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A Lady's Guide #2
A Lady's Guide to Scandal
Internationally bestselling author Sophie Irwin brings us another fresh, witty take on a romantic escape led by a deeply lovable heroine determined to start living on her own terms
When shy Miss Eliza Balfour married the austere Earl of Somerset, twenty years her senior, it was the match of the season--no matter that he was not the husband Eliza would have chosen.
But ten years later, Eliza is widowed. And at eight and twenty years, she is suddenly left titled, rich, and, for the first time in her life, utterly in control of her own future. Instead of living out her mourning quietly, Eliza heads to Bath with her cousin Margaret. After years of living according to everyone else's rules, Eliza has resolved, at last, to do as she wants.
But when the ripples of the dowager Lady Somerset's behavior reach the new Lord Somerset--whom Eliza knew, once, as a younger woman--Eliza is forced to confront the fact that freedom does not come without consequences, though it also brings unexpected opportunities . . .
When shy Miss Eliza Balfour married the austere Earl of Somerset, twenty years her senior, it was the match of the season--no matter that he was not the husband Eliza would have chosen.
But ten years later, Eliza is widowed. And at eight and twenty years, she is suddenly left titled, rich, and, for the first time in her life, utterly in control of her own future. Instead of living out her mourning quietly, Eliza heads to Bath with her cousin Margaret. After years of living according to everyone else's rules, Eliza has resolved, at last, to do as she wants.
But when the ripples of the dowager Lady Somerset's behavior reach the new Lord Somerset--whom Eliza knew, once, as a younger woman--Eliza is forced to confront the fact that freedom does not come without consequences, though it also brings unexpected opportunities . . .
359 pages, Paperback
First published July 6, 2023
663 people are currently reading
32313 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Irwin
3 books1,431 followersSophie Irwin grew up in Dorset before moving to south London after university. She has spent years immersed in the study of historical fiction, from a dissertation on how Georgette Heyer helped win World War Two, to time spent in dusty stacks and old tomes losing herself in Regency London while researching this book. Her love and passion for historical fiction bring a breath of fresh air and a contemporary energy to the genre, and Sophie hopes to transport readers to a time when ballrooms were more like battlegrounds.
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August 1, 2023When young Lady Eliza Somerset is widowed, she finds herself titled, rich, and for the first time in complete control of her own life. Forgoing living under her parents' watchful eyes again, Eliza heads to Bath to live on her own terms. But when whispers of her behavior reach the new Lord Somerset (a past love), Eliza finds herself torn between who she was and who she wants to be. Sophie is an auto-buy author for me!
September 7, 2023
In a Nutshell: Second standalone novel in ‘A Lady’s Guide’ historical romance series. Fairly entertaining. Has some novel points, but mostly sticks to the tried-and-tested. Not as good as the first book.
Story Synopsis:
This is the second book in the “A Lady's Guide” series, the first book being the delightful “A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting”. The books are standalone, and other than a reference to Lord Radcliffe from book one, I didn’t note any link between the two storylines apart from the common historical setting. The books can be read in any order.
Bookish Yays:
👌 Though the story is mostly typical to the genre, (which is perfectly fine; I don’t look for novelties and twists in romcoms) it highlights some of the prejudiced thinking of historical England. The umpteen number of rules about how to walk/talk/behave are highlighted in an almost satirical way. The story also showcases other serious topics such as the snooty attitude towards outsiders and biracial citizens, the patriarchal laws under which women couldn’t do or own anything without having an approval from the men in their life, and the ruthless obsession of climbing up the social ladder at any cost.
👌 Melville’s character is one of the stand-outs of this plot. Through his biracial background and his Indian mother, he makes for an uncommon historical romance hero. Though not exactly a “good” character, I liked his portrayal, not because of the Indian factor but because his Indianness wasn’t shoved into the plot merely for a dash of exoticism.
👌 Eliza is also an artist, and for once, a plot actually makes use of its FMC’s talent rather than just mentioning it casually. The social mores towards woman artists, which even involved guidelines about the type of paint they could use on their canvases, is written well.
👌 There are some great moments of fun and banter between many characters, especially between Eliza and her cousin Margaret, and between Eliza and Melville.
👌 Most of the story is set in Bath, and the writing seems to make great use of Bath’s attractions to the then-hep crowd.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
⚠ While Kitty from the first book wanted financial security (hence, the “fortune hunting”), Eliza in this book wants freedom. Restrained almost throughout her adult life into doing what she doesn’t want to, she uses her widowhood to test independent waters. Her personality clearly indicates how she was emotionally manipulated into situations not to her liking, and how she now wants to live her own life for once. I liked this aspect of her characterisation. That said, while the first book had me rooting for Kitty throughout, I didn’t feel the same affinity towards Eliza as some of her decisions made me cringe. She also pulls off an abrupt switcheroo of affections after committing to one man – never nice to see this!
⚠ The first book played a nice ode to Jane Austen’s ‘Pride & Prejudice’, and P&P Easter eggs were visible throughout the book. This book is supposed to do the same for Austen’s ‘Persuasion’, but other than a couple of points (such as the old lover returning after almost a decade and stirring up the same romantic feelings), I found barely any connection between the two books. If this is indeed supposed to be a modernised and feminised version of Persuasion, it doesn’t work.
⚠ There is an LGBTQ couple later in the book, a relationship that you will be able to foresee many chapters in advance. But their portrayal doesn’t seem authentic to the era. The relationship seems too smooth for the 1810s setting, and Eliza’s initial reaction to the news didn’t involve even the blink of an eye. Still, the couple was sweet, and they were two of the best characters in the book.
⚠ I liked the ending, not because it offered any surprises (it doesn’t) but because it stops at just the right level of hope, with enough for us to guess how the story will proceed from that point. I just wish the lead-up to it wasn’t so rushed. Most of the plot goes by at a relaxed pace, but the finale zooms with a hurried smoothening-out of all issues.
Bookish Nays:
👎There is a love triangle in the book, but frankly, it was boring. Love triangles are fun only when there is tension across the two suitors, or when we readers can’t make up our mind about whom to root for. But as the triangle was so wonky in this book, we clearly know right at the start who the “winner” of the girl’s hand will be. This kills some of the fun. The ending is quite predictable, as Eliza's choice won't cause any shocks or surprises.
👎The connection between Eliza and Somerset doesn't come across strongly, which is quite surprising as they had known each other for many years. Maybe she had been a naive teen who had supposed herself in love with him but their relationship seems quite flimsy, both in the past and in the present.
👎The other characters (with the exception of Lady Caroline and, to a certain extent, Margaret) are stereotypical. No surprises or shattering of moulds.
👎There is a lot of repetition in Eliza’ thoughts, which get even more muddled and circuitous when she is confused about her feelings.
All in all, this does work if you keep the genre in mind and aren’t looking for Austenesque vibes. Maybe the book might click better if you want a Bridgerton kind of “modernised historical romance”. It offers plenty of mindless entertainment, with “mindless” being the key word. Don’t overthink, and you'll like it better. I did have some fun with it, but as it pales in comparison to the first book, I didn’t love it to the same extent.
3.25 stars.
My thanks to Penguin Books and NetGalley for the DRC of “A Lady's Guide to Scandal”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Story Synopsis:
1819. When twenty-eight-year-old Eliza is widowed after just ten years of marriage, she is more relieved than grief-stricken. After all, her late husband, more than twenty years her senior, wasn't her choice of life partner.
However, Eliza is still not free to live her own life as she is restricted by social conventions about what widows can do and how widows should behave. Wanting some leeway in her "mourning", Eliza goes with her cousin Margaret to Bath for a break and lives life to the fullest she can while in a widow’s garb. But when news of her "scandalous behaviour" reaches her family, Eliza realises that for a woman, even freedom has consequences.
The story comes to us in the limited third person perspective of Eliza.
This is the second book in the “A Lady's Guide” series, the first book being the delightful “A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting”. The books are standalone, and other than a reference to Lord Radcliffe from book one, I didn’t note any link between the two storylines apart from the common historical setting. The books can be read in any order.
Bookish Yays:
👌 Though the story is mostly typical to the genre, (which is perfectly fine; I don’t look for novelties and twists in romcoms) it highlights some of the prejudiced thinking of historical England. The umpteen number of rules about how to walk/talk/behave are highlighted in an almost satirical way. The story also showcases other serious topics such as the snooty attitude towards outsiders and biracial citizens, the patriarchal laws under which women couldn’t do or own anything without having an approval from the men in their life, and the ruthless obsession of climbing up the social ladder at any cost.
👌 Melville’s character is one of the stand-outs of this plot. Through his biracial background and his Indian mother, he makes for an uncommon historical romance hero. Though not exactly a “good” character, I liked his portrayal, not because of the Indian factor but because his Indianness wasn’t shoved into the plot merely for a dash of exoticism.
👌 Eliza is also an artist, and for once, a plot actually makes use of its FMC’s talent rather than just mentioning it casually. The social mores towards woman artists, which even involved guidelines about the type of paint they could use on their canvases, is written well.
👌 There are some great moments of fun and banter between many characters, especially between Eliza and her cousin Margaret, and between Eliza and Melville.
👌 Most of the story is set in Bath, and the writing seems to make great use of Bath’s attractions to the then-hep crowd.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
⚠ While Kitty from the first book wanted financial security (hence, the “fortune hunting”), Eliza in this book wants freedom. Restrained almost throughout her adult life into doing what she doesn’t want to, she uses her widowhood to test independent waters. Her personality clearly indicates how she was emotionally manipulated into situations not to her liking, and how she now wants to live her own life for once. I liked this aspect of her characterisation. That said, while the first book had me rooting for Kitty throughout, I didn’t feel the same affinity towards Eliza as some of her decisions made me cringe. She also pulls off an abrupt switcheroo of affections after committing to one man – never nice to see this!
⚠ The first book played a nice ode to Jane Austen’s ‘Pride & Prejudice’, and P&P Easter eggs were visible throughout the book. This book is supposed to do the same for Austen’s ‘Persuasion’, but other than a couple of points (such as the old lover returning after almost a decade and stirring up the same romantic feelings), I found barely any connection between the two books. If this is indeed supposed to be a modernised and feminised version of Persuasion, it doesn’t work.
⚠ There is an LGBTQ couple later in the book, a relationship that you will be able to foresee many chapters in advance. But their portrayal doesn’t seem authentic to the era. The relationship seems too smooth for the 1810s setting, and Eliza’s initial reaction to the news didn’t involve even the blink of an eye. Still, the couple was sweet, and they were two of the best characters in the book.
⚠ I liked the ending, not because it offered any surprises (it doesn’t) but because it stops at just the right level of hope, with enough for us to guess how the story will proceed from that point. I just wish the lead-up to it wasn’t so rushed. Most of the plot goes by at a relaxed pace, but the finale zooms with a hurried smoothening-out of all issues.
Bookish Nays:
👎There is a love triangle in the book, but frankly, it was boring. Love triangles are fun only when there is tension across the two suitors, or when we readers can’t make up our mind about whom to root for. But as the triangle was so wonky in this book, we clearly know right at the start who the “winner” of the girl’s hand will be. This kills some of the fun. The ending is quite predictable, as Eliza's choice won't cause any shocks or surprises.
👎The connection between Eliza and Somerset doesn't come across strongly, which is quite surprising as they had known each other for many years. Maybe she had been a naive teen who had supposed herself in love with him but their relationship seems quite flimsy, both in the past and in the present.
👎The other characters (with the exception of Lady Caroline and, to a certain extent, Margaret) are stereotypical. No surprises or shattering of moulds.
👎There is a lot of repetition in Eliza’ thoughts, which get even more muddled and circuitous when she is confused about her feelings.
All in all, this does work if you keep the genre in mind and aren’t looking for Austenesque vibes. Maybe the book might click better if you want a Bridgerton kind of “modernised historical romance”. It offers plenty of mindless entertainment, with “mindless” being the key word. Don’t overthink, and you'll like it better. I did have some fun with it, but as it pales in comparison to the first book, I didn’t love it to the same extent.
3.25 stars.
My thanks to Penguin Books and NetGalley for the DRC of “A Lady's Guide to Scandal”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
August 28, 2024
[4.5⭐] 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖 𝙙𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙨 es una novela escrita por Sophie Irwin en el año 2023. La historia se centra en Eliza Balfour, una joven que acaba de perder a su marido, el conde de Somerset. Su difunto esposo le ha dejado una considerable suma de dinero, pero, para poder conservarla, deberá respetar las normas de decoro y evitar cualquier escándalo. Aunque siempre ha seguido las reglas, ahora Eliza está decidida a ser libre y a hacer todo lo que le plazca. ¿Romperá el acuerdo? ¿Logrará conservar su fortuna? ¿Volverá a encontrar el amor? ¿Será feliz?
Decidí comenzar con el segundo libro (el primero se titula 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖 𝙙𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙯𝙖𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙖𝙨) porque he leído numerosas reseñas en las que se menciona que la primera entrega es mucho más apreciada, y preferí dejar lo mejor para el final. Además, supe que no están relacionadas entre sí, pues son historias independientes, así que se puede hacer lo que yo hice sin problema alguno.
Como suele sucederme, me costó un poco engancharme al principio, ya que el libro comienza bastante lento. Por suerte, no me costó aprenderme los nombres de los personajes con rapidez (le agradezco a Agatha Christie por esto; ya estoy completamente acostumbrada a memorizar muchos nombres), pero es cierto que puede ser un desafío para algunos lectores. El inicio de la novela ofrece mucha información y presenta a varios personajes que son esenciales para la trama. Luego de haber avanzado las primeras cien páginas, uno ya no es capaz de soltarlo ya que la trama y los personajes te cautivan por completo.
Además, me llevó un tiempo que la protagonista me resultara agradable, pero al final lo logró. Ella es, sin duda, quien tiene el mejor desarrollo de personaje en todo el libro. La evolución de Eliza es el tema central; la autora logra una transformación gradual en la personalidad y el comportamiento de la joven. Comienza siendo una mujer típica de la época (dominada por los hombres y siempre respetando las normas del decoro) hasta que, poco a poco, va liberándose y mostrando su verdadero yo.
Esta historia incluye un triángulo amoroso, algo que me encanta en demasía. Siempre me ha gustado ver las técnicas a las que recurren los hombres para conquistar a la dama. Este cliché presenta, por un lado, a Somerset, el hombre al que siempre ha amado y con quien nunca pudo casarse por culpa de su familia. Por el otro, tenemos al infame lord Melville, un hombre dedicado a la literatura y conocido en la alta sociedad por sus escándalos.
No diré con quién se queda, pero debo admitir que me enamoré de Melville en cuanto apareció en la novela. Es un hombre realmente peculiar, exótico, divertido y encantador. Como he mencionado, tanto Somerset como Melville cortejan a Eliza, pero siento que el literato es mucho más eficaz al expresar sus sentimientos. Me quedo con sus hermosas palabras: “Tardé un poco en comprenderlo (...), pero al poco empecé a darme cuenta de que..., de que era tu atención la que deseaba captar cuando sucedía algo divertido; era tu opinión la que quería oír, siempre. Es contigo con quien quiero compartir todos mis secretos, es contigo con quien quiero caminar, sentarme, bailar”, prosiguió Melville. “Siempre has sido tú, antes y después, y las horas que pasamos juntos en aquel pequeño salón son de las más felices de toda mi vida”.
El libro está muy bien escrito, y la trama tiene varios giros inesperados, siempre respetando y siendo coherente con la sociedad de la época. Además, la pluma de la autora es muy grata y exquisita. Sus ideas están perfectamente bien plasmadas, y en ningún momento se convierte en una lectura pesada. En cuanto terminé esta novela, me sumergí de inmediato en la lectura de la otra. Es una necesidad leer más de Sophie Irwin; lo único que anhelo es que siga publicando más libros de este estilo.
Finalmente, puedo decir que 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖 𝙙𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙨 es una novela muy ligera, entretenida, divertida (en numerosas ocasiones no pude evitar reírme) y agradable de leer. Me ha encantado la trama y el desarrollo de la protagonista; siento que la autora ha cumplido con creces su objetivo. Estoy ansiosa por seguir leyendo a Sophie Irwin en el futuro.
Decidí comenzar con el segundo libro (el primero se titula 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖 𝙙𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙯𝙖𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙖𝙨) porque he leído numerosas reseñas en las que se menciona que la primera entrega es mucho más apreciada, y preferí dejar lo mejor para el final. Además, supe que no están relacionadas entre sí, pues son historias independientes, así que se puede hacer lo que yo hice sin problema alguno.
Como suele sucederme, me costó un poco engancharme al principio, ya que el libro comienza bastante lento. Por suerte, no me costó aprenderme los nombres de los personajes con rapidez (le agradezco a Agatha Christie por esto; ya estoy completamente acostumbrada a memorizar muchos nombres), pero es cierto que puede ser un desafío para algunos lectores. El inicio de la novela ofrece mucha información y presenta a varios personajes que son esenciales para la trama. Luego de haber avanzado las primeras cien páginas, uno ya no es capaz de soltarlo ya que la trama y los personajes te cautivan por completo.
Además, me llevó un tiempo que la protagonista me resultara agradable, pero al final lo logró. Ella es, sin duda, quien tiene el mejor desarrollo de personaje en todo el libro. La evolución de Eliza es el tema central; la autora logra una transformación gradual en la personalidad y el comportamiento de la joven. Comienza siendo una mujer típica de la época (dominada por los hombres y siempre respetando las normas del decoro) hasta que, poco a poco, va liberándose y mostrando su verdadero yo.
Esta historia incluye un triángulo amoroso, algo que me encanta en demasía. Siempre me ha gustado ver las técnicas a las que recurren los hombres para conquistar a la dama. Este cliché presenta, por un lado, a Somerset, el hombre al que siempre ha amado y con quien nunca pudo casarse por culpa de su familia. Por el otro, tenemos al infame lord Melville, un hombre dedicado a la literatura y conocido en la alta sociedad por sus escándalos.
No diré con quién se queda, pero debo admitir que me enamoré de Melville en cuanto apareció en la novela. Es un hombre realmente peculiar, exótico, divertido y encantador. Como he mencionado, tanto Somerset como Melville cortejan a Eliza, pero siento que el literato es mucho más eficaz al expresar sus sentimientos. Me quedo con sus hermosas palabras: “Tardé un poco en comprenderlo (...), pero al poco empecé a darme cuenta de que..., de que era tu atención la que deseaba captar cuando sucedía algo divertido; era tu opinión la que quería oír, siempre. Es contigo con quien quiero compartir todos mis secretos, es contigo con quien quiero caminar, sentarme, bailar”, prosiguió Melville. “Siempre has sido tú, antes y después, y las horas que pasamos juntos en aquel pequeño salón son de las más felices de toda mi vida”.
El libro está muy bien escrito, y la trama tiene varios giros inesperados, siempre respetando y siendo coherente con la sociedad de la época. Además, la pluma de la autora es muy grata y exquisita. Sus ideas están perfectamente bien plasmadas, y en ningún momento se convierte en una lectura pesada. En cuanto terminé esta novela, me sumergí de inmediato en la lectura de la otra. Es una necesidad leer más de Sophie Irwin; lo único que anhelo es que siga publicando más libros de este estilo.
Finalmente, puedo decir que 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖 𝙙𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙨 es una novela muy ligera, entretenida, divertida (en numerosas ocasiones no pude evitar reírme) y agradable de leer. Me ha encantado la trama y el desarrollo de la protagonista; siento que la autora ha cumplido con creces su objetivo. Estoy ansiosa por seguir leyendo a Sophie Irwin en el futuro.
September 19, 2023
Oh man, two things I never do: I never rage read, I just DNF. And second, I refrain from using caps when reviewing, but this called for exceptions.
Ok, one more caveat: I DETEST love triangles with a passion. Yes, the illustrated cover should’ve given this away, but I’ll blame being blinded by the excitement of this author’s second book and the promised Persuasion vibes vague blurb, because of which I really did not even have a notion this so overwhelmingly had this tricky, tricky trope and everything about it that drives me to writing in caps. But still, as I could see where it was going, I held on to hope the wonderful banter and biting wit would somehow make it work. Alas, I’m left mourning my sweet second chance trope dashed hopes.
Because this was as if Anne Elliot inherited a fortune and was like “Peace out! Off to Bath for some fun!”, had Wentworth in her grasp by half-way and then promptly LOST HER EVER-LOVING MIND.
I’m all for the meek, mousy pushover finding her voice, some individual motivations, some competence. But, our girl here is just stumbling around into scandal. How exactly would she write a guide? “Be Naive and Just Go Along with It”? And I even love some secrets in my romance sometimes. BUT NOT AFTER DECLARATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE AND AN UNDERSTANDING IS IN PLACE. This enters cheating trope territory for me, and cannot abide, cannot abide. It just ruined this couple for me. I could not get behind the rakish, flirty, oft-maligned, unfiltered wit Melville and Eliza together, because all their interactions were tinged by how she was being duplicitous and inconstant. I never fully enjoyed or felt their relationship cemented because I could only read it with skepticism. Even til the end they were jokingly addressing his many previous affairs? Such a bad taste in my mouth. What’s the takeaway here? You were repressed, so now bumblingly throw all consequence out the window? I get the duality of Eliza with her first love, being so young, not fighting for that relationship, and now being willing to throw it all away for her chance at happiness. But sooo many different pacing and progression choices could’ve helped for her second opportunity at love not be so shady as it developed.
Points awarded for Melville being such a scene-stealing wit, for well-roundedly absurd secondary characters in great full-cast banter scenes (though the jibes and veiled insults- while viciously fun, started to bring down the tone), and for story twist reveals that I did not see coming at all (even though they highlight even more duplicitousness and inconstancy).
Another review mentioned things truly start to get interesting by Chapter 26, and it’s so true: too little too late, I was already not rooting for them and skimming. I really don’t feel like any one of the final couples have a chance at lasting HEA. Just, no good vibes at all.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read this ARC.
Content notes: Brief mention of kissing. On page vocal outright racial prejudice from side characters, same sex attraction secondary storyline, mention of affairs and adultery.
Ok, one more caveat: I DETEST love triangles with a passion. Yes, the illustrated cover should’ve given this away, but I’ll blame being blinded by the excitement of this author’s second book and the promised Persuasion vibes vague blurb, because of which I really did not even have a notion this so overwhelmingly had this tricky, tricky trope and everything about it that drives me to writing in caps. But still, as I could see where it was going, I held on to hope the wonderful banter and biting wit would somehow make it work. Alas, I’m left mourning my sweet second chance trope dashed hopes.
Because this was as if Anne Elliot inherited a fortune and was like “Peace out! Off to Bath for some fun!”, had Wentworth in her grasp by half-way and then promptly LOST HER EVER-LOVING MIND.
I’m all for the meek, mousy pushover finding her voice, some individual motivations, some competence. But, our girl here is just stumbling around into scandal. How exactly would she write a guide? “Be Naive and Just Go Along with It”? And I even love some secrets in my romance sometimes. BUT NOT AFTER DECLARATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE AND AN UNDERSTANDING IS IN PLACE. This enters cheating trope territory for me, and cannot abide, cannot abide. It just ruined this couple for me. I could not get behind the rakish, flirty, oft-maligned, unfiltered wit Melville and Eliza together, because all their interactions were tinged by how she was being duplicitous and inconstant. I never fully enjoyed or felt their relationship cemented because I could only read it with skepticism. Even til the end they were jokingly addressing his many previous affairs? Such a bad taste in my mouth. What’s the takeaway here? You were repressed, so now bumblingly throw all consequence out the window? I get the duality of Eliza with her first love, being so young, not fighting for that relationship, and now being willing to throw it all away for her chance at happiness. But sooo many different pacing and progression choices could’ve helped for her second opportunity at love not be so shady as it developed.
Points awarded for Melville being such a scene-stealing wit, for well-roundedly absurd secondary characters in great full-cast banter scenes (though the jibes and veiled insults- while viciously fun, started to bring down the tone), and for story twist reveals that I did not see coming at all (even though they highlight even more duplicitousness and inconstancy).
Another review mentioned things truly start to get interesting by Chapter 26, and it’s so true: too little too late, I was already not rooting for them and skimming. I really don’t feel like any one of the final couples have a chance at lasting HEA. Just, no good vibes at all.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read this ARC.
Content notes: Brief mention of kissing. On page vocal outright racial prejudice from side characters, same sex attraction secondary storyline, mention of affairs and adultery.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2023
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my review. I picked up and put down this book several times before I became invested in the story. This is Eliza's story of a 17-year-old girl married to a man 20 years older than her with a family whose only interest in her is what she can do for them. Many of the confinements that woman of the time faced are written about here such as the lack of finances, duty to family over one's own desires. Eliza is widowed and decides to lead her own life.
A bit of a love triangle and a strong secondary storyline (multiple plot twists). I enjoyed the woman Eliza grows into. I liked the writing a great deal but did not connect with characters as much as I did with Irwin's first book.
A bit of a love triangle and a strong secondary storyline (multiple plot twists). I enjoyed the woman Eliza grows into. I liked the writing a great deal but did not connect with characters as much as I did with Irwin's first book.
June 1, 2023
It's with great heaviness of heart that I give this book 2 stars. I enjoyed Sophie Irwin's debut so much that I was VERY excited to read her second book. The writing is great! The plot surprised me! The characters were fully developed! But the heart of the book is mostly deceitful, and that's why I can't give it more than 2 stars in good conscience.
Here's the wonderful premise: Like Persuasion, this book is about thwarted young love and the possibility of a second chance. After 10 years of marriage to an elderly lord she didn't love, Eliza finds herself a young widow. She hopes in her heart of hearts that her first love, the man she was engaged to before her parents forced her to marry the crusty earl for title and wealth, may still. love her. To her surprise, Eliza inherits some lands that make her a wealthy widow. After spending 10 years doing what everyone else expected of her (her parents, her husband) she decides she's going to strike out on her own (with her loyal cousin Margaret). They go to Bath, and it's FUN.
The first half of the book follows Eliza as she blossoms from a timid, spiritless creature into a woman with greater backbone. It's neat to see her come out of her shell. I enjoyed the first half of the book (probably because I was looking for something fun and light). Her first love enters the scene, as well as an infamous and flirtatious writer who vies for Eliza's affection, and their banter is great.
At the 50 percent mark, the book went downhill for me. FAST. Now, I must say that I was thoroughly surprised by the turn the book took. It was thoughtful and sincere and very well conceived. It didn't conform to expectations.
HOWEVER, this book supports the idea that we all need to do what's best for ourselves, and that will lead to happiness and fulfillment. If we put ourselves first, then we will grow into who we truly are. Family needs (posed as pressures) must be cast aside if they conflict with what we want for ourselves.
I cannot tell you how much I oppose this message. It just isn't true. Eliza is blissfully happy on the last page of this book, but I'll wager that in 10 more years, she won't be enjoying a life of peaceful fulfillment. Living riotously and selfishly (however authentic that may feel) just isn't the cureall it's made out to be. It's not brave. It's not outrageous. When we lay our lives down for what's right—now that's courageous (and scandalous).
There is a huge mix of good and bad here. There were a lot of things that I agreed with but too much that I didn't.
STOP READING HERE IF YOU DON'T WANT SPOILERS
This book is most definitely rated PG-13. There are no open-door bedroom scenes, but some characters make out. There's reference to infidelity. There's also a lesbian relationship that comes to the forefront in the second half of the book. Two of the main characters are biracial and there's discussion of prejudice. Eliza wants to be an artist but she can't because societal norms frown upon it, and many of the men are portrayed as boorish and overbearing. I felt like the publisher gave the author a checklist of social issues to include in this book, and she got them all.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Here's the wonderful premise: Like Persuasion, this book is about thwarted young love and the possibility of a second chance. After 10 years of marriage to an elderly lord she didn't love, Eliza finds herself a young widow. She hopes in her heart of hearts that her first love, the man she was engaged to before her parents forced her to marry the crusty earl for title and wealth, may still. love her. To her surprise, Eliza inherits some lands that make her a wealthy widow. After spending 10 years doing what everyone else expected of her (her parents, her husband) she decides she's going to strike out on her own (with her loyal cousin Margaret). They go to Bath, and it's FUN.
The first half of the book follows Eliza as she blossoms from a timid, spiritless creature into a woman with greater backbone. It's neat to see her come out of her shell. I enjoyed the first half of the book (probably because I was looking for something fun and light). Her first love enters the scene, as well as an infamous and flirtatious writer who vies for Eliza's affection, and their banter is great.
At the 50 percent mark, the book went downhill for me. FAST. Now, I must say that I was thoroughly surprised by the turn the book took. It was thoughtful and sincere and very well conceived. It didn't conform to expectations.
HOWEVER, this book supports the idea that we all need to do what's best for ourselves, and that will lead to happiness and fulfillment. If we put ourselves first, then we will grow into who we truly are. Family needs (posed as pressures) must be cast aside if they conflict with what we want for ourselves.
I cannot tell you how much I oppose this message. It just isn't true. Eliza is blissfully happy on the last page of this book, but I'll wager that in 10 more years, she won't be enjoying a life of peaceful fulfillment. Living riotously and selfishly (however authentic that may feel) just isn't the cureall it's made out to be. It's not brave. It's not outrageous. When we lay our lives down for what's right—now that's courageous (and scandalous).
There is a huge mix of good and bad here. There were a lot of things that I agreed with but too much that I didn't.
STOP READING HERE IF YOU DON'T WANT SPOILERS
This book is most definitely rated PG-13. There are no open-door bedroom scenes, but some characters make out. There's reference to infidelity. There's also a lesbian relationship that comes to the forefront in the second half of the book. Two of the main characters are biracial and there's discussion of prejudice. Eliza wants to be an artist but she can't because societal norms frown upon it, and many of the men are portrayed as boorish and overbearing. I felt like the publisher gave the author a checklist of social issues to include in this book, and she got them all.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
September 4, 2023
4.5
MAX MELVILLE THE MAN THAT YOU AREEEEEEE 🫶🫶🫶
sophie irwin the only historical romance writer i care about actually
MAX MELVILLE THE MAN THAT YOU AREEEEEEE 🫶🫶🫶
sophie irwin the only historical romance writer i care about actually
November 10, 2023
The author's debut, A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting, got me all excited about the bright future of HR. Unfortunately, this one is downer and if it wasn't because I switched to audio at high speed, I would have DNFed it. *Spoilers alert*
Had I paid attention to the cover, I definitely would have stayed well clear of it. I hate love triangles and I hate cheaters and when you combine both in the one book as perpetrated by the heroine without one ounce of remorse, well, it's never going to work well for me.
I get that she has sacrificed 10 years of her youth to propriety and doing what is right for her family. Sure, she has more than earned the right to finally put herself first and as a still young and very wealthy widow, she has now the means and the opportunity to do so. But does spreading her wings have to mean fall in love with two men simultaneously? Does it make it okay for her to flirt and cavort around town with Melville after she has promised Somerset her love and future? Does it make it okay to lovingly jump into Somerset's arms for a passionate kiss after she has just had an intimate moment with Melville? Does it make it okay for her to push Somerset for a early marriage mere minutes after a rendezvous with Melville. That Somerset is uptight and staid does not make him deserving of her cheating. He never deceived her. She was just blinded by her youthful attachment to him.
The double-standards and misplaced self-righteousness that Eliza expressed was just astonishing. She was angry at Melville for his duplicity, accusing him of putting her reputation at risk while she recklessly flaunted her own reputation for months. She expressed outraged when Somerville proposed to another just 3 weeks after their understanding ended, but she was perfectly okay with loving him while also loving another at the same time. I also did not get why she thought the Selwyns's plot to strip her of her inheritance was more scandalous than her own behaviour.
This could be my mature, matronly self talking, but I found Eliza immature and lacking jn restraint and common sense, like partying up a storm in London knowing that her fortune and reputation remains under scrutiny. Sure, privately she was entitled to let her hair down but she was fond of her fortune and also placed an importance in the ongoing acceptance by society, so a bit of discretion would have been prudent.
As for Melville, he made fun of Somerset going to "earl school" but at least Somerset was trying to learn how to run his estates. Melville could have done with some lessons since he was an impoverished earl who required a the sponsorship of a patron in order to publish his poetry work. Twelve thousand acres and still no money. Perhaps he and his sister should not be spending so much on fancy clothes, phaetons and idle pursuits and instead invest money and effort back into their lands and those who depended on his earldom.
There were many more problems I found with the story. It really didn't go anywhere for the longest of time and then when it did, it unfortunately went in the wrong direction for me. Eliza remained completely indecisive in her love for both men until almost 80%. Well, after that her choice was made for her by circumstances and not because she stopped loving one for the other. Constancy and monogamy are concepts not negotiable for me when it comes to romance. I am hopeful that Irwin's next book will appeal to my sensibilities more.
Had I paid attention to the cover, I definitely would have stayed well clear of it. I hate love triangles and I hate cheaters and when you combine both in the one book as perpetrated by the heroine without one ounce of remorse, well, it's never going to work well for me.
I get that she has sacrificed 10 years of her youth to propriety and doing what is right for her family. Sure, she has more than earned the right to finally put herself first and as a still young and very wealthy widow, she has now the means and the opportunity to do so. But does spreading her wings have to mean fall in love with two men simultaneously? Does it make it okay for her to flirt and cavort around town with Melville after she has promised Somerset her love and future? Does it make it okay to lovingly jump into Somerset's arms for a passionate kiss after she has just had an intimate moment with Melville? Does it make it okay for her to push Somerset for a early marriage mere minutes after a rendezvous with Melville. That Somerset is uptight and staid does not make him deserving of her cheating. He never deceived her. She was just blinded by her youthful attachment to him.
The double-standards and misplaced self-righteousness that Eliza expressed was just astonishing. She was angry at Melville for his duplicity, accusing him of putting her reputation at risk while she recklessly flaunted her own reputation for months. She expressed outraged when Somerville proposed to another just 3 weeks after their understanding ended, but she was perfectly okay with loving him while also loving another at the same time. I also did not get why she thought the Selwyns's plot to strip her of her inheritance was more scandalous than her own behaviour.
This could be my mature, matronly self talking, but I found Eliza immature and lacking jn restraint and common sense, like partying up a storm in London knowing that her fortune and reputation remains under scrutiny. Sure, privately she was entitled to let her hair down but she was fond of her fortune and also placed an importance in the ongoing acceptance by society, so a bit of discretion would have been prudent.
As for Melville, he made fun of Somerset going to "earl school" but at least Somerset was trying to learn how to run his estates. Melville could have done with some lessons since he was an impoverished earl who required a the sponsorship of a patron in order to publish his poetry work. Twelve thousand acres and still no money. Perhaps he and his sister should not be spending so much on fancy clothes, phaetons and idle pursuits and instead invest money and effort back into their lands and those who depended on his earldom.
There were many more problems I found with the story. It really didn't go anywhere for the longest of time and then when it did, it unfortunately went in the wrong direction for me. Eliza remained completely indecisive in her love for both men until almost 80%. Well, after that her choice was made for her by circumstances and not because she stopped loving one for the other. Constancy and monogamy are concepts not negotiable for me when it comes to romance. I am hopeful that Irwin's next book will appeal to my sensibilities more.
April 13, 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
Sophie Irwin's debut novel last year turned out to be one of my surprise favorites, and so I was both excited and a little nervous to read her second one. Happily, I enjoyed it just as much as her first, and in some ways maybe more in that it explores a broader array of topics and an expanded cast of characters that all end up connecting back to the primary romance. This second book feels more confident and expansive. It's cunning too in its exploration of the potential options for a heroine who suddenly finds herself widowed, wealthy, and free from an oppressive marriage while still in her twenties. It is hard to know where this story is going for quite a long time, but that was a big part of its appeal for me. On the surface, it seems set up as a retelling of Austen's Persuasion, a notoriously challenging book to portray. The bare scaffolding of Persuasion is here, but this book departs to examine what would happen to a woman who left behind many regrets and missed opportunities and pushed herself forward. One big question is whether the hero from her past is up for the challenge, and that is a question that lingers uncomfortably long, especially with new courtships hovering.
I found this book equally a character study of Eliza as much as it is a plot-driven story and loved her emergence from the staid, lonely young woman in the first chapters to the woman she gradually becomes once she has the freedom to test herself and take chances. The central romance is deliberately obscure because it is enmeshed in the tumultuous changes Eliza undergoes. That isn't to say that the hero is unimportant because he too grows into the best version of himself due to Eliza's influence. The hero of this book is truly wonderful and will undoubtedly be one of my favorite romance heroes this year. But his role in Eliza's life remains unclear for the vast majority of the novel with lots of twists and turns.
I am hopeful that Sophie Irwin represents a much needed revitalization of historical romance after what has seemed like a period of stagnation for the genre. If I have small criticisms, it is that the book takes a while to develop, and so patience is needed at the start, while the end is a little rushed and could have benefited from slowing down. I wouldn't have minded more time with the main couple at the end. The long middle of this book though is fabulous and I enjoyed all of it so much and am thrilled to have a new HR author to anticipate.
Sophie Irwin's debut novel last year turned out to be one of my surprise favorites, and so I was both excited and a little nervous to read her second one. Happily, I enjoyed it just as much as her first, and in some ways maybe more in that it explores a broader array of topics and an expanded cast of characters that all end up connecting back to the primary romance. This second book feels more confident and expansive. It's cunning too in its exploration of the potential options for a heroine who suddenly finds herself widowed, wealthy, and free from an oppressive marriage while still in her twenties. It is hard to know where this story is going for quite a long time, but that was a big part of its appeal for me. On the surface, it seems set up as a retelling of Austen's Persuasion, a notoriously challenging book to portray. The bare scaffolding of Persuasion is here, but this book departs to examine what would happen to a woman who left behind many regrets and missed opportunities and pushed herself forward. One big question is whether the hero from her past is up for the challenge, and that is a question that lingers uncomfortably long, especially with new courtships hovering.
I found this book equally a character study of Eliza as much as it is a plot-driven story and loved her emergence from the staid, lonely young woman in the first chapters to the woman she gradually becomes once she has the freedom to test herself and take chances. The central romance is deliberately obscure because it is enmeshed in the tumultuous changes Eliza undergoes. That isn't to say that the hero is unimportant because he too grows into the best version of himself due to Eliza's influence. The hero of this book is truly wonderful and will undoubtedly be one of my favorite romance heroes this year. But his role in Eliza's life remains unclear for the vast majority of the novel with lots of twists and turns.
I am hopeful that Sophie Irwin represents a much needed revitalization of historical romance after what has seemed like a period of stagnation for the genre. If I have small criticisms, it is that the book takes a while to develop, and so patience is needed at the start, while the end is a little rushed and could have benefited from slowing down. I wouldn't have minded more time with the main couple at the end. The long middle of this book though is fabulous and I enjoyed all of it so much and am thrilled to have a new HR author to anticipate.
June 9, 2023
Simultaneously did not go the way I wanted it to, and yet, still ended up liking the ending
This is going to be a super divisive one I think. All of the great parts of Sophie Irwin's writing (solid banter, likable lead character, general shenanigans), are present in this book. That said, love triangles don't work well for a lot of readers (me included), and this one was at times too much for me. But I think the conversation around the love triangle ran deeper than just who she wanted to be with. She was choosing who she wanted to be. And that was a powerful conversation that I really enjoyed.
Not quite what I would've wanted out of a historical romance, but I think the ending is satisfying and I'd be deeply curious what other people think of this one.
This is going to be a super divisive one I think. All of the great parts of Sophie Irwin's writing (solid banter, likable lead character, general shenanigans), are present in this book. That said, love triangles don't work well for a lot of readers (me included), and this one was at times too much for me. But I think the conversation around the love triangle ran deeper than just who she wanted to be with. She was choosing who she wanted to be. And that was a powerful conversation that I really enjoyed.
Not quite what I would've wanted out of a historical romance, but I think the ending is satisfying and I'd be deeply curious what other people think of this one.
March 25, 2024
4 Estrellitas. Confieso que me daba algo de miedo porque tenía críticas muy dispares, pero el primer libro me gustó y el estilo de la autora, también. Así que no quería atrasar su lectura mucho más.
En el fondo me ha parecido un libro con una historia muy arriesgada, porque puede gustar o no gustar nada, y lo entiendo. A mí me ha sorprendido y en el fondo he quedado satisfecha con los giros que ha planteando Sophie Irwin.
"Manual para damas afortunadas" es el segundo libro de la autora, y no tiene nada que ver con el primer libro, pueden leerse de manera independiente. En él conocemos a unos personajes muy distintos, a Eliza, condesa de Somerset y la libertad que le brinda la vida una vez se convierte en viuda.
Eliza, de soltera Balfour, se casó hace diez años con el conde de Somerset, un hombre veinticinco años mayor que ella, que garantizaba el éxito y la posición de la familia Balfour con este enlace. Eliza siempre había sido la hija buena y obediente, la que tuvo que sacrificar su felicidad por la posición de su familia. Y lo que más sacrificó Eliza, fue su amor juvenil por Oliver, el sobrino de su esposo. Una vez casada con el conde de Somerset, Oliver se alistó en la marina y se fue de Inglaterra.
Han pasado diez años, Eliza ha enviudado y no pudo darle a su esposo un heredero al título; así que Oliver, vuelve a Inglaterra para tomar posesión del título de conde. Eliza lleva diez años sin ver al amor de su vida, una vez vuelve a verlo, siente nostalgia por lo que pudo ser, y sin esperanzas de que pueda haber algo tras haberle roto el corazón. Ese primer encuentro ocurre durante la lectura del testamento de su esposo, donde Eliza descubre que si su comportamiento es intachable, será una mujer muy rica y con muchas propiedades.
La familia de Eliza espera que esta vuelva al seno familiar una vez se lea el testamento. No tiene sentido que Eliza permanezca en la hacienda de los Somerset, cuando hay un nuevo conde, pero Eliza no quiere volver con sus padres, ni mucho menos que le manejen su herencia. Junto con su prima y acompañante, Margaret, planearán irse una temporada a Bath, donde Eliza pueda pensar en qué hacer con su nueva vida de libertad y riqueza.
Bath no es Londres, pero Eliza pasa sus últimos meses de luto disfrutando de todos los placeres inocentes que Bath puede ofrecerle. Allí Eliza conocerá a sus vecinos, y a otros personajes con los que se codeará durante toda la novela, además, por supuesto del conde Melville, un disoluto libertino, que se está escondiendo, junto con su hermana Caroline, del último escándalo que ha provocado.
En seguida, los rumores del comportamiento de Eliza llegan a Oliver, y este partirá a Bath para comprobarlo por sí mismo, y lo que descubrirá, es que sus sentimientos por Eliza siguen tan vivos como estaban hace diez años.
Sin duda el protagonismo del libro lo ha tenido Eliza. Aunque narrado en tercera persona, ella es el referente de todos los capítulos. De los protagonistas masculinos no sabemos nada, salvo la percepción que Eliza tiene de ellos. Para Eliza, Oliver ese el fiel caballero del que se enamoró en su juventud, mientras que lord Melville, es un hombre oscuro y misterioso, mitad británico y mitad hindú, lord Melville es un hombre arruinado que vive de la literatura, tanto él como su hermana, pues los dos son escritores. Pero tras su último escándalo, su mecenas ha retirado sus fondos y quizás Melville necesita cazar una fortuna.
De modo que sí, en esta novela tenemos un triángulo amoroso. Eliza enamorada de dos hombres, y sin poder estar con ninguno. El decoro le recomendaría quedarse con Somerset, el amor sigue muy vivo, pero por parte de la alta sociedad no estaría bien visto que la viuda del anterior conde se case con su sobrino, y por el otro el escandaloso lord Melville, enigmático e irresistible, que tienta a Eliza en cada momento para saborear su libertad, y sobre todo, para que Eliza pueda dedicarse a la pasión que ha mantenido oculta durante una década; la pintura.
¿Con cuál se quedará Eliza? Ese es el quid de la novela, pues no sabes quién es mejor o cuál te gusta más. Por supuesto, en esta crítica no lo voy a desvelar. Me ha gustado la historia, me ha gustado como la ha desarrollado Sophie Irwin, y me ha resultado novedosa por los giros que le ha dado hasta darle el desenlace que necesitaba.
Repito, puedo entender que haya decepcionado, o que no haya sido lo que muchas lectoras esperaban, pero a mí me ha gustado. Me gusta cómo está escrito, me ha gustado la historia y sus protagonistas, pero sobre todo Eliza y como evoluciona durante la novela, de ser esa joven apocada y que sacrificó su felicidad, a ser una mujer libre y feliz y disfrutar de lo que el mundo le tuvo vedado durante esos diez años. En cuanto a los chicos, prefiero no decir nada, creo que merece la pena conocerlos por una misma una vez los leas.
Lo recomiendo si no tienes muchos remilgos y vas abierta a que puede ocurrir cualquier cosa. Para mí, ha funcionado.
En el fondo me ha parecido un libro con una historia muy arriesgada, porque puede gustar o no gustar nada, y lo entiendo. A mí me ha sorprendido y en el fondo he quedado satisfecha con los giros que ha planteando Sophie Irwin.
"Manual para damas afortunadas" es el segundo libro de la autora, y no tiene nada que ver con el primer libro, pueden leerse de manera independiente. En él conocemos a unos personajes muy distintos, a Eliza, condesa de Somerset y la libertad que le brinda la vida una vez se convierte en viuda.
Eliza, de soltera Balfour, se casó hace diez años con el conde de Somerset, un hombre veinticinco años mayor que ella, que garantizaba el éxito y la posición de la familia Balfour con este enlace. Eliza siempre había sido la hija buena y obediente, la que tuvo que sacrificar su felicidad por la posición de su familia. Y lo que más sacrificó Eliza, fue su amor juvenil por Oliver, el sobrino de su esposo. Una vez casada con el conde de Somerset, Oliver se alistó en la marina y se fue de Inglaterra.
Han pasado diez años, Eliza ha enviudado y no pudo darle a su esposo un heredero al título; así que Oliver, vuelve a Inglaterra para tomar posesión del título de conde. Eliza lleva diez años sin ver al amor de su vida, una vez vuelve a verlo, siente nostalgia por lo que pudo ser, y sin esperanzas de que pueda haber algo tras haberle roto el corazón. Ese primer encuentro ocurre durante la lectura del testamento de su esposo, donde Eliza descubre que si su comportamiento es intachable, será una mujer muy rica y con muchas propiedades.
La familia de Eliza espera que esta vuelva al seno familiar una vez se lea el testamento. No tiene sentido que Eliza permanezca en la hacienda de los Somerset, cuando hay un nuevo conde, pero Eliza no quiere volver con sus padres, ni mucho menos que le manejen su herencia. Junto con su prima y acompañante, Margaret, planearán irse una temporada a Bath, donde Eliza pueda pensar en qué hacer con su nueva vida de libertad y riqueza.
Bath no es Londres, pero Eliza pasa sus últimos meses de luto disfrutando de todos los placeres inocentes que Bath puede ofrecerle. Allí Eliza conocerá a sus vecinos, y a otros personajes con los que se codeará durante toda la novela, además, por supuesto del conde Melville, un disoluto libertino, que se está escondiendo, junto con su hermana Caroline, del último escándalo que ha provocado.
En seguida, los rumores del comportamiento de Eliza llegan a Oliver, y este partirá a Bath para comprobarlo por sí mismo, y lo que descubrirá, es que sus sentimientos por Eliza siguen tan vivos como estaban hace diez años.
Sin duda el protagonismo del libro lo ha tenido Eliza. Aunque narrado en tercera persona, ella es el referente de todos los capítulos. De los protagonistas masculinos no sabemos nada, salvo la percepción que Eliza tiene de ellos. Para Eliza, Oliver ese el fiel caballero del que se enamoró en su juventud, mientras que lord Melville, es un hombre oscuro y misterioso, mitad británico y mitad hindú, lord Melville es un hombre arruinado que vive de la literatura, tanto él como su hermana, pues los dos son escritores. Pero tras su último escándalo, su mecenas ha retirado sus fondos y quizás Melville necesita cazar una fortuna.
De modo que sí, en esta novela tenemos un triángulo amoroso. Eliza enamorada de dos hombres, y sin poder estar con ninguno. El decoro le recomendaría quedarse con Somerset, el amor sigue muy vivo, pero por parte de la alta sociedad no estaría bien visto que la viuda del anterior conde se case con su sobrino, y por el otro el escandaloso lord Melville, enigmático e irresistible, que tienta a Eliza en cada momento para saborear su libertad, y sobre todo, para que Eliza pueda dedicarse a la pasión que ha mantenido oculta durante una década; la pintura.
¿Con cuál se quedará Eliza? Ese es el quid de la novela, pues no sabes quién es mejor o cuál te gusta más. Por supuesto, en esta crítica no lo voy a desvelar. Me ha gustado la historia, me ha gustado como la ha desarrollado Sophie Irwin, y me ha resultado novedosa por los giros que le ha dado hasta darle el desenlace que necesitaba.
Repito, puedo entender que haya decepcionado, o que no haya sido lo que muchas lectoras esperaban, pero a mí me ha gustado. Me gusta cómo está escrito, me ha gustado la historia y sus protagonistas, pero sobre todo Eliza y como evoluciona durante la novela, de ser esa joven apocada y que sacrificó su felicidad, a ser una mujer libre y feliz y disfrutar de lo que el mundo le tuvo vedado durante esos diez años. En cuanto a los chicos, prefiero no decir nada, creo que merece la pena conocerlos por una misma una vez los leas.
Lo recomiendo si no tienes muchos remilgos y vas abierta a que puede ocurrir cualquier cosa. Para mí, ha funcionado.
August 18, 2023
4.75
Reseña completa: https://masromance.blogspot.com/2023/...
Claro ejemplo de que hay gustos para todo. Me lo he pasado genial y con cada giro de la historia he disfrutado como una niña pequeña
No me gustan las novelas románticas convencionales y esta no lo es, quizás por eso hay mala puntuación, o quizás porque es blanca.
No le pongo las 5 porque le ha faltado algo de tensión... en algunos momentos.
Pero me ha encantado: los giros, los personajes, la critica subyacente... todo
Reseña completa: https://masromance.blogspot.com/2023/...
Claro ejemplo de que hay gustos para todo. Me lo he pasado genial y con cada giro de la historia he disfrutado como una niña pequeña
No me gustan las novelas románticas convencionales y esta no lo es, quizás por eso hay mala puntuación, o quizás porque es blanca.
No le pongo las 5 porque le ha faltado algo de tensión... en algunos momentos.
Pero me ha encantado: los giros, los personajes, la critica subyacente... todo
May 10, 2023
Ohhhh this was delightful! I enjoyed this first book, but I found this one so much richer. Maybe it’s because Persuasion is my favorite book, but the setup with love denied, but then he returns after many years in the Navy…I was hooked! BUT this takes the story in completely new and unexpected ways and I loved it. The angst is super high in this book. There’s a love triangle (I know I know, but it works), and the emotions are so complex. I love the exploration of society’s unfair expectations and limitations of women and choosing your own happiness. Ugh I just loved the Melvilles and Eliza was such a nuanced and great heroine. (Also there’s a bit more kissing than in the first book which I was excited about!).
I definitely enjoyed this and would recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy for review. All opinions are my own.
I definitely enjoyed this and would recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy for review. All opinions are my own.
July 13, 2024
A complete and utter delight. Witty, smart and glorious.
May 10, 2024
Edited to add: Read The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews if you want an excellent book with a storyline about race in 1800s England.
.......
A modern story dressed up as a historical fiction / romance. The language, jibes, and issues* are more suited for today than the 1800s. If you're looking to escape the worries of the world today with a regency romance with a happy ending, this book is not for you.
Also, I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator is over the top affected. It's hard to suspend reality when it sounds like you're listening to a bad soap opera actress.
I was really disappointed because I LOVED the first book. It was a fun and sweet romance that was true to the time period. This book is not at all.
It's a shame because I actually liked all of the characters, except Margaret (who was very annoying because she talked like a 2020s teenager). The storylines were just not time period appropriate.
* Race, lgbtq+ relationships, "toxic masculinity". I read regency romances to get a break from these things! I want romantic tension, not political and worldly tensions.
***Since it won't let me reply to Emily, I'll edit my review to add this:
"Issues suited for today" = The author tried to fit in so many hot topics that it seemed like she was trying too hard to fit in every news headline from today. (That doesn't mean they didn't exist back then.)
I said this book is not for Jane Austen fans because Jane doesn't force feed hot topics. She talks about independence for women and the issues between the rich and poor in the language of the time. It makes sense and gets the point across while still being a fun - and not stressful - romance novel.
This book was labeled as a romance, but to me romance was a secondary storyline. There's nothing wrong with someone preferring romantic tension over political tension.
I never mentioned anything about mixed emotions or liking 2 people. Jane Austen books have this, and it doesn't bother me. That's part of the romantic tension.
In this book, for me it was like the main girl chose the lesser of 2 evils. That's just not a happy ending to me.
I hope that clarifies my review. And if not, then please remember this is a book review / opinion written by a stranger on the internet.
.......
A modern story dressed up as a historical fiction / romance. The language, jibes, and issues* are more suited for today than the 1800s. If you're looking to escape the worries of the world today with a regency romance with a happy ending, this book is not for you.
Also, I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator is over the top affected. It's hard to suspend reality when it sounds like you're listening to a bad soap opera actress.
I was really disappointed because I LOVED the first book. It was a fun and sweet romance that was true to the time period. This book is not at all.
It's a shame because I actually liked all of the characters, except Margaret (who was very annoying because she talked like a 2020s teenager). The storylines were just not time period appropriate.
* Race, lgbtq+ relationships, "toxic masculinity". I read regency romances to get a break from these things! I want romantic tension, not political and worldly tensions.
***Since it won't let me reply to Emily, I'll edit my review to add this:
"Issues suited for today" = The author tried to fit in so many hot topics that it seemed like she was trying too hard to fit in every news headline from today. (That doesn't mean they didn't exist back then.)
I said this book is not for Jane Austen fans because Jane doesn't force feed hot topics. She talks about independence for women and the issues between the rich and poor in the language of the time. It makes sense and gets the point across while still being a fun - and not stressful - romance novel.
This book was labeled as a romance, but to me romance was a secondary storyline. There's nothing wrong with someone preferring romantic tension over political tension.
I never mentioned anything about mixed emotions or liking 2 people. Jane Austen books have this, and it doesn't bother me. That's part of the romantic tension.
In this book, for me it was like the main girl chose the lesser of 2 evils. That's just not a happy ending to me.
I hope that clarifies my review. And if not, then please remember this is a book review / opinion written by a stranger on the internet.
October 4, 2023
i love irwin's writing style and humor, but unfortunately i didn't enjoy this book as much as the first because i didn't feel connected with the characters at all and i found the plot to be mostly boring. the characters were so frustrating and bland, and the fmc eliza was such a boring pov to follow. i thought eliza's plot of finding her voice and becoming more spirited was a great message, but she was so consistently annoying that i didn't even care. being shy and quiet is not the same as disliking yourself, and eliza was so whiny and self-deprecating in every chapter which was so annoying to read. at least 3 times in this book melville would compliment eliza's art skills and she would always reply like "i'm not an artist!" and "i'm not an expert!" when she literally paints everyday. girl just take the compliment!
also, i did not like how the love triangle was done at all. what is even the point!!! why is eliza planning a marriage with one guy and then all of a sudden realizing she's in love with another guy...
overall, this book was just so bland. the best part was easily eliza and margaret's friendship! i adored their conversations, and their endless support for each other was so cute.
also, i did not like how the love triangle was done at all. what is even the point!!! why is eliza planning a marriage with one guy and then all of a sudden realizing she's in love with another guy...
overall, this book was just so bland. the best part was easily eliza and margaret's friendship! i adored their conversations, and their endless support for each other was so cute.
August 8, 2023
This went quite a different direction than I expected. But I think I’m a fan. Will let it settle overnight!
Since I read this in Jane Austen July, the comparisons are inevitable. I'm mostly thinking about how the two authors' cultural contexts influence the books they write. Sophie Irwin's novel is intensely 21st century so I felt both comfortable and uncomfortable with it since a lot of my reading life is spent in the 19th and 20th centuries. That's the amazing thing about reading--I am fully immersed in our 21st century context like Irwin and yet reading helps me to be immersed in the mindset of the past too.
Heidi White from the Close Reads podcast has a theory that a lot of the tension in real life and in fiction comes from the clash between duty and desire--what I should do and what I want to do. The interplay between duty and desire is fascinating on both an individual level and a societal level at any given period in history and in basically any novel. Irwin's novel is full of this clash, and I wonder if our 21st century fascination with Regency/Georgian era historical fiction has something to do with this perenniel tug-of-war. We perceive the Regency as being a duty-driven culture whereas we are a very desire-driven culture. It seems like we often read our desire into their duty, but do we also crave some of their duty?
The main character, Eliza, spends basically the whole novel struggling between duty and desire. To some extent, her two suitors embody duty (Somerset) and desire (Melville). It's more complex than that, but this scenario also plays out in many Jane Austen novels. Anne Elliot has Captain Wentworth (desire) and William Elliot (duty). Marianne Dashwood has Willhoughby (desire) and Colonel Brandon (duty). Elizabeth Bennet has Wickham (desire) and Mr. Collins (duty). I'm sure there are many more examples. I think what makes Jane Austen's novels as profound as they are is that the duty/desire question is always explored with intricate complexity and the resolutions are perhaps as good a blend of duty/desire as is possible. Duty is not all bad; desire is not all bad. What is it that makes too much duty bad? What is it that makes too much desire bad? It's endlessly fascinating.
Melville is certainly a rake type character. He could easily be a John Willhoughby, a Henry Crawford, or a George Wickham. One of the everlastingly fascinating questions about these characters is 'Could they have reformed?' This is especially pertinent to Henry Crawford, and I do think Melville is most like Crawford of the three mentioned above. In contrast, Somerset could easily be a Colonel Brandon, a Mr. Darcy, or a Captain Wentworth. What Sophie Irwin does with these character types in her portrayal of Lords Melville and Somerset is quite fascinating.
I recommend this book with reservations. It is a clean read, which I always appreciate. It's given me a lot to think about in contrast with Jane Austen's works, and I love that. Overall, I enjoyed this author's first novel more, but I will certainly read her next novel. Her writing is engaging.
Since I read this in Jane Austen July, the comparisons are inevitable. I'm mostly thinking about how the two authors' cultural contexts influence the books they write. Sophie Irwin's novel is intensely 21st century so I felt both comfortable and uncomfortable with it since a lot of my reading life is spent in the 19th and 20th centuries. That's the amazing thing about reading--I am fully immersed in our 21st century context like Irwin and yet reading helps me to be immersed in the mindset of the past too.
Heidi White from the Close Reads podcast has a theory that a lot of the tension in real life and in fiction comes from the clash between duty and desire--what I should do and what I want to do. The interplay between duty and desire is fascinating on both an individual level and a societal level at any given period in history and in basically any novel. Irwin's novel is full of this clash, and I wonder if our 21st century fascination with Regency/Georgian era historical fiction has something to do with this perenniel tug-of-war. We perceive the Regency as being a duty-driven culture whereas we are a very desire-driven culture. It seems like we often read our desire into their duty, but do we also crave some of their duty?
The main character, Eliza, spends basically the whole novel struggling between duty and desire. To some extent, her two suitors embody duty (Somerset) and desire (Melville). It's more complex than that, but this scenario also plays out in many Jane Austen novels. Anne Elliot has Captain Wentworth (desire) and William Elliot (duty). Marianne Dashwood has Willhoughby (desire) and Colonel Brandon (duty). Elizabeth Bennet has Wickham (desire) and Mr. Collins (duty). I'm sure there are many more examples. I think what makes Jane Austen's novels as profound as they are is that the duty/desire question is always explored with intricate complexity and the resolutions are perhaps as good a blend of duty/desire as is possible. Duty is not all bad; desire is not all bad. What is it that makes too much duty bad? What is it that makes too much desire bad? It's endlessly fascinating.
Melville is certainly a rake type character. He could easily be a John Willhoughby, a Henry Crawford, or a George Wickham. One of the everlastingly fascinating questions about these characters is 'Could they have reformed?' This is especially pertinent to Henry Crawford, and I do think Melville is most like Crawford of the three mentioned above. In contrast, Somerset could easily be a Colonel Brandon, a Mr. Darcy, or a Captain Wentworth. What Sophie Irwin does with these character types in her portrayal of Lords Melville and Somerset is quite fascinating.
I recommend this book with reservations. It is a clean read, which I always appreciate. It's given me a lot to think about in contrast with Jane Austen's works, and I love that. Overall, I enjoyed this author's first novel more, but I will certainly read her next novel. Her writing is engaging.
July 10, 2025
Pensaba que este libro me iba a gustar más que el anterior, pero no ha sido así. No he podido con la prota, me ha caído bastante mal. El triángulo amoroso que la autora nos narra tampoco ha ayudado, porque odio este cliché. Mejora en la parte final, pero se que es un libro que con el tiempo olvidaré.
October 13, 2023
Reseña completa: https://fiebrelectora.blogspot.com/20...
Hace diez años, el matrimonio de Eliza con un conde fue el evento de la temporada, a pesar de que la sacara diez años y que no fuera el marido que ella quería. Ahora, es viuda y ha heredado una fortuna, se siente libre por primera vez... desde siempre, y ha llegado el momento de dejar de cumplir las normas. Así, se traslada a Bath con su prima Margaret, y se dedica a pintar y a flirtear con el infame lord Melville, hasta que esos rumores llegan a oídos del sobrino de su marido, quien le rompió el corazón hace tantos años, y también quien podría quitarle su fortuna si causa algún escándalo... Sin embargo, hay cosas más valiosas que el dinero, y Eliza no piensa volver a dejarse manejar por nadie.
¿Ha sido una de esas veces en las que el incio de la novela no prometía demasiado pero que luego se ha ido superando más y más? Sí, así ha sido. Y es que en un primer momento parece que tras la muerte de su terrible marido, Eliza logrará recuperar el amor que se le escapó hace tantos años y lograr ser feliz, pero no ha sido esa la historia que esta novela cuenta. Y ha sido un absoluto acierto.
Me ha encantado seguir a Eliza en este viaje, en su descubrimiento de sí misma y de la libertad, su preciosa relación con su prima Margaret, quien tiene un papel también la mar de divertido, por su personalidad tan seca y directa, y precioso, con su propia historia; y también otros personajes como los Melville, Somerset, o lady Hurley, incluso la madre de Eliza tiene un papel especial.
Hace diez años, el matrimonio de Eliza con un conde fue el evento de la temporada, a pesar de que la sacara diez años y que no fuera el marido que ella quería. Ahora, es viuda y ha heredado una fortuna, se siente libre por primera vez... desde siempre, y ha llegado el momento de dejar de cumplir las normas. Así, se traslada a Bath con su prima Margaret, y se dedica a pintar y a flirtear con el infame lord Melville, hasta que esos rumores llegan a oídos del sobrino de su marido, quien le rompió el corazón hace tantos años, y también quien podría quitarle su fortuna si causa algún escándalo... Sin embargo, hay cosas más valiosas que el dinero, y Eliza no piensa volver a dejarse manejar por nadie.
¿Ha sido una de esas veces en las que el incio de la novela no prometía demasiado pero que luego se ha ido superando más y más? Sí, así ha sido. Y es que en un primer momento parece que tras la muerte de su terrible marido, Eliza logrará recuperar el amor que se le escapó hace tantos años y lograr ser feliz, pero no ha sido esa la historia que esta novela cuenta. Y ha sido un absoluto acierto.
Me ha encantado seguir a Eliza en este viaje, en su descubrimiento de sí misma y de la libertad, su preciosa relación con su prima Margaret, quien tiene un papel también la mar de divertido, por su personalidad tan seca y directa, y precioso, con su propia historia; y también otros personajes como los Melville, Somerset, o lady Hurley, incluso la madre de Eliza tiene un papel especial.
October 25, 2023
Widowed at the age of twenty-eight, for the first time in her life, Eliza (Lady Somerset) finds herself in control of her own future. With money and a title at her disposal, she and her cousin Margaret head to Bath, where both ladies find unexpected opportunities amidst a circle of new acquaintances. However, for Eliza there is an old face in the mix too, the new Lord Somerset, who she refused all those years ago, out of her duty to her family. Is he still the man she once loved, is she still the woman he once loved, or perhaps the more important question is does she still wish to be that woman?
I very much enjoyed Irwin's debut novel, A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting, and have been looking forward to her next offering for a while. With that being said, all too often a second novel can fail to live up its predecessor, and as such I was also aware of perhaps being disappointed, but fortunately it was not so. Indeed, if anything, for me at least, Irwin has excelled herself here. Much as I enjoyed her debut, it did take me a little while to settle into it, however, I found myself reeled in by this one from the very off.
Eliza makes for a very different heroine to Kitty. She is mature, more reserved and used to doing what is expected of her. Indeed she could but put me in mind of Austen's Anne Elliot, and the entire story does seem to be clearly inspired by Persuasion, albeit cleverly so, and in a way that makes it very much Irwin's own story.
Given Persuasion is a personal favourite of mine, I did have some trepidation as to how Irwin would handle giving the story a modern twist, (nightmares of the recent Netflix version come to mind), however, where at the start I had found myself very much wanting the story to go a certain way, I soon found myself trusting Irwin's vision, and I actually really liked the direction the story went in and found the ending very satisfying.
Some readers might find Eliza somewhat too meek and timid at the story's start, however, I liked that she was very much a character in keeping with the time period, and thought that having her start off that way, allowed a lot of room for growth, and certainly as the story goes on, we see Eliza very much coming into her own, and taking the reigns of her life, on her own terms. Indeed, whilst this is a romance, it is also very much the story of a woman learning who she really is and what she wants in life, and having the strength to seek it, no matter the opinion of others. In that way, the book does still mirror Austen's Persuasion, however, Irwin merely takes things a step further, and whilst not everyone may appreciate her take, I personally enjoyed the more modern and feminist feel it gave the book.
As with Irwin's debut, this is not the most traditional Regency romance, though I will say that this time round I was far too engrossed in the story and characters to at all mind any modern mannerisms or historical inaccuracies. As with her debut, this is again a clean cut-romance, with the emphasis very much on witty exchanges between the romantic leads, and a slowly simmering romance that felt genuine and based on friendship, yet there could be no denying the chemistry and tension captured in the small glances and a secret waltz for instance.
Some readers might not appreciate the sub-plot relating to a lesbian romance, or the fact that there were Anglo-Indian characters, and whilst certainly this does again lend a more modern touch, I personally thought that Irwin managed to actually tell the stories of those characters in a way that befit the time period, the prejudices faced and the sacrifices that had to be made, for instance living a life on the fringes of society. Besides, Irwin even references the Ladies of Llangollen (two real life upper class women who lived together as a couple in the Regency period) in her book, and I thought handled this aspect sensitively.
As with her debut, the story had plenty of humour, (any scene with Melville could usually be relied on for some witty remark), and a host of lively and colourful characters, some more dastardly than others. I enjoyed the mostly Bath setting, though the story does also features some chapters set in the country and in London. I should also applaud Irwin for delivering some genuine surprises along the way too; I liked the twists and turns of the story.
I believe some readers have also been put off by the love triangle that features in the story, however, again I actually thought this was well crafted. I liked that both suitors had their strengths and flaws, and did find my personal preference for Eliza shifting at different times of the story. Indeed, I likely wouldn't have minded too much which of them she eventually chose, so long as it was on her own terms, as I thought that Irwin did a commendable job of making both relationships believable. However, as the story went on, it became more clear that Eliza would only be able to live her own life on her own terms with one of the two gentlemen, the one who loved her for precisely the strong and free-spirited woman she now was, and as such I thought she made the right choice in the end.
Some readers have said they found Eliza too selfish by the end of the story, but I can't say that I agree. After all she had up until this point in her life always done everything her family and duty dictated of her, had sacrificed ten years of her life in a cold and and unhappy marriage, such that for me at least, she deserved to put herself first.
Overall, this was simply a delightful read, funny yet tender with an inspiring message and with characters who felt real. For me this was a more mature and more accomplished read than Irwin's debut, whilst still retaining the sparkle, and showed her growth as a writer. If she carries on like this, I'll likely be ranking her as one of my favourite Regency romance authors; hopefully it won't be too long a wait for her next one.
I very much enjoyed Irwin's debut novel, A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting, and have been looking forward to her next offering for a while. With that being said, all too often a second novel can fail to live up its predecessor, and as such I was also aware of perhaps being disappointed, but fortunately it was not so. Indeed, if anything, for me at least, Irwin has excelled herself here. Much as I enjoyed her debut, it did take me a little while to settle into it, however, I found myself reeled in by this one from the very off.
Eliza makes for a very different heroine to Kitty. She is mature, more reserved and used to doing what is expected of her. Indeed she could but put me in mind of Austen's Anne Elliot, and the entire story does seem to be clearly inspired by Persuasion, albeit cleverly so, and in a way that makes it very much Irwin's own story.
Given Persuasion is a personal favourite of mine, I did have some trepidation as to how Irwin would handle giving the story a modern twist, (nightmares of the recent Netflix version come to mind), however, where at the start I had found myself very much wanting the story to go a certain way, I soon found myself trusting Irwin's vision, and I actually really liked the direction the story went in and found the ending very satisfying.
Some readers might find Eliza somewhat too meek and timid at the story's start, however, I liked that she was very much a character in keeping with the time period, and thought that having her start off that way, allowed a lot of room for growth, and certainly as the story goes on, we see Eliza very much coming into her own, and taking the reigns of her life, on her own terms. Indeed, whilst this is a romance, it is also very much the story of a woman learning who she really is and what she wants in life, and having the strength to seek it, no matter the opinion of others. In that way, the book does still mirror Austen's Persuasion, however, Irwin merely takes things a step further, and whilst not everyone may appreciate her take, I personally enjoyed the more modern and feminist feel it gave the book.
As with Irwin's debut, this is not the most traditional Regency romance, though I will say that this time round I was far too engrossed in the story and characters to at all mind any modern mannerisms or historical inaccuracies. As with her debut, this is again a clean cut-romance, with the emphasis very much on witty exchanges between the romantic leads, and a slowly simmering romance that felt genuine and based on friendship, yet there could be no denying the chemistry and tension captured in the small glances and a secret waltz for instance.
Some readers might not appreciate the sub-plot relating to a lesbian romance, or the fact that there were Anglo-Indian characters, and whilst certainly this does again lend a more modern touch, I personally thought that Irwin managed to actually tell the stories of those characters in a way that befit the time period, the prejudices faced and the sacrifices that had to be made, for instance living a life on the fringes of society. Besides, Irwin even references the Ladies of Llangollen (two real life upper class women who lived together as a couple in the Regency period) in her book, and I thought handled this aspect sensitively.
As with her debut, the story had plenty of humour, (any scene with Melville could usually be relied on for some witty remark), and a host of lively and colourful characters, some more dastardly than others. I enjoyed the mostly Bath setting, though the story does also features some chapters set in the country and in London. I should also applaud Irwin for delivering some genuine surprises along the way too; I liked the twists and turns of the story.
I believe some readers have also been put off by the love triangle that features in the story, however, again I actually thought this was well crafted. I liked that both suitors had their strengths and flaws, and did find my personal preference for Eliza shifting at different times of the story. Indeed, I likely wouldn't have minded too much which of them she eventually chose, so long as it was on her own terms, as I thought that Irwin did a commendable job of making both relationships believable. However, as the story went on, it became more clear that Eliza would only be able to live her own life on her own terms with one of the two gentlemen, the one who loved her for precisely the strong and free-spirited woman she now was, and as such I thought she made the right choice in the end.
Some readers have said they found Eliza too selfish by the end of the story, but I can't say that I agree. After all she had up until this point in her life always done everything her family and duty dictated of her, had sacrificed ten years of her life in a cold and and unhappy marriage, such that for me at least, she deserved to put herself first.
Overall, this was simply a delightful read, funny yet tender with an inspiring message and with characters who felt real. For me this was a more mature and more accomplished read than Irwin's debut, whilst still retaining the sparkle, and showed her growth as a writer. If she carries on like this, I'll likely be ranking her as one of my favourite Regency romance authors; hopefully it won't be too long a wait for her next one.
Read
July 8, 2023DNF’d , i got about 70% into the book and couldn’t get into it.
April 14, 2023
Let me start by saying that Sophie Irwin's first book was a solid 5-star read that I absolutely LOVED. BUT I DNFed this at 73%.
And I am so, so sad to give this a low rating. [See the bottom of the review for an explanation of what 2-stars means for me, personally.]
Persuasion is one of my favorite books so a Persuasion-esque Regency with second-chance romance and slow burn vibes - I was here for. This book fell far short and then left-of-center of that.
I'm going to use the CAWPILE rating method to help talk about this book.
Characters... Eliza's been widowed after being married for 10 years to a drudge of a husband. There was no love lost and, in fact, she's been in love with the man she had wanted to marry ... who also happens to be her dead husband's nephew and heir. Awkward. Her character traits are dutiful and compliant until basically deciding not to be. BFF is her cousin who is extremely outspoken (that is her main takeaway trait). Somerset is described as tall and fair quite a bit... and he and Eliza talk about the weather and other mundane things (I guess that should have been a sign that he was not, maybe the HEA intended...). Melville is outlandish, flirty, and he and Eliza share many quips. I think the story here is meant to show much character growth for Eliza but I didn't particularly care for it. This was an issue of pacing and inauthenticity... things were happening either too fast or too slow to feel authentic to the storyline.
Atmosphere... This was alright. The main part of the story takes place in Bath, England and I thought that was a higher point of the book. Hearing about different places of interest, such as the Pump Room, was interesting and helped build a strong setting.
Writing... I like the way Irwin writes and don't have any real complaints here.
Plot... I discussed parts of the plot above and you can see the book synopsis. I am going to give some major spoilers away here so continue reading at your own risk if you don't wish to see them..... I had major issues with plot points and this could be, admittedly, a "me" thing. First, the entire first half of the book is Eliza yearning for Somerset, reflecting on how much she has loved him (based on basically dancing together and other very surface-level stuff). So I guess the case IS built that they don't have much more to go on for their love. HOWEVER, you spent 50% of the book building this romance. Literally at 50% of the book, Somerset and Eliza are declaring their love for one another and sharing kisses in the coach and promising to become engaged when her time of mourning is complete. Then... by 70% Eliza realizes she is in love with Melville. I don't like love triangles as it is but this one is particularly troublesome for me. I know they weren't *actually* engaged... yet they literally confess their intentions only for her to turn around and realize (quite suddenly... based on her looking at a painting she did of him...) that she is, indeed, in love with MELVILLE too (or only?). Also, around this point, the cousin confesses her same-sex love for Melville's sister. This just felt inauthentic to me and like a token gay character. In this second sub-plot, Eliza is just like "Oh yeah, I totally see that you guys are in love with each other now that you point it out" without any other comments basically which would be great but not expected at all for the time. Pretty much all my problems with this book is the plot (and pacing). I got to 72% and didn't even want to finish. I had to put the book down because I was so annoyed by all this. I wasn't rooting for Somerset OR Melville at this point. I feel like we had borderline cheating here which I give a 100% NEGATIVE reaction always.
Intrigue/Pacing... I guess the intrigue at the beginning is alright - you really do wonder how it's all going to play out. But the pacing was rough. Very tedious and slow in some parts. Rushed and forced-feeling in others.
Logic/World Building... I don't have much to say here except the regency time period was great.
Enjoyment... Lacked greatly. Even at the beginning, I never felt truly connected to Eliza.
All this to say... I couldn't do it. I wouldn't recommend unless you really love messy love triangles with frustrating characters.
My personal rating system:
2 star rating...
This means that this was better than bad but worse than good. Major issues with something. And, more likely, somethings. Usually a combo of bad writing / characters / plot / content issues. Do not actively recommend.
And I am so, so sad to give this a low rating. [See the bottom of the review for an explanation of what 2-stars means for me, personally.]
Persuasion is one of my favorite books so a Persuasion-esque Regency with second-chance romance and slow burn vibes - I was here for. This book fell far short and then left-of-center of that.
I'm going to use the CAWPILE rating method to help talk about this book.
Characters... Eliza's been widowed after being married for 10 years to a drudge of a husband. There was no love lost and, in fact, she's been in love with the man she had wanted to marry ... who also happens to be her dead husband's nephew and heir. Awkward. Her character traits are dutiful and compliant until basically deciding not to be. BFF is her cousin who is extremely outspoken (that is her main takeaway trait). Somerset is described as tall and fair quite a bit... and he and Eliza talk about the weather and other mundane things (I guess that should have been a sign that he was not, maybe the HEA intended...). Melville is outlandish, flirty, and he and Eliza share many quips. I think the story here is meant to show much character growth for Eliza but I didn't particularly care for it. This was an issue of pacing and inauthenticity... things were happening either too fast or too slow to feel authentic to the storyline.
Atmosphere... This was alright. The main part of the story takes place in Bath, England and I thought that was a higher point of the book. Hearing about different places of interest, such as the Pump Room, was interesting and helped build a strong setting.
Writing... I like the way Irwin writes and don't have any real complaints here.
Plot... I discussed parts of the plot above and you can see the book synopsis. I am going to give some major spoilers away here so continue reading at your own risk if you don't wish to see them..... I had major issues with plot points and this could be, admittedly, a "me" thing. First, the entire first half of the book is Eliza yearning for Somerset, reflecting on how much she has loved him (based on basically dancing together and other very surface-level stuff). So I guess the case IS built that they don't have much more to go on for their love. HOWEVER, you spent 50% of the book building this romance. Literally at 50% of the book, Somerset and Eliza are declaring their love for one another and sharing kisses in the coach and promising to become engaged when her time of mourning is complete. Then... by 70% Eliza realizes she is in love with Melville. I don't like love triangles as it is but this one is particularly troublesome for me. I know they weren't *actually* engaged... yet they literally confess their intentions only for her to turn around and realize (quite suddenly... based on her looking at a painting she did of him...) that she is, indeed, in love with MELVILLE too (or only?). Also, around this point, the cousin confesses her same-sex love for Melville's sister. This just felt inauthentic to me and like a token gay character. In this second sub-plot, Eliza is just like "Oh yeah, I totally see that you guys are in love with each other now that you point it out" without any other comments basically which would be great but not expected at all for the time. Pretty much all my problems with this book is the plot (and pacing). I got to 72% and didn't even want to finish. I had to put the book down because I was so annoyed by all this. I wasn't rooting for Somerset OR Melville at this point. I feel like we had borderline cheating here which I give a 100% NEGATIVE reaction always.
Intrigue/Pacing... I guess the intrigue at the beginning is alright - you really do wonder how it's all going to play out. But the pacing was rough. Very tedious and slow in some parts. Rushed and forced-feeling in others.
Logic/World Building... I don't have much to say here except the regency time period was great.
Enjoyment... Lacked greatly. Even at the beginning, I never felt truly connected to Eliza.
All this to say... I couldn't do it. I wouldn't recommend unless you really love messy love triangles with frustrating characters.
My personal rating system:
2 star rating...
This means that this was better than bad but worse than good. Major issues with something. And, more likely, somethings. Usually a combo of bad writing / characters / plot / content issues. Do not actively recommend.
July 19, 2023
Sophie Irwin has such a delightful writing voice and style! I genuinely enjoyed her second story and can't wait to see what she does in the future!
When a widow with no love for her recently departed husband comes into a surprisingly large sum of money...she decides to throw caution to the wind and invest in herself for once in her very unmemorable life. Now caught up in the excitement of town, and tangled up between her old flame and a new fancy...will she be able to navigate her new life without causing a complete scandal?
This was just so much fun. I listened to this one on audio and found the narration added extra depth and frivolity to each of the characters. I fell in love with one love interest right away and luckily he was end game. My favorite parts were the ones with him in it! I loved how Sophie took a widows historical plight and turned up the antics with it. There was some pretty witty banter that had me laughing to myself and I found myself invested Elizas story!
This book has a wonderful wing woman, pursuing ones passions, a love triangle (haters gon hate but it was a good one), race discrimination, lgbtq handled true to the time, and so much fun banter (had to put it twice). There was a little bit of lag in a few areas for me but overall a very enjoyable experience!
I wonder what guide Sophie will put out next!
**kissing only, intimacy inferred off page, no strong language.
When a widow with no love for her recently departed husband comes into a surprisingly large sum of money...she decides to throw caution to the wind and invest in herself for once in her very unmemorable life. Now caught up in the excitement of town, and tangled up between her old flame and a new fancy...will she be able to navigate her new life without causing a complete scandal?
This was just so much fun. I listened to this one on audio and found the narration added extra depth and frivolity to each of the characters. I fell in love with one love interest right away and luckily he was end game. My favorite parts were the ones with him in it! I loved how Sophie took a widows historical plight and turned up the antics with it. There was some pretty witty banter that had me laughing to myself and I found myself invested Elizas story!
This book has a wonderful wing woman, pursuing ones passions, a love triangle (haters gon hate but it was a good one), race discrimination, lgbtq handled true to the time, and so much fun banter (had to put it twice). There was a little bit of lag in a few areas for me but overall a very enjoyable experience!
I wonder what guide Sophie will put out next!
**kissing only, intimacy inferred off page, no strong language.
August 4, 2024
I’m officially a Sophie Irwin fan! Much like A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting, I loved how this story dives straight into the action. Now a young widow with a fortune, Lady Somerset experiences newfound freedom—though not without the constant threat of scandal.
As she embarks on her new adventures, I enjoyed watching Eliza’s spirit grow while she navigates the prying eyes of society. The mourning etiquette of this period is always so fascinating to me. Adding to the potential scandal is the attention of two suitors: one, a man from her past who haunts her thoughts, and the other, a notorious rake who encourages her to embrace her artistic talents.
Even when the love triangle becomes clear, there’s still a delicious sense of push and pull. I was completely smitten by how it all unfolded.
"Marry me, you darling thing," he said
Though there were moments that felt slow, particularly in the middle, these lulls were more than compensated for by the wonderful friendships and the dramatic ending. I adored it.
(heat level: kissing only)
As she embarks on her new adventures, I enjoyed watching Eliza’s spirit grow while she navigates the prying eyes of society. The mourning etiquette of this period is always so fascinating to me. Adding to the potential scandal is the attention of two suitors: one, a man from her past who haunts her thoughts, and the other, a notorious rake who encourages her to embrace her artistic talents.
Even when the love triangle becomes clear, there’s still a delicious sense of push and pull. I was completely smitten by how it all unfolded.
"Marry me, you darling thing," he said
Though there were moments that felt slow, particularly in the middle, these lulls were more than compensated for by the wonderful friendships and the dramatic ending. I adored it.
(heat level: kissing only)
August 2, 2023
Przy pierwszych stronach obawiałam się, że to będzie raczej nudna książka, ale im dalej tym było coraz lepiej, a pod koniec sama nie wiem, czy nie podobała mi się bardziej niż pierwsza powieści Irwin.
„Towarzyski przewodnik po skandalach” ma bardziej „dojrzałą” historię, nie czuć tu aż tak bardzo klisz, nie jest też tak „trzpiotowata” jak „Towarzyski poradnik dla panien bez posagu”. Bardzo mi się podoba, jak autorka rozegrała tę historię 💙. Jestem zdecydowanie fanką tej serii!
„Towarzyski przewodnik po skandalach” ma bardziej „dojrzałą” historię, nie czuć tu aż tak bardzo klisz, nie jest też tak „trzpiotowata” jak „Towarzyski poradnik dla panien bez posagu”. Bardzo mi się podoba, jak autorka rozegrała tę historię 💙. Jestem zdecydowanie fanką tej serii!
June 25, 2023
A Lady's Guide To Scandal', was a stand alone book in this series and was beyond what I originally expected. I will always be a fan of the FMC spreading her wings and learning who she really is and wants from life. I am quickly becoming a Sophie Irwin fan, and am looking forward to her next book.
August 4, 2023
Having enjoyed Sophie Irwin’s previous title, A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting, I couldn’t wait to dive into this one.
Once more the author took inspiration from Jane Austen, this time opting for Persuasion, and features a heroine who, due to family pressure, had given up the love of her life for a marriage with better social prospect. This husband, much older, dies unexpectedly ten years later and leaves our Eliza with possibilities.
Naturally, being a romance, we’re made to expect the possibility of 'second chances’ and this is touched upon, but Irwin focuses much more on personal development, and on how we all change, develop, and are fallible. Come to think of it, Eliza reminded me a little of her namesake in My Fair Lady /Pygmalion and the way men try to mould her into what they want, until she finally takes charge and makes her own decisions.
The resulting romance might not be to everyone’s taste but I personally didn’t mind it as I enjoyed seeing Eliza grow. I also really appreciated other aspects of the novel, such as the portrayal of the relationship between Eliza and her cousin Margaret, which was beautifully done and mirrored in other characters.
Thank you to Netgalley and to HarperColins for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Once more the author took inspiration from Jane Austen, this time opting for Persuasion, and features a heroine who, due to family pressure, had given up the love of her life for a marriage with better social prospect. This husband, much older, dies unexpectedly ten years later and leaves our Eliza with possibilities.
Naturally, being a romance, we’re made to expect the possibility of 'second chances’ and this is touched upon, but Irwin focuses much more on personal development, and on how we all change, develop, and are fallible. Come to think of it, Eliza reminded me a little of her namesake in My Fair Lady /Pygmalion and the way men try to mould her into what they want, until she finally takes charge and makes her own decisions.
The resulting romance might not be to everyone’s taste but I personally didn’t mind it as I enjoyed seeing Eliza grow. I also really appreciated other aspects of the novel, such as the portrayal of the relationship between Eliza and her cousin Margaret, which was beautifully done and mirrored in other characters.
Thank you to Netgalley and to HarperColins for this ARC in exchange for my review.
February 2, 2024
What in the soap opera was this???
I've actually really enjoyed book 1 and I’m baffled this was written by the same author.
It is a bad take on Persuasion that has a whiny MC who has zero self-awareness and who doesn't own up to ANYTHING she has done. It also has a love triangle with two very unlikable love interests, with one very obviously being the "villain" and not one youre supposed to root for.
Initially I kept having hopes for one of the LIs but the reveal at 75% takes away any last bits of enjoyment i felt and makes me wish the MC had the confidence to ditch both of the guys for someone better. Girl, learn to love yourself.
I've actually really enjoyed book 1 and I’m baffled this was written by the same author.
It is a bad take on Persuasion that has a whiny MC who has zero self-awareness and who doesn't own up to ANYTHING she has done. It also has a love triangle with two very unlikable love interests, with one very obviously being the "villain" and not one youre supposed to root for.
Initially I kept having hopes for one of the LIs but the reveal at 75% takes away any last bits of enjoyment i felt and makes me wish the MC had the confidence to ditch both of the guys for someone better. Girl, learn to love yourself.
September 11, 2023
This would have been a 3 star but what us up with everyone being gay?! I swear, this world is messed up.
May 19, 2023
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
CWs:
Tropes:
Steam level: none
It takes a skilled author to write a book centering a trope I dislike 99% of the time, and make me love it. I really liked A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting, but this one was on another level, and it makes me so excited to see what Irwin's next book is like. This can be read as a standalone without reading the first book in the series, since it follows new characters.
I think the characters and the relationships are a huge part of why this worked so well for me. It's very easy to root for Eliza, our heroine, whose much older husband died and left her a small fortune, hers to spend as long as she behaves with propriety, as judged by the new Earl of Somerset—the man she once loved and hoped to marry. This new, financial freedom allows her to cast off her family's restraints and expectations, and flee to Bath with her cousin Margaret. But she still finds herself struggling between what she wants, and what people expect of her, and of women in general. Luckily, she is aided in this by Margaret, who often encourages her to throw caution to the wind and follow her heart. I loved the strong friendship between them, and the way they supported each other throughout the story.
The first love interest we meet is Somerset, and this relationship delivers all the angst. If you're a fan of Jane Austen's Persuasion, you can definitely see the similarities in the setup. Eliza feels tortured over the decision she made to marry Somerset's uncle for the benefit of her family, and she is sure that Somerset still hates her for it. It becomes clear very quickly that he's not over her decision, but also not over her, and now that she is a widow, there is an opportunity for them to rekindle their romance.
Whereas in A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting, Kitty was the one delivering the snark and humor, this book gives us Melville, who was a delight. The initial meeting between Melville and Eliza quickly turns sour when Eliza overhears him delivering a few cutting insults (very reminiscent of Elizabeth and Darcy, so of course I approve), but he quickly redeems himself, and they strike up a friendship (and more) while Eliza paints Melville's portrait.
It's very easy to root for both love interests, and they have different things going for and against them. The conflicts that arise within the story honestly took me by surprise, but I ate it all up. I found myself favoring one over the other quicker than I expected to, but in this case I wouldn't have hated the outcome either way. I was very happy with the way the book ended, which is all I'll say. If you want to find out who she ends up with, read the book. ;)
CWs:
Tropes:
Steam level: none
It takes a skilled author to write a book centering a trope I dislike 99% of the time, and make me love it. I really liked A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting, but this one was on another level, and it makes me so excited to see what Irwin's next book is like. This can be read as a standalone without reading the first book in the series, since it follows new characters.
I think the characters and the relationships are a huge part of why this worked so well for me. It's very easy to root for Eliza, our heroine, whose much older husband died and left her a small fortune, hers to spend as long as she behaves with propriety, as judged by the new Earl of Somerset—the man she once loved and hoped to marry. This new, financial freedom allows her to cast off her family's restraints and expectations, and flee to Bath with her cousin Margaret. But she still finds herself struggling between what she wants, and what people expect of her, and of women in general. Luckily, she is aided in this by Margaret, who often encourages her to throw caution to the wind and follow her heart. I loved the strong friendship between them, and the way they supported each other throughout the story.
That night, they stayed up into the early hours of the morning, spilling all their thoughts into the darkness between them, small and large and myriad—confidences so grand that not another soul could be trusted with them, trivialities so small that not another soul would be interested in them. And if no conclusions were reached, no solutions divined, then at least by the time they closed their eyes, unable to fight sleep any longer, it was safe in the knowledge that whatever tomorrow brought, they would face it together.
The first love interest we meet is Somerset, and this relationship delivers all the angst. If you're a fan of Jane Austen's Persuasion, you can definitely see the similarities in the setup. Eliza feels tortured over the decision she made to marry Somerset's uncle for the benefit of her family, and she is sure that Somerset still hates her for it. It becomes clear very quickly that he's not over her decision, but also not over her, and now that she is a widow, there is an opportunity for them to rekindle their romance.
Whereas in A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting, Kitty was the one delivering the snark and humor, this book gives us Melville, who was a delight. The initial meeting between Melville and Eliza quickly turns sour when Eliza overhears him delivering a few cutting insults (very reminiscent of Elizabeth and Darcy, so of course I approve), but he quickly redeems himself, and they strike up a friendship (and more) while Eliza paints Melville's portrait.
Melville appeared to regard the floor in some astonishment. “Do be careful where you step, Caro,” he said. “There are a great many names upon the floor.”
It's very easy to root for both love interests, and they have different things going for and against them. The conflicts that arise within the story honestly took me by surprise, but I ate it all up. I found myself favoring one over the other quicker than I expected to, but in this case I wouldn't have hated the outcome either way. I was very happy with the way the book ended, which is all I'll say. If you want to find out who she ends up with, read the book. ;)
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