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werdnamich's review against another edition
2.0
This book was not my cup of tea. It felt like it was trying to be too many things at once. What threw me was the light summer romance on the one hand and then the serious political discussions about Mussolini and fascism. I honestly wanted to read more about the latter. I also very often found myself disliking the way the main character was painted as being 'not like other girls' which apparently is what draws the love interest to her. I enjoyed Ursula, Klaus, and Filomena and I wish I could read more about them. Also the uncle seemed bipolar almost, especially considering the epilogue? Did not like. At all.
josworld96's review
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition
4.0
I was not entirely sure what to expect from this book. I'm not really into romance novels and therefore I was a little on the fence. But, luckily I had a group of lovely girls to read this book with, because I actually did end up loving and enjoying it.
The book is based on much ado about nothing. I have to admit, my Shakespeare knowledge is seriously lacking, so I'm not familiar with the original tale, but I do remember that this was one of Shakespeare's comedies. And that comedy tone, even though there are some very serious themes in this book, really shines true and makes the book really entertaining.
Bea and Ben are both very likeable characters. They are both strong willed and they can take care of themselves. Therefore their banter is absolutely epic and amusing. But, what I loved mostly in their interaction is the mutual respect and honest interest in the other, in what they like and care for, in what they want and desire. They really take the time to get to know the other and see the other and they end up liking the other for who they are. And as a reader you totally feel that.
And even though the tone of the book is very light and the focus lies on the romance, the cuteness and the characters growing to love each other, there are some very interesting political undertones that do influence the story and create a certain setting. They never get very prominent or heavy, but they're there and they add a little background to the time period and the characters we encounter.
Even though the side characters don't get much spotlight, I was surprised that they felt so unique and realistic. They all served their purpose and guided Bea, helped her to feel confident that she could become the person she wanted and needed to become. And despite the time period, there's a lot of diversity in this story without it really feeling forced.
I'm really positively surprised by this book and might look up other books by this author!
The book is based on much ado about nothing. I have to admit, my Shakespeare knowledge is seriously lacking, so I'm not familiar with the original tale, but I do remember that this was one of Shakespeare's comedies. And that comedy tone, even though there are some very serious themes in this book, really shines true and makes the book really entertaining.
Bea and Ben are both very likeable characters. They are both strong willed and they can take care of themselves. Therefore their banter is absolutely epic and amusing. But, what I loved mostly in their interaction is the mutual respect and honest interest in the other, in what they like and care for, in what they want and desire. They really take the time to get to know the other and see the other and they end up liking the other for who they are. And as a reader you totally feel that.
And even though the tone of the book is very light and the focus lies on the romance, the cuteness and the characters growing to love each other, there are some very interesting political undertones that do influence the story and create a certain setting. They never get very prominent or heavy, but they're there and they add a little background to the time period and the characters we encounter.
Even though the side characters don't get much spotlight, I was surprised that they felt so unique and realistic. They all served their purpose and guided Bea, helped her to feel confident that she could become the person she wanted and needed to become. And despite the time period, there's a lot of diversity in this story without it really feeling forced.
I'm really positively surprised by this book and might look up other books by this author!
coffeeandbooked's review against another edition
5.0
Well, what can I say I flew through this book! I didn't know what to expect going into this story but I loved it. The story was interesting throughout, the characters where interesting and each one was different. The author hinted on important subjects, such as the world war and how it affected two of the characters in the story. The romance was done in an interesting way and the ending was perfect for me personally. I am not one to read books with romance as the main focus but this one is something I would read again in the future. I definitely want to check more out by Laura Wood
fountain_ken's review against another edition
A light read that made me interested in much "Ado About Nothing." Not quite the "potato chip" type read more... Doritos, I guess. A bit of spice, in a way, but perfectly fine and hits a spot.
shareen17's review
3.0
This is a retelling of Much Ado About Nothing, set in a perfect villa in Italy (think the Kenneth Branagh movie version) pre-WWII. It's a fun story and fun setting, but for me didn't quite live up to the sparkling repartee I expect from Benedict and Beatrice (Ben and Bea in this version).
renuked's review
4.0
Honestly, there were so many hidden gems in this book - characters, moments, descriptions, settings bits of dialogue, plus that ENDING...I'm emotional. However, I think there should have been MORE of those things, and honestly the brief little glimpse into the rise of fascism in 1930s Europe was sooo interesting, I was disappointed we didn't get just a TAD bit more. More antagonism between Bea and Ben too (heh).
Overall though, a seriously great retelling of Much Ado that still had a whole life of its own.
Overall though, a seriously great retelling of Much Ado that still had a whole life of its own.
ihatefantasy_carebear's review against another edition
4.0
This book is powerful. It was so well thought-out, at the start a naive girl, who knew what she didn't want to be but not what she wanted to be. The last 100 pages made the book make sense, the girl had formed opinions. Outstanding, it takes the whole book for it to make sense which I get it the beauty of this book. It gets really deep towards the end. It starts off light and then all of a sudden just goes so deep, this I presume symbolises Beatrice's journey.
emily_may's review
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5