Love & War: An Alex & Eliza Story

The love story of Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler is back on the pages in Love & War, where hearts and live are on the line in the early years of the Hamilton marriage.  Melissa de la Cruz returns with her foray into young adult historical romance as she picks up where her first novel in the series, Alex & Eliza, left off. The Revolutionary War wages on as Alexander and Eliza try to navigate married life and their newfound lives in New York City.

Here’s the Amazon blurb:

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?

Overall, this book was eh. Maybe it’s  because I’ve seen Hamilton a few too many times so I know how the story goes, but I just wasn’t really intrigued. The writing is fine, if a bit contrived to feel like “historical” romances and the like. I liked the small asides that felt more modern and familiar and like innovation on the part of de la Cruz, but this is basically Hamilton fan-fiction so if you like that sort of stuff and want a quick, no-serious-strings-attached historical romance in the more YA style despite being about adults, this could be a good read for you.

I actually preferred LM Elliott’s Hamilton & Peggy: A Revolutionary Friendship as it felt more fresh and innovative in a world saturated with Hamilton stuff. Check out my review of it here.