Comments on: Drumroll: The First Annual Reformed Brat Contest

By: SHZ

SHZ — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:11:05 +0000

Oh I HATE brats. It seems many authors believe that the only way to give a female character a personality is to make her a “feisty” brat. That’s why Lillian from Lisa Kleypas’ Wallflowers is my most hated historical romance character – ever.

Brats aren’t fun – they’re immature. Immaturity is not a trait I look for in a character I’m supposed to find common ground with.

By: Jean Wan

Jean Wan — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 03:03:03 +0000

SEP definitely doesn’t take the easy way out with some of her heroines; some of them do or have done some really questionable things (um, Molly?), but what makes her such a powerful writer for me is that the road to redemption is often long and hard, but also fair. And successful – This Heart of Mine is a personal DIK for me.

@Corie – I haven’t read Beast in ages – I actually ordered it from Better World Books then discovered I’d messed up the titles and ordered Sleeping Beauty instead. But I do remember Lulu (or Louise?) was really, really, /really/ long. And spoiled.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 20:35:38 +0000

Like several people have already stated, “bratty” can be acceptable if the characters mature and grow. But sometimes the book is about a character who should know better. I can name several books where the heroine ruined it for me due to what I considered selfish, manipulative behavior. But how we react to a character is so individual. I guarantee if I were to name the heroines I can’t stand, there would be many who would come to their defense. Since I haven’t read *any* of the book so far mentioned (in the article or the comments) I don’t know how to compare what I consider unacceptable with the examples given of acceptable “bratty” characters.

By: Corie

Corie — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 20:18:57 +0000

Lulu Vandermeer from BEAST was a huge brat…I love how the book started off. I sort of understood her longing, restlessness, and fears and why she acts the way she does. But after a while it gets annoying and irritating…in the end I wasn’t convinced she truly loved Charles.

By: xina

xina — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 20:16:01 +0000

I love Ain’t She Sweet. I have read it a few times. I put off reading this book because I thought I would dislike the heroine. I have to admit, she was pretty shocking, but I understood her as the book went on.
The only other truly bratty heroine I can think of has been mentioned by Jean…Katherine Deveraux by Sandy Hingston. What a great turn around by the heroine and it is due to the skill of the author.

By: Victoria S

Victoria S — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:01:35 +0000

Ah bungluna, I urge you to try “Ain’t She Sweet”. This is a wonderful story masterfully told. You will love the characters SEP has in this book. And while Sugar Beth’s behavior is not excused, you can really understand what was going on to cause it. I don’t know how, but this is one of the first books I ever read by SEP, and while I am not truly a big SEP fan, this is one I read over and over again, it’s just that good!

By: lauren

lauren — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:38:28 +0000

Hmm…well there are brats and then there are girls who become women by means of stubbornness, speaking out, being tough so on…I actually see a difference…I don’t mind the outspoken “brat” character at all, reminds me of me, but as a woman evolves the “brat” can go either way they can become self centered and selfish or they can become an independent woman in a strong relationship…I have read many books where the “brat” stays the brat and I do not like those at all!

By: bungluna

bungluna — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:44:14 +0000

This is one of my hot-button issues. I loath bratty heroines and just don’t care if they are redeemed, so I avoid all books that feature them. I love SEP but haven’t read the “Ain’t She Sweet” for this reason.

By: Eggletina

Eggletina — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:06:02 +0000

I normally don’t like the bratty type, but when an author can show how the character changes over time, it can be interesting. Catherine in Marsha Canham’s “The Pride of Lions” is a good example of one.

By: Victoria S

Victoria S — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:12:50 +0000

Yes, Whitney Stone (historic) Sugar Beth Carey (contmp) are reformed brats at their best.

Bryony Asquith “Not Quite A Husband” Sherry Thomas…even though she was smart as a whip,( dedicated to being a doctor when that was almost impossible for a woman), when she married Leo Marsden and then proceeded to punish him without telling him why..bratty behavior. When she insisted on going over the mountains when a more experienced person told her it was dangerous, and almost getting them killed in the process…bratty behavior. But when she started to examine her self and actions ….some of the best redemptive writing ever by Ms. Thomas!

Olivia Wingate-Carsington “Lord Perfect” and “Last Night’s Scandal” Loretta Chase. This girl was so bratty she needed two books. Although I don’t know if Olivia can truly be considered reformed.