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Just Like Heaven
(Smythe-Smith Quartet #1)
by
Honoria Smythe-Smith is:
A) a really bad violinist
B) still miffed at being nicknamed "Bug" as a child
C) not in love with her older brother's best friend
D) all of the above
Marcus Holroyd is:
A) the Earl of Chatteris
B) regrettably prone to sprained ankles
C) not in love with his best friend's younger sister
D) all of the above
Together they:
A) eat quite a bit of chocolate cake
B) ...more
A) a really bad violinist
B) still miffed at being nicknamed "Bug" as a child
C) not in love with her older brother's best friend
D) all of the above
Marcus Holroyd is:
A) the Earl of Chatteris
B) regrettably prone to sprained ankles
C) not in love with his best friend's younger sister
D) all of the above
Together they:
A) eat quite a bit of chocolate cake
B) ...more
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Mass Market Paperback, 374 pages
Published
May 31st 2011
by Avon Harper Collins
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Showing 1-30
Start your review of Just Like Heaven (Smythe-Smith Quartet, #1)
Sep 06, 2010
Shawna
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
Fans of JQ's Bridgertons & sweet, fluffy romance
5 stars – Historical/Regency Romance
Warning: May cause fits of giggles resulting in inquisitive stares if in public, an irrepressible smile to stay on your face, and cavities from too much sweetness.
This is such a cute, fun, charming, witty, feel-good read, and it was the perfect cure for my stressful, crummy week. It made me erupt with laughter several times, smile broadly throughout, and sigh in sheer delight at the romantic, sweet ending.
The Bridgertons hold a special place among my hist ...more
Warning: May cause fits of giggles resulting in inquisitive stares if in public, an irrepressible smile to stay on your face, and cavities from too much sweetness.
This is such a cute, fun, charming, witty, feel-good read, and it was the perfect cure for my stressful, crummy week. It made me erupt with laughter several times, smile broadly throughout, and sigh in sheer delight at the romantic, sweet ending.
The Bridgertons hold a special place among my hist ...more
A simple and light romance, which is sometimes just what you need
When I first started reading romances, Julia Quinn was one of my favorite authors and I fell absolutely in love with her Bridgerton series, as I know many other romance readers did as well. The past few years, her books have been uneven for me, so I was a little nervous about picking this one up. The Smythe-Smiths were famous (or infamous is probably more accurate) but would it be what you expect from a Quinn book - a fun and light ...more
When I first started reading romances, Julia Quinn was one of my favorite authors and I fell absolutely in love with her Bridgerton series, as I know many other romance readers did as well. The past few years, her books have been uneven for me, so I was a little nervous about picking this one up. The Smythe-Smiths were famous (or infamous is probably more accurate) but would it be what you expect from a Quinn book - a fun and light ...more
This book made me 
and 
, sometimes 
, sometimes 
, most of the time 
and overall 
The story - Honoria and Marcus have known each other since they were children. They were friends, well, as much as one can be a friend to your brothers BFF. Daniel (the brother) got himself into trouble, and he made Marcus promise to keep an eye on Honoria (in translation: scare off any suitor imaginable, and then some XD).
Honoria is on the other hand quite desperate to find a husband, so she and her cousins plan a ...more
and 
, sometimes 
, sometimes 
, most of the time 
and overall 
The story - Honoria and Marcus have known each other since they were children. They were friends, well, as much as one can be a friend to your brothers BFF. Daniel (the brother) got himself into trouble, and he made Marcus promise to keep an eye on Honoria (in translation: scare off any suitor imaginable, and then some XD).
Honoria is on the other hand quite desperate to find a husband, so she and her cousins plan a ...more
4.5 stars
★★★★½ This book is a delight! Ms. Quinn has managed to take an amusing inside joke from her Bridgertons series, change it into a charming anecdote, then transform it into an enchanting love story, plus make it the start of a developing series. Wow!
After eighteen years, no one attended a Smythe-Smith musical without some inkling of the horrors that lay ahead.Sure, it is a light, fast, fun read. However, the illness Marcus Holroyd, Earl of Chatteris, contracts is no laughing matter. Honoria Smythe ...more
Lisa told me to read this, so of course I dropped everything and read this!
This is a spin-off of the Bridgerton series and I FREAKED when Gregory and Colin made appearances! The Smythe-Smith performances were hilarious in the Bridgerton books, so I was excited to meet that family. Honoria and Marcus have known each other since they were young because Marcus was best friends with her older brother. He was always kind to Honoria and now he's around a lot after Daniel, her brother, runs out of the ...more
This is a spin-off of the Bridgerton series and I FREAKED when Gregory and Colin made appearances! The Smythe-Smith performances were hilarious in the Bridgerton books, so I was excited to meet that family. Honoria and Marcus have known each other since they were young because Marcus was best friends with her older brother. He was always kind to Honoria and now he's around a lot after Daniel, her brother, runs out of the ...more
I am a sucker for a good Regency romance and Julia Quinn definitely writes good ones. I am part way through her Bridgertons series and got side tracked onto this one which is the first in her Smythe-Smith Quartet series. It is related and a couple of the Bridgerton brothers had parts to play.
Quinn writes with a very light touch and her characters are always charming and entertaining. She is also very adept at humorous dialogue and it is easy to laugh out loud at certain moments. I was reading t ...more
Quinn writes with a very light touch and her characters are always charming and entertaining. She is also very adept at humorous dialogue and it is easy to laugh out loud at certain moments. I was reading t ...more
Historical Romances are my book candy and I love them for no sane reason. I can’t even begin to explain why if you put a woman in a corset and make her banter in an uptight and rigid social setting it becomes funnier than in a contemporary romance. Really I should hate books set in a time where a woman’s main goal is to be attractive, virtuous and marry well, but I don’t…I love them. I usually read them in one sitting and love every indulgent filled moment of it.
Just like heaven was my very fir ...more
Just like heaven was my very fir ...more
Review written April 13, 2016
4.2 Stars - Solid good traditional nice historical
Just Like Heaven is the first in a newer HR series by Julia Quinn, a very popular author I have no earliest experience of. (It will be more by her.) — Let's see, this sounded perfect and so it was. Funny, sweet, innocent (you must patiently wait for the kiss) and just as well done as a perfect Regency romance should be.
This is a funny lighthearted funny tale about a (..the world's worst) annual musical performance, y ...more
4.2 Stars - Solid good traditional nice historical
Just Like Heaven is the first in a newer HR series by Julia Quinn, a very popular author I have no earliest experience of. (It will be more by her.) — Let's see, this sounded perfect and so it was. Funny, sweet, innocent (you must patiently wait for the kiss) and just as well done as a perfect Regency romance should be.
This is a funny lighthearted funny tale about a (..the world's worst) annual musical performance, y ...more
Oct 08, 2014
Heather K (dentist in my spare time)
rated it
it was ok
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
narrator-very-good,
historical,
did-not-finish,
m-f,
everyone-else-loves-it,
audiobook,
romance
I love Rosalyn Landor, and she did her best, but this book was endlessly, incredibly boring. So boring that I DNFed the audiobook at 65% or so, which is over 6 hours of listening.
This was my second book by Julia Quinn, and I think I need to hard backtrack and go right to the Bridgertons series because everyone RAVES about those books. I'm hoping that those books are better, not only because I already bought three of them, but because I'll be so disappointed if Julia Quinn isn't for me.
This book ...more
This was the perfect pick-me-upper- beach read. It had all of JQ's humor and trademarks (with a few cameo appearances from characters some of her older books) The book was light and airy and while not as strong as her other books, it did give a great insight into the infamous Smythe-Smith family and their tone-deaf love for music.
The book didn't feel very much like a full length novel as much of the action and story was taken with the heroine nursing back to health the hero and the hero and h ...more
A reread from my earlier high school days. I cried so much. Marcus is my favourite Julia quinn hero.
Lovely, lovely, lovely.
Pros
• Family Theme: There is such a huge emphasis on family and I love it. I have been wanting to learn more about the Smyth-Smith family ever since reading about their quirky, non-musically-gifted family in Julia Quinn’s other series. This book has some funny moments and some heartwarming moments. In particular, I adore seeing Honoria being friends with her cousins who are part of the music quartet with her. They are such a silly, adorable group of girls. In addition, the ...more
Pros
• Family Theme: There is such a huge emphasis on family and I love it. I have been wanting to learn more about the Smyth-Smith family ever since reading about their quirky, non-musically-gifted family in Julia Quinn’s other series. This book has some funny moments and some heartwarming moments. In particular, I adore seeing Honoria being friends with her cousins who are part of the music quartet with her. They are such a silly, adorable group of girls. In addition, the ...more
“Yum! Who would have thought that sweet tarts and chocolates can make love so heavenly!”
I have been reading so many historical romance novels that I must have read almost every one, mainly works from Lisa Kleypas, Teresa Medeiros and Jennifer Ashley. But, this is the first novel I have read from Julia Quinn and it is called “Just Like Heaven.” Actually, “Just Like Heaven” is Julia Quinn’s most recent book to date, so I had the pleasure of reading one of Julia Quinn’s books.
The story starts ...more
I have been reading so many historical romance novels that I must have read almost every one, mainly works from Lisa Kleypas, Teresa Medeiros and Jennifer Ashley. But, this is the first novel I have read from Julia Quinn and it is called “Just Like Heaven.” Actually, “Just Like Heaven” is Julia Quinn’s most recent book to date, so I had the pleasure of reading one of Julia Quinn’s books.
The story starts ...more
May 13, 2011
Carolyn Storer
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
romance-historical,
book-list-2011
I have a bit of a soft spot for historical romance since I began reading the genre last year, but I'd never read one of the most loved authors within this genre. I have heard from many sources that Quinn is a wonderful writer and now having read a novel I couldn't agree more.
"Just Like Heaven" is brilliantly written and just so witty. It's sparkly, lively and funny. The writing is smooth and the dialogue realistic, so much so I didn't realise how many pages I had read before I realised I had nea ...more
"Just Like Heaven" is brilliantly written and just so witty. It's sparkly, lively and funny. The writing is smooth and the dialogue realistic, so much so I didn't realise how many pages I had read before I realised I had nea ...more
This is really a comedy much more than a romance. The book is hilarious. However, if you are reading it for kissing, and romance, and sex, you are barking up the wrong tree. This is a fluffy, sweet, very funny story in which two people happen to fall in love.
Marcus Holroyd, Earl of Chatteris, grew up with no mother and a distant father. Luckily he was sent away to school when he was 12, where he met his best friend Daniel.
Daniel has a lot of sisters, most notably one 5 years younger than Marcus, ...more
Marcus Holroyd, Earl of Chatteris, grew up with no mother and a distant father. Luckily he was sent away to school when he was 12, where he met his best friend Daniel.
Daniel has a lot of sisters, most notably one 5 years younger than Marcus, ...more
Bah! .. whatever happened to JQ??? She is known to write on the lit end of historical genre, but sincerely, the story left me ... hmm. empty. lacking.
I liked he fact that Marcus and Honoria have known each other through childhood. their bantering,and how comfortable they were around each other was the number one factor i kept reading the book.The story however,was just FLAT (to me).
the redundant, self-doubting train of thought from the characters drove me I-N-S-A-N-E. I supposed she tried to ma ...more
I liked he fact that Marcus and Honoria have known each other through childhood. their bantering,and how comfortable they were around each other was the number one factor i kept reading the book.The story however,was just FLAT (to me).
the redundant, self-doubting train of thought from the characters drove me I-N-S-A-N-E. I supposed she tried to ma ...more
“He’d spent his life being a perfect gentleman. He’d never been a flirt. He’d never been a rogue. He hated being the center of attention, but by God, he wanted to be the center of her attention.”
Friends to lovers at it’s finest! This book was so cute, and despite some of the darker moments, it was a relatively fun and light read!
After so many books in this literary world, you’d think that the protagonists would start to become repetitive, but Honoria was a completely unique and intriguing c ...more
This was okay, a simple romantic story with little plot, but with some witty and funny dialogues, that more than once brings a smile to your face. Also, the characters are nice.
The romance happens too fast, I would have liked Marcus to have had to fight a little more for Honoria, to win her over with more attention and charm, I found it a bit easy the way these two get together, some more passion wouldn't have been so bad.
But it's Julia Quinn, and you know I fall in love in her series the "Britg ...more
The romance happens too fast, I would have liked Marcus to have had to fight a little more for Honoria, to win her over with more attention and charm, I found it a bit easy the way these two get together, some more passion wouldn't have been so bad.
But it's Julia Quinn, and you know I fall in love in her series the "Britg ...more
Nov 26, 2010
Eastofoz
rated it
really liked it
Recommends it for:
Bridgerton series style fans
Shelves:
historical-regency,
2011
If you liked Quinn’s Bridgerton family series and you’re looking for a new comfort read series, then this oughta do it. “Just Like Heaven” had everything I love about Julia Quinn’s novels: fantastic dialog, the focus is on the h/h, lots of witty humor and well-drawn characters. Quinn is one of the few historical romance authors out there whose books actually sound like a historical and the tone remains consistent throughout the book.
The h/h (Marcus and Honoria) start off as friends of sorts from ...more
The h/h (Marcus and Honoria) start off as friends of sorts from ...more
Dec 15, 2010
Suzanne (Under the Covers Book blog)
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Come see my review @ Under the Covers
Having read everything that Julia Quinn has written I was very much looking forward to starting a series about the famous (or is it infamous?) Smythe-Smith. If you have read any of her books you would have heard about the Smythe-Smith Musicale the most anticipated and by that I mean dreaded social event in the ton calander. Honoria Smith-Smythe plays the violin, terribly ofcourse in true Smythe-Smith tradition, in the quartet and she hopes that this will be h ...more
Having read everything that Julia Quinn has written I was very much looking forward to starting a series about the famous (or is it infamous?) Smythe-Smith. If you have read any of her books you would have heard about the Smythe-Smith Musicale the most anticipated and by that I mean dreaded social event in the ton calander. Honoria Smith-Smythe plays the violin, terribly ofcourse in true Smythe-Smith tradition, in the quartet and she hopes that this will be h ...more
This is why I love Julia Quinn books: I laughed, I cried, and then I laughed so hard I cried.
As always, the dedication to her husband is worth the price of admission alone. I won't spoil that for you. ;)
On p. 57 (of this edition), was the first bit that made me laugh out loud:
It was 11 pages later that we found out what she was up to. And 10 pages after ...more
As always, the dedication to her husband is worth the price of admission alone. I won't spoil that for you. ;)
On p. 57 (of this edition), was the first bit that made me laugh out loud:
And Honoria had a plan. It wasn't terribly complicated; she needed only a sunny day, a halfway acceptable sense of direction, and a shovel.
It was 11 pages later that we found out what she was up to. And 10 pages after ...more
3.5 – 4 Stars
Julia Quinn is one of those authors I try to read all of her books. You start the first book of the series and then you sort of just get sucked in. I’ve read all the books from the Bridgertons series and I like that one better. I find it a little more well-rounded and steamer!
I don’t need my historical romances smutty, but this one was really tame. I’m not sure I could consider it a slow burn because in my opinion there wasn’t any lead up. What I did like about the book was that it ...more
Julia Quinn is one of those authors I try to read all of her books. You start the first book of the series and then you sort of just get sucked in. I’ve read all the books from the Bridgertons series and I like that one better. I find it a little more well-rounded and steamer!
I don’t need my historical romances smutty, but this one was really tame. I’m not sure I could consider it a slow burn because in my opinion there wasn’t any lead up. What I did like about the book was that it ...more
4.5 Stars
This is the first of a quartet where Quinn explores the inner workings of the Smythe-Smith family and their infamous musicales. In this book, we meet Lady Honoria Smythe-Smith who plays violin in the musicale and Marcus Holroyd, Earl of Chatteris. Marcus is the best friend of Honoria's older brother Daniel who is living in exile in Italy for reasons that are explained in the first few chapters. Daniel and Marcus have been friends for years and Marcus has become a type of surrogate son f ...more
This is the first of a quartet where Quinn explores the inner workings of the Smythe-Smith family and their infamous musicales. In this book, we meet Lady Honoria Smythe-Smith who plays violin in the musicale and Marcus Holroyd, Earl of Chatteris. Marcus is the best friend of Honoria's older brother Daniel who is living in exile in Italy for reasons that are explained in the first few chapters. Daniel and Marcus have been friends for years and Marcus has become a type of surrogate son f ...more
By sheer luck, I got an early copy of Just Like Heaven and immediately read it when I received it in the mail yesterday. And it was great!
In the Bridgertons series, I always got the impression that the Smythe-Smith girls were a little boring and not... bright. But it turns out, they're just the opposite! I had so much fun learning about Honoria Smythe-Smith and her family and the very, very large number of cousins. Geez, this family is big.
Honoria and Marcus together are adorable and I love thei ...more
In the Bridgertons series, I always got the impression that the Smythe-Smith girls were a little boring and not... bright. But it turns out, they're just the opposite! I had so much fun learning about Honoria Smythe-Smith and her family and the very, very large number of cousins. Geez, this family is big.
Honoria and Marcus together are adorable and I love thei ...more
![[Aengell]](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1431033477p2/7221205.jpg)
5 sweet, sweet, sweet, lovely BR with Iliada stars
I wasn’t a big fan of “known each other a lifetime”, “friends to lovers” themes, but Julia Quinn hooked me up.
This story was so enticing, charming, cute and romantic, that I felt all giddy inside. It wasn’t dragging at all, and there were many many cousins, mothers and great-great-aunts on the side who created a big, chaotic mess of secondary characters who were just adorable .
The main characters, Honoria and Marcus, were too sweet to be tru ...more
I wasn’t a big fan of “known each other a lifetime”, “friends to lovers” themes, but Julia Quinn hooked me up.
This story was so enticing, charming, cute and romantic, that I felt all giddy inside. It wasn’t dragging at all, and there were many many cousins, mothers and great-great-aunts on the side who created a big, chaotic mess of secondary characters who were just adorable .
The main characters, Honoria and Marcus, were too sweet to be tru ...more
Every girl loves a brooding bad boy! Marcus, the hero in this book, is a little Mr. Darcyish with his standoffish behavior and withering stares. But, then our heroine realizes that he is just shy and socially awkward. (see? Mr. Darcy) Imagine Mr. Darcy with a sense of humor. I love the dry sarcastic wit in these books.
Aside from the romance is the extremely funny Smythe-Smith musicale jokes. From the Bridgerton series, these shows are already legendary, and it is super fun to read about them fro ...more
Aside from the romance is the extremely funny Smythe-Smith musicale jokes. From the Bridgerton series, these shows are already legendary, and it is super fun to read about them fro ...more
After a two weeks of trying to read other books, I had to admit myself that I was still emotionally #REKT by finishing up the Bridgerton series last month. Thus, it was back to Julia Quinn and the Bridgerton literary universe for me.
That turned out to be a good decision.
Just Like Heaven is an odd book in some ways. It's 100% a slooooow burn and has some strange pacing (and it definitely lacks on the steam side), but I loved the brother's best friend/best friend's sister and friends-to-lovers vib ...more
That turned out to be a good decision.
Just Like Heaven is an odd book in some ways. It's 100% a slooooow burn and has some strange pacing (and it definitely lacks on the steam side), but I loved the brother's best friend/best friend's sister and friends-to-lovers vib ...more
The perfect piece of audio-fluff for when - as I am - you're laid up in bed with a stinking cold and can't read a book because it makes your eyes ache!
It's classic JQ - light-hearted, with plenty of witty dialogue; and it contains one of my favourite tropes, the "friends-to-lovers" one.
Lady Honoria has known Marcus Holroyd since she was a child. He's her big brother's best friend, the only child of an only child who has been given the best of everything in life - except familial life and affecti ...more
It's classic JQ - light-hearted, with plenty of witty dialogue; and it contains one of my favourite tropes, the "friends-to-lovers" one.
Lady Honoria has known Marcus Holroyd since she was a child. He's her big brother's best friend, the only child of an only child who has been given the best of everything in life - except familial life and affecti ...more
Huh… I honestly don’t know what I just read. So little actually happened in Just Like Heaven that’s its almost not worth writing a review in the first place. It’s almost worse to not give enough of a shit to even hate it. It doesn’t provoke any emotion in me whatsoever. I don’t think this has ever really happened to me before…
I think mainly I can’t believe what I read counted as a book. It’s nearly 400 pages long and approximately 100 of those pages are about Honoria taking care of Marcus while ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turning Pages At ...: Just Like Heaven (Smythe-Smith Quartet #1) (HR Buddy Read) by Julia Quinn | 30 | 21 | Feb 27, 2021 08:58AM | |
| What's the Name o...: SOLVED. Historical Regency Romance - Heroine dug holes and hero got hurt. [s] | 5 | 49 | Jul 01, 2020 05:21PM | |
| Historical Romanc...: BOTM - July, 2019 - Just Like Heaven | 33 | 61 | Jul 28, 2019 06:28PM | |
| Nothing But Readi...: Quinn, Julia-- Just Like Heaven informal buddy read starts June 30, 2018 | 26 | 154 | Jul 12, 2018 11:39AM | |
| Por más libros para Latinoamérica! | 1 | 1 | Jul 20, 2015 05:42PM | |
| Madison Mega-Mara...: Books 1-3 of Julia Quinn's Smythe-Smith Quartet | 1 | 2 | Nov 27, 2013 03:00PM |
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#1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn loves to dispel the myth that smart women don't read (or write) romance, and and if you watch reruns of the game show The Weakest Link you might just catch her winning the $79,000 jackpot. She displayed a decided lack of knowledge about baseball, country music, and plush toys, but she is proud to say that she aced all things British and literary, an
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2 trivia questions
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“He’d spent his life being a perfect gentleman. He’d never been a flirt. He’d never been a rogue. He hated being the center of attention, but by God, he wanted to be the center of her attention. He wanted to do the wrong thing, the bad thing. He wanted to pull her into his arms and carry her to her bed. He wanted to peel every last inch of her clothing from her body, and then he wanted to worship her. He wanted to show her all the things he wasn’t sure he knew how to say.”
—
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“No. Haven’t you been listening?”
Marcus would always remember that moment. It was to be the first time he would ever be faced with that most vexing of female quirks: the question that had nothing but wrong answers.”
—
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More quotes…
Marcus would always remember that moment. It was to be the first time he would ever be faced with that most vexing of female quirks: the question that had nothing but wrong answers.”
