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meggie82461's review
5.0
4.5 stars, rounded up
Y'all were right - Sherry Thomas loves her melodrama, and she also can WRITE. I loved every minute of this one, and I am sure it won't be long before I attack her entire catalogue. I'm not usually a huge fan of the "marriage in trouble" trope, but this worked for me because it included the lead-up to the marriage, as well as the honeymoon. I think I need to know about the beginning of the relationship to really feel like I know what is going on. And oh boy, did we know everything, the good, the bad, the ugly. I loved every minute of the angst, the grovel, and the resolution - it was all super rewarding.
Louisa Cantwell, a poor country girl, finds a sponsor and embarks on her London Season to land a husband. She is doing this because she wants to be able to care for Matilda, her epileptic younger sister. She goes about this very pragmatically and hones in quickly on two gentlemen with a decent amount of money, with decent reputations, that will allow her some freedom. She has no interest in landing a big fish like Felix (AKA Lord Wrenworth). However, her lack of interest - and downright skepticism - intrigues Felix. Society nicknamed him "The Ideal Gentleman", after all; how could a random country bumpkin be the only person who sees through to the real him? And so begins the push and pull between Louisa, a girl who deserves more, and Felix, a man who has everything.
Felix is definitely a melodramatic scoundrel, but nothing he did was irredeemable to me, especially considering his motive was simply that he wanted her. And Louisa, for being so out of her element, really held her own with him. I loved her. But in the end, I think what made Felix worth it was how he treated her as an equal. Even when he was being a dick, he still never underestimated her. I would have forgiven him too, maybe even before she did, and I rarely feel that way. But I am glad she held out, because that final sequence with the visitor was worth all the anguish.
This won't be for everyone, but I loved it, and I feel like you will too if you are in the mood for some angsty, HR goodness.
Y'all were right - Sherry Thomas loves her melodrama, and she also can WRITE. I loved every minute of this one, and I am sure it won't be long before I attack her entire catalogue. I'm not usually a huge fan of the "marriage in trouble" trope, but this worked for me because it included the lead-up to the marriage, as well as the honeymoon. I think I need to know about the beginning of the relationship to really feel like I know what is going on. And oh boy, did we know everything, the good, the bad, the ugly. I loved every minute of the angst, the grovel, and the resolution - it was all super rewarding.
Louisa Cantwell, a poor country girl, finds a sponsor and embarks on her London Season to land a husband. She is doing this because she wants to be able to care for Matilda, her epileptic younger sister. She goes about this very pragmatically and hones in quickly on two gentlemen with a decent amount of money, with decent reputations, that will allow her some freedom. She has no interest in landing a big fish like Felix (AKA Lord Wrenworth). However, her lack of interest - and downright skepticism - intrigues Felix. Society nicknamed him "The Ideal Gentleman", after all; how could a random country bumpkin be the only person who sees through to the real him? And so begins the push and pull between Louisa, a girl who deserves more, and Felix, a man who has everything.
Felix is definitely a melodramatic scoundrel, but nothing he did was irredeemable to me, especially considering his motive was simply that he wanted her. And Louisa, for being so out of her element, really held her own with him. I loved her. But in the end, I think what made Felix worth it was how he treated her as an equal. Even when he was being a dick, he still never underestimated her. I would have forgiven him too, maybe even before she did, and I rarely feel that way. But I am glad she held out, because that final sequence with the visitor was worth all the anguish.
This won't be for everyone, but I loved it, and I feel like you will too if you are in the mood for some angsty, HR goodness.
indolentfop's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
megan451128's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bookmamanumber9's review
emotional
funny
medium-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
4.5
4.5 for pure enjoyment!! i just loved it.
melypq2002's review
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
janessamann's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
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
carbs666's review
emotional
tense
medium-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
4.0
I never thought a book would make me so horny about learning math!!
This book is not for everyone but I REALLY enjoyed it. This is all character, no plot. Once these two get married the degree of tension between them and their inability to navigate a relationship carries the narrative, which would annoy some people but I found totally riveting. I loved Louisa, the way her ruthless practically gets so totally derailed by insatiable horniness is very relatable. And I thought Felix was a compelling hero - he kind of reminded me of Dain (Lord of Scoundrels) or other heros who are jaded because of a childhood wound to the psyche, but the twist that instead of taking pride in a bad reputation he has cultivated a (totally false) image of perfection was an interesting twist. If you want to read a romance with a bucket load of sexual tension and all internal conflict, this is a great choice!
This book is not for everyone but I REALLY enjoyed it. This is all character, no plot. Once these two get married the degree of tension between them and their inability to navigate a relationship carries the narrative, which would annoy some people but I found totally riveting. I loved Louisa, the way her ruthless practically gets so totally derailed by insatiable horniness is very relatable. And I thought Felix was a compelling hero - he kind of reminded me of Dain (Lord of Scoundrels) or other heros who are jaded because of a childhood wound to the psyche, but the twist that instead of taking pride in a bad reputation he has cultivated a (totally false) image of perfection was an interesting twist. If you want to read a romance with a bucket load of sexual tension and all internal conflict, this is a great choice!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
joyfulgirl's review
emotional
funny
medium-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
4.0
emmadavis_08's review
emotional
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0