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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
tense
fast-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
It's refreshing to read working-class historical romance. I just have to say it: I don't get the cover art for these books. I would pick this book up so much quicker if I didn't think it was another rich-people-romance. Aaaanyway. I liked this novella a lot. It was sweet, hot, funny and sad and ... everything. I loved the setting. The characters felt real and they charmed me from the very beginning. More than that, though, I really liked how the plot underlined the importance of not accepting other people's stereotypes of what you are, even if you’re poor, a person of colour, queer, or a woman, in a white man’s world. I think it also hinted at the importance of noticing your own privileges and prejudices, too.
About the main conflict between Daisy and Crash... I don't know where to start, to be honest. It hurt a lot, because it was all too believable how they hurt each other. And I'm not certain that it was fully resolved in the end, but it was written a lot better than I feared it would be. The attraction between them and their interaction helped a lot. I liked how Daisy got to grow stronger and make her own future, and I loved how her relationship with Crash got the room to develop towards the ending. Yeah, I liked this.
hopeful
slow-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
Nice little novella featuring Daisy—who works selling flower bouquets and Crash who sells bicycles.
I loved the bicycle imagery Courtney Milan used. 🚲
Notes: London , England. Rep: Daisy and Crash are both working-class in London. Daisy is white and Crash is mixed race (Black and Chinese).
I loved the bicycle imagery Courtney Milan used. 🚲
Notes: London , England. Rep: Daisy and Crash are both working-class in London. Daisy is white and Crash is mixed race (Black and Chinese).
I received a free copy of this novella from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Three and a half stars.
I found this a difficult book to review because, in my opinion, the historical genre does not lend itself well to the novella format.
Daisy is a single woman looking after her sick mother. She is fast approaching a time when she must either marry or abandon her mother because she will no longer be able to support them both (I didn't really understand the logic of this but I assume her mother is getting progressively worse). She has entered a parish competition where the best business idea could win £50, of course those running the competition assume only men would enter/ be eligible but Daisy's entry is short-listed, much to the disgust of the town grocer who takes every opportunity to deride Daisy and her ideas.
Two years ago things were very different, she was in love with a local rogue, Crash, and thought they were getting married after they slept together. Instead, he cruelly rejected her and called her a "complete waste of a woman". Now, of course, she has no prized virginity and no potential husband on the horizon. What Daisy does have is the triumph of hope over experience, no matter how many times she gets knocked back she still keeps trying, even if she doesn't think she will ever succeed.
After stumbling through her oral presentation of her business case in the town square in front of a hostile audience, Crash approaches Daisy and suggests that he coach her in acting with confidence, he also insinuates that he is taking heavy bets on other candidates and her winning would result in a windfall for him.
What unfolds is a gradual exposure of what really happened two years ago and why both Daisy and Crash feel like the injured party.
Although I enjoyed this novella I feel that it really needed to be longer to really do justice to the characters. Daisy and Crash were such opposites that I felt I needed more understanding of how and why they fell in love, maybe more about Crash's childhood and family.
Overall, as always Courtney Milan delivers a fantastic plot and larger than life characters with vivid lives, I just wanted more. Now I'm off to see whether I read the preceding book in the series and if not buy it pronto!
Three and a half stars.
I found this a difficult book to review because, in my opinion, the historical genre does not lend itself well to the novella format.
Daisy is a single woman looking after her sick mother. She is fast approaching a time when she must either marry or abandon her mother because she will no longer be able to support them both (I didn't really understand the logic of this but I assume her mother is getting progressively worse). She has entered a parish competition where the best business idea could win £50, of course those running the competition assume only men would enter/ be eligible but Daisy's entry is short-listed, much to the disgust of the town grocer who takes every opportunity to deride Daisy and her ideas.
Two years ago things were very different, she was in love with a local rogue, Crash, and thought they were getting married after they slept together. Instead, he cruelly rejected her and called her a "complete waste of a woman". Now, of course, she has no prized virginity and no potential husband on the horizon. What Daisy does have is the triumph of hope over experience, no matter how many times she gets knocked back she still keeps trying, even if she doesn't think she will ever succeed.
After stumbling through her oral presentation of her business case in the town square in front of a hostile audience, Crash approaches Daisy and suggests that he coach her in acting with confidence, he also insinuates that he is taking heavy bets on other candidates and her winning would result in a windfall for him.
What unfolds is a gradual exposure of what really happened two years ago and why both Daisy and Crash feel like the injured party.
Although I enjoyed this novella I feel that it really needed to be longer to really do justice to the characters. Daisy and Crash were such opposites that I felt I needed more understanding of how and why they fell in love, maybe more about Crash's childhood and family.
Overall, as always Courtney Milan delivers a fantastic plot and larger than life characters with vivid lives, I just wanted more. Now I'm off to see whether I read the preceding book in the series and if not buy it pronto!
Likable and poignant. I loved what this was about, even though I didn't connect with it for whatever reason. The characters felt realistic and make mistakes and I don't think I've read a Regency romance before about people who are working poor. Daisy is an ambitious young lady who stands up to the local patriarchy and finds her voice. Crash is mixed race and his family, both blood and chosen, is a delightful group of mature women of colour. As is usual with Milan's books, there are lovely queer secondary characters. Also, as usual, there's a examination of privilege and class that you don't see in most historical romance, which is one thing I love about this author. This book is centered around the plight of women and POC in that time period and it's not pleasant (reality sucks), but it's hopeful and poignant and the ending is lovely. There's so much to love here. On to the next book.
Too close to home. I loved it, now onto the next one!
Now THIS is the way I want my romance. With likeable characters, sweet sweet UST, a plot that is exciting without getting overwhelming and a proper HEA.
I've only read two Courtney Milan but if all her books are as feelgood as this one she will become an autobuy for me. It's like a mug of hot chocolate in book form, with an additional side of crying because the characters make me hurt so bad. Just perfect for relaxing after a stressful day at work.
I've only read two Courtney Milan but if all her books are as feelgood as this one she will become an autobuy for me. It's like a mug of hot chocolate in book form, with an additional side of crying because the characters make me hurt so bad. Just perfect for relaxing after a stressful day at work.
I'm just rushing through all the best romance I can find at the moment and Courtney Milan is always at the top of that list. I believe Courtney Milan did the research and the business proposals provided are historically accurate but also kind of don't believe Daisy's. But what do I know?