This book was not for me. I finished it but barely. It was well written, don't get me wrong there but overall, not my favorite! This was a 2.5 star read, rounded up to 3.

I love Sara Shepard’s novels! Nowhere Like home is a slow burn. Themes of betrayal, broken friendships, motherhood and trust. The three main characters were well developed, rich yet flawed. The first half dragged a bit, character development and back story to drive the plot. The second have pulled me along to the very satisfying ending.

I encountered a flurry of mixed reviews. However, I decided not to be swayed by them, for there are moments when I relish being the voice of dissent amidst the clamor of anticipation surrounding popular reads. I clung to my optimism, determined to explore every facet of the narrative, even as I grappled with moments of repetition that seemed to stretch the pacing, like filler chapters preluding the grand crescendo. My experience with this wild ride was not as exhilarating as I had anticipated, as my expectations soared high. But before I delve into the details of my musings, let's explore the elements I found commendable in the author's creative performance. Here are my pros:

The concept of a commune known as the "mommune," comprising women who are both mothers and prospective mothers, never ceases to fascinate. It lays the foundation for a unique and engrossing backdrop.: The author effectively employs multiple characters and varying perspectives, coupled with a well-structured timeline that navigates between past and present. This narrative technique enriches the story's depth and complexity.

The final twist, undoubtedly, was a testament to the author's clever storytelling. It added an element of surprise and intrigue to the tale. However, its impact wasn't substantial enough to warrant a higher rating, though I wished it were otherwise.
Despite my best efforts, I struggled to form a meaningful connection with Lenna, the central character, or any of the supporting cast. This emotional disconnect hindered my immersion into the story.

IThe dialogues among the characters felt more fitting for a younger demographic, possibly teenagers, rather than adults. Had the narrative focused on young mothers, this stylistic choice might have found a more suitable context.

These reservations had a notable impact on my reading experience, causing the story to drag at times and delaying my journey towards the

Lenna, who had severed ties with her friend Rhiannon two years prior, owing to her own marital and maternal challenges, decides to rekindle their friendship when Rhiannon reaches out. Intrigued by Rhiannon's description of the "mommune," a community of mothers offering mutual support, Lenna embarks on a journey to see life from her friend's perspective. However, as she approaches the commune, she realizes that there is no phone reception, and access is restricted by a padlocked gate. Gradually, she begins to suspect that Rhiannon may harbor ulterior motives for bringing her here. Lenna soon discovers that she is not the only one burdened with long-held secrets, and some of these secrets may drive individuals to protect them at any cost, even if it means jeopardizing her life.

A slow burn for sure but Sara Shepard is such a brilliant writer that even her slow burns are unputdownable. Shepard is officially on my list of authors that I'll drop whatever I'm reading the second they release a new book!

Over all 3.5 stars. I found this story difficult to follow at times. It’s not your typical murder mystery/thriller book. This book has three main characters and each character gets her own part to the story. I wasn’t too invested in the story at the beginning, I found Leena annoying and I definitely thought all three main characters made very questionable decisions that didn’t seem plausible in the least bit. It took me part of the way thru Part 2 to decide to finish this book as well. I didn’t stay hooked on this story thou and I struggled to finish it. The ending seemed like a cut and paste and it didn’t entirely fit into the story.

Thank you NetGalley, Sara Shepard, and Penguin Group Dutton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I REALLY enjoyed this book! Alternating between past & present through three different characters, I found it VERY easy to follow. I was hooked from the beginning and couldn’t wait to see what happened next. Just when I thought I had things figured out another twist came out of nowhere and threw me for a loop. GREAT read!

Thank you to the author, Netgalley and Penguin Group Dutton for this ARC in return for my honest review.

I struggled to get past the beginning of this book. The characters were grating and made unbelievable decisions, the plot required a lot of suspension of disbelief, Really just not my favorite. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

I already wrote my review for this book and somehow it was lost. I spent a great deal of time working on it and I'm not inclined to do it again.

First, I would like to thank Sara Shepherd, Dutton Press and Net Galley for allowing me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
This book is a slow burn The first few chapters I was unsure if I’d be able to finish, but about 1/4 of the way in, I had to know what happened. Specifically once part 2 got started, it went from slow pace to fast pace. And the mystery started to unfold!
The book has multiple timelines, past, present, and future, and features many different POVs.
The book follows four main characters, Rhiannon, Gillian, Sarah, and Lenna as their intertwining friendships go awry. Overall the book was enjoyable, but is not a must read.

This was a good book. I do feel it moved a bit slow for my liking but once the story picked up I was hooked. I found myself needing to know what was going to happen next!

I had high hopes for this one, even though I read the reviews.

I was interested in the mommune. But it wasn’t at all what I thought. Most of the story talked about things that had happened in the past.

Young women behaving badly is about all I can say.

Netgalley/ Penguin Group Dutton February 20, 2024

I really enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a quick read.


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

New mom Lenna is yearning to escape. Having a new baby is hard enough, tryign to keep secrets that haunt you from your past make it even harder. So when an old friend offers Lenna the chance to get away AND try and make amends for one part of her past she decides to just go for it. But the invitation is not all it seems and neither is the "Momune" she finds herself at.

***

3.5 stars

A pretty middle of the road, slow burn thriller from Sara Shepard.

The strength of this book lies in all of the different POVs. The weaving of each POV is smart and it really does work well together. Shepard at this point knows how to drive the narrative to her advantage.

My only issue with the characters is that I don't buy that so many people with this level of social awkwardness could all manage to find each other. I don't really find any of the characters likable either, but I'm not actively rooting against them either. The hold that one character has over these women is not fully explained. I had a hard time believing things would escalate so quickly!

The plot moved a bit too slow for my taste, and one storyline was just a complete red herring! I realize you had to get the characters in one place, but I just didn't understand putting so much stock in a plot that goes nowhere for the main characters.

Overall, I think it's an easy read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest feedback!

The first two thirds of this book had me hooked and engaged. The story of Lenna, Rhiannon, and Gillian is told through recounting present day and 2 years prior. There are some good twists and turns and surprises. However, the whole thing falls apart in towards the end. It. becomes convoluted and rushed. It turns into mean girls on a commune. None of the characters are likable - maybe that's intentional - and it makes it hard to get totally invested in what is going on.

Adult novels from Sara Shepard never fail to intrigue me. "Nowhere Like Home" is culty, twisty, and, in some ways, unbelievable. The plot involves several women and they are all escaping something by taking refuge at a commune in the desert. Lines are crossed and friendships are tested. Can Lenna figure out who knows her secret and who wants her dead before it is too late?

First, I would like to thank Sara Shepherd, Dutton Press and Net Galley for allowing me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review. Rather than regurgitate the storyline, I will defer to the description 0rovided within the cover.

I will summarize it by basically saying that this is a story of 3 friendships gone awry. It highlights (in extremis) the problems that can arise when dishonesty, competition and manipulation come into play.

The story is well written, although the first half which is important for character development, is slow to the point that I began to question the value of continuing. That being said, I am glad I did. The story began to unfold faster with a few unexpected twists and turns. The suspense near the end built to a high level. And I believe the ending should be satisfying for 5hose who like neatly tied resolution.

I would give this 3.5 stars out of 5.

Nowhere Like Home by Sara Shepard was full of twists and turns, and a mutitued of characters who in one way or another were all looking for something that was missing in their lives. Pulled together in a remote commune, we followed each of their stories and how they got there. Told from multiple characters point of view, it was an intriguing, quick read!

This was a fast-paced fantastic read. I’m not normally a fan of commune or cult pieces, but this was really well done and wasn’t made to be the center of the book like I had feared. I loved the twist and the way things played out in the end, and I honestly wish there was an epilogue for the epilogue because I’m not ready to say goodbye to all of the characters.

I liked it, but it’s not a must read. A story about a commune for women and children. There is a lot of secrets all around. Why did Rhiannon go and what does she see in this place? And why can’t they leave? The book has some twists, but didn’t live up to expectations.

Defo wasnt my kind of book! However i did persevere but found it a bit long winded! Got there in rhe end