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nehaanna's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
5.0
This book is an elegy for the lost generation if there ever was one. Set against the backdrop of the late 1920s and 30s in England, this is about the coming of age of a mother and daughter, as the world comes of age between the two world wars. This book is so rich and decadent and full of life with all the aspects a good book needs - romance, familial drama, heartbreak, kinship, emotional reflections on this life and the next, and the time we spend in between the two.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Animal death, Death, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Grief, Medical content, Chronic illness, Classism, Genocide, and Cancer
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Confinement, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Pandemic/Epidemic, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, War, and Body shaming
juliaschap's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: War and Terminal illness
Minor: Suicide
jordynkw's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Terminal illness, and Death of parent
Minor: War, Drug abuse, Animal death, and Alcohol
tealiy's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Terminal illness
in_love_with_bookish's review against another edition
slow-paced
2.0
A buddy-Read with Warda
Rushed, Underwhelming, and ultimately unconvincing: The Glittering Hour is not the unforgettable story I was promised or the once in a lifetime romance I eagerly expected.
Think about today, not tomorrow. Dance over the cracks so you don't fall into them. Drink champagne in the afternoons and invent ridiculous cocktails to make the ruined world glitter again. Keep going, one foot in front of the other. Don't look down.
Selina Lennox is a wild beauty and the life of the party. Lawrence Weston is a penniless painter. When these two people crash into each other, Selina is running for the life her family wants for her and Lawrence is there to show her what how stunning life can be.
They both start to fall for each other but when reality hits Selina hard, she has to choose between the life she craves and the safety she needs.
There are so many elements to this story that didn’t work as well as I wanted and with those elements failing to capture my attention and move my feelings, the whole story felt flat to me. I really tried to connect to the characters but I just wasn't feeling it.
First of all, the romance was a huge disappointment to me. It has insta-love written all over it. The development was lacking and way too rushed for me to feel attached or moved by it. It felt like it happened in the blink of an eye and As much as I tried to embrace their connection, I simply wasn’t convinced by it.
He had no place in her world, amongst her people, and no more did she belong in his.
But the romance wasn't the only thing that needed more space and attention. Selina’s relationships with her friends needed more back story and work so we could fully understand the depth of their connection especially with everything that happens later in the story. Also, the dynamic between her and her family could’ve been addressed or portrayed in a more compelling complex way that adds more depth to her journey.
I also find myself completely shocked by some of the events that happened since I feel like we could’ve had the conflict of the story feel more intriguing and believable. Because I didn’t really feel Selina’s deep connection with one particular character, the decision that she makes at the end feels forced and hollow and makes her look like a coward.
I feel like I’m not explaining anything well enough but I just don’t want to spoil anything. Bottom line is, I didn’t get many decisions made by our main characters and I was left feeling cold and detached from them and their bond.
We must remind ourselves that we are never truly apart from those we love very much. We might not be able to see them or speak to them or hold them in our arms, but we carry them always in our hearts
With that being said, there is one element in the story that really touched me and that was the bond between Selina and her daughter. Even though, these two characters rarely shared a scene together, their love, their connection was felt deeper than anything else in the story. I wish we had more of that relationship since it added something real and heartfelt within the story.
The plot itself was nothing new or original. Not a lot of things happened and let’s be honest; some chapters bored me to death. the book was too wordy for its own good But still, there were some moments there that took me completely by surprise and I appreciate what they brought to the story in the end.
Clearly, this book didn’t work out for me at all but take my review with a grain of salt. I’m in the minority here so you may want to check some other reviews as well. I honestly feel this book will be a darling to a lot of people. I just read too many stunning historical fiction books before and this one pales in comparison to them all.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Grief, and Terminal illness
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