The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno Garcia

Last year I read Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s incredible novel Mexican Gothic and I absolutely loved it. So when I was offered the chance to read an earlier novel, being reissued in a beautiful hard back copy this week, I was really excited to tell you all about it.

They are the Beautiful Ones, Loisail's most notable socialites, and this spring is Nina's chance to join their ranks, courtesy of her well-connected cousin and his calculating wife. But the Grand Season has just begun and already Nina's debut has gone disastrously awry. She has always struggled to control her telekinesis: the haphazard manifestations of her powers have long made her the subject of gossip - malicious neighbours even call her the Witch of Oldhouse.

But Nina's life is about to change, for there is a new arrival in town: Hector Auvray, the renowned entertainer, who has used his own telekinetic talent to perform for admiring audiences around the world. Nina is dazzled by Hector, for he sees her not as a witch, but ripe with magical potential. Under his tutelage, Nina's talent blossoms - as does her love for the great man.

But great romances are for fairy-tales, and Hector is hiding a secret bitter truth from Nina - and himself - that threatens their courtship.

This book is different from either Mexican Gothic or Gods of Jade and Shadow. This is a romance, brim full of melodrama and heartache. Yet there are also those wonderful threads that seem to exist through her work: feminism, awakening sexual desire, an eye for women’s self-expression through clothing, and a sprinkle of the paranormal. I didn’t know where the book was set at first, because the city name Loisail and personal names have a French feel to them, but certain word usage such as fall for autumn made me think of North America. The manners and etiquette seem almost British regency in date (this could give Bridgeton a real run for its money on the small screen), but the far off place Iblevard sounds like South America. This is our world, just not as we know it.

I absolutely adored Nina from the start, because I’ve felt like the slightly awkward girl who doesn’t fit. Next to her cousin’s wife Valerie she seems a bit of an ugly duckling, but she’s chaperoning Nina through the Loisail season in hope of finding her a suitable husband. Valerie is the stereotypical blonde, blue-eyed, perfectly coiffed, graceful beauty and her marriage to Gaetens was a great match, because he was a steady, slightly older man with financially stability. His finances have kept her family afloat. Whereas Nina has none of the superficial qualities of Valerie. Her hair is raven black and there’s more of a handsomeness to her than prettiness. Worse still, she is awkward, often saying the wrong thing, but also being very clumsy.

However, there is more to Nina’s clumsiness than meets the eye. From a young age she has been able to move objects with the power of her mind. Sometimes involuntarily when her emotions are roused in anger or sadness. Nina doesn’t know much about telekinesis, it has simply always been with her and back at the family home in the country she is known as the Witch of Oldcastle. Here in Loisail though, nobody knows about her strange ability and if she is dressed well, schooled in how to behave and tries her hardest to be ‘normal’ maybe she could make a good marriage. Nina is inexperienced and naive, but trusts Valerie implicitly. Her cousin Gaetens has always had her best interests at heart so she happily puts her future in Valerie’s hands, buts there’s a bitterness and envy in Valerie that runs very deep. She knows that her husband dotes on his cousin and he wouldn’t force her to marry anyone she didn’t consent to, but she thinks that Nina is spoiled. Valerie had to make a decision, to marry a man she didn’t love to get better conditions for her family. She had to grow up, put thoughts of love and romance aside, and take the best decision rationally as if marriage is a business and she a product to be bought and sold. If she had to do this, why shouldn’t Nina be expected to grow up and accept someone chosen for her? Then Hector Auvray comes into the picture, gentlemanly, handsome and, because he’s a performer, just a whiff of scandal about him. He’s definitely not the sensible choice, but controlling her emotions has never been one of Nina’s strengths.

There was something very Jane Austen about this society, it’s manners and it’s dilemmas for women. The disappointment a lot of readers have that Lizzie Bennett’s friend Charlotte Lucas accepts the proposal of the ludicrous vicar Mr Collins in Pride and Prejudice. Lizzie has rejected him and by doing so, placed her family in financial uncertainty, but Charlotte is more pragmatic. She knows he’s ridiculous, but she also knows he has a living, the patronage of a fine Lady, and a large enough house to lose him in. She knows her chances are limited, her parents are not hugely wealthy and she will be comfortable, though not in love. This is the decision that Valerie has made, but seems very angry about. The anger is at her family, but also directed inward. She doesn’t like to think that she was the one who made the eventual choice.

“She wanted to cry and could not. She wanted to weep for that proud girl who had broken her own heart and tossed it to the dogs, and she wanted to weep for the woman who had been left behind with a gaping hole in her soul. But if she could do it again, she knew she’d still retrace her steps. She was not Antonina Beaulieu, who offered herself like a sacrificial lamb, who gave everything of herself to the world for the world to devour. She was Valérie Véries. She hated herself sometimes for it, but she was Valérie Véries, a Beautiful One, not some weakling nor a halfwit”.


I also had hints of The Great Gatsby, every time I saw a character allude to this group of ‘Beautiful Ones’ the Lana Del Ray song ‘Young and Beautiful’ kept floating through my head. It’s there though when Hector talks of the love he had when he was younger, one he asked to wait for him. He’s isn’t still in love with this woman, he’s still in love with the girl he asked to wait for him, but didn’t.

“He was chained to her, to this brilliant ideal of a perfect love. Because he had always known that if he could have (her) in his arms again, all would be well. It would be as though the decade that separated them had never happened and they would return to the happy days of their youth when everything was possible. It was as if he could unwind the clock with her aid. And once this happened, there would be nothing but joy.”

The first part of the novel is slower, as Hector and Nina meet is slow, but I enjoyed getting to know them. I felt as if I was watching them fall in love very slowly, but only she realised it. Then there’s a terrible betrayal, and it’s beyond this where Nina loses that innocence of youth, but grows so much as a person. She starts to have pride in who she is, back in the country she has the room to be herself and become comfortable with that. When she returns to Loisail the following season she is a different woman, confident to make her own choices. She gives her herself the freedom to wander the city alone, collecting her beetles and educating herself. There’s none of the anxiety and urgency about who she is. She’s refusing to be the ugly duckling of this story and has blossomed, but from the inside. There’s a feminist soul in Nina and I loved seeing that awakening. She’s also more comfortable with her ‘talent’ and has more control over it, even though emotionally she still has a great passion and openness for life. I had hoped that the talent Nina and Hector had would be much more of a feature and would have loved to see them perform together. Knowing the author’s imagination I think it would have been spectacular. Before long a very suitable young man starts to court her, it would be a great match, but not love. As Hector Auvray drifts back to the city again, and wishes to resume their friendship, what effect on Nina will he have? I think if you didn’t know this was a reissue, you might be a little disappointed that there isn’t more of the paranormal in the novel, just because of expectations after Mexican Gothic. However, it made sense in terms of it being an earlier work. I enjoyed this novel because it’s unashamedly romantic, and magical. It’s a coming of age story, showing this young woman’s awakening conscience as well as her desire. Nina Beaulieu learns to live life on her own terms and make her own choices especially where her heart is concerned.

This will be appearing as part of the blog blast this week.

Thanks to #NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in return for a fair review.

This novel was previously published in 2017, this is a new edition with the author's preferred text.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is one of my all time favourite authors, she writes across a variety of different genres so when you pick up her books you never know what you are going to get. However, you can absolutely count on fantastic rich storytelling with beautifully realised characters. The Beautiful Ones is no exception, if you have previously read & enjoyed her novel Gods of Jade and Shadow then I believe you will love this book. Also suitable for fans of Jane Austen and the like.

The Beautiful Ones is a romantic period drama with a dash of magic, set in a fictional version of Victorian era Europe - possibly France - with three POV characters. The Beautiful Ones referred to in the title are the elite old money families who value breeding and social standing above all else.

Nina has been sent to the fictional city of Losail to stay with her cousin Gaetan and his wife Valerie for the Grand Season, with the aim of taking her to all the right parties & introducing her to all the right people in order to find her a husband. Nina is excited by the idea, and dreams of making a love match rather than the business like marriage of her sister. Nina is in love with the idea of being in love! Unfortunately her sheltered upbringing and country manners means she fall short of the exacting standards set by Valerie and the high society people she is introduced to, and what was meant to be an exciting trip has become a miserable experience.

A chance meeting with telekinetic entertainer Hector Auvray, and his casual kindness in helping her develop and control her own talent is the first step into an entanglement which sweeps for Nina up and sets her forever at odds with the scheming manipulative Valerie, who keeps a secret which would disgrace her in the eyes of her husband and the society whose opinion she values above all.

Nina is an entirely lovable character, a little too naive and trusting for her own good at times, impulsive and impatient with the rules set by society. I empathised with her frustration with the rigid expectations and loved the blossoming of her character when we see her return to the country home she loves.

Very readable, Regency-style romance with a twist. What starts out feeling like a conventional romance then heaps on the intrigue by telling the story from three points of view: the three parts of a love triangle. Two of the characters also have magic powers, which are widely known and accepted. All the gentle, Austenite stuff about balls and society, and all the intrigue and drama of a young woman coming into her powers. Very enjoyable.

As a big fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s work, I went into The Beautiful Ones fully expecting to love it – and I did! Silvia Moreno-Garcia continues to amaze me across multiple genres with her lyrical prose, immersive settings and strong female protagonists that you can’t help but love.

The Beautiful Ones blends together historical fiction with romance and fantasy elements – none of which are typically my cup of tea. However, I was captivated by this. On the one hand, the story and its characters were highly entertaining. Full of life, love and drama. And on the other, I found myself being soothed by how beautifully it was written.

The highlights for me were Antonina/Nina, the villainous Valérie, all the drama and the gentle romance elements.

Overall, I cannot recommend The Beautiful Ones highly enough. It’s a beautiful romance with a lot of tension and drama. The characters are phenomenally developed. There’s just a lot to love here. And while I think it would be a disservice to compare any of Moreno-Garcia’s works with each other because of how different they are, I think that fans will find something to enjoy here.

The Beautiful Ones is a gorgeous and romantic story which is so quietly sincere and I loved every moment. I’ve realised after reading three of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s books and absolutely adoring them that she’s definitely an auto buy / auto read author for me now because for me, she never misses. I truly appreciate this authors craft and how truly versatile she is as a writer, every book is like a unique little gem to uncover and enjoy and I’m more than happy to do so.

The author describes this as a novel of ‘manners and a romance’ and I think that’s definitely an apt way to describe it. The whole setting and time gave me what I typically enjoy in a good historical fiction book / period drama, which is lavish balls, awkward social faux pas, misunderstandings and the yearning, oh the yearning (!!!) and more. Moreno-Garcia also uses this setting to explore ideas of tradition, individuality and empowerment, and of restrictive social norms. I don’t know about you but there’s just something about historical fiction which allows for some really great moments of drama and tension, especially in regards to romance as a genre.

The story follows Antonina aka Nina as she embarks on her first ‘great season’ in the buzzing town of Loisail and the triumphs and trials which follow once she forms a budding friendship with Hector Auvray, a showman who has plenty of secrets and is nursing a long broken heart. I really enjoyed how Moreno-Garcia has taken a pretty classic story format per se and made it her own by charging her narrative with the romance, minor elements of fantasy and really allowing the characters to shine, through the use of multiple perspectives and their distinct personalities – even when I hated some of them I was still hooked.

I will say that this was a slow burn if I ever read one, the novel isn’t particularly long but it is a slower paced one for sure. I tend to love stories like this so despite the fact that it took a while to get going and for the central romance to really kick in, I was still captivated. I relished the fact that it took Nina and Hector some time to get to know one another, from a chance meeting at a party to forming a tentative friendship to then developing feelings for each other. I feel like the romantic element was done really well to make their affection for each other believable and that it was earned, rather than just given to us as readers.

I really liked Nina as a protagonist and I appreciated her lack of guile and how earnest and down to earth she was. I know the whole point was that she’s meant to be innocent or naive in some ways and she definitely is, to her detriment at certain moments but I think it was more endearing than annoying for me. There were definitely times where I wished she was a little more world wise but I liked that this was a coming of age story of sorts and we got to see her development and journey demonstrated on the page. I enjoyed how she was very much her own person, despite what others have to say and pursues her passions for seeking knowledge, collecting her various insect specimens and furthering her abilities for telekinesis.

I also liked Hector, our love interest and other main pov’ character. It’s no real secret that I like Gatsby and Hector struck me as such a Gatsby like figure, kind of tragic and tortured but hiding it all behind a veneer of success and wealth which was hard won. And of course engaging in a doomed relationship which has left him with nothing but heartbreak and longing. I disliked him at times due to how he was kind of duping Nina but I do think he is redeemed somewhat and I think his whole lovelorn persona for parts of the novel makes his latter arc even more satisfying. Plus he’s kind, supportive and encouraging of Nina’s passions when nobody else is and I just really adored that.

On the opposite end of the spectrum we have Valerie, our other main pov’ character, she’s an utterly beautiful and aloof socialite who is married to Nina’s cousin. So listen, I totally got the fact that Valerie wasn’t given many choices in life and this has kind of made her bitter and cruel. She was always made aware that she had to marry well in order to preserve the family name and fortune so I had a certain degree of empathy for her because of this lack of freedom but oh my god did I hate her too! I liked that she wasn’t a one dimensional character, like you clearly see that she is a product of her environment and trapped as a result, but the things she does? Absolute definition of bad vibes and I loved to hate her.

If you’re into slow burn romance, period dramas and love stories where the characters go through bucket loads of angst for their happy ending then you definitely have to pick The Beautiful Ones up. And if you do, let’s talk about it!

The beautiful ones is a beautiful love story that left my heart soaring and sinking in equal measure. The end was so taut and nerve wracking i almost couldn’t bring myself to read it even as I was scrambling to know what happened. If it was a movie I would have have been watching it between my fingers.

Hector and Valerie had a tumultuous over affair when they were young but she broke off their engagement to marry a rich man and reverse her family’s fortunes. 10 years later Hector has made a name and fortune for himself using his telekinesis talent and comes back to win her back. Nina is Valerie’s husband’s cousin and is spending the season with them in town. She also hasn’t telekinetic powers and is fascinated by Hector. Thus begins a love triangle with disastrous consequences.

Character wise - I love Nina. She’s smart, natural, and forthright. She speaks her mind and doesn’t play the society game. Valerie is a viper - any sympathy I felt for her was fast eroded, and after a point she’s just unnecessarily twisted and evil. Hector started off being a dour fool but I loved him towards the end. The slow buildup of his relationship with Nina is exquisite. The writing is beautiful. I throughly enjoyed this book!

3.5 stars, rounded up.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for this eArc in exchange for an unbiased review. I didn't really know what to expect going into this - I wasn't sure about how much of the magical aspect there would be, what the magic system would be like. And yet it gave me some 1800s vibes mixed in with a little bit of magic and I enjoyed it. The world was interesting, and reminded me of France, with English Ton ideals.

I found the relationships in this book to be intriguing, and there was a character I disliked a lot - but I think we weren't supposed to like them and the author did a great job in that regard.

Overall it was a good, short read and I enjoyed it.

This is the fourth book I read by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and the only common element was her excellent storytelling as each of them was of a different genre (thriller, fantasy, horror, comedy of manners).
The Beautiful Ones is a not as exciting as Mexican Gothic but it's an excellent story.
I'm a huge fan of Georgette Heyer and I think that this story could have been written by her (this is a compliment).
The book is set in fictional European city during the Belle Epoque. The names are French-like so it could be Paris. There's an elite of people that reminded me of Heyer's Ton and the social rules reminded me of some Regency romances: the Season, the husband hunt, the behaviour of a young lady.
Nina is a strong willed, clever young woman who has to face this world and try not to be crashed by the social ostracism and people trying to tame her. This is her story but it's also the story of her coming of age and becoming a woman who decides about her destiny.
Valerie is the other main female characters. She accepted to be crashed, to marry for money, to become a social icon. I don't like her but I cannot help feeling sorry for her.
There's a light fantasy elements and there's plenty of world building and character development. The author excels at both.
As this is a comedy of manners there's humour, witty banters and some situations that made me laugh.
I loved this story and found it compelling and entertaining.
Another excellent book by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, I strongly recommend it.
Many thanks to Jo Fletcher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Sometimes all you need is a dramatic, historical romance novel that reads like a classic to think all is right in the world. And well Silvia Moreno-Garcia did just that with The Beautiful Ones. Having not read any of Moreno-Garcia's books and unclear understanding of the plot from the summary, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. But this book defied my expectations and I found myself enjoying it so much. I immediately fell in love with the writing style and the emotions she weaves with the beauty of her sentences.

The story follows Antonina, who arrives in Loisail to live with her cousin Gaétan and his wife Valérie for the Grand Season, where she is expected mingle with the notable socialites called 'The Beautiful Ones' and find a suitor. But because of her free sprit and her uncontrolled 'talent' of telekinesis, she doesn't really fit in. Enter Hector Auvrey, who has mastery over his telekinesis powers. The two bond over that and Nina falls for him, only to find out he hasn't been pursuing her for the sole reason of pursuing her. (Spoiler alert, its because of Valérie).

Cue the classic heartbreak scene. These three characters collide through a series of chaotic events.

What, I dreaded, would proceed into a messy love triangle was surprisingly handled well to my delight. Including three POVs was truly effective in terms of character development and pacing. Possessive but beautiful Valérie made for a sympathetic antagonist. We see glimpses of the effects of internalised misogyny and patriarchal societies in her which made me understand the motives behind her actions even though she frustrated me at times. But then again, I love to hate antagonists.

Nina is a spectacular character. Her interest in beetles and butterflies is honestly so cute. I love that she always embraced her erratic telekinetic abilities, even though the society deemed her as rogue for it. She was just so her throughout the book. And Hector, I don't really have an opinion of him. He was a good love interest, who took time to come to his senses.

Hector and Nina's romance was a slow build-up with comments on societal pressure and a whole lot of drama. It also showed the consequences of falling in love quickly and the pain and longing that follows. They kept me entertained to say the least.

The fantasy element is only an addition to the story. We get to see Hector and Nina use their talent only in some relevant scenes but I wish we'd gotten some more depth into it. Because reading about it made me want to have telekinetic powers.

Like Pride and Prejudice? Then you should absolutely not miss out on this one!

I previously read Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and enjoyed the dark mystery of it, so was pleased to be selected to review this book. However, as the author warns in her GoodReads review, this is quite a different novel from Mexican Gothic and it may not appeal to the same audience.

The Beautiful Ones is a melodramatic romance, set in a fictional time and place which is a bit like Regency Britain with respect to etiquette and the Grand Season, but the names are French. Also, there are trains and motor cars and, for some reason, some people have telekinetic powers (although it's rather déclassé to display them). I wasn't convinced by the setting, it didn't feel fully realised. It felt like the author wanted to write a Regency Romance, but then needed a motor car and some supernatural elements for the plot, so invented an entirely different fictional place and time so that she could have everything she needed without constraint.

The characters were also a little stilted for me. I really disliked the character of Valerie as she seemed to have no character development and her role in the book was just to be evil to Nina. I nearly gave up reading at 40%. but persevered through to the end.

An uneven 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing a review copy in exchange for honest feedback.

I so wanted to love this. From the description, I was expecting Jane Austen with a dash of magic but instead found myself reading a historical fiction version of a soap opera with telekinesis really used only as a plot device to separate Nina and Hector from the 'Beautiful Ones' and bring them together.

I really liked Nina in the beginning but quickly began to tire of her. She went from having spark and independence to just plain old naive. Hector was just as unlikeable - and not even in a Mr Darcy charming sort of way - and I couldn't get on board the romance between he and Nina.

Sadly DNF'ed at 32%

Pride and Prejudice meets The Night Circus.

This book was a highly character driven, historical romance with a slight twist of a science element. Silvia Monero-Garcia’a story telling and writing style emits that of Jane Austen and I fell in love with it instantly.

The book mainly focused on the effects of a suffocating society in which women are so focused on appearance that they become a villain in their own lives and sabotage their own fates in order to be seen as a perfect fit for society.

The author builds such a realistic outlook on finding love and writes her characters so cleverly. The characters eventually realise that you really can become your worst enemy and that the only person stopping them from achieving happiness is themselves. So many obstacles (often self inflicted) get in the way of true happiness but this only makes the story more captivating and thrilling and results in this story being a beautiful telling on how to find love and happiness.

The only part of this book which I wasn’t super crazy about was the telekinesis plot line. However, I totally get that it makes this book original and unique but I just don’t think it was for me and I didn’t find it necessary to the plot or building of the story and kind of just confused the genre of the book for me. This was why I gave it 4 stars and not 5 but it was still an incredible read and I recommend it to everyone!

Thank you to netgalley and Jo Fletcher Books for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno- Garcia was originally published in 2017 but is being re-released this year, possibly as a consequence of the popularity of her recent book, Mexican Gothic. If the reason you are picking up this book is because you really enjoyed Mexican Gothic, be prepared, this is a very different experience. That is not to say that it was not an enjoyable one, but it is definitely lighter in tone , and there has clearly been a development in her writing style between 2017 and the current day.
This is a romance, a book about love and defying convention. The blurb describes it as having a hint of fantasy, and that is definitely accurate, in fact the magical element could have been removed from the book completely without any significant changes to the story or the outcome. This disappointed me slightly as I was looking forward to the magic, and seeing how it would play into the story.
The book is a story of society and manners, in some ways evocative of Austen , and tells the story of Nina, a young country girl who is taken into society for a season , the hope being that she will find a suitable husband. Unwittingly she becomes a pawn in one mans ploy to reconnect with the woman who rejected him years before, but when a true friendship begins to develop between them he is forced to re-evaluate the anger and bitterness that has driven him for so long.
One thing that I always expect when I pick up a book by this author is beautiful writing, and the lush and evocative prose does not disappoint.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Historical fiction with Garcia's unique twist, this Bronte/Austen esque tale is woven together with the most beautiful skill. I can't wait to introduce the author's work to my students.

I discovered Silvia Moreno-Garcia last year through her novel, Mexican Gothic, which I absolutely loved. The Beautiful Ones is a very different story, and yet, I recognised it instantly as the work of Silvia Moreno-Garcia and was thrilled to see the versatility of her writing. Mexican Gothic was historical fiction with gothic, supernatural, and horror themes. The Beautiful Ones is also historical fiction, but of an entirely different theme and atmosphere. It put me in mind of a classic, to be honest, along the lines of the Bronte sisters merged with Austen. This is a clever novel, well written, with all the nuances of 19th century high society on full display.

‘It was all over. Not merely his courtship of Nina, but his eternal pursuit of Valérie herself. He had been able to love her, hopelessly, for years and years. She was married, she was far from him, and when he saw her again, she was cold. Yet his love did not diminish, his adoration of this woman did not cease. He was chained to her, to this brilliant ideal of a perfect love. Because he had always known that if he could have Valérie in his arms again, all would be well. It would be as though the decade that separated them had never happened and they would return to the happy days of their youth when everything was possible. It was as if he could unwind the clock with her aid. And once this happened, there would be nothing but joy. But then she had spoken and revealed the true reason why she had cast him aside, and Hector realized with horror that this perfect love he’d built in his heart was ugly and grim. Had he known Valérie was difficult? Yes. Had they fought before? Yes. He had, nevertheless, failed to understand her cruelty.’

The Beautiful Ones is a love story, following the familiar trajectory of a young woman falling in love with a man who is in love with another who is undeserving of that love. There is a slight supernatural element to the story in that Hector and Nina are both telekinetic; this is in fact what initially draws them to each other. I enjoyed this element of the story and it fit well within the era. Nina’s struggles to fit in were further hampered by this special skill of hers and I appreciated the way in which this defined her and made her push back against the constraints of conformity and the expectations of her social class. I really liked both Nina and Hector, not just together, but also singularly. Valérie, on the other hand, the villain of this story, was despicable. There were no lengths she was unwilling to go to in order to fulfil her own miserable needs. Silvia Moreno-Garcia shines in the area of character development, giving us both good and evil ones, as well as those that possess the traits of both.

‘He was struck with the incongruity of it all, wondering how he had arrived at this precious moment. So securely she had nestled in his heart, it was impossible to map his trajectory. “How did I ever find you?” he asked as he moved to her side. “You didn’t. I found you. At the library of the De Villiers, at the party of the Haduiers, and that night I went to Boniface,” she said lightly. He thought that truly it had been so, but that he had also been drifting toward her since the beginning, magnetized, a compass that had spun wildly and then gently settled upon a true north. Not love at first sight, because those fancies were best left for books and songs, but she had extended her hand and invited him to follow her into a dance, and he had found after a few steps that though he had never danced it before, he did not want to stop.’

The writing throughout this novel is divine. Poetic at times and infused with the atmosphere of the era. It really was a treat to read: a classic storyline with a fresh and unique twist. I’m looking forward to seeing what Silvia Moreno-Garcia comes up with next. Her versatility is admirable and makes her an exciting author to be a fan of.


Thanks is extended to Jo Fletcher Books for providing me with a copy of The Beautiful Ones for review.

My Rating: 3.4 Stars

The Beautiful Ones is a reminder that love is never linear. It was dramatic and was so different from Mexican Gothic. In case you’re wondering, You don’t have to worry about any creepy mansions or mushrooms. The writing was seamlessly flowing into each line. I didn’t want to break away from the book for a second. Nina’s quirkiness, her courtship with Hector, with a dash of magic made me enjoy the story more. I’ll never say no to a historical-fantasy-romance. This book had me by its claws with a character who was kind but couldn’t conform to norms pitted against a morally grey one and the plot in general. The contrast was stark and balanced well. If you love reading historical romance with a bit of magic in it, then this is your book.

Thanks to Jo Fletcher Books (Quercus Books), NetGalley, and the author for this eARC.

While Silvia writes very beautifully, there was nothing new or very interesting in this book.
Set somewhere in the 1800s or 1900s we follow several rich white people, with white people problems, which is to say no serious ones.
A love triangle has been done in better ways in my opinion.
If I wanted to read a book set in that time and with that pace (very very slow), I'm more inclined to pick up Jane Austen.
However if the book/series "Bridgerton" is your thing, you'll enjoy this.

Immensely readable, and I was swept away with the beauty of it, but ultimately I felt like there was just a little something missing.

Nina's talent - a form of magic - is only ever a very minor part of the book. The author went to all the trouble of adding it and building it out into something wonderful but it felt like it was only included to be used for one little part of the book. It feels like a waste when it's something that really makes the story stand out from a standard romance.

It's set in what seems to be an alternate version of France where Nina, a country girl with a rich family, is sent to stay with her cousin in the city to enter the marriage market. Her cousin is married to Valerie, a beautiful socialite who is poor herself but from an impressive family.

Nina and Valerie clash, with Nina's talents and plain country style grating on Valerie and embarrassing her in society. It's not helped when Hector, Valerie's jilted fiancé, returns to the city and starts courting Nina to get closer to Valerie.

So the story really is quite basic, the wonderful writing and the rich and interesting characters make it readable, but there isn't anything else to it.

As a historical romance I very much enjoyed it but I felt the promise of the magic was never realised and it left me a little disappointed.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC ebook copy in exchange for my honest review

I picked up The Beautiful Ones as I have really enjoyed other books by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. She’s consistently an author who reinvents herself with every book she writes, and each one brings something new to the type of story it is. So Moreno-Garcia’s idea of a romantic fantasy was something I was curious to see, and in this case it doesn’t disappoint.

The Beautiful Ones is set in an undefined country and period of time, but with many hallmarks of France’s Belle Epoque. Hector Auvray has returned to the city of his youth, having made a name for himself in order to be “worthy” of his previous lover Valérie who in the time while he was away has married the wealthy if slightly provincial Gaetan Beaulieu. Whilst at a party he meets and is charmed by Nina Baulieu who shares a similar gift to him, both have the power of telekinesis, the method by which Hector has achieved a degree of respectability and wealth. Nina on the other hand, has only experienced teasing and mockery from the village in which she lives because of it. However Nina is the cousin of Gaetan Beaulieu and Valerie, Hector’s old lover is guiding her debut into society. Hector sees an opportunity to win back Valerie and Nina sees him as someone to learn how to use her power from. Thus, they continue to spend time together and the story unfolds from there.

The focus is very much on the romantic drama with only the element of fantasy being the telekinesis Nina and Hector share. Those expecting a strong fantastical story would be disappointed. However the strong point of this story is the three main characters. Each of them are frustrating in their own way. Valerie is spiteful and conniving with her beauty hiding the darker aspects of her personality. Nina is naive and at times you want to shake her for believing everything she’s told, although this isn’t to say she doesn’t have her own opinions or direction in life. And Hector, Hector is a man being led by what he thinks he wanted when he was young rather than what he actually wants now that he’s older and (theoretically) wiser. But the writing makes you follow avidly what happens even if in less clever hands the characters would be rote and stereotypical. An incident two thirds of the way through demonstrates Nina isn’t the easily led, easily overwhelmed heroine that might come to mind from the previous description.

All in all I really enjoyed the story, I was carried along by the evocative writing and because each of the main characters has sections from their POV you can emphasise and understand each of their reasons for acting the way they do, however much you wish you could just knock their heads together at times. The resolution fits neatly, even if there isn’t as much retribution as might be deserved. I would recommend it for people who like interesting relationship dynamics and a (very) slow-burn romance, but not to go into expecting magic or fantasy to be a defining element.

I really wanted to love this but sadly, I did not.

I didn't find any of the characters likeable or relatable.

There was no plot to speak of.

I gave up at 30%.

However, this is beautifully written and if you like Jane Austen novels then you should be all over this.