Ratings3
Average rating3
Entertainment Weekly Best Romances of 2023 Kirkus Best Romances of 2023 New York Public Library Best Romances of 2023 Fated Mates Podcast Best Romances of 2023 Hey Alma Best Jewish Fiction of 5783 From an author known for her “powerful and passionate” work comes a story with an enchanting twist on Cinderella (Eva Leigh, bestselling author): a charming heiress must marry to save her family’s business, but the man she dreams of is the one she can’t have. London, 1832: Isabelle Lira may be in distress, but she's no damsel. Since her father’s death, his former partners have sought to oust her from their joint equity business. Her only choice is to marry—and fast—to a powerful ally outside the respected Berab family’s sphere of influence. Only finding the right spouse will require casting a wide net. So she’ll host a series of festivals, to which every eligible Jewish man is invited. Once, Aaron Ellenberg longed to have a family of his own. But as the synagogue custodian, he is too poor for wishes and not foolish enough for dreams. Until the bold, beautiful Isabelle Lira presents him with an irresistible offer . . . if he ensures her favored suitors have no hidden loyalties to the Berabs, she will provide him with money for a new life. Yet the transaction provides surprising temptation, as Aaron and Isabelle find caring and passion in the last person they each expected. Only a future for them is impossible—for heiresses don’t marry orphans, and love only conquers in children’s tales. But if Isabelle can find the courage to trust her heart, she'll discover anything is possible, if only she says yes.
Featured Series
2 primary booksOnce Upon the East End is a 2-book series with 2 released primary works first released in 2023 with contributions by Felicia Grossman.
Reviews with the most likes.
I really, really wanted to love this book. A gender-flipped Cinderella romance set in a Jewish community that gets all of the subtle nuances right about my religion/culture should have been a home run.
But sadly, my reaction was lukewarm at best. Grossman's dense prose makes for a slow read, and the MCs' respective “she's too good for me”/”I can't afford to marry for love” tropes are repeated ad nauseum. Aaron's characterization is inconsistent; he's both a downtrodden schlemiel who is reduced to serving as the synagogue's janitor and a sexually experienced charmer whose witty repartee is incompatible with his humble reputation. Isabelle is unbelievably perfect: a beautiful, tough-as-nails, Machiavelli-quoting businesswoman with a 21st century sex positive attitude and expertise in swordplay (sure, why not throw that in, even if it's irrelevant to the plot?).
Isabelle hires Aaron to spy on her prospective bridegrooms, but the fact that he barely accomplishes anything is never addressed; the task is just an excuse to get them in the same room so they can banter, flirt, and eventually make love (I never want to see the words "Please suck my shmekle" on page ever again). I realize this is supposed to be a fairytale, complete with Fairy Godmother, but then why include sobering reminders about 19th century English Jews' ever-present fear of persecution or expulsion?
I hope this book finds great success, because we need more tradpub romances with Jewish MCs. But I feel like I “took one for the team” instead of really enjoying the book.