ANYWHERE

While searching for clues to her father’s whereabouts, a young woman falls for a fellow student at an elite boarding school.

Emma Wiley and Henry Bennington first meet while catching the same flight from Frankfurt to Edinburgh, neither knowing as they sprint toward their gate that they’ll soon be classmates at Dunbridge Academy. Henry is a returning student and Emma is studying abroad for the year. Emma’s parents met at Dunbridge, but since their divorce, Emma’s father has essentially dropped off the face of the planet and she wants answers. She hopes that attending Dunbridge will offer some insight into her dad and where he’s gone. This is a standard high school drama, like something one might see adapted for the CW: New girl feels like a fish out of water among her popular and/or wealthy classmates while trying to solve a personal mystery. Something worth mentioning is that Henry already has a girlfriend, who arrives at the Edinburgh airport to pick him up. Grace is immediately welcoming to Emma, the newcomer, which makes the central romance hard to accept. Henry and Emma’s friendship quickly becomes romantic; both are overnight boarders at the academy, while Grace lives at home and attends school during the day. There are the usual scenes of Henry and Emma sneaking out of activities and having clandestine meetings at night, but keep in mind that both are aware that Henry has a girlfriend. It can be hard to root for a romance when infidelity is at its foundation, even though Emma and Henry are only 18 and especially since Grace is so supportive and likable. The only compelling part of the book is the inviting community environment cultivated at Dunbridge. There are touching scenes of mentorship, tearful reunions, and blossoming friendships.

A by-the-book high school romance with a main couple that’s hard to root for.