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yourbookishbff's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I LOVED this hot mess of a love triangle. For historical romance readers, I would highly recommend this to lovers of Sherry Thomas. We have a cast of deeply flawed and self-absorbed characters caught between naivete and cynicism and heartbreak and hope. Nothing actually happens, except they ruin their lives and break each other's hearts. If you love character-driven historical fiction with a strong romantic through-line (and a happily-ever-after) and don't mind messy, often unlikeable people, this is a compelling and honestly gripping read (again, this is largely plotless, but if you love character work, this is delicious).
Be warned, romance readers, this is a heady love triangle, with a slow-paced build in the first half, some repeated light infidelity (betrothals in historical romance often feel more transactional, but I do know crossing even this line is a deal-breaker for some in Romancelandia, and I get that!). We also have a capital-V-villain/Other Woman with a dedicated POV throughout - again, a choice not all romance readers will care for, but I loved it.
I would also note how timeless and ethereal this feels. It's set in an imagined city that draws on the structure of European aristocratic society and la Belle Epoque era (though it feels really worldless in a lot of ways). I loved this decision to deny the reader a sense of being truly historically grounded, as it makes the romance feel that much more consuming and isolating. And the light touch of magical realism (the characters each have telekinetic abilities in a world where this is rare but not unheard of). This cemented Silvia Moreno-Garcia for me, looking forward to reading more of her backlist!
Note for audio readers: I loved the narration by Imani Jade Powers and how it brought to life Silvia Moreno-Garcia's vivid scene-setting and prose.
Be warned, romance readers, this is a heady love triangle, with a slow-paced build in the first half, some repeated light infidelity (betrothals in historical romance often feel more transactional, but I do know crossing even this line is a deal-breaker for some in Romancelandia, and I get that!). We also have a capital-V-villain/Other Woman with a dedicated POV throughout - again, a choice not all romance readers will care for, but I loved it.
I would also note how timeless and ethereal this feels. It's set in an imagined city that draws on the structure of European aristocratic society and la Belle Epoque era (though it feels really worldless in a lot of ways). I loved this decision to deny the reader a sense of being truly historically grounded, as it makes the romance feel that much more consuming and isolating. And the light touch of magical realism (the characters each have telekinetic abilities in a world where this is rare but not unheard of). This cemented Silvia Moreno-Garcia for me, looking forward to reading more of her backlist!
Note for audio readers: I loved the narration by Imani Jade Powers and how it brought to life Silvia Moreno-Garcia's vivid scene-setting and prose.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Classism, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Bullying
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Sexual content and Suicidal thoughts
liri's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Plot reminds me of Eva Ibbotson. Moreno-Garcia's writing flows well, however the story moves a little too slowly around the 20-40% stage. I liked Nina, but have a hard time forgiving Hector. Valerie was a little too viscious and vindictive to be a fully believable character. I also would have liked to see the personality of the side characters such as Gaetan and Etienne a bit more, and see some real interactions, instead of them pretty much just serving as side props for the MCs.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
mooshake's review
emotional
reflective
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
3.25
valéries playing 4d chess while everyone else is playing checkers
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Classism, Gun violence, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
claudiamacpherson's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Beautiful Ones is a Bridgerton-esque high society historical drama with romantic entanglements a la The Great Gatsby or The Age of Innocence. Add in some telekinetic powers, and you’ve got a recipe for scandal!
Like most other girls who enjoy reading, I am a sucker for a stubborn, opinionated woman who doesn’t care for social rules and boundaries (Elizabeth Bennet and Jo March, I’m looking at you). Nina Beaulieu is a worthy addition to these ranks. As a former scientist myself, I really love that her passion is for entomology and the natural world (while I also love my history and literature ladies, it’s refreshing to see one that’s interested in science!). Nina’s innocence was sometimes frustrating, but I was never annoyed at her, only the society that put her in those positions.
I’m a big fan of worldbuilding, so I was a bit disappointed not to get more in this book. The setting is ambiguously European, with French sounding names and English culture, but there were mentions of the other countries and continents, but very little detail. While more background wasn’t necessary or relevant to the story, the details that were included distracted me from the main plot with curiosity about various passing details. I also wish there had been more expansion on the magic system. We get a fair amount of detail about Nina and Hector’s abilities, but next to nothing about the other powers that people have. It would be interesting to explore the interaction between power and social class further. I kept wondering if maybe Vivien had powers that she hid for propriety’s sake, that could come out if she got angry or upset enough…alas.
Let’s talk about the love triangle. I don’t care for love triangles, and this was actually more of a love..square? diamond? whatever it’s called when there’s four people involved. While I’ve always preferred love triangles with a clear correct choice (otherwise I just feel bad for whoever gets their heart broken), this one went almost too far in the other direction; two and a half of the point of the love quadrilateral were insufferable (the half is Hector because he could be so infuriatingly dumb sometimes.)
Happy ending meter (no specific spoilers, just the general vibe of the ending): Happy, though not entirely satisfying. It felt a bit rushed and didn’t tie up everything as neatly as I would’ve liked.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Infertility, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Suicidal thoughts
allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-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
3.0
The Beautiful Ones has this knack for veering close to familiar historical romance tropes, only to cast everything in an unexpected, almost off-putting light. Things are a bit darker, more bitter in flavor. There is still joy to be found in these pages, but it comes alongside the uglier emotions and the sillier ones, cold calculation and bold naïveté woven through the threads of romance. There is also a layer of fantasy here, where some are born with a talent for telekinesis. Two of our main characters have the ability, and though it does impact the plot, world-building is light, and I would argue that the romance is the larger part of the story.
The first half of the book was iffy for me. It relies on a love triangle, which is often an irritating contrivance I would prefer to skip past. The characters have unlikable motives, and each of the three characters' perspectives has the power to ruin the other two for you. I was relieved when it all blew up without having to wait for the end of the book. A toxic secret comes to light, throwing all relationships and feelings into turmoil, requiring a cautious rebuilding in the second half. At that point, I found the plot more enjoyable. After the tension snapped, the characters settled more fully into their roles and chose what to fight for. Where I had been lukewarm towards all three leads at first, the latter part of the story allows one character to step forward into a role of ruthless villainy both alarming and impressive. The other two face reality in a way that makes both seem more balanced and thoughtful, which in turn made me value their goals more.
This book is a compelling twist on a story of society romance with elements of critique and magic layered in. I listened to the audiobook and appreciated the voice acting, carrying off French-sounding names I definitely would have butchered in my head. While I had a mixture of reactions throughout, the writing was elegant, and I appreciated a narrative that somehow managed to be both unexpected and recognizable in its path.
The first half of the book was iffy for me. It relies on a love triangle, which is often an irritating contrivance I would prefer to skip past. The characters have unlikable motives, and each of the three characters' perspectives has the power to ruin the other two for you. I was relieved when it all blew up without having to wait for the end of the book. A toxic secret comes to light, throwing all relationships and feelings into turmoil, requiring a cautious rebuilding in the second half. At that point, I found the plot more enjoyable. After the tension snapped, the characters settled more fully into their roles and chose what to fight for. Where I had been lukewarm towards all three leads at first, the latter part of the story allows one character to step forward into a role of ruthless villainy both alarming and impressive. The other two face reality in a way that makes both seem more balanced and thoughtful, which in turn made me value their goals more.
This book is a compelling twist on a story of society romance with elements of critique and magic layered in. I listened to the audiobook and appreciated the voice acting, carrying off French-sounding names I definitely would have butchered in my head. While I had a mixture of reactions throughout, the writing was elegant, and I appreciated a narrative that somehow managed to be both unexpected and recognizable in its path.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Bullying, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Death of parent, Gun violence, Infertility, and Suicide attempt
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