Sadly, I started this book but I could not finish it. The write up about it was definitely misleading and I could not find myself caring for any of the characters. I believe I am in the minority here, but it was not for me.

This book was so frustrating but also so, so relatable. I was rooting for Adelaide the entire time, and she continued to disappoint me. However, I found her behavior and reasoning behind it pretty realistic and familiar. My main gripe is the author trying too hard to be profound at times. The ending also frustrated me. I don't feel like it honored Adelaide's character growth.

Beginning this one I was optimistic however after listening to the narrated audio version of this book, I could not continue listening. The character voice along with the narrators tone, everything was whining and just a laundry list of this characters sad experiences with past relationships.

This book was so emotional and beautiful. It definitely deals with some heavy themes so be sure to look up the trigger warnings before reading and make sure you’re in the right mindset before reading. Beautiful and very well written debut.

This story was beautiful and painful and raw; the mental health representation was handled so well. Fans of character-driven stories will love this! It’s full of heavier themes so I think if someone goes into this with that awareness, they’re going to be in the right headspace to fall in love with it. I think it’s important to share trigger warnings!

This book deals with some real heavy topics on mental health, consent, suicide, and abuse. I respect how careful and with a lot of thought these topics were written. Even with the strong topics, Adelaide is a book that everyone should read.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

Wow. The author definitely takes you on an emotional rollercoaster. This story is what a lot of people will need I think as many have been in Adelaide's shows at one point in their life. They're just trying to find love and give the abundance of love they have in return only to find someone who doesn't truly appreciate what they are giving. To be a revolving door for when they need a pick me up. It was easy to read, the writing done really well even with the heave topics addressed.

The point of Adelaide's obsession felt misplaced but I guess I can see how it would happen. I've never been in this particular place so I wouldn't really know what goes through someone's mind as it's happening. I did appreciate the mental health representation as I do have experience with that. The end was definitely fitting and I'm happy with how it was wrapped up.

Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler was a strong debut novel. It told us the story of the main character of the same name, Abigail, twenty six years old, and how she fell in love with a guy named Rory. And how Rory treated her, which is spoiler: but he sucked, bad. He's a guy that treated her like she's insignificant, a mere nuisance. Adelaide had let him did her dirty like this. But despite everything, Adelaide kept coming back to Rory. In an internet slang: she's down bad. Which is not a bad thing if he's equally down bad for her, but for the sake that's holy, that guy Rory didn't care about her at all. He kept showing her how he didn't care about her on how he acted, and yet Adelaide seemed not be getting on how she's been done poorly. Which for some people might find Adelaide annoying for this. But I also get that when you're in love, you made everything about that person better in your head. They could do no wrong in your head. I think that's what happened with Audrey.
Overall, this was a good read. Audrey's character was fleshed out well, and the author's writing flowing and easy to follow despite the formatting of the dialogues.

3.75/5 rounded up.

I adored everything about this book. The writing style, the realism, the emotions. It isn't a light read, by any means. It involves incredibly dark topics but it does so in the most relatable way. I found myself rooting for Adelaide (and sometimes yelling at her to open her eyes). I just loved this book so much.

This eARC was provided by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I actually went in thinking it was a romcom, and boy was I wrong. It's actually a dark romance with mental health themes. I loved the escapism of the London setting, as a fellow millennial woman.

I wanted to like Adelaide more than I did -- both the book and the character. Adelaide certainly has her endearing qualities, and there are definitely times when she is a sympathetic character, and you feel for her as she struggles with loss/grief and copes with mental illness (once she is diagnosed). However, she is also often a very sad, pathetic character, allowing herself to be taken advantage of and engaging in immature or inappropriate behavior. Rory, the love interest for much of the story, is also somewhat pathetic, and cowardly. The best part of the book overall is the supporting cast, especially Eloise, Nico, Celeste, and Bubs. Adelaide is also a better character at the end of the story.

This book was an incredibly moving and impactful. I felt the deep emotions of the main character. The book is so raw and real. You completely relate with her and everything she's gone through. I highly recommend it.

Relationship toxicity at its finest is what "Adelaide" is.

Because Adelaide loves Rory but Rory doesn’t love Adelaide. He takes advantage of her kindness, disappears for weeks at a time, and cares little for her life. But Adelaide believes if she loves him hard enough, is devoted enough, he’ll realize she’s his forever one and only. Until, that is, she loses herself so completely that both her heart and her mind break.

Genevieve Wheeler’s first novel is a memorable love story, though not a happy one. It will make you uncomfortable – rape, emotional abuse, suicidal ideation and other mental health issues are all part of it – as well as enlighten you. Many will relate to Adelaide and her troubles, and even those who don’t will appreciate the realistic portrayal of an unhealthy relationship.

But the book isn't only despair and heartbreak – there’s a hopeful note to it. It shows us that light follows darkness, that we can survive the people who aren’t good for us. And that sometimes, if we do the work afterwards and take care of ourselves, we end up all the better for them.


My sincerest appreciation to Genevieve Wheeler, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions included herein are my own.

I kept seeing people post about this book and I was excited to see it available for me on NetGalley. It is hard to leave a review for this book without giving things away. I will say that it did live up to the hype. I enjoyed the writing style and storytelling I was engaged through the whole book.

This was not a light read. Adelaide starts with her in the hospital for suicidal ideation. We then go back to find out what has her at this point. Adelaide is very relatable. I'm far from my twenties and this book took me right back to them. It was hard to read about Adelaide trying to twist herself in knots to get Rory to even acknowledge her. Her friends are incredibly supportive. I did find the ending very trite but otherwise this was a solid novel.

From the summary, this book should have been one I loved. Set in London, Adelaide is surrounded by her friends and has a life she loves except for that special man in her life. Unfortunately, the mess Adelaide finds herself in was one that made me want to scream. Rory had my sympathy early on in the book. It was obvious that he needed help due to the sudden loss of his parents at a young age. But his mental health was no excuse for the way that he treated Adelaide. I found myself wanting to reach in to the book and smack Adelaide in to action and self-love.

2.5 stars rounded up to 3 due to the ending and Adelaide getting her happy ending.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

Possible Triggers: Rape, Sudden death, parental death, mental illness, emotional abuse

This book was a beautiful representation of mental illness, the effects of grand love, and the way that one can lose themselves and find themselves over and over. I loved Adelaide's story and her character growth! The writing was impactful and this novel was beautifully written

This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster. At times hard to read because of the content – mental health, grief, relationship struggles and more but a good read if you are interested in coming of age stories. Check the content warnings before reading if you are easily triggered.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This book broke my heart and mended it in the span of ~300 pages. Adelaide is one of the best-written and relatable main characters I have ever encountered, and her genuine empathy moved me almost to tears. Her rocky relationship with Rory read like a romance that every woman will have, but remained exempt from stereotypes and cliches. Adelaide's never-ending need to please everyone and be everything for someone who doesn't deserve her was simultaneously heartbreaking and completely understandable. I am excited to see what devastating and inspiring story Wheeler dreams up next.

I wanted to love this book… but I couldn’t finish it. I was really excited for it because I saw a lot of my favorite authors post about it for months leading up to pub day, but it wasn’t for me. I didn’t enjoy reading about a woman letting a subpar man ruin her life and self-esteem.