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jackgoss 's review for:
Lovely War
by Julie Berry
emotional
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I'm a sucker for mythology so that drew me in against my better judgement. I usually hate love at first sight but with Aphrodite as a character that gets a pass.
Also since it was WWI and none of the women were spies and there was no secret book, it was not EXACTLY like every other historical romance set in wartime France. That was a plus.
The depiction of the war at the beginning seems a little too YA - like boot camp was equivalent to boarding school or somethings, complete with compassionate officers who really cared how much you were eating. It got less rose-colored later. The depiction of racism and segregation in the US army too was similarly naive. Obviously the treatment of black soldiers was terrible and enraging. But the depiction of the black soldiers as surprised by it is absurd.
Also Hazel's entire personality changes on a dime after the first couple chapters, which was jarring and not really explained.
Also since it was WWI and none of the women were spies and there was no secret book, it was not EXACTLY like every other historical romance set in wartime France. That was a plus.
The depiction of the war at the beginning seems a little too YA - like boot camp was equivalent to boarding school or somethings, complete with compassionate officers who really cared how much you were eating. It got less rose-colored later. The depiction of racism and segregation in the US army too was similarly naive. Obviously the treatment of black soldiers was terrible and enraging. But the depiction of the black soldiers as surprised by it is absurd.
Also Hazel's entire personality changes on a dime after the first couple chapters, which was jarring and not really explained.