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Pembroke Park
Book by Martin, Michelle
248 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1986
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
July 2, 2016
Martin's delightful departure (billed as the first lesbian Regency novel) is more in the vein of Jane Austen than contemporary romance novels. The social intricacies of the era are observed: the heroines know each other for months before addressing each other by first name; gossip spread at public balls in the Herefordshire countryside can ruin reputations; and the villains of the story are an arrogant, overbearing brother and propriety rather than some dastardly foe with a complicated scheme.
Amid this simplicity, it was wonderful to read about the growing attachment between new neighbors Lady Joanna Sinclair and Lady Diana March. Who could help but love the unconventional Diana, a woman who is free in her speech, exotic in her attire, and who was once hauled before a court in Alexandria 'on charges of drunk and disorderly conduct, assaulting an officer of the law, liberating a trader's camel, and soliciting the English Ambassador for prostitution'? Joanna's playfulness with her daughter and repressed talent for painting endears her to readers and to Diana.
The slow-building attraction between Joanna & Diana is charming. The secondary characters are suitably amusing. I only wish the happily ever after had given us more time with the heroines, showing readers what their life was like as a family with Joanna's daughter Molly. I would love to read more lesbian Regency novels. Perhaps, like Ms. Martin, I shall have to write what I wish to read.
Amid this simplicity, it was wonderful to read about the growing attachment between new neighbors Lady Joanna Sinclair and Lady Diana March. Who could help but love the unconventional Diana, a woman who is free in her speech, exotic in her attire, and who was once hauled before a court in Alexandria 'on charges of drunk and disorderly conduct, assaulting an officer of the law, liberating a trader's camel, and soliciting the English Ambassador for prostitution'? Joanna's playfulness with her daughter and repressed talent for painting endears her to readers and to Diana.
The slow-building attraction between Joanna & Diana is charming. The secondary characters are suitably amusing. I only wish the happily ever after had given us more time with the heroines, showing readers what their life was like as a family with Joanna's daughter Molly. I would love to read more lesbian Regency novels. Perhaps, like Ms. Martin, I shall have to write what I wish to read.
September 24, 2018
This was actually a re-read -- I DNF'ed a chapter or two in a few years ago because it was just a little too plotty and not quite character-y enough for me, but I decided I needed to give it another try. I still had a hard time getting emotionally engaged, but I recognized much more to enjoy this time through.
The best thing about this, other than that it's a relatively smoothly written f/f Regency -- to call that rare is the understatement of the three decades since it was written -- is that it is FULL OF QUEERS being friends, mentoring, and supporting each other. *That* was a truly unexpected delight. I have no time anymore for contemporary OR historical books and media that erase our communities and connections with each other. It gets a whole extra star for that, and for being among the better-written and edited offerings from Cleis/Naiad/etc that I've trudged through. (I want to love them. They're just often SO TERRIBLE.)
The best thing about this, other than that it's a relatively smoothly written f/f Regency -- to call that rare is the understatement of the three decades since it was written -- is that it is FULL OF QUEERS being friends, mentoring, and supporting each other. *That* was a truly unexpected delight. I have no time anymore for contemporary OR historical books and media that erase our communities and connections with each other. It gets a whole extra star for that, and for being among the better-written and edited offerings from Cleis/Naiad/etc that I've trudged through. (I want to love them. They're just often SO TERRIBLE.)
September 24, 2021
4.5 Stars!
Such an enjoyable and surprisingly good story. I've been dreaming of a lesbian regency novel for years, and this one delivered beautifully!
More detailed review soon
Such an enjoyable and surprisingly good story. I've been dreaming of a lesbian regency novel for years, and this one delivered beautifully!
More detailed review soon
May 29, 2022
Recently I swore off romance novels indefinitely, but alas it seems that I am unable to stay away from queer historicals. In fact, after watching Bridgerton and deciding that I needed something like it but queer, I stumbled upon the first ever lesbian Regency romance... at least, according to Michelle Martin, and I haven't found anything to contradict her.
I planned to read Pembroke Park mostly for historical value, but I ended up enjoying the story on its own merits. It's not perfect, but it's pretty damn fun, with crossdressing and riding astride and plots to foil the scheming of meddling relatives. While there are plenty of frivolity and laughs, there's also consideration of loss and the risks of living and loving in ways that society proscribes, and a lot of leaning on found family that adds emotional weight and a kind of timeless relatability. The good made up for the bad, which in this case is a tendency for problems to resolve too quickly and the least believably-written child I've ever read.
I will definitely suggest this to readers who have exhausted the well-known queer historical writers working today and need a deeper cut.
I planned to read Pembroke Park mostly for historical value, but I ended up enjoying the story on its own merits. It's not perfect, but it's pretty damn fun, with crossdressing and riding astride and plots to foil the scheming of meddling relatives. While there are plenty of frivolity and laughs, there's also consideration of loss and the risks of living and loving in ways that society proscribes, and a lot of leaning on found family that adds emotional weight and a kind of timeless relatability. The good made up for the bad, which in this case is a tendency for problems to resolve too quickly and the least believably-written child I've ever read.
I will definitely suggest this to readers who have exhausted the well-known queer historical writers working today and need a deeper cut.
January 21, 2015
I loved this book. I enjoy a good Regency romance, and this is the first (and maybe only?) lesbian Regency book I've ever read. Someone should fix that. Maybe me.
July 2, 2024
It took some time and effort to get my hands on a copy of this out-of-print book (there are only 2 in libraries in Australia, and secondhand copies are all at least $100), but it was worth it.
This book is like a half-half mix of a classic Austen-style regency novel and a modern regency romance. It's interested the village and its families and their quirks, manners and social connections and propriety, the houses and locations and their unique character. At the same time it is unequivocal in the circle's belief in sexuality and attraction as important - something would have been very queer and subversive to marriage norms at the time, but now it is very much a standard part of the genre.
The characters don't quite get a perfectly wrapped up with bows happy ending, however, which is something that is a bit of a departure from both styles (I adore and often re-read Austen's delightfully indulgent endings). But I'm not mad at realistic compromise in my queer historical fiction that create pockets of imaginary queer people living quietly out of sight. It reminds me that many such people may have lived and died out of the sight of history happily too.
Furthermore, I cannot thank Martin enough for writing what indeed appears to be the first lesbian regency romance. I am such a sucker for this niche but the number of books available in it is still so, so low. It's an excellent entry and I wish it was more readily available.
This book is like a half-half mix of a classic Austen-style regency novel and a modern regency romance. It's interested the village and its families and their quirks, manners and social connections and propriety, the houses and locations and their unique character. At the same time it is unequivocal in the circle's belief in sexuality and attraction as important - something would have been very queer and subversive to marriage norms at the time, but now it is very much a standard part of the genre.
The characters don't quite get a perfectly wrapped up with bows happy ending, however, which is something that is a bit of a departure from both styles (I adore and often re-read Austen's delightfully indulgent endings). But I'm not mad at realistic compromise in my queer historical fiction that create pockets of imaginary queer people living quietly out of sight. It reminds me that many such people may have lived and died out of the sight of history happily too.
Furthermore, I cannot thank Martin enough for writing what indeed appears to be the first lesbian regency romance. I am such a sucker for this niche but the number of books available in it is still so, so low. It's an excellent entry and I wish it was more readily available.
May 26, 2024
Charming period piece; the first FF regency romance, originally published in 1986.
A lot of Austen vibes, a lot of fun queer characters, and a refreshing lack of homophobia/bias.
A lot of Austen vibes, a lot of fun queer characters, and a refreshing lack of homophobia/bias.
April 10, 2007
this book blew my little mind...it was the first lesbian story i ever read. i randomly picked it up at my mother's house, and really i was never there, just one time in 5 years and this is what i stole, just to steal. then when i read it, floored on so many counts.
July 27, 2011
One of my "old" favourites
November 9, 2023
This was rather silly and fun to read but I did find myself thinking the writing was just okay most of the time (and at some points I thought it was kind of bad). I really wanted to love this more than I did and I see so many positive reviews so I feel like this just didn’t click with me for some reason, since others seemed to get more out of it than I did. I also thought what a strange place to end the story when it ended.
The cover is so adorable though that even though the actual story fell flat for me I have no regrets and I’m still so happy I have this cutie for my collection of lesbian books :)
The cover is so adorable though that even though the actual story fell flat for me I have no regrets and I’m still so happy I have this cutie for my collection of lesbian books :)
February 23, 2018
I wanted the sheer delight of reading a lesbian regency romance to overcome any shortcomings this book had, but.... no such luck. I cringed and eye-rolled a lot. Worst of all I felt little-to-no attachment to the characters. Sigh. (But I do often have this reaction to romance, so I wouldn't say it's much worse than a lot of lesbian romances out there.)
March 4, 2018
A lovely little lesbian story, where there is homophobia, but the gays aren't beaten down or discouraged and in fact stick it to the homophobes. Happy ending!
August 23, 2019
Such an enjoyable, easy read and the romance is fantastic!
June 22, 2020
I just loved it, it's witty and funny and heartfelt and well done and moving into my favourites shelf.
April 16, 2022
Absolutely amazing. Funny and tender. I think we all need a Diana March in our lives
August 6, 2022
Well, this was a delight!
January 6, 2019
This was both a very fun Austen/Heyer readalike and a fascinating piece of queer literary history. 3.5/5 stars.
March 3, 2017
A story that so delights in itself, you can't help but smile.
March 4, 2016
If you ask readers for titles of the best lesbian Regency romances they know, Pembroke Park is usually one of the first mentioned. The widowed Lady Joanna Sinclair is irresistably drawn to the mannish Lady Diana March, leader of an eccentric social set that includes Joanna’s brother-in-law and his “very good friend” Geoffrey. But pursuing a friendship with Diana sets Joanna at odds with her overbearing brother Hugo, and Joanna’s insistance on not re-marrying at her brother’s command places the custody of her young daughter in jeopardy.
This is a light and somewhat formulaic romance, though not without its serious moments. But the prose is smooth and polished and there are enough sub-plots and side characters to carry the story along. One definite plus is the way Joanna and Diana’s developing relationship is situated as part of a community of same-sex lovers, both male and female.
This is a light and somewhat formulaic romance, though not without its serious moments. But the prose is smooth and polished and there are enough sub-plots and side characters to carry the story along. One definite plus is the way Joanna and Diana’s developing relationship is situated as part of a community of same-sex lovers, both male and female.
May 21, 2016
This wasn’t the best written book and there were some things that I didn’t like, but at the end of the day it’s a LESBIAN REGENCY ROMANCE and there is lovely co-mom-ing and lots of animals!! It also did a really good job of emphasizing community and the importance of intergenerational queer support networks which was really nice!
May 19, 2015
I have to agree with all the reviews I've seen--a fun, funny tidbit that I can't really give five stars, but it's so hard not to like. It's just so damn charming that I want to ignore them entirely. If I'd grown up with this on my bookshelf I can imagine it having a dramatic effect on me.
Not perfect but really worth reading. Somehow better than 90% of contemporary attempts at same.
Not perfect but really worth reading. Somehow better than 90% of contemporary attempts at same.
August 9, 2012
Enjoyable! I'm glad I read it. The world needs more lesbian regencies.
August 6, 2012
A hilarious, sweet Regency romance. Very colorful and lively.
August 30, 2014
A little silly at parts but charming. So charming.
July 9, 2015
It was ok. Fun to read a lesbian Regency romance, but not an outstanding story.
March 30, 2018
"Why isn't there a lesbian Pride and Prejudice?" I was thinking to myself one day, and then miraculously I found this book.
June 16, 2021
3.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews