Written In The Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur is my first same sex romantic comedy novel and I loved it. I adored these two very different women who made me laugh, cry a bit and say, "...aww that is so sweet" many times.

Elle is a social media astrologer. I did not know that was a career but I am learning as I read. She is the prime example of a free spirit who won't give up on love.

Darcy (yes that name is definitely a wink to Austen fans) is an actuary who like her job is very serious and not one for frivolity. Love has hurt her and she has given up on it. For some reason Brendon, Darcy's brother, thinks a blind date between Darcey and Elle, his new business partner, is a great idea. Of course it is a disaster.

Both women realize a fake relationship (my favorite troup) at least until the New Year will stop everyone from fixing them up and give them some peace.

There was so many great cultural references in this book from Samantha's twitching nose on Bewitched to fanfiction writing about soap opera Days of Our Lives. I loved the banter among all the characters especially between Elle and her best friend Margot (who is one of my favorite characters).

We may see the ending coming from the first page but there is something very comforting in this knowledge and the journey to the end is just pure delight.

This debut novel is just the perfect feel good distraction we all need. @netflix this book is your next movie!

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

I love any adaptation of a Jane Austen book and this one hits the mark! Elle Jones runs a popular astrology site and is on the cusp of breaking through with a new astrology app and her boss thinks she is the perfect partner for his sister. Darcy Lowell likes her life orderly and structured and she doesn't need her brother to keep setting her up with women. After a disastrous date, Elle and Darcy are happy to never see each other again. But when her brother won't let up, Darcy gets the idea that a fake relationship would be the perfect way to get him off her back and just needs Elle to agree to the scheme -- just until the holidays are over. The timing couldn't be better for Elle. Having a stable relationship and career might just get her overbearing family's respect.

The chemistry between Darcy and Elle is superb! And the sexual tension was great. These opposites do eventually attract and the end result is a book about learning to love yourself as you are and finding the person who appreciates that.

Included as a top pick in bimonthly November New Releases post, which highlights and promotes upcoming releases of the month (link attached).

Longform review is also linked below.

I expected to love this novel. I’m generally fond of rom-coms, I’m crazy about the fake relationship trope, and I was looking forward to the novelty of a romance between two women. Sadly, I found it more ridiculous and frustrating than romantic and fun.

If you’re familiar with attachment theory, most of the conflict here involves the two main characters’ insecure attachment styles and resulting miscommunication. They do the classic anxious-avoidant dance, which I found painful to read. That might not bother you if you’ve never felt trapped in that relationship dynamic, but it was surprisingly triggering for me. Not fun.

I actually enjoyed the scenes where Elle and Darcy were just hanging out enjoying each other’s company, but I found their supposed romance unbelievable. This was too much insta-lust, not enough time learning to understand each other. How could these women fall so dramatically in love in just a few weeks when they weren’t even spending that much time together? Why would anyone expect someone to pronounce her undying love after such a short time? Blech! It makes my skin crawl.

I did enjoy some aspects of this book. I loved all of the references to celestial bodies, whether as astrology, astronomy, or metaphor. There were lots of cute geeky references to Pride and Prejudice, dating apps, Harry Potter, soap operas, Seattle landmarks, and fanfiction communities, among others. Some of the dialog, and particularly the text messaging, was amusing. I’ll admit that I laughed out loud a couple times, and I don’t know how I survived so long without the benefit of the term “Disconcerting competence porn.”

If you don’t care whether your romances depict healthy relationships, then you might enjoy this more than I did.

Thanks to Avon Books and HarperCollins Publishers for providing me with an ARC through NetGalley, which I volunteered to review.

Written in the Stars, Alexandria Bellefleur's debut, draws inspiration from Pride and Prejudice, but it's hardly a retelling. The plot and characters are significantly different from Austen's (Elizabeth Bennet would definitely laugh at anyone believing in astrology - which would absolutely include Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Collins), but they're charming on their own merits. Elle, a social media astrologer, and Darcy, an uptight actuary recovering from a painful breakup, agree to fake a relationship through the holiday season - only to discover that opposites seriously attract. It's a heartwarming f/f romance that makes strong use of the fake dating trope, and though it relies once too often on bad communication skills, things like mistrustfulness and inability to express one's feelings seem absolutely in character for these two starstruck lovers.

My biggest complaint about Written in the Stars, really, is that it...sort of...has too many words? It's a little on the longer side of average but still far from what you might call a tome, and yet everything feels like it takes a little too long. A few too many words describing the way Elle and Darcy look to one another, a little too much time recapping the same emotional baggage. It could all be tightened up and clarified, and it'd be better for it. But it's still a fun, swoony-steamy book, and I'm sure there will be plenty of readers for whom extra pages spent with Darcy and Elle, and their starry-eyed romance, will be a bonus.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the advance review copy!

First of all, who DOESN'T love a Sapphic fake-dating trope with strong Pride & Prejudice vibes? I love Elle SO MUCH, because I'm something of a mess myself maybe, I don't know. I also really liked Darcy. I feel like a lot of Sapphic romances have the chaotic messy sunshine one and the cold ice queen, and I don't normally like the ice queen character as much - but I did really like Darcy. (And this is despite sort of hating Pride & Prejudice and especially Mr. Darcy.) I did keep comparing the characters and trying to make a more direct connection to P&P, but it's not a retelling so much as a sort of vibe that carries over.

The chemistry between Elle and Darcy is amazing, and I really treasured the friendship between Elle/Margot and Darcy/Brendon as well. The sex scenes are *chef's kiss* and the you could cut the sexual tension with a knife. I wanted to jump into this book and go on a double date with Elle and Darcy, or hang out with Elle and Margot, and just basically make everyone be my new best friend, which is how I, personally, know I've found a great book. Also, I hate cilantro and think it tastes like soap, but I still love Elle. (You'll know when you read it.)

This was a really sweet and fun story to read. I instantly liked Elle and Darcy and even though you know how it's going to end you want to see their relationship develop.

When analytically minded Darcy and free-spirited astrologer Elle are set up on a date by Darcy’s brother, things go horribly. But desperate to stop her brother’s matchmaking efforts, Darcy asks Elle to pretend their date went well. They come to an agreement where they can both benefit from a fake relationship, but as they spend time together, they start to find more benefits than expected.

As a lesbian astrologer myself, this one is obviously RIGHT up my alley! I thoroughly enjoyed this romantic romp. The way astrology played into the story was really fun, and the fake dating plot worked well. It was a little predictable, but only in that happily ever after way romance readers love. Written in the Stars definitely brought a big smile to my face.

Wow. This was a delightful story. From start to finish it was endearing and oh so sweet. It's the perfect holiday romance. It perfectly straddles the two that take up America's focus for the last two months of the year.

I loved the slow burn between Darcy and Elle and how they realized their love for each other.. To me one thing that is always a testament to how people care for one another is how quick they are willing to defend them. And both Elle and Darcy were quick to defend the other against any of the naysayers. From when Darcy stood up to Elle''s family at Thanksgiving to when Elle showed up at Darcy's apartment with exactly what she needed to turn her day around? *chef's kiss*.

One thing that stands out to me is when both parts of a couple accept what is different about their partner. That may seem silly but it's true. They may not always see eye to eye on things but they acknowledge and accept the other's differences and, in some cases and this one, it makes them love each other more. that acceptance is amazing because honestly some of us don't even get that from our own family.

It took me to roughly 85% to realize it was a P&P retelling but that was on me. And, even though I don't love the original P&P (I know I'm a bad English major), I adore the retellings and variations on it. And I am completely enamored with this story.. Everything about it was sweet and wonderful and just what I needed at this point in my life. I fell in love with both Darcy and Elle and was cheering them on while reading my Kindle Paperwhite. And the grand gesture at the end? *sigh* You'll never look at cilantro the same way again.

The steam factor is fairly mild but the slow burn is oh so delightful. And the love realization comes at a believable pace. Would definitely recommend this book to fellow book lovers.

First I would like to thank NetGalley for the eArc in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Darcy and Elle.... so not made for each other, at least according to each other's expectations. Actuarry Darcy has it all planned out and knows EXACTLY the kind of woman she's looking for. Elle, following the moon and the stars, just isn't hopeful. Following a line of regrets, she's just not ready to fnd someone, anyone.

After a horribly bad first date, arranged by Darcy's brother and Elle's soon to be business partner, neither one can just drop it. So, in order to get their families to leave them alone, they arrange a business agreement to get them through the holidays. And we know how that goes.

And, even though we "know" how that is going to go, we still want to go along with these two ladies as we learn more about them, and as we all fall a little bit in love as well.

Was I expecting a romance between 2 women? No. But, did I enjoy the fun and the romance anyway? Of course! Who doesn't love a little romance between 2 delightful characters?!

A huge thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins Publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Between the pandemic, the election, the worry of seasonal depression, and every other thing to fear, it’s been a rough year, to say the least. Books have acted as an escape in these troubling times, and Alexandria Bellefleur has come along to deliver the next romance novel to sweep you off your feet and transport you to a better world with “Written in the Stars”

“Written in the Stars” follows Elle, a young woman obsessed with the ideas of love, astrology, and finding that one special person. Elle is set up on a blind date with her friend’s older sister, Darcy, who is almost the exact opposite of Elle. When their date goes awful, but Darcy wants her brother off her back about having a girlfriend, she tells him their date went perfect, thus creating a fake dating deal between the two. But what happens when this unlikely pair starts to develop feelings for one another?

Bellefleur blew away all my expectations with this book and managed to create a fun, sexy, and enthralling book for readers. To put it in simplest terms: this book feels like a Hallmark movie in the best ways possible. The premise of the book is a fake-dating trope that deals with astrology, dating apps, believing in soulmates, and is close to Christmas. It all adds up to a wonderful reading experience.

Although the premise is great, the characters are cute and interesting, if not just a tad basic. One of my favorite characters was Brendon, Darcy’s brother, who helps bring the two together multiple times throughout the book. Each character has a complex system to them and their motives are easily explained, such as Darcy’s caution to fall for Elle.

In terms of the general flow of the book, the first half is a little slow, but the second half picks up quickly. As Elle and Darcy begin to develop real feelings for one another, the book moves faster and throws a lot more into their paths, which represents the speed of their feelings and their hesitance to make their situation real.

The Verdict

“Written in the Stars” is an adorable book that manages to take several fun tropes and make it its own. Bellefleur has written a fun and sexy book that will have people swooning this holiday season and give readers a reason to believe true love exists and is out there. My only complaint with the book is that at times it did feel a little rushed and that the characters could have been a little deeper, but regardless it is still a great story to read.

My official rating: 4.5/5 stars

This was a good read. The characters were likeable and you were rooting for these two. The first 7/8 of the book was a delight. The fake relationship trope is a fun, but this one felt more real. There was lots of humor and relatable drama. I felt the last 1/8 of the book was all drama, which I wasn't as in to. The supporting characters were also well drawn. I would read the sequel about Brendan. I enjoyed the author's writing style and outlook on life.

The manifold resets and reboots of “Pride and Prejudice” practically require their own section in the bookstore these days, so when you pick up a rom-com with lead characters named Darcy and Elle, you might think you know exactly what you’re in for. But Alexandria Bellefleur’s queer romance “Written in the Stars” gives its inspo a mere wink and a smile before unfolding into a distinctly modern frolic, charming and effervescent and entirely itself.

Full review will appear in mid-November in The Washington Post. Many thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the eARC.

I needed a romance to cleanse my palate after my month of spooky reading, and this fit the bill beautifully. It's tough to find a F/F romance that's done well; this one has excellent character development, plenty of depth in addition to its humor, and nods to Pride and Prejudice (mostly in the names--grumpy, closed-off actuary Darcy and free-spirited astrologer Elle). I had to admit, part of me wanted the fake-dating aspect to go on longer, but I'm biased since that's a trope I love. Otherwise, this is an excellent romance to add to your TBR pile.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Written in the Stars appealed to me from when I first heard of it: an f/f rom-com with nods to Pride and Prejudice? While not a full-on retelling, the story is charming and the allusions are distinct, while being very much a part of a story in its own right.

While I’m not massively into astrology, I liked getting insights into it through Elle’s character, and appreciated that they’re more fun, like what romantic movie or breakfast food pairs well with each star sign, instead of a faux attempt at being deep. These lists being interspersed throughout were fun Easter eggs, providing some insight into the characters, given that both of their star signs are disclosed, as well as being fun to think about in a real life context when looking at the picks for one’s own sign.

Elle and Darcy are also such wonderful characters. It’s one of the best “grumpy/sunshine” pairings, because of how well they play off each other, going from their initial difficulties, to a truce and fake dating, and eventually falling in love. Throughout, I liked exploring each of their approaches to love, from Darcy’s reticence after a bad breakup to Elle’s more open-hearted approach.

And while not explicitly a holiday romance, it’s set around the holiday season, from Thanksgiving through Christmas and into the New Year, and I like how that colored their interactions with one another, particularly in the little things, like the sweet Christmas gifts!

This is a lovely, fluffy story, and while not explicitly funny in spite of its billing, it’s an absolute delight to read. I strongly recommend it if you love queer romance and/or stories inspired by Pride and Prejudice.

Written in the Stars is a WLW contemporary romance that takes inspiration from Pride & Prejudice and Bridget Jones. Our main characters are Elle Jones, an astrologer behind the popular Twitter account "Oh My Stars" who is looking for her soulmate, and Darcy Lowell, an actuary who doesn't have time for or want love. The two could not be more different so when they go on a blind date that Darcy's brother and Elle's business partner, Brendon, set them up on it is disastrous. To get Brendon off her back about dating, Darcy tells him the date went great and that she's going to see Elle again. This comes as a big surprise to Elle when Brendon lets it slip that Darcy is smitten with her. Elle goes into a deal with Darcy that they will fake date until New Year's Eve to get Brendon off Darcy's back and Elle's family off hers.

I absolutely loved this book which is saying something because I'm a bit picky when it comes to contemporary books. I have a hard time finding wlw books that I like so it was refreshing. I also found it interesting that the story had 2 POV's, Elle, and Darcy.

The obvious big trope is fake dating. If you're not a fan of this trope this is 100% not the book for you. For me, this was the big seller of the book (besides the wlw part). I thought the trope was done really well and while the plot can be a bit predictable because of this, I still enjoyed the story.

Part of the reason I enjoyed this story so much was because of the main characters. I realized I related to both characters in different ways. I related to Elle in having eccentric hobbies that her family finds weird and I related to Darcy because I am in no way, shape, or form looking for love. I found myself smiling through most of the book and actually laughing out loud. I loved the relationship these two had and how it developed. Since there were 2 POV's we were able to get a look at what both our characters were thinking which made me love them more. It also made me angry when the characters weren't communicating with each other but I knew how both of them were feeling and just wanted to scream at both of them.

I thought the beginning was a little slow but that's usual for a book because characters and plots need to be laid out first. I read this book in two sittings and when I hit about 35% I couldn't put it down, I had to finish it. It's a fairly quick read, as it's contemporary, so if you have a little bit of time for a quick tropey story this is definitely one to look at.

I would consider this book a mix between New Adult and Adult. I don't believe it mentioned how old the characters were but I believe Darcy is about 30 and Elle is a little younger than her. There are a couple of spicy scenes as well as career talks which is why I would put the categorization somewhere in between.

I think this would be a perfect book to read curled up during the holiday season, partly because the story takes place in November and December and party because it's a cute romance book. While this story takes inspiration from Pride & Prejudice I wouldn't categorize it as a retelling, it is its own story. If you're looking for a tropey WLW romance I would definitely say go for this one.

This is a great if formulaic fake romance story. While I said it is a little by the numbers, it does the things that you expect well. I know it is billed as a bit of Bridget Jones and Pride and Prejudice cross over, but it is more of a homage to those works than anything. Which is fine by me. Aside from a rushed ending, I had a lot of fun with this one.

I am a sucker for a bit of the opposites attract trope, especially when they balance each other out. Darcy Lowell is the straight laced, by the numbers type, who would never want to be around the whirlwind of color and chaos that is Elle Jones. Aside from a split second of attraction that flies between them on their first blind date, they get along like oil and water. But when Darcy claims to her brother - Elle's friend and business partner - that they'd hit it off, Darcy and Elle embark on a slightly fake relationship that feels more real to each other than not. And that's where the best part of the story comes in. The spark of attraction is there, but the pair have to learn to look past their respective differences to find that they fit better together. It's all about balance, and each character has something to learn from the other. Darcy needed to understand that she needed to follow her gut every once in a while, and Elle needed that spark of confidence in herself to help stand up against ambivalent family. There are some truly saccharine moments, stuff that I normally roll my eyes at, but I just loved them here.

If you're looking for a cozy read, with a tad bit of sizzle, and a snappy dialogue, then this is for you. I found that I could relate to both leads, and absolutely loved following them as they fell for each other. Be prepared to "ohh" and "awww" though; some of these lines are too sweet to be real.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Excuse me while I go sob because my little lesbian heart is so full!
I had a lot of high hopes for this book and it met all of them! I adored every second of reading this book! I love the characters so much especially Elle. I know some people might think she is "to querky" but I related to her so much it hurt!
The romance oh the romance! It was so cute and sweet! Plus (sorry if you think of this as a spoiler) this is one of the first main stream saphic romance I have read that actually had smut in it that wasn't tucked into the end and only took up like half a page. This book did such a great job writing what would be a tipical romance only with two women.
If I had any complaint it would be with this genre in general. I wish not all of the queer women were fem. Just once I would like to see a book with a more butch queer woman but again that is just something I would like to see and not a bad thing for this book.
I have always been a sucker for a cute romance and I have been waiting for a book like this for as long as I can remember! If you are like me and love romance just in general get this book. If you are queer and looking for the perfect cute queer romance this is the book for you. This book is so adorable and worth every second you spend reading.

I unfortunately decided to DNF this. I do think it's a it's not the book, it's me thing because I've seen lots of other reviewers like this book. I'm really glad there are more sapphic romances coming out, and I was really excited to read this because of that but I just wasn't really connecting to the book, so I decided not to finish it. I wasn't really connecting with either of the two main characters or the writing, and it just fell a little flat for me.
I still want to read more sapphic romances in the future and I hope many more are published!

This is a queer rom-com of my heart. I was hooked on Darcy and Elle from their awkward, disastrous first date, Social media astrologer Elle is set up on a blind date with the sister of her friend and new business partner. It's obvious right from the start that Elle and Darcy could not be more different. Darcy is an uptight, type A actuary. She doesn't believe in fate, soulmates, and certainly not astrology and horoscopes. Elle is a scattered, free spirit. But when Darcy's meddling, well-intentioned younger brother asks her how the date went, she panics and lies. Thus Elle finds herself agreeing to be in a fake relationship with Darcy in order to save face with the brother and not jeopardize the new business partnership.

I'm almost always a fan of fake relationships, especially when it's Austen/Pride & Prejudice inspired, I loved everything about this book. Alexandria Bellefleur's dialogue in this book is amazing throughout. – laugh-out-loud funny and witty. The side characters are wonderful, from Darcy and Brendon's mother to Elle's best friend Margo to Brendon.

Written in the Stars is out November 10. Fans of rom-coms and Austen, do not miss this one. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for providing me with an e-galley and giving me a chance to provide an honest review.