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Love in Ruins
After a recent OCD diagnosis, a teen girl embarks on a trip to Greece with her best friend, when she meets a captivating local girl. As their relationship heats up under the Mediterranean sun, she learns to balance the needs of those she loves with that of her own heart.
When Natalie Campbell sets out on a class trip to Greece, she knows that checking off a summer bucket list with her best friend, Luca, sounds like the perfect way to deal (or rather, not deal) with her recent breakup—and the new OCD diagnosis she’s doing a beautiful job of ignoring. Ever since her controlling ex tried to isolate her from Luca and confirmed all the worst theories she’s ever had about romance, Natalie has promised to swear off dating.
But when she grows closer with Melanie, their Greek instructor’s daughter, Natalie isn’t so sure about her challenge anymore. As Natalie finds herself sneaking on boat rides to hidden beaches, taking secret midnight hikes to ancient ruins, and jetting off to nearby islands with Melanie as her guide, her summer Greece adventure unexpectedly begins to heat up.
Romance is the last thing Natalie planned on for her summer bucket list, and strain on her friendship with Luca wasn’t in her plan, either. Amid the ancient Greek ruins, will Natalie learn to follow her heart before her chance at romance—and her friendships—could be ruined for good?
When Natalie Campbell sets out on a class trip to Greece, she knows that checking off a summer bucket list with her best friend, Luca, sounds like the perfect way to deal (or rather, not deal) with her recent breakup—and the new OCD diagnosis she’s doing a beautiful job of ignoring. Ever since her controlling ex tried to isolate her from Luca and confirmed all the worst theories she’s ever had about romance, Natalie has promised to swear off dating.
But when she grows closer with Melanie, their Greek instructor’s daughter, Natalie isn’t so sure about her challenge anymore. As Natalie finds herself sneaking on boat rides to hidden beaches, taking secret midnight hikes to ancient ruins, and jetting off to nearby islands with Melanie as her guide, her summer Greece adventure unexpectedly begins to heat up.
Romance is the last thing Natalie planned on for her summer bucket list, and strain on her friendship with Luca wasn’t in her plan, either. Amid the ancient Greek ruins, will Natalie learn to follow her heart before her chance at romance—and her friendships—could be ruined for good?
7 pages, Audiobook
Published February 24, 2026
About the author
Auriane Desombre
5 books217 followersAuriane Desombre is a middle school teacher and author of love stories for teens and tweens. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her wife and daughter, their badly behaved dog, and an ever-growing collection of houseplants (most of which are pretty well behaved).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
February 10, 2026
I hate giving negative ratings, but this one was a real struggle for me — especially on audio.
The audiobook narrator attempted a Greek accent, and unfortunately… it just didn’t work. Not only did the accent sound off, it was inconsistent throughout, which made it difficult to stay immersed in the story or fully connect with the prose. Instead of disappearing into the narration, I found myself constantly distracted by it.
As for the story itself, I genuinely appreciated the inclusion of OCD representation. However, it ultimately felt less like a thoughtfully developed character trait and more like a convenient plot device. Rather than organically shaping the FMC’s personality and decision-making, it seemed to dominate the narrative in a way that felt heavy-handed and underdeveloped.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from PRH Audio via their influencer program, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts
. While this book didn’t work for me personally, I know it may resonate more strongly with readers who connect deeply with its themes and style.
Sometimes a book just isn’t the right match — and this one, sadly, wasn’t mine.
The audiobook narrator attempted a Greek accent, and unfortunately… it just didn’t work. Not only did the accent sound off, it was inconsistent throughout, which made it difficult to stay immersed in the story or fully connect with the prose. Instead of disappearing into the narration, I found myself constantly distracted by it.
As for the story itself, I genuinely appreciated the inclusion of OCD representation. However, it ultimately felt less like a thoughtfully developed character trait and more like a convenient plot device. Rather than organically shaping the FMC’s personality and decision-making, it seemed to dominate the narrative in a way that felt heavy-handed and underdeveloped.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from PRH Audio via their influencer program, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts
. While this book didn’t work for me personally, I know it may resonate more strongly with readers who connect deeply with its themes and style.
Sometimes a book just isn’t the right match — and this one, sadly, wasn’t mine.
March 2, 2026
It's the summer after grade nine, and Natalie is finally off to Greece—something she's been dreaming about for years. She's on a school-sponsored trip that will keep her in Greece for weeks: visiting ruins, island-hopping, trying new things...and maybe falling for someone?
This has something of a three-fold focus: First, of course, Greece. Second, there's a romance. And third, Natalie has recently been diagnosed with OCD, and a lot of her mental energy is spent responding to intrusive thoughts. Maybe a four-fold focus—there's also a bit of an academic competition (but I found it unrealistic, and for all the hype we barely know—and Natalie barely knows—what her project is, so I'm just going to...skip that part here). I read the book almost entirely for the setting (why is there not more YA that takes place in Greece?) and, admittedly, a little bit for the cover (which is gorgeous). And...this was fine, but it felt a bit lackluster.
Greece: The characters spend "half the summer" (I'm not sure how long this actually is, but we can assume weeks) traveling through Greece. They see a lot—but I never really felt like I was there, or that I'd learned much of anything about contemporary Greece. For example, they start in Athens...but it felt like moments later when they took off for the next place. Famous things are mentioned (e.g., the caryatid porch at the Acropolis), but then it's on to the next thing, and the next, and romance. And if they meet any Greek people other than Melanie in their many weeks in Greece, I sailed right over it. I know this sort of school trip can feel like something of a hit-and-run, but I much would have preferred, e.g., their trip to be based in just one city, with some day or maybe weekend trips farther out.
Romance: I love seeing queer YA, of course; queer travel YA is an added bonus. I don't think we ever know much about Melanie (or why she is drawn to Natalie), but she's nice and forthright. What I really don't love, though, is how so many of the characters are convinced that Natalie needs romance in her life. She's just finished her freshman year of high school—she's maybe fifteen. Could be fourteen. And while plenty of people are dating at that age, again, she's barely finished freshman year. When she tells her friends that she isn't ready to date at the moment, they act all disappointed, and this literal child gets even more convinced that she's not capable of romance. Where are the common-sense people telling her that it's fine to wait until she's ready, dating as a teenager is mostly practice and figuring relationships out, she doesn't need to have all the answers as a freshman? Because they're definitely not in her orbit.
OCD: Natalie has a recent OCD diagnosis that she's still coming to terms with. It's great to see mental health addressed in YA fiction, and I actually really like that one of the things Natalie is struggling with is just the idea of having OCD, of having a label attached to herself. Since the diagnosis, it feels to her like it's the only part of her that her parents see, and she's desperate to get out from under that. But it takes up a lot of space in the book, and I'm not sure how to feel about that. Because: Natalie's intrusive thoughts make sense...but then we get a lot of her breaking apart the intrusive thoughts, and thinking about how they're intrusive, and making it clear to the reader that they aren't just normal teenage/human getting-down-on-oneself thoughts. I'm torn, because on the one hand that could absolutely be part of somebody's intrusive thoughts—intrusive negativity followed by a sort of obsessive analyzing of the thoughts. On the other hand, though, it felt like it was mostly there for the reader's education, and I think I would have preferred more of that space to go to things like actually talking to Grecians, and learning odd facts about Greek and Greek history, and so on.
It's a very fast read—I read the entire thing in one day, spread over two 45-minute commutes and a little bit of reading over dinner. But I don't think it's one that will stick with me.
This has something of a three-fold focus: First, of course, Greece. Second, there's a romance. And third, Natalie has recently been diagnosed with OCD, and a lot of her mental energy is spent responding to intrusive thoughts. Maybe a four-fold focus—there's also a bit of an academic competition (but I found it unrealistic, and for all the hype we barely know—and Natalie barely knows—what her project is, so I'm just going to...skip that part here). I read the book almost entirely for the setting (why is there not more YA that takes place in Greece?) and, admittedly, a little bit for the cover (which is gorgeous). And...this was fine, but it felt a bit lackluster.
Greece: The characters spend "half the summer" (I'm not sure how long this actually is, but we can assume weeks) traveling through Greece. They see a lot—but I never really felt like I was there, or that I'd learned much of anything about contemporary Greece. For example, they start in Athens...but it felt like moments later when they took off for the next place. Famous things are mentioned (e.g., the caryatid porch at the Acropolis), but then it's on to the next thing, and the next, and romance. And if they meet any Greek people other than Melanie in their many weeks in Greece, I sailed right over it. I know this sort of school trip can feel like something of a hit-and-run, but I much would have preferred, e.g., their trip to be based in just one city, with some day or maybe weekend trips farther out.
Romance: I love seeing queer YA, of course; queer travel YA is an added bonus. I don't think we ever know much about Melanie (or why she is drawn to Natalie), but she's nice and forthright. What I really don't love, though, is how so many of the characters are convinced that Natalie needs romance in her life. She's just finished her freshman year of high school—she's maybe fifteen. Could be fourteen. And while plenty of people are dating at that age, again, she's barely finished freshman year. When she tells her friends that she isn't ready to date at the moment, they act all disappointed, and this literal child gets even more convinced that she's not capable of romance. Where are the common-sense people telling her that it's fine to wait until she's ready, dating as a teenager is mostly practice and figuring relationships out, she doesn't need to have all the answers as a freshman? Because they're definitely not in her orbit.
OCD: Natalie has a recent OCD diagnosis that she's still coming to terms with. It's great to see mental health addressed in YA fiction, and I actually really like that one of the things Natalie is struggling with is just the idea of having OCD, of having a label attached to herself. Since the diagnosis, it feels to her like it's the only part of her that her parents see, and she's desperate to get out from under that. But it takes up a lot of space in the book, and I'm not sure how to feel about that. Because: Natalie's intrusive thoughts make sense...but then we get a lot of her breaking apart the intrusive thoughts, and thinking about how they're intrusive, and making it clear to the reader that they aren't just normal teenage/human getting-down-on-oneself thoughts. I'm torn, because on the one hand that could absolutely be part of somebody's intrusive thoughts—intrusive negativity followed by a sort of obsessive analyzing of the thoughts. On the other hand, though, it felt like it was mostly there for the reader's education, and I think I would have preferred more of that space to go to things like actually talking to Grecians, and learning odd facts about Greek and Greek history, and so on.
It's a very fast read—I read the entire thing in one day, spread over two 45-minute commutes and a little bit of reading over dinner. But I don't think it's one that will stick with me.
December 31, 2025
thank you to netgalley + penguin random house for providing me with an arc to this book!! all thoughts are my own.
[2.5 stars, rounded down] while i resonate so much with the love letter to greece aspect of this book (especially since i traveled to so many of the same places natalie did on my study abroad in greece!), from a craft standpoint, this was lacking in so many ways. one of the central conflicts of this book is the academic competition set for the students, and 90% of the way through the book, natalie still had no idea what her project would entail—no thesis, no guiding questions, nothing, but she’d met and been flirting with melanie (even though she continuously expresses her lack of interest in romance throughout the book!) from the 3% mark. natalie’s ocd was also, i think, not as well-represented as it could have been, or that the language used to describe it could have been a little more empathetic; her calling her intrusive thoughts a ‘tap-dancing gremlin’ felt more than a little juvenile, even for this book’s age demographic. i wish we’d gotten more time with natalie’s family, too, especially near the end; i was left wanting a conversation with lizzy and a longer, more arduous talk with her mother (though maybe i’m projecting, just a little).
thank you so much to netgalley + penguin again for the early access!!
[2.5 stars, rounded down] while i resonate so much with the love letter to greece aspect of this book (especially since i traveled to so many of the same places natalie did on my study abroad in greece!), from a craft standpoint, this was lacking in so many ways. one of the central conflicts of this book is the academic competition set for the students, and 90% of the way through the book, natalie still had no idea what her project would entail—no thesis, no guiding questions, nothing, but she’d met and been flirting with melanie (even though she continuously expresses her lack of interest in romance throughout the book!) from the 3% mark. natalie’s ocd was also, i think, not as well-represented as it could have been, or that the language used to describe it could have been a little more empathetic; her calling her intrusive thoughts a ‘tap-dancing gremlin’ felt more than a little juvenile, even for this book’s age demographic. i wish we’d gotten more time with natalie’s family, too, especially near the end; i was left wanting a conversation with lizzy and a longer, more arduous talk with her mother (though maybe i’m projecting, just a little).
thank you so much to netgalley + penguin again for the early access!!
June 5, 2026
even though i kept getting annoyed by teenagers doing dumb teenager things and ocd being my biggest op (my friend has it), this was cute. i learned a lot and enjoyed geeking out about ancient greece with my new mentally ill lesbian daughter <3
December 10, 2025
The pacing was way off in this one. The first 6 chapters or so could all have been broken up into 2, 3, or even 4 smaller pieces - especially since the last 1/3 of the book had much shorter chapters. It made the story feel uneven, despite the overall easy reading speed and short total length.
I think I also wanted some closure with Natalie’s sisters instead of just her mom. Even just a glimpse at the wedding that was such a huge hurtle going on in the background?
I did like that Natalie’s and Melanie’s (and Natalie’s and Liam’s) conversations seemed really genuine. Of course Natalie isn’t showing either of them her whole hand, but as they opened up to each other, the audience got to see how normal their anxieties and missteps were.
Plus, the disdain for therapy and labels that Natalie has throughout the book gets addressed and we get to see “in real time” the positive impact of a good therapy experience!
{Thank you Delacorte Romance for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review; all thoughts are my own}
I think I also wanted some closure with Natalie’s sisters instead of just her mom. Even just a glimpse at the wedding that was such a huge hurtle going on in the background?
I did like that Natalie’s and Melanie’s (and Natalie’s and Liam’s) conversations seemed really genuine. Of course Natalie isn’t showing either of them her whole hand, but as they opened up to each other, the audience got to see how normal their anxieties and missteps were.
Plus, the disdain for therapy and labels that Natalie has throughout the book gets addressed and we get to see “in real time” the positive impact of a good therapy experience!
{Thank you Delacorte Romance for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review; all thoughts are my own}
March 15, 2026
Should’ve DNF’d very early on but I had hope…
June 11, 2026
Aww this was so so cute!! A very easy quick read, I would have liked to know more about the projects, Melanie and all their adventures, but this was still a lovely read
April 23, 2026
such a sweet YA with amazing mental health rep - would have loved this book as a teen
- ocd and thought loops as the little gremlin in your head - convincing yourself you’re not harbouring secret romantic feelings, that people are always mad at you, that you’re inherently bad, feeling broken/not made for love/that you could never belong to someone
- ‘i mostly fail at this but the trying feels worth it’
- ‘people have been writing over love and the agony of its loss for [two thousand years]. the thought is the most comforting i’ve had in a while’
- ‘it did help me realise that being a people please isn’t the selfless thing i thought it was… i was just putting my need to be liked ahead of all my other needs, and all of his’
- ‘i’m never more self-centred than when i’m anxious about something… not that i’d ever admit this to her. but i realised how many times i didn’t show up for liam in the way he needed me to, because i was too busy worrying that his sadness was actually about him being mad at me. i’ve made him reassure me that he’s not mad so many times, it’s practically a routine’
- ‘i think you fit in more than you give yourself credit for’
- ‘thanks for asking, honestly. my friends are sick of hearing about it, but i’m still feeling so stuck on it’
- ‘the extremity of our emotions, all clashing against one another, feels overwhelming. i think back to my anger at liam in the library yesterday over the idea that i’d done this all for no reason. of course i had a reason. we all do, i realise. everyone here is reacting to their internal shit as much as the situation around them’
- ocd and thought loops as the little gremlin in your head - convincing yourself you’re not harbouring secret romantic feelings, that people are always mad at you, that you’re inherently bad, feeling broken/not made for love/that you could never belong to someone
- ‘i mostly fail at this but the trying feels worth it’
- ‘people have been writing over love and the agony of its loss for [two thousand years]. the thought is the most comforting i’ve had in a while’
- ‘it did help me realise that being a people please isn’t the selfless thing i thought it was… i was just putting my need to be liked ahead of all my other needs, and all of his’
- ‘i’m never more self-centred than when i’m anxious about something… not that i’d ever admit this to her. but i realised how many times i didn’t show up for liam in the way he needed me to, because i was too busy worrying that his sadness was actually about him being mad at me. i’ve made him reassure me that he’s not mad so many times, it’s practically a routine’
- ‘i think you fit in more than you give yourself credit for’
- ‘thanks for asking, honestly. my friends are sick of hearing about it, but i’m still feeling so stuck on it’
- ‘the extremity of our emotions, all clashing against one another, feels overwhelming. i think back to my anger at liam in the library yesterday over the idea that i’d done this all for no reason. of course i had a reason. we all do, i realise. everyone here is reacting to their internal shit as much as the situation around them’
February 28, 2026
*Thank you to the publisher, Love Y’all Romance Book Fest and Love, Underlined for providing an opportunity for an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
After a recent OCD diagnosis, a teen girl embarks on a trip to Greece with her best friend, when she meets a captivating local girl. As their relationship heats up under the Mediterranean sun, she learns to balance the needs of those she loves with that of her own heart.
This is my first read from this author and I have not read many young adult books over the past few years, but I was drawn to this book for the setting in Greece as well as the contemporary issues.
Overall, I think this book was okay. I do recognize that I am not in the target age group for this book, which is relevant to my rating. I enjoyed the setting and the Greek historical aspects of the book. It was probably my favorite part. If that is something you enjoy, then I recommend you pick up this book. Unfortunately, I found it very easy to fall out of the story. There is OCD rep and we follow a lot of common coming-of-age issues for the age of our main character (14-15 years old, sophomore in high school) involving friendships, family, love, and feeling like you belong.
I am giving this book a three star rating. I think this book is a good fit for someone who reads a lot of young adult books and/or is around the target age range for this book.
After a recent OCD diagnosis, a teen girl embarks on a trip to Greece with her best friend, when she meets a captivating local girl. As their relationship heats up under the Mediterranean sun, she learns to balance the needs of those she loves with that of her own heart.
This is my first read from this author and I have not read many young adult books over the past few years, but I was drawn to this book for the setting in Greece as well as the contemporary issues.
Overall, I think this book was okay. I do recognize that I am not in the target age group for this book, which is relevant to my rating. I enjoyed the setting and the Greek historical aspects of the book. It was probably my favorite part. If that is something you enjoy, then I recommend you pick up this book. Unfortunately, I found it very easy to fall out of the story. There is OCD rep and we follow a lot of common coming-of-age issues for the age of our main character (14-15 years old, sophomore in high school) involving friendships, family, love, and feeling like you belong.
I am giving this book a three star rating. I think this book is a good fit for someone who reads a lot of young adult books and/or is around the target age range for this book.
March 14, 2026
3,5 rounded up ⭐
Natalie is just recently diagnosed with OCD, on her sponsored school trip to Greece, she tried to balance her friendship, academic rivalry with her cohort, and a feeling for the stunning local girl, Melanie.
The depiction of anxiety and panic we've seen throughout the book in Natalie's brain may felt chaotic and tiresome. But that's exactly the point. Of us inside her brain, knowing exactly how to struggle with our minds. Appreciate that.
Loving how the supporting characters, Natalie's cohort-mate, are given sufficient screen time and personality (Amelia and George love story is intriguing 👀)
The appreciation on the beauty of Greece itself is crystal clear.
The academic rivalry part is more like Natalie's having imposter syndrome, but the project mentioned would be very interesting in rl scenario.
The friendship and romance paths are quite juvenile. It's relatable and predictable.
If you're into light sapphic coming of age, with friendship and school drama, and you love a pinch of Greece (classics), give this book a go.
Thanks so much Delacorte Romance and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review! ✨
Natalie is just recently diagnosed with OCD, on her sponsored school trip to Greece, she tried to balance her friendship, academic rivalry with her cohort, and a feeling for the stunning local girl, Melanie.
The depiction of anxiety and panic we've seen throughout the book in Natalie's brain may felt chaotic and tiresome. But that's exactly the point. Of us inside her brain, knowing exactly how to struggle with our minds. Appreciate that.
Loving how the supporting characters, Natalie's cohort-mate, are given sufficient screen time and personality (Amelia and George love story is intriguing 👀)
The appreciation on the beauty of Greece itself is crystal clear.
The academic rivalry part is more like Natalie's having imposter syndrome, but the project mentioned would be very interesting in rl scenario.
The friendship and romance paths are quite juvenile. It's relatable and predictable.
If you're into light sapphic coming of age, with friendship and school drama, and you love a pinch of Greece (classics), give this book a go.
Thanks so much Delacorte Romance and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review! ✨
March 30, 2026
I think this book has a specific audience and it wasn’t really for me. I was excited to read about Greece but there wasn’t a ton of representation there. Also the story felt all over the place. The fmc seemed a little bit too whiny… I know she had some stuff going on and has a new diagnosis but holy cow dude… get over yourself and take some of the solutions that people have given you. A little too annoying for me.
March 23, 2026
Cute book, parts of it lwk but like ChatGPT, but there were definitely moments when I couldn’t wait to read it <3
November 25, 2025
I appreciated the realistic depiction of OCD—intrusive thoughts and thought spirals included. It’s a refreshing change from Hollywood’s version where it’s either a quirky super power or magically cured by love. The descriptions of Greece were also gorgeous. And the romance was very cute.
That said, from a storytelling perspective, Natalie’s character arc felt like it stagnated for much of the book. I wish we’d seen a little more momentum for her, either toward her pushing people away or toward growth, before the very end where she had her breakthrough. Though perhaps the repetition of baby steps forward and backward was intentional, since that’s often how mental health goes.
I received an advanced copy from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving this review.
That said, from a storytelling perspective, Natalie’s character arc felt like it stagnated for much of the book. I wish we’d seen a little more momentum for her, either toward her pushing people away or toward growth, before the very end where she had her breakthrough. Though perhaps the repetition of baby steps forward and backward was intentional, since that’s often how mental health goes.
I received an advanced copy from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving this review.
May 14, 2026
Why was my high school not privy to these amazing out of the country trips I read about in YA books? Or the real question should be: Did people from my high school go on these incredible trips and I just wasn’t privy to them or smart enough to be invited? For the sake of my sanity, I’m going to say it’s the first option. I did go to a school that wasn’t in a big city, so the funding to allow students to do things like this may not have been an option. But I dreamt of being a part of something as exciting as I read in Love in Ruins.
Natalie and her friends take a summer trip with her school to work on projects about Ancient Greece. The prospects on adventure in a foreign country could be endless, seeing as how each of them are working on different topics. With a little luck and a whole lot of promises, she’s roomed with her best friend Luca, even though they normally don’t allow co-ed rooms. But they are both queer and nothing will ever be happening between them (this is NOT the start of the romance, k?).
She’s sworn off any kind of romantic summer affair between herself and a beautiful Greek girl after her last disaster of a relationship tried to keep her apart from her best friend. But when you say no romance, that’s when it hits you right in the face. In walks Melanie, exactly the right girl at the wrong time. While she should be spending time with her friends, she begins to spend more and more time getting to know Melanie. Which has adverse effects on her friendship with Luca.
But what can you do when you’re in Greece with a beautiful girl except fall in love?
This was a really sweet and quick moving book. I read 90% of it in a single sitting and the last 10% before work the next day. I enjoyed the pacing, even though there are definitely things I wanted more of, like information on where they were, what they were doing, the projects they were working on, etc. I know that romance can be all consuming, but she was still working on her project the entire time. I think that would have given the story a little more push to be that much better.
This is definitely meant for the younger portion of YA, seeing as how the characters are in the beginning of high school, which I love. I don’t think there are enough books that set out to really cater to that demographic.
Another portion of the story that I think was really impactful is that Natalie is diagnosed with OCD, bringing a much needed light on mental health representation. I haven’t read as many books with characters who have OCD and it’s beautiful to see yourself in a book. So I hope this is exciting for a teenager who needs to see themself and know that no matter what they may be feeling, they are loved for who they are.
Thank you to Delacorte Romance for my gifted ARC of the book.
Natalie and her friends take a summer trip with her school to work on projects about Ancient Greece. The prospects on adventure in a foreign country could be endless, seeing as how each of them are working on different topics. With a little luck and a whole lot of promises, she’s roomed with her best friend Luca, even though they normally don’t allow co-ed rooms. But they are both queer and nothing will ever be happening between them (this is NOT the start of the romance, k?).
She’s sworn off any kind of romantic summer affair between herself and a beautiful Greek girl after her last disaster of a relationship tried to keep her apart from her best friend. But when you say no romance, that’s when it hits you right in the face. In walks Melanie, exactly the right girl at the wrong time. While she should be spending time with her friends, she begins to spend more and more time getting to know Melanie. Which has adverse effects on her friendship with Luca.
But what can you do when you’re in Greece with a beautiful girl except fall in love?
This was a really sweet and quick moving book. I read 90% of it in a single sitting and the last 10% before work the next day. I enjoyed the pacing, even though there are definitely things I wanted more of, like information on where they were, what they were doing, the projects they were working on, etc. I know that romance can be all consuming, but she was still working on her project the entire time. I think that would have given the story a little more push to be that much better.
This is definitely meant for the younger portion of YA, seeing as how the characters are in the beginning of high school, which I love. I don’t think there are enough books that set out to really cater to that demographic.
Another portion of the story that I think was really impactful is that Natalie is diagnosed with OCD, bringing a much needed light on mental health representation. I haven’t read as many books with characters who have OCD and it’s beautiful to see yourself in a book. So I hope this is exciting for a teenager who needs to see themself and know that no matter what they may be feeling, they are loved for who they are.
Thank you to Delacorte Romance for my gifted ARC of the book.
May 5, 2026
Thank you to Auriane Desombre and Random House Children’s Books for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
As someone who loves classics and anything Greek-mythology adjacent, the premise of this book immediately caught my attention. The story follows Natalie, a student with OCD who travels to Greece with her classmates. While there, the group competes in a series of academic challenges for the chance to win a scholarship, beginning with a scavenger hunt across historic sites. As a Latin lover and an old classics student myself, I really enjoyed the Greece-centered setting at the start—seeing ancient structures and learning bits of history was such a fun concept.
However, as the story progressed, the focus shifted much more heavily toward Natalie’s OCD and her internal anxieties about being inadequate and losing the people she cares about. I do think the author does a strong job portraying how intrusive and impairing OCD can be, but it began to feel like the main plot device rather than the trip itself being the central experience.
There’s also a romance subplot with Melanie, one of the tour guides, whom Natalie develops a crush on. I liked the idea of their relationship—especially Melanie being a retired people-pleaser—but she didn’t stand out as strongly as I hoped. Their dynamic was sweet, but I wanted a bit more depth to make the romance feel more memorable.
I also loved the concept of the academic decathlon-style competition (because let’s be honest—academics love competition), but it sometimes faded into the background. I found myself forgetting about it for stretches of the book, which made it feel less impactful than it could have been.
By the end, Natalie has some meaningful conversations—with her therapist, her mom, and her friend Liam—that help her confront her fears and communicate more openly about her feelings. I appreciated seeing that growth.
Overall, this was a thoughtful story with good OCD representation and a sweet romance, but I wished the Greece setting and academic competition had remained more central to the plot.
As someone who loves classics and anything Greek-mythology adjacent, the premise of this book immediately caught my attention. The story follows Natalie, a student with OCD who travels to Greece with her classmates. While there, the group competes in a series of academic challenges for the chance to win a scholarship, beginning with a scavenger hunt across historic sites. As a Latin lover and an old classics student myself, I really enjoyed the Greece-centered setting at the start—seeing ancient structures and learning bits of history was such a fun concept.
However, as the story progressed, the focus shifted much more heavily toward Natalie’s OCD and her internal anxieties about being inadequate and losing the people she cares about. I do think the author does a strong job portraying how intrusive and impairing OCD can be, but it began to feel like the main plot device rather than the trip itself being the central experience.
There’s also a romance subplot with Melanie, one of the tour guides, whom Natalie develops a crush on. I liked the idea of their relationship—especially Melanie being a retired people-pleaser—but she didn’t stand out as strongly as I hoped. Their dynamic was sweet, but I wanted a bit more depth to make the romance feel more memorable.
I also loved the concept of the academic decathlon-style competition (because let’s be honest—academics love competition), but it sometimes faded into the background. I found myself forgetting about it for stretches of the book, which made it feel less impactful than it could have been.
By the end, Natalie has some meaningful conversations—with her therapist, her mom, and her friend Liam—that help her confront her fears and communicate more openly about her feelings. I appreciated seeing that growth.
Overall, this was a thoughtful story with good OCD representation and a sweet romance, but I wished the Greece setting and academic competition had remained more central to the plot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2026
A lesbian romance set in Greece, talking all about ancient myths, with a MC with OCD? I literally could not come up with a more perfect book pitch.
I loved this book! As someone with OCD, I could relate to Natalie’s struggles a lot. While our OCDs don’t look exactly the same, her doubts surrounding romance and being “good enough” and avoiding discomfort are all things I’ve noticed in my own life. Having it put into words like this was very validating!
I feel like some people may get bored/annoyed by the repetitiveness of Nat’s obsessions, but to me that’s what felt very real about it. These obsessions repeat and evolve and don’t go away once you find romance.
Also, therapy rep! ERP rep! Woot woot! We love to see it.
The romance was adorable, I found myself giggling and kicking my feet every time their hands touched. Oh lesbians in Greece in summer taking in the scenery and each other, how I love you.
Also, can we talk about the use of the word Lesbian in the book? It shouldn’t be shocking but it is, as so many authors of sapphic books shy away from the word (why, I have no idea). Lesbian isn’t a bad word! Love to see it.
I would have loved to know more about Natalie’s final project, simply because all of the buildup to it kind of fizzled out when she finally had a bit of an idea. I wanted to know about everyone’s final project! What was Amalia always writing about? What was Liam’s poem? I was so invested haha.
The descriptions of Greece made me yearn to be there! I felt like I could actually see what Nat was seeing, feel what she was feeling, etc. the setting felt like another character in the book and I love that.
One more thing… I cannot forgive Natalie for not liking cheese. That’s ungodly.
Overall i HIGHLY recommend this book. It’s a very YA, sweet but emotionally-heavy book that I think has really good OCD rep. Thank you to Penguin Teen Canada and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book early. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"With the temple in front of me and the sea blazing with sunlight beyond it, I understand all the ancient stories for what they are - the living, kicking proof that people have been alive and loving the earth and trying to make sense of the world and their place in it as long as we have been here."
This book was a love letter to first romances and the ancient world, and it is clear how much Desombre respects and loves ancient stories. Yet all the love in the world cannot change the very ridiculous pacing problems.
-At 45% in, I felt like absolutely nothing had happened besides Natalie meeting Melanie.
-At 88% in, Natalie hadn't exhibited any growth. She hadn't started her project, she continued to push people away, and she was STILL avoiding therapy.
-At 91% in, she finally goes to therapy! But then she starts using a TON of therapy-speak in a way that felt inauthentic for a teenager.
-At 100% in, the author left several loose ends about the project, the decathlon, and the rest of their trip.
I appreciate the way the intrusive thoughts were represented, but they often came at the expense of plot and character development. One of the joys of YA is how the main characters grow. Coming-of-age is a key part of the genre, as the readers themselves are experiencing unprecedented growth at that time in their lives. Natalie just didn't grow, with the exception of the last ~10% of the book, which read like the author frantically needing some sort of resolution. Truly a shame since the setting was written so well, and I did enjoy the date scenes!
Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Romance for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
This book was a love letter to first romances and the ancient world, and it is clear how much Desombre respects and loves ancient stories. Yet all the love in the world cannot change the very ridiculous pacing problems.
-At 45% in, I felt like absolutely nothing had happened besides Natalie meeting Melanie.
-At 88% in, Natalie hadn't exhibited any growth. She hadn't started her project, she continued to push people away, and she was STILL avoiding therapy.
-At 91% in, she finally goes to therapy! But then she starts using a TON of therapy-speak in a way that felt inauthentic for a teenager.
-At 100% in, the author left several loose ends about the project, the decathlon, and the rest of their trip.
I appreciate the way the intrusive thoughts were represented, but they often came at the expense of plot and character development. One of the joys of YA is how the main characters grow. Coming-of-age is a key part of the genre, as the readers themselves are experiencing unprecedented growth at that time in their lives. Natalie just didn't grow, with the exception of the last ~10% of the book, which read like the author frantically needing some sort of resolution. Truly a shame since the setting was written so well, and I did enjoy the date scenes!
Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Romance for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
December 1, 2025
⋆. 𐙚 ˚❀Love in Ruins⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me this ARC! I absolutely loved it. This book was so heartwarming, and the ending made all of the tough parts worth it. Natalie is a high schooler working on an art project with her school group in Greece. There, she meets the daughter of one of the teachers, Melanie, and the two start a whirlwind romance for the month. Unfortunately, Natalie's recent diagnosis with OCD gets in the way of both her love life and her friendships.
I found Natalie to be a very frustrating character. But, after some self reflection, I realized that it was only because I saw so much of myself, and the parts of myself I dislike, in her. Natalie and I are both very self-destructive people who let our thought spirals control our every move. It was jarring to read such a mirror image of myself. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the book, the romance, and all of the Greek mythology weaved throughout. The lowlights were the fact that one of the characters disappears randomly throughout the middle of the book and then appears again at the end. The book suffers from character soup, so some extra editing is needed there, in my opinion. Plus, I thought that the book perpetuated the idea that people with OCD or anxiety ruin everything they touch and cannot be happy. Nevertheless, like I said, the ending makes up for a big chunk of that. I recommend this book to anyone struggling with OCD, family dysfunction, or first relationships.
Thanks again to NetGalley.
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me this ARC! I absolutely loved it. This book was so heartwarming, and the ending made all of the tough parts worth it. Natalie is a high schooler working on an art project with her school group in Greece. There, she meets the daughter of one of the teachers, Melanie, and the two start a whirlwind romance for the month. Unfortunately, Natalie's recent diagnosis with OCD gets in the way of both her love life and her friendships.
I found Natalie to be a very frustrating character. But, after some self reflection, I realized that it was only because I saw so much of myself, and the parts of myself I dislike, in her. Natalie and I are both very self-destructive people who let our thought spirals control our every move. It was jarring to read such a mirror image of myself. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the book, the romance, and all of the Greek mythology weaved throughout. The lowlights were the fact that one of the characters disappears randomly throughout the middle of the book and then appears again at the end. The book suffers from character soup, so some extra editing is needed there, in my opinion. Plus, I thought that the book perpetuated the idea that people with OCD or anxiety ruin everything they touch and cannot be happy. Nevertheless, like I said, the ending makes up for a big chunk of that. I recommend this book to anyone struggling with OCD, family dysfunction, or first relationships.
Thanks again to NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Random House Children’s Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early.
Love in Ruins follows Natalie, a teen with a recent OCD diagnosis and a love for Greek mythology, on a summer class trip to Greece where she meets charming Greek instructor’s daughter.
This book was so much fun! I really loved Natalie and all of her classmates on the trip and Melanie was such a fun character to challenge Natalie’s world view. I particularly loved how close the classmates were and the little excursions they went on by themselves. It was so fun to see a bunch of kids so excited about Greek mythology and history and see them visit sites that I hope to visit one day.
I do wish a little more focus had been put on the project Natalie spends the book (not) working on as having her figure it out 90% in then only vaguely describe it was a bit of a let down. I also felt like it was hard to enjoy some of the sections of the book where Natalie was spiraling and worrying as it isolated her from the rest of the group where the best interactions took place.
But even though I felt like Natalie had a little too much going on internally, I did feel that her thought spirals were realistic and well handled and overall I really enjoyed this book.
Thank you again to Random House Children’s Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this early.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.
Love in Ruins follows Natalie, a teen with a recent OCD diagnosis and a love for Greek mythology, on a summer class trip to Greece where she meets charming Greek instructor’s daughter.
This book was so much fun! I really loved Natalie and all of her classmates on the trip and Melanie was such a fun character to challenge Natalie’s world view. I particularly loved how close the classmates were and the little excursions they went on by themselves. It was so fun to see a bunch of kids so excited about Greek mythology and history and see them visit sites that I hope to visit one day.
I do wish a little more focus had been put on the project Natalie spends the book (not) working on as having her figure it out 90% in then only vaguely describe it was a bit of a let down. I also felt like it was hard to enjoy some of the sections of the book where Natalie was spiraling and worrying as it isolated her from the rest of the group where the best interactions took place.
But even though I felt like Natalie had a little too much going on internally, I did feel that her thought spirals were realistic and well handled and overall I really enjoyed this book.
Thank you again to Random House Children’s Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this early.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.
February 27, 2026
The biggest thing I feel about this book is appreciation for its representation of OCD. As someone with OCD, I felt so so seen by Natalie’s struggles with her intrusive thoughts. The way she felt like she constantly spiraled our of control and could never be fully present at any time is a feeling I know all too well, and I found comfort in seeing that even though Natalie’s struggles felt all-consuming, she worked her way through them. I feel that this age appropriate representation of OCD could be so important to young teens who are facing similar struggles, and I wish I had representation like this when I was younger.
I first thought that the romance in this story would take center stage, but I'm glad that it was more of a sub-plot, and the focus was on Natalie’s emotional growth. When going into this story, know that while the romance has a happy and satisfying ending, the main focus is on Natalie’s inner world as a whole. I also loved the setting. The contrast between the beautiful, picturesque location and the chaotic thoughts of Natalie was great, and added to the story. A huge thank you to Random House Children's Books and Netgalley for this ARC!
I first thought that the romance in this story would take center stage, but I'm glad that it was more of a sub-plot, and the focus was on Natalie’s emotional growth. When going into this story, know that while the romance has a happy and satisfying ending, the main focus is on Natalie’s inner world as a whole. I also loved the setting. The contrast between the beautiful, picturesque location and the chaotic thoughts of Natalie was great, and added to the story. A huge thank you to Random House Children's Books and Netgalley for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
** Read via ARC provided by Netgalley**
Overall I do think this was a cute story of finding oneself. The characters are very relatable and their story is compelling and relatable.
Pros:
-the academic trip to Greexe was a very interesting setting and concept for this story
-having a character with mental health struggles makes her a very compelling person to want to root for and gives a unique perspective
Cons:
-slow to start.... it took a while for the story to gear up and then almost immediately it ended.
-the character development was pretty surface level.... I finished the book barely knowing anything about any of the characters, even Natalie.
-the whole academic completion was left unfulfilled. We never really got to see the finished product, minus just saying who won.
In summary I think the concept of this book could be really interesting. The academic research trip and competition have a lot of potential but the lack of depth in character development and speed of the plot hindered it in the end.
Overall I do think this was a cute story of finding oneself. The characters are very relatable and their story is compelling and relatable.
Pros:
-the academic trip to Greexe was a very interesting setting and concept for this story
-having a character with mental health struggles makes her a very compelling person to want to root for and gives a unique perspective
Cons:
-slow to start.... it took a while for the story to gear up and then almost immediately it ended.
-the character development was pretty surface level.... I finished the book barely knowing anything about any of the characters, even Natalie.
-the whole academic completion was left unfulfilled. We never really got to see the finished product, minus just saying who won.
In summary I think the concept of this book could be really interesting. The academic research trip and competition have a lot of potential but the lack of depth in character development and speed of the plot hindered it in the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley for the free arc!
Overall, I liked the idea of this book. A high school girl goes on a summer trip to Greece with some classmates where they are entered into an academic contest with all sorts of competitions where their points add up (individual study projects to athletic competitions to artist endeavors). At the end of the experience the person with the most points wins prize money. Natalie, the narrator, goes in a group with her good friend Liam. When they get to Greece, Natalie befriends and ultimately struggles with a relationship with Melanie due to her OCD. Her thoughts spiral and hijack not only her relationship with Melanie, but also her friendship with Liam.
It felt like the author was too ambitious with multiple plot points throughout the book (the contest, Natalie's OCD, relationship drama) and had difficulty weaving them all together. As a result, the book felt lopsided with too much attention given to certain plot points at different times and neglecting other ones. This also affected the pacing of the book.
Overall, I liked the idea of this book. A high school girl goes on a summer trip to Greece with some classmates where they are entered into an academic contest with all sorts of competitions where their points add up (individual study projects to athletic competitions to artist endeavors). At the end of the experience the person with the most points wins prize money. Natalie, the narrator, goes in a group with her good friend Liam. When they get to Greece, Natalie befriends and ultimately struggles with a relationship with Melanie due to her OCD. Her thoughts spiral and hijack not only her relationship with Melanie, but also her friendship with Liam.
It felt like the author was too ambitious with multiple plot points throughout the book (the contest, Natalie's OCD, relationship drama) and had difficulty weaving them all together. As a result, the book felt lopsided with too much attention given to certain plot points at different times and neglecting other ones. This also affected the pacing of the book.
March 15, 2026
The book suffers from being about a lot of things and ultimately nothing at all by the end. Natalie is spending the summer in Greece exploring her roots and the culture in what seems to be a competitive somewhat combative academic experience made complicated by her new diagnosis with OCD, then oddly there's a lot of discussion about friendship and queerness and not feeling pressured into romance only to... have romantic feelings for a girl whose mother is helping lead the tours in Greece. She doesn't want to be romantic, yet she's always thinking about her. They're stealing away for time but then she isn't focused on her work. Again, a lot about everything and nothing really focused on. So it works as a coming-of-age exploration but ultimately feels a little forgettable though the experience of a summer in Greece as a "road trip" type story for a new high schooler is a neat concept to explore a country other than the US.
March 3, 2026
The vibes were great even if the quality wasnt. It was fun to hear about Greece, the food, and the Greek mythology even if it was an idealistic portrayal of Greece.It reminded me a bit if A Banh Mi For Two in that way. The competition and friend group drama/relationships were very high school. The overarching issue throughout the book was the main character figuring out her OCD and anxiety. I cant say whether the representation was good or not, but some of the other stuff in the story were fun.
Of course though, I am a pretty big communication is key person so some things were irritating. The setting definitely carried the story for me.
Also she was very adamant about not wanting romance at the beginning, and I felt like we were so close to making some points about amatonormativity. But alas, I knew it would be a romance in the end. It was just anxiety/OCD to overcome.
Of course though, I am a pretty big communication is key person so some things were irritating. The setting definitely carried the story for me.
Also she was very adamant about not wanting romance at the beginning, and I felt like we were so close to making some points about amatonormativity. But alas, I knew it would be a romance in the end. It was just anxiety/OCD to overcome.
May 23, 2026
Love in Ruins
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ .5
I generally enjoyed this book, but it's not without its flaws. I thought the concept was intriguing, but the execution wasn't the best. The summer project seemed to mostly serve as the excuse for Natalie to go to Greece, but I don't think it was really fleshed out enough otherwise. I get that the romance was supposed to be the focus, but I still think some more time should have been spent making sure that the trip felt realistic and unique. I appreciated the OCD rep and thought it did a good job of not falling into stereotypes and broadening Natalie's character. While I didn't always agree with Natalie's decisions, I could understand why she made them. Overall, I found this to be a quick and compelling read with an interesting premise but mediocre execution.
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ .5
I generally enjoyed this book, but it's not without its flaws. I thought the concept was intriguing, but the execution wasn't the best. The summer project seemed to mostly serve as the excuse for Natalie to go to Greece, but I don't think it was really fleshed out enough otherwise. I get that the romance was supposed to be the focus, but I still think some more time should have been spent making sure that the trip felt realistic and unique. I appreciated the OCD rep and thought it did a good job of not falling into stereotypes and broadening Natalie's character. While I didn't always agree with Natalie's decisions, I could understand why she made them. Overall, I found this to be a quick and compelling read with an interesting premise but mediocre execution.
June 7, 2026
I enjoyed this fun, anxious little YA romp through Greece! While things between Natalie and Melanie felt rushed at times, I loved their chemistry and how quickly they not only worked together, but their dynamics with the rest of the group. Natalie had some feelings about her home life that I wish we explored more in the context of her friend group (they were explored, but I'd have liked to see more), but I really enjoyed her family dynamics. I also wish we spent more time on the decathalon/Natalie's final project (again, focal points that I just would have loved to see in more depth), but everything was satisfactory. I also thoroughly enjoyed the exploration of Natalie's OCD diagnosis and how it impacts her growth. A very solid 3.75/5 stars (rounded to 4) for me!
Thank you to Random House for an ARC.
Thank you to Random House for an ARC.
March 9, 2026
This was a nice short read. I love travelling in a book and was excited about being in Greece. I felt very seen with the main character. The struggles with the constant spiralling thoughts, the intrusive thoughts, always worried that people are angry with me. I relate a lot to Natalie. I enjoyed the romance, it felt more like a side quest than the main event which I actually really liked for this book considering how short it was
The only thing that confused me was the best friend is called Liam, though on the blurb it was Luca. And the blurb also mentioned Natalie was coming away from a breakup from a toxic ex who tried to get between her and Liam yet there was never any mention in the book. So that was a little confusing
The only thing that confused me was the best friend is called Liam, though on the blurb it was Luca. And the blurb also mentioned Natalie was coming away from a breakup from a toxic ex who tried to get between her and Liam yet there was never any mention in the book. So that was a little confusing
May 11, 2026
3.5 out of 5. Gotta say that it is a super cute book but it just felt like there was so much left to be explored. I also resonated way too deeply with Natalie—felt as if the author was inside my own brain haha.
Personally, I’m glad that that people are out here writing material for a younger audience. This is the type of queer representation I wish I had, although I do think this book could have benefited from making the characters older. As someone who actually did have the opportunity to travel to Greece in high school with a similar club, it was mostly made up of juniors and seniors—which is why I think it would have worked better with the college freshmen-high school junior/senior friend group.
Personally, I’m glad that that people are out here writing material for a younger audience. This is the type of queer representation I wish I had, although I do think this book could have benefited from making the characters older. As someone who actually did have the opportunity to travel to Greece in high school with a similar club, it was mostly made up of juniors and seniors—which is why I think it would have worked better with the college freshmen-high school junior/senior friend group.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an ARC of Love in Ruins by Auriane Desombre thanks to the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the concept. I am always a fan of exploring the experience of mental health in books and it was done fairly well in this one. I also enjoyed the internal tension that it caused the main character when decisions needed to be made. However, I struggled with the writing style. It felt like it aged the characters down, which may have been intentional since the main character is the youngest of the group, but I was not a fan. It wasn't a bad book and I did finish it but I don't know if I would recommend it.
I loved the concept. I am always a fan of exploring the experience of mental health in books and it was done fairly well in this one. I also enjoyed the internal tension that it caused the main character when decisions needed to be made. However, I struggled with the writing style. It felt like it aged the characters down, which may have been intentional since the main character is the youngest of the group, but I was not a fan. It wasn't a bad book and I did finish it but I don't know if I would recommend it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A fun YA summer Sapphic romance that takes place on a school trip to Greece to learn more about ancient Greek civilization that has a young lesbian recently diagnosed with OCD grappling with unwanted feelings toward a Greek student taking part in the program too. I loved all the Greek food and location descriptions. This made me want to book a trip right away. The mental health (OCD, intrusive thoughts and anxiety rep) were also excellently written and relatable. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review. Jesse Vilinsky does a wonderful job narrating as ever.
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