Can Dahlia Adler do wrong with her YA romances? I think not!!!

Evie was a delight to follow, so unaware that she is already wonderful as she is. Salem, too? Incredible. Color me obsessed with this couple.

Also the side character! From Matt to Sabrina, they shone so much!

This a was a fun book! I really enjoyed the song choices throughout the book.
What happens when Everett Riley’s name lands her a room at the all boys dorm? Chaos and hilarity lol. So many moments when I wanted to jump into the book and defend Evie from some campus jerks but Salem steps in and what starts off as a pact leads to an awesome friendship and more.
I thought it was well written, witty and at times dealt with some deeper topics.

Perfect book if you love school aesthetics, friendships and maybe some romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I am just in love with her writing!

This book and its humor had such a good start! I was hooked from the beginning and as I continued. I liked “Bi Coastal”, but this one was so much better to me! The banter between all the characters was so good. I was laughing out loud at so many parts.

I liked the relatively short chapters!

I loved Matt, he was one of my favorite characters, even though he wasn’t a main character! Even though he was a player and a jock he was still nice and friendly. Which I LOVE that trope. When that type of person is horrible it isn’t fun to read about. Same with Isabel, she was the popular girl, but she was so nice.

I didn’t hate Evie, but she wasn’t my favorite main character to follow. She had a lot of flaws in my opinion, which is very human of her, but it made it hard to follow sometimes. I really liked Salem though and I thought he balanced her out very well. He was just so nice and caring. He also had a sassy and sarcastic side to him. He’s what you would want in a male friend or partner. I was rooting for them to get together the whole time! I was getting a little tired of the slow burn by the end of it, but it wasn’t terrible.

It really pissed me off that Evie didn’t tell Heather her boyfriend cheated even after what was done to her. They weren’t even close friends so it shouldn’t have been that hard to tell her. I could see if it was with Sabrina, but Heather was just nice to her. Evie should have told her right away. It just doesn’t make sense narratively. Especially how much it hurt for Evie’s friend and sister to keep the cheating from her. She let Heather have SEX with him for crying out loud. That is just evil at that point. That almost made me want to knock it down a star, but I liked everything else about this book. I get Evie didn’t want to hurt Heather, but I am such a girls girl, it’s better knowing her boyfriend cheated than just letting her continue to date him. I thought at first she didn’t tell her for the drama of Heather finding out, but that never happened. She kept a crappy man’s secret the entire time. It frustrated me to no end.

I don’t love the trope of “I am angry at you and another girl because /I/ like you but I didn’t realize it.” That is an overdone plot. Plus Jenna was just mean to Evie for no real reason. It just seemed like she was there so Evie and Salem didn’t get together right away.

Evie self sabotaged herself most of the time. I get it can be hard to talk about your feelings, but a lot of people were coming to her and trying to help her when she was upset and she pushed them away, only for her to think how she’ll never have a good friendship again. But she does, she’s just the one pushing it away.

It wasn’t a lot but I’m glad we had a little time of seeing Salem and her being together, not just they started dating on the last page and all that build up was for nothing since we didn’t actually get to see them together.

I know I had some gripes with this book, but I really did enjoy it. Maybe it’s a 3.5 stars, but it would be rounded up because I do recommend this book for a light and cute read.

Dahlia Adler’s "Come As You Are" is a compelling and thought-provoking novel that deftly explores themes of identity, acceptance, and the transformative power of friendship. With its engaging characters, poignant narrative, and authentic portrayal of contemporary issues, this novel is a must-read for fans of young adult literature and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the complexities of personal growth.

The story centres around Ash, a high school student grappling with the pressures of adolescence while navigating the intricate landscape of self-discovery. Ash has always felt different, struggling to fit into the mold that society expects. The novel kicks off with Ash’s journey to understand their gender identity and sexuality, a path filled with both internal and external challenges. Through Ash’s eyes, readers experience the highs and lows of this deeply personal exploration, gaining insight into the struggles and triumphs that come with embracing one’s true self.

Adler excels at creating multi-dimensional characters that resonate with readers. Ash is a relatable and sympathetic protagonist whose journey is both inspiring and heart-wrenching. Their vulnerability and resilience are portrayed with nuance and depth, making Ash a character that readers can both empathize with and root for. The narrative is enriched by the presence of Ash’s friends and family, each adding their own unique perspectives and dynamics to the story.

The supporting characters in "Come As You Are" are equally well-developed and contribute significantly to the overall narrative. From Ash’s supportive best friend who offers unwavering encouragement, to the various individuals they encounter who challenge and expand their understanding of identity, each character plays a crucial role in Ash’s journey. Adler skillfully weaves their backstories and motivations into the plot, creating a tapestry of interconnected lives that enhances the depth and complexity of the story.

Adler’s writing style is both evocative and engaging. Her prose is crisp and clear, capturing the raw emotions and experiences of the characters with precision and empathy. The dialogue is natural and reflective of the characters’ personalities, adding authenticity to their interactions. Adler’s ability to convey complex emotions through her writing is particularly noteworthy, making the novel’s most poignant moments resonate deeply with readers.

The plot of "Come As You Are" is well-paced and intricately woven. Adler balances moments of high tension and emotional intensity with quieter, introspective scenes that delve into the characters’ inner lives. Each chapter ends with a hook that propels readers forward, creating a narrative that is both gripping and emotionally resonant. The progression of Ash’s journey is handled with care, allowing their growth and self-acceptance to unfold naturally over the course of the novel.

"Come As You Are" also explores themes of friendship and the importance of a supportive community. Ash’s relationships with their friends and family are central to their journey, highlighting the impact that understanding and acceptance can have on personal growth. The novel’s exploration of these themes is both uplifting and thought-provoking, offering readers a message of hope and the power of genuine connections.

A beautifully written and emotionally resonant novel, it offers a powerful exploration of identity, acceptance, and personal growth. With its well-developed characters, engaging plot, and thoughtful portrayal of contemporary issues, it is a must-read for fans of young adult literature and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the complexities of self-discovery. Adler has crafted a story that is both entertaining and deeply moving, making "Come As You Are" a standout addition to her body of work.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Adler has a way of making a simple story feel more depthy and complex. Sure this felt like YA at times but there is a maturity visible in the characters you don’t always see. This felt a bit unlike previous stories and I appreciate the love story was secondary to the self-discovery. A solid read (as expected).

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The idea of this book was cute, but i found myself wanting to skip ahead at parts as the story was rather slow-moving.

This book was a cute YA read, and definitely one I would recommend to teens/young adults. I think the writing was good and the characters were loveable (minus a few choice characters). I finished it in about a day and a half, maybe 2 days, so it was a quick and easy read.

Come As You Are was a really cute YA coming of age/finding yourself story. I loved the main characters and their interactions with each other, and the boarding school setting was really interesting and allowed for some more college-level/adult stuff to happen even though these characters were in high school. I did have to remind myself a few times that these were high schoolers because the conversations were so emotionally mature. I was not this emotionally aware in high school, but if I’d been reading books like these I might have acted a little more rationally. This story was light and fun, and I liked that the romance aspect was not the most central theme.

Dahlia Adler wins again with this interesting, compelling book that takes its characters seriously—high praise for YA.

Another fun, banter-filled, heartfelt romance from Dahlia Adler. I would die for these characters and couldn't put this one down!

This was lots of fun! From the moment main character Evie finds out she has been assigned to the boys' dorm at her new school, it has twists, turns, humour, and heartbreak that will appeal to many teen readers. Fans of Adler's previous YA romances won't be disappointed.

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in advance of publication.

You know the story: Girl tries to escape complications at home and have a nice normal boring existence at boarding school. Girl might succeed...except girl is placed in boys' dorm by accident. Shenanigans ensue, and girl decides that if she cannot have a non-reputation, she might as well have a Reputation of her own making.

First things first, then second things second, then third things and a caveat third.

First things first: Adler writes both f/f and f/m romance (and possibly other things, but I haven't read her entire backlist), and while there's plenty of queer coding in this book, that dark-haired character on the cover is (alas) not a butch lesbian. If that disappoints you, there's a solution! Read this anyway, and tell the publisher how much you want to see a queer sequel...because there's definitely sufficient setup for that.* And that's all I'll say on that particular subject.

Second things second: I've loved all of Adler's books that I've read, and this was no exception. I giggled out loud (and then had to explain myself to my partner) more than once, and that doesn't happen often. I enjoy how ready Evie is to come out swinging—she has a great poker face, which makes sense given some of her plot points. And her repartee with Salem and Sabrina in particular is just aces. I wasn't sure what kind of pairing to expect going in (I did not get past "boarding school" in the description before I chucked the book on my to-read list; that was almost a year before I read the book, and I didn't reread the description in the meantime—I knew it would be good read regardless, and I like to be surprised), so I spent a big chunk of the book expecting Evie to end up with a different pairing, and it turns out that reading YA romance is way more fun when it's not immediately glaringly obvious who the love interest is. (I mean...it is. If you've bothered to read the description. But if you're going in blind, it's fun.) I also love that one of the people Evie meets early on, whom she expects to be a tool to end all tools, ends up to be a pretty okay guy, if a total dudebro. Be prepared to hear a loooot about teenagers getting it on, but it's a fun read.

Third things third: This is where the caveat comes in. If you've ever been to boarding school, "Come as You Are" requires, ah...a fair amount of suspension of disbelief. (Is not, has never been, probably never will be my forte.) It's like this: I went to boarding school. Granted, mine was free,** public** nerd school in the South,*** not a fancy, expensive prep school in New England; also, I am an expert on neither my boarding school nor boarding schools in general. However...I do know that my school sometimes ended up with more students than they'd bargained for. And I know some of the ways they dealt with that: They turned singles into doubles. They turned doubles into triples. They turned triples into quads. They turned storage closets into singles. (Literally, there were windowless rooms in one of the boys' dorms known as "closet singles" and "elevator singles", and to the best of my knowledge the former were originally closets and the latter were originally part of an elevator shaft. Was this legal? Who knows. But it was a thing.) One year, they chucked some beds and desks into the lounge of a girls' dorm and called it a bedroom until enough girls in real dorm rooms dropped out (a few people every year got homesick or couldn't hack it academically...and in the boys' dorms, one or two boys typically did something really, really dumb and got expelled early on) and the girls in the lounge could move elsewhere.

What they definitely never did: moved a girl into a boys' dorm. What they definitely, *definitely* never did: moved a girl into a boys' dorm without *extensive* conversations with the girl's parents, and lots of waivers signed (probably by *everybody's* parents), and about a thousand extra rules for the girl. (There probably would have been a lot fewer rules for the boys, let's be real. This was the South.) With no effort at any point in time to move her to a girls' dorm. And in the 0.0000001% chance that that would somehow happen, there is a further 0% chance that the girl would decide to respond by never locking her door, because what? Boys in boys' dorms are awful. The stories Evie comes out with (like boys playing a game involving shouting "penis" at increasing volumes) are nothing compared to the stories I heard from the boys' dorms at my school. (Just...trust me on this one. Those are not stories that I'm repeating on the Internet.) Oh, and girls in girls' dorms can be a different kind of awful, but that's a whole 'nother thing. As is the part where there are at least a dozen characters in this book who would have been expelled from my high school, post-haste, for any number of reasons, and I swear to the giant spaghetti monster in the sky that my school was not especially strict—they were just worried about things like student safety, and also their reputation and being sued.

Now...I have to assume that Adler knows all this, and she chose to run with it anyway, because you cannot be smart enough to write books this good and also fool enough to think that, you know, Evie's experience would be what Evie's experience is. So I'm taking that as what it is, but also, well. Writing a dissertation on the ways that boarding schools would be more likely to react. Because I'm not very good at suspension of disbelief.

So go forth and read anyway, and know that if you someday send a kid off to boarding school, none of the things in this book will happen, but much worse things probably will.**** And then please hassle Wednesday Books (politely) for that sequel.

* Hey Wednesday Books—and Dahlia Adler—I'd love a queer sequel!

** Yes, really (x2).

*** It was...an experience.

**** Kidding. Or am I?

Thanks to the author and publisher for inviting me to read a review copy through NetGalley.

Thank you to St Martin's Press for this eARC! This was a perfectly lovely YA read. Just the right amount of teenaged dumb decisions and grown up communication. It felt like watching Easy A or 10 Things I Hate About You, a very nostalgic feeling coming off the page. Evie is really likeable and fun to root for. A totally fun read!

After a disastrous last year at school in which Evie feels like she's lost her boyfriend, sister and best friends all in one fell swoop, she goes to Camden Academy for a fresh start. She has new experiences which help her through the past. I really wanted this to be longer, a lot felt unresolved with the sister at the end, and I was intrigued by Claire's character and her new relationship with Lowen and their representation. Overall another great Dahlia Adler book.

I found this book to be such a fun book about always being yourself and searching for what you deserve and never settling. These characters had such personality and they each had their own story that they were pursuing. A great contemporary romance.

Dahlia Adler gets me every single time. Her characters are alive, friendly, and clever. This one was no different--I felt immediately introduced into Camden as a student, and Evie felt so alive as she met Salem and Matt. The beginning of this one was a little slow, but once I was introduced to the romance between Salem and Evie I was sucked in. I read the whole thing in one day. Even after I finished, I was left feeling like I could've read 500 more pages of these characters,

you know the coming-of-age movie you watched when you were fifteen and became so obsessed with you decided to make it your whole personality and now as a twenty-something you’re not entirely sure what is the movie and what is actually you? imagine that but in book form and you have this.

the banter, the setting, the mc, salem, sooooooooo much in this book to love. adler always nails combining a strong character arc with a fun and playful environment. add in the superb, addicting dialogue— i will definitely be stealing salem and evie’s one-liners— anything adler writes is an instant hit in my book.

my only regret about this book are 1. heather never ended up finding out, it felt like a missed opportunity, and 2. that it’s over. i’m having fun. let’s keep going with this. sabrina and isabel? he’ll yes. please. or, and hear me out on this one, matt and heather?? (although i get some alphabet mafia vibes from him).

seriously, though. loved this. can’t wait to buy it in hard copy.

This was a really great read, exactly what I've come to expect from Dahlia Adler! The banter was hilarious and it was extremely engaging to watch the relationship between Evie and Salem develop. I also really appreciated the emotional depth of the characters. My only critique would be that I felt like more could have been done to resolve the Heather/Lucas storyline - it hung really heavily over most of the story and I didn't feel like it led to anything aside from some self-actualisation for Evie. I didn't have a problem with that, but I would've liked some more external resolution as well.

Thank you Wednesday Books for the ARC!

This was a lovely, fun read with characters I wanted to wrap in a hug. This was the perfect fun read. I truly liked all the characters and was just happy to spend time with them.

"Come As You Are" is another enjoyable book by Ms. Adler. Having Everett (Evie) Owen Riley, the main character, assigned to an all-male dorm at the boarding school to which she has transferred, on the assumption that she is a guy because of her name, makes for an amusing start to the story, especially when it turns out there are no vacancies in the girls' dorms. She is not required to stay with her roommate, who is a pretentious jerk, but she is required to live in the dorm, in the handicap accessible single room on the first floor. Evie's presence in a boy's dorm quickly becomes a hot topic on campus, much to her dismay, and sets the scene for other humorous moments later. However, it is also how she meets Salem (and his sister Sabrina), with whom she develops a much-needed friendship.

The story is full of colorful, creative characters. I enjoyed the dynamic between Evie and Salem, as well as the brother-sister teasing, squabbling relationship of Salem and Sabrina, and the friendship between Evie and Sabrina. One thing that I particularly liked is that initial assumptions about some of the major characters proved not to be true; most obviously with Salem, who appears to be a grungy dope-smoking slacker, but also his roommate, Matt (with a reputation for a new girl in his room each night), Sabrina, and Isobel (one of the popular girls).