I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
Set against a Gatsby-esque backdrop, The Unexpected Heiress follows Clara Cooper, a young closeted lesbian who starts crushing on Addie Barnes, one of the hostesses on her cruise abroad. Addie Barnes finds Clara’s puppy love endearing but doesn’t take her seriously, at least not until she learns that Clara recently inherited her grandfather’s wealth. She befriends and seduces Clara, thus beginning the long, dramatic saga of their relationship. How long can Addie keep her true intentions secret? And how can she stop herself from falling for Clara’s talents and kindness?
There are no real villains in The Unexpected Heiress, unless you count headache-inducing misunderstandings. Though Clara and Addie must keep their relationship secret, the only real force keeping them apart is themselves. Their love and chemistry are palpable, but their insecurities, pasts, and lies drive seemingly never-ending wedges between them. I wanted to lock them both in a room and force them to just talk to each other. My favorite toxic lesbians.
There are few supporting characters in the novel, giving readers plenty of time to focus on Clara and Addie’s relationship. None of the side characters were relevant enough to justify more screen time, but there was one woman in the first half of the novel I wished I’d gotten to learn more about. I wished we could have also learned more about Addie’s past relationships, Clara’s brothers, and the grandfather who gave her all the wealth in the first place.
I enjoyed our main pair. Clara started off insecure and clumsy, but readers get to watch her blossom into a secure woman. Addie, who had always been charming, had her own struggles. With one previous lover dead and the rest having given up on her, she’s hesitant to let herself love again.
Though the book is set in 1920s America, readers are given a more lighthearted approach to a sapphic love story—it’s about queer love and joy, not suffering. There are only a few comments about off-screen homophobia. Some might find this unrealistic, but I enjoy that kind of narrative. I don’t always want to read about hate crimes. Sometimes I just want them to cuddle and be happy and drink tea, dammit.
Overall, The Unexpected Heiress was a fun—if sometimes frustrating—love story about two very different women fighting their own demons to come together. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys sapphic romances, 1920s history, or Gatsby-level yearning.
STAR RATING: ☆☆☆ 1/2
Re: “I wanted to lock them in a room and force them to just talk to each other.”
For me, this is a mark against a story. If there’s a good reason for the characters to be evasive or secretive, that’s one thing. But without it, the conflict looks manufactured, and characters look emotionally stunted — and not, usually, in ways the author is fruitfully dissecting. I don’t much care to read about them.
A pity. A lesbian Gatsby, solidly done, would be right up one of my literary alleys.
Thank you for this review! It sounds like an interesting book!!