What do you think?
Rate this book
Places I Never Meant To Go
Tyler works a dead end, 9-5 job by day and drinks himself stupid by night. When the girl he has been talking to online for several months is suddenly on the 6 o' clock news, Tyler finds himself driving across the country in hopes of finding her. In search of the only thing he's ever really cared about, he will learn what it means to fight for something in his life that actually matters instead of letting life pass him by.
- GenresRomance
149 pages, ebook
First published August 20, 2013
1 person is currently reading
259 people want to read
About the author
Shay Lynam
9 books111 followersShay Lynam is a writer, owner of a fandom-inspired candle business, mom, and wife. Whether writing a young adult thriller/romance or figuring out what scent would be perfect for a K-pop-inspired candle, she’s almost always finding ways to be creative. A NaNoWriMo rebel through and through, she usually tries to figure out unconventional ways to get to 50,000 words during the month, whether it be writing fanfiction, short stories, or choose-your-own-adventure novels. Shay has self-published multiple young adult books as well as contributed to a horror anthology. She lives near Seattle, Washington with her husband, three children, and about 36 houseplants. Follow her on Instagram @authorshaylynam
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 13, 2014
PLACES I NEVER MEANT TO GO is the story of Tyler who seems to spend the majority of his time hating his job and waking up next to his latest one night stand. He heads out before they wake up, leaving his ever dutiful room mate to break the news to the unsuspecting woman. He only seems to have one woman in his life that he's happy to give more than a few hours to, and that's Emily, a woman he's been talking to every day for the past six months online. One day he reveals a little bit too much about his feelings about her and then she seems to disappear. It's not until a few days later, after emails and messages going unread that he finds out that she has disappeared. He then makes it his mission to find her, and bring her home safe.
This book was awesome. It had just the right touch of banter between the two main characters and ended in a way I did not see coming, and made me want to keep reading until I knew whether Tyler made it there on time, and whether he ever got to see some of the great characters he met along the way whilst driving from New York city to Portland, Oregon. The romance was beautifully crafted and I found myself going from dislking Tyler, to wishing and hoping that he and Emily ended up together. I won't spoil the ending by disclosing that fact, but I also loved the touches that the author had put in to bring a kind of supernatural twist to the story. Loved it, would recommend to all young adults or just plain adults who like a good love story without it being predictable. Great book and I will be reading more from this author!
This book was awesome. It had just the right touch of banter between the two main characters and ended in a way I did not see coming, and made me want to keep reading until I knew whether Tyler made it there on time, and whether he ever got to see some of the great characters he met along the way whilst driving from New York city to Portland, Oregon. The romance was beautifully crafted and I found myself going from dislking Tyler, to wishing and hoping that he and Emily ended up together. I won't spoil the ending by disclosing that fact, but I also loved the touches that the author had put in to bring a kind of supernatural twist to the story. Loved it, would recommend to all young adults or just plain adults who like a good love story without it being predictable. Great book and I will be reading more from this author!
August 21, 2014
***Author supplied copy for honest review***
This is a relatively short book that is easy to read through in a condensed time. It is written in first person narrative which ultimately narrows down the available story that can be told. I think a more vibrant, suspenseful and complete story could've been created if the author wrote it in third person point of view.
As a seasoned BETA reader I noticed several discrepancies and unrealistic plot points in some parts of the story which left me a little confused in places but as the story moved through, I did become engaged with Tyler as a character and quite invested in his journey.
If you are looking for a light read, and you don't tend to over analyse as you go then this story will fit the bill nicely.
This is a relatively short book that is easy to read through in a condensed time. It is written in first person narrative which ultimately narrows down the available story that can be told. I think a more vibrant, suspenseful and complete story could've been created if the author wrote it in third person point of view.
As a seasoned BETA reader I noticed several discrepancies and unrealistic plot points in some parts of the story which left me a little confused in places but as the story moved through, I did become engaged with Tyler as a character and quite invested in his journey.
If you are looking for a light read, and you don't tend to over analyse as you go then this story will fit the bill nicely.
January 21, 2014
Tyler works a dead end, 9-5 job by day and drinks himself stupid by night. When the girl he has been talking to online for several months is suddenly on the 6 o' clock news, Tyler finds himself driving across the country in hopes of finding her. In search of the only thing he's ever really cared about, he would learn what it means to fight for something in his life that actually matters as apposed to letting life pass him by.
An interesting story that started rather slowly for my taste, but since it is a short book it was easy enough to persevere & stick with it until things began to actually move. Ultimately this book is probably best if read when not in a literal frame of mind. I found it a bit challenging at times to reconcile the main character, Tyler, to his actions. He is certainly a player, but since we have no clue what he looks like it is tough to see a different woman throw herself at him each night. Yet it is clear that he is physically attractive as he is the object of smiles, winks, and pick-up lines from women.
Then there are the discrepancies, of which these are just a few - he talks of his difficult financial situation and yet he is out drinking every night and buying his annoying co-worker drinks as well due to continually losing at their daily contest. Plus, why does he decide to drive across country rather than just hop on a plane if he's in such an all fired rush to get to Portland, Oregon to search for the missing Emily? He could have spent less time & money by flying there and had that much more time to search Emily. And then there is the comment made to him about not spotting the person railing him in the surveillance footage, which makes no sense since he is reviewing footage from before his arrival in the city. . .
Although this book presents itself as a suspenseful thriller it is much more complex. It is a multi-layered story about coming of age, soul searching, friendships, romance, and forgiveness. This is a book that requires that you pay close attention to the details, lest you miss something of grave importance. Having read two of Ms Lynam's books back-to-back I think it safe to say you need to drop any preconceived notions prior to beginning any of her works, as they are quite different on a number of planes.
October 12, 2014
What a talented young writer! I became a fan of Shay Lynam's after I read the first book in her Tree House trilogy, The Tree House. First I was a fan of her writing style and by the time I finished the book I was a fan of her storytelling ability.
Places I Never Meant to Go is a very different piece of work from The Tree House. I was immediately sucked into reading this book. I read it at work while on break and covering the front desk, and honestly, I was looking forward to going to work so that I could read more of this book each day - that's saying something!
One thing I think that Lynam really nailed with this book is character development. At first, I wasn't sure if I even liked Tyler, but by the end of the book I could see so much growth that I really have to applaud the author for her work with this character.
One of my favorite things about the way that Lynam writes is the way she describes emotions. She doesn't tell us what the character is feeling, she shows us, which is not as easy as you may think. You really have a wonderful picture in your head of every detail as you're reading her books.
Places I Never Meant to Go is an account of an emotional journey that will leave you appreciating the small things in life and maybe have you questioning your own existence.
The ending...oh that ending. I can't say much about it because I despise reviews with spoilers. Let me just say that my jaw was on my desk and my heart was broken.
Wonderful book by a talented writer.
Places I Never Meant to Go is a very different piece of work from The Tree House. I was immediately sucked into reading this book. I read it at work while on break and covering the front desk, and honestly, I was looking forward to going to work so that I could read more of this book each day - that's saying something!
One thing I think that Lynam really nailed with this book is character development. At first, I wasn't sure if I even liked Tyler, but by the end of the book I could see so much growth that I really have to applaud the author for her work with this character.
One of my favorite things about the way that Lynam writes is the way she describes emotions. She doesn't tell us what the character is feeling, she shows us, which is not as easy as you may think. You really have a wonderful picture in your head of every detail as you're reading her books.
Places I Never Meant to Go is an account of an emotional journey that will leave you appreciating the small things in life and maybe have you questioning your own existence.
The ending...oh that ending. I can't say much about it because I despise reviews with spoilers. Let me just say that my jaw was on my desk and my heart was broken.
Wonderful book by a talented writer.
July 24, 2014
An incredibly intriguing story that left me totally engaged in the characters and yet, heartbroken...
Well-written with a smooth flow, you are instantly drawn into the ho-hum life of Tyler. An average guy with a recently deceased millionaire mother. He's a rebel working at a dead end job, waking up with nameless women, drinking and having IM chats with Emily in Portland. The one constant in his life being his best friend, Paul.
After chatting a couple of months, Emily disappears... Tyler goes cross country to find Emily and ends up on a road to self-discovery, realizing that he is worthy and finds forgiveness for all the wrongs in his past. Along the way, the reader gets insight into how Tyler's mind works - how he can be in his own little world with his imagination of fangs and blackness in people... I loved how these thoughts and perceptions about the people he meets on the journey added personality and made him even more real!
The adventure is intense and thrilling with plot twists that keep you drawn in and an ending that is far from expectation.
Brilliant characters that are likeable, believable and real - combined with a beautifully and subtlety written romance without the predictability. I felt I was part of the story from the beginning and captivated till the end. I'm definitely now a fan of Shay Lynam and looking forward to reading more of her work!
Well-written with a smooth flow, you are instantly drawn into the ho-hum life of Tyler. An average guy with a recently deceased millionaire mother. He's a rebel working at a dead end job, waking up with nameless women, drinking and having IM chats with Emily in Portland. The one constant in his life being his best friend, Paul.
After chatting a couple of months, Emily disappears... Tyler goes cross country to find Emily and ends up on a road to self-discovery, realizing that he is worthy and finds forgiveness for all the wrongs in his past. Along the way, the reader gets insight into how Tyler's mind works - how he can be in his own little world with his imagination of fangs and blackness in people... I loved how these thoughts and perceptions about the people he meets on the journey added personality and made him even more real!
The adventure is intense and thrilling with plot twists that keep you drawn in and an ending that is far from expectation.
Brilliant characters that are likeable, believable and real - combined with a beautifully and subtlety written romance without the predictability. I felt I was part of the story from the beginning and captivated till the end. I'm definitely now a fan of Shay Lynam and looking forward to reading more of her work!
July 11, 2014
5 stars.
Places I Never Ment to Go was a funny, but sad read.
Tyler meets a girl online by the name of Emily. They talk back and forth, and he begins to like her. One day Emily goes missing, and Tyler feels it is his job to find her. He drives from New York to Oregon to find her. Crazy things jumps in his path as he travels. From getting sick, to meeting new friends a long the way. But is it worth his life to save her?
I felt so bad for the MC Tyler. It seemed like life was throwing him a bad hand all the time. From someone dying, to a simple flat tire. I think the reason wy I liked him so much is because no matter what happened, he kept going.
There were a few things that I thought could have been better. I really wish we could have learned more about Emily. I also thought the world building of this book could have been a little better.
One of the main things that I really liked about this book was that Tyler really got to find out who he really was. There was a lot going on in his life, but at the end of it all he He figured out who he was.
I really enjoyed this book. I highly recommend this book.
**Book provided by author for review.**
Places I Never Ment to Go was a funny, but sad read.
Tyler meets a girl online by the name of Emily. They talk back and forth, and he begins to like her. One day Emily goes missing, and Tyler feels it is his job to find her. He drives from New York to Oregon to find her. Crazy things jumps in his path as he travels. From getting sick, to meeting new friends a long the way. But is it worth his life to save her?
I felt so bad for the MC Tyler. It seemed like life was throwing him a bad hand all the time. From someone dying, to a simple flat tire. I think the reason wy I liked him so much is because no matter what happened, he kept going.
There were a few things that I thought could have been better. I really wish we could have learned more about Emily. I also thought the world building of this book could have been a little better.
One of the main things that I really liked about this book was that Tyler really got to find out who he really was. There was a lot going on in his life, but at the end of it all he He figured out who he was.
I really enjoyed this book. I highly recommend this book.
**Book provided by author for review.**
July 12, 2014
*copy given by author for an honest review*
WOW!! This is the first book I have read by Shay Nynam and did not know what to expect. I can honestly say I am defiantly now a fan. I loved this book. It was written wonderfully and flowed effortlessly. I was entirely captivated by this story from the first page and could not put it down until the very last page. All the characters truly intrigued me and they all are very important to the story. This is a book that just keeps you wanting to see what is going to happen next, and scared to blink in fear you might miss something.
Tyler has been chatting with Emily online for a couple of months, then suddenly she stops responding. When he realizes that Emily has gone missing, Tyler drives across country to find and save his friend. However, this will be a journey he will never forget. Full of suspense, couple of twists and turns, this is a great story of self-discovery, love, and forgiveness.
If you are looking for something different and intriguing, then this is THE BOOK for you!! You will not be disappointed.
WOW!! This is the first book I have read by Shay Nynam and did not know what to expect. I can honestly say I am defiantly now a fan. I loved this book. It was written wonderfully and flowed effortlessly. I was entirely captivated by this story from the first page and could not put it down until the very last page. All the characters truly intrigued me and they all are very important to the story. This is a book that just keeps you wanting to see what is going to happen next, and scared to blink in fear you might miss something.
Tyler has been chatting with Emily online for a couple of months, then suddenly she stops responding. When he realizes that Emily has gone missing, Tyler drives across country to find and save his friend. However, this will be a journey he will never forget. Full of suspense, couple of twists and turns, this is a great story of self-discovery, love, and forgiveness.
If you are looking for something different and intriguing, then this is THE BOOK for you!! You will not be disappointed.
July 17, 2014
....I received a copy for an honest review...
Tyler is lost and alone in this world. The problem is that he thinks he is doing just fine. Drinking and women and a dead end job, his contentment is just barely getting him by day to day. His friend Paul wants to see him be a better man, but the first step to getting better is to admit that you have a problem and Tyler is nobody's fool. When his only 'emotional attachment' is becomes unreachable, he has to go find her. No matter where it takes him. A long road trip and a lot of soul searching bring to the realization of many things he never wanted to know.
This story is sad and heart-wrenching. You see thing through the eyes if this neglected boy (now a young man) who is struggling to find out what life is all about. Hurt and searching for the one thing that he never thought he had, love. I had to stop and think after the end of the story. I got to the song list and listened to the songs that Shay chose, and found them all saying what I felt at different points in the story. Well done, Shay, well done.
Tyler is lost and alone in this world. The problem is that he thinks he is doing just fine. Drinking and women and a dead end job, his contentment is just barely getting him by day to day. His friend Paul wants to see him be a better man, but the first step to getting better is to admit that you have a problem and Tyler is nobody's fool. When his only 'emotional attachment' is becomes unreachable, he has to go find her. No matter where it takes him. A long road trip and a lot of soul searching bring to the realization of many things he never wanted to know.
This story is sad and heart-wrenching. You see thing through the eyes if this neglected boy (now a young man) who is struggling to find out what life is all about. Hurt and searching for the one thing that he never thought he had, love. I had to stop and think after the end of the story. I got to the song list and listened to the songs that Shay chose, and found them all saying what I felt at different points in the story. Well done, Shay, well done.
October 27, 2015
Decepcionante.
No leí ningún review antes de empezar a leer el libro pero tenia buena nota así que le di una oportunidad.
La historia tenía tanto potencial!!! El protagonista, Tayler es sarcástico, gracioso y está en busca de algo.. el sentido de la vida quizá. Tiene sus demonios por culpa de la madre que le dió todo el lujo que pudo pero nunca le dio ni su amor ni su atención.
A medida que iba leyendo, juro que me imaginé un montón de cosas locas que podrían pasar por que leía y leía y no entendía de donde salía tanto amor por el libro. Seguí esperando que pasara algo loco y te dejara con la boca abierta y mindblowing. Pero no, lo único que pasa que supuestamente tenía que ser la gran revelación... la vi venir desde la mitad del libro más o menos.
Lo que más me dolió? Que toda la historia podría haber tomado otro rumbo. La escritora tiene potencial pero siento que se quedó a mitad de camino! Y por eso es que me molestó tanto la historia y el final.
Esperaba mucho más! Los personajes merecían mucho más!
Hay escenas que están sólo de relleno!!!!!
No leí ningún review antes de empezar a leer el libro pero tenia buena nota así que le di una oportunidad.
La historia tenía tanto potencial!!! El protagonista, Tayler es sarcástico, gracioso y está en busca de algo.. el sentido de la vida quizá. Tiene sus demonios por culpa de la madre que le dió todo el lujo que pudo pero nunca le dio ni su amor ni su atención.
A medida que iba leyendo, juro que me imaginé un montón de cosas locas que podrían pasar por que leía y leía y no entendía de donde salía tanto amor por el libro. Seguí esperando que pasara algo loco y te dejara con la boca abierta y mindblowing. Pero no, lo único que pasa que supuestamente tenía que ser la gran revelación... la vi venir desde la mitad del libro más o menos.
Lo que más me dolió? Que toda la historia podría haber tomado otro rumbo. La escritora tiene potencial pero siento que se quedó a mitad de camino! Y por eso es que me molestó tanto la historia y el final.
Esperaba mucho más! Los personajes merecían mucho más!
Hay escenas que están sólo de relleno!!!!!
July 11, 2014
This is a suspenseful and captivating adventure. Tyler has just lost his mother and he hadn't seen her in about five years. He is working a dead-end job living with his roommate Paul. He spends his free time drinking and instant message chatting with a girl named Emily that lives in Portland, Oregon. Suddenly, Emily is missing and Tyler decides to use his inheritance to find her. The journey Tyler takes to find Emily is intense and thrilling. I found this book to be well- written. I was instantly drawn into this story. I look forward to reading more by this author.
February 23, 2014
Shay is such a beautiful writer. I enjoyed this book with very page I read. There was so much emotion going on while I was reading it. I could not put it down. The main character had so much going on in his life I just wanted to transport myself inside the pages and give him a hug. WOW!
I cannot wait to read more from Shay!!
I cannot wait to read more from Shay!!
December 2, 2014
I don't want to spoil it by telling you what happens in the book but it broke my heart. I did enjoy the book and it had me guessing until the last second which is a good thing if it were totally predictable it wouldnt be much fun would it? If you can handle Shay toying with your heart strings then its a good short book to enjoy!
July 10, 2014
Tyler has been talking to a girl online for several months. He sees a news report about Emily that says she is missing. Tyler drives across country to find her. This book was an interesting one to read. Very complex. Definitely worth reading!
June 12, 2017
Although this story line had quite a bit of promise, I can do no better than 2 stars. Interesting premise with enough mystery to keep you reading ( although the "surprise" ending was not too surprising) and a flawed but endearing protagonist, yet the MANY errors in grammar and word choice kept me too distracted to become fully engaged. These errors included using "I" as a direct object, using words like "apposed" when "opposed" would be best, or "orientated" when "oriented" would be the better choice. I cringed when I read their instead of there, and me instead of my, and so on. With only one or two of these, I would have blamed poor proofreading. In this case, I wonder if proofreading was done at all. At least it was free.
January 11, 2021
Reasonable
This is prob a bit far fetched to be honest, but still worth a read in my opinion, I give it 2/5
This is prob a bit far fetched to be honest, but still worth a read in my opinion, I give it 2/5
February 28, 2025
It was easy enough to read, but it wasn’t great. There were too many side quests and not enough well thought out story or character development.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews