DNF at 27%. I love the idea of a Pride & Prejudice inspired modern day FF romance. Unfortunately the execution didn’t work for me. I’m not liking either character and not feeling any connection. I put it down and have no interest to pick it back up. Maybe I’ll try it again at another time but for now this isn’t for me. Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for the free ebook.

This was a sweet, thoroughly enjoyable romance! It kept me engaged throughout, and rooting for the characters to be together.

This book was amazing in so many ways. The characters felt so real - I was surprised by how much I related to their struggles. I love a good "adorable grumpypants falls for a free-spirited with a heart on their sleeves" love story and the author completely delivers. I was completely sold on their affection for one another. I didn't want this story to end but I'm so excited to read the sequel!

A fake-dating wlw romance with nods to Pride & Prejudice and Bridget Jones (although not at all a retelling) featuring an astrologer? Honestly what’s not to love. This was a delight. The characters were opposites that complimented each other so well. The astrology bits were great Easter eggs for those who are familiar with it, but not so much that people who don’t care will be lost or pulled out of the story. And although is a book set around the holidays that doesn’t need to be read around the holidays. Perfect for those looking for a wlw romcom!

Darcy is down-to-Earth. Elle has her head in the stars. Do opposites really attract? Or is it not meant to be? One way or another, it's written in the stars....

Actuary Darcy Lowell believes in facts, adores organization, and is fed up with her beloved brother's quest to find her one true love. When her latest blind date was just as much of a disaster as she thought it would, Darcy finds a way to use it to get Brendon to back down. She lies, and tells him that they hit it off. What's the worst that can happen from a little white lie?

Elle Jones is free-spirited, searching for love, and believes in what the stars tell her. It's kind of her job, really, as she is an astrologer and runs the popular site Oh My Stars with her bestie. Nothing in her horoscope could prepare her for the disaster that was her date with her new business partner's sister, and dreads facing him again to tell him the horrible news. Except, he seems to think the date was a success. Why? Darcy told him so.

Darcy and Elle eventually agree to a fake-dating agreement, meant to benefit both women. It'll get Brendon off Darcy's back for a while, and prove to Elle's family that she can do things seriously. But, soon, the relationship doesn't feel fake. In fact, it's starting to feel all too real...

In her brilliant wlw rom-com, Bellefleur rocks the fake-dating trope, mixes in holiday goodness, and drops in these brilliant astrology memes and lists (come on, they're addictive, you know they are.), all infused with influences of "Pride and Prejudice"! My only complaint is that I wished the book had gone on longer! (Seriously, I need an epilogue please!) Bellefleur's writing is brilliant, her characters radiant, and her humor spot-on and effortless. She is definitely a name to watch out for in the future, especially with her second novel forthcoming--"How to Hang the Moon", featuring Darcy's brother Brendon! (And, maybe, just maybe, includes Margot???? A girl can hope, right?)

I misjudged the book based on reading the summary too quickly so can't give a fair review as it doesn't match what I was expecting from this story.

Did someone say “fake relationship” and #ownvoices?!? I fell in love with this delightful rom-com and already want to reread it!

A horrible blind date that turns into a fake relationship to appease each of their families turns into an smart, sweet, and hilarious dating adventure. The characters are both fleshed out and we even get fantastic additional characters that I’m hoping we get to see in future books (yes Margot and Annie I’m looking at you two!). Darcy is prickly vs Elle’s starry eyed wistfulness is perfect for this great Pride and Prejudice retelling. Pick up this book - it’s one of my favorite books of the year!

Romcom fans will enjoy this fun new voice in the genre. The astrology/dating app setup was fun and modern. I'm looking forward to seeing more from this author in the future.

An out of this world #ownvoices read! Astrologer Elle and Actuary Darcy Don’t have a meetcute first date— it’s actually a disaster. But when Darcy lies to her brother and the two women agree to be fake dating, it doesn’t take long for the sparks to fly for her and Elle. But can both overcome their fears to find a happily ever after? A charming queer Pride and Prejudice retelling for fans of Alisha Rai, Abby Jimenez, and Jen DeLuca.

I received an ARC of this book from Avon through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review of the book.

This book is pitched as a queer rom-com take on “Bridget Jones” and “Pride and Prejudice”. I am a sucker for retellings, so I was quick to grab this ARC. One of the things I think Bellefleur does really well is developing the story beyond just being a retelling. Unlike some stories where it feels like the author just did a “find and replace” search while writing to update a story for a newer Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Contemporary/etc. take, this book really felt like it had more plot substance. The “retelling” was really more in terms of how the characters were developed.

The book also relies on the “fake relationship” trope which I’ve seen trending in a lot of the fiction that’s been published lately, but it works well here. I feel a bit like Darcy can’t be blamed for the ridiculous lengths she goes to, to avoid awkward or annoying conversations with her brother. Honestly, who doesn’t have an overly involved or nosy family member that they’ve tried to dodge or deter?

I don’t know much about astrology, but that wasn’t an impediment from enjoying the story. I thought Elle was a really fun character and really felt for her. I appreciated the way the author handled the toxic family situation.

This book was light, cozy, and charming. It’s just the right thing to pick up when you need a sliver of relief from the crushing weight of the world and the gloomy exhaustion of living through a global pandemic.

I'm always excited when I can find more diverse publishings for our adult fiction section of the library. Too often it feels like the diversity and fun stuff is limited to kidlit or the YA section. Overall, the majority of adult fiction (that I see) still feels pretty starchy and bland. I am heartened though by some of the growing offerings in New Adult (NA) fiction.

Written in the Stars was a fun and romantic holiday romance. Darcey and Elle find themselves in a blind date turned fake relationship with the aim to keep their families attention at bay. They never thought this harebrained scheme would turn into so much more. If your looking for an own voices sapphic spin on a Hallmark movie this book is for you! Swoony and steamy.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for gifting me with an ARC in exchange for honest review!

✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧

I started this book yesterday and I was immediately hooked, this book was such an easy and enjoyable read. I'm usually into the Fantasy YA genre but this was such a cute contemporary Romance.

The characters were my favorite part, everyone felt real, it felt like I've known each of them at one point in my life. Elle was by far my favorite, maybe because she reminds me so much of myself and I couldn't get over how incredibly cute she was-and hot, honestly.
I loved the chemistry and dynamic between her and Darcy, they were sooo meant to fall in love.

It's everyone's favorite rom-com, the kind where you know they're going to end up loving each other but you're still at the edge of your seats because, will they though? Who knows?!

The only thing I wished was for more, upon finishing this book I felt disappointed that it was over, it felt a bit abrupt and rushed. I wanted some scenes with them together, un-apologetically themselves.

I highly recommend this book if you're looking for a sappy, smutty, intensifying, queer, celestial romance!!!

This book was so romantic and I choked up on multiple occasions as opposites Elle and Darcy fought, faked dating, and then fell in love for real. I loved how the author weaved in astrology, and as a Capricorn, I was able to emphasize with Darcy even as I became increasingly frustrated with her for not communicating her feelings to Elle (who I LOVED). I really want to try an escape room (once Covid-19 is in the past), and I very much look forward to Brendon's upcoming story: Hang the Moon.

This was adorable. Initially meeting during an awful blind date, Elle and Darcy begin a fake relationship to appease their respective families. The possibility of a new romance was written well and the book was filled with longing glances, subtle touches, and all the other exciting things that come with those initial stages. I loved the way that Elle saw the world with such hope and really thought that she offset Darcy's habit of being overly analytical. Definitely had a cheesy smile during several parts.

Such an adorable book! I liked how naturally the plot progressed and how the characters were real. The inclusion of astrology was a nice touch and incorporated in a way that even as someone without much knowledge, it made sense. I liked it and would definitely recommend it for cutesy vibes!

Happy lesbians! I can't say how much I liked this book. 0% of it was focused on how queer people shouldn't exist or that a bi girl could have a girlfriend. There was zero homophobia and I was there for it. It also felt like all the other contemporary romances out there just with GIRLS and I hate how there is a whole subgenre of Lesbian fiction that's just that, a subgenre. Not mainstream. This book sparkled and shined and I enjoyed every second of it. Well written with a pinch of Pride and Prejudice plus super relatable characters made this one of my favorite romances of the year (so far)!

I'd like to thank the author, publisher and Net Galley for providing me a free e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a new author for me, and a bit of a new genre - I don't read many LGBTQ books, but have been adding a few when I see a summary that I think I'll enjoy. I'm not usually a rom-com reader - or viewer - but this sounded like a fun book to read.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. I saw other reviewers refer to it as a Pride & Prejudice retelling, and now I can see that - and that might be why I just didn't really love the book. Overall, I'm really glad that I got the chance to read it, and I enjoyed reading the book. But it's not a new favorite. I might try out others by the author, though, as I enjoyed her writing style and character development.

Written in the Stars
A Novel
by Alexandria Bellefleur
HarperCollins Publishers
You Like Them You Are Auto-Approved
Avon
LGBTQIA | OwnVoices | Romance
Pub Date 10 Nov 2020 | Archive Date 05 Jan 2021

Well done romance between two women. Thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the ARC. I wanted to love this book, but it just wasn't the book for me.

3 star

Queer Pride and Prejudice, fake dating, and enemies to lovers? Sign me up. This romantic comedy was a delight to read. The insecurities of each character were compellingly written, as was the undeniable chemistry between them. Darcy (super subtle reference) was a stern and slightly grumpy knockout with a mushy heart of gold. Elle was the slightly flaky, very lovable astrologer who melted Darcy's icy exterior. In my head, I couldn't stop imagining Elle as a shorter, cuter Phoebe Buffay and Darcy as an actuary version of Jessica Chastain. Truly the only thing I didn't enjoy about this book was the cover. I picked it in spite of, not because of, the cover. The description was compelling enough to pick the book, and I'm very glad I did.

An adorable, funny, outrageous yet believable romantic comedy about two women who seem to have nothing in common--except a spark of chemistry that grows. A delightful escapist read that also subtly includes themes of communicating, dealing with family expectations, and being open to change.