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beforeviolets's review
emotional
reflective
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
4.0
Thank you so much to the author for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review!
Every Jewish holiday, I love to do my best to find a book that takes place during or centers said holiday, preferably one that’s fairly short and with diverse representation. And I’m so glad I found Sailor’s Delight for this year’s Yom Kippur read. (I technically found it for Rosh Hashanah but ended up reading it on Yom Kippur, but the procrastination on my end honestly ended up being perfect for this book.)
For most people that know me, you might be familiar with the fact that I’m not much of a romance reader, queer fantasy romance being one exception, and my Jewish holiday reads being the other. And so I tend to head into every romance book with a healthy amount of skepticism, and this one left me so pleasantly surprised.
“Just remember what Hillel said: ‘If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I?’—”
“—And if not now, when?”
Judaism and its beliefs were at the very heart of this story, woven into each and every scene and conversation and thought, through our narrator Elie. From the limitations of his career opportunities, to the care he has to give to his actions around goyim, to even the way he yearns for love is intrinsically tied to his Judaism.
Yom Kippur itself and its practices fit so nicely into Elie’s personal journey, as he has to face his past actions and figure out who he wants to be in this next year. It made me cry a little and consider who I want to be in my upcoming year. It made me contemplate the difference between feeling useful and feeling loved.
My only gripe with this book is that even though I love a slow burn, I wish we got a little more romance or a bit more spice. The climax of the romance was treated more like a plot-line to wrap up rather than the core indulgence of the story. (Especially considering this cover, it was a little weird to me that the spiciest scene in this book was a side character buying a condom. And I don’t need spice to enjoy a romance book personally, but I just wish it could’ve milked the romance a bit more.)
Overall, I’d definitely recommend this book, especially if you’re someone that likes regency romance and is looking to diversify your reading, or even if you’ve never picked up a regency romance book in your life. (I'd actually also recommend it to people who were looking for OFMD hangover cures like myself a few months ago! It's about sailors and not pirates, but I think it works.) Wishing everyone a happy new year.
Every Jewish holiday, I love to do my best to find a book that takes place during or centers said holiday, preferably one that’s fairly short and with diverse representation. And I’m so glad I found Sailor’s Delight for this year’s Yom Kippur read. (I technically found it for Rosh Hashanah but ended up reading it on Yom Kippur, but the procrastination on my end honestly ended up being perfect for this book.)
For most people that know me, you might be familiar with the fact that I’m not much of a romance reader, queer fantasy romance being one exception, and my Jewish holiday reads being the other. And so I tend to head into every romance book with a healthy amount of skepticism, and this one left me so pleasantly surprised.
“Just remember what Hillel said: ‘If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I?’—”
“—And if not now, when?”
Judaism and its beliefs were at the very heart of this story, woven into each and every scene and conversation and thought, through our narrator Elie. From the limitations of his career opportunities, to the care he has to give to his actions around goyim, to even the way he yearns for love is intrinsically tied to his Judaism.
Yom Kippur itself and its practices fit so nicely into Elie’s personal journey, as he has to face his past actions and figure out who he wants to be in this next year. It made me cry a little and consider who I want to be in my upcoming year. It made me contemplate the difference between feeling useful and feeling loved.
My only gripe with this book is that even though I love a slow burn, I wish we got a little more romance or a bit more spice. The climax of the romance was treated more like a plot-line to wrap up rather than the core indulgence of the story. (Especially considering this cover, it was a little weird to me that the spiciest scene in this book was a side character buying a condom. And I don’t need spice to enjoy a romance book personally, but I just wish it could’ve milked the romance a bit more.)
Overall, I’d definitely recommend this book, especially if you’re someone that likes regency romance and is looking to diversify your reading, or even if you’ve never picked up a regency romance book in your life. (I'd actually also recommend it to people who were looking for OFMD hangover cures like myself a few months ago! It's about sailors and not pirates, but I think it works.) Wishing everyone a happy new year.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Antisemitism and Alcohol
Minor: Death of parent, War, and Blood
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