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amphitritedreams's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
An often funny, warm-hearted epistolary novel.
I enjoyed this very much as a teenager and on re-read today. Sadly, my digital edition did not come with Sally's charming illustrations. Strictly, this is a sequel to Daddy Longlegs, but you don't need to read Daddy Longlegs to enjoy this, and I'd say Dear Enemy is the better (and certainly less worrying) book.
Set in the very early 20th century (before the 19th amendment), hot-tempered socialite Sally is talked into putting her engagement on hold in order to reform an orphan asylum. It's a hard job, complicated by sparring with an irritating Scottish doctor, difficult trustees and rebellious staff as well as her own ideas about what matters most.
I enjoyed this very much as a teenager and on re-read today. Sadly, my digital edition did not come with Sally's charming illustrations. Strictly, this is a sequel to Daddy Longlegs, but you don't need to read Daddy Longlegs to enjoy this, and I'd say Dear Enemy is the better (and certainly less worrying) book.
Set in the very early 20th century (before the 19th amendment), hot-tempered socialite Sally is talked into putting her engagement on hold in order to reform an orphan asylum. It's a hard job, complicated by sparring with an irritating Scottish doctor, difficult trustees and rebellious staff as well as her own ideas about what matters most.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism and Classism
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Animal cruelty, and Racism
If the foreground of the story is an enemies to lovers romance, the context is managing an early 20th century orphan asylum. There are frequent passing references to the challenges faced by the children their birth families. Social work at the time was preoccupied with alcoholism, heritability and eugenics, and these themes get some additional coverage in period style.drippingchiffon's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Child abuse, Mental illness, and Ableism
Moderate: Death of parent, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Classism, Alcoholism, Racism, and Sexism
Minor: Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, and Forced institutionalization
icapturethecastle's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Addiction, and Animal cruelty
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Death of parent, Medical content, Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, Mental illness, Death, and Medical trauma
Eugenicsspectacledbear's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
This is a sequel to Daddy-Long-Legs, which I've loved for a long time, but for some reason I didn't even know this book existed. It's longer than DLL, and is made up of letters written by Sallie McBride, mostly to her friend Judy Pendleton (nee Abbott, the main character/narrator of DLL), who has persuaded Sallie to take on the temporary leadership of the orphanage where Judy grew up. Unlike DLL, Dear Enemy includes letters to more than one person - Sallie also writes to her boyfriend and to the orphanage's doctor (the 'enemy' of the title).
That's about as spoilery as I'm going to get. It's a lovely book - Sallie's voice is honest and amusing, and her development throughout the book is subtle and enjoyable. I wouldn't describe it as funny, but it did make me laugh a few times, and it is very affecting in places.
That's about as spoilery as I'm going to get. It's a lovely book - Sallie's voice is honest and amusing, and her development throughout the book is subtle and enjoyable. I wouldn't describe it as funny, but it did make me laugh a few times, and it is very affecting in places.
Content Warnings
Minor: Abandonment, Ableism, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, and Racial slurs
I've ticked a lot of minor warnings for this book, but mostly because a) it was written in 1915 so, you know, different times, and b) it's set in an orphanage where children have been sent for a variety of reasons. The doctor, who is a main character, is very interested in mental illness and heredity and there is a brief discussion of eugenics. I don't think it's triggering or particularly offensive, but everyone's mileage varies.
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