This book was a delightful way to start my week and I feel like I was reading a true history (and one that in all honestly probably was true in some shape or form in history).  Both Kit and Muriel are seeking happiness and to live their lives in pursuit of things that make them happy; bicycles and art and nature, and I loved reading their passion through the author's words.  The romance itself was a meet-cute to misunderstanding to friendship and then steam!  It was low angst, focusing more on joy and moving from one's past hurts and fears.  I also had no idea how fascinating the history of bicycling was and that (of course) it was a gendered issue (had no idea).  It made me want to go on a jaunty bicycle ride in nature with a picnic basket (remember I am outsidey not outdoorsy).

You can tell both the care and research that have gone into this story.  Make sure you read the author's note because she explains how she worked with her partner in crafting and telling this story, drawing on both personal experience and historical research.  The role of gender especially in this time period is so strong and I think both the characters and the author navigated this so beautifully.

The only drawback for me is that I felt like I wanted more from the banter / character development.  Yes they are both overcoming A LOT of prejudice and hurts from their past and they owe me nothing but to be who they are.  I did enjoy the characters SO MUCH, but a lot of their conversations were more high-brow for me and sometimes I actually had no idea what they were talking about and so I might have been missing a lot of their personality presented in those interactions.

Note: I did listen to some of this story by audiobook and I would say I recommend the print version this time around. For me personally, the narrator had too much of an even keeled tone even when there is drama or angst, which lulled my listening a bit and I realized I had to go back a couple times to re-listen.