Review by Gabrielle

Anywhere You Go is a fantastic, queer version of The Holiday, sure to sweep you off your feet.

Favourite Quote:

I don’t know what comes next, but I know I want to keep feeling this way, like I’ve been cracked open, and all this bright, frantic need is pouring into me, filling all the dark places where I’ve kept my desires hidden away, forcing them to the surface.

Book Synopsis:

Tatum Ward and Eleanor Chapman lead totally opposite lives. Tatum’s never left her Midwestern hometown. She resides in a quaint guest cottage on her parents’ property while working part-time as a waitress, where she spends most shifts ignoring her feelings for a beautiful regular named June. Eleanor dedicates every waking hour to her high-profile press career, sacrificing personal relationships for professional success, save for the occasional hookup to fight off her loneliness. When both women’s lives unexpectedly blow up at the exact same time, they each need an escape, and fast.

In Tatum’s hometown, Eleanor expects a quiet hideaway where she can recharge. Instead she gets wrapped up in the family drama that Tatum left town to avoid, pulled in by Tatum’s charismatic older sibling, Carson, who charms Eleanor at every turn. Tatum ends up in Eleanor’s New York high-rise apartment with June. One week together in the big city might make it impossible for Tatum to avoid not just her true feelings for June, but her real dreams for her life.

Amid a friendship with a reclusive Hollywood actress and a complicated family reunion, Tatum and Eleanor each discover much more than they bargained for away from home. Their house swap won’t last forever, but it might be just long enough for both women to surrender their defenses and finally fight for the life—and love—they deserve.

Review:

Swoon. Can I write a review using just one word? That would be the word “swoon.” This book is just that good. Prepare yourself for some major gushing.

I was a big fan of Bridget’s previous book, That Summer Feeling, so when I heard she had a new book coming out, I knew I had to read it. Once again, I found myself blown away by Bridget’s writing. She introduces us to such wonderful characters that we want to cheer for and, most of all celebrates queerness and love in a joyful way. One of my favourite things about Bridget’s writing is how she captures the poetry of ordinary moments between people. It’s magic, really.

We get two love stories in one book here. The story unfolds in alternating chapters told from Tatum and Eleanor’s viewpoints. Tatum is one of the Ward siblings and the peacekeeper of the family. She lives in a cottage in her parents’ backyard and lives to help others. When June, her regular diner customer (and crush), needs to go to New York City for a meeting, Tatum volunteers to go with her. Meanwhile, uptight, hardworking, and ever on the go, Eleanor’s life unexpectedly implodes. When June reaches out to her about staying in New York, she impulsively offers her apartment. Tatum offers her cottage in return, and the ladies swap locations for a while. As both Tatum and Eleanor explore their new cities, they learn a lot about themselves and grow as people. Eleanor meets Tatum’s sibling Carson, and a casual hook-up turns into something more. I loved how both couples had their own unique journey that felt just right for their characters. There are a lot of wonderful, swoony moments in both stories, and I gobbled them up. 

The secondary characters are just as well developed. I really loved Carson. I think they were my favourite character. Eleanor’s neighbour (and former movie star) Dawn is also wonderful. She is sassy and bossy, and I loved her to bits.

There are some issues covered in the book that will tug at your heartstrings. Both an affair by a parent and grief over the death of parents are discussed and handled with exceptional care.

Anywhere You Go is a terrific read.

Thank you, Berkeley Romance for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.