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c4nd1e's review
3.0
Ginny and Simon were childhood sweethearts. Simon's family didn't think that Ginny was good enough for him, so they threatened to cut him off if they married. Simon asked Ginny to elope with him, but she wanted stability and wanted to wait. Somehow they didn't communicate well, and she ended up marrying someone else.
Even though some of the story doesn't make perfect sense, I ended up liking this novella. I think it's a decent second-chance romance, if you can suspend disbelief about the reasons for their initial separation.
Even though some of the story doesn't make perfect sense, I ended up liking this novella. I think it's a decent second-chance romance, if you can suspend disbelief about the reasons for their initial separation.
ipomoea's review
4.0
Quick, light novella with the same level of cleverness and intelligence I've come to expect from Milan. Nothing explicit, but the best way possible for me to kill 40 minutes waiting for friends in a bar.
jen286's review
3.0
This review was originally posted to Jen in Bookland
The Lady Always Wins is a fun, quick read. Simon and Virginia have been friends forever and both wanted more at one time. Then Simon's parents got in the way and Virginia was afraid of being poor so she marries another. The only problem? Simon never forgets Virginia. He tries to move on, but he can't. When he finds out her husband died he comes to try and win her back.
When Simon shows up at Virginia's door he tells he tells her he will make her fall for him in three days. He only has that much time before he potentially loses everything, and he knows Virginia will not marry a poor man. He needs to get her to marry him before then so he will have her even if she is upset when she finds out he lost his fortune (if he does).
Simon and Virginia have a very fun dynamic. They just seem to argue and are mean to each other, but it is all playful fun. They were cute together and everything moves quickly, but it was still a good read. I enjoyed seeing how Simon tried to win over Virginia and reading what happened in the past and why she married her deceased husband. It was a lot of fun.
The Lady Always Wins is a fun, quick read. Simon and Virginia have been friends forever and both wanted more at one time. Then Simon's parents got in the way and Virginia was afraid of being poor so she marries another. The only problem? Simon never forgets Virginia. He tries to move on, but he can't. When he finds out her husband died he comes to try and win her back.
When Simon shows up at Virginia's door he tells he tells her he will make her fall for him in three days. He only has that much time before he potentially loses everything, and he knows Virginia will not marry a poor man. He needs to get her to marry him before then so he will have her even if she is upset when she finds out he lost his fortune (if he does).
Simon and Virginia have a very fun dynamic. They just seem to argue and are mean to each other, but it is all playful fun. They were cute together and everything moves quickly, but it was still a good read. I enjoyed seeing how Simon tried to win over Virginia and reading what happened in the past and why she married her deceased husband. It was a lot of fun.
zerp's review
3.0
Ginny and Simon were childhood sweethearts. Simon's family didn't think that Ginny was good enough for him, so they threatened to cut him off if they married. Simon asked Ginny to elope with him, but she wanted stability and wanted to wait. Somehow they didn't communicate well, and she ended up marrying someone else.
Even though some of the story doesn't make perfect sense, I ended up liking this novella. I think it's a decent second-chance romance, if you can suspend disbelief about the reasons for their initial separation.
Even though some of the story doesn't make perfect sense, I ended up liking this novella. I think it's a decent second-chance romance, if you can suspend disbelief about the reasons for their initial separation.
waclements7's review
5.0
Really clever and a fun read. She _said_ she had a terror of poverty... Reminds me a little of The Gift of the Magi, only there isn’t a watch chain and everyone keeps their hair.
wildwolverine's review
3.0
This cute little story actually has some meat and potatoes to it! It's also quintessentially Milan: there's a quirky lead paired with a 'straight man', and the two fall in love but only after the hero decides to remake himself before the heroine swoops in to rescue him.
As brief as the story is, it's pretty sweet. The two leads have obvious chemistry, aided by the fact that they're both fully fleshed out characters. Ginny grew up dirt poor until she ran away to her aunt for a semblance of normal life, but the trauma of her past still haunts her to this day, hence why she refuses to marry without some kind of financial security. I honestly loved this. While I am a romantic at heart and believe true love conquers all, I also live in an era where I can work and have my own money. Ginny didn't have that luxury, and so her only path to security was to marry as wealthy as she can, which she does initially, and to a man who wasn't a monster even if they didn't love each other. Good for her.
Meanwhile, Simon came from wealth but has always been a bully and a dreamer. When he discovers he can't have Ginny, he dreams and bullies his way to a prosperous existence, only to have that existence be in financial jeopardy. Still, he has enough that he plans to trick Ginny into marrying him before he loses it all. Ask for forgiveness and not for permission. That's his strategy. Unfortunately, I don't feel like he's really given time to atone for his mistakes and misdirection. He kind of just says he'll do better, and the next thing you know, he's with Ginny. It's not the end of the world. Really, the most unbelievable part is Ginny's final act.
All in all, the story's cute. It's not particularly memorable, but it was cute and sweet and fun while it lasted. However, I don't think I'll be coming back to this one, but that's my personal preference.
As brief as the story is, it's pretty sweet. The two leads have obvious chemistry, aided by the fact that they're both fully fleshed out characters. Ginny grew up dirt poor until she ran away to her aunt for a semblance of normal life, but the trauma of her past still haunts her to this day, hence why she refuses to marry without some kind of financial security. I honestly loved this. While I am a romantic at heart and believe true love conquers all, I also live in an era where I can work and have my own money. Ginny didn't have that luxury, and so her only path to security was to marry as wealthy as she can, which she does initially, and to a man who wasn't a monster even if they didn't love each other. Good for her.
Meanwhile, Simon came from wealth but has always been a bully and a dreamer. When he discovers he can't have Ginny, he dreams and bullies his way to a prosperous existence, only to have that existence be in financial jeopardy. Still, he has enough that he plans to trick Ginny into marrying him before he loses it all. Ask for forgiveness and not for permission. That's his strategy. Unfortunately, I don't feel like he's really given time to atone for his mistakes and misdirection. He kind of just says he'll do better, and the next thing you know, he's with Ginny. It's not the end of the world. Really, the most unbelievable part is Ginny's final act
Spoiler
Ginny spends all of her savings buying up stock to Simon's company so that he doesn't become destitute, which is a HUGE gesture to make for someone you haven't talked to in 7 years and who really is a big bullyAll in all, the story's cute. It's not particularly memorable, but it was cute and sweet and fun while it lasted. However, I don't think I'll be coming back to this one, but that's my personal preference.
asha_m's review
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bookaneer808's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
misssusan's review
3.0
cute but i wanted more. i did appreciate the novella being firmly on ginny's side on the importance of financial security though. 3 stars
bannisterb's review
1.0
Bleh. I had no idea what was going on with the two leads and their motivations and backgrounds, and then I figured out the "twist" not even halfway through. I only finished it because it was still readable and not annoying, but I cared zero for the story and characters.