A review by kaitrates
An Island Princess Starts a Scandal by Adriana Herrera

emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Aurora saved lives and Manuela made art and Luz Alana made rum, but each of them found joy and passion in their work. They' been reared to be ladies, but they found purpose beyond society's expectations. Manuela could no longer let her life be dictated by others. Not even by th ewoman who owned her heart.

Y'all I FINISHED A BOOK! MY FIRST BOOK IN NEARLY A MONTH! HUZZAH!

Ok this was my third time trying to read this. The beginning didn't hook me this time either; however, I was ✨determined✨ to finish b/c: I want out of this slump so badly! 

I'm so glad I did because this one did grow on me eventually and left me very satisfied in the end. Manuela is my girl and I simply adore her and her effervescence and her determination to slut it up for a summer. 

I really struggled to like Cora, sadly. I understood her motivations and why she made the decisions she did but I didn't agree with them and hated how she hardened herself. I was so glad that her aunt, stepson, and, eventually, Manu, reallllly let her have it straight (even though yes I felt ad that they kicked her while she was down). 

Regardless, this is how you do a character arc! Both Manu and Cora's arcs were incredible and I loved watching them step into their own power and identify what and whose opinion really mattered to them.

This was a sensual feast, from the art descriptions to the parties to the sex scenes (in true Herrera fashion). I was disappointed we didn't get a "teach me" type moment from Cora—like I fully expected her high handedness to spill over into the bedroom—even though it did make sense for Manuela to dive right in. Pun intended.

Other things I loved: Tia Osiris (I legit want a generational saga with her story), Alfie (can we please get him his HEA?!), and seeing more of Apollo and Aurora who I just know are gonna wreck me when their book comes out next year. High key cannot wait to see them get wrecked for one another. 🤭

All in all, I'm so glad I read this one and that Herrera is writing historicals! 
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