Review Detail

The Possibility of Somewhere is definitely one of those stories you just can't put down. Julia Day's debut novel will make you cry and laugh out loud. It is a hug a book kind of book.

In The Possibility of Somewhere, Eden and Ash are high school rivals, always competing to be the top student. Ash's family is rich, Eden's family live in a trailer. But even though they would swear they are rivals through and through- there is more going on underneath the surface. So, what could go wrong when their teacher assigns them to work on a reenactment of Pride and Prejudice's proposal scene together? (Love all the allusions to Pride and Prejudice!)

Julia Day's writing style helps bring the story to life. The voice is authentic down to every tiny, every changing, emotion. What is makes this story a great read is how it handles diversity. It doesn't just hit on ethnic diversity, but also socio-economical differences, and learning differences. It deals with racism and bullying, but also the importance of seeing beyond and recognizing what is inside.

Eden character is one of the strongest parts of the story. She goes through a lot and she gets a lot thrown at her. She doesn't have super powers or awesome fighting skills, and most of the time people avoid her. But there is something unique yet familiar in Eden. Her insecurities are ones I think most people feel at some point in their life. Another strength is Marnie, Eden's stepmom. The journey she goes on and her relationship with Eden makes it heartwarming.

There is romance and mystery. The characters are realistic and relatable. It is better suited for high school than younger middle school students due to relationship issues. This is great addition to the YA genre and I am looking forward to more from Day in the future.