Oh my goodness what a tale! Very emotionally charged but written in a way that pulled me in. I enjoyed it very much.

I unfortunately wasn't able to get into this book. The description sounded promising, but the writing was just not my style and I'm not a fan of the characters.

3.75⭐️/5

Corrine was just a girl; nothing remarkable about her. Enoch Miller also was not remarkable but was the “perfect guy” in the eyes of their church and those who were part of their faith. Corinne and her family were taken in by the Miller’s and one thing leads to another and before you know it, Corinne has been cast out of the church, deemed a sinner.

This book is a slow burn, second chance romance laced with religious trauma. I did enjoy this book. I found Corinne to be incredibly relatable. She suffers from feeling shamed about her choices, dealing with the double standard around sex in religion between men and women, feeling guilt for other peoples choices lol that are made because of her. There were so many reasons that Corinne and Enoch shouldn’t be together, but they loved each other. I did think this book could have been shorter; there were times where it felt repetitive, but I enjoyed the short chapters and the style of writing. It was very character driven with a lot of internal conflict I think many people can relate to.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 stars
A win for all sally rooney fans with religion trauma. Scarily tender and romantic, Corinne spans throughout decades, intimitely following the character of Corinne as she loses---and finds---the same love over decades later. Surprisingly good humoured and intelligent, Morrow breaks down expectations as she recounts a story that could well be both an annoying cinephile's top 1 movie on letterboxd and a soccer mom's favorite smutty novel. But while I did giggle like a little girl at some points, the narrative started dragging at around the 50% mark, and a good chunk of this could've been cut with no damage to the emotional punch of the story.

It’s hard to rate this book. A lot of stuff was repetitive and boring. The way she described Enoch made him seem like sponge bob square pants. She seemed obsessed with him. So it’s odd that she would wait so long to see him again. Then when they finally did come together it was even more slow and more tedious. Even the sex scenes were boring. How she made that possible is incredible to me. It kept me interested enough to want to finish this extremely long book for no reason but honestly would never recommend or pick it up again.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Nonspoiler read this book you hooligans, bit:
Were you raised a Christian and have some fundamental problems with it? Been in a church and not vibed with it? Do you have lasting religious trauma? Do you like quirky characterization, parallels, callbacks? Do you want to read a book that you can hear? Then this is probably a book for you. If you liked Sally Rooney’s normal people for its unapologetic, realistic sex scenes, you’re gonna like this. It’s gonna make you cry in the best way.

Pre-reading:
Physical ARC sent to me by Goodreads. So excited to read this. Gorgeous cover. Have spelled it wrong every time I’ve entered it into the apps lol.

Thick of it:
How old is this mother? I think this is the first serious book I’ve read that has “would have been like” for a dialogue tag. That door pun is going to haunt me in the best way. I wish I had an e-book copy that allowed copying because this is a bitch to quote, and I’m pulling things constantly. This book has lovely voice. This book is so sassy. I adore it. This book gives me Sally Rooney Normal People vibes. Also Ottessa‘s My Year of Rest and Relaxation. Also My Dark Vanessa. Pinball, huh. All these little hints make me think Shannon‘s a lesbian. Bonnie’s really nice. Books and arrogance can seduce me any day. This dialogue is so buzzy. I want to play board games with Corinne. She’d be amazing at drunk game night. I like the word clatter. I like everyone in this book so far. That’s rare. This book has immaculate tension. Never has two children’s pinkies brushing threatened to make me blush more. This book is making me crave pizza. This book is very clever in that it’s using typically smutty, charged phrases for very innocent activities, and again the tension is just-chef‘s kiss. Oh my goodness, those little sinners. Such excellent pacing. Bestie’s in Boston. We love. Good for you, girlie. Go to college. Use that ACT score. Fuck Jesus. This book makes me whimper out audible awws. I’m enjoying this so much that I desperately want it to be a show, but I don’t know how it could be a show because there’s really not much that happens, but the dialogue is so sparkly and wonderful and accurate to real life that you can just hear it. Why does this have to be a by a pseudonym for an author because I’d like to hunt them down and read everything else they write. This book is so relevant to today with its references even though it’s supposed to be back in the 90s and the early 2000s. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or poor time placement. I just know it’s relevant to me in this moment, and I’m enjoying all the references. So far I love this book, and if it continues like this, I hope it gets the hype and audience it deserves. This may be the best thing I’ve read all year. Granted, it’s early, and I did read Carmen Maria Machado which was brilliant, but also I love this. Punctuality is sexy. This author’s very good at describing clothes which makes me think it’s written by a woman and also the tone of the book and the experiences makes me think it’s by a woman like late 20s, early 30s. Maybe, maybe 40s because of how long it must take to write something this raw. And they love the cold. Bless. I cannot picture Shannon camping. It’s so satisfying being right. Love you, Shannon. Carrying her groceries is sexy. He cleaned his car for her. What is it with boys and short notice? That would make me angry. I know they want a spur of the moment, go with the flow girl, but fuck that. I am a scheduled lady. Hi, hello, I would sob if someone said that spring line to me. I always forget that Kansas gets snow. I just think of cornfields and constant warmth, but that’s, like, very not true. Holding someone and steadying them while they take off their shoes. God. He said acts of service for a love language. This book’s dialogue is flawless. I keep pulling quotes, and I keep spelling her name wrong. I want two rs, not two ns. Corinne has a pink velvet couch. She is a flawless human being. I like this book more than Normal People, and that’s saying something. Must Harry Potter be in everything? This book‘s gonna make me cry. It’s so romantic and so angsty and so wonderfully steeped in tension. Ugh, that callback. Love. Love this book. So it’s wonderful right now, so how is it gonna go awful in the next chapter? I like Alicia. Oh my god, and he listens enough to do his own pointed callback? God. This book makes me weak. Proud of her. I love that it’s offensive that he wants to marry her. Because it is. This book is gorgeous. Whoever wrote this deeply understands the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships. Miss Corinne, are you a Capricorn? I wish she would get some friends so this mans isn’t her whole world. Well, it’s done it. I’ve cried. Is Peanuts very Christian or something? Because my parents were obsessed too. You know, sometimes this book‘s tone shifts on a dime: where I’m just like, wow, the church. How wholesome. But actually not wholesome and very problematic, but you get what I’m after. I'm just like aw, you innocent little beans, and then all of a sudden they’re just horny fuckers. I blush. I hope future me and possibly followers appreciate the absolutely painstaking, like pulling teeth process it has been to pull quotes from this book. I want to copy-paste. I low-key wanna copy-paste the entire book because it’s great, but we must settle for word-by-word dictation and editing. This book does the thing I do in my writing which is very pointed sentence fragment punctuation. How you break it up says something, even though it’s probably not grammatically correct. You know I’ve been on board with all the quirkiness except this Michael Jordan quote. Thank god she told me what a bierock was. A cobalt blue sink is different, and I dig it. Shannon has good taste. This writing is so familiar, and I wish I could figure out why. I mean it sounds like my favorite authors, but my favorites all sound similar anyway. Books that do sex scenes like this are so important. God. You ever have a book that just seems and feels like it was written so intimately for you? I literally say these phrases, haha. I don’t know what posole is. I like Shannon. This book makes my heart so warm and fuzzy and on the verge of tears constantly. Also do you like satisfying parallels in your book? Fucking read this one. And callbacks? Fucking read this one. Dunno what a kolache is. How very topical. Tread lightly book. I’ve a hair-trigger temper on it right now. And always. And forever. This book might have my favorite dialogue of all time. Also, I’m nearly positive it’s my new favorite book. You really need a church/classics background to really get all the goodies in this book. Listen I get it. But Corinne’s an angel and better get some spectacular orgasms before this is all over. This book makes me happy cry. I had to look up chicanery. This book is going to break my heart, isn't it? She knows the ice cream fact too. Like is she a New Englander? and by she I mean the author, although already suspicious because she picked Boston and not NYC. Have we mind-melded? God, this is my book. She says lizard-brain too. Do I feel like I know this bc it’s my own narration or because I’ve read it before? I genuinely don’t know. It’s always in a Dairy Queen, huh. Why do Dairy Queens mean bad things in books? Looking at you, Iain. When did this trope come about? Either way, I'm here for it. Lizard brain followed by happy squirming is standing out as particularly familiar. I keep derailing myself trying to figure out who wrote this. It’s driving me bonkers. Please get this girl some pillows. This book uses big words like candy. I suppose you have to have that mentality about them. I like to work my SAT brain. Might be annoying if you don’t savor those types of words. This. Book. Makes. Me. Cry. Ask me why I had pre-started crying thinking that they were breaking up, and now she’s asking him to marry her, and I’m gonna cry even more. I need to be sedated over this book. I don’t trust happy books. I know this book isn’t exactly happy, but it’s happy dammit, and I keep waiting for someone to die. I like Kyle. The only good Kyle. Repeat I like everyone in this book, and it makes my heart hurt. Shannon fucking Frank. An icon. Is it bad that I want more of an ending? Like it fits, but only just. I feel like there’s more to be said that would come with age. I want more. I want to know what happens to them in a year. I mean it’s nice, I guess closure, to have him choose her unrepentantly after all those years. But I don’t like that he still wants to be in an organization that won’t let the people he loves be in it as they are.

Post-reading:
It's going to be so difficult to tell people that my favorite book isn’t even out yet. I went in expecting to like it. I did not go in expecting it to unseat Diary of an Oxygen Thief. I haven’t had this much to say about a book in a long time. Will it take a niche audience to properly appreciate this? Yes. Is it absolutely gut-wrenching and stunning for anyone who does fit that category, maybe even loosely? Yes. Am I going to gush and scream about this book for ages? Possibly permanently, baby. Read it for the dialogue alone, man. It’s art to capture life that precisely. Do I see this going down well with the general public? Good god no. I am desperate to know who this author is. They feel so familiar. Also, tell me so I can read your other stuff. My only guess was possibly Tiffany Reisz who I adore. I feel like I should do an additional nonspoiler, no live reaction review just to get people to read this. I’ll put it up above before everything. This is going to be my longest review ever, sheesh.

Who should read this:
Anyone who likes good writing and rock-solid characters
People rabid for realistic dialogue
People who were raised with religion and have problems with it or because of it
Fans of realistic, awkward sex scenes
Anyone who likes books I think are similar below

Do I want to reread this:
A million times, yes

Similar books:
* Normal People by Sally Rooney-Irish, darker, and more toxic version of this book
* The Siren by Tiffany Reisz-pornier, kinkier, less? Different? wholesome romance
* My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh-it’s not the same, or very similar, but if you want more of the cranky, sarcastic tone that breaks through in this book to be the focus of the book
* My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell-weirdly, inexplicably reminds me of it. Might just be that it’s (extremely) problematic young relationships
* Educated by Tara Westover-more religious trauma survivors
* All the Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater-quirky characterizations and dialogue
* Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater-barely similar, but Maggie does quirky characterization so well too, lovely dialogue, same bittersweet love vibes

When forced to make a choice between your family/life to which you've grown accustomed and the romantic love of your life, which do you choose? That is the question raised in this novel.

As a secular Jewish woman whose life is not at all controlled by my religion, I wasn't sure I could relate to a love story about a star-crossed couple cast out by a fundamentalist church. But I loved it! It was so different from anything I ever read before, and I was riveted. Corinne was so strong, and I found it impossible not to root for her happiness. And while I wanted to hate Enoch at first, he was so soft, awkward, and desperately in love that I couldn't do it. The end had me choking back tears.

First off I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with this ARC. The meaning of the name “Corinne” is maiden. In Christianity, a maiden is subservient to the men like Mary was to Jesus. (O help this explains why Corinne was a good title for this book). I myself am a religious person but not to the extremes that Corinne had to deal with. Corinne Callahan grew up in an extremely strict fundamentalist church, whose members follow the Bible exactly to a T. Due to her relations with Enoch, the church’s pride and joy, she is cast out her church and disowned by her family. But Enough remains in her heart and she’ll never forget him. 13 years have pass and after achieving and creating a good life for herself, Corinne chooses to move back home after family circumstances take place. And right before her eyes appears Enoch. This retelling of Romeo and Juliet flowed aesthetically to majority my feelings because it tug at my heartstrings. Despite what their families and church accepted of this past, Corinne and Enoch went on a journey of finding themselves and pursuing the love they have always felt for each other.

QOTD: Who is the author using the pseudonym of Rebecca Morrow? Leave your guesses in the comments below.

Thank you, NetGalley, for a free and advanced copy of this book. The premise of the novel intrigued me. I found that it was difficult to put this book down because I was so drawn into the conflict between the two main characters, their backgrounds and their soon to be history. I enjoyed getting familiar with both Corrine and Enoch. While there was something captivating about this story and I found myself wanting to keep reading it, I also didn't care for much of what I was reading. I really struggled with the concept just seemed weird to me.

I rated this book 3.5/5 stars! I got early access to read this book, and I enjoyed pieces of the novel. The first section was the best. Their childhood was spent in the strict confines of the Church, an all-encompassing religious community that drew a line between themselves and the worldly people they lived next door to. The rest of the book didn't do it for me. The erotica surprised me and was a significant part of the rest of the book. I didn't have much knowledge of fundamental churches, but I found their arguments repetitive.

I was excited to have the opportunity to read this ARC by Rebecca Morrow. I loved the cover and a modern day Romeo and Juliet was definitely interesting. I have always been intrigued by strict, closed religious groups/cults (i.e. Scientologists), and then adding in some forbidden romance was a win for me. I was also encouraged by Jodi Picoult's review on the cover. Unfortunately, I was disappointed in the end. First, there was way too much graphic sex, which I felt took away from Corinne and Enoch's relationship and cheapened their "love." Corinne and Enoch's "relationship" felt like more of an infatuation than anything else. It felt really superficial and lacked depth and meaning. I don't even understand why they "loved" each other, other than the fact that Corinne keeps repeating his name over and over and over, and obsessing over Enoch's body. I don't see their "marriage" working out in the end. Enoch going to church on Sunday while Corinne waits at home in bed in anticipation of satisfying Enoch's (and her) sexual desires seems unsustainable. 1/5 stars because I like the cover.

CORRINE is a lot of things: a coming of age story. A second change romance. A delight. It is also a discussion on themes of faith, religion, and what happens to the relationships between people when these no longer align. As someone who is not religious by any means, it was an intimate look into the inner workings of the a fundamentalist church.

However, what I enjoyed most of all was the authors writing and Corrine's voice. I absolutely loved her as a character and was fully invested in her story and relationship with Enoch (and by extension the church.) I was left with a tear in my eye and can't' wait to see what Morrow writes next.

Thank you to Netgalley for my #arc. CORINNE publishes this July!

Thank you, NetGalley, for a free and advanced copy of this book.

Corinne by Rebecca Morrow is a book that takes place in two halves. The first half we meet Corinne in her high school years, where she is being raised with a mother who is deeply invested in a strongly fundamental religious belief. This restricts the things Corinne is able to do, and she is falling in love with a boy named Enoch. During this portion of the book, I was under the impression that Corinne wanted to get out of the church and into the "worldly" reality.

The second half of this book is 15 years later - Corinne was cast out of her church and her family, and she spends this time going to school and building a life for herself. At the time that the reader sees her again, she moves back to her hometown to rebuild connections with her family.

Ok, so, I'm on board still here. I get why she would want to reconnect and have family in her life. Where this book takes a dive (for me) is when Enoch gets involved again. This whole book is a romance novel written about two people caught up in the perils of fundamentalism religion. It's marketed as a "modern day Romeo and Juliet" and I'm honestly just really annoyed with that comparison. Because here's the thing: the dilemma keeping Corinne and Enoch apart is the church, and that their deeply religious families don't (and won't) approve.

But Corinne doesn't even believe in religion anymore? And Enoch makes decisions that are confusing and honestly kind of hypocritical? I don't know, I really struggled with this book. Enoch seems ok with divorcing his wife because she is gay - he accepts her and wants her to be happy, and they even remain friends - but also really strongly still wants to be in a church that...doesn't accept the LGBTQ+ community. Also if there had been a drinking game for the amount of times Enoch said "honey" we'd all be wasted and unconscious on the floor.

Mostly I wasn't invested, and I was annoyed because the whole time my head kept screaming: "if you two love each other so much, go to a church that is a little more relaxed and actually fits your vibes instead of trying to conform to something that doesn't accept you!!!!!!!!" And don't get me started on how Corinne becomes this shell of her former strong, independent, fierce adult self when she returns home and starts dating Enoch again. I was....not a fan.

Corinne was so boring! It's the story of a high school girl whose family was evicted from their home and moved in with their church friends, the Millers. Corinne was overweight and wore second hand clothes. She didn't really have any friends. They went to church three days per week. Her mother was really into it. Corinne, not so much.

Enoch was the eldest of the Miller children. He was dating Shannon, a church girl. It was a given that they would get married. Shannon didn't like Corinne and made fun of her. Enoch didn't really care for her either when the family first moved into his home. Over time that changed.

On Saturday nights the children were allowed to play games. While the younger children played video games, Corinne and Enoch played a convuluted game of Monopoly. After a while, Enoch started holding hands with Corinne under the table. Eventually it finally happened. He kissed her, which she enjoyed very much. She knew what she was doing was wrong but she couldn't help herself.

I read 20 chapters of this book and simply could not finish it. It was so boring! I kept waiting for something exciting to happen, or for Shannon to find out about her boyfriend and Corinne. It never happened. The book kept going on and on about about Corinne loving to be with Enoch. There was no substance. It just didn't captivate my attention. I'm sorry to say that I would not recommend this book for leisure reading or for book club.

OH WOW i was blown away by this book. i didnt do too much reading about it beforehand, and i think that was a good move. there is so much to love in this book, i can't even desribe.

I just finished this book and i am an emotional WRECK! I want more Corinne and Enock. I NEED to know what else happens!

I absolutely loved this!!

I feel like we all have that person , that what if scenario about a few dozen scenarios in our heads and in our life. This is played out nicely. I enjoyed it. It wasn’t what I thought it was and that led to a bit of disappointment on my end. But it will be nice read for some people.

I was really intrigued by the first part of this book, the beginning of Enoch’s and Corrine’s romance with their strict religious upbringing looming overhead. The abhorrent treatment of Corrine after her confession was completely accurate and believable. I grew up Catholic and could relate to so much of what Corinne experienced. I was expecting to read more of Enoch and Corrine’s struggles with the church and their religion, but too fast the novel progressed to adult Corrine. This was the part of the book that I struggled with, and ended up even skimming a few chapters because they were so monotonous/mundane. Some chapters were just about what Corinne’s daily life was like, meticulously detailing her morning routine and what she ate for breakfast. It brought nothing new to the overall plot and dragged the rest of the story. I had no problem with the erotic parts of the story, but because the pacing was so slow on the way there, I admit that there wasn’t as much titillation as there could have been.

In Rebecca Morrow's novel, Corinne, she captures the depicts the life of those who follow a strict Christian faith while managing to chip away at its weaknesses and shortcomings. She uses Corinne as a way to illustrate how actions and choices affect the lives of everyone around.

In this novel, Morrow effectively utilizes repetition to enhance the feelings throughout the novel. As a reader we constantly see the words "Enoch. Enoch. Enoch." and we know that this scene is emotionally charged for the characters themselves, and for us as readers. Other instances of repetition also occur through phrases the characters use. Most often, these phrases are thought, rather than spoken, to give the reader a greater insight to the motivations and feelings of the character.

Morrow's greatest strength with this novel was the pace she set. It starts with our characters young and confused and wanting more out of life and each other. Then, the novel shifts transitions to our characters in their thirties in the midst of undertaking the struggles of adulthood, jobs, relationships, and family. Corinne is desperately trying to find a way back into her family's life, and learning how her new life can coexist with theirs. Morrow illustrates a phenomenon not uncommon to many adults who grow up, move out, and find their own paths to go down. Corinne becomes an example of how to balance the life you want to lead while also taking part in the lives of those you love.

Thank you Netgalley for sending me an arc in exchange for my honest review.

As teenagers Corinne and Enoch share the same fundamentalist Christian religion, but are on two very different sides of the metaphorical track. After a transgression, Corinne is cut off from her religion and family. Fifteen years later she is slowly finding her way back into her family and awkwardly runs into Enoch.

I’m very torn about whether this book was a good read for me, because it seems like 2 different genres were kind of smashed together. The teenage years felt very much like literary fiction akin to Sally Rooney’s Normal People, but the adult years became a smutty second chance romance. I’m not saying that in an insulting way. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with smutty second chance romances. But I didn’t think that’s what this would be and even though it’s still dealing with all the same issues around religion the change in genre and tone really makes it hard for me to love this book. I see what it could have been (amazing) and what it isn’t (amazing).

Additionally, there was a lot of repetition of phrases and character movements/actions that became distracting for me. How many times do 2 characters need to say “I love you” to each other? Like I get it and I’m not sure it needs to be said 4 times in a single sex scene. It really had me skimming the later sex scenes and I have to say that is *unusual* for me 😂

Despite the clunky aspects of the novel, I did basically read it in one sitting. I was invested in this relationship even while simultaneously being a bit annoyed at times with the writing. It just really felt like this book didn’t know what it wanted to be and the marrying of these 2 genres fell a bit flat for me.