It’s surprising how quickly I began caring for these characters.

Reggie and Delilah’s Year of Falling starts with Delilah, a teen hiding in a closet as she tries to practice singing. She’s never been a performer, never had the confidence to put herself out there, but she told her friends she’d try out being the lead singer of their band and she won’t back out of it.

I was immediately pulled into this story, needing to know how this performance goes for Delilah. Will she crush it? Become the official lead singer of this band? Or will she crash and burn and run away, letting the nerves get to her?

As she’s performing on stage, a boy is watching her in the audience. Reggie is a DM for his friends’ Dungeons & Dragons campaign, forced to come and support his friend’s girlfriend’s band. But before this band can come on stage, he falls in love with the opening act. With the girl performing for the first time.

Reggie and Delilah aren’t friends, however. There’s no reason for them to meet up again or continue seeing each other around after this performance. Which is why I think it’s very interesting that this book follows these two as they run into each other on multiple different holidays throughout the year. Is this coincidence? Or is the universe trying to push these two together?

I will say that I wasn’t crazy to see their relationship develop in this book, however. Sure, I enjoyed Reggie and Delilah as separate characters and I thought their situation was interesting, but it was easy to tell from the beginning that their relationship was going to be built on lies and miscommunication. Maybe there’s someone out there who loves seeing characters lie to each other to try and seem cooler than they actually are, but it’s not really my thing.

I did enjoy seeing these characters learn in their own personal plots and develop into better versions of themselves throughout the course of this book. As Delilah learns that she enjoys singing and performing on stage, she soon has to figure out how she is going to continue doing it, especially when her friends’ band begins excluding her from big decisions. And Reggie, who has to hide is love for D&D from his family, learns how to show the world his interests and be confident in who he is as a nerd.

I just thought the romance was a little lacking.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I will say I have not been gravitating as much towards YA novels the past couple of years, but I am so glad I gave this one a chance. This was such an enjoyable read and I grew to really like these characters. I am definitely interested in reading more of this author's backlist.

They were literally the embodiment of "And everybody's watching her, but she's looking at you" <333

Thank you to Netgalley, publisher, and author Elise Bryant for the ARC!

This book is one of the absolute sweetest, cutest, full of butterflies, and hearts, and such cheesy and most adorable holiday magic rom-com that I've ever read. These two, Reggie and Delilah, just bring out the best in each other. Their relationship makes both of them grow and improve for the better, and it gave them both the courage to stand up for themselves. The one thought that constantly, never failed to pop in my head was just "me when." Because honestly, the romance in this book was superior.

The way this book is formatted, with the holidays for the chapters, (because you know they met at New Years Eve and was using the upcoming holidays as an excuse to meet up), was just soo cute, I'm dying. They also taught me that there are holidays such as Free Comic Book Day, National Catfish Day, and National Chocolate Eclair day, so I thank them for their service.

This book is a romance book, so it focuses a lot on the romance obviously, but it delves so much deeper than that. It uncovers each of the characters interests and their insecurities, passions and flaws. It's also about finding your identity, and trying to seek validations for yourself, for who you are, when people are denying you of it. It talks a lot about racism and being alienated from your race just because you don't fit into the specified mold or not looking like one enough. It's a book about expressing yourself, standing up for what you believe in, taking up your own space in this world and not shying away from what you love. That you like what you like, and if they don't like it, then who effing cares.

This is a YA romance book, but it's so much more than that. I think there should be more rom-coms like this, whether it is in the format of a book or a movie. Where they are cute and cheesy and sometimes corny, but talks about important issues and address them in such accessible way.

These characters are loveable, basically bursting with personalities, and you can't help but root for them. I think Elise Bryant did a brilliant job with this book and this was honestly a great introduction for me to her writing. It makes me even more excited to read Happily Ever Afters which I've had on my tbr for so long.

4.25 stars!

(also, this is not important, but as a swiftie, the fact that Delilah and Georgie were fans of Taylor Swift and we were basically spoon-fed with so many references of her songs!!! I was internally screaming as if Taylor Swift was an underground indie artist and not one of the most popular musicians out there lmao 😭)

Elise Bryant writes the cutest YA romances. If you’ve read and liked her other books, this is much of the same. There is great representation and the characters are vibrant and fun. Like her other stories, there’s some implausibility and some things I don’t love, but overall, it’s a sweet easy read that I would recommend to my students

3.75⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!

***I received this as an E-ARC from NetGalley. This is not a paid review.***

Engaging. Hilarious. REAL. These are three words that come to mind when thinking of Reggie and Delilah’s Year of Falling.

Elise Bryant does not miss! Hilarious dialogue, casual representation, and a beautiful love story between two teens trying to find themselves out? Sign me up right now. If you haven’t read One True Loves, her last release, you should also add it to your TBR. I was very pleased to read about a certain grandmother and get some updates on one of my favorite romance ships.

There’s something so real about Bryant’s writing. I’m not a fan of pop culture references in pieces because I feel like they are often corny or random, but she does it so well. I found myself grinning at lines that included cameos of China Anne McClain (A.N.T Farm on Disney), Hodor (Game of Thrones) and the “corny song” Ho, Hey by the Lumineers. It was refreshing, like she was actually a teenager and not an adult who was trying to write teenagers. Well done.

When it comes to effortless writing, I must include the representation in this piece. I coin it “casual” because that is what is. We as the reader gloss over it as a characteristic of said person– like we should. We are also shown the opposite side of this, where diversity is tokenized. Bryant is very clear in her intentions: it is okay to notice differences, because those differences are what makes us unique. But it tends to be the people who swear up and down that they don’t notice those differences that are the problematic ones. Having main characters who break SO many stereotypes was amazing. A biracial girl who wants to be a rocker with Taylor Swift Ballads? A black boy with dyslexia who loves writing essays and creating stories with D&D? There is queer representation, theater references, and everything that I have grown to love in Bryant’s work.

Underneath the surface of a cheesy YA romance is a book full of reality. Tackling issues with lack of awareness for disabilities, model-minority tropes, erasing culture to fit a mold, and so much more. We see characters who are in positions that are underrepresented, and the struggles with that. Delilah is used for her blackness and struggles with feeling inadequate. Is she only liked because she is a Black girl in a predominately white role? And Reggie, with a pseudonym for his blog because if the trolls already hate on him for his typos, what would they do if they knew a Black boy was the one pointing out the problematic parts of the game he loves so much? We see the struggles of having family not understand you– Reggie with his older brother and parents making fun of his interests and the idea of not being “black enough.” We see it with Delilah with her dad’s side of the family, how she is seen as Black first and while he isn’t inherently rude to her, he is passive and has an idea of what life should be, one that does not involve people comfortable in their skin.

I really love at the end the picture of performative activism. I hated Charlie from the first moment he called her “kid” when they were literally the same age, even more when it was clear he was trying to lay claim on Delilah without ever making the steps to actually claim her. It was icing on the messed-up cake when he proudly proclaims that he isn’t racist because he has a black-lives matter flag hanging at his parents house. Not only does he hate on anything that isn’t his idea of “alternative music,” which I sum up to: White, Male-dominated, and lyrics that would make even a film-studies major cringe. I LOVED the redemption for Beau, though, who honestly was the character that upset me the most in the band, mainly because he let it happen. He was supportive of Delilah in passing, but that means nothing if you can’t stand up to the aggressor.
Overall, there is so much in this book that a goodreads review will never be long enough to point out. The minute this book comes out it is going on any and every table I can put it on at work. AND, with the “holiday” theme of the book, this is the absolute perfect book to curl up with for Valentine’s day.

I cannot get over how beautiful this story was! The way I found myself shedding tears multiple times while reading in public, not to mention just full out crying at multiple moments throughout the book...I don't know what Elise Bryant laced this book with, but it had me HOOKED. Once I started it, I really couldn't put it down. I absolutely HATE waking up early and commuting in the city, however this book had me in such a chokehold that I woke up LOOKING FORWARD to my commute so that I could have 40 minutes of uninterrupted reading with my kindle. Every spare moment I had, I was thinking about this book or finding ways to read just one more chapter.

I cannot emphasize enough how important reading books about Black and POC characters is to me. To read about characters that look like me, my friends and family and for them to like things that I like or to have experiences that are similar to my own...it just means everything to me. And with Reggie and Delilah, I felt especially close and I don't think I realized how much this story would mean to me until I was reading their book and crying my eyes out (lol). I'm just so grateful that I read this book and I only wish that I had it when I was in high school because it would have meant everything to me.

This book is a must read and I cannot believe I'm saying this in the first month of 2023, but I've already found a favorite book of the year! I will for sure be checking out this author's previous books and I look froward to what she releases next!

I love the cover it is so perfect. Also the representation in the book with the characters is great. I really cannot wait to read more from this author. When this comes out on January 31st, just go ahead and pick up a copy! It was such a heartwarming story. The characters and their budding romance was so fun to follow, as well as the friendships they held and the way they grew into themselves. Any fan of a YA romance will enjoy this. Thank you so much NetGalley and the publishers for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest interview. I will be posting a review on my instagram as well within the next two weeks.

4.5/5 stars! Such an amazing read with important messages. The diverse representation was huge in this book and I feel like I learned more about what lived experience of being Black in a role that has been more predominantly white is like. It was a bit long for a YA romcom, but I didn't mind it. The author did a phenomenal job of really developing both Reggie and Delilah. They each had their unique voices, goals, and fears and it was wonderful seeing them overcome their miscommunication and grow together.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

Is there any possible way to best describe how I love this? No. It is such a wonderful book. I hope everyone will pick this book up and love it just as much as I do.

Oh my word, I loved this little love 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 a heartfelt story about taking up space, young love, and being your authentic self.

Things I love:

🎸 Dual POV. Love it! These are two very different teens going through a lot, and I loved seeing both perspectives. It made it less about their relationship necessarily, as it was about them finding their own space in the world.

🐉 Their friends and families. I loved that they had such cool friends, who called them out or loved them well. They genuinely wanted the best of them. It was good to have side characters who weren’t just there to drive the plot, but enhanced the story.

🎸 the concert scene. As a former concert goer, it felt so fun and familiar to see this as part of the “stage” for the story. Love it.

🐉 their meet cute. It was adorable. 🤷🏻‍♀️

🎸 the holidays. I love that this revolves around a year or holidays, and that they reference it. And how it all comes full circle.

Definitely pick up this adorable teen romance. 🥰 You’ll love it!

This was my favorite from Bryant! I loved the sweet awkwardness of the main characters, as well as the framing of meeting each other every holiday. It’s the perfect love letter for Black kids who have felt like they didn’t fit in to the expected mold.

I loved this story! The author used two very different characters to highlight the importance of being true to yourself. I love the way the characters were able to grow, and develop into young people that recognized the characteristics that made them unique. While Reggie and Delilah had to tackle feeling inferior as people of color in spaces neither of them feel like they belonged, they were able to do so while trying to build a relationship with each other. They each gave the other the confidence they did not possess in isolation. This story was more than a light love story; It was the story of acceptance.

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

This is the third book I've read by Elise Bryant, and it might just be my favorite (although the others- Happily Ever Afters and One True Loves are excellent and you should definitely read them, too).

Let's start with Delilah. Her story arc and the way she came into her own and found her voice and confidence? Chef's kiss. So beautiful. And the Poly Styrene references? So niche, so excellent, so perfect.

And Reggie! As a lover of Dungeons & Dragons myself, I 100% related to him. I love that D&D is becoming more mainstream.

Yes, there were definitely times I wanted to shake these two for not being open and honest and communicating (just tell each other you like each other, come ooonnn), but none of it felt contrived or forced. Although I would like a word for the amount of times I felt so so so very old (Calling the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and "old band"? Calling Facebook and Twitter the "watering holes for old people"? Ouuuchhh, excuse me while I crumble into dust.)

Also, the normalization of Reggie's dyslexia, his learning aids, and his IEP, and Delilah's migraines and how they're not just "headaches" was a nice, appreciated touch.

This was absolutely DARLING.
YA romance with an anxious migraine inflicted punk singer and a dyslexic dungeon master running into each other at different events on holidays.
Delilah and Reggie are maybe the cutest ever.
I love them so much. I felt like the author did a very great job incorporating different dynamics with a lot of different characters without it getting confusing.
Such a great story and I loved the holiday celebration aspect.

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins Childrens books for an earc.

Somehow, Delilah has found herself singing in her friends' punk band as a favor, even though she'd much rather be behind the scenes. She's definitely a go with the flow kind of girl. Reggie is a D&D Dungeon Master, who writes articles online about D&D behind a pseudonym becuase his family doesn't approve. The two first meet on New Year's Eve. And then again on Valentine's Day. And St. Patrick's Day. It seems like the universe might be pushing them together for a reason.

Thanks to Balzer + Bray and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this to review! Elise Bryant is quickly becoming a staple in writing YA romance, so I wasn't surprised that I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The premise is so fun! Two people who randomly keep meeting on holidays and eventually fall in love. What isn't to like?

One of the best things about this book was the way that the format allows us to get to know Reggie and Delilah on their own. Because they only really spend time together on the holidays for the first half of the book, we get to see a lot of them separately, which doesn't happen a lot in romances. We also get to know their friends and families, giving us all around great character development. It's a cast of characters that you're sure to fall in love with.

The romance at the heart of the book is just as good as the characters. It's paced well, and just gives you all the warm fuzzies. If you're looking for a great new romance to pick up this January, I definitely recommend this one!

This book is SO CUTE! I fell in love immediately with both Reggie and Delilah, they were such fun characters to read and their development was amazing!! Seeing them grow both together and separately while they keep meeting on only holidays was the most precious thing. I loved everything about this book and highly HIGHLY recommend!

I loved the premise behind this book and was really excited when I was approved for an ARC. I will say, though, that I don't know anything about DnD, so any references went above my head. I wanted to love this book more than I did, but since I'm not in the target audience it just wasn't for me.

First and foremost, Reggie is an idiot. But a loveable, adorable, misguided idiot who I want to smack in the back of the head and give a hug.

(As a teacher I know a lot of those black Boys)

Delilah is Black girl magic. Something Elise does with every book is present a different Black girl no less magical than the last.

And the love… ugh my heart! I was kicking my feet as soon as Reggie set eyes on Delilah. I stg my heart skipped a beat.

They’re so lovely and I had such a warm happy time with them even though they’re ups and down. Elise Bryant is Queen of YA romance and I bow down to her excellence. Everyone else should bow down as well.

I will be withholding my review until Harper Collins agrees to a fair contract for all workers! Everyone deserves to have a living wage.

While I really love this book and want to give a great review for it, I can’t do so because HarperCollins won’t pay their employees a living wage. I respect the union. Pay your workers more.