I requested the audiobook of Elsewhere because I recently read Saint X by the same the author. These two books are totally different, so don't go into this one thinking it will be similar. It also is described as having "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson elements. I can see that, but it's a stretch.
Elsewhere is an interesting plot concept but unfortunately has several trigger warnings so please do research before reading it if that's important to you.
This story is ultimately about motherhood and I recommend it if you like mysterious reads.

The main character Vera grows up in an isolated town. In this town, some mothers simply vanish into the clouds and are never seen again. This happened to Vera's mother when she was young and now she wonders when motherhood comes for her will she be able to stay?⁠
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The writing was beautiful and felt like an old fairy-tale with the creepy and mysterious undertones. ⁠The world just pulled you right in because it was so close to being normal but that's the best part about dystopian novels. ⁠
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⁠I still have some unanswered questions about this book. It's one of those books that sticks with you and you have to digest and think about. It continually reminded me of The Giver.

There is a small, contained community that is secluded from the rest of “Elsewhere” where women and men and children live. It is known that the women eventually disappear and become forgotten.

Enter Vera, our main character. We follow her life as a child, into relationships and beyond.

Then the book gets weird and I presume it was trying to make metaphors and such that I just didn’t get. I’m not totally sure what the point of the book is overall and am really in a stumped position of what happened and why?

I presume the ending did connect to the beginning which helped wrap things up a bit. Overall, I needed more dystopian elements and more explanation and reasons for the storyline.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance audiobook.

From start to finish, I could not put down this book! I'm a huge fan of dystopian fiction so I knew I needed to read this, but it was not at all what I expected. The themes of motherhood and memory were strong in this novel. I highly recommend this book!

Thank you MacMillan Audio for this review copy, audiobook version of Elsewhere by Alexis Schaitkin, with wonderfully moody and atmospheric narration from Ell Potter. 4 star audiobook, 3 star overall book

This is a complicated book to review as I thought the narration was strong and the audiobook production was great, I always want to note that with an audiobook. As an audiobook, the quality was great; the voice acting was good, pacing was well done ,and I thought the choice of narrator gave an ethereal tone that did capture the mood I feel the author was trying to convey.

For me though the plot itself, the narrative, and storytelling did not quite work. This story had so many possible ways it could have gone, so much possible depth and insight into women's lives and motherhood, but for me none of the promise of these themes was fully developed. Is this still a book worth reading and discussing? I think so as for me the possibility of the themes and how and what people get from the book could make for one amazingly thoughtful book chat.

This book is different. In such a good evocative way. I found myself getting swept up and transported in this dystopian story. It’s one of those times I wasn’t sure how I felt until I had time to process it. I’m still thinking about Vera, our MC. There is so much symbolism in regards to motherhood and it spotlights how easy it is to lose oneself.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the gifted audiobook!

Pub date: 6/28/22

Mother's in their town regularly disappear without warning. There one moment, gone the next. As Vera grows, she wonders what her life will bring. She fears at first that motherhood will never come to her, then she fears that she will not stay,

A poetic foray into a physical manifestation of the trials, tribulations, and wrenching that is motherhood. At times I can understand, but at other points i feel I will never truly understand this book until I am a mother myself.
It is a study in all the ways people who are born and raised girls are expected to perform, but also the ways they are expected to disappear into their future children.

There are always groups of three among the girls, a friend and a spare should one of them disappear. There are the ways the disappeared are erased after they leave. Their photos burned, their children now becoming the children of their husband's new wife in every way.,

I feel like the ways this books could be analyzed are endless. The way a girl will be expected to give her all, and never be good enough, when she becomes a mother. The way women never share the hurt, or if they do its always something to be judged by, How the women leaving the town do so, but the pain they felt is never discussed- just as the truth about pregnancy and childbirth is so rarely shared with young women.

Reading this book, I couldn't help but think about a recent thread on twitter, talking about all the things so few people know about childbirth and pregnancy, and how by never talking about it, but keeping those truths like secrets, the next generations of mothers are shocked and horrified when those same things happen to them. And each new mother feels as though they are alone in their strife and grief and horror, because by never sharing the truth, other mothers have isolated the new mothers. A vicious cycle.

Some things are never explained, but can also be chalked up to the gossip told to each other (the way some mothers will just vanish, when in reality they obviously snuck away in the night.), or the reason for the hair pins. Or do some women truly vanish, but others use it as a means to get out? It's never explained. It's never discovered. There's no secret railroad for the women to escape along, it is always only them by themselves. Left abandoned by the ones who left before them.

Special thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this audiobook ARC of Elsewhere.

This story has the feel of an old fairy tale; a little bit ethereal, a little magical, but a lot hands-off. I didn’t feel the emotional connection I should have gotten from the heartbreaking content. Honestly, I also didn’t understand the point of it all. Where were these women disappearing to, and why? So many questions, all still unanswered to the point I almost didn't finish the book. The atmosphere and setting are immersive, and the writing is beautiful. No doubt many readers will love this book. I just don’t happen to be one of them.

What a beautifully written book. I often roll my eyes when I see reviews stating "this book immediately pulled me in", because it's so overstated that the phrase has lost its impact within the realm of online reviews. But this is exactly what I've wanted to say about Alexis Schaitkin's atmospheric and poignant Elsewhere from the very first chapter.

Elsewhere reminds me a bit of another favorite of mine from a few years ago, Disappearing Earth. The world building, the claustrophobic unease, the burning questions you feel may never be answered, all of this adds up to something so compelling that you can't put it down.

I've seen comparisons to Margaret Atwood, one of my favorite authors, and I can absolutely see the insightful and imaginative similarities. I will be adding Alexis Schaitkin to my list of must-read authors.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Celadon Books and MacMillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the sophomore novel by Alexis Schaitkin, audio narration by Ell Potter - 4.5 stars!

Vera grew up in a remote mountain town with Elsewhere - any place besides their town - just a thought. Their town has an affliction - mothers disappear, never to return. No one ever knows when or whom will vanish - but when they do, the other mothers sweep in to gather and burn any remaining photos, clothing or proof of their existence. Vera's own mother disappeared into the clouds and now that she is a mother, she feels the anxious pull of thought that she could leave her child. Should she leave first?

This is not an easy read; it requires thought, speculation, and introspection. But I loved all the topics it introduced - how we give of ourselves to our families no matter the cost; how mothers are judged by others; what we would do for our children; community and isolation. The narrator's voice was perfect for this book - it was lyrical, otherworldly, and gave life to the beautiful verse. I was a huge fan of Schaitkin's debut novel, Saint X. With her latest, she is definitely a must-read author.

Elsewhere by Alexis Schaitkin was a deep dive into the concept of motherhood. It was strange but captivating.

Thank you to Celadon Books, the author, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book left me shocked and sad. I loved it! Right from the beginning I had questions and patiently waited for it to unfold. It was so wonderfully written I was captivated with the story telling. I was still left with one or two unanswered questions, but I feel knowing the answers might take away from what I overall enjoyed about the book. It felt last open for interpretation.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio and publishing for the ARC and audiobook to follow along with.

Elsewhere is a book I quickly finished but took me several days to review, the later not being typical. I felt like I needed time and space to digest what I had just read, and linger with the characters. I enjoy a story with a good twist, and Elsewhere definitely delivered in this way. Early on in the story there is a feeling that all is not well or as it seems, and the pace and tone in which this unfolds was truly enjoyable. I found the writing to be easy to follow and compelling. I do not want to give much of the story away, but we follow Vera as she grows from a child into adulthood, followed by motherhood all with the lingering threat of one day simply disappearing as mothers do in her town. The reader is left wondering both the cause, and if our beloved character will also be taken. What follows is not at all what I expected, and while some of the themes felt familiar, the way in which the story was told felt very fresh. Elsewhere would be an excellent book to discuss in book club as it takes on several interesting m issues, overall I do not think it was for me. While the story was a slow burn, it did not leave me with the answers I would have liked nor did I feel satisfied at the end. I would, however, return to this author.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this novel.

Wow, this was so eerie and unsettling! Alexis Schaitkin creates a very vivid world, and masterfully takes you through Vera's experience. I loved the way Vera's perception of her surroundings change with time. The way the story develops, coming full circle, is tidy without ruining the mystery/tenuous vibe of the book. Ell Potter does a wonderful job on the audiobook. I'm definitely a fan of this one!

Thank you Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for this advance listener copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book fell really short for me. It was a very interesting concept and I guess I was expecting something a bit more dystopian, like the Handmaid's Tale, so it could be just my expectations that caused me to not enjoy the book, but I found it slow and somewhat boring.

Vera was a great character and the idea of a quaint little town where mother's mysteriously vanish was a brilliant idea. But, I saw the twist at the end coming from the beginning of the book. The reveal of the secrets of the town was quite lackluster. I actually think I had better ideas for that reveal. I felt like the author just gave up. I wanted more in the reasoning, but I won't get it.

The writing style was great. I liked the prose, I just didn't fell as though much happened throughout. It's a 2.5 star book for me. The audio was good. I would listen to her narrate again. I will give the author another chance as I think my expectations on the story soiled it for me.

This was such an interesting read! Speculative Fiction is hit and miss for me. I really enjoyed this book. Elsewhere is the tale of a small village nestled in the mountains. They have their own ways and traditions. Supplies are brought in from one man from “Elsewhere”. There is one affliction within the village. Mother’s disappear. Vera.’s mother disappeared when she was a child. Now that’s she’s reached adulthood and sees all her age becoming wives and mothers, she wonders who will be next? She marries and worries if their baby will grow up without a mother. Although, this is the norm in the village.
The story is enchanting and kept me reading through very quickly. I found myself thinking of the story days after I had finished the book. Well done!

**Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I tried several times to get through this book. The narrator is not great and the story just does not grab me. I DNF this book. I won' t post a review when I DNF a book unless a publisher ask that of me. Thanks for the opportunity.

Thank you Celadon for an advanced copy of Elsewhere by Alexis Schaitkin in exchange for an honest review.

I was very excited to get the opportunity to read this book, they said that if you loved The Giver and The Ocean at the End of the Lane then this is the book for you. I was absolutely sold seeing as those are two of my favourite books.
This book has a slight dystopian vibe while still being grounded in elements of reality the reader can connect too. It starts off with a certain magic in the way the town in described. A town that is a little outside of normal and wholly its own but slowly you as the reader start to notice the cracks before the narrator does which lends to an eerie awareness that something is slightly off. The book doesn't explain why things happen the way they do which I think adds to the magic of the book. We as the reader can come up with our own theories on why the women in this town disappear and I definitely have my theories.

Although I really liked this book, I'm not able to rate it higher because somewhere in the middle the pacing just threw me off. The middle of the book just left me wanting more, especially because I loved the first half and the ending.

This is not a quick or easy read. The book doesn't give you answers or explanations and its up to the reader to piece the puzzle of the book together.

This book was amazing! The writing was unique and the story line was different and interesting. I’ve not read this Author debut book but I will go back and read it now.

I want to start by saying this is my first book by the author.

I had no idea what to expect but the blurb about this book really pulled my interest.

The character we follow is one I know I enjoyed experiencing the aging process and the twists and turns to this book. I had so many moments that I just thought I knew what was going on but always abandoned the idea ((I will say one of my first ideas was the right so I love that)) I was just not sure and I started out early bookmarking so many things but quickly let that go as I got pulled further and further in. Oh I don’t want to give away the book so I can’t say much more than I really enjoyed it and need to read more this type book