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fivecatsinacoat's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
To be honest, this one wasn't for me. I didn't feel any connection between the two characters and the side characters felt very one-dimensional. I even found myself skipping through the spicy scenes (which weren't all that spicy) because they didn't have the connection and there was no tension.
To be honest, this one wasn't for me. I didn't feel any connection between the two characters and the side characters felt very one-dimensional. I even found myself skipping through the spicy scenes (which weren't all that spicy) because they didn't have the connection and there was no tension.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Violence, Classism, Transphobia, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Deadnaming, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Murder, Medical content, Grief, Death, Fatphobia, and Child death
jess_justmaybeperfect's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
slow-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
3.5
A Lady’s Formula for Love is book 1 in the The Secret Scientists of London series. It’s the story of Lady Violet Greycliff, a brilliant scientist, widowed young by an older man who swept her off her feet only to quickly turn around and break her spirit. At 30 years old she’s founded a club for scientific women and dabbles in work for the government through her beloved step-son. Grey.
Grey, fearing that Violet may be a target because of her government work, hires a colleague, Arthur Kneland, to be her bodyguard while she works on a high level government project.
At 40 Arthur has just retired from his government role and is ready to start a new life (and avoid a decades old scandal) with the money Grey gives him to protect Violet.
A simple job keeping his eye on some ladies? Yes? Not so much. Arthur’s got all kinds of problems, friends with secrets, loyal servants, fanatical radicals, potential suitors, and most of all the insta lust and very soon the deep respect he has for Violet. She returns those feelings and well, they get to it.
I loved a lot about this book. A older STEM FMC reaching for joy meets an emotionally reserved protector who has forgotten happiness completely. The club and its inclusiveness are great. The villains are very well done. The sex is 🔥! And I always love when a MMC can’t help but listen to the brilliant FMC hypothesize 😏 or just watch her think.
Unfortunately the book felt mildly disjointed to me. Arthur’s sudden switch to shockingly astute emotional intelligence just wasn’t believable to me. Some growth is to be expected, but I guess I just didn’t buy the complete transformation. He’s still a wonderful man without all the flowery language that just didn’t seem to fit his personality. Also, the story wrapped up too quickly for me.
I’m definitely reading the rest of the series though. The other books sound great and I’m willing to bet on the transitions I found rough being smoothed out as the series progresses.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Deadnaming, Transphobia, Violence, and Gun violence
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and War
sydapel's review
emotional
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? Yes
3.0
While I liked the premise and the characters, something about the writing style or voice of this novel really didn't resonate with me and I struggled to connect overall. Other reviews have mentioned this slightly "mad scientist" vibe attached to the female characters, and while I do agree, I think that the dramatic/comedic elements of this felt over done and cheesy - which I suspect was my main issue.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Murder, Violence, and Infidelity
Minor: Infertility
dexkit10's review
lighthearted
mysterious
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: Transphobia, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, and Violence
summerslittlelibrary's review
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
0.5
This book is the definition of #girlboss #slayqueen and I mean that in a negative way. It’s SO on the nose that it’s just exhausting. Also… she’s super “feminist” but anti labor rights? Also why are all of the non cis white characters servants?? rubbed me the wrong way, even if “historically accurate.” Had to force myself to finish it. 0.5 stars just because I liked the male love interest
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Deadnaming, Cursing, Death, Child death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Misogyny, Murder, Police brutality, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Transphobia, and Violence
meghanm404's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Sexual content, Transphobia, and Violence
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