To say that Julia Quinn's writing skill improved after writing this, her first publication, would be a spectacular understatement. The story was mostly really enjoyable though and the writing improved (if not enough) about halfway in. Maybe she got a better editor? I so liked Alex and Emma, and that saved this from being unreadable. The dialogue though... GAH! It is unbelievably terrible, stunningly clumsy. Every scene is overwrought and peppered with 20th century idioms. I kept waiting for someone to describe something as "groovy" or tell me not to squeeze the Charmin

Bottom line, fun characters, decent storyline, subpar writing adds up to a 2.5 rounded up to 3 because Julia Quinn has given me a whole lot of great reading over the years.