In What World

by Bridget Morrissey

A sapphic contemporary romance with a speculative element in which two high school rivals begrudgingly reunite as adults to investigate the disappearance of their former theater teacher and end up traveling through a series of alternate realities together, forcing them to find the answer to a question they’d never admit to being curious about—in what world would the two of them ever be in love with each other?

Genres: Romance, Lesbian, LGBT, Queer, Adult, Contemporary, Science Fiction

352 pages, Paperback

Expected publication August 11, 2026

Reviews

[BookishKB · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨🌌 In What World by Bridget Morrissey 🌌✨

This was a really cute sapphic romance with a magical twist and I honestly just had a really good time with it.

I liked how it handled the dual timelines and the alternate realities. It could have gotten confusing fast, but it didn’t. Everything felt pretty easy to follow.

I also ended up really liking the side characters. They added to the story without feeling like filler.

And while portions of the ending were sad, I still loved it all. Especially the epilogue!!

💫 What to Expect
• Sapphic romance
• Alternate realities
• Relunctant partnership
• Missing mentor
• Second chance
• Forced proximity
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: August 11, 2026
📝 Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Sam’s Sapphic Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was SUCH a cool concept for a book. Going through multiple universes to find their beloved theater teacher? And seeing different versions of themself? What an amazing way to show the two MCs they could be whoever they want to be.

At first I thought there was no way Priscilla and Marlowe could ever be together, the hatred was just so extreme! Everything came together SO well.

There could’ve been a bit more added to the build up of them being together, but either way I couldn’t put this book down for the life of me. There was so many other details we get that made it all so worth it.

It wasn’t just a romance story, it was about finding yourself and pushing yourself to do the scary things. It was also about letting go and admitting to yourself and others.

This book had me giggling, my heart hurting, and my thoughts turning. I enjoyed watching the two MCs grow closer and really hear one another. This was all pulled together so well, wow.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC!

[Unpopmary]

Sadly DNF'd at about 30%. I was genuinely excited about the alternate realities idea, since it felt so fresh, and I was ready for some delicious enemies-to-lovers tension. But I never connected with the characters or the story. The back-and-forth between the MCs came off more childish and passive-aggressive than anything mature or charged, which surprised me given their ages. No chemistry, no spark. That said, the foundation is solid, and I can see why others would love it. Just wasn't the right read for me this time. Huge thank you to Berkley Publishing for the eARC opportunity anyway!

[jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

i would’ve read this in one sitting if i hadn’t started it at 9pm oh my god. bridget morrissey has really cemented herself as one of my fave queer romance authors with this one. i’m obsessed.

thank you berkley and edelweiss for the arc <3

[AR]

I will read everything Bridget Morrissey writes from now until the end of time basically.

[Tone Waters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has everything I love in it. Sapphic enemies to lovers, one bed, and ALL the theater references. I couldn’t put it down. Grab your copy of In What World wherever you get your books this August!

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

A super cute multiverse romp with a quest of self acceptance, identity and hope woven through.

This was just delightful! I was in need for a lighthearted read and this pulled through but it also pulled at my heartstrings. Priscilla and Marlowe just want to feel like they belong in the world they’re living in, living a life they love and feeling good enough in themselves. These two have some unresolved history and tension and when their old high school drama teaches goes missing they have to put their animosity aside and help bring him back into their own reality.

The romance. I loved their back and forth. The bickering and banter was A+ and I loved seeing little glimpses of their history (this was done well. Sometimes I feel like dual timelines stilt the pace but with the use of multiverses we get to see how things played out without feeling like the plot was slowing down). This is slowburn so we really get to know both Priscilla and Marlowe before they enter into anything intimate which I adored.

The sex. There’s one brief explicit intimate scene and it was done well, it fit the tone of the book and the characters. I did think at one point this was going to be strictly closed door but I was glad for that scene as It really added to the overall emotion and relationship between them.

The writing. Super engaging and fun while I would say the first 50% is fast paced we really slow down after it and I think it was needed. I also really appreciated that this is a dual pov romance, we don’t normally get that in sapphic romances and it always tends to leave me not feeling as connected to one character but it wasn’t the case here. MORE DUAL POV SAPPHIC ROMANCES PLEASE!

The only issue I had was that the stakes felt super low even given the super tense and loopy premise, I understand that it wasn’t trying to be hectic or angsty though and I feel like it was more my own issue than the books.

Overall a fun twisty time and I cannot wait to read more from Bridget.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for sending me the arc. All opinions are my own

[Ammie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a high bar for sapphic characters and unfortunately, this feels like a caricature of lesbians. The dialogue is bad, the enemies part of the -to-lovers is weak, and the queer representation (trans siblings, gender play, drag culture) feels extremely surface level/after school special. This book should not have taken me three weeks to finish but I was not ever excited to get back to it.

However, the idea of the book is cool, the multiverse traveling was fun, and seeing how alternate versions of Marlow and Priscilla help Real Marlow and Priscilla figure out who they are and what they want is touching, if not heavy handed.

[Tyler Hancsak · Rating 5 out of 5]

YES YES YES NOW THIS IS CHEMISTRY!!!! This was so easy to follow for having a little time/dimension traveling. The romance was SWEET, wholesome, and true enemies (who used to be friends) to lovers. SUCH a feel good sapphic read.

[Meagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual Rating; 3.75 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review! This comes out on August 11th.

In What World, Bridget Morrissey’s newest sapphic adult romance, follows high school rivals Marlowe and Priscilla who begrudgingly reunite as adults to investigate the disappearance of their beloved former drama teacher. The two end up traveling through a series of alternate realities together, forcing them to find the answer to a question they’d never admit to being curious about—in what world would the two of them ever be in love with each other?

This is a five star premise for me. I love stories that play with time and space in interesting ways and this being a sapphic romance is the icing on the cake. Ultimately, I liked the concept of the novel more than the actual novel itself. I didn’t think Bridget Morrissey did a good enough job of establishing why Marlowe and Priscilla hated each other so much in high school. The very first chapter of the book is a flashback to a high school cast party, which could have been a great opportunity to establish their rivalry but didn’t really add all that much to the book in my opinion. We eventually learn that both Marlowe and Priscilla always wanted to be the best in the drama department but it takes a long time to establish this. For the first fifty or so percent of the book I didn’t understand why they hated each other. Their pettiness towards one another - especially Priscilla’s - was frustrating and I considered DNFing the book because I wasn’t enjoying the characters or their relationship. I couldn’t imagine myself rooting for them, especially since it seemed like there was no real attraction between them.

Luckily, this changed in the second half of the book. Marlowe and Priscilla’s motives make more sense and their attraction to each other feels more real but they seemed to change all of a sudden, without any growth on the page. It felt a bit like Bridget Morrissey skipped over the character development and just changed their personalities.

I actually loved the last 30% of this (up until the final chapter. I’m a bit of an epilogue hater when it comes to romance but that’s more personal preference than an actual fault of the book) and it increased my rating. I could feel Marlowe and Priscilla’s chemistry. I loved their former theater teacher Dallas. I loved their journey back to their real lives. It was all so fun! I just wish that I felt that way about the rest of the book. I think with better characterization earlier on and more on-page development this could have been a better story and romance throughout instead of only near the end.

I will say, the sex scene felt very much like Bridget Morrissey was checking it off a list of requirements. It comes out of nowhere and interrupts the flow of the book.

Qualms aside, I think Bridget Morrissey is a talented writer and I’m definitely open to reading more queer romances from her in the future.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

”it’s funny how obvious a lesson can be when someone else needs to learn it, and how hard it is to recognize when it’s you.”

Imagine being able to see yourself as everyone else perceives you. Physically observe all the subtle details of your daily life, your body language, and mannerisms. You are able to do this because you are looking and talking to you! This alternate version of yourself exists in a parallel dimension, and you’re just visiting. .

However, at this moment, the alternate version of you wants You to deal with the woman who is just now walking into the room … as the other you shuts herself in a coat closet. You know this new woman because in your reality, she was your girlfriend and you just broke up with her before starting your inter-dimensional journey. Oh, and you’re not exploring on your own; you’re accompanied by Priscilla, your high school nemesis who is across the room watching the whole scene play out with a smirk on her face.

Marlowe and Priscilla (who may have kissed once) have been at odds with each other all through their high school drama classes. Initially, they were both drawn to theater by their drama teacher Dallas. Now, 13 years later Marlowe teaches at the same high school they graduated from and Priscilla…now known professionally as Cilla Cove plays a Doctor on a television show and was recently nominated for a golden globe award.

When Dallas goes missing just before the dress rehearsal for his final production before retirement, Marlowe and Priscilla are forced to collaborate as they investigate his disappearance. Their journey will take them through multiple dimensions and reveal different versions of themselves.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story by Bridget Morrissey. It was delightful to witness Marlowe and Priscilla’s interactions with all the other Marlowes and Priscillas inhabiting the multiverse they traverse. Throughout their journey, they gain insights into each other’s lives, discovering aspects of their personalities and personal histories that were previously unknown. The narrative was both clever and heartfelt. It’s amazing how much a couple can learn by watching themselves.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Berkley Romance for allowing me to read and review this novel. All opinions are my own.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marlowe and Priscilla, who were high school rivals and still dislike each other despite not seeing each other since they graduated, have to work together and travel through different realities to find their former drama teacher after he disappears.

I’m pretty much a sucker for any enemies to lovers story, so I happily requested the book. In What World wasn’t entirely what I thought it would be, though. I must have just skimmed the description; combine that and the cover and I thought it was going to be more sci-fi and they were going to go to entirely different worlds. Okay, my bad. My brain just quickly pivoted once I realized they were just going to different versions of their own world.

Seeing these different versions of the main characters was interesting, but I do wish there had been a little more variation to it. They were mostly confined to one area, which I felt limited the characters a bit. I found the most interesting version of them to be the one that was outside of the school, so I did wish there had been more versions in that vein. Because of this, I felt like it dragged a little when they entered the third (second? fourth? I don't know, I lost track) world, but it did eventually pick back up again.

For the most part, I liked the book. Thankfully, Marlowe and Priscilla had pretty good chemistry, which is a huge make or break for me for a book like this. I could definitely feel the tension there beyond just their anger and hurt with each other. They did make me roll my eyes sometimes, though. They're in their mid thirties and still bickering like high schoolers. I'm all for banter, even when they're being petty and passive aggressive, but these two could be pretty immature at times given their age. I would have been more inclined to believe they were in their mid twenties and often forgot they were in their thirties.

Overall, it's a relatively fun book about second chances and finding yourself and not getting stuck. It wasn't a perfect book, but I did enjoy it. Somewhere between three and four stars for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Emily]

Received as an ARC from NetGalley. Honest review. Not giving it a star rating of any kind due to DNF status (I read about 60-65% of the total pages).


I tried multiple times over several weeks to get into it. I even tried skipping around to various parts hoping maybe the pacing and dialogue became more intriguing. Alas, it just didn’t draw me in and I couldn’t fly through it like I do most stories.

The concept is good and appealing (mystery/supernatural time jumping) and I loved the idea of it involving theatre teachers and an actor who went away from the small town (as an actor in my personal life) but the theatre part just skewed too far from reality: gender flipping roles & having the teacher always play a part each year sounds great in concept but reality is theatrical licensing rules often wouldn’t allow that, not to mention the best theatre teachers I had would never take role opportunities away from their students to play it themselves. Perhaps a disclaimer about artistic liberties being taken with theatre world details like they use in sports romance would be applicable here. I did appreciate that a lot of the terminology was technically correct and there were bits that emphasized that (the ex gf calling things by the wrong name etc).


The dialogue and time jumping just didn’t read as super organic or natural in general. It felt a bit forced & stilted, which gave me the impression this writer may be a bit green? I suggest reading some of the dialogue out loud when reviewing it to see if it falls naturally from one’s mouth or feels stilted.

The main FMC wasn’t the most likable and the love interest coming back to town just felt like what someone THINKS a C list celeb is like. Alternating POVs weren’t different enough to tell which FMC viewpoint it was from - I almost would have preferred it just from a single POV. Or add in some chapters from the missing teacher’s POV, even.

I am bummed because the concept is super interesting and I love to see more sapphic stories in the romance book world. If you don’t have a knowledge base in theatre and how it truly works and instead focus on the time travel aspect, it may be worth your time :)

[Isabella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley and Berkley, for the e-ARC!

I was first drawn to this book by its amazing cover, and the title definitely intrigued me. Even more so by the description, which promised this novel would be a lesbian rivals-to-lovers, dimension-hopping mystery romance as the main leads, Marlowe and Priscilla, try to find their favorite theater teacher, who has gone missing.

So, being on a lesbian rivals-to-lovers streak, I knew I had to know what was up.

I'll start with what I liked. I really dug the concept. When I first cracked open this novel, I was hoping for some banter similar to that of another alternate-dimension-hopping lesbian rivals-to-lovers novel, This Is How You Lose The Time War, but with an overarching theater-kid twist.

And I'll say, I enjoyed the execution and the way Morissey handled the characters meeting their alternate selves and adapting to a world that is not quite like their own. The sci-fi and mystery aspects of this novel were hard to carry, as it doesn't have many proper examples that attempt a similar concept.

However, I think this is where my biggest issue with the novel begins to show: the chemistry.

Perhaps it's because I'm not a theater kid, and therefore I don't know the inner politics and competitiveness that come with it, but I felt that the chemistry (be it the rivalry and romance) felt a bit childish. I fear this is, in part, just from reading some of their dialogue and inner thoughts, which would make me mentally check out of the story for a bit.

There would be moments, at least, when their relationship would become a little less surface-level, but it didn't feel like Priscilla and Marlowe grew beyond just being more understanding friends.

Which sucks because I felt there was so much more potential in a stronger romance had the chemistry been cooked up a bit more.

I truly wanted to like this novel a lot more, but it just wasn't the book for me.

⅗ stars.

[rebeccareads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big-hearted, funny, and easily digestible, In What World is a lesbian theater kid’s inter-dimensional fever dream. Featuring a lovely romance between a sweater-vest-wearing butch bottom and a snarky bisexual femme top, a gay fairy godmother who's a secret physics genius, and plenty of both hilarious and feel-good moments throughout, this book just feels like a warm hug.

I don't normally go for magical realism or enemies-to-lovers, but I liked Morrissey's other sapphic magical realism title, Everything She Does Is Magic, and was pleased to enjoy In What World even more. Our first FMC Marlowe is sweet and dependable, while our second, Priscilla, is brash and a bit flighty. Both truly come alive only when they're hating on each other. I loved their dynamic from the first scene, because it's not an annoying, forcedly-quippy enemies-to-lovers situation. It's really just two dorks who are clearly in love, have been for years, and are fooling absolutely nobody on that front.

While the time/dimension-traveling premise is fun and its execution is very well-done, In What World is ultimately a character-driven story. That's also usually not my thing, but the characters here are just too good. Marlowe's a slightly grumpy, highly relatable everywoman, while Priscilla's more of a live wire; I loved her quick wit and quicker temper. Her and Marlowe's relationships with the aforementioned physics genius, Dallas, are the book's emotional core, and their scenes even made me tear up at the end. I'd say Dallas is the book's scene-stealer, but that title probably belongs with Erik, Priscilla's deeply unfazed Gen Z assistant. I would 100% read a Priscilla-and-Erik buddy comedy.

All told, In What World is simply a slam dunk by Morrissey. I can't wait for her next sapphic adult title!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

[Jazz’s Reads and Rants · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had such a fun time with this one! Thank you to Bridget Morrissey, Berkley, and NetGalley for the ARC.

I went into this book completely blind because I wanted to be surprised—and I absolutely was. I loved the pacing and the way the story builds before the time travel element really takes off. Since I’ve never read a time travel romance before, it took me a little while to settle into that aspect of the story, but once I did, I found myself completely invested.

Cilla and Marlowe are wonderfully complex characters. It took me a bit to fully understand their dynamic at first, but getting to watch their relationship unfold—from rivals to friends to something much deeper—was such a rewarding journey. Their chemistry builds in a way that feels earned, and the emotional connection between them really shines.

Dallas’ storyline completely captured me. As his story slowly unfolded, it added such an emotional depth to the book that I wasn’t expecting. Watching those pieces come together was incredibly moving, and by the time everything was revealed I genuinely had tears in my eyes. His arc added another layer to the story that made the whole experience feel even more powerful.

As someone who usually gravitates toward very spicy romances, you might think Morrissey’s books wouldn’t necessarily be my go-to. But I actually love the way she approaches it. The spice is subtle and placed at exactly the right moments—just enough to make the relationship feel real and meaningful without overshadowing the story.

Overall, this was a really enjoyable read. I’ve already caught myself recommending it to people because the mix of adventure, time travel, and romance makes it stand out in such a fun way.

[Logan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given this ARC by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I loooooove love loved Morrissey’s “That Summer Feeling” so when I saw an ARC by her I jumped at the chance. I loved the premise of this and I’d describe it as Romance meets the multiverse. My took different book favorites are queer romance and suspense/thriller, especially if it’s got that twisted black mirror vibe like Dark Matter. And this definitely marries the two. Sapphic time travel? I was racing to sign up.

I liked our two characters and I liked that the multiverse angle allowed us to meet these characters having chosen multiple different paths and directions so we got to see different variants of them as themselves and with each other. It’s rare for characters to be able to go back into the past and see things from each others’ point of view and learn to empathize. I hate miscommunication tropes because I want to scream “you love each other” at everyone, but this avoids that by giving each character’s side, how they understood it and then learning how the other one understood it as well. They were willing to grow and change for themselves and for each other.

The growth and willingness to grow and understand each other was a strong theme throughout. I loved Dallas and his mysteriousness and how it unfolded. The time traveling was fun, if not slightly ridiculous, but it was easy to walk away and jump to another book. I wanted to not be able to put it down, which didn’t happen. I really appreciate Marlowe’s sexual and gender identity exploration and Priscilla’s relationship with fame and the idea of not being wanted/not feeling good enough.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

In What World by Bridget Morrissey is a book about two high school rivals coming together to find their beloved drama teacher, who has mysteriously gone missing right before his final performance and retirement. In their efforts to track him down, the two women go on a journey through parallel dimensions, meeting alternate versions of themselves and unpacking their feelings about themselves and each other along the way.

This book is sweet and funny, with the banter between our protagonists being a highlight. They’re catty and playful, picking at each other just like they did in high school. Their chemistry is delicious, and I loved seeing their feelings grow and change. Billy Larsen gets the award for funniest quips, and every High School Musical reference had me screaming. I loved the search for Dallas, and slowly learning more about their mysterious mentor’s backstory.

I had personally hoped for some weirder inter-dimensional time travel shenanigans, but this story is surprisingly grounded considering the subject matter. There is also a LOT of therapy-speak, culminating in long, drawn-out speeches about feelings that made me feel a little like I was sitting in on the characters’ counseling session.

Overall, I really liked this book! I love the enemies-to-lovers trope, and a good, lighthearted Sapphic story is always a rare gem. The premise is fun, and I had a great time reading it!

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group for providing this advance copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Berkley's Hub for Underrepresented Voices and NetGalley for the ARC!

I loved the other Bridget Morrissey books I have read (That Summer Feeling and Anywhere You Go) and I got this book expecting to enjoy it, but didn't know how I'd feel with the magical realism aspect of the alternate realities. I loved it! This is a sapphic childhood enemies to lovers romance where they are brought together by their beloved drama teacher's last show before retirement, who then goes missing.

I loved the concept of Marlowe and Priscilla exploring alternate universes through their teacher's mysterious memory box, visiting and interacting with other versions of their own selves if things were different. I love how the characters use these moments in the other worlds to resolve their past misunderstandings and points of conflict, turning them into companions and then lovers throughout their exploration. It was such a beautiful experience seeing these characters transform themselves. The banter was just so great that I had a lot of little great moments reading it. This is very light on the spice, but I enjoyed the scenes and how it fit in the story.

This also felt like a love letter to the theatre kids and really appreciated this. I'd recommend this to any lovers of sapphic romance, theatre kids (past or present), and those who often wonder how their life would be different if you had taken slightly different paths. After reading this, I think Bridget Morrissey deserves a spot on my auto-buy authors list.

[Abbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a review.

This was a fun, sweet ride of a book! I'm not usually a big romance person, but the idea of traveling through alternate universes and meeting different version of themselves was too tempting to pass up. I ended up really enjoying all the characters, especially our main ones, Marlowe and Priscilla. It was great to see their relationship transform as they visited all these different universes and saw the possibilities, both good and bad.

I think Morrissey did a great job of revealing the depths in each character, and alternating points of view was really nice to get a deeper look into their feelings and their history, even before they shared things with each other. You know with a romance it's going to be a happy ending, but I think the way they got there was really genuine and real. OK, sure hopping through alternate universes isn't a thing in real life, but the development of them together and working their way toward each other was well done and I think more true than a romance where everything is rosy and perfect.

Aside from that Dallas' story was incredibly moving and heartbreaking as we find out why he's traveling through all these different universes. I don't want to spoil anything, but learning about him was a great addition to the overall story.

Also, the cover art is great and I think really captures how Morrissey had described Priscilla and Marlowe!

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

If you’re a theatre kid with a love of High School Musical and a yearning to fix the mistakes of your younger self, then you’ll find an uncanny reflection in Bridget Morrissey’s newest book. If you’re only some or maybe none of those things, you’ll still enjoy watching two hopeless sapphics stumble through time and space on a quest to find their missing director. In What World is a touching examination of what can cause two people to drift so far apart and still find their way back together. Priscilla and Marlowe are utter disasters who are completely unable to open up to each other without extreme outside forces (like getting lost mid-multiverse jump), and it’s both frustrating and endearing to watch them struggle. Still, it only makes the reader root harder for their success.

Dallas’ story had me teary-eyed. I understood where he was coming from completely, but at the same time, you can’t let your life stall out because of grief. You find people to support you through it. You don’t have to bury it or forget the reason behind it, but it’s never the right answer to sink into the quagmire of it and stop looking forward to the life you still have the privilege to live. The scene with Marlowe and Priscilla showing Dallas everything they’ve learned on their journey made me feel all kinds of emotions. In What World shows the good, the bad, and the ugly of queer love, and the reader still comes out of it with an overwhelming hope.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley, and Bridget Morrissey. ❤️

Marlowe and Priscilla's rivalry begins in school, and truly spans timelines. Both theater nerds, they spent their high school years in competition for everything. As adults, Marlowe stayed behind to teach at her high school and help run the theater department with their mentor Dallas. Priscilla is the famous actress rebranded as Cilla Cove. When Dallas suddenly goes missing, they must hop into his Memory Machine ( essentially a time machine ) and find him.

Oh yall im absolutely feral for these two! The banter. The growth they both experience in the span of one book! You literally want to knock their heads together by the middle of the book and scream JUST BANG ALREADY! 😂 But that would be the easy way, and our girlies must learn about themselves and meet who they are in alternate timelines first. And yall the journey is so worth it! This is a romance/sci fi kinda mashup and I'm here for it! You obviously have to suspend belief but it's written so well you can see it happening! And Dallas. Dallas is honestly my fave! Spending his life trying to get back to his one love.

This is such a beautiful queer romance and I cant speak highly enough of it! All the stars and then some!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

[Faiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up.

This book fully surprised me with how romantic, endearing, and weird it was. This is a gem of a sapphic annoyances-to-lovers, magical realism, forced proximity, romantic comedy. From the first email exchange between the two leads, I was hooked on their dynamic. I loved straight-laced Marlowe and her passive aggressive jabs duking it out with force-of-life Pricilla. I absolutely love Pricilla’s eccentrics, and I love the way Marlowe increasingly bounces off of them. They are both truly arts losers, but they have so much fun doing it together.

Elaborating on the surprise, I could never have predicted one of the places they ended up. It was so strange but it was also so earnestly about Marlowe taking her big leap and bonding with Pricilla. That earnestness let me completely by into it and enjoy it. Likewise, they do a common time travel romantic trope that was just so fun. With the premise, I expected it to happen at some point, but I was so amused by how the dynamic between timelines played out.

My only real complaint is that some of the “deeper” messaging was delivered heavy-handed. But at the same time, I still teared up over Dallas’ story. I still rooted for Pricilla and Marlowe. I think it could have been stronger, but it’s not something that ruined the hard-hitting moments for me.

[Alaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

there were so many times I questioned why I was still reading this book, was it the magic of slipping into alternate dimensions? seeing how this will they- won't they, enemies to lovers would play out?
Who could say.
Yet here I am with my measly little three stars.

The concept of this story was so so promising. Two high school rivals, one who moved on to bigger and better things and one who stayed in their same small town- working at the school they both attended, forced to reconnect when their beloved teacher goes missing.
In a whimsical turn of events, they, with the help of the magic mystery machine, are on the hunt slipping through alternate dimensions to try and find him.

All of my stars are for that magic, for the mystery, and unfortunately, NOT for the romance.

I remained wholly unconvinced for the entire duration of this book that these characters actually felt any kind of romantic feelings for eachother, that this 'hatred' that made them 'enemies' is anything more than a fluke with poorly worded dialogue and terrible miscommunication. When they get together at the end (not a spoiler this is literally a romance) I was just so... meh? unimpressed? I wanted more. I wanted better reason. I wanted to swoon for these two ladies but all this book was good for was putting me to sleep.

[Nev · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun concept for a romance novel! Two former high school enemies accidentally end up traveling through alternate universes together while searching for their missing theater mentor. I loved getting to see Priscilla and Marlowe witness the different routes their lives could have taken. It just seemed like such a unique way to get the characters to open up about their lives and talk about the pivotal moments in their shared history.

Even though this book does have the speculative element of visiting different universes it mostly feels like a grounded story about the characters learning to open up about their fears and desires for their lives. I loved reading about them finally sharing about their times in high school and how they misread each other.

Some aspects of the relationship near the end of the book felt a little bit rushed to me. And occasionally some of the scenes felt a little repetitive. But overall this was just a delightful, high-concept sapphic romance novel. I’d definitely recommend it to readers who are looking for something different within the realm of queer romances.

Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Zoey M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lighthearted read, while also touching on heavier themes in some areas. For the most part I enjoyed Priscilla and Marlowe's relationship, and I enjoyed the more science fiction-y elements of the book with the travel through alternate universes. In some parts of the book the characters did feel a bit too juvenile for me, which was partly due to the way they interacted and possibly partly due to the fact that the book largely takes place at the high school they attended, even though both characters are adults during the book. If their ages weren't stated in the book I would have had trouble guessing what age they were supposed to be, which made the one more explicit scene between them feel a bit awkward to read. For the most part the book could have taken place during their senior year of high school with only minor changes to a few plot points, and basically no changed to how Priscilla and Marlowe interact with each other or speak. Aside from that issue, I enjoyed the writing of the book, and enjoyed the plot and the different realities visited throughout the book.
Rating: 3.75/5 stars, rounded to 4/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

[andrea ✩ · Rating 5 out of 5]

bravo! bellissima! i loved every part of this! we are SO back!

bridget morrissey just has it, what can i say? she has a golden pen.

i absolutely love the way her stories are told and the way her adult relationships are presented. there can be misunderstandings, but ultimately there are two mature adults who also know when to value and prioritize healthy communication.

this book is SO much fun! multiverses and theater kids! well yes, of course! i absolutely adored both Marlowe and Priscilla. i loved seeing what makes them tick and what makes them long. and the multiverse exploration along with the realization of all the choices that could’ve made them different or better….i loved seeing that too.

i had such a fantastic time reading this. it wasn’t only fun, it was also very thought provoking. the motivation between dallas, their quirky and lovely theater mentor, to travel through universes was so emotionally profound.

there’s not much else to say other than i deeply loved this book. i love bridget morrissey’s pen. i love sapphics. and i love love!!

thank you to berkley (!!!) for getting me out of my book slump with this arc in exchange of an honest review

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn't realized this was my second Bridget Morrissey until I decided to browse through her work mid way through this and realized I was having a blast. I think she's now wormed her way into being a new favorite, especially when I need something cute and feel good.

This was SO much fun! Utterly charming and genuinely so funny. It's absurd in the best kind of way. I almost didn't want it to end because I was having so much fun. Both our leads are charming in two different ways, but Pricilla stole the show for me. She's witty and funny and someone I'd want to be friends with.

I was a little worried at first because there didn't seem to be any sizzling chemistry and it felt more friendly than romantic, but I realized the book was leading towards that and was just a slow burn of getting there. These two had such a deep misunderstanding of their feelings which lead to some honestly very sweet yearning without them realizing it.

It's tender and sweet without being overly tooth rotting. A nice balance between fun, sweet and emotional depth. So yeah, I'd say this book is a perfect little escape into another world.

Thank you to Berkley and netgalley for the arc.

[Foxtrot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC! All opinions are honest and my own.

tldr: A fun and funny sapphic enemies-to-lovers book about self-discovery and jumping through alternate universes. 4/5 stars, I recommend it

What a fun read! This is my first Bridget Morrissey book so I will be checking out more of her works for sure.
I loved In What World’s humor and found the bickering, bantering, and witty dialogue between characters A+ (especially between Priscilla and Marlowe). A few moments genuinely made me cackle aloud so I’m glad I picked up this story in my search for a more lighthearted read.

I’m not a theatre girlie so many of the musical references flew over my head (and some other pop culture references made me cringe a lot lol) but I still had an easy time following along. The author did a great job with the multiverse-traveling concept and I enjoyed the diverse cast of LGBT characters with heartfelt messages about identity, love, etc.
Admittedly, I didn’t connect to Priscilla and Marlowe as characters as much as I wanted to, but I still found their slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance buzzy and satisfying after all the frustrating miscommunication.

[Jace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate to receive an ARC from NetGalley, so thank you NetGalley and Berkley! I'm still learning how to write a good review so please be patient with me.

In all honesty, the science fiction elements of this book nearly kept me from reading it, as I'm usually not much of a sci-fi fan. However, the enemies to lovers and forced proximity tropes convinced me to give it a try anyways.
I'm very glad I did! The rivalry got old fast for my taste, but the wait was worth it. The sweet moments in this book made the more frustrating scenes worth it. Some of the lines in this book really got me, too. My personal favorite is, "I would rearrange the stars for her. I would find her in any life." I think it also does a good job of summing up their love. Additionally, I love Dallas, their mentor. He was a great side character and I wanted way more of him!

Overall I'm rating this book 4.5 stars but rounding it up to five. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a sapphic romance novel.