Kristin's Reviews > A Gentleman Undone

** spoiler alert ** I loved this book, and at the same time everything I loved about it made it a struggle to read. This isn't a light, happy story, but one about human imperfection and finding love after tragedy. The darkness also felt very real - full of human tragedy and frailty, but not in the fantastical ways. The characters are not perfect, and never become so. Redemption and love doesn't come from a sudden windfall or character reveal, it is found simply through acceptance, and trust that each is worthy of love despite their "sharp and broken edges."

Will returns from war, feeling responsible for the death of a fellow soldier, and trying to raise enough money to provide for the man's widow. He is burdened with guilt, compounded by his nature of rescuing, taking care of others, and living a life guided by honor. While noble in intention, he cannot seem to grant himself the same grace and compassion he has for others. Thus, he feels he has lost his soul and unworthy of love.

He first encounters Lydia while playing cards at a club. She is the mistress of another man, and as it turns out, a mathematical whiz trying to win her own independence by playing cards. They form an uneasy friendship, where Lydia coaches Will in vingt-et-un so they can team up to get the money they both need.

Lydia came from a respectable family, and then through a series of tragic events, finds herself both ruined and orphaned. She has deemed herself incapable of loving anyone again.

This story really was quite a tragic tale of two broken people finding each other and somehow trusting one another. The HEA was never a guarantee, and in fact, I don't think I've ever read a book that kept me wondering for so long if these two would make it. Spoiler: it doesn't happen until the EPILOGUE, people. Even then, it's clearly not the tidy HEA you would normally expect.

I'm so glad I read this book. It tugged at my heart, and I love the imperfection of everything. It reminded me how life and love are messy and not everything turns out as you want it to, or how it should, or even how you deserve. But there's still space for finding happiness. That said, I don't know if I'll ever re-read this one, despite my love for it. It was a whole mood, and melancholy in tone, which I don't normally love.