Scan barcode
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.
devoftheshire's review
5.0
I can not put this book down. This is the second book I've read by this author and I love the writing, the characters. This book brings so much emotion. You love them at times, hate them, want to scream at them. I am almost at the finish. Part of me wants to rush it and see how it ends, but another part is wanting to wait, because I'm scared of what might happen.
An author to pay attention to!!!
Finished and it was all I could hope for. I haven't been so stressed out reading a book in a long time.
Truly phenomenal!
If I could give this more stars I would. LOVED IT!
An author to pay attention to!!!
Finished and it was all I could hope for. I haven't been so stressed out reading a book in a long time.
Truly phenomenal!
If I could give this more stars I would. LOVED IT!
ilyarozanov123's review
2.0
I liked this book a lot in the beginning. Got invested in the characters and the story pretty quickly; the little teaching troubles, Robert’s sad family life, their budding friendship. I didn’t care that there were no sex scenes, I don’t need those as long as the emotion is conveyed in some way—which I thought it was. All set up for a good book that I believed I’d enjoy fully.
Then things started going downhill. The book was too long, for one. It started dragging. There was too much drama, big and small. I hated Maya’s manipulations and that Andrew let her. I can’t believe he moved back in with her. How he “dated” Jennifer and rationalized it by thinking “she’s pretty, she’ll get over being used as a beard”. That Stephen kid was a douchebag. I have no idea what Nic even was, he was too much of a shallow idiot to even be real. I mean, he actually kicked a dog. Who does that? And Maya’s manipulations kept going.
They finally reunited in the last chapter, but it was way too abrupt. Why didn’t we get an epilogue to find out how things worked out for them? That’s the least we deserved after sitting through 50 chapters(!).
So no, I wasn’t happy with this. It’s a shame because I had big hopes, especially from the top reviews.
Then things started going downhill. The book was too long, for one. It started dragging. There was too much drama, big and small. I hated Maya’s manipulations and that Andrew let her. I can’t believe he moved back in with her. How he “dated” Jennifer and rationalized it by thinking “she’s pretty, she’ll get over being used as a beard”. That Stephen kid was a douchebag. I have no idea what Nic even was, he was too much of a shallow idiot to even be real. I mean, he actually kicked a dog. Who does that? And Maya’s manipulations kept going.
They finally reunited in the last chapter, but it was way too abrupt. Why didn’t we get an epilogue to find out how things worked out for them? That’s the least we deserved after sitting through 50 chapters(!).
So no, I wasn’t happy with this. It’s a shame because I had big hopes, especially from the top reviews.
_janina's review
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
karlijnmerle's review
4.0
This one is hard to review. Not because it wasn't good, because it is pretty damn good. But because the subject is hard and not one-sided. It isn't a book you can judge on the blurb, if you do that, you will form a certain thought of it and that's a pitty. This story is so much more than 'just another'teacher-student love' story. It is a story about many emotions, heavy pasts AND love.
So just dive in this story with a blank mind and see what you feel.
So just dive in this story with a blank mind and see what you feel.
ezichinny's review
3.0
This book is a 3.95 for me, not quite a 4-star for me because as I'm feeling hypocritical for rooting for HEA here and I can't bear to read my highlighted parts as I normally do right after reading a book. I hope I can revisit this book later
This book was a love story between Robert Westphall and Andrew McNeiss, a student and a teacher. I felt that the author gave us great insight into Robert's life. Robert was a 17 year old senior struggling to deal with his terminally ill father's last months, and the effect it is having on their family. Each chapter made my heart go out to him. I wish I could have just hugged this kid. It was clear with everything going on with his father, it left very little room for anyone to be available to him. I also wanted to hug his mother, she was strong, she tried, but the cancer just took over their lives.
Teacher Andrew McNeiss saw Robert waffling, and something about Robert's pain just tugged at Andrew until he offered himself up as an anchor. Robert needed someone, but I don't know I can excuse Andrew's behavior. Andrew was the adult and he was a senior, I really thought the teacher should have been stronger. But the truth of the matter, Andrew was somewhat broken too, so he could relate to Robert's isolation.
The author did a good job at not forcing her opinion down your throat. Sometimes with subject such as Student-Teacher relationships, authors guide you towards whatever their ethical or moral view on the matter, but I never felt that here. I felt bad for Andrew because he finally felt what love was supposed to feel like, so how can he deny himself something he has longed for all his life?
I will let others postulate on the ethical/moral questions as we all have our views on them. I do know that drowning people grab onto anything to help them afloat, so it is hard for me to be completely upset at Andrew.
Robert said something to Andrew: "You lied too!". That statement had so many implications in this story. There were a lot of rationalizations or lies that people told others or to themselves in this story (every single person was a participant in some kind of deception here). People were hurt and humiliated, but there was a liberation/freedom for many people at the end. At the end of the day, that freedom and peace is what true love is all about. The journey may be hard, but joy and happiness that Robert and Andrew found made me feel good.
I would love a followup book because the Mrs. Westphal (Robert's mother) and Maya...and even Stephen the jerk have unfinished business. I would like to know more about how they are moving forward with their lives.
**Set in Texas
This book was a love story between Robert Westphall and Andrew McNeiss, a student and a teacher. I felt that the author gave us great insight into Robert's life. Robert was a 17 year old senior struggling to deal with his terminally ill father's last months, and the effect it is having on their family. Each chapter made my heart go out to him. I wish I could have just hugged this kid. It was clear with everything going on with his father, it left very little room for anyone to be available to him. I also wanted to hug his mother, she was strong, she tried, but the cancer just took over their lives.
Teacher Andrew McNeiss saw Robert waffling, and something about Robert's pain just tugged at Andrew until he offered himself up as an anchor. Robert needed someone, but I don't know I can excuse Andrew's behavior. Andrew was the adult and he was a senior, I really thought the teacher should have been stronger. But the truth of the matter, Andrew was somewhat broken too, so he could relate to Robert's isolation.
The author did a good job at not forcing her opinion down your throat. Sometimes with subject such as Student-Teacher relationships, authors guide you towards whatever their ethical or moral view on the matter, but I never felt that here. I felt bad for Andrew because he finally felt what love was supposed to feel like, so how can he deny himself something he has longed for all his life?
I will let others postulate on the ethical/moral questions as we all have our views on them. I do know that drowning people grab onto anything to help them afloat, so it is hard for me to be completely upset at Andrew.
Robert said something to Andrew: "You lied too!". That statement had so many implications in this story. There were a lot of rationalizations or lies that people told others or to themselves in this story (every single person was a participant in some kind of deception here). People were hurt and humiliated, but there was a liberation/freedom for many people at the end. At the end of the day, that freedom and peace is what true love is all about. The journey may be hard, but joy and happiness that Robert and Andrew found made me feel good.
I would love a followup book because the Mrs. Westphal (Robert's mother) and Maya...and even Stephen the jerk have unfinished business. I would like to know more about how they are moving forward with their lives.
**Set in Texas
jess_readsromance's review
4.0
Amazing. I drop a star only because sometimes I forgot whos point of view I was reading due to the writing being a little up and down, but overall fabulous book.
I will be reading more from this author for sure.
I will be reading more from this author for sure.
shawnabon's review
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
nessla's review
3.0
Clearly I didn't love this book as much as many others did. It was afun, light read. The plot was predictable and had some minor unbeliable parts, the characters slightly flat and most of the women were one-sidedly horrible. The good and the evil were clearly separated.
But still, light and well-written summer reading. Liked it.
But still, light and well-written summer reading. Liked it.