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    What Happens in London
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    What Happens in London
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    What Happens in London
    Ebook363 pages5 hours

    What Happens in London

    By Julia Quinn

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    Rumors and Gossip . . . The lifeblood of London

    When Olivia Bevelstoke is told that her new neighbor may have killed his fiancée, she doesn't believe it for a second, but, still, how can she help spying on him, just to be sure? So she stakes out a spot near her bedroom window, cleverly concealed by curtains, watches, and waits . . . and discovers a most intriguing man, who is definitely up to something.

    Sir Harry Valentine works for the boring branch of the War Office, translating documents vital to national security. He's not a spy, but he's had all the training, and when a gorgeous blonde begins to watch him from her window, he is instantly suspicious. But just when he decides that she's nothing more than an annoyingly nosy debutante, he discovers that she might be engaged to a foreign prince, who might be plotting against England. And when Harry is roped into spying on Olivia, he discovers that he might be falling for her himself . . .

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateJun 30, 2009
    ISBN9780061891991
    Author

    Julia Quinn

    #1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn began writing one month after graduating from college and, aside from a brief stint in medical school, she has been tapping away at her keyboard ever since. Her novels have been translated into 43 languages and are beloved the world over. A graduate of Harvard and Radcliffe Colleges, she lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest.  Look for BRIDGERTON, based on her popular series of novels about the Bridgerton family, on Netflix.

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    Reviews for What Happens in London

    4/5

    537 ratings37 reviews

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    • 3/5
      Okay, I don't normally read romance. Not because I look down on the genre or people who read it -- different people enjoy different things, and I don't enjoy romance novels.

      It has something to do with the usual dynamic, with this woman presented as "strong" and "different," but invariably beautiful and intelligent and weak-kneed about this certain man and thinks it's romantic when he orders her around.

      Or maybe it's the all-too-frequent trope of man and woman meet, man and woman hate at first site, man and woman have sexual tensions galore, man rapes woman but it's not really rape because she enjoyed it even though she kept saying no and never gave permission, woman then falls in love with man.

      Or maybe it's the appalling inattention to historical detail.

      Or maybe it's just the fact that there's only so many synonyms for "cock" or "breast," and apparently "cock" is too foul to use in many romance novels, so you end up with ridiculous phrasing like, "Hard, thick, shaft."

      I'm absolutely certain that someone who adores romance but dislikes my favored genres (sci-fi, fantasy, non-fiction) could, if they so desired, list off various things they dislike about my beloved genres. And they might even be right -- but I either overlook/ don't care/ don't see these flaws as important.

      All that said, I like Julia Quinn. I like that she seems to be laughing at herself, and she seems to have a sense of humor. I like how her writing is all playful and bubbly, and even though she follows certain tropes (true love is always recognizable by weak knees and a willingness to follow orders when he's the one giving them!), it all seems so light-hearted.

      Plus, I can't feel anything but pleased and encouraged by the fact that sex, when it finally happens, happens in the latter part of the book. After they've already had multiple conversations and realized they're in love. I don't like the trend of romance novels for sex being the impetus to love. That's not cool.

      I mean, I have nothing against loveless sex, or sex for passion or pleasure's sake. And I'm sure that some people get into a no-strings attached sexual relationship and end up falling in love. But the thing is, generally a the realization of love doesn't come from a night of hot sex, and romance novels perpetuate a damaging belief with that.

      So I think it's pretty cool that Quinn always has the relationship build first, then mixes in the sex.

      I've read other romance writers, and I have to say, Quinn is the most readable. I usually find myself laughing out loud or grinning stupidly at least twice during one of her books, and usually more frequently. I recommend her highly.
    • 3/5
      I enjoyed this book, however, it is not Quinn's best. It took me a while to get into the story but once I did, it was entertaining even if it was bordering on ridiculous (such as the scene where Sebastian reads out-loud). Once the story really got going, I thought it ended to quickly. I was slightly disappointed with it so I couldn't give it a full five stars but it was a entertaining read despite it's flaws.
    • 4/5
      Much better than the first book in this series as there are far more funny scenes - particularly at the beginning when Olivia is spying on Henry. A good fun, undemanding read.
    • 5/5
      I adored this book! My favorite Julia Quinn so far. I didn't care about Olivia in the first book of this series, but in her stand-alone book, I loved her.

      The tension in the relationship was built up to just the right degree. It wasn't too cheesy, and the ending was perfect. I never thought I'd love any of her books more than the Bridgerton series. I was wrong. This was great! <3
    • 4/5
      An enjoyable and frivolous historical romance. I don't think it's Quinn's best book, but it's pretty good. The characters veer a bit close to being cardboard cutouts at times, but most of the time they're pretty well rounded and there are some great comic moments. There's not a lot of plot but since most of the book is firmly centred on the characters' personalities it all jogs along nicely enough - which makes the whole Deadly Peril at the Russian Embassy section near the end seem somewhat dissonant.Although I'm not entirely convinced that the hero and heroine are as much in love and as committed to one another as they claim to be by the end of the book, I can see them heading firmly in that direction, and I do think they're well suited to one another.All in all, a nice, light read.
    • 4/5
      I rarely read romance novels anymore, but Julia Quinn is my 'go to' author for girly romance and she never lets me down. Hers are the only true romance novels that I always get.The story begins as your typical 'girl meets boy, girl hates boy and the feeling is mutual' story. But Harry Valentine isn't your typical boy and his job requires him to get closer to Olivia Bevelstoke whether he wants to or not. So of course, over the course of the novel they get to know each other and fall in love.It may sound like your typical romance, and in several ways it is, but Quinn is such a talented writer you barely notice the cliche story. She creates smart, witty characters that you want to see happy. Through the course of the novel, her characters undergo a voyage of discovery and learn about themselves as they learn about each other. After the requisite 'rescue the female from a dire situation', the novel comes to a satisfying conclusion and I can happily recommend this to anyone looking for a happy ending to read.
    • 3/5
      Disappointing for a Julia Quinn book. This reminded me of her early pre-Bridgerton books which had interesting characters but lacked a lot of character development and had convoluted plots. I really liked Harry and he was given an interesting background but, except for the Russian element, the rest of it didn't come up much. Olivia was a pretty boring heroine and I think there was more development of her character in the Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheevers. Overall a quick, mildly entertaining book but not a keeper.
    • 4/5
      Olivia Bevelstoke is intrigued with the man who has moved in next door. She has been surreptitiously been watching him through her bedroom window trying to find out what he does all day in that room. Rumor has it that he killed his fiance. Harry Valentine is trying to figure out why the lovely young lady next door has been watching him for the past five days through her bedroom window. One day, their eyes meet making it awkward when they meet face-to face later at a society event.This is one of the funniest books I've read by Julia Quinn. I laughed out loud in some places. This is a highly enjoyable Regency romance. Very entertaining.
    • 3/5
      This book was OK. It was very clever. I liked how they spoke to each other outside the window. It was a good use of setting. Julia has gotten better at plotting and planning out her books since writing the first of the Bridgerton series. The back cover summarizes the story quite well. The kidnapping at the end seemed uncessary, but whatever. It was a fun read.
    • 4/5
      Cute historical romance with a lightweight plot and heavy with characters thoughts but most of them pretty funny. Olivia hears a rumor that her new neighbor Sir Harry, a translator for war office, killed is fiance so she watches him from her window.
    • 4/5
      Olivia Bevelstoke is told that her new neighbour may have killed his fiancee, and she's curious so she decides to watch him. She finds him interesting and they eventually start to talk. Harry Valentine works as a translator fo the War Office, he is absorbed in his work, but he's finding the beautiful blonde who is watching him a distraction. When he's encouraged to watch a man who is pursuing her, he becomes caught up in an interesting situation. The scenes with them at their windows were quite nice and the scenes reading the gothic novel out loud was hilarious.There were some genuine laugh-out-loud moments in this for me. I found it very funny and the couple came across as being quite well suited. I look forward to reading more by this author
    • 3/5
      this book was fast paced and exciting to read. I enjoyed the story of Olivia and Harry, as well as the prince of Russia; it was a tale of love, jealousy, and a ridiculous book reading.
    • 4/5
      This book is adorable. I generally enjoy Julia Quinn's novels but the last few had fallen a bit flat for me - this is a return to form. As an incurable "lister", I loved that the heroine constantly wrote lists, and the characters came across as warm and approachable. It's light and fluffy, but it's very fun, and Quinn's fun writing style is always enjoyable.
    • 4/5
      I liked this book! I love Julia Quinn's style, and the characters in this book are charming. While I don't think they're as well developed as the Bridgertons, and this story has a few plot holes and not a lot of sex, it's definitely worth reading.
    • 4/5
      I liked this book! I love Julia Quinn's style, and the characters in this book are charming. While I don't think they're as well developed as the Bridgertons, and this story has a few plot holes and not a lot of sex, it's definitely worth reading.
    • 4/5
      Delightful story concerning a Lady, a Baronet and a Russian Prince. Witty dialogue. 
    • 4/5
      When Sir Harry Valentine moves in next door to Lady Olivia Bevelstoke and her family in London, rumors start to fly. Olivia hears that he killed his fiancee and she starts watching him through her bedroom window, convinced he can’t see her but perplexed when he wears strange hats and throws papers into the fire. She decides that he is a very peculiar man. Harry, trained by the War Office, knows Olivia is spying on him, but it’s not until they meet that he hears the rumor that a Russian prince is after her, a Russian prince who may be a danger to the state, and that he must stay near her. Forced to stay close together, Harry and Olivia learn that rumors aren’t the only thing that happens in London; love does too.This lacks the intensity of a truly great romance novel but is a funny, heartwarming read anyway. Olivia and Harry make so cute a couple that in real life, half of us would be a little sick watching them. Julia Quinn is great at building a friendship bond between the characters, making a relationship that is way beyond passion, and that’s certainly true here, since there is only one love scene and if I recall correctly, it isn’t even very long. Possibly it’s that lack of intense chemistry which is missing, but we’re still left with the feeling that this couple will be very happy together. There are some adorably romantic scenes, like the many window conversations the couple has, particularly when they read to each other across the short distance. Quinn includes another hilariously bad pulp novel which results in some very entertaining scenes.I also felt that the suspense plot fizzled a little. There is an event towards the end which didn’t fit quite as well with the quirky, cute tone of the book, trying to add in more suspense. I just felt it was somewhat annoying, even if it served a purpose in the plot. The ending, however, made up for that with some of the sweetest scenes I’ve ever read. After the cringefest that was The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever, I am relieved, and look forward to her future work. What Happens in London is not as great as the Bridgerton books, but worth a read for romantics.
    • 4/5
      I am a huge fan of Quinn's Bridgerton family series but I was a little disappointed with her Wyndham books so I was a little leery about this book. I am glad to say this was a thoroughly enjoyable book and more along what I had come to expect from Julia Quinn. I loved both Olivia and Harry as well as the other characters such as Olivia's twin brother, Winston, and Harry's cousin, Sebastian. I am happy to see Sebastian's story is due out next year and hopefully Winston's story will follow shortly. The whole fiasco of Olivia spying on Harry was hilarious and I seriously laughed out loud at another spot that involves a man who man one day become an earl enacting out a scene from a "lurid gothic novel" for a group including a foreign prince. Now if that doesn't peak your curiosity I don't know what would. This was a delightful read full of the wonderful humor you come to expect from Quinn.
    • 5/5
      Very delightful and lovely :) I loved Sir Henry and Lady Olivia and the whole window thing :) it was very... delightful :) and very funny :)
    • 3/5
      What Happens in London
      3 Stars

      Lady Olivia Bevelstoke is convinced that her seemingly innocuous neighbor is up to something nefarious for he spends far too much time pouring over the documents at his desk. Sir Harry Valentine works for the War Office as a translator, but due to his position in society has been assigned to watch Olivia as she has caught the eye of a Russian Prince, who may or may not have ties to Napoleon. With these two spying on each other at every turn, it is not surprising that sparks fly when they finally meet in person...

      Ironically given the title, absolutely nothing actually happens in this book until the very end.

      The story is mainly comprised of an endless series of conversations, at times witty and at others trivial, between the main characters. The small suspense subplot has potential, but rather than appearing at the start and building toward an exciting climax, it comes out of the blue and all the action is rather confusing with no backstory to support it.

      Olivia and Harry have very little chemistry and their romance feels forced. Harry’s learned spy qualities are intriguing, however, they are completely underdeveloped and he would have been far more interesting were he a little less John Watson and a little more Jack Ryan. Olivia is a brainless busybody and aside for her beauty has nothing to recommend her as a heroine.

      On a final note, although this is the 2nd book in the Bevelstoke trilogy, there is no connection between the stories and it can be read as a standalone. This is unfortunate as the first book was very engaging and an update on Miranda and Turner would have been welcome.
    • 4/5
      It was cute but at one point (don't want to spoil and say where) there was, in my opinion, some unnecessary espionage and I was like "whaaa?!?". I was looking for something fluffy and not requiring all that much brain power and this one fit the bill.
    • 4/5
      Enjoyed this book.
    • 3/5
      Silly, stuffy Victorian romance with Lady Olivia and Sir Harry hating each other and spying on each other and slowly getting to know one other and falling in love. There's a Russian Prince thrown in for intrigue, possible espionage and of course jealousy. Lady Olivia is kidnapped with a predictable rescue and marriage proposal.
    • 2/5
      Listened to Books on Tape audio edition narrated by Rosalyn Landor. Landor was fabulous; she conveyed all the appropriate emotions and humor while keeping distinct voices for each character.

      The story itself frustrated me. Quinn has an excellent ear for dialogue and a talent for farce - the whole section where Seb ends up reading from the gothic novel from atop a table in the drawing room to a rapt audience is pitch perfect. The beginning was unsteady until Olivia and Harry realized they didn't hate each other (blessedly early in the book) and Olivia's response to being kidnapped had me rolling my eyes so hard I was worried I'd pull a muscle. Just a hint - when your captor has already entered your prison via key and someone starts breaking down the door perhaps that means you're being rescued and you can skip the hysterics; I know the hysterics might be more realistic, particularly for a sheltered character from the time period, but I do not read romance novels for their realism and prefer a bit more pluck in my heroines. Overall, the intrigue/suspense elements were weak. The next Bevelstoke book was recommended by a friend so I may give it a shot, but if it's not significantly better than this I'll be done with Quinn.
    • 4/5
      A charming story from JQ. The heroine was smart and funny, and the hero was, well, heroic. Wonderful banter between them. It bugs me, though, that the author thinks Russian princes are "royalty." They were not.
    • 4/5
      Light-hearted fun with a bare wisp of a sideplot; "What Happens in London" concentrates almost 100% on the humorous story of a hero and heroine who dislike each other at first sight, very much so. But of course, once they spend time together they quickly realize they are perfect for each other.Olivia is many things: titled, beautiful, intelligent, and curious. And it's her curiosity that first has her spying on her neighbor. She's sure the rumor that he killed his fiance isn't true, but still. She just can't figure out what it is he does all day at his desk...and what's up with the hat?Sir Harry spotted his spying neighbor right away, but didn't bother to let on. Of course he did try to entertain her with the hat and a few other ludicrous actions. Upon meeting, she seems rather icy and snobby; truly not Harry's type. But the War Dept has asked Harry to keep an eye on a visiting Russian noble and that noble seems to have his eye on Olivia. Harry soon comes to consider Olivia HIS, and once Harry makes up his mind...well, you'll never look at a window quite the same way again.It seems whenever I paused while reading this book, I had a silly grin on my face. Julia Quinn's stories are so very likeable not just because her characters are human with assets and foibles exactly like us, but also because she knows just how and where to add humor to her stories--from grins to giggles to outright laughter. And I must say the proposal scene in this book is one I've never encountered before!Quinn's story rolls out with perfect pace and pitch and the light drama added by the Russians is spot on with little danger. I've known quite a few linguists in my time and I must say I never thought an author could make that character-type seem romantic, but Harry is just that. So for fun and a bit of steamy romance, pick up "What Happens in London"--you'll even learn a new word or two!
    • 3/5
      Better in places than the last few, but ultimately forgettable.
    • 4/5
      A smart & fun romance novel, just the ticket for an evening of lounging around.
    • 4/5
      I really liked this book. I loved the information about Harry in the beginning and Olivia's lists. But I felt the characters do not have much depth. The moments between Olivia and Harry were the very best! The love seen was unnecessary. It is a cute quick read.
    • 5/5
      Love a romance that makes me laugh out loud!