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now_booking's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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? No
3.75
This is the only book by this author outside of The Bridgerton series that I’d previously read when it first came out ten years ago. And yet, it felt like I was reading this for the first time. I’m not sure if it was listening to Rosalyn Landor’s epic narration and publicly bursting into fits of laughter in front of people, or if it’s just that I read this during a period where I read almost exclusively regency romance and this kind of blended in, but I adored this.
The premise is that Honoria Smythe-Smith is part of the notorious Smythe-Smith quartet of awfully untalented musicians and she clings to the dubious privilege because she’s lonely for family connection. Also lonely, is shy standoffish earl, Marcus, who is Honoria’s lifelong family friend, who becomes a close friend to her when they meet in the country. When Marcus faces a life-threatening injury, Honoria can’t bear not to rush to his rescue, however inappropriate it might be.
I thought this was good overall. The humour and wit was top notch and the characters were likeablely vulnerable and perfectly matched. Perhaps there was a bit of casual classism at the end, but not in a way that felt outside of what a character of privilege from that time period might unconsciously express. About two-thirds of the way into this, it began to drag and feel a little like an “and then” “too many events” sort of book (especially with the incident with the letter), but it quickly picked up again and I felt like this was a solid 3.5-4-star read and look forward to the rest of the series.
The premise is that Honoria Smythe-Smith is part of the notorious Smythe-Smith quartet of awfully untalented musicians and she clings to the dubious privilege because she’s lonely for family connection. Also lonely, is shy standoffish earl, Marcus, who is Honoria’s lifelong family friend, who becomes a close friend to her when they meet in the country. When Marcus faces a life-threatening injury, Honoria can’t bear not to rush to his rescue, however inappropriate it might be.
I thought this was good overall. The humour and wit was top notch and the characters were likeablely vulnerable and perfectly matched. Perhaps there was a bit of casual classism at the end, but not in a way that felt outside of what a character of privilege from that time period might unconsciously express. About two-thirds of the way into this, it began to drag and feel a little like an “and then” “too many events” sort of book (especially with the incident with the letter), but it quickly picked up again and I felt like this was a solid 3.5-4-star read and look forward to the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Minor: Ableism
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