Reviews with content warning for Classism - Knockout

Reviews tagging 'Classism'

purplepenning's review

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

Ah, Imogen — "a vigilante with a penchant for chemistry and explosives… Perhaps she'd get herself a dog to carry about in her carpetbag. She could call it something delightful. Like Pyroglycerine."

Love these characters but the story was a little slow, repetitive, and predictable for me.

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shadowmaster13's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Now that I've had some time to think, I feel that for a book tackling so much I dislike MacLean's signature hero thinking he's not good enough for the heroine when society agrees with him.
I think Imogene is allowed to skate on the privilege of her position which really stinks since her approach to

the one downside of being a lady, namely expectations of marriage, is that she ignores it and the plot bears out that it was never a threat.

Tommy is a cop with the power of that position and he gives it up. Imogene never seems to even have to acknowledge her power. It feels like ignoring that class intersection.

I wish MacLean had sat with her discomfort over Tommy getting dressed up a little longer rather than just cutting the scene because it gets to the heart of this problem.

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bibliomania_express's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Knockout by Sarah MacLean is the third entry in the Hell's Belles series, and it brings all the banter, charm, danger, and romance you could want. I adored Tommy and Imogen, who have been dancing around each other since book one. Tommy is a detective, torn between law and justice, and trying ever so hard to resist our explosive Imogen because he's low-born. Imogen, meanwhile, has never felt good enough, considered too odd by Society, including her brother. But that doesn't stop her from hunting down a bomber and fighting for what she wants.

The banter between Tommy and Imogen is top notch, and I laughed out loud numerous times. I also liked that this book delves into the meaning of justice and how it intersects with class and gender in different ways. While MacLean's books always feel bright and boisterous, she doesn't shy away from digging into the dark underbelly in a way that reflects our modern landscape.

I had a lot of fun with this book. I did guess the bad guy, but only because a lack of options coupled with the necessary enotional impact made it obvious. I do think the end reveal was a bit rushed.

I'm very intrigued by the final pages and what they hint at for Duchess's book.

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overflowingshelf's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

CW: Sexism; classism; fire/explosions

After being a bit let down by Heartbreaker, I was worried that Knockout wouldn’t live up to the hype. But, oh my god, was this such a fun, exhilarating ride with an explosively sexy romance! I loved the vibes of Tommy and Imogen’s relationship – it feels like Sarah MacLean watched Miss Scarlet and the Duke and thought, “But what if they HAVE SEX?” and I was HERE FOR IT.

Believe the hype – the romance in this is 🔥🔥🔥. I absolutely could not get enough of Tommy and Imogen. They’re both so far gone for each other, and I LOVED how she could perfectly get under his skin and push his buttons. The chemistry and banter between them was electric, and I was living for the scenes with the two of them. Tommy has no idea what he’s in for with Imogen, as she’s constantly trying his patience, but we all know he secretly loves her. But once they kiss, there is no denying the explosion between them. This book is incredibly sexy, as Imogen and Tommy want each other so badly, but it’s also incredibly romantic. The emotions between them were so genuine, lush, and raw. The relationship developed perfectly, and seeing these two fall in love and find their perfect match felt exhilarating.

Tommy really does go BOOM 💥 in this book. Tommy has this perfectly ordered life and thrives on routine, yet Imogen tends to bring chaos, disorder, and the unexpected with her. He’s thoroughly exasperated by Imogen but in the best possible way. And Tommy cannot help but be intrigued by her as he knows she is brilliant and she’s helped him with a case more than once. He’s got a very strong moral compass and believes in justice, and wants to help those who need it. Growing up in the East End of London, he’s worked hard to get to where he is as one of the best Detective Inspectors in Scotland Yard. He’s got this hard and rigid exterior, but he so easily comes undone by Imogen. I also loved how protective and loyal he is to those he cares about, even if that does get tested. However, I also wanted to shake him at times as he gets it into his head that he is so inferior to Lady Imogen and she would never want a man like him. He’s so stubborn on this point, and I was just like, BOY, GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR BUTT because Imogen is the last person in the world who cares about class.

I was so excited to learn more about Imogen, as she always was a bit on the periphery in the other books in the series. We knew she had a knack for explosives and tended to show up in the most unlikely situations, but I couldn’t wait to dive into her backstory. I absolutely loved her once I got to know her. Imogen’s always been told she’s “too much” and odd. My heart ached for a bit as she was on her own after her father died, as her brother is 100% the opposite of her and seems to take no interest in her. It wasn’t until she found the Belles that she found her place. There is no denying that Imogen is brilliant, and if she was a man, she would have been celebrated instead of looked down upon for her scientific interests. I love how hard she is willing to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves and how strongly she believes in the work she is doing with the Belles. And I am so glad she found Tommy, as he’s never seen her as “too much” and loves her for exactly who she is.

Outside our main couple, I loved all the scenes we got with the rest of the Belles. I felt Heartbreaker was missing some of that, and it was so good to see the friendship and camaraderie between these women. That friendship is really at the heart of the series, as all four of our gals are outsiders in their own way, but they’ve found their family together. I also adored seeing Caleb and Clayborn again and how seamlessly they fit into the group. Tommy’s about to be the perfect addition to the group.

Now outside the romance, I loved the plot of this! We get a bit of mystery as Tommy and the Belles are trying to figure out who is behind three explosions of businesses that were secretly helping women and others in need. I loved how seamlessly the mystery and romance were intertwined in this – neither seemed to overpower the other. The plot also helped reinforce the Miss Scarlet and the Duke vibes for me (if you’ve seen season 1, the mystery will feel a bit familiar in the end). I also thought the story’s pacing was spot on in this book – the action heightened the tension at times, but the story also knew when to slow down and take a beat to let the emotional moments shine. And oh my gosh, that ending makes me so excited for the final book in the series, as I cannot wait to learn more about the Duchess.

Like most of MacLean’s recent books, this is a thoroughly feminist and empowering story. Her work definitely feels more modern than some other authors, but I don’t mind that. I love how she draws inspiration from real women in history who were fighting for equal rights and protections of marginalized communities – things we are, unfortunately, still fighting for today – as it helps to show that these are not modern ideals plopped in a historical setting.

Knockout was hot, it was emotional, it was action-packed, and it was everything I wanted from a Sarah MacLean novel. I was blown away by how much I enjoyed this, and I could not wait to sit down and read each night. I had a massive grin on my face the whole time while reading it. Sarah MacLean delivered a worthy story for Tommy and Imogen – fans of the series who have been waiting for their book will NOT be disappointed.

Thank you to Avon/Netgalley for the ARC. All thoughts, ideas, and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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uranaishi's review

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adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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katelynnelawson's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Tommy, a detective, and Imogen, a vigilante and part of the Hell’s Belles, have been circling one another since they met fourteen months ago. Both are investigating a series of explosions in the East End targeting vulnerable women pushing back against society. They’ve been attracted to one another from the get-go, but Imogen is unsure whether she can trust someone who works for the corrupt police, especially as she grows certain they are tied to the crimes. When Imogen realizes that putting herself on the marriage mart (temporarily) could help the Belles get to the root of who is committing these atrocious crimes, Tommy offers his services to her brother to be her guard. Imogen is often in dangerous situations due to the nature of her connection with the Belles and her love of explosions, and while she can hold her own, Tommy has rescued her a time or three. Guarding her will also serve as an opportunity to find out what she knows that Tommy doesn’t. While Tommy doesn’t make the best guard (Imogen does what Imogen wants), the close proximity has these two with their hands and mouths all over one another. And when ultimately they realize their feelings are the real thing, Tommy struggles with accepting that as someone working class, he is worthy of the upper class woman he views as a goddess. But when Imogen steps up and saves Tommy when his own men turn on him, the two learn to fully trust not only each other but that the love between them can withstand anything.

This is a beautiful and sexy story that had me in my emotions. I love how much this series shows found family, even with people like Tommy who have a close family of their own. There is always room to welcome more love in your life and you are always worthy of it. I also thought the discussion about the corruption in politics and the justice system feels timelessly relevant, and about how even good people in these sectors are complicit. Tommy’s deep belief in justice shifting its meaning over the course of the book was interesting. And Imogen is so cool! She’s fearless, intelligent, and has a big heart. Any girl who has ever felt like “too much” will see themselves in her and it’s heartwarming to see her with friends and a love match that like her just as she is - or want even more from her!

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