This book was so much fun to read, the way Evie’s first day in college goes??? It was funny, I can relate to what she went through because my name is also masculine, so I had my share of people confusing things. She is known as the Rumson girl who is living in a boys only dorm. But she came to college broken hearted, and while in college she thinks she can become something else to change her rep, but now its compromised thanks to stupid rumors. But this is a coming of age for Evie, where she is starting to find happiness within in herself, by herself not because of others. And I will say this she is so bad ass; sarcastic and funny I was loving her throughout this whole book.

Evie transfers into a boarding school with more emotional baggage than actual luggage. Parental neglect, a cheating boyfriend, a sister who betrays her (multiple times), and the best friend who knew about the cheating and never said a word is just some of the stuff that Evie is running from. Confusion about her name (Everett) and the unavailable rooms has Evie living in the boys dorm - not really good for her reputation or starting over. Then she meets Salem, another guy in the hall who seems to be a loner and there begins the snark.

Come As You Are is laugh out loud funny. I see the word “witty” used alot in reviews and I always think “eh”, but witty definitely applies here. There’s so much snark and banter that I felt like I was let into the cool club. Salem and Evie are quick on the one-liners and the comebacks. I’m chuckling even now remembering some of the incidents.

This is the first non-rainbow couple I have read from Dahlia Adler and I’m okay with that because the secondary cast is as diverse as our world. I was so glad to see the real world reflected in a cis-het romance book. I really want to see Sabrina and Iz get together so I hope Adler writes their story. I just love Sabrina.

Sometimes you need to get away from the people who pigeonhole you to become who you want to be. This is Evie’s intent and while she doesn’t exactly succeed in her original mission, it’s a hilarious process that she goes through to get to happiness.

I love Come As You Are. I can guarantee I will be re-reading this book because it’s hilarious. Put this in your must read pile, you won’t regret it.

This was my second book by Dahlia Adler, and I have to say, so far I’ve really enjoyed her books. She creates stories that are relatable and just fun to read. I had a really great time reading this book.
I really enjoyed the characters she creates. I feel like when I read a YA contemporary book, I just love seeing the growth and self-discovery in the characters, because that’s the time in our lives where we are the most in need of it. Evie, our main character, is flawed in her own way, but she is discovering who she is, discovering what it means in relation to friendship, family, and romance. And I just love that there as this balance within her kind of discovering who she is.
And of course, you can forget about Salem. There is just something so fun in their dynamic, to see them learn to be friends, to falling for each other. It was just so much fun to see them interact with each other. But even more than just those two, there also really fun supporting characters, like Sabrina, Salem’s sister, and Matt.
Overall, it was just a really fun read, and I definitely need to work my way through Dahlia Adler’s other books. So far, I’ve enjoyed what I’ve read from her, so you can be sure I’ll keep an eye out for whatever she releases next.

This book really confused me. I have loved and enjoyed Dahlia Adler's other books, but this one left me scratching my head.

When Evie is placed in a boys dorm at her boarding school, she feels left out because she wanted the experience of bonding with a roommate. She becomes friends with Salem, one of the boys in her dorm, and they agree to help each other change their images. She wants to be more of a bad girl, and he wants to reform his bad boy ways. The problem is that this part of the story is boring.

I didn't understand how when Evie first gets to school she kisses the boyfriend of one of her new friends. In her defense, she didn't know that they were dating, but she doesn't tell the friend. This is the exact reason that she left home- her sister cheated with Evie's boyfriend!

Also, she develops feelings for Salem, and he supposedly likes her, but he goes and sleeps with someone else? And he said that he did it to get over Evie? I don't understand that logic.

Overall, the book didn't feel like it was about high schoolers. Everyone was hooking up, and it just felt more like a story about college students. I am so disappointed that I didn't like this one.

4.5 stars.

Come As You Are by Dahia Adler is a sweet yet meaningful young adult novel.

Everett “Evie” Riley is inadvertently assigned to the boys’ dorm at her new boarding school. Unable to move into the girls’ dorm, she makes the best of her situation. Evie becomes friends with Salem Grayson, his sister Sabrina, and his roommate Matt. With Salem’s help, Evie becomes a bit more edgy while Salem sheds a lot of his bad boy image.

Evie is witty, sarcastic, and holds her own against her new schoolmates. Salem is super laidback and does not seem to have a care in the world. The two of them together are hilarious but is there more to their relationship than just friendship?

Come As You Are is a captivating young adult novel. The characters are mature for their age but still have room to grow. The boarding school is pretty tame backdrop for Evie’s evolution. The storyline is engaging and touches on true to life situations and emotions. Dahia Adler brings this young adult novel to a swoony conclusion.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARC!
The only reason for my rating being a 3 is because this was a little too YA for me. The banter was cute and the friendship between Salem Evie was enjoyable. I did like the character development from the two. Overall, the book was good but again just a little too YA.

Sometimes you pick up a book that you just can't stop thinking about it even when you put it down. This is that book. The author mixed in family dynamics, new friendships, boy-girl romance and so much more in this book.
The story flowed so seamlessly and was relatable. There were so many situations in the novel that seemed like I'd experienced them as well. Everything from the awkward meeting new people, to the sibling rivalry, you can relive the emotions of the time.
The author did not take any easy outs, the characters were awkward and insecure and just trying the best they could. This really increased the appeal of the book.
Enjoy!

Come As You Are is one of my new favorite YA books. Dahlia Adler has a way of writing YA content that feels accessible and relatable to older readers while still making sure all the character dilemmas are serious but age-appropriate.

Evie has made a serious and personal decision to go to boarding school on scholarship to get away from her toxic sister's behavior. Her parents don't know the whole story, and we find out as she shares it to her budding friendships in moments of trust. She wants to start over and while she does do that, she also ends up in an environment and with people who make her feel good about herself for who she is, even as she tries to be someone else.

I loved that most of the book was about friendship first, and feelings second and at the end. Maybe especially that there are multiple friends and friends-of-friends Evie interacts with along the way in deep & meaningful moments, even if they're fleeting to the other character. Teens deal with plenty of serious subject matter every day and need strong community -- peers, parents, and otherwise -- to make it through those difficulties with good outcomes and support. Come As You Are models that in spades. It also explores how to move forward when friendships diverge or break...and how some friendships can often be mended, if we want.

This book was a nice return to Adler's standard after Going Bicoasta, which unfortunately gave us half the plot of a normal novel twice over. In contrast, Come As You Are was a consistent, building narrative that was fully built-out and satisfying. Structurally, it helps that all the dilemmas are dealt with in an age-appropriate manner, meaning they can be resolved in comparable page scope. Likewise, the boarding school made it naturally believable that the circumstances and characters' daily life could feel as it did; sometimes boarding school plots can make me ask, "Why didn't they just age them up to be early college students?" but that was not the case here. Parents and underage elements were utilized thoughtfully and intentionally.

10/10 loved this and wanted to leave sociable functions to finish it!

(4.5 rounded up) Come As You Are is such a fun, sassy, sweet YA romance! I instantly had a crush on two of the male characters, and I hope to see more of one of them someday maybe!! As with Going Bicoastal, Adler is amaaazing with banter! I kept finding myself grinning and giggling 🤭 She’s also so good at writing relatable characters; even at my big age I felt so much connection to Evie. The only thing I was left wanting (hence the half star off) was a little more “after” from the happily ever after. It felt a little like the MCs got together, and the story immediately plateaued. I think I also wanted more about the resolution with Sierra or Evie’s parents. Like a one-year later epilogue to wrap everything up with a bow.

Come As You Are is another fantastic YA from Dahlia Adler. I love Dahlia Adler’s writing and was immediately drawn in from the cover! Evie is ready for a fresh start at a boarding school, only to discover to her horror that she’s been placed in the boys’ dorm. Evie is not willing to mess up her new chance, so she is determined to make it work. When Evie meets Salem, they decide to work together. Salem will help Evie be more daring and Evie will help him clean up his act. As they become closer, will Evie be brave enough to acknowledge what’s growing between them?

Evie and Salem have a great friendship between them and I enjoyed watching the sparks fly as they grew closer. Evie has a complex relationship with her sister (and parents) and I didn’t see quite as much resolution with that as I hoped, though it is certainly realistic. There are excellent side characters such as Sabrina, Salem’s sister, and Salem’s roommate Matt. Come As You Are has lots of satisfying tropes such as good girl/bad boy, sunshine/grump, and soft-but-only-for-her.

Readers who love good girl/bad boy dynamics, compelling characters, and satisfying YA will enjoy Come As You Are.

Thank you to Dahlia Adler, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

This was exactly the palette cleanser I needed in between my binge of Zodiac Academy. Lighthearted, an easy read. Will definitely be adding to my summer reread list.

This was my first Dahlia Adler book, and while it wasn’t perfect, it was a fun ride. The boarding school setting, witty dialogue, and chaotic energy made for an entertaining read. Evie, the sunny and relatable main character, shines—though her handling of certain conflicts (like with Heather) left something to be desired. The slow-burn romance with Salem was a highlight, full of banter and chemistry. Great supporting characters rounded out the cast, though the story leaned more on vibes than depth. A solid, enjoyable read with room to grow.

Come As You Are written by Dahlia Adler was raw, heart breaking, nostalgic, deeply flawed, sad, gut wrenching, and so inspiring. I thought this novel was going to be a cheesy young adult story, but goodness gracious, Come As You Are changed my life in the best way. I honestly wish this book was around when I was in high school because this book was made for the younger version of me. If you are a struggling high school student, please read this book, it will truly change your life, it will change so many aspects for you. Come As You Are taught me so many life lessons, but the most important one was friendship. Friends come and go. You might never see the people again you met in high school, but you will always have that ONE friend that sticks with you through life. Friendships are like four leaf clovers, they are hard to find, but once you find that friend, they are worth everything to you. When I saw that gorgeous and beautifully detailed cover, I knew I had to get my hands on this book immediately, and I'm so blessed I had the chance to read an early copy because I loved this book in so many ways, and once again it changed my life for the best. Dahlia, thank you from the bottom of my heart for writing this beautiful story, it felt like you wrote it just for me and spoke to my younger version. I can't recommend this book enough, please do yourselves a favor and grab a copy of this book as soon as possible, or mark your calendars for May 27th, 2025 for the publication day. I'm just so amazed with how beautiful this story was, I'm so amazed with how deeply this book spoke to me, I'm so amazed with how much I absolutely loved and adored this book.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND ST. MARTIN'S PRESS FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!

MUSICAL PLAYLIST
Come As You Are- Nirvana
People I Don't Like- UPSAHL
Jealousy, Jealousy- Olivia Rodrigo
Shadow- Ashlee Simpson
Self Sabotage- Waterparks
Tally- BLACKPINK
Good Girls Go Bad- Cobra Starship ft. Leighton Meester
Anti-Hero- Taylor Swift
Farmhouse- Phish
Happy Face- Jagwar Twin
Boyfriend- Ashlee Simpson
Overwhelmed- Ryan Mack
Poker Face- Lady Gaga
GOSSIP- Maneskin ft. Tom Morello
Just A Girl- No Doubt
BABY SAID- Maneskin
Numb Little Bug- Em Beihold
Patience- Chris Cornell
THE LONELIEST- Maneskin
Teenage Dirtbag- Wheatus
Vampire- Olivia Rodrigo
Who's Afraid of Little Old Me- Taylor Swift

"Fuck it. I have worked too hard at becoming a badass to stop going for what I want now".

"I was a peach, now I'm a bad apple".

"Being you is not a bad thing".

"Friends are not the easiest for me to come by, and this time around, I want the ones I make to stick".

Everett "Evie" Riley has a heart of gold and she's a badass. Evie is such a relatable character, I feel like so many young girls will connect with Evie on a personal level. Hot on the heels of a broken heart, Evie is ready for a new beginning, so she leaves Greentree, New Hampshire behind and transfers to Camden Academy as a sophomore transfer. Evie is known as the girl who wasn't chosen for a few reasons. Evie's ex-boyfriend Craig and her sister Sierra were together behind Evie's back, meanwhile Evie and Craig were in a relationship, but here's the gut punch, Evie's former best friend Claire knew that Craig was cheating on Evie for quite some time and never said a word. At Camden Academy, the school thought Evie was a boy because her name is Everett, so they placed her in Rumson's, which is an all boys dorm room, but Evie got lucky because she has the best dorm room in Rumson's which is wheel chair accessible and she doesn't have to share with anyone. Now that Evie has arrived at Camden Academy, Evie is looking for a fresh start, she doesn't want to care about people's stupid opinions, she wants to become the kind of girl who takes chances, breaks rules, makes her own reputation, and she wants to have actual fun. Evie comes up with Reign of Terror which is her planned badass phase. I was literally so proud of Evie for all of the progress she made, I know it wasn't easy for her, but she still kicked life in the ass. It was so hard not to cheer for Evie after everything she went through.

Salem Grayson is a little mystery wrapped in an enigma. In the beginning, Salem was super shy and so freaking sweet, but by the end of the book he will come around and capture your heart. Salem is also a sophomore transfer at Camden Academy just like Evie, except Salem was kicked out of his old high school for smoking in the principal's office. Salem is gothic, he's a swagger, and he's a stoner mess, but he's one of the best male main characters. Salem has gorgeous eyes and did I mention that he sings? His voice is a low rasp that's coated in honey. Y'all this man was so funny and sweet, I couldn't help but love him even though I don't necessarily agree with his past mistakes, but that's okay because he literally overcame those obstacles and Salem became the best version of himself. Salem also attends Camden with his sister Sabrina and his roommate, Matt Haley. Matt might seem like a douche bag, but he was literally so sweet and hilarious, it was kind of hard not to fall in love with him either. Sabrina was also a lovely character, I love how Sabrina and Evie formed a bond, so Evie wasn't completely stuck with the boys. Salem had a pretty rough childhood, he was always getting into trouble at school until the school administrators finally had enough of his bullshit and kicked him out. I think attending Camden Academy was the best solution of Salem, because he completely changed his life around and became the most precious angel. Don't let any of their personalities fool you, they were the best group of friends and they welcomed each other with opened arms.

Salem and Evie are the life's of the party, their energy is unmatchable. Together Evie and Salem are dormmates, study buddies, pact partners, and partners in crime. Salem teaches Evie how to be cool and Evie teaches Salem how to be on his best behavior and not get kicked out of school. Evie and Salem make a deal with each other, Salem's goal is how to make Evie be bad, and to live her life to the fullest, and Evie's goal for Salem is to teach him how to be good but still have the best time in life. Evie and Salem had the cutest nicknames for each other, Evie calls Salem her bad boy guru and Salem calls Evie Skeevy, ugh these two were just so cute and precious. Their banter is top tier, I couldn't stop laughing when they were always around each other and bickering back and forth. When Evie cries in the shower, Salem always knows and constantly brings her chocolate, y'all this man is a damn keeper. Salem became the person who knows Evie better than anyone else in the world. Salem- "Evie Riley, you are a fucking literal ball of sunshine". Oh my goodness gracious, these two just absolutely had me howling with laughter and swooning non-stop. Despite how young Salem, Evie, Sabrina, and Matt were, I wish I had them in my friend group, they are just the type of people who light up any room they walk into, honestly they are the type of friends everyone needs in their lives because they are just the best people ever. The best way to describe Evie and Salem is love birds. This Camden Academy crew had me laughing uncontrollably for hours on end.

I had fun with this. Evie's misadventures in the boys's dorm were just fun. Her evolving feelings about Salem were well written, and the course of their relationship was relatable. Adler did a great job of creating a variety of characters that were more complex than you usually find in YA romance. Salem was an adorable romantic lead, and I rooted for him and Evie to get together. I have had mixed reactions to Adler's past novels, but "Come As You Are" makes me want to read more from her.

4.5 stars
I loved this book! It reminded me how much I love YA romance. It’s so wholesome. I need more of these characters immediately. I hope there will be an interconnected standalone series since there were some plot points that I think could have had a more solid conclusion.

Sweet YA romcom.

Evie just found out her boyfriend cheated on her with her sister so she needs to gtfo. Luckily she is admitted to a boarding school. However she ends up in the boys dorm so hijinks commence.

I thought this was super enjoyable, quick and light hearted with some heavier things the characters are dealing with which made it relatable and lovely.

Thanks to netgalley and st martins press for an eARC

*4.5

This was a really cute book. I loved how she was so oblivious to her crush on Salem. It was immediately clear to anyone who interacted with them that they liked each other but she couldn't figure it out. The man literally sang her a love song and she had no idea. My only complaint is that I feel like this should be set in college. I get that teenagers are having sex and they are at a boarding school but it felt like a lot. It would also make the sister sleeping with her boyfriend plot a bit more realistic.

I kind of want a book about Sabrina and Isabel.

I received an arc through netgalley.

If you need a book that will make you laugh immediately, you need to grab this one. The banter was seriously bantering; the author should teach a masterclass on the art of banter because this was top-tier.

This book is marketed for YA readers, and I would say that's accurate. The setting is a boarding school for high schoolers, and there is some swearing and kissing, but nothing that I considered overtly sexual; there is talk of see,x but there is no smut or spicy scenes.

Evie finds herself at Camden Academy, and due to her legal name being "Everett Owen Riley", she ends up in the all-boys dorm of Rumson Hall. There's nowhere else for her to go, and so she has to stay there. She encounters a wild cast of characters, from Archie, who was supposed to be her roommate, to Matt, the well-known dorm playboy, and his roommate, Salem. But in being the new girl, Evie decides this is a chance to rebrand herself as a "bad girl" for once. What ensues is hilarity.

My favorite thing about this story was all of the characters. There is diversity from race to sexuality to financial status. There are popular girls and awkward, quiet types. There are kids with tons of money to kids on scholarship. The characters are who they are; one facet doesn't define their entire personality.

For a YA book that was fairly fast-paced, there is actually a lot of character growth. We see Evie struggling in her story, and as time goes on, she starts to reflect and you see her learning from her experiences and reframing them.

Overall, a phenomenal book. I wish I'd had a book like this when I was a teenager. Evie's character is refreshingly vulnerable, while also being hilarious. I could definitely see myself reading this one again.

So, Come As You Are is like that adorable rom-com you watch when you need some light fluff. Don’t get me wrong—the story is cute. Everett “Evie” Riley has a thrice-broken heart and is doing her best to reinvent herself after being betrayed by her ex, her sister, and her best friend. Evie’s “fresh start” at Camden Academy quickly goes south when she gets tossed into the bro-zone—aka the all-boys dorm—on day one.

Determined to reinvent herself, Evie teams up with her grumpy emo partner-in-crime Salem trying to teach her “how to be bad” while she’s the goody-two-shoes teaching him “how to be good.” Cute enough, sure. But let’s get real for a second: the setting is a boarding school, yet somehow the drug use and casual hookups read more like a college frat party than a prep school drama. I mean, did everyone forget that boarding schools tend to have a bit more supervision and a bit less… well, reckless debauchery?

The fake-bad-girl-meets-fake-good-boy dynamic? Adorable. The pact? Classic YA gold. The banter? On point. Salem even manages to be a functioning human despite all his brooding (a YA miracle!). But here's the thing—this story would've made so much more sense in college. Like, sure, boarding school drama is juicy, but when teens are signing housing contracts and negotiating PR makeovers like they're interns at Vogue, maybe it’s time to up the characters’ ages just a smidge. Just a tiny dash of realism, please.

I love diverse representation—I do—but when every other person Evie meets is LGBTQ+ in some flavor, it starts to feel like someone spun a rainbow wheel every time a new character was introduced. Everyone is important, yes, but the sheer statistical improbability felt a little less like authentic diversity and a little more like a checklist.

In the end, Come As You Are delivers cute vibes, heartwarming growth, and some swoony moments, but it loses points for realism, subtlety, and trying to pass off this whole dorm fiasco as anything remotely plausible.

Still, Evie’s emotional journey is endearing, Salem is a decent blend of angst and adorableness, and the idea of learning how to be unapologetically yourself is never a bad message. I just wish it came with a more grounded setting—and maybe fewer 15-year-olds casually hooking up.

Dahlia Adler is quickly becoming a new favorite YA author of mine. Come As You Are is an absolute gem — funny, heartfelt, and brimming with the kind of messy, meaningful growth that makes for an unforgettable read. Evie Riley’s life is in free fall after a triple betrayal: her boyfriend, her sister, and her best friend all let her down in spectacular fashion (tbh I don't know that teenage me could have recovered, so props to Evie. When I saw in the synopsis that she accidentally landed in an all-boys dorm at her new school (you're gonna have to suspend your belief in reality a bit for this one) I knew we were in for some She's the Man-esque shenanigans (IYKYK, it's a classic).

Cue having to team up, of course, with her grumpy, emo dorm mate, Salem Grayson (listen it's YA romcom catnip ok). He’s the last person she’d ever pick to partner with (naturally), but their “bad girl/good guy” exchange deal becomes the heart of this story, and it’s pure magic. The banter, the chemistry, the slow burn — it was everything I needed in a fun summer read.

Just like with her previous books, Dahlia nails the balance between snarky fun and real emotional stakes. Evie’s transformation isn’t about revenge or reinvention — it’s about learning who she is when no one else is defining her (one of my favorite tropes in YA, it feels so nostalgic). Come As You Are is a must-read for anyone who’s ever had to rebuild themselves (and found love in the process, because this is a romcom after all).