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samchase112's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
Minor: Homophobia and Lesbophobia
bessadams's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Sexism, Racism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Classism, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, and Death
Minor: Pregnancy
callidoralblack's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Minor: Classism, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Racism, Blood, Bullying, Infertility, Alcohol, Sexism, and Injury/Injury detail
larpar's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Racism and Infertility
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Homophobia
katiemack's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The pacing is slow for my taste, but I appreciated the plotting overall. Eliza is a well-written main character, and I loved seeing her live her best life after spending ten years in a loveless marriage (plus it gave Sophie Irwin an excuse to include more of Margaret, who is a sarcastic delight). I usually roll my eyes at love triangles, but I actually enjoyed this one because it resolves in a creative way. The chemistry between Eliza and her eventual husband is also solid and full of witty banter.
I haven't read Irwin's previous book, but I think I'll pick it up!
Graphic: Misogyny and Racism
Moderate: Infertility
naomi_k's review
- 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
5.0
Minor: Classism, Colonisation, Misogyny, Infidelity, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, and Racism
heather_freshparchment's review against another edition
- 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
I think I loved this novel even more than I enjoyed Irwin's first novel. I love anything to do with Bath, so of course the setting made me incandescently happy, but I think I loved the plot itself, too. Eliza's maturity and self-growth were refreshing and inspirational. I loved the plot twist towards the end AND the way that it was resolved - no mean feat! It was refreshingly feminist without sacrificing historical accuracy or romance and a happy ending. A highly diverse and enjoyable read.
Moderate: Xenophobia and Racism
Minor: Death, Homophobia, Infertility, and Grief
bookshelf_al's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Moderate: Classism, Racism, and Infertility
mindsplinters's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Basically, her secondary characters are delightful and well-rounded and interesting and I could read a whole book on them... Her actual hero and heroine? Not so much. While the interloping leg of the love triangle Melville is full of charm and depth and has a slow-grow character arc, the other male leg of the triangle Somerset is just plain AWFUL. He has about as much charm as cardboard and as much depth as a puddle and he is a raging hypocrite, to boot. Eliza, on the other hand, as our fairer leg of the triangle is... Let's just say that her character growth feels like it was jammed into the last 20% of the book and in such a staggering way that I was left wondering if someone else stepped in to take her place. She goes from insipid and spineless to "screw you all, I do what I want" in the blink of an eye and at a point in time where it is pure stupid madness to go that far. Though I was relieved that she did grow and she did realize the emotional abuse she had undergone for years and years!
Margaret and Caroline? All day long. Lady Hurley and her beau? Oh, yes, please. Even Perkins the butler was absolutely adorable and sketched out well enough that you felt you knew him.
As for fashion and manners and the location of Bath? Irwin continues to nail her research and describe things beautifully. I just wish her main characters could stand as well as everything else in the book.
Moderate: Xenophobia, Racism, and Emotional abuse
katrinaward's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Misogyny
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Emotional abuse, and Infertility