Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. A good historical fiction novel. Highly recommend.

This novel is an alternative history of what would happen if Theodosia Burr and Phillip Hamilton fell in love. This was a very romantic love story. Phillip and Theodosia are complex characters. I love of Theodosia is an intelligent woman and is able to make her own decisions! I also love Theodosia’s relationship with her father! I recommend this for fans of My Dear Hamilton, The Secret Wife of Aaron Burr, and Theodosia! This novel is a must read for Hamilton fans!

Ok, so here's the thing. If you want to like this book :

You have to really enjoy Romeo and Juliet stories.

You have to really like all things Hamilton.

You have to be ok if your books are heavy on entertainment value and not necessarily heavy on historical accuracy.

You need to be able to imagine alternate versions of things that you might already know a ton of details about.

As I read, I was drawn to this reimagining. What would happen if Theodosia and Phillip feel deeply in love? Their families would be heated, there would be chaos, and things would unravel through a series of Shakespeare-esque miscommunications? If that premise makes you excited, then this is the book for you. If the above list isn't you, then you might want to skip this one. I was able to thoroughly suspend disbelief and immerse myself in this alternate world, and I really liked pondering the what ifs.

3.5*
Anyone who has seen the musical Hamilton will already know a bit about who Theodosia Burr is. In fact, there is a beautiful song called “Dear Theodosia” sung by her father Aaron Burr alongside Alexander Hamilton who sings about his son Philip. This lays out the juxtaposition of the two children whose fathers’ political beliefs were on opposing sides during the infancy of America.

Like the characters Romeo and Juliet, the children of Burr and Hamilton are drawn together, completely against the wishes of their families. Of course, this is a fictional premise and not based on a real relationship. It’s an exercise in “what if?” Readers follow the growing attraction and the roadblocks presented by the fathers, as the imagined romance blossoms and falters.

One can’t help but fall for Philip. He’s charming and a bit of a bad boy. Theodosia is more challenging because of her abdication of her own feelings in favor of pleasing daddy. We want them to end up together but fate may work against them. If you loved the Broadway show or if you like complicated romantic entanglements, this will have great appeal. The yearning of children born of enemies is frequent fodder for fictional tales. But readers might be inclined to kick Theodosia somewhere along the way.

The strength of the story lies in the first three quarters. By the ending, the plot seems to lose some of its momentum as the romance trumps everything.

Calling all historical fiction and Hamilton fans! I have the book for you this Valentine’s Day weekend 💕 Love, Theodosia is a bittersweet “what if” romance novel that follows Theodosia Burr and Philip Hamilton as they must choose between love or family. A story full of heartbreak, love and history - it’s perfect for love month!

Love, Theodosia is the reimagined story of Theodosia Burr and Phillip Hamilton, with a spin of Romeo and Juliet.

I am a huge fan of Hamilton, and I have always been curious about the children from the song “Dear Theodosia.” So when I saw the synopsis of this book, I knew I just had to read it, even though I don’t usually read a lot of historical romance. I love how this book takes real people and historical events, adds a lot of intrigue and drama, but still finds a way to stay somewhat true to history. And we end up with a beautiful and compelling story.

I absolutely adored how Lori Goldstein wrote these characters! Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton were exactly the types of fathers I imagined them were. But, how she wrote Theodosia and Phillip stole my heart. Theodosia was clever and strong-willed, while Phillip was a caring cinnamon roll! I love them both and their slow-burn romance so much! I will keep thinking about this book for a long time.

I would recommend Love, Theodosia to fans of the musical Hamilton, Romeo and Juliet retellings, and reimagined stories about real people and historical events.

Ok so it’s not often I do this. I did not like this book. The characters, although based on real people, were flat. I could not get interested in Theodosia, or Aaron or their life. And that makes me sad.
I will say no more. Well I’ll say thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was so excited to read this fictional retelling of Romeo and Juliet with Theodosia Burr and Philip Hamilton. While the relationship is of the author’s imagination, she has grounded the story in real historical events, people, and locations. That’s the best reason to be a historical fiction writer, we’re not bound by the exact details of history but use them to inspire a beautiful story.

This book is just that, a beautiful romance that I didn’t want to see end. Of course, as a Hamilfan, I knew what was coming but I still hoped for that elusive happy ending. The author does a wonderful job at bringing to life two unknown people from history who we feel like we know so well, those two babies who Hamilton and Burr say will “blow us all away.” In Goldstein’s hands, I feel like they did, which makes their life stories ever more heartbreaking.

It’s also a story about devotion and duty to family, how a parent’s love can be both necessary yet stifling, and the ultimate selfishness in us all. The webs of deception in the story were vast and deep, sad yet real.

I highly recommend it for anyone who loves Hamilton the Musical or who loves Romeo and Juliet retellings. It’s a lovely, passionate story that will leave you turning the pages with your heart in your throat. It would make a great holiday gift for the Hamilfan in your life! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an Advanced Reader Copy to review.

#historymomreads #bookstagram #lovetheodosia #loriannegoldstein #netgalley

I am one of those few people who have yet to see the "smash hit" musical Hamilton, so I really had no idea who any of these players were, outside of Hamilton himself (who doesn't appear in this book very much). As I was reading, I did a quick online search to read about each person as they were introduced to help me connect the characters to each other. If this story were just a story about a random boy and girl, I might have liked it more, but because it was based on real people it just felt forced and dare, I say an unflattering representation. I really felt sorry for Joseph Alston, who was Theodosia's real-life husband as he is portrayed in this novel as a horrendous man. After reading this and a few other historical fiction novels about real life figures this year I have realized I'm just not a fan. I did not like any of the characters in this book, including Theodosia, who thought so highly of herself that I would have had to dig deep to tolerate her arrogance had I been a character in this book. This story just dragged on for me, but all the other women in my reading group LOVED it so I think it is more about me and my preferences than about this book in particular. If you are a Hamilton fan, a Romeo and Juliet fan, or a fan of American History and politics then this book is probably right for you, and you will find much enjoyment in it. If you have a hard time separating fact from fiction and do not enjoy made up scenarios about real people, then I would recommend you pass this book on to someone else. Thank you to NetGalley, Skyhorse Publishing, Arcade, and author Lori Anne Goldstein for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and do not reflect any brands I represent.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
This review is for both the audio and ebook version.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the early listen and ARC!. The narrator and the author did a superb telling of star crossed loves. I was pulled into the story and was lucky enough to have the ebook and the audiobook so I could still read when listening wasn't practical! Enjoyed the love story between Theodosia Burr and Phillip Hamilton. Loved meeting all the characters and all were essential to the story. Highly recommend

1 star

I wish that I had nicer things to say about this book. I really, really do. Unfortunately, there was precious little that I enjoyed about this book. I will touch on three of them for the sake of brevity.

My first glaring issue is the fact that Goldstein spends an unnecessarily large number of pages contextualizing everything that is happening political during this time. If it had been more subtly woven in, I don't think it would have been as much of an issue; however, it is set up in such a way that the plot just stops while Theodosia gives us a history lesson. While there were a few times that getting the context was necessary, the overabundance of facts really dragged the book down.

Theodosia herself is my second biggest gripe. We spend so much time in the book talking about how smart and scholarly she is and yet, we watch her make some of the stupidest decisions that I have ever seen in a book. It was honestly to the point where Goldstein just obliterated any sympathy for her main character just for the sake of introducing conflict. By the time I got 75% into the book, I had completely stopped caring about Theodosia in any way, shape, or form.

This might have been somewhat mitigated if the book's pacing hadn't been completely all over the place. The book starts off with a great prologue and then gets bogged down in excessive amounts of exposition. It's a pattern that repeats over and over again both in the overall novel and in the central relationship. Philip literally pops in for a scene or two and then we don't hear from him or about him for several chapters. Their conflict gets so stretched out that the climax comes at the 98%, leaving the epilogue - the details of which should have been the last 25% of the book - to hastily wrap everything up.

I sincerely hope that someone out there finds enjoyment in this book. It would make my despair a little worthwhile.

Thank you to NetGalley and Arcade for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Heavier on romance rather than historical accuracy, Love, Theodosia is a portrayal of Theodosia Burr, daughter of the notorious Aaron Burr and a supposed romance with the rogue Philip Hamilton, son of Burr's enemy Alexander Hamilton. Set in New York City amidst the backdrop of the contentious 1800 Presidential election, the story follows Theodosia, an educated, intelligent young woman, juggling potential suitors and finding herself drawn to the most ill-suited of them Philip Hamilton. She tries to hide this romance from her father, knowing his feelings about the Hamilton family and their rivalry for political power in the new nation.

This is a Romeo and Juliet like story, with witty dialogue from the protagonists and some interesting historical notes thrown in. A wonderful "suppose it happened that way" premise and some well drawn portrayals of some of the key player of the time. I recommend this to fans of early American historical fiction, romantic historical fiction readers, as well as fans of the musical Hamilton.

Goldstein wrote an artful rendition of a famous daughter and woman, Theodosia Burr. I so wanted the end to turn out differently, although I knew it would not. I delved into some background research once I began reading, much of which the author provides in her historical notes at the end of the book. I was fascinated by Burr’s extramarital affairs and the life of his first wife, which would make for another great book. What jumped out at me was the extreme selfishness of Aaron Burr, whom I have never been a fan. Read this book for great insight into the early American republic.

First, have a box of tissues on hand. Now we can start. Having totally missed the whole Hamilton musical thing I went blindly into reading this novel. The only thing I knew was the basic history you learn in school about Hamilton, Burr and the rest of the founding father gang. I did know that Philip was Hamilton's son and I therefore deduced that Theodosia was Burr's daughter. Nothing more.
Even though there is no known proof or suggestion of a romance between Theodosia and Philip, the author gives us a touching, heart-wrenching portrait of what could have been. Though the romance is strictly a product of the author's imagination she does a wonderful job of setting the time and place, sticking to the actual timeline of events as they occurred in history we are transported back, feeling as if the reader is a part of this history and making it possible that yes, this really could have happened. It feels totally possible as you read the novel, it just feels right, like it really did happen this way as heart-breaking as it is.
Theodosia Burr was a real woman and an enigma in her time. She lived at a time when women were only "educated just enough" to be companions to their husbands, and when reading novels were monitored by men for women because women "were prone to confusing fiction with fact". Aaron Burr made sure his daughter got the same education that he had, and perhaps she even got more than he did. She was highly intelligent and as such she stuck out as different from the other women of her time and social class.
Because Hamilton and Burr ended up adversaries on different ends of the political spectrum, this set the stage for a star-crossed romance between Philip and Theodosia.
This story is full of historical facts about our political system in the early days of our country, educating the reader as it entertains. I highly recommend this story, it is wonderfully written and broke my heart. As I said have those tissues at the ready!
Thank you to the publishers at Skyhorse Publishing and to Net Galley for the free ARC, I am leaving my honest review in return.

It's really just Hamilton fanfiction, I feel like I've read this exact story on Wattpad. I mean if you like the musical Hamilton and ship Theo and Philip you can just read fanfiction for free online. I got this for free and I don't think I would have paid money to read it, I would have just read someone else's story for free. That being said it isn't bad fanfiction. Historically inaccurate? Extremely. Cliché? Definitely. But it does what it's suppose to do.

Know, first, that there's no basis in fact for a romance between young Theodosia Burr and Philip Hamilton. Know, more importantly, that this is delightful read full of details likely unfamiliar to those who know only the outlines of the story of Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton and know Philiip thanks only to the musical. Theodosia was an intelligent and forward leaning woman; Phillip is less intellectual to say the least but he's swoony, among other things. Their relationship as Goldstein has imagined it, is a story of family rivalry, of course, but also of young people determined to assert their own positions. There is perhaps a heavier dose of history than romance fans looking for a casual read, might want but that's a good thing and you, like me may find yourself doing a tad more research on one or two people. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a very good read.

What would happen if Theodosia Burr and Philip Hamilton fell in love, and author Lori Anne Goldstein explores this scenario in her first novel? Unlike most women of the time, Theodosia Burr is well educated, fluent in four languages, and has a mind of her own. Her father Senator Aaron Burr, is running for office in the 1800 presidential election, possibly in debt, and desperate to keep the family home Richmond Hill.

Philip Hamilton is the charming, handsome and eldest son of Alexander Hamilton. Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton are political opposites and bitter enemies. Theodosia and Philip fall in love, having to choose between loyalties to their families, preserving the legacy their fathers have created, and changing their destiny.

Love, Theodosia, is a “what if story” about the possible romance between Theodosia Burr and Philip Hamilton, attracted to each other, do they succumb to desire, or do they walk away and do what’s expected of them? Being Australian I didn’t know a lot about the Hamilton era, I read book, authors notes and she did extensive research, with help from my friend Google, I worked it all out, and I now know a little more about America's first families. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, it’s a tastefully written romance, and four stars from me.

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I enjoyed reading this book which was the fictional tale of what would have happened if Theodosia Burr and Alexander Hamilton had fallen in love. I found it an interesting concept and liked the writing. I did feel that some of it was a bit wordy but overall enjoyed it.