- Pages: 384
- Age Suggestion: 13+
- Genre: Young Adult Fiction; Historic, Romance
- Published 4-17-2018 by Penguin Young Readers Group
Summary
The thrilling romance of young Alexander Hamilton and Eliza Schuyler continues in the sizzling sequel to the New York Times bestselling Alex & Eliza: A Love Story
1781. Albany, New York.
As the war for American independence rages on, Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler begin their new life as a married couple. Still, Alex is as determined as ever to prove his mettle and secure his legacy . . . even if that means leaving his beloved Eliza behind to join the front lines at the Battle of Yorktown. But when the war unexpectedly arrives on Eliza's doorstep, she must fight for a better future—for their fledgling country and for her marriage.
Yet even after the Revolution comes to its historic close, Alex and Eliza's happily-ever-after is threatened. Eliza struggles to build a home in the hustle and bustle of New York City just as Alex's burgeoning law practice brings him up against his greatest rival—the ambitious young lawyer Aaron Burr. And with Alex's star on the rise, Eliza can't help but feel neglected by a husband who seems to have time for everyone but her. Torn apart by new trials and temptations, can Alex and Eliza's epic love survive life in the big city?
1781. Albany, New York.
As the war for American independence rages on, Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler begin their new life as a married couple. Still, Alex is as determined as ever to prove his mettle and secure his legacy . . . even if that means leaving his beloved Eliza behind to join the front lines at the Battle of Yorktown. But when the war unexpectedly arrives on Eliza's doorstep, she must fight for a better future—for their fledgling country and for her marriage.
Yet even after the Revolution comes to its historic close, Alex and Eliza's happily-ever-after is threatened. Eliza struggles to build a home in the hustle and bustle of New York City just as Alex's burgeoning law practice brings him up against his greatest rival—the ambitious young lawyer Aaron Burr. And with Alex's star on the rise, Eliza can't help but feel neglected by a husband who seems to have time for everyone but her. Torn apart by new trials and temptations, can Alex and Eliza's epic love survive life in the big city?
Quotes from the Book
"Greed is as old as civilization," Alex replied.
But the ability to lead a nation is not a heritable trait like hair color or skin tone. It is a rare skill, indeed, and manifests itself only in persons whose unique combination of temperament, training, and experience have made them capable of seeing past benefits that they can derive from their country, to the benefits that they can bestow upon that country.
"I wonder how a country so divided can stand?"
"We will only stand if we learn to accept and even embrace each other's differences rather than allow them to divide us. It is a childish fantasy to expect everyone to agree all the time, but how much better to live in a country where one is free to think differently from one's neighbors, and even one's government, without risking life and limb."
They could meet every obstacle and temptation in their path as long as they were by each other's side, in love and war, failure and victory, poverty and prosperity, until the curtain closed on their story.
Review
So, far this series is definitely making me a Melissa de la Cruz fan. In this second installment of Alex & Eliza we see the hardships the main characters struggle with in being a new couple and in building a new nation on top of it.
This one is very different from the first one, but you must remember that the times are changing dramatically. Alex and Eliza are separate from each other for longer periods of time than I liked, but, I mean I get the reasons why. The main difference is the transition from being in a war, to picking up the pieces the war has left behind, and then trying to glue your life back together again accordingly.
Early on in the book whenever Alex tells Eliza what his very dangerous aspirations are (and when the conversation didn't go so well) I knew right off the bat that this was going to be a very interesting story.
Eliza struggles with something that all of us do: loneliness. She has been married for three years and the amount of time she has seen Alex is probably less than half of those years. Not to mention she's at a time in her life where she wants kids, come on can you blame her for feeling this way? I can't, but don't worry both of her sisters come to visit her. I liked to see the struggle with an emotion so common today, and the difficult circumstance that many newlyweds go through. I think that emotionally out of the two main characters she is the most relatable.
Alex went from Colonel Hamilton to just Mr. Hamilton. Quite the adjustment for both the characters and the reader. He's finished school, started his own law practice, and is trying to provide for his family. Throughout this book I get his responsibilities are hard to balance with his role as a husband, but a lot of the times I'm sitting here thinking come on man you need to be there for your wife. Just like she is for you. Also, when Arron Burr arrived on the seen it got really interesting. If you know what happens between the two of them, then I'm sure your wondering the same thing I am. I wonder how Cruz will carry out the tension and conflict in the story.
Their are multiple things that this book brought back from the first book. The first Is the patriotic feeling you get from this book. It really puts into perspective that these where real people, with real feelings, that dealt with real problems. And not only the problems of founders of America necessarily. Cruz also addresses the dark part of our history. The fact that we took land from people, then enslaved even more and then fought for freedom liberty, and justice. Kind of contradictory, right? You start to appreciate the sacrifices all of these people made so we can have the freedom that we have today. The second is the wit. Both of these characters are so shrewd and sarcastic. I love it. But there is a new aspect I like that this book brings which the first one didn't. It addresses many current problems that they were dealing with today. They just ended a revolution and are trying to start a new beginning for their fledgling country, for their families, and for their futures. These people were dealing with a make or brake moment. A moment in time that can(and we now know will) change everything. I really like the parallelism between the past and the present.
I really enjoyed this book. At the end of it Cruz has written an author's note and it tells you some facts and some things that she has changed(which I like the changes way better than what really happened). She asks you not to research Alex and Eliza's story and I ask you to do the same. Please, don't Google their story because it reminds you history(and, well, life) isn't always a happy story(we don't need any more reminders) . This one of those moments where ignorance really is bliss. So, I thank you for reading this, and I hope this book review has helpful!
This one is very different from the first one, but you must remember that the times are changing dramatically. Alex and Eliza are separate from each other for longer periods of time than I liked, but, I mean I get the reasons why. The main difference is the transition from being in a war, to picking up the pieces the war has left behind, and then trying to glue your life back together again accordingly.
Early on in the book whenever Alex tells Eliza what his very dangerous aspirations are (and when the conversation didn't go so well) I knew right off the bat that this was going to be a very interesting story.
Eliza struggles with something that all of us do: loneliness. She has been married for three years and the amount of time she has seen Alex is probably less than half of those years. Not to mention she's at a time in her life where she wants kids, come on can you blame her for feeling this way? I can't, but don't worry both of her sisters come to visit her. I liked to see the struggle with an emotion so common today, and the difficult circumstance that many newlyweds go through. I think that emotionally out of the two main characters she is the most relatable.
Alex went from Colonel Hamilton to just Mr. Hamilton. Quite the adjustment for both the characters and the reader. He's finished school, started his own law practice, and is trying to provide for his family. Throughout this book I get his responsibilities are hard to balance with his role as a husband, but a lot of the times I'm sitting here thinking come on man you need to be there for your wife. Just like she is for you. Also, when Arron Burr arrived on the seen it got really interesting. If you know what happens between the two of them, then I'm sure your wondering the same thing I am. I wonder how Cruz will carry out the tension and conflict in the story.
Their are multiple things that this book brought back from the first book. The first Is the patriotic feeling you get from this book. It really puts into perspective that these where real people, with real feelings, that dealt with real problems. And not only the problems of founders of America necessarily. Cruz also addresses the dark part of our history. The fact that we took land from people, then enslaved even more and then fought for freedom liberty, and justice. Kind of contradictory, right? You start to appreciate the sacrifices all of these people made so we can have the freedom that we have today. The second is the wit. Both of these characters are so shrewd and sarcastic. I love it. But there is a new aspect I like that this book brings which the first one didn't. It addresses many current problems that they were dealing with today. They just ended a revolution and are trying to start a new beginning for their fledgling country, for their families, and for their futures. These people were dealing with a make or brake moment. A moment in time that can(and we now know will) change everything. I really like the parallelism between the past and the present.
I really enjoyed this book. At the end of it Cruz has written an author's note and it tells you some facts and some things that she has changed(which I like the changes way better than what really happened). She asks you not to research Alex and Eliza's story and I ask you to do the same. Please, don't Google their story because it reminds you history(and, well, life) isn't always a happy story(we don't need any more reminders) . This one of those moments where ignorance really is bliss. So, I thank you for reading this, and I hope this book review has helpful!
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