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this_momma_is_booked's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.0
Historical romance is really tricky for me and the first half of this book was definitely a struggle. I'm glad I kept going because I was rooting for Manuela and Cora by the end of it! I loved how they both gave as good as they got and never let the others just rest on their laurels. They pushed each other and expected the best in each other, a true partnership from the start.
I absolutely LOVED that Manuela didn't immediately go to Cora at the end of the book after Cora paid off her debt to Manuela's parents. I was so surprised because it undid the historical romance trope a bit, but I'm glad Manuela realized that Cora was essentially buying her just as Felix had.
Another win by Adriana Herrara!
Another win by Adriana Herrara!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Racism
Minor: Toxic relationship
sdupont's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.0
I’m not much of a historical romance girlie (I usually find them clunky and hard to dive into) but I do enjoy Adriana Herrera’s Las Leonas series. I feel like this series could make for a cool adaptation. I liked Manuela and Cora, while very different they both were women you rooted for. You wanted them to find themselves and choose the life that actually would make them happy (as individuals and together!). Honorable mention to the fun interesting historical tidbits like the labor organizing of artists! I think this book is a solid romance and would recommend it for those wanting to branch out into historical romances. I am excited for book 3 because we love a historical enemies to lovers vibe!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Lesbophobia
unsuccessfulbookclub's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
slow-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Violence and Abandonment
Minor: Toxic relationship
literaryintersections's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
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
5.0
This is one of the best sapphic historical romance books out there. I said it. I won’t take it back. Adriana Herrera is bringing it and Las Leonas are fucking back.
Manuela and Cora are hot. They are swoony and sexy and funny. Their love is only matched by the personal growth each of them experience throughout the story. And they are surrounded by beautiful found family that makes this the perfect book for me to share on the eve of my best friends wedding to her wonderful fiancée.
The Leonas have lodged in my heart, I think because the way they feel about each other is the way I feel about my best friend - I value her passion and love, I want the world for her, I have loved seeing her grow and become a joyous strong person. And that’s Aurora and Luz Alana with Manuela. Their friendship grounds the entire story, and is mirrored in the friendships Cora has with Cassie and Fred.
Yea there’s awesome spice, great history, and a complex story. But the friendships and the love between Manu and Cora are what shines for me.
Manuela and Cora are hot. They are swoony and sexy and funny. Their love is only matched by the personal growth each of them experience throughout the story. And they are surrounded by beautiful found family that makes this the perfect book for me to share on the eve of my best friends wedding to her wonderful fiancée.
The Leonas have lodged in my heart, I think because the way they feel about each other is the way I feel about my best friend - I value her passion and love, I want the world for her, I have loved seeing her grow and become a joyous strong person. And that’s Aurora and Luz Alana with Manuela. Their friendship grounds the entire story, and is mirrored in the friendships Cora has with Cassie and Fred.
Yea there’s awesome spice, great history, and a complex story. But the friendships and the love between Manu and Cora are what shines for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Misogyny, and Racism
sarrie's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An Island Princess Starts a Scandal is yet another fantastic entry into my list of ‘sapphic historical romances’ I can happily recommend. Manuela, invited to show her paintings at an exhibition in Paris, arrives for a summer of freedom before her marriage - sure to be loveless. She meets Cora, a duchess determined to buy land that Manuela owns and the sparks fly.
The characters and setting in this felt true to many a historical romance novel, but that is a strength in it’s favor. It’s familiar beats make it a comforting read, with the sapphic twist that I really wanted out of these and this setting. The characters outside our main two are fun and appealing and I cannot wait to get more of the stories in this world. It felt like every time another character was presented I went ‘Oh a book on them please?’.
I especially love the setting and the time period. Adriana Herrera takes time to illustrate the contributions Latin and South American peoples made in this time period to the history of it. From the art references to the mentions of on going political climates it felt steeped in history in a way that worked wonderfully. The art especially was fantastic for me as I love Art History, something I went to school for. It was well structured and felt very well researched.
This is a fantastic new historical, further cementing my suspicion that Herrera is going to be a favorite author of mine. The romance, characters, and setting were all incredibly fun and I highly recommend it for fans of the genre.
4 out of 5 pink ballgowns
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Racism
katelynnelawson's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.75
In this sweepingly romantic (and horny) book, two women learn to shift their priorities after falling in love with one another. Manuela has always cared most for comforts and luxuries. That’s why she’s agreed to marry a man she doesn’t love (and also to please and help out her parents). Her fiancé has agreed to grant her a few weeks in Paris before the wedding. While there, Manuela meets Cora, a scandalous duchess with a head for business. Cora has been hurt by a lover before, so her heart is very guarded.
Both Manuela and Cora are deeply affected by the patriarchy and choose to embrace or resist this in different ways. At the start of the novel, Manuela is fine with being the pretty thing on someone’s arm if it means she is safe and comfortable. It doesn’t matter that she’ll have to give up being her true self - a brilliant artist and a lesbian. Cora, on the other hand, is determined to, as Manuela puts it at one point in the novel, measure herself for success using the same ruler society beats her with. But being together means abandoning these priorities and embracing a different perspective.
What I loved most about this book was Manuela’s growing strength. Cora becomes more vulnerable as the book progresses, but I very much feel if she hadn’t, Manuela would have had a happily ever after that just didn’t involve romance. She really came into herself, while Cora came back to herself.
Both Manuela and Cora are deeply affected by the patriarchy and choose to embrace or resist this in different ways. At the start of the novel, Manuela is fine with being the pretty thing on someone’s arm if it means she is safe and comfortable. It doesn’t matter that she’ll have to give up being her true self - a brilliant artist and a lesbian. Cora, on the other hand, is determined to, as Manuela puts it at one point in the novel, measure herself for success using the same ruler society beats her with. But being together means abandoning these priorities and embracing a different perspective.
What I loved most about this book was Manuela’s growing strength. Cora becomes more vulnerable as the book progresses, but I very much feel if she hadn’t, Manuela would have had a happily ever after that just didn’t involve romance. She really came into herself, while Cora came back to herself.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Misogyny