The Enchanted April the Enchanted April

4.0 stars

A simple, lovely story of four women of different ages and backgrounds who break free of the strictures of their lives through female friendship and empathy. The descriptions of the Italian castle are a treat, and the long meanderings through the women's thoughts are delightful.

I would probably rate this higher if it weren't for one aspect of the ending. Lady Caroline's whole characterization is built around the fact that other people's expectations and assumptions about her weigh her down into depression. All she wants is to escape from others' gaze (especially the male gaze) and be herself. So how on earth am I supposed to accept an ending where, for no reason, she ends up with a man she barely knows? This is compulsory heterosexuality at its most annoying. I expected the married women to reconcile with their husbands (even if there husbands don't deserve it), but there is zero reason for her to end up with a random man who treats her just like every other man has treated her. I wasn't expecting a sapphic ending, this being written when it was (despite the fact that, characterization-wise it would work for several of the characters) but is it too much for her to end up single and happy???? . It almost spoiled the whole book for me.