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sc104906's review against another edition
3.0
I received this as an eARC through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
After Willa and Taylor's best friend dies of a terminal illness, the glue of their friendship is also lost. The two can't stand each other, but each promised Finley that they would sail from Ohio to Key West before leaving for college. In honor of their friend, Willa and Taylor attempt to put their baggage aside and complete their promise. The small boat leaves no room for unaddressed feelings, both Willa and Taylor will need to confront what they have done in their past, if they want to be true to their friend Finley.
I typically like books like this, but I was never grabbed by the story. Finley does leave behind a sortof map/clues, but they were far too general and didn't seem relevant enough to the story to warrant inclusion. I had wished for more growth from the friends. The ending seemed to come to pass too quickly and I wish it was more developed. I think readers will enjoy this as a beach read, but it never truly worked for me.
After Willa and Taylor's best friend dies of a terminal illness, the glue of their friendship is also lost. The two can't stand each other, but each promised Finley that they would sail from Ohio to Key West before leaving for college. In honor of their friend, Willa and Taylor attempt to put their baggage aside and complete their promise. The small boat leaves no room for unaddressed feelings, both Willa and Taylor will need to confront what they have done in their past, if they want to be true to their friend Finley.
I typically like books like this, but I was never grabbed by the story. Finley does leave behind a sortof map/clues, but they were far too general and didn't seem relevant enough to the story to warrant inclusion. I had wished for more growth from the friends. The ending seemed to come to pass too quickly and I wish it was more developed. I think readers will enjoy this as a beach read, but it never truly worked for me.
story_sanctuary's review against another edition
5.0
You know that feeling you get when you follow an author and read multiple of their books, and then a new one comes out and you feel like it has a special kind of magic the others (while they were great!) didn’t quite have?
I felt that way reading START HERE. The story seemed to come alive as I read it. I connected with the characters immediately. The “trapped on a sailboat with your frenemy to honor your best friend’s dying wish” plot was amazing and unique. I loved all the sailing stuff!
I sobbed with Finley as she made the video for her friends about the journey. Then I sobbed with Taylor and Willa as they grieved through that terrible loss. And, as the girls began to find themselves through the trip and learn to appreciate one another, I cried for how far they’d come.
This is the best kind of book to finish your summer with. It’s full of the kind of hope that only comes from grief transformed. It’s real and moving and full of surprise sweet and funny moments. I loved it. I read an electronic review copy, but I’m definitely ordering a finished copy of the book because I suspect it’s one I’ll return to again.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I felt that way reading START HERE. The story seemed to come alive as I read it. I connected with the characters immediately. The “trapped on a sailboat with your frenemy to honor your best friend’s dying wish” plot was amazing and unique. I loved all the sailing stuff!
I sobbed with Finley as she made the video for her friends about the journey. Then I sobbed with Taylor and Willa as they grieved through that terrible loss. And, as the girls began to find themselves through the trip and learn to appreciate one another, I cried for how far they’d come.
This is the best kind of book to finish your summer with. It’s full of the kind of hope that only comes from grief transformed. It’s real and moving and full of surprise sweet and funny moments. I loved it. I read an electronic review copy, but I’m definitely ordering a finished copy of the book because I suspect it’s one I’ll return to again.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
charmaineac's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty good, but definitely not the best Trish Doller book out there! This story dragged a bit, and I didn't even shed a tear. Taylor was so entitled, and I felt conflicted by Willa's awakening — I think she's making a mistake.
lazygal's review against another edition
3.0
Two semi-friends, held together only by their relationship with their now dead friend Finley, embark on a sailing trip the three of them planned as a post-high school graduation event. There's predicable drama in their relationship and their voyage, but what elevates this is the ending realization that "best friends" aren't always forever.
ARC provided by publisher.
ARC provided by publisher.
anabelsbrother's review against another edition
4.0
Also reviewed on my bookstagram.
Ugh, I love Trish Doller's writing.
I took a break from romance and read Trish Doller’s Start Here. The story was about two girls Taylor and Willa who were coping with the death of their best friend Finley. Finley was the glue in their friendship and after Finley passed, Taylor and Willa found themselves struggling to maintain their bond. The story was set throughout a sailing trip the girls took as a deathbed promise to Finley.
I love how this book made me feel. I remember the ups and downs of female friendships I had in high school, the fear of unknown after graduation... Start Here made me nostalgic about my youth *stares broodingly into the horizon*. I know next to nothing about sailing but I really enjoyed reading about it.
P.s. Trish told me that Harper and Travis from Something Like Normal made an uncredited cameo in Start Here so I kept my eyes wide open for them—and I found them!
Ugh, I love Trish Doller's writing.
I took a break from romance and read Trish Doller’s Start Here. The story was about two girls Taylor and Willa who were coping with the death of their best friend Finley. Finley was the glue in their friendship and after Finley passed, Taylor and Willa found themselves struggling to maintain their bond. The story was set throughout a sailing trip the girls took as a deathbed promise to Finley.
I love how this book made me feel. I remember the ups and downs of female friendships I had in high school, the fear of unknown after graduation... Start Here made me nostalgic about my youth *stares broodingly into the horizon*. I know next to nothing about sailing but I really enjoyed reading about it.
P.s. Trish told me that Harper and Travis from Something Like Normal made an uncredited cameo in Start Here so I kept my eyes wide open for them—and I found them!
tpriest's review against another edition
5.0
Wow!!! What an amazing story of young adulthood. As they mourn the loss of their friend, they start to figure out who the are and what they want in life.
heykellyjensen's review against another edition
Willa, Taylor, and Finley were inseparable friends, though Finley was the glue holding the trio together. When they were young, they made a promise to sail from their home in Ohio through the Great Loop and down to the Florida Keys to celebrate the end of high school. Unfortunately, Finley dies from leukemia before she gets to take the trip but leaves Willa and Taylor with a set of clues for their trip that will honor her memory, as well as allow the two of them to bond outside of their relationship to her.
This is a fresh take on the road trip story, taking place entirely on a sailboat that navigates a series of locks, rough waters (literally and figuratively), as well as a rough hurricane. There's no denying the weather is symbolic here of the friendship that doesn't really exist between Willa and Taylor, both of whom are deeply grieving the loss of their friendship but who feel they have nothing in common with one another without Finley.
Willa is a mixed-race girl and Taylor is bisexual, and their identities play a wonderful role in the story as Willa confronts the realities of her race, as well as her economic challenges, while Taylor, who has access to much more than Willa, grapples with that as well as with who she feels she's ready to share her sexuality with. These become trigger points throughout the journey that ultimately help Willa and Taylor find love not just for their shared friend, but also for one another.
A really lovely, moving, and heartfelt story. It's perfect for readers itching for multiple voiced stories, for a sailing trip, for a book that really delves into what it means to be a friend -- or a best friend (that resonated so deeply for me!), and what it means to grieve someone, especially someone young who didn't get to see all of their biggest dreams come true.
Perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen.
This is a fresh take on the road trip story, taking place entirely on a sailboat that navigates a series of locks, rough waters (literally and figuratively), as well as a rough hurricane. There's no denying the weather is symbolic here of the friendship that doesn't really exist between Willa and Taylor, both of whom are deeply grieving the loss of their friendship but who feel they have nothing in common with one another without Finley.
Willa is a mixed-race girl and Taylor is bisexual, and their identities play a wonderful role in the story as Willa confronts the realities of her race, as well as her economic challenges, while Taylor, who has access to much more than Willa, grapples with that as well as with who she feels she's ready to share her sexuality with. These become trigger points throughout the journey that ultimately help Willa and Taylor find love not just for their shared friend, but also for one another.
A really lovely, moving, and heartfelt story. It's perfect for readers itching for multiple voiced stories, for a sailing trip, for a book that really delves into what it means to be a friend -- or a best friend (that resonated so deeply for me!), and what it means to grieve someone, especially someone young who didn't get to see all of their biggest dreams come true.
Perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen.
shelfawareness's review against another edition
5.0
RATING: 4.5/5 STARS
Willa and Taylor's best friend, Finley, has passed away from leukemia, leaving the two girls with a list of clues and a request to complete the sailing adventure the three of them had planned to go on after graduation from high school. Since Finley was the glue that held Willa and Taylor together, their trip has a rocky start, but along the way they bond over fond memories of Finley and discover more about themselves, too.
START HERE is a bittersweet novel. It manages to deftly tackle the heaviness of grief, but balances it with lighthearted moments. The story is told in chapters alternating between Willa and Taylor's point-of-views, allowing the reader to experience each of their thoughts, personalities, and aspirations. Willa and Taylor don't always get along, but reading both their perspectives had me sympathizing with the difficulties they dealt with. They are teenagers who make mistakes, but what I admired about them was that they were resilient and managed to see the positive side of terrible situations. Their deepening friendship, with its ups-and-downs, was refreshing and honest.
The setting of this book was really unique. There is a lot of nautical terminology in the narration, but it was integrated nicely into the story and I was able to follow along even though I'm not very familiar with sailing. I enjoyed reading about how the girls navigated the boat and the people they met during their travels. Their destinations were vividly described and some were places that I recognized or had been to, which was fun to read about through a fictional lens. The imagery in Trish Doller's writing is simple, yet evocative. I liked the descriptions of Taylor's polaroid photographs and Willa's thrift shop finds.
This book is a perfect summery read full of substance and heart. If you'd like to read a charming and sincere story about recovery from loss and female friendships, I'd highly recommend giving START HERE a try. The plot is slow-building and character-driven so the reader can truly empathize with and get to know Willa, Taylor, and Finley. But it's also well-paced and had enough action to keep my interest throughout.
A sincere thanks to Simon Pulse for providing an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Social: @_shelf.awareness on Instagram
Willa and Taylor's best friend, Finley, has passed away from leukemia, leaving the two girls with a list of clues and a request to complete the sailing adventure the three of them had planned to go on after graduation from high school. Since Finley was the glue that held Willa and Taylor together, their trip has a rocky start, but along the way they bond over fond memories of Finley and discover more about themselves, too.
START HERE is a bittersweet novel. It manages to deftly tackle the heaviness of grief, but balances it with lighthearted moments. The story is told in chapters alternating between Willa and Taylor's point-of-views, allowing the reader to experience each of their thoughts, personalities, and aspirations. Willa and Taylor don't always get along, but reading both their perspectives had me sympathizing with the difficulties they dealt with. They are teenagers who make mistakes, but what I admired about them was that they were resilient and managed to see the positive side of terrible situations. Their deepening friendship, with its ups-and-downs, was refreshing and honest.
The setting of this book was really unique. There is a lot of nautical terminology in the narration, but it was integrated nicely into the story and I was able to follow along even though I'm not very familiar with sailing. I enjoyed reading about how the girls navigated the boat and the people they met during their travels. Their destinations were vividly described and some were places that I recognized or had been to, which was fun to read about through a fictional lens. The imagery in Trish Doller's writing is simple, yet evocative. I liked the descriptions of Taylor's polaroid photographs and Willa's thrift shop finds.
This book is a perfect summery read full of substance and heart. If you'd like to read a charming and sincere story about recovery from loss and female friendships, I'd highly recommend giving START HERE a try. The plot is slow-building and character-driven so the reader can truly empathize with and get to know Willa, Taylor, and Finley. But it's also well-paced and had enough action to keep my interest throughout.
A sincere thanks to Simon Pulse for providing an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Social: @_shelf.awareness on Instagram