the_vegan_bookworm's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This story, told in dual perspectives, is a bisexual dream! One plotline follows Natalya as she stays in New York for the summer and finds love with the girl she's been crushing on from a distance, while the other follows her staying in LA with her mom and romancing her male coworker. Natalya is openly queer and Jewish, and both of these elements of her life are fascinating and make the story a lot richer. Her circle of friends in each location are also a stellar cast.
I will say that Natalya is an incredibly privileged main character. At times, she is aware of her massive wealth but often (such as when she spends time with her very wealthy New York friends), it flies completely under the radar. While I liked Natalya's personality, I found it hard to relate to those elements.
This being said, it's a really fun read and something lighthearted if you're looking for a queer romance (especially if you're looking for two-in-one!).
I will say that Natalya is an incredibly privileged main character. At times, she is aware of her massive wealth but often (such as when she spends time with her very wealthy New York friends), it flies completely under the radar. While I liked Natalya's personality, I found it hard to relate to those elements.
This being said, it's a really fun read and something lighthearted if you're looking for a queer romance (especially if you're looking for two-in-one!).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Cursing
Moderate: Abandonment and Sexual content
Minor: Self harm
tinysierra's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Going Bicoastal was such a fun, light read.
I mean, two love stories in one book? How fun is that? The alternate timelines had some overlapping events but it never felt too repetitive for me. I enjoyed the romances in both sides of the story.
I loved that this wasn’t a coming out novel and there was no bisexual discourse. There were other queer side characters and relationships as well.
Natalya is Jewish, and so are her friends, so we get to see her having Shabbat dinner. I’m not Jewish so it was really nice to learn more about Judaism! There’s a part where she talks about how her religion and her sexuality coexist, which I thought was really cool.
I enjoyed Going BiCoastal more than Dahlia Adler’s Cool for the Summer. But I still liked that we got to see Lara and Jasmine in this book as side characters. I believe there’s also a reference to Home Field Advantage although I haven’t read that one yet.
I mean, two love stories in one book? How fun is that? The alternate timelines had some overlapping events but it never felt too repetitive for me. I enjoyed the romances in both sides of the story.
I loved that this wasn’t a coming out novel and there was no bisexual discourse. There were other queer side characters and relationships as well.
Natalya is Jewish, and so are her friends, so we get to see her having Shabbat dinner. I’m not Jewish so it was really nice to learn more about Judaism! There’s a part where she talks about how her religion and her sexuality coexist, which I thought was really cool.
I enjoyed Going BiCoastal more than Dahlia Adler’s Cool for the Summer. But I still liked that we got to see Lara and Jasmine in this book as side characters. I believe there’s also a reference to Home Field Advantage although I haven’t read that one yet.
Content Warnings
Minor: Self harm, Abandonment, and Alcohol
jourdanicus's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The concept of this story was cute - it's what originally drew me to the book. I can't really comment on the execution because I'm sure there are a lot of different ways to write a "split fate/destiny" story.
To me, there was not nearly enough tension or conflict in the plot... Yeah, I do want stories where queer characters are happy, but I think that's possible even with a little drama.
Maybe my problem is that I'm an adult reading YA... I think this would be a good one for younger people who simply want some lighthearted representation on the page. There's just nothing intellectually challenging here.
To me, there was not nearly enough tension or conflict in the plot... Yeah, I do want stories where queer characters are happy, but I think that's possible even with a little drama.
Maybe my problem is that I'm an adult reading YA... I think this would be a good one for younger people who simply want some lighthearted representation on the page. There's just nothing intellectually challenging here.
Content Warnings
Minor: Abandonment, Self harm, and Sexual content
zombiezami's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Cursing
Minor: Alcohol, Cancer, Self harm, and Abandonment
amberleila's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I received this Ebook A.R.C. of Going Bicoastal by Dahlia Adler in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, St, Martin’s Press (Wednesday Books), Dahlia Adler and all applicable parties for the opportunity to read and review this work.
**Trigger Warnings**
Familial Estrangement, Separation/Divorce
Going Bicoastal follows Natalya in a dual reality timeline, as she navigates her summer and the changes and challenges that come along with it. Natalya’s side-by-side timeline let’s you see how her summer would play out if she chose to stay in New York with her dad,versus going to California to spend time with her mother–with whom she doesn’t have the strongest relationship.
In New York, her father gives her some rules: talk to your mother more often, find a job, and take some more chances. In California, her mother has an internship waiting for her upon arrival at the advertising company she works for. As implied by our adorable title, each timeline comes with a romantic love interest, of multiple genders. In New York, the elusive, Redhead, Elly, whom Nat has ogled every time they’ve crossed paths and in Cali, a grumpy boy named Adam, which who she has to share a desk/work space with at her mother’s internship.
This is such a cute, feel-good, YA story about discovering yourself and taking risks. I’m delighted that it debuted during Pride Month, and I can’t wait for this to be added to my collection. 4 stars, without a doubt and I can’t wait to grab my physical copy!!
**Trigger Warnings**
Familial Estrangement, Separation/Divorce
Going Bicoastal follows Natalya in a dual reality timeline, as she navigates her summer and the changes and challenges that come along with it. Natalya’s side-by-side timeline let’s you see how her summer would play out if she chose to stay in New York with her dad,versus going to California to spend time with her mother–with whom she doesn’t have the strongest relationship.
In New York, her father gives her some rules: talk to your mother more often, find a job, and take some more chances. In California, her mother has an internship waiting for her upon arrival at the advertising company she works for. As implied by our adorable title, each timeline comes with a romantic love interest, of multiple genders. In New York, the elusive, Redhead, Elly, whom Nat has ogled every time they’ve crossed paths and in Cali, a grumpy boy named Adam, which who she has to share a desk/work space with at her mother’s internship.
This is such a cute, feel-good, YA story about discovering yourself and taking risks. I’m delighted that it debuted during Pride Month, and I can’t wait for this to be added to my collection. 4 stars, without a doubt and I can’t wait to grab my physical copy!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Natalya Fox has a decision to make about her summer: stay with her dad in New York, or spend time with her mom in Los Angeles. Both have their pros and cons, but with only 24 hours to make the decision, Natalya is struggling.
Since Natalya can't choose, both timelines play out in a choose your own adventure kind of style book. We get to see what happens in LA and in NY, both with different romances and different options for her future. And at the end, you get to decide: which way did Natalya go?
Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday books for an advanced copy of Going Bicoastal by Dahlia Adler to review! Always a fan of Dahlia Adler, so I was excited to pick this one up! And I am happy to say that I wasn't dissapointed.
I would like to note, I didn't notice the part about both timelines playing out and I was a bit confused at the beginning. But once I got into the groove, it was smooth sailing. This book is a bit like getting two books in one, both with adorable romances to boot. Nat's summer in NY is all about music, and her summer in LA is all about food. What isn't to like about that?
Even though it is two separate stories, they both feel evenly developed, in that I didn't feel like one story suffered at the expense of the other. Both had great side characters, and we get to see Nat's character development in different (but also kind of similar ways). It's actually a good example of excellent writing! And really, I'd recommend it just for that.
If you're looking for a fun, different YA queer romance to read this summer, I'd definitely recommend checking this one out.
Since Natalya can't choose, both timelines play out in a choose your own adventure kind of style book. We get to see what happens in LA and in NY, both with different romances and different options for her future. And at the end, you get to decide: which way did Natalya go?
Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday books for an advanced copy of Going Bicoastal by Dahlia Adler to review! Always a fan of Dahlia Adler, so I was excited to pick this one up! And I am happy to say that I wasn't dissapointed.
I would like to note, I didn't notice the part about both timelines playing out and I was a bit confused at the beginning. But once I got into the groove, it was smooth sailing. This book is a bit like getting two books in one, both with adorable romances to boot. Nat's summer in NY is all about music, and her summer in LA is all about food. What isn't to like about that?
Even though it is two separate stories, they both feel evenly developed, in that I didn't feel like one story suffered at the expense of the other. Both had great side characters, and we get to see Nat's character development in different (but also kind of similar ways). It's actually a good example of excellent writing! And really, I'd recommend it just for that.
If you're looking for a fun, different YA queer romance to read this summer, I'd definitely recommend checking this one out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Abandonment and Sexual content
Minor: Self harm and Alcohol
caseythereader's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Thanks to Wednesday Books for the free copy of this book.
- GOING BICOASTAL is a YA Sliding Doors, with dual timelines playing out in alternating chapters, one in which Natalya is in NYC with a girlfriend, and one in LA with a boyfriend.
- I loved that this book presented each timeline as equally joyful and frustrating as Natalya tries to figure out what she wants out of life. Neither is positioned as the superior option, and that goes for both the cities and the significant others.
- This book is also deeply Jewish in a way you don't often see in YA. Shabbat dinners are central to the plot(s), and Natalya's faith and the rituals around it are important to her, and therefore important to her friends as well.
- GOING BICOASTAL is a YA Sliding Doors, with dual timelines playing out in alternating chapters, one in which Natalya is in NYC with a girlfriend, and one in LA with a boyfriend.
- I loved that this book presented each timeline as equally joyful and frustrating as Natalya tries to figure out what she wants out of life. Neither is positioned as the superior option, and that goes for both the cities and the significant others.
- This book is also deeply Jewish in a way you don't often see in YA. Shabbat dinners are central to the plot(s), and Natalya's faith and the rituals around it are important to her, and therefore important to her friends as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Sexual content and Abandonment
Minor: Self harm and Alcohol
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