Tuesday, August 3, 2021

Book Review: To Love and to Loathe

Hello, lambies! I've decided that I am going to really start banging out the book reviews. I've been solidly reading, I'm just super behind in sharing them here (and Goodreads), so it looks like I am ridiculously behind. So keep your eyes peeled because I'm going to really start churning them out. 

To Love and to Loathe - Martha Waters

The widowed Diana, Lady Templeton and Jeremy, Marquess of Willingham are infamous among English high society as much for their sharp-tongued bickering as their flirtation. One evening, an argument at a ball turns into a serious wager: Jeremy will marry within the year or Diana will forfeit one hundred pounds. So shortly after, just before a fortnight-long house party at Elderwild, Jeremy’s country estate, Diana is shocked when Jeremy appears at her home with a very different kind of proposition.

After his latest mistress unfavorably criticized his skills in the bedroom, Jeremy is looking for reassurance, so he has gone to the only woman he trusts to be totally truthful. He suggests that they embark on a brief affair while at the house party—Jeremy can receive an honest critique of his bedroom skills and widowed Diana can use the gossip to signal to other gentlemen that she is interested in taking a lover.

Diana thinks taking him up on his counter-proposal can only help her win her wager. With her in the bedroom and Jeremy’s marriage-minded grandmother, the formidable Dowager Marchioness of Willingham, helping to find suitable matches among the eligible ladies at Elderwild, Diana is confident her victory is assured. But while they’re focused on winning wagers, they stand to lose their own hearts.
I will admit and say this was 100% a "bookstagram made me do it" purchase, and I lucked out because it was part of a sale at Barnes & Noble so it felt like fate. 

Fate did me wrong, guys. She done me wrong. 

I won't say this is a bad book, but I was hoping for more. I'll be honest and tell you that it does have some funny parts and I enjoyed Diana a lot. If you've been a part of the Bridgerton craze, this is like the funny version of that. Kind of. It really gives a different take on that time period and what it is like if you were a woman who happened to be a widow, but all of the same rules apply because you don't want to be labeled a whore. 

Unless you are a man, of course. Enter Jeremy. 

Diana and Jeremy have been friends for years and he needs to repair his reputation and get his family off of his back and Diana needs.... let's just say she needs experience. If you know what I mean. She's not interested in love, she'd much rather just get her needs met but her inexperience really hinders that. They strike up an arrangement of sorts and that is the basics of the story. Of course, Diana and Jeremy are friendly with each other but also incredibly sarcastic towards each other, and neither one of them have any intentions of becoming involved, certainly not falling in love. 

I'll be honest, I really skimmed through this. There were so many instances that really went on far too long and it felt like we were manufacturing things for the sake of more pages. While I liked Diana in a lot of ways, in many others she proves herself as an incredibly immature, spiteful child. For someone who is supposed to be an adult, a widow no less, someone who has a little experience under her, but she acts like a tween who likes a boy and constantly teasing him and being a jerk instead of just saying, "hey- I like you". Because it's clear to most people that that's what is going on. I wanted a little more from all aspects of this, but if you are in the market for something light with not very steamy romance? This might be right up your alley. 

I can't say this was awful, but it's not something that would make me search out another book by this author. If the library has it, I'd borrow it versus buying it. Go that route. 

⭐⭐⭐//5

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1 comment:

Why Girls Are Weird said...

I mean, it doesn't sound HORRIBLE, but I've been in a rut lately, so I think I may need to skip it.