Where to start with this sapphic romcom? I think the book has great bones. I like bisexual Claire Sutherland who is a single parent to 11-year old Ruby and trying to navigate co-parenting with her historically unreliable ex. I can definitely relate to having an absent dad who made promises and never showed up. I feel like the dynamic between Claire, Ruby, and Josh was incredibly realistic and natural. I even like out-and-proud-since-high-school Delilah Green. A struggling tattooed photographer in New York City. Her stepsister (and Claire’s best friend), Astrid Parker is an acquired taste, but also relatable. I have and I knew many women who grew up trying to do everything to make their parents happy and proud of them. Claire and Astrid’s other best friend, Iris Kelly (also bisexual) is a whole other story. Iris is a tough pill to swallow. 
*Spoilers*
Once Delilah is finished high school, she leaves her sleepy Oregon town for the Big Apple and doesn’t look back. Why? Because her father dies when she’s 10 (and her mom is gone too) and she’s left in the care of her cold, uncaring stepmother, Isabel Parker-Green. After Delilah loses her father, she retreats within herself since Isabel wasn’t comforting at all, she felt unwanted and alone. She was outcasted further when Astrid and her two friends, Iris and Claire also excluded her and made fun of her behind her back (mostly Iris). 
I understand that Iris was a child, but she’s still incredibly brazen and blunt. She has no filter and says the rudest things. I will say she has her moments and she made me laugh and she punch the hell outta Josh. However, she’s a difficult character to like. 
It makes me angry that the house Delilah’s father built for his family is a site of her continuous trauma. I can’t understand how he even married Isabel if she’s always been so cold. 
I feel like Delilah and Claire’s relationship lacked enough development to really root for them or swoon over their declarations of love. I read romance not just for the spice (because I read plenty without spice) but for the butterflies, heart flipping, and breath stopping fluff and wholesomeness between the couple. I didn’t feel any of those things between Claire and Delilah. Their feelings went from sex to feelings in a very stereotypical lesbian fashion. 
Also, AHB makes it a point to highlight the whiteness of her characters (i.e. “white woman” and “white cishet man”) and does nothing to actually add dynamic characters of color. Not even a side character of color. It’s definitely a seems like the book was teetering between trying to be progressive and inclusive but leaning more toward some pseudo feminism (aka white feminism). I obviously hope that’s not the case, but I remain skeptical until proven otherwise. 
Despite its shortcomings, I do plan to read Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fall. I think the only saving grace for Astrid is that I’ve pictured her as Petra from Jane the Virgin and I LOVE Petra. I’m all for a bi woman coming out later in life (just like Petra) so I’m definitely intrigued by Astrid’s story. 

3.75/5 ⭐️