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Love in Ruins
After a recent OCD diagnosis, a teen girl embarks on a trip to Greece with her best friend, when she meets a captivating local girl. As their relationship heats up under the Mediterranean sun, she learns to balance the needs of those she loves with that of her own heart.
When Natalie Campbell sets out on a class trip to Greece, she knows that checking off a summer bucket list with her best friend, Luca, sounds like the perfect way to deal (or rather, not deal) with her recent breakup—and the new OCD diagnosis she’s doing a beautiful job of ignoring. Ever since her controlling ex tried to isolate her from Luca and confirmed all the worst theories she’s ever had about romance, Natalie has promised to swear off dating.
But when she grows closer with Melanie, their Greek instructor’s daughter, Natalie isn’t so sure about her challenge anymore. As Natalie finds herself sneaking on boat rides to hidden beaches, taking secret midnight hikes to ancient ruins, and jetting off to nearby islands with Melanie as her guide, her summer Greece adventure unexpectedly begins to heat up.
Romance is the last thing Natalie planned on for her summer bucket list, and strain on her friendship with Luca wasn’t in her plan, either. Amid the ancient Greek ruins, will Natalie learn to follow her heart before her chance at romance—and her friendships—could be ruined for good?
When Natalie Campbell sets out on a class trip to Greece, she knows that checking off a summer bucket list with her best friend, Luca, sounds like the perfect way to deal (or rather, not deal) with her recent breakup—and the new OCD diagnosis she’s doing a beautiful job of ignoring. Ever since her controlling ex tried to isolate her from Luca and confirmed all the worst theories she’s ever had about romance, Natalie has promised to swear off dating.
But when she grows closer with Melanie, their Greek instructor’s daughter, Natalie isn’t so sure about her challenge anymore. As Natalie finds herself sneaking on boat rides to hidden beaches, taking secret midnight hikes to ancient ruins, and jetting off to nearby islands with Melanie as her guide, her summer Greece adventure unexpectedly begins to heat up.
Romance is the last thing Natalie planned on for her summer bucket list, and strain on her friendship with Luca wasn’t in her plan, either. Amid the ancient Greek ruins, will Natalie learn to follow her heart before her chance at romance—and her friendships—could be ruined for good?
240 pages, Paperback
Expected publication February 24, 2026
3 people are currently reading
3089 people want to read
About the author
Auriane Desombre
5 books207 followersAuriane Desombre is a middle school teacher and author of love stories for teens and tweens. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her wife and daughter, their badly behaved dog, and an ever-growing collection of houseplants (most of which are pretty well behaved).
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 31, 2025
thank you to netgalley + penguin random house for providing me with an arc to this book!! all thoughts are my own.
[2.5 stars, rounded down] while i resonate so much with the love letter to greece aspect of this book (especially since i traveled to so many of the same places natalie did on my study abroad in greece!), from a craft standpoint, this was lacking in so many ways. one of the central conflicts of this book is the academic competition set for the students, and 90% of the way through the book, natalie still had no idea what her project would entail—no thesis, no guiding questions, nothing, but she’d met and been flirting with melanie (even though she continuously expresses her lack of interest in romance throughout the book!) from the 3% mark. natalie’s ocd was also, i think, not as well-represented as it could have been, or that the language used to describe it could have been a little more empathetic; her calling her intrusive thoughts a ‘tap-dancing gremlin’ felt more than a little juvenile, even for this book’s age demographic. i wish we’d gotten more time with natalie’s family, too, especially near the end; i was left wanting a conversation with lizzy and a longer, more arduous talk with her mother (though maybe i’m projecting, just a little).
thank you so much to netgalley + penguin again for the early access!!
[2.5 stars, rounded down] while i resonate so much with the love letter to greece aspect of this book (especially since i traveled to so many of the same places natalie did on my study abroad in greece!), from a craft standpoint, this was lacking in so many ways. one of the central conflicts of this book is the academic competition set for the students, and 90% of the way through the book, natalie still had no idea what her project would entail—no thesis, no guiding questions, nothing, but she’d met and been flirting with melanie (even though she continuously expresses her lack of interest in romance throughout the book!) from the 3% mark. natalie’s ocd was also, i think, not as well-represented as it could have been, or that the language used to describe it could have been a little more empathetic; her calling her intrusive thoughts a ‘tap-dancing gremlin’ felt more than a little juvenile, even for this book’s age demographic. i wish we’d gotten more time with natalie’s family, too, especially near the end; i was left wanting a conversation with lizzy and a longer, more arduous talk with her mother (though maybe i’m projecting, just a little).
thank you so much to netgalley + penguin again for the early access!!
February 10, 2026
I hate giving negative ratings, but this one was a real struggle for me — especially on audio.
The audiobook narrator attempted a Greek accent, and unfortunately… it just didn’t work. Not only did the accent sound off, it was inconsistent throughout, which made it difficult to stay immersed in the story or fully connect with the prose. Instead of disappearing into the narration, I found myself constantly distracted by it.
As for the story itself, I genuinely appreciated the inclusion of OCD representation. However, it ultimately felt less like a thoughtfully developed character trait and more like a convenient plot device. Rather than organically shaping the FMC’s personality and decision-making, it seemed to dominate the narrative in a way that felt heavy-handed and underdeveloped.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from PRH Audio via their influencer program, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts
. While this book didn’t work for me personally, I know it may resonate more strongly with readers who connect deeply with its themes and style.
Sometimes a book just isn’t the right match — and this one, sadly, wasn’t mine.
The audiobook narrator attempted a Greek accent, and unfortunately… it just didn’t work. Not only did the accent sound off, it was inconsistent throughout, which made it difficult to stay immersed in the story or fully connect with the prose. Instead of disappearing into the narration, I found myself constantly distracted by it.
As for the story itself, I genuinely appreciated the inclusion of OCD representation. However, it ultimately felt less like a thoughtfully developed character trait and more like a convenient plot device. Rather than organically shaping the FMC’s personality and decision-making, it seemed to dominate the narrative in a way that felt heavy-handed and underdeveloped.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from PRH Audio via their influencer program, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts
. While this book didn’t work for me personally, I know it may resonate more strongly with readers who connect deeply with its themes and style.
Sometimes a book just isn’t the right match — and this one, sadly, wasn’t mine.
December 10, 2025
The pacing was way off in this one. The first 6 chapters or so could all have been broken up into 2, 3, or even 4 smaller pieces - especially since the last 1/3 of the book had much shorter chapters. It made the story feel uneven, despite the overall easy reading speed and short total length.
I think I also wanted some closure with Natalie’s sisters instead of just her mom. Even just a glimpse at the wedding that was such a huge hurtle going on in the background?
I did like that Natalie’s and Melanie’s (and Natalie’s and Liam’s) conversations seemed really genuine. Of course Natalie isn’t showing either of them her whole hand, but as they opened up to each other, the audience got to see how normal their anxieties and missteps were.
Plus, the disdain for therapy and labels that Natalie has throughout the book gets addressed and we get to see “in real time” the positive impact of a good therapy experience!
{Thank you Delacorte Romance for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review; all thoughts are my own}
I think I also wanted some closure with Natalie’s sisters instead of just her mom. Even just a glimpse at the wedding that was such a huge hurtle going on in the background?
I did like that Natalie’s and Melanie’s (and Natalie’s and Liam’s) conversations seemed really genuine. Of course Natalie isn’t showing either of them her whole hand, but as they opened up to each other, the audience got to see how normal their anxieties and missteps were.
Plus, the disdain for therapy and labels that Natalie has throughout the book gets addressed and we get to see “in real time” the positive impact of a good therapy experience!
{Thank you Delacorte Romance for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review; all thoughts are my own}
November 25, 2025
I appreciated the realistic depiction of OCD—intrusive thoughts and thought spirals included. It’s a refreshing change from Hollywood’s version where it’s either a quirky super power or magically cured by love. The descriptions of Greece were also gorgeous. And the romance was very cute.
That said, from a storytelling perspective, Natalie’s character arc felt like it stagnated for much of the book. I wish we’d seen a little more momentum for her, either toward her pushing people away or toward growth, before the very end where she had her breakthrough. Though perhaps the repetition of baby steps forward and backward was intentional, since that’s often how mental health goes.
I received an advanced copy from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving this review.
That said, from a storytelling perspective, Natalie’s character arc felt like it stagnated for much of the book. I wish we’d seen a little more momentum for her, either toward her pushing people away or toward growth, before the very end where she had her breakthrough. Though perhaps the repetition of baby steps forward and backward was intentional, since that’s often how mental health goes.
I received an advanced copy from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving this review.
January 2, 2026
A lesbian romance set in Greece, talking all about ancient myths, with a MC with OCD? I literally could not come up with a more perfect book pitch.
I loved this book! As someone with OCD, I could relate to Natalie’s struggles a lot. While our OCDs don’t look exactly the same, her doubts surrounding romance and being “good enough” and avoiding discomfort are all things I’ve noticed in my own life. Having it put into words like this was very validating!
I feel like some people may get bored/annoyed by the repetitiveness of Nat’s obsessions, but to me that’s what felt very real about it. These obsessions repeat and evolve and don’t go away once you find romance.
Also, therapy rep! ERP rep! Woot woot! We love to see it.
The romance was adorable, I found myself giggling and kicking my feet every time their hands touched. Oh lesbians in Greece in summer taking in the scenery and each other, how I love you.
Also, can we talk about the use of the word Lesbian in the book? It shouldn’t be shocking but it is, as so many authors of sapphic books shy away from the word (why, I have no idea). Lesbian isn’t a bad word! Love to see it.
I would have loved to know more about Natalie’s final project, simply because all of the buildup to it kind of fizzled out when she finally had a bit of an idea. I wanted to know about everyone’s final project! What was Amalia always writing about? What was Liam’s poem? I was so invested haha.
The descriptions of Greece made me yearn to be there! I felt like I could actually see what Nat was seeing, feel what she was feeling, etc. the setting felt like another character in the book and I love that.
One more thing… I cannot forgive Natalie for not liking cheese. That’s ungodly.
Overall i HIGHLY recommend this book. It’s a very YA, sweet but emotionally-heavy book that I think has really good OCD rep. Thank you to Penguin Teen Canada and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book early. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"With the temple in front of me and the sea blazing with sunlight beyond it, I understand all the ancient stories for what they are - the living, kicking proof that people have been alive and loving the earth and trying to make sense of the world and their place in it as long as we have been here."
This book was a love letter to first romances and the ancient world, and it is clear how much Desombre respects and loves ancient stories. Yet all the love in the world cannot change the very ridiculous pacing problems.
-At 45% in, I felt like absolutely nothing had happened besides Natalie meeting Melanie.
-At 88% in, Natalie hadn't exhibited any growth. She hadn't started her project, she continued to push people away, and she was STILL avoiding therapy.
-At 91% in, she finally goes to therapy! But then she starts using a TON of therapy-speak in a way that felt inauthentic for a teenager.
-At 100% in, the author left several loose ends about the project, the decathlon, and the rest of their trip.
I appreciate the way the intrusive thoughts were represented, but they often came at the expense of plot and character development. One of the joys of YA is how the main characters grow. Coming-of-age is a key part of the genre, as the readers themselves are experiencing unprecedented growth at that time in their lives. Natalie just didn't grow, with the exception of the last ~10% of the book, which read like the author frantically needing some sort of resolution. Truly a shame since the setting was written so well, and I did enjoy the date scenes!
Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Romance for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
This book was a love letter to first romances and the ancient world, and it is clear how much Desombre respects and loves ancient stories. Yet all the love in the world cannot change the very ridiculous pacing problems.
-At 45% in, I felt like absolutely nothing had happened besides Natalie meeting Melanie.
-At 88% in, Natalie hadn't exhibited any growth. She hadn't started her project, she continued to push people away, and she was STILL avoiding therapy.
-At 91% in, she finally goes to therapy! But then she starts using a TON of therapy-speak in a way that felt inauthentic for a teenager.
-At 100% in, the author left several loose ends about the project, the decathlon, and the rest of their trip.
I appreciate the way the intrusive thoughts were represented, but they often came at the expense of plot and character development. One of the joys of YA is how the main characters grow. Coming-of-age is a key part of the genre, as the readers themselves are experiencing unprecedented growth at that time in their lives. Natalie just didn't grow, with the exception of the last ~10% of the book, which read like the author frantically needing some sort of resolution. Truly a shame since the setting was written so well, and I did enjoy the date scenes!
Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Romance for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
December 1, 2025
⋆. 𐙚 ˚❀Love in Ruins⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me this ARC! I absolutely loved it. This book was so heartwarming, and the ending made all of the tough parts worth it. Natalie is a high schooler working on an art project with her school group in Greece. There, she meets the daughter of one of the teachers, Melanie, and the two start a whirlwind romance for the month. Unfortunately, Natalie's recent diagnosis with OCD gets in the way of both her love life and her friendships.
I found Natalie to be a very frustrating character. But, after some self reflection, I realized that it was only because I saw so much of myself, and the parts of myself I dislike, in her. Natalie and I are both very self-destructive people who let our thought spirals control our every move. It was jarring to read such a mirror image of myself. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the book, the romance, and all of the Greek mythology weaved throughout. The lowlights were the fact that one of the characters disappears randomly throughout the middle of the book and then appears again at the end. The book suffers from character soup, so some extra editing is needed there, in my opinion. Plus, I thought that the book perpetuated the idea that people with OCD or anxiety ruin everything they touch and cannot be happy. Nevertheless, like I said, the ending makes up for a big chunk of that. I recommend this book to anyone struggling with OCD, family dysfunction, or first relationships.
Thanks again to NetGalley.
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me this ARC! I absolutely loved it. This book was so heartwarming, and the ending made all of the tough parts worth it. Natalie is a high schooler working on an art project with her school group in Greece. There, she meets the daughter of one of the teachers, Melanie, and the two start a whirlwind romance for the month. Unfortunately, Natalie's recent diagnosis with OCD gets in the way of both her love life and her friendships.
I found Natalie to be a very frustrating character. But, after some self reflection, I realized that it was only because I saw so much of myself, and the parts of myself I dislike, in her. Natalie and I are both very self-destructive people who let our thought spirals control our every move. It was jarring to read such a mirror image of myself. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the book, the romance, and all of the Greek mythology weaved throughout. The lowlights were the fact that one of the characters disappears randomly throughout the middle of the book and then appears again at the end. The book suffers from character soup, so some extra editing is needed there, in my opinion. Plus, I thought that the book perpetuated the idea that people with OCD or anxiety ruin everything they touch and cannot be happy. Nevertheless, like I said, the ending makes up for a big chunk of that. I recommend this book to anyone struggling with OCD, family dysfunction, or first relationships.
Thanks again to NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Random House Children’s Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early.
Love in Ruins follows Natalie, a teen with a recent OCD diagnosis and a love for Greek mythology, on a summer class trip to Greece where she meets charming Greek instructor’s daughter.
This book was so much fun! I really loved Natalie and all of her classmates on the trip and Melanie was such a fun character to challenge Natalie’s world view. I particularly loved how close the classmates were and the little excursions they went on by themselves. It was so fun to see a bunch of kids so excited about Greek mythology and history and see them visit sites that I hope to visit one day.
I do wish a little more focus had been put on the project Natalie spends the book (not) working on as having her figure it out 90% in then only vaguely describe it was a bit of a let down. I also felt like it was hard to enjoy some of the sections of the book where Natalie was spiraling and worrying as it isolated her from the rest of the group where the best interactions took place.
But even though I felt like Natalie had a little too much going on internally, I did feel that her thought spirals were realistic and well handled and overall I really enjoyed this book.
Thank you again to Random House Children’s Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this early.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.
Love in Ruins follows Natalie, a teen with a recent OCD diagnosis and a love for Greek mythology, on a summer class trip to Greece where she meets charming Greek instructor’s daughter.
This book was so much fun! I really loved Natalie and all of her classmates on the trip and Melanie was such a fun character to challenge Natalie’s world view. I particularly loved how close the classmates were and the little excursions they went on by themselves. It was so fun to see a bunch of kids so excited about Greek mythology and history and see them visit sites that I hope to visit one day.
I do wish a little more focus had been put on the project Natalie spends the book (not) working on as having her figure it out 90% in then only vaguely describe it was a bit of a let down. I also felt like it was hard to enjoy some of the sections of the book where Natalie was spiraling and worrying as it isolated her from the rest of the group where the best interactions took place.
But even though I felt like Natalie had a little too much going on internally, I did feel that her thought spirals were realistic and well handled and overall I really enjoyed this book.
Thank you again to Random House Children’s Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this early.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
** Read via ARC provided by Netgalley**
Overall I do think this was a cute story of finding oneself. The characters are very relatable and their story is compelling and relatable.
Pros:
-the academic trip to Greexe was a very interesting setting and concept for this story
-having a character with mental health struggles makes her a very compelling person to want to root for and gives a unique perspective
Cons:
-slow to start.... it took a while for the story to gear up and then almost immediately it ended.
-the character development was pretty surface level.... I finished the book barely knowing anything about any of the characters, even Natalie.
-the whole academic completion was left unfulfilled. We never really got to see the finished product, minus just saying who won.
In summary I think the concept of this book could be really interesting. The academic research trip and competition have a lot of potential but the lack of depth in character development and speed of the plot hindered it in the end.
Overall I do think this was a cute story of finding oneself. The characters are very relatable and their story is compelling and relatable.
Pros:
-the academic trip to Greexe was a very interesting setting and concept for this story
-having a character with mental health struggles makes her a very compelling person to want to root for and gives a unique perspective
Cons:
-slow to start.... it took a while for the story to gear up and then almost immediately it ended.
-the character development was pretty surface level.... I finished the book barely knowing anything about any of the characters, even Natalie.
-the whole academic completion was left unfulfilled. We never really got to see the finished product, minus just saying who won.
In summary I think the concept of this book could be really interesting. The academic research trip and competition have a lot of potential but the lack of depth in character development and speed of the plot hindered it in the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley for the free arc!
Overall, I liked the idea of this book. A high school girl goes on a summer trip to Greece with some classmates where they are entered into an academic contest with all sorts of competitions where their points add up (individual study projects to athletic competitions to artist endeavors). At the end of the experience the person with the most points wins prize money. Natalie, the narrator, goes in a group with her good friend Liam. When they get to Greece, Natalie befriends and ultimately struggles with a relationship with Melanie due to her OCD. Her thoughts spiral and hijack not only her relationship with Melanie, but also her friendship with Liam.
It felt like the author was too ambitious with multiple plot points throughout the book (the contest, Natalie's OCD, relationship drama) and had difficulty weaving them all together. As a result, the book felt lopsided with too much attention given to certain plot points at different times and neglecting other ones. This also affected the pacing of the book.
Overall, I liked the idea of this book. A high school girl goes on a summer trip to Greece with some classmates where they are entered into an academic contest with all sorts of competitions where their points add up (individual study projects to athletic competitions to artist endeavors). At the end of the experience the person with the most points wins prize money. Natalie, the narrator, goes in a group with her good friend Liam. When they get to Greece, Natalie befriends and ultimately struggles with a relationship with Melanie due to her OCD. Her thoughts spiral and hijack not only her relationship with Melanie, but also her friendship with Liam.
It felt like the author was too ambitious with multiple plot points throughout the book (the contest, Natalie's OCD, relationship drama) and had difficulty weaving them all together. As a result, the book felt lopsided with too much attention given to certain plot points at different times and neglecting other ones. This also affected the pacing of the book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an ARC of Love in Ruins by Auriane Desombre thanks to the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the concept. I am always a fan of exploring the experience of mental health in books and it was done fairly well in this one. I also enjoyed the internal tension that it caused the main character when decisions needed to be made. However, I struggled with the writing style. It felt like it aged the characters down, which may have been intentional since the main character is the youngest of the group, but I was not a fan. It wasn't a bad book and I did finish it but I don't know if I would recommend it.
I loved the concept. I am always a fan of exploring the experience of mental health in books and it was done fairly well in this one. I also enjoyed the internal tension that it caused the main character when decisions needed to be made. However, I struggled with the writing style. It felt like it aged the characters down, which may have been intentional since the main character is the youngest of the group, but I was not a fan. It wasn't a bad book and I did finish it but I don't know if I would recommend it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A fun YA summer Sapphic romance that takes place on a school trip to Greece to learn more about ancient Greek civilization that has a young lesbian recently diagnosed with OCD grappling with unwanted feelings toward a Greek student taking part in the program too. I loved all the Greek food and location descriptions. This made me want to book a trip right away. The mental health (OCD, intrusive thoughts and anxiety rep) were also excellently written and relatable. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review. Jesse Vilinsky does a wonderful job narrating as ever.
December 1, 2025
You couldn't pay me enough to go back to high school and much of that is due to my undiagnosed anxiety and struggles with confidence that came from not knowing how to navigate romance. Love in Ruins is a refreshing love story that healed some of those high school "traumas" through Natalie's summer in Greece. Love in Ruins was a love story to the therapists, friends, and family who help us with our mental health once we give them the opportunity to.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
dnf
February 21, 2026DNF @ 33%
I adore books above travel, so I was looking forward to this one set in Greece. The tourism aspects are interesting, and the story has a lot of potential, but I'm finding that there isn't much happening so far. The dialogue is also really clunky, and I'm struggling with the writing style. I'm not invested enough to continue reading, but I'm sure this one will resonate with others who are looking for a book about travel that also touches on mental health.
I adore books above travel, so I was looking forward to this one set in Greece. The tourism aspects are interesting, and the story has a lot of potential, but I'm finding that there isn't much happening so far. The dialogue is also really clunky, and I'm struggling with the writing style. I'm not invested enough to continue reading, but I'm sure this one will resonate with others who are looking for a book about travel that also touches on mental health.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I guess this isn't horrible but I didn't like it. It felt like I was just dropped in the middle of a story and that led to feeling like I don't know Natalie very well. It also felt like it went way too fast and I do not believe that an entire summer happened during the book.
I received an arc through netgalley.
I received an arc through netgalley.
November 22, 2025
3.5 rounded down. The ending felt a bit abrupt and I didn't find myself connecting with the characters all that much, but overall this was a sweet read and I'd recommend it to teens.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
gorgeous romance with some good plotting and good characters. would recommend this one. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I wanted to like this book so bad but I just didn’t…so much fell flat unfortunately bc I really love the concept. It just felt super half baked. I sort of like the OCD but it also didn’t feel authentic. Also the whole academic stuff completly disappeared at the end which was annoying bc it kept being talked about like it was going to be a whole thing. And the pacing was weird in the first half. I don’t know. Are there redeemable parts?? Sure. Is it enough?? Idk
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2026
2.5 rounded up
With this being under 200 pages it felt like you get some much information but at the same time none at all. We barely get any plot and are just in the main character’s thoughts for most of the book. I did feel bad for Natalie because everyone in this book is so pushy towards her except for her therapist who she definitely needed to call more than once.
Thank you Random House Children's Books and NetGalley for letting me read a free copy of this book in exchange for a review
With this being under 200 pages it felt like you get some much information but at the same time none at all. We barely get any plot and are just in the main character’s thoughts for most of the book. I did feel bad for Natalie because everyone in this book is so pushy towards her except for her therapist who she definitely needed to call more than once.
Thank you Random House Children's Books and NetGalley for letting me read a free copy of this book in exchange for a review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2 and 1/2 starts rounded down.
I finished this back in December and I really wanted to love this book! The premise sounded interesting and I knew I’d like some aspects of it! However, there were a lot of things, in my opinion, that made the story fall flat.
I’ll start off with the things I liked! Natalie and Melanie’s relationship was so cute! Their many outings together throughout the book were probably my favorite parts! I loved reading all of the Greek culture that was mixed in! The foods the characters ate sounded delicious! And of course you can’t have a book based in Greece without some Greek Mythology info added to it! (I’m pretty sure a small part of the book was a nod to the myth of Atalanta and Hippomenes but with a sapphic twist!) Natalie and Luca’s friendship dynamics were fun to read throughout the book! I also liked the dynamics of the class and there were a lot of funny scenes!
The disappointing part was the pacing! The first half + a little more was fine but after the chapters were much shorter and rushed! The ending was sweet but it was so abrupt! I wish it was better paced since there was a lot I felt that could’ve been fleshed out more! The small subplot with Natalie and her family felt underdeveloped too. The OCD rep aspect wasn’t stereotypical but I felt like it could’ve been written a little better for a YA book.
Overall the summer romance vibes were there but it’s definitely a book middle school me would’ve liked better!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC!
I finished this back in December and I really wanted to love this book! The premise sounded interesting and I knew I’d like some aspects of it! However, there were a lot of things, in my opinion, that made the story fall flat.
I’ll start off with the things I liked! Natalie and Melanie’s relationship was so cute! Their many outings together throughout the book were probably my favorite parts! I loved reading all of the Greek culture that was mixed in! The foods the characters ate sounded delicious! And of course you can’t have a book based in Greece without some Greek Mythology info added to it! (I’m pretty sure a small part of the book was a nod to the myth of Atalanta and Hippomenes but with a sapphic twist!) Natalie and Luca’s friendship dynamics were fun to read throughout the book! I also liked the dynamics of the class and there were a lot of funny scenes!
The disappointing part was the pacing! The first half + a little more was fine but after the chapters were much shorter and rushed! The ending was sweet but it was so abrupt! I wish it was better paced since there was a lot I felt that could’ve been fleshed out more! The small subplot with Natalie and her family felt underdeveloped too. The OCD rep aspect wasn’t stereotypical but I felt like it could’ve been written a little better for a YA book.
Overall the summer romance vibes were there but it’s definitely a book middle school me would’ve liked better!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC!
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