Written in the Stars: A Novel

Product Information

After a disastrous blind date, Darcy Lowell is desperate to stop her well-meaning brother from playing matchmaker ever again. Love—and the inevitable heartbreak—is the last thing she wants. So she fibs and says her latest set up was a success. Darcy doesn’t expect her lie to bite her in the ass. Darcy Lowell works in the insurance industry and is focusing on her professional certification exam — but more importantly, she's avoiding dating in the wake of a terrible breakup: She discovered her soon-to-be-bride and supposedly "perfect match" in bed with one of their mutual (now former) friends. The event left Darcy unhinged. Now, she believes she's happier and emotionally safer on her own, watching daytime soap operas and climbing the corporate insurance ladder. I was so enthused when I started this book because these characters’ first meeting was a wild ride but so very perfect to set the tone, I just wished the rest had kept up. Characters: Darcy and Elle were so vivid, and I loved seeing their personalities clash, and eventually compliment each other, through the course of the book. It was adorable to watch them open up more, despite their differences. Plot: The semi enemies-to-lovers trope was really well done! However it seemed like a lot of points were rehashed over and over (yes, we get it, Darcy thinks falling for Elle would be a bad move, and Elle doesn’t want to mess up her business deal with Brendon). There was also noticeably repetitive language. Although, my copy was an ARC, so keep that in mind

Overall: Very refreshing to see LGBTQ+ characters who are 1) sure of their sexualities 2) don’t have an identity based solely on their sexuality and 3) do not have to “overcome” some aspect of their sexuality. This was a cute story that I enjoyed, there were just some elements of the way it was written that bothered me. it's a sweet sapphic romance full of big emotions, and it's a beautiful reminder that when the stars align, love can feel like magic. we have an adorable astrology theme keeps things fun and whimsical, and we have realistic angst as well. and there's a fleshed-out cast of friends and family members for both elle and darcy.

Obviously, everything works out for the best, but I just feel like the set up made me not love the book as much as I normally would have. Especially because the sex scenes in this book are so hot and sexy! Also, I am very in love with Margo who is pan and is Elle’s roommate and also works alongside Elle on “Oh My Stars” where they analyze birth charts on the internet and will soon have a book out! (Also… Margo is totally going to be the one that gets a spin off too, but she deserves better, hahah) Now Elle and Darcy find themselves in a “fauxmance” just to make a few social events more palatable, up until New Year’s Eve. Overall I did enjoy Darcy’s and Elle’s relationship and how it progressed throughout the book. After their initial terrible first date they do stay open minded about each other and their interests and build a good understanding of each other throughout. It’s not that anything was inherently bad with anything written but some passages were a little too corny for my taste. And not the kind of tooth aching sweetness that will make you feel fuzzy and smiley, but just overused 2015 Tumblr cheesiness I thought the world had moved passed.

A huge thank you to Netgalley, Avon Books, and Alexandria Bellefleur for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.If you could not tell from all the gushing, I absolutely recommend this to romance fans. This would be the perfect book to turn into a holiday movie say for a Netflix. Hey, if Hulu can put on a WLW holiday romance this year, than there is hope for stories like this. There is going to be another book that follows this one, which stars the main character’s brother. I thought he was fine for a secondary character but I think he would get on my nerves for a main character so I’ll probably pass. However, if Bellefleur ever writes another WLW story, I will read it in a heartbeat. With nods to Bridget Jones and Pride and Prejudice, a charming #ownvoices queer rom-com debut about a free-spirited social media astrologer who agrees to fake a relationship with an uptight actuary until New Year’s Eve—with results not even the stars could predict! Astrology and magic and soul mates.Darcy has had to deal with her overprotective younger brother for all her life...and recently, he's become more meddlesome than she can handle. "Quit trying to marry me off like I'm some Regency spinster in one of your favorite Austen novels." You can of course guess what happens next! Why Love of course! It is after all, “Written in the Stars.” A clever, cute, sweet, and somewhat steamy read that was a perfect way to end 2020. Although I had to skim through all the steamy parts, this was a quite delightful rom-com that I highly recommend for those looking for an adorable, light, laugh out loud novel that hits all the right notes. When Darcy begs Elle to play along, she agrees to pretend they’re dating to save face. But with a few conditions: Darcy must help Elle navigate her own overbearing family over the holidays and their arrangement expires on New Year’s Eve. The last thing they expect is to develop real feelings during a fake relationship.

pros: the main characters were likable and relatable in their own way. i LOVED darcy so much throughout the entire book. even when she was doing things that made me want to scream “girl what are you doing?!” i still loved her. With nods to Bridget Jones and Pride & Prejudice, this debut is a delightful queer rom-com about a free-spirited social media astrologer who agrees to fake a relationship with a grumpy actuary until New Year’s Eve—with results not even the stars could predict! The only true part I actively disliked though was Darcy’s brother. His involvement and meddling is supposedly affecting Darcy’s and Elle’s relationship positively; it’s him, after all, who sets them up and his meddling “helps” them along the way. But I absolutely hated him and his blatant disregard of boundaries that was downplayed at every turn. Every scene with him in it was a struggle to get through for me because he irritated me so much. Speaking of, fandoms and fandom spaces were brought up a few times throughout this book but it never felt very organic and always a little contrived and off. Elle was technicolor chaos and the feelings she inspired in Darcy were a hazard straight out of Pandora’s box.”I loved the two girls (Darcy and Elle) and they took the dynamic of Darcy and Elizabeth and transformed it in their own way that totally got me hooked. And I might be a single woman in possession of a good fortune, but I'm not in want of a wife."After one disastrous date too many, Darcy decides to throw up her hands and pretend that it went perfectly. elle and darcy themselves have amazing chemistry, although i think elle's character is more developed than darcy's? or perhaps elle is just more relatable to me. her growth is phenomenal; her deep loneliness and desire to be seen and wanted, and her gradual realization that she deserves better than the bare minimum. so inspiring to see elle struggle to know her worth, and finally commit to believing in herself. when i started the book, i would’ve given it a 5/5, but the ending is what made me take off a star. nevertheless, this was a great book that i recommend if you like romcoms with fake dating.