This is a fabulous book. I loved following Maggie on her travels as she tries to find her way again following the sudden death of her beloved daughter.
Emotional and uplifting, I couldn't put it down.
A great summer read. Highly recommended!

As always a absolute stunning book by Cathy! I devoured this in one sitting, there was so many different emotions attached to this one story it had be sobbing and laughing! I absolutely loved following the main character on her mum gap year and felt the places she visited perfectly described, i felt i was there!

A fantastic read. I loved following Maggie on her travels, bringing places to life as she discovers (or rediscovers) the places and herself.

Maggie's daughter Bronte was tragically killed at the young age of twenty-three. Maggie is finding it hard to come to terms with, especially as she didn't want her to give up a new job to go back packing for a year.
Forced to take a sabbatical from her job, Maggie decides to open Bronte's gap year journal and take herself on her travels.
This was quite an emotional read. I did find myself crying at times, so be warned and armed with tissues!
Maggie visits some amazing places. Nepal, where she meets the wonderful Tiff. Then, onto the Blue Mountains of Australia, where she has a little romance and then finally to Bali. The final destination is where she can talk about her grief with the one person who will understand.
Cathy writes with such depth and humanity.
I felt I was on the journey with Maggie. There are definitely some places I want to visit, and you can tell that Cathy has also been here too. Beautiful locations.
Thanks to Netgalley and Orion Publishing for the ARC in return for an honest review.

This book is a truly special read. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions – heart-wrenching, heartwarming, funny, sad, romantic, and exciting – all rolled into one. You won’t want to put it down, let alone finish it. It’s a fabulous journey of self-discovery born from one of the most devastating life events. This book surpassed any reservations or expectations I had and has transcended into one of the best books I’ve read this year. Enjoy it, savour it, and bask in the joy!

Thank you, Netgalley.

I adore Cathy Bradley book, this is not one to disappoint, you just can’t put this down and her writing is always fantastic, immersive and engaging. An emotional read, heartfelt, but also heartwarming, a story about overcoming grief, loss and new beginnings, beautifully done.

This book deals with grief and one mothers struggle with it after losing her 23 year old daughter,

Maggie had brought up Brontë on her own and poured all her love and energy into her. When she is taken away from her in a tragic accident, Maggie is left feeling devastated.

Brontë had planned on taking a gap year to travel with her boyfriend Harry , something her mother was unsure off but now all that’s left is her beautifully illustrated notebook full of her travel plans .

Maggie struggles at work and with an unexpected paid break from work she decides to take the gap year herself , using Bronte’s notebook as her guide.

The story has dual timelines. Present day and 24 years ago when Maggie was working in a turtle sanctuary in Bali, falling for handsome Jackson who was her daughter’s father.

This book explores grief in a very emphatic way. Finding purpose after losing a loved one is difficult and as we travelled with Maggie we could see how she was growing, focusing on celebrating her daughter’s memory. We all struggle with the small stuff and this book made me think of the fragility of life and the importance of taking chances and valuing the important people in my life.

Heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measures I really enjoyed this book

The most beautiful story I have read in a long time. This takes you on an emotional rollercoaster as you follow Maggie through her journey. I had tears, laughter and a warm happy feeling at different points and yet never wanted the story to end.

Maggie is devastated when her Daughter dies unexpectedly and decides to go on the gap year travels that her Daughter Brontë had planned. This book takes you on Maggie’s travels along with occasional flashbacks to Maggie’s travels to Bali when she was younger and where she met the love of her life Jackson. The book has some emotional moments but have to admit I did find it hard going occasionally however I think that is because of the subject matter and although I didn’t enjoy this as much as all the other books of Cathy’s I have read it was still a lovely read.

Such a heartwarming and fun book. I've read Cathy Bramley books before and really enjoy her character development. Maggie's daughter Bronte is planning a gap year and dies in an accident. Maggie, distraught and unable to cope, finds her daughter's notebook and plans for her gap year, and decides to follow in her footsteps. The book takes the reader to Nepal, Australia and Bali, and sees Maggie come to term with her grief and get back a piece of herself that has been missing. Although a sad topic, it was a fun and enjoyable read for someone who loves to travel - and hasn't yet made it to Nepal, Australia or Bali, so helped me to dream. Cathy's books are always great escapism and I'd recommend this as a good beach read.

Thanks to NetGalley, Cathy Bramley and publisher Orion, for an advanced copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

I enjoyed the story of Maggie and her adventures to honour her daughter Bronte - it's a story of love, loss, grief, acceptance and joy. It has everything!

Trigger warning death of an older child (23) seems ro be a lot of death in books this year 3 book on the trot a 18 to 25 year old has died in it. Nit really what I want to read 900 mles from my own daughter. Not a holiday read if you have children at home. Thank you netgalley for the advance copy

I absolutely loved reading this book, I just could not put it down.
The locations are spot on, having visited some f them myself. Memories definitely were brought back in the description of the Everest viewing flight!
Great characters and even though the story was so sad at times, it was heartwarming and positive. Simply wonderful.

An emotional roller coaster of a story dealing with grief and moving on. Heartwarming and sensitively written with believable characters the reader can empathise with. Set in several locations around the world as Maggie, the central character, sets out to travel her deceased daughter's dream. Positive read which flows along.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for this ARC.

Magnolia Jones, Maggie for short, is in her mid-forties and lives in a picturesque Cotswolds village. Last year she lost the light of her life, her sparkling 23 year old daughter Brontë in a tragic accident. Brontë had excitedly been planning her gap year with boyfriend Harry, now all that's left of it is her beautifully illustrated notebook with travel itinerary and notes.

Maggie had brought up her daughter alone, and being estranged from her own useless mother, Brontë had been her world. Now she buries herself in her work, trying to get a promotion and impressing boss Anna. However, after an incident with a horrible would-be client, Anna tells her to take a three months paid sabbatical to process her grief.

Suddenly, Maggie has flashbacks to a magical summer in Bali 24 years ago, helping at a turtle sanctuary and falling in love with American guy Jackson, Brontë's father. She decides to follow her daughter's gap year plans detailed in her notebook - but only ever reading about one destination at a time. She starts with Nepal, goes on to Australia where she reconnects with Harry, and finally moves on to Bali - again. What are the chances of Jackson still being around?

Five star reads are like buses - nothing for ages then three come along at once. This is such a fantastic, life-affirming book. I have read Cathy Bramley for years and liked her books but this must be her best yet. The writing is immensely intelligent and grown-up, the grief is sensitively handled and is never maudlin.

Maggie's transformation and healing process including reconciliation with her mother feels natural and organic, and I really loved her mature character. It was heartwarming to see her bonding with people on her travels but also with her daughter's boyfriend Harry, and how she encouraged him to find love again. Her "Mum's Gap Year" letters to her daughter are a heartwarming highlight of the book and rightly struck a cord with women everywhere once social media got involved.

This is very much a story about overcoming grief, finding new purpose and getting a second chance at love through the medium of travel. The three exotic destinations are described with knowledge and warmth, making you want to paint with little kids, work in a winery and rescue turtles yourself. I read this in a day. Highly recommended. Also, I've got the beautiful Keane song "Somewhere Only We Know" stuck in my head now.

"When I see all the stars shining in the sky, I imagine that they are all the people who died and whose love still shines down on the ones they left behind."

I’ve read all of Cathy Bradley’s books and this is my absolute favourite. It’s heart -wrenchingly amazing. I laughed and I cried and just didn’t want it to end. Treat yourself to this wonderful read- it’s a 5 star review from me.

What a beautiful read, When Maggie's daughter Bronte talks to her mum about taking a gap year before starting her dream job she advices her to think about it for a week bur after a tragic accident Maggie decides to do the trip her daughter never got to do . As she starts her journey she soon begins to realise that she should have been more adventurous and not been so careful about everything and what she learns from her daughter takes her life in another direction where she finally realises what it important.. I loved every moment of this book and it was a lovely ending even though it was emotional and had me blubbering like a baby a well deserved 5 🌟

Wow what an exceptional read! I was totally invested from start to finish and really didn’t want it to end!
The most emotive, poignant, heartbreaking but beautiful, uplifting and inspiring read ever!
The main character Maggie driven by grief, and an enforced sabbatical from work decides to take on her daughter Brontes gap year of travel, following Brontes journal she takes herself completely out of her comfort zone and we the readers are led on a most exquisitely described journey through Nepal, Australia and Bali! Maggie learns about herself,her grief and more and more about Bronte from the journal and reconnecting with Brontes boyfriend! Along the way Maggie makes new friends, challenges herself, revisits her past, reconnects with old friends and in doing so works through her grief, learns to live, love and enjoy life making wonderful new memories, relationships, career changes as she starts to heal and embrace a new different life.
A truly awe inspiring read that will stay with you long after you have read it and one i would highly recommend
Thank you NetGalley for this early read

Cathy Bramley is a fab author.
Really good book that i will recommend to others. Yet another fantastic book and I cant wait to read her next book.

Book Review: Somewhere Only We Know by Cathy Bramley
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Cathy Bramley has truly outdone herself with Somewhere Only We Know—a beautiful, tender, and emotionally rich story that lingers long after the last page.

Magnolia Jones is a character who immediately earns your empathy. Still grieving the unimaginable loss of her daughter, Bronte, Magnolia embarks on a journey inspired by her daughter’s unfinished dreams. What follows is more than a travel adventure; it’s a heartfelt exploration of healing, memory, and rediscovery.

Bramley’s ability to balance grief with hope is what makes this book so special. As Magnolia retraces her daughter’s planned gap year, she also reconnects with a younger version of herself—one filled with passion, spontaneity, and love. The interweaving of past and present, especially the glimpses of her romantic past with Jackson, adds emotional depth and a touch of nostalgia that’s both heartbreaking and heartwarming.

The writing is vivid, filled with moments that transport you to tropical beaches, bustling cities, and quiet reflections. And while this is a story rooted in loss, it’s ultimately one of resilience, second chances, and the enduring power of love.

Final Thoughts:
Somewhere Only We Know is a poignant, uplifting read about finding light after darkness. Full of heart and soul, it’s perfect for anyone who believes in the magic of travel, the strength of women, and the healing power of a journey taken for love. Highly recommend.