A review by agrippinaes
It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas

4.0

Marcus and Lillian have never seen eye to eye - she finds the aristocrat too stiff and snobbish, whilst he finds the American heiress too brash and impulsive. Yet neither of them can deny their attraction to one another. When they’re placed in close proximity at a house party Marcus is hosting, they can’t seem to stop crossing paths with each other - and find themselves acting on their feelings, despite their best efforts to avoid it.

I enjoyed reading this. Lisa Kleypas’ work is just so readable: I just wanted to devour it in one sitting. The dynamic between Marcus and Lillian is really fun; she’s such a fun, bold heroine, and he’s so stiff and hard. The contrast between them is really entertaining as it plays out and they had really good chemistry. Watching both of them soften and warm to each other was quite sweet.

It also had a decent external plot. I read The Devil in Winter first - I’ve actually read it multiple times - so I knew where it was going with St Vincent, but I was surprised how much I liked St Vincent in this. He was very charming and persuasive and whilst I obviously don’t like what he ends up doing, it surprised me how much he came across as a viable option for Lillian in this book.

However, I wasn’t keen on the first love scene between Marcus and Lillian - iffy isn’t even the word, and I would caution anyone who hasn’t read this to check content warnings before reading. It’s just one of those scenes where I don’t really get why it happens like that.

Overall I thought this was a good book. It wasn’t my favourite Lisa Kleypas by any stretch and whilst I liked both characters I didn’t like them as much as I’ve liked others of hers, but there’s something very appealing about the relationship between Marcus and Lillian that made it hard to stop reading.

Content Notes: Hate-to-love, opposites attract

Warnings:
SpoilerDeath of a parent (in past), dubious consent
SpoilerThe first time the hero and heroine sleep together she’s very drunk and he is sober.
, sexual assault
Spoilernot hero; heroine is touched inappropriately by another character
, kidnap, drugging, child abuse (in past).


Other:
SpoilerOn-page sex, OM stuff
SpoilerHeroine is sort of courted by an OM who kisses her a few times on-page.
, infidelity / cheating (side characters).