(no subject)

So yesterday as a reward for several weeks of stress I reread Georgette Heyer's Cotillion, and even though this was the very first Heyer I ever read, it turns out that it in fact pre-dated my booklogging habit and therefore I have never written it up!

I AM FIXING THAT NOW, because Cotillion is so, so delightful. Everybody who's ever read a Heyer knows this, but there are presumably some people out there who don't! BUT NOW YOU WILL. (You're welcome!)

Cotillion starts out with our heroine Kitty being informed by her cranky old guardian that she has to marry one of his great-nephews/her fake cousins, or he's not going to leave her any money. He's summoned them all here, so she can pick which one she likes best, and that will be that!

Unfortunately, the Dashing Sexy fake cousin that she is secretly in love with and that her guardian secretly wants to leave all his money to has failed to turn up, leaving her with the option of Bachelor A, the rector who doesn't believe in fun and is only proposing because he's Very Worried About Kit's Future, and Bachelor B, the one who has a mental age of seven and is only proposing because his mother made him. Everyone involved agrees that this is very awkward -- bear in mind that they are all fake cousins and have known each other since they were kids -- but nobody really knows what to do about it!

Fortunately, while Kitty is in the process of throwing a tantrum and running away, she bumps into Bachelor C, the amiable and hapless one who is already rich and has no interest in getting married because any potential wife would probably clash with his exquisite wardrobe.

KITTY: FREDDY. Freddy! Buddy. Favorite fake cousin!
FREDDY: . . . first I've heard about being your favorite fake cousin . . .
KITTY: Sooooo Freddy, how about we get fake engaged? And then I could go hang out in London for a month and buy a lot of engagement dresses and make our Dashing Sexy cousin feel like an idiot for not turning up to get married, and then we'll break up! Is this not the greatest idea ever? :D
FREDDY: . . . not sure I'd actually use the words 'greatest idea ever . . .'
KITTY: Pleeeeeeeease Freddy! Please! I have NEVER GOTTEN TO WEAR A PRETTY DRESS EVER IN MY LIFE DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND HOW HARD THIS IS.
FREDDY: . . . you're right, that is pretty terrible. FINE. Let's do this thing.
KITTY: FREDDY YOU'RE FOR REAL MY FAVORITE :D :D :D :D

And then they go back and earnestly explain to everybody that they have been nursing a SECRET PASSION for each other for years, and then they go to London, and Freddy helps Kitty buy dresses, and Kitty drags Freddy to all the tourist traps, and they hang out and admire each other's good taste and have awesome BFF times, and, like, that's it. THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE BOOK.

I mean, Sexy Dashing Cousin inevitably shows up to be a romantic interest, and Kitty gets involved in some wacky hijinks around various other cousins, but mostly IT'S ABOUT BUDDIES ( and spoilers )

I also need to ask you guys what Heyer I should read next, since I anticipate more stressful weeks in my future and I've run out of ones that I remember having been directly recommended.

For the record, I have also read and loved: The Talisman Ring, The Unknown Ajax, Sprig Muslin, Sylvester, The Corinthian, Frederica and The Foundling

I have read and enjoyed with some caveats: The Grand Sophy, Venetia, Devil's Cub, The Convenient Marriage, The Masqueraders, and Regency Buck

I have read and did not like at all: Bath Tangle and The Spanish Bride