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esme_may's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was so much fun! Definitely one of the best in the series. So excited to read the next one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Confinement, Death of parent, and Kidnapping
Minor: Homophobia, Animal cruelty, Classism, Death, Incest, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Torture, and Excrement
allie_schick's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Kidnapping
msjk427's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.5
I really loved the Janie books and also enjoyed this first installment of the Marys. The writing flows well and is easy to read. The stories also always make me look up the namesake and read some of the history. Granted, the characters always get a happy ending in this fictional world, which I'm okay with. Sometimes it's nice to read a book you know will end happy.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Kidnapping, Torture, and Violence
betweentheshelves's review
adventurous
funny
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
We have another fun twist on history in this book! Connecting back to the original book, this time we get the story of Mary Queen of Scots. I loved the characters and their adventures and the little nods to pop culture. Seriously, these books are just so fun.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Death of parent
bookrecsbyjess's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for sending me an audiobook ARC of this story. This in no way changes my opinions of this book.
Before reading this book, I had read both My Lady Jane and My Plain Jane (My Calamity Jane is on my TBR). I had pretty high expectations for this story because of how much I loved those other books. I can happily say that My Contrary Mary exceeded all of my expectations!
This is my favorite book by the Lady Janies so far.
It is definitely the funniest book I’ve read this year; I spent so much time laughing in the car while listening to this book.
I enjoyed the relationship between Mary and Francis. Mary was very witty and brave, and I found myself really liking her as the protagonist. Francis was super awkward and adorable, and I loved how sweet he was towards Mary. I could tell how much he cared for her and her well-being.
Like their other works, I loved the writing style of Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows. They write with sarcastic humor and leave witty comments throughout their stories, which makes their writing so much fun to read.
One of my favorite parts of this story in particular was the movie references in Ari’s visions. When the first one was mentioned, I laughed so hard because it was so unexpected. I appreciated the way that pop culture was included in historical fiction.
Overall, this book is definitely one of my favorite books that I’ve read this year.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Death of parent, and Kidnapping
melaniereadsbooks's review
adventurous
funny
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
3.75
Thank you so much to Harper Audio and Netgalley for providing an ALC of this book (synthesized voice).
The Lady Janies did it again with a hilarious and charming retelling of well known historical events! If you've read My Lady Jane, you already know about the world of Verities and Edians that these authors have concocted, further complicating the historical setting with an extra layer of politics and fantasy! This time, instead of focusing on England we are focusing on France and Scotland during a time soon after the events of My Lady Jane.
Note that you do not have to have read the 3 My Jane books in order to read and enjoy this one, but it will be a richer reading experience if you have read My Lady Jane in particular.
Mary, Francis, Aristotle, and their friends have to navigate courtly intrigue, deadly uncles, grief, and ruling in a world where everyone wants a piece of the throne...all while hiding the fact that Mary is....a mouse?
This book was quite charming and I really enjoyed the characters. I loved Ari and Liv the most and was so happy to see the queer representation in this book. I also enjoyed Mary and Francis' story and watching them grow together, apart...back together.
Sometimes I feel like the authors are trying a little too hard with the amount of modern day references and fourth-wall breaking they cram into this book. I think it would be funnier if they went for these humor devices less frequently.
I enjoyed this book and look forward to seeing what The Lady Janies come up with next!
Pub Date: June 22, 2021
The Lady Janies did it again with a hilarious and charming retelling of well known historical events! If you've read My Lady Jane, you already know about the world of Verities and Edians that these authors have concocted, further complicating the historical setting with an extra layer of politics and fantasy! This time, instead of focusing on England we are focusing on France and Scotland during a time soon after the events of My Lady Jane.
Note that you do not have to have read the 3 My Jane books in order to read and enjoy this one, but it will be a richer reading experience if you have read My Lady Jane in particular.
Mary, Francis, Aristotle, and their friends have to navigate courtly intrigue, deadly uncles, grief, and ruling in a world where everyone wants a piece of the throne...all while hiding the fact that Mary is....a mouse?
This book was quite charming and I really enjoyed the characters. I loved Ari and Liv the most and was so happy to see the queer representation in this book. I also enjoyed Mary and Francis' story and watching them grow together, apart...back together.
Sometimes I feel like the authors are trying a little too hard with the amount of modern day references and fourth-wall breaking they cram into this book. I think it would be funnier if they went for these humor devices less frequently.
I enjoyed this book and look forward to seeing what The Lady Janies come up with next!
Pub Date: June 22, 2021
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Kidnapping, and Grief
nytephoenyx's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from NetGalley and HarperTeen in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
My Contrary Mary was not what I expected. In the best way possible. If you’re looking for solid historical fiction, this book is far more fiction than historical. Also? It’s clever and funny. There are so many pop culture references woven in – I caught multiple references from The Princess Brideand Ever After but there were also bits from Terminator and other popular films. And I’m sure there were loads of references I didn’t catch. I enjoyed it all, every bit of it.
This book is told from three different POVs – Queen Mary, Aristotle “Ari”, and King Francis. Each has their own concerns and motivations that drove them. Of the supporting characters, I felt only a couple were decently developed – Liv, Flem, and Catherine de’ Medici – which left the cast as a whole a little unsatisfying. The fourth wall was broken pretty frequently in My Contrary Mary for comedic effect, so the narrators themselves became characters as well.
Comedy really felt like it was king in this book. Elements of plot (meandering at best) and setting (well-implied but an excess of imagination is helpful) fell to the side as language became forefront. And from a comedic standpoint, this is particularly well-written. Especially when you consider the audience level and the way much stand-up comedy presents itself – there are certainly topics that wouldn’t be either interesting or appropriate at a YA level, so the comedy in My Contrary Mary relies on wit. Still, if you were hoping for a bit more depth in… honestly, any aspect of the story, you’re out of luck. It is purely enjoyable, and it’s the type of book you can close and put away when you’re finished, but it probably won’t stick with you. Entertaining, but not impressionable.
Despite the lack of depth and historical adherence, I really would recommend My Contrary Mary. It is, to put it simply, fun. This book was a lot of fun, and that’s something that can be difficult to find in books… pure silliness. If you have enjoyed the other books by the Lady Janies, you’ll like this one, and best yet, it’s a return to the world of My Lady Jane and the Eðians, so there’s that as well. If you’re looking for a light read with a lot of jokes and silliness with inspiration by the life of Mary, Queen of Scots and a bit of shapeshifting and potions… you’ll quite like My Contrary Mary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Minor: Animal cruelty and Grief
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