Member Reviews
This book was a cute, fun, flirty holiday romance that checked all the boxes on my Christmas list. I appreciate when holiday-themed books don’t stray from their lane, but rather give that dash of sugar & spice that I’m looking for in this season. I’ll Get Back To You does exactly what I want it to.
Grischow delivered a Hallmark-like experience that kept my curled up on the couch for a few hours of Christmas love. Don’t go into this book expecting some revolutionary, one of a kind masterpiece that’s never ever been seen before in literature. Instead, enjoy it for what it is— a sweet, sappy, holiday affair.
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group for this copy in exchange for my review.
I'll Get Back to You is a cozy romcom that follows two women trying to find themselves and deal with the expectations of others. Murphy doesn't do everything perfectly, in fact some of her choices were a bit questionable, but this just makes her all the more relatable. Throw in Ellie and her idea of lying to her professor mother (the very professor that is the bane of Murphy's college existence) and fake dating and this leads to a story with a very slow burn, but cute romance and characters that start to figure out who they are.
I'll Get Back to You is a charming sapphic holiday romcom that brings two college-aged women, Murphy and Ellie, together in a Thanksgiving fake-dating arrangement. Murphy is caught in a moment of transition, trying to find her footing as she balances community college and a minimum-wage job while figuring out her future. Her journey to self-discovery, independence, and confidence is heartfelt and relatable, especially for anyone who’s navigated that tough, in-between phase of young adulthood.
The romance itself is a slow burn, and while it's light on spice, the emotional connection between Murphy and Ellie feels authentic. Their chemistry builds gradually, capturing that early stage of a relationship without rushing it. The characters’ imperfections and mistakes make them feel real, and watching them grow and own up to those mistakes is one of the novel’s strongest points.
Though the Thanksgiving weekend timeline adds a unique sense of immediacy, there were moments where I wished for a longer story arc to give certain plot points a bit more depth. Overall, I’ll Get Back to You is a cozy, feel-good read perfect for the holiday season, and its themes of friendship, self-growth, and love are wonderfully comforting.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
This is a great coming of age story (not a coming out story). Murphy is a loveable not-that-likeable kind of disaster, teetering on the edge of the rest of her life. She makes questionable choices and assumptions that she thinks are sound, but beneath it all, she has a heart of gold and good intentions. She wants to do the right thing for herself. If only she knew what that was. There’s a straight best friend, somewhat of a romance (not the centerpiece of the story in my opinion), and an almost-quarter-life crisis. It’s a great book for anyone nostalgic or feeling stuck or on that precipice between young adult and adulthood - a true new adult story.
Short summary: her best friend is having adventures without her because Murphy is stuck in community college trying to pass accounting. Again. So she can’t refuse when the cute daughter of her professor proposes a solution to solve both their problems. Except Murphy’s not great at lying and suddenly U of I, and her future, feels further than ever.
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
I'll Get Back to You was a sweet new adult romance that found our main characters in a difficult place: wanting to be independent but still needing their family's support while trying to figure out a path for their futures.
This book has the fake-dating trope, but you know what happens when they start fake dating, the real feelings start to evolve. The supporting characters are pleasant as well. There wasn't anyone in this book I disliked. Aunt Carol was one of the more colorful cast members.
It was a quick and fun read. The mains didn't know each other for long before getting attached, and they discussed that fact. Despite being such a fast move, it felt believable, and I bought in. The short time period, distance, recent breakup of one of them, college plans, living arrangements, and job prospects, all added to the complexity of the relationship.
The story takes place over the end-of-the-year holidays, and I enjoyed the description of the small downtown area.
Thanks to Penguin and Netgalley for this advanced copy!
I liked so many things about this book. The main characters have great chemistry and it felt like an accurate telling of what happens when you get stuck in life while everyone moves on, especially in your early 20s. Murphy and Ellie are adorable and I also loved the conflict between Murphy and Kat and how it resolved itself. I think the issue for me was that almost all the action takes place over a long weekend and somehow out of that the main characters are talking about moving to New York and the fake dating is like max 24 hours and already the people seem WAY too into high stakes things. Some of the fake dating felt overdone and heavy handed, especially coming to Thanksgiving. Wouldn't Ellie's parents realize that Murphy has a completely different name than their daughter's long term girl friend and also is in her mom's class? I didn't feel like that got explained enough.
Regardless, I liked how this worked out and it was a nice easy read.
When Murphy’s best friend Kat comes back from college to spend the Thanksgiving holiday together, she also brings her new boyfriend, Daniel. Murphy skipped out on spending the holiday in Florida with her family so she could spend time with Kat. When Daniel crashes their hangout session the night before Thanksgiving, Murphy is pissed. Since her night is ruined, Murphy ends up running into an old classmate named Ellie. Little does she know, Ellie is the daughter of her professor for her accounting class; the only class standing between Murphy and transferring to IU.
Ellie is home for the holidays and is supposed to be showing off her girlfriend at Thanksgiving with her parents. The problem is, they broke up a few weeks ago. So when Murphy shows up in her life, she somehow convinces her to be her fake girlfriend in a plot to also schmooze her mother into giving Murphy a passing grade in her class.
Murphy and Ellie are a fun couple but both really have some issues to work through. This story really shows the struggles of being a young, queer adult trying to find your place in the world. I found the story to be an entertaining read that I couldn’t put down. I highly recommend as a quick read heading into the holiday season!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for access to the eARC of this book!
I thought this book was unique, as I’ve never read a romance set during Thanksgiving before.
Murphy, the protagonist, is 21 years old and the author did a great job of creating a character that accurately reflects the experience of being 21. However, if you are looking for a novel featuring a mature protagonist, this book is probably not for you.
The plot of the novel takes place over a short span of time – between Thanksgiving break and final exams. As a result, we only see Murphy and Ellie decide to start dating. We don’t get to see their committed relationship play out. I would categorize this book’s ending as a happy for now rather than a traditional happily ever after. Slight spoiler is that (view spoiler)
Most books I’ve read that involve protagonists in this age range focus on going away to college. I appreciated that reading something different this time – Murphy attends community college and remains in her hometown.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book!
Highlights:
- Cubs fan
- fake dating trope
- Thanksgiving romance
- reconnecting with high school classmate
- coming of age story
Thank you to the publisher and to netgalley for this ARC. This is a cute story that I enjoyed! I look forward to reading other stories by this author.
This book started so strong! I'm from Urbana, IL, attended U of I, and moved to Chicago after graduation, so of course I appreciated the setting. I'm also a BIG Cubs fan, so I adored all the Cubbie mentions.
Here's the thing: I unfortunately didn't believe the love story. There were red flags all over the place, from how jealous Ellie was of Kat to how much they were fighting literally the day after they reconnected at the bar. I'm not a fan of insta love, so perhaps this just wasn't for me, and that's okay!
I was also shocked by her parents dropping a huge bomb on her like it was nothing. I found it odd that they never would have discussed plans like that when she lives with them. I understand the purpose was to push Murphy's story forward and make her literally move on with her life, but it felt really sudden and cruel. It made me hate her parents.
All that said, I really enjoyed the Becca Grischow's writing. I found her funny and looked that she wrote flawed characters appropriate to their ages, even if that meant you were annoyed by them sometimes. Because my god I was SO annoying at 21.
Excited to see what she does next!
Thank you to Net Galley and the Publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review!
I really enjoyed this book it felt like what it feels like to be left in your hometown and watch your friends start new lives without you. It also embodies the feelings of growing up queer and rediscovering those people from your high school that never caught your eye at first. I think that the romance was done really well and the fake dating trope was really sweet. I enjoyed this book a lot and I am glad that this was the first sapphic holiday read of the reason <#333
I'll Get Back to You is a sapphic romance that balances humor, holiday charm, and the reality of being in your early 20s with no idea what is going on. Murphy's single POV is relatable and funny, and the story is romantic without being unrealistic. Perfect for anyone who needs to feel affirmed that it's okay not to have it all figured out.
2.5 ⭐️. a holiday romance.....where the holiday is thanksgiving. huh. this story was sooooo incredibly slow and read more like a YA romance (minus the last two chapters). all of these characters felt really flat and I couldn't root for any of them. also one of the "most interesting" story lines revolved around passing an accounting test......
ty to Netgalley and Penguin Books for an advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
Murphy is stuck. In her home town, in community college, in her parents house. It feels like everytime she comes up with a plan, something goes awry. When her best friend Kat comes home from the college they were supposed to go together, Murphy plans an epic night out for them- but things quickly go south when Kat brings an uninvited guest. On what is shaping up to be the worst night, Murphy runs into an old classmate, Ellie, who helps her salvage the night. It turns out that Ellie is fresh off of a breakup that she still hasn't told her parents about and when her mom mistakes Murphy for her girlfriend, they agree to fake-date their way through Thanksgiving. Only, the attraction isn't fake. Could their relationship be the thing that helps Murphy get unstuck?
Grischow perfectly captures the angst of being in your early twenties. Feeling stuck and like nothing is going your way and then meeting someone who suddenly opens your world up again. It's so scary and hard, and Murphy feels the strain of being torn between what she thought she wanted and the one that fits who you are now. I'll get back to you is cozy, Sapphic holiday romance about finding out who you are and where you belong, and realizing that you have been there all along.
This review has been posted to Goodreads and Storygraph on November 3rd, 2024. Links provided.
In this charming young adult queer holiday romance, two former classmates’ plan to fake-date for freedom leads them down unexpected paths. Stuck at home and failing a class, Murphy’s small-town dating prospects are bleak until she reconnects with former classmate, Ellie Meyers. Complicating matters, Ellie’s mother is the professor threatening Murphy’s graduation. However, they devise a plan to pretend to be in a relationship over a holiday weekend to win over their parents. As their charade unfolds, Murphy can’t stop questioning if her feelings and relationship with Ellie are actually “fake”, turning their scheme into a journey of self-discovery.
This book was a very cute, easy-read, holiday young adult rom-com that I quite enjoyed. It has relatable characters and heartfelt explorations of love and self-discovery. The dynamic between Murphy and Ellie is both charming and genuine, capturing the awkwardness and excitement of crushes and falling in love. The premise of fake dating adds a fun twist, while the emotional stakes keep the reader invested in their journey. The book also tackles themes of parental expectations and personal dreams, making it hit home on different levels. Overall, it’s a delightful blend of humor, romance, and the courage to embrace one’s true self, making it a feel-good read for anyone seeking a touch of bravery in their own life.
Thank you to Penguin Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read to an ARC of I’ll Get Back to You in return for my honest review.
Really cute lesbian love story with holiday vibes. I really Disliked the main character though. She was so irritating and acted like a baby. Overall a cute book.
This is probably my favorite sapphic fake dating books I've read yet. I'll Get Back to You by Becca Grischow was a quick read because it was so enjoyable. The characters had depth, and the connection (although fast) felt real.
One complaint I often have with books, is that the maturity level of the main characters is not believable for whatever age they are supposed to be. I found both Murphy and Ellie to be believable for where they were at in life.
Between Murphy trying to figure out herself and her future plans to Ellie not wanting to disappoint her family. Their struggles were different but both appropriate for a new adult romance.
I recommend I'll Get Back to You for fans of sapphic romance, new adult/college aged main character(s), holiday romance, fake dating tropes, and memorable side characters. I will definitely keep an eye out for future works by Becca Grischow.
It may be October, and Halloween is around the corner, but it's never too early to read a holiday romance novel set during Thanksgiving. I'll Get Back to You is the first book I've read from author Becca Grischow, and I'll be checking out other books she writes in the future. I enjoyed this book and loved getting to know the main character, Murphy, which the book is told solely from her point of view.
As a mother of a college-aged daughter who is now living independently, I definitely sympathize with Murphy and everything she experiences in this book. She is trying to navigate her future while coming to terms with the changes in her life that are happening around her. Murphy is having to adjust to friendship dynamic changes with her best friend, who is now in a relationship, while also dealing with her family, making adjustments that will impact her life too. It's a chaotic time for poor Murphy, especially since everything is happening all at once. She encounters Ellie, a former high school acquaintance, who is also facing her own struggles. A new friendship leads to a fake relationship between the two who aim to help each other with their challenges. Ellie's mom is Murphy's accounting professor, and her approval is crucial for Murphy to pass the class. Meanwhile, Murphy can assist Ellie in convincing her parents about the art graduate program she wants to attend at NYU. But what if their fake relationship ends up developing into something more in the meantime?
I love a fake dating/relationship story, even if it's a predictable storyline. I could read this trope forever due to knowing that one or both characters are eventually going to realize they like one another and that was the case with Murphy and Ellie. They just needed to work on some things, especially if they had their futures to plan that were different from one another. I loved how Ellie saw potential in Murphy when it came to her graphic design and what she was already doing with her current job and used that to get her to pursue it, even if Murphy didn't think that was what she wanted. Murphy even helped Ellie with her life struggles, especially after what happened to Ellie in her past relationship. It was like these two were always meant to meet up with one another and be together since they complimented each other so well. Even Ellie's family noticed how happy they were together, even when their relationship grew pretty quickly.
This is a sweet, romantic, sapphic story about Murphy and Ellie, who support each other as they navigate their adult lives. The author, Becca Grischow, manages to unfold their love story in a span of a few days over Thanksgiving break. Although it develops quickly, it feels as if Murphy and Ellie are always destined to meet and be together, which makes it believable.
The only complaint is that at first, I didn't like how Kat, Murphy's best friend, treated Murphy because poor Murphy felt like she was losing her best friend. I understood what was happening, though, because I had experienced my friendships changing when I was the same age. It's still hard to read, and I felt for Murpy and what she was experiencing. It's also hard when you feel like she'll never find someone who will love her, and I'm so glad she found Ellie.
Overall, it's a great story, and I give it four stars. This is a book I will recommend to both of my daughters, especially the one in college right now. She will certainly relate to the experiences of both characters in the story. Becca Grischow is definitely an author I'll keep an eye on for her future works.
Single/Dual POV: Single POV (Murphy's POV only)
Standalone or Part of Series: Standalone
Would I recommend this book? Yes, I would recommend this to readers who enjoy Coming-of-Age stories with a sweet and romantic Sapphic storyline.
What to Expect:
✓Sweet & Romantic Sapphic Romance
✓Holiday Romance (Thanksgiving)
✓Coming of Age
✓Fake Dating/Relationship
This was such a warm, loving sapphic love story!
The FMC, Murphy, was such a relatable character to almost anyone IMO. Her struggles were things we all deal with at some point in life and because of that she felt very real and relatable which made you root for her more as a reader.
I feel like the biggest story line of the book we all deal with was the struggles between Murphy and Kat. It was written so well and really made you see yourself in one of the girls.
The author did a very good job at weaving real issues that young adults all deal with as they get older into a really warm and engaging love story between Murphy and Ellie. I really enjoyed watching them come to in their own right and what they wanted in life and with each other.
I think we all struggled at one point or another making decisions about where to go in life when it came to a partner or very close friend. The author did a beautiful job of weaving it all together!
I would absolutely recommend to my peers and would definitely read more by this author.
4.5 star review rounded down
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I’m a very, very easy target for a sapphic fake dating morsel.
Even so, this one delivered on just about every level, with holiday vibes to boot.
Murphy and Ellie are both just hot messes trying to figure their crap out and failing miserably. They are immature, quick to jump to conclusions, easily offended, and adorable.
There isn’t a whole lot of character development in this one, but it’s just a really fun little holiday read that moves quickly (which is perfect for me). There’s a good amount of taking advice from where you least expect it, and a lot of working through some big feelings regarding family. In my opinion it was just enough to ground the book in reality.
It’s all the best and worst parts of being 21, wrapped up in a neat little Happily Ever After.