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allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The story has a quick, biting wit akin to Georgiana's own subversive, barbed remarks. Several funny asides made me laugh aloud. Also, letter banter is the BEST banter, and this one delivers in that category 100%. I was unconvinced of the central romance plot til the correspondence started up halfway through, and then I suddenly found myself on board. It was that high quality.
While reading, my stress level was high, even though I knew all the bad decisions and situations were building up to a lesson to be learned. It comes at a steep price for many characters involved. The emphasis on needing to be cool or seem above everyone else made me cringe, with side helpings of peer pressure and harassment, bullying and exclusionary tactics. Add in quick judgments and nasty put-downs to make oneself feel superior. It offers a deep view of the root causes of the characters' behaviors. For example, our protagonist Georgiana is spinning out in bitter rebellion after being abandoned by cold, distant parents. She seeks affection and belonging at any cost.
There are several content warnings of note for this story: sexual assault on-page and other incidents that occur off-page with physical and psychological harm explored, gaslighting and victim-blaming following claims of assault, racism and slavery, homophobia/lesbophobia, domestic abuse, toxic relationships, a lot of alcohol and other substance abuse, and parental neglect. The author takes a worthy stand on the proper response to assault claims and offers a glimpse into a diverse regency world hampered by prejudice but not whitewashed or offering queer characters as mere sidekicks. It's an interesting book that manages to be difficult to read at some points, uproariously funny at others, sometimes reflective and other times barreling forward. It was a compelling read, and I am curious to see what the author does next.
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Classism, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Domestic abuse, and Homophobia
Minor: Colonisation, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Slavery, and Animal cruelty
briannareads1342's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Sexism, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Rape, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
criticalbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Grief, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Blood, and Classism
emily_mh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Drug use, Alcohol, Toxic friendship, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Racism, Cursing, Rape, Death, and Child death
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Animal death, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Ableism, Homophobia, Vomit, Sexism, Slavery, Grief, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Body shaming, Blood, Excrement, and Medical content
Loss of a loved one (including brother), sick parent, chronic migraines (in a minor character), toxic parentskirbylover16's review against another edition
I couldn't connect to the main character Georgiana. She was annoying, superficial, and blah. She's the cliche bookworm who dreams of excitement and, I'm not like other girls. After having one night of fun, she decides that she won't try to befriend anyone else. It's Frances or nothing. Of course, Frances is a hot mess. Where is the romance or Bridgerton meets Gossip Girl part? I'm totally getting the Mean girls vibes but not the others. All we know about the love interest(or who I believe is) is he is not interested in Georgiana and likes to brush his horse. Dreamy. All of the characters are unnecessity mean or clueless. The narrator is great though the story, romance, characters are not there. 2/5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, Alcohol, Abandonment, Body shaming, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Bullying, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Classism, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Pregnancy and Racism
It's not clear if the pregnancy was miscarried or not it's really establishing this guy is a bad dude and doesn't love the girls he's with. A lot of bad parents in this book. One rich white dude marries a middle-class black woman and when the marriage is falling apart he blames her for not being a high lady. There's tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs at every party.booksandcat's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Slavery
simixfe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit
laurenlucy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
kiaelisereads's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Drug use, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent, Physical abuse, and Racism
aliceloyallaleon's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Colonisation, Rape, and Slavery