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elizmoe's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
my kingdom for a sapphic romance that doesn’t underwhelm me
there were moments i genuinely liked (main pros: Delilah’s POV, the audiobook narrator’s voice acting for Delilah, generally well-written sex scenes, good portrayal of young single mom with a compelling-not-annoying child character) but overall, this was a disappointing read (main cons: the narrator’s voice acting for Claire, constantly referring to characters by their full names (a specific ick of mine that so many romances these days are doing!!! why!), spencer’s characterization being just an irritating cartoon villain, literal high school bully characters who are theoretically redeemed by the novel’s end but they don’t really do anything to deserve said redemption, random virtue signaling about how the MCs care about/include nonbinary people and nonwhite people while every single character in the novel is cis and white)
but i think my opinion of the book can be summed up in the fact that i listened to the last third of it on a plane and i kept falling asleep—then waking up and tuning in for about 10 minutes before falling back asleep for another 20–and i had no desire to go back and listen to the entire resolution of the novel. because the bits i did get were kind of enough for me. which is kind of sad, but!
there were moments i genuinely liked (main pros: Delilah’s POV, the audiobook narrator’s voice acting for Delilah, generally well-written sex scenes, good portrayal of young single mom with a compelling-not-annoying child character) but overall, this was a disappointing read (main cons: the narrator’s voice acting for Claire, constantly referring to characters by their full names (a specific ick of mine that so many romances these days are doing!!! why!), spencer’s characterization being just an irritating cartoon villain, literal high school bully characters who are theoretically redeemed by the novel’s end but they don’t really do anything to deserve said redemption, random virtue signaling about how the MCs care about/include nonbinary people and nonwhite people while every single character in the novel is cis and white)
but i think my opinion of the book can be summed up in the fact that i listened to the last third of it on a plane and i kept falling asleep—then waking up and tuning in for about 10 minutes before falling back asleep for another 20–and i had no desire to go back and listen to the entire resolution of the novel. because the bits i did get were kind of enough for me. which is kind of sad, but!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Sexual harassment
megelizabeth's review against another edition
2.5
I really wanted to love this book, but I instead ended up feeling mostly just frustrated by it. I didn't particularly like or connect with neither Delilah nor Claire, so I then didn't care a whole lot about their relationship. I did think they had good chemistry initially, but ultimately everything progresses a bit too quickly and I just didn't feel the supposed love between them.
I did like the subtle nods to the intimacies of the queer experience throughout this book, and it also has some great themes and conversations around childhood, parenthood, difficult relationships, sacrifice, loss, abandonment, and moving on from the past. However, as a romance and as a narrative this one just didn't end up really working for me. I also really didn't like the way it seems to normalise alcohol dependency, and wish this had either not been a feature or had been explored further in a more nuanced way.
I also didn't feel any of the side characters were particularly strong, apart from maybe Ruby, so I'm not particularly interested in continuing with the rest of the series. It's a shame as this book had a lot of potential, and lots of other reviewers do seem to have loved it, but for me it didn't live up to it at all.
I did like the subtle nods to the intimacies of the queer experience throughout this book, and it also has some great themes and conversations around childhood, parenthood, difficult relationships, sacrifice, loss, abandonment, and moving on from the past. However, as a romance and as a narrative this one just didn't end up really working for me. I also really didn't like the way it seems to normalise alcohol dependency, and wish this had either not been a feature or had been explored further in a more nuanced way.
I also didn't feel any of the side characters were particularly strong, apart from maybe Ruby, so I'm not particularly interested in continuing with the rest of the series. It's a shame as this book had a lot of potential, and lots of other reviewers do seem to have loved it, but for me it didn't live up to it at all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Terminal illness
torikate7's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Alcohol
Minor: Bullying, Sexism, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent
howlinglibraries's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Having sung the praises of AHB's MG and YA titles for so many years now, nobody is more disappointed than me to say that this book was a struggle. I actually set it aside 50pg in the first time I tried reading it, and had to pick it back up with an audiobook to force myself past the first few chapters because I disliked Delilah's character so much. Thankfully, the audiobook narrator was fantastic and I gradually was drawn in enough to give the story a solid chance.
In the end, Delilah slowly redeemed herself a little bit for me, but it took a very long time to get there and I still wasn't a huge fan by the time I reached the last page. I typically LOVE prickly, unlikable protagonists, but Delilah's particular flavor of attitude was so petty and self-centered that I had a hard time working past it. I will admit that I felt a lot of empathy for her unresolved traumas and I loved watching her bond with Ruby and play pranks on Astrid's disgusting groom-to-be, but I spent most of the book wishing I could tell her to grow up.
All of that said, I thought Delilah and Claire had a lot of chemistry, and I actually loved Astrid's character from the start, so I'm very eager to read the next book and see her get the love she deserves. AHB's narrative voice is engaging and fun, and I can see why so many people loved this book. I'm sad that I wasn't one of them, but I have high hopes for the sequel!
I read a final copy I purchased myself, but for the sake of disclosure, I was also sent an early review copy by the author/publisher. All thoughts are honest and my own.
✨ Representation: several sapphic (lesbian and bi) characters, one very minor side character uses they/them pronouns
In the end, Delilah slowly redeemed herself a little bit for me, but it took a very long time to get there and I still wasn't a huge fan by the time I reached the last page. I typically LOVE prickly, unlikable protagonists, but Delilah's particular flavor of attitude was so petty and self-centered that I had a hard time working past it. I will admit that I felt a lot of empathy for her unresolved traumas and I loved watching her bond with Ruby and play pranks on Astrid's disgusting groom-to-be, but I spent most of the book wishing I could tell her to grow up.
All of that said, I thought Delilah and Claire had a lot of chemistry, and I actually loved Astrid's character from the start, so I'm very eager to read the next book and see her get the love she deserves. AHB's narrative voice is engaging and fun, and I can see why so many people loved this book. I'm sad that I wasn't one of them, but I have high hopes for the sequel!
I read a final copy I purchased myself, but for the sake of disclosure, I was also sent an early review copy by the author/publisher. All thoughts are honest and my own.
✨ Representation: several sapphic (lesbian and bi) characters, one very minor side character uses they/them pronouns
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Infidelity, Misogyny, Grief, and Death of parent
bendersreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Bullying, Toxic relationship, and Blood
lotte5322's review against another edition
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
sinaprst's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Perfect fluffy sapphic new adult romance, that is also kind of enemies to lovers
need I say more
I am so going to read the author`s next book about Astrid
need I say more
I am so going to read the author`s next book about Astrid
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Who can resist a lesbian love story? Certainly not me! This story was so sweet and funny and filled with love. A bit of a slow burn but otherwise perfect. 😍 Great characters, believable plot, delightful ending. I can’t wait to read more by this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Classism
alexisgarcia's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I enjoyed this so much. The characters were great and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Delilah work through her family issues. I love when there’s more to the story other than just the conflict and resolution between the main two characters and this gave me just that. I truly put this book down and did other things just because I wasn’t ready for it to end. It made me heart so happy. The only thing that brought it down was that I figured out what the conflict would be so early on in the book which made it a little more boring and it was a very basic conflict trope. Other than that this was amazing. I can’t wait for the authors new release!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
zabeishumanish's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This book starts slow, so so slow, and it hurts. Hurts in that deep dark uniquely queer way when you just can’t make yourself fit in. This book hurts with the pain of not belonging. Of course the book doesn’t end with pain, we get a rather delightful HEA, but that queer pain takes up a majority of this book. I read most books in a day or less, this one took me four and a half months before I could get through all that pain. I’d literally only heard amazing things about this book before picking it up, and it is amazing, I just wish I’d been prepared for all of the hurt too. If I’d been prepared for the complex childhood sense of otherness it probably wouldn’t have been such a long read.
The sex in this is oh so deliciously hot.
At the halfway point of this book I genuinely couldn’t see how it would be possible for this book to have the classic romance HEA in a believable way. I’m still shocked that it was possible, and done well. The character development and relationship development in this book is truly remarkable. Not just Claire and Delilah’s relationship either. I think one of the most standout aspects of this book and likely why it’s gotten so much praise is the full sense of community this book built. Claire’s family with her beautiful weird daughter Ruby and complimented coparent Josh. Claire’s best friends who eventually become Delilah’s first friends. The hurt/comfort we get from Delilah and Astrid’s complex stepsister relationship. All of those relationships in this book make the story so much more than just a romance between Claire and Delilah.
I just want every reader going into this to know that this isn’t a happy fluffy romance. This is a romance that gets fought for. This is a romance that means something.
The sex in this is oh so deliciously hot.
At the halfway point of this book I genuinely couldn’t see how it would be possible for this book to have the classic romance HEA in a believable way. I’m still shocked that it was possible, and done well. The character development and relationship development in this book is truly remarkable. Not just Claire and Delilah’s relationship either. I think one of the most standout aspects of this book and likely why it’s gotten so much praise is the full sense of community this book built. Claire’s family with her beautiful weird daughter Ruby and complimented coparent Josh. Claire’s best friends who eventually become Delilah’s first friends. The hurt/comfort we get from Delilah and Astrid’s complex stepsister relationship. All of those relationships in this book make the story so much more than just a romance between Claire and Delilah.
I just want every reader going into this to know that this isn’t a happy fluffy romance. This is a romance that gets fought for. This is a romance that means something.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Abandonment