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    Just Like Heaven
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    Just Like Heaven
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    Just Like Heaven
    Ebook364 pages4 hours

    Just Like Heaven

    By Julia Quinn

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    Once again, #1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn transports her readers to historical romance heaven! Quinn’s Just Like Heaven is the dazzling first installment of a delightful quartet of Regency Era-set tales featuring the romantic exploits of the well-meaning but less-than-accomplished Smythe-Smith musicians—in this case, a beautiful violinist in the pitiful group who has her sights set on marrying the last unwed Bridgerton…unless her handsome, love-struck guardian has anything to say about it. Bridgerton fans will cry, “Encore!”—as will every reader who adores England’s Regency period and great love stories that are smart, witty, and lighthearted.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateMay 31, 2011
    ISBN9780062079534
    Author

    Julia Quinn

    #1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn began writing one month after graduating from college and, aside from a brief stint in medical school, she has been tapping away at her keyboard ever since. Her novels have been translated into 43 languages and are beloved the world over. A graduate of Harvard and Radcliffe Colleges, she lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest.  Look for BRIDGERTON, based on her popular series of novels about the Bridgerton family, on Netflix.

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    Reviews for Just Like Heaven

    4/5

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    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this book and would have read it in a day but got distracted in the morning with things. I was drawn into the characters of Marcus and Honoria (weird name, I would have called her Nora), and their relationship. Julia did a nice job of making you feel like you were back in the 1800s and living with the characters. I enjoyed the playfulness of the characters and they didn’t get too confused about things. I also felt the story moved along at a nice pace. Didn’t feel like there was any drag to the story. I’m looking forward to reading more from Julia.
    • 4/5
      Quinn's stories are too sweet to really get very angsty, but I did love the misunderstanding in this one! I adore all these books.
    • 4/5
      A fast and funny read, even when our hero is in danger of dying (a nice reminder from Quinn about the dangers of living in the eighteenth century). The two main protagonists are lovely characters and the insight into the workings of the Smythe-Smith Quartet was very amusing. She's not in the same league and Heyer and it would be sacrilege to even consider her anywhere near the same league as Austen, as some of the reviewers here do, but if you're looking for something amusing to while away a couple of hours this is perfect.
    • 4/5
      I very much enjoyed this novel. I found both Honoria and Marcus to be funny and amazing characters. I laughed so hard during several of the scenes, my most favorite was when Marcus had the fever. This was one of the most refreshing romance novels I have read in quite awhile.
    • 5/5
      I would like to start off with that congratulations to the author for getting her groove back. Reading this book felt like reading the Bridgerton books of yester years. It was brilliantly witty and the romance was actually very believable. Honoria Smythe-Smith and Marcus Holyroyd had known each other for years. Literally. Since Honoria was six to be exact. Therefore the last thing either of them expected was to fall in love with each other. Honoria was simply Marcus's best friend Daniel's little sister and Marcus was Daniel's best friend to Honoria. Then again the last thing either of them expected was for Daniel to have to leave the county, turn things on their ends, and for a home made "mole hole" to turn everything topy turvy. That is what happened though. So forth the lives to these two unlikely lovers got turned on their end and found that the other was more than a friend. The relationship between Honoria and Marcus was very sweet and one that is entirely realistic. Something i found very refreshing. In a world where love (or lust) at first can be somewhat the norm having two characters with a long history was a nice change. It was something that was building up for a while and it took a twisted ankle and a near death experience for them both to realize their true feelings for each other. Individually both of them were great as well. Marcus is not your typical hero. He is not described as particularly handsome, is shy and reserved, and doesn't seem to have a line of past lovers that reach the length of my arm. In fact there were no past lovers or mistresses even mentioned. It was merely implied that he wasn't a virgin. I felt myself connecting with him on so many accounts because of his shyness, lack of ability for small talk, and his dislike of being center stage. If there is one thing Julia does well is write heroes who don't always fit the bill. In this case she brought on a new favorite of mine. Long live the shy hero!!Honoria was beautifully written as well. She wasn't described as drop dead gorgeous or have an amazing body to boot. She was perfectly average and normal whose favorite feature is her eyes. She is loyal to her family and friends. She isn't a shrinking violet, but neither is she the life of the party. She was refreshing normal. Another character that i found myself connecting with. It's quite the rare instance when i find myself connecting with both hero and heroine in a book and thus this has to be one of my favorite romances in a long time. In fact it's what i would use as a reference for the type of romance i would like in my life (25 and hopelessly single here). The book is neither ground breaking, nor filled with action and adventure. It is one i would highly recommend nonetheless. Final rating: 5 stars. We have another absolute favorite to add to the list.
    • 4/5
      Honoria Smythe-Smith comes from a family with a long musical tradition. Unfortunately, it's a tradition of being really terrible musicians. Marcus is her brother's best friend. Although they've known each other since childhood, their relationship takes an unexpected turn when Marcus becomes deathly ill.As always from Quinn, lots of fun.
    • 3/5
      This book was full of life, humor, and love. The story of Honoria is filled with family, and towards the beginning of the book, a desperate need of company. Enter the Lord of Chatteris, Markus, a man of few words, hidden whit, and an old family friend. Honoria in her attempts to find herself a husband dug herself a mole hole and the book spins off from there; from Markus' twisted ankle, to sick beds, nursing, and falling in love this book held me until the end. Julia Quinn is an excellent story teller.
    • 3/5
      I've read every last Julia Quinn book, so I know the Smythe-Smiths very well indeed. I'm happy to see them getting their own series now.

      First of all, let me say that I ADORE the Bridgertons, the family created in Quinn's previous works. I love that a couple of them made an appearance here. I love that her books cross over. You can totally read them as stand-alones, but it's very nice when you can read them all and see how things mesh.

      I love the way she weaves her story. It's a quick, fun, flighty read that leaves my romantic side satisfied. The books make me wish really hard that I'd lived back in the day. I'd love to be part of the ton, but with my luck, I'd have been a servant or something.

      I usually steer clear of romance novels, because WHOA. Sure, there's the romance aspect in these too, but I don't think it ever goes totally overboard. With that though, I would say don't read them if you're of a sensitive nature and if you're under 21. They're not R-rated really, but a pretty strong PG-13. So keep that in mind if you plan to pick one up.

      Because I'm a sucker for a good story, Just Like Heaven gets a 'Drool Worthy' rating (and believe me, I drooled plenty over Marcus.)
    • 2/5
      Not her best book, but as always, Julia Quinn writes snappy, funny dialogue that makes for a fast, fun read, although it's marred by a predictable plot without much conflict.
    • 4/5
      After reading three pretty emotionally fraught novels (Games to Play After Dark, Lock and Key, The Truth About Forever) I was in desperate need for something light, easy, fluffy, fun and cute. I saw Just Like Heaven and looked at the blurb on the back:Honoria Smythe-Smith is:A) a really bad violinist B) still miffed at being nicknamed "Bug" as a child C) not in love with her older brother's best friend D) all of the aboveMarcus Holroyd is:A) the Earl of Chatteris B) regrettably prone to sprained ankles C) not in love with his best friend's younger sister D) all of the aboveTogether they:A) eat quite a bit of chocolate cake B) survive a deadly fever and the world's worst musical performance C) fall quite desperately in loveIt's Julia Quinn at her best, so you know the answer is . . .D) all of the above.This is clearly more romance novel-ish than I usually read, but it was set in 1825 London/Cambridge and it sounded so cheekily fun, I went against my grain and decided to give it a try. Happily for me, it delivered on all counts, proving to be a charming and diverting story.I had read one novel prior to this by the same author (The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever), which was a merely decent novel, though with lovely prose. Just Like Heaven was a huge improvement, though it did seem a tad reminiscent of the same basic plot as The Secret Diaries in the introductory chapters (young noble girl must find husband, falls in love with a family friend, mishaps and misunderstandings occur, ensue and are, eventually, overcome).Ms. Quinn has several series and beloved characters that are referenced throughout the novel. For her more devoted readers, I am sure it is a fun insight into past storylines and cherished characters. For a two-time reader like me, all the Bridgertons, et al. mentioned made keeping all the characters and relations distinct more difficult. However, I managed to muddle through, and it was not too distracting from the main story. Cleverly, these cameos also made me curious about the other books Ms. Quinn has penned. Well done, there.I enjoyed every single character in this book, without falling in love with any. Honoria, our female lead, is spunky, musically inept and devoted to her large, fractious family. Family has always and will always come first for her. Tellingly, when her only brother is exiled in shame to the Continent she does not give up on him, even though most of the family seems to. Honoria, as are all females of the Smythe-Smith clan, is required from early teenage years until marriage to play an instrument and perform yearly in the world's most tone deaf musicale. Thanks to this 18 year tradition, we get to meet three of Honoria's numerous female cousins: the difficult but loving Sarah on pianoforte, the talented but whiny Iris on the cello, and the too-literal Daisy also on violin. These three were hilarious and have a familial camaraderie that is believable and viciously loving. I hope that the remaining three novels in this series focus on Honoria's cousins and their lives and loves.Marcus pulls off the brooding, reticent Earl admirably well. His hidden wit and unexpected humor were a good contrast to Honoria's more blatant sense of humor. Marcus is almost taciturn at the beginning of the novel, but he grew on me like moss. Slowly, but inexorably, I became more and more invested in this lonely, awkward Lord Chatteris. The inevitable mishap that keeps the lovers apart is mercifully short, and thankfully doesn't require either Honoria or Marcus to act out of character for it to happen. It genuinely comes across as a mishap, rather than a contrived plot point to ratchet up the tension and drama.All in all, just what it looked to be: easy, fun, with a happy ending for all. I fully intend to read the remaining three in the Smythe-Smith Quartet, and possibly even check out this author's numerous series.
    • 4/5
      Honoria, the youngest daughter of a Earl, and part of the Smuth-Smiths quartet, is in search of a husband. Then she meets up with Marcus, the Earl of Chatteris. Marcus was her brothers best friend, and is surprised to see him. Marcus, promised her brother Daniel that he would look after his sister Honoria, and make sure that she doesn't marry foolishly. But when events occur that put them in close proximity, sparks fly, and even though they both resist at first, they start to fall in love with each other despite injury and sickness, but will their love be strong enough when a secret comes out that Marcus has been hiding from Honoria? Just Like Heaven is the first in the Quartet series and I have always had a love for Julia Quinn. I have to say though at the beginning I had a hard time getting into the story, but thankfully as things started to get Really interesting, I started to get really into the story and the characters. I really liked how both Marcus and Honoria have known each other since childhood, and somehow that friendship turns into something way more than either would have expected. It was fun to see the different mishaps that put these two together. Although this book is far from my favorite of Julia Quinn's, I still really enjoyed it and I would recommend it to any romance lover.....
    • 4/5
      Very enjoyable historical romance!! Loved the characters and the story! Kept moving along very quickly and just a really nice story!!
    • 4/5
      First, may I say this might be the most beautiful book cover I have ever seen? Second, this is not the type of romance novel in which one works one's way through an adventure full of external peril, always wondering if the leads actually will get together, let alone survive piracy or some evil duke's wrath or something like that. The lovers in this novel seem, if not fated, at least on an inevitable path since their childhoods. The pleasure here is in the journey -- how will they finally realize, admit and act on their love? It's the intimate moment, the personal gesture, that takes center stage here. And that's enough for a really pleasurable summer romance. It's not as finely drawn and deeply witty as her Bridgerton books, but that's ok. The Bridgertons are lightning in a bottle and by now are genre classics. But Just Like Heaven doesn't have to be a Bridgerton book to be successful. It's a delight in its own right. Finally, I will note that I really appreciated the character of Honoria's mother. It has been noted that parents of romance heroines -- especially mothers -- are often either absent or ineffectual. And although that is true of Honoria's father, her mother is wonderful. She rises to the occasion, becomes more than just a chaperone and fashion advisor, and proves that she loves her future son-in-law as her own child. -cg
    • 3/5
      Cute story. Nice hero and heroine. Waaaaay too much time spend on the interaction between Honoria and her cousins who play in the annual, awful Smythe-Smith musicale.
    • 4/5
      Just Like Heaven
      4.5 Stars

      The Smythe-Smith series is a spin off of the Bridgetons. The tone, banter and romance are all reminiscent of the original books and on the whole the characters and story are captivating, although there are a couple of small issues.

      To begin with, Just Like Heaven overlaps with Romancing Mister Bridgerton, which is fun as we get cameo appearances by Gregory and Colin as well as Lady Danbury (that woman is a scream). However, there is one glaring error in the timeline that may annoy some readers but didn't really bother me as it only becomes evident once the book is almost over - the line "Mr. Bridgerton's brother's wife's sister is married to Mr. Berbrooke's brother" in chapter 2 is a reference to Penelope Bridgerton. However, the musicale at the end of the book takes place before Colin and Penelope are married so the line is out of sync.

      Second, Marcus and Honoria have a sweet and enjoyable romance, however, their chemistry, while there, does not build sufficiently and their one steamy scene leaves much to be desired.

      That said, they are an engaging couple and their friends to lovers romance is charming and entertaining. Marcus is shy and finds it difficult to interact with others. His social awkwardness is concealed behind a dark and brooding facade but Honoria, who has known him most of her life, sees beneath his cool exterior to the lonely man in need of love and friendship. It is wonderful how comfortable they are with each other at a time when men and women were basically strangers when they married.

      In sum, this book is laugh-out-loud funny. The antics and banter between the quartet members is delightful and had me giggling well into the night. Do not be surprised if you find yourself finishing this lovely, lively and angst free read in less than a day.
    • 4/5
      It actually pains me to give any of Julia Quinn's books anything less than 4 or 5 stars because I am a huge fan of hers. If you have not read any of her books drop everything else and go do so! I suggest starting with her Bridgerton series.This was a cute read and it was over almost before I realized it but when you look at what happens there really isn't much to the story. A great deal of the story is Honoria nursing Marcus back to health which leads them both to realize they are in love with each other. Once Marcus is healthy there isn't really any adversity that the two of them have to over come to be together. I was a little surprised that there wasn't more to the story. Usually there is some mystery or some scandal that needs to be overcome so it drives a wedge in between the hero and heroine and draws out the story. So while this story was sweet and contains the usual Julia Quinn humor it wasn't one of my favorites.Some of the best parts of the book are the glimpses we get of my favorite family, the Bridgertons. :) It makes me want to go back and read the past books to compare the points of view of some of the events that we get to see played out again from Honoria and Marcus's view points. Colin makes an appearance and it takes place at the same time he is just realizing his love for Penelope and Gregory makes a very brief appearance as well. The one point I don't recall from any other book and please remind me if you do but at one point a governess takes the place of one of the Smythe-Smith performances and someone comments on how familiar she looks. Is the governess someone we know from a past story? It seemed out of place so I feel like it's got to play a bigger part than it first appears.For fans of Julia Quinn this is a nice additional to the Quinn library.
    • 4/5
      Quinn's latest is adorable; it left me looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the series. There is one rather glaring error of continuity, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the book.
    • 4/5
      As expected Quinn delivers a fun, fresh romp.
    • 2/5
      A mediocre effort at best.

      I found the quartet of girls and their verbal "sparring" as dull as can be, and the girls all seemed the same to me. I thought Quinn really beat a dead horse with the musicale too. Ok, we get it, they stink, and the musicale is going to be horrible. Can we please move on now? I felt like the relationships in the novel weren't as fleshed out as they could have been and everything seemed very surface and skimmed over.

      I thought Honoria to be ridiculous. She's seems immature and sort of childlike and not in a charming or amusing way. I think this book has the potential to open an entire world for the reader in the same way that the first book in Kleypas' Wallflower series did or even in the way the Duke and I did, but I ended the book not quite caring what happened to the other girls or anyone in the book for that matter. The only semi-intriguing characters was the governess and Daniel who were in the book for only a tinsy amount of time.

      Next!
    • 4/5
      The last few Quinn books have not been good, but this one was back to her great writing. Enjoyed this book. Many funny and touching parts. Bad musicals. Youngest daughter and has known Marcus since she was 6.
    • 4/5
      A big improvement from Julia Quinn's recent works. At first this seems like a typical romance involving a heroine and her brother's best friend, but the characters and the plot were far from typical. Honoria is a great character. Who hasn't wondered what ever became of the Smythe-Smith's after reading the Bridgerton books? Marcus is an interesting hero in that many authors would have used his background to have him become a rake or cruel but not in this case. I liked most that these two characters were normal. Not boring but normal. They have relationships, are intelligent and caring and have faults just like all of us. A very enjoyable story watching these two accept their feelings for each other!
    • 3/5
      Just like heaven is the long-awaited first book of the Smythe-Smith series. It tells the story of Honoria and Marcus; and the progress of their relationship from casual acquaintances of being Daniel's sister and best friend, to something more.It was a quick and fun read but that was to the extent of it. I couldn't feel the author's usual magic in this book and whilst the main characters were likable, their romance was sadly tepid. Don't get me wrong, I love the author and her brilliant skill of producing witty dialogues but I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would as with her previous Bridgerton series.Altogether, I think this is a fluffy read and would recommend to those who are looking for a book that is purely entertaining.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed the characters and they're chemistry. I also liked the 2nd characters. Got more that a few chuckles. This book moved swiftly for me - didn't want to put it down :)
    • 4/5
      Julia Quinn at her Bridgerton-era best.
    • 4/5
      A sweet piece of fluff. Perfect for a change of pace and a few smirks and chuckles.
    • 4/5
      Romance novels are seldom accorded respect by the world's more serious book readers; their plots are relatively predictable, their characters often lack depth, and the sex scenes are soft porn. What's left out of this condescending evaluation is that romance novels can be enjoyable and relaxing reads in large measure because of all of the above. And Julia Quinn is the queen of the fun read. Her newest offering, 'Just Like Heaven' is the perfect book to take along while waiting out softball practice or better yet, on the family room sofa at 1 AM accompanied by a frozen brownie. Those who have read Quinn know of the Smythe-Smiths. The non-musical Smythe-Smiths who often provide musical interludes at 'musical' evenings for London's ton. The story line is simple - Honoria Smythe-Smith and Marcus Holroyd have grown up together and it is now time for them both to realize that 'they are destined for each other.' Romance fiction isn't about getting from Point A to Point B, it's the fun along the way that matters. And 'Just Like Heaven' is at times a laugh aloud trip. Four Stars. The bottom line: While 'Just Like Heaven' is an enjoyable, relaxing read, long-time Quinn readers know that it's not Quinn at the top of her form. It's far better than her imitators and will please most readers, but it's not a compelling read. Maybe next time?
    • 3/5
      I was disappointed by this book
    • 3/5
      I usually don't like historical romances, but this was finishable. No silly misunderstandings send her into the arms of another.
    • 5/5
      I've found another fantastic author to add to my ever growing list! This was a fun book. I love the childhood friends to lovers trope and Quinn pulls this off so well! The relationship builds slowly, with the couple recognizing their deeper feelings for one another only after a significant amount of time passes I loved the writing and the humor and even the more suspenseful scenes that had me worried for Marcus's future. A great start to the series! I'll be moving on to book two!
    • 3/5
      3.5 stars. Segment where the hero has an injury was a bit too much and I think the pages and pages of it weren't necessary. Would have rather read more banter and romance between the H/h.