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mollywetta's review
5.0
I accidentally stayed up until 5 am reading this book. It's a compulsive sort of read, and really made my heart ache for these characters. I immediately ordered JH Trumble's other novel. Full review to come.
thebestdarnthing's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
a difficult romance story to tell.
sinisterhorror's review
5.0
Another beautiful love story from J.H. Trumble. Even better than his first book, Don't Let Me Go. He handles a very controversial subject very well. While I don't condone relationships between students and teachers, this book shows how something like that can come about. And how sometimes it really is genuine love. And the consequences that come with it. A must read. You won't regret it.
petersenftleben's review
5.0
You know those books you love so much you want to make everyone read them, but they're so special to you that you want to keep them to yourself?
THIS!
Just thinking about WHERE YOU ARE and talking about it gets me so excited and emotional, and I haven't felt so strongly about a book in years. I've read it three times already and will probably read it many more. It was an instant top 10-er for me.
Do NOT let the teacher/student thing dissuade you. It's handled so tenderly, so naturally, and so beautifully, it might make you rethink all of the news stories.
THIS!
Just thinking about WHERE YOU ARE and talking about it gets me so excited and emotional, and I haven't felt so strongly about a book in years. I've read it three times already and will probably read it many more. It was an instant top 10-er for me.
Do NOT let the teacher/student thing dissuade you. It's handled so tenderly, so naturally, and so beautifully, it might make you rethink all of the news stories.
hexijosh's review
4.0
Last year I wrote about what became one of my favorite books, not just for 2011, but of all time (so far). That book was J.H. Trumble's Don't Let Me Go, a fantastic work of gay YA fiction. This past December saw the release of her second book, Where You Are. And folks, J.H. has done it again.
While not a sequel to DLMG, Where You Are picks up shortly after the events of that book and are connected by one of the minor characters, Luke (for those interested, the yet-to-be-released third book looks to bridge DLMG and WYA together with his story).
We first meet Andrew, a 24 year old high school math teacher facing all the trials of being an educator and father to a 2 year old, and Robert, his senior student dealing with his unaffectionate boyfriend and the impending death of the father he resents, thanks to the brain cancer that has left him all but a vegetable. It is through the strain on Robert's family life brought on by the dying father who may never have loved him that he forms a bond with Andrew, his not-so-secretly gay math teacher. But their innocent friendship doesn't stay that way long and the two find themselves in a dangerous game of romance and potentially perilous scandal.
Where You Are weaves a beautiful tale of love in the face of adversity from all sides, whether it's in the form of Andrew's deceptive ex-wife, Robert's meddlesome aunts, students with a vendetta or the constant threat of a public shaming and imprisonment should Andrew be found out.
While at it's core a love story, WYA is also a cautionary tale of what can happen when the sacred roles of student and teacher are broken and passion takes over. In the eyes of society there can never been a reason good enough for a person to break the role of educator and become romantically involved with a student, no matter their age or level of consent and J.H. does a fantastic job conveying that fear of discovery to the reader. Though we root for Andrew and Robert to be together, the fear that they may be found out lurks around every (page) turn. Could someone have seen them? Do the other teachers know? If the people they trust found out, would they expose the two? It's that desire for their love to succeed and the worry that it will all fall apart that kept me turning the page well past my bedtime night after night.
Where You Are is without a doubt the best book I've read in quite some time, and the first in months to keep me so enthralled that I couldn't help but finish it (my lack of updates and miserable failure at reaching my 2012 reading goal is proof enough of that). While I'm not in love with this book as much I am with Don't Let Me Go, it was still a fantastic read and one which I wish I had committed to sooner (my usual song and dance), especially since my friend Joshua Ardon over at The Get Under Guy reviewed an advance copy and my friend Rob won copies of both books weeks before I had a chance to start it. Although, Rob did make it up to me by giving me the best Christmas gifts: autographed copies of both DLMG and WYA. (Thanks Rob and J.H.!)
Where You Are now takes its place among my top recommended reading list with a solid 4 out of 5, where I hope it will soon be joined by Trumble's third novel, Just Between Us. Don't keep us waiting long, publisher!
While not a sequel to DLMG, Where You Are picks up shortly after the events of that book and are connected by one of the minor characters, Luke (for those interested, the yet-to-be-released third book looks to bridge DLMG and WYA together with his story).
We first meet Andrew, a 24 year old high school math teacher facing all the trials of being an educator and father to a 2 year old, and Robert, his senior student dealing with his unaffectionate boyfriend and the impending death of the father he resents, thanks to the brain cancer that has left him all but a vegetable. It is through the strain on Robert's family life brought on by the dying father who may never have loved him that he forms a bond with Andrew, his not-so-secretly gay math teacher. But their innocent friendship doesn't stay that way long and the two find themselves in a dangerous game of romance and potentially perilous scandal.
Where You Are weaves a beautiful tale of love in the face of adversity from all sides, whether it's in the form of Andrew's deceptive ex-wife, Robert's meddlesome aunts, students with a vendetta or the constant threat of a public shaming and imprisonment should Andrew be found out.
While at it's core a love story, WYA is also a cautionary tale of what can happen when the sacred roles of student and teacher are broken and passion takes over. In the eyes of society there can never been a reason good enough for a person to break the role of educator and become romantically involved with a student, no matter their age or level of consent and J.H. does a fantastic job conveying that fear of discovery to the reader. Though we root for Andrew and Robert to be together, the fear that they may be found out lurks around every (page) turn. Could someone have seen them? Do the other teachers know? If the people they trust found out, would they expose the two? It's that desire for their love to succeed and the worry that it will all fall apart that kept me turning the page well past my bedtime night after night.
Where You Are is without a doubt the best book I've read in quite some time, and the first in months to keep me so enthralled that I couldn't help but finish it (my lack of updates and miserable failure at reaching my 2012 reading goal is proof enough of that). While I'm not in love with this book as much I am with Don't Let Me Go, it was still a fantastic read and one which I wish I had committed to sooner (my usual song and dance), especially since my friend Joshua Ardon over at The Get Under Guy reviewed an advance copy and my friend Rob won copies of both books weeks before I had a chance to start it. Although, Rob did make it up to me by giving me the best Christmas gifts: autographed copies of both DLMG and WYA. (Thanks Rob and J.H.!)
Where You Are now takes its place among my top recommended reading list with a solid 4 out of 5, where I hope it will soon be joined by Trumble's third novel, Just Between Us. Don't keep us waiting long, publisher!
joyousreads132's review
4.0
This book wasn’t even in my radar until I read Brandi of Blkosiner's blog’s review. And while the author used a tried and tested trope (a forbidden teacher/student romance), this is the first one that feature a couple of male characters (for me, anyway).
They have a lot of obstacles in front of them as it is. Aside from the teacher/student thing, there’s also the age thing. There wasn’t any shortage of conflict in this book. The constant sneaking around, the lies, and the covering for each other made for a nerve-wracking read.
While that’s enough to send a reader’s head on a tailspin, the well-timed progression of the characters’ relationship should more than make up for it. The tension between them was a pressurized chamber of impossible wanting and illicit longing. That’s not to say that the author tackled the physical relationship in a crass and coarse manner: it was all class, thrillingly sweet and surprisingly tender.
This book was a surprise and a gem to read. It was far from one-dimensional as it also dealt with Robert’s difficult home life. Every day he’s had to contend with his father’s looming death due to cancer, his aunts’ constant meddling and home invasion, and his mom’s decreasing ability to care one way or the other. On top of that, he’s got a boyfriend who sees him as ‘accessories’ or a decoration to complete his outfit. Needing a person who could offer him solace from the turmoil of his life, he turned to Drew, his math teacher whom he has been attracted to since day one. From friendship, they fall in love. Drew, on the other hand knows what’s at stake if he entertained the thought of having an actual relationship with Robert but the closer they got, the lesser he's able to resist.
With Drew, he opens the possibility of losing his teaching license and as well a jail sentence. But the most worrying of all is the possibility that he could lose his daughter. Like I said, this book did not lack for conflict and the thing is none of them felt like they were thinly manufactured. The author cleverly developed her characters and story so it becomes a tightly well-plotted novel.
J. H. Trumble’s Where You Are is a cut above all the other books of the same theme. If you’re expecting more of the same, you’ll be pleasantly disappointed. Trumble tackled the delicacy of their relationship tactfully. Over all, she’s earned herself a fan in me. This book offers a realistic romance that everyone would enjoy reading. Give this book a chance if you're looking to read something different from that romance kick you've been on lately.
They have a lot of obstacles in front of them as it is. Aside from the teacher/student thing, there’s also the age thing. There wasn’t any shortage of conflict in this book. The constant sneaking around, the lies, and the covering for each other made for a nerve-wracking read.
While that’s enough to send a reader’s head on a tailspin, the well-timed progression of the characters’ relationship should more than make up for it. The tension between them was a pressurized chamber of impossible wanting and illicit longing. That’s not to say that the author tackled the physical relationship in a crass and coarse manner: it was all class, thrillingly sweet and surprisingly tender.
This book was a surprise and a gem to read. It was far from one-dimensional as it also dealt with Robert’s difficult home life. Every day he’s had to contend with his father’s looming death due to cancer, his aunts’ constant meddling and home invasion, and his mom’s decreasing ability to care one way or the other. On top of that, he’s got a boyfriend who sees him as ‘accessories’ or a decoration to complete his outfit. Needing a person who could offer him solace from the turmoil of his life, he turned to Drew, his math teacher whom he has been attracted to since day one. From friendship, they fall in love. Drew, on the other hand knows what’s at stake if he entertained the thought of having an actual relationship with Robert but the closer they got, the lesser he's able to resist.
With Drew, he opens the possibility of losing his teaching license and as well a jail sentence. But the most worrying of all is the possibility that he could lose his daughter. Like I said, this book did not lack for conflict and the thing is none of them felt like they were thinly manufactured. The author cleverly developed her characters and story so it becomes a tightly well-plotted novel.
J. H. Trumble’s Where You Are is a cut above all the other books of the same theme. If you’re expecting more of the same, you’ll be pleasantly disappointed. Trumble tackled the delicacy of their relationship tactfully. Over all, she’s earned herself a fan in me. This book offers a realistic romance that everyone would enjoy reading. Give this book a chance if you're looking to read something different from that romance kick you've been on lately.
jennireadz's review
4.0
3.5 Stars (rounded up)
I want to give this less, but it had me wrapped up. I read the premise but somehow forgot this was high school, literal minors, until the book was in my possessions. Even thinking that Robert was 18 (spoiler alert: he’s not until March), I was hesitant because this is more than a “forbidden” romance - it’s literally illegal.
Andrew, a 24 year old math teacher, teaches at Robert’s high school. He gets an email that Robert’s dad is dying from terminal brain cancer - a cancer he’s had for 10 years. In an attempt to help soothe his student, it all turns more. There are secrets and lies and it all just feels too much.
It’s strange how this book progresses. How it starts talking about Robert’s father and the mixed emotions there, but genuinely, I kinda forgot his dad died until I’m sitting here writing this - and i started this book just over 24 hours ago. But his father dying, and the complex feelings around it, are so fascinating, I wish there was more of a deep dive.
There is so much unaddressed trauma in this book that it’s absolutely crazy. There’s homophobia that kinda just slides by (from a student to a teacher). But there are also several out gay students, which seems almost revolutionary.
As goes with student-teacher romances, they’re forbidden. They know it shouldn’t happen. And Andrew tries to keep it from happening for a while, but he succumbs and that night finds out that Robert is only 18 and it starts something even more.
Moving back in with an ex-wife, being outted at your job, being arrested at your job - there’s a lot of drama. But also - unrealistic parts (including the fact that we rarely ever hear about friends of Robert’s). The love story takes over a lot of the book by the end, but it did rope me in and I wanted to read more of them sneaking around.
Again, very strange reading about a 17 year old with a 24 year old, especially with the power dynamics of a teacher/student relationship, so it’s hard to love this book as that is creepy.
I want to give this less, but it had me wrapped up. I read the premise but somehow forgot this was high school, literal minors, until the book was in my possessions. Even thinking that Robert was 18 (spoiler alert: he’s not until March), I was hesitant because this is more than a “forbidden” romance - it’s literally illegal.
Andrew, a 24 year old math teacher, teaches at Robert’s high school. He gets an email that Robert’s dad is dying from terminal brain cancer - a cancer he’s had for 10 years. In an attempt to help soothe his student, it all turns more. There are secrets and lies and it all just feels too much.
It’s strange how this book progresses. How it starts talking about Robert’s father and the mixed emotions there, but genuinely, I kinda forgot his dad died until I’m sitting here writing this - and i started this book just over 24 hours ago. But his father dying, and the complex feelings around it, are so fascinating, I wish there was more of a deep dive.
There is so much unaddressed trauma in this book that it’s absolutely crazy. There’s homophobia that kinda just slides by (from a student to a teacher). But there are also several out gay students, which seems almost revolutionary.
As goes with student-teacher romances, they’re forbidden. They know it shouldn’t happen. And Andrew tries to keep it from happening for a while, but he succumbs and that night finds out that Robert is only 18 and it starts something even more.
Moving back in with an ex-wife, being outted at your job, being arrested at your job - there’s a lot of drama. But also - unrealistic parts (including the fact that we rarely ever hear about friends of Robert’s). The love story takes over a lot of the book by the end, but it did rope me in and I wanted to read more of them sneaking around.
Again, very strange reading about a 17 year old with a 24 year old, especially with the power dynamics of a teacher/student relationship, so it’s hard to love this book as that is creepy.
kbranfield's review
4.0
J.H. Trumble’s Where You Are tackles the delicate and controversial topic of a romance between a teacher and his student in a sensitive and thought-provoking manner. The student is of legal age in the state where the story takes place, and the teacher is seven years his senior. Both of these points make Where You Are easier to read, but it does not lessen the ethical questions raised by their relationship. To read my review in its entirety, please click HERE.