4 stars

Forbidden secret romance between a princess and a new student at an all girl's school? I am in! This was exactly what you would expect, a lot about hiding the queer relationship from well, everyone, a lot about how things will reflect on the monarchy, and a bit about how the media can easily turn stories however they want. I was surprised by the very dark backstory of why the princess and her best friend were in the midst of a falling out, having it be THAT dark didn't feel completely necessary but I guess sometimes, that is real life. Danni's backstory of the type of bullying she faced at her past school was a type not always talked about but very realistic in girl world and helped explain her wariness. Overall, I enjoyed the story and I was constantly guessing about who outed the pair so I was a bit surprised by the answer (though thinking back, yes definitely made sense).

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!

Danni is the new girl in school and just hoping to fit in. She never expected to fall for Princess Rose. But Rose is under enormous pressure to avoid even a whiff of scandal. Can Rose be with the girl who holds her heart?

Read if you like:
-Sapphic Romance
-Royal Romance
-Coming of Age
-Secret Relationship

I wanted to love Nobody in Particular, but it just didn't shine like I hoped it would. I did really like the third act. It was such a satisfying ending. But at the same time, I felt parts of it came out of left field and/or didn't quite line up with where it felt like the character arcs were headed.

If you liked Red, White, and Royal Blue, you'll like Nobody in Particular.

One thing that will have me SAT is a friends-to-lovers romance, add sapphic royals and I’m obsessed. Evidently, this book was right up my alley and thankfully did not disappoint. If you’re looking for a cutie sapphic romance, pick this one up in June!

Premise: It follows Princess Rosemary and Danni who meet at boarding school and quickly go from acquaintances to friends to lovers. Due to royal traditions they must keep their relationship fully private but a few slip ups result in drama and public suspicions. Navigating it all is hard, but these girls love each other too much to give it all up.

My thoughts: Overall, I really enjoyed my time reading this. I was immersed in the plot, (semi) connected to the characters and rooting for the romance. Danni and Rose were super cute and had a romance I wish I could have experienced throughout high school - sigh. However, I do wish the romance hadn’t progressed as quickly as it did. I’m a lover of angst and while this book had a *few* angsty moments, it was mostly fluff. The book was more so centered around the struggles the girls had while in a relationship, less about the progression from friendly to romantic.

Princess Rosemary is focused on repairing her reputation after a scandal, but her resolve is tested when she grows close to Danni, a new student attending her elite boarding school on a music scholarship. As their bond deepens and rumors swirl, the two must navigate public scrutiny and palace pressure that threatens to tear them apart.

I thought this book was really cute, and I can understand why the author waited until now to release it. Its themes feel especially timely. It would make an excellent pick for a Pride book club. I did find some of Danni’s internal conflicts a bit frustrating at times; she often held herself back based on how she thought others perceived her, without any solid evidence. That said, the romance was sweet, the characters were engaging, and I’m excited to see how the book does once it’s published. Overall, I’d give it 3.5 stars.

What would you do if you fell for a Princess? What if you knew you could never truly be together because she will be queen one day? This is the exact dilemma Danni finds herself in when she starts boarding school in a new country. She's a scholarship students and the last person she expects to befriend her is Princess Rosemary of Henland or Rose as her friends calls her. However, Rose and Danni grow closer as the year goes on and rumors start to hurt both of them. Their friendship is on the line as their feelings grow. This book was so much fun! I really loved it!

Thank you so much Netgalley and Wednesday books for the eArc of Nobody in Particular. I really enjoyed this book, which isn’t surprising because I’ve loved a few of Sophie’s others!

Danni is the new girl at a prep school, with some of her peers being literal royalty. This is a dual POV story between Danni and princess Rose, the next in line for the throne, who is already being closely watched by the press after a previous incident. Their story is emotional, sweet, and so full of life that I was rooting for them as soon as I realized they were love interests. And yes, there may have been a moment during this that I cried because of the cuteness.

The setting is beautiful and the characters of Danni and Rose are fleshed out very well throughout the novel. I wish we could have seen more development of Rose’s parents past what we see at the end of the book as well as see more of Danni’s mother and Danni’s relationship. Further, I also wanted to see more of what happened at Danni’s old school that forced her to move. However, with both of these things being said, I was constantly wanting more of the story because I was already so invested in the romance.

I definitely recommend this to anyone who wants a Young Royals type of sapphic romance because besides it being SO CUTE, the setting and development of the characters create a great story.

Sophie Gonzales is a reliably wonderful queer YA romance writer. She balances some silly or unrealistic concepts with true heart so well, in this case with Nobody in Particular's story of a young royal, Princess Rose, and the scholarship student, Danni, secretly falling for each other at an elite boarding school. The story has real stakes, tension, and emotional weight, and Gonzales does a great job layering the deeper character work of identity, acceptance, friendship, family, and other difficult subjects amidst the drama of the larger plot.

“Nobody in Particular” was excellent! It had so much heart and soul with fantastic characters. It captures the feeling of falling in love so well and is the sapphic royal romance I needed! I also really enjoyed Sophie Gonzales' other novel, “Never Ever Getting Back Together”, so I was not surprised that I loved this one. I recommend this book for those who enjoyed “Red, White, and Royal Blue” by Casey McQuiston, “Her Royal Highness” by Rachel Hawkins, and “Flip the Script” by Lyla Lee. The writing in this book is top notch, with distinct POVs, genuinely funny humor, and really clever use of pacing. There are two chapters that are entirely in text messages and they function almost like a montage in a movie, where we go from watching the characters awkwardly interact, to flirting, to falling asleep in the same bed, all within a few pages, all without feeling out of place or odd.

I really enjoyed the banter between Rose and Danni throughout the book. They worked so well together, with Rose being more sarcastic and stoic, and Danni always wearing her heart on her sleeve. Their relationship progression also felt very natural, which I loved. I also enjoyed the personal growth that Rose and Danni experienced: Danni gaining confidence about performing in the public and having people's attention on her, and Rose realizing how much of herself she suppresses and how it has harmed her relationships, including with her former best friend, Molly. The writing in this book is top notch, with distinct POVs and a really clever use of pacing. There are two chapters in particular that are entirely in text messages and they function almost like a montage in a movie, where we go from watching the characters awkwardly interact, to flirting, to falling asleep in the same bed, all within a few pages, all without feeling out of place or odd. While there is a lot of seriousness in the story, there is also plenty of humor and intimacy. I love forbidden love, and I love more than anything when it conquers the day. It's the optimism that we need right now. I’m so happy that Sophie is finally able to release this book into the world and I can’t wait for everyone to be able to read it! Thank you to Sophie Gonzales, NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Wednesday Books for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. I can’t wait to read her next book!

Loved it and would highly enjoy recommend for any library collection. Diversity in any collection is a must and this would add to it.

This book was just adorable! I loved the forbidden romance and the fake-dating tropes in this. Plus, the betrayals?? The second act breakup? I’m usually not a fan of breakups to advance the plot but, in this case, it was necessary and done well! I enjoyed this a lot and I also just love seeing more and more queer books

thank you so much to netgalley and wednesday books for the arc of nobody in particular! i’m giving it 3.5 stars, i very much enjoyed the fact that this book had a lot of layers to it. it tackled a lot of big topics such as underage alcohol and drug use, grief, lgbtq+ topics and mental health. gonzales did a wonderful job exploring all of these. i enjoyed the way layers of what transpired in amsterdam were pulled back one by one throughout the story and how the past events were very relevant with the present events of the story. truly gonzales handled the topics of grief and underage use of alcohol and drugs in such a delicate manner. she created a very realistic portrayal of underage consumption and spoke on the manner and its effects in a very eloquent way that i greatly appreciated. i think often when these topics are brought up a lot of scare tactics are used and she didn’t do any of that, instead she shared the effects honestly and showed how to learn from the consequences of your actions. the setting of this story was so clear in my mind, i loved how she brought to life this majestic country and breathtaking boarding school. the supporting characters in this book are amazing, molly and eleanor are phenomenal, edmund was a true surprise and delight and alfie always gave a too good to be true type vibe so i loved to hate him. danni i loved immediately when i started the book she is relatable, spunky and full of love! rose took me a bit to warm up to but i ended up loving her a lot towards the end and seeing her growth throughout the book especially the scene where her and molly are truly open and honest with each other was chefs kiss. i did also very much enjoy how gonzales handled danni and rose coming out, i think she did a beautiful job of showcasing what they were able to control and how they were able to persevere throughout the situation. the two things i didn’t love about the book were that the romance was a bit on the insta love side, i wish i had a bit of a slower build up. i also felt the pacing was a bit off, the book felt very long for being under 400 pages. i wasn’t consistently locked in while reading it, some parts i couldn’t put down and others made it hard to pick the book back up. however i did enjoy the book, i am always a sucker for a good young royals fall in love at boarding school trope and this was so perfectly that!

thank you netgalley and wednesday books for the arc!

this is the cover of my dreams! so freaken pretty! and the book matches!

i love a royal romance but i haven’t read many queer ones so this was so fun! it was fun with the forbidden aspect.

this has so much chemistry for a YA! these two were such a good pair right from the beginning! ultimate opposites attract!

there was a side plot that was pretty heavy so definitely check out triggers. but it was handled so well. another good mental health rep.

overall, i give this 4.5⭐️ and can’t wait to pick up a physical copy on pub day in June!

As always, I love a Sophie Gonzales book. I just want to give Rose and Danni a big hug. They are dealing with so much at a young age and all they want to do is be together. They are so cute when they are together. Rose is actually surprisingly funny and made me laugh out loud a few times.

I received an arc through netgalley.

I was excited about the description of this book, but it was way too heavy. The story should have had trigger warnings because the content was very upsetting. I didn't expect this content in a YA book.

Review for Nobody in Particular
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

This was such a fun and charming read! The story was light and easy to follow, with a great cast of likable characters. I especially enjoyed the coming-of-age journey of the girls, including a princess who struggles between the expectations of her royal life and the desire to live freely. It thoughtfully showed how her choices impacted those around her, especially the ones she cared about most.

Overall, it’s a sweet, feel-good young adult story that I’d definitely recommend to readers who enjoy contemporary YA with a hint of rebellion, friendship, and heart.

This was my first Sophie Gonzales book and let me tell you IT DID NOT MISS!! I don't even have the words for how much I loved this book. I can't wait for this to come out so I can buy a physical copy. Not only is the story beautiful but the cover is as well. I definitely would recommend this book especially is liked Young Royals.

Thousand thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!!

Danni and Rose were complex and compelling characters. I truly enjoyed watching them come into their own and figure out who they were and what they were and weren’t willing to risk or sacrifice for each other from both of their perspectives! As someone who spent their teen years bullied for their appearance and interests, I identified with Danni from the start. Her journey towards realizing the bullies didn’t have all the power resonated deeply with me. Rose was trapped in world of privilege and tradition and high expectations. Watching her navigate that world while also trying to have something for herself was heartbreaking. When she finally realized what she wanted and went for it I cheered for her. Molly and Eleanor were true friends and the way they supported and cared for Rose and Danni added heart and depth to the story. I laughed and cried and ached for these girls, but I was also weirdly proud of how they came out on the other side stronger and ready to face the world. The plot unfolded perfectly and kept me wanting more. The ending was sweet and wrapped things up nicely. The epilogue gave an adorable look into what the future could be for Danni and Rose.

Nobody in Particular by Sophie Gonzales is a heartfelt and sharply observant novel that captures the nuances of identity, friendship, and first love with remarkable authenticity. Centering on a nonbinary teen navigating the complexities of self-discovery and social expectations, the story blends tender moments with biting humor, all while challenging the rigid boxes society often tries to impose. Gonzales’s writing is emotionally resonant and deeply empathetic, offering a compelling voice to those who often go unheard. It's a powerful, affirming read that balances vulnerability and strength, making it both a deeply personal journey and a universally relatable coming-of-age tale.

✨ Nobody in Particular ✨

Overview:
Princess Rosemary of Henland (Rose to her friends) has enough on her plate. From trying to rehabilitate her party girl image after a tragic accident while maintaining her studies to become the future queen. The last thing she needs is a music scholarship student named Danni throwing a wrench into her plans.

Danni feels like a fish out of water at Bramppath College amongst the Henland elite. Little does she know that her biggest support will come in the form of a sarcastic princess who she cannot take her eyes off. Will their fierce friendship turn into something more or will royal duty stop them from living happily ever after.

The Vibes:

🖤Princess
🖤LGBTQIA
🖤Royal FMC
🖤Pianist FMC
🖤Boarding School
🖤Found Family
🖤Grief
🖤Coming Out
🖤First Love


ARC Review:
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Sophie Gonzales, and the publishing company for sending me an advance readers copy of Nobody in Particular.

My first boarding school romance and I loved it! I thought this book was very well rounded making it easy to read for young adults and adults in general. This is the first book I have read by Sophie Gonzales, so I am excited to read more from her.

One of the things I thought was most relatable about this book was the growth of all the young women in this book. From being the new kid at school to having a fallout with one of your best friends. To the wonderful experience of falling in love for the first time.

We all know that your first love is messy, awkward, and absolutely exhilarating. Rose and Danni work through all this making a mess in the best possible way. We support young women’s wrongs and their rights! Along with their supportive but sometime misguided friends Molly and Eleanor.

Nobody in Particular deals with sensitive topics such as forced coming out, the death of a friend, and underage alcohol/drug use. I believe this book is written in a way that handles these topics with care, detailing very human and realistic reactions to all these topics. If it is triggering for you, please read with care.

To round out my thoughts this is an awesome book representing young women and their evolution. A royal romance for the girls by the girls! Congratulations Sophie Gonzales on your new novel coming out June 3rd!

Thank you again to the publishing house and NetGalley for my ARC.

Rating 4/5

Thank you Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press, and Netgalley for the ARC.

I am not a romance girly at all, BUT THIS ONE WAS SO CUTE. Them learning to love each other but being so incredibly awkward, the political intrigue and structures impacting their behavior, the whole forced marriage plot. I loved it all! I also loved how the author refrained from being Gen Z cringe, as so often is common within YA contemporary books. As a non romance person, I am saying you should check this one out!