Title: Nowhere but Here
Author: Katie McGarry
Genre: Mature Young Adult
Publisher: Mira Ink
Published: June 4th 2015
Page Number: 496
Rating: 4/5
Summary:
Seventeen-year-old Emily likes her life the way it is: doting parents, good friends, good school in a safe neighborhood. Sure, she's curious about her biological father—the one who chose life in a motorcycle club, the Reign of Terror, over being a parent—but that doesn't mean she wants to be a part of his world. But when a reluctant visit turns to an extended summer vacation among relatives she never knew she had, one thing becomes clear: nothing is what it seems. Not the club, not her secret-keeping father and not Oz, a guy with suck-me-in blue eyes who can help her understand them both.
Oz wants one thing: to join the Reign of Terror. They're the good guys. They protect people. They're…family. And while Emily—the gorgeous and sheltered daughter of the club's most respected member—is in town, he's gonna prove it to her. So when her father asks him to keep her safe from a rival club with a score to settle, Oz knows it's his shot at his dream. What he doesn't count on is that Emily just might turn that dream upside down.
No one wants them to be together. But sometimes the right person is the one you least expect, and the road you fear the most is the one that leads you home.
REVIEW
I'm a really big fan of Katie McGarry's so when I heard about her new series that was being described as West Side Story meets Sons of Anarchy, I knew I had to read it. And what I got after I finished was a book filled with sizzling chemistry, comedy and drama.
The story started with immediate intrigue and it only got more and more interesting. Emily is a character that I related to in so many ways: she has quite a high standard of opinions but isn't afraid to see the other side either. She's also perfectly happy (or so she thinks) with her life, her home, her friends, everything. Her reactions to her fathers motorcycle club (and the very specific, yet hilarious scene in the beginning) just had me laughing along. In fact I had no idea if I should be laughing or screaming with her.
When Emily meets Oz it isn't lust at first sight, neither is it love at first sight. It's more like a hated attraction at first sight, from both parties. Emily thinks Oz is very attractive and thinks the whole biker image suits him, whereas Oz thinks Emily is completely gorgeous but completely out of place. Everything was set out perfectly for them because despite their differences there was a shit ton of sexual tension. And it was magical, perfect!
The book, despite being 480 pages didn't feel like it was that size because I absolutely flew through the book. I honestly thought I had read a book that was 300 pages long because there was so much drama that I continued to flip those pages like I was a drug addict and the book was the best drugs on the market.
However. No book is perfect because there were times where I wished we'd see a little more interaction with her biological father. The relationship was...different between them since they only saw each other once every year, but I would've liked something more with them, even if it was only hints of their shopping trip together. But overall, I really enjoyed this book. It not only made me like motorcycle gangs, but I now want to ride a motorcycle and feel the wind in my hair and it falls into my face.
If any of you guys are having major Sons of Anarchy withdrawals then you need to bloody pick this book up and live it all. And if you've not watched Sons of Anarchy, well, still pick up the book!
