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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
I think what Lauren Willig is best at is the gentle goofiness of the Pink Carnation books. This was sadly missing in The Other Daughter.
Rachel is a governess in France who loses her position when she rushes home to be with her sick mother. But she finds her mother to have died from the illness before her arrival. In her grief, she uncovers a recent photo of her father. The same father who she thought died 23 years prior. In order to see him, she becomes Vera, toast of the Bright Young Things, with the help of Simon the gossip columnist.
The first half of the book was spent with Rachel insinuating herself in her half sister's set. During the second half, the veneer of the 20s social scene is slowly shaved away to reveal the motives behind some of the peripheral characters, culminating in the reveal of Rachel to her father.
I wanted more time devoted to understanding these characters better. A large chunk of what makes them tick is related to WWI and it was relegated neatly to the background when it could have been an emotional hook. I was not at all surprised when I found out how Rachel was deluded into believing her father to be dead. I was surprised at the romantic attachment at the end, I rather felt like it was an after thought that a "romance novelist" needed a romance.
For the most part I found this book to be okay, but not as engaging as other books I've read by the same author.
Rachel is a governess in France who loses her position when she rushes home to be with her sick mother. But she finds her mother to have died from the illness before her arrival. In her grief, she uncovers a recent photo of her father. The same father who she thought died 23 years prior. In order to see him, she becomes Vera, toast of the Bright Young Things, with the help of Simon the gossip columnist.
The first half of the book was spent with Rachel insinuating herself in her half sister's set. During the second half, the veneer of the 20s social scene is slowly shaved away to reveal the motives behind some of the peripheral characters, culminating in the reveal of Rachel to her father.
I wanted more time devoted to understanding these characters better. A large chunk of what makes them tick is related to WWI and it was relegated neatly to the background when it could have been an emotional hook. I was not at all surprised when I found out how Rachel was deluded into believing her father to be dead. I was surprised at the romantic attachment at the end, I rather felt like it was an after thought that a "romance novelist" needed a romance.
For the most part I found this book to be okay, but not as engaging as other books I've read by the same author.
Predictable, but enjoyable. Would recommend to people who like historical fiction, esp. between-the-wars era.
I did not predict the main reveal in this story, which is a good thing. The first novel by Lauren WIllig that I've read, I will look out for more novels by her. The main character, Cat, finds out that the father she thought was dead is really alive and living with his aristocratic family. She seeks him out with the help of a society/gossip columnist and finds her father and love. I liked reading about her transformation into a socialite, the clothes, the manners, and the language. Recommended for those who like their love with a dose of social climbing and British aristocracy.
When I started reading this book, I was not sure what to expect. It was not at all what I was expecting.
This book was able to reach out and pull me in. I felt happiness, thrill, horror, shock, and I even felt myself tearing up at one part.
This book shows how sometimes it is necessary o sacrifice your own happiness, your own wants and desires, in order to take care of others.
This book was able to reach out and pull me in. I felt happiness, thrill, horror, shock, and I even felt myself tearing up at one part.
This book shows how sometimes it is necessary o sacrifice your own happiness, your own wants and desires, in order to take care of others.
****Copy from NetGalley in return for an honest review*
I devoured this in less than 16 hours - and that included 9 hours sleep and a quick trip to the supermarket. Lauren Willig has woven a clever and intriguing story into the world of the Bright Young Things - and it really works. This has less romance than her Pink Carnation series - and it's more mystery than adventure - but it is so, so good.
Rachel is an engaging heroine - and it's easy to understand why she does what she does after her Big Discovery and her transformation - and evolution of thoughts is well done and believable.
I love the 1920s - I've read a lot of Waugh's novels and biographies of people of the period and watched films and documentaries and Willig has clearly done a lot of research - the real people of the period pop up and interact with the characters that she's created for the story.
My only complaint is that I wanted a bit more from the end (I can't say more without giving too much away about the plot) but that may be part of the point of the ending.
So. So. Good.
I devoured this in less than 16 hours - and that included 9 hours sleep and a quick trip to the supermarket. Lauren Willig has woven a clever and intriguing story into the world of the Bright Young Things - and it really works. This has less romance than her Pink Carnation series - and it's more mystery than adventure - but it is so, so good.
Rachel is an engaging heroine - and it's easy to understand why she does what she does after her Big Discovery and her transformation - and evolution of thoughts is well done and believable.
I love the 1920s - I've read a lot of Waugh's novels and biographies of people of the period and watched films and documentaries and Willig has clearly done a lot of research - the real people of the period pop up and interact with the characters that she's created for the story.
My only complaint is that I wanted a bit more from the end (I can't say more without giving too much away about the plot) but that may be part of the point of the ending.
So. So. Good.
I didn't like it as much as some of her other books. The romance felt forced and the leading man was an asshole.
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
It was ok. I just never really warmed to Rachel, or Simon, or anyone really so found myself skimming a good portion of the story.