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A review by caitlin_bookchats
Love Is a Rogue by Lenora Bell
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
Look, I did this to myself. I should have DNF'd this book in the first 11 pages like I initially planned but the two leads seemed so far from each other in interest and attitude that I was curious how the author would get them together!
Of course, therein comes my disappointment. Although Bell laid the breadcrumbs of a plan for why the FMC and MMC would fall for each other, everything was terribly underdeveloped. Additionally, one of my least favorite things occurred which was the FMC and MMC telling each other they'd been interested in the true version of their partner all along but look, I was in y'alls heads in those first two chapters and you did not know each other beyond a handsome man/your employer's bookish sister.
ANYWAY, add to that the fact that I know I've read other books with I think the brother? Or maybe Ravenswood? Or maybe both? and I can remember ALMOST NOTHING about those and I'm personally going to have to take Lenora Bell off my to-read lists. Her work is just not for me.
I will say that the initial reason I was going to hard DNF, the FMC's defining character trait being that she uses big $5 words because she's just so into language and meaning and old, dead words! did get better after those first 11 pages so that was a relief at least. Look I am a nerd who likes some interesting words but it was the most pretentious way to have linguistics as a hobby! She showed absolutely ZERO interest in documenting new words from slang or working classes I mean can you imagine if instead she recruited the MMC to help her document Sailing slang!?!?! AND ALSO, to love words is, in some ways to love communication but it doesn't matter if the dictionary definition of a word is perfect if no one you're talking to knows that word! Good communication is about knowing how to speak or write to your specific audience!
Ok, ok sorry for the rant I just wanted so much better.
Of course, therein comes my disappointment. Although Bell laid the breadcrumbs of a plan for why the FMC and MMC would fall for each other, everything was terribly underdeveloped. Additionally, one of my least favorite things occurred which was the FMC and MMC telling each other they'd been interested in the true version of their partner all along but look, I was in y'alls heads in those first two chapters and you did not know each other beyond a handsome man/your employer's bookish sister.
ANYWAY, add to that the fact that I know I've read other books with I think the brother? Or maybe Ravenswood? Or maybe both? and I can remember ALMOST NOTHING about those and I'm personally going to have to take Lenora Bell off my to-read lists. Her work is just not for me.
I will say that the initial reason I was going to hard DNF, the FMC's defining character trait being that she uses big $5 words because she's just so into language and meaning and old, dead words! did get better after those first 11 pages so that was a relief at least. Look I am a nerd who likes some interesting words but it was the most pretentious way to have linguistics as a hobby! She showed absolutely ZERO interest in documenting new words from slang or working classes I mean can you imagine if instead she recruited the MMC to help her document Sailing slang!?!?! AND ALSO, to love words is, in some ways to love communication but it doesn't matter if the dictionary definition of a word is perfect if no one you're talking to knows that word! Good communication is about knowing how to speak or write to your specific audience!
Ok, ok sorry for the rant I just wanted so much better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Body shaming and War
The FMC has/had(?) a palsy and the corner of her mouth is frozen as a result. She doesn't mind, the hero likes her smile, but her mother is constantly trying to hide it and says that.
The MMC is a Navy carpenter and briefly alludes to being in a battle and losing friends. He is also the son of a woman who was disowned for marrying outside of her father's wishes and that trauma comes up as a central conflict for him to work through. The disowning grandfather also appears in the book.