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unsuccessfulbookclub's Reviews (916)
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
By far the angstiest and most emotionally distressing MacLean I have yet to read, this book is 400 pages of intense tummy ache. If you like marriage in crisis and want heavier themes in your historical romance, you will love this. Take the CW seriously - especially the pregnancy loss, as that is graphic and visited many times. I loved the pain (?) in this book. If you like angst and the slowwwwww reconciliation that can happen between two people who have hurt each other deeply, this is the book for you. There is very little plot outside the main relationship so please know you will be marinating in the angst. The payoff is worth it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Pregnancy
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I really enjoyed the pirate story featuring a classic headstrong Jenkins FMC (CLARE!!) and a rakish pirate MMC, Dominic. The plot was PLOTTING and the baddies got very gruesome deaths. This book has a ton of action. Unlike most Jenkins historicals, Clare is enslaved in the beginning of the book. Much of the plot is centered on getting her and her two children free. I loved the Caribbean setting and the hugely diverse cast. (Even a lesbian side couple!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Child death, Pregnancy
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A masterclass in restraint in storytelling this super slow burn actually manages to be super fast to read? I cannot explain it other than TJ’s talent with words. As in their other books, the characters leap off the page, fully formed, with flaws but also gorgeously human. As the reader comes to understand Christopher and Christopher, himself, they cannot help but fall in with him. James and Christopher are a classic opposites attract and I ADORED the side characters. TJ allows the main relationship enough time to really percolate so by the time you get to the part where they get their HEA, you TRULY believe they’re gonna make it. Loved this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is absolutely TRANSFORMED by the narration. I read this in print when it came out and really didn’t love it, but Nneka Okoye’s stunning reading brought a level of depth and entertainment to this book I did not truly get the first time through. On reread (listen), Cora and Manuela and the Leonas and the Parisian friends gained depth and passion that made this a near perfect story. I loved the way Cora and Manuela change for the better through the course of this book and the conflict made so much more sense to me this time around. I enjoyed Cora’s realizations about the value of twisting herself up to belong in a man’s world immensely this time, as well as Manuela’s motivations and relationship with her parents.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Sexual content, Grief, Lesbophobia
Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time
adventurous
challenging
informative
fast-paced
Absolutely fascinating detailed history of how we came to understand the measure of longitude and the great lengths astronomers and watch makers went to in order to get us there. I have been to Greenwich and seen the chronometers built by Harrison and I really wish I had read this book first! Nonetheless, this book is great.
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-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
This book is heavier on murder mystery than the previous 10 in the series but I really really enjoyed Alf and Hugh and their “adventures.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Rape, Pregnancy
adventurous
emotional
informative
medium-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:
Yes
I enjoyed this book but it missed some beats for it to be a five star.
I loved the diverse cast of characters and the politics (based on actual history); however, the romance itself felt lacking to me. I wanted Gideon and Ana María to spend more time on page DOING things together, but I felt like they would have a conversation and immediately be like “but we can’t be together!” (Reasons unclear as to why) the last 25% of this book REALLY picked up and was fun to read and more interesting on the romance front. I wish the whole book had felt like that!
Almost everyone I have talked to about this series says the second book is better and I am very much looking forward to reading it!
I loved the diverse cast of characters and the politics (based on actual history); however, the romance itself felt lacking to me. I wanted Gideon and Ana María to spend more time on page DOING things together, but I felt like they would have a conversation and immediately be like “but we can’t be together!” (Reasons unclear as to why) the last 25% of this book REALLY picked up and was fun to read and more interesting on the romance front. I wish the whole book had felt like that!
Almost everyone I have talked to about this series says the second book is better and I am very much looking forward to reading it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Murder
Moderate: Slavery, War
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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:
Yes
This book is so earnest and sweet and such a lovely exploration of class and working class life in 1840s England. I loved loved loved how the characters took on the world together. Belle is a unique and smart FMC which I adore, and her parents (Gavin and Emilia from Some Winter’s Evening) are wonderfully supportive. There’s also great found family and I adored that Ethan was an American.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Beverly Jenkins took this plot to FULL BANANA including an FMC who has to open a brothel in New Orleans so she can spy for Harriet Tubman while wearing a domino mask at all times in public. As usual, plot is the focus but I loved all of the spying and sneaking around and fake identities. Once again I am begging someone to make a TV series out of Beverly Jenkins’ work - I would LOVE to see the Le Veqs on screen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Murder, Fire/Fire injury
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
I liked this dive into the science of public health, and wow was it hard to read while watching the federal government take down CDC and NIH websites and cripple funding. It’s so incredibly important for ALL of us to continue to support science and public health initiatives in these times.