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inniebin's review against another edition
3.0
Everything has a consequence.
This book shares a story of consequences. Of how beauty can be destroying and how lies turn into very difficult situations. But it also speaks of love, true love, even love at first sight.
I enjoyed the book and this was my introduction to the author. The book was recommended to me as it has a specific trope I was after.
I am however not a huge fan of the very late Victorian Times (1898), I prefer a much older (earlier?) setting personally, I'm a huge fan of the Regency period or older Edwardian, and even further back.
One of the things that irk me in the book is that we tend to visit quite many story arcs in one book, particularly the main female character's brother's wife and their marriage. Ofc this is partly because their story is book nr 2, but this happened to such an extent that felt it took away from the main characters.
Especially when there are several things in her brother's marriage you just want to scream at him for. It sort of... takes you away from the main couple as I said.
All in all, I enjoyed the book, but it's not a book would be desperate to re-read and I don't find myself running off to read book 2, probably because Fitz has pissed me off to no end in book 1.
This book shares a story of consequences. Of how beauty can be destroying and how lies turn into very difficult situations. But it also speaks of love, true love, even love at first sight.
I enjoyed the book and this was my introduction to the author. The book was recommended to me as it has a specific trope I was after.
I am however not a huge fan of the very late Victorian Times (1898), I prefer a much older (earlier?) setting personally, I'm a huge fan of the Regency period or older Edwardian, and even further back.
One of the things that irk me in the book is that we tend to visit quite many story arcs in one book, particularly the main female character's brother's wife and their marriage. Ofc this is partly because their story is book nr 2, but this happened to such an extent that felt it took away from the main characters.
Especially when there are several things in her brother's marriage you just want to scream at him for. It sort of... takes you away from the main couple as I said.
All in all, I enjoyed the book, but it's not a book would be desperate to re-read and I don't find myself running off to read book 2, probably because Fitz has pissed me off to no end in book 1.
ipomoea's review against another edition
3.0
When Sherry Thomas figures out how to write a more realistic and drawn-out resolution to the central conflict of her books, she will be unstoppable. Until then, it's just frustrating.
winterreader40's review against another edition
4.0
Venetia has been widowed twice and has been alone by choice the last 8 years because her face essentially makes her the Helen of Troy of her time, no one sees past the beauty and they all would do anything for her and she's tired of it.
Christian has been in lust for her for years but as she was married he always made sure to avoid her, but at a conference in New York he slips up and basically lets loose a diatribe about beauty not naming her but using Venetia as an example.
As revenge she starts an affair with him on the ship home never allowing him to see her face, but it bites her in the ass when she falls for him.
This was a fun, a bit ridiculous but entertaining all the same.
Christian has been in lust for her for years but as she was married he always made sure to avoid her, but at a conference in New York he slips up and basically lets loose a diatribe about beauty not naming her but using Venetia as an example.
As revenge she starts an affair with him on the ship home never allowing him to see her face, but it bites her in the ass when she falls for him.
This was a fun, a bit ridiculous but entertaining all the same.
bandherbooks's review against another edition
3.0
Secret identity, revenge, she won't sleep with him except in the dark while wearing a veil or he's wearing a blind fold? This is banana pants. What a fun read, I truly didn't like either character, but I was totally team Venetia for putting up with the Duke of Lexington and turning him into a simpering idiot.
sarahcophagus's review against another edition
3.0
The premise is convoluted, but I don't really mind. There's a sort of charm in books that would take too long to explain the why, how and what. Like a woman starting up with a man who had publicly shamed her to mask his years of longing for her after a 'love at first sight' moment years before and several misunderstandings, and yet she is somehow able to maintain continuous anonymity through false names and languages and backstories, and most unbelievably through blindfolds and face coverings, enough to conduct a torrid affair with him aboard a cross ocean trip without him recognizing her ever. While the whole mess of "I am torn up with love for two woman who are secretly the same woman" is angsty and fun in theory, I think that the ruse wore out its welcome. MMC is constantly torn, staying loyal to the woman in his head, and ends up insulting whichever woman is in front of him every time - when they were all the same woman! Eventually, after many more misunderstandings and intentionally being shitty for pride's sake, the truth of the ruse and their mutual affections are revealed, in my opinion, there isn't enough book time left to enjoy of their reunion.
Side note: There are a bunch of other side characters, some of who have POV chapters, who I don't care about who have background stories going on that I had little to no context about. Found that really grating as this was billed as "Book 1" of a series, but I recognize that's just how things were done at the time of this publication.
Side note: There are a bunch of other side characters, some of who have POV chapters, who I don't care about who have background stories going on that I had little to no context about. Found that really grating as this was billed as "Book 1" of a series, but I recognize that's just how things were done at the time of this publication.
seeinghowitgoes's review against another edition
2.0
I try not to read review of novels I'm planning on reading, I find they tend to warp my preconception of how to take I'm a novel and unfortunately Beguiling the Beauty fell into this category.
As much as I wanted to enjoy the novel, the concept of these two people hovering around one another with such crazy misconceptions about one another just didn't work for me. I couldn't accept that they could fall in love under such tenuous circumstances, which really pains me as I usually adore anything that Sherry Thomas writes.
The side story of Millie and the Fitz was much more interesting, as I love stories about people with great histories.
As much as I wanted to enjoy the novel, the concept of these two people hovering around one another with such crazy misconceptions about one another just didn't work for me. I couldn't accept that they could fall in love under such tenuous circumstances, which really pains me as I usually adore anything that Sherry Thomas writes.
The side story of Millie and the Fitz was much more interesting, as I love stories about people with great histories.
heydebigale's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
5.0
This book is such a clear stepping stone to lady Sherlock!!
Stayed up a little too late reading Beguiling The Beauty and I LOVED IT. Such a lovely and unique homage to Beast by Judith Ivory
So fun to see Lady Avery and Lady Somersby - a bit villainous here but later they get their heroic moments in the lady Sherlock series!!!
Stayed up a little too late reading Beguiling The Beauty and I LOVED IT. Such a lovely and unique homage to Beast by Judith Ivory
So fun to see Lady Avery and Lady Somersby - a bit villainous here but later they get their heroic moments in the lady Sherlock series!!!
just_ordinary_bookshelf's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25