An awkward misfit in an accomplished Boston family, Isadora Peabody yearns to escape her social isolation and sneaks aboard the Silver Swan, bou... read full description
reviews
Jul 15, 2008
AzuresHeart
rated it: 
I adored this book. I liked the whole Ugly Duckling premise. He wasn't too much of a rogue and the scenes that put him in that light were bearable. If anyone has any other Ugly Duckling suggestions please let me know!!
I got this one from the library but I think I will make it a keeper soon!
I got this one from the library but I think I will make it a keeper soon!
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(5 people liked it)
May 17, 2008
Julie (jjmachshev)
rated it: 
This is a reissue of a 1999 release.
What a wonderful story about love and transformation Susan Wiggs has penned in “The Charm School”. It combines the lure of “Pygmalion” with the fairy tale of “The Ugly Duckling” and even throws in a dash of anti-slavery activism. And it all comes together beautifully in a story that validates hopes and dreams of love and freedom.
Isadora is the ugly duckling. In her family of slim, pale blondes, she’s a full-figured, tall brunette; More...
What a wonderful story about love and transformation Susan Wiggs has penned in “The Charm School”. It combines the lure of “Pygmalion” with the fairy tale of “The Ugly Duckling” and even throws in a dash of anti-slavery activism. And it all comes together beautifully in a story that validates hopes and dreams of love and freedom.
Isadora is the ugly duckling. In her family of slim, pale blondes, she’s a full-figured, tall brunette; More...
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Jun 07, 2010
MelissaB
rated it:
The Charm School was a good book about an ugly duckling heroine who finds new life when she travels aboard a ship to Rio. The hero is a bit of a rakish daredevil who slowly falls for the heroine over the long ship journey. The story had a lot of great detail about life on a ship and really brought the setting and characters to life. The heroine's transformation from a plain, plump spinster who was too smart and horrible at social situations to a confident woman who believed in herself was the ma
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(15 people liked it)
Feb 03, 2012
Wicked Incognito Now
rated it: 
I love Susan Wiggs, although I've not read many of her books (yet).
I am most impressed with her ability to handle heavy issues without a heavy hand. I usually can't stand to read about heavy issues. I'm not looking for a lot of depressing melodrama in a book. Wiggs is never melodramatic, but she doesn't flinch from real life.
I think this book (and series) is an earlier effort, and I didn't feel her light-touch and uncanny sense of humanity and character here.
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I am most impressed with her ability to handle heavy issues without a heavy hand. I usually can't stand to read about heavy issues. I'm not looking for a lot of depressing melodrama in a book. Wiggs is never melodramatic, but she doesn't flinch from real life.
I think this book (and series) is an earlier effort, and I didn't feel her light-touch and uncanny sense of humanity and character here.
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Feb 03, 2012
Santana
rated it:
0_0 this book was brilliantly written...ok it's not what i would typically read because i don't really like that time era but oh gosh i thoroughly enjoyed it!!!!! The characters were amazing and it was just...believable! i love how Ryan and Isadora are so honest hehehehe and they both grow together in the book...All the characters i loved and i was actually dreading when i knew this book would finish...But such a beautiful story that i really really loved...i have read a lot of plain jane books
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Oct 23, 2011
Suzanne the Mighty ~Satin Seductress~
rated it:
Isadora Peabody is a complete misfit in her rich Boston family, tall and curvy where they are willowy, unruly brown hair where they have sleek blonde locks, intelligent and clever when they are all social butterflies. Bound into a life she hates and doesn't fit in to she grabs the chance to get away on a ship to Rio when it presents it self, despite the insufferable arrogant and rakeish Captain Ryan Calhoun.
I pretty much devoured this book, I devoured it in one sitting, I love a pla More...
I pretty much devoured this book, I devoured it in one sitting, I love a pla More...
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Aug 19, 2011
Marion
rated it: 
An engaging tale of a proper Boston young miss who becomes transformed while on a sea journey to find herself. I found this approach to the historical romance genre refreshing. However, I would caution against letting impressionable young ladies reading this.
While the sensuality falls short of page after page of explicit details, there is enough to give one pause. First is the fact that our heroine becomes 'one of the guys' aboard ship after she is hired as translator. One would nee More...
While the sensuality falls short of page after page of explicit details, there is enough to give one pause. First is the fact that our heroine becomes 'one of the guys' aboard ship after she is hired as translator. One would nee More...
Jul 04, 2011
Sara
rated it:
Taking a break from my usual PNR and UF reads I picked up Charm School by Susan Wiggs on the reccomendation of several book blogs.
I was interested in the idea of an awkward, none to pretty heroine and how the romance between her and the hero would progress.
Charm School is a wonderful read. If you like history, you'll enjoy a look into the shipping industry, abolitionist movement and politics of the American South in the 1860's (approx.), if you like romance you'll enjoy the dynamic b More...
I was interested in the idea of an awkward, none to pretty heroine and how the romance between her and the hero would progress.
Charm School is a wonderful read. If you like history, you'll enjoy a look into the shipping industry, abolitionist movement and politics of the American South in the 1860's (approx.), if you like romance you'll enjoy the dynamic b More...
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Jun 10, 2011
Barbara
rated it:
Very well done Ugly Duckling story with a very believable transformation for our heroine. Isadora is the misfit in her very fashionable, very prominent Boston family. She is tall while her sisters are petite, very fat while the sisters are slender, brunette to their blonde, gawky, clumsy and just socially inept all around. Her family (especially her mother) despairs of her; she is not valued or loved, even though she is very intelligent and bright. Worse yet, Isadora hates herself, her self-e
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Mar 03, 2011
Mommaseymour
rated it:
Excellent book about how everyone can find love, even those who feel that they don't match up to those around them. Isadora Peabody is the ugly duckling in her family. She is surrounded by beautiful people who make matches and babies with more beautiful people. She was shunned all her life and dreams of escaping. Isadora is brilliant and witty although shy with most people around her. Enter Ryan Calhoun who makes a exceptional run on the ship he is over. Isadora meets his mother and takes her to
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Jun 23, 2010
Mom
rated it:
I really enjoyed the story. I liked the characters and the setting, and the crew even worked with her.
Isadora Peabody is the brilliant but socially inept sibling in an otherwise perfect family. And although she struggles to fit into Boston society, her awkwardness dooms her to repeated failure. Fate intervenes when she learns that a sea captain, Ryan Calhoun, is in need of an interpreter for his next voyage to Rio. And despite Ryan's adamant opposition to hiring a female interpreter More...
Isadora Peabody is the brilliant but socially inept sibling in an otherwise perfect family. And although she struggles to fit into Boston society, her awkwardness dooms her to repeated failure. Fate intervenes when she learns that a sea captain, Ryan Calhoun, is in need of an interpreter for his next voyage to Rio. And despite Ryan's adamant opposition to hiring a female interpreter More...
Sep 24, 2011
Maria
rated it:
Aside from the highly embarrassing beginning that I skipped whole paragraphs of and the fact that he had her smoke hemp so she'd loosen up and have sex with him (admittedly the sex was an afterthought) it was fine.
The best part is that it is an Ugly Duckling story and the most unlikely people are the ones helping to turn her into a swan. Isadora is a plain bluestocking spinster from a well-known family in Boston that essentially coerces her way onto a ship (as an interpreter) sailing More...
The best part is that it is an Ugly Duckling story and the most unlikely people are the ones helping to turn her into a swan. Isadora is a plain bluestocking spinster from a well-known family in Boston that essentially coerces her way onto a ship (as an interpreter) sailing More...
Sep 14, 2009
Nisha
rated it:
I love this era in history. It's hard to find stories that specialize in American life (considering there is an excess of westerns from this time period). Considering that most of the book too place on a ship, there was ample interaction between the H/h and allowed the heroine to grow. Isadora has a cool name, but she was a pretty pitiable creature during the beginning of this story. Smart, but socially awkward and a bit of a coward. Ryan (also love this name) is really a great guy, despite the
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(2 people liked it)
Jul 03, 2011
Jessica
rated it:
Isadora Peabody is the ugly duckling in her family. The awakward one. Her brothers and sisters are the popular pretty ones. Shes the wallflower who gets stuck by herself at parties. No one wants anything to do with her. Fustrated at the way she's treated and while to impress a boy she tricks her way on to a ship where she meets the arrogant handsome captain Ryan Calhoun.
During the ship course to Belize she comes out of her shell and is loved by not only the ship crew but the cap More...
During the ship course to Belize she comes out of her shell and is loved by not only the ship crew but the cap More...
Jun 13, 2011
Audrey
rated it:
I'm cautiously...CAUTIOUSLY...giving this book 2.5-3 stars, which is really bifurcated between 3.5-4 for the writing, atmosphere, setting, and plot and 2 for the romance.
3.5-4 = The author does a nice job of weaving magical descriptions of exotic Rio and earthy shipboard life. I learned a lot of nautical terminology after searching Google while reading. The characters were pretty well drawn, even though I didn't necessarily like them (if that makes sense?). Isadora's life in Boston w More...
3.5-4 = The author does a nice job of weaving magical descriptions of exotic Rio and earthy shipboard life. I learned a lot of nautical terminology after searching Google while reading. The characters were pretty well drawn, even though I didn't necessarily like them (if that makes sense?). Isadora's life in Boston w More...
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(2 people liked it)
Feb 21, 2011
Ceej
rated it:
I am mostly pleased when I finish a Susan Wiggs book. Sometimes getting to the end is a trial. This was not one of those times. Although in places the book wanders, I thoroughly enjoyed Isadora and Ryan's story. I was especially impressed with Ryan's devotion to Journey. This ugly duckling story put a whole other light on the premise of a diamond in the rough. It showcased some things about society we have yet to divest ourselves of. even in the present. Isadora is plagued with being the
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Sep 02, 2011
Pamela(AllHoney)
rated it:
I picked this up at the library. I have seen it listed as a favorite several times so I thought I'd give it a try. My first to read by this author. An interesting take on the Ugly Duckling fairy tale. Isadora Peabody was the ugly duckling, living with a family of beautiful ducks. Ryan Calhoun is the captain of a ship called The Sliver Swan and they are heading for Rio. Isadora manages to get on board as a translator, despite the objections of the captain. I found the story to be rather delightfu
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Sep 27, 2011
Jessica
rated it:
Charm school is the first book I have read by Susan Wiggs and now I am a fan for life.
This book was everything I hoped for and more.
Isadora Peabody is a black swan among her family. She is dark where her siblings are fair and too smart for her own good. With her voluptuous figure, unruly hair that is styled severely to make it tame, and spectacles she is socially not accepted by her peers. Isadora needs a change and with her cleverness she manages to fulfill that change by More...
This book was everything I hoped for and more.
Isadora Peabody is a black swan among her family. She is dark where her siblings are fair and too smart for her own good. With her voluptuous figure, unruly hair that is styled severely to make it tame, and spectacles she is socially not accepted by her peers. Isadora needs a change and with her cleverness she manages to fulfill that change by More...
Jun 27, 2008
Jenni
rated it:
I enjoyed the story line of this book. Ryan the hero helps Isadora discover just how beautiful she is (if you know what I mean). It was a different story line then most romance novels which was a relief although the romance scenes were not very steamy, I am glad I read this book
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Jul 21, 2008
Lesley
rated it:
This is a book about a women whom is an ugly duckling who turns into a swan in the end. After findling herself through some life adventure and some soul searching she learns life doesn't have to be all prim and proper. Very good romance read!!!
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(1 person liked it)
Jan 18, 2012
Sarah
rated it:
This is a romance dear to my heart. My mother gave me her battered old copy to read and then bought me a shiny new one when I had torn through hers for the third time. It's the traditional ugly duckling story, and it's not only the swan that emerges we fall in love with, but the entire band of characters who assist in the transformation. Any girl who has been laughed at, given the cold shoulder, or stood in the center of the room with her drink dripping down the front of her dress can identify w
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Aug 12, 2008
Heloise
rated it:
I'm a sucker for the heroine transformation books, this is an oldy but goody. Want to know more about my opinion?
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Jul 15, 2008
Thespian999
rated it:
This is a romance novel, but it's really sweet. I'd say it's rated maybe pg13. I love the story and the guy is a redheaded captain of a ship.
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(1 person liked it)
May 14, 2008
Kim
rated it:
a fun love story. has a "ugly duckling" theme to it that makes it different from the usual regency romance.
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(1 person liked it)
Nov 22, 2011
JoAnn
rated it:
This is a very enjoyable book about the ugly duckling daughter in a wealthy Boston family of otherwise beautiful, charming people. It was painful to read about her awkwardness and frustration at the beginning of the book, but once she began to take positive action and found herself being swept along to her eventual transformation it was a joy.
I was very disappointed by the intoxicant chosen in the scene by the spring in Brazil. I think the same thing could have been accomplished with More...
I was very disappointed by the intoxicant chosen in the scene by the spring in Brazil. I think the same thing could have been accomplished with More...
Jun 21, 2009
Victoria
rated it:
In this historical sea-romance, by Susan Wiggs, we meet Isadora Peabody, the black sheep of her perfect family. Her comical struggles to fit into Boston society lead her to a voyage to Rio once she hears that a sea captain - Ryan Calhoun, is in need of an interpreter, & she finds her way aboard despite his open opposition towards her.
We see her go from awkward ugly duckling to beautiful swan throughout the story and finally become accepted into society as she so longed for, only to leave t More...
We see her go from awkward ugly duckling to beautiful swan throughout the story and finally become accepted into society as she so longed for, only to leave t More...
Mar 26, 2010
Blodeuedd
rated it:
I am writing both reviews at once since I finished the books so close to each other.
The first one is a classic ugly duckling story, she does not feel at home, and she is not as popular and praised as her sisters. Not to mention that Isadora loves books. But she sees a way to get out and she manages to convince the owner of captain Ryan's ship to let her travel with them as a translator/companion to Ryan's mother. The captain is not pleased but she gets her will and steps aboard the s More...
The first one is a classic ugly duckling story, she does not feel at home, and she is not as popular and praised as her sisters. Not to mention that Isadora loves books. But she sees a way to get out and she manages to convince the owner of captain Ryan's ship to let her travel with them as a translator/companion to Ryan's mother. The captain is not pleased but she gets her will and steps aboard the s More...
Mar 26, 2009
Jackie
rated it:
I seem to be on a romance kick. This one was about an "ugly duckling" who was born into the perfect socialite family, which of course she doesn't fit in too. As she tries to find her way in the world she decides to board a ship headed to Rio as a translator. Here she meets Captain Calhoun and his rowdy crew, along with his mom and aunt Rose who they visit while in Rio. Together the other characters along with the freedom of ship life help Isadora Peabody come out of her shell and turn
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Feb 01, 2010
TJ
rated it:
After reading, and loving Ms. Wiggs Tudor Rose Trilogy, this was a disappointment. I guess the biggest reason was the ending. I hate it when I've invested the time and emotion in a storyline only to have it suddenly wrapped up, tied up and finished in the last few paragraphs. Forgive me but after 408 pages, it could have spared a few to help me understand what happened. Instead it was "I'm back...Great, because I love you..... The end".
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