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sunny_r's review
4.0
Hm 3.5? This was my first Courtney Milan book, and I wanted to love it sooo soo soo much more than I did, but for some reason this book just didn’t click with me like I wanted it to. I’m rounding up the rating bc I think it’s amazing that Milan isn’t afraid to broach topics that many historical romances novels won’t (woman’s rights, female romances, etc.). I felt EMPOWERED reading this book (and I cried at the garden/river scene bc I was so thoroughly moved by Free’s speech) and I loved it for most of the time that I read it. I’m not sure what derailed after about halfway through; I was just left feeing wholly unsatisfied. :((( I’ll try to come back to this review when I have my thoughts sorted, but for now, that’s all I can give.
emilyveryromance's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
fast-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
5.0
This book is perfect. It’s obviously going to be a top 3 read of the year for me. As of now I don’t know what could possibly overtake it for the #1 spot.
The plot is immediately laid out and set into motion. The characters are all either the most lovable you’ve ever encountered, or James Delacey. Free has been built up gently over a few books, and she splashes onto the page fully formed and absolutely ready to rumble.
But Edward. Perfect, terrible Edward. Edward is a god tier hero type. A self-proclaimed bad guy able to back up his assertions of badness. This Ken comes with too-long hair, a desire to be declared legally dead, terrifying forgery skills, and a glove he never takes off. Plus! He’s a huge simp. Marry me!
Anyway, this series is exquisite. And this book is the best in the bunch.
The plot is immediately laid out and set into motion. The characters are all either the most lovable you’ve ever encountered, or James Delacey. Free has been built up gently over a few books, and she splashes onto the page fully formed and absolutely ready to rumble.
But Edward. Perfect, terrible Edward. Edward is a god tier hero type. A self-proclaimed bad guy able to back up his assertions of badness. This Ken comes with too-long hair, a desire to be declared legally dead, terrifying forgery skills, and a glove he never takes off. Plus! He’s a huge simp. Marry me!
Anyway, this series is exquisite. And this book is the best in the bunch.
yourbookishbff's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was the story Free deserved! I have been anxious for her Main Character Moment ever since she showed up in The Heiress Effect, and this exceeded my expectations. This is set ten years after the conclusion of The Countess Conspiracy and feels most closely tied to The Duchess War (seeing Robert and Minnie again made me so dang happy). Free is now operating her own press and pushing boundaries as an investigative reporter on women's suffrage and feminist issues (Milan shares in the author's note how both Nellie Bly and Josephine Butler inspired her character and experiences) and our male main character, Edward, finds himself aligned with her in an effort to upset his brother's plots against her. While his motivation, initially, has nothing to do with protecting Free, this quickly changes as the two develop deeper respect for each other. The final act was just perfect (we even get a grovel?!), and this became my favorite installment in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Torture, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Medical trauma
Notes on sexual assault/sexual violence/medical trauma as well as torture: These all occur in flashbacks/discussion of character backstory. Free previously went undercover at a women's institution where sex workers were held and routinely medically violated for the purpose of the control and monitoring of sexually transmitted infections. In the author's note, Milan quotes Josephine Butler, an activist against the practice at the time, in calling this "surgical rape," and it may be triggering for readers, as Free continues to have panic attacks/nightmares about her time there. Edward experiences torture in his backstory, and describes this in one particular scene toward the end. It is moderately graphic, but does not occur in the story's present timeline.unsuccessfulbookclub's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-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? Yes
5.0
This entire series has been one near perfect historical romance after another and they all led up to this one. OMG.
Free, the titular suffragette, is everything. If you like competent MCs? You will LOVE HER. Edward is the absolute best kind of scoundrel, and we get that Milan Magic TM of the reluctant aristocrat and the man who loves a Difficult Woman TM precisely because she's difficult. If you liked A Rogue of One's Own? You will LOVE THIS.
MAY DISCORD PREVAIL FOREVER!
*there's also a bonus FF secondary romance that was absolutely brilliant
*there's also a bonus FF secondary romance that was absolutely brilliant
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Sexism, Misogyny, Confinement, War, Fire/Fire injury, and Violence
Moderate: Torture and Sexual assault
jess_justmaybeperfect's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
5.0
nitzanschwarz's review
5.0
Honestly? Courtney Milan never disappoints.
I forgot to write something when I pressed publish, and I think that's because it was so obvious in my mind that I forgot it must be written down. This book, a "mere" historical romance, has some of the most inspiring lines and conversations I have read in recent months if not years. It depicts the struggle for women's rights and grapples them with questions we still ask today, such as... WHY BOTHER? And instead of letting that question settle, it ANSWERS it. The voice of Free is strong and powerful, as she explains to a cynical man with no hope why she will never give up, and why their actions matter
I forgot to write something when I pressed publish, and I think that's because it was so obvious in my mind that I forgot it must be written down. This book, a "mere" historical romance, has some of the most inspiring lines and conversations I have read in recent months if not years. It depicts the struggle for women's rights and grapples them with questions we still ask today, such as... WHY BOTHER? And instead of letting that question settle, it ANSWERS it. The voice of Free is strong and powerful, as she explains to a cynical man with no hope why she will never give up, and why their actions matter
“But we’re not trying to empty the Thames,” she told him. “Look at what we’re doing with the water we remove. It doesn’t go to waste. We’re using it to water our gardens, sprout by sprout. We’re growing bluebells and clovers where once there was a desert. All you see is the river, but I care about the roses.”
I, for one, highly encourage you to discover this inpirational lady (and her partner in crime) all for yourself.
Here's why you should read The Suffragette Scandal or any other of Milan's works:
1. If you love historical romances
2. If you love heroes who are head over heels in love with their girl, who would never change a single thing about her, who would sacrifice everything to see her flourish, who are physically attracted to her but more than that are MENTALLY attracted to her. Like, Edward thinks Free is the prettiest thing he's ever seen, but whenever he's with her he doesn't think about burying his **** in her, but rather on how much she surprises him, and astonishes him, and how much he is in awe of her spirit and her mind and her fierceness. A++++ on all accounts.
3. If you love heroes who are broken into cynicism, believing themselves unworthy of trust and love and happy endings, but just can't help themselves when it comes to their girls.
4. If you love heroines who are fierce and strong, in their sexuality and in their mind. Who will not cower, will not hold back, will not accept society roles for them and will fight back. Who will be the smartest and cleverest person in any room, and who will make most people admit the truth of that--even if just in the privacy of their own brains.
5. If you love heroines who are born at the wrong times--too modern, too forward in their thinkings--but who instead of letting themselves be beaten into submission will beat the ton into acceptance. They will change the world, one little victory at a time, and become an inspiration to a generation of women.
6. If on top of all these, you love BANTER. Delicious, flirty, funny banter. Two people crossing verbal swords in a tango, both equally enjoying the others feints and strikes.
7. If you love supporting families, and even MORE if you love forging your own families, the bonds of blood be damned to hell and back. Blood does not make a brother--love, and companionship and loyalty does.
8. If you love LGBTQ+ representation in your historical romances??? Milan is just about the only one I've read who does this pretty explicitly, and I need a Patrick novel (or novella) because there is a story there with the Baron and I'm not even sure if it has started already or not.
9. If you just love a GOOD romance. The coming together of two people who ABSOLUTELY should be together, and it's effortless and easy (for the most part) because it's meant to be so why waste time with meaningless miscommunications?
That's to say... read this one. Read this WHOLE series. It's all about modern women in a time modern women wasn't a thing and treated more as a disease, and the special men who love them FOR their innovative minds and would do everything to keep their women happy, flourishing, and successful.
Here's why you should read The Suffragette Scandal or any other of Milan's works:
1. If you love historical romances
2. If you love heroes who are head over heels in love with their girl, who would never change a single thing about her, who would sacrifice everything to see her flourish, who are physically attracted to her but more than that are MENTALLY attracted to her. Like, Edward thinks Free is the prettiest thing he's ever seen, but whenever he's with her he doesn't think about burying his **** in her, but rather on how much she surprises him, and astonishes him, and how much he is in awe of her spirit and her mind and her fierceness. A++++ on all accounts.
3. If you love heroes who are broken into cynicism, believing themselves unworthy of trust and love and happy endings, but just can't help themselves when it comes to their girls.
4. If you love heroines who are fierce and strong, in their sexuality and in their mind. Who will not cower, will not hold back, will not accept society roles for them and will fight back. Who will be the smartest and cleverest person in any room, and who will make most people admit the truth of that--even if just in the privacy of their own brains.
5. If you love heroines who are born at the wrong times--too modern, too forward in their thinkings--but who instead of letting themselves be beaten into submission will beat the ton into acceptance. They will change the world, one little victory at a time, and become an inspiration to a generation of women.
6. If on top of all these, you love BANTER. Delicious, flirty, funny banter. Two people crossing verbal swords in a tango, both equally enjoying the others feints and strikes.
7. If you love supporting families, and even MORE if you love forging your own families, the bonds of blood be damned to hell and back. Blood does not make a brother--love, and companionship and loyalty does.
8. If you love LGBTQ+ representation in your historical romances??? Milan is just about the only one I've read who does this pretty explicitly, and I need a Patrick novel (or novella) because there is a story there with the Baron and I'm not even sure if it has started already or not.
9. If you just love a GOOD romance. The coming together of two people who ABSOLUTELY should be together, and it's effortless and easy (for the most part) because it's meant to be so why waste time with meaningless miscommunications?
That's to say... read this one. Read this WHOLE series. It's all about modern women in a time modern women wasn't a thing and treated more as a disease, and the special men who love them FOR their innovative minds and would do everything to keep their women happy, flourishing, and successful.
rebleejen's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
saranies's review
3.0
Didn't like the main characters as much as the other protagonists in the series, but I do love this author.
kasimmonds's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5