This graphic novel follows Catherine, whose reputation is ruined after rumour spread about her, and Andrew who needs a wife with a large dowry to fix up his family estate. It’s giving Bridgerton vibes with the balls, secrets and brooding men.

Just as a warning before you read my review, I am not a huge graphic novel reader and the ones I have read were in book form not digital. So take my comments with a grain of salt if you’re a graphic novel lover.

I really enjoyed the artwork and how each section worked together to build the story, even when no words or dialogue was needed. There were a few stories going on in the background that didn’t seem to have anything to do with the main plot but still helped to give a bit of depth to the story, though I was still confused about the sister and what the deal was with her. So she’s fine now? Just out and about?

There were a few bits I found confusing where we seemed to jump from one thing to another quite randomly and I had to go back a page to make sure I hadn’t missed some pages. There was also some dialogue that felt really awkward and stilted and the awkwardness made it cringe to read.

Thanks to #NetGallery and the publisher. I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Genre: Romance - Graphic Novel
Format: Digital
POV: Multiple
Spice: 🌶️/5
Age suggestion: 18+

After reading this book, I read some of the other reviews and I’m so glad that I was not the only one shocked by the nudity. I really wasn’t expecting that when I requested this book! I was expecting more Jane Austen.

The artwork on the cover was deceptive. It is beautiful. But the artwork within the pages is simplistic and sloppy. The colors, setting, lack of details at some points, and over abundance of details at other times jerked me out of the story several times.

The subplots seemed to take over the story but added very little to the main characters’ struggles.

The main thing that bothered me though was the historical inaccuracies. A noble woman at this time would know better than to sleep with an engaged man unless he was engaged to her. The social ramifications of someone finding out would have been marriage to said man regardless of his previous engagement, banishment to the countryside or out of the country, and of course social exile. She would be shunned by everyone as a loose woman. And god forbid she end up pregnant. With very good luck she might find a husband in a foreign country, but most likely she would become the spinster aunt in someone’s household.

I also applaud authors for giving us diverse casts and gay/lesbian etc relationships, but again the level that this story portrays them is unrealistic. The Bridgerton TV show is not an accurate depiction of Regency England diversity. While there were people of color in England at that time, they are estimated to be less than 1% of the population. This novel has them represented as 40 to 50% of the characters. And yes there were people who enjoyed the company of the same sex during this time as well, but it was not a widely accepted state. Most people would never share their feelings with anyone, let alone their families. At this time, it was still considered a criminal act and was punishable under the law. There were same sex relationships, but they were carefully camouflaged and kept secret. It is wonderful that as a society we have moved passed this and these relationships are widely accepted and are mundane at this point, but I feel it diminishes how hard they have had to struggle for equality to portray it less than historically accurate.

Next time you list something as “Historical Fiction” it would be nice if it wasn’t “Historical Fantasy”. Or “History as We Wish it Was”. Next time I’ll be more careful in my search for historical accuracy.

I was excited for this Regency-era graphic novel with a marriage plot, but the storyline fell a bit flat for me. There wasn’t very much complexity to it, and there wasn’t enough context about the characters and their situation given for me to get invested in them or their struggles. It had a lot of potential and the artwork was gorgeous, but it let me down story-wise since there the ideas weren’t very developed.

I wasn't sure what to expect as this is the first regency romance I've read in graphic novel format. But it works and was well done. It did very much feel like an adaptation (although I couldn't confirm this?), rather than a piece that was written with the intention of being a comic. They also didn't skimp on the romance (sex), which was a pleasant surprise.

This graphic novel was unexpected graphic, especially during the first couple of chapters. I was a bit confused as to what exactly was going on and the art did not really match what was inside. But overall at the end I did get what was happening and it was good story.

I'd like to preface this by saying that I was allowed to read this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review! Thanks, NetGalley!

I'm a big fan of SW Searle, so I'll admit I try to seek out her artwork when I can. I thought this story was very fun and interesting, with just enough Victorian art and flair to give it meaning and setting without making me feel like it was another Bridgerton retelling. The trio working on this did a great job melding their art and writing styles into a cohesive story.

Ruined is a graphic novel regency romance inspired the Bridgerton series.
Overall, I enjoyed the experience of reading Ruined. The art was beautiful and I loved that we were able to watch the two main characters, Catherine Benson and Andrew Davener, fall in love. I enjoyed also reading about the side characters and I do hope the author plans to write more novels based on these characters as I'd love to read their stories.
Whilst I always love a good arrange marriage, I do feel like this story was a bit too simple with a bit of drama - i think I definitely would have liked to see a more complex story with a more in depth study of the characters.
All in all, I enjoyed the read and would recommend to all fans of regency romance.

Well, it was cute and sexy. Very Bridgerton and fun. I hope there is more soon!

It is hard to get a really deep look into the characters when the story is told in graphic form, but this was also a fun read and a quick way to consume a good Regency Romance. I felt like I wanted more from some of the characters and the romance... but hopefully that means we get to see further connections with the main couple and side characters in the future.

Also, there was some nice little on page spice, if minimal.

4 stars
1 on the spice scale

Ruined is a quick read graphic novel -- the lead is a young woman named Catherine, the story is about her marriage of convenience to Andrew Davener.
I found the art for this novel to be so beautiful, there were parts that were illustrated so beautifully I couldn't stop staring, and other parts that made me laugh.
I found the cast of characters to be rewarding and fun to follow. I mean there are sapphics! In a period piece, this is a trend I hope we continue to see in fiction.
The book was a really quick read and I thought it would have benefitted from a little more slow burn, the timeline is a little hard to follow so even though I know that time is passing it feels incredibly quick.
I would recommend this book for fans of period pieces of any kind (Pride and Prejudice, Bridgerton, etc), and those who love a beautifully illustrated graphic novel.
Thanks to NetGalley and First Second Books for the early access edition.

Ruined by Sarah Vaughn lives up to its description with steamy Bridgerton vibes and drama, so I'm so thankful I had the chance to read this graphic novel.

This story covers themes of lost virtue and marriage to save face, unscrupulous individuals, rumors, power struggles, women with money, and finding ways to navigate difficult circumstances. It also features mature content and vivid imagery, so disclaimer this would be displayed with protective coverings in bookstores. *wink*

For some panels in this, I struggled with drawing style but overall I loved the level of detail that was drawn in, and thought about, from details in close-up faces, showing depth and distance, to patterns dresses you can tell the passion for this story and style that reflects film.

I recommend picking this graphic novel up and giving it a chance.

goodreads review:

4 stars: A fun and beautifully illustrated regency romance

3 for my personal tastes, 4 for quality

Saw "romance graphic novel" on netgalley and hit request so hard!

This was a fun format and just beautifully done. The illustrations are lovely and also extremely effective at conveying emotion wordlessly. My favorite parts were the wordless panels, I kept having to stop and appreciate what they'd done solely with visuals.

This is very much a historical in the flavor of Bridgerton, meaning its a modern fantasy of old-timeyness. Which is to say, it's not my preferred genre but definitely does a good job of the genre it's aiming for. Anyone who likes Bridgerton will love this. The story wasn't anything unusual but again fits perfectly into the genre its aiming for and does a good job of it.

The behind the scenes at the end was fun and interesting. I also appreciated the normal-bodies rep.

Definitely recommend for fans of regency romance, and love this format.

When they say that it's inspired by Bridgerton, they do not lie!

Forced into an arranged marriage with a fortune hunter due to rumours of ruination, Catherine forges a new life for herself in a marriage that may not be as loveless as the husband and wife had hoped.

There are multiple plot lines, which unfold alongside the main plot, but because it's not the main focus of the novel and we do not have the advantage of the reaction shots that we would have in a film medium the side plots end up feeling sudden when major breakthroughs occur. Despite this, I highly enjoyed them and they did not feel unnecessary.

Then, of course, there is the main plot line. Very Bridgerton-y, in the rather explicit way everything unfolds and in the behaviour of the main characters. It was definitely entertaining! There was character development and their relationship felt like it progressed in a realistic manner.

Overall, a very enjoyable regency romance graphic novel.

Thanks to NetGalley and First Second Books for the e-arc of this story, in exchange of an honest review.

Una novela gráfica interesante, muy en las vibes de Jane Austen, con matrimonios arreglados y sin amor, pero siempre con la esperanza de que llegue.

Eso le pasa a los protagonistas de esta historia. Se casan por conveniencia, sin haberse conocido antes ni haber hablado. La convivencia forzosa ayuda a que ambos se muestren tal cual son, con secretos e inseguridades.

¿Los llevará esto al amor, a la indiferencia o al odio? Léanlo para descubrirlo.

Como dato extra: mis viñetas favoritas eran esas en que los personajes estaban sorprendidos y sus ojos eran sólo un puntito. Fue la mejor forma de agregar un toque gracioso a las escenas más serias.

Thanks Netgalley for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ruined was a cute and cozy graphic novel focused on a historical romance. The trope was a common one (marriage of convenience) but that did not take away from the enjoyable romance with the main pairing. I had never seen a graphic novel which was a historical romance and thought it was a very interesting idea. I would definitely check out more. I do think some of the side characters could have been introduced more clearly. I am still confused on a few of them, but they are not a major part of the story so it didn’t take away enjoying the story. It is adult so I would not recommend this for YA but if you just want a cute and cozy regency story, I do recommend.

I was really impressed by this book, and devoured it in a single sitting. The art style is so fitting for its era, the colour and flow of each of the panels is beautifully done and such a feast for the eyes. The story itself has all of the trappings of a modern regency-inspired book with a semi-diverse band of characters, the exploration of queer romance side plots, and the inclusion of POC in an idealized version of the regency era - à la Bridgerton. I found the side plots to be lacking in depth, but I still enjoyed seeing the other characters. I only wish we had gotten more time with them or that they were given their own volume (could something like this potentially already be in the works? I certainly hope so).

I also wish we could have explored Catherine and Andrew's backstories a touch more, but their romance was a joy to read regardless. Overall, I was pleased with the pacing and style of this novel.

Vaughn, Searle and Smith do such an impressive job of conveying emotion through both the writing and the illustrations. This book is widened-eyes and pained-expressions galore and you could feel the tension from panel to panel.

Ruined is a truly unique experience for me, as someone who adores historical fiction and has never read it in a graphic novel format before. While I've read my fair share of fantasy, sci-fi, and adventure graphic novels, I've never read a romance one and I hope to see more of this format in the romance genre. Particularly in the case of historical fiction, the benefit of a graphic novel is that it really immerses readers in the setting, and seeing the way characters react to one another is a real treat.

Ruined is beautiful, accessible, and just slightly spicy (there are few semi-graphic scenes but nothing overly obscene) and I truly cannot wait to get my hands on more work by Vaughn, Searle and Smith.

I enjoyed reading this graphic novel. I haven’t seen Bridgerton but see the links for sure. Overall I enjoyed it and loved the vulnerability and hesitancy on the part of the characters. The drawing was really good too. I did find it to lack a bit in terms of plot, maybe there’s something that just didn’t come across the way it should have for me.

This illustrated regency romance book was so incredibly good!!! I loved it !!! I absolutely loved it!!! After being ruined by a man she thought she was in love with, Catherine has to enter a marriage of convenience with Andrew but what none of them is expecting is to catch feelings for one another. Marriage of convenience, forced proximity, very spicy and steamy, this romance was amazing and I had the time of my life reading it!!! Add to that the fact that Andrew is exactly like every brooding, tall and complicated male love interest we all love so much … and you have it all!!!! I was amazed by the way every scene and feeling was illustrated on paper and if I could, I would get the physical copy of this book asap because having it in between my hands, I am sure will give me some feelings!!!!!
It was all so so good and I loved how each and very character had their own trauma and experiences to face and deal with, in order to go through with life!!! I can’t wait for this one to be out and possibly read more about these people !!!

This was my first time reading an online graphic novel, and I simply loved it! The pacing was very enjoyable, and the writing style felt just right for the Regency background.

The artwork was fantastic! I’m truly mesmerized by the artist's skill. You can see that everything was made with such care and attention to detail.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this. The plot was very standard for the genre but still so cute, it brought me back to my early days as a reader of Julia Quinn and Tessa Dare's work.

I had a marvelous time reading Ruined and highly recommend this one! Definitely a 5⭐️ read.

A historial romance as a graphic novel?? Instant Buy. Sarah Vaugh author of my favorite graphic Novel - Sleepless?? Five Stars. I adored this graphic novel, though I preferred the fantasy of Sleepless a bit more, this graphic novel was charming. I loved how every character had interesting struggles and desires. I was blushing and kicking my feet at the main romance between Catherine and Andrew. Thank you to Netgalley and Sarah Vaugh for the ARC! Check this out when it comes out in November 2023.

Let me start by talking about the visual elements:

The drawings had no shadows, which made them look flat and stiff (in that sense, the cover feels like false advertising, since it’s nothing like what the actual illustrations on the graphic novel looks like). Clothes had medium amount of details, as did the backgrounds and I liked the color palette employed. There were no loud shades, which felt appropriate and matched the time period well. The body proportions were slightly odd at times, making the characters look short and stout, and I wouldn’t have chosen to give them dots for eyes when they felt bewildered, I don’t think that blended well with the illustration style and felt out of place whenever it popped up. Also, the font was very small for reading on a phone screen.

Catherine (the FMC) and her sister, Mary, had a very similar face and the same hairstyle and hair color. On the close-up panels it was hard to tell them apart (easier when more of the body was shown, since Catherine was thinner than her sister).

The Bridgerton inspiration came through loud and clear, but I’d venture that this was inspired in the show and not the book series. There was LGBT rep and a racially diverse set of characters across social groups, just like in the Netflix adaptation.

As for the writing and story itself, let me begin with the characters:

My first impression of Catherine wasn’t very positive and it only improved marginally throughout the story (just when I’d started to warm up to her I learned she’d actively chosen to hook up with a man she knew was engaged—girl, bffr). She was kind of annoying and her motives were very weak, which made it hard for me to understand her actions and sympathize with her character. And the same happened with Andrew. In the broad sense, I could grasp his overall motivations, but because all the nuance was missing, I struggled with him too.

This graphic novel was not enjoyable to read for me because of the “strobe-light” nature of it. It was like I got flashes of story, but didn’t get to witness everything that was supposed to be happening in-between them, during the dark parts. Everything felt disconnected and stilted. It was like there were dozens of panels missing.

I could have dealt with the flat drawings and illegible font, if the story had at least been good, but it wasn’t. The progression was very brusque and clunky, it was more like a series of fits and starts than a smooth advancement. Basically, we got a bunch of plot points and very little to connect them and fill the gaps in between.

There was so little development of anything; the story constantly jumped around with no rhyme or reason, the passage of time was unclear and, again, the main characters’ motivations went largely unexplained.

Also, way too much time was spent giving us small glimpses of the secondary characters—not enough to fully develop them, but also enough to take time away from the main characters. If the side stories had been relevant to the central plot and had been sufficiently expanded on, I wouldn’t have minded them, but for what they were, they did nothing but harm the novel. Don’t waste time on side stories unless you’re willing to fully commit to them.

I feel like the description overly sold and then the novel under-delivered. The passion promised was lukewarm at best, the “whisperings” about Catherine’s fall from grace weren’t relevant and scarcely played a role in the overall story (aside from being the catalyst to her arranged marriage), we barely scratched the surface of what had caused Andrew’s family to go broke and the impact this had on him emotionally and psychologically, and the weren’t any details about anything.

I really enjoy graphic novels (even if I’m partial to manhwas), and I have a big love for stories set in Regency and Victorian times (I’ll always go out of my way to watch any adaptation made of any of Jane Austen’s works ever, even YouTube series). So, I was doubly disappointed in this graphic novel. The bones for a good story was there, it just lacked any sort of fleshing out.