If your reading mood lately has been soft, swoony, and just take me somewhere warm and safe, then Vanessa Chase’s debut novel might be exactly what your TBR has been missing.
“The Place We Begin” by Vanessa Chase
What’s “The Place We Begin” About?
The Place We Begin is a new adult contemporary romance set in Vancouver, following Remi and Eli, best friends in their final year of university who have one very inconvenient moment that changes everything between them. Specifically: a kiss Remi did not plan for and cannot stop thinking about.
Remi is the kind of character you immediately understand. She’s a planner, a colour-coder, a keeper of five-year goals. She has built something precious in the found family she made at university, and she is not about to let one impulsive moment blow it all up. Eli, on the other hand, is completely gone for her, and has absolutely no intention of pretending that kiss didn’t happen.
Eli and Remi are kind to each other. They communicate. The conflict isn’t manufactured drama, it comes from real things: fear of change, fear of losing what you have, the specific anxiety of standing at the edge of the life you’ve built and not knowing what comes next.
That emotional honesty is what lifts this above the average campus romance. Chase clearly understands that falling in love at the end of university isn’t just about two people. It’s about the whole world shifting at once.
About the Author – Vanessa Chase
Vanessa Chase writes emotional and uplifting romance stories, the kind that leave you with good vibes and a full heart. Her characters always get their happily ever after, and you can feel that promise woven into every page of The Place We Begin. This is her debut novel, and it’s a genuinely impressive first outing. We’re already looking forward to seeing what she writes next.
Who Is This Book For?
This one is perfect if you love friends-to-lovers with real emotional depth, a hero who is absolutely obsessed with his girl (in the best way), and a found family that feels genuinely warm rather than just decorative. It’s a sweet read with no explicit content, so ideal if you prefer your romance on the tender side.
It’s also a lovely pick if you’ve been meaning to read more indie authors, the Vancouver setting gives it a grounded, specific feel that you don’t always get in contemporary romance.
Quick Details
- Series: The Place Series, Book 1
- Tropes: friends to lovers, he falls first, only one tent, found family
- Spice level: Sweet (2/5)
- Content warnings: anxiety rep, parental neglect (past, discussed on page)
Read the full book page on Darling Reader or shop the book on Amazon!
