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toa's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse, Sexism, and Death of parent
blewballoon's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.0
I had high hopes, and really enjoyed this! At first I felt like maybe it skewed a little too young. It read as more YA than I remember the Bridgerton books being, but I either got used to it or it matured as the story went on. I really enjoyed how the parents story intertwined with the girls, and once I realized how it had to resolve I was glad to see it finally happen. The audiobook narrators were excellent. I'm looking forward to the next installment in the series for sure.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Alcohol
Minor: Death of parent, Vomit, Homophobia, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Sexism, and Misogyny
saukittome's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexism, Pregnancy, Violence, and Alcoholism
cloreadsbooks1364's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
A historical sapphic romance? Named after a Taylor Swift lyric? I had quite high expectations for this one!
Gwen and Beth were such well developed protagonists! Gwen was shameless, proud, confident, with a large sense of humour. Beth was shy, polite, gentle, with a fun side too of course. They went so well together!
A large plot point was the girls trying to pair up their parents, both very strong characters. I really enjoyed their opposing personalities.
The background characters were all very well developed also.
The romance between the protagonists was very well-written, not forced. I'd like to remind you that this is an adult book, so don't expect it to be YA in terms of romance.
The historical setting seemed good to me, though I honestly don't know enough to comment on it.
I really loved this book, and highly recommend it!
Queer rep:
Sapphic protagonists
Gwen and Beth were such well developed protagonists! Gwen was shameless, proud, confident, with a large sense of humour. Beth was shy, polite, gentle, with a fun side too of course. They went so well together!
A large plot point was the girls trying to pair up their parents, both very strong characters. I really enjoyed their opposing personalities.
The background characters were all very well developed also.
The romance between the protagonists was very well-written, not forced. I'd like to remind you that this is an adult book, so don't expect it to be YA in terms of romance.
The historical setting seemed good to me, though I honestly don't know enough to comment on it.
I really loved this book, and highly recommend it!
Queer rep:
Sapphic protagonists
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Addiction and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual assault, Pregnancy, and Domestic abuse
korpney's review
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Sexual content
Moderate: Vomit, Domestic abuse, and Homophobia
madlysoph's review
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
4.0
This book was a delightful read! It was so much fun despite the unfortunate realities imposed upon the characters due to the time period. While it does have more serious moments and plot points, at the heart of it this book is a fun sapphic historical romance. Them ending up as stepsisters and with a shared half-sibling on the way does feel a bit weird, but the author both makes it work and makes it charming. This whole book is delightfully charming, the characters are bright and witty and made me laugh out loud on more than one occasion while reading. I absolutely adored Qwen and Beth, their friendship was delightful to watch blossom, and their romance even more so. The immediate obsession they have with one another is so indicative of first love (and being in one's early 20s) and is achingly sweet. Their parents are both fully fleshed-out people independent of their children and are positively adorable together. Both of them are full of heartache which they are beginning to mend with one another by the end of the book. After all we learn about Beth's mother specifically and her marriage, seeing her happy and free at the end of the book is so lovely. The marriage act subplot was clever and tied into the greater story very nicely. The third-act crisis was handled wonderfully and added to the story rather than detracted from it. I loved the extended cast of friends and family that forms by the end of the book, which sets up the sequel rather nicely, which I am highly anticipating and am at the top of the holds list for! The only "detractor" for this book was that the author tended to kind of skim over/forget about the timeline, randomly throwing in that it had been a month or a few months that had passed rather than showing it, aside from that the writing was great and I had a fun time! This is a great read and I highly recommend it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, and Misogyny
Minor: Vomit, Drug use, Sexual content, Death of parent, Grief, and Violence
e_riahh's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Classism, and Homophobia
Minor: Vomit, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Pregnancy
ankiaisreading's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Sexism, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Death, Alcohol, and Misogyny
estellec13's review against another edition
emotional
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? No
4.0
It was a cute story, I really liked it and I loved all the characters very much. It was a little long and felt a bit repetitive, but in all a nice ready !
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Sexual content
booksdogsandcoffee's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.5
An adorable lighthearted Victorian era romance. That feels like a season of Bridgerton mixed with the scheming of the parent trap. I thought the overall relationship and friendships were fun to follow along with during the novel. And am very excited for how the ending of this book sets up for the next!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual content, Misogyny, Sexism, and Alcohol
Minor: Toxic relationship and Domestic abuse