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dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
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
This is the first time I have read a romance novel and cried at the end because I felt personally inspired.
Not only does Milan manage to paint a divine picture of love and devotion for an "older" widowed women who is likely neurodivergent, but she manages to acclaim unspoken women of history and inspire immense empathy for their experiences. I have never wished to become a scientist so badly. Such immense awe I feel for my foremothers, the like I last felt after watching the film Hidden Figures.
I cannot recommend this book enough. It made me feel inspired and motivated to continue pressing towards my own personal achievements. I would also like the women in my life to know that this book demonstrates the kind of love we should all aspire to find. Not just romantic love, but the deep love of friendship, respect, and mothers protecting their own, no matter the cost.
Not only does Milan manage to paint a divine picture of love and devotion for an "older" widowed women who is likely neurodivergent, but she manages to acclaim unspoken women of history and inspire immense empathy for their experiences. I have never wished to become a scientist so badly. Such immense awe I feel for my foremothers, the like I last felt after watching the film Hidden Figures.
I cannot recommend this book enough. It made me feel inspired and motivated to continue pressing towards my own personal achievements. I would also like the women in my life to know that this book demonstrates the kind of love we should all aspire to find. Not just romantic love, but the deep love of friendship, respect, and mothers protecting their own, no matter the cost.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault
Oops, another book I started before bed and accidentally finished in one go. I’d seen it cited as an example of a book that is actually romantic, on the BookTok of a person who has discerning tastes, so I gave it a try. There’s a time and a place for a romance that is all fluffy romp, but I do love a romance that is really *about* something, and this one is about learning to be loved and un-learning that you are unloveable, even when you’ve taken on being unloveable as a defense mechanism against the cruelty of others. And it really was very romantic. I’m a sucker for a hero who is heartbreakingly gentle with a deeply heartbroken heroine.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Rape
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Another foray into historical romance that went...eh. What drew me to this particular book was the dynamic of a female scientist masquerading behind a male persona — and that plot point kind of falls apart in the first couple pages. This book truly starts en medias res, eschewing a lot of what I was excited about reading. Instead, we get a lot of Violet’s self-hatred, which ends up as a great character arc, but was really difficult to read and not want to yell at her. All in all a bit of a slog, but with a nice character arc and satisfying ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape