This was such a lovely sophomore novel by Elise Bryant. Reggie and Delilah is a cute romance but also a great story of two people figuring out who they are. It was a slow build romance with some Meet cute moments- which is a perfect story, in my opinion.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc! I can’t wait I read more from Elise.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Elise Bryant and the publisher of the book for the eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I love Elise Bryant's books and "Reggie and Delilah's Year of Falling" did not disappoint.
Delilah keeps her sensitive feelings inside and hidden behind short one word answers. Reggie loves D&D and likes writing critiques of the game. The only problem? His parents don't approve.
Reggie and Delilah first meet on New Year's, then Valentines Day, and finally St. Patrick's Day. It is fate?
Deliliah thinks Reggie is so cool and so calm.
As they meet for the first time each holiday and fall for each other, will they like one version of each other better or a version that doesn't exist?

I love Elise Bryant's books so much! All her characters are so loveable and there's a lot to love about Reggie and Delilah. I will recommend this book to others.

It definitely won’t take you a year to fall in love with Reggie and Delilah—just a couple chapters in and you’ll be falling!

Reggie and Delilah’s Year of Falling was such a sweet read with so much to love. Repeated holiday meet cutes? Yes please. I loved the randomness of their meetups and the holiday fun! I loved, too, that by the end, it really did feel like a year had passed in the novel.

I loved both Reggie and Delilah as characters, and I loved their dynamic. Reggie is a self-proclaimed D&D nerd, and Delilah is the new lead singer of a punk rock band. I loved the diverse hobbies—I don’t think I’ve read a book with characters having either hobby before and it was just a refreshing change. And just the mix of these two totally different characters coming together was just perfect.

I also loved the focus on identity and family issues. Both Reggie and Delilah struggle with how others view them and their hobbies, and are challenged by others as not fitting the mold of Black teens. For Reggie, it comes from his brother’s constant teasing about Dungeons and Dragons preventing him from feeling comfortable in his own skin. For Delilah, it’s the struggle of being enough for not just her fans or even her band, but also herself.

And I have to mention that I enjoyed the dyslexia rep in the book. Reggie is dyslexic and I liked how it was portrayed in a real and honest way—not as this earth-shattering challenge, but it didn’t brush it off either.
As much as I loved this book, one thing keeps me from giving me Reggie and Delilah five stars, and that’s Reggie’s lie. I understood it at first, but then I didn’t understand why he kept it up. Delilah’s reaction when she found out just made it worse, but also I wasn’t sure how I would have wanted her to react either? That part of the plot was just awkward to me.

In the end, Reggie and Delilah’s Year of Falling is a sweet, funny, refreshing read, and I felt that it really brought something new.

This was another wonderful addition to the Elise Bryant universe—her character development, swoony romance, and artful balancing of social commentary with pure joyful adolescent mayhem are such a delight.

Special thanks to the author & @hearourvoicestours for my advanced readers copy!!!!

This book was sooooooo cute and adorable. It follows two teens Delilah a punk rock lead singer and Reggie a D&D master. Both teens struggle to find a safe space where their form of blackness fits and they’re allowed to be their true self.

They met on New Year’s Eve after Delilah’s first performance at The Mode. Reggie found out that night the true meaning of love at first sight. Introducing Delilah to the new Reggie before she had the chance to know the real him. That innocent conversation was the spark of something neither of them could predict.

The next time the two cross paths on Valentines Day and every holiday that followed their connection and bond grew stronger. Was it fate that kept bringing them together or pure coincidence?

Either way all those small encounters turn into a year of magical bliss for the teens. Reggie’s act of self-confidence and impersonating the cool, nonchalant nerd that doesn’t care what anyone thinks is what swooned her. Making the time they spent together feel almost to good to be true.

Reggie and Delilah found love, hope, and reassurance in each other. I enjoyed this book so much and it was so well-written. The author did an amazing job bringing all of the characters to life individually. I was smiling so hard at all of their cute lovey dovey moments.

This is a Harper Collins title and I’m a 100% in support of the @hcpunion strike for fair wages. Head over to their page now for more information on how you can show support!!!!

Reggie and Delilah's Year of Falling is a cute romance, but also a powerful story of two people figuring out who they are and how to live authentically. Delilah is the punk rock princess we all secretly wish we could be and Reggie is an adorable nerd who rules the D&D space. Meet cute after meet cute eventually leads to love, but within that, a tangled mess of identity and the weight of expectations that might prove to be too much. I really enjoyed how their relationship developed slowly and how the characters explored more serious issues like race, anxiety, and complicated families. I think many of my high school students will see parts of themselves in this story! Plus the cover. Is there anything cuter than an Elise Bryant cover? No.

There was a lot I liked about this one. It's nicely written and the characters, both primary and secondary, felt fairly well-rounded (except for Charlie, who came off a bit cookie cutter and cartoonish, making it hard to understand what exactly drew Delilah to him in the first place, but it's not completely unimaginable to have an ill-advised or confusing crush just because someone gives you dreamy vibes). I really appreciated the way the story delved into both Reggie and Delilah feeling out of place or judged for being Black and having certain passions, as well as the way Reggie's dyslexia was handled. (Delilah's migraines, on the other hand, seemed like a strong written addition in the beginning, but their presence petered out a bit after they stopped being a useful plot device. And I had to suspend my disbelief a bit regarding the rapid, almost simultaneous spread of both characters' internet fame/popularity.) I also liked the variety of family relationships shown in the book. But Reggie and Delilah's spark wasn't there for me, regardless of the coincidences and rom-com situations surrounding their budding relationship, and that was a really central component that left me feeling a little let down. Still, it's a fun, light read with a strong handle on a variety of issues that I think fans of Bryant's other books as well as those looking for a good YA contemporary will enjoy.

I love everything Elise Bryant has published thus far and I safely assume I will love everything she ever publishes. This story and these characters are so sweet and sincere and this book shares so many real struggles many adults and young adults alike face as they try to find their way without losing who they are. Reggie is a Dungeons and Dragons enthusiast with an anonymous blog calling out the problematic areas in the D&D game and community. Delilah finds herself with the chance to sing with her friend’s band and it scares the shit out of her and she does it anyway. She finds she loves it. Reggie and Delilah bump into each other a few times by accident and then eventually on purpose as they learn who they are and the power of their voices. I really enjoyed how raw this book felt. This book spanning over a year gave space for organic growth and some real time processing. I found myself so frustrated with Reggie’s choices and realized it's because I related so hard and felt super called out. Society (and sometimes even our own communities) so often send the message that what we like and who we are is wrong and the path to revealing our truest selves can often come with some little lies for self protection, but at a price. I love coming of age stories and I love seeing character growth. Let me know what you thought of this one in the comments.

Reggie and Delilah's year of falling is a heartwarming YA romance story. Reggie and Delilah are two black kids, an D&D player and a punk lead singer who fall in love over the course of holidays during the year. It’s about taking up space, young love, and being your authentic self.

"And my dad's right. I've had these meetings since I was officially diagnosed with dyslexia in second grade, but this one did feel particularly long."

"And I have lot of inspiration to draw from, because I've had people telling me I'm not really Black my whole life: Kathy Williams calling me an Oreo in third grade, my cousins from North Carolina saying I don't "talk Black"....and comments online now calling out my light skin and looser curls and non-Black bandmates like they're about to start an investigation. Every one of those opinions is written on my brain in permanent marker, darker and bolder than the rest."

"I've been worried about how others are perceiving my Blackness or using it for their own gain. I didn't even consider what me being in this space could mean to others."

"And it's not perfect. It's not like every hurt is erased. But that's okay. I said what I was feeling--boldly, clearly--and I was heard. I was accepted. It feels like hope."

Delilah is the stoic, go-with-the-flow girl who, on NYE, agrees to sing for her friends' punk band as a favor. That night, she catches the eye of Reggie, a D&D Master and total nerd. When he sees a chance to talk with Delilah, he can't help but take it; however, he puts on a persona who is confident in his nerdo, which is not the confidence he exudes on a day-to-day: really he hides how much D&D is part of his life from his disapproving family. When they see eachother again coincidentally Valentine's Day and then St. Patrick's Day, Reggie makes it his goal to get to know Delilah.
Told from alternating POVs of Reggie and Delilah, this started off as a really cute book highlighting the importance of being yourself, owning what you're into, and not letting anyone belittle you for your interests. I love the representation as both characters try to navigate predominantly white spaces, the diverse characters, and the general "be yourself" lesson. It started off really sweet even with Reggie's fake-it-til-you-make-it front (which I also didn't think is a large enough conflict...) BUT about 65% into the book, I got real ick vibes from Reggie. Maybe he was too into her? Maybe it was because we were able to read his inner-monologuing...but at one point the narrative went from endearing to creepy. 3 stars, a cute, fun read with lots of representation, funny observations, and great friendship dynamics.

I adore this book! It's easy to root for Delilah and Reggie to be together. I love the biracial rep and the chronic migraine rep! As a chronic migraine sufferer, I really appreciate this, especially for a YA novel. Bryant also explores dyslexia realistically with Reggie using the voice to text app. A sweet heartfelt YA romance that had me cheering for these two.

This was such an adorable YA romance. This story follows Reggie and Delilah who first meet at Delilah gig in her punk band on New Years Eve. The keep running into each other on different holidays throughout the year. I loved the pacing for this story because it was actually realistic. Overall such a fun read.

Reggie and Delilah's Year of Falling by Elise Bryant follows an aspiring singer and a Dungeons and Dragons fanatic. Delilah just joined a band and Reggie is the owner of a site where he writes analysis on the game itself. For some reason, Reggie and Delilah keep remeeting each other on holidays. At first it started off with holidays such as ‘New Years’, then it quickly becomes miscellaneous holidays such as ‘Free Comic Book Day’! I gave this book 4 stars! As you all know, I am OBSESSED with nerdy young adult romances and this book satisfied all of my nerdy book needs. I am in love with Reggie!! He was so cute and nerdy. As well, I loved Delilah. She's a huge swiftie so of course I loved her-The only reason I did not rate this five stars is because I was not the biggest fan of some of the conflicts. I didn't like that Reggie had to be the 'perfect' guy around Delilah. He couldn't have a crack in his confidence... and for me I want the partners in the relationship to be more vulnerable with each other.

Tropes: Instalove, nerdy romance

SO much can happen in just one year, which is exactly what the main characters in Reggie and Delilah’s Year of Falling figure out. Elise Bryant writes the story of Reggie, a Dungeons and Dragons enthusiast, and Delilah, the new lead singer in a punk band. The two meet at one of the performances Delilah’s band puts on. The book alternates chapters between this two characters and their encounters throughout the course of a year.

Sometimes it can be hard to follow books when they alternate between characters, but in this case I believe Bryant did an excellent job writing in a way that will help readers follow the story. Reggie and Delilah are both characters that I loved getting to know and I found myself rooting for them both…together and individually. I really enjoyed that both characters were able to see their own flaws. The side characters also played a huge role in this book and I really loved how they helped the story progress.

All too often the characters in romance novels seem overly confident or perfect in some way, but Reggie and Delilah aren’t like that. They’re flawed, and quirky, and question themselves. In other words, they’re real!

I would recommend this book to high school audiences looking for teen/YA romances. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for an eARC of this title.

#netgalley #harpercollins #reggieanddelilahsyearoffalling #elisebryant #yaromance #highschoollibraries #schoollibrarian #bookstagram

“Finally. I feel like I’ve leapt off the cliff at last, but I’m not falling. I’m flying.”

On New Year’s Eve, two teenagers meet for the first time at a local club. There is Delilah, who usually works at her friends’ punk band’s merch table, but is convinced to sing with them one night. Although she comes off as indifferent, she struggles with letting her true self shine. Then there is Reggie, a nerdy, D&D-loving guy who spends his Saturday nights leading campaigns with his friends and writing anonymous critiques about the game. Despite his passion, he is constantly discouraged from his interests by his family and is forced to hide behind an alias from online trolls. However, when he meets Delilah for the first time, he presents himself confidently, unwilling to let anyone put him down due to his interests. The chance encounters continue as every holiday reunites the teenagers. Delilah is inspired by Reggie’s confidence, while Reggie continues to pretend to be the guy that Delilah wants him to be. As they fall deeper in love with one another, it sparks a burning question. What will happen once they see through each other’s facades?

Elise Bryant’s Reggie and Delilah’s Year of Falling is a captivating slow-burn YA romance that will have readers squealing in their seats. Reggie and Delilah have unique endearing characteristics which shine through their interactions with one another. Bryant does an amazing job providing a balance of internal and external dialogue that reveals more about the character’s motivations and desires without being explicit. The references to D&D and music sprinkled throughout the novel help readers, especially those already familiar with the topics, become engrossed in their thought processes. What amazed me the most about this novel was how Bryant approached the topic of race and the uncomfortable truths that come with it. It explored the idea of how Blackness can sometimes be seen as a novelty, how there are pressures in being the “right” kind of Black, and how these characters, despite being proud of their Black identity, struggle with people only defining them solely by that trait.

Overall, I found Bryant’s novel to be truly inspiring, offering readers not just a delightful teenage romance but a chance for readers to see themselves reflected in these characters, and find the courage to be true to themselves and others.

(Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.)

Reggie & Delilah’s year of falling sounded like a wonderful story to experience. Unfortunately I just don’t think this was the book for me!

Going into the book the chapters and mainly focused on their hobbies, music and d&d, and those both aren’t something I am particularly interested in. I didn’t care enough about them yet to care about their friends or their hobbies. Going further into the book they’re still mentioned quite a lot and made it difficult for me to connect with the characters.

The aspect I enjoyed about the book most was the diversity of the characters. From race to disabilities to chronic illness and the difficulties while facing adversities, I felt like everything was well done. I felt like I hadn’t seen dyslexia or migraines in a book before and I appreciate the representation.

Thank you for the opportunity to read an arc and provide and honest review!

This was such a sweet Black YA romance. I loved seeing how Bryant tackles anxiety, the pressures of being a musician and being unafraid to be yourself.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was Elise Bryant's best yet. Reggie and Delilah have meet cute after meet cute, and while the romance aspect of this book was truly sweet and lovely, the best parts lie in seeing both of them grow and discover who they are.

Reggie is struggling to reconcile his love of D&D with how others might view it and him. Delilah is sometimes unsure of her value to the band she sings in. Both Reggie and Delilah grapple with issues of perception and worry about how they are seen. The way this is handled in both cases is realistic and gratifying. Reggie and Delilah's journey to unapologetically love who they are and what they do combined with their path to loving each other was incredibly enjoyable to read and honestly just made me happy. 5/5.

This cute coming of age story was full with humor, growth that teens go through with their relationships and feelings . Reggie and Delilah’s interactions with with other as they each went through personal issues was refreshing to seen from a teen’s perspective. Absolutely enjoyed this arc, #reggieanddelilahsyearoffalling #netgalley

4.5 stars

Elise Bryant just does NOT disappoint with these charming YA contemporaries!

As the title suggests, Delilah and Reggie - the m.c.s - spend a year falling: falling into new understandings of themselves, falling into feeling out of control, and maybe even falling in love…? It’s a very charming ride.

Delilah’s sense of self is very much wrapped up in her position in the family, her apparent identities, and her surprising (even to herself!) interest in being the lead singer of a band. Throughout the year, as expected, she learns a lot and works toward being a more realized version of herself.

Reggie seems to be his own worst enemy, but this largely stems from his inability/unwillingness to fight back against those who maybe unintentionally make him question his choices and himself. In focusing on each other, both characters also learn a lot about who they are - and want to be - as individuals.

I have loved all of Bryant’s books, and this is no exception. A minor but particularly well-handled piece of this is the role that family plays in personal outcomes and experiences. I actually wish there had been more focus on this throughout the novel, but what is here is powerful and will ring true to audiences of all ages.

Bryant remains on my absolutely must-read list, and I look forward to what she has to offer next!