Rosewater hooked my interest right from the beginning. The writing style is beautiful while also being incredibly accessible. Each character is unique with their own individual voice yet they interact with one another very fluidly and I especially enjoyed following Elsie and Julliet's journey from estranged friends to much more. Although I found some of the character's poor decisions to be more thoughtless than understandable, I really liked Elsie growing into her own and maturing as the novel went on. Her relationship with her grandmother provided a different side to the enigmatic London setting the novel began with, but I loved their relationship and how they had more in common than Elsie originally thought. Thank you very much to Netgallery and the publisher for a chance to read this advanced e-copy

Rosewater has been on my list since it was first announced – partly because I love a London-set slice-of-life novel about women in their 20s figuring it out, partly because I really liked Liv Little on the gal-dem podcast and I was keen to read her first book. If I'm honest, it was a bit of a mixed bag. Judging by the praise Rosewater has received, I was expecting something more literary and poignant and incisive, or at least something with more poetic writing. The prose was fine, if a bit too stuffed with adjectives, but nothing more; and neither the characters nor the observations had the depth and the nuance I was hoping for. Plus, the dialogue was so stilted at times! I rarely notice when it's a writer's first book but I really felt it with Rosewater.

But, saying all that, I found the story really engaging and exactly to my tastes, and the prose bothered me less as the novel went on. Elsie is a struggling poet and bartender who is already barely making ends meet when she's evicted from her flat and forced to move in with her best friend Juliet. Juliet was my favourite character, actually, despite her completely unconvincing boyfriend; and I think the novel is good at covering a whole range of contemporary issues without feeling forced. I think probably my reading experience is four-star but the book is only a three – by which I mean, I can think of lots of editorial suggestions but I did find it really immersive so you can't really fault that, can you? Thanks so much to @dialoguebooks for letting me read it!

I tried to get into this book but it just defeated me. So much going on in the first few pages and I couldn't get beyond the noise of those first few pages. It's obviously me and not the author as there are plenty of high star reviews. Sorry to be negative about it.

Ohh this book had so many interwoven plot lines and characters that made it really interesting and captivating. I love the poetry aspect and that Elise finally got her happy ending eventually

This book deserves to soar. Liv Little’s writing is vibrant, funny, sexy and tender. Talented but troubled Elsie is a character the reader is rooting for from page one. I raced through Rosewater - couldn’t put it down!

This is a must read book. I really enjoyed this book. So well written and never a dull moment. It was about friendship, struggles with life and how sound people face more difficulties than others but also about how you can overcome your fears and lack of confidence when you are feeling down and how things will fall into place. A+++

A great profile of a life not often seen by mainstream publishers. Rich in details and embodied emotion, this book teaches you a lot about life, love, and living in London today. I eagerly anticipate what's to come from Little in the future!

COULDN'T TAKE MY HANDS OFF THIS BOOK !! Devoured it in a couple days!
So cinematic, please adapt it into a film?!
Elsie is such a relatable character, especially as a reader who is also in her late twenties and a struggling poet! The storylines and characters' developments were so beautifully crafted. It was such an amazing moment of escapism yet I remained deeply anchored in reality cos we all know an Andrew (unfortunately!!!) a Maggie, a Juliet, an Elsie etc... I loved the parts written about family. Actually I loved everything, cannot wait to recommend it at the bookshop when it comes out :D
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC :)

I had heard so much about this novel and it absolutely lived up to the hype. It explores the ups and downs of London life for a twenty-something woman who is kicked out of her flat in the first chapter. Elsie wants to make it as a poet and writer but without a backup plan, money or a strong family unit, she comes to heavily rely on her best friend Juliet. From the start, we know that something caused them to not speak for a few months, but Juliet is still there as Elsie’s safety net as she faces homelessness. The novel explores their complex relationship, as well as Elsie’s tricky relationship with her parents, her career struggles and anxiety. Elsie is a flawed character but Little builds her in such a way that we are happy to be patient with her as she figures things out. Elsie is funny, clever and adores her grandmother. The secondary characters are well-fleshed out too and the poetry (by Kai-Isaiah Jamal) is beautiful, adding further depth to the novel. I went back and re-read the poems at the end to really appreciate them as I couldn’t stop turning the pages on first read, to find out what was going to happen. Looking forward to reading more by Liv Little in the future.

🌹Rosewater Review🌹
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I think the main reason I enjoyed this novel so much is because of the main character. Elsie is a beautiful mess!
She spends her days writing poetry and her nights doing shifts in a dive bar for minimum wage. Suddenly, she finds herself evicted and has to turn to her best friend since childhood, Juliet, for help. In between the chaos of her life, Elsie is able to explore love and healing whilst also pursuing her dream.

There's a range of topics discussed in Rosewater and I appreciated how they were handled realistically. While I was reading this, I found myself involved in various discussions. Juliet's career choices was also the most prominent conversation I had, especially with my other teaching friends.

I loved the relationship between Elsie and her grandmother, the Caribbean representation was a plus too! However, I did find myself wanting the relationship between Elsie, her grandmother and her mother to be explored more.

The added element of poetry allowed tender moments to be created, not just between Elsie and the other characters, but Elsie herself as we got glimpses into her mind. As an aspiring writer myself, I'm most definitely biased but poetry definitely made this one of my favourite reads this years. The only reason I haven't rated it five stars, is because I wished there was more!

Overall, Rosewater was a breath of fresh air and made me realise that it's okay to be a mess. Maybe not as much of a mess as Elsie was, but I definitely think it's a great read for someone in their twenties or thirties trying to figure out life, especially if you come from a background as turbulent as the main the main characters!

Thank you again to @netgalley
@dialoguebooks for the early copy!

💗Make sure you grab your copies April 20th!💗

3.5 stars.
I did enjoy this book the more I got through it. There were the beginnings of really interesting characters and histories which I, as a South Londoner, really liked.

This book had huge potential, what with such interesting and diverse characters - I’d love to know more about Maggie, Nan and Alison. It was great to see so much decent Black and queer representation (not tokens). Sadly, I feel like there was slightly too much going on and too many issues being addressed in order for it to be cohesive - it didn’t feel like there was a solid enough plotline and the ending was massively abrupt, from the plot twist to the denouement (if you can argue there is one).

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A debut from Liv Little which follows Elsie, an aspiring poet living in London, her lovers, relationship with her family and best friend/housemate Juliette.

I really felt myself gripped by the story and this was an easy read, definitely agree it is similar vibes to Queenie. I loved the poetry weaved through the story and the depth it gave and the beauty of it.

The hookups/dating/sex depicted felt realistic. Although there’s definitely some spicy scenes in this book it didn’t feel overdone, but was so sultry and steamy.

It’s quite hard to review this without spoiling the plot. Although I liked the ending and felt satisfied with it, it also felt kind of a rushed conclusion.

I did think that the plot wasn’t entirely fleshed out though and tried to cover far too many ideas. I wanted to know more of Elsie’s backstory (particularly ‘the twins’ and her childhood - frequently mentioned but, don’t think that was ever fully explained?). I think it would’ve been better to just leave this out.

The plot twists I’d guessed as soon as they were introduced, which is fine (don’t think this is the type of novel where that’s necessarily important), but it was a bit predictable imo. And again, some of them just weren’t fleshed out enough and could’ve been cut from the story.

Definitely enjoyed reading this, and would recommend to fans of Queenie, for a fairly easygoing, heartfelt read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

felt like this has had so much potential but found it overwritten and unbelievable. promising but held back by awkward dialogue, a slow start, and a last third rooted in bizarre, uncredible twists.

Rosewater is a confident debut with a fresh feeling voice. I devoured this book from the opening chapter, which is one of the strongest and most anxiety inducing I've read in recent years.

There was a lot to explore: the struggling artist character is well-trodden but Elsie's character and the strength of the narrative voice meant that this didn't feel at all tired. Perhaps its made more timely, even, with the lack of arts funding and unaffordability of London making it so the arts are dominated by the middle class and above. I very much enjoyed the poetry interlaced and was hearing it as spoken word. I was certainly rooting for Elsie.

I have grown quite tired of situationships and casual sex from a hetero perspective so it has been incredibly refreshing to have this Black lesbian perspective of the dating scene.

it was a very easy and enjoyable reading style laced with humour and relatability to counteract the tougher subject matter. Without giving spoilers, for me the last third wasn't as strong - mainly down to rooting for Elsie to get back on her feet, which she does with chapters to spare. So it felt like her arc was pretty much complete and the dramatic last event that came to derail her a bit hollow. With Elsie and Juliet, her now being in a relationship, and a hetero one at that, added weight to their starcrossed love. The tension came from not knowing whether Juliet would leave a potential good thing to finally give love with Elsie the chance it deserved. And so, I felt a little short changed once it became clear that Andrew was not a good guy. The weight of the decision would have meant more if Andrew were a decent person. It took away that tough decision, and the real drama, from Juliet and instead the end drama felt forced.

For me that took away what would have been a sure fire 4 stars, but it is still a read I would recommend to others, and i will most certainly read more from Liv in the future.

'rosewater' was one of my most anticipated reads of 2023, and unsurprisingly, it fulfilled and exceeded my expectations. this novel is a work of art.

liv little's debut follows elsie, a black lesbian poet in her late twenties, who lives in london, works at a local gay bar for minimum wage, and had me blushing, giggling and kicking my feet more than i'd like to admit.

elsie is independent, charming, sexy and confident, and with women falling at her feet and a rare talent for writing poetry, she should have everything going for her, but she is mentally and physically exhausted. determined to maintain faith in her future despite facing the challenges of being estranged by her family and continuous rejection from jobs, elsie distracts herself with alcohol, music and a fling with her gorgeous co-worker, bea. after being evicted, made redundant, and struggling with perpetual debt, elsie moves in with her old best friend, juliet, and her world goes from bad, to worse, to brighter than ever before.

this book is woven with delicious depictions of cultural pride, intergenerational community, lesbian identity, and queer love, sex and friendship. through brilliant characterisation and a fiercely addictive writing style, little expertly illustrates elsie's world, loved ones, and complex innermost thoughts.

i have never fancied a book character more than elsie, lmaooo, so i struggled to see why everyone keeps saying she's annoying and flawed??? like, u can be stubborn baby x you've been through a lot x i'll pay your rent and sit on your lap x don't worry about a thing x

i will be personally offended if you don't all love this book. elsie's story is jarring, sexy, frustrating, compelling and important, and i can't wait to see what liv little writes next.

A love letter to being young, black and queer in London, in your 20s.

Thank you NetGalley and Dialogue Books for sending me this advanced copy for review.

Rosewater is an impressive debut, following the story of Elsie on a journey of love and self-discovery through a streak of bad luck. The story highlights a sense of hope, something that Elsie discovers as her own story progresses, and she is helped along by her friends and Nan.

What really stood out to me after finishing the book was how much Liv Little had managed to cram into her debut — sexuality, mental health, money troubles, career, family relationships - all while depicting a compelling and complex character in Elsie.

I loved Elsie but wow did I want to scream at her at some points — Liv Little manages to get this balance just right and in the end I was definitely rooting for her. I’m not sure if it’s because I was born and raised in London but Elsie felt so familiar to me, as if she could be someone I’ve interacted with.

As much as I enjoyed the ending, I didn’t think a romance was the happy ending Elsie needed. She spent so much of the book discovering herself, exploring new things and setting boundaries in her personal and work life, that the ending felt slightly rushed to just round it all up with a love interest.

Overall, this was a great debut and an insight into what it means to be black and queer in your 20s. Rosewater is definitely one to pick up when it comes out on 20 April 2023!

I loved this book. New author, new approach, great characters.
It's easy to fall in love, isn't it?
Best friends and life's ever changing circumstances....... A past, a present and you'll hope for a future.
More please xx

"I know that’s what I’ve been searching for, something beautiful and pure and easy, but life keeps getting in the way."

We meet Elsie, an aspiring, Queer poet, in the midst of a devastating showdown with a baliff. After struggling to manage her finances & debts, Elsie is evicted from her home, and forced to make ammends with her former bestie, after she realises she has noone else to turn to. Battling with anxiety, a situationship - or two, unemployment, broken family relationships, Elsie's world is breaking down in everyway imaginable. When a chance to win a book deal comes her way, can Elsie put everything to the side and give herself a chance at grabbing her dreams?

Elsie is a really tricky character to understand and love, she uses sex for intimacy, and also as a shield. She has a penchant for making the wrong choices without thinking of the consequences, as a reader it made me really irate. I wanted her to learn & change for the better, but as the saying goes: Rome wasn't built in a day.

It was an easy read, I found that Elsie felt rather familiar to me , this may be due to the use of slang throughout. I think we've all had a friend who is/was a bit of a loose cannon, so for Elsie I was intrigued to see where her story would end. I personally would have preferred that the second half of "Rosewater" continued as the 1st half did, however, the genre in my opinion took a swift U-Turn to become a romance story. I do love a good romance, but I felt that Elsie's character would have benefitted from more identifying her issues without using romance as a buffer. I also would have loved to have read more of Elsie's poetry 🤔

Something I heavily rated in "Rosewater" was that Elsie enforced her boundaries with her family throughout! No hesitation, whatsoever. I was here for it 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

For lovers of "Queenie", this one may be right up your street!

🌟🌟🌟

Release date 20th April 2023

🖤🖤🖤🖤/5

I was keen to read this after seeing it promoted by @bookbar and hearing it compared to ‘Such a Fun Age’ and ‘Queenie’, two novels I’ve previously enjoyed. However, I was conflicted after reading several reviews slating it for being poorly edited and overwritten. Going in with a sense of trepidation, I was pleasantly surprised.

Elsie is a twenty-something lesbian living in South London and trying to find her way as a poet, navigating a lack of income, homelessness and suddenly falling in love with her longstanding best friend. After being unceremoniously removed from her flat having failed to pay rent, she finds herself astray in London, sleeping in the spare room belonging to her best friend Juliet and trying desperately to make a living as a poet whilst also experiencing writer’s block.

As a character, Elsie is fiercely independent, stubborn and relatable. Whilst the story is somewhat long and the plot a little loose, with whole sections that probably could have been slimmed down, I liked Little’s character building, and felt that she had a keen eye for capturing the everyday hustle and bustle of London living.

I do think the book got better, with the second half feeling less ‘debut novel’ and more realistic, and whilst I was initially leaning toward a three star rating, I found myself thinking about Elsie and her narrative arc on and off for days after having finished the novel.

Perfect for people looking for something real and character driven, perfect for young, adrift Londoners, and perfect for those still trying to figure out who they are and who they want to become.

Rosewater is a strong debut novel from Liv Little. I liked the incorporation of Elsie’s poetry - it added an extra level to reading the book. The narrative was moving, particularly Elsie and Juliet’s relationship, and although none of the characters are perfect (maybe Cherry and Maggie), I became attached to them all (with one obvious exception). The positive and realistic depictions of sexuality in this were also heartening. As this is a debut, there were some pacing and plotting issues. However, though I could see certain twists coming, and though I was sometimes frustrated by the miscommunication, I was still absolutely riveted.