Miss Buncle Married
74. D. E. Stevenson, Miss Buncle Married
***Warning: contains minor spoilers for Miss Buncle's Book.***
Barbara Abbott, née Buncle, and her husband Arthur have just begun their life of marital bliss. However, they’ve grown tired of living in a London suburb and being forced to attend bridge parties with their dull neighbors. Barbara searches for a nice house farther away from London and soon finds one in the quaint village of Wandlebury. There she meets an assortment of eccentric characters, from the loud and pedantic artist Mr. Marvell to the invalid Lady Chevis Cobbe to her sweet and independent niece Jeronina (called Jerry). She also witnesses the growing attraction between Jerry and Arthur’s nephew Sam, but a peculiarity of Lady Chevis Cobbe’s will may threaten their budding romance. In all, Barbara’s life has become so interesting that she just might decide to write another book....
I loved Miss Buncle’s Book so much that I just had to get my hands on this sequel! Fortunately, this book is every bit as sweet and charming as its predecessor. My favorite part is the relationship between Barbara and Arthur. So few books go past the happily-ever-after and show what a good marriage actually looks like; but Barbara and Arthur’s interactions with each other in this novel made me smile every time. The romance between Sam and Jerry is adorable too, although it seemed to progress very quickly. The eccentric secondary characters add some fun light comedy, and Stevenson also explores the more serious theme of the limited options available to women in the 1930s. I think this pair of books will definitely be among my favorite reads of the year.