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dianaschmidty's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Infidelity and Grief
Minor: Death of parent
laura_mcloughlin's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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? Yes
3.0
My first time reading this author. The book was fine, similar in set up to When A Scot Ties the Knot, but not as good. I thought that the Hero held on to his issues a bit too long. It got eye-rolly very quickly.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Sexual content, Abandonment, Infidelity, and Alcohol
bedtimesandbooks's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
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? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Alcohol, Infidelity, Addiction, Abandonment, Sexual content, Cancer, Alcoholism, and Death of parent
bookfortbuilder's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
It was ok. I didn’t feel like the hero’s reasons for staying single were solid. Actually it was down right ridiculous. They youngest sister seemed superfluous. And the other sister seemed way too dramatic and cynical for her own good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Minor: Death of parent and Infidelity
bookishflower's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.5
3.5 ⭐️🐝
‘She paused and then giggled. He wanted to catch the infectious sound in his fist and keep it forever’
This was my first historical romance so I didn’t know what to expect but wanted something to cure my Bridgerton season 2 (and aggressive fantasy) hangover and this did the job.
If the fake dating plot of Bridgerton season one merged with the pining of season 2 with an additional hand-flex scene borrowed from Pride and Prejudice (2005), you’d have this book.
Hugh was a flirtatious rake with a heart of gold which I’m always a softie for, Diana and Payne stole the show completely with their funny remarks and strong characterisation, and the fake fiancée lie getting increasingly more out of hand and ridiculous was highly entertaining. This was fun, easy and escapist.
However, if you’re not a fan of the miscommunication trope even a little bit probably best to put the book down. You’ll need to suspend your belief for this one for your entertainment’s sake! I also unfortunately feel Vee was too childish and selfish, acting more like a bratty five year old than a seventeen year old girl. I’m not sure how the author will make her likeable/more realistic when it comes to her book…
However, all in all, this was an entertaining, easy and funny historical romance!
‘She paused and then giggled. He wanted to catch the infectious sound in his fist and keep it forever’
This was my first historical romance so I didn’t know what to expect but wanted something to cure my Bridgerton season 2 (and aggressive fantasy) hangover and this did the job.
If the fake dating plot of Bridgerton season one merged with the pining of season 2 with an additional hand-flex scene borrowed from Pride and Prejudice (2005), you’d have this book.
Hugh was a flirtatious rake with a heart of gold which I’m always a softie for, Diana and Payne stole the show completely with their funny remarks and strong characterisation, and the fake fiancée lie getting increasingly more out of hand and ridiculous was highly entertaining. This was fun, easy and escapist.
However, if you’re not a fan of the miscommunication trope even a little bit probably best to put the book down. You’ll need to suspend your belief for this one for your entertainment’s sake! I also unfortunately feel Vee was too childish and selfish, acting more like a bratty five year old than a seventeen year old girl. I’m not sure how the author will make her likeable/more realistic when it comes to her book…
However, all in all, this was an entertaining, easy and funny historical romance!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent, Grief, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Infidelity
maregred's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Minor: Cancer, Classism, and Terminal illness
allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
"What a pointless and wholly avoidable mess."
Unfortunately, I think this quote sums up the book too well. I found it a frustrating slog rather than the intended slow burn.
This fake engagement is based on tall tales and an intricate, fabricated backstory. Hugh hires Minerva to fill the role of his fictional fiancee of the same name, and chaos ensues. I had several general issues with the book:
• There's casual slut-shaming in regards to who is wifely material. Reference is made to a marriageable woman's "pristine sheets" in contrast to the unworthy legion of lovers in Hugh's past.
• It gets worse when Hugh's "primal, wholly male, and visceral" jealousy (a different beast from bargain brand jealousy) causes him to seethe about her potential past with a sweetheart despite his own promiscuous past, particularly dwelling on the question of what degree of physical intimacy they enjoyed.
• A conversation on body image suggests that women know their own "faults" as a ...positive?
• Any comments describing the US as a land of freedom and fairness make me gag.
• The actress hired to play Minerva's mother provides comic relief, and her apparent alcoholism causes her to be characterized as a "drunkard" with her embarrassing, potentially incriminating behavior as the major concern rather than her well-being. All alcohol is removed from the premises with Lucretia as a passive recipient of the decision. Nothing is done to actually support her or treat her with any degree of empathy.
Characterization relied on telling (sometimes repeatedly) more than showing. I also disliked Hugh, both his faults and supposed strengths. Please enjoy my list of Hugh-shaped complaints:
• Philanthropy is used as shorthand for his inherent goodness (lazy).
• Acknowledgment of his rich white man privilege goes no further than discomfort and guilt, and it was exhausting to see it play out in slow motion on the page.
• The man has an actual knight-in-shining-armor complex. Hugh's top-secret (but why?) desire to "rescue" the downtrodden results in his offer to pay Minerva enough to entice her from her clear poverty for her role while knowing it is a pittance in his own terms. Minerva's view of him as her personal knight fans the flames of his instalove for her as he sheds a lifetime of adamant refusals to settle down. That dynamic was cringey.
• I was irritated by his nonsensical fear of biological programming towards infidelity. I shouldn't hate on another's mental health issues, but he goes in circles at a mind-numbingly unproductive pace. He also never actually moves past this block, just rewriting history to be happy with his believed inherited character.
Despite some brief comedic bright spots, I don't think that makes it worth the read. I wouldn't recommend it.
Unfortunately, I think this quote sums up the book too well. I found it a frustrating slog rather than the intended slow burn.
This fake engagement is based on tall tales and an intricate, fabricated backstory. Hugh hires Minerva to fill the role of his fictional fiancee of the same name, and chaos ensues. I had several general issues with the book:
• There's casual slut-shaming in regards to who is wifely material. Reference is made to a marriageable woman's "pristine sheets" in contrast to the unworthy legion of lovers in Hugh's past.
• It gets worse when Hugh's "primal, wholly male, and visceral" jealousy (a different beast from bargain brand jealousy) causes him to seethe about her potential past with a sweetheart despite his own promiscuous past, particularly dwelling on the question of what degree of physical intimacy they enjoyed.
• A conversation on body image suggests that women know their own "faults" as a ...positive?
• Any comments describing the US as a land of freedom and fairness make me gag.
• The actress hired to play Minerva's mother provides comic relief, and her apparent alcoholism causes her to be characterized as a "drunkard" with her embarrassing, potentially incriminating behavior as the major concern rather than her well-being. All alcohol is removed from the premises with Lucretia as a passive recipient of the decision. Nothing is done to actually support her or treat her with any degree of empathy.
Characterization relied on telling (sometimes repeatedly) more than showing. I also disliked Hugh, both his faults and supposed strengths. Please enjoy my list of Hugh-shaped complaints:
• Philanthropy is used as shorthand for his inherent goodness (lazy).
• Acknowledgment of his rich white man privilege goes no further than discomfort and guilt, and it was exhausting to see it play out in slow motion on the page.
• The man has an actual knight-in-shining-armor complex. Hugh's top-secret (but why?) desire to "rescue" the downtrodden results in his offer to pay Minerva enough to entice her from her clear poverty for her role while knowing it is a pittance in his own terms. Minerva's view of him as her personal knight fans the flames of his instalove for her as he sheds a lifetime of adamant refusals to settle down. That dynamic was cringey.
• I was irritated by his nonsensical fear of biological programming towards infidelity. I shouldn't hate on another's mental health issues, but he goes in circles at a mind-numbingly unproductive pace. He also never actually moves past this block, just rewriting history to be happy with his believed inherited character.
Despite some brief comedic bright spots, I don't think that makes it worth the read. I wouldn't recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcoholism, and Infidelity
Minor: Cancer, Death of parent, and Toxic relationship
decklededgess's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
trigger warnings: sexual content, emotionally abusive parent, negligent parent, alcoholism, phobia of horses, infidelity mention
This book was incredibly cute. I loved the premise, the romance, the cast of characters, and the comedic elements. The resolution was well done but was wrapped up in such a hurried way it felt inauthentic to the characters. But I enjoyed it nonetheless.
This book was incredibly cute. I loved the premise, the romance, the cast of characters, and the comedic elements. The resolution was well done but was wrapped up in such a hurried way it felt inauthentic to the characters. But I enjoyed it nonetheless.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity
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