This book is not a quick read, but the history is well researched, well written, and thought provoking. Romance was risky business and, of course, most risky for women.

Gristwood successfully completes what she states she set out to do with the thesis of this book. Having studied the Tudors and the time period for an extensive number of years, I actually found the way the information was approached, i.e. via Love, was refreshing and I even found myself looking at things new and different ways.

The writing style is engaging and could be approached by novice or expert. The information doesn't become overwhelming, and I was actually entertained throughout my reading.

I look forward to reading more by Gristwood.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the dARC of this work in exchange for my honest review.

First book of 2023 has been finished!!

I'm so thankful to Sarah Gristwood and St. Martin's Press for this ARC. I love historical nonfiction reads and I love Sarah Gristwood's writing.

This book is so well-researched and Sarah is just on another level to me. She's thorough, she stresses the importance of women in history and while the subject matter can be dense, I think she decently summarizes the information.

I will say I didn't super love the beginning of this book, which was all setup for the Tudor dynasty. The first 20% is about King Arthur and his story, and the 12th century up until King Henry VII and honestly I think it could've been condensed a bit more??? Gristwood refers back to the importance of King Arthur's story to royals in the Tudor Dynasty, but I don't think we needed as much backstory as we got.

And while I appreciated the thesis of this book which is how courtly love and games were central to politicking in the Tudor dynasty, I didn't feel like it was driven home as clearly as Gristwood envisioned.

My favorite part of this book was UNDOUBTEDLY the King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn courtship because so much of it really is unknown but also it's so fun to try and fill in the blanks. Like Anne Boleyn what were you playing attttt and how is it working so well until it didn't work so well.

Legitimately the number one thing I learned from this book is that I would have thrived (briefly) and died playing courtly games in King Henry VIII's court liiiiiiiiiiiike I would've collected love letters like nobody's business and then King Henry would've beheaded me personally.

I also really enjoyed learning more about Henry's sisters Margaret and Mary and their offspring because whoa Nelly the DRAMA!!

Overall, I learned a lot and I'm happy I read it.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Tudors in Love in exchange for an honest review. This was an interesting and detailed account of the concept of courtly love. It centered heavily on the relationship of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn as well as on the reign of Elizabeth I. The author presented courtly love as a double edged sword that could be just as dangerous as it was enchanting. There were so many details and primary sources incorporated, that it provided a well rounded view of the period. It was a very educational read and would be great for British history and royal family lovers.

I am no stranger to Henry VIII and his six wives. It is my most read subject matter to date —books about this ruthless yet misunderstood king and the ladies that stood by his side not only line my bookshelf., but continue to captivate me. Gristwood's book was a refreshing take on love during what was, in truth, a tumultuous time. Politics, family, and even ego often cast a shadow over the possibility of true love, yet courtly love is where the fascination begins. I was super familiar with the backstories of all the wives of Henry Tutor. Still, I was intrigued by how Gristwoood weaved in tales of Guinevere and King Author (something I am not as familiar with). The Tutors in Love is perfect for anyone interested in learning about Henry VIII and the fate of his six wives. Those who are well-read on this dynasty will enjoy the revitalized take on the love ad loss of this famous King.

This behemoth was right up my alley and suited my particular tastes in history. Im fairly biased toward the Tudor era (the drama!!!) and this book’s approach to romance in the era was thoroughly researched and explained. It doesn’t just discuss the Tudor era, it goes back centuries and discusses famous romances of the past and how they were viewed by the generations that came after them, all the way up to the Tudors themselves. It explains how history was able to foster this era of lust and legend. I enjoyed when the author took the time to paint for us scenes of flirtation and seduction techniques. It really felt like a movie, like I could insert myself into the scene and live out the fantasy for myself. It’s a unique blend of academia and story telling. The author does well to present all different perspectives of the romances, not forcing the reader to believe one way or another. They simply told us how it was perceived then and how that affects how we perceive it now. Overall, I had a great time reading this and walk away with plenty of discourse to bring to future discussions on the topic.

As a long time fan of Tudor lore, I found this fascinating - to look through the lens of courtly love was super interesting.

I really liked how thorough this book was and how in-depth it went into the intricacies of the Tudor family dynamics throughout their reign. It definitely could have been organized differently to make things a bit more fluid and clear, but it had a really interesting focus on the courtly influences and impacts of marriages and love. I would need to read it again in order to absorb everything in it and have a stronger idea of the connections and points Gristwood was making, but for readers that have experience and interest in non-fiction history books it would be a good read.

I liked the general organization of this book. However, I did find it distracting how the book hopped between various individuals within each chapter. It felt a little abrupt and difficult to digest. Further, the book addressed certain people who were not necessarily popular/recognizable, while skimming over key historical figures and relationships. I think major relationships could have received more attention and description. I think the book in general would have benefitted from slowing down the pace and focusing on less relationships in more detail.

I marked this one as currently reading in mid December but it actually took the whole month to read it. I would read ten minutes before bed and I just couldn't get into it. I have read many books about the Tudors so I know the history. I feel like this book is so full of history that if you do not already know the basics it will be hard to get through. There are a lot of players involved with all of the Tudors and it is hard to keep everyone straight. Never mind the fact that multiple people share the same name. This book is about "courtly love" and how it changed and evolved over the years and with each monarch. It was an interesting way to look at the different courts for each ruler. I do not think I have delved so deep into Elizabeth I though, which is at the end of the book, of course. I also learned more about Sir Walter Ralegh.

"...but a powerful woman must be careful because you can be blamed even for something very slight."

"...that the man who marries his mistress creates a job vacancy."

"Courtly love had been a dream and a challenge; a joke and an opportunity. Now in Cromwell's hands it became a tool."

"...a great part of the labour of government could with difficulty be undertaken by a woman."

"I never saw England weaker in strength, money, men, and riches...Here was nothing but fining, beheading, hanging, quartering and burning, taxing, levying, and beggaring, and losing our strongholds abroad." -this was under Elizabeth I

The Tudors. We all know the history. Court intrigue, political wrangling, violence, beheadings and burnings, insurrection, assassination attempts, war.... The history of the Tudors is a lot more than Henry marrying six times or Elizabeth being The Virgin Queen. There was a lot going on! A lot of change. A lot of heavy stuff!

But what of love?

What's love got to do with it? Author Sarah Gristwood brings forth a treasure trove of Tudor research and facts to show it might just have a lot to do with it. Love, even with hugely political aspirations, is still love, right?

I'm a sucker for all things Tudor era, so I enjoyed reading this book. I knew the history and a lot of the background facts already. But, Gristwood puts an interesting spin on things. This book is not about romantic love, but courtly love and relationships that wield great political power. It brings into focus how much obsession, lust, the rules of courtly love, marriages and relationships entered into for political gain left their mark on the Tudor era.

I enjoyed this book! Gristwood relates the facts in an interesting way. This isn't a dry history book, but an engaging presentation of the facts and a reflection on the effects of courtly love, marriages and relationships on the Tudor Era.

This is the first book by Sarah Gristwood that I've read. I can't wait to read more by her, especially her book on the women behind the War of the Roses!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St Martin's Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

The entire time I read this book, I pictured the actors in the Tudors series on Showtime. Now I have to go rewatch it. For Tudor fans, this book is excellent, but if you're not already familiar with the family and all their drama, this book might drag. It is definitely very "readable," though, not just a textbook - easily digestible and very interesting. I never knew that much about Elizabeth I’s reign, so I enjoyed that part. And the general info about life/love at court always fascinates me. I'd definitely recommend, but be warned that it's heavy on the historical facts.

Tne tudors are truly so insanely fascinating and I loved this one so much I needed it for my personal collection so I bought physical copy. Thank you to SMP for the advanced copy

Five stars! Informative, engaging, and completely sates my curiosity on the topic of courtly love. I find it fascinating that a phenomenon that seems frivolous can be seen threading through the shape of people's lives (and deaths). I love Sarah Gristwood's nonfiction books for giving a sample of these themes in a bunch of Tudor events and figures.

This was a fascinating book, looking at how each generation of Tudor monarchs used the ideals of courtly love in their reign. Obviously most of the focus rested on Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, because they were the main Tudor monarchs to highlight courtly love. Author Sarah Gristwood does an excellent job explaining exactly what courtly love meant, and how it changed over time, how the legend of King Arthur was used by each monarch to help support their claim to the throne- either as part of or separate from the tropes of courtly love. I found it interesting how Henry VIII, in his younger years, tried to idealize living the life of a "Arthurian knight", with chivalric codes towards women as well as the sporting side of tournaments, and didn't just couch things in the literary terms his nobles might want to hear. In contrast, Elizabeth I almost weaponized chivalric codes and courtly love as a way of maintaining her power in a male dominated world, using chivalric tropes to keep her throne, and to communicate with her people as well as with her favorites.

Well researched and well written, I definitely enjoyed this book and learning about an aspect of Tudor psychology I hadn't understood well before. I certainly recommend this book to others interested in Tudor history!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

A little denser than I expected and spanning a long period of time. Definitely not for the light historical reader as it can be a lot of information at once and a lot of jumping around. But overall the author does a really great job of making history a bit contemporary and provides a good framework through which Tudor romances are formed. I’d recommend if this is your niche or you’re into overview history with some pockets of deeper focus - well researched and clearly a project of love!

This is a look at the Tudor dynasty from a different focus, love and politics. The author starts with the legends and love of King Arthur and Guinevere and takes us from the start of the Tudor reign, through all 6 of Henry VIII’s wives, and the lives and loves of his successors: Edward, Mary and Elizabeth. It’s an interesting look into that part of history.

“The Tudors in Love”, by Sarah Gristwood, is a fascinating book with an interesting premise of how 'courtly love" affected the Tudor reign from the 1200s through the 1600s. This includes the struggles within religion, romantic endeavors, illness, and war.

It goes very deep into history and research throughout, with plenty of source materials and references. It isn’t just a simple discussion of love and marriage within the Tudor dynasty, but a detailed look at courtly love – and ultimately how it formed history. It also takes you on an interesting journey through the tales of Guinevere and Lancelot and how they correlate to actual happenings.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Tudors is one of the most fascinating time periods in British history to me. I enjoy learning about all the main characters and the secondary characters pulling all the strings.

Sarah Gristwood's The Tudors in Love implies that the rules of "courtly love" shaped the politics and international diplomacy of the time. I found this thought interesting and agreed with some of the analyses given and disagreed or couldn't fully agree with others. It was a long read, but insightful and it definitely had me thinking.

I found this to be an extremely interesting, engaging and captivating book. It is NOT your typical dry history book. It is an exceptional read that gives fabulous insight into the politics of courtly love and sex in the royal courts. Some of the stories I was aware of, many I was not. As an amateur historian, I highly recommend this book.