When I read the synopsis I was intrigued and excited to get reading. But as the story and characters began I just wasn't feeling it. I kept on hoping for connection or feeling something besides boredom. But I just didn't feel it. The book seemed juvenile to me and I'm probably in the wrong headspace to want to escape into a boarding school romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book!

I have enjoyed all of Dahlia Adler's previous YA rom-coms, and this was no exception. It is a very quick read, it's funny, and the main characters all have fun little quirks. Evie and Salem's relationship was entertaining and endearing--definite Rory and Jess vibes. I enjoyed that the story was more than just a romance--it is also a coming of age story in many ways and I think teen readers will like reading about how people their age handle issues when the parents are present (since they are all at a boarding school).

Come As You Are was an adorable and funny YA romantic comedy. Evie is mistakenly assigned to the boy's dorm at a boarding school - definitely not the fresh start she was hoping for after the drama of her ex-boyfriend cheating on her with her own sister. But she dives in headfirst with lessons in how to be "bad" with a deal struck up with her upstairs neighbor Salem who claims to need some lessons in being good to show his parents that his enrollment at Camden is justified and that he is trying to improve. Evie has some stumbles in trying to make friends and fit in - but learns to have fun, let go, and finds friends that truly "see" her. Salem is the perfect mix of moody and considerate and caring. The banter between Evie and Salem is excellent and reminded me of Jess and Rory from Gilmore Girls. Loved Sabrina and the relationship she has with her brother Salem. Matt and Isabel were fun side characters too. Plenty is left up in the air - but overall this was a really fun read. Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read this novel.

Come As You Are by Dahlia Adler is not my normal read. I just could not get into the story. The characters seem well-developed. It is just not the story for me

Come As You Are has all the makings of a classic teenage story. I can honestly picture this making a great movie or show with how detailed the setting was and how interesting the plot points were!

We start off with our FMC Everett Owen Riley who gets placed in a boys dorm because again, her name is EVERETT OWEN RILEY. And the crazy just keeps getting crazier because she winds up having to stay in a single in the boys dorm and she makes the most interesting friends. One of them (Matt) lives above her and has a rope ladder that goes past her window for his conquests to use (hence the eye-catching cover art). And that's just the beginning of the book!

School shenanigans and high school drama are so entertaining to me. (Be wary, if you suffer from secondhand embarrassment you might be doing A LOT of cringing during this book.) I also felt so bad for Everett (Evie) with her situation with her family and friends, I definitely understood her desire to start over in a new place with new people but the drama that ensued was top notch for sure. I loved the quirky twin friends she makes: Salem and Sabrina, because why not have funny, cutesy twin names. Salem is very Jess Mariano coded in the best way. He and Evie totally have Rory+Jess chemistry with quippy banter and sarcasm. Following Evie on her adventure to be a whole new person was such a great ride, especially when she involved Salem in her schemes.

There is a sweet slowburn romance and some lines that literally made my heart melt, but this is also more of a coming of age story about finding yourself than just your average YA romance. Evie's journey is so relatable and I truly felt like I was in the thick of it with her. I loved the boarding school setting and all the different activities and adventures that occurred through the school. The school year plot layered with Evie's story was balanced perfectly.

Lessons are learned, experiences are had, and even when Evie was making some less than good choices, I was still rooting for her! This book was a lot of fun and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Come As You Are feels like XO, Kitty meets Perks of Being a Wallflower.


Thank you so very much to St. Martin's Press / Wednesday Books for the ARC through Netgalley!

This book was cute and a fast read. The characters do feel like they are written to be at the older end of the YA spectrum rather than ~15 years old. It had fun banter, but the romance seemed to develop very fast and could have used more moments between the two.

DNF @21%

I think I'm giving up on this author. This is the third book I've tried to read by her and I've hated all of them. I don't like the writing or the dialogue and I think this book oversexualizes 15/16 year olds.

I need to put a disclaimer that I don’t think I was in the demographic for this book as it’s very YA but it didn’t translate as YA because they acted and dealt with some more mature situations.

Overall, this book was okay. The writing left a lot to be desired and I don’t think there was a great resolution to anything besides Evie and Salem eventually figuring things out. Even that thought was so rushed. The situation between Evie and Sierra too was left to the very last minute as well. Unless there’s a sequel to this book, it’s a bummer how that ended.

I did like the LGBTQIA+ representation and if the author does choose to write another book, that it’s their story.

Overall, for the right demographic, I’m sure this will be enjoyable. But I wouldn’t rush to read it. Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Dahlia Adler for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Come As You Are is a super cute YA book set in a boarding school.
Evie decides she needs to attend a boarding school after a pretty bad situation at home concerning her sister, ex boyfriend and best friend. She just wants a "do-over" and to have something that is hers and hers alone. But when she shows up to her dorm room, her roommate is a boy and she is indeed NOT a boy. But the school got it wrong because of her more masculine name of Everett. She decides from this day forward, she will give herself a voice and not let it deter her. She will find a way to get into one of the dorms she requested. Unfortunately, things don't work out as expected, BUT she gets a room to herself.....in the boys dorm.

But then things start off on the wrong foot and Evie feels like her old life has followed her and she needs to change things up. She then turns to her upstairs neighbors, Matt and Salem. The good girl Evie needs to be more "bad" and the bad boy Salem needs to be more "good", so they make a deal to help each other succeed with their goals. A friendship of sorts form and something more transforms as time goes on between these seemingly two opposites.

Evie and Salem are totally cute and 100% relatable. They felt like true high schoolers. I loved the friendship they built that was full of sarcasm and banter. They were both at this school to start fresh and probably to go through some self-discovery, as one does at a teenager. There are some supporting characters (like Matt, Sabrina, Heather, etc) that help push the story forward and some normal high school hijinks that come into play, but overall I felt like this story was just too YA for me. There was nothing wrong with it, just was cute and fun and would be good for someone much younger who could relate to the characters and what they were going through more than myself.

Overall, this is an enjoyable story of finding your people. Of growing up and discovering who you are. With plenty of queer rep and true to life teenagers, this will appeal to 12-18 years olds.

Dahlia Adler's writing is always difficult to put down. Come As You Are was a cozy boarding school YA with lovable and relatable characters. Evie is a flawed, but genuine main character who ran away to boarding school to escape a devastating betrayal by her sister and her best friend and decides she wants to reinvent herself. She makes a pact with Salem, a boy who has a history of making questionable choices, that lead to trying new things, misadventures, and discovering themselves. This was a beautifully written YA romance with diverse representation.

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.