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Verdict: A sweet, poignant first love under military secrecy: in 1998, introverted Marine Cameron Warren, autistic but not yet diagnosed, meets gregarious military kid Sharon Rodriguez, and the two fall hard while hiding their relationship under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Readers adore Cam and call the portrayal of DADT unforgettable; knowing Sharon’s fate from Dal Segno colours it for some.
Best for: Readers who want a tender, historically grounded military romance with an autistic lead.
Heat level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.3/5 — a 4.46 Goodreads average across 227 ratings and 4.6 stars across 282 Amazon ratings)
Tropes: First love, secret relationship, military romance, opposites attract, new adult, neurodivergent representation.
A Marine Awakening is Jax Meyer’s 2019 historical lesbian romance, a prequel to Dal Segno in the A Marine’s Heart series. In 1998, Cameron Warren is focused on being a model Marine and surviving the social isolation of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
It holds a 4.46 average across 227 Goodreads ratings, with 89% of them four or five stars, and 4.6 stars across 282 Amazon ratings.
What Is A Marine Awakening About?
Finding allies is harder than Cam expected, but she is determined to finish her enlistment and return to college. Sharon Rodriguez knows connections are critical in the Marine Corps and is confident in her casual flings as she pursues a twenty-year career.
When Sharon convinces Cam to go to a party, neither realises how complicated their lives are about to get. How hard will they have to fight for a love that must stay in the shadows?
What Works in This Book
- DADT: Readers say it conveys the policy’s brutal, indifferent cruelty like no other book they have read.
- Cam: A “badass marshmallow,” one reader says; readers find her awkward, adorable and easy to love.
- Authenticity: Veterans reading it say it reflects what so many went through to serve and love.
- Romance: Sweet moments, sexy times and great supporting characters.
Book Synopsis
A Marine who keeps to herself. A Marine who knows everyone.
A love that has to stay in the shadows.
My Review
Meyer writes from evident experience, and readers feel it: the fear of discovery permeates the book, yet the romance itself is mostly angst-free and full of warmth. Seeing young Cam grow into the woman of Dal Segno is a pleasure for series readers, and one reader found it far more poignant than expected. Readers who served describe it as deeply moving.
The main caveat is structure. One reader who already knew from Dal Segno that Sharon dies found that shadow too hard to shake and stopped early, also finding the writing clunky. One pacifist reader was uncomfortable with the characters’ love of guns and hunting, and one reader simply wanted much more of the story.
My honest note: A heartfelt love story, made more bittersweet by what comes later.
| Element | In A Marine Awakening |
|---|---|
| Central relationship | Cameron Warren (introverted Marine, autistic) & Sharon Rodriguez (outgoing Marine) |
| Core tropes | First love, secret relationship, military |
| Setting | Naval Technical Training Center, Pensacola, Florida, 1998 |
| Heat level | 🌶️🌶️🌶️ |
| Length | 356 pages (Kindle edition) |
| Series | A Marine’s Heart (prequel to Dal Segno) |
| Content notes | Homophobia, institutional discrimination, firearms |
How Spicy Is A Marine Awakening?
Moderate to high. Readers mention sweet moments and sexy times.
Readers mention the homophobia and institutional cruelty of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
Who Should Read This Book?
You’ll likely love it if: you want a heartfelt military romance with an autistic lead. It is on our neurodivergent sapphic romance list.
You may want to skip it if: you would rather not read a love story knowing how it ends.
In short: Love in the shadows of DADT.
What Readers Are Actually Saying (September 2026)
On Goodreads the split is 63% five stars, 26% four, 8% three, 1% two and 2% one.
Why readers love it (according to the discourse): DADT portrayal first. Second, Cam. Third, the romance. Fourth, authenticity.
What readers argue about and complain about: Reading order and foreknowledge, above everything. Second, wanting more. Third, clunky writing for one.
The comparison worth making first: Dal Segno, the book this one precedes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I read Dal Segno first?
Readers disagree. It is a prequel to Dal Segno, and some recommend reading that first for extra meaning; others were glad they started here. Be aware that Dal Segno reveals Sharon’s fate.
What is Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?
The US military policy, in force at the time, that barred openly gay service members. Readers say the book captures its injustice and the constant fear of being discovered better than anything they have read.
Is Cam autistic?
Yes, though not yet diagnosed in this book. The author describes her as an autistic main character pre-diagnosis.
Does it have a happy ending?
Yes. The author describes it as a new adult romance with a happy ending.
Is A Marine Awakening on Kindle Unlimited?
Yes, when we checked, or $2.99 to buy on Kindle.
If You Loved A Marine Awakening, Read These Next
Continue with A Marine Discovery, then read Dal Segno. Browse our neurodivergent sapphic romance list or the full Book Reviews archive.
The Bottom Line
A Marine Awakening sets out to show young love surviving a policy designed to crush it, and its authenticity and warmth deliver. What holds it back, for some, is knowing the ending. A standout military romance. Check A Marine Awakening on Amazon →
The Eikna Overall Ranking
On the Eikna scale, A Marine Awakening ranks as a strong neurodivergent-rep pick — tender, authentic.
The Evidence Scorecard
Overall ★★★★☆ 4.3/5
- ✓ 4.46 average across 227 Goodreads ratings
- ✓ 89% of Goodreads ratings are four or five stars
- ✓ Not checked on StoryGraph
- ✓ 4.6 stars across 282 Amazon ratings
Romance ★★★★☆ 4.2/5
- ✓ First love
- ✓ Secret
- ✓ Sweet
- ✓ Mostly angst-free
Characters ★★★★☆ 4.4/5
- ✓ Cam
- ✓ Sharon
- ✓ Supporting cast
- ✓ Badass marshmallow
Writing ★★★★☆ 4/5
- ✓ Authentic
- ✓ Well edited
- ✓ Clunky for one
- ✓ Personal
Emotional Impact ★★★★☆ 4.3/5
- ✓ DADT fear
- ✓ Poignant
- ✓ Bittersweet
- ✓ Hope
Heat Level ★★★☆☆ 3/5
- ✓ Sexy times
- ✓ Moderate
- ✓ Adult
- ✓ Romantic
Ending ★★★★☆ 4/5
- ✓ HEA
- ✓ Series continues
- ✓ Bittersweet context
- ✓ Warm
Re-read Value ★★★★☆ 4.1/5
- ✓ On Kindle Unlimited
- ✓ $2.99 Kindle price
- ✓ 356 pages
- ✓ Series reread
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