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lassarina's review
5.0
Her Every Wish is the story of Daisy, Judith's friend from Once Upon a Marquess. This novella is a second-chance story; as we begin, Daisy and Crash have already been lovers and then broke up after saying some very hurtful things to each other.
Daisy has entered a contest to receive fifty pounds to start her own business, and the story opens with the entrants giving speeches to explain their ideas. Although the contest rules did not explicitly say that women could not enter, it is grindingly, painfully clear that no one expected a woman to enter, and everyone reacts accordingly.
Re-enter Crash, who offers to help Daisy prepare her speech for the final presentations, a week hence. Of course, amid practicing her speech, one thing leads to another, and so on.
Things I loved about this book: where even to begin? There's a lot of really great stuff going on with expectations of gender and race. Crash is mixed-race, and that informs a lot of his character; he has learned to laugh everything off because he knows no one is going to take him seriously. Likewise, Daisy knows she has to work three times as hard to be considered even a quarter as good. I loved the dialogue between them, which was both poignant and hilarious. I really appreciated the reasons for why they'd come apart in the first place, and how they resolved that in this story. I liked that we get to see Judith and while she's certainly better off than she was, her life isn't flawlessly happy-ever-after, and that feels real and good. I loved Daisy's business idea (and Crash's, too) and the logic there.
I loved the way we see Daisy's mother, who has what I'm guessing is fibromyalgia or a variant on Ehlers-Danlos--both how Daisy supports her and understands her limitations, and how assholes react disabilities they can't see or understand. (Ask me about topics I feel strongly about!) I absolutely adore Crash's family and his history, the story of his mother and how he was raised, and all the little things that add up to making him what he is. And again, I love the threads of Judith's friendship weaving into this.
I won't spoil how the contest ends, but I think the plot was wrapped up in a satisfying and realistic manner, and I really appreciated that, as well.
Being a novella, everything in this book happens rather fast, and in some ways I want more just because I loved Daisy and Crash and wanted to spend more time with them. On the other hand, that would have killed the pacing, and it's lovely just as it is.
Daisy has entered a contest to receive fifty pounds to start her own business, and the story opens with the entrants giving speeches to explain their ideas. Although the contest rules did not explicitly say that women could not enter, it is grindingly, painfully clear that no one expected a woman to enter, and everyone reacts accordingly.
Re-enter Crash, who offers to help Daisy prepare her speech for the final presentations, a week hence. Of course, amid practicing her speech, one thing leads to another, and so on.
Things I loved about this book: where even to begin? There's a lot of really great stuff going on with expectations of gender and race. Crash is mixed-race, and that informs a lot of his character; he has learned to laugh everything off because he knows no one is going to take him seriously. Likewise, Daisy knows she has to work three times as hard to be considered even a quarter as good. I loved the dialogue between them, which was both poignant and hilarious. I really appreciated the reasons for why they'd come apart in the first place, and how they resolved that in this story. I liked that we get to see Judith and while she's certainly better off than she was, her life isn't flawlessly happy-ever-after, and that feels real and good. I loved Daisy's business idea (and Crash's, too) and the logic there.
I loved the way we see Daisy's mother, who has what I'm guessing is fibromyalgia or a variant on Ehlers-Danlos--both how Daisy supports her and understands her limitations, and how assholes react disabilities they can't see or understand. (Ask me about topics I feel strongly about!) I absolutely adore Crash's family and his history, the story of his mother and how he was raised, and all the little things that add up to making him what he is. And again, I love the threads of Judith's friendship weaving into this.
I won't spoil how the contest ends, but I think the plot was wrapped up in a satisfying and realistic manner, and I really appreciated that, as well.
Being a novella, everything in this book happens rather fast, and in some ways I want more just because I loved Daisy and Crash and wanted to spend more time with them. On the other hand, that would have killed the pacing, and it's lovely just as it is.
bottomlesslibrary's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
mostlyromancereading's review
5.0
As much as I enjoy reading about viscounts and debutantes, I really do love the chance to read about the shopkeepers and dockmen of dubious morality too! This was a fun read, and I'm glad we find out what happens to Daisy.
asha_m's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-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
3.5
guiltlesspleasures's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
While Daisy’s friend Judith married a marquess and moved to the right side of town, Daisy stayed where she is, working at a florist and dreaming of opening her own emporium. She enters a competition to win £50 for a startup fund and enlists her old flame, Crash, to help hone her presentation.
Two big things to note: One, I often have said that novellas are hard. You have to strike the right balance between not enough story and too much. And Milan nailed it. This was a complex story of patriarchy, lost love, a woman’s worth that feels like a novel but was a third the length.
Second, there is a miscommunication at the heart of Daisy and Crash’s breakup, which is a trope I usually loathe, but Milan pulls it off nicely. It is LITERAL miscommunication, rather than some shoehorned faux conflict or stumbling block the author inserts.
I just think Milan is so good at overlaying what could feel like modern concepts onto the 19th century and making them seem like absolutely reasonable character motivations.Like when Daisy loses the contest to (of course) a man. She did five times the work of any of the others and still got blackballed. The forking patriarchy, man.
Two big things to note: One, I often have said that novellas are hard. You have to strike the right balance between not enough story and too much. And Milan nailed it. This was a complex story of patriarchy, lost love, a woman’s worth that feels like a novel but was a third the length.
Second, there is a miscommunication at the heart of Daisy and Crash’s breakup, which is a trope I usually loathe, but Milan pulls it off nicely. It is LITERAL miscommunication, rather than some shoehorned faux conflict or stumbling block the author inserts.
I just think Milan is so good at overlaying what could feel like modern concepts onto the 19th century and making them seem like absolutely reasonable character motivations.
smuttty19's review
2.0
Daisy is trying to win a bequest and open and emporium that could help her and their town. Crash offers to help her so he can win a bet. He’s the last person she wants help from. These two had a sexual and romantic relationship in the past but both feel hurt by the other.
It’s not necessary to read but it’s cute.
Overall Book ⭐️⭐️
Spice
It’s not necessary to read but it’s cute.
Overall Book ⭐️⭐️
Spice
siria's review
3.0
A quick read with some nice characters and a very deliberate attempt to create a Victorian England which is closer to reality than is often seen in historical romance: the two main characters, Daisy and Crash, are working class and Crash mixed race and (it's hinted) bisexual. Daisy's character arc in this centres not just on her burgeoning romance with Crash but also on her desires to be taken seriously as an entrepreneur despite being a woman and poor.
Yet Her Every Wish could most charitably be described as unsubtle in its messaging about self-confidence and bucking societal norms, and veers very close to being wearily didactic. I also just didn't buy the dialogue in large swathes of this—the vocabulary and syntax were often anachronistic and out-of-place for two working-class Victorian Londoners who might, if they were lucky, have scrambled their way into an acquaintance with the 3 Rs in a dame school. There's one exchange between Daisy and Crash in particular that had the air of being ripped from a fanfic for something of Joss Whedon's. It's so distracting, and I really wish Milan had an editor who could help her improve on the better aspects of her writing while curbing her worst instincts.
(As an aside: the cover is just bizarrely out of kilter with the content of the book.)
Yet Her Every Wish could most charitably be described as unsubtle in its messaging about self-confidence and bucking societal norms, and veers very close to being wearily didactic. I also just didn't buy the dialogue in large swathes of this—the vocabulary and syntax were often anachronistic and out-of-place for two working-class Victorian Londoners who might, if they were lucky, have scrambled their way into an acquaintance with the 3 Rs in a dame school. There's one exchange between Daisy and Crash in particular that had the air of being ripped from a fanfic for something of Joss Whedon's. It's so distracting, and I really wish Milan had an editor who could help her improve on the better aspects of her writing while curbing her worst instincts.
(As an aside: the cover is just bizarrely out of kilter with the content of the book.)
saltycaroline's review against another edition
5.0
I failed the "caroline read a courtney milan novella without weeping" challenge yet again 😪
CW: Racism, misogyny, sexual content, chronic illness, ableism
CW: Racism, misogyny, sexual content, chronic illness, ableism
tshepiso's review against another edition
4.0
As someone just sinking their teeth into historical romance, it's refreshing to see a story free from the dukes, viscounts, and earls that normally litter these types of stories. Her Every Wish follows Daisy a working girl with aspirations to start her own business. With the help of her former lover Crash the two work together to refine Daisy's presentation for a grant that could jumpstart her career.
Her Every Wish is one of the best second-chance romances I've read. I do often find writers struggle to convey the history of a couple and the reason they broke up in a convincing way. But here Courtney Milan manages to craft an incredibly compelling couple and a meaningful split between the two. While Crash and Daisy's split was due to miscommunication Milan unravels the emotional centre of Crash and Daisy brilliantly. The hurt on both sides felt justified and palpable. The two demonstrate growth and understanding as the novel unfolds making their finally getting together all the more satisfying.
I think another reason I love this novella so much is its length. Not only is Milan able to squeeze in fantastic character work in an astonishingly short page count. But because this book is so short there isn't room for a tedious third-act breakup. The novella sees Daisy and Crash work through their problems as the book unfolds culminating in their choice to be together.
Another strength of this book is the themes it unpacks. Here Milan tackles racism and misogyny in Victorian England and especially shows what it looks like to cultivate resilience in the face of societal scorn. I especially found Crash's pride in his heritage as the mixed-race son of who polite society would consider whores and sailors moving.
Ultimately Her Every Wish is an incredibly solid story. Crash and Daisy were a convincing couple I easily rooted for and seeing them find their way to each other was consistently compelling.
Her Every Wish is one of the best second-chance romances I've read. I do often find writers struggle to convey the history of a couple and the reason they broke up in a convincing way. But here Courtney Milan manages to craft an incredibly compelling couple and a meaningful split between the two. While Crash and Daisy's split was due to miscommunication Milan unravels the emotional centre of Crash and Daisy brilliantly. The hurt on both sides felt justified and palpable. The two demonstrate growth and understanding as the novel unfolds making their finally getting together all the more satisfying.
I think another reason I love this novella so much is its length. Not only is Milan able to squeeze in fantastic character work in an astonishingly short page count. But because this book is so short there isn't room for a tedious third-act breakup. The novella sees Daisy and Crash work through their problems as the book unfolds culminating in their choice to be together.
Another strength of this book is the themes it unpacks. Here Milan tackles racism and misogyny in Victorian England and especially shows what it looks like to cultivate resilience in the face of societal scorn. I especially found Crash's pride in his heritage as the mixed-race son of who polite society would consider whores and sailors moving.
Ultimately Her Every Wish is an incredibly solid story. Crash and Daisy were a convincing couple I easily rooted for and seeing them find their way to each other was consistently compelling.