I Fall in Love Once A Year

by Emely Gottwald

Chloe attends Cologne pride every year – it’s a place and time where she can express herself and explore her sexuality. It’s just that this year, everything seems to be different.

The first night of pride weekend, between sweaty bodies and loud music of a lesbian bar, Chloe meets Mel and her world turns upside down. Mel is older, mysterious, and stirs something inside Chloe she didn’t know existed – Is it just sexual tension or true romantic feelings?

The world of quick hook-ups and short-term crushes suddenly turns into the beautiful ups and downs of an emotional rollercoaster. Within the color and clamour of one of the biggest prides in Europe, the lesbian universe seems to be the size of a small town. As Mel’s ex-girlfriend steps into the picture, the delusion of a dreamy weekend is shaken up…

Genres: Lesbian, Romance, Queer, LGBT, Gay

317 pages, Paperback

Published November 29, 2023

Reviews

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited to read this book and wasn't disappointed. There are a few editorial mistakes but it didn't really impact my reading. I saw some comments saying the main character seems annoying and immature, and I agree but it's normal, she's 19 and in love for the first time. Experiencing love for the first time is scary and we don't really know how to act. I saw a lot of myself in Chloe so thank you so much <3 I can't wait to read another book from this talented young author (next time though please don't name the love interest after my ex, it's extremely disturbing to say the least hahaha).

[LeAnne · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s spicy, yes! Sexy and hot! Check. Also, the characters are engaging- struggling with a first love is impossibly heartbreaking and energizing like a rollercoaster. The setting is beautiful, too!

[Tatiana Rocha · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5

Emely sent me this book and I'm very thankful for that. This book was lovely to read, a very pleasurable and easy read. I loved the way that she portrayed what a Pride is and how a queer person feels when in a community that understands and accepts them. Thank you, Emely!

[Miglė | Perskaičiau ir aprašiau · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[Daniel V. N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lured in by the name of the book, which I think is an intriguing oxymoronic title and while I am certain I am not the intended target demographic, Gottwald, in her debut novel, has managed the wonderful art of writing a book that is just hard to put down. The reasons for putting the book down were always due to work, family obligations or other things that will eventually have priority over reading a book. However, this book nearly made me late once or twice.

The book is easily read, and comfortably never challenges the reader’s comprehension, but still allows the reader to make connections in the poetic language, my favourite example of this is in Innsbruck when Chloe ponders Mel’s feelings with “she would let her fear of those feelings win and this was the first and last time I would see mountains.” referring both to the mountains that brought Mel to the city, as well as the tattoo that Chloe enjoys tracing.

There are other instances in which Gottwald’s poetic language shines through, and you are forced to pause for a second to contemplate exactly what Gottwald intends to convey, and if the wonderfully obscure images conjured up in your brain align with that. Some of these passages are:
“if they weren’t intertwined in the lesbian octopus of the cologne queer community and an ex of an ex or whatever,” “She looked like a fairy dressed in trash.” and “She broke my heart, but there was something inside me that gloomed with hope.” (emphases added)

Then, naturally, those who know me are aware that I love a good play on words, and I guffawed out loud when I read “Our first three days together were a blur of endorphins, neither of us able to really think straight.”

All in all a great hard-to-put-down comfort read that plays around with the uncomfortable experiences of growing up in love once a year.

[Lauren Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very very gay but is this not expected from me now?
If your in a long distant relationship, or in a situationship, beware!!!!

[Ella Ward · Rating 2 out of 5]

i didn’t love this book. i didn’t love either of the main characters. i thought they had a very toxic relationship and was wishing they would just break up the whole time. i also didn’t love the ending. it was nice that she seemed to heal a bit, but it didn’t feel like a lot. i thought it was really cool that the chapters were organized by songs.

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did like this book, but they didn’t end up together in the end which I was sad about, I don’t understand why Chloe kept lying and saying to Mel she couldn’t have done the relationship either because in her head she said if Mel had asked her to be her girlfriend she would have said yes immediately, I understand she was saying what she thought Mel wanted to hear but saying that she would have said no didn’t help her in any way?
This kind of miscommunication trope and also kind of toxic trope isn’t really for me, I don’t think it’s fair that Mel keeps going back to Chloe for sex and kisses and hugs when Mel’s the one who’s always like “we can’t do this, this needs to stop.” And Mel’s the one who keeps coming back even though she knows Chloe wants her so bad, it’s not fair on Chloe. Mel always wants to keep communication open which also isn’t fair on Chloe.
I did like this book though, I just don’t think the toxicness is for me, I just wanted them to be happy together because they clearly have the chemistry. The spice was also really good!! I wish Mel could just get out of her head and be happy with Chloe and not toxic, I don’t think I like Mel very much. I think I feel sorry for Chloe even though she’s not completely innocent she just loved someone who wasn’t great for her.

[Sarah Lindemann · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book as wlw romance books are right up my alley but something about it just fell flat leaving me wanting more. As far as the spicy scenes go there was plenty of them but outside of that I don't feel like I really connected to the characters at all. 25% into the book I started to strongly dislike Mel and about half way in is when I started to really dislike Chloe also. Yes, she is immature and yes their relationship is toxic but that wasn't what turned me off from it. I just didn't relate to or root for either of the main characters. Even though their romance didn't appeal to me I still found myself glued to the book hoping that sometime before the end Chloe would find her voice and stick up for herself and I could then see it as a "coming of age" story but unfortunately the ending just fell flat for me as well.

[Emma · Rating 1 out of 5]

the worst. i have never read smth this bad. it was horrible. very very horrible. one character is the most immature person to walk on this earth with big big mommy issues that you can fpr the love of god NOT STAND. And the other is a toxic controlling adult that is so stuck on her ex i question tf she did to her?? brain wash or what? 💀 everyone giving this a 4 star up review has probably the same problems or never read a really really good sapphic story 😭 anyway no need to be disrespectful but this one is really absolutely not it. 😭 thanks and good night for absolutely nothing 😭😭

[Alicia Schulze-Makuch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emely Gottwald is a terrific new and upcoming romance writer. I mean, wow! Those steamy scenes! The way she crafts tension, pacing, and description. Not only are the characters layered— you root for them, through their ups and downs. I can't wait to see what happens next to the characters I’ve come to adore.

[Jamie Zaccaria · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story feels like an extended diary entry/fantasy of a queer woman (not in a bad way) and the book itself is unpolished and in need of some heavy-handed editing. That being said, I think the author has potential and I'm looking forward to seeing her growth.

Also, one of the characters winks every three pages, which is super annoying.

[Stacey Stocks · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible. The writing is awful, there are so many editorial mistakes too. One whole paragraph is repeated!
The story is boring. One character is a very bratty teen. The other a very controlling and toxic adult.
If I could give zero stars I would.

[Rylie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely heart wrenching. I have never been able to go to pride and this book made me so excited about it in the future! Only bad thing i have to say was that there was a lot of smoking and alcohol involved which was kinda meh for me, but otherwise good book!

[Vanessa Dillenhöfer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this story and I love the feeling of the cologne pride 🏳️‍🌈

[yara sophie ⭐️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

i fell in love with this book the very second i saw the playlist <3 also chloe is like the most relatable character ever.

[Jasmin Pasztor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so happy when I won the book trough Tik Tok. It’s so spicy and hot, I couldn’t stop reading.
Thank you so much for publishing this book <3

[Kie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
Take a shot everytime you read the word “vape” or “bralette”

[Josie Howell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book it had a bit of a twist ending I wasn’t expecting. The journey through the book was so heartfelt and made me feel all the feels!

[chantal]

I really loved reading this book even though it was a little emotional rollercoaster.
The spicy scenes are some of the best I‘ve ever read (and there are not too few of them).
The ending may eventually not be like one would expect in the first place but I think for Chloe‘s story and the relationship between her and Mel, it was the perfect ending.
I‘m so excited for everything else to come!!