It felt like a breath of fresh air reading a book that had little to no spice. I feel like I need a romance book that also focused on emotions and friendship.

The way grief was spoken about in the book touched my heart as it shows exactly how different people cope. Henry just made me want to hug him in that moment.

Though I’m very unsure whether the basically cheating was something I was comfortable reading. Because it was too calm and too quick.

Overall I’m looking forward to reading the second book.

a typical ya school romance however i liked the read a lot. i don’t really enjoy the cheating trope but i kept reading and enjoyed the book overall - great characters and developments through the book. i’m excited to read more and start book 2 soon!

thank you for the chance to read this book!

This was a really enjoyable high school/college romance. I really liked the premise and the characters involved. I found myself flying through the pages, never being able to put the book down until I'd read just one more chapter.

Can I enrol at Dunbridge Academy, please?
I absolutely adored every moment of this book - the slow burn, the angst, the emotion - it was so good. The instant attraction between Emma and Henry had me on the edge of my seat - and oh, did my heart break many times over.
Luckily for me I already have book 2 to read, so I can't wait to jump straight in and see what happens next!

This book elicited a mix of emotions for me. On one hand, I was thoroughly impressed with the vivid descriptions of the setting. The author did an exceptional job painting the scenery in such a way that I felt like I was transported right into the world of the story. Additionally, the secondary characters were well-developed.

However, despite these strengths, I struggled to connect with Emma. From the outset, the “connection” between the protagonists felt forced to me. The fact that they couldn't stop thinking about each other, despite him having a girlfriend, struck a negative chord. This element of the story made it difficult for me to fully engage with their relationship. Another aspect that disappointed me was the subplot involving Emma's father.

I guess those two things that bothered me might not matter as much to other readers, but unfortunately, they dimmed the shine of the book for me.

Thank you so much, NetGalley and Quercus Books for sending me this ARC.

This was such a good boarding school romance. I really liked Dunbridge Academy and can't wait to go back for more stories! The plot was well developed and written. But I felt that Henry's dilemma over Emma was too drawn out, he realises in chapter 2 that he's more attracted to Emma than his girlfriend yet it takes him a really long time to do anything about it. Other than this I enjoyed this story, I would really recommend it to a younger (16-19) audience or anyone who doesn't mind younger/more immature characters.

Summary: At Dunbridge Academy, Emma seeks her missing father but finds unexpected love with Henry, a fellow student, despite his girlfriend.

Thank you to Quercus and NetGalley for a copy of this book, all thoughts are my own.

Not exactly what I was epexting with this high school / teen romance...there was certainly less angst and drama, which left me feeling like I had been short-changed somehow.
When I pick up a romance based in high school, especially a boarding school, where there is are family issues, romance drama and a will they wont they then I fully expect, no want to see teenagers being dramatic and over the top. This was mature and almost too sensible!
I enjoyed the book and will certainly read the next in the series, I was epecting something a little different is all and so if you want high school drama in an over the top way this probably isn't going to be it for you.

I received this book as an ARC and provide my honest review

What a wonderful and heartwarming story about friendship, resilience, first loves, grief, and family.
Sarah Sprinz really hit the nail on the head. First of all, a story set in Edinburgh? Sign. Me. UP! I absolutely love nothing more than the idea of an academia based story being set in Scotland. One of my absolute favourite countries.

We meet Emma - a student from Germany who is about to spend a year abroad at Dunbridge Academy, following in the steps of her parents, but also trying to track down her father, who upped and left her and her mum when she was just eleven.

Emma’s character is incredibly strong and her development was phenomenal. She was so resilient, kind and caring and only wants the absolute best for people.
Then, we meet our love interest, Henry, who is the school captain and quite possibly the heart-throb of Dunbridge Academy.

Through an accidental run in at the airport as the pair are on their way to Scotland, Emma and Henry’s friendship blooms.

I thought Sprinz’s approach on tackling the topic of grief and family loss was so heartfelt and beautiful. Her approach to the subject was sensitive, and didn’t actually delve too deeply into the implications of what one individual might feel, because grief is personal, and not everyone grieves the same way.

This story also briefly mentioned substance abuse, very very lightly, but regardless was approached quickly and elegantly for the reader to not be distracted.

I cannot wait to read the rest of this series. An absolute must if you like academia novels, based in a beautiful country like Scotland, and love stories about friendship and resilience.

Thank you to NetGalley UK and Quercus for this opportunity to read this wonderful story as an advanced reader copy.

The first book in the Dunbridge Academy series that tells Emma and Henry's story. Emma is from Frankfurt but has decided to spend a year studying abroad at the same boarding school her parents went to in Scotland. While on her way through the airport, she runs into Henry, who is also a student at Dunbridge and is returning to school after spending the summer in Nairobi with his parents.

The two have a connection from the start, but Henry has a girlfriend, Grace, who he has been with for a few years but things between them have changed and they've been growing apart for awhile. Henry realises that meeting Emma has shown him what a relationship should be like and he breaks up with Grace to be with Emma. They both handle the break up incredibly well and they're both very mature about it.

This book reminds me so much of Harry Potter but without the magic - we have a boarding school in a castle in Scotland, a teacher who hates Emma as soon as he sees her (Professor Snape) due to something her father did to him when they were at school together, a very understanding head teacher who while supposedly is very strict but kind, lets students bend the rules slightly when circumstances allow, and finally - rugby! The whole school gets behind the team just like at Hogwarts.

Harry Potter aside, the book was really good and it dealt with the loss of a family member really well. I think Henry's grief was written really well and he was relatable. Emma was a really kind person, and allowed Henry to feel how he needed to feel without trying to push him into talking about things or to get over it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Anywhere by Sarah Sprinz starts off with a bang, instantly drawing me in with its captivating beginning. The setting and atmosphere are beautifully crafted, immersing the reader in the story’s world. Sprinz’s writing struck the perfect balance, painting vivid scenes without dragging on.

Henry came across as too polished and perfect, lacking the depth I hoped to see in his character. There was something essential missing that would have made him more relatable and genuine.

The chemistry between Emma and Henry has its moments of genuine connection.

Overall, while the book has its flaws, it also has potential. The engaging start and the strong setting lay a solid foundation.

I was sent this one by the publisher and thought "sure, why not". I clearly needed to do my research, because I didn't realise it was YA or that it was translated text

An academy where you feel at home and welcome - that's what the "Dunbridge Academy" has become for me after reading its pages. It's Sarah's writing style, the perfect blend of realistic teenage dialogue and poetic expressions, that ensures a smooth reading experience and brings the story and the Academy itself to life. With Emma by my side, I explored the setting and felt as if I were sneaking through the old walls, attending classes, and partying in the greenhouse at midnight. The characters are complex due to their unique quirks, especially the fact that they're not perfect, make mistakes, and reflect on them, which makes them particularly relatable to me. I'm especially excited for the stories that will be told in the upcoming books. In terms of plot, it was a good mix of feel-good moments and suspense, without too much artificially staged drama. Overall, I can only recommend the book - it hit the spot for me! 😍

I really wanted to like this book but I really don’t like the cheating trope, it just wasn't for me unfortunately

After literally running into each other in the airport, Emma and Henry find out they’re both heading to the same boarding school in Scotland and begin falling for each other. But Henry has a girlfriend and Emma is only planning on staying for a year - so they’re left battling their feelings for each other.

I do agree with a lot of reviews about how they hate the cheating trope. I think Henry should’ve ended things with Grace (who is amazing) a lot sooner, but I’ll also cut him slack cause he’s basically a child.

This book was a good YA boarding school romance with some interesting plot points that kept me hooked.

Thanks Quercus for the ARC.

I had really high expectations for this book, but it really disappointed me for some reason. Don't judge a book by its cover but the other way around!

If there's one thing I can't stand it the cheating trope. Maybe by accident with feelings and emotions and such but not the blatant way Henry tries to have his cake and eat it too. No thiank you.

What a wild and unexpected ride this book was!
After a heart-break, Emma, who is from Frankfurt, decides to study abroad for a year at Dunbridge Academy, in Scotland. But heart-break isn‘t the only reason why she leaves for Scotland. Emma wants to find her father, who has left her and her mother years ago. At the airport she meets Henry, who coincidentally is school captain of DA and so her adventure begins.

I have to admit, my expectations were very low after reading the first few chapters. I couldn‘t warm up to Henry after his questionable regarding his relationship with Grace, his girlfriend and everything with Emma felt like insta-love, which I didn‘t vibe with. For the first half of the book I didn‘t quite know what the point of the book was and what direction this would take but then I was positively surprised by the dive the plot took into deeper, more serious topics. I did not see it coming and quite enjoyed the last few chapters. Siblings finding their way back to each other and friends who offer unconditional support through very rough times, it was heart warming to read. The side characters were interesting enough that I might consider reading the rest of the series.

I would recommend the book to a younger audience, say 17-19 year olds. For older readers the book might not be as relatable.

Special shoutout to Grace, who is doing her name absolute justice and is the definition of a girl‘s girl. A kind heart through and through and her gracefulness will stay with me for a long time. I wish she had gotten her own book, I‘d have 100% read that.

Thank you to the Quercus Fiction Team for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

It was a quick YA read - I liked the characters and the setting, however it was a bit more YA than I expected.

Thanks Netgalley for the copy!

The first half of this book was really enjoyable. But, then there was cheating. I really don’t like reading about cheating. The first half was so so good, but the cheating is what has brought my rating down. It has annoyed me that the cheating was not in the trigger warnings. It needs a better updated trigger warning. It was an okay story but leaves you with a meh feeling when you read about how the mmc cheated. Than you for the ARC in exchange of my honest opinions

I liked this book, but I didn't love it enough to give it 5 stars. Anywhere is really well planned out, well written and the characters are really enjoyable to read. They both go through Grief and struggles throughout the book. I feel like I would have enjoyed Anywhere a lot more if I were a few years younger, it has a very nostalgic feeling to it.