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doritobabe's review against another edition
3.0
3/5
TW: This book alludes to a previous rape and has moments of non-consensual sexual acts.
Solid 3/5. A real slog through the beginning, but picks up pace and caught my interest more thoroughly around 40%. I keep seeing that Kinsale is a heavy-weight in the romance category, but she packed too much into this book for it to be satisfyingly resolved; in other words: the ending seems to have caught up to her and was rushed.
Summary: Two people fall in love via letters. They meet and their expectations are not met (she is more plain and boisterous; he is too dark and literally mad). They are forced to endure one another because of familial relations (distant) and grow to enjoy each others presence when he discovers the source of his madness. The plot thickens when they discover there is a mystery afoot. A grand one that is completely unrealistic. The two work together. There is even a marriage of necessity element to the plot. Danger ensues. Danger is resolved. True love. The end.
TW: This book alludes to a previous rape and has moments of non-consensual sexual acts.
Solid 3/5. A real slog through the beginning, but picks up pace and caught my interest more thoroughly around 40%. I keep seeing that Kinsale is a heavy-weight in the romance category, but she packed too much into this book for it to be satisfyingly resolved; in other words: the ending seems to have caught up to her and was rushed.
Summary: Two people fall in love via letters. They meet and their expectations are not met (she is more plain and boisterous; he is too dark and literally mad). They are forced to endure one another because of familial relations (distant) and grow to enjoy each others presence when he discovers the source of his madness. The plot thickens when they discover there is a mystery afoot. A grand one that is completely unrealistic. The two work together. There is even a marriage of necessity element to the plot. Danger ensues. Danger is resolved. True love. The end.
riskyduck's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed the madness, jailbreak, and letters. Those plot devices alone drove the book in a great direction for the first half. Then it starts to get bogged down with boring descriptions and events.
The last 1/4 was a rough stretch to finish, with only their interactions to keep me interested. Kinsale said herself that the last bit was shoddy and could do with a reworking.
The folly/Folie/Folly play was a great hook, and even though it was trotted out far too often, I was still charmed. After doing a quick search of the name Folie, I found "folie a deux" is a French phrase meaning madness shared by two, which I found incredibly appropriate in many ways. I wonder if Kinsale intended it or not, but it works beautifully. Either way, Folie or Folly made a big impression on me.
The last 1/4 was a rough stretch to finish, with only their interactions to keep me interested. Kinsale said herself that the last bit was shoddy and could do with a reworking.
The folly/Folie/Folly play was a great hook, and even though it was trotted out far too often, I was still charmed. After doing a quick search of the name Folie, I found "folie a deux" is a French phrase meaning madness shared by two, which I found incredibly appropriate in many ways. I wonder if Kinsale intended it or not, but it works beautifully. Either way, Folie or Folly made a big impression on me.
dja777's review against another edition
4.0
Goes on a bit long, but really, the author had me in love with the characters by the end of the prologue, so I'll forgive her that.
bleulucy's review against another edition
3.0
This has been one of my favorite books for a long time, I love the beginning, the letters between Robert and Folie are sweet and interesting. The meeting of the characters in real life is a little unhinged, but still interesting.
- Spoilers -
The plot became big and all kinds of crazy, with international politics and a conspiracy to poison the Prince. All the while Robert is more and more of a jerk, even when he is nice he is awful. The poison made him nuts, but he really seemed like a pathetic bully much of the time.
It hurts saying that because My Sweet Folly was my go-to comfort read. I suppose I'll just stick with the first 50 pages.
- Spoilers -
The plot became big and all kinds of crazy, with international politics and a conspiracy to poison the Prince. All the while Robert is more and more of a jerk, even when he is nice he is awful. The poison made him nuts, but he really seemed like a pathetic bully much of the time.
It hurts saying that because My Sweet Folly was my go-to comfort read. I suppose I'll just stick with the first 50 pages.
catsandrabbits's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
gonturans's review against another edition
4.0
Torn between being happy the villains didn’t succeed with the, ya know, murder, but also wishing they’d succeeding in their plans for the East India Company so???
I ADORED Folie, absolutely adored her. Funny, capable, and independent, I’m adding half a star just for her. Robert felt like two different characters at some points, and it was especially frustrating how he wouldn’t just like... talk about his shit.
I ADORED Folie, absolutely adored her. Funny, capable, and independent, I’m adding half a star just for her. Robert felt like two different characters at some points, and it was especially frustrating how he wouldn’t just like... talk about his shit.
ikepauh's review against another edition
3.0
Unpredictable. Unexpected.
Some ‘wow-really?’ moments. The letters at the beginning of the story were great. I wonder how many other books out there have this? (Surely a lot)There’s Love, Rosie but that’s contemporary. I must comb through the Google searches.
Oh Robert, the hot and cold thing pissed me off. Lucky your sweet Folly was so in loveeee and such.
Some ‘wow-really?’ moments. The letters at the beginning of the story were great. I wonder how many other books out there have this? (Surely a lot)There’s Love, Rosie but that’s contemporary. I must comb through the Google searches.
Oh Robert, the hot and cold thing pissed me off. Lucky your sweet Folly was so in loveeee and such.