Scan barcode
zydecovivo's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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? No
4.0
TikTok recommended me this book. As a whole, the story is enjoyable. It’s sweet. Neither Gwen nor Beth considers love with a woman as an option towards the beginning of the book, which I think is a common experience for many LGBTQ people. It isn’t until Gwen witnesses a flourishing WLW relationship that she realizes her feelings. That being said, I found their pairing less engaging than their parents. I almost want a prequel of their previous relationship, even if that would be considered a more conventional historical romance. I also found myself getting deja vu. Quite a few lines, especially when describing Gwen and Beth’s feelings and eventual love, I have definitely read in other LGBTQ historical romances, despite only having read a few. This is not necessarily bad, but I think anyone who regularly reads this genre should prepare themselves for a lack of surprises. That being said, I was excited by the setup for the second book in this series and plan to read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual content, Vomit, Classism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy
Minor: Death of parent
letopotato's review against another edition
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Whew. That was the first time I've shed a few tears because of a book in a few years. Apparently I have a thing for regency/historical romance now. And lesbians.
I usually don't read romance, but I've tiptoed around this one long enough. I only bought this book because of my above-mentioned guilty pleasure and because of the intriguing interwoven plot. And the lesbians, of course.
There's no suspense as to how the book ends, obviously. It's a romance, they're meant to get together. But for the first time, the how, the when and the why has actually kept me on the edge of my seat – I needed to know how Beth & Gwen would manage it! At some points I was almost convinced they wouldn't, this being the 1850s and them being very lesbian and all that.
I can't say how historically accurate this book is – probably not very? Many characters were rather supportive of the main couple, which works great for the story but otherwise is...very unlikely. It didn't matter much to me, because it's still a cute feelgood story. Not very realistic or in-depth, but it hasn't destroyed my suspension of disbelief.
If you want to be invested in the fate of two loveable girls and their shenanigans on how to get their cool as fuck parents together, reading this is the best choice you'll ever make.
I usually don't read romance, but I've tiptoed around this one long enough. I only bought this book because of my above-mentioned guilty pleasure and because of the intriguing interwoven plot. And the lesbians, of course.
There's no suspense as to how the book ends, obviously. It's a romance, they're meant to get together. But for the first time, the how, the when and the why has actually kept me on the edge of my seat – I needed to know how Beth & Gwen would manage it! At some points I was almost convinced they wouldn't, this being the 1850s and them being very lesbian and all that.
I can't say how historically accurate this book is – probably not very? Many characters were rather supportive of the main couple, which works great for the story but otherwise is...very unlikely. It didn't matter much to me, because it's still a cute feelgood story. Not very realistic or in-depth, but it hasn't destroyed my suspension of disbelief.
If you want to be invested in the fate of two loveable girls and their shenanigans on how to get their cool as fuck parents together, reading this is the best choice you'll ever make.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Classism, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Pregnancy, Vomit, and Death of parent
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
dalek_caan's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
4.75
This was such a a cute fluffy read, and a great standalone even though there is a sequel I fully intend to read. I absolutely love the characters and the drama.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Vomit, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Pregnancy
sdupont's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Secret moments in a crowded room
What a creative and fun historical romance! This book is The Parent Trap meets Dress by Taylor Swift. I usually struggle to get into historical romances because I tend to find the language clunky but this book flows so easily. You will find yourself rooting for Gwen, Beth, and their parents right alway. I love a good matchmaking scheme and this book really delivers. Honorable mention to co-conspirators Albie and Meredith. I recommend this one for anyone looking for a book with Bridgerton vibes but a more modern take.
What a creative and fun historical romance! This book is The Parent Trap meets Dress by Taylor Swift. I usually struggle to get into historical romances because I tend to find the language clunky but this book flows so easily. You will find yourself rooting for Gwen, Beth, and their parents right alway. I love a good matchmaking scheme and this book really delivers. Honorable mention to co-conspirators Albie and Meredith. I recommend this one for anyone looking for a book with Bridgerton vibes but a more modern take.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Homophobia, Domestic abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Blood and Vomit
brynalexa's review
emotional
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? No
3.25
I picked this up, exactly as the marketing team wanted, because the title referenced Taylor Swift as does the sequel, apparently. It was cute (can’t go wrong with queer historical fiction)but could have been shorter without changing anything. Don’t believe the blurb on the front about it being spicy… there was one scene.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Death of parent
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Vomit, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Drug use, Misogyny, and Sexual harassment
adotzam's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book (and its sequel) suffer from bad titles but the story was fun, romantic and engaging.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Domestic abuse
mell_cestmoi's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
🇬🇧 This is a book to read for those who want a simple, cute read.
Here we follow the story of Beth and Gwen, two beginners, one must look for a husband and the other just wants to have fun. Then follows the classic story: they become friends, make a plan to get their parents married, fall in love... the kind of things that happen to everyone… right ?
The characters are endearing and the romance is extremely cute
but I found that there were a few lengths and the ending was a little too fast.
As for the period, it is very modernized, it is not a book to read for fans of historical novels who want a story without incoherence
I therefore recommend it for anyone who liked The Parent Trap / Bridgerton, wanting to read a sapphic romance.
And omg!!! This cover 🤍🤍🤍
🇫🇷 C’est un livre à lire pour ceux qui veulent une lecture simple, mignonne et sans prise de tête
On suit ici l’histoire de beth et Gwen deux débutantes l’une doit chercher un mari et l’autre veut juste s’amuser. Suit ensuite l’histoire classique elles deviennent amies, montent un plan pour que leurs parents se marient, tombe amoureuses… le genre de choses qui arrivent à tout le monde.
Les personnages sont attachants et la romance est extrêmement mignonne
mais j’ai trouvé qu’il y avait quelques longueurs et la fin était un peu trop rapide.
Pour ce qui est de l’époque c’est très modernisé, ce n’est pas un livre à lire pour les fans de romans historiques qui veulent une histoire sans incohérence
Je recommande donc pour tous ceux ayant aimé the parent trap / bridgerton voulant lire une romance sapphic.
Et omg !!! Cette cover 🤍🤍🤍
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism, Vomit, and Misogyny
Minor: Death of parent and Pregnancy