Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

While this book is not YA, I would have loved this as a teenager. It's full of emotional angst and uncertainty between all of these characters. They read younger than they are.

Our main character Adelaide falls completely in love with with a boy named Rory. Rory has has a lot of baggage and healing to do on his own after a traumatic event, yet toys along Adelaide by doing less than the bare minimum. We follow their 'relationship', but this book really is not a romance... it's about a girl figuring herself out as she grows through her twenties (including receiving a psychological diagnosis that "explains" certains things...) Some people love that approach, while for others, it's definitely a more sensitive topic.

If I didn't have the audio, I'm not sure I could have finished or enjoyed this at all. This book uses no quotation marks and personally that drives me nuts.

We followed trauma after trauma. Go in with caution!

I really liked the epilogue and cute meaningful reminders & message it had to it.

At points this is difficult read because of the raw emotion oozing from the page as the titular character deals with mental illness and a very toxic relationship. But, that raw emotion is also what makes this book very special.

Thank you Netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Not gonna lie, I felt for Adelaide.
I expected this to be a different kind of story but I enjoyed it. Was a bit slow of a read but it hooked me.

*** 4.5 ⭐️ ***

"When love asks too much from us, how do we find the strength to put ourselves first?"

Adelaide is a good person; but if she's so good, why can't she get a guy to love her? Adelaide's back story is flushed out in a way that makes the reader grieve for her, hurt for her, and want to give her a hug. Is she destined to keep repeating the same mistakes or will she finally get something good back for all her efforts?

Rory is a nice guy, but he's a horrible boyfriend. He doesn't put in the effort, ignores text messages, and shows up when he wants to. He doesn't appreciate Adelaide until it's too late.

Throughout this book, the theme of mental illness is prevalent, and trigger warnings should be heeded (as the story starts off with an SI situation). Adelaide and Rory have issues from the get-go, which is very apparent and, as much as Adelaide pushes, Rory retreats. They are unbalanced in their relationship, which is relatable for some readers, and their reactions hit too close to home at times. Adelaide's friends are ride or die, which was great to see, while Rory's entourage was nonexistent. This book was slightly repetitive, but understandable, as Adelaide tries to work through one of life's greatest questions - when will it be "my" turn to be loved?

I ADORED this book. So much. Emotional, delicate, and sometimes difficult - I felt Adelaide's emotions the whole time I was reading this book.

Genevieve Wheeler's debut, Adelaide, is poignant, honest, and a powerful case study on love in the modern world. Love asks a lot of us as humans. This book asks the question of how we keep ourselves sane and protected when our love becomes all-consuming. Fans of Dolly Alderton will love this truly special novel.

4.5 out of 5 stars. I adored this book and saw so much of myself in Adelaide. I teared up multiple times while reading. I only shaved off a half star as it was a bit slow to start, and the commentary on mental illness felt a bit too crammed into one small section of the story. Overall a great read!

First thank you to st martins press and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5 stars

Synopsis: Adelaide is a young woman living in London completing her masters when she meets Rory Hughes on a dating app. She falls madly in love and does a lot to keep the relationship going through a very tough period.

What I liked: Adelaide is so complex in that she is young but also mature, smart but makes dumb choices and so interesting. You really felt everything that she felt and my heart ached for her. She tried everything putting herself last and it took such a toll on her health. I love how the author did not shy away from any aspects. She show the highs and the lows. Adelaide friends are so loyal to her and really help her see how great she is. I also liked how the author show a realistic picture of mental illness and her struggles. I would highly recommend this book to everyone as the writing is beautiful

A beautiful book on friendship which is definitely a theme that's not common in books much anymore. There are trigger warnings here but overall the book was beautiful and portrayed a life of love and loss and friends.

Frustrating and difficult to read at times, but ultimately it pays off with a hopeful narrative. The writing left a bit to be desired, but I think the author has a bright future. I'll be keeping an eye out for her.

ADELAIDE is a piece of contemporary fiction following the experiences of the titular character, a mid-20s American woman living in London who falls deeply, hedonistically and irreversibly into unrequited love with an Englishman named Rory. In many ways, ADELAIDE felt similar to Sally Rooney’s Normal People as Adelaide and Rory’s relationship takes center stage here, with all its miscommunication, complexities, and emotional baggage (although I do feel the power dynamics here are more uneven and the majority of the story is from Adelaide’s POV).

While I wasn’t the biggest fan of the ending, overall I found ADELAIDE to be a realistic portrayal of a toxic, contemporary relationship (dating apps included) and blazed through this in a single day. I’d definitely check out more from Wheeler in the future!

Unfortunately, this one just didn't do it for me. I had a hard time connecting with the main character, and by the end I was frustrated with her.

This ARC sat on my TBR for far too long. But even so, I don't think I was ready for the turmoil it would do to my heart. Adelaide experiences a relationship and heartbreak that was all too relatable. I don't fault her choices and graciousness. Sometimes when you're in love, or so you think, it's hard to see the toxicity with clarity.

**I received this advance copy free from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Oh my goodness, I just LOVED this book. I have thought about this book over and over since I read it. It PERFECTLY captures the millennial experience of dating, loving, losing, friendship, and coming to a new place of acceptance and enjoyment of oneself. Wheeler is a gifted and talented writer—she made me feel a range of complex emotions just through her words alone. The characters came to life in such a tangible way. They have depth, they are flawed, they are humans trying to find their way in the world. I highly recommend this book for anyone, but especially women in their 20s and 30s. Many, many thanks for this ARC and to Wheeler for crafting such a beautiful book.

10/10!! 5 big, beautiful stars! What a gorgeous read this was. It felt like it went on forever and I never wanted it to end. Reading Adelaide felt like I was having conversations with best friend; all things throughout this book were things we've either witnessed friends or loved ones experience, or things we've gone through ourselves so it really felt very personal and very introspective. I felt this book deeply, and it made me feel understood! Maybe a little less lonely know that all these things I've felt throughout my life were beautifully put into words. I truly hope Geneieve Wheeler continues to write new books, and I will be WAITING with bated breath until the day I see she's published another!!

I appreciate a story that contains lessons for its characters and its readers. This book served as a reminder of the importance of remaining true to yourself, and that changing to please others rarely turns out well. I had moments of wanting to yell at Adelaide,, and don't get me started on Rory.

A refreshing read that kept me entertained. Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Had high hopes for this one and was just a little bored. The cover is so pretty and I love the title, but it just felt a little flat for me.

Adelaide absolutely wrecked me. This book is a beautiful exploration of a long term situationship and mental health.

Adelaide was not what I was expecting from the synopsis of this book. I will keep this review short and sweet, because this book was not for me. Adelaide is a young 20-something living in London with a successful career. She had some tragedy in her past, and because of that, she seems to have zero self-esteem. She meets Rory, her "Prince Charming" and falls in love. She is surprised that he is interested in her and although he is a misogynist who treats her terribly, using her and only spending time with her when it is convenient for him, she is smitten and sticks with him. I almost DNFed this one several times as it was depressing and I got so frustrated with Adelaide. I know that this happens in real life more times than I can count, but it was not what I was expecting, so found myself getting angry and frustrated. I will say that there is hope at the end and that I am glad I finished to get to that point. I know that this is an unpopular opinion and many people loved this one, so I say if this sounds like a book that you might enjoy, give it a go, it just wasn't for me.

The real rawness of this book and its characters made me feel like I was finally seeing real life on paper. I definitely recommend it to those who have been longing for the same.