Ruined

by Sarah Vaughn, Sarah Winifred Searle (Illustrator), Niki Smith (Illustrator)

Overview

For fans of Bridgerton comes a Regency-era romance graphic novel about the unexpected passion that blooms from a marriage of convenience.

The whole town is whispering about how Catherine Benson lost her virtue, though they can never agree on the details. Was it in the public garden? Or a moving carriage?

Only a truly desperate man would want her now—and that’s exactly what Andrew Davener is. His family’s estate is in disrepair, but Catherine’s sizeable dowry could set it to rights.

After the two wed, Catherine finds herself inexplicably drawn to Andrew. But could falling in love with her husband tear her marriage apart? In this richly detailed Regency romance, duty and passion collide in a slow-burn tale of intertwined fates.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250769350
Publisher:	First Second
Publication date:	11/28/2023
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	51,172
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.50(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Sarah Vaughn tries to write things. Some of their work includes Sleepless, co-created with Leila del Duca (Image Comics); Eternal Empire, co-created with Jonathan Luna (Image Comics); and Deadman: Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love (DC Comics). They enjoy history, romance, fantasy, and comics in any and all combinations.


Sarah Winifred Searle originally hails from spooky New England but currently lives in sunny Boorloo (Perth, Australia). Their first award-winning graphic novels were Sincerely, Harriet (Graphic Universe, 2019) and Patience & Esther: An Edwardian Romance (Iron Circus Comics, 2021). Their First Second books are The Greatest Thing (2021), Ruined (2023), and their upcoming vampire rom-com, The Sweetness Between Us.

Niki Smith is the Lambda Literary Award-nominated author of Crossplay, The Deep & Dark Blue, and The Golden Hour. Originally from the US, she now lives in Germany with her wife and two bilingual cats.

Editorial Reviews

11/06/2023

In this feather-light Regency romance from Vaughn (the Alex + Ada series), Searle (The Greatest Thing), and Smith (The Deep and Dark Blue), a gloom hangs over the wedding of brainy Catherine Benson to handsome, brooding Andrew Davener. Ruined by scandal, Catherine has no choice but to accept a marriage of convenience to her simultaneously “sour and amiable” groom, who needs her dowry. The two are determined not to fall in love, but romance thwarts their firm intentions. As Catherine settles into Andrew’s run-down estate and befriends his housebound sister Gemma, it’s only a matter of time before the already married pair realize they’re kindred souls and get into bed together. None of the gentle plot turns are likely to surprise genre readers, though Vaughn livens the story with subplots featuring a colorful supporting cast, including a lesbian couple building a life together as “Sisters of a Finer Kind” and a lady’s maid trying to advance in the world by opening her own shop. The art by Searle and Smith is somewhat sparse and flat but enriched by softly glowing colors. Though this sweet and sexually frank love story doesn’t break any new ground, fans of Bridgerton and similar fare will swoon along its familiar path. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

"Readers looking for a quieter Bridgerton or a more diverse, steamier Austen novel will love this graphic novel." —Shelf Awareness, starred review

"Ruined is a gorgeous historical romance you’ll immediately fall for." —Culturess.com


"Sure to be a delight for fans of the show Bridgerton and other similar adaptations... Modern Austen fans should take a look." —Booklist

"The cozy, colorful artwork in this Regency-era tale makes this an endearing read that showcases the fashion and landscapes of the time... An enjoyable historical romance, in the vein of Bridgerton." – SLJ

From the Publisher

12/01/2023

Gr 10 Up—Catherine Benson has a reputation; as a result, she knows she's not likely to find an honorable marriage prospect. So when she receives a proposal from Andrew Davener, whose grim financial status will benefit from her substantial dowry, she doesn't have much of a choice. The two enter into a mutual agreement not quite knowing what to expect. When they arrive at Andrew's rundown estate, Catherine falls into a dull routine until one night, she knocks on her husband's door, inviting intimacy into their relationship. Though their physical attraction is real, their love doesn't appear to be. Catherine leaves her marriage, fleeing back to her childhood home. When she reflects on her previous amorous affairs and her newfound companionship with Andrew, she starts to question what it is she's feeling and whether there is hope after all. The cozy, colorful artwork in this Regency-era tale makes this an endearing read that showcases the fashion and landscapes of the time. Though the trope of a marriage of convenience is not original, the story flows well. The few side narratives touched upon could have been developed more, but they highlight LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and mental health issues during the era. The story is mostly tame but includes some intimate drawings that portray nudity and sexual encounters. VERDICT An enjoyable historical romance, in the vein of Bridgerton, conveyed through quaint drawings with a pleasing color scheme. Content contains mature images that are appropriate for older teenagers.—Karin Greenberg

School Library Journal