The book, which comes out on May 10, is a collaboration with her younger sister Violet Charles, a cartoonist. When it's part of the narration, when several characters are making numbered lists in their internal monologues, it is annoying in the extreme.“It was definitely in the summer because I remember talking about it in my dad’s backyard,” Julia Quinn reminisces about the first time she discussed the idea for her first graphic novel, Miss Butterworth and the Mad Baron. When Quinn had the character of Olivia in What Happens in London make lists, it worked: it was part of the character. They're twee, they're irritating, they're intrusive and they're plainly an authorial affectation rather than a part of the book. And that one thing is the infernal lists that crop up all over the place. Were it not for one thing, this would be an entertaining read scraping a respectable 4/5. I can't decide whether I agree with Quinn's decision to reveal Sebastian's alter ego in the prologue: the suspense that was built up in the previous book evaporates before this one starts, but on the other hand knowing what he does for a living does enrich the story in some ways. There's comic banter and the plot flows well. There is the usual supporting cast of good friends and slightly dotty relatives, and the villainous uncle is appropriately unpleasant rather than strikingly evil. The character of Sebastian Grey has a lot more depth than in his previous cameo appearances, and Annabel Winslow is reasonably sensible. That said, though, it's a solid offering. If she chooses Sebastian, what will her family live on? Will Sebastian even give her that option? After all, she's only known him a few days.There's a fine line between 'this author has a distinctive style' and 'I feel like I've read this book before', and in both manner and turn of phrase this book strays too often from the former to the latter. Annabel and Sebastian share an instant attraction - but any day now the earl is going to be asking for her hand. And nephew and uncle loathed one another even before they became rivals for Annabel's affection.

All that changes when she meets Sebastian Grey - an impecunious charmer with something of a reputation with the ladies, who also happens to be the nephew and heir presumptive of her elderly suitor. 'You couldn't hope for more.'') Annabel, far from enthusiastic, is resigned to her fate.

(''And he'll die soon', her grandmother continued. He is, however, an earl, and possessed of serious cash. Her foremost suitor is not exactly a catch, being old enough to be her grandfather and possessed of some distinctly unpleasant habits. Annabel Winslow, fresh from the country, is spending a season under her grandparents' sponsorship and hoping to acquire a husband who can rescue her extensive family from penury.

10 things i love about you julia quinn