Book Reviews

Review: The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite

The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics is everything my historical romance heart needed. Full of science, daring heroines, and a charming romance, The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics leaves you with a heart felt feeling.

Summary

As Lucy Muchelney watches her ex-lover’s sham of a wedding, she wishes herself anywhere else. It isn’t until she finds a letter from the Countess of Moth, looking for someone to translate a groundbreaking French astronomy text, that she knows where to go. Showing up at the Countess’ London home, she hoped to find a challenge, not a woman who takes her breath away.

Catherine St Day looks forward to a quiet widowhood once her late husband’s scientific legacy is fulfilled. She expected to hand off the translation and wash her hands of the project—instead, she is intrigued by the young woman who turns up at her door, begging to be allowed to do the work, and she agrees to let Lucy stay. But as Catherine finds herself longing for Lucy, everything she believes about herself and her life is tested.

While Lucy spends her days interpreting the complicated French text, she spends her nights falling in love with the alluring Catherine. But sabotage and old wounds threaten to sever the threads that bind them. Can Lucy and Catherine find the strength to stay together or are they doomed to be star-crossed lovers?

Review

(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)

The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics is lady lovers meets astronomy. It takes the very real issue of women who were relegated to the background of science and brings the issue to life. If you ever loved any of these stories where literature has taken on little known scientists who were looked over because of their status as women, you absolutely need to read this. Women who have been doing the work, but were not allowed into scientific societies. Whose names were co-authors on lines with scientists who were men.

The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics takes this passionate and unjust topic and adds a f/f aspect as well. A story of women who were stifled, whose creativity was oppressed, and minds were wasted. The sexism will make your blood boil, while the attraction is like wildfire. What’s so fantastic about The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics is that it tackles both sexism within the science field, as well as women having to hide their love for women – their inability to love freely and openly.

Overall,

It’s a story about chasing our desire and passion no matter the consequences. A fight for approval, against all odds, that is never granted. Told our desires are not proper, feasible, possible. The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics will make your heart soar. It is uplifting, while reminding you of the historical sexism and homophobia and offering a story of resistance, love, and hope.

Find The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound & The Book Depository.

Discussion

What are some of your favorite queer historical fiction books?


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2 thoughts on “Review: The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite

  1. I need to finally read this one! It sounds amazing
    I don’t read lots of historical stuff to be honest but I’ve read two historical paranormal mysteries lately and paranormal mystery is my genre of choice so I loved them. The first is ‘Spellbound’ and the other is ‘Witchmark’. Both are set in 20s but Spellbound is New York Prohibition era and Witchmark is Edwardian like fantasy London rebranded as Kingston. And both were fascinating! ✨

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