After reading Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia I immediately requested an e-galley of The Beautiful Ones because although I didn’t know much about the plot, I knew Silvia would write a special novel. And I was not disappointed!

This book is a departure from the horror theme of Mexican Gothic, but it was such a welcome surprise for me. This story is heartbreakingly beautiful. It has a little bit of everything: magic, love, deception and heartbreak to name a few. I found myself going through a whole myriad of emotions while reading it.

The characters are all developed so incredibly well! The story is told through the eyes of three main characters, Nina, Hector and Valerie. Nina and Hector are contenders for two of my favorites I’ve ever read about. Valerie on the other hand, has climbed to the top of my list for most frustrating and unlikeable. This just confirms the fact that Moreno-Garcia’s writing is so incredible that she can make me despise a character so much!

All in all, this book had me fully enthralled in the story, waiting to find out where things would lead to next. I would definitely recommend this to those who enjoy a complicated love story with a dash of magic sprinkled in.

I read this on my Kindle so I have no concept of page count. The fact that I thought this was around 500 pages and turns out it's only 320 pages gives you an idea of why this was not a winner for me. That being said, it wasn't bad by any means. It just felt very long.

I enjoyed the Persuasion & Wuthering Heights vibes I got from this one. Persuasion for the young love that was broken up and the return of the man and Wuthering Heights for two people who make each other miserable and end up with other people. I love Persuasion and Wuthering Heights so I consider this a compliment.

So this book is pitched as two telekinetics who manage to find each other and start a little something but one of them has a big secret. Yes, this did happen, but I also don't think it's really the plot of the book. The telekinesis is barely in here - it's almost like a footnote in each of their lives. So let me tell you a better pitch for this book: Valerie and Hector were childhood sweethearts. After Valerie broke their engagement and married a man for money, Hector was devastated. Years later, Hector comes back to their town and sets his sights on Nina, the niece of Valerie's husband. Jealousy and betrayal ensue.

I'm honestly not sure why the telekinesis stuff is in here. It was so minor and not needed for any character development. There is a part where Nina's telekinesis does play a role in a climactic event, but I feel like I just saw this same scene play out in Bridgerton without any telekinesis so I still don't think it was necessary.

Overall, it was a good story, but it was very slow moving so it felt much longer than it actually was.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Pride and Prejudice vibes I was getting throughout reading The Beautiful Ones. Antonina is not the image of grace or beauty, but she does know how to keep life interesting. With her "talent" that can cause books to come flying off of shelves and glass to shatter, her emotions can run rampant through not only her body but the house she's in. When she meets Hector Auvray, she can't help but fall for him. A similar picture of improper behavior, Hector has made his living with his own "talent" that he mastered by the age of eight. Hector also doesn't like the rules of etiquette, although he's learned to live by them to reside in the same circle as "The Beautiful Ones," also known as the rich and prestigious members of society.
What Antonina, or Nina, doesn't realize is that Hector's motivations are not as they seem. He and Valorie have a history, and he's using Nina to get closer to her sister-in-law. This is the main source of conflict, and readers known from the beginning this won't end well for anyone involved. While Valorie initially takes pride in the fact that Hector continues to chase after her, she doesn't have the mastery over her emotions that she thinks she does. Hector meanwhile is chasing the idea of loyalty and therefore is eventually forced to confront this false memory that has kept him grinding through his life so far. Nina is confronted by the fact that not everyone lives life as honestly as she does.
I continued to enjoy the commentary on social etiquette from the 1940's that still rings so fresh with our modern social norms. The trainwreck of impending doom stemming from Nina and Hector's misguided courtship is exciting. Finally, The Beautiful Ones calls into question our personal values, ideals, and generally how we want to live our lives. Good food for thought.

I was so excited to receive this book as an e-ARC because the description sounded perfect for me and oh my goodness it is exquisite. I immediately fell in love with the writing style of Moreno-Garcia which is casually elegant and stunningly descriptive. Her characters are bursting with life, multi-faceted and so real that I was deeply invested from the first chapter.
The flow of the plot felt very much like an Austen novel if it were set in Victorian times instead of the Regency period. There’s also a hint of magic that is an important part of the story but not the central focus. I’m actually reluctant to describe this as a fantasy because the fantastical element fit so seamlessly into the story that it should appeal to even non-fantasy readers.
Ultimately this is a story about love in many different forms. The ardor of young love, the cruel sting of thwarted passion and the strength of familial bonds are all beautifully and painfully described. The author paints such a vivid picture of both the conflict between characters and the lush setting that I could easily imagine all of it in perfect detail.
I finished this book in about a day and knew halfway through that I would be buying a physical copy as soon as it comes out. I highly recommend it to everyone, especially those who enjoy period romance and drama.
This was my first Silvia Moreno-Garcia read and it was just so lovely I can’t wait to get to the rest of her books!
Disclaimer: I received this ARC from @netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Pub date April 27, 2021

4/5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Tor Books for providing this e-arc!

That was such a fun scandalous read! I'd suggest to go into blind but be aware that it feels very much like a telenovela. It's somewhat magical realism in an alternate French world which were just some marvelous elements of this pice of work. I also rooted for the villain and might i say that they're one of the best literary villains i've had the pleasure to read about and from.

The Beautiful Ones was a story that had me captivated from the start. Usually, it takes me a couple of chapters to really get into a book but this one had me from the very start. It may have been Hector and his love for Valerie or Nina and her adorable personality, but I was hooked. Ioved how it was very character-driven and the fact that it did not revolve around the powers Hector and Nina possess.
I had a love-hate relationship with Hector toward the beginning but after all of that, I began to see it all through his eyes and learned where he was coming from. Nina was a character I adored from the beginning, she always said what was on her mind and did what she wanted.
I appreciate this book because it is fast-paced but not rushed, everything happens in a smooth rhythm and it's never confusing. The alternating points of view also helped me understand each character more and sympathize with them, if it were all from Nina's point of view I may not have liked Hector or Valerie as much as I do.
Overall this book was amazing and I will definitely be getting myself a copy once it is released, cannot wait to put in all of my annotations and reread my favorite parts.

A book of manners that I found lacking. Hector never stopped loving the beautiful yet cold Valérie, but finds himself courting her cousin through marriage ten years later. Nina is young, naive, and stubborn, and falls for Hector soon after their first meeting. A love triangle forms between the three old and new lovers, filling their interactions with heartbreak and regret.

I found the world-building (French names, a pseudo-European country, Hector and Nina’s talents for telekinesis, high society balls, etc) dull and the characters lukewarm. I only found myself invested in the relationships at the novel’s conclusion, but I still felt unconvinced by the overall narrative. It was well-written and had its moments, but this one never truly took off for me. Fans of Austen or Wharton may find this intriguing, but I found it forgettable.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was definitely aesthetically great. Strong concept in terms of magic system and society. I enjoyed combining the high society interpersonal drama with the telekinesis and other magic. But, ultimately, this book fell flat compared to Moreno-Garcia's other work. The characters just weren't interesting enough for me to want to keep reading. It was definitely pleasant in terms of the imagery, but the plot and characters just were not there.

I’m pretty sure every book I’ve picked up by this author has been completely different. A mix of genres, a mix of tropes, you just never know what you’ll get. The Beautiful Ones is what I would describe as a historical romance with a dash of fantasy. This is at its heart a love story.

Hector Auvray has come to the city after a decade to win back the heart of the women he desperately loves. Only Valerie is now married and enjoys her role as a Beautiful One in high society. So Hector begins to court her niece, Nina, a young woman just out for her first grand season. Nina is quirky and does not always do the right, proper thing in polite society. She and Hector do get on rather well, (even if he has ulterior motives) and share the gift of telekinesis. Hector is a great performer and it’s not long before he is teaching her how to control her gift. But there is always Valerie in the background, and she’s not happy that Hector might have feelings for someone else, even if she doesn’t want him anymore.

I won’t really get into the main plot, but as you can see with more than two people it gets rather complicated. (understatement) But this is a romance, and there is a classic romance HEA. I really love this author’s voice, in whatever genre she chooses to write in. The Beautiful Ones does move slowly, with the pacing not really picking up until the end when Nina and Hector come to their senses, but I was hooked from page one and eager to see how it would all come together at the end.

A gorgeously written story of obsession, love, and magic set in a world where the "Beautiful Ones" dominate society, reputation and fortune determine destiny, and special powers can be a ticket to fame and wealth. I loved the writing, the tension, and the passion of this unforgettable story.

In The Beautiful Ones, we are transported to Loisail and the glamorous homes of the wealthy who reside there. In a world where magic is considered ¨common” and for mere performers, a young socialite´s debut in the Grand Season is threatened when her uncontrolled powers jeopardize her ability to catch the eye of a wealthy gentleman. Antonina ¨Nina¨ Bealieu is overwhelmed by the enormity of the crowds and expectations of the Grand Season. She would much rather spend her days researching and cataloging her extensive insect collection. When she happens upon the great magical performer Hector Auvray in the Library during a ball, she is immediately smitten with his fame and charm. When Nina accepts his offer of a dance, she is completely unaware that she is now a pawn in Hector´s grand plan to win back her cousin´s wife, Valérie, a woman who was once engaged to Hector and still holds his heart.

As Hector maneuvers his way in to Nina´s life to gain access to Valéire, Nina develops feelings that grow from friendship to true love. As the two begin a genuine a courtship, Hectors quest to win back his love exposes dark and lurid secrets that have the ability to put everyone in danger.

This book is amazing! It´s a gorgeous combination of magical fantasy, historical romance, and intense drama. It´s perfect for fans of historical romance who want to branch out from the traditional story and discover a fresh and insightful take on the genre. The magical system is wonderfully developed and adds another layer of complexity to the societal expectations of the characters in this world. I loved how magic was used in this story. Nina is currently living with her adoring and wonderful cousin Gaétan Beaulieu and his critical and harsh wife Valérie during her debut. She is indebted to both of them and needs their contacts to find a suitable husband. Luckily for Nina, Gaétan is more progressive in his thinking and wants love and happiness for his younger cousin. Valérie, on the other hand, wants her married and out of the house. She has no desire to waste any of her time on someone else´s needs and actively despises her husband. When Hector comes back into her life, Valérie seems to genuinely enjoy toying with him and wants nothing more than to bring torment to everyone around her. She is a truly diabolical character and is written perfectly as the foil to Nina´s genuine kindness and curiosity of life and science.

This is the definition of a slow burn romance and watching the three main characters circle around and around each other had me on the edge of my seat the entire book. Over and over again Hector had the opportunity to realize how his love was really obsession and he yet he just kept stumbling in the wrong direction. Nina in all of her naivete, uses romance novels as her guide to courtship and is constantly confused when Hector doesn´t act as the novel´s heroes do and you just want to pat her on the head and have ¨The Talk¨ with her.

I absolutely loved this book and cannot recommend it highly enough. Moreno-Garcia weaves together an intricate and gorgeous story of love, betrayal, and the complexities of societal and familial expectations.

For some reason I was under the impression that I wasn't that into the historical genre? But I think reading this book in basically one sitting starts to disprove that theory.

I don't know what it was about this book, but I was invested from the beginning. Maybe it was the whispers of small magic that seemed to imbue each scene and moments with a little 'extra.' Maybe it was the main characters I loved quickly and quietly. This book isn't all that fast, and not much really happens except some build-up towards the end. Still, I couldn't put it down. I still fondly remember the day I sat outside most of the day and just focused all my attention on this book. It'd been the first time in a while I felt so relaxed.

This is a story of families, magic, and society. It discusses wealth and its role in marriage in this society, how status isn't everything if you don't have what it takes to back it up. It's about clawing your way back up to where you think you belong, no matter who you hurt in the process, and how maybe being at the top isn't all that it seems. But mostly it's a story about love, how it builds and breaks you as a person, and what people are willing to do to keep it once it's found (and reciprocated). This story is a soft one, and I feel like you need to expect that going into it to properly appreciate what it's trying to do. For me, it was a safe spot to take a break for a bit, a space where I could just stop and breath, and spend some time with characters I was growing fond of.

I loved Mexican Gothic, and seeing the range that Silvia Morena-Garcia has in these two books has me excited to read even more. I genuinely enjoy my time spent in the unique worlds she builds up!

Ms. Moreno-Garcia enjoys writing across all sorts of various genres. In The Beautiful Ones, she takes on a novel of manners set in a fictional historical city, Loisail. The main character, Nina, is somewhat of a country bumpkin sent off to live with her cousin in order to be out in society in time for the Grand Season; or when eligible bachelors go out to various balls and parties to dance with eligible young ladies. Many hope to marry. Nina, however, has a gift that many would frown upon: telekinesis, and she doesn't always have the best of control over it. One man in particular, Hector Auvray, may be able to help her out with her ability as he is a traveling entertainer who performs shows with his well controlled telekinesis. However, Hector is only in town to catch the eye of his past love, Valerie.

It is a slow-burn romance novel that is primarily character focused. Like other historical romances, Nina is a heroine who doesn't quite fit in and match the conventions of the day. At times her youth and naiveté does get her in trouble, but it only makes her an interesting character to follow. The book does alternate point-of-view chapters between Nina, Hector, and Valerie, so you get a complete perspective of all sides. Hector and Valerie aren't without their faults, either, so the perspectives were all well-balanced and made for believable characters.

The telekinesis aspect of the novel is there, but it does feel like it takes a back-burner to the historical romance aspect. Hector and Nina are the only two within the whole book that have any extraordinary ability at all, and it seems telekinesis is rare enough that Hector is able to put on shows as if he is a magician. As a big fantasy reader I wished this element was a little bigger, but I cannot fault it too much, as it's all a matter of personal preference.

This is my third book by Ms. Moreno-Garcia and she is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. She likely has a book for everyone. I recommend if you enjoy historical romance; it is a clean romance tale as well, which may appeal to those who avoid more explicit material.

Thank you to the publisher for providing a free eARC via Netgalley of the 2021 reprinted edition. All opinions are my own.

Nina is about to make her debut in Losail high society in this year's Grand Season. She is not conventionally beautiful and has unique interests that other high society women stay far away from (bugs). She also has a very special talent, telekenesis. When Hector Auvray arrives in town, she is drawn to him, not for his looks or mystery but also because he has honed this ability and performs to sold out theaters. Nina falls hard for Hector, but doesn't realize his past is romantically connected to her cold, calculating cousin who is directing her introduction to society. This story has love, betrayal, and magic.

Unfortunately, this book fell flat for me. The characters were underdeveloped and the prose didn't lend itself to the characters' development or even the plot. It was very hard not to compare this to her two previous works which I found to be excellent.

I adore when a writer surprises me, and I must say I am constantly amazed by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. She does not have one genre, which makes for a unique experience each time a reader picks up one of her books. This book is prominently a romance with the telekinetic abilities adding a bit of fantasy. Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s writing is poetic and very intentional.

Three prominent characters drive the plot forward, and I think they make the story worthwhile. Despite the action moving slowly through Nina’s Grand Season, we get a lot of character development from all three characters. They each have a clear motivation, and there is plenty of time for the readers to develop their opinions. It might be a slow-burning novel, but it kept my interest for the entirety of the book.

Thank you, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, NetGalley, and Tor Books for the ARC!
The book will be featured on my Instagram on April 27, 2021: @lyatslibrary

The language of this story was lovely, reminding me Jane Austen with a twist of magic tossed in. It leaned a bit too heavily into the "romance" side of the fantasy romance genre for my taste, and the plot pacing, while clearly a deliberate stylistic choice, was too slow to hold my attention. I fell in love with the creepy gothic horror of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Mexican Gothic, and this novel showcases Moreno-Garcia's talent with a completely different genre. Still, those expecting something similar to Mexican Gothic or the fairy-tale esque Gods of Jade and Shadow should prepare themselves for a story and a protagonist with a different feel. I think this will appeal more to lovers of romance and classical literature, and less so to fantasy aficionados, but anyone who appreciates talented writing will find something to enjoy here.

Thanks to Macmillan/Tor-Forge and Netgalley for the e-ARC of "The Beautiful Ones" by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia has been on my TBR since "Mexican Gothic" soared to the top of #bookstagram last year (2020). However, dark stories aren't my jam, so I was super excited to get granted access to the advance copy of "The Beautiful Ones".

This novel of "manners and romance" is absolutely perfect with the sci-fi fantasy bend. I highly recommend putting this high on your TBR.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia could write anything and I’d read it. All of her books I’ve read so far have been very different from each other, yet I’ve enjoyed all of them.

I’m not really into the Austen-esque vibes of historical fiction that I think a lot of people are, but I still really enjoyed this book. I loved the characters and the drama of the whole courtship between Hector and Nina. It took a bit to get into the story, at least for me because I definitely focused on the magic/telekinesis aspect of the synopsis and completely skipped over the whole socialites and seasons, so I was trying to get my bearings in this alternate history/fantasy setting.

Once I fount my footing, I could not put the book down. The characters came alive and I was engrossed in the story. There was so much drama with Hector and Nina and their courtship. Nina’s cousin was so mean to her, although I understood that Nina’s country upbringing did little to prepare her for life in the city and she did lack proper decorum. I loved how bold Nina was without being entirely naive.

I think this book best fits as magical realism versus a fantasy because that was never fully explained. Hector was a magician and used his powers on stage, but it wasn’t well accepted in society and Nina’s ability impacted her reputation. I loved her curiosity, though, and how she tried to connect with Hector by learning how he mastered his abilities. I loved that magic played a small part, but wasn’t a huge focus of the story.

I definitely recommend The Beautiful Ones and really enjoyed it!

Hector, a self-made and successful gentleman, can move things with his mind. He returns to the city to not only perform his magic, but also with the hope of rekindling his romance with Valerie, who he left ten years prior so he could train and become worthy of her. Despite their engagement, Valerie married a rich man with the hopes of bringing back the honor and wealth of her family name. Nina is Valerie's husband's cousin. She has come from the country during the season to find a husband because she has a distasteful talent and no one back home would have her. She meets Hector at a ball. He likes her pluck but when he learns she is part of Valerie's family he pursues a relationship hoping to woo Valerie away from her husband. But Valerie has changed, and really Hector has changed, too. And Nina is caught in the middle.

An intelligent romance. I liked the depth of Hector and Nina. I thought it smart to give Valerie's perspective airtime and in the end I pitied her more than hated her. I enjoyed this novel by Moreno-Garcia more than Jade and Shadow. The Beautiful Ones is so different from Mexican Gothic, and I highly recommend both. Thank you Netgalley for the digital ARC.

A massive thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan-Tor for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Reading this just solidified Silvia Moreno-Garcia as an automatic auto-buy author. This is the third book of hers I have read and the third one that I have adored. In this one, we are following three main points of view, Hector a telekinetic entertainer who was once briefly engaged and still pining over Valerie. Valerie broke off her engagement to Hector to marry Gaetan and solidify her family's social standing. And then we have the lovely Nina who is Gaetan's cousin and starts to form a relationship with Hector upon meeting and learning they share the telekinetic abilities. The only problem vindictive Valerie and the foolish Hector not realizing what an idiot he is until it's almost too late. It's jam-packed with family drama, fancy soirees, a touch of magic and manner galore!