Places We've Never Been
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Places We’ve Never Been by Katie West is a heartwarming multi-layered story about family, friendship, and new beginnings. It’s a snapshot into the summer that changed the lives of two families. During a three-week road trip, the members of two families went to places they’d never been, both literally and metaphorically.

My Overview

Norah and Skyler were childhood best friends; their families were neighbors in Fresno, California. When Skyler’s family decided to move, he found it difficult to keep in touch with Norah. Now that they’re going into their senior year in high school, their moms have decided to have a joint family road trip. Norah’s excited to finally see Skyler again … until she does and realizes he’d rather be anywhere else. As the families travel in RVs across around the country, it soon becomes apparent that various family members have secrets they’re trying to protect. It’s not long before everyone’s turned into a snoop, as they try to uncover each others’ secrets.

I really enjoyed the storyline and the growth the families experienced during the road trip. They set off on a three-week road trip from Fresno to Death Valley, Zion National Park, and Washington … and learned a lot about themselves and each other along the way. The likable characters and relatable situations within the storyline, made this story enjoyable from beginning to end.

This is a Young Adult story, so the main focus is on the teenagers’ relationships and experiences. The moms’ role in planning the joint family road trip to be there for each other, though, was my favorite. The moms had been friends since college. When one had a secret that would affect her and her family, the other was ready to be supportive and helpful in her time of need. That, and the detailed descriptions of the various road trip destinations, was what I enjoyed most about this story.

My Recommendation

This is my third book by this author, and I’m looking forward to reading more from her. The family dynamics and realistic storylines involving teenagers is what I’ve enjoyed most in her books. If you’re looking for a sweet story about teenage love, travel, and friendship … give this one a try.

Have you read this or any other book by this author?