I received an advanced listening copy of Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review, and here it is.
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☆☆☆☆ ½ - rounded up to 5 stars
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Adelaide is not your typical romance story. This is a story about a young woman making her way through her schooling and career in a different country away from her family. Mental health issues run in her family, and she has unprocessed trauma. She meets her Disney Prince, but is he really?
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I love the realistic relationships depicted in this story. They made me so invested. I appreciate the deeper topics that are addressed that kept me intrigued. I admire how relatable this story is and how Adelaide navigated things as best she can.
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Thanks to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and author Genevieve Wheeler for this ALC to honestly review. Adelaide is out NOW! Go get it!!!

Happy Pub day, Adelaide! April 18th, 2023

Quick notes:
⁃ 4.5 ⭐️! Full review on GoodReads
⁃ Highlights Female Friendships
⁃ Similar in style to Normal People by Sally Rooney
⁃ Melancholy Tone
⁃ Check trigger warnings - heavy topics discussed

Adelaide: A Captivating Coming of Age Tale Full of Love, Loss, and Rediscovery

Genevieve Wheeler's debut novel, "Adelaide," is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant story that will captivate readers from the very first page. If you are fan of Sally Rooney’s, Normal People, this will be a must-read for you. It’s a literary fiction youthful masterpiece! I’ve never read a novel more relatable to the young adult experience. It both makes me miss my 20’s, and equally thankful to have evolved past the drama and pain that these years of self-discovery can bring to light.

Caitlin Kelly narrates the audiobook, and does an outstanding job. In looking up her other works of narration, she has some popular titles with her byline. Her work with this novel makes me eager to add her other work to my TBR, and I suggest the same to all my other audiobook fans. I was able to easily listen and enjoy at 1.75x speed.

Overall, "Adelaide" is a beautifully crafted novel that will linger in readers' hearts long after the last page is turned. Genevieve Wheeler's prose is exquisite, her characters are richly drawn, and the themes of love, loss, and rediscovery are explored with depth and nuance. Highly recommended for readers who appreciate literary fiction that delves into the human experience with sensitivity and grace.

Thank you to @Macmillan.Audio, @stmartinspress and @Netgalley for an ALC in exchange for a honest opinion!

This book is likely the experience of so many women in their 20's or 30s. They are holding down a great job, surrounded by friends, but dating the wrong person. A person that can't love them like they deserve but enjoys their presence. Rory isn't a terrible, evil person, but he is so unfair to Adelaide but she continues to try to make it work. I love that mental health was represented and how grief is ok, and I think this book is a great book club book to start a discussion!

This book was such an incredible representation of love & the tumultuous feeling of loving when you’re young. I found myself SO caught up in this story & my heart hurting for Adelaide. I’ve already purchased a physical copy & can’t wait to force it on everyone I love.

Beautiful, messy, unputdownable!! I fell in love with Adelaide and wish I had picked this book up sooner. I've had an ALC for months and this gorgeous cover finally urged me to give it a chance on pub day.

The mental health rep in this book is truly the star! I loved how refreshingly real Adelaide felt as a a strong, bookish, messily flawed main character. She has a traumatic experience as a teenager and deals with it poorly until she suddenly meets the man she thinks is the one only to find he doesn't love her the way she deserves.

This book tackles some tough topics with such care and grace. Adelaide has high highs and low lows, experiences great loss and breathtaking love. This debut story truly captured my heart and I can't recommend it enough. It was also excellent on audio narrated by Caitlin Kelly!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Librofm and the publisher for an ALC in exchange for my honest review. I cannot wait to read whatever Genevieve Wheeler writes next!!

CW: bipolar disorder, depression, suicidal ideation, miscarriage, rape

This story has it all. Coming of age, romance, hardships, happy college days, and one girl who has moved to England in hopes of a better and brighter future. I read and listened to Adelaide simultaneously and it really enveloped me into the story, I felt all of the emotions Adelaide was going through from the highs to the lows. I love the writing style and the timeline of this book. The prologue gives the sneak peek of what’s to come for Adelaide, the story is so raw and heartfelt throughout, and the epilogue gives the hope and giddiness for the future. Although I felt the story was rushed at times and I wanted to know more background of how it played out, I still felt the meaning of Adelaide’s story and the bigger picture. This is truly an amazing debut, and I highly suggest checking it out!

Thank you to St. Martins Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced copies in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great story. The narrator was amazing and I hope to hear more of her books in the future. The story was a little hard to follow because it jumps around so much without giving a lot of difference in the narrative. The problems in this story are very real to people today and should definitely come with trigger warnings of suicide ideation.

*4.5 Stars On My Instagram Account*

"Once we knew the price of love was grief we'd never do it again."

"Remember you are still allowed to feel joy."

What do you do when you feel only the grief and believe you are not worthy of the joy? In the very raw and real Adelaide by phenomenal debut author Genevieve Wheeler we follow 26 year old Adelaide's emotional journey through her grief from broken love to hopefully the joy of loving herself.

An American living in London, Adelaide has devoted friends, a career she loves, and a full dating life. Alas, like most of us covering our inner pain and anxiety with a smile, Adelaide has issues. Her friends compensate for her dysfunctional family, and her one night stands hide the pain of sexual assault.

One night, a bit drunk, she tells a handsome man he looks like a Disney Prince and runs away. Imagine her surprise when in the future they become a couple. Notice I didn't write they fell in love. That's because only Adelaide is in love. Rory doesn't do love, or so he says, but he doesn't let her go either. He doesn't return texts, he forgets to call, he makes her sleep on the floor because she's a restless sleeper. You get it. He's a selfish prick. But when he does show affection or says a kind word, Adelaide believes if she keeps finding ways to please him he will love her.

Narrator Caitlin Kelly is Adelaide. Adelaide's capacity to love with everything in her being, except herself, was present and honest. When a tragedy causes Rory to spin out of control it's Adelaide, despite her own grief, that gives her all to help him through it. It's also the event that is at the heart of this story. Adelaide fighting to love herself.

Not all abuse is physical. Not all pain leaves a visible bruise. Adelaide is a love oneself story. The most important kind.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from MacMillan Audio via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

I thought Adelaide was going to be a love story but boy was I wrong. This story of a troubled young woman touches on mental illness and is about as far from a love story as possible.
I enjoyed the book and thought the writing was clear and crisp but this is not a love story in any form.
Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the arc in exchange for my review.

Oh Adelaide - - your kind heart was truly too kind. Adelaide is a character that I could easily identify with. I totally understand thinking if you just try a little bit harder that you can make everything be okay or make people like you more. It's such a human reaction. Adelaide may have taken it to the extreme, but we know she had her own issues to deal with.

Adelaide is an American living in England when she meets Rory Hughes and the stars seem to align where she's concerned. She's convinced he's the one. But why is he so inattentive? Every time it seemed like Adelaide would work up the nerve to step back from Rory, something would happen and she'd excuse his behavior yet again. All it does is wear her down and make her question her own worth over and over again. It's heartbreaking to see her value herself so little and him so much. But Adelaide had a rocky past with relationships and it made her more susceptible to his type of treatment.

As hard as this book was to read at times, Adelaide is a character that you can't help but pull for. She's kind hearted and you just want to see her end up with someone good and kind. She deserves to be valued. So, as difficult as the majority of this book is, there is hope at the end. Basically, it's worth all the tears and heartbreak because there is a rainbow coming.

Please note there are many trigger worthy events in this book so if you are someone that those may apply to, I would encourage you to approach with caution. TW: mental illness, suicide, miscarriage, abuse, non-consensual relations/rape, death.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The audiobook was perfection in my opinion. The narrator's voice captured Adelaide exactly how I imagined her. I listened to this book in one day. I have a day where I cook several meals for the week and I listen to an audiobook while I do so. I listened to Adelaide this week and it was just what I needed. I was entranced with the story from the first word until the end. 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for both the early listening copy and the ebook. I chose to review both and the opinions contained within are my own.

📚Synopsis:
Adelaide, a 20-something American woman who has moved to London to attend university, finds herself falling in love with Rory, a young Englishman who may not yet be ready for the love Adelaide needs. This book explores young love, friendship, mental health, toxic relationships, and finding the strength to move on.

✍️ My review:
This book was easily readable right from the beginning with an intriguing opening and lovely flow to the writing. The use of setting, pop-culture & literary references add to its appeal. Although largely a coming-of-age “self-discovery”genre, this book covers some big (and possibly triggering) topics but does so in a genuine and supportive way. This book felt targeted to a younger-than-me audience, and there were parts that didn’t work for me, but overall a well done book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 stars (3.5 / 5 stars)

💕You might like this book if:
🔹 you enjoy books about living big in your 20s
🔹 you enjoy books about friendships
🔹 you like books that explore mental health in an open and supportive way

A huge thanks to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for providing me with an ARC in return for an honest review.

This just wasn't my favorite. It wasn't awful, I just couldn't get engaged with Adelaide and Rory. I felt like it was a bit all over the place.

“the thing about adelaide is that she felt everything. truly everything. except the things she most needed to feel.”
rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (rounded down for netgalley)

READ IF YOU LIKE: tell me lies, toxic relationships, mental health rep, self-growth/self-love

LIL SYNOPSIS: adelaide is a twenty-something living in london when she meets rory, a guy who keeps her on a string without ever truly returning her affections. we meet adelaide in the present, and then get glimpses into her past that reveal the story that led to her now. a deep exploration through grief, trauma, abuse, self-doubt, and ultimately, lots of self-growth.

LIKES: the pure realness of this story, adelaide’s feelings were so raw and it felt like hearing about a friend, the journey through depression to self-love was so well done and so rewarding, adelaide’s friend group was rock solid and a beautiful reminder of how important friendship is, the power of vulnerability was portrayed really well, there’s something for everyone - no matter your story, it’s likely everyone will feel seen by at least one part in this book.

DISLIKES: the rory’s of the world.

IN CONCLUSION: thank you to netgalley and macmillan audio for the alc of this book - cannot believe this is a debut novel! i highly recommend for fans of tell me lies, readers on their own self-love journey, girlies going through a rough time, and anyone who has been in a difficult, toxic, and/or abusive relationship. i promise you’ll feel deeply seen by this book.

EPILOGUE: check TW before reading! this is a heavy book with heavy topics that may be difficult for some.

This was not your typical romance story, but was still relatable as I’m sure several people have been in a similar situation, myself included. The audio version was really great as it gets the Wheeler’s emotions across even better. The writing is great and once you’re hooked it becomes a quick, albeit somewhat heartbreaking read. I wish I had this book years ago and will recommend it to others.

This book was a unique example of the mental health and dating struggles of a 20 something in today's world. I have not come across any other books that so perfectly encapsulate the terrors of dating an emotional unavailable man in a world that teaches women to doubt and gaslight themselves at every turn.

While I loved the writing style, immediate hook at the beginning, and ending, I did find myself wishing the book would go faster or be a little shorter during the middle. The book was well paced otherwise, with an interesting use of chapters jumping between character experiences and time frames.

Adelaide is a twenty-six year old American living in London. She is successful, has great friends, and has fallen in love with Rory. Rory does not love her back, though they are in a relationship of sorts. Adelaide is convinced that if she does enough, <i>is</i> enough, he will love her back.

The story was good, though I read too much about Rory. (And, pet peeve, he is almost always referred to by his full name- Rory Hughes.) The writing style did not connect with me. We start in 2019, flash back, and then the flash backs have flash backs. We regularly switch POVs suddenly. I do have mild OCD, so I am guessing most people will not be bothered by this, but I was dying for some sort of organization.

Caitlin Kelly narrates the audiobook and does a phenomenal job.

I received an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. I think it has some pretty mature topics for middle school, but it may be a good book for some high school students who are ready for these topics. It was a good book and I don’t feel like there are a lot of novels about mental illness and the struggles of maintaining relationships while working through these challenges.

Adelaide broke my heart into pieces and then put the pieces back together better than before. Does it sound cheesy? Yes, but I truly mean it. This book touched me with its openness about how abuse when we are young shapes who we become, it’s full and undiluted show of depression, and the beautiful and realistic ways one can come back from rock bottom.

Adelaide is a twenty something from the US living in London. When she meets Rory Hughes, she’s not looking for a soul mate but becomes convinced it is serendipity. As she pours her love and time into him, Rory never returns the favor. Starting from the end and working through the past, this book slowly shows us how an unhealthy relationship can bring out so much grief, trauma, and self doubt.

This book is lovely and perfect, but it is extremely heavy. I suggest checking content warnings if you need to, and there are many. But on all of them, the author writes with respect, hope (but not the annoying kind), and sincerity. I highly recommend this for fans of Sorrow and Bliss and Maame.

I couldn’t put it down. I did cry. I did laugh. Not to be missed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest feedback.

The story begins with Adelaide, who has just moved into a new flat. She has a mental breakdown and checks herself into a facility after taking too many pills. We are then brought to years earlier going through Adelaide’s relationships and lack thereof. The abuse that she receives is described through different relationships and how she handles it both mentally and physically. The writing was captivating and flowed effortlessly. Adelaide’s heartbreak felt so real as all she wanted was to be loved. Adelaide is a people pleaser who gets burned out in every aspect of her life because she doesn’t take care of her mental health. Most of the story was from Adelaide’s POV until the end, and I loved this decision. I thought it worked well. The characters were all flawed and felt real. The story telling was beautiful and tragic. I loved how mental health was portrayed throughout the story. The real struggles, the highs and lows, everything good and bad. Adelaide is Wheeler’s debut novel! I cannot wait to see what Wheeler comes up with next.

In the beginning I was so intrigued. I got to 55% and nothing had happened in the book so I DNF’d.

Thank you NetGalley for the eALC in exchange for an honest review.