Reviews

A Gentleman Never Keeps Score by Cat Sebastian

Only show reviews with written explanations

isabel_tong's review

Go to review page

dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.0

scoutabout's review

Go to review page

emotional mysterious 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

4.25

ladysadiereads's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Sam is a total sweetie. He is a golden retriever, Tall and a former boxer. He also caretakes for… well for basically everyone and that is something I feel deeply. (Kate and Nick - some of his blood and found family are the cutest too!) Hartley I tool longe to warm too - maybe it was because I read Will’s first and he is just a tiny bisexual disaster and I loved it or maybe it was Hartley’s weird self centeredness or my perception of his snobbery. BUT he grew on me - and I ended up cheering out loud in my car for him more than once. (Again - great audiobook!) I also appreciate Hart’s appreciation for Sam’s arm porn.

I think the best part of this book for me though was the conversations around consent (and sexual pleasure! There is a glass d**do), the different ways Queerness can be presented in individuals but also the idea of selling your body. It is brilliant and amazing and discusses sex work openly and in such a healthy way!

hans_cosy_corner's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Fantastic book, but I'm now left plagued by the plot hole of whatever the hell happened to Martin???

thereadingwren's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Second Read 2022:
Still just as amazing as the first time I read it. I love Hart and Sam and the struggles they go through.

First Read 2020:
4.5/5

The first book I enjoyed more than I expected for being historical fiction BUT THIS ONE OMG I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!!!!!

I devoured this in 5 hours, staying up until the a.m. just to finish it, that's how much I loved it.

This felt less heavy on the historical fiction than the first one, I don't know how that's possible. I guess the only historical heavy moments were the servants, the racism, and the homophobia. Those bits were difficult to read but in a good way... that makes no sense but total sense at the same time. It was good writing is all I'm saying.

Hart IS MY FAVOURITE SEDGWICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I felt so much for Hart and I understood him as a person so much. His flaws really resonated with me and his inability to care about others because of his past really did it for me. I love him and his flaws. The PTSD was done amazingly well (as someone who has PTSD), the touch aversion, the fear, the flashbacks, the isolation, the need to lash out... it was all very on point with PTSD and it was maybe my favourite part of the book. It felt so real.

Sam was such a sweetheart and I really could have read a whole book about his life as a boxer, his bar, the racism he experiences, his relationship with his brother, how he helps his community, and of course more of him and Hart. He was just such a lovely character with such an interesting story. He's a gem of a human being.

I really love the relationship between Sam and Hart, how Hart's PTSD was handled between them, and their need to be equals to each other. I also like that Hart never once cared about Sam's race, which for the historical period is pretty awesome. I do feel like it was a little instant, their first encounter involves sexual acts and after a few months they are in love with each other. I think the characters themselves made this insta-relationship believable/tolerable.

I knew in the first book that the third book would be about Martin and I had no interest whatsoever to read it, but after reading the second book I am desperate to read about Martin and Will.