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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
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:
No
challenging
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Welp. I really liked learning more about Jews in 1830s London. I thought Isabelle and Aaron were an interesting twist on the Prince and Cinderella, but I found the meddling of the supporting characters really off putting. Also… Isabelle had the cook drug everyone in the houses food with laudanum so she and Aaron could get it on? And then did it in the garden? And then was surprised they were observed?? Overall, the story was fine but overly complicated. I wish we’d seen more of Isabelle’s friendship with Rebecca and less scheming. Fans of seeing different histories centered in historical romances, such as Ana Maria and the Fox, may enjoy.
informative
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
✨Girlie was really out here drugging her household to get some dick <3✨
Overall it was good, but the plot was frustrating and just not my jazz. Most of the book was them just talking about setting her up with other men and her sacrificing for the sake of duty, with a garnish of “I’m not worthy” from the hero. I like that she really did want to win and beat those bozo brothers (yes queen), but it just wasn’t very enjoyable as a romance for me personally.
That being said, I loved reading about Jewish communities in a historical setting, so I’ll definitely be picking up book 2. The writing was very strong, so I have a feeling that Grossman’s romances will only get better! But I do have to note that the mice were really the stars of the show!!! No notes on the mice! So fricken adorable.
Hopefully book two has the full sex scene or at least makes it clear the two had sex because honestly I’m still not sure about this one! They went pretty far on page so I really don’t understand why the door was ultimately closed. The delivery here just felt very dissonant. Why did we get explicit oral scenes but shut out randomly right at the end? And apparently everyone in the book witnessed them banging except us? I really dislike that. I didn’t even think that they had sex here but apparently they did??? Idk idk idk.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.25/5 🌶️.5/5
Overall it was good, but the plot was frustrating and just not my jazz. Most of the book was them just talking about setting her up with other men and her sacrificing for the sake of duty, with a garnish of “I’m not worthy” from the hero. I like that she really did want to win and beat those bozo brothers (yes queen), but it just wasn’t very enjoyable as a romance for me personally.
That being said, I loved reading about Jewish communities in a historical setting, so I’ll definitely be picking up book 2. The writing was very strong, so I have a feeling that Grossman’s romances will only get better! But I do have to note that the mice were really the stars of the show!!! No notes on the mice! So fricken adorable.
Hopefully book two has the full sex scene or at least makes it clear the two had sex because honestly I’m still not sure about this one! They went pretty far on page so I really don’t understand why the door was ultimately closed. The delivery here just felt very dissonant. Why did we get explicit oral scenes but shut out randomly right at the end? And apparently everyone in the book witnessed them banging except us? I really dislike that. I didn’t even think that they had sex here but apparently they did??? Idk idk idk.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.25/5 🌶️.5/5
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Fun! The twists were great, the side characters were fab. Fun Cinderella tie ins
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Not especially well-written or well-plotted, and I wish the characters had spoken a bit more like people in the 1830s or in any decade, but definitely what you've come for: a heartwarming Jewish Regency romance with a gender-swapped (straight) Cinderella plot, lots of Sephardi/Ashkenazi politics, and a beautiful, ruthless, but ultimately kind heroine. I appreciated that the book emphasizes the difference in Jewish and (upper-class) Gentile gender roles and ideas about purity in this period, although there is still no way this character could have openly gotten down on a garden bench like she was at summer camp and then been able to marry some other guy the next week . I get that straight romances need fucking but it just felt totally not real to the situation.
I would have loved a different afterword--less generalizations and mish-mash, more inspiration to further study and learning.
I would have loved a different afterword--less generalizations and mish-mash, more inspiration to further study and learning.
A reverse Cinderella trope with a forbidden romance element? This book was made for it. I really liked this book. I loved how Isabelle was taking control of her life. I like when the FMC isn’t meek, but she’s not over the top. She knows her worth and that’s important. She wasn’t going to let anyone walk over her. And because of that she goes to Aaron for help. Never knowing she would find more there.
I also liked Aaron a lot. I love when the guy worships the girl and this was that. He deserves the world and I’m glad they found each other.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
I also liked Aaron a lot. I love when the guy worships the girl and this was that. He deserves the world and I’m glad they found each other.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
I loved this! I saw someone else call it a Jewish Bridgerton, but it’s also a take on Cinderella. And it’s spicy. Love, love, love. Longer RTC.