Reviews

The Aristocrat by Penelope Ward

readlovereviewblog's review

4.0

If you love "The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks," you will enjoy The Aristocrat by Penelope Ward. This summer romance is swoon-worthy, heartbreaking, and has the perfect dreamy ending. This book was a rollercoaster as Felicity and Leo encounter each other on a summer vacation. The month they have together is steamy as they both experience a first summer love. However, life's obligations pull them apart, and distance and lack of communication are almost their undoing. I was a blubbering mess reading this. But the author surprised me with an unexpected ending that I truly enjoyed. I enjoyed that the author included the storyline's billionaire and opposites attract tropes and the small town summer vibes.

Felicity lives on the bay in Rhode Island and is caught spying on her male neighbors. Of course, she is detected, and the story gets some embarrassing moments. A run-in at the grocery store, an exciting introduction, and an invite for tea with her new neighbors Leo and Sig, both British Adonis.

This should be an exciting month of fun, relaxation, and some insane chemistry, just what the doctor ordered for a summer holiday. The disasters keep happing. But they sure are funny. I like the punny conversations and remarks. Oh, I like it when his skeletons come out of the closet, and we get an accurate idea of his important status. Yup, totally swoony and dreamy.

I do like that we get his pov as well. It is nice to see what he is thinking. A whirlwind summer romance ensues, and this couple eventually does and gets steamy. However, I believe the kisses were better described than the actual act of intimacy. The inevitable happens even if they don't want it to, and that farewell was heartbreaking. Then we time jump five years in the future.

We begin again with Felicity. Her life has changed so much in the last five years. Omg, her next moves are stunning, and I'm so excited to see what happens. I didn't expect heartbreak yup, I'm blubbering. I have no clue how the author fixes this without someone's heartbreaking. Still, she manages, and this summer whirlwind romance gets complicated even as the years pass. I did like how the author ended this story.

a_stylish_bookworm's review against another edition

funny hopeful medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

3.75

Felicity and Leo's summer romance was so great. The slow burn and banter was perfection. I love how Sig added the sarcasm with him and Felicity. Mrs. Angelini and bnb keeper added the motherly figure for both character and so full of spunk.

Leo's responsibility back in England seems a bit outdated as a plot line. I didn't enjoy to how Leo and Felicity reconnected but glad they got their HEA. 

The narration was great and made the audio book so fun.

amandavano's review

challenging emotional hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

cobaltbookshelf's review

2.0

First part of book was okay the second...smh.

nicandbooks's review

emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

“My entire world is you, Felicity. Without you, I have nothing.”

This book has been on my radar for a little but now - and even more-so once the loosely linked to it book The Surrogate came out - and I'm so glad I made time to read it. Felicity and Leo's story is absolutely beautiful - from a hilarious meet-cute, to a summer of love and loving, to heartbreak and twists and turns I didn't see coming. I couldn't put this book down - it was just that good. It made me smile, it broke my heart, it made me cry but it also put everything back together. Absolutely amazing!!

terr717's review

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

tangochick6969's review against another edition

2.0

✨ 2.22 stars ✨

Lately, my slump has just been slumping and I'm really struggling to find good books, but once I saw this book was released I thought hello inferior Penelope (superior title goes to miss Douglas), who once brought me gems such as [b:Stepbrother Dearest|22843341|Stepbrother Dearest|Penelope Ward|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1407407844l/22843341._SY75_.jpg|42401641], [b:Neighbor Dearest|31520171|Neighbor Dearest|Penelope Ward|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1503563294l/31520171._SY75_.jpg|50875566], and [b:Stuck-Up Suit|28477789|Stuck-Up Suit|Vi Keeland|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1456315337l/28477789._SY75_.jpg|48619088] what have you brought me now? A HOT BRITISH LORD and CUTE QUIRKY NERDY HEROINE?

Say no more sis take my coins!! (legally cannot say what I actually mean)

Thanks to hala for suffering through this with me and even though we lost her halfway through the book, I continued reading and channeled her spirit to keep me going till the finish line. I dedicate this review to you hala <3

patato's review against another edition

emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Pretty book, but I felt a bit annoyed by Leo's choices at times. I kind of can see why he did what he did, but it would had been easier for everyone if he just followed his heart from the start.

theeuphoriczat's review

3.0

Once again Penelope Ward has topped herself with this book.

Felicity meets Leo during one summer holiday, they immediately form a bond. She finds out that he is to be the next duke in England. They both know that she is not ready for that kind of life. So he leaves and they decide not to contact each other. Year later, she finds a letter from Leo which says that he is getting married soon but he still loves her and he would nto hestiate to stop the wedding if she tell him to.

She decides to go to England to stop him. Only when she gets there she finds that she had read the year wrongly and he is married!

Guys this one broke my heart and mended it. I hope you check it out.

pagesinkedinshadows's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective tense 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? It's complicated

4.5

This was such an angst filled emotional story! I loved the chemistry & passion between Leo & Felicity. I loved the snark and sarcasm from Sig. 
this was full of hope, and lost moments, true love and meaningful moments.