Adelaide has great female friendships but does not make good decisions when it comes to romantic relationships to men. It was difficult for me to read how she kept giving and giving to Rory, and he largely acted like a jerk to her, ghosting her for days at a time and otherwise not offering the support and love she gave to him.

There is also mental illness and other events from her past that made this darker and more depressing than I thought it was going to be.

NetGalley provided an advance reader copy of this novel, which RELEASES APRIL 18, 2023.

Almost strangely, yet certainly beautifully written. It is a novel you won’t soon forget.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

i knew just from reading the synopsis that i would really love this book and i’m so glad i reached out about it. a big life motto adelaide repeats to herself throughout the book is that people come to us exactly when we need them to, and says she feels the same about books. i think this book came to me just when i needed it to, and for that i feel very attached.

this book follows the titular character, adelaide williams, as she navigates her life as an american in london and her relationship with the man of her dreams rory hughes. when rory is met with an unexpected and devastating loss, adelaide does everything in her power to be his support even if it means losing herself in the process.

this book is a VERY heavy read and i do not suggest anyone go into it lightly. i’ll attach some trigger warnings at the end and i highly recommend checking them out before giving it a go.

tw/cw: suicidal ideation/attempt, sexual assault, abusive relationship, off-page death of parent and friend, miscarriage, mental health struggles.

This book is a MUST READ! The way Genevieve Wheeler writes about Adelaide’s state of mind throughout her various ups and downs and through a few seasons of her life is insightful, heart-wrenching, funny, and heartfelt. Somehow, she manages to delve deep into every bit of emotion Adelaide is feeling, and the complexities of those feelings, without it feeling too complex. Once I picked it up I couldn’t put it down, and I find myself missing these characters like they’re real friends of mine. I can’t wait to read more from Genevieve Wheeler!

Oh what a lovely, heartbreaking, tender book this is! As painful as it was to watch Adelaide languish with Rory, I loved her and wanted all of the good things for her. (Rory, on the other hand….) The prose is full of gorgeous writing that I will want to underline when the book is released. If you loved Ghosts by Dolly Alderton or Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason you will love this book!

I'm trying to put my finger on what exactly didn't work for me with this book. I think the very earnest, uncomplicated approach to Adelaide just fell flat. Like both Adelaide and Rory came across as navel-gazing characters and the book comes across as a navel-gazing exercise. I love the idea of a book tackling a toxic relationship and having something to say about the way interpersonal power dynamics reveal truths about class and gender (like in Normal People), but I don't think this book does that (to be fair, I don't know if it had those ambitions). Just fine.

I enjoyed this debut from Genevieve Wheeler but was surely glad I read reviews with content warnings before heading in. This is not an easy read - it deals with immensely challenging topics, and the prologue opens with the main character’s suicide attempt.

The book follows Adelaide Williams, American ex-pat living in London, over about a two year period. The central story is about her relationship with Rory Hughes. Their relationship is deeply toxic and unloving but Adelaide cannot realize it.

The prose is very beautifully written, but I was frustrated with Adelaide’s lack of growth and the inability of her friends and loved ones to say anything meaningful about how Rory treats Adelaide. The last 30% or so was the highlight of the book as Adelaide finally gets help for her mental illness and gathers up the broken pieces of her life, but I can see why others may DNF before making it there.

Content warnings include growing up in a family with a bipolar sister and suicidal mother; suicide ideations and attempt; recounting of a sexual assault described in detail on page; gaslighting and manipulative behavior

I voluntarily reviewed and early copy. All opinions are my own.

This Book wrecked me. The story starts with the titular Adelaide checking her self into the hospital for suicidal thoughts due to a break up. The story then flashes back to when Adelaide first met her now ex boyfriend Rory. We see Adelaide fall in love with Rory, and the struggles of their relationship. We also get to meet the various people in Adelaide's life, and get glimpses into Rory's past. Through out the whole story we get to see Adelaide's struggles and joys.

This is a difficult read, Trigger warnings for sexual asualt, mental illness, suicide and death of a loved one. With that said I found the book beautiful, the slightly non-linear timeline really helped convey Adelaide and Rory's mental states. Adelaide's struggles with her mental health are written wonderfully and relatable, as someone who grew up in a family where many people have mental health issues like Adelaide and who also struggles with suicidal thoughts the way Adelaide does. While I hated the way Rory treats Adelaide and really resented what he did to her the way he was written made understand that while he was awful in their relationship I didn't completely hate him. Eloise, Adelaide's best friend, is wonderful the way she is completely on Adelaide's side really warmed my heart knowing that Adelaide even when she's feeling her absolute worse Eloise is still there fighting for her.

I really loved this one. I'm very glad I read it and i look forward to more from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

ARC Review: Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler

Adelaide, debut novel by Genevieve Wheeler, available April 18, 2023!

I requested this book after seeing some buzz about it on TikTok and was so excited to dive in!

Before reading this book, please check trigger warnings (without giving too much away, the character deals with mental health issues, sexual assault, grief and loss, and emotional abuse among others).

Just as Adelaide believes paths cross and fates align, I too felt like I read this book at the right time working through some of my past relationship traumas. I related to the ups and downs of Adelaide’s discovery of herself, giving too much to people who are not ready to receive their love, and finding ways to deal with her own struggles in the process. If you are looking for a book with “all the feels” – Adelaide delivers. The story is gripping, honest, and realistic. How many of us have pined after another or worried they were more invested than their partner in their relationship?

There are some stylistic features to point out. The e-book ARC had italics for dialogue and it took some time to get used to the text messages embedded within the normal text of the paragraphs. It took me a few chapters to get used to it! Also, Wheeler uses flashbacks and foreshadowing, so don’t be alarmed if you learn about how things happen before they do. I felt like this was highly effective and was refreshing to stretch my reading muscles with this book vs. point-A-to-point-B style prose.

This book is labeled as women’s fiction but bends multiple genres. If you are looking for a light-hearted romance novel, this would not be the best fit!

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced (e-)reader copy (my first!) and a chance to rate and review this book!

3.5 ⭐️ 0.5 🌶

NOTE:
TikTok: Video is in draft, will release within 2 weeks of book release!
Amazon: Will post when book released

I have no words. Such a powerful storyline with a lovable main character. This book just felt so real and raw and emotional. I’m afraid that no other book I read this year will top it!

Releases in April, thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a review.

I wasn't sure what I was getting into when I started reading this book, but I ended up really enjoying it. While I can't say that I loved all the characters and found them relatable, I did think they were plausible. Don't go into this book thinking it's a rom-com or you'll be disappointed - it's a much deeper story and not always light-hearted. I did really enjoyed Genevieve Wheeler's writing and will keep an eye out for future books.

This read alternates between the past and present. You follow the story of Adelaide and Rory. Throughout the book, you’ll uncover who they were before, during, and after their relationship. You’ll follow the journey of an individual’s personal growth but also one of insecurity, immaturity and toxicity within a relationship. Topics such as SA, mental health, unhealthy relationships, and suicidal ideations are present. The end leaves the reader optimistic and with the message that brighter things are always ahead of us. Overall, there were moments that dragged a bit throughout this read.

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC and Libro.fm for the Audio!

Oh goodness. I haven’t been this attached to a character in a long time. I felt Adelaide’s presence in many forms. I saw myself, at that age; I saw a best girlfriend, a sister, a daughter. I remembered the pains and the beauty of being a 20-something year old. And I feared for that bittersweet phase that my own daughter has not yet entered. Thank you, Genevieve Wheeler, for creating this visceral story, that felt so real and relatable. I am planning on getting my hands on a physical copy and, for the first time ever, annotating a book.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC. Truly.

Adelaide, Adelaide, Adelaide. This book was an emotional ride for me. I honestly absolutely loved this book. It all felt close to reality with messy relationships, imperfect people, mental health struggles, navigating life and more. My heart hurt but also rooted for Adelaide. She feels like a piece of who I used to be.

*this book is not for the faint of heart, there are many sensitive topics throughout*


A big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for my arc!

WOW. What an incredibly heartfelt, impactful, and emotional read. This book literally looks inside your soul - explores what it's like to struggle with finding yourself, your passion in life, and self-worth. This book tackles an extremely complex (& toxic, in my opinion) relationship very delicately but in a way that lands in your heart SO hard. This is exactly my favorite type of book. If I could read this over and over and over again - I would.

Highly recommend this for fans of Sally Rooney, Dolly Alderton, or any British contemporary/lit fic!

Whew! This was 4 powerful stars.
I had no idea that this novel held so many feelings and it wrecked me. It was the sort of novel you have to read or listen to when you’re in a good place. It was narrated by Caitlin Kelly and she was phenomenal. Perfect for this.
I felt heartsick, angry and then determined. Some or most of the relationships are complicated and messy. You’ll see. It ended up balanced and I found it painful. The writing was good. I hope this was helpful.
Thanks Macmillan Audio and St Martins Press via NetGalley.

this book was missing something that would make me truly care about the characters. no one felt "real" and the story felt flat. i was expecting more but was disappointed.

thank you to St. Martin's Press for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book is for the people who give their all in relationships, the ones who love too hard. This isn’t a happy, sappy love story but it is about all types of love - friend love, partner love, self love, family love. It’s about finding yourself and learning that everyone isn’t meant for you.

I could find myself relating a lot to this book and to Adelaide, which is why I think I enjoyed it so much.

It took a minute to get into it, but once I did I couldn’t get enough. I also didn’t love how instead of quotations, conversations were in italics, but I got used to it after a while. The timeline was a little hard to follow (going back and forth from the past and somewhat-present and remembering what happened in what year, but it wasn’t too bad.

Just a warning - there are a lot of really heavy topics in this book which may make it not for everyone.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I’m so glad I had the chance to read and review it. Thank you to Genevieve Wheeler, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the eARC!

I liked but did not love this book. The subject matter can be difficult and triggering for those who are not aware that it begins with suicidal ideations.

I'm so glad for the opportunity to review this ARC.

I can't say if this book was for me or not. I fall in the middle of liking it and not enjoying it. Firstly, I wouldn't classify this as a romance at all. It's contemporary fiction. Maybe going into it with that expectation would have changed my reaction to it. I was expecting a heart breaking, tearjerker of a romance, and instead it was the opposite. Rory was the most unlikeable character I've ever read. I understand that Adelaide was with him because her confidence was low and she was depressed, but I was screaming at the pages for her to punch him in the face and walk away.

Other than the story, I didn't love the writing and format. Quotation marks weren't used, dialogue was italicized. That would've been fine but internal dialogue was also italicized so it made it slightly confusing. There were a lot of parenthesis in the writing as well and it got redundant. Lastly, some parts felt so hurried, like the author was rushing us through but then non-consequential scenes were laid out in great detail. All in all, I was just a bit confused by the writing.

Overall, the story of Adelaide is great, but the execution fell short for me. The writing was distracting and the expectations I had going into it also likely led to some disappointment. If you're a fan of general fiction, this may be more your style.