This was unlike any other historical fiction I have ever read. The prose felt appropriate to the time period, and the narration style made me laugh a lot (particularly the opening chapter which gave me period drama Challengers vibes). The pacing is quite slow, but it is steady story telling that slowly enevelops you in Jehan and Joe's romance.

Jehan was flawed, but lovable. I'm glad the author didn't shy away from what would have been obvious snags in their relationship (behind the illegality of it all of course) - the differences in their station, the power dynamic, Jehans inherent selfishness due to the way he was brought up, Joe's popularity amongst his peers, Joe's past experiences. Every time Jehan was thoughtless towards Joe I cursed him, but it didn't take long for me to forgive him. Their relationship was genuinely sweet and loving, but as the title and description of the book suggest, it was ultimately heartbreaking. I loved all of Jehan's relationships - with his sister, with his staff, with the comtesse.

The unique narration style stopped the ending from feeling clichéd, but it didn't stop me from being devastated. It's been a while since a book made me this sad, though the running theme of love, and privilege of having loved and been loved in return, kept it overall uplifting.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Group UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The book is all voice and I loved it. Witty, stylised narration that completely immersed me, Jehan was genuinely funny and - despite his obvious, glaring flaws - utterly charming. The meta insertion of the writer was a genius stroke to both acknowledge the melodramatic flair while keeping a vibe of historical accuracy to the characters' actions. In fact, until I finished and looked it up, I was sure it was a story based on historical record instead of entirely fictional.

The end result was a story that managed to be juicy and engaging, while also hopelessly romantic and uplifting, without falling back on tropes or mawkishness. Everything is delicately and expertly balanced and the ending was extremely satisfying despite the tragedy, a tough feat to pull off.

A really beautiful historical fiction novel throbbing with emotion, very funny in places and so tragic in others, I’m not sure I’ve ever read anything else that can quite compare to it. The protagonist and narrator is the dramatic Jehan Baudelaire, an extravagant French Marquis who lives a life of luxury and beauty - charismatic, witty, passionate but oh so lonely, and quite the star of the novel. Jehan recounts, via his scribe (the author) what happened in his short life - according to his own insistence, it is ‘a catalog of desire’, it is the account of a love affair which was scandalous and utterly forbidden by the society of the time, but completely devoted. Jehan falls in love unexpectedly yet in a single instant, with his valet, a Dutch man by the name of Jonathan Kryk, who had only recently arrived in his household. When he eventually finds out that his love is returned, he is ecstatic- but when the pair of lovers are later found out, all threatens to turn to ruin. Jehan finds an unknown strength within himself as he fights to save his great love, Mr Kryk, and himself from death at the hands of those who would condemn them. It’s gorgeously written and really humorous in the way it is written at certain moments, yet also overflowing with compassion and tenderness for a really quite horrible set of circumstances and events as the novel concludes. Despite containing some rough events, the overall tone is one of triumph and optimism for all love. It’s beautiful.

My thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher, Corsair (Little, Brown), for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Oh goodness I loved this book soooo much! It is 1657, and 24-year-old Marquis Jehan Beaudelaire - Avignon's most striking and sought-after bachelor - is in desperate need of a wife, an heir, and, most urgently, a new valet. Enter Jonathan Kryk, a vision of breath-taking beauty.……,
Very well written, with relatable characters and well-constructed dialogue resulting in a very disturbing — but also satisfying — storyline ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A rattling good tale so moving!

This is one of the most enjoyable and unique historical fiction books I’ve read for a long time.
The writing is immersive, fast paced and humorous, plunging the reader directly into the ridiculous world of 1657’s Avignon and Jehan Baudelaire. The amusingly hyperbolic Jehan is somewhat of an unreliable narrator, but we are also provided with the scribe who acts as a pleasant injecting presence to undercut the flamboyance of the narration. However, even without the scribe’s counterpoint, you cannot help but love the whimsical and earnest Jehan and his love story with Mister Kryk. Jehan is ridiculous but the novel provides revealing moments of such genuine emotion that you root for him and his grand, tragic love. The book’s progress is heartbreaking and beautiful, and a thoroughly good book.

Review posted on TikTok and Storygraph also.

A novel set in seventeenth century France, which is one of my favourite periods and places, so I requested it, and I am glad that I did. The attitudes of people generally towards masculine love, are well explained, and when a marquis falls in love with his servant, a valet, the consequences of discovery are brutal, especially for the servant.
The atmosphere in those days is portrayed very well, although there is little historical research compared to some novels, there is enough to describe what was a repressive society at that time. I enjoyed the novel and would recommend it for anyone wishing for a good read.

Good prose and high literary stakes. The characters could have been more entertaining but it was a pleasant book.