dhilderbrand's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
My favorite of the series. I really loved this romance from start to finish
kimfy2023's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
3.0
My least favourite from this series
valeria_gzz's review against another edition
3.75
3,75 for sure this is the best one in the series and the hottest.
I learned a little too late that I could’ve just skipped the irrelevant chapters. But fr PLEASE Mrs James please stop putting soo many storylines in one book.
I saw someone on Reddit say that she writes novellas and squished them together.
I will say though that the only real critique I have is that this is outdated in the way it uses the word “fat”. Now (most) people understand that “fat” is just a physical trait and does not equal ugly but in this book that word is synonymous with ugly. This is one of the cases in which I think an edit/rewrite would be a good idea.
I learned a little too late that I could’ve just skipped the irrelevant chapters. But fr PLEASE Mrs James please stop putting soo many storylines in one book.
I saw someone on Reddit say that she writes novellas and squished them together.
I will say though that the only real critique I have is that this is outdated in the way it uses the word “fat”. Now (most) people understand that “fat” is just a physical trait and does not equal ugly but in this book that word is synonymous with ugly. This is one of the cases in which I think an edit/rewrite would be a good idea.
macole22's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
celeste_golds's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
latetotheparty's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Reading for the first time in 2023. Loved some parts, thought some were interesting but a little distracting, really didn't care for some parts of this.
There's fatphobia here - against the female MC, which has to do with the plot and then against a secondary character who was part of the fatphobia against the female MC and is himself not fit/thin/handsome. He could be smarmy and gross and it has nothing to do with his body, he's just a rude jerk.
There's fatphobia here - against the female MC, which has to do with the plot and then against a secondary character who was part of the fatphobia against the female MC and is himself not fit/thin/handsome. He could be smarmy and gross and it has nothing to do with his body, he's just a rude jerk.
irishtraveller's review against another edition
5.0
So far, this is one of my all-time favorite Eloisa James novels. James managed to capture the feelings of women everywhere by describing what it's like to be a young woman who doesn't have the slender figure of a supermodel. I related to Josie on so many levels, from her inability to find appropriate clothing to her insecurities about her body to wondering why such a handsome man as the Earl of Mayne could want her. James did a fantastic job of putting us inside Josie's head and revealing why she is both insecure and lacking in self-confidence. But what I love most is that Mayne was able to show Josie what she couldn't see in herself.
The Earl of Mayne is also one of my favorite male James characters. He's a degenerate, tired, and lacking self-confidence in his own way. He's been with so many women that he believes he has no idea what love is. When we first meet him in this novel, he's engaged to Sylvie, a wispy, lovely Frenchwoman who isn't the least bit interested in Mayne save for his title, wealth, and attractive visage. But the more he is with Sylvie and then Josie, he begins to question his relationship with Sylvie.
I love how we get to see not only Mayne's transformation but Josie's. While Josie is only 18 in this book, she is more mature than some of the heroines we see in other books. And while Mayne is quite a bit older, as a reader, I didn't pay much attention to their age differences. In fact, they seemed so suited for one another that I often forgot Josie is his junior by many years. This is a book I would gladly read again.
The Earl of Mayne is also one of my favorite male James characters. He's a degenerate, tired, and lacking self-confidence in his own way. He's been with so many women that he believes he has no idea what love is. When we first meet him in this novel, he's engaged to Sylvie, a wispy, lovely Frenchwoman who isn't the least bit interested in Mayne save for his title, wealth, and attractive visage. But the more he is with Sylvie and then Josie, he begins to question his relationship with Sylvie.
I love how we get to see not only Mayne's transformation but Josie's. While Josie is only 18 in this book, she is more mature than some of the heroines we see in other books. And while Mayne is quite a bit older, as a reader, I didn't pay much attention to their age differences. In fact, they seemed so suited for one another that I often forgot Josie is his junior by many years. This is a book I would gladly read again.
brittanyt's review against another edition
5.0
I have been anticipating Josie’s book since I read the first book in the series. Josie is described as not thin and having the body men like. Josie makes a suitor angry (he deserved it) and winds up on the radar of a man who likes to make fun of people. As a result, Josie has been labelled the “Scottish Sausage” and no one will have anything to do with her. Cue the entrance of a man who has been involved in the previous three books, the Earl of Mayne. Mayne convinces Josie to give up the ludacris corset that a modiste made for her, so she can fit into “stylish” dresses and he helps her discover her sensuality.
Let’s just get the age gap out of the way. Josie is 18 and Mayne is 34. Obviously, it’s a no for the real world. I have been a fan of Mayne since book one and I felt there was some foreshadowing of this in book one, so I was expecting it and I’m here for it! There are SO many great things about this book. All of Josie’s insecurities are so real and relatable. As soon as Mayne convinces her to lose the corset, it’s like the first step in the acceptance of her body. I loved it. I also highly appreciated how James wrote the sex scenes. Mayne is highly experienced, but Josie is not afraid to speak up if something is not working for her.
One of my favorite parts of the book has to be when Josie throws manure in the face of a man who forces himself on her. And his mouth is open when she does this! This is by far my favorite book in the Essex sisters series. It was perfectly body positive, sex positive, and while sometimes the side characters had me saying “I don’t care, I just want to read about Josie” that wasn’t completely true, because I was just as invested in them as the sisters! Bravo Elisa James!
Let’s just get the age gap out of the way. Josie is 18 and Mayne is 34. Obviously, it’s a no for the real world. I have been a fan of Mayne since book one and I felt there was some foreshadowing of this in book one, so I was expecting it and I’m here for it! There are SO many great things about this book. All of Josie’s insecurities are so real and relatable. As soon as Mayne convinces her to lose the corset, it’s like the first step in the acceptance of her body. I loved it. I also highly appreciated how James wrote the sex scenes. Mayne is highly experienced, but Josie is not afraid to speak up if something is not working for her.
One of my favorite parts of the book has to be when Josie throws manure in the face of a man who forces himself on her. And his mouth is open when she does this! This is by far my favorite book in the Essex sisters series. It was perfectly body positive, sex positive, and while sometimes the side characters had me saying “I don’t care, I just want to read about Josie” that wasn’t completely true, because I was just as invested in them as the sisters! Bravo Elisa James!
tehani's review against another edition
5.0
I seem to be making a habit of starting out the year with some fun and racy historical romances. This year's binge has been all Eloisa James, and they are marvellous fun. I love the that the male characters have real feelings, and that the women are all very different but fascinating. There is great writing, charmingly implausible plots, and absorbing characters. Highly recommended!