Adelaide is a 26 year old American living in London with her fellow American friends, and dating, to her own detriment. She meets Rory on a dating app, and he seems like a bookish, British, Disney prince. To be honest, I fell in love with damn Rory Hughes too. Because he seems so perfect in the beginning, Adelaide clings to this fantasy of their being 'meant to be', even as he is an anxious-avoidant toxic mess. He experiences a personal loss, and Adelaide gives every inch of herself to hold him together. As she pieces his life back for him, she falls apart.
Can we take a moment for this COVER? It is absolutely beautiful and is art I would actually hang on my walls. The cover and title were the main reasons I picked this one up, but I'm so glad I did. Adelaide is a hopeless romantic, cosmic fate, invisible strings girlie - and reminded me of my younger self in some ways. This is an ode to people who are constantly giving but never receiving. I wanted to just wrap her up in a hug and let her know it would all be okay. And I loved the female friendships in this book, I really want to infiltrate their friend group! Be warned: This. Is. Not. A. Romance. Novel. Please check the trigger and content warnings for this one, as there are a lot.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.
ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

First things first, this is absolutely not a love story. I feel like some people will be misled by the description of the book, be disappointed and miss the real story happening. Second, my god, I needed this book when I was in my twenties. Adelaide reminds me so much of myself, especially who I was at that point in my life. I have a feeling some readers will get frustrated with her and want to shake her (which, I get), but for me, I just wanted to give her a hug and have a cry together. I thought this book gave a really good look and insight at mental illness and relationships. I really liked that we got a little bit of Rory’s POV (even though I wanted to punch him), but not so much that it overshadowed or encroached on Adelaide’s space. This book deals with a lot of heavy topics so as usual, I highly recommend making sure you’re in the right headspace for it. Also, this is absolutely more of a character driven novel than plot driven. I think some people might not connect with it and that’s okay, but I absolutely loved this book. I’m so happy I read it. I got so much out of it.
TW: sexual assault, mental illness, suicide attempt, miscarriage

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

In some of the early reviews I read about “Adelaide” were admonishments that this is not a romance or a love story with cute banter and a guaranteed happily-ever-after. And, honestly, that is what drew me into this layered, nuanced, haunting, emotional telling of a young woman who thinks she’s in love. As the story progresses, we feel the turmoil she experiences over questions of how do you know your love is being returned, what truly is a love-based partnership, and what happens when one person falls too far in love and towards possible self-humiliation? Where do you end it and how do you survive? Unfortunately, from the first chapter we know this will not be a happy adventure.

Adelaide is a young American in London who has never been in love and finds herself pining after Rory, a guy who often ghosts her, seems less than honest about his own life, but seems to be her “Disney prince” as he delivers the requisite compliments to get her in bed. As Adelaide continues to describe her relationship, there’s a pervasive sense of dread. She’s not a totally naive innocent, she’s had more than her share of disappointing relationships, she’s familiar with familial mental illness,and she has some supportive friends (“try to focus on the things you can control here, you know?”), yet she can’t find the strength to snap out of what appears to be a toxic romance. We learn something about Rory, too — he is terrible at commitment and has already driven away the person he thought was the love of his life.

Adelaide is an incredibly well-constructed character and the author has mastered the craft of creating a fully realized person. You sympathize with and want to yell at Adelaide — she’s become a flawed friend, but a friend worth keeping.what a terrific debut novel! 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for a free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Rory has sparkling green eyes, and Adelaide’s have green specks.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO The author obviously appreciates peonies.

This book was amazing. The author spoke about mental health truthfully and was not afraid to breach hard topics. Going to be one of my recommendations to others this year

This debut novel from Genevieve Wheeler is not a romance, but a very real and raw what not to do. Adelaide is a young American in London, with dreams and ambition, not looking for love until she finds Rory on a dating app. She believed in this: In beauty and grace and enchantment. The dysfunction in this relationship, the desperation, self destruction and low self esteem was so real, that it just made me sad. Please girls, you deserve better! This isn’t love.
Can Brennan show her what love is?
Thanks to Genevieve Wheeler, Net Galley and St Martin’s Press for this ARC. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Adelaide is a Boston girl living in London. She meets and falls in love with a British boy named Rory. Happily ever after? Not exactly. See, Rory is still hung up on his ex; which makes him very hot and cold with Adelaide, who's moods sometimes depend entirely on whether or not Rory is treating her well. This is a story about a girl who learns her worth, but man does it take her a while to get there.

I loved this book. Absolutely could not put it down. Adelaide was frustrating but loveable and you can't help but want to either protect her or shake her and tell her to run far far away from Rory. And who out there hasn't had their own Rory? There were so many times I could put myself in her shoes that I had to stop and reflect on whether or not my family felt the same way about me that Adelaide's friends and family do about her. Kind of a kick in the teeth; but still. This is a book that will break your heart and put you back together. Easily my favorite of the year.

Okay, don't come for me. I liked Adelaide. There were parts that I really resonated with, parts that I remember living through myself. I think this was a case of right book wrong time for me, because I loved Adelaide. I am Adelaide at times. And the cover is GORGEOUS. But something just didn't sit right with me. I DNFed at 64% with the intention of picking it up again. It's not you, its' me Adelaide.

First off I'd like to start off by saying this book has lots of triggers, so I'd suggest reading up on those before diving into this book. Right out the gate we have an attempted suicide and suicidal ideations. But I will say this author and this book gives a good representation of someone suffering from depression, like how the person isn't always sad, they have happy moments too, and they do love their life. They just want an escape when moments become overwhelming and their cup has run empty. However, to describe this book as a love story is a severe misrepresentation in a traditional romance book. Rory and Adelaide did not have a beautiful romance. The book ends with a happy ending, but for the most part throughout this book Adelaide was abused. This is a heavy book.

The lack of quotation during dialogue bothered me. It was hard at times to distinguish if it was the person's thought or spoken out loud in conversation.

I did enjoy the format of how the plot was laid out for us. We start off with a tragedy at the very beginning of the book and then we go back in time to see how we got to this tragic situation. I always enjoy when books and shows use this form of foreshadowing. Overall, I can't say I'd readily recommend this book.


TW: suicide, grief, mental health, death, miscarriage, infertility, sexual abuse, mental abuse.

**Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an advanced copy of this book and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion. I am posting this review to my Goodreads account immediately and will post it to my Amazon & Instagram accounts upon publication.

I loved this book so much it hurts to even think about. It was a book that was painful to read because I felt like I was reading diary entries. I felt like I was reading about myself and my experiences. It was like looking in a mirror and being faced with the hard truth of your reality.

Because of that, it took me a little longer than usual to get through it, but that was because of my own personal insecurities and issues.

Adelaide is a flawed protagonist who you want to shake - she deserves so much better than Rory gives her. I wanted to scream that it wasn't going to work out, that Rory is not who she thinks he is, that he is not who she needs. I knew that I was right because I've had my own Rory Hughes... I've had a few if I'm being honest.

Her view of relationships are deeply flawed because of the trauma she has been through, so you can't blame her. And even when she's frustrating, you're rooting for Adelaide because you know her heart is good; she is a dedicated worker, a good friend, and a fantastic partner.

When things finally come to a head between Adelaide and Rory, when the floor falls out from both of them and you are brought back down to earth, it feels like everything is lighter and you can clearly see the light at the end of the tunnel the way Adelaide starts too.

The ending was beautiful and it was something I saw coming all throughout the book, but it made my heart sing. It made me cry, both with happiness and utter relief. If Adelaide was ok then maybe I was going to be ok too.

Adelaide, at the surface, is about a girl who is looking to care and love someone, and for someone to do the same for her. It's about growing up, finding your own way and learning to live in this world without the security blanket. It's also about mental health, how you can bring yourself so close to the edge and don't know which way to fall.

It's emotional, funny, heartbreaking and heartwarming, all at the same time. It will teach you something you weren't aware you needed to learn.

The writing was outrageous; I honestly can't believe these words came from someone's brain... Wheeler is an artist. Adelaide is unlike anything I've ever read. It reads like literary fiction, which in my opinion, is always a little difficult to follow because I feel like I need an English teacher deciphering the words, but not Adelaide; and I say that with the utmost respect.

It was poetic in the nature of the writing but it was easy to read, easy to follow and you didn't feel lost. It was the best of both worlds.

If you need a good book with incredible writing, a good message and a fun setting (London, hello!) you will love Adelaide. Even if you're unsure if you'll like it, try it. It might surprise you!

Oh wow. This book was so special. It was beautiful and heartbreaking and it's going to stay with me for a long, long time. Most of us at some point in our lives have given our hearts, bodies, even our souls to the wrong person and tried so very hard to make it work...to make them love us back. This book is THAT to the nth degree. Adelaide is such a loveable character that I wanted to take her in my arms and tell her how special was and deserving of so much more than she was getting. The female friendships depicted in this book are some of the best I've ever read. I highly recommend this book. Content warnings include mental health, suicide, emotional and sexual abuse.

A beautiful story that deals with a romantic relationship but is truly about mental health and the importance of taking care of yourself and not losing yourself to other people. There are definitely trigger warnings present here but for those who can safely read this book, it’s a beautiful story about life.

Ahhhh Adelaide! I want to wrap you up in a hug and shelter you away from everything that ever broke your heart! This book was a tough one to start. Beginning on a depressive note is a big hurdle to get over for someone who likes reading romance books, but I hope that anyone that picks this book up presses on. In a way, Adelaide is a coming-of-age story much more than a romance (even though I promise you get your HEA). At 26, Adelaide is living in London balancing work, being everything for her boyfriend Rory, and desperately wanting to feel whole and worthy of love. The story is written in third person POV, mostly from Adelaide’s perspective and using italics instead of quotes. I enjoyed this way of reading because I felt like I was listening in to Adelaide conversing and thinking instead of having her tell me. It allowed for musings on Adelaide and other character’s future interactions, thoughts, and misgivings where first person wouldn’t have allowed.

From the beginning we know Adelaide has reached her rock bottom and the story goes back in time to walk the reader through what led her to this point. We meet Adelaide’s friend group, ex boyfriend, coworkers, Rory, and other meaningful characters that impact her life. I loved Eloise the most—she is the best kind of friend—loyal, sympathetic, and she truly loves Adelaide. A found family of sorts, it’s Adelaide’s girl friends that help her and encourage her the most. If anything, this book is about how friends lift us up and are the biggest support of all.
Be warned, there is so much heartache in this book. Even from the moment Adelaide gets her first boyfriend, there is pain. I would definitely check all content warnings before reading, but if you enjoy a book that hurts you to read because the main character is so raw and vulnerable, then Adelaide definitely fits the bill. One thing I would’ve liked more of is the “after” (the book is broken into sections of before, during, and after a certain event). After is where there is growth and hope and redemption. The Epilogue felt like a beginning instead of an end and I would’ve liked seeing more of this side of Adelaide. Little hints are dropped along the way to Adelaide’s happy ever after and I guess I wanted the person she shared this with to get more of a voice.

Genevieve Wheeler has written a heartrending debut of what it’s like to become emotionally attached in your twenties to someone that may not be your perfect match. Adelaide tackles mental health, falling in love, loss, and fear of being unlovable. I expect more great things from this author. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

CW: death of a friend, alcohol use, attempted suicide, sexual trauma, ghosting, bipolar and mental disorders discussed, prescription med use/abuse, miscarriage

WOW..this book was so beautiful and so sad. Lots of trigger warnings and super heavy topics on top of a toxic relationship. Adelaide is such a real character and I was so invested in her story, I cannot stop thinking about it! I will say this book will not be for everyone, but I HIGHLY recommend.

Wow! This book. I mean this as a compliment, I don’t know that I’ve read a book where I’ve immediately needed to discuss with my therapist like this one! Funny, sad, beautiful writing- this book really has it all. While I can see why it’s important to the characters, this would be a five star read for me without the HP references.

This is an incredibly written debut novel. I absolutely was hooked from the first chapter. The layout of the book and timelines was really great to read. Big trigger warning should be placed at beginning of book, but it made it easier to read reading the big trigger/event first, and felt I was able to enjoy the story knowing the semi-ending.
I feel the description does not do this story justice. It is not a rom-com or a love story. It's a character-driven story of self-awareness, self-preservation, and relationships. I fell in love with Adelaide and wanted only good things for her. It hurt my heart reading about her unconditional love and who she gave it to.
Genevieve Wheeler was able to loop together a beautiful story, with lovely characters and friendships. It truly was a pleasure to read. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advance copy. I loved it.

4.5 stars!

Wow! I was not expecting the emotional toll this book would take. I went into this book mostly blinded by the awesome cover. I’m actually a little shocked this is a debut. I looked her up because I wanted to see what else she had out there that I could get my hands on!

This is the type of book that you have to read in the right mood. I’m saying this because it’s heavy. There’s such a toxic relationship but also a lot of really heavy topics. There’s a lot of mental health in this book, which I appreciate. I will always love books that shine a light on mental health, as a psychology major. It’s just so important.

Adelaide has not had an easy life. In fact, her mother and sisters all suffer from some form of mental illness. Her one sister has bipolar disorder that really took a lot out of the whole family. It’s never easy but she always made herself shrink into herself or the background to stay out of the way. This is where her problems start. When they say that your childhood is essential to your mental health in adulthood, they are not lying.

She’s also got several instances where she’s just been abused or taken advantage of. She’s struggling to find herself and then starts to just act the completely opposite. Instead of being afraid of men, she starts to chase after them. Regardless, she doesn’t think much of herself and that’s a problem when she meets Rory. I will say now, this isn’t really a love story. Their relationship is so toxic and hard to read about. This book gets really raw and pushes your comfort zone. Yet, I could not put this down. I started it and finished it the next day.

The mental health aspect is one that’s really explored, in many ways. She really doesn’t shy away from it and shines a light on it. There are some things I was not expecting but now make so much sense. I do wish that we would have spent a little less time with Rory and more time on her journey afterwards.

Overall, I loved what this book offered. It was addicting but hard to read at the same time. If you struggle with any of the things I’ve mentioned before, this might not be for you. This is not a love story or romance in any way. There’s some really controversial statements, as well. I might be a bit biased based on my psychology degree but I think it was a really emotional and inspiring story about Adelaide’s journey. I do think it could be a very polarizing book.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for an e-arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was not for me. It was very difficult to get into, partly because of the jumping timeline and locations, but also the sheer number of characters introduced. Even by the end, I couldn’t keep up.
While this was advertised as a story of Adelaide and Rory, I didn’t like either of their stories. There were so many tragic parts and with the way the story was told, there was a lack of depth. Both people were deeply mentally unhealthy and it was painful to read about. You have to really like classic literature and tragic stories to appreciate this novel. 1.5⭐️, 2🌶, ⚠️

I don't think I have ever related to a character more than I did to Adelaide in this novel. Wheeler has made such a compelling story with a main character that I think everyone will see a bit of themselves in. I can't wait for this book to come out, it will be on my reread list for sure.

Adelaide is a beautiful book about love and sacrifice.

Adelaide loves hard and sacrifices too much of herself, especially to a man who doesn't appreciate her.

I loved the writing in this book it pulled me in and the emotions described were so gripping. This reminded me of Ann Polantino who wrote Dear Edward. Any fan of her would love this book.

I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. I honestly feel everyone should read this book! 5 stars.

My feelings about this book are, frankly, complicated, as are my feelings toward Adelaide herself. I wanted to immediately fall in love with both the story and its main character, but I never felt fully connected to Adelaide or invested in her life. I think that has a lot to do with the storytelling itself, which felt a bit disjointed, and while I applaud the author for risks she takes in the style of her welting, I felt a bit of whiplash as the story unfolded. All that being said, I think this book will be one that is beloved by many, just maybe not me. Adelaide is an intriguing character, complex and flawed, but with a heart that is sincere, as she searches for love. For anyone looking for a romance, this is not a lighthearted love story. There are deep, raw emotions in this book, as well as tragedy and sadness.