Reviews with content warning for Grief - Portrait of a Scotsman

Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Portrait of a Scotsman by Evie Dunmore

20 reviews

joanasimao's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional informative inspiring 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? N/A

4.5

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jelkebooks's review against another edition

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mysterious relaxing medium-paced

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

3.0

You know, at the start of this book I was quite liking this book. I honestly thought the set up was really interesting, and the whole situation made me really sad for Hattie. I think the start of this book really makes you sympathize with both main characters, but especially her because she's way less in control of the situation. I just thought it was very different from most historical romances I've read, and I just thought it was really well executed as well.
However, then we go to Scotland, we actually have these two characters fall for each other, and this book just completely lost me. I don't know, Hattie became kind of whiny. She also felt extremely out of touch with reality, even if she was trying to do the right thing. She kind of gave me the ick. Contrary to popular opinion though I also did not like Lucian, like at all. He was so close to being a massive red flag for me. He was just such an ass, and his tragic backstory really did not excuse his behaviour, in my opinion. I also feel like at no point throughout this book did he ever respect Hattie. It just made me feel a bit disgusted. I can't buy a romance when it feels like the male main character does not respect the female main character in the slightest.
So yeah, needless to say I didn't get into the romance either. I just didn't think they had any chemistry. I barely understand what they even saw in each other. I guess that opposites attract but these two had absolutely nothing in common with each other, and I truly don't see them ever actually working out together. Like mentioned before I also feel like there was an extreme lack of respect coming from his side, and that just never fares well for a relationship.
The ending of this book was also just terrible. It get really intense out of nowhere, for no real reason. It felt extremely out of place. I didn't get it. On top of that we also got a third act breakup that was almost immediately resolved, making the timing feel so extremely off. It just really wasn't well written in the end.

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jencolumb0's review against another edition

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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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connerme's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny inspiring medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

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cepbreed's review against another edition

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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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