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3.31 AVERAGE
3.31 AVERAGE
I kept wanting this book to go full-on horror (or at least Gothic), instead of just being vaguely, lazily creepy. Then I realized that I don't think the book is even supposed to BE creepy. It's too bad, because it definitely has "Mrs. Rochester in the attic" potential.
Instead, I'm left frustrated with men who want to make out instead of have important conversations with their significant others. I mean, I get doing that once or twice, but literally EVERY time your wife comes to you with a vital topic of discussion? All the men in this book are both boors, and bores. (Yes, I thought of that myself, late last night when I went to check on the kids and I am quite proud of it.) Even the man we're supposed to root for (out of nowhere, at about the 85% mark) is SO weak-sauce. I just cannot be bothered with him or anyone else in this book. Let alone the actual husband, who I think is just the worst, and also emotionally abusive.
I think I need to go read [b:The Age of Innocence|53835|The Age of Innocence|Edith Wharton|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388248423s/53835.jpg|1959512] again as a palate-cleanser.
Instead, I'm left frustrated with men who want to make out instead of have important conversations with their significant others. I mean, I get doing that once or twice, but literally EVERY time your wife comes to you with a vital topic of discussion? All the men in this book are both boors, and bores. (Yes, I thought of that myself, late last night when I went to check on the kids and I am quite proud of it.) Even the man we're supposed to root for (out of nowhere, at about the 85% mark) is SO weak-sauce. I just cannot be bothered with him or anyone else in this book. Let alone the actual husband, who I think is just the worst, and also emotionally abusive.
I think I need to go read [b:The Age of Innocence|53835|The Age of Innocence|Edith Wharton|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388248423s/53835.jpg|1959512] again as a palate-cleanser.
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I found myself endlessly frusterated with the main characters and their complete lack of communication with each other. Gah. The only redeeming quality of the book is the author's beautiful clothing and scenery descriptions.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was just so meh and okay. I absolutely loved the premise. I thought this was going to give me Downtown Abbey vibes but I just got a bunch of blahness.
There are a lot of characters to keep track of. It felt like once I was finally familiar with everyone someone new would get added in. And for the most part, I really didn't like most of the characters. They were rude, conniving, and only looking out for themselves. I did really like both Cora and Sybil's characters and I love the friendship that blossomed between them.
I expected more romance from Cora and Ivo, but the times they were at odds with each other. The one scene I absolutely loved between them was when they played the piano together, and I wanted to see more of that dynamic between the two. It just felt like Cora kept giving and giving and giving and Ivo couldn't care less. I like how their story ended, but dang, it could have been a more enjoyable journey getting there.
The storyline kept me intrigued enough to get to the end, but I was mostly just bored.
There are a lot of characters to keep track of. It felt like once I was finally familiar with everyone someone new would get added in. And for the most part, I really didn't like most of the characters. They were rude, conniving, and only looking out for themselves. I did really like both Cora and Sybil's characters and I love the friendship that blossomed between them.
I expected more romance from Cora and Ivo, but the times they were at odds with each other. The one scene I absolutely loved between them was when they played the piano together, and I wanted to see more of that dynamic between the two. It just felt like Cora kept giving and giving and giving and Ivo couldn't care less. I like how their story ended, but dang, it could have been a more enjoyable journey getting there.
The storyline kept me intrigued enough to get to the end, but I was mostly just bored.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Death
I wanted to like this book. Really. Considering I had ordered it from halfway around the world, I wanted to enjoy it. I saw that Downton Abbey also has a American heiress called Cora; I wanted to enjoy this. But all throughout this book I was wondering, is this it? Where is the suspense, the moment of crisis? Was I missing it? Was it too subtly written? Have I read too many books like this one? This book brought back memories of the Luxe series by Anna Godbersen in the way dresses are lavishly described, the writing is similar and the rich American girl setting. I liked it marginally better than the Luxe series but I don’t think I’ll be going back for more any time soon – it’s confusing whether this is a long book for young adult readers or a light read for older readers.
The plot is straightforward – Cora Cash, rich American heiress has anything money can buy (including gold hummingbirds and digging for gem treasures – and that’s just at parties). However, her mother wants her to be titled. After Cora is caught in a compromising clinch with Teddy (rich, but not titled) and Mrs Cash is disfigured when her electricity dress catches fire, Cora goes to England to find a suitably titled husband in need of her money. After falling off her horse, she is discovered by Ivo, the new Lord of Wareham. She falls in love with him and they get married very early on in the book. The intrigue involves a portrait, a friend who is not all she seems, an increasingly distant husband and a snooty mother-in-law. It’s kind of predictable and the ending is quite rushed, with feelings changing each paragraph. I still wonder if Cora got what she wanted – or even knew what she wanted, after pressures from family and friends.
Some characters were drawn better than others – the Duke remained an enigma to me, dipping in and out of the action frequently. Cora’s mother was determined while Cora was confused for me. Was the naming of the rich heiress – ‘Cash’ deliberate? I think it was a pun this book didn’t need to have. The historical setting is dealt with lightly, we get the gist of the time but none of the politics or defining events.
Yes, it was predictable but perhaps this is a new fashion – historical chick lit. Some have likened this book to those written by Jane Austen or Edith Wharton but I believe that the prose is too simple for that.
Note that this book also goes by the title The American Heiress.
The plot is straightforward – Cora Cash, rich American heiress has anything money can buy (including gold hummingbirds and digging for gem treasures – and that’s just at parties). However, her mother wants her to be titled. After Cora is caught in a compromising clinch with Teddy (rich, but not titled) and Mrs Cash is disfigured when her electricity dress catches fire, Cora goes to England to find a suitably titled husband in need of her money. After falling off her horse, she is discovered by Ivo, the new Lord of Wareham. She falls in love with him and they get married very early on in the book. The intrigue involves a portrait, a friend who is not all she seems, an increasingly distant husband and a snooty mother-in-law. It’s kind of predictable and the ending is quite rushed, with feelings changing each paragraph. I still wonder if Cora got what she wanted – or even knew what she wanted, after pressures from family and friends.
Some characters were drawn better than others – the Duke remained an enigma to me, dipping in and out of the action frequently. Cora’s mother was determined while Cora was confused for me. Was the naming of the rich heiress – ‘Cash’ deliberate? I think it was a pun this book didn’t need to have. The historical setting is dealt with lightly, we get the gist of the time but none of the politics or defining events.
Yes, it was predictable but perhaps this is a new fashion – historical chick lit. Some have likened this book to those written by Jane Austen or Edith Wharton but I believe that the prose is too simple for that.
Note that this book also goes by the title The American Heiress.
I'm torn on this one... Downton Abbey it is not, but it was good. There was too much drama - affair and lies drama - for my taste. And I dislike some - a lot - of the decisions that Cora made. Plus things wrapped up too quickly and with too many questions for my taste.
I expected this book to be a different book. It was a romance and I particularly dislike that genre. What I was hoping for was some a historical novel with insight into the life and times of rich American heiresses who married impoverished British noblemen. While the book was ostensibly set during the late Victorian period, I never had the sense that it was in the right time frame or really, other than there weren’t any phones or cars, that it was in any particular time frame other than some time in the past. But it read quickly and I had already invested in 100 pages before I realized what it was, so I figured I would finish it.
I am kinda on the fence about this book. Ms. Goodwin writes such beautiful descriptions but some of the plot is a bit unreal.... I still enjoyed the read.