At Your Request (Apart from the Crowd)

Title: At Your Request

Series: Apart from the Crowd (Book #0.5)

Year: 2017

Author: Jen Turano

Summary: After Miss Wilhelmina Radcliff’s father lost the family fortune in a poor investment decision, she finds herself banished from the fashionable set within New York society and directly into the wallflower section. Taking on work as a social secretary in order to help with family expenses, she spends her time penning out invitations to all the most sought-after events, wondering if her life will ever improve.

While languishing one evening at a ball given by one of the esteemed New York patriarchs, Wilhelmina is appalled to discover that Mr. Edgar Wanamaker, her oldest and dearest friend, and the first gentleman to offer her a marriage proposal, has shown up at the ball unexpectedly, having been absent from New York ever since she rejected his offer years before.

Review: Sometimes one needs to post a negative book review; and as much as it hurts, it's necessary.

I picked up this e-novella on my Kindle a while ago when it was free on Amazon. I tend to do that kind of thing, to give myself a variety of things to read when I'm bored or in otherwise need of entertainment. This was a quick read. It's only a few chapters long, and I'm trying desperately to keep that in mind as I'm writing this review. I will say now (and not repeat) that it would have been much better fleshed out and longer.

Wilhelmina Radcliff has been reduced to a wallflower at social events. Once the bell of the ball, her social standing has taken a turn for the worse after her father loses his fortune in a bad investment and her suitor dumps her and spreads around a story of a flawed personality.

But that's before Edgar Wanamaker comes back into her life. Once her childhood best friend, there's now an awkwardness between them since she rejected his proposal of marriage at her debut into society.

My biggest problem with this book is that there's -- incredibly -- no action. The whole novella is basically conversations of things that happened previously, and we never get to follow the action of what actually happened WHEN it happened. It may just be a pet peeve of mine, but if you're going to tell me a story, let me SEE it happen. SHOW me the story; don't give me the play-by-play synopsis by a dialogue after the fact. The novella still could have kept its length, I believe, even with just following the action. And this story COULD have had a good bit of stuff happening. I mean, Edgar falls on the ice -- but we don't even get to see his fall. Seriously?

The only interesting thing about Wilhelmina is her name. I'm sorry to say it, but it's true. She's almost set up as a proud, stubborn young lady, but she does absolutely nothing to live up to that. She overcomes every problem far too easily, and gives up any prejudice and pride to get her happy ending.

One last soap box: The most unrealistic part (I agree on this point with a number of other reviewers on Goodreads) is the beginning when Wilhelmina gets stuck under her chair in an effort to avoid Edgar. Why on earth does she go under her chair? Unless it was a large, overstuffed divan or lounge chair, I can't imagine how she thought she could actually hide behind it. Especially since she's not a small woman and she has a rather large bustle on the back of her dress. And then her hips and bustle get stuck under the chair in a situation that should be hilarious but turns out more unrealistic and painful to read.

Hey, at least it has a really pretty cover.

Advisory: Light romance leading to a few kisses.

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars