Reviews

The Infamous Miss Rodriguez by Lydia San Andres

mariamreadsalot's review

5.0

This book is so enjoyable and delightful. It's set in 1919 I think, which is an interesting era and I really loved the fictional setting of Ciudad Real where Graciela is doing her best to become infamous.

I quite honestly fell for Graciela and the man responsible to thwart her attempts at infamy. You'll find Graciela's motives to be so true and stemming from true anxiety that her financee is quite the stifling type.

This has a marriage of conveniece, a very amazing consensual consummation of marriage scene, mutual pining, and restoration of familial relationships between Graciela and her aunt.

hartd's review

4.0

I really enjoyed this, and I'd rate it somewhere between 4 and 5 stars. I'm sure I'll reread it in the future. Graciela is like a modern woman in many ways, but there's something even more appealing about such a bold heroine living 100 years ago. She acts in her own best interests and doesn't need a champion, but she appreciates having someone to stand beside her. It's great.

I especially liked

how the plot about Vicente leaving was handled. I thought, because I've read so many romance novels, that he would vanish after their wedding night without explaining. But he didn't, and there was no deception (apart from both characters concealing their love for each other). Instead, Graciela doesn't want to take away Vicente's freedom as Alvaro would have taken away hers. She expects him to leave, and I feel it was well-established in the story, because of all of her self-directed schemes, that she would've been fine on her own (although of course I didn't want him to go).

Vicente and Graciela are both flawed characters which makes them human and easy to relate to. Alvaro is a familiar kind of bad guy, with no real redeeming qualities, but I was okay with a villain like him being somewhat one-dimensional; I don't really want to read an exploration of the misogynist mind. I love that the ending is all about Graciela in the spotlight, because it suits her so well.

This book is also very funny, with many laugh-out-loud moments. I wonder if there will be a book about Beatriz, with her violent embroidery scenes. I'm really looking forward to reading the author's other work. I'm not rating this one 5 stars because I would've preferred to see Vicente introduced slightly earlier, with more about his backstory revealed to the reader. But overall, I loved it. Great book.

quietjenn's review

3.0

For Read Harder. It was fine, but historical romance will probably never really be my proverbial jam.

caitwork's review

2.0

Quick little novella. Sweet story that moved at a face pace to match the theme. Would have loved more background knowledge and character building.

aesopsrachaels's review

5.0

This was an absolutely delightful story! I am often hesitant of a romance novella because it so often does not have great pacing, but this story nailed it. I can't say much without spoilers but everything right down to consent was handled perfectly in a way that kept me immersed in the story and attached to the characters. I can't wait to read more from this series!

caitlinsgarden's review

4.0

3.5/5 stars

This was a really fun historical romance novella. I absolutely loved Graciela, she's a head-strong, sassy, rebellious, independent heroine who goes after what she wants no matter what. The romance was really cute too, but I wish we saw it develop a little bit more. I felt like it happened a little too quickly and I just wanted a little more from it. But overall, I still really enjoyed it and it was a really quick read.

barefootsong's review

3.0

A fun romance novella set on a fictional island in the Spanish Caribbean in 1911. Graciela is trying to cause a scandal to get out of an unwanted engagement and her aunt has made a deal with Vicente to keep her from ruining herself and her family. High-jinks (and love) ensue.

I found this recommended a while back when I was looking for historicals set outside the UK/Regency and I finally got around to reading it. I do love Regency romance, but I also love reading about other places/times and non-white characters because we live in a big, beautiful world and I like to read about more than just one small slice of it.

ajcousins's review

I just finished The Infamous Miss Rodriguez this week and it was delightful. A Caribbean historical romance with a determined heroine, a conflicted but admiring hero, excellent secondary characters, a saturated sense of place, a sharp awareness of class issues, and a terrifically witty narrative voice. Lydia San Andres is a thoroughly enjoyable writer.

aydotjaydot's review

3.0

3.5 read. Super cute and I like the world, but this hit a few “not for me” buttons.

iamrainbou's review

4.0

Graciela needs to be infamous at all cost. Vincente is working for her tía, against her, but could they be allies? And maybe something more?

🌸Set in the Caribbean
🌸Afrolatinx heroine (my queen)
🌸Argentino hero (my baby)

It was SO good. It's kinda short and I wished we could have seen more of Graciela and Vicente's relationship, but what we see is adorable and lovely. Graciela is a badass and Vicente is the softest lover. Their relationship grows quickly, yes, but it's wonderful: all built in mutual admiration, respect, and honesty.