This book has such a slice-of-life feeling that is very refreshing; there is no shying away from the messy parts of life, because it is messy. Following Max as she navigates finding herself in the world, it felt raw. Nicola Dinan perfectly depicted what it means to be a young adult in the world, especially a marginalized adult. This book embraces the weird, the awkward, the messy, and how beautiful life can be.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Random House - The Dial Press for an ARC of Disappoint Me by Nicola Dinan in exchange for my honest review.

After hearing some early buzz on Disappoint Me by Nicola Dinan, and then seeing the fabulous cover (I mean come on, how can anyone resist this cover?!), I had to get my hands on an early copy of this book. As I normally like to do, I went in mostly blind. And, probably because of that, the opening chapters, which introduce us to our protagonist, Max, at a pretty wild New Year’s Eve party caught me off-guard. Disappoint Me is told in alternating POV’s from Max at present day, and Vincent, as he recalls an event that occurred 10 years prior.

I wasn’t sure if this, heavily character-driven, coming-of-age novel, would be a book for me, but I stuck with it, and was well-rewarded for my efforts. The writing was poignant, poetic and masterful, pulling me into each of the very flawed characters. Both Max, and Vincent, initially seemed arrogant and surface-level, but with each page became richly layered individuals with depth, vulnerability, and open to self-examination. Ultimately, I found myself rooting for them, even as they repeatedly made mistakes, some quite colossal.

Disappoint Me is a heavy read, exploring themes of queer life, transphobia, sexism, racism, forgiveness, loneliness, friendship and love; and how those themes play out in today’s society, amongst friends and peers, as well as family members.

Disappoint Me will be for readers who enjoy literary fiction revolving around contemporary themes, coming-of-age novels, characters who are deeply flawed and can alternately cry about their flaws and laugh at them. However, if you are a reader who likes a tidy ending, this may not be the book for you, but for me, I liked how the author chose to wrap things up. I will look forward to reading more by this author.

two povs Max and Vincent. Their journey as a transgender couple and all the family trauma, the diverse backgrounds (Chinese heritage) friendships, family dynamics, health and careers. Some difficult/complex subjects/topics but a simple well written plot. Enjoyed this book.

Thank you Random House publishing and Netgalley for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

This was funny in the way close friends are, where it's sort of mean but comforting and full of love. We don't have a lot of books about trans adults, and it's even rarer to find one where the narrator/author it's strange and gross about it. Very surprised by this one, the writing is quick and blunt but the story kind of wraps itself around you. I enjoyed this a lot.

Max is a transgender woman who has started being faced with historical aging women issues: marriage and kids. It was interesting to read along as she deals with some of the issues that so many of us deal with ad nauseum. Along the way she meets Vincent and they become a couple. A majority of the book focuses on Max and her point of view. At one in time, Vincent's point of view joins as the reader delves into his past and finds out how that is going to impact his present and future with Max. I really enjoyed the thoughtful character development and avoidance of many of the basic transgender tropes. This made for an interesting and engaging read.

Disappoint Me by Nicola Dinan, when transgender Max falls down the stairs at Casper‘s New Year’s Eve party she decides to take stock of her life but when she meets Vincent off of the dating app she still hasn’t decided quite what to do, but dating him gives her a whole new chance at it. Vincent is a type of man Max and most women dream to have his kind caring and and amateur baker and very attentive. as they try to navigate what a life together looks like family issues rear their heads and then a health scare put it all into perspective but not in time to save the couple from knowing everything about each other and sometimes that could be life exploding. in another POV we see Vincent who’s in Thailand to meet Fred but before Fred shows up from his India trip Vincent is feeling awkward and alone on his gap year when he meets Alex at the hostel. when another tourist tells him why Alex is really in Thailand, he grapples with the emotions he feels not because he doesn’t like her but because of cultural and societal expectations. It’s only when Fred gets involved that it becomes one of the most regrettable events in both their lives
I just want to state of front I really enjoyed this spot despite the few things I didn’t like about it but what I didn’t like had nothing to do with the overall story but with the expectation that everyone in the wider world knows how to speak to transgender or anyone who lives in alternative Lifestyle. I love people in general and have nothing but love and respect for those trying to find their own slice of happiness but I think it is a bit perturbing when someone acts like you’ve made such a crass and devastating comment instead of just asking you not to say that they act as if not only should you have known not to say it but how dare you say it because you did you’re the worst person ever!
Now back to the story in the beginning I really loved Simone but when they were in France and the whole argument happened it really made me question what was the point of her being there she made herself look so unlikable I mean she got upset because she had to stay in the shack behind the Château in France where she was staying for free… Really? I found she was very rude to Aisha in that whole thing with saying Fred was her partner seemed like she was just nitpicking for the sake of being difficult. also for those who say nothing happened in the book makes me think they either didn’t read it or really have extra ordinary things happening in their life where a heart attack and abortion and all the other things that happen IDK compared to their life or what doll? This is a great book I love how authentic the narrative felt I really love Maxi I do wish the ending had a little bit more solidity to it I do want to say the whole thing with the fire and Peter and Jamie… I really felt was a letdown that was almost like a non-incident and they act as if it was so traumatic I thought the house burned down and when I learn what really happened I was like really? my husband was a severe alcoholic and has been sober for almost 2 years and it’s true at first I almost wish he would’ve went back but now in retrospect I’m so glad he is sober. There was so much represented in this book and I think the author did a great job representing all of it and can’t wait to read the other books she has despite all the negative this truly was an awesome informative read. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #NicolaDinan, #DisappointMe,

I'll be the first to admit I was first drawn to this book because of the cover. I love that painting. The subject matter was intriguing, though not something I am normally drawn to. While this book is most definitely one of queer experience and filled with queer characters, I find its message to be so universal. But isn't that the point?

I'm not taking away from the fact that this is a queer story, and that Max's life as a transgender woman has its own unique challenges. But the way Dinan writes them is accessible for someone who is outside this world. This novel is not just about the hardships of being a trans woman, its about the hardships of being a <i>woman</i>. Its about the hardships of <i>living</i>. Walking through Max's life is not unlike walking through anyone's life. Again, I think that is, in some ways, the point. Yes, there are big, BIG, issues here with consent and identity and the treatment of queer persons from all sides, and those are beautifully laid out and handled, even the roughest part of this novel which was horrific in its simplicity and inevitability. The questions that stem from that moment are big and also handled with care.

I just really liked this story though at the time of writing this review I find I dont have the words to properly express how much.

Disappoint Me by Nicola Dinan sounded interesting to me. I was up for an updated version of young adults figuring out life. While the story goes between the characters lives now and how their past decisions impact present day. The story fell flat for me. There was a surprise twist but I felt that it came too late in the story to turn around and make this one a must read.

Disappoint Me hits all the right messy notes—love, identity, and those awkward moments we usually skim over in novels. Nicola Dinan doesn’t sugarcoat anything here. Following Max, a trans woman figuring out her thirties, and Vincent, whose past in Thailand shadows their present, the story jumps between timelines with enough emotional depth to keep you hooked.

What really got me was how real and imperfect the characters feel. Nobody’s flawless, and the book doesn’t pretend otherwise. It’s full of those cringe-worthy, tender moments where people disappoint themselves (and each other), try to forgive, and stumble through love like it’s a tightrope walk. Dinan’s writing is sharp with just the right amount of heart—and some clever lines that made me smirk even during the heavy stuff.

If you want a queer story that’s not just about rainbows and perfect endings but embraces the complicated, awkward, beautiful mess of it all, this one’s for you. It’s rough around the edges, honest to a fault, and totally worth the read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an ARC of Disappoint Me in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

This book was emotional, raw, funny, and authentic. I loved the slice-of-life feeling with pop culture references. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and highly recommend it.

This is a beautiful novel about people and how they decide whether or not to be together. Max is a transwoman who sees her friendships changing as they choose heteronormative lives. Max meets Vincent after a weird New Year’s party, and she begins to wonder if she can settle down in a relationship.

The novel is told seamlessly between Max and Vincent’s relationship in the present day and an incident in Vincent’s past that shaped his life and will impact their future. Before Vincent and Max can choose what their relationship could be, they both will have to confront the choices Vincent made 21 years earlier on a trip to Thailand.

This is an engaging and captivating read.

📖 Bookish Thoughts
This book wrecked me. I won’t lie, getting through the first 30–40% was slow, and I wasn’t quite connecting. But once it picked up, it didn’t let go. My emotions were everywhere, and by the end, I wasn’t sure there even was a clear right answer—and that felt intentional.

It’s not an easy read. It digs into heavy topics: transphobia, cultural expectations, forgiveness, guilt, and the complicated dynamics of family. It doesn’t offer easy resolutions, but it does leave you with a lot to sit with.

🗓 Pub Date: May 27, 2025
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.

This is a dual perspective story. With Max in the present and Vincent in the past. There was a lot of character building but I felt something didn't work for me with the pacing of the story. Overall interesting to read about a universality of different perspectives during a relationship and the baggage we all carry with us.

Thank you for the advanced reader copy Netgalley & Random House Publishing Group - Random House | The Dial Press.

I went into this a bit blind having been offered the book by the publishers. I utterly fell in love.

This was such a stunning read of identity, belonging, friends and lovers and family, and just existing.

Max is wholly relatable, whether you're trans or not, but I imagine especially so if you are. And as we go back and forth between her relationship with Vincent now and his experience as a 19 year old on a gap year, there are so many questions about redemption, jealousy, forgiveness, and who has the right to some of those things.

I love the scene with Max and her father discussing it being less about forgiveness, especially when it's not ours to give, and more about acceptance. Can we accept the growth that someone has made? The juxtaposition between that and Vincent looking at himself then and now, his growth and being the same person.

Simone is not a good person. But she's mostly a good friend. And Max needed that. But their friendship raised the question of at what point are we ignoring the bad in our friends because we have grown together and changed together. Nevertheless, their sisterhood together was firm and real.

That ending! I don't know what outcome I would have wanted. Max undoubtedly deserves love, to be loved for herself, and feel that care and safety. It's that question of acceptance again.

On the surface, this seems like a book where not a lot happens. Like there are dramatic moments and tension, but it is a very day to day focused story. Still, as I said, there are dramatic moments and tension. And some very real discussions and considerations. I think those added to the tone and feel of the story in such a way to make it shine.

There’s so much packed in this. It feels like it starts right in the middle of a lazy chaotic night and then snowballs into something deeper by the end. The dual perspectives added a full on dramatic layer to this that I really liked. I also enjoyed the writing style. I feel like this should be a smart review for a smart book. A lot of introspection and quick dialogue with a lot of social commentary that I’ve never had the pleasure of witnessing in real life. As in, is this what people actually talk about in some other world? Anyway. I enjoyed.

I loved this. I devoured it in two days and as much as I didn’t want it to end, I loved it.
The writing? So poetic
The characters? So well put together
Funny but heavy.

Final Rating: 2/5
I really liked the premise of this book and the way that it explored trans characters as well as providing readers an insight into the emotions and thoughts of this type of character. However, while this novel did present emotional moments, I was not able to connect to the main characters. Pushing myself forward with this book was hard because while our main character for the most part presents responses that are most logical, it was as if I wanted to reverse the same thing she was saying on the page back to her. To put it more plainly, it was as if this whole time the main characters were talking to a wall, while giving the illusion of doing more. I also didn’t particularly like the dual pov alongside the background story of our romantic interest. However, I do understand the importance of including such a backstory in consideration to present conflicts and character development (even if everything that was coming up felt, at times, like a scripted Hollywood film). Everything goes back to the fact that I could not emotionally connect to any of the characters and felt that they were really flat. Overall, I do believe that people should give this book a try as it does present a view that is not as represented in mainstream media and does address important topics in regards to trans people/community.
Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this novel.

DNF 15 pages in. This opens in a nightclub/party scene and I just knew it wasn’t for me.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

There is this point for most of us – often in our twenties – when we can no longer straddle the boundaries of adolescence and adulthood. That is to say, working all day and partying at night, dating endlessly, and feeling generally unstable is no longer appealing or feasible.

This novel’s protagonist, Max, has a literal wake-up call to this moment when she falls down a flight of stairs at a party. Approaching thirty, she vows to make changes to her life, and soon after, begins dating the buttoned-up Vincent. The author explores the relationship between Max and Vincent by using each character’s POV in alternative chapters. The root of some of Vincent’s anxieties are explored in a flashback section to his college gap year and his connection to his old friend Fred, as well.

This is truly an adult coming-of-age story, about finding and being true to oneself. As such, we are privy to the deep connection throughout the novel between Max and Simone, her best friend, as well as conversations and history between Max and her parents. Ultimately, we see the complexity of Vincent and especially Max through the complexity of these relationships and the pain of the traumas explored. If you are interested in complicated family dramas, queer stories, and found family, you’ll find much to enjoy in Disappoint Me.

Thanks to RandomHouse Publishing Group – Random House | The Dial Press, the author, and NetGalley for providing this copy of Disappoint Me for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Wow. I was not expecting to be so moved by this story. It moves very quickly and in short chapters that kept me wanting to read. I can’t wait to read more from this author!