ac

This takeoff of Sense and Sensibility is so subtly and skillfully done that I would probably not have clocked it as a takeoff at all on the first reading if the front cover and character names hadn't telegraphed it. Which is not a complaint! I don't come across books in the romance space that are written with such clear literary sensibilities, especially with such (fantastic) spicy scenes included. As someone who very much enjoys that sort of thing I found this glorious. (The first chapter of this book especially is in and of itself Literature and should be taught in college classes. It's that good.)

Started this months ago and now I'm remembering why I didn't finish it then. I think I might have been able to find more sympathy for the whiny, complaining, self-pitying protagonist if he'd been university-aged. But this grown-ass man (who's co-owned his own business with his best friend for something like a decade?) spends an entire book sulking and punishing everyone around him rather than just telling literally anybody that he's unhappy with the current state of affairs.

All credit to the author, I guess, who writes compellingly enough that I actually finished reading about this incredibly unlikable MC. Don't read this unless you enjoy wishing you could reach into a book and slap the sense into someone (maybe that's the appeal, I'm not sure)

I wanted so much to like this, but it focuses way too hard on a romance between two characters that just felt really forced to me. Might try again sometime, the writing and setting and overall plot are all lovely.

Beautifully written, but the romantasy elements came unexpectedly and almost seemed like part of a different book. My interest dwindled as the romance intensified - while this is entirely a matter of personal taste, it just really didn't seem plausible to me.