Reviews

The Gentleman's Gambit by Evie Dunmore

jordymyers's review against another edition

funny lighthearted 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? No

4.5

encyclopediabritanika's review against another edition

3.5

3.5 stars

I didn't realize Evie Dunmore was Lebanese until I'd started this book and saw the authenticity and care with which she wrote a Lebanese character. So happy to have this voice in historical romance!

What didn't work for me - I didn't really love the romance, I know this is a romance, what on earth. There were also a lot of side plots. Dunmore packs a lot of history and legal/legislative changes into her texts, and I know some people love that, so this has that and you will love it. I just didn't need all that deep a dive into the Acts they were trying to amend or pass?

What I loved - I loved the Lebanese MMC. The pieces of Arabic tossed into the conversation. The discussion of how much more advanced and liberated women in the Middle East were than the very much backward and restricted life in England. I adored the discussion of empire and England stealing antiquities from other countries because they feel the other countries are too barbaric to deserve to keep their own history. I AM GLAD THEY MENTIONED THE ENGLISH ATE MUMMIES. YES, THE ENGLISH ROBBED TOMBS IN EGYPT AND THEN *ATE* THE MUMMIES. Why aren't more people talking about this? 

Anyway, maybe not totally the romance for me, but so much in it that worked for me despite that.

tarterburn's review against another edition

3.0

This one was cute, but I didn’t feel as invested/connected into the story or characters as I did in the previous 3 books.

I’m not sure if it was a timing thing (it’s been so long since I read the first book, which I adored) or if it was the characters themselves.

This one also seemed to have more history/geographical references to it on focuses that I’m not well versed in, so I’m thinking that may have affected my enjoyment. The romance just seemed to take more of background to the historical content rather than the other way around.

I will say I loved the epilogue though and thought it did a fantastic job wrapping up all loose ends and bringing all 4 books together!

catreynolds28's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted 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

3.5

mfallon3491's review against another edition

informative lighthearted 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? No

3.5

hey_marika's review against another edition

slow-paced

3.5

falulatonks's review against another edition

lighthearted 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

4.25

I really enjoyed this. The second book of this series gave me very mixed feelings – strong writing and a lovely romance, but some bizarre race stuff that comes of having two white leads working with/around Indian culture. This kind of addresses it head on (though I don't think it was on purpose), with a male lead from Lebanon, speaking Arabic, operating in theft with kind of a noble cause. And I REALLY liked him. There's a few throwaway things about his background that really resonated – like his cousin bringing hoards of food when he came to visit, or him being upset that fruit tasted like onion because the knife used wasn't cleaned? – and some really lovely turns of phrase that I thought more than made up for other fiddly fumbled bits. 

And the stuff that works about Dunmore continues to work. The leads are immensely likable and root-for-able, and the way they discover each other and fall in love is VERY dreamy. My memory of the other female leads in the series is kind of hazy, but I still felt Catriona was a distinct, sharply painted person, with understandable blind spots and flaws, and very modern and sympathetic hang-ups about marriage and motherhood and loneliness. And she's bi! 

I will now go back to read book #3, but I kind of don't think it'll beat this one.

thaisokubaro's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

LINDO LINDO LINDO! Nem acredito que acabou essa série, quantos personagens queridos!

rockyroad's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

mer_dont_care's review against another edition

5.0

in my bridgerton era