Reviews

April Lady by Georgette Heyer

jennysjw's review

There are some thoughtful themes here about classism and the vulnerabilities, lack of agency, and the double-standards that women face. 

Heyer’s writing is good and this book has its moments. But overall, it’s a B-version mash-up of recycled storylines and characters from Heyer’s other novels. There are too few interactions between the hero/heroine. 

shoelessmama's review

adventurous funny lighthearted tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Despite having some of the most annoying female characters of Heyer's ever, I couldn't put this down. I have no doubt that if I'd read this one in the midst of my Heyer hey-day I would have enjoyed it much less.

addy1991's review against another edition

2.0

Plot too convoluted. Characters not endearing. Title doesn't make sense with the story I read. This is one book where I wished I had followed my rule of stopping at the 3rd chapter if I don't care for it because to me this book did not get better the further I went.

avalydia's review against another edition

3.0

Witty and entertaining, as always with Georgette Heyer, but not one of my favorites. I don't really care for dimwitted, hapless heroines, and we barely got to see the hero at all (we're told that he loves her, but, like... what is the foundation of this?).

sophiewilliams's review against another edition

3.0

Feel a bit ambivalent about this one. A continual stream of misunderstandings and bad luck that eventually sort out with the main couple realising they were deeply in love all along. Not enough time is spent on them though and the main story concentrates on his sister and her unsuitable choice of beau.

elizabethcaneday's review against another edition

4.0

A Regency insta-love marriage of convenience? Huh? (Please don't tell me I'm the only one confused about that paradox.)

Well, it is rather interesting how Heyer plays that out.

April Lady utilizes a lot of Heyer's favorite tropes. For example, a drunken duo encroaching on an important scene and being a comic relief. And the whole brother trying to help the sister while also keeping everything secret from the sister's husband. It reminded me of a few of Heyer's other works, The Convenient Marriage in particular. (But I thought April Lady was much better.)

Recommended to fans of Heyer's other works. Certainly not as good as the more popular ones, and I suggest starting with those. (Arabella, Frederica, and Sylvester all come to mind, as well as These Old Shades and The Grand Sophy.) But April Lady is fairly clean, making it a nice light read.

magdon's review against another edition

2.0

My first disappointment from Georgette. I liked the idea of the lead couple being married for love but too embarrassed to tell each other. Sadly the rest of the plot just made our heroine kind of silly instead of strong like her other leading ladies. The scene with her brother and the hack towards the end was rather funny so that's one bright spot.

eli44ka's review

funny 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

5.0

kindleandilluminate's review against another edition

3.0

Not Heyer's best, but far from her worst. Cardross is a pretty bland and frustrating character, but Nell is surprisingly likeable for all her terrible decisions, and the denouement clips along at an exciting pace.

ancequay's review against another edition

3.0

Probably my least favorite Georgette Heyer to date. It was still enjoyable, but relying on misunderstandings/lack of communication between protagonists as the main method of furthering the plot is a pet peeve of mine.