nadiajohnsonbooks's review
5.0
Thanks to NetGalley and Julia Bennet for providing this advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
Once I started this book, I literally could not put it down. One sitting. Loved it.
While I love both historical fiction and romance, I tend to avoid modern regency and Victorian romances. I'm not a fan of the virginal-ingenue-meets-corrupting-rake trope that abounds in that genre. This book is not that.
When we first meet the heroine, Francesca, she is a young debutante, but, even then, she can't quite conform to the expectations of her class and era. At the start, she is engaged to be married to Edward Thorne, a somewhat out-of-touch romantic who has put her on a entirely unattainable pedestal, setting them both up for matrimonial disappointment.
The action of the book takes place some ten years later, eight years after the doomed couple has become estranged. In that time, Francesca has been isolated and Edward has become a complete reprobate. When Francesca demands a divorce, Edward tries to pay her off, pressuring her to settle for a well-compensated life in her own establishment.
He sends his longtime friend, James Standish to negotiate with her, setting off a spark between James and Francesca, tempting them both toward a relationship that they know can never happen. If Francesca is caught in an affair, she will lose her divorce suit, and James is caught between his desire for Francesca and the social expectations of his benefactress Aunt and his social class.
The banter between James and Francesca is electric, full of affectionate teasing and crackling wit.
The legal drama surrounding the divorce suit, compounded with Edward's blatant philandering had me stressed to the point of slamming down my Kindle more than once.
All in all, I adored it. So glad I took a chance on this book.
Once I started this book, I literally could not put it down. One sitting. Loved it.
While I love both historical fiction and romance, I tend to avoid modern regency and Victorian romances. I'm not a fan of the virginal-ingenue-meets-corrupting-rake trope that abounds in that genre. This book is not that.
When we first meet the heroine, Francesca, she is a young debutante, but, even then, she can't quite conform to the expectations of her class and era. At the start, she is engaged to be married to Edward Thorne, a somewhat out-of-touch romantic who has put her on a entirely unattainable pedestal, setting them both up for matrimonial disappointment.
The action of the book takes place some ten years later, eight years after the doomed couple has become estranged. In that time, Francesca has been isolated and Edward has become a complete reprobate. When Francesca demands a divorce, Edward tries to pay her off, pressuring her to settle for a well-compensated life in her own establishment.
He sends his longtime friend, James Standish to negotiate with her, setting off a spark between James and Francesca, tempting them both toward a relationship that they know can never happen. If Francesca is caught in an affair, she will lose her divorce suit, and James is caught between his desire for Francesca and the social expectations of his benefactress Aunt and his social class.
The banter between James and Francesca is electric, full of affectionate teasing and crackling wit.
The legal drama surrounding the divorce suit, compounded with Edward's blatant philandering had me stressed to the point of slamming down my Kindle more than once.
All in all, I adored it. So glad I took a chance on this book.
lilyofthevalley_reads's review
I was bored with this book, I felt bad for the heroine though (not being allowed to divorce your horrible spouse). I didn’t like the hero and it was too slow burn for me.
jessiereads315's review
4.0
I’m not generally a fan of romance novels but the wonderful title coupled with the call out by The NY Times convinced me to give this a try. And i loved it! It’s bawdy and funny and sexy and sad. To think of how few rights women had only 150 years ago! Francesca is a heroine for her time. And James a lucky devil.
hideyourspoons's review
5.0
The Worst Woman in London has made me sweat for the drama of ill-fated marriages, and swoon for friends turned lovers.
Brilliant still, amongst all the trappings and frippery of a Victorian romance, our intrepid couple are on their own journeys to personal freedom. For Francesca, she seeks independence by way of divorce from her straying husband. James is shaken from his 'heir' of complacency and questions the actual worth of an unearned lifestyle.
Together, they navigate manners, society, period typical gender and socioeconomic roles, and a friendship destined to be a grand love affair.
Brilliant still, amongst all the trappings and frippery of a Victorian romance, our intrepid couple are on their own journeys to personal freedom. For Francesca, she seeks independence by way of divorce from her straying husband. James is shaken from his 'heir' of complacency and questions the actual worth of an unearned lifestyle.
Together, they navigate manners, society, period typical gender and socioeconomic roles, and a friendship destined to be a grand love affair.
guiltlesspleasures's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
I hardly have any reading notes in my StoryGraph because I was so absorbed in this book. I just… I loved it so much.
Why? First, the writing was beautiful.
Second, the plotline Bennet chose (our FMC desires a divorce from her cold, philandering husband, a fraught prospect in the Victorian era) allowed her to create characters that were, or became, open minded without seeming anachronistically modern.
Third, the growing affection between Francesca and James (who adorably call each other Fran and Jemmy) felt natural and believable. And hot.
And most importantly, there were no Good or Evil characters in this book; only human ones in various shades of gray. The mistress wasn’t a grasping harridan, Francesca wasn’t a lilywhite victim, and even the “villain” gets something of a happy ending (probably a controversial choice but one I really liked).
This is a very character-driven romance, so if you prefer heavy plot, lots of tropes and swoony dramatics, this probably isn’t for you. Read it if you like cerebral but sexy stories of emotional growth in a historical setting that isn’t wallpaper.
Why? First, the writing was beautiful.
Second, the plotline Bennet chose (our FMC desires a divorce from her cold, philandering husband, a fraught prospect in the Victorian era) allowed her to create characters that were, or became, open minded without seeming anachronistically modern.
Third, the growing affection between Francesca and James (who adorably call each other Fran and Jemmy) felt natural and believable. And hot.
And most importantly, there were no Good or Evil characters in this book; only human ones in various shades of gray. The mistress wasn’t a grasping harridan, Francesca wasn’t a lilywhite victim, and even the “villain” gets something of a happy ending (probably a controversial choice but one I really liked).
This is a very character-driven romance, so if you prefer heavy plot, lots of tropes and swoony dramatics, this probably isn’t for you. Read it if you like cerebral but sexy stories of emotional growth in a historical setting that isn’t wallpaper.
beviltiska_romantike's review
4.0
It's been a while since I've read a historical romance, but I really enjoyed this one. It is well written, has some great banter and quite unconventional premises (the story begins with a wedding, when usually historical romance ends with a wedding) and even more unconventional plot: the heroine is seeking divorce from her horrible husband and falls for his friend. I loved the way the author depicted the injustice women encountered when trying to get divorce at the end of 19th century. The main characters were likeable, though flawed, growing during the story, the passion between them was palpable, maybe just a tad too instalust'ish? And I really hated Edward, what a shitbag, his change towards the end failed to convince me, I guess I'm not a very forgiving person.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange of honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange of honest review.
samanthakildea's review
5.0
better ending would’ve been edward thorne getting run over by a carriage
captainsillypants's review
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
The Worst Woman In London is a multiple POV that takes place in Victorian London and follows Francesca and James. Fran flaunts all of high society's expectations by trying to divorce her womanizing husband and James (her husband's best friend), intent on inheriting from his rich aunt, follows all the rules at the expense of any personality.
This story was delightful. I immediately loved Fran and grew to adore James. For just about all of our main characters, we get a deep dive into the psychology of why they are the way they are. Fran's husband is terrible. Fran makes some choices that I didn't understand at the time and same for James. But as the story moves along the author builds out our character's backstories that explain things so beautifully.
There were a handful of spicy scenes that were *chef's kiss*.
There are mentions after the fact of trouble conceiving which could potentially be upsetting to some readers. If that is you, perhaps go into this story with caution but otherwise, it is truly delightful and I would recommend it to anyone.
#TheWorstWomaninLondon #NetGalley
The Worst Woman In London is a multiple POV that takes place in Victorian London and follows Francesca and James. Fran flaunts all of high society's expectations by trying to divorce her womanizing husband and James (her husband's best friend), intent on inheriting from his rich aunt, follows all the rules at the expense of any personality.
This story was delightful. I immediately loved Fran and grew to adore James. For just about all of our main characters, we get a deep dive into the psychology of why they are the way they are. Fran's husband is terrible. Fran makes some choices that I didn't understand at the time and same for James. But as the story moves along the author builds out our character's backstories that explain things so beautifully.
There were a handful of spicy scenes that were *chef's kiss*.
There are mentions after the fact of trouble conceiving which could potentially be upsetting to some readers. If that is you, perhaps go into this story with caution but otherwise, it is truly delightful and I would recommend it to anyone.
#TheWorstWomaninLondon #NetGalley
mamma_calls_me_francis's review
4.0
This was super cute! Once you get over how unfair the system is/was to women, it’s a very enjoyable read. No epic plot, but fun storyline. A little bit of spice, 18+. Some witty lines.
Easy read, decent characters, by the end I was rooting for everyone- I definitely wouldn’t have said that at the beginning. It’s set in the 1880’s but the writing is really easy to read and understand- no ‘Jane Austen’ phrasing.
Complete story with more than one HEA.
Check content warnings.
Special thanks to Netgalley and Julia Bennet for this digital ARC.
Easy read, decent characters, by the end I was rooting for everyone- I definitely wouldn’t have said that at the beginning. It’s set in the 1880’s but the writing is really easy to read and understand- no ‘Jane Austen’ phrasing.
Complete story with more than one HEA.
Check content warnings.
Special thanks to Netgalley and Julia Bennet for this digital ARC.