Review: Places We've Never Been by Kasie West

Places We've Never Been

by Kasie West

May 31, 2022

Goodreads Summary:

A sweet and swoony contemporary Young Adult novel about a cross-country family road trip that puts one girl and her childhood best friend on an unexpected road to romance!

Norah hasn’t seen her childhood best friend, Skyler, in years. When he first moved away, they'd talk all the time, but lately their relationship has been reduced to liking each other’s Instagram posts. That’s why Norah can’t wait for the joint RV road trip their families have planned for the summer.

But when Skyler finally arrives, he seems...like he’d rather be anywhere else. Hurt and confused, Norah reacts in kind. Suddenly, her oldest friendship is on the rocks.

An unexpected summer spent driving across the country leads both Norah and Skyler down new roads and to new discoveries. Before long, they are, once again, seeing each other in a different light. Can their friendship-turned-rivalry turn into something more?

Review

Whenever I pick up a Kasie West book I do so with a big smile on my face because I know I'm in for some adorable romance. Places We've Never Been gave me all the happy feels, I wish it was longer!

At the forefront of the story, Places We've Never Been is about the characters reconnecting. However, the nature-filled road trip with its exploration of camping sites and attractions made the book unique. I loved the adventurous vibe! It made everything that much more fun and enjoyable.

As with all of Kasie West's characters, Norah and Skyler were both very likable. The flashbacks of their shared past said a lot about them. They were clearly not meant to stay just friends! The reason for their disconnect and distance was super relatable. Unintentional mistakes happen. I was so happy that Norah and Skyler were able to reconcile and become more ;)

As much as I love how low in drama Places We've Never Been was I was a bit let down by the plot's predictability. While I wouldn't say Norah was completely clueless, she was slow to figure out the glaringly obvious truths. I also wish we got more time to absorb the realities when the secrets came out.

Places We've Never Been was full of meaningful character interactions and rapport. Whether it was with the siblings or between the parent-child, there was no shortage of support and guidance. "But failure in life is inevitable. It's only a problem if we let it keep us from progressing." (p. 310)

With her easy writing and signature style, Kasie West delivers yet another sweet story. Places We've Never Been is the road trip of a lifetime. Trust me, you don't want to miss it!

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not affected in any way. Any quotes included in my review were taken from the copy I received.