Written in the Stars was a delightful grumpy/sunshine romance that tugged at the heartstrings.

Elle was a romantic and made her living doing contract work for a new online dating app. Her new boss, Brendon, set her up with his sister Darcy and while the two didn’t have the meet-cute Brendon had hoped for, they still got their happily ever after. Darcy and Elle were complete opposites; Darcy was prickly and didn’t know if she believed in love and Elle was looking for the One. Bellefleur mixed humor and family angst without one overpowering the other, this made both Darcy and Elle come across as well rounded characters.

I opted to go the audiobook route and I was impressed with Lauren Sweet’s performance. She captured Elle’s whimsical nature while also conveying Darcy’s sardonic outlook. Written in the Stars was a romance that left me with a smile on my face and was just what I needed.

Darcy and Elle did NOT have a good first date. Free spirited astrologist Elle showed up late and was a bit frazzled, and straight laced Darcy appeared dismissive and snobbish. So Elle is extra surprised when she learns from Darcy’s brother, and Elle’s new business partner, that Darcy was smitten! Elle learns that Darcy said this to get her brother off her case, and the two realize that pretending to date may to be both of their advantages. They’ll pretend to be a happy couple to get through their various holiday events. But as the December 31st end date of their ruse looms nearer, Darcy and Elle begin to have a challenging time discerning what is is pretend, and what feelings are very real.

Alexandria Bellefleur brings a wonderful breath of fresh air to a romance trope that is seeing a lot of popularity. Although the beats of this story may not be particularly unique, the tiny details and character development of our leads is a delight, and make for a charming, warm, holiday read. Great humor and lovely chemistry have me looking forward to Bellefluer adding more wonderful LGBTQ+ Positive Romances in the future.

THIS BOOK WAS SO CUTE. Oh my gosh, I never thought I'd enjoy the fake relationship trope as much as I did in this one. It was funny, then STEAMY, then heartbreaking, then heartwarming! I had so many feelings about it. I felt like the characters were really well developed and grew throughout the book. Darcy was frustrating at times, but I think frustrating characters are often a requisite part of a romance or romantic comedy. I absolutely adored this book and would absolutely read more by this author.

This book started off great, but quickly went downhill for me. I didn't particularly like any of the characters, and especially couldn't stand Darcy's brother who annoyed me to no end.

This book is light and fluffy with some hot sex scenes. However, I had a hard time connecting with the main heroine. It might have been her interest in astrology which isn’t something I’m interested in. For those who are into such things, this book may be more accessible.

I couldn't put down this book once I started. This was such a cute f/f love story. Darcy and Elle had so much chemistry and I was absolutely obsessed with both of them. The ;) scenes were A++. One of my favorite reads of 2020!

I enjoyed how astrology was interjected in this story. It gave a fresh, young angle. Very Buzzfeed or Hello Giggles millennial vibes. The emotional vulnerability of the main characters was extremely well done. Even the supporting characters’ expressed their emotional flaws and mishaps in raw & authentic ways during the many emotionally charged scenes. While there were not big sweeping character arcs with profound denouements, the characters did take that giant first step toward healing & it all ended with a sweet hope for a fragile love story just beginning after numerous stumbles.
Most of the time I didn’t care for really any of the characters and found it hard to root for them. The dialogue was stilted and awkward much of the time at the sacrifice of authentic characterisation. While the sense of scene in Seattle was well done, the Christmas timing was shallow. It could have been Seattle in the spring as far as I could tell.
All in all it was quite refreshing to read a sapphic love story that wasn’t about coming out--thank god!

Written in the Stars is a joyful, effervescent sapphic romance. Elle and Darcy have a disaster of a first date, but agree to pretend to date to get their families off their backs. Neither Elle nor Darcy thought they ran any risk of falling for the other, but they quickly grow uncertain as they learn to see past the other's surface. Elle and Darcy are complex, multi-dimensional characters, unexpected without seeming forced, passionate and hopeful and tender.

Written in the Stars is a cute contemporary romance featuring a F/F romance. Elle and Darcy are complete opposites. Elle is into astrology and Darcy is an actuary. They meet on a blind date gone wrong and decide to fake a relationship to get their families off their backs.

I adored they way Elle and Darcy met, and the fake relationship that ensued. Despite their massive differences they mesh together really well. They both have a lot of family issues to work through and come to terms with their blossoming relationship.

Bellefleur does a fantastic job writing both Elle (bisexual) and Darcy (lesbian) and I cannot wait to read the next book!

Ratings (out of of 5):
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪🧪
Banter: 👄👄👄👄
Heart: 💛💛💛💛💛
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Elle is an astrologer. Darcy is an actuary. Elle is colorful, vivacious, and a little bit messy. Darcy has a cool veneer and curated life. Everything is curated, which is how she wraps her brain around the empty spaces. They agree to “fake date” to appease both of their families and expect to merely tolerate one another. But Darcy and Elle learn that there is more to the other than it seems. Elle is a brilliant, deeply perceptive person who has found great success doing what she loves. Darcy is a sensitive, lonely person who clings to her armor because she thinks it will protect her heart. Learning to love is hard. Learning to stand up for what you deserve is harder. But the most worthwhile pursuits often are.
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This book was a little bit P&P, a little bit Bridget Jones, and a whole lot of fun with characters that fly off the page in vivid color.
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Elle is so damn vibrant and magical. But her magic comes from her relentless hope, something that seems so alien to Darcy at the first but becomes her lifeline in the end. And Darcy? What a deep well she is. Neither Darcy nor Elle is lacking in any way - they’re lovely just the way they are - but they complement and bring out the best in one another, which was so satisfying.
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This is a beautiful book with big feelings and big laughs that has that sweeping romcom pacing that we love but isn’t afraid to linger in the soft moments that matter most.
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If you’re looking for a RomCom with big movie feels, relatable conflict, sexy sexy, and a big HEA, definitely read this book. Now.
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Kiss and tell:
This book is so hot but so tender at the same time. The sex is written with so much attention to detail - emotionally as well as physically - and the result is achingly sweet. Kissing, hand play, and oral feature and are the perfect blend of sweet and spicy.
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Written in the Stars features the reluctant romance between Elle and Darcy. Elle is an astrologer and Darcy is an actuary making them polar opposites. They do share the same pressure from their family to "settle" down. After a disastrous first date, they agree to be in a fake relationship during the holidays. And everyone knows how these types of tropes shake-out. Not only does this novel feature the fake relationship, you also get a bit of an enemy to lovers trope.

What I liked about the book:
*I loved the focus on astrology. This is a big portion of the queer community and it is great to see it portrayed so positively.
*I felt like both Elle and Darcy were well-developed as characters and their behavior in the novel is consistent with their character. There is one exception to this listed below.
*There were some great steamy scenes in this book.
*I loved how the author wrote about the setting of Seattle. Having visited several times, this fits with my mental picture of the city and the culture. The escape room date was fantastic as it was set in the Seattle Underground.

What I didn't like:
*I really wanted a bit more diversity in this book - either in gender expression, race, ethnicity or even body size. While both of the main characters are queer, they are both conventionally attractive and white. Everyone in their circle is white and in small, thin bodies. It would have been nice if the author had tried to diversify the cast a bit in some way.
*Given Darcy's focus on risk as her job as an actuary, I found it unbelievable that she wouldn't have talked with Elle about STI prevention before proceeding. While the acts performed in this book are less risky than penetrative acts, there is still a risk. Given that Darcy talks about the danger of black ice at one point, I find it hard to believe she wouldn't have thought about this.
*While I found the steamy scenes hot, I do feel like they lacked some realness. There was no use of any sort of toys which is unusual for these types of acts. Even a discussion about this would have been good and made it more authentic.
*One of the main characters is bisexual and I would have liked them to delve into that a bit. When you're dating in this community, that's something that you talk about.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, especially due to the astrology angle. While I wanted a bit more development in several areas, I did enjoy the novel and would recommend it.

Thanks to HarperCollins Publishers and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When I first started hearing about this book on Twitter and Booktube, I was immediately drawn to it. I, admittedly, have never read Pride and Prejudice and I’ve also never watched any of the movie adaptions. So, while a lot of readers may have been drawn to the story because of the retelling aspect, I was really just into it because, at this point, I get excited about any sapphic romance. Not all of them turn out to be the gems I’d love for them to be, but this one did.

The story features dual perspectives as readers follow the progression of the relationship between Elle and Darcy. Both characters were well-written and really fun to read through, though Elle was my favorite. She was quite the Disaster Bisexual™ and I saw so much of myself in her that I couldn’t help but feel like the story was made for me. Darcy is definitely the grouch of the two, but still a very lovable and relatable character. Both girls have things outside of the relationship that bring them down, which kept the story from being only about romance. Darcy’s last relationship ended horribly, and she’s still greatly affected by it, while Elle has issues with the way her family members treat her. Actually, there’s a lot of handling family trauma in this story for both of the girls, which I personally liked reading, especially since none of it was rooted in homophobia.

On that note, I wanted to also point out that this story was, thankfully, one where queer characters can have a happy ending without the trauma of homophobic slurs. Stories that tackle the struggles of dealing with and being threatened by homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, etc. are extremely important and unfortunately relatable to many of us, but it’s also nice to have access to queer stories that are fluffy and loving, or realistic but have a “happily ever after” ending. It’s a wonderful reading experience to see our sexualities represented so well and without negativity. I cannot speak for the lesbian representation in this story, but I loved Elle’s bisexual representation.

Ultimately, there were only two reasons I gave this read 4 and a half stars instead of 5. The first is a personal preference: there are explicit scenes in this, and I personally am uncomfortable with explicit scenes in novels. I skip over those, but I have seen other reviewers who are comfortable with explicit content say that they really enjoyed those sections, so if you enjoy some smut in your reads, that is just one more reason for you to pick this book up!

The second thing I didn’t like in this were the Harry Potter references. Althea from Althea is Reading talked about this more in depth in their review, which is definitely worth a read. As they pointed out, being unaware of JKR’s blatant bigotry comes from a place of privilege, and referencing her work in your own comes across as an act of support. I really hope to see stories do away with the HP references, especially being as there are so many beautiful and worthy stories written by amazing and diverse writers who do not spread violent hate speech that would be far better options for pop culture references.

Overall, I loved this adult sapphic rom-com! I got a ton of laughs out of it, and found a new favorite F/F story to recommend to people incessantly. I’m so glad I got the chance to check this story out, and I will definitely be picking up the follow-up novel (Hang the Moon, another queer story which focuses on Darcy’s brother and best friend who may or may not fall for each other).

I'm kicking myself for not reading this sooner.

After a disastrous first date, Ellie and Darcy swear that they'll never cross paths again. But things change as parental expectations loom closer, and the two decide to fake a relationship - Darcy will have her concerned brother off her back as she readies for an important exam, and Ellie gets to prove to her family that she has value. As their chemistry grows between trips to thrift stores and old observatories, Ellie and Darcy will have to open their hearts.

Written in the Stars is the perfect holiday book full of heart-stopping kisses and self-aware characters in their messy glory. With elements of Pride and Prejudice, Bellefleur knowing winks at the readers as she draws them in comforting tropes with unexpected twists. Characters apologize to each other, the evil ex doesn't make a third act appearance and the truth that love takes work. It's hard not to fall in love with Darcy as she rediscovers fanfiction, and when Ellie writes her astrology lists for her popular Twitter account, as well as the cast of side characters who are waiting to be explored in the companion. novel.

In short, this adult contemporary is determined to win your heart.

A copy was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

this was super sweet! I really enjoyed both Elle and Darcy and even though they were so different, I was able to connect to them both. I didn't love the sex scenes but that's a me issue as I tend to be super picky with them anyway. this was a perfect read to finish off the year with with it being set around the holidays and I'll definitely be picking up the sequel!

Charming, sweet romance. The two central characters are very likable and they are accompanied by interesting side characters that will certainly populate future books.

Really lovely, so well written, and very steamy! Elle & Darcy are wonderful and I shipped them from the moment their first date turned into a disaster. Cannot wait to read the next book in this series!

I liked the romance at the center of this story, as it was both sweet and steamy. I liked the development of the Elle and Darcy as characters—initially I found them both kind of annoying, but may the end was totally rooting for their relationship! I also really enjoyed the secondary characters of Brendan and Margot.

Alexandria Bellefleur makes her debut with WRITTEN IN THE STARS, a fun and romantic novel about two wildly different women and their Zodiac-approved love story.

Elle Jones is one of the beloved astrologers behind the popular Twitter account, Oh My Stars. She loves what she does, reading birth charts and helping people make decisions about their lives, but she also truly believes in the power of providing people with a language to describe themselves and learn about others. That’s why it’s no surprise when the dating app OTP (One True Pairing) asks Elle and her co-astrologer and best friend, Margot, to team up with them to help nerds and geeks find true love using the stars and planets as a guide. With a book deal wrapping up and a lucrative partnership on the horizon, life seems to be looking up for free-spirited Elle. That is, until her coworker sets her up with his sister, Darcy.

Darcy Lowell is an uptight, detail-oriented actuary (whatever that is). Still reeling from a failed relationship, she has poured herself into her work and takes comfort in the stability of facts and figures. So when her brother, Brandon, sets her up with a woman who shows up 15 minutes late to their date and proceeds to pour wine all over her and her favorite dress, she decides that it’s time to give up. But Brandon isn’t backing down that easily, and before she knows it, Darcy has crafted the ultimate lie: not only does she tell him that her date with Elle went well, she makes it sound like they might be soulmates.

Needless to say, Elle is surprised to hear that their date was such a hit --- especially since she left without saying goodbye, almost cried all the way home and vowed never to speak to Darcy again. Still, she can’t ignore the pressure from her family to settle down or do something worthwhile, so when Darcy suggests that they fake-date to get their well-meaning but annoying families off their backs, she agrees. The only problem is that Elle and Darcy are insanely attracted to one another --- and they can’t stand each other. Darcy is sarcastic and jaded, always making fun of Elle’s devotion to the Zodiac, and Elle cannot tolerate how regimented Darcy is about her life, career and very white apartment.

One fake date at a time, the two start not only to like one another, but to help each other grow, too. Whether their relationship was written in the stars or not, working through the logistics of a fake relationship while being swayed by some very real feelings is tricky, and Elle and Darcy have vastly different goals for their romantic lives. One laugh-out-loud date at a time, Bellefleur crafts a delightful and whimsical love story for fans of Christina Lauren, Alexis Daria and Emily Henry.

This is the perfect mash-up of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE and BRIDGET JONES’S DIARY, and Bellefleur’s gender-swapped Darcy and Elizabeth stand-ins not only pay tremendous homage to Austen’s classic, but transform and upend it in a way that feels entirely new. I loved grumpy Darcy just as much as I loved sunshiny Elle, and the ways that Bellefleur fleshed out their careers, families and individual romantic goals made me feel as though I had known them for years, certainly far longer than the time it took me to read the novel. I am always laudatory of authors who write believable women who value their careers just as much as they value their love lives, but something about Darcy and Elle made the juxtaposition feel that much more real. Both are ambitious and excellent at their jobs, and it made their search for --- and realization of --- love that much more poignant and joyful.

WRITTEN IN THE STARS is an #OwnVoices debut, and Bellefleur announces herself as an incredible new talent. Although the book is about two queer women searching for love, she steers clear of homophobic side characters and sadness, reveling instead in the pure joy of two women finding love. While the fake-dating trope will be familiar to romance readers and rom-com watchers, Bellefleur writes it like you’ve never seen it before. She constantly finds ways to transform and uplift her characters in the process, and produces some of the best banter I have had the fortune of reading in any romance novel.

Combined with a knock-your-socks-off meet-cute, plenty of steamy but believable love scenes, and just the right amount of woo-woo, WRITTEN IN THE STARS feels fresh and original, heartfelt and fun.

It was a great start – or rather a bad start – Great for the reader, bad for the main characters. Elle agrees to a blind date with the sister of a friend and colleague, Brandon. Darcy agrees to the date, to stop Brandon from fixing her up. Unfortunately they are complete total opposites. Elle is an astrologer who owns a company, Oh My Stars which is partnering with Brandon's company, OTP (One True Pairing) to help people find their soulmates and Darcy is a very successful Actuary (she analyzes "variables and trends" to "establish accurate and fair pricing for insurance" using mathematics/calculus) who scoffs at astrology and OTP. The date ends quickly after Elle accidentally spills red wine on Darcy's vintage dress. After Darcy tells Brandon that the date went great, she makes a deal with Elle – she will go with Elle to her family Thanksgiving and Elle will go with Darcy to Brandon's Christmas party. But to be convincing to their relatives, means they will have to spend time together, getting to know each other.

The chemistry between the two was off the charts (ha!). But then something happened that neither expected and they fought to deny it until they couldn't. They fell madly in love with each other.

Bellefleur's next book is Hang the Moon. A romance between Brandon and Darcy's best friend, Anne. I'm definitely going the check it out.

An astrologer and actuary walk into a bar…and it’s a disaster. Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur, delivers a fake relationship romance with heart, growth and family at the holidays.

Elle Jones, one of the astrologers behind the popular Twitter account, Oh My Stars, dreams of finding her soul mate. A new business venture with her BFF, has her agreeing to go on a blind date with said friend’s sister.

Darcy Lowell isn’t looking for a relationship after the disastrous breakup that had her moving to the city.. but brothers will be brothers.

The first meet wasn’t the meet cute one would hope for. While both felt some physical chemistry, the date ended before it even began. Which is why Elle is surprised to learn that Darcy is smitten. Only she said that to get her brother off her back, but Elle’s mom overheard and the two hatch a plan.

The tale that unfolds had awkward moments, sweet discoveries and delicious heat. We see growth in not just the couple, but in family members. The two act as a couple through Thanksgiving, double dates and holiday parties, but somewhere along the way they develop a friendship which gives way to romantic feelings.

Elle is kindness personify but thanks to family and a string of first dates she isn’t confident in the romance department. She is loud, eclectic, and follows her heart.

Darcy is a bit of a control freak from perfectly lined bookshelves to muted colors. She has built a high wall around her heart and hides the things she is passionate about. It was lovely seeing walks come down, and confidence grow, even if miscommunication and fears interfere along the way.

Written in the Stars is an addictive festive romance you’ll want to curl up with. Don’t forget the wine and holiday cookies.