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A review by reader_fictions
The Wood Nymph by Mary Balogh
2.0
This is the first Mary Balogh novel I've read that I can't say I liked. That said, I didn't hate it. As with the rest, I was entertained from start to finish. There's something about her writing and style that I find really delightful, and that did not fail me here.
However, the tropes in this one were absolutely not my thing at alllll. It's unfortunate because I so want to be here for this romance between two awkward introverts who bond over nature and poetry and seeing the world in a way others don't, but omg it happens in pretty much the least Christina way possible.
Rather than focusing on all the things they have in common with banter and bonding, they have this intense physical connection immediately, which does not work for me in a circumstance like this, especially with a guy like William, who has never been hugely romance-focused. The only other time he fell in love (with the heroine of the prior book in the series), he fell in love with her personality and mind first before he considered her body. It seems to me that he would do the same thing here, so it felt a bit off to me, and it's just less romantic that way.
Something that was interesting but spoilery: William Mainwaring was a virgin at 31, despite being an attractive, wealthy guy. It's believable, as is the first time they have sex where it's very not good Bob. (Balogh has already done this in two of her older books, and honestly I'm amazed and kind of impressed. It sort of bugs me how romance novel sex is ALWAYS perfect with everyone orgasming 85 times. Like, I get it, but also it's refreshing for them to sometimes have to work up to it a bit?)
After their initial meet ups which go from zero to sixty and consist of Lady Helen lying about who she is for somewhat mysterious reasons, they fall apart catastrophically, and it's all miscommunication and abstaining entirely from communication. It's super frustrating, especially partnered with the fact that from the beginning you just know that Helen's pregnant because they had sex with no protection or pulling out or anything so I mean OBVIOUSLY it's fictional law basically.
Plus, there's less adorable secondary character action here, because Helen's family is very shallow and uninteresting. Towards the end, Elizabeth and Robert Denning join in, and they're pretty cute, but it's not really enough to save the torturous plot.
Honestly, reading over this, I'm impressed that I still had a decent time reading it because omg so not my kind of romance. I just wish it had been the book I wanted for the second love interest of the prior novel who was totally respectful of the woman he loved who loved his best friend and who stayed besties with them both, but alas it was not to be.
However, the tropes in this one were absolutely not my thing at alllll. It's unfortunate because I so want to be here for this romance between two awkward introverts who bond over nature and poetry and seeing the world in a way others don't, but omg it happens in pretty much the least Christina way possible.
Rather than focusing on all the things they have in common with banter and bonding, they have this intense physical connection immediately, which does not work for me in a circumstance like this, especially with a guy like William, who has never been hugely romance-focused. The only other time he fell in love (with the heroine of the prior book in the series), he fell in love with her personality and mind first before he considered her body. It seems to me that he would do the same thing here, so it felt a bit off to me, and it's just less romantic that way.
Something that was interesting but spoilery:
After their initial meet ups which go from zero to sixty and consist of Lady Helen lying about who she is for somewhat mysterious reasons, they fall apart catastrophically, and it's all miscommunication and abstaining entirely from communication. It's super frustrating, especially partnered with the fact that from the beginning you just know that Helen's pregnant because they had sex with no protection or pulling out or anything so I mean OBVIOUSLY it's fictional law basically.
Plus, there's less adorable secondary character action here, because Helen's family is very shallow and uninteresting. Towards the end, Elizabeth and Robert Denning join in, and they're pretty cute, but it's not really enough to save the torturous plot.
Honestly, reading over this, I'm impressed that I still had a decent time reading it because omg so not my kind of romance. I just wish it had been the book I wanted for the second love interest of the prior novel who was totally respectful of the woman he loved who loved his best friend and who stayed besties with them both, but alas it was not to be.