"Romance by the Book" cover from Bold Strokes Books by Jo Victor
Note: This ARC was provided by NetGalley & Bold Strokes Books in exchange for an honest review.
The initial idea and concept for this novel was intriguing and grabbed my interest immediately. Old literature, hidden history, a young woman attempting to break the seal on the secrets of the past - it all sounds fantastic. However, upon reading this novel, I feel slightly like a victim stolen of a good read. This book had so much potential, and Jo Victor can write well, you can witness it in the pages. But the overall story was choppy, lacked fluidity, was difficult to follow and understand page after page, and often felt as if the nuances and subjects that should be further explained were left in the dust to filler and fodder meant to make the book "large".
I am awarding this novel 3 stars due to the talent that is seen and exercised from the author herself. Certain areas of the story were well-described, with beautiful language and intricate detail. Ms Victor gave voice to a character I've always had a soft spot for - a young scholar with ambitions similar to my own, and a lesbian to boot. But with that being said, and the obvious talent bubbling underneath the surface - this novel only made me frustrated and left with a feeling of neglect once I reached the end. I will say again - this novel had incredible potential - but unfortunately, it fell short of its hype.
Rating: ⋆⋆⋆
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