this was truly a work of art. so many wlw books are so hard to get through or feel unrealistic, but this one was really great

I was eagerly anticipating this as I am a huge fan of any novel containing royal figures. I enjoyed the setting and the yearning between the two characters!! However, there was something missing for me. I just wasn’t too invested in Rose and Danni’s relationship. I enjoyed the realistic and understandable third act conflict though.

*3.5 Stars*

It was pretty okay, I liked the characters and I liked the story/final plot twist (which is something I really appreciate in a novel). Overall I think the book was good, though it was a bit slow at times for me. I would definitely recommend it for a comfort romance lighthearted read and I'd like to read other novels by this author.

God, where to start with Nobody in Particular...

This was an unputtdownable read for me, which hasn't happened in many months for me and is a true testament to Gonzalez's skillful tension, character-arcs, and world building.

The characters all feel like messy, real, multifaceted teenagers (not millennials in disguise, thank you sooo much Sophie Gonzalez I will forever be grateful to you for reminding me why I like reading YA)

Nobody in Particular is full of hope, grief, and triumph. Danni and Rosemary's povs just add to the richness of the world, their love story interreacting with the backdrop of Rosemary's position as Princess of Henland and the tragedy that occurs before the book starts. It's such a raw telling of teenage experience while combining comforting tropes and a sapphic love story that tugs at all of the heartstrings. Everything felt so intentional, which leads me to my next point.

In the acknowledgements, the author says this book has been 11 years ish in the making (I may be remembering wrong), and it really shows in the quality of the plot and the compelling, smack you in the face on the first page voice. This book feels so purposeful and even though it was written a decade ago, it was clearly edited/revised with today's teenagers in mind, which is fabulous considering the current state of the YA market.

This is definitely a pride month MUST read, I've been reccing this to anyone who will listen to me.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the eArc!

This was a really sweet read! I liked the setting and the premise of the book, but the writing did not really capture me. I didn't find the main two characters that loveable, and sometimes outright annoying. Everyone just sort of felt flat, and I got bored towards the end. The beginning of the book was interesting, but then towards the end it felt rushed and not very fleshed out. I see how the author wanted the ending to be a happily ever after, but it also just felt too easy considering the emphasis on the setting of a very Catholic country and how the general public was already not loving the monarchy.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

I really enjoyed this! I've liked Sophie Gonzales books in the past and this was no exception. I enjoyed the fictional monarchy and how confining it was for the princess and those around her. I thought it was a nice sapphic ya romance.

Would definitely recommend (and don't skip the beginning author's note!).

4.5!! This was genuinley such a joy to read. Any expectations I had for this book was completely blown out the water. Sophie mentions that this book was been in the works for 11 years and you can tell that this book was a labor of love. Our characters Danni and Rose are private school girlies just trying to come of age while dealing with the pressures society, social media and their parents. Danni is a scholarship kid who is working on her confidence when performing and Rose is (drum roll please) a princess and a secret lesbian. This romance was BEAUTIFUL. So sweet and heartwarming. I was so connected to these characters and it made it genuinely impossible to put this book down.
I am so happy I was able to experience this book. This is the kind of book I wished I had when I was a kid. SO GOOD.

Rating: ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑

“I need you, and I need the version of me I become when I'm with you. If I lose you, I lose me, and I will fight for you until I'm broken and bloodied if that's what it takes.”

Nobody in Particular is a story about the crown princess, Rosemary, and a new scholarship student, Dani, at a boarding school called Bramppath College. If you loved Young Royals, this is the perfect book for you!

I want to start off by talking about how this book was originally written years ago and got denied overtime until finally it was seen as the beauty it is. Sophie Gonzales, thank you for not giving up on this book because it needs to be read by many. Queer has always been here and will always be here.

“It kind of doesn’t affect you.” is basically the premise of this book. Dani and Rose have this wonderful and beautifully written story of figuring out how to be around each other, and if they’re safe with outing themselves to be with each other. Rose deals with the weight of her country and fears for her future of love and what it might entail if she never tells the world that she’s a lesbian.

The friendships and the drama were so realistic it actually hurt my heart to see. I loved how their friends stood by them and those who didn’t well… not a fan. But it felt so true. Every time I would put this book down I felt the need to pick my kindle back up again just to know how Dani and Rose were feeling.

I’m so thankful to have had the opportunity to read this book early. Thank you author Sophie Gonzales, Net Galley and St.Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was both heartwarming and coming of age! I loved how the main characters relationship developed while navigating school and friendships. I do feel that their relationship was a bit fast paced as I would have liked it to be prolonged a bit more but that's more of a personal preference. Great queer YA novel and I look forward to reading more of this author's books!

This book was such a delightful read! From the very first page, I found myself completely immersed in the story. The writing was so approachable and warm, making it easy to connect with the characters and the plot. I loved how the book felt both inviting and engaging, without ever being too complex or hard to follow. It was just the right mix of comfort and intrigue, and I truly enjoyed every moment of it. It’s a wonderful read that I’d happily recommend to anyone looking for a heartwarming escape!

3.95 rounded up!

Thank you to Netgalley, Sophie Gonzales, and St. Martin’s Press for the e-arc! <3

A royal, queer, & coming-of-age ya forbidden romance all in one?! This was such a stunning read with so much momentum within the characters & plot. The ‘academia’ school atmosphere made me feel like I was there the whole time with Rose and Danni—So transparent, moving and fun.

I enjoyed this book! I loved Rose's vibe and how she was unapologetically mean but sweet and caring. The idea for this story was great and I love reading Sappic books there really should be more! It's so amazing that Sophie was finally able to write this book after so long. I had a great time reading it! 🩶

It's kind of insane to read in the author's note that publishers refused to give this book a chance because of the supposed lack of a market. I am very glad "Nobody in Particular" is finally getting the attention it deserves, and not just because of the commoner x royalty trope, but also because of the wide range of topics it covers.

Sophie Gonzales is one of my favorite writers for sapphic romances, and this is once again proof of why this is the case.
This book made me feel really comfortable, just like how Danni and Rose make each other feel, with all of the friendship moments, the forgiveness, and, of course, the sapphic main couple.

Communication is key, and this is definitely a lesson you can see the characters learn throughout this story. And even if some of the politics weren't really how they would work in real life, the vibes and the hopefulness needed in today's political climate made me willing to overlook them in exchange for a happy ending.

For everyone looking for a sapphic story, including dealing with grief set in front of a backdrop of royals and reporters, this is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for providing me with this ARC in return for an honest review.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early.

Nobody in Particular follows Danni and Rose, two girls who meet and fall in love at boarding school, except Danni is a scholarship student from the US and Rose is the princess of Henland, where they are studying.

This was such a sweet story with very important and darker themes. I really enjoyed how the chapters were split between Danni and Rose as it helped get a sense of each of the characters individually and how they saw each other. I also really enjoyed Danni and Rose’s friends (especially Molly) and how the book wasn’t just about the relationship between Danni and Rose in how it also focused on how the lost of a friend changes a friendship and how coming out isn’t always easy.

My only issue was that Danni and Rose fell in love really fast and it didn’t quite seem realistic but the book was so beautifully written and enjoyable that I was able to look past that.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley again for the chance to read this early.

"It's hard not to sink into a false sense of ease when speaking to someone who looks at you like they know you to your bones."

Nobody in Particular is one of the sweetest sapphic romances I've read in a very long time. Our protagonist Danni Blythe is a middle-class teenager who gets a music scholarship for a prestigious boarding school called Bramppath.

A boarding school, in which she ends up falling in love with Henland's Princess Rosemary, who already has her own things going on. Danni is worried about not fitting in and hiding her queerness—which is why her crush on a literal princess sends her spiraling. And while they're both spiraling, they're completely enamored with each other in the sweetest way.

"Her shoes are muddy, her skin is shockingly pale, and she hasn't unfolded her arms in about half an hour. I should know. I've been watching her."

An incredibly realistic portrayal of girlhood and what it means to be yourself. This novel was so very endearing, and I often found myself laughing at the author's humor. While it was modern, it didn't come off as cringe in the way some other YA books tend to.

They're teenagers, and they're realistic teenagers. They love, hate, make up, & break up. And it's all navigated in a way where you feel for each and every one of them. Even their trauma and the way they navigate it is realistic!

"Months. It's been years since Danni last spoke to me. The longest decade I've ever slogged through. Made all the worse by the fact that in reality, it's barely been a fortnight."

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this read. It's so heartwarming to read about good sapphic representation! I must also add that the intimacy was very tasteful and handled off-screen, which was very much appreciated considering their ages.

My only critique, which happens with most books like these—is the politics! It's so very hard for these authors to fit in good political talk in queer romances aimed at younger audiences. I noticed the same thing in Red, White, & Royal Blue! I wish authors were less scared to dive into class politics and the effects of monarchies, especially when starting a conversation about it!

"[...] I wanted to become a better person but you make me good. I don't think I realized it before, but I do now. I need you, and I need the version of me I become when I'm with you. If I lose you, I lose me, and I will fight for you until I'm broken and bloodied if that's what it takes."

Thank you, NetGalley & the publisher for my ARC!

Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy.

Sophie Gonzales delivers everything you can look for in a royal romance with ‘Nobody in Particular’. Seriously, the level of pining, passion and ANGST between the two protagonists…. chef kiss.
I would have liked the build up between the two of them to drag a little bit more but that is just the slow burn fanatic in me. Regardless of that, the pace is perfect and I really appreciate the fact that the author took her time to build solid, three dimentional secondary characters.

I can see this one becoming a Netflix hit show if producers know what it’s good!!!

This was a lovely YA romance. I really enjoyed seeing the character development and was pleasantly surprised to see the teens actually talk to each other about their problems.

3.75 !
thank you netgalley for the arc of this ya sapphic royalty romance novel!
this was like princess protection program but gay
despite this being a ya, i enjoyed this wayyy more than i thought i would as a 25 yo ahahhah. i love that this is ya -- and i wouldve eaten this up in high school.
this book is set at a boarding school, which is a setting that is always so much fun for me. danni is the new girl in school on a music scholarship and rose is the crown princess of henland constantly in the media's limelight.
i loooved these two characters and their chemistry and had so much fun watching their love grow deeper and deeper for one another. the way queerness as forbidden romance is explored here is interesting because the stakes are so high with rose being a part of the royal family. also loved the ideas of friendship in this -- and the reflection rose has to do to see who is really in her corner vs who is using her for status.
loved the setting and had so much fun reading this one!

A sweet sapphic romance perfect for fans of Red, White, and Royal Blue. The romance felt convincing and well-developed and the paparazzi/social media components of dating someone famous were well-thought out and seemingly realistic to what this would be like. Both main characters were fleshed out well and the friendships were well written. The portrayal of PTSD and grief were really moving and well done. Overall a top tier recommendation and very fun and engaging to read.

This was very cute! I'm not typically one to think that characters in YA books are being dramatic over "young love" but there were some moments where I thought Rose was making big statements and decisions over a high school girlfriend. Besides those couple of moments? I enjoyed this. I think young people discovering their queerness is a really important topic, so I love a queer YA story and I think this one had a lot to love about it. There was... a ton going on, but that's to be expected when one of the main characters is a literal princess in line for the the throne.