Someone Perfect: Book Review

I’m back with another Mary Balogh romance novel! So let’s get right into my thoughts, feelings, and rambles on…

As a young man, Justin Wiley was banished by his father for mysterious reasons, but now his father is dead, and Justin has been Earl of Brandon for six years. A dark, dour man, he nonetheless takes it as his responsibility to care for his half-sister Maria when her mother dies. He travels to her home to fetch her back to the family seat at Everleigh Park.

Although she adored him once, Maria now loathes Justin, and her friend Lady Estelle Lamarr can see immediately how his very name upsets her. When Justin arrives and invites Estelle and her brother to accompany Maria to Everleigh Park to help with her distress, she begrudgingly agrees for Maria’s sake.

As family secrets unravel in Maria’s homecoming, Justin, too, uncovers his desire for a countess. And, while he may believe he’s found an obvious candidate in the beautiful 25-year-old Lady Estelle, she is most certain that they could never make a match…

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This novel started out fairly strong. I was enjoying the set up of the story, what with a sort of enemies to lovers plotline, a mysterious family secret, and a country house party, there was lots to sink my teeth into.

I’m not sure what happened within the last few chapters of the book though, because I found that it was dragging on terribly for me. I’m not sure if Balogh is just tired of this series or what, and I couldn’t blame her, considering there are nine books in total! I don’t know, it just seemed that once the family mystery was revealed, and a certain missing character was found, the plot could only go forward to a wedding. This is fine, though. I’m used to this in romance novels, but it was as if the announcements and the planning and the wedding went on for those final few chapters. I don’t think it helps that Balogh insists on listing off every single family member, and for both parties in this book! Not only that, but she lists how they are related to one another, or not related to one another. It got incredibly repetitive after awhile, and it did feel like she did it more often in this book than she has in the others.

In the beginning, I found myself hoping that maybe Bertrand, the twin, would get his own book too. But now… well I’d say this is a fine enough send off for the Westcotts. Even the blurb in the back of this book seems to be promoting her next new series entirely, so I’d say Balogh seems to be finished with the Westcotts too.

All in all, I didn’t hate this novel. It was enjoyable enough, and while Estelle may have found her someone perfect, or rather, someone who was perfect for her, unfortunately I can’t say the same about this novel for me.

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Trigger Warnings: Mentions of death, Mentions of violence, Mentions of a terrible mother

Heat Level: 3/5

Currently Reading…

I managed to start a book this weekend, and nearly finish it too. Yay! I’m not sure if this is the last in the Wescott series, though a part of me hopes that we get a story for the other twin, but I suppose we shall see. I’m enjoying this one so far, and I think I’ve discovered one of my favorite settings is a country house party.