Books › The Five-Minute Marriage
The Five-Minute Marriage
First published 1977 · 531 pages
A sparkling, twisty Regency romp where a pragmatic scheme spirals into delightful chaos and unexpected romance.
What it feels like
Reading this classic Regency feels like stepping into a brilliantly staged theatrical farce that slowly warms into a genuine romance. The narrative moves at a brisk, entertaining clip, pulling you through a maze of mistaken identities, gothic-tinged family secrets, and delightfully absurd social predicaments. Joan Aiken's prose is crisp and witty, channeling the sparkling banter of Georgette Heyer while adding her own signature dash of suspense and mild peril. The atmosphere is spirited and cozy, wrapping the reader in a world where pragmatic schemes inevitably give way to chaotic, heart-fluttering complications. It is a perfect comfort read for those who love their historical romances closed-door, clever, and populated by resourceful heroines who can navigate both a drawing-room scandal and a threat to their lives with equal aplomb.
- Mood
- spirited
- theatrical
- cozy-yet-perilous
- Tone
- wry
- playful
- charming
- suspenseful
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- accidental intimacy · duty versus desire · family secrets · absurdity of social conventions
- The writing
- Crisp, witty, and elegantly period-appropriate, driven by sharp dialogue and clever observations.
- The arc
- Moves from desperate pragmatism and chaotic entanglement to genuine affection and hard-won trust.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love classic, closed-door Regency romps that balance sparkling banter with a dash of gothic mystery.
Content notes
- illness of a parent
- mild peril
About the book
Desperate to help her ailing mother, Philadelphia "Delphie" Carteret agrees to partake in a sham wedding ceremony to her cousin, Gareth. This fulfills Gareth's obligation to marry before his sick uncle passes, and in exchange Delphie's mother will be guaranteed an annuity for life. The plan is perfect. But perfect plans usually go awry. Not only was the marriage ceremony valid, but Gareth's dying uncle makes a miraculous recovery. An imposter is threatening Delphie's identity and her life, and the whole family is on the brink of scandal. As Gareth and Delphie try to mastermind a way out of this mess, they begin to discover that what's between them may be surprisingly real.
Description from Open Library.
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