Asia

4.25/5

I enjoyed this book very much. I loved both Sebastian (although St Vincent is and will always be my favourite fictional Sebastian) and Annabelle. I loved their relationship, the bickering, the anonymity, the slow understanding.

There were some elements that surprised me (mostly gas lamps, matches, etc) because I'm used to reading regency romance, and this late Victorian era means Industrial Revolution, which means more technology, which is something I wasn't prepared for haha.

And the suffragist movement! I loved that! And I loved Annabelle's friends (though I wish the friendship was written a little better because for example it really surprised me when Lucie was so nice and understanding to Anabelle at the end - she was written as someone apart from her, who only saw her as means to en end so I didn't realize that she and Annabelle were even friends lmao), but that's minor. I can't wait to read their books too.

I didn't like that Anabelle refused the proposal at the end, but I LOVED when Montgomery made this risky move and proved himself in the parliament. AND, shoutout to his brother for finally returning and talking some sense into him (I can't wait for his book too!)

All in all this was an awesome book and I wish I had more time to read it in one day instead of 3!

Tropes:

- forbidden romance

- opposites attract

- class difference

- forced proximity

- house party

2/5

It's a generous rating, too.

I hated it so much. It was so boring, I skimmed spicy scenes. It started out interesting but it grew boring real fast. Nothing was happening and the character's actions frustrated me.

I mean... We have a 34-year old man and a 30-year-old woman, making pinky promises every few chapters. What are they, five??? "Remember, pinky promise?" Come on. Be at least somewhat mature.

Then, there's that damn horoscope thing. She's so obsessed with it (all the sisters are) it's stupid. Then, HIS mother is trying to matchmake him with everyone she does and doesn't know and he doesn't even tell her to stop.

It was just so boring. Insta-lust isn't for me either. And don't get me started on serenading. Why. Just why, Chloe.

I disliked this book so much. The best part of it were just Christopher and Kate. That's it.

Tropes:

- fling / casual

- friends to lovers

- opposites attract

- grumpy & sunshine

4.25/5

That was a good book! Much better than the first one!

I love enemies to lovers! I love it! Especially when the guy is so obsessed with the girl he's losing it. I love it.

I melted when Christopher sent Kate flowers and the note. I loved how much he tried to fix everything between them as soon as he found out he really hurt her. "But you hate me" almost broke him and he decided to fix things. And he did.

I loved their anonymity and their bickering and how they overcame that. And I was very grateful there was no third-act breakup. Thank you for that. The ending of the first book was so stupid, the breakup was so forced, I was honestly dreading reading this book. I got to 60%, 70%, everything was happy and drama-free, I was afraid something would destroy it. And I'm happy that there wasn't any drama coming from their family about them being togteher.

I'm glad it stayed that way. I loved Christopher and Kate both separately and together. They were fun to read about. I loved how caring Christopher was towards Kate and that she finally accepted that.

I loved this book, and the only reason it's not full stars is that something was missing. I don't know what, maybe it was pacing, maybe I wanted more anonymity between them, more bickering (especially after they got together). Maybe I wanted more at the end, to see what Kate did after Jules came home, did she move in with Christopher or what.

Tropes:

- have known each other forever

- enemies to lovers

- boy obsessed

- retelling