A review by anitaboeira
Everything and the Moon by Julia Quinn

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

2.0

For some reason I’ve read this book four times. Apparently I liked it enough at some point to buy it digitally too so I could get rid of the old paperback. But rereading it today, I cannot fathom what I liked about it to buy a second copy. The first two chapters of the characters instalove attraction was super annoying and it ends based on misunderstandings. The second part when it’s 7 years later and they see each other again at a house party where he’s an esteemed guest and she’s part of the help, and that’s the only good part of the book. The angst and tension are compelling. But then he
ruins it by asking her to be his mistress. He gets mad when she says no and leaves her. She then gets fired and leaves without a reference. He eventually learns why she never eloped with him when they were young and realizes he’s been wrong for years and panics when he can’t find her again since she was fired. And that’s when the book gets worse and worse with every page. The firing wasn’t the end of the world for Victoria. She’s finally independent and happy. Then he shows up and is so overbearing, won’t hear no for an answer. He has serious issues with consent. I felt that the author writing such characters is irresponsible behavior, because she framed his overbearing-ness as romantic and he loved her and Victoria slowly agrees with him.
By the end of this book I hated them both so much. Also he warned the main character has THREE attempts of rape done to her, and some the descriptions were actually terrifying. It’s way too much for a “lighthearted” reading. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings