I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

If you have read Mexican Gothic and are expecting The Beautiful Ones to be similar I am here to warn you now that it is completely different. While I haven’t picked up Mexican Gothic yet myself, The Beautiful Ones is more a historical romance with a touch of fantasy rather than the horror/thriller novel that Mexican Gothic is marketed as.

Starting The Beautiful Ones, I was skeptical if I would like it or not. Within the first three chapters you get introduced to the three characters’ whose perspectives this story is told from: Hector, Nina, and Valerie. Hector is a performer who has just arrived back in Loisail from abroad, who is still pining after his first love. Nina is a new debutante in Loisail who is struggling with fitting in and controlling her telekinesis. Valerie is a well-known, respected member of “the beautiful ones”, Loisail’s elite upper class, who cares only for her image and reputation. The story unfolds as the characters meet and a story of love, revenge, and jealousy begins.

I knew that the writing and the character development would be crucial for the story to be successful. I believe that Silvia Monero-Garcia did both remarkably well. The writing was always eloquent, it fit the period of the story perfectly and each character had a unique voice. Part one was slow and predictable but it managed not to be boring as the drama unfolded. In part two, however, the pace picked up exponentially and I found it hard to put the book down.


My one complaint is the fantasy element of the telekinesis, if it was removed from the story I do not believe that much would have changed. It was a weird element that was mostly used to show Nina’s maturity level in a physical way throughout the story. It did work for this and made for some explosive moments but I think that the story could have worked without it just as well.

The Beautiful Ones ends happily, with everyone getting what they deserve. It was a nice way to end such a rollercoaster of a story. Overall, I really enjoyed the story and am excited to branch off and read some of Silvia Monero-Garcia’s other work.

Slight spoilers:

I also really enjoyed Silvia Monero-Garcia’s character dynamics. She is able to create a strong juxtaposition between Nina’s and Valerie’s characters. Nina is has the carefree attitude and choice that Valerie has always wanted and so she resents her. I loved the drama this brings as Valerie tries to deny these feelings and grapples with them.

How do you create a review for something that made your feel with everything page turned? I have been a huge fan of Morena-Garcia from the first. This book cemented that fact. I CONSUMED every page and when finished I was sad because it was over and the world was gone.

This book was one of my most anticipated releases of 2021 and I’m stunned. The Beautiful Ones was perfectly crafted. It is a page-turning dazzling fantasy romance that will stay in your mind forever. Silvia's writing style is unique. Her prose is amazing, making the book just beautiful. I can’t wait for my copy to arrive so I can reread this book and really appreciate it and to mark the million quotes I liked.
Full review to come on my YouTube channel.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia has become one of my favorite writers and this book is the reason why. She has such an amazing way of writing you cannot help but be roped into the story. Her characters and plot are beautiful and this dive into sci-fy was perfect.

Moreno-Garcia has done it again! This book is just as enchanting as Mexican Gothic - with none of the hype. I have been recommending this book to all of my patrons.

When my request was approved for this advanced copy, I was excited but also apprehensive. The author stated this was nothing like her other popular books, so I was afraid it would be a miss for me. Mexican Gothic is such a good book and I enjoyed it so much I was worried that this book may not be my style or would fall short. I'm happy to say that a good writer can write about anything and it be great and enjoyable read!!

This book gives me classic literature vibes, like Pride & Prejudice, and I was immediately consumed by this world she created. It also proves I'd read a grocery list if Moreno-Garcia wrote it. I loved the character Nina, despised the villain Valeria and enjoyed the story the author created.

***Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an advanced copy of this book!

This was a wonderful historical fiction romance with some magical elements, and I loved the mixture! With the feeling of an Austen novel, a bit of Bronte, and the zing that makes something a Moreno-Garcia novel, this was such an amazing mixture of genres. It all worked together to create a wonderful story that I couldn't put down!

I love a good sweeping dramatic romance and this book does not disappoint, especially when you add in a touch of magic in the form of telekinesis! Nina has long been persecuted for her abilities of telekinesis so when she meets Hector, who is revered for the same power she falls in love, with him, with how the world sees him, and maybe with who she sees herself as with him. But like all great love stories this one does not have a happy ending when betrayal and lies rear their ugly heads! This is a very different book from the others of hers that I have read but I loved it just as much!

I received this book from NetGalley. I requested it because I love how the author writes. I like how she doesn’t write for one genre. This one is a magic realism/romance. One allusionist meets another, and there is a love triangle and jealousy involved.

This is 100% a me problem and not in anyway the book's fault, but I just couldn't bring myself to be interested enough to read it.

I tried sitting down and forcing myself to read it a number of times, and while the setting, the writing, and the characters are all great and have a lot of potential, I just can't bring myself to care for it. I'm at roughly the 40% mark when I write this and despite numerous attempts to read more of this story, I can't seem to be able to enjoy it the way it's supposed to be.

Objectively speaking, this is a splendid book and maybe if I'd picked it some other time, I'd have fallen in love with it. But as it stands, I'm having a very hard time reading it, and so, I've decided to DNF it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillian Tor-Forge for an egalley in exchange for an honest review

Originally published in 2017, this is the love story of Hector and Nina. Except that their courtship may be over before it begins as Hector desires a reunion with Valerie, the wife of Nina's cousin, as she was the focus of his youthful desire.

This one was a slow burn storyline but it picked up in the second half. I didn't love it as much as Mexican Gothic which became my absolute favourite but I was satisfied with how it all ended.


Publication Date 27/04/21
Goodreads review 08/06/21

“The Beautiful Ones” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

**Free copy received from Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

“A creature made of earth and water cannot hope for divinity.”

Story: 17.5%
Silvia Moreno-Garcia tells a charming story about love, betrayal, and individualism centered around the lives of Loisail’s most notable socialites, “The Beautiful Ones,” and two outsiders just trying to fit in. Hector Auvray, a wealthy bachelor and this season’s most celebrated telekinetic performer, has returned to his country of birth in search of the woman he loves, Valérie Beaulieu. Despite her marriage, Hector has spent the past ten years pining, working to elevate himself in society to win her back. But before he can arrange their reunion, Nina Beaulieu, Valérie’s cousin by marriage, walks into Hector’s life, presenting him with new possibilities. A shameful scheme unfolds as Hector uses Nina to get close to Valérie, whose forced indifference only spurs him on. However, when Nina falls in love with Hector and is heartbroken by the truth, her absence from his life will make him question his heart’s genuine desire.

While the first part of this story had me on edge, constantly worried for Nina and despising Hector and Valérie, the second part had me hook, line, and sinker. As Hector and Nina found their way back to each other true love and affection begins to grow. However, Valérie turns into the ultimate villain concocting a scheme of her own to keep them apart. In the end, love will out, and this story gave me everything I didn’t know I needed.

Writing Style: 17%
There is a sense of the hauntingly beautiful woven into the writing of this story. The way Moreno-Garcia describes Hector’s love for Valérie as “vicious,” wanting to die without her carries the air of classic gothic romances like “Wuthering Heights.” There’s a dark and twisted nature to Valérie that bleeds into her surroundings. Yet, purity and light filter through in Nina, and her innocence cast The Beautiful Ones in their true and corrupt glow. Further, Moreno-Garcia does a commendable job of relating her characters to their environment, making them feel integrated, allowing them to blend or stand out as needed.

Characters: 19%
It follows that as the seasons change, so do the characters, growing or weathering as they adjust to new circumstances. With the Grand Season opening, Nina finds herself in the spring of her life but is apprehensive about her abilities and her possible suitors. Despite this, she is warm and open, a bit eccentric and incorrigible, but hungry for life. Nina posies a stark contrast to Hector and Valérie. Hector returns to France trapped in a dream of his and Valérie’s love, existing in a perpetual storm of emotions hidden behind a stoic facade. He comes to find that Valérie has encased herself in iron for protection, perpetuating the perfect image of The Beautiful Ones. Temperature and emotions peak as Valérie tries to forget the passion of her first and only summer with Hector. The characters go through a physical and emotional winter when Nina’s heart is shattered, and Hector comes to realize that the perfect love he’d build in his heart is ugly and grim. As they come back to spring, open love blooms between Nina and Hector as their characters grow together and Valérie’s eroded soul lashes out desperately.

Supporting Elements: 14%
“The Beautiful Ones” dabbles in historical fiction, fantasy, and romance, giving the reader an eclectic experience. Unfortunately, the fantasy aspect was lacking a bit in its foundation, with little support for the telekinetic abilities Hector and Nina exhibit. The only explanation given for the “talents,” those who possessed strange skills, is that science was beginning to unravel their mysteries. While historical fiction lines the story’s background, the romance takes the forefront and plays strongly throughout. Likewise, the nature of outer and inner beauty is prevalent in the characters and storyline. Hector and Nina’s talent seems symbolic of their individualism and sets them apart from The Beautiful Ones. Despite their best efforts to conform to society’s expectations, love and self-acceptance allow them to display their true beauty.

Expectations:17%
This book was a bit of a cover read for me. The stunning design drew me in and led me to request a digital copy. Thankfully, I have no regrets. Although the strange talents caught me off guard at first, I enjoyed this novel. I despised how Hector and Valérie deceive Nina, but I was pleased that the truth eventually came out and Hector and Nina could reconcile. Hector’s character transformation and vulnerability as he falls in love with Nina melted my heart. Additionally, I appreciated the ending even more with Valérie getting her just rewards.


Total Rating: 84.5% / 100%

the beautiful ones was my first silvia moreno-garcia novel, but it definitely won’t be my last. it feels like a period drama in the best way possible: full of drama, scandal, and romance. the writing is so lyrical—almost delicate—and the combination of telekinesis and high society was unexpectedly delightful.

nina is a young telekinetic sent to live with her cousin and his wife for the grand season. poorly suited to the high society life of loisail’s elite, the “beautiful ones,” she bonds quickly with fellow outsider and telekinetic hector. hector is a self-made performer returning to loisail after ten years, still obsessed with the woman who broke his heart a decade ago. at first he sees nina as a means to an end, while she, unaware of his past, falls for him. when his secret comes to light, he is finally forced to confront the consequences of his actions and the hypocrisies of the rigid society he fought to belong to.

i love how character-driven this novel is: the main characters are each their own worst enemy at times. even at their most frustrating, they’re all fascinating characters acting within the confines of a society that demands conformity.

one aspect i didn’t understand was the decision to set the novel in a fantasy world only to do relatively little world building. i think this could just as easily have been historical fantasy—then i wouldn’t have spent chunks of the novel wondering about the geography and politics of this fantasy world.

Overall, I felt kinda meh about this book. Not necessarily bad, but not particularly memorable either. Giving it 2.5/5 Stars.

It’s always a treat to find a book that blends genres seamlessly. This is certainly the case with Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s The Beautiful Ones, which tackles class structure, expectations, and magic alongside the consequences of first love (and heartache). I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for historical romance novels, devouring everything from the original Bridgerton books (and more recently the Netflix series) to Tessa Dare and Cat Sebastian’s newer forays into the genre. Due to my fondness for them, so it was no surprise that The Beautiful Ones–filled with to the brim with romance and drama–was right up my alley.

Originally published in 2017, The Beautiful Ones returned to print in April 2021, allowing Moreno-Garcia’s historical romance novel to find a whole new audience in the wake of Mexican Gothic’s (2020) well-deserved success. If nothing else, this book proves that Moreno-Garcia can tackle just about any genre (or genres) in her work. In this novel, she explores a budding romance between two gifted telekinetics rife with secrets. What happens when a courtship is based on a lie? And how do you grow from your first love (and first heartbreak) without letting it consume you? These are the questions Moreno-Garcia asks in her novel, giving readers a glimpse into how the choices we make shape our lives.

With a shifting point of view between the three leads of the book, the reader gets ample perspectives on the events as they unfold. It offers a complicated picture of characters and their relationships with one another. The characters themselves are enjoyable, especially as they are initially set up as foils to one another. There’s an interesting dichotomy among them as they offer insights and small reflections as to their position within Loisail’s society.

Nina is young and uncertain of her place in society, especially coming from a rural (if affluent) upbringing. Her abilities as much as her temperament place her on the outside of high society, though she isn’t sure how much she wants to be part of it at all. She contrasts neatly with Valerie, whose family name means more to her than anything. Wife to Nina’s cousin, Valerie is a package of societal expectations and proper décor, at least on the outside. These two women hold similar societal positions, but their familial relationships, desires, and insecurities set them on vastly different paths.

Then there is Hector: successful, self-made, and still chasing ghosts of his youth. He has honed his telekinetic abilities as an internationally renowned performer. Hector appears to be the equivalent of a traveling magician but with real power behind the scenes. However, in this world his powers aren’t considered all that unusual, as these abilities are well-known and actually considered to be an aspect of polite society. Originally, I felt as if Hector was slightly overwrought but the character grew on me, especially as he interacted with Nina more and more.

My main critique of the novel is that the antagonist fell from complicated and empathetic into a simple villainous machination. It was a disappointment in comparison to the other, more nuanced portrayals of the characters. I wanted a bit more from the character, especially as casual cruelty gave way to some truly reprehensible behavior. Sometimes, though, there are just cartoonishly evil people in the world, and The Beautiful Ones reflects that.

The fantastical elements of the story remain on the back-burner for most of the book, adding flavor to the text and world-building without being a major element of the plot. Devoid of the magical elements, this book functions nearly the same–as a lush and often melancholy historical romance novel. However, that isn’t a complaint! Those elements tie into the plot (and the themes of the book) seamlessly, enriching it instead of becoming distracting or allowing the story to lose focus.

Telekinetic abilities are used almost exclusively for performance art and entertainment, even when the novel hints that there is far more power to be had. This is such a unique take on the idea of superpowers, and it deserves recognition. Moreno-Garcia also uses the abilities–and how they are acceptable when used by some while not others–to subtly critique society’s expectations of young women, as well as draw parallels to a class divide. It uses these fantasy elements in a manner not often seen in works like this.

Overall, I enjoyed The Beautiful Ones. A gorgeously written book, it combines lush prose and an intriguing world worth exploring. The novel has a slow start, but I suggest sticking with it! You’ll likely found yourself swept-up in the drama before you know it. I would recommend this for fans of The Outlander series. It’s perfect for readers craving that blend of magic and history while still focusing on the emotional depth (and overwhelming angst) of their main characters. It will certainly appeal to romance readers more than fantasy fans, though I don’t count this as a mark against it. The world of the book feels lived in, making it the perfect treat for cozy afternoon reading.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia further proves her versatility with this novel, her signature lush prose and multi-faceted characters shining through. With every novel of hers that I read, I'm awed by her talent of weaving intricate stories and crafting characters. Although the pacing of The Beautiful Ones felt somewhat slow to me, the character arcs were what really captivated me. Each of the major players in the story are realistically flawed and richly layered. Even Valérie, the antagonist of the novel, drew my empathy because of the weight of the familial pressures and duty she carried.

I loved the development of Nina's friendship with and budding love for Hector. Even without the romance, this was of my favorite relationships and overall aspects of the book. I especially enjoyed Hector's character development from realizing that he was in love with an idealized version of Valérie and perhaps projecting his aspirations into that relationship. Many of the obstacles faced by the characters in book are internal ones, where they end up creating a barrier for themselves in some way. I also loved the growth of Nina's character, and the fact that she maintained so much of individuality and independence despite all the outside influence and disapproval. Moreno-Garcia is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers after Gods of Jade and Shadow, Mexican Gothic, and now The Beautiful Ones. I look forward to reading all her future works! Huge thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge and Netgalley for granting me this ARC.

The Beautiful Ones is out of my comfort zone, but after reading Mexican Gothic, I knew I would read anything Silvia Moreno-Garcia published.

Antonina Beaulieu is nineteen years old, and is joining her cousin Gaétan and his wife Valérie in the city for her first Grand Season among the Beautiful Ones. Valérie, a jaded woman who cares about status more than love, is in charge of giving Nina the knowledge she needs to attract a man and soon be married.

The Beautiful Ones is an extremely slow burn. I had trouble with the first 3/4 of the book, because, while it was written beautifully, not much actually happened. As someone who cares very little for status, money, or my family name, it was hard for me to put myself in the story and care. I did relate well to Nina, who just wants to live her life.

There’s a subplot about Nina and the love interest, Hector Auvray, and their psychokinetic powers. This was advertised as part of the fantasy/magical realism part of the story, and I feel it was barely sprinkled in. For being part of the synopsis, I was expecting so much more.

Overall, I give this book three stars. I’m not disappointed, I knew what I was getting into, but I do wish there was more of the fantasy element. It was beautifully written, and I do still plan to read everything she’s written.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tor Publishing, and the author for this advanced review copy!

I finally finished up this beautiful novel from one of my new favorite writers! The Beautiful Ones showcases the extreme talent of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's writing. By telling the story of socialites Hector, Nina, and Valerie, we are dazzled into a world of mind games through manners and telekinetic powers. This book felt to me like a Jane Austen Novel meets the kookiness of the Addams Family purely in whimsy.

The romance plot line is a very soft, gentle slow burn and for me as a reader, I enjoyed the games between breaking secret engagements, pretend dating, and finding love all over again. I think the ending is well worth the wait but the pacing almost made me uninterested by the time I reached the conclusion to Hector, Valerie, and Nina's ends.

I think if you have only read Mexican Gothic, you should be aware that this novel is very different but for a light, fluffy read this book is perfect!!!

I am loving this book. Magic set in a mostly real world and noble intrigue are not usually things I read, but this is so well written. Moreno-Garcia has an amazing sense of character, building up relatable and accurate characters and a sence of place that truly transports the reader. This is the third book I have read by her and has cemented her in my read everything list. Even if I'm not usually into it, it's beautifully written and transporting. I could read all her books back to back and never get bored because they are all so different. I highly recommend this book and really anything she has written.

The Beautiful Ones is the fourth book I've read by Sylvia Moreno Garcia. What I love about her books is that they are all completely different in terms of time period, setting, genre, and tone, but I have thoroughly enjoyed all of them. This one is a comedy of manners set in a magical version of 1800s (?) France. Henry Auvray is a telekinetic magician, a job that is considered unseemly for those of the upper classes. Nina is a young woman who is still growing into her powers despite the disapproval of her sister-in-law Valérie. When Nina decides to pursue Henry in hopes of him teaching her to use her powers, Valérie decides she needs to put a stop to it for more reasons than one. What follows is full of messy relationships, dramatic misunderstandings, and passionate declarations (both written and spoken). In short, all the trappings of a good Regency novel.

I really loved how our perspective on the characters changes as the novel goes on. Henry seems pretty callous at first, Antonina naive, and Valérie scheming and petty. I grew to love all the characters, even the ones who were awful, as I learned more about these characters' backstory and watched the comedy of manners unfold. I would say the first half of the book is slow, and the real fun part is the second half, but overall it is still more fast-paced than a traditional Austen novel.

The writing style was sharp yet decadent, and I felt like it matched the tone of the story incredibly well. There is quite a lot of ugliness by way of jealousy and betrayal beneath the facade of smiling, polite faces and I thought this was captured especially well.

If a standalone comedy of manners with a dash of magic and a slow-burn romance is your thing, this is absolutely the book for you!