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Reggie and Delilah's Year of Falling
Delilah always keeps her messy, gooey insides hidden behind a wall of shrugs and yeah, whatevers. She goes with the flow—which is how she ends up singing in her friends’ punk band as a favor, even though she’d prefer to hide at the merch table.
Reggie is a D&D Dungeon Master and self-declared Blerd. He spends his free time leading quests and writing essays critiquing the game under a pseudonym, keeping it all under wraps from his disapproving family.
These two, who have practically nothing in common, meet for the first time on New Year’s Eve. And then again on Valentine’s Day. And then again on St. Patrick’s Day. It’s almost like the universe is pushing them together for a reason.
Delilah wishes she were more like Reggie—open about what she likes and who she is, even if it’s not cool. Except . . . it’s all a front. Reggie is just role-playing someone confident. The kind of guy who could be with a girl like Delilah.
As their holiday meetings continue, the two begin to fall for each other. But what happens once they realize they’ve each fallen for a version of the other that doesn’t really exist?
Reggie is a D&D Dungeon Master and self-declared Blerd. He spends his free time leading quests and writing essays critiquing the game under a pseudonym, keeping it all under wraps from his disapproving family.
These two, who have practically nothing in common, meet for the first time on New Year’s Eve. And then again on Valentine’s Day. And then again on St. Patrick’s Day. It’s almost like the universe is pushing them together for a reason.
Delilah wishes she were more like Reggie—open about what she likes and who she is, even if it’s not cool. Except . . . it’s all a front. Reggie is just role-playing someone confident. The kind of guy who could be with a girl like Delilah.
As their holiday meetings continue, the two begin to fall for each other. But what happens once they realize they’ve each fallen for a version of the other that doesn’t really exist?
400 pages, Hardcover
First published January 31, 2023
145 people are currently reading
15075 people want to read
About the author
Elise Bryant
11 books1,295 followersElise Bryant is the NAACP Image Award-nominated author of Happily Ever Afters, One True Loves, Reggie and Delilah’s Year of Falling, and the forthcoming It’s Elementary. For many years, Elise had the joy of working as a special education teacher, and now she spends her days reading, writing, and eating dessert. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Long Beach, California. You can visit her online at www.elisebryant.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 667 reviews
March 20, 2023
Why didn't anyone tell me that I needed to read Elise Bryant sooner!? I mad at myself for waiting this long. This definitely won't be my last book by her. CW: racism, bullying
Reggie and Delilah's Year of Falling is a YA contemporary romance that follows the dual POV of Reggie and Delilah. Reggie is into playing D&D and spends a good portion of his free time writing under an anonymous account about how the game isn't always inclusive to BIPOC individuals. Delilah is a shy teenager who has been recruited to be the lead vocals of a local punk group. Both characters deal with struggling to find their voice and confidence when their friends and family seem to have different expectations for them and their futures. The two meet by accident during New Years Eve and form a connection that continues to grow over the course of a year of holidays providing each other with the support and maybe even love that they didn't expect.
What Worked: EVERYTHING! I absolutely adored this book and found myself thinking about it when I wasn't reading it. Elise Bryant is a brilliant author with so much talent that it just flows off the page. From the character development to the plot development, there wasn't anything about this book that I didn't enjoy. There was this interweaving of complex issues like being biracial, being Black and nerdy, breaking molds, fulfilling not only societal expectations, but also familial expectations that surpassed what I expected from this novel. And all of this took place during the development of one of the sweetest romances that I've read in YA. There was an instant attraction between Delilah and Reggie, but the pacing allowed them to develop their connection in a way that felt real. Sure, Reggie did some immature stuff that could have been solved with a little bit of communication; however, I was so invested in them as individuals and as a couple that I couldn't help but to root for them even when they were making mistakes. I also loved that Bryant played with time through the celebration of holidays. It's not something that I've seen in YA before, but it worked well and really gave readers the opportunity to get to know the characters completely. There was so much that each of them was dealing with that to create an instantaneous relationship would have felt forced and unrealistic. The conversations, the appreciation for COMICS, their hangout sessions had me smiling from ear to ear. Bryant really has my respect for showcasing how comics are vital to readers and not just silly cartoons. I won't spoil it, but the scene where Reggie and Delilah meet up during comic book day really touched my heart and spirit. This book also has great disability representation as well. Reggie has dyslexia and Delilah has chronic migraines.
Honestly, if you haven't picked this one up you are missing out. I cannot recommend it enough. I'm looking forward to picking up more books by Elise Bryant soon.
Reggie and Delilah's Year of Falling is a YA contemporary romance that follows the dual POV of Reggie and Delilah. Reggie is into playing D&D and spends a good portion of his free time writing under an anonymous account about how the game isn't always inclusive to BIPOC individuals. Delilah is a shy teenager who has been recruited to be the lead vocals of a local punk group. Both characters deal with struggling to find their voice and confidence when their friends and family seem to have different expectations for them and their futures. The two meet by accident during New Years Eve and form a connection that continues to grow over the course of a year of holidays providing each other with the support and maybe even love that they didn't expect.
What Worked: EVERYTHING! I absolutely adored this book and found myself thinking about it when I wasn't reading it. Elise Bryant is a brilliant author with so much talent that it just flows off the page. From the character development to the plot development, there wasn't anything about this book that I didn't enjoy. There was this interweaving of complex issues like being biracial, being Black and nerdy, breaking molds, fulfilling not only societal expectations, but also familial expectations that surpassed what I expected from this novel. And all of this took place during the development of one of the sweetest romances that I've read in YA. There was an instant attraction between Delilah and Reggie, but the pacing allowed them to develop their connection in a way that felt real. Sure, Reggie did some immature stuff that could have been solved with a little bit of communication; however, I was so invested in them as individuals and as a couple that I couldn't help but to root for them even when they were making mistakes. I also loved that Bryant played with time through the celebration of holidays. It's not something that I've seen in YA before, but it worked well and really gave readers the opportunity to get to know the characters completely. There was so much that each of them was dealing with that to create an instantaneous relationship would have felt forced and unrealistic. The conversations, the appreciation for COMICS, their hangout sessions had me smiling from ear to ear. Bryant really has my respect for showcasing how comics are vital to readers and not just silly cartoons. I won't spoil it, but the scene where Reggie and Delilah meet up during comic book day really touched my heart and spirit. This book also has great disability representation as well. Reggie has dyslexia and Delilah has chronic migraines.
Honestly, if you haven't picked this one up you are missing out. I cannot recommend it enough. I'm looking forward to picking up more books by Elise Bryant soon.
October 31, 2023
so initially i didn't plan on writing a review for this BUT THEN things happened towards the end (third act breakup i'm looking at you👀) and i felt like i wanted to write about this!
to put it short - this book was cute! and i knew going into this b̶u̶t̶ ̶s̶t̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶h̶o̶p̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶ ̶t̶a̶d̶ ̶b̶i̶t̶ ̶a̶n̶y̶w̶a̶y̶ that this wasn't my cup of tea. so maybe my rating is a little unfair.
if we ignore that the characters say a few things that can only come from an adult writing about teens, there weren't a lot of things i disliked. it was actually quite pleasant to read.
aaaand then i reached the last few pages and 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦! they are breaking up!! well, it actually made sense. no sorry, w͟o͟u͟l͟d͟ have made sense if it were better described. b̶u̶t̶ ̶s̶i̶n̶c̶e̶ ̶n̶o̶ ̶o̶n̶e̶ ̶w̶a̶n̶t̶s̶ ̶a̶ ̶3̶r̶d̶ ̶a̶c̶t̶ ̶b̶r̶e̶a̶k̶u̶p̶ ̶i̶t̶'̶s̶ ̶g̶o̶o̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶r̶e̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶f̶u̶r̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶e̶x̶p̶l̶a̶n̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶
so they both end up not leaving their bed and the mmc miraculously has this talk with his brother and life long trauma is healed within just a few pages.
the story only takes place on several "special" days, which means there were sometimes months between the next interaction OR interactions that happend were left out. the relationship development kind of suffered from that. but that they were meeting only on special occasions was kind of the thing of the book and tbh the characters talking about a string tying them together all along (YES THE AUTHOR IS A 𝗦𝗪𝗜𝗙𝗧𝗜𝗘) and searching for holidays was cute.
what i enjoyed a lot was the relationship between the fmc and her sister. and if the author ever decides to write a sequel, i'll gladly read a book about beau, thanks!
and not to forget that this book made me giggle a few times.
this sounds now as if i didn't enjoy this book but that rly isn't the case. as i said it's just not my thing but if it's yours then i recommend giving this book a try. overall, i do not regret having read this book.
and if you love taylor swift references in books, then maybe this is for you after all. the fmc and her sister are huge swifties. :)
this is literally the last sentence in the acknowledgments:
"𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙏𝙖𝙮𝙡𝙤𝙧 𝙎𝙬𝙞𝙛𝙩, 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙨."
random thoughts:
•why is every character called delilah nowadays
•why did it feel like it used to be a jatp fan fiction helppp
•the cover! *heart eyes*
•pls mention that you're closing the door as well!!
•why was her migraine never a thing later anymore?
_______
rtc (maybe?)
to put it short - this book was cute! and i knew going into this b̶u̶t̶ ̶s̶t̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶h̶o̶p̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶ ̶t̶a̶d̶ ̶b̶i̶t̶ ̶a̶n̶y̶w̶a̶y̶ that this wasn't my cup of tea. so maybe my rating is a little unfair.
if we ignore that the characters say a few things that can only come from an adult writing about teens, there weren't a lot of things i disliked. it was actually quite pleasant to read.
aaaand then i reached the last few pages and 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦! they are breaking up!! well, it actually made sense. no sorry, w͟o͟u͟l͟d͟ have made sense if it were better described. b̶u̶t̶ ̶s̶i̶n̶c̶e̶ ̶n̶o̶ ̶o̶n̶e̶ ̶w̶a̶n̶t̶s̶ ̶a̶ ̶3̶r̶d̶ ̶a̶c̶t̶ ̶b̶r̶e̶a̶k̶u̶p̶ ̶i̶t̶'̶s̶ ̶g̶o̶o̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶r̶e̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶f̶u̶r̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶e̶x̶p̶l̶a̶n̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶
so they both end up not leaving their bed and the mmc miraculously has this talk with his brother and life long trauma is healed within just a few pages.
the story only takes place on several "special" days, which means there were sometimes months between the next interaction OR interactions that happend were left out. the relationship development kind of suffered from that. but that they were meeting only on special occasions was kind of the thing of the book and tbh the characters talking about a string tying them together all along (YES THE AUTHOR IS A 𝗦𝗪𝗜𝗙𝗧𝗜𝗘) and searching for holidays was cute.
what i enjoyed a lot was the relationship between the fmc and her sister. and if the author ever decides to write a sequel, i'll gladly read a book about beau, thanks!
and not to forget that this book made me giggle a few times.
this sounds now as if i didn't enjoy this book but that rly isn't the case. as i said it's just not my thing but if it's yours then i recommend giving this book a try. overall, i do not regret having read this book.
and if you love taylor swift references in books, then maybe this is for you after all. the fmc and her sister are huge swifties. :)
this is literally the last sentence in the acknowledgments:
"𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙏𝙖𝙮𝙡𝙤𝙧 𝙎𝙬𝙞𝙛𝙩, 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙨."
random thoughts:
•why is every character called delilah nowadays
•why did it feel like it used to be a jatp fan fiction helppp
•the cover! *heart eyes*
•pls mention that you're closing the door as well!!
•why was her migraine never a thing later anymore?
_______
rtc (maybe?)
February 21, 2024
3.5 stars
Very cute YA romance, my favorite parts were both of the teens and their journey to discovering their self worth. I wasn't as interested in their romance, but I think it's more of me aging out of loving YA books than the fault of the book itself.
Very cute YA romance, my favorite parts were both of the teens and their journey to discovering their self worth. I wasn't as interested in their romance, but I think it's more of me aging out of loving YA books than the fault of the book itself.
January 24, 2023
Supercute!!!!!!!
What do you get when two Black teens, one a DD Dunheon Master and the second, a lead singer in a punk rock band, fall in love?
You get Reggie and Delilah's Year of Falling!
I love it when my young adults leave me with the fluttery, butterfly, swooning feeling, and this fid just that!
It took a while to get there but when Reggie and Delilah learned to accept themselves for who they are, so that they can be their authentic selves with each other and the people in their lives, it was so worth it!
This wasn't just a typical YA meet cute though. This book tackles some realistic issues facing Black folks in predominantly white spaces. Learning how to manage and stand up to microaggressions, racism, insecurities, and leaning into doing what you love without feeling like you don't deserve it. This is what Reggie and Delilah showed us while making their way to each other.
So adorable, heartwarming and inspiring. You will enjoy this!
What do you get when two Black teens, one a DD Dunheon Master and the second, a lead singer in a punk rock band, fall in love?
You get Reggie and Delilah's Year of Falling!
I love it when my young adults leave me with the fluttery, butterfly, swooning feeling, and this fid just that!
It took a while to get there but when Reggie and Delilah learned to accept themselves for who they are, so that they can be their authentic selves with each other and the people in their lives, it was so worth it!
This wasn't just a typical YA meet cute though. This book tackles some realistic issues facing Black folks in predominantly white spaces. Learning how to manage and stand up to microaggressions, racism, insecurities, and leaning into doing what you love without feeling like you don't deserve it. This is what Reggie and Delilah showed us while making their way to each other.
So adorable, heartwarming and inspiring. You will enjoy this!
Want to read
June 13, 2022D&D Dungeon Master and the lead singer of a punk band falling in love? Looks like a preorder to me.
March 25, 2024
★★★★★ stars ! ₊˚⊹♡
the way elise bryant writes romances and coming of age stories ???? mwah, chef's kiss, i freaking love her. like she's becoming one of my fave authors bc she's just SO GOOD at writing characters you love, romances to make you swoon, and such engaging stories. i love reggie and how he developed as a person, i love delilah and how she discovered herself and own self worth (SCREW charlie and asher all my homies HATEE THEMM), i love reggie and delilah together and i love how their relationship got saved, i love the message abt not needing to be "black enough" (smth i struggle and identify w HEAVY), i love all the beautiful side characters (which makes me want a book for georgia and her theater kid romances PLEASEEEEE), and i LOVED all the taylor swift references !! also it was SUCH a nice surprise seeing alex and lenore and her family i love how all these books are connected 🥹 this book literally had me crying and screaming (silently) at 12 am bc it gave me sm warm feelings by the end, theyre so in love n i js loved reading this so so much, i cant explain how happy it made my nerdy black heart 😭🫶🏾🫶🏾
the way elise bryant writes romances and coming of age stories ???? mwah, chef's kiss, i freaking love her. like she's becoming one of my fave authors bc she's just SO GOOD at writing characters you love, romances to make you swoon, and such engaging stories. i love reggie and how he developed as a person, i love delilah and how she discovered herself and own self worth (SCREW charlie and asher all my homies HATEE THEMM), i love reggie and delilah together and i love how their relationship got saved, i love the message abt not needing to be "black enough" (smth i struggle and identify w HEAVY), i love all the beautiful side characters (which makes me want a book for georgia and her theater kid romances PLEASEEEEE), and i LOVED all the taylor swift references !! also it was SUCH a nice surprise seeing alex and lenore and her family i love how all these books are connected 🥹 this book literally had me crying and screaming (silently) at 12 am bc it gave me sm warm feelings by the end, theyre so in love n i js loved reading this so so much, i cant explain how happy it made my nerdy black heart 😭🫶🏾🫶🏾
August 14, 2022
4.5 stars
This was sooooooooo cute!
Reggie and Delilah are both Black kids in a majority white space - Reggie plays D&D and Delilah is the lead singer in a punk band (apparently this is based on the author's time doing the same thing hehe so cute)
They meet on New Years' Eve at Delilah's first gig, nothing crazy, they just speak to each other a bit, and then they go their separate ways.. until they coincidentally run into each other again on Valentine's Day. Their accidental meetings line up with holidays, and eventually become less accidental.
What I really liked about this book was that it honestly took quite a bit to get to the point where they were spending time together on purpose. We got to know a good amount about both characters and their friend groups and kind of the way they each were dealing with finding their place with their hobbies. Both making space in their hobbies for being Black proudly, and in their personal lives for maybe not being seen as "Black enough." Reggie was called "oreo" by his brother and his brother's friends, Delilah was tokenized by her band members and by fans - but Reggie was a pretty popular blogger who called out colonialism and racism in the D&D lore/fandom, and Delilah was a role model for other Black girls in the punk scene who might not have had that representation otherwise. I think the conversations to be had were really important, but at the same time, they weren't incredibly heavy-handed or awkward in the way they fit into the story. It felt very natural and realistic and I really appreciated it.
Then the love story was just seriously so cute. I thought the timeline was really appropriate, the romance itself was sweet, and the major conflict wasn't due to a weird miscommunication. It WAS due to a miscommunication, but it was a purposeful one, and you'll see when you read it what I mean.
I say WHEN you read it, not IF, because this is seriously cute and well-crafted and I think there are only benefits for reading it and literally no drawbacks so you should!!!!
This was sooooooooo cute!
Reggie and Delilah are both Black kids in a majority white space - Reggie plays D&D and Delilah is the lead singer in a punk band (apparently this is based on the author's time doing the same thing hehe so cute)
They meet on New Years' Eve at Delilah's first gig, nothing crazy, they just speak to each other a bit, and then they go their separate ways.. until they coincidentally run into each other again on Valentine's Day. Their accidental meetings line up with holidays, and eventually become less accidental.
What I really liked about this book was that it honestly took quite a bit to get to the point where they were spending time together on purpose. We got to know a good amount about both characters and their friend groups and kind of the way they each were dealing with finding their place with their hobbies. Both making space in their hobbies for being Black proudly, and in their personal lives for maybe not being seen as "Black enough." Reggie was called "oreo" by his brother and his brother's friends, Delilah was tokenized by her band members and by fans - but Reggie was a pretty popular blogger who called out colonialism and racism in the D&D lore/fandom, and Delilah was a role model for other Black girls in the punk scene who might not have had that representation otherwise. I think the conversations to be had were really important, but at the same time, they weren't incredibly heavy-handed or awkward in the way they fit into the story. It felt very natural and realistic and I really appreciated it.
Then the love story was just seriously so cute. I thought the timeline was really appropriate, the romance itself was sweet, and the major conflict wasn't due to a weird miscommunication. It WAS due to a miscommunication, but it was a purposeful one, and you'll see when you read it what I mean.
I say WHEN you read it, not IF, because this is seriously cute and well-crafted and I think there are only benefits for reading it and literally no drawbacks so you should!!!!
May 31, 2024
This one surprised me how much I enjoyed it. Being YA and a high school romance, I wasn't expecting to love these characters so much, or feel such angst about their relationship.
The narration for this one is fabulous - especially Reggie's POV. I did enjoy Delilah's as well, but there was something about Reggies that just sounded so authentic, so vulnerable. I just loved it.
The mains are 16/17. Only steam is kisses. Dungeons and dragons playing hero, band member/singer heroine.
Really sweet story about falling in love. I loved that it took time (I get the title now....). I was a bit annoyed sometimes with a few back and forth things, the insecurities of the age (like if someone says no to you, your world will literally end - I guess being older just made me get over that haha).
I went into this YA with low expectations and really enjoyed so much of this one though! I read this as a part of the Diverse Baseline Challenge.
Content warnings
The narration for this one is fabulous - especially Reggie's POV. I did enjoy Delilah's as well, but there was something about Reggies that just sounded so authentic, so vulnerable. I just loved it.
The mains are 16/17. Only steam is kisses. Dungeons and dragons playing hero, band member/singer heroine.
Really sweet story about falling in love. I loved that it took time (I get the title now....). I was a bit annoyed sometimes with a few back and forth things, the insecurities of the age (like if someone says no to you, your world will literally end - I guess being older just made me get over that haha).
I went into this YA with low expectations and really enjoyed so much of this one though! I read this as a part of the Diverse Baseline Challenge.
Content warnings
February 4, 2023
This book was the sweetest. Being able to see Delilah and Reggie fall in love throughout an entire year was such a god premise. With them literally meeting on New Year’s Eve it reminded me of the first High School Musical movie. I love the coincidences of them always running into each other on holidays and how both Delilah and Reggie noticed it and made it their thing. I’m not going to lie with the whole Delilah having a crush on Charlie in the beginning I thought Elise Bryant was going to make the same mistake she did in her debut. I thought most of the story was going to be Delilah realizing Charlie wasn’t right for her, but thank God it wasn’t. As the title describes the magic of this book is Delilah and Reggie. I loved seeing them grow more confident in themselves through meeting each other. I love seeing nerdy Black boys in YA and shy Black girls in YA. I love the representation for dyslexia and chronic migraines in the story too. Delilah and Reggie together were just the absolute cutest. I love seeing Elise Bryant grow. With each one of her novels she gets better.
August 5, 2023
2023 reads: 242/350
this book follows reggie, a d&d dungeon master, and delilah, who started singing in a band as a favor to her friends (and her crush). they first meet on new year’s eve after delilah’s show. then they meet again on valentine’s day. then st. patrick’s day. over this time, they begin falling for each other, not knowing that the version the other is showing is not quite their true selves.
first, i loved the representation in this!! the main characters are black, and there is also (in my opinion) really good disability representation. delilah has chronic migraines which are shown throughout the book. in fact, the first time the two officially meet, delilah had just run out of the building after performing because of a migraine. reggie is dyslexic, and i thought it was so cool how this was explored. reggie accommodates this by using voiceover and speech to text features on his phone. though i’ve read books with dyslexic characters before, i think this is the first time i’ve seen a character use these accessibility features, and i love that he wasn’t ashamed of using them (though there is a part where a staff member on his IEP team says it needs to be “phased out”).
i also loved the characters and their individual growth as well as relationship growth. one thing they both had in common is that, for different reasons, they didn’t feel “black enough.” however, they both became much more comfortable with themselves as the story went on. a big reason reggie doesn’t feel black enough is because his older brother constantly tells him so because of his nerdy interests. reggie eventually has a conversation with his brother about how this makes him feel.
as for delilah, she starts the book off as a pretty big people pleaser. the only reason she joins the band is because, as i mentioned earlier, her friends and crush needed her help. however, she starts to realize different problems with these guys, such as her crush leading her on, nobody standing up for her against racist comments online, not being allowed to write lyrics for the band, etc. at first she brushes this all off, but as the book goes on she gets a lot better at calling this out. as someone who can be a people pleaser (at least in some instances), this was really nice to see!
overall, this was such a great YA romance and definitely my favorite of elise bryant’s so far.
this book follows reggie, a d&d dungeon master, and delilah, who started singing in a band as a favor to her friends (and her crush). they first meet on new year’s eve after delilah’s show. then they meet again on valentine’s day. then st. patrick’s day. over this time, they begin falling for each other, not knowing that the version the other is showing is not quite their true selves.
first, i loved the representation in this!! the main characters are black, and there is also (in my opinion) really good disability representation. delilah has chronic migraines which are shown throughout the book. in fact, the first time the two officially meet, delilah had just run out of the building after performing because of a migraine. reggie is dyslexic, and i thought it was so cool how this was explored. reggie accommodates this by using voiceover and speech to text features on his phone. though i’ve read books with dyslexic characters before, i think this is the first time i’ve seen a character use these accessibility features, and i love that he wasn’t ashamed of using them (though there is a part where a staff member on his IEP team says it needs to be “phased out”).
i also loved the characters and their individual growth as well as relationship growth. one thing they both had in common is that, for different reasons, they didn’t feel “black enough.” however, they both became much more comfortable with themselves as the story went on. a big reason reggie doesn’t feel black enough is because his older brother constantly tells him so because of his nerdy interests. reggie eventually has a conversation with his brother about how this makes him feel.
as for delilah, she starts the book off as a pretty big people pleaser. the only reason she joins the band is because, as i mentioned earlier, her friends and crush needed her help. however, she starts to realize different problems with these guys, such as her crush leading her on, nobody standing up for her against racist comments online, not being allowed to write lyrics for the band, etc. at first she brushes this all off, but as the book goes on she gets a lot better at calling this out. as someone who can be a people pleaser (at least in some instances), this was really nice to see!
overall, this was such a great YA romance and definitely my favorite of elise bryant’s so far.
March 18, 2023
cawpile 7.4
[Highlights: dual pov, coming-of-age, racism, unique characters}
I skimmed the premise of this book, but honestly didn't really know what it was about. I had no previous expectations, as I had read no reviews, but it was dual pov so I kind of had to pick it up. (iykyk) Also the cover is beautiful. BUT I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MUCH I ENJOYED THIS BOOK! I've been in desperate need of a fluffy romance with actual good characters. These characters were honestly so dynamic. They were all different and had their own flaws and quirks and personalities. They all seemed like real teenagers without being cringe as frick.
Reggie and Delilah complemented each other so well. I loved that it took them *awhile* to start hanging out on purpose. Their relationship development was so natural. The timeline of their romance was great and really appropriate for teenagers.
Not only was the romance amazing, but the friend/family relationships were even better. Some good, some bad, they changed the dynamic of the book completely and affected both main characters. Both of the main characters had actual LIVES, which, believe it or not, makes their romance even better.
This book tackled the themes of racism so well, I really appreciated that the main conflict wasn't due to some stupid miscommunication thing. I loved that the entire story wasn't focused on the romance. Bother characters and incredible personal arcs and their relationship development was great.
Unfortunately, there was too much swearing for my personal tastes. I just couldn't get past it, and it really bugged me a lot of the time. There was so much that it almost started detracting from the actual story.
All in all, this was such a fun, cute, clean romance that totally gave me all the feels. I totally recommend it if you're looking for something adorable to read.
Characters 7.5
Atmosphere 6.5
Writing 6.5
Plot 8
Intrigue 6.5
Logic 8
Enjoyment 8.5
[Highlights: dual pov, coming-of-age, racism, unique characters}
I skimmed the premise of this book, but honestly didn't really know what it was about. I had no previous expectations, as I had read no reviews, but it was dual pov so I kind of had to pick it up. (iykyk) Also the cover is beautiful. BUT I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MUCH I ENJOYED THIS BOOK! I've been in desperate need of a fluffy romance with actual good characters. These characters were honestly so dynamic. They were all different and had their own flaws and quirks and personalities. They all seemed like real teenagers without being cringe as frick.
Reggie and Delilah complemented each other so well. I loved that it took them *awhile* to start hanging out on purpose. Their relationship development was so natural. The timeline of their romance was great and really appropriate for teenagers.
Not only was the romance amazing, but the friend/family relationships were even better. Some good, some bad, they changed the dynamic of the book completely and affected both main characters. Both of the main characters had actual LIVES, which, believe it or not, makes their romance even better.
This book tackled the themes of racism so well, I really appreciated that the main conflict wasn't due to some stupid miscommunication thing. I loved that the entire story wasn't focused on the romance. Bother characters and incredible personal arcs and their relationship development was great.
Unfortunately, there was too much swearing for my personal tastes. I just couldn't get past it, and it really bugged me a lot of the time. There was so much that it almost started detracting from the actual story.
All in all, this was such a fun, cute, clean romance that totally gave me all the feels. I totally recommend it if you're looking for something adorable to read.
Characters 7.5
Atmosphere 6.5
Writing 6.5
Plot 8
Intrigue 6.5
Logic 8
Enjoyment 8.5
February 7, 2023
I absolutely adored this latest YA book from Elise Bryant!! A Dungeons and Dragons loving geeky teen boy falls hard for an aspiring singer in this beautiful love story. The disability rep in this book was so well done! Reggie is dyslexic and Delilah has chronic migraines. I really loved everything about this story, especially the message of finding the courage to be your true authentic self, despite internal fears or outside pressures. Great on audio too! Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
February 17, 2023
I loved this cover so much that I read it so I could justify buying it later and I’m so glad I did! I haven’t read a YA contemporary in years and this book was like a perfect glimpse into my past and what drew me to this genre as teenager. Delilah and Reggie’s relationship was so adorable and I really enjoyed reading about the time they spent together. I found the humor to be spot on and their own personal journeys related to music and gaming to be very charming. Beyond that, the pacing of their relationship felt realistic and though the conflict could be frustrating at times, it was done in a way that felt authentic to the narrative and the characters’ ages. You could tell that a lot of love was put into the construction of these characters, as they both had a lot of depth to them. I particularly enjoyed each character’s introspection related to their blackness and the way in which it was dynamic in that these experiences overlapped in some ways which brought them closer, but were also unique in a way that required the characters to work to understand one another. this is definitely one that I would add to my shelf for my future child to read at some point.
March 10, 2023
a really cutesy ya romcom that encaptures young love and the whole concept of coming of age, but i just didn't particularly like the way the plot progressed, especially with the last quarter of the book. i had fun tho!
3.5 stars rounded up
3.5 stars rounded up
August 5, 2025
(3.5 rounded to 4) Call me the CEO of finding musician x D&D player romancey books the way I keep finding these and eating them up.
June 27, 2023
This book, y'all. It had me stressing, cheering, and gobbling up every word. 👏👏 I finished reading it with a happy sigh, and I'm not ready to send it back to the library. 🥹 This is my second Elise Bryant book, and I know I can count on her for a meaningful coming of age story and HEA. 😍
Delilah was probably one of the most real-feeling fictional characters I've ever met. I can't say much without spoilers, but her character arc was my absolute favorite.
Reggie was adorable and delightful, and it was fun to have two POVs this time. I loved how much he thought through how to pursue Delilah without making it weird. 😂🥹
And the holidays! 😍👏 It was so fun to see how they celebrated each one (including Juneteenth), and I was happy when it branched out to increasingly obscure ones for story reasons. 😉🤫
While it's not this book's purpose to educate me, the way it challenged and taught me by simply showing what it's like to exist as Black person made me grateful to learn. Definitely a lot to think about.
I'm so happy I read this adorable book!
CW: racism, microagressions, R language, allusions to more than kissing.
Delilah was probably one of the most real-feeling fictional characters I've ever met. I can't say much without spoilers, but her character arc was my absolute favorite.
Reggie was adorable and delightful, and it was fun to have two POVs this time. I loved how much he thought through how to pursue Delilah without making it weird. 😂🥹
And the holidays! 😍👏 It was so fun to see how they celebrated each one (including Juneteenth), and I was happy when it branched out to increasingly obscure ones for story reasons. 😉🤫
While it's not this book's purpose to educate me, the way it challenged and taught me by simply showing what it's like to exist as Black person made me grateful to learn. Definitely a lot to think about.
I'm so happy I read this adorable book!
CW: racism, microagressions, R language, allusions to more than kissing.
September 22, 2023
"...i especially love new year's eve because it'll always be when delilah and i met."
listen... you know a book is good when i read one chapter one day, and then binge the rest of the book at 2 am the very next day.
i've had a lot of friends throughout high school, and so many of them were d&d players who always tried to get me to join their games... let me tell you... i so want to join their games now. d&d seems fun as hell.
but also... i wasn't entirely sold on this. like, was i really gonna enjoy a book about a d&d kid and a music star? like was i realllllllly going to like it?
short answer: yes. i feel like its always the books that i think i won't like that end up being my absolute favorites. this one has definitely earned the biggest spot in my heart: the character development! the dynamics! the relationships! the settings! everything was so perfectly done and i am absolutely obsessed with all of it.
this was fun, and serious when it needed to be, and full of love, and just all around an absolutely amazing book. i'm obsessed.
listen... you know a book is good when i read one chapter one day, and then binge the rest of the book at 2 am the very next day.
i've had a lot of friends throughout high school, and so many of them were d&d players who always tried to get me to join their games... let me tell you... i so want to join their games now. d&d seems fun as hell.
but also... i wasn't entirely sold on this. like, was i really gonna enjoy a book about a d&d kid and a music star? like was i realllllllly going to like it?
short answer: yes. i feel like its always the books that i think i won't like that end up being my absolute favorites. this one has definitely earned the biggest spot in my heart: the character development! the dynamics! the relationships! the settings! everything was so perfectly done and i am absolutely obsessed with all of it.
this was fun, and serious when it needed to be, and full of love, and just all around an absolutely amazing book. i'm obsessed.
December 23, 2022
*I want to post an actual review of this, but I also want to stand with the Harper Collins union as well* I am grateful to have received this book as an ARC though, before the strike occurred. Pay your workers living wages.
January 30, 2023
Reggie and Delilah's year of falling is a heartwarming YA romance story. Reggie and Delilah are two black kids, an Dungeons & Dragons game player and a punk lead singer who fall in love over the course of holidays during the year. It’s about taking up space, young love, and being your authentic self.
"And my dad's right. I've had these meetings since I was officially diagnosed with dyslexia in second grade, but this one did feel particularly long."
"And I have lot of inspiration to draw from, because I've had people telling me I'm not really Black my whole life: Kathy Williams calling me an Oreo in third grade, my cousins from North Carolina saying I don't "talk Black"....and comments online now calling out my light skin and looser curls and non-Black bandmates like they're about to start an investigation. Every one of those opinions is written on my brain in permanent marker, darker and bolder than the rest."
"I've been worried about how others are perceiving my Blackness or using it for their own gain. I didn't even consider what me being in this space could mean to others."
"And it's not perfect. It's not like every hurt is erased. But that's okay. I said what I was feeling--boldly, clearly--and I was heard. I was accepted. It feels like hope."
"And my dad's right. I've had these meetings since I was officially diagnosed with dyslexia in second grade, but this one did feel particularly long."
"And I have lot of inspiration to draw from, because I've had people telling me I'm not really Black my whole life: Kathy Williams calling me an Oreo in third grade, my cousins from North Carolina saying I don't "talk Black"....and comments online now calling out my light skin and looser curls and non-Black bandmates like they're about to start an investigation. Every one of those opinions is written on my brain in permanent marker, darker and bolder than the rest."
"I've been worried about how others are perceiving my Blackness or using it for their own gain. I didn't even consider what me being in this space could mean to others."
"And it's not perfect. It's not like every hurt is erased. But that's okay. I said what I was feeling--boldly, clearly--and I was heard. I was accepted. It feels like hope."
February 17, 2023
I spent the week rereading the first two books in this (loosely interconnected) series, and then finally reading this one, and I had such a good time. All of these books share the same charm, with a cute romance, a heartfelt story, and coming-of-age themes that add a good amount of depth to the story. I'll definitely be picking up whatever Elise Bryant writes next.
July 10, 2023
The way this had me cheesin and kicking my feet🥰so damn cute and uplifting
April 19, 2023
4/5 ⭐️
- I absolutely adored this book!! Reggie and Delilah were two unconventional characters that really made you believe in owning who you are and being yourself, even when it’s scary. This wasn’t your typical YA because the author tackled so many realistic issues while weaving together a beautiful love story. It was so heart warming and inspiring!
- One of my favorite things about this book was how we really got to learn so much about the characters separately before they really started spending time together. If you’re looking for a book without spice, but one where you’ll really feel the connection that they have with one another, this is a great book for that!! I love that the book took place over a year, but it didn’t seem drawn out or rushed. The pacing was perfect!
- There was an element of miscommunication in this book, but it truly felt so realistic because of the context in the story. Love love loved it!!!
- I absolutely adored this book!! Reggie and Delilah were two unconventional characters that really made you believe in owning who you are and being yourself, even when it’s scary. This wasn’t your typical YA because the author tackled so many realistic issues while weaving together a beautiful love story. It was so heart warming and inspiring!
- One of my favorite things about this book was how we really got to learn so much about the characters separately before they really started spending time together. If you’re looking for a book without spice, but one where you’ll really feel the connection that they have with one another, this is a great book for that!! I love that the book took place over a year, but it didn’t seem drawn out or rushed. The pacing was perfect!
- There was an element of miscommunication in this book, but it truly felt so realistic because of the context in the story. Love love loved it!!!
December 4, 2022
I always enjoy how sweet and tender Elise Bryan't writes about young adult romance. Her characters feel real, and the stakes are always believable. RADYOF was no exception to this pattern, but I was not as enchanted as I was with her previous novels. Primarily because the overall conceit--that Reggie is pretending to be someone else with Delilah--never tracked for me. He felt like he was the same Reggie, just slightly more confident, but definitely not different enough to cause the fight at the end. Additionally, it was weird at times to remember these were teenagers: in night clubs, taking overnight trips, etc. I would have liked this more, I think, if they were kids in their first year of college.
If you like very sweet romcoms, this will work for you. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for this review.
If you like very sweet romcoms, this will work for you. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for this review.
March 9, 2023
It was sweet!! But there was something about it that felt a little lacking. I love the plight of these two & their different vibes & search for authenticity, but tbh I thought that element was more compelling than their actual relationship. Like they were def cute, but it was a little TOO cute with not enough like tension for me?? Also, the third act breakup just felt annoying to me. Overall, it was a cute little YA romance, but not an all time fave. Also, Ho Hey & Hey There Delilah being referred to as “old” was a jarring detail LMAO
dnf
December 28, 2022i am sure this will appeal to fans of ya books...it just so happens that one of my biggest pet peeves in ya is when the narration tries to make its teenage characters sound realistic by having them think or say cartoonish things like "I watched Karen O, front woman of this old band the Yeah Yeah Yeahs" or "I found even older videos—like before-my-parents-were-born old".
March 9, 2023
Another YA for the win! This was such a wholesome story. My heart is full.
May 6, 2023
This was so cute! 🥲💘 Reggie and Delilah were everything I could’ve ever wanted in a ya romance
February 9, 2023
Delilah has recently joined a punk rock band with a few of her friends. Though her sister, Georgia, is typically the star of the family with a huge talent for singing and acting. Delilah has never sang for real before and isn’t quite sure she’s any good. But after the band’s first gig featuring Delilah singing, they gain notoriety overnight. They begin to get more and more opportunities and gigs. While Delilah is growing to love performing, she still isn’t sure that she truly belongs in the band. She questions her talent and identity as a Black girl in the genre. Until one day she meets Reggie. He exudes confidence and doesn’t care what anyone thinks of him. He seems too good to be true.
Reggie would prefer to play Dungeons and Dragons over going to see a band play on New Year’s Eve. But after one too many taunts and jokes from his older brother, he decides to use it as an excuse to escape. When he arrives at the venue, he sees Delilah commanding the stage and its love at first sight. He runs into her after her performance and decides he has to play it cool. He presents the Reggie that he wishes he was. They continue to have chance encounters on holidays and their relationship slowly builds over the course of the next year. But Reggie gets in over his head with pretending to be someone he’s not.
While the title is literally “Reggie and Delilah’s Year of Falling,” I still didn’t really have too much of an idea of how it would play out. But let me tell you, it was SO cute and precious. This was such a unique story line that kept me smiling. There was so much of this story that I could relate to, and I appreciated it so much. I really could have used a book like this growing up. It took me well into my adult years to truly be comfortable with just being myself. I’m a little awkward and nerdy and enjoy “nerdy” things, and that’s totally okay. Life is too short to live it trying to be someone you aren’t.
This was an awesome read, and I have no complaints. It tackles some current social issues extremely well, and the overall message surrounding embracing what makes us who we are was *chef’s kiss.*
Reggie would prefer to play Dungeons and Dragons over going to see a band play on New Year’s Eve. But after one too many taunts and jokes from his older brother, he decides to use it as an excuse to escape. When he arrives at the venue, he sees Delilah commanding the stage and its love at first sight. He runs into her after her performance and decides he has to play it cool. He presents the Reggie that he wishes he was. They continue to have chance encounters on holidays and their relationship slowly builds over the course of the next year. But Reggie gets in over his head with pretending to be someone he’s not.
While the title is literally “Reggie and Delilah’s Year of Falling,” I still didn’t really have too much of an idea of how it would play out. But let me tell you, it was SO cute and precious. This was such a unique story line that kept me smiling. There was so much of this story that I could relate to, and I appreciated it so much. I really could have used a book like this growing up. It took me well into my adult years to truly be comfortable with just being myself. I’m a little awkward and nerdy and enjoy “nerdy” things, and that’s totally okay. Life is too short to live it trying to be someone you aren’t.
This was an awesome read, and I have no complaints. It tackles some current social issues extremely well, and the overall message surrounding embracing what makes us who we are was *chef’s kiss.*
February 23, 2024
ʀᴇɢɢɪᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇʟɪʟᴀʜ’ꜱ ʏᴇᴀʀ ᴏꜰ ꜰᴀʟʟɪɴɢ ʙʏ @elisembryant
4.5⭐️
Well that was just a breath of fresh air! I devoured this book in one day! In fact, it was so good, I started on audio & about 15% in I IMMEDIATELY downloaded on ebook because I wanted to follow along & highlight with the text. There were SO MANY good moments of this book. I’m so happy we have books with representation that not just alternative Black kids can relate to, but ALL kids who don’t “fit the mold” so to speak.
Reggie & Delilah were two unconventional characters that really made you believe in owning who you are and being yourself. Yes, it’s scary but it’s so gratifying to find people who truly love & accept you for who YOU are. Not the typical YA romance because Elise Bryant tackled so many realistic issues while putting together a wonderful relatable teenage love story. We really got to learn so much about the Reggie & Delilah before they really started spending time together. The pacing was perfect…I loved that the book took place over a whole year, but it didn’t seem drawn out or rushed. Yeah, there was an element of miscommunication, but it felt so realistic because of the context in the story & the characters’ ages. Yall… I LOVE love loved it!!! PLEASE GO READ THIS NOW! It’s perfect for all ages, races, & people who always felt like they didn’t fill in certain parts of society.
You will love this book if you love:
• YA Romance
• Friends-to-Lovers
• BLERD MMC x Punk Rock FMC
• Holiday Romances
• Only One Bed
• Taylor Swift References (LOL)
4.5⭐️
Well that was just a breath of fresh air! I devoured this book in one day! In fact, it was so good, I started on audio & about 15% in I IMMEDIATELY downloaded on ebook because I wanted to follow along & highlight with the text. There were SO MANY good moments of this book. I’m so happy we have books with representation that not just alternative Black kids can relate to, but ALL kids who don’t “fit the mold” so to speak.
Reggie & Delilah were two unconventional characters that really made you believe in owning who you are and being yourself. Yes, it’s scary but it’s so gratifying to find people who truly love & accept you for who YOU are. Not the typical YA romance because Elise Bryant tackled so many realistic issues while putting together a wonderful relatable teenage love story. We really got to learn so much about the Reggie & Delilah before they really started spending time together. The pacing was perfect…I loved that the book took place over a whole year, but it didn’t seem drawn out or rushed. Yeah, there was an element of miscommunication, but it felt so realistic because of the context in the story & the characters’ ages. Yall… I LOVE love loved it!!! PLEASE GO READ THIS NOW! It’s perfect for all ages, races, & people who always felt like they didn’t fill in certain parts of society.
You will love this book if you love:
• YA Romance
• Friends-to-Lovers
• BLERD MMC x Punk Rock FMC
• Holiday Romances
• Only One Bed
• Taylor Swift References (LOL)
April 12, 2023
THIS BOOK was SO CUTE.
Their whole meet cute and dates thing was so original and fun! I loved how Reggie fell for her first. He literally called her the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen and I fainted.
I loved seeing them fall for one another. I love Dual POV and it was PERFECT for this book.
I loved seeing Delilah blossom in her music. I love music and finding your own style. I could see elements of myself in Delilah and it was fun.
Reggie was cute. I loved how much he was obsessed with Delilah.
I wish that the whole Charlie (was that his name???) thing was more explored. He was very controlling and I wished that he was more called out for it.
I only took off a star because of some *things* that I don't support. (iykyk) Also, I don't like the whole thing about white people. I get it, some white people are racist. But there wasn't a single 'good' white person in this book. All of them 'just don't get it'. For people who talk about inclusivity and diversity, these authors make white people into a one-size-fits-all personality.
But other than that, great!
💜,
Eliza
Their whole meet cute and dates thing was so original and fun! I loved how Reggie fell for her first. He literally called her the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen and I fainted.
I loved seeing them fall for one another. I love Dual POV and it was PERFECT for this book.
I loved seeing Delilah blossom in her music. I love music and finding your own style. I could see elements of myself in Delilah and it was fun.
Reggie was cute. I loved how much he was obsessed with Delilah.
I wish that the whole Charlie (was that his name???) thing was more explored. He was very controlling and I wished that he was more called out for it.
I only took off a star because of some *things* that I don't support. (iykyk) Also, I don't like the whole thing about white people. I get it, some white people are racist. But there wasn't a single 'good' white person in this book. All of them 'just don't get it'. For people who talk about inclusivity and diversity, these authors make white people into a one-size-fits-all personality.
But other than that, great!
💜,
Eliza
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