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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
Wonderfully sweet and farcical. I’m loving Alexis’ recent regency books as they’re such tender romances all about queer joy. I deeply respect his choice to just make virtually every character extremely queer and for Valentine to be utterly oblivious to it. I’m excited to see the other books he writes in this world and I’m hoping that we get Peggy and Sir Horley books.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you've ever wanted to read a smutty Regency romance novel where nearly everyone is gay, this is for you. The audiobook narrator did well with all the character voices. I was hooked, invested and not 100% sure how it would end. A couple of chapters did seem to drag on, and there was a (minor) twist with Valentine that I didn't find believable. But overall, a fun read with memorable characters all around.
Oof... Let me say first that I reaaally love Alexis Hall's writing. It is so witty, engrossing, and he's fantastic at portraying character's deep struggles while being hilarious. Both Boyfriend Material and Glitterland were such an emotional ride for me.
Now, I will also say, I enjoyed the first 60% of this... but then the last 40% made me regret enjoying it. I thought at first that things would be in good fun, but nooo this is one toxic, abusive relationship. Gosh, I'm so upset at how it ended. The rest is gonna be mildly spoiler-y, so to sum up the non-spoiler part: To me, this is the story of a demisexual/demiromantic sweetheart who reads very autistic (similarly to Oliver in Boyfriend Material. It's another reason why I love Hall's writing), who gets utterly gaslit and made to feel like he's the bad guy.
Now to the spoiler-y part:
BONNY, HOW COULD YOU?
I did like Bonny, but when he actively blamed Valentine for getting shot and almost DYING, he lost me and the whole relationship looks very iffy in retrospect. He is incredibly cruel to him, because Valentine is not, in fact, uncaring, an asshole, selfish, or any of those things. He has some trouble communicating and some trouble understanding romantic conventions and that's it. But Bonny makes him feel ashamed about all of it. He lets him go through terrible overwhelming situations without standing up for him and then ridicules him for it. I'm so mad.
ALSO, the second sex scene is not 100% consensual. Some people might disagree here, but Valentine clearly expressed what he wanted. Bonny made him feel bad for it, pushed him to do more, and then when Valentine said it was too much and that he felt like he was dying, Bonny just kept going. That's incredibly uncomfortable.
What 100% ruined the story in the end for me was... oh dear... MY MOST HATED TROPE. I haaate when historical characters blame other historical characters for not acting 21st-century modern. I wish I'd never have to read it again. I hate that Valentine is made to feel crazy because he actually lives in the time period he lives in. I'm so mad about it.
In summary... I had a great time at first and really loved the romp. Alexis Hall remains a fabulous writer. But this is one tragic, toxic "love story" and like a lot of other reviewers, I feel terrible for Valentine.
Now, I will also say, I enjoyed the first 60% of this... but then the last 40% made me regret enjoying it. I thought at first that things would be in good fun, but nooo this is one toxic, abusive relationship. Gosh, I'm so upset at how it ended. The rest is gonna be mildly spoiler-y, so to sum up the non-spoiler part: To me, this is the story of a demisexual/demiromantic sweetheart who reads very autistic (similarly to Oliver in Boyfriend Material. It's another reason why I love Hall's writing), who gets utterly gaslit and made to feel like he's the bad guy.
Now to the spoiler-y part:
BONNY, HOW COULD YOU?
I did like Bonny, but when he actively blamed Valentine for getting shot and almost DYING, he lost me and the whole relationship looks very iffy in retrospect. He is incredibly cruel to him, because Valentine is not, in fact, uncaring, an asshole, selfish, or any of those things. He has some trouble communicating and some trouble understanding romantic conventions and that's it. But Bonny makes him feel ashamed about all of it. He lets him go through terrible overwhelming situations without standing up for him and then ridicules him for it. I'm so mad.
ALSO, the second sex scene is not 100% consensual. Some people might disagree here, but Valentine clearly expressed what he wanted. Bonny made him feel bad for it, pushed him to do more, and then when Valentine said it was too much and that he felt like he was dying, Bonny just kept going. That's incredibly uncomfortable.
What 100% ruined the story in the end for me was... oh dear... MY MOST HATED TROPE. I haaate when historical characters blame other historical characters for not acting 21st-century modern. I wish I'd never have to read it again. I hate that Valentine is made to feel crazy because he actually lives in the time period he lives in. I'm so mad about it.
In summary... I had a great time at first and really loved the romp. Alexis Hall remains a fabulous writer. But this is one tragic, toxic "love story" and like a lot of other reviewers, I feel terrible for Valentine.
*2.5
I mean it was fine? My main problem was that I didn't really care for any of the characters, I mean Bonny was god but that's about it. I also didn't love how 'easy' snd unrealistic it was, esp not since it tried to establish more than once that it's supposed to take place during the actual 19th century. The story itself is honestly nothing but ridiculous and I really didn't like the whole thing around Anabelle. Also none of these characters are acting in any way that would make sense for people in the regency era, like at all.
But the authours intention wasn't for this to be realistic or have weight to it either, it's honestly just pure escapism, which is of course perfectly fine. Esp the ending is very much a fairytale one, nothing of consequence happens. Which again, that's fine, it just wasn't for me.
Overall, I had similar problems with this one as with boyfriend material. But if you liked that one and don't mind historical fantasy(?) think you might like this one as well.
I mean it was fine? My main problem was that I didn't really care for any of the characters, I mean Bonny was god but that's about it. I also didn't love how 'easy' snd unrealistic it was, esp not since it tried to establish more than once that it's supposed to take place during the actual 19th century. The story itself is honestly nothing but ridiculous and I really didn't like the whole thing around Anabelle. Also none of these characters are acting in any way that would make sense for people in the regency era, like at all.
But the authours intention wasn't for this to be realistic or have weight to it either, it's honestly just pure escapism, which is of course perfectly fine. Esp the ending is very much a fairytale one, nothing of consequence happens. Which again, that's fine, it just wasn't for me.
Overall, I had similar problems with this one as with boyfriend material. But if you liked that one and don't mind historical fantasy(?) think you might like this one as well.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
You won't stop smiling from the first page to the last. A frothy, fizzy, wild ride of an adventure through sexual escapades, identity reveals, and increasingly hilarious scenes.
funny
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
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
Would’ve been 5 stars if there weren’t multiple instances when I felt Belle was completely in the wrong but Valentine somehow ended up being blamed. Yeah, he’s an asshole but I’d be an asshole too if put in similar situations.
funny
lighthearted
it is very silly, it is very gay, it is very much heartwarming.