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now_booking's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I was really loving this book till it went awry about three-quarters of the way in. I’m not a huge fan of enemies to lovers which is the major trope this is, but I had made it through thanks to the wit and humour and banter the author put in to cushion some of the really harsh things the hero and heroine said to each other. Then WHAM! out of nowhere a super contrived, not very believable or sense-making conflict was conjured up out of nowhere. So nonsensical and irrational was the conflict, that I had to read it over and over to make sure *I* hadn’t lost the plot. I couldn’t understand why Daniel was upset or what Sarah wanted Hugh to do about the situation in which he had saved Daniel, or really why the whole matter because ABOUT Sarah... I was baffled. Especially with the escalation from zero to a million in no time at all.
The premise is that Sarah and Hugh are thrown together at her cousin’s wedding and forced to be in close proximity to each other. The only problem is that they despise each other openly, but must pretend to make nice for the sake of Sarah’s sweet cousin, Honoria. But then as they get to know each other, they each realise that the other is not that bad.
Other than the bizarre turn this book took in the last quarter or so, I enjoyed this. Sarah was as her cousin, Iris, identified, somewhat selfish and self-centered, but she could also be fun and sweet and witty. Hugh was clearly a neurodiverse hero and I love seeing this rep in historical romance, especially when it is done well, rather than being caricatured. This series hasn’t been my favourite so far, but they are interesting books overall with laugh out loud funny moments abound.
CW: homophobia, rape, domestic abuse, ableism, PTSD.
The premise is that Sarah and Hugh are thrown together at her cousin’s wedding and forced to be in close proximity to each other. The only problem is that they despise each other openly, but must pretend to make nice for the sake of Sarah’s sweet cousin, Honoria. But then as they get to know each other, they each realise that the other is not that bad.
Other than the bizarre turn this book took in the last quarter or so, I enjoyed this. Sarah was as her cousin, Iris, identified, somewhat selfish and self-centered, but she could also be fun and sweet and witty. Hugh was clearly a neurodiverse hero and I love seeing this rep in historical romance, especially when it is done well, rather than being caricatured. This series hasn’t been my favourite so far, but they are interesting books overall with laugh out loud funny moments abound.
CW: homophobia, rape, domestic abuse, ableism, PTSD.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia
ellanarose's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Sexism, Physical abuse, and Misogyny
Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
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