Take a photo of a barcode or cover
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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:
No
✦Series: Belles of London, 1
Interconnected standalones form this series of smart, historical romances. I’ve been reading it out of order, and it still makes sense and is completely enjoyable.
✦POV: Dual, third-person
Evie is an inexperienced country girl who needs to make a match to secure hers and her sisters’ futures, but she’s no pushover! I appreciated her strength, resilience, and determined attitude. Ahmad is trying to make a name for himself as a dressmaker in a racist class system that is not doing him any favours. He’s broody, and stoically delicious. They strike a deal to form a mutually beneficial partnership, but their chemistry is impossible to deny despite the difference in their social classes.
I think it’s clever that the POV often changed mid-chapter (clearly defined) so we can see how they each experienced the scene.
🎙️ Dual Narration by Vidish Althavale and Lydia Hanman
This was my first time hearing both narrators and they were great! Their voices were perfect for these characters and gave believable and distinctive range to the other characters.
✦Spice: Closed door
Great tension and feeling, and a few kisses with increasing levels of heat. I’m generally all about the spice but Mimi Matthews and the Belles have always left me satisfied with the sensuous hint of what’s going on behind that door.
» I am so glad to finally read Evie and Ahmad’s story after reading The Belle of Belgrave Square (Belles 2) and The Muse of Maiden Lane (Belles 4). Their chemistry is palpable through the series, so I had to see where it began; I wasn’t disappointed!
✩ Evie meets Lady Ann, Stella, and Julia when she arrives in London for her first season (at 23!) and they embrace her immediately. These gals are a stunning example of the kind of girl squad that I love.
♡ I have loved every moment of reading this series so far. Highly recommend! HEA guaranteed!
Interconnected standalones form this series of smart, historical romances. I’ve been reading it out of order, and it still makes sense and is completely enjoyable.
✦POV: Dual, third-person
Evie is an inexperienced country girl who needs to make a match to secure hers and her sisters’ futures, but she’s no pushover! I appreciated her strength, resilience, and determined attitude. Ahmad is trying to make a name for himself as a dressmaker in a racist class system that is not doing him any favours. He’s broody, and stoically delicious. They strike a deal to form a mutually beneficial partnership, but their chemistry is impossible to deny despite the difference in their social classes.
I think it’s clever that the POV often changed mid-chapter (clearly defined) so we can see how they each experienced the scene.
🎙️ Dual Narration by Vidish Althavale and Lydia Hanman
This was my first time hearing both narrators and they were great! Their voices were perfect for these characters and gave believable and distinctive range to the other characters.
✦Spice: Closed door
Great tension and feeling, and a few kisses with increasing levels of heat. I’m generally all about the spice but Mimi Matthews and the Belles have always left me satisfied with the sensuous hint of what’s going on behind that door.
» I am so glad to finally read Evie and Ahmad’s story after reading The Belle of Belgrave Square (Belles 2) and The Muse of Maiden Lane (Belles 4). Their chemistry is palpable through the series, so I had to see where it began; I wasn’t disappointed!
✩ Evie meets Lady Ann, Stella, and Julia when she arrives in London for her first season (at 23!) and they embrace her immediately. These gals are a stunning example of the kind of girl squad that I love.
♡ I have loved every moment of reading this series so far. Highly recommend! HEA guaranteed!
❝Wonderful things didn't happen because one was cautious. They happened because one dared.❞
✨ I read the eBook while listening to the audio thanks to my trusty Toronto Public Library card and the Libby App.
→ Connect with me on Instagram!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Classism
Minor: Racial slurs, Sexual content, Suicide, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Deportation
emotional
hopeful
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
Holy moly I am impressed. This book has set a new bar for historical romance for me. It is skillfully written, well-researched, and thoughtfully and carefully with issues of race and class in the Victorian Era.
My only small critique is that I wish the character development was more fleshed out, but that's a small thing.
My only small critique is that I wish the character development was more fleshed out, but that's a small thing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Classism
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Colonisation
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
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
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Siren of Sussex was not as tempting as I hoped it would be. First, it should be said that while this is marketed as a romance, it is a closed-door romance. Second, it felt much more like historical fiction than historical romance. And third, listening to this as an audiobook was not the right move.
If you go into this book expecting a historical romance novel, this book probably won’t be for you. I knew going in it was closed door, yet I was still bummed by how lacking the romance felt. I wanted so much more from Evelyn and Ahmed’s “relationship.” While they spent a lot of time together, I didn’t see any chemistry between them. No sparks, no banter, no wistful gazing. Nothing. I need that to keep invested in a romance, especially when it’s closed door. I think this book did suffer from being closed door as it was hard to buy Ahmed and Evelyn were so madly in love that they were willing to get married at the end and screw society’s expectations. This made the characters feel much younger than they are – the romance would have felt more fitting in a YA romance than an adult romance.
However, that’s not to say it’s all bad. I did appreciate that the obstacles in their relationship were real obstacles. He’s half-Indian and a tailor; she’s a white, wealthy woman. Their being together was not something that would be easy or accepted by society. As a result, the romance was relatively low-angst as it was external pressures on them, so if you like that, you might enjoy this book more than me.
When it comes to the characters, I’ll have to be honest, Ahmed is the only one who left an impression on me. I’m reviewing this book a few months after reading it, and Evelyn just didn’t leave a mark. Her whole personality felt wrapped up in being a horsebreaker, and I didn’t get to know her beyond that. Meanwhile, with Ahmed, he felt like a more nuanced and richly complex character with a fully fleshed-out backstory. I liked how Matthews handled Ahmed’s complicated feelings about being biracial – he’s half-Indian and half-British and feels like an outsider amongst both people. In my opinion, he had more motivation and drive behind his actions than Evelyn.
If I had to sum up the plot, it would be that Evelyn needs eye-catching clothing worthy of a horsebreaker to attract a suitable suitor. She partners up with Ahmed as he has a skill for designing fetching gowns for women, plus her wearing his designs will help him generate business. It’s a relatively straightforward plot, and I found it a bit boring, to be honest. There were also a TON of random side plots that didn’t necessarily go anywhere of importance or contribute to the main plot, so the book did feel like it dragged at points.
Now, I won’t say this book is all bad. I loved all the historical information in it! Matthews has crafted a vibrant and detailed look at Victorian England. I loved learning about the Pretty Horsebreakers, as I had never heard about them before. You can tell Matthews has done a lot of research on the topic, and I think that pays off in helping you feel immersed in the time and setting. This is why this book is a great historical fiction story, but not a great historical romance. And while not everything about this book worked for me, I enjoyed Matthews’ writing style.
Finally, as I listened to this as an audiobook, I have to talk about the choices made with the narration. I am still BAFFLED why this book needed two narrators. Yes, I know the book does technically have two points of view, but the execution could have been better. It was so, so, so jarring when the narrator would switch in the middle of a scene. I get it may have been written with breaks in the books to indicate a POV switch, but every time it happened with the narration, it threw me for a loop and took me out of the scene, sometimes at pivotal emotional moments. As for the narrators, I did think their performance was quite good, though I enjoyed Lydia Hanman’s narration a bit more than Vidish Athavale’s (his female voices weren’t great). If I could read this book again, I would pick it up in print over audio.
There isn’t anything egregiously wrong with this book, but all the little things made it hard for it to capture my attention the way I hoped. I do think there are readers, particularly those who don’t like a lot of spice, who will enjoy this as a romance. But I like my historical romances to have a bit more chemistry between the leads, especially if it’s closed-door. I’m on the fence if I’ll pick up the next book in the series – I liked the couple it was hinting at for the next book, but I’m not sure I’m invested enough in the series to spend the time reading it. I guess time will tell if I continue on or not.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Colonisation
Minor: Suicide, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Classism
Moderate: Abandonment
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Followed the thing I did as a kid where I picked up a book entirely for the horse on the cover, but I despite a lackluster start and the lack of steam, I liked this! It's clearly setting up an entire series, so there's quite a bit going on, but I liked the central relationship a lot, especially Evie's determination to create a life for herself and Ahmad. I feel a bit weird about a white woman writing from the perspective of a half Indian person, but I can't speak to how well or badly it's handled. I wish that there had been less focus on side plots so that we could dedicate a little more time to Evie and Ahmad's physical relationship, but this is a good entry into historicals if that's what you're looking for.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault
hopeful
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:
No
This historical romance is one of those majestic finds that puts the "historical" part first. While you won't find me casting stones at lovely fluff, I'm so impressed at works in the genre that dig into the meat of the time period and lead readers on a journey that feels more tangible and has the gravitas of real life.
The story takes us to 1860s London, where sensible Evelyn is conducting her one and only season for the future benefit of her younger sisters. Orphaned, haunted by a scandal brought on by her older sister, and staying with an absent uncle more interested in antiquities and spiritualism than society, Evelyn has only herself to rely on. She's an athletic equestrienne with a great appreciation for fashion, and she sets out to use her strengths to get ahead on the marriage mart rather than relying on tried and true methods that don't suit her skillset. She sets out to hire a tailor to make her a riding habit that will be the talk of the town. Ahmad Malik is the best at what he does, but he's itching to follow his passion as a dressmaker rather than working as a men's tailor. A partnership forms between them that will benefit Evelyn's husband hunt and Ahmad's need to have his designs seen and coveted by society. An inconvenient attraction brews between them that could derail both of their plans.
The historical detail covers a broad range of topics from the obvious fashion and tailoring to horsemanship and social expectations. There are also unexpected layers including the spiritualism fad sweeping through the aristocracy. As is typical for me, it's the social commentary I appreciated most. Ahmad's identity as both Indian and English is an important component of the story, which the author notes is informed by her own experiences. This necessitates conversations between the characters about the intersections between colonialism, race, and class. The approach is nuanced and shown on the page with both feeling and careful thought.
In terms of romance, I would categorize it as low-level tension in terms of pining, steam (closed door), and drama. Evelyn is a very determined character, equipping herself with multistep plans and consulting her conscience more than social expectation. Ahmad has very reasonable reservations about pursuing a relationship given the social barriers, but he is largely upfront with Evelyn about his concerns rather than hiding away in toxic masculinity to avoid his feelings. I appreciate that upper class courting habits are in no way romanticized here. The genre often falls into an interesting tension whereby these practices are largely portrayed as mercenary while still managing to tell all manner of stories that rely on them for a happily ever after. This one discards the whole experience of a season as stressful and unromantic as Evelyn and her friends fend off all manner of sexist aristocratic men, and Evelyn ultimately finds love not only outside the expected system but actually in defiance of those constraints and rules.
I admire everything this book sets out to accomplish. The lack of motion and excitement in the romance kept me from being fully enamored with the love story itself, but I enjoyed the historical-heavy components very much. Thanks to Berkley Romance for my copy to read and review!
The story takes us to 1860s London, where sensible Evelyn is conducting her one and only season for the future benefit of her younger sisters. Orphaned, haunted by a scandal brought on by her older sister, and staying with an absent uncle more interested in antiquities and spiritualism than society, Evelyn has only herself to rely on. She's an athletic equestrienne with a great appreciation for fashion, and she sets out to use her strengths to get ahead on the marriage mart rather than relying on tried and true methods that don't suit her skillset. She sets out to hire a tailor to make her a riding habit that will be the talk of the town. Ahmad Malik is the best at what he does, but he's itching to follow his passion as a dressmaker rather than working as a men's tailor. A partnership forms between them that will benefit Evelyn's husband hunt and Ahmad's need to have his designs seen and coveted by society. An inconvenient attraction brews between them that could derail both of their plans.
The historical detail covers a broad range of topics from the obvious fashion and tailoring to horsemanship and social expectations. There are also unexpected layers including the spiritualism fad sweeping through the aristocracy. As is typical for me, it's the social commentary I appreciated most. Ahmad's identity as both Indian and English is an important component of the story, which the author notes is informed by her own experiences. This necessitates conversations between the characters about the intersections between colonialism, race, and class. The approach is nuanced and shown on the page with both feeling and careful thought.
In terms of romance, I would categorize it as low-level tension in terms of pining, steam (closed door), and drama. Evelyn is a very determined character, equipping herself with multistep plans and consulting her conscience more than social expectation. Ahmad has very reasonable reservations about pursuing a relationship given the social barriers, but he is largely upfront with Evelyn about his concerns rather than hiding away in toxic masculinity to avoid his feelings. I appreciate that upper class courting habits are in no way romanticized here. The genre often falls into an interesting tension whereby these practices are largely portrayed as mercenary while still managing to tell all manner of stories that rely on them for a happily ever after. This one discards the whole experience of a season as stressful and unromantic as Evelyn and her friends fend off all manner of sexist aristocratic men, and Evelyn ultimately finds love not only outside the expected system but actually in defiance of those constraints and rules.
I admire everything this book sets out to accomplish. The lack of motion and excitement in the romance kept me from being fully enamored with the love story itself, but I enjoyed the historical-heavy components very much. Thanks to Berkley Romance for my copy to read and review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Classism
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual harassment
Minor: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Suicide, Death of parent, Pregnancy, War