ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley
In How the Wallflower Was Won, Tabitha Seaton’s primary ambition is to join the Sterling Society, a secretive and influential intellectual society. Membership is unheard of for a woman, but they might be more likely to consider her if she had an equally erudite husband. Enter Finn Ransom, who along with his friends Kieran and Dom, is under the edict laid down in book one, The Good Girls Guide to Rakes. Get married or get cut off financially.
I liked this burn down the patriarchy, opposites attract, marriage of convenience tale, but constantly found myself saying, “But, what about Finn?”
Finn, inveterate gambler and big time cinnamon roll, really only exists to make Tabitha’s dream to join the Sterling Society come true. I mean, who wouldn’t want that? But as much as I loved all the adorable, thoughtful, sexy ways Finn went out of his way to make a marriage of convenience not just palatable, but actually totally satisfying for our bluestocking heroine, I left the story going, but what about Finn’s dreams and ambitions?! He’s barely viewed as a worthy spare in “heir and a spare!”
And I know, I know, how many stories are “behind every great man is a great woman (who carried a lot of water while the guy got the glory).” Why shouldn’t the roles be reversed? I agree, but also, more equal time!! We know Finn’s dream, so….????
On the upside, steamy scenes have real sizzle (whew!), and I enjoyed the allusions/parallels to current institutions dominated by white men. Tabitha’s intellectual friend group is also populated by POCs and a lesbian couple.
Looking forward to Dom’s story in book 3, A Rogue’s Rules for Seduction. He was grumpy as hell throughout this book. The grovel in that one is gonna have to be epic.
CW: Learning difficulties related to reading, memories of physical and verbal abuse
3.5 stars
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