Reviews tagging 'Lesbophobia'

The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman

8 reviews

jvbook_reader's review

adventurous emotional inspiring lighthearted tense medium-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? No

5.0

One of the best books I've read this year. Hoping for a sequel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, and Medical content

Moderate: Child abuse, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Trafficking, Pedophilia, Religious bigotry, and Cancer

Minor: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Murder, and Incest

li_gao's review

adventurous emotional lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Confinement, Medical content, Murder, and Physical abuse

Minor: Medical trauma, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexism, Pedophilia, Vomit, Trafficking, Rape, and Lesbophobia

wonderreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Medical content, Forced institutionalization, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Rape, Cancer, and Gun violence

Moderate: Death of parent, Homophobia, Child death, Kidnapping, and Lesbophobia

idesofmarch's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious relaxing 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? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, Medical content, Trafficking, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Sexism, Blood, and Gun violence

Moderate: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Excrement, Cancer, and Child death

Minor: Sexual assault, Slavery, Rape, Incest, and Racism

aseel_reads's review

adventurous hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-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 truly didn't think I would enjoy this book was much as I did. It striked a good balance between historical fiction (for that time period) and adventure/mystery! Just the feminist tones while kicking ass, fantastic. I also loved the sister relationship so much. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Lesbophobia, Murder, Outing, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Excrement, Homophobia, Confinement, Ableism, Body horror, Bullying, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Death of parent, Cancer, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infidelity, Rape, Sexism, Trafficking, Death, Racism, and Violence

italapas's review

Well written and engaging but the content warnings are to be taken seriously. I stopped reading it because I was unwell and my library took the ebook back before I could finish. I don't know that I will seek it out again.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Cancer, Trafficking, Torture, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Lesbophobia, and Domestic abuse

katievallin's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Trafficking, Confinement, Slavery, Suicide, Medical trauma, Violence, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Blood, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Medical content, Sexism, Vomit, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Death of parent, Murder, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Grief, Pedophilia, Rape, and Terminal illness

Minor: Infertility, Pregnancy, Racism, Animal cruelty, Alcohol, and Incest

parchment_and_papyrus's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Torture, Excrement, Medical content, Physical abuse, Violence, Medical trauma, Death, Misogyny, and Murder

Moderate: Homophobia, Rape, Racism, and Lesbophobia