This book is brilliant, highly entertaining, and compelling. It's the kind of book that keeps you reading till late in the night.
I loved Delilah, rooted for her, and thoroughly enjoyed this well written story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I'm so glad I picked this one up, I thought it was great and I can't wait for the next in the series.

This is a great romance, full of banter, character growth and a great steam level. The backstory of Delilah and her stepsister Astrid is well developed, I was annoyed with both of them at times, and it set up an awkward situation when Delilah starts a relationship with Astrid's best friend Claire....during pre wedding festivities.

Oh the ridiculous situations and uncomfortable events that come out of this setup make for great reading. If anyone ever puts me though that many social commitments for one wedding I think I'd just ghost them, honestly.

(3.5 Stars)

This novel starts strong. The first two chapters introduce our two lead characters brilliantly. Immediately we learn that Delilah has a complicated family history which is a big contributor to her somewhat prickly personality and that Claire is incredibly kind to others, but not so kind to herself. She’s lacking in confidence after having a daughter young left her putting someone else's needs above her own, at an age that’s meant to be for self-discovery.

The greatest achievement of this book is the well developed ensemble of characters. Our two leads are supported by a variety of friends and family members, all with their own well defined personalities and roles within Delilah and Claire’s lives.

In Delilah’s story we explore her relationship with her sister, Astrid, which is an example of miscommunication in a romance novel done well. Their misunderstanding of one another feels so realistic to genuine familial issues. I think we can all relate to the idea that we are supposed to be able to share and communicate everything with our families, but sometimes it’s just not that easy. The small voice in the back of our minds wants their love and acceptance and that makes 100% honesty difficult to navigate at times, particularly if we’re already having trouble being honest with ourselves, as Delilah and Astrid are. This emotional journey is explored beautifully within the story.

My only gripe with this novel is that I found the pacing to be a bit slow in the middle. I also found it right on the cusp of too ‘insta-lovey’ for me. However, I know some people enjoy/believe in love developing that quickly, so this will likely not be an issue for many as it is simply my personal preference.

That being said, I did enjoy the structure of the love story, if not the pacing. Delilah and Claire’s relationship felt very genuine, overcoming realistic human hurdles and processing their own individual baggage authentically.

Claire’s family dynamic similarly sets up her character.
A lot of her baggage is born from her relationship with Josh, the father of her child. This narrative is laid out clearly and beautifully, building from these character tumultuous relationship. I also really enjoyed seeing Josh's development as a side character, his ending was not what I expected.

The author has done brilliantly to create a vast amount of depth within these characters. Those who you initially felt were to be the villain of the piece ended up just being... people. Herring-Blake brilliantly demonstrates how multi-faceted human beings are. That we aren’t black and white. That we are all more a swirling mass of greys.

From chapter 29 onwards this novel truly shines. These wonderfully structured relationships are analysed and pulled apart by the characters themselves leading to some incredibly raw emotional scenes.

I was desperately hoping that the author would write another novel with these characters I have become so connected to, so I was thrilled to see that we would in fact be getting Astrid’s book this year. (I will definitely be picking that up).

This novel is a beautifully written, character driven, queer romance that draws us into the world of Bright Falls and it’s inhabitants.

As always, rounding off on one quote I particularly loved.

“...she understood hard things and how, even though thinking about them could be therapeutic, the words themselves were a labor and, sometimes, one just didn’t have the bandwidth for them.”

I will be sharing this review to my Storygraph account on the 8th of February: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/katierose_reads

And an abbreviated version will be shared to my Instagram on the 22nd of February to coincide with the books release: https://www.instagram.com/katierose_reads/

Due to be released 22.02.2022 - Delilah Green has given me so many FEELS. Watching Claire and Delilah’s relationship blossom through the space of two weeks, Delilah’s estranged sister & Claire’s best friend’s wedding, and through Delilah’s past trauma is such a rollercoaster of emotions but my god, is it worth it! I felt like I was spending time with friends rather than reading about them all, and by the end I even felt for Astrid and Josh - that’s some heavy good writing 😅

I cannot urge you all enough to pick this up on Pub day! It will be the best thing you do ✨

“To us.”

This book was a breath of fresh air in so many ways. I’ve been really struggling with reading lately. Now that I literally read 40k a day at work, mustering the energy to read for fun is a challenge, but this book was perfect, because I kept coming back to it. I devoured it in like two sittings, I was staying up late to keep feverishly flipping pages… it was so wonderful to feel so immersed in a book! I immediately felt drawn to the small-town setting, the chaotic characters with their desperate desire to seem put together while everything is falling apart behind the scenes, and all their various struggles. I really felt for Delilah, who’s been ostracised for so long, and Astrid in particular. I also loved Claire and her kid, Ruby. I feel like single parent characters in romance usually have very young kids, so it was refreshing to see a character who was approaching her teen years and had a bit of attitude. As a YA/middle grade author, Ashley Herring Blake is great at writing kids, and Ruby was a great character who particularly stuck out. All the characters were great though, to be honest, even the side characters. I know Josh is a hot mess and we were probably not supposed to like him, but uh… if he’s single… 👀 feel free to send him my way.

Delilah Green Doesn't Care has so much love in it. The amazing friendships, the interesting way it examines how all the characters have misunderstood each other and kind of delves into both of their perspectives and allows them to develop that understanding of each other. The pacing is great, there are so many amazing scenes and settings in particular. I feel like we have an amazing, real-feeling small town with so much potential. Oh, and the smut… hello 👀 I definitely lived for the steamy moments. And can I just say, Delilah is so hot? All of the women in this book were goddesses if we’re being honest, but Delilah… the woman of my dreams. Appearance-wise, at least.

That does bring us to the few small gripes I had with this book. First of all, I thought the characters were way too immature. These women are in their mid-to-late twenties and yet some of the passive-aggressive pranks they were pulling were like something out of a middle grade novel. This is addressed, and I think they learn from it by the end, but seeing such juvenile behaviour, particularly from Delilah, was really off-putting at the beginning, to the point where it almost put me off the whole romance altogether. While I enjoyed seeing her level up and grow past it, it was just toeing the line too much for me and occasionally the line was somewhat smudged. Delilah was my biggest sticking point with the book to be honest. By the end I liked her and I’d forgiven most of her behaviour, but there were definitely points where I thought “I’m not even rooting for you two to be together, because you kind of suck.” Delilah had a LOT to work through, and I know love conquers all, but therapy conquers more.

Additionally, and I’m aware this is a very petty thing but it’s a personal gripe of mine—I cannot STAND when a character’s full name is stated for emphasis, especially when it’s done to excess. And this book did it CONSTANTLY. ‘Claire Sutherland was not going down without a fight. Delilah Green was doing this. Astrid Parker was not a woman who did that.’ The title should have been a warning. Thanks to Kindle’s very useful name search feature I can tell you exactly how many times this happens. Astrid Parker: 17. Claire Sutherland: 25. And Delilah Green? Is referred to by her full name THIRTY-SEVEN TIMES. WE KNOW THEIR NAMES. We don’t need to have them literally spelled out every other page. Maybe I wouldn’t have noticed if I hadn’t read most of the book in one sitting, but it started driving me mad after a while, and it’s such an easy fix. Take out the second name from probably 90% of these instances and it would have immediately fixed this very jarring and irritating bit of repetition. Maybe it’s a stylistic thing, but the editor in me was like dear god PLEASE just cut it out. I’m begging.

These are only very small issues though. I had such a good time with this book. It was soft, loving, positive, had excellent vibes, and it’s been a long time since I’ve had such a fun and easy reading experience.

Thanks for my eARC! I really enjoyed this book. I liked that there was a complicated family history and a strong friendship dynamic. I feel like with an extra polish/edit it could have been a five star as some of he language felt a little lazy and repetitive. Overall a good read and I’d read the author again.

Delilah Green is never going back to her childhood home in Bright Falls. She now lives in New York and has a fantastic career as a photographer.

When Delilah stepsister asks her to photograph her wedding she is guilted into it and returns home but promises herself she will only be staying for the wedding. Then she sees Claire, one of her stepsisters friends and decides that Bright Falls might not be so bad after all.

Claire is single mum with little time for romance but she may just be falling for Delilah’s charms.

This is a fun romance that I really enjoyed.

A great romance novel. I loved Claire and Delilah. The grumpy/sunshine trope was done so well here and the friendship between the other characters was also a highlight of the story.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

So this had me all in my feels and I throughly enjoyed it.

It was a bit like high school bullies with someone feeling singled out but they move away and come back thriving and confident. Of course they still feel lonely with triggers from their past, also a little insecure but they are a lot more head strong and know what they want with a few other learning curves along the way.

The main character moves away from her family home, in which she shared with her step sister and step mother after her father died as she wanted to make a new start and pursue a career. Some what years later she’s invited to a family event and after seeing some people from the past, she becomes a little triggered by things that happened when she was a child and then going through her teenage years.

Eventually she actually comes to find a connection with one of these people, but it’s not made easy for them and it’s difficult for them to know what to do, if anything, How the connection is shown is great, it blossoms a lot and it really intrigues you to want to know what happens between them as it always feels like there’s lots of mini cliff hangers with so many different things happening.

Sometimes it can become overwhelming with numerous different characters, but I found that they all played their part in the book well and what and who their character is, was perceived amazingly!
So many pictures where created, where they were, what was around them, the emotions. And yet it flowed.
It was such a lovely read, and a beautiful queer romance.
I only found out after I read it that it’s the start of a new series and I’m so excited for the next one!

My actual rating is 4.5 stars.
Thank you net galley for giving me an ebook arc in return for my honest review.

Delilah Green may not care, but everyone should definitely care about this book, because it was an utter delight.

Firstly, there's finally enough queer books in my life these days that I don't always feel the need to point it out (because it doesn't feel as rare any more), but this one particularly hit home for me. Both characters' queerness is very clearly on the page and a significant part of their identities - from hints about what it was like for them to come out, to the joy that Delilah finds in queer art and photography, to the way the characters are baffled by their straight friends' relationships, but never denigrating of their choices (except Spencer, because fuck Spencer). It's really nice to see all that on the page, but also have the story be about a complex web of relationships of all types.

Because, his book also treats its characters with the utmost respect and tender care. Delilah and Claire have made numerous mistakes, many of them before this story even takes place, but they are given space to own their mistakes and acknowledge why they happened and to move forward accordingly. No one is really in the right in this book, but no one is wrong, either... this book really captures the messy, tangled emotions that come with relationships - with friends, with family and with romantic partners. All of the side characters feel very real and come with their own personal stories that make them feel more like token placeholders (even Josh, Claire's flaky ex), and I am very excited that we are getting more books in this setting because I would love to spend more time with all of them.

Oh, and Herring Blake actually writes kids that feel like real kids, since Ruby felt like an actual eleven year old, neither a baby nor a precocious mini-adult.

To top things off, it's a lot of fun. There's some classic romance tropes ('there's only one hotel room'), some Parent Trap inspired hijinks that had me laughing, and some really tender, heartfelt moments as well. I binge read this book in two settings (immediately before and after going to bed), because I couldn't put it down, which probably should have been the hook for this review.

Thank you to @netgalley for the ARC of this book!

LIKES
- Delilah's overall 'I do what I want, I matter most' attitude. I was HERE for her confidence, and how she was unapologetically herself.
- The journey Delilah goes on with the friendship group.
- Every character was well developed and had their own clear backstory. Nothing was left too vague, and due to it taking place over a short amount of time everything felt fully fleshed out.
- Ruby. She was one of my favourite parts of the whole book.
- The writing was fantastic.

NOT AS KEEN ON
- I wasn't as convinced by Delilah and Claire's chemistry as I have been in some romance books.
- I don't love anything with a 'bet' element.

I had a great time reading this. This was cute and fun and very deep at times.

I found the writing to be very accessible. The plot which is set around the backdrop of wedding activities is one of my favourite kinds to read and the story did not disappoint in that aspect. Friendship and family are the main themes of the story and I loved how the author showcased the different kind of relationships that existed between all the characters. Each one of them were done well in their own right.

I also really liked the characters, Delilah is a flawed main character but she is also so much fun. I felt so bad for her at times because of everything that she went through growing up and how misunderstood and unloved she felt and how it affected her as an adult. I loved the growth her character got and I loved the bond she was able to form with all the other characters. The complexity of Delilah's relationship with her sister Astrid felt so raw and I think was the best part of the story. Also, definitely, a big shout out to the girlfriends group- they were awesome.

I think the weakest part of the book was its romance. I liked Claire and she and Delilah are kinda cute together. But, their relationship felt a lot insta lovey. So, while the romance was good and maybe fun at times, it didn't stood out to me especially with how complex some of the other relationships in the book were.

Overall, I found this very enjoyable and wholesome. I definitely want to read Astrid's book when it comes out!

4.5 stars

Kind of a perfect romance. Delilah is at times distant and immature but written with enough charm that she doesn’t become an annoying character to read. I feel like Claire’s backstory was slightly less fully formed but still an enjoyable perspective to read from, especially her struggles with being a young parent. Delilah and Claire’s love story was sweet and steamy in equal measure. The book was well-paced and I also loved how Blake wrote about Delilah’s isolation and loneliness.

Delilah’s relationship with her somewhat estranged stepsister Astrid also had great development and had some heart-warming moments. Very excited for the next in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Review to be posted on the 8th of February on Goodreads, Amazon.uk and Waterstones.uk)

Delilah Green Doesn't Care is the first book in the new series by Ashley Herring Blake. It follows the story of Delilah Green (who would have guessed?), a queer photographer living in New York after having deserted her hometown, Bright Falls, where her step-mother, Isabel Parker Green, and her step-sister, Astrid Parker Green, have been clear on the fact that her presence wasn't needed here. There, nothing awaits for her; in New York, she is desperate to make a name for herself and live from what she has always loved. But when Ass-trid calls her in the middle of the night to make sure she keeps her promise—that of being the photographer of her wedding in a few weeks—, Delilah doesn't have any choice but to go. So she does. And here, she has no idea what surprises wait for her.

I am not going to lie: Delilah Green doesn't care wasn't high on my list of anticipated reads, but my curiosity and some friends who kept speaking about it made me request this ARC. Turns out friends and curiosity surprise you sometimes—and in a good way.

I really enjoyed this story! This was exactly what I expected from it, so I wasn't disappointed at all! It was well built, and I felt deeply connected to some characters. One of those was definitely Claire. She is totally the kind of person who likes to be in control, who likes not to scatter the little pieces of her life and mess everything up with them. She likes order and is very protective of her daughter, Ruby. She is also very thoughtful, perhaps a little too as she tends to often be a people-pleaser. I believe that a lot of readers will see a little part of themselves in her. At least I did.

Maybe also in Delilah, the main character. There were times I felt a lot of empathy for Delilah and other times when I didn't at all. I think her bad girl side was charming, but it was also what didn't make me relate to her. I did find myself in her when the author writes about her lonely teenage years in high school and her being a literal bookworm. I especially laughed when it was written that she was going to the bookstore every day and that didn't bother her at all.
Her relationship with Astrid, her step-sister, was very complex, but everything made sense and I believe that their experience with grief really added something to their characters. Surely, Ashley Herring Blake knows how to write her characters well.

I LOVED Iris as well! She was totally the kind of character that made the story very funny. I regret, however, that we readers didn't get a final word on her case. But I'm hoping Ashley Herring Blake will give us a full story of Iris in the next years! Fingers crossed!

One thing that I wasn't fond of in this book was the representation of men. If I'm not wrong, there is even a line or two that very explicitly said that all men were awful and idiots (correct me if that's not the case). I did get that the story was very women-centred, but I didn't really understand why men had to be dragged down. Every man in this story was either dead, 'shit boot', or irresponsible—or simply not good enough. I don't know, I felt like it was a bit reductive to put them all in the same basket. It seemed like no woman could find happiness by being with a man. This, I must admit, really made me frown a lot of times.

Despite its flaws, I would definitely recommend this queer rom-com to every reader who likes LGBTQ+ romances. Some passages will make your heart melt and others very hot!

Thank you so much Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for the opportunity of reviewing Delilah Green doesn't care!

The book follows independent Delilah Green, a photographer, as she comes back to her hometown for her estranged step-sister’s wedding (Astrid). A festive occasion, right? It would be, if it weren’t for the fact that the groom is unlikable to say the least and no one, especially not Astrid’s friends, think the wedding should actually happen. Less than a week away from the fated date, Delilah is enlisted to try and stop Astrid from marrying someone she doesn’t even love - while having to deal with new and conflicting feelings for Astrid’s best friend, Claire. But there should be no problem. After all, Delilah Green doesn’t care. Or does she?

Now, this book… I read it in one sitting and couldn’t put it down. This is the first time I heard about this author, and this is a great discovery. I loved everything about this, from the writing style, the plot, to the characters. The book cover looks really cute too, and - not gonna lie, it’s a big part in why I wanted to read this book.
On to the love story. Claire and Delilah were really cute throughout the book. There was clearly a lot of chemistry between the two, and you just couldn’t help rooting from them, from the very first moment they meet again. The whole relationship is very sweet and wholesome and yes - there is a bit of spice, too, if that interests anyone here.

Overall this is a really fun and mostly lighthearted book, and I’m definitely buying my own copy when this comes out later this month.

There's something really comforting about this book. It's an adorable and steamy queer romcom with the perfect balance between angst and softness. Also there's kind of a reverse Parent Trap subplot, it's amazing.

While this wasn't quite the "wow, new-favourite!" read I had maybe hoped it would be, I would definitely read this author again, so I think that's still a win.

This was everything I wanted and needed from an Ashley Herring Blake adult debut. Delilah is raw and hurt and vulnerable, but will also kick your ass into next week while Claire is the soft and cosy love interest. As I devout romance reader, I found myself likening Delilah to the aloof bad boy love interest, but you really get into her head and I loved that. I fell deeply in love with all of these characters, their growing friendships, relationships and more. I cannot recommend this book enough - my first 5-star read of 2022.

I am not a romance reader. I am, however, sapphic, and trying to break into romance - so Delilah Green Doesn't Care felt like it was calling to me; I just felt like this book was for me, like this book would make me fall in love with love. And it did. Without a doubt. Like Delilah and Claire, I was hesitant. I wasn't open to love. I was scared to fall, but like Delilah and Claire - I fell anyway. This book and all it's tropey, angsty climactic drama had me by. the. throat. I am converted. 2022 is gonna be the year of romance. Thank you, Ashley Herring Blake!

Beautiful. This book hooked me from the very beginning. Funny, sweet, tender and just the right amount of spice. The portrayal of childhood loss and grief. The way the characters backstories affected the adult lives and how they were learning to heal. I loved the humour and the wit of Delilah and iris. Both hilarious in different ways. Claire and her loyalty. Her strength as a single mother and how she copes with that. The friendship between all of them. I love how we get to see so much about the lives of the side characters like Astrid and Isabelle just by observing how they are perceived by Delilah and Claire. The relationship between the two mc’s and the normality of their queerness felt so good. There was no coming out or rejection. The artistic side of Delilah made me love her even more as an art lover. Her passion and creativity and the way she connects with ruby through that. Claire is so good and kind and just trying to do her best and deserves everything. I’m so happy that both of them got their happily ever after. For me this ticks every box of what I want in a romance. I’m definitely adding this author to my must reads and can’t wait for Astrid’s story.
Update: I just realised I have read lots of books by Ashley herring blake before and loved them and I didn’t make the connection.