Hello everyone! 💖 Welcome to another ARC review, and this one is about a contender for my favorite book of 2026.
In What World is actually my second ARC by Bridget Morrissey in the last few months. I read and reviewed her YA sapphic romance Everything She Does is Magic in June. I loved her writing style, so I was extra excited to be approved to read one of her adult romances.
I knew I was going to enjoy In What World from the premise alone: high school rivals who seemingly hate each other for YEARS finally reconnect?? (Note: This is all I knew going in, as you will see in the review 😅) I am a sucker for second-chance romance, especially when the characters reconnect as adults.
In What World released on August 11, 2026, and is available at most major book retailers.
GENERAL INFO
In What World by Bridget Morrissey
Published on August 11, 2026
Genres: Adult, LGBTQ+, Romance
Pages: 352
Format: ARC
Goodreads
Two high school rivals begrudgingly reunite as adults to investigate the disappearance of their beloved former teacher, only to wind up traveling through a series of alternate realities together.
Total opposites, Marlowe Jenkins and Priscilla Covington-French hated each other in high school. Now in their thirties, Marlowe is barely scraping by while Priscilla is wildly successful. Their rivalry should be long dead, yet both women remain connected through their mutual mentor, drama teacher Dallas Winthrop. Their unending tension has nothing to do with the fact that they’ve kissed. More than once.
When Dallas goes missing, each woman believes she can figure out where he is. Except this is no ordinary disappearance. Dallas has found a way to explore alternate versions of reality. While trying to follow him, Marlowe and Priscilla find other versions of themselves instead, surprised to learn not all Marlowes and Priscillas are fueled by hate. In fact, some Marlowes and Priscillas have very different strong feelings for one another. . .
The more Marlowe and Priscilla are forced to rely on each other, the harder it becomes to ignore their simmering attraction. But with every alternate reality they search, they only get further from their real life and responsibilities. Do they play it safe and hide behind their rivalry, or take a chance on each other that could permanently change the world as they know it?
.
From the beginning, I was immediately drawn in. Marlowe and Priscilla are very distinct characters. The setting is mostly at the high school, and I related to Marlowe as a teacher. Her love for the students from the get-go was so sweet!
I’ve gotten into the habit of not reading blurbs too closely (I find so many of them give too much away!), so I somehow missed that this is speculative fiction?? When they started implementing the “Magic Machine,” I was like, wait??? This isn’t just about them working together to put on the play?? Needless to say, I was really mad when I had to go to bed at this point in the book. It was giving Doctor Who in the best way possible (can you tell I’m in the middle of a Doctor Who rewatch??).
The alternate realities were such a fun way to explore their relationships. Marlowe and Priscilla can see different versions of their lives, helping them understand each other better. They also interacted with the other versions of themselves, which I thought was a fun concept.
“You could be my number one, if you want. That role is yours for the taking.”
I was kicking my feet (and cried at one point) at so many scenes, and I loved the build-up to when they finally admitted something was happening between them.
While the romance is front and center, the story also explores bigger themes that just hit the feels, like how the choices we make affect our lives and how much we can change who we become. I really loved the underlying message about how easy it is to get stuck in a version of yourself. Sometimes taking a different path means admitting that the life you’ve built isn’t necessarily the life you actually want.
There was one quote that stuck with me:
“Art is how we survive…There are days when you don’t like it. Days when you’re convinced you should quit. Everything in life feels that way at some point, and at least with this, you get the satisfaction of knowing you’ve brought meaning to the human experience.”
I think that can relate to any scenario where it feels like you’re fighting an uphill battle, but the idea that what we do can impact someone else is powerful. Like I said, there was so much in this book that spoke to me.
I also really appreciated how much this book felt like a love letter to theater kids. As a former theater nerd myself, I found that the theater setting gave the story so much personality. Dallas, their former drama teacher, was an important part of the emotional heart of the story (his disappearance is what initially brings Marlowe and Priscilla back together), and his role in both of their lives was so impactful. It made my little teacher heart so happy!
I always say that a five-star read is completely based on vibes for me. While a well-written, fun, or interesting story is four stars, if I connect with it or feel it impacted me in some way, it’s an automatic five-star read for me. There was just something about this book that made me feel all the feels while also swooning at the romance.
Overall Thoughts
Just like with the first book I read by her, I really jived with her writing style and the way she builds tension between her characters. Bridget Morrissey is well on her way to becoming a must-read author for me. I am excited to look more into her backlist!
Final Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Those are all of my thoughts on In What World! After this one, I am in the mood for some more sapphic romances! Let me know your favorites in the comments below!
Until next time, xx