Thanks a lot to Netgalley & Bold Strokes Books for providing me with an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!

CW: Slight Biphobia, Slight Sexual Content

4.5 / 5 Stars

I enjoyed myself a lot with this one. It had great characters, even greater character development, found family elements and most of all healthy communication. Like, I was kind of loki shocked that instead of having to groan in agony, because of misunderstandings, the characters TALKED like normal human beings, making their connection and bond oh so much stronger and making me root for their happy end so much more. It's really refreshing actually to not have a third-act-break-up that could be solved in less than 3 seconds if people told the other what bothered them.
There were in fact a lot of moments were the book decided to not follow the typical 'OK-This-Is-What-Other-Books-In-The-Genre-Would-Do' trope and it certainly brought a smile to my face.

The Romance itself was also very nice, fluffy and cute.
The only thing that I wished had gotten a few more pages of development was the way we finished the Art-Shop Plotline. I don't wanna spoil anything, so I'll keep it as vague as possible by saying this: I didn't need drama or fighting or anything big to happen. Just a litle bit more time dedicated to wrapping it all up. That's probably my only complaint and the reason for as to why I didn't end up giving this 5 stars. Because the Coming-Out one was handled amazingly.

Final Thoughts
Loved it. Can absolutly reccomand it.

There is so much about this book that I really loved. It is absolutely a book I wish had existed when i was a young adult because I think it would have had a huge impact on me. I think Ginny's journey with her own internalized heteronormativity is incredibly relatable and dealt with in a really thoughtful way on the page. And Nat's sensitive and open response to when Ginny shares these things, instead of judging her or making it into an argument really impacted me.
I could really relate to Nat's inner turmoil of trying to not be a burden to her friends - there were definitely some passages that i felt personally victimized by as she struggled to learn that her friends want the good AND the bad of her and even the in between messiness.
I think the place Rainbow Overalls fell short for me was in some of the prose, there were moments where it felt like it lacked voice, erring into tell not show that disconnected me from the story. I also felt like a few of the references and language was dated, but maybe i'm too old now and gen z has circled back around to Ellen.

Rainbow Overall’s is one of the sweetest books I’ve had the privilege of reading in a long while. This debut novel by Maggie Fortuna kept me up late. I couldn’t seem to put it down. Being a college romance, I’d class it on the younger adult side of things, so low steam, but so much of everything else that is essential in a brilliant story.


Ginny is in her first year at a very open-minded college. She has known she was Bi for years but has yet to say the words out loud. She hopes stepping into herself at college will come naturally. Clearly, it doesn’t.

Nat thrives on campus, where she can be herself and dream of the future she wishes she could have. Family commitments hold her back, but she still puts on a happy face for those around her.
When Nat and Ginny meet, they are instantly drawn to each other, but being on completely different wave lengths, neither pursues their feelings. Becoming friends doesn’t ease the tension though, and this is where communication, or lack thereof throws spanner in the works.

It’s hard not to feel for both MCs when all they want to do is live their own lives and love who they choose to love. Nat, always fine, and with a smile on her face is someone we can all relate to at one time or another, and getting to watch her grow into herself was a highlight of the book for me. Ginny is great as well, relatable, and her own strengths and weaknesses, but Nat really captured my heart.

If Rainbow Overalls is any indication, we have a lot to look forward to from Maggie Fortuna. Don’t miss this one. I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley and am leaving a voluntary review.

Really Sweet

Ginny meets Natalie in her first year of college in the Vermont. Her world is turned upside down as discovers the wonders of a college happy for you to be yourself, and she can’t wait to be her bisexual self but with Natalie not wanting to get involved in anything serious, their friendship soon gets complicated when feelings get involved.

I really enjoyed this, it had an element of coming-out and explored the time in a person’s life when they have big decisions to make really well. Being at college is never really an easy time for anyone, but for someone like Ginny who has always kept a part of her concealed because of family and home life, this was even bigger step and adventure. I loved how it explored big decisions and small ones, each of them of significant importance to Ginny. She was so sweet, and just wanted to be accepted and loved, which she did find with Nat, and I had no doubt that whatever happened between them they’d probably always be friends.

Both Nat and Ginny had come from strict religious families, so they understood one another and their bond with one another was quick, but the slow burn of emotions and feelings developing between them was what kept me hooked. It was brilliant that this wasn’t a rushed physical relationship, as it offered a chance to really get to know Nat and Ginny and for them to build a connection that was special. Both of them were hesitant though, Ginny in really embracing the person she wanted to be, and Nat in admitting commitment to Ginny wouldn’t be that bad if she just gave it a chance. As with all great romances, they had to have a few bumps in the road, both between them, and because of their families and the world around them.

This is Maggie’s debut novel and was brilliant, so I’m excited to read more of Maggie’s stories in the future, and hope Nat and Ginny will pop up in one of them too.

This was a sweet, friends to lovers romance between Ginny and Natalie. Ginny struggles with self acceptance while Natalie is secure with who she is. This novel addresses coming to terms with your identity . Would recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC.

Pros: I loved the friend group “Perks of Being a Wallflower,” “chosen family” narrative where a group of older students take a shy, younger student under their wings and show her how to thrive. My favorite parts were the interactions between the friends, and I almost wish we had gotten to learn more about them as well (sequel, perhaps?)

Cons: I think I was just a little bored. While Ginny and Nat were fine characters, the whole book kind of cycled between them fighting but immediately forgiving one another, and most of the mental trains were “does she like me? Do I like her? Am I good enough?” There wasn’t really a huge conflict, which I think left a lot to be desired.

Overall, I don’t know that it was my favorite book or if I would pick it up again. It wasn’t necessarily bad, it just wasn’t super engaging.

Thank you to Fortuna, Bold Strokes Books, and Netgalley for the free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was such a cute, quick read! I loved both main characters, their friends and the character development. The story was very realistic and also heartbreaking at some point.
If you like a sapphic romance, friends to lovers, college setting, written by a debut author books, you should really read this one.
Thank you Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for this arc.

Reading a new (to me) author is always a bit of a gamble and unfortunately in this case it didn’t pay off. It’s hard to put my finger on any one thing, but overall I just didn’t connect with the characters and the story wasn’t pulling me in. This was a DNF after several chapters.

Nat knows what she wants from college but she is preoccupied by a glum future after, supposedly working in her mother's Deli back home. Also, she is a player who has slept with most of the girls.

Ginny is free to decide what she becomes in the future but she feels clueless about what she wants. Also, she is newly out at college, but not at her conservative home. And she has never dated a girl.

When the two meet, romance is a given. But both young women are inhibited by obstacles almost solely in their heads, although they live in a supportive environment. This is crucial to the plot, providing a few dramatic twists. At times it also feels a bit constructed, making the story less believable.

But all is well and smoothly written, including many other characters. And the cover is gorgeous!

(based on an ARC from NetGalley)

This was so sweet, honest, and heartfelt. A college romance that’s adorable yet realistic. It feels like a hug for queer people who are still trying to find and accept themselves. There’s a certain kind of comfort here with the friend group and how supportive they are of each other. I loved it.

Rainbow Overalls is so poignant with its writing and the character dynamics and the romance. I’m still reeling with how much I resonated with this book. It’s definitely a must-read for queer teens and young adults.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC! :>

I'm a feelings reader and this debut novel made me feel like I was reliving my early college years. Maggie Fortuna definitely pulled thoughts out of me with Ginny's bi coming out story that I know don't get enough coverage. This is a prefect read for those older high school kids who are about to graduate and get a taste of that college life.

Thank you to Bold Strokes Books, Inc. | BSB genre, and NetGalley for providing an eARC for an honest reveiw.

A cute read about coming out in college and finding community and self-acceptance.

Ginny is excited for her first year at college and to finally come out as bisexual. Ginny has known she was bi since age 13 but has never felt comfortable being open. Ginny becomes friends with out and proud Natalie. Natalie loves art and her college friends but is hiding her anxieties about the future behind a happy and carefree mask. Ginny and Natalie become friends and develop a mutual attraction, but both need to do some maturing before they are ready for a serious relationship.

This book is a good option for those who like reading about first relationship and first love butterflies. Both characters are quite introspective and spend time learning how to process their feelings. Natalie learns how to ask for help, while Ginny deals with shame and internalized homophobia from her religious upbringing. Ginny wants to be out and confident but realizes that is easier said than done.

One of my favorite parts of the book was their supportive friend group. The friend group is diverse and felt like they had fleshed out personalities.

My other favorite part of the book was the focus on bisexuality specifically. When Ginny comes out to her parents, she is faced with stereotypes about bisexuality being a phase. Ginny also mentions previously thinking she might fall in love with a man and then never have to “deal” with her bi identity. At one point, Ginny recalls thinking, “maybe I’d only ever date men. The liking-girls part of me could just stay private and I’d never have to share that part of me with my religious and over-involved parents. But over the last six months or so, something changed. Not telling stopped feeling like privacy and started feeling like a big, bad secret.”

I would recommend this book to those looking for a coming out story with bi representation.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley!

Highlights:
- sapphic romance (bisexual & lesbian main charaters)
- coming out in college & finding self-acceptance
- written by a debut author
- struggling with queer imposter syndrome & shame
- finding queer community

"Rainbow Overalls" by Maggie Fortuna is a touching college romance that explores the unexpected evolution of friendship into something extraordinary. Set in an artsy, incredibly queer college in Vermont, the story follows Ginny Holland as she navigates her journey of self-acceptance as a bisexual woman. Eager to skip over her dramatic coming out story, Ginny yearns to simply live her truth. However, despite finding acceptance among her peers, Ginny discovers that self-acceptance is a complex journey.

Meanwhile, Natalie Becker, confident in her identity, struggles with the pressure of conforming to familial expectations and giving up on her dreams of becoming an artist. With anxiety about the future looming, Nat is determined to live in the present moment.

As Nat and Ginny's friendship blossoms within their close-knit group of friends, there's an undeniable undercurrent of something deeper between them. Both hesitant to disrupt the safety of their friendship, they tiptoe around their growing feelings, wary of what it might mean for their relationship.

Fortuna skillfully weaves themes of self-discovery, friendship, and love throughout the narrative, creating a poignant story that resonates with readers. "Rainbow Overalls" is a heartfelt exploration of identity, acceptance, and the transformative power of love, making it a captivating read for fans of college romance and LGBTQ+ fiction alike.

Sweet YA/New Adult romance. Ginny Holland is starting school at a small college in Vermont. She wants to explore her bi-queerness whether it means coming out to new people or getting her hair cut. The friend group she stumbles into is friendly and encouraging. Natalie Becker is part of the group and she and Ginny have a mutual attraction. Nat is studying art but doesn’t feel that choice is supported by her mom. Ginny knows her religious family will have issues with her coming out.

This is a debut novel by a new author and so many scenes are just right. I like that the pair take time being friends first. They move almost at glacial pace. Ginny even visits Nat’s home and mom while they are just friends. I liked that Ginny was shocked that Nat’s mom was unconcerned if they shared a room, something that would not happen at her home. This is slow burn and when intimacy finally happens it is fade to black. I will look for future works from this new author.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this insightful book

its about coming of age and coming out

its discovering that when you are brave enough there are people around you that will support you and its about families and how they react to you

and its about friendship and how it can change

nat and ginny meet at college both are attracted to each other but ginny isnt out out yet and nat is .... very out it all adds to an insightful read

Rainbow Overalls is an endearing, wholesome love story with all the angst that comes with being newly out and figuring out healthy queer relationships.
One of the MC’s is Jewish and ADHD and learns to process and share her emotions in healthier ways, which is shown in raw tenderness.
The other MC is bisexual and her story tells that dichotomy of being bi where you crave the ease of not coming out but know it wouldn’t ACTUALLY be easy, it would be soul-crushing.
There is so much great communication and processing, along with deeply intimate and beautiful friendships amongst the crew of college pals.
I also loved the realistic expectation they allowed themselves to have- that they might be “shitty girlfriends”. There’s a lot of pressure on queer people who are newly out or new to relationships that their relationships will be perfect and healthy, but it’s not always the case. I loved seeing their hope and realism wrapped up in gently proving themselves to eachother.
Beautiful story for anyone who is new to queer life, or anyone who isn’t!

Oh how sweet that first real love can be! A delightful New Adult college story about finding and showing your true self.

I received an advance copy from Netgalley for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Ginny has left her strict Christian upbringing to attend a liberal arts college in Vermont. For the first time she is in an environment that isn’t only open to queer people but encourages them. Ginny has known she is bisexual since the age of thirteen, but never felt safe enough to come out to her family. Once in college she meets a fabulous friend group that envelopes her in their midst. Her attention is immediately drawn to one of her new friends, Nathalie (Nat). She is possibly the cutest, most interesting girl Ginny has ever seen.

Nat is glad to be back in college. Away from her home life in Brooklyn and the deli her mom owns. Nat wants to be an artist but knows that, after college, she has to go back home to take over the deli with her brother. She decides to make the most of her college years, but her future ways her down more than she would have imagined. Nat hovers between being happy-go-lucky and sad and hopeless. When she meets the cute new girl on campus, she develops an immediate crush on Ginny from Virginia. They develop a fast friendship and Nat is pretty sure her feelings are mutual. Can she break down her walls enough to let Ginny truly see her, all of her?

Maggie Fortuna does a great job expressing all those conflicting feelings that young adults struggle with on the page. The two main characters are both on their own journey to find out who they are and how they want to live life. Ginny tries hard to let Nat see that she wants to get to know all of her, without judgment. Because of that Nat feels that for the first time in her life, she doesn’t have to hide behind her happy exterior. I think it’s beautiful to see that both characters evolve throughout the story into the people they want to be.

It’s a New Adult story, so don’t expect sizzling sex scenes, but sweetness of it does make up for that! The amazing supporting friendships that are built within the group are what you’d wish for every college student or any person in general. They make room for each other to grow and encourage each other in any way they can.

Rainbow Overalls is a great story for anyone who has struggled being themselves and has been hesitant in accepting support from others, whatever their age.

This is my first time reading a Maggie Fortuna novel and enjoyed this new adult romance. There was a wonderful insight of the hidden emotions of negotiating the overwhelming “firsts” of living away from home for the first time, dealing with college life and developing strong feelings for someone. Making new friends is always hard, but when you also have to come to terms of who you really are as an adult, it can be a very emotional time and this story captures that in a heart warming way.

I enjoyed Ginny and Natalie’s journey very much.

Rainbow Overalls was a quick cute read that had two perspectives, Ginny and Nat, and followed their journeys over the course of a semester. This book was a classic friends to lovers storyline and ut showed alot of coming of age type character growth. Nat is a second year art student at the small university and struggles with relationships and showing her true emotions, I found Nat to be a more relateable character as she discovered how to be honest about her feelings. Ginny is a first year student and learns to be proudly bisexual through her queer friend group, and even comes out to her parents. I really enjoyed the chapter Ginny came out because it captured how it feels to come out and how you perceive peoples hidden meanings. The couples budding relationship hit home and made me remember the beginning stages of my current relationship, alot of nervous energy for small twin XL beds. This book also featured non binary characters and all characters except the parents and queer.
I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it if your looking for an easy sapphic read.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute friends to lovers college romance! Sometimes people write stories about college aged characters a little too dramatic for me, but this one did a great job of keeping it realistic. Both characters had their own issues but were self-aware enough to realize it, and they made difficult but mature decisions which is an aspect I really liked. I also enjoyed how they didn't jump into a relationship right away, there was a lot of build-up into their friendship first. As well, their shared friends were all great characters who felt like more than just comic relief props, they were written as actual caring friendships. Overall, this book was pretty solid and I would recommend giving it a try! 4/5 stars.