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elementarymydear 's review for:
The Adventures of Tom Finch, Gentleman
by Lucy May Lennox
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Tom Finch is a conductor and composer living in London in the early 18th Century. His position as the illegitimate son of an earl leaves him at a cross-section between high society and the Georgian underworld, while his blindness leads to many of his family and colleagues underestimating him. Assumed by many – including, it seems, himself – to be a bit of a rake, it becomes clear to us over the course of the novel that he craves stability, be it financial or romantic.
Find this and more reviews on my blog!
The story begins as Tess Turnbridge, a gifted soprano escaping scandal on the continent, joins the same theatre as Tom. Their enemies-to-friends-to-lovers story is the driving force behind the book, and is brilliantly realised. The story was a little slow to get started, but once the action got underway I could not put this book down, desperate to find out what happens at the end.
I couldn’t resist this book when I read the description: an action-filled opera-based Georgian adventure romp? Sign me up! And Lucy May Lennox did not disappoint. The cast of characters was fantastic, especially Tom, Tess and Tom’s friend/assistant Jem. As the story unfolds we meet more of Tom’s family and friends, and see the rich tapestry of Georgian life among them. Lennox does not shy away from the realities of life, be it a secret same-sex wedding in a molly house or the tragic treatment of women in prisons. We experience all the highs and lows of life along with Tom and his easy-going outlook on life.
Lennox has done a fantastic job at representation of LGBTQ+ people and disabled people in this book. Tom’s blindness is never a hindrance to him as we learn through Tess’ eyes the methods he uses to go about his daily life. We have gay and bisexual characters in Tom’s brother Philip, Tess, and others, and while the challenges they face are not diminished, there is not the tragedy we so often associate with queer storylines in historical fiction.
If you’re looking for some fun, light-hearted escapism, with just enough weight to pull at your heartstrings, I would highly recommend giving this a read. Thank you to the author for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Find this and more reviews on my blog!
The story begins as Tess Turnbridge, a gifted soprano escaping scandal on the continent, joins the same theatre as Tom. Their enemies-to-friends-to-lovers story is the driving force behind the book, and is brilliantly realised. The story was a little slow to get started, but once the action got underway I could not put this book down, desperate to find out what happens at the end.
I couldn’t resist this book when I read the description: an action-filled opera-based Georgian adventure romp? Sign me up! And Lucy May Lennox did not disappoint. The cast of characters was fantastic, especially Tom, Tess and Tom’s friend/assistant Jem. As the story unfolds we meet more of Tom’s family and friends, and see the rich tapestry of Georgian life among them. Lennox does not shy away from the realities of life, be it a secret same-sex wedding in a molly house or the tragic treatment of women in prisons. We experience all the highs and lows of life along with Tom and his easy-going outlook on life.
Lennox has done a fantastic job at representation of LGBTQ+ people and disabled people in this book. Tom’s blindness is never a hindrance to him as we learn through Tess’ eyes the methods he uses to go about his daily life. We have gay and bisexual characters in Tom’s brother Philip, Tess, and others, and while the challenges they face are not diminished, there is not the tragedy we so often associate with queer storylines in historical fiction.
If you’re looking for some fun, light-hearted escapism, with just enough weight to pull at your heartstrings, I would highly recommend giving this a read. Thank you to the author for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.