Miss Pendleton
kkomak , Yu Hyemin - Webtoon original
Ongoing - 15 Episodes - Scrolling
Miss Laura Pendleton is renowned in London for her skills as a matchmaker, despite being herself unwed at the age of 29. She is entrusted with finding a match for Ian Dalton, a visitor with a distaste for London’s social scene and no interest in marriage.
Miss Pendleton is a newer comic, having posted its first episodes on webtoon back in May. As such, it only has a few episodes, but I’ve greatly enjoyed every single one.
The dialogue in this comic struck me the first time I read it, and it struck me again rereading it now. Part of it may be the novelty of not reading much in the regency era setting, but I really enjoyed how grounded the dialogue felt in the time period. A lot of the historical romance I read sounds very contemporary, and while I enjoy reading that plenty, Miss Pendleton's commitment to a more accurate feel to its dialogue really stands out.
Feeling grounded in its time period isn't the only strength of Miss Pendleton's dialogue—the actual dialogue itself is very engaging. I especially enjoy any time Miss Pendleton and Mr. Dalton talk, as the two of them play off of each other very well. Both of them are very clever, and you can tell that they quickly come to understand each other and enjoy one another's company. In just a few episodes, I've become quickly invested in not just their eventual romance, but their current friendship as well.
Part of that quick investment is how much I enjoy each of the main characters. I really love Laura Pendleton. The author is very good at showing what kind of person she is—intelligent, thoughtful, and with a desire to help the people around her find happiness.
I’m compelled by her friendships with other women, such as her friendship with Miss Hyde, another woman who has recently refused marriage the was Miss Pendleton has. Through Miss Pendleton’s support of her friend, you learn a lot about Miss Pendleton herself, as well as her past and why life has landed her in the place it has.
I'm very interested in the bits of her past which we've seen so far, though for now, her past and motivations have only been teased.
Mr. Dalton is another character I’m very interested in—originally presented as unfriendly and difficult, it becomes quickly clear he’s more gentlemanly than he makes himself out to be. He’s almost immediately smitten with Miss Pendleton, and I’ll admit, a male lead immediately head over heels for the female lead is a romance trope I enjoy. I always have a lot of fun when a chapter takes place in his point of view, as he really is more charming than he lets on.
Without spoiling anything, I will share that the most recent episodes of this comic have been especially interesting to me, and I’m really excited to see where Miss Pendleton will go as a story. With very endearing characters, believable development of relationships, and thoughtful writing, this is probably one of my favorite newer webcomics I’ve picked up. I highly recommend trying it yourself and joining along as the story continues.
