Do we ever really know someone?

The book is told from two perspectives: Max and Vincent. The two of them meet at the start of the novel and strike up a relationship. Max’s story follows her as she navigates the new relationship, feeling uncertain about the direction of her life. Vincent’s story is from about ten years ago when he went to Thailand on his gap year, when things don't go as planned.

I enjoyed this novel, a solid examination of millenial angst and hetronormative relationships. Dinan tells a story with pithy humour, it always feels very current.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the eARC.

Disappoint Me is about how those closest to you can let you down in a myriad of disturbing ways while still loving and caring for you, and how the main character Max ultimately chooses forgiveness.

I appreciated the natural sounding dialogue, though none of it was spectacular. I did laugh a few times. Life is messy and "good" people are capable of committing terrible mistakes, though I'm unconvinced some of the characters had really changed enough.

Max ruminates on the same few topics, which could get irritating, but it's also realistic. Several times I noticed the book reminded me of something else, only for that to be directly referenced on the next page - it's no secret Detransition, Baby and After Life were influences.

I enjoyed Disappoint Me but I'm not sure how memorable it'll be, or if I would recommend it to everyone.

This was a beautifully written novel about relationships, family dynamics, friendships and the complexities of letting go of the past in service of a better future.

Max is a 30 year old trans woman / poet, living in London working a job she hates at a tech company. Vincent is a corporate lawyer who loves to bake and meets Max at a vulnerable time in her life when she’s recovering from a breakup, recently fell down the stairs whilst sober at a New Year’s Eve party, and is having somewhat of an existential crisis.

The story unravels in dual timelines, flitting between Max in contemporary London, and a 19 year old Vincent on a gap year in Thailand with his best friend Fred over 10 years ago…

However, over the course of the book we learn not everything is as rosy as it seems, and Max is faced with some difficult decisions to make.

Disappoint Me was tender, reflective, satirical and completely engrossing! I never wanted the perspective to change, yet when it did I found myself absorbed by the next chapter.

The characters were beautifully rendered and I loved Max’s friendship with childhood bestie Simone. The author writes about the different relationships (romantic, familial, friendships) so perceptively, there was a real emotional tug.

With such a character driven novel the MC’s voice is central to the reader’s enjoyment, and Dinan nailed it with Max (and Vincent). There is so much depth and complexity within all of the characters and the themes of the book are heavy without weighing it down (a true skill from Dinan). There is also a hilarious and devastating scene involving multiple characters, space cakes and the south of France, but I’ll let you discover that for yourself! 😆

I highly recommend picking this up if you are looking for a book that is insightful, funny and compassionate and explores identity, the complexities of modern relationships and forgiveness.

Thanks to the publisher, author and net galley for the e-arc!

Disappoint Me did not disappoint, but it did overwhelm me. There was a lot going on, some of which seemed superfluous and detracted from the plot.

In terms of character writing, Vincent's thoughts and feelings were better explained which therefore made it difficult to understand Max at times because her history was more closed off to the reader. There were some explanations for her attitude towards her family, for example, but personally I didn't feel there was enough about her history as an adult to make me understand her that well. This also made Vincent's character development much easier to follow whereas it was unclear whether or not Max evolved much throughout the novel.

The prose flowed well and the writer's intentions for the novel felt clear throughout. I didn't feel the novel needed the additional drama in Max's storyline but it didn't ruin it for me.

Disappoint me
By Nicola Dinan

I was thrilled to have been offered this ARC—I adored Bellies , such a fantastic debut, so I practically devoured Disappoint Me . Nicola Dinan has done it again; her second book is even better.

No doubt about it, Nicola Dinan is a master storyteller. From the very start, I was completely enveloped by Max and her friends. I love that the story kicks off at a New Year’s Eve party in London— I would have loved to have been there (if only)! After a mishap, Max finds herself at Homerton Hospital, quipping that “jealousy and weak joints got her there.”

Max is a lawyer currently on a “training AI job”, and she just had a book of poetry published that “The Guardian shat on.” (I couldn’t resist searching online to see if Dinan was referring to her own work—there was nothing that pointed to that. In fact, The Guardian, like me, loved Bellies , too.), her ex is doing better with publishing his own work though. At one point Max jokes “Half of queer culture is fronting as an artist while working in an office. It’s the new, more gruelling system of artistic patronage.”

Max’s New Year’s resolution? To find a boyfriend: “We live in a world that pathologises singleness, where being single means being alone.” Enter Vincent, a fellow lawyer who’s also Chinese, and our story truly begins.

The main narration is from Max in 2023, but we also get glimpses into Vincent’s perspective during a pivotal gap year trip to Thailand in 2012. I enjoyed both timelines equally; Dinan has an amazing gift for creating characters that leap off the page, and Max, Vincent, Simone, Aisha, Fred, Alex—the entire cast—are no exception. Special mention goes to the touching moment between father and daughter, when they finally communicate—it just felt so honest and vulnerable. Needless to say, I was gripped from start to finish.

The social commentary is spot on. They inhabit a self-aware Gen Y/Z world, understanding how their “Thatcher flat” contributes to the problems, how they’ve “colonised” a piece of Hackney, and how “being a bit Chinese doesn’t absolve” anyone of that. Self-awareness doesn’t make it any better, and I love Dinan’s narrative all the more for it. Her emotionally charged storytelling is grounded. The witty repartees and sarcastic musings are ever so observant of our current human ethics and morals. Their questions and reflections on what we’re experiencing today are both poignant and deeply relatable.

Dinan expertly propels the story forward, as we witness Max transition from one party to another—be it the festive New Year’s Eve bash, family dinner gatherings, or intimate dates with her soon-to-be boyfriend, culminating in a grand wedding celebration. I was completely enraptured.

Disappoint Me is deliciously witty, fiery, and fierce—my first novel of 2025. If my reading continues this strong, I’m in for a wonderful treat. #pudseyrecommends

Thanks to NetGalley, Nicola Dinan, and Random House UK for the ARC

Following her superb debut novel Bellies, Disappoint Me confirms that Nicola Dinan is a writer of great talent. That said, there was something that niggled at me about this book: the writing was artful and accomplished but I also felt somehow distanced from the characters, who largely inhabit a very economically privileged world.

Let me tell you, I screamed when I got my hands on this arc. Having adored Nicola’s exquisite debut Bellies, I wondered if anything could top it. But she’s done it again (and Disappoint Me might even be better…)

We follow Max and Vincent as they navigate their new relationship which is tender yet fraught, filled with the complexities of navigating identity, societal expectations, and the ghosts of their past. They are forced to confront questions of forgiveness and ultimately decide whether it's possible to love people who’ve made mistakes.

The “main” narration is by Max in 2023 but dispersed throughout we flip to Vincent’s pov during a pivotal gap year trip to Thailand in 2012. I enjoyed both timelines and both characters equally - Nicola has a gift for writing characters that feel so vivid that they leap off the page, and Max and Vincent are no exception. Their journeys had my attention from start to finish and honestly, it was one of those books I didn’t want to end.

Nicola masterfully captures the messy, imperfect realities of life with a balance of humour, heartache, and sharp social commentary. Her emotionally charged storytelling remains grounded, offering poignant and deeply relatable insights. With this book, Nicola Dinan has firmly secured her place on my auto-buy list and if she isn’t on yours, she should be.

Thank you to NetGalley, Nicola Dinan and Random House UK for the arc!

Dinan tackles a fascinating and contemporary situation of a trans woman well in this novel. Sometimes the pace of the novel was a little lagging, but essentially, the characters are well-rounded, and the storyline is, in itself, a good hook. Enjoyable. My thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the ARC.

Dinan has triumphed again with her second novel. I loved Bellies and so was expecting great things from this. Although it took me a while to get into this one, once I was settled into the structure and knew the characters I absolutely loved it.

The book is told from two perspectives: Max and Vincent. The two of them meet at the start of the novel and strike up a relationship. Max’s story follows her as she navigates the new relationship as a trans woman and deals with some traumatic health issues, and Vincent’s story is almost like a flashback to his time in Thailand with a friend which goes horribly wrong after they both hook up with the same girl.

Once this novel got going it really grips you. Dinan is so good at writing deep, emotional scenes which you can tear your eyes away from. I love how her books are still about being trans, but they are more about friendship, betrayal and growth. The friendship group wasn’t as strong as the one in Bellies but the two main characters in this one really made it for me, and I thought it was amazing. I definitely recommend if you like books about messy friendship groups but which will have a big emotional impact on you.

Disappoint Me was one of my final reads of 2024 and it certainly did not disappoint (see what i did there...). It was beautifully written, hugely emotional, and just everything I wanted it to be. I'm probably reading Ninans books in a different order that most on here. I have Bellies on my shelf ready to go, but it has fallen victim to the TBR pile. Then I received a copy of Disappoint Me from @doubledayukbooks and jumped into it, loved it, and it has now pushed Bellies to the top of that TBR pile. I'm so excited to read it now if the writing was even half as beautiful as Disappoint Me.

Disappoint Me tells the story of Max, a trans woman, and her relationship with Vincent. Told in two timelines of present day and Vincent’s past during his gap year, we unravel their stories of how they are the people they are today. Whilst also learning of their family dynamics and friendships, Disappoint Me features lots of important topics that need to be talked about, and Dinan tells them superbly with characters you can't help but connect and empathise with.

When I finished Bellies it stuck with me for a long time and even now when I see it on a shelf in a bookshop, I’m reminded of how much I enjoyed it so in some ways I had high expectations for Disappoint Me but equally I didn’t expect it to be as good.

I was wrong, Nicola Dinan does it again and what a book to start the year on!

It’s so hard not to become entirely invested in the lives of the characters Dinan creates and my only criticism is that I want more of Max and Vincent’s story!

Thank you to NetGalley, Nicola Dinan and Random House UK for the chance to review this brilliant book.

I have not yet read Bellies so have not had the pleasure of Nicola Dinan's writing before. If this book is anything to go by then I cannot wait to read more.

The story is written as a dual narrative between Max and Vincent. We meet Max on New Years Eve as she begins the year uncertain and fresh out of a break up. She is questioning her life and her abilities after her published poetry book received mixed reviews. She works as a lawyer in her day job, posing as AI for a firm, whilst having one day a week to write. She seems to be in a writing rut, unsure of herself and what to do next.
Max then meets Vincent. We are taken through their growing romance as Vincent battles with guilt and shame from actions he has taken in his own past.

I have not read any books before that explore the dating world as a transwoman and found this incredibly educational. It is heartbreaking that this presents a barrier when meeting new families, and thinking about possible futures. It is shocking to live in a world where someone would question themselves based on who they are attracted to, out of fear of judgement or a label this may give them. Everyone should read this book to gain greater understanding and to realise that we should we treating everyone equally.

I enjoyed reading key moments in the story that explored forgiveness and redemption. Should people be punished for past mistakes? What is too much to forgive? It was fascinating to see who I judged for their pasts and what I felt the outcome should have been. This would be a brilliant book to read in a book club and discuss, for this reason.

Another key theme that I took from this book was friendship. This wasn't just about romance. It was about the other relationships in life. Family and those who become family to us. Old friends who may not be prominent in our day to day lives, but share an important history.

A brilliant book to start 2025.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my free digital ARC!

Bellies was one of my favourite reads of 2023, and I always think a second novel on the heels of an excellent debut must be one of the scariest things to write! But Nicola Dinan has risen to the challenge, cementing her in my eyes as one of the most exciting authors writing today.

Disappoint Me follows Max and Vincent as they navigate turning 30 and all of the expectations that come with it. Vincent is also grappling with the past, something terrible he did that he’s managed to keep secret. This is probably one of my favourite things about this book, the nuance with which Vincent’s bad thing is written. Because it is bad. Very bad. But people aren’t (generally) all bad or all good, they occupy a space in between and Dinan writes that space so beautifully.

As I’m writing this, I actually think Vincent overshadowed Max in terms of character development, but I still loved her. Max often gets sort of dimmed by the people in her life; she seems more defined by her relationship to Vincent, her brother, and her best friend (who is awful lol). This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as these relationships are so exquisitely written. But Max as a whole entity, undefined by those around her, remains a little out of reach.

But overall, gorgeous, stunning, already eagerly awaiting book 3!

told in dual perspectives and timelines, disappoint me follows max and vincent, two 30-something-year-olds who meet on a dating app and begin a relationship. exploring transness, complex relationships, how our lives and experiences shape us, and forgiveness, dinan's creates deeply empathetic and flawed characters. there is so much wonderful growth and setback and very real feelings of trying to make sense of who you are and your place in the world. max and vincent's anxieties going into the relationship and during the relationship were well-written and realistic, and i liked seeing them both come together and fight to understand each other over the course of their relationship.

i cannot write a review for nicola dinan without mentioning her stunning prose; i would read anything she writes at this point. i loved her inclusion of mundane details, something i also loved about her debut novel, bellies, and how much it adds to the characterization and making her protagonists feel real and whole.

the ending left me with more questions than answers, but it felt true to life and deeply cathartic.

a quiet, beautifully-written and thought-provoking novel, that is more than worth the read.

Many, many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC!

4.5

At least Disappoint Me didn't make me cry. It was, however, just as beautifully written as Bellies.

Disappoint Me tells us the story of Max, a trans woman and her boyfriend, Vincent - a man with secrets.

The dual timeline follows Max and Vincent's relationship but also Vincent's past during his gap year.

It is a simple story but it is beautifully told and the richness of the storytelling sets it above other novels.

This is a very different novel to Bellies exploring, as it does, relationships between families, romantic ones between men and trans women, forgiveness and acceptance, understanding that we all make mistakes and being able to admit our faults.

I loved Bellies and I loved Disappoint Me. I look forward to Nicola Dinan's next novel.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the advance review copy.

This was an absolutely beautiful, brilliant and poetic book. I love Dinan‘s writing style which brought me both to laughter and to tears and the novel‘s characters are some of the most real, touching and raw. A touching and magnificent exploration of love, identity, friendship and family. I can‘t really say much more other than you must read this book.

I really liked this moving, emotional book. I have owned the author’s debut for about a year now without reading it, but it has definitely moved up my list of books to read. She has a really easy to read, flowing way of writing that I absolutely devoured. The story is touching and the characters are so well developed, they felt very real. This was a great read.

This novel was excellent! 'Bellies' was a fantastic debut and Nicola's second book is even better. Max, a transwoman, falls for Vincent after a painful break-up and is stuck in a rut - a wannabe poet who has lost enthusiasm and in a job pretending to be A.I. Max discovers her the cause of her headaches is actually a brain tumour and a much needed break away unleashes secrets that question who Vincent really is. Max is left reeling from the revelation and trying to deal with her upcoming operation. What will Max decide to do?

I thoroughly enjoyed this, it touched on different topics - trans issues, life issues, trust and betrayal.

Many thanks to #netgalley and #Randomhouse for this ARC.

I enjoyed this book and it has made me think about the own choices I choose to do

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read arc of this book in exchange for this review

Vincent was the standout character for me in this book, although Max is equally well written there is just something about Vincent!
This is an interesting exploration of a developing romance between two people heading through their thirties and with hurdles that other couples may not face. There are some real soul searching moments and some gentle revelations about life for Max and being accepted for who she is by people who are important to those who are important to her.