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lynguy1's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
3.25
Girl Abroad by Elle Kennedy is a contemporary new adult romance. Nineteen-year-old Abbey Bly applies for and gets the opportunity to study abroad for a year at Pembridge University in London. She loves her retired rockstar father, but he is overprotective. She’s ready to be free to achieve some of her own experiences versus hearing of her father’s exploits. She’s looking forward to meeting the girls she will be rooming with and making new friends. However, arriving late at night, she finds it's three boys, not girls, that will be her roommates. There’s only one house rule. No fraternizing between housemates.
Abbey doesn’t tell her father that her roommates aren’t girls. Abbey has been sheltered due to her father’s guilt and regret regarding his early life. Then, she falls for two different guys and one of them is a roommate. Additionally, she has a significant research paper for a class that leads her to a scandalous nobility family. She’s curious, inquisitive, adores libraries, and is funny and unpretentious, and is majoring in European history.
A lot of the book is focused on romance and which guy Abbey will choose. To me, this part was cute, but too predictable. However, the sections that I enjoyed the most were the ones regarding her research paper. At an estate sale, she finds a painting of a young woman who is unnamed and centers her research around this woman. This not only requires significant time at the library, but provides her with adventures and exposure to several different types of individuals. Themes include trust, lies, fear of obscurity, communication, being candid with others, friendship, independence, protectiveness, betrayal, romance, and much more.
Overall, this is a cute, bur predictable romance with some humor. However, it is more than that. Abbey’s research efforts and the mystery to be solved, as well as the people she meets and the friends she makes along the way, are the most interesting parts of the novel. This could have been the focal point with a romance as a subplot, instead of the other way around.
I purchased a copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date was February 13, 2024.
Abbey doesn’t tell her father that her roommates aren’t girls. Abbey has been sheltered due to her father’s guilt and regret regarding his early life. Then, she falls for two different guys and one of them is a roommate. Additionally, she has a significant research paper for a class that leads her to a scandalous nobility family. She’s curious, inquisitive, adores libraries, and is funny and unpretentious, and is majoring in European history.
A lot of the book is focused on romance and which guy Abbey will choose. To me, this part was cute, but too predictable. However, the sections that I enjoyed the most were the ones regarding her research paper. At an estate sale, she finds a painting of a young woman who is unnamed and centers her research around this woman. This not only requires significant time at the library, but provides her with adventures and exposure to several different types of individuals. Themes include trust, lies, fear of obscurity, communication, being candid with others, friendship, independence, protectiveness, betrayal, romance, and much more.
Overall, this is a cute, bur predictable romance with some humor. However, it is more than that. Abbey’s research efforts and the mystery to be solved, as well as the people she meets and the friends she makes along the way, are the most interesting parts of the novel. This could have been the focal point with a romance as a subplot, instead of the other way around.
I purchased a copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date was February 13, 2024.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol and Sexual content
haley49's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.5
This was the most y/n story I have ever read but with some fun mystery, travel, & celebrity elements it was a super fun little romp
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual harassment, and Alcohol
Minor: Addiction and Drug use
ebreheny25's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
A cute light-hearted book with a fun storyline. Just a little adolescent for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Sexual content
underscoresyd's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
mr. buxley & hugh had the best ending, argue with the wall
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual content, and Drug use
Moderate: Kidnapping and Sexual harassment
Minor: Dementia and Terminal illness
ellacat11's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Drug use, Alcohol, and Cursing
fieldofsummer's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
amberlfaris's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Drug use, and Alcohol
jamiejanae_6's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
idktheyear's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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? No
4.0
I'm not usually one for a love triangle, but Abbey wasn't oblivious to it. She was actively stressing and trying to address it.
The found family trope was delightful with the roommates. I was expecting the roommate situation to be like New Girl, but it was its own lovely thing.
My appreciation for this book might be because I feel in a similar place to Abbey and found her character highly relatable as she's on a journey to figure out who she is and what she wants from life.
I also really liked the mystery element as Abbey investigates the Tulleys!
Definitely different from Elle Kennedy's other books, but very well done and enjoyable. Still had great banter and cute boys (-:
The found family trope was delightful with the roommates. I was expecting the roommate situation to be like New Girl, but it was its own lovely thing.
My appreciation for this book might be because I feel in a similar place to Abbey and found her character highly relatable as she's on a journey to figure out who she is and what she wants from life.
I also really liked the mystery element as Abbey investigates the Tulleys!
Definitely different from Elle Kennedy's other books, but very well done and enjoyable. Still had great banter and cute boys (-:
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
rainbowsandbookshelves's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
Thank you Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I always enjoy Elle Kennedy's new adult romances so I was really excited to read this one! Girl Abroad follows an American girl who comes to London during her college year abroad and has a chance to get to know herself away from her protective, famous father. This is a great book for fans of love triangles, fun banter and a side plot mystery!
I have to say Girl Abroad did have two tropes I'm not a big fan of - love triangles and love interests that already have gf/bfs - however the love interest partner was dealt with quickly and the love triangle kept me on my toes until the end! I would have liked to have seen Abbey get to know her love interests a bit more as I did struggle a bit with understanding why she liked them apart from them being hot. But, I really liked the casual dating aspect that didn't have possessive jealousy and it felt believable in terms of dating nonexclusively and seeing Abbey having fun with it all.
I really enjoyed the mystery subplot, especially having something the main character was focusing on outside of her romance - I find Elle Kennedy is always really good at fleshing out her characters so the story is about more than just the main romance.
Overall, although it was not my favourite Elle Kennedy book, it was an enjoyable, quick romance - perfect for fans of love triangles!
I always enjoy Elle Kennedy's new adult romances so I was really excited to read this one! Girl Abroad follows an American girl who comes to London during her college year abroad and has a chance to get to know herself away from her protective, famous father. This is a great book for fans of love triangles, fun banter and a side plot mystery!
I have to say Girl Abroad did have two tropes I'm not a big fan of - love triangles and love interests that already have gf/bfs - however the love interest partner was dealt with quickly and the love triangle kept me on my toes until the end! I would have liked to have seen Abbey get to know her love interests a bit more as I did struggle a bit with understanding why she liked them apart from them being hot. But, I really liked the casual dating aspect that didn't have possessive jealousy and it felt believable in terms of dating nonexclusively and seeing Abbey having fun with it all.
I really enjoyed the mystery subplot, especially having something the main character was focusing on outside of her romance - I find Elle Kennedy is always really good at fleshing out her characters so the story is about more than just the main romance.
Overall, although it was not my favourite Elle Kennedy book, it was an enjoyable, quick romance - perfect for fans of love triangles!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
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