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kate_arts's review against another edition
emotional
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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Classism
Moderate: Gun violence, Infertility, and Sexism
expressivekim's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Classism
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Grief, and Gaslighting
Minor: Body shaming, Gun violence, Infertility, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
triple_m's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
A unique romance where we get 3 POVs, one of them being the villain of the book. Romance almost takes a back seat to the overall story of growing up, moving on, and staying true to yourself.
Listen, the first 100 pages of this book are an absolute slog to get through. It’s hard to “Nina” be so played and made a fool out of. Once the jig is up the book gets infinitely better and I breezed through the rest of it.
I do think Nina and Hector are a well matched couple and even though he’s made serious mistakes, he was redeemed to me and I think deserved Nina’s love.
The world building could’ve used some work, I don’t really get the full idea about The Beautiful Ones, aka the namesake of the book.
Listen, the first 100 pages of this book are an absolute slog to get through. It’s hard to “Nina” be so played and made a fool out of. Once the jig is up the book gets infinitely better and I breezed through the rest of it.
I do think Nina and Hector are a well matched couple and even though he’s made serious mistakes, he was redeemed to me and I think deserved Nina’s love.
The world building could’ve used some work, I don’t really get the full idea about The Beautiful Ones, aka the namesake of the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Classism
dreadspawn's review against another edition
emotional
medium-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
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Classism
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Infertility and Sexual content
hjb_128's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Infertility and Infidelity
yourbookishbff's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-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
4.5
I LOVED this hot mess of a love triangle. For historical romance readers, I would highly recommend this to lovers of Sherry Thomas. We have a cast of deeply flawed and self-absorbed characters caught between naivete and cynicism and heartbreak and hope. Nothing actually happens, except they ruin their lives and break each other's hearts. If you love character-driven historical fiction with a strong romantic through-line (and a happily-ever-after) and don't mind messy, often unlikeable people, this is a compelling and honestly gripping read (again, this is largely plotless, but if you love character work, this is delicious).
Be warned, romance readers, this is a heady love triangle, with a slow-paced build in the first half, some repeated light infidelity (betrothals in historical romance often feel more transactional, but I do know crossing even this line is a deal-breaker for some in Romancelandia, and I get that!). We also have a capital-V-villain/Other Woman with a dedicated POV throughout - again, a choice not all romance readers will care for, but I loved it.
I would also note how timeless and ethereal this feels. It's set in an imagined city that draws on the structure of European aristocratic society and la Belle Epoque era (though it feels really worldless in a lot of ways). I loved this decision to deny the reader a sense of being truly historically grounded, as it makes the romance feel that much more consuming and isolating. And the light touch of magical realism (the characters each have telekinetic abilities in a world where this is rare but not unheard of). This cemented Silvia Moreno-Garcia for me, looking forward to reading more of her backlist!
Note for audio readers: I loved the narration by Imani Jade Powers and how it brought to life Silvia Moreno-Garcia's vivid scene-setting and prose.
Be warned, romance readers, this is a heady love triangle, with a slow-paced build in the first half, some repeated light infidelity (betrothals in historical romance often feel more transactional, but I do know crossing even this line is a deal-breaker for some in Romancelandia, and I get that!). We also have a capital-V-villain/Other Woman with a dedicated POV throughout - again, a choice not all romance readers will care for, but I loved it.
I would also note how timeless and ethereal this feels. It's set in an imagined city that draws on the structure of European aristocratic society and la Belle Epoque era (though it feels really worldless in a lot of ways). I loved this decision to deny the reader a sense of being truly historically grounded, as it makes the romance feel that much more consuming and isolating. And the light touch of magical realism (the characters each have telekinetic abilities in a world where this is rare but not unheard of). This cemented Silvia Moreno-Garcia for me, looking forward to reading more of her backlist!
Note for audio readers: I loved the narration by Imani Jade Powers and how it brought to life Silvia Moreno-Garcia's vivid scene-setting and prose.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Classism
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Sexual content and Suicidal thoughts
alysereadsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
relaxing
slow-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
3.5
Typically, historical romance isn't my thing, but I really enjoyed the slow-burn romance. I liked the incorporation of magical realism with telekenesis.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Classism
Minor: Sexual content
leenzreadz's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
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
4.0
Listened via audiobook and it was very engaging and easy to listen to. I often did not want to stop listening or couldn’t wait until I started it again.
Slightly predictable plot but that didn’t mean it wasn’t juicy and intriguing. Nina is a badass and deserves the world. Not exactly the outcome I would have liked for her but if she’s happy, I’m happy.
Slightly predictable plot but that didn’t mean it wasn’t juicy and intriguing. Nina is a badass and deserves the world. Not exactly the outcome I would have liked for her but if she’s happy, I’m happy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
alicelalicon's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Infidelity, and Classism
esme_may's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Such a good read! Not without its flaws (a little slow paced at first) but the author can really write a good sentence. Found myself underlining things all over the place! Going to read more from her for sure. The more I think about this book the more I like it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Grief, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Sexual content, Murder, Pregnancy, and Alcohol