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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
medium-paced
emotional
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
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I had so much fun reading this. It's definitely different from anything I have read before. I was hooked from the start. Miles is a successful smut author and not-so successful bookshop owner in 1880s England. Despite the notoriety of his pen-name, Miles lives a life flying under the radar. Then, enter Charlie Price, smut fan boy, who is looking to add to his explicit collection. Their connection was interesting to experience. Miles is a dirty man and Charlie is definitely here for it. I was having a good time. I did feel we didn't get to truly experience their deep emotions by the time they were together and making plans, but that didn't take away much from my enjoyment. I liked the community we see in the story with Jo and some of the patrons of the molly house. I was super satisfied with the ending for everyone and the little surprise reveal that we get. Overall, this was s fantastic read and I will be continuing with the series.
emotional
lighthearted
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:
No
I really liked this. Fast paced but well structured and well developed. I love a dual POV, too. It all just worked for me - I liked the characters, the club, and the conflict and resolution made sense and were satisfying.
*Actual Rating 3.5/5 stars*
The concept of the novel was interesting to, especially given that this was set in the Victorian era of England. Charlie Price is set to be married soon, and in a last hurrah before he becomes "respectable", Charlie is in search of his favorite erotica author, Reginald Cox, to get his signature before he adds the lastest book to his collection and locks it away forever. Through his network, he finds the author - who turns out to be a reserved, grumpy bookshop owner and that's where the book takes off.
As a debut novel, the book suffered in my opinon, in the shift between the two sections of the novel. The begining of the novel had a great pace to it. We were introduced to the world that Charlie and Miles (the real name of Reginald Cox) inhabited, and the characters that they interacted with. It also established what would ultimatley draw both Charlie and Miles together to form an attraction and desire between the two of them. The later half of the novel however seemed to be rooted more in disapointment, and also was rushed for me in how "down south" things went, and also in the solution that came about as a result of the societal expectations from the novel.
A major concern for me came from for me was that while Miles I felt was an intriguing character, Charlie was a split, where there were parts of the novel where he excelled, and other parts where he was lackluster with his presence on the page. Often times I felt that he was overshadowed by other characters that were on the page with him, including Mr. Quincy, his butler, Alma his wife to be, Jo, his companion at the Curious Fox and her husband, the Beast.
The ending also didn't make sense to me, in part because of the families of Charlie and Alma, and how they were seen to treat their children. I just couldn't accept that both sets of parents would let their children not get married and move on from there. It just didn't add up - even with Price's family being "accepting" as the times would allow, the Merriweathers (Alma's family) did not seem like the sort to allow their daughter to escape the confines of marriage. Also, while Jo is in a marraige where she is with Mr. Beast (and honestly, their relationship seemed to be the one that I was the most interested in learning more about and how they got together) she makes a point to tell Charlie that he should not get into a marriage of conveniance like there situation. That advice, and how Miles reacted to the impending marriage (after hearing why Charlie was doing it) struck me as odd. Partially, I think because the novel, while Victorian in nature, is being written for an audience for 2023. But also, because it leads us to believe that the stakes are high for both Charlie and Alma, but that by the subterfuge that Jo and the Beast are able to create, it somehow works out and everyone is ok???
While not a bad book by any sense, the book at times does not feel complete, and for alsoo (though no complaints from my end) the book plays itself as being "filthy" but is kind of mild in how Everlee wrote out most of the devils tango, with the actual big sex scene being fade to black and almost easy to miss and lose in the narrative unless you pay attention to it.
Stay for the Victorian era vibes and mild angst, and a cast of supporting characters. But, also not something that you need to read because you won't be missing much.
The concept of the novel was interesting to, especially given that this was set in the Victorian era of England. Charlie Price is set to be married soon, and in a last hurrah before he becomes "respectable", Charlie is in search of his favorite erotica author, Reginald Cox, to get his signature before he adds the lastest book to his collection and locks it away forever. Through his network, he finds the author - who turns out to be a reserved, grumpy bookshop owner and that's where the book takes off.
As a debut novel, the book suffered in my opinon, in the shift between the two sections of the novel. The begining of the novel had a great pace to it. We were introduced to the world that Charlie and Miles (the real name of Reginald Cox) inhabited, and the characters that they interacted with. It also established what would ultimatley draw both Charlie and Miles together to form an attraction and desire between the two of them. The later half of the novel however seemed to be rooted more in disapointment, and also was rushed for me in how "down south" things went, and also in the solution that came about as a result of the societal expectations from the novel.
A major concern for me came from for me was that while Miles I felt was an intriguing character, Charlie was a split, where there were parts of the novel where he excelled, and other parts where he was lackluster with his presence on the page. Often times I felt that he was overshadowed by other characters that were on the page with him, including Mr. Quincy, his butler, Alma his wife to be, Jo, his companion at the Curious Fox and her husband, the Beast.
The ending also didn't make sense to me, in part because of the families of Charlie and Alma, and how they were seen to treat their children. I just couldn't accept that both sets of parents would let their children not get married and move on from there. It just didn't add up - even with Price's family being "accepting" as the times would allow, the Merriweathers (Alma's family) did not seem like the sort to allow their daughter to escape the confines of marriage. Also, while Jo is in a marraige where she is with Mr. Beast (and honestly, their relationship seemed to be the one that I was the most interested in learning more about and how they got together) she makes a point to tell Charlie that he should not get into a marriage of conveniance like there situation. That advice, and how Miles reacted to the impending marriage (after hearing why Charlie was doing it) struck me as odd. Partially, I think because the novel, while Victorian in nature, is being written for an audience for 2023. But also, because it leads us to believe that the stakes are high for both Charlie and Alma, but that by the subterfuge that Jo and the Beast are able to create, it somehow works out and everyone is ok???
While not a bad book by any sense, the book at times does not feel complete, and for alsoo (though no complaints from my end) the book plays itself as being "filthy" but is kind of mild in how Everlee wrote out most of the devils tango, with the actual big sex scene being fade to black and almost easy to miss and lose in the narrative unless you pay attention to it.
Stay for the Victorian era vibes and mild angst, and a cast of supporting characters. But, also not something that you need to read because you won't be missing much.