“My brain was so noisy and opinionated that it drowned out my heart.”
Title: The Possibility of Somewhere
Author: Julia Day
Series: Standalone
Publication: September 6th 2016 by St. Martin’s Griffin
Pages: 320
Source: Publisher in exchange for a honest review
Summary from Goodreads:
Ash Gupta has a life full of possibility. His senior year is going exactly as he’s always wanted– he’s admired by his peers, enjoying his classes and getting the kind of grades that his wealthy, immigrant parents expect. There’s only one obstacle in Ash’s path: Eden Moore—the senior most likely to become class valedictorian. How could this unpopular, sharp-tongued girl from the wrong side of the tracks stand in his way?
All Eden’s ever wanted was a way out. Her perfect GPA should be enough to guarantee her a free ride to college — and an exit from her trailer-park existence for good. The last thing she needs is a bitter rivalry with Ash, who wants a prized scholarship for his own selfish reasons. Or so she thinks. . . When Eden ends up working with Ash on a class project, she discovers that the two have more in common than either of them could have imagined. They’re both in pursuit of a dream — one that feels within reach thanks to their new connection. But what does the future hold for two passionate souls from totally different worlds?
My Thoughts:
The Possibility of Somewhere was just as delicious and fluffy as a wonderful jar of marshmallow creme. The sheer force of the feelings this book will evoke in you will surprise you, adding to the overall experience. There are those books that take you by surprise, you know? The ones where you initially go: “oh, this seems nice. I hope I like it”. But then, the book just kinda smacks you in the face and suffocates you with its enormous amount of awesomeness. The Possibility of Somewhere is one of those books.
Contrary to my usual take on tropes, I absolutely adore this book because it employs my all time favorite and it does so very, very well. I love the whole hate to love relationship thingy. Like with Aelin and Rowan in Throne of Glass. To me, the slow development of a relationship – especially the kinds like these where it takes time to get to know the other person before any sort of actual feeling appears – is the best. It’s believable and completely and utterly human. In a way, the relationship between Ash and Eden reminded me of Beatrice and Benedick from Much Ado About Nothing (which is my favorite thing ever, by the way). It is a competition between Ash and Eden, but that competition sparks emotions beyond what one might expect. It’s fantastic.
Eden is by far the best part of this book, though. She was independent and strong and she wouldn’t take no for an answer. She reminded me of Peggy Carter, you know? She was willing to risk everything to succeed and show everyone the value she knows that she is worth. She wasn’t afraid to voice her opinion, even when she knew no one was listening. She works hard to get what she wants, and I respect that. Oh, do I respect that. She earned a lot of brownie points by simply getting down to business rather than whining about it. Eden is the type of character girls can look up to. While she might make mistakes, she also accepts responsibility and just keeps pushing forward.
Then we’ve got the other side of the competition, Ash. Yes, he is the love interest. And yes, he did drive me crazy at points – but he is also extremely easy to relate to. I think, and I could be wrong, that almost everyone can somehow relate to extreme pressure from their parents or guardians. Be it to get the best grades in school, play a sport, get the lead in a play, anything. I know I identified with him for that reason alone, but there is also so much more than that. Ash is awkward at moments, and it is so freaken adorable. He is really smart too, and his intelligence does shine through his actions, but he is also very unsure of himself in a way that makes him believable and not perfect.
The Possibility of Somewhere is the type of book that will make you cry both tears of joy and tears of sadness. The writing is beautiful. The story is beautiful. The characters are beautiful. The Possibility of Somewhere is a heartwarming, gut-wrenching story about friendship, family, and believing in oneself. It is a complex tale of the pressures we face in life and how different people handle them while also discovering themselves. It was a treat to read.
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