Sophie Appersett is engaged to Edward (Ned) Sharpe. She’s the daughter of a baron; he’s a very wealthy merchant, and their alliance is built over a massive class chasm, one that she’s trying to cross with continued conversation, while he remains silent and withdrawn in all of their outings together. Sophie decides she’s not willing to continue the engagement because they don’t suit. She wants more for herself, and from his behavior she’s pretty sure he doesn’t like her.
So, in the beginning of this story, Sophie goes to break off her engagement in person, at his workplace, without telling her parents – who are, later, understandably upset by her decision. Her family is in severe financial straits, in part because her father (more on him in a moment) is terrible with money, and because her sister is spoiled and gets new dresses every season while Sophie and her mother make do with altering old ones. Ned shows very little reaction to the break up, which leads Sophie to believe she’s made the right decision. (Of course, there’s all kinds of roiling emotions beneath his taciturn surface. You know that. I know that.)
The scenes between Sophie and Ned were lovely. I believed the conceit that a man marrying above his class would worry about all the unspoken signals of society and conversation, and would buy a book to try to correctly conduct himself. (Of course it’s impossible to get it all right.) I also liked that Sophie is not as willing as her mother to ignore and dismiss her father’s poor financial decisions, and instead is trying to secure her own measure of happiness.
Sophie and Ned both question the world around them, the rules they operate within, and how that world is changing – I found that part fascinating. Sophie is reading Darwin, and questioning the evolution of people, and whether people can grow and change beyond their birth – a large and complex question, including when that question is applied to a marriage across very firm class lines. Though Sophie’s conversation about Darwin can get a little preachy and even unrealistic, she’s intelligent and curious, plus considerate, kind, and determined – all traits I enjoy in a character. Ned is quiet and observant, unsure of himself but certain of his decisions and his desires, and he was hoping that in Sophie he’d found a partner for his life – and he’s pretty sure he botched everything by following the advice in that book he bought.
The solution: house party! Every year, Sophie’s family hosts a big holiday house party at their over-improved country estate, and this year, Sophie invites Ned to give their engagement one more try, to see if they can find common ground and mutual understanding in the time they have at the party. The party itself goes through some last minute changes due to current events of the time, and so there is a Lot Going On around them both as they try to focus on one another.
The problem for me is everyone around the two of them. Ned and Sophie remained consistent throughout the story, for the most part. Their romance is (hello, catnip) focused on two people who must reveal their true selves and personalities in order to create the partnership they both want. She’s capable, smart, and empathetic; he’s equally capable, equally smart, and utterly confused by the rules of conduct that surround her. It’s almost like two people who speak the same language but at the same time very much do not.
But the characters around them are wildly inconsistent to the point of being disruptive. One example: her sister is a spoiled idiot in once scene, and deeply, heartlessly cruel in the next. I’m trying not to spoil too much, so let’s say she says some typically callous and unkind things, is overheard, and then regrets it. But she is redeemed (not in my opinion, but an attempt is made within the plot) and given a happy ending that I don’t think she earned. I never saw her remorse or her amends to the person she hurt, nor did I believe the final change of heart and major renovation of personality that occurred at the end. She moves from self-absorbed to self-sacrificing without any progress between, leading me to think she’s just all around terrible. The other characters who represent obstacles to the main protagonists’ happy ending shift abruptly, too, or remain the same in a terribly dissatisfying way. The lack of resolution for some of the surrounding issues was ultimately very frustrating.
I liked the central romance, and I really liked Sophie and Ned. I liked the contrast in their conversations from before they agreed to be mutually candid and afterward. There were some moments I found incredibly charming, and some development of the story that was heartfelt and genuine. Alas, in the end, despite the charm, I found too many mismatched character progressions and too many oddly developed elements to enjoy this novella.
This book is available from:
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
We also may use affiliate links in our posts, as well.
Thanks!
I was really annoyed to the point of angry when I finished this book. I considered it a sweet romance between two people who came to care for one another ruined by those around them. Some things I’d like to add:
—-Possible Spoilers Be Warned—-
Sophie was expected to accept whatever marriage she could get and then use her husband’s means to subsidize at least another season for her sister. Everyone was set on Emily having a happy marriage on the back of Sophia’s sacrifice and potential misery.
Sophie’s mother is equally to blame, not because she couldn’t manage her husband’s distinct lack of care for his older daughter, but because she also manipulates Sophie into reconsidering Ned as a potential husband. She calls her to family duty and ensuring her sister’s happiness. Something she’s already doing by pinching pennies and wearing made-over dresses while Emily and her father get new clothes constantly. Sophie has the distinct feeling of being managed by her mother as they discuss the broken engagement.
Your point about Emily’s ending being unearned fits perfectly. I couldn’t figure out the words for it on my own. Being a ‘Proper Romance,’ Sophie and Ned share nothing more than a few heated, clandestine, kisses while it seems that Emily may have gotten a much more passionate and dare I say enjoyable courtship.
And they allowed Emily’s happy ending to take pride of place in being announced rather than Sophie’s!
Ugh, rant done. I had such hopes for this book.
I initially read the title as A Holiday Gaslight, which is not very romantic (but probably applies to a disappointing number of romances).
I found Sophie and Ned to be delightful and also wanted to read much more about them and less about Sophie’s horrible family. (Her father…ugh, what a waste of skin!) I agree with the points about Emily’s storyline and personality, and I suspect that her subsequent marriage probably ends up being far less happy than her sister’s.
At the end of story, I also had serious doubts about Sophie’s relationship with her soon-to-be mother-in-law. Mrs. Sharpe didn’t strike me as one to let go of old grudges.
My overall impression was that the story was far to crowded for it’s length. Maybe some of the problems could have been solved by expanding it to full novel length.
I agree about the secondary characters but I loved the central characters and their romance enough that I was willing to overlook the others. I like Matthews’ writing and her research was impressive. She adds little touches that make you really feel you’re in the setting.
I fully agree with this review. I honestly thought this was being set up for Emily to have the full-length novel where she actually grows as a person, but NOPE.
It was reversed though at the end: Sophie’s engagement was announced while Emily’s engagement was the one they kept private. Sophie took distinct joy in announcing it, which made me giddy on her behalf.
But I would happily read a full book about Ned and Sophie. I’d like to have seen them embark on a marriage and flesh out a lot of these trials and class differences as they grow closer as a couple. I wish the book had been a slightly bigger element – I would have loved to seen excerpts from it or something.
I am happy enough with this story to seek out further work from Mimi Matthews.
It was an OK holiday read, but my least favorite of the Mimi Matthews books that I’ve read. I urge everyone not to give up on this author, but try one of her full length novels. “The Matrimonial Advertisement” is loaded with MOC catnip and very high emotional intensity. The heroine marries a stranger to escape an abusive situation, so TW for that. And “The Viscount and the Vicar’s Daughter” is a spinster/world weary rake pairing, also super catnippy.
I also loved the main characters and their growth and the way they found their way to their happy place and I hated that her sister got her HEA when she should have had to suffer and learn her lessons for the things she did and said. Her sister’s HEA was too good for her but then again he chose her – knowing her character, so maybe he deserved her in the end.
I only recently discovered Mimi Matthews, bought all her back list and now waiting for me. We need more authors like her – no dukes in sight, genuine problems with nice people acting maturely and no gratuitous sex.
Lovely!!!!
I loved. Actually enjoyed that the supporting cast of characters isn’t one-dimensionally good or bad (reminded me of Pride and Prejudice in a way), but I’m admittedly a sucker for a mistreated heroine who finally finds a person who treats her as she deserves to be treated.
I loved it. Actually enjoyed that the supporting cast of characters isn’t one-dimensionally good or bad (reminded me of Pride and Prejudice in a way), but I’m admittedly a sucker for a mistreated heroine who finally finds a person who treats her as she deserves to be treated.