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cursed10fold's review
adventurous
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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexism, and Sexual content
unsuccessfulbookclub's review
adventurous
emotional
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? Yes
4.0
Tommy Wynchester is a genderfluid person who dons disguises to help her family of misfits (the
Wynchesters) help people. Philippa is a 23 year old Bluestocking who has never experienced any sort of sexual attraction to anyone... until she meets the dashing Baron Vanderbean (surprise it's Tommy!)
I loved the hijinks in this and the relatively bananapants plot. I loved the exploration of gender identity and attraction and the absolutely lovely found family.
Ridley gave us some great intimate scenes with excellent consent. (Audio is narrated by Moira Quirk - highly recommended!!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Sexism
Moderate: Sexual content
lunarecliptica's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism
kfmcf's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I struggle with historicals, but this one was just good fun. I enjoyed their chemistry and the archetypes of both characters. There was just enough plot with Philippa's investigation, but I wish we got a bit more plot with Tommy, tbh, and I normally don't care about plot. Maybe that plot was implied from the first book, but oh well.
There is a facet to this book being mass market size that I think hurt some of its character development (by just having less time). But that's not to say that Erica Ridley didn't succeed with the time she had. Honestly, she's earned my trust as a pretty non-historical minded person.
This is definitely one of the better sapphic books I've read in the last year or so.
Oh also - why are the people on the cover just...wrong? Tommy isn't supposed to have long hair? Can publishers s t o p with people on the cover not matching descriptions omg
There is a facet to this book being mass market size that I think hurt some of its character development (by just having less time). But that's not to say that Erica Ridley didn't succeed with the time she had. Honestly, she's earned my trust as a pretty non-historical minded person.
This is definitely one of the better sapphic books I've read in the last year or so.
Oh also - why are the people on the cover just...wrong? Tommy isn't supposed to have long hair? Can publishers s t o p with people on the cover not matching descriptions omg
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Lesbophobia
maddramaqueen's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Confinement, Homophobia, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, and Alcohol
daryn's review
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Lesbophobia
Minor: Death of parent
arlaubscher's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, and Lesbophobia
displacedcactus's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
This is a relatively light romance and it did what I needed it to do, keeping me entertained during a week when I was busy and tired and needed a pre-bed read that wouldn't make me think too hard. However, it was a little too whimsical for my tastes and the side characters felt a bit too much like zany caricatures rather than fully realized human beings, so it was hard to want to see a romance for any of them.
See my spoilers section for discussion of the handling of a genderqueer character if that could be an issue for you.
See my spoilers section for discussion of the handling of a genderqueer character if that could be an issue for you.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism
Tommy is AFAB but identifies as "both and neither" female and male. She spends a lot of the book disguised as a man, some of it disguised as an old woman, and when she's herself, she prefers pants and shirts rather than the stereotypically "feminine" dresses of the regency era. She is referred to by she/her pronouns, sister, and other feminine terms. There are several times when it's stated that she is explicitly not a man. I feel like the author isn't trying to be explicitly harmful and these are probably period-accurate ways to refer to someone who acts like Tommy, but I also see how it could be an uncomfortable read for any modern-day AFAB person who is genderqueer and/or masc-leaning. Tread carefully if you choose to read this book, and allies, make sure this book doesn't color how you think of your AFAB non-binary/genderqueer and transmasc loved ones.the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
What a cute and adorable queer Regency read! It's a very fun imagining of the genre in a fresh and unique way. The core plot is very similar to the first book, The Duke Heist, but the book still reads as fresh and interesting. Highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Lesbophobia
hailstorm3812's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
This is so delightful. Both protagonists go on very interesting journeys of self discovery and choosing what is is they really want. It has a comedic tone without sacrificing stakes or spice. I loved both of the girls, and the world so much that I will be going back and reading Duke Heist and all of the rest that are coming soon!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Sexism