It is VERY rare that I don't finish a book. It's even rarer for me to give a book one star, but this was just painful. I've read a few of Philippa Gregory's novels and I absolutely loved them. I was excited to dig into some of her older work, but good grief. This was soooooo sloooooow. And Stephen is beyond unlikeable. I found myself  wondering, after his first misstep with Lily, why she would ever have anything to do with him again? She clearly doesn't care for him the way he cares for her...she even told him so! So WHY would she continue seeing him knowing how he feels about her? And why would her super protective mother allow it, even after Lily told her how she felt?

I'm extremely annoyed that I shelled out $12.99 for the Kindle edition of this (a book that's 17 years old!!), and it was so bad. I'll definitely still read Ms. Gregory's historical novels as they are incredibly entertaining, but this was just no good for me. I see that a bunch of people really enjoyed this, and I wanted to, but I just couldn't get past the my supreme dislike for Stephen, a main character...not to mention his mute chauffeur Coventry who is incredibly creepy! Yet another turn off for me. While I can't in all good conscience recommend this book, I DO recommend trying her newer novels. Ms. Gregory is really at her best when she's writing historical fiction.
It is VERY rare that I don't finish a book. It's even rarer for me to give a book one star, but this was just painful. I've read a few of Philippa Gregory's novels and I absolutely loved them. I was excited to dig into some of her older work, but good grief. This was soooooo sloooooow. And Stephen is beyond unlikeable. I found myself  wondering, after his first misstep with Lily, why she would ever have anything to do with him again? She clearly doesn't care for him the way he cares for her... she even told him so! So WHY would she continue seeing him knowing how he feels about her? And why would her super protective mother allow it, even after Lily told her how she felt? I'm extremely annoyed that I shelled out $12. 99 for the Kindle edition of this (a book that's 17 years old!! ), and it was so bad. I'll definitely still read Ms. Gregory's historical novels as they are incredibly entertaining, but this was just no good for me. I see that a bunch of people really enjoyed this, and I wanted to, but I just couldn't get past the my supreme dislike for Stephen, a main character... not to mention his mute chauffeur Coventry who is incredibly creepy! Yet another turn off for me. While I can't in all good conscience recommend this book, I DO recommend trying her newer novels. Ms. Gregory is really at her best when she's writing historical fiction.