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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The MMC borderline groomed the FMC and although nothing happened until they were adults and everything was consensual, the premise of the book still made me uncomfortable.
Though I was not a fan that the FMC nearly died before the MMC realized his love for her, I did appreciate the storyline of falling in love and not being 100% certain that's what you're feeling. We rarely find any thing other than passion at first sight (because let's face that even includes enemies to lovers) in most romance.
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
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a reread for me; I have been listening to the Fated Mates podcast, and this is the next deep dive episode in my catch up. I didn't have a clear memory of this book, so I reread it to have it fresh in my mind.
This book didn't pop for me on a first read, and it still didn't on a reread. I don't feel like the HEA is earned, and don't feel the chemistry between the two leads. Miranda fell in love with Turner when she was ten, and I don't think Quinn does enough to convince the reader that it is anything more than infatuation or puppy love for a best friend's older brother who was nice to her. Turner's character also doesn't ring true. He is established as this cold, closed-off, scarred man, but it doesn't feel believable.
Pregnancy plays a central role in the novel, which didn't work for me in this book, how it impacts when Turner realizes he loves Miranda.
It's a Julia Quinn novel though, so it is easy and enjoyable to read, if not my favorite.
This book didn't pop for me on a first read, and it still didn't on a reread. I don't feel like the HEA is earned, and don't feel the chemistry between the two leads. Miranda fell in love with Turner when she was ten, and I don't think Quinn does enough to convince the reader that it is anything more than infatuation or puppy love for a best friend's older brother who was nice to her. Turner's character also doesn't ring true. He is established as this cold, closed-off, scarred man, but it doesn't feel believable.
Pregnancy plays a central role in the novel, which didn't work for me in this book, how it impacts when Turner realizes he loves Miranda.
It's a Julia Quinn novel though, so it is easy and enjoyable to read, if not my favorite.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Light hearted historical romance.
Miranda fell in love when she was 10. She stayed that was for nine years until she finally told the object of her affection that she loved him.
It actually took me a long time to rate this book. I kept going back and forth through the spectrum. I loved turner, then I hated him, then I wanted to hate him but loved him all the same. Turner made me so unbelievably mad and annoyed, I wanted to throttle him but then again this book also got me to thinking about relationships. I thought I would like this book more and in a strange way I did. It certainly got me in a fit. Turner was such a jerk. It was definitely a page turner, I really wanted to see what happened next.
I'm not sure exactly what I mean by this but this book really felt more like a story than Quinn's others (Bridgerton and Smythe-smith series). I'm not sure why, maybe because it started briefly from Miranda's child like view, but it felt complete.
It actually took me a long time to rate this book. I kept going back and forth through the spectrum. I loved turner, then I hated him, then I wanted to hate him but loved him all the same. Turner made me so unbelievably mad and annoyed, I wanted to throttle him but then again this book also got me to thinking about relationships. I thought I would like this book more and in a strange way I did. It certainly got me in a fit. Turner was such a jerk. It was definitely a page turner, I really wanted to see what happened next.
I'm not sure exactly what I mean by this but this book really felt more like a story than Quinn's others (Bridgerton and Smythe-smith series). I'm not sure why, maybe because it started briefly from Miranda's child like view, but it felt complete.
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
2/5 stars! DNF
This book was either going to go one way or another. The story was either going to be very sweet and romantic, or it was going to be icky. Unfortunately, it was on the side of icky. This could of been sweet and romantic, but I hate that Turner turned into a really nasty man. I hated how he knew that Miranda liked him as a child. He took advantage of her as an adult of her kindness and knowing she was quite naive. I hated the part of his dead wife’s funeral, that he tried to force himself upon her, and this was right at the very beginning. How is this romantic? How are we supposed to route for Turner and Maranda as a couple? or even just Turner as a person in general. Miranda is such a sweet character. We’ve all been in a position where we maybe fancied someone older when we were a child, but we never expect anything to come out of it as an adult.
This could’ve been a really sweet young girl finally getting her dreams of marrying her crush, but I generally don’t know how this could’ve turned out alright for the fact that she was 10 and he was 19 at the beginning and now she’s 19 and he is now 28. I definitely think it would’ve been better. If the age gap wasn’t as big or they weren’t as young like maybe make her 25 him 34. I think it would’ve been a lot more appropriate. I understand this book wasn’t written recently, but there’s just something just a bit icky for me.
When she is 10 and him 19 it doesn’t feel icky a young girl, having a crush on older guy and him just thinking that she’s just a sweet, complimentary girl, but as adults, it just feels like he’s taking advantage of her and it just doesn’t feel right. Julia Quinn normally writes extremely romantic books and this is the first book that’s actually churned my stomach a little bit. I didn’t like the Bridgerton book about Penelope. I thought that that was dealt with really badly and definitely angered me but this is one of the first books of hers that’s actually churned my stomach. Turner is an awful person, an awful character I can’t read this any longer, no thank you!
This book was either going to go one way or another. The story was either going to be very sweet and romantic, or it was going to be icky. Unfortunately, it was on the side of icky. This could of been sweet and romantic, but I hate that Turner turned into a really nasty man. I hated how he knew that Miranda liked him as a child. He took advantage of her as an adult of her kindness and knowing she was quite naive. I hated the part of his dead wife’s funeral, that he tried to force himself upon her, and this was right at the very beginning. How is this romantic? How are we supposed to route for Turner and Maranda as a couple? or even just Turner as a person in general. Miranda is such a sweet character. We’ve all been in a position where we maybe fancied someone older when we were a child, but we never expect anything to come out of it as an adult.
This could’ve been a really sweet young girl finally getting her dreams of marrying her crush, but I generally don’t know how this could’ve turned out alright for the fact that she was 10 and he was 19 at the beginning and now she’s 19 and he is now 28. I definitely think it would’ve been better. If the age gap wasn’t as big or they weren’t as young like maybe make her 25 him 34. I think it would’ve been a lot more appropriate. I understand this book wasn’t written recently, but there’s just something just a bit icky for me.
When she is 10 and him 19 it doesn’t feel icky a young girl, having a crush on older guy and him just thinking that she’s just a sweet, complimentary girl, but as adults, it just feels like he’s taking advantage of her and it just doesn’t feel right. Julia Quinn normally writes extremely romantic books and this is the first book that’s actually churned my stomach a little bit. I didn’t like the Bridgerton book about Penelope. I thought that that was dealt with really badly and definitely angered me but this is one of the first books of hers that’s actually churned my stomach. Turner is an awful person, an awful character I can’t read this any longer, no thank you!
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
This was so cute! Miranda has loved her best friend's older brother her entire life. Turner had never really noticed her but when she has her first season she is the only thing he really sees.
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Another great Julia Quinn read. I love her books.
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No