Suzanne Allain: Mr. Malcolm’s List

Mr. Malcolm's List by Suzanne Allain
Published by Penguin on July 28, 2020
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Clean & Wholesome, Fiction / Romance / Historical / Regency, Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy
Pages: 256
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NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE

It is a truth universally acknowledged that an arrogant bachelor insistent on a wife who meets the strictest of requirements—deserves his comeuppance.

The Honourable Mr. Jeremy Malcolm is searching for a wife, but not just any wife. As the target of matchmaking mothers and desperate debutantes, he's determined to avoid the fortune hunters and find a near-perfect woman, one who will meet the qualifications on his well-crafted list. But after years of searching, he's beginning to despair of ever finding this paragon. Until Selina Dalton arrives in town.

Selina, a vicar's daughter of limited means and a stranger to high society, is thrilled when her friend Julia Thistlewaite invites her to London, until she learns it's all part of a plot to exact revenge on Mr. Malcolm. Selina is reluctant to participate in Julia's scheme, especially after meeting the irresistible Mr. Malcolm, who appears to be very different from the arrogant scoundrel of Julia's description.

But when Mr. Malcolm begins judging Selina against his unattainable standards, Selina decides that she has some qualifications of her own. And if he is to meet them he must reveal the real man behind...Mr. Malcolm's List.

Led on by promises that this was funny, I delved excitedly in to Mr. Malcolm’s List. Based on the perfect match list trope, I think the heart is comedically based, but the execution fell a little flat for me.  Or at least, the hero immediately rubbed me the wrong way and I never got over it.

The perfect match list trope is familiar but not officially recognized.  Its probably more prevalent in Reg Roms than other romance genres, and is definitely the stuff of rom coms.  The general premise is, I have an idea of who would be the ideal (husband/wife/lover) and I have made a list.  But guess what….my list is totally wrong…because the perfect husband/wife/lover is wrong for me!  I have seen it in Hallmark movies, teen movies, and definitely Reg Roms.  There are variations of the theme, where the list is more of a general idea of the perfect mate, or when the list is reversed (think How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days).

This trope is employed in a very strict sense, and Mr. Malcolm is rigid when it comes to his list.  Something about this set up and the way he ticks of points when thinking of Selina just made me squirm (and not in a good way).  When the conflict comes in to play, I had no sympathy/empathy for him, rather something strongly like antipathy.  Uh-oh, not a good emotion to have for the hero.

So…Selina, the heroine was perfectly likeable.  A good girl who has been living as a companion, she is also breathtakingly beautiful, smart and witty, and kind.  Not a total Mary-Sue, but definitely the Ideal Woman.  Not surprising that she ticks off all those boxes, but definitely surprising that she starts to fall for Mr. Malcolm.  Yes he is a “catch” and handsome and charming…or at least that is what everyone keeps saying.  I found him about as charming as a wet blanket.

The supporting characters kept trying to be interesting, but were a little underdeveloped.  Normally, secondary characters in a Reg Rom are best employed as a foil, and while I felt Allain was clearly aiming for that goal, again it fell a bit flat.  Maybe it was that Mr. Malcolm was just so blurgh and Selina so goody-goody?

I clearly had difficulty overcoming a personality clash with the hero.  Other readers evidently have not had the same problem.  I obviously will not be re-reading, but you may feel differently.

There are some questionable scenes that stray from the sensibility of the era (pre-engagement kissing in a public place), but other than that the scenes and characters were appropriate for immersion in the era.

Some of the scenes were cute and entertaining, and although I liked Allain’s Incognito much better, it was nonetheless evident she enjoys the genre and is a strong enough writer that I look forward to future releases.

3.75 out of 6 A perfect-match-list romance is light and easy to read