🏳️‍🌈 Sapphic
👑 Royalty
♥️ HEA
👯‍♀️ Dual POV
👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩 Secret Dating

This YA sapphic book is about a new student - Dani - and her new adventure at her new boarding school to play piano and Rosemary, a princess with a distorted bad image after a tragic event happens with someone in her friend group. It’s also about the story between Dani and Rosemary.

There’s so much banter, chemisty, and stolen moments between Dani and Rosemary.

This book does dive into some more difficult topics such as drug use, overdose, loss of a friend, coming out, and societal pressure and it is done with so much care.

You’ll love how much the girls evolve through this story and you’ll love that they are fierce in their willingness to protect each other!

This was my 150th book of the year, & I truly couldn't have picked a better one. A sapphic boarding school romance sounded right up my alley, and Sophie Gonzales really delivered on the promise of her premise. I loved everything about this book. I particularly loved the relationships between Molly, Rose, & Danni; and how their friendships were also a large part of the plot. I also loved how Rose & Danni both found courage within themselves at the end of the book. I can see this being really impactful for a certain group of teens & adults -- I know it was for me.

Nobody in Particular is a dual POV romance about Rose, a princess trying to rehab her image after a tragic event, and Danni, a student who just moved to the boarding school and is on scholarship for her piano studies. Rose and her friends, especially Molly, are reeling from the death of their friend, Oscar. It became a scandal when it was discovered Rose was also at that party and Molly can't help but blame Rose for being more focused on her image than the loss. Danni joins the friend group when things have fractured and everyone is trying to heal. As she tries to mend the space between Rose and Molly she finds herself being more intrigued by Rose and realizing that Rose is grieving in her own way, a way that Molly can't see or understand. I really appreciated this aspect -- that everyone deals with grief in their own way and how we learn to live with ourselves after we make mistakes, that that process is different for everyone. I appreciated seeing these characters "going through it." These aspects felt very realistic and grounded the story. There were of course lots of aspects of Rose's life as a princess and royalty and the public and image and perception and subterfuge that will appeal to readers who enjoy stories with royalty--but, in my opinion, not so much to turn anyone off. Another one of my favorite aspects was that Danni struggles with being perceived. She was bullied at her last school and since then has struggled to be seen by anyone, especially performing despite studying to be a concert pianist. Rose, who has been intensely perceived all her life, helps Danni with this aspect and I really loved seeing how Danni navigated being outside her comfort zone. Danni said several inspiring things about how if you never take the first step you'll always stay in the same place and that you have to start on your journey to get where you want to be. I appreciated that there was romance, but also mystery and suspense and that we got to see each of the characters as real people. If you love royalty, sapphic romance, YA, or Princess Diaries, you might love this one! Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. My one critique of the audiobook is that Rose's narrator was much quieter and harder to hear than Danni's. Otherwise, it was excellent!

This book was a sweet and wonderful YA story exploring the WLW early experiences.
It was such an easy read and I can’t wait to go back and read it again!

Nobody in Particular is another win for Sophie Gonzales—funny, thoughtful, and full of heart. What stood out most for me was the emotional depth of the characters and their growth, especially when it came to friendships and navigating identity.

Danni is instantly likeable—a bit out of her depth in a new school and country, dealing with past trauma and stage fright, but she’s quietly resilient. Rose is sharp, sarcastic, and layered with internal conflict. Their dual POVs felt distinct and compelling, and I especially loved the nuanced storyline between Rose and her ex-best friend, Molly. That emotional fallout and eventual reconciliation was one of the strongest parts of the book—raw, believable, and handled with maturity.

The romance had charm and chemistry, but I did wish for more of a slow-burn. I liked them together, but didn’t quite feel as swept away by their love story as I hoped. Still, I appreciated that the book avoided lazy miscommunication tropes and gave the characters real conversations and believable stakes.

Some subplots felt a little uneven (like the Harriet and Alfie stuff), and there were a few moments where the resolution felt rushed, but overall this was a really enjoyable read. The setting was vivid, the side characters were strong, and the writing was fluid and easy to get lost in.

A thoughtful, funny queer YA romance with emotional weight and genuine character arcs—I’d absolutely recommend.

Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

thank you to netgalley for this e-arc! this was such a cute sapphic romance with surprisingly good depth. i loved that princess rosemary isn’t perfect- the more flaws the character the better! i really enjoyed her character growth as the story progressed as well as the romance. I liked Dani too, but i especially liked them both together. it was an easy read but very delightful.

What an absolute delight of a book!! I adore Sophie Gonzales and this book did not disappoint. The weight of what Rose and Danni went through, not just as a couple but as individuals, really added a richness to this book. I was on the verge of tears at multiple points over what these poor kids were dealing with. I really appreciated that despite the author's own fear that this trope has now been popularized, this still felt incredibly fresh. I truly couldn't put it down and immediately bought myself a copy!

Wow, this was so good, I loved it!! Instantly one of my faves of the year. Boarding schools are one of my absolute favourite settings in books, and it's sapphic?? So, thank you to Sophie Gonzales for delivering the sapphic royal romance of my dreams! I was hooked immediately, to say the least.

Rose's character development was wonderful to read about throughout the book. I enjoyed seeing her finally confront her emotions regarding a really heavy, traumatic event, and how it affected her friendships, along with the weight of her being a closeted princess. Watching her discover what she wants for her life was beautiful and inspiring to read.

I also loved Danni and her development as she adapted to being in a new country, school, and environment as a scholarship student. Seeing her overcome her stage fright and experience of being bullied was moving. I also just loved reading from her point of view. I found her quite relatable and fun to read!

The side characters were also integral parts of the story, and I enjoyed that. Molly was an interesting character, and I appreciate the maturity she brought. It was nice seeing her friendships with both Rose and Danni. Eleanor was also fun to read about; her ongoing crush on Santi was pretty funny. Alfie was also an interesting character, with flawed but understandable motivations. Overall, the characters were super well written and developed, and I enjoyed their arcs!

Danni and Rose's romance absolutely hit it out of the park for me. The pining, yearning, and not-so-subtle flirting? I need more books like this. Their sarcastic banter was so amusing, and I enjoyed seeing both of them teasing each other. I loved the inclusion of their text messages, it was so fun seeing their friendship develop. They felt very well-suited for each other and had great chemistry. It was so sweet seeing their relationship develop. Like them hanging out while Danni practices and Rose does homework was so domestic and cute, little moments like that were adorable.

And can we talk about that crush confession and first kiss?? I was kicking my feet, it was so cute. That might have been my favourite part of the book, I thought it was done so so so well. Like maybe one of the best confessions I've read in a romance novel yet? The epilogue was also so cute. It was so sweet to see how Rose's parents treated Danni, and the public's reception of their relationship.

I really appreciate that the conflicts throughout the book are quite realistic. I hate a third-act breakup due to miscommunication, so I'm happy that the third-act conflict was realistic and made sense for their characters. The whole second half of the book had me glued to my Kobo, I was so excited to see how everything worked out for Danni and Rose. And I was not disappointed!!

Overall, this was a charming sapphic, coming-of-age, forbidden, royal romance, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking for more sapphic books (bc who doesn't need more sapphic book recs??)! This was my first Sophie Gonzales book, and I'm excited to check out more of her work!! I loved the writing style and had so much fun with this, I need more! Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for supplying an ARC!!

This one feels so different from other of Sophie’s books, a little more serious, I guess, which is not bad at all, just different, it took me a little bit to get into it, but I am such a slow reader now, unless is an audiobook, but still was very good and for sure will listen to the audiobook later on, Sophie doesn’t disappoint!

Sophie Gonzales is one of my go-to authors when it comes to LGBTQ+ young adult stories. I love how she creates lovable characters and compelling plots. When Danni enters a prestigious boarding school, the last person she expects to get close to is Princess Rose. As Rose and Danni navigate the difficulties of friendship and fame, what happens when sparks fly between them?

Nobody in Particular is a lighthearted and sweet sapphic romance. Rose and Danni go from unlikely friends to more and their progression is very sweet. I didn’t love the plot line behind why Rose and Molly’s friendship changed, but it worked out in the end. Nobody in Particular is perfect for YA readers who love sapphic romance and royalty.

Thank you to Sophie Gonzales, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc.

Overall a cohesive YA romance that is wonderful for the pride month. Dani receives a scholarship to board a prestigious college where she finds herself falling for a crown princess, Rose. While Rose does return her feelings they find they must navigate how to protect their new and secret relationship. However, Rose's reputation is not the greatest but despite that they find that their draw to each other is too hard to resist. What I appreciated about this book was the open communication, I often find that sometimes that can be very touch and go but thankfully there was a surprisingly astute amount that made this flow so well for me!

Danni moves overseas to a new country to start at a brand new boarding school. She is totally a fish out of water with all the other girls but she quickly makes a solid friendship group. One of her new friends just happens to be the princess of the very country Danni moved too. After cracking through her tough exterior, Danni and Rose become close friends but realize there are romantic feelings there as well. As Danni and Rose embark on a relationship they have to navigate Rose’s very public life with their private life. Will their relationship survive?
This was a great story and I enjoyed the relationship between Danni and Rose. I do wish more time was spent on the positives of their relationship rather than all the trials. I really enjoyed the epilogue and thought it wrapped up the book very nicely. This is a great novel to read for Pride Month!

4/5
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book is such a fun and sweet take on the princess x commoner trope! I really liked both characters, and I loved how hopeful the tone was in general. There were some darker themes, particularly overdose. Without going into any spoilers, there is a plot line that deals with grief and trauma, but I think the situation was handled in a way that was genuine and compassionate.

Admittedly, as someone who is pretty anti-monarchy in real life, there were a few things that Rose said that I didn’t agree with, but also… this is a book that takes place in a fictional country. And I am more than willing to suspend my real life feelings towards monarchies if the story is cute and fun, which this is.

Somehow everything I've ever wanted in a romance? NOBODY IN PARTICULAR was a PERFECT royal-commoner romance and I genuinely could not put it down. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

i love gay princess stories (like who doesn’t?). So I knew I needed to pick this one up! Everything in this was just so grand and shiny. Think pretty dresses, tiaras, fancy parties, boarding school vibes, and secret kisses with some piano lessons thrown in.

I thought the friendship between Rose and Molly was so realistic, considering the grief they were both experiencing. So many stories completely disregard friendships entirely, which is so infuriating! So I really appreciated seeing such complicated friendships depicted, especially in YA.

Having previously enjoyed Sophie Gonzales’ other books, I kind of knew I would like this one. Her humour and how she writes romance. It’s all so charming, and her author’s note about this being the first book she ever wrote (like omg 🥹 <3) I’m glad that this story could get published now. There is definitely an audience for these types of stories!!!

If you need a heartfelt sapphic romance this summer, look no further. This title comes out in June! I can’t wait to see this cover irl it’s gorgeous. Special thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the e-arc!

If you’re looking for a YA comp to RWRB, I think that this book similarly explores the idea of royal duty. There was a nice mixture of emotionally impactful moments and entertaining teenage melodrama. I’ve never watched the show Young Royals but from what I’ve culturally osmosed there’s a similar vibe going on.

I LOVED Rose as a character, snarky lesbians are just my jam. Her sarcastic nature made her entertaining to read and it added a level of complexity to how she has processed her trauma. Rose and Danni immediately felt like they were on the same playing field so it was easy to root for them.

This hit the exact sweet spot for what I want a contemporary YA romance to do. I’d definitely recommend picking this up if you’re on the hunt for a good ol fashioned queer royal romance.

CW: alcohol, on page underage death due to overdose, on page drug use, brief mentions of miscarriage/stillbirth/infertility historical, bullying, homophobia

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

First off thank you NetGalley for this arc! It is a princess and commoner modern romance and is so cute! 🩷🩷🩷It’s YA LGBTQ+ representation and is very youthful in its cadence. The vernacular of the students is very easy to read and is actually capable of giving you a chuckle which I love haha
It is a little young for me but I was able to appreciate it regardless.
I love the character development that both Rose and Dani go through and in the end it reminded me a lot of Red White and Royal blue but a little more appropriate for younger audiences!

I focus on reading queer books in june. I'm a bit late in the review for this one, but I really enjoyed it. Once I started it I could not put it down. The romance felt so sweet while they explore their relationship in a world that may not be so kind to them.

Apparently I'm really into boarding school romances recently. This one is great. It has the royalty vs commoner vibe, where they truly are from different world. Rose has to worry about being the heir, which means she can't marry a woman like she would want but she is also 17 and just wants to have fun. But when she has messed up in the past she can't risk it now...or can she. I liked how the story took place. I liked Rose and Danni as characters, even though I wish that there were a few less tens moments. I liked the plot twists as well.

TW: passing of a high school student tragically

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this novel before release!

I have such wavering opinions, honestly. I enjoyed the first 30-40% quite a lot. Although I felt the characters were reading younger YA I still enjoyed learning about them. As time went on I felt as though in moments they read super young YA and other moments they read old YA/NA. The back-and-forth feeling was very jarring and almost felt as though the author couldn’t decide where to place their ages. During the last 25% of the story I felt as though Rose was more of a “mother” to Danni than a girlfriend. There were moments I actually felt myself cringe from how motherly their relationship read.

The side characters were okay but no one I particularly clung onto it. Overtime Molly really began to annoy me and I found her input to be difficult to enjoy or agree. Sadly, I guessed the final reveal pretty quickly but I was still hopeful to enjoy the pay-off. The ending felt very rushed and too perfectly put together for all of the chaos and different storylines that were occurring. I’m not sure if the story should have been longer but instead maybe should have toned down all the different elements continually stacking.

Lastly, the most difficult part of the novel to swallow, was the side-plot of a student’s death. I wish I knew this was a large part of the story before starting as I might have passed reading, but still I tried to see how it fit. After finishing I truly cannot understand why this was included in the story except to make Molly’s storyline more important to Rose’s. I think there could have been multiple ways to explain their strained relationship instead of bringing in a traumatic situation. I experienced a lot of loss of other students during high school but still did not relate to the characters. Instead I was left feeling uncomfortable with how the experience and story was presented and then randomly dropped once Molly and Rose reconnected.

Overall, I believe this novel delivers on its arching themes but the details is where it lost me. If someone is of a younger age and wanting to get into WLW/Sapphic literature for the first time this is something I might think of to recommend in certain circumstances (with warnings for content of course).