Reviews

The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics, by Olivia Waite

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tootaytwista's review

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emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character

2.5

hellolauren's review

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adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

cpikas's review

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5.0

It's a great book with a fabulous ending and I'm glad I read it. Probably going to head back to my comfort zone with straight historical romance. Wish more of those had better science and better developed friendships among women.

mixedpineapples10's review

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adventurous funny lighthearted slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

ainsweeeee's review against another edition

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lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.0

This book is ok. Just ok. The stakes are never really that high, and the characters never have to work that hard to get anywhere.

Spoiler

The leads get together 80 pages in, which is very quick and unconvincing, then they stay blissfully happy until the final 100 pages when they have a fight based on assumptions and not being honest with each other. You’re telling me you spend 200 pages detailing the care and intimacy the characters share for them to suddenly 180 and stop being honest? It’s a really unsatisfying, unconvincing and lazy narrative. For instance, in one chapter Lucy’s brother reveals her identity by painting and selling her portrait, exposing her to misogyny, and then immediately apologises to her in the next chapter without any credible growth to substantiate his change of heart. I would’ve like to have seen more conflict between them—perhaps Lucy writing him a letter to explain her hurt, him writing a letter back and being a dick, time passing, running into each other’s acquaintances and making mention of the tension, and then finally her brother coming around and understanding what a jackass he’s been. That is a compelling narrative of redemption.

This book has loads of quick, undeveloped side plots like that, such as

Spoiler

promoting the butler’s daughter to Lady’s Maid and the household being unhappy about it. The other servant’s unhappiness is described over 2 paragraphs, and then it’s resolved immediately. Why not sprinkle in a bed linen being stained, some ash on the carpet, a drink spilled over the course of a few chapters and then resolve it with finding her other employment that she’s more suited for?

This book is full of missed opportunities. It’s like the author has a plot idea but only the attention to keep it up for 2 pages before abandoning it for something else. Ugh.

And don’t get me started on all the moments in this book where the author was just begging to write and everyone clapped. The virtue-signalling to the contemporary reader was eye-rolling. So much about these historical periods is in what the characters don’t say: the subtle condemnation, the venomous compliments.

Spoiler

As if a woman, even if she is a countess, can be so bold to a man?? And then of course he came crawling back, begging for Lucy. Once again, a missed opportunity for conflict: have the men write and publish their translation, let the original author only endorse one of the texts, have the publishing be a race, have the authors fight it out in reviews. That would’ve been much more gripping, much more interesting narrative. Lucy would’ve had to work harder, and thus the notoriety would’ve been earned.

That’s not to say it’s all bad… the descriptions of embroidery are beautiful, and Catherine’s journey to confidence and self-acceptance is compelling. But that’s it. That’s all the good.

I powered through this book just to finish it because I’m getting behind on my 2023 reading goal, otherwise I would’ve dropped it at 80%.

marareading's review

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hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

There is definitely not enough sapphic regency romance. This was wonderful. I love that their world was based on something more for themselves and especially science. 🔭 Regency female astronomers are in another class! Loved this so much.