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hnells 's review for:

Someone to Watch Over Me by Lisa Kleypas
1.5

Oh god, this was the worst Kleypas I've ever read BY FAR. Typically, the worst a Kleypas book is for me is just kinda boring, but this one actively pissed me off. The male lead is EXTREMELY misogynistic and does not treat the female lead well at all at literally any point in the narrative. Like, he doesn't even get better as the book goes on. He has so much disdain for her at the beginning, and even by the end still has trouble respecting her wishes. Also, I don't love the cop/sex worker with amnesia dynamic they have. He has so much power over her and just fully abuses it at every turn.

Also, I thought maybe we were going somewhere interesting with the female lead's narrative with her love for books and philosophy being a part of her that society doesn't see and actively chooses to believe doesn't exist, but then it's revealed that no, Vivien actually is just  one-dimensional self-centered courtesan, and the one who is sweet and likes books was her secret twin sister all along. So stupid. Like are we allergic to creating characters with depth? Do we think that all sex workers are selfish and not intellectual? Just really disappointing that it could've been interesting and then just ended up being super reductive and misogynistic.


Anyways, not good, not fun, made me real-life mad.