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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
This is the second book I have read by Heyer, and I have to say that I enjoyed it much more than The Convenient Marriage. I'm glad I gave Heyer another try. This novel was written much later, in 1965, and takes place in the Regency Era.
Frederica is a young lady who has been taking care of her family ever since her mother died when she was young. She has four younger siblings that she looks after, and now that her younger sister is coming of age, she wants her to be able to experience coming-out in London. In order to help her accomplish this, she contacts a distant relation who she has never met, Lord Alverstoke, and asks for his help. Alverstoke is a confirmed bachelor who is bored by his life, and ends up taking on the challenge mainly to irritate his sister. He succeeds in both launching the Merrivilles into society and causing strife in his family, all of which amuses him. But he had not counted on actually beginning to care for Frederica or her younger brothers, and he must reevaluate much of his life as a result.
I just loved most of the main characters in this book, which was the main problem for me with The Convenient Marriage. Even though the Earl of Rule and Lord Alverstoke share many characteristics, Heyer made me actually like Alverstoke. And Frederica and her two younger brothers, Jessamy and Felix, are just fantastic characters. The social humor is very similar to The Convenient Marriage, and as in that book, the romance does not get resolved until the very final pages of the book. But it was well worth the wait, and a treat of a book in general.
Frederica is a young lady who has been taking care of her family ever since her mother died when she was young. She has four younger siblings that she looks after, and now that her younger sister is coming of age, she wants her to be able to experience coming-out in London. In order to help her accomplish this, she contacts a distant relation who she has never met, Lord Alverstoke, and asks for his help. Alverstoke is a confirmed bachelor who is bored by his life, and ends up taking on the challenge mainly to irritate his sister. He succeeds in both launching the Merrivilles into society and causing strife in his family, all of which amuses him. But he had not counted on actually beginning to care for Frederica or her younger brothers, and he must reevaluate much of his life as a result.
I just loved most of the main characters in this book, which was the main problem for me with The Convenient Marriage. Even though the Earl of Rule and Lord Alverstoke share many characteristics, Heyer made me actually like Alverstoke. And Frederica and her two younger brothers, Jessamy and Felix, are just fantastic characters. The social humor is very similar to The Convenient Marriage, and as in that book, the romance does not get resolved until the very final pages of the book. But it was well worth the wait, and a treat of a book in general.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Reading this book felt like reading the blueprint for all subsequent historical romance books which features the heroine’s quirky and spirited younger siblings, all whom she is responsible for (there is a surprisingly common trope).
Heyer excels in writing sparkling and humorous banter between her main romantic pair and Frederica is no exception. The story drags in places. I found the illness subplot to be dull.
Overall, a solid Heyer, but not one of my favorites.
Heyer excels in writing sparkling and humorous banter between her main romantic pair and Frederica is no exception. The story drags in places. I found the illness subplot to be dull.
Overall, a solid Heyer, but not one of my favorites.
Probably one of the books that started the whole historical romance genre! This was first published in 1965 and Sourcebooks is publishing it with a dashing new cover. I have to say that this book reminds me of tropes that are in so many historical romance titles, however kinda cool to think that this is actually the book that inspires them all
Probably one of the books that started the whole historical romance genre! This was first published in 1965 and Sourcebooks is publishing it with a dashing new cover. I have to say that this book reminds me of tropes that are in so many historical romance titles, however kinda cool to think that this is actually the book that inspires them all
I love Georgette Heyer's romances (the mysteries leave a little to be desired, but that's another review). And THIS ONE KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK. The supporting characters were just as wonderful as the main characters and it was a joy to fall into their world. 10/10 would reccomend!!!!!
This book is being reissued and I was able to get an ARC. My mom loves this author. She told me to buy her everything by this author when I see the books in used book stores. And I have. While this book was very funny the paragraphs are so long and rambling that I would find my mind wandering several times. There is no need for a paragraph to be two kindle pages. It is just not necessary. Also I think the book was too long. There were multiple side stories and I was reading this for the romance that wasn't happening. Literally the last page of an almost 500 page book. I probably will pick up another Georgette Heyer book as I think maybe this one was just a bad choice to start off with. The other books do not look as long. It was funny and that is what kept me reading.
I loved this SO much!
One of my favorite things about Heyers work has been the wry insults and humor. I’ve learned many wonderful lines and I hope I remember them at the most opportune times!!
Amongst them, from this particular book;
“Pudding hearts”, “a shameless commoner”, and my absolute favorite, “(Felix was amidst) far from fashionable persons (his brother would have)stigmatized as members of the Great Unwashed”
This was another I laughed several times til I was almost crying.
I found slight similarities to Arabella in this one; a moral/cultural vein, a wealthy spoiled bachelor who takes to the unlikely girl because she surprises him and partly because she doesn’t think of him like that at all when he’s been hounded to death otherwise. But this was much richer and I liked Alverstoke better.
I loved the little lessons here weren’t in your face but you appreciated them, and learned more about the characters, as they learned.
I loved how Frederica took responsibility and cared so much for her siblings and how much they loved her too.
I loved how Alverstoke’s character absolutely transformed upon meeting and then guarding Felix and Jessamy. His whole “thing” was he despised boredom. Well, there never was any fear of a dull moment in the Merriville family’s company! How he came to regard them and how he got to experience true FaMiLy together like he’d never known in his growing up made my heart so happy!!!
One of my favorite things about Heyers work has been the wry insults and humor. I’ve learned many wonderful lines and I hope I remember them at the most opportune times!!
Amongst them, from this particular book;
“Pudding hearts”, “a shameless commoner”, and my absolute favorite, “(Felix was amidst) far from fashionable persons (his brother would have)stigmatized as members of the Great Unwashed”
This was another I laughed several times til I was almost crying.
I found slight similarities to Arabella in this one; a moral/cultural vein, a wealthy spoiled bachelor who takes to the unlikely girl because she surprises him and partly because she doesn’t think of him like that at all when he’s been hounded to death otherwise. But this was much richer and I liked Alverstoke better.
I loved the little lessons here weren’t in your face but you appreciated them, and learned more about the characters, as they learned.
I loved how Frederica took responsibility and cared so much for her siblings and how much they loved her too.
I loved how Alverstoke’s character absolutely transformed upon meeting and then guarding Felix and Jessamy. His whole “thing” was he despised boredom. Well, there never was any fear of a dull moment in the Merriville family’s company! How he came to regard them and how he got to experience true FaMiLy together like he’d never known in his growing up made my heart so happy!!!
This is one of my favorite Georgette Heyers, especially due to the last couple pages! It would be both exhausting and delightful to be acquainted with Felix and Jessamy!
"Revolted by such a betrayal of unmanliness, he bent a disapproving look upon his idol, and demanded: 'Why are you buddling Frederica, sir?' 'Because we are going to be married...it is obligatory, you know. One is expected to -er-cuddle the lady one is going to marry.' '...Well, I won't ask anyone to marry me, if that's what you have to do!'" Oh, Felix.
"Revolted by such a betrayal of unmanliness, he bent a disapproving look upon his idol, and demanded: 'Why are you buddling Frederica, sir?' 'Because we are going to be married...it is obligatory, you know. One is expected to -er-cuddle the lady one is going to marry.' '...Well, I won't ask anyone to marry me, if that's what you have to do!'" Oh, Felix.
Probably my favourite Georgette Heyer novel. I love Frederica and Alverstoke’s relationship and all the twists and turns the story makes and antics the characters get up to
Delightful! I was so hoping to like this; I had only read "The Grand Sophy" and wasn't bowled over by it, so I was unsure if I'd take to this one. Frederica, the character, is a bit overwhelming at the start but she quickly grew on me, as did the whole story. Would've adored an Epilogue or, at least, more of F and V as a couple (at last!) but, sigh, not to be.