In this propulsive new thriller, a dream summer in Italy turns into a harrowing ordeal for an American exchange student. Tess Alessandro is living a dream: she was selected for an incredible exchange program in Rome, where she's spending the summer taking in the beautiful sights and sounds and tastes of Italy. Her Italian counterpart, Sofia, is staying with Tess's family while she's away. Sure, her host parents barely speak English, but they seem cool enough.
Until that morning when Tess's hosts make her join their video chat. Sofia is standing over Tess's sleeping parents, and she's brandishing a knife. "Do everything we say, or they will die." Tess is suddenly forced to complete a series of crimes without her passport, cash, credit cards, or privacy. Somehow, she must find a way to uncover their shocking plan and outwit these criminals before she—and her family—end up dead.
Sourcebooks Fire is one of the best YA publishers around and I always look forward to their titles. With such a high bar, it's inevitable that a few books are going to slip under it, and sadly, in my opinion, this was one of them.
The concept is fantastic, but sadly not everything worked for me. Spoilers: why didn't Tess tell her parents what was happening at some point when she was out of the house, away from her hosts, and Sophia was out of their house? Apparently she spent every evening out. Tess could have borrowed a phone from one of her friends. Plus, and this isn't as much of a spoiler but I'll put it here anyway; I didn't really follow the whole web of who was who and who'd done what. Last wondering; how were all the puzzles and machines still working properly after so much time? I know they were hermatically sealed, but still.
I absolutely adored all the bits about Rome and the sights and smells though. Jody can definitely evoke a place with her writing. I'm not much of a traveler, and even I wanted to go and see these places for myself!
Jody is an author to watch, without a doubt; this story didn't quite work for me but I look forward to seeing her next novel - I think it will suit me much better.
No Way Home publishes on the 2nd August, 2022. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.
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