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** spoiler alert ** Debating on DNFing because the main character sl*t shamed me...

This was a frustrating book for me, because I really wanted to like it. I liked the idea of a cozy magic story, I thought the book was easy to get through, and I liked the idea behind the romance.

It is written in first person-present tense, and though it is not my favourite POV, I didn't mind it here.

My problem with the book is the problem that I believe most reviewers on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ have had. The main character is insufferable, and being stuck in her point of view was the biggest struggle of the book. I assume the author is trying to go for a strong and confident woman in Emerson. Instead, she is the classic "Strong female character" and "Not like other girls" girl. The character incessantly repeats how awesome she is, how she's a feminist, and how we need to go down with the patriarchy.

The following are quotes I have pulled from the first chapter that illustrate this:

p.9 "Men are applauded for embellishing the truth while women are seen as very confident for telling the truth -- and very confident is never a compliment."

p. 10"I'm proud to have such an exceptional, indomitable woman in my family tree... I've always felt that I owe it to myself, the Wilde name, and Sarah to be a strong, independent woman who doesn't let the patriarchy or anything else get her down for long."

p. 11 "I might have been born too late to speak feminist truth to Puritan patriarchal power, but I have my own calling."

"the people lucky enough to live here, and the shops that carve out their spots on the cobbled streets--like my own intensely independent bookstore. For all the women who came before me who weren't allowed. Or those who carved out their way and were shunned for it."

p.13 "Not that I allow loneliness in my life. I swat it down like an obnoxious fly anytime it pops up. Because loneliness is a betrayal of all the women who came before me and I am not going to be the Wilde who lets them down."

p. 14 "I head for the curving narrow stairs...It's never been my favorite part of the house--it makes me think of princesses and fairy tales and other embarassingly romantic things that have no place in a practical, independent life."

And every chapter has comments like the ones above. She consistently talks about how she never fails at anything, and goes on about her accomplishments. She sounds like a caricature of a "feminist." It is so hard to feel sympathy for her, because I just want to punch her in the face.

Now for the moment that made me pause and consider DNFing this book...

For background, I read all types of romance. I can enjoy smutty, I can enjoy sweet. I picked up this book expecting some romantic scenes, but figured they would be evocative, as opposed to explicit. Getting to the first intimate scene of the novel, that was what I was getting. Then the character said this...

p. 255 "And I could tell you more. I could share every detail. I almost want to--but you know who I am by now. I'm not here for the objectification of women or men or the glorification of sensuality for consumer commodification."

...and I took this personally.

I don't know if this is supposed to be the author giving their opinion on the subject of intimate scenes in romance, or if this is supposed to be something the character actually thinks. It's bad either way.

If its the former, I say to the author, don't write sex scenes if you don't want to, that's totally cool. But don't write a novel, advertised as a rom-com, if you are going to shame people who read romance books. The romance genre allows people to explore their fantasies in a safe format. Sometimes that includes physical arousal. Do not suggest that readers who enjoy steamier fiction support the objectification of women and men.

Now if its the latter, then this shows, that the character is vapid, and her feminism is steeped in privilege, and really makes her unreadable.

I really don't have anything else to say. The other elements of the book just do not compare to my feelings about the main character. Sorry for the length. I'm still debating on whether I want to finish the book.