Just Like Heaven (Smythe-Smith Quartet, #1)

by Julia Quinn

Honoria Smythe-Smith, the youngest daughter of the eldest son of the Earl of Winstead, plays the violin in the annual musicale performed by the Smythe-Smith quartet. She's well aware that they are dreadful. In fact, she freely admits (to her cousins) that she is probably the worst of the bunch. But she's the sort who figures that nothing good will come of being mortified, so she puts on a good show and laughs about it.

Marcus Holroyd is the best friend of Honoria's brother Daniel, who lives in exile out of the country. He's promised to watch out for Honoria and takes his responsibility very seriously. But he has his work cut out for him when Honoria sets off for Cambridge determined to marry by the end of the season. She's got her eye on the only unmarried Bridgerton, who's a bit wet behind the ears. When her advances are spurned, can Marcus swoop in and steal her heart in time for the musicale?

• ISBN10: 0062079530
• ISBN13: 9780062079534
• Publish Date: 31 May 2011
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Imprint: Collins
• Format: eBook
• Pages: 384
• Language: English

Reviews

[Sam@WLABB]

Rating: 3.5 stars

This was my first foray into regency romance. It was a really different experience for me, but it was enjoyable. I thought the book was adorable, and who doesn't like a good friends to romance story. There were tons of hijinks, and many sweet and tender part too.

[Angie]

What happens when you dig a fake mole hole to get your foot trapped in so that you can grab the attention of an eligible bachelor, but instead your childhood friend steps in it and breaks his leg? Just Like Heaven will answer that question, and yes the answer is that they fall in love instead. Obviously. Honoria plays violin in her family's very much lacking in talent quartet. It's tradition for unwed daughters to participate until they're married, so Honoria has three choices: get injured, get married, or be humiliated.

I absolutely adored the set up for Just Like Heaven. Honoria's family tradition is absolutely hilarious. It sounds like a good idea in theory, but since none of the girls have any real musical talent, it's just a disaster waiting to happen. Plus, Honoria's plan to catch a groom was devious and also hilarious. At least until someone actually got hurt. But then I also really liked how Honoria stepped up to take care of Marcus, including cleaning his festering wound! It's certainly not a romantic situation at all, but hey, it works.

Just Like Heaven did feel light on the romantic development though. Honoria and Marcus have already known each other for 15 years, so we don't really see how they first meet and get to know each other. That's all already happened. There are some feelings being developed while Marcus is bedridden, but like I said, festering wounds are not exactly conducive to romance. There's plenty of scenes with Honoria and her cousins which I thought were fun, but I would have preferred more of her and Marcus instead.

Just Like Heaven was a delightful read. The set up is humorous, and I loved Honoria and her cousins' relationship. Marcus' meddling aunt was also great! It just needed more tension and kissing!

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[mitabird]

2.5 stars

[Amanda]

Reread notes: Loved this just as much the second time.

Nothing makes me happier than a feel-good historical romance, and that's exactly what Just Like Heaven is. It’s definitely on the lighter side, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. A perfect Saturday morning of reading.

Sweet more than sexy, Just Like Heaven has that little sister, brother's best friend romance, which I find myself enjoying. I'm usually more of a fan of enemies to lovers (or, at least, animosity to love), but there's something fun about having love smack the characters upside the head after them knowing each other for so long.

The Smythe-Smiths and their musical, uh, "talents" were amusing, and I can't wait to see more of them. Plus all of Julia Quinn's other families and series, and... *wanders off to find more books*

[Cocktails and Books]

Julia Quinn has done it again. She’s written another book that when I get to the last page (I can’t say close the book since it’s an ebook) I actually have a smile on my face.

We finally, after many books with the infamous Smythe-Smith Musicale, get to meet some of them.

Honoria, who is the youngest in this branch of Smythe-Smith’s, is determined to get married. She is in Cambridge with a few cousins and a friend attending a few lectures at the university in hopes of snaring the attention of one of the men in attendance. While contemplating her state of unwedded bliss, she gets stuck in a rainstorm and runs into (and running into really means he pulls up dry in a carriage) Marcus Holroyd, her brother Daniel’s best friend.

Marcus, has known Honoria since the days she used to follow he and Daniel around on their adventures. He promised Daniel (on he way to the continent after a duel gone wrong) that he would watch out for Honoria. And watch out for her he has.

It’s while watching out for her that he: ends up spraining his ankle, gets stuck sitting on a log in a down pour, is cut by his valet while getting his boot of said sprained foot, catches a cold, a fever and falls in love.

Marcus, never one for being the center of attention, has never really put himself out there with other people, but as soon as you read the interactions between Honoria and Marcus, you can tell she’s one of the few people he can absolutely just be himself with. And Honoria, sees who Marcus is (as he says down to his soul). You can tell the two of them are perfect for each other.

Of course, before they can get their HEA the fever has to be beaten into submission, the musicale has to be performed and of course the two of them need to tell each other how they really feel.

As an added bonus, we get to see some of the characters we have grown to love in the Bridgerton series. Lady Danbury is still at it!!!

Wonderful story with wonderful characters. A must read!