Guilty Pleasure

The second instalment in the Austenland series, I admit I love this one a bit more than the first. The main character finds her feet and love again in this pseudo-gothic setting. Oh plus there's murder and sleuthing! Need I say more? #Audible1

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Ok, But Not Great

If you liked the first book, this may keep your interest. If you liked the movie that was made from the first book, or any of Austin's books, this is not for you.

*spoilers*

Charlotte's internal monologue becomes tiring and overly thematic. The relationship between Charlotte and Eddy is problematic, as he is playing the part of her brother at the resort. Although the characters address this, it still felt like a questionable choice. Charlotte's rationalizing of being kissed, when she didn't want to, because she is "nice", is also problematic and feeds into rape culture. Further, although I understand that it is not a history text, for a resort that is supposedly for women to cosplay as people from the Regency era, the constant complaining about corsets was irritating. First of all, a correctly worn corset, that is not tight-laced, is incredibly comfortable. I have hiked the local mountain in my corset and breathed just fine. Second, and most importantly, corsets were not worn in the Regency era. Stays, which were soft, and not heavily boned, were worn as a supportive garment for the bosom.

Overall, I wanted to like this one, as I found the first book fun, but just couldn't. The characters' unrealistic behaviour and exhausting exposure to Charlotte's every thought made this story drag on far too long. The convoluted attempt at an homage to Northanger Abby, although charming at first, became irritating when it was carried on as long as it was. When Mallory attempts to murder Charlotte I lost all hope for this book. The inner thoughts of Charlotte, and then ultimate defeat of Mallory, when she magically becomes a professional fighter and beats him senseless, demolished the tension of the scene and would have made it comical, if it hadn't been so tedious. For such a short book, the writing style and story made it feel far too long. I kept waiting for it to get better, but it never did. I obtained a great amount of enjoyment from Mr. Wattlesbrook being the murder victim, but that was the only good part for me.

The narrator is ok, but her attempts at the various accents became grating at times. I will not go out of my way to find another book that she reads.

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