This book starts off quite funny, but is surprisingly emotional and reflective. I don't know what I expected but I really liked this. I've haven't highlighted so many lines of text in a book since I read Against Nature. The things the narrator, Max, says and thinks are funny, witty, sad, judgmental, poignant, etc. Idk. I'd follow her twitter.

I liked the structure and pacing of this story. I read some other reviews and I keep seeing it called a dual narrative. I mean it barely is. There's a few chapters from her boyfriend, Vincent's, point of view but does that really count as a dual narrative? Anyways, I liked that it didn't hop around in time a lot and how a good portion of time could pass between each chapter.

Overall, I think it's pretty great.

This book was a lot of dialogue and at times rambling. I remember the fall from the stairs at the beginning of the book. That seemed to reappear quite a few times. I honestly did not feel any connection to the characters. I really didn’t feel much while reading. I kept hoping that it would get better and grab my attention, but it did not. I wish I could give it a better rating, but I feel two stars is more than generous for this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House for this advance reader copy and this is my honest opinion of this work.

When a book makes you want to go back and read more of the authors work, will have to get around to Bellies asap! Loved this book and me weeping through the ending. croc loving sapphics let’s go!! the dual perspectives were so well done. complex and captivating.

Disappoint Me tells the story of Max, a 30 year old trans woman. After a new year's eve accident, she decides it is time to make a change and settle down. It's then that she meets Vincent. The story told in alternating timelines between present day, and Vincent's gap year when he was younger. Eventually the events of Vincent's gap year clash with the events of the current day.

I haven't read Dinan's other novel, but I definitely will be because this was beautifully written. Some of the events of the book are really dark, but the author manages to find these moments of humor and lightness that really balanced out the story. The story itself was very interesting, but the star of this book was definitely the characters. Ever character was so well developed and had such depth. Even the smaller side characters served such a specific purpose and added to the richness of the book.

This book is really about complex relationships and how far forgiveness can extend. Will definitely be recommending this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Dial Press for the ARC!

Disappoint Me was an incredible book that connects all kinds of people with the poignantly presented feeling of finding your place in the world. What internal sacrifices you are willing to make, and just the universal experience of finding love. I highly recommend!

Disappoint Me follows Max and Vincent as they meet and being dating, come together as a couple and reflect on past experiences which force them to consider how people can change, and whether or not past mistakes still define the people they are today.

You follow Max in the current time, as she and Vincent are getting to know one another and enmesh their lives together. Max is a trans woman, a lawyer and aspiring poet in her early thirties, who is trying to figure out her own future as her peers are starting to settled down into traditional, hetero-normative societal roles. She has complicated relationships with her friends and family, and is cautious about trusting Vincent.

We get Vincent's story through the lens of his past experiences, when he was traveling on his gap year before entering uni, where he met another trans woman and had his first experience meeting a trans person. Vincent's family is very traditional and he struggles a lot with meeting the expectations of others.

Near the end of the book, something from Vincent's past is revealed to Max, and she must decide whether she is going to totally write Vincent off, or if maybe Vincent has grown and changed and wouldn't do the same hurtful things now that he might have when he was 19.

The writing is really, really lovely. I did prefer Max's POV to Vincent's, and she is definitely the main character more so than Vincent. Vincent's story is important for the context of his present relationship with Max, though. The themes of growth and change and confrontation of uncomfortable feelings and truths are layered throughout the different relationships, not just Max and Vincent's. They also have to grapple with their own parents, siblings, old friends, and exes. It is also a unique exploration of being trans and the universal experience of feeling left out even when you've done all the things that should make you fit in, how otherness may never fully go away if you've felt it you're entire life. Definitely makes me want to read more of Dinan's writing.

Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for the eARC to review.

2.5 stars

I thought this would be an easy book to forget, and honestly, by the time I’m writing this, I’ve already forgotten big chunks of the story. I just remember the part where she falls down the stairs at the beginning, and the big reveal near the end. Everything in between felt like a lot of wandering, talking, and not much really happening.

I didn’t feel a strong connection with the characters, which made it hard to stay emotionally invested. I’ve seen other reviews where people said they were in tears... but I didn’t shed a single one. Maybe I’m just not the target audience. Please check out some of the glowing reviews before deciding, mine might just be the odd one out.

That said, one line from the book really stuck with me:

“This is also the world where people, often women, are doomed to spend much of their lives forgiving the errors of others and suffering for the sake of other people’s growth.”


It wasn’t a bad read, just not one that left much of a lasting impact for me.

Note: Thank you to Random House Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Note 2: And before anyone comes at me, NO!!!! I’m not transphobic. I have no issue at all. This book just wasn’t for me.

A very solid 4.5 stars for me. I really loved the story, but inevitably whenever I read a book that alternates POV every chapter, I find myself being much more interested in one half of the story and just always waiting for the other half to be done for now. That said, I found myself being incredibly moved and heartbroken by the story and by Dinan’s writing. My biggest issue is that the ending was too sudden, and I’m dying to know more about this couple!!

Also, side bonus that I read it while watching the White Lotus season 3, which helped contextualize/define my mental image of Vincent’s time in Koh Samui.

This felt so singularly individual and I mean that in the best way, it’s what I’d expect from an own voices author. Also I have to give massive kudos because we need more and more books like this, now more than ever!

Back to the book…

We alternate between Max, a trans woman and Vincent a cis man as they begin to date. The story is more quiet and explores the facets of this relationship from the past, friendships and familial bias. I learned a lot on an empathetic level, issues and feelings that o may not have considered before and for that this book is worth the read.

Disappoint Me by Nicola Dinan is a sharp and emotionally resonant novel that delves into the complexities of modern relationships, identity, and the pursuit of authenticity. Set in London, the story follows Max, a thirty-year-old trans woman who is a published poet and a high-paid legal counsel at a tech company. Despite her outward success, Max grapples with feelings of dissatisfaction and disillusionment. After a fall at a New Year’s Eve party, she decides to embrace a more conventional path, seeking stability in a traditional relationship. Her partner, Vincent, a Chinese lawyer with his own secrets, becomes a central figure in her journey of self-discovery.​

The novel employs a dual timeline, juxtaposing the present with flashbacks to Vincent's gap year in Thailand a decade earlier, where he contended with his own identity and desires. This narrative structure enriches the exploration of their relationship, revealing the layers of their pasts and the complexities they bring into their present lives.​

Dinan's prose is both incisive and compassionate, capturing the nuances of millennial ennui, the pressures of societal expectations, and the intricacies of queer identity. It’s an unsentimental but moving portrayal of modern love and its challenges, and of people letting go of the idea of the “right” kind of life.

Disappoint Me is a compelling and thought-provoking novel that offers a fresh perspective on love, identity, and the pursuit of authenticity in this modern world.

The plot revolves around Max, a corporate lawyer who moonlights as a poet and feels ashamed of her "perceived" failures in the latter. Now in her 30s, she navigates love, friendships, heartbreak and her complicated family as a trans woman - particularly as the people around her seem to be falling into heteronormative structures of babies and marriages. She meets Vincent, a man she instantly clicks with, and the book shifts between Max’s perspective in the present and Vincent’s in the past - specifically a trip he took nearly a decade ago to Thailand with his best friend Fred, where he met an effervescent woman named Alex.

Much like Bellies (which I loved!), this novel weaves themes of forgiveness and mortality deftly into the narrative. It reminded me of Sally Rooney’s work in its conversational style. While there is a plot, the core of the book lies in its complex, nuanced characters - Max, Vincent, and their circle - interacting with one another in ways that are deeply human. That said, I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much as Bellies. While Bellies felt fresh and offered a unique take on love stories, this one leaned more on familiar tropes. It felt, at times, like it borrowed elements from the formula of contemporary romance novels. That’s not necessarily a bad thing - but it didn’t quite live up to the high expectations I had for this book and for Dinan as a writer. Still, this is by no means a bad book. It’s incredibly readable - often sad, funny, and smart. Dinan writes astutely about race, class, gender roles, and the societal structures that try to enforce a version of femininity that Max neither relates to nor wants to provide.

While I loved Bellies, I liked this one - and I’ll definitely be eagerly awaiting Dinan’s next!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author (Nicola Dinan), and the publisher (Random House Publishing Group - Random House | The Dial Press) for an advanced copy. Thoughts and review are completely my own.

This book didn't make me cry! So I must celebrate that fact because Bellies had me sobbing like nothing else. That being said, Nicola Dinan still has an incredible way with words - this book was just as beautiful as Bellies.

Disappoint Me tells the story of Max who is a trans woman, and her boyfriend, Vincent who carries so many secrets. Together this book tells their story weaving between dual timelines and showing the back story along with the current. It's absolutely gorgeous, and the richness in which this story is told is truly incredible. The relationships that are explored - especially in the lens of a trans woman or man is really beautifully done and left me swooning and a bit teary eyed. The fact that forgiveness and acceptance is what is ultimately needed and being asked for is just so intense - we all have our faults, but we also all deserve love. The pure and undying sweet kind of love.

Such a beautiful book and I am so grateful to both NetGalley and Penguin Random House for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

3/5 stars

Graphic: Transphobia, Violence, Hate crime; Moderate: Outing, Infidelity, Medical content

This book was unlike anything I'd ever before. It was eye opening, heartwarming and emotional.

I really liked the dual narrative. It helped me see things from both Max and Vincent's perspective. The author did a beautiful job addressing modern relationships, identity, forgiveness and gender changes. I truly didn't know what was going to happen next and I appreciated seeing how so many characters grew and changed throughout the book.

The reason I didn't rate this book higher was that it felt like the beginning and end were two completely different books and the ending seemed rushed. I will read more by this author and I appreciated how much I learned.

Thank you, Random House Publishing Group for providing the copy of Disappoint Me by Nicola Dinan. I don’t think this book was for me. The character building was great, and I loved reading about characters who are different from me. The story didn’t engage me until later in the book when I felt like there was a plot, a thread to the different POVs. Until then, the story meandered around Max’s life and activities and I couldn’t tell where it was leading.. I think younger readers will love this book if they’re not bothered by some of the language. I am not sorry I read this book though. 3 stars.

Sometimes you read a book and realize you've found an author whose work you'll read every line of. Dinan brings a poetic bent to writing so fluid you won't realize the day is gone. The characters in this book are each flawed, but you fall for them over and over again. She explores these faults thoroughly, leaning into the anxiousness and precarity of relationships, how we navigate them, and whether or how we work through issues. Dinan moves through the perspectives of the two main characters so easily when other authors struggle with the jarring nature of the interruptions.

One sentence synopsis: A trans woman navigating love and identity learns some things about her boyfriend’s past.

I went into this one blind and basically requested it because I loved the cover. I ended up really enjoying it! It had emotional depth, thought provoking themes and phenomenal character development. Dinan’s writing style and humor absolutely shine! I didn’t really need Vincent’s point of view and I really just wanted to hear more from Max. She was funny, witty and had such a range of emotions all the time.

I haven’t read Dinan’s other book, Bellies, but I’m definitely adding it to my list!

Disappoint Me by Nicola Dinan is one of those books that had me feeling a mix of emotions by the end—definitely more positive than negative, but just shy of being a full 4-star read for me.

First off, I have to give major props for the queer representation in this book. It’s one of the things that really stood out to me, and I loved how natural and authentic the characters felt. The way the author explored different facets of queer identity, the challenges, and the moments of joy, was handled with such care. It’s honestly refreshing to read a romance that doesn’t feel forced or stereotypical—these characters felt real, and that made all the difference in the world.

The characters were generally likable, but at times, I found myself frustrated with some of their choices—particularly in terms of communication (or lack thereof). I get that it’s part of the tension, but there were moments where I just wanted to scream at them to talk things through. However, I did think the growth and development by the end was satisfying.

In short, Disappoint Me is a really solid read, especially for anyone looking for more authentic queer rep in their romance books. The romance was heartfelt, the characters had depth, and there were definitely moments of humor and lightness that balanced out the more emotional moments. I think it just could’ve been a little more concise at times, but overall, I’m glad I read it and will definitely be keeping an eye out for more from Nicola Dinan.

“Disappoint Me” is by Nicola Dinan. I gave this book a try, thinking I wasn’t the target audience. I’m not. I didn’t like the characters and I just didn’t like the book. I found it too jarring and at times rather depressing. I would say that if the idea of this book sounds interesting to try it and see what you think - additionally, read other reviews because I’m probably an outlier.

Disappoint Me did not disappoint my biracial, millennial soul. Max's ennui is relatable on many levels, and that made her a lovable character. Vincent, on the other hand, was a type that felt familiar in an uncomfortable way. As we learn about his back story, the reason becomes clearer. Dinan portrays the friendships, romantic relationships, and familial connections is a great way that highlights their fragility and complexity.

I love Nicole Dinan's style of writing and characters. I liked the dual perspectives and time jumping to get a fuller picture Max and Vincent as people.