A young telekinetic Nina arrives in Loisail for her first season, there she meets and falls for fellow telekinetic, Hector. Unbeknownst to Nina, Hector has returned to Loisail in hopes of reconciling with his lost love, Valerie, who happens to be married to Nina's cousin.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is an instant read author for me. This is quite different from her other novels, but still possesses what makes her books so special: she writes characters really well. Valerie was one of the most despicable people I've read about in a long time, narcissistic, bitter, self-pitying and vengeful but Moreno-Garcia has developed a fully fledged character: Valerie may be insufferable but she's interesting. I loved the development of Nina's character and she joins the ranks of other great heroines in Moreno-Garcia's books. I did find the world building a little lacking in parts and thought there were a few parts of the novel that could've been fleshed out more.

Call me shallow if you want, and you really should do, because I selected this book on the strength of its beautiful cover. Last year I actually bought another of this author’s books, Mexican Gothic (which I’m yet to read) for the exact same reason, so that’s clearly a selling point (for me at least).
I haven’t traditionally been a fan of historical romance but I am trying to read more widely this year so every book is worth a read for that reason!
Set in the fictional city of Loisail, which in my head was in France or Switzerland (never confirmed in the book), society’s ‘beautiful ones’ make their way through life via a series of social events. The main character is Antonina (known as Nina) Beaulieu, who has a penchant for beetles and a talent for telekenesis, meets Hector Auvray, an entertainer with the same talent. This slow paced story centres mostly around a love triangle but never really got going until the last few chapters for me. I didn’t care for any of the characters, so wasn’t rooting for one in particular, so this made it hard to get into.
I’m still excited to read more from this author, as I thought the style of writing was nice.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus for the advance copy to review.

Rating: 3 stars

Have you ever heard the plot of a Mexican Telenovela? if you have, this book will transport you back to the 90's when Thalia was the protagonist of many soap operas like Maria la del Barrio, Marimar and Rosalinda. If you haven't, well.. lucky you! This book is exactly that... a Mexican soap opera in prose! is it bad? Not necessarily... did I like it? well.. I was very surprised the narrative went in that direction...I wasn't expecting it.... maybe because I grew up in Colombia watching all these telenovelas with my family, my overall enjoyment of the book was impacted.

Should you read it? if you enjoy soap operas... then definitely! Otherwise.. I don't think it will be of your enjoyment. Part of the description says this is a romance with a dash of magic... well.. the magic is minimal! it is not a significant part of the plot (at least in my opinion) so... just think about it as a romance (without any steam) with lots and lots of drama!

One thing I did enjoy: the short chapters! I finished this one in less than a day.. so... that was good.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review #netgalley #thebeautifulones

This is the first novel I have read by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, a slow burn of a beautifully written, character driven historical romantic drama with a small element of the fantastical, emulating the likes of Jane Austen, set in the fictional city of Losail in the early 20th century. The young and naive Antonina 'Nina' Beaulieu, loves insects such as beetles and butterflies, has the gift of telekinesis, a source of shame for her family, a gift she is unable to control but which comes to the fore whenever she is emotionally overwrought, which taints her reputation and has her referred to as the 'Witch of Oldcastle', . She leaves her rural home to stay at the home of her well off cousin, Gaetan and his wife, Valerie, in Losail for the Grand Season, attending balls with the aim of securing a rich husband.

As could almost be predicted, Nina's debut does not go well but her world improves considerably when she meets Hector Auvray, a well known telekinetic entertainer, who has acquired wealth and pulled himself up the social strata to mingle with the high born aristocrats. Hector does not see Nina's gift as problematic, and helps her to manage and control it better. Unaware that Hector and Valerie have a past, Nina feels love, but it is a love that has a rocky path to negotiate between being true to her love and passion, pitted against the heavy pressures that come to bear in terms of society's expectations. We can see the consequences of accepting society's limitations on women in the bitter, scheming, enraged, selfish and manipulative Valerie, who gave up love's young dream, and intends that Nina should suffer just like her, in her efforts to thwart Nina's love for Hector.

Hector has never been able to forget Valerie, and seeks to make her pay for her betrayal, but can he see beyond his deception and really see Nina? This is an atmospheric, entertaining and engaging novel of class, manners, gender, love, the rigidity of expectations to conform, and the hypocrisy of society where it is acceptable for a man to be telekinetic but not a woman. The highlights for me was the clear development of Nina's character in the narrative, along with the detailed observations, such as the clothing, and the rich descriptions of the historical era. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.

I really did not get on with this book despite loving other books by this author. The fault is my own though as I was expecting more magic and should of paid better attention to the genre. Instead I got a Jane Austin book which is really not to my tastes

A romance that reminds me a lot of Jane Austen and her contemporaries. The Beautiful Ones follows young Nina as she enters her first Grand Season under the guidance of her cousin's wife Valerie. There she meets and falls in love with Hector, a performer and entertainer who like herself has telekinesis. However, what Nina doesn't know is Hector's past with Valerie and how it could lead to her fall from society.

I enjoyed reading this book, regency inspired romances are not my go to genre but I loved Gods of Jade and Shadow that I had to try one of Moreno-Garcia's earlier works. I enjoyed this and would recommend this to readers who like historical fiction as well as hints of the fantastical.

Thank you to Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

This is the third book I reviewed by this author and they’ve all been dramatically different. The blurb had me thinking of “The Age of Innocence”, but Valerie here is far less likable than the Countess Olenska and I found myself just wishing she would go away when the book used her POV. Hector got the side eye from me throughout the book. Nina was a delight, but that just made me more wary of the others and I spent the bulk of this book holding my breath the way you would watching a final girl during a horror movie. It felt less like a romance than a disaster waiting to happen. However, this author writes extremely well, and it’s a pleasure to read her prose. So everything factored- 3.5 rounded up. Nothing like her previous books, but if you like her writing you’ll enjoy this

The Beautiful Ones is a romance novel set in a brand new world and centres around Nina Beaulieu who is sent to live with her cousin Gaetan and his wife Valerie for the grand season to meet suitors. She meets Hector Auvray and falls in love with him but he is keeping a secret from her that could ruin their relationship.
I was expecting a bit more of fantasy theme from this book, especially after reading the first blurb, but did appreciate the Austen/Bronte feels this book gave me. It's a slow burn but the attention to detail is on point. Very different from her other works but definitely worth a read

The Beautiful Ones surprised me with the smoothness of the narrative. The writing style is so fluid and engaging. I was utterly swept away by the romance. I would definitely recommend this book to friends who enjoy stories with just the right amount of magical elements and plenty of beauty!

The Beautiful Ones

I read Mexican Gothic at the beginning of the year and loved it. Not just because it was creepy and tense but because of the way the author uses language and description in a historical setting. When I saw The Beautiful Ones available to review I was so excited to immerse myself in that experience again.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia said about this one “this is very much a novel about manners and romance, and very far from Mexican Gothic”, and she was so right. I loved how different this was from Mexican Gothic! Silvia Moreno-Garcia is such a talented storyteller, I was immediately hooked right from the start.

During the Grand Season of Loisail, Nina is about to make her debut into high society, however she struggles to control her telekinesis and is often the subject of rumour and gossip. She must learn to behave as a proper woman of high stature if she is to find success in love.

The Beautiful Ones is about Nina, a telekinetic who is unknowingly caught in a love triangle with high society figure Valerie and fellow telekinetic Hector. I’ve seen people compare this to the likes of Jane Austen and Bridgerton, it’s exactly like that but with a magical twist.

This was such an enjoyable read for me. The characters were completely developed. I love how Nina never changed despite the threat of scandal toward her. She was completely unapologetic and everything that a strong female character should be! The romance between Nina and Hector was so pure. They truly deserve to be together to live as tele-kinetics in peace!

This is very easily a 4 star review for me and I would recommend to all who enjoy historical romances.

Mexican Gothic was one of my favorite reads last year so when I was invited to read The beautiful ones prior to its rerelease I couldn’t hit the read now button fast enough. Sadly, this just ended up being ok for me.

The writing is beautiful, lush and evocative but the story was too slow paced and it had one of my least favorite tropes (love triangle). Also, I couldn’t get behind the romance cause I didn’t like Hector and his attitude for the most part of the book and I disliked Valérie intensely, so reading the chapters from her POV was a chore. On an intellectual level I can sympathize with her and understand her actions, but on a visceral one I hated her with a passion, so kudos to the author for creating such a strong reaction. The only character I liked was Nina, though I was disappointed with her final decision.

Though a slight disappointment, I will anxiously await Ms. Moreno-García next release and I can’t get wait to dive into her backlist.

PS: Do we agree Ms Moreno-García has been blessed by the cover gods?

Sylvia Moreno Garcia struck gold last year with Mexican Gothic, a book which took the best British gothic traditions and successfully transferred them to a creepy mid-20th Century Mexico. This has clearly led to a reconsideration of Moreno Garcia’s work so that some of her earlier releases are being rereleased, including her 2017 historical fantasy The Beautiful Ones.
The world of The Beautiful Ones is a pastiche of late 19th and early 20th Century central and south America. While the place names are unfamiliar and there is a hint of people with powers, the driving force of this society is money and gossip. When the book opens Hector has returned after ten years to the city of Loisail, still pursuing his long lost love Valérie. Hector left the city to develop his craft in telekinesis, becoming a world famous showman. While Valérie preserved her family’s fortunes by marrying into an even wealthier family. Still obsessed, despite her marriage to another, Hector seeks to get close to Valérie and he does so by formally courting her husband’s niece Nina, who also has powers like his.
Moreno Garcia clearly loves the telenovela, because their melodramatic story lines are all over this tale. A love triangle becomes a love quadrangle, the situation drives some characters to become more self-obsessed, impulsive and evil and others to become more pure and understanding. Tensions run high, opportunities are missed, intentions are misunderstood. But because it is based in this style, The Beautiful Ones is also a breezy read – a classic romance with a dash of magic (literally a dash - Hector could just have easily been a world famous pianist or chess prodigy and the story, with one major exception, would have been pretty much the same).
Moreno Garcia claims that all of her books are drawn from different influences, and this may be true. But what she shows both in this and in Mexican Gothic, is her ability to play on well established tropes and themes. And while it has taken her a while to find her “breakout” novel, it is pleasing to see that this success is shining a light back on to some of her earlier work, more of which will be rereleased later in the year.

The writing of this book is so beautiful and special. Even thought it's very slow paced it kept getting more interesting as the story went on. The story was entertaining and the romance magical. Can't wait to read more of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's works.

The Beautiful Ones, Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Hector Auvray master of telekinesis arrives in the city of Loisail. Determined to find the woman he had loved and lost, instead he finds himself acquainted with Nina, her niece. Eager to keep any connection to his former love Valerie he begins to court Nina and begins a series of events that nobody could have predicted. Particularly when Nina has gifts of her own.

This is a beautiful, elegant tale of love, mystery, deceit and power in all it’s forms. One that transports you to within it’s own world. This is also a real study of character, of Hector, Valerie and Nina and who they are and who they will become. Moreno-Garcia writes her usual stunning prose. Loisail becomes easy to lose yourself in and you can imagine yourself wandering the streets with these characters as their stories unfold.

The Beautiful Ones is a beautifully written story.

A dramatic tale of romance, the characters and relationships take centre stage, and whilst two of the main characters have telekinetic abilities, this is not the main focus of the story. Having the telekenisis as just something the characters do is an inspired choice, and adds to the depth and richness of the story rather than placing too much focus on it to the detriment of character development.

The book is nicely paced, with tension building and thoughts of characters changing throughout.

A thoroughly enjoyable read.

There's a lot to love about The Beautiful Ones. I adored Mexican Gothic and while this is completely different in theme, the writing is still just as smooth and enjoyable to immerse yourself in. In theory it is effortless to read this book as the writing style is so delightful.

However

In a book marketed as a romance, are we supposed to root for Hector and Nina? Hector, an experienced worldly man who effectively stalks and provokes his ex fiancé repeatedly and then leads on her inexperienced, younger cousin to provoke said ex fiancé and see her more? The guy who can visibly see that Nina is falling for him, a girl he chides, ignores and thinks plain but still lets believe in more between them because in using her, he can get a reaction out of Valerie, who he really loves? That’s the toxic guy we’re meant to like and want our heroine with? The fact he grows to love Nina, after breaking her heart, after realising that Valerie, a monster of a woman but essentially a woman that he also wore down, taunted and manipulated, isn’t actually the woman of his obsessed delusions, I’m sorry that isn’t romantic. Yes there are sweet moments between them but I missed where he redeemed himself. If Valerie had been nicer, if she hadn't burst his delusional bubble, he wouldn't have changed and would have remained cruel to Nina.

Valerie, turned into a hysterical villain but actually there were times when you understood her, even sympathised with her. She loved Hector but she carried the weight of her family on her shoulders and was forced to marry for money and abandon herself, her idealism and her first love. She creates a bitter, hard shell to exist, feeding off reputation and status and still feeling like she is begging her husband to help the family she abandoned herself for, a husband who doesn’t love her but bought her. And then Hector, after 10 years (?!) comes onto the scene to try shatter this fragile existence. Her reactions are extreme, seriously extreme, but you can understand this woman’s anger. By the end of this book Hector gets what he wants; he found love and turned Valerie’s life upside down in the process until she felt as bad and broken as he did when she hurt him a decade ago. That Valerie alone is punished by the end of this book just angered me because Hector, who created a lot of this mess, remains unscathed.

Nina is a delightful and charming character, although i find it hard to believe she would forgive Hector’s behaviour. Yes we see she is inexperienced but she is incredibly strong willed and sure of herself, and yet she sees only the good in this man. This quality frustrated me, I wished she had loved herself more, because she is a quirky, stubborn Lizzie Bennett/Eloise Bridgerton esq character who gets excited about beetles, who brings them up in flirting in fact and is awkward and passionate in a very alive way. She is the heart in this book when everyone else is terrible company to endure. Because I loved her so much, I just so badly wanted better for her.

Other than giving something for Nina and Hector to have in common, I was unsure of the point of the telekinesis minor plot as it really didn't add to the story and at times confused a book very rigid in the idea of decorum and restraint - or was that the point? That in a controlled world, these 2 characters had this freedom and unrestraint bigger than this world? Following on from this, the world building on this confused me, is this phenomenon common? Nina is called a witch and yet people pay to see Hector and he reveals his skill publicly at whim. Why has nothing advanced, for example why is a motorcar mentioned as something revolutionary if people are capable of such extraordinary things??

My review shows that I have very strong opinions of the characters in this book, indifference would be a lot worse so clearly the book did get under my skin, not necessarily a bad thing! All characters are not supposed to be likeable and love is not ideal. While I could not stand Hector and, in turn, could not support the romance in this book, I did find the writing delightful and easy to read and Nina a wonderful creation .

Thank you NetGalley for the copy to review.

Okay so I really enjoyed the book, probably more than I expected. Especially the last few chapters where I literally flew through them.

I'm not gonna lie, the first half of the book was a little bit slow, and kinda soapy. And the POV characters weren't very easy to like, either, with all the questionable actions and decisions they made. I found myself wanting to pull my hair out a few times out of frustration.

But when I think about it, I really appreciate the way the shifting of POVs were done not only to move the plot along but also to show character growth and how each characters manage societal expectations, heartbreak and loss. What I love the most from this book, though, is the romance. The way Moreno-Garcia writes romance and yearning honestly just takes my breath away. I don't want to give away too much because I want this review to be spoiler-free, but overall, I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it.

The beautiful ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is set in a historical context different from ours, where tickets and prom dresses were the order of the day.
The beginning of this book is slow, very slow so I can't get into the story right away.
It's like finding yourself in a Jane Austen novel, but with a dash of fantasy.
The worldbuilding didn't blow me away, I found it unclearly described, confusing.
I don't if we are in France or in a parallel France.
As was the story, mainly focused on the portrayal of the main characters and not the story itself. I would have preferred to read something better structured.
If Moreno-Garcia had balanced the two character/story things, it would have been a different kettle of fish.
I will definitely be reading more by this author, I hear great things about Mexican Gothic and will slowly get around to reading it as well.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia never fails to produce an engrossing narrative. No matter the subject matter she always has such a masterful grasp over the story she wants to tell. The Beautiful Ones is no exception. The dialogue is witty and engaging while the atmosphere is so superbly crafted that you feel like you’re walking the streets of Loisail along with the characters. Her prose is luscious with a touch of intentional melodrama and astute social commentary. It all ends up working together to suck in the reader and make it difficult to put the book down.

I’ll note straight off the bat that this is more of a romance and alternate-world period piece than a fantasy. Though two of the main characters have telekinetic abilities - and both consider it part of their identity – this is still ultimately a character-driven story that focuses more on relationships than the use of their powers. Those who are looking for an urban fantasy with gritty adventures won’t find what they’re looking for here, but there is plenty of Austen-esque charm to be found for those who enjoy a “novel of manners”.

The Beautiful Ones takes place largely in the grand city of Loisail in a world modelled after late 19th-century France. Two out of the three main characters, Hector Auvray and Nina Beaulieu, are new arrivals to the city. It’s immediately apparent that their outlook on life could not be more different. Hector is older and accomplished. Nina is young and naïve. Hector knows exactly how to behave in all the finest circles. Nina is constantly causing social gaffes because of her impulsive nature. Most important of all, Hector is morose and stuck in the past – while Nina looks excitedly to the future.

Hector climbed from very humble beginnings as a telekinetic street performer to a world-famous “talent” who appears on the grandest stages. He has spent the past ten years relentlessly performing on the road and amassing his own wealth. But it’s obvious upon his entrance in Loisail that he cares little for the society of aristocratic “Beautiful Ones” who now accept him. All, that is, except one: Valérie Beaulieu née Veries. Valérie is the sophisticated star of Loisail's upper class society and can start or end a trend at the drop of a pin. She is also his former fiancé that jilted him a decade ago for a far richer man. But he loves her still and he’s determined to meet her once again.

It’s Nina who ends up being Hector’s ticket to meeting Valérie. She is the cousin of Valérie’s husband who has come to stay in the city under their supervision as she navigates her first “Grand Season” and societal debut. The genteel manners expected in Loisail’s social circles bewilder Nina, but she still has hope for romance and is instantly fascinated when she meets Hector. She was already an admirer of his, having telekinetic powers of her own that she often can’t control, but upon their acquaintance she is quickly drawn to his handsome reserve. When he begins to court her Nina is utterly delighted – and completely unaware of his ulterior motives.

Valérie, the third and final main character, knows very well what the aim of Hector's courtship is. Valérie is displeased to see Hector again, but also undeniably intrigued as well. She did love him during their past courtship, but gave up their engagement when the ambition of her aristocratic family saw Valérie’s betrothal to a wealthy man as the only thing that would save their dwindling fortunes. After all this time, Valérie has never ceased resenting being served up to her husband for her family’s sake. Her resentment extends even to Nina whom she feels has an undeservedly easy life free from any expectations from her doting family. Valérie also finds the girl’s guileless nature distasteful, so if the smallest bit of guilt tinges her conscience over Hector’s deceit, it never plagues her for long. She is calculating and cold and simply waiting for the courtship to burn itself out.

The tumultuous events that accompany the collision of these three intriguing characters was impossible to turn away from. This may not be the most unique or imaginative take on this specific kind of plot, but the execution was well done and enjoyable to follow. And it’s just so easy to get invested in the inevitable train wreck.

Nina is easy to sympathize with even when her necessary obliviousness can be painful to read. Hector makes you want to shake him frequently but it’s satisfying watching his guilt overtake him the more and more he grows to truly like Nina. Even Valérie, undoubtedly the most selfish and scheming character of the book, is captivating in all her nuance. She’s never written as a one-dimensional character. The text never justifies her actions and dislike of Nina, but you can understand to an extent why she became as bitter as she is even though it does not absolve her.

The only downside in my personal opinion is that I wasn’t entirely satisfied with the way the story all wraps up. I was hoping for a little more character development for one character and accountability from another for one thing. But I acknowledge that it’s still a solid ending that achieves what the author was aiming for.

That aside, if you’re looking for a beautifully written slowburn story with romance and aspects of a period piece drama then I really do highly recommend this. It scratches all of those itches so very well.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Jo Fletcher Books / Quercus Books for providing the free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I really enjoyed the beginning, but it just didn't capture my attention from about midway through.

My favourite part of the book was Nina's character - she's an innocent girl from the country and an amateur naturalist - I loved how much she loved nature, even the beetles! But the other characters were just not hits for me, even the love interest was boring and a bit spineless at times. My least favourite character was Valerie (of course), but I wasn't much for Luc either.

This is a very character driven book and it does build up to and end point but I didn't find it particularly satisfying. But Nina's character definitely made the rating higher. Overall I enjoyed some aspects, and did enjoy Nina and Hector's chemistry even if only for the beginning of the book.