Preeti ♥︎ Her Bookshelves's Reviews > Barely a Bride

I was equally charmed and irked by the book.

*With spoilers* The writing is overly descriptive at places and that’s a strength as well a weakness of this book.
I don’t think any other HR has told me that Almack’s assembly rooms don’t have terraces or gardens for a couple’s privacy (and I never wondered!) and people had to make do with only alcoves and retiring rooms- and that men could enter the women’s retiring room to assist swooning females!
The details of gifts at wedding for friends, family and staff was interesting too.
As was the bequeathal of titles by the prince regent and the politics thereof.

But the characters definitely behave, think and speak in an anachronistic way.
Maids and butlers are talked to as equals.
The h easily speaks of things sexual/marital with the H’s friends.
The overly independent h with gardening above all else outlook.
Easy talks of letting go (divorce?) between married couples.

The whole Free Fellow’s razzmatazz got wearying as well. Imagine 8-10 years old boys founding a league to serve the country but all of the 10 clauses of their signed charter refer only to women, leg shackling and how to keep away from love? The boys thought like men and the men, now thought more like boys!

I liked both the mcs.
The secondary characters were very well etched – especially her parents.
The mother’s a typical, formidable mother/mother-in-law who wanted her daughter to snap up at least a duke and never let the H forget that he’s a mere viscount.
And the father is so interesting (and this guy’s considered a bore by the ton!) with his obsession with dogs and horses. I couldn’t help laughing at his description of his daughter in equine terms.
“Alyssa. Alyssa. Oh, yes, that one. Filly. Light brown mane, streaked with blond. Nice big eyes. Blue, if I’m not mistaken. Good ground manners. Hasn’t been broken to ride. But that’s only natural as she lacks an adequate handler.”