The Typewriter Girl...Review...DNF

About the book:
A passionate historical debut novel about a young woman in turn-of-the-century England who finds love and independence at a seashore resort.

In Victorian London, there’s only so far an unmarried woman can go, and Betsey Dobson has relied on her wits and cunning to take herself as far as she can—to a position as a typewriter girl. But still, Betsey yearns for something more…so when she’s offered a position as the excursions manager at a seaside resort, she knows this is her chance for security, for independence, for an identity forged by her own work and not a man’s opinion. Underqualified for the job and on the wrong side of the aristocratic resort owner, Betsey struggles to prove herself and looks to the one person who can support her new venture: Mr. Jones, the ambitious Welshman building the resort’s pleasure fair. As she and Mr. Jones grow ever closer, Betsey begins to dream that she might finally have found her place in the world—but when her past returns to haunt her, she must fight for what she’s worked so hard…or risk losing everything.

This eloquent debut novel displays firm propriety barely restraining seething passion—a sizzling combination reminiscent of Downton Abbey.

I so wanted to like this book.  The cover is gorgeous and the premise sounded intriguing and if something is compared to Downton Abbey, I am there.  Unfortunately, this one falls very flat from almost the very beginning.

Betsey isn't a character I remotely cared about. While I think the author wanted to show her as a feminist and someone who disregards social mores, truly she had no redeeming qualities. There is also prolific profanity and a vulgarity that was unnecessary and disconcerting.  As many of the other reviews I've seen of this book are positive, I'm assuming that my review will most likely be in the minority, but I really can't recommend it.

Thanks to my library for having a copy I could borrow so that I didn't have to regret buying it.

Read 2/13

*
1/5 Stars

Comments

  1. This one fell flat for me too. I agree, the main character was not very likable.

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  2. A lot of books are being compared to Dowton Abbey these days, but I haven't read any of them. The fact that the main character was unlikable is not really swaying my decision to read this one, but the vulgarity, especially when it's unnecessary does. Thanks for being so honest in your review. This is one that I think I am going to skip.

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  3. I'm not reading this one based on your comment about the content. That's why I like following blogs like yours that have similar values to mine!

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  4. I've only read a couple reviews of this one and they weren't favorable either. I think I'll skip this book.

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  5. Aw! So sorry, Holly. :/ This was one that looked/sounded promising. Like you though, I'd be unimpressed by those vulgarities.

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  6. it is a gorgeous cover but with a lot of unnecessary vulgarity and an unlikeable protagonist I think i'll skip out on this one. Thanks for the heads up!

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  7. Oh, yes, Heather's so right about the Downton Abbey comparisons. They're everywhere and not always even remotely close to Downton Abbey-ish, when you get right down to it. I was hoping you'd love this book. I hate unnecessary vulgarity so I'll probably give it a skip, too.

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  8. Gosh..now I don't feel so bad. I dnf this one either. I couldn't relate to the main character and it was very vulgar and I had a hard time keeping interesting. Glad to see I'm not the only one who felt this way about this book.

    Kimberlee
    www.girllostinabook.com

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  9. I wish I hadn't just purchased this one. I've read a few positive reviews, but I think the negative ones are more prevalent. I think I'll still try it, since I bought it, but won't rush to do so.

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  10. Gorgeous cover, shame it didn't work out :(

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