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A Gentleman's Gentleman by TJ Alexander - The short review is that I am glad this book exists, but it just stopped clicking for me the further I got into it.
About three quarters of the way through, as I started to click with the book less and less, I wondered if I just had unrealistic or overly specific expectations for the book. Not only have I read a lot of queer historical fic with gentlemen and their valets, not only have I written some, but I've spent a lot of time discussing the topic and how to write it. Then I thought about it and realized that wasn't the problem. The book starts off well paced, a certain vibe, lots of descriptions and then the book seems more and more rushed as it goes on. I started to feel like I was reading a screenplay instead of a book. The second half of the book doesn't live up to the expectations set up by the first 20% or so of the book.
The book is 318 and pages long and needed to be at least a hundred pages longer.
The tropes and the short period of time the book takes place over would make for a great movie, that's part of why I felt like I was reading a screenplay or novelization at times. I was like 'this isn't hitting, but it would work great as a set piece in a TV show'
There are a few specific weaknesses I could dig into and I kind of want to, but it feels unfair. The problems are probably due to it starting strong and getting more and more rushed as the book goes on. I enjoyed the start of the book. I am glad it exists. I just wish it didn't leave me feeling a bit sad, especially after seeing that afterword talking about spending years on it.
About three quarters of the way through, as I started to click with the book less and less, I wondered if I just had unrealistic or overly specific expectations for the book. Not only have I read a lot of queer historical fic with gentlemen and their valets, not only have I written some, but I've spent a lot of time discussing the topic and how to write it. Then I thought about it and realized that wasn't the problem. The book starts off well paced, a certain vibe, lots of descriptions and then the book seems more and more rushed as it goes on. I started to feel like I was reading a screenplay instead of a book. The second half of the book doesn't live up to the expectations set up by the first 20% or so of the book.
The book is 318 and pages long and needed to be at least a hundred pages longer.
The tropes and the short period of time the book takes place over would make for a great movie, that's part of why I felt like I was reading a screenplay or novelization at times. I was like 'this isn't hitting, but it would work great as a set piece in a TV show'
There are a few specific weaknesses I could dig into and I kind of want to, but it feels unfair. The problems are probably due to it starting strong and getting more and more rushed as the book goes on. I enjoyed the start of the book. I am glad it exists. I just wish it didn't leave me feeling a bit sad, especially after seeing that afterword talking about spending years on it.
