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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
It was kinda confusing, for me there was just too much miscommunication. I understood why it was at the first part of the book but then it was back and forth and yea and no all the way to the end and just don’t like that. I loved interacting with the characters we had already come to know from the first book. But that was about my favorite part.
funny
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thanks to Hambright and Jenny Holiday for the complimentary ebook!
It is Earls Trip 1822! Edward Astley, Viscount Featherfinch, or Effie as he is known, and his friends are headed to Brighton for their annual boys' trip. But unlike last year there will be absolutely no women along for the ride... or so they think. Despite the joy of Earls Trip, Effie is in a funk. He is in love with his editor, Julianna Evans, from the ladies' magazine he writes for. But there are a few problems. He and Julianna have never met, she's ten years older than him, she's a commoner, and she thinks he's a woman. That's right. Effie has always signed his letters with his nickname and Julianna assumed it was short for "Euphemia" and now Effie is in too deep to correct her. But when problems cascade for Julianna with publishing the next issue of the magazine, she makes an impulsive decision to follow her dear friend to Brighton for holiday. Hopefully she can find Effie and surprise her. But it's Julianna who ends up being surprised.
I love Jenny Holiday's contemporary romances but I didn't love the first book in this series so I was nervous going into Manic Pixie Dream Earl. Happily, I ended up loving this book. I think my problem with book one was that it started off with a lot of plot and then the action died so the pacing felt uneven. That was not at all the case here. I felt like the book was very evenly paced and kept me interested.
My favorite part of this novel was the inherent conflict due to our main characters' social classes. Effie is part of the aristocracy, even if he wants nothing to do with his terrible father and the title. Because of primogeniture, he cannot outrun his duty to the estates and parliament. Julianna is decidedly upper working class. She only owns two dresses, is employed and has no real savings to speak of. It's 1822. This is not the time of massive upward social mobility that we'll see later in the 19th century. This is the reign of King George IV and the country is still reeling from the upheaval of the Napoleonic Wars. It is not done that the heir to an earldom would marry a commoner, much less a woman 10 years older than him who has a job. Julianna recognizes that Effie needs a different kind of wife and takes steps to protect herself that make sense for any other nobleman, but don't factor in the life that Effie really wants.
This is a Romance with the capital "R." I struggled with Earls Trip because it didn't feel like romance novel at times. That is not the case here. The romance is evident in every paragraph of this book. I especially loved how Jenny handled the act three break up because while it was long– this book felt old school in that respect– it was still so rooted in the romance of it all. Effie's real desires for his life were awakened by his relationship with Julianna and her fears were all uncovered by her connection to Effie. I loved it.
Also of note, both of our main characters are queer. In today's language Julianna would most likely be classified as bisexual, Effie would probably be described as pan and he would also be classed as demi if he were in a contemporary romance.
Loved this book! I am giving it 4.5 stars.
It is Earls Trip 1822! Edward Astley, Viscount Featherfinch, or Effie as he is known, and his friends are headed to Brighton for their annual boys' trip. But unlike last year there will be absolutely no women along for the ride... or so they think. Despite the joy of Earls Trip, Effie is in a funk. He is in love with his editor, Julianna Evans, from the ladies' magazine he writes for. But there are a few problems. He and Julianna have never met, she's ten years older than him, she's a commoner, and she thinks he's a woman. That's right. Effie has always signed his letters with his nickname and Julianna assumed it was short for "Euphemia" and now Effie is in too deep to correct her. But when problems cascade for Julianna with publishing the next issue of the magazine, she makes an impulsive decision to follow her dear friend to Brighton for holiday. Hopefully she can find Effie and surprise her. But it's Julianna who ends up being surprised.
I love Jenny Holiday's contemporary romances but I didn't love the first book in this series so I was nervous going into Manic Pixie Dream Earl. Happily, I ended up loving this book. I think my problem with book one was that it started off with a lot of plot and then the action died so the pacing felt uneven. That was not at all the case here. I felt like the book was very evenly paced and kept me interested.
My favorite part of this novel was the inherent conflict due to our main characters' social classes. Effie is part of the aristocracy, even if he wants nothing to do with his terrible father and the title. Because of primogeniture, he cannot outrun his duty to the estates and parliament. Julianna is decidedly upper working class. She only owns two dresses, is employed and has no real savings to speak of. It's 1822. This is not the time of massive upward social mobility that we'll see later in the 19th century. This is the reign of King George IV and the country is still reeling from the upheaval of the Napoleonic Wars. It is not done that the heir to an earldom would marry a commoner, much less a woman 10 years older than him who has a job. Julianna recognizes that Effie needs a different kind of wife and takes steps to protect herself that make sense for any other nobleman, but don't factor in the life that Effie really wants.
This is a Romance with the capital "R." I struggled with Earls Trip because it didn't feel like romance novel at times. That is not the case here. The romance is evident in every paragraph of this book. I especially loved how Jenny handled the act three break up because while it was long– this book felt old school in that respect– it was still so rooted in the romance of it all. Effie's real desires for his life were awakened by his relationship with Julianna and her fears were all uncovered by her connection to Effie. I loved it.
Also of note, both of our main characters are queer. In today's language Julianna would most likely be classified as bisexual, Effie would probably be described as pan and he would also be classed as demi if he were in a contemporary romance.
Loved this book! I am giving it 4.5 stars.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Another September. Another Earls' Trip. This time the three gentlemen are off to visit Brighton for a fortnight of being together, talking, sightseeing, maybe some sea bathing. Like the last Earls' Trip, things do not go completely according to plan, when Effie meets his pen pal Miss Juliana Evans.
Effie and Juliana have had a longstanding epistolary relationship. They both have feelings for each other. Yet, a happy ending for them doesn't seem to be possible, there seem to be too many insurmountable obstacles; starting with Effie's gender and not ending with an age gap.
It takes the protagonists some time to work out how a happily ever after might work. This process feels natural; they don't rush, they weigh the options, they seek the help of friends and family, they listen to their instincts.
I like the slower pace of the novel and the friendship between Simon, Effie and Archie, which turned into a found family that supports its members. Since the earls have already planned next year's Earls' Trip, I am looking forward to reading about how nerdy Simon is going to woo the woman of his dreams.
Effie and Juliana have had a longstanding epistolary relationship. They both have feelings for each other. Yet, a happy ending for them doesn't seem to be possible, there seem to be too many insurmountable obstacles; starting with Effie's gender and not ending with an age gap.
It takes the protagonists some time to work out how a happily ever after might work. This process feels natural; they don't rush, they weigh the options, they seek the help of friends and family, they listen to their instincts.
I like the slower pace of the novel and the friendship between Simon, Effie and Archie, which turned into a found family that supports its members. Since the earls have already planned next year's Earls' Trip, I am looking forward to reading about how nerdy Simon is going to woo the woman of his dreams.
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was delightful. I love this series. Witty and whimsical.