A blend between the GOSSIP GIRL series and a YA version of FIFTY SHADES OF GREY, ANNE & HENRY is filled with lust, desire, and teenage hormones. This modern retelling of the tragic love story between Anne Boleyn and Henry Tudor while no doubt has several hot and heavy scenes that leave little to the imagination, the novel also leaves very little room for character development. Anne is not a sympathetic character. Her background story about her sister Mary is not believable and is disruptive to the story, or at the very least does not add to Anne’s character. While Henry’s story about his inheritance being a burden and the guilt he feels about his brother’s death is more believable, his character development still falls short. ANNE & HENRY could have been a better read if the plot and characters had more depth. Overall, Lus’ novel will be enjoyed by those looking for a cheap thrill, albeit an unmemorable one.
Dive into the book (if you must):
Anne and her newly remarried mother move to Medina. Anne is wild, rebellious, and everything that the community and students of Medina are not. The moment Henry lays eyes on Anne, he is captivated. Henry is so deeply infatuated he ends his relationship with his current girlfriend and pursues Anne. Henry reveals a side to Anne he has not been able to share with anyone in a long time. Henry no longer feels a sense of self having inherited everything from his deceased father and brother, from the role of Student Council President to Catherine, his now ex-girlfriend. Despite being head-over-heels in love, Anne and Henry come from two different worlds. And those two world will stop at nothing to keep them apart.
Pairs well with:
A Mickey Avalon and Dirt Nasty concert, because this book is that bad. Offense given to those who like their music. Please note, I was at this concert against my will. And reading this book was mandatory during my freelance reading days (well, mandatory if I wanted to keep in good graces with the lit scouting agency).
