Love In The Afternoon by Lisa Klepyas

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2022 Update: I reread Love in the Afternoon July of 2022. I used it for the published in June prompt for Summer of Swoon and animal shelter prompt for the Ripped Bodice Summer Bingo. Still one of my favorites and still 5-stars!

My reread of the Hathaways has come to an end. We've reached the final book, Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas. This is the youngest daughter Beatrix's book and my absolute favorite in the series.

Oh this book just gets me in the heart from the prologue. Captain Christopher Phelan (I call him my my "One True Chris") is our hero. He's been a man about town, but then buys a commission (as most second sons do) and ends up having to fight in the Crimean war. Chris and Bea have met before a couple of society events and he ended up saying some not flattering things about Bea. However, a "friend" of hers, Prudence, is attracted to Chris and how he looks in a uniform. They aren't ever a love match and Prudence is written as a superficial person. Christopher ends up writing a letter to Prudence, hoping for a connection to home. 

In his first letter, he mentions getting a dog Albert, a rough terrier and taking him in after his owner, a fellow soldier, passes. Hearing about the dog and being such an animal lover, Bea wants to offer some advice. Prudence doesn't want anything to deal with it and finds his letter "boring." She passes the letter off to Bea and lets her write it. So starts this heartfelt and beautiful epistolary romance. It comes to a point where Christopher makes it known that he's falling in love with her. However, this breaks Bea's heart as she knows that he thinks he's writing with Prudence. Bea accidentally sends a letter saying she's not who he thinks she is, she loves him and wants him to find her. This is the last letter she sends. 

Christopher ends up becoming a war hero and upon his return comes across Bea in the forest. Despite his previous belief in her "oddness," he still finds himself wanting to be near her and finds a measure of calm. He suffers greatly from what we know today to be PTSD and the way that Bea understands what he needs and so hyper-aware of him really helps put him at ease. This is more angsty than I usually prefer with Bea pining after Christopher but not sharing who she really is. Christopher ends up pursuing Prudence once again, but just can't seem to find what he felt from the letters. 

This book, has so many lovely and heart-wrenching moments. This is my most favorite book in this series and my favorite Lisa Kleypas. I have enjoyed epistolary romances before, but this book is so much more than that. Just the way that Christopher is constantly drawn to her and feels at ease. One of my favorite moments is when Bea forces him to join for dinner and he makes it clear he doesn't want to be social. Bea drags him in anyways and announces to the family that he doesn't want to talk. The Hathaways take this in stride and continue on as normal, eventually having him join them in the revelry. I love every minute of this book and it just makes me smile and laugh, but also cry.

Usually when I hear people talk about this series they mention the other books more, but I have reread this book at least 4 times and usually read it at least once a year, especially lately as I've felt more okay rereading books. As with the rest of the series, I really couldn't recommend it more, especially this book. It's not quite as steamy as the others, but I absolutely adore everything about it and love the connection that Bea and Christopher form via letters and then reform in person. I almost want to read it again right away! Plus Albert doesn't die and there the entire book as well as Bea's entire menagerie of rescue animals.

Have you read Love In The Afternoon?

Bookishly Yours,

Stasi🍎

STATISTICS: Love In The Afternoon, Lisa Kleypas, 5-stars, 1 day, paperback, 332 pages, published in 2010

2022 STATS: Love in the Afternoon, Lisa Kley-as, 5-stars, 0 days, Paperback, 332 pages, published in 2010, traditionally published