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    The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics: Feminine Pursuits
    The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics: Feminine Pursuits
    The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics: Feminine Pursuits
    Audiobook8 hours

    The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics: Feminine Pursuits

    Written by Olivia Waite

    Narrated by Morag Sims

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    As Lucy Muchelney watches her ex-lover’s sham of a wedding, she wishes herself anywhere else. It isn’t until she finds a letter from the Countess of Moth, looking for someone to translate a groundbreaking French astronomy text, that she knows where to go. Showing up at the Countess’ London home, she hoped to find a challenge, not a woman who takes her breath away.

    Catherine St Day looks forward to a quiet widowhood once her late husband’s scientific legacy is fulfilled. She expected to hand off the translation and wash her hands of the project—instead, she is intrigued by the young woman who turns up at her door, begging to be allowed to do the work, and she agrees to let Lucy stay. But as Catherine finds herself longing for Lucy, everything she believes about herself and her life is tested.

    While Lucy spends her days interpreting the complicated French text, she spends her nights falling in love with the alluring Catherine. But sabotage and old wounds threaten to sever the threads that bind them. Can Lucy and Catherine find the strength to stay together or are they doomed to be star-crossed lovers?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateJul 14, 2020
    ISBN9780062988850
    The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics: Feminine Pursuits
    Author

    Olivia Waite

    Olivia Waite writes historical romance, fantasy, and science fiction. She is currently the romance fiction columnist for the New York Times Book Review. To learn more and sign up for her newsletter, please visit www.oliviawaite.com.

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    Reviews for The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics

    4/5

    334 ratings19 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Lovely f/f romance with science and embroidery!! Also a huge middle finger to all the "learned men" who kept people of color and white women out so they themselves could retain all the power and make all the rules.

      3 people found this helpful

    • 5/5
      4.75 stars. This book is special, by any means.

      I've been reading romances set in recency times for ages, but first of all, lesbian fiction in this genre is something of a rarity.

      In my twenties I did enjoy authors like Mary Balogh, Mary Jo Putney, Julia Quinn or Carla Kelly; however there was just something about heterosexual romances in terms of feminism - no matter how "old" or progressive the heroines were, they're almost all saved by the hero and marriage. I feel it's never equality, never the real deal, it's always a mismatch of sex and power. In short, I've been so sick of this heterosexual lense.

      Anyway, I haven't read recency romances in the almost ten years I've been with a woman. I did try to find lesbian recency romances, and I came across "Pembroke Park" and that was basically it. So I am really overjoyed that I found this book.

      BTW, it took me ages to read this book and in the meantime the audiobook has been released. The narrator Morag Sims is fantastic. She does a brilliant job with the voices, even if her voice for Catherine gives the impression that she is much older than in her mid thirties (more like in her sixties to be honest). But I got used to it.

      The story starts with 25 (22?) year old Lucy Muchelney, daughter of a renowned and well respected astronomer. She has been her father's assistant, but has actually been the brilliant brain behind his research for quite some time.

      After his death, she wants to continue his work, but is left alone with her brothers, who tell her that nobody would employ a woman astronomer. As Lucy is also heartbroken because her lover Pris decided to wed a man she doesn't love, Lucy embarks on a journey to London, in search of her father's fellow researcher.

      Arrived in London, she is faced with only his widow, Catherine St. Day, Countess of Moth. Catherine has been married for 15 years and has her own scars. Her late husband has never been satisfied with what he had and wasn't a kind man. Left out of intelligent matters, Catherine (who must be about 35) now enjoys her freedom and peace. She's a real artist with her embroidery.

      When Lucy stands at her door, Catherine wants to help her to gain entry at the Polite Society. She's astounded at Lucy's talent with a difficult mathematical translation from French.

      When Lucy is snubbed at at the Polite Society because she's a woman, Catherine withdraws her funding and lets Lucy publish her book elsewhere. This way, both women enjoy their days in a comfortable routine.

      Lucy is a breeze of fresh air for Catherine. When Catherine's aunt Lady Kelmarch invites them to her country cottage, Catherine learns that her aunt was her mother's lover and life companion. Two women together as lovers, this is like a revelation for Catherine. She thinks of the times she admired other women and slowly realizes what she missed the whole time. She's also practical about it because with a woman she would never have to marry again.

      This is a key scene in the book, as on the one hand, Lucy and aunt Kelmarch are already "member's of the club", and on the other hand Catherine's revelation is undeniably sweet when she also realizes she has feelings for Lucy and doesn't know how to go about it. Catherine then decides to woo Lucy and it's really really sweet, as Lucy is already half in love with her but didn't dare make a move. It's really well done how they both discover each other. I liked the reversed roles especially, Lucy being the experienced one, but Catherine being indignant about taking it slow: "it's not as though I'm entirely new to the business; I was married for fifteen years".

      The story is so multi layered. There is the romance, progressing rather quickly, but then the relationship is more slow burn. Catherine finally gains trust, as Lucy is always kind and patient with her, something she's direly in need of after her marriage.

      There is also the society aspect, which is very well done in this book. We see aspects of queer life, for example in the forms of aunt Kelmarch's salon, and also gay men. We see glimpses of the racist society when Catherine's maid confesses: "I have spent two weeks thinking you were about to give me the sack... My sister said to watch out when they start bringing in people who are younger and lighter complexioned."

      We also see how deeply mysogeny is ingrained into the characters, especially the men, but also in both MCs.

      Catherine becomes quickly insecure and jealous, not only of Lucy's former lover Pris, but she also fears that Lucy might bow to her brother's wishes and marry a man. Over and over again, Lucy has to gain her trust, but Lucy is really patient with Catherine, it is really sweet. And it's great to see how this is also a story of awakening for Catherine in more than one sense.

      All in all, I really loved the chemistry and the characters and the story. A really special book.

      2 people found this helpful

    • 5/5
      4.5/5
      This was my first time reading an F/F historical romance and I'm not disappointed at all. I loved how the women of this book were portrayed. They have depth, a character, hobbies and problems of their own.
      I'm also VERY satisfied with how the romance bloomed and how they explored their sexuality. And the message about going at one's pace in order to feel comfortable.
      The story revolves a lot around science and sexism. So be aware of that. But I must say, I find it has been done taking into account the time period it is set on.
      10/10 would recommend!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      The only thing I love more than a historical romance is a gay historical romance.
      [SPOILER AHEAD]
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      The "falling out" felt a little forced and relied on the characters not communicating with each other, but all in all, a fun listen.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      It was a good listen but sometimes I got lost in all the technical terms. But overall, it was a very good listen.
    • 5/5
      A cozy read. No annoying romance tropes. The communication between Lucy and Catherine is clear and always sincere. I love this love so much. My heart burst at the last chapter. Such a beautiful story!! Highly Recommend. The narrator is top tier!! ?
    • 5/5
      A pleasant read. The audio book is very pleasant to listen to.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this book! Morag Sims did an excellent job performing this story! I thoroughly enjoyed her narration.

      I'm so glad Lucy and Katherine got together In the end.

      I read this book on June 17th, 2022.
    • 4/5
      This was cute and sweet, and a lovely queer historical romance. I loved the consent, how the characters interacted, and how they went about getting what they wanted. I thought it was nice how they grew each other without needing to share interests.
    • 5/5
      Perfect way to start the year. It gave me so much hope and anticipation for the future.
    • 5/5
      I love the voice of the narrator. I could listen to her all day!
      I like how Waite devoted her time to study aspects of science and scientists during the early 1800s. There’s a lot of facts proving that men, indeed, stole a bunch of research studies and works from women, as they believe themselves to have the right to anything, for they see themselves as the better one.
    • 5/5
      Was happily surprised with this title. Not a fan of this kind of cover imagery but fully enjoyed the storyline.
    • 5/5
      Beautiful and charming work as always! I love the tie in’s with The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows.
    • 4/5
      After her father's death, Lucy wants to continue the work on astronomy that she had carried out as his assistant, and she petitions the Countess of Moth, a scientist's widow and a benefactress of a well-known science society, to let her carry out the task of translating a French astronomer's magnum opus into English. Lucy visits the countess to plead her case; as the countess takes Lucy under her wing, the two begin to fall for each other.This was really enjoyable! If you're looking for a science-themed queer regency romance (definitely a mouthful!), I think this is a really solid option. There's discussion of Lucy's astronomy work and of the role of female scientists more generally, and there's also an enjoyable amount of discussion of art and embroidery. In the past I haven't had great luck with several regency/historical romances, but I'm really glad that I gave this a go. Some aspects of the plot felt a little rushed to me, but I definitely enjoyed this one.
    • 4/5
      What a delightful confection -- a combination of hard science -- early astronomy and naturalism -- and lesbian romance. Loved the fierce fight for women's recognition, and the history lesson. Loved the romance, and the expression of it within Britain's rigid social guidelines. It's a great read.
    • 4/5
      What a terrific book about a scientist who has to fight to do science because of her sex. I've said it many times how far advanced might we be if people weren't prejudiced. So many real women toiled in obscurity a very many in astronomy and rocketry. I wish the 205 years that span from when this novel opens to today would have shown much more improvement then it has.
      The plot kept the book from ever lagging except for a brief span around the middle, where the two women don't talk to each other. I hate novels where this happens. Luckily it is resolved fairly quickly and we can get on with the story. Another thing I really love about the book is the gorgeous cover. It made me pick up the book, but the story and subject kept me reading.
    • 5/5
      4.5 stars. Hidden Figures but make it Regency. And gay.

      Take a network of women who want to be astronomers and botanists and zoologists. Surround them by men who won't let them. Have them do it anyway. Stir in a black mathematician and plenty of lesbian lust. And, just to make it perfect, lots of embroidery and dress descriptions. This is a mass-market romance, but it's also about who decides what counts as art and science and who decides who gets to do them.
    • 2/5
      “The Ladies Guide to Celestial Mechanics “ (CM) by Olivia Waite is the first of a 3 or more series. CM is 238 pages and takes place in England in the early 1800s. It is about two young women whose lives intersect due to common involvement in astronomy. Lucy’s father was a highly regarded publisher of texts on the subject, and was ably assisted until his passing by his daughter. Catherine’s husband was a highly regarded astronomer who traveled extensively with his wife Catherine until his passing. The women subsequently meet and become attracted to each other. They also become business partners. As I write this in January ’21, there are 483 Amazon reader ratings with an average score of 4.5 for CM. I think the book is significantly over-rated for 2 reasons. The back story of the two women’s struggles to publish a text while overcoming all the prejudices against women in science was rather dull and not very informative compared to Ms. Waite’s 2nd book. Secondly the “hotness factor” was below expectations; I would score CM a disappointing 1.5 on a 0-5 point scale.I became interested in the series when the Washington Post made some favorable comments on Book two, “The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows” (WW) in its 2020 year end book review. Again two young women, again fate brings them together. Same time period roughly, same general locale. But WW’s lead characters are a lot more interesting. As are their professional interests – bee keeping and printing. And their interest in events of the day. And a hotness factor approaching 3.0 So the recommendation here is to read book #2 first, then await #3’s release in June 2021. You might want to pass on number 1 though, CM. Too mechanical……
    • 4/5
      This book has so many wonderful things in it: Passionate scientists! Gorgeous dresses! Embroidery porn! Actual porn! Lesbians AND bisexual women! Women advocating for each other! It made me miss my bus stop, I was reading so hard.

      Missing that fifth star for two reasons: 1) Maybe it's because I myself have been a female scientist, but the awful sexism of the male astronomers, and Lucy's brother, was all too real. It made me sick to my stomach. In a romance, I'd expect to see that balanced by an equally satisfying (if unrealistic) takedown, and it just didn't happen. I guess I wanted more grovelling and humiliation on the part of the sexist bastards.

      and 2) I'd have liked the book to be a bit longer-- there's so much packed into so few pages that Lucy and Catherine's relationship and emotional growth felt a bit forced in places. They've both gone through so much that I found it difficult to accept a HEA (Happily Ever After) so soon. I'd have been happier with an HFN (Happy For Now).