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nomichelleno's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
butterreadsbooks's review against another edition
2.0
I really enjoyed this book overall. But disliked how colin acted halfway through. So angry and almost borderline abuse with grabbing her arm to the point he was aware she might bruise? Just really didn’t do it for me. I was enjoying it before that point. I felt as disappointed as Penelope was by his “true” character.
alxisrae's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
3.75
Now I have tried 2 other times to read this book and at 75% I wanted to DNF it for a 3rd time.
Now it isn’t cause it’s a bad story. It’s not. It’s a cute, entertaining historical romance….EOD I’m glad I stuck through
(Slight spoilers, but also not really)
…BUT there was something that I just couldn’t seem to enjoy this as much as Kate and Anthony’s or Sophie and Benedict’s. And I think my problem is Colin? This ongoing quip of being a constantly hungry and quickly angered man wasn’t a good taste in my mouth. It didn’t take much for Colin’s temper to come out - so much so that we’re reminded constantly as a reader that this “isn’t the Colin that Penelope knew…”. His temper gave me the ick - ESPECIALLY when he seemed to take it out on Penelope the most.
Now I love Eloise and Pens friendship in this book than I do on the show. Eloise on the show can be a little annoying and frustrating at times. This book let me see and appreciate their friendship.
The spicy moments in this book were only a couple of scenes but you were able to feel how feral Colin was for Penelope. I will say once that man saw her, and really saw her, he fell and he fell hard and fast. The man couldn’t control himself. The relationship of Colin and Pen improved with each chapter once Colin was able to get past his jealousy/ego. The ending really redeemed Colin as he stood by his wife. It was lovely.
Now it isn’t cause it’s a bad story. It’s not. It’s a cute, entertaining historical romance….EOD I’m glad I stuck through
(Slight spoilers, but also not really)
…BUT there was something that I just couldn’t seem to enjoy this as much as Kate and Anthony’s or Sophie and Benedict’s. And I think my problem is Colin? This ongoing quip of being a constantly hungry and quickly angered man wasn’t a good taste in my mouth. It didn’t take much for Colin’s temper to come out - so much so that we’re reminded constantly as a reader that this “isn’t the Colin that Penelope knew…”. His temper gave me the ick - ESPECIALLY when he seemed to take it out on Penelope the most.
Now I love Eloise and Pens friendship in this book than I do on the show. Eloise on the show can be a little annoying and frustrating at times. This book let me see and appreciate their friendship.
The spicy moments in this book were only a couple of scenes but you were able to feel how feral Colin was for Penelope. I will say once that man saw her, and really saw her, he fell and he fell hard and fast. The man couldn’t control himself. The relationship of Colin and Pen improved with each chapter once Colin was able to get past his jealousy/ego. The ending really redeemed Colin as he stood by his wife. It was lovely.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing and Sexual content
Minor: Body shaming
ravemenele's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rachelcoombes's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
lindsayernest22's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
kaumaka's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
skyhazzard's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This was my least favorite so far. I felt like nothing really happened in this book, where was the plot.
Colin one day realizes he might like Penelope as more than just a friend and Penelope meanwhile is still hiding the fact she’s Lady Whistledown whilst Lady Danbury has made a proclamation to give a reward to anyone who uncovers Lady Whistledown. But nothing exciting happens. Occasionally here and there I’d start to get a bit more invested but then it would immediately die out.
Also Colon just irritated me a lot of this book. He did have his moment at one point when when wanted to marry Penelope and was so determined to ask for her hand nothing (not even a meeting of her insufferable family members) was going to get in his way. And then when he announced he wanted to marry her and her mother was like “You mean Penelope?” he had her back, he was just like why wouldn’t I want to marry Penelope, she has so much to offer and he came with receipts. But aside from that he was a bit whiny about not having anything going on but it’s not like he was trying to pursue anything. And then he gets all jealous of Penelope having something she’s proud of and to call her own. Idk this book in the series just wasn’t for me.
Now the plot for their season of the show has me intrigued and I’m hoping it will not disappoint me like their book.
Colin one day realizes he might like Penelope as more than just a friend and Penelope meanwhile is still hiding the fact she’s Lady Whistledown whilst Lady Danbury has made a proclamation to give a reward to anyone who uncovers Lady Whistledown. But nothing exciting happens. Occasionally here and there I’d start to get a bit more invested but then it would immediately die out.
Also Colon just irritated me a lot of this book. He did have his moment at one point when when wanted to marry Penelope and was so determined to ask for her hand nothing (not even a meeting of her insufferable family members) was going to get in his way. And then when he announced he wanted to marry her and her mother was like “You mean Penelope?” he had her back, he was just like why wouldn’t I want to marry Penelope, she has so much to offer and he came with receipts. But aside from that he was a bit whiny about not having anything going on but it’s not like he was trying to pursue anything. And then he gets all jealous of Penelope having something she’s proud of and to call her own. Idk this book in the series just wasn’t for me.
Now the plot for their season of the show has me intrigued and I’m hoping it will not disappoint me like their book.
goblinbookclub's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
robynlynae's review against another edition
3.0
I re-read this one because I love Penelope with all of my heart. I hope the show does a better job of writing Colin because he was annoying in this book. He felt too controlling of Penelope and that overshadowed their romance in my opinion. Like many of the other books in this series, some of the writing felt misogynistic and put me off. Penelope continues to be my favorite character though. I love her to death so she's the reason this got 3 stars instead of 2.