... a fun and frothy queer rom-com with a nod to Pride & Prejudice ... hat’s where the fake dating trope comes in! This is a popular trope which is fantastic when done right, and it’s used to full advantage here with the author avoiding the common pitfalls by steering clear of any gross power dynamics and making sure that both characters are on the same page about consenting to PDAs ... Both main characters have distinct voices and personalities, and this is most clearly expressed in their text message exchanges ... well-written side characters who provide greater insight into our heroines as well as standing on their own as believable and realistic three-dimensional human beings. These ladies may not be the star of the story, but they add a great deal of humour and heart ... There aren’t any real surprises or plot twists here as romance readers know how the story will end, but it’s the journey that matters and watching the romance develop between Darcy and Elle is an utter joy. It’s sweet and delightful to see them grow closer and start viewing each other’s previously annoying mannerisms as endearing quirks instead. Ah, the power of love! ... While your mileage may vary on this, the chief weakness of this story for me was the motivation for Darcy and Elle to embark on the fake relationship in the first place ... Overall, this is a charming opposites-attract sapphic romance with loveable main characters who are easy to invest in. It’s a bumpy road to true love, but what a fun ride watching Darcy and Elle gravitate towards each other and succumb to the inevitable! A quick, enjoyable read that is highly recommended to romance lovers.
[A] fun, light-weight and light-hearted romp through the worlds of two Seattle women who find love together in spite of themselves ... Sometimes, you just want to read a fun romance novel, and Written in the Stars is that. Gooey with kindness and affable as a puppy, it’s a warm, near-perfect sink into a sweetness and light ... Overall, the book is a sweet little romantic romp that’s a perfectly cozy holiday season read.
Bellefleur announces herself as an incredible new talent. Although the book is about two queer women searching for love, she steers clear of homophobic side characters and sadness, reveling instead in the pure joy of two women finding love. While the fake-dating trope will be familiar to romance readers and rom-com watchers, Bellefleur writes it like you’ve never seen it before. She constantly finds ways to transform and uplift her characters in the process, and produces some of the best banter I have had the fortune of reading in any romance novel. Combined with a knock-your-socks-off meet-cute, plenty of steamy but believable love scenes, and just the right amount of woo-woo, Written in the Stars feels fresh and original, heartfelt and fun.
The manifold reboots of Pride and Prejudice practically require their own section in the bookstore these days, so when you pick up a rom-com with lead characters named Darcy and Elle, you might think you know what you’re in for. But Alexandria Bellefleur’s queer romance Written in the Stars gives its inspo a mere wink before unfolding into a distinctly modern frolic, charming and effervescent and entirely itself ... This is a dyed-in-the-wool rom-com, filled with familiar tropes ... What makes Written in the Stars so refreshing is that it doesn’t rely on flimsy constructs ... The ending they find together feels hopeful, happy and written in the . . . well, you know.
Well-developed leads, relatable conflicts, a strong supporting cast, and opposites-attract chemistry make for an engaging read. Fans of Alexis Hall’s Boyfriend Material (2020) and Talia Hibbert’s Take a Hint, Dani Brown (2020) will enjoy this Seattle-set love story that reads like a romantic holiday movie.
... excellent ... Readers will be rapt by the sensuous love scenes once Darcy and Elle throw pretense aside ... A moving subplot about Elle’s fight for her family’s acceptance rounds out the story, while astrology memes and nods to Pride and Prejudice scattered throughout add texture. This is a delight.
The plot doesn’t deviate much from other fake-dating favorites ... But the plot’s predictability doesn’t detract from its two compelling leading ladies, and there are interesting conversations around nontraditional career paths and breaking away from familial expectations. Fans of pop culture–inspired astrology sites will love the effortless and entertaining way the author weaves zodiac memes throughout the text ... The stars align in this charming queer rom-com.
