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Love in the Afternoon Book Summary and Study Guide

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of Love in the Afternoon


Beatrix Hathaway innocently writes to Captain Christopher Phelan using her friend's name but starts to fall in love with a man who thinks she is another person. Beatrix Hathaway, the youngest of the Hathaway, was the most particular of her family. She is a proud lover of animals and nature. She feels more comfortable outdoors than indoors. She has an assorted pets running around at the Hathaway's household. She has debut at few London seasons but no one caught her eye even though she is considered a classic beauty. She wanted a man whose force of will matched her own and wanted to have a passionate love, be challenged, and overtaken. Though her life changed when her friend Prudence Mercer begged Beatrix to help her with a gentlemen friend, Captain Christopher Phelan.
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Beatrix remembers Christopher Phelan, the second son of Earl of Riverton, who is everything opposite of her. He is sophisticated and born to privilege and able to move with ease in a civilized environment. He signed up to be in the military at the age of twenty-two and became quite popular with the ladies. Though once she overheard the comment that Christopher made about Beatrix, being more suited to the stables compared to the drawing room, Beatrix avoided him and vowed to never speak with him.

When Prudence went to Beatrix, she explained that Christopher has changed during his military duty at Crimea. Through the letters she noticed that Christopher became harden because of the battles. He confessed to Prudence that there is a dog that keeps on following him, Albert. Albert is the dog that saved Christopher's life during battle. Though Albert is acting up lately and Christopher does not know how to handle him. Prudence knowing Beatrix's love for animals ask for help and also ask to tell Christopher that she is not into him anymore and give advice about the dog. She does not want a husband that has changed, but the same man he was before going into war. Beatrix only agrees because she cares about the dog.
Soon both Christopher and Beatrix starts a correspondence and starts to fell in love with one another. Though the only problem is that Beatrix has been signing her letters as Prudence. Soon she receives word that Christopher comes home because his older brother passed away without any heirs and know the Riverton Estate is in his hands. So he decides to go back to England asking Prudence to wait for him. Beatrix quickly writes that she is sorry and to find her. Christopher confused with the message travels back home intent to marry Prudence.

Christopher and Beatrix meets face to face for the first time since the letters through his sister-in-law Audrey. Audrey convinces Christopher that if he loves the woman in the letters he should go find her, but is overly cautious in telling him that the owner of the letters may not be Prudence but someone else. Though slowly Christopher realizes that it was Beatrix that was writing to him all those times. They comfort each other but Beatrix keeps on running away from him because she is afraid that the man that she always wanted was him. After much coaxing from her sisters and brother she admits her feelings to Christopher. They get married at the end and Christopher is a decorative solider and Beatrix is part of the Zoology society giving the female perspectives. It is during the ceremony honoring Christopher he finds out that Beatrix is pregnant and is excited about the start of a family.
Best part of story, including ending: I love this Hathaway story because it shows Beatrix the 'weird' and 'science girl' of the family finds love with the man of her dreams and receives an happily ever after.

Best scene in story: When Christopher is getting premission to marry Beatrix by Cam, Leo, and Merpin. Cam and Leo are happy and allows the marriage though they were worried about Merpin because he has a special spot for Beatrix. When Christopher said that he will take in all of Beatrix's animals Meripin agrees on the marriage without hesitation. I thought it was a very funny scene and also it show how much Christopher knew Beatrix's family loves her so much.

Opinion about the main character: I love Beatrix because she is the most true to her self of her sister's. I loved how no matter what she refused to conform into society and move with her own beat. I

The review of this Book prepared by Erin Okamoto a Level 2 American Robin scholar

Chapter Analysis of Love in the Afternoon

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Plot & Themes

Time/era of story    -   Regency era If one lover chases another...    -   they alternate Phone/email/mail relationship    -   Yes Kind of relationship:    -   love affair by letters

Main Male Character

Profession/status:    -   navy soldier Age/status:    -   20's-30's Sex makes him    -   a better lover Unusual characteristics?    -   Extremely cynical or arrogant

Main Female Character

Age/status:    -   20's-30's Profession/status:    -   scholar Effect of sexing    -   confident Unusual characteristics:    -   Very shy

Setting

Europe    -   Yes European country:    -   England/UK    -   Turkey Misc setting    -   Fancy Mansion

Writing Style

Accounts of torture and death?    -   generic/vague references to death/punishment What % of story is romance related?    -   nearly 100% How explicit is the sex?    -   descript of kissing    -   touching of anatomy    -   actual description of sex Focus of story    -   equally on him and her How much dialog    -   roughly even amounts of descript and dialog

Books with storylines, themes & endings like Love in the Afternoon

Lisa Kleypas Books Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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