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A review by queerafictionado
Beyond Her Manner by Emily Banting
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
š³ļøāšRep: 40+ Lesbian MC, 50+ Unlabeled Queer FMC (itās complicated lol)
šTropes/Themes: Celebrity Romance, Small Town, Coming Out, Slow Burn, Age Gap, Wealth Gap, Forced Proximity, Grief/Loss, Crafty Cat, Adorable Horse
Beyond Her Manner is a contemporary romance novel with a historical feel to it given the setting in a quaint English village that centers around the Kingsford Manor - which also happens to be the center of Gillian Carmichaelās existence. Gillian had a marriage of convenience that lasted 35 years until her husbandās death. It wasnāt her marriage that created her sense of identity - it was the manor itself. So when her husband dies and she finds out he squandered so much money that she has to sell her beloved home, it also means she will lose the only thing that has truly given her a sense of identity in her whole adult life.
I wouldnāt really call Gillian an Ice Queen. She was more salty than icy in my opinion. Her grief and anger over losing her home created a lot of animosity between her and the new owner for sure. But that animosity quickly turns into understanding as Gillian and Viola bond over their grief, Viola having just lost her mother whom she bought this home for.
It took awhile for Gillian to grow on me, but Viola I loved from the start. She was just looking for some peace and quiet in the country and had no idea that buying this home was akin to starting a new job. Ironically enough, it turns out the only time she ever seems to find that peace is with the prickly (but gorgeous) woman who is the only person in the village not excited to have her there.
I loved watching Viola and Gillian connect and bond. They got off to a rocky start but once they find common ground their connection is truly beautiful. Expect a very slow burn though in this story. Lots of pining from Violaās side, but Gillian has spent too long repressing that part of her to easily let it back out again. Gillianās backstory made my heart ache for her. This book was both a story about Gillian rediscovering herself again in her 50s and a story about two women finding love in the midst of grief.
I loved that both MCs were over 40 - as Iām almost 40 now myself I love seeing more stories with characters that are older in age. And I also love the play on words with the title! Very clever. Two of the real stars of the story though are Dudley, the horse, and Agatha, the conniving and crafty cat - who Iām pretty sure was trying to get these two together from the start! This was a very enjoyable and quick read filled with witty banter, interesting characters, plenty of drama, cute animals, and moments that capture your heart.
I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest review.
šTropes/Themes: Celebrity Romance, Small Town, Coming Out, Slow Burn, Age Gap, Wealth Gap, Forced Proximity, Grief/Loss, Crafty Cat, Adorable Horse
Beyond Her Manner is a contemporary romance novel with a historical feel to it given the setting in a quaint English village that centers around the Kingsford Manor - which also happens to be the center of Gillian Carmichaelās existence. Gillian had a marriage of convenience that lasted 35 years until her husbandās death. It wasnāt her marriage that created her sense of identity - it was the manor itself. So when her husband dies and she finds out he squandered so much money that she has to sell her beloved home, it also means she will lose the only thing that has truly given her a sense of identity in her whole adult life.
I wouldnāt really call Gillian an Ice Queen. She was more salty than icy in my opinion. Her grief and anger over losing her home created a lot of animosity between her and the new owner for sure. But that animosity quickly turns into understanding as Gillian and Viola bond over their grief, Viola having just lost her mother whom she bought this home for.
It took awhile for Gillian to grow on me, but Viola I loved from the start. She was just looking for some peace and quiet in the country and had no idea that buying this home was akin to starting a new job. Ironically enough, it turns out the only time she ever seems to find that peace is with the prickly (but gorgeous) woman who is the only person in the village not excited to have her there.
I loved watching Viola and Gillian connect and bond. They got off to a rocky start but once they find common ground their connection is truly beautiful. Expect a very slow burn though in this story. Lots of pining from Violaās side, but Gillian has spent too long repressing that part of her to easily let it back out again. Gillianās backstory made my heart ache for her. This book was both a story about Gillian rediscovering herself again in her 50s and a story about two women finding love in the midst of grief.
I loved that both MCs were over 40 - as Iām almost 40 now myself I love seeing more stories with characters that are older in age. And I also love the play on words with the title! Very clever. Two of the real stars of the story though are Dudley, the horse, and Agatha, the conniving and crafty cat - who Iām pretty sure was trying to get these two together from the start! This was a very enjoyable and quick read filled with witty banter, interesting characters, plenty of drama, cute animals, and moments that capture your heart.
I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Death, Homophobia, and Death of parent
Minor: Homophobia and Alcohol
The moderate homophobia is internalized homophobia one of the MC deals with throughout the book.