Firstly, I want to extend my gratitude to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an advanced copy of "North of Nowhere" by Allison Brennan. As an avid reader and listener, I genuinely appreciate the opportunity to explore new works, and while every book may not resonate with me personally, I understand the effort and creativity that goes into writing each one.

"North of Nowhere" offered a unique premise and promised an exciting adventure. Brennan has clearly poured effort into constructing a complex narrative. However, my personal experience with the book was less satisfying than I had anticipated.

The characters in the narrative felt, to a certain degree, overly familiar and archetypal, lacking the depth and originality that really make a story pop. Their dialogue often veered towards the simplistic and came off as more appropriate for a younger demographic. This, in turn, made it difficult for me to feel truly invested in their experiences or the trajectory of the storyline.

Listening to the book was a challenging experience, as well. The narration had an unfortunate stiffness to it that may not have matched the intended tone of the book, and lacked the subtlety and finesse that can make audiobook listening such a rewarding experience.

While I struggled to connect with the book, I can see how it may appeal to readers who are just seeking a straightforward, uncomplicated adventure tale. For those with less stringent demands on character development and dialogue, "North of Nowhere" could potentially serve as an entertaining diversion.

Despite my own criticisms, I commend Brennan on the completion of another novel and appreciate the hard work that undeniably goes into creating a work of this magnitude. Literature is deeply subjective, and what may not resonate with one reader can profoundly impact another. I'm sure "North of Nowhere" will find its niche audience who will thoroughly enjoy Brennan's latest journey.

This was a heck of a story and I honestly never really knew where it was going. I knew where we would end up, but the ride to get there was wild.

I received both an ebook and audiobook copy through NetGalley and I definitely enjoyed it. The narrator for the audiobook was fantastic and I was invested from the start. I absolutely had to know where we were going and how we’d get there. I listened to this nonstop and finished in a day. It was great.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Publish date: August 8, 2023

First of all I love Allison Brennan’s books. They are FULL of suspense and action and definitely build my anxiety as I read them. North of Nowhere was no exception!

Kristin and Ryan are fleeing from their crime boss father when their plane goes down. Their aunt leaves the army to come try to find them in the middle of the wilderness - but she isn’t the only one. There is more than one danger waiting for them in the woods. Which will find them first?

We read this book from multiple POVs, which I love because we get a peak into multiple characters’ minds and get more character development. It gave Brennan the opportunity to leave cliffhangers with each character which made me not want to race through it!!