The Map from Here to There

by Emery Lord

The Map from Here to There is an unforgettable story of identity and the companion novel to the stellar The Start of Me and You, which was a Zoella Book Club pick for WHSmith.

It’s senior year, and Paige Hancock is finally living her best life. She has a fun summer job, great friends, and a super charming boyfriend who totally gets her. But senior year also means big decisions. Feeling the weight of 'the rest of her life' Paige starts to panic. Everything is exactly how she always wanted it to be – how can she leave it all behind next year? In her head, she knows there is so much more to life after high school. But in her heart, is it so terrible to want everything to stay the same forever?

Emery Lord’s signature storytelling shines with lovable characters and heartfelt exploration of life’s most important questions. There will be break-ups, make-ups, a road trip, and even a wedding. Through it all, can Paige figure out what happens in the after part of happily ever after?

Fans of Rainbow Rowell, Jennifer Niven and Nicola Yoon should look no further than this unforgettable story of friendship and connection.

• ISBN10: 152660664X
• ISBN13: 9781526606648
• Publish Date: 5 March 2020 (first published 7 January 2020)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
• Imprint: Bloomsbury YA
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 400
• Language: English

Reviews

[Kelly]

Paige Hancock's world fell apart after her boyfriend Aaron drowned in a tragic accident, her steadfast friends were there to support her through the trauma and anxiety, including Max, Paige's friend and now boyfriend. Paige and Max have just spent the last few months apart, Paige exploring New York City and her dream of one day becoming a screen writer, while Max has been holidaying in Italy. Reuniting before embarking on their final year of school and together with their group of friends, their final year before scattering across the country for collage.

Paige is a planner, she likes to know where she's going before she begins her journey, to schedule her time and organise her life in an orderly manner, so collage applications are especially stressful, the fear of the unknown. Beneath Paige's anxiety is a brave and fiercely determined young woman wanting to pursue her dreams of becoming a screenwriter, although lately she isn't so sure. The eldest daughter of her journalist father and mother, her parents understand the pressure Paige places upon herself and remind her of the importance of caring for herself, even if Paige herself doesn't quite realise how debilitating her anxiety is becoming. Her parents are in a precarious situation, separated but continue to date one another, her mother placing stability and the emotional welfare of Paige and her younger sister before her own needs. Their family unit might be a little unconventional but it works, the Hancock girls giving their blessing for their parents to remarry again.

In her final year, Paige is determined to shake things up, on the cusp of adulthood, deciding on colleges, careers and finding her feet as Paige, not as Max and Paige. Throwing away her planner to become carefree and spontaneous, creating a final year bucket list of all the cheesy and typical teen experiences before college. Paige is a wonderful character as an individual but she seemingly lost her sense of identity within her relationship with Max. Although Max is supportive, Paige needed to be challenged and trusted, Max all but accusing Paige of being unfaithful for spending time with the delightful Hunter Chan, workmate and friend. A double standard considering how often Max speaks to Tessa, Paige's best friend. I didn't dislike Max, I just didn't like who Paige was in her relationship with him.

Although I enjoyed The Map from Here to There, it wasn't nearly as enchanting as The Start of Me and You which was fun, lighthearted and a feel great read. Paige and Max seemed entirely too serious for two teens on the cusp of adulthood. I appreciated that Paige wanted to spread her wings and shake up her routine, Many young adults will relate to the pressure she places upon herself and the daily struggle of balancing her education, life, family, friendships and also working part time.

There's something just so incredibly lovely and gentle about an Emery Lord novel and although I didn't love it as much as The Start of Me and You, still a wonderful, feel great read.

[justine_manzano]

Last year, a friend of mine gave me the gift of a bunch of random books (both published and ARCs) they’d acquired, read, and were willing to part with. I’ve been slowly working my way through what I was given and reviewing them as I go. There is absolutely, no rhyme or reason to my pattern. I literally eenie meenie miney mo my way through my TBR pile. Which is probably how I ended up accidentally reading this book, which is a sequel, without ever having a clue that it was, in fact, a sequel. So, here’s my adventure in reading something and having a very strong feeling I missed something.


The Map from Here to There, a sequel to The Start of Me and You, is by Emery Lord, and was released January 20, 2020.

Book Summary:

It’s senior year, and Paige Hancock is finally living her best life. She has a fun summer job, great friends, and a super charming boyfriend who totally gets her. But senior year also means big decisions. Weighing “the rest of her life,” Paige feels her anxiety begin to pervade every decision she makes. Everything is exactly how she always wanted it to be–how can she leave it all behind next year? In her head, she knows there is so much more to experience after high school. But in her heart, is it so terrible to want everything to stay the same forever?

What I Enjoyed:

Despite my complete foul up, I totally understood what was going on and everything I missed in the first book, with only the vague idea that this seemed like enough backstory for a whole other book, so that was pretty damn impressive.

This book, much like the last one I read, was great anxiety representation. I felt for Paige and her panic about the huge, life-changing decisions that come with being a senior in high school and having to decide on colleges. Add to that the fear of a new relationship that everyone around her sees as inevitable, and the fact that her divorced parents have been dating again, and you’ve got a major anxiety cocktail.

And it’s not pretty. Which is probably my favorite thing about this. Paige, who seems like a decent and nice person on the whole, does some epically stupid stuff while in the grasp of this anxiety, and it does some real damage to her relationships. There are consequences and they matter.

Another thing I loved? The characters and what they faced. Paige’s struggles weren’t the only ones. Paige’s boyfriend, Max, struggles with a renewed relationship with his previously absent father and deciding what he wants to do with his life, as well as the fallout of Paige’s decisions. He also has to decide whether he wants to choose his college to go in line with where Paige gets accepted, an issue that helps push Paige’s anxiety levels up a few notches. Never mind the fact that Max is just adorable. His confident nerdiness with a slice of vulnerability made him the perfect boyfriend and foil for Paige’s nervous overthinking.

Paige has three close girl friends, and they each have their own storylines that are real struggles. Tessa also struggles with her newly long distance relationship, as her girlfriend heads to college. She tries her best to help Paige, her closest friend of the friend group, and often ends up getting the brunt of Paige’s attitude. Kayleigh’s father is getting remarried, and she is dealing with choosing a college that is not the college she and her bestie Morgan agreed upon. Also, Morgan may be falling for her brother and she isn’t sure how she feels about it. After Morgan receives a negative diagnosis, she strikes out on a quest to spread sex education and women’s health education through the state, fighting the school board as she goes.

And then there’s Hunter. Hunter is Paige’s friend from her job at the local movie theater. For reasons I can’t get into without spoiling things, I really loved the arc of his character. I loved the fact that tropes were completely tossed out the window when it came to him, and I really appreciated the resolution his character reached in the end. He was extremely well-handled, despite the fears I grew toward the minute of the book.

What I’d Avoid:

I really think it should say the book is a sequel somewhere on the book. I seriously had no idea I was getting into a story midway. I mean, the author did a good job of recapping, but I kinda wish I knew beforehand. I spoiled the previous book for myself! I wish I could have gotten to see Paige and Max fall in love. Dang it.

The other thing I had an issue with also might be spoilery. The ending was lovely, however, I wish there was more closure. I get that that was kind of the point at the end, the idea that some things, you don’t know, you will never know, until life and its infinite twists and turns decides them for you. However, there were a couple of questions that I think could have been answered more definitively before the closing of the novel…unless, of course, there’s a third story planned for this series.

What Can I Learn From it:

This was prime ensemble casting. As someone who tends to overstuff and then have to cut down on my ensemble casting (you don’t want to know how many characters I had to cut out of Order to streamline the story into something I could be proud of). The author manages to handle a large ensemble of characters without any of them ever feeling like they get lost in the shuffle.

Would I recommend it:

Yes. But I would recommend you read it in order. *facepalm*

[whisperingchapters]

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.

[girlinthepages]

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.I'll admit, I wasn't the biggest fan of The Start of Me and You. It was OK, but I felt like there was something I wasn't getting from the story that everyone else was. However, the hype around The Map From Here to There was so tangible that I felt like I had to give it a shot, especially since contemporary YA stories that wrap up so neatly usually aren't revisited by the author. I was pleasantly surprised to find that The Map From Here to There not only surpassed my expectations but provided one of the most sincere and earnest depictions of anxiety rep in any YA book that I've come across.

The Map From Here to There picks up pretty quickly after the end of The Start of Me and You, following Paige the summer after her and Max get together and throughout her senior year. Though things ended on a positive note at the end of the previous novel, the story shows how though things might seem OK on the surface doesn't mean that anxiety, worries, and stress can't and won't creep into one's perfectly pieced together life. Paige struggles with typical senior year worries- college applications, anticipation of moving away from her friends, the status of her relationship with Max, etc. However, her anxiety slowly and insidiously creeps in throughout the year due to various factors (which I won't specify as to avoid spoilers). I haven't pulled quotes for this review since I read and ARC, however the honesty and rawness with which Lord writes regarding Paige's anxiety took my breath away. Though anxiety and stress manifests differently for everyone, I had never seen an author delve so deeply into the daily, constant struggles of overwhelming worry that can manifest even while doing the most mundane of tasks. I felt for Paige and her relatively normal life more than I've felt for most characters in other books who have gone through much harder situations because I truly felt as though I was experiencing her panic and worry with her. Yet Lord doesn't shame or stigmatize her character from suffering in this way- Paige's mental health is treated as a priority by both her friends and family and her journey to managing her responses is also explored in a gradual and healthy manner which is so important- her struggles aren't sensationalized for plot convenience or drama yet there's also not a miraculous cure or recovery narrative either. Lord's tackling of the topic is incredibly well balanced and nuanced.

I also really liked all of the characters in this story, which I feel like is rare for any book. Yet each felt like they each had their own motivations, quirks, things that made them bad and good friends and people from time to time, even if their page time was minimal. Lord's writing took me right back to what it was to be on the cusp of adulthood, with "freedom" visible in the distance yet the comfort of your teenage friend group an insular, nostalgic world that you can't fathom leaving. Though everyone's high school story is different, I think many will see kernels of their experience in the story of Paige and her friends, from quiet moments on rooftops to your first real road trip sans chaperones.

One element of The Start of Me and You that I had forgotten about but that I appreciated in this sequel was the exploration of Paige's family, especially the relationship between her parents. Paige's parents didn't receive too much page time but their relationship, hopes, fears and dreams clearly colored who she was as a person, and you could see how her family molded her into the person she became (for better and for worse). I do love novels that factor in environmental elements when shaping a protagonist's personality and characters growth.

Other Thoughts on The Map From Here to There:

-There isn't necessarily the clearest resolution at the ending, but it felt right for the tone of the story and for Paige's situation.

-Hunter Chen, Paige's coworker at the movie theater, was a real treat. I'd love to read more about him!

-Paige's interest in screenwriting felt like a unique touch but didn't overwhelm the plot.

-I particularly enjoyed Morgan's arc.

Overall: The Map From Here to There in many ways is a quiet novel, a slice of life story focusing on Paige's senior year in high school. In other ways it's louder than anything I've ever read in its portrayal and awareness of anxiety. I think this story is an important look at what comes after the HEA and that life can be "good" but not necessarily without its struggles. While the book didn't have a "wow" moment for me that made it an all-time favorite (such as The Names They Gave Us by Lord is) it's a book that made me pause and reflect several times, and one that I know I'll appreciate forever.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.


Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads This review was originally posted on Girl in the Pages

[Sam@WLABB]

Paige felt she was ready to take on senior year after spending the previous year re-introducing herself to high school society and with an amazing summer under her belt. She was ready for anything, or so she thought. As senior year began to unfold, she was faced with major decisions, evolving relationships, and suddenly, her future didn't seem so clear cut any longer.

I will start by saying, this was not what I had anticipated. I just recently read The Start of Me and You, and had expected this book to focus more on Paige's romance with Max. It seems that Paige's journey wasn't finished, and I was perfectly ok with that, because this was utterly beautiful story of beginnings and endings and everything in-between.

Senior year can often be a crossroads year for many, and I think Lord captured that quite well. A big issue facing Paige was being separated from her loved ones, her family, her support system. All her friends seemed to be going in different directions for school, as well as her boyfriend, Max, and her interests were in universities on the coasts. Her struggle and anxiety with this was understandable and conveyed so well.

As much as I had hoped for this to be a gooey romance, I loved that Lord focused on friendship, especially the strong female friendship which existed between Paige and her three besties. Not only was Paige experiencing some reservations about her future plans, which were morphing, but so were those of her friends, and this caused a bit of a change in their dynamic, though, the friendship still remained strong. The conscience effort they made to nurture their relationship during this tumultuous time period gave me hope that they would be ok, should they be geographically separated.

We also saw the reemergence of Paige's anxiety. As with the previous book, Lord depicted mental health issues in a real and sensitive way. I spent many years in treatment for anxiety, and I always appreciate when it is handled well.

I don't know if I should be surprised or not, because Lord never fails to make me feel, but this book hit me harder than I thought it would. I am over here, tears running down my cheeks, as I write this review, because I just have so many emotions about this story. It wasn't tragic, but endings of any sort seem to evoke such a strong response from me. It's quite a testament to Lord's skills, that I am sitting here, reliving the emotions of this book, one week later, and still shedding tears.

Quick list of things I LOVED!

❤️ Friends bucket list
❤️ Life in the theatre
❤️ Paige's sappy dad
❤️ Max's Christmas gift
❤️ Honest and open discourse
❤️ Friendship!
❤️ Family time

Though I still have questions and wonder about what will happen next, I am very hopeful for Paige and everyone else I grew to love in this book. Paige's journey was not an easy one, but I do think it was well worth the trip.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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