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A Shore Thing
A delightful queer Victorian love story, featuring a boldly brash trans hero, the beguiling botanist who captures his heart, and a buoyant bicycle race by the British seaside -- from the author of The Duke Undone.
Former painter and unreformed rake Kit Griffith is forging a new life in Cornwall, choosing freedom over an identity that didn't fit. He knew that leaving his Sisterhood of women artists might mean forfeiting artistic community forever. He didn't realize he would lose his ability to paint altogether. Luckily, he has other talents. Why not devote himself to selling bicycles and trysting with the holidaymakers?
Enter Muriel Pendrake, the feisty New-York-bound botanist who has come to St. Ives to commission Kit for illustrations of British seaweeds. Kit shouldn't accept Muriel's offer, but he must enlist her help to prove to an all-male cycling club that women can ride as well as men. And she won't agree unless he gives her what she wants. Maybe that's exactly the challenge he needs.
As Kit and Muriel spend their days cycling together, their desire begins to burn with the heat of the summer sun. But are they pedaling toward something impossible? The past is bound to catch up to them, and at the season's end, their paths will diverge. With only their hearts as guides, Kit and Muriel must decide if they're willing to race into the unknown for the adventure of a lifetime.
Former painter and unreformed rake Kit Griffith is forging a new life in Cornwall, choosing freedom over an identity that didn't fit. He knew that leaving his Sisterhood of women artists might mean forfeiting artistic community forever. He didn't realize he would lose his ability to paint altogether. Luckily, he has other talents. Why not devote himself to selling bicycles and trysting with the holidaymakers?
Enter Muriel Pendrake, the feisty New-York-bound botanist who has come to St. Ives to commission Kit for illustrations of British seaweeds. Kit shouldn't accept Muriel's offer, but he must enlist her help to prove to an all-male cycling club that women can ride as well as men. And she won't agree unless he gives her what she wants. Maybe that's exactly the challenge he needs.
As Kit and Muriel spend their days cycling together, their desire begins to burn with the heat of the summer sun. But are they pedaling toward something impossible? The past is bound to catch up to them, and at the season's end, their paths will diverge. With only their hearts as guides, Kit and Muriel must decide if they're willing to race into the unknown for the adventure of a lifetime.
352 pages, Paperback
First published June 18, 2024
About the author
Joanna Lowell
7 books340 followersJoanna Lowell lives among the fig trees in North Carolina, where she teaches in the English department at Wake Forest University. When she’s not writing historical romance, she writes collections and novels as Joanna Ruocco. Those books include Dan, Another Governess / The Least Blacksmith, The Week, and Field Glass, co-authored with Joanna Howard.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
May 31, 2024
A Shore Thing is a slow-burn historical romance between a widowed naturalist and a trans man bicyclist and former painter. And when I say slow-burn, it's less that it takes a long time for them to fall for each other in terms of days, and more that the book is slower paced and mostly takes place over the course of two weeks.
Muriel is preparing to deliver a presentation to a scientific society on seaweed and wants to hire Kit to create illustrations. Kit is grieving a separation with the sapphic women friends he had before more fully transitioning and has been unable to paint. Instead he runs a bicycle shop and ends up taking a bet that a woman could complete a grueling ten day ride. Muriel volunteers to prove its possible in exchange for him trying to create illustrations. But from the beginning there is a spark between them and it only grows.
This was a really lovely, often sweet romance (though it does have spicier scenes as well). I also appreciate the author's note at the end on how Victorians thought about gender and sexuality and what being queer at that time might look like. Sometimes I think the book is a bit too slow and could have been shortened, but overall I quite liked it. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
Muriel is preparing to deliver a presentation to a scientific society on seaweed and wants to hire Kit to create illustrations. Kit is grieving a separation with the sapphic women friends he had before more fully transitioning and has been unable to paint. Instead he runs a bicycle shop and ends up taking a bet that a woman could complete a grueling ten day ride. Muriel volunteers to prove its possible in exchange for him trying to create illustrations. But from the beginning there is a spark between them and it only grows.
This was a really lovely, often sweet romance (though it does have spicier scenes as well). I also appreciate the author's note at the end on how Victorians thought about gender and sexuality and what being queer at that time might look like. Sometimes I think the book is a bit too slow and could have been shortened, but overall I quite liked it. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
July 10, 2024
A historical romance about identity, seaweed, the evolution of friendships, and how male bicycle enthusiasts have always been absolutely insufferable. Kit is a trans man in a time when there was no word for it (he says he’s a man who had a girlhood, which I can’t argue with), and Muriel just wants to be a plant nerd but not the kind of plant nerd society will let her be. Can these two reach an accord and help each other with their respective goals? Will Kit find inspiration to paint again? Did the author’s note at the end make me cry? Yes to all.
June 22, 2024
It took me a while to get into, but once we were rolling I was hooked. I loved the romance and there was even a cute little secondary one! My favorite part was how the feminist women’s groups we see a LOT of in histroms were still really narrow minded in certain ways. (That plotline also resolved in a very lovely way.) Also the sex scenes >>>
My least favorite part was the biking, like I really didn’t care about any of that, but it was actually a smaller part of the plot than I expected. Maybe I’m just salty that I can only ride a bike in a straight line for very short distances before I fall over…
The narrator was okay, but maybe not my favorite? I was just wishing that Mary Jane Wells was back.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️🌶️/5
I received an ALC from PRHaudio. All opinions are honest and my own.
My least favorite part was the biking, like I really didn’t care about any of that, but it was actually a smaller part of the plot than I expected. Maybe I’m just salty that I can only ride a bike in a straight line for very short distances before I fall over…
The narrator was okay, but maybe not my favorite? I was just wishing that Mary Jane Wells was back.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️🌶️/5
I received an ALC from PRHaudio. All opinions are honest and my own.
May 22, 2024
“Loving you is exhilarating and all I most desire.”
This was absolutely remarkable. Kit is a trans man & artist who moves to Cornwall to forge a new life for himself, selling bicycles. This is where he meets Muriel, a botanist from New York who wants to commission Kit for illustrations of British seaweeds. This is overall low angst, but I especially loved how this was so much more than a love story.
Joanna worked with her partner Mir, who is a trans man and a gender & sexuality historian. Together they really made this a wonderful, well rounded love story, with important historical context and politics. I mean the dedication and historical note alone made me SOB.
“We don't think fiction and romance will save the world, but we do believe that imagination is vital to personal and social change. When things are hard, art can provide a place of dreaming new possibilities, and be a source of strength in making them real. History can also show us that people pushed to the margins have always fought for justice, and sometimes won.”
*huge thanks to the publisher for the free arc in exchange for my honest review*
This was absolutely remarkable. Kit is a trans man & artist who moves to Cornwall to forge a new life for himself, selling bicycles. This is where he meets Muriel, a botanist from New York who wants to commission Kit for illustrations of British seaweeds. This is overall low angst, but I especially loved how this was so much more than a love story.
Joanna worked with her partner Mir, who is a trans man and a gender & sexuality historian. Together they really made this a wonderful, well rounded love story, with important historical context and politics. I mean the dedication and historical note alone made me SOB.
“We don't think fiction and romance will save the world, but we do believe that imagination is vital to personal and social change. When things are hard, art can provide a place of dreaming new possibilities, and be a source of strength in making them real. History can also show us that people pushed to the margins have always fought for justice, and sometimes won.”
*huge thanks to the publisher for the free arc in exchange for my honest review*
June 19, 2024
This is such a delightful slow burn queer Victorian romance! I hadn't read any historical romances with a trans main character before; I think I was expecting more drama and conflict over gender during that time frame but this was such a pleasant surprise.
Artist and rake Kit Griffith is forging a new identity for himself as a bicycle seller in Cornwall. Feisty botanist Muriel has come there seeking out the illustrator of her dreams, only to find herself deeply attracted to this man who has made a habit of seducing countless women. Muriel finds herself spontaneously agreeing to participate in a ten-day cycling event across the countryside with an all-male club to prove that women can ride as well as men, and help Kit win a bet, in exchange for his agreement to produce the illustrations she needs.
This story has so much wonderful chemistry and banter; it just had an overall healing quality to it for the characters which I loved. There was also a lot of historical context for the challenges faced by those who dared to escape their expected roles in life, and informative author end notes that I appreciated very much.
Thank you so much to Berkley for this copy to review!
Artist and rake Kit Griffith is forging a new identity for himself as a bicycle seller in Cornwall. Feisty botanist Muriel has come there seeking out the illustrator of her dreams, only to find herself deeply attracted to this man who has made a habit of seducing countless women. Muriel finds herself spontaneously agreeing to participate in a ten-day cycling event across the countryside with an all-male club to prove that women can ride as well as men, and help Kit win a bet, in exchange for his agreement to produce the illustrations she needs.
This story has so much wonderful chemistry and banter; it just had an overall healing quality to it for the characters which I loved. There was also a lot of historical context for the challenges faced by those who dared to escape their expected roles in life, and informative author end notes that I appreciated very much.
Thank you so much to Berkley for this copy to review!
April 24, 2024
4 / 5 stars !!
gosh this book was truly an experience to say the least. i have always wanted to find historical romance books that include characters that are like me, but it's so far and in between, as most people won't write such a story because of the complexities of trans and queer identities in history. this book not only gave me that, but handled it so beautifully.
lowell's writing truly captivated me very early on and drew me into this characters and their growing relationship. and to find out that she wrote it with her transmasc partner only made it that much better. i adored the way it handled everyone's identities and how those things interconnect, how transmasculine individuals still do have connections to that femininity they once lived as and how that interconnects itself. it truly was so well written, kit was so well written and i adored him, his annoying teasing charm to the complexities of him as a trans man in a world that just wasn't necessarily made for someone like him. i adored muriel and her growth to letting someone in again, and it showing how she learned about kit and his life. just a really beautiful book, truly. my heart swells.
thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
gosh this book was truly an experience to say the least. i have always wanted to find historical romance books that include characters that are like me, but it's so far and in between, as most people won't write such a story because of the complexities of trans and queer identities in history. this book not only gave me that, but handled it so beautifully.
lowell's writing truly captivated me very early on and drew me into this characters and their growing relationship. and to find out that she wrote it with her transmasc partner only made it that much better. i adored the way it handled everyone's identities and how those things interconnect, how transmasculine individuals still do have connections to that femininity they once lived as and how that interconnects itself. it truly was so well written, kit was so well written and i adored him, his annoying teasing charm to the complexities of him as a trans man in a world that just wasn't necessarily made for someone like him. i adored muriel and her growth to letting someone in again, and it showing how she learned about kit and his life. just a really beautiful book, truly. my heart swells.
thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
April 13, 2024
What a lovely, delightful read! Kit and Muriel were perfect and their road trip brought me so much joy. I needed a low(ish) angst, kissyface queer book that dropped me into an uncommon setting and setup.
June 15, 2024
Genre: historical romance
Cornwall, 1888
Muriel Pendrake is a botanist, in need of illustrations of seaweed for her upcoming lecture in New York. Her closest friend, Dr James Raleigh, convinces her to commission the artist Kit Griffith after they see his paintings of Columbine flowers. Kit moved to Cornwall for a fresh start to fully embrace his identity as a man after living his early life as a girl, and while the painting may not be going as well as he’d like, his bicycle sales to seaside holidayers is a smashing success. When Muriel meets Kit, she’s stunned by his impish rakishness and flirtatiousness. Kit - who hasn’t painted much in a year - agrees to the commission, but only because Muriel has also agreed to participate in a bicycle race with him, competing against another local cycling club.
A Shore Thing is a stunning historical romance, well-researched and incredibly thoughtful, that never once skimps on chemistry or swoon. Every page was a delight to read, with layers of relationships (romantic and platonic) for each Muriel and Kit in their pasts and side characters who amplify both the plot and the love story. Sometimes for the sake of simplicity, an author might essentialize a character, particularly in a queer love story making their queerness their whole identity. Lowell does the opposite: Kit and Muriel are slightly older main characters and the richness of their interests and complexity of character makes them fully queer and also fully invested in other aspects of their identity. Some of the conversations about sexual desire occur on page between Muriel and Kit, but some of them also happen with Raleigh and with Kit’s sapphic salon friends.
I love the way Muriel and Kit’s romance unfolds. There is immediate attraction followed by misunderstanding that leads to enmity, but Muriel’s determination to prove others wrong through the bicycle race leads to close proximity and the spark of mutual attraction that develops into deeper conversations and eventually a blossoming romance. Lowell paces this development comfortably, which sets up an HEA I’m convinced will last.
One of the fun components for me as a cyclist is imagining these older types of bicycles as they travel across the countryside. They are riding safeties - the term for the late 1880s bicycles that we now recognize as more common with the two wheels the same size - and they aren’t just casual tourists out for a ride. They have panniers packed with their gear, and while they stop at inns for the nights, this touring group is full of sportsmen for whom cycling is an important social function. There are references to the high-wheelers (with one very big wheel and one very little wheel) and to two-person tricycles called sociables, where the riders sit side-by-side rather than the more familiar tandem two-person cycle.
I’m excited for this book to hit the shelves for everyone to read. It’s a lovingly written book about Victorian queer joy by a queer author, and at the same time is also a delightful historical romance that avoids essentializing experiences. DO NOT skip the author’s note in this one: the note and the discussion questions are co-written by Joanna Lowell and her partner, Mir Yarfitz, a trans man and historian of gender and sexuality in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Their combined research and iterative discussions through Lowell’s writing led to this incredibly strong love story.
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an eARC for review. A Shore Thing is out 6/18/24.
Cornwall, 1888
Muriel Pendrake is a botanist, in need of illustrations of seaweed for her upcoming lecture in New York. Her closest friend, Dr James Raleigh, convinces her to commission the artist Kit Griffith after they see his paintings of Columbine flowers. Kit moved to Cornwall for a fresh start to fully embrace his identity as a man after living his early life as a girl, and while the painting may not be going as well as he’d like, his bicycle sales to seaside holidayers is a smashing success. When Muriel meets Kit, she’s stunned by his impish rakishness and flirtatiousness. Kit - who hasn’t painted much in a year - agrees to the commission, but only because Muriel has also agreed to participate in a bicycle race with him, competing against another local cycling club.
A Shore Thing is a stunning historical romance, well-researched and incredibly thoughtful, that never once skimps on chemistry or swoon. Every page was a delight to read, with layers of relationships (romantic and platonic) for each Muriel and Kit in their pasts and side characters who amplify both the plot and the love story. Sometimes for the sake of simplicity, an author might essentialize a character, particularly in a queer love story making their queerness their whole identity. Lowell does the opposite: Kit and Muriel are slightly older main characters and the richness of their interests and complexity of character makes them fully queer and also fully invested in other aspects of their identity. Some of the conversations about sexual desire occur on page between Muriel and Kit, but some of them also happen with Raleigh and with Kit’s sapphic salon friends.
I love the way Muriel and Kit’s romance unfolds. There is immediate attraction followed by misunderstanding that leads to enmity, but Muriel’s determination to prove others wrong through the bicycle race leads to close proximity and the spark of mutual attraction that develops into deeper conversations and eventually a blossoming romance. Lowell paces this development comfortably, which sets up an HEA I’m convinced will last.
One of the fun components for me as a cyclist is imagining these older types of bicycles as they travel across the countryside. They are riding safeties - the term for the late 1880s bicycles that we now recognize as more common with the two wheels the same size - and they aren’t just casual tourists out for a ride. They have panniers packed with their gear, and while they stop at inns for the nights, this touring group is full of sportsmen for whom cycling is an important social function. There are references to the high-wheelers (with one very big wheel and one very little wheel) and to two-person tricycles called sociables, where the riders sit side-by-side rather than the more familiar tandem two-person cycle.
I’m excited for this book to hit the shelves for everyone to read. It’s a lovingly written book about Victorian queer joy by a queer author, and at the same time is also a delightful historical romance that avoids essentializing experiences. DO NOT skip the author’s note in this one: the note and the discussion questions are co-written by Joanna Lowell and her partner, Mir Yarfitz, a trans man and historian of gender and sexuality in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Their combined research and iterative discussions through Lowell’s writing led to this incredibly strong love story.
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an eARC for review. A Shore Thing is out 6/18/24.
July 12, 2024
3.5/5
I've been bopping all over the queer rom(com) spectrum in my reading of late. Cis gay men, cis women loving women, T4T, poly, ace, and now here, a cis woman with a trans man. One thing I've come to recognize is the physical components of the relationship matter less to me than the credibility of the emotional entanglement and denouement, which likely has as much to do with my demisexuality as it does with my literary preference for the slow and the meditative. Of course, there is a point when a meditative turns into a whole lot of telling, but such is the exercise in reading: taking in grit by not quite right grit until, finally, one comes up a pearl. In terms of this work, I deeply appreciated its exercise in casual historiography, planting and cultivating lives and relationships into the 19th century that proto-fascists would insist could never exist alongside their steampunk alternate timelines and magic spitting samurai. Indeed, the moment when a gay man meets a trans man and start to talk intersectional shop is one of, if not my favorite, parts of the book. Unfortunately, what didn't jive was the whole 'lust' business that smoothed over more than one rough plot/characterization/resolution edge, and after dealing with folks at work taking more than a year to start properly using my pronouns, I reeeeally find any sort of rehabilitation of respect that takes less than, I don't know, a month? to come about highly suspect. So, admittedly some personal bitterness interfering my rating of this, but also some fairness, especially with amatonormativity running rampant amongst even the queerest of reads. In any case, if you're deathly curious as to how a 'female husband' of the historical record would be a trans man of today without forsaking the chronologically accurate jargon or straightwashing the kinds of parties that would be raided by the cops of yester 19th century year, this isn't a bad place to start. I appreciated the dash of postcolonialism but not so much the faceless menace of impoverished folks who never had the capital necessary to acquire a profession, so all in all, a three and a half star is rather fair.
I've been bopping all over the queer rom(com) spectrum in my reading of late. Cis gay men, cis women loving women, T4T, poly, ace, and now here, a cis woman with a trans man. One thing I've come to recognize is the physical components of the relationship matter less to me than the credibility of the emotional entanglement and denouement, which likely has as much to do with my demisexuality as it does with my literary preference for the slow and the meditative. Of course, there is a point when a meditative turns into a whole lot of telling, but such is the exercise in reading: taking in grit by not quite right grit until, finally, one comes up a pearl. In terms of this work, I deeply appreciated its exercise in casual historiography, planting and cultivating lives and relationships into the 19th century that proto-fascists would insist could never exist alongside their steampunk alternate timelines and magic spitting samurai. Indeed, the moment when a gay man meets a trans man and start to talk intersectional shop is one of, if not my favorite, parts of the book. Unfortunately, what didn't jive was the whole 'lust' business that smoothed over more than one rough plot/characterization/resolution edge, and after dealing with folks at work taking more than a year to start properly using my pronouns, I reeeeally find any sort of rehabilitation of respect that takes less than, I don't know, a month? to come about highly suspect. So, admittedly some personal bitterness interfering my rating of this, but also some fairness, especially with amatonormativity running rampant amongst even the queerest of reads. In any case, if you're deathly curious as to how a 'female husband' of the historical record would be a trans man of today without forsaking the chronologically accurate jargon or straightwashing the kinds of parties that would be raided by the cops of yester 19th century year, this isn't a bad place to start. I appreciated the dash of postcolonialism but not so much the faceless menace of impoverished folks who never had the capital necessary to acquire a profession, so all in all, a three and a half star is rather fair.
June 18, 2024
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
This is a beautiful and fun historical romance between two people unsuspecting of a chance at bliss. Muriel’s eyes really are opened to a wide variety of experiences via Kit, his friends, and her own dearest friend Jame who is, in accordance with the language of the times, an inveterate invert. The banter is delightful, the setting delicious, and the sexual politics both tense and honest. I just adored the story, and how naive Muriel had been to her own needs as a woman. It takes her some time to learn that she’s both a sexual being, and a woman attracted to Kit.
This one is definitely recommend to readers who enjoy historical romances, spirited adventures, and breaking social boundaries.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
This is a beautiful and fun historical romance between two people unsuspecting of a chance at bliss. Muriel’s eyes really are opened to a wide variety of experiences via Kit, his friends, and her own dearest friend Jame who is, in accordance with the language of the times, an inveterate invert. The banter is delightful, the setting delicious, and the sexual politics both tense and honest. I just adored the story, and how naive Muriel had been to her own needs as a woman. It takes her some time to learn that she’s both a sexual being, and a woman attracted to Kit.
This one is definitely recommend to readers who enjoy historical romances, spirited adventures, and breaking social boundaries.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
June 21, 2024
My new favorite from Joanna Lowell!! This queer, Victorian, open door historical romance sees playboy trans artist Kit, falling for feminist botanist, Muriel as she visits Cornwall and teams up with Kit for a bicycling tour along the coast. I loved the FANTASTIC queer rep in this book, the complex, relatable main characters and the great chemistry between the two leads.
Highly recommended, great on audio and perfect for fans of A lady for a duke by Alexis Hall and authors like Cat Sebastian or Erica Ridley. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!!
Highly recommended, great on audio and perfect for fans of A lady for a duke by Alexis Hall and authors like Cat Sebastian or Erica Ridley. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!!
June 26, 2024
Historical romance with a transmasculine protagonist. The author's spouse is an historian of queer representation in the period, so it's very interesting to see some of that history reflected on the page.
July 16, 2024
Charming and beautiful. Another story from Joanna Lowell’s world had me smiling and crying. I love these characters. I love seeing them change from book to book.
July 3, 2024
3.5 rounding up because goodreads still doesn't have partial stars !!!
this was very fun and lovely! a bit much going on, so some things got lost throughout the story. dual pov was done well and the overall vibes are splendid.
this was very fun and lovely! a bit much going on, so some things got lost throughout the story. dual pov was done well and the overall vibes are splendid.
June 23, 2024
Spending the summer in St. Ives collecting seaweed samples, Muriel is searching for a special (and specific) painter who can capture the seaweeds’ beauty for her lectures in New York. Kit is that painter; however, he finds himself unable to sketch or paint after a falling out with his Sisterhood of painters. In an effort to convince Kit to take the commission, Muriel agrees to participate in a bicycle race with Kit to prove women can ride as well as men.
A Shore Thing is a lovely romance set in the historic England coast near Land’s End. Lowell creates beautiful scenery using words as her paint and the page as her canvas. I visualized each scene as though it was a painting capturing the light, land, and sea for all to witness.
Muriel and Kit’s romance begins with lust at first sight; however Muriel thinks Kit is too arrogant and self-assured. I believe it’s a combination of the locale, changing times, and her status as a widow that allows for overt flirtation and more between the pair. The bicycle race, while adding some value to the overall plot, is a vehicle for the pair to spend time alone together where they slowly open up and share secrets. Muriel’s marriage was a lonely one and a childhood fear of dogs is paralyzing. Kit was born a girl and uses romance and flings to hide from his true feelings. While there are some uncomfortable times when Kit is deadnamed, the author takes great care to share a story of hope and love, focusing on a new romance, falling in love, and loving one’s self.
The start of my read of A Shore Thing was slow and often disjointed. The period-appropriate language and dialogue made it difficult to follow at times, slowing down my reading. Additionally, the POV changes from Kit to Muriel and back within each chapter and without notification, causing the need to re-read passages so I better understood the story. However, once the pair is on their cycling trip, I found the story flowed, and I was able to immerse myself in their journey.
A Shore Thing is a feel-good romance, filled with adventure, love, and laughs. I recommend reading the author’s historical note at the conclusion of the book for more insight into gender roles and sexuality of the period.
My Rating: B
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Review copy provided by publisher
A Shore Thing is a lovely romance set in the historic England coast near Land’s End. Lowell creates beautiful scenery using words as her paint and the page as her canvas. I visualized each scene as though it was a painting capturing the light, land, and sea for all to witness.
Muriel and Kit’s romance begins with lust at first sight; however Muriel thinks Kit is too arrogant and self-assured. I believe it’s a combination of the locale, changing times, and her status as a widow that allows for overt flirtation and more between the pair. The bicycle race, while adding some value to the overall plot, is a vehicle for the pair to spend time alone together where they slowly open up and share secrets. Muriel’s marriage was a lonely one and a childhood fear of dogs is paralyzing. Kit was born a girl and uses romance and flings to hide from his true feelings. While there are some uncomfortable times when Kit is deadnamed, the author takes great care to share a story of hope and love, focusing on a new romance, falling in love, and loving one’s self.
The start of my read of A Shore Thing was slow and often disjointed. The period-appropriate language and dialogue made it difficult to follow at times, slowing down my reading. Additionally, the POV changes from Kit to Muriel and back within each chapter and without notification, causing the need to re-read passages so I better understood the story. However, once the pair is on their cycling trip, I found the story flowed, and I was able to immerse myself in their journey.
A Shore Thing is a feel-good romance, filled with adventure, love, and laughs. I recommend reading the author’s historical note at the conclusion of the book for more insight into gender roles and sexuality of the period.
My Rating: B
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Review copy provided by publisher
May 20, 2024
ARC Review: A Shore Thing by Joanna Lowell
Pub date: June 18th
Thank you to Berkley Romance for the eARC and opportunity to be part of this blog tour. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Muriel has traveled to St. Ives, Cornwall to find an artist to create paintings of seaweed to support a presentation she has to give. While Muriel is a botanist, seaweed is not her area of expertise - she was forced to change her planned presentation as seaweed collecting is seen as a "feminine" pursuit. While in St. Ives she quite literally runs into Kit Griffith and causes him to crash off of his bicycle. The local bike riding club believes that women aren't able to ride bikes and Kit and Muriel end up teaming together to prove the club wrong. They set off on a multi-day cycling trip around Cornwall which results in quite a bit of time spent together.
I am a huge fan of queer historicals but I haven't read quite as many queer historicals set in the Victorian period. So when I saw that this book was not only Victorian but was also featuring a trans hero, I knew that this was going to be one of my most anticipated books of the year. And I am so happy that it lived up to my (admittedly high) expectations! I think this is a really fun take on a road trip romance (there's even an only one bed moment!) that kept me interested the whole time.
This is a pretty low stakes and low angst book - I wasn't necessarily expecting the tone, but I was so appreciative of the humor and silliness that takes place in this book! The humor never takes away from the relationship which certainly has its serious moments as Kit and Muriel open up to each other, but instead offers a really nice contrast. The side characters in particular are SO funny and humorous - the humor honestly reminded me a lot of India Holton's books.
And I would be remiss talking about this book if I didn't add that the author's note in the beginning and the end were absolutely lovely. They speak to the author and her husband's research and experience in queer history and I think are incredibly important to read.
Pub date: June 18th
Thank you to Berkley Romance for the eARC and opportunity to be part of this blog tour. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Muriel has traveled to St. Ives, Cornwall to find an artist to create paintings of seaweed to support a presentation she has to give. While Muriel is a botanist, seaweed is not her area of expertise - she was forced to change her planned presentation as seaweed collecting is seen as a "feminine" pursuit. While in St. Ives she quite literally runs into Kit Griffith and causes him to crash off of his bicycle. The local bike riding club believes that women aren't able to ride bikes and Kit and Muriel end up teaming together to prove the club wrong. They set off on a multi-day cycling trip around Cornwall which results in quite a bit of time spent together.
I am a huge fan of queer historicals but I haven't read quite as many queer historicals set in the Victorian period. So when I saw that this book was not only Victorian but was also featuring a trans hero, I knew that this was going to be one of my most anticipated books of the year. And I am so happy that it lived up to my (admittedly high) expectations! I think this is a really fun take on a road trip romance (there's even an only one bed moment!) that kept me interested the whole time.
This is a pretty low stakes and low angst book - I wasn't necessarily expecting the tone, but I was so appreciative of the humor and silliness that takes place in this book! The humor never takes away from the relationship which certainly has its serious moments as Kit and Muriel open up to each other, but instead offers a really nice contrast. The side characters in particular are SO funny and humorous - the humor honestly reminded me a lot of India Holton's books.
And I would be remiss talking about this book if I didn't add that the author's note in the beginning and the end were absolutely lovely. They speak to the author and her husband's research and experience in queer history and I think are incredibly important to read.
June 18, 2024
This book was a delightful way to start my week and I feel like I was reading a true history (and one that in all honestly probably was true in some shape or form in history). Both Kit and Muriel are seeking happiness and to live their lives in pursuit of things that make them happy; bicycles and art and nature, and I loved reading their passion through the author's words. The romance itself was a meet-cute to misunderstanding to friendship and then steam! It was low angst, focusing more on joy and moving from one's past hurts and fears. I also had no idea how fascinating the history of bicycling was and that (of course) it was a gendered issue (had no idea). It made me want to go on a jaunty bicycle ride in nature with a picnic basket (remember I am outsidey not outdoorsy).
You can tell both the care and research that have gone into this story. Make sure you read the author's note because she explains how she worked with her partner in crafting and telling this story, drawing on both personal experience and historical research. The role of gender especially in this time period is so strong and I think both the characters and the author navigated this so beautifully.
The only drawback for me is that I felt like I wanted more from the banter / character development. Yes they are both overcoming A LOT of prejudice and hurts from their past and they owe me nothing but to be who they are. I did enjoy the characters SO MUCH, but a lot of their conversations were more high-brow for me and sometimes I actually had no idea what they were talking about and so I might have been missing a lot of their personality presented in those interactions.
Note: I did listen to some of this story by audiobook and I would say I recommend the print version this time around. For me personally, the narrator had too much of an even keeled tone even when there is drama or angst, which lulled my listening a bit and I realized I had to go back a couple times to re-listen.
You can tell both the care and research that have gone into this story. Make sure you read the author's note because she explains how she worked with her partner in crafting and telling this story, drawing on both personal experience and historical research. The role of gender especially in this time period is so strong and I think both the characters and the author navigated this so beautifully.
The only drawback for me is that I felt like I wanted more from the banter / character development. Yes they are both overcoming A LOT of prejudice and hurts from their past and they owe me nothing but to be who they are. I did enjoy the characters SO MUCH, but a lot of their conversations were more high-brow for me and sometimes I actually had no idea what they were talking about and so I might have been missing a lot of their personality presented in those interactions.
Note: I did listen to some of this story by audiobook and I would say I recommend the print version this time around. For me personally, the narrator had too much of an even keeled tone even when there is drama or angst, which lulled my listening a bit and I realized I had to go back a couple times to re-listen.
June 6, 2024
4.5 stars. A sweet slow burn romance. I think this might be one of the first books I’ve read about a trans man and a woman in a historical setting. I loved seeing how protective Muriel was of Kit’s identity. Kit’s character was so dashing and charming. I would have folded for him fast. He was such a sweet guy. Even when there was misunderstandings and his character was in question he knew what to say. He also knew when to walk away when other men were acting like idiots and he didn’t want to act like them. There’s a bit of deadnaming here with Kit’s old friends, so be warned.
One of my favorite things was Muriel’s talk about using your privilege to help others. Kit is a man who can no longer paint as a woman and take over the art scene with his sisters, but he can use his privilege as a man to uplift their voices and help them be seen.
The romance between Kit and Muriel was SO sweet. I loved seeing it bloom between them. This was spicer than I thought, but I loved all of it. James and Thomas were also really strong characters and I wanted more with them. It would have been interesting to see where they went later on.
I’m a huge fan of historical queer romances and this one was so unique. A bit slow in some places and there were some things I didn’t understand and dialogue I couldn’t keep up with, but it was a very real seeming story. I’ll have to read more books like this in the future!
One of my favorite things was Muriel’s talk about using your privilege to help others. Kit is a man who can no longer paint as a woman and take over the art scene with his sisters, but he can use his privilege as a man to uplift their voices and help them be seen.
The romance between Kit and Muriel was SO sweet. I loved seeing it bloom between them. This was spicer than I thought, but I loved all of it. James and Thomas were also really strong characters and I wanted more with them. It would have been interesting to see where they went later on.
I’m a huge fan of historical queer romances and this one was so unique. A bit slow in some places and there were some things I didn’t understand and dialogue I couldn’t keep up with, but it was a very real seeming story. I’ll have to read more books like this in the future!
June 17, 2024
Thank you Berkley Pub for the free book and thank you PRH Audio for my #gifted listening copy of A Shore Thing! #PRHAInfluencer #PRHAudioPartner #BerkleyBookstagram #berkleypub #BerkleyIG #berkley
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐀 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐉𝐨𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐋𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: 𝐑𝐨𝐬 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐭
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟏𝟖, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒
I went into this book completely blind and I was so pleasantly surprised. I tend to reach for historical fiction over historical romance, but was glad I picked this one up. I found the characters to be so unique and delightful. They were so real and also quite funny and I found myself really loving not only Kit and Muriel, but also the side characters. I also found that the author did a great job researching the time period and I could tell a lot went into make sure the time period was accurately reflected in the novel. This was a slow burn, and at times, I found it to be a bit too slow. With that said, I’m glad I stuck with it because I really did end up enjoying it. It was super unique and an overall great read!
🎧I alternated between the physical book and the audiobook, narrated by Ros Watt. I really enjoyed my time listening to Watt and felt like the narrated did an excellent job brining the characters to life. I highly recommend the audiobook if that option is available to you!
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐀 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐉𝐨𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐋𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: 𝐑𝐨𝐬 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐭
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟏𝟖, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒
I went into this book completely blind and I was so pleasantly surprised. I tend to reach for historical fiction over historical romance, but was glad I picked this one up. I found the characters to be so unique and delightful. They were so real and also quite funny and I found myself really loving not only Kit and Muriel, but also the side characters. I also found that the author did a great job researching the time period and I could tell a lot went into make sure the time period was accurately reflected in the novel. This was a slow burn, and at times, I found it to be a bit too slow. With that said, I’m glad I stuck with it because I really did end up enjoying it. It was super unique and an overall great read!
🎧I alternated between the physical book and the audiobook, narrated by Ros Watt. I really enjoyed my time listening to Watt and felt like the narrated did an excellent job brining the characters to life. I highly recommend the audiobook if that option is available to you!
July 2, 2024
This is the kind of book that, as a historian of modern Europe and a long-time historical romance reader, I love and wish we had more of. Trans people have existed as far back as we can trace history, and they have romantic stories that have happy endings. If you like historical romances, especially Victorian romances, this one is a must!
Kit fled London, feering that his best friend has rejected who he is. After a brilliant art exhibition in London, he can't paint anymore so he runs a bicycle shop. One day, a woman blocks his path and changes his life. Muriel is a woman on a mission to prove to the scientific world that women are serious and experts, but she needs a particular brilliant artist to paint the kelp she will be giving a talk on.
The pacing of the story is slow at first, and the book could have been shorter, but once Kit and Muriel are on their bikes, the story is just the right amount of everything. The right pacing, the right amount of angst, heartbreak, falling in love, fear, and spice.
Content Warnings: dead naming, miss rendering
I read an Advance Reader's Copy provided for free via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Kit fled London, feering that his best friend has rejected who he is. After a brilliant art exhibition in London, he can't paint anymore so he runs a bicycle shop. One day, a woman blocks his path and changes his life. Muriel is a woman on a mission to prove to the scientific world that women are serious and experts, but she needs a particular brilliant artist to paint the kelp she will be giving a talk on.
The pacing of the story is slow at first, and the book could have been shorter, but once Kit and Muriel are on their bikes, the story is just the right amount of everything. The right pacing, the right amount of angst, heartbreak, falling in love, fear, and spice.
Content Warnings: dead naming, miss rendering
I read an Advance Reader's Copy provided for free via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
June 19, 2024
A Shore Thing is a beautifully written exploration of gender and what it meant not to fit into Victorian society. I loved how much care Joanna Lowell put into this story and Kitt's character. I learned a lot about what it might have been like to be trans-gender in a historical setting.
Muriel and Kitt have had very different life experiences, but they both understand what it feels like to not fit in. Muriel is a botanist who has to fight for her work to get recognition because of her sex. These experiences make her more open-minded and able to listen to Kitt's experiences and not judge.
I also really enjoyed reading about the bicycle race and the freedom a bicycle could provide for a woman at the time. I appreciated that Kitt saw that and helped woman learn to ride.
If you like a historical romance I highly recommend this one! It's also for fans of queer history and a road trip romance.
I listened to the audio of this book and Ros Watt did the narration and I enjoyed it. They are a new to me narrator. For people like me who prefer a consistent narrator throughout connected books, this is a switch as Joanna Well's earlier books were read by Mary Jane Wells.
Thanks to PRH audio and Berkley romance for providing me with an ARC. All opinions are my own.
Muriel and Kitt have had very different life experiences, but they both understand what it feels like to not fit in. Muriel is a botanist who has to fight for her work to get recognition because of her sex. These experiences make her more open-minded and able to listen to Kitt's experiences and not judge.
I also really enjoyed reading about the bicycle race and the freedom a bicycle could provide for a woman at the time. I appreciated that Kitt saw that and helped woman learn to ride.
If you like a historical romance I highly recommend this one! It's also for fans of queer history and a road trip romance.
I listened to the audio of this book and Ros Watt did the narration and I enjoyed it. They are a new to me narrator. For people like me who prefer a consistent narrator throughout connected books, this is a switch as Joanna Well's earlier books were read by Mary Jane Wells.
Thanks to PRH audio and Berkley romance for providing me with an ARC. All opinions are my own.
June 24, 2024
actual rating: 3.5 stars
absolutely delightful - though I didn't appreciate the A-spec erasure in the author's historical note. very much a 'well fuck me, then' moment.
absolutely delightful - though I didn't appreciate the A-spec erasure in the author's historical note. very much a 'well fuck me, then' moment.
July 3, 2024
an absolute delight, no notes
June 26, 2024
✨ Review ✨ A Shore Thing by Joanna Lowell
Thanks to Berkley, PRHAudio, and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!
Muriel arrives in St. Ives, a village in Cornwall on the shore, to collect seaweed and other botanical samples. She's seeking out Kit, an artist she admires, to paint her samples but unfortunately he is experiencing a paralyzing artist's block. After transitioning to wearing men's clothes, some of Kit's best friends iced him out and he moved to St. Ives to open a bike shop.
After Kit makes a bet with the local bike gang (lol) that more modern bikes were just as good as tall ones and that women too could ride bikes, he sets off on a 10-day bike tour with Muriel where they get to know each other more.
A delightful cast of side characters and a great sense of humor made this so much fun to read. Kit and Muriel get in all sorts of scrapes and pretty much are covered in mud for the majority of the book 😂
The historical research is on point and Lowell notes that she worked closely with her historian partner to research and write an experience that would resonate with both historical accuracy and contemporary relevance. Kudos to them for bringing these stories into a historical romance!
This was such a fun summer romp! Perfect to take to the beach or pool!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4.25)
Genre: queer historical romance
Setting: Victorian era Cornwall
Pub Date: June 18, 2024
Read this if you like:
⭕️ Romances that show queer romances happened always and everywhere
⭕️ A scrappy female character bike riding through the country side collecting algae
⭕️Queering gender norms
⭕️ Light hearted laughs
Thanks to Berkley, PRHAudio, and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!
Muriel arrives in St. Ives, a village in Cornwall on the shore, to collect seaweed and other botanical samples. She's seeking out Kit, an artist she admires, to paint her samples but unfortunately he is experiencing a paralyzing artist's block. After transitioning to wearing men's clothes, some of Kit's best friends iced him out and he moved to St. Ives to open a bike shop.
After Kit makes a bet with the local bike gang (lol) that more modern bikes were just as good as tall ones and that women too could ride bikes, he sets off on a 10-day bike tour with Muriel where they get to know each other more.
A delightful cast of side characters and a great sense of humor made this so much fun to read. Kit and Muriel get in all sorts of scrapes and pretty much are covered in mud for the majority of the book 😂
The historical research is on point and Lowell notes that she worked closely with her historian partner to research and write an experience that would resonate with both historical accuracy and contemporary relevance. Kudos to them for bringing these stories into a historical romance!
This was such a fun summer romp! Perfect to take to the beach or pool!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4.25)
Genre: queer historical romance
Setting: Victorian era Cornwall
Pub Date: June 18, 2024
Read this if you like:
⭕️ Romances that show queer romances happened always and everywhere
⭕️ A scrappy female character bike riding through the country side collecting algae
⭕️Queering gender norms
⭕️ Light hearted laughs
July 22, 2024
22 July 2024:
I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
OK so without a doubt this is my favourite romance of 2024 so far. Yes I was super excited to see a mainstream romance novel with a trans MC, but even beyond that!! It's just incredibly well-written. The historical elements are so well-researched (I have a lot of background in the queer 19th century) but without bogging the story down -- it gave the story a perfect atmosphere. On top of that, both our main characters were an absolute delight, completely rounded people on their own before they end up together. The only thing I did not love was It would have been so fun to have that as its own sequel story!!
All in all, I absolutely loved every second I spent with this novel, and I went out the very next day to buy my own copy. I also plan to get my library to buy a copy, and to buy several as Christmas/birthday presents for friends. So, so strongly recommend!!
1 February 2024:
*heavy breathing*
I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
OK so without a doubt this is my favourite romance of 2024 so far. Yes I was super excited to see a mainstream romance novel with a trans MC, but even beyond that!! It's just incredibly well-written. The historical elements are so well-researched (I have a lot of background in the queer 19th century) but without bogging the story down -- it gave the story a perfect atmosphere. On top of that, both our main characters were an absolute delight, completely rounded people on their own before they end up together. The only thing I did not love was It would have been so fun to have that as its own sequel story!!
All in all, I absolutely loved every second I spent with this novel, and I went out the very next day to buy my own copy. I also plan to get my library to buy a copy, and to buy several as Christmas/birthday presents for friends. So, so strongly recommend!!
1 February 2024:
*heavy breathing*
June 12, 2024
In A Shore Thing, Muriel, a botanist, agrees to go on a 10-day cycling excursion with Kit, artist and bicycle shop proprietor. Thanks to their intense attraction to each other paired with their forced proximity, the two fall in love (this should not be a surprise to any HistRom reader!). What makes this book a little different is that Kit grew up as a woman, and is only now living his life as a man. He's navigating his past as a proud feminist artist and his present as a bicycle shop owner who feels like he's lost his inspiration (and maybe even his right) to paint. For her part, Muriel wasn't expecting to be seduced by a rake during her holiday/algae hunting trip. Kit challenges her assumptions at every turn.
Their love story is tender, and they are both inquisitive and communicative with each other. This isn't a story where Kit's gender identity is the conflict, either between these two lovers or from the world at large. It's really a pretty typical HistRom conflict, with one emotionally closed character having to come to grips with the fact that love cannot be escaped.
One of the reasons I love historical romance is the way it uses the past as a lens through which readers can examine contemporary issues from a new perspective. If you're worried that this book "isn't historically accurate," know two things: First, Lowell makes an effort to use period-appropriate language and incorporates a historical understanding of LGBTQ issues. But second, I think you're worried about the wrong thing. Historical accuracy can be an excuse for readers to discount things they aren't comfortable with (like the f-bomb, which is almost always historically accurate, but which readers continue to call out as anachronistic). Lowell notes in her author's note that "all history (not only historical fiction) involves anachronism." All historical romance reflects the era in which it is written as much as it reflects the era in which it is set. And here, while the historical setting is fascinating, it's not the point of the book; that's the love story.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
Their love story is tender, and they are both inquisitive and communicative with each other. This isn't a story where Kit's gender identity is the conflict, either between these two lovers or from the world at large. It's really a pretty typical HistRom conflict, with one emotionally closed character having to come to grips with the fact that love cannot be escaped.
One of the reasons I love historical romance is the way it uses the past as a lens through which readers can examine contemporary issues from a new perspective. If you're worried that this book "isn't historically accurate," know two things: First, Lowell makes an effort to use period-appropriate language and incorporates a historical understanding of LGBTQ issues. But second, I think you're worried about the wrong thing. Historical accuracy can be an excuse for readers to discount things they aren't comfortable with (like the f-bomb, which is almost always historically accurate, but which readers continue to call out as anachronistic). Lowell notes in her author's note that "all history (not only historical fiction) involves anachronism." All historical romance reflects the era in which it is written as much as it reflects the era in which it is set. And here, while the historical setting is fascinating, it's not the point of the book; that's the love story.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
June 26, 2024
Rating: 5/5
That feeling when the inside of a book is even more beautiful than its stunning cover art - indescribable. A Shore Thing is so refreshing for about a hundred reasons, but primarily for its sensitivity to queer and trans history and representation in historical fiction and romance. Our male main character, Kit, has started a new life as himself in St. Ives, a destination for painters (the light!) and cyclists (the coastal paths!) and algologists (the seaweed?!). Muriel "Penny" (but-only-if-you're-Kit) Pendrake is begrudgingly in St. Ives to collect seaweed specimens and commission an illustrator for an upcoming botany lecture. The two end up partnered in a bicycle race around the coast, naturally (god I love romance).
What I love most about this story is how the various political subplots - early cyclist tension over cycle prototypes that were more or less accessible to women and less experienced riders, advocacy among artists seeking greater representation for women in competitive galleries, shifting friendships among sapphists as Kit begins to live openly and authentically - all contribute to a really nuanced portrayal of late 19th century England. Our love story weaves so naturally into these discussions, as our characters have to navigate a lot of fluidity in their sense of self and others and embrace new ways of being in relationship with one another. I live for the quiet, yearning moments in stories like this - the jealousy Muriel feels over Kit's friendship with Lucy, the yearning Kit feels for a life where a partner will see him for who he is, the grief Kit feels over his lost connections and friendships, the frustration Muriel feels as a woman in STEM at a time when she has to claw her way to recognition. I was weepy by the end, desperate for Muriel and Kit to feel loved and safe.
And it has to be said just how lush Lowell's scene-setting is and how beautifully gutting her emotional insight feels. And it's FUNNY! This was a joy to read.
This was my first by Joanna Lowell and easily stands alone! I was grateful for this entry point and will be going back into her backlist now.
That feeling when the inside of a book is even more beautiful than its stunning cover art - indescribable. A Shore Thing is so refreshing for about a hundred reasons, but primarily for its sensitivity to queer and trans history and representation in historical fiction and romance. Our male main character, Kit, has started a new life as himself in St. Ives, a destination for painters (the light!) and cyclists (the coastal paths!) and algologists (the seaweed?!). Muriel "Penny" (but-only-if-you're-Kit) Pendrake is begrudgingly in St. Ives to collect seaweed specimens and commission an illustrator for an upcoming botany lecture. The two end up partnered in a bicycle race around the coast, naturally (god I love romance).
What I love most about this story is how the various political subplots - early cyclist tension over cycle prototypes that were more or less accessible to women and less experienced riders, advocacy among artists seeking greater representation for women in competitive galleries, shifting friendships among sapphists as Kit begins to live openly and authentically - all contribute to a really nuanced portrayal of late 19th century England. Our love story weaves so naturally into these discussions, as our characters have to navigate a lot of fluidity in their sense of self and others and embrace new ways of being in relationship with one another. I live for the quiet, yearning moments in stories like this - the jealousy Muriel feels over Kit's friendship with Lucy, the yearning Kit feels for a life where a partner will see him for who he is, the grief Kit feels over his lost connections and friendships, the frustration Muriel feels as a woman in STEM at a time when she has to claw her way to recognition. I was weepy by the end, desperate for Muriel and Kit to feel loved and safe.
And it has to be said just how lush Lowell's scene-setting is and how beautifully gutting her emotional insight feels. And it's FUNNY! This was a joy to read.
This was my first by Joanna Lowell and easily stands alone! I was grateful for this entry point and will be going back into her backlist now.
June 23, 2024
I can't say it better than the synopsis, which calls this book "a delightful queer Victorian love story." And it absolutely was. Five stars, a top read of 2024.
A Shore Thing is engaging and entertaining and feminist. It of course deals with more serious topics (Kit is Trans, and Muriel, a widow, did not have the best marriage), but it does not dwell in angst. I've seen other reviewers call this a slow-burn but I disagree - there is so much flirting, and the tension between Kit and Muriel was felt right from the start that I was never bored with the romance (as I typically am with a slow-burn).
Written in consultation with the author's husband, a gender and sexuality historian who is also a trans man, Kit's character and his work felt especially poignant as he used to belong to the Pre-Raphaelite Sisterhood of painters, and so knew exactly what it was like to be considered lesser because of his perceived gender and that came across so well throughout the story. And we get a double dose of that with Muriel being a professional botanist. Both felt resolved as far as they could be within the confines of the book's timeline in a very realistic, emotionally mature way.
And then there were delightfully silly bits, and also Victorian cycling culture (a Man's sport, ofc), and even a side character nicknamed Egg (which is extremely niche, but maybe your teen also has a friend with that nickname?). There were so many little things that added up to this just being a wonderfully enjoyable book and I highly recommend it to HistRom readers and rom-coms fans alike.
This is the first book by Joanna Lowell I've read, and while it's not listed as being part of a series, you may recognise side characters from her Duke Undone series. I will definitely be going backwards and giving those a read!
A Shore Thing is engaging and entertaining and feminist. It of course deals with more serious topics (Kit is Trans, and Muriel, a widow, did not have the best marriage), but it does not dwell in angst. I've seen other reviewers call this a slow-burn but I disagree - there is so much flirting, and the tension between Kit and Muriel was felt right from the start that I was never bored with the romance (as I typically am with a slow-burn).
Written in consultation with the author's husband, a gender and sexuality historian who is also a trans man, Kit's character and his work felt especially poignant as he used to belong to the Pre-Raphaelite Sisterhood of painters, and so knew exactly what it was like to be considered lesser because of his perceived gender and that came across so well throughout the story. And we get a double dose of that with Muriel being a professional botanist. Both felt resolved as far as they could be within the confines of the book's timeline in a very realistic, emotionally mature way.
And then there were delightfully silly bits, and also Victorian cycling culture (a Man's sport, ofc), and even a side character nicknamed Egg (which is extremely niche, but maybe your teen also has a friend with that nickname?). There were so many little things that added up to this just being a wonderfully enjoyable book and I highly recommend it to HistRom readers and rom-coms fans alike.
This is the first book by Joanna Lowell I've read, and while it's not listed as being part of a series, you may recognise side characters from her Duke Undone series. I will definitely be going backwards and giving those a read!
May 19, 2024
3.75/5 ⭐️ 1.5🌶️
I have mixed feelings about how to rate this book. On one hand, I didn’t DNF it, which is good, it would’ve become a sad streak then. So this story was entertaining enough to keep me going, and eager to pick it back up because I really liked these two characters together. And I appreciated that it was showing us the story rather than predominately telling (which was my issue with the last two books I DNFed). I loved that it had great rep with not only queer characters but a main character who was transgendered and how they existed in history too. However, it did feel like history went out the window at times. Honestly, I don’t even think someone would move that fast to kissing even in modern times. While I enjoyed the representation in this book, the story came across as more so educational. Like the story was almost secondary to educating about queer people in history. I felt this way especially when certain plot lines were introduced but then immediately dropped. As though they were only introduced to educate us. And it felt like the author was trying to fit in as many educational scenes as possible which made the pace jolty. It meandered at times but then would speed through in others. I think the second half was much better than the first. Though I’m not sure if I just became more accustomed to the story and especially its strange dialogue. It was a tad unnatural and forced.
That all being said, I still enjoyed this story and would recommend this to readers. I think this could’ve been better, but appreciate what its goal was and think it accomplished it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.
I have mixed feelings about how to rate this book. On one hand, I didn’t DNF it, which is good, it would’ve become a sad streak then. So this story was entertaining enough to keep me going, and eager to pick it back up because I really liked these two characters together. And I appreciated that it was showing us the story rather than predominately telling (which was my issue with the last two books I DNFed). I loved that it had great rep with not only queer characters but a main character who was transgendered and how they existed in history too. However, it did feel like history went out the window at times. Honestly, I don’t even think someone would move that fast to kissing even in modern times. While I enjoyed the representation in this book, the story came across as more so educational. Like the story was almost secondary to educating about queer people in history. I felt this way especially when certain plot lines were introduced but then immediately dropped. As though they were only introduced to educate us. And it felt like the author was trying to fit in as many educational scenes as possible which made the pace jolty. It meandered at times but then would speed through in others. I think the second half was much better than the first. Though I’m not sure if I just became more accustomed to the story and especially its strange dialogue. It was a tad unnatural and forced.
That all being said, I still enjoyed this story and would recommend this to readers. I think this could’ve been better, but appreciate what its goal was and think it accomplished it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.
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