Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars

Honestly, I didn't expect much because the plot sounded just like a fun queer read but nothing more.
I guess I was wrong lol
I fell in love with astrid and how she explored her identity, I was surprised by some plottwists (in a romcom??), and I enjoyed the general setting in bright falls.
Also, it well pretty true to tone when it comes to queer sex which was surprising.

The only thing hindering me from giving 5 stars was the immense display of queer folk. Generally, I love how many different sexuality and gender identities were present in this book (literally all of her friends, her sister, the filming crew, even the baker staff). All that was a bit over the top for me tbh.

But still a great read with lovable characters and a feel-good atmosphere :)

I want to yell from the mountain tops about how much I love this series. I am head over heels for Jordan and Astrid. This book was so swoon-worthy. I fell asleep reading this book at 11 pm and woke up at 3 am and kept going on a work day. I loved their discovery of their true passions. I loved the descriptions that the author gives of the way the characters look, the way their clothes look, the way their designs look. I felt like I was in the Everwood with the Blue Lady the whole time. I'm happy that Isabel is having a mini redemption like Astrid had in the first book. I loved the cherry stem/drunk on the swings scene, I loved that the author mentions other famous queer romance books in front of the rainbow bookshelf, I didn't love Natasha or Simon, but the way this book hooked me in, I can overlook anything I didn't like.

my unedited review from 2023 when i read this book for the first time - (Be nice to me I was not a smart kid, still not but im not 16 anymore)

I loved Delilah green which is why it pains me to say but I didn't enjoy this book,

There are a lot of things that get brought up that seem important but arnt

< I spent the first half of the book assuming Jordan was widowed when in fact her wife had just left her, astrid felt like a completely different character then in the first book >

This book would have been better off as a stand alone with completely new characters in my option.

this one was also super cute, though personally I didn't love it as much as I loved Delilah green. however, I adore the entire bright falls universe and every character; although at some points it did feel like every single character was queer which felt a little unrealistic. but overall, it's adorable and I'll definitely be reading the third book

I enjoyed Astrid Parker's story! Astrid's paralleled journeys of self-discovery with her identity and her sense of self and greater plans for her life had a heavy impact and helped the story's realism. Jordan's emotional processing of her anger and grief was also written in such a lovely, heartfelt way. Their professional and romantic relationship dynamics were engaging and delightful. 
I did struggle at the beginning to get into the narrative. Characters felt flat and it took me quite a while to be invested in the relationships. The other aspect of the writing I didn't enjoy was the pointed queer references and inclusive to the point of redundant phrases. It didn't feel natural and reading “women and nonbinary people” fifteen times got obnoxious. 
Thank you NetGalley for the digital arc! I am looking forward to the next one.