A pleasure to read. I loved this book. I laughed and I nearly cried and I got totally caught up in the story. This is a gem of a book that I would definitely recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Thank you for net galley for sending me the copy to read for a truthful review.
When I first started I thought it would be a run of the mill story however it is sensitively written about topics such as drug use and depression. Having worked in similar environment the author did an admirable and poignant story.
The story developes and unfolds as the narrator looks back over twelve years prior once she receives a letter from her first love who just ups and leaves her without explanation when they were teenagers . Lizzie has to peice together all the missing links and we follow her on her journey.
Throughout the book I felt that it perhaps wouldn’t end well and guessed a few of the surprises she discovered along the way but it had a lovely bittersweet ending and throughout the story the author poetically discribes her emotions well. I liked the main character, her friendships and several of the others. characters most people have a relative like Shall so could sympathise.
I knew deep down Roman was a ‘bad un ‘ as a kid and was scared what she would discover once she went down that rabbit hole.
Enjoyable read, not your soppy concise novel that seems to be the rage (thank goodness) fantastic book will look out for more from this novelist.

This was charming! A really lovely heart-warming read. The characters were real and very believable, and I wanted everything to turn out well for them. One to recommend!

This was a breath of fresh air! Wonderfully sentimental and told with flashes of brilliant wry humour, I inevitably fell head over heels for Roman. I can't wait to see what Lia Louis does next!

What a beautifully written story.

The story is told both in current day and in flashback and this works really well, as we work out with Lizzy what happened to her friend Roman and why he disappeared.

Without spoiling it by saying what happened, I thought the ending, though realistic, was terribly sad and this has affected my score. I wish I could say I loved it but I can’t. So I am giving it 3.5 stars (rounding up to 4 as it such an impressive debut novel, despite my personal feelings about it).

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

There was so much to love about this book, from the intriguing premise to the warmth and sensitivity of Lia's writing, which reminded me of Jojo Moyes. As an 80s kid, I loved the 90s references and the laugh-out-loud humour throughout. The characters were hugely relatable and I found myself willing Lizzie on, on her own personal journey, as well as in pursuit of answers regarding her friend, Roman. The denouement, although not what I expected, was beautiful, honest, real and will stay with me for a long time. A hugely enjoyable and emotional read. Thanks to Lia, publishers and NetGalley.

Beautiful and bittersweet, this is such an incredible debut novel focusing on Lizzie and her quest for answers after a letter arrives one day from Roman, her first love. However, not all is simple as the letter is dated 12 years previously, on the day he disappeared. What follows is a brave and at times heartbreaking journey of what really happened during the year when Lizzie's life fell apart.

The conclusion of Lizzie's journey surprised me and wasn't what I was expecting. However, on reflection I think it's quite refreshing for an author to have confidence to write an ending that is right for their leading character even if it is emotional for us as a reader and goes against our instincts. Already I just wish I could keep reading more about these characters, with so much wonderful depth.

The writing style was also fantastic; I've been addicted over the last two days. I really loved the flashbacks to when Lizzie and Roman were teenagers too. They were very cleverly interwoven to link in to events of the present day whilst Lizzie is on her journey of discovery to try and find Roman. I also loved the occasional references to McFly and the Girls In Love tv series; little things that really made me smile.

I hope that everyone picks up this book in June as I think everyone will take Lizzie in to their hearts. The quote I am going to hold on to, as said by Lizzie's grandad Hubble is this: "Goodbyes are a privilege."

Many thanks to Orion and Lia Louis for the opportunity to read and review this book. An enjoyable read that is hard to put down. Somewhere Close to Happy is about a girl searching for her best friend who went missing 20 years ago. A heart breaking read at times but worth it.

Lizzie lives a humdrum lifestyle doing a boring job until one day she receives a letter dated from 20 years ago written by her closest friend Roman, who disappeared without a trace. Together with her best friend Priscilla, Lizzie embarks on a road trip to find Rowan, no matter what obstacles are placed in her way.

Throughout the present day narrative the reader is taken back via flashbacks to the time when Lizzie and Rowan were as close as two people can be, supporting each other through their troubled teenage years.

Lia Louis has drawn all the characters spectacularly and left us with a bittersweet but realistic ending for Lizzie and Rowan when the explanation of his disappearance is unravelled. Many thanks to NetGalley and Orion/Trapeze for the opportunity to read this charming book.

Lizzie has a humdrum life, living on her own with a dead end job in an accounts department. She's happy enough, eating take aways for dinner and spending time with her glam BFF Priscilla and her brother. But then a letter sent 20 years ago arrives. and shatters her world. When her friend Roman ran away the night her world ended, Lizzie has always wanted answers. Now, with a girls roadtrip to find them, will they give her the resolution she seeks?

I genuinely loved this book and couldn't put it down. I have to confess that Priscilla was my favourite character and I loved their road trip for answers. Despite this being a debut, Lia Louis is a very accomplished writer indeed - this is my bet for 2019's Eleanor Oliphant - because if you liked that, you'll love this!

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This was a fantastic read, so heart warming and had such a sad ending. I loved it

This is the story of Lizzie and her quest to find what happened to her friend Roman who disappeared one day.

The story is told entirely from Lizzie's perspective and we get a glimpse of her teenage years with Roman along with the ongoing search for Roman. Somewhere close to Happy covers mental health topics like anxiety,depression and drug use.

Overall,I liked the story-it was one with a bittersweet ending. The only reason why I am not giving 5 stars us because of that ending .I felt that I went on an entire journey with Lizzie and of course,her best friend Priscilla ,for nothing. Well,this is my opinion.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC.

Somewhere Close to Happy is, simply put, amazing. It’s a fantastic, heartwarming, simultaneously tear-jerking and hilarious read! Lia Louis has such a conversational and humorous writing style — she’s a natural storyteller and her characters are so well drawn they felt like they’d become my own friends very quickly into the book, especially Lizzie, Roman and Priscilla.

I was struck by how amazingly Lia Louis deals with some really hard-hitting topics. She approaches them warmly, with bags of sensitivity and understanding, which makes for an ultimately very uplifting read.

I finished this book in a couple of sittings because I just couldn’t put it down — I would highly recommend it. Lia Louis a really fresh, modern voice which is an absolute treat. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us with her next book. Thanks so much to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I got lost in this wonderful debut that covers a number of complex topics skilfully and sensitively. From mental health, to addiction, to love and loss, I was engrossed from the first page to the last. Louis tells the story of Lizzie, whose friend Roman disappeared twelve years earlier. When she receives a letter from him, dated when he disappeared, she embarks on a journey to find out what happened to Roman.

Louis has created a character so likeable that I found myself willing Lizzie on from the very beginning. Lizzie has a great sense of humour and I found myself laughing regularly. Her friends and family were entirely believable, and I felt that I knew each one of them personally. Some excellent twists are woven throughout the book, and I found the ending both believable and satisfying. I loved the descriptions of the scenery throughout the book, and especially the rugged coastline towards the end of the novel which I could picture perfectly. I will be keeping an eye out for Louis' future novels.

This book is fresh, thoroughly modern and packed full of heart. I loved it from start to finish. It’s the story of Lizzie, who’s sort of stuck, living alone and doing a job in an accounts office that she doesn’t much like. At the start, she receives a letter from her former best friend, Roman, dated twelve years earlier. Dated the day he disappeared from her life. And the arrival of this letter kickstarts a series of events that lead Lizzie back through her troubled teen years to find her friend.

Lizzie is the easiest of characters to root for. She’s clever and kind and she’s had her fair share of shit to deal with. Louis draws characters with a deft, sure touch. The friendships between Lizzie and Priscilla and Lizzie and Roman are incredibly touching. I thought about these people all the time while I was reading the book, and I thought about them after I’d finished.

I find it quite hard to believe that this is a debut novel, as it’s written in such an assured way. Louis takes you on a journey, and it’s one I was more than happy to go on. I trusted her to navigate the twists and turns of the story adeptly, and I trusted her to deliver an ending that felt completely right. Somewhere Close to Happy broke my heart at times, but I’d have it broken again and again for the sheer pleasure of immersing myself in Lizzie’s life for a while.

I really enjoyed this book. When I read it time stopped and I was there, with Lizzie, wondering what had happened to Roman. It’s a beautiful story of friendship and of a special kind of love.

For me the standouts were the characters (rich in detail and I loved their quirkiness), the gorgeous engaging and chatty tone of voice and the use of language. Some of it made me let out a little sigh - beautiful one liners!

The one tiny weakness was the opening chapter with the surprise party. I felt it was too heavy on dialogue and I had to read it a few times to get a sense of what was going on and who was thinking what. It felt busy and hard work for the reader. But, that’s just my opinion.

I would recommend this book to others. This book is perfect to curl up with and lose yourself in it.