An incredibly charming debut, WRITTEN IN THE STARS is a wlw romance with fake dating with a sunshine/grumpy gus pairing. So, essentially, it's delightful tropey goodness set during the holiday season.

3.5
This was a really cute holiday romcom! I can already see the Netflix adaptation lol
It's very tropey, but I'm a fan of that and there's definitely not enough f/f romcoms in the world, so is it really tropey? The astrology angle was really neat and I loved the little lists scattered throughout. I don't understand astrology super well, but enough that it was fun to look through the meme lists and find my own sun, moon, and rising.
There were far too many HP references which, yes, might sound petty, but really took me out of the moment and I hope that in light of recent events, those might get taken out at some point :/ Overall, though, I'd def recommend for the holiday season!

Written in the Stars is an adorable rom-com with a fun astrological twist. It is full of your favorite romantic comedy tropes like Fake dating and opposites attract.
Darcy is an uptight actuary who has been burned in the past and not looking to date. Elle is an astrologer who is a little bit flighty. When their first date doesn’t go well, Elle is shocked when Darcy suggests they fake date. The Darcy name is also not a coincidence as this is based on Pride and Prejudice. I liked both Elle and Darcy, though I must admit to liking Elle a little bit more. Darcy was just a little too uptight for my liking and I like that Elle was able to relax her a little.
My only complaint about this book is that it was told in the third person. I think I would have liked it a little more if it had been told from a dual POV. I think that I would have connected to the characters more, especially Darcy.

Darcy is an uptight actuary who is nursing a broken heart and trying to start over in Seattle. Meanwhile Elle is a bubbly astrologer looking for her soul mate. When Darcy's brother (and Elle's friend/business partner) sets them up, their first date is a total disaster. Not wanting to be set up again by her well meaning but pushy brother, Darcy ends up convincing Elle to fake a relationship with her. This book has all my favorite tropes, and I loved both Elle and Darcy. Both women have complicated relationships with their families, and I liked how this book didn't provide easy answers. This book is very loosely inspired by Pride & Prejudice, and this Darcy was a perfect stand in for the original. I loved Elle's relationship with her best friend Margot as well, as well as Darcy's with her friend Annie. This was just a lovely book and I enjoyed spending time in its world. Really looking forward to the next in the series.

So so cute. Finally a good f/f romance book!!! I am absolutely going to be recommending this to my customers at Barnes and Noble

Set in Seattle somewhat convince,y? Check. Cute lesbian romcom picked up by a major publisher? Check. I personally do not care for light and fluffy reads, but as a librarian, I’m asked for them frequently. I purchased a copy for my library, and now I know just what to recommend for someone looking for a light, fluffy romance.

Thank you for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. I don’t read romance a lot of novels but I am so glad I had the opportunity to read this own voices novel. What a fun story with a classic trope of fake dating to lovers. I really enjoyed the relationship between Elle and Darcy as well as the friendships with Annie, Margot, and Brendon. Especially Margot and her witty commentary and fierce loyalty. I also loved reading a love story that wasn’t centered around their sexual identity and coming out, but just about falling in love. It was refreshing reading a story with queer, bisexual, and pansexual representation. This story was sweet, fun and steamy. 🔥

This story just simply made me happy and I will definitely be checking out her next book!

This was the sapphic holiday romance that I’ve been craving. The characters were unique and believable, and their story felt both fun and satisfying. Pretend romance to falling in love is always a fun trope, and this one displayed it perfectly. I loved that there was no focus on acceptance (not about the characters’ sexuality, at least) or coming out, but instead two strong, independent women who knew what they wanted and found it in each other. There was just enough of a slow burn to make it satisfying without feeling like you had to wait until the ending for some heat. All-in-all, a truly delightful book.

DNF. I felt no connection or spark between the two main characters after their first meeting, and that opening to the book didn't interest me or compel me to read further, which was a shame because I loved the premise. This is not necessarily a knock against the book; it's hard for me to get into adult fiction.

Alexandria Bellefleur's 2020 debut, Written in the Stars, was the F/F romance I did not know I needed right now, but I can't rave enough. When uptight Darcy (yes, Pride and Prejudice fans, this is intentional) and free spirit Elle forge a fake relationship to appease their families, the last thing these two expect is to fall in love for real. A bit of an enemies-to-lovers trope is also in play here and the banter is off the charts. I cannot say enough good things about this book and I truly look forward to more from this new voice in the future.

Thank you to Avon for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars!

- GRAND GESTURE
- abrupt ending
- sweetest words
- sunshine/grumpy couple
- HILARIOUS scenes
- damn am I single

my mind kind of wandered during the second half, not gonna lie, but it constantly brought me back with such vivid characters, great writing, and seriously hilarious scenes.

While I’m not 100% sold (and I am a little sad about that), I still wouldn’t knock this book because it was just such a sweet and quick read! Also, HELLO BI REP


*CW: strained familial relationships (toxic), infidelity

Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur

Contemporary F-F romcom. Opposites attract and fake relationship troupe.
Elle and Darcy have little in common beyond pushy family trying to create a romance. Sure, they have sparks but that’s not enough to build a relationship on, is it?

It’s the sparks that make the relationship move from physical to more.
Elle makes her intentions clear. She is looking for love and a permanent connection. Darcy has been hurt in the past and has decided she will not open her heart again. Cold stop.

A cute romance with a couple of hot sexy scenes. I admire Darcy for learning about Elle’s profession and realizing it’s importance to Elle even though Darcy doesn’t believe in it herself.
Typical troupe complications build to a romantic ending.
The book ended on Christmas Eve. It could have used a Christmas epilogue.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

A too cute for words fake dating f/f romance about an astrologer looking for love and a heartbroken woman determined not to find it.

Elle wants her overbearing mother to get off her back about her "unconventional" job and finally accept her for who she is. Darcy, still recovering from a broken engagement and shattered heart, just wants her younger brother to stop setting her up. A fake relationship after a disastrous first date wasn't exactly what either of them had planned, but it might be the perfect solution to each of their problems. Love wasn't in the plans. But between sizzling chemistry and escape room double dates, it might just be written in the stars for these two.

This was a super sweet romance. It wasn't marketed this way, but does seem to be loosely (very loosely) inspired by Pride and Prejudice, which I did enjoy. Just little tidbits like the names and Elle's family situation. A lovely read that doesn't mope around in overly dramatic relationship problems too much-- just enough to create tension and conflict. And the audiobook narration was really excellent. Definitely recommended for romance fans!

4.75 Stars. I loved this! What a great holiday romance that just made my heart happy. It’s funny but I was just looking back on the WLW books that I have read this year and I realized I have not had the best luck with contemporary romances. I have read some great crime/mystery-romances, paranormal-romances, and even fantasy-romances, but plain romance has not been as strong for me as usual. Well, talk about the perfect time for this romance to come along. This was exactly what I needed and everything I love to read in a great romance. This is the perfect book to read right now with the holidays coming up and I have a feeling I will be gushing about this book for a long time to come.

I mentioned that this was a holiday and contemporary WLW romance, but I can stick on a few more tags than that. This is also, my favorite trope, a fauxmance. Fake relationship romances are some of the best because the author has to make two characters go from almost nothing in common to the potential for real love. Fauxmances make authors work hard and that makes them so fun to read. Not only is this a fauxmance, but one of the characters is a baby ice queen in training. I love ice queens. Something about watching that ice slowly start to melt, always makes me believe in the potential romance even more. And lastly, this book is also a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice. I’m an Austen fan and I like retellings of her books, but this is a very light retelling. You will see certain things and characters that will make you think of P&P but the feeling is not heavy. There were times I even forgot that this was a retelling since it feels like its own story. So if you are an Austen fan I think you will like the overall feel, but if you are not an Austen fan, the few light similarities should not bother you at all.

This should not be a surprise but my favorite part was the romance itself. I love both characters, they are total opposites but they fit so well anyway. I’m such a character driven reader so loving characters always helps, but I was so swept up in the romance plot that that is where the book really won me over. It’s a slow-burn romance but it went at a really nice pace. But what convinced me so much was the chemistry. The written chemistry was so wonderful that as a reader you could actually feel it. These two women set off sparks on these pages and it went through the entire book. It was not one scene that was in the beginning, or one near the end, instead the entire book was chock full or emotional and physical chemistry. This romance was so nice and sweet, but it was also deliciously steamy at times, the perfect mix and what I want in my romances.

My only real complaint, and the only reason this did not get a full 5 stars was that I felt like the ending was a little rushed. It’s not bad, it just needed a few more pages. This book is actually a good length for a romance, longer than most WLW romances that I read so I’m surprised to say this. I liked the actual ending but it really needed an epilogue. We should have jumped to New Year’s Eve, since that date held special meaning in this book. I think it was a missed opportunity and come on, romance fans like their epilogues.

If you could not tell from all the gushing, I absolutely recommend this to romance fans. This would be the perfect book to turn into a holiday movie say for a Netflix. Hey, if Hulu can put on a WLW holiday romance this year, than there is hope for stories like this. There is going to be another book that follows this one, which stars the main character’s brother. I thought he was fine for a secondary character but I think he would get on my nerves for a main character so I’ll probably pass. However, if Bellefleur ever writes another WLW story, I will read it in a heartbeat.

3,5 stars. This was a slow read, but I did enjoy it. I found it humorous. Darcy and Elle had strong chemistry. I’m interested in reading Brendon’s story.

Written in the Stars is a clever, fizzy rom-com⁠ that’s pure pleasure to read and easily joins the constellation of my 2020 favorites. It winks at Bridget Jones's Diary and Pride and Prejudice in broad characterizations but very much charts it's own path as a thoroughly modern sapphic romance full of wit, humor and heat.

Like Bridget and Mark or Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam, heroines Elle and Darcy are polar opposites. Elle is an astrologist, Darcy an actuary. Elle shops in thrift stores and drinks rosé from a box; Darcy wears designer silk and orders $56 glasses of chardonnay. Elle is an unconventional dreamer and incurable romantic eager to find her soulmate. Darcy is⁠ a buttoned up skeptic, reserved, risk averse and certain love is a bad bet.

The opposites attract set up is perfection, but it's their undeniable chemistry and steadily increasing intimacy as they reveal complex and complementary personalities that really had me hooked. Their attraction is so evocatively described (even in the midst of their disastrous blind date) that I was ready to smoosh their faces together before they’d even agreed to fake date.

Their plan to get Darcy's brother to stop his overzealous matchmaking and Elle's family to take her more seriously gives rise to a series of touching and adorable made for the movies dates. As they learn trust over escape room clues, get vulnerable in bar room trivia and share confidences under the stars, their compatibility is increasingly evident. Darcy reveals a penchant for dirty jokes, secret nerdery, surprising sentimentality, and a capacity for deep, messy feelings. Elle exposes a “clown car of terrifyingly endearing quirks,” a methodical intellect underpinning her intuitive nature, and a fearless generosity in pursuit of her dreams.

Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays provide a backdrop to the story and yield both tense family moments and touching points of connection between Elle and Darcy. Well drawn, engaging secondary characters round things out and create a wonderful sense of shared family as their lives intermingle.

If you’re looking for an effortlessly entertaining rom-com that sparkles with laughter and longing, this is a stellar pick!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing me this eARC. All opinions are of my own.
Written in the Stars is an own voices, LGBTQIA, rom-com. It’s big trope is fake dating done in a tasteful & adorable manner. The characters are well written with hilariously contrasting personalities. The romance almost resembles a Hallmark novel! It’s a fun & quick read that all romance and young-adult fans alike would enjoy! I absolutely devoured this book & have no complaints. There are some detailed scenes that would encourage me to not recommend the story to younger readers (or at least ask a parent first). I give this book 5 large and sparkly stars.

Reviewed at Culturess https://culturess.com/2020/11/12/written-stars-gay-pride-prejudice-retelling-need/

This delightful fake dating/opposites attract romance is undeniably swoon worthy and is absolutely magnificent from start to finish.
Elle and Darcy get set up on a blind date with disastrous results. They both feel an incredible spark toward one another but with virtually nothing in common and a terrible first impression its clearly not meant to be. Until one little white lie pulls them back together.
This romance is funny and heartwarming. I laughed so much throughout this story. Bellefleur is a comedic genius. The playful banter and hilarious situations were marvelous. The chemistry and attraction between Elle and Darcy was perfect. They mesh so well together and the sexual tension is off the charts.
Elle and Darcy both have such vibrant and lovable personalities. I couldn’t get enough of either of them. Elle being the sweet hopeless romantic who believes in magic and soulmates. Darcy the curmudgeonly workaholic who wants to avoid all matters of the heart to avoid getting hurt again. These two drastically different women fit together like puzzle pieces.
Written in the Stars has all of the cornerstones of a stellar romantic comedy. This story is funny, unbelievably sweet, and sexy as hell. Chock full of family drama, emotional turmoil, and hijinks galore. Hands down one of my favorite reads.

4.5 stars

I loved this book so freaking much. This was such a good YA f/f romance. I was hooked from the beginning by these two polar opposites. On one side, we have Darcy, a girl who doesn't have a lot of friends because her focus is on her studies/career and she doesn't take the time or want to take a chance on someone else. But her brother is set on matching her up with his best friend Elle, a free-spirited girl who dreams of meeting her soulmate and believes in astrology. When they finally accept a blind date, it doesn't go very well and even though they think they'll never see each other again, Darcy lies to her brother to get him to stop bothering her. That lie is going to end up starting their fake relationship...

Overall, Written in the Stars was very entertaining and I loved the characters. They felt so real and I just wanted them to be happy. Also, I wanted to note that even though this book is YA, the characters share chemistry and sex is definitely there. I didn't expect it but it was a really nice surprise.

I can't wait to read another f/f story by this author. If she publishes one, I'll be excited to dive into it.


(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)