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thebiglittlelibrary 's review for:
Delilah Green Doesn't Care
by Ashley Herring Blake
4 ⭐️ A delightful adult sapphic romance
*Releases February 22, 2022!
Summary:
Delilah Green is a thirty-something photographer living in New York City, who returns to her hometown to photograph the wedding of her estranged step-sister. However, Bright Falls is a place that brings up many painful memories.
Years ago when Delilah's father died, she was placed in the care of an emotionally distant stepmother who lavished all of her attention on Astrid - her perfect daughter. And while Delilah grieved, neither made her feel wanted or welcomed in their family. This sense of rejection was only amplified by Astrid's coven of friends who quietly mocked her throughout the years.
But Delilah is a grown woman now and in need of cash. What's two weeks in hell in exchange for a few months' rent?
However, when Delilah runs into Claire Sutherland, one of the girls part of Astrid's coven, she decides to have a little fun (and retribution) during her stay in the godforsaken town she used to call home.
My Thoughts:
Before I even talk about the book, I just have to say that this cover is PERFECTION! I'm obsessed with the depiction of Wisteria House, the lavender background, and, of course, the spot-on portrayal of our sexy MCs! Could Claire be any more delicious and Delilah be any f*cking hotter????? I knew from the moment I saw this cover that I HAD to read this book!
Here are some tropes to expect from the story:
- Best friend's sibling
- Single parent
- Grumpy / Sunshine
- Instant attraction
- One-bed at the inn
- 'I bet I can sleep with them'
- Weird girl in high school glow up
- Working together to stop a wedding
Delilah Green Doesn't Care was my first book by Ashley Herring Blake, and I am blown away. While there are some light-hearted moments and the romance is brilliant, this is a deep story that dives into navigating difficult family dynamics, leaning on friendships, healing old wounds, giving second chances, learning to be vulnerable, and realizing your self-worth. This story is heartfelt and realistic - the two things I hope for in every romance.
I really connected with Delilah's story. As someone who suffers from childhood family trauma, I understand how difficult it is to go back to the place that made you feel nothing but pain, sorrow, hurt, loneliness, and rejection. While my trauma is different from Delilah's, the feelings are the same. My heart ached for her throughout the entire story, but it was lovely seeing her embark on a journey towards healing. It's amazing that love has the power to heal old wounds.
On a different note, Delilah is my new girl crush. Let me preface this by saying that I'm a straight married woman, but I won't lie, Delilah's got me feeling some kind of way. Not only do I appreciate how she took control of her life after high school to pursue her dreams AND after all that's happened to her she's still a sweetheart looking to be loved, BUT she is hella fine! I mean, the way Claire describes her physically along with her mannerisms had me swooning.
I loved Astrid's friend group but Iris was the f*cking best. I wasn't prepared to fall in love with a side character, but here we are. Iris is bold, upfront, crass, and genuine. She's the kind of friend who tells it like it is whether or not you want to hear it. Iris is a no-bullshit, no finesse kind of girl, and I loved it! Plus, the banter with Delilah was hilarious! I need to see even more of her in the next book.
The romance between Delilah and Claire was sensual, vulnerable, and real. There is an immediate attraction between these two women, but what really draws them together is their ability to offer compassion and support during times of struggle. Both Delilah and Claire have past hurt that comes up throughout the story, and seeing them comfort one another and offer nothing but love was absolutely beautiful.
I think the one thing I didn't really understand about this story is Astrid's and her friend's opinions about Delilah growing up. As an adult, Astrid says she only wanted to befriend her and it was Delilah who kept pulling away, which hurt her feelings. But Delilah lost both parents by the time she was 10 - like straight-up orphaned, living with a stepmother who didn't give a shit about her (hello, Cinderella) - and Astrid has the audacity to be bitter that Delilah didn't want to hang out with her because she was grieving? I know she was just a child and that might be how children perceive things, but it just wasn't 100% believable to me. Maybe more of this will be explained in Astrid's book.
I also thought it was shitty that Delilah used the photography she took of Claire at the gallery show. Delilah mentioned she hadn't shown the photo before because she never signed a consent waiver. But apparently, for her big show at the Whitney, it was okay to use? It felt out of character for Delilah. I honestly think maybe the author forgot to include a sentence or two where Claire gives verbal consent or says something like "This is gorgeous. You should use it in one of your shows." But since this didn't happen, it makes Delilah seem thoughtless and shady.
Overall, Delilah Green Doesn't Care is a steamy queer romance that was perfectly fun-loving and thoughtful. 100% recommend reading! I cannot wait for Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail - Book 2 in the Bright Falls Series!
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review! As always, all opinions are my own.
*Releases February 22, 2022!
Summary:
Delilah Green is a thirty-something photographer living in New York City, who returns to her hometown to photograph the wedding of her estranged step-sister. However, Bright Falls is a place that brings up many painful memories.
Years ago when Delilah's father died, she was placed in the care of an emotionally distant stepmother who lavished all of her attention on Astrid - her perfect daughter. And while Delilah grieved, neither made her feel wanted or welcomed in their family. This sense of rejection was only amplified by Astrid's coven of friends who quietly mocked her throughout the years.
But Delilah is a grown woman now and in need of cash. What's two weeks in hell in exchange for a few months' rent?
However, when Delilah runs into Claire Sutherland, one of the girls part of Astrid's coven, she decides to have a little fun (and retribution) during her stay in the godforsaken town she used to call home.
My Thoughts:
Before I even talk about the book, I just have to say that this cover is PERFECTION! I'm obsessed with the depiction of Wisteria House, the lavender background, and, of course, the spot-on portrayal of our sexy MCs! Could Claire be any more delicious and Delilah be any f*cking hotter????? I knew from the moment I saw this cover that I HAD to read this book!
Here are some tropes to expect from the story:
- Best friend's sibling
- Single parent
- Grumpy / Sunshine
- Instant attraction
- One-bed at the inn
- 'I bet I can sleep with them'
- Weird girl in high school glow up
- Working together to stop a wedding
Delilah Green Doesn't Care was my first book by Ashley Herring Blake, and I am blown away. While there are some light-hearted moments and the romance is brilliant, this is a deep story that dives into navigating difficult family dynamics, leaning on friendships, healing old wounds, giving second chances, learning to be vulnerable, and realizing your self-worth. This story is heartfelt and realistic - the two things I hope for in every romance.
I really connected with Delilah's story. As someone who suffers from childhood family trauma, I understand how difficult it is to go back to the place that made you feel nothing but pain, sorrow, hurt, loneliness, and rejection. While my trauma is different from Delilah's, the feelings are the same. My heart ached for her throughout the entire story, but it was lovely seeing her embark on a journey towards healing. It's amazing that love has the power to heal old wounds.
On a different note, Delilah is my new girl crush. Let me preface this by saying that I'm a straight married woman, but I won't lie, Delilah's got me feeling some kind of way. Not only do I appreciate how she took control of her life after high school to pursue her dreams AND after all that's happened to her she's still a sweetheart looking to be loved, BUT she is hella fine! I mean, the way Claire describes her physically along with her mannerisms had me swooning.
I loved Astrid's friend group but Iris was the f*cking best. I wasn't prepared to fall in love with a side character, but here we are. Iris is bold, upfront, crass, and genuine. She's the kind of friend who tells it like it is whether or not you want to hear it. Iris is a no-bullshit, no finesse kind of girl, and I loved it! Plus, the banter with Delilah was hilarious! I need to see even more of her in the next book.
The romance between Delilah and Claire was sensual, vulnerable, and real. There is an immediate attraction between these two women, but what really draws them together is their ability to offer compassion and support during times of struggle. Both Delilah and Claire have past hurt that comes up throughout the story, and seeing them comfort one another and offer nothing but love was absolutely beautiful.
I think the one thing I didn't really understand about this story is Astrid's and her friend's opinions about Delilah growing up. As an adult, Astrid says she only wanted to befriend her and it was Delilah who kept pulling away, which hurt her feelings. But Delilah lost both parents by the time she was 10 - like straight-up orphaned, living with a stepmother who didn't give a shit about her (hello, Cinderella) - and Astrid has the audacity to be bitter that Delilah didn't want to hang out with her because she was grieving? I know she was just a child and that might be how children perceive things, but it just wasn't 100% believable to me. Maybe more of this will be explained in Astrid's book.
I also thought it was shitty that Delilah used the photography she took of Claire at the gallery show. Delilah mentioned she hadn't shown the photo before because she never signed a consent waiver. But apparently, for her big show at the Whitney, it was okay to use? It felt out of character for Delilah. I honestly think maybe the author forgot to include a sentence or two where Claire gives verbal consent or says something like "This is gorgeous. You should use it in one of your shows." But since this didn't happen, it makes Delilah seem thoughtless and shady.
Overall, Delilah Green Doesn't Care is a steamy queer romance that was perfectly fun-loving and thoughtful. 100% recommend reading! I cannot wait for Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail - Book 2 in the Bright Falls Series!
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review! As always, all opinions are my own.