chirson's review against another edition
4.0
I received an ARC of the book for review purposes. My opinions are my own.
This was a lovely, cosy and warm historical romance that's just the right mix of smart, funny and heartfelt. Chloe and Jeremy's affection and attraction are believable and worth rooting for - they're adorable together, their chemistry is visible on page and their happy ending was satisfying. I enjoyed spending time with them in Wedgeford and I loved the subtle humour as well as the more obviously comical moments, but perhaps the most compelling part of the book was the relationship between the two protagonists and their community. It made them feel real and lovely.
The success of a romance novel is often down to the details - the way in which the author puts their own flourish on reliable tropes and tweaks a familiar narrative structure achieving the right balance between new and known. Milan takes some risks here, experimenting with the conflict and the structure and it pays off - the novel does a few unexpected twists in a way that made me laugh out loud (waking my cat in the process) and that also made me think "of course" in the aftermath - all the clues were there. This was the best way to make the pieces fall together. And together they fall.
And then there's the details of the world and minor characters that I just loved. The revenge subplot. The Chinese heritage details concerning the protagonists and their families that were described so lovingly. Chloe's father and all the ways in which his fierce love for Chloe manifested itself. And the unnamed sauce. (In fact, the surprising thing about this book might be that it's not really bedtime reading because the mouth-watering descriptions of cooking and eating made me hungry every time!)
I guess the only thing I didn't quite love in the book was the eponymous Wedgeford Trials aspect - not because I didn't enjoy it, but because it felt like the fact that the protagonists didn't participate in them in the time of the action meant that this aspect felt incomplete to me - but that only means there's space for us to see the trials themselves in the sequel(s) that I hope will come.
Finally, I loved the extended author's notes. It was fascinating to hear about the real stories that served as inspiration for some of the author's choices, and the story behind the story is something I'd gladly read for every book I read.
Highly recommended.
This was a lovely, cosy and warm historical romance that's just the right mix of smart, funny and heartfelt. Chloe and Jeremy's affection and attraction are believable and worth rooting for - they're adorable together, their chemistry is visible on page and their happy ending was satisfying. I enjoyed spending time with them in Wedgeford and I loved the subtle humour as well as the more obviously comical moments, but perhaps the most compelling part of the book was the relationship between the two protagonists and their community. It made them feel real and lovely.
The success of a romance novel is often down to the details - the way in which the author puts their own flourish on reliable tropes and tweaks a familiar narrative structure achieving the right balance between new and known. Milan takes some risks here, experimenting with the conflict and the structure and it pays off - the novel does a few unexpected twists in a way that made me laugh out loud (waking my cat in the process) and that also made me think "of course" in the aftermath - all the clues were there. This was the best way to make the pieces fall together. And together they fall.
And then there's the details of the world and minor characters that I just loved. The revenge subplot. The Chinese heritage details concerning the protagonists and their families that were described so lovingly. Chloe's father and all the ways in which his fierce love for Chloe manifested itself. And the unnamed sauce. (In fact, the surprising thing about this book might be that it's not really bedtime reading because the mouth-watering descriptions of cooking and eating made me hungry every time!)
I guess the only thing I didn't quite love in the book was the eponymous Wedgeford Trials aspect - not because I didn't enjoy it, but because it felt like the fact that the protagonists didn't participate in them in the time of the action meant that this aspect felt incomplete to me - but that only means there's space for us to see the trials themselves in the sequel(s) that I hope will come.
Finally, I loved the extended author's notes. It was fascinating to hear about the real stories that served as inspiration for some of the author's choices, and the story behind the story is something I'd gladly read for every book I read.
Highly recommended.
onceuponatrope's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
This was such a sweet, low-angst historical romance. I loved how devoted Jeremy was from the beginning! He’s delightful. My first Courtney Milan, and certainly not my last. I was rushing to finish it because it was my pick for the romance book club I host at my library, and I had borrowed it as an ILL that was due tomorrow! In my haste, I don’t think I appreciated it enough, but it was certainly tender, heart-warming, and enjoyable.
readingwithhippos's review against another edition
4.0
Historical romance set in England with a cast of characters that aren’t all (or even majority) white! AND it’s a foodie romance that will have you drooling from page one. AND there’s a Type A heroine who can’t get through the day without her lists. AND there’s a hero with a big secret that he’s been keeping from the whole town. Courtney Milan really can do it all. I don’t have much to say about this other than I loved it and you should read it right away.
sri_savita's review against another edition
5.0
The first page was the list she'd just started this morning.
What Duchesses Do, it said.
He wrote beneath it in large, square capitals: WHATEVER DUCHESSES WANT.
"There." He turned to her. "You said when I came here that I don't get to make your list. Let's keep it that way, shall we?"
She nodded, her eyes bright. "Jeremy. You're... You're so much, you know that?"
"I know." He grinned at her. "I love you too."
"The question has never been who my list is about," Jeremy told her. "It’s been about whether she’ll have me."
I really enjoyed this one! I loved the discussion on what it means to be British, especially in the context of the foods and traditions we bring from other places and other lives, but also where we consider ourselves rooted and raised. I liked the discussion of that in the context of voices and accents being telling in What Souls are Made Of recently too. Basically, as an Asian reader, it feels amazing to see the kinds of thoughts and experiences that resonate for me, represented on the page through these characters and the author's voice.
Courtney Milan keeps the negative tensions on the lighter side, and the epilogue delivers on this in a great way as well as Jeremy's discussion with Chloe's father. The two lead characters are wonderful, and I loved all the characters that Jeremy and Chloe spend time with too. The way these class and social issues were discussed by a writer who "gets it" is exactly why we need more of these kinds of stories. Love, love, love. As with What Souls are Made Of here is one more historical romance set in England with two Asian characters on the cover, and we need more of that.
Mary Jane Wells did excellent with narration, as usual, and there are some interesting bits of info and TWO EPILOGUES in the book/glossary as well!
What Duchesses Do, it said.
He wrote beneath it in large, square capitals: WHATEVER DUCHESSES WANT.
"There." He turned to her. "You said when I came here that I don't get to make your list. Let's keep it that way, shall we?"
She nodded, her eyes bright. "Jeremy. You're... You're so much, you know that?"
"I know." He grinned at her. "I love you too."
"The question has never been who my list is about," Jeremy told her. "It’s been about whether she’ll have me."
I really enjoyed this one! I loved the discussion on what it means to be British, especially in the context of the foods and traditions we bring from other places and other lives, but also where we consider ourselves rooted and raised. I liked the discussion of that in the context of voices and accents being telling in What Souls are Made Of recently too. Basically, as an Asian reader, it feels amazing to see the kinds of thoughts and experiences that resonate for me, represented on the page through these characters and the author's voice.
Courtney Milan keeps the negative tensions on the lighter side, and the epilogue delivers on this in a great way as well as Jeremy's discussion with Chloe's father. The two lead characters are wonderful, and I loved all the characters that Jeremy and Chloe spend time with too. The way these class and social issues were discussed by a writer who "gets it" is exactly why we need more of these kinds of stories. Love, love, love. As with What Souls are Made Of here is one more historical romance set in England with two Asian characters on the cover, and we need more of that.
Mary Jane Wells did excellent with narration, as usual, and there are some interesting bits of info and TWO EPILOGUES in the book/glossary as well!
heroicandromache's review against another edition
5.0
IF THERE’S MORE THAN ONE BED, MAKE YOUR OWN TROPE.
Oh, to be me 5 days ago and not have read this book. My life was poorer because of it. I wanted to read this book because it simply was new to me—to see Asian people on a traditional romance cover? It took 22 years for me to see one. 22. And it was blessedly delightful.
I love Chloe. And I love Jeremy. And I love how held and seen I felt by both their storylines and the unapologetic way that Courtney Milan took Hakka (Hakka!!) and Cantonese and said, “No, I’m going to give you other languages and cultures.” I love it! I want to shout to the sky about it.
And the romance! It was sweet and perfect and I about died every time Jeremy said sweetheart. The spicyness rating is on the low side (less sexy times, more romance) but it made it all the better. It’s refreshing seeing a woman character who takes charge and a man who’s a bit more sweet.
Everything was perfect, especially the growth arcs for each character and how they each listened and learned from each other.
When you get to the part that the first line references (only one bed) you’ll laugh. It’s a trope inverted and tossed through the wok and I’m going to laugh every time I see it because I wasn’t expecting that, but it was s also so Chloe.
Oh, to be me 5 days ago and not have read this book. My life was poorer because of it. I wanted to read this book because it simply was new to me—to see Asian people on a traditional romance cover? It took 22 years for me to see one. 22. And it was blessedly delightful.
I love Chloe. And I love Jeremy. And I love how held and seen I felt by both their storylines and the unapologetic way that Courtney Milan took Hakka (Hakka!!) and Cantonese and said, “No, I’m going to give you other languages and cultures.” I love it! I want to shout to the sky about it.
And the romance! It was sweet and perfect and I about died every time Jeremy said sweetheart. The spicyness rating is on the low side (less sexy times, more romance) but it made it all the better. It’s refreshing seeing a woman character who takes charge and a man who’s a bit more sweet.
Everything was perfect, especially the growth arcs for each character and how they each listened and learned from each other.
When you get to the part that the first line references (only one bed) you’ll laugh. It’s a trope inverted and tossed through the wok and I’m going to laugh every time I see it because I wasn’t expecting that, but it was s also so Chloe.
carolineinthecardigan's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
sophie1990's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
qwelling4's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
sucralose's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
3.75