Book Review: Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake

‘Delilah Green Doesn’t Care’ by Ashley Herring Blake is the first book of three that explores several young women residing in Bright Falls, Oregon. It was released in early 2022, with its sequel coming out just months later, toward the end of the year. The third book, ‘Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date’, will be released in October 2023.

Delilah Green is estranged from her family, just managing to make ends meet in New York City, working as a photographer. She is astounded to be hired by her family to capture pictures of the lead-up and the day of her stepsister, Astrid’s wedding.

I found this book incredibly refreshing – although it explores many familiar and much-loved romance tropes like dating in secret, having older characters with more baggage was much more interesting to me. Yes, I’m sure it could be argued that I enjoyed the book solely because it was about a world outside of education, but the fact that these characters are queer adults, navigating small-town lives, big dreams, relationships, work, and their traumas, versus children who are dealing with bullying etc. was something I loved a lot more than I anticipated. Coming out stories are essential, but, a world where you can read about the vulnerabilities of falling in love as a queer adult was different to most of my previous reading. It was a breath of fresh air.

The characters in this book were fun – I loved seeing Iris, Astrid, and Claire’s relationship, concrete, secure and confident. They don’t second-guess their words together, because they’ve been friends for such a long time. And I love that when it counts, they are there for each other – and for Ruby, Claire’s daughter. Their dialogue was realistic, funny, and light-hearted, but also harsh and honest. They have fun, and laugh together, but when it counts, they aren’t necessarily afraid to rip the bandage off, even if they question how best to do it – after all, telling someone whose current partner is a “shit boot” versus someone who’s ex is a “shit boot” are two different things.

I also enjoyed the way that this book acknowledged the weight of adult decisions, and how, when you’re older, societal expectations and dreams can clash. Iris’ relationship with her long-term-boyfriend, Grant, is a great example of it. He wants the kids, the house, and the picket-fence life, while that has never been something Iris wanted. There’s friction, compromise, and hesitation in this relationship, and it echoes the struggles many people have when they’re expected to have their lives together.

What I enjoyed, particularly, was that although the women in this book were approaching their thirties, they were still able to let loose, laugh, and have fun. You don’t necessarily expect older characters to go on a date at a roller-rink, but you would with a teenage couple. It used the same scenario in a different vein that had me squealing.

Claire and Delilah’s relationship was fun and honest – Claire can’t do casual, and we’re introduced to Delilah bolting from a hook-up’s flat in New York. Watching them navigate their boundaries, build bridges and move on from their childhoods was lovely. There are so many moments that just had me squealing – like when Claire gets bashful about her appearance when she’s in bed with Delilah and Delilah encourages her that she is perfect. It is clear from the get-go that Claire is curvy – she is described as such throughout the book, and her confidence while clothed, versus when she’s in bed is raw.

I loved the added stress on the relationship as it develops. They’re adults with jobs and lives outside this two-week stint that has Delilah back in her hometown. While there is little that keeps Delilah tethered to Bright Falls, it’s apparent Claire can’t just drop everything and enjoy a whirlwind romance in New York because she has commitments – she has an independent business, an irresponsible ex, and a child, a creative, intuitive, hormonal daughter going through her own struggles.

I loved this book, and am currently counting down the days until I get paid so I can order the next two! If you want a slice of small-town nostalgia, filled with love, then read ‘Delilah Green Doesn’t Care’!