Dawn Ius

On a rigid path, set by his family, to become valedictorian, attend Harvard Law School, have a stunning political career like his father's, and date the right girl, Henry Tudor feels trapped until he meets the wild, brash Anne Boleyn, and they embark on a dangerous romance.

Anne & Henry

Megan During

This book was so clever and amazing! Everyone knows the story of Henry the 8th and Anne Boleyn and it's sad and horrible, but this made the story so much worse! I found myself hoping that Henry and Anne would work it out. That Henry would stand up to his friends and choose Anne and they live happily ever after, however that is not what happened.

I think the story became a lot more real because of how it could happen in this day and age. It was almost too easy for Henry's "friends" to paint Anne in a negative light and it broke my heart reading about it. 

Dawn not only recreated a tragic story but she made it so much more gut wrenching and horrible (in a very good couldn't put it down way). This book was so good I read it in one day!

I especially love the way she worked in Jane Seymour and the beheading aspect of Anne's death with the picture. A great book that all lovers of Anne Boleyn and Henry the 8th should read!

Lisa ✩ @lifeinlit

I went into this book knowing it was a retelling, but with very little knowledge of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn’s story. I really only knew the basics. So I was a bit surprised with where this story went, and eventually, how it ended. I thought Dawn’s writing style was a lot of fun. I loved Anne immediately and thought she was a fantastic character in the beginning. So snarky and fun, always living life to the fullest.

Though I did very much enjoy this story and Dawn Ius’ incredible writing, I did have a few issues with this book. My biggest issue was I had trouble really getting a grip on Anne’s attraction to Henry. Henry’s attraction to Anne was totally understandable. The girl was a spitfire and a total blast! But Henry… he was just totally boring, naive, and much to “blah” for Anne, in my opinion. So because of this, I had trouble really connecting to their romance. I also didn’t care for the way Anne evolved throughout the story, appearing to be a completely different and weaker person by the end. Henry was a total jerk, who I just wanted to smack for his ridiculous actions.

My only other real complaint was that the ONLY real likeable character was Anne. The others, including parents and other students, were just plain MEAN! The way they all acted was ridiculous and downright ugly. The way the story ended was also a little far-fetched, but I enjoyed it even despite that. I thought the last sentence (which Becca mentioned IMMEDIATELY after reading it) was perfection.

Overall, a fun read that I quite enjoyed. I was extremely impressed with Dawn Ius’ writing as a debut author and I’m eager to see what she comes out with next.

(Thanks to Simon Pulse for the review copy!)

Find this review and others like it at Lost in Literature!

nelly sanchez

Tânia Borges

In this wonderfully “clever and compelling” (Kirkus Reviews) retelling of the infamous—and torrid—love affair between Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII, history collides with the present when a sizzling romance ignites in a modern-day high school. Henry Tudor’s life has been mapped out since the day he was born: student body president, valedictorian, Harvard Law School, and a stunning political career just like his father’s. But ever since the death of his brother, the pressure for Henry to be perfect has doubled. And now he’s trapped: forbidden from pursuing a life as an artist or dating any girl who isn’t Tudor-approved. Then Anne Boleyn crashes into his life. Wild, brash, and outspoken, Anne is everything Henry isn’t allowed to be—or want. But soon Anne is all he can think about. His mother, his friends, and even his girlfriend warn him away, but his desire for Anne consumes him. Henry is willing to do anything to be with her, but once they’re together, will their romance destroy them both? Inspired by the true story of Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII, Anne & Henry beautifully reimagines the intensity, love, and betrayal between one of the most infamous couples of all time.