congrats to Beth O'Leary for managing that plot with the twist (WHICH YOU BETTER NOT KNOW GOING IN) but like, i was hoping to read socried my eyes out
congrats to Beth O'Leary for managing that plot with the twist (WHICH YOU BETTER NOT KNOW GOING IN) but like, i was hoping to read something lighthearted and this is anything but
i have a couple issues too that are unrelated to genre expectations (but honestly: talk about a book cover that does not convey the tone of the book…) and one is that really weirdly off putting scene with Miranda (view spoiler)[basically climbing on top of AJ in front of Joseph passed out and grieving. I was super duper rooting for Miranda and AJ but wait a fucking minute, guys. Time and place. (hide spoiler)] but just in general I feel kinda sorta manipulated.
also this is not about the plot at all and not relevant to my overall enjoyment of the book but on the FIRST PAGE i was pissed off because a character is "only vegan when she's happy" otherwise she ~indulges in cow milk. like maybe writers really shouldn't write about things they don't know about idk idk imagine how tired we are™...more
3.75 stars! i LOVED this working class to middle class couple (finally…), LOVED their chemistry, LOVED the emotional moments, i am thoroughly enjoying3.75 stars! i LOVED this working class to middle class couple (finally…), LOVED their chemistry, LOVED the emotional moments, i am thoroughly enjoying this whole series...more
2.5 stars. I read this because of tiktok (no, it’s not a booktok favourite, but my algorithm knows I love Austen) and found it pretty nice. The writin2.5 stars. I read this because of tiktok (no, it’s not a booktok favourite, but my algorithm knows I love Austen) and found it pretty nice. The writing, especially at the beginning, I found a bit… hard to get into (really throws into relief how talented the original author is if anyone should need confirmation), but as the story progressed I found I liked the way Elizabeth and Darcy still found a way to become better people and get over their misunderstandings though in very different circumstances....more
The SLOW BURN………………………………………………………………!!!!!!!!!!!!! What I loved about the MUTUAL PINING here is that (spoiler but it's quite early in the book) (view sThe SLOW BURN………………………………………………………………!!!!!!!!!!!!! What I loved about the MUTUAL PINING here is that (spoiler but it's quite early in the book) (view spoiler)[it is confessed pretty soon into the story, so they BOTH KNOW they're pining for each other but can't act on it. (hide spoiler)] IT'S SO DELICIOUS. I also love that the obstacle to their relationship is a realistic one. If I hadn't known for sure the HEA was guaranteed, I would've thought they'd never find a way around it—unlike with so many other romances, which I still loved, but let's be real....more
Choosing the five stars "it was amazing" rating because THE HISTORICAL DETAIL… SO GOOD!!!!!!! a few quick points • very believable plot • the heroine strChoosing the five stars "it was amazing" rating because THE HISTORICAL DETAIL… SO GOOD!!!!!!! a few quick points • very believable plot • the heroine struggles with real problems tied to her legally being considered property and not her own person and it was very well done in my opinion • somehow one of the sexiest heroes i've ever read about and there's not even half a sex scene in the novel • *horrific* depictions of Victorian "medicine" and "cures" for mental illness depicted • the Romance. the Romance!!!! when they walk along the beach and the ribbons of her bonnet get in her face and they barely know each other but he'd already die for her? good. very good • His lips brushed over her hair. “Didn’t I tell you I’d go to the ends of the earth for you?” • me: SCREAMS • “It’s what he’d always imagined married life would be like. A level of comfort with a woman. A sense that she accepted him. All of him.” • me: cries • the hero was a soldier in India and he explicitly sympathised with Indians BUT I do think there should've been a larger discussion around colonisation as the one event that's recounted in detail is one massacre of British women and children in India and that's… not the full perspective...more
My brain was pouring out of my ears so I needed something light. This was perfect for that! I didn't like the beginning, but the writing gets better sMy brain was pouring out of my ears so I needed something light. This was perfect for that! I didn't like the beginning, but the writing gets better soon and I have to say, I enjoyed both the plot and the characters. I wasn't too much of a fan of the usual "oh I didn't REALISE I was antagonising this person because I want their attention any way I can get it" (boring) but it quickly changes into them lowering their weapons and that's when I started enjoying the book. I have to say, I didn't ~particularly enjoy the ending because it was so cheeeeesy but the middle? the middle is solid. I really like the way these two people fell in love. ...more
YES!!!!!!!!!!! I loved this. The chemistry, the hero and the heroine's personalities, their believable insecurities and the way they help each other gYES!!!!!!!!!!! I loved this. The chemistry, the hero and the heroine's personalities, their believable insecurities and the way they help each other grow. YES!!!!!!!! Alice Lusk is my new favourite romance heroine ever. If you've read Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas, this has similar vibes, but I liked it so much more....more
Not nearly as good as the second book in the series. It wasn't bad but I just don't love the characters as much, and the childhood friends to lovers bNot nearly as good as the second book in the series. It wasn't bad but I just don't love the characters as much, and the childhood friends to lovers bores me....more
I received an ARC through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Reading this book immediately felt like watching a good 90s romantic comedy. I feI received an ARC through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Reading this book immediately felt like watching a good 90s romantic comedy. I felt that excitement and anticipation, and I loved that Gracie's struggles felt real — both her workplace problems, and her (lack-of) relationship problems. Her friendships and family ties take up an important portion of the book, so this isn't just romance all the time—although the romance is there and it's good! Swoon-worthy in some places, even. Again, reading many scenes I felt like I was watching a feel-good romcom, which is the perfect mood for this genre, in my opinion. No spoilers, but one involves aprons and disastrous cooking.
“Nobody wants a relationship as much as me, you guys know that.” “Maybe that's the problem,” Robyn suggests. “You've built it up so much in your head that you're afraid the reality won't measure up, so you keep everyone at arm's length. It's also probably why you're so attracted to a guy you've never met. It lets you preserve that dream.”
The problem with the dream, however, is that her messages with Sir are uncomplicated by real life and they both let themselves be more open under the mask of anonymity, which leads to them feeling incredibly connected to the other person—it's understandable why Gracie would have a hard time giving that up, and I like that she is seriously conflicted about this.
I only wish this had a longer “enemies” part for the “enemies-to-lovers” trope, and perhaps a longer epilogue, but apart from that, this was a delicious, bubbly escape into a contemporary fairytale romance....more
This was a well written, fun romance that gave me a LOT of fuzzy feelings. The Pride and Prejudice parallels often made me squeal with delight. I paceThis was a well written, fun romance that gave me a LOT of fuzzy feelings. The Pride and Prejudice parallels often made me squeal with delight. I paced myself with the first chapters but I ended up staying awake until AFTER DAWN to finish the book because I could! not! put! it! down!!!! and also, I was highly emotional in more than one scene and throughout the final section of the book.
So, what's not *perfect* about this? A couple of spoilery things. 1. The couple's chemistry was FIRE so it makes sense for them to connect despite their differences, but (view spoiler)[I am not too sure about the timing of their falling in love. It was too soon—or rather, it wasn't too soon, but they were in the honeymoon phase in which everything is perfect. I wish the book had gone farther into their relationship so that we could be SURE they'll last. (hide spoiler)] 2. I wish we'd gotten an epilogue in which we saw (view spoiler)[them getting married. I know, I'm getting ahead of things, but everything hints at them being *the one* for each other, and since Darcy's initial unresolved issue was about being on the brink of marriage with another woman, it would make sense to have her marry Elle at the end. (hide spoiler)]...more
**spoiler alert** First of all, the ending was perfect, because the series closed on the beautiful friendship among the wallflowers. It really warmed **spoiler alert** First of all, the ending was perfect, because the series closed on the beautiful friendship among the wallflowers. It really warmed my heart.
“To friendship," Lillian said, her voice suddenly husky. And their four glasses clicked in one perfect moment.”
I loved the main relationship in this book, I loved that the hero was from a working class background, I loved the daisy-shaped diamond ring, I loved the chemistry, the meet-cute (she wished for the right man for her AND HE APPEARED… HOW PERFECT IS THAT), the button with her hair he was keeping, the way Daisy and Matthew challenged each other, EVERYTHING. I love that SHE seduced HIM, I loved the parlour games scene, I loved that the scandal in the title is not what I was expecting it to be, and I even loved the further characterisation of Mr Bowman. This is now my favourite Wallflowers book. What a lovely ending....more
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