Adelaide was a beautiful, raw book that had great character building. It was very relatable in some ways that I almost wish weren’t relatable!

I received an e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.

A truly realistic coming-of-age novel, Adelaide was sometimes infuriating but deeply and uncomfortably relatable. For better or worse, many women know all too well the horror of a dysfunctional relationship, especially the kind in your early 20s. I found myself cursing Rory's name aloud while reading, but also shaking my head in frustration at Adelaide, especially at the beginning of the novel. I wouldn't say that the characters are unlikable, particularly Adelaide, but they do make some poor decisions.

This is an extremely character-driven novel - there is plot, but not much to speak of. The writing is nevertheless propulsive, and I finished the novel in two days.

It's important to distinguish that this book is not a romance - it's a story of a doomed relationship and how each person in it grows and learns from it while also being slightly destroyed by it.

“She was so determined to make him love her. How could he not love her, after all of this?”

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“Remember this, he thought. Remember that you’re still allowed to feel joy.”

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This is one of the most beautiful #books I’ve had the pleasure of #reading in a while (both on the inside and out).

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I really resonated with Adelaide, for one, but also found it such a powerful and inspiring (and exceedingly relatable) testament to figuring out life in your late twenties whilst navigating work, changing lives with friends moving, finding relationships, starting families, etc. (particularly when you feel left behind or like you’re doing something wrong by not being there yet), and seeking out someone who will love you as desperately as you deserve to be loved. This one was funny, heartbreaking, and everything in between, and had the added tried and true triumph of being an ode to the brilliant, magical, beloved friends who carry us through the good, the bad, and the ugly, wine and pizza included. This one also has a profound and honest storyline of mental health issues, their prevalence, and the power in acknowledging them.

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One of my favorite quotes from this one serves as the perfect two-line summary of this brilliant #novel: “Her colleagues and friends got flower deliveries, proposals, wedding bands. Adelaide, repeatedly, got ghosted.”

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This one centers in on Adelaide - a lovely human being who, though obviously imperfect, is bursting to the brim with so very much personality, wit, kindness, and love for the people in her life, and the love stories we convince ourselves are meant for us, versus the ones that actually are.

Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler is truly a must read. This book was so real, and so raw; admittedly, it can be a bit of a heavy read at times but worth every second. This novel is an exploration, of love, friendship and self discovery. The MC is on a mental health journey and makes some hard decisions but you want to champion her the entire way. Such an Incredible piece of writing and a smashing debut novel. I look forward to see what more is to come from Genevieve Wheeler’s future writing.

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This book has been one of my most anticipated reads this year, and I was so excited to immerse myself into this beautiful and heartbreaking story.

I paired the book with the audiobook, and loved to read this way, and completely lose myself in the story. It was compelling and so relatable.

I knew when I couldn’t stop thinking of this book and the characters that it would stay with me, and I just loved it so much!

*many thanks to St Martins Press, Macmillan audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

Such a beautiful cover!
This book was not an easy read at all which is probably why it took me so long to finish. It is very triggering and I wish I had known that going in.

This book was just as painful as I thought it would be, highlighting the things that make relationships when you don't quite have your footing and a solid sense of self liabilities to your self-esteem.

4⭐️ This was too real and too raw. Not everyone will be a fan of this book since is not an easy read but it is a great book if you are a fan of deeply emotional books. It was definitely worth the read.

Thank you so much NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC

I went into this book really hopeful that I would love it. So many parts of this story were so good - it was touching, moving, perfectly melodramatic, and encapsulating dating in your early 20s. Of course, given the subject matter, it was hard to not get frustrated with Adelaide as you watched her make poor decision after poor decision and not choose herself. The book delicately handled mental health issues and showed the slippery slope of basing your happiness and wellbeing on a relationship. I was pleased with the ending of the book, but eager for the story to wrap up. I definitely plan to read more from this author in the future.

Sadly, I started this book but I could not finish it. The write up about it was definitely misleading and I could not find myself caring for any of the characters. I believe I am in the minority here, but it was not for me.

This book was so frustrating but also so, so relatable. I was rooting for Adelaide the entire time, and she continued to disappoint me. However, I found her behavior and reasoning behind it pretty realistic and familiar. My main gripe is the author trying too hard to be profound at times. The ending also frustrated me. I don't feel like it honored Adelaide's character growth.

Beginning this one I was optimistic however after listening to the narrated audio version of this book, I could not continue listening. The character voice along with the narrators tone, everything was whining and just a laundry list of this characters sad experiences with past relationships.

This book was so emotional and beautiful. It definitely deals with some heavy themes so be sure to look up the trigger warnings before reading and make sure you’re in the right mindset before reading. Beautiful and very well written debut.

This story was beautiful and painful and raw; the mental health representation was handled so well. Fans of character-driven stories will love this! It’s full of heavier themes so I think if someone goes into this with that awareness, they’re going to be in the right headspace to fall in love with it. I think it’s important to share trigger warnings!

This book deals with some real heavy topics on mental health, consent, suicide, and abuse. I respect how careful and with a lot of thought these topics were written. Even with the strong topics, Adelaide is a book that everyone should read.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

Wow. The author definitely takes you on an emotional rollercoaster. This story is what a lot of people will need I think as many have been in Adelaide's shows at one point in their life. They're just trying to find love and give the abundance of love they have in return only to find someone who doesn't truly appreciate what they are giving. To be a revolving door for when they need a pick me up. It was easy to read, the writing done really well even with the heave topics addressed.

The point of Adelaide's obsession felt misplaced but I guess I can see how it would happen. I've never been in this particular place so I wouldn't really know what goes through someone's mind as it's happening. I did appreciate the mental health representation as I do have experience with that. The end was definitely fitting and I'm happy with how it was wrapped up.

Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler was a strong debut novel. It told us the story of the main character of the same name, Abigail, twenty six years old, and how she fell in love with a guy named Rory. And how Rory treated her, which is spoiler: but he sucked, bad. He's a guy that treated her like she's insignificant, a mere nuisance. Adelaide had let him did her dirty like this. But despite everything, Adelaide kept coming back to Rory. In an internet slang: she's down bad. Which is not a bad thing if he's equally down bad for her, but for the sake that's holy, that guy Rory didn't care about her at all. He kept showing her how he didn't care about her on how he acted, and yet Adelaide seemed not be getting on how she's been done poorly. Which for some people might find Adelaide annoying for this. But I also get that when you're in love, you made everything about that person better in your head. They could do no wrong in your head. I think that's what happened with Audrey.
Overall, this was a good read. Audrey's character was fleshed out well, and the author's writing flowing and easy to follow despite the formatting of the dialogues.

3.75/5 rounded up.

I actually went in thinking it was a romcom, and boy was I wrong. It's actually a dark romance with mental health themes. I loved the escapism of the London setting, as a fellow millennial woman.

I wanted to like Adelaide more than I did -- both the book and the character. Adelaide certainly has her endearing qualities, and there are definitely times when she is a sympathetic character, and you feel for her as she struggles with loss/grief and copes with mental illness (once she is diagnosed). However, she is also often a very sad, pathetic character, allowing herself to be taken advantage of and engaging in immature or inappropriate behavior. Rory, the love interest for much of the story, is also somewhat pathetic, and cowardly. The best part of the book overall is the supporting cast, especially Eloise, Nico, Celeste, and Bubs. Adelaide is also a better character at the end of the story.

This book was an incredibly moving and impactful. I felt the deep emotions of the main character. The book is so raw and real. You completely relate with her and everything she's gone through. I highly recommend it.