Catching up: The Season, by Sarah MacLean

While my TBR piles are still towering over me, the To Be Written About piles are starting to give 'em a run for their money.  So I'm going to do some short responses -- I need to return a pile of them to the library before my co-worker calls me a deadbeat again.

The Season, by Sarah MacLean

This one and I didn't get along.  I was so very excited about it, because:  Regency era!  Romance!  Murder!  Mystery!

But...

I found that the only aspect of the book that suggested that it wasn't set in the modern day to me (other than the descriptions of the clothes and the settings) was that the characters spoke slightly formally.  The main character slouched on a couch (while wearing the dress for her debut), she rolled her eyes at her mother, the banter she exchanged with the menfolk was more akin to stuff I hear from the kids in the library than anything I'd imagine actually coming out of the mouth of a Regency Miss, and while I've read and enjoyed many-a-book starring a Young Lady Who Can Think Of One Million Things She'd Rather Do Than Get Married and read and enjoyed many-a-book starring a Young Lady Who Is More Modern Minded Than Her Times, I just couldn't believe in Lady Alexandra Stafford.  Let alone like her.  And the other characters felt like props.

It is extremely possible that I didn't give this one enough of a chance.  I didn't finish it, because my annoyance level was so very high.  But I am aware that many others loved it, so maybe my inherent crank is causing trouble again.

Huh.  At this rate, I'll be through my pile in no time.

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Book source:  ILLed from my local library.

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I'm part of the Amazon Affiliate program.  Which I'd assume would be apparent by the ad in the sidebar, but assuming that you're bright enough to understand that is not enough for the FTC.  So, I will spell it out:  if you click through to Amazon and buy something, I get money.  Why, you ask? Well, gosh.  How else will I ever fill my swimming pool with gold doubloons?

Comments

[Elizabeth]

Loving the disclaimer. Very Scrooge McDuck.

[Abigail]

Awww...bummer. I like the Regency Mystery ones...esp for teens. Well, I'll still keep it on the pile, perhaps just not as high.

[Celia]

I heart your tone in this review. I don't do snark half as well. Thanks for making me smile!

[OKP]

OK, the gold doubloons line seriously cracked me up. I was not expecting that.

[DuchessTee]

Totally agreed about "The Season." Was excited about it after reading all the "Luxe" novels, but I never got past the first few chapters. Alexandra and her friends were just. . .eh boring.

[dotdotdot]

Have you come across Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict? It's followed by Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict, and both books seem to do a believable job contrasting regency era with modern day. The first one has a modern day woman who wakes up in Austen's time, with all the smells and such.

Caveat: I read the Amazon Reviews while I was writing this, and apparently it wasn't universally loved. Still, it entertained me for an evening and felt like it was a little further along the continuum of realistic fish out-of-water historical fiction.

[Sarah Allen]

Great review. Its a good reminder to anyone writing a period piece. Good luck with your further reading! (my creative writing blog)

[Aarti]

I have been seeing this one around on my Amazon suggestions for a while but hesitated to pick it up because the cover made me think it was going to be much like you describe- basically like Gossip Girl but with different language and mannerisms. Sigh. Good thing I didn't pick it up- those girls look annoying on the cover itself, to me.

[Thevickilists.wordpress.com]

I couldn't agree more! I had similar reactions to this book, and felt incredibly disappointed by all it seemed to promise, but failed to deliver. Well said!

[Leila]

Man, I am so relieved that y'all didn't think I was just being mean or something. Disliking a book so intensely is a sad experience.