Several years ago, I fell in love with Pride and Prejudice. Most recently, I fell in love with Bridgerton. This weekend, I had the pleasure of falling for The Beautiful Ones. Gorgeous gowns, lavish parties, dramatic romance and a quirky heroine that I’d just love to befriend; all three of these stories fit the bill and I quite confidently recommend The Beautiful Ones to anyone who enjoys these other two.

This is the second book from Silvia Moreno-Garcia that I have the pleasure of reading, and while I truly enjoyed Mexican Gothic, this one was my favourite. It’s a dramatic tale that keeps you on the edge of your seat with a whirlwind of betrayal and manipulative actions that would have kept Lady Whistledown quite occupied (okay, enough Bridgerton references for one post!) This is a romance novel (dare I call it a love triangle if it’s much more complex than that?) at its core and there’s plenty of angst and pining, and it’s just a good old-fashioned, slow-burn love story.

The strength of this book is definitely the characters, however. It’s more character-driven than plot-driven like Mexican Gothic was, but I adored it. The three point of views (Nina’s, Hector’s and Valérie’s) were excellent; all characters were very well developed and I loved all three for wildly different reasons. I loved Nina’s youthful energy and Hector’s internal struggles, but Valérie was just such a gorgeous antagonist that I think she was my favourite.

I am hoping more and more to see Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s books on the big screen, someday. I would most definitely see this one as a popular film; although reading this novel already treated me to a film in my own mind, sort of - thanks to the beautifully written prose.

I’d like to thank Macmillan-Tor/Forge for the free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

#thebeautifulones
#netgalley

The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a gorgeous novel! The cover is gorgeous and I loved the story!

While fantasy and romance aren't typically my normal genres, I wanted to read The Beautiful Ones after loving Moreno-Garcia's last book. This wasn't enough to change my opinion on the genre, but I think readers of the genres will really love this one! Very charming and enjoyable.

This book is a historical fiction romance with magic sprinkled in it. It is a genre i hardly read but i just love that the author switches genres in her books so of course i had to read this one. It is more if a slow burn and i was fine with that. The plot isnt driven as much either.

I really loved the MC and the story and this is one i will read again down the road.

The Beautiful Ones surprised me with the fluid and beautiful writing. I had read Mexican Gothic last year and didn’t like it, so I didn’t know what to expect from this.

Set in a slightly fantastical historical France, following aristocratic families and three people in a very complex triangle of love and hate and sabotage and lies.
It reminded me so much of The Bridgertons but in France.

Thank you to the publisher St. Martin’s Press for this eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

A rich, gorgeous, fantastical story packed with magical realism, perfect for fans of Isabel Allende. Moreno-Garcia's voice is captivating.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge in exchange for an honest review.

Originally published in 2017, THE BEAUTIFUL ONES was rereleased at the end of April 2021, in the author's preferred text.

Fans of MEXICAN GOTHIC might be somewhat confused if they pick this novel up expecting another gothic horror story, but what's truly remarkable and fascinating about Moreno-Garcia as an author, is that each of her books has a unique tone and style, all wonderfully executed. THE BEAUTIFUL ONES is more along the lines of Moreno-Garcia's novel, GODS OF JADE AND SHADOW if you need to try and match it to her other works.

THE BEAUTIFUL ONES is a novel about manners, and propriety, and honor. And it's a novel about love (both the good and the bad of it). With a slight touch of magical elements to make the story more interesting. Because two of the main characters are telekinetic. Unfortunately for one, she is a female, and thus is on the edge of a razor with society as they are skills unbecoming of a lady.

This novel is beautifully written and fans of Austen will enjoy it. Get swept away with Nina as she navigates the Grand Season alongside Loisail’s most notable socialites to find out what wins - love or money.

And oooooh do I have a LOT of things to say about Valérie....

Beautiful Ones, Beautiful Lies
Nina has spent most of her life in the country side, far away from the manners and conventions that govern life in Loisail…so when she arrives for her first Grand Season, she finds her adjustment anything but easy. This is complicated by the fact that she must live in the shadow of her perfect, and beautiful cousin through marriage, Valerie. Valerie is one of the Beautiful Ones, to whom everything is given on a silver platter, as she glides through life, throwing money at her problems. But, Nina’s luck starts to change when she meets Hector, aImage result for courting couple victorian gif handsome and wealthy slightly older man, who begins to court her, and seems to be falling in love with her. But perhaps, things are not as they seem…because Hector and Valerie are hiding an explosive and scandalous secret.

The Beautiful Ones is a book that is hard to pigeon hole into one genre. At times it reads like a historical fiction piece, or Jane Austen novel, with a brooding male lead and slightly high strung female lead, beset by the issues that come with wealth and family obligation. At other times, it reads like a paranormal fiction novel, since both Hector and Nina are talents, those who can manipulate the natural world with their minds. This is a force that seems to draw them together, but also one that makes Nina vulnerable to the cruelty of the Beautiful Ones. And finally, at times it reads like a dramatic romance novel, with the sins of the past weighing heavily on the present. One thing that remains constant however, is that the imagery in the book is amazing! In fact, I would say it is one of the most vividly detailed and beautifully written stories I have read in quite some time. At times, I felt as if I could step into the pages of the book and look around, drinking in the colors and sounds of this fictional Image result for stained glass shattering gifworld, which is much like our own. Similarly, the characters are all well developed as they move across the story line, seeming very life-like…Sylvia Moreno-Garcia has a talent for making truly repugnant villains, likable but frustrating protagonists, and everything in between.

The only thing that stopped me from giving this book a full five stars, is that at a few points the drama seemed almost a little too mellow-dramatic, to the point of being totally unbelievable. These instances were rare, however, and would definitely not keep me from highly recommending this book. It has a fast moving plot, wonderful characters, romance, paranormal fantasy, and a truly satisfying ending. Add a copy to your shelf or queue today! 4.5 solid stars!

This is a really slow read. I am struggling with it, but find myself using it as the book to put me to sleep at night. I find the characters shallow (which may be what the author is aiming for on some of them, but hopefully not all). I'm half way through the book currently and I still don't know WHAT "The Beautiful Ones" are. It says some of the people are Beautiful Ones, but it doesn't explain anything about it. I'm going to attempt to finish the book at some point, but for now it's going into the DNF pile.

Based on the previous work that I read from this author, I thought I would also love this book.

Out of the three main characters, I only liked Nina. Nina had the best development and kept the most important parts of her personality.

Hector was boring. I did not believe his love for Valérie. His love for her was sorely based on her appearance. He had no other reasons for loving Valérie. Not the way she made him feel, not her personality or her passions, just her beauty. His feelings for Nina came out of nowhere. One minute he sees her as a sweet girl, then the next he is madly in love with her. Hector had no personality besides his grumpy manner and obsession with Valérie.

Valérie was the worst. She had what was supposed to be a sad backstory, but I didn't empathize with her. She was despicable and believed the world revolved around her. She thought everyone wronged her and that she did nothing wrong. She had a very negative outlook on life, and her sections were almost impossible to get through. In the end, she didn't change or learn anything.

The telekinesis felt unnecessary. It played no part in the development of the story or the characters. The story would be the same without that element, the only time it was used to develop the plot was near the end. I would have liked the book better if it was purely a historical romance without telekinesis.

The scenes between Nina and Hector felt rushed, they needed more time to make their relationship impactful.

Actual Rating: 4.5, rounded up

Historical Romance, with magic? The Beautiful Ones was literally meant for me.

Mexican Gothic was one of my favorite books of last year. As soon as I finished it, I knew I had to read everything else Silvia Moreno-Garcia had written. Many of her older releases were extremely hard to find, so I was thrilled when it was announced that some of them would be getting re-released. The Beautiful Ones is one of many of Moreno-Garcia’s works being published, or re-published this year and I absolutely loved it.

The story follows Antonina Beaulieu, a young naturalist from the country, who is whisked away to Loisail for the grand season. She is staying with her doting cousin Gatétan Beaulieu and his snobbish wife, Valérie. Antonina doesn't fit into this society that structures itself around strict manners, but she is determined to find a husband. At a gathering, Antonina meets Hector Auvray, a notorious performer who shares Antonia’s telekinetic powers. Antonina instantly bonds with Hector, and feels as though she has finally met someone she can relate to, but Antonina doesn't know that Hector and Valérie have a complicated past of their own. So as Antonina unknowingly walks into a love triangle, she must also continue to try to find a husband in a society that looks down on her for her country upbringing and strange power.

The Beautiful Ones is a perfect blend of historical romance with a touch of magic. The story is so easy to fall into and the conflict leaves you eager to continue on. I loved Nina, she was a lovely character to follow. Hector and Valérie were very unlikable, but they have a depth to them that allows you to understand their thoughts and actions, even if you disagree with them. Moreno-Garcia takes on topics like class, sexism, and what love and marriage meant in this time period. These explorations reflect how these characters are treated by society and how that treatment shapes them as people.

This was an enjoyable read and I’m so happy that it’s been republished. If you enjoy historical fiction, romance, or hints of magic in your stories, it’s very likely that you’ll enjoy this book!


*Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.*

This was my first read by this author (I have mexican gothic in my TBR though!) and I really enjoyed it! I received it as an ARC from NetGalley. The first couple chapters were a little slow, but the story really picked up!

It’s your classic romance novel plot, with some magic thrown in. I loved the magic aspect of it! The author just casually introduced an entire world and magic system, and for one I don’t feel like I need more or less explanation than what is provided? There is just enough explanation for the story! I would love to hear more from this universe.

Silvia Moreno Garcia’s books are on a completely different level altogether. Such a unique world the author creates and this world building is capable by itself in engaging with the readers. In this one, there is love and betrayal among socialites with some fantasy elements thrown in making it more intriguing. As if these weren't sufficient for the plot, the author also brought some secrets to be unraveled.

With all the drama and romance, I was absolutely hooked with this intriguing plot!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

4/5 stars

The Beautiful Ones is a character-driven spectacle of love in all its forms.

The Beautiful Ones was not what I expected. It wasn't even the same genre, though I'll come back to that later. This is my first foray into Silvia Moreno-Garcia's work and it was not what I expected either. All that said, I did enjoy this novel! It was fantastic, just not in the ways I expected.

Nina Beaulieu is a wild country girl staying in the city with her cousin and his wife, Gaétan and Valérie, for the "Grand Season", a time where women look to find a suitable match and marry. When Hector Auvray comes to town, Nina is dazzled. While Nina may have been smitten right away, Hector has other things on his mind. Namely, Nina's cousin-in-law Valérie, who has commanded his heart from overseas for a decade. Hector may not love Nina the way he does Valérie, but courting her would be most convenient in bringing him closer to his lost love.

The Beautiful Ones started slow. Thankfully, by the time the ending rolled around I was enjoying it exponentially more than I had during the slow beginning.

This is less of a fantasy book and more of a magical realism novel, though even that might be a little generous. It's much more of a historical fiction romance. I adore a good historical fiction book, but I wasn't in the mood for it. I was in the mood for a fantasy book, which I thought I would get. I'm not unhappy with the fact that it is historical fiction, but some forewarning would have been appreciated.

The show-stopping aspect of this book was absolutely the characters. I doubt anyone could read it and proclaim detachment from them. Their stories were so gut-wrenchingly real and messy in the way that only life can be. Their thoughts were explained in such perfect detail that I could understand all of them, if not empathize with them. Even all the things that happened at the end made sense with the dark turn one of the characters was taking that made perfect sense. I don't think I could even categorize their relationships into something so defined as a love triangle, they were too perfectly convoluted! Some of the relationships were healthy, others were toxic and they were amazing to see in contrast.

All in all, while not exactly what I expected, this was a highly enjoyable read. I would highly recommend it, just make sure you're in the mood for a historical fiction novel, not a fantasy book.

I requested The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia based on having read and very much enjoyed her Mexican Gothic The author has cautioned readers to expect a book “very far from Mexican Gothic.” It seems this author alters and mixes genres with each of her works but writes beautifully in both of these.
The three main characters are and all of them have their faults.

The book follows three characters - Nina, Hector, and Valerie - as they interact in a strict society of fancy dress, elegant ballrooms, and telekinesis - presented not as a wonder but as a part of this world. We find here a complicated love story intertwined with Nina’s coming of age. Nina is young and ill suited to the city life and the grand balls that accompany it. Her telekinetic abilities made her an outsider back home, and in the city gossip is even harder to contain. Hector has perfected his telekinetic powers and works as a performer while he carries a torch for his lost love Valerie while courting Nina. Valerie is Nina’s cousin and a strong woman in her own right; but was forced to marry for money and status. The result is a charming tale of love and betrayal, and the struggle between conformity and passion, set in a world where scandal is a razor-sharp weapon.

The Beautiful Ones is a fantasy and romance novel, all in one, blending Pride and Prejudice and the Illusionist (the movie) into an intriguing character-driven story. Add a dash of betrayal and revenge and you’ve got a good understanding of the feel of this novel. It is described as a fantasy novel, but in truth, it is more of a romance novel, so be sure to be expecting that when you start reading.

I wasn’t really sure what I was expecting when I began this novel (perhaps a retelling of some sort), but it certainly isn’t what I got. While the tones reminded me of many different things, they still managed to stand alone and be their own element.

The Beautiful Ones is a bit lighter on the fantasy than I anticipated, and readers who are not fans of a slow buildup style story will probably find this too dawdling. I personally greatly enjoyed the time spent on character and plot development. Though I’ll admit some disappointment about the minimal use of telekinesis in the story - while brought up frequently, it skirts the line between fantasy and magic tricks. The ability comes into play once during a pivotal moment but otherwise is relegated to background status.

The characters were minimal in number but great in-depth and development. All were very human, a fact that is especially evident whenever one of them would make a mistake. While I didn’t agree with all the decisions the characters made, it was hard not to sympathize with their reasoning (with the exception of Valerie that is. No sympathy for her). Though Hector blatantly using Nina was a bit tough to swallow – especially when you see just how innocent Nina really is (I was worried that this would permanently alter her outlook, but thankfully she’s stronger than that).

I quickly grew to love despising Valerie, while cheering for Hector to get his life back on track (ideally with Nina). She was the ideal villain for the novel – being the antithesis to Nina in every way while still actively trying to stand in Hector’s way (her inability to share a person with any other being shows how truly conceited she is). I know I should probably have felt compassion for Valerie, being that her predicament is truly just commentary on women in the 19th century (where they were not allowed to make choices for themselves) but her bitter air and complete unwillingness to make changes that would better her life left a bad taste in my mouth. Add in the fact that she was more than willing to set Nina to the same fate and it becomes very difficult to overlook.

Hector is a very complicated character, and while he invariably makes choices the reader won’t agree with, I still found myself hoping he’d find his way. Having his heart utterly broken when he was young turned him into a paradoxical man. On the one hand, he was still a hopeless romantic, believing that Valerie would run away with him the moment she had the chance. The other side of him is jaded, not seeing much of a point in trying to find new friends or new love. Watching his character grow and learn was truly a beautiful (if slightly slow) sight to see, and I’m glad it was included (as opposed to a sudden transition).

While I hadn’t been intending on delving into a romance novel this week, I find myself shocked to admit that I did greatly enjoy it. I still wish it had been described more accurately, but it is what it is. It was a nice change of pace, all things considered, and I’m glad I took the time to read it.

Unfortunately, this was not the Moreno-Garcia book for me. I have loved everything I’ve ever picked up by her, but this one missed the mark. One thing I love about her writing is that every book is a different genre mix. Of course, this also means some genres will not appeal to every reader. This one leaned heavily into the historical romance genre with a hit of fantasy. I would have enjoyed more fantasy. I also struggled to have any investment in two of the main leads. I typically need someone to root for when I read and these protagonists were cynical, whiny, and sometimes cruel.
I think this book has an appeal for those who don’t need to like their MCs and for those who like a more soapy historical romance.
DNF at 30%. I will certainly pick more of Moreno-Garcia’s books, I’m looking forward to her new release for fall.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a review copy in exchange for a honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5

This book is like Bridgerton but make it fantasy. I. LOVED. IT. I am a huge @silviamg.author after Mexican Gothic and while this book is very different from that one, it has the same magical realism elements woven throughout.
Summary: Hector has been in love with Valerie Beaulieu for a decade, and he seizes an opportunity to pretend to court her younger cousin, Nina, in order to get close to her. Feelings develop. Drama ensues.

This book was honestly so lovely. Simultaneously whimsical and serious, SMG has a writing style that is poetic but not overly so. Taking off half a star because I wish the world building would have been a bit clearer and I also feel like the romance was ultimately a bit rushed. Overall, highly recommend!!! Thank you @netgalley for the gifted digital copy.

I went into ‘The Beautiful Ones’ not knowing it was a romance novel, and I particularly avoided that genre. I only read it because I thoroughly enjoyed Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Gods of Jade and Shadow. Then I saw stumbled across this title on NetGalley, and fell in love with the cover too. When I discovered it was romance, I almost did not want to continue. But there was something in the way the author told the story that motivated me to continue.

This story was told by 3 main characters – Valerie, Nina and Hector. Valerie, the evil ‘stepmother’, oh how I loathed her! And how I loved loathing her. Evil to the core, selfish, bitter, her whole life consumed by hate. ‘Proper’ on the outside, rotten on the inside. And dear Antonina, the Cinderella in this story, such a darling, intelligent, passionate and wore her heart on her sleeve. When Antonina Beaulieu traveled to Loisail to stay with her cousin Gaetan and Valerie for the Grand Season, she met and fell in love with a telekinetic performer Hector Auvray. And little did Nina knew, this Hector guy was once involved with that evil Valerie, and was still head over heels in love with her. I found myself cursing him every time he confessed his love for her, screaming in my heart, what do you see in this materialistic, jealous, selfish, b**ch!!? Followed by many eyerolls. Being total opposites, the two women were bound to get onto each other’s nerves and it was only a matter of time before they both lose their sanity. And when they finally did, as they always say, all hell broke loose.

As you can see, this story drew many reactions from me, and that to me, is a sign of good storytelling. It was a slow start yes, which I thought was important for character building and with good writing, it made a whole lot of difference, because one could persevere and keep reading. After that, the momentum never stopped till the end. It made me want to keep reading hoping to see Valerie will get what she deserved. Ooooh, the nerve of that woman and the things she did, got me all riled up. I knew Nina and Hector will get a happy ending, I mean, that was for sure. I was the most invested in Valerie and Gaetan (God bless Gaetan for putting up with his wife throughout the years!), and I just wanted to see how Valerie was going to suffer and be punished. Satisfying ending I must say!

If you haven’t read this book, pick this up, especially if you’ve loved the author’s previous works, although they were quite different, but all those I’ve read have been good. Also, I mean, just look at the gorgeous cover! Hats off to the designer. And kudos to this young author. I envy her talent!

Antonina Beaulieu comes to visit her cousin in the city of Loisail during the Grand Season in the hopes of securing a husband. Nina commits many faux pas in the company of The Beautiful Ones (the elite in the city). She has had telekinetic abilities since childhood that have resulted in her being labeled a witch and frowned upon by society. During her debut, Nina meets Hector Auvray, who is a popular telekinetic showman. Hector begins to court Nina and help her learn to control her talents, but she is unaware that he has ulterior motives. A love triangle of sorts is soon unfolding as the characters try to find happiness, revenge, and acceptance.

I love the slight magical element of this novel. It adds a fantastic layer to the story being spun. The book is set in a fictional place, and has a historical fiction feel similar to novels of Jane Austen. I found myself rooting for Nina to find love and happiness as she was criticized by the socialites for her telekinesis and her quirkiness. I also felt a lot of sympathy for Hector and his difficult past, though I was also very perturbed by his treatment of Nina in the first part of the story.

The writing in this book is beautiful. The characters were very well developed and I was totally immersed in their stories. Silvia Moreno-Garcia is such a good story-teller, and each of her books is very unique. The book is a bit slower paced as you learn about the characters and their stories, but it is not boring. Instead, the characters’ desires and passions grow as the story develops.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.