I loved this book! The characters were super engaging and I think I finished the whole thing in one day. Great use of language, loved the tension between the main characters and all the storylines hit true and thoughtful notes that felt both contemporary and timeless. Excellent read!

It would be remiss of me not to open this by admitting that, from the premise alone, I was unsure if this book would be my cup of tea. I adore YA books, and have several lining my shelves, so it was not a matter of age-range, but rather a question of execution of the premise and depiction of the age-group featured, even based on the blurb. It felt very much like it may veer into the particular branch of YA which can read too young for my tastes. That being said, it was not something that I was going to allow to hinder my opinions of the book going in. I love a cute friends-to-lovers romcom, opposites attract, and a good old pact, and so I was very much hoping to be proved wrong, but I can’t say for sure that I was.

Much of the foundations of this book rest upon our main character Everett “Evie” Riley’s past people pleasing tendencies. Sweet, quiet, and accommodating— or so we’re told. From the opening scene, I read none of that in her behaviour. She was quick, confrontational, and full of clap-backs to the seemingly unending inconveniences (including those given human form) in a way that somewhat contradicted what was laid out regarding her character. It felt rather like those details were simply overridden to include more banter. It’d have made for a more effective insight into her character and drive to be different if we’d been treated to at least a few pages of her displaying the traits she spends so much of the book trying to move away from; A little more show to back up the tell. Let us see her bend-over backwards to placate people giving her a hard time. Show us her biting her tongue when she shouldn’t, let us get mad on her behalf so her choices feel justified and well-earned, even when they lean into the excess and extreme. The expositional woe-is-me approach to simply retelling her grievances and alluding to her past personality didn’t lend itself to the reader rooting for her to let loose— or even understanding why she’d be so desperate to. As it stands, it came across as an almost unnecessary facet of her fresh start to busy herself with a factory reset when none of the written reasons for it held up. No one at Camden seemed especially pressed about her supposedly (read: self-proclaimedly) sordid reputation as the “Rumson Girl”, rendering even that motive somewhat void. It’d have also been beneficial for us to see a glimpse into how her traits led to her denial regarding the flaws in her personal relationships— if we were privy to how her penchant for providing people with the benefit of the doubt clouded her judgement and ultimately hurt her, it’d be a more reasonable conclusion for her to wish to change her behaviour. It felt like just a bit too much of a stretch to feel like the believable actions of a real person, and instead presented as little more than the plot-convenient circumstances of a character.

I am quite firmly of the opinion that current pop culture references are to be avoided when possible, and that certainly applied throughout my experience with this book as well. The issue with implementing modern slang and current references— music/artists, public figures, film and TV— is that it has the opposite of the intended effect. Rather than appealing or relating to the target audience of teens and young adults, your book is given an expiration date of sorts. “Current” slang is only current for so long, and your book will be hindered and aged by out-of-date turn of phrase and references to events and things which have long since lost relevance. This was, unfortunately, a recurring issue in Come As You Are, one made even more glaring by the characters’ obliviousness to the popularity (past or present) of the things they were talking about. I can only suspend my disbelief so far, and you cannot expect me to do so in order to look past our main character not knowing Nirvana, The Cure, Metallica, or Måneskin’s cover of "Beggin’", which went so viral years ago that is has subsequently been appropriately banned from radio stations and social media. Each and every reference was simply several years behind, and out of touch. The best way to utilize such references, should they be deemed absolutely necessary, is by playing it safe with subjects with proven lasting power. Come As You Are veered a little too far into “How do you do, fellow kids?”

Relatedly, it was admittedly difficult to look past the juvenile character archetype portrayed in our love interest, Salem Grayson, the grumpy “emo” boy who blasted the aforementioned bands. In leaning so aggressively into the media propagated stereotypes, the book managed to completely misunderstand and misrepresent the subculture in its entirety, reducing it and its representative character to cheap moments only found in an equally out of its depth cheesy 2000s film— playing with a lighter, carving his name into tables with paperclips— which was an incredible disservice to everything else present in his character. He wasn’t necessarily one dimensional, but he sometimes felt like it, especially when seen through Evie’s eyes. Much of his decent characterization felt sidelined in the interest of miscommunication or petty drama, and Evie was absolutely a victim— even perpetrator— of this, even more-so.

Evie was a very difficult to like protagonist, and even harder to root for. Flaws are to be expected, and for me, are very much encouraged, but Evie’s were difficult to look past and were left largely unresolved. To add a layer of misfortune to it, it felt as though her duplicitousness and hypocrisy were meant to be excused or explained away by her youth, which I found somewhat frustrating. Seeing such attitudes regarding teenage girls and their catty treatment towards each other carried on into such a recent work was definitely disappointing. It’s a disservice to youth and their integrity to reduce them to such shallow characters. Even minor characters were worked around predictable plot twists and tired tropes. It reached a point where I didn’t trust the kind female characters because I didn’t trust the book to deliver a healthy and well-rounded female friendship in that way-- and I was right. Much of Evie’s own behaviour, even within the confines of her internal monologue, made her a very questionable friend, with little to no payoff. Her self-pitying lament about how being nice got her nowhere veered dangerously into “nice guys always finish last” mentality, and I just couldn’t take her seriously let alone sympathize with her.

The pacing felt somewhat inconsistent, with some moments dragging and others feeling far too rushed. I had thoughts of DNFing as early as 13% of the way through, and I’m afraid it took until roughly the 80% mark for me to start feeling like we may be getting somewhere. Nothing necessarily felt overtly like filler— because any additional glimpse into these characters to make them feel more multi-faceted was very much appreciated— but some of it did feel dead-ended. Quite a few plot lines seemed to fall away partway through without further expansion, and several central storylines were left unresolved by the end, and while I suspect this choice was a purposeful one rather than a glaring oversight, I don’t believe it was the right choice in this case. In theory, allowing some *minor* storylines to be left somewhat open could be a clever device to allow your book to feel real, to feel lived in. A piece of a real person’s life which continues on beyond the final pages, rather than a story contained cover to cover. However, when said storylines are defining features of your story, ones which have been present throughout the narrative since the beginning, you may instead leave your reader feeling bereft, or even cheated out of a resolution. This was, unfortunately, the camp Come As You Are settled in. It was a decent idea, and one that I would certainly like to see utilized in more books, but it would have been more effective if directed at alternative storylines to still allow for a satisfying ending for your characters and readers alike. The plot points left unresolved were simply too central to our main character’s internal conflict, leaving her arc feeling incomplete at best, and unsatisfying at worst.

That being said, while bracketed by subplots which weren’t to my taste, the romance was decently executed. It was, on occasion, difficult to appreciate on account of my grievances with the main character, but it was a relatively well-executed slow-burn and a sweet take on friends to lovers. My only issue beyond the various aforementioned notes was an apparent shift in characterization post-confession and onward. Granted, it was a very late-stage coming together all things considered (slow burn!) but there was a very discernible shift in both characters the moment their feelings were in the open. In seeking out the rom-com honeymoon phase, the essence of the characters was somewhat lost, leaving them overbearingly and uncharacteristically affectionate to the near point of overcompensation, which had me doubting the lasting power of their relationship— a shame after so much buildup.

Ultimately, there is definitely potential here, it just needs to be prioritized. Any of the depth displayed in the characters and plot felt filled in with unnecessary and convoluted petty drama, misrepresenting teens with shallow stereotypes and a lack of communication and principle below age range. It was difficult to remain engrossed in the story when it felt so out of touch with the reality of youth and their behaviour. It was, very much, YA written by an adult, which is not an inherent flaw until it is an apparent and recurring observation. I felt absolutely no indiction of any proximity to teens through their depiction in the novel. The romance was well developed, just felt too hurried along at the end, and would have benefitted from some heed to the established pace. It’s as I said; The potential is there. Salem was a sweet love interest and his character certainly carried the relationship— it was believable for Evie to have fallen for him, even if the inverse was somewhat questionable— and the inclusion of their more tender moments, casual intimacy, and emotionally charged conversations demonstrated an understanding of healthy relationships and well-rounded characters; I only wish it was allowed to take centre stage. I could not help but feel like the potential of the story was stifled by an attempt at embodying the public perception of a YA romance.

Overall, while Come As You Are ended up being a 2 star read for me, there is potential for a balanced and entertaining story from this author, and I’d imagine this book in particular could appeal to perhaps an older millennial audience looking for the cheese and nostalgia of good girl/bad boy romcom films, willing to overlook structural shortcomings and an exaggerated representation of youths and subcultures, but I cannot see it capturing the interest of teens/young adults themselves.

As always, thank you dearly to Wednesday Books for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Dahlia Adler has probably been one of my favorite YA romance authors for ages. Come As You Are is a great title, probably way better than the original title- My Name is Everett.

I enjoyed this book, so don't be discouraged by the 3 star review. I enjoyed the main character Evie and her quest to move on from her sister's betrayal and go to boarding school. Evie gets accidentally assigned to the boys' dorm [reminded me of XO Kitty] and ends up in a single with her own bathroom....in the boys dorm. She quickly makes some friends, notably Sabrina and her twin Salem, Heather and Isabel, the cool junior. Despite some early awkwardness, which puts Evie in Salem's orbit, the book is mostly enjoyable.

What I thought was somewhat lacking was a really good plot- I get that Evie wanted to get away from the good girl image, but she's hardly a rebel, nor is Salem a bad boy. What her sister did was awful, and the brief glimpse of her doesn't redeem her at all. There was also a loose end or two that didn't get resolved. I did appreciate a few Easter eggs to Adler's other books.

Speaking of Easter eggs- I was hoping for some good Jewish representation, but we don't really get that here. There's two characters who are Jewish which is briefly mentioned. The main character not being Jewish was a choice- and it just didn't feel authentic. I can understand wanting to appeal to a larger YA audience. but in a post October 7 world we need more Jewish pride and joy, not apologizing for existing. While I am sure the book was written a year or two ago- I'm hoping Adler's future books have more prominent Jewish characters.

3.5 stars. TW for drug use and family dynamics.

Dnfd ar 7% the writing styling was homestly really great but as a 30 year i I didnt really feel comfortable reading about teenagers discussing sex . I love reading ya books but i find it harder to read certain topics. The fact that i got to 7% in a manner of minutes was a good thing im sure if I had been a lot younger I would have obsessed over the story. Thank you for the chance to read this.

Title: Come As You Are  
Author: Dahlia Adler          
Genre: YA
Rating: 4 out of 5 

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, even romantically, and - annoyingly enough - even physically, Evie's quest feels like one dead end after another, and the girl she's becoming certainly doesn't feel remotely cool. 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.

I thought this was a cute read! I liked Evie and Salem a lot, and even the secondary characters were fun (except Archie and Lucas). There were surprisingly-few Mean Girls moments which I liked. Some of the diversity bits felt shoehorned in there, not like they belonged in the story, but for the most part, this was a solid read with some really funny moments and a lot of character growth.

Dahlia Adler lives in New York. Come As You Are is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 5/28).

Come As You Are by Dahlia Adler is a refreshing and heartfelt exploration of identity, belonging, and self-acceptance. Through its relatable characters and engaging narrative, Adler beautifully captures the complexities of embracing who we truly are. A perfect read for anyone seeking a story that celebrates individuality and personal growth. Highly recommended!

This was soooo cute! Dahlia Adler never misses. Her characters always feel like actual teenagers, and not caricatures, which takes talent.

I loved Evie and Salem’s story. It felt so organic and sweet. My only complaint (and it’s not enough to knock off a star) is more time with them figuring out their relationship.

BUT this was a fun summer read! Wholeheartedly recommend.

Just to start this review, this was a 5 star hands down. Every time Dahlia publishes another book, I will be buying it.

Evie, as a POV character, felt almost refreshing. I find when people write YA novels, sometimes it feels as though they’re too detached from what teenagers think. This was not a problem here in the slightest. She felt so incredibly real, despite the circumstances I’ve never gone through myself. She made mistakes, was anxious about her decisions and had goals that felt so real. I loved being in her head so much, even if I haven’t been a teenager for quite a few years now.

Salem was so much fun. It was almost grump sunshine, very much opposites attract. He was not just an incredible guy, but a great friend. Interesting and nuanced and not what he seems.

Salem was great, but all of the supporting characters also really exceeded my expectations. So many of the things I thought would happen, because ‘that’s what happens in every book’, turned right on its head. This is exactly the type of book I’ve been searching for. It was so warm and fluffy, while also being very very real. I would’ve loved this as a teenager, just as I’m loving it now.

Thank you so much for sending me this novel!

a very cute ya boarding school romance! i think the main reason why i can't rate this higher is the characters. i liked evie and salem overall, but there were times when evie was a bit of a pick me and some of the things salem said were a bit icky. but overall this was fun!

Wasn't expecting to love this but I did! Super fast-paced, sweet, and cozy with just the right amount of heart.

Holy moly, I LOVED THIS BOOK!! Dahlia Adler is one of my go-to YA authors, and this might bd a new favorite of mine. From the story and diverse characters to the banter and trying to find yourself in high school, I was hooked the entire time. Evie was fantastic, and I found myself relating to her at times. I also loved Salem and Sabrina and the fact that they were Jewish was just a nice bonus. I loved the characters here too. Everyone was so unique, and it seemed like the peak high school experience. I also love a friend's to lovers plot line, and while I wasn't sure Salem and Evie would end up there at first, I'm so glad they did. There was also a lot healing and growth throughout the story that I feel like Adler handled so well. I genuinely cannot get enough of this book and I wish my physical copy was here so I could flip through it again. Definitely one of my favorites of the month and maybe the year. Thank you to Wednesday Books for the ARC to read and review!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: May 27, 2025

A cozy and adorable YA friends to lovers read. Everett “Evie” Riley goes to boarding school only to be mistakenly assigned a room in the all boys dorm. She pairs up with Salem to help find her way and their banter and chemistry made this a speed read. A well written cast of characters!

This book honestly ended up being so much better than I expected especially as a straight romance which I don’t tend to read often. This is probably my second favorite book by Adler, just behind Home Field Advantage.

All of the different characters really made this book what it is. They were so incredibly lovable (except for a select few). The plot was hilarious and captivating, and though at time it was very predictable I didn’t want to set it down! If you’re looking for a cute book with a relatable FMC, an incredibly lovable MMC (and that really means something coming from a lesbian), the most amazing side characters who have a lot of diverse representation, and VERY complex family dynamics this book is for you! Also the side characters in this book, (*cough cough* , Sabrina) are incredible and some of my favorite queer YA characters of all time!

This was so fun! 4.5 out of 5 for sure! Maybe my favorite Dahlia Adler book I've ever read! I loved Salem and Evie and what a crazy way for them to meet! Evie (real name Everett) transfers to a boarding school and admissions thinks she's a boy (cause of the name) and assign her to an all boys dorm and she can't move!! So of course rumors abound but she meets several people and ends up making some good friends. And he falls first! Which is just one of my favorite things. I do wish there had been a little more of a resolution between Evie and Jenna or at least a conversation to clear the air, but that's a small complaint lol! Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for my digital ARC!!

3.5 stars

Dahlia Adler has a knack for writing about characters at pivotal stages of their lives and romantic awakenings, and those features come through in this most recent effort.

Evie heads to Camden Academy to escape a tough personal situation involving her sister and now ex-boyfriend, and the main issue when she arrives is that she has been placed in the men's dorm (and is the only woman in that scenario). There are some funny moments of embarrassment and some intriguing opportunities that come her way in this space, not the least of which comes in the form of a guy named Salem. Readers with any exposure to life will know immediately that the relationship between these two will start one way and end in an expected other.

Something I have really enjoyed about Adler's characters in the past is how attached I've grown to them, and that is a mark of their thoughtful development. Evie and Salem, though they go through some harrowing trials, were a bit tough to connect with for me. I still enjoyed the writing and general plotting, but I wanted a bit more personality out of these two and their connection.

Overall, this was a fun listen, and I'm already looking forward to what Adler offers next.

I honestly did not expect to like this as much as I did! It's a cute YA romcom, yes, but it also deals with some mature topics in a great way (not fitting in, wanting to fit in, difficult family relationships, relationship drama, etc) without it veering into teenage drama. I actually loved the slow burn, friends to lovers aspect of the story, but I also loved Evie's story of growing more mature and confident. The side characters were great too, especially Sabrina and Matt!

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday books for a copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you so much to Dahlia Adler and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for the eARC of this book! This is a very YA vibes book. Took me a bit to get hooked but it was a great book! I love a good YA book with a boarding school setting. It was a quick read once I got through the first bit. Highly recommend!

#bookreview Come As You Are by Dahlia Adler

🤔where did ya come from?🤷🏼‍♀️
- eARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thanks!)

😍the good stuff😍
- Salem and Sabrina. Firstly, the names of twins ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Secondly, their relationship and support of each other as siblings ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Evie getting put in a boys dorm because her name is Everett 🤣
- Evie getting a private room because they fucked cup 👌🏻
- Salem as an emo rock boy. Adorable. Perfect.
- Salem bring her tampons in her time of need. Because his sister told him but stilllll. Top tier behavior for a teenage boy.

🫢my complaints🤫
- I would’ve liked more romance. It was just the end. Like her happy ever after blah.

☺️the tropes☺️
- Dorm mates? Idk if that’s a trope lol
- Pact
- Good girl with bad boyyy

⚠️the warnings⚠️
- YA cheesiness

rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

"And I know that this time, I finally got the person right."
2.5 ☆

"Come As You Are," was just an okay read. It was fine at times, but I wasn't ever super invested in it until Parents Weekend. The pacing definitely drags down the book, it just felt like it was going at a snails pace. It wasn't a slow-burn but rather just boring. It was disappointing that when the book finally found its groove, it was already almost over.

There are moments and lines that made me cringe abit, but I feel like it fits in with the story and just being at the age where the things we say and do can seem cool/edgy but a few years down the line we realized that was a bit cringey.

I personally don't get the Better Than the Movies comp. It lacks the charm and stronger coming of age aspect that BTTM has.

For characters, Evie doesn't really have a personality to be honest other than 'my older sister stole my boyfriend.' I feel like even with the internal monologue, I felt a huge disconnect like I don't really know Evie as a person/character outside of the drama that happened to her. She's valid in being angry, but I wished there was more to her as a person than feeling second best to her sister, Sierra and being the "Girl Who Wasn't Chosen." It borderline makes Evie seem like a pick me girl at times especially when she rants, "because the guy will always eventually get lured away by shameless flirting and sexy clothes and, above all, a willingness to do what the sweet girl won't." Also, given what happened with her in the past, I really don't get why Evie didn't tell Hannah in the end about what happened between her and Lucas. It feels like it was meant to add drama, but it dragged Evie down as a character and makes her seem less sympathetic. It didn't add anything to the book or led to any character development, so the book would have benefited more with having the storyline cut.

A positive has to be Evie and Sabrina's friendship. It was genuinely great and was one of the more stronger parts of the book.

With Salem, he was just okay as a character. I think it comes down to he's meant to be the contrast to Evie and seem exciting, but he just comes off as just being there. In a way, his pact with Evie did indeed make him boring for most of the book. It isn't until towards the end of the book, did I find Salem to be more charming. There was definitely a shift around the Talent Show, when he starts to show a different side to himself and Evie herself starts to see him differently.

Overall, the book has some problems, but there are some cute moments.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the arc.

This one was a little too YA vibes for me as far as the characters being immature. But I fully recognize this is a me issue and not a book issue necessarily, so if the synopsis intrigues you I would give it a read. Just not the book for me!