless, wondering if her mother was totally oblivious not to regret what happened to Sophia based on her parents' choices).

As for the romance, I certainly got what the author was going for - what's the world coming to if the mysterious new girl with combat and tradecraft skills isn't going to get together with the mysterious sharpshooting loner boy who wants to be a Navy SEAL? - but it felt extremely blah and juuuuust this side of instalove to me. Sophia could have gotten together with a broomstick who could shoot a gun and say things like "You're the strongest person I've ever met" and it would have felt the same to me (and vice versa, tbh, filling in her particular areas of expertise, of course).

I also can't particularly recommend the characters or the writing. Sophia and Aksel both read as pretty flat and unrealistic, and more vehicles for innumerable skills than actual people, and the secondary characters were so bland that I was surprised when some of them made a late reappearance in the book; I would have expected them to have been easily forgotten by the plot. As mentioned, the action scenes are likely propulsive enough for readers focused on that area, and there are several twists to keep things interesting, but the dialogue isn't particularly snappy and there are literally whole chapters devoted to monologued backstory in a writing style far better suited to thought or omniscient narration - I mean, huge chunks where I kept thinking, "this could have been a flashback! Why not at least make it a flashback???"

Considering "for every book it's reader" and the other, stronger reviews I can already see being posted, it might be that this book's strengths don't match up with the things I find interesting or valuable in my reading, but I was overall pretty unimpressed.

Sophia had spent time in a myriad of countries all over the world, but now, with her parents' retirement, she would finally have a place to call home. Just as she was settling into her new life in Montana, danger came calling again, but she wasn't ready to give up being a "regular" teen just yet.

This was a perfect escape for me! It was the break from reality I needed, and I found myself totally absorbed in Sophia's life or death trials. More often than not, I can be found reading a contemporary novel, therefore, I was quite surprised by how much I relished this action packed tale.

I was truly fascinated by Sophia, her parents, and the lives they led. All the places they had live, the languages they spoke, and the plethora of skills they acquired all interested me. Reading about their training, and seeing that know-how in action was a thrill. Car chases, explosions, gun fights, and narrow escapes filled the pages, and I found myself devouring it all.

It didn't hurt, that there was a rather sweet and adorable romance built into the story either. Sophia and Aksel were quite a pair. There were sparks from the very beginning, which eventually grew into a full on blazing fire. He had aspirations of a military career, and therefore, also possessed a multitude of survival skills, which were put to good use during their relationship. He was a perfect match for Sophia, and I found myself really rooting for them.

Overall: The combination of romance and action in this fast-paced tale had me hooked from beginning to end.

The cover and description drew me to this book. I always love a good ya mystery. This one was not one much. I felt it started out strong and I was interested in the dynamics of Sophia and Askel but as soon as they got together that part of the story was basically over. I wasn't as interested in the second half of the book. It was more of an action story. It played out well and The twists were interesting except for her parents secret I picked up on that right away and was confused on how she didn't know when she did find out. Over all I give this story 3 stars.

I enjoyed the first half of this story, where Sophia tries to adapt to a typical American high school life after living abroad as a diplomat daughter for most of her life. The second half seemed confusing and rushed to me. There were too many story threads and not enough pay off. It falls under almost four stars to me. Very close, but not quite there.

"Girl from Nowhere" is a questionable choice for a title when the main character is essentially from everywhere. Sophia Hepworth has been to ninety-four countries, attended thirty-one different schools and can speak 14 languages. After living abroad for so long with her diplomat parents, she moves to Montana under the promise of being able to be a normal American teenager. Although skeptical of the decision, Sophia begins to root herself with friendships until the past catches up with her.

As the novel is described as ""Red Sparrow" meets "One of Us Is Lying", I expected Sophia to be more engaged with the spy world personally; an assassin herself, for example. That said, I accepted the story presented even if the characters read as older than they were.

"Girl from Nowhere" was most compelling at the beginning, but began to fall short. A stronger narrative was needed to help the book move at a moderate pace. In addition, the plot was ridiculous at times and unbelievable passed the point of acceptability. I found it difficult to accept the idea of terrorists chasing a bland sixteen-year-old girl around the world for information she didn't have. Thinking she was kidnapped for revenge on the parents made more sense and I don't understand why this concept was deviated from. I do recall it being brought up.

I enjoyed the parts of the story focused on healing from a traumatic event. The author does a great job with descriptions of sensory triggers and how they can manifest physically and emotionally at unexpected times.

Sophie and Aksel's relationship was underdeveloped, not a "breath-taking romance" as marketed. This is a common trend I'm beginning to notice in Young Adult stories. Their interactions were placid and Tiffany Rosenhan spends a little too much time telling us how the love interest looks through the protagonists eyes. It lacked connection, substance and would've been better if the author didn't include romance at all if she wasn't going to dive deep enough with it.

Overall, "Girl from Nowhere" has a lot of holes that need to be filled.

I enjoyed this novel. I liked the main character and the journey she was on. She’s been through so much in her life and all she wanted to do was settle, make friends, cope with her past, find romance, and move on. For me personally, the writing style made me struggle to read this book quickly. I Found myself putting it down frequently. I’m not sure I was connecting with the main story as much as I did, but I still walked away from the book saying “this was an okay novel!”

Sophia was not a regular 16-year-old girl. She had lived all over the world with her diplomat parents, and knew more than 14 different languages. She had been trained in deadly combat, and knew how to accurately shoot a gun on the run. After having to live in so many different places and experiencing so many different things, Sophia was shocked when her parents arrived in the small town of Waterford, Montana and told her they were officially retired. Now that she was given permission to slow down her life and “act like a teenager”, Sophia had no idea what to do.

Her first day at school didn’t go over well, as teachers were less than impressed with her knowledge, but she made a few friends who kept her occupied with normal teenage things. Soon Sophia started to fall into the routine of hanging out and wondering why the very handsome Aksel left her tongue-tied. She and Aksel soon became a couple but, just as Sophia thought the doors of her past were forever closed, something happened that caused them to come blasting open. It will take everything she’s learned from her father and Askel’s love to keep Sophia’s former world from crashing down around her new one.

“Girl from nowhere” is filled with action, love, and adventure. The only thing I didn’t like about it was the cover. With a storyline of a type of female 007 mixed up with a very handsome James Bond type, having a book cover showing a girl with tape over her eyes DOESN’T CUT IT! Come on Bloomsbury! There’s still a month left before publication, so PLEASE come out with a more riveting cover to draw readers in – otherwise they’ll pass up a very good book!

Highly recommended for ages 14 and older.

I received a digital advance reading copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

A story offering the promise of espionage, intrigue and a touch of romance? What can go wrong?

While Girl from Nowhere does offer all of this and more, it lacks plausibility. The narrative implicitly relies on readers to forego asking questions in favor of simply enjoying the action. This might work for some readers, but for those who naturally tend to close read, there could be some disappointment by time they reach the novel’s close. The age of the characters could also arguably be considered detrimental. At times, it can be rather hard to envision the progression of the plot as centering on high schoolers aged 16 and 17, especially when the theme of recruitment is mentioned. Also, given everything that has happened to our protagonist prior to the “new start” she’s offered, as discussed in the story’s premise, a reader can easily question how parents could still be willing to let their underaged child have so much free range. Ultimately, some of the major action elements, decisions and revelations might work better if the main characters were potentially college-aged.

The book does cover trauma and PTSD. I think the author’s subtle descriptions of sensory triggers and their physical and emotional manifestations are among the strongest parts of this story. I wish there was more time spent focusing on these elements as opposed to the narrative’s heavy reliance on action and predictable resolutions.

Though the reader is provided with a definite ending, there are some action points that are left open ended, potentially providing room for a story continuation. Perhaps a sequel might offer more opportunities for character and story development.

Thank you so much to netgalley for sending me a copy of this book. I was so excited to read this book and I was not disappointed

Sophia Hepworth and her diplomat parents have settled down. After a life of hopscotching countries (94), changing schools (31), learning languages (14), and dodging bullets meant for her (2), she’s ready to live like a normal 16-year-old in a resort town in Montana. Just as she begins to fit in, her past is resurrected, and the combat survival training her parents drilled into her may be the only thing that will keep her alive. What should be a typical high-school romance with handsome, mysterious Aksel turns into a life-saving alliance when betrayal and secrets catapult the Hepworths back into an international game of cat and mouse with Sophia as the prize. Strong and capable, Sophia never backs down in the face of chases, kidnappings, gunplay, physical violence, and interrogation by colorful characters on a global scale. Heart-pounding international action fuels this novel at an un-relenting pace. Thoroughly different from most YA offerings, readers who are able to suspend disbelief completely will enjoy this twisting, turning thriller from beginning to end. — Jeanne Fredriksen

This review appeared in the June 1, 2020, issue of Booklist Magazine

5 stars / This review will be posted at BookwormishMe.com on 7 July 2020.


Holy moly, this is an epic YA novel.

Sophia and her parents have just settled in the mountain town of Waterford, Montana. After years of moving from one place to another across the world, her parents have decided it’s time for Sophia to be a normal teenager. Or as close to one as she can be with retired diplomats for parents.

Sophia speaks multiple languages and is a sharpshooter. She has been trained to survive whatever comes her way. Except for one thing - Aksel Fredricksen. He is the hot ski racer who has survived his own tragedies in life, and keeps most people at arm’s length. Even Sophia. But when circumstances throw them together, Aksel and Sophia find that maybe they have more in common than not.

When I said epic, I mean epic. This is a YA novel that should appeal to people of all ages. It blends intrigue, international spies, high school girls and romance. Maybe the story is a bit over the top, but it’s a riveting ride. Sophia is tough as nails and an inspiration to any teenage girl. Aksel is every teenage girl’s heart throb. Sophia’s parents are doting, a tad bit helicopterish. Rosenhan’s ability to keep the reader on her toes is exceptional.

I did NOT want to put this one down or have it end. Best YA book I’ve read in ages.

"Bursting with action and intrigue. Girl From Nowhere is better suited for an adult audience."
Sheaf and Ink, Cecelia Beckman

I liked the idea of Girl From Nowhere. A book about a young teenage girl running from her past seemed like a compelling read. But the further along I got in the novel the more confused I became. The chapters unfolded like hastily cut kite strings flailing aimlessly in a torrent of wind. And there’s a lot going on in this book, but not everything makes complete sense.

With sections of lengthy dialogue, where the speaker never takes a break after paragraphs of unduly explanation, the writing fell short in creating a compelling and rich narrative.

Further, to believe high school teenagers can relate to this story is a far stretch. The main character name drops high-end brands and international locations in ways more fit for a movie script than in a Young Adult novel. The blatant type of advertisement peppered throughout Girl From Nowhere became a distraction being nothing more than white noise than actual meaningful substance.

Also, both Sophia and Askel read as much older. Remember, Sophia is sixteen and Askel is eighteen. However, each of these characters are experts in handling weapons, survival methods, and combat. Sophia even more so, knowing fourteen different languages, living abroad her whole life, and having parents who are American "diplomats" who are constantly drilling her on survival tactics.

Let’s not forget about the romance. The synopsis described Girl From Nowhere as a “breathtaking romance.” This is a genre a number of readers covet. Craving that rush of attraction, the back and forth, and any steamy interludes in-between. Tiffany Rosenhan had the opportunity to live up to her breathtaking romance synopsis, but instead, decided to dive into the shallow end of the romance pool. Writing more placid interactions while overtly describing Askels green eyes.

Girl From Nowhere falls short in a number of ways. It deviates from having a well thought out plot. Characters that readers will root for and care about from beginning to end. But most importantly, it lacks cohesion where everything in the story makes sense and is concise, leaving no room for confusion.

This is a fun spy thriller about a super smart sixteen-year-old girl who can kick butt, speak every language, and holds her own with the bad guys, but all she wants is a normal life! It is a fast paced, action packed adventure of a read. Some other reviews relay the fact that there are some minor inconsistencies of the finer details, but I don't think these details detract from the overall story at all. Thank you Netgalley for the chance to review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This could easily be a 4 or even 5 star book if not for many inconsistencies. Some of what I'm about to say may be spoiler-esque, but I'm not going to talk about the reasons why Sophia is in these situations, just about the situations or actions themselves in an attempt not to ruin anything.

Things start off really great in this book. Sophia moves to a "normal" town in the USA after a harrowing life on the run with her parents. I enjoyed learning about her life before and after she got to the town, as well as her building relationships with friends and her love interest Askel. Problems start to arise when Sophia ignores her instincts, instincts she has grown up trusting lest she die . She ignores some pretty telltale signs and it gets her into a world of trouble.

The second half of the book is what is lost on me. It is action packed, sure, but the many inconsistencies and lack of continuity of details, and really just plain mistakes that are attempted to be corrected after the fact really annoyed me. I had to continuously flip back to see, did I just miss where the author explained this? And no, I did not miss it, it just plain wasn't there. Here are some examples:

One time Sophia is pushed into a car while she is wearing a backpack, and she is shoved face down and her hands are tied - implying her hands are tied behind her back since, well, how do you tie up someone's hands in front of them when they are on their stomach? So her hands are tied behind her back - with a backpack on - seems pretty tricky. Then not long after that she kicks the driver in the head (she is in the back seat)....through a headrest? Every car has headrests so how on earth can she kick the driver in the head through the headrest? The author did not say there were no headrests so we have to assume they are in the car. A little later on we then find out she is in fact, NOT wearing her backpack... How the backpack removed itself with her hands tied who knows.

One time she checks her gun to find 1 bullet left, and her and her father "Simultaneously we lunge from our cover, firing" and then right after that she decides she needs to use her 1 bullet to shoot someone... But she has none left since she fired it leaving cover. She manages to kill someone anyway with her imaginary bullet.

See what I mean? Annoying. Going back and forth in the book to try to make sense of the inconsistencies really breaks up the flow of the book. Accepting the inconsistencies is even worse.

It continues when she has a blindfold on and a cloth in her mouth, but she doesn't take them off despite no mention of her hands being tied. We are told her hands are tied later as a way to fix the mistake of not saying it before.

The last example I will give is that it would have been impossible to open a jump shoot at the altitude we are told the plane is flying, the door wouldn't even be able to be opened, and if by some miracle it was opened it would have immediately sucked everyone and anything not tied down out of the plane.

It is disappointing to say the least, since I think this book had such great promise. That is why I'm giving it 3 stars. If things were cleaned up I would easily have rated it a 4 or even a 5. Honestly I'm sad since it was such a fun idea for a book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a DRC of this title for review. All opinions are my own.

OK-I'll admit it. I loved this book. For me, it was the perfect blend of a somewhat fluffy romance (of course she would be able to attract the attention of the boy who is mysterious and aloof with all of the local townies) with the adventure and drama of a good thriller. This is something that I think multiple types of readers will enjoy and I can't wait to hand it off to my students. While it is YA, I don't think there is anything in it that would deter me from ordering it for my middle school building. There is violence (they are undercover CIA-esque operatives who are running and hiding) but nothing in the way of sex or language (besides some cursing in German). Highly recommend.

Sophia's parents have always been somewhat cryptic about their jobs with as diplomats, but now they claim to be in retirement. 18 months after she was kidnapped by an obscure terrorist cell, the threats have been dealt with and the family heads to a small town in Montana to allow Sophia to have a typical American teenage experience. But she can't help but feel that something is still wrong. Even though her parents tell her to trust them, that she's safe, her instincts say she isn't. As she continues to fall for Aksel, the local mystery boy, she begins to wonder what he is hiding from her. And where their paths have crossed before. Because there is more to the story than meets the eye. And not knowing the truth is a dangerous game.

Girl from Nowhere is a novel about a reluctant teenage spy. She's spent her life with her 'diplomat' parents learning languages, martial art moves, piano, and to hold her breath for four minutes.
Unlike most teenage spy novels I found Sophia a lot more relatable. She's never had a normal life. She doesn't understand cultural references, how to talk to people, or how to deal with the trauma of being kidnapped and chased by terrorists for 18 months.

Sophia's parents, like all spy parents made me mad, but I loved loved loved her relationship with Aksel and the friends she makes in high school.
Overall, I loved the plot and pacing of this book. As we discover more of what happened in Sophia's past her present struggles and dangers become a lot more clear to us, and made for a quick, exciting story.

I feel like the title should be Girl from Everywhere since Sophia has literally lived everywhere from traveling the world. I found this book a disappointment. The first half was Sophia adjusting to life in Waterford and falling into instant love with Aksel. The second half consisted of her running around Europe being chased by the bad guys.

Sophia was an unbelievable character. She spoke 14+ languages, remembered every detail of every city she has lived along with every conversation, knows everything about weapons, and supposedly knows how to fight. I find the last two embellishments since Aksel always saved her whenever she was in trouble, which was a lot. Sophia boasted how she was aware of her surroundings but that was never in the case since she always needed Aksel saving her and made stupid decisions that placed herself in danger. She spoke like a travel book at times with the overbearing descriptions of every place she has ever lived or visited.

Aksel was pretty boring. He was the typical stereotypical love interest who was the mysterious, handsome, and rich boy that never dated until a new girl arrives in town. The plot was ridiculous since the bad guys were after a bland and unintelligent sixteen-year-old girl for absolutely no reason. Sophia’s parents were awful parents since they effectively let the bad guys stalk Sophia for months, knew about it, and never did anything.

It took me forever to finish the book and I skimmed a lot towards the end since I just wanted to be done with it.

A fun thriller full of action and a young adult as the main character-- something I don't typically get drawn to! Lots of twists and turns.