Dinan writes a story that is unique and thought-provoking with Disappoint Me. I found myself having a difficult time putting the book down. I was drawn to the characters. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I had never read Nicola Dinan before, but for some reason, the description had me expecting this book to be chaotic, snide, fast-paced. I was pleasantly surprised to find it was more poignant, touching, and character-driven. I thought the dual perspective worked really well, especially when you start to see the timelines converging, which is a testament to how beautifully drawn all of the characters in the story were. I'm glad I got the chance to read this really thoughtful, emotional novel.

Starting 2025 strong with a 5 star read.. I loved every single page of this book.

It's written from the POV of Max, a trans woman living in London who meets her boyfriend Vincent via dating apps. The story unfolds as we get chapters from the POV of Vincent on his gap year in Thailand many years earlier. These two threads collide and Max is left to carefully consider whether the ghosts of our past define us.

By chapter 2 I wanted to thrust this book into the hands of all my friends because its so relatable. The witty and astute narration from Max on the topics of modern dating, feeling conflicted about having children, being a woman and having a body, being in your thirties and "feeling like people are graduating into things that don't feel made for me". All the little observations throughout have a way of making the reader feel seen. I loved every minute I spent with these characters and missed Max when I turned the last page.

I found this to be a really interesting and compelling read. The dual perspectives offer an insight into different character's minds and allow the story to unweave slowly. The MC was likeable and relatable in her self hatred and self doubt, I think a lot of trans people share those same feelings of being an imposter pretending to be a good and real person. The friendship between the two female MCs was endearing and believable. While there was romance in this book, I wouldn't consider it a romance novel, definitely more in line with litfic/slice of life.

Even though it wasn’t as good as “Bellies,” it was an enjoyable novel to read! Despite dealing with such complex topics, I thought it was handled well. I truly enjoyed this novel a lot! Dinan's beautiful prose was a highlight. The way she captured various emotions was amazing!
(I will be posting on social media around the first week of February)

While I did not love this as much as her debut, Nicola does a fantastic job with her sophomore effort.

This is a beautifully written book with her special and unique style of prose. I will admit I didn’t fall for the characters the way I did in Bellies BUT I was invested and wanted to see how their stories progressed.

The ending was perfect and this is a fabulous second book.

Loved the dual narrative, both characters were quite complex and realistic, as were supporting characters which you usually don’t see in a book.

I actually loved this book so much i was obsessed with the characters and the relationships. the last chapter broke my heart and the ending i gasped because i thought it was over and then thankfully it got to the epilogue. i am a straight cis white woman and it always opens my eyes see life from someone else’s point of view. i honestly cannot wait till this book comes out on physical

ohhh now this was good. not perfect, but for my first read of the year, i was thoroughly satisfied. i still have yet to read bellies, but now i'm rushing to get it from my local library.

After taking a fall at a party, Max decides to make some changes to her life. What follows is a compelling journey of the relationship between corporate lawyer Vincent and trans poet Max. The dual narrative is well executed and the book is beautifully written. Fans of Bellies will love this novel.

This was an emotional roller coaster of a novel. I love a good sad girl novel, and getting one from a trans perspective was refreshing. I think Nicola Dinan is a really gifted writer- her scenes with multiple characters feel like a play, with snappy dialogue and high-drama situations. I was absolutely along for the ride, even though some of the characters filled me with vitriolic hatred. Overall, great novel, and I will definitely want to read more from Dinan.

Nicola Dinan's Disappoint Me is a beautifully written novel that delves into the complexities of modern relationships, identity, and forgiveness. The dual narrative structure offers deep insights into the lives of Max, a trans woman navigating her thirties, and Vincent, a corporate lawyer with a hidden past. Dinan's storytelling is both poignant and engaging, making it hard to put the book down. The characters are richly developed, and their journeys are both relatable and thought-provoking. This novel is a testament to Dinan's talent and a must-read for those seeking a profound exploration of love and self-discovery.

Disappoint Me is an assured and captivating sophomore novel, a worthy albeit significantly darker follow up to Bellies. Nicola Dinan makes solid use of a dual POV/timeline, oscillating between 31 year old lawyer Max in the present day, a trans woman who spends her days impersonating a robot working in-house as a lawyer a tech company and flashbacks of Vincent, Max’s new straight laced boyfriend as he traveled through Thailand on a gap year over 10 years earlier. In the present, Max adapts to the growing pains of a burgeoning relationship - trying the heteronormativity of a life with Vincent on for size, while also navigating complex relationships with childhood friends, her parents, and her flailing workaholic brother. In the past, Vincent meets and has an immediate connection with Alex, a beautiful woman who discloses only that she has come to Thailand for necessary surgery. The two later rendezvous with Vincent’s friend Fred to attend a Half Moon party, a meet up that ultimately has harrowing, long lasting consequences.

Dinan shines at writing a motley crew of complex characters, and I loved the development of Max and her messy friends and family. The subject matter is quite heavy, dealing with themes of addiction and transphobia, but these topics are deftly handled, harrowing but depicted in a manner that‘s unflinching yet never salacious. The story also ends a hopeful note, leaving the reader confident in the belief that people can heal and grow, that one need not be defined by horrific yet decidedly youthful ignorance.

Many thanks to Random House/Netgalley for the arc. Please pick this one up! Now more than ever it’s vital in these dark times to read and amplify queer fiction.

Disappoint Me was humorous, thoughtful, and memorable. The story follows Max, a trans woman, and Vincent, her boyfriend, as their relationship evolves. Initially, thinking the cover was reminiscent of My Year of Rest and Relaxation, I assumed the story would follow Max into a manic spiral. I was delightfully surprised by what I found. Max was level headed, albeit having an existential crisis, watching her friends grow up and dealing with the idea of forgiving her boyfriend for his past mistakes. I enjoyed Nicola’s stream of consciousness writing style because it breathed life into these characters. The complexity and hilarity of Max’s inner monologue was relatable but eye opening. Nicola explored parental and familial relationships in a truthful way. Max and Vincent lived in a state of desiring to live up to their parent’s expectations but wishing that their parents had raised them better.

Overall, I liked the way Disappoint Me honed in on the fear of loneliness. Max and Vincent’s journeys were honest as they searched for acceptance from their families, their culture, and each other.

I really enjoy a well written dual narrative and, in most cases, it helps connect me to the story by seeing it from the perspective of both characters. In this case it was Max and Vincent.
Disappoint Me tells us the story of Max, a trans woman and her boyfriend, Vincent - a man with secrets.
The author did a wonderful job of addressing modern relationships and forgiveness. Well Max is more complex; I felt like I was feeling what she was feeling and had to overcome.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Disappoint Me follows new couple Max and Vincent as they navigate health issues, their careers, family members, and their own pasts.

I was interested in this book because I loved Nicola Dinan's other book, Bellies. Dinan writes about budding romance so beautifully, and this book is no exception. The star of the book is the dynamic between Max and Vincent. I really liked both Max and Vincent as characters, and even though this book doesn't have much going on plot wise, their interactions carry the book. If I had a qualm about the book, it would be that the other characters are less developed, less complex. Additionally, Vincent's sections take place in the past, and they aren't as compelling because Max isn't in those sections.

Dinan is a master of characters who are confused but love each other so much. You can't help but sympathize with them as they do their best, fuck up, and come back to each other. This book has a lot to do with forgiveness, and will give readers lots to think about even after the book is done.

I enjoyed this book. It was truly one of a kind! Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House | The Dial Press for a copy of this book for an honest review.

This one took a bit to get into but once I did I couldn't put the book down! It was my first by this author and I'll definitely be back to check out more of their stuff.

The characters were complex and kept you interested. Vincent and Max's story was engaging. I haven't met characters quite like them before.

Thank you to The Dial Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

"People are what they are, and sometimes they are just a series of small disappointments." Wow. Truth!

netgally

Disappoint Me was my first Nicola Dinan and I was thoroughly impressed by the seamlessly beautiful blend of rye wit and heartbreaking introspection. I felt like each character had strong layers of complexity, but honestly the one lacking the most was the protagonist, Max. She felt very dry and passive until a revelation in the last quarter of the book causes to create distance. I was overall a bit thrown by what felt like random drops of plot-jerking reveals (aside from the one at the end, which we’ve been aware of for quite some time.) The story would start to drag and BAM we’d get some sort of complication (a parent’s medical issue, a friend’s cancellation) and yet nothing really came of much of it. I felt the tumor diagnosis came far too late to really weave itself into the narrative. Overall, I did enjoy the writing and humor in the book and would definitely consider picking up from this author again. Review to come by pub date