Comments on: Review: Something About You, by Julie James

By: Something About You by Julie James « Janicu’s Book Blog

Something About You by Julie James « Janicu’s Book Blog — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:19:33 +0000

[...] Persephone – “There wasn’t really anything I didn’t enjoy about this book.” Read, React, Review – positive review Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Giveaway: ARC of Kristin [...]

By: SonomaLass

SonomaLass — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:21:02 +0000

I think the career sucess fantasy being entwined with the romance success fantasy is a definite trend in contemporary romance. I think of it as a backlash to the “I found my man, so now I give up my career and become a wife and mother” version of the HEA. For some readers, a fulfilling HEA has to include the heroine reaching her individual potential, so that we know she isn’t overwhelmed/subsumed by the hero. Especially if he’s alpha-ish. Career success is one way to show that.

I haven’t read the other James books, although I intend to. I enjoyed this one, and I know that Cameron’s career success (and being free to be more true to herself and her own instincts/values as a result) was a big part of the happy ending for me.

ITA about the misogyny of the villain. It wasn’t necessary. It didn’t go as far as many books, but until that point he was an equal opportunity arrogant ass-hat, and I preferred that. Also, I had the same response to the treatment of the murdered prostitute. She was treated first and foremost the murder victim, as she should be, and all the sympathetic characters got that.

What I think I liked best about this book was that so many of the characters were intelligent and witty, and I believed it. I could believe in Cameron’s group of friends, and I was very comfortable with their interactions, and I felt that she and Jack were intellectual equals. That sometimes doesn’t happen for me in romance.

By: CupK8

CupK8 — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:51:27 +0000

I’ve come across that trend in other contemporary novels as well- it’s the fantasy of a lot of contemporary women, to have a successful career AND a successful love life.

Part of me wishes I hadn’t gone back to the blogosphere over break – now my TBR list is insanely long! And then there’s that part of me that can’t wait to get my hands on more great novels.

By: willaful

willaful — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:59:53 +0000

“So, I think it is fair to say that deliberately intertwining a fantasy about work success with the fantasy of romantic success is a James trademark. Is she unique in this?”

I would say that’s a Nora Roberts trademark too, in fact I recently referred to her books as “work porn.” Not uncommon among other writers either. Maeve Binchy comes to mind, although she is not a romance writer.