Reviews

Belgravia by Julian Fellowes

incendiofawkes's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

jmross10's review

emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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? Yes

4.0

A solid story! You can certainly see parallels between Downton Abbey and Julian Fellowes’ love for Doctor Thorne (Anthony Trollope).

It’s a good multigenerational story that plays out at a moderate pace. The threads all weave together well and it doesn’t feel like waiting around for something to happen. I also enjoyed trying to figure out what turn the plot would take next. 

A solid, low stakes (from the reader’s POV) book, that’s about people trying to live their lives and all the unexpected things that come with it. 

serrasa's review

lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? No

3.0

ricefun's review against another edition

lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

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

3.75

This book was exactly what I expected from Fellows, which means that it was very entertaining and immersed me in a world I love to see. And, at the same time, it wasn't very complicated or challenging. Class and race are rarely subverted. It's more of an escape that is like candy than a journey that feels like a fulfilling meal. 

reinedumonde's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted slow-paced

3.0

lorelaii's review

2.0

I liked the beginning, but my interest faded soon after. I couldn't get into the characters, they all seemed so bland, which discouraged me from even finishing the book.

impla77's review

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

sallyavena's review against another edition

4.0

Let's just say I felt like I was sluggishly making my way through this book but enjoyably so. Fellows is a VERY details oriented writer but he does a really good job of creating an image in your head.

carrymey's review

4.0

4.5 stars. Well this was quite delightful. I should have expected nothing less from the author of Downton Abbey.

thatswhatiloveaboutreading's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted mysterious relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

As soon as I heard about this book written by the writer of Downton Abbey, I put it on hold at the library. I was so excited to read it, and it did not disappoint. With the same upstairs/downstairs dynamics and drama that I loved in Downton Abbey, Julian Fellowes writes about 19th century Belgravia. There are characters with wealth and money and power and privilege as well as characters who want wealth and money and power and privilege and who will lie, cheat, steal, and blackmail to get it. The story builds somewhat slowly with multiple overlapping connections between characters, but I enjoyed how it all came together and was very happy with the ending. It was such an entertaining read and felt very cinematic!