Scan barcode
hshoue's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, and Racism
Minor: Death
fairytaleteacup's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse and Grief
larpar's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Infertility
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Homophobia
mindsplinters's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Books for a digital ARC - pub date 7/11/2023. I wanted to like this book so much more than I actually did because it actually has a lot of charm going for it. So I edge higher than a 2 star but not enough to round up to 3. The reason boils down to the same problem I had with Irwin's debut book, though, so I guess that is a yay for consistency?
Basically, her secondary characters are delightful and well-rounded and interesting and I could read a whole book on them... Her actual hero and heroine? Not so much. While the interloping leg of the love triangle Melville is full of charm and depth and has a slow-grow character arc, the other male leg of the triangle Somerset is just plain AWFUL. He has about as much charm as cardboard and as much depth as a puddle and he is a raging hypocrite, to boot. Eliza, on the other hand, as our fairer leg of the triangle is... Let's just say that her character growth feels like it was jammed into the last 20% of the book and in such a staggering way that I was left wondering if someone else stepped in to take her place. She goes from insipid and spineless to "screw you all, I do what I want" in the blink of an eye and at a point in time where it is pure stupid madness to go that far. Though I was relieved that she did grow and she did realize the emotional abuse she had undergone for years and years!
Margaret and Caroline? All day long. Lady Hurley and her beau? Oh, yes, please. Even Perkins the butler was absolutely adorable and sketched out well enough that you felt you knew him.
As for fashion and manners and the location of Bath? Irwin continues to nail her research and describe things beautifully. I just wish her main characters could stand as well as everything else in the book.
Basically, her secondary characters are delightful and well-rounded and interesting and I could read a whole book on them... Her actual hero and heroine? Not so much. While the interloping leg of the love triangle Melville is full of charm and depth and has a slow-grow character arc, the other male leg of the triangle Somerset is just plain AWFUL. He has about as much charm as cardboard and as much depth as a puddle and he is a raging hypocrite, to boot. Eliza, on the other hand, as our fairer leg of the triangle is... Let's just say that her character growth feels like it was jammed into the last 20% of the book and in such a staggering way that I was left wondering if someone else stepped in to take her place. She goes from insipid and spineless to "screw you all, I do what I want" in the blink of an eye and at a point in time where it is pure stupid madness to go that far. Though I was relieved that she did grow and she did realize the emotional abuse she had undergone for years and years!
Margaret and Caroline? All day long. Lady Hurley and her beau? Oh, yes, please. Even Perkins the butler was absolutely adorable and sketched out well enough that you felt you knew him.
As for fashion and manners and the location of Bath? Irwin continues to nail her research and describe things beautifully. I just wish her main characters could stand as well as everything else in the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia, Racism, and Emotional abuse
katrinaward's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Eliza, who married an old crusty man at her family's behest, is now widowed, and ready to try and live. First, she'll just have to figure out what that means to her.
I LOVED this book, the banter and conversation was absolutely charming, and watching Eliza grow into herself was inspiring. I loved the conflict between the love interest(s---there are multiple, because she's really living!) and the way Eliza got to fall in love, again. I wish I could be real life friends with Eliza. This was a perfect second book to the A Lady's Guide series, I enjoyed it even more than the first one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Emotional abuse, and Infertility
More...