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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.
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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
emotional
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:
Complicated
I really wanted to love this book because I felt like it had a banger of a premise and what's not to enjoy about a hist rom for horse girls?? Unfortunately I felt like the narrative really started to unravel around the mid point when many of the potential areas for external conflict were brought up and then handily dealt with within a few chapters. There were certainly interesting elements here but I almost felt it would have been better to split this book in two so one could be about equestriennes in the London season and one could be about Victorian spiritualism. Also, not to be that guy but....they NEVER bone!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Sexual harassment
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
I'm so glad I've decided to give this series a chance! The peek into 1860s England values and high society was wonderfully done, and while the romance didn't quite hit, I still loved the characters. And I couldn't put it down! I can't wait to finish this series, and I hope it becomes a true favorite.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Sexual content, Alcohol
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
This book was a bit slow for me at times; I had to put it down to pick it up a few times (aided by the Storygraph's new paused feature). I also read the 2nd book first, and the friendship circle left me excited to read this 1st one. However, I don't think this one delves as much into their friendship as I would like. In fact, I feel there's more talk of mourning/spiritual matters than there is of the friends. I wish there was more of that, especially since the 2nd book places so much emphasis on how close they are.
Overall, I did enjoy this. I really liked Ahmad, I thought he was so sweet and doting. And I enjoyed the play on class/race in a historical romance. I feel like there aren't many stories like this one!!
Overall, I did enjoy this. I really liked Ahmad, I thought he was so sweet and doting. And I enjoyed the play on class/race in a historical romance. I feel like there aren't many stories like this one!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Sexual harassment, Classism
Moderate: Racial slurs, Colonisation
Minor: Suicide, Death of parent, Pregnancy
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
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:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Classism
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Suicide, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Sexual harassment, Colonisation
Minor: Violence, War