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Rosewater
A deliciously gritty and strikingly bold debut novel about discovering love where it has always been.
Elsie is a sexy, funny, and fiercely independent woman in South London. But, at just 28, she is also tired. Though she spends her days writing tender poetry in her journal, her nights are spent working long hours for minimum wage at a neighbourhood gay bar.
The difficulty of being estranged from her family, the struggle of being continually rejected from jobs, and the fear of never making money doing what she loves, is too great. But Elsie is determined to keep the faith, for a little longer at least. Things will surely turn around. They have to.
As she tries to breathe through the panic attacks, sleeping with her hot and spirited co-worker Bea isn't exactly straightforward and offers Elsie just another place to hide.
As Elsie tries to reconnect with her best friend Juliet, her fragile world spirals out of control. Can Elsie steady herself and not fall through the cracks?
Elsie is a sexy, funny, and fiercely independent woman in South London. But, at just 28, she is also tired. Though she spends her days writing tender poetry in her journal, her nights are spent working long hours for minimum wage at a neighbourhood gay bar.
The difficulty of being estranged from her family, the struggle of being continually rejected from jobs, and the fear of never making money doing what she loves, is too great. But Elsie is determined to keep the faith, for a little longer at least. Things will surely turn around. They have to.
As she tries to breathe through the panic attacks, sleeping with her hot and spirited co-worker Bea isn't exactly straightforward and offers Elsie just another place to hide.
As Elsie tries to reconnect with her best friend Juliet, her fragile world spirals out of control. Can Elsie steady herself and not fall through the cracks?
336 pages, Paperback
First published April 25, 2023
240 people are currently reading
21561 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 832 reviews
July 12, 2023
i wanted to like this much so more than i actually did
the storyline was quite strong, the representation of black queer people was amazing and i related to elsie struggling to peruse her dreams
but there’s something i can’t quite put my finger on that i didn’t love
maybe it was the superfluous language?? like it felt a bit thesaurus-y and unnatural, and maybe i just got very frustrated with the back and forth between relationships?? the ending was a bit cliche too
don’t hate it but also don’t love it
the storyline was quite strong, the representation of black queer people was amazing and i related to elsie struggling to peruse her dreams
but there’s something i can’t quite put my finger on that i didn’t love
maybe it was the superfluous language?? like it felt a bit thesaurus-y and unnatural, and maybe i just got very frustrated with the back and forth between relationships?? the ending was a bit cliche too
don’t hate it but also don’t love it
April 16, 2023
A debut novel with a main character you want to shake, but also cheer for.
In Liv Little’s debut novel Rosewater we first meet Elise, after a drunken night with her co-worker Bea, she wakes up to two policemen knocking on her door, telling her she will be evicted from her apartment in the next hour. Elise does not know what to do, especially with Bea being there- a co-worker she hooks up with but doesn’t really know that well. With no one else to turn to, she calls her friend Juliet who she hasn’t spoken to in over a year to ask if she can stay by her until she sorts herself out. Juilet agrees, but there is still that conversation that needs to be had between them.
Elise goes through so many emotions, being 28, jobless, starving poet, living in her best friend’s apartment, little to no money, barely any contact with her family, except for her grandmother- all while trying to see if she wants Bea as more than a hook up. She tries to not be a failure but cannot help but feel like she will never make it in life, especially when she compares herself to Juilet.
This time the marketing department did not lie, if you did enjoy QUEENIE I think you will absolutely enjoy Rosewater. Yes, Elise reads way more mature than Queenie but both are going through the growing pain of finding themselves in the world. I love how relatable Elise was, as a Black woman in London, who cant seem to catch a break, who wants to be the next poet, it is great getting a look into the reality of what can happen.
I did feel like the author tried to cover a lot of different themes and some I felt got glossed over. The family bit, with the father cheating and who he cheated with- that felt a bit unnecessary because it did nothing to move the plot along. I also felt like the book dragged a bit in the middle and sprinted in the end and I wish they had taken more time to give us a slower ending.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable debut novel.
In Liv Little’s debut novel Rosewater we first meet Elise, after a drunken night with her co-worker Bea, she wakes up to two policemen knocking on her door, telling her she will be evicted from her apartment in the next hour. Elise does not know what to do, especially with Bea being there- a co-worker she hooks up with but doesn’t really know that well. With no one else to turn to, she calls her friend Juliet who she hasn’t spoken to in over a year to ask if she can stay by her until she sorts herself out. Juilet agrees, but there is still that conversation that needs to be had between them.
Elise goes through so many emotions, being 28, jobless, starving poet, living in her best friend’s apartment, little to no money, barely any contact with her family, except for her grandmother- all while trying to see if she wants Bea as more than a hook up. She tries to not be a failure but cannot help but feel like she will never make it in life, especially when she compares herself to Juilet.
This time the marketing department did not lie, if you did enjoy QUEENIE I think you will absolutely enjoy Rosewater. Yes, Elise reads way more mature than Queenie but both are going through the growing pain of finding themselves in the world. I love how relatable Elise was, as a Black woman in London, who cant seem to catch a break, who wants to be the next poet, it is great getting a look into the reality of what can happen.
I did feel like the author tried to cover a lot of different themes and some I felt got glossed over. The family bit, with the father cheating and who he cheated with- that felt a bit unnecessary because it did nothing to move the plot along. I also felt like the book dragged a bit in the middle and sprinted in the end and I wish they had taken more time to give us a slower ending.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable debut novel.
dnf
December 8, 2022DNF - 25%
I gave this as much of a chance as I could to change my mind, but I know at this point that Rosewater is not going to be my next Queenie or Such a Fun Age as the blurb promises.
It comes down to either subpar writing or subpar editing, hard to say which. Rosewater is awkwardly overwritten, each superfluous adjective making the sentences clunky and disrupting the flow. I think this slowly decreases as the novel progresses (at least, as far as I've read) but it is replaced by stiff unnatural dialogue and an overuse of slang.
Sounded like a gritty, interesting story but I can't get past the writing.
I gave this as much of a chance as I could to change my mind, but I know at this point that Rosewater is not going to be my next Queenie or Such a Fun Age as the blurb promises.
It comes down to either subpar writing or subpar editing, hard to say which. Rosewater is awkwardly overwritten, each superfluous adjective making the sentences clunky and disrupting the flow. I think this slowly decreases as the novel progresses (at least, as far as I've read) but it is replaced by stiff unnatural dialogue and an overuse of slang.
Sounded like a gritty, interesting story but I can't get past the writing.
March 28, 2024
3.5/5 ⭐️
- The vibes of this book literally gave indie film and I would love to see this in a movie! The characters felt so realistically flawed. Wish I had gotten a little more closure at the ending.
- Wasn’t obsessed with the writing style because there was so much description that I got lost in the story at times. But I did really enjoy how raw the writing felt. The characters were so relatable.
- Loved the representation in this story and the poetry that was included too. It was breathtaking and such a great way to connect with the characters even more.
- The vibes of this book literally gave indie film and I would love to see this in a movie! The characters felt so realistically flawed. Wish I had gotten a little more closure at the ending.
- Wasn’t obsessed with the writing style because there was so much description that I got lost in the story at times. But I did really enjoy how raw the writing felt. The characters were so relatable.
- Loved the representation in this story and the poetry that was included too. It was breathtaking and such a great way to connect with the characters even more.
June 2, 2024
andrew pissed me off so much that i wanted to step into the book and strangle him
May 21, 2024
i enjoyed this a lot! there were a few things bothering me, i didn't like the writing that much and some scenes felt very rushed but i loved getting to know the characters and falling in love a little, as well. ♥️
May 22, 2023
lesbian friends to lovers! i repeat, lesbian friends to lovers!
August 15, 2024
The cover is giving literary masterpiece but the writing is giving wattpad
June 18, 2023
10000000000000000000/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I wish I could rate it higher ugh!
So, this had me laughing, screaming, crying, throwing tf up and punching pillows.
Liv Little, you are…. Idk what you are but you ARE!!
Oh this was beautiful and haunting and everything I could’ve possibly wanted and needed. I sincerely apologize for the person I’m gonna become for the next six months since having read this.
Characters: incredible, dynamic, flawed, perfect, imperfect, shitty and annoying, beautiful and joyous.
Ummm. My brain is short circuiting so I’ll end the review by saying that you better be giving her all the 10s & singing her praises like it’s Youth Sunday. If you are not speaking highly of her, you should not be speaking.
So, this had me laughing, screaming, crying, throwing tf up and punching pillows.
Liv Little, you are…. Idk what you are but you ARE!!
Oh this was beautiful and haunting and everything I could’ve possibly wanted and needed. I sincerely apologize for the person I’m gonna become for the next six months since having read this.
Characters: incredible, dynamic, flawed, perfect, imperfect, shitty and annoying, beautiful and joyous.
Ummm. My brain is short circuiting so I’ll end the review by saying that you better be giving her all the 10s & singing her praises like it’s Youth Sunday. If you are not speaking highly of her, you should not be speaking.
February 18, 2023
It’s hard to finish a book that you were excited for, and realize it isn’t quite the experience that you wanted. What worked for me is that this is queer friendly, with a POC main character. It’s also told from a period of time in your twenties that I don’t think is explored very often. But there was something missing from the story that kept me from connecting to it. Largely I felt that the pacing was rushed and the story itself tried a little too hard. I do also think this should be marketed more as a romance novel. I greatly appreciate the opportunity and hope the next book I read from this impressive imprint is a different experience.
March 14, 2023
Rosewater by Liv Little follows the life of a queer black poet, Elsie, who is struggling to survive. Amidst all the chaos, there is a rediscovery of love and healing.
Elsie wakes up after a night out to an eviction notice from her social housing. With her steady foundation threatened, Elsie turns to her childhood best friend, Juliet, for help.
I loved how Liv tells the coming-of-age story of a late bloomer. There were instances where I was like, "Go get it, girl," and there were times when I wanted to knock some sense into her.
She explores themes such as generational trauma, queerness, mental health, sensuality, love, healing, and many more.
I just really wished she didn’t rush the ending. It was a good read.
I really did enjoy this story although it was at a slow pace. Elise is a mature and better version of Queenie. This books gives off Queenie and Luster vibes but well written. If you enjoyed both books you will definitely enjoy this one.
Elsie wakes up after a night out to an eviction notice from her social housing. With her steady foundation threatened, Elsie turns to her childhood best friend, Juliet, for help.
I loved how Liv tells the coming-of-age story of a late bloomer. There were instances where I was like, "Go get it, girl," and there were times when I wanted to knock some sense into her.
She explores themes such as generational trauma, queerness, mental health, sensuality, love, healing, and many more.
I just really wished she didn’t rush the ending. It was a good read.
I really did enjoy this story although it was at a slow pace. Elise is a mature and better version of Queenie. This books gives off Queenie and Luster vibes but well written. If you enjoyed both books you will definitely enjoy this one.
May 10, 2023
I liked that this was a queer Black story, with observations on intersectionality, community, friendship, love and money. Unfortunately, however, even for a character-driven reader, I needed a plot which sadly never seemed to arrive and we were left reading about the mundane acts of watching TV and searching for a job.
September 16, 2023
i had such high hopes for rosewater and i'm so sad about it, but i have to say: this was exhausting. i've been in a pretty deep reading slump for the last couple of weeks, which probably added to why i didn't enjoy this as much as i had hoped to. but it also didn't pull me out of the slump, if anything it made it worse.
positive aspects first: the premise was great and the queer rep was also really well done! and elsie is an interesting character. she is SO messy and some of the stuff she did and said was extremely annoying. but she felt like a real person and i enjoyed that a lot.
some of the other characters tho... idk especially her parents and her best friend's boyfriend, andrew, felt almost like caricatures?? i know andrew was supposed to be unlikeable, but the way the author wrote him... idk he completely lacked depth.
another thing lacking depth: like fifty percent of the plot. especially the ending. come on. a car accident and someone in a coma? in the last thirty pages or so? it felt like reading something on wattpad. this book has about 300 pages, but everything dragged on for soo long. idk, it was just really boring at times. i could not bring myself to pick it up and just finish it.
idk if i would necessarily recommend this, but if you're in the mood to read about a really messy female mc, you should pick this up i guess
positive aspects first: the premise was great and the queer rep was also really well done! and elsie is an interesting character. she is SO messy and some of the stuff she did and said was extremely annoying. but she felt like a real person and i enjoyed that a lot.
some of the other characters tho... idk especially her parents and her best friend's boyfriend, andrew, felt almost like caricatures?? i know andrew was supposed to be unlikeable, but the way the author wrote him... idk he completely lacked depth.
another thing lacking depth: like fifty percent of the plot. especially the ending. come on. a car accident and someone in a coma? in the last thirty pages or so? it felt like reading something on wattpad. this book has about 300 pages, but everything dragged on for soo long. idk, it was just really boring at times. i could not bring myself to pick it up and just finish it.
idk if i would necessarily recommend this, but if you're in the mood to read about a really messy female mc, you should pick this up i guess
February 19, 2023
Mixed feelings! I loved this plot and all of the characters. rosewater is about a queer black poet scrambling to survive after being evicted from her housing. It’s full of pain and sensuality and exhaustion but ultimately a story “about discovering love where it always has been” - it started as a late coming of age and sort of morphed into romance.
My biggest thing was it was generally overwritten and way too descriptive, but I curious to see how liv little grows as a writer!
Thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy.
My biggest thing was it was generally overwritten and way too descriptive, but I curious to see how liv little grows as a writer!
Thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy.
January 23, 2024
Oh Elsie…Liv Little’s ‘Rosewater’ was a powerful coming of age story about the value of friendship and community. A book full of vibrant and diverse characters mostly centered around queer Caribbean folks in London. As someone in the same age group as the characters, I found myself thinking about what age is appropriate to center in a coming of age novel. And as I think about all the change, major life decisions, and new perspective I’ve gained in my late 20s, I love the Little’s choice to feature this time period for her transformation.
The book fell flat in the climax and resolution because I felt as though while the main character grew in terms of outward achievements, she didn’t really grow past her avoidant nature in a significant way. But maybe that was intentional to show that it is a journey. I also think an epilogue or a few extra pages to tie up some loose ends at the end would have been nice. All I think artistic freedoms taken by the author.
However, this is a beautiful story I think many will relate to in more ways than one.
The book fell flat in the climax and resolution because I felt as though while the main character grew in terms of outward achievements, she didn’t really grow past her avoidant nature in a significant way. But maybe that was intentional to show that it is a journey. I also think an epilogue or a few extra pages to tie up some loose ends at the end would have been nice. All I think artistic freedoms taken by the author.
However, this is a beautiful story I think many will relate to in more ways than one.
October 11, 2024
Very easy to get into, and the story was interesting enough for me throughout. I did find the main character a little annoying most of the time, but that’s okay haha.
May 21, 2023
Rosewater by Liv Little was one of my most anticipated debut releases of 2023. Part queer romance, part coming-of-age, it promised a fresh new voice breaking into the scene in a fantastic collaboration between our much beloved founder of gal-dem and Dialogue, whose work I follow closely.
Rosewater follows Elsie, a poet in her late 20s whose life is falling apart: her landlord evicts her, her minimum wage job can't pay her rent, her poetry isn't getting published and she's still harbouring feelings for her friend Juliet while sleeping with her other friend Bea. I was excited to read about the life and love of a queer Black woman in south London, because god knows there aren't enough stories like this in the world, and I've admired the work Liv Little has done for a long time.
Unfortunately, I was very disappointed and shocked when reading this novel. The writing itself and dialogue was poor, and it felt like the whole novel needed a further structural edit. The concept of the story and characters were great, but I sadly feel like the writing and plot arc needed more work for it to be ready.
Thanks to Dialogue Books and Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Rosewater follows Elsie, a poet in her late 20s whose life is falling apart: her landlord evicts her, her minimum wage job can't pay her rent, her poetry isn't getting published and she's still harbouring feelings for her friend Juliet while sleeping with her other friend Bea. I was excited to read about the life and love of a queer Black woman in south London, because god knows there aren't enough stories like this in the world, and I've admired the work Liv Little has done for a long time.
Unfortunately, I was very disappointed and shocked when reading this novel. The writing itself and dialogue was poor, and it felt like the whole novel needed a further structural edit. The concept of the story and characters were great, but I sadly feel like the writing and plot arc needed more work for it to be ready.
Thanks to Dialogue Books and Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
November 30, 2022
Adulthood is a serious matter and also becoming adult is heavy struggle
Elsie have a lot of issues and acceptance struggle
Juliet is a precious and patient friend and sweet
Nasty guy Juliet’s ex boyfriend tries to interfere with hea
Lot of drug and sex for Elsie before setting down
Not for all
3 stars
Elsie have a lot of issues and acceptance struggle
Juliet is a precious and patient friend and sweet
Nasty guy Juliet’s ex boyfriend tries to interfere with hea
Lot of drug and sex for Elsie before setting down
Not for all
3 stars
April 16, 2024
the day i got this book was so incredibly special to me. and to no one’s surprise it was wonderful.
December 5, 2023
2/5 ⭐️
I wanted to love this book so bad, but it fell really short :( I do enjoy the no-plot-just-vibes books from time to time, but this was too heavy on the no plot part. 😳 At the very beginning, the story was promising, things were happening, and then everything just stopped for the majority of the book. The vibes too weren't the best.
What I enjoyed the most is the portrayal of the main character Elsie, her family, culture and queer identity. I also appreciated that the story wasn't about her coming out or her being gay - such matter of fact is very comforting to read.
What I absolutely couldn't stand was the love interest. My god. 💀💀 I get that when people fall in love, they fail to see other people's flaws, but come on... This girl couldn't have a single flaw, really? No one is that perfect. This made her boring, which got me bored of the book.
Overall, I couldn't really connect with any of the characters 😭😭😭
Also, just yet another confirmation that spicy scenes make me so uncomfy ✌️😳✌️
I wanted to love this book so bad, but it fell really short :( I do enjoy the no-plot-just-vibes books from time to time, but this was too heavy on the no plot part. 😳 At the very beginning, the story was promising, things were happening, and then everything just stopped for the majority of the book. The vibes too weren't the best.
What I enjoyed the most is the portrayal of the main character Elsie, her family, culture and queer identity. I also appreciated that the story wasn't about her coming out or her being gay - such matter of fact is very comforting to read.
What I absolutely couldn't stand was the love interest. My god. 💀💀 I get that when people fall in love, they fail to see other people's flaws, but come on... This girl couldn't have a single flaw, really? No one is that perfect. This made her boring, which got me bored of the book.
Overall, I couldn't really connect with any of the characters 😭😭😭
Also, just yet another confirmation that spicy scenes make me so uncomfy ✌️😳✌️
May 23, 2023
I really powered through this one. I think I only stayed for the poems tbh. The rest of the writing was so amateurish, the plot was non-existent. It all felt very wattpad-ish which was really unfortunate. The drama at the end was so random when the rest of the book’s pacing was slow as heck.
Most of the book showed no signs that there was any romantic or sexual tension between Elsie and Juliet then suddenly it was revealed like halfway through the book?
Also why did the characters use each others names so much…. It was so unnatural they were saying each others names practically non-stop.
Also I really hated how the most irrelevant things were shared. Unnecessary boring details that didn’t drive the plot or really matter that much for the characters like their favorite food or weird irrelevant shit about their past.
And the UNNECESSARY details about what they were doing…. EXAMPLE: Talking about getting food, getting the food, waiting for the food, microwaving the food…. when the important part of the story was the DINNER. Why tell every step of the way? It was excruciating and the author did this constantly. I really wanted to like this but I think the author needs to work on their writing a bit more.
Most of the book showed no signs that there was any romantic or sexual tension between Elsie and Juliet then suddenly it was revealed like halfway through the book?
Also why did the characters use each others names so much…. It was so unnatural they were saying each others names practically non-stop.
Also I really hated how the most irrelevant things were shared. Unnecessary boring details that didn’t drive the plot or really matter that much for the characters like their favorite food or weird irrelevant shit about their past.
And the UNNECESSARY details about what they were doing…. EXAMPLE: Talking about getting food, getting the food, waiting for the food, microwaving the food…. when the important part of the story was the DINNER. Why tell every step of the way? It was excruciating and the author did this constantly. I really wanted to like this but I think the author needs to work on their writing a bit more.
February 25, 2025
3.8/5 but rounded up!
I’ve been so busy recently, i haven’t got round to reading, however whenever i picked up this book it took me to a special place of comfort?
I find it hard to find books that are related to women in their twenties but also queer.
This lil number was very relatable, i found that Liv Little takes you into the moment, describing every situation in such detail to make you feel as though you’re sat on that couch having a cuppa and a cuddle. Irrespective of that i found certain storylines to be completely rushed and i NEED to know what happened.
Although there were many a time i wanted to shake Elsie into reality, acting as though the world owed her for everything tough that happened, it made me take a breath when she started taking life into her own hands… i think it taught me a thing or two for the current position i’m in.
Don’t get me started on Andrew (can’t think about him without wanting to throw hands).
In summary, though i got wound up at times, i think that this was due to how much the book made me feel. I will for sure be recommending this one to the gays and the girls xo
- thank you to my sister for gifting me this one :)
I’ve been so busy recently, i haven’t got round to reading, however whenever i picked up this book it took me to a special place of comfort?
I find it hard to find books that are related to women in their twenties but also queer.
This lil number was very relatable, i found that Liv Little takes you into the moment, describing every situation in such detail to make you feel as though you’re sat on that couch having a cuppa and a cuddle. Irrespective of that i found certain storylines to be completely rushed and i NEED to know what happened.
Although there were many a time i wanted to shake Elsie into reality, acting as though the world owed her for everything tough that happened, it made me take a breath when she started taking life into her own hands… i think it taught me a thing or two for the current position i’m in.
Don’t get me started on Andrew (can’t think about him without wanting to throw hands).
In summary, though i got wound up at times, i think that this was due to how much the book made me feel. I will for sure be recommending this one to the gays and the girls xo
- thank you to my sister for gifting me this one :)
March 10, 2025
LOOOOVED this!!! Messy Guyanese lesbian main character who is a bit of a player but shelters feelings for her best friend? Yes please!!! Really need more from Liv Little ASAP!
September 22, 2025
The writing style felt unfinished for me and the themes underexplored. I see what the author wanted to convey, but I didn’t enjoy the execution.
December 21, 2023
this is the messy millennial romance that contemporary fiction needs - a queer, Black protagonist, emphasis on the importance of the arts sector, a gritty depiction of what life is really like out there for struggling young professionals. liv little’s breath of fresh air debut has everything and more, with almost a little too much at times.
a struggling writer and poet, elsie finds herself homeless after her minimum wage job leaves her unable to pay her rent on time. with nowhere else to go, she moves back in with her lifelong best friend juliet and at first it seems they’ve put their recent fallout behind them. but soon tensions grow between the pair - juliet feels frustrated with elsie’s lack of ambition and drive to do better for herself, while elsie finds juliet’s new relationship is tossing up all kinds of red flags, especially given her recent confession to elsie. can they overcome their feelings and reconcile before tragedy strikes?
I found little’s characters human in every sense of the word - their actions, their flaws, their dialogue and how they interact with one another, came across as so genuine and in line with the way many people in their mid-twenties feel today. queerness is at the centre of elsie’s narrative in every shape and form, unapologetically so. little manages to integrate sexuality, class, race and feminism so seamlessly into the narrative and it enables her characters to come alive. the writing itself is fast-paced, if at times a little clunky, and I loved how poetry wove into the plot and narrative.
sometimes though, it feels like too much is happening at once and I found certain twists and turns somewhat unbelievable. little covers a lot of ground, from abusive relationships to parental alienation, to totally random things happening to side characters in what seems like an attempt to tie up loose ends, but only contributes to making the novel feel more convoluted. some details felt unnecessary to the plot or the characters we were following - not every trope or twist has to be covered, especially in a first novel!
rosewater is definitely an enjoyable read, especially as it progresses and we become more invested in the characters. I’ve loved watching and listening to little talk about the book and how important the emphasis on queerness and Blackness are. yet, with a little bit of extra tightening and cutting out some of the excess, rosewater would have been even better.
a struggling writer and poet, elsie finds herself homeless after her minimum wage job leaves her unable to pay her rent on time. with nowhere else to go, she moves back in with her lifelong best friend juliet and at first it seems they’ve put their recent fallout behind them. but soon tensions grow between the pair - juliet feels frustrated with elsie’s lack of ambition and drive to do better for herself, while elsie finds juliet’s new relationship is tossing up all kinds of red flags, especially given her recent confession to elsie. can they overcome their feelings and reconcile before tragedy strikes?
I found little’s characters human in every sense of the word - their actions, their flaws, their dialogue and how they interact with one another, came across as so genuine and in line with the way many people in their mid-twenties feel today. queerness is at the centre of elsie’s narrative in every shape and form, unapologetically so. little manages to integrate sexuality, class, race and feminism so seamlessly into the narrative and it enables her characters to come alive. the writing itself is fast-paced, if at times a little clunky, and I loved how poetry wove into the plot and narrative.
sometimes though, it feels like too much is happening at once and I found certain twists and turns somewhat unbelievable. little covers a lot of ground, from abusive relationships to parental alienation, to totally random things happening to side characters in what seems like an attempt to tie up loose ends, but only contributes to making the novel feel more convoluted. some details felt unnecessary to the plot or the characters we were following - not every trope or twist has to be covered, especially in a first novel!
rosewater is definitely an enjoyable read, especially as it progresses and we become more invested in the characters. I’ve loved watching and listening to little talk about the book and how important the emphasis on queerness and Blackness are. yet, with a little bit of extra tightening and cutting out some of the excess, rosewater would have been even better.
March 28, 2023
Rosewater, debut novel of Liv Little, is the story of a queer Black poet called Elsie, who is struggling financially and emotionally, especially after breaking things off with her best friend Juliet. Thanks to her love for poetry and the support of her friends, she tries to pick up the pieces of her life and find her path in the world.
I love coming-of-age novels, especially if the main character is not a child, so I was really excited when I received a copy of this book! I really enjoyed Rosewater: Elsie's precarious world, made of self-doubt, booze and love for art, feels as real as her character, who is immediately well described and easy to root for. The novel starts a bit slow, but quickly picks up the pace and introduces lots of new characters, revelations and situations that Elsie needs to face with strength and determination. I have to say, there is way more drama than I expected, especially in the second half of the book, which I didn't mind at all! There are also A TON of different topics included in this story, the most important and deeply explored being friendship, love, sexuality and identity. The ending, though a bit quick, is quite satisfying and a nice conclusion to the story. There is only one thing that I struggled with: the character of Elsie, who is 28/29 years ago, often behaves and speaks as if she was 19, immature and selfish. I didn't expect her to talk like full adult, but sometimes her poor choices and irresponsibility made me forget she is not a teenager anymore. That being said, I'm fully aware that people grow at difference paces, this is just a personal preference.
Rosewater remains a beautiful, gripping and emotional story of a queer woman realizing her feelings for her best friends while looking for her place in a challenging world.
* I'd like to thank Liv Little, Zando Projects and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review. * Rosewater is out on April 25th, 2023.
I love coming-of-age novels, especially if the main character is not a child, so I was really excited when I received a copy of this book! I really enjoyed Rosewater: Elsie's precarious world, made of self-doubt, booze and love for art, feels as real as her character, who is immediately well described and easy to root for. The novel starts a bit slow, but quickly picks up the pace and introduces lots of new characters, revelations and situations that Elsie needs to face with strength and determination. I have to say, there is way more drama than I expected, especially in the second half of the book, which I didn't mind at all! There are also A TON of different topics included in this story, the most important and deeply explored being friendship, love, sexuality and identity. The ending, though a bit quick, is quite satisfying and a nice conclusion to the story. There is only one thing that I struggled with: the character of Elsie, who is 28/29 years ago, often behaves and speaks as if she was 19, immature and selfish. I didn't expect her to talk like full adult, but sometimes her poor choices and irresponsibility made me forget she is not a teenager anymore. That being said, I'm fully aware that people grow at difference paces, this is just a personal preference.
Rosewater remains a beautiful, gripping and emotional story of a queer woman realizing her feelings for her best friends while looking for her place in a challenging world.
* I'd like to thank Liv Little, Zando Projects and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review. * Rosewater is out on April 25th, 2023.
October 14, 2022
Elsie is struggling to adult in London. She’s a poet, but it’s hard to make that pay. She had a rough childhood, and is having a rough-ish adulthood. She’s behind on her rent and gets evicted, so she moves in with her childhood best friend, Juliet, who once admitted to being in love with her. Not sure why that was such a big deal given that Elsie is a lesbian herself, but apparently she stormed off and refused to talk to J again. So J is moving on with a douche of a man. Elsie then loses her job at a dive bar, and is struggling to find a new one. There’s lots of drugs and lots of casual sex, because Elsie just can’t seem to come to terms with the fact that she and her best friend are in love. Finally, she wins a poetry competition and gets a job, and admits she loves J, but J has her own problems. Douche man can’t handle her camming. There’s a nice dramatic car accident but everything works out ok cos it’s gotta, right?
The best thing about this book was the poetry, of which there was nowhere near enough. Honestly, I should have just read the poems and not bothered with the rest. The hardest thing about reading this book was that a couple of characters had non-stereotypical pronouns - all well and good except the author kept getting them mixed up, using both they and she in the same sentence about the same character, multiple times.
Some will appreciate this novel specifically for the POC and LGBTQI+ voices it brings, but unfortunately the writing is not brilliant.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. I’m sorry I didn’t like it as I expected to.
The best thing about this book was the poetry, of which there was nowhere near enough. Honestly, I should have just read the poems and not bothered with the rest. The hardest thing about reading this book was that a couple of characters had non-stereotypical pronouns - all well and good except the author kept getting them mixed up, using both they and she in the same sentence about the same character, multiple times.
Some will appreciate this novel specifically for the POC and LGBTQI+ voices it brings, but unfortunately the writing is not brilliant.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. I’m sorry I didn’t like it as I expected to.
June 16, 2023
In Rosewater, we follow the story of Elsie, a queer 28-year old struggling to make a living, while also trying to make something of herself as a poet.
I really enjoyed how very queer this book is, especially with the inclusion of older queer characters, which isn't something I get to read about often in fiction.
And I loved that the author included actual poetry in the book. That really helped in solidifying Elsie's identity as a poet for me.
Over the years, I've read quite a few novels about young adults feeling lost in life and messily trying to find their way, and I haven't loved most of them. I think Rosewater is my favorite one so far.
Rosewater has been compared to Queenie and Such A Fun Age, and there are certainly similarities with Queenie, but less so with Such A Fun Age, in my opinion.
Elsie is a more mature, less messy version of the "lost young adult" archetype, and I think that's why I liked Rosewater more than the other iterations of this kind of novel that I've read.
Here are some other novels I think are similar to Rosewater, that might prompt you to pick it up:
- Queenie by Candice-Carty Williams
- Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers
- Writers and Lovers by Lily King
- Luster by Raven Leilani
** Edited my review to add this: If you read and love this book, you should absolutely go and listen to the song "Rose Water" by Hiatus Kaiyote.
✨ Thank you to Liv Little, the publisher Zando Projects, and NetGalley, for providing me with an advance electronic copy of this novel, in exchange for my honest review. ✨
I really enjoyed how very queer this book is, especially with the inclusion of older queer characters, which isn't something I get to read about often in fiction.
And I loved that the author included actual poetry in the book. That really helped in solidifying Elsie's identity as a poet for me.
Over the years, I've read quite a few novels about young adults feeling lost in life and messily trying to find their way, and I haven't loved most of them. I think Rosewater is my favorite one so far.
Rosewater has been compared to Queenie and Such A Fun Age, and there are certainly similarities with Queenie, but less so with Such A Fun Age, in my opinion.
Elsie is a more mature, less messy version of the "lost young adult" archetype, and I think that's why I liked Rosewater more than the other iterations of this kind of novel that I've read.
Here are some other novels I think are similar to Rosewater, that might prompt you to pick it up:
- Queenie by Candice-Carty Williams
- Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers
- Writers and Lovers by Lily King
- Luster by Raven Leilani
** Edited my review to add this: If you read and love this book, you should absolutely go and listen to the song "Rose Water" by Hiatus Kaiyote.
✨ Thank you to Liv Little, the publisher Zando Projects, and NetGalley, for providing me with an advance electronic copy of this novel, in exchange for my honest review. ✨
May 17, 2023
Language -- the profanity was uncalled for and within the first few pages of the book, it set the tone. Characters -- I didn't like the female female scenes nor the dyke references. Again, setting the tone for the rest of the book. The final decision was on the sex line for employment.
While I do wish the author well, I like first person writings and try to pick up debut authors, this just made me miserable.
FYI -- I did find the eviction storyline interesting and well done.
While I do wish the author well, I like first person writings and try to pick up debut authors, this just made me miserable.
FYI -- I did find the eviction storyline interesting and well done.
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July 20, 2023I get frustrated being trapped inside characters who drink, overspend, and let their lives unravel, but that is my middle class privilege talking. The poetry in this book was beautiful, as was the depiction of the struggle to be an artist in the modern word. Still, the only emotion evoked was hopelessness and fatigue, and the ending was too dramatic/hollywood for my taste.
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