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The Seasons Change #3
Faded in Bloom
I know three things about my neighbor, Adam Wainwright.
1. He likes to play his guitar on his balcony, often in his underwear.
2. He lives up to his f-boy reputation.
3. He must never, ever exist outside of the Friend Zone.
But the problem with number three is over the last year, he’s become my everything.
Adam’s the best friend I’ve ever had. The one who pushes me to follow dreams I’d written off as impossible.
We have strict lines that we don’t cross. Even when we blur them on occasion by playing you can look but you can’t touch, the lines are always there, guarding our friendship.
Taunting me with possibility.
Anytime he’s near, butterflies wage war in my stomach, desperately wanting those possibilities to become reality.
But me and my stupid butterflies are alone in that desire.
Adam Wainwright will never be mine, and I can no longer watch him be everyone else’s.
I don’t know how this will all go down, but one thing I do know?
I’m going to ruin our friendship.
1. He likes to play his guitar on his balcony, often in his underwear.
2. He lives up to his f-boy reputation.
3. He must never, ever exist outside of the Friend Zone.
But the problem with number three is over the last year, he’s become my everything.
Adam’s the best friend I’ve ever had. The one who pushes me to follow dreams I’d written off as impossible.
We have strict lines that we don’t cross. Even when we blur them on occasion by playing you can look but you can’t touch, the lines are always there, guarding our friendship.
Taunting me with possibility.
Anytime he’s near, butterflies wage war in my stomach, desperately wanting those possibilities to become reality.
But me and my stupid butterflies are alone in that desire.
Adam Wainwright will never be mine, and I can no longer watch him be everyone else’s.
I don’t know how this will all go down, but one thing I do know?
I’m going to ruin our friendship.
361 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 16, 2022
886 people are currently reading
3596 people want to read
About the author
Julia Wolf
49 books3,477 followersJulia lives in Maryland with her patient husband and three crazy, beautiful kids!
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June 22, 2022✩ dnf
that's it, i'm calling it. time of death = fifty (plus something) percent. and you know, i should have known from the prologue.
so… let me explain.
adam wainwright is a character whose been on the periphery of a few of julia wolfe's other books. he's featured most prominently in built to fall where he actively pursues, claire. he's been billed to us as the ladies man with a heart of gold. he's also the only single person in his band, the seasons change.
also… he's high-key dense as fuck. but, idk… some people are denser than others, and that's okay. we love our clueless kings, too.
then there's adelaide goodman. she's… *sighs deeply* she's that heroine. she's the heroine who decides she's going to befriend the known man-hoe and then falls for him. but, because he's a known man-hoe she's not gonna tell him, but get subtly mad at him because she's in love with him.
and you know what, i don't have time for that aggravation. now, i didn't get far enough to see if that's how everything plays out, but… it was starting to happen.
like, stop it. stop it right now. i don't feel bad for you, cause you haven't said anything. and you know what, you guys aren't even that good of friends. there. i said it. they seemed like two dense idiots who liked each other but couldn't recognize those feelings so they ended up being "friends" who sometimes fooled around. only, adelaide wised up first.
so, yeah…
looking at the reviews i'm clearly in the minority here. and i honestly think it's a case of me hating this specific kind of friends-to-lovers trope.
moreover, i wasn't feeling adelaide as a character. i didn't really feel bad for her and her nepotism baby problems, i didn't like the way she was starting to handle the "i'm in love with adam" situation, and also… adam. he was just there, being his sexually liberated self.
i miss the creepy intensity of weird as fuck, callum. who would have thought 🤷♀️
❝i’m sorry. i shouldn’t have said that shit,❞ i whispered.
she sighed. ❝will you get off the floor?❞
❝if you want me to. i’m available to be your footrest if you prefer.❞
that's it, i'm calling it. time of death = fifty (plus something) percent. and you know, i should have known from the prologue.
so… let me explain.
adam wainwright is a character whose been on the periphery of a few of julia wolfe's other books. he's featured most prominently in built to fall where he actively pursues, claire. he's been billed to us as the ladies man with a heart of gold. he's also the only single person in his band, the seasons change.
also… he's high-key dense as fuck. but, idk… some people are denser than others, and that's okay. we love our clueless kings, too.
then there's adelaide goodman. she's… *sighs deeply* she's that heroine. she's the heroine who decides she's going to befriend the known man-hoe and then falls for him. but, because he's a known man-hoe she's not gonna tell him, but get subtly mad at him because she's in love with him.
and you know what, i don't have time for that aggravation. now, i didn't get far enough to see if that's how everything plays out, but… it was starting to happen.
he saw me so clearly in almost every way, but when it came to sex and love and relationships, i was his blind spot.
like, stop it. stop it right now. i don't feel bad for you, cause you haven't said anything. and you know what, you guys aren't even that good of friends. there. i said it. they seemed like two dense idiots who liked each other but couldn't recognize those feelings so they ended up being "friends" who sometimes fooled around. only, adelaide wised up first.
so, yeah…
looking at the reviews i'm clearly in the minority here. and i honestly think it's a case of me hating this specific kind of friends-to-lovers trope.
moreover, i wasn't feeling adelaide as a character. i didn't really feel bad for her and her nepotism baby problems, i didn't like the way she was starting to handle the "i'm in love with adam" situation, and also… adam. he was just there, being his sexually liberated self.
i miss the creepy intensity of weird as fuck, callum. who would have thought 🤷♀️
April 11, 2023
4.25 stars
Such a fantastic friends to lovers romance! This is my fourth book by Julia Wolf and it’s safe to say I’m a big fan! I’ve been waiting for Adam’s book for so long and he has that type of personality that you’re either going to love him to death or he’ll drive you crazy… I loved him! Addie was fantastic too. This one had me smiling so much, but also got pretty angsty through the middle. But overall it was so much fun, steam, and the friendship was my favorite part of the book.
Such a fantastic friends to lovers romance! This is my fourth book by Julia Wolf and it’s safe to say I’m a big fan! I’ve been waiting for Adam’s book for so long and he has that type of personality that you’re either going to love him to death or he’ll drive you crazy… I loved him! Addie was fantastic too. This one had me smiling so much, but also got pretty angsty through the middle. But overall it was so much fun, steam, and the friendship was my favorite part of the book.
Adelaide was my Baddie. My home. My baby. My best friend. The something I’d been searching for. She was the beginning and the end. My one and only bloom… My girl next door.
August 15, 2023
This started out really rough for me, but I loved it by the end. Why, you ask? Because Adam is fucking dumb. As in, dumber than a box of rocks and dull tacks, dumb. Adelaide, The Seasons Change asshole manager Saul’s daughter, has moved in next to fuck-boy guitarist Adam, and they become fast friends. He’s dating someone, she’s dating someone, and both know that they can’t cross the boundaries they set. Saul would kill them both. So friends it is, which leads to him calling her baby and “my girl” and them crossing all kinds of boundaries but they still have their cute little blinders on. Until Adam does a few unforgivable and hurtful things in a row that he REALLY doesn’t mean or even remember. Fuck that noise. I was ready to throw in the towel on both of them.
Poor Addie Baddie basically got her heart ripped out when she had only just realized she’d given it to Adam, and of course HE didn’t realize…because of the aforementioned dumbness. Buuuuuttttt he did manage to bring things around. So I did end up rooting for these crazy kids in the end. Not my favorite love story, but I did love their HEA. The sweet words, their earnestness, his protectiveness…I love their love. I’m gonna go take an IQ test now just to make sure my brain cells have recovered from Adam’s cluelessness. I feel like I’m forgetting something. Oh yeah…FUCK NATALIE!
Poor Addie Baddie basically got her heart ripped out when she had only just realized she’d given it to Adam, and of course HE didn’t realize…because of the aforementioned dumbness. Buuuuuttttt he did manage to bring things around. So I did end up rooting for these crazy kids in the end. Not my favorite love story, but I did love their HEA. The sweet words, their earnestness, his protectiveness…I love their love. I’m gonna go take an IQ test now just to make sure my brain cells have recovered from Adam’s cluelessness. I feel like I’m forgetting something. Oh yeah…FUCK NATALIE!
June 18, 2022
3.5 stars. I like this author’s New Adult books better than her rockstar books, but I still tried this one because I heard it had angst and groveling. This is a friends to lovers rock star trope with likeable characters, medium level angst, a bit of kink, and a good grovel – although, I wasn’t totally satisfied with it for reasons I’ll get into.
Adelaide, who's 23, is a model/aspiring music producer. She lives next to rockstar Adam, who’s 26, and they become close friends. He’s a manwhore with a golden retriever personality. When she develops feelings for him, she thinks they’re unrequited. Then, she overhears him talking shit about her at a party, to a girl that she hates. I liked that the bad thing he did to her didn’t really involve OW, the way a lot of rock star books do (it sort of did, he just didn’t do anything sexual with this OW). But it was still bad enough to be angsty.
He was drunk and high at the time, so he doesn’t remember doing that, and he’s confused and alarmed to return from a tour with his band to find that she blocked him on her phone and moved away. Then, he grovels.
I like that this author wasn’t afraid to give Adelaide qualities that are unrelatable to the average person (in this case, being a wealthy model with famous parents). Too many authors try to make their heroine “relatable” by having her enjoy reading, and otherwise she doesn’t have much of a personality. Having a heroine with a specific backstory who feels like a real person is always better (and more relatable) than having a blank slate heroine. Adam is likeable, too – golden retriever heroes aren’t my favorite, but he’s a good one, even though I did get annoyed with how dense he was at times. This book also has an element of kink (public sex / voyeurism and a bit of bondage).
After he finds out what he did to her, his grovel is good:
This is all good stuff…but the reason for 3.5 stars is that even though this is a good grovel, I didn’t feel like it actually addressed what he did. He says he doesn’t know why he said those things. I believe him! But the problem is, if we have no idea why he did that, how can we trust he won’t do it again? The part of the book where they're insisting they're "just friends" but obviously are more is also dragged on for too long.
I also found all of the side characters boring – although that might be my own fault since I haven’t read the other books in this series. Still, the side characters in this author’s New Adult series like Start a Fire and Bright Like Midnight are much better.
Other than that stuff, if you want a rock star friends to lovers read with a golden retriever hero who is a manwhore but is faithful to the heroine, angst, groveling, and a bit of kink, this is a solid read.
Adelaide, who's 23, is a model/aspiring music producer. She lives next to rockstar Adam, who’s 26, and they become close friends. He’s a manwhore with a golden retriever personality. When she develops feelings for him, she thinks they’re unrequited. Then, she overhears him talking shit about her at a party, to a girl that she hates. I liked that the bad thing he did to her didn’t really involve OW, the way a lot of rock star books do (it sort of did, he just didn’t do anything sexual with this OW). But it was still bad enough to be angsty.
He was drunk and high at the time, so he doesn’t remember doing that, and he’s confused and alarmed to return from a tour with his band to find that she blocked him on her phone and moved away. Then, he grovels.
I like that this author wasn’t afraid to give Adelaide qualities that are unrelatable to the average person (in this case, being a wealthy model with famous parents). Too many authors try to make their heroine “relatable” by having her enjoy reading, and otherwise she doesn’t have much of a personality. Having a heroine with a specific backstory who feels like a real person is always better (and more relatable) than having a blank slate heroine. Adam is likeable, too – golden retriever heroes aren’t my favorite, but he’s a good one, even though I did get annoyed with how dense he was at times. This book also has an element of kink (public sex / voyeurism and a bit of bondage).
After he finds out what he did to her, his grovel is good:
This is all good stuff…but the reason for 3.5 stars is that even though this is a good grovel, I didn’t feel like it actually addressed what he did. He says he doesn’t know why he said those things. I believe him! But the problem is, if we have no idea why he did that, how can we trust he won’t do it again? The part of the book where they're insisting they're "just friends" but obviously are more is also dragged on for too long.
I also found all of the side characters boring – although that might be my own fault since I haven’t read the other books in this series. Still, the side characters in this author’s New Adult series like Start a Fire and Bright Like Midnight are much better.
Other than that stuff, if you want a rock star friends to lovers read with a golden retriever hero who is a manwhore but is faithful to the heroine, angst, groveling, and a bit of kink, this is a solid read.
June 27, 2022
I’ve enjoyed other books by this author but this was a miss. It’s a shame because the prologue was so effective in making me wonder what went wrong between Adam and Adelaide (neighbors to lovers!) and it’s ultimately the reason I kept reading, despite the many issues piling up. The angst potential didn’t deliver either unfortunately. I was too busy rooting for Adelaide to get on with her life, find some boundaries, and then find someone better than Adam.
Because that’s the main issue: I didn’t like Adam. There were moments I could see his appeal. He's a golden retriever with loads of charm and at times he took good care of Adelaide. But that didn’t make up for the things that came out of his mouth. He was a misogynist. Besides saying incredibly degrading things to Adelaide, he keeps calling her a girl. She’s a woman! He gets mad that she puts him in the same camp as her toxic misogynist father but guess what? He deserves to be there. He was also incredibly thoughtless, Adelaide had every right to cut him out of her life, although I wish she’d just been upfront about it. They could both be immature. He also continues to touch her hair because he wants to, even though she's asked him not to and explained how that will mess it up and he's watched what all is involved in wash day. This is not a guy concerned with anything but his own desires.
His version of groveling involved ignoring when she tells him to leave her alone or declines his offers, stalking her, and hiring a bodyguard and bribing her landlord to get better locks on the building and her apartment because he thinks it’s too unsafe. None of this is okay. At no time does he respect her wishes. He chases and traps her in spite of her physical and verbal cues that she does not want him near. This leads to extreme dubcon that could be read as sexual assault. The blurred lines of their “games” as friends-who-mutually-masturbate-but-don’t-touch paved the way for this but he has no excuse for his actions. He literally cornered her while she was trying to get away from him and didn’t ask her if she was okay with having sex, much less unprotected sex. Just because she didn’t say no doesn’t mean what happened was okay. Then after she says she’ll need to get Plan B because she’s not on birth control, he’s practically offended that she wouldn’t want to have his baby. She had been trying to cut him out of her life and for good reason. They're not even dating! What part of this scenario makes a baby sound like a good idea?! He hasn’t demonstrated that he’s learned or changed or that he’ll do what it takes to prevent the same mistake from happening again.
And the thing is, he does all that without having any idea of how he feels about her. That’s how obtuse he is. It’s a little too “if I can't have her, no one will” for me. It’s all about what he wants, nothing to do with her wants or needs. She moves out so he destroys the tile on the wall that separated their bathrooms. He gets drunk and somehow wrangles it so that she’s the one who’s called and has to pick him up. He doesn’t respect the fact that she blocked him on her phone and literally moved to a different apartment so she wouldn’t have to deal with him. Before their falling out, he would police what she was going to wear on dates with other people. I don’t care that he didn’t realize they were more than friends all along or that he self-sabotaged. He needs to go to therapy and learn how to make true amends, not papering everything over with sex and forcing her to interact with him. It’s interesting to reflect on my reaction to all this because I probably would have overlooked half of it four or five years ago but it sure rubs me the wrong way now.
Why does she keep toxic people in her life? The second half was stronger because she severed ties with her horrible dad, found her own place and a new job, and had parted ways from Adam. But he wormed his way back into her life far too easily. She was a people-pleasing pushover and I needed to see much more growth to believe they’d ever have a fair shot together. Otherwise he’s just going to keep steamrolling her. Related to her dad:
Then there was the BDSM rep. Adam kink-shames a fat person at the sex club he belongs to, which also came across as fatphobic. Both MCs kink-shame certain preferences. The friend group blabs each other’s sexual preferences to strangers. He ties her up when they’re still friends but doesn’t educate on how it all works or the emotions that might come out, emotions that are all the more complicated because she’s in love with him and he has no clue. Later, he agrees to be tied up by her but he doesn’t have a safeword and she does it out of anger and to teach him a lesson. It was a disturbing scene made all the worse because it led directly to do the dubcon once she released him from the restraints. Also, the idea of paparazzi showing up at the sex club right when he was leaving was completely ludicrous for so many reasons.
I’m white so I can’t speak to Adelaide’s representation as a mixed race woman but I have a lot of questions. Her mom was Somali and Muslim. Her dad isn’t identified by race, just that he’s Jewish but the assumptions is that he’s white, as Adelaide’s skin is described as being a few shades lighter than her mom and she has hazel eyes. However, POC can be Jewish too so there’s no excuse for not naming that he’s white and she’s mixed race. White people are overwhelmingly the default in this story. I don’t recall noticing any other POC until she starts her new job in the second half and meets her boss. She doesn’t seem to know any other Somalis or have ties to Black culture in general. There's a lot of room for improvement.
Additionally, there was a lot of ageism, fatphobia, and slut-shaming. All unnecessary.
Characters: Adam is a 26 year old white guitarist/rock star with dick piercings. Adelaide is a 23 year old mixed race (Somali Muslim mom, white Jewish dad) office assistant and model with a nose ring. She later This is set in NYC.
Content notes: , MMC stalks FMC after she cuts him out of her life, sexual assault by model at photo shoot (MMC immediately hauls him off of FMC and he’s fired), image-based sexual abuse (), toxic father and brief estrangement that should have been permanent, past death of mother (cervical cancer), sexual harassment by fans, MMC threatens violence toward model who assaults FMC, Mean Girl trope, unprotected sex (multiple times, no pregnancy results), Plan B use, family planning discussion, kink-shaming (uncountered), fatphobia (uncountered), fatshaming at photo shoot (she decides not to eat lunch as a result but then MMC feeds her some fruit), misogyny (MMC and her dad), sexism, racist comment by FMC’s dad (refers to her neighborhood as the ghetto), ageism (uncountered), slut-shaming (uncountered), acephobic line (only purpose of having a boyfriend is to have sex), STD stigma, dubious consent/sexual assault by MMC of FMC (), on page sex, public sex, bondage, breeding play, mutual masturbation, auditory voyeurism, sex toys, sex toys, alcohol, inebriation, hangover, marijuana, gendered pejoratives, gender essentialism, ableist language, hyperbolic language around suicide, FMC compares her feelings for MMC to addiction, mention of father’s second wife cheating
Because that’s the main issue: I didn’t like Adam. There were moments I could see his appeal. He's a golden retriever with loads of charm and at times he took good care of Adelaide. But that didn’t make up for the things that came out of his mouth. He was a misogynist. Besides saying incredibly degrading things to Adelaide, he keeps calling her a girl. She’s a woman! He gets mad that she puts him in the same camp as her toxic misogynist father but guess what? He deserves to be there. He was also incredibly thoughtless, Adelaide had every right to cut him out of her life, although I wish she’d just been upfront about it. They could both be immature. He also continues to touch her hair because he wants to, even though she's asked him not to and explained how that will mess it up and he's watched what all is involved in wash day. This is not a guy concerned with anything but his own desires.
His version of groveling involved ignoring when she tells him to leave her alone or declines his offers, stalking her, and hiring a bodyguard and bribing her landlord to get better locks on the building and her apartment because he thinks it’s too unsafe. None of this is okay. At no time does he respect her wishes. He chases and traps her in spite of her physical and verbal cues that she does not want him near. This leads to extreme dubcon that could be read as sexual assault. The blurred lines of their “games” as friends-who-mutually-masturbate-but-don’t-touch paved the way for this but he has no excuse for his actions. He literally cornered her while she was trying to get away from him and didn’t ask her if she was okay with having sex, much less unprotected sex. Just because she didn’t say no doesn’t mean what happened was okay. Then after she says she’ll need to get Plan B because she’s not on birth control, he’s practically offended that she wouldn’t want to have his baby. She had been trying to cut him out of her life and for good reason. They're not even dating! What part of this scenario makes a baby sound like a good idea?! He hasn’t demonstrated that he’s learned or changed or that he’ll do what it takes to prevent the same mistake from happening again.
And the thing is, he does all that without having any idea of how he feels about her. That’s how obtuse he is. It’s a little too “if I can't have her, no one will” for me. It’s all about what he wants, nothing to do with her wants or needs. She moves out so he destroys the tile on the wall that separated their bathrooms. He gets drunk and somehow wrangles it so that she’s the one who’s called and has to pick him up. He doesn’t respect the fact that she blocked him on her phone and literally moved to a different apartment so she wouldn’t have to deal with him. Before their falling out, he would police what she was going to wear on dates with other people. I don’t care that he didn’t realize they were more than friends all along or that he self-sabotaged. He needs to go to therapy and learn how to make true amends, not papering everything over with sex and forcing her to interact with him. It’s interesting to reflect on my reaction to all this because I probably would have overlooked half of it four or five years ago but it sure rubs me the wrong way now.
Why does she keep toxic people in her life? The second half was stronger because she severed ties with her horrible dad, found her own place and a new job, and had parted ways from Adam. But he wormed his way back into her life far too easily. She was a people-pleasing pushover and I needed to see much more growth to believe they’d ever have a fair shot together. Otherwise he’s just going to keep steamrolling her. Related to her dad:
Then there was the BDSM rep. Adam kink-shames a fat person at the sex club he belongs to, which also came across as fatphobic. Both MCs kink-shame certain preferences. The friend group blabs each other’s sexual preferences to strangers. He ties her up when they’re still friends but doesn’t educate on how it all works or the emotions that might come out, emotions that are all the more complicated because she’s in love with him and he has no clue. Later, he agrees to be tied up by her but he doesn’t have a safeword and she does it out of anger and to teach him a lesson. It was a disturbing scene made all the worse because it led directly to do the dubcon once she released him from the restraints. Also, the idea of paparazzi showing up at the sex club right when he was leaving was completely ludicrous for so many reasons.
I’m white so I can’t speak to Adelaide’s representation as a mixed race woman but I have a lot of questions. Her mom was Somali and Muslim. Her dad isn’t identified by race, just that he’s Jewish but the assumptions is that he’s white, as Adelaide’s skin is described as being a few shades lighter than her mom and she has hazel eyes. However, POC can be Jewish too so there’s no excuse for not naming that he’s white and she’s mixed race. White people are overwhelmingly the default in this story. I don’t recall noticing any other POC until she starts her new job in the second half and meets her boss. She doesn’t seem to know any other Somalis or have ties to Black culture in general. There's a lot of room for improvement.
Additionally, there was a lot of ageism, fatphobia, and slut-shaming. All unnecessary.
Characters: Adam is a 26 year old white guitarist/rock star with dick piercings. Adelaide is a 23 year old mixed race (Somali Muslim mom, white Jewish dad) office assistant and model with a nose ring. She later This is set in NYC.
Content notes: , MMC stalks FMC after she cuts him out of her life, sexual assault by model at photo shoot (MMC immediately hauls him off of FMC and he’s fired), image-based sexual abuse (), toxic father and brief estrangement that should have been permanent, past death of mother (cervical cancer), sexual harassment by fans, MMC threatens violence toward model who assaults FMC, Mean Girl trope, unprotected sex (multiple times, no pregnancy results), Plan B use, family planning discussion, kink-shaming (uncountered), fatphobia (uncountered), fatshaming at photo shoot (she decides not to eat lunch as a result but then MMC feeds her some fruit), misogyny (MMC and her dad), sexism, racist comment by FMC’s dad (refers to her neighborhood as the ghetto), ageism (uncountered), slut-shaming (uncountered), acephobic line (only purpose of having a boyfriend is to have sex), STD stigma, dubious consent/sexual assault by MMC of FMC (), on page sex, public sex, bondage, breeding play, mutual masturbation, auditory voyeurism, sex toys, sex toys, alcohol, inebriation, hangover, marijuana, gendered pejoratives, gender essentialism, ableist language, hyperbolic language around suicide, FMC compares her feelings for MMC to addiction, mention of father’s second wife cheating
July 7, 2022
Horrible characters
The wasn’t a single likeable character in this book. The male lead? My goodness, what a childish little man. Of course you’re supposed to swoon over him because he hasn’t slept with anyone since meeting you ALTHOUGH not for his lack of trying. I mean he does actively go out to smex clubs whilst being intimate with you too and you get to hear about his sex crazed past, orgies with fans and groupies and his concern about his memories of the other women he had at the smex club tainting his experience there with you.
No accountability for his actions, no rhyme, no reason, nothing. He blatantly disrespects you and his reason is ‘I don’t know why I did that’…
She’s in need of a lobotomy for entertaining this toxic relationship and he’s in need of a std screening and a sponsor for his mandatory AA meetings. Thank you, next!
The wasn’t a single likeable character in this book. The male lead? My goodness, what a childish little man. Of course you’re supposed to swoon over him because he hasn’t slept with anyone since meeting you ALTHOUGH not for his lack of trying. I mean he does actively go out to smex clubs whilst being intimate with you too and you get to hear about his sex crazed past, orgies with fans and groupies and his concern about his memories of the other women he had at the smex club tainting his experience there with you.
No accountability for his actions, no rhyme, no reason, nothing. He blatantly disrespects you and his reason is ‘I don’t know why I did that’…
She’s in need of a lobotomy for entertaining this toxic relationship and he’s in need of a std screening and a sponsor for his mandatory AA meetings. Thank you, next!
dnf
July 18, 2024DNF @ 59%
I couldn’t connect with the characters. It’s a boring slow-burn romance, friends to lovers with a bit of unrequited love. At 59% they still haven’t had sex and I don’t understand why. They make each other orgasm without touching *eye roll* It’s annoying how they just don’t admit how they feel about each other. Nobody got time for that.
Yawn. I came for the angsty “overheard” trope but that scene wasn’t angsty at all. Or maybe I just didn’t care.
I couldn’t connect with the characters. It’s a boring slow-burn romance, friends to lovers with a bit of unrequited love. At 59% they still haven’t had sex and I don’t understand why. They make each other orgasm without touching *eye roll* It’s annoying how they just don’t admit how they feel about each other. Nobody got time for that.
Yawn. I came for the angsty “overheard” trope but that scene wasn’t angsty at all. Or maybe I just didn’t care.
June 15, 2022
The Seasons Change rockstar romance series has a brand new story for loyal fans and new readers to devour. Julia Wolf brings it on with Faded in Bloom, guitarist Adam Wainwright's story, a character I was waiting patiently for since the first book. He certainly intrigued me- an irresistible player with a penchant for private clubs and PDA's- a man with no filter who enjoyed being the center of attention. But there was more I wanted to know about this man and the woman who turned his world upside down.
Adam's story begins in the present where he's hit hard with an unexpected truth, then flashes back to their beginning and goes forward from there. His life is irrevocably altered by a friendship with his off limits neighbor- the gorgeous daughter of his label's owner. Adelaide's the polar opposite of him in so many ways but their best friend status develops into a slow burning attraction on both sides, but doesn't materialize into anything more, at least not right away. He's addicted to his beautiful, forbidden 'Baddie', who's on his mind constantly, even when he's worlds away from her.
Adelaide was developing a heavy duty crush on her new bestie and neighbor, Adam, but that would not do. Nevertheless, she finding herself falling further and further down his larger than life rabbit hole and deeper into his bigger than life world. I couldn't help wondering- why doesn't she say anything about how she really feels? She kept everything safely tucked away and hidden behind her impenetrable wall when emotions became too hard to deal with.
Adam, the clueless charmer, embraced his starring role as the last single person in his band. But when he morphed into a jealous best friend, mixed messages and misunderstandings left Adelaide with a bad taste in her mouth. I began to see a side of Adelaide I didn't expect as the story progressed. When the layers of her past were peeled back, it revealed emotional neglect by someone who should have cherished her, instead of crushing her already broken, tender young heart.
As I got deeper and deeper into Faded in Bloom, there were times I felt like shaking both Adelaide and Adam- they needed to get out of their own heads and find their way together- a happy place where blooms never fade, dreams come true and love prevails, despite how many bumps were in their road while trying to get there.
Once again, the talented Julia Wolf has drawn me into a place I love to be- a fly on the wall in the one of the worlds she's created for her readers, where a fantastically beautiful ending for her characters is waiting to be discovered and enjoyed.
I received an early copy of this book to read and this my honest review of it.
Adam's story begins in the present where he's hit hard with an unexpected truth, then flashes back to their beginning and goes forward from there. His life is irrevocably altered by a friendship with his off limits neighbor- the gorgeous daughter of his label's owner. Adelaide's the polar opposite of him in so many ways but their best friend status develops into a slow burning attraction on both sides, but doesn't materialize into anything more, at least not right away. He's addicted to his beautiful, forbidden 'Baddie', who's on his mind constantly, even when he's worlds away from her.
Adelaide was developing a heavy duty crush on her new bestie and neighbor, Adam, but that would not do. Nevertheless, she finding herself falling further and further down his larger than life rabbit hole and deeper into his bigger than life world. I couldn't help wondering- why doesn't she say anything about how she really feels? She kept everything safely tucked away and hidden behind her impenetrable wall when emotions became too hard to deal with.
Adam, the clueless charmer, embraced his starring role as the last single person in his band. But when he morphed into a jealous best friend, mixed messages and misunderstandings left Adelaide with a bad taste in her mouth. I began to see a side of Adelaide I didn't expect as the story progressed. When the layers of her past were peeled back, it revealed emotional neglect by someone who should have cherished her, instead of crushing her already broken, tender young heart.
As I got deeper and deeper into Faded in Bloom, there were times I felt like shaking both Adelaide and Adam- they needed to get out of their own heads and find their way together- a happy place where blooms never fade, dreams come true and love prevails, despite how many bumps were in their road while trying to get there.
Once again, the talented Julia Wolf has drawn me into a place I love to be- a fly on the wall in the one of the worlds she's created for her readers, where a fantastically beautiful ending for her characters is waiting to be discovered and enjoyed.
I received an early copy of this book to read and this my honest review of it.
January 21, 2025
This was a good book!
I enjoyed the storyline and getting to know all of the characters too. I couldn't put it down. The way it started make you hooked to see where it went.
However, It was frustrating to see them both not entirely convinced by their own feelings but intentionally stay in touch.
I enjoyed the storyline and getting to know all of the characters too. I couldn't put it down. The way it started make you hooked to see where it went.
However, It was frustrating to see them both not entirely convinced by their own feelings but intentionally stay in touch.
June 4, 2024
I can't believe I'm DNFing a book by one of my favorite authors at 70%, but I just couldn't take it anymore. Adam was beyond irritating, and I couldn't stand him. After what he said about the fmc to that other chick—whom she repeatedly told him she didn't like—and he still hung out with her, invited her to a party, and talked about the FMC in such a disgusting way to that girl, are you freaking kidding me?
Honestly, I couldn't stand him for the entire book. He was so unlikeable, obnoxious, and just fucken annoying. And does the FMC have no standards? She let him back into her life after everything he said about her and had sex with him straight away like fuck me dead the author was like let me write a doormat fmc because that’s exactly what she is
I have nothing good to say about this book. Adam is legit one of the worst mmc I’ve read
Honestly, I couldn't stand him for the entire book. He was so unlikeable, obnoxious, and just fucken annoying. And does the FMC have no standards? She let him back into her life after everything he said about her and had sex with him straight away like fuck me dead the author was like let me write a doormat fmc because that’s exactly what she is
I have nothing good to say about this book. Adam is legit one of the worst mmc I’ve read
June 21, 2022
two people who never felt like they were enough- fulfill each other
This was tough to rate because it lacked some of the things I really like in books but then again it had me so deep in my feels also.
Some things:
-Rockstar H.. follows the series of a music band. Adam is a guitarist who sings some also
-strong, sweet and smart h. Our baddie is a beautiful mixed woman. Not exactly sure what her ethnicity but she’s brown and I loved that.
-obvi it’s interracial ❤️❤️
-double pierced peen tip and at the base
-exhibitionist k!nk… Adam likes to be watched or the idea of being caught. Our h learns she’s into it also.
-slow burn 🔥 the actual deed doesn’t happen until after half way I can’t remember exactly when now (it was in my updates but i forget stuff sooo oops!) but we get mutual masturbation over text, and then in front of each other or with each other but no touching
-neighbors to best friends to lovers… this was that “we’re friends and we’re not gonna mess it up by getting sexy and catching feelings”
-that being said this book has LOTS of denial. Lol. I mean they are soooooo oblivious to the others feelings they spend most of the book as “friends” … 🙄
-a little squirt scene for you dirty girls who look for those.
-OW/OM… so their friends so h goes on dates
With OM I think a few times it’s off page and it’s before they have exchanged any smexy texts but I think that’s the extent. H at the very beginning has a FWB situation and they break it off.. I think baddie has been his neighbor for like 2 Months at this point but after that.. he’s with NO ONE. He says he’s been with no one but h for the year they have been besties.
-The love ❤️ 😘 Adam was so sweet and thoughtful. I loved their relationship it was so beautiful to see them be so natural together and it organically grow into so much more 😍🥰
-family drama.. her dad is a douche, coworker bish is petty and tries to flirt with Adam and is rude to Adelaide.
-LOTS Of emotions. They are BFF then they are fighting and the other is forcing them to make up. Addie has a tendencies to run when stuff get hard, and Adam says stuff that’s rude without realizing and can be a bit harsh. Lots of feelings getting hurt, getting mad for dumb shit, making up, being friends, being mad, being upset lol.
-we see some of our fav side characters which was nice
-so well written.. this book was written so well. Stone cold note was the same. It’s BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN. I mean your heart just yanks for Adam when he’s losing it without Addie around. You feel her anxiety over how she’s feeling and struggling to shove those feelings waayyyyyyyy inside the friends only box. This author can write so well you FEEL it along with the characters.
-HFN… we get an epilogue that’s 18 months out and all the update we see is they did get married a year before…I NEEDED MORE. I was unsatisfied.
What I didn’t like so much🫣
- this book was LONG AF… idk how many pages it even was but it FELT really long. Theirs a lot of emotion and I felt like some of those convos or fights when on for a longgg time
-The issues… the back and forth/ up down of their relationship .. I get it. I mean their not suppose to cross this line but they are just pulled to each other.. but they can’t.. but they wanna.. but we can’t touch bc it crosses the line.. some of the “issues” were dumb and the reactions or the length of the dramas just seemed to much for what it was.
-piggybacking off ⬆️ that… Addie felt really childish to me sometimes- LIKE TALK TO HIM. Adam always knew when she was off, he was always asking what’s wrong, tell me, what’s going on. I felt like he was just on his knees following her the whole book.
-Adam.. oh man. I loved him. He was kinda damaged, low self esteem but he was like a golden retriever. He really cared and doted on his baddie. he was so thoughtful. That being said he was not alpha to me. He did give us some sexy moments but man I was struggling not having a JP H.he did have moments but it wasn’t enough for me to consider him JP. 🤷🏻♀️
-groveling.. so I saw this recd bc it’s a long grovel. Idk if I felt that. I mean he didn’t even know why she was so upset for a good while. He was like a kicked puppy following her looking for any bread crumb as to why she just stopped talking to him and wasn’t around anymore. He was clueless. It felt like he was groveling the whole book for all her attention and every little maids me he did. I didn’t like it 🤷🏻♀️ maybe it’s not for me lol.
-The book begins at Adam coming home from tour and he can’t find his BFF baddie anywhere. He’s like where is she? Bc he has no clue she’s mad at him for the “big issue”. Then you are sent back to a year before.. then it’s when they first meet and you get their whole friendship/relationship. Then you finally get to the present at like 70%ish maybe a little before that’s a lot of “before” for me. Lol.
-that epic cake scene we all saw in the groups highlighted- it’s at 87% soo if your reading for that you got a ways to go to get to that moment.
Overall I liked it 👍
This was tough to rate because it lacked some of the things I really like in books but then again it had me so deep in my feels also.
Some things:
-Rockstar H.. follows the series of a music band. Adam is a guitarist who sings some also
-strong, sweet and smart h. Our baddie is a beautiful mixed woman. Not exactly sure what her ethnicity but she’s brown and I loved that.
-obvi it’s interracial ❤️❤️
-double pierced peen tip and at the base
-exhibitionist k!nk… Adam likes to be watched or the idea of being caught. Our h learns she’s into it also.
-slow burn 🔥 the actual deed doesn’t happen until after half way I can’t remember exactly when now (it was in my updates but i forget stuff sooo oops!) but we get mutual masturbation over text, and then in front of each other or with each other but no touching
-neighbors to best friends to lovers… this was that “we’re friends and we’re not gonna mess it up by getting sexy and catching feelings”
-that being said this book has LOTS of denial. Lol. I mean they are soooooo oblivious to the others feelings they spend most of the book as “friends” … 🙄
-a little squirt scene for you dirty girls who look for those.
-OW/OM… so their friends so h goes on dates
With OM I think a few times it’s off page and it’s before they have exchanged any smexy texts but I think that’s the extent. H at the very beginning has a FWB situation and they break it off.. I think baddie has been his neighbor for like 2 Months at this point but after that.. he’s with NO ONE. He says he’s been with no one but h for the year they have been besties.
-The love ❤️ 😘 Adam was so sweet and thoughtful. I loved their relationship it was so beautiful to see them be so natural together and it organically grow into so much more 😍🥰
-family drama.. her dad is a douche, coworker bish is petty and tries to flirt with Adam and is rude to Adelaide.
-LOTS Of emotions. They are BFF then they are fighting and the other is forcing them to make up. Addie has a tendencies to run when stuff get hard, and Adam says stuff that’s rude without realizing and can be a bit harsh. Lots of feelings getting hurt, getting mad for dumb shit, making up, being friends, being mad, being upset lol.
-we see some of our fav side characters which was nice
-so well written.. this book was written so well. Stone cold note was the same. It’s BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN. I mean your heart just yanks for Adam when he’s losing it without Addie around. You feel her anxiety over how she’s feeling and struggling to shove those feelings waayyyyyyyy inside the friends only box. This author can write so well you FEEL it along with the characters.
-HFN… we get an epilogue that’s 18 months out and all the update we see is they did get married a year before…I NEEDED MORE. I was unsatisfied.
What I didn’t like so much🫣
- this book was LONG AF… idk how many pages it even was but it FELT really long. Theirs a lot of emotion and I felt like some of those convos or fights when on for a longgg time
-The issues… the back and forth/ up down of their relationship .. I get it. I mean their not suppose to cross this line but they are just pulled to each other.. but they can’t.. but they wanna.. but we can’t touch bc it crosses the line.. some of the “issues” were dumb and the reactions or the length of the dramas just seemed to much for what it was.
-piggybacking off ⬆️ that… Addie felt really childish to me sometimes- LIKE TALK TO HIM. Adam always knew when she was off, he was always asking what’s wrong, tell me, what’s going on. I felt like he was just on his knees following her the whole book.
-Adam.. oh man. I loved him. He was kinda damaged, low self esteem but he was like a golden retriever. He really cared and doted on his baddie. he was so thoughtful. That being said he was not alpha to me. He did give us some sexy moments but man I was struggling not having a JP H.he did have moments but it wasn’t enough for me to consider him JP. 🤷🏻♀️
-groveling.. so I saw this recd bc it’s a long grovel. Idk if I felt that. I mean he didn’t even know why she was so upset for a good while. He was like a kicked puppy following her looking for any bread crumb as to why she just stopped talking to him and wasn’t around anymore. He was clueless. It felt like he was groveling the whole book for all her attention and every little maids me he did. I didn’t like it 🤷🏻♀️ maybe it’s not for me lol.
-The book begins at Adam coming home from tour and he can’t find his BFF baddie anywhere. He’s like where is she? Bc he has no clue she’s mad at him for the “big issue”. Then you are sent back to a year before.. then it’s when they first meet and you get their whole friendship/relationship. Then you finally get to the present at like 70%ish maybe a little before that’s a lot of “before” for me. Lol.
-that epic cake scene we all saw in the groups highlighted- it’s at 87% soo if your reading for that you got a ways to go to get to that moment.
Overall I liked it 👍
June 16, 2022
I’ve been waiting for Adam’s book since Built to Fall and I’m in love with him and Addie.
Adelaide is the daughter of Saul Goodman, aka record label owner for The Seasons Change. When he moves her into an apartment building, Adam Wainwright just so happens to be her neighbor. The two form an unlikely but close friendship and over time, they become the most important people in each other’s lives. But they’re just friends… sure, and I’m the first man to walk on the moon.
I’m obsessed with Addie and Adam. I love when everyone can see what they can’t and their connection was undeniable. There was so much spice and I love how Adam took on a sort of shmex coach role for Addie and gave her a safe place to explore her desires. And, I will always love a hero who refused to give up after he’s messed up. The best.
June 10, 2022
Faded in Bloom is so alluring, it grabs the attention and doesn't give much choices but to devour the story from beginning to end.
I felt instant connection to the dynamics. This couple barely fights their incredible passion, having a wonderful friendship and are afraid to lose it; which creates utterly fun situations for them to give free rein to flirtation and then sensuality. The emotions are very strongly projected, especially from Adelaide's side.
Great read and I’m looking forward to more from this very talented author!
I felt instant connection to the dynamics. This couple barely fights their incredible passion, having a wonderful friendship and are afraid to lose it; which creates utterly fun situations for them to give free rein to flirtation and then sensuality. The emotions are very strongly projected, especially from Adelaide's side.
Great read and I’m looking forward to more from this very talented author!
May 27, 2022
I have such a huge book hangover, but I'm used to them with Julia's books.
I am sitting here, still feeling Baddie's anger and frustration with Adam, but I have to acknowledge his groveling and steadfast support for her warmed my heart.
I love how he has her back with her dad when Saul is acting like a jerk. I also like how she goes after what she really wants even though it takes a big leap of faith.
I can't wait for more of Julia, her awesome world, strong heroines, and dedicated heros.
I am sitting here, still feeling Baddie's anger and frustration with Adam, but I have to acknowledge his groveling and steadfast support for her warmed my heart.
I love how he has her back with her dad when Saul is acting like a jerk. I also like how she goes after what she really wants even though it takes a big leap of faith.
I can't wait for more of Julia, her awesome world, strong heroines, and dedicated heros.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2022
I love this book with its entertaining storyline and engaging & charismatic characters! Emotionally charged, Adam and Adelaide captured my heart and with the perfect combination of steam, drama, and romance I nearly devoured this rockstar, friends to lovers romance in one sitting.
Since the beginning of The Seasons Change series, I have been desperate for Adam’s story and goodness did this author deliver! Adam is as charming as ever, playful, sensual, and flirty. Yes, Adam does come across as the playboy rockstar, but there is so much more to him than meets the eye. He has a huge heart, makes mistakes that I wanted to shake him for, but I couldn’t help but I adore him. Adelaide is my favorite kind of heroine. Strong when she needs to be, but also has flaws that make her character seem so real and easy to identify with. The author does a marvelous job illustrating just how their friendship unfolds and eventually evolves. Faded in Bloom is one of the best and more well written friends to lovers romance I have read in a long while.
I found this book to be rather emotional at times, but I also loved the humor and of course sizzling scenes that were interspersed throughout the story. I enjoyed reconnecting with the other members of TSC and their significant others, but note that this book can, in theory, be read as a standalone. This entire series is binge-worthy so I definitely recommend reading them all! If you love a good friends to lovers romance, rockstar romances, or have enjoyed this author’s other works, then you will love Faded in Bloom.
Since the beginning of The Seasons Change series, I have been desperate for Adam’s story and goodness did this author deliver! Adam is as charming as ever, playful, sensual, and flirty. Yes, Adam does come across as the playboy rockstar, but there is so much more to him than meets the eye. He has a huge heart, makes mistakes that I wanted to shake him for, but I couldn’t help but I adore him. Adelaide is my favorite kind of heroine. Strong when she needs to be, but also has flaws that make her character seem so real and easy to identify with. The author does a marvelous job illustrating just how their friendship unfolds and eventually evolves. Faded in Bloom is one of the best and more well written friends to lovers romance I have read in a long while.
I found this book to be rather emotional at times, but I also loved the humor and of course sizzling scenes that were interspersed throughout the story. I enjoyed reconnecting with the other members of TSC and their significant others, but note that this book can, in theory, be read as a standalone. This entire series is binge-worthy so I definitely recommend reading them all! If you love a good friends to lovers romance, rockstar romances, or have enjoyed this author’s other works, then you will love Faded in Bloom.
October 7, 2022
not sure if it’s because it’s 3AM but I definitely cried reading this book
The fmc’s relationship with her dad had me BAWLING and the mmc fucks up so badly about halfway through (and spends the rest of the book groveling as he should) but damn I was hurt. Once he got his head out of his ass, I (sort of ) liked him again.
The fmc’s relationship with her dad had me BAWLING and the mmc fucks up so badly about halfway through (and spends the rest of the book groveling as he should) but damn I was hurt. Once he got his head out of his ass, I (sort of ) liked him again.
October 20, 2023
Re-read 10/17- finally decided on a rating this time😅🤣
I'm not sure how I feel about this one. What the H said was extremely hurtful, and that was AFTER inviting the OW who the h had previously told him was awful to her. Then the h's dad was a total POS. I'll probably come back later and add a star rating
I'm not sure how I feel about this one. What the H said was extremely hurtful, and that was AFTER inviting the OW who the h had previously told him was awful to her. Then the h's dad was a total POS. I'll probably come back later and add a star rating
May 29, 2022
"How did I think I could go a lifetime without having you?"
I have the book hangover to end all book hangovers. How can I ever recover from this book?!
I think I might have written this before about a Julia Wolf novel, but she has definitely outdone herself this time. I could not put this book down.
In Faded in Bloom she's brought us a slow-burn friends to lovers romance, that's deliciously sexy.
We see Adam and Adelaide's friendship develop, before they start pushing boundaries with their game (oh my god, the restaurant scene 🥵).
Julia's words just weave their magic and we feel the heat and the power of these two, long before they are a couple or feelings are even acknowledged.
And then once she has them together Adam becomes this sexy, possessive alpha breeder - dear god, I'm dying 🥵🥵🥵 ("You want that? You want me to fill you up? I could plant a baby in you.") Wow. 🔥🔥🔥
Faded in Bloom takes place over a year. We start in the present, where The Season's Change lead guitarist, Adam Wainwright is returning from tour, and rushing to see his Baddie. His best friend, his girl next-door, his person, Adelaide Zala Goodman. Except she's been ghosting him and is not so pleased to see him, and we don't know why.
Then we go back a year to the day, where Adelaide is celebrating her birthday. Things don't go as planned and she ends up spending the evening with Adam, drinking and dancing, and so begins their "strictly platonic" friendship.
And they have a beautiful friendship. Except Adelaide falls in love with Adam. And whilst she tries to date other people, because Adam is hung up on replicas of his ex, and he insists Adelaide isn't 'relationship material', her feelings only grow.
There were times my heart just broke for Adelaide. She found out about Adam's kinky proclivities, but he is vehement that she will not know that side of him (another punch to the gut from the man she loves 💔). And he had times where his insensitive comments about and to her made my blood boil. For goodness sake, Adam!
I feared OW drama, but that wasn't an issue, for which I am extremely grateful. But when we found out why Adelaide was so upset with Adam, she was more than justified. I loved how Adelaide took control. She was strong, she was independent. She followed her dreams and stood up to Adam. The grovel was real here, and I loved it. Adam really worked for her forgiveness and proved himself. Adelaide is a fantastic leading lady. She's strong, kind and all-round wonderful.
Julia has the unique ability of being able to transport her reader directly into the story; you feel as if you are living it. And you feel every single emotion. We felt Adelaide's pain. Just like we felt Adam's when he realised how much he'd hurt her.
"It kills me that I hurt you. I never want to hurt you. Never."
And both Julia and Adelaide certainly made him grovel. Yes, ladies!
"Tell me how I can start earning your trust... We don't fade. That's not what we do. We're evergreen. No fading. No blooming. We don't go away."
Of course, despite his moments of being a complete idiot, Adam is also super sexy - "Adam Wainwright kissed me like he wanted to own me, conquer me, claim me. He kissed me like he wanted me."
And he's totally swoonworthy - "I adore you. I am devoted to you. I was faithful to you, even when I wasn't conscious that was what I was doing."
His song also reduced me to tears. What a beautiful moment. My favourite part of the book 😍
Faded in Bloom has taken this series to another level. I honestly didn't think I could love Adam more than Callum, but it's very close... I just might! I cannot recommend this book enough. Do not hesitate to read it! I traversed every emotion through this story, and I loved every second of it. I said earlier how can I recover? Well, I can't. I'm off for a reread!
Do yourself a favour and read Faded in Bloom. You won't regret it.
All the stars (×infinity)
⭐️⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thanks to Julia Wolf for providing me with an ARC copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
I have the book hangover to end all book hangovers. How can I ever recover from this book?!
I think I might have written this before about a Julia Wolf novel, but she has definitely outdone herself this time. I could not put this book down.
In Faded in Bloom she's brought us a slow-burn friends to lovers romance, that's deliciously sexy.
We see Adam and Adelaide's friendship develop, before they start pushing boundaries with their game (oh my god, the restaurant scene 🥵).
Julia's words just weave their magic and we feel the heat and the power of these two, long before they are a couple or feelings are even acknowledged.
And then once she has them together Adam becomes this sexy, possessive alpha breeder - dear god, I'm dying 🥵🥵🥵 ("You want that? You want me to fill you up? I could plant a baby in you.") Wow. 🔥🔥🔥
Faded in Bloom takes place over a year. We start in the present, where The Season's Change lead guitarist, Adam Wainwright is returning from tour, and rushing to see his Baddie. His best friend, his girl next-door, his person, Adelaide Zala Goodman. Except she's been ghosting him and is not so pleased to see him, and we don't know why.
Then we go back a year to the day, where Adelaide is celebrating her birthday. Things don't go as planned and she ends up spending the evening with Adam, drinking and dancing, and so begins their "strictly platonic" friendship.
And they have a beautiful friendship. Except Adelaide falls in love with Adam. And whilst she tries to date other people, because Adam is hung up on replicas of his ex, and he insists Adelaide isn't 'relationship material', her feelings only grow.
There were times my heart just broke for Adelaide. She found out about Adam's kinky proclivities, but he is vehement that she will not know that side of him (another punch to the gut from the man she loves 💔). And he had times where his insensitive comments about and to her made my blood boil. For goodness sake, Adam!
I feared OW drama, but that wasn't an issue, for which I am extremely grateful. But when we found out why Adelaide was so upset with Adam, she was more than justified. I loved how Adelaide took control. She was strong, she was independent. She followed her dreams and stood up to Adam. The grovel was real here, and I loved it. Adam really worked for her forgiveness and proved himself. Adelaide is a fantastic leading lady. She's strong, kind and all-round wonderful.
Julia has the unique ability of being able to transport her reader directly into the story; you feel as if you are living it. And you feel every single emotion. We felt Adelaide's pain. Just like we felt Adam's when he realised how much he'd hurt her.
"It kills me that I hurt you. I never want to hurt you. Never."
And both Julia and Adelaide certainly made him grovel. Yes, ladies!
"Tell me how I can start earning your trust... We don't fade. That's not what we do. We're evergreen. No fading. No blooming. We don't go away."
Of course, despite his moments of being a complete idiot, Adam is also super sexy - "Adam Wainwright kissed me like he wanted to own me, conquer me, claim me. He kissed me like he wanted me."
And he's totally swoonworthy - "I adore you. I am devoted to you. I was faithful to you, even when I wasn't conscious that was what I was doing."
His song also reduced me to tears. What a beautiful moment. My favourite part of the book 😍
Faded in Bloom has taken this series to another level. I honestly didn't think I could love Adam more than Callum, but it's very close... I just might! I cannot recommend this book enough. Do not hesitate to read it! I traversed every emotion through this story, and I loved every second of it. I said earlier how can I recover? Well, I can't. I'm off for a reread!
Do yourself a favour and read Faded in Bloom. You won't regret it.
All the stars (×infinity)
⭐️⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thanks to Julia Wolf for providing me with an ARC copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2022
I honestly don't know if I'll be able to do justice to Adam and Adelaide's story. There's no way my words will be as eloquent as Julia's. So, on that note, here I go...
I loved the flow of this book. How it starts at a critical part of their story but then goes back to the beginning so there are no unanswered questions. This story was everything I wished for and so much more. Laughter and tears, love and hatred, super sexy and sizzling hot. But most of all, a friendship that is unbreakable.
Adam and Adelaide come from two very different worlds. Adam has a wild past and Adelaide lived a pampered life. They're neighbors but they have met before because of who her father is. Their friendship and connection is instant and easy and you could feel the chemistry right away. But as Julia always does, she just keeps building their characters and keeps you wanting and wishing for more. There's always the "will they/won't they" pull and she is a master at keeping you on the edge of your seat. But when they finally do get there, hold on to something, because you get to go on that hot as f**k ride right along with them, over and over again.
Adam and Adelaide are both such relatable and real characters and you feel each and every emotion they do throughout this book. The way they fight for eachother and love eachother from the top of their heads to the tips of their toes. It's a love everyone hopes to habe at least once in their life. Their relationships with their families and friends are so believable too and Julia doesn't just fix them at the end because that's not what happens in real life. She gets them to the place they need to be, where it makes sense.
Faded in Bloom is right at the top of my favorite books from Julia. She did a fantastic job letting the characters tell their story and it was so damn hot! You seriously need to pick up this book and fall in love with Adam and Adelaide the way I did. Quick, go grab it!
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
I loved the flow of this book. How it starts at a critical part of their story but then goes back to the beginning so there are no unanswered questions. This story was everything I wished for and so much more. Laughter and tears, love and hatred, super sexy and sizzling hot. But most of all, a friendship that is unbreakable.
Adam and Adelaide come from two very different worlds. Adam has a wild past and Adelaide lived a pampered life. They're neighbors but they have met before because of who her father is. Their friendship and connection is instant and easy and you could feel the chemistry right away. But as Julia always does, she just keeps building their characters and keeps you wanting and wishing for more. There's always the "will they/won't they" pull and she is a master at keeping you on the edge of your seat. But when they finally do get there, hold on to something, because you get to go on that hot as f**k ride right along with them, over and over again.
Adam and Adelaide are both such relatable and real characters and you feel each and every emotion they do throughout this book. The way they fight for eachother and love eachother from the top of their heads to the tips of their toes. It's a love everyone hopes to habe at least once in their life. Their relationships with their families and friends are so believable too and Julia doesn't just fix them at the end because that's not what happens in real life. She gets them to the place they need to be, where it makes sense.
Faded in Bloom is right at the top of my favorite books from Julia. She did a fantastic job letting the characters tell their story and it was so damn hot! You seriously need to pick up this book and fall in love with Adam and Adelaide the way I did. Quick, go grab it!
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
March 18, 2023
The couple: Adam and Adelaide
Romance trope: neighbors/friends to lovers
Series: The Seasons Change
Length: 361 pages
Plot: Adelaide hasn't had much luck in the romance department and her father isn't the best and she's looking for a different position at her dad's record company, but still, things aren't that bad. And now that she's met her neighbor - rockstar Adam - things are been better. She now has a best friend and they are tight. That is, until she starts to feel a little more for him. He may be slower on the uptake, but she means everything to him...until she overhears that maybe she doesn't
Commentary: Adam kept insisting that men and women could be platonic friends and apparently that wasn't true. Well, Iris, but she seems to be a special case. Addie had a bit of the poor little rich girl going on, but she was actually sweet and was just in the midst of growing up. When Adam mentioned to Iris that Addie was young and then had to explain that it was more her personality than it was her years, he wasn't wrong (even if his descriptions did bother Iris). But I think Adam was her trial by fire. I loved their relationship and how it evolved and felt like it worked for both of them, even if it did take a little longer than everyone expected!
I do feel like there was a missed chance to eviscerate Natalie at the end there, and I was hoping to find out what happened to the watch. Hopefully, Addie's dad at least got it back, but I was really hoping that he would give it to Addie (and repair it if Natalie did have it altered). What she did was awful. On the other hand, what her dad did was just as bad. There is no reason that Natalie should have been there. No reason at all.
Previous book in the series: Stone Cold Notes
Next book in the series: Where Waves Break
Romance trope: neighbors/friends to lovers
Series: The Seasons Change
Length: 361 pages
Plot: Adelaide hasn't had much luck in the romance department and her father isn't the best and she's looking for a different position at her dad's record company, but still, things aren't that bad. And now that she's met her neighbor - rockstar Adam - things are been better. She now has a best friend and they are tight. That is, until she starts to feel a little more for him. He may be slower on the uptake, but she means everything to him...until she overhears that maybe she doesn't
Commentary: Adam kept insisting that men and women could be platonic friends and apparently that wasn't true. Well, Iris, but she seems to be a special case. Addie had a bit of the poor little rich girl going on, but she was actually sweet and was just in the midst of growing up. When Adam mentioned to Iris that Addie was young and then had to explain that it was more her personality than it was her years, he wasn't wrong (even if his descriptions did bother Iris). But I think Adam was her trial by fire. I loved their relationship and how it evolved and felt like it worked for both of them, even if it did take a little longer than everyone expected!
I do feel like there was a missed chance to eviscerate Natalie at the end there, and I was hoping to find out what happened to the watch. Hopefully, Addie's dad at least got it back, but I was really hoping that he would give it to Addie (and repair it if Natalie did have it altered). What she did was awful. On the other hand, what her dad did was just as bad. There is no reason that Natalie should have been there. No reason at all.
Previous book in the series: Stone Cold Notes
Next book in the series: Where Waves Break
May 24, 2022
Oh, Adam. I really truly felt a lot of anger toward you for a while there. But when the secrets came out, I had to feel for you. After all, it’s not easy admitting that you’re the reason something went so far off the rails. But that grovel. Oh, man. You won my heart with that. And luckily, you already had Adelaide’s heart. You just had to remind her and yourself how special the love you two shared was.
Baddie Addie, I loved you. All along. You tried to do the best for so many people, even if it crushed you inside. And when you finally had enough, you went all out in the changes that needed to be made for yourself. Who wouldn’t admire that? Even better, you didn’t let Adam just trot back into your world like nothing had gone sideways. You made him work for it, and I admired you all the more for it. Luckily, you both figured out what you truly wanted and needed in life, because you were perfect together.
I love how this author delivered a guy who you had to love, but you were SO angry at him at the same time. But she also gave a guy who can learn from his mistakes and do his best not to make the same ones again. And she gave us a strong woman, as I’ve come to expect from her. And the heat. Holy wow, you may want to sit in front of a fan for this read because when Adam and Addie finally move from the fuzzy line between friends and benefits to all-in, you’re going to need the cool air on your face. Believe me.
So now I wait for June to find her voice and tell her tale. I’m sure it’ll be one that keeps me on the edge of my seat and my eyes on the pages just like Adam and Addie did!
Baddie Addie, I loved you. All along. You tried to do the best for so many people, even if it crushed you inside. And when you finally had enough, you went all out in the changes that needed to be made for yourself. Who wouldn’t admire that? Even better, you didn’t let Adam just trot back into your world like nothing had gone sideways. You made him work for it, and I admired you all the more for it. Luckily, you both figured out what you truly wanted and needed in life, because you were perfect together.
I love how this author delivered a guy who you had to love, but you were SO angry at him at the same time. But she also gave a guy who can learn from his mistakes and do his best not to make the same ones again. And she gave us a strong woman, as I’ve come to expect from her. And the heat. Holy wow, you may want to sit in front of a fan for this read because when Adam and Addie finally move from the fuzzy line between friends and benefits to all-in, you’re going to need the cool air on your face. Believe me.
So now I wait for June to find her voice and tell her tale. I’m sure it’ll be one that keeps me on the edge of my seat and my eyes on the pages just like Adam and Addie did!
June 17, 2022
Absolutely loved this story from start to finish! Julia has done it again! Adam and Adelaide or ‘Baddie’ as he calls her were just made for each other. Without giving too much away, you see them fight their inner feelings with everything they’ve got. Reason being as best friends they don’t want to risk spoiling the current relationship they have. You follow their journey through all the feels! That’s all I will say. From her quirkiness to his kinks - read the book to discover what that’s all about lol!
I found it a lovely change to most formats in romance books as the ‘ blip’ that all couples hit in romance books didn’t come in the last part of the book as most do.
Adam really was a deep soul and you see his swoon worthy side. It did make me laugh every time Baddie told him to “shut up”. There’s always characters you dislike in a story and this one has a couple. Not saying any more on that.
All in all they both strived for what they wanted out of life.
I was gifted this as an ARC and I feel so privileged to have been chosen.
Brilliant book worth more than the 5 stars you can give it.
It’s already on my re read list.
I found it a lovely change to most formats in romance books as the ‘ blip’ that all couples hit in romance books didn’t come in the last part of the book as most do.
Adam really was a deep soul and you see his swoon worthy side. It did make me laugh every time Baddie told him to “shut up”. There’s always characters you dislike in a story and this one has a couple. Not saying any more on that.
All in all they both strived for what they wanted out of life.
I was gifted this as an ARC and I feel so privileged to have been chosen.
Brilliant book worth more than the 5 stars you can give it.
It’s already on my re read list.
May 27, 2022
Oh my God this book was so good. So fucking good. Easily the best in the series, too. It was sexy, so emotional, and the love between Adam and Adelaide was so freaking perfect that I was so envious of their easy love even if it was a painful road to get there. I seriously could not love this couple more!!
I'm so sad this series is ending, but I'm hoping a certain brother and wallflower will find love too? Ugh, I need to clone Julia so I can get all her stories that much faster😭😭
**Full RTC
**I received an ARC of this book and these are my honest opinions **
I'm so sad this series is ending, but I'm hoping a certain brother and wallflower will find love too? Ugh, I need to clone Julia so I can get all her stories that much faster😭😭
**Full RTC
**I received an ARC of this book and these are my honest opinions **
June 3, 2022
“We don’t fade. That’s not what we do. We’re evergreen. No fading. No blooming. We don’t go away.”
Julia Wolf outdid herself with this story. It was my absolute favorite of the books in the Seasons Change series. Faded in Bloom was angsty and emotional slow-burn deliciousness. I couldn’t get enough of Adam and Adelaide. They were perfection!!
“I can breathe with you, Adam. Things might go wrong, but we won’t.”
Addie broke my heart. She had such a strength of character and fierceness and sassiness that I loved so much. Emotional punches were thrown at her right and left and she was able to pick up the pieces and rebound stronger than ever.
“Home wasn’t even a place anymore. Baddie was home. Her girl-powder scent and rainbow lips and landmine feelings and fluffy dresses were my sigh of relief.”
And Adam…..he has such a big heart and wants love so badly, but he has trouble recognizing it when it’s right in front of his face. His cluelessness and callous words were heartbreaking, but it was understandable given his past. He melted my heart though with protectiveness and possessiveness over Addie. He would do anything to keep Addie in his life forever.
“Somewhere over the last year, she’d become the most important person in my life.”
I loved the friendship that these two developed in the beginning. They were each other’s rocks and supported one another wholeheartedly. They saw the best and worst in each other and loved one another anyway. As their relationship evolved, the friendship just added to their bond. Their chemistry was electrifying and the slow-burn of their relationship had me on the edge of my seat waiting for them to finally break.
“I’ll love you ‘til we’re ghosts, baby.”
I devoured this book in one setting. Angst is my jam and Julia Wolf always delivers it superbly. Faded in Bloom will make you laugh and cry, steam up your kindle, break your heart and put it back together again. I was all in my FEELS while reading this and I couldn’t get enough. Adam and Addie’s story is not to be missed!!!
Julia Wolf outdid herself with this story. It was my absolute favorite of the books in the Seasons Change series. Faded in Bloom was angsty and emotional slow-burn deliciousness. I couldn’t get enough of Adam and Adelaide. They were perfection!!
“I can breathe with you, Adam. Things might go wrong, but we won’t.”
Addie broke my heart. She had such a strength of character and fierceness and sassiness that I loved so much. Emotional punches were thrown at her right and left and she was able to pick up the pieces and rebound stronger than ever.
“Home wasn’t even a place anymore. Baddie was home. Her girl-powder scent and rainbow lips and landmine feelings and fluffy dresses were my sigh of relief.”
And Adam…..he has such a big heart and wants love so badly, but he has trouble recognizing it when it’s right in front of his face. His cluelessness and callous words were heartbreaking, but it was understandable given his past. He melted my heart though with protectiveness and possessiveness over Addie. He would do anything to keep Addie in his life forever.
“Somewhere over the last year, she’d become the most important person in my life.”
I loved the friendship that these two developed in the beginning. They were each other’s rocks and supported one another wholeheartedly. They saw the best and worst in each other and loved one another anyway. As their relationship evolved, the friendship just added to their bond. Their chemistry was electrifying and the slow-burn of their relationship had me on the edge of my seat waiting for them to finally break.
“I’ll love you ‘til we’re ghosts, baby.”
I devoured this book in one setting. Angst is my jam and Julia Wolf always delivers it superbly. Faded in Bloom will make you laugh and cry, steam up your kindle, break your heart and put it back together again. I was all in my FEELS while reading this and I couldn’t get enough. Adam and Addie’s story is not to be missed!!!
June 16, 2022
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trope: Friends to lovers
Angst: 😱😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
What an absolutely amazing story! Faded in Bloom is the third book in The Seasons Change series by Julia Wolf. It can be read as a standalone, but best enjoyed after reading the first two, which were simply wonderful as well. I was super excited to read Adam's story as he is such a character - so earnest, but kind of an oblivious goofball and it was everything I hoped it would be.
Adam and Adelaide are next door neighbors that know each other through the production company that produces Adam's music. Their friendship becomes deep, quickly - both relying on the other for a level of support and companionship they haven't had for a while. Adam is known for being a man ho and has a "type" that's basically the opposite of Adelaide and replicas of a high school ex. Adelaide is a serial dater, always finding something wrong with the guy and letting him go. With their track records they decide to stay "just friends" despite growing attraction, but start a dangerous game that ignites lust, jealousy, and obsession that won't allow them to stay in denial forever.
Julia Wolf completely knocked it out of the park with Faded in Bloom! The story is well written, fast paced, and their relationship journey is one I haven't seen before. The book opens at a pivotal point in their relationship, but then goes back to show how they got there and then moves forward. LOVED Adam. He's truly a tender, caring soul and his obliviousness is both endearing and makes you want to unlive him at the same time, lol. Adelaide is such a strong person, but he pain of not measuring up for loved ones and unrequited love makes her super relatable. I liked that both of these characters are flawed with neither being the "perfect" one in the relationship. The story is a bit of a slow burn, but the interactions and chemistry between them is soooo super hot. Absolutely great read - highly recommend!
Trope: Friends to lovers
Angst: 😱😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
What an absolutely amazing story! Faded in Bloom is the third book in The Seasons Change series by Julia Wolf. It can be read as a standalone, but best enjoyed after reading the first two, which were simply wonderful as well. I was super excited to read Adam's story as he is such a character - so earnest, but kind of an oblivious goofball and it was everything I hoped it would be.
Adam and Adelaide are next door neighbors that know each other through the production company that produces Adam's music. Their friendship becomes deep, quickly - both relying on the other for a level of support and companionship they haven't had for a while. Adam is known for being a man ho and has a "type" that's basically the opposite of Adelaide and replicas of a high school ex. Adelaide is a serial dater, always finding something wrong with the guy and letting him go. With their track records they decide to stay "just friends" despite growing attraction, but start a dangerous game that ignites lust, jealousy, and obsession that won't allow them to stay in denial forever.
Julia Wolf completely knocked it out of the park with Faded in Bloom! The story is well written, fast paced, and their relationship journey is one I haven't seen before. The book opens at a pivotal point in their relationship, but then goes back to show how they got there and then moves forward. LOVED Adam. He's truly a tender, caring soul and his obliviousness is both endearing and makes you want to unlive him at the same time, lol. Adelaide is such a strong person, but he pain of not measuring up for loved ones and unrequited love makes her super relatable. I liked that both of these characters are flawed with neither being the "perfect" one in the relationship. The story is a bit of a slow burn, but the interactions and chemistry between them is soooo super hot. Absolutely great read - highly recommend!
June 16, 2022
Friends to lovers!!
I really enjoyed this one from Julia! In my opinion, it was a little different take of friends to lovers. Usually we start a f-l book with an established friendship. Faded in Bloom starts chapter 1 with how they meet. Then you get to watch their friendship bloom (see what I did there), and move in to something more. This was a definitely a SLOW burn but well worth the wait.
Adam has been one of the characters that I was dying to read his story. I wanted to see who could tame the flirt of all flirts and I absolutely LOVED that it was his strong, beautiful neighbor.
I will say there were a few times I wanted to gut punch Adam for his stupidity and his mess ups because it happens quite a bit. But it wouldn't be a true Adam story had he not need to grow up a bit.
I loved getting to see all our favs from prior books and I loved getting to see Adelaide become Adam's most important person.
Like I said slow burn, but that doesn't mean there was not hotness thrown in there!!
Overall really enjoyed!
4.25/5 stars
2.75/5 spice
**ARC for honest review**
I really enjoyed this one from Julia! In my opinion, it was a little different take of friends to lovers. Usually we start a f-l book with an established friendship. Faded in Bloom starts chapter 1 with how they meet. Then you get to watch their friendship bloom (see what I did there), and move in to something more. This was a definitely a SLOW burn but well worth the wait.
Adam has been one of the characters that I was dying to read his story. I wanted to see who could tame the flirt of all flirts and I absolutely LOVED that it was his strong, beautiful neighbor.
I will say there were a few times I wanted to gut punch Adam for his stupidity and his mess ups because it happens quite a bit. But it wouldn't be a true Adam story had he not need to grow up a bit.
I loved getting to see all our favs from prior books and I loved getting to see Adelaide become Adam's most important person.
Like I said slow burn, but that doesn't mean there was not hotness thrown in there!!
Overall really enjoyed!
4.25/5 stars
2.75/5 spice
**ARC for honest review**
February 14, 2024
Faded in Bloom is book 3 in 'The Seasons Change' series and I'm so happy to jump back into this world. Book 2 gave me the best book hangover and I was so excited to read about the other members of the band.
We met Adam, the fuck boy of the band, in book 1. Addie is Adam's next door neighbour and best friend. I absolutely loved their story and I adore Addie. She was such a sweet character to follow, and my heart broke when she overheard Adam bad mouthing her (he does redeem himself!).
The book lost one star because I did find the first half of the book slow, and that's only because the first chapter started in present time and then we were thrown back to the year before.
One of my favourite rock star romance series' and I'm jumping straight into book 4!
We met Adam, the fuck boy of the band, in book 1. Addie is Adam's next door neighbour and best friend. I absolutely loved their story and I adore Addie. She was such a sweet character to follow, and my heart broke when she overheard Adam bad mouthing her (he does redeem himself!).
The book lost one star because I did find the first half of the book slow, and that's only because the first chapter started in present time and then we were thrown back to the year before.
One of my favourite rock star romance series' and I'm jumping straight into book 4!
May 29, 2022
I will admit, I wasn't a huge fan of Adam in previous books. Now that I have read his story, I'm loving him!
This series (and all the connected books with it) are written so well. I love Julia's writing and have fallen for many of the rockers.
Adam and Addie have a unique friendship. They have ups and downs and are there for each other.
Brilliantly written. Absolutely loved it. 5 stars!
This series (and all the connected books with it) are written so well. I love Julia's writing and have fallen for many of the rockers.
Adam and Addie have a unique friendship. They have ups and downs and are there for each other.
Brilliantly written. Absolutely loved it. 5 stars!
February 14, 2025
Cute rockstar romance with some angst and a very nice grovel. Adam (the rockstar) and Adelaide are neighbors who become friends and then possibly more... until he puts his foot in it. Likeable characters, fun banter, a bit of kink, and her dad's name is SAUL GOODMAN omg how did that make it past the editors? Unless the author has a crush on Bob Odenkirk...
June 3, 2022
OMG this book was sooooo good!! I love the Seasons Change series and Adam and Adelaide were HOT, HOT, HOT!!! This book was told so wonderfully - I loved how it started with an important moment in their relationship and then backtracked so you really understood how everything happened. Their chemistry immediately jumped out on me and you knew (as did they, I think) that a "friendship" was going to be short-lived and they were meant for each other. Incredibly engaging and well-told story that kept you on the edge of your seat the entire way through!
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