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freckleduck's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I wasn’t sure how to think about this book but I really loved it. I found it to be so comforting and funny and quite enjoyable.
konvineo's review against another edition
3.0
I'm so confused to be honest. I'm confused about the male protagonist Tom Severin. I ended up skimming quite a few reviews, and ended up reading that Kleypas had said he is supposedly "a highly functioning sociopath", or something like that. I honestly thought he was autistic (I'm saying this as an autistic person myself, and I could recognise a lot of his behaviour in myself). Why would I think Tom is autistic? He obviously has a hard time understanding social rules, and recognising feelings in others. His special interests are engineering (very stereotypical), and business. He has texture issues, the protest on ruffles because he doesn't like how they feel, and cake, because it feels gross in his mouth. I can even recognise his insistence on having only five feelings (I've done something similar, and I'm not a sociopath as far as I know). Tom also doesn't appear to be someone who would break the law and put others and himself in danger just because (as can be a thing with sociopaths). He doesn't seem overly aggressive compared to the other male characters Kleypas has written.
So yeah, I'm very confused. I'm just going to headcannon him as autistic.
Other than all of that, I'd say the book is okay. I'll have to agree with other reviews I've seen, and say that Cassandra is a super bland character. The book also suffers from a weak story outside of the romance to glue the whole thing together.
So yeah, I'm very confused. I'm just going to headcannon him as autistic.
Other than all of that, I'd say the book is okay. I'll have to agree with other reviews I've seen, and say that Cassandra is a super bland character. The book also suffers from a weak story outside of the romance to glue the whole thing together.
murrrbelles's review against another edition
funny
reflective
fast-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
a_kira's review against another edition
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? Yes
3.75
elinorsbookshelf's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
dobbsthedog's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this one!
I quite liked Tom Severin as a romance hero, even though he’s very much not the typical romance hero. I don’t know if it was intentional on Kleypas’ part or not, but I was definitely reading Severin as being autistic-coded. The high intelligence, his discomfort with emotions, his more factual way of thinking, all feel autistic-coded to me.
I really could have done without all the body shaming throughout most of the book, though. That’s the one thing that I really didn’t like with this one. I know it was done so that Tom would have his moment to tell Cassandra how he would be attracted to her no matter what, but it still felt gross to read.
Overall, really enjoyed this one, probably my second favourite after Devil’s Daughter in this series. Also, Basil is a fantastic side character, I hope we see a bit more of him in the last book of the series.
I quite liked Tom Severin as a romance hero, even though he’s very much not the typical romance hero. I don’t know if it was intentional on Kleypas’ part or not, but I was definitely reading Severin as being autistic-coded. The high intelligence, his discomfort with emotions, his more factual way of thinking, all feel autistic-coded to me.
I really could have done without all the body shaming throughout most of the book, though. That’s the one thing that I really didn’t like with this one. I know it was done so that Tom would have his moment to tell Cassandra how he would be attracted to her no matter what, but it still felt gross to read.
Overall, really enjoyed this one, probably my second favourite after Devil’s Daughter in this series. Also, Basil is a fantastic side character, I hope we see a bit more of him in the last book of the series.
allyallyally's review against another edition
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
5.0
winemakerssister's review against another edition
5.0
This was a love song to the Ravenels - sweet and funny, with unexpected secondary characters and Cassandra and Tom rising to their best selves.
Cover: Absolutely lovely
Narrator: Nice job!
Hogwarts Sorting Hat: Tom is a Slytherin with Ravenclaw tendencies; Cassandra is a Gryffindor.
Themes: London, industrial revolution, family
Cover: Absolutely lovely
Narrator: Nice job!
Hogwarts Sorting Hat: Tom is a Slytherin with Ravenclaw tendencies; Cassandra is a Gryffindor.
Themes: London, industrial revolution, family
saynabreadsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
This book was magical ,sweet and ohhhh so romantic.
I loved Tom and Cassandra together, they were such an AMAZING couple
Tom was such an interesting character and Cassandra so lovely and sweet.My heart was aching and I love the connection they have.They are opposites but somehow they have what the other needed!
Recieved an ARC from Eldeweiss for an honest review
I loved Tom and Cassandra together, they were such an AMAZING couple
Tom was such an interesting character and Cassandra so lovely and sweet.My heart was aching and I love the connection they have.They are opposites but somehow they have what the other needed!
Recieved an ARC from Eldeweiss for an honest review