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louhare's review
3.0
From the jacket blurb and the First Impression I was hoping for a dark, suspenseful novel. The plot was decent but I found it a little simple. Nothing was left for the reader to work out or wonder about; I found myself presented with too much information and so I could see what was coming up ahead too easily. Rebecca was a likeable enough protagonist but some of her actions seemed too contrived to fit the plot rather than coming naturally from her character.
This was a general problem with most of the characters - they felt unnatural, apart from Jenny, Rebecca's maid (although the way she progresses from illiterate to a fluent reader and writer in a few weeks had me wondering if she was some sort of genius!). I also have a bugbear about overuse of exclamation marks which was sorely tested throughout.
In summary, readable for the story but the writing didn't do it for me.
This was a general problem with most of the characters - they felt unnatural, apart from Jenny, Rebecca's maid (although the way she progresses from illiterate to a fluent reader and writer in a few weeks had me wondering if she was some sort of genius!). I also have a bugbear about overuse of exclamation marks which was sorely tested throughout.
In summary, readable for the story but the writing didn't do it for me.
kyatic's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
f_phd's review
1.0
i read the book in a day. i finished it in a day.
usually thats a good thing. it wasn't this time.
it was... a journey? a walk, for sure, because the entire time it was big sighs. halfway, i kept asking "what is this book?" to literally no one, but the question was valid.
alexander needs help.
that other guy, forgot his name, you know the one, delete. delete him. forever. he shouldn't even be in media, or an idea tbh, because SDE fr. "hmmmm?" literally delete, no. its giving sweaty toupe.
jenny, lionel and gabe? sweethearts, the lot of you, luv u sm.
i have no words for rebecca. like girl from page 2, it was giving "he hates you". it was giving that one twitter thread with dudes showing women why they shouldn't be 6ft of a girl in general. in your face, and yet here we are, miss girl. like bffr. and EVA???? EVAAA????? gurl-
anyways, a good way to spend your time off your phone, i guess. but it was a journeyyyyy.
usually thats a good thing. it wasn't this time.
it was... a journey? a walk, for sure, because the entire time it was big sighs. halfway, i kept asking "what is this book?" to literally no one, but the question was valid.
alexander needs help.
that other guy, forgot his name, you know the one, delete. delete him. forever. he shouldn't even be in media, or an idea tbh, because SDE fr. "hmmmm?" literally delete, no. its giving sweaty toupe.
jenny, lionel and gabe? sweethearts, the lot of you, luv u sm.
i have no words for rebecca. like girl from page 2, it was giving "he hates you". it was giving that one twitter thread with dudes showing women why they shouldn't be 6ft of a girl in general. in your face, and yet here we are, miss girl. like bffr. and EVA???? EVAAA????? gurl-
anyways, a good way to spend your time off your phone, i guess. but it was a journeyyyyy.
wyvernfriend's review
3.0
So Rebecca Palmer's husband opens a pharmacy in Victorian Edinburgh and he starts experimenting on her with heroin to see if he can control her and maybe using her as an example other men could control their wives.
As Rebecca descends into addiction she finds that things aren't as simple and she works to get her revenge.
I didn't really care.
As Rebecca descends into addiction she finds that things aren't as simple and she works to get her revenge.
I didn't really care.
sjt79's review
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction
orlaithma's review
4.0
The Pharmacist's Wife is a thoroughly enjoyable tale of the dark side of Victorian marriage.
Set in Edinburgh in the late 18th century, it tells of newlyweds Rebecca and her pharmacist husband Alexander Palmer.
Rebecca married Alexander in a whirlwind due both to his flattery and her fear of becoming a spinster at the grand old age of 28.
Alexander married Rebecca as he was in need of a wife he could control.
Through the course of the book we incounter prostitution, sexual kinks, unrequited love, the power of the patriarchy and Alexander's new wonder drug, heroin.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dark and moody Victoriana.
Set in Edinburgh in the late 18th century, it tells of newlyweds Rebecca and her pharmacist husband Alexander Palmer.
Rebecca married Alexander in a whirlwind due both to his flattery and her fear of becoming a spinster at the grand old age of 28.
Alexander married Rebecca as he was in need of a wife he could control.
Through the course of the book we incounter prostitution, sexual kinks, unrequited love, the power of the patriarchy and Alexander's new wonder drug, heroin.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dark and moody Victoriana.
lostingothicmusic's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jol69's review
2.0
Really 1.5 stars. The concept for this book was good, sounded intriguing, but...it all went wrong. Characters who didn't engage you, a plot that was all over the place. Would not recommend.
celtic67's review
4.0
When Alexander opens his new pharmacy, things look rosy for him and his new wife Rebecca. But all is not as it seems.
This was a delicious tale. Love, desire,vengeance are all present. Also throw in drug addiction and you have a deadly alchemy.
Set in Victorian Edinburgh this is a gothic tale. Where men rule and women are mere chattels .
They are expected to obey men in all they say and subvert their own opinions and beliefs to the male of the species.
A story that entertains, grips and has readers shaking their head in wonder and incredulity.
A tale that has the reader smelling the atmosphere of Victorian Edinburgh.
A Edinburgh of gas lamps, horse drawn trams and carts.
The atmosphere this author has conjured up is magnificent.
You live in Edinburgh of the mid 1800's and savour every moment.
If you like the tales of Sarah Waters you will enjoy this book
Thanks to the author, publishers and Lovereading.co.uk for the ARC.
A worthy 4 stars
This was a delicious tale. Love, desire,vengeance are all present. Also throw in drug addiction and you have a deadly alchemy.
Set in Victorian Edinburgh this is a gothic tale. Where men rule and women are mere chattels .
They are expected to obey men in all they say and subvert their own opinions and beliefs to the male of the species.
A story that entertains, grips and has readers shaking their head in wonder and incredulity.
A tale that has the reader smelling the atmosphere of Victorian Edinburgh.
A Edinburgh of gas lamps, horse drawn trams and carts.
The atmosphere this author has conjured up is magnificent.
You live in Edinburgh of the mid 1800's and savour every moment.
If you like the tales of Sarah Waters you will enjoy this book
Thanks to the author, publishers and Lovereading.co.uk for the ARC.
A worthy 4 stars