I'm a sucker for a road-trip story, and a good friends-to-lovers dynamic, and West delivers both in spades here. This is such a sweet, family-focused tale, a solid recommendation for teen/young adult readers who enjoyed To All the Boys I Loved Before and The Summer I Turned Pretty. The romance here is very earnest and more emotionally-based than sex-focused, so it's a good fit for readers whose parents are a bit more concerned about what kind of romance they're reading.

This charming tale of love and friendship truly captivated me. It follows two families on a transformative road trip that alters their lives forever. The romance is delightful, and I appreciated the travel theme woven throughout the narrative. It made for a wonderfully light summer read.

This book was fun and adorable. Even when you assume you know which way the story is going, sometimes how it gets there makes everything seem delightful and new again. Definitely recommend!

What a sweet and delightful read! This YA contemporary romance about a cross-country RV trip with two families was exactly the kind of comfort read I needed. Norah and Skyler's journey from childhood best friends to something more was so beautifully handled.
I loved the road trip setting and how the story explored reconnecting with old friends. Norah's dream of becoming a video game animator was a unique touch that added depth to her character. The way West writes teenage relationships feels so authentic - awkward, complicated, and genuinely heartwarming.
The family dynamics were another highlight. The interactions between siblings and the two families felt realistic and fun. There's something special about a story that captures the complexity of friendships changing as we grow up.
The romance developed naturally, which I appreciated. It wasn't rushed or forced, but felt like a genuine rediscovery of a connection. Skyler's initial coldness and the gradual unraveling of why he was acting distant kept me completely engaged.
A perfect read that left me smiling and feeling warm inside!

Places We've Never Been is such a sweet and heartwarming read! The story follows two best friends, Norah and Skyler, who decide to take a spontaneous road trip together after a summer of uncertainty. It’s the perfect mix of adventure, friendship, and a little bit of romance. West has a knack for creating relatable characters, and you really feel the bond between Norah and Skyler as they navigate their journey. The road trip itself is filled with fun stops and unexpected twists.

This book captures the essence of friendship and the excitement of stepping out of your comfort zone. It’s all about discovering new places and discovering yourself along the way. West’s writing is super easy to read, making it a perfect choice for a light, enjoyable escape.

Sweet second chance ya romance. I enjoyed the story.

I loved the relationship between the two main characters. There was a bit of miscommunication, but I honestly didn't mind it in this instance. I feel like that trope does better in ya books. I really liked the reconnecting parts and also the road trip. I'm not usually a fan of road trip stories, but I did enjoy this one.


*Thank you to #netgalley for a copy of this book to read and review, all thoughts are my own.

Although I loved parts of the family aspects, I didn't love the drama of the multiple secrets everyone was keeping. Overall, this was a cute read and I enjoyed it.

Thank you for the opportunity to review - this was really fun and creative! Would definitely seek out more titles from this author.

Thank you to Random House Children's | Delacorte Press and to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

This was just a sweet fun book. I am trying to read a few more teen books this year, so I have recommendations for the teens coming into the library.

This was just a sweet story about friendship, and how things change over time. I would definitely recommend this to teens.

While I've liked Kasie West in the past, this one just wasn't for me. I'm looking forward to other work from her in the future though!

“Places We’ve Never Been” follows high schooler Norah as she embarks on a road trip with her family and the family of her long lost best friend, Skyler. Norah grapples with the fact that she and Skyler are now both different people and the best friendship has to evolve. Pair that with some simmering romantic feelings between the two and you have this quirky romantic book.

Overall, however, this book was not as good as I hoped it to be. Norah was a little too “quirky” (but not in a good way) for my taste. The romance happens quite late in the book and the ending feels a little rushed for me. Young adults who love romance novels would enjoy, but if you’re not already a fan, it might not stick with you.

I enjoyed this book. This book is a super fun book! It's about Haley and Martin going on a road trip and having all sorts of adventures. There's lots of funny and sweet moments between them. The author, Kasie West, is really good at making characters you care about. If you want a happy and enjoyable book, this one is a great pick!

This is a pretty good book for a teenager to read. Kasie West is a great author of teenage contemporary books. In this book, Skylar and Norah used to be friends as children but haven’t seen each other in years. Their families decide to do an RV trip together so the two are back in each others lives. Norah is excited and Skylar acts like he doesn’t want to be near her. On the road trip, the rebond. Typical teenage book but it was a cute story.

Thank you to net galley for this arc copy l

This was such a sweet read and definitely the first of many I will be reading by this author. I found all the characters relatable in their own way. The romance aspect was written so well.

This was such a wonderful book. The fluff in here is exactly what makes me read Kasie's books. They're always wonderful, so heartfelt and always leave me with a fuzzy feeling at the end.

Reading this in the summer is the perfect time to do so, the vibes match so perfectly and it's something you can just digest really easily.

I really loved the characters in here and to watch them grow overtime was really heartwarming. I love the friends to lovers trope and I feel it was done perfectly in this.

PLACES WE'VE NEVER BEEN is a sweet and gentle YA book. I love coming of age stories and this one seemed to do it without the typical angst and frustration. It is super appropriate which makes me feel comfortable recommending it to other parents for their kids. The only thing I think I wish was different was to actually see Skylar's mom telling the family her secret. Great book!

I went into this thinking it was a going to be a sweet, second chance romance, and parts of it were. There was some heaviness in it as well, though. This is my first book by this author and I like how she combined those elements.

This was such a cute and summery read with a touch of suspended reality. The friends to lovers trope fit perfectly in the YA genre! Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

Terrific teen summer read! Such a fun story. Ya, you suspend a little belief but what a fun friends-to-sweethearts romance. I love Kasey West. This one is a keeper. If you enjoy a good teen romance, you will love this one. I appreciate NetGalley for letting me read this arc.

Kasie West's contemporary novels are some of my favorites—full of well-developed characters, nuanced arcs, and the kind of summer hijinks we all always dreamed of. Loved this new one!