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A review by julieannerogowski
To Swoon and to Spar by Martha Waters
2.0
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy for review.
1.5/5 stars. Of all the books in this series, this was definitely my least favorite. In the first half of the novel, Jane is so utterly unlikeable it's a wonder that Penvale falls in love with her at all. While I appreciate Waters trying to add a Gothic theme to this novel, I don't think it was done very well. All the fun of the "ghost story" was taken out of the story by letting us know upfront that it was Jane doing all the haunting. This book could have been so much more fun to read had the reader not known it was Jane all along. Both Jane and Penvale seemed dumb for putting on the haunting and somewhat falling for it, respectively. I also deeply despise the miscommunication trope. I understand that Jane hates people and doesn't want to let anyone in, but the whole "I know that she knows that I know" Friends story was played out in the first novel in this series. I hated it then, and I hate that it was brought back for this novel.
Overall, I was very disappointed by this novel. In bringing in someone outside of the core group of friends, Waters could have gone literally anywhere with this novel, and I don't think she took full advantage of this. I still think the earlier books in this series are the strongest.
1.5/5 stars. Of all the books in this series, this was definitely my least favorite. In the first half of the novel, Jane is so utterly unlikeable it's a wonder that Penvale falls in love with her at all. While I appreciate Waters trying to add a Gothic theme to this novel, I don't think it was done very well. All the fun of the "ghost story" was taken out of the story by letting us know upfront that it was Jane doing all the haunting. This book could have been so much more fun to read had the reader not known it was Jane all along. Both Jane and Penvale seemed dumb for putting on the haunting and somewhat falling for it, respectively. I also deeply despise the miscommunication trope. I understand that Jane hates people and doesn't want to let anyone in, but the whole "I know that she knows that I know" Friends story was played out in the first novel in this series. I hated it then, and I hate that it was brought back for this novel.
Overall, I was very disappointed by this novel. In bringing in someone outside of the core group of friends, Waters could have gone literally anywhere with this novel, and I don't think she took full advantage of this. I still think the earlier books in this series are the strongest.