everybookadoorway's review against another edition
3.0
Charming Young Man follows piano prodigy Léon Delafosse during his struggles to navigate high society Paris in 1890. I wanted to pick this one up mainly because I’d heard so many good things about Schrefer’s other novel ‘The Darkness Outside Us’ (which I am still yet to read), and also because I just love queer historical fiction!
Normally, I’m all for ‘no real plot, just vibes’, but I do think that this one could have benefitted from some deeper plot and character development as everything just seemed a little flat. It felt like a lot of things were quite brief which made it difficult for me to really engage with the story at certain points. I also wasn’t really invested in the characters, but I did enjoy the gentle romance, and I liked Felix a lot.
I don’t always read author notes, but I definitely recommend giving this one a read through as it explains the real life people that this book was loosely based on, and I feel like it left me with a better overall appreciation for the story.
Charming Young Man is quiet and bittersweet, and although I didn’t love it, I do still plan on reading ‘The Darkness Outside Us’. If you’re looking for some queer historical fiction, I’d definitely give this one a go.
Thank you to Harper360ya for sending me an ARC!
Normally, I’m all for ‘no real plot, just vibes’, but I do think that this one could have benefitted from some deeper plot and character development as everything just seemed a little flat. It felt like a lot of things were quite brief which made it difficult for me to really engage with the story at certain points. I also wasn’t really invested in the characters, but I did enjoy the gentle romance, and I liked Felix a lot.
I don’t always read author notes, but I definitely recommend giving this one a read through as it explains the real life people that this book was loosely based on, and I feel like it left me with a better overall appreciation for the story.
Charming Young Man is quiet and bittersweet, and although I didn’t love it, I do still plan on reading ‘The Darkness Outside Us’. If you’re looking for some queer historical fiction, I’d definitely give this one a go.
Thank you to Harper360ya for sending me an ARC!
monkeysbecausewhynot's review
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
baileylizhi's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
3.5
klutzykara's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
sydjademcc's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jonna_doucette's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Fun! Who doesn’t love a little high society Parisian intrigue – especially if it has a happy ending? I read this book on a whim after seeing the description comparing it to The Gentleman’s Guide series, and, while not exactly accurate, I’m still pleasantly surprised.
Admittedly, I totally thought Delafosse, Proust, and Count Montesquiou-Fezensac were made up characters until I got to the author’s note at the end of the audiobook (What can I say? I am an uncultured business major!). Weirdly, I think it actually made for a richer reading experience, since I got to enjoy the cast as characters first, rather than historical figures. It also speaks to the quality of the author’s research and story-telling abilities.
Schrefer’s sense of time, place, and sensibility is perfection. Tonally and thematically, this story actually reminded me a lot of other works of classic gay literature by authors like Mary Renault and Allan Hollinghurst. While not YA authors, I would certainly recommend Charming Young Man as a gateway into more adult novels like The Swimming-Pool Library and The Friendly Young Ladies.
Admittedly, I totally thought Delafosse, Proust, and Count Montesquiou-Fezensac were made up characters until I got to the author’s note at the end of the audiobook (What can I say? I am an uncultured business major!). Weirdly, I think it actually made for a richer reading experience, since I got to enjoy the cast as characters first, rather than historical figures. It also speaks to the quality of the author’s research and story-telling abilities.
Schrefer’s sense of time, place, and sensibility is perfection. Tonally and thematically, this story actually reminded me a lot of other works of classic gay literature by authors like Mary Renault and Allan Hollinghurst. While not YA authors, I would certainly recommend Charming Young Man as a gateway into more adult novels like The Swimming-Pool Library and The Friendly Young Ladies.
elementarymydear's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
What an engrossing read! From the very start I was drawn into the 19th Century Paris salons, where high society and the bohemian art world mingle. We follow a selection of real life figures, including Marcel Proust, with main character Léon Delafosse, a pianist from a poor background.
The characters are larger than life, and they all have their own agendas that they’re pursuing. It was so interesting to see how they all interacted, with so many unexpected twists and turns. By the end I was so angry on behalf of Léon at how he was treated by the other characters! The author did a brilliant job of having that ‘fish out of water’ feeling while Léon was trying to make his way through Parisian society.
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The real strength of this book is how it explores queerness and sexuality in this historical context. There were some incredibly moving and emotional passages, and the Léon’s financial insecurities and uncertainties paralleled the fear of being a queer man in the 19th Century.
One of the hardest parts of writing a book about real people is what to do with the ending. We don’t know how Delafosse’s life went after he left Paris, and while I like the ending Schrefer gave him, it did feel quite sudden. It’s clear from the author’s note that the ending sequence was the inspiration for much of the rest of the book, and I would have liked to just spend a bit more time across the book both setting up the ending, and on the ending itself. That aside though, I really enjoyed this story!
I received a free copy for review. All opinions are my own.
The characters are larger than life, and they all have their own agendas that they’re pursuing. It was so interesting to see how they all interacted, with so many unexpected twists and turns. By the end I was so angry on behalf of Léon at how he was treated by the other characters! The author did a brilliant job of having that ‘fish out of water’ feeling while Léon was trying to make his way through Parisian society.
📚Blog📖YouTube📖Instagram📚
The real strength of this book is how it explores queerness and sexuality in this historical context. There were some incredibly moving and emotional passages, and the Léon’s financial insecurities and uncertainties paralleled the fear of being a queer man in the 19th Century.
One of the hardest parts of writing a book about real people is what to do with the ending. We don’t know how Delafosse’s life went after he left Paris, and while I like the ending Schrefer gave him, it did feel quite sudden. It’s clear from the author’s note that the ending sequence was the inspiration for much of the rest of the book, and I would have liked to just spend a bit more time across the book both setting up the ending, and on the ending itself. That aside though, I really enjoyed this story!
I received a free copy for review. All opinions are my own.
piperclover's review against another edition
I knew I was pushing it when I put this book on hold because I don't like historical books very much but I was really going to give it my best shot because I liked the non fiction I read by this author and this cover was beautiful. There was of course the added bonus that this would help me check off a reading challenge prompt. I just can't do it though. I don't like having specific years set to each chapter and I am really struggling with the amount of French names used in the book. That's the point so I'm not mad about it but I can't remember people's names when I can't see the word written out in another language.
I skipped to the last chapter and listened to that to see if I thought it might be worth it to push through but I just don't think it would be. I don't think the ending would be emotionally satisfying for me personallyI bc.
I would however absolutely listen to a non-fiction book about the characters in this book because it's based off of real Life people. Like I said above I really enjoyed the non-fiction book I read by this author called Queer Ducks and there is an author's note that briefly describes the real life history that this book is based off of whic is really cool.
I skipped to the last chapter and listened to that to see if I thought it might be worth it to push through but I just don't think it would be. I don't think the ending would be emotionally satisfying for me personallyI bc
Spoiler
there's not enough romance and sweet happy ever afterI would however absolutely listen to a non-fiction book about the characters in this book because it's based off of real Life people. Like I said above I really enjoyed the non-fiction book I read by this author called Queer Ducks and there is an author's note that briefly describes the real life history that this book is based off of whic is really cool.
dracobatreads's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5