4.5

This was such a fun, heartfelt read and definitely my favorite Dahlia Adler book.

What I loved:

Evie was such a relatable main character. The way she was written was so consistent, but also showed her growth. And man did she pull at all of my heartstrings. Her journey from heartbreak to learning to trust others again to healing was so beautifully written. I was laughing at all of her moments. Watching Evie build the new friendships while dealing with the old wounds from her past felt so rewarding. I felt like a proud big sister.

The friendships in this story! Sabrina and Matt are my favorite side friendships. If a possibility, I wouldn't mind sequels with their perspectives, because I just know their stories would be chef's kiss! If gave one of those friend groups that would make a perfect tv show. I also appreciated all of the friendships Evie developed weren't in the same friend group. Everyone felt so distinct and individual.

Evie and Salem were so cute! I am a little hesitant with the friends to lovers arc. This one was perfectly done. My favorite part was their banter, their back and forth was teasing without being disrespectful. Watching them go from strangers to friends to something more. Ahhh I was swooning.

Also one of my favorite settings to read is the private school/academy. I just love that element because it adds something special to the romance and found family elements. The atmosphere was perfect.

My only dislikes that are pure preferences:

I wish the characters were aged up. They definitely read as seniors and being reminded they weren't threw me off a little.
And I personally wanted more from Evie's familial relationship that started this journey. I just wish we got more development throughout the story. There were mentions of her past as she was making new friends, I just felt like it was all rushed at the end. Obviously, Evie needed to grow and learn how to heal. So, maybe it needed more time at the end or more development throughout, but the resolution felt rushed overall.

Final:

I loved and enjoyed my time with this story. I would like sequels preferably Sabrina and Matt's stories. It was so close to being a five star read for me, I had an amazing time.

Everyone needs something from someone and in the case of Evie, she needs to learn to "be bad" and Salem, a boy at her boarding school needs to learn to "be good" so they team up to do just that while navigating friendships, the independence of a boarding school, thriving under the expectations and and weight of parent and family expectations (including one very nasty spat between sisters) and more.

It's got a little bit of everything to be an enjoyable escapist read.

This gave the ultimate if rapunzel was in boarding school vibes. After a falling out at home, Evie takes a chance on boarding school. Unfortunately it begins with her being the only girl in the boys dorm, assuming “Everett” was male, and the female dorms are full. Evie is determined to reinvent herself this year and with the help of her misfit band of friends she’s made, they’ll figure it out together. What she doesn’t expect is falling for dark, broody rock and roller, Salem, the stoner who lives above her and is going to give her lessons on behaving badly. Before long, there’s more than just friendly vibes between them but Evies too much of one of the boys for that, or is she? Will Evie notice their spark before it’s too late? There was just enough drama the keep my attention and the romantic aspects take me back to being in middle school with the first boy I ever kissed! It was so cute!

really enjoyed this book and the journey of the main character and all that they went through. It kept me on my toes and what would happen in the story.

4.5 stars rounded up

Dahlia Adler is quickly becoming a must read author for me. Her latest really solidified my being a fan of her books, with this being my 4th book of hers.

I really enjoyed the characters, and the relationship between Evie and Salem. Adler did a great job on the development not only for the individual characters, but for their relationship as well. It felt natural, and the pacing was great.

The book isn't exactly original, since the plot has been done before, but it was still a very enjoyable read.

Her name is Everett. Everyone thought she was a boy, including her new boarding school. When she arrives, Everett is mistakenly placed in the boys dorm, where she’s subjected to emotional torment from narcissistic dorm mates who won’t stop with the crude jokes and unwanted advances.

Everett befriends two reclusive siblings who keep to themselves but end up becoming her safe place. The more time they spend together, the more Everett realizes she might be falling for her best friend, blurring the line between friendship and something more.

This was such an easy, engaging read that still didn’t shy away from the tougher, grittier parts of student life. It’s a heartfelt story about identity, healing, and finding where you fit. I was rooting hard for Everett and Salem the whole way through.

Imagine starting over at a new school just after your sister stole your boyfriend. Now imagine that school is a boarding school, where you know no one. Now imagine you're a girl named Everett...who just got placed in an all-boys dorm by mistake--and there are no rooms open in any of the girl's dorms. Everett is stuck in a solo room in a boy's dorm for the semester, which is the last way she ever imagined her school year starting.

Evie decides to make the most of her situation by changing her good-girl reputation, and who better to help her than local bad boy, Salem? She'll help him be better and impress his parents if he helps HER learn to be bad. Except, it's only Salem who seems to be succeeding at the plan.

How GOOD was this?! I can't even comprehend. I don't read YA very often anymore, but when I do, I'm always reminded of the level of talent and nuance it takes for an author to tell a story in this category. Dahlia Adler is at the top of her game here, in COME AS YOU ARE. Filled with fun banter, realistic teen characters making realistic choices, an inclusive cast of characters, and a sweet romance, COME AS YOU ARE left me sighing happily at the ending.

This was my first read by author Dahlia Adler, but I thoroughly enjoyed it! This was such a cute love story.

Everett “Evie” was accidentally assigned to the boys’ dorm because of her name. She’d left her small town after she found her sister
sleeping with her boyfriend, and she wanted an escape.

Salem, Evie’s roommate, decided to help her change her image, and she would help him be less of a “bad boy.”

I didn’t really see the connection between Evie and Salem, at least not romantically. They were good friends, but that was it.

Nevertheless, this was such a cute YA story! There was angst, drama, and all the mess that comes with being young and trying to find yourself.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the puiblisher for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Firstly - the cover is adorable - Tangled is one of my favorite movies, and this just gives me a tangle feeling. Whether it was really meant that way or not.

This book overall was just not it. It was horny, over sexualized teenagers at a boarding school and honestly it was a bit icky. I also saw no chemistry at all between Evie and Salem and just - it wasn't for me.

Dahlia’s latest book is so sweet! I know it’s been years and years in the making, and I’m so glad it finally came out; Evie and Salem are the sweetest, and this whole story is such a classic teen romcom. It got off to a bit of a slow start, but I loved how everything turned out.

Hot on the heels of a broken heart, Everett “Evie” Riley arrives at Camden Academy ready for a new beginning - one far away from her cheating ex-boyfriend, the sister who stole him, and the best friend who let it happen. But her fresh start is stopped in its tracks when she's accidentally placed in an all-boys dorm, with no choice but to stay.

When rumors and gossip about Evie's housing predicament spread like wildfire, she decides the only way to survive is to lean into her questionable new reputation... but she's definitely going to require help. Her grumpy emo dorm mate Salem Grayson isn't exactly her first choice, but he does need her help to repair his relationship with his parents every bit as much as she needs his to learn how to be cool. And so they make a pact: he'll teach her how to be bad, if she teaches him how to be good.

It's a flawless plan, except while Salem thrives academically, romantically, and–annoyingly enough– even physically, Evie's quest feels like one dead end after another. But when Evie realizes what she wants more than anything, she'll have to contend with her thrice-broken heart and figure out how to become someone capable of chasing happiness.

Dahlia Adler’s Come As You Are is about refusing to accept less than you deserve, and realizing that the best relationships are forged with people who know exactly who you are.


Loved, loved, loved this book. Evie is a strong female character.

Thank you Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the DRC of Come As You Are! All opinions in this review are my own.

I was already a Dahlia Adler fan before this book, but Come As You Are made me love her even more! I love the characters in this book, especially the dynamic between Sabrina and Salem! I also like that while it can be considered a romance, Evie's story is really more about her growth and finding out who she is in a new setting. This book starts from a hilarious mix up and ends up being about finding your true self. Come As You Are is another hit from Adler and I'm already looking forward to the next one!

This book was such an easy and quick read. I have loved every book I've read by Dahlia Adler and this was no exception. Evie is direct and can get under your skin but the way she handled being in an all boys dorm was humorous. Salem, the emo boy, every time I hear this name I think of the cat from Sabrina. He was a good boy trying to act like a bad boy. Adding Matt to the trio really rounded off the personalities for the friend group and they all meshed really well.

This is maybe a bit cliche and over the top but it was just fun! I had such a good time reading this I never wanted it to end. The romance was strong and well-paced. FRIENDS-TO-LOVERS!!!! The way Evie's character handled insecurities, and self sabotage was very relatable to teenage me.

I do think some of the pacing was a little off. Evie made friends and was comfortable with them so fast it felt super unrealistic. There were other issues regarding bullying and cheating that were never really addressed, which was really odd, why have them in the story at all.

Overall solid YA romance

I'm not really sure how to rate this one. Some of the content was a bit to mature for 15/16 year olds. I'm not generally a prude, nor am I under the impression that they don't participate in such activities, but it was unexpected for the genre. The adults at this boarding school were completely non-existent and the entire premise was unrealistic. However, about halfway through, I just decided to age it up to college sophomores and it became much more enjoyable.

I loved Going Bicoastal so I was so excited when I heard about this one! It definitely did not disappoint. Evie was a fun to read and lovable. The story was a little over the top at times but ultimately really enjoyable. Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this ARC!

A serviceable teen romance, with all the boarding school hijinks you'd expect. This will fill a well used space in my library collection.

I love books set in boarding schools, so this one drew me in with its premise of a girl who is accidentally placed in the boys dorm. The concept is a lot of fun, and the characters are interesting, but something about this book just felt a bit flat to me. Maybe it's because the concept of a good girl enlisting the help of a bad boy to learn to be "bad" feels a little clichéd. While this one felt like it was missing something for me, it didn't ruin the reading experience, and I'm sure fans of the author's previous work will enjoy.

Wow this book was cute. The character development was so great and the premise of Evie getting accidentally placed in a boys dorm was so intriguing. I liked how the pact between Salem and Evie was executed because they each truly helped each other become better versions of themselves. The sort of friends to lovers vibes were immaculate. Overall a solid read that I would recommend!

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for the digital advanced copy!

Thank you Wednesday Books for an EARC of this book in exchange for my honest review

This was the perfect cute rom com. I could see this doing really well as a movie! The writing was easy and enjoyable to read. Just the fun type of book I needed