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bookishevy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I'm officially an Adriana Herrera stan after reading this second book in the Las Leonas trilogy.
This book focuses on Manuela del Carmen Caceres Galvan, one of Luz Alana's two best friends who accompanies her to the 1889 Exposition Universelle Paris. Manuela is also there to show her paintings, and the invitation to the Expo couldn't have come at a better time because she is being forced to marry to settle her family’s debts. She sees this trip to Paris as her last chance to experience all she can before she's trapped in a loveless marriage.
Cora Kempf Bristol, Duchess of Sundridge, refused to stay in a woman's place and is known for being a shrewd businesswoman. She's addicted to power and will sieze any opportunity to have a seat at the table with men who despise her.
In order to secure her position among her rivals, she plans to convince Manuela to sell her a parcel of land in Venezuela Manuela inherited and swore to never sell. But during their meeting, Manuela counters with her own offer: her land for a summer of debauchery in the duchess' corner of Paris.
It's hard for Manuela not to get attached when she sees how generous Cora is to those she loves, and Cora's anxiety around falling for Manuela is palpable. She's no stranger to bucking societal norms, but she's terrified of what her feelings for Manuela could do to her brand.
But how could Cora not love Manuela, who wears her heart on her sleeve and is so eager to please in the bedroom. Manuela, who shares her passion for art and wants to help other women artists live their dreams even if she can't.
I really enjoyed this feminist read about women living their truths, even if it meant giving up their inheritance. I loved that they inspire Manuela to be more independent. I rooted for her to finally stand up to her homophobic parents to whom she owes nothing, and for Cora to be inspired by Manuela, swallow her pride and abandon this need to prove she's worthy to men who will never accept her no matter how much money she makes them. If she doesn't, she could lose a chance at happiness.
Scandalous! 🌶🌶🌶
This book focuses on Manuela del Carmen Caceres Galvan, one of Luz Alana's two best friends who accompanies her to the 1889 Exposition Universelle Paris. Manuela is also there to show her paintings, and the invitation to the Expo couldn't have come at a better time because she is being forced to marry to settle her family’s debts. She sees this trip to Paris as her last chance to experience all she can before she's trapped in a loveless marriage.
Cora Kempf Bristol, Duchess of Sundridge, refused to stay in a woman's place and is known for being a shrewd businesswoman. She's addicted to power and will sieze any opportunity to have a seat at the table with men who despise her.
In order to secure her position among her rivals, she plans to convince Manuela to sell her a parcel of land in Venezuela Manuela inherited and swore to never sell. But during their meeting, Manuela counters with her own offer: her land for a summer of debauchery in the duchess' corner of Paris.
It's hard for Manuela not to get attached when she sees how generous Cora is to those she loves, and Cora's anxiety around falling for Manuela is palpable. She's no stranger to bucking societal norms, but she's terrified of what her feelings for Manuela could do to her brand.
But how could Cora not love Manuela, who wears her heart on her sleeve and is so eager to please in the bedroom. Manuela, who shares her passion for art and wants to help other women artists live their dreams even if she can't.
I really enjoyed this feminist read about women living their truths, even if it meant giving up their inheritance. I loved that they inspire Manuela to be more independent. I rooted for her to finally stand up to her homophobic parents to whom she owes nothing, and for Cora to be inspired by Manuela, swallow her pride and abandon this need to prove she's worthy to men who will never accept her no matter how much money she makes them. If she doesn't, she could lose a chance at happiness.
Scandalous! 🌶🌶🌶
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
fionamclary's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
3.0
Ultimately a bit of a let-down due to how effusively I'd heard it recommended, but okay enough for me to want to see it through. I think it just wasn't the book for me.
Things I didn't like:
-The pacing. It was horribly uneven, with the first third of the book dragging and several aspects/scenes happening off-page. This includes Cora's character growth at the end, making the reunion somewhat dubious, and all but the first of Manuela and Cora's outings, which could have given us a chance to see their relationship developing more deeply beyond their attraction to each other.
-The instalove/instalust. It's something I often struggle with as a demisexual, but I know some of that is down to personal preference.
-Typos, errors, and fragments galore. Very frustrating.
-Verbiage in sex scenes that personally icks me out or makes me eyeroll. Examples include "seam," "furrow," "secret place"/"sacred place," "treasure," and demonstratives for days. As a lesbian I think I'm extra picky about the language in f/f sex scenes, so it might not be as bothersome to non-wlw readers.
-Basically the entirety of chapter 3 being a business meeting.
-The strong girlboss vibes of most of the book up until like the 80% mark.
-Zero acknowledgement of racial divisions and racism within the queer community.
-The focus on and sexualisation of Manuela's breasts. Listen, I love boobs as much as the next queer woman, but this made me uncomfortable. Maybe it's just because I too am a larger-chested lady and it's something I very much do not like about my body.
Things I liked:
-Manuela coming to understand fully how her parents had emotionally abused her (even though that language isn't directly used) and eventually freeing herself from their control, with the time and effort that it takes for her to reach that understanding feeling realistic.
-The eventual repudiation of girlboss feminism.
-Adriana Herrera's lack of fear of the word "clitoris" (huzzah!)
-Centering the importance of platonic love, both in Manuela's friendships with her Leonas and Cora's late husband having been her best friend.
-Latina lesbians getting to be happy and fully themselves.
-Middle-aged lesbian couples vibing and doing cool leftist shenanigans in the background.
Things I didn't like:
-The pacing. It was horribly uneven, with the first third of the book dragging and several aspects/scenes happening off-page. This includes Cora's character growth at the end, making the reunion somewhat dubious, and all but the first of Manuela and Cora's outings, which could have given us a chance to see their relationship developing more deeply beyond their attraction to each other.
-The instalove/instalust. It's something I often struggle with as a demisexual, but I know some of that is down to personal preference.
-Typos, errors, and fragments galore. Very frustrating.
-Verbiage in sex scenes that personally icks me out or makes me eyeroll. Examples include "seam," "furrow," "secret place"/"sacred place," "treasure," and demonstratives for days. As a lesbian I think I'm extra picky about the language in f/f sex scenes, so it might not be as bothersome to non-wlw readers.
-Basically the entirety of chapter 3 being a business meeting.
-The strong girlboss vibes of most of the book up until like the 80% mark.
-Zero acknowledgement of racial divisions and racism within the queer community.
-The focus on and sexualisation of Manuela's breasts. Listen, I love boobs as much as the next queer woman, but this made me uncomfortable. Maybe it's just because I too am a larger-chested lady and it's something I very much do not like about my body.
Things I liked:
-Manuela coming to understand fully how her parents had emotionally abused her (even though that language isn't directly used) and eventually freeing herself from their control, with the time and effort that it takes for her to reach that understanding feeling realistic.
-The eventual repudiation of girlboss feminism.
-Adriana Herrera's lack of fear of the word "clitoris" (huzzah!)
-Centering the importance of platonic love, both in Manuela's friendships with her Leonas and Cora's late husband having been her best friend.
-Latina lesbians getting to be happy and fully themselves.
-Middle-aged lesbian couples vibing and doing cool leftist shenanigans in the background.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Lesbophobia, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Gun violence, Hate crime, Violence, and Grief
tostita's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
There were so many things I loved about this book, but there were also aspects that repeatedly pulled me out of the text. I’m not convinced that the details of the business dealings regarding Manuela’s land and Cora’s railroad entirely made sense. I also had trouble understanding Cora’s decisions, particularly in the third act. However, I loved Manuela’s journey toward seizing her independence and autonomy. Seeing her growing understanding and awe upon meeting Cora’s circle of self-supporting lesbian artist friends was probably the most moving scene in the book for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexism, Sexual content, and Lesbophobia
e_riahh's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual content, Grief, Lesbophobia, Colonisation, and Classism
megansoetaert's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Manuela and Cora are some horny bitches. Good for them.
this was a fun read!! I loved the tension!! more lesbian tension everywhere! Manuela & Cora were such a good match, bringing out the best in each other. I also loved seeing the Parisian lesbian scene of the era <3
this was a fun read!! I loved the tension!! more lesbian tension everywhere! Manuela & Cora were such a good match, bringing out the best in each other. I also loved seeing the Parisian lesbian scene of the era <3
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Sexism
taliaalongi's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
hungrybruno's review
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia and Misogyny
andreaaaoid's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
carbs666's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The badness of the title of this book stopped me from reading it for months but I'm glad I finally did because it is genuinely very good!! There's so much to love here - kismet meetings, chemistry, yearning, mixing business and pleasure, hotnsex scenes, art lesbians coming together to form a collective and support each other's aspirations!
I think the thing I liked most was the resolution. Cora didn't get to make a grand gesture and have all her sins forgiven, and Manuela had to learn to live by her values and stand on her own two feet. Overall I really enjoyed this book and strongly recommend it!
I think the thing I liked most was the resolution. Cora didn't get to make a grand gesture and have all her sins forgiven, and Manuela had to learn to live by her values and stand on her own two feet. Overall I really enjoyed this book and strongly recommend it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia