Described as a sapphic homage to While You Were Sleeping, this definitely hit that nail on the head and gave me all the swoony feels. In this book we meet Alice, our big-hearted bisexual queen who is traumatized but trying and technically not lying. As well as Van, the beautifully handsome new crush with a secret and who also just so happens to be the sister of Nolan, the guy whose family has been convinced him and Alice are dating when they’ve actually never even exchanged names. It’s a story of grief, healing, giving yourself permission to take chances, creating the family you need, and learning to be vulnerable again. I’m so excited to buy my own copy come release day! :)

While You Were Sleeping is one of my favorite romcoms, and Emily Zipps completely wins with this sapphic retelling. Alice Rue is a night-shift receptionist who covets her moments in the morning when she sees Nolan Altman of the 14th floor. When he collapses in the lobby and she performs CPR, an EMT mistakenly informs Nolan's family that Alice is his girlfriend. Alice, who watched both her mother and father die before age 19, doesn't have much belief that Nolan will ever wake up, so why break his family's hearts by informing them that he didn't, in fact, spend his last moments with his girlfriend? The Altmans are a riotous clan of whirlwind women and interchangeable men who Alice immediately falls in love with. Amongst their chaotic energy is quiet, steady Van, Nolan's hot butch sister. Alice gets wrapped up in her web of lies as she falls deeper into family holiday celebrations - and Van's arms. Zipps writes a compelling romcom with an amazing, dapper love interest in Van and hilarious side characters, like loud Aunt Sheila and little sister Marie. She also writes Alice's loneliness and lonesomeness in such a deep and heartbreaking way that it's so easy to understand why she is desperate to keep the Altman family in her life. If you love 90s romcoms and dreamy butches, you'll love this story!

A modern re-telling of While You Were Sleeping. This book takes a bisexual character and makes them the star of a 90s style rom-com novel. A great and fun romantic read, with messy characters,

A story of a woman healing from trauma, and her life that happens along the way. The pacing was a bit slow for my typical liking, but it worked in this novel! You wanted to savour the moments with the characters!

A wonderful debut novel! Congrats Emily Zipps! Well done!

ALICE RUE EVADES THE TRUTH is the romcom I have been waiting for!!! Mark my words, Emily Zipps is going to be big!!! This was so fun and charming and lovely and romantic. Just a really good time. If you love love, read this. If you love good books, read this. That's all I've got.

This debut novel honors the beloved 1995 film While You Were Sleeping by staying true to its humorous and sweet roots. I have dreamed about a queer retelling of this story and was delighted to finally read one. While the initial plot is familiar and closely mirrors the film, as the story progresses it diverges more and more from the original plotline and comes into its own. The romance plot is mostly sweet with a little spice thrown in, and it is easy to root for the couple despite the emotional struggles taking place. That being said, I would have liked it more if Alice hadn't tried quite so hard to evade the truth and instead confessed sooner than she did and of her own volition. While Alice's decisions were perhaps more realistic than those of her film counterpart Lucy's, they were also less endearing to the reader.

Review of uncorrected eBook file

Alice, frantically trying to reach nine-one-one as she does chest compressions on the co-worker [the love of her life], heaves a sigh of relief at the sound of sirens approaching. EMTs rush in, treat Nolan Altman, and rush him off to the hospital.

While being scolded by Robert Brown, is swarmed by Nolan’s family, all determined to thank her for saving his life. When they refer to her as Nolan’s girlfriend, Alice realizes that they’ve gotten this piece of mis-information from the EMT that treated him. They convince Mr. Brown to let Alice leave in order to visit Nolan in the hospital.

Alice tries to tell them the truth . . . that she is definitely not Nolan’s girlfriend . . . but they’re all talking at once, talking over her, treating her like she’s part of their family.

What will happen when Alice finally admits the truth?

=========

Awkward Alice is sure to touch the reader’s heart; the unfolding story is both witty and heartfelt. Having lost both her parents, Alice’s life has been filled with loneliness and grief; her relationship with the Altman family is both charming and earnest.

Readers may find the romance between Alice and Van rather abrupt and a bit too instantaneous, but the larger themes . . . grief, Alice’s awkwardness, the tenderness of romance . . . are sure to keep readers involved in the telling of the tale.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Random House Publishing Group – Random House / Dial Press Trade Paperback and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#AliceRueEvadestheTruth #NetGalley

Major points for the gorgeous cover, because it was truly the main reason I picked this book up. Five stars for that alone.

However the story wasn't my absolute favorite. It's still a really enjoyable book, especially if all you are looking for is an almost exact retelling of While You Were Sleeping, just with a sapphic romance. It didn't have quite enough originality in it for me, and so many moments felt unbelievable to me, which took me out of the story (the same thing happened to me while watching the original movie, so I think if you really love the movie, then this won't be an issue for you).

Alice is relatable, but good golly she had trauma after trauma piled onto her. I couldn't keep up with how depressing her life was, but it's understandable why she wanted to stay with Van's family. I just couldn't truly get into it for it to be a top read of the year for me. Overall, still a good time and I enjoyed the book, I just think there are others that I like more that are also remakes of movies.

Thank you NetGalley for this adorable arc and into to Emily Zipps. I really enjoyed the Alice’s growth throughout this book. Shes sweet but didn’t stand up for herself, but I feel like as the book went on she started to build her confidence.

A fun little twisty romance play on while you were sleeping - really enjoyed this one! It was cute and quippy and had a proper emotional build up, which I always like in a book like this. It’s worth picking up even if you’re not typically into romances because it’s got a little extra plot to it that makes it more engaging than your typical romcom! Thanks to net galley and the publisher for an ARC in Exchange for an honest review

honestly i really enjoyed this book from opening sentence i was hooked. the amnesia storyline SHOCKING. then the plot drama of Van and Alice.. TEAAA, to them eventually becoming a couple. yeah i ate this one up in one sitting. 4.5/5 stars

As a longtime fan of While You Were Sleeping, I really enjoyed this book. While the story shares a similar setup, Zipps adds her own voice and spin, so it doesn’t feel like a copy. It’s familiar in a comforting way, but still fresh and original.

I especially liked the bisexual representatio. It felt natural and added depth to the story. The found family theme was also a highlight and gave the book a lot of heart. The Portland setting made for a cozy fall/winter vibe that matched the tone perfectly.

The writing was strong, especially for a debut. I wouldn’t have guessed it was her first novel. A few phrases were used a bit too often, but it wasn’t distracting and didn’t take me out of the story.

Overall, this was a warm, enjoyable read with great characters and emotional depth. I’m really looking forward to seeing what the author writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book took my heart! I really loved it!

I have not seen the classic "While you Were Sleeping" but that didn't stop me from loving this sapphic version of the story. If you love butches, you need to meet Van. I deeply appreciated that we got to lust over a hot, kind, butch and see her as the desirable queer that she is.

Alice is so messy, but I love her. Some of her choices were incredibly suspect, but the author did a great job at reasoning why Alice was acting the way she was. There's a fair bit of medical trauma in this book, so be weary if that's something that's a bit too close to home for you. Zipps did an incredible job at relaying Alice's long-held loneliness. It was harrowing in the best way possible. I also really appreciated how Zipps depicted poverty in this book, and how folks who are low/middle-class sometimes confuse that with undeniable poverty. Alice doing the mental math of budgeting when considering every purchase was incredibly relatable, as was her distain for seemingly 'hipster' and 'weird' spots that relished in the romanticized grunge of poverty (makes them edgy) when in reality they are operating within a privileged tax-bracket. Alice's inner monologue was so well-crafted, I was in awe.

This book is also about the labour women do within and outside of the family. It comments on the expectations of femininity and how that intersects with care work. Van's family is full of powerful, loud, and incredibly caring women. It was great to see the cast rounded out in a way that celebrated complicated and endearing women.

If you're a vibe / seasonal reader like me, this book is great for the holiday season without being Hallmark Holiday. Significant scenes happen during Hanukkah and Christmas, while Halloween is also featured (in conversation) as well.

My only qualm with this book is that I thought the pacing towards the resolution was a bit too quick.

I can't believe that this is a debut author. I can't wait to read more from Zipps. Read this book- it's beautiful! <3

This book was a lot like a "While You Were Sleeping" story with different dynamics.
Frumpy Alice saves hot exec in lobby of office building and becomes part of the family by a misunderstanding shared by an EMT to his mother. Alice tries to tell them but they are just excited to see their playboy son has found a "normal" girlfriend. Alice becomes infatuated with his "hot butch" sister and things get out of hand fast.

Alice Rue Evades The Truth starts as a cute, situational comedy romance: Alice Rue, a sad, dowdy receptionist, saves her office crush's life when he has an accident at work. The paramedics, thinking she's the guy's girlfriend, say so to his family, who immediately adopt Alice as one of their own. And if the white lie wasn't bad enough, bisexual-disaster Alice finds herself falling for Van, the comatose guy's hot lesbian sister.

I enjoyed parts of the book - the romance was soft and realistic and I liked Alice's rekindled relationship with her cousin - but it's also a bit darker than I expected for a romcom. Alice's past as a kid and young teenager struggling with her parents' illness and death left her deeply traumatized, and the woman she falls for is also dealing with an illness of her own.

A cute debut though, and I'll be looking for what this author comes up with next!

This book was amazing. It was a little slow at the beginning but I swear to god I couldn't stop reading, I finished it at 3.30am. It was a lovely story, sometimes predictable and sometimes not, but it was worth it. It's some sort of found family trope where topics like grieving, trauma and MS are talked about.
The Altman's were amazing except that guy but god I loved the rest of the family and VAN! God I'm more into femmes but I would die for Van.
Alice is just so real, the wanting to be wanted, cared for and loved, I related a little and it made me cry quite often. Her years of suffering, her day to day struggle with money, her loneliness, it all makes sense with the way she acted even though the "evading the truth" got out of hands.
I really enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to reading more about this author!!!
Also, I want to point out that I really like the cover of the book, I feel like it's different from what I usually see and that kinda pushed me to read it.

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. Alice has been crushing from a far, for a long time, on Nolan. She unexpectedly saves his life one night, and the paramedics tell his family that she is his girlfriend. Being in a coma, Nolan cannot speak for himself, and Alice figure she may as well let his family be comforted knowing his girlfriend is present for his possible last moments. Alice slips seamlessly into Nolan's family, finding comfort with his kind parents and connecting with his sister, Van. While she knows it is wrong to lie, she does not want to lose this newfound family. One catch does develop, however - her growing feelings for Van, and what she will do once Nolan wakes up.

This book is really a great book if you are looking to read about family. Yes, there is a romantic undercurrent, and it is beautiful and sweet, but the real strength here lies within Alice's found family. I loved the way these characters were written, their dynamic, and the layers of depth they brought to this book. There are While You Were Sleeping vibes to this book for sure, but the author does such a fun, modern day spin on that story that any reader is sure to enjoy this version.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Dial Press Trade Paperback for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.75/5!

I really enjoyed this book! I think the first part of it started off a little confusing and slow (mostly when Alice actively says "I love you" to this random man, which made me do a double-take to check that I was in fact reading a sapphic book!), but it slowly picked up! Absolutely loved Van's character and the work that went into building out her world, and not just Alice's inner world. Alice as a character was incredibly relatable and what I really enjoyed about her character is how she would actually oppose some of my own ideals. For example, she appreciated education for something that would get her a job, whereas Van had similar thoughts to mine about education. It made me sort of reflect on my own privilege against Alice's life. Sometimes I did feel like she was doing some things that were definitely a bit unrealistic (i.e. I feel like I would have boogeyed out of this situation as soon as i had to walk into a traumatic place like the hospital) but it also shows the growth that she took over the course of the book to the point where she realises she deserves better than to live trapped. I loved their little romance too! Going all in with a person that has a chronic illness is representation that I needed to see for me! Points off only because of the pacing being a little inconsistent, there were a lot of moments of being stuck in Alice's head, where her thought go in circles over and over and that felt a little frustrating to read through, but the romance, the character arc and the lovely Altman family (sans Nolan dear god was he annoying) made me compelled to keep reading!

While You Were Sleeping is one of my favorite movies and when I was sent this book and read the premise, I JUMPED at the opportunity to read this.
I loved the reimagining of this story, making it queer, it added a depth to the story that I absolutely loved.

there is one thing I had a hard time within this book, and that was the negative references to Alice's weight. I am a bigger body person and I get it when it comes to having a negative viewpoint of yourself...TRUST ME. But when something that is used to describe me - fat - is twisted in a negative light, I get frustrated and defeated.

Overall I had a fun time with this book and think it will be enjoyable for others.

thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Alice Rue Evades the Truth is a tender, quietly clever debut that blends mistaken identity, found family, and queer longing into something both heartwarming and unexpectedly profound. It starts with a moment of impulsive kindness: Alice saves her long-time crush Nolan after a tragic accident, and when paramedics assume she’s his girlfriend, she doesn’t correct them. The lie snowballs, and soon Alice finds herself swept into Nolan’s tight-knit, grieving family—comforted by their warmth, conflicted by the truth she’s hiding, and unexpectedly drawn to Nolan’s sister, Van.

What follows isn’t just a romantic entanglement or a comedy of errors (though it has shades of both). This is a story about belonging—about the ache of loneliness and the deep human need to be seen and accepted. Alice’s connection with Nolan’s family, particularly Van, becomes the emotional anchor of the novel. Their slow-blooming closeness is handled with grace and emotional nuance, complicated by Alice’s deception and her own tangled history of loss.

Yes, there are echoes of While You Were Sleeping, but Emily Zipps reshapes the premise into something fresh and contemporary. Alice isn’t a passive character swept along by fate, she’s reflective, often burdened by guilt, and deeply yearning for connection. The book takes its time exploring her internal conflict and her grief, giving weight to her decisions even when they’re flawed.

The supporting cast is a highlight—from quirky Aunt Sheila to sharp, loyal Raisin—each character feels distinct, and the dialogue sparkles with warmth and wit. The novel also doesn’t shy away from weightier themes. Grief, ableism, and identity are layered in organically, making the emotional beats feel earned rather than overdone.

For readers who like:
-Queer coming-of-age stories
-Found family dynamics
-Books about grief, growth, and self-forgiveness

Final Verdict
Alice Rue Evades the Truth is charming, layered, and full of heart. It’s the kind of book that quietly wins you over through its deep empathy for its characters and their messy, human choices. A strong debut that balances sweetness with sincerity, and leaves you with that lingering ache of hope.

Review available on Blurb It Down (www.blurbitdown.wordpress.com)

Grateful to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group and Emily Zipps for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

"In this sapphic homage to While You Were Sleeping, a down-on-her-luck receptionist is mistaken as the girlfriend of a comatose man and doesn’t have the heart to come clean to his devastated family—even when she starts falling for his sister."

"“Vibrant, voice-y, tender, genuinely funny, and bursting with all the imperfect charm of a real, hopeful love. I can’t wait to make everyone I know read this.”—Casey McQuiston,"

Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for my review!