I received an advanced copy of Written in the Stars from Netgalley so I could share my review with you!

When Darcy and Elle get set up on a blind date by a mutual connection, they realize quickly that they aren’t exactly compatible. Fun and flighty Elle runs the quickly growing astrology blog, “Oh My Stars,” and is looking for a committed relationship. Darcy is a rigid actuary, who doesn’t have time for love. Their first encounter is an absolute disaster, and neither of them expects that there will ever be a second date. That is until Darcy let’s slip a lie to her brother about how well the date went, with a poorly thought-out attempt to get him off her back about her love life. She should’ve known that this comment would come back to bite her, but it isn’t until Elle confronts her that she realizes how much trouble she’s in. Forced together by a convenient lie and a mutual need for their families to keep believing in their relationship, Darcy and Elle agree to fake-date until New Year’s Day. But, what if there was real potential hidden somewhere in their fake relationship?

You can get your copy of Written in the Stars on November 10th from Avon!

I never can resist an OwnVoices queer romance story, so when I saw Written in the Stars was available to request, I just had to give it a chance! Fake-dating is one of my all-time favorite tropes, giving this book an edge from the start. Darcy and Elle share an electric connection that pulled me in from the start! My only complaint is that the leads seemed to fall in love a bit more quickly than is believable, given their initial aversion towards each other. Besides this, I found the story to be great fun to read! At its core, Written in the Stars is a swoon-worthy romance story, filled with characters facing their insecurities and overcoming their past relationship woes.

My Recommendation-
If you are a fan of such tropes as fake-dating, opposites attract, and second chances, you should read Written in the Stars! This steamy queer romance would be a fantastic read for fans of Red White and Royal Blue, and Boyfriend Material!

It is a truth universally acknowledged that there are way too many modern day adaptations of Pride and Prejudice. Or at least it should be. Still, I had high hopes for this because if there's one place I can tolerate a cliche or fifty it's in a WLW adult romance published by a major publishing house, or basically, a unicorn. This is pretty much the second novel that fits that bill that I can think of, so let's just say I was willing to let a few flaws slide for the sake of a sweet romance between two women that doesn't suck.

This book <i>still</i> somehow was way too much. Too many cliches, too many drag and drop and ctrl+h plotlines and too many bland and forgettable protagonists, which is saying something, since there are only two. Neither Darcy nor Elle actually felt like real people so much as The-Boring-Lesbian-Who-Doesn't-Believe-in-Love (clearly you can see where this going) and the Manic-Pixie-Dream-Queer.

The writing was at least better than most adult WLW romances (which isn't saying much because most of them are self published), but it still could have used improvement. For one thing, it would have worked a lot better if it were told in alternating first person narrative.

I'm glad I had an opportunity to read the ARC but I'm really hoping the next WLW romance I read is better.

Very cute romance featuring opposites attract/fake dating tropes with some meet uncute/light enemies to lovers. I thought the pacing was particularly good, allowing the relationship to build believably with lots of adorable scenes and little touches. I did wish whatever was happening with the Pride and Prejudice references had been a bit more clear. (Was it just supposed to be a vague homage? I always find it a lot of fun when the details of an original work are updated in an interesting way.) I also found that some of the family issues trailed off a bit suddenly at the end, and there seemed to be an attempt to build up Darcy's relationship with Natasha in a way that didn't entirely pay off (although the scene where Elle says that this sort of backstory doesn't excuse the way she was treated was a great moment). However, this is generally a fun read which will leave you with a smile.

(I'm still with Darcy regarding astrology though!)

It is a truth universally acknowledged that I will read almost any Pride and Prejudice retelling. (And there are a lot out there!) So I was very excited to get an early copy of Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur. This was a very fun and easy read. I appreciate that the author did not stick too closely to the plot of the original, giving it a fresh feel, with likable characters, a new setting, and an entire subplot on astrology.

Darcy is a straight-laced actuary. Elle is a free-spirited astrologist. When they first meet, as in our original novel, it does not go well. However, Darcy is desperate to get her matchmaker brother off her back, so she asks Elle if she would consider fake-dating for a couple of months. Elle agrees, and we all know how this goes, they quickly begin to catch fall for one another, despite their earlier reservations. I thought Elle and Darcy had great chemistry, and the book as a whole was a romantic and engaging read!

Thank you to HarperCollins and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Written in the Stars is an opposites attract, fake relationship romance. Darcy doesn’t want to keep dealing with her brother’s set ups so she lies and says she hit it off with the latest blind date he set her up on, which was a total disaster. But then Brendan runs into Elle, her date and babbles about it in front of her mother. One thing leads to another and Elle and Darcy are in a fake relationship to get their families off their backs. But actually falling for each other? Elle believes in soulmates and Darcy does not.
I expect we’ll be seeing this book on a lot of best of and favourites lists for 2020. Bellefleur captures perfectly the hope we have to love and be loved, and to be afraid to reach for it. Both heroines have family issues that conflict with their self-worth and trust. The main and secondary characters were well-developed. Watching them fall despite themselves was delightful.

This is the fun and sweet wlw loose Pride and Prejudice retelling you're looking for! It's got a pansexual disaster character, which I know will appeal to a lot of people, and the fact that she's an astrologer will also be a big draw, no doubt. I don't personally find astrology or personality quizzes or enneagrams or any of that compelling at all, so I'm not the ideal audience for this book.

The Darcy character, named Darcy of course, is a buttoned up actuary. Just once, JUST ONCE, I would love to see a numbers person in a romance who isn't the withdrawn stuffy one. I promise you all mathy people are not like that!!!! There were certainly fun details to her character, but still.

Nonetheless, it's a tremendously enjoyable read, perfect for the holidays, and I'm happy to see more wlw romcoms!

Elle and Darcy may be star-crossed lovers - if only Darcy believed in stuff like that.

Darcy likes things neat and tidy: her apartment, her spreadsheets at work, her relationships. She definitely does not buy into things like soul mates. But then Darcy meets Elle on a blind date, courtesy of Darcy's brother, and Darcy can add astrology to her list of ridiculous things she doesn't buy into. Elle is Darcy's opposite: an astrologer, a little messy, and emotionally vulnerable. And despite the sparks between them, Elle doesn't need a star chart to know that it won't work between her and Darcy. But Darcy needs Elle to help her save face in front of her family, and suddenly Elle is in a pretend relationship with the prim and proper Darcy. But when the fake dating starts to get more and more real, Elle and Darcy will have to decide if their signs are aligning or if they're receiving celestial mixed signals.

Written in the Stars was an absolute joy to read. Elle and Darcy were both adorable and, at times, adorably frustrating when it came to falling for each other. Elle was free-spirited yet vulnerable, and her personality leaps off the page. Darcy simultaneously came off as a bit closed off in Elle's point of view, yet her character bloomed in her own point of view. Both stories intertwined beautifully in this interesting plot. This story was more than just a girl meets girl tale; Bellefleur shows how imperfections are not flaws, and sometimes the person you think is your opposite might just be your one true pairing.

This was such a fun read. I absolutely devoured it and wanted more. Alexandria Bellefleur’s writing style immerses the reader in the story with funny and descriptive prose. As an avid fanfiction-reader, reading this is like when you find that perfect fic with the right balance of tropes and banter, “angst and arousal” (in Darcy’s words)—and I mean that as the highest compliment.

I love Elle, I love Darcy, and most of all, I love their dynamic together. Elle is your typical sunshiny foil to Darcy’s storm cloud personality. They complement each other well and have instant believable chemistry, making you root for them as soon as you meet them. It’s so satisfying to read as Darcy opens her heart to Elle and the possibility of love.

Brendon and Margot, Elle’s best friend, are also extremely lovable characters. Brendon means well and wants to take care of his protective older sister for once, and Margot wants what’s best for Elle. I'm excited to read Bellefleur's next novel in which Brendon finds love.

Something else to appreciate about this sapphic rom-com is that it doesn’t focus on coming out or homophobia. While those topics certainly have a place in queer lit, it’s refreshing to read a swoon-worthy love story about two queer girls falling in love and grappling with family expectations without turning it into trauma porn. Let sapphics have love stories!

I enjoyed this sweet, fun story a lot! I always want to give props to a book that can hook me after I’ve picked up/put down several others in a row. Written In The Stars is a quippy, fast-paced romance with shades of rom com that was worth reading. I love a good starchy/messy matchup and I love a fake relationship, so Darcy and Elle already had a lot going for them.

I found myself wishing the tension between Darcy and Elle had been built more slowly. It felt like we jumped from “no way, no how” to “in an actual relationship” without a lot of justification for why they started having real feelings. I also thought the family baggage stuff was a bit contrived and unnecessary, especially Darcy’s mom. But ultimately I still bought into the romance—those little things just keep it “good” as opposed to “great” for me.

Overall, worth picking up! I think the style will appeal to fans of Talia Hibbert and Lucy Parker.

CW: divorced parents, emotionally unavailable parent, cheating (by one of MC’s exes), multiple references to Harry Potter

I've already ordered this for my library. I loved the character of Elle Jones. I had never read someone like her before. Darcy's character was so uptight, that it took awhile for me to fall in love with her. These 2 together were the perfect opposites attract combination I have read in a long time. This books had me laughing out loud several times. I look forward to introducing this title to our library patrons.

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.