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aoifesbookreviews's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
2.5
One of my big critiques of this series which I laid out in my review of "A Wicked Kind of Husband" is that each book in this series feels like the first book in a new, separate series. This particular series is titled Longhope Abbey, which is the name of the parish were all three of the FMCs so far were raised. However, if you take each book individually it feels like this:
- Book 1 (& prequel) = set up for Arabella + friends / Guy's family
- Book 2 = set up for DeWitt & Lightwood siblings
- Book 3 = set up for the Bell family
There was an opportunity to take these three series and turn them into a Lisa Kleypas style universe. If Vincy wanted to stick to one series, there could have been a few more easter eggs here and there, particularly in book 2 and book 3. As I said in previous reviews, book 1 was published after book 2 and defiantly retconned the whole Longhope Abbey idea and the friendship between the three girls. Instead, a completely new cast of characters is introduced each book, there is no overarching storyline or cohesiveness and ultimately the read is left thinking that some characters/storylines are not as flesh out as they ought to be. The remedy for this would be to reduce some of the minor side plots going on or perhaps dial down how much detail and backstory is given to the supporting characters.
These books are intended to be read as part of a series or a standalone books, a bit like Tessa Dare's Castles Ever After series. I'm just not sure it worked for this series as in book 1, we are lead to believe that the three girls are all good friends. Despite that, Juno gets a one line mention at the end of the final chapter of book 2. Neither Arabella nor Cassandra make an appearance in this book, and they get a one line explanation about their whereabouts.
Disappointment about the series structure aside, I was also disappointed by the story itself. The (brief) glimpses we got of Juno and Leo had me excited to read about them. Childhood friends to lovers, missed chances, scandalous divorces and 1800s London's art scene built the foundation for what should have been a very good story. Unfortunately, I found myself unable to root for Juno and Leo as a couple. Mostly this was because I didn't care for Leo as a character. He was so cruel at times and I didn't think he made a convincing or decent attempt to apologise. I also hated how he treated Susanna, his fiancé.
I liked Juno. I thought she was an interesting character and a little different to the standard HR heroine. She was a little bit older (26 iirc), happily unmarried and unattached. Yes, she had loved Leo, but that love turned into something else, something less strong after his rejection 10 years ago.
The scenes with Juno in her studio or with her family were far more interesting that the constant back and forth between Leo and Juno. I have my fingers crossed for a story about Livia and/or Hadrian in the future. Until then, I will happily pretend that Livia and Freddie (from book 1) are friends if not more and Hadrian is somehow connected to Isaac DeWitt's private investigation business.
Tristan, Leo's half brother, was a decent anti-hero but I do think the relationship between them ad the subsequent effect it had on one another could have been explored more.
rpreiss5's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
lucyd's review against another edition
4.0
This series has been so fun and engaging - Leo & Juno may be my favourites
kamreher's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
3.75
amlibera's review
4.0
3.5 stars rounded up. As some other reviewers have noted, this felt a touch underbaked. There was a lot of potential but style and tone was all over the place and motivations throughout (esp. the duke) weren't really clear. But I like Vincy's work overall and even a lesser version is still fun.
kbookish's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
natalia_85's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
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? No
5.0
Loved this one just as much as the first 2! Accidentally stumbling across Mia Vincy was the best thing that could have happened to my reading rut. I was sucked into this world and happily stayed in it for several days, devouring each of these stories.
The Friends-to-lovers trope is done amazingly well in this Historical Romance. I loved Juno’s wit and her and Leo’s flirtatious banter. I love that she was an unconventional woman artist and that Leo was a proud aristocrat who, at the end, broke societal norms. Loved this story!
The Friends-to-lovers trope is done amazingly well in this Historical Romance. I loved Juno’s wit and her and Leo’s flirtatious banter. I love that she was an unconventional woman artist and that Leo was a proud aristocrat who, at the end, broke societal norms. Loved this story!
afoolsingenuity's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
Friends to lovers will never be my favourite trope but this was quite well done. I expect nothing less from Mia Vincy to be fair. Her historical romances have all been brilliant and totally swept me away and this was no different. I had been intrigued by both of these characters throughout the series but was hesitant as I wasn’t quite sure if I would enjoy their romance.
The problem with friends to lovers it relies heavily on miscommunication. Juno and Leo would have resolved all of their problems if they’d been honest with each other. At any point in their history they could have said they loved each other and spoke of their feelings clearly and it would have been resolved. Even at the point of the book taking place, ten years after Juno had said she loved him, they would have resolved things but they didn’t do that because it was too simple. i admit, the tension reading and waiting for everything to come to light was fun but I was still always a few steps away from being annoyed.
I also felt like there was more of a story with Prescott that never got explored. The man seemed shady and never got his compeuppance. He scammed a man out of money who sounded like he had dementia and I’m convinced he was misselling art but it never came up. Why was that not part of the story?
The problem with friends to lovers it relies heavily on miscommunication. Juno and Leo would have resolved all of their problems if they’d been honest with each other. At any point in their history they could have said they loved each other and spoke of their feelings clearly and it would have been resolved. Even at the point of the book taking place, ten years after Juno had said she loved him, they would have resolved things but they didn’t do that because it was too simple. i admit, the tension reading and waiting for everything to come to light was fun but I was still always a few steps away from being annoyed.
I also felt like there was more of a story with Prescott that never got explored. The man seemed shady and never got his compeuppance. He scammed a man out of money who sounded like he had dementia and I’m convinced he was misselling art but it never came up. Why was that not part of the story?
kgc8's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.5
Mia Vincy writes fantastic historical romance. She does a great job showing the inner turmoil Juno and Leo feel about their relationship (and I especially could understand the anger Juno felt at times with the fear of losing Leo), as well as how their past family experiences shaped their actions and attitude towards the world.
However, when Leo finally decides to defy convention to pursue Juno, I felt like all his obstacles were removed too easily. The socially appropriate (and well-dowered) bride and other people he angered seem exceptionally willing to forgive and move on. Perhaps that's the consequence of being a duke, but I think this hand waving lessened the impact of his grand gestures for me. This is still a very good historical romance (though I prefer others in the series) and I would recommend it for those interested in well-drawn MCs with emotional, but not purple language.
However, when Leo finally decides to defy convention to pursue Juno, I felt like all his obstacles were removed too easily. The socially appropriate (and well-dowered) bride and other people he angered seem exceptionally willing to forgive and move on. Perhaps that's the consequence of being a duke, but I think this hand waving lessened the impact of his grand gestures for me. This is still a very good historical romance (though I prefer others in the series) and I would recommend it for those interested in well-drawn MCs with emotional, but not purple language.