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Beautiful Wild
You are invited to set sail on the maiden voyage of the SS Princess of the Pacific in this indulgent historical romance from Anna Godbersen, the New York Times bestselling author of the Luxe series.
Vida Hazzard can see her future: aboard the heralded “Millionaire’s Ship of the West,” she’ll charm the young scion Fitzhugh Farrar, resulting in a proposal of marriage.
But Vida didn’t plan on Fitz’s best friend, Sal, a rough-around-the-edges boy with a talent for getting under her skin. Nor did she anticipate a hurricane dashing their ship to pieces, along with her dreams.
Stranded on an island with both Fitz and Sal, Vida is torn between the life she’s always planned for, and a future she’s never dared to want. As they desperately plot a course for home, Vida will discover just which boy can capture her wild heart—and where her future truly lies.
Vida Hazzard can see her future: aboard the heralded “Millionaire’s Ship of the West,” she’ll charm the young scion Fitzhugh Farrar, resulting in a proposal of marriage.
But Vida didn’t plan on Fitz’s best friend, Sal, a rough-around-the-edges boy with a talent for getting under her skin. Nor did she anticipate a hurricane dashing their ship to pieces, along with her dreams.
Stranded on an island with both Fitz and Sal, Vida is torn between the life she’s always planned for, and a future she’s never dared to want. As they desperately plot a course for home, Vida will discover just which boy can capture her wild heart—and where her future truly lies.
358 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 3, 2020
40 people are currently reading
4221 people want to read
About the author
Anna Godbersen
36 books3,192 followersAnna Godbersen was born in Berkeley, California, and educated at Barnard College. She currently lives in Brooklyn with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
just-for-the-cover
August 4, 2020Okay, it's not a bad cover, but I'm disappointed that it's nowhere near The Luxe books with regards to those gorgeous dresses.
November 29, 2023
Review coming soon.
December 18, 2020
And there was herself, Vida—the same girl whose name had once appeared in society notes in newspapers—encased in that pale pink dinner dress, which had been dirtied and magically cleaned again, almost bleached white, by its trial in the elements. That lace and cotton fitted tight to her body. Her small body, which she’d walked in all her life. For long, unthinking stretches of existence that body was all she really knew. Now her physical form seemed a tiny, insignificant doll thrown against the infinite variety of sights and sounds, harsh and sweet, which themselves were nothing compared to the incomprehensible vastness that rolled out from the beach.
...In which Vida, a pampered New Money offspring, encounters the Sublime during her island visit. And yes, it changes her.
This is a more introspective version of Godbersen. Despite the torrid plot summary, it’s much more low key & understated in terms of the melodrama & social flailing; it’s also focused solely through one lens (Vida), who’s a sort of Gilded Age flower child. While AG includes her usual themes & trademark bittersweet not-quite-HEA, she’s clearly trying something new here in terms of a centralized focus & more nuanced heroine. So, though I didn’t like it as much as her previous 8 novels (yeah, I’ve read them all—& I’m not ashamed 😇), I respect what she’s going for here. Full disclosure: I don’t generally enjoy survival stories, so if BEAUTIFUL WILD had been any other YA author, I wouldn’t have picked it up.
So far as content, the dangerous scenes are oddly glossed over; the sinking of the ship, the storm, & the early days on the island are all relatively vague, so it’s clear the book’s focus isn’t physical survival but rather Vida’s emotional blossoming. While you can definitely see some influences (Titanic & Blue Lagoon come to mind), it’s still very much a Godbersen in terms of the relationship(s) between the central trio, which is what ultimately makes the story click. Vida has two choices here, & neither one is wrong, per se—which makes the ‘choose your own adventure’ epilogue more intriguing, IMO. Is that what actually happens? It’s improbable, but no more than anything else Vida has endured.
Anyway...3.5 stars, rounded up. Because despite what other GR reviewers seem to believe, there’s nothing wrong with an established genre author trying new things. 😶 I didn’t find this as gripping as her previous novels, but it was still an enjoyable read.
...In which Vida, a pampered New Money offspring, encounters the Sublime during her island visit. And yes, it changes her.
This is a more introspective version of Godbersen. Despite the torrid plot summary, it’s much more low key & understated in terms of the melodrama & social flailing; it’s also focused solely through one lens (Vida), who’s a sort of Gilded Age flower child. While AG includes her usual themes & trademark bittersweet not-quite-HEA, she’s clearly trying something new here in terms of a centralized focus & more nuanced heroine. So, though I didn’t like it as much as her previous 8 novels (yeah, I’ve read them all—& I’m not ashamed 😇), I respect what she’s going for here. Full disclosure: I don’t generally enjoy survival stories, so if BEAUTIFUL WILD had been any other YA author, I wouldn’t have picked it up.
So far as content, the dangerous scenes are oddly glossed over; the sinking of the ship, the storm, & the early days on the island are all relatively vague, so it’s clear the book’s focus isn’t physical survival but rather Vida’s emotional blossoming. While you can definitely see some influences (Titanic & Blue Lagoon come to mind), it’s still very much a Godbersen in terms of the relationship(s) between the central trio, which is what ultimately makes the story click. Vida has two choices here, & neither one is wrong, per se—which makes the ‘choose your own adventure’ epilogue more intriguing, IMO. Is that what actually happens? It’s improbable, but no more than anything else Vida has endured.
Anyway...3.5 stars, rounded up. Because despite what other GR reviewers seem to believe, there’s nothing wrong with an established genre author trying new things. 😶 I didn’t find this as gripping as her previous novels, but it was still an enjoyable read.
September 27, 2020
Thanks Edelweiss and HarperCollins who both continue to trust me with their books.
This took me a while to finally get into and I considered if it was truly the book for a reader like me. As I expected, I did manage to finish, but without some disappointment.
Vidalia was one of those characters who I wanted to shake like a rag doll. She was rude, entitled, and insensitive and thankfully she changed throughout the book but it made it hard to root for her.
The writing was great, but I found my attention wavering with the lengthy descriptions. It took me out of the story most of the time. I found myself skimming, which is not something I am proud of.
I am a sucker for the love triangle trope when done right. This one left a lot to be desired. I love the island as a setting though.
Overall, I think this just wasn't the book for me. I slogged through a lot of it, but I am glad I was able to write a proper review without having to mark it as a DNF.
This took me a while to finally get into and I considered if it was truly the book for a reader like me. As I expected, I did manage to finish, but without some disappointment.
Vidalia was one of those characters who I wanted to shake like a rag doll. She was rude, entitled, and insensitive and thankfully she changed throughout the book but it made it hard to root for her.
The writing was great, but I found my attention wavering with the lengthy descriptions. It took me out of the story most of the time. I found myself skimming, which is not something I am proud of.
I am a sucker for the love triangle trope when done right. This one left a lot to be desired. I love the island as a setting though.
Overall, I think this just wasn't the book for me. I slogged through a lot of it, but I am glad I was able to write a proper review without having to mark it as a DNF.
October 29, 2020
This review is for an ARC (Advanced Reader’s Copy), which I found at my local bookstore. All opinions are my own. This review may contain *spoilers*.
Whew.
Well, that was certainly something, and I don’t quite care for it. I read the author’s LUXE series and liked it well enough as a whole to read something else of hers. But... I think I’ll avoid it from now on. Darn you, historical fiction, for really pulling me in!
A sweeping romance? What the heck. Not at all. This didn’t make me yearn for more or care for anything at all. Also, you’re trying to convince me that a high-society, first class young teenager KILLED a wild animal with a wooden spear she whittled? Jesus Christ.
There was a lot of “telling” and not a lot of “showing” when it comes of Vida’s character. She’s on a boat in order to make a very eligible and wealthy young man fall in love with her but she ends up falling in love with his best friend. Am I...missing something here? I felt no immediate attraction between these characters and not even between Vida and Fritz.
I am scrounging around in terms of the world-building to find when exactly this takes place. I mean, the ship sinks for Christ’s sake. I assume this is before 1912, which is the year the Titanic sank because absolutely no one mentions that disaster at all.
And then Vida comes off and explores the world all by herself? Just buys some books and gets on a boat? Um? Her parents were just fine and dandy with it too.
Boo. Don’t waste your time and read this. There are better and ACTUAL “sweeping romances” to fall for.
Whew.
Well, that was certainly something, and I don’t quite care for it. I read the author’s LUXE series and liked it well enough as a whole to read something else of hers. But... I think I’ll avoid it from now on. Darn you, historical fiction, for really pulling me in!
A sweeping romance? What the heck. Not at all. This didn’t make me yearn for more or care for anything at all. Also, you’re trying to convince me that a high-society, first class young teenager KILLED a wild animal with a wooden spear she whittled? Jesus Christ.
There was a lot of “telling” and not a lot of “showing” when it comes of Vida’s character. She’s on a boat in order to make a very eligible and wealthy young man fall in love with her but she ends up falling in love with his best friend. Am I...missing something here? I felt no immediate attraction between these characters and not even between Vida and Fritz.
I am scrounging around in terms of the world-building to find when exactly this takes place. I mean, the ship sinks for Christ’s sake. I assume this is before 1912, which is the year the Titanic sank because absolutely no one mentions that disaster at all.
And then Vida comes off and explores the world all by herself? Just buys some books and gets on a boat? Um? Her parents were just fine and dandy with it too.
Boo. Don’t waste your time and read this. There are better and ACTUAL “sweeping romances” to fall for.
November 4, 2020
"The first voyage of the Princess is one of those events that bring all the best people together, for it promises lavish parties and gossip galore."
You know what, I actually enjoyed this book a lot. You have to be in the right mood to read an Anna Godbersen book. Beautiful Wild was glamorous, far fetched, dramatic, and it dealt with a small kernel of truth about appearances and what matters most in life at the end of the day. Are you living your life for you, or for those around you? Will a life of beautiful glamour be the right path for you, or do you crave the wild? Why not both?
"She was a huntress--her hunting grounds were drawing rooms and polo fields, it was true; but that did not make her any less a huntress."
Our MC, Vida (which means life in Spanish btw), was the sort of grown girl I love to see in historical sort of setting--improper while still navigating the rules of her society, daring, willing to paint outside the lines. Her life revolves around her society and the expectations her parents place on her to marry well so she may continue to live big. That is one thing I did enjoy about Beautiful Wild, Vida's parents legit only want what is best for her, and encourage her in her adventures (to a certain point). They are not there to make her miserable. Vida thinks what she wants, and is best for her given the rumors and her parents ultimatum due to the rumors, is to snag the richest boy on the cruise and have him propose to her. She has a bigger than life personality that just attracts people to her, even though she will admit she is not the most beautiful girl. She has charisma, and is willing to go for what she wants. I loved that.
"Which is it? Do you like the fussy dresses, or do they hold you back."
"Have you never felt two contradictory things strongly, truly, and at once?"
Beutiful Wild does not make our MC choose to be only one thing. Vida loves her life, but is also aware of the constraints her society places on her and women in general. She craves adventure and finds it where she feasibly can, in the ballroom. But this cruise is going to push her to extremes, allowing her to get to know herself in the most realest of ways and find out just how capable she can be.
"The glittering world in which Vida had first encountered the grand Mrs. Carlton Farrar was gone--the ocean had swallowed their way of life whole."
I found Beautiful Wild to be a love letter to Vida. There is romance, of course, but sincerely I didn't think it was central. Vida's journey of self discovery was what I loved about Beautiful Wild. The romance was sweet though. You have a love triangle of sorts, both boys representing different aspects of the lives Vida thinks she wants/might actually want. Her decision in the end is courageous (for the time)
I'd totally recommend this read, just know what you are in for. A "Titanic"/"cast away" mix YA book with feminist undertones and a bit of romance to spice things up.
"On this island she could see, from first light to last, that the world was much bigger than she had known."
PS; I was provided a review copy in exchange for an honest review. Thanks go to the publisher!
You know what, I actually enjoyed this book a lot. You have to be in the right mood to read an Anna Godbersen book. Beautiful Wild was glamorous, far fetched, dramatic, and it dealt with a small kernel of truth about appearances and what matters most in life at the end of the day. Are you living your life for you, or for those around you? Will a life of beautiful glamour be the right path for you, or do you crave the wild? Why not both?
"She was a huntress--her hunting grounds were drawing rooms and polo fields, it was true; but that did not make her any less a huntress."
Our MC, Vida (which means life in Spanish btw), was the sort of grown girl I love to see in historical sort of setting--improper while still navigating the rules of her society, daring, willing to paint outside the lines. Her life revolves around her society and the expectations her parents place on her to marry well so she may continue to live big. That is one thing I did enjoy about Beautiful Wild, Vida's parents legit only want what is best for her, and encourage her in her adventures (to a certain point). They are not there to make her miserable. Vida thinks what she wants, and is best for her given the rumors and her parents ultimatum due to the rumors, is to snag the richest boy on the cruise and have him propose to her. She has a bigger than life personality that just attracts people to her, even though she will admit she is not the most beautiful girl. She has charisma, and is willing to go for what she wants. I loved that.
"Which is it? Do you like the fussy dresses, or do they hold you back."
"Have you never felt two contradictory things strongly, truly, and at once?"
Beutiful Wild does not make our MC choose to be only one thing. Vida loves her life, but is also aware of the constraints her society places on her and women in general. She craves adventure and finds it where she feasibly can, in the ballroom. But this cruise is going to push her to extremes, allowing her to get to know herself in the most realest of ways and find out just how capable she can be.
"The glittering world in which Vida had first encountered the grand Mrs. Carlton Farrar was gone--the ocean had swallowed their way of life whole."
I found Beautiful Wild to be a love letter to Vida. There is romance, of course, but sincerely I didn't think it was central. Vida's journey of self discovery was what I loved about Beautiful Wild. The romance was sweet though. You have a love triangle of sorts, both boys representing different aspects of the lives Vida thinks she wants/might actually want. Her decision in the end is courageous (for the time)
I'd totally recommend this read, just know what you are in for. A "Titanic"/"cast away" mix YA book with feminist undertones and a bit of romance to spice things up.
"On this island she could see, from first light to last, that the world was much bigger than she had known."
PS; I was provided a review copy in exchange for an honest review. Thanks go to the publisher!
November 16, 2020
Doesn’t it feel like it has been ages since we’ve gotten a book from Anna Godbersen? I remember back in the day, before I even read Romance or had a blog, I used to read Godberson when I strictly only read Young Adult books. So I was excited to see that she was coming out with a new series after this long time. Because of the nostalgia, I feel a bit sentimental toward this author and had some pretty high hopes about this new book.
BEAUTIFUL WILD keeps in touch with Anna’s signature style. It’s Historical Romance with a Young Adult focus. I definitely feel like she has the potential to write Historical Romance for adults. I’m not sure if she has, but I appreciated the fact that she uses the terminology well despite writing for a younger audience.
However, I did find this book to be quite slow. It didn’t grip me like I thought it would and I’m also not fully sold on the concept of the series either. It might be first-book syndrome so I am going to give book two a go to decide whether or not this series if for me. I also did kind of wonder about the cover since I don’t really think it matches the tone of the storyline, but maybe it’s not such a big deal for some.
So while I did have some high hopes, this one was a bit underwhelming for me. But I will try the next one out to see if the author can win me over with this new series.
January 3, 2021
2.5 stars
Okay, the first thing I have to get off my chest is the name of the main character - VIDALIA, really?!? She’s named after an onion???? Her name grated on my nerves the entire time. Of course, Vida herself also annoyed me. She went from being prissy, catty, and entitled to strong and self sufficient practically as soon as they are stranded on the island. Her transformation came out of literally nowhere.
As always, love triangles are the worst. I understand why it was there, but I just don’t enjoy love triangles.
The book does have beautiful descriptive passages, especially about the ocean and the lush world of the island where they end up shipwrecked. I wish they had been stranded longer, and things on the island had been developed more because I enjoyed those parts the most.
Okay, the first thing I have to get off my chest is the name of the main character - VIDALIA, really?!? She’s named after an onion???? Her name grated on my nerves the entire time. Of course, Vida herself also annoyed me. She went from being prissy, catty, and entitled to strong and self sufficient practically as soon as they are stranded on the island. Her transformation came out of literally nowhere.
As always, love triangles are the worst. I understand why it was there, but I just don’t enjoy love triangles.
The book does have beautiful descriptive passages, especially about the ocean and the lush world of the island where they end up shipwrecked. I wish they had been stranded longer, and things on the island had been developed more because I enjoyed those parts the most.
September 28, 2020
Tohle bylo utrpení! Žádný děj, žádná pořádná zápletka, žádné zajímavé postavy (ani vedlejší), vždycky jsem čekala, že se něco dozvím a dozvěděla jsem se prd... Časově je to zasazené asi někde Gatsby style. Víceméně je to o tom, že borka hodně paří a paří tak moc, že musí rychle sehnat manžela, nebo si ji nikdo nevezme. Tak se vydá na plavbu obří lodí (ehm Titanik) na Hawai a má v plánu po cestě sbalit bohatého synáčka majitele společnosti, které ta loď patří. Takže se pořád čančá (a jakože hodiny se čančá!!!), chodí na večírky, mrká očičkama, obecně je to taková dost povrchní manipulativní kráva, která pohrdá kýmkoliv, kdo nemá prachy nebo titul. A pak ta loď ztroskotá a najednou je z ní divoženka Trosečník style a je s tím total v pohodě a ještě u toho přežívání na pustém ostrově stačí dobalit toho bohatýho synka a zamilovat se do jeho kámoše. No, nebudu vám to spoilerovat, kdybyste to náhodou chtěli číst, ale spíš vás prosím, abyste to nedělali, protože to nemá ani dobrou romantiku, ani nic.
April 1, 2021
Incredibly, stunningly, impressively bland.
I'm not giving this a low rating because I hated it. To say I hated it would imply it evoked any sort of strong emotion in me. Instead, the whole thing was just incredibly "meh." It wasn't even boring enough to cause a strong sense of boredom. I read the whole thing and didn't give up out of boredom or frustration once. But I highly doubt I'll think about this ever again once I post my review.
First of all, none of the characters were really all that interesting or fully realized. They didn't have any of the spice, humor, or warmth of most of Godbersen's characters. Second of all, the plot was very underwhelming, with all the island survival stuff summed up as
I'm not giving this a low rating because I hated it. To say I hated it would imply it evoked any sort of strong emotion in me. Instead, the whole thing was just incredibly "meh." It wasn't even boring enough to cause a strong sense of boredom. I read the whole thing and didn't give up out of boredom or frustration once. But I highly doubt I'll think about this ever again once I post my review.
First of all, none of the characters were really all that interesting or fully realized. They didn't have any of the spice, humor, or warmth of most of Godbersen's characters. Second of all, the plot was very underwhelming, with all the island survival stuff summed up as
November 11, 2025
The summary was misleading since the ship didn't sink because of a hurricane, and the hurricane was part of the story for two seconds. I skimmed a lot of the descriptions since they were quite lengthy. The island portion of the story was the most intriguing, but the love interests kind of ruined it. I wasn't a fan of Vidalia due to her rude and self-centered attitude. She thankfully changed once getting on the island which was a shock because I expected her to remain the same. I also found it eye rolling that Vida claimed she wasn't pretty and then listed 3 guys who wanted to marry her on top of the current (and future) love interest. This story had potential but it could have been stronger without some of the descriptions and removing the love triangle. Thank you Edelweiss for an ARC.
February 10, 2021
I... think I need to stop reading Anna Goldbersen. Her books always sound so fun, but when I get to them, I'm so disappointed.
July 15, 2020
Beautiful Wild is a mixture of Titanic, Castaway and Anna's notorious Luxe series. It is filled with romance, adventure, a shipwreck and of course ball gowns with beautiful dresses! This book is about Vida Hazzard boarding the “Millionaire’s Ship of the West” in order to save her reputation by getting Fitzhugh Farrar to propose while aboard. On their journey, the ship sinks and strands several passengers on a remote island, to await rescue. While stranded, Vida finds that she is not only developing feelings for Fitz, but for his servant Sal as well! The big question now is, who will she choose?
This book was definitely a bit slower to start out with, but once it got going I couldn't put it down! I've always loved Anna's writing style, and definitely can say that this is filled with witty comments, romance and adventure. Anna did a fantastic job at keeping me on my toes, and making me unsure of who she was going to pick until the very end.
Can we also just take a moment to admire the cover? It is absolutely stunning and matches one of the dress descriptions perfectly! I can't wait to get a physical copy of this book to add to my collection!
Disclosure: I received a complimentary eARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me this opportunity!
This book was definitely a bit slower to start out with, but once it got going I couldn't put it down! I've always loved Anna's writing style, and definitely can say that this is filled with witty comments, romance and adventure. Anna did a fantastic job at keeping me on my toes, and making me unsure of who she was going to pick until the very end.
Can we also just take a moment to admire the cover? It is absolutely stunning and matches one of the dress descriptions perfectly! I can't wait to get a physical copy of this book to add to my collection!
Disclosure: I received a complimentary eARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me this opportunity!
March 11, 2021
4 ⭐️
Trigger warnings: mentions of death/grief
Anna Godbersen’s books are a guilty pleasure of mine. Not in the sense that I feel ashame reading them, but rather they serve as pick-me-up when I need a frivolous read. This one was no different.
This is the same kind of light historical romance as The Luxe series, without the heaviness of Bright Young Things. Don’t go in expecting a story that will pull your heartstrings, you’ll be disappointed. The resolution to the love triangle is obvious from the get-go and the whole shipwreck thing only serves as a plot point. There is no intense Titanic-like moment in this book.
That disappointed me a little. If you’re going to strand a bunch of rich spoiled 20th century people on a deserted island, at least make it gripping outside the love interests. The scenes would have been that much more intense if they’d been anchored in the actual hardship of trying to survive after a shipwreck. And I would have liked to know what happened to Vida’s parents and Nora post-sinking.
But, as I said, Godbersen’s books aren’t made to be deep. Some (white) feminist undertones appeared in this one, and I appreciated Vida’s convinctions after being rescued. It was light, it was romantic, it was cute. I couldn’t have asked for more (except a hidden poly relationship where F, V, S and C played house but let’s not get ahead of ourselves 😅)
Trigger warnings: mentions of death/grief
Anna Godbersen’s books are a guilty pleasure of mine. Not in the sense that I feel ashame reading them, but rather they serve as pick-me-up when I need a frivolous read. This one was no different.
This is the same kind of light historical romance as The Luxe series, without the heaviness of Bright Young Things. Don’t go in expecting a story that will pull your heartstrings, you’ll be disappointed. The resolution to the love triangle is obvious from the get-go and the whole shipwreck thing only serves as a plot point. There is no intense Titanic-like moment in this book.
That disappointed me a little. If you’re going to strand a bunch of rich spoiled 20th century people on a deserted island, at least make it gripping outside the love interests. The scenes would have been that much more intense if they’d been anchored in the actual hardship of trying to survive after a shipwreck. And I would have liked to know what happened to Vida’s parents and Nora post-sinking.
But, as I said, Godbersen’s books aren’t made to be deep. Some (white) feminist undertones appeared in this one, and I appreciated Vida’s convinctions after being rescued. It was light, it was romantic, it was cute. I couldn’t have asked for more (except a hidden poly relationship where F, V, S and C played house but let’s not get ahead of ourselves 😅)
November 9, 2020
Thank you to HCC Frenzy for sending me an ARC to read and review!
3/5 stars.
I wish I had liked this one more than I did because I felt like it had a lot of promise, but it just didn't quite live up to what I wanted from it. I found that I didn't really care about, or like, any of the characters. Vida was alright and I liked the way that she evolved as a character by the end, but I would have liked to see more of her becoming more confident while on the island. I had trouble keeping some of the others straight because I just didn't care about them. I also didn't believe in the relationships between Vida, Fitz, and Sal. Something about it felt like it was missing, and I didn't buy the romance at all. There was practically no romance in this book at all which was a let-down because it was described as a "sweeping romance" and yet I got nothing.
My overall thoughts are that the writing was good, and it was easy to read, but I probably wouldn't read this one again.
3/5 stars.
I wish I had liked this one more than I did because I felt like it had a lot of promise, but it just didn't quite live up to what I wanted from it. I found that I didn't really care about, or like, any of the characters. Vida was alright and I liked the way that she evolved as a character by the end, but I would have liked to see more of her becoming more confident while on the island. I had trouble keeping some of the others straight because I just didn't care about them. I also didn't believe in the relationships between Vida, Fitz, and Sal. Something about it felt like it was missing, and I didn't buy the romance at all. There was practically no romance in this book at all which was a let-down because it was described as a "sweeping romance" and yet I got nothing.
My overall thoughts are that the writing was good, and it was easy to read, but I probably wouldn't read this one again.
April 12, 2021
This was a quick frivolous read.
The synopsis sounded more exciting than the actual book was. I felt like most of the characters felt...basic? They were all very surface level. It didn’t feel like they were very fleshed out. And it felt very underwhelming, there wasn’t much going on as the way of plot and I kept reading hoping something really shocking would happen but it just didn’t. I liked the time period it was set in and the ending was a bit better but it was just okay.
The synopsis sounded more exciting than the actual book was. I felt like most of the characters felt...basic? They were all very surface level. It didn’t feel like they were very fleshed out. And it felt very underwhelming, there wasn’t much going on as the way of plot and I kept reading hoping something really shocking would happen but it just didn’t. I liked the time period it was set in and the ending was a bit better but it was just okay.
July 30, 2024
I was a huge fan of the author’s series in the early 00’s and really enjoyed her other standalone novel, “When we caught fire”. This was just ok, it didn’t have as interesting of a story or the strong female friendships that her other books have had. I would definitely recommend, “When we caught fire” over this book.
August 9, 2020
I'm not a fan of this author's other works, but overall found Beautiful Wild to be an enjoyable read. There was nothing particularly wrong with the story, though I did find myself skimming the text at times (particularly on the island) and found the end to be thoroughly predictable, but this was a fun, light and easy read.
August 3, 2022
This is pretty good.
Bragging part:
I finally got around to keep a physical reading tracker! (My birthday present painted and altered so much you wouldn’t be able to tell it was my present… lets keep that a secret from the giver of the present, okay?)
Bragging part:
I finally got around to keep a physical reading tracker! (My birthday present painted and altered so much you wouldn’t be able to tell it was my present… lets keep that a secret from the giver of the present, okay?)
August 17, 2022
3.5 stars id say. it was good, cool romance adventure plot. something about the writing seemed a little off to me, so that’s what factored into my rating. other than that, i did like the book, and it had a good ending :) i’d recommend
September 19, 2022
3* for me. It was an easy read but to be honest there was alot parts in the book where you can see the climax from a mile away. I really wish there was a plot twist at that the end, because to me she ended the book way to easy for my taste.
November 20, 2020
Sweet and romantic YA historical fiction with a bit of thrilling adventure and a lot of love triangle thrown in.
December 8, 2020
Am I too old for a gilded age YA novel? Possibly, but at least the intense romantic intrigue among 17 year-old girls makes sense given the time period. Anna Godbersen writes female characters that fit for their time period, rebel within the standards of their time period, and are just really enjoyable and that's what I want when I read her stuff.
dnf
January 7, 2022Dnf pg 33
January 15, 2021
I really wanted to love this book. It is beautiful to look at, and the locations that the author created are equally awesome. I just could not root for the main character at all. She was so self centered in the beginning of the book that I find it hard to believe that suddenly she decided to change. I was also disappointed that once they were rescued from the island, we didn't get to see her reunite with her loved ones. That was totally skipped over. I feel like there could have been more to explore there and maybe could have given Vida more depth. The fact that in the end she gave up her life and decided to travel and look for the man that she loved did have a great romantic feel to it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2021
This was definitely a "cotton candy" read. Very light, fluffy, sweet, pretty, and above all - insubstantial.
-At its absolute bare-bones core, I liked the plot. It was super predictable, but fun enough to keep going all the way through. And although I wouldn't say the it was unique, at least it hasn't been done 10,000x in YA fiction (yet). Unfortunately, a lot of the actual events were pretty unrealistic, so you need to either have a very strong willing suspension of disbelief, or a readiness to laugh off the cheesiness of the day-to-day moments.
-The characters were extremely one-dimensional. Vida was the only one who "developed" throughout the entire book, and I hesitate to even use that word because her progress was so shallow and unsurprising.
-The style of writing was over-the-top. Godbersen took a lot of opportunities to try to sound profound or sweep up your imagination in a lot of adjectives. I think she was going for Bridgerton(TV)-style decadence and drama, but got a little carried away and forgot to temper it with strong characters, realistic events, and surprising developments. Some examples...
And another:
You get the idea.
In my opinion, this book is best-suited for younger teens or anyone who enjoys period dramas and is in the mood for a light, easy-going read. I didn't hate it, but I wouldn't recommend it to many people. (demographics note: I'm a 26yo woman)
-At its absolute bare-bones core, I liked the plot. It was super predictable, but fun enough to keep going all the way through. And although I wouldn't say the it was unique, at least it hasn't been done 10,000x in YA fiction (yet). Unfortunately, a lot of the actual events were pretty unrealistic, so you need to either have a very strong willing suspension of disbelief, or a readiness to laugh off the cheesiness of the day-to-day moments.
-The characters were extremely one-dimensional. Vida was the only one who "developed" throughout the entire book, and I hesitate to even use that word because her progress was so shallow and unsurprising.
-The style of writing was over-the-top. Godbersen took a lot of opportunities to try to sound profound or sweep up your imagination in a lot of adjectives. I think she was going for Bridgerton(TV)-style decadence and drama, but got a little carried away and forgot to temper it with strong characters, realistic events, and surprising developments. Some examples...
It was so loud, for one thing, and also it was so many sounds at once. Somehow a scraping and a moaning and an echoing, and also the sound of a thousand wailing banshees, and also the wind, and also the complete absence of noise one might hear at the end of the Earth.
And another:
...because they, like all people, are fed love stories from their earliest consciousness, they understood that matters could not proceed smoothly from this moment. They, like Vida, wondered what the setback would be, how the lovers might be separated so that all could work out happily in the end.
You get the idea.
In my opinion, this book is best-suited for younger teens or anyone who enjoys period dramas and is in the mood for a light, easy-going read. I didn't hate it, but I wouldn't recommend it to many people. (demographics note: I'm a 26yo woman)
November 16, 2020
Unless you are that one remaining person on the planet who hasn’t seen the movie/read anything about Titanic, you can probably skip this one. This is pretty much the same story, but absent most of the excitement.
I love shipwreck books (especially when the ship in question is an early 20th century ocean liner) and I’m generally not that picky about the quality. Unfortunately, this one still left a lot to be desired, despite the premise being quite promising.
The biggest problem with the book is that it lacks excitement at every turn. Even the moment of the shipwreck felt understated. Perhaps even more important for a reader like me, it lacked atmosphere in multiple situations (ocean liner/deserted island/Gilded Age Manhattan) that ought to have been slam dunks for description and feel.
The story largely fixates on Vida having conversations with herself about how she is/will be a changed woman. It’s not a terrible premise but the obsessive amount of text dedicated to it felt ham-fisted and like it missed the mark. On the deserted island, for example, Vida actually adapts almost instantly and far more competently than her fellow passengers. The idea of Vida growing up and “becoming” isn’t as simple as that, but it’s over-talked and underwhelming in the narrative.
The love triangle is boring and predictable, with each of the three participants acting as a stock character for their role: Plucky heroine learning to be less shallow! Superficially adventurous rich boy with a good heart! Intermittently pouty servant with an inexplicably magnetic personality!
All of this is a giant bummer, as I’ve loved all of Godbersen’s work prior to this. The Luxe series and the Bright Young Things series, as well as the standalone When We Caught Fire, are excellent and I’d recommend readers seek those out instead of this book.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
I love shipwreck books (especially when the ship in question is an early 20th century ocean liner) and I’m generally not that picky about the quality. Unfortunately, this one still left a lot to be desired, despite the premise being quite promising.
The biggest problem with the book is that it lacks excitement at every turn. Even the moment of the shipwreck felt understated. Perhaps even more important for a reader like me, it lacked atmosphere in multiple situations (ocean liner/deserted island/Gilded Age Manhattan) that ought to have been slam dunks for description and feel.
The story largely fixates on Vida having conversations with herself about how she is/will be a changed woman. It’s not a terrible premise but the obsessive amount of text dedicated to it felt ham-fisted and like it missed the mark. On the deserted island, for example, Vida actually adapts almost instantly and far more competently than her fellow passengers. The idea of Vida growing up and “becoming” isn’t as simple as that, but it’s over-talked and underwhelming in the narrative.
The love triangle is boring and predictable, with each of the three participants acting as a stock character for their role: Plucky heroine learning to be less shallow! Superficially adventurous rich boy with a good heart! Intermittently pouty servant with an inexplicably magnetic personality!
All of this is a giant bummer, as I’ve loved all of Godbersen’s work prior to this. The Luxe series and the Bright Young Things series, as well as the standalone When We Caught Fire, are excellent and I’d recommend readers seek those out instead of this book.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
January 16, 2021
I skimmed. A lot. Not entirely proud of that, but if I didn’t I’m afraid I never would have finished this novel.
I received it in a Spearcraft Book Box subscription kit. First time trying this small company, and this was the first book I got. I REALLY hope the next 5 books are better. I mean, they have to be!
First off, WHEN is this book set? 1900’s, 1890’s? 1910’s? Electricity was around, and Hawaii was a territory so that means at least 1890. (Had to Google that.) The book is written in such a modern way, but everything else is so confusing. I wish the author would have told us the time period of when this happened. Would have helped out SO much. Instead I spent the entire Part 1 trying to figure out what the hell I was reading.
The descriptions. never. stop. I get it, the island is pretty. The men are pretty. Your dress is pretty. Some decent vocab words in novel tho; I always enjoy that.
Character development is weak. It feel like less space could have been used explaining the dinnerware and more explaining emotions and reasoning. It’s a simple novel. Good if you like fluff. And of course the super happy ending. (No, that’s not a spoiler.) Almost a rip-off of Titanic fan fiction.
Eh. The time on the island was slightly entertaining. I had to treat this book a lot like homework to get it done. The characters are just so freaking boring. Just not my scene, I suppose.
I received it in a Spearcraft Book Box subscription kit. First time trying this small company, and this was the first book I got. I REALLY hope the next 5 books are better. I mean, they have to be!
First off, WHEN is this book set? 1900’s, 1890’s? 1910’s? Electricity was around, and Hawaii was a territory so that means at least 1890. (Had to Google that.) The book is written in such a modern way, but everything else is so confusing. I wish the author would have told us the time period of when this happened. Would have helped out SO much. Instead I spent the entire Part 1 trying to figure out what the hell I was reading.
The descriptions. never. stop. I get it, the island is pretty. The men are pretty. Your dress is pretty. Some decent vocab words in novel tho; I always enjoy that.
Character development is weak. It feel like less space could have been used explaining the dinnerware and more explaining emotions and reasoning. It’s a simple novel. Good if you like fluff. And of course the super happy ending. (No, that’s not a spoiler.) Almost a rip-off of Titanic fan fiction.
Eh. The time on the island was slightly entertaining. I had to treat this book a lot like homework to get it done. The characters are just so freaking boring. Just not my scene, I suppose.
March 17, 2021
2 star is just me being generous. This is a Titanic/Blue Lagoon rendition with supporting characters. As I am starting to read this book, I really waiting for it to pick up. It was slow, and boring. I enjoyed the love triangle and I did not care for anyone's background unless it was utterly necessary or import. I finished reading this book in just 1.5 days and it's because I was speed reading it. When I speed read through a book, its either because I was engaged and I couldn't put it down OR I just wanted to know how it was going to finish and wanting to give myself a peace of mind that I finished the book and gave it a shot.
If you like survival and love triangle story, with no action and slow paced plot, I would say this is for you. Romance isn't much too important or impressive. I feel like the author just wrote a book just to write a book.
If you like survival and love triangle story, with no action and slow paced plot, I would say this is for you. Romance isn't much too important or impressive. I feel like the author just wrote a book just to write a book.
October 2, 2020
The ending was satisfying, and I don't regret reading it, but Beautiful Wild just wasn't my type of read.
This book is for people who love historical high society love stories. I'm a fan of something a little more steamy, so the pace was just a bit too slow for me.
I did love one of the side-characters, and my desire for a positive outcome for this person kept me reading. In the end, I did catch some feelings. It made me happy, so I'd describe this book as feel-good or warm-and-fuzzy. It wasn't a waste of time, but it also doesn't change my mind about these types of stories.
This book is for people who love historical high society love stories. I'm a fan of something a little more steamy, so the pace was just a bit too slow for me.
I did love one of the side-characters, and my desire for a positive outcome for this person kept me reading. In the end, I did catch some feelings. It made me happy, so I'd describe this book as feel-good or warm-and-fuzzy. It wasn't a waste of time, but it also doesn't change my mind about these types of stories.
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