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I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and the publishers, Head of Zeus, in exchange for an honest review.
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Blurb
Gina is about to marry her boyfriend.
George is about to join a cult lesbian pop band.
Gina and George are the same person.
No wonder Georgina is DOUBLE BOOKED
A fresh, timely and genuinely laugh-out-loud romantic comedy about a sensible young woman in a long-term relationship who realises she’s bisexual.
Georgina is a sensible 26-year-old with a routine: 1) schedule dates with long-term boyfriend, 2) teach piano to inept children, and 3) repeat until dead. Perfect.
But when one night she deviates from her usual timetable and sees the indie lesbian pop band Phase, Georgina realises: 1) she longs to play her own music again, 2) she wants to be just like them, and 3) their drummer is really hot…
Scared of losing her happy straight life, but feeling a new sense of belonging in the gay scene, she does what any rational person would do: she splits herself in two. She’ll be Gina by day, George by night. It’s going to take painstaking scheduling, a versatile wardrobe, and an ambiguous haircut, but maybe Georgina really can have both?
My Thoughts
Double Booked is, put quite simply, what would’ve happened if Disney made a certain blonde-wigged pop star of the indie-pop genre and gay. Joking aside, at it’s heart, Lindon’s debut is about one woman’s struggle with her sexuality and how to juggle her ordered life with one she hasn’t entirely figured out yet.
In this queer rom-com, we follow Georgina – a straight laced (and, she’d argue, straight) girl with a nice boyfriend and a simple life. At first I just wanted to dive straight into the book and shake her by the shoulders and say “SORT IT OUT!!!” but, as I read on, I actually liked watching Georgina find herself and I really did root for her. She’s the kind of character you’d love to meet at a bar (until you’re scraping her off the floor in the early hours) and— even though there were times I found myself frustrated with her —- Lindon succeeded in creating a character you only want the best for, even if (like every human on this planet) they’re kind of the worst.
Luckily, Lindon also succeeds in creating other characters you’re interested in. I loved the fun, wholesome dynamic between Phase and the gorgeously nostalgic feel I got from Georgina and her best mate. I also liked the sweet interaction between Georgina and her boyfriend (though he does let himself down just a little bit — no spoilers though!) and the more tender moments between Georgina and her Mum.
I think part of why I loved this book so much was the music in it. I’m horrendously uncoordinated but I find the whole process of music making incredibly fascinating and reading it felt like all my teenage dreams of starting a (successful and actually talented) band coming true, plus Georgina’s motivation behind getting into music — and the reason her relationship with making it is so strained — brings a new, more sensitive dynamic to the book.
I don’t usually call it this early (whether you can call basically halfway through the year early I’m not too sure about) but I’m pretty sure Double Booked will be on my Top Reads of 2022. If you liked The Split by Laura Kay (or even if you just like a good, wholesome rom-com), get Double Booked on your reading list.
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You can buy this book here.
Jen Rose Writes🌹 
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