So very sorry, but I just couldn't get on with this. I'm not one to give up on a book, but about a third of the way through I just couldn't face struggling on. It's a shame because I think there is a very good story in there somewhere. It's just too confusing.

My interest in this book was initially because I live in Dover. I wanted to see what had been written about the town - nothing good I imagined!
If you are going to tackle a story about refugees and immigration, then Dover seems like a good place to use as a setting. Dover has seen people crossing the Channel since before the Romans - and poignant use is made of the Bronze Age boat held at Dover Museum to compare with today's crossings. Further use is made of other historic landmarks around the town like the Grand Shaft and Shakespeare Cliff, although these are for more tragic purposes..
In Cali we have a character from Dover who cares about helping the refugees and helps Mo, a girl she finds up on the cliffs. Dover is a focus for far-right anti-immigrant people because of its geographical position (Farage cannot stay away and continues to stir up fear and anger, as well as the protests documented in the book that saw the library shut its doors at the Discovery Centre after windows were smashed), so it is good to have some positive balance and there are plenty of people in Dover who are more understanding and sympathetic.
The story is set in 2026, taking the form of a documentary being made by Tarek, who is looking for his lost sister following their own refugee crossing from Syria, interviewing Rose, Cali's sister, and Jude, Cali's best friend, about Cali's suicide from the cliffs and the death of Mo and crippling of Jude after falls down the Grand Shaft.
Everyone has secrets and the truth that led up to these tragic events is eventually revealed.
The thriller aspect kept the pages turning but the bigger picture about refugees and what makes a place home - what makes us feel belonging to a place - were always in the reader's mind.

The Dover girls were a whispered story in 2016, three girls on the cliff top and two of them died and one had lifechanging injuries.
Fast forward 10 years and a documentary maker is on the scene as he wants to open up the truth of what happened.
This is one I really hoped I would love but I couldn’t connect with the characters and I struggled to really enjoy it. This will be a minority view as I’m sure lots of people will enjoy it.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

The story takes place at the beautiful landscape of Dover, more specifically at the White Cliffs in the UK, in two separate timelines. We are introduced to the tragic fates of 3 teenagers girls , Cali, Jude and Mo , whose lives got tangled at this well described scenery.

The author incorporates a very modern form of the narrative, written in interview formats as we follow journalist Tarek who presents his version of an interview, also mixed with the points of view other characters. This allowed the reader to have different perspectives, which had me hooked throughout the story.

This Nowhere place has strong mentions of the struggles and challenges faced by the refugees and immigrants in Europe, specifically in the UK, however this is a controversial situation faced by many countries. I found that this is an important topic that indeed should be addressed more often in literature. I enjoyed the book, definitely a must read!

This book was not for me, I found it a very confusing story and felt at a loss to discover quite who all the characters were. It was a shame, as the idea of the story was good, but it was just not to my taste.

This was a tragic story of a young female, illegal immigrant called Mo, who lands up in Dover on her own. The book tells the story of the interactions of two teenage girls who set out to help Mo but at a cost to their own friendship. Well described characters and a compelling storyline. No real resolution to the tragedies that unfold. It must have been a very difficult story to write.

I thought this book was a little bit confusing to start with but that's because your reading about the documentary and not actually seeing it on a tv screen, but it makes a lot more sense the further you read. It truly is quite a sad and depressing read but it's also bloody brilliant. I thought Tarek's character was brave, determined and in a few parts I just wanted to jump into the book and give him a huge hug. It's a book that certainly opens your eyes and pulls at the heartstrings because of the devastating obstacles immigrants go through to get into a safe country, it's barbaric what happens to them. I think Jude's character is a bit self centred and she only cares about herself, she's a bit mental which only adds to the narrative and the whole story comes to a devastating conclusion when secrets are revealed. I really did enjoy reading it and I would recommend it, but I was slightly disappointed by the ending, I really wanted Tarek to find his little sister but he doesn't and it's left me wondering what actually happened to her. All in all it's a good, solid read with characters who have depth, feelings, addictions, disappointments and love, it's well structured and it bought a tear to my eye because of the sadness of some of the situations the characters found themselves in.

What an absolutely brilliant and well written book. It encompasses friendships, breakdowns, loss and refugees exiled from their countries and losing their families having given up everything to get to safety. The story initially centres around two friends growing up together and the issues they face as their friendship evolves.
I literally could not put this book down and can't wait to read more by this author.

THIS NOWHERE PLACE

They call them the Dover Girls. Cali, Jude and Mo. However, what did happen to cause two of them to die and one to be paralysed?

This Nowhere Place is told from a dual narrative. The past is set in 2016 and the present is 2026. As always I love this style of writing, it's when you get to piece together the story little by little. We get to see how the characters have developed over the time.

In 2026 Tarek is a roving journalist who has made countless programmes. So, it's not unusual that he would want to make one about the infamous Dover Girls. But, is Tarek all that he seems? Or has he got a hidden agenda?

The story is very chilling and atmospheric. Natasha Bell brings Dover and the famous cliffs to life in this book. I found myself turning to Google a lot whilst reading the book. I wanted to see for myself what the Shakespeare's Cliff and the lookouts really looked like.

In the past narrative Bell recalls the riots that occured in Dover during this time. I found this was a great inclusion using real life events, as it makes the story more believable and thought provoking. Yet again I found myself turning to Google to educate myself on the circumstances that brought on the riots.

This Nowhere Place has themes of mental health, addiction, grief, guilt and love. All these bring together a well thought out atmospheric mystery.

This Nowhere Place was an ok story. I thought it to be a little drawn out in places and I struggled to connect with the book in the way that I hoped I would but I finished it and was satisfied with how it ended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

This incredibly taut and engaging book pulled me in with the mystery of what happened in 2016 when two girls died and one is left with life changing injuries. The clever dual narrative moves between 2026 and 2016. In 2026, the investigative documentary maker Tarek tries to address the gossip, secrets and lies that have created something of an urban legend surrounding the incident, interviewing the friend who survived and friends and family of one of the girls who died.

Cutting between extracts from the documentary and the real life events of 2016, what is revealed is an absolutely fascinating and incredibly emotional story that weaves together the refugee experience and a fracturing teenage friendship set against a divisive atmosphere that bristles so sharply it is almost palpable. In 2016 the anger, frustration and hostility during the lead-up to the Brexit referendum is seen in sharp relief in the inhabitants of Dover. In 2026 Tarek's investigation is met with suspicion and it is clear that the divisiveness that defined Brexit has not dissipated and is being exploited by right-wing groups.

The main characters are incredibly well drawn. From the dynamics of the friendship between Cali and Jude that starts to splinter when Mo joins them, to the partnership of Rose and her girlfriend. Each person has secrets and agendas that cause conflict and this all weaves into the intricate plot of the book to create a rich and rewarding reading experience.

The book is very different to the author's previous novel, 'Exhibit Alexandra', but equally as satisfying. I am intrigued to see where she ventures for her third book.

My thanks go to the publishers and Net Galley for the advance copy in return for an honest review.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book as it is compelling and relevant.

The writing is clever and well done, you care about the situation which makes for a tense psychological thriller aspect mixed in with the perfectly pitched political undertone.

This is a very well written suspenseful thriller, but it was hard to stay focused on the story sometimes. That said, I am glad I stuck with it and the ending was completely out of the blue

I really enjoyed this book. Became attached to the characters and couldn't wait to read what happened to them all. What happens in the end to Rose and Jude do they ever speak again? Does the Dover girls documentary ever get shown on tv? I would love a follow up to see what happens next to all of the characters.

Many thanks Net galley for letting me read this

I have absolutely loved this book that has caught my attention and been on my radar for a while. 
The author presents this novel to us in a dual narrative, which I have really liked because I have felt able to know the full picture. 
This has been an extremely addictive and captivating read which I have found both intriguing and unique. This is a novel I have been completely unwilling and unable to put down. 
The mix of characters present in this one had been interesting. As well as this, the novel is filled with a great setting which I have adored. 
This is a fascinating novel which has kept me guessing from very early on. Bell has created a clever plot in an extremely well-written way. 
This book has definitely converted me as a fan of this author. An absolute definite five star read which has been impossible to put down.

Apologies but I could not finish this book. I tried three times but it felt disjointed and I lots the thread when the narrator changed, I just didn't feel that the Tariq sections connected to the sections about the girls at all and it meant I wanted to put the book down and rread something else.

Sorry I did try. I wanted to love it. I did like the title and the initial premise was promising but I gave up and I so rarely do. I could not care about the characters at all.

This Nowhere Place by Natasha Bell
Publishers: Penguin Michael Joseph UK
Publication date: 18/3/21

No Spoilers
4.5 ⭐️/5
An interesting, highly relevant thought provoking read. Well drawn, believable characters ,including some who are highly unlikeable, I found this book drew me in early on and kept me engaged until the end.
Highly recommended.
I’d like to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for this advance digital copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Possibly spoilers


Small towns are always full of secrets,and it would appear Dover is no different.
Set across two timelines,one full of hate towards the immigrants escaping to these shores,and one ten years later.
The ten years later one just reinforces the belief that everyone is hiding something.
A cast full of broken characters I'd say,but each of them motivated by love.
An interesting read,with believable flawed characters.

A really great mystery thriller story full of secrets, lies and distrust. A very disturbing read.
I was drawn into the weave of the story immediately about the three girls, one an immigrant and two friends from Dover. How easily a friendship in the two young girls shifted from being close friends to betrayal and terrible consequences of the pain it caused.
I felt huge sympathy for Jude. Her reaction to feelings of rejection were, in my view, the immature reactions of a young person who had not experienced rejection or painful emotions before.
Rose the sister of one of the young girls was a very weak individual who lived under the spell of a rather dislikeable Kassia.
Tarek an immigrant documentary film maker was desperate to find his lost sister who he believed he had failed and because of his delving discovered a terrible sequence of events.
The book moved backwards and forwards in time and sometimes it was difficult to easily flow which made for a disjointed read.

This book didn't offer the thriller experience I was expecting of a book of this genre,

However the story was good if not a little long winded to get to the point of it. Not really many twists and turns in it and the ending wasn't a big shocker.