Oh I adored this.

Nobody in Particular tells the story of a young royal and sole heir the throne, Rosemary of Henland, and the new to boarding school piano prodigy, Danni. Like any good royals romance, it's deliciously forbidden with plenty of yearning.

Rose and Danni's relationship is so sweet. They're two characters who help each other grow into better versions of themselves, which was lovely to witness.

And what makes this book stand out is the combination of moments that will have you giggling and kicking your feet and the moments that will break your heart.

I couldn't put it down.

rep: lesbian fmc | bi fmc

This is the second Sophie Gonzales book I've read, and I really enjoy her writing!

I love a queer royal romance, and I found her note in the beginning of the book about how she actually wrote this before they were a big thing quite interesting.

Rose and Dani are both good characters, their romance is believable and they're likable and sympathetic. I found the boarding school in a random generic European country setting super entertaining. The back story was heavy but handled well without becoming preachy.

There were two things I struggled with a bit when reading this, the first one being that it was kinda strangely pro-monarchy. I mean I guess how can it not be, and it's supposed to be very light hearted princess diaries vibe, but it still just felt a bit strange for my palate.

Then the other thing I struggled a bit with, the romance scenes were not graphic, but they were a bit more descriptive than I personally would want for a book about teenagers.

Overall, this was a super fun and entertaining book that I'd definitely recommend. Thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy!

I adored this book!

The characters all felt well-rounded and realistic (even the antagonist, unfortunately their behavior was also fairly realistic) and the relationship between Rose and Danni developed in such an adorable way.

It felt similar to Red, White and Royal Blue, which I've watched the movie of, and I'm so glad that a sapphic royal romance was published. I also like that the gay characters referred to themselves with specific identity labels like bisexual and lesbian, as I really do feel like there is an under-representation of lesbians as sympathetic characters in media these days.

The unique issues that gay people experience, such as bisexual people being assumed to be non-monogamous and gay people overall being outed against their will, were explored well in the book as well. It was also interesting to see the book touch on deportation.

This book wasn't only a romance, it felt like a book that touched on serious issues as well. I didn't anticipate the grief and alcohol/drug use to be such a significant theme of a book like this, but that was also handled well. I think it was also realistic that teenage intimacy was depicted a little bit, since it's not like sexual attraction suddenly shows up when someone turns 18, and attraction to other females can especially be stigmatized. It was tasteful, and certainly not particularly more explicit than what is depicted between heterosexual couples in YA. The emphasis on sexuality and drugs and alcohol definitely puts this book in the upper YA category for me, although some reviewers have confusingly said that it is young for YA. That doesn't make sense to me, since the characters are all fairly mature both emotionally and in their behaviors with drugs and alcohol.

I decided not to finish this book after reading the first few chapters. It’s a fun trope and setup, but the story and writing didn’t engage me fully. From what I read, I would highly recommend this one to younger teens. It just didn’t work super well for me. Giving it a 4 because I do think the right audience will love this, and I have read and liked other books from the author before! Thanks for the ARC.

This was a sweet, highly readable YA romcom. It felt nostalgic, with nods to early 2000s royalty/commoner romantic comedies like The Prince and Me and The Princess Diaries but with a sapphic take. The story and characters felt truly YA, in the best way. The MCs had great chemistry and arcs, and side characters felt three dimensional and added a lot to the story. This is my first book by the author but I’ll definitely be reading their backlist.

Sophie Gonzales is quickly becoming my go-to when it comes to sapphic YA romances with fun premises. This novel, Nobody in Particular, takes on TWO of my favorite romance tropes: boarding schools and royalty!

The story is told in dual narration, with alternating chapters from the perspective of Danni and Rosemary. Danni's family has just arrived in Henland from America and she is thrilled to have recieved a scholarship to study piano at the prestigious Bramppath College. Rosemary, aka <i> Princess Rosemary</i>, also attends Bramppath and knows that she cannot ever be publically queer as the future queen of her very Catholic country. When Danni and Rosemary start spending more time together and realize there might be something there, they must decide whether they will hide their love or keep their distance -- because being together is just not an option when people close to them are ready to spill their secrets to the paparazzi.

Nobody in Particular is fun and highly readable. I think I read it in just a few days! I attribute this to the dual narration structure -- going back and forth between both Danni and Rosemary kept the story moving, and I found it nice to see the inner thoughts from both girls as they navigated their feelings AND their external conflicts (and how those collide in the story).

The story does get a little heavy right from the start with a key plot point in Rosemary's story: the sudden death of her friend in Amsterdam the year prior. As the friend died from a drug overdose and Rosemary was not only at the the party but found his body, she is battling negative perceptions in the public eye as a result of the scandal. I didn't love this plot point. It was a big downer for a romance book that was otherwise fluffy...and I understand why the author wrote it in (Rosemary needs to be very concerned about her reputation), but I was not a fan.

I think this is largely because of how this sub-plot was developed. I hate when authors use first-person narration but also have them withhold key details about significant events in the past from the reader. Does that make sense? I'm never quite sure how to describe this phenomenon. The author needs the big reveal of "what actually happened that night" to come at a key point in the story, so the first-person narrator just vaguely talks about the event and avoids thinking about the most pressing details.

Anyways, despite that small beef I had with the story, I really enjoyed this. I enjoyed the relationship between the characters, the slight mystery in the story (who is leaking gossip to the press?), the boarding school setting, and the fun of this book. I was glad I read it and I will definitely be picking up Gonzales's next book when it comes out, too!

I absolutely loved this. A nice YA sapphic romance. Light academia vibes. All around a genuinely nice read. I’d recommend it to any one of my friends, especially those who want more LGBTQ reads

3.5 rounded up

Nothing in Particular was a fun and casual read. I was a little skeptical about the sapphic royals plot because it’s been done before, but it was definitely different than books like, “Her Royal Highness” and “Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend”. I appreciated how the scandalized princess, Rose, was unveiled to the reader during the book. I just which there was more depth to the couple. To be fair, I did put down this book a lot, so maybe I never grasped or remembered earlier plot points. Additionally, I thought the big shocker at the end could have been elongated and more dramatic. The conclusion of the book felt like it snuck up on me after all the plot/character development in the first ~320 pages.

Overall, I enjoyed this novel and would recommend for someone looking for a sapphic YA royal read!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC :)

Genre 📚: YA Contemporary, Queer Lit, Light Academia, Romance
Tropes 💁‍♀️: Royal romance, Forbidden love
Rep ✔️: Gay and bisexual main characters, Korean side character
CW ⚠️: Anxiety, grief, drug overdose, bullying/cyberbullying
Rating ⭐️: 5/5

A lot of my favorite comfort stories are royal romances — The Princess Diaries, Red White and Royal Blue, and my most recent obsession, Young Royals. I felt so hollow after the Young Royals show ended, and I remember wishing there was a book version to help fill the void. Well, Sophie Gonzales has come to my rescue, filling that void with Nobody in Particular.

The book takes place in the fictional country of Henland, in an all-girls boarding school for the rich and royal. It’s also the new home for American pianist Danni, who comes in on a music scholarship. She dealt with some awful bullying at her former school, so she’s anxious about fitting in, but she somehow finds herself joining the crown princess’s inner circle. Danni doesn’t know what to make of Princess Rosemary, especially since their mutual friend Molly currently despises Rose. But Danni sees past Rose’s quips and sarcasm, past the “I don’t care” facade that Molly thinks is so frustrating.

And gyahhh, once the sparks started flying, my arms started flailing. Danni and Rose were great characters, and I loved living in both their POVs, watching their sweet romance blossom. There were plenty of cute moments I’d expect from the royalty trope, like secret dates and stolen kisses, but there were also deep moments that I wasn’t expecting. (The storyline with Molly, in particular, had my heart in a vice grip.) On my royal romance scale, I’d say that Young Royals is pretty far in the depressing end, Red White and Royal Blue is on the lighthearted end, and Nobody in Particular is right in the middle. It’s a perfect comfort read.

I love you Sophie Gonzales, you are writing the books of my dreams as a sapphic in love with all regency/royalty tropes. let's go gay people!!!x

I’m not a person that cares about the royals. I never have. But I do care about Sophie’s books and when I saw she had a new one releasing, I was super excited. Monarchy or not, I knew I would enjoy it.

I think readers will love this one. Yes, there’s a romance to talk about, but I enjoyed the girls supporting each other and friends lifting each other up. This was such a fun read.

Thank you NetGalley for providing the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I had the privilege of reading an ARC of Nobody in Particular, and I must say, it left me absolutely captivated. As a new adult contemporary romance, it has all the classic elements of a rich versus middle-class story, yet it elevates those tropes in a way that feels fresh and meaningful. The author does a beautiful job of blending the charm of romance with the complexity of real-world issues, making it not only a heartfelt love story but also a powerful narrative on self-discovery and the importance of staying true to yourself.

What really stood out to me was the book’s exploration of queer representation and identity. It’s empowering to see characters, especially young women, navigating their own journeys in a world that doesn’t always feel welcoming. But here, those challenges are portrayed with such care and authenticity. The character growth is spectacular—each character, regardless of their background, evolves in ways that feel realistic and rewarding.

While the romance was engaging, it was the themes of finding your place in the world and dealing with tough, often uncomfortable situations that made this book feel so real. The issues the characters faced weren’t sugar-coated, yet the resolution was handled with such finesse. It’s clear that the author knows how to write about tough, serious topics without losing the heart and warmth of the story.

Even though this is a book about teenagers, I think it resonates deeply with anyone who’s ever had to navigate the complexities of life, love, and personal growth. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a coming-of-age story that doesn’t shy away from the tough stuff but still leaves you with hope.

Thank you for letting me read this early.

This was a super well written book but a fantastic author! I'm so grateful for the ARC and was ecstatic to read this. I will say I think it was a little too YA for me, personally. If you don't mind reading YA, I can't recommend this book enough!

Nobody in Particular has all the makings of a fun sapphic royal rom-com—boarding school drama, forbidden love, and major Princess Diaries meets Red, White & Royal Blue energy. I appreciated the LGBTQ+ representation and the strong themes of identity and found family, I only struggled connecting to such YA characters.

That said, this book will definitely speak to readers looking for a sweet, earnest coming-of-age romance with royalty, secrets, and big feelings. If you love classic YA tropes with a sapphic twist, this might be your next favorite. Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC—excited to see what Gonzales writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me this ARC!

Princess Rosemary of Henland is tired of trying to repair her reputation after a previous scandal. She doesn’t need any more distractions or drama. Meanwhile, Danni, who has earned a music scholarship, expects to start her new school experience quietly and seamlessly. However, rumors begin to circulate.

The pacing of this book was extremely fast, and I’m not sure if that was beneficial or detrimental. While the quick pace worked well for the plot, it negatively impacted the romance, making it feel rushed. The relationship between Rose and Danni was brief and limited, so it didn’t feel genuine. On the other hand, the plot was very cinematic and intriguing; it reminded me of "Red, White & Royal Blue", but set in a high school. Overall, it was a good book, but it didn’t leave a lasting impression or feel life-changing

I didn't know I needed sapphic young royals until I read this book, but wow did I need it! This book was exactly what I was hoping for--it had it all:

-Sapphic yearning
-Queer joy
-A delicate handling of heavy topics like underage drug and alcohol use
-Tactful explorations of grief, trauma, and identity
-All the tension, drama, and politics you want out of a royal-commoner romance
-Two FMCs who I adored (especially Rose and her journey navigating her queerness and how that fit into her life as a princess)
-Excellent pacing - I wanted to pick this up during every spare moment I had (I read it in 3 days)
-A cover I have been obsessed with since I first saw it - I need a physical finished copy to display ASAP!

Give me all the school girl sapphic romance vibes please! This was so swoon worthy and the characters were amazingly written. This one is a good one!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

This was a fun lil sapphic romance read! I love the boarding school vibe, and feel like the intimacy between the characters was done so tastefully! I as an adult reader had a hard time believing in the “I love you so much forever” aspect of the characters being 17, but that’s probably because my niece is 17 and she’s in love with someone new ever 6 months! Overall a great and fun read!

This may be my own fault for picking up a Ya novel when I no longer gravitate towards this genre but I felt as though the characters were very juvenile. I did like the idea of the romance between the two characters and did enjoy seeing their story unfold but overall it was too young for me. I wasn’t able to connect with the characters leaving me to disconnect from the story and at some point I was just chugging along to finish. I would recommend this to someone who is into a more juvenile romance but if you don’t read YA much this might be a pass. 2.5/5 stars

First off, I adore Sophie Gonzales, her writing, and this book cover!
I appreciate Sophie's author's note and I'm glad she finally got to publish this book!

I loved the boarding school setting and getting to know Danni and Rose individually and together. I didn't want to put the book down. It tackled so many topics and emotions, all of which were handled well.

Nobody in Particular is a sweet, pining, hopeful coming-of-age story.
I recommend it to anyone looking for royal romance, forbidden romance, sapphic romance, boarding school romance, or any YA romance.