Scan barcode
melindagallagher's review against another edition
4.0
Classic retelling of King Henry XIII and all of his wives. Henry is a High School senior and a known womanizer. As some of his girlfriends end up dying in mysterious ways, his best friend, Cleveland, doesn't know who to trust. Cute high school mystery, especially if you like the tudors.
addy1991's review against another edition
3.0
This book might not suit everyone but I enjoyed it well enough to read until the last sentence. The main character, Cleves, is quirky yet liked by most classmates at her high school (not sure how real this is) and is best friends with Henry who goes through girlfriends almost as often as changing seasonal wardrobes. Cleves is on the high school newspaper team and uncovers dirt that certain people would wished stayed hidden. Senior year has never been more adventurous or dangerous as she works to untangle fact from fiction. Add in other characters ... like ex-girlfriends of Henry and stereotypes in all shapes/sizes ... and the plot thickens.
lgilbert44's review against another edition
4.0
To start off, I have to say, I. Ate. This. Book. Up! This is just the type of chick lit, teenage drama, mystery type book that I live for! It was so compelling and the writing is shockingly funny! I didn’t expect the book to make me laugh out loud. I requested it because I thought it might be similar to Pretty Little Liars (which it does have that type of vibe in parts) but I was pleasantly surprised with how much I loved Hannah Capin’s writing style! I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more of her works!
The plot of this book really moves! There are no dull parts or “filler” chapters or really anything that slows the pace of this book which I love. I literally kept telling myself “ok one more chapter and then I’ll stop” and I just couldn’t! Every chapter drove me forward and I became deeply invested with the story and characters of this book! I HAD to know what happened next and thus I read this whole thing in ONE sitting.
The characters are sort of typical, archetypal high school characters; you’ve got your jocks, cheerleaders, intellectuals, and mean girls. And of course our main character is none of the above but is pretty atypical and “different” and yet everyone still loves her. BUT none of that bothered me because it all worked for the type of story that it was. OH! Did I mention this is a retelling of notorious Playboy Henry VIII? Because it totally is and I was totally here for it.
But anyways, the characters. Loved the main character, however it took her a looooong time to figure out the “twist” even when other characters had literally been screaming it at her for like six chapters. It got a little obnoxious how naive she was but hey, weren’t we all naive in high school??
I gave this book four stars. I loved it, I ate it up, but there were some plot inconsistencies and maybe a few holes and unanswered questions but all in all this was a highly enjoyable read. I was absolutely head over heels for the author’s writing style.
Definitely look for this on the shelves come January 2019! You don’t want to miss this fast-paced mystery!
The plot of this book really moves! There are no dull parts or “filler” chapters or really anything that slows the pace of this book which I love. I literally kept telling myself “ok one more chapter and then I’ll stop” and I just couldn’t! Every chapter drove me forward and I became deeply invested with the story and characters of this book! I HAD to know what happened next and thus I read this whole thing in ONE sitting.
The characters are sort of typical, archetypal high school characters; you’ve got your jocks, cheerleaders, intellectuals, and mean girls. And of course our main character is none of the above but is pretty atypical and “different” and yet everyone still loves her. BUT none of that bothered me because it all worked for the type of story that it was. OH! Did I mention this is a retelling of notorious Playboy Henry VIII? Because it totally is and I was totally here for it.
But anyways, the characters. Loved the main character, however it took her a looooong time to figure out the “twist” even when other characters had literally been screaming it at her for like six chapters. It got a little obnoxious how naive she was but hey, weren’t we all naive in high school??
I gave this book four stars. I loved it, I ate it up, but there were some plot inconsistencies and maybe a few holes and unanswered questions but all in all this was a highly enjoyable read. I was absolutely head over heels for the author’s writing style.
Definitely look for this on the shelves come January 2019! You don’t want to miss this fast-paced mystery!
lilyamy29's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.5
anne of cleves i am so sorry for this book
nikkimillar's review against another edition
5.0
This was a total whim read and ended up being a one sitting deal. I couldn't put it down.
I'm a sucker for most high school drama books.
ALSO there was a Taylor Swift reference which I always appreciate.
I'm eager to read more of this authors works.
I'm a sucker for most high school drama books.
ALSO there was a Taylor Swift reference which I always appreciate.
I'm eager to read more of this authors works.
chloeflynn's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
such a fun read!
starswereenough's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, so this was right up my alley. I’ve been fascinated by the Tudor period since I first read The Royal Diaries’ Elizabeth I at age 9, and it’s grown into one of my biggest historical obsessions. Plus, it’s told as a feminist retelling from the POV of Cleves? Sign me the heck up.
It absolutely lived up to my expectations. In some ways, I would say it surpassed them.
Thoughts:
- Okay, I’m the #1 K Howard defender. Her life was a tragedy and no one can convince me otherwise. It was incredibly refreshing to find a piece of media that doesn’t spend its time slut-shaming her, and instead defends her.*
- There’s quite a bit of controversy over whether or not Cleves was a “bad feminist”. She preached a lot but wasn’t always willing to confront Henry on some of his views/actions. I’d actually argue that it’s far more accurate this way. As a teen, even with strong beliefs, it’s not always easy to call people out on related issues even if you’re semi-aware of it. So yes, controversial opinion, but I think it was a good call, and she did work it out.
- I loved the writing style. It’s definitely one of those books were you’ll either love it or hate it, but for me the snarky commentary really made the book.
-All of the characters were very distinct and didn’t play too much into typical YA tropes, which was refreshing.
-The characters aren’t necessarily always faithful to what’s known of them/how they’re usually portrayed. It’s more a loosely inspired re-imagination of the events and historical figures.
-I enjoyed some of the Easter eggs. Some details in the book (like Boleyn’s necklace or a joke about Lina and Henry dating for almost 25 years) will be appreciated more by those who have a lot of pre-existing knowledge of Henry VIII and his wives, but it’s not enough so that it diminishes the appeal for those who haven’t let Tudor history consume their soul.
Character-wise:
- I do wish Lina would have gotten a little bit more character development. She was almost too perfect (which was probably the point?), but I did really like some of the details about her and her confidence. I loved the interpretation of her character.
- I’m still not completely sure how to feel about Anna. I can’t quite pin her character down. I feel like she was the least fleshed out of Henry’s girlfriends, but she also had a very weird role in the storyline so I think it’s understandable.
- I’m typically in the “ugh Jane Seymour”** category, but I did like her character portrayal in this.
- I adored Cleves. It might just be because I’m a snarky feminist who loves journalism and Tumblr a little too much, but she was a relatable narrator and kept me laughing even in the serious bits.
- Katie was a little ball of sunshine. I loved how her character and story was interpreted and portrayed. Cleves and Katie are basically the ultimate duo.
- Cat was a badass and I love her. Definitely one of my favorite modern day portrayals of Catherine Parr!
-I really don’t know how to feel about Parker. Her personality was hard for me to figure out and I felt like there was a lot of hinting at potential places for her character to go that didn’t get carried out (I’m wondering if there were some changes surrounding her role in the plot late in the writing process?).
- Henry was very well written. I wouldn’t say it was my favorite interpretation of him, but it was well-done.
Overall I’d definitely recommend this to anyone who likes history retelling (especially from a POV featuring women), the Tudor era, etc. Feminist historical retellings for the win!!
*The only other piece of media I’ve found that doesn’t do this is Six the Musical, which I’d strongly recommend to anyone who likes this.
** I mean, as a thirteen year old, was I really going to be more interested in someone who died naturally than someone who was beheaded?
It absolutely lived up to my expectations. In some ways, I would say it surpassed them.
Thoughts:
- Okay, I’m the #1 K Howard defender. Her life was a tragedy and no one can convince me otherwise. It was incredibly refreshing to find a piece of media that doesn’t spend its time slut-shaming her, and instead defends her.*
- There’s quite a bit of controversy over whether or not Cleves was a “bad feminist”. She preached a lot but wasn’t always willing to confront Henry on some of his views/actions. I’d actually argue that it’s far more accurate this way. As a teen, even with strong beliefs, it’s not always easy to call people out on related issues even if you’re semi-aware of it. So yes, controversial opinion, but I think it was a good call, and she did work it out.
- I loved the writing style. It’s definitely one of those books were you’ll either love it or hate it, but for me the snarky commentary really made the book.
-All of the characters were very distinct and didn’t play too much into typical YA tropes, which was refreshing.
-The characters aren’t necessarily always faithful to what’s known of them/how they’re usually portrayed. It’s more a loosely inspired re-imagination of the events and historical figures.
-I enjoyed some of the Easter eggs. Some details in the book (like Boleyn’s necklace or a joke about Lina and Henry dating for almost 25 years) will be appreciated more by those who have a lot of pre-existing knowledge of Henry VIII and his wives, but it’s not enough so that it diminishes the appeal for those who haven’t let Tudor history consume their soul.
Character-wise:
- I do wish Lina would have gotten a little bit more character development. She was almost too perfect (which was probably the point?), but I did really like some of the details about her and her confidence. I loved the interpretation of her character.
- I’m still not completely sure how to feel about Anna. I can’t quite pin her character down. I feel like she was the least fleshed out of Henry’s girlfriends, but she also had a very weird role in the storyline so I think it’s understandable.
- I’m typically in the “ugh Jane Seymour”** category, but I did like her character portrayal in this.
- I adored Cleves. It might just be because I’m a snarky feminist who loves journalism and Tumblr a little too much, but she was a relatable narrator and kept me laughing even in the serious bits.
- Katie was a little ball of sunshine. I loved how her character and story was interpreted and portrayed. Cleves and Katie are basically the ultimate duo.
- Cat was a badass and I love her. Definitely one of my favorite modern day portrayals of Catherine Parr!
-I really don’t know how to feel about Parker. Her personality was hard for me to figure out and I felt like there was a lot of hinting at potential places for her character to go that didn’t get carried out (I’m wondering if there were some changes surrounding her role in the plot late in the writing process?).
- Henry was very well written. I wouldn’t say it was my favorite interpretation of him, but it was well-done.
Overall I’d definitely recommend this to anyone who likes history retelling (especially from a POV featuring women), the Tudor era, etc. Feminist historical retellings for the win!!
*The only other piece of media I’ve found that doesn’t do this is Six the Musical, which I’d strongly recommend to anyone who likes this.
** I mean, as a thirteen year old, was I really going to be more interested in someone who died naturally than someone who was beheaded?
sharris0213's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.75
angelofthetardis's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This has been on my TBR list since I heard about it on the 'Not Just The Tudors' podcast. But trying to find it has been a nightmare! Can't get it on Kindle, wasn't available in any format from the library, and any online orders seem to come from the US, making it quite expensive! But then I just happened to be looking at BorrowBox (my library's ebook service) for something else, and it popped up as now being avaialble in their audiobook selection!
Cross the story of Henry VIII and his wives with Mean Girls, or any other drama set in a US high school, and this is what results. Henry is the star quarterback, and his wing woman Anna, aka Cleves, stands by and watches as he works his way through the dating drama that is senior year. A budding journalist, she can't help but be intrigued by the story that one of Henry's exes died at prom the previous year... but was it an accident? Or murder?
Listening to the audio version of this really helped me get into the characters - the narrator has the perfect, almost stereotypical, US high school popular girl sounding voice, so I was immediately grounded in place; something that I don't think would have happened as fast if I'd just been reading. When I first heard it I thought it would get on my nerves after a short while, but actually the narration was very good overall; very easy to listen to and done exactly the way I like it - enough changes in pitch and tone to denote a different character speaking, but without giving all of them different voices.
The writing itself also matches the setting and characters - it sounds as if the writer was the same age as the characters, or at the very least she was basing speech patterns on teenagers she knows! There is quite a lot of swearing throughout, but it's just the vernacular; it probably is gratuitous, but because it's teenagers it doesn't feel like it!
The story is cleverly done; it takes all the familiar tropes of Henry and his wives and, for the most part, matches them up with relatable high school equivalents. The biggest change is probably the main character, Anna, who clearly wasn't Henry's best friend in reality! But she did hang around in England after their divorce, and actually survived him by quite some time, so putting her in this position is actually not as mad as it initially sounds. I particularly like that the writer has picked up on other, lesser known characters and events and utilised those for extra depth. And yet at the same time it feels like this could be any US high school senior year!
The only downside with the audio version is that it takes so long to get through it! While I was invested and could easily remember where I was in the story, I thought on several occasions it was coming to an end, only to realise that I actually had several hours left to listen to. Given that the physical book is somewhere between 400 and 500 pages, I could have read it far quicker.
However, I'm no longer worried about incurring the expense of a physical copy, as I now know it's a great book, and one I will definitely read again!
Cross the story of Henry VIII and his wives with Mean Girls, or any other drama set in a US high school, and this is what results. Henry is the star quarterback, and his wing woman Anna, aka Cleves, stands by and watches as he works his way through the dating drama that is senior year. A budding journalist, she can't help but be intrigued by the story that one of Henry's exes died at prom the previous year... but was it an accident? Or murder?
Listening to the audio version of this really helped me get into the characters - the narrator has the perfect, almost stereotypical, US high school popular girl sounding voice, so I was immediately grounded in place; something that I don't think would have happened as fast if I'd just been reading. When I first heard it I thought it would get on my nerves after a short while, but actually the narration was very good overall; very easy to listen to and done exactly the way I like it - enough changes in pitch and tone to denote a different character speaking, but without giving all of them different voices.
The writing itself also matches the setting and characters - it sounds as if the writer was the same age as the characters, or at the very least she was basing speech patterns on teenagers she knows! There is quite a lot of swearing throughout, but it's just the vernacular; it probably is gratuitous, but because it's teenagers it doesn't feel like it!
The story is cleverly done; it takes all the familiar tropes of Henry and his wives and, for the most part, matches them up with relatable high school equivalents. The biggest change is probably the main character, Anna, who clearly wasn't Henry's best friend in reality! But she did hang around in England after their divorce, and actually survived him by quite some time, so putting her in this position is actually not as mad as it initially sounds. I particularly like that the writer has picked up on other, lesser known characters and events and utilised those for extra depth. And yet at the same time it feels like this could be any US high school senior year!
The only downside with the audio version is that it takes so long to get through it! While I was invested and could easily remember where I was in the story, I thought on several occasions it was coming to an end, only to realise that I actually had several hours left to listen to. Given that the physical book is somewhere between 400 and 500 pages, I could have read it far quicker.
However, I'm no longer worried about incurring the expense of a physical copy, as I now know it's a great book, and one I will definitely read again!
lazygal's review against another edition
3.0
I admit this one kept me going back to my history books to see where the parallels were between some of the characters, and I kept repeating the mnemonic "divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived" as I got to know Henry through the eyes of Cleves (aka Anne, from Cleveland - divorce number two if you're keeping track). Because this is YA, there's no actual divorce, just break ups. But the death? That's real. As is the wound Henry suffers to his leg.
Having said that, the pacing was really slow and sometimes the action was a little too much "square peg, round hold" to work. I'm also not sure that readers would go from this to, say, the Philippa Gregory or Alison Weir books. Some might not even recognize the source material.
Having said that, the pacing was really slow and sometimes the action was a little too much "square peg, round hold" to work. I'm also not sure that readers would go from this to, say, the Philippa Gregory or Alison Weir books. Some might not even recognize the source material.