Reviews

The Beautiful Ones, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

ekern1991's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

caitsidhe's review

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

1.5

Moreno-Garcia is a great writer and I understand this is intended to be like a telenovela in tone and content. It succeeded at that.

Unfortunately I really didn't like it.

From the blurb I was expecting both the magic and the high society to have a much larger part in the story. They are both barely present. The book is, in my opinion, viciously cruel to the extremely stereotypical Valerie who I ended up feeling more sympathy for than it seemed to want me to. Mainly because she was not as desperately dull as Nina.

It's just not for me, I'm afraid. 

alyssasaurus's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

gingerale06's review

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emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

deszra's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious reflective 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? Yes

5.0

hilsaa's review against another edition

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

3.5

The name Hector and the theatre performing and unexplained magic kept reminding me of The Night Circus. This Hector was incredibly sappy, I didn't get a feel for why he loved either of the two love interests. The writing was plain - I prefer lyrical, descriptive writing and this sometimes felt like it was TRYING to be that, but was unsuccessful. It was interesting enough and I was eager to continue reading, but the last 15-20% of the book was a bit boring/let down.

teddybear4545454's review

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emotional lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Fairly straightforward regency romance with a bit of magic sprinkled in. The perspective switching got annoying, and I didn't always enjoy Hector's POV. He came off as somewhat petulant and dull, and his motivations weren't always clear. Valerie was a bit of a flat, cliched villain but her POV was fun to read. Nina was likeable as a MC and had a great progression/maturing throughout the novel. There is a thoughtful deconstruction of women's role in society through the contrasting POVs of Valerie and Nina. I saw someone else mention that it's meant to read like a telenovela, and the slightly overdone drama is definitely more enjoyable if you read it with that lens. Overall, it was enjoyable if a bit slow and melodramatic at times. Excited to read more from Moreno-Garcia! 
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paulinaw's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

mollyg1bbs's review against another edition

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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

3.0

morj's review against another edition

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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

4.0

I think knowing this was supposed to read like a telenovela really heightened my enjoyment - I knew to look out for melodrama.  Dramatic romances don't usually do it for me, but I really loved the writing and the characters in this one, and it came together beautifully for me.