Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - An Island Princess Starts a Scandal

Since I loved the first book, I had high expectations going into this; and after reading the author's note I really wanted to love this! Unfortunately this just didn't do it for me :/
I DID love the ending reconciliation, but mainly for its broader themes of self-determination, perseverance, and acceptance. The actual relationship kinda fell flat for me. Something about the initial setup of the relationship (as a business transaction) gave me the ick, and nothing that happened afterwards fully convinced me that Cora and Manuela have a "real" relationship (like, a foundation that goes deeper than lust and necessity.)

There were also several typos I came across which is always disappointing to see in published work.

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toffishay's review

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hopeful inspiring 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? No

4.25

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readsandsuch's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative reflective tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I liked it, but didn’t love it. It was too cyclical and slow. I thought the “scandal” would play a bigger role than it actually did.

I do really love how this series highlights latina women in professional spaces.

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carbs666's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful 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

The badness of the title of this book stopped me from reading it for months but I'm glad I finally did because it is genuinely very good!! There's so much to love here - kismet meetings, chemistry, yearning, mixing business and pleasure, hotnsex scenes, art lesbians coming together to form a collective and support each other's aspirations!
I think the thing I liked most was the resolution. Cora didn't get to make a grand gesture and have all her sins forgiven, and Manuela had to learn to live by her values and stand on her own two feet. Overall I really enjoyed this book and strongly recommend it!

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takarakei's review against another edition

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emotional 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

3.25

Wish we got more of the 'dates'/ nightlife experiences on page (as opposed to just being told about them) as that was the basis for Cora and Manuela's meeting.

🌶️4/5

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emfass's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This one did not capture me as much as A Caribbean Heiress in Paris for whatever reason, but YES PLEASE to Adriana Herrera writing historicals and just anything, really. LOVED reading about a sapphic historical romance!

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meganbyrd77's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted reflective

Diverse cast of characters? Yes

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bookish_afrolatina's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring reflective tense fast-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

I've read this book twice this year and would not be surprised if I reread it again any time soon. An Island Princess Starts a Scandal is a tantalizing yet tender book about a couple of Latinas trying to bloom in a patriarchal garden (super relatable, huh?). Book two of the Las Leonas series follows Manuela del Carmen Caceres Galvan, a talented artist and vivacious woman who inherited an incredible piece of land from her grandmother. After reluctantly accepting a man's proposal, Manuela seeks to experience a summer of debauchery and bliss with her friends in Paris before committing to this duty.
Cora Kempf Bristol, Duchess of Sundridge, is a known hardass who believes she only needs a few things in life: to be have the same (or more) power in business as her male peers and to protect her family and friends. That is, until she meets the bewildering and beautiful Manuela. The same woman who happens to stand between Cora and her pursuit of a strategic parcel of land. The "princess" promises to hand it over for a price: proper monetary compensation and a series of thrilling sapphic adventures while she's in Paris.

This story is full of lusty longing and tender devotion. These two have an immediate infatuation that is playful but also intense! I loved Manuela's constant curiosity and sense of style. Being the "fun" friend does often come with an assumption of foolishness and, while Manuela can sometimes be foolish, I'm glad she got a chance to push those around her to take her seriously. She has pain she hides behind her mischievous smiles. I also liked that Cora had to confront how she was playing into the patriarchy by trying so hard to "measure up" or outdo her male counterparts in business. It can be hard to straddle the line between fighting back against a sexist society and seeking to be as powerful as men.

Once again, Adriana Herrera created an addictive story with nuance, passion, and beautiful dialogue.

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