alyssard's review
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
2.75
I LOVE Hamilton. Eliza Schuyler is truly my idol. Because of that, because I know who Eliza was and who Alexander was, this book was so difficult for me to read. I know it’s historical fiction but it just veered SO FAR from the real history that is well known that is became unrealistic.
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcohol and Sexual assault
greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual assault, War, Medical content, Alcohol, Pregnancy, and Child death
lindsayerin's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence and Sexual assault
Moderate: Medical content, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: War
whatjennyreadsinmontana's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
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? No
3.5
A solid historical romance foiled by a shock-factor sexual violence storyline.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Blood, Sexism, Alcohol, and Violence
katiekate11's review against another edition
hopeful
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? No
3.25
The book felt very predictable and some of the author’s descriptions felt like they were trying too hard.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Sexual content
annanar's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
bookstolivewith's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Alex & Eliza, the first in a trilogy by Melissa de la Cruz, is a sweet and fun middle-grade read for the Hamilton fans in your life. It was actually inspired by de la Cruz’s daughter, who after seeing Hamilton the musical had a lot of questions about Eliza — her life, her relationships, her thoughts, etc.
Eliza is definitely the main character here, and it’s somewhat refreshing to read the story from her perspective since the musical is clearly dominated by Alex’s narration. This book also contains more historically accurate information as to their courtship, the war and all that jazz.
However, being historical doesn’t necessarily make it better. I think this book relies pretty heavily on the idea that you are intimately familiar with the musical, as there are a lot of jumps between points of view and time lines and there’s ton of references to Hamilton songs. So you get some depth but not enough, and you get some history but it’s presented in a jarring way that took me out of the overall love story — because that’s what the book is about at it’s core: their courtship.
Also, Angelica is kind of a bitch and not in like the fun way. She’s mean, and I’m not sure I love that — although I do love that she’s not flirting with Hamilton every 10 seconds, since de la Cruz took a different historical interpretation.
So while this was fun and light with a couple swoon-worthy moments (as any romance set during a time period of restraint necessitates), ultimately, I don’t feel the need to read the next two in the series. If anything, I’d get them from the library!
However these could be good holiday gifts to the middle grade readers in your life, as I think a lot of my “issues” with the book come from an adult perspective.
Eliza is definitely the main character here, and it’s somewhat refreshing to read the story from her perspective since the musical is clearly dominated by Alex’s narration. This book also contains more historically accurate information as to their courtship, the war and all that jazz.
However, being historical doesn’t necessarily make it better. I think this book relies pretty heavily on the idea that you are intimately familiar with the musical, as there are a lot of jumps between points of view and time lines and there’s ton of references to Hamilton songs. So you get some depth but not enough, and you get some history but it’s presented in a jarring way that took me out of the overall love story — because that’s what the book is about at it’s core: their courtship.
Also, Angelica is kind of a bitch and not in like the fun way. She’s mean, and I’m not sure I love that — although I do love that she’s not flirting with Hamilton every 10 seconds, since de la Cruz took a different historical interpretation.
So while this was fun and light with a couple swoon-worthy moments (as any romance set during a time period of restraint necessitates), ultimately, I don’t feel the need to read the next two in the series. If anything, I’d get them from the library!
However these could be good holiday gifts to the middle grade readers in your life, as I think a lot of my “issues” with the book come from an adult perspective.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
booksandagita's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Blood
brynn_books's review against another edition
3.0
I love the story of Alexander Hamilton and Eliza. I loved the musical Hamilton. It was interesting to see a different perspective on their relationship. There were a few problems I had with the plot and the characters but nothing that took away from the overall story. I was kind of sad that Lafayette and Lauren’s were not in this book a lot. I was really looking forward to that characters but this story did focus on Alex and Eliza so it makes sense that they weren’t highlighted more in the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual assault, Child death, Blood, Sexism, Slavery, and War
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