this felt like a great book to take when you’re traveling and want to be accompanied by characters that feel like family.

the whole thing was so heartwarming and funny and actually so real, i wish we could’ve gotten more of the siblings interaction since it was more focused on their own personal lives instead of how they helped each other on their problems but i still enjoyed it very much.

there’s a lot of characters but for a first i didn’t feel very confused about them, i think they were very well written and focused on their roles and what they’re supposed to bring to the story and the way i ended up connecting with them surprise me very much.

thank you avid reader press for the arc and everyone go get it and enjoy it as much i did.

This book really grew on me as I read it. I found the characters to be more and more lovable as the story went on. I often find characters' insecurities to be an overplayed trope and annoying, but the writing here is so strong and the character development so thoughtful that I was never annoyed. This family is so funny with unique dynamics and kind of wild connections to each other. They demonstrate love and caring in such real ways, sometimes a bit messy, but always real. This is a really special book about how we make our families and I recommend it to all.

Things I love in books:
1. discussions on being mixed race
2. gay

Things this book had:
1. discussions on being mixed race
2. gay

Greta and Valdin is very much a slice of life type of book, so not for those who need a plot. Thankfully I love character study books, so this was for me.

Greta and Valdin are Russian/Māori siblings, and the book simply follows them through some messy adventures. and I honestly don't want to say much more than that. The only thing that maybe bumped my rating down was my confusion over all the characters. We were (thankfully) given a character list at the beginning of the book, but while reading the e-arc it was too annoying to have to keep flicking back to it for reference. There were a lot of characters to keep track of, some of which shared a name. It also would've been really cool to have a family tree diagram! In addition to (or in replacement of) the character list at the start. I'm a visual girly hehe.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing the arc for review.

I'll leave this with some of my favourite parts.

"I wonder if my mum is embarrassed because these women think she named her firstborn child after a cartoon character, or because she didn’t give any of us Māori names. Would a different name have improved my life, or would people have been more openly racist towards me? Once, at school, I got called to the dean’s office because I didn’t show up to a careers meeting for Māori students, and they assumed I’d been wagging. It turned out my form teacher thought it was a mistake and threw the letter about it in the bin."

"Earlier, upstairs in the gallery, I looked at a painting that I didn’t like, a painting of a dark-skinned woman with golden hair, which the little plaque described as a racially mixed goddess. The same as me and the opposite of me, with my pale skin and black hair. Not a goddess at all, just a normal racially mixed mortal woman. I didn’t tell Geneviève that the painting made me feel bad, because I didn’t know if she would understand."

"“Sorry, I just have to fill this up,” I say, standing up with my bottle, and everyone nods because water is an acceptable thing to want. It’s transparent."

"I think that’s an issue with queer society. People still have trouble accepting anyone who isn’t already in or aspiring to be in a same-sex relationship as a part of the community. Being queer is... it’s in yourself, it doesn’t always have to do with other people.”""

"“Yeah, it’s just very hard to convince anyone that wanting to look pretty doesn’t mean you want attention from men. And then people say it to me so much I think I am bi, and I go out with straight guys and feel like I’m suffocating.”"

Greta & Valdin how I wanted to you. I don't even know why. From the cover and the synopsis I thought it was going to be true love. But I tried it in ebook, then audiobook, then physical book. There were some really funny moments, but overall, I needed more of a plot line. And I hate saying that because I usually LOVE coming of age novels, but something about this one didn't work for me.

Greta & Valdin was an exceptional read. Centred around siblings Greta and Valdin's chaotic but loving family, the book follows the brother-sister duo as they navigate young adulthood in Auckland. At once deeply hilarious, smart, and heartfelt, Reilly perfectly depicts the siblings contending with their relationships, family dynamics, and careers. Reilly also comments on structural racism and settler-colonialism in Aotearoa, addressing topics such as multiracial identity, queerness, micro-aggressions, class privilege, and land back.

I recommend this novel to lovers of authors such as Sally Rooney, Elif Batuman, and Emily Austin. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the e-ARC of this title.

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 4/5⭐️⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
𝗪𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝: I really loved this quirky, eccentric debut novel. It’s very character-driven, and both Greta and Valdin (and their supplemental family members/friends) were so odd, but in such an endearing way. It’s heartfelt, resonates deeply, and delivers this super dry humor and sarcasm that had me laughing out loud.

This book was so global in its representation, and I really loved learning all about the different, blended cultures. I was glad to have listened to it on audio alongside the physical copy because it helped with the pronunciation of the Māori, Russian, and Catalonian sayings.

I saw another review that mentioned this book having the vibe of a Wes Anderson film and that rings so true for me.

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞: There’s a very large cast of characters, many of them sharing names, so I found it hard to keep track at times—especially at the end when so many of the storylines converged.

3 stars, with a caveat (DNF)

Greta & Valdin kicked off with a promising start for me, a glimpse inside the ever churning minds of two queer siblings of Russian/Maaori heritage as they navigate their romantic heartbreaks, career questions, and daily relationships with friends and family. They're both very intelligent, quite insecure (but in a very endearing and relatable way, at one point Greta reacting to an uncomfortable interaction by wanting to "kick the cover of the manhole [she's] walking over and fall into it"), and more alike to each other than they might want to admit. Their parents, a scientist and an artist, are formidable and quirky. Their older brother Casper has a family and isn't around much. Their best friends are self-centered in ways that draw people in their 20s together to bond over their individual self-centered escapades. Reilly's clever, brisk writing style is fresh and engaging and rapid fire.

So why has it been, after a promising start, such a slog for me to even get to 45% of this book? It's because, I realize with a sigh of disappointment, I am simply no longer the right audience for it. I am too old and the misadventures of the siblings too familiar as a lived experience, for me to feel anything but an obligation to keep going. I kept trying because I really like Greta and Valdin and I want them to be happy. But I'm worn down by the quirkiness and the pacing where each day in their lives is soaked to the brim with awkwardness and wistful malaise. This is a great book for a person who's struggling with relationships or their professional trajectory. It's vibrant and relatable. But for me, it felt like I was stringing the book along by trying to read it when I knew full well it was a relationship that had no future.

Nevertheless, I would like to very much thank NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for providing me with a review copy to give this one a try. I am sure that this book will land right with a lot of other people.

Rebecca K. Reilly's debut novel, "Greta & Valdin," paints a vibrant and captivating portrait of two queer siblings navigating the complexities of love, identity, and adulthood in the bustling city of Auckland, New Zealand. The story delves deep into the lives of Greta and Valdin and their large, eccentric, and multicultural extended family; giving us a glimpse into their daily toils and victories.

Although dizzying at times, the novel unfolds through alternating first-person perspectives, offering readers a unique insight into the minds of both Greta and Valdin. Through their eyes, we witness their struggles with dating apps, relationships, and self-identity in an increasingly internet-connected world. And the constant battle of keeping your battery topped up.

What sets "Greta & Valdin" apart is its refreshing portrayal of queerness within the family dynamic. In Reilly's world, queerness is accepted and embraced as the norm, fostering a sense of belonging and acceptance that permeates the narrative.

At its core, "Greta & Valdin" celebrates found families and love without limits. The novel's engaging narrative and vibrant characters invites readers to explore the universal themes of love, acceptance, and self-discovery. Warm, lively, and brimming with heart, "Greta & Valdin" is a captivating debut that is sure to leave a lasting impression.

Perfect perfect perfect! GRETA & VALDIN is smart, funny, frothy, sharp, heartfelt, fierce, and thoughtful all at once. The characters and their relationships all so well-drawn, from the major to the minor. So too is Auckland, which fairly thrums under the surface of the novel. I think it’s going to be a perfect summer novel for people that want something engaging but with a little more meat to it—something entertaining and clever.

“I wonder what plant I would be, if I were a plant. Maybe something with big leaves that droop sulkily if not provided with the exact right amount of water and light.”

*giving this book a big, BIG hug!* because I loved it! This is the perfect example of the elevated prose of literary fiction that leaves me feeling breathless. It has all the makings of the next big "cool-girl-lit-fic" book of the year and I am LIVING for it!

Greta and Valdin are two queer siblings born to a Māori-Russian-Catalonian family. Greta, a graduate student in Russian literature, is every bit the broke-but-relatable-and-funny young woman who traipses between infatuation with crushes and running (then promptly fleeing) one-night stands with men until she meets the charming Scottish woman of her dreams. Valdin, almost-30 and still fighting the painful loss and pivot of an over-planned life, is transformed when he reunites with his ex-love in beautiful Argentina.

This book felt like a perfect slice of life from the most culturally interesting family ever. You're not them, but you want to be them *so badly*. It was touching and warm (reminiscent of Bridget Jones with a Normal People vibe), and fueled by a fusion of socio-political commentary with the humor and tragedy of life. The broad cast of characters gave the book many contextual touchpoints - it felt global and big while maintaining this heir of easy, effortless, down-to-earth connections between them.

Reilly has truly made a brilliant debut, and I can't wait to see what else she graces us with!

3.5/5 ⭐️
🤧 welp, back from vacation and first things first; get a cold. Luckily I’m feeling a little better and got to finish this galley, GRETA & VALDIN by Rebecca K. Reilly that follows a brother and sister as they navigate queerness, love, complex family dynamics and multiracial identity.

This book had sally rooney vibes, mixed with SCHITTS CREEK and also reminded me of a recent title (CLEOPATRA AND FRANKENSTEIN) that I really enjoyed. I naturally gravitated to Valdin’s story and his accidental new career path, his misguided efforts at love and trying to get his shit together while realizing that what he had was already perfect. Funny, voicey and felt fresh as far as contemporary stories go. Some of the story felt a little slow and there were lots and LOTS of characters names to remember and some with very similar names that was somewhat confusing. Out now!

It took a while for me to warm up to the book and its sort of apathetic circuitous writing, but I did manage to feel very attached to both Greta and Valdin and their lives. I would not recommend this for people who don’t like the kind of “finding yourself” litfic genre but I enjoyed it.

Greta & Valdin Vladisavljevic are two Māori-Russian siblings who share an apartment in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), Aotearoa (New Zealand). Greta is a graduate student and tutor in comparative literature. Valdin is a television host who only recently quit a career in physics. As the novel opens, both siblings are deep in the throes of pining. Greta pines for Holly, a fellow tutor who already has a girlfriend. Valdin pines for Xabi, his former lover who recently moved to Buenos Aires. As their friends and family help them get over themselves, Greta & Valdin are eventually each able to find the love that they deserve.

Don’t be mistaken, though — Greta & Valdin is not “just” a romance novel. (Quick aside: if you’re the type of person who genuinely thinks or says things like “just a romance novel” then I request that you examine your biases). In fact, to categorize this novel as romance would be a mischaracterization. Alongside the heartwarming love stories, Greta & Valdin is a millennial coming-of-age novel with heaps of dry humor and heart. Both siblings are hilarious in ways that are both distinct and believably idiosyncratic. The most laugh-out-loud moments of the novel occur when they come together with their extended family. Take this example, for instance: on the evening when Greta’s new girlfriend Ell meets her parents, her father and Valdin immediately get into an argument over whether or not their father’s childhood friend Rumbo existed. Rumbo had featured heavily in dramatic tales from their father’s childhood. In each increasingly outlandish story, Rumbo always got up to extreme mischief and/or petty crime. Thus, Valdin is smugly convinced that Rumbo is fictional. Their father is incensed by Valdin’s claim. Interrupting the typical get-to-know-you conversation between Ell and his wife, their father immediately video-calls Rumbo on Facebook Messenger to prove his existence. Okay — I will admit that recounting it here just now in my own words takes some of the humor out of it, but trust me! The Rumbo incident is just one of many instances of absurd antics that had me giggling out loud.

Perhaps the greatest feat of Greta & Valdin, though, lies in Reilly’s effortless ability to portray an incredibly diverse range of characters and subject matter. First of all, this book is just so delightfully queer. The siblings and their partners, their nephew, their uncles: all queer & all messy, layered human beings. Reilly maintains a lighthearted tone throughout while also touching upon serious topics such as adoption, neurodivergence, chronic illness, indigenous identity, and the Land Back movement. The two main characters — and the author herself — are Māori and many of the secondary characters are people of color as well. All in all, in the way that only the best books manage it, none of the diversity feels forced or performative. The characters in Greta & Valdin are simply living their complex, human lives as we all do.

Since finishing this novel a few days ago, I find myself missing the two eponymous, charismatic siblings so much. And their partners, Xabi and Ell. And Ernesto. And Casper and Tang. And Thony and Giuseppe. And Rashmika. Even Genevieve! Every character was fully realized to the point of feeling like a new friend. I’ll be thinking about each of them for quite some time to come.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Selling Pitch:
Normal People if it was more slice of life and in New Zealand and much, much more gay. And instead of a shit family, everyone’s wonderful. If you dug the sibling dynamic that Fleabag has, you’ll like this.

Pre-reading:
Phenomenal cover. An excellent pink.

Thick of it:
Ooof right in the mentally ill

Shisha

Homeboy has the same priorities as me. I wanna be cute and I wanna sleep.

They've really nailed the post office. This is my brand of humor.

Phlebotomy

I'm too stupid and uncultured to get all these references.

Lmao I feel Greta’s social anxiety.

It’s the way I’m such an idiot at geography that I thought this was in New York because they said Brooklyn and Central Park and it is in New Zealand.

Immediately yes to Matthew. This is weird, but they kind of remind me of Gus and Harriet from Beach Read and Happy Place. They’re not, but they kind of remind me anyway.

clafoutis

It’s like Adelaide, Normal People, Less

Wow, I think I’m in love with her dad too lol

An Easter book.

Litfic loves piss

I think it’s a well-done character study. I just don’t know if I’m quite the audience for it. Their dad seems so wonderful. It’s just kind of draining the sympathy from me for these characters because they’re all very first-world problems in comparison.

I think I like it. I’m just not in love with it. I like the snippet style of writing.

Vanitas

I really like this family.

Alfajor

Ute

Hongi

Asado

Detritus sin

This book does excellent dialogue. They feel like real people’s real conversations.

Serviettes

Borstal

Oh, I just teared up. How full circle. How romantic omg. They’re so in love.

I’m so in love with their dad omg

If the parents aren’t in love, I quit.

Hifalutin

American Psycho is my favorite movie.

Kimchi fries sound so good.

Had to Google what a bubble o bill was. I love those gas station ice creams. Particularly the Bugs Bunny one.

I LOVE LINSH

She’s having a fleabag breakdown lol

Tarsier

Kea

Ajvar

This would make a very good limited series.

Post-reading:
This was such a good character study.

I struggled a bit with the setting and the references as a basic bitch from Massachusetts. I think there’s probably a lot more to get out of this story if you’re more worldly, or if you’re from New Zealand.

I think all the characters are lovely. I was continuously impressed with how authentic the dialogue was. It literally felt like she transcribed conversations that real people had had.

I understand the Sally Rooney comparisons. I think if you like her, you‘d like this. I think this would make such a good limited series. I think if you’d like fleabag, you would probably like this. I think it’s pitched perfectly as a book meant for people who like Normal People and Schitt’s Creek.

It’s not a five star for me because I had a hard time relating to it and I think Ell’s character could’ve been developed more. I think she’s a little too much on the fringe. I think the scenes she’s in with the family are fantastic, but it’s the family that shines, not her. I also really liked Matthew from the beginning of this book. I would’ve liked to see more of him.

Definitely pick this up if you like quirky, family drama litfic.

Who should read this:
Family drama fans
Queer romance fans
Mental health rep fans
New Zealanders

Do I want to reread this:
No? I would for a book club but I don’t know if I’d pick it up on my own

Similar books:
* Less by Andrew Sean Greer-lit fic queer romance
* Dyscalculia by Camonghne Felix-lit fic heartbreak novel, mental health rep
* Normal People by Sally Rooney-lit fic romance, mental health rep
* Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney-lit fic queer romance
* Beautiful World Where Are You by Sally Rooney-lit fic romance
* Anxious People by Fredrik Backman-lit fic, ensemble cast family drama
* Day by Michael Cunningham-lit fic, ensemble cast family drama
* Social Engagement by Avery Carpenter Forrey-lit fic romance, family drama, social commentary
* We Are Too Many by Hannah Pittard-lit fic heartbreak novel, all dialogue
* Big Swiss by Jen Beagin-lit fic queer romance
* Amazing Grace Adams by Fran Littlewood-lit fic family drama
* Sirens and Muses by Antonia Angress-college, found family drama, queer romance
* Vladimir by Julia May Jonas-lit fic family drama, social commentary
* In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado-lit fic queer romance
* Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler-lit fic heartbreak novel, mental health rep

Funny and smart novel about two queer siblings and their interesting family. I loved reading about their struggles with love and relationships. Highly recommend.

A good read in the moment, but ultimately forgettable.

This book is pretty much just like every other lit fic in the same "category". Very much character driven, very much "I have no idea what I am doing with my life", and very much doesn't have an actual plot. I did really appreciate Valdin's character a lot, and the mental health representation we got through him!

I really have no complaints and I obviously didn't hate it, but it just doesn't stand out and the story won't stick with me. Therefore, it is getting a middle-of-the-road rating.

came for the schitts creek comparison and i feel a little duped. unfortunately not my style, but well written

I could not recommend this book enough!! I adored it. I've been seeing comparisons to Schitt's Creek and it's just as hilarious as that would lead you to believe. I loved the writing, I loved the characters, I loved the New Zealand setting. It was all done so so well. I love stories that involve big funny/dysfunctional but loving families. It touched on bigger subject matters and mental health in a meaningful way that felt true to the story. I highlighted so many passages and I know this is a book I'll be going back to reread. I absolutely foresee this becoming a comfort book for me. 6 stars!!!!

this was so funny and heartwarming and quirky (in a good way). rebecca reilly is obviously such a talented writer and i enjoyed reading this so much. i do wish that the story was more insular and centered a bit more around the siblings. near the end, i felt like there was too much going on and there were too many characters to keep track of, and it took away from what i preferred the main focus to be! i do love that this was set in new zealand—the books i read are usually set in the US or UK, so this was great.

All @avidreaderpress needed to do was say those five little words: “for fans of Schitt’s Creek” and I was sold. GRETA & VALDIN is very much a book that’s heavier on the vibes than plot — and this worked for me!

The title characters, Greta & Valdin, are 20-something siblings, heartbroken and unlucky in love. What follows is 300 pages of pining, crushes, bad dates, and a sprawling Māori-Russian family (I knew the book was for me when there was a list of characters!)

I absolutely can see where the Schitt’s Creek comparison came from — if Alexis had a Russian lit degree and David was a failed physicist pre-breakdown (though a lil menty b would absolutely track). While I think it would do a disservice to the book to call it a character-for-character rewrite/inspiration, I do think having this show I love so much running through my mind heightened my enjoyment of the book.

This is the story I wanted from GOOD MATERIAL. I found GRETA & VALDIN to be so witty, so engaging, I was giggling from the start in a way that I didn’t with GM. The vibes were there, the characters captivated me, I came to truly adore this family by the time the book was over and was sad to say goodbye.

GRETA & VALDIN is sure to be a litfic favorite for many readers this year. It’s relatable and genuinely laugh-out-loud funny — and then there’s that cover!! Just try to walk past it and *not* have it catch your eye!