Our main characters work together to teach each other how to be good/bad. We root for them to fall in love in this funny entertaining story set in a private boarding school. A fun YA read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book.

I was intrigued by the premise but found the novel lackluster. I love a boarding school setting, and I have been really enjoying YA romances lately. Therefore, I was excited about this one but found myself disappointed quite early on. I really could not find myself invested in Evie or Salem as characters, even though there were plenty of cute moments between them.

I think there were choices that both of them made that fundamentally seemed opposed to what they claimed was the depth of their bond. And even though I love when other characters always see the romance developing before the MCs, it was just a little too much in this one that Evie was so oblivious.

Overall, I found myself somewhat disappointed by this book, but there was plenty of entertainment and cute scenes.

And I'm out.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

COME AS YOU ARE by Dahlia Adler
Thank you Netgalley and WednesdayBooks for the earc (May 27)

When Everett "Evie" Riley is put in the boys dorm because of her name, rumors spread that she somehow orchestrated the whole thing. In order to save her reputation, she teams up with Salem Grayson. He'll teach her to be bad, and she'll teach him to be good.
Okay, I actually really liked this book. I read this book in the span of a day. It kept me intrigued as it played put. It was so hilariously, laugh-out-loud funny. And then the Evie and Salem duo was just great. I loved seeing them work together and I rooted for them.
On a different note, it felt a little unfinished. The ending, more specifically. I don't want to into details, though.

Dahlia Adler’s Come As You Are is a captivating, emotionally rich novel that masterfully blends romance, self-discovery, and the struggle to redefine oneself. With sharp wit, authentic characters, and a unique twist on the classic "opposites attract" trope, this book is an absolute must-read for fans of contemporary YA fiction.

Evie Riley’s attempt at a fresh start at Camden Academy takes an unexpected turn when she finds herself stuck in an all-boys dorm—setting the stage for an unforgettable journey of reinvention. Her reluctant ally in this endeavor? The brooding, effortlessly cool Salem Grayson, whose own struggles with family expectations make him the perfect partner in their pact: she’ll teach him how to be "good," and he’ll teach her how to be "bad."

The dynamic between Evie and Salem is full of tension, humor, and undeniable chemistry. Their growth—both individually and together—is beautifully explored, making every moment feel raw and real. Adler excels at portraying the messy, complicated emotions of heartbreak, friendship betrayals, and the daunting process of figuring out who you truly want to be.

At its core, Come As You Are is a story about self-worth and refusing to settle for less than you deserve. Adler’s writing is engaging, heartfelt, and packed with just the right amount of angst and swoon-worthy moments. Readers will root for Evie every step of the way as she learns that happiness isn’t about changing yourself—it’s about embracing who you are.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — A must-read for fans of witty, character-driven YA romances!

Thank you Wednesday Books and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. Evie needs to get away from her sister, ex-best friend, and ex-boyfriend who all betrayed her. She takes the opportunity to attend Camden, a private school, the only problem they’ve mistakenly placed her in the boys dorm. There she meets the “bad boy” Salem. Evie could use a little bad in her life and Salem could use a little good in his so the two strike a deal to help each other. Can they change their reputations? Will they end up falling for each other in the end? I love a Dahlia Adler book because they always give you the warm and fuzzies! A slow burn with plenty of sweet and funny moments! A quick and enjoyable read!

I've been in a reading slump for over a month now, and despite reading books from authors I love that would normally pull me out of it, nothing has worked. At least, not until I read Come As You Are. It's the second Dahlia Adler book I've read, and while I really enjoyed Going Bicoastal, I hadn't been expecting to fall in love with Come As You Are the way I did.

Come As You Are had the perfect balance of friendship and banter leading into falling in love, and reading it felt like rewatching your favorite '00s teen romcom. While the setting was clearly more modern than that, the novel had the same charm those films did, and it was so nice to consume a new piece of media with that same feeling. Evie was such an easily likable character, even when she was working on herself and where she fit into the world, and it made it so easy to root for her to figure things out for herself. The dynamic she had with Salem was absolutely adorable, the back and forth joking and banter was top tier, and watching their relationship evolve was such a treat. The whole cast of characters were easy to love, and I'd honestly love to see another novel set in this universe about someone else who appeared in the book, especially Sabrina or Matt!

My only complaint (besides the book not being long enough lol) was that one of the plotlines was left unresolved, and in a way that felt rather hypocritical and out of character for Evie. I kept waiting for there to be at least some sort of resolution, but the book ended without one which was a little disappointing.

Overall, Come As You Are is a delight of a romcom, and something I can't wait to re-read again when I'm in the mood for a banter filled romance.

What a fun book! I really loved Evie, she had such a fun and bright energy about her. I always love a slow burn and it was so satisfying to watch the pay off in the end!

This was a fun read and I enjoyed the main and secondary characters. The school setting was fun and made for interesting circumstances!

Disclaimer: I received an e-ARC of this book. I chose to review it and this in no way impacts my opinion of it.

I am a sucker for private school novels. I think it has to do in part with the fact that I never went to a private school, or stayed in a college dorm, and also because I used to love reading novels as a young child where girls got to go to private schools with their horses. So when I saw that Adler has a new novel coming out that takes place in a private school with a dorm room mix-up, I jumped on the chance to read it.

I thought this novel was cute and funny at the same time. I absolutely adored the friendship between Evie and Salem. I loved their easy banter and the way they sassed each other in every interaction. I also loved the way Matt took on an older brother kind of role for Evie.

I will say that I didn't overly enjoy the ending of this novel, but that's just a personal preference thing. I don't want to get into detail about what I didn't enjoy as I don't want to leave any spoilers but it was just one tiny little aspect I didn't enjoy, so don't let that stop you from reading this novel.

I thought this was a quick easy read and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fun story of someone trying to find themselves while grieving their old life.

Everyone needs to read this book right now, and I’m not even joking. If you’re a fan of Lynn Painter or Jenny Han, you’re going to love Come as You Are by Dahlia Adler! It’s a fun teen romance that takes place at a boarding school, but the rest is just perfection. If you’re looking for a good time with big feelings, you’re going to love this one!

Our main character, Evie, is starting her new life at Camden, a boarding school far away from the drama she left behind. After a mix up, she ends up being asked to room on a boys floor (by herself!) but this leads her to meet Salem, a “bad boy” looking for a new identity. The two become reluctant friends to try and fix their reputations, but in the end, SPOILER: They fall in love!

There was something so cozy about this read. I don’t know if it was the school aspect, or the relatable nature that Dahlia Adler writes her characters, but I just fell in love. In fact, I haven’t stopped thinking about the book since I finished it last night and I want more books set in the world.

One thing I appreciated was that Evie was very real. She made mistakes, she struggled to make friends, she all around felt like a real person. She didn’t just immediately become best friends with everyone, like some teen romances like everyone to think. In fact, by the end, there wasn’t even clear closure for some situations, which I think fit the theme of the story. All in all, it was just so beautiful and I will definitely pick up more books from this author. (Please write more!)

And the COVER! The SYMBOLISM! Someone deserves a raise.

Come As You Are was fun & surprisingly fast paced for a slow burn romance. I don’t read a lot of YA and this book reminded me why it’s good to branch out every now and then. Dahlia Adler perfectly writes the universal adolescent experience. While I never went to boarding school or experienced many of the other hiccups that Everett “Evie” Riley experiences, this story is so inherently relatable that it can be enjoyably devoured by anyone. Each character was well developed and unique. I particularly love a well-written LGBTQ character who doesn’t seem like they’re just a token to the story and on this, Dahlia absolutely delivered time & time again. While there are discussions of sex, this was completely closed door and very appropriate for the target age group. Thank you to NetGalley & MacMillian publishing for this advanced copy!

Okay so I read Going Bi Coastal. And I liked it a lot more than this one.
Evie I find was so whiny. I understand why, her sister and ex bf cheated on her, her best friend and her got in a fight. Woe is me being entitled and wants to go to boarding school.
It started off interesting of her getting stuck in the boys dorm. But that was probably the only good thing about this book.
I feel like everything else kinda fell flat. You could guess the plot from the first few chapters. And it was very much a slow burn. Friends/enemies to lovers -whatever they were.

I don’t know I just did not connect with this book nor did I enjoy my time reading it unfortunately.

i love dahlia adler’s YA’s, let’s let that be known!!! ranging from queer to hetero romances, adler delivered another perfectly perfect romcom that i ate up and i love these two cuties the absolute mostest!! i already can’t wait for the next story she has in store 💫

I could relate to the main character
I certainly hated her sister sometimes and i confess i was not a big fan of her romantic partner
Well i tried :p
The cover its great and its a well written thing that goes and catch you
It gives me the desire of wanting to read the entire book in 24 hours what i LOVE when it happens
Said it all i definetely recomending for those lovers of romance books with funny parts and adventure
I certainly going to follow more from the author in the future

“Come As You Are” is great teenage-angst representation, while being realistic for readers both young and older alike. As someone out of high school for over a decade, I still found the issues faced by the characters to be interesting - which certainly isn’t always the case for a YA book! I could certainly see high school students enjoying the drama, romance, and realism of this book.

This YA book is about our main girl who goes to a boarding school to escape some complications she has had at home. The school accidentally mixes up her dorm and she gets stuck in the mens dorm area. Because of this she grows an unlikely friendship with Salem, and they strike a deal. She wants him to make her more like him “bad” and she wants to make him seem more “good” and behaved. This was a quick easy read. It was enjoyable and entertaining. There were lots of sweet and funny moments between the characters. I prefer longer books so I wish there were more chapters in it.

Come as you are is a really sweet young adult romance that surprised me with how much I liked it. Evie whose full name is Everett Owen Riley gets mistakenly placed in the all-boys dorm at her boarding school Camden Academy. She came to a new school to escape her older sister, the ex-boyfriend who slept with her, and her ex-best friend who knew about it. Because of where she is in the boy's dorm, there is gossip and rumors about it. So, she asks one of her dormmates Salem to teach her to be bad, if she teaches him how to be good.

Evie, Salem, and his sister Sabrina as well as Matt were very likable and relatable. I loved how Evie's story mirrored Sabrina's. I loved the character development with not only Evie but most of the characters. The only characters I didn't like were the ones who were purposely awful, so that was kind of the point since some people are just not look people in books and in real life. I like that not everything was tied up into a little bow, especially with the side and background characters because that doesn't happen in real life and this story was not about them. Plus the possible relationship that didn't happen in the end, didn't need to because while they could have been cute together, they didn't have to end up together because they were the only lgbt in the school.

This was very different from my normal reads, so it was a nice change of pace for me, and this is a story that I think will resonate with especially teen readers. It reminds me in some way of the YA books that I used to read in high school, but it felt different and fresh. I would love to read another book about these characters, especially if Evie and Salem are involved. If you enjoy boarding schools, slow burn, and friends to lovers, check this out. :)

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

This book was quite cute. I appreciated the whole messaging of how being yourself and letting others see how you truly are is the best possible way to do things. I will say I would've liked to see Evie and Sierra have an actual conversation at the end of the book where they actually worked through things and not just the fight they had on the phone and a scene where Heather finds out what her boyfriend did. But I really liked Evie's relationships with all her friends new and old and how her relationships with her parents and with Salem developed.

Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC.

This was a great young adult romance read. I loved following Evie in this book and loved her relationship with Salem. This was such a cute read and it had a great cast of characters. I loved seeing how the characters developed throughout this story. There was a good handful of moments in this book that had me smiling and laughing and I really enjoyed following the characters on their journey of self discovery.

Read this if you like:

📖 Grumpy/sunshine
📖 Slow burn romance
📖 Friends to lovers
📖 Boarding school settings
📖 Complex characters

Thank you to @wednesdaybooks for the gifted arc.

'Come As You Are' is the story of Everett aka Evie who is heading to boarding school in high school due to an issue at her current school (her sister stole her boyfriend and best friend). Because her legal name is Everett, she gets assigned to the boys' dorm, so although she's going to boarding school to escape drama, she finds herself in the middle of drama on day 1. She ends up befriending the guys in the room above hers, and gets really close to "bad boy" Salem and his goth sister Sabrina. She ends up in a pact with Salem to help him be good and he is helping her be...edgy/bad?

Although entertaining, I had a few issues with the story.

First, I didn't love Evie. She comes off as a self-centered "pick me" for a lot of the book. The author also totally focuses on Evie and there's not a lot of character development for the side characters, which I think hurts the plot a lot. I didn't love reading 100+ pages of Evie's internal monologue about whether or not she thinks she has feelings for Salem. She wasn't that interesting.

Second, there is a huge pacing problem. The whole Salem/Evie plot to make one good and the other bad is half baked at best, but is the focus of about 80% of the book. It's a pretty slow read until you get to Parent's Weekend. Then the last 10% feels rushed because there's a lot of unresolved issues that got moved really slowly that have to get tied up real fast. It just felt like not a lot happened and then got resolved pretty conveniently for Evie.

Third, and this is related to the pacing, there were some loose ends that don't get tied up with the side characters. I think this hurt the plot a lot. Some of the side characters had potential to be really interesting and I'd have liked to get to know them better, and I wanted to know how things turned out for them. It just felt like these characters were plot vehicles instead of living breathing characters. I think the author could have slashed about half of the middle parts focused on Evie and devoted them to the side characters.

Fourth, the author hints at some mental health issues for Evie, but none of that gets addressed directly. If you are going to suggest that there's an issue, to the point where another character comments on it, give us the full banana and hit the issue head on. As portrayed, it felt brushed under the rug, which doesn't sit right with me.

It was an entertaining story for the most part, it just reads like it needs another round of revisions to sort out the issues with pacing, side character development, and tying up a few more loose ends.

Dahlia Adler has done it again. She has made this 43 year old woman completely fall into a book about teenagers at boarding school. Her books never feel "young", despite writing about teenagers. The relationships are always written so well and her characters are never childish, but not written as adults in teens' bodies. I loved "Skeevey" and her friends and am so glad she found her place. I also really appreciate that her relationship with her family wasn't wrapped up in a neat little bow.

I LOVED this book and would absolutely recommend this read to anyone, adult or teen. I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.