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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
Read for Popsugar: A book about a 24-year-old
Our titular Frederica is 24, but the book is really about her whole family and the grumpy Marquis they win over. The characters are a lot of fun, and there are many entertaining scrapes. I think what threw me was the pacing, - it ambled through the first three quarters and then a lot happens in the last one. But overall very enjoyable!
Our titular Frederica is 24, but the book is really about her whole family and the grumpy Marquis they win over. The characters are a lot of fun, and there are many entertaining scrapes. I think what threw me was the pacing, - it ambled through the first three quarters and then a lot happens in the last one. But overall very enjoyable!
From beginning to end, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There were no lulls of boredom but a constant flow of capturing narrative. What made this book truly come to life were the characters. They were introduced and developed so well that you could see exactly where Heyer meant each character's story to go. She is my new favourite historical fiction writer.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Even a mediocre Heyer is an excellent book
Do you like Regency romances? If so, you will love this.
The romance is slow-building, plausible and based on a real rapport between the characters. Frederica and Alverstoke bring out the best in each other, and they respect and like each other before love enters into it. Their dialogue is sharp and witty.
And unusually for a romance novel, the focus is on Alverstoke's point of view. He's more lively and witty than the usual male lead. His interplay with Frederica's brothers (and dog) is always hilarious. I don't recall the last time I was so amused by a romance novel.
The writing is great, the characters are memorable, and the romance is not horribly sexist. That's what I came for, and that's what I got. This is not high literature, but it's never boring either. Alverstoke so hates to be bored.
The romance is slow-building, plausible and based on a real rapport between the characters. Frederica and Alverstoke bring out the best in each other, and they respect and like each other before love enters into it. Their dialogue is sharp and witty.
And unusually for a romance novel, the focus is on Alverstoke's point of view. He's more lively and witty than the usual male lead. His interplay with Frederica's brothers (and dog) is always hilarious. I don't recall the last time I was so amused by a romance novel.
The writing is great, the characters are memorable, and the romance is not horribly sexist. That's what I came for, and that's what I got. This is not high literature, but it's never boring either. Alverstoke so hates to be bored.
This was probably the most romantic of the three books I’ve read by this author. However, it was not in your face obvious as more contemporary romances. It is subtle. But the Marquis falling for Fredericka was obvious with his every word and action and decision. Also strangely enough, it felt like the Marquis was the main character in this story, with my page time and character growth, than the titular character. Either way, I adored it. It was cute and funny and exactly the style of historical romance I love. I’m excited to read more by this author
Very nearly as funny as [b:The Grand Sophy|261689|The Grand Sophy|Georgette Heyer|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1414731822s/261689.jpg|3234291]. I adore the Merrivilles, and very much enjoyed reading about their adventures in London. The titular Frederica, a self-declared old maid at 24, has come down to London to give her younger, and stunningly beautiful, sister Charis a London Season.
Special Animal Guest Star: Lufra, variously a mongrel or a rare and valuable Baluchistan hound.
Special Animal Guest Star: Lufra, variously a mongrel or a rare and valuable Baluchistan hound.
A light-hearted read that kept my interest throughout. I would like to meet both Frederica and Alverstoke in real life! And Felix. He seems like a fun little chap and future engineer.
(2 stars = it was okay)
An aromantic period romance. Not a lot of plot, but a lot of sometimes impenetrable banter. Disappointingly, the strong capable female protagonist gradually becomes more & more dependent on the rich & unflappable lord.
An aromantic period romance. Not a lot of plot, but a lot of sometimes impenetrable banter. Disappointingly, the strong capable female protagonist gradually becomes more & more dependent on the rich & unflappable lord.
I'm so glad, I finally get to read Georgette Heyer's book, because I wanted to try her for such a long time, but there just wasn't... what? I don't know... (too many books, I guess).
I enjoyed Frederica very much. The family feelings are strong in this one, so if you don't enjoy reading about kids, this book probably isn't for you. I, for my part, loved that though I have to admit that while the addition of kids strengthened the romantic relationship, it also took so much time from it that the book left me a little bit disappointed (I thought the ending was rushed). The humour is great though, characters alive... the romance had some problems to get me on board. In the beginning, I just couldn't truly liked Alverstoke. Even if he was in the right, he often said things that were quite sexist and though I found him interesting and good written, I couldn't really relate to him and like him. On top of that the faults he had made him for me an impossible love interest - how could you fall in love with someone who gets bored so easily? That's just asking for a heartbreak. BUT Heyer managed to won me over, his character development is masterful and I loved that.
This is very Austenesque book, if you are looking for more books similar to [a:Jane Austen|1265|Jane Austen|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1651510251p2/1265.jpg], this is it. It's not so focused on social commentaries as Austen is, but it's pretty close match. It also reminded me of (don't kill me) [b:The Viscount Who Loved Me|861326|The Viscount Who Loved Me (Bridgertons, #2)|Julia Quinn|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1379594308l/861326._SY75_.jpg|3363] (minus sex) - it uses some similar tropes (two sisters), has strong family feels, adds humour to scenes that are supposed to be romantic (the bee scene and the pork jelly scene). Frederica is of course much more historically accurate and the genre is a bit different, but... if you enjoyed Viscount you might enjoy this book.
I enjoyed Frederica very much. The family feelings are strong in this one, so if you don't enjoy reading about kids, this book probably isn't for you. I, for my part, loved that though I have to admit that while the addition of kids strengthened the romantic relationship, it also took so much time from it that the book left me a little bit disappointed (I thought the ending was rushed). The humour is great though, characters alive... the romance had some problems to get me on board. In the beginning, I just couldn't truly liked Alverstoke. Even if he was in the right, he often said things that were quite sexist and though I found him interesting and good written, I couldn't really relate to him and like him. On top of that the faults he had made him for me an impossible love interest - how could you fall in love with someone who gets bored so easily? That's just asking for a heartbreak. BUT Heyer managed to won me over, his character development is masterful and I loved that.
This is very Austenesque book, if you are looking for more books similar to [a:Jane Austen|1265|Jane Austen|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1651510251p2/1265.jpg], this is it. It's not so focused on social commentaries as Austen is, but it's pretty close match. It also reminded me of (don't kill me) [b:The Viscount Who Loved Me|861326|The Viscount Who Loved Me (Bridgertons, #2)|Julia Quinn|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1379594308l/861326._SY75_.jpg|3363] (minus sex) - it uses some similar tropes (two sisters), has strong family feels, adds humour to scenes that are supposed to be romantic (the bee scene and the pork jelly scene). Frederica is of course much more historically accurate and the genre is a bit different, but... if you enjoyed Viscount you might enjoy this book.