Go Lightly is about Ada, an Australian expat in the UK, exploring relationships and her own place in the world. I enjoyed the concept of casual dating and how we may rationalize dating two people at once in the dating app era. I also enjoyed seeing the differences between the two relationship, as Ada is bisexual.

While I enjoyed parts of the book, I don't think I'm the target audience. I didn't love Ada as a character, which doesn't necessarily put me off a book. However, I had a hard time connecting to the story, so it too me much longer to finish than usual.

i really wanted to like this book, and i did at points, but ultimately the total lack of character development brought me down.

(Actual: 3.5⭐) If you love Sally Rooney novels, GO LIGHTLY will most certainly be right up your alley. As someone who only just recently "aged out" of my 20s' (I turned 30 just this past November), I still found this novel to be very relatable, especially when read/viewed through a Millennial lens This book took me awhile to really get into but, once I did, I found it to be a considerably quick read, though I do think the writing could be stronger. There's a fair amount of telling versus showing here, which we all know is not my favorite, as well as some repetitive narrative speech/prose and (imo) overused cliches.... but nothing that was necessarily unexpected, nor was there anything in particular that deterred me from finishing it. That said, I do think GO LIGHTLY has some shining moments, whether it be found in the self-deprecating & dry sense of humor woven throughout or in the "messages" sections of the novel (#IYKYK), both of which I found to be rather endearing. I'm excited to see what Lee-Kennedy comes out with in the future!

As a cisgender straight woman, I didn't think I was the target audience of this novel, but I was mistaken. Brydie's prose is quippy and smart, and the characters are well-developed. There are truths in all relationships, whether they be straight, queer, monogamous, or polyamorous. The 'in-betweens' of modern dating due to our proximity to our phones, the internet, and the overwhelming sense of disposability due to those things are well articulated in this miscommunication/love-bombing/ghosting dating tale. I recommend it to anyone looking for a modern dating story, non-romance.

Loved the premise- the book, not so much. Poorly written with stilted dialogue and unbelievable characters- hard pass!

“Go Lightly” was a rollercoaster of emotions. I found Ada to be a hard character to root for. She was incredibly chaotic and the way she lived her life made me as the reader quite anxious at times! Her lack of stable income, near constant drinking, and inability to communicate effectively with the people in her life all contributed to this. Also despite her claiming to love both Sadie and Stuart, it seems like all of her interactions with both of them are stilted and awkward.
I thought the writing in this book was excellent because it certainly made me feel things. However, I found the story itself to be characters to be frustrating, the story disjointed, and there is no resolution to really anything.

This was an interesting and quick read about Ada, a free-spirited Australian bisexual and her adventures in modern love and what happens when she falls for two people at the same time and the challenges/chaos that results plus her complicated relationship with her sister.

Good on audio and recommended for fans of books like It's been a pleasure, Noni Blake. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @libro.fm for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

This is very much no plot just vibes which can work for me if I enjoy the writing and/or the characters are interesting enough to keep me reading.

I didn’t love the start of the book, a lot of run on sentences and info dumping that felt overwhelming (and a little confusing).

I like that Ada is a train wreck, and feeling listless, it feels very relatable at times (although not a fan of the drug use). I started to enjoy it but it quickly went downhill again.

There’s way too much mundane description, telling over showing every minor action Ada takes. Also the constant back and forth of “Ada said this and Mel said that and then Ada said and Mel said” OMG THERE ARE SYNONYMS FOR THE WORD “SAID”?!

I really wanted to love this because of the bi rep and having an MC who’s lost and trying to find herself in her twenties. I related and loved some of the lines around Ada’s inner thoughts but I just couldn’t continue through the writing anymore. Also Stuart is annoying and creepy AF

Story of young people trying to find love in Great Britain. They work hard and play hard and sometimes find the right one.

Go Lightly follows the character of Ada, a bubbly Australian cabaret performer living in London, loosely based on the classic Holly Golightly character. The writing in this novel was decent. A bit too much: Ada did this. Ada did that. I give it a solid 2.5 stars, partially because the writing could have been a bit more engaging. Partially because the story was meandering enough that there didn't feel to be any resolution. Partially becase I just didn't connect with the character's superficial struggles. I did enjoy the sections of the book that were text chains between the characters. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

DNF. I tried getting into this novel multiple times but simply could not identify with the protagonist, Ada. When I was in my twenties, I was so career-driven. It’s fine that she’s pursuing a couple different relationships, but I just couldn’t bring myself to care about her or her antics.

NetGalley provided an advance copy of this novel, which RELEASES APRIL 30, 2024.

I was so relieved to finish Go Lightly, it made me so anxious and sad. I would normally feel bad about saying that but I feel like it may have been the goal? It was hard to watch someone tripping and falling her way through life expecting it all to work out, only for the book to end with there having been almost no character development. I found all the characters to be grating and every conversation/ interaction excruciatingly painful and awkward. All of this to say I have never lived abroad or in a different country so perhaps this is an accurate portrayal of how that would feel. I will also say there was some really funny and quick witted writing and wonderful bisexual representation that I found really refreshing. In the end I think this would fit someone also struggling through their twenties or who perhaps is living abroad while struggling through their twenties.

Unfortunately, I was excited for this ARC but ultimately don’t think it worked for me! There was a lot of telling (esp about the development of Ava’s feelings) versus showing, and I didn’t connect to any of the characters. Our main character seems confused about her true feelings, so of course we as an audience will also be left without clarity and feel unsettled about her relationships.

I liked the bit with her family and her sister and her potentially mending that relationship, but the last 20% dragged on more than I’d like. I didn’t feel many positive feelings towards either of her love interests, and I feel like the ending did exhibit SOME (maybe not as much as I’d like) character development for Ada! Overall, this is contemporary literary fiction about a lost 20-something woman who is lost in messy, turbulent love.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

GO LIGHTLY isn't quite what I was hoping for. Though I think that the overall concept is interesting, I couldn't connect with Ada. It was a struggle for me to finish this one.

I think… hmm, maybe this genre is simply not for me. I couldn’t seem to grab onto this one and simply make my way through it. Maybe bc of distractions and other nagging books on my TBR. I have to settle with this one as just not being my jam. Thank you for ARC! I may have enjoy this one a bit better on audio….so maybe listen to this one if you find it on audio!

I'm not sure I understand the point of this book. The title never made sense for me either.

The main character, Ada, was unlikable from the start. Her thoughts and actions were bizarre and the why's of her life didn't add up.

The supporting characters weren't particularly likeable either. Mel, Sadie & Stuart all had a major impact on Ada but their place in Ada's life was confusing. Stuart was a mess from the start and any attraction between them made zero sense.

I'm sure there are people who love this kind of story and writing but this particular book just wasn't for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me a copy of this book. I really enjoyed it and felt like it was a quicker type of read I would give it a 3/5.

I found it difficult to keep the characters straight, as their voices were all rather similar. That being said, Go Lightly is the perfect book if you're an avid fan of messy young women struggling to get by in the modern world. Fans of Dolly Alderton, Sally Rooney, and the like, will enjoy this book.

I DNF'd this book at 65%

I found the writing confusing and the characters unlikable. I didn't understand the main characters draw to either love interest. I had a hard time keeping focus while reading and after 2 weeks had to finally give up.

This book will have an audience but unfortunately it's not for me.

“Go Lightly” reminds me a lot of Dolly Alderton’s “Ghosts”, which I really liked. The main character, Ada, is bisexual and stuck between two love interests Stuart from Liverpool and Sadie from Perth. I read this book as a romance, but I think it’s better to expect a coming of age story. I struggled to see a romantic connection with either love interest and found Ada’s main character syndrome and her dynamic with her sister much more compelling. If you liked “Ghosts” or less plot more vibes books, I think you’ll like “Go Lightly”, which will be out 4/30/24!