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Lake Pristine #3
Yearning Difficulties: Fall in love with this cosy autumnal fake-dating romance
It's autumn in Lake Pristine! Get ready to fall in love with Yearning Difficulties, the fake-dating romance from Elle McNicoll, award-winning author of
Wish You Were Her.
'An instant favourite' - Lizzie Huxley-Jones, author of Vivi Conway
"I honestly loved this book so much . . . I swear this series gets better with every book!" - 5* reader review
"Always love a good romantic YA book especially one that has a cute fake dating scheme . . . Highly recommend!" - 5* reader review
"A fabulous romance" - 5* reader review
Zella is co-hosting the student radio show – which would be great if she didn’t have to share it with her horrible ex, Dave.
Her classmate Killian is brash, opinionated – and his mother happens to run the writing seminar of Zella’s dreams.
When Zella suggests he help her out by fake dating her, Killian sees an opportunity. He has his own reasons for getting close to Zella . . .
But when he starts to trip up on his own lies and their friendship begins to fracture, Zella might have to open her heart to the possibility that what she’s looking for has been there the whole time.
'An instant favourite' - Lizzie Huxley-Jones, author of Vivi Conway
"I honestly loved this book so much . . . I swear this series gets better with every book!" - 5* reader review
"Always love a good romantic YA book especially one that has a cute fake dating scheme . . . Highly recommend!" - 5* reader review
"A fabulous romance" - 5* reader review
Zella is co-hosting the student radio show – which would be great if she didn’t have to share it with her horrible ex, Dave.
Her classmate Killian is brash, opinionated – and his mother happens to run the writing seminar of Zella’s dreams.
When Zella suggests he help her out by fake dating her, Killian sees an opportunity. He has his own reasons for getting close to Zella . . .
But when he starts to trip up on his own lies and their friendship begins to fracture, Zella might have to open her heart to the possibility that what she’s looking for has been there the whole time.
Audible Audio
Published October 8, 2026
About the author
Elle McNicoll
27 books950 followersHey, I'm Elle. I'm Scottish, autistic and an author/screenwriter who is really bad at logging her reading choices.
I write about autistic girls finding out who they are and what makes them happy, because I'm an autistic girl trying to find out who she is and what makes her happy.
I don't read reviews, as they are for readers, but I'm grateful to any and everyone who engages with my work, on the page or on the screen. My Young Adult Romance debut is called Some Like It Cold in it will be published on the 3rd of October. Official professional shiz below:
Elle McNicoll is a bestselling and award-winning novelist and screenwriter. Her debut, A Kind of Spark, won the Blue Peter Book Award and the Overall Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, as well as Blackwell’s Book of 2020. She is a four time Carnegie nominated author, and was shortlisted for the Books Are My Bag Awards 2020, 2021 and 2022, the Branford Boase Award 2020 and The Little Rebels Award 2020 and 2021. She was also honoured in the US with the Schneider Award, 2022.
Her second Middle Grade novel, Show Us Who You Are, was Blackwell’s Book of the Month and one of The Bookseller’s Best Books of 2021. Her first fantasy middle grade, Like a Charm, was nominated for Best Children’s Book for Older Readers in the first ever Week Junior Book Awards, and was highly praised in the New York Times.
Her debut novel, A Kind of Spark, has also been adapted for television, which debuted on UK and US screens on the 2nd of April, 2023. It is Emmy nominated and won Best Children’s Programme at the Broadcast Awards and the Royal Television Society Awards in London, 2024 and is now streaming in many territories around the globe. A second season is currently airing on CBBC.
Her debut Middle Grade was named as one of the greatest children’s books of all time, coming in at number 75, and she is twice nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award.
Her YA debut, Some Like It Cold, will be published on October 1st (US) and October 3rd (UK). She is an advocate for better representation of neurodiversity in publishing, as an autistic and dyspraxic novelist, and currently lives in North London.
I write about autistic girls finding out who they are and what makes them happy, because I'm an autistic girl trying to find out who she is and what makes her happy.
I don't read reviews, as they are for readers, but I'm grateful to any and everyone who engages with my work, on the page or on the screen. My Young Adult Romance debut is called Some Like It Cold in it will be published on the 3rd of October. Official professional shiz below:
Elle McNicoll is a bestselling and award-winning novelist and screenwriter. Her debut, A Kind of Spark, won the Blue Peter Book Award and the Overall Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, as well as Blackwell’s Book of 2020. She is a four time Carnegie nominated author, and was shortlisted for the Books Are My Bag Awards 2020, 2021 and 2022, the Branford Boase Award 2020 and The Little Rebels Award 2020 and 2021. She was also honoured in the US with the Schneider Award, 2022.
Her second Middle Grade novel, Show Us Who You Are, was Blackwell’s Book of the Month and one of The Bookseller’s Best Books of 2021. Her first fantasy middle grade, Like a Charm, was nominated for Best Children’s Book for Older Readers in the first ever Week Junior Book Awards, and was highly praised in the New York Times.
Her debut novel, A Kind of Spark, has also been adapted for television, which debuted on UK and US screens on the 2nd of April, 2023. It is Emmy nominated and won Best Children’s Programme at the Broadcast Awards and the Royal Television Society Awards in London, 2024 and is now streaming in many territories around the globe. A second season is currently airing on CBBC.
Her debut Middle Grade was named as one of the greatest children’s books of all time, coming in at number 75, and she is twice nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award.
Her YA debut, Some Like It Cold, will be published on October 1st (US) and October 3rd (UK). She is an advocate for better representation of neurodiversity in publishing, as an autistic and dyspraxic novelist, and currently lives in North London.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Another great book from Elle McNicholl. I enjoyed it so much. It was an adorable romance with two really interesting characters and made me feel so seen. I loved seeing the two characters come together and it was good to see Lake Pristine being fleshed out more with the autumn festivities!
As much as he was an interesting character, I didn’t like Killian much. He had a lot of issues to work through, which was understandable but I felt he and Cherry were pressuring Zella a lot about being autistic. I feel suggesting to someone that they might be autistic is fine, but repeatedly telling someone that they’re autistic when they make it clear that they don’t want to face it yet, is not okay. It annoyed me a lot, though I understand it was included to push along the narrative and help Zella come to terms with the idea.
I really love how each of these books shows all different sorts of autistic people. As I’ve said, Zella is undiagnosed and still coming to terms with the idea that she might be autistic. It was really good to see this representation. Not only is it highlighting how autistic people come in all shapes and forms, but I feel it could really help someone else in a similar situation.
This really was just such a cute book and I really hope to see the characters again in the next book (especially Cherry who I haven’t mentioned but is awesome.)
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Cross-posted to thewhisperingofthepages.co.uk
As much as he was an interesting character, I didn’t like Killian much. He had a lot of issues to work through, which was understandable but I felt he and Cherry were pressuring Zella a lot about being autistic. I feel suggesting to someone that they might be autistic is fine, but repeatedly telling someone that they’re autistic when they make it clear that they don’t want to face it yet, is not okay. It annoyed me a lot, though I understand it was included to push along the narrative and help Zella come to terms with the idea.
I really love how each of these books shows all different sorts of autistic people. As I’ve said, Zella is undiagnosed and still coming to terms with the idea that she might be autistic. It was really good to see this representation. Not only is it highlighting how autistic people come in all shapes and forms, but I feel it could really help someone else in a similar situation.
This really was just such a cute book and I really hope to see the characters again in the next book (especially Cherry who I haven’t mentioned but is awesome.)
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Cross-posted to thewhisperingofthepages.co.uk
July 22, 2026
With Elle McNicoll’s latest novel, the autumnal YA romance Yearning Difficulties, she does something that may surprise readers of her previous books. That’s because McNicoll — a proudly autistic author known for putting neurodivergent characters at the heart of her stories — turns the narrative inward, this time writing from the perspective of a teenage girl who has yet to discover this fundamental truth about herself. When we meet Zella Blass, we learn that she is highly involved with school activities and has always felt different to her peers for reasons she can’t quite explain. She co-hosts the school radio show with her ex-boyfriend, and her big dream is to get into a prestigious writing seminar led by the esteemed Dr Bergery, whose twin sons Chris and Killian attend classes with Zella. After Zella reveals this to Killian, he offers to help her in exchange for a favour of his own. However, when Killian brings her home to meet his mother, Dr Bergery mistakenly assumes the two are dating. But after Zella decides to go along with the ruse, she and Killian unexpectedly bond, finding themselves connecting in a way that surprises them both.
It was a treat to return to Lake Pristine for yet another season, as I recognized quite a few familiar faces and places from both Some Like it Cold and Wish You Were Her. While several characters featured in the previous instalments of McNicoll’s trio (soon to be quartet!) of standalone YA novels set in the seemingly idyllic fictional town make an appearance, readers new to this world are quickly brought up to speed so they don’t feel like they’re left behind. It’s also worth mentioning that Yearning Difficulties is a contemporary retelling of Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac, so if you’re at all familiar with that story it’s safe to say there will be some plot elements you’ll probably see coming! I wouldn’t call that a detriment though because the predictability of this felt comforting in a sense, and there is still an element of surprise when it comes to exactly how things play out.
Now, onto the characters! Zella and Killian are both well-developed with their own complexities, feeling like foils to one another yet two sides of the same coin, and the constantly shifting dynamic between them had me invested from the start. While both characters are written as neurodivergent, with Killian being diagnosed autistic, it is interesting to see how Zella’s perception of him changes as her self-awareness grows. As someone who has been on a journey of exploring my own neurodivergence, I found many aspects of Zella’s character quite relatable. Her academic giftedness as well as her desire to understand who she is and be truly seen definitely resonates with me, and for that reason I felt both frustrated for and empathetic towards her. I also liked Cherry, Killian and Chris’s autistic and unapologetically bold cousin, who makes a memorable impression after she shows up in town!
Overall I really enjoyed Yearning Difficulties and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys YA romance retellings, as well as anyone who may be interested in exploring neurodivergence through fictional stories that aren’t your stereotypical representation. And if you read and enjoy this one, I’d also recommend checking out McNicoll’s other books!
Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
It was a treat to return to Lake Pristine for yet another season, as I recognized quite a few familiar faces and places from both Some Like it Cold and Wish You Were Her. While several characters featured in the previous instalments of McNicoll’s trio (soon to be quartet!) of standalone YA novels set in the seemingly idyllic fictional town make an appearance, readers new to this world are quickly brought up to speed so they don’t feel like they’re left behind. It’s also worth mentioning that Yearning Difficulties is a contemporary retelling of Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac, so if you’re at all familiar with that story it’s safe to say there will be some plot elements you’ll probably see coming! I wouldn’t call that a detriment though because the predictability of this felt comforting in a sense, and there is still an element of surprise when it comes to exactly how things play out.
Now, onto the characters! Zella and Killian are both well-developed with their own complexities, feeling like foils to one another yet two sides of the same coin, and the constantly shifting dynamic between them had me invested from the start. While both characters are written as neurodivergent, with Killian being diagnosed autistic, it is interesting to see how Zella’s perception of him changes as her self-awareness grows. As someone who has been on a journey of exploring my own neurodivergence, I found many aspects of Zella’s character quite relatable. Her academic giftedness as well as her desire to understand who she is and be truly seen definitely resonates with me, and for that reason I felt both frustrated for and empathetic towards her. I also liked Cherry, Killian and Chris’s autistic and unapologetically bold cousin, who makes a memorable impression after she shows up in town!
Overall I really enjoyed Yearning Difficulties and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys YA romance retellings, as well as anyone who may be interested in exploring neurodivergence through fictional stories that aren’t your stereotypical representation. And if you read and enjoy this one, I’d also recommend checking out McNicoll’s other books!
Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and First Ink for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
This is book three of the Lake Pristine series. I didn't read the first but I did read the second and felt at no disadvantage. And this is the same. I'm sure reading them all in order will give you something a bit more, familiar characters and locations etc. but they're perfectly fine as standalones.
I think I've read four of her books - Unapologetic Love Story; Role Model; Wish You Were Her; A Kind of Spark - and own two others, and throughout them all, what I love is her depiction of neurodiversity. I believe Elle herself is neurodivergent and you can really tell that's where her passion and lies. She's not doing it just to tick a box to say she's got diverse characters; she really loves and believe in these characters and it's beautiful to see neurodiverse characters given this much care and attention, particularly in high-profile mainstream YA fiction.
My nephew is autistic, and whilst he's still a bit young for Elle's books, they will definitely be ones I recommend to him when he gets older.
I'm not the biggest fan of the "fake dating" trope. I almost feel a bit too old for it (this is in no way an opinion on what other people like to read; you read and enjoy what you want to, I celebrate all readers regardless of what they choose to read), but on a solely personal note, I feel like I can't relate to it anymore. So I was a bit apprehensive about whether Elle could win me over.
We mainly follow Zella who feels different but she isn't quite sure why, which I found interesting because the reader knows, or at least assumes, why that is but it was fun to see her journey. I also liked how one of male characters (no spoilers here) is autistic and that's rare, in my experience anyway, to read a fictional YA novel with a neurodiverse male, front and centre.
Also, and this goes for all her books I've read, she has multiple people with autism and other neurodiverse traits, and so shows that whilst there are some elements they may share, there is not "one autism", and neurodiverse people are just as individuals as neurotypical people and I found that wonderful.
There are elements that perhaps were a little predictable but that's not a negative, in fact it's almost comforting in a way, but there's still enough fresh sections to make the whole thing feel new and exciting.
I'm still not sure I'm on board with the "fake dating" trope but Elle has handled it well.
This is in the first person, whereas the previous books, if I remember correctly, were in third. I admit I only really like first person in thrillers, so that part jarred with me but that is obviously just a personal preference.
It wasn't my favourite of her books - that still lies with Wish You Were Her - but I still think it's a very well accomplished book. It's powerful and inspirational without trying too hard and I think young adults are going to absolutely love it.
This is book three of the Lake Pristine series. I didn't read the first but I did read the second and felt at no disadvantage. And this is the same. I'm sure reading them all in order will give you something a bit more, familiar characters and locations etc. but they're perfectly fine as standalones.
I think I've read four of her books - Unapologetic Love Story; Role Model; Wish You Were Her; A Kind of Spark - and own two others, and throughout them all, what I love is her depiction of neurodiversity. I believe Elle herself is neurodivergent and you can really tell that's where her passion and lies. She's not doing it just to tick a box to say she's got diverse characters; she really loves and believe in these characters and it's beautiful to see neurodiverse characters given this much care and attention, particularly in high-profile mainstream YA fiction.
My nephew is autistic, and whilst he's still a bit young for Elle's books, they will definitely be ones I recommend to him when he gets older.
I'm not the biggest fan of the "fake dating" trope. I almost feel a bit too old for it (this is in no way an opinion on what other people like to read; you read and enjoy what you want to, I celebrate all readers regardless of what they choose to read), but on a solely personal note, I feel like I can't relate to it anymore. So I was a bit apprehensive about whether Elle could win me over.
We mainly follow Zella who feels different but she isn't quite sure why, which I found interesting because the reader knows, or at least assumes, why that is but it was fun to see her journey. I also liked how one of male characters (no spoilers here) is autistic and that's rare, in my experience anyway, to read a fictional YA novel with a neurodiverse male, front and centre.
Also, and this goes for all her books I've read, she has multiple people with autism and other neurodiverse traits, and so shows that whilst there are some elements they may share, there is not "one autism", and neurodiverse people are just as individuals as neurotypical people and I found that wonderful.
There are elements that perhaps were a little predictable but that's not a negative, in fact it's almost comforting in a way, but there's still enough fresh sections to make the whole thing feel new and exciting.
I'm still not sure I'm on board with the "fake dating" trope but Elle has handled it well.
This is in the first person, whereas the previous books, if I remember correctly, were in third. I admit I only really like first person in thrillers, so that part jarred with me but that is obviously just a personal preference.
It wasn't my favourite of her books - that still lies with Wish You Were Her - but I still think it's a very well accomplished book. It's powerful and inspirational without trying too hard and I think young adults are going to absolutely love it.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received a review copy from the publisher in preparation for a UKYASpotlight interview. It has not affected my opinions.
YEARNING DIFFICULTIES is another amazing romance from Elle McNicoll.
I love fake dating as a trope. I don't know why - it's not something I'd ever support in real life - but in a book? I love it, and this is a fake dating book. I think it's the fact that the pretence lets them find out it's real, a safe way to explore what being together would be like without stakes - which might be a very autistic approach to the idea in all!
The book is only told from Zella's perspective but - in part because of the genre set up - you know from the start that Killian is in love with her. And yet, it was so clear why Zella didn't pick up on that. This is miscommunication done from the autistic perspective, where it's not an unwillingness to have the conversation but just not picking up on the clues because that's not how your brain works. Miscommunication is a trope I usually hate but I really liked it here, because it was done in a way that I could understand. They were literally trying to have the conversation, but you could understand why they were missing it.
This is, as you'd expect, another autistic romance. I really appreciated that it explored someone who didn't yet have a diagnosis and hadn't come to the realisation for herself that she was autistic. As someone who was diagnosed as a young adult, I could really relate to Zella feeling like there was something different with how she interacted with the world but without knowing why. I wish I'd been able to see a character like Zella in books when I was a teen, see those parts of me given a framework to understand them in.
There is one more book set in Lake Pristine coming - set in Spring, the final season. Unlike prior books, this one sets up the next entry, CHERRY ON A SUNDAY. The couple in the book are introduced here, with the eponymous Cherry being a relatively large character here. I like the explicit link and it's only made me more eager to read the next book!
YEARNING DIFFICULTIES is another amazing romance from Elle McNicoll.
I love fake dating as a trope. I don't know why - it's not something I'd ever support in real life - but in a book? I love it, and this is a fake dating book. I think it's the fact that the pretence lets them find out it's real, a safe way to explore what being together would be like without stakes - which might be a very autistic approach to the idea in all!
The book is only told from Zella's perspective but - in part because of the genre set up - you know from the start that Killian is in love with her. And yet, it was so clear why Zella didn't pick up on that. This is miscommunication done from the autistic perspective, where it's not an unwillingness to have the conversation but just not picking up on the clues because that's not how your brain works. Miscommunication is a trope I usually hate but I really liked it here, because it was done in a way that I could understand. They were literally trying to have the conversation, but you could understand why they were missing it.
This is, as you'd expect, another autistic romance. I really appreciated that it explored someone who didn't yet have a diagnosis and hadn't come to the realisation for herself that she was autistic. As someone who was diagnosed as a young adult, I could really relate to Zella feeling like there was something different with how she interacted with the world but without knowing why. I wish I'd been able to see a character like Zella in books when I was a teen, see those parts of me given a framework to understand them in.
There is one more book set in Lake Pristine coming - set in Spring, the final season. Unlike prior books, this one sets up the next entry, CHERRY ON A SUNDAY. The couple in the book are introduced here, with the eponymous Cherry being a relatively large character here. I like the explicit link and it's only made me more eager to read the next book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Pan Macmillan for giving me an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review
I honestly loved this book so much! I really enjoyed Some Like It Cold and Wish You Were Her, so I was very excited to return to Lake Pristine for Autumn and I think Yearning Difficulties was my favourite out of the three. I swear this series gets better with every book!
I felt that this book was quite different from the first two, largely due to the fact that it was in first person instead of third, but I think this really worked in the books favour and gives readers an insight into Zella's mind.
I loved Zella and thought she was such an interesting, smart, well rounded character. It was so interesting to see the story through her eyes and witness how she changes throughout the book. I also felt her story of discovering her autism was very authentic and well done.
Killian was also a great character in my opinion, and was a perfect match for Zella. Their story was honestly so sweet and kept me hooked and rooting for them throughout.
I also thought the cast of side characters were very vibrant and interesting, especially Cherry, who I thought was such an icon! I loved her dynamic with Zella, and I also felt awful for her though considering how some treated her, especially her stepsister.
I thought it was great that whilst Zella, Killian and Cherry were all autistic and had some similar experiences and traits due to this, they were all vastly different characters with unique personalities, which I think showed the diversity within the autism spectrum and that all autistic people are different.
I was very pleased that there was cameos from characters who were in the previous books. I felt their appearances were well handled so that those who had read the previous books could see how they were doing years later, without alienating new fans, and drawing them in to reading their stories.
Overall, I really enjoyed Yearning Difficulties and would highly recommend. Can't wait for book 4 to come out!
I honestly loved this book so much! I really enjoyed Some Like It Cold and Wish You Were Her, so I was very excited to return to Lake Pristine for Autumn and I think Yearning Difficulties was my favourite out of the three. I swear this series gets better with every book!
I felt that this book was quite different from the first two, largely due to the fact that it was in first person instead of third, but I think this really worked in the books favour and gives readers an insight into Zella's mind.
I loved Zella and thought she was such an interesting, smart, well rounded character. It was so interesting to see the story through her eyes and witness how she changes throughout the book. I also felt her story of discovering her autism was very authentic and well done.
Killian was also a great character in my opinion, and was a perfect match for Zella. Their story was honestly so sweet and kept me hooked and rooting for them throughout.
I also thought the cast of side characters were very vibrant and interesting, especially Cherry, who I thought was such an icon! I loved her dynamic with Zella, and I also felt awful for her though considering how some treated her, especially her stepsister.
I thought it was great that whilst Zella, Killian and Cherry were all autistic and had some similar experiences and traits due to this, they were all vastly different characters with unique personalities, which I think showed the diversity within the autism spectrum and that all autistic people are different.
I was very pleased that there was cameos from characters who were in the previous books. I felt their appearances were well handled so that those who had read the previous books could see how they were doing years later, without alienating new fans, and drawing them in to reading their stories.
Overall, I really enjoyed Yearning Difficulties and would highly recommend. Can't wait for book 4 to come out!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you so much to Macmillan Children's Books for giving me early access to this book on netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
To start, there was so much about this book that I liked. I really enjoyed the first two books in this YA romance quartet (especially Some Like it Cold), and it was great to be back in Lake Pristine, but this time in autumn! The vibe was spot-on for this time of year, so if you’re looking for a YA romance set in autumn, this is perfect. And seeing the other couples appear in this book was amazing and I love that we get that. As usual, I love Elle McNicholl's representation of neurodiversity, which is always interesting and important to read about, and I appreciate how she’s shown the different ways autistic people can struggle through her different characters.
Overall, I did like the romance. The fake dating was done well. However, it feels like they started to like each other far too quickly. I also had this problem in the last book, Wish You Were Her. Especially the main male character, who seemed too obsessed with Zella without even knowing her. My other problem was that, despite Zella being undiagnosed and not really sure she was autistic, it felt like she used a lot of words relating to autism already, such as when she spoke about masking and knowing terms like ‘allistic’. Of course, she could already just be well-educated, but it made it feel like Zella already identified as autistic before she realised she was, when a whole part of this story revolved around her figuring this out.
Another part was how many chances Zella gave Dave, even though she broke up with him and it was clear that he was a horrible person. I know it’s part of her character to be forgiving, but it felt like she switched from hating him to just having a normal conversation with him so fast, especially after all the terrible things he said about her and Killian.
Overall, I would still recommend this book! I’m so excited for when the fourth Lake Pristine book comes out too.
To start, there was so much about this book that I liked. I really enjoyed the first two books in this YA romance quartet (especially Some Like it Cold), and it was great to be back in Lake Pristine, but this time in autumn! The vibe was spot-on for this time of year, so if you’re looking for a YA romance set in autumn, this is perfect. And seeing the other couples appear in this book was amazing and I love that we get that. As usual, I love Elle McNicholl's representation of neurodiversity, which is always interesting and important to read about, and I appreciate how she’s shown the different ways autistic people can struggle through her different characters.
Overall, I did like the romance. The fake dating was done well. However, it feels like they started to like each other far too quickly. I also had this problem in the last book, Wish You Were Her. Especially the main male character, who seemed too obsessed with Zella without even knowing her. My other problem was that, despite Zella being undiagnosed and not really sure she was autistic, it felt like she used a lot of words relating to autism already, such as when she spoke about masking and knowing terms like ‘allistic’. Of course, she could already just be well-educated, but it made it feel like Zella already identified as autistic before she realised she was, when a whole part of this story revolved around her figuring this out.
Another part was how many chances Zella gave Dave, even though she broke up with him and it was clear that he was a horrible person. I know it’s part of her character to be forgiving, but it felt like she switched from hating him to just having a normal conversation with him so fast, especially after all the terrible things he said about her and Killian.
Overall, I would still recommend this book! I’m so excited for when the fourth Lake Pristine book comes out too.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I love Elle McNicoll's books, and her Lake Pristine YAs have been delightful, so returning for autumn was something I was very much looking forward to.
What I really liked about this book is the mix of diagnosed and the 'not year realised' autistic characters. There were also lovely callbacks to previous characters from other books (I forgot how much I liked Jonah!) There was also a lot of literary references in this, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
What I didn't like as much was the teen drama, and admittedly that's maybe because I'm
1) really avoidant of all sorts of drama
2) a nearly 40yr old woman and all done with l secondary school shenanigans
3) slightly triggered by Zella trying her best (socially) and it just not quite working.
I'm a late realised autistic, and only got there when I realised my daughter was autistic (and a bit after our first encounter with A Kind of Spark - so the Allegra article/meet in the book was special!) so there was a lot of 'I see that' moments, which Elle writes very well. But also... Just ... so much high school drama.
There was also a bit of language and inference of intimacy that would make me hold this back from my 13yo (she'll be gutted!) as the characters are 18, they swear, and sex is referenced casually at points - something that some may be ok with, but something for the older YA audiences.
Overall, a good read, and a lovely addition to Lake Pristine!
What I really liked about this book is the mix of diagnosed and the 'not year realised' autistic characters. There were also lovely callbacks to previous characters from other books (I forgot how much I liked Jonah!) There was also a lot of literary references in this, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
What I didn't like as much was the teen drama, and admittedly that's maybe because I'm
1) really avoidant of all sorts of drama
2) a nearly 40yr old woman and all done with l secondary school shenanigans
3) slightly triggered by Zella trying her best (socially) and it just not quite working.
I'm a late realised autistic, and only got there when I realised my daughter was autistic (and a bit after our first encounter with A Kind of Spark - so the Allegra article/meet in the book was special!) so there was a lot of 'I see that' moments, which Elle writes very well. But also... Just ... so much high school drama.
There was also a bit of language and inference of intimacy that would make me hold this back from my 13yo (she'll be gutted!) as the characters are 18, they swear, and sex is referenced casually at points - something that some may be ok with, but something for the older YA audiences.
Overall, a good read, and a lovely addition to Lake Pristine!
October 27, 2026
I have been a huge fan of Elle McNicoll books for years and every time she has a new one out, I get excited and it goes to the top of my TBR and so I was very excited to return to Lake Pristine, the time its Autumn and we meet Zella and Killian.
Zella Blass the Girl that is heavily involved with school activities and she has always felt different to all her peers, but she never been able to put her finger on why this is. She is the co-host school radio show with her ex-boyfriend, and her big dream is to get into a prestigious writing seminar led by the esteemed Dr Bergery, whose twin sons Chris and Killian attend classes with Zella. After Zella reveals this to Killian, he offers to help her in exchange for a favour of his own. However, when Killian brings her home to meet his mother, Dr Bergery mistakenly assumes the two are dating. But after Zella decides to go along with the ruse, she and Killian unexpectedly bond, finding themselves connecting in a way that surprises them both.
Both Characters Zella and Killian are well developed, and they each have their own complexities that make of them so individuals. The Book is told from Zella's perspective. But as the reader you know and can see that Killian is in love with her. And yet, it was so clear why Zella didn't pick up on that. This is miscommunication done from the autistic perspective, where it's not an unwillingness to have the conversation but just not picking up on the clues because that's not how your brain works.
Overall I really enjoyed Yearning Difficulties and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys YA romance retellings and for people who wants to explore neurodivergence through fictional characters.
Zella Blass the Girl that is heavily involved with school activities and she has always felt different to all her peers, but she never been able to put her finger on why this is. She is the co-host school radio show with her ex-boyfriend, and her big dream is to get into a prestigious writing seminar led by the esteemed Dr Bergery, whose twin sons Chris and Killian attend classes with Zella. After Zella reveals this to Killian, he offers to help her in exchange for a favour of his own. However, when Killian brings her home to meet his mother, Dr Bergery mistakenly assumes the two are dating. But after Zella decides to go along with the ruse, she and Killian unexpectedly bond, finding themselves connecting in a way that surprises them both.
Both Characters Zella and Killian are well developed, and they each have their own complexities that make of them so individuals. The Book is told from Zella's perspective. But as the reader you know and can see that Killian is in love with her. And yet, it was so clear why Zella didn't pick up on that. This is miscommunication done from the autistic perspective, where it's not an unwillingness to have the conversation but just not picking up on the clues because that's not how your brain works.
Overall I really enjoyed Yearning Difficulties and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys YA romance retellings and for people who wants to explore neurodivergence through fictional characters.
October 24, 2026
- [ ] Ahhh autumn festivities were SO PERFECT AND HAD GILMORE GIRLS VIBES
- [ ] We got an undiagnosed character ! Maybe even more important than diagnosed rep honestly
- [ ] Zella is so perfectly in denial it is ridiculously relatable
- [ ] Killian I think was such a strong male lead and balance for Zella too. He understood her but didn’t push her. He was so gushing over her and adored her it was perfect and I loved her getting into his lil neurodiverse gang.
- [ ] Cherry was so funny and normally not my kind of character but she was so annoyingly endearing like Kat in 10 Things I Hate About You or Legally Blonde’s Elle etc
- [ ] The medieval faire I will say had too much screen time personally but I really liked the novelty of it
- [ ] That ex though - INSUFFERABLE and props to Killian for taking him down several pegs
- [ ] Fake dating was probably what lowered the rating for me personally but only bc that’s not massively my thing and I much preferred Lake Pristine’s other couples
- [ ] I loved getting to see Arthur again in the picturehouse !! I’m so here for all the films all the time
- [ ] Fake dating so she gets into his mums writing class was kinda meh as an idea but liked a writing protagonist !
- [ ] The miscommunication considering it was autism was so so accurate and the only time it legitimately makes sense gotta say bless these two
- [ ] Cherry fully outright constantly calling Zella autistic is so stupid but funny.
- [ ] Cherry’s dynamic with Zella was so sweet and I love her getting a neurodivergent best friend she could relate to 🥺 made her feel less scared admitting as a girl she was neurodivergent
- [ ] I like that very clearly Cherry, Zella and Killian were all autistic but they were all completely different in how it affected them and shaped their personalities. It speaks volumes to Elle’s ability to write neurodivergent characters and how much she understands there’s no one autistic experience.
- [ ] Cannot wait for Cherry’s story but I’ll be so crushed this quartet is over 😭 I hope there’s the odd valentines or Easter novella or something!
CAN YOU TELL AN ADHD PERSON WROTE THIS REVIEW - YOUR WELCOME 🫶
- [ ] We got an undiagnosed character ! Maybe even more important than diagnosed rep honestly
- [ ] Zella is so perfectly in denial it is ridiculously relatable
- [ ] Killian I think was such a strong male lead and balance for Zella too. He understood her but didn’t push her. He was so gushing over her and adored her it was perfect and I loved her getting into his lil neurodiverse gang.
- [ ] Cherry was so funny and normally not my kind of character but she was so annoyingly endearing like Kat in 10 Things I Hate About You or Legally Blonde’s Elle etc
- [ ] The medieval faire I will say had too much screen time personally but I really liked the novelty of it
- [ ] That ex though - INSUFFERABLE and props to Killian for taking him down several pegs
- [ ] Fake dating was probably what lowered the rating for me personally but only bc that’s not massively my thing and I much preferred Lake Pristine’s other couples
- [ ] I loved getting to see Arthur again in the picturehouse !! I’m so here for all the films all the time
- [ ] Fake dating so she gets into his mums writing class was kinda meh as an idea but liked a writing protagonist !
- [ ] The miscommunication considering it was autism was so so accurate and the only time it legitimately makes sense gotta say bless these two
- [ ] Cherry fully outright constantly calling Zella autistic is so stupid but funny.
- [ ] Cherry’s dynamic with Zella was so sweet and I love her getting a neurodivergent best friend she could relate to 🥺 made her feel less scared admitting as a girl she was neurodivergent
- [ ] I like that very clearly Cherry, Zella and Killian were all autistic but they were all completely different in how it affected them and shaped their personalities. It speaks volumes to Elle’s ability to write neurodivergent characters and how much she understands there’s no one autistic experience.
- [ ] Cannot wait for Cherry’s story but I’ll be so crushed this quartet is over 😭 I hope there’s the odd valentines or Easter novella or something!
CAN YOU TELL AN ADHD PERSON WROTE THIS REVIEW - YOUR WELCOME 🫶
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2026
ARC REVIEW
I don’t think I’ve ever rated a book by Elle McNicoll less than 5 stars, and Yearning Difficulties keeps that trend going!
The writing is so quintessentially Elle McNicoll, blending seamlessly into the previous two novels in the quartet, but there is something so different about this one. McNicoll is a proud autistic author who writes autistic characters perfectly, but for once we begin the story with a female main character who hasn’t get come to realise — or maybe better yet, accept — that she is autistic, and, as a late diagnosed autistic, I think McNicoll has written this beautifully.
The story itself is sweet and familiar, but the added aspect of realising or coming to terms with being autistic, as well as well-written meltdowns really makes this for me and I think it might be one of my favourites of her works.
I also felt so connected to the underlying theme of grief, as someone who has navigated loss, especially of a friend, as an autistic person, this hit so close to home.
Thank you Elle for yet another wonderful and insightful portrayal of autism.
Thank you to Macmillan Children’s, First Ink and Netgalley for this ARC!
I don’t think I’ve ever rated a book by Elle McNicoll less than 5 stars, and Yearning Difficulties keeps that trend going!
The writing is so quintessentially Elle McNicoll, blending seamlessly into the previous two novels in the quartet, but there is something so different about this one. McNicoll is a proud autistic author who writes autistic characters perfectly, but for once we begin the story with a female main character who hasn’t get come to realise — or maybe better yet, accept — that she is autistic, and, as a late diagnosed autistic, I think McNicoll has written this beautifully.
The story itself is sweet and familiar, but the added aspect of realising or coming to terms with being autistic, as well as well-written meltdowns really makes this for me and I think it might be one of my favourites of her works.
I also felt so connected to the underlying theme of grief, as someone who has navigated loss, especially of a friend, as an autistic person, this hit so close to home.
Thank you Elle for yet another wonderful and insightful portrayal of autism.
Thank you to Macmillan Children’s, First Ink and Netgalley for this ARC!
October 11, 2026
This was my first book by Elle Mcnicoll, and I really enjoyed it!
Zella is the co-host of the schools radio station, but she hosts with her ex-boyfriend Dave, which makes it's hard and awkward.
Killian is Zella's classmate and he's autistic and blunt and opinionated and doesn't like Dave at all.
Zella needs Killian's help, she wants to go to his mums writing seminar. Killian agrees to help for his own reasons and they end up fake dating.
Killian and Zella end up spending a lot of time together and they understand each other on such a deep level.
Zella goes through so much in the book and she always felt different and never understood why, which was very relatable.
At the end, we got some chapters from Killian's perspective, which I really enjoyed.
I loved the autism representation in the book and how all the different characters with autism were portrayed.
Thank you to Netgalley and Elle Mcnicoll for the ARC of the book!
Zella is the co-host of the schools radio station, but she hosts with her ex-boyfriend Dave, which makes it's hard and awkward.
Killian is Zella's classmate and he's autistic and blunt and opinionated and doesn't like Dave at all.
Zella needs Killian's help, she wants to go to his mums writing seminar. Killian agrees to help for his own reasons and they end up fake dating.
Killian and Zella end up spending a lot of time together and they understand each other on such a deep level.
Zella goes through so much in the book and she always felt different and never understood why, which was very relatable.
At the end, we got some chapters from Killian's perspective, which I really enjoyed.
I loved the autism representation in the book and how all the different characters with autism were portrayed.
Thank you to Netgalley and Elle Mcnicoll for the ARC of the book!
October 31, 2026
Yearning Difficulties is the third standalone young adult romance in the Lake Pristine series. I absolutely adored the previous books so I was beyond excited for Zella and Killian's story!
what you can expect:
🍁 young adult romance
🧡 fake dating
🍁 undiagnosed FMC
🧡 autistic MMC
🍁 autumn in lake pristine
Reading an Elle McNicoll book always feels like a beautifully vulnerable experience because it is so rare to see myself mirrored in romance books. Yearning Difficulties was especially relatable because it features an undiagnosed FMC.
I absolutely adored Zella's journey of discovering and accepting that she was autistic. I also loved how every neurodivergent character knew she was within five seconds of meeting her!
The romance between Zella and Killian was absolutely adorable and as the title promised, there is so much yearning!!
I am so in love with this series and I am so ready for Cherry and Logan's book!
Thank you so much to First Ink for the eARC!
what you can expect:
🍁 young adult romance
🧡 fake dating
🍁 undiagnosed FMC
🧡 autistic MMC
🍁 autumn in lake pristine
Reading an Elle McNicoll book always feels like a beautifully vulnerable experience because it is so rare to see myself mirrored in romance books. Yearning Difficulties was especially relatable because it features an undiagnosed FMC.
I absolutely adored Zella's journey of discovering and accepting that she was autistic. I also loved how every neurodivergent character knew she was within five seconds of meeting her!
The romance between Zella and Killian was absolutely adorable and as the title promised, there is so much yearning!!
I am so in love with this series and I am so ready for Cherry and Logan's book!
Thank you so much to First Ink for the eARC!
September 17, 2026
A welcome return to Lake Pristine. Bonus points for it being set at autumn and a fake dating romance.
Once again we have autistic main characters, one of whom is unaware of her neurodivergence, slowly discovering herself. In addition, there is another autistic side character and the real strength of this book is in how different all of these characters are. We can see autistic traits in them all, but they are very different to each other, which I think really helps readers understand the wide range of autistic presentation.
I was a bit disappointed that Cherry’s story wasn’t really wrapped up, but I wonder if she will be the main character in the fourth book.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A Welcome Return Trip To Lake Pristine, Set In The Autumn. I Loved Zella & Killian And Enjoyed The Fake Dating Element Of The Story And That This Book In The Series Was First Person POV, Compared To Third Person In The First Two Books. Zella Doesn't Realise That She Is Autistic For A Lot Of The Book, Which Really Resonated With Me As A Fellow Late Diagnosed Autistic Woman. It Feels Really True & Authentic And I Love How Elle Shows How All Neurodiverse People Are So Varied & Individuals. The Story Is Fast-Paced And The Romance Is Sweet. I Enjoyed The Cameos From Other Lake Pristine Residents From Previous Books. I Adored Cherry So Much, She's Awesome.
Another Triumph Of A Book For Elle McNicoll And I Can't Wait For Book 4.
Thank You To NetGalley And The Publisher For The ARC.
Another Triumph Of A Book For Elle McNicoll And I Can't Wait For Book 4.
Thank You To NetGalley And The Publisher For The ARC.
November 1, 2026
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I started reading this and loved it from the start. I loved the main character and the love interest. I loved how oblivious she was and I couldn't stop reading. Literally. I was exhausted and somehow still finished this at 6am, the exhaustion flew away and all I could do was keeping reading. I laughed, I cried, I raged. I just felt everything Zella felt. I was completely in it with her. I was captivated, glued to every word and I just loved this. I loved the setting as well. I honestly just wanted more and more. It was great. And while I did see all the twists coming and had guessed beforehand, I didn't mind at all. I just had the best time and I really need to read all the books Elle McNicoll has written.
I started reading this and loved it from the start. I loved the main character and the love interest. I loved how oblivious she was and I couldn't stop reading. Literally. I was exhausted and somehow still finished this at 6am, the exhaustion flew away and all I could do was keeping reading. I laughed, I cried, I raged. I just felt everything Zella felt. I was completely in it with her. I was captivated, glued to every word and I just loved this. I loved the setting as well. I honestly just wanted more and more. It was great. And while I did see all the twists coming and had guessed beforehand, I didn't mind at all. I just had the best time and I really need to read all the books Elle McNicoll has written.
September 21, 2026
I just adore Elle’s writing.
Although I hate any sort of miscommunication trope, this book is different. I definitely feel seen in this book and it had me thinking and reflecting a lot myself. It was great to see some cameos from the other books to. I really loved the focus on learning about ourselves but also the romance was so cute! I honestly want to write more but struggling to think of words, but thats okay because it is Elle’s job to use those beautiful words to tell another neurodivergent story. What I really love is the fact we get to see such a range of neurodivergent cast in this series!
Although I hate any sort of miscommunication trope, this book is different. I definitely feel seen in this book and it had me thinking and reflecting a lot myself. It was great to see some cameos from the other books to. I really loved the focus on learning about ourselves but also the romance was so cute! I honestly want to write more but struggling to think of words, but thats okay because it is Elle’s job to use those beautiful words to tell another neurodivergent story. What I really love is the fact we get to see such a range of neurodivergent cast in this series!
October 25, 2026
I really enjoyed the first two Lake Pristine books, but I absolutely loved this one - fake relationship plus secret pining/yearning equals perfection for me! (Killian was my kind of dreamy). And throw in cosy autumn vibes, a Halloween party, and a medieval faire and you get exactly what I wanted to read this October. I continue to love the way Elle McNicoll writes autistic characters that are whip smart, kind, creative, confident, authentic, and who see and support each other. I’m sad that there’s seemingly only one more (Spring) Lake Pristine book, but so very much looking forward to more of Cherry! Yippee!
Huge thanks to Macmillan Children's Books and NetGalley for the eARC. I loved it!
Huge thanks to Macmillan Children's Books and NetGalley for the eARC. I loved it!
October 13, 2026
Loved this, funny, heart warming the perfect cosy read. Killian honestly made my heart burst how much he is in love with Zella and she didn’t realise gosh
I was so invested in all the characters and the small town I literally binged this in under 24 hours. And the fact that elle makes autism such a strong topic in this was just brilliant and eye opening and inspiring. I can’t want to read this whole series
I was so invested in all the characters and the small town I literally binged this in under 24 hours. And the fact that elle makes autism such a strong topic in this was just brilliant and eye opening and inspiring. I can’t want to read this whole series
July 27, 2026
ANOTHER absolute banger of a book from Elle. This was an ARC of a book of hers that doesn’t come out till October but was lucky enough to receive a copy earlier. It was all my favourite things wrapped in to one for example autumn and autistic characters. And honestly they were so relatable but in a way that alongside real life. So well done Elle you’ve done it again xx I’m so proud 🩷🥹🫶🏻
October 8, 2026
An incredible read. Bold, beautiful, hilarious and heartfelt Zella and Killian were a breath of fresh air.. Yearning Difficulties is full of action, wonderful characters, twists and plenty of romance. It’s a love letter to friendship, love and acceptance. Five stars. Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC.
October 26, 2026
F yeah! Another fantastic rom com by Elle McNicoll. I don’t like YA romances and I only read middle grade romances to preview them for my students. But I will read the YA romances McNicoll writes. I will read whatever she writes. She just has a way of creating characters that are neurodivergent and awesome that makes me feel seen as a neurodivergent woman myself.
Review of advance copy
I have loved every single one of Elle McNicoll's books and this one was no exception. There is a certain level of comfort I find in her stories that always has me returning to them and I love the neurodivergent representation and how diverse it is between all of her books now.
This is the first book by Elle McNicoll that has an undiagnosed main character and as someone who was only diagnosed in the last few years I can remember that period before diagnosis really well and the uncertainty that there is before you know. This was something that I found was really well portrayed in this book and it is something that I don't think you see a lot of in books with neurodivergent representation. I was really happy to see this representation and I also felt the way that different characters behaved around it was realistic and it got me thinking a lot about how adults behave towards high masking teenage girls looking for a diagnosis.
One thing I always love in Elle McNicoll's books is how she writes a romance and this was no exception. I was rooting for the romance between Zelda and Killian from the start of the book and I really liked seeing them get to know each other better and the parts of each other that they previously hadn't known existed. In addition to being neurodivergent there is a lot of depth to these two characters and they both have parts of their past that they haven't previously shared and seeing that come out and how it was treated was really nice.
Before going into this book I already knew the setting of Lake Pristine from Some Like It Cold and Wish You Were Her, but I really enjoyed seeing new parts of the town that hadn't previously featured in the books and also getting the cameos and mentions of the characters in those books. I am looking forward to more of this in book 4, especially since it has been shared that the characters from that book are in this one, but I am also not looking forward to saying goodbye to this town.
Overall I really loved this book and I am looking forward to talking to people about it. I am really looking forward to Elle McNicoll's next release and if you haven't read any of her books this one would be a great one to start with but I would also recommend all her books.
Thank you to Netgalley and First Ink for a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book by Elle McNicoll that has an undiagnosed main character and as someone who was only diagnosed in the last few years I can remember that period before diagnosis really well and the uncertainty that there is before you know. This was something that I found was really well portrayed in this book and it is something that I don't think you see a lot of in books with neurodivergent representation. I was really happy to see this representation and I also felt the way that different characters behaved around it was realistic and it got me thinking a lot about how adults behave towards high masking teenage girls looking for a diagnosis.
One thing I always love in Elle McNicoll's books is how she writes a romance and this was no exception. I was rooting for the romance between Zelda and Killian from the start of the book and I really liked seeing them get to know each other better and the parts of each other that they previously hadn't known existed. In addition to being neurodivergent there is a lot of depth to these two characters and they both have parts of their past that they haven't previously shared and seeing that come out and how it was treated was really nice.
Before going into this book I already knew the setting of Lake Pristine from Some Like It Cold and Wish You Were Her, but I really enjoyed seeing new parts of the town that hadn't previously featured in the books and also getting the cameos and mentions of the characters in those books. I am looking forward to more of this in book 4, especially since it has been shared that the characters from that book are in this one, but I am also not looking forward to saying goodbye to this town.
Overall I really loved this book and I am looking forward to talking to people about it. I am really looking forward to Elle McNicoll's next release and if you haven't read any of her books this one would be a great one to start with but I would also recommend all her books.
Thank you to Netgalley and First Ink for a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
October 25, 2026
A really cute fake dating romance but both of them are autistic, one diagnosed and the other doesn’t even know. Really interesting to read from the perspective of an undiagnosed autistic female character as she discovers who she is throughout the book
October 22, 2026
meh I didn't love
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I love the Lake Pristine series so much, so I don’t say it lightly when I call this my favourite book so far. The chemistry, the angst, the honest portrayal of neurodivergent experiences…I will need a while to get over it
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