Disappoint Me
by Nicola Dinan
'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?
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
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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
The Romance
Tropes, dynamics, and the chemistry that drives this story.
Tropes
Relationship Dynamics
Details
Type: Contemporary Literary Romance
Pairing: Trans Woman / Man
Power balance: Leaning toward the man (socially/financially)
How It Feels
The emotional landscape you'll move through while reading.
Moderate comfort, moderate tension, mild humor.
Heat Level
Based on available metadata and editorial review.
Who Is This Book For?
Best for
Reading mood
May not suit
Recommended audience: Adult
Content Guidance
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
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
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Discussion Guide
Questions to deepen your reading experience or spark a book club conversation.
- 1
How does the central conflict shape the relationship between the main characters?
- 2
Which theme — Bellies — resonated most strongly with you, and why?
- 3
How does the setting influence the characters' decisions and their relationship?
- 4
How do the relationship dynamics evolve throughout the story?
- 5
Who would you most want to recommend this book to?
- 6
How did the pacing affect your reading experience?
- 7
Which aspect of the story did you find most compelling?
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
About the Author
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.
Are you the author? Verify your author profile to manage this book.
This is my book — sign inWhere 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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