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A review by bellesmoma2021
The Lily of Ludgate Hill by Mimi Matthews
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Lily of Ludgate Hill by Mimi Matthews is a fantastic Historical Romance. I’ve enjoyed each book in this series, but this book spoke to my heart. As with all Mimi Matthews novels, The Lily of Ludgate Hill has a highly engaging storyline, wonderfully endearing characters, and impeccable attention to historical detail. This is an enemies-to-lovers romance, which is not my favorite trope, but Matthews does this story right. My issue with the enemies-to-lovers trope is that the hero and heroine spend 50-70% of the novel hating each other, constantly arguing, and doing everything they can to be apart from one another. Then, magically, they have an instant change of heart and fall madly in love. It drives me bonkers. I don’t want to read a book where the main characters can’t even be in the same room together for most of the novel. So boring! But that is not The Lily of Ludgate Hill. There is history between Anne and Felix, so the initial angry feelings at the start of the story actually make sense. Unlike typical enemies-to-lovers novels, Anne and Felix talk. They communicate and bare their souls. They get clarity on past situations. They listen to one another and grow. It’s quite refreshing and I loved every minute of their journey from enemies, to actual friends, to the sweetest of lovers.
There is so much to love about this story; for me, I resonated the most with Anne’s relationship with her mother. Anne’s mother is the Queen Bee. She loves big (in her own way), she is a seriously commanding force, and when she enters a room everyone knows. But the loss of her beloved husband has changed her. To the whole world, it seems like Anne’s mother has become overbearing and totally selfish and self-focused. And, yes, she has, but Anne knows the truth. Her strong, commanding, amazing mother is weak and scared and so, so lost. And Anne needs to be there for her mother. Like, she really, really needs to be there for her mom. It’s a control issue. Anne’s mother needs the world to believe she is still in control, so she maintains the Queen Bee façade. And Anne can’t lose another parent, so she, too, keeps her mother close by going along with her mother’s every whim. It is a symbiotic relationship, the kind born from deep grief and loss. And this may be the most realistic illustration of a mother-daughter relationship I’ve ever read. I completely saw my mother in Lady Arundell. And I could easily be Anne — the daughter who so desperately wants to be whatever her mom needs so her mom doesn’t fall completely apart. This is why The Lily of Ludgate Hill spoke to my heart. I deeply felt for Lady Arundell and Anne. Their story is one I won’t soon forget.
The Lily of Ludgate Hill is a story not to be missed. This book is unputdownable and I loved every minute. If you love a well-written Historical Romance with depth and big heart, then this is definitely the book for you!
I received a copy of this novel in eBook form from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
There is so much to love about this story; for me, I resonated the most with Anne’s relationship with her mother. Anne’s mother is the Queen Bee. She loves big (in her own way), she is a seriously commanding force, and when she enters a room everyone knows. But the loss of her beloved husband has changed her. To the whole world, it seems like Anne’s mother has become overbearing and totally selfish and self-focused. And, yes, she has, but Anne knows the truth. Her strong, commanding, amazing mother is weak and scared and so, so lost. And Anne needs to be there for her mother. Like, she really, really needs to be there for her mom. It’s a control issue. Anne’s mother needs the world to believe she is still in control, so she maintains the Queen Bee façade. And Anne can’t lose another parent, so she, too, keeps her mother close by going along with her mother’s every whim. It is a symbiotic relationship, the kind born from deep grief and loss. And this may be the most realistic illustration of a mother-daughter relationship I’ve ever read. I completely saw my mother in Lady Arundell. And I could easily be Anne — the daughter who so desperately wants to be whatever her mom needs so her mom doesn’t fall completely apart. This is why The Lily of Ludgate Hill spoke to my heart. I deeply felt for Lady Arundell and Anne. Their story is one I won’t soon forget.
The Lily of Ludgate Hill is a story not to be missed. This book is unputdownable and I loved every minute. If you love a well-written Historical Romance with depth and big heart, then this is definitely the book for you!
I received a copy of this novel in eBook form from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.