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arianna_bresolin's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
buttons452's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.5
Lovely novel! It’s not the cookie cutter historical romance you might be expecting. If you love women supporting women you’ll enjoy it.
emicaino's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
alicesayshi's review against another edition
3.5
3.5
Exceeded expectations. A good holiday read though some exposition a little forced, and assorted Feminist Moments ™️ a bit OTT. Would gladly watch a TV adaptation.
Exceeded expectations. A good holiday read though some exposition a little forced, and assorted Feminist Moments ™️ a bit OTT. Would gladly watch a TV adaptation.
jo_bookworm's review against another edition
5.0
I was thrilled to read and review the latest historical fiction from Tracy Rees who is one of of the authors I really must read as I know I am going to get such a wonderful story. The Elopement did not disappoint.
It is the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, the nation is all of a flutter as are the residents of the Blythe Household. However amongst all this preparation a secret is trying to be kept. Rowena Blythe, beautiful, spoilt and full of her own self importance with no thought of anyone else is about to do something that will see her shunned from her own society.
Pansy is a servant in the Blythe Household and is treated with disdain by the likes of Rowena and her sister in law, Verity. Pansy knows she wants to do something more with her life, but the opportunities are not always there. That is until her own mother challenges her to do something to make her happy.
Olive Westallen who is known to readers if they have read The Rose Garden, is something of an enigma. She is part of the society that Rowena frequents but she has forged her own path without obeying convention. Unmarried, with two adopted young children, working for the greater good for those who are less unfortunate than her. Olive for me is a woman before her time, a woman that has characteristics that resonate now in the 21st Century as it does for the character at the cusp of the 20th.
As these three woman, cross paths at different points throughout the story, each telling their own version of what they see. the story moves forward and shows the lives that could be led, shows the lives that are led and the ones that almost snubbed out because of their position in society.
This book is a wealth of social history, not just the jubilee celebrations reminiscent of what we have seen this year and in years previous. But also the workers that toil in the hat factories in appalling working conditions in contrast to one woman Miss Orme, working in law, “devilling” the only way she could without being qualified – because what was against her was the fact she was a woman.
The Elopement and The Rose Garden are books which are rich in strong (and weak) female characters who reflect how much has changed for the better to enable readers like me to forge my own path in life. However it is worth noting, that whilst time has moved on, there are still some battles still to be won or won again. So much resonated with me in this book and I simply want to know more about where these characters are going to go and what they are about to discover about the world that they have ultimately been sheltered from by the fact that they are women.
Perfect historical fiction for any women, or anyone who wants to champion forging your own path in life and whilst fulfilling your own happiness, helping others along the way. Thank you Tracy Rees you are doing that for me with these novels. Long may they continue.
It is the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, the nation is all of a flutter as are the residents of the Blythe Household. However amongst all this preparation a secret is trying to be kept. Rowena Blythe, beautiful, spoilt and full of her own self importance with no thought of anyone else is about to do something that will see her shunned from her own society.
Pansy is a servant in the Blythe Household and is treated with disdain by the likes of Rowena and her sister in law, Verity. Pansy knows she wants to do something more with her life, but the opportunities are not always there. That is until her own mother challenges her to do something to make her happy.
Olive Westallen who is known to readers if they have read The Rose Garden, is something of an enigma. She is part of the society that Rowena frequents but she has forged her own path without obeying convention. Unmarried, with two adopted young children, working for the greater good for those who are less unfortunate than her. Olive for me is a woman before her time, a woman that has characteristics that resonate now in the 21st Century as it does for the character at the cusp of the 20th.
As these three woman, cross paths at different points throughout the story, each telling their own version of what they see. the story moves forward and shows the lives that could be led, shows the lives that are led and the ones that almost snubbed out because of their position in society.
This book is a wealth of social history, not just the jubilee celebrations reminiscent of what we have seen this year and in years previous. But also the workers that toil in the hat factories in appalling working conditions in contrast to one woman Miss Orme, working in law, “devilling” the only way she could without being qualified – because what was against her was the fact she was a woman.
The Elopement and The Rose Garden are books which are rich in strong (and weak) female characters who reflect how much has changed for the better to enable readers like me to forge my own path in life. However it is worth noting, that whilst time has moved on, there are still some battles still to be won or won again. So much resonated with me in this book and I simply want to know more about where these characters are going to go and what they are about to discover about the world that they have ultimately been sheltered from by the fact that they are women.
Perfect historical fiction for any women, or anyone who wants to champion forging your own path in life and whilst fulfilling your own happiness, helping others along the way. Thank you Tracy Rees you are doing that for me with these novels. Long may they continue.
belinster's review against another edition
4.0
Ik heb er voor mijn gevoel echt eeuwen over gedaan, maar het was een leuk boek om te lezen! Ik moest wel een beetje inkomen omdat je het verhaal van 3 vrouwen leest. De hoofdstukken zijn kort en soms duurde het dus even om je in te leven in deze vrouwen. Maar uiteindelijk een mooi verhaal, met een happy end! Enigszins voorspelbaar, maar heerlijk. Ik kreeg een beetje Bridgerton vibes, maar dan wat serieuzer.
portybelle's review against another edition
4.0
The Elopement is loosely linked to Tracy Rees’s previous novel The Rose Garden. Readers who have read that one will enjoy catching up with Mabs and Olive and in particular seeing how successfully Olive’s charitable foundation is operating and transforming lives. If you haven’t read the first book though, don’t worry as Tracy Rees includes enough detail for you to pick up the backstory for Olive.
The lives of the other main characters, Pansy and Rowena, couldn’t be more different. Rowena is the daughter of aristocracy and used to having her every need catered for. As the only daughter, she is expected to make a good match and pressure is on her to marry. Pansy is a maid in the household, one of those who caters to Rowena’s needs and she hates it. She lives for her days off when she can go to spend time with her family. She is a bright young woman and is so unhappy. Despite these very different lives, the women have much in common. They are both trapped by their social circumstances and because they are women.
I really enjoyed this engaging story of women rebelling against the constraints and expectations of society. It was interesting that two of the minor characters who make a brief appearance, Eliza Orme and Cornelia Sorabji, were real historical figures. They were inspiring women who challenged assumptions and broke down some barriers.
The Elopement is absorbing historical fiction showing women with the courage to stand up to injustice and refusing to conform. I was cheering Pansy and Rowena on as they followed their hopes and dreams, finding true purpose in their lives and happiness along the way. I really hope we get to find out more about them in a subsequent book, Pansy in particular. In The Elopement, we get a vivid picture of life in late Victorian Britain across different social strata. In particular we get a sobering view of how few rights women were afforded, no matter their class, until some were brave enough to stand up for change. Tracy Rees is a great storyteller with a talent for bringing the past to life.
The lives of the other main characters, Pansy and Rowena, couldn’t be more different. Rowena is the daughter of aristocracy and used to having her every need catered for. As the only daughter, she is expected to make a good match and pressure is on her to marry. Pansy is a maid in the household, one of those who caters to Rowena’s needs and she hates it. She lives for her days off when she can go to spend time with her family. She is a bright young woman and is so unhappy. Despite these very different lives, the women have much in common. They are both trapped by their social circumstances and because they are women.
I really enjoyed this engaging story of women rebelling against the constraints and expectations of society. It was interesting that two of the minor characters who make a brief appearance, Eliza Orme and Cornelia Sorabji, were real historical figures. They were inspiring women who challenged assumptions and broke down some barriers.
The Elopement is absorbing historical fiction showing women with the courage to stand up to injustice and refusing to conform. I was cheering Pansy and Rowena on as they followed their hopes and dreams, finding true purpose in their lives and happiness along the way. I really hope we get to find out more about them in a subsequent book, Pansy in particular. In The Elopement, we get a vivid picture of life in late Victorian Britain across different social strata. In particular we get a sobering view of how few rights women were afforded, no matter their class, until some were brave enough to stand up for change. Tracy Rees is a great storyteller with a talent for bringing the past to life.
chant218's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
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? No
4.5
Tracy Rees is, like Corina Bomann and Lucinda Riley, my auto-buy author, I like her stories and reading about history. Tracy Rees writes in multi pov witches I like, when you read the story from different point of views you know the whole story and it makes is quicker to read (in my opinion).
I love the characters! Rowena is a person who's changed and becomes a more interesting person!
Pansy is fierce and stand up for her believings. And last but not least Olive, I loved her in the rose-garden so to see that she was also a main character in this book made me so happy! Olive is like Pancy fierce and stand up for her believings, she want to change the world.
I read the book in Dutch, my favorite quote was; 'we weten wat we zijn, maar weten niet wat we kunnen worden.'
I love the characters! Rowena is a person who's changed and becomes a more interesting person!
Pansy is fierce and stand up for her believings. And last but not least Olive, I loved her in the rose-garden so to see that she was also a main character in this book made me so happy! Olive is like Pancy fierce and stand up for her believings, she want to change the world.
I read the book in Dutch, my favorite quote was; 'we weten wat we zijn, maar weten niet wat we kunnen worden.'