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emotional
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Classism
Minor: Racial slurs
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-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
This was a really enjoyable read and my first by Mimi Matthews! The historical touches (the pretty horse-breakers, the Victorian spiritualism, etc.) added a lot to the story, and I loved our two main characters. The male main character is biracial and Indian, and the female main character is white, and Matthews navigates the difficulties of interracial marriages at this time - as well as the difficulty in simply existing in the kingdom of your colonizer as an Indian person in the late 1800s (particularly after the uprising of 1857). Matthews is also biracial and Indian and notes in the author's note how Ahmad's story reflects her own feelings of being caught between worlds and cultures. This is slower-paced and a felt a little too long for the central conflict to support, but I'll likely continue the series! This is closed-door, with lots of pining and slow-building tension that is truly delicious.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Classism
Moderate: Misogyny, Pregnancy
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Colonisation
emotional
hopeful
tense
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:
Yes
This is an excellent historical fiction romance. The setting is clearly well researched and the story is immersed in Victorian Era culture and fashion, with nuance. I do enjoy spicy books, but I found it refreshing to not have explicit spice here. The romance is chaste, with no on page sex scenes, but there was plenty of physical chemistry and intimacy between the characters. I felt their pull towards each other. Their dressmaking interactions were an excellent example of how you can create incredibly sensual moments without there being literal sex. I also felt their friendship and partnership growing the more they interacted. It was refreshing how open and honest they were to each other, yet there was still plenty of pining and tension. Evelyn starts the story somewhat naive due to her upbringing, but she is not willfully ignorant and is physically and emotionally strong. Ahmad is guarded and a bit cynical, but very compassionate and kindhearted. They are both genuinely talented and hard working in their respective areas, and respect each other's abilities. The side characters are interesting, but also serve to move the story forward. I listened to this on audio and I found myself thinking about it all the time when I wasn't listening. I had really high hopes for this one, and it met them. Mimi Matthews is probably going to be a new favorite author for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Pregnancy
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Classism
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
A beautifully woven story full of longing and rich in historical detail.
I wish this had been a bit more slow burn, with more of a friendship forming first. It felt more like insta-lust the way they were so instantly enamoured of each other; a slower start would have been a bit more believable. Still, I loved both Ahmad and Evelyn separately and together. I especially enjoyed how respectful Ahmad was of women — not just middle- and upper-class women like Evelyn, but all women right down to sex workers. Evie’s independence and determination sets her up to be his ideal match despite the significant barrier of race and class. Their romance was so heartfelt and tender, full of simmering tension during the dressmaking scenes. Even when they didn’t think they could be together, they were open and honest about their feelings with each other.
I do think that you need to like both fashion and horses in order to enjoy this book, since they take such a prominent place in the plot. There’s also significant discussion on racism and colonialism that’s very naturally woven into Ahmad’s experience as a mixed race man in Victorian London. I loved that Evie takes it upon herself to buy books on India to inform herself on Ahmad’s experience. The addition of spiritualism was perhaps one plot point too many — all of these different things going on (there’s also subplots with Evie’s friends, one of Ahmad’s customers, Ahmad’s cousin, and Evie's sister) are kind of a detriment to the building romance, which could have had more focus.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Sexual harassment, Colonisation
Moderate: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Violence
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicide, Death of parent, Pregnancy
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
This book made me so happy. It dealt with tough topics, and there was a fair amount on angst. It was emotional and I was worried things wouldn’t end happily. But I never should have doubted, because, Evie. Need I say more?
I love Ahmad. He’s such a strong character and I was pleased with his character arc. I also loved his cousin, Mira. She was such a nice supporting character.
Evie’s friends were fun, too. I’m excited to see Julie’s story in book two!
I read this book because I wanted a horse girl book. And this did not disappoint. There is always room for more horses, but there was also plentiful horse content and metaphors in this book that I enjoyed.
I love Ahmad. He’s such a strong character and I was pleased with his character arc. I also loved his cousin, Mira. She was such a nice supporting character.
Evie’s friends were fun, too. I’m excited to see Julie’s story in book two!
I read this book because I wanted a horse girl book. And this did not disappoint. There is always room for more horses, but there was also plentiful horse content and metaphors in this book that I enjoyed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Classism
Moderate: Racial slurs, Death of parent, Pregnancy
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Colonisation
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism
Moderate: Misogyny, Colonisation, Classism
An author that does her own research and draws on personal life experiences? What is this.
This was my first book I read by Mimi Matthews and it won’t be my last.
Honestly this story was very captivating. I actually read the author’s note cause I wanted to know more about what she researched and the people that inspired this. I loved the female friendships. I’m SO EXCITED to hear that book two is about Julia.
This was a close four stars for me but I think there was a lack of focus and it just kept going on and on…
Just when I thought the novel was concluding, I saw there was over 75 pages left. There were a crap ton of plot lines going on and I its setting up further books, but I was ready to stop. Very good work though.
Ready to dive into book two!!!!
This was my first book I read by Mimi Matthews and it won’t be my last.
Honestly this story was very captivating. I actually read the author’s note cause I wanted to know more about what she researched and the people that inspired this. I loved the female friendships. I’m SO EXCITED to hear that book two is about Julia.
This was a close four stars for me but I think there was a lack of focus and it just kept going on and on…
Just when I thought the novel was concluding, I saw there was over 75 pages left. There were a crap ton of plot lines going on and I its setting up further books, but I was ready to stop. Very good work though.
Ready to dive into book two!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism
Minor: Pregnancy