Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur: ARC Book Review

^{This is a spoiler-free review.}

Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur

^{Expected publication November 10th, 2020 by HarperAudio.}

My rating:

With nods to Bridget Jones and Pride and Prejudice, a charming #ownvoices queer rom-com debut about a free-spirited social media astrologer who agrees to fake a relationship with an uptight actuary until New Year’s Eve—with results not even the stars could predict!

After a disastrous blind date, Darcy Lowell is desperate to stop her well-meaning brother from playing matchmaker ever again. Love—and the inevitable heartbreak—is the last thing she wants. So she fibs and says her latest set up was a success. Darcy doesn’t expect her lie to bite her in the ass.

Elle Jones, one of the astrologers behind the popular Twitter account, Oh My Stars, dreams of finding her soul mate. But she knows it is most assuredly not Darcy… a no-nonsense stick-in-the-mud, who is way too analytical, punctual, and skeptical for someone as free-spirited as Elle. When Darcy’s brother—and Elle’s new business partner—expresses how happy he is that they hit it off, Elle is baffled. Was Darcy on the same date? Because… awkward.

When Darcy begs Elle to play along, she agrees to pretend they’re dating to save face. But with a few conditions: Darcy must help Elle navigate her own overbearing family over the holidays and their arrangement expires on New Year’s Eve. The last thing they expect is to develop real feelings during a fake relationship.

But maybe opposites can attract when true love is written in the stars?

^{Thank you to the publisher, HarperAudio, and NetGalley for providing me an e-ARC of this audiobook. All thoughts are my own.}

“I might be a single woman in possession of a good fortune, but I am not in want of a wife.”

Hello! My name is Liza and I’m a self-proclaimed Austen-aholic. 🙋🏻‍♀️

If you know anything about me you have to know that I adore my Jane Austen. So you can bet how excited I was to hear about a queer retelling of Pride and Prejudice.

Written in the Stars tells the story of Elle, a twitter-famous social media astrologer, and Darcy, a skeptical actuary who’s secret obsession is watching daytime soap operas. These two couldn’t appear more different from the outset. And when they first meet, disaster strikes in the form of a truly horrible blind date. (We’re talking drinks spilled, outfits ruined, the whole nine yards!)

But both Darcy and Elle have reasons for making this relationship work – or at least, pretending to; Darcy to get her lovestruck brother off her back, and Elle to prove to her family that she can be “serious” about stuff. What neither of them plan on is actually falling in love… 💘

This book surprised me!

Before even turning a page of this story I had already read tons of praise for it… So much so in fact that I had pretty high expectations going in to it. So when I found it starting out a bit slow for my tastes, I wasn’t sure I was going to like it as much as I had hoped. 😰

But BOY, did it ever prove me wrong! Quickly, without my even noticing, Written in Stars had sucked me in until I was hanging on each and every word.

And those sex scenes?!!

VERY. HOT. 🔥🔥🥵

If your girl wasn’t completely sold before those, she definitely was after!

I think a big reason I wasn’t entirely sold on this novel when I started it was because I had certain expectations going in after being told it was a queer retelling. While there are definitely nods to Pride and Prejudice and Bridget Jones’ Diary, I wouldn’t recommend it to readers looking for a tried-and-true modern f/f re-imagination of Jane Austen’c classic.

I think comparing Written in the Stars to Pride and Prejudice actually does it an injustice.

Written in the Stars is a romance in its own right, and a fabulous one at that! (Elle in particular was an individual treat, entirely unlike Lizzie Bennet!) It has unique characters, with unique motives, and its own unique plot. One that’s so tooth-achingly sweet you’re sure to get a mouth full of cavities from reading it~ 🍬 (And teary eyed too! 😭)

Written in the Stars was an achingly romantic read. 💗 One I definitely plan on reading again… and again!

Even with its somewhat rocky start, Written in the Stars manages to be one of the best romance novel I’ve read this year, by far. What a wonderful story! It’s sweet, charismatic; and equally fun as it is thoughtful.

If you’re a fan of queer romcoms, I can’t recommend this title highly enough! It’s sure to leave you feeling absolutely satiated. 😏

Are you a fan of queer retellings?

If so, which ones are your favorite?

Let me know!