Unoriginal and uninspired.
By E L James ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 20, 2023
Maxim Trevelyan, the London playboy and newly minted Earl of Trevethick, and Alessia Demachi, who was trafficked from Albania and later rescued by Maxim, are now planning their wedding. The plot focuses on the couple’s domestic matters, such as the wedding ceremony, Alessia’s citizenship status, and Maxim’s problems with the Trevethick estate. Maxim is constantly questioning how to make his new wife happy, while Alessia worries that she isn’t good enough for him. His family and former lovers disapprove of the match and try to disrupt their happiness. After the couple returns to London, Alessia is determined to find one of the younger girls who was trafficked with her. The writing style is choppy and discordant, shifting rapidly between narrators. Maxim’s voice is banal, and the book fails to capture the magic of Fifty Shades of Grey. Once the couple is married, the story follows their journey as they settle into married life. Maxim is learning how to be a good husband, while Alessia is adjusting to her new life as a wife. They must also deal with the disapproval of Maxim’s family and former lovers. Despite the challenges they face, the couple is determined to make their marriage work and find happiness together.
Pub Date: June 20, 2023
ISBN: 9781728290270
Page Count: 464
Publisher: Bloom Books
Review Posted Online: July 3, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2023