I love Sophie Gonzalez to the moon and back. Her first book gave me all the feels and so I was very excited for this one. I think she does characterization so well. Nobody is perfect in these books and it really shines as giving depth to her story. She does psychic yearning so well. I genuinely look forward to everything she publishes

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Content warnings from reviewers on Storygraph: Graphic: Outing, Drug use, Alcohol; Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Bullying; Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Miscarriage

Nobody in Particular is a YA sapphic romance set at a boarding school. The story is told from two points of view: Danni and Princess Rose. There are complex dynamics with friendships in this novel, and I loved how the author tackled some difficult subjects. The characters actively work through hard things which is another positive of this book. I also appreciated the fact that this book takes place for about half the school year instead of an insta-romance.

There’s enough tension in the plot in this medium-paced story to keep the reader engaged. I loved the LGBTQIA element. One of the young ladies was royalty. In some way, this reminded me of the American Royals series a little bit.

Overall, a very enjoyable read that I would recommend to the Young Adult audience.

Ugh, I really don't want to talk about this book. I absolutely ADORE Sophie Gonzales' books, and the synopsis sounded right up my alley. However, I really did not like this, sadly enough.
It started of fine enough. I did really like the set up. I also quite liked the banter between Rose and Danni. The personal storylines for both of them also just seemed very dramatic but interesting as well. It was all set up for a good time for me.
However, when we actually get into the romance this book started to go downhill for me. I think the romance was just extremely underdeveloped. Their feelings for each other came completely out of nowhere. Considering this book does kind of have a forbidden romance vibe but all that tension was undercut by the fact that the romance just came so out of nowhere. How am I supposed to believe that these two would give up everything for each other when 2 pages ago they didn't even have any interest in each other? Huh?
That definitely didn't get better as the book went on though. It made the characters just read EXTREMELY overdramtic and quite self centered as well. They really got on my nerves in the second half of this book, and I went from just being underwhelmed to actively disliking these books. I ended up rolling my eyes so much, and even some logic with plot twists and such just didn't make any sense to me. It was so full of holes. I also hated the way Molly was treated in this book. She honestly made A LOT of great points but because they were just slightly critical about our main characters/their relationship she was gaslit into being the bad guy. It got on my nerves so much. Anyway, I hate to say that I disliked this book. I really did not want to. However, it just sadly is the truth for me.

Dani is an American just beginning her term as the new girl in a boarding school in the European country of Henland. Rose is the Hennish princess. They do not get along. Until they really really do. But Rose’s ex-best friend claims Dani as her new bestie, and there’s paparazzi stalking the princess and her acquaintances around every corner because of a scandal that changed all of their lives – and not everyone wants Rose to be forgiven. Dani has to find her place in this new country and choose to either fight her growing attraction to royalty – or give into the drama that comes with it.

This a cute, sapphic romance with a side of friendship, serious, and very royal dynamics. I really enjoyed Sophie Gonzales’s Never Ever Getting Back Together and was excited for another contemporary YA romance; while Nobody in Particular didn’t grip me quite as much as that one, it’s super easy to read and I found myself getting quite invested in the romance aspect. Dani and Rose are stubborn and endearing and it was quite easy to root for them to overcome their plethora of obstacles so they could be together.

There are a couple darker topics lightly touched upon here, and I do think there’s just enough focus on them for a YA, even if my twenty-something heart would have appreciated a bit more depth where they are concerned.

Overall, this is a great contemporary installment for YA audiences with some much needed representation and just enough ooey-gooey feelings to make you believe in the good of humanity for a moment.

Content warning: underage drinking and smoking, homophobia, drug overdosing, death.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

4/5 stars

✧ Sapphic
✧ Forbidden romance
✧ Boarding school setting
✧ Themes of identity & acceptance
✧ TWs: outing, bullying, homophobia, substance abuse & overdose

When I saw that this book was essentially Young Royals but sapphic, I knew I had to read it! The premise is very similar: a closeted princess falls in love with the new girl at her boarding school, and must contend with hiding her true self for the sake of her country. I definitely wouldn’t call this a rom-com—alongside the very sweet romance, the story focuses a lot on themes of identity, duty, and homophobia, and has quite high stakes. Overall, I thought that this was hard-hitting in all the right places, but was also filled with so much heart and love.

In this story, we follow two POVs: Princess Rosemary (or “Rose”) and Danni Blythe, the new scholarship student at Bramppath boarding school. Both are dealing with their own past trauma, but as their friendship blossoms into something deeper, they must also figure out how to navigate a romantic relationship where neither is out as queer, and one is the future queen of a Catholic country. Outside of their romance, I really enjoyed seeing each of their characters develop throughout the story, as Danni comes out of her shell and Rose learns to accept her emotions. The romance was intense and all-consuming in the way that a lot of teenage first loves are. One of my biggest issues with the book, however, is how quickly they started their romantic relationship after having very little build-up of their feelings for each other. Once they were together, though, I loved how they were able to stick together through the turmoil associated with their relationship and support one another.

The themes of queer acceptance, coming out, religion, and healing explored in this story were really well done. They were handled with realism, but also grace, which I believe is an important balance, especially in a YA novel. I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5, mostly because of the slightly rushed romance and also the slightly uninteresting setting (although I’m mostly a fantasy reader, so this opinion is pretty biased). Overall, I would definitely recommend this book if you enjoy your romance books with a little bit of substance and stakes, but is still a fun reading experience!

I really enjoyed this! It reminded me of books I read when I was younger - in a very good way. I think the target audience will really enjoy this.

This is my first book by this author and I’m so glad I read it.

Rose a princess of a small country and Danni is an immigrant who got accepted into the boarding school that Rose attends. They quickly become friends and start to fall for one another.

Both characters were really well written. You could feel Danni’s anxiety from the start of the book and it was nice to see her inner growth even with setbacks on the way. Rose is self assured but you get to see those vulnerabilities in her struggles with how her sexuality is treated.

This book was darker than I expected but I love when that happens too. It also had nice moments of levity.

Love love loved this book. Loved the representation. It was a bit young for me but I’m looking forward to being able to share this with my daughter when she’s old enough. She’s going to love this book! Great YA LGBTQ romance.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for the free book and to Macmillan Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

Sophie Gonzales did it again! I absolutely love her writing. And this book was such a fun royal sapphic romance.

Danni moves to a small European country and gets a scholarship to a prestigious boarding school for her piano playing. She swiftly meets Rose, taking a moment to realize she is Princess Rosemary of Henland. Their relationship begins quite antagonistic.

The story highlights the importance of friendships, the various faces we show the world, and handling public image and the loss of privacy. All of the characters were so richly detailed. And the further I read, the deeper the backstory became. Somehow Sophie hadnled incredibly challenging topics with care and wrote a rom-com that feels light and fun.

Gail Shalan and Imani Jade Powers did a fabulous job narrating the audiobook. I could not put this one down. And I recommend everyone pick it up.

3.75 stars

While I loved the latter half of this book, the beginning pulled down my rating pretty significantly. Danni’s characterization initially felt poorly done, and for a story that really only revolves around two characters, one underdeveloped character is bound to affect the quality of the book overall. (Also a teenager being that far removed from any knowledge about class identifiers—despite having access to social media/the internet—didn’t make sense to me.) The pacing also lagged a little at the start.

On the other hand, Rose’s characterization was beautifully done! This one’s a little harder to talk about without spoiling things, but her back story and inner conflict were handled well.

Altogether, this was still a book I’d recommend; I loved the premise, and there was a lot more depth to this than I expected going into it.

Nobody in Particular by Sophia Gonzales is a total delight! It’s a fresh, witty romance that perfectly blends humor, heart, and real talk about identity and self-discovery. The characters feel like your new best friends—relatable, funny, and full of life. Gonzales’s writing sparkles with clever dialogue and moments that will make you laugh out loud or get a little emotional.

The romance is swoony but grounded, with plenty of sweet and genuine moments that keep you rooting for the couple all the way through. Plus, the diverse and authentic representation adds an extra layer of awesome to the story.

If you’re looking for a feel-good read that’s smart, heartfelt, and just plain fun, Nobody in Particular should be on your list. Huge thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

This book had a lot of heavier themes for a YA book including overdose of a classmate and coming to terms with your queerness in a religious community, but I really enjoyed the story. Dani and Rose have such an immediate and inevitable connection and I loved getting to see them come together despite all the challenges that leads for them.

I found Molly to be a really interesting character who added a lot to the story in the 3rd piece of the friendship triangle with Rose and Dani. It was heartbreaking to see how much grief her and Rose still held onto from their friends death, and seeing how it pushed their friendship apart to get rebuilt over the course of the book.

This was super charming on audio and I really enjoyed the duet narration as well as the accent Rose's character had. My one compliant is that I felt like the story moves very slowly. The "third act break-up" occurred at 50% through the plot and gets resolved only for their to be another conflict towards the 80% mark.

Thank you Wednesday Books for an ARC and Macmillian audio for an ALC of Nobody in Particular!

Like every other book I've read by Sophie Gonzales, this book pulled me in quickly and easily held my attention. I really enjoy her writing style. It is smooth and captivating, keeping the plot moving along at a good pace without feeling rushed. I really enjoyed getting to know all the characters, even the minor side characters. I liked how there was a little bit of a mystery mixed into the romance plot. I will say I was taken a little off-guard by the grief storyline. When I saw in the description that there was a scandal that Princess Rose was navigating, I wasn't expecting something so heavy. I was definitely expecting a little more lighthearted content. That said, I did think it was handled well.

One thing I really love about Sophie Gonzales is how she shows realistic examples of bisexuality without feeling preachy. This was no exception. I liked how it was made clear at multiple points that while Rose was a lesbian, Dani was not. I liked that Dani clearly stated multiple times that she was bisexual and had the potential to be attracted to the make characters even though she was in a relationship with a female. I also liked how she clearly stated that she was just as capable of being monogamous as people who are only attracted to one gender.

Overall, I very much enjoyed this book and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good YA romance set at a boarding school with a political twist.

4.5 Stars Rounded Up

Thank you to the author and publisher for my copy.

I enjoyed this sapphic romance from Sophie Gonzales. She has a talent for writing YA coming-of-age stories that don't come off as cheesy. Nobody in Particular is also a normals + Royals romance which makes it fun.
Danni is an American teen starting boarding school in the (fictional_ country of Henland when she becomes acquainted with Rosemary, another student who just happens to be the Crown princess of the country. Rosemary is dealing with a lot right now, especially the media fallout from a drug-fueled party she attended last year. Danni is a comfort to Rose, as an impartial person not knowing anything about the scandal. Before long, Danni and Rose develop feelings for each other. But there's so much to navigate - Rose being a lesbian and unable to come out while being the heir to the throne of Henland not the least of their issues.
I enjoyed this one and I recommend it to everyone who enjoys sweet YA romance.

I saw this cover and immediately picked it up.

Princess Rosemary of Henland is focused on rebuilding her reputation after a scandal cost her the trust of her country and her closest friend; however, the arrival of Danni, a charming pianist on scholarship, throws her off course. As Danni adjusts to life among the elite, she’s drawn to the guarded princess, and their connection quickly deepens. But when rumors begin to swirl and the palace takes notice, Rose and Danni must decide if their relationship is worth the risk because another misstep could mean being torn apart for good.

This was a sweet romance! It's considered a YA book so there's not much spice, but it does tend to learn more toward being in the new adult genre, since they are in their older teens and there is some steam in there.

I loved reading this book especially during pride. Seeing global representation of queer people (even in a fictional country), and how the characters have to navigate that at such a young age, heals a little something in me from my own high school days.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for this eARC!

This cover is beautiful.

It’s been a while since I read a rich teenager drama book that I enjoyed, but this one felt so light in comparison to past reads which I appreciate. The academic boarding school setting was so enjoyable for me.

Macbeth reference? My favourite quote about looking like a flower but being a serpent underneath? SOMETHING I NEVER KNEW I NEEDED.

And this book was enjoyable. It won’t stand out for me in the long-run. Rosemary and Danni were fun teenage girls seeing them navigate boarding school and each other.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC!

3.5 stars rounded up

An adorable princess and the pauper vibes story with queer characters that showcases the ups and downs of publicity, with an amazing cast of characters and an interesting story. This is a great pick for pride month!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of Sophie Gonzalez’ latest book, Nobody in Particular!

I have read a few of her other titles and so far, this is my favorite. It’s the kind of cutesy, queer coming of age story that is both heartwarming and powerful enough that it’s perfect for high school library shelves.

Super unrealistic but really cute. I loved all the characters and the close knit bonds formed in an European boarding school.

Really like Sophie Gonzales' books, and I've been eagerly anticipating this one (and that cover! omg, love!) I thought this one was fun, and it was nice to read a sapphic YA from Sophie this time around, particularly in audiobook format