Scan barcode
sydapel's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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? It's complicated
3.25
Came for the premise, stayed for the spicy kitchen scenes. I don't have much else to offer other than that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
savvy999's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.0
LEBANON FOREEEEVVVERRRR
Really good neurodivergent swag on our main girl Catriona we are besties. Elias is the best of the romantic interests of this series, honestly. Lebanese Maronite rep is so cool, so slay. I love knowing what characters are saying without the translation:)
Really good neurodivergent swag on our main girl Catriona we are besties. Elias is the best of the romantic interests of this series, honestly. Lebanese Maronite rep is so cool, so slay. I love knowing what characters are saying without the translation:)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Xenophobia, and Sexism
brokenlightdances's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexism
Moderate: Xenophobia and Racism
Minor: Child death, Miscarriage, and Death of parent
meghanm404's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Forced institutionalization, War, Death of parent, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, and Misogyny
purplepenning's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Alcohol, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Grief, and Sexism
Minor: Child death, Pregnancy, and Death of parent
heather_freshparchment's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Racism, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and Colonisation
Minor: Islamophobia
jenniferbbookdragon's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love this series, and this is the best one so far. Catriona is a complex and deeply intriguing character as a scholar, suffragist, and socially uncomfortable woman in Victorian England. Meeting a man from Lebanon with his own business and family concerns challenges both of them to consider how they can both follow their ambitions and their hearts in societies with very strict standards for public and private behaviors in prescribed roles.
Dunmore clearly did her homework on the history of the women's movement, life in Victorian England, the silk business in Lebanon, and more. I am intrigued by some of the topics discussed and will do additional reading on my own.
Plus there are some steamy scenes as well.
Dunmore clearly did her homework on the history of the women's movement, life in Victorian England, the silk business in Lebanon, and more. I am intrigued by some of the topics discussed and will do additional reading on my own.
Plus there are some steamy scenes as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Xenophobia, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Sexism
Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Colonisation
onlyonebookshelf's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Colonisation
Minor: Sexism and Xenophobia
nadiajohnsonbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.5
This made for a satisfying conclusion to a series that I truly enjoyed. Elias is probably my favorite love interest of the four, which is saying something, and I thought the choice to include a Lebanese Maronite added an interesting bit of cultural diversity to the existing cast of characters. I enjoyed the dynamic between Elias and Catriona, as they both grew past their prior romantic disappointments. As an archaeologist, I loved and appreciated that the plot centered on the ethical question of who owns cultural heritage, as Elias sought to have some Phoenician artifacts repatriated to his homeland. It also added a fun heist dynamic to the standard Victorian drama of manners that is typical of historical romances. My only real complaint is that I wish that the denouement of their romance had a little more detail included with it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Colonisation, Misogyny, and Xenophobia
Minor: Pregnancy
unsuccessfulbookclub's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved the escalation of commentary on colonialism and artifact theft in this book and Elias and Catriona make an explosive pair.
The plot felt a little heavier and slower in this book than the previous three and I also feel like if you haven’t read the first three books in this series this book is not going to work as well as the other books in this series do as standalones. THAT SAID, the little glimpses into each of the other three couples felt like a gift to the reader. I did miss Elias and Catriona in the epilogue although this epilogue is DOING A LOT.
I enjoyed this one and it felt like a fitting end to the series. Catriona is very relatable and sensitive and observant and I enjoyed being in her head although it was just as hard as being in my own head at times. I would have jumped out of that carriage too!!!
Recommended, but you need to read the other three books first.
The plot felt a little heavier and slower in this book than the previous three and I also feel like if you haven’t read the first three books in this series this book is not going to work as well as the other books in this series do as standalones. THAT SAID, the little glimpses into each of the other three couples felt like a gift to the reader. I did miss Elias and Catriona in the epilogue although this epilogue is DOING A LOT.
I enjoyed this one and it felt like a fitting end to the series. Catriona is very relatable and sensitive and observant and I enjoyed being in her head although it was just as hard as being in my own head at times. I would have jumped out of that carriage too!!!
Recommended, but you need to read the other three books first.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Racism, Sexual content, Bullying, Grief, Death of parent, Homophobia, and War