I really enjoyed this historical romance debut! Poppy and Rhys had the best chemistry and I love when historical romance takes a particularly feminist turn. The engaging prose kept me hooked from the start and I found even the side characters compelling. I'm looking forward to more from Fenichel and in the Wallflowers series!

Feisty Poppy Arrington's less than agreeable parents have turned her away from all thoughts of marriage and ever being “owned” by a man. Her nemesis, Rhys Draper and Earl of Marsden, has been a thorn in her side for years. However, when her friend needs intervention in an arranged marriage, Rhys realises that for Poppy's own good, he needs to join her in her endeavours. As Rhys and Poppy become embroiled in her friend's matters they learn a new respect for one another and soon find themselves fighting an attraction that cannot be denied. Rhys is more than willing to pursue their relationship, but Poppy has made her mind up and nothing can deter her from antagonism towards marriage. There is humour and wit in this novel, but also heartache and tense moments as Poppy has to endure the scorn of her father. It takes a dramatic turn of events to persuade Poppy that it is in fact in order for her to change her mind about her preconceived ideas. This novel is well written and leaves one with a warm romantic feeling. It is also a standalone and comes to an amusing and delightful close. I am so looking forward to the next book in this series. I received a copy of this book as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.

This is not some deep emotional read. This is just a read which is very enjoyable. The story is fun the characters are fun. Don’t look into it as some deep novel. It’s enjoyable read by a good author

A great witty read for the summer. The Wallflower of West Lane are quite a quartet of girls that you thoroughly enjoy reading their antics. The introduction of a 5th/Honourary wallflower and tales get even more elaborate. I can just imagine the antics that they got upto in finishing school. A book I thoroughly enjoyed and hope that there are more Wallflower Tales to follow.

“The Earl Not Taken” was a charming debut but not a standout. This historical romance novel tells the tale of Pobby, who swore off marriage due to the ‘extracurricular activities’ of her father and a duke, Rhys, who is trying to redeem himself in the light of his sister's best friend after an awkward encounter years prior. Their journey begins with secret meetings and kisses, heated moments, and a plan to reveal the true intentions of a well off man who is betrothed to a Wallflower. It was an overall pleasant read but it did have tiring back and forth with the couple that got old quick yet… I did enjoy most of their encounters and the process of how they became enemies to lovers. This was an enjoyable read all around.

This was such an adorable historical romance. I'm such a huge fan of the Wallflower trope and author AS Fenichel did not disappoint me with her take. The characters were complex, multifaceted creatures. Intelligent, loyal, kind, scared and confused. And it's within this incredible mix of emotions that we are given a fairly realistic and super romantic love story, that is truly well written, fleshed out and packed with engaging, funny and charming players. Not only our main protagonists are thoroughly delightful but also the rest of the wallflowers and side characters. I'm super excited to read more about those women.

This was a remarkable historical Romance. Not only is the cover stunning but the whole story within is just beautiful.

Thank you Netgalley for providing this for a fair review.

Historic romance is probably my favorite genre. It's not even a guilty pleasure - it's among my favorite things. And I was so psyched for this one. I LOVED the super contemporary cover, the enemies to lovers trope got me excited, and I had a cold snowy weekend to enjoy it in all of its ruffle and lace

But this one was hard to finish.

For one thing, there was some unexpected and frankly, a little triggering confrontation with Poppy's family. For another, her lack of confidence and ability to trust her own needs tried my patience. She loudly bemoans marriage and having any longterm connection to Rhys in an emotionally manipulative way, even when she's falling for him.

Rhys was enjoyable in small doses but even he has his moments of highhandedness, particularly later in the book. Their age discrepancy worked for me but I felt like her reaction to an embarrassing event in the first chapter unrealistically colored their entire relationship - particularly his inability to see how that may have impacted her feelings for him when that was one of their last encounters before she went away to school. I know many male heroes aren't emotionally fluent (which I don't have a lot of patience for, frankly) but Rhys could have travelled a little bit of distance on this point.

I'm not sure if this is an author mismatch for me or if this story just hit me wrong, but this was nearly a pass. However, I may give the story of Rhys's sister Faith a shot at a later date.

I have a lot of feelings about this book - and such mixed emotions. i loved Rhys and the progression of his character. I loved the concept of four close female friends against the world - a regency sex and the city if you will. But I just had such a hard time with Poppy.

Poppy has a very harsh and fixed view of the world and men in particular. She is extremely rigid in her thinking. You can see how it happened. Her parents are pretty awful people and her closest friend suffered abuse at the hands of her husband. She's been badly scarred in the process. At age 16 she catches Rhys, her best friend's brother, without his shirt having sex with a girl out in a field. From that point forward, she decides he is a womanizer and pretty much a terrible person. Judgy much? She says he has never done anything to correct her opinion of him - but I am pretty sure even if he had, her opinion wouldn't have changed.

For Rhys, Poppy is difficult to understand. He sees her as a clumsy, overly direct, socially awkward girl who is friends with his sister. Someone to roll his eyes at. When his sister's husband dies and his eyes are opened to everything she went through - things immediately start to change in how he views Poppy and the world. Unlike Poppy, Rhys seems more open to change and accepting the change around him. as the book progresses - it becomes harder and harder to accept Poppy. She turns it around at the end - but it was almost too late for me.

There is a lot to like about this book - I loved the side characters and am really hoping we find a match for Geb - maybe a Mercy-Geb matchup because the other girls seem pretty well spoken for already! I just wonder if maybe this should have been the second book or even third. I am not sure the female relationships were settled enough for me to understand the depth and I am not sure that I knew enough about Poppy to love her through her rigidity and anger. I just couldn't get past it - even with her strong love for her friends. I think overall, I needed a little more history with the girls and each person individually.

I am very interested in reading the other books in the series - so I would give this one an extra half star if I could!

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.

Ther were so many things swirling around in my mind after reading this book that I had to take a day to collect all my thoughts before I could write a review for The Earl Not Taken. First off let me say that I enjoyed this book immensely. Secondly, I think this needs to be on everyone's must-read list.

The beauty of this book, I feel, is that is dives into so many social and mental issues all while wrapping it up beautifully in a historical romance. As we live in an ever-changing world where women are finally starting to have a voice, this book speaks to the issues of a abuse and of a woman having control of her sexuality. I don't know how Fenichel was able to tackle these deep subjects and still make this book a delightful read, but she absolutely did it!

Poppy has dreams of living her life unmarried. Her opinion of men has been shaped by her father and the dominating men she sees around her. Can she learn to overcome her prejudice against marriage and realize that not all men can be grouped into the same box? This story is full of second chances and self-awareness. The Earl Not Taken is the first in a new series called Wall Flowers of West Lane.

I could not put this book down! I literally was having to force myself to put it down during the day to get anything done. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a decent historical romance with a fierce feminist heroine determined to mark her own path and protecting her friends from marrying abusive husband's. She reluctantly agreed to partner with her friends brother to spy on Faith's fiance. Rhys develops romantic feelings for Poppy despite her obvious destain for him. While not a remarkable romance, the characters are well developed and the story compelling.

I received an ARC of The Earl Not Taken from Netgalley and the fabulous author A.S. Fenichel. This is the first book in her new series and is the oh so romantic story of Rhys and Penelope. Oooooohhh ... ohhhhhhhh.....both work for this spectacular romance. A.S. Fenichel does a wonderous job of depicting the perfect form of wooing. Rhys is a known rake and Penelope is the stumbling and bumbling, but oh so intelligent and brave young lady who is weary of marriage and it's institution. They develop and fight a growing attraction for each other. The Earl Not Taken is a journey of learning to trust and accepting the possibility that people change as well as altering old beliefs that seem irreparable. Fabulous book!

Earl Not Taken by A.S Fenichel ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I LOVED this book! I devoured it in one evening, it was so fast paced, witty, romantic and easy to read, I loved it. “Earl Not Taken” is the story of Lady Poppy, a woman who, after seeing the bad behaviour of the men in her life, vowed not to get married. In the story she has three best friends, The Wallflowers, whom she met at finishing school. The story begins with one of the Wallflowers Aurora being widowed after an abusive marriage and another Faith being engaged to a man she has never met. Poppy enlists the help of Auroras brother Rhys, a rake who she hates, to investigate Faith’s new fiancée. This involves them spending a lot of time together and love grows, at least on Rhys side.

What I loved about this novel is that it takes a regular trope, a lady who doesn’t want to get married and explores the backstory behind it. Poppy has grown up around bad men, philanders and wife beaters. She does not see any happy marriages at all. She fights her relationship with Rhys from the beginning. It is obvious that there is mutual affection there and the romance is sweet and lovely. The pair start with so much fire and passion and by the end it’s genuinely adorable to behold. It’s a great romance.

The other thing that makes this novel special is the female friendships. Historical romance novels set in this period rarely have meaningful friendships between women, in fact there are usually rivalries. Other women from the ton are meant to be catty and bitchy and not support each other. This is something I have always disliked about some romance novels, as it’s not true to life, women have always supported each other and although there will always be rivalry, to only deal with the nasty part of women relationships is untrue to life.

This is a great little novel and I will definitely like to read the second novel, based on Faiths experiences. A fantastic debut to the series!

Poppy has a deep-seated fear of men and marriage after growing up with the most terrible of examples, her parents. Rhys never really noticed Poppy until she and his sister returned from boarding school in Switzerland. Now he is captivated and in love. But can he overcome her fears?

Poppy and Rhys were well drawn with depth and character. While Poppy’s journey from fear to love seemed drawn out at times it was still an interesting and believable plot for these characters. Each member of the Wallflower quarter was likable and intriguing and I look forward to what I hope is a series.

I would recommend this book but might hold out for the next in the series before deciding whether to purchase for my library.

I enjoyed reading about the Wallflowers of West Lane but not as much as I hoped to! Somehow their conflicts and issues seemed much less compared to those of the Everton Domestic Society. I did like the characters but got a bit tired of Poppy's angst. If anyone, Aurora should be having the fears and anxieties. It just seemed that Poppy's anxieties were overblown for her situation and for her strength of character. But aside from that, I would definitely read the next installment. The male side characters in this story will be sure to be fleshed out in future stories, as will the other Wallflowers.

I enjoyed this book very much but it is not a traditional Regency romance. There was far too much present day attitude wound into the story as best the author could. In reality, a lot of it would never have happened. Despite that, I look forward to the other stories of the Wallflowers!

I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A charming series debut! A glint of modern feminism breathes life into a Victorian era romance archetype like none other. This story is beautifully reminiscent of a simpler time while still shining a light on issues that ring true today - what makes love a joint venture rather than a dictatorship? Is marriage inherently biased as an oppressive construct of the patriarchy? Does the madness of love transcend the relevance of these institutions?

Poppy and her group of friends are known as a rebellious group of social upstarts called the Wallflowers of West Lane. After witnessing a friend get physically and emotionally abused by her late husband, the group decides that they will band together to ward off suitors and the oppressive regime of marriage altogether. When an arranged marriage proposal is set up by one of the friend's parents, it is up to the rest of the group to spy on her groom-to-be to make sure they approve of his intentions and character. Along the way, Poppy works with fellow Wallflower Aurora's older brother Rhys to gain intel, but ends up down a road she didn't expect to ever travel. She learns that perhaps her preconceived ideas of sex and marriage and her opinions of Rhys as a devilish womanizer, are antiquated and largely untrue.

A heartwarming hate to love romance woven into an equally charming narrative of friendship and a dash of social exploration. I was touched by Rhys' modern interpretation of sex and marriage and his eternal patience for Poppy as a lover and friend. This was a quick read that warms the spirit and begs for a sequel.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Yay for Poppy and the other three Wallflowers! They are quite some characters, and friends for life. But a bit much for Rhys (Aurora's brother) to handle:

'Her smile bright, she pulled away from him and ran toward the house.
Rhys followed more slowly. Hos had he come to such a turn? Poppy Arrington would be the death of him; that much was certain.'

I am looking forward to reading the next in this series.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.

Summary:
All Lady Penelope Arrington wants out of life is to not belong to any man and her Tuesday afternoons with her three best friends, Wallflowers of West Lane. After forging an unbreakable bond of friendship, the four best friends make a pact to ensure no Wallflower marries a man of bad character. When the pact gets tested, and one of their own is promised to a mysterious duke, it is up to Poppy to investigate. Unfortunately, due to propriety, London society, and - let's face it- because it's a man's world, she can't do it alone. Thankfully, one of the wallflowers has a very good-looking... I mean...RESPECTABLE older brother that is willing to help out...and she can't forget what she saw when she was a young girl every time they are thrown together.

Rhys Draper has had to step into his responsible role as Earl of Marsden and head of the family. When his sister's history of some marital abuse comes to light after her husbands' death, he feels responsible for not knowing and taking action against him. So when her best friends, the Wallflowers, need a man to make sure it doesn't happen again - he knows what must be done. When the investigation throws him and Poppy together to investigate this mysterious Duke, Rhys can't HELP but be intrigued by his sister's best friend. But he soon learns Poppy is not the type of woman that falls to an Earl's feet, he will have to work for it. That makes the chase all the more exciting!

Review:
This book was a bit of a slow start for me. The beginning was a little generic and there were some pacing issues. HOWEVER - the book really changed for me when the two main characters take a certain trip together and get stranded because of the weather. From that point forward - I really couldn't put it down. The book's view on women, marriage, and sex feel modern- while still bringing that historical charm. It's perfect for the modern reader with a love for historical romance.

What I liked:
Our hero, Rys, was EXTREMELY endearing. He was everything I wanted in a male lead and more. Can anyone say #ConsentBoner? I can! His words and actions were so charming, romantic, and passionate - I couldn't help but fall for him too!

The heroine, Poppy, was funny, relatable, and had some serious trust issues. There were parts of the story where I just wanted to shake her for some miscommunication issues and some choices she made - but because of her history with her family, made her actions justified and understandable.

The relationship between these two is one that every woman would dream of. Rhys was so patient with Poppy and her issues. The lengths that he went to be understanding and accommodating with her were so heart-warming. For anyone wondering about the heat level - I would consider this book a medium-burn with some really steamy and beautiful intimate scenes together.

I LOVED the side characters. The wallflowers were such a fun group and gave me some serious English Goonies vibes. I can't wait for the other books in the series.

Can we take a moment to talk about Geb Arafa and the greatness that he is? Can we make him a wallflower and give him his own story, please? SUCH an interesting side character. I find that in most historical romances set in England there is such a severe lack of diversity. I was so happy to read about him and also the little bit we got from Mrs. Bastian. Much more of them in the future, please!

What I didn't like:
As stated earlier, the beginning of this book was a little slow for me. Also, and this is a minor thing, the spacing of the lines in the ARC version was a little close together. It made reading a little straining on the eyes. After reading the first few pages I got used to it, but I definitely noticed in the beginning. There were a few editing mistakes as well.

There are no words for me to describe how much I loved this book. If I were to ask an author to write a book to my specific list of historical romance adorations, this would be it. I couldn't put it down, to the extent my tablet had 5% remaining once I'd finished the final snippet!
Poppy is just the kind of Lady I love to read about in an historical romance; knows her own mind, is resistant to marriage (but you absolutely know she will marry the book hero) and just generally fabulous. Does she wait things out a tad too long? Possibly. However, when there is a man like Rhys around then there's no need to worry. Rhys is amazing, I understand Poppy's issues with him, but being as we readers have the benefit of hindsight, we know just how "normal" Rhys's past behaviours were, and even his are slight. If you ever want to read an absolutely heart-melting semi-proposal of marraige/apology, the scene and speech in George's is one of the best I have ever read in a romance. Iwas so very torn at the moment Poppy's mother appeared on the scene and my heart truly went out to Poppy as I feel I'd have had a similar position to marriage as her in those days. Rhys really couldn't do right for doing wrong, but everything that came after that was so lovely.
The Wallflowers of West Lane are a formidable bunch, and I cannot wait to read all theIr stories. We get an exciting snippet of Faith at the end, and I personally can't wait to see what happens with Aurora (and I assume Garrett).
I had never come across this author before, but I will certainly check her back catalogue out now, and the remainder of the books on this series are 100% for my 'to be read' list.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so looking forward to this book. The cover is beautiful and the synopsis sounded amazing. Unfortunately, the book itself did not live up to my expectations.
The heroine is the most irritating lead I've ever read! I enjoy a historical romance where the Leading lady is strong and firm in her opinions and her views on the treatment of women in the 1800s but Poppy Arrington was just a step too far. How Rhys fell in love with such a minipulative, moaning, interfering, bossy woman is beyond me.
I understand the strong friendship the women have and I love a book thst has a group of strong female characters but it just felt as if Poppy found herself to be better and more intelligent than everyone around her. More than once, she referred to other men as stupid and there was no explanation why she thought this, no evidence that these men had ever proved themselves to be of lower intelligence.
Her hatred for marriage was boring and got quite annoying by the 30% mark of the book. She was such a repetitive character and I couldn't handle her at all.

That being said, I like the Duke and would consider reading his and Faith's story, providing that Faith is not as irritating and mobjanded as her friend.

I'm quite sad to give this book the rating that I am as I was so keen to red it, but unfortunately this is a 1 star read for me.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.