Dear Diary, Men are Dumb!

Where does Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top 15. It's a great story of long time love, loss, and discovery. Throw in that Julia Quinn character banter.

What did you like best about this story?

The way the main characters develop, it seemed like a natural progression without a rushed ending.

Which scene was your favorite?

The book shop. Miranda is an avid reader, and wants to purchase a book that is sold only in a man's bookshop. Well Miranda doesn't care, and she wants the book, and then the fun begins.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutley

Any additional comments?

Follow this up with " what happens in london and "10 things I love about you" and re visit these great Julia Quinn characters.

15 people found this helpful

Light and fun romance.

Audible doesn’t tell but this is the first of the series. The remaining order is
2. What happens in London
3. Ten things I love about you.
A great regency story, being a modern woman I sometimes want to slap the characters for there actions, but remembering the time and place makes me realize how little choices woman have. Simple romance that had me grinning a few times and I will read the remaining two.

14 people found this helpful

The worst narration🙀

She was awful, I only listen so I could get to the next book in the series. But it was so bad I found myself taking an aspirin before I listened,
that voice was just... not good!!!
AT ALL!

8 people found this helpful

I love READING this book!

I think it loses something in the audiobook (don't know if it's the narration, or it needs to be abridged or what) but this is one of my favorite Julia Quinn books. Will I listen to again? Probably...I love Julia Quinn's humor and her characters.

8 people found this helpful

Funny Book

I know this is a romance. But this story has so many funny moments, I seem to be laughing my head silly that I think people thought I was losing my head while I was listening to this book. It's a bit drawn out but it's a good listen/read.

11 people found this helpful

downhill fast

In the initial chapters, this book seemed to have potential. The characters had some depth, the story did not seem predictable, and the imagery did not seem contrived or hackneyed. My first impressions did not last. Quickly, the characters became paper dolls, and the plot and language seemed generated by a computer program. On the positive side, the excellent narrator makes the most of a limp tale. If you are looking for a formulaic romance that provides basic entertainment with no intellectual demands, you could do worse. If you're hoping for emotional depth or insight, look elsewhere.

18 people found this helpful

Enjoyed Reading This So Much Better Than Listening

What did you like best about Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever? What did you like least?

I enjoy Ms. Quinn's books, and I've read this book two or three times already. I was going on a long road trip and thought this would be great to have along for the duration. I could not stand the narrator! She's horrible in this! I don't think I will ever get her voice out of my head if I were to read the book again. Ugh.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Jenny Sterlin?

Pretty much ANYBODY else. I've had her on another audible book and she's not so bad. She's terrible for this book, though.

What would have made this romance irresistible?

Another narrator.

Any additional comments?

If there are no other recordings out there, buy the actual book and read it.

5 people found this helpful

Just So-so

I have read ever book written by Julia Quinn and thought I would try the audiobook version of one of them for a change. This turned out to be a mistake in this case. I remember at the time I read the book thinking that it was not one of Quinn's best but I did not have the desire to wring the heroines neck as i did when listening to this narrator. She managed to make most of the characters sound either insipid or annoying which is a talent in itself I suppose but not one that will make me want to download other books she has read.

2 people found this helpful

Can't wait for the next one!

I thought this book was great! For once, the leading lady was not the perfect picture, but a real person that I could relate to. Turner was angry, but it was never depressing for me. It was interesting to see his process through this. The author explored the depth of both characters feelings and personalities and I came to like them both very much. I am a huge fan of the Bridgerton series, and I thought this was a unique and satisfying expression of her genre. This is my first one outside of that series and I can't wait for the next one!

8 people found this helpful

pathetic doormat loves obnoxious bully

What disappointed you about Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever?

I thought Miranda was smart. She acts/talks/behaves stupid. Anyone treated like garbage would get smarter, but not Miranda. She just gets dumber.
She falls in love at 10yrs old because the hero treats her nicely. I understand her need for love and anyone to treat her well, but what a loser she is to hold on for so long, even after being treated like dirt. I guess at this time in history, women were all treated badly, so he is not that different, it's just not romantic.

What was most disappointing about Julia Quinn’s story?

The idea that a person can get kicked and abused/used by someone they think they love and not learn any lessons. The heroine has a father, money and grandparents that support her. She is not aalone in the world and have to put up with this treatment. It shows how little the author thinks of women.
I really can't finish this one as it is getting worse with every chapter. I have 3 hours to go and can't stomach much more. There has already been the standard ball, house party, seduction of a virgin outside of marriage and an unwanted pregnancy. The only thing missing is the heroine tripping, as in all regency romances , the female characters always seem to trip over there own feet. I can't understand that, when the men drink to excess and always keep on their feet!

How could the performance have been better?

The narrator sounds very old and makes young girls sound like 40 year old women instead of 20-ish young women.
This makes the story even worse, as they sound old enough to know better, so I have to keep adjusting my thoughts to their age in the book. That may be part of my disgust.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

I was really disappointed. I just finished one of Julia quin's Bridgerton novels and really loved it. I went to audible to find a book by the same author and got this one. What a let down. I can't understand why JQ writes the Bridgerton series so well and other things so poorly. It does not make sense, unless it were a different author writing the various series.
Although the narrator of the last book was Rosalyn landor and she can make the telephone book sound exciting.

Any additional comments?

I find the quality of the writing varies greatly from series to series. Not sure how the other books would be, especially a story about Olivia. I can't imagine her being anyone's doormat, but sometimes a character changes when they become the focus of a novel.

3 people found this helpful