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ha1011's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jennysjw's review against another edition
A lesser version of Black Sheep.
The story really didn’t go anywhere. I had a hard time connecting with the main characters, Annis and Oliver. Maria is supposed to be the annoying character, but I was mostly irritated with Oliver. He was made purposefully rude for no reason at all, and he intimidated those with less power and status than him. I need more reason to like the hero than just the fact that the heroine has inexplicably fallen in love with him. I was mostly invested in the side characters Ninian and Lucilla, but they disappeared from the book without a resolution. None of the subplots were properly concluded.
The story really didn’t go anywhere. I had a hard time connecting with the main characters, Annis and Oliver. Maria is supposed to be the annoying character, but I was mostly irritated with Oliver. He was made purposefully rude for no reason at all, and he intimidated those with less power and status than him. I need more reason to like the hero than just the fact that the heroine has inexplicably fallen in love with him. I was mostly invested in the side characters Ninian and Lucilla, but they disappeared from the book without a resolution. None of the subplots were properly concluded.
eb00kie's review against another edition
4.0
Oh, this is beyond funny. Megod, Maria was a bloody annoying babble, she represents 99% of the 'hardships' Annis confronts and it's annoyingly amusing.
As a theme that becomes a typical in Heyer's books we find humor based on silly prejudice. Brilliant and entertaining
As a theme that becomes a typical in Heyer's books we find humor based on silly prejudice. Brilliant and entertaining
maplessence's review against another edition
2.0
2.5★
I have a theory about this title.
If it's one of the first Heyer's for a reader they often love it, as even a lousy Heyer is superior to most historical romances on the market. If you have already read & loved some of Heyer's finest works it is likely you will be disappointed.
& I fall into the later category.
My father gave me this beautiful edition [bc:Lady of Quality|1391299|Lady of Quality|Georgette Heyer|http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1213998805s/1391299.jpg|2475001](brand new at the time) for my sixteenth birthday! How eagerly I fell on it & started reading, only to soon realise it was nearly as bad as her previous book, Charity Girl! If those two were the first Heyer's I'd read, I would never have read another!
On previous reads I didn't like Oliver. This time it was the heroine Annis I didn't like. I found her arrogant & judgemental. Quite easily the most unappealing heroine in any of GH's historical romances. Oliver is just a less well drawn edition of two of Heyer's heroes Charles (The Grand Sophy) & Max (Faro's Daughter) In fact I could find the original of most of the characters in this book in other Heyer novels. I might as well say the two from The Black Sheep. This book is an inferior copy of it. Lucilla = Fanny, Miss Farley = Selina. Believe me, not a spoiler.
Really the only incident is how Annis meets Ninian (what a name!) & Lucilla (another pearler!) other than that it is one set piece after another. The hero & heroine spend very little time together as I really don't think Heyer (elderly, unwell & probably sick of Regencies) knew what to do with them.
Only positives. In showing a more independent heroine I think GH was trying to move with the times.
Unless you are a Heyer completist I would skip this one. Sad that it was her final completed novel.
I have a theory about this title.
If it's one of the first Heyer's for a reader they often love it, as even a lousy Heyer is superior to most historical romances on the market. If you have already read & loved some of Heyer's finest works it is likely you will be disappointed.
& I fall into the later category.
My father gave me this beautiful edition [bc:Lady of Quality|1391299|Lady of Quality|Georgette Heyer|http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1213998805s/1391299.jpg|2475001](brand new at the time) for my sixteenth birthday! How eagerly I fell on it & started reading, only to soon realise it was nearly as bad as her previous book, Charity Girl! If those two were the first Heyer's I'd read, I would never have read another!
On previous reads I didn't like Oliver. This time it was the heroine Annis I didn't like. I found her arrogant & judgemental. Quite easily the most unappealing heroine in any of GH's historical romances. Oliver is just a less well drawn edition of two of Heyer's heroes Charles (The Grand Sophy) & Max (Faro's Daughter) In fact I could find the original of most of the characters in this book in other Heyer novels. I might as well say the two from The Black Sheep. This book is an inferior copy of it. Lucilla = Fanny, Miss Farley = Selina. Believe me, not a spoiler.
Really the only incident is how Annis meets Ninian (what a name!) & Lucilla (another pearler!) other than that it is one set piece after another. The hero & heroine spend very little time together as I really don't think Heyer (elderly, unwell & probably sick of Regencies) knew what to do with them.
Only positives. In showing a more independent heroine I think GH was trying to move with the times.
Spoiler
The solution to what was going to become of Miss Farley was brilliant! Not so the solution for Lucilla.Unless you are a Heyer completist I would skip this one. Sad that it was her final completed novel.
701c3's review
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
siria's review against another edition
2.0
A pretty standard Heyer: nothing too objectionable, though I found the heroine rather lacklustre, and while the hero may have charmed Annis, he certainly didn't have the same effect on me. The various character interactions seem a little more realistic than in some of Heyer's previous work, but there's a definite lack of the humour which made her earlier work sparkle. Diverting, but not memorable.
helenephoebe's review against another edition
3.0
ISBN? - 9780099474463
Genre? - Regency / Romance / Drama
Characters? - Annis / Lucilla / Oliver / Maria / Ninian
Setting? - Bath (England)
Series? - N/A
Title? - From what I've seen all of Heyer's novels have titles relating to the character. Although Annis was a 'lady of quality' she was unique and it is these unusual characters that make the story.
Character Analysis? - I loved Annis, hated Maria and couldn't make my mind up about Lucilla, but Ninian and Oliver both came across as being quite 2D characters, considering how important Oliver especially was to the plot of the novel.
General Comments? - I was a little disappointed in my first foray into Georgette Heyer. Nevertheless, I will read more of her work. But Heyer's Regency world does seem more realistic than that of either Julia Quinn or Stephanie Laurens, no matter how much I enjoy their work.
Recommend? - Undecided, need to read more of Heyer's work.
Genre? - Regency / Romance / Drama
Characters? - Annis / Lucilla / Oliver / Maria / Ninian
Setting? - Bath (England)
Series? - N/A
Title? - From what I've seen all of Heyer's novels have titles relating to the character. Although Annis was a 'lady of quality' she was unique and it is these unusual characters that make the story.
Character Analysis? - I loved Annis, hated Maria and couldn't make my mind up about Lucilla, but Ninian and Oliver both came across as being quite 2D characters, considering how important Oliver especially was to the plot of the novel.
General Comments? - I was a little disappointed in my first foray into Georgette Heyer. Nevertheless, I will read more of her work. But Heyer's Regency world does seem more realistic than that of either Julia Quinn or Stephanie Laurens, no matter how much I enjoy their work.
Recommend? - Undecided, need to read more of Heyer's work.
anya_reading's review against another edition
2.0
The is the second Georgette Heyer book I've read (the first was The Reluctant Widow, which I disliked).
I didn't straight-up dislike this book as much as The Reluctant Widow, but it almost felt like I was reading the same book.
Lady "past her prime" who is pretty and comes from a good family? Check.
Fiery arguments with lead male protagonist? Check.
The cousin who stays with the main character was annoying as all get-out, and by the end of the book, it's plain that everybody also feels that way. I'm amazed the old lady didn't figure it out for herself, or that they couldn't just get rid of her...
I couldn't really bring myself to like the lead male protagonist, Oliver Carleton, but I felt like he made a good match for Annis, because for as respectable as she was in society, it seemed like she was just getting tired of everyone around her. He is improper in almost every way, but I guess they'll never get bored!
This was hard to slog through, though I finished it in about a day. While I appreciate that the ladies in these stories are fiery and don't take people's crap, I also wonder how proper that would have been for the time. (Maybe I should just let accuracy go and try to enjoy it anyways? If I am wrong in supposing genteel ladies to have been much less feisty back then?)
I didn't straight-up dislike this book as much as The Reluctant Widow, but it almost felt like I was reading the same book.
Lady "past her prime" who is pretty and comes from a good family? Check.
Fiery arguments with lead male protagonist? Check.
The cousin who stays with the main character was annoying as all get-out, and by the end of the book, it's plain that everybody also feels that way. I'm amazed the old lady didn't figure it out for herself, or that they couldn't just get rid of her...
I couldn't really bring myself to like the lead male protagonist, Oliver Carleton, but I felt like he made a good match for Annis, because for as respectable as she was in society, it seemed like she was just getting tired of everyone around her. He is improper in almost every way, but I guess they'll never get bored!
This was hard to slog through, though I finished it in about a day. While I appreciate that the ladies in these stories are fiery and don't take people's crap, I also wonder how proper that would have been for the time. (Maybe I should just let accuracy go and try to enjoy it anyways? If I am wrong in supposing genteel ladies to have been much less feisty back then?)
hannahjoy91's review against another edition
4.0
What fun this read was!
I was constantly smiling & giggling at the dialogue between the characters.
The hate-to-love trope, which was what drew me to this book, was hilarious to read and when they finally confessed their love it was so sweet.
Miss Farlow was funny yet also irritating and reminded me a little of Miss bates from Jane Austen's Emma.
I can't wait to read more Georgette Heyer!!
I was constantly smiling & giggling at the dialogue between the characters.
The hate-to-love trope, which was what drew me to this book, was hilarious to read and when they finally confessed their love it was so sweet.
Miss Farlow was funny yet also irritating and reminded me a little of Miss bates from Jane Austen's Emma.
I can't wait to read more Georgette Heyer!!
reading_historical_romance's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
3.5