Genevieve Wheeler

plot: ★★★★★
I do get nervous going into the “we know the relationship is going to be a bad one from the jump” books because they can go wrong so fast. that said, I really loved this one. it could very well be that Adelaide is extremely relatable for me and her relationship with Rory reminded me heavily of a past relationship of my own and that made me connect with the story in a way that is unique to me, but sheesh. this book slapped.
writing: ★★★★★
this was Genevieve show more Williams’ debut! wow! no complaints. I was worried at the beginning of the book when I saw there weren’t any quotation marks used for the conversations between Adelaide and Rory (because the story is told in the format of Adelaide re-hashing the entire relationship) but the concern quickly faded as I got absorbed into the story.
prose: ★★★☆☆
this wasn’t the type of book/writing style that really needed super poetic/lyrical moments. it felt more casual. it worked well though, because prose is often one of my favorite parts in books and I didn’t miss it at all.
pacing: ★★★★☆
I never felt bored while reading, but I did feel anxious like I was always waiting for a bomb to go off, so...
humor: ★★★★☆
I would never ever describe this book as a funny book or anywhere close to “rom-com” territory, BUT Adelaide is a funny person. her humor is fun and I really appreciated the bits of humor sprinkled through.
characters: ★★★★★
perfection. no notes. thank you. Adelaide is genuine and funny and goofy and just so cool. her friendships were absolutely one of the highlights of the book. like, the scenes describing her and her roommates and her friends just hanging out made me wish that I had been invited. even her working relationships with her coworkers were genuine and enjoyable to read about. Rory better not let me catch him in the streets though.
spice: ☒
n/a—there are sexual scenes in this story, but they are not described in heavy detail, and some are not intended to be enjoyable (tw: non-consensual sexual acts when fmc is in high-school)
illustrations and/or art style: ☒
n/a—there were no illustrations for this book.
audiobook narration: ☒
n/a—I read the hard copy of this book.
over-all enjoyment: ★★★★★
did I cry? yes. did I laugh? also yes. I loved this book. I will say though, I definitely read it at the right time. I am self aware enough to know that if I had read this when I was freshly out of my Rory-esque relationship, I would have absolutely spiraled out of control and it would not have been a pretty sight, lmao. also maybe a good time to note tw: a LOT of talks surrounding suicide. like A LOT a lot. show less

Adelaide is an American living and working in London. She has wonderful friends and a promising career. Her family struggled with mental health issues and her romantic past was often painful. Then she meets Rory, the man of her dreams, whose frequent disappearances and emotional disconnects are viewed as something she has done wrong. When he mourns the death of his former girlfriend, she grieves with him. Many women would view him as self-absorbed, thoughtless, and dismissive of her show more feelings; however, Adelaide remains committed to Rory despite his not reciprocating her declaration of love. When she discovers his final betrayal, she has an emotional breakdown, leading her ultimately to find why she has subjugated herself for such a long time, always putting herself second to other people in her life.

Genevieve Wheeler has written an interesting story with insertions of foreshadowing that add rather than detract. Watching Adelaide's growth as a person made this a satisfying read, despite my initial impression of Adelaide. show less

Do you enjoy reading about twenty-somethings tortured by anxiety, self-doubt, PTSD, while they attempt to live carefree lives full of sex, work, love, friends, and too much alcohol? Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler fits the bill with a main character (Adelaide) trying desperately to make a relationship work with a reluctant partner through tragic circumstances. Her own family background and emotional issues come into play as Wheeler skillfully reveals events through flashback sections. This is show more not my favorite genre of book, but readers of Sally Rooney and similar authors will enjoy this contemporary story. show less

I enjoyed this book. I wish the entirety of it wasn’t focused on a bad relationship but I get it. It was emotional and moving and I’m glad I read it. It was written extremely well and I found myself turning page after page. I would recommend this to younger women who still struggle with their self identity and finding healthy relationships.