I really enjoyed this book. It was a very cute first love story. I loved that the characters really came into their own and accepted who they were, even in the public eye.

this was a fun romcom that really played into the pauper/princess trope that i love so much. it was a little young for me but that didnt keep me from enjoying it.

As a huge Red, White, and Royal Blue fan and a Sophie Gonzalez fan I was excited to see her take on a royal romance. It was interesting to think about how a monarchy would handle an heir being queer. I love Sophie’s writing style which is why I have read all of her books. This book has a good exploration of friendship and highlights the importance of being true to yourself.

This was a new one for me and I thought it was a good read! I’m a fan of YA so this was perfect! I loved being able to read this romance and the fact that it was sapphic was great! I thought it was a sweet story and easy read! I highly recommend this one!

This is totally on me, but I went back to read my review of The Perfect Guy Doesn’t Exist, which is the last book I read by Sophie Gonzales, and the exact quote I wrote in this section was: “Now I’m on my third, and I’m not sure I’ll be back. I think maybe I’m just too old for these now—and that’s perfectly okay. Teens and younger adults will probably be able to relate better than me.” And…this still tracks here, though I did like this one better. It’s really not the author’s fault. She’s writing for a (very) young, queer audience. And that isn’t me. So take this all with a grain of salt.

At the beginning of the book, Gonzales writes that she wrote this book 11 years ago and couldn’t get it published because queer royal YA was too niche. In the wake of Red, White and Royal Blue and others, obviously, that is not the case anymore, but the coming-out stories (though SUPER important to keep publishing) seem steeped in that time over a decade ago. Danni is from Colorado, a liberal state, and she makes it seem like being bisexual is unheard of there. Though I totally get that coming out is hard, everything around it (when it comes to Danni, particularly) just seemed…dated.

Though I really enjoyed the characters and the romance part of it, the other thing I struggled with was how the author was trying to broach pretty heavy topics in one breath, and then in the next, the main character would say something really, really young, like that having a leather bag automatically made someone rich enough to drive a Porsche. It was really disconnected.

The book has good reviews on Goodreads, so I recommend that you take a look there if young, queer romance is something you’re into. This one just didn’t work for me. I think I need a break from YA for a while.

3 STARS

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book was easy to binge and the drama kept me intrigued!! I finished it in less than 24 hours. However, a lot of the drama was centered around “coming out” which was disappointing. There was so much shame coming from the media, family, friends, the country!! It was slightly disheartening. But otherwise, I loved the school setting and how the book navigated grief. I would have enjoyed more moments of joy mixed into the drama.

i’m obsessed with this book!!!! i was soo busy when i picked this up but once i started getting into the story, i kept reading it whenever i had a few minutes to spare (on my commute, while having breakfast, right before bed) and it was just a blast. the storyline and the chemistry between the characters were so addictive i couldn’t stop!! another new fav by this author for me!

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Nobody in Particular is a young adult romance following Danni after she begins attending a private school in Europe with the wealthy and elite. Danni meets Princess Rosemary and the two have a rocky relationship until they decide to have a private relationship. But they must keep the relationship a secret.

I liked a lot of this book. I liked the commentary about queerness in the elite and wealthy. I also liked how lighthearted it was even though it did tackle darker themes. It was also very interesting seeing a romantic relationship between someone famous and someone who is not in a young adult setting. I thought that was very refreshing. I also liked the fact that there was some character development over the course of the novel, and the characters were able to do it themselves, and they were the ones driving the plot, and not the other way around. I was surprised by the ending of the mystery but I can see the build up to that mystery ending.

The one thing that I will say is that it is a little forgettable.

This is what I want from a forbidden love/sneaking around queer YA romance! I looooved the setting of Bramppath College and the almost cozy academia feel it added to our story. More importantly, I really loved our characters and the relationship that formed. The plot was predictable at points and the depth of emotional capacity was not intense, but that felt par for the course for YA romance, and not a negative at all.

Nobody in Particular is a sweet and engaging contemporary romance with Sophie Gonzales’ signature charm and relatable characters. The story is lighthearted and fun, with playful banter and heartfelt moments that make it an easy, enjoyable read. The romance develops naturally, and there are several charming interactions that keep readers invested.

That said, the plot can feel predictable at times, and some emotional beats and secondary characters lack depth, which limits the story’s overall impact. While entertaining, the novel leans on familiar romance tropes and doesn’t offer many surprises.

Overall, Nobody in Particular is a pleasant, casual read—perfect for fans of feel-good contemporary romance, though it doesn’t leave a lasting impression.

Nobody in Particular is my first novel by Sophie Gonzales but will not be my last. As an elder millennial, I haven’t read a lot of recent YA romance, but queer—especially sapphic—YA novels like this remind me of the impact these stories have and make me want to read more.

I truly enjoyed this novel and was blown away by the emotional depth, wit, and unapologetic authenticity in its characters. Set in the elite halls of Bramppath College, this novel introduces readers to Princess Rosemary of Henland and Danni Blythe, a gifted pianist on scholarship from Colorado, whose worlds collide in a whirlwind of forbidden love, royal expectations, and personal healing.

From the first page, Gonzales crafts a story that feels both intimate and cinematic. I could easily see this translating to a TV series or movie. The chemistry between Rose and Danni is tender, unfolding through friendship and a slow-burn attraction built on vulnerability and trust. Their romance is a beautiful exploration of identity, reputation, and the courage it takes to live truthfully in the face of scrutiny. It felt so human and age appropriate. I also truly loved the complex relationships with side characters and the honest conversations about grief, coming out, class differences, and the effect of media.

Nobody in Particular is a witty, heartfelt sapphic romance about a princess, a pianist, and the forbidden love that could cost them everything. I loved it and I would read more by this author. Definitely adding to my sapphic lists this year.

I literally am obsessed with this book. That's not an understatement. It's one of my favorite YA reads of the year!

Give me all the Prince and Me, boarding school, forbidden sapphic romance vibes!! I was living for this story and these amazing characters. I loved the structure of the story and how high-stakes the romance felt because of the girls' circumstances. I was so IN that my heart was pounding and my hands were clammy when things started going wrong for them. Danni and Rose must be protected at all costs!!

I can not say enough good things about this book. It's the perfect romance for anyone who grew up romanticizing royal romances!

4.75 stars rounded up!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this eARC. All opinions are my own.

This was an enjoyable reading experience.

This book was really fun - if stories about young love, sapphics, royals, and boarding school appeal to you, this is the book for you. The characters were flawed but loveable, and there was tons of teen drama.

I’m still unsure about how I feel after finishing this book…

During certain parts this definitely felt like a YA because the characters acted so immature. There was so much drama, plus all the “will they/won’t they” mentality. I liked Danni, but she felt more mature than Rose bc she was so open with her emotions.

But at other points it was honestly feeling like an adult closed door romance? There was a lot of sexual tension in the beginning/middle that was kinda weird and felt super forced.

Also, the pacing of this book was strange. There were huge gaps of missing time without any sort of acknowledgement about it. Like one second it was November, and the next were already in the new year?

I was so excited for a royal sapphic romance, but alas, I think I just wasn’t the right audience for this particular book. I think it’s probably because it’s YA…

This took me forever to read because I just couldn’t get into it. Danni and Rose were cute together and I enjoyed their relationship but not enough to suck me into the book. The pacing was way off for me, and I really only enjoyed the last chunk of the book where it focused more on Danni and Rose resolving conflict. It was a bummer because I was really excited for this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel. Ever since I got my hands on Red, White and Royal Blue, I have loved any book that has a queer romance with a royal. Rosemary is definitely someone who needs to be seen as she has played a part her whole life. We are all becoming more aware of how much royalty is constantly watched and evaluated and has little privacy. Having Danni come into the story with her own story and experiences did make this a more dynamic plot. Happy ending as expected but an enjoyable experience.. 3.75 stars.

✨ The Vibes ✨
A YA romance perfect for fans of Young Royals or The Princess Diaries

📖 Read if…
✨ You enjoy following royal gossip
✨ You like books with a healthy bit of scandal
✨ You don’t mind YA books where the characters really act their age

Sophie Gonzales’ latest, Nobody in Particular, follows Princess Rosemary, a young royal trying to move past a scandal and a personal loss who meets Danni, a new student at Bramppath College who is also on a personal journey of her own.

It’s sometimes tricky to review YA titles as an adult because it can be hard to figure out if the story isn’t landing because of poor writing or just because you’re not the target demo. In this case, I think I’m leaning more towards the latter, as I thought the story was interesting but just found the characters to be rather immature, even for a YA novel. If I was a teen reading this, I might be able to look past that and enjoy the story, but as an older reader I was just frustrated more often than not and found it really difficult to get fully invested.

That being said, I think anyone who’s interested in a coming-of-age story that deals with themes around grief and found family, while also offering a strong romantic subplot and lots of drama will click with this book.

Nobody in Particular is out now. Thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am absolutely soft for these characters. I adored them so much, and that cover is absolutely perfect. This was honestly a sort of cozy read, for me. I enjoy these soft touch romances.