Nobody in Particular by Sophie Gonzalez single-handedly saved the royal romance sub-genre for me! I haven't found a contemporary royal romance that I've liked before this book. I guess I needed this sapphic royal romance to do the trick for me!

I loved how real all the characters felt. Danni, being the outsider that gets a lucky break in getting in with an established friend group. Rose and her faults being a significant contributor in the tension for that friend group. It felt like a real high school drama without being insufferable to me. The issues each person faces and the stress put on a royal heir actually have significant impacts on the characters. This isn't something money can solve.

I devoured this book and could feel the emotions from the characters seeping from the pages. If you are not typically a fan of this kind of book, I say give this one a try! 5/5 would absolutely recommend!

Danni was such a loveable and genuine character. She was so cute and shy at first, but I really loved seeing her grow and become more confident in herself. My heart definitely felt for her, having to go to a brand new school and learning to fit in is extremely difficult, especially when taken into account how bad she was bullied at her old school. Once she started getting closer to Rose, I adored her banter and sharp wit and how she wasn't intimidated by Rose being a princess. As soon as she realized her feelings for Rose, my heart just melted for the two of them. So many cute dates and stolen moments that sealed the deal!

Rose was even more of a gem. Even though it took a bit to fully understand her, once you had all the information, it was impossible not to fall in love with her. I couldn’t imagine being in her shoes and having to always be “on” and aware of everything you are doing and saying, knowing that eyes and ears are always on you. It was a tremendous burden for such a young girl to have to deal with all those expectations and having to put aside her own wants and needs for her country. The fact that she was still able to be there for Danni and mend her relationship with Molly was all the sweeter and admirable. I especially loved how she always put Danni’s safety and feelings above her own and did her best to protect and love her with all her heart. Even though her sarcasm and humor was mostly her way to deflect off her suppressed feelings, I really did appreciate that side of her as well. The breaking point though, that made Rose the remarkable person that she is, was when she finally broke down and allowed her emotions to be felt in front of Molly and how she actually listened to Molly and respected her feelings too. It was truly a heartfelt healing and emotionally powerful moment.

As for Rose and Danni as a couple, there isn’t really any complaint I have, which isn't usually the case when it comes to a young, YA couple. They both just handled everything so maturely, even when they were arguing, or making up, or having a difficult conversation. The build up was absolutely phenomenal and everything just felt right and natural. The chemistry was amazing from the start, and through their individual growth, they were able to bring out the best in each other. I especially adored their teasing and hilarious text threads, which was well balanced with some of the heavy issues they had to deal with. It was also super refreshing to not have to go through a ridiculous third act breakup, and instead have them both work through a tough moment and be able to come out on top. With so much working against them, you couldn't help but root for them to get the happily ever after they deserved.

Side characters were just as well written as the main characters. I especially loved the depth of Molly and that most of them felt real, rather than just thrown in there to progress the plot. I loved how involved Molly was with both Danni and Rose and how she showed them both support in her own way. Yes she probably should have had the conversation with Rose earlier, but at the same time, Rose had to realize her emotions on her own and be ready to hear what Molly had to say. Eleanor was also very supportive and supplied a lot of the humor to the group. Harriet was difficult to read, especially because she 100% intended to break up Rose and Danni, and yet towards the end, it was sad to learn that no one had ever returned her feelings. I must admit, I never really trusted Alfie from the start, so it didn't surprise me that he ended up being a snake. My only complaint is that we didn't get enough time with Danni’s mom and her best friend Rachel.

In terms of plot and conflict resolution, I honestly wouldn’t have changed a thing. Most YA’s are terribly predictable, so I enjoyed the fact that I didn’t see all the twists and turns coming before they arrived. The story just felt real and true from the beginning to the very end, I especially adored the hopeful ending, and how Rose’s parents seemed to take a turn for the better. From the romance to the drama, to the subplots and the character development, nothing felt forced or unrealistic, which was very refreshing. I also appreciated how the heavy topics were handled, yes there could have been more explored with the drug use and full impact and repercussions of the overdose, but for the most part, how teenagers deal and process their emotions and balance obligation and duty, with learning to trust yourself and fight for what you believe in, was really special. Overall, I just couldn't help but fall for Danni and Rose and find joy in their extremely heartwarming story.

A queer, royal romance? Oh yeah, that's right up my alley...
Heres our tropes:
Forbidden Romance
Royalty
Boarding School
Forced Proximity
Sapphic / Queer Romance
Bisexual & Lesbian FMCs
Dual POV
Past Trauma
Academia
Found Family
Young Adult

I went into this book knowing it was YA, but wanting to give it a chance because I have enjoyed books from this author before! I did enjoy it, but there were points where it was a little too YA for me. Especially in the romance where I felt too old to be reading about young highschoolers' experiences.
But I did still enjoy this book! I think the way the author handled the girls' sexuality and past trauma was brilliant. Rose and Danni deserve all the happiness life can give them. 💕

I think lovers of queer YA will eat this book right up!! It's a 3.5⭐️ for me.

I REALLY want to love this book and I knew it was YA going in. It just ended up feeling TOO YA for me. I think this is going to be a big hit for others though, I'd give it 4 stars if you love YA!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

Sophie Gonzales is an author whose last release kind of fell by the wayside with last year’s SMP boycott, but I was excited to check out her next one, Nobody in Particular. And while royal romances have been very hit-or-miss for me since the subgenre gained popularity, I mostly enjoyed this one.

The two leads are compelling, and I appreciate that their voices are so distinct. Danni is the fairly typical “everygirl” type, attending an elite boarding school on a music scholarship, and she’s a great perspective for the audience to explore both the opulence and rigidity of life among the wealthy. Rose is a bit more complex, being rather shallow at first, and even uncaring about the trouble she’s gotten into. But as I got to know her, I sympathized with how hard she was trying, and the pressures she was under as a closeted queer teen with all the stigma that brings as a member of a Royal family.

The romance is fun and banter-filled, with them messing with each other at first. With them both being sharp-witted, these bits inspired a lot of laughs. But they also have to face the tough challenges of being from different worlds, and that their deepening bond is inspiring speculation and rumors from those around them, slowly building to realistic challenges that will test both of them and the future of their relationship.

I had a lot of fun with this one, and would recommend it to readers looking for a fairly lighthearted sapphic royal romance!

Thank you to SMP and NetGalley for the arc of this book. All
Opinions are my own.

Sophie can do no wrong and she’s done it again! This was EVERYTHING! I can’t get over how each book just gets better and better. I fell in love with everything about this. The characters the story. Just all of it. I need a new Sophie regularly. She is an auto-buy and I need everyone to buy this!

Perfect for fans of Red, White, and Royal Blue. Unfortunately, the pacing is inconsistent and sometimes drags. A very careful, delicate approach to very serious topics in the YA genre.

Forbidden Romance
Royalty
Boarding School
Forced Proximity
Sapphic / Queer Romance
Bisexual & Lesbian FMCs
Dual POV
Academia
Found Family
Young Adult

Trigger Warnings: Death/Grief, Substance Abuse, Bullying

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Nobody in Particular" by Sophie Gonzalez was, in my opinion, nothing short of a masterpiece. We're first introduced to Danni, who comes from a less than rich background. Due to her music scholarship, she is enrolled at a fancy private school in a new country. She quickly meets a friend who happens to have a tense relationship with the country's princess, Rose. All three hang out a lot because of their shared friendships, and Danni finds herself getting closer to Rose as a result. Rose finds solace in the fact that someone sees her as a good person, and quickly begins to fall for her. Everything is not as well as it seems however whenever royal pressure begins to force the two apart. How will the two continue their relationship without the press finding out whenever they can't stay away from each other and prying eyes seem to be everywhere?

This book was a standout in the romance category to me, due to the fact that it revolved around two femme girls in a relationship. It dealt with heavy topics, such as grief and substance usage with death described; but it also dealt with light topics, such as double dates and secret love. Getting to see the main characters in a myriad of situations allowed us as the reader to get to know the characters of Danni and Rose very well. As an effect, their love feels transcendent of the pages; these are no longer two characters, they are two people. I haven't felt this way about a romance book in a while, if ever. I think that the way that the book ends definitely provided me hope for a better world in the real one. A solid five stars for sure.

Huge thanks to NetGalley, Wednesday publishing, and Sophie Gonzalez for both writing the book and letting me read it early!

Before I get into my review of “Nobody In Particular”, I’d like to thank NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the early eARC.

This book was great and It had all of the emotions! I loved Rose and Danni and watching them overcome the drama surrounding their secret relationship.

My one negative critique of this book is this book felt a little dragged out. There were some moments where I was like “Why is this even being added? This is so not necessary.”

But other than that the plot was good, the characters were great, and it’s definitely a fun YA book to get lost in!

A delightful take on a royal romance for queer teens!!! Nobody in Particular may not be doing anything super new, but it does it well and makes it sapphic. It follows Danni, a bisexual American teen joining an elite European boarding school with British vibes on a music scholarship. One of her classmates, Rosemary, is the princess of the country and a closeted lesbian. Obviously the two have chemistry, but they come from different worlds and Rose is expected to marry a man and have an heir. Added to that, she's grieving the death of a friend due to a drug overdose that she feels partly responsible for. And there's lots of friend group drama!

This was both an excellent YA queer coming of age story and a genuinely adorable romance. I was listening to the audiobook at work and audibly gasped when one of them first makes their feelings known. It's a little bit of a slow-burn and is sex-positive in a way that is age appropriate. I definitely recommend it! The audio narration is excellent for both characters and was fun and immersive. I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book!

I am a huge fan of Sophie Gonzales and really enjoyed this book! It did remind me a lot of Her Royal Highness, but I think there's plenty of room for two fun, sapphic, boarding school royal romances! Danni is the new girl at the boarding school the princess happens to attend. They become friends and more, but of course that is not allowed. I thought the story was cute while also touching on serious issues of identity and friendship. I will be adding a copy to my classroom library!

Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Just a sweet sapphic love story. I thought the voices for each character were individually consistent which was excellently executed. The structure of the plot ramped up the stakes in a way that felt natural and exciting. I was craving more scenes surrounding the characters’ academics and the politics just to get a wider sense of the world around them but Rose and Danni’s stories were thoroughly wonderful to read!

Give me a story about a royal and a commoner falling in love any day and I’ll devour it. Make it sapphic—even better. I really enjoyed this story. I liked that it was solely focused on the romance between Rose and Danni but also their separate struggles with things from their past. I also really liked the friendships with the side characters and how those evolved over the course of the book. I’m glad Danni became more confident in herself and who she is as a person.

2.5/5 stars

honestly kind of disappointed that i did not like it as much i thought i would. i've read perfect on paper by sophie gonzales before and i LOVED it and i expected this to be as good but unfortunately i felt bored a good 20% in and then the story started to pick up and the next 50% went by in a blur. i was hooked. but then i lost interest again unfortunately and the story was just not as engaging as i thought overall:( i love rose as a character so much and i loved watching her character arc and i loved reading about molly and rose's friendship patch up. the romance overall also felt a bit flat to me:(

Book: Nobody in Particular
Author: Sophie Gonzales
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Wednesday Books, for sending me an ARC. This is the second book by Sophie that I have read. I do really enjoy her writing and how easy it is for me to get into her books. While this book does have some serious undertones, it was a fun time. Sometimes you just need a fun story to put you in a good mood.

In this one, we follow Rose and Dani. After a public scandal shakes the monarchy, Princess Rosemary of Henland is determined to restore her reputation and stay out of trouble at her elite all-girls boarding school. Her plan is simple: focus on redemption and avoid any distractions. But everything changes when Danni arrives, a talented pianist attending Bramppath College on a music scholarship. Danni never expected to fit in with the children of the global elite. She certainly did not expect to capture the attention of the princess. As their connection deepens, it becomes harder to keep their growing relationship hidden from curious classmates and the ever-watchful public. When whispers begin to spread and the palace takes notice, Rose and Danni must choose between their feelings and their futures. In Rose’s world, even love must follow the rules. Breaking them could mean losing everything.

At its’ core, this book is a high school romance. We have two characters from two very different walks of life who find themselves being drawn to each other. They try to avoid it at first, but, like a moth drawn to the flame, they cannot seem to get away from each other. However, everything is not cut and dry. Rose is the Crowned Princess of Henland and with that comes all of the responsibility. There is a certain role that the princess is supposed to play, one that she has not been very good at playing as of late. Danni is a scholarship student and has a past. Well, I take that back, both of them have a past. Both girls have different expectations on them and are expected to play that role. However, they cannot deny their feelings for each other.

We get to see how all of that plays out. We see both of them struggle with how things are going. Rose is hit hard because she is in the spotlight and there is this role that she has to play. After all, queen don’t have wives, they have husbands and children. Rose does not fit this model at all. She has to work through this. Not only that, but the public is watching everything that she does. She is dealing with the pressures of finding herself, but doing so in front of the world. Danni has to deal with the backlash. She gets blamed for everything that goes wrong and it ends up costing her.

In the mix of all of this, we have grief. Something went down with one of Rose’s friends and it ended up with him dying. We don’t know what happened until the end, but Rose’s name is enough to draw attention. The palace is still doing damage control over that, which is only adding to everything. Rose has to focus on rebuilding both her image and herself. She leans on Danni to get through this.

The writing really drives all of this home. We get both girls’ point of view, so we do get the full story. We see everything thrown right at us and how it impacts the girls. Yes, this does follow a typical young age model and it is a coming-of-age story. However, this does not take away from the story. I do think if I was younger, I would have given this a higher rating, but it’s fine.

Overall, I did enjoy this one a lot. If you are looking for a young adult book that is fun, but with a lot of serious issues addressed, then I encourage you to give this one a go.

This book comes out on June 3, 2025.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/Ui60nl5qrMs

Nobody in Particular by Sophie Gonzales is a YA novel set at an all-girls boarding school in a fictional European county and follows two 16 year old students. Danni is an American who transferred to the school on a musical scholarship. Although she is a talented pianist, she fears performing in front of people, partially because she was bullied at her old school.

During her visit to campus, she meets Molly, who introduces Danni to her group of friends that includes Rose, who happens to be the crown princess of the county. Rose is struggling to repair her reputation after an incident during the previous year and there’s some tension between her and Molly over the event. Throughout the semester, Danni and Rose develop feelings for one another, but neither are out, and also there’s the issue of Rose’s role as the future queen.

I am partial to both royal and boarding school-based books, so I enjoyed Nothing in Particular quite a bit. I appreciated that, although there were conflicts within the friend group, it wasn’t presented in a toxic mean girl way. There were some strong correlations between this book and Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, and it would also be a good read-alike for American Royals by Katherine McGee.

(thank you to netgalley for the arc )

release date - June 3rd 2025

4 stars
so I loved the concept and the outcome !!
I did find the misscommunicattion annoying at times
I did really enjoy the love story and I didn't find any of the chacters annoying
I low-key need to read more by sophie Gonzales as every book I've read by her I've really enjoyed !!!
but I may politely kill Alfie xxx
he did my head it aswell as William
good story and I felt very royal reading this .

It's my first time reading this author, and I'm happy I gave it a shot! While I liked the main characters' relationship, the book wasn't super memorable.

Red, White, and Royal Blue but if they were sapphics at a boarding school? Sign me up!

This book was a really smooth read, the plot was paced perfectly, the characters were charming, and the romance was so sweet! I am actually obsessed with this book it's the perfect read if you want something with adorable romance and a lot of heart.

This dual POV sapphic romance is hitting all the right points for me so far. I'm not completely done with it yet but I'm greatly enjoying it and it's gearing up to be a five-star read for me. It has both bi and lesbian representation and focuses on the forbidden relationship between a princess and a scholarship student at the school.

It has your typical prep school book dynamics where the rich kids live by a different set of rules, cliques, bullying, and adults who just don't understand. I think this felt like a true YA without feeling like all the characters were immature. They didn't always make the best decisions but they were grounded characters.

A great read!