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nickianderson1's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
vadouglas's review against another edition
funny
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? No
4.0
bojanus's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Fun and accessible introduction to regency sapphic romance!
This book captures a delicate balance of being historical fiction that plays to modern tastes while not feeling glaringly anachronistic to the time period it's depicting. The choice to have most the story take place in art salons and other such places where inhibitions and the rules of society are lowered helped give the story the freedom to explore diverse topics, people, and interactions in a casual way. I'm not a stickler for historical accuracy (I suck at history) but I've read historical romance novels where the attitudes and characters feel SO much like a modern characters with modern ideas transported to the past that I have been jarred. In contrast, though this is written in a style and explores topics that fit the modern age, I felt as though the characters and their situations were believably in their contexts.
If you like dense characters, you'll LOVE Eddie. She's blind to people's intentions, including her love interest, in a way that'll have you banging your head against a wall. I love when a reader knows something that the main character doesn't, so although I quite literally facepalmed a few times (a certain part in the middle especially...) it truly did entertain me just how much she could misunderstand and assume what others (and herself!) are thinking. She behaves childishly, especially in the first half, but as she learns more and starts to see a real place where she could fit into the world as an adult she starts to make more solid decisions.
The story and characters are generally straightforward for the reader--I would not go into this looking for many layers or deep depth, but I think that makes the work accessible to many kinds of readers. And where it does grapple with more complex topics, it approaches them in a grounded and considerate way. I thought that Eddie and Nash's relationship (which is a predatory one) in particular was handled in a way that really sold why/how she ended up vulnerable to him and why she struggled for awhile with both positive/admiring and disturbed feelings towards him.
The plot was fun and had me invested, especially once a bunch of characters went to an island house together. There's multiple balanced plot threads that weave nicely with each other. I ended up devouring the book in under a week because I kept wanting to know what would happen next! Both when it comes to Eddie knowing her own feelings, and some other plot points with strong stakes. Though I was a bit shocked by a certain choice Eddie made at the end, when reading the epilogue I felt satisfied and like it was the right choice.
If you're someone who's usually intimidated or bored by historical/regency romance, I think this book would make a fantastic introduction to the genre, especially if you're also interested in sapphic or diverse stories. Since the historical parts here are not dense, if you're the type who's scared of or easily bored by long historical descriptions, you don't have anything to fear. This may also be a good story for artistic-types in general--Eddie is desperate to make something of herself as a novelist, and it drives her into some dangerous situations which make for an engaging read. Overall I found this book just such a lovely and solid time that I'll be keeping it as a solid rec in my pocket.
This book captures a delicate balance of being historical fiction that plays to modern tastes while not feeling glaringly anachronistic to the time period it's depicting. The choice to have most the story take place in art salons and other such places where inhibitions and the rules of society are lowered helped give the story the freedom to explore diverse topics, people, and interactions in a casual way. I'm not a stickler for historical accuracy (I suck at history) but I've read historical romance novels where the attitudes and characters feel SO much like a modern characters with modern ideas transported to the past that I have been jarred. In contrast, though this is written in a style and explores topics that fit the modern age, I felt as though the characters and their situations were believably in their contexts.
If you like dense characters, you'll LOVE Eddie. She's blind to people's intentions, including her love interest, in a way that'll have you banging your head against a wall. I love when a reader knows something that the main character doesn't, so although I quite literally facepalmed a few times (a certain part in the middle especially...) it truly did entertain me just how much she could misunderstand and assume what others (and herself!) are thinking. She behaves childishly, especially in the first half, but as she learns more and starts to see a real place where she could fit into the world as an adult she starts to make more solid decisions.
The story and characters are generally straightforward for the reader--I would not go into this looking for many layers or deep depth, but I think that makes the work accessible to many kinds of readers. And where it does grapple with more complex topics, it approaches them in a grounded and considerate way. I thought that Eddie and Nash's relationship (which is a predatory one) in particular was handled in a way that really sold why/how she ended up vulnerable to him and why she struggled for awhile with both positive/admiring and disturbed feelings towards him.
The plot was fun and had me invested, especially once a bunch of characters went to an island house together. There's multiple balanced plot threads that weave nicely with each other. I ended up devouring the book in under a week because I kept wanting to know what would happen next! Both when it comes to Eddie knowing her own feelings, and some other plot points with strong stakes. Though I was a bit shocked by a certain choice Eddie made at the end, when reading the epilogue I felt satisfied and like it was the right choice.
If you're someone who's usually intimidated or bored by historical/regency romance, I think this book would make a fantastic introduction to the genre, especially if you're also interested in sapphic or diverse stories. Since the historical parts here are not dense, if you're the type who's scared of or easily bored by long historical descriptions, you don't have anything to fear. This may also be a good story for artistic-types in general--Eddie is desperate to make something of herself as a novelist, and it drives her into some dangerous situations which make for an engaging read. Overall I found this book just such a lovely and solid time that I'll be keeping it as a solid rec in my pocket.
edoukou's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
cecetomas's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book was the most confusing thing I think I've ever read. Maybe my expectations here were incorrect but when I started this book I absolutely did not expect to get tangled up in a story where the instead of a queer love story, the main character is a creepy narcissistic man that steals from our FMC, is erratic and angry in his behavior, and consistently coerces her into uncomfortable sexual situations. I hated every moment of this read and I definitely do not think it should be called a romance- more like a twisted suspense with a romantic subplot? Honestly, I don't know.
mrnstrnch's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
questionablechilli's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.5
nothing about this book was even remotely enjoyable or good to me