Reviews

This novella is the final installment in The Brothers Sinister series, and I was so sad to see it end. This is a perfectly sweet happily ever after for Stephen O'Shaugnessy, a side character introduced in The Suffragette Scandal. It's a tender and well-built story (particularly for its sub-100 page count) that feels so swoony. It centers a Black mathematician ("computer") as our female main character and an Irish Catholic satirist as our male main character. Milan, as always, deftly navigates racism, classism and power imbalance with nuance and respect for her characters, and I fully rooted for this couple's happily ever after. A delightful sub-plot that astronomy lovers will love, and a perfect little epilogue.

Content Warnings

megatza's review

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emotional funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

We love an earnest rake in love. Stephen Shaughnessy, Actual Man, has a reputation as a flirt, and most of his affairs are with women who don't take him seriously but who want a fling. But then he meets Rose Sweetly, a mathematical genius who would save her slide rule over anything. He falls in love, but the trickiest part is getting her to understand that he's serious and not just full of jokes.

This was such a charming conclusion to the Brothers Sinister series. But don't let Stephen's humor confuse you that Milan doesn't also take this exceptionally seriously with regards to race and class. Stephen is Irish Catholic, and Rose is Black, and Milan digs into the racism and classism of the late 19th century.

amlibera's review

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3.0

Sweet novella, perhaps missing some of the depth of her others.

birdloveranne's review against another edition

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5.0

Loved this short but delightful story.

plottrysts's review

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5.0

We have finally come to the end of the Brothers Sinister series by Courney Milan with Talk Sweetly to Me. As Milan calls it, this is "a coda novella" to the series. We both (!!) believe it can be read as a standalone, since none of the plot or romance hinges on any of the other books in the series.

Rose is a "computer," a mathematician who works to complete the equations required for her astronomer boss to do his work. Stephen Shaughnessy, newspaper columnist who we met in The Suffragette Scandal, is Rose's next door neighbor. He's been gone for her since the moment they met. In a moment of "I really didn't think about how creepy this would be," Stephen goes to her boss to arrange for astronomy lessons, to be given by his computer. Lucky for Stephen, Rose realizes he's not actually a creep.

In her inimitable fashion, Courtney Milan weaves progressive themes into her historical romance. Rose's sister is pregnant, and the main antagonist of the story is a casually racist physician who discounts her experiences. Rose's main objection to a possible union with Stephen is that he doesn't realize the true difficulties they would face in a mixed marriage. Because this is a novella, Milan can give you the hard-hitting gut punches along with the sweet romance without going too deep.

We loved it.

anishadb's review

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lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

ilaurin's review

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4.0

Sweet story taking place in regency England but involving a black woman falling in love with a white rogue. The hero is hiding an extremely nice heart and opened mind behind a carefree attitude. The heroine is practically a genius but rather shy. Very sweet romance with, of course, a happy ending.

eachuisce72's review

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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? Yes

4.0

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