Sophy is a Marvel!
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Source: Paperbackswap
TYPE OF NOVEL: Historical Fiction, Regency Romance
SETTING: 1816 London, England
WHY I WANTED TO READ THIS NOVEL:
I’ve seen this particular Heyer novel listed as the top favorite of many Georgette Heyer fans (more so than any other book I think!)
SYNOPSIS:
Because her father is called away to Brazil, Sophy Stanton-Lacy is sent to stay with relations in London. When Sophy arrives she can easily discern that the Rivenhalls are in one too many fixes and it is up to her to set it all to rights! Even though her father declared that Sophy “won’t cause you any trouble,” “has her head well on her shoulders,” and is never a cause for worry, Sophy’s rigid and dictatorial cousin, Charles, finds Sophy everything that is exasperating, infuriating, and disruptive of one’s peace.
WHAT I LOVED:
- Sophy: Oh my! Sophy is quite unlike any heroine I’ve met before! She is supremely confident, shockingly unconventional, and wonderfully astute. In some ways she is half Mary Poppins and half Lucy Ricardo! Sophy arrives at home in much need of her special attention and assistance, and she is an amazing schemer who solves everyone’s dilemmas with the most harebrained and nonsensical ways! She is a character you cannot help but fall in love with and admire! A true whirling dervish!
- Miss Eugenia Wraxton: Charles Rivenhall’s fiancée is the complete opposite of Sophy! She is serious, extremely devoted to the strictures of propriety, and bit cold and unfeeling. I thoroughly enjoyed despising her! I would even say she is a character more hateful and odious than Caroline Bingley! I really like how Eugenia’s character was developed, she grew to be more conniving and sanctimonious as the story progressed! She became more vocal with her superior opinions, often gave unsolicited remonstrations, and even had the audacity to read private correspondences! She was utterly contemptible!
- Such Well-Drawn Characters and Invigorating Plots: I cannot help but be impressed by the brilliant array of dynamic characters – from the ridiculous to the sublime! I enjoyed my time with them all! Georgette Heyer has a talent for showing the most personality with the slightest bit of page time! And I’m sure I’m not the only one who finds Georgette Heyer’s plots to be masterful! The surprising twists, timely arrivals, and the perfect dose of comedy – these novels are wonderfully constructed and extremely entertaining!
- What A Conclusion!: I love a good resolution, and this madcap adventure ended with in a real bang-up style! I especially enjoyed how the conclusion was drawn out and not too fast-paced. While Sophy is trying to pull off her grandest scheme of all, everything goes wrong. She constructed a multi-step plan and set it all in motion with precision, but so much that was unexpected happened! It was hilarious to see such a scene of pandemonium manifest itself upon the indomitable Sophy and watch her disentangle it all!
WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:
- I could say something about wanting a little more romance or page time for the hero, but I really have not much cause to complain!
CONCLUSION:
Sophy is indeed grand, and most definitely a character with whom every Georgette Heyer fan should become acquainted! I’m so very glad I finally met Sophy and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed the encounter! I am happy to add my recommendation and praise to such a beloved novel by Georgette Heyer!
~ Other Georgette Heyer Books I’ve Read ~
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Which Heyer do you think I MUST read next friends? Any recommendations?
Hi Meredith
I have never read any of Georgette Heyer’s books but I have just remembered that you share a birthday with her so Many Happy Returns. Hope you had a lovely birthday and were spoilt!
Aww! Thank you, Michelle! We also share the day with Madonna and Steve Carrell!! 😉 I was spoiled…have a bunch of Austenesque goodies to share with you. Back to GH, I hope you decide to give her novels a try one day, they are fabulous.
You’ve already read my favorite, Devil’s Cub! I was really lucky when I discovered Georgette Heyer, she was really talented and I enjoy reading her books.
Devil’s Cub was my first and will always hold a special place in my heart! I love it! She definitely is!
Hi there, Meredith. I hope you had a lovely birthday. I was eagerly anticipating your review of this, because as you might remember it’s my favourite Heyer book, in a tie with ‘Frederica’. I completely agree with your views on this. I’d have liked a little more on page romance too but Sophy makes up for this by being such a wonderful heroine. In fact, my daughter’s middle name is Sophia and it was The Grand Sophy who put the name in my head.
As for your next Heyer read, I’d recommend my other Heyer no. 1, ‘Frederica’, who is also a wonderful heroine. I nearly added another recommendation then but it’d be hard to stop at just one more, as I’m a huge fan of her work!
Thank you, Ceri! Very true, Sophy is so delightful she makes up for the tiny want of romance. I love that your daughter is named for a character you love! I don’t Frederica yet, must add it to my wishlist! I don’t plan on stopping any time soon! 😉
I’ve never read any of her books, I have to give it a try.. thanks for the review.
Oh Carmalee, you must…YOU MUST do so soon!!! 🙂
If you like Jane Austen, you will like Georgette Heyer!!
Great review. I have read all her books many times and would recommend them all but particularly Arabella, Frederica or Cotillion. I wish I could read them for the first time again. Happy reading
Thank you, Glynis! That’s great that you read all her books! I hope to be able to say that one day! I loved Arabella and Cotillion, must hunt down Frederica!
What a great analogy: half Mary Poppins and half Lucy Ricardo! And you highlight some of Georgette Heyer’s greatest strengths—the vivid characterizations, the intricate plots. If you haven’t read it already, you might enjoy my personal GH favorite, The Unknown Ajax. Hope Mr. Bingley gives/gave you a lovely surprise for your birthday!
LOL! It took my awhile to figure that one out! Thank you! I appreciate the rec, I’ll add it to my wishlist! Mr. Bingley and my family did so many wonderful things for my birthday! I was definitely spoiled!
Oh Happy Birthday Meredith!!!
Love, love, LOVED your review, it was perfect. Now I must go reread The Grand Sophy.
As for your next GH…..oh dear….after reading Cotillion I had a huge crush on Freddy. Then after reading Black Sheep, I fell in love with Miles. But then I read Frederica. Well, you get the picture. I adore Frederica. Frederica’s two youngest brothers are so endearing. I’ve read it twice, and I got my hubby to read it (a first!) 🙂 BUT. The most recent GH I read is vying for the very top of the list…..Faro’s Daughter. Oh my. No matter which you choose, Meredith, please put Faro’s Daughter on your TBR list for sometime in the near future. The ending is wonderful.
And I agree with Glynis, wish I could be reading them for the first time again.
Thank you, Michelle! 🙂 I’m so glad you enjoyed my review! I love falling in love with GH’s heroes…I think Mr. Beaumaris might be my favorite! Thank you for all the recommendations! I will definitely add them all to my list!
I have this one and it is sitting on my TBR shelf….might just read it sooner than later! Sounds amazing. I chose it for the same reasons you did. So many said it was one of their favorites if not the best she has written! Thanks for the review! It is amazing! Can’t wait!
Jeanna
P.S. Happy birthday! Hope the day rocked like it idid when you were a girl and the whole day made you feel like a princess
Oooh! You should, Jeanna! 🙂 Lots of laughs! Thank you so much for the lovely birthday wishes! It was a very special day!
I love Georgette Heyer’s books. Sophy was great! I love The Unknown Ajax, Venetia, and Frederica, but really there are few that wouldn’t make a good next read from GH for you.
Thank you! Great suggestions! Will try and read another soon! 🙂
I’m very glad to read your comments, I totally agree with them!: Sophy is grand! This heroine has become in one of my favourite! , in fact I would like to have her self- confidence and audacity LOL! But in the other hand… she seems to be surrounded by chaos and mess! 🙂
I’ m happy you enjoyed the novel as much as I did! I can’t recommend you another Heyer because Sophy has been my first novel (how lucky I’ve been! ) so I’ll follow yours and I hope your next Heyer gives you a joyful reasons. Bravo for Sophy!
Sorry, I didn’t mean “reasons ” but “reading “.
Thank you, my friend! Very good point! Her self-confidence is amazing, and I marvel at how quickly she can adapt and scheme!
That’s wonderful that you loved your first Heyer so much! Please do let me know which one ends up being your second!
I have never read any of Georgette Heyer’s books, but they are on my TBR. Sophy sounds like an interesting character and the book sounds wonderful.
This might be a great one for you to start with! Especially if you like strong and confident heroines! 🙂
Happy Birthday, Meredith!
I have read most of Heyer’s books and have them on my Kindle to revisit from time to time. Frederica is my hands down favorite. I would recommend them to anyone looking for more Austenesque enjoyment!
Thank you, Colleen! It’s great to celebrate your birthday alongside one of your favorite authors! 😉 That’s great that you read and own so many Georgette Heyer works…it looks like Frederica MUST be my next read! 😉
Happy birthday, Meredith!
I just read Heyer’s The Reluctant Widow and enjoyed it very much. I love her writing style. I bought it through Book Bub and paid a very low price for it. Your readers who are Heyer fans might want to check it out.
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Moth-Romance-XVIIIth-Century-ebook/dp/B0073Y9KB6/ref=sr_1_1_twi_kin_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1439907283&sr=8-1&keywords=Georgette+Heyer
The Black Moth is free right now, and The Reluctant Widow is only $1.99.
Thank you, Robin! I appreciate you sharing the deals with us! I’ll be sure to check them out!
Happy Birthday. My husband and my grandson just had birthdays the 16th and the 17th so they are in good company with you. I have read some G. Heyer but regretfully she doesn’t appeal to me as does our dear Jane Austen. I do plan to read more and maybe I will warm to her stories in the future.
Thank you, Sheila! 🙂 It seems to be a popular time for birthdays, I think I know about a dozen people are within a week or on the same day as my birthday! I hope when you do read some more GH you find it more to your liking!
I love heyers works as well. This is one of my favorites. You almost can’t go wrong.
Very true! I’ve read only 7 and its hard to classify which one is my favorite…wonder how it will be when I’ve read 20!
You, too, gave it a 5?? Then, I must read it soon!! 🙂 Happy belated birthday, Meredith! Hope it was a wonderful day!
I love Georgette Heyer (as many others here do!) and I’m glad there are many books by her that I haven’t read yet. My favourites so far are Bath Tangle, Black Sheep, Cotillion and Arabella. I recommend the first two since you have read the other two. Black Sheep ends abruptly but it has one of the best couples I’ve ever met!
Thank you, Maria! It was indeed! Haha! I’ve been trying to be very selective with my 5s lately! I love that I have so many more to read too! 🙂 Thank you for sharing your recommendations! I think I need to track down Black Sheep…I think I have Bath Tangle somewhere! 😉