Reviews with content warning for Physical abuse - The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies

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The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman

19 reviews

jentrythelibrarian's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark inspiring fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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jhbandcats's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I loved this book from beginning to end but I confess that if I hadn’t had to read it for a book group, I’d never have picked it because it looks and sounds like it’s a lightweight “cozy mystery,” the last thing I’d normally choose. This has lots of humor and it’s quite entertaining but it’s about as far from cozy as you can get. Vivid descriptions of truly appalling situations abound.

This is a feminist tirade against the abuse of women in the 18th and 19th Centuries, and nothing about it is gentle. I am not one to cry at books but I had tears in my eyes reading about the conditions at the private insane asylum - women chained half-naked in feces up to their ankles is just one example of the many cruelties and injustices.

The author has done copious research on the Regency period of England (1811-1820), and it tells in the detail she brings to the story. This would be a good companion to Jane Austen’s books and the somewhat later ones of the Bronte’s. They focused on polite society whereas this book shows a part of England they may not have known existed.

Unfortunately for me, this book was only just published so I’ll have to wait all too long for the sequel. I know it will be well worth the wait, but still….

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alyssajp's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix

Adventurous. Action. Feminist. Sisterhood. A bit of romance. Tackles some heavy topics including breast cancer, faith, confinement, graphic neglect/abuse; not a "light-hearted" read.

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katrinaward's review against another edition

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adventurous dark fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

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mareliweb1's review

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adventurous funny inspiring 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? No

4.5

A really great book! I loved how the book was split up into a couple shorter stories rather than one long one. I liked how Gus was very emphatic about how she liked Evan and wasn’t ashamed of admitting it!

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alhalpern's review

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adventurous inspiring mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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katievallin's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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srivalli's review

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dark hopeful informative lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

4 Stars

One Liner: Entertaining but darker than expected

1812, England

Lady Augusta Colebrook (Gus) and Lady Julia, her twin, are forty-two-year-old twins living in their family home. Gus is unmarried and couldn’t care less for people who think she should be demure and drab. Lady Julia is mourning her husband but shares her twin’s opinion to an extent.

The duo takes up a task to help their beloved friend, Lady Charlotte, which leads to another rescue mission. Gus and Julia have to rescue Caroline from her violent husband. The journey puts them on a highway robber’s path, who happens to be none other than Lord Evans Belford. The man was sent to the colonies for killing a person in a duel some twenty years ago.

As life brings more changes and developments, the twins decide to help women who get little or no support from others. Of course, they also have to deal with their own issues on the way.

The story comes in Lady Augusta’s first-person POV.

Don’t rely on the Goodreads blurb.

My Thoughts:

Despite the lighthearted cover and blurb, the book deals with some heavy themes almost throughout. Some detailed descriptions of events may not suit every reader (check trigger warnings at the end).

Not many books from the Regency era have a 40+ FMC, and I was immediately intrigued by this. Of course, it’s also clear that Gus doesn’t act her age in many instances (the book wouldn’t be fun if she did).

The book has not one but three different cases divided into four sections. All cases are serious and involve great danger. Gus isn’t someone who makes a perfect plan but rather likes to wing it. This means she relies a lot on luck (and Lord Evans) to come to her rescue when things go out of control. It makes sense in a way because, despite her attitude, she is still governed by societal ideas of men and women.

Lady Julia is relatively better with caution but can be a little too annoying at times. However, she’s got a good head and knows how to use it. Together, the twins make an interesting pair. Their love for each other shines throughout the book. Other characters like Weatherly (the butler), Tilly (Gus’ lady’s maid), and Mr. Kent are impressive.

The setting and social conditions of the period were very well done. I couldn’t help but feel enraged about so many injustices that were brushed aside by men and the ton. I sure would have loved it if Duffy (the younger brother of the twins and their family head) got shot by a highwayman.

Themes like social classes, mistreatment of women, health problems & the cure (or the lack of it), religion (God) and belief, social restrictions, impositions, etc., form a major part of the book. The cases take us through ballrooms, parks, brothels, and madhouses, and Gus’ commentary on the conditions works well for the plot.

There are a few lighthearted scenes, too, which prevent the content from getting too heavy. The book is entertaining in many ways but isn’t humorous or a fluffy cozy mystery. Some of it is decidedly dark and can be uncomfortable to read. Though I see the need for them, some descriptions could have been shorter.

The author’s note is informative and gave me more insights about the book. Apparently, a couple of characters are real people. I like how she incorporated them into the plot.

The book ends on a cliffhanger (gasp!) after 464 pages. But at least the three cases are solved. The main track will continue and hopefully be solved in the next book. I should be annoyed (and I am indeed a little miffed). But I’m also glad that the sisters get a series of their own. They sure have the potential for it.

To summarize, The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies is darker than what the cover and blurb suggest but is a great start to a new series. It will make you laugh but also inspire strong emotions for the injustices women face.

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers Australia, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

#BenevolentSocietyOfIllmanneredLadies #NetGalley

***

TW: Detailed description of mastectomy without anesthesia, references to pedophilia at brothel houses, abuse at the madhouse, many mentions of pee and excreta, references to incest and sexual abuse.

***

P.S.: I would have enjoyed the book more if the ARC’s formatting was so horrible. The PDF file with so many headers and footers messed up the content big time. Argh! I had to rant about this.

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parchment_and_papyrus's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging funny hopeful informative lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Review of ‘The Benevolent Society for Ill-Mannered Ladies’ by Alison Goodman

Gus and Julia are two very different twins in both look and personality. Gus, standing at 5 foot 9 is independent, intelligent, daring, and feisty. Julia is more demure, empathic, loving, fiercely loyal and stands at a ‘ladylike’ 5 foot 2. We meet the twins on the second anniversary of Julia’s fiancée’s death. Still mourning his loss, the twins are navigating regency life as aging spinsters. A dear friend, Charlotte, finds herself on the brink of scandal when the twins step in. A favour that will lead to adventures and heroics that no-one could have predicted. A beautiful journey of deception, violence, fear, romance and above all sisterly love.

What a joy this book was to read, I really didn’t want to put it down. There was never a dull moment in the lives of the Colebrook twins. The book was split into sections, each following a new ‘case’. And I say ‘case’ because it’s not like they are a detective agency taking on new clients, these are just situations that the twins find themselves in as their reputation for fairness and fearlessness goes before them. Do not fear, although these cases are not connected as such, there are connections within them. Relationships are built, characters developed, and longer-term stories evolved.

I particularly liked how Goodman brought in topics that are so important today, like LGBT rights and mental health, and used real historical artifacts to present them in the Regency era. Some of the beliefs and therefore outcomes for people in the story are really quite horrendous so if you are triggered by these topics read with care, it’s especially difficult knowing that some of the accounts are based on real reports of the day. But it’s clear Goodman knows her regency history, you can see it in the world building, the context setting, the small details, that no stone was left unturned. I have read a lot of regency era novels and I still learnt some facts from this book.

This book was written from the perspective of Gus and I’m so glad it was, because she is fierce! If you like historical settings where women act with modern attitudes, then this is a book for you. Gus in a lot of ways reminds me a bit of Elizabeth Bennet, if Lizzy had had a twin that brought her down to earth. Like Lizzy and Jane, Gus and Julia’s relationship is a wonder. It made me wish I had a twin sister. They both use the unspoken to communicate their feelings and ideas. A pause here, a nod there and a whole conversation has been divulged, it showed a love and intimacy that trumped all others.

And I can’t go any further without commenting on the romance. At first it all happened a bit too quick for me. Gus’s love interest was calling her, ‘my dear’ (cringe! Regency language always gets me.) way too quickly. I’m all for love at first sight but the immediate use of endearments in a regency setting just didn’t work for me. Even if they felt that way, they would have such a wall of reserve that it made it feel artificial. Having said that as soon as it was out there, I pretty much forgot about it and boy was I invested. There was even a [spoilers ahead: skip to the next paragraph] there’s only one bed scenario and who doesn’t love that!

I would definitely recommend if you like your historical fiction light hearted and easily digestible. A great summer read and a good foot in the door if you are trying the genre out for the first time. I can’t wait for the next instalment.

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