I really loved the Pride and Prejudice feel of this book! Andrew is broody like Mr. Darcy and Catherine shares similarities to to Liz. She even wears a similar dress to what Liz wore during the scene Liz and Mr. Darcy danced for the first time.

The slow burn of Andrew and Catherine is beautifully delicious and I did not expect the spice level this book was going to have, but I loved it. The way they learn to trust one another felt so organic and I wanted to read more of them.

Which leads to the only real problem I had with the book. While I liked reading about Mary and her story, I felt it was a bit distracting to Andrew and Catherine’s story. It would have been nice if we got hints of her story and then got her full story in a sequel.

As for Lee and her story, it could’ve been taken out all together. There was not enough time in the book for me to feel anything toward her. I didn’t know who she was as a character and I’ve already forgotten the name of the guy she likes.

Overall, I really enjoyed the story and would love to get Mary’s sequel.

Heat Factor: They get nekkid! There is on-page seggs!

Character Chemistry: All the beats were there for a marriage of convenience, but I think there were too many secondary character stories to really make it sing.

Plot: Catherine marries Andrew because no one else will have her; Andrew marries Catherine because he needs her money; they’re definitely not going to have sex until he falls in love with her. Nopity nope nope!

Overall: I am not yet convinced that the graphic novel is the right format to really get that belly-fluttering romance swoon, but I was definitely charmed by this one.

“A graphic novel featuring a historical romance marriage of convenience?” I said to myself as I was scrolling through Netgalley. “I must have it.”

I’m not totally sure how best to organize my thoughts, so I’m going to go with bullet points. Let’s see what happens.

- The art style is clean lines and visually accessible; there wasn’t anything to muddy the reading of the panels. That said, the characters are rounded, and the art style isn’t gritty at all, so it also feels kind of young and innocent. The protagonists are seemingly relatively young people getting married (early to mid twenties, I’d say), so that tracks, but it creates that young and naive vibe in the background of the story.

- This is a very regency marriage of convenience romance. Catherine is “ruined” due to whispers about an affair she had with a complete asshole who was promised to another woman. (Who doesn’t care that he got his rocks off while she was traveling? That was a weird moment.) Andrew, the second son, unexpectedly inherited his family estate that was already ruined by his brother, so he needs Catherine’s money to put things to rights. They both know they’re marrying for business reasons, and that forms a pretty solid basis for their marriage, actually.

- Speaking of their marriage, they are really nice to each other. It was pretty cool. The first sex scene is their wedding night, and Catherine can’t go through with it after all. They have a shockingly even conversation about their pasts, and when Catherine tells Andrew she won’t have sex with a man she doesn’t love, he’s like, “Okay, we’ll just be good spouses to each other, then, and when the house work is done we can pursue our own interests.” That said, Catherine does pull the, “I can’t have sex with a man I don’t even know!” regency heroine card, and Andrew does pull the “I’m just not built for love” regency hero card, so we are well within the genre.

- Though, after all of that sex talk: Catherine, that toolbox of a man? Really? You loved him? He’s the worst. Andrew is such a good friend and partner to her as their marriage goes on that of course she can’t help but fall for him, and of course they fall into bed before any declarations of love have occurred, and of course this causes problems later on.

- Catherine’s sister and her maid also have romantic thread storylines in the book that are sweet but not totally fleshed out, and given the length of the story, I might argue they pull away from Catherine and Andrew’s romance unnecessarily. Graphic novels might be 350 pages, but that’ll read in less than an hour, so even though it’s the same number of pages as a novel, it isn’t actually as long, narratively. Andrew’s sister also has a running storyline that tangentially impacts Catherine and Andrew—her anxiety prevents her from leaving the house—but it does form a part of a sibling conflict. Still, it redirects reader attention, and for what purpose?

- Apparently we’ve gone full Bridgerton with the diverse cast. It was nice to see a lot of racial diversity in the book, because that’s always a good thing to see. That said, it does seem to simply paper over the whole systemic racial inequality thing that we’re still dealing with, so I haven’t totally landed on an opinion about this choice. (And if you think that racial diversity was not a thing in 19th century Britain, maybe just take a minute to do a little research.)

In short, this was a charming regency romance, but most of its novelty exists in its format rather than its storyline, and the focus on some of the side characters didn’t really support the central romance as well as maybe they should have. That said, I’m super excited about an adult romance from First Second—I’ve enjoyed a lot from that publisher—and if you wanted to dip your toe into romance novel graphics, and you like histrom, this is a fun, short read.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report. (November)

A Bridgertonesque graphic novel is an apt description for this one! I really quite enjoyed the artwork and the plot. I do wish that the characters faces had been more expressive at times, but overall the art complimented the story.

In many ways, RUINED is a classic Regency marriage-of-convenience story told in graphic novel format. A landholder (Andrew) in dire need of money marries a well-dowered young woman (Catherine) whose reputation has been ruined. Not only are they not in love with each other at the beginning of the novel, they don't even really know each other. But, since this is a romance, you know things will eventually work out as they should . . . though there are some roadbumps along the way.

In other ways, RUINED belongs to the new category of diverse Regencies that Bridgerton popularized. The main characters are white, but there are several people of color in the story, including some with significant subplots. There's also a sapphic couple, a character with an anxiety disorder, and a cute couple who work in the garment industry, thus representing the lower middle classes. In short, it's not just about rich white people falling in love.

Early in the book, I was a little confused about how much the fictional Regency world of RUINED differed from the traditional fictional Regency era, especially because at some points it seemed like there were openly queer characters. As far as I can tell, though, most of the social rules are the same.

Let's talk characters now. Catherine is romantic by nature, and if there's any flaw in her character development, it's that I don't quite understand what made her agree to a marriage of convenience, given how much she values romantic love. The story begins on her wedding day, starting us in media res. We learn a good amount of the back story as the novel unfolds, but I wish we could've seen Catherine and Andrew interacting before the wedding.

Andrew is decribed in the backmatter as a "brooding hunk" and that's pretty accurate, but he is also practical and unromantic to a fault. That said, there are a couple of adorable moments towards the end that reveal that Andrew does indeed have a softy, squishy heart inside. (The flower!!)

Despite being a relatively short novel, the book does an impressive job of telling the stories of other characters, too, not just the main couple. The only subplot that seemed underdeveloped or rushed was the one dealing with Gemma's agoraphobia. But if the creators wanted to write a sequel that dealt with Gemma and her anxiety in more depth, I'd totally read it!

There are a couple of open-door sex scenes, but they are not long nor extremely detailed, so I'd rank the book as only moderately spicy.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of the novel from Netgalley, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Ruined is a graphic novel looking to capture the interest of Bridgerton fans. I could see some of those fans being disappointed, but others who are historical romance fans in general will find this appealing. The cover is gorgeous, and the artwork inside works well with the story. The story left me wanting more, which will do well if this ends up getting fleshed out into a larger series.

I was gifted a ARC of this novel, in exchange for a honest review.

This graphic novel has a strange mixture of charm and spice — and attempts to recreate a ‘Bridgerton’ vibe.

I just wasn’t hooked at all, and at times the graphic novel seemed a bit too… Graphic. There were moments/imagery I did not expect and to be honest, these moments were not needed…

It turned from something that could’ve been very sweet, to something that can only be recommended to a very niche audience.

For these reasons I’m giving this a 2/5. I don’t like to be negative about people’s work, as I know how much time and effort goes into it. But this just didn’t do it for me.

A cute, but typical period romance about a couple who are wed after each has their own dire sorts. I was a bit blindsided by the steamy parts... I should have looked more into other reviews before requesting the book. (I don't typically read graphic novels with steamy bits.) Nonetheless, I enjoyed the story.

I wasn't hooked with this one. The art style and dialogue just didn't captivate me. Ultimately I decided to DNF the book at 50%.

For all the readers seeking a sweet escape into the world of Regency-era romance, Ruined is a delight. Vibrantly illustrated, this graphic novel is an ode to classic tales reminiscent of Bridgerton and Jane Austen.

Catherine and Andrew's marriage, one borne out of necessity and a thirst for societal redemption, beautifully evolves on the pages. Their relationship defies the era's norms, offering a refreshing departure from traditional narratives. As the layers of their complex motivations unfold, readers can't help but root for them, hoping for a future where love triumphs over societal pressures.

There's an inherent warmth and coziness to this graphic novel. The character development, intricate plots, and splendid illustrations blend seamlessly, making Ruined an immersive read. If you're in the mood for an enthralling Regency romance with depth and charm, this graphic novel won't disappoint.

A regency romance graphic novel that needs more pages to really come alive. The uniqueness of the genre within the comic sphere is a definite bonus but also limits the ability to go deep into the characters depth of feeling. The art is simple but serves the story well.

“Ruined” by Sarah Vaughn:

In "Ruined," we find Catherine Benson facing the distressing spread of rumors questioning her virtue. In her desperation to address this scandal, she sees an opportunity in Andrew Davener, a man from a family struggling with financial hardships. A marriage between them could offer a solution to both of their problems—Catherine's tarnished reputation could be salvaged, and Andrew's family could benefit from Catherine's dowry.

However, as Catherine and Andrew find themselves bound in matrimony, an emotional journey unfolds. Despite her initial intentions, Catherine can't help but develop genuine feelings for Andrew. Yet, his icy demeanor keeps an emotional barrier between them. The central question emerges: Can Andrew allow Catherine to break through his emotional walls, or will their marriage remain only a formality on paper?

While the art style in "Ruined" didn't resonate with me, the story held great potential. I didn’t care for the side characters’ stories and wish that time was spent on more Catherine and Andrew content. The book showed promise, particularly in the development of Catherine and Andrew's relationship. Despite these shortcomings, I found myself genuinely invested in Catherine and Andrew's journey toward happiness, earning this book a 3 out of 5 stars rating.

I approached this graphic novel with great hopes and wasn't disappointed. While other works out there are little better than mockeries of the recency romances, this graphic novel depicts a delightful story that is supported by a very well designed art. You will appreciate both the indepth study of regency fashion and manners that was behind the designs as well as the plot with its satisfying even though a bit rushed happy ending. I strongly recommend this graphic novel to all fans of historical romance.

This graphic novel was great from start to finish. The art is beautiful and the text is easy to follow. It is everything I expected it to be and that’s great. I’m hoping that there will be more to come soon!

I was sent an ARC of this graphic novel in exchange for my honest review. On first impression the art style is a little simplistic for my taste, but I was wildly impressed with the realistic take on body type and representation for the time period. It was refreshing to read a graphic novel in regency times that showed normal body proportions and body hair. That small attention to detail is what made this memorable amongst all of the other graphic novels I have consumed.

As for the plot, I admittedly am not well versed in regency era media aside from a few books and tv shows but this seemed very on par with Bridgerton season 1. We have a marriage of convenience between a MMC that is determined to live a life without love and a FMC with a “ruined” reputation insistent on finding true love and not just a warm body. There are several side characters with BIPOC and LGBTQIA representation. While we don’t get as much page time with these side characters, I felt equally invested in their stories as I was with the main characters. I thought the different plot lines were perfectly balanced and the story told within volume one was nicely wrapped up without any major cliffhangers, but still left plenty to be told in future editions.

Overall, while the art style was not my favorite I can appreciate the realistic body representation. The plot was interesting and had a good amount of angst and sweet moments to keep you turning the pages. Some of the regency era language was lost on me because I am not used to reading media set in this era, but if you are a fan of graphic novels and period pieces with diversity and representation this would be up your ally.

A regency era romance I was excited to see it in comic form, but this was just not for me. It tells the story about Catherine who "lost her virtue" and had to marry a man who was desperate for her dowry. It includes them trying to get used to each other and falling in love. I don't know may be if you are a bigger romance reader than I am you might like it better. It wasn't a bad book, but not for me.

3 stars

At first we are immediately placed in the middle of the story, and I felt a little confused, but as the story unfolded I couldn't help but like the characters and the story.
I loved the progressing of things and got more into the graphic style.

I like the contrast between the two main characters. And especially that they didn't change for each other, but rather, they adapted to each other's needs. It was super adorable. Their slow approach was so sweet.
The secondary characters have their own stories, which for me brought out more the part of English society.

It was a book that surprised me with how much I liked it.
A historical romance in comics. Something special.

I loved this. This is the best! I'm a suckered for a good Regency Romance and make a graphic novel. why yes please, please take my money!! And this was absolutely perfect. I couldn't get enough of this. Please do more like this!! 6 star rating if I could.
I just reviewed Ruined by Sarah Vaughn. #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

A quick graphic novel read about an arranged marriage and the desire for love over duty. The story was written well enough, I was just not a fan of the artwork. Facial expressions just seemed very weird to me.

This was only just “fine” for me. I was drawn in by the art style on the cover, but disappointed once I started reading and discovered that the art style truly doesn’t resemble that very much at all.

<i>Ruined</i> follows Catherine and Andrew, who are forced into a marriage of convenience after Catherine’s ruination by another man and Andrew’s need for the funds from her dowry.

When I first began reading, I was pleased to see a lot of diverse representation, despite the regency era setting. From a sapphic relationship between two side characters to a myriad of the supporting cast being non-white, it was a welcome edition.

What I did not expect, however, is for this to take a very <i>Bridgerton</i> turn. There is spice in this graphic novel, and you see just about all of the body parts. I’ve never encountered this in a graphic novel before, so that was interesting. I still wasn’t a fan of the art style.

One critique I want to give is that this focused a bit too much on the supporting cast, which was to the detriment of the main relationship. It wasn’t give enough page space to grow authentically and felt rushed in the end.

Overall, it was a fine read that kept my attention, but it was missing an X factor to take it to the next level. I hoped for swooning, but got a kind of shrugging indifference.

<b>Overall Rating:</b> 2 stars

<i>A big thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, First Second Books, for providing me with an advanced copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review!</i>

A nice story reminiscent Bridgerton . A simple read if I am being honest. The drawing style wasn't my favorite but the plot and characters were interesting.