I was really excited for this novel as I have loved all of Sara Barnard's previous works. This book was not a disappointment. Sara Barnard is a wonderful UKYA author who captures what its like to be a young British teenager. I also love how her books are always more focused on friendship rather than romance as it is more reflective of my teenage years.
This book also made me really want to travel. I've never been to Canada but after reading this, I want to go (once the pandemic is over, of course!). She captured the feeling of being in an alien country so well.
Peyton felt like a very realistic main character as her struggles felt universal. I do think at times the conflict of the story could have been expanded. It felt slightly surface level and I would have liked to see more upon her return to the UK.
I feel like the ending of this novel didn't give me a satisfying enough conclusion but I did like how Sara Barnard ended Peyton's story.
Overall, this was a wonderful story focused on the struggles of trying to make friends, losing yourself and then finding yourself in a different country with new people.

I’m really conflicted with this one because I have read many of Sara’s other books and have really enjoyed them but this one fell flat for me.

- Peyton first of all, was the dullest character I have ever read about. She didn’t have anything to her that was remotely memorable and she was painfully boring to read from.
- I didn’t like how the book was structured with Peyton’s life before and after Canada. There were so many inconsistencies and I couldn’t imagine how easy it was for her to just go on a jolly to canada without been questioned profusely about it. I preferred the after chapters, and the before chapters weren’t nice considering the bullying Payton experienced.
- I felt like this book is directed for a much younger YA audience and had some really cringey language and overly used cliches.

This one just wasn’t for me.
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love Sara Barnard books and this one is no exception. She’s so talented at writing older YA characters and all of the feelings that entails.

This is a great road trip story with an excellent found family.