Where Love Leads Paperback – June 20, 2017

I was genuinely engrossed in this tale, which I found to be rich and compelling for a debut. The main characters were well fleshed out, and the story complex and utterly without the contrived 'conflict' shoehorned into HEA romances to break up the course of true love.It addresses a weighty and fraught set of issues (LGBT+ bullying, assault, suicide) with a realistic but sensitive tone, allowing POV characters to guide the reader slowly toward the heavier plot points - as well as toward the painful truth that this is not at all contrived, that the issues the characters face remain all too real. (The regionality of prejudice was *slightly* overaccentuated - I've lived in both areas; Alabama is indeed that homophobic but upstate NY isn't entirely the bastion of safety it's presented as being. But the unsubtlety of the difference is a small complaint.)The supporting characters could use a little more development - they weren't even played for comic relief, their existence was purely for sounding-board purposes, to reflect the main character's inner dialogue or to advance the plot without looking funny because there are too few people at the lunch table, etc. But as this is a common issue in genre fiction, it's not a big minus to me.But then this book that I was enjoying, that had finally reached that moment of consummation of this slow-burn love affair between people whose relationship existed at both the what-is-this-strange-pull-I-feel and actual friendship levels? It just...stopped. It is the first time I have ever been truly surprised that a book was over. The other primary characters' and all but one of the secondary characters' awareness of the shifting nature of the relationship between the protagonists is left aside completely. The one main character who does have anything like an on-page moment of awareness? It's like that moment in Austin Powers 2 where Austin says "Vanessa was a Fembot! And Basil Exposition says "Yes, sadly we knew that all along." We don't know how or when this character knew what she knew, and are only left to infer that she's cool with the change. I don't always need that "One Year Later" epilogue, but if you're going to abandon your story before the denouement is finished, maybe consider one?Yet, the author may consider this frustrated critique its own form of praise: after all, nobody says "I wanted it to keep going!" when they're reading a bad book/book they dislike. It's only when we get truly wrapped up that we can feel abandoned by our storytellers. Just because we know so solidly that they all lived happily ever after that we call them HEA romances doesn't mean we don't want a little 'Happily' before you end with the 'Ever After'...

As many reviews have stated McKenzie tried to do too much and as a result accomplished too little. Now don't get me wrong...for a debut novel it wasn't bad. The writing flowed well and the characters were developed enough but it was their stories and obstacles that felt glossed over. I'm okay with there being two romances but the interesting one was really Kat's as she did endure the most and her issues seemed to just be solved or touched on. Lauren's romance was slow burn and I love slow burn romances but found myself a bit over it at the end because honestly all they had to overcome was time. Also, and this may sound weird, but the characters seemed to talk alike...I don't know how to fully explain ot but their "voices" didn't help distiguish who was actually speaking.Will I read another by McKenzie...I like to say I will. She has room to grow as an author and for a debut it wasn't bad...it just wasn't fully explored. Give it a read if you've got some spare change around or borrow a friend's.

I loved this book and the important message about bullying and teen suicide. It was a very sweet love story and a story about friendship turned love. It was a story about personal growth for both Kay and her mother Lauren. It was a story of allowing yourself to love again for Sarah and it was a story about falling in love for Bridget.This was a story about growth and development, and love. The characters were very well developed and the storyline was spot on.This is the author's debut novel and I think she hit it out of the park. I look forward to more of her book in the future.

Brilliant first book! I was amazed that this was her book. Erin really knows how to draw someone into the characters. One was able to see what it was like through a trend eyes as well as an adult. I was left wanting more. I hope to see more of her works. Thank you Erin for a great book

Heart-warming romance that also addresses important issues like LGBTQ suicides, the importance of educating parents and making a gay-straigt alliance available in high schools.

I really enjoyed this story. The characters felt real and I enjoyed seeing both relationships develop and grow. I stayed up way too late reading this because I couldn't put it down. Side note, I live in CNY and enjoyed the references to locations in the area. I would gladly check out anything else this author releases.

I really enjoy the book great debut I like that it dealt with bullying accepting yourself love the two romance going on in the book I will be reading another book from this author hopefully it be soon

Awesome book, its sweet, tackels current issues and you can't but help keep the pages turning. Both the mother and daughter fight to be comfortable with their sexuality. A great book that doesn't disappoint.

This is my first book of Erin McKenzie and definitely is not going to be the last. The characters are well described, the reader can feel all their emotions and challenges. Plus definitely there is not any mix up between the young and the more mature love...it is very clear when the story is about the mother and when about the daughter. Absolutely loved it.

Well written, should have had more sexual content,but still enjoyed the storyline. Will be checking out this author's other books.

Es war seit langem wieder ein Buch das mich sehr bewegt hat. Ich finde die Schriftstellerin sehr gut und die Geschichte flüssig geschrieben und man kann nicht aufhören weiterzulesen. Ich kann dieses Buch nur empfehlen und hoffe ich kann noch mehr von dieser Autorin lesen