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kaygee_reads's review
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
danadoesbooks's review against another edition
Thank you Harper Perennial for the ARC of The Royal Correspondent. All opinions in this review are my own.
This is the third book in a row that I have DNFed so I'm starting to think the problem is me. I made it 8% through this book before stopping. I thought that because the book is called The Royal Correspondent, it would take place in London (which is my own fault for not rereading the back). The beginning takes place in Australia with no trip to England in sight. I stopped reading when I realized I was just rushing to get to this part because I don't know how far into it I would have to read to get there. The synopsis sounds so good but I think I'm just too impatient to wait for the story to catch up to it. I'm also a little bit worried that the synopsis gives too much away.
claudine2's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
5.0
I liked this book. I haven't read much about this time period, journalism or about Australia.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting and Toxic relationship
Minor: Suicide, Homophobia, Car accident, Alcohol, Rape, Sexual content, and Infidelity
whatjuliareads's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I just did not enjoy this one. The premise and the plot are really interesting, but I just found their execution lacklustre at best. I expected more about women in journalism, more about what was going on at the papers, but the whole newspaper angle to this thing read like a lens to see Blaise's increasingly bizarre "love" triangle through.
My biggest criticism sums up most of my issues: Everything was so surface level. It meant that the stakes never seemed high and problems were played out very conveniently. We have moments where there are these seemingly dramatic things happening, but they don't matter until it's convenient for the narrator. The narrator doesn't really have to struggle with anything because she's so exceptional. And so on and so forth.
On the other hand, the fashion writing was very entertaining. I do love some good vintage fashion and the book delivered on that. Though the author and narrator majorly play down the importance of any woman other than Blaise, I enjoyed the fact that Dora and Harriet were pivotal in how things played out. With zero credit to them, naturally. The writing itself was fine, it seemed well edited, efforts were made to do some interesting things, it just fell flat.
My final point is just a general ick - race and sexuality were played off in this only insofar as it was convenient to tell the reader that Blaise isn't racist or homophobic.
My biggest criticism sums up most of my issues: Everything was so surface level. It meant that the stakes never seemed high and problems were played out very conveniently. We have moments where there are these seemingly dramatic things happening, but they don't matter until it's convenient for the narrator. The narrator doesn't really have to struggle with anything because she's so exceptional. And so on and so forth.
On the other hand, the fashion writing was very entertaining. I do love some good vintage fashion and the book delivered on that. Though the author and narrator majorly play down the importance of any woman other than Blaise, I enjoyed the fact that Dora and Harriet were pivotal in how things played out. With zero credit to them, naturally. The writing itself was fine, it seemed well edited, efforts were made to do some interesting things, it just fell flat.
My final point is just a general ick - race and sexuality were played off in this only insofar as it was convenient to tell the reader that Blaise isn't racist or homophobic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Chronic illness, Sexual harassment, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Xenophobia
nightlyreadandtea's review
4.0
I was pleasantly surprised by The Royal Correspondent. Typically I’m not attracted to period pieces but there was something about Blaise’s story that attracted me, and the cover was so simple and elegant I had to give it a read! Thanks to NetGalley I was able to read this beauty!
Blaise is a very strong, interesting, and overall wonderful female lead with dreams of becoming a respected journalist. When presented the opportunity that could make her career she takes it, but not all is sunshine and rainbows in London.
What I love most is how real this novel feels. Blaise makes mistakes, overcomes adversity, deals with heartache, just as any person would and it’s awesome to see such an authentic representation of that in literature.
I’ve already recommended this book to several people, and I’m recommending it officially here! I hope everyone loves this story and the world Joel builds. While it is of course historical fiction, the references to real world people makes the novel fun and engaging for the reader. I had a lot of fun reading this and I’m thinking about starting Joel’s other work, The Paris Model next!
Blaise is a very strong, interesting, and overall wonderful female lead with dreams of becoming a respected journalist. When presented the opportunity that could make her career she takes it, but not all is sunshine and rainbows in London.
What I love most is how real this novel feels. Blaise makes mistakes, overcomes adversity, deals with heartache, just as any person would and it’s awesome to see such an authentic representation of that in literature.
I’ve already recommended this book to several people, and I’m recommending it officially here! I hope everyone loves this story and the world Joel builds. While it is of course historical fiction, the references to real world people makes the novel fun and engaging for the reader. I had a lot of fun reading this and I’m thinking about starting Joel’s other work, The Paris Model next!
ambgs's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
While an ok book it was just too long. It could have ended halfway through.
pavedwithbookss's review against another edition
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
caseyjayner's review against another edition
4.0
Sweet, story-driven book. Obvious and entertaining and loosely historic- see notes at the end for parts drawn from history. Worth my time, but not life changing literature. Without lyrical finesse by way of metaphor, allegory, or strong themes but I wasn’t expecting those.