seriously romantic: appetites & vices by felicia grossman

i was up late last night binge-reading this book! i couldn't put it down. there are so many things i find unique about this story. i studied the nineteenth century a lot in college. any class focused on it, i was there. but i clearly have a knowledge gap regarding what was happening in american society at the time. i like that this book is set in this time frame. it's different, but not.

it's 1841 in philadelphia (and delaware) as appetites & vices opens, and life wasn't all wars. there was a social structure that owes its framework entirely to the europeans. and life in the city was a whirl of social engagements and there are plenty of opportunities to exclude anyone considered other. though money talks more than pedigree, to an extent.

ursula nunes is a wealthy young woman, her father is a brilliant investment banker and she is as smart as he is about business. social situations are more of a challenge. she doesn't suffer fools, and rather unfortunately, tells them about it. and on top of that, she is jewish. and that closes all sorts of doors for her.

jay truitt is a little bit desperate. he's got some serious baggage. but something about ursula draws him to her. and he wants to help. in a totally mutually beneficial way. so he proposes a fake engagement. she gets what she wants—marriage to one hugo middleton—and he gets some freedom to pursue his demons.

when jay storms into her life, ursula doesn't know what to make of him. but she quickly takes his measure. and while jay would believe that he is severely lacking, ursula sees a man who is doing his best to survive. and what he does for her, how he helps her, will let her survive too. these two characters are so wonderful together because they truly prop each other up. when they are together they are the best possible versions of themselves. it's not that they aren't without flaw, because they are deeply flawed. but their flaws are outshined by the good that they are with each other.

this is the kind of story i love, where it's not some silly miscommunication that causes the black moment between the leads. both jay and ursula have some real problems, and their future is one that will always be shadowed by them. but that doesn't mean they can't find happiness or don't deserve it. they just have to fight that much harder. and the reward ends up being that much sweeter, because it is so hard-earned.

i can't gush enough about this story. it's such an enjoyable read. and the different setting, the #ownvoices aspect of jewish history and culture, all make this something special.

**appetites & vices will publish on february 18, 2019. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/carina press in exchange for my honest review.