Anne & Henry
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4.1 • 7 Ratings
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- $8.99
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
In this wonderfully “clever and compelling” (Kirkus Reviews) retelling of the infamous—and torrid—love affair between Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII, history collides with the present when a sizzling romance ignites in a modern-day high school.
Henry Tudor’s life has been mapped out since the day he was born: student body president, valedictorian, Harvard Law School, and a stunning political career just like his father’s. But ever since the death of his brother, the pressure for Henry to be perfect has doubled. And now he’s trapped: forbidden from pursuing a life as an artist or dating any girl who isn’t Tudor-approved.
Then Anne Boleyn crashes into his life.
Wild, brash, and outspoken, Anne is everything Henry isn’t allowed to be—or want. But soon Anne is all he can think about. His mother, his friends, and even his girlfriend warn him away, but his desire for Anne consumes him.
Henry is willing to do anything to be with her, but once they’re together, will their romance destroy them both?
Inspired by the true story of Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII, Anne & Henry beautifully reimagines the intensity, love, and betrayal between one of the most infamous couples of all time.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Ius's steamy modern version of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn's tragic love affair creatively translates the wealth, power, and court intrigue of 16th-century England to the affluent Seattle suburb of Medina, Wash. Anne, an audacious new student at Medina Academy, doesn't fit into Henry Tudor's privileged world. She's the outsider with a secret past, but he doesn't care. He's willing to risk losing his influential friends; family-approved girlfriend, Catherine; Ivy League future; and inheritance if it means he gets to be with Anne. She gives him "something to be passionate about," and this obsession is mutual, as revealed through their angst-filled alternating perspectives. Ius (coauthor of Killer's Instinct, writing as Dawn Dalton) does a better job presenting Henry's side, but while the story's setting may have changed, its trajectory does not, painting one of the star-crossed lovers as an unfortunate victim and the other as an incorrigible cad. There are plenty of wild parties, sexual tension, and schoolroom drama in this novel to entice readers who enjoy a good scandal. Ages 14 up.
Customer Reviews
literally crying
the ending is so freakin sad and she just leaves the school and everyone forgets about her? please make a sequel to this with maybe about how she moves on. i need this
Ius has a wonderful writing style, she keeps readers engaged
Make no mistake about it, this is Anne’s Story: her trials with being the rebellious outsider, spurned and scorned by many who are uncomfortable with her clear thinking, devil-may-care approach to boys, life and her own single-minded determination. She’s bold, brassy, motorcycle riding, sharp tongued and intelligent. With one HUGE flaw. She is intrigued by Henry.
Henry is exactly what one would expect from the ”golden boy” – raised without consequence, every whim granted on a silver platter, no true ramifications for anything and the attention span of a gnat. Completely unlikable, utterly without redeeming features, the lauded charms of the original Henry (he was purported to be funny, charming, athletic, and intelligent) missing, he was the character you had to dislike. Especially as he discards the new and shiny in favor of something different, simply because he never had to work to get anything.
Ius has a wonderful writing style, she keeps readers engaged even with the horrible ‘hero’, because you need to know what is next. If I had one complaint, the accuracy with which she correlates the real couple to this fictional one forced some moments that would have been better felt and integrated had they come to the couple naturally. Using source material as inspiration is a wonderful tool, and Ius did that well, with only a few hiccups. A wonderfully promising debut offering that promises more great work in the future.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.