Scan barcode
comealongphil's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-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
4.0
bananabreath's review
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
ellenjanemck's review
emotional
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
partawesome's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
lefthandedlooney's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
feeohnaemily's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
raix's review against another edition
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Most of the tension falls in the last couple of chapters. I honestly had no idea how it would turn out! I was surprised even til the last scene!
I really liked that Frances was already established as being gay/liking women, rather than this being a new experience for both of them. The detail of her previous relationship (and the fact she still hangs out with her ex lol) felt very realistic. I'm still not really sure how I feel about Lillian.
I really liked that Frances was already established as being gay/liking women, rather than this being a new experience for both of them. The detail of her previous relationship (and the fact she still hangs out with her ex lol) felt very realistic. I'm still not really sure how I feel about Lillian.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Sexual content, Blood, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Abortion, Alcohol, and Miscarriage
bethbarnham's review
5.0
This book is everything that I love about fiction. An historic crime thriller with a twist of fleeting, forbidden romance.
Leonard and Lillian Barber are a part of the increasing clerk class in 1920s post-war Britain. Frances and her mother, after the death of her father, are forced to seek tenants to assist with the upkeep of their large London villa after discovering they are not quite the upper class they thought they were. The Barbers are the perfect fit as lodgers - an upstanding young married couple - at least on the outside.
Frances lives with her mother and her daily chores consist of things only ‘maids’ should do - scrubbing the floor, laundry, cleaning. Frances is a spinster but one who has been associated as ‘odd’ for having rather strange relationships with her friends. We go on to find out that the ‘oddness’ referred to is actually because Frances is a lesbian. However, we’re never told this directly, with Sarah Waters being careful of the time period and not giving the ‘behaviour’ a label. It is perfectly written and the understanding - or lack of - surrounding the issues is timely for that post-war period.
The book deals with a plethora of issues for its time, hidden love, social issues within 1920s England, class issues, complex marriages built upon appearances rather than connection and love, poor relationship dynamics within families and friends. The Paying Guests has it all, the exploration in this novel, the detail, makes it one of my favourite reads, maybe of all time.