book data
862 ratings,
3.68
average rating, 88 reviews
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published
July 1st 2007
by Avon
binding
Mass Market Paperback, 373 pages
characters
setting
The United Kingdom
isbn
0061230839
(isbn13: 9780061230837)
description
2 March 1810 . . .
Today, I fell in love.
At the age of ten, Miranda Cheever showed no signs of Great Beauty. And even at ten, Mirand...more
Today, I fell in love.
At the age of ten, Miranda Cheever showed no signs of Great Beauty. And even at ten, Mirand...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 1,125)
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5 stars (215)
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2 stars (82)
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avg 3.68
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
Julia Quinn has a problem, and I don't know how to help her.
It's a good problem, I guess: She has created high expectations in her readership, thanks to the fantastic Bridgerton books. The down side, of course, comes when she doesn't live up to her own standard.
Don't get me wrong: The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever is a fun read, better than most regencies on the market. The characters are likeable and quirky, her heroine is warm and likeable without that annoying...more
It's a good problem, I guess: She has created high expectations in her readership, thanks to the fantastic Bridgerton books. The down side, of course, comes when she doesn't live up to her own standard.
Don't get me wrong: The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever is a fun read, better than most regencies on the market. The characters are likeable and quirky, her heroine is warm and likeable without that annoying...more
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Read in December, 2008
So...I started off loving this book even though the "hero" (Turner) was kind of (for a lack of a better word) weak. I instantly connected with Miranda... oh how I love the ugly duckling turned beautiful swan stories...but something happened that threw the book way off track and it never came full circle for me. I have read so many books where the main man went through a great tragedy and never quite moved on until he was faced with the loss of the smartest and the most gorgeous gal in...more
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5 comments
Read in July, 2007
Let me begin by saying that I love Julia Quinn. Love her. She can do no wrong in my eyes and I'll recommend her books to anyone, which is why I'm so angry that she did what she did with this book. The Secret Diaries of Miranda Cheever had such potential. The beginning has been done before, heroine meets hero as an ungainly and awkward child and falls instantly in love when he makes her feel that she could grow out of it and become a beautiful woman some day. It's the twist that gives the book it...more
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Read in August, 2007
I was a little disappointed in this book. I love Julia Quinn; I find her novels engrossing, entertaining, funny, and romantic. They're generally just good reads. But The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever was just okay. It was one of the first novels she ever wrote -- she revised the manuscript when she needed a standalone novel to publish after the end of her Bridgerton series -- and it shows. It was mildly entertaining, but both Miranda and Turner lacked the spark that makes truly int...more
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2 comments
Read in July, 2007
I was so excited for this book as Julia Quinn is a favorite of mine; I normally love her work and I also (surprise, surprise) love to see the quiet/shy girl get the guy. Though there was witty dialog and moments that had me laughing out loud, I really have to say I was disappointed and bothered by many aspects of this book.
PRAISE:
(1) Funny moments that will make you laugh
(2) Connection between Turner and Miranda is interesting to watch in about the first half of the book ...more
PRAISE:
(1) Funny moments that will make you laugh
(2) Connection between Turner and Miranda is interesting to watch in about the first half of the book ...more
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Read in December, 2008
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Read in May, 2009
I cannot explain to you how sad this book made me, because I love Julia Quinn. Love her. Up to this date, every other book I have ever read by her has sparkled and made me glow- perfect romance novels.
This novel started brilliantly. What a great idea! I liked how Turner made Miranda comfortable in her own skin; she was a lovely, likeable character, and at the start he was warm and caring.
Maybe Quinn was trying for the 'brooding alpha-male'? Turner underwent a whole person...more
This novel started brilliantly. What a great idea! I liked how Turner made Miranda comfortable in her own skin; she was a lovely, likeable character, and at the start he was warm and caring.
Maybe Quinn was trying for the 'brooding alpha-male'? Turner underwent a whole person...more
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Read in August, 2007
Woops! I accidentally bought a romance novel!
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Read in December, 2008
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Read in September, 2008
This one gets only 2 stars because, though I enjoyed it, it's not nearly as good as the other books by Julia Quinn that I've read. I thought Miranda was great, if naive. I'm not sure I completely buy that she and Turner are so well suited, particularly after she spent all that time pining for him. The age difference makes it squicky; there's no way he could have desired her when she was 10 and he was 19, so their romance is always doomed to be sort of lopsided. But the real problem here is Turne...more
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2 comments
Read in February, 2009
I first read this book back in 2007, not long after it was published. Lately, I found myself feeling like giving it a reread. I had good memories of it as a light, fun book and after The Eye of Night – an excellent book but one that took a bit of work – that’s exactly what I was wanting.
Miranda Cheever has been in love with her best friend Olivia’s older brother, Turner, since she was ten. Now, at almost twenty, she and Olivia are off to London for their first season, Turner ...more
Miranda Cheever has been in love with her best friend Olivia’s older brother, Turner, since she was ten. Now, at almost twenty, she and Olivia are off to London for their first season, Turner ...more
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Read in July, 2007
June 26, 2007
I'm lazy right now. This is from Amazon:
"Miranda Cheever fell in love with the aristocratic Nigel Bevelstoke, Viscount Turner, when she was 10 and he 19. Now 20, and still in love, Miranda's designs are thwarted by the indiscretions of Nigel's late wife—heartbroken. Nigel isn't willing to risk another shot at love, even if it means hurting his close friend Miranda. Quinn's pitch-perfect humor remains intact, but her latest relies too much on romance c...more
I'm lazy right now. This is from Amazon:
"Miranda Cheever fell in love with the aristocratic Nigel Bevelstoke, Viscount Turner, when she was 10 and he 19. Now 20, and still in love, Miranda's designs are thwarted by the indiscretions of Nigel's late wife—heartbroken. Nigel isn't willing to risk another shot at love, even if it means hurting his close friend Miranda. Quinn's pitch-perfect humor remains intact, but her latest relies too much on romance c...more
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Read in May, 2008
recommended to Eva-chan by:
sweet romance seeking readers
I thought the plot of the book was rather hasty and abrupt but really, really charming; not to forget sweet...really, really sweet. I definitely adored Miranda's witty and firm standing character. While for...Turner? I just thought he was the sort of guy who conclude things too fast. But its not entirely his fault due to his wife's act of infidelity. >.< Sigh...this made him not clear of his judgements and most importantly his feelings for Miranda. However. I almost swooned when he coaxed ...more
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Read in June, 2009
I'm so glad I read this book, I loved it. When I checked out the reviews they were so mixed I was not sure if I even wanted to read it, but decided to give it a try. I like Julia Quinn and thought if it is no good then I don't have to finish it. I read it in one day, could not put it down; loved the story, the people and the location. It made me laugh and cry, what more can you ask for in a book.
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Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
regency romance fans
The writing style was really smooth, and characterization, at least of Miranda, glowed. I swear I know a Miranda or two: self-deprecating clever quiet women who really deserve a hero or two to give them the time of day. The point of the book, I think, was that if you hang around long enough, some day the hero is going to notice you. Maybe even sleep with you. And, if his family badgers him about it enough, he might even marry you.
I never really came to like Turner, but I understood hi...more
I never really came to like Turner, but I understood hi...more
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2 comments
Read in June, 2007
recommends it for:
fans of romance, trashy or otherwise
I'll be upfront - I love Julia Quinn. I'm an AVID Julia Quinn reader. Her books, for the most part, are my comfort reading. I have probably read Romancing Mr. Bridgerton upwards of 30 times. Love it. So I was predisposed to like this.
But! Like it I did. Love it, actually. The hero was broken in a really understandable, believable way, and I loved that the heroine got it and wanted to fix it without being idiotic. Quinn's heroines are always so delightfully sensible, and Miss Cheever ...more
But! Like it I did. Love it, actually. The hero was broken in a really understandable, believable way, and I loved that the heroine got it and wanted to fix it without being idiotic. Quinn's heroines are always so delightfully sensible, and Miss Cheever ...more
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Historical Romance. I could not put this book down. Absolutely breathtakingly intoxicating! Almost makes me with life was so simple and delicate as they were in the 1800's. This book is very detailed and lovely *sighing* Hope you like it as much as I did. I can't wait to read another book from Julia Quinn.
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Read in May, 2009
recommended to Kate by:
Juli
Oh Miranda Cheever, I adore you! Any girl who has had a crush on someone unattainable will thrill at this novel. One of Julia's earlier works re-worked. I will not say any more in order to avoid spoilers.. but I did read it in one night, much to the disappointment of my boy who was sleeping next to me!
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recommends it for:
Anyone
I have literally read this book 10 times. I think this is one of my all time favorites!
Miranda Cheever is plain. Okay, not so plain, but in the society she lives in, she's definitely not beautiful, or blonde. Although Mirand doesn't quite fit into the society in which she lives, she definitely has loyalty in her best friend Olivia, who not only tries to set her up with her brother, but stands up for Miranda no matter who bullies her. The problem? Miranda has fallen in love with the ...more
Miranda Cheever is plain. Okay, not so plain, but in the society she lives in, she's definitely not beautiful, or blonde. Although Mirand doesn't quite fit into the society in which she lives, she definitely has loyalty in her best friend Olivia, who not only tries to set her up with her brother, but stands up for Miranda no matter who bullies her. The problem? Miranda has fallen in love with the ...more
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Read in April, 2009
I just don't think Julia Quinn's books are meant for me. I find myself thinking 'get to the point' so often when reading her stuff. I find not a lot happens in her books as well, which is OK if you have the talent of an Ian McEwan for example, not so much if you are a romance novelist.
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quotes from this book
"She hated that she was still so desperate for a glimpse of him, but it had been this way for years."
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