The Map from Here to There

3.5 stars 1/3/20 - and just like that, i finished this book before the clock strikes 12 (this was typed about 5 minutes before midnight and the fact that i would finish this book 1/4/20 would look like i read this longer). the fact that i was waiting on this book for almost a year and a half and that i read one of my most anticipated books of this year is crazy to me because i never stick much to my goals but look at me going strong with it. with that said however, there were faults and minor irritations that lead to my feelings to this book more disappointing than you thought. more to come! -------------------------------------- 5/25/19 - apparently there are ARCs at BookExpo and all i'm thinking about is "GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME" because this is honestly THE BOOK that i'll die for just so my heart is fully contented since the last time i read the start of me and you -------------------------------------- 1/2/19 - i recently checked this book and the release date has been pushed back to october 2019. i'm not sure if i should be mad because it's been pushed back or i should be happy because of the fact that if this book were to be released in may, i know for sure i'm going to f*** my college finals and therefore, my gpa. -------------------------------------- 9/5/17 - i have been waiting to see this on gr because when i saw that article that lord was announcing this book, this made me ESTHETIC!!!! i LOVED the start of me and you and the fact that there will be a sequel makes me want to relive reading the story all over again! i never reread a book ever. i don't know why, i just don't. maybe because i can predict what would happen, i don't really know. but when i reread the start of me and you for the past 2 times, i never get tired of it! this was the definition of how much a book can bring an impact to someone. and this book is definitely it. and now that the time is counting down to the map from here to there, i'll just see if i can get to reread the start of me and you again (i'll most likely do).

3.5 stars This sequel didn't meet my expectations, even though I figured it would probably not be as good as The Start of Me And You. It was generally enjoyable, but I can recall more moments that annoyed me than moments I truly enjoyed. Paige was quite a brat sometimes, and her problems with communication were a bit frustrating. I get that it's better to show relatable issues and not make her "fixed" at the end of the first book, but I would have preferred to see her grow, instead of the mess she was for the big majority of the book. Max was also extremely annoying, I hated his reactions and thought the two of them were just a big mess, and didn't even root for them to end up together. Paige’s co-worker at the movie theater, Hunter, was the only character I really enjoyed following in this one. Maybe the novelty of it all? I think maybe YA contemporaries are just not meant to have sequels. Another thing that I didn't really like was that the friends group was underrepresented throughout the stroy. It was a strong point in the first book and there they were just present for a few scenes but there wasn't a great dynamic and the pairings felt forced. Overall, The Map from Here to There was just ok for me, it was a 3.5 stars because I had a soft spot for the characters after the first book, but I'm not head over heels for it at all.

Super cute and relatable. I like the focus on mental health and communication.

I read The Start of Me and You and I really fell in love with Emery Lord's novel. I do remember that the story felt slightly slow, but I was hoping it wouldn't be the case with the sequel. Unfortunately, it was still slow, probably slower. I loved being back with the cast and getting to know more about them, especially Max. I was so happy to see how many of them had so much character development throughout the story. Paige was a character that had me on edge, at times, but I understand her anxiety was technically to blame so that helped in pushing away certain issues that came up. I'm so glad she grew throughout the story and seeing her being very mature with college and Max had me rooting for her. I have to admit that the characters who shone bright were the secondary ones. They brought so much life and enthusiasm to the story! I'd definitely read books with them as the main characters. Overall, The Map from Here to There was lovely, entertaining, and ultimately all about friendships and making decisions, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Hated every second. I want a feel good happy sequel and this was not it.

Emery Lord is a great writer. That is a fact. But... I just didn't enjoy this one like I loved the first. The side characters all blended together; cross out the names I wouldn't be able to tell if Paige was in a chapter with Tessa, Morgan, or Kayleigh. I also couldn't believe how it dragged on. Every chapter felt like the end, and then there was more! The acceptance? The emails? The play? Finally, the end did come, and it felt lacklustre. 3 stars because there were some moments that I really connected to, and some characters I did love. But only 3 because it didn't live up to the first one.

3.5 stars Full review to follow soon!

* I got this book for review and would give this book 4.75 stars* I thought this was such a solid standalone novel to the first book in this series the start of me and you. I loved how this book was again set along almost a whole year of their life and took place directly after book 1. I hoped this book would have took us to the the end of summer but it only went to spring break. I am secretly hoping we get a third book to complete this series. I really loved the main characters in this book and the topics that were discussed. I loved the pace of this novel and really flew through it. I did not love the opening ending, but I am hoping we get a concluding novel. I really did loved the dynamics of this characters in this novel and how they changed from the start of this series. It was a great read!

2.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury YA for sending me an early copy for review! Right, so as much as I adored The Start of Me & You, this sequel was not it. It's not that I necessarily hated the experience of reading it, I just felt like it brought nothing new to the table after the end of the previous book. Of course, some of the stuff I loved from book one was still in this one, like the anxiety rep, and the overall relatability of Paige. The rest of it though, wasn't very compelling. I love romance books about the start of relationships, and I like ones about the middle when they are going well. I don't mind a few chapters of fighting or miscommunication because it adds tension and excitement, but in this book, the amount of unnecessary conflict just became annoying. Another element to this book that I thought I would enjoy was its content surrounding college decisions. However, its portrayal of the process wasn't very realistic, and (view spoiler)[ in the end, you never even get to find out where she is going to go. (hide spoiler)] I was just personally hoping for a lot more resolution. This book essentially ends in the same place it begins. While I was disappointed by this book, I'm definitely still excited to check out some of Emery Lord's other works!

To read the full review visit my blog: http://shelflifechronicles.com/2019/1... Thank you to Edelweiss+ and Bloomsbury YA for an eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review! I had a ton of mixed feelings about this book. I really enjoyed The Start of Me and You. Paige was a great representation of mental health not defining you and her friend to lover arc with Max was adorable. They were both geeky little things that I adored the hell out of so it felt weird having their story continue. I’d liked where we’d left the two of them, with the promise of new romance, and I didn’t want to touch that. I wasn’t fully convinced there needed to be more for them. To be honest by the end of The Map from Here to There I was slightly pissed and felt like this ruined their relationship for me.

I read The Start of Me and You and I really fell in love with Emery Lord's novel. I do remember that the story felt slightly slow, but I was hoping it wouldn't be the case with the sequel. Unfortunately, it was still slow, probably slower. I loved being back with the cast and getting to know more about them, especially Max. I was so happy to see how many of them had so much character development throughout the story. Paige was a character that had me on edge, at times, but I understand her anxiety was technically to blame so that helped in pushing away certain issues that came up. I'm so glad she grew throughout the story and seeing her being very mature with college and Max had me rooting for her. I have to admit that the characters who shone bright were the secondary ones. They brought so much life and enthusiasm to the story! I'd definitely read books with them as the main characters. Overall, The Map from Here to There was lovely, entertaining, and ultimately all about friendships and making decisions, which I thoroughly enjoyed.