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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
Oh so very cute! Veeeeery annoying at times but I think that's how it was supposed to be haha
She was a bit much though and I sometimes couldn't bear it
But oh so very cute overall
She was a bit much though and I sometimes couldn't bear it
But oh so very cute overall
3.5 rounded down. Cute book and cute story. It’s definitely an enemies to lovers trope and the teasing of the relationship is pretty heavy handed but it works well.
Both main characters are developed well and in the end you’re rooting for them. They do save a lot of the steam for the end of the book but either way would still recommend for those LGBTQ+ rom com lovers.
Both main characters are developed well and in the end you’re rooting for them. They do save a lot of the steam for the end of the book but either way would still recommend for those LGBTQ+ rom com lovers.
Well, damn. This is one of the most DELIGHTFUL books I have read in awhile. It was sweet, and hilarious, and lovely. I loved all the queerness and gender-bending mixed in with regency airs. It was just so perfect and delightful.
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
This book was quick-witted and completely queer!
The perfect description of finding oneself and realizing that you are not alone in the world. The audiobook was also wonderful and really made the story that much more hilarious and heartwarming
The perfect description of finding oneself and realizing that you are not alone in the world. The audiobook was also wonderful and really made the story that much more hilarious and heartwarming
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Gun violence, Infidelity
Minor foot licking.
OH MY GOD THIS IS SO FUN. It reads like a stage play, like an openly gay Oscar Wilde farce. A total comedy with wild set pieces that feel like a play. It's like THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST mixed with Clue and very ver, VERY queer. I laughed so hard and Bonny and Valentine are just the dumbest, sweetest characters.
I was really excited about this book especially after loving Boyfriend Material but this book didn't live up for me. Part of that could have just been that I was looking for a historical that featured the classics of historicals (e.g. balls, the ton) and this book had almost none of that. Part of this was necessary due to both main characters being men but it just didn't have that historical vibe I was looking for. Bonny felt a little too harsh for me and Valentine was a little too naive which made their banter sound mean instead of fun teasing. I will definitely be reading more of Hall's books but this one just fell flat for me.
This was one of my most highly anticipated reads of the year and it ABSOLUTELY delivered. Borrowed from the library but I think I need to purchase a copy of my own.
funny
The book of banter
Well, it's really hard to describe what I liked and didn't like about this book. Cause in theory, I liked a lot about it, but while reading, there were a few problems with the way it was written.
First, about the setup. A duke is trying to marry a lady out of duty, but she is a romantic and doesn't want that, so she runs away. Her twin brother is worried about her and urges the duke to apologize and try again, so they set after her, only to fall in love of their own.
Not a bad idea, but until about half of the book, not much happened. They took like 30 pages alone to leave the house(!), arguing the whole time. Then it was just them on the road - arguing again. The conversations were written in a funny tone that I did appreciate, but it was just too much. Like 80% of the whole book is just talking, but not the kind that leads somewhere story-wise. Most problems could have been avoided if they'd just talked (ha!) to each other (about the right things). Up until a certain time, it was still plausible as to why they didn't (the character development needed to happen first), but after that, the drama was just unnecessary. Especially that one big thing near the end 😩
My favorite part was in the middle, when mutual feelings were recognized and the bit before with the sapphic ladys in the cottage. Also, every scene with Peggy. I know there is another book about Arabellas love story, but I wasn't a big fan of her. She really was quite dramatic, even though I could, of course, understand her not wanting to marry the duke. I don't know if she comes across differently in her own book, but I'd rather read more about Peggy xD (edit: I just read the blurb of the book and realized it is actually about Peggy omg. But Arabella seems to be important too... idk if I will read it yet, but it's more likely now xD)
Now about the main characters. Bonny was just delightful, funny, and a good flirt. Valentin was supposed to be unlikable at first, I guess, but it was hard to watch him making it worse each time 😩 Also, I know he is supposed to be this rich Duke, who knows nothing of the world, especially not about romance or the existence of queer people, but he could be so oblivious and condescending sometimes, it was aggravating. Especially when he saw those two women happily living together, and his first thought was, "Two spinsters living in poverty, how sad." Like, excuse me?! 😀 I liked him in the end, but I could understand the sentiment of wanting to shoot him from time to time xD Also, I thought his change of heart was rather quick. While it felt slow as a whole because of the long conversations, the book actually took place over just a few days in the beginning. For someone who didn't have many feelings to begin with, falling in love in that short amount of time was a bit sudden (though I wouldn't have wanted it to drag out any longer).
All in all, a book with funny conversations that sometimes made me laugh out loud, and (in the end) loveable characters, that just had the disadvantage of being written in a way too drawn-out style and with too much miscommunication/unnecessary drama. Though I didn't mind the unrealistically convient encounter of almost only queer people on their journey (nice representation for sapphic ladys, genderfluid icons, obviously gay men, and demisexual newcomers).
So, a book I didn't regret reading but also wouldn't explicitly recommend. It was alright.
Well, it's really hard to describe what I liked and didn't like about this book. Cause in theory, I liked a lot about it, but while reading, there were a few problems with the way it was written.
First, about the setup. A duke is trying to marry a lady out of duty, but she is a romantic and doesn't want that, so she runs away. Her twin brother is worried about her and urges the duke to apologize and try again, so they set after her, only to fall in love of their own.
Not a bad idea, but until about half of the book, not much happened. They took like 30 pages alone to leave the house(!), arguing the whole time. Then it was just them on the road - arguing again. The conversations were written in a funny tone that I did appreciate, but it was just too much. Like 80% of the whole book is just talking, but not the kind that leads somewhere story-wise. Most problems could have been avoided if they'd just talked (ha!) to each other (about the right things). Up until a certain time, it was still plausible as to why they didn't (the character development needed to happen first), but after that, the drama was just unnecessary. Especially that one big thing near the end 😩
My favorite part was in the middle, when mutual feelings were recognized and the bit before with the sapphic ladys in the cottage. Also, every scene with Peggy. I know there is another book about Arabellas love story, but I wasn't a big fan of her. She really was quite dramatic, even though I could, of course, understand her not wanting to marry the duke. I don't know if she comes across differently in her own book, but I'd rather read more about Peggy xD (edit: I just read the blurb of the book and realized it is actually about Peggy omg. But Arabella seems to be important too... idk if I will read it yet, but it's more likely now xD)
Now about the main characters. Bonny was just delightful, funny, and a good flirt. Valentin was supposed to be unlikable at first, I guess, but it was hard to watch him making it worse each time 😩 Also, I know he is supposed to be this rich Duke, who knows nothing of the world, especially not about romance or the existence of queer people, but he could be so oblivious and condescending sometimes, it was aggravating. Especially when he saw those two women happily living together, and his first thought was, "Two spinsters living in poverty, how sad." Like, excuse me?! 😀 I liked him in the end, but I could understand the sentiment of wanting to shoot him from time to time xD Also, I thought his change of heart was rather quick. While it felt slow as a whole because of the long conversations, the book actually took place over just a few days in the beginning. For someone who didn't have many feelings to begin with, falling in love in that short amount of time was a bit sudden (though I wouldn't have wanted it to drag out any longer).
All in all, a book with funny conversations that sometimes made me laugh out loud, and (in the end) loveable characters, that just had the disadvantage of being written in a way too drawn-out style and with too much miscommunication/unnecessary drama. Though I didn't mind the unrealistically convient encounter of almost only queer people on their journey (nice representation for sapphic ladys, genderfluid icons, obviously gay men, and demisexual newcomers).
So, a book I didn't regret reading but also wouldn't explicitly recommend. It was alright.