ADELAIDE will always have a special place in my heart. What a heartbreaking, emotional yet overcoming story. I deeply resonated and connected with the character Adelaide and her desire to please and take care of everyone (except herself). Her sensitivity to others and feeling the need to prioritize their happiness, while forgetting her own.

It broke my heart to see Adelaide lose herself in the hopes that one day Rory, the man she is in a situation-ship, will see that she's a catch and that he loves her. But she is already a catch. She goes out of her way to cheer her friends up and do nice things for them. She's thoughtful, considerate, giving and caring and has so much love and yet gets nothing in return. She internalizes Rory's avoidance and emotional unavailability to mean that she's not pretty or worthy of love, even though it has nothing to do with her and all about Rory's own issues. How far she bends to upload Rory through his grief, feeling like it's her responsibility to make him feel better, while it's tearing herself apart. And her own needs were never even an afterthought.

She also doesn't want to feel needy or high maintenance or be see in any sort of unattractive way, so she holds and bottles up all her emotions. Then how demanding of her Rory becomes and blames almost everything on her, made Adelaide go even further to please him, past her breaking point.

I lived for the moments where she was so busy with friends, caught up in work and her own life that she wasn't counting how long since Rory last contacted her. A heart wrenching ride, but so worth it to see her come out of this darkness and receive the love she well deserves.

Heavy topics including trauma, abuse, grief, mental health and suicidal thoughts handled in a gentle yet powerful way. I also admired and appreciated the realness and rawness of this story and the writing. A compelling, powerful debut.

Much gratitude to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

Oof, had to sit with this one in a good way 💜

It must be said that our MC Adelaide does not Always Make Great Decisions, so if you hate screaming NOOOOO at a protagonist multiple times during a book, this one won’t be for you. However, the hopeless love she can’t stop herself having reminds me of a not-too-long ago point in my life when I nursed love for boys beyond hope but eventually got through it with the help of supportive friends (and therapy of course). Genevieve Wheeler captured how visceral it feels to go through that, so it was very easy to have compassion for Adelaide even when certain doom in terms of her mental well-being is clearly approaching.

Rory can go f*** off though, the tosser.

4 hearty stars for Genevieve Wheeler capturing the ups and downs of mid-twenties life and giving an immersive experience even when it hurts ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

4/5 stars. This was an emotionally difficult (downright depressing) read about the things we sacrifice in order to please others. I found myself frustrated with the characters and at times wanting to scream at them, but the writing was beautiful. A coming of age story about young love, obsession, and mental illness.
“There are parts of our hearts we give away. Not lend, but sacrifice entirely. And there are some people to whom we give these pieces, knowing we'll never really get them back.”
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is not a love story, like one might think but it’s so good. I love how Wheeler really developed the characters — she really makes you either love or hate them. I really felt for Adelaide and the sacrifice she made, in hopes that love and affection would be returned. There are some trigger warnings so definitely look into that before you pick this one up.

Love, love, loved this!! I will definitely be picking up a copy once it’s published.

Publishing April 18, 2023.  This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Know in advance that this is not a romance let alone a rom com but rather an exploration of mental health issues with an overlay of a relationship that is frankly toxic. Adelaide is a 20 something American living and working in London she meets Rory on an app. She thinks things are great, not recognizing that he's not a good guy, that he doesn't really like her. and that this whole thing is not a positive for her. She pushes her own issues aside and goes all in for him, Mistake. I know this will resonate with many but I found both characters frustrating. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Not a light read.

Editing my review to better reflect the new synopsis. I'm glad that they changed the synopsis, as it's more honest of the contents of the book.

A stellar debut! Adelaide follows our titular character, Adelaide Williams, throughout the course of two years in London, where she meets a boy. Over the course of Adelaide, we follow their relationship throughout their ups and downs with an interesting set of supporting cast of characters.

What I liked the most about this book was the set of complex characters, mainly our protagonist and the love interest(? not sure how to label him). Adelaide is a beautiful character that I couldn't help but root for, flaws and all. I desperately wanted her to get her happy ending as I kept reading and my heart lurched every time her efforts went unnoticed. Rory was also a very interesting character that was well developed. You get to see past the charming looks and see what lies underneath it. Adelaide's collection of friends are also a bright spot in this book; you could tell that all they had was love for her, which was recuperated by Adelaide. The writing is also not to be left out of the conversation. It was beautifully well written and some of the quotes sat with me well after I was done. I could see some of these quotes being talked about at book clubs.

This book is not for the faint of heart, I'd say. I actually almost DNF'd it when I was about 80% done. It was incredibly emotional and raw. It dealt with a lot of sensitive topics, such as mental illness, toxic relationships, suicide ideation, attempted suicide, miscarriage, and abuse. I don't recall if there were any trigger warnings at the beginning, but maybe there should be some because I was taken by surprise. The reason I rated it 4 stars is because I felt that there was too much focus on the relationship and not enough about healing from what she went through. It would have sparked a greater conversation about mental health and relationships as a whole.

Thank you to NetGallery and St. Martin's for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. This is a story about young love, with some mental health issues sprinkled in. The main protagonist sometimes frustrated me. Why are you staying in a relationship that is not reciprocated, but then the next paragraph I felt bad for her. I think this is a great read for someone in their mid to late 20’s. Many highs and lows, quite an emotional ride. 4.25 Stars.

Adelaide is a young woman in her mid 20s navigating life in London. The readers are able to connect with Adelaide in her present, but also experience how Adelaide came to be with some “then” chapters. Mental health is explored in depth, as well as romantic relationships, familial friendships, and personal growth.

Adelaide is a character I will be thinking of for a long time. She was quirky and fun, while under the surface battling invisible demons. Adelaide may be a character many people can relate to: she experienced traumas in her life who have shaped who she is as an adult, and these experiences contribute to her inner monologue and how she feels she may be unlovable. I wanted to hug Adelaide and give her inner strength and peace to carry on. I was so happy she had a strong support network around her, but I was most happy to see her use her own strength to move forward. All of the stars for this one.

I literally just finished this book and have been crying for the last 20 minutes. Adelaide spoke to me. I feel her. I recognize her in myself. I relate so much to this book, it genuinely made me stop and breathe for a few moments.

Adelaide is 26 and living in London. She checks herself into a hospital because she feels suicidal. The nurse asks her if she’d like to talk about what happened, and we flash back to Adelaide’s life.

I love the way those story is written in seasons. I love the different perspectives, but how it mostly focuses on Adelaide. I love how relatable Adelaide and her friends are.

Toward the end, Adelaide discusses darkness with a friend and the passage hit me so hard I immediately reached out to my friends who have absolutely helped me through the darkness.

Check trigger warnings on this one, but it is absolutely worth the read. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I sadly could not read this novel because of the subject matter. I had to put it down, however, based on the writing it seems like it would have been a great read. Thank you publisher for the early copy

✨ eARC REVIEW ✨ Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler

~ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ~

Wow wow… I’m honestly STILL finding my words and feel like no review can do this book justice. Adelaide absolutely wrecked me, making me feel more than a book has in a long time. This is Genevieve Wheeler’s debut (it’s literally not even out yet) and I’m already craving more. Her writing transported me to London and had me rooting for our main character more than I normally would.

This novel is a beautiful, tragic and melancholy story on a woman in her twenties, struggling through dating + heartbreak, burnout + career ambitions, mental illness + vices, and grief overwhelming empathy. Adelaide is unflinchingly honest and raw. Throughout the book, she struggles with major depressive episodes and suicidal ideation, constantly putting others happiness and needs before her own. I’m incredibly passionate about mental health and am equally very sensitive to how it is often personified and sometimes glamorized in stories, but Wheeler pulled the Rory- I mean rose-colored glasses, giving readers a glimpse into what it could be like to live with mental illness. This story exposes the raw edges and because of this, I latched onto our main girl, Adelaide, feeling as though I were reading about someone not much different than myself.

I could go on (& probably will) but I’ll leave this review with the HUGE statement that this is easily my favorite book I’ve read so far this year 🥰

🗓️ Mark your calendars because this book comes out on April 18th! Note there are absolutely some TWs so feel free to message me if you want a heads up on any!

📖 Or if you’re impatient like me, head over to Book of the Month and grab Adelaide now❕Check out the link in my bio to get your first book (maybe even Adelaide) for $5!

💭 Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced record copy in exchange for an honest review!

Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler was such a joy to read - I was very surprised to learn that this is the author's debut novel. Adelaide Williams is a spunky and fun American living in London, the kind of person who is loving and giving to all but herself - she's quite hard on herself throughout the novel as she struggles through life with the help of her amazing support system of her three closest girlfriends. Rory Hughes, the man she considers "the one," is kind of a self-absorbed jerk who does not love her and it takes her quite a while to realize that she is healthier and happier without him. No spoilers - but Adelaide is an easy read that touched me - and it had such a hopeful ending! I look forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Adelaide is definitely not the genre I normally read, as it is contemporary fiction. However, I flew through this wonderful book and was blown away by all the emotions it got me to feel! The cover (which I love) makes it seem like a romance and love story, however, it is more about self-love and so much more. There are some very heavy parts to this book that can be hard for some and definitely mental health and grief triggers throughout.

Genevieve Wheeler did a tremendous job writing this memorable book! I still can't believe it is her debut book! This book is the definition of a rollercoaster ride, so many highs and lows throughout, but in the end, you are left with hope and a new friend - Adelaide Williams, who you can think of when times are tough when you are struggling that in the end you can get through toxic relationship and know there too is hope for you! A great message for those to stand up for themselves and really strive for something better. I highly recommend this book! I am so glad it is part of the BOTM club so many more people will be exposed to it and love it! I cannot wait for more books by Genevieve Wheeler!

I really loved this! Rory sucked big time, but my heart went out to Adelaide. Such a great story, and so relatable as I feel we've all had a Rory in our lives at one time or another. A fantastic story! 4.5 stars

Thank you netgalley and St.. Martins Press for a copy of Adelaide in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars
I loved this book. It was heartbreaking to see Adelaide give so much of herself and not get anything back. Adelaide's struggles her heartbreaking to watch but also left you yearning for something to go well. Rory Hughes was written in an amazing way that makes you hate him and love Adelaide even more. The friendships in this were amazing and the way they supported and rooted for each 0ther was awesome to see.

Trigger Warnings: Sexual, physical and emotional assault within a relationship, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt.

I thought this book was mostly going to be about mental health, and I liked those parts of it, but it unfortunately was mostly about a terrible relationship and the main character ignoring all the red flags. It was very well-written and had some good quotable moments about mental health, but overall, this wasn't for me. I can definitely see why other people might love it though.

This is for the ones who put it all on the line & get not a whole lot in return. It is bleak & depressing at times but also has hope & joy as Adelaide finds herself & her true friends. I think it is a good read but you need to be mentally prepared for hard & possibly triggering topics.

Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

This story grabbed me from page one. Not an altogether easy book to read yet unputdownable. For fans of Sally Rooney, a fraught contemporary romance . Be aware there are triggers of abuse and mental illness. Still I must say the writing is breezy and the characters real. Adelaide herself is delightful, warm and has a light that shines brightly. Such a wonderful debut novel, thank you for the advance St Martins Press and netgalley

ARC BOOK REVIEW 📖

Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler
Pub Date 4/18/23
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Adelaide Williams is a 26-year old expat living in London with a fabulous job, amazing friends, and a perfect seeming life. She’s not looking for love, but when she meets gorgeous, charming Rory Hughes, that all changes. When tragedy strikes Rory, Adelaide is determined to take care of him, even at the expense of taking care of herself. Adelaide must grapple with unrequited love and learn to put herself first.

I absolutely loved this book, but first thing’s first, this is NOT a romance/love story. This is a contemporary story about love, friendship, grief and mental health. That being said, it is so good! I was shocked to learn that this was a debut - the writing is so fantastic! Adelaide was such a raw, realistic character. I felt all of her highs and lows right along with her and she was just so dang relatable. Genevieve did such a wonderful job at exploring toxic relationships and mental health struggles through Adelaide’s journey to healing. While this dealt with some really heavy topics, I was also left with such a feeling of hope by the end. Fabulous debut by @genevievewheeler can’t wait to read more!

🚨 several trigger warnings, please check before reading! (DM me if you want to know, I just don’t want to post spoilers)

Favorite quote: “Pain is pain is pain. It was important to recognize your privilege, yes. To show gratitude, to count your blessings
But it was also important to acknowledge and accept your pain, to understand that no matter how large or small your problems, your losses, your wounds-they are yours. And you're allowed to feel them. The hardest loss will always be your own.”

Thanks to @netgalley and @stmartins for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

3.5 stars. This is a tough one to review because I feel like I didn’t like a majority of the middle of the story (bad relationship with bad communication a la Normal People), but I enjoyed the end and keep thinking about it.

Adelaide finds herself falling hard in a relationship with a man, Rory, who runs hot and cold and can’t figure out how to text a girl back. We follow their relationship over two years as they navigate the ups and downs, including unexpected tragedy, with occasional flashbacks to their pasts. There are heavy topics as we unpack past emotional/sexual abuse, mental health disorders, grief and suicide ideation.

It’s a heavy story so please ignore the “romance” genre tag on goodreads. It’s more contemporary fiction as we follow Adelaide’s reckoning with her mental health as she reflects on her behaviors and dysfunctional relationships. There is a strong supportive friend group which I loved.

Highly recommend listening to the audiobook as the narrator did a great job with Adelaide’s nuances.