mostlyromancereading's review against another edition
5.0
Was the plot buck wild? Yes! Was I occasionally exasperated? Yes. Did I have a fantastic time and fall for the protags and bg characters? Double yes! Seriously, this one was such a blast, and I loved getting to meet the Hunter family and their company.
asha_m's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
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
4.0
brokenrecord's review against another edition
5.0
There's something about Courtney Milan's romances that just works for me -- not all of them as well as others, but I've never disliked a Courtney Milan romance, and there was basically no chance I wasn't going to love this. I've read some reviews that bring up various flaws or nitpicks, and I'm just like, "Yeah, okay, but I don't care!!! This was perfect!!!" Adrian and Camilla were so lovely together. It made sense that Camilla had abandonment issues after everything she'd gone through, and I loved how Camilla's desperation for love (or even for anyone to simply like her and want to be around her) slowly transformed to a real, genuine love for Adrian. I loved how they trusted one another, and how Adrian slowly convinced her that she deserved to be chosen and to wait to marry someone who loved her and whom she loved.
But really, this book was about Camilla for me. My heart broke for her repeatedly. After Once Upon a Marquess, I had a completely different idea of what her character would be like -- I thought she'd be headstrong and stubborn and resentful towards Judith and the rest of her family for abandoning her (from her perspective). But no!!! Instead, she blamed herself and thought she deserved everything she got. It was all the more heartbreaking having read Once Upon a Marquess, knowing how desperately her family wanted to find her, knowing she'd find the love she craved once she reunited with them, and the whole time I just felt like I was anxiously waiting for her to reach the point in the story where Once Upon a Marquess ended. And I loved that despite everything, she managed to cling onto some sort of hope that things would get better.
The Worth reunion scenes really made me burst from happiness. I just feel really invested in this family!!! As much as I love how Courtney Milan writes romance, I think I love how she writes families even more. And I wasn't expecting at all to get Theresa POV chapters here, but I loved them. Normally in romances I get annoyed when we start getting POVs from characters that aren't the main couple, but I loved seeing things from Theresa's POV and seeing what she and Benedict got up to. And her relationships with both Benedict and Christian's mother were so sweet!!!
Adrian was also really great!!! I was more invested in Camilla (probably in part because of getting build-up with her character in the previous book, and partly just because I identified with her a bit more), but he was such a sweetheart, and I also really adored Grayson, and his interaction with Theresa and Benedict was utterly delightful. Apparently he's the hero of the next book (and I think I read somewhere Benedict is also going to feature?) and I'm incredibly excited for that. And the brief John and Henry mentions were also great! It made me glad I read In Pursuit Of... right before this so I could appreciate them. This book also made me want a book about Adrian and Grayson's parents -- I mean, it sounds like it was a slow burn romance about the daughter of a duke rebelling against her family to join the abolitionist movement and falling in love with a black man she's working with there: yes, please!
Anyways, I'm basically obsessed with this series and this family and I am desperate for the next book. I really hope it doesn't take another 2.5 years to get the next one! (Although I'll take the 2.5 years if that's what's necessary to create a book I love as much as this one.)
Spoiler
And I loved how, in the end Camilla and Adrian's positions on the annulment flipped -- Adrian went from wanting the annulment because he had always wanted a choice and to fall in love slowly to realizing he had already done so with Camilla and was perfectly happy to stay married, whereas Camilla went from wanting the marriage because she was so desperate for anyone to love her and stick around to needing the annulment because she realized she deserved a choice. And I really love that they actually went through with the annulment! I love marriage of convenience stories (not that this was one, but I just mean stories where two people who are not in love get married for other reasons), but it often bugs me (mostly in ones set in present day) when the characters at the end realize they're in love and decide to just... stay in the marriage? It seems like a lot of unnecessary pressure, and deciding to try a real relationship is still a big step away from married. It works a little better in historical romances for me, but I love that here they decided to do the annulment so that if they decided to try to be together, they'd know it was completely their choice and not something they felt at all pressured into by their circumstances. It made me really happy!But really, this book was about Camilla for me. My heart broke for her repeatedly. After Once Upon a Marquess, I had a completely different idea of what her character would be like -- I thought she'd be headstrong and stubborn and resentful towards Judith and the rest of her family for abandoning her (from her perspective). But no!!! Instead, she blamed herself and thought she deserved everything she got. It was all the more heartbreaking having read Once Upon a Marquess, knowing how desperately her family wanted to find her, knowing she'd find the love she craved once she reunited with them, and the whole time I just felt like I was anxiously waiting for her to reach the point in the story where Once Upon a Marquess ended.
Spoiler
And even though I knew how Judith would react when Camilla finally came home, it made me teary after reading so many pages of Camilla doubting her family cared about her or wanted her, for her to finally reunite with them and tell Judith she needs her help and Judith to simply say "Anything."Spoiler
And seeing her finally gather the courage to go back to the rectory to get the proof they needed made me tear up -- especially with the contrast to the women she read about who weren't able to get justice in court and the dedication at the beginning of this book and knowing how Courtney Milan spoke up last fall about Kozinski's harassment. I got very emotional about all of it!!!The Worth reunion scenes really made me burst from happiness. I just feel really invested in this family!!! As much as I love how Courtney Milan writes romance, I think I love how she writes families even more.
Spoiler
Seeing all of them there at the end at Adrian and Camilla's real wedding was so touching. All Camilla wanted was someone to love her, and in the end she had so many people who cared about her!!!Spoiler
And the scene with Judith, where she confesses to looking for Camilla as a birthday present and explaining her love for Judith is like the rot on the fields!!! I got so teary. I love how even though Judith and Theresa don't quite understand each other, they clearly love each other so much. And the ending, with her going off with Christian's mom!!! I'm sad that it seems we won't see any of her for a little while, but I'm so excited for it. I had started to wonder if maybe Priya was actually real when she started going on about being able to remember her better than Camilla, and it was such a delight when it was revealed that she was. I'm looking forward to meeting her at some point in the future (book 4, I'm guessing, based on the covers?).Adrian was also really great!!! I was more invested in Camilla (probably in part because of getting build-up with her character in the previous book, and partly just because I identified with her a bit more), but he was such a sweetheart, and
Spoiler
while I knew his design for the china was going to involve tigers, it was still such a lovely moment when it was revealed.Anyways, I'm basically obsessed with this series and this family and I am desperate for the next book. I really hope it doesn't take another 2.5 years to get the next one! (Although I'll take the 2.5 years if that's what's necessary to create a book I love as much as this one.)
linaria's review against another edition
3.0
This was probably the weakest Courtney Milan book I've read. There are a lot of things to praise about this book - the diversity, the snappy dialogue, and the wit. Unfortunately, Adrian got all the good character traits. Notably absent from my list of praise is anything pertaining to the heroine of this book - Camilla. I get that Camilla had bounced around a lot of homes and found herself in very dire circumstances. I applaud her eventual character development, but it takes almost 300 pages for her to grow a spine, and it's very hard to relate since her character starts out so meek.
I do love Courtney Milan, and her books. I love the diversity, but the convoluted plot and Camilla sunk this one for me. Plus, Judith's characterization is so different from the first novel, it seemed jarring. Altogether, this one was a miss for me, but I look forward to the next book in the series!
I do love Courtney Milan, and her books. I love the diversity
Spoiler
A black hero!!!alisonhp's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
3.5
This book was entertaining in its anachronistic modern identities set against an historical backdrop, and I was fascinated by the ways that these characters leaned towards each other and fell in love more out of proximity than because they were soulmates or had discovered a once in a lifetime love.
smuttty19's review against another edition
3.0
Camilla has been passed around for years. She wants to be loved and wanted but will settle for safety and consistency that marriage provides. Unfortunately her husband doesn’t want to be married to her and is seeking annulment.
Adrian’s uncle asks him to spy on his rival, another bishop, in order to be recognized. While Adrian is undercover the bishop sets up a plan to ruin him by having him locked in a room with Camilla and force them to marry.
The two then set out to find out what the bishop was up to.
One thing I enjoy about Milan books is there is always a subject I walk away knowing more about. Chess, clockmaking, hereditary studies, in this book the focus was on chinaware. Camilla’s abandonment issue and desire for love made it hard to watch Adrian constantly not want her.
Overall Book ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice
Adrian’s uncle asks him to spy on his rival, another bishop, in order to be recognized. While Adrian is undercover the bishop sets up a plan to ruin him by having him locked in a room with Camilla and force them to marry.
The two then set out to find out what the bishop was up to.
One thing I enjoy about Milan books is there is always a subject I walk away knowing more about. Chess, clockmaking, hereditary studies, in this book the focus was on chinaware. Camilla’s abandonment issue and desire for love made it hard to watch Adrian constantly not want her.
Overall Book ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice
librovert's review against another edition
3.0
Ya'll. I am sad. I was elated to get an ARC of this book for review because I love Courtney Milan. My average rating for Courtney's novels is 4.9 (well, okay, 4.8 repeating) and even if I add in her novellas (I just don't love novellas in general) my average rating for her is 4.3.
Full disclosure, I have not read the previous novel in this series (Once Upon a Marquess). But based on what I know of the couple from the first book and what I know of the characters in this book, it seems like that would have little bearing on my enjoyment of this book.
I'm not saying that this book was bad by - in fact, it was quite good. I loved the characters, I'm really intrigued by the world that Courtney is setting up for this series, and I am really excited for the next book in the series. I enjoyed reading it, it just didn't have the wow factor that I am accustomed to when it comes to her books.
One of the things that I continue to praise in Courtney's books is her attention to diversity. I love that the romantic hero in this book was the biracial son of a black abolitionist and a duke's daughter. I suspect his family has more to do with the overall story arc than we know so far, so I am super excited to see where the series goes!
Full disclosure, I have not read the previous novel in this series (Once Upon a Marquess). But based on what I know of the couple from the first book and what I know of the characters in this book, it seems like that would have little bearing on my enjoyment of this book.
I'm not saying that this book was bad by - in fact, it was quite good. I loved the characters, I'm really intrigued by the world that Courtney is setting up for this series, and I am really excited for the next book in the series. I enjoyed reading it, it just didn't have the wow factor that I am accustomed to when it comes to her books.
One of the things that I continue to praise in Courtney's books is her attention to diversity. I love that the romantic hero in this book was the biracial son of a black abolitionist and a duke's daughter. I suspect his family has more to do with the overall story arc than we know so far, so I am super excited to see where the series goes!
emmascc's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
This was so good! It has been months since I've stayed up to 4am to finish a book but I could not put this down. Honestly, anyone who hasn't read a Courtney Milan novel should ASAP. This was an emotional rollercoaster. I loved Camilla and Adrian so much and just wanted them to be happy. And after that ending I am so ready for the next book in this series.
This was so good! It has been months since I've stayed up to 4am to finish a book but I could not put this down. Honestly, anyone who hasn't read a Courtney Milan novel should ASAP. This was an emotional rollercoaster. I loved Camilla and Adrian so much and just wanted them to be happy. And after that ending I am so ready for the next book in this series.
nickym96's review against another edition
3.0
Two things to note:
1 - I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
2 - I've never read anything before by this author, not even the previous books in this series.
Okay, now on with the review.
After the Wedding is book 2 in The Worth Saga by Courtney Milan. It's about a young woman named Camilla and a young man named Adrian who were forced to marry each other and spend the rest of the book working towards getting an annulment, all the while trying to resist each other to even be eligible for an annulment.
Camilla and Adrian came from seemingly different backgrounds and seemingly different worlds. Adrian, the grandson of a Duke. Camilla, a Lady. But when they meet, neither can claim their place in society. For reasons that will be wonderfully revealed in the book, Adrian is a refreshingly different kind of hero. He has a job to do and a wife wasn't a part of that. Nevertheless, Camilla gets under his skin. Camilla, on the other hand, just wanted someone. Anyone. The idea of a husband, forced or not, wasn't the worst thing in the world to her. These two characters have to work together to achieve a certain goal and develop a special relationship.
Camilla at first was a little annoying. And then she was kind of sad and I ended up feeling a great deal for her. She went through a lot in her life, but despite it all, she had so much hope and could see the good in nearly every circumstance. Despite not having not read the previous book in the series, it was still easy enough to pick up what was happening between Camilla and her family, so I didn't feel lost in the overarching plot. I ended up liking Camilla, but wasn't totally convinced about the romance between Camilla and Adrian. Camilla was desperate for love and affection and seemed to latch on to Adrian's offering of friendship and consider it love. Adrian for awhile seemed to take the "there are worse women to be stuck with" mentality in regards to his "semi-marriage" to Camilla. But in the end, these two seemed to really come to care for each other.
Overall, it was a different kind of historical romance. The "first comes marriage, then comes love" trope is one of my favorites and it was done in a fun way in this book.
1 - I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
2 - I've never read anything before by this author, not even the previous books in this series.
Okay, now on with the review.
After the Wedding is book 2 in The Worth Saga by Courtney Milan. It's about a young woman named Camilla and a young man named Adrian who were forced to marry each other and spend the rest of the book working towards getting an annulment, all the while trying to resist each other to even be eligible for an annulment.
Camilla and Adrian came from seemingly different backgrounds and seemingly different worlds. Adrian, the grandson of a Duke. Camilla, a Lady. But when they meet, neither can claim their place in society. For reasons that will be wonderfully revealed in the book, Adrian is a refreshingly different kind of hero. He has a job to do and a wife wasn't a part of that. Nevertheless, Camilla gets under his skin. Camilla, on the other hand, just wanted someone. Anyone. The idea of a husband, forced or not, wasn't the worst thing in the world to her. These two characters have to work together to achieve a certain goal and develop a special relationship.
Camilla at first was a little annoying. And then she was kind of sad and I ended up feeling a great deal for her. She went through a lot in her life, but despite it all, she had so much hope and could see the good in nearly every circumstance. Despite not having not read the previous book in the series, it was still easy enough to pick up what was happening between Camilla and her family, so I didn't feel lost in the overarching plot. I ended up liking Camilla, but wasn't totally convinced about the romance between Camilla and Adrian. Camilla was desperate for love and affection and seemed to latch on to Adrian's offering of friendship and consider it love. Adrian for awhile seemed to take the "there are worse women to be stuck with" mentality in regards to his "semi-marriage" to Camilla. But in the end, these two seemed to really come to care for each other.
Overall, it was a different kind of historical romance. The "first comes marriage, then comes love" trope is one of my favorites and it was done in a fun way in this book.
dja777's review against another edition
4.0
Another enjoyable novel from Courtney Milan, one that is well worth the long wait. Book 2 in the Worth Saga is the story of Lady Camilla Worth and Adrian Hunter. Because this is a Milan novel, both characters are extremely intelligent, and there is some wonderful humor and wordplay to go along with the tender romance. This book can stand alone, but it is more enjoyable if you start with the first novel in the series, Once Upon a Marquess. I’m so excited to be embarking on this new family saga!
Review based on an ARC.
Review based on an ARC.