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emotional
funny
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Abandonment
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Death of parent
funny
fast-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
I had a really nice time reading this! The main characters were reasonably well written, and the secondary characters were tropey but not overtly so. The pace was fast, with enough moving pieces to keep you on your toes. I also liked that the heroine was tall and well endowed (minor body diversity win) and truly genuinely bad at dancing, singing and horse riding.
Things I didn't like:
There is a scene I disliked in which the male MC tells the female MC that he thinks he cannot fall in love and she with her full chest says maybe he hasn't found the right woman yet. I thought that was needlessly aphobic and also just cringe.
The youngest sister is 17 but acts more like 14, which was tiring.
Also, toward the end of the book,the female MC insists on PiV sex even though they just agreed to not get married immediately. Girl, are you dumb?
I know that class is not something that romance novels are generally interested in truly getting into (because it's depressing. No your Earl is not going to be able to marry this girl of dubious parentage) but the lack of interest the book had in adressing class or the repercussions of the whole charade was kind of unfortunate because I would have liked to see how they fix all that.
Things I didn't like:
There is a scene I disliked in which
The youngest sister is 17 but acts more like 14, which was tiring.
Also, toward the end of the book,
I know that class is not something that romance novels are generally interested in truly getting into (because it's depressing. No your Earl is not going to be able to marry this girl of dubious parentage) but the lack of interest the book had in adressing class or the repercussions of the whole charade was kind of unfortunate because I would have liked to see how they fix all that.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual content, Death of parent, Alcohol
Minor: Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Grief, Classism
funny
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
Light, fluffy romance with an intriguing plot and entertaining characters — that still somehow felt to be dragging on and on. I enjoyed the antics and blossoming romance, but this book just felt 100 pages too long; I wanted it to speed up as early as 20% in. I think a cut-down of one of the threads — or two or three lies — would have gone a long way in streamlining the story and making it more charming than lulling. There was also an immature tint to the characters, particularly Hugh, that stood out most in the beginning but persisted in his attitudes and inner monologue right through to the end. If the book had totally embraced that satirical bent, I would have loved it more… but instead, I'm left here having enjoyed my stay, but not enough to remember much of what occurred.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol
Minor: Cancer, Terminal illness
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I picked up this book after getting an invite to read an ARC of the second book in this series. Since that book isn’t being released until November, I figured I had time to read this one first. You know how I like to read a series in order. Plus, I’m a fool for the fake relationship trope.
Both Minerva and Hugh are endearing characters from the start. Minerva is hard-working, pragmatic, caring, and bold. Hugh tries to wear the façade of a scoundrel, but he’s actually extremely thoughtful and kind and has been growing weary of the life of a bachelor. The problem Hugh has with settling down has nothing to do with whether or not he wants to have a spouse and family, it has to do with him not thinking he’d be good at family life because of mistakes his father made. In his mind, it’s in his genes to be a cad and he would never want to hurt a wife and/or children by giving them a good life only to turn around and yank it from them later. For a smart man, Hugh is rather an idiot.
Minerva and her two younger sisters were left to fend for themselves when Minerva had just turned 19, and have been pinching pennies and scraping by ever since. It’s kismet when she runs into Hugh, who not only helps her out of a jam but hires her to help him out of a jam. There is a spark between the two of them from when they first meet on the street that only grows when they move out to his estate in the country and cohabitate in his country home…albeit with his staff, her sisters, his best friend, and others. But still, now we’ve thrown forced proximity (another favorite of mine) into the mix and the connection grows.
For most of this story, there is an underlying affection between Minerva and Hugh, no matter that they try to act as if they are just acting their parts in Hugh’s convoluted story. It’s at a sweet but low simmer. The story flows nicely and there’s no denying the couple should be together for real. That all ramps up in the last 25% of the book. That’s where I found myself tearing up and feeling the angst and longing Hugh and Minerva are going through. Then things get crazy, but rather fun, as Hugh’s house of cards starts to fall.
I’m certainly glad I have the next book already in my arsenal. I’m looking forward to all of the sisters getting their HEAs. While my socks weren’t knocked off, this is a wonderful and solid read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer
hopeful
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Infidelity, Sexual content, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Classism
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Sexual content, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol
Minor: Cancer, Terminal illness, Classism
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"What a pointless and wholly avoidable mess."
Unfortunately, I think this quote sums up the book too well. I found it a frustrating slog rather than the intended slow burn.
This fake engagement is based on tall tales and an intricate, fabricated backstory. Hugh hires Minerva to fill the role of his fictional fiancee of the same name, and chaos ensues. I had several general issues with the book:
• There's casual slut-shaming in regards to who is wifely material. Reference is made to a marriageable woman's "pristine sheets" in contrast to the unworthy legion of lovers in Hugh's past.
• It gets worse when Hugh's "primal, wholly male, and visceral" jealousy (a different beast from bargain brand jealousy) causes him to seethe about her potential past with a sweetheart despite his own promiscuous past, particularly dwelling on the question of what degree of physical intimacy they enjoyed.
• A conversation on body image suggests that women know their own "faults" as a ...positive?
• Any comments describing the US as a land of freedom and fairness make me gag.
• The actress hired to play Minerva's mother provides comic relief, and her apparent alcoholism causes her to be characterized as a "drunkard" with her embarrassing, potentially incriminating behavior as the major concern rather than her well-being. All alcohol is removed from the premises with Lucretia as a passive recipient of the decision. Nothing is done to actually support her or treat her with any degree of empathy.
Characterization relied on telling (sometimes repeatedly) more than showing. I also disliked Hugh, both his faults and supposed strengths. Please enjoy my list of Hugh-shaped complaints:
• Philanthropy is used as shorthand for his inherent goodness (lazy).
• Acknowledgment of his rich white man privilege goes no further than discomfort and guilt, and it was exhausting to see it play out in slow motion on the page.
• The man has an actual knight-in-shining-armor complex. Hugh's top-secret (but why?) desire to "rescue" the downtrodden results in his offer to pay Minerva enough to entice her from her clear poverty for her role while knowing it is a pittance in his own terms. Minerva's view of him as her personal knight fans the flames of his instalove for her as he sheds a lifetime of adamant refusals to settle down. That dynamic was cringey.
• I was irritated by his nonsensical fear of biological programming towards infidelity. I shouldn't hate on another's mental health issues, but he goes in circles at a mind-numbingly unproductive pace. He also never actually moves past this block, just rewriting history to be happy with his believed inherited character.
Despite some brief comedic bright spots, I don't think that makes it worth the read. I wouldn't recommend it.
Unfortunately, I think this quote sums up the book too well. I found it a frustrating slog rather than the intended slow burn.
This fake engagement is based on tall tales and an intricate, fabricated backstory. Hugh hires Minerva to fill the role of his fictional fiancee of the same name, and chaos ensues. I had several general issues with the book:
• There's casual slut-shaming in regards to who is wifely material. Reference is made to a marriageable woman's "pristine sheets" in contrast to the unworthy legion of lovers in Hugh's past.
• It gets worse when Hugh's "primal, wholly male, and visceral" jealousy (a different beast from bargain brand jealousy) causes him to seethe about her potential past with a sweetheart despite his own promiscuous past, particularly dwelling on the question of what degree of physical intimacy they enjoyed.
• A conversation on body image suggests that women know their own "faults" as a ...positive?
• Any comments describing the US as a land of freedom and fairness make me gag.
• The actress hired to play Minerva's mother provides comic relief, and her apparent alcoholism causes her to be characterized as a "drunkard" with her embarrassing, potentially incriminating behavior as the major concern rather than her well-being. All alcohol is removed from the premises with Lucretia as a passive recipient of the decision. Nothing is done to actually support her or treat her with any degree of empathy.
Characterization relied on telling (sometimes repeatedly) more than showing. I also disliked Hugh, both his faults and supposed strengths. Please enjoy my list of Hugh-shaped complaints:
• Philanthropy is used as shorthand for his inherent goodness (lazy).
• Acknowledgment of his rich white man privilege goes no further than discomfort and guilt, and it was exhausting to see it play out in slow motion on the page.
• The man has an actual knight-in-shining-armor complex. Hugh's top-secret (but why?) desire to "rescue" the downtrodden results in his offer to pay Minerva enough to entice her from her clear poverty for her role while knowing it is a pittance in his own terms. Minerva's view of him as her personal knight fans the flames of his instalove for her as he sheds a lifetime of adamant refusals to settle down. That dynamic was cringey.
• I was irritated by his nonsensical fear of biological programming towards infidelity. I shouldn't hate on another's mental health issues, but he goes in circles at a mind-numbingly unproductive pace. He also never actually moves past this block, just rewriting history to be happy with his believed inherited character.
Despite some brief comedic bright spots, I don't think that makes it worth the read. I wouldn't recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Abandonment
Minor: Cancer, Toxic relationship, Death of parent