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Cherry Baby: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 14 Apr 26#1 New York Times bestselling author Rainbow Rowell returns with a breathtakingly honest novel about art and sex and forgiveness—and how imperfectly we fall in love.
Everybody knows that Cherry’s husband, Tom, is in Hollywood making a movie…
Almost nobody knows that he isn’t coming home.
Tom is the creator of Thursday—a semi-autobiographical webcomic, turned bestselling graphic novel, turned international phenomenon.
Semi-autobiographical. That means there’s a character in this movie based on Cherry… “Baby.”
Wide-hipped, heavy-chested, double-chinned Baby.
Cherry never wanted this. No fat girl wants to see herself caricatured on the page—let alone on the big screen. But there’s no getting away from it. Baby looks so much like Cherry that strangers recognize her at the grocery store.
While her soon-to-be ex-husband is in Los Angeles getting rich and famous and being the Internet’s latest boyfriend, Cherry is stuck in Omaha taking care of the dog he always wanted and the house they were going to raise a family in…and wondering who she's supposed to be without him.
Cherry had promised to love Tom through thick and thin.
She’d meant it.
One night, Cherry decides to leave all her problems, including Tom’s overgrown puppy, at home. She ventures out to see her favorite band play her favorite album…and someone recognizes her from across the room.
Russ Sutton knew Cherry when she was a young art student with a fondness for pin-up dresses and patent leather heels. Before Tom.
Russ knows Cherry. He likes Cherry.
And best of all…he’s never heard of Thursday.
Cherry Baby is Rainbow Rowell’s richest, most ambitious—sexiest—novel yet. Told with deep tenderness and shot through with Rowell's signature wit—this is a second-chance romance for grown-ups. For people who understand how rare it is to get even one chance at love, and how impossible it can feel to make it work.
Everybody knows that Cherry’s husband, Tom, is in Hollywood making a movie…
Almost nobody knows that he isn’t coming home.
Tom is the creator of Thursday—a semi-autobiographical webcomic, turned bestselling graphic novel, turned international phenomenon.
Semi-autobiographical. That means there’s a character in this movie based on Cherry… “Baby.”
Wide-hipped, heavy-chested, double-chinned Baby.
Cherry never wanted this. No fat girl wants to see herself caricatured on the page—let alone on the big screen. But there’s no getting away from it. Baby looks so much like Cherry that strangers recognize her at the grocery store.
While her soon-to-be ex-husband is in Los Angeles getting rich and famous and being the Internet’s latest boyfriend, Cherry is stuck in Omaha taking care of the dog he always wanted and the house they were going to raise a family in…and wondering who she's supposed to be without him.
Cherry had promised to love Tom through thick and thin.
She’d meant it.
One night, Cherry decides to leave all her problems, including Tom’s overgrown puppy, at home. She ventures out to see her favorite band play her favorite album…and someone recognizes her from across the room.
Russ Sutton knew Cherry when she was a young art student with a fondness for pin-up dresses and patent leather heels. Before Tom.
Russ knows Cherry. He likes Cherry.
And best of all…he’s never heard of Thursday.
Cherry Baby is Rainbow Rowell’s richest, most ambitious—sexiest—novel yet. Told with deep tenderness and shot through with Rowell's signature wit—this is a second-chance romance for grown-ups. For people who understand how rare it is to get even one chance at love, and how impossible it can feel to make it work.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication April 14, 2026
32094 people want to read
About the author
Rainbow Rowell
117 books141k followersRainbow Rowell writes all kinds of stuff.
Sometimes she writes about adults (ATTACHMENTS, LANDLINE, SLOW DANCE).
Sometimes she writes about teenagers (ELEANOR & PARK, FANGIRL) .
Sometimes — actually, a lot of the time — she writes about lovesick vampires and guys with dragon wings. (THE SIMON SNOW TRILOGY).
Recently, she’s been writing comics, including her first graphic novel, PUMPKINHEADS, and the monthly SHE-HULK comic for Marvel.
She lives in Omaha, Nebraska.
More at rainbowrowell.com.
Sometimes she writes about adults (ATTACHMENTS, LANDLINE, SLOW DANCE).
Sometimes she writes about teenagers (ELEANOR & PARK, FANGIRL) .
Sometimes — actually, a lot of the time — she writes about lovesick vampires and guys with dragon wings. (THE SIMON SNOW TRILOGY).
Recently, she’s been writing comics, including her first graphic novel, PUMPKINHEADS, and the monthly SHE-HULK comic for Marvel.
She lives in Omaha, Nebraska.
More at rainbowrowell.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 403 reviews
December 12, 2025
There are writers who feel like trusted friends—the kind you'd follow anywhere without question, knowing they'll never let you down. Rainbow Rowell sits at the absolute pinnacle of that sacred list for me. When I see her name on a cover, my heart does this little leap because I know I'm about to be completely swept away by characters so real they'll haunt me for weeks.
Cherry Baby hit me like the most beautiful emotional storm! Cherry's journey is gorgeously messy—full of heartbreak that made me ache, humor that caught me off guard, and those awkward, searching moments that felt so painfully familiar. She's flawed in all the ways that make you want to reach through the pages and give her the biggest hug. When the world tried to box her into some shallow stereotype, I felt my chest tighten with frustration. When she fought back (even imperfectly), I was practically cheering out loud!
I have to be honest—this isn't my absolute favorite Rowell masterpiece. Some moments felt a bit slower than I craved, and certain story beats didn't quite land with the emotional punch I was hoping for. But here's the thing about Rainbow's magic: even when a book isn't her "best," it's still absolutely irresistible! Her dialogue sparkles like champagne, her tender moments sneak up and completely wreck you, and her insights about love and identity burrow deep into your soul.
I actually created this whole ritual around reading Cherry Baby—I'd put on "Messy" by Lola Young and let that raw, vulnerable song soundtrack Cherry's story. The combination was pure emotional alchemy!
This book is about body image, second chances, and the beautiful, unglamorous work of rebuilding yourself when life implodes. It's messy because healing is messy. It's imperfect because growth is imperfect. And that's exactly why it works.
Rainbow Rowell remains my ride-or-die author, and I'm already counting down to whatever she gives us next!
Massive gratitude to NetGalley and William Morrow for this incredible early access!
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Cherry Baby hit me like the most beautiful emotional storm! Cherry's journey is gorgeously messy—full of heartbreak that made me ache, humor that caught me off guard, and those awkward, searching moments that felt so painfully familiar. She's flawed in all the ways that make you want to reach through the pages and give her the biggest hug. When the world tried to box her into some shallow stereotype, I felt my chest tighten with frustration. When she fought back (even imperfectly), I was practically cheering out loud!
I have to be honest—this isn't my absolute favorite Rowell masterpiece. Some moments felt a bit slower than I craved, and certain story beats didn't quite land with the emotional punch I was hoping for. But here's the thing about Rainbow's magic: even when a book isn't her "best," it's still absolutely irresistible! Her dialogue sparkles like champagne, her tender moments sneak up and completely wreck you, and her insights about love and identity burrow deep into your soul.
I actually created this whole ritual around reading Cherry Baby—I'd put on "Messy" by Lola Young and let that raw, vulnerable song soundtrack Cherry's story. The combination was pure emotional alchemy!
This book is about body image, second chances, and the beautiful, unglamorous work of rebuilding yourself when life implodes. It's messy because healing is messy. It's imperfect because growth is imperfect. And that's exactly why it works.
Rainbow Rowell remains my ride-or-die author, and I'm already counting down to whatever she gives us next!
Massive gratitude to NetGalley and William Morrow for this incredible early access!
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November 12, 2025rainbow rowell books soothe my spirit
September 21, 2025
I have mixed feelings about this book.
I love second chances stories. It's cute and raw, the writing is really good, and I liked how the flashbacks were woven into the story to add perspective.
But I got really annoyed with Cherry, the main character. She is constantly crying, to the point that it lost any meaningfullness, and some of her actions didn't make sense to me because she doesn't seem able to communicate with others.
Overall I think it's just not for me.
Thank you William Morrow for this ARC.
I love second chances stories. It's cute and raw, the writing is really good, and I liked how the flashbacks were woven into the story to add perspective.
But I got really annoyed with Cherry, the main character. She is constantly crying, to the point that it lost any meaningfullness, and some of her actions didn't make sense to me because she doesn't seem able to communicate with others.
Overall I think it's just not for me.
Thank you William Morrow for this ARC.
September 17, 2025
I am blown away by how truly wonderful this book is. I think it’s Rainbow Rowell’s best book. I rarely rate an ARC with five stars, because my rule is that if I rate it five stars I am committing to re-read it upon pub date. And I can’t wait to re-read this one. I’ve already preordered it. It is ultimately a pretty sad book, but it’s also beautiful, strikingly original, and very relatable.
This book is the perfect example of creating such spot-on realistic characters and then just letting them be. Not forcing the characters into situations. This book is not at all formulaic— we are much more used to a well-defined “first act/ second act/ third act” and this book does not follow that. The characters and the descriptions of their internal thoughts are the real star of the book.
The book tackles what it means to be a plus size woman today, it approaches the issue of GLP1 medications with a lot of raw emotion. I haven’t seen a book yet that tackles the dynamic of how fat people view the widespread use of weight loss medications. I can’t tell you how much I related to Cherry and I just sobbed at some of her experiences. I also loved how her family was legalistic from a religious standpoint but she still loved them and they still had great relationships. The sister group text thread chapters were some of my favorite parts of the book.
If you aren’t yet where Cherry is in her journey of fat acceptance, the experience of her fat phobia may bother some. For me, it was incredibly validating and timely. I will also say this book has much more sexytime parts than Rainbow Rowell’s other books.
Also- there is a dog in it that I loved. Her name is Stevie and she is a Newfoundland-Pyrenees mix.
Situational divorce drama was really creative and original. For example, Cherry and Tom trying to separate their belongings, and mostly arguing about wanting the other one to take the item, and not wanting to take it themselves. Not wanting to give it to the goodwill because they like it but they don’t want to have it. So they try to make the other one take it. I can totally see that happening!! I don’t want to give away anything, but Cherry arguing with her sister Hope about Hope taking Monjauro and lying about it. Wow I just sobbed at that scene. They were both so hurt and I could completely see where they were both coming from.
This book is unapologetically itself. I absolutely loved the ending.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins William Morrow for the ARC. Book to be published 4/13/26
This book is the perfect example of creating such spot-on realistic characters and then just letting them be. Not forcing the characters into situations. This book is not at all formulaic— we are much more used to a well-defined “first act/ second act/ third act” and this book does not follow that. The characters and the descriptions of their internal thoughts are the real star of the book.
The book tackles what it means to be a plus size woman today, it approaches the issue of GLP1 medications with a lot of raw emotion. I haven’t seen a book yet that tackles the dynamic of how fat people view the widespread use of weight loss medications. I can’t tell you how much I related to Cherry and I just sobbed at some of her experiences. I also loved how her family was legalistic from a religious standpoint but she still loved them and they still had great relationships. The sister group text thread chapters were some of my favorite parts of the book.
If you aren’t yet where Cherry is in her journey of fat acceptance, the experience of her fat phobia may bother some. For me, it was incredibly validating and timely. I will also say this book has much more sexytime parts than Rainbow Rowell’s other books.
Also- there is a dog in it that I loved. Her name is Stevie and she is a Newfoundland-Pyrenees mix.
Situational divorce drama was really creative and original. For example, Cherry and Tom trying to separate their belongings, and mostly arguing about wanting the other one to take the item, and not wanting to take it themselves. Not wanting to give it to the goodwill because they like it but they don’t want to have it. So they try to make the other one take it. I can totally see that happening!! I don’t want to give away anything, but Cherry arguing with her sister Hope about Hope taking Monjauro and lying about it. Wow I just sobbed at that scene. They were both so hurt and I could completely see where they were both coming from.
This book is unapologetically itself. I absolutely loved the ending.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins William Morrow for the ARC. Book to be published 4/13/26
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June 13, 2025EVERYBODY SHUT UP, THERE'S A NEW RAINBOW ROWELL
Want to read
August 20, 2025Rainbow Rowell AND a title that will have Cherry, Cherry stuck in my head until next year?
She never misses. ♥️ 🍒
She never misses. ♥️ 🍒
Read
October 30, 2025I have so many feelings about this one that I don't really know how to properly express. I *loved* so much of this, but I feel like it might be a bit of (or maybe a lot of) a marmite book. If you are a fat person, I absolutely recommend, but please tread cautiously and make sure you are in an okay headspace before picking this one up.
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January 7, 2026
Book Riot’s Most Anticipated Books of 2026:
Cherry’s husband is famous for drawing a webcomic about their life. But now, they’ve split up, and he’s in LA turning the comic into a movie. So Cherry has to see her fictional counterpart “Baby” everywhere. Baby was drawn fat, like Cherry. People make fun of the character endlessly online, even if that’s not what her ex intended. In a rare night out, Cherry runs into her college crush, Ross. He likes her … and even better, he’s never heard of her ex’s comic or movie. I was thrilled to read an early copy of this one. It’s romantic, surprising, and the single best novel I’ve read about fatness in the Ozempic age. I can’t wait to read it again. —Alison Doherty
Cherry’s husband is famous for drawing a webcomic about their life. But now, they’ve split up, and he’s in LA turning the comic into a movie. So Cherry has to see her fictional counterpart “Baby” everywhere. Baby was drawn fat, like Cherry. People make fun of the character endlessly online, even if that’s not what her ex intended. In a rare night out, Cherry runs into her college crush, Ross. He likes her … and even better, he’s never heard of her ex’s comic or movie. I was thrilled to read an early copy of this one. It’s romantic, surprising, and the single best novel I’ve read about fatness in the Ozempic age. I can’t wait to read it again. —Alison Doherty
Want to read
September 19, 2025I’m actually very excited to read this book! 🍒
Thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow Publisher and the author, Rainbow Rowell for this eARC!!
Publication date: April 14, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow Publisher and the author, Rainbow Rowell for this eARC!!
Publication date: April 14, 2026
August 17, 2025
i was so excited for this given how much i loved Slow Dance, but it didnt really do much for me. the story kind of dragged, and i have to say i wasnt convinced by the progression of Cherry and Tom's relationship--i was never really rooting for Tom. for it to work as a second-chance romance i have to believe that the characters are doing things differently the second time around, and although they kind of do, i wasnt convinced that they were doing things differently enough, or that they had addressed their issues enough. (plus the whole "turning her into a caricature in his webcomic" thing was pretty egregious and i dont think the book acknowledged or resolved it in a satisfactory way.)
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August 24, 2025This isn't my favorite of her books, but she's still such a good writer and there's nothing quite like a Rainbow Rowell book.
(Also heads up that this is sexier than most of her other books)
(Also heads up that this is sexier than most of her other books)
September 18, 2025
I feel like this book was marketed in a misleading way (and maybe that will change before the pub date), but as it stands, I came away feeling a little taken aback.
I’ve been a Rainbow Rowell fan for a long time, so I was genuinely excited to get this ARC, but unfortunately, I was let down. I went into this thinking it was going to be an adult romance about a recently divorced woman getting another shot with the guy she crushed on in college. That’s not what this book delivers. Slight spoilers ahead: this is actually a second chance romance with her soon to be ex-husband. The blurb doesn’t hint at that at all, and honestly, I wish it had. After everything the husband did to her, I never felt like he truly earned that second chance, or maybe he did, but the way his character was written left me cold. I just didn’t care about their romance, and I never felt like they really worked through the issues that caused their marriage to fall apart in the first place.
Cherry herself also didn’t fully land for me. We’re in her head the entire time, and while that should’ve given us a layered, complex heroine, what I mostly got was exhausting repetition. She fixates on her weight constantly. And as someone who lives in a plus-size body, I was hoping for nuanced, authentic representation. Instead, she calls herself “fat” or “ultra-fat” nearly every other page, to the point where it starts to feel like her only defining trait. She has a lot of hang-ups about her own weight and even about the weight of people around her, but at the same time doesn’t want anyone else to bring it up. It’s not that fat representation itself is an issue, I actually want more of it, but here it felt onenote and overwhelming, without the growth that would’ve made it meaningful.
What I will say is that Rainbow Rowell’s writing is, as always, strong. Her prose is accessible, witty, and easy to devour, and she has a way of making her characters feel real and alive on the page. That’s never been in question. But despite the sharp writing, I couldn’t connect with the story or characters this time, and ultimately it just didn’t work for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the E-Arc in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve been a Rainbow Rowell fan for a long time, so I was genuinely excited to get this ARC, but unfortunately, I was let down. I went into this thinking it was going to be an adult romance about a recently divorced woman getting another shot with the guy she crushed on in college. That’s not what this book delivers. Slight spoilers ahead: this is actually a second chance romance with her soon to be ex-husband. The blurb doesn’t hint at that at all, and honestly, I wish it had. After everything the husband did to her, I never felt like he truly earned that second chance, or maybe he did, but the way his character was written left me cold. I just didn’t care about their romance, and I never felt like they really worked through the issues that caused their marriage to fall apart in the first place.
Cherry herself also didn’t fully land for me. We’re in her head the entire time, and while that should’ve given us a layered, complex heroine, what I mostly got was exhausting repetition. She fixates on her weight constantly. And as someone who lives in a plus-size body, I was hoping for nuanced, authentic representation. Instead, she calls herself “fat” or “ultra-fat” nearly every other page, to the point where it starts to feel like her only defining trait. She has a lot of hang-ups about her own weight and even about the weight of people around her, but at the same time doesn’t want anyone else to bring it up. It’s not that fat representation itself is an issue, I actually want more of it, but here it felt onenote and overwhelming, without the growth that would’ve made it meaningful.
What I will say is that Rainbow Rowell’s writing is, as always, strong. Her prose is accessible, witty, and easy to devour, and she has a way of making her characters feel real and alive on the page. That’s never been in question. But despite the sharp writing, I couldn’t connect with the story or characters this time, and ultimately it just didn’t work for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the E-Arc in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2025
Thank you so much to William Morrow Books and Netgalley for the eARC of Cherry Baby in exchange for an honest review!
Those of you who know me know my love for Rainbow runs DEEP! For me, there’s nothing cozier than one of Rainbow’s books. Her writing and her characters always hit so close to home that it’s not very surprising how they became a sort of home for me along the way. For over a decade Rainbow’s books have been the ones I run to when I’m stressed out or overwhelmed or just want the comfort of a book I know inside and out. I’ve reread her books over and over and I could never get tired of them.
All of that to say, I can’t really adequately capture in words how excited I get about a new Rainbow Rowell release. And this one was no exception! So having the opportunity to read it early and review it for everyone is a dream come true 🍒
Cherry Baby is a second chance romance full of heart, family, and so much food! This book felt like high stakes. I took my time reading this one, and often as I was going about my day I’d find myself worrying over Cherry, Russ and Tom (and Stevie, of course). It might sound weird, but I loved how this book wasn’t easy - it was messy and raw and emotional and it never went exactly where I was expecting it to. I really loved how the story was structured and how the timeline jumped around to give a sort of kaleidoscope view of Cherry’s life. It was so easy to step into Cherry’s world and live there. I laughed with her, I cried with her, I wanted a happy ending for her almost more than she did. I can’t wait to reread this book and find a hundred more things to love about it, because some things are even sweeter the second time 😉🍒
Cherry Baby comes out April 14th, 2026!
Those of you who know me know my love for Rainbow runs DEEP! For me, there’s nothing cozier than one of Rainbow’s books. Her writing and her characters always hit so close to home that it’s not very surprising how they became a sort of home for me along the way. For over a decade Rainbow’s books have been the ones I run to when I’m stressed out or overwhelmed or just want the comfort of a book I know inside and out. I’ve reread her books over and over and I could never get tired of them.
All of that to say, I can’t really adequately capture in words how excited I get about a new Rainbow Rowell release. And this one was no exception! So having the opportunity to read it early and review it for everyone is a dream come true 🍒
Cherry Baby is a second chance romance full of heart, family, and so much food! This book felt like high stakes. I took my time reading this one, and often as I was going about my day I’d find myself worrying over Cherry, Russ and Tom (and Stevie, of course). It might sound weird, but I loved how this book wasn’t easy - it was messy and raw and emotional and it never went exactly where I was expecting it to. I really loved how the story was structured and how the timeline jumped around to give a sort of kaleidoscope view of Cherry’s life. It was so easy to step into Cherry’s world and live there. I laughed with her, I cried with her, I wanted a happy ending for her almost more than she did. I can’t wait to reread this book and find a hundred more things to love about it, because some things are even sweeter the second time 😉🍒
Cherry Baby comes out April 14th, 2026!
November 5, 2025
If you have ever been the fat girl then you will completely get Cherry. Cherry is in her late 30s and has always been overweight. She has accepted it and moved on, embracing her body. However, her soon to be ex-husband, Tom, has written a popular comic featuring a character based on her that is going to be turned into a movie. This shouldn't be an issue but it is, because just when Cherry thinks she can move forward with her life this character comes back to haunt her.
It is hard to describe what this book is except by saying that if you have ever been over weight in your life you just get this story. Cherry was an incredibly relatable character and I felt her struggles and she delved into her past dating life and her current struggles. This book is not just about her weight but about her relationships. First she needs to figure out if she should give her ex a second chance or forge a new path with a guy she liked in the past. The book flashbacked to the past and the reader got a better understanding of what took place in her dating life before she met Tom. The reader also got to know her family better and I think many readers could relate to their family dynamic. There were times where I did feel a little self-conscious about my own weight. There was a lot of emphasis put on how she looked and how others view her. I would like to hope that the people I am around do not look at me that weight. I also wished Cherry had talked to Tom more about the comic and how it made her feel.
Overall, I did think the writing was good and I had a vested interest in how this story turned out. Cherry was a great character and I enjoyed reading about her as most books do not center around a person like her.
Thank you to William Morrow Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.
It is hard to describe what this book is except by saying that if you have ever been over weight in your life you just get this story. Cherry was an incredibly relatable character and I felt her struggles and she delved into her past dating life and her current struggles. This book is not just about her weight but about her relationships. First she needs to figure out if she should give her ex a second chance or forge a new path with a guy she liked in the past. The book flashbacked to the past and the reader got a better understanding of what took place in her dating life before she met Tom. The reader also got to know her family better and I think many readers could relate to their family dynamic. There were times where I did feel a little self-conscious about my own weight. There was a lot of emphasis put on how she looked and how others view her. I would like to hope that the people I am around do not look at me that weight. I also wished Cherry had talked to Tom more about the comic and how it made her feel.
Overall, I did think the writing was good and I had a vested interest in how this story turned out. Cherry was a great character and I enjoyed reading about her as most books do not center around a person like her.
Thank you to William Morrow Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.
August 21, 2025
“Cherry Baby” took me by surprise while being my favorite adult book written by one of my favorite authors.
Rainbow Rowell takes what could be a trite situation and brings her signature emotional depth and complexity to the characters. The story is told in a nonlinear way, as we learn about Cherry’s budding new romance and crumbling marriage. At every turn, I thought I knew what was best for Cherry - but I didn’t have the whole story. As things unfold, clarity is brought as much to the protagonist as to the reader.
This is a story about what we need and what we think we deserve. It’s about what we assume other people need, and what we’re willing to accept in return.
This is also a story about a person who is fat - about how we see ourselves and how others see us, and how messy and complicated self-love can be (especially in the era of medical weight loss).
As soon as I finished the book, I went back and reread with a new understanding of what was left unsaid by the characters.
No author makes me root for characters like Rainbow Rowell does. “Eleanor & Park” made me feel again what it was to be young and in love for the first time. “Cherry Baby” makes me feel what it is to rediscover and recommit myself to love - as scary, difficult, and tender as it can be.
Thank you to William Morrow for providing this advanced reading copy for me to review through NetGalley!
Rainbow Rowell takes what could be a trite situation and brings her signature emotional depth and complexity to the characters. The story is told in a nonlinear way, as we learn about Cherry’s budding new romance and crumbling marriage. At every turn, I thought I knew what was best for Cherry - but I didn’t have the whole story. As things unfold, clarity is brought as much to the protagonist as to the reader.
This is a story about what we need and what we think we deserve. It’s about what we assume other people need, and what we’re willing to accept in return.
This is also a story about a person who is fat - about how we see ourselves and how others see us, and how messy and complicated self-love can be (especially in the era of medical weight loss).
As soon as I finished the book, I went back and reread with a new understanding of what was left unsaid by the characters.
No author makes me root for characters like Rainbow Rowell does. “Eleanor & Park” made me feel again what it was to be young and in love for the first time. “Cherry Baby” makes me feel what it is to rediscover and recommit myself to love - as scary, difficult, and tender as it can be.
Thank you to William Morrow for providing this advanced reading copy for me to review through NetGalley!
October 31, 2025
This might be a long review. 3.5 stars.
I have a lot of thoughts. Some really good, but also something less-good that I want to touch on.
I did enjoy this story quite a bit, and finished it in only two sittings- which I think is pretty good for an over- 400 page novel.
There is a lot of discussion regarding the recent rise in GLP-1s.
Which isn’t a bad thing, because I do like when books make connections with modern day, real-world events.
It seems that the majority of the characters in here seem very much aganist it.
From making fun of the appearance of people on weight loss medication (I.e what the media has coined “Ozempic face”, to essentially shutting their sister out and talking about her behind her back when she started taking one of these medications- the verdict is that they really do not support it.
Honestly, I’m not sure how I feel about this.
As I mentioned, there are several points in this where they really seem to be dogging on the way people look after taking these medications.
I cannot say that I found this appropriate. I looked past it when it happened the first time, but then, it kept happening and I could no longer pass it off as a small blip.
I don’t care for it when books throw too many insults at peoples appearances. Because there is almost always going to be someone (likely several someones) reading it, who look like the people you are describing.
Maybe I am honestly thinking too much into it. I don't want to be "that person". But, I know the experience of picking up a book and having to read insults about people that have something in common with my own personal appearance- so I felt like I had to mention it.
I won’t comment much on the support or lack of support of medication for weight loss. I beleive that what someone wants to do/not do with their own body is their choice, but I know people have a variety of reasons for not liking the drugs.
Truly, I just don’t know much about it and I don’t want to involve myself in a discussion surrounding something I am not educated on.
Now, no more negatives. Onto what I really liked about this book.
The writing!
My gosh, I adored the way this was written.
This is probably the reason I ran through this thing so quickly, because it literally just flows so nicely. You start and before you know it- you’re already halfway done.
I am really happy that we get some “then” and “now” chapters, I think it elevated this a lot. (Though, I would suggest labeling the chapters to make it easier to distingish when the even is taking place).
The prose is so casual, it almost feels like listening to a friend tell a story.
The plot is awesome as well.
We learn a ton about Cherry’s life here. A lot of this story focuses on her personal relationships, her struggles and her past.
I really did feel connected to her and her world by the end of this. This could have been several hundred pages longer, and I still would have read it.
I can also really appreciate hearing about how she was, and still is fighting the battle of learning to love herself, despite having previously thought she would have everything figured out already.
I think this sort of thing is women’s fiction in its truest, finest form, and I LOVE that.
Overall, the story itself is phenomenal. I unfortunately have given it the 3.5 star rating because of some issues that to me, just felt wrong to put aside. I really have my fingers crossed that some small adjustments could be made to smooth out those parts- and make it a warmer, more accepting atmosphere.
But, I do think that this will probably win a lot of hearts.
Thank you to Netgalley, William Morrow and author Rainbow Powell for providing me with the eARC of “Cherry Baby”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: April 14, 2026
I have a lot of thoughts. Some really good, but also something less-good that I want to touch on.
I did enjoy this story quite a bit, and finished it in only two sittings- which I think is pretty good for an over- 400 page novel.
There is a lot of discussion regarding the recent rise in GLP-1s.
Which isn’t a bad thing, because I do like when books make connections with modern day, real-world events.
It seems that the majority of the characters in here seem very much aganist it.
From making fun of the appearance of people on weight loss medication (I.e what the media has coined “Ozempic face”, to essentially shutting their sister out and talking about her behind her back when she started taking one of these medications- the verdict is that they really do not support it.
Honestly, I’m not sure how I feel about this.
As I mentioned, there are several points in this where they really seem to be dogging on the way people look after taking these medications.
I cannot say that I found this appropriate. I looked past it when it happened the first time, but then, it kept happening and I could no longer pass it off as a small blip.
I don’t care for it when books throw too many insults at peoples appearances. Because there is almost always going to be someone (likely several someones) reading it, who look like the people you are describing.
Maybe I am honestly thinking too much into it. I don't want to be "that person". But, I know the experience of picking up a book and having to read insults about people that have something in common with my own personal appearance- so I felt like I had to mention it.
I won’t comment much on the support or lack of support of medication for weight loss. I beleive that what someone wants to do/not do with their own body is their choice, but I know people have a variety of reasons for not liking the drugs.
Truly, I just don’t know much about it and I don’t want to involve myself in a discussion surrounding something I am not educated on.
Now, no more negatives. Onto what I really liked about this book.
The writing!
My gosh, I adored the way this was written.
This is probably the reason I ran through this thing so quickly, because it literally just flows so nicely. You start and before you know it- you’re already halfway done.
I am really happy that we get some “then” and “now” chapters, I think it elevated this a lot. (Though, I would suggest labeling the chapters to make it easier to distingish when the even is taking place).
The prose is so casual, it almost feels like listening to a friend tell a story.
The plot is awesome as well.
We learn a ton about Cherry’s life here. A lot of this story focuses on her personal relationships, her struggles and her past.
I really did feel connected to her and her world by the end of this. This could have been several hundred pages longer, and I still would have read it.
I can also really appreciate hearing about how she was, and still is fighting the battle of learning to love herself, despite having previously thought she would have everything figured out already.
I think this sort of thing is women’s fiction in its truest, finest form, and I LOVE that.
Overall, the story itself is phenomenal. I unfortunately have given it the 3.5 star rating because of some issues that to me, just felt wrong to put aside. I really have my fingers crossed that some small adjustments could be made to smooth out those parts- and make it a warmer, more accepting atmosphere.
But, I do think that this will probably win a lot of hearts.
Thank you to Netgalley, William Morrow and author Rainbow Powell for providing me with the eARC of “Cherry Baby”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: April 14, 2026
November 4, 2025
I have mixed feelings about this one. It was an engaging read, but I struggled to connect with the characters. I’m all for second-chance romances, but I was not rooting for Tom at all.
Cherry was a complex and likable character, but being in her perspective at times was hard. She fixated on her weight every other page, which quickly became pretty repetitive and overwhelming. I wish the story had shown more facets of her life and character growth.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the arc! All opinions are my own.
Cherry was a complex and likable character, but being in her perspective at times was hard. She fixated on her weight every other page, which quickly became pretty repetitive and overwhelming. I wish the story had shown more facets of her life and character growth.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the arc! All opinions are my own.
December 7, 2025
Thank you, William Morrow, for an advanced copy of this book to read in exchange for my honest thoughts.
I want to start off by noting that I am a huge Rainbow Rowell fan. Eleanor & Park singularly got me back into reading as an adult. And as an Omaha native, I always relish all off the Omaha details in her books. I am a Rainbow STAN. And I have been so excited to read this book from the moment I saw the cover, but sadly this did not work for me.
Truthfully, I went back and forth about DNFing the entire time I was reading, but once I was 60% of the way through, I decided to stick it out. And I have to say, I am still very conflicted. This book and Cherry’s relationship with her body has made me reflect on my own relationship with my own body. I feel like I almost have to write a thesis on dieting, weight loss, body neutrality, and semaglutides for you to fully understand where I am coming from. I do not have that in me right now, but we are going to do our best.
Cherry is fat. She knows she is fat. She is fat, but not ugly. And she knows that too. But damn it, there is mention of it in every single chapter. Every. Single. Chapter. This really really got to me. It is excessive and constant. If you are uncomfortable with talks about body image, do not read this book. Because, you will not be able to escape it.
I will say, what I appreciate about Cherry is the fact that she refers to herself as fat as a mere descriptor and (mostly) not in a negative way, however I do think, even though she talks a big game, since we are privy to her thoughts…she still has a ton of hangups about her body. Now, so you know where I am coming from, I am a plus-size woman. Actually, the same size as Cherry, a size 18. I will be honest and say that growing up (for me) fat = bad. Big was bad. Small was good. Skinny was good. And I like that Cherry does not have that mindset. There is a sort of reclaiming of the word fat, which I think is important. And truthfully, has made me really reflect on how I feel about the word, which I’m grateful for.
In my teenage years, I dieted to lose weight. I exercised to earn my food. And I was totally preoccupied with thoughts of my body. In this aspect, I feel like Cherry’s mindset is represented pretty honestly and well. HOWEVER, as someone in their mid-thirties I have really tried to heal from that mindset. I recognize that I am still pretty obsessed with thinking about my body, but I do not want to live there. AND CHERRY LIVES THERE. Reading her thoughts about her body, about how people perceived her for being fat, and how she felt about other people’s bodies was really difficult for me. On one hand, I appreciated the realistic representation, but on the other hand….I did not enjoy occupying that mindset for 400 pages. It felt heavy handed and excessive. In a lot of ways, it felt like Cherry’s only defining quality. And this is something I am trying to fight against when raising my own children. There is so much more to me than my body size. There are so many more interesting things about someone than their weight!!
Additionally, I did not enjoy how Cherry and her sisters talked about it. I did not enjoy all of the dialogue regarding GLP-1s either. I think using semaglutides is a very personal choice, and honestly Cherry and her sisters were very judgmental toward the use of them and the appearance of those who use them. That gave a major ick. Cherry did not appreciate being judged for her body, yet she and her sisters were judging other skinny bodies and how those people lost weight.
Also, hot dang this book was SPICY!! It is, by far, the most open-door book Rainbow has written with three open door scenes — two happening before the 40% mark! I have to say that was sort of shocking for me. They are lengthy and were difficult for me to skim/skip without feeling like I would miss out on some of the plot, because there was quite a bit of dialogue throughout. Truthfully, it was just beyond my comfort level.
**Slight spoiler discussed, so proceed with caution**
I have to say that I disagree with this being marketed as a second-chance romance. I feel completed hood-winked, because I thought that this was a romance between newly separated Cherry and the college crush that got away. BUT IN REALITY, it’s honestly more of a marriage in crisis!! I did not see the story going that way and was pretty shocked. Cherry’s husband Tom didn’t really do much for me. And Russ, the college crush, also sort of sucked? It was hard to root for either of them. I mean, I was rooting for Cherry and wanted her to be happy and ultimately I think remaining in her marriage was the right call, but there wasn’t much to Tom that made me like him.
Despite my hangups, there were many things that did work for me. I always love Rainbow’s writing. It feels real, no-nonsense, and raw. She does not mince words and it isn’t fluffy. There’s a normalcy to her romances that make them feel extremely relatable. I, of course, love the Omaha setting. Her books are always easy for me to picture, because I live here and I LOVE that. There are many many lines that are just so dang Omaha and that is a lot of fun.
So, should you read this? Maybe. Maybe not.
I want to start off by noting that I am a huge Rainbow Rowell fan. Eleanor & Park singularly got me back into reading as an adult. And as an Omaha native, I always relish all off the Omaha details in her books. I am a Rainbow STAN. And I have been so excited to read this book from the moment I saw the cover, but sadly this did not work for me.
Truthfully, I went back and forth about DNFing the entire time I was reading, but once I was 60% of the way through, I decided to stick it out. And I have to say, I am still very conflicted. This book and Cherry’s relationship with her body has made me reflect on my own relationship with my own body. I feel like I almost have to write a thesis on dieting, weight loss, body neutrality, and semaglutides for you to fully understand where I am coming from. I do not have that in me right now, but we are going to do our best.
Cherry is fat. She knows she is fat. She is fat, but not ugly. And she knows that too. But damn it, there is mention of it in every single chapter. Every. Single. Chapter. This really really got to me. It is excessive and constant. If you are uncomfortable with talks about body image, do not read this book. Because, you will not be able to escape it.
I will say, what I appreciate about Cherry is the fact that she refers to herself as fat as a mere descriptor and (mostly) not in a negative way, however I do think, even though she talks a big game, since we are privy to her thoughts…she still has a ton of hangups about her body. Now, so you know where I am coming from, I am a plus-size woman. Actually, the same size as Cherry, a size 18. I will be honest and say that growing up (for me) fat = bad. Big was bad. Small was good. Skinny was good. And I like that Cherry does not have that mindset. There is a sort of reclaiming of the word fat, which I think is important. And truthfully, has made me really reflect on how I feel about the word, which I’m grateful for.
In my teenage years, I dieted to lose weight. I exercised to earn my food. And I was totally preoccupied with thoughts of my body. In this aspect, I feel like Cherry’s mindset is represented pretty honestly and well. HOWEVER, as someone in their mid-thirties I have really tried to heal from that mindset. I recognize that I am still pretty obsessed with thinking about my body, but I do not want to live there. AND CHERRY LIVES THERE. Reading her thoughts about her body, about how people perceived her for being fat, and how she felt about other people’s bodies was really difficult for me. On one hand, I appreciated the realistic representation, but on the other hand….I did not enjoy occupying that mindset for 400 pages. It felt heavy handed and excessive. In a lot of ways, it felt like Cherry’s only defining quality. And this is something I am trying to fight against when raising my own children. There is so much more to me than my body size. There are so many more interesting things about someone than their weight!!
Additionally, I did not enjoy how Cherry and her sisters talked about it. I did not enjoy all of the dialogue regarding GLP-1s either. I think using semaglutides is a very personal choice, and honestly Cherry and her sisters were very judgmental toward the use of them and the appearance of those who use them. That gave a major ick. Cherry did not appreciate being judged for her body, yet she and her sisters were judging other skinny bodies and how those people lost weight.
Also, hot dang this book was SPICY!! It is, by far, the most open-door book Rainbow has written with three open door scenes — two happening before the 40% mark! I have to say that was sort of shocking for me. They are lengthy and were difficult for me to skim/skip without feeling like I would miss out on some of the plot, because there was quite a bit of dialogue throughout. Truthfully, it was just beyond my comfort level.
**Slight spoiler discussed, so proceed with caution**
I have to say that I disagree with this being marketed as a second-chance romance. I feel completed hood-winked, because I thought that this was a romance between newly separated Cherry and the college crush that got away. BUT IN REALITY, it’s honestly more of a marriage in crisis!! I did not see the story going that way and was pretty shocked. Cherry’s husband Tom didn’t really do much for me. And Russ, the college crush, also sort of sucked? It was hard to root for either of them. I mean, I was rooting for Cherry and wanted her to be happy and ultimately I think remaining in her marriage was the right call, but there wasn’t much to Tom that made me like him.
Despite my hangups, there were many things that did work for me. I always love Rainbow’s writing. It feels real, no-nonsense, and raw. She does not mince words and it isn’t fluffy. There’s a normalcy to her romances that make them feel extremely relatable. I, of course, love the Omaha setting. Her books are always easy for me to picture, because I live here and I LOVE that. There are many many lines that are just so dang Omaha and that is a lot of fun.
So, should you read this? Maybe. Maybe not.
Want to read
September 22, 2025so happy to have been approved for this ARC! i haven’t read a rainbow rowell book in so long so i’m excited to get back into her writing!
Want to read
August 20, 2025~happy dance~ I got the ARC!
September 13, 2025
This book took me by surprise. It has been a while since I have read a Rainbow Rowell book and it took me back to my Fangirl and Eleanor&Park era. Rowell has a distinctive voice, at times simplistic and straightforward then poetic and heart wrenching. This writing style makes for a fast paced, character driven, highly emotional novel that I enjoyed deeply.
I will admit, at the beginning, it was hard to love the characters, the FMC’s inner monologue felt repetitive and hyper focused on her being fat. Then I realized, that was the point. Cherry is a complicated character, she is going through a divorce, trying to move on, navigating her religious familial expectations and working on accepting herself. It is hard to understand her but not hard to empathize with her. Her circumstances were far from my own, and yet I found a deep connection and inspiration in her character growth, her strength and willingness to do something about her situation.
This is a novel that remains true to the character it represents and to itself. It will not bend to your expectations and needs. You will leave it having learned more about other people’s experience that might really differ from your own, as it was for me, which in my opinion is the whole purpose of literature.
Thank you to HarperCollins William Morrow and NEtGalley for the ARC.
I will admit, at the beginning, it was hard to love the characters, the FMC’s inner monologue felt repetitive and hyper focused on her being fat. Then I realized, that was the point. Cherry is a complicated character, she is going through a divorce, trying to move on, navigating her religious familial expectations and working on accepting herself. It is hard to understand her but not hard to empathize with her. Her circumstances were far from my own, and yet I found a deep connection and inspiration in her character growth, her strength and willingness to do something about her situation.
This is a novel that remains true to the character it represents and to itself. It will not bend to your expectations and needs. You will leave it having learned more about other people’s experience that might really differ from your own, as it was for me, which in my opinion is the whole purpose of literature.
Thank you to HarperCollins William Morrow and NEtGalley for the ARC.
Read
December 9, 2025this book was NOT for me unfortunately :/
November 8, 2025
An emotional, whimsically dressed, whirlwind from start to finish- Cherry Baby is Rainbow Rowell at her best.
A thousand thank-yous to William Morrow and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Cherry Baby is an intimate slice-of-life drama where the low stakes are insurmountably high. Who keeps the juicer in a divorce? Are these shoes sexy? Could that passing-ship from fifteen years ago actually be a lifeboat? Divorce is messy. Dating is messy. Cherry is trying her best…more or less. She's equal parts confident and insecure. Her family is as supportive as it is toxic. She's sexy, ambitious, and heartbroken. She gets in her own and other's way. She's Baby.
I read this book in a day. I could not put it down. Rainbow Rowell’s greatest strength remains her dialogue which truly captures the essence of this story - it's organic, propulsive, and often bittersweet.
Cherry Baby takes a clear-eyed look at life without becoming cynical in this timely exploration of being a lost thirty-something woman.
An instant Rowell classic.
A thousand thank-yous to William Morrow and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Cherry Baby is an intimate slice-of-life drama where the low stakes are insurmountably high. Who keeps the juicer in a divorce? Are these shoes sexy? Could that passing-ship from fifteen years ago actually be a lifeboat? Divorce is messy. Dating is messy. Cherry is trying her best…more or less. She's equal parts confident and insecure. Her family is as supportive as it is toxic. She's sexy, ambitious, and heartbroken. She gets in her own and other's way. She's Baby.
I read this book in a day. I could not put it down. Rainbow Rowell’s greatest strength remains her dialogue which truly captures the essence of this story - it's organic, propulsive, and often bittersweet.
Cherry Baby takes a clear-eyed look at life without becoming cynical in this timely exploration of being a lost thirty-something woman.
An instant Rowell classic.
August 26, 2025
Inhaled this one, per usual. I have some complicated feelings about it, though! I think it's a bit thornier than most of her books and in classic Twilight style, I find myself being not aligned to Team Tom or Team Russ. Instead, I'm Team Cherry. (Also, I already have a Rainbow cartoonist book husband that I adore and his name is Neal.) Will be thinking about Cherry Baby for a long time.
September 19, 2025
In regards to Cherry Baby, I’ve said this about fat characters and it’s worth repeating: I will always appreciate and celebrate fat characters in romance. Some of us want that realistic representation and the concept that being fat doesn’t make you unlovable.
I think my big problem with Cherry Baby is that I wanted it to give me all the feels of Slow Dance and while it started to, it ultimately fell flat for me. I like Rainbow Rowell’s portrayal of fat FMC (I mean, Cherry was size 18, and I was personally expecting her to be over a size 20, but I digress). A lot (like a scary amount) of Cherry’s inner thoughts about being fat kind of shook me to my core. It was relatable in the way that only someone who understands what being fat/plus sized can explain. Cherry constantly says it’s okay to be fat, but then her thoughts say otherwise. Again, if you’ve never been fat, you probably won’t understand, but like Cherry, I always have been and I felt very seen.
I appreciate Rainbow Rowell’s adventures in finally writing some steamy romance.
I think the book’s description does a disservice to the plot of the book. I would NOT consider this to be a spoiler because of the book’s description but possibly a light spoiler but:
The plot…I fear it got lost in the sauce. I was completely not under the impression that this was a second chance romance of a floundering marriage. I fully expected Russ to be end game. It occurred to me around the 60% ish mark that he was not and I genuinely had to say “what the fuck,” to myself.
Now heading into more of the spoiler aspect, so don’t read this paragraph if you don’t want to know:
Fuck Russ for what he said, at first I thought maybe Cherry could forgive him but she was right in that she couldn’t. But I also did NOT like her with Tom at all. The background love and lore build up was NEVER there for me. I also didn’t like Stacia as a friend nor did I like any of Cherry’s family. Maybe Rainbow Rowell was writing based on her truth, but the only character I liked in this book was Cherry and she frustrated me a lot!
Basically once I realized Tom was endgame, I was not enjoying the story anymore. The pacing was off throughout and by the 70% mark, I was over it and largely skimmed big chunks of the end. Unfortunately, I will not read this one again and will happily go back to my favorites Shiloh and Cary in Slow Dance.
If you’re a fan of RR, I still recommend reading it with the caveat of understanding that it’s a marriage in crisis (beyond crisis) story with that being a second chance between the spouses and not Russ!
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
TW: blatantly open conversations on being fat/fatness, use of semiglutides like ozempic/mounjaro, fat phobia, etc
I think my big problem with Cherry Baby is that I wanted it to give me all the feels of Slow Dance and while it started to, it ultimately fell flat for me. I like Rainbow Rowell’s portrayal of fat FMC (I mean, Cherry was size 18, and I was personally expecting her to be over a size 20, but I digress). A lot (like a scary amount) of Cherry’s inner thoughts about being fat kind of shook me to my core. It was relatable in the way that only someone who understands what being fat/plus sized can explain. Cherry constantly says it’s okay to be fat, but then her thoughts say otherwise. Again, if you’ve never been fat, you probably won’t understand, but like Cherry, I always have been and I felt very seen.
I appreciate Rainbow Rowell’s adventures in finally writing some steamy romance.
I think the book’s description does a disservice to the plot of the book. I would NOT consider this to be a spoiler because of the book’s description but possibly a light spoiler but:
The plot…I fear it got lost in the sauce. I was completely not under the impression that this was a second chance romance of a floundering marriage. I fully expected Russ to be end game. It occurred to me around the 60% ish mark that he was not and I genuinely had to say “what the fuck,” to myself.
Now heading into more of the spoiler aspect, so don’t read this paragraph if you don’t want to know:
Fuck Russ for what he said, at first I thought maybe Cherry could forgive him but she was right in that she couldn’t. But I also did NOT like her with Tom at all. The background love and lore build up was NEVER there for me. I also didn’t like Stacia as a friend nor did I like any of Cherry’s family. Maybe Rainbow Rowell was writing based on her truth, but the only character I liked in this book was Cherry and she frustrated me a lot!
Basically once I realized Tom was endgame, I was not enjoying the story anymore. The pacing was off throughout and by the 70% mark, I was over it and largely skimmed big chunks of the end. Unfortunately, I will not read this one again and will happily go back to my favorites Shiloh and Cary in Slow Dance.
If you’re a fan of RR, I still recommend reading it with the caveat of understanding that it’s a marriage in crisis (beyond crisis) story with that being a second chance between the spouses and not Russ!
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
TW: blatantly open conversations on being fat/fatness, use of semiglutides like ozempic/mounjaro, fat phobia, etc
October 12, 2025
It is always like "visiting a great friend" with all of Rainbow Rowell books! I savored this one and it is good! The novel centers on Cherry, married to Tom, who has become successful with his webcomic "Thursday," now being adapted in a movie. The twist is that Thursday is semi-autobiographical, and one of its characters- "Baby- is based on Cherry.
A chance encounter with Russ Sutton, a figure from Cherry's past, before her marriage to Tom- gives her a possibility of a different reflection of herself, one less tangled up in her husband's fame and their complicated life.
This is a deeply felt novel about what happens when parts of your identity are borrowed, distorted, or made public without your full consent. It's not just about loving someone else, but about loving yourself in the face of how others see you.
Emotional, Second Chances, and Accountability! 4.5 stars!
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy. This book will be released 4/14/26.
A chance encounter with Russ Sutton, a figure from Cherry's past, before her marriage to Tom- gives her a possibility of a different reflection of herself, one less tangled up in her husband's fame and their complicated life.
This is a deeply felt novel about what happens when parts of your identity are borrowed, distorted, or made public without your full consent. It's not just about loving someone else, but about loving yourself in the face of how others see you.
Emotional, Second Chances, and Accountability! 4.5 stars!
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy. This book will be released 4/14/26.
September 16, 2025
First up, this book really needs a content warning about body image/fat shaming. I read an ARC, so maybe that will be in the final copy?
I didn't really enjoy this book because I felt like it wasn't sure what it was. It was too romantic to be literary fiction and too literary to be a romance. But that might fit other readers' vibe.
Cherry, a fat (and in case you forget she's fat--the word "fat" is used 91 times in this book) marketing executive who is in a failed marriage to a cartoonist who hits the big time with his web comic. The issue is is that one of his characters is a woman (who is fat, in case you forgot) that bears a striking resemblance to her to the point people confuse her and call her by the cartoon character's name.
But it's all good--Cherry by chance reunites with Russ, a guy from college she used to have the hots for. They hit it off and make a deep connection. They admit their dreams and ambitions to each other and reveal they're both in therapy to each other. Unfortunately, I don't think Cherry's therapist (whoever they are and whenever she sees them) is any good because she breaks up with Russ because he slips and asks her why she's not using weight loss meds. Despite how her fatness consumes her inner workings, Cherry will not bargain with anyone via her body.
So hooray for Cherry sticking up for herself. But oh no, here comes Tom, her quasi-ex-husband--a sullen, moody, mercurial man who couldn't seem to function without Cherry telling him what to do and making decisions for him, worming his way back into her life. Now we're in yet another second-chance relationship where emotional and sexual hijinx ensue.
I won't spoil the ending, but I can only say I wasn't feeling this book.
Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
I didn't really enjoy this book because I felt like it wasn't sure what it was. It was too romantic to be literary fiction and too literary to be a romance. But that might fit other readers' vibe.
Cherry, a fat (and in case you forget she's fat--the word "fat" is used 91 times in this book) marketing executive who is in a failed marriage to a cartoonist who hits the big time with his web comic. The issue is is that one of his characters is a woman (who is fat, in case you forgot) that bears a striking resemblance to her to the point people confuse her and call her by the cartoon character's name.
But it's all good--Cherry by chance reunites with Russ, a guy from college she used to have the hots for. They hit it off and make a deep connection. They admit their dreams and ambitions to each other and reveal they're both in therapy to each other. Unfortunately, I don't think Cherry's therapist (whoever they are and whenever she sees them) is any good because she breaks up with Russ because he slips and asks her why she's not using weight loss meds. Despite how her fatness consumes her inner workings, Cherry will not bargain with anyone via her body.
So hooray for Cherry sticking up for herself. But oh no, here comes Tom, her quasi-ex-husband--a sullen, moody, mercurial man who couldn't seem to function without Cherry telling him what to do and making decisions for him, worming his way back into her life. Now we're in yet another second-chance relationship where emotional and sexual hijinx ensue.
I won't spoil the ending, but I can only say I wasn't feeling this book.
Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
August 24, 2025
4.5 I struggled with this book a little in the beginning, but by the end, I was fully invested. Rainbow Rowell has a way of creating characters that you grow to love, and this book was no different!💗
November 4, 2025
This one hurt! Ow the chest pain. It feels like a painful breakup basically the whole time. I loved it though as I always love Rainbow Rowell books. Cherry’s voice is so honest and I love how she talked about body size in the age of Ozempic. Literally everyone I know is on it and I feel the same- like jealous but betrayed but guilty and ashamed of how I look without it. Anyway! I would highly recommend this one!
Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC.
November 15, 2025
Another great one from Rainbow Rowell! I just love the way she conveys her characters’ emotions. Cherry is going through a divorce, dating, and handling family drama, and I felt like I was living it with her. Body size and acceptance is a theme that runs throughout the book, and I thought Rowell did an excellent job with that. Finally, the love story is very sweet. I won’t say more to avoid spoilers, but I liked the way the story ended. Thanks to the publisher for offering the ARC via NetGalley.
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