Come As You Are has all the 90s teen movie vibes and a sweet protagonist who you just wanted to wrap in a hug. Evie Riley is accidentally placed in an all-boys dorm at boarding school, but befriends grumpy goth Salem and they make a pact to help each other achieve their goals. She’ll teach him to be ‘good’ if he shows her how to be ‘bad.’

This is a cozy rom-com about redefining yourself when everything is going wrong. At the heart of this story is a message of acceptance, not just of the things and people you can’t control, but also of your messy self exactly as you are. Adler has a heartfelt message and she tells it in a unique voice that’s engaging and encouraging.

As a writer I appreciated knowing this was the author’s first manuscript written years ago and like Evie, just needed time to find its voice. It is equal parts nostalgic and fresh. I found myself kicking my feet at the romance, laughing out loud at the antics, and occasionally gasping at the drama.

i love you dahlia adler and the bisexual messes you create forever. my main issue with this book is that i cannot imagine a school being okay with a girl living in a boys only building, especially if they are specifically separated by gender

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this arc!

Awe I absolutely loved this book! It painted the struggles of high school drama and navigating friendships and boundaries perfectly. Evie and Salem were just so cute and I loved their friendship to lovers journey.

I really appreciated the look into how teenagers can feel isolated even when they are getting the life they wanted. The highs and lows were depicted wonderfully because even if they’re just teenagers, they can still have difficult moments in life. It’s common for adults to brush off teenager’s problems, and we see a bit of that here, so they look towards their peers to be their support system, and we saw that as well :)

Absolutely loved the plot, the friendship, the found family vibes, and the young love romance! Totally recommend this to anyone!

ARC:

This book got me out of a reading slump. It was the perfect rom com that I would honestly love to see as a movie or series. I am hoping there will be a sequel. The authors writing made this such an easy and enjoyable read. Thank you! Now I will be reading other books from this author ☺️

This book has potential. It reminded me a bit of the Wattpad days, so I can see people liking it. However, for me when a love interest isn't seen as a love interest until later on in the storyline, it makes me question their love but that could definitely just be a bias of mine. I wanted more from Evie's thoughts from the start of the book of how she viewed Salem. The relationship felt a little quick and they needed more character depth within it. I wanted more of the side characters involvement as well. I understand it is a high school relationship, therefore I feel like it would have been better if it was a college setting instead.

Honestly, I had a good time reading this book. It was interesting although it went off track several times. We got to see Evie's growth throughout, but I wish we'd gotten more of her and Salem. The synopsis led me to believe their story would be the focus but it didn't quite pan out that way. Instead, the book centered on Evie's character development which although important, wasn't executed perfectly. That being said, there were many awesome moments and I enjoyed reading scenes like Evie's interactions with Matt or Sabrina, and her banter with Salem - it was all so much fun! Overall, this was a decent read and I'm glad I picked it up<3

Evie is feeling betrayed by everyone - her cheating ex, her sister he cheated with, and her best friend who let it happen.

Now is her chance for a fresh start, as she starts attending a new boarding school. However, it's not off to a good start. Evie is short for Everett, and the school accidentally puts her in the boys dorm, instead of the girls. Things start to turn around when she befriends Salem, who lives in her dorm, and his sister Sabrina. Grumpy Salem was kicked out his last school and Evie is the one keeping him in check now. As their friendship blossoms possibly into something more, is Evie ready to move on from her past?

Yessss!! So cute! It was such a fun and easy read that had me kicking and giggling the entire time.

I feel like it was well thought out and I could connect with the characters easily.

3.5: I don't have much to say about this--it was fun and I really liked it! It wasn't as memorable for me as Going Bicoastal was, but Dahlia Adler seems to be very good at writing YA love stories with vivid and likeable characters. The story being a healing journey for the protagonist was fun to read :) and it reminded me very much of Sophie Gonzales' and Alice Oseman's books. I will probably never stop reading YA and wishing that we had this quality of romance books when I was a teenager

I enjoyed this YA boarding school novel more than I thought I would. I guess that even though I've outgrown normal YA novels a boarding school novel doesn't read like YA.

This book was so much more than I expected. While I went in only off the blurb, I found myself eager to keep turning the page along the way. I won’t spoil this one, but it’s definitely worth grabbing if you want a romance that leaves you with warm, fuzzy feels.

Thank you so much Dahlia Adler, St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for letting me read the arc copy of Come as you Are. I had SUCH a fun time reading this! I loved the idea of this book, and it had me laughing out loud. It was so sweet to see Evie blossom into her own person, thanks to her friends, and Salem. Evie and Salem were so dang cute, and I loved reading their scenes together. They just had such great chemistry. This is one I’ll be telling my friends about!

While this book was fun and had a good plot the romance between our two main characters Evie and Salem escalated a little too quickly!

Story follows Evie who just transfered to a boarding school after her sister stole her bf and bff. On accident because her real name is Everett, she is placed in a boys dorm and this is instant drama. However she becomes friends with the boy upstairs Salem and his sister Sabrina.

Like I said it was a cute picture but Evie is self-centered and the story focus on just her which means all of our side characters now lack depth. The middle was slow due to unbalanced pacing and the ending was rush. I wanted more in the sense of character depth with the side characters and then the pacing a little more spaced out and I think this could have been great.

Thank you NetGalley & St.Martin’s Press for the Advanced Copy!

I have such a great time reading Dahlia Adler’s books. They’re fun, breezy YA contemporary stories full of interesting characters and situations. In Come As You Are Evie is accidentally put in an all-boys dorm at her new boarding school. While it certainly isn’t ideal, it does lead her to become friends with Salem, one of her new dorm mates. She’s going to teach him how to be a good boy to appease his parents while he’s going to teach her to be a bad girl to try and become cool. All this hanging out surely won’t lead to anything more… right?

Evie was such a compelling character. I loved learning about her backstory with her complicated relationship with her sister and how that impacted the whole family. It was a lot of fun watching her make new friends at school and flounder in certain situations. There were so many scenes that had me smiling ear to ear from the ridiculousness. The friendship that she strikes up with Salem was a joy to read about. It was fun watching them bicker and then slowly grow closer throughout the story. Friends to lovers isn’t always my favorite romance trope, but I loved it in this situation.

Occasionally I did find it a bit hard to tell how much time had been passing in the story. Also, sometimes it seemed like the premise of the bad girl/good boy lessons fell by the wayside. But overall I really enjoyed this book. I love how Dahlia Adler can have these super fun, light books that pepper in more serious topics without ever feeling like it becomes too heavy. And I loved how certain things at the end of the book aren’t resolved and wrapped up with a neat little bow, it made it feel very realistic.

Come As You Are by Dahlia Adler is an upcoming young adult romance that promises to deliver a heartfelt and humorous journey of self-discovery and unexpected connections. Set to be published on May 27, 2025, the story follows Everett "Evie" Riley, who, after a painful breakup, seeks a fresh start at Camden Academy. However, a mix-up lands her in an all-boys dormitory, leading to unforeseen challenges and personal growth. ​

What to Expect:
-Opposites Attract Romance: The narrative explores the evolving relationship between Evie and Salem, a self-proclaimed "bad boy." Their dynamic transitions from adversaries to friends, and potentially more, offering readers a compelling journey of mutual transformation.
-Authentic Representation: The novel provides a nuanced portrayal of teenage relationships, highlighting themes of identity, acceptance, and personal growth. Salem's Jewish heritage adds depth to the characters' backgrounds, enriching the story's cultural tapestry. ​
-Engaging Writing Style: Adler's whip-smart dialogue and fluid pacing ensure an engaging reading experience. The book culminates in a satisfying ending that resonates with readers, leaving a lasting impression. ​

For fans of young adult romances that blend humor, heart, and a touch of rebellion, Come As You Are is shaping up to be a must-read. Dahlia Adler's upcoming release is one to watch for in the YA genre.​

#ComeAsYouAre #DahliaAdler #YoungAdultRomance #OppositesAttract #BookTokRecs

I received a free review copy of this book from St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books through NetGalley. All opinions in my review are voluntary and completely my own.

*3.5 stars*

This book was a quick, cute read, though I'm definitely older than the target audience. It had teen angst and high school drama that was sometimes hard for me to relate to, especially when it felt like there was hardly any adult supervision. We follow Evie, who strikes an unlikely friendship with Salem. I enjoyed the relationship between the two, which had a lot of fun banter. I wasn't really a fan of Evie trying to change her image and the rule-breaking that was involved, though I think the ultimate message from her journey is a positive one.

This book had a fun and dramatic plot set in a boarding school, which made for an entertaining YA read. Unlike most YA books, it didn’t tie up every storyline neatly, which felt refreshing. The romance between Evie and Salem was cute, with a grumpy/sunshine dynamic, but it escalated very quickly. Overall, it was a fast and enjoyable read, great for fans of YA.

The story follows Everett (Evie), who transfers to a boarding school after her sister steals her boyfriend and best friend. Due to her name, she’s mistakenly placed in the boys’ dorm, leading to instant drama. She befriends the boys upstairs, especially Salem, a “bad boy,” and his goth sister, Sabrina. Evie and Salem make a pact—she’ll help him be good, and he’ll help her be more rebellious.

While entertaining, the book had some issues. Evie often came across as self-centered, and the story focused so much on her that side characters lacked depth. The pacing was uneven—slow in the middle but rushed at the end, making resolutions feel convenient. Some side character storylines were left unresolved, making them feel more like plot devices than real people. Additionally, the book hinted at Evie’s mental health struggles but never fully addressed them, which felt like a missed opportunity.

Overall, it was a fun read but could have benefited from more character development and better pacing.

Thank you NetGalley & St.Martin’s Press for the Advanced Copy!

4.5⭐️

Why was this soo good? I wished I could have curled up for a day with a blanket and snacks and a warm drink to devour it in one go.

It has all the YA contemporary feels that I beg for. It has banter and is clever and has all the messy relationships ( friends, family and romantic) that are so big at that age.

The only downside was it didn’t make me cry.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this e-ARC.

I started this book being slightly indifferent to it. I found the beginning slow. It eventually started to pick up, but not a lot of I’m being honest.

I’m not sure how I feel about the, what I’m going to call, “makeover” storyline. Felt it was a little unnecessary. Just let the nerdy girl date the bad boy.

I think this story is perfect for people in high school and if I read it back then I might’ve loved it. I did love the banter throughout the story!

Tropes:
- Boarding school
- Friends to lovers
- Grumpy sunshine
- Opposites attract
- Slow burn
- He falls first

I absolutely loved Come As You Are! From the very first page, I was hooked. The romance was incredibly cute, and the chemistry between Evie and Salem was undeniable. Their relationship developed so naturally, with the perfect mix of tension, banter, and swoon-worthy moments that kept me turning the pages. The way their dynamic evolved made it one of the most enjoyable slow-burn romances I've read in a while.

I loved this book for so many reasons, but mainly that the romance felt incredibly real. The connection between Evie and Salem was tangible from the first meeting, and every step after, I just couldn't wait for them to realize how much they had come to mean to each other. Both Evie and Salem were so well developed and had their own growth as individuals and as a couple, and there were also well rounded and well developed side characters to this story. This book had some serious moments, with real-life issues that could happen to anyone, but the book did a great job at juggling the serious with the lighthearted plot lines that feel like they can only happen in a rom-com.

I could go on and on about this book. This book is a beautifully done YA book, and I can't wait to read more of what Dahlia Adler has to write.