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listette's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This is a hilarious read from Heyer, just like they usually are!
The male lead is downright abominable while the female lead has too much on her plate. The ones who truly stole the show, though, are Frederica’s two young brother Jessamy and Felix who are adorable and hilarious on every scene!
I would have liked to see Alverstoke, the male lead, to suffer a bit more but even that slight suffering is much for a person like him who has never struggled in his life.
The male lead is downright abominable while the female lead has too much on her plate. The ones who truly stole the show, though, are Frederica’s two young brother Jessamy and Felix who are adorable and hilarious on every scene!
I would have liked to see Alverstoke, the male lead, to suffer a bit more but even that slight suffering is much for a person like him who has never struggled in his life.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
wickedgrumpy's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Another banger from Georgette Heyer. She has such a way of characterization that makes everyone feel vivid and real.
This is a re-read and I enjoyed my time.
This is a re-read and I enjoyed my time.
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Hate crime, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
rosemaryandrue's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Marquis of Alverstoke, wealthy, vain, and immensely bored, sees no reason why he must put himself to any trouble for anyone at all. But when he agrees to sponsor a beautiful young woman's debut in society, he can't help but become tangled up with her managing older sister.
I read Georgette Heyer's romances sparingly. Not because I dislike them, but indeed the opposite - I adore their sharp humor, hijinks, and immersive historical setting - and I don't want to gorge myself on them. And all of these are shown off to perfect effect in Frederica.
There's lots of laugh out loud moments courtesy of the impossible travails of Felix, Jessamy, and the rest of the Merrivale family, but also plenty of tongue-in-cheek humor poking fun at interpersonal relationships, gender roles, and the social mores at the time. The incident of Lufra the dog and his supposedly noble ancestry cracked me up, and I will never think of restorative pork jelly in the same way again (though admittedly I never did think of it before).
But beyond that, it is also the enjoyable story of a jaded man coming to care about other people at long last. Though Frederica is the titular character, it is Alverstoke who is the protagonist, and who astonishingly and rather reluctantly comes to be interested in other people, to truly love someone who is not himself. To this end, I really loved that the book follows not only his relationship with Frederica but also the way in which he bonds with Felix and Jessamy, leading to some of the more emotional parts of the story.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Content Warnings
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
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