Scan barcode
ohyouread's review
4.0
Okay! So hear me out… What would happen if you took Bridgerton and the 90’s RomCom She’s All That and mixed them all up? Bellegarde! That would be the result. And I loved it!
I am super picky about the historical books that I read, because I’m not THAT girl. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the genre, but I never dreamt of being with Mr Darcy or wearing boning and petticoats. It seems really uncomfortable and hot and just not for me. So when it comes to reading about it in books, there has to be something more… for me!
Evie Clement doesn’t come from money. She isn’t well-off, but she goes to school with many people who are. Her family runs the bakery in town where she will someday take over, so that her younger sister will be able to follow her own dreams. Leaving Evie’s dreams of becoming a fashion designer just that… dreams.
Beau Bellegarde, on the other hand, does come from money. Or he would, that is, if he wasn’t his father’s illegitimate heir. The son of his father’s mistress. No one knows of his parentage outside of his family, but he’s set to inherit nothing, except for his mother’s small ramshackle home, while his brother gets it all. His only chance at making his way in the world is being the date of this year’s Bellegarde Bloom at the Court of Flowers Ball.
After his date to the ball (and girlfriend) dumps him in front of everyone, Beau and his brother make a bet. If Beau can turn ANY girl into this year’s Bloom, his brother will sign away his inheritance to him. And if he loses, the one piece of his mother that he has left will be lost as well.
And who gets chosen as the girl he must escort? Well Evie, of course!
This was so good! I got all the Historical YA Romance, laugh-out-loud moments, Bridgerton vibes, and the She’s All That references/plot and loved every moment of it. What could be better than that?
I’m a retelling girlie, through and through! Give me something I have loved and enhance it for a new generation and I am ALL IN!!!!!!
I am super picky about the historical books that I read, because I’m not THAT girl. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the genre, but I never dreamt of being with Mr Darcy or wearing boning and petticoats. It seems really uncomfortable and hot and just not for me. So when it comes to reading about it in books, there has to be something more… for me!
Evie Clement doesn’t come from money. She isn’t well-off, but she goes to school with many people who are. Her family runs the bakery in town where she will someday take over, so that her younger sister will be able to follow her own dreams. Leaving Evie’s dreams of becoming a fashion designer just that… dreams.
Beau Bellegarde, on the other hand, does come from money. Or he would, that is, if he wasn’t his father’s illegitimate heir. The son of his father’s mistress. No one knows of his parentage outside of his family, but he’s set to inherit nothing, except for his mother’s small ramshackle home, while his brother gets it all. His only chance at making his way in the world is being the date of this year’s Bellegarde Bloom at the Court of Flowers Ball.
After his date to the ball (and girlfriend) dumps him in front of everyone, Beau and his brother make a bet. If Beau can turn ANY girl into this year’s Bloom, his brother will sign away his inheritance to him. And if he loses, the one piece of his mother that he has left will be lost as well.
And who gets chosen as the girl he must escort? Well Evie, of course!
This was so good! I got all the Historical YA Romance, laugh-out-loud moments, Bridgerton vibes, and the She’s All That references/plot and loved every moment of it. What could be better than that?
I’m a retelling girlie, through and through! Give me something I have loved and enhance it for a new generation and I am ALL IN!!!!!!
mayo_bucket's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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? No
3.0
live_laughlovereading's review
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
lovelife1008's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
annesophie_ballerina's review
3.0
This was kinda boring. I didn’t really like the love interest- I kinda liked the third act thrown in guy with her better. Actually, maybe I did like the love interest, just not with her.
Character com
Character com
jcartelli22's review
5.0
Absolutely loved this novel!! I loved Evie and the diversity of her character in the story. She was never just in it for love - she was in it for her dreams and for her family, her future and her success. She was a really wonderful main character, and I loved the love interests provided throughout. Very “ten things I hate about you” inspired with a bit of mean girls, too. Loved the draw from modern culture but also the idea of an older Paris as our backdrop. I wish the author had more, I’ll be on the lookout for her next book!
laylavreads's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
mkim1104's review
1.0
i love the incoming wave of regency romances blended with modern drama. however, bellegarde just didn’t hit the mark for me. the writing felt very stiff, and Lilac has a tendency to tell rather than show.
it was a quick read, but i just wasn’t emotionally invested in this book. it felt so juvenile in the plot points and the messages it was trying to make were very on the nose.
some really promising pieces of the novel were the pastel, whimsical lens of paris that we got, along with the concept of modern high school during the 1700s.
would love to see what Lilac does with her next book.
it was a quick read, but i just wasn’t emotionally invested in this book. it felt so juvenile in the plot points and the messages it was trying to make were very on the nose.
some really promising pieces of the novel were the pastel, whimsical lens of paris that we got, along with the concept of modern high school during the 1700s.
would love to see what Lilac does with her next book.