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mariakureads's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-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? Yes
3.0
I'm a bit on the fence about this one.
I had some trouble getting into the first half of the book but then the story sped up fairly quickly and almost rushed towards the end and that's where the story itself got good.
The blurb made it sound like the events of the story was from one night but the reality is that it's not. It's from one friend's idea to lure her husband back from Egypt that is the catalyst for Harriet, or Harry as she'll be addressed, to even think of helping said friend by going in under disguise as a man to Lord Stranger's house for some local debauchery and fun.
Normally I'm all in but this one, idk, fell flat in some moments and others were great. Harry got into a good amount of fun that made her realize just how much being born male allows for privileges and freedom compared to her usual lifestyle that I loved her growth from the beginning of the book towards the end but I can't say the same for Strange. He felt at moments lackluster and dull and in others he was an active part of the story and helped Harry's character growth but all in all for a male MC he was meh for me which I felt was a shame considering the dialogue.
Which I will always say James delivers! She has a way of writing some amazing and witty dialogue between characters that just gives me so many feels and she did it in this one too as the dialogue between Harry and Strange are pretty great once Strange realizes that Harry is actually Harriet.
By the end of this book, I'm more intrigued by Isadore, the friend, and her wayfaring husband who's come to collect her.
I had some trouble getting into the first half of the book but then the story sped up fairly quickly and almost rushed towards the end and that's where the story itself got good.
The blurb made it sound like the events of the story was from one night but the reality is that it's not. It's from one friend's idea to lure her husband back from Egypt that is the catalyst for Harriet, or Harry as she'll be addressed, to even think of helping said friend by going in under disguise as a man to Lord Stranger's house for some local debauchery and fun.
Normally I'm all in but this one, idk, fell flat in some moments and others were great. Harry got into a good amount of fun that made her realize just how much being born male allows for privileges and freedom compared to her usual lifestyle that I loved her growth from the beginning of the book towards the end but I can't say the same for Strange. He felt at moments lackluster and dull and in others he was an active part of the story and helped Harry's character growth but all in all for a male MC he was meh for me which I felt was a shame considering the dialogue.
Which I will always say James delivers! She has a way of writing some amazing and witty dialogue between characters that just gives me so many feels and she did it in this one too as the dialogue between Harry and Strange are pretty great once Strange realizes that Harry is actually Harriet.
By the end of this book, I'm more intrigued by Isadore, the friend, and her wayfaring husband who's come to collect her.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Grief
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