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A Contemporary Asshat at the Court of Henry VIII
Time travel meets Tudor-era mayhem.
American expat Joan Howe has a to-do list she loathes: finish her degree, find a new job, buy milk, ask her neurologist friend Lisa to cure her migraines. So when Lisa enrolls her in an experimental drug trial, Joan is elated. That is, until she takes the medication and falls through a time portal and finds herself at the Field of the Cloth of Gold. That’s right, Joan wakes up smack-dab in the time of Henry VIII.
After realizing this isn’tthe most elaborate Renaissance festival ever, Joan accidentally spills the beans on how England and France will soon be at war. In spite of her faux pas, Joan manages to get back to present-day England, where she’s met by the scientists of the secret think tank who accidentally created the time travel portals. What’s worse? They can’t control the portals and Joan’s the only person to return.
Well at least now she has a new job: time-traveler wrangler. There’s plenty of work rescuing those who go missing.
But all is not as it seems. With handsome courtier Thomas Wynter by her side to help guide her through the politics of Henry VIII’s court, and good old-fashioned 21st-century know-how, Joan races against time to save the other inadvertent time travelers and catch a culprit bent on changing history.
American expat Joan Howe has a to-do list she loathes: finish her degree, find a new job, buy milk, ask her neurologist friend Lisa to cure her migraines. So when Lisa enrolls her in an experimental drug trial, Joan is elated. That is, until she takes the medication and falls through a time portal and finds herself at the Field of the Cloth of Gold. That’s right, Joan wakes up smack-dab in the time of Henry VIII.
After realizing this isn’tthe most elaborate Renaissance festival ever, Joan accidentally spills the beans on how England and France will soon be at war. In spite of her faux pas, Joan manages to get back to present-day England, where she’s met by the scientists of the secret think tank who accidentally created the time travel portals. What’s worse? They can’t control the portals and Joan’s the only person to return.
Well at least now she has a new job: time-traveler wrangler. There’s plenty of work rescuing those who go missing.
But all is not as it seems. With handsome courtier Thomas Wynter by her side to help guide her through the politics of Henry VIII’s court, and good old-fashioned 21st-century know-how, Joan races against time to save the other inadvertent time travelers and catch a culprit bent on changing history.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 15, 2020
147 people are currently reading
393 people want to read
About the author
MaryJanice Davidson
142 books5,397 followersMaryJanice Davidson is an American author and motivational speaker who writes mostly paranormal romance, but also young adult and non-fiction. She is the creator of the popular UNDEAD series and the time-traveling historical fiction A CONTEMPORARY ASSHAT AT THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. MaryJanice is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author who writes a bi-weekly column for USA Today and lives in St. Paul with her family. You can reach her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.
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August 29, 2022I found the title to be a bit hilarious and wanted to listen to it because of that and it sounded fun. But I don't think I was in the right mood for it so I've decided to dnf it for now, having only about an hour left. Might pick it back up in a later date
September 7, 2020
An absolutly incredible, but very funny story!
Do not take it seriously and you'll laugh while reading!
Do not take it seriously and you'll laugh while reading!
April 17, 2023
**Rating: 4/5**
I blame my mother. She was a Tudorphile. And not just any Tudorphile. She was hot for Tudors the way Henry VIII was hot for spit-roasted boar and legitimate sons.
So our contemporary asshat Joan Howe finds herself accidentally transported to 1520 Calais, France, just in time to witness Henry VIII and François I wrestling in the dirt (or as we know it, the "Field of Cloth of Gold" meeting.) Turns out aura migraines + wormholes from a scientific experiment gone wrong = time travel, and it appears that Joan isn't the only unsuspecting bystander caught in this mess. Thus follows a series of back-and-forth shuttling between the 21st and 16th centuries, where we watch Joan try and navigate the Tudor court without getting her head lopped off.
What a ride.
This book was frankly ridiculous but so, so much fun. There were times where certain situations and actions were very far-fetched - the batshit plot twists at the end, for one - and I definitely wouldn't be reading it for academic purposes, but there were many hours of pure entertainment to be had. Seriously, don't even bother trying to figure out the mechanics behind the time travel because even the book goes, "I don’t pretend to understand the tech, and neither do the techs who invented the tech." So just sit back, enjoy the journey and have a few good laughs along the way.
And honestly, who can possibly turn down the very tempting offer to diss Henry VIII when the opportunity presents itself? Definitely not me.
And there he was, Henry Tudor, wooer of women, slayer of elderly priests, abandoner of wives, de-legitimizer of children, devourer of pudding.
I blame my mother. She was a Tudorphile. And not just any Tudorphile. She was hot for Tudors the way Henry VIII was hot for spit-roasted boar and legitimate sons.
So our contemporary asshat Joan Howe finds herself accidentally transported to 1520 Calais, France, just in time to witness Henry VIII and François I wrestling in the dirt (or as we know it, the "Field of Cloth of Gold" meeting.) Turns out aura migraines + wormholes from a scientific experiment gone wrong = time travel, and it appears that Joan isn't the only unsuspecting bystander caught in this mess. Thus follows a series of back-and-forth shuttling between the 21st and 16th centuries, where we watch Joan try and navigate the Tudor court without getting her head lopped off.
What a ride.
This book was frankly ridiculous but so, so much fun. There were times where certain situations and actions were very far-fetched - the batshit plot twists at the end, for one - and I definitely wouldn't be reading it for academic purposes, but there were many hours of pure entertainment to be had. Seriously, don't even bother trying to figure out the mechanics behind the time travel because even the book goes, "I don’t pretend to understand the tech, and neither do the techs who invented the tech." So just sit back, enjoy the journey and have a few good laughs along the way.
And honestly, who can possibly turn down the very tempting offer to diss Henry VIII when the opportunity presents itself? Definitely not me.
And there he was, Henry Tudor, wooer of women, slayer of elderly priests, abandoner of wives, de-legitimizer of children, devourer of pudding.
November 4, 2025
I regret letting this sit on my Kindle unread for so long. Migraine representation and time travel to the Tudor era?! This was a good time all around, with plenty of laughs.
December 20, 2021
I always love Tudors and I often enjoy asshats so I assumed this would be the book for me…but it wasn’t, well not completely. There were parts that were hilarious and there were parts that were historically amusing. There were also bits that were slow🐢 and took me forever to get through. I also prefer my villains 🦹♀️ to be more villainous but I wouldn’t expect everyone to agree.
Wicked premise. Pretty good execution. 3.5 ⭐️
Wicked premise. Pretty good execution. 3.5 ⭐️
May 16, 2020
This book reads as a history fan-fiction... in a good way!!
I decided to listen to the audiobook version of this book because I've read some of MaryJanice Davidsons Undead books back in the day.
They got a bit too predictable for me at the time (I'm a mood reader), so I have not read any of hers in more than 10 years.
I've never really been that into the Tudor period, but it is fascinating to read/listen to someone who clearly is.
As always with MaryJanice's protagonists the dialogue and behaviour is tongue in cheek. She's keeping it real and full of disregard for what's expected.
Do not read this book if you are hoping for a new interesting take on time travel that might be doable. (yes, I just wrote that). Both the author and the protagonist are quite aware of how improbable it all is, and I was sort of grateful that they didn't try to go into detail how the time traveling was happening - because it's not really about time traveling. It's about getting an interesting take on what happened during Tudor Times (sorry, I realise that's under trademarking...), having fun with a protagonist who knows way more than she should (seriously, at times she discovers things that I still am not sure I understand how she figured out), and something new in Davidson's authorship (for me at least). Knowing there's more to the protagonist than what she is revealing, but getting hints about it, slowly. Just like you would a real person.
MaryJanice Davidson somehow always manages to create characters that have a lot of self-awareness, that they choose to use for our entertainment.
Again, so much in this book makes very little sense, but neither does getting into a rollercoaster if you think too much about it. Except for the thrill of it - and that is what this book is. Thrilling if you get on board and just go with it.
ps. This is not a romance novel (nor did I think so going in, but I read another review, that they thought it was). It does not need to be. It's about a woman who travels in time to help bring back people, who unexpectedly get sucked back to the 1500's. But there is a love ingredient...
pps. Really well read by Morgan Hallett in the audio book edition from Recorded Books, Inc.
I decided to listen to the audiobook version of this book because I've read some of MaryJanice Davidsons Undead books back in the day.
They got a bit too predictable for me at the time (I'm a mood reader), so I have not read any of hers in more than 10 years.
I've never really been that into the Tudor period, but it is fascinating to read/listen to someone who clearly is.
As always with MaryJanice's protagonists the dialogue and behaviour is tongue in cheek. She's keeping it real and full of disregard for what's expected.
Do not read this book if you are hoping for a new interesting take on time travel that might be doable. (yes, I just wrote that). Both the author and the protagonist are quite aware of how improbable it all is, and I was sort of grateful that they didn't try to go into detail how the time traveling was happening - because it's not really about time traveling. It's about getting an interesting take on what happened during Tudor Times (sorry, I realise that's under trademarking...), having fun with a protagonist who knows way more than she should (seriously, at times she discovers things that I still am not sure I understand how she figured out), and something new in Davidson's authorship (for me at least). Knowing there's more to the protagonist than what she is revealing, but getting hints about it, slowly. Just like you would a real person.
MaryJanice Davidson somehow always manages to create characters that have a lot of self-awareness, that they choose to use for our entertainment.
Again, so much in this book makes very little sense, but neither does getting into a rollercoaster if you think too much about it. Except for the thrill of it - and that is what this book is. Thrilling if you get on board and just go with it.
ps. This is not a romance novel (nor did I think so going in, but I read another review, that they thought it was). It does not need to be. It's about a woman who travels in time to help bring back people, who unexpectedly get sucked back to the 1500's. But there is a love ingredient...
pps. Really well read by Morgan Hallett in the audio book edition from Recorded Books, Inc.
June 29, 2020
History brought alive
Jane time travelled back to the time of Henry VIII. The story starts slow but then picks up. The snarkiness of the dialogue between the characters carries this story.
Jane time travelled back to the time of Henry VIII. The story starts slow but then picks up. The snarkiness of the dialogue between the characters carries this story.
dnf
August 17, 2020DNF at... I dunno, maybe 15%? Heroine time travels via migraine medicine. Too much disbelief for me to feel like suspending (and yes, I'm aware that my most recent finished books involved sentient sourdough starter and talking dragons).
September 28, 2021
MaryJanice Davidson. I don't need to say anything else. Oh, yes, I do. There are a few editing mistakes in this book. But, they aren't too bad.
May 9, 2023
When MJD is on, she is ON.
May 20, 2020
I have always loved Davidson’s writing. It is quirky and relaxed. So funny you laugh out loud.
This novel is funny, creative and thought-provoking. I am a history teacher and believe she keeps it fairly accurate throughout this Tudor-time travel novel.
I really enjoyed it! Read it if you are a fan of easy-going and comedic stories with ALOT of creative cursing. I am hoping for a sequel.
This novel is funny, creative and thought-provoking. I am a history teacher and believe she keeps it fairly accurate throughout this Tudor-time travel novel.
I really enjoyed it! Read it if you are a fan of easy-going and comedic stories with ALOT of creative cursing. I am hoping for a sequel.
May 19, 2020
FABULOUS AND FUNNY
I rarely write reviews. But this book was so engaging, so hilarious AND historically accurate ( a huge plus) - I couldn't put it down. Please, please write a sequel - no cliffhanger ending but ripe with possibilities. This author is extremely talented.
I rarely write reviews. But this book was so engaging, so hilarious AND historically accurate ( a huge plus) - I couldn't put it down. Please, please write a sequel - no cliffhanger ending but ripe with possibilities. This author is extremely talented.
May 25, 2020
Just look at that title? How could I not do a double take to make sure I'd read that right? MJD is always good for a fun read, and this was no exception.
December 7, 2020
This book is unfiltered brilliance. I have no interest in royalty, but found myself completely engrossed. I loved the characters, the snarky dialogue, the funky forearm fetish, everything. Lost track of how many times I laughed out loud. I sincerely hope this becomes a series!
June 8, 2020
She has done it again!
Long have I been a fan of MaryJanice Davidson's irreverent slapstick style of storytelling and in this treatise of time travelling hijinx, she has done it again. Entertainment of the highest level! May I have some more, please?
Long have I been a fan of MaryJanice Davidson's irreverent slapstick style of storytelling and in this treatise of time travelling hijinx, she has done it again. Entertainment of the highest level! May I have some more, please?
June 2, 2025
I should probably start by saying that this is not my typical genre. I'm... not totally sure what genre it is, exactly, but whatever it is, is not my usual. It's like... historical fiction with a soft-core sci-fi premise? It feels like it's written by a pop fiction type author (which may be true, I've never read anything else by this author before). It's like sci-fi/historical fiction, but more accessible to readers at an entry level to either genre? I don't know exactly how to classify it.
Note: I listened to this book as an audiobook on Audible.
Overview: A unique and interesting story with characters and a plot that are enjoyable, as long as you don't take them too seriously. Some flaws, but not distracting enough to pull me out of the story, and although it's not going to be a book I try to shove down the throats of any random passerby who happens to lock eyes with me for more than a second, it was definitely enjoyable. It was compelling enough to keep me engaged and want to continue after having to pause, and I'm glad I spent the time with it.
Negatives (Note: although this section looks long, I wouldn't weight it very heavily in your considerations, if you're trying to decide whether to read this book. Although these are my genuine observations, much of them were not super noticeable to me while reading, and I feel there are lots of things that balance them out. The ones that were noticeable were not really distracting from the narrative, which would have been a complete dealbreaker to me, so the fact that I was not only able to cheerfully finish the story, but then made it over here to rate it 4 stars should say something about the enjoyability of the book): The protagonist is a bit of a Mary Sue. She tends to run her mouth off, often in inappropriate situations (though we're told that she's normally shy and timid, which I don't think I actually saw once in the whole story). Although this occasionally gets her into trouble, most of the time it ends with people in Tudor England being like "Woah, such a bold young lady... I rather like you!" which I suspect is somewhat unrealistic. There are some slightly mitigating plot explanations for this, most notably the she acquires early on (although I don't think it's ever actually explained what this is or why it shields her from social consequences - I just so happened to have learned about this concept recently beforehand, by random happenstance, so I knew what it was, but if you're not familiar with the concept, you might be more confused). However, being shielded from severe consequences is not exactly the same thing as her snark universally causing people to like her - although I can certainly see this being charming to some people, just not nearly everyone. Again, though, this is somewhat dealt with by various plot things, like how she . But with regards to her being a Mary Sue, there's also the super tragic backstory just sort of casually dropped in at the last minute, despite us seeing basically no effect of it on her personality up until that point, besides some vague references to "the Before" and "the After" throughout the book, and a couple of oblique comments by the Best Friend. No noticeable impacts on her behavior that we actually see, though. Additionally, aside from the less than stellar character development on the protagonist's part, there are some background plot details that weren't really explained to my satisfaction (like, . Furthermore, and more significantly, )... although, some of these were acknowledged in the story as being unanswered questions, and I actually have a suspicion that some of these details may be related, plus the author definitely left room for a sequel, so it's totally possible these were actually intentionally left unexplained for further development in future books, which takes a lot of the sting out of having some questions left unanswered.
Positives: Intriguing and rather unique premise. Although the sass levels are off the chart (and occasionally even a tad excessive), there is definitely something satisfying about seeing someone backtalk a bunch of important people and cut through all the B.S. with relative impunity, in a bit of a wish fulfillment sort of way. Although the main character herself is, in my opinion, presented a bit shallowly, some of historical figures are explored with a little bit of depth. The story delved into a historical era and set of players I didn't know much about, which was sort of interesting. The author seemed to strike a decent balance between "assuming the reader knows what's going on," as would befit a seemingly self-directed first person POV narrative, and giving enough background historical details in a natural way to allow readers to follow what's going on, even if they only have very surface-level familiarity with the era. I actually found myself interested enough that I ended up doing some casual googling of some of the key players to find out more about them, despite the fact that historical fiction is not normally my thing, and many of these are historical figures I would typically have little to no interest in, if they weren't characters in a book I was reading. The romance was simultaneously very much a side plot that did not take focus away from the main story, and also relevant to the story itself as a character motivation for the love interest to keep helping Joan. I appreciated that, for her at least, it was not a love at first sight type of situation, and although she was appreciative of his appearance, she actually developed an appreciation for his personality over time, rather than just like "ooh, hot guy, let's bang," or even "hey this dude I just met seems nice, let's bang." He was actually a really great guy, too. To be honest, I often have trouble getting into het pairings unless they have a slow burn and really good chemistry, but I was actually rooting for these guys.
Overall takeaway- not exactly a Serious Work of Literature (TM), and certainly far from perfect, but if you go in with those expectations, I think that you, like me, might just have a pretty fun time.
Note: I listened to this book as an audiobook on Audible.
Overview: A unique and interesting story with characters and a plot that are enjoyable, as long as you don't take them too seriously. Some flaws, but not distracting enough to pull me out of the story, and although it's not going to be a book I try to shove down the throats of any random passerby who happens to lock eyes with me for more than a second, it was definitely enjoyable. It was compelling enough to keep me engaged and want to continue after having to pause, and I'm glad I spent the time with it.
Negatives (Note: although this section looks long, I wouldn't weight it very heavily in your considerations, if you're trying to decide whether to read this book. Although these are my genuine observations, much of them were not super noticeable to me while reading, and I feel there are lots of things that balance them out. The ones that were noticeable were not really distracting from the narrative, which would have been a complete dealbreaker to me, so the fact that I was not only able to cheerfully finish the story, but then made it over here to rate it 4 stars should say something about the enjoyability of the book): The protagonist is a bit of a Mary Sue. She tends to run her mouth off, often in inappropriate situations (though we're told that she's normally shy and timid, which I don't think I actually saw once in the whole story). Although this occasionally gets her into trouble, most of the time it ends with people in Tudor England being like "Woah, such a bold young lady... I rather like you!" which I suspect is somewhat unrealistic. There are some slightly mitigating plot explanations for this, most notably the she acquires early on (although I don't think it's ever actually explained what this is or why it shields her from social consequences - I just so happened to have learned about this concept recently beforehand, by random happenstance, so I knew what it was, but if you're not familiar with the concept, you might be more confused). However, being shielded from severe consequences is not exactly the same thing as her snark universally causing people to like her - although I can certainly see this being charming to some people, just not nearly everyone. Again, though, this is somewhat dealt with by various plot things, like how she . But with regards to her being a Mary Sue, there's also the super tragic backstory just sort of casually dropped in at the last minute, despite us seeing basically no effect of it on her personality up until that point, besides some vague references to "the Before" and "the After" throughout the book, and a couple of oblique comments by the Best Friend. No noticeable impacts on her behavior that we actually see, though. Additionally, aside from the less than stellar character development on the protagonist's part, there are some background plot details that weren't really explained to my satisfaction (like, . Furthermore, and more significantly, )... although, some of these were acknowledged in the story as being unanswered questions, and I actually have a suspicion that some of these details may be related, plus the author definitely left room for a sequel, so it's totally possible these were actually intentionally left unexplained for further development in future books, which takes a lot of the sting out of having some questions left unanswered.
Positives: Intriguing and rather unique premise. Although the sass levels are off the chart (and occasionally even a tad excessive), there is definitely something satisfying about seeing someone backtalk a bunch of important people and cut through all the B.S. with relative impunity, in a bit of a wish fulfillment sort of way. Although the main character herself is, in my opinion, presented a bit shallowly, some of historical figures are explored with a little bit of depth. The story delved into a historical era and set of players I didn't know much about, which was sort of interesting. The author seemed to strike a decent balance between "assuming the reader knows what's going on," as would befit a seemingly self-directed first person POV narrative, and giving enough background historical details in a natural way to allow readers to follow what's going on, even if they only have very surface-level familiarity with the era. I actually found myself interested enough that I ended up doing some casual googling of some of the key players to find out more about them, despite the fact that historical fiction is not normally my thing, and many of these are historical figures I would typically have little to no interest in, if they weren't characters in a book I was reading. The romance was simultaneously very much a side plot that did not take focus away from the main story, and also relevant to the story itself as a character motivation for the love interest to keep helping Joan. I appreciated that, for her at least, it was not a love at first sight type of situation, and although she was appreciative of his appearance, she actually developed an appreciation for his personality over time, rather than just like "ooh, hot guy, let's bang," or even "hey this dude I just met seems nice, let's bang." He was actually a really great guy, too. To be honest, I often have trouble getting into het pairings unless they have a slow burn and really good chemistry, but I was actually rooting for these guys.
Overall takeaway- not exactly a Serious Work of Literature (TM), and certainly far from perfect, but if you go in with those expectations, I think that you, like me, might just have a pretty fun time.
May 16, 2020
This book is not bad, let me start with that first. It dealt with time travel to the time of Henry VIII. It was at least, pitched to me as a romance. It wasn't. The romance was barely there. It was more of a chick lit book, the journey of Joan Howe (with a mysterious sad past that I was surprised to learn about) to rescue 21st century girls that got accidentally suck into these time portals back to 1530s.
So yeah. We met Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Mary Boleyn, Catherine of Aragon, Cromwell, and more, I think. I love these historical aspects of the book, but not much when it was the rehash of things I've already known.
So yeah. We met Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Mary Boleyn, Catherine of Aragon, Cromwell, and more, I think. I love these historical aspects of the book, but not much when it was the rehash of things I've already known.
July 5, 2020
Wowie
I had no idea how badly I needed a MaryJanice Davidson fix! And what a great one at that! And perfect vivid timing!!! All I ask is, please, please, please let his be he beginning of a new series, and let the next release come really soon!
I had no idea how badly I needed a MaryJanice Davidson fix! And what a great one at that! And perfect vivid timing!!! All I ask is, please, please, please let his be he beginning of a new series, and let the next release come really soon!
December 28, 2020
I wanted this book to be good. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen.
This really was a smart way to look at history and time travel but Ms Davidson’s unnecessary multiple chapters and ranting, makes her books hard to read. A great plot lost in a swirl of nothing.
You used to be a favourite author, now I’m not so sure.
This really was a smart way to look at history and time travel but Ms Davidson’s unnecessary multiple chapters and ranting, makes her books hard to read. A great plot lost in a swirl of nothing.
You used to be a favourite author, now I’m not so sure.
July 9, 2023
This is what Mark Twin wished his book could be.
This is basically the exact same concept as A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, which I hated, but this was done so much better. (I suspect that this was all deliberate but I can't confirm it.) Instead of aggressively trying to change history, the main character does her best to avoid attention and begrudgingly has to fix history to make sure it happens like it's supposed to happen.
Because there's a reason why the Fates are attached to thread and weaving. Change anything in the pattern and things will not turn out the same as they would.
Every choice in the present shapes the future.
And sometimes, it's a character who is manipulating things to cause chaos for reasons.
Anyway. Time travel. It's a thing. I found the explanation for it a bit lacking but whatever. It caused that lovely scene at the end, so it's fine.
Also, I desperately need to look up Catherine of Aragon's speech at Blackfriars because if it's how it was portrayed in this book, I CHOSE SO VERY FREAKING WELL IN MY DECIDING WHICH WIFE WAS MY FAVORITE. Holy crap. As the main character says, mic drop before mics were invented.
I wasn't expecting this book to be as funny as it ended up being. It was as funny as I expected Connecticut Yankee to be but I was so thoroughly disappointed on that end that I didn't dare hope for more. Well, it was freaking hilarious.
The main character was lovely. Thomas Cromwell made me smile even when he was being a jerk. And Thomas Wynnter (don't quote me on the last name, I don't know names and there were a lot of Thomases and Catherines). I fell head over heels in love. Full blown love of him. He made me laugh. He made me squeal. Absolutely precious.
If you like Six, I have to recommend this. But fair warning because the roommate has a mouth on her and is creative in ways I haven't heard in years.
This is basically the exact same concept as A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, which I hated, but this was done so much better. (I suspect that this was all deliberate but I can't confirm it.) Instead of aggressively trying to change history, the main character does her best to avoid attention and begrudgingly has to fix history to make sure it happens like it's supposed to happen.
Because there's a reason why the Fates are attached to thread and weaving. Change anything in the pattern and things will not turn out the same as they would.
Every choice in the present shapes the future.
And sometimes, it's a character who is manipulating things to cause chaos for reasons.
Anyway. Time travel. It's a thing. I found the explanation for it a bit lacking but whatever. It caused that lovely scene at the end, so it's fine.
Also, I desperately need to look up Catherine of Aragon's speech at Blackfriars because if it's how it was portrayed in this book, I CHOSE SO VERY FREAKING WELL IN MY DECIDING WHICH WIFE WAS MY FAVORITE. Holy crap. As the main character says, mic drop before mics were invented.
I wasn't expecting this book to be as funny as it ended up being. It was as funny as I expected Connecticut Yankee to be but I was so thoroughly disappointed on that end that I didn't dare hope for more. Well, it was freaking hilarious.
The main character was lovely. Thomas Cromwell made me smile even when he was being a jerk. And Thomas Wynnter (don't quote me on the last name, I don't know names and there were a lot of Thomases and Catherines). I fell head over heels in love. Full blown love of him. He made me laugh. He made me squeal. Absolutely precious.
If you like Six, I have to recommend this. But fair warning because the roommate has a mouth on her and is creative in ways I haven't heard in years.
February 3, 2024
“A Contemporary Asshat At the Court of Henry VIII” by: MaryJanice Davidson
Hi, I’m Joan, a midwestern expat living in Great Britain with my genius roommate and best friend Lisa. My life has been, had been interesting in the immediate of The After, but lately? Life just is. I exist. I get up, I do some billing, I eat, I sleep, the usual. Let’s just say it’s time to go to a ren fest at the Tower, (I know! I know! Talk about cliché!), and chow down on a turkey leg, (mmmm turkey), and wash it down with an ice-cold coke. And then there’s the headache, well, not headache. It’s a migraine. Again. Again again. Visual auras and all. Then all of a sudden I’m in Calais at the field of the cloth of gold and things are not so basic and boring any more.
So I just reread this book for the second time. I still love it. MaryJanice Davidson has a writing style that is quick, funny, and irreverent. She draws you in and you become deeply engaged in her characters and their lives. After the first time I read this, I messaged her on one of her social media platforms and begged for a sequel. I need more of Joan’s story! You can tell she did her research on Henry VIII and his life, but this doesn’t read as historical fiction, or a history book. Trust me when I tell you that you’ll like this if you like light contemporary lit. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This round I listened to the audiobook, so a few notes on that. The narrator performed the book. This is my favorite kind of narrator. She used relatively proper accents, I don’t think I heard her slip once. I liked her so much that I think I’ll look her up to see what other books she has credited to her voice. She sounded precisely like Joan would sound in my head. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Edit: the voice actor is Morgan Hallett and from a quick search she has quite a few audiobooks that she has narrated, including multiple MaryJanice Davidson books.
Hi, I’m Joan, a midwestern expat living in Great Britain with my genius roommate and best friend Lisa. My life has been, had been interesting in the immediate of The After, but lately? Life just is. I exist. I get up, I do some billing, I eat, I sleep, the usual. Let’s just say it’s time to go to a ren fest at the Tower, (I know! I know! Talk about cliché!), and chow down on a turkey leg, (mmmm turkey), and wash it down with an ice-cold coke. And then there’s the headache, well, not headache. It’s a migraine. Again. Again again. Visual auras and all. Then all of a sudden I’m in Calais at the field of the cloth of gold and things are not so basic and boring any more.
So I just reread this book for the second time. I still love it. MaryJanice Davidson has a writing style that is quick, funny, and irreverent. She draws you in and you become deeply engaged in her characters and their lives. After the first time I read this, I messaged her on one of her social media platforms and begged for a sequel. I need more of Joan’s story! You can tell she did her research on Henry VIII and his life, but this doesn’t read as historical fiction, or a history book. Trust me when I tell you that you’ll like this if you like light contemporary lit. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This round I listened to the audiobook, so a few notes on that. The narrator performed the book. This is my favorite kind of narrator. She used relatively proper accents, I don’t think I heard her slip once. I liked her so much that I think I’ll look her up to see what other books she has credited to her voice. She sounded precisely like Joan would sound in my head. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Edit: the voice actor is Morgan Hallett and from a quick search she has quite a few audiobooks that she has narrated, including multiple MaryJanice Davidson books.
April 9, 2022
Whilst suffering a migraine at an English Renaissance Faire, American ex-pat Joan Howe takes an experimential new pill, and finds herself at the Field of the Cloth of Gold. Not a recreation... the real event!
This kickstarts a series of adventures back to Tudor times, where Joan, hired by scientists of debatable ability, sanity and morality, is sent to retrieve other "losties" - fellow 21st Century people hurled back through the centuries. She winds up meeting, and intervening in, the lives of King Henry VIII, Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. But can Joan keep her head - literally! - whilst finding her losties... and just maybe, whilst finding love with her handsome Tudor companion, Thomas, or charming scientist, Warren?
This was a really funny sci-fi romp, and it was amusing to see how an American author views England and our society. (We all have expensive Tudor family heirlooms in our attics, you say? Ours must have been stolen, then! 😄) Even the title has a very American feel! Joan has the classic heroic tragic past, but is far from a Mary Sue - proving funny, fallible and relatable. If, like me, you have a knowledge of Tudor history, you're likely to enjoy the alternate timeline hints and "what ifs" posited through the plot, and some brilliant twists are worked in, too!
The romance aspect is sweet, but not overdone - never quite turning into a full-on Mills and Boon story, which is good. Although Joan is a perfectly capable solo heroine, I was rooting for my preferred couple right from the start. And kudos to Morgan Hallett for performing both the Midwestern USA and regal English accents so well!
This kickstarts a series of adventures back to Tudor times, where Joan, hired by scientists of debatable ability, sanity and morality, is sent to retrieve other "losties" - fellow 21st Century people hurled back through the centuries. She winds up meeting, and intervening in, the lives of King Henry VIII, Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. But can Joan keep her head - literally! - whilst finding her losties... and just maybe, whilst finding love with her handsome Tudor companion, Thomas, or charming scientist, Warren?
This was a really funny sci-fi romp, and it was amusing to see how an American author views England and our society. (We all have expensive Tudor family heirlooms in our attics, you say? Ours must have been stolen, then! 😄) Even the title has a very American feel! Joan has the classic heroic tragic past, but is far from a Mary Sue - proving funny, fallible and relatable. If, like me, you have a knowledge of Tudor history, you're likely to enjoy the alternate timeline hints and "what ifs" posited through the plot, and some brilliant twists are worked in, too!
The romance aspect is sweet, but not overdone - never quite turning into a full-on Mills and Boon story, which is good. Although Joan is a perfectly capable solo heroine, I was rooting for my preferred couple right from the start. And kudos to Morgan Hallett for performing both the Midwestern USA and regal English accents so well!
January 13, 2021
👑👑👑👑👑 More time travel, please!
I enjoyed this book so much and didn't want it to end! I'm going to go out in a limb here and say that it has series written all over it. There's no way you'd be so cruel as to leave us stranded with so many loose ends. I mean after all, even Thomas Wynter thinks/knows that he is destined to see Joan again. With QTI now in the picture; appearing to be more credible. Our intrepid protagonist Joan being the only known person to be able to go and come at will screams series. Lisa's a genius she has to have a part in this adventure. And if I may be so forward as to tamper with time lines....since Thomas seems to age he could be brought to the present because of an illness or injury. Once cured and after Cromwell is history, they could go into a future past where the lack of aging won't be too obvious (see special effects make-up). I can see them at the end of Henry VIII, Bloody Mary and then coming in young again for the beginning of the reign of Elizabeth I and so on. The thing that would piss me off the most is if you let Thomas age out. Hopefully the folks at QTI are a lot smarter than ITCH and can get a better handle on time travel. Thomas and Joan belong together! P.S. Joan would love eating her way through time!
I enjoyed this book so much and didn't want it to end! I'm going to go out in a limb here and say that it has series written all over it. There's no way you'd be so cruel as to leave us stranded with so many loose ends. I mean after all, even Thomas Wynter thinks/knows that he is destined to see Joan again. With QTI now in the picture; appearing to be more credible. Our intrepid protagonist Joan being the only known person to be able to go and come at will screams series. Lisa's a genius she has to have a part in this adventure. And if I may be so forward as to tamper with time lines....since Thomas seems to age he could be brought to the present because of an illness or injury. Once cured and after Cromwell is history, they could go into a future past where the lack of aging won't be too obvious (see special effects make-up). I can see them at the end of Henry VIII, Bloody Mary and then coming in young again for the beginning of the reign of Elizabeth I and so on. The thing that would piss me off the most is if you let Thomas age out. Hopefully the folks at QTI are a lot smarter than ITCH and can get a better handle on time travel. Thomas and Joan belong together! P.S. Joan would love eating her way through time!
January 4, 2023
What a fun, funny and mostly action-packed time travel romp through history. It is also a rare (for me for 2020) non-romance book even though it does have a very mild thread of romance woven through. It's also my first MJD offering in years, the author who was my Shelley Laurenson before I discovered Shelly Laurenston!
The MC has a Tragic Backstory, is food-obsessed and also has a fetish for sexy forearms on men and both of these are mentioned numerous times throughout the book which is the cause of much hilarity. She also has Lisa, her awesome genius, potty-mouthed ride-or-die BFF/roommate (who she met due to her tragedy) that she followed to England - something I've never seen before in any fiction. Kudos to MJD for having our female follow her friend across the world instead of some craptastic man who ends up dumping her there! (How often do we see that plot in romance books?).
There is the vaguest hint of a possible love triangle, but that doesn't come to fruition thankfully, but then this book is not a romance even though it does include some lusting (after previously mentioned forearms!) and a make-out scene at one point. In fact, it appears to be a standalone, but ends in such a way that there may well be a sequel, and I would love there to be, because not only is the MC a blast to read, her BFF is too and there is potential for the (redheaded...???
Another victim of the Great GR Data Loss of 2022!
The MC has a Tragic Backstory, is food-obsessed and also has a fetish for sexy forearms on men and both of these are mentioned numerous times throughout the book which is the cause of much hilarity. She also has Lisa, her awesome genius, potty-mouthed ride-or-die BFF/roommate (who she met due to her tragedy) that she followed to England - something I've never seen before in any fiction. Kudos to MJD for having our female follow her friend across the world instead of some craptastic man who ends up dumping her there! (How often do we see that plot in romance books?).
There is the vaguest hint of a possible love triangle, but that doesn't come to fruition thankfully, but then this book is not a romance even though it does include some lusting (after previously mentioned forearms!) and a make-out scene at one point. In fact, it appears to be a standalone, but ends in such a way that there may well be a sequel, and I would love there to be, because not only is the MC a blast to read, her BFF is too and there is potential for the (redheaded...???
Another victim of the Great GR Data Loss of 2022!
January 16, 2021
I gave it a 4-star mainly because of the Tudor and time travel intrigue. The characters themselves though were largely unlikable. The female protagonist was loud and foul mouthed, which became irritating over time, and her friend Lisa (who suddenly became a co-protagonist towards the end) was absolutely obnoxious.
I couldn’t quite believe the villain’s motivations. She was a cartoonish character. And there was very little romance, which isn’t a make or break deal, I just don’t think the book should be labeled as a time traveling rom com.
Other than that, the Tudor setting is what made it entertaining. If there is a sequel, I would read it. The series seems like it’s going to be more of a serial route. It would be cool if the author were to make the next time traveling setting in another country.
I couldn’t quite believe the villain’s motivations. She was a cartoonish character. And there was very little romance, which isn’t a make or break deal, I just don’t think the book should be labeled as a time traveling rom com.
Other than that, the Tudor setting is what made it entertaining. If there is a sequel, I would read it. The series seems like it’s going to be more of a serial route. It would be cool if the author were to make the next time traveling setting in another country.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2022
Yes, there are curse words in this book so if that does not work for you, I suggest you don't read this book. I do enjoy some cursing for emphasis at the right time. At this time in my life I feel like a bit of cursing is cathartic.
There are so many books that promise. "We will make you cry your heart out." I toss those books in the trash or tell people "hard pass." Get those books away from me. Romeo and Juliet, no thank you. Not interested.
This book made me laugh. It's time travel, a woman with an attitude and some knowledge of the Tudor period during the reign of Henry the Eighth. She goes back in time to save people that need to be rescued because they have slipped through a wormhole and ended up in that time period.
I had fun reading this book and hope another one comes out soon
There are so many books that promise. "We will make you cry your heart out." I toss those books in the trash or tell people "hard pass." Get those books away from me. Romeo and Juliet, no thank you. Not interested.
This book made me laugh. It's time travel, a woman with an attitude and some knowledge of the Tudor period during the reign of Henry the Eighth. She goes back in time to save people that need to be rescued because they have slipped through a wormhole and ended up in that time period.
I had fun reading this book and hope another one comes out soon
April 9, 2025
Have I outgrown MJD?
This is the 3rd MJD book that I've picked up over the last few weeks, and although this is the only one I've not read before, I found myself putting it down and skimming it. I finally finished it, and all I can say is that I was disappointed that my feelings toward this book don't match those of reading the synopsis. The synopsis sounded great, time travel, snarky protagonist, adventure... everything I should have loved. But alas, I didn't. I just wasn't enthused with the characters. It seemed to drag on for way too long, and I just found my attention wandering. So, perhaps this is the hint the universe is sending me to give up on MJD for the time being?
This is the 3rd MJD book that I've picked up over the last few weeks, and although this is the only one I've not read before, I found myself putting it down and skimming it. I finally finished it, and all I can say is that I was disappointed that my feelings toward this book don't match those of reading the synopsis. The synopsis sounded great, time travel, snarky protagonist, adventure... everything I should have loved. But alas, I didn't. I just wasn't enthused with the characters. It seemed to drag on for way too long, and I just found my attention wandering. So, perhaps this is the hint the universe is sending me to give up on MJD for the time being?
March 1, 2022
This was a very wry, tongue-in-cheek peek into life during TudorTime via the eyes of a woman from the 21st century. There is plenty of swearing (F-bombs abound for instance) - so if that bothers you, I'd steer clear of this book. I was fully engaged, and chuckling all the way through this romp into the Henry VIII era in England.
I'm probably the perfect reader for this, I love time-travel books, and the history of British royalty. It was so clever, goofy, and insightful simultaneously. That's no mean feat. This ended with a hint of a sequel or perhaps whole series? Write fast Ms. Davidson!
I'm probably the perfect reader for this, I love time-travel books, and the history of British royalty. It was so clever, goofy, and insightful simultaneously. That's no mean feat. This ended with a hint of a sequel or perhaps whole series? Write fast Ms. Davidson!
July 7, 2020
I laughed all the way through this and finished it in about five days. Took a while yeah, but it was a super easy read, and well thought out book. Yes it reads like historical Tudor fanfic, and YES that is a great thing. Also, MJD is the nicest sweetest person so I basically just imagine her as all of these badass vivacious characters and with her being so sweet it makes me cackle harder (even though I hear she’s quite the badass herself). Love the characters and their conversation styles, and as always her world building paints a picture.
April 13, 2021
A little of this and a little of that.
Adventure, science fiction, history, mystery, romantic comedy.
Fun, silly, unexpected twists, minor romantic moments, mainly a madcap adventure!
There are some loose ends that I hope mean she plans to write another book or two with these characters.
Warnings:
1) Lots of swearing throughout, sadly including taking the Lord's name in vain. For me language issues are easier to skip when reading than on audio book.
2) Writing style does some bouncing around and tangents. (Which totally works for me but Inknow drives some people crazy!)
Adventure, science fiction, history, mystery, romantic comedy.
Fun, silly, unexpected twists, minor romantic moments, mainly a madcap adventure!
There are some loose ends that I hope mean she plans to write another book or two with these characters.
Warnings:
1) Lots of swearing throughout, sadly including taking the Lord's name in vain. For me language issues are easier to skip when reading than on audio book.
2) Writing style does some bouncing around and tangents. (Which totally works for me but Inknow drives some people crazy!)
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