I was interested to read this, especially as it depicted aspects of sexuality that aren't usual in romance novels, as the title indicates it focuses on 2 adult virgins who meet at a support group and how they gradually get to know each other. However I found the plot predictable and the writing style a bit flat.

Freddie and Kate meet at a uni leavers ball but fate gets in the way and it's several years later before they meet again at a support group for adult virgins.
This is such a quirky and unusual story that deals with an issue that still seems to be taboo in our society - adult virgins. There is a lot of discussion about Freddie's OCD which I mention just as a trigger warning but it is handled sensitively and with understanding. These people are not portrayed as freaks but as people with real issues who are struggling.
I enjoyed it and the romance between Kate and Freddie was sweet and romantic. It's certainly different but I would recommend it to anybody who enjoyed such books as "The Flatshare"

Adult Virgins Anonymous is warm, witty, romantic and real. You'll be rooting for Kate and Freddie to get their happy ending.

I think being a "late virgin" or "late bloomer" is something that carries a big stigma in our society and Adult Virgins Anonymous helps to deal with that stigma. I enjoyed the OCD representation in this book especially a male with OCD as it's not something I had read about before. This book had a lot of rep for all sexualities and gender identities also.

I'm not sure I really connected with the romance between Freddie and Kate but I think this was a solid read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for an ARC of this book.

<i> Adult Virgins Anonymous </i> was fantastic! I had the very best time reading it.

It is a well rounded, wonderfully written love story that has a very powerful message: Life is not a race.

Both main characters are not exactly where they should be according to society's standards and while it irks them, it is very clear that it irks them more because other people think they're <i> weird </i>.

The way this book is written and the way it deals with ideals and "normality" is absolutely great. Both Kate and Freddy are highly lovable characters, who just struggle a bit... generally. And that's okay. It's not me saying it's okay, it's the book saying it's okay.

Besides that, the book has amazing LGBTQ rep including asexuality, which is also discussed at the "Adult Virgins Anonymous" meetings. The general idea of this story is that it's okay to be a little different and to have different experiences to other people and having that sentiment in a book is like a whiff of fresh air that this society desperately needs.

I love this book with all my heart and can only recommend it to everyone.

I was in need of a light hearted read after getting through a pile of dark and twist psycholigical thrillers. This was absolutely perfect.

Nothing mega substantial, just a fluffy warm romantic comedy which did make me laugh and cringe in some parts but was quick easy enjoyable reading.

I really felt like I got to know the main characters Kate and Freddie and the writing style made them likeable, the kind of story where you are routing for them all the way til the end.

A solid 4 star read, many thanks to netgalley for provising an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'll be honest and say that the title of book drew me in immediately but I felt decidedly awkward throughout this book (maybe that is a skill that I learned from Freddie).

Kate and Freddie are virgins and they want to change that. Kate feels that her virginity should be given to someone she truly loves whereas Freddie's battle with mental health has left him awkward and feeling out of place. What remains are two people who feel that they don't belong because they don't feel 'normal'. But through the 'Adult Virgins Anonymous' club they see that they are not 'freaks' or 'weird' but that sometimes virginity can be by choice rather than just because they are 'not attractive enough' or weird.

I think the Kate and Freddie relationship was a little predictable and very awkward to read but there was an element of sweetness there too, especially when Kate tried to branch out to other men.

All in all it was an easy enough read.

I found this book A good read, along with an uncomfortable storyline, with very awkward moments. Saying that, I throughly enjoyed it.

I've got to be honest. The title totally drew me in.
A group for adult virgins? Bring it on!
A short segment at the beginning introduces two characters who don't know each other, at uni, in 2011. Kate and Freddie, are both plucking up the courage to approach people they like.
Fast forward to now, and those same characters have never quite managed to pluck up that courage, and now find themselves, almost ten years later, in the same place, romantically, as they were then.
A chance sighting of a card in a pub, advertising a group for Adult Virgins, leads them both back to their old university, where the meetings are held, and the story unfolds.
Low confidence, OCD, overbearing families, friends who really aren't, interspersed with new opportunities, new friends, and possible new love.
A cut story, which you know is going to have a HEA.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Staughton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The title of the book was what drew me in. It sounded like it would be a light hearted romance style read with some humour injected.

It felt like it became a book trying to tackle lots of issues that weren’t thoroughly researched. Lots of characters were brought in but none had any real role in the story except the leading ones, from who’s point of view this was written.

it became quite hard work in the end and wasn’t a book that left me desperate to read more

I had high hopes for this title but was left feeling quite underwhelmed.

While the premise is fresh and exciting, my main take criticism was with the dialogue between characters which, to me, felt cliché and unnatural at times.

I admire the attempt of handling of some of the more delicate topics but, as someone with lived experience of OCD some of the depictions came across very surface level, which, as a romance novel is perfectly fine to not delve into too great detail for, but did risk coming across as a character trope which made for a disappointing read.

This was a sweet and lovely story about Freddie and Kate, both of who are approaching 30 and have never had sex. I enjoyed and appreciated a narrative about adult virginity, which is something that isn't talked about enough. I liked them both as characters, and found their relationship compelling. They didn't quite spark off the page but that's not who they were. However, and this isn't really criticism of the book, but I would love to see this type of story from characters who are not white/middle class/cisgender/heterosexual.

The cover and synopsis of this book really appealed to me, so I was happy to be approved for an ARC.

Freddie and Kate are both approaching 30 and both virgins. Both carry this around with them as a huge burden, having never had the opportunity to ditch the label in their university days and throughout the following years.

The story is told from both perspectives, which is nice, but it was quite confusing at times as to who was speaking and who’s POV it was.

There were lots of character names to remember and some of the characters had stories that didn’t seem to be completed...what happened to Steve? Lindsey being in Hong Kong? Pippa being ostracised from the group? India’s reasoning for being so horrid? What was the rainbow alley flashback all about? Theee were so many side stories that after finishing the book I didn’t feel done with it.

I love a romance book and I’m quite comfortable reading steamy scenes. Considering the title of this book and the theme of the story, I expected there to be a bit more emphasis on the moment of losing their virginity. I felt a bit cheated for the scene to be skimmed over so briefly. There was very little reference to how the sex had made them feel both physically and emotionally.

I found Freddie’s mental health interesting and loved Kate’s reaction to this. I also liked the inclusion of Andy; however, I kind of feel like Andy’s non-binary classification was thrown into the story to make it more current and woke. I wish the author had actually explored Andys character more.

I wanted to love this book, and I really did like it, but felt a little frustrated with certain bits. Overall, it’s a lovely romance which covers some sensitive mental heath issues in a nice way.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review 📚

A cute, sweet, chick lit book - a perfect beach read (or home read if like me you're on Staycation due to the Covid-19 pandemic!)
It does what it says on the tin, it won't ever win any prizes but a lovely read, frothy, predictable chick lit but well thought out with engaging people - reminded me of Sally Rooney's Normal People in lots of ways..
Thanks to Netgalley and Coronet for the ARE copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

August Read

Adult Virgins Anonymous - Amber Crewe
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ( EBook kindly provided by @netgalley & @hodderbooks)

So when I saw this book on NetGalley the title screamed to me. I knew it was going to be a fun light read and that was just what I wanted. However there was also some pretty serious mental health issues covered too; Freddie one of the main characters has OCD and the topics of loneliness and self image are also in there.

The story is split between two characters; Freddie and Kate, who are virgins in their twenties. Freddie has struggled with mental health issues since he was young and that has left him feeling like a pariah, even amongst his family. Kate meanwhile has struggled with “Mean Girl” friendship groups and her self worth has taken a battering since she lost her high flying job. When both of them meet at a Adult Virgins Anonymous group there is an immediate attraction and from there you can guess where the story goes.

Whilst it was a predictable boy meets girl story at heart, I think it had many layers, that made it so much more interesting that your average rom com. There’s heartache interlace with hilarity - the comedy factor when Freddie and Kate try to have sex made me LOL and there are plenty more giggles throughout the book.

I really enjoyed this book and I think I might have given it 5 stars however I was a little confused about a flashback Kate has in the rainbow alley - does this mean Freddie was the boy she kissed at university (maybe I’m just been a little blonde?!) there doesn’t seem to be anything mentioned about this afterwards? Also I thought the ending was a little rushed. The story seems to be wrapped up in the last few pages - I would have liked a little more.

Thanks for this great read!

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Are you still a virgin? Want to talk about it in a safe space?
Meetings every other Tuesday.
You're not alone.

Kate Mundy's life is not going to plan. Nearing thirty, she's been made redundant from her job, her oldest friends have quietly left her behind, and she can barely admit her biggest secret: she's never even been on a date, let alone taken her underwear off with a member of the opposite sex.

Freddie Weir has spent most of his twenties struggling severe OCD and anxiety, and now his only social interactions consist of comic book signings and fending off intrusive questions from his weird flatmate Damian. There's no way Freddie could ever ask a girl out and now he's wondering if this is the way it might be forever.

When Freddie and Kate meet at a self-help group for adult virgins, they think they might just be able to help each other out so they can both get on with finding their real romantic destinies.

But might these two have more in common than just their lack of experience?

Thanks to Netgalley for an early copy of this book.

To be honest the cover and title didn't entice me to the book, maybe a bit plain? They definitely don't do justice to the book, it is funny, sweet, romantic, I really enjoyed it.

The main characters are ones that you instantly love, Admittedly it's fairly obvious how it is going to end but I like books like this!

The idea of adult virginity is one that is rarely looked at without ridicule so this was a nice change. People were treated kindly and not as oddballs as is commonly the way.

It was also nice to read a book where the main female character isn't in a dead end office job. Overall an entertaining read.

A brilliant, funny well written book that is absolutely hilarious. Brilliant bunch of characters and the perfect little storyline.

Adult Virgins Anonymous by Amber Crewe a five-star read that will open your eyes. This wasn’t always a five-star read but I went for it as overall I enjoyed it, I enjoyed the back story and the depth we get into with Kate and Freddie and the original-ness of the story, its one that will make you stop and thing and grab those you hold dear, who get you, it made me desperate to make mine read this. There was a great flow to the story and even though Kate and Freddie are the main players, there are others in this story that bring the detail and they are all well written there isn’t a 2 dimensional character here, that’s so rare to find, especially from a debut. I loved the premise and it made me stop and think would I have looked twice at the add, would I have gone along, would you? Pick up the book and find out.

If I said I wasn’t drawn to this based on the title alone I‘d be telling fibs, I absolutely was, and whilst we all know virgins in romance aren’t exactly a rarity, virgins like Freddie and Kate and their group of new found friends are, and they were a delight. A diverse, sweet, awkward delight.

“People think there’s this magical spell thing when it comes to losing your virginity. Like that one experience is suddenly the most important experience you’ll ever have...”

Self-confidence and belonging is at the heart of this story, and whilst I did find it a little slow off the mark, once Kate and Freddie’s friendship kicks into gear around the 40% mark everything fell into place and I enjoyed them together. Their life experiences, past and present, could be ours and it’s impossible not to relate in some way and empathise to their personal struggles and hopes at finding the place they belong and the person who unconditionally accepts them for who they are.

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

Seeing these characters, particularly Freddie, grow in confidence is what stole this for me and although the ending was a bit speedy with more of a HFN rather than HEA, Adult Virgins Anonymous was an enjoyable and refreshing take on the virginity manacle.

The story was different but wasn’t truly convinced of the dialogues between the two main characters.
Maybe this wasn’t a book for me