This was beautifully written in a way I haven’t seen in most modern lit fic. I enjoyed the stream of consciousness style contrasted with poetic elements that fit the character.

I think this is also the first book I’ve read from the perspective of a trans woman, and coming from a trans author I genuinely felt like I grasped a deeper understanding of that experience.

I also appreciate the story focusing on other aspects of Max’s life and her relationships with others rather than with her body. While there is an exploration of motherhood as a trans woman, it’s never the sole focus or the main point. It feels more like a conversation about society at large.

I really liked this book, it was a good story that anyone could identify with.,...very interesting how it all comes together in the end..

This book got me all up in my feels! For a book that’s not a thriller, I sure held my breath and had an elevated heart rate for half the book and that is simply because the characters and storytelling were so compelling! Especially as we got further along in Vincent’s storyline, I was literally getting nervous to start his chapters.

I loved this book. I loved that it didn’t fit nicely in any sort of box. I loved that it was messy and gritty and made me feel uncomfortable along with a whole slew of other emotions.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest rating and review.

5 stars. Disappoint Me has grabbed hold of my heart and I hope it never lets go.

Disappoint Me is a dual narrative story centred around Max, a trans woman, and her cis boyfriend Vincent. Max's narrative is present day and Vincent's is set ~10 years prior, during his gap year in Thailand. If I give much more detail than this I fear I will spoil something - I think this one is best read with as little knowledge about it as possible! The simplicity of the premise is what makes this story as captivating as it is.

This book is poignant, raw, and beautiful. There are some laugh-out-loud moments that the queers will love, followed by moments of deep reflection that had me thinking about my own life. The balance between these is perfect and adds so much to the overall tone and feel of the book and it kept me hooked page after page.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me an advanced copy.

The premise of this book was more exciting than the execution, but I LOVED the wit and sarcasm! The charm outweighed the slower bits!

Clever, quick witted and sarcastically charming. This is such a unique take and super character driven but I loved every second of it. The dry humor is well executed and the whole story is a whirlwind!

Honestly, confused on my feelings with this one. Sometimes, I felt it was a little slow, and nothing happened. Then, looking back, literally so much happened. The author has such dry humour, and touches on so many taboo subjects with such an amazing tone, and so much respect. Overall, I really enjoyed it by the end.

This is a character-driven novel done INCREDIBLY well and I will be forcing everyone around me to read this…. I am a happy litfic girly right now.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. .

Really got excited for the premise of this one!
However, kind of lost me a bit with the main character. Made it hard to really relate but also to empathize.
Writing style felt a bit all over the place but interesting.

This is my first Nicola Dinan novel and I look forward to reading Bellies. I enjoyed several parts of this novel, Disappoint Me, but not as a whole. This is partly to do with its pacing. At its best moments, the writing is engaging, honest, and tender, but because of how the writer employs the first person POV, some parts read more like meandering journal entries. This leads to many lulls in the narrative where characters are just trying to parse through their feelings. This might work for a lot of readers, though. I just get impatient.

The relationship around which the whole novel is centered didn’t feel very passionate, but the stories of their experiences beyond that were much more engrossing, especially the secrets from the past that resurface and complicate the stability of their relationship.

I was quite taken with this book! The writing was so sharp. It felt as if each sentence had a grander purpose in the story. Every character was so complex, flawed, and real. For such a short story, it dives deep into the intricacies of all kinds of relationships and all kinds of forgiveness. I loved Max’s voice and humor. The dual perspective worked painfully well, but I’m not sure how much I liked the ending. Regardless, I really recommend it! It’s a beautiful work of queer fiction.

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

I didn't know what to expect when I requested this novel - only that the cover is beautiful, and my mutuals in the bookish sphere were loving it. Little did I know I'd be finding a new favorite author. Nicola's prose is vibrant and decadent, raw and humorous. She had me huffing a little laugh and then wiping away tears. She has a very unique tone, one so personal I could feel the very movements of each character like I was in their skin.

Max is an amazing leading woman. Complex in her nature, humorous in her thoughts, and existential in her deliberations. Every character from Vincent to Alex to Simone to Fred - I felt them all so viscerally. I've already put Bellies on hold at the library, and cannot wait to follow Nicola's future work. She has a true gift.

When I finished Bellies it stuck with me for a long time and even now when I see it on a shelf in a bookshop, I’m reminded of how much I enjoyed it so in some ways I had high expectations for Disappoint Me but equally I didn’t expect it to be as good.

I was wrong, Nicola Dinan does it again and what a book to start the year on!

It’s so hard not to become entirely invested in the lives of the characters Dinan creates and my only criticism is that I want more of Max and Vincent’s story!

This particular book did NOT disappoint me. It took me quite a while to get into it and I'm glad I persevered. I wasn't really sure what was going on for about the first fifty pages. Was is a coming of age type book or a romance? If you like Sally Rooney, I think you'll adore the uniqueness of this novel. I slowly warmed up to Max and by the end adored this main character in what I think is both a coming of age and a romance and so much more. There's a lot of subtle social commentary but mostly without judgment. Basically, everyone is disappointed in everyone and everything, and despite that seeming like a horrible theme. it's actually quite a statement on life and our expectations of others. Rather than just settling, I think the author is selling human empathy as the solution. Nobody's perfect - you included. This ultimately is a very freeing concept and our characters all develop and mature in positive ways. Thanks to Random House, Nicola Dinan and to Net Galley for the ARC. I will definitely be checking out this author who is new to me. The writing is outstanding!

Thanks for the review copy. I went into this with an open mind and I am glad I did, I slowly ended up liking Max.

I really enjoyed Dinan's first book Bellies, so I was eagerly anticipating this one and I believe it's somehow even better than her debut. This is a book about how people we love can devastate us with their faults. It's a complex, messy book, where characters the reader grows to love suddenly reveal a flaw that is difficult to accept or overcome. Dinan excels here, as she did in her first book, in tight, witty dialogue that never felt too smart for the feelings of the characters. I think this would make an excellent book club book, given how much rich material there is for discussion.

This is a novel that lingers, not just in its beautifully poetic prose but in the quiet, everyday moments that make us human. It’s the kind of book that makes writers want to write - each sentence crafted with a precision that feels effortless yet deeply intentional.

At its core, this novel is a tender, moving slice of life, capturing the subtleties of relationships, identity, and the complexities of human connection. Dinan infuses the narrative with wit and humor, making even the heaviest themes feel deeply personal rather than didactic. There’s an undeniable sharpness in its observations, particularly in how it explores the intersection of heterosexual and queer spaces. The book holds up a mirror to the ways allyship can sometimes be more performative than genuine - transactional rather than truly empathetic.

It’s difficult to categorize Disappoint Me because it feels like an experience more than a traditional story. Indescribable in the best way, it leaves a lasting impression, full of quiet truths and emotions that settle in slowly, long after the final page. An incredibly moving read that is both thought-provoking and deeply human.

Nicola Dinan is now the reason why I'll have such high standards for queer fiction! What an emotional rollercoaster this reading experience was! The characters, were so authentically crafted that as a reader you felt honored to be able to particiapte in their story. Max's raw and honest inner monologue was extremely refreshing and much needed in regards to advocating trans rights. Disappoint Me made me feel insatiable; I could not get enough of Nicola Dinan's writing.

Interesting in premise, I found the writing to be hard to follow and I was not a fan of the main character. there were one or two supporting characters that stood out to me but all in all, one that I will not revisit.

I really love this book. The characters are developed and layered. It’s important to read books there give glimpses into worlds we don’t know much about.