Reviews tagging 'Classism'

Portrait of a Scotsman by Evie Dunmore

23 reviews

cskinner's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful reflective 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? Yes

4.5

I love this author and this book has been my favorite so far (which I sorta say every time!). The characters are believable and lovable. The story is good, there is some neat history along the way that is well-researched, and the romance is built up with perfectly tantalizing tension and eventual payoff. There is humor, grief, love, and passion. A great read.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Panic attacks/disorders

jencolumb0's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

If I could give this book ten stars, I would. It has it all: politics, emotional intelligence, well-written characters who develop through the story, grit, sex…. It’s the first third act break-up I have ever read that has literally brought me to tears (and I’ve read dozens and dozens of romance novels). Ms. Dunmore really sets a high water mark with this book. I adore it and could not recommend it more heartily.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Classism, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Child death

Minor: Sexual assault

connerme's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Sexism, Sexual content, and Classism

Moderate: Blood, Child death, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Minor: Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Confinement, Infidelity, Grief, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Pregnancy

annick's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

🤯😌🙌🏻. This exceeded expectation. I rarely give 5.0. And I already gave 4.75 for the previous two books in this series.  

This book trumps  my feelings and favour for the other books of the series. I can’t think of anything I’d want to edit in this book that detracts from the delight I had in reading it. 

I love the nonlinear progression of intimacy on cognitive, sensual, sexual and emotional levels

🔎the multiple layers of discussion on social justice really felt nuanced and Considered.  The authors note at the end gives further information on how they grounded the plot in real experiences 1880s England and Scotland. 

🗺️diversity rep is rather good by the standards of this subgenre of period romances.  The FMC shows neurodivergent traits similar to dyslexia and adhd. The MMC shows signs of ptsd. Secondary character is in a stable lesbian relationship, and none of the characters indicate judgment or negative views on this. 

⛏️ the Scottish sections has really improved on the London sections earlier on. I sense the writer hesitate to write about classist stuff in London society. And instead prefer to move the plot to Scotland and the main pairing. Good choice to break the mold and not include a fashion episode for the fmc. (Instead it is only passingly mentioned in the epilogue) 

🫦The awakening of her desire to a mix of erotic, endearing, and woven into the plot. It was tasteful and sweet to enjoy as character development as well as spice. 

🎞️The plot and ending were not as cliched as most contemporary romances. I particularly liked the effort to not tie up loose ends. It just needs more time for it to be less rushed . The third act separation in two parts makes sense. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Gun violence, and Classism

Moderate: Mental illness, Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, and Alcohol

agw622's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-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

5.0

This is such an amazing twist for Hattie's character. The growth she is given is inspiring, and I love how she was able to start taking more control of her life. I only wish the ending had been a little more drawn out to show periods between some time jumps.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Classism, and Death of parent

cepbreed's review against another edition

lighthearted fast-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

First read of 2024! I read 90% of this on the plane to London but have been so busy I only had time to read the last couple pages 5 days later. I was right when I thought that reading a good histrom would put me in the perfect mood for the beginning of my study abroad experience. It’s so lovely to know exactly where the areas of London they mention are in real life. Obviously everything looks so different but it’s still fun. Though this book had a really weak start and end the middle was quite good. If it weren’t for being stuck on a plane with no service and only this book downloaded I probably would’ve stopped reading and picked up something else. Both characters annoyed me a lot and though I appreciate the sentiment this book managed to lean too heavily into the social justice aspect. Like be self aware this is a histrom. A lot of the social justice parts were actually what made Harriet so annoying. Like she was so naive and so shy-washy, yet felt so much better than everyone for being a suffragette? Condescension at its finest. Lucien was no better. His whole character was an over exaggerated caricature of the dark-and-brooding male lead trope. His whole thing is aggression and violence and I’m meant to find that compelling? Though I’m venting my complaints I seriously did enjoy this but that’s because I read histroms for the steamy romance not the literally technicalities. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Sexism, Gun violence, Misogyny, and Sexual content

Moderate: Gun violence

Minor: Alcohol, Addiction, Death, Death of parent, and Grief

haley49's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

So, so good. Everything about this story was well paced and earned. I loved the discussion about women’s rights, class rights, and economics. It was refreshing to have Hattie care so much for her cause while also having hobbies and interests outside of it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Death

Moderate: Child death, Misogyny, Ableism, Alcoholism, Classism, Alcohol, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Sexual assault, Violence, Domestic abuse, and Suicide

author2223's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism and Classism

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Child death

amelianotthepilot's review against another edition

emotional funny informative inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.5

refreshingly contemporary and political 1800s romance novel set in the uk between a dark broody handsome new money bastard scotsman and a privileged rich art student middle daughter 

surprising ending

has a bunch of spelling mistakes tho

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual content, Sexism, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Classism, and Blood

bexi's review against another edition

emotional funny informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Misogyny

Moderate: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Sexual content, Death, and Grief

Minor: Death of parent, Suicide, Ableism, Blood, Child death, Confinement, and Panic attacks/disorders