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unsuccessfulbookclub's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed the FMC in this book (Felicity) and I also liked the MMC (Devil). I liked the premise - a bad boy and a woman scorned by society. I loved the moments when Felicity got to tell people off and/or dress them down. My main beef is two fold: I didn’t enjoy the complex revenge plot between Devil and his brother, and I thought Devil and Felicity broke up too much. Basically every time they moved their relationship forward, one of them tried to break it off. A third act breakup? Fine. But like… three of them starting at the 50% mark? Stress! Annoyance! Especially when they had a big bad they could have taken on together. The ending was great and I will definitely read more of this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Sexual content, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Death of parent
aqtbenz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Minor: Death of parent
corrieroe's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Classism
Minor: Confinement, Blood, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
yourbookishbff's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This was a fantastic start to the Bareknuckle Bastards series. I loved the dynamic between Felicity and Devil - emotionally mature woman with a talent for both literal and metaphorical lockpicking eviscerates hot-but-emotionally-constipated Covent Garden smuggler. There are so many moments that stand out - the whispering bench (HOT), the rooftop (SIGH), the hold (SOB). I am grateful to have read this alongside friends, because I would have missed the nods to Rumpelstiltskin (I'm not familiar enough with that story to catch the allusions but love that MacLean has woven these in for savvier readers). If you love high stakes, deathbed confessions, class difference and romances that buck the aristocracy, Wicked and the Wallflower delivers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, Stalking, Death of parent, and Murder
jess_justmaybeperfect's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Rumpelstiltskin inspired love story of a spinster wallflower betrayed by friends and family and a criminal mastermind with a big secret.
After a chance meeting on the balcony of a duke’s Mayfair home, felicity and devil become tangled in each other’s secrets and make an arrangement that turns into love almost immediately.
He’s not good enough for her. She’s done with doing what’s expected. He’s experienced. She is not. He thrives in the darkness. Her favorite color is pink and she is his sunlight.
There are lessons, gifts, trellis climbs, a lot of meaningful lock picking, and a rooftop scene both emotional and smoking.
This book is way over the top. I love it.
After a chance meeting on the balcony of a duke’s Mayfair home, felicity and devil become tangled in each other’s secrets and make an arrangement that turns into love almost immediately.
He’s not good enough for her. She’s done with doing what’s expected. He’s experienced. She is not. He thrives in the darkness. Her favorite color is pink and she is his sunlight.
There are lessons, gifts, trellis climbs, a lot of meaningful lock picking, and a rooftop scene both emotional and smoking.
This book is way over the top. I love it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse and Violence
mollyjeannette's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
haley49's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I love these characters and their story. Everything about their relationship felt earned and I really enjoyed it. Not perfect but this twist on regency romance where the hero is a crime lord was so interesting and the heroine complimented the story in a fun way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Infidelity, and Classism
Minor: Trafficking
livruther's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
4.0
i dont love revenge plots, the conflict was predictable, and it took me a while to get into the story, but i ended up liking it! the writing was good, the ending was really nice, and i think the “she saves him right back” thing was really well done! i am intrigued to see what sarah maclean does w the rest of these characters in this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
sydapel's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
all in all, one of my favorite Sarah MacLean books I've read, but there's a pretty profound betrayal between Devil and Felicity that I found it hard to forgive as easily. I do adore their dynamic (banter 8/10 best I've read since Book Lovers), and Felicity is a force to be reckoned with, but I wish more time was spent on the reconciliation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent
carbs666's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Once again I love Sarah MacLean. This book has such a perfect balance of internal and external conflict - its clear from the beginning why these two can't be together right now and what obstacles need to be overcome to get them there. I love that we had a role reversal at the end where the heroine saves the hero, and I enjoyed the way MacLean built on the couples' instant fascination with each other by letting them to get to know each other before they just decide they're in love.
I will say that I feel like I know a lot about Devil but not that much about Felicity. While her character is clear, we don't get a lot of info about the events in her life that shaped her character- like, how does she know how to pick locks??? When was the first time she did that, how did she develop this skill? I would like to know!
MacLean is a master at slowing the pace way down to accommodate a love scene and there a few truly hot and tender moments in here! Additionally, there's significant and believable tension between Devil and Felicity that is very gratifying to see.
There's still a fair amount of mystery surrounding the past of the Bareknuckle Bastards but I forgive the holes because I know they will be filed in in later books in the series. This book is overall exciting- there's a tenor running throughout of that feeling you get when you're doing something you're not supposed be doing and enjoying it the entire time, a wonder at being shown a side of life you didn't know existed.
I will say that I feel like I know a lot about Devil but not that much about Felicity. While her character is clear, we don't get a lot of info about the events in her life that shaped her character- like, how does she know how to pick locks??? When was the first time she did that, how did she develop this skill? I would like to know!
MacLean is a master at slowing the pace way down to accommodate a love scene and there a few truly hot and tender moments in here! Additionally, there's significant and believable tension between Devil and Felicity that is very gratifying to see.
There's still a fair amount of mystery surrounding the past of the Bareknuckle Bastards but I forgive the holes because I know they will be filed in in later books in the series. This book is overall exciting- there's a tenor running throughout of that feeling you get when you're doing something you're not supposed be doing and enjoying it the entire time, a wonder at being shown a side of life you didn't know existed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment