Silvia Moreno-Garcia's "The Beautiful Ones" is a captivating historical fantasy romance set in a world of social etiquette and telekinetic abilities. The novel follows the intricate relationships among the characters, exploring themes of love, class, and self-discovery. Moreno-Garcia's writing is elegant and immersive, bringing to life a society reminiscent of the Belle Époque. The story combines elements of romance and intrigue, offering a delightful blend of magical realism and character-driven narrative that will enchant readers who enjoy lush, atmospheric storytelling.

Its been a while since I got approved for this and somehow I missed the email so it never got downloaded before the archive date. Therefore I've waited before getting a physical copy. The fact that I missed the download date should have told me about what to expect. It was. Not good.

I have read period fiction with a sprinkle of magic and absolutely adored it. I've also read period dramas that have magic because they don't want to be lumped in with the general fiction in a bookstore. This is the second type of novel.

I'm sure if you love Pride and Prejudice and another Bronte, you will love this but unfortunately it's not for me

Quality Rating: Three Stars
Enjoyment Rating: Three Stars

The Beautiful Ones was definitely more romance focused than I had expected after reading Mexican Gothic, though the setup and many themes carry through; this is Regency era politically infused love schemes with Moreno-Garcia's signature stylistic flair. Honestly, it's not my kind of genre, namely because I find characters who act this way very hard to get behind - but kudos is due to the book for giving tempered backstory so characters' actions are motivated. Unfortunately, I still didn't really enjoy reading any of the perspectives.

There's an awful lot of preamble for a final crux that wraps up startingly fast and neatly. The first half of the book acts essentially as a prologue for the latter, and I wished it hadn't felt so separate and detached. I also felt the magical elements were underused and more like some aesthetic feathers than built solidly into the world, which I found a little disappointing as the concept was interesting and felt at times like it could have contributed to raising tension and political pressure. In the end, it was just sort of displayed and left alone.

Much of this book, from the early plot to worldbuilding, was necessary for the final beats but felt largely included just for the deus ex machina. The distinction between the 'beautiful ones' of the title and everyone else felt tagged on for an explicit status divide but not followed through with lore or actual politics. While this is predominantly a love story, I had hoped that the background framing everything and so deliberately thought about would be more than just a background in the end.

I absolutely love historical fiction books but unfortunately I really did not enjoy this book. I found the plot weak and couldn’t engage with any of the characters.

Unfortunately my request to read this book was granted the day the book was archived so I didnt have a chance to download it. Therefore I cannot provide feedback.

One thing you should know about me as a reader is that my love for Silvia Moreno-Garcia knows no bounds. I consider this generation to be incredibly blessed, living as we are in a world where Silvia Moreno-Garcia is actively putting out books every year. I adore her writing immensely, and I truly believe she’s one of the greats! So imagine my utter delight at having been gifted an early copy of this book by her publisher! It took me a little while to get through the book, seeing as I wasn’t in the right frame of mind when I first picked it up, and also. Historical Romance is not my thing, normally. But once I crossed the 40% mark of the book, I simply could NOT put it down. This is an absolutely delightful read, and I’m going to try and put into words why I think so!

The Beautiful Ones is a historical fantasy romance set in the French city of Losail in…I wanna say early 1800s, but honestly, my grasp of the eras is pretty shoddy so take that with a grain of salt. Just know that the motor car was a novel invention in those times. Also they still had those balls every spring and summer. Also, this *is* a made-up version of the world where telekinetic magic is real.

The story begins at a lavish ball being held in the Losail where we meet Hector Auvary. We learn three things about him immediately – he’s not one for the parties as it were, he’s waiting to see someone named Valerie Beaulieu, and he’s returned to Losail after a significant amount of time spent amassing a name and a fortune for himself. His visit turns out to be fruitless, however, because Valerie does not make an appearance. He does end up meeting a rather peculiar young woman who is enchanted by him and knows of him – Hector is a telekinetic, and uses his magic in his acts as an illusionist. He’s famous all around the world for his work, and the girl he meets, who turns out to be Valerie’s sister-in-law Nina Beaulieu, is enamoured by him and his work because she, too, is a telekinetic. She has no control over her powers, however..and well, that’s for later in the story. Disappointed as Hector is by Valerie’s absence, he learns of Nina’s identity later that night and decides to use her to get close to Valerie.

Over the course of their next few meetings, we learn that Hector and Valerie were in love in their youth, but Hector had to leave because he was penniless and he wanted to make money for Valerie. And Valerie couldn’t wait because her family marries her off for money and for their name. It’s a little sad, but what he does to Nina to stay close to Valerie is MUCH sadder, because the poor thing falls in love with him, while he truly doesn’t have any intentions of staying with her. Or so it seems, anyway. Somewhere along the way, he comes to care for her. And Valerie, in a fit of jealousy, reveals the nature of their past to Nina. And all hell breaks loose. That’s a nice little point of breaking for the both of them. Hector realises that he was blinded by his idea of Valerie and his love for her. Nina realises that she was blinded by her naivete and her admiration for Hector. Everyone’s sad for a bit. But, then – CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT! Anyway, everyone ends up with who they’re supposed to end up with in the end, and it’s a neat little story, but I don’t want to give away more than I already have! Suffice to say that the second half of this book had me in its clutches!! I was so very enchanted by it! It’s SUCH a good read, y’all!!

I’m not the biggest fan of a plotline where there’s even a HINT of infidelity. It makes me feel super anxious so I generally tend to avoid books that have that. So, OF COURSE, the first third of the book made me really uncomfortable. The dynamic between Hector and Valerie is kind of fucked up, and you can FEEL that there’s something off about their whole deal from the first time that they interact on page. Also, Nina being a little doe-eyed fool while this was happening just added to my discomfort of the whole situation. And, like, as hard as it was for me to get through that part of the book, I think all that discomfort really just helped elevate the rest of it. Because it is about the journeys these characters go through, at the end of the day. And watching Nina grow into herself, and Hector getting disillusioned was just that much more satisfying because of how stupid they were being earlier. I mean, I know this is just basically how any and all stories work, but the way this one plays out is just GOOD! Like, the way Silvia Moreno-Garcia writes her characters is SO, SO GOOD! And the way that this book feels both like a super elaborate soap opera AND an earnest little love story is like!!! INSANE!!!

I definitely had my reservations about Hector and Nina’s relationship as their romance starts to become the central plot of the story – the way Hector treated her and hurt her felt like something almost impossible to get past, to be honest. But, like, the development of that relationship also happens so naturally, and before long, I was ROOTING for them! This is what I mean when I say that this author is incredible with her character work. Getting the reader to invest emotionally in something that might not be appealing to them in a different context is really hard to do, but Silvia Moreno-Garcia does it EVERY TIME!! She’s, like, so good at it. I’m thinking of Velvet Was The Night, where we start off with two characters who are extremely hard to sympathise with and then WE END UP ROOTING FOR THEM ANYWAY!! AAHH!! God, I love her writing, man, can you tell?!

Also. To absolutely be self-indulgent about it, the climax of this story is SO GOOD! Like, it’s so dramatic and extra, and so very Bollywood in the BEST way, and it’s one of my favourite scenes in the whole story ough!!!! If you’re on the fence about it, you should just read the whole book just for that climax!!! I’m serious!!!

Thematically, The Beautiful Ones feels a little like a coming of age story. Like, with Nina it’s a bit like baby’s first heartbreak, and as she recovers from it, she learns to define her wants and learns to assert herself in situations and make choices as an active participant in her life. All this, especially in contrast to how things happen TO her in the first half of the book is very satisfying to see. There’s also how the book manages to paint a picture of the ugly underneath all the pretty faces – we see Losail and its glittering parties, but we also see their exclusivity and their snobbiness and the way these people get away with almost anything because they can throw money at it. The classism in the society is so evident, and Silvia Moreno-Garcia manages to weave it all into the story and doesn’t shy away from a realistic portrayal of it. There’s also the patriarchal framework of it all. The way Nina is looked down upon by The Elite because she’s a little free-spirited, the way Valerie was expected to sacrifice her life because she was a woman born into a family, the way they’re both disregarded by the men in their lives in different ways. Even with Valerie, an antagonist as she is, you can kind of see that even though she makes a lot of poor choices, she’s not. Like. Evil. She’s also someone who is a victim of her circumstances. Like it’s not impossible to sympathise with her, despite everything. And, like, that’s the thing. I feel like Silvia Moreno-Garcia is one of those writers who definitely understands that it’s impossible to tell a good story without being conscious of the biases of the world, and her approach to it all adds to much richness to her worlds and enhances the reading experience immensely!

All in all, this is one incredibly well-written, engaging and entertaining novel, and a sweet love story and I adored it so so so much! Cannot WAIT for my next Silvia Moreno-Garcia book!!!

English is not my native language so, please, excuse any errors that may have escaped my proofreading.

I received this as an advance reader copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions my own.

I came for Mexican Gothic and I stayed for this historical fiction romance with a hint of the supernatural. However, they are very different novels. I could even say that they are novels for quite a different type of reader. Which I am not saying it is a bad thing. As Silvia herself describes it, it is “a novel of manners and a romance”. But obviously, if you come to a book expecting something that it is not, you are going to end up disappointed.

I absolutely adored the set up. The novel is set in a fictional city, in the earlier 20th century and you can really feel how it is heavily inspired in the historical romance drama vibes of Jane Austen with everything that it entails. Silvia brings this set up to life with rich and vivid descriptions that were an absolute pleasure to read. It helped so much to get into the whole story and become immersed in the life of Nina, our main character.

I would say that, next to the narration and descriptions, the characters are the strong point of this book. The characters and their development throughout the book. How they clearly are starting in a very defined point and how they change and what makes them change, throughout the book. Sadly, I am not going to elaborate a lot on this because of spoilers and the way that I always try to avoid them when I am talking about a book.

It is the book version of a soap with their very characteristic drama and exaggerations. It has heartbreak, and it looks the end of the world, and the main character goes against what society says and she is then an outcast and shame on her because she will never find a good respectable husband if she keeps using her telekinesis. It plays with that over dramatization and that characterisation to the absurd and that’s why I absolutely adored it so much and had such a fantastic time reading it.

This book was fast paced and kept me interested throughout the book even though I didn't really love the characters who kept making shitty choices but I think that lots of people will enjoy this.

This was a delightful romance of manners and misunderstandings, with protagonists who just happen to be telekenetics! I loved the evocative descriptions of the costumes and the houses and thought that the prose in general was gorgeous. Nina is a fabulous main character, towing the line gracefully between shrinking violet and modern woman and I was rooting for her throughout. Similarly, Valerie makes for a wonderful antagonist, as her motivations are understandable, albeit, unpleasant. Overall, this was a really enjoyable read and I would definitely recommend it to anyone with a love for regency romance.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

How could I not enjoy The Beautiful Ones? It’s basically Jane Austen with added magic!

Nina has been sent to Losail for her debut into fashionable society - and more importantly, to find a husband. But the chances of her becoming one of the Beautiful Ones is remote. She has the reputation of being the Witch of Oldhouse, and struggles to control her telekinesis. Beautiful ones do not show off any gifts they might have in public.

However when Nina meets the mysterious entertainer Hector Auvray, she falls for him: his life experience and his ability to control his telekinesis. What’s more, he starts to help Nina control her own talents.

Nina is sheltered and naive. Everything she has learnt about romance has come from the pages of a book, and life just isn’t like that, especially for socialites who must marry for advantage and connections.

I could feel Nina’s frustration at her limitations (and agreed with her), and wanted so much to warn her. SO MANY TIMES!

Nina’s cousins wife is awful. Shes a sad, vindictive woman that I loved to hate.

The descriptions of clothing and etiquette were both captivating and frankly, mind blowing. I would most certainly have been a peasant- there’s no way I could have lived like that! The attention to ‘historical’ detail made me believe this could have genuinely happened. Just excellent world building!

I loved this book ❤️

DNF at 33%. I wanted to read Moreno-García’s backlist after reading and enjoying Mexican Gothic. The Beautiful Ones is an historical fiction romance with a touch of fantasy, but this one didn't work for me.

Really liked this book. It's a bit slow, but it was certainly worth the read. Really liked the story and it reminded me why I love Silvia Moreno Garcia so much!

The thing is, I really want to like Silvia Moreno-Garcia's books. Including The Beautiful Ones I’ve now read three of her books and I didn’t really love any of them.

Just like in the previous books, what stood out to me reading this book was the writing. The author has a very distinct writing style and knows how to write an atmospheric book.
But while it’s nice to get an atmospheric read, I also want an interesting plot. And that’s what her books have been lacking for me.

The first thing I didn’t like about The Beautiful Ones were the characters. The book is centred mainly around three characters – Nina, Hector, and Valerie.
The main character is Nina. She’s naïve and almost childlike. Her only other character trait is liking bugs, at least that’s the only thing that stood out to me. She also falls in love with Hector because he’s the only man who ever pays her any kind of attention. I assume Nina was supposed to be a sympathetic character the reader should root for, but to me she came off as almost a little pathetic. I found it impossible to like her.
Then there’s the love interest, Hector. He clearly wasn’t over his ex and was manipulative. I didn’t like him either.
And last but not least, Valerie, the ex. She was simply a horrible person, and I didn’t even like her in a “she’s a cool antagonist” way.

Then there were the magical elements. Nina and Hector have telekinetic abilities, but I honestly didn’t feel like those were in any way necessary for the plot. The whole book would’ve worked without magic as well, so it was a little disappointing.

The plot and pacing were incredibly slow.

In the end the book sounded really good in theory, but aside from the pretty writing there wasn’t much I enjoyed about it.

This is definitely my favourite by Moreno-Garcia so far. It was completely different from Mexican Gothic and surprised me with how much I enjoyed it!

The writing was beautiful, and I loved Nina as the main character. She had a youthful naivety to her, yet we were able to witness growth in her confidence throughout the story. I was expecting a little more from the telekinetic elements of the plot as they were what drew me to the story in the first place, but I still enjoyed the execution and how they were incorporated into the world.

A really enjoyable read and proof that Silvia Moreno-Garcia can master a huge variety of genres. I'm now excited to pick up more from her.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Silivia Moreno-Garcia is a great example of a writer that can turn their hand to so many different genres! I loved Gods of Jade and Shadow, I loved Mexican Gothic, this was still a strong novel for her but it definitely paled in comparison to the others I've read by her. I really enjoyed the twist on a novel of manners, the magical element was fun and did add a different flavour to a book that could've just fallen into a romance, however I do wish it had been explored a little more. The magical side of the world wasn't developed as much as it could've been and though I know it wasn't the focus of the story it just might have added more depth. I was however surprised at how much I was rooting for the romance. I wasn't sure I would with it being a larger age gap and almost a 'naive girl and experienced man' vibe. But thankfully the characters were likable enough that I wanted a good ending for them. Except for Valerie! Who was written to be hated and my god did I hate her! I love characters who are written to be hate but you do end up actually despising them.
So I did really enjoy this novel, and it definitely helps hightlight what a great writer Moreno-Garcia is. It is not her strongest book but I enjoyed the journey it took me on!

I adored this book.

The authors writing styles and descriptors pull you into this book and keep you there. The story line, although complex and a little strange, was well thought out and took you along on the whole story.

I have went on to read more of Silvias work as a result, which is a recommendation in itself.

Wow, what a beautiful writer SMG is. I read Mexican Gothic and fell in love with her style, and this has just well and truly solidified it. A beautiful, slow burning, paranormal romance…. If such a thing could exist. Definitely well worth a read.

I adore SMG and am constantly impressed by her ability to write so beautifully across a number of genres. ‘The Beautiful Ones’ is a stunning period drama- stylish, captivating and just the right level of melodrama. Nina is a charming heroine and Valerie the perfect antagonist. I wished at times that the magical elements of the story were slightly more pronounced, but that certainly didn’t detract from the story at all. Beautiful

The Beautiful Ones is perfect if you're looking for a slower-paced novel with intriguing layers. In its essence, this is a beautifully told and wonderfully written love story, well, love triangle between Nina, Valerie and Hector.

What makes this book stand out from the crowd - along with the sharply drawn characters - are the magical fantasy elements. I wasn't expecting them and they really added a great hook to this. So different from Mexican Gothic, my previous Silvia Moreno-Garcia read, but I like her variety and very much enjoyed this.

This book took me completely by surprise. I have no idea how to classify it, I just know that I really enjoyed it. I would call it a romance novel, with a lot of paranormal elements which reads like classic literature.

I read MEXICAN GOTHIC last year, and this is something completely different. It is definitely captivating and enthralling, SILVIA MORENO-GARCIA has a way with words in whatever genre she writes.

This story is about Nina who falls in love with Hector, but Hector loves Valerie. Nina's aunt who is actually married. There's not much more to say. It's a story about a complicated love triangle which has you rooting for your favourite character by the end.

I'm happy I read it (and finished it at the end of 2021) because this is a five star read (in a year where not many books were) I wouldn't have wanted to miss.