My Sweet Folly

My Sweet Folly chronicles a relationship that begins through letters between Folie Hamilton, a widow in England, and Robert Cambourne, a lieutenant colonel stationed in India. Their written courtship spans several years before circumstances bring them together in person. Upon meeting, Folie discovers Lieutenant Colonel Cambourne is not the man she expected from their correspondence. The story moves between London society and a remote estate in Cornwall, where mysteries and dangers emerge. The narrative explores themes of identity, deception, and the gap between written words and reality. Through the central relationship, Kinsale examines how people present themselves differently on paper versus in person, and questions whether true connection can survive when illusions fall away.

Readers praise the unique letter-writing courtship that opens the novel and the complex characterization of Folie's mental health struggles. Many note the departure from standard romance tropes and appreciate the psychological depth of both main characters. Common praise points: - Strong writing quality and period details - Original approach to the romance genre - Complex handling of mental illness themes Main criticisms: - Pacing slows significantly after opening letters - Plot becomes convoluted in middle sections - Some found Robert's behavior too erratic Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (120+ ratings) Several reviewers specifically noted the "brilliant" letter-writing sequence but felt disappointed by later chapters. As one Amazon reviewer wrote: "The first 50 pages were perfect, then it lost its way." Goodreads reviews frequently mention wanting to love the book more than they did, with the opening raising expectations that weren't fully met.

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🌟 Laura Kinsale wrote My Sweet Folly while battling chronic fatigue syndrome, which influenced her portrayal of the hero's struggle with mental health issues 🌟 The novel's unique letter-writing opening sequence spans four years and was inspired by 18th-century epistolary novels, a style popularized by works like "Pamela" by Samuel Richardson 🌟 The book features detailed descriptions of early photography experiments, reflecting the scientific innovations of the 1840s when the story takes place 🌟 The author spent months researching Ottoman Empire culture and customs to accurately portray the Turkish segments of the novel 🌟 My Sweet Folly was one of the first historical romance novels to tackle the subject of PTSD in soldiers returning from war, though it wasn't called PTSD in that era