‘She thought their love story was over.
The world had other plans…
When Magnolia Jones finds her daughter’s travel journal, she can think of no better way to honour her life than setting off on the gap year trip that twenty-three-year-old Brontë had dreamed of taking.
It was meant to be Brontë’s adventure, but perhaps following her daughter’s footsteps around the world is exactly what Magnolia needs to piece her broken heart back together and begin to heal.
As her travels take her further away from home, memories of a long-ago summer come flooding back. Magnolia barely recognises that girl she used to be – the dreams she had, the freedom ahead, the midnight kisses on the beach with curly-haired, brown eyed Jackson.
Maybe, just maybe, in this magical place that is somewhere only they know, Magnolia is about to discover that her journey isn’t over – it’s just about to begin…’ (Synopsis courtesy of Cathy Bramley's website.)
In summary, I loved this book! For a while now I’ve been gravitating to psychological thrillers, but I felt like a change and this book really stood out to me. It promised emotion and adventure, and since I do love a book that makes me feel like I’m travelling and experiencing new places, it certainly delivered on that front!
Magnolia (Maggie) Jones finds her late daughter’s travel journal, covering the gap-year she planned to take but sadly was never able to. When she’s told to take a break from work, Maggie ultimately decides to honour her daughter’s life by taking the trip herself, using the journal to map out where to go and the experiences she should have. What was meant to be her daughter's adventure turns into a journey of healing and self-discovery, taking in some amazing locations along the way.
I love a character-driven story and this was spot on. I felt I knew Maggie, but also her lovely daughter Brontë and the other characters so well. Cathy handles the heavy, raw themes of grief and loss with grace and warmth, while also providing plenty of lightness to keep the story uplifting even in its saddest moments. There is sunshine and adventure aplenty, too!
Watching Maggie break out of the shell and safety nets she constructed around herself in the midst of her grief was beautiful. The writing flows effortlessly, drawing you straight into Maggie’s internal world as she confronts memories of a long-ago summer, youthful freedom, and a past romance. I felt for Maggie every step of the way, nodding along with her reflections on ageing, wisdom, and what it truly means to make the most of the life we are given. The supporting characters she meets along the route were great and added so much.
I really enjoyed how the narrative shifts between past and present. Maggie’s memories of Jackson and the way her travels stir up emotions she thought she’d buried give the novel a nostalgic, romantic thread that complements the central story so well.
Somewhere Only We Know is more than a standard escape-to-faraway-places novel; it is all about resilience and is a tribute to mother-daughter love, and a gentle reminder not to be afraid of starting a new chapter. I know this book will be one that stays with me for a long time—highly recommended!
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