Still plowing through a pile of back-log reviews!!!
When Patty Went to College by Jean Webster – 4* – #20BooksofSummer
//published 1903//
This was a funny sort of book because there really wasn’t a plot. We don’t get any character background or explanations – instead the reader is just dumped right into Patty’s senior year of college. Each chapter is a little adventure, but other than Patty herself, nothing really ties them together. In that way, this book was a little bit of a disappointment, and I definitely didn’t love this one as much as the Daddy Long-Legs books (especially Dear Enemy… gosh, I love that book SO MUCH). Still, the stories were funny, and Patty and her friends very likable. This is also #10 for #20BooksofSummer, so I’ve made it halfway through the list!
The Temporary Wife by Jeannie Moon – 3*
//published 2013//
This was a fun little story, although ultimately unmemorable. I do love a marriage of convenience trope, and usually can’t resist them even if they sound terrible. While I enjoyed this one while I was reading it, I didn’t quite enjoy it enough to pony up $4/ea for the rest of the books in the series. Overall, this one had some likable characters and an interesting premise, but was a bit choppy on the execution and had a bit too much shagging for my taste.
Joy in the Morning by P.G. Wodehouse – 5*
//published 1947//
What holiday is complete without a Wodehouse?? This is one of my very favorites, and I read it in almost one sitting this time around. There is nothing I can say about Wodehouse that hasn’t been said before. If you haven’t read him yet, you need to find one immediately!
“One prefers, of course, on all occasions to be stainless and above reproach, but, failing that, the next best thing is unquestionably to have got rid of the body.”
The Convenient Marriage by Georgette Heyer – 4*
//published 1934//
While this story was engaging and had its funny moments (the whole scene where they are trying to be highwaymen is quite, quite funny), it really wasn’t one of my all-time favorite Heyer stories (even with my favorite trope). The main female character speaks with a stammer, something that doesn’t bother me at all to listen to in real life but g-g-g-grates on m-m-m-my nerves v-v-v-very m-m-much when reading. It also seemed completely unnecessary. Still, a happy one-off read, even if it isn’t one that I intend to add to my permanent collection.
The Five-Minute Marriage by Joan Aiken – 4.5*
//published 1978//
On the theme of marriages of convenience, I reread this one while on vacation as well. While not quite as perfect as I remember (how could I possibly have forgotten how ridiculous it was that the entire family had names related to Arthurian legend?? Did I just not notice it the first time around?? The evil cousin’s name is Mordred?? Really??) this was nonetheless a truly delightful and fun romance, with a strong-minded and independent heroine who isn’t obnoxious. It’s a bit on the melodramatic side, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the read.
The Aroma of Books 