I haven't felt so invested in two characters as I have reading this in a long time. Nicola Dinan has crafted a beautifully complex, funny and wise story that's compassionate and a joy to read.

I loved the spin on classic heteronromative rom com territory. This worked really well. She writes with a singular style that's both literary and light at the same time. Immensely readable and never less than compelling. This is a standout read for me.

I can't wait for more books from Nicola. She's fast become a favourite author for me.

I loved BELLIES so much and it really stayed with me long after reading so I had very high hopes and expectations for this. Yet again, another perfect novel from Dinan. She writes so eloquently, with so much empathy for all her beautifully flawed characters. I have been listening to Bless The Telephone by Labi Siffre on repeat ever since and will be urging everyone I know to pre-order immediately.

I read Bellies last year so I was excited to get to read an advanced copy of Dinan’s upcoming novel ‘Disappoint Me’. I think this book is much tighter and improved on some of the aspects I didn’t like as much with Bellies while hitting some of the same positive notes. I continue to see the comparison with Sally Rooney in this book with characters who are very internal and thoughtful but also repressed/damaged in ways that make them act badly towards others.

This book looks at characters in their early 30s and examines questions about relationships, marriage, and parenthood from a lens of being queer at an age when straight people seem to all be heading down a certain path.

It centres the idea that people will disappoint you, but also of forgiveness and what it means to be able to move on from these moments.

I did find Max as a character to be quite passive which frustrated me at times, things just kind of happened around her and I didn’t really get a sense that she’s in the driver's seat. And Simone is such a dislikeable character! But it’s not a mark against the book, I do think it’s all realistic and interesting and good characterisation.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a great book about the importance of life
and representation. I highly enjoyed it! It really made me rethink things in my own life that O could change for the better and I hope it helps others as well!