Starred review from July 15, 2024
As bisexual painter Amanda “Mandy” Dean’s wedding approaches, disaster after disaster looms in the poignant adult debut from YA author Rose (Breakout). Mandy’s life unfolds in a series of flashbacks that break up the frantic wedding prep, each focusing on her relationship struggles from junior high through adulthood and leaving readers guessing who will be awaiting her at the altar. There’s Brandon, with his dimples and fickle heart; V, with her artistic soul and tendency to cheat; and the single-mindedly focused Edmund. Through all the romantic turmoil, the one constant is Isa, Mandy’s best friend since kindergarten. The pair weather it all together, including family conflicts and broken hearts. Readers are treated to an intimate, vulnerable portrait of a complicated woman who is trying to apply all she’s learned into building a life with someone. The joys of living are laid bare alongside such challenges as coming to recognize that one’s parents are imperfect and fallible. The result is equal parts heartbreaking and heartwarming. Agent: Eva Scalzo, Speilburg Literary.
December 6, 2024
A standout debut queer romance featuring self-proclaimed "bi disaster" Amanda Dean and her many failed love affairs. An aspiring artist, Amanda meets her best friend in college and falls in and out of love as she graduates and goes abroad to grow her technique and expand her horizons. What makes this story unique is that it starts off on Amanda's wedding day, but readers are kept in the dark as to the identity of her spouse until the very end of the book. The suspense of who Amanda's spouse will be builds as the story unfolds through flashbacks from her various major relationships, past and present, ups and downs. As much a coming-of-age, friends-to-lovers story as it is a breakdown of Amanda's various romantic failures, this novel is still full of heart and hope. The emotional depth and nuance of the book is excellently depicted by Victoria Villarreal's narration talents, with the narrator changing the pitch of her voice to match Amanda's age at each stage of the story. VERDICT Fans of authors such as Mazey Eddings will enjoy this solid rom-com starring a complex and layered main character.--Shannon O'Connor
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