Guy’s Girl by Emma Noyes is an emotionally charged New Adult romance that transcends typical genre boundaries.

This novel delves deep into complex themes of love, self-esteem, anxiety, grief, and the harsh realities of eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia.

Noyes draws on her own experiences with these issues, which adds a layer of authenticity and depth to the narrative that is both poignant and enlightening.

The story revolves around Ginny and Adrian, two well-developed characters who feel incredibly real.

Ginny grapples with her anxiety and bulimia, while Adrian is haunted by childhood trauma stemming from his abrupt relocation from Hungary at the age of nine.

Their individual struggles create a rich tapestry of emotional exploration, showcasing how personal battles can shape relationships.

The "guys" in the title refer not only to Adrian but also to Ginny's three brothers and her college friends—Tristan, Clay, and Finch—each of whom is vividly characterised and contributes uniquely to the story.

Noyes skillfully uses third-person perspectives for both Ginny and Adrian, supplemented by excerpts from Ginny’s journals.

This technique allows readers to access Ginny’s inner thoughts and feelings, providing a raw and honest look into her mind as she navigates her challenges.

The journal entries serve as a powerful tool for understanding the nuances of her eating disorders, making the narrative more impactful.

Noyes’ writing excels in its vivid descriptions of both familiar and unfamiliar settings.

Her portrayal of New York City, coupled with the enchanting details of Budapest, immerses the reader in the lives of young professionals in these vibrant locales.

The author’s keen eye for detail enhances the reading experience, making the characters' journeys even more relatable and engaging.

One of the most heartwarming aspects of Guy’s Girl is the sense of family and friendship that permeates the story.

Ginny’s relationship with her older sister, Heather, and the kindness of Adrian’s Hungarian grandparents add layers of warmth and support that counterbalance the darker themes of the book.

Guy’s Girl is not just a romance; it is an emotional odyssey that sheds light on serious issues while still delivering a heartfelt story about love and resilience.

Noyes has crafted a narrative that is both thought-provoking and relatable, making it a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of young adulthood, mental health, and the power of connection.

This book will resonate with readers long after they turn the last page, offering both education and empathy in a beautifully written package.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Guy's Girl is an absolutely beautiful love story but it's so much more than that. It's a heartfelt and authentic portrayal of anxiety and eating disorders, informed by the author's own experience. It's incredibly courageous to share this personal information and it made the reading of Ginny's story so much more meaningful.

Ginny has always been a tomboy and a guys girl. She feels inadequate compared to her beautiful sister and being around boys just always felt safer.

But Ginny has been hiding a dark part of her life. The eating disorders that have defined her whole existence. She feels unlovable, unworthy. And this feeling is compounded by the rejection she experiences when she falls in what she thinks is love with one of her friends.

Then she's reunited with Adrian who makes her feel safe and seen. But Adrian is fighting his own demons and is unable to love anyone.

Their relationship is so beautiful to watch, it's also heartbreaking and heart-healing. But more than that, it is Ginny's relationship with herself that is most inspiring and it is written with such truth. I really think that for anyone in the depths of an eating disorder, Ginny's story will comfort and provide hope for recovery. I have read a lot of books, but I don't think I've ever read a story about an eating disorder so I think this is a very important book. I loved every moment of Guy's Girl.

A beautiful and raw story of love.

“The boy who couldn't love and the girl who wouldn't.”

There are some trigger warnings for this book such as eating disorders so I recommend looking into these first. The book is influenced by the writers personal experience which I also found interesting.

It’s hard to outline this love story without giving too much away but open the pages and fall in love with Ginny and Adrian.

You will empathise with Ginny throughout the story. Beautifully written.

Huge thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read this one.

Highly recommend.

Guy's Girl is about Ginny, a young woman battling an eating disorder, and her quest for love. She's desperately searching for it wherever she can when she should be concentrating on her self and recovering from her bulimia.

This book is one that will undoubtedly touch your heart. It captured mine. I honestly didn't expect it to be so captivating and raw, but it's a book I will not soon forget.

This book is aimed more for young adults and so I found it more of an easy read! Emma Noyes storytelling was thoroughly engaging discussing adolescene and accepting yourself!

The download date was unfortunately missed, I would be happy to re-review if it became available again. I have awarded stars for the book cover and description as they both appeal to me. I would be more than happy to re-read and review if a download becomes available. If you would like me to re-review please feel free to contact me at thesecretbookreview@gmail.com or via social media The_secret_bookreview (Instagram) or Secret_bookblog (Twitter). Thank you.

With lush prose and captivatingly nuanced characters, Noyes has created a world that I didn’t want to leave. So loved it

I loved what I read of this but unfortunately there was an issue with the file and some of the text wasn't working right so I couldn't finish. Can't wait to buy myself a proper copy and leave a true review on the retail sites - of course this NG review will stay on NG as I know this won't be an issue with the finished book.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Random House for an eARC of this beautiful book! 🩵

Here I was thinking that this was going to be a cute, romcom kinda read but it wasn’t. That’s the perks of reading blind so I’m just blaming myself. But wow, this book broke my heart so many times. I was putting myself in Ginny’s shoes the entire time and oh man what a bittersweet journey. Check TW as well for this because it tackled some heavy topics on eating disorders. I especially love Emma Noyes’ transparency before she started with the book. That was such a vulnerable time for her recalling that event in her life but she chose to share it with the readers in the hopes of helping out others who are going through the same thing. This was such an emotionally charged story and I could feel how raw everything was through Noyes’ writing. The way she described Ginny’s disorders was exceptional, very graphic at times but truly needed in order to give the readers the full picture of what she’s going through. Noyes’ such a talented writer and I’m so glad I picked this book up. There were lots of LOL moments as well between Ginny and her guy friends which I totally loved! A lot of lines resonated with me too and I’m just amazed with her writing! I definitely recommend this read.

"Guy's Girl" by Emma Noyes is a delightful coming-of-age novel that explores identity and friendship. Noyes' storytelling is engaging, with a relatable protagonist navigating the complexities of adolescence and self-acceptance. This book is a heartwarming and authentic read for young adults.

I knew from the Author's Note at the start of this book that I was going to cry, and I absolutely sobbed. This novel explores so many different themes including eating disorders, mental illnesses, grief and self-esteem in such a raw way. The main characters were written beautifully and they both felt very real, each with their own personal monsters to battle.

It was a beautiful, emotional, real love story which I could personally relate to. It also taught me a lot along the way.

Wow! This book is absolutely amazing. The descriptions are so touching and vivid. As soon as I started reading it I couldn't put it down. I recommend this book to every other reader out there.

Guy’s Girl is a unique store dealing with challenging subjects and will leave you wanting more. This book was intriguing and yet an unexpected read for myself which I wasn’t disappointed with. The story does have some triggers but if you’re willing to take the time to read it, you won’t be disappointed yourself. Emotional read about true love and self-acceptance/discovery!

Book Review 📚
Guy's Girl by Emma Noyes - 4/5 ⭐

Oh my god. This book broke my heart. As a person who suffered with an Eating Disorder when growing up, I felt the pain.

When I read this - I sat that and just wanted to hold Ginny and tell her everything about her is perfect. I wanted to comfort her and be there for her. It made my realise I never had anyone to talk to about my issues when I was younger. It made me see the different side of this story, Ginnys side.

There was so much detail and description based around eating disorders and anxieties and mental health in general. It was so amazingly done and beautifully portrayed. I hold my hat off to Noyes for diving into such intense topics but making it bearable and showing us the deep hidden secrets off these disorders and illnesses.

It's definitely a trigger warning book, just as a heads up more then anything. But nothing puts me off, so I dove in. I wasn't disappointed. I really enjoyed Ginny's story and her journey. Noyes is an incredible writer and the pain of this book was truly felt. But so was the love and appreciation.

Thank you to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.

This book has such a painfully accurate lens on EDs, and while gruelling on the detail it's honest and impossible to put down! When selling, trigger warnings will be VERY important to protect vulnerable readers.

This book is going to take the internet by storm!

This book dealt with eating disorders with sensitivity and the insight of the author's first hand experience. I definitely learned a lot about EDs from this. Despite the difficult subject matter it was a good read. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

So I read this believing I was walking into a romance. This was not the case at all. This is a story of a woman struggling with an eating disorder. Please be aware of the before reading.

You see Ginny as she suffers from anorexia, then transitioning to bulimia. You feel the hatred she feels for herself so strongly that it’s painful to read. But given did the author bring it to life. I know Emma Noyes is a survivor herself, and I’m so grateful for her putting words to paper and giving us this insight into the debilitating disease.

The only downside of the book for me was the romance aspect. I didn’t understand what made Adrian a great love interest. We’re told he does not allow himself to feel love and he pushes Ginny away multiple times. Then suddenly realised he’s in love.

I would have loved a different ending that allowed us to see Ginny in a better place. Because I want to believe she does.

I completely fell in love with this book: an absolutely beautiful book that hits really hard with deep issues, anxiety and eating disorders. I loved all the characters and I really didn't want to put it down or for this to end it was such an amazing story with brilliant writing. I highly recommend this although maybe there should be some trigger warnings I wouldn't let you dissuade you from this amazing book.

One of the most heartbreaking yet restorative romances of the year. Great to see eating disorders dealt with so sensitively, yet without any glossing over of their harsh reality. As a bit of guy’s girl myself, I loved the relationship Ginny had with the guys too. This one is going to be everywhere this autumn!

I greatly enjoyed this book! Perfect coming of age of a woman trying to find her way in her early 20s whilst battling bulimia. The book approaches this topic with compassion and thoughtfully explains the experiences of people who suffer with eating disorders.

The note at the begging helped offer context to what the book contained and the authors connection to her writing and this novel.

I loved the setting between New York and Budapest. It made me feel want to visit Budapest again!

The only thing I wish is that we got to see more of Ginny and Adrian!

All in all, it’s an amazing adult debut!