Scan barcode
A review by allisonwonderlandreads
It Takes Two to Tumble by Cat Sebastian
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Captain Philip Dacre is returning home from a two-year ocean voyage to his children, who have now been without their mother for a year. Though letters have warned him his once obedient children have run wild in the absence of his wife, Philip is convinced his Captain Von Trapp routine of training his children into military-style submission will return them to their former glory. After all, he has a whole ship that obeys his orders, and children can't be much different. Right?
Vicar Ben Sedgwick is about to be married to his best friend, Alice. He's worried about her declining health after a fever stole her mobility. Other than that, he's content with his provincial life and doesn't want it disrupted by anything... or anyone. His future father-in-law volunteers Ben for the role of preparing the Dacre children for their father's arrival since they've effectively scared off relatives, governesses, and tutors who could do the job. Since he effectively raised his younger brothers, Ben has a lot of experience he can bring to bear. In fact... is this whole thing a Sound of Music remix? Because a sunny vicar who brings joy to children even when it's not precisely appropriate to the supposed gravity of his position could sound like a nun of the same flavor. But I digress.
This is a fast-paced romance that packs in Sebastian's trademark humor and societal critiques. There are necessarily religious components through Ben's position, and I think it's handled thoughtfully, especially in its relationship to his queerness. There are also some opportunities to reflect on how we view and experience disability. Philip has been hiding his dyslexia ever since his father shamed him for it as a child. But now that his own son is dealing with the same struggle, there's an opportunity to break the cycle. Furthermore, you can expect Alice to take Ben to task for his well-meaning but ultimately pitying view of her condition. There's no cringe-y magic wand to fix what she suffers, and she gets a happily ever after all the same. Finally, as Ben embraces his identity as a gay man-- something that's never shamed him but which he thought couldn't lead to anything-- he gains new insight into his parents' poly arrangement that once frustrated him. By finding joy outside social norms himself, he gains empathy that he once had in short supply.
Despite the wide variety of topics covered, Sebastian knows how to keep a story light and enjoyable. The social commentary adds to the depth of the story while leaving all the feels we love in a good romance at the forefront.
Vicar Ben Sedgwick is about to be married to his best friend, Alice. He's worried about her declining health after a fever stole her mobility. Other than that, he's content with his provincial life and doesn't want it disrupted by anything... or anyone. His future father-in-law volunteers Ben for the role of preparing the Dacre children for their father's arrival since they've effectively scared off relatives, governesses, and tutors who could do the job. Since he effectively raised his younger brothers, Ben has a lot of experience he can bring to bear. In fact... is this whole thing a Sound of Music remix? Because a sunny vicar who brings joy to children even when it's not precisely appropriate to the supposed gravity of his position could sound like a nun of the same flavor. But I digress.
This is a fast-paced romance that packs in Sebastian's trademark humor and societal critiques. There are necessarily religious components through Ben's position, and I think it's handled thoughtfully, especially in its relationship to his queerness. There are also some opportunities to reflect on how we view and experience disability. Philip has been hiding his dyslexia ever since his father shamed him for it as a child. But now that his own son is dealing with the same struggle, there's an opportunity to break the cycle. Furthermore, you can expect Alice to take Ben to task for his well-meaning but ultimately pitying view of her condition. There's no cringe-y magic wand to fix what she suffers, and she gets a happily ever after all the same. Finally, as Ben embraces his identity as a gay man-- something that's never shamed him but which he thought couldn't lead to anything-- he gains new insight into his parents' poly arrangement that once frustrated him. By finding joy outside social norms himself, he gains empathy that he once had in short supply.
Despite the wide variety of topics covered, Sebastian knows how to keep a story light and enjoyable. The social commentary adds to the depth of the story while leaving all the feels we love in a good romance at the forefront.