Wow! I was a little surprised by all the hubbub when this book came out and a lot of people I know were excited about "the new Sarah Waters!" because I had somehow not heard of Sarah Waters before? After read this I definitely get the excitement, though.

Again, not knowing anything about Sarah Waters but just wanting to read this because everyone was talking about it, I got a little bummed out when I picked up my library hold and it was so long! I'm used to YA fiction these days and I was a liiittle grumpy about the prospect of nearly 600 pages of British period drama. (I'm one of few people who didn't love Downton Abbey--just not my particular jam usually.)

So I was surprised and pleased by what a page turner this was!! The drama and romance was truly fraught and 100% engaging. Lovely!