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thefatpaperback's review
I PLAN TO RETURN TO IT!!! Mood reading won this time but it will be conquered.
ontheshelf_romance's review against another edition
5.0
I was kindly gifted this book by the author as, living in the UK, I was really upset when I realised it wouldn’t be going onto our Netgalley. Eva Leigh came to the rescue and sent me a copy directly and for that I will be forever grateful, so thank you!
This is Finn and Tabitha’s story - a marriage of convenience - and for me it was brilliant from start to finish. The hero, a notorious, handsome, gambler, is quite obviously dyslexic, but as that hadn’t been diagnosed at the time the book was set, his father and tutors just assumed he was stupid and their treatment towards him is very uncomfortable to read about. Luckily our heroine, a bluestocking, see’s Finn for who he is, she even reads to him and he gradually puts his fear of books and libraries to one side as she shows him another side of literature. Both have their own reasons for entering into a marriage of convenience but neither think love is on the cards for them…
The writing is fantastic, the dialogue between the two main characters carried the story forward, and as Finn tried to set up Tabitha with best friend Dom first, you could see Finn and Tabitha become friends before lovers and it set a good foundation for them both - they surprisingly liked each other! Their insecurities did show throughout the book, about what they believed were their failings, but it was dealt with beautifully by Leigh, and in the end, love will always win – whether they want it to or not! I must admit to wanting to give both the main characters a massive hug as I felt they needed it.
The book is such a wholesome book and I resonate with Finn so much. I wasn’t dyslexic as a child, but I did struggle to read, but it wasn’t until I met my husband, who installed in me a feeling of self-confidence and self-worth, that I began to believe in my abilities. For this reason, How the Wallflower was Won will be one of my top books of 2022 and probably one of my all-time favourites that I will re-read again and again.
A massive 5 stars from me. All thoughts are my own.
This is Finn and Tabitha’s story - a marriage of convenience - and for me it was brilliant from start to finish. The hero, a notorious, handsome, gambler, is quite obviously dyslexic, but as that hadn’t been diagnosed at the time the book was set, his father and tutors just assumed he was stupid and their treatment towards him is very uncomfortable to read about. Luckily our heroine, a bluestocking, see’s Finn for who he is, she even reads to him and he gradually puts his fear of books and libraries to one side as she shows him another side of literature. Both have their own reasons for entering into a marriage of convenience but neither think love is on the cards for them…
The writing is fantastic, the dialogue between the two main characters carried the story forward, and as Finn tried to set up Tabitha with best friend Dom first, you could see Finn and Tabitha become friends before lovers and it set a good foundation for them both - they surprisingly liked each other! Their insecurities did show throughout the book, about what they believed were their failings, but it was dealt with beautifully by Leigh, and in the end, love will always win – whether they want it to or not! I must admit to wanting to give both the main characters a massive hug as I felt they needed it.
The book is such a wholesome book and I resonate with Finn so much. I wasn’t dyslexic as a child, but I did struggle to read, but it wasn’t until I met my husband, who installed in me a feeling of self-confidence and self-worth, that I began to believe in my abilities. For this reason, How the Wallflower was Won will be one of my top books of 2022 and probably one of my all-time favourites that I will re-read again and again.
A massive 5 stars from me. All thoughts are my own.
beccamonster44's review against another edition
2.0
This book started out strong but it felt like it was mostly wrapped up 2/3 of the way in and any leftover plot points could have been summed up in the epilogue. Honestly, it should have ended after chapter 21 because the characters completely lost my regard after
Spoiler
that asinine and childish fight that should have been resolved within hours, not days, and certainly did not require a grand gesture to resolve.cupiscent's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Thoroughly charming (and spicy) romance that unfortunately (for me) leaned hard into some things that just don't move me. (I don't much care about dirty talk; and I get wildly frustrated when people over-analyse the "relationship" when the situation they're in is thoroughly enjoyable to them. Stop borrowing trouble, just have fun.) All that said, I thought the first half to two-thirds of this was solidly delightful, really establishing the characters and their compatibility very well. The final third worked less well for me, the tension slipping away in their partnership and domestic bliss, and the break-up rather flimsy. (Though the issues had been established, they hadn't been developed in the relationship; the tension of the pairing was in another direction, so the whole thing seemed extremely resolveable.) The finale was very emotionally satisfying for the character arcs, but didn't really have a throughline from the break-up, so overall I was left a little meh.
tippyloohoo's review against another edition
4.0
I am really impressed with this series by Eva Leigh. I gave 4 stars to book 1, The Good Girl’s Guide to Rakes, and I’m giving 3.75 stars (so basically 4) to How the Wallflower Was Won, which is book 2. I love that Tabitha is a bluestocking but that she does not, at any point in the story, judge Finn for his lack of education. I also love that Finn’s ability with numbers and gambling compliment Tabitha’s bookishness. And the steaminess cannot be denied. My watch tracked my heart rate at more than 20 BPM faster than normal during one scene. A great read that left me highly anticipating book 3. Dom’s story can’t get here fast enough.
andrea_author's review against another edition
4.0
Marriage of convenience! Can a gambler and a bluestocking find true love?
Finn and Tabitha both think they’re not destined for love. Both need to marry, and when they strike up a friendship, they agree to marry each other. The attraction between them is strong, but they believe love can only lead to heartbreak. Because of a learning disability, Finn has been told all his life that he’s stupid. Because she’s a woman, Tabitha is denied entrance to an intellectual society. They value each other’s gifts and heal each other’s wounds, yet still find it difficult to trust. It’s an emotional and entertaining story.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Finn and Tabitha both think they’re not destined for love. Both need to marry, and when they strike up a friendship, they agree to marry each other. The attraction between them is strong, but they believe love can only lead to heartbreak. Because of a learning disability, Finn has been told all his life that he’s stupid. Because she’s a woman, Tabitha is denied entrance to an intellectual society. They value each other’s gifts and heal each other’s wounds, yet still find it difficult to trust. It’s an emotional and entertaining story.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
avsreads13's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
colleen1011's review against another edition
4.0
I thought this was a charming book!. I found this book to be well done. I thought it was a fun story and I really enjoyed Tabitha and Finn. I would recommend this book to others.