divided into two parts; involves magic (though not as relevant to the plot, it just exist in their universe), dare i say this reminds me of a steampunk anime and bridgerton TT the whole love triangle was mESSSYYYYY warning na to ha!! ayun the main couple was ok naman lalo na sa first part kasi very fluffy and may kilig factor everything would’ve been fine without deception hELP pero valerie apologist here she did nothing wrong, hector was the real villain imo manipulating both of the girls like that …. and nina was too quick to forgive sorry ano yun ??? wahaha tempted to rate it only 3 stars but i love the drama of it all which reminds me of a filipino telenovela

3.5

I was tricked, but I'm not mad about it.

What I thought this book was about: A bug-loving, telekinetic entering the world of performing in a Victorian-esque world.

What it actually is about: A Gatsby type character gets a redemption arch written by Jane Austen.

But, like I said, I'm not mad about it. The characters were both lovable and annoying at times, the pacing was quick but effective, and I enjoyed my time reading it.

This was a frustrating read. We're in a fantasy world where people have "talents" (read: telekinesis), yet the plot was distinctly Jane Austen. Misunderstandings galore, social reputations at stake, love triangles, etc. A bit of a let-down on the fantasy front, and one character made my skin crawl with her malice, yet despite my irritations, it was ok, if a bit predictable. Silvia Moreno-Garcia definitely has a way with words and that was the only reason I finished.

Set in a fantasy world very much like La Belle Epoque, The Beautiful Ones is a romance with touches of magic and a fairytale feel. Nina, a girl making her debut in society, lives with her cousin Gaetan and his wife Valerie in the fictional city of Loisail. Valerie is proper and exacting in her social interactions, she knows which fork to use and which styles to wear, and she has her work cut out for her with Nina, a bumpkin who doesn't know how to fit in. Also, Nina is telekinetic, which is a rare ability in this world, and a little bit shameful for a society girl.

When Nina attracts the attention of Hector Auvray in Loisail, things get complicated. Hector is a performer, he is telekinetic and he performs a magnificent show where he uses his talent to walk on mirrors and spin a shark tank in the air. Nina has read his name in books while researching her own talent. Unfortunately she is unaware that Valerie and Hector have their own history.

This book reminded me a little of Austen, because of the manners and the family dynamics with The Beautiful Ones being old titled families, some of whom are very broke-- like Downton Abbey. Valerie also reminded me of a mix of Miss Havisham and her charge, Estella. I think readers who enjoyed the romance aspects of [b:Gods of Jade and Shadow|36510722|Gods of Jade and Shadow|Silvia Moreno-Garcia|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1543268579l/36510722._SY75_.jpg|58230232] will enjoy this. If you're a romance reader who wants to know if this is a REAL romance....

Spoiler

the book DOES have a happily ever after! TW for light cheating.

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I really enjoyed reading this book, it's a bit of a slow burn which I love, I had a hard time putting it down and definitely had a book hangover. Mexican Gothic was my favorite book last year, I am a huge fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's writing I love her protagonists, and Nina has all the characteristics I have loved in her other characters-- she's feminine, smart, and although she makes mistakes she never berates herself, she learns her lessons and focuses on what she wants. She never apologizes for who she is. And she collects insects! So if you are a fan of her other books I think you'll love this one. If you disliked her other books but you love Austen and romance, you might give it a try because it definitely has much more romance than her more recent books.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC. My opinions are my own.

I loved Mexican Gothic, so started going through the author's oeuvre chronologically. Well, it has been an uneven ride. But this one was the low point so far. Again, the characters work: they are three-dimensional, plausible, and I grew to care about their fates--at least a little. The alternative-world setting, with its strict social codes is a good idea, but the presentation of the social pressures somewhat hamfisted. So far, not so bad, but the problem is that (a) very little of consequence happens in the book until the very end. Also, (b) it almost feels like the author wrote a straight-up romance book, but the publisher told her to add something 'supernatural' to it to be able to sell it as a genre book, so glued on is the magic (or whatever you want to call it) in the story. I don't know, there's something I like about Moreno-Garcia's books, but maybe this 'read them all' idea doesn't work, after all...