Reviews with content warning for Alcoholism - Delilah Green Doesn't Care

Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Ashley Herring Blake

9 reviews

bookswithbront's review

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I have to say, I liked this so much more than I expected! Often when I’m reading a rom-com, I find myself struggling to get past feeling annoyed with at least one of the protagonists. I never felt this way in this book — even when Delilah was acting immature and failing to communicate, she managed to come across as funny and quirky. And I LOVED Claire’s character!

I did feel that the incredible story was held back at times by the writing. It’s not that the writing was ever bad, it’s just that the author tended to over-communicate certain feelings the main characters were clearly having. The story explores some really profound ideas about identity, family, trauma, and love, but the writing leaned toward spelling everything out clearly and sometimes boringly. I also wish Delilah’s clear alcohol dependency had been addressed as a problem, or else not been included at all. It didn’t really add anything to the story as it was.

That said, I’m still giving this four stars because I so deeply enjoyed the story and the characters from start to finish, and I’m excited to read Astrid’s story in the next book!

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zoeolivia1199's review

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was overall a sweet book and I liked being able to hear both main character's perspectives. The subplot of the difficult relationship between the two step-sisters and Claire's experience being a mom added depth to an otherwise typical contemporary romance novel. One thing that bothered me is that they are ALWAYS drinking! It seemed like every single scene someone wanted a drink, had just had a drink, or was actively drinking. And no one ever acted like it was excessive! It just got a bit repetitive eventually. But overall I enjoyed this book and want to read the sequel.

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mitrosec's review

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funny hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book reads a lot like a fanfiction. If i didn’t know better I would’ve thought the author was a 19 year old that thinks being an adult is drinking all the time. With that said, the author impressed me with the addition of a child (except towards the end) I don’t typically like that story line. Overall a very enjoyable wlw story.

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a_libra_library's review against another edition

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emotional funny inspiring sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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strawberrycasualreader's review

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emotional funny lighthearted slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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ecn's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Would I ever read it again? Did I like the characters? Did I care about the the characters? Do we learn enough about the characters? Was the ending NOT flat? All answers are a no. But I did enjoy the story and was moderately entertained. Some parts were spicy which is a fun sexy time but also… sounded boring? (maybe bc of the emotionality? Maybe bc it’s not necessarily what I would do? I dunno).
A lot of parts of the story needed more time spent on it and some parts dragged on. Maybe that’s to be expected in a book centered on romance, but it would be nice to have rounded characters and stories.
I also really hated the way it was written. Nothing wrapped me in - it felt more like I was being talked at rather than drawn into the story. Additionally, there was a lottttttt of writing about “cis straight white man,” which, don’t get me wrong, I’m not a fan. However, all main characters and most side characters? Were? Cis white people, and *two* trans+ characters, all presumably white? It felt like the author was just throwing around girl boss feminist phrases. Additionally, to always include “women and nonbinary” people as a monolith felt gross. I know it wasn’t the intent, and YES you can be a lesbian and be attracted to women and non-men, but as a non-cis person, the phrasing (always saying “women and nonbinary people” or “women and femmes” felt washy, shallow/careless, and white feminism. Just say non-men.

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librarianbeks's review

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emotional funny reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Wanted to like this book more than I did but was distracted by the absurd amount of alcohol that the characters drank. Every other scene they were pouring wine, grabbing a beer, having a shot, etc. etc. Do these ladies do anything for fun besides drinking? I know it’s petty to focus on that but honestly it made it really hard for me to read as a person who has struggled with substance abuse in the past. Otherwise I enjoyed it, but I can’t say I’m tempted to pick up the sequel.

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ourxstorybegins's review

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5.0

Delilah Green doesn’t like going back to her hometown. After her father’s death, she never got along with her stepmother or Astrid (her stepsister), but now she’s in town to work as the photographer for her Astrid’s wedding. Claire, a single mom and one of Astrid’s best friends, seems interested in Delilah, but these two have never gotten along. Now, Delilah has decided that she likes the idea of annoying Astrid by flirting with her best friend. But maybe the interest she’s showing is more genuine than she wants to admit?

Some Highlights:

This book focuses on so much more than Delilah and Claire. It involves a lot of healing figuring out relationships involving Astrid (Delilah’s sister), Iris (Astrid’s other best friend), Josh (Claire’s ex), and Ruby (Claire’s daughter) are also essential to the plot and, most of the time, feel just as important as Astrid’s budding relationship with Claire.
Speaking of Claire’s daughter, I absolutely adore Ruby! I had so much fun with every scene that she was in. I have yet to read a romance with a single parent that I didn’t enjoy, but Ruby is definitely one of my favorite rom com children. She feels very much like a realistic pre-teen, and the fact that we get time to see her relationships with Delilah, Claire, and Josh is really lovely.
The chemistry between Delilah and Claire is absolutely off-the-charts. From the first chapter that they meet, the author does a great job with showing that there is a ton of physical chemistry between the two (real talk, the spice is fantastic), and once things start to get more real, the emotional chemistry is very much present between these two women, as well.

I really loved this book. Delilah as a character felt like she could connect with so many different people — even though I would say I have nothing in common with her, I still related to her in so many smaller ways. I’m really looking forward to the next book of the Bright Falls series!

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marareading's review

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was delightful! A Sapphic rom com that hits all the marks. This is the type of book that you can somehow see yourself in every character main character.
Delilah Green gives the attitude of not caring. An artist, living in New York, but from Oregon. When she was young her father passed away leaving her alone with her stepsister & stepmother who she instantly felt distant. The moment she turned 18 she fled to New York to start a life she could thrive in. Now her stepsister is getting married, and she is being paid to be the wedding photographer. If she didn't need the money she wouldn't go.
The antics, the relationships, the character development. This was a fun and soul filling read. I laughed at the beginning and cried happy tears at the end, and I never cry. I LOVED seeing myself in Claire. A bisexual mother as one of the main characters in a story. That alone is absolutely wonderful.
Thank you Berkley for sending me this advanced copy. It is a new favorite. Highly recommend.

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