Their relationship is made all the more complicated when Rory is thrust into a season of unexpected mourning, and soon Adelaide — the ever-supportive Adelaide — begins to fall apart herself, while striving to hold him together. Adelaide’s story begins in the future: she ends up in the hospital for a suicide attempt and the story works in alternating timelines to show how Adelaide got to that point. There are trigger warnings for suicidal thoughts, death, and depression, but Genevieve Wheeler handles the topics with such care and a high level of sensitivity that I really appreciated. The mental illness representation is well-developed, and I love how the story works to fill in the gaps so we get a fuller picture of who Adelaide is. I really wish this wasn’t positioned as a love story because it sets up false expectations. That’s unfortunate because it is a strongly relevant contemporary fiction with an important message about dysfunctional mental and emotional health that can be masked by overachievement and charm. In Adelaide we see the self destruction while still appearing highly functional. I rooted for her throughout and died a little every time she allowed Rory to minimize her. She had wonderful friends who were a reflection of what she deserved. I highly recommend her story, one I enjoyed immensely, but don’t walk into it looking for hearts and flowers. And, if you can get the audio version, go that route as the narrator elevated the experience. When a tragic event comes between Rory and Adelaide, things shift in ways that can't be reconciled. Adelaide falls into a sadness she can't shake--(mental health tr Trust me on one thing…this is not a romance or a love story. Adelaide is sweet, kind and a bit obsessive. That comes across early on and despite the fierce loyalty of those close to her, there’s something about her that always feels a bit desperate. I liked how the story situationally transitions between her past and present, providing insight about and context for her reasoning and logic. But still, Adelaide only had one speed, overdrive, in all things, especially drinking, partying and her determination to make Rory love her. Speaking of Rory, if Adelaide had been healthy, she would have recognized that he didn’t deserve her. Despite her issues, it was impossible not to adore Adelaide and appreciate her essence. It took a Rory for her to finally hit the proverbial wall and fall apart, getting the much needed help I believe she needed for most of her life.

Wheeler captures a *particular* brand of teen boy; the insatiable drive for sex and the lengths they’re willing to go to get it, the impact of which is scarred onto women and their perception of their own worth. Adelaide’s relationship in her formative years showcase the damage that can take root. We see Adelaide claiming sex as a way of empowerment, though it eventually becomes part of a cycle that isn’t the healthiest for her mental wellness. This novel dives into mental despair and how the mind can find it hard to recover once it experiences the depths it can hit. Throughout the novel, I found the focus on Adeline’s female friend groups absolutely beautiful and loved that such genuine relationships were expressed in this manner. This is the story of twenty-something Adelaide, an American living in London, finishing school, and starting an editing job. She has great friends, an amazing city life, and a lot of hookups. There is only one problem, a dark past continuously following her. Sharp-eyed and big-hearted, Adelaide dives headfirst into the tidal pulls of love, friendship, grief, and mental health. Wheeler captures the lively adventures of an American 20-something trying her best in London with dazzling humor and dizzying aplomb. This is a can’t-miss, can’t-put-down debut." A lot of us have been an Adelaide at some point of our lives and i could so relate to her character and her storyAt one point that semester, Adelaide threw on a navy dress covered in tiny white anchors and joined her friends at an open-air pub along the River Thames, eyes peeled for the Oxford versus Cambridge boat race. They drank bottomless pitchers of Pimm’s and lemonade and basked in that elusive little thing called the sun. Late that afternoon, tipsy and tanned, she saw him.

Rory gave her a funny look but returned a few minutes later with two orange goblets of Aperol spritz, striped paper straws bobbing on the sides. Cheers, he said.I enjoyed this book and finished it in one sitting. Despite my gripes with Adelaide's doormat tendencies, I also appreciated her endless positivity and zest for life. I thought Wheeler did a great job fleshing her (and most of the other characters) out and enjoyed the writing style as I said above.

On the positive side: The author created wonderful supportive friend characters for Adelaide. She created a happy ending of sorts.Emotional and poignant, Genevieve Wheeler has made a remarkable debut with her fresh, modern voice. I was charmed. Adelaide exposes the raw edges of early adulthood and unrequited love, ultimately showing us that the true magic of life is that it's always worth living.” when asked about his girlfriend Adelaide, he says “oh, Adelaide, her name didn’t even cross my mind.” This was my first listening experience with the narrator and she completely convinced me she was Adelaide. She conveyed the emotions needed in all the right moments but never lost the character’s sweetness. She nailed her.

Adelaide laughed. After nearly half a decade of celibacy, she had thrown herself into the worlds of dating apps and one-night stands with force and fervor when she was twenty-two—charming strangers in text conversations and sweaty dance halls on a weekly basis. First in New York, now in London. Adelaide was an interesting debut novel to read. I had a hard time connecting with the story at first because I desperately wanted Adelaide to just leave Rory. As an outsider, it’s obvious he’s an asshole who needs therapy. Yet, when you are in the relationship, it can be so hard to see the obvious. About halfway through, I was hooked as I began to learn more about both Adelaide and Rory’s past relationship trauma and how that affected their current relationship. While not always a pleasant read, Adelaide was a thoughtful debut touching on intimate topics. All of the details and nuances in Genevieve Wheeler’s writing connect in such a beautiful, tragic way. I’m still emotionally gutted after the epilogue, but the ending and Adelaide’s growth were the best parts of the story for me. Somehow Genevieve Wheeler tapped into a universal feeling of finding hope while being at the lowest points in your life, and because of that, Adelaide is easily going to be a book that stays with me for a very long time. Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this, too, was a gift." ~ Mary Oliver Wheeler does such a good job of discussing heavy themes like mental health, death at a young age, toxic relationships and more, while portraying how hard it can be to navigate and communicate the emotions that come with these things. I really appreciated the ending, it did a great job of closing the chapter on this era of Adelaide’s life.Adelaide believed that Universe sends us the people we need most in life and when we need them, and i whole heartedly believe that Universe has brought this book into my life at exactly the point i needed it! Adelaide is a fearless portrayal of unrequited love — the kind that thwarts us, flattens us, and ultimately has something to teach us. Wheeler’s debut is engrossing and poignant, full of grit and vulnerability. I devoured it.” Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review. if it’s after midnight and she’s politely asking to crash at his house because cab drivers make her feel uneasy, he’ll say “go take a ten minute walk to the night bus in the pouring rain.” It's obvious to the reader that Rory isn't a good guy (yet he's not overtly a bad guy). It's fairly apparent to Adelaide's friends as well. But Adelaide herself just keeps thinking that if she tries harder, shows him just how much she cares for and is devoted to Rory, that he will eventually reciprocate and fall in love. We all know people like Adelaide, in a mismatched relationship with someone who can't or won't show up and be there for their partner. It's sometimes SO glaring to others when it isn't so obvious to the person in the relationship.