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yourbookishbff's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-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
3.0
This has to be the least angsty romance I've read by Sherry Thomas (and I've read most of her backlist). It is almost evenly split between two storylines - the primary romance between a bastard heir and the outcast lady-turned-chef he falls in love with... and a secondary romance between his secretary and betrothed. While I initially enjoyed the hidden identity/mysterious past conflict at play for our female main character, I lost patience with the storyline around the midway point. There were so many obtuse delays in the reveal, and because the conflict never felt particularly high stakes, the end didn't justify the means. And my hopes were a bit dashed for our secondary characters, as early hints to their histories suggested we might have a unique pairing, and ultimately the reveals were disappointing for me and made their storyline fairly typical. That said, Sherry's writing never fails to impress me, so even when the story is a bit of a miss, I don't regret time spent in her worlds.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Misogyny, and Sexual content
Moderate: Pregnancy and Suicidal thoughts
heydebigale's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-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
5.0
A Cinderella retelling with not one but TWO romances with a hint of magical realism?! Loved it.
This Cinderella Story is a bit more heartbreaking than others that I read, but it felt like Sherry Thomas thought about how the Cinderella story would actually play out in reality & wrote that instead:
"I thought Cinderella was always gentle and kind and uncomplaining?"
"...It is because these tales have been written by men, men who have never spent so much as an hour in the kitchen. The real Cinderella curses, smokes, and drinks a bit too much. Her feet hurt, her back hurts, and she's resentful. She would like her pumpkin coach to run over the Wicked Stepmother. And Prince Toad too, if possible."
This was a book with two primary romances, but it was also a story about a woman who would do anything for her son, even if it meant sacrificing her happiness. The relationship between Verity/Vera and her son Michael had me in tears multiple times.
This book was Delicious. :) But seriously, the food descriptions were powerful?! Like, I wanted to eat absolutely everything in this book. Sherry Thomas is so good about writing food both here and the Lady Sherlock series.
This Cinderella Story is a bit more heartbreaking than others that I read, but it felt like Sherry Thomas thought about how the Cinderella story would actually play out in reality & wrote that instead:
"I thought Cinderella was always gentle and kind and uncomplaining?"
"...It is because these tales have been written by men, men who have never spent so much as an hour in the kitchen. The real Cinderella curses, smokes, and drinks a bit too much. Her feet hurt, her back hurts, and she's resentful. She would like her pumpkin coach to run over the Wicked Stepmother. And Prince Toad too, if possible."
This was a book with two primary romances, but it was also a story about a woman who would do anything for her son, even if it meant sacrificing her happiness. The relationship between Verity/Vera and her son Michael had me in tears multiple times.
This book was Delicious. :) But seriously, the food descriptions were powerful?! Like, I wanted to eat absolutely everything in this book. Sherry Thomas is so good about writing food both here and the Lady Sherlock series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
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