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A review by chloe_liese
Marrying Winterborne by Lisa Kleypas
5.0
I feel like the Ravenels are my family by this point and while I read them out of order I truly have enjoyed each one for different reasons. All I have left is Cassandra’s story and I’m ready for it!
I am PICKY about my shy/innocent/virgin heroine trope romances, because virginity has been overly romanticized and overvalued as a commodity for too long. That said, I found this surprisingly well done. Helen’s innocence is so deeply caused not by timidity or lack of curiosity, but as a result of an oppressive upbringing thanks to a society that deeply shamed sexuality and taught women to distrust their bodies and desire for pleasure. Rhys isn’t mocking or dominating or getting off on her virginal innocence—in fact he despairs she wasn’t empowered to love her body’s nuances and sexuality sooner. He has a line something like “I don’t feel shame for my body’s sexuality and pleasure and neither shall you.” Swoon.
I am PICKY about my shy/innocent/virgin heroine trope romances, because virginity has been overly romanticized and overvalued as a commodity for too long. That said, I found this surprisingly well done. Helen’s innocence is so deeply caused not by timidity or lack of curiosity, but as a result of an oppressive upbringing thanks to a society that deeply shamed sexuality and taught women to distrust their bodies and desire for pleasure. Rhys isn’t mocking or dominating or getting off on her virginal innocence—in fact he despairs she wasn’t empowered to love her body’s nuances and sexuality sooner. He has a line something like “I don’t feel shame for my body’s sexuality and pleasure and neither shall you.” Swoon.