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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
I love that Sophy is not the same character as all the other novels but with a different name, she is unique and individual. It was very interesting to see how this story unfolded, there were so many moving parts and charming scenes, as well as hilarious exchanges. The side characters were fleshed-out well and I was actually (almost) able to keep track of all the names.
I would not say this was a romance, I find it was a comedy. It was funny, lighthearted, and playful, but it was not romantic at all in my opinion.
Perhaps I would read this again, perhaps I would not. I enjoyed it while it lasted. It was like one of those books you pick up at a thrift store and read on vacation when you’re not really looking to be invested in a story, just to enjoy something.
I would not say this was a romance, I find it was a comedy. It was funny, lighthearted, and playful, but it was not romantic at all in my opinion.
Perhaps I would read this again, perhaps I would not. I enjoyed it while it lasted. It was like one of those books you pick up at a thrift store and read on vacation when you’re not really looking to be invested in a story, just to enjoy something.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I generally liked Horace and Sophy as characters, but I detected early that it would be a disgusting incest pairing and I was right. The writing is also kind of bloated and longwinded, to the point that some sentences were a chore to read. Like many say, there's a scene of vitriolic anti-semitism that's totally unacceptable. Her totally unnecessary incest and bigotry inclusions seem to be attempts to indulge in the features of the period, but as a writer in 1950, her choices are gross at best and Nazi-sympathizer at worst.
4.5
It seems like people have been telling me to read Heyer forever and The Grand Sophy was finally my first. To my own utter surprise I truly enjoyed it. As others have mentioned, there's some stereotypical racism which is hard to excuse, even by saying it was written in the 1950s and is set in Regency times. But beyond that I enjoyed Sophy's machinations. Of course, nothing would work out as perfectly in real life, but I'll suspend my disbelief lang enough to believe she really kept all those strings untangled and created the best for everyone involved. And you do see the end coming a mile away. But it's still lovely. I am side-eyeing the first cousin romance though. Just saying.
It seems like people have been telling me to read Heyer forever and The Grand Sophy was finally my first. To my own utter surprise I truly enjoyed it. As others have mentioned, there's some stereotypical racism which is hard to excuse, even by saying it was written in the 1950s and is set in Regency times. But beyond that I enjoyed Sophy's machinations. Of course, nothing would work out as perfectly in real life, but I'll suspend my disbelief lang enough to believe she really kept all those strings untangled and created the best for everyone involved. And you do see the end coming a mile away. But it's still lovely. I am side-eyeing the first cousin romance though. Just saying.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
For the most part highly enjoyable but it is a product of it's time which can leave you very uncomfortable at some parts.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Antisemitism
The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer
I remember reading Georgette Heyer in high school and loving all of the books that my father passed on to me. I am not sure if I liked them because he suggested them or if it was because they swept me into romance and all I could think about then was boys, kissing them, and one day getting married. Since I had such fond memories of books by this author, I was eager to revisit this book. Once again, I found that a book I once loved was not as fun to read today.
I am not sure if my disenchantment had to do with the changes in writing style over the past half century+ since I read this book or if it was something else. I felt the book was not in tune with the era it was written about and it did not resonate with me – I had trouble getting into the story, didn’t find myself caring about any of the characters, or what was happening in their lives. I seemed more worried about the monkey, dog and parrot than the people and that gave me pause. I opted to skim a bit but not read it cover to cover because I decided that I would prefer to return to my memories of reading it long ago and how I felt then rather than read and not enjoy the story this time around. It may be a classic and worth reading but not worth reading right now for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for the ARC – This is my honest review.
2-3 Stars
I remember reading Georgette Heyer in high school and loving all of the books that my father passed on to me. I am not sure if I liked them because he suggested them or if it was because they swept me into romance and all I could think about then was boys, kissing them, and one day getting married. Since I had such fond memories of books by this author, I was eager to revisit this book. Once again, I found that a book I once loved was not as fun to read today.
I am not sure if my disenchantment had to do with the changes in writing style over the past half century+ since I read this book or if it was something else. I felt the book was not in tune with the era it was written about and it did not resonate with me – I had trouble getting into the story, didn’t find myself caring about any of the characters, or what was happening in their lives. I seemed more worried about the monkey, dog and parrot than the people and that gave me pause. I opted to skim a bit but not read it cover to cover because I decided that I would prefer to return to my memories of reading it long ago and how I felt then rather than read and not enjoy the story this time around. It may be a classic and worth reading but not worth reading right now for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for the ARC – This is my honest review.
2-3 Stars
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A irrepressible cousin comes to stay and causes a great upheaval, but between cunning plans and good luck it all works out neatly. More wit than romance, but it does that well.
Even though I recommend this for Jane Austen fans, I must say Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen shouldn't be compared.
Georgette Heyer's novels are simply entertaining, with none of the serious social commentaries that Jane Austen supplied, though her writing style I think is as much sophisticated (and oh-so-English) as Austen's.
The Grand Sophy is my favorite Heyer so far, because it's the one that entertained me the most, particularly Sophy and Charles's chemistry. These two were made for each other. At first I didn't suspect that Charles was the hero in the story, because how could I think that Sophy's cousin would be her future husband? But after I got over that little bump, I thoroughly enjoyed Sophy's and Charles's antics. After all, they did practice marrying first cousins back then, and one of the most romantic real-life marriages for me was Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's.
It's a first-rate Heyer (at least for me, since I've only read 9 of her romances so far, and I intend to read all). I recommend all romance readers to read at least this Georgette Heyer.
edit: 10/7/2022
It was a breeze to read, everything just goes well together and I didn't feel bored at all. If I didn't have work I would have finished this earlier.
The Grand Sophy, with all its flaws, is in essence a sophisticated romantic escapist novel, not to be taken too seriously. It's just such fun!
Georgette Heyer's novels are simply entertaining, with none of the serious social commentaries that Jane Austen supplied, though her writing style I think is as much sophisticated (and oh-so-English) as Austen's.
The Grand Sophy is my favorite Heyer so far, because it's the one that entertained me the most, particularly Sophy and Charles's chemistry. These two were made for each other. At first I didn't suspect that Charles was the hero in the story, because how could I think that Sophy's cousin would be her future husband? But after I got over that little bump, I thoroughly enjoyed Sophy's and Charles's antics. After all, they did practice marrying first cousins back then, and one of the most romantic real-life marriages for me was Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's.
It's a first-rate Heyer (at least for me, since I've only read 9 of her romances so far, and I intend to read all). I recommend all romance readers to read at least this Georgette Heyer.
edit: 10/7/2022
It was a breeze to read, everything just goes well together and I didn't feel bored at all. If I didn't have work I would have finished this earlier.
The Grand Sophy, with all its flaws, is in essence a sophisticated romantic escapist novel, not to be taken too seriously. It's just such fun!
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes