Review of The Perfect Wife, an Historical Romance set in Medieval England by Lynsay Sands
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Synopsis
Avelyn has a very poor view of herself. This leads to a calamitous wedding day, including a gown that’s too small, fainting during the ceremony, and setting the marriage bed on fire.
At the beginning of their marriage, Avelyn suffers several mishaps and her new husband, Paen, worries that she might be clumsy and incompetent. Avelyn falls into a depression as she thinks that her husband cannot stand to be around her. Once he realises this, Paen sets about convincing her of her own worth.
Review
The Perfect Wife was a light, quick read. When I read it, I had been unable to concentrate on anything heavier. It was the perfect book for me to read at the time.
The characters are very likeable. Paen and Avelyn are so unsure of themselves and their relationship and they try so hard to please each other. Sometimes they act a bit silly, especially at the beginning, but it shows their eagerness and naivety. To me it made them more endearing.
I enjoyed how the relationship between Paen and Avelyn unfolded at a steady pace. When they first meet each other, Paen is unimpressed with her, but as they get to know each other, he comes to care for her, then at the end they both realise they love each other. This process happened realistically, and while Paen’s realisation of his feelings are sudden, we are shown them developing at a believable pace.
I enjoyed how at the beginning, Avelyn kept trying to alter her appearance for Paen but that he preferred her as she was. She thought she was overweight and went to extreme lengths to look thin so that Paen would like her, binding herself and sucking in her cheeks. She wanted to look good for him, but he found her attractive how she was.
‘His gaze slid over her now in the red gown, and Avelyn bit her lip, afraid that without the binding he would be displeased. She was doing her best not to flinch when he announced, “You look much better now. There is colour in your cheeks, and you are no longer all sucked up and fishy looking.”
“Fishy looking?” Avelyn gasped with dismay.
“Aye.” When he pursed his lips and sucked his cheeks in to show her how she’d looked, Avelyn felt herself flush again. She hadn’t realised how ridiculous she’d appeared. And she had imagined herself looking better!’
I liked the little mystery woven through the story. It is introduced slowly so that at first I didn’t realise there even was a mystery. Having a mystery was a great way to keep the story going while Paen and Avelyn’s relationship progressed. The resolution of the mystery was also a great climax to the story and created a fantastic ending to the book.
Conclusion
Have you read The Perfect Wife? What did you think? Do you agree with what I’ve said about it? Let me know in the comments.
If you haven’t, it can be bought at Book Depository (they have free worldwide shipping!).
