Double Booked

A quick, easy, cute and funny read that I read in one sitting. this book genuinely made me laugh out loud several times, it is well written with an endearing and funny storyline and characters that I loved. A great read.

Double Booked is a novel about a twentysomething woman working out her sexuality and finding who she wants to be, as she's drawn between two parts of her life. Georgina is 26, with a long-term boyfriend, a job teaching music to children, and a carefully planned calendar. After her best friend Sophie drags her to a gay bar, she watches a lesbian pop group and realises that she needs to get back into performing, and that she's quite into their drummer. When a spot opens up in the band, she works out she can live a double life, thanks to her careful schedule: sensible Gina sometimes, and keyboardist-in-a-band George at others. However, even with wardrobe swapping and a versatile new haircut, it might be too much to try and live out the parts of her life separately.

Despite the blurb describing this as a romcom, it's heavier on the comedy and the finding yourself plotline, as the protagonist comes to terms with being bisexual and tries to compartmentalise her life to have to change too much. Romance is obviously part of this, both in terms of her long time boyfriend Doug and possible new love interests, but a lot more of it is about Georgina dealing with her musical and romantic future, working out her own style rather than diving head first into what she thinks are the queer tropes she needs to follow, and realising she doesn't have to live in a rigidly structured life since her dad died. There's fallouts, romantic drama, and misunderstandings, but also she finds her feet and works out that parts of her life can come together, even if they must also change.

It was nice to have the 'discovering yourself' plotline for someone older than you might get in a young adult novel, especially in terms of trying to navigate coming out as bi when you're a woman in a long term relationship with a man, and to see the fact that Georgina didn't have all the answers, but instead had to spend the book trying to work out what was best for her. There's some good comedy around the fact she initially throws herself into stereotypes, being worried about liking the right music or dressing right, but the book didn't feel a need to try and explain these too much. I did feel like she needed to meet some LGBTQ people who loved dogs, seeing as the book offered a lot of cat-loving queer people with the joke that only Georgina seemed to think both were good, and I was expecting it to end with her finding other people who liked dogs (and the cover is kinda suggesting that dogs are for her old life/straight people). The book also explores open relationships a bit, especially people perhaps opening up relationships not always for the right reasons.

Double Booked is a light read, a comedy about someone in their twenties coming out and navigating their sexuality and their sense of self, and has a satisfying ending suggesting that Georgina is working out what's next. I was very glad that the protagonist's love of Friends at the start of the book wasn't really a recurring thing, though, as I think that could've got a bit grating. I could imagine a sequel which perhaps leans more into the romcom territory and/or focuses on one of the other characters (Rudy felt like a great side character who didn't get much of a role). If you're looking for something deep or more incisive, this maybe isn't the right book, but it's easy to engage with and fun to read.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. This is not a genre I have read much but I really enjoyed it, the characters were great and there were lots of laugh out loud moments, I would recommend this book.

Double Booked was a fun and funny read. It follows the story of Georgina/George who experiences some hilariously awkward moments as she discovers who she really is.

Double Booked follows Georgina as she is realising that she may not necessarily be happy with the life that she has planned out, and she may also be questioning her sexuality. She accounts for every single hour of her day using her calendar that is synced perfectly with her boyfriends, making sure that they both have evenings and date nights planned out, whilst making sure that their *Sunday Fundays* (my words not the books or authors) always go ahead. She is unhappy in her job and her boyfriend’s band no longer need her and are about to take off, so after a deviation from their normal scheduled routine, she heads to “The Familiar” with her best friend Sophie, and sees the indie lesbian pop band Phase, Georgina realises: 1) she longs to play her own music again, 2) she wants to be just like them, and 3) their drummer is really hot...

“I don’t know who I am at the moment. And whoever it is, I don’t think I like that person very much”

This book really packs a punch, there are a number of scenes in this book that are absolutely hilarious, as well as the last 10% of the book having me pretty much ugly cry. G’s letter from her dad and her conversation with her mum absolutely broke me! The character development is phenomenal (I have a breakdown further in the review) and the book is just an easy, delightful read, that also highlights and challenges negative opinions of those within the bisexual and sapphic community.

The blurb does pass the book as a romantic comedy, which in some degrees it is, there are both comedic moments and romance, however for me the main plot of this book feels more like a discovering yourself trope. Which I am completely here for, as some of the romance in the book was heavily weighed in jealousy and I was more interested in the MC’s life and her journey, and learning how to mix both sides of her personality and in a sense become “whole”, and I feel that has been achieved perfectly, especially as G began to realise she didn’t need anyone else to make her interesting or to give her purpose, she could do that all on her own, and it really added to her empowerment.

There are certain scenes that are a little uncomfortable to read (because you know how real they are) such as Georgina’s tube scene in which you could really feel her unease through the pages, and you just wanted to be there with her to protect her. Plus, there is also the inclusion of an open relationship and the implications that can arise from those (often they are displayed as no strings happy fun) so to see those included and discussed in the book really feels like a taboo subject is being broken.

The author has done such a fantastic job with this book, and with the MC, Georgina Green makes me feel so represented it is unreal I have never read a book that has resonated with me so much and made me feel seen, and this book helped me answer a lot of questions I had and even opened up a conversation between me and my husband. I really love the fact that the MC is 26, as majority of the time these kind of books are written about teenagers trying to find themselves, so to find a novel with an older character felt so much more realistic and representable, because I highly doubt that everyone knows exactly who they are at 18!

Overall, this book is absolutely everything and I am so grateful to have read it, it is one that I will champion forever, and it will stick with me for a long time. I will mention though that there is biphobia in this book that may be triggering for some.


Characters

Georgina (aka George, Gina, Gee, GeeGee, G)
Georgina is such a beautifully written character, and a very interesting character who seems to have two completely separate personalities (George & Gina) depending on who she is around, and I feel that both sides of her personality really helped develop her as a character, and this book felt more like a journey of self-discovery and exploration for Georgina, so to see her tackle every obstacle and come out on top (eventually) was lovely, she is probably one of my favourite MC’s every (and honestly its nothing to do with the amazing name choice)

Sophie
I adored Sophie throughout majority of the book, there was the particular argument between her and George that really upset me, and made me question Sophie’s motives, as it felt so out of character for her, so to see where that went for her character was intriguing. Soph was another character that had massive development, and I really felt for her and found myself becoming attached to her as well, I loved how supportive and encouraging she was of G throughout majority of the book, and I adored the little “Pumplenickel” that her and G had, I would love a best friend like her!

“Phase” & Cara
The members of Phase were all interesting in their own rights, and also added to Georgina’s character development, as it as intriguing to see the way that she interacted with them all differently, to sum them all up, I don’t think well of Kit, if anything she’s a bit of an ass (but I did like the fact that the author tried to give her a redemption story towards the end) Isobel is a lovely character who just lets her insecurities get in the way, and I didn’t particular like her when she started attacking G. Rudy was probably the peacemaker character, she didn’t really fight with anyone, and always found herself inserting herself into the middle of arguments to try and calm things down, I quite liked her, and feel like she could have had more of a role. Plus, Cara was adorable, although her jealousy was really noticeable throughout the entire book, the banter and jokes that her and G had, were really cheesy but adorable!

Doug
Georgina’s partner of seven years, Doug was such an adorable character, you could honestly feel how much she means to him, especially with the way that he tried to help her through her grief, he comes across as really supporting and caring, and unfortunately G doesn’t always treat him right, and takes out her own commitment issues on him, which felt a little unfair, but Doug really helped build the story, and added to G’s character development.

Double Booked is a really funny and heartwarming story. I loved the premise and found the book easy to follow and well-written. I'd recommend to friends.

This story follows Georgina, a twentyy-odd-year-old girl who begins to realise that her life may not actually be what it's meant to be.. Her calendar is perfectly synced with her boyfriends, with date nights, nights outs, walks, and even sex planned to a tee. One night, Georgina heads to 'The Familiar' with her bestfriend Sophie, and is introduced to a lesbian pop band, Phase.

What a premise. What a book. What a character.

I went into this book thinking it was a full on rom-com, which in some terms. it is. But, I feel as though the main plot of this book was a full on 'discovering and accepting yourself' trope? There were some scenes that had me giggling to my iPad screen and there were some scenes (the last part of the book) where I wanted to bawl my eyes out. The letter Georgina found from her Dad had my heart breaking and when she came out to her Mum?!?!? Help.

Georgina's character development is phenomenal. I didn't feel myself caring an awful lot about the romance aspect of the book, I just wanted to be fully immersed in Georgina's journey. The way Georgina provides representation for the bi community, especially those who are still exploring their sexuality in their twenties and/or are in a heterosexual relationship.

Lastly, the way the author explored open relationships was so well carried out. It didn't just explore either the positive or negative aspects to the set up, but explored BOTH sides and the implications that can come along with participating in one yourself.

Not being funny but this is a DEBUT NOVEL? HOW?!?!?!? If these are the standards of this authors debut then what the heck am I going to experience next!!!!!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book gave me such a hangover, I loved it. I laughed, I cried, I laughed some more - absolutely brilliant. It handles the identity crisis of realising you’re bi and navigating that space between not quite belonging in one community and not quite in another. As a bi woman myself, married to a man, it was such an enigmatic and refreshing read. I wish I could have read it years ago. The book touched on some really sensitive issues - especially bi-erasure and how important and damaging that is. I will recommend this to all my queer friends, queer allies and I wholeheartedly recommend it to parents of children in the queer community as it’s such an insightful book into coming out and understanding who you are and learning to understand your own queerness. It’s brilliant and a truly important read.

A fresh, timely and genuinely laugh-out-loud romantic comedy about a sensible young woman in a long-term relationship who realises she's bisexual. This book is brilliant, really well written, good story which kept me interested from the beginning. Great characters which are also believable.

Lily Lindon tells the story of Georgina, who, at 26, is struggling with her identity, questioning her sexuality, who she is, and what she wants from life. To help rediscover herself, she embarks on a double lifestyle, experiencing the best of both worlds.

This is a refreshing, relatable and modern read, amusing yet moving, comical despite tackling a serious theme with unique and unforgettable characters. It is gratifying to see the LGBTQIA community written into reading material and that the main character is older than expected when confronting her inner dilemmas.

The writing style makes this enjoyable and light-hearted, ideal for a Sunday or summer read. I am intrigued to read more by this author. Although this is not available until June 2022, it should unquestionably be pre-ordered. A highly recommended read!

I loved the beginning, I loved the end, I wasn’t absolutely sure about the middle. Gina/George gets herself into a right pickle in trying to be all things to everyone and at times I wanted to pick her up and shake her. To be fair she was being pulled in all directions by those around her - an eclectic and diverse cast of characters - so it wasn’t surprising she got into a bit of mess being so uncertain herself about where she wanted to go and who she wanted to be. But with the help of Mum (never underestimate the power of Mum) things seemed to sort themselves out in the end. It made me laugh, surprised me with some of the observations which were right on the mark, and I shed a few tears. I did enjoy her piano lessons and the end of year concert! A good fun read, intelligent and well written. I am probably not the target audience for a queer rom-com but I really enjoyed it and look forward to more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lily London and the publisher for sending me an advanced copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

This book focuses on Georgia and how she struggles to accept and understand her sexuality. It’s told in a funny, but raw and honest way and I loved it. Would definitely recommend

I'll start this review off the way I've started all my other recent book reviews, by saying that this book is starting off with all 5 stars stuck firmly in place and that I'm hopeful that they will all still be there by the time I finish reading.

Let's get going ;-)

Right from the first page of the first chapter, I'm hooked. This already squeals "gimme the full 5 stars!" at me. If the rest of the book is like the first page and there is no trademark infringement (my usual reason for knocking a star off an otherwise 5 star book) it'll be a five star book in my eyes. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Oh dear, the first star is looking wobbly 'cos of the authors use of a TV series and two characters within it. Apparently the programme isn't airing any more, so the star is hanging on for dear life, but it's not as solid as it was at the start of this review unfortunately.

What an awesome first chapter! I'll have to remember "Pumpernickle" for use with my friends too lol

OMGosh! I'm up to chapter 5 already! Those 4 chapters were incredible... what and awesome debut by this author!

The brand names are popping up occasionally for things that are still current, so the fifth star is finally wobbling off at the end of chapter 8 - my sense of fair play has finally won again.

Wow. The end of chapter 10 was intense... I'm liking this book more and more as I turn each page!

These jokes are so painful they are right up my street lol It's good to see my humour in a book for a change... makes me feel more complete and understood at last! My hubby groaned at the pirate joke but that's just our different senses of humour clashing heads again is all lol

OMG! I'm seeing me (via my star sign) written in this book too... I thought it was just my disability that made me so reliant on my calendar, but seemingly not! I wonder what I'll learn or even chuckle at next?!

Time to hit the hay for the night now, but this is a great book so far and I've got up to chapter 16 which seems to be a good place to stop and I'll start again in the morning.

Mornin', afternoon and approaching evening... this book has totally dragged me in yet again! This is the first time I've stopped reading all day other than to have my lunch and it's luring me back in even now. This is a must-read for everyone!

And again... I'm very nearly at the end of the book and haven't written anything for 2 hours lol If you want to read a good LGBTQIAF that is spot on pretty much throughout, then you need to read this book!

Wow.

What an intense chapter.

There were hints throughtout the book but didn't expect it to happen like that!

I'm in tears now.

It takes a truly incredible book to do that. My vision and glasses went so blurry with tears at one point that I had to sob my heart out without them on and the tears are still streaming down my cheeks and plopping onto my thighs.

Just finished the book and it was truly incredible. I wasn't expecting the epilogue, but it is beautifully written and the perfect ending to the book.

Thank you to the author, Publisher & Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.

Lily Lindon tells us the story of Gina/George on her journey of self discovery. Not only with her professional career but with her sexual identity. She embarks on a double lifestyle to try to re-discover her true self, but can you really be two different people without someone getting hurt along the way??

This book is relatable and modern, also moving and funny whilst covering a serious topic. I love reading LGBTQIA books as I truly believe there is still so much hate in the world and people questioning their sexuality need to know its okay to be... all of the above! This book.does just that!

I'm a queer woman who came out in my young adult life and I definitely needed more books like this way back when!
This isn't available in the shops until June 22 but you all need to definitely go pre-order it!

This was a joyous story of self-discovery and coming out as your truest self. Gina has been living an ordered, straightforward life, with no surprises and lots of routine with her long-term boyfriend, when a random trip to hear a queer indie band triggers a self-awakening of all the parts of herself she's been repressing out of guilt and confusion.

I really enjoyed this story, and the way it explored bisexuality especially. I'm bisexual/demisexual so I identified with lots of the conflicts about being enough of anything to fit into either side.

It's brilliant to have more queer stories to read, and this was a funny, touching, charming story.

This was so immersive, and very hard to put down. It had such warmth, wit and heart. I miss it already.

I absolutely loved this book! It follows musician Georgina on her journey to accepting her bi-sexuality, it shows the good, the and and the ugly. Whilst dealing with these big feelings she’s dealing with complicated emotions and mourning her father. The book truly had me gripped from the beginning, and that ending?! I need another book!

I cannot praise this book enough!

I initially thought this book was going to be about gender fluidity when I saw Gina would become George but it’s actually about George being the bi side of Gina. This book captures the very real attitudes bisexual people get from others. George feels the strain of not being gay enough but not straight enough either. She has hidden her true self so deeply that she dressed and styles herself how she thinks she should look. This is indeed a journey through coming out and learning how to be bi 100% of the time, which many of us still can’t/won’t for various reasons.

I would love a sequel to this book and I may buy the audiobook version just to make the characters come to life even more.

Cannot wait to read more by Lily Lindon.

Many thanks to Netgalley for this ARC

This book was just the sweetest thing. George/Gina/Georgina is in a long-term relationship with musician Doug (another alias for them: Dougina). Her gorgeous best friend Sophie is a proud lesbian influencer, despite having lost her traditional Caribbean family as a result of coming out. George loves Sophie platonically but has never thought about herself that way until a particularly transformative night at The Glory, where she falls in love with music (again) and a woman (for the first time).

Despite its emphasis on sexuality and dating this is really a book about coming of age and creative self-fulfillment - if she is not making music, George is not fully herself, whether she has a sexy lesbian undercut in her hair or a sexy (slightly lesbian) bob. Full of laugh-out-loud lines (I loved her mum and the sausage dog Bunny - they sound far too much like my mother and her dachshund)! and touching moments, this is a really great addition to the new wave in queer commercial fiction. Hooray for Head of Zeus for getting involved and to Lily Lindon for writing a book which is actually deeper and more satisfying than the blurb suggests!

This was a fun story of self-discovery, celebrating queerness, and negotiating a changing sense of self. Gina's happy with her settled life and shared calendar until an impromptu trip to queer indie band Phase's show turns everything she's known upside down. It's a modern and funny take on a coming out story and I found it really refreshing to see an older twenty-something character go through this, especially when these tend to skew younger.

A fun Summer read with tonnes of heart, and I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what Lindon does next!

I was immediately drawn into the main characters life, as I found it really fascinating how they had certain routines and reminders accounting for everyday (and multiple times throughout the day). It made me want to find out more about them.

Once I was immersed into the story, I found it really relatable and modern, delicately handling the mix between humour and serious topics. There were several laugh out loud moments, as well as other that you physically felt uncomfortable.

Overall, this was a joyous book about coming to terms with your sexuality and being your truest self. It is a light and relatively easy read, and has great LGBT+ representation.

💕 Things I loved 💕
* The range and diversity of characters
* All the discussions of queerness and identity
* Georgina’s character development
* How it focused on a mid-20s woman having this identity struggle, rather than a younger teen

🤷‍♀️ Things that weren’t for me 🤷‍♀️
* Some of the miscommunication between the MC and her bf at times
* At times, it did feel like it was written for younger readers (not necessarily a bad thing!)

Thank you to Netgalley, Head of Zeus and Lily London for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Cute, funny story with a refreshing mix of laugh-out-loud moments and more serious issues (still handled relatively light-heartedly) such as bi-erasure and bereavement. Some aspects of the characters seemed rather far-fetched, and yet... some of the craziest things were actually so close to my own experiences that I wondered whether they might be based on people I know. So perhaps these characters are simply an amalgamation of various extremely colourful personalities. Either way, I thoroughly enjoyed this, read it in one sitting and chuckled loudly on several occasions.

Double Booked follows Georgina who is in the her mid twenties when she realises that her lovely life is about to get a serious shake up when she discovers that she is bisexual. Georgina soon splits her life in to two, Gina the happily loved up straight side and George the bisexual/queer side that is learning all about what life could be.

This was a delightfully fast paced read and had some genuine laugh out loud moments. Double Booked is brimming with all manner of representation and I am so glad it exists for everyone who needs some light relief but also to feel understood and accepted in this life.

4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for proving me with a copy of this book for review.

This book really took me on a rollercoaster of emotions.

At first, I couldn’t stand Georgina as a main character. She was neurotic and indecisive and terrified of life. She blamed herself for so much that was outside of her control and overthought every aspect of herself and how she presented to other people.

And then I realised that maybe Georgina frustrated me so much because it was like reading a book about myself. Our situation and circumstances might be different, but her anxiety and the stupid, godawful situations that arose from that were painfully relatable. If I were in her shoes, I could see myself making those exact same mistakes.

Watching Georgina really come into herself and work out who she is and what she wants was really great, and I was so happy for her in the end.

I cried, I laughed, I had to put the book down multiple times to cringe, and I nearly threw my Kobo across the room in frustration. I felt all the things and honestly, that’s all I could really ask for in a book.

The only downside for me is the way infidelity and feelings outside of a relationship were approached. I understand complicated feelings were in play, but all the half-truths and sneaking around made me incredibly uncomfortable. It’s not something I look for in a romance book at all.

i enjoyed reading this book - a story of a woman, in her mid twenties coming to terms with her sexuality and in a way, her happiness.

This was an easy read but I think it managed to address some difficult topics.

This book was such a fun read, filled with twists and turns, completely out there while still being painfully relatable!

I’ll admit that at the start I didn’t really like Georgina, and much preferred the side characters, but as the story went on she really grew on me and we saw the whole cast as the flawed, well-rounded characters that they are. What this book did really well is capture that coming out experience for so many bisexual people, especially what it’s like when you start to participate more in the wider community. It felt almost painfully true to life, and the ‘double-life’ idea was such a good way of demonstrating what it can feel like.

As well as touching on some more serious topics such as grief and mental health, the story was fun, relatable and fresh. I laughed, I cringed, and I put my head in my hands as Georgina tried to navigate these two, seemingly separate worlds. I wouldn’t necessarily count it as a ‘romcom’, as it’s marketed, but it’s definitely a ‘com’ with the main character trying her best at the ‘rom’.

This is a great addition to the growing list of bi books, and I’m sure it will mean a lot to a lot of people as soon as it hits the shelves.

Thank you to the publishers for providing me with a free copy for review. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely adored this book!

The main character being the same age (and similar name!) as me made me feel like I could connect with it more. It felt a lot more realistic as coming-out books tend to be centred more around teenagers rather than adults.

I loved the plot, the characters, everything. The character development is fantastic and the way the characters have their moments of realisation of exactly what they’re wanting out of life.

It’s such a light, easy, joyful read.

I absolutely love this book - it's so unique and refreshing to have a nuanced fun summer romance-ish book that has so much insight into bisexuality whilst still having a tonne of drama that keeps you reading. The whole cast of characters, talented, fleshed out members of the LGBTQ+ people didn't feel tokenised at all - they were the draw, they were the focus and it is such a breath of fresh air to have read their exploits and their drama. I love how this novel weaved in issues of sexual identity, coming out to friends and family, different kinds of love, remained educational without it sounding ham-fisted and spelling it out simply for a straight audience.

Would recommend for fans of Emily Henry but who are sick of the boring, samey plots - this book had so many satisfying twists and explorations for the character's development you're left entirely satisifed with the ending, with the way it's all tied up. Would love to see so much more from this excellent debut and will be recommending.

Kindly gifted through NetGalley in return for a review.

Grief, Identity, Relationships, Dogs/Cats and Bands.

I was completely hooked from the first page, this book surpassed all my expectations. When I wasn’t reading it i was thinking about reading it and about how the storyline might develop (a very good sign). I became a part of this story. Too many times I had to stop myself from reading ahead, covering the screen because i was so intrigued to see what happened next.

Spoil-ish:

I feared this book might push a biphobic narrative, but luckily things weren’t ignored or swept under the rug, when someone was disrespectful they got called out and it was handled respectfully. (there are characters who make biphobic statements)

We were pulled into the self involved mind of our main character, which made other
minor characters and their plots become shaded and hard to see. There were twists that had me frozen for a few seconds in complete disbelief that i managed to overlook them. I loved looking back over the text and piecing it all together.

I especially liked that throughout the book i was questioning how much i actually liked the main character. She did questionable things and acted irrationally, but because i read from her perspective I never really hated her, in fact i sympathised with the difficult situations and experiences that she had to deal with.

We got to explore a journey from compulsive heterosexuality to maybe i’m a lesbian, and then focal point on bisexuality being it’s own label, not half of another. As a bisexual reader myself the things Georgina says at times hit so close to home (questioning her sexuality’s validation because of bi erasure and biphobic members inside and out of the LGBTQ+ community).

I 100% recommend and can’t wait to reread!!

Read it in a day!

As a bisexual who has been with a man for 11 years I am aware of times when I feel like I’m suppressing part of my personality. I completely understand what was happening in Georgina’s head.
The other characters within the book were interesting and complex. the settings and scenarios within the book felt real.

I would recommend this to others. It made me laugh cry and question.

Thanks to netgalley for my ARC all views are my own.

Well, Double Booked by Lily Lindon was a joy to read from start to finish! You know when you open a book to assess its tone and it sucks you in immediately? That’s exactly what happened with Double Booked – I couldn’t stop reading. It’s a funny, witty exploration of sexuality and identity.

Our lead character, Georgina is a 26-year old pianist (currently piano teacher at a school) in a seven-year relationship with her university sweetheart, Doug. They have a great, regimented life that runs to a schedule they both like (literally – they have sex planned into their shared calendar) and all is fine until Gina finds herself attracted to the enigmatic Kit – drummer of lesbian band, Phase.

Georgina meets Kit at a gay club she goes to with her best friend, Soph, who happens to be lesbian. Soph introduces Georgina to Phase and suddenly Georgina’s world spins.

Before she knows it, Georgina is questioning her heterosexuality and exploring a new side of herself. She goes by George rather than Gina (but she is still Gina to Doug and at her job) and when Phase’s keyboardist quits, there is an opportunity for Georgina to fully explore this side of herself and get closer to Kit…

I really liked how the story tackled sensitive issues like how Georgina explores this new side of her sexuality while attempting to not hurt her long-term boyfriend and how she finds herself between two cultures – gay and straight – while trying to feel like she belongs to both/either. As well as being warm and touching, Double Booked is just SO funny. I laughed out loud several times (George’s dates with a comedian spring to mind).

I enjoyed Double Booked so much. It made me realise I haven’t read many books with bisexual lead characters (but will definitely be reading more now) and although I can’t directly relate to Georgina’s coming out situation, her character feels so familiar to me.

The way she approaches things, her anxiety, the way she feels the fear about monumental life decisions that sometimes you just have to go for to feel happy being who you really are, is all so relatable and an important lesson that resonates from these pages. Double Booked is a feel-good celebration of bisexuality and a brilliant summer read!

A nice easy read about a girl who is leading a double life based on her bisexuality. By trying to be all things to all people she ends up making no-one happy least of all herself. Her acceptance of herself leads to a dramatic change in her life just when it looks like she is going to lose it all.

I laughed and cried my way through this book!

At first I found Gina pretty frustrating. I then also found George quite annoying. But I absolutely loved following her journey as she found herself and found her place. I enjoyed the dating disasters and the complicated relationships that this book exploded. It showed that there isn’t a right or wrong way whether that’s an open relationship, casual sex or a long term commitment.

Once I started I couldn’t put it down.

Georgina is living ‘the dream’ with a reliable, kind, dependable boyfriend, when she meets Kit as a gay club whilst out with her best friend Soph.
She experiences an unusual physical reaction which leads her to investigate her possible bisexuality.

This is one of the best stories of self-discovery that I have read of late, and I enjoyed watching and worrying as George’s life swerved in and out of her comfort zone.
Her entire relationship with her mother, her boyfriend and her best friend change as she explores her feelings and new relationships with Kit and the music band of lesbians which she joins.
Living a double life is a source of freedom for George/Gina, and also causes difficulties as she polices her personas according to the social circle of the moment.
A many layered story of a woman learning about herself and how she wishes to live her life.

Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book ahead of publication in exchange for an honest review

Free courtesy of Netgalley

I didn't think I'd enjoy this book, It took me a little while to get into it, but the story was really good. There were some characters I didn't like at all but it shows how good the book was.

Gina/George has been in a long term relationship with her boyfriend Douglas for 7 years, and routine is everything to them, they use their synchronised calendar to book everything, even texting each other and when they have sex.

One night when Gina decides to go out to The Familiar, gay club with her best friend Sophie, to watch a band, everything changes. Gina faces the fact that she is attracted to women as well as men, and convinces her partner to have an open relationship, so she can explore that side of herself.

When her dad died she hid parts of herself away, under the guise of routine. Will she find her real self, or will she lose the love she already has, and will her friendships change. How can you be two different people and keep yourself. It's a good coming out book.

Thanks to netgalley for the arc ebook.
A fairly fast, fun read. Some things were a little stereotyped and I guessed some of how the book may end quite early on, but that didn't stop my enjoyment of it overall.

This was an enjoyable read, the dilemma of Gina/George made it a bit hard to take at times, but that just made her more enjoyable as a character. I couldn't wait to see how it panned out for her. There were parts that made me cringe, but, we've all made mistakes and they are there to learn and grow from, which I believe she did. The ending was incredibly emotional and I adored her mum. Sometimes we are our own worst enemy. Until those around us help us to see, a great read.

Fun, funny and easy to read. I am sure everyone will enjoy this book. It is emotional but very well dealt with. 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

Double Booked’s diverse range of characters makes for an inclusive romance everyone can enjoy. Sophie, a leading character touches on a lot of important topics within the LGTBQIA community and offers advice to her closeted best friend, Georgina. Sophie’s advice is relevant and could easily be applied to a queer persons life. The story was easy to relate to and was beautifully written.

Oh I absolutely loved this book, I wasn’t sure at the start as I was worried the characters were almost stereotypes of the LGBTQ+ community, but as I got into the story I was really involved and there was more to the characters than their sexuality. I liked how Lily Lindon even used some of her characters to call out the stereotypes in the novel, it made my more aware as a reader and more comfortable accepting the characters. It was brilliantly funny and refreshing, and I’m so glad I found it as an alternative to the usual rom-com/coming of age novels I usually pick!

𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀:

Gina is about to marry her boyfriend. George is about to join a lesbian pop band. Gina and George are the same person. No wonder Georgina is double booked.

𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄:

Ugh. This book. BRILLIANT. The cover caught my eye whilst scrolling on Netgalley and I've since seen some great reviews for it, so was super excited when it was granted. I LOVED it. I loved the characters, the plot, the tone, the writing style. It gave me Laura Kay's 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗹𝗶𝘁 vibes, and was a light, easy, and fun read, with humor and romance perfectly balanced with more serious topics - plus a whole rainbow of LGBTQ+ representation.

Our protagonist is Georgina - Gina, with her steady boyfriend and scheduled life, but also George, who is beginning to discover her sexuality. I loved the depiction of the identity struggle at a later age, rather than as a teen, as this is something that I think is explored less in LGBTQ books. Although George made some questionable decisions (namely communication with her partner), I actually really liked her characterization and development throughout the book, relating especially to her levels of social anxiety and need to plan. It was truly beautiful to see her come out of her shell during the duration of the plot and learn about who she is and what's important to her. I also loved each and every side character and think they were all perfectly crafted - flawed, well-rounded and realistic. Kit, Isobel, Rudy, Soph, Cara, Douglas, her Mum (and of course Bunny) were all so individual and each bought something special to the plot.

There were some homophobic slurs throughout this and a fair few stereotypes (mostly bisexual/lesbian) but most of these statements were corrected or pulled up on by other characters, which I thought was a clever way to incorporate normalization of different sexualities, as well as raise awareness of stereotypes and discrimination.

In summary: I laughed, I cringed, I smiled, and I shed a tear or two. Current, relatable, and wonderfully written, there was such a wide range of different sexualities and types of relationship explored in the book. There were plenty of twists and drama, but the educational writing and LGBTQ+ rep shone through, and as always, it's brilliant to see more books coming out (see what I did there?) with all types of sexuality normalized. (PS.. the epilogue.. ugh, my heart)

𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒅: The split by Laura Kay or in at the deep end by Kate Davies

A huge thank you to Head of Zeus and Lily Lindon for a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I loved Georgina – there were so many times reading the book though that I just wanted to shake her and be like What are you doing?!?! I think (well it was obvious) that she was really struggling with her self identity. As the story progresses you learn about the things that have happened in her life that effected her and you really feel for her. She lost herself so completely and was stuck in such a routine that she couldn’t see how to make herself happy.

I have such mixed feelings about Doug. One the one hand, I know he really helped her overcome her grief, but on the other hand I don’t think he understood her at all. I don’t know, such mixed vibes from him I still can’t decide if I liked him or not.

Even though a lot of the story revolved around Georgina and her love life, it also featured a lot of friendship which I loved. Her friendship with Soph was so cute and, even though they fell out, it proves that they’re soul mates because they eventually came back together. I much prefer platonic soul mates!

Phase were really important to Georgina and her story, and I think they were something that she needed because they helped her accept part of herself. But Kit is such a fuck girl and I hated how she messed with, not only Georgina, but Soph too. I felt like she thought she was entitled to act this way because of her secret feelings. But that just doesn’t fly with me.

I think the unsung hero of this story was Alexa. Even though they had such a weird relationship, I think their chats were therapeutic for both of them and hopefully helped Alexa as much as they helped Georgina. And the kids at their school were so cute and when Georgina finally connected with her job and actually tried it was really reflected in the kids behaviour.

The last 3 or 4 chapters of the book had me crying. It really tied a lot of things together – you learn properly what happened in Georgina’s life that made her initially give up music. And the conversation she has with her Mum had my heart squeezing because I think it makes Georgina realise that if she was just honest with her Mum, and in extension herself, she would’ve been a lot happier sooner I think.

And I just loved the epilogue! Seeing how happy Georgina was, and how all the important people in her life came together to love and support her just made me so happy and a few happy tears escape.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and is such a good sapphic story so make sure you add it to your TBR!

I requested this as a bit of a light beach read romcom but found it to be so much more! Georgina discovers in her late 20’s that she’s queer but has never explored that side of herself. She’s in a long term relationship with a man and after joining a lesbian rock band explores the idea of opening up their relationship. I found this a really interesting read with characters you actually care about.

I loved the exploration of Gina’s bisexuality and the vibes from The Familiar sounded so cosy I’d love to visit a bar like that. I enjoyed the duel life that Gina tried to live but I’d have preferred a little more romance

Thankyou for giving me the chance to read this in advance. Had me literally laughing out loud in parts. Was a good read. Perfect to take on your holidays

A really nice book with themes of just being yourself. I cant think of a book ive read with a bisexual protagonist so I am definitely here for that.

The pace was good and the book kept me engaged. A locely summer feelgood read.

A witty and pacy novel with a great cast of characters!

A young woman is comfortably settled in a long term relationship with her boyfriend when her world is upended with the discovery that she's bisexual.

A journey of self-discovery that had me laughing and also wiping away the odd tear. I enjoyed going on this journey with Gina/George, and even though I wanted to shake her at times, watching her work through her grief and rediscover her joy of music was satisfying.

More com than rom, but an enjoyable read none the less.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Head of Zeus for the opportunity to read this early copy.

This is a book of Gina & George. Gina is living a normal staid life. She teaches. She’s in a relationship about to marry. Everything is ordered right down to her scheduled dates & “Sunday Fundays”! Life is following “the map” …..

Until that night that a swerve takes her to an indie concert & then nothing is the same 🐕🐈🌈

Gina has an awakening. She starts to explore her bisexuality but doesn’t want to leave her straight life behind. She is now Gina by day & George by night.

Sometimes when writing a review it’s difficult to put yourself in the position of the protagonist. I’ve not had the experience of navigating between communities much less coming out. So it’s been a pleasure to read this during #pridemonth 🏳️‍🌈

I feel - albeit with limited knowledge - this book deals with the aspects of self acceptance, bi-erasure and coming out even to the generally sympathetic in an adept way.

I really liked the descriptions of the queer scene & community in London & hope these to be true. Who wants to come to The Familiar with me? I loved the supporting cast of Rudy, Cara & Georgina’s mum. And where the story got to was a feel good place.

I struggled more to love Georgina herself. Her own struggles & decisions almost placed a glass between the empathy I wanted to feel & what I did feel.

I also felt as a “feel good” romance promised by the blurb this fell a little short of the mark. There is comedy. There is romance. But this is much more a self discovery novel.

I have read many reviews of this book from the LGBQT+ community. Whilst not wholly positive, the majority I’ve read see mirrors of their own experience & see this as an important book. And that’s good enough for me.

So read the book. Enjoy it. And hopefully be a little enlightened by it.

A very funny story with some very moving moments. Gina/George is a well developed and interesting character. They are complex and fascinating, it's funny but also moving at times.
The author delivers a funny and compelling story that I recommend.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Gina has security and routine but it is boring. She discovers unexpectedly that she wants more and she might be bisexual! She becomes two different people and it is challenging but she is enjoying life again. Funny, insightful and thoroughly enjoyable.

I loved this book. The book captured my interest within the 1st chapter. Gina and Doug are in a "comfortable" relationship of 7 years. There calendar's match up and everything is planned to perfection!!! However one night out with her best friend soph changed Gina's perspective on her relationship! Gina is taken to a gay bar and is stunned by her reaction/feelings towards a woman! I won't say any more other than that all characters are fab and relatable. Does Gina work out her sexuality? Find out with this great read!!

I don't remember how I chose this book, but I'm so glad I did as I lived it. It was another quick read, a hilarious, light read that I completed in one sitting.

Georgina has been in a relationship with her boyfriend Doug for seven years. However, her best friend Sophie is a lesbian, and Georgina starts going to gay bars with her more often as Doug performs with his band elsewhere. Watching the newly formed band at the gay bar, Georgina realises that she wants to get back into performing herself and thinks she might be bisexual because she has feelings for Kat. Suddenly, a spot becomes available in the Lesbian band, and Georgina becomes 'George' to fit in and begins to lead a double life, complete with different hairstyles and wardrobes. Sensible, heterosexual, Gina takes the other life, but it all becomes difficult to juggle.

Despite being marketed as a romantic comedy, this focuses more heavily on the comedy and working out your sexuality plotline. Trying to compartmentalise Georgina's life in two seems to be the best way forward for Georgina while she struggles to work out if she is bisexual and find her true self. Romance is a big part of this but not the main plotline. However, there is a lot of romance in both of her lives, with Doug and possible new female relationships. There are plenty of fallouts, drama and misunderstandings, but everything comes together by the end of double-booked as she finds her feet and realises that not everything needs to be so rigid.

I enjoyed that this 'finding yourself' plotline was centred around someone older than your typical teen and younger than the middle-aged crisis point. Coming to terms with being bisexual when you are in a long term relationship and have been established as straight for your whole life is much different than discovering it as a teenager, and this book deal with that really well. Georgina initially throws herself into many of the stereotypes, which was, at first, really annoying, but this was short-lived and actually became more humorous. The comedy around trying to make sure he listened to the right music, worse, the proper 'lesbian' clothing etc., wasn't over-explained but clearly stereotypes, including loving cats. I wish she had met some LGBTQ people who liked dogs though, as she is portrayed as enjoying both, and it would have been nice to break that final stereotype!

Double booked also explored open relationships a little, though it ultimately showed that it doesn't work out for everyone. Again, this was a wonderfully light read that I managed in one sitting. I was utterly engrossed in the plot and the characters.

I enjoyed all of the characters, which has recently seemed a little unusual to me. They are primarily in their twenties and have things figured out aside from Georgina, but Sophie and her friends, the other band members and others around her are supportive and help her navigate her new world. I think this would be the ideal book for a sequel showing how life has changed for Georgina in her new life or even focusing on another character as lots of them were exciting, and I would love to read more about them.

If you are looking for something light, funny and engrossing that's easy to read, this book is for you!

A heart-wrenching debut that left me clutching both my kindle and my tissues as tightly as possible.

Double Booked was nothing like I expected- from the premise I was expecting a cute rom-com instead of the stomach turning journey and exploration of our main character. It was so so wonderful and so so much more than I could have ever dreamed of.

Lily Lindon perfectly displays what it means to make mistakes (and for our main character that is a LOT of the time) but she also displays how to grow from them and the acceptance of all the consequences that follow. It was beautiful and an essential read on the human experience.

I'll admit, after finishing it sort of leaves you with a pit in your stomach, it is a slap in the face and a well needed reality check on hypocrisy and all sorts of lying (from little white lies to the bigger, darker webs that tangle you in). Relationships in this novel, much like life, are a mess. These characters were the absolute worst and I loved them endlessly for it.

If you're looking for an escape from reality, this book may not be that for you. However, if you're looking for a book about relationships (all possible areas of them, the highest of highs and the lowest of lows), coming to terms with your identity and overall leading a double life- double booked is just what you need.

I adored this book- it was hilarious but also so deeply heartbreaking when I was least expecting it. Personally, I can't really see much of the romance within this 'rom-com', and I think a lot of people will come in with the wrong expectations- really, this novel should be marketed as a reflection of the human experience, just like it is, in all the unlikeable ways.

These characters are not meant to be likeable (I don't think so, at least), they are meant to be flawed and whilst resembling the ugly parts of behaviour- they show what it means to be able to change.

Also, being in a queer pop band is kickass. Sign me up!

Double Booked by Lily London is an engaging and funny read and perfect for Pride month. Georgina is a twentysomething woman with a steady if rather uninspiring career as a music teacher and a steady if somewhat overscheduled relationship with her boyfriend Doug who she met when they were in University and played in a band together. In fact Doug still plays in the band which has had some limited local success, and Georgina is their number one fan even if she sometimes feels like they lack direction. Her routines comfort her, every day is scheduled , from soaking in the tub with friends reruns, to date nights with Doug or slobbing on the sofa with best friend Sophie. If her life is so perfect why is her suspicion that Doug is about to propose so terrifying? Georgina can't explain it but she knows that the life she " should " want is scaring her. On a rare night out with Sophie the pair go to a bar and Georgina discovers the indie lesbian pop band Phase, and particularly drummer Kit and begins to question herself - not just about her decision to give up performing music but also about her sexual and romantic preferences. This leads to the central story of the book as Georgina begins to discover different sides to her personality , so much so that she begins to lead a double life, Gina the sensible music teacher who is with Doug and George, the bi- curious musician who is exploring her attraction to women. As the title of the book suggests this leads to a lot of chaos and confusion which comes to a head over the course of the book as Georgina's journey of discovery continues.
I really liked this book a lot, it was interesting to have what felt like a coming of age story, but with more mature character than is typical for the genre. I thought Georgina was really engaging as a character and I had a lot of sympathy for her , especially as we learned more about her past as the story unfolded. Even though I had sympathy for her, I did not always like her actions , particularly in relation to her boyfriend Doug and her best friend Sophie, but the struggles she faced and poor choices she sometimes made just made her all the more believable as a character. In fact I thought all the characterisation in the book was pretty great, everyone felt distinct and quite real. There's a lot of emotion in the book, both happy and sad, and a lot of comedy moments too, so the reader should be prepared for laughter and tears , but in either case I don't think they will be disappointed.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

I loved George/Gina and this coming-out story. I thought Lily handled this subject very well, giving us an insight into the complexities of this experience, but also managing to keep everything light. Will be keeping a look out for future books by Lily!

Double Booked is, put quite simply, what would’ve happened if Disney made a certain blonde-wigged pop star of the indie-pop genre and gay. Joking aside, at it’s heart, Lindon’s debut is about one woman’s struggle with her sexuality and how to juggle her ordered life with one she hasn’t entirely figured out yet.

In this queer rom-com, we follow Georgina – a straight laced (and, she’d argue, straight) girl with a nice boyfriend and a simple life. At first I just wanted to dive straight into the book and shake her by the shoulders and say “SORT IT OUT!!!” but, as I read on, I actually liked watching Georgina find herself and I really did root for her. She’s the kind of character you’d love to meet at a bar (until you’re scraping her off the floor in the early hours) and— even though there were times I found myself frustrated with her —- Lindon succeeded in creating a character you only want the best for, even if (like every human on this planet) they’re kind of the worst.

Luckily, Lindon also succeeds in creating other characters you’re interested in. I loved the fun, wholesome dynamic between Phase and the gorgeously nostalgic feel I got from Georgina and her best mate. I also liked the sweet interaction between Georgina and her boyfriend (though he does let himself down just a little bit — no spoilers though!) and the more tender moments between Georgina and her Mum.

I think part of why I loved this book so much was the music in it. I’m horrendously uncoordinated but I find the whole process of music making incredibly fascinating and reading it felt like all my teenage dreams of starting a (successful and actually talented) band coming true, plus Georgina’s motivation behind getting into music — and the reason her relationship with making it is so strained — brings a new, more sensitive dynamic to the book.

I don’t usually call it this early (whether you can call basically halfway through the year early I’m not too sure about) but I’m pretty sure Double Booked will be on my Top Reads of 2022. If you liked The Split by Laura Kay (or even if you just like a good, wholesome rom-com), get Double Booked on your reading list.

I read the synopsis of this on Net Galley and just had to read it. It sounded so fun and I expected a disaster impending story.

This book did not disappoint in that regard.
When Georgina has a life altering realisation that she's bisexual and in a long-term heteronormative relationship it just escalates and escalates even to the point where you're questioning her choices and you're not even sure you like her anymore.

There are some hilarious moments and if this was a film there would be both cliché and cringe moments aplenty! If that does it for you then this is right up your street.

It was also important for me that Doug (Georgina's boyfriend) didn't automatically become an asshole just because George has this realisation which is quite often seen just to make the narrative easier. Instead it is quite clear through all of the sweet gestures, caring nature and general softness why they have been together for so long. The cosiness you can only feel from a long-term relationship.

This was a really good take on a contemporary romance with bisexual representation and all of the issues which come with realising you might not be heterosexual after all.

I enjoyed this and it also had some really important messages about just being yourself regardless of if you fit in and valuing those who are important to you.

A great debut from Lindon

Georgina has a boyfriend, a stable job, a shared calendar and a routine. But Georgina also has many repressed feelings and a small little secret: she might be bisexual.

In Double Booked we follow Gina and George, the two different personas Georgine creates to separate her straight, adult and serious self from her new emerging queer, fun and reckless personality.

This book has really surprised me: I didn’t have many expectations about it and it turns out I loved it!

I felt very connected to the character, what she experiences feels very relatable to when I first came out as bisexual, especially regarding the identity confusion that might come with being queer: “Should I wear dresses like straight girls do or extralong shirts like a lesbian? Should I cut my hair? Get a piercing? Am I still bisexual if I’m in a relationship with a man?” In the end I figured it out, I found myself in between, I allowed myself to be as feminine and as masculine as I wanted to be when I wanted to be. I realized relationships are about being with the right person and not the right genre and Georgina has a very similar journey.

I liked how the book criticizes all types of queer stereotypes by making the main character reproduce them only to realise how ridiculous they are. At the same time it also shows that your sexuality becomes a part of your identity you can’t erase and that coming out of the closet is a life changing event for many people.

Another thing I liked was her relationship with her mother because it felt very real: many queer kids end up avoiding their parents and pushing them away for fear of being rejected by them.

The book also addresses the issue of being an adult in your twenties who has stopped fighting for their dreams in order to have a safe day job and a stable life and this part of the book really resonated with me and I know it will resonate with many people, musicians or other.

But it isn’t all drama! The book is fun to read, it is perfect for the summer and it even has its own playlist with queer artist to listen along while reading.

Give Double Booked a chance because it will be worth your time!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. It dealt with some sensitive issues very well, while maintaining an engaging narrative with realistic characters. I found it funny, warm and touching, and would highly recommend it to anyone, particularly those questioning their sexuality.

Is Georgina straight, bisexual or a lesbian? She is torn apart trying to decide if she loves her boyfriend of 7 years or a musician in her band. Never having forgiven herself for not being with her father when he died, she realises she really needs to sort her life out. Hard to put down, a really good, enthralling story line with an ending I did not expect..

LILY LINDON – DOUBLE BOOKED ****

I read this novel in advance of publication through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Georgina teaches piano and lives with her boyfriend. Her best friend Soph is a card-carrying lesbian. This is the story of how straight Gina becomes rock chick lesbian George.

Hardly an original concept, given the number of lesbians who start out married and straight. But all the characters – girls in a lesbian band that she joins, her partner, still a member of a straight band in which Gina once played, and the children she teaches – are interesting and different and mainly likeable enough for you to care what happens to them.

Suffice to say, Gina becoming George creates amusing and dramatic problems for everyone around her, not just her partner who she still loves, but her best friend, stretching their relationships to breaking point.

This is a highly enjoyable tale, engagingly written, well worth a read.

Absolutely adored this debut, as George realises she is bisexual and explores what it might be like to fall for a woman. It confronts all the stereotypes of being bisexual, and the concerns of being 'gay enough' in true chaotic bisexual panic. It also touches on open relationships. and figuring out your own path in life, with some laughs along the way.

“Do you ever wonder if you’re happier in a parallel universe? Being someone who actually does the things you’ve always wanted to do?”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book felt like a queer Hannah Montana and my younger 13 year old Disney Channel heart was absolutely obsessed!

In Double Booked we follow Gina, a piano teacher / songwriter who lives life through her calendar and fears change. Living with her boyfriend, Doug, Gina feels completely secure in her relationship, that is until one night, Gina’s best friend takes her to a gay bar to see a lesbian rock band, and Gina falls head first for the drummer and introduces herself as “George”… but this doesn’t mean she is queer… does it?

Double Booked felt so organically british in all of the best ways; the humour and sassiness that the characters brought was unmatched and I loved them all, even when I disagreed with their actions at times.

It was so lovely and refreshing reading about an adult woman finding her sexuality as they are usually teenagers written in the YA genre. There were also serious topics discussed such as homophobia and erasure within the LGBTQ+ community. I would recommend this book to absolutely to everyone.

(Thank you to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for the eARC!)

Gina is a piano teacher living a planned, organised and happy life with her live in boyfriend. Then she gets a sense that maybe he's about to pop the question of marriage and she's not sure why this freaks her out as life is so perfect with her boyfriend... but is it?
One night in a spontaneous turn of events sees her accompanying her gay best friend to a gay club to watch lesbian cult band Phase and Gina's hooked.
A light bulb moment in Gina's organised life suggests not only does she want more to being a music teacher, she want to be a musician but that she might actually be bi.
Gina embarks on what all sensible people do, she opens up her relationship with her 'perfect' boyfriend and then alternates her look for each part of her life.
Gina was looking for something, as often we all are but her experimentation felt forced rather than a natural progression. I would imagine that coming out as queer is a liberating experience to be true to yourself and be the person you truly are even if you are still trying to conceal it from some others. However, Gina's journey didn't feel a natural progression rather than her looking for stereo types and then engaging with it.
It comes across as alight hearted rom com with some funny moments as well as some cringeworthy moments.
It does raise an interesting point about bi phobia, not just from the straight side but also from the lesbian side.

The book genre is described as LGBTQIA/ Romance. Would LGBTQIA readers enjoy with such outdated stereotypes? I suppose it depends on the individual. I do think that there is an appeal to straight readers as just a general book that has a main queer theme. There aren't any sex scenes as it is more rom com.
A refreshing read that I think just represents how society is today. A little bit of everything and acceptance and tolerance goes a long way.
Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus and Aria for this preview read in return for an honest review.
#DoubleBooked #NetGalley

Double Booked is a great, queer fiction novel. Our character Georgina, realises that she is bi and ends up joining a lesbian band. She soon begins to feel split between her new group of friends and her boyfriend back home. For a while, she ends up living a double life until things come to a boil.

I enjoyed this book and found it easy to read. I think the author is trying to dispel negative stereotypes by including many of them in the book, and showing that they are false, though this is subtle and I think has been lost on some others based on the reviews I read.

It's a fun read and I would recommend it.

A super easy read that got me out of my slump and fell in love with the world and characters from the first chapter. Loved the plot, which was easy to follow but not so easy that I was bored.
Would recommend it to anyone with eyes.