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unsuccessfulbookclub's review
emotional
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
3.75
I was excited to get the backstory on the Duke of Villiers (aka Zaddy V), but I did not bank on how absolutely charming his oldest son, Baby Thorn aka Tobias aka Juby, would be. BB Thorn/Baby Thorn/Tobias is a HIGHLIGHT of this book.
The plot of this story hinges on an unlikely set of MCs, yes I said *a set* and no this isn't a polyamorous story. To whit:
1. Eleanor, the heartbroken "dowdy" daughter of a duke, who in a fit of sadness stated that she would marry no man of lower station than a duke (all of this because the boy she loved, Gideon, had to marry someone else. He was a duke. Basically she was saying she wouldn't marry anyone but Gideon). Eleanor is not a virgin and she has lots of mixed emotions about it. Zaddy V is excited about this piece of information. By the end of the book Eleanor has embraced her s e x uality and desires but it's a long road for her.
2. The Duke of Villiers: At the ripe old age of 35, Zaddy V has SIX illegitimate children and is looking for a woman of no lower station than the daughter of a duke to marry. Zaddy V is also searching for his kids all over the place because his lawyer was a lying sack of sh*t who stole money meant to take care of the kids while the kids were off doing things like digging in the Thames for valuables and making buttons in orphanages, but I digress.
3. Enter stage right, Lady Lisette, the 100% banana-pants daughter of yet another duke (SO MANY DUKES). Lisette is at best out of touch and at worst kind of a callous monster. Hence the Lucille Bluth *moments" in this set of memes.
4. Last and definitely least, we have Eleanor's ex, Gideon. He sucks, full stop.
There are also 6 children, 3 of whom have roles to play in this book, Eleanor's mom, Eleanor's sister, Anne, who is catty AF, an absentee chaperone, some truly horrible servants, a witch of an orphanage headmistress, a random poet named Roland...and an adorable dog named Oyster. It’s bananas. Maybe a little too bananas at times but here we are.
The plot of this story hinges on an unlikely set of MCs, yes I said *a set* and no this isn't a polyamorous story. To whit:
1. Eleanor, the heartbroken "dowdy" daughter of a duke, who in a fit of sadness stated that she would marry no man of lower station than a duke (all of this because the boy she loved, Gideon, had to marry someone else. He was a duke. Basically she was saying she wouldn't marry anyone but Gideon). Eleanor is not a virgin and she has lots of mixed emotions about it. Zaddy V is excited about this piece of information. By the end of the book Eleanor has embraced her s e x uality and desires but it's a long road for her.
2. The Duke of Villiers: At the ripe old age of 35, Zaddy V has SIX illegitimate children and is looking for a woman of no lower station than the daughter of a duke to marry. Zaddy V is also searching for his kids all over the place because his lawyer was a lying sack of sh*t who stole money meant to take care of the kids while the kids were off doing things like digging in the Thames for valuables and making buttons in orphanages, but I digress.
3. Enter stage right, Lady Lisette, the 100% banana-pants daughter of yet another duke (SO MANY DUKES). Lisette is at best out of touch and at worst kind of a callous monster. Hence the Lucille Bluth *moments" in this set of memes.
4. Last and definitely least, we have Eleanor's ex, Gideon. He sucks, full stop.
There are also 6 children, 3 of whom have roles to play in this book, Eleanor's mom, Eleanor's sister, Anne, who is catty AF, an absentee chaperone, some truly horrible servants, a witch of an orphanage headmistress, a random poet named Roland...and an adorable dog named Oyster. It’s bananas. Maybe a little too bananas at times but here we are.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Vomit, Mental illness, Animal cruelty, Sexism, Alcohol, Drug use, Sexual content, and Misogyny
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