A review by annestef1a
Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught
2.0
I'm writing this review as I am on page 329 of 420 because I know this is a HEA, and I am afraid that my feelings about this will be muddled then. This review will be a vent, a necessary one so I can finish the last 100 pages.
Okay. So... The truth of the matter is the hero doesn't just rape her physically but also psychologically.
Right now, I feel like my heart, my principles, and something in me as a woman were shattered by this book. But due to my optimistic side, I hoped and hoped that the heroine would get a backbone and get back at him, preferably murder him, or if the writer could turn this around in at least an acceptable conclusion, then maybe, just maybe, it could deliver a traumatizing but important message in a relationship.
But boy, oh boy, was I wrong. At this point, the hero is so unredeemable that I feel like in a coma. First, the hero arranged, no, bought their marriage to her father when she was a complete stranger to him. She was defiant at his every turn and was adamant to marry the one she was infatuated/in love with. But when she realized that he was nothing but a fortune hunter, she started to really like the idea of being with the hero. So, she planned to ditch her pride and say it honestly, but before that could happen, a misunderstanding ensued, and the hero raped her. Because he believed a gossip girl that she wasn't a virgin. The hero is completely horrified at what he's done, and after one drunken night and a week of work, he is back on track. He goes to the opera with women and even confesses that he can laugh now. The heroine, on the other hand, is in the cusp of mind fuxkery, because she hates him for what he's done, but she doesn't want him gone. So, the best friend intercepted and told the hero to come to a wedding where the heroine would on as a bridesmaid. The hero went and just looked at her longingly. And in the heroine's mind, that look is the apology, the plea that he wants her. That's when she realized she was in love with him and forgave him. When she got home, she received the letter from the hero a week ago, which contained money and a note stating their marriage was off and that she could marry the one she loved. No takebacks of what he'd given her father. She was livid at this that she can be bought and off by his money. So to get back at him, she flirted with other men at the reception and mocked his profession of love for her, for he has indeed a very disturbing way of showing it.
So, he walked out. And weeks later, he was with a lady, now rumored to be his wife or at least fiance. He gets that a lot. Hero treats the heroine like she is air now. She, however, is in complete tatters because she wants him back, and the best friend verified that it was her fault for ending their relationship and that she must get him back–Pride be damned.
This is where all pieces of my soul reject my mind and body. Because...why? Why is she the one to crawl back to him? Why is she the one to go into his state and meet his family to wait for him and his new lady? Only to be treated by fury...and how in rage he was when he saw her there. I mean, why? Why did the situation flip a 180 degree of logic? Why is she the one to apologize? Has she done something wrong to him? Except not stroke his ego and complete lack of effort for an apology after raping her? When he hasn't even uttered a single sorry?
***
Now that I finished the book. I can now completely conclude that this is the kind of Historical Romance that will make you grateful you were born in the 20th century. The hero's damnation didn't stop there as well as the heroine's utter stupidity. Although I can forgive her a little since she is 19 years old and gently bred in that era. In this light, this book is kind of an ode to those teenage girls in that era regarding marrying at that age–One word: Don't.
Okay. So... The truth of the matter is the hero doesn't just rape her physically but also psychologically.
Right now, I feel like my heart, my principles, and something in me as a woman were shattered by this book. But due to my optimistic side, I hoped and hoped that the heroine would get a backbone and get back at him, preferably murder him, or if the writer could turn this around in at least an acceptable conclusion, then maybe, just maybe, it could deliver a traumatizing but important message in a relationship.
But boy, oh boy, was I wrong. At this point, the hero is so unredeemable that I feel like in a coma. First, the hero arranged, no, bought their marriage to her father when she was a complete stranger to him. She was defiant at his every turn and was adamant to marry the one she was infatuated/in love with. But when she realized that he was nothing but a fortune hunter, she started to really like the idea of being with the hero. So, she planned to ditch her pride and say it honestly, but before that could happen, a misunderstanding ensued, and the hero raped her. Because he believed a gossip girl that she wasn't a virgin. The hero is completely horrified at what he's done, and after one drunken night and a week of work, he is back on track. He goes to the opera with women and even confesses that he can laugh now. The heroine, on the other hand, is in the cusp of mind fuxkery, because she hates him for what he's done, but she doesn't want him gone. So, the best friend intercepted and told the hero to come to a wedding where the heroine would on as a bridesmaid. The hero went and just looked at her longingly. And in the heroine's mind, that look is the apology, the plea that he wants her. That's when she realized she was in love with him and forgave him. When she got home, she received the letter from the hero a week ago, which contained money and a note stating their marriage was off and that she could marry the one she loved. No takebacks of what he'd given her father. She was livid at this that she can be bought and off by his money. So to get back at him, she flirted with other men at the reception and mocked his profession of love for her, for he has indeed a very disturbing way of showing it.
So, he walked out. And weeks later, he was with a lady, now rumored to be his wife or at least fiance. He gets that a lot. Hero treats the heroine like she is air now. She, however, is in complete tatters because she wants him back, and the best friend verified that it was her fault for ending their relationship and that she must get him back–Pride be damned.
This is where all pieces of my soul reject my mind and body. Because...why? Why is she the one to crawl back to him? Why is she the one to go into his state and meet his family to wait for him and his new lady? Only to be treated by fury...and how in rage he was when he saw her there. I mean, why? Why did the situation flip a 180 degree of logic? Why is she the one to apologize? Has she done something wrong to him? Except not stroke his ego and complete lack of effort for an apology after raping her? When he hasn't even uttered a single sorry?
***
Now that I finished the book. I can now completely conclude that this is the kind of Historical Romance that will make you grateful you were born in the 20th century. The hero's damnation didn't stop there as well as the heroine's utter stupidity. Although I can forgive her a little since she is 19 years old and gently bred in that era. In this light, this book is kind of an ode to those teenage girls in that era regarding marrying at that age–One word: Don't.