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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5
While I enjoyed the atmosphere, wit, and writing style of the author, I found the protagonist a tad infuriating and contradictory at times. The story also felt a bit slow-moving at the beginning, and followed a side character a little too closely for my liking at the climax (I skimmed these parts!).
While I enjoyed the atmosphere, wit, and writing style of the author, I found the protagonist a tad infuriating and contradictory at times. The story also felt a bit slow-moving at the beginning, and followed a side character a little too closely for my liking at the climax (I skimmed these parts!).
funny
lighthearted
medium-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:
Yes
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I recognize I'm in the minority but I very much didn't enjoy this story.
I don't really mind Pride and Prejudice retellings, I don't think, but this one was just bad. For one, it seemed like I was reading about late Victorians doing Regency-ish things. I think the biggest contributor to this was the simpering character of Arabella. I get it that her fans think she's delightful and cute and a social justice warrior and all that... but in my opinion, she is made out to be super naive and sometimes even childish. I honestly don't think people would have put up with Arabella and her cutesy social justice antics as easily as this author would like us to believe. In my opinion, she's obnoxious and not at all believable.
It’s only the much more world-wise Beaumaris who can save the day and he does so with no lack of arrogance. Beaumaris is some kind of arrogant and pushy Beau Brummel / Darcy mashup and there was nothing that endeared him to me, either. Another reviewer mentioned "romanticized paternalism" on his part. Yes, exactly that. Gross.
Her damsel-in-distress-ness, crying into his collar all over the place, coupled with his "chin up, little girl, drink your milk" just seems so over the top. I felt much more like I was reading Victorian sensation...
These are not the strong, independently-minded Lizzie figure nor the surprisingly humble-hearted Darcy of P&P. “It’s not P&P,” you may argue. True, but she’s sure trying to make it out to be—with details even down to Arabella looking at statues while touring a manor house.
There was exactly zero romantic tension between these two with some of the most emotional lines being uttered robotically and ridiculously.
And finally ---waaaay too much slang. Way. Way. Way too much.
I don't really mind Pride and Prejudice retellings, I don't think, but this one was just bad. For one, it seemed like I was reading about late Victorians doing Regency-ish things. I think the biggest contributor to this was the simpering character of Arabella. I get it that her fans think she's delightful and cute and a social justice warrior and all that... but in my opinion, she is made out to be super naive and sometimes even childish. I honestly don't think people would have put up with Arabella and her cutesy social justice antics as easily as this author would like us to believe. In my opinion, she's obnoxious and not at all believable.
It’s only the much more world-wise Beaumaris who can save the day and he does so with no lack of arrogance. Beaumaris is some kind of arrogant and pushy Beau Brummel / Darcy mashup and there was nothing that endeared him to me, either. Another reviewer mentioned "romanticized paternalism" on his part. Yes, exactly that. Gross.
Her damsel-in-distress-ness, crying into his collar all over the place, coupled with his "chin up, little girl, drink your milk" just seems so over the top. I felt much more like I was reading Victorian sensation...
These are not the strong, independently-minded Lizzie figure nor the surprisingly humble-hearted Darcy of P&P. “It’s not P&P,” you may argue. True, but she’s sure trying to make it out to be—with details even down to Arabella looking at statues while touring a manor house.
There was exactly zero romantic tension between these two with some of the most emotional lines being uttered robotically and ridiculously.
And finally ---waaaay too much slang. Way. Way. Way too much.
Regency Romance
Classic Romance
Georgette Heyer
Fake Heiress Trope
Witty Banter
Jaded Hero
Country Clergyman’s Daughter
Society Satire
Chimney Sweep & Dog Subplot (whimsical charm!)
HEA with Humor
Classic Romance
Georgette Heyer
Fake Heiress Trope
Witty Banter
Jaded Hero
Country Clergyman’s Daughter
Society Satire
Chimney Sweep & Dog Subplot (whimsical charm!)
HEA with Humor
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I enjoyed Arabella more than I thought I would. I’d had it on my “Want to read list” but forgot what it was about. Usually books that begin with a big lie give me serious anxiety, but this book wasn’t so bad.
All of the Georgette Heyer books I’ve read are very silly and lighthearted, not to be compared with Pride and Prejudice or any of Jane Austen’s other work (in my opinion). I actually find this book and a few of Georgette’s other books to be quite a bit like “the importance of being Earnest” because she writes with such humor. I enjoyed this book more than any of her others. The main character was both sweet and kind, she didn’t make me think “if only you would just say what you thought!” Because she DID say what she thought (for the most part).
The ending was also not disappointing, which is a big deal to me because a bad ending ruins a good book for me. The ending itself was probably a 7.5/10, it was acceptable.
All of the Georgette Heyer books I’ve read are very silly and lighthearted, not to be compared with Pride and Prejudice or any of Jane Austen’s other work (in my opinion). I actually find this book and a few of Georgette’s other books to be quite a bit like “the importance of being Earnest” because she writes with such humor. I enjoyed this book more than any of her others. The main character was both sweet and kind, she didn’t make me think “if only you would just say what you thought!” Because she DID say what she thought (for the most part).
The ending was also not disappointing, which is a big deal to me because a bad ending ruins a good book for me. The ending itself was probably a 7.5/10, it was acceptable.