Scan barcode
yourbookishbff's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
4.5
This was a fantastic start to the Bareknuckle Bastards series. I loved the dynamic between Felicity and Devil - emotionally mature woman with a talent for both literal and metaphorical lockpicking eviscerates hot-but-emotionally-constipated Covent Garden smuggler. There are so many moments that stand out - the whispering bench (HOT), the rooftop (SIGH), the hold (SOB). I am grateful to have read this alongside friends, because I would have missed the nods to Rumpelstiltskin (I'm not familiar enough with that story to catch the allusions but love that MacLean has woven these in for savvier readers). If you love high stakes, deathbed confessions, class difference and romances that buck the aristocracy, Wicked and the Wallflower delivers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Murder, Stalking, and Misogyny
jess_justmaybeperfect's review
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
fast-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
5.0
The Rumpelstiltskin inspired love story of a spinster wallflower betrayed by friends and family and a criminal mastermind with a big secret.
After a chance meeting on the balcony of a duke’s Mayfair home, felicity and devil become tangled in each other’s secrets and make an arrangement that turns into love almost immediately.
He’s not good enough for her. She’s done with doing what’s expected. He’s experienced. She is not. He thrives in the darkness. Her favorite color is pink and she is his sunlight.
There are lessons, gifts, trellis climbs, a lot of meaningful lock picking, and a rooftop scene both emotional and smoking.
This book is way over the top. I love it.
After a chance meeting on the balcony of a duke’s Mayfair home, felicity and devil become tangled in each other’s secrets and make an arrangement that turns into love almost immediately.
He’s not good enough for her. She’s done with doing what’s expected. He’s experienced. She is not. He thrives in the darkness. Her favorite color is pink and she is his sunlight.
There are lessons, gifts, trellis climbs, a lot of meaningful lock picking, and a rooftop scene both emotional and smoking.
This book is way over the top. I love it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse and Violence
mollyjeannette's review against another edition
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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
haley49's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I love these characters and their story. Everything about their relationship felt earned and I really enjoyed it. Not perfect but this twist on regency romance where the hero is a crime lord was so interesting and the heroine complimented the story in a fun way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity, Child abuse, and Classism
Minor: Trafficking
livruther's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
4.0
i dont love revenge plots, the conflict was predictable, and it took me a while to get into the story, but i ended up liking it! the writing was good, the ending was really nice, and i think the “she saves him right back” thing was really well done! i am intrigued to see what sarah maclean does w the rest of these characters in this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
sydapel's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
all in all, one of my favorite Sarah MacLean books I've read, but there's a pretty profound betrayal between Devil and Felicity that I found it hard to forgive as easily. I do adore their dynamic (banter 8/10 best I've read since Book Lovers), and Felicity is a force to be reckoned with, but I wish more time was spent on the reconciliation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Violence, and Physical abuse
Minor: Death of parent
carbs666's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-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
4.0
Once again I love Sarah MacLean. This book has such a perfect balance of internal and external conflict - its clear from the beginning why these two can't be together right now and what obstacles need to be overcome to get them there. I love that we had a role reversal at the end where the heroine saves the hero, and I enjoyed the way MacLean built on the couples' instant fascination with each other by letting them to get to know each other before they just decide they're in love.
I will say that I feel like I know a lot about Devil but not that much about Felicity. While her character is clear, we don't get a lot of info about the events in her life that shaped her character- like, how does she know how to pick locks??? When was the first time she did that, how did she develop this skill? I would like to know!
MacLean is a master at slowing the pace way down to accommodate a love scene and there a few truly hot and tender moments in here! Additionally, there's significant and believable tension between Devil and Felicity that is very gratifying to see.
There's still a fair amount of mystery surrounding the past of the Bareknuckle Bastards but I forgive the holes because I know they will be filed in in later books in the series. This book is overall exciting- there's a tenor running throughout of that feeling you get when you're doing something you're not supposed be doing and enjoying it the entire time, a wonder at being shown a side of life you didn't know existed.
I will say that I feel like I know a lot about Devil but not that much about Felicity. While her character is clear, we don't get a lot of info about the events in her life that shaped her character- like, how does she know how to pick locks??? When was the first time she did that, how did she develop this skill? I would like to know!
MacLean is a master at slowing the pace way down to accommodate a love scene and there a few truly hot and tender moments in here! Additionally, there's significant and believable tension between Devil and Felicity that is very gratifying to see.
There's still a fair amount of mystery surrounding the past of the Bareknuckle Bastards but I forgive the holes because I know they will be filed in in later books in the series. This book is overall exciting- there's a tenor running throughout of that feeling you get when you're doing something you're not supposed be doing and enjoying it the entire time, a wonder at being shown a side of life you didn't know existed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Child abuse
_savannahreads_'s review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Bullying, Gun violence, Classism, Toxic friendship, Child abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
weelasswithabook's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
slow-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
5.0
CW discussion of suïcïde, child poverty, abusive childhood, toxic parental relationships
Historical perfection.
We have a hero and heroine of two different social classes coming together in a deal to help the heroine land a Duke, which is mutually beneficial for them both. One more nefarious than the other.
Over. The course of this book, the two fall in love with perfect pacing. Not insta love, not insta lust, but insta "something" that slowly burns over the course of the story. Conflict and resolution has perfect timing and a logical scenario for what's been happening. Especially since it doesn't break the heroine but makes her even more forthright and confident and I loved that 😭
Sarah seems to have this knack for writing these feisty heroines who know what they want and don't hesitate to deviate from what's expected of them in this time period where they're essentially traded like cattle for their family's financial benefit. And a strong heroine is an instant tick in the box for a 5⭐ read.
The secondary storyline with Devil and his siblings seems like it's going to unfold rather interestingly over the course of the series so I'm definitely looking forward to continuing.
Historical perfection.
We have a hero and heroine of two different social classes coming together in a deal to help the heroine land a Duke, which is mutually beneficial for them both. One more nefarious than the other.
Over. The course of this book, the two fall in love with perfect pacing. Not insta love, not insta lust, but insta "something" that slowly burns over the course of the story. Conflict and resolution has perfect timing and a logical scenario for what's been happening. Especially since it doesn't break the heroine but makes her even more forthright and confident and I loved that 😭
Sarah seems to have this knack for writing these feisty heroines who know what they want and don't hesitate to deviate from what's expected of them in this time period where they're essentially traded like cattle for their family's financial benefit. And a strong heroine is an instant tick in the box for a 5⭐ read.
The secondary storyline with Devil and his siblings seems like it's going to unfold rather interestingly over the course of the series so I'm definitely looking forward to continuing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Suicide, and Child abuse
dulcinea's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Sexual content