Cover of Disappoint Me by Nicola Dinan
English literatureSweet

Disappoint Me

by Nicola Dinan

2025 · 304 pages

'A genuine literary talent, a gimlet-eyed cartographer of the human heart' Sharlene Teo Max is thirty, a published poet and grossly overpaid legal counsel for a tech company. She's living her best life! Or is she? The debris of years of dysphoria and failed relationships rattle around in her head. When she tumbles down the stairs at a New Year's Eve party and wakes up in hospital alone, she decides to make some changes. First things first- a stab at good old-fashioned heteronormativity. Enter Vincent, corporate lawyer and hobby baker. His trad friendship group may as well speak a different language to Max, and his Chinese parents never pictured their son dating a trans woman. It's uncertain terrain, but Vincent cares for Max in a way she'd long given up on as a foolish fantasy. Yet Vincent is carrying his own baggage. On his gap year in Thailand a decade prior, he vies for the attention of a gorgeous traveller, Alex, with secrets of her own. Is Vincent really the new face of the Enlightened Man, or will the ghosts of his past sabotage his and Max's happiness?

Opposites AttractSlow BurnEmotional
Editor ReviewedAI-AssistedRomance Profile Available
Your rating:

About This Book

Disappoint Me is an english literature romance novel by Nicola Dinan, first published in 2025 by Dial Press. It runs 304 pages. Readers can expect opposites attract; sweet heat; a slow burn and emotional tone.

At a glance

Genre
English literature
Trope
Opposites Attract
Heat
Sweet
Mood
Slow Burn
Published
2025
Length
304 pages

Where to read or listen

Get Disappoint Me by Nicola Dinan

These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

Should I read this?

Why You May Love This Book

You may love this if…

  • A trans poet-lawyer navigates the complexities of a new relationship with a corporate lawyer while both grapple with the ghosts of their pasts.
  • Readers of literary queer fiction
  • Fans of character-driven contemporary drama
  • Reflective
  • Features Opposites attract

This may not be ideal if…

  • Readers seeking lighthearted escapism
  • Readers exclusively looking for sapphic/lesbian romance (as this is a straight pairing)
  • High-heat romance seekers
Romance Profile

The Romance

Tropes, dynamics, and the chemistry that drives this story.

Tropes

Opposites attractSecrets from the pastClass/social differenceFish out of water

Relationship Dynamics

Caretaker/Cared forCorporate vs. CreativeNavigating social circles

Details

Type: Contemporary Literary Romance

Pairing: Trans Woman / Man

Power balance: Leaning toward the man (socially/financially)

Slow BurnStrong (60 out of 100)
Relationship TensionVery strong (75 out of 100)
Emotional IntimacyVery strong (80 out of 100)
Emotional Experience

How It Feels

The emotional landscape you'll move through while reading.

Moderate comfort, moderate tension, mild humor.

AngstStrong (70 out of 100)
ComfortStrong (50 out of 100)
HumorMild (40 out of 100)
TensionStrong (65 out of 100)
DarknessMild (30 out of 100)
Emotional IntensityVery strong (80 out of 100)
Tear RatingStrong (50 out of 100)
Pacing: Moderate
Tone:IntrospectiveLiteraryBittersweetContemporary
Heat & Explicitness

Heat Level

Based on available metadata and editorial review.

Explicitness: unknown
Heat information is based on available metadata and editorial review. Reader sensitivities vary.
Reader Fit

Who Is This Book For?

Best for

Readers of literary queer fictionFans of character-driven contemporary dramaThose interested in trans perspectives on dating and heteronormativity

Reading mood

ReflectiveMelancholyHopeful

May not suit

Readers seeking lighthearted escapismReaders exclusively looking for sapphic/lesbian romance (as this is a straight pairing)High-heat romance seekers

Recommended audience: Adult

Content Guidance

Content Guidance

Story & Themes

The Story

Spoiler-Free Synopsis

Max is a successful poet and lawyer who, after a literal fall, realizes her life feels hollow. She enters a relationship with Vincent, a man whose 'traditional' lifestyle is a stark contrast to her own experiences as a trans woman. While Vincent offers a level of care Max previously thought impossible, both characters are haunted by their pasts—Max by years of dysphoria and Vincent by a mysterious encounter with a traveler named Alex a decade ago.

Central Conflict

The tension between Max's desire for 'heteronormative' stability and the internal/external realities of her identity, compounded by the secrets Vincent holds about his past.

Setting

London, England (implied); Thailand (flashbacks)

Themes

BelliesExciting TimesReal LifeDetransition BabyTrans MCLiterary FictionContemporary RomanceOwnVoicesBritish Literature

Strengths

  • Complex characterization
  • Nuanced exploration of trans identity in 'trad' spaces
  • Dual timeline/past mystery element

Consider before reading

  • May be too slow-paced for genre romance fans
  • Max's 'heteronormative' pivot might be polarizing
Book Club

Discussion Guide

Questions to deepen your reading experience or spark a book club conversation.

  1. 1

    How does the central conflict shape the relationship between the main characters?

  2. 2

    Which theme — Bellies — resonated most strongly with you, and why?

  3. 3

    How does the setting influence the characters' decisions and their relationship?

  4. 4

    How do the relationship dynamics evolve throughout the story?

  5. 5

    Who would you most want to recommend this book to?

  6. 6

    How did the pacing affect your reading experience?

  7. 7

    Which aspect of the story did you find most compelling?

Questions are generated from approved book intelligence and may not reflect every reader's experience.
Trust & Transparency

How This Profile Was Created

Eikna uses book metadata and AI-assisted analysis to create structured romance profiles. Public profiles are reviewed and approved by an editor before publication.

Editor reviewed:
Yes
Last reviewed:
August 30, 2026
Confidence:
High confidence
Profile version:
eikna-public-book-intelligence-v1
Meet the writer

About the Author

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Nicola Dinan

1 books
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What Readers Say

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Publication Details

Publisher
Dial Press
Published
2025
Length
304 pages
Language
English
ISBN-13
9781529930627

Disappoint Me: quick answers

Who wrote Disappoint Me?
Disappoint Me was written by Nicola Dinan.
When was Disappoint Me published?
Disappoint Me was first published in 2025 by Dial Press.
What genre is Disappoint Me?
Disappoint Me is an english literature romance novel, with opposites attract.
How many pages is Disappoint Me?
Disappoint Me is 304 pages long.
How spicy is Disappoint Me?
EIKNA rates Disappoint Me as sweet heat.

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Where to read or listen

Get Disappoint Me by Nicola Dinan

These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

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