Reviews

This Lovely City by Louise Hare

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jenna_06's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.75

krilves's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative reflective tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

I thought this was more of a romance than it turned out to be - not that there wasn’t romance! But it wasn’t the centre of the narrative and Lawrie and Evie were already together. This book was more about how they struggled to be together in the face of racism and prejudice (as Lawrie came over on the Windrush and Evie was born in London to a white mum and a black father) with a healthy side dose of mystery and skeletons in closets. The 1948/1950 London setting was interesting and vivid.

gepetto's review against another edition

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dark reflective 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

4.0

thumbetina's review against another edition

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challenging emotional sad 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

ruthlesss's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

3.0

bookmadbarlow's review

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challenging mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but I really enjoyed this sort of romance, sort of murder mystery with a sprinkling of Jazz thrown in.
Lawrie has travelled to the UK as part of the Windrush and now finds work as a postman, by night he plays in a band and meets Evie, but love doesn't run smooth when they are both caught up in a local scandal.
This was a book about relationships, racism, family and friendship. It was interesting to learn a bit more about windrush and serendipitous that I was reading another book about the subject at the same time.
The murder mystery element left me guessing, but may not be for everyone due to the nature. I would definitely read another book by this author.