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Cherry Baby
#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.
412 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 14, 2026
1593 people are currently reading
58618 people want to read
About the author
Rainbow Rowell
152 books142k 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 1,573 reviews
April 30, 2026
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!
medium.com
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
rainbow rowell books soothe my spirit
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
(review to come)
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
(review to come)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️ 3.5 ⭐️ I love second chance romances because they are generally more emotionally rich and tend to have a stronger romantic connection, but this one is very hard to rate. I loved and loathed the main female character, Cherry, and I think the biggest problem for me was a noticeable and somewhat an unexpected flip in her character arc that just didn’t sit right with me.
Cherry is married to Tom but their marriage is in a crisis & they are getting a divorce. He's written a comic strip that turned into a movie and leaves her for Hollywood. Cherry, now living alone in their house with his dog, struggles with loneliness and one night, while at a concert, she reconnects with someone from her past (Russ) and sparks fly. She enters sort of a situationship with Russ until her husband returns from his year long separation, only to be a thorn at her side (in my opinion, will expand). The cherry on top was that Cherry is a very large woman who constantly speaks about her "fatness" and body image. That, along with personal dilemma and family tensions (mainly surrounding weight image and use of weight loss drug, Ozempic), this second chance romance explores a lot of hot topics. It's not per-se a romantic story but we do see a lot of romance through flashbacks.
The novel poses a lot of great questions about life post a divorce. It highlights the ups and downs of a woman who is trying to start over. It also addresses how divorce is perceived publicly. We meet Cherry at a time when she’s already living alone. When she meets Russ, she’s been separated from her husband for almost a year. Russ is amazing—he’s charming, handsome, sweet and very patient. He’s very upfront about how he feels about Cherry and admits how he’s felt about her in the past. He’s the man Cherry should be with but Cherry has many thoughts about her divorce and Tom in general. Her family, are also very verbal about her divorce and her new situationship with Russ, frequently offering comments that are not always helpful.
Then one day Tom comes back to move out his belongings. He’s constantly in the house, constantly in Cherrys presence, making it harder for her to move on. Truthfully, I felt he was a thorn on her side because despite him knowing that she is dating someone else, he’s constantly in the way. While Tom appears sweet and tender towards Cherry, we learn the reason for their separation and impending divorce—Tom cheated. Even though it was one time, once was enough for Cherry but it wasn’t enough for her because she took him right back. She dumped Russ for Tom and that didn’t sit well with me no matter how sweet the flashbacks were. I really respected and loved the Cherry we got to know in the first half of the book, second not so much.
I felt like I was reading about a different Cherry in the second half of the book. She was snappy, emotional, too upset. One day, when Russ made a comment that didn’t sit well with her, she completely dismissed him. She stopped answering his texts or calls, she completely blocked him out of her mind. She was not the nice, patient or reasonable Cherry we got to know in the beginning. Cherry always had this way about her that only involved her life and her bubble. If someone asked her to do something, she rebuked that person with ‘my life keeps going’ sort of way. When Tom asked Cherry to come to LA for a weekend, her response was “when you leave, my life keeps going”. She became very self centered and not a nice person. Her personality went from very likable to seriously unlikable real quick. Russ now appeared too good for her and I was glad she did him a favor by removing herself from his life. He deserved a lot better.
The novel also heavily focused on what it means to be a fat woman and how others see you vs how you see yourself. Cherry refused to dream skinny dreams. She was true to her form, true to herself. She loved her body, loved her weight, loved how she looked and her body served as her vehicle for pleasure…BUT she almost ALWAYS used her size as an excuse to sever relationships. She used this with Russ, with others and that led her to treat other people like they were less than her. The overuse of “fatness” was also a massive stretch—it’s in every chapter, on every page, it doesn’t leave any room for the reader to breathe and it only amplified my annoyance with the jab on use of GLP-1 meds. Those are life saving & improving meds that would have HELPED Cherrys body image if she wasn’t so jaded.
Overall, this was a great introduction for me to Rowells writing, which makes you stop and think and FEEL! It’s sad but healing and speaks on forgiveness. Even though I did not agree with Cherrys behavior and ultimate choice, the novel will resonate with many readers who enjoy complicated family dynamics, imperfect characters and realistic stories on divorce and all the thoughts that come with it.
Cherry cherry baby, oh she loves me, yes, yes she does 🍒.. Couldn’t help but think of and SING the 1966 song by Neil Diamonds!
Many thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow Publisher and the author, Rainbow Rowell for this eARC!!
Publication date: April 14, 2026
Cherry is married to Tom but their marriage is in a crisis & they are getting a divorce. He's written a comic strip that turned into a movie and leaves her for Hollywood. Cherry, now living alone in their house with his dog, struggles with loneliness and one night, while at a concert, she reconnects with someone from her past (Russ) and sparks fly. She enters sort of a situationship with Russ until her husband returns from his year long separation, only to be a thorn at her side (in my opinion, will expand). The cherry on top was that Cherry is a very large woman who constantly speaks about her "fatness" and body image. That, along with personal dilemma and family tensions (mainly surrounding weight image and use of weight loss drug, Ozempic), this second chance romance explores a lot of hot topics. It's not per-se a romantic story but we do see a lot of romance through flashbacks.
The novel poses a lot of great questions about life post a divorce. It highlights the ups and downs of a woman who is trying to start over. It also addresses how divorce is perceived publicly. We meet Cherry at a time when she’s already living alone. When she meets Russ, she’s been separated from her husband for almost a year. Russ is amazing—he’s charming, handsome, sweet and very patient. He’s very upfront about how he feels about Cherry and admits how he’s felt about her in the past. He’s the man Cherry should be with but Cherry has many thoughts about her divorce and Tom in general. Her family, are also very verbal about her divorce and her new situationship with Russ, frequently offering comments that are not always helpful.
Then one day Tom comes back to move out his belongings. He’s constantly in the house, constantly in Cherrys presence, making it harder for her to move on. Truthfully, I felt he was a thorn on her side because despite him knowing that she is dating someone else, he’s constantly in the way. While Tom appears sweet and tender towards Cherry, we learn the reason for their separation and impending divorce—Tom cheated. Even though it was one time, once was enough for Cherry but it wasn’t enough for her because she took him right back. She dumped Russ for Tom and that didn’t sit well with me no matter how sweet the flashbacks were. I really respected and loved the Cherry we got to know in the first half of the book, second not so much.
I felt like I was reading about a different Cherry in the second half of the book. She was snappy, emotional, too upset. One day, when Russ made a comment that didn’t sit well with her, she completely dismissed him. She stopped answering his texts or calls, she completely blocked him out of her mind. She was not the nice, patient or reasonable Cherry we got to know in the beginning. Cherry always had this way about her that only involved her life and her bubble. If someone asked her to do something, she rebuked that person with ‘my life keeps going’ sort of way. When Tom asked Cherry to come to LA for a weekend, her response was “when you leave, my life keeps going”. She became very self centered and not a nice person. Her personality went from very likable to seriously unlikable real quick. Russ now appeared too good for her and I was glad she did him a favor by removing herself from his life. He deserved a lot better.
The novel also heavily focused on what it means to be a fat woman and how others see you vs how you see yourself. Cherry refused to dream skinny dreams. She was true to her form, true to herself. She loved her body, loved her weight, loved how she looked and her body served as her vehicle for pleasure…BUT she almost ALWAYS used her size as an excuse to sever relationships. She used this with Russ, with others and that led her to treat other people like they were less than her. The overuse of “fatness” was also a massive stretch—it’s in every chapter, on every page, it doesn’t leave any room for the reader to breathe and it only amplified my annoyance with the jab on use of GLP-1 meds. Those are life saving & improving meds that would have HELPED Cherrys body image if she wasn’t so jaded.
Overall, this was a great introduction for me to Rowells writing, which makes you stop and think and FEEL! It’s sad but healing and speaks on forgiveness. Even though I did not agree with Cherrys behavior and ultimate choice, the novel will resonate with many readers who enjoy complicated family dynamics, imperfect characters and realistic stories on divorce and all the thoughts that come with it.
Cherry cherry baby, oh she loves me, yes, yes she does 🍒.. Couldn’t help but think of and SING the 1966 song by Neil Diamonds!
Many thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow Publisher and the author, Rainbow Rowell for this eARC!!
Publication date: April 14, 2026
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 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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January 24, 20264.25 stars
Cherry Baby was an exceptional second chance romance.
I would definitely consider Cherry Baby a romance, but it was Cherry’s story first and foremost. I loved getting parts of her past, her current predicaments, and her family chats.
The first half was good, but the second half was where this story really shone, at least for me. Once I understood the direction it was taking, I became fully invested and loved it to the fullest! Cherry was a fantastic heroine, and I loved being in her head. This was the best Rainbow Rowell book I’ve read in a while.
Cherry Baby was an exceptional second chance romance.
I would definitely consider Cherry Baby a romance, but it was Cherry’s story first and foremost. I loved getting parts of her past, her current predicaments, and her family chats.
The first half was good, but the second half was where this story really shone, at least for me. Once I understood the direction it was taking, I became fully invested and loved it to the fullest! Cherry was a fantastic heroine, and I loved being in her head. This was the best Rainbow Rowell book I’ve read in a while.
Want to Read
June 13, 2025EVERYBODY SHUT UP, THERE'S A NEW RAINBOW ROWELL
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.)
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.
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.
Read
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
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. ♥️ 🍒
April 16, 2026
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
4.5 hearts
Rainbow Rowell is absolutely fantastic at writing imperfect people. She throws you into their lives and makes you fall in love with all their ideocracies, warts and insecurities. I end up rooting for them in ways I don't even root for the real people in my life. Most of her characters have some kind of flaw (in the eyes of society) that they live with and persevere through. The relationships in her stories always have something in them that resonates with me and often I get so caught up I just can't put the story down. I always seem to have extra highlights because there are so many great lines throughout the story.
Cherry Baby is a look into the life of a plus sized woman, dealing with her marriage breaking apart and figuring out where does she go from here. Cherry's husband, Tom hasn't been home in a year. Success took him by storm and the comic he wrote for years is now going to be a movie. Baby is a character in the comic. She looks like Cherry in a very charactered kind of way, but now Cherry has a certain surreal type of fame because of it. People recognize her, people want to talk to her about the husband who isn't around anymore and people forget sometimes that Cherry is a real person.
I was so conflicted in my emotions when I read this story. Cherry Baby has a non-linear timeline. Told exclusively from Cherry's PoV, we see her life now and pieces of her life both when she met her husband and when she had met Russ, her college crush. In the middle, I wasn't sure what or who I wanted for Cherry. I was mad at Tom, thinking they fell apart due to his new success and while that is partially true, as different aspects of their lives unfurled in scenes from the past, you see how the death of a marriage is rarely just one person's fault. I liked that Cherry ran into a college crush and he helped her remember the woman she used to be and I think he helped her recapture some of spark that died when her marriage broke.
Rainbow's writing is full of great lines and similes. She has a way of characterizing characters that fleshes them out fully in your head. Cherry is fat and she talks about it a lot throughout the book and some of the struggles she has with that. Most of the time, she is a confident and charming person, but sometimes insecurities seep through and take over. She feels like a real person struggling though this time in her life where she lost the person she thought she would be with forever and that person sometimes cries at inconvenient times and has a hard time getting out of bed.
While sometimes the story feels a little heavy, there are so many fun and funny moments too. Cherry is quick witted and so funny, Rainbow's writing shines with how she portrays that. Cherry's family was absolutely hilarious to me. Their constant texting in group chats and being so into each other's lives.Tom's Cherry's humungous dog, that she was not prepared to raise alone, sheds everywhere, forgets she is over a hundred pounds and struggles with stairs -- let's just say I can relate. The descriptions of Cherry's house and all the personnel touches in it along with how invested she was in holidays amazed me.
Cherry Baby is a second chance romance, but not in the way I thought it was going to be. It is almost like three second chance romances wrapped into one. Cherry's second chance with herself, one with Russ, her college crush and the last with her husband. I wasn't sure I was on board with where the ending was headed. But then I went along for the ride and it felt so perfect. I went back and reread the last few chapters a second time just to relive a few of those moments again.
This is going to work well for readers who want to get completely invested in an imperfect character and join them on their journey back to happiness.
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
4.5 hearts
Rainbow Rowell is absolutely fantastic at writing imperfect people. She throws you into their lives and makes you fall in love with all their ideocracies, warts and insecurities. I end up rooting for them in ways I don't even root for the real people in my life. Most of her characters have some kind of flaw (in the eyes of society) that they live with and persevere through. The relationships in her stories always have something in them that resonates with me and often I get so caught up I just can't put the story down. I always seem to have extra highlights because there are so many great lines throughout the story.
This was her true form. This was the body that would carry her through the world. This was her only vehicle for pleasure. Cherry refused to dream skinny dreams. For anyone.
Cherry Baby is a look into the life of a plus sized woman, dealing with her marriage breaking apart and figuring out where does she go from here. Cherry's husband, Tom hasn't been home in a year. Success took him by storm and the comic he wrote for years is now going to be a movie. Baby is a character in the comic. She looks like Cherry in a very charactered kind of way, but now Cherry has a certain surreal type of fame because of it. People recognize her, people want to talk to her about the husband who isn't around anymore and people forget sometimes that Cherry is a real person.
I was so conflicted in my emotions when I read this story. Cherry Baby has a non-linear timeline. Told exclusively from Cherry's PoV, we see her life now and pieces of her life both when she met her husband and when she had met Russ, her college crush. In the middle, I wasn't sure what or who I wanted for Cherry. I was mad at Tom, thinking they fell apart due to his new success and while that is partially true, as different aspects of their lives unfurled in scenes from the past, you see how the death of a marriage is rarely just one person's fault. I liked that Cherry ran into a college crush and he helped her remember the woman she used to be and I think he helped her recapture some of spark that died when her marriage broke.
Rainbow's writing is full of great lines and similes. She has a way of characterizing characters that fleshes them out fully in your head. Cherry is fat and she talks about it a lot throughout the book and some of the struggles she has with that. Most of the time, she is a confident and charming person, but sometimes insecurities seep through and take over. She feels like a real person struggling though this time in her life where she lost the person she thought she would be with forever and that person sometimes cries at inconvenient times and has a hard time getting out of bed.
Tom hadn’t just left her— he’d left her with their broken life, with all their abandoned plans and dead projects. He’d left her in their broken life. The last resident in a ghost town.
While sometimes the story feels a little heavy, there are so many fun and funny moments too. Cherry is quick witted and so funny, Rainbow's writing shines with how she portrays that. Cherry's family was absolutely hilarious to me. Their constant texting in group chats and being so into each other's lives.
Cherry Baby is a second chance romance, but not in the way I thought it was going to be. It is almost like three second chance romances wrapped into one. Cherry's second chance with herself, one with Russ, her college crush and the last with her husband. I wasn't sure I was on board with where the ending was headed. But then I went along for the ride and it felt so perfect. I went back and reread the last few chapters a second time just to relive a few of those moments again.
This is going to work well for readers who want to get completely invested in an imperfect character and join them on their journey back to happiness.
September 24, 2025
Netgalley review, possible plot points mentioned below.
Cherry Baby is a book about divorce and finding romance in it.
I did not vibe with this book at all and maybe that's a sign that I prefer Rainbow's older books over her newer works.
To start off, this book felt very millennial, out of touch, and a bit misogynistic if I will. Before I get into Cherry and what I didn't like about her, there's a literal band in this book called Sacagawea?? I don't know, that just feels kinda weird to me.
Back to Cherry, she feels very flat in personality, her only real plot points are that she is overweight and nobody likes fat girls which she literally says through out the whole book. Lines like "If she were a train car she'd be the locomotive, she was also thinking about being fat. Cherry was so used to thinking about being fat, she hardly even noticed she was doing it. She was so used to thinking about being fat, she never thought about it." And "Cherry had to grow on boys. She had to wear them down, by being around and being charming. By being surprising cute for a fat girl...Every guy who had ever dated Cherry had been her friend first-and probably thought at first she was too fat to date. But then she'd grow on them" are in crazy abundance.
I don't think every character who's overweight needs to be super body positive and happy all the time, that's just unrealistic and 2 dimensional, but I feel like this is truly not doing a great job of pushing any other message but nobody thinks fat girls are pretty nor does anyone want to date them which is beyond me. Such a crazy message to spread to girls who are reading this book. There are also like two men in the story who are so obviously hitting on her and in each moment she goes they don't want me, I'm fat.
This also ties in to the whole drama about her family absolutely tearing down one of the sisters because she got skinny through ozempic??? Like the medication for Diabetes which has become a negative connotation in modern times. I actively know people who are trying to get on it so they don’t get diabetes (pre diabetic) and have had a history of family members who have truly suffered from diabetes and would have benefited to have ozempic. Yes I'm aware that the sisters were more angry she didn't tell them she took ozempic and that she hid her diabetes from them but like be so for real. They actively ignore her, ridicule her behind her back, and kick her out of group chats for losing weight and not telling them how which is crazy especially knowing Cherry once upon a time looked up to her.
Minor change of topics before I get back to Cherry, I don't wanna forget the weird uber Christianity parts and the damn Disney adult part. All of the siblings are named Cherish, Joy, Honor, and maybe one more that I possibly missed? (The siblings were very minor in plot points) which are pretty weird names and I don't think their nicknames help much. The whole family except Cherry brings up God a lot of the time and absolutely dog on her for her failing marriage as if they aren't all in the same boat. They all got super touchy around holidays and seemed to love Tom way more than Cherry herself, especially the mom, she truly loved him more than anyone. Extreme Christianity gives me the ick, but hey if you love that you might enjoy this book more than me.
On the Disney adult part, I am personally creeped out by people who describe them that way, there's a difference between being an adult who watches Disney and being a self described Disney adult. It just truly gives me the ick, I've met too many disney adults and they all give off the same vibe.
Back to Cherry, I think the plot of the book being her realizing she still loves Tom and that she doesn't want to be with Russ is crazy to me. She never seemed to enjoy being around Tom in most of the scenes, she even fights with him as they are getting back together. Russ was dropped beyond quick and I feel like his part revolving around seeing the movie trailer and calling Cherry fat was very out of nowhere and out of character from the previous scenes we saw. Russ was kind and attentive the whole time, past and present until the movie trailer where he suddenly snapped? It felt too sudden, as if it was a rushed excuse to get her back with Tom.
Speaking of Tom, what an even bigger lack of personality. That man has no opinions and no thoughts during the whole book. He basically just does whatever he is told. He doesn’t seem to like anything and he can't even fight for a marriage he was failing because he wouldn't communicate.
I'm starting to loose all the thoughts I have on this book because I know I had so many more about parts that really icked me. To sum up quicker the rest of the thoughts I can remember, the sex scenes were a bit weird, none of the characters were likable, Tom cheating was a last minute plot point added and he couldn't even really say that he cheated or not, and authors never write artists good. Cherry didn’t even seem to be an artist for most of the book, she went to art school and now does graphic design for a train company but other than that you often forget she does anything art related because she just isn't artsy whatsoever.
Overall the characters and the plot felt very 2 dimensional and flat.
I thank the authors and netgalley for giving me the chance to read and review this book.
Cherry Baby is a book about divorce and finding romance in it.
I did not vibe with this book at all and maybe that's a sign that I prefer Rainbow's older books over her newer works.
To start off, this book felt very millennial, out of touch, and a bit misogynistic if I will. Before I get into Cherry and what I didn't like about her, there's a literal band in this book called Sacagawea?? I don't know, that just feels kinda weird to me.
Back to Cherry, she feels very flat in personality, her only real plot points are that she is overweight and nobody likes fat girls which she literally says through out the whole book. Lines like "If she were a train car she'd be the locomotive, she was also thinking about being fat. Cherry was so used to thinking about being fat, she hardly even noticed she was doing it. She was so used to thinking about being fat, she never thought about it." And "Cherry had to grow on boys. She had to wear them down, by being around and being charming. By being surprising cute for a fat girl...Every guy who had ever dated Cherry had been her friend first-and probably thought at first she was too fat to date. But then she'd grow on them" are in crazy abundance.
I don't think every character who's overweight needs to be super body positive and happy all the time, that's just unrealistic and 2 dimensional, but I feel like this is truly not doing a great job of pushing any other message but nobody thinks fat girls are pretty nor does anyone want to date them which is beyond me. Such a crazy message to spread to girls who are reading this book. There are also like two men in the story who are so obviously hitting on her and in each moment she goes they don't want me, I'm fat.
This also ties in to the whole drama about her family absolutely tearing down one of the sisters because she got skinny through ozempic??? Like the medication for Diabetes which has become a negative connotation in modern times. I actively know people who are trying to get on it so they don’t get diabetes (pre diabetic) and have had a history of family members who have truly suffered from diabetes and would have benefited to have ozempic. Yes I'm aware that the sisters were more angry she didn't tell them she took ozempic and that she hid her diabetes from them but like be so for real. They actively ignore her, ridicule her behind her back, and kick her out of group chats for losing weight and not telling them how which is crazy especially knowing Cherry once upon a time looked up to her.
Minor change of topics before I get back to Cherry, I don't wanna forget the weird uber Christianity parts and the damn Disney adult part. All of the siblings are named Cherish, Joy, Honor, and maybe one more that I possibly missed? (The siblings were very minor in plot points) which are pretty weird names and I don't think their nicknames help much. The whole family except Cherry brings up God a lot of the time and absolutely dog on her for her failing marriage as if they aren't all in the same boat. They all got super touchy around holidays and seemed to love Tom way more than Cherry herself, especially the mom, she truly loved him more than anyone. Extreme Christianity gives me the ick, but hey if you love that you might enjoy this book more than me.
On the Disney adult part, I am personally creeped out by people who describe them that way, there's a difference between being an adult who watches Disney and being a self described Disney adult. It just truly gives me the ick, I've met too many disney adults and they all give off the same vibe.
Back to Cherry, I think the plot of the book being her realizing she still loves Tom and that she doesn't want to be with Russ is crazy to me. She never seemed to enjoy being around Tom in most of the scenes, she even fights with him as they are getting back together. Russ was dropped beyond quick and I feel like his part revolving around seeing the movie trailer and calling Cherry fat was very out of nowhere and out of character from the previous scenes we saw. Russ was kind and attentive the whole time, past and present until the movie trailer where he suddenly snapped? It felt too sudden, as if it was a rushed excuse to get her back with Tom.
Speaking of Tom, what an even bigger lack of personality. That man has no opinions and no thoughts during the whole book. He basically just does whatever he is told. He doesn’t seem to like anything and he can't even fight for a marriage he was failing because he wouldn't communicate.
I'm starting to loose all the thoughts I have on this book because I know I had so many more about parts that really icked me. To sum up quicker the rest of the thoughts I can remember, the sex scenes were a bit weird, none of the characters were likable, Tom cheating was a last minute plot point added and he couldn't even really say that he cheated or not, and authors never write artists good. Cherry didn’t even seem to be an artist for most of the book, she went to art school and now does graphic design for a train company but other than that you often forget she does anything art related because she just isn't artsy whatsoever.
Overall the characters and the plot felt very 2 dimensional and flat.
I thank the authors and netgalley for giving me the chance to read and review this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 stars rounded up. Cherry Baby is an intimate, emotionally rich story about heartbreak, identity, and the slow unraveling of a life that no longer fits. Rainbow Rowell writes with such care and restraint here, allowing the quiet moments to carry just as much weight as the big ones.
I connected incredibly deeply with Cherry, especially in how she experiences her body and herself in the world. Her inner voice felt achingly familiar in a way I’ve never experienced in a novel before. Rowell captures the plus-size mindset with honesty and nuance—the self-awareness, the vulnerability, and the complicated relationship between self-perception and how others see you. I’ve never felt so aligned with a character, and that alone made this book profoundly personal.
I also loved watching Cherry’s relationships with Tom and Russ evolve over time. Every character feels fully human: flawed, uncertain, and often acting without having the right answers. No one is idealized, and no one is purely wrong. That realism made the emotional stakes feel even higher.
A few things held this back from being a full five stars for me. The dynamics between Cherry and her family frustrated me, and Cherry can be deeply critical and self-sabotaging in ways that occasionally became exhausting. I also wished there had been more resolution in Cherry and Russ’s relationship, even though I understand the choice to leave things unresolved.
Still, this book lingered with me long after I finished. Cherry Baby is tender, uncomfortable, and deeply human—a story about learning who you are when love, certainty, and the future you imagined all shift at once.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I connected incredibly deeply with Cherry, especially in how she experiences her body and herself in the world. Her inner voice felt achingly familiar in a way I’ve never experienced in a novel before. Rowell captures the plus-size mindset with honesty and nuance—the self-awareness, the vulnerability, and the complicated relationship between self-perception and how others see you. I’ve never felt so aligned with a character, and that alone made this book profoundly personal.
I also loved watching Cherry’s relationships with Tom and Russ evolve over time. Every character feels fully human: flawed, uncertain, and often acting without having the right answers. No one is idealized, and no one is purely wrong. That realism made the emotional stakes feel even higher.
A few things held this back from being a full five stars for me. The dynamics between Cherry and her family frustrated me, and Cherry can be deeply critical and self-sabotaging in ways that occasionally became exhausting. I also wished there had been more resolution in Cherry and Russ’s relationship, even though I understand the choice to leave things unresolved.
Still, this book lingered with me long after I finished. Cherry Baby is tender, uncomfortable, and deeply human—a story about learning who you are when love, certainty, and the future you imagined all shift at once.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Read
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)
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.
April 20, 2026
This is the first time in my life I've ever been disappointed by a Rainbow Rowell book. Rating it even 2 stars feels high - how do I rate a story when I didn't seem to find one in this book? I saw the raving early reviews, I saw people saying to go into this blind for the best experience, I saw people loving it and saying they were blown away by how good and unexpected this was. Sorry, did we read the same book?
I was ecstatic that Rainbow was exploring fatness. From the first chapter, I loved any mention of what it feels like to be fat and kind of okay with it but also never lose that voice in your head telling you that you should lose weight. I almost cried at the scenes explaining what it feels like to hear skinny people complain about feeling fat and needing to lose weight. What seeing a person you looked up to as a role model for body acceptance go to extreme measures to lose weight feels like. What being the fat friend in a friendship group feels like as a young girl. The two sides of the coin regarding choosing to take Ozempic. All of it was so real - but why was there so little of it? Why scrape the surface, dip a toe in, tease me, then back away? Am I meant to say "fat people deserve a story that isn't about them being fat"? Because I believe that but I also believe this book tried to be about fat people being fat. So why was it such a minor theme while simultaneously affecting entire relationships? I wanted to go deeper, get more raw. I wanted to see a fat person choose themselves and win in a big, loud way.
Instead, we focused on what I guess should be called a love story. Was it though? Who was I meant to root for? The guy who was perfect but also an asshole or the guy who was perfect but also an asshole? Though Russ seemed to be quite cool while Tom (despite being a literal millionaire Hollywood favourite) was such an incredible loser, oh my god I hated him. He needed to grow a pair
I was so mad at Cherry the whole time. Mad at her for not being divorced yet. Mad at her for not asking the right questions from men who had made mistakes and wanted to explain themselves. Mad at her for being a terrible awful sister. Mad at her for not moving on from a relationship that broke her. Made at her for how that relationship broke. Mad at her for wearing weather-inappropriate footwear. Mad at her for making her fatness a thing just enough to get me to care about that side of her, only for her to move on immediately. Mad at her for not taking full advantage of being single despite how the book opens. Mad at her for not decentering men. Mad at her for thinking 'vaguely tracking your cycle in your head' is an effective birth control method. Mad at her for not getting her husband to talk about things. Just mad mad mad at every choice.
I didn't feel like the relationship Cherry decided to choose at the end was in any way right for her. There were no conversations about how to overcome the issues that had broken it up in the first place, no big fights to explain everyone was feeling and why, nothing. I also didn't like the way she dealt with the other relationship ending. What a selfish woman. With so many personality imperfections and not even an attempt at being better.
I leave this book feeling unsatisfied, confused, angry, unhappy.... did not enjoy, wouldn't recommend, will not be rereading.
I was ecstatic that Rainbow was exploring fatness. From the first chapter, I loved any mention of what it feels like to be fat and kind of okay with it but also never lose that voice in your head telling you that you should lose weight. I almost cried at the scenes explaining what it feels like to hear skinny people complain about feeling fat and needing to lose weight. What seeing a person you looked up to as a role model for body acceptance go to extreme measures to lose weight feels like. What being the fat friend in a friendship group feels like as a young girl. The two sides of the coin regarding choosing to take Ozempic. All of it was so real - but why was there so little of it? Why scrape the surface, dip a toe in, tease me, then back away? Am I meant to say "fat people deserve a story that isn't about them being fat"? Because I believe that but I also believe this book tried to be about fat people being fat. So why was it such a minor theme while simultaneously affecting entire relationships? I wanted to go deeper, get more raw. I wanted to see a fat person choose themselves and win in a big, loud way.
Instead, we focused on what I guess should be called a love story. Was it though? Who was I meant to root for? The guy who was perfect but also an asshole or the guy who was perfect but also an asshole? Though Russ seemed to be quite cool while Tom (despite being a literal millionaire Hollywood favourite) was such an incredible loser, oh my god I hated him. He needed to grow a pair
I was so mad at Cherry the whole time. Mad at her for not being divorced yet. Mad at her for not asking the right questions from men who had made mistakes and wanted to explain themselves. Mad at her for being a terrible awful sister. Mad at her for not moving on from a relationship that broke her. Made at her for how that relationship broke. Mad at her for wearing weather-inappropriate footwear. Mad at her for making her fatness a thing just enough to get me to care about that side of her, only for her to move on immediately. Mad at her for not taking full advantage of being single despite how the book opens. Mad at her for not decentering men. Mad at her for thinking 'vaguely tracking your cycle in your head' is an effective birth control method. Mad at her for not getting her husband to talk about things. Just mad mad mad at every choice.
I didn't feel like the relationship Cherry decided to choose at the end was in any way right for her. There were no conversations about how to overcome the issues that had broken it up in the first place, no big fights to explain everyone was feeling and why, nothing. I also didn't like the way she dealt with the other relationship ending. What a selfish woman. With so many personality imperfections and not even an attempt at being better.
I leave this book feeling unsatisfied, confused, angry, unhappy.... did not enjoy, wouldn't recommend, will not be rereading.
March 24, 2026
Rainbow Rowell’s “Cherry Baby” is a women’s fiction novel about a married couple’s separation and whether they will reunite or continue living separate lives.
Thirty-six-year-old Cherish “Cherry” Bonacci is a size eighteen and the head of the marketing department for a railroad company in Omaha, Nebraska. Her husband, Tom Valentine, is the successful creator of the “Thursday” webcomic, which has recently been adapted into a movie with Tom writing the screenplay. Over the past year, Tom has been based in Los Angeles, working on the script and traveling the world on a book tour. Meanwhile, Cherry remains at home, depressed, caring for their Newfoundland–Great Pyrenees mix, Stevie Nicks, and missing Tom deeply. When tragedy strikes, Cherry is left alone and heartbroken.
Thirty-eight-year-old Russell “Russ” Sutton is a divorced single father to eight-year-old Liam. He has had feelings for Cherry since their college days, though he once dated her best friend, Stacia. Now, with Cherry facing a divorce, Russ finally has a chance to pursue a relationship with her. However, wherever they go, Cherry is constantly recognized and approached by fans of “Thursday,” who associate her with the character “Baby,” based on her.
As Cherry navigates her new reality, she must decide whether she can forgive Tom and rebuild their relationship or move forward into something new with Russ.
Unfortunately, Rowell’s novel feels tedious, slow, and weighed down by toxic themes. Cherry’s size is mentioned excessively, so often that it becomes repetitive and distracting, at times appearing multiple times on a single page. The narrative fixates heavily on weight, not just through Cherry’s internal monologue but also in her relationships. For instance, Cherry’s sisters exclude their sibling Hope from a group chat after she loses weight, effectively punishing her for prioritizing her health. This dynamic comes across as both mean-spirited and contradictory.
Cherry herself is difficult to connect with. Her constant focus on her insecurities becomes exhausting, as she oscillates between believing no one could love her because of her size and asserting her own beauty. Rather than feeling nuanced, this internal conflict often reads as repetitive and frustrating.
The pacing of the novel is another major issue. The central revelation about Tom’s actions, and the true cause of their marital breakdown, doesn’t arrive until nearly 80% into the story. When it does, the payoff feels underwhelming and far less dramatic than the buildup suggests. Additionally, Cherry’s emotional arc lacks cohesion. Her feelings toward Tom shift drastically from the beginning to the end of the novel, but this change is not sufficiently developed or justified, leaving the reader without a clear understanding of her transformation.
It has been a while since I’ve disliked a book as much as I disliked this one. The novel attempts to address body image but ultimately comes across as inconsistent, engaging in both fat-shaming and thin-shaming. The messaging feels muddled: it advocates for self-acceptance while simultaneously criticizing others for their choices, creating a frustrating and contradictory reading experience.
I received an ARC through Edelweiss via William Morrow and HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
rating: 1.5/5 rounded to a 2
Thirty-six-year-old Cherish “Cherry” Bonacci is a size eighteen and the head of the marketing department for a railroad company in Omaha, Nebraska. Her husband, Tom Valentine, is the successful creator of the “Thursday” webcomic, which has recently been adapted into a movie with Tom writing the screenplay. Over the past year, Tom has been based in Los Angeles, working on the script and traveling the world on a book tour. Meanwhile, Cherry remains at home, depressed, caring for their Newfoundland–Great Pyrenees mix, Stevie Nicks, and missing Tom deeply. When tragedy strikes, Cherry is left alone and heartbroken.
Thirty-eight-year-old Russell “Russ” Sutton is a divorced single father to eight-year-old Liam. He has had feelings for Cherry since their college days, though he once dated her best friend, Stacia. Now, with Cherry facing a divorce, Russ finally has a chance to pursue a relationship with her. However, wherever they go, Cherry is constantly recognized and approached by fans of “Thursday,” who associate her with the character “Baby,” based on her.
As Cherry navigates her new reality, she must decide whether she can forgive Tom and rebuild their relationship or move forward into something new with Russ.
Unfortunately, Rowell’s novel feels tedious, slow, and weighed down by toxic themes. Cherry’s size is mentioned excessively, so often that it becomes repetitive and distracting, at times appearing multiple times on a single page. The narrative fixates heavily on weight, not just through Cherry’s internal monologue but also in her relationships. For instance, Cherry’s sisters exclude their sibling Hope from a group chat after she loses weight, effectively punishing her for prioritizing her health. This dynamic comes across as both mean-spirited and contradictory.
Cherry herself is difficult to connect with. Her constant focus on her insecurities becomes exhausting, as she oscillates between believing no one could love her because of her size and asserting her own beauty. Rather than feeling nuanced, this internal conflict often reads as repetitive and frustrating.
The pacing of the novel is another major issue. The central revelation about Tom’s actions, and the true cause of their marital breakdown, doesn’t arrive until nearly 80% into the story. When it does, the payoff feels underwhelming and far less dramatic than the buildup suggests. Additionally, Cherry’s emotional arc lacks cohesion. Her feelings toward Tom shift drastically from the beginning to the end of the novel, but this change is not sufficiently developed or justified, leaving the reader without a clear understanding of her transformation.
It has been a while since I’ve disliked a book as much as I disliked this one. The novel attempts to address body image but ultimately comes across as inconsistent, engaging in both fat-shaming and thin-shaming. The messaging feels muddled: it advocates for self-acceptance while simultaneously criticizing others for their choices, creating a frustrating and contradictory reading experience.
I received an ARC through Edelweiss via William Morrow and HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
rating: 1.5/5 rounded to a 2
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
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!
April 14, 2026
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 approximately 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 hijinks 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 approximately 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 hijinks 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.
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!
February 28, 2026
Rainbow Rowell has a special way of writing well rounded characters with such depth and clarity that you can’t help but become deeply emotionally attached to them… and her latest novel, Cherry Baby, is no exception.
I tore through this book, racing to find out what would become of Cherry as she wrestled with the complexities of her separation from her husband, the vulnerability of seeing someone new, accepting her body as it is, and navigating the ever present complications of extended family. All the while, her husband is off in Hollywood, becoming a celebrity as his bestselling comic book series is adapted for film; a comic book series featuring a main character who looks exactly like Cherry.
In my opinion, only Rainbow Rowell could write a book like this. She created Cherry with such care and precision. There were moments I wanted to wrap her in my arms and promise her everything would be okay. Other times, she made choices I didn’t agree with… but that’s life. Life is complex. Life is full of gray areas. And Rowell captures that beautifully. She reminds us that life rarely unfolds the way we expect. Curveballs come. Plans shift. Paths change again and again.
What a beautiful, honest story.
I tore through this book, racing to find out what would become of Cherry as she wrestled with the complexities of her separation from her husband, the vulnerability of seeing someone new, accepting her body as it is, and navigating the ever present complications of extended family. All the while, her husband is off in Hollywood, becoming a celebrity as his bestselling comic book series is adapted for film; a comic book series featuring a main character who looks exactly like Cherry.
In my opinion, only Rainbow Rowell could write a book like this. She created Cherry with such care and precision. There were moments I wanted to wrap her in my arms and promise her everything would be okay. Other times, she made choices I didn’t agree with… but that’s life. Life is complex. Life is full of gray areas. And Rowell captures that beautifully. She reminds us that life rarely unfolds the way we expect. Curveballs come. Plans shift. Paths change again and again.
What a beautiful, honest story.
April 16, 2026
Story 4.25 stars. Narration 4.5 stars
I just listened to this book in one sitting because I couldn’t stop listening if I tried. It’s not a contemporary romance and would probably fit best in women’s literature. That’s not to say there wasn’t romance because there definitely is some. It features Cherry, a plus sized woman in the midst of a divorce. Her husband is now famous for his comic strip that is semi-autobiographical and features both himself and a character that looks just like his wife-double chin and all. It’s being made into a movie and her husband has been off in LA doing movie things for months. One night Cherry decides to take herself to a local venue where a favorite band is doing a concert. While there she runs into a guy she crushed on back in college. Unfortunately, back then he ended up dating her best friend.
If you think you know where this is headed you would probably be wrong. I don’t want to tell too much and ruin it. The characters were well written and I could tell I was listening to a Rainbow Rowell book as it was just too good. There’s a reason she’s a favorite author. I just wish she was more prolific. I think the only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars was the main character’s almost obsession over her weight. She diets at times but doesn’t try that hard and has accepted that she’ll never be small. It was valid due to the cartoon character, but that just made it worse. I’m going to leave it there. Narration was good. I’m already wishing for whatever book comes next from this author.
I just listened to this book in one sitting because I couldn’t stop listening if I tried. It’s not a contemporary romance and would probably fit best in women’s literature. That’s not to say there wasn’t romance because there definitely is some. It features Cherry, a plus sized woman in the midst of a divorce. Her husband is now famous for his comic strip that is semi-autobiographical and features both himself and a character that looks just like his wife-double chin and all. It’s being made into a movie and her husband has been off in LA doing movie things for months. One night Cherry decides to take herself to a local venue where a favorite band is doing a concert. While there she runs into a guy she crushed on back in college. Unfortunately, back then he ended up dating her best friend.
If you think you know where this is headed you would probably be wrong. I don’t want to tell too much and ruin it. The characters were well written and I could tell I was listening to a Rainbow Rowell book as it was just too good. There’s a reason she’s a favorite author. I just wish she was more prolific. I think the only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars was the main character’s almost obsession over her weight. She diets at times but doesn’t try that hard and has accepted that she’ll never be small. It was valid due to the cartoon character, but that just made it worse. I’m going to leave it there. Narration was good. I’m already wishing for whatever book comes next from this author.
March 5, 2026
Rainbow Rowell never misses with the character development! Wow! When asked what the book I was reading was about, I honestly couldn't even say except to describe it as an exploration of womanhood and romance and life in a plus-sized body. Cherry is stunningly written and her supporting cast is superbly dynamic! Just such an absolute must-read!
May 5, 2026
1.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
So… this isn’t my first Rainbow Rowell book. I wouldn’t say I’m a huge fan but I enjoy her writing and have typically high expectations for her books.
This book… this book was surprisingly bland. 416 pages and there was no story or character development. Many chapters felt like we were wandering in circles and the book as a whole felt aimless.
First major disappointment was how different the plot is compared to how it was advertised. The blurb appeals to the second chance romance crowd, teasing the romance between Cherry and an old college friend of hers she had a major crush on.
That’s not the second chance romance.
The second chance is with her deadbeat husband (Tom) who left her because he made it big in Hollywood.
At no point when reading this romance did I think that this situation was romantic. Not only did both Tom and Cherry have the maturity of a toe (which made their attempts to reconcile juvenile) but not enough time was spent explaining WHY they separated and how they were going to better themselves for their relationship. It made it really difficult to root for the romance, which is truthfully the only purpose of this book.
The second thing that truly irked me was the main character Cherry. Cherry is shockingly poorly written and one-dimensional, considering Rainbow Rowell’s other characters. Her sole personality trait is being plus-sized. Please don’t get me wrong, I am all for plus-sized representation in books and I appreciated that Cherry’s weight is normal to her in this book (she’s not trying to lose weight or go on GLP-1’s). However, her weight was mentioned every. other. sentence. Her inner monologue was 99% her talking about her weight. Her and her sisters only ever talked about their weight. Her family shunned her other sister because she started losing weight to treat her diabetes. It was constant. It was the primary focus of the book.
I understand Cherry’s weight being important to her character; she’s accepted it, she’s confident in her appearance, but it is a source of insecurity and conflict for her. I understand its importance to the plot. But being brought up every single second? To the point that Cherry’s entire character revolves around her APPEARANCE? I agree with another reviewer who said this book ought to have a trigger warning because the constant references to weight/being overweight/losing weight could be harmful to some readers.
Giving this book the benefit of the doubt, I will say I don’t think I have the life experience to be able to relate to or enjoy this book. I’m a young adult. I don’t understand the complexities of divorce or separation. From my perspective, Cherry and Tom seemed immature and them getting back together felt like them settling. From the perspective of an older adult, their relationship might seem realistic. I’d say if the premise sounds interesting, give Cherry Baby a try and see what you think!
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so 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!
Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
So… this isn’t my first Rainbow Rowell book. I wouldn’t say I’m a huge fan but I enjoy her writing and have typically high expectations for her books.
This book… this book was surprisingly bland. 416 pages and there was no story or character development. Many chapters felt like we were wandering in circles and the book as a whole felt aimless.
First major disappointment was how different the plot is compared to how it was advertised. The blurb appeals to the second chance romance crowd, teasing the romance between Cherry and an old college friend of hers she had a major crush on.
That’s not the second chance romance.
The second chance is with her deadbeat husband (Tom) who left her because he made it big in Hollywood.
At no point when reading this romance did I think that this situation was romantic. Not only did both Tom and Cherry have the maturity of a toe (which made their attempts to reconcile juvenile) but not enough time was spent explaining WHY they separated and how they were going to better themselves for their relationship. It made it really difficult to root for the romance, which is truthfully the only purpose of this book.
The second thing that truly irked me was the main character Cherry. Cherry is shockingly poorly written and one-dimensional, considering Rainbow Rowell’s other characters. Her sole personality trait is being plus-sized. Please don’t get me wrong, I am all for plus-sized representation in books and I appreciated that Cherry’s weight is normal to her in this book (she’s not trying to lose weight or go on GLP-1’s). However, her weight was mentioned every. other. sentence. Her inner monologue was 99% her talking about her weight. Her and her sisters only ever talked about their weight. Her family shunned her other sister because she started losing weight to treat her diabetes. It was constant. It was the primary focus of the book.
I understand Cherry’s weight being important to her character; she’s accepted it, she’s confident in her appearance, but it is a source of insecurity and conflict for her. I understand its importance to the plot. But being brought up every single second? To the point that Cherry’s entire character revolves around her APPEARANCE? I agree with another reviewer who said this book ought to have a trigger warning because the constant references to weight/being overweight/losing weight could be harmful to some readers.
Giving this book the benefit of the doubt, I will say I don’t think I have the life experience to be able to relate to or enjoy this book. I’m a young adult. I don’t understand the complexities of divorce or separation. From my perspective, Cherry and Tom seemed immature and them getting back together felt like them settling. From the perspective of an older adult, their relationship might seem realistic. I’d say if the premise sounds interesting, give Cherry Baby a try and see what you think!
~~
so 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!
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.
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