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intensej's review
3.0
The Marquess of Wrenworth, Felix Rivendale, has a difficult childhood where his mother and father never show him any love. After his parents pass away, he decides that he will never make himself vulnerable and fall in love. He is drawn to Louisa Cantwell because he can tell that she is putting on a fake persona in order to find a husband. I liked the premise of this book, but the writing was too over the top and felt jarring at times. This is my first time reading anything by Sherry Thomas. The book was spicier than I expected. I enjoyed the detailed descriptions of mathematics and astronomy. Louisa has always loved astronomy, and Wrenworth begins to teach her calculus. The ableist descriptions of Louisa's sister with epilepsy was terrible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Ableism
yuna's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Liked the banter and that this wasn't as stuffy as Regency romances can tend to be. I initially liked how Louisa and Felix fell in lust and were frank about it, but their relationship for so much of the book revolved around sex. I love a steamy book, but I was also hoping for there to be more romance to it. The relationship building came at the end, so it felt kind of rushed. Their big fight didn't have the weight I was hoping for in part because they were lacking that development.
Didn't feel like the characters had much development either. Felix got the better treatment there in that the prologue establishes his character and reasons for acting the way he does in an empathetic way. Louisa's family, the people she purportedly loves enough to take on the burden of trying to save, are hardly in the book. Matilda seems only to exist to make Louisa seem noble and self-sacrificing--the able-bodied sister with a heart of gold to save the poor invalid. (We do see Matilda briefly and at least she's the most level-headed of the Cantwells, but the disability rep in the book isn't great.)
Didn't feel like the characters had much development either. Felix got the better treatment there in that the prologue establishes his character and reasons for acting the way he does in an empathetic way. Louisa's family, the people she purportedly loves enough to take on the burden of trying to save, are hardly in the book. Matilda seems only to exist to make Louisa seem noble and self-sacrificing--the able-bodied sister with a heart of gold to save the poor invalid. (We do see Matilda briefly and at least she's the most level-headed of the Cantwells, but the disability rep in the book isn't great.)
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death and Ableism
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