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peytonm's review against another edition
5.0
I was able to talk to my dad about the origins of the telegraphic network in China because of this romance novel (and my further research). 5 stars alone for that.
6 stars for the heroine - my beloved, Amelia Smith. I cried with happiness for her while reading this story.
And Grayson, oh Grayson. When he contends with his survivor's guilt with his mother, I also teared up.
Highly recommended!
6 stars for the heroine - my beloved, Amelia Smith. I cried with happiness for her while reading this story
Spoiler
her Asian mom always wanting her!!! her close and extended family!!! the confrontation with her missionary mom and her mixed feelings. her brother's guilt!And Grayson, oh Grayson. When he contends with his survivor's guilt with his mother, I also teared up.
Highly recommended!
julie2525's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. I had no idea this book would be so rich. It leans far more into historical fiction that I expected. The characters have serious depth and complex histories. Given this, the cover doesn’t seem right, but that’s neither here nor there.
This is a slow-burn love story about a Chinese woman, who was raised by English missionaries, and a biracial American Captain, who began working across the Pacific and in China after fighting for the Union with his brothers. It is also about late 19th century colonialism, racism, and technological issues, addressed in a very 2021 way—racism and cultural segregation are actually addressed but far more lightly than would have actually happened, and a woman chooses to have a career coding. It’s the kind of book that will pleasantly sit with you when it’s over. It’s light and serious and hopeful.
Fun fact: Milan was a math major, and she invented the story’s code. I could give this book a 5 for the Author’s notes alone, which explain the novel’s historical deviations in the most delightful way.
This is a slow-burn love story about a Chinese woman, who was raised by English missionaries, and a biracial American Captain, who began working across the Pacific and in China after fighting for the Union with his brothers. It is also about late 19th century colonialism, racism, and technological issues, addressed in a very 2021 way—racism and cultural segregation are actually addressed but far more lightly than would have actually happened, and a woman chooses to have a career coding. It’s the kind of book that will pleasantly sit with you when it’s over. It’s light and serious and hopeful.
Fun fact: Milan was a math major, and she invented the story’s code. I could give this book a 5 for the Author’s notes alone, which explain the novel’s historical deviations in the most delightful way.
kirstenrose22's review against another edition
4.0
Only Courtney Milan could write a romance novel about Chinese telegraphic code and make it interesting *and* believable! I did enjoy this a lot (especially the telegraphic code, quite honestly).
guiltlesspleasures's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
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
4.5
Before I started reading this, I heard from a couple of people that this read more like historical fiction than strictly a romance, and I can see that argument. The couple, Amelia (a Chinese-British woman living in China with her missionary mother) and Grayson (a Black American man who is laying the first trans-Pacific telegraph line) spend months and months apart from each other, communicating through notes and the occasional telegram while Grayson is off laying cable (this will be funny once you read it) and Amelia is on the mainland working on creating a telegraphic code for Chinese (she is a literal genius).
As always, Courtney Milan packs a lot into this book: a critique of colonialism and missionary culture, family trauma, racism, war trauma (Grayson lost three brothers during the U.S. Civil War). But it never felt heavy or didactic to me. There was plenty of humor (I love that Amelia can't remember names), for one thing.
So, is it more historical fiction than romance? It's certainly a different approach to a traditional romance setup, and while much of the MCs' interactions take place through the written word, I actually think this approach was screamingly romantic. The way they communicated with each other, and their electricity when they were physically in the same room, was perfectly done. They are two odd birds who were made for each other.
A footnote that Milan is SO FREAKING SMART -- the way she has Amelia work through her code-creation process just boggled my mind. Give me all the brainy romance.
As always, Courtney Milan packs a lot into this book: a critique of colonialism and missionary culture, family trauma, racism, war trauma (Grayson lost three brothers during the U.S. Civil War). But it never felt heavy or didactic to me. There was plenty of humor (I love that Amelia can't remember names), for one thing.
So, is it more historical fiction than romance? It's certainly a different approach to a traditional romance setup, and while much of the MCs' interactions take place through the written word, I actually think this approach was screamingly romantic. The way they communicated with each other, and their electricity when they were physically in the same room, was perfectly done. They are two odd birds who were made for each other.
A footnote that Milan is SO FREAKING SMART -- the way she has Amelia work through her code-creation process just boggled my mind. Give me all the brainy romance.
ironskin's review against another edition
5.0
Ooof this was a kick in the teeth. One of the best depictions of a character not dealing with grief, and many characters dealing with various types of grief. This was not a light book and I cried buckets, but also this was heartwarming and lovely. A heavy book but worth it (see what I did there?). Courtney Milan does it again. Read her anything and everything.
kefink's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
slow-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
webbsusa's review against another edition
5.0
I *loved* this book. Loved, loved, loved it. It is not a traditional romance in the sense that the two main characters aren’t even in the same country for much of the book. But this is a beautiful love story that is also very much about grief. I wept for quite a while after reading a particular part of this book, because I could so empathize with that character’s losses. The characters’ stories of grief are beautifully written and deeply moving, as is their love for each other.
This book made me laugh, cry, and wonder. I say every book Courtney Milan writes is my favorite, but I think this one really is. Thanks to the author for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
This book made me laugh, cry, and wonder. I say every book Courtney Milan writes is my favorite, but I think this one really is. Thanks to the author for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
melbsreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content warnings: death of a sibling (in the past), war (in the past), racism, colonialism, religious bigotry, kidnapping, gaslighting, xenophobia, sexism, emotional abuse, forced marriage (in the past)
Oh, my heart. This was freaking FABULOUS. I loved the characters. I loved the setting. I loved the epistolary nature of the romance (do telegraph messages count as epistolary??). I loved the way the characters came into their own and deal with the trauma in their respective pasts. I loved the way it deals with colonialism and grief and the impact that constantly being othered and told you're not enough has. I put off reading this for literally years and I have absolutely no idea why because it was brilliant from start to finish.
Oh, my heart. This was freaking FABULOUS. I loved the characters. I loved the setting. I loved the epistolary nature of the romance (do telegraph messages count as epistolary??). I loved the way the characters came into their own and deal with the trauma in their respective pasts. I loved the way it deals with colonialism and grief and the impact that constantly being othered and told you're not enough has. I put off reading this for literally years and I have absolutely no idea why because it was brilliant from start to finish.
ines911's review against another edition
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5