The Law of Henna and Bodhi: When love breaks, fall inward, fall together, and fall hard. Then let time pick up the pieces.Everything feels temporary when you’ve experienced tragedy—until Henna Lane meets Bodhi at a music festival.Young and spontaneous, they have a lust for seizing the moment, falling hard and fast.When Bodhi is forced to leave without a goodbye, Henna thinks she’ll never get over … Henna thinks she’ll never get over him. But then she meets Mr. Malone, her sexy, new guidance counselor.
They are reckless.
They are forbidden.
When their secret is discovered, Henna has to choose between finishing school—banned from seeing Mr. Malone—or dropping out to follow her nomad dreams.
Henna chooses her dreams.
Over time, she learns that life is not a destination or a journey, some things are more than temporary, and the forbidden can never be ignored. But if she returns for him, will he still be hers?
A Place Without You is an emotional story of young love, shattered dreams, and impossible decisions.
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Though I am no stranger to the author’s work, this is only my first ARC from her.
I did not expect this book to turn out or end the way it did.
I thought it was going to be one of those usual angsty love stories, but I was wrong—it was more.
I’m not a huge fan of insta-love but with Bodhi and Henna, it works…
I don’t know how to go about discussing the details in the story without giving away any spoilers… where do I start? I love the way they met and the connection they instantly had. I think it’s possible to look at a stranger and your world stops while your heart wildly beats…
That part about suicidal thoughts and about the father… that part was hard to read through. I have experienced having those thoughts even more so when my dad passed away… I have a part somewhere in my heart that died along with him… I’m a Daddy’s girl, so reading that part felt too heavy and painful. Personally, I don’t think I could do it… I really don’t. Call me selfish, I don’t care.
There are also other parts where I got frustrated with both main characters… the constant push and pull was a tad bit exasperating but I understood that it was needed…
I don’t think this is something you’d wanna read over the holiday season. Don’t get me wrong, I loved it. I love how their story unfold… the journey they took… and like I said earlier, I love it and I gave it 5-stars but this is a heavy read. You definitely need to get your tissues ready.
See my review in French here
One thing you should know: it took me a whole week to start this review.
I also had to take a break from reading because…
I couldn’t manage to start a new book, even a light RomCom, after Henna and Bodhi’s journey.
I just couldn’t let them go!
What started with a funny, light and careless encounter in Chapter One, left me emotionally wrecked.
But I should have known: A year ago, I was totally new to Jewel E. Ann’s writing, but since the Transcend Duet, I couldn’t stop. So I read all her books (minus When Life Happened), so, like I said, I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN!!!!!
This book, ladies, is PURE PERFECTION.
You will fall, so, so deeply.
In all the ways an amazing author could make you fall.
You’ll smile, you’ll swoon, but you’ll also hurt and bleed…
But each page is worth the heartache (yes, like EVERY SINGLE BOOK from this author).
Through all the books I read from Jewel E. Ann, she NEVER disappointed me.
And I’m s till wondering: where does she find those love stories?
How does she create such amazing characters?
How does she manage to deal so brilliantly with such sensitive topics?
So, thank you Jewel E. Ann, for Henna and Bodhi. For Bodhi and Henna.
And all those wonderful supporting characters with their own story…
This book was so much more than what the blurb suggests.
One of my absolute favorite books.
The perfect read to start this new year!
So, grab it and enjoy.
And when you’re donce… And once you’re over it, grab all the previous books from this brilliant author.
***ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review***
Visit my French blog: https://isalacroqueusedelivres.wordpress.com
A forbidden romance that will take you on one hell of ride that will completely pull at every single emotions but leaving you feeling so complete. Henna is my spirit animal. She was so a freeing and real character that I completely fell in love with. This story was so beautifully written that I will definitely be reading more from this author!
If you Love something let it go,if it comes back to you , it’s yours, if it doesn’t , it never was , and it’s not meant to be.
This quote sums up what comes to mind when thinking of this Wonderful story that Jewel E. Ann wrote. I absolutely loved this story and all the emotions it brings with it!
I infinitely love Henna and Bodhi.
‘Don’t sweat it. Everything is temporary.’
A Place Without You is guaranteed to toss you painfully down the rabbit hole of angsty, forbidden romance; a Volkswagen van named Alice in tow. You’ll feel absolutely every single imaginable emotion you could feel whilst reading a book. Your heart will physically ache, tears will fall and you won’t know if they’re happy or sad, and you’ll feel like you never took a breath of fresh air before you cracked open this novel and let it fuck with your soul. A Place Without You will hurt. It’ll be completely and utterly worth it. And you’ll love Every. Damn. Second.
‘Every Place was simply a place without you.’
Countless times whilst reading this book I was hit with this lightheadedness that I hadn’t felt coming on (and no, I’m not making a joke about me swooning harder than an 18th century lady). Wanna know why? I got lightheaded because whilst being absorbed in this book I had LITERALLY FORGOTTEN TO BREATHE.
‘My Henna could never be temporary.’
This is not an easy read. Buy it anyway. Prepare for your world to fall away around you until all that exists is the words on the page and the story tapestry Jewel E. Ann has woven. Go on a journey of love, truths, secrets, guilt, loss, grief, family, adventure, music, and yet more love. This is not an easy read. Read it anyway.
‘Vulnerability takes more strength than anything else in life. You have to be willing to feel absolutely every emotion. Vulnerability is the sharpest knife, the longest marathon, the highest mountain.’
I hate Bodhi and Henna. But I love them more.
Anguish so much anguish fills these pages. It’s insane how heartbroken a novel can make you feel but give you pieces to put back together.
This novel reminds the readers why the author is a favorite for absolutely reader torture. It gives you happiness to just turn around and steal it.
Henna and Bodhi are a chance encounter that happens over many years. The story line plays out just like you think it would at the beginning. Then the author throws curve balls, one right after the other. It will make and break you.
A definite must read that will make you fall in love page after page!
5 Ketchup and Fries Stars!!!
Wow…. Just Wow!!! I have accepted the fact that each and every time I read a book by this author, a couple things are needed to survive the read.
1. A room with no disruptions.
2. Family, Friends, Co-workers, anyone you come in contact with, need to just agree to leave you alone.
3. Brand spanking new box of Kleenex.
4. Plenty to drink! You pick the poison… whichever will make you forget real life and enjoy the story!
I’m seriously jealous after reading this book, of anyone who has ever been to Coachella! I’m ready to ditch the family and go on a soul-searching trip myself! Might even order some fries and ketchup to make it complete.
When Henna and Bodhi meet, the vibes are there. Who the heck checks ‘share a ride’ in the uber app anyways! Both heading to Coachella, they didn’t know at that time in their short uber ride to the event, their lives would change going forward.
I’m sitting here thinking about the story I just finished reading and am in love and crying at the same time.
The journey we go on. The love. Family. Finding yourself. Seeing the world. Experiencing LIFE.
Jewel E. Ann doesn’t write cookie cutter books. She writes a book that is so well written, you feel like you are a character in the book! You feel what each character is going through. You feel as though you are one of the family. You Totally Feel. That in my opinion draws the line between an author and a fantastic author.
I’m not going to lie and say this is an easy read. It was tough! But the toughness made me realize that even if someone asks you to do something and everyone else disagrees…listen to your gut. Do what your heart tells you to do. Even at the risk of losing the one thing you truly deserve.
#BookBistroBlogApproved
I devoured this book, This is one of my favorite books by this author. This was an epic romance and I absolutely loved it!
Henna and Bodhi met and have instant chemistry, the kind of chemistry we all dream of. She is 18 and he is a few years older but you can just tell they are meant for each other.
Summer has gone and Henna is back in school, she is a year behind due to an accident. She never expected to walk into the guidance counselor’s office and see Mr. Malone, aka Bodhi. It is hard to fight the feelings and chemistry while at school. Bodhi’s family situation has him stressed and not wanting to take any chances.
These two have been through so much on their own and together, you can’t help but hope they end up together. I loved these characters and their story so much! I highly recommend this book!
5.5 Amazing Stars!
There are stories that move you and leave you feeling overwhelmed, by a huge range of emotions, that they haunt your dreams long after the final chapter. A Place Without You is a perfect example; it’s already going on my list of #TopRead2019. This beautifully written, second chance, forbidden love story has it all! Amazing characters that have suffered horrible heartache and loss, told in an amazing story, with an incredible HEA that made me cry tears of happiness! I loved this story and I’m going to miss Bodhi and Henna.
“Show me the world, baby. Live like I’m there with you.”
Henna Eve Lane is a free spirit, having been raised though not together by unconventional parents who were complete opposites. They met and conceived Henna at a Coachella festival; it’s her favorite story, one that Henna knows by heart, having been told it repeatedly by her mother, Juni, who’s also her best friend.
“My parents were temporary. I was permanent.”
When her dad, the General, has to cancel plans unexpectedly to go to Coachella with Henna, she goes alone. She’s eighteen and armed with a stock of condoms in her backpack, thanks to Juni. What can go wrong?
“We get one chance at life. You don’t go down voluntarily.”
Coachella is something Bodhi Kaden Malone looks forward to every year. It’s a weeklong reprieve, it’s the only opportunity he has to live carefree for a few days, before returning home and his obligations. When Bodhi and Henna meet, it’s almost as if it was destined to be.
“The universe has spoken. We can’t ignore the universe.”
“Fate?”
“Fate? No. Fate is nothing more than another word for happiness. We’re more than fate. We sound like something undeniable—Romeo and Juliet, Johnny and June, Beyoncé and Jay Z…Henna and Bodhi.”
Bodhi is blown away by Henna. He knows that she could’ve been the girl, the one he could’ve made a life with, a life that he would’ve loved to have lived. But he knows it’s not possible and can’t promise her anything, but the time they share. What are the chances that total strangers can meet in the desert, at a music festival, only to unexpectedly meet later, hundreds of miles away?
“This feeling I have for Bodhi will linger inside of my soul long after we are no longer us. I will never forget what loving him feels like.”
This is where the forbidden love story comes into play. And the second chance. So buckle your seatbelt, you’re in for a really bumpy ride. Enjoy!
“Our life is still this cage, but now I’m on the outside and he’s still stuck inside. He didn’t clip my wings. He clipped his own.”
A Place Without You laid claim to my heart—pure and simple. In return, it generously gave me all the feels in which I am still happily reveling.
The unforgettable characters are painted with strikingly bold colors. People around Henna can’t help but get swept up in her vortex of eccentric charm. Her infectious free spirit can’t be contained inside her 19-year-old body. I point out her age partly because I’m not comfortable with forbidden romances involving minors, so that isn’t an issue here. Henna’s age also speaks to her mindset. She is more worldly than most 19-year-olds, but there are parts of Henna that are immature, and she has escapist tendencies that allow her to avoid painful emotions. I love that she recognizes these traits and that the reader is allowed to watch her struggle with her areas of growth.
Bodhi is Henna’s opposite. She tends to be irresponsible while he is extremely cautious. He is patience and goodness personified. Henna constantly pushes him outside of his comfort zone, and he is at his sexiest when he surrenders and lets loose. They are electric together.
Some of my favorite parts of the book are those that take place at Coachella. The atmosphere is almost tangible—fun, romantic, and exciting. I felt like I was someplace magical where lifelong connections can be made in a matter of hours.
The supporting characters are highly developed and integral to the story. I was incredibly moved by the ferocity of Bodhi’s love for his father, a remarkable man in is own right. I wish I could be a mom that’s half as cool as Juni. Yes, she is Henna’s mom, but she is also her very best friend and a constant source of nonjudgmental support.
If you’ve read any of Jewel E. Ann’s books it would not surprise you to know that she dishes out humor and passion in one hand and punches you in the gut with the other. Consider this my public service announcement to have some tissues on hand. Hang on and enjoy this powerful romance.
A Place Without You by Jewel E. Ann is a captivating and emotional journey. The forbidden story captivated and crushed me. It is full of angst and obstacles and will make you feel and you would expect nothing less from Jewell E. Ann.
Henna and Bodhi captured my heart. Their chemistry and love drips from the pages, but nothing is ever easy. They meet at a festival and hit it off immediately. Their time together leaves a long-lasting mark on them, though they expect to go their different ways afterwards. But life has different plans and so their journey begins.
A Place Without you by Jewel was an emotional read with all the feels. It was a story of love, hope and devastating choices. I have learned to expect the unexpected from Jewel E. Ann and that is what she gave us in this story.
Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading!
So Many Feelings! I couldn’t stop reading this beautiful, touching, relatable story! I just can’t even find words to describe how this story has left me feeling! I love everything Jewel E Ann writes and this is just another epic read for me!
“Bodhi and Henna…”. “Henna and Bodhi…”
“No matter where I am on this earth, I’m loving you…forever.”
A Place Without You by Jewel E. Ann is a full length, standalone romance novel. I don’t even know where to start with this review, my heads in a complete book hangover, but one thing I do know from the bottom of my heart that this for me was probably the most real and raw story that the author has ever written. Reading A Place Without You was a journey, it hurt like crazy and I loved every second of it.
I have read a few books from this author and every book I have opened of hers has touched me in some way, shape or form. It started with the Jack and Jill series, over When Life Happened , The Transcend Duet and Scarlet Stone. Every book and every story touched me, changed me and gave me a serious book hangover. But A Place Without You topped it off.
I honestly believe this is one journey that just needs to be experienced, simple as that. Going in blind here is probably the best thing you can do.
Just being right alongside Henna and Bodhi, feeling the intensity and raw and gritty emotions they have to discover along being forced tomake hard and life altering decisions.
My heart was bleeding for them. But the true hero in this story is Barrett – he’s strong beyond words and I totally respect his character. I bow to him.
This is not a traditional love story – it is anything but, it’s messy and sometimes selfish – the road to happiness is a long one and is paved with heartache and tears.
There are no goodies and baddies in this – it just is what it is.
I smiled and cried and at some point I was so angry at the characters. Henna was such a strong warrior with the strength and resilience of a woman in love with life and with her man.
That’s what I liked about this the most, there was no unrealistic love heals everything. It was a work in process, it was such a raw and honest story.
And I absolutely adored Bodhi and Henna’s story; their struggle and their fight. If I could give more than five stars I so would, this is a story that’s going to stay with me for a very long time. Please do yourself a favour and read. I highly recommend A Place Without You. 5++ stars.
“No matter where I am on this earth, I’m loving you… forever.”
The poetic beauty of this book was EVERYTHING. This was my first Jewel E. Ann book and I was absolutely blown away. I had seen a lot of 5 stars flying around on social media and decided to dive in for myself – WITHOUT reading the blurb. I went in totally blind, trusting the amazing bloggers recommending it. I had no idea where the book was taking me, just that I had to know Henna & Bohdi.
All of the 5 star rumors were anything but rumors. The raw emotion coupled with forbidden love and controversy was heartbreakingly beautiful. Jewel E. Ann also injects the perfect amount of humor – I felt like this book had me laughing out loud one moment and speechless in the next by the sheer angst I felt in reading it. I loved Bohdi’s character. Outwardly he’s handsome, responsible, together; a rule follower. His quiet brokenness and desire to atone for his perceived sins was equally endearing and frustrating. Henna’s outlook on life, her inner wisdom beyond her years combined with her youthful eccentricity makes her such a refreshing character. Truthfully, female characters often bore me in comparison to their male counterparts but I couldn’t help but love Henna from the first chapters. Together, they’re everything.
“Don’t sweat it. Everything is temporary.”
The author exhibits exceptional character development in A Place Without You. Not only just with Henna and Bohdi, but also with the side characters. Juni and Barrett were hands down some of my favorite hero/heroine parents to date. When you read this book, you know them. Through her writing you feel the love; the anxiety, the frustrations, the guilt. Then you feel the peace. The ending of this book had my heart soaring and the epilogue was perfection.
I strongly encourage you to experience this book. Block out some time and snuggle in, because once you get into the thick of it, you won’t be putting it down. You owe it to yourself to read A Place Without You – Enjoy babes. xoxo
Another Jewel E Ann must read! Every book of hers leaves you in a book hangover. I can’t recommend all of her books enough. Top read of 2019!!
This book didn’t mess around. It cut to the chase. From the first pages you are sucked into the fate surrounding Bodhi and Henna. You are trapped in their world and wanting more. I was so invested, I read it in one sitting cause I just wanted to see where it went. My heart was heavy a few times. It was the right amount of heartache and happiness. Love, love, love it!
This book grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. I love Jewels writing and so much heart and emotion is in her stories. This one isn’t any different. Beautiful words, and flawed, human, lovable characters!
I was swept away by this story, and I shed some tears. This is a must read, that has captured my heart.
Bodhi and Henna.
Henna and Bodhi.
Always
Dear readers, if you love the quirky odd characters who are impulsive then you will love this book. Jewel will take you on a wild journey full of unexpected surprises. You won’t find a more unique style of writing than this one right here. Jewel has you envious of her characters with their individuality of hobbies and talents.
Jewel puts a unique twist on a common forbidden student teacher romance. With Jewel there’s always a twist. Her character development goes beyond the basic levels. Age is a factor in this story, yet it’s not disclosed early on. While this is a student teacher trope nothing about this story is typical. You can expect the unexpected actions, reactions, and behaviors from these characters. Jewel is boldly unafraid to take chances with her characters and the storyline. Jewel is full of shocking surprises.
For me, reading Jewel E. Ann book is more than a journey. It’s an experience into her creativity. The characters become apart of me. I grow attached to these characters with the way Jewel brings them to life. The storyline is unique and witty I can’t help but fall in love with the entire premise.
This the perfect formula for what I look for in a book. To share in her ingenuity of creativity. Getting locked into these characters where nothing else exists except the words of creativity on these pages.
I was absolutely thirsty for these delicious words.
Now let me introduce to the main characters: Bodhi and Henna. They share a love of music.
Argh! It’s over. When I finished reading this beautiful story I started all over again. For real! Jewel Ann’s writing is so compelling and her characters are rich, complex and unforgettable. There’s so much love, laughter, loss, grief, tragedy family and real life issues in this story. So many issues that could have bogged down this wonderful love story but the author did a terrific job of balancing the heavy with the light. There are so many wonderful relationships in this story. Family, friends, lovers and most heart wrenching is the characters relationship with themselves. Jewel creates characters that are beyond the norm and will live in my heart forever. I fell in love with Henna from the start with her flower child personality, her snark and sass, her unconventional style and her quirky maturity. Her bravery and perseverance through her struggles is remarkable. And then there’s Bodhi *SWOON*. A hero for the ages. I’ll admit that at one point his mystery and self flagellation were a bummer but as his past was revealed I fell hard. He is beautiful on the inside and the outside. Henna and Bodhi forever! With a sexy romance at the center of an emotional, heartbreaking and uplifting story this is a must read and read again. Thank you Jewel Ann for a captivating love story, spectacular fresh characters and an exceptional reading experience. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC.
Was this difficult to read at times? yes, was it beautiful, forbidden and sad? hell yes, but boy what a ride! I had to take my time processing what I was reading because it just blew me away.. Bodhi and Henna, Henna and Bodhi you guys were simply perfect! this is one of those book that is going to stay with you no matter what!