Hi and welcome to the reading world!
Today, I’m sharing a review for a 2022 release, Delilah Green Doesn’t Care.
A clever and steamy queer romantic comedy about taking chances and accepting love—with all its complications—by debut author Ashley Herring Blake. Delilah Green swore she would never go back to Bright Falls—nothing is there for her but memories of a lonely childhood where she was little more than a burden to her cold and distant stepfamily. Her life is in New York, with her photography career finally gaining steam and her bed never empty. Sure, it’s a different woman every night, but that’s just fine with her.
Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Ashley Herring Blake
Published by Penguin on February 22, 2022
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, Fiction / Romance / LGBTQ+ / General, Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy
Pages: 400
When Delilah’s estranged stepsister, Astrid, pressures her into photographing her wedding with a guilt trip and a five-figure check, Delilah finds herself back in the godforsaken town that she used to call home. She plans to breeze in and out, but then she sees Claire Sutherland, one of Astrid’s stuck-up besties, and decides that maybe there’s some fun (and a little retribution) to be had in Bright Falls, after all.
Having raised her eleven-year-old daughter mostly on her own while dealing with her unreliable ex and running a bookstore, Claire Sutherland depends upon a life without surprises. And Delilah Green is an unwelcome surprise…at first. Though they’ve known each other for years, they don’t really know each other—so Claire is unsettled when Delilah figures out exactly what buttons to push. When they’re forced together during a gauntlet of wedding preparations—including a plot to save Astrid from her horrible fiancé—Claire isn’t sure she has the strength to resist Delilah’s charms. Even worse, she’s starting to think she doesn’t want to...
This is a romance following Delilah Green, a young photographer living in NYC and returning home for her step sister’s wedding. Delilah has very complicated feelings about her hometown, her stepsister, and stepmother. She navigates not only these complex relationships but also a budding romance.
This is a romance that also contains a lot of dynamic character development. Perspective, grief, and isolation are major themes many of the characters have had to contend with. However, the story itself is filled with moments of humor, sarcastic and witty banter, and laughter while it balances heavier development.
The romance itself definitely had good chemistry and moments. I liked that the characters had some back story that tied into the greater themes of perspective but this was balanced with a reunion, new chemistry, and banter.
Overall, this one is definitely a fast paced read that balances heavier moments and character development with levity and humor. While the character growth does definitely take some time, I think that the story itself still had good pacing. I’m very curious to pick up the companion novel that comes out later this year!
Have you read this one?
Thanks for stopping by!
Rae