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kaytebarry's review against another edition
2.0
I do not like this authors female characters. They are annoying. The plot was fine.
annamaria_ts's review against another edition
3.0
I mean, historical romance is not exactly the most feminist genre, but this book was especially bad in that regard: our main character was "not like other women," her friends were her enemies, she was so happy that she got the man she loved that she wouldn't even defend herself but she was mad when someone insulted said man. And so on and so forth.
What I did like was the family aspect, especially her younger sister and her mad causes.
In general it was an okay book though it wasn't as steamy as I would have liked it to be.
What I did like was the family aspect, especially her younger sister and her mad causes.
In general it was an okay book though it wasn't as steamy as I would have liked it to be.
timitra's review
4.0
Delightful read
Diary of an Accidental Wallflower is a delightful and funny read that tugs on the heartstrings. It's filled with witty banter and quirky, highly amusing and loveable characters. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Diary of an Accidental Wallflower is a delightful and funny read that tugs on the heartstrings. It's filled with witty banter and quirky, highly amusing and loveable characters. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
madwomanreadingromance's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
laurenjodi's review
2.0
Diary of an Accidental Wallflower
2 Stars
Miss Clare Westmore is well on her way to becoming the Season’s sensation and landing herself a duke, when she ends up on the sidelines with a twisted ankle. Her one consolation, however unsuitable, is the devastatingly handsome Dr. Daniel Merial. Soon Clare and Daniel find their inappropriate attraction growing into something more. Will they be able to get past their social differences to be together?
A wonderful premise. Unfortunately, mine seems to be the minority view when it comes to appreciating Ms. McQuiston’s writing as her style is drawn out and her characterization unappealing.
Clare’s preoccupation with her social standing and that of others does not make for a particularly engaging heroine, and the fact that she conceals her intelligence from others to make an impression on the boorish members of the ton only add to her lack of appeal. Her behavior is somewhat reminiscent of Annabelle Peyton in Secrets of a Summer Night, but unlike Klepas’s heroine, there is no legitimate excuse for her self-interest and snobbery.
Being both a commoner and of Roma descent, Daniel is a more attractive hero. However, even he cannot compensate for the poor plotting and tedious writing. To begin with, there is very little foundation to the revelations of Clare’s paternity and all that evolves from this, and the lives of the secondary characters overshadow the romance. Speaking of, Clare and Daniel’s chemistry is non-existent and their relationship is devoid of emotional and sexual tension. Finally, the numerous anachronistic actions and references make it difficult for the reader to become immersed in the time period.
All in all, a disappointing read and I am unlikely to read another of this author’s works as the other book of hers that I attempted What Happens in Scotland was a DNF.
2 Stars
Miss Clare Westmore is well on her way to becoming the Season’s sensation and landing herself a duke, when she ends up on the sidelines with a twisted ankle. Her one consolation, however unsuitable, is the devastatingly handsome Dr. Daniel Merial. Soon Clare and Daniel find their inappropriate attraction growing into something more. Will they be able to get past their social differences to be together?
A wonderful premise. Unfortunately, mine seems to be the minority view when it comes to appreciating Ms. McQuiston’s writing as her style is drawn out and her characterization unappealing.
Clare’s preoccupation with her social standing and that of others does not make for a particularly engaging heroine, and the fact that she conceals her intelligence from others to make an impression on the boorish members of the ton only add to her lack of appeal. Her behavior is somewhat reminiscent of Annabelle Peyton in Secrets of a Summer Night, but unlike Klepas’s heroine, there is no legitimate excuse for her self-interest and snobbery.
Being both a commoner and of Roma descent, Daniel is a more attractive hero. However, even he cannot compensate for the poor plotting and tedious writing. To begin with, there is very little foundation to the revelations of Clare’s paternity and all that evolves from this, and the lives of the secondary characters overshadow the romance. Speaking of, Clare and Daniel’s chemistry is non-existent and their relationship is devoid of emotional and sexual tension. Finally, the numerous anachronistic actions and references make it difficult for the reader to become immersed in the time period.
All in all, a disappointing read and I am unlikely to read another of this author’s works as the other book of hers that I attempted What Happens in Scotland was a DNF.
lucy_qhuay's review against another edition
1.0
I picked this book up since I had read a lot of good things about this new author and I wanted to see if I would add another to my top of historical romance favourites. No such luck, thus I don't think I'll ever read anything else by her.
The only word I can use to describe 'Diary of an Accidental Wallflower' is 'lacking'.
This book lacks everything in every department, mainly:
- captivating prose
- well-developed characters
- interesting plot
- believable/beautiful romance
I love historical romances where the heroine is the one with the 'blue blood', so to speak, and the hero is a commoner/self-made man/illegitimate child and we have that here, so that was one good things I was looking forward to.
I'm sad to say even that didn't live up to expectations.
Clare, the heroine, is a spoiled society princess with a high and mighty attitude, who thinks it is oh-so-fashionable to play the role of a dumb idiot in society and to have friends who absolutely can't wait to be the first ones to stab her in the back.
Yes, sir. I can't imagine what a woman could ever want more. Not a true friend, who only ever cares about her and her well-being, for sure.
Not a man who is the one to see through her perfect little façade and find out she's not as stupid as she seems (Apparently. I'm still waiting for evidence, though.)
Definitely not a man who ridiculously falls in love with her, when all she does is snubbing him and talking about how he's so inadequate for her, because he's a lowly poor doctor, and how she should be focused on winning her duke, who is her uncle, by the way, as she later finds out.
What the hell kind of mess is this? Not that I felt any kind of love here.
First of all, Clare spent 99% of the book rambling about how she was meant for the duke aka her uncle, only giving up on that notion when it was found she was related to him and that she wasn't a viscount's daughter as she thought she was, which led to the realization she loved Daniel.
Also, there are only two kiss scenes, the first ending with her vigorously slapping Daniel for daring to descend upon her in that fashion and the second taking place when some lunatic is doing acrobatics over the Thames.
And let's not even talk about the only miserly sex scene. I didn't know if I should laugh like a mad woman or throw the book at the wall, when in the middle of the ravishment Daniel's splendid thought was that 'Clare's bones intrigued him'.
I mean, what? o.O
Maybe I could tolerate the situation if it was Clare's ass or breasts that he was talking about, but her bones? Really? You get turned on by that?
I know you're a doctor and yadda, yadda, yadda, but that is seriously creepy.
As if this wasn't enough, the book had lots of family drama, with a marriage falling apart, 'big' secrets being revealed and miraculous solutions to everyone's problems.
Seriously, I can't deal with all of this.
spirit_animal_margaret_hale's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this one more than I thought I would. Alternated between reading it and listening to it since it is a titch longer than I like. The narrator was good enough at differentiating the characters and thankfully didn't sound like someone's grandma was reading to me...which is a deal-breaker for me. The story was good. I had to force myself to keep going in the beginning because I was worried the h would not be redeemable...she was just such a mean girl in the beginning! The H is a sweet guy, but not a pushover-- very likeable. I have to say though, the side characters were my favorites! I can't wait to read the brother's story, which I believe is the 3rd book. What a rapscallion that young man is! He and Lucy were hilarious!
Edited to add: I wish there was a bit more heat.
Edited to add: I wish there was a bit more heat.
conioportus's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed it more than I thought I would! it's not the classic story of the wallflower who falls in love with the handsome gentleman... it's the popular girl who discovers there's more than the approval of the ton! and I really loved Clare's and Daniel's personalities. I totally recommend this book to anyone who wants to ignore the rest of the world and jump into happy endings.
brokenrecord's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars. The romance hit a lot of buttons for me.