agieo's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
whatkenzreads's review
3.0
UGHHHH.
I am so disappointed. This is the first R.S. Grey book that I genuinely just did not like. Truly, this book just did not feel like her writing at all? It was wayyyy too slow burn (and this is coming from someone who typically likes a good slow burn) and there was zero real relationship development, which is surprising given the slow burn nature. Honestly, the first half of the book was so pointless, at least 30% of it could have been cut out. And while the ending was cute, I just had a hard time caring because we went from o to 60 in the romance. I think this was meant to be angsty and like a childhood friends-to-lovers situation with an arranged marriage aspect, but I personally don't think it hit the way the author wanted it to.
Rating: 2.5 stars
Thank you to the author for an e-ARC of this book - all opinions are my own.
I am so disappointed. This is the first R.S. Grey book that I genuinely just did not like. Truly, this book just did not feel like her writing at all? It was wayyyy too slow burn (and this is coming from someone who typically likes a good slow burn) and there was zero real relationship development, which is surprising given the slow burn nature. Honestly, the first half of the book was so pointless, at least 30% of it could have been cut out. And while the ending was cute, I just had a hard time caring because we went from o to 60 in the romance. I think this was meant to be angsty and like a childhood friends-to-lovers situation with an arranged marriage aspect, but I personally don't think it hit the way the author wanted it to.
Rating: 2.5 stars
Thank you to the author for an e-ARC of this book - all opinions are my own.
reading_in_brussels's review
3.0
I'll preface this review by saying that I'm a huge fan of R.S.Grey, I've read practically everything she's written, if not everything, and she's one of my go-to authors for rom-coms. She writes with ease, and knowledge, and really knows how to pull her readers into the story.
That being said, Forbidden French unfortunately fell a little bit short for me. Things that I loved:
- Lainey: the gilded-caged princess who never suppresses who she is when she's with Emmett
- Emmett: I loved this take where he accepts that he's going to inherit his father's empire, and gets in line with that. Most takes would be having the son buck that expectation.
- the research that went into the art side of things.
- them. Was NOT expecting that, and I think it added some delicious angst to the story.
What I like a little bit less:
- the constant brand-name dropping felt tacky - even though I understand the context and know that these characters are uber rich
- the French dialogues as written in the story sometimes is not how French is spoken really, for example "es-tu en tardif?" would in reality be "es-tu en retard?"
- the dynamics of the two main characters for falling in love is not my favorite, but that's a personal preference: Lainey seems to have always been in love with him, when they barely spent any real time together, and the realization of Emmett about his feelings felt like they came out of nowhere. I just feel like they did not spend enough time together, but at the same time, the little time that they do spend together is the most real they have been, so
That being said, Forbidden French unfortunately fell a little bit short for me. Things that I loved:
- Lainey: the gilded-caged princess who never suppresses who she is when she's with Emmett
- Emmett: I loved this take where he accepts that he's going to inherit his father's empire, and gets in line with that. Most takes would be having the son buck that expectation.
- the research that went into the art side of things.
- them
Spoiler
forced into an engagementWhat I like a little bit less:
- the constant brand-name dropping felt tacky - even though I understand the context and know that these characters are uber rich
- the French dialogues as written in the story sometimes is not how French is spoken really, for example "es-tu en tardif?" would in reality be "es-tu en retard?"
- the dynamics of the two main characters for falling in love is not my favorite, but that's a personal preference: Lainey seems to have always been in love with him, when they barely spent any real time together, and the realization of Emmett about his feelings felt like they came out of nowhere. I just feel like they did not spend enough time together, but at the same time, the little time that they do spend together is the most real they have been, so
nefelik's review
4.0
*ARC received for an honest review*
“How long have you loved me, Lainey?”
“A painful lifetime, and I had no plans to continue.”
This book is about Emmet and Lainey…I needed their book since reading the professor and I loved them but I was a little disappointed. The characters? Amazing! Emmett…I love him. My sweet Lainey…she deserves the world. A princess. The couple? Love them! They were meant for each other! The plot? I just need more. I think their story should be more developed. After some point everything felted kind of rushed.
“How long have you loved me, Lainey?”
“A painful lifetime, and I had no plans to continue.”
This book is about Emmet and Lainey…I needed their book since reading the professor and I loved them but I was a little disappointed. The characters? Amazing! Emmett…I love him. My sweet Lainey…she deserves the world. A princess. The couple? Love them! They were meant for each other! The plot? I just need more. I think their story should be more developed. After some point everything felted kind of rushed.
elizabethsprettylittlereads's review
4.0
“How long have you loved me, Lainey?” Obstinate tears gather in the corners of my eyes. I look away and answer with determination. “A painful lifetime, and I had no plans to continue.”
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Forbidden French was unputdownable — I so easily got lost in the feelings and elegance of it all. It came with a level angst I wasn’t expecting, but was LIVING for every second of it!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The slow burn romance between Lainey and Emmett had me grasping onto every encounter that took place between them. It was both captivating and excruciating at the same time.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
If you enjoy slow burn romance and pretty settings, then definitely give Forbidden French a try! I loved it.✨
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Forbidden French was unputdownable — I so easily got lost in the feelings and elegance of it all. It came with a level angst I wasn’t expecting, but was LIVING for every second of it!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The slow burn romance between Lainey and Emmett had me grasping onto every encounter that took place between them. It was both captivating and excruciating at the same time.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
If you enjoy slow burn romance and pretty settings, then definitely give Forbidden French a try! I loved it.✨
ilashreads's review
4.0
Let's be honest. If R.S. Grey writes it, I'm going to read it.
After reading My Professor, I was excited to see Emmett's story unfold. I enjoyed seeing the parallels between Lainey and Emmett's lives, as well as the divergence. The journey they take from similar familial pressures and trying to cope with expectations in a lot of ways compliments each other. I appreciated how we got to see Lainey's crush bloom and grow when they reconnected. Lainey's journey to standing up for herself and taking charge in her own life was the growth I love to see.
While this was missing a lot of R.S. Grey’s signature humor, I thought it more than made up for it with the other content. I wish there had been a little more development in the budding relationship, but I wasn’t that sad about it.
You really don’t want to miss this one! Please tell me that Alexander gets his story next!
Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
After reading My Professor, I was excited to see Emmett's story unfold. I enjoyed seeing the parallels between Lainey and Emmett's lives, as well as the divergence. The journey they take from similar familial pressures and trying to cope with expectations in a lot of ways compliments each other. I appreciated how we got to see Lainey's crush bloom and grow when they reconnected. Lainey's journey to standing up for herself and taking charge in her own life was the growth I love to see.
While this was missing a lot of R.S. Grey’s signature humor, I thought it more than made up for it with the other content. I wish there had been a little more development in the budding relationship, but I wasn’t that sad about it.
You really don’t want to miss this one! Please tell me that Alexander gets his story next!
Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
gretchenreads13's review
3.0
I really enjoyed My Professor by this author so I was excited to pick up her next release in the same world, Forbidden French. In My Professor, Emmett was Emelia’s half brother who was a bit standoffish towards her and he was supposedly secretly in love with this girl named Lainey. Due to those facts, I was excited to read their story.
Well, this book did not live up to my expectations. The first quarter of this book was great! I totally bought Lainey’s school girl crush on Emmett and I was loving the flashback scenes. Even in the present day I was still really enjoying the book. Lainey was in an arraigned engagement set up by her grandmother and she was in general pretty weak when it came to standing up for herself.
Emmett was kind of just there. He enjoyed talking to Lainey and I was enjoying his POV and learning about his daddy issues
All of that changed when the characters went to Italy. While there Lainey and Emmett spend a lot of time together and the society people notice. As a result Lainey’s fiancé dumps her and she and Emmett are forced into an arranged marriage.
Now this is where things all went downhill for me because while Emmett was right to be upset, he went about it the wrong way. Lainey and Emmett barely spoke to each other until Emmett realized he was in love with her.
I felt like there was very little individual character development and even less relationship development. By the end I was left confused why these two were even in a relationship much less in love. We also saw zero development with Emmett and his family, especially his half sister Emelia.
Overall I wanted more from this book. It was still an enjoyable read but I was left feeling disappointed.
Well, this book did not live up to my expectations. The first quarter of this book was great! I totally bought Lainey’s school girl crush on Emmett and I was loving the flashback scenes. Even in the present day I was still really enjoying the book. Lainey was in an arraigned engagement set up by her grandmother and she was in general pretty weak when it came to standing up for herself.
Emmett was kind of just there. He enjoyed talking to Lainey and I was enjoying his POV and learning about his daddy issues
All of that changed when the characters went to Italy. While there Lainey and Emmett spend a lot of time together and the society people notice. As a result Lainey’s fiancé dumps her and she and Emmett are forced into an arranged marriage.
Now this is where things all went downhill for me because while Emmett was right to be upset, he went about it the wrong way. Lainey and Emmett barely spoke to each other until Emmett realized he was in love with her.
I felt like there was very little individual character development and even less relationship development. By the end I was left confused why these two were even in a relationship much less in love. We also saw zero development with Emmett and his family, especially his half sister Emelia.
Overall I wanted more from this book. It was still an enjoyable read but I was left feeling disappointed.
scarleterised's review
3.0
- randomly picked up by the blurb on KU
- ok ok interesting start.
- she’s engaged to someone else? :(
- she’s pretty… bland…
- gold bathtub scene
- ok ok interesting start.
- she’s engaged to someone else? :(
- she’s pretty… bland…
- gold bathtub scene