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loanereel's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-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
4.0
teaandspite's review
2.0
Disappointing for a Balogh book. I think she was trying to do too much. The general premise is that two characters who had a single day of whirlwind romance after a childhood of pining are reunited years later, but the structure meant that neither the whirlwind romance nor the reconnection are given the attention they need to really shine.
The first half or so is the whirlwind romance and lead-up to Devlin leaving Ravenswood. It's a bit silly, as any relationship based on maybe an hour or two of actual conversation will be, but in a sweet, teenagers in love kind of way. 18-year-olds are just Like That.
Primarily, that first half serves to set up the characters, location, and history as you get drawn into the necessary Traumatic Event to separate Devlin and Gwyneth. It does a good job of that, but IMO takes too long to do so. You know what's coming early on, both from the jacket blurb and the first chapter or two themselves, but then you have to wait forever for it to actually happen. I think the book could have been improved by either shortening the history section or omitting it entirely and letting it reveal itself as Devlin and Gwyneth reunite after his return.
The return is the second half of the book and it also has some pacing issues. There's little time spent on Gwyneth and Devlin themselves. It seems that because they had crushes on each other as teenagers we're supposed to believe that they're naturally suited as adults. It's a little absurd, even for a romance novel. Devlin's individual character arc is reasonably compelling and well done, but for a romance I'd have liked to see more emphasis on the relationship between the characters. As it is, it reads more like a story of Ravenswood and the surrounding village rather than one of Devlin and Gwyneth's relationship.
All of this comes down to the original problem: the whirlwind romance simply takes up too much story space relative to its narrative importance. A book that began with Devlin's return would have been more effective and granted space for a proper romance between him and Gwyneth as adults.
The first half or so is the whirlwind romance and lead-up to Devlin leaving Ravenswood. It's a bit silly, as any relationship based on maybe an hour or two of actual conversation will be, but in a sweet, teenagers in love kind of way. 18-year-olds are just Like That.
Primarily, that first half serves to set up the characters, location, and history as you get drawn into the necessary Traumatic Event to separate Devlin and Gwyneth. It does a good job of that, but IMO takes too long to do so. You know what's coming early on, both from the jacket blurb and the first chapter or two themselves, but then you have to wait forever for it to actually happen. I think the book could have been improved by either shortening the history section or omitting it entirely and letting it reveal itself as Devlin and Gwyneth reunite after his return.
The return is the second half of the book and it also has some pacing issues. There's little time spent on Gwyneth and Devlin themselves. It seems that because they had crushes on each other as teenagers we're supposed to believe that they're naturally suited as adults. It's a little absurd, even for a romance novel. Devlin's individual character arc is reasonably compelling and well done, but for a romance I'd have liked to see more emphasis on the relationship between the characters. As it is, it reads more like a story of Ravenswood and the surrounding village rather than one of Devlin and Gwyneth's relationship.
All of this comes down to the original problem: the whirlwind romance simply takes up too much story space relative to its narrative importance. A book that began with Devlin's return would have been more effective and granted space for a proper romance between him and Gwyneth as adults.
deidrar's review
lighthearted
medium-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
4.0
This was my first book by Mary Balogh and I quite enjoyed my time reading it. I can’t say that it’s a top favorite, but I was in need of a low angst book and this delivered exactly what I needed.
ithiliens's review
5.0
4.5*
The two part aspect of this was a surprise but definitely felt like a return to form. I loved the Westcott series but I think Balogh was right to move on from it for now (presumable). This actually reminded me in the beginning of some of her standalone romances from the late 90s which I can’t recall the name of now. But the point is I was pleasantly surprised by how fresh this felt. Mary Balogh has written *so* much regency romance you might expect it to wear a little but it absolutely doesn’t because she is incredibly invested in the psychological and emotion nuance of her characters. This one really felt the most well shaded yet and had a lot to say not just about love but loving. And yet it was comforting in the way that her books often are. I realized reading this that part of that is the warmth of community that is present in many of her recent works. This one may be a bit fanciful in some of the hmm political economy of the time (Devlin is *so* decent) but HR are fantasies and there’s no real point in quibbling with it here to my view. I also loved the Welsh bits here which felt so natural I think because Balogh is Welsh herself?
In all a lovely read and I can’t wait to see whose story is next. I’m hoping for Ben
The two part aspect of this was a surprise but definitely felt like a return to form. I loved the Westcott series but I think Balogh was right to move on from it for now (presumable). This actually reminded me in the beginning of some of her standalone romances from the late 90s which I can’t recall the name of now. But the point is I was pleasantly surprised by how fresh this felt. Mary Balogh has written *so* much regency romance you might expect it to wear a little but it absolutely doesn’t because she is incredibly invested in the psychological and emotion nuance of her characters. This one really felt the most well shaded yet and had a lot to say not just about love but loving. And yet it was comforting in the way that her books often are. I realized reading this that part of that is the warmth of community that is present in many of her recent works. This one may be a bit fanciful in some of the hmm political economy of the time (Devlin is *so* decent) but HR are fantasies and there’s no real point in quibbling with it here to my view. I also loved the Welsh bits here which felt so natural I think because Balogh is Welsh herself?
In all a lovely read and I can’t wait to see whose story is next. I’m hoping for Ben
ikepauh's review
5.0
Oh My God, when Mary Balogh is at her best, she knocks it out of the park. Remember Love is full of sweetness and tenderness. We witness a sheltered boy whose innocence is shattered when he learns the ways of the ton, of the oftentimes depressing nature of aristocratic marriages which foolishly compels him to enlist as a soldier and return to the greatly changed flock years later, a hardened man. Hardened but not jaded, not too far gone to feel love and to love. We witness a girl whose love was responded to and crushed within the span of several days. She told herself to move on, she did move on but when he came back; those old feelings resurfaced and could they be one again someday? I greatly enjoyed Remember Love and was fully immersed in all the feels, so to speak, of every character.
The first two chapters of the book though are classic Mary Balogh in that we get told, we are info dumped about the Wares, their neighbours and the grand estate that is Ravenswood. Ugh, one of the few aspects of Remember Love that could turn a new reader away. PULL THROUGH! The description of every Ware family member was necessary and I could still digest it but I found myself skipping past the pages that described Ravenswood in great, great detail that I didn't think I needed to know. Well, now I know!
BUT PLEASE, DEAR READER, GET PAST THOSE DESCRIPTIONS and YOU MIGHT ENJOY THE REST OF THE BOOK MORE. For then, we are in the heads of our dear hero and heroine, Devlin and Gwyneth. It was probably a balance of both POVs though I often felt Devlin stood out to me more. Probably because this book is the start of a series and the author needs to establish the cast of characters we'll see in the future. There's
(a) the mother countess whose shattered perfect illusion reveals a woman who will weather the storm for the sake of children but now with her children grown...what about herself,
(b) Ben the natural son of the earl and his darling Joy,
(c) Nicholas Ware the enlisted soldier who pre-enlistment was said to be similar in sunny disposition with dear old flawed dad,
(d) Phillipa Ware the retiring soul who needs a good hug and cuddle, and
(e) Owen Ware the boy-man with brothers who were away from him for most of his adolescence.
I cannot wait to read each and every one of their stories. I'm speculating the mother gets a story because there is so much the author could do with her, given that Mary Balogh has written romances involving those in their 40's and 50's before with considerable success in her Westcott series - [b:Someone to Care|35927208|Someone to Care (Westcott, #4)|Mary Balogh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1502145677l/35927208._SY75_.jpg|57462759] and [b:Someone to Remember|45321614|Someone to Remember (Westcott #6.5)|Mary Balogh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1561962613l/45321614._SY75_.jpg|70061806]. (translation: I enjoyed those stories)
There are reviewers who voiced that the second half of the book felt rushed. I can see it now, what I wouldn't give to read 100 more pages of Dev and Gwyn courting, going ever so slowly? Or even post marital bliss and woes? Gimme, gimme! I would like it very much. I think because I was wrapped up in all the emotions and tension, I didn't mind the rushed this and that.
After the drudgery that is the first two chapters and the loveliness of our two main characters nursing their hidden affections for one another...Ah, I didn't know what to expect by that time as I'd forgotten all about the book blurb. It is slow and steady until THE BIG THING happens, in which we see how truly principled Devlin is and how messed up everything became. There is a time jump and then, we have our second chance rekindling of luv and patching up of family scars (probably more in later books?). Even from the first moment they set eyes upon each other after a time, I knew there would be no other women or other men to add drama and fuel to their fire. They (Devlin and Gwyn, were enough to light themselves up.
Remember Love threatens to unseat A Summer to Remember and A Matter of Class in my list of best Mary Balogh books ever. Perhaps they can all have a equal spot?
The first two chapters of the book though are classic Mary Balogh in that we get told, we are info dumped about the Wares, their neighbours and the grand estate that is Ravenswood. Ugh, one of the few aspects of Remember Love that could turn a new reader away. PULL THROUGH! The description of every Ware family member was necessary and I could still digest it but I found myself skipping past the pages that described Ravenswood in great, great detail that I didn't think I needed to know. Well, now I know!
BUT PLEASE, DEAR READER, GET PAST THOSE DESCRIPTIONS and YOU MIGHT ENJOY THE REST OF THE BOOK MORE. For then, we are in the heads of our dear hero and heroine, Devlin and Gwyneth. It was probably a balance of both POVs though I often felt Devlin stood out to me more. Probably because this book is the start of a series and the author needs to establish the cast of characters we'll see in the future. There's
(a) the mother countess whose shattered perfect illusion reveals a woman who will weather the storm for the sake of children but now with her children grown...what about herself,
(b) Ben the natural son of the earl and his darling Joy,
(c) Nicholas Ware the enlisted soldier who pre-enlistment was said to be similar in sunny disposition with dear old flawed dad,
(d) Phillipa Ware the retiring soul who needs a good hug and cuddle, and
(e) Owen Ware the boy-man with brothers who were away from him for most of his adolescence.
I cannot wait to read each and every one of their stories. I'm speculating the mother gets a story because there is so much the author could do with her, given that Mary Balogh has written romances involving those in their 40's and 50's before with considerable success in her Westcott series - [b:Someone to Care|35927208|Someone to Care (Westcott, #4)|Mary Balogh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1502145677l/35927208._SY75_.jpg|57462759] and [b:Someone to Remember|45321614|Someone to Remember (Westcott #6.5)|Mary Balogh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1561962613l/45321614._SY75_.jpg|70061806]. (translation: I enjoyed those stories)
There are reviewers who voiced that the second half of the book felt rushed. I can see it now, what I wouldn't give to read 100 more pages of Dev and Gwyn courting, going ever so slowly? Or even post marital bliss and woes? Gimme, gimme! I would like it very much. I think because I was wrapped up in all the emotions and tension, I didn't mind the rushed this and that.
After the drudgery that is the first two chapters and the loveliness of our two main characters nursing their hidden affections for one another...Ah, I didn't know what to expect by that time as I'd forgotten all about the book blurb. It is slow and steady until THE BIG THING happens, in which we see how truly principled Devlin is and how messed up everything became. There is a time jump and then, we have our second chance rekindling of luv and patching up of family scars (probably more in later books?). Even from the first moment they set eyes upon each other after a time, I knew there would be no other women or other men to add drama and fuel to their fire. They (Devlin and Gwyn, were enough to light themselves up.
Remember Love threatens to unseat A Summer to Remember and A Matter of Class in my list of best Mary Balogh books ever. Perhaps they can all have a equal spot?
sarahwasme's review
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
kspoonerfish's review
4.0
Remember Love by Mary Balogh is the first story in the new Ravenswood series and comes out July 12, 2022
The beginning of the story describes the Ravenwood’s estate and background of the family and this part was slow. Once Devlin returns from war six years later, the story really takes off and was hard to put down. The main characters of the story are Devlin and Gwyneth.
When Devlin returns he and his family work to rebuild relationships and we learn more about the brothers and sisters. I also liked watching the community committees come together to plan their seasonal fairs and dances.
In the last section, when Gwyneth and Devlin are getting to know each other again,, the story moved quickly and I wasn't ready for it to end. I look forward to hearing more about the Ravenswood family members in future books. My favorite Balogh books are from the Slightly Series, especially Slightly Dangerous. I wonder whose book will be next in the Ravenswood series?
Thank you Mary Balogh, NetGalley, and the publisher for the advanced copy of the book.
The beginning of the story describes the Ravenwood’s estate and background of the family and this part was slow. Once Devlin returns from war six years later, the story really takes off and was hard to put down. The main characters of the story are Devlin and Gwyneth.
When Devlin returns he and his family work to rebuild relationships and we learn more about the brothers and sisters. I also liked watching the community committees come together to plan their seasonal fairs and dances.
In the last section, when Gwyneth and Devlin are getting to know each other again,, the story moved quickly and I wasn't ready for it to end. I look forward to hearing more about the Ravenswood family members in future books. My favorite Balogh books are from the Slightly Series, especially Slightly Dangerous. I wonder whose book will be next in the Ravenswood series?
Thank you Mary Balogh, NetGalley, and the publisher for the advanced copy of the book.
reading_rainy's review
3.0
A beautifully written story, drenching with emotions. Random spoiler-y reading thoughts below.
Beginning:
Who are all of these people?!
Why do I need to know all about all of them? I'm so bored.
Aww, they both love each other and don't know!!!
For a 22-year-old, he's quite mature.
I love how he thinks.
I love her fire.
This is the sweetest first kiss, I love them!
His father is a completely selfish asshat.
His family are jerks.
Nooooooooo!
Middle:
Six YEARS!!??
War is horrific.
What the actual hell?
Camp cooks, washerwomen, widows but never the wives?
Well at least he has some morals.
I hate that the author made him like this.
Of course she's still a virgin
Beginning:
Who are all of these people?!
Why do I need to know all about all of them? I'm so bored.
Aww, they both love each other and don't know!!!
For a 22-year-old, he's quite mature.
I love how he thinks.
I love her fire.
This is the sweetest first kiss, I love them!
His father is a completely selfish asshat.
His family are jerks.
Nooooooooo!
Middle:
Six YEARS!!??
War is horrific.
What the actual hell?
Camp cooks, washerwomen, widows but never the wives?
Well at least he has some morals.
I hate that the author made him like this.
Of course she's still a virgin
tita_noir's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
3.5