Customer Reviews

The Charm School

5 star:		(54)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

She's the gauche misfit daughter of prominent Boston socialites. He's the "bad boy" abolitionist son of a slave-holding Southern plantation owner. Although they hate each other on sight, it soon becomes obvious to everyone except them that they need each other to reach their full potential. Falling in love in the lush tropical paradise of Rio de Janeiro (I'm ready to buy my ticket!), they must be prepared to face the reality of their respective families back home.

This book has something important to say to all of us who have endured the "ugly duckling" years. Between the poignant tears and uninhibited laughter of self-discovery aboard a ship with a very special crew and the ugly reality of slavery in the pre-Civil War South, no reader will be able to escape with dry eyes.

The Charm School is the first book that I've read by Susan Wiggs, and I must comment that she is an wonderful author.

Isadora Peabody is a brilliant spinster with dreams of marrying a certain young man who doesn't even know she exists. Overweight, wearing spectales, shy and smarter than any man Isadora has little chance of ever marrying or fitting into society. When she hears of a ship leaving for Rio that is owned by the father of the man she is infatuated with, she jumps at the chance to go on board and learn the ways of the shipping business.

Captain Ryan Calhoun isn't happy about Isadora's appearance on board his ship. He'll do anything (and does!) to make her miserable. He's surprised when he finds himself attracted to dowdy Isadora.

A wonderfully written novel, The Charm School is one of those romances that must be read over and over again!

It had everything. Wonderful characters, strong plot, touching momments. It is probably the best romance book I have read this year! I felt connected to these characters and wanted to find out more about their future. I reached the last page I could not let them go, they were too dear. This book could easily have followed the basic "romance formula" but S. Wiggs gave this story depth and poignancy.

Buy this book and keep it forever.

I just finished reading THE CHARM SCHOOL and I loved it. I'm really not exaggerating. This tale is like CINDERELLA mixed in with THE UGLY DUCKLING.

Isadora Peabody was brain smart but she was really nothing since she's not society smart, as in the social graces. Also she's not really pretty, so with all that added up Isadora becomes the outsider. She's really depressed, which isn't surprising and has even wanted to kill herself! Then she encounters Ryan Calhoun, the captain of the Silver Swan. Ryan needed an interpreter and if he doesn't get one, he'll be in really hot water. Isadora finds out about this and basically forces her way into becoming an interpreter. After all Isadora knows several different languages and wanted to escape from the misery in her life.

Ryan deeply resents this and tries to make her life a living Hell on the ship. But it doesn't work because after leaving home, Isadora opens up to the crew. She listens to them, talks to them, helps them out and even enjoys working on the ship. Underneath all this, Isadora blossoms and learns to become a full person, who wasn't always afraid and depressed. With this confidence, she may even learn to trust the love she's feeling for a certain captain...

I can't stop mentioning how much I love this book!! I was drawn to this book because I love reading about women that undergo a make-over. Not necessarily clothes, but personality wise like their confidence. And that's why I loved reading THE CHARM SCHOOL because it's a make-over for Isadora in which she becomes more comfortable with herself.

^_^ ~ Izzy

This is one of the best books I've ever read. You go Isadora!! Not only does she turn from ugly duckling to beautiful swan, she's also smart and witty. She completely went above Ryan to get on that boat. I think this book would have been just as excellent even if she didn't turn into a beauty at the end. Ryan would have loved her anyway. All she needed was confidence and the chance to get away from her rotten family.

"The Charm School" was not at all what I had expected it to be...I really enjoyed this story, but for various reasons I felt somewhat disconnected to the characters. Because of this, I couldnt rate it at more than 3 and 1/2 stars. I didnt feel that the physical descriptions of the characters were thorough enough..especially in the case of Ryan. I also had a hard time feeling their love..it almost felt forced a bit...I will say that this book had some of the most romantic and original lovescenes.. I adored the fact that the first couple were made up of nothing but a single kiss...but OOOO what kisses they were!! This was a nice story and Im looking forward to learning more about Hunter in "The Horsemaster's Daughter"

I bought this book at a grocery store and it suprised me, Isadora reminded me of myself and I knew how she felt in most situations When she met Ryan it gave me hope of something better then the life I lead ever since I read this book I decide that I need to take more chances in life. I have read many historical romance novels 15 Julie Garwood books and many Catherine Coulter Books also other ones But this book no matter Homany times I read it I always laugh and cry. The Charm School will always be my Favorite no matter WHAT!

The Charm School is truly a delightful book. I confess to feeling sorry I had to leave Captain Ryan Calhoun and the exotic warmth of Rio behind when I finished. The attention to details, such as the popular music of the time, the clothing, seafaring expressions and knowledge, the laws regarding runaway slaves, and the smoking of hemp in the 1800s, makes it apparent that Ms. Wiggs did a great deal of research for her novel. Further, the integration of Isadora's story with that of The Ugly Duckling is both clever and charming. Ms. Wiggs elevating her novels in this fashion is greatly appreciated by this reader.

Wigg's makes no bones about the fact that this is an "Ugly Duckling becomes a Swan" story. The good news is that she does theme well. Isadora isn't flourishing in her setting. The theme of the book is that the freedom of a new setting and the love of a good man can make a girl beautiful both inside and out. Wigg's does it in an entertaining way. Isodora liberation in the course of the sea voyage (complete with a charming cast of characters in the crew) and in 1850's Rio (by definition liberating?)makes for a fun read with lots of great images.

The romance is also very nicely paced with growing attraction and tension between the two -- leading to some pretty sexy scenes that are guaranteed to make the reader forget everyday life.

The critics agree. The book was nominated for both a Reviewer's Choice and Francis awards. It was also selected in a readers' poll as one the ten favorites of the year.

I've never read a book like this in my life. Judging by the cover, I would have thought it to be a trashy sex novel. But it ended up being one of the best books I've ever read. I loved the setting, it made me miss the ocean. As soon as I finished it, I wanted to start reading it all over again!