Reviews

The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes by Cat Sebastian

nursemyrtle's review

adventurous medium-paced

4.0

callylines's review against another edition

lighthearted reflective relaxing 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

4.75

brisnax's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

ariellesbookreviews's review

3.0

The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes by Cat Sebastian was a lot different than I thought it would be. I wouldn't say the book was bad, but I don't think it lived up to its true potential. Marian and Rob weren't very intriguing characters despite having interesting backgrounds; they just fell flat. Readers should read the Queer Principles of Kitt Webb because the storyline seems very interconnected. The summary made the book seem like it was going be to very funny and have a lot of high jinks, and I did not get that from the storyline. Nothing about the book made me want to read more. 

cball2428's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

5.0

ladysadiereads's review against another edition

5.0

Maybe this is just a mood I am currently in? I don’t know but Marian and Rob were everything I wanted and more. Full review on Instagram.

al_cassada's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

sarahluclaire's review

adventurous emotional funny 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

hans_cosy_corner's review against another edition

5.0

Such a good book! I’m used to reading queer fiction from Cat but both of the protagonists in this are queer, but they fall into a hetero romance and honestly I loved this as it was great queer rep - both have been in same and opposite sex relationships and it’s not treated as anything other than just normal between them. I loved their dynamic and the start of their friendship being a blackmail situation. Marian is amazing and a bit of an unconventional MC without then shutting on the women around her. She’s different without being compared to other woman. If you ever want to get into historical romance, always start with Cat Sebastian

diagnosedromantic's review against another edition

4.0

I’ve learned something about Cat Sebastian and I. I think the books I love the most are the low-plot slice of life books (i.e. Seducing the Sedgwick’s series, We Could Be So Good). This book just didn’t hit it for me. I don’t think this was at the fault of the writing, I think I’m just in the low-angst/high-swoon category of CS books.

I don’t want to go too much into the plot because it picks up exactly where Kit Webb left off, but I can tell you it starts with an epistolary element (which I am complete trash for) and had a lot of promise for the MCs. But as the book went on I just never really believed that the couple actually liked each other. Rob is obviously completely in for Marian but Marian seems aggressively lukewarm towards Rob. Similar to how I felt in Kit Webb, I just never felt the chemistry between the 2 and couldn’t really get there with them. But again, this is just accounting for my taste.

Overall, this was a good book, just not for me.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4/5 stars
2/5 spice level