It’s been a while since I’ve read a romance novel (which, for me is about two weeks) and what a book to come back to! This had a lot of the tropes I love, but having a perfectionist for a heroine receive good advice from her friend? Oh boy that hits close to home for me lately. I have suspicions about who will be the next lead, but I can’t wait for the next book!

This is a historical romance set in the Gilded Age of New York City. Harrison Archer returns from Paris after his father's death and quickly realizes that his estranged family has run up massive debt, and he's expected to marry to bail them out. From the book description, he turns to the girl he left behind to match make for him. Except...as soon as Harrison discovers, very early on in the book, that Maddie is still single, he immediately agrees to his estranged family's plan without revealing to ANYONE INCLUDING MADDIE that he has feelings for her and is intent on marrying her. You know, his former best friend. Instead he goes to her, and instead of trying to mend things like a grown up 25-year old, he pretends he needs her to help him find a wife. Wait, wut? In the old days of All About Romance when it was Laurie Likes Books, this is what is called a wallbanger.

I've read a lot of Joanna Shupe but this decision irritated me so much I couldn't get into the book. Every scene make me thinkg: HEY HARRISON HAVE A NORMAL CONVERSATION WITH YOUR BEST FRIEND INSTEAD OF PRETENDING TO USE HER TO MATCH MAKE FOR YOU. I get it, there was somehow a big misunderstanding of some sort, but I didn't have the patience to find out what it was.

I debated whether or not to leave a review (Thank you NetGalley, for the ARC, for my unbiased opinion). This was a DNF for me but for others this might be totally fine for them, and they can ignore the strategems, sit back and enjoy. For others, heads up.

Cut off from his family and sent to Europe to be forgotten, Harrison Archer is surprised to learn that his family has changed their tune and beg for his help as the family fortune faces ruin. Their solution? Marry him off to a rich debutante and secure the funds they need to keep living the high life. But Harrison has revenge on the brain with plans to destroy and disown the same family that disowned him years ago.

Revenge takes a detour though when he realizes that one of the eligible rich debutantes is his childhood crush that he thought married long ago. Maddie Webster is living her best life as a tennis pro and is caught off guard when childhood friend Harrison returns into her life looking nothing like the teenage boy she remembered. When he asks for her help in arranging a marriage, she confusedly agrees, and when his flirtations begin, she can’t do anything but accept them despite how perplexed she feels.

Though it’s set in the Gilded Age, one can’t read The Heiress Hunt and not think of The Great Gatsby with it’s similar sprawling yards and house parties and machinations. You root for Harrison to manipulate and ruin his family’s fortune, but you can’t help but realize that the same machinations you root for are being played out on Maddie who seems little more than a pawn his Harrison’s game of Gatsby-like girl getting. And while Maddie and Harrison make a great team, you can’t help but wince as you see Maddie’s choices get stolen right from under by the man who professes to love her. It was a great read, but this is definitely not my favorite Joanna Shupe couple.

I stayed up until 2 am to finished this book!

My first time -
•reading this author
•reading historical romance in this era
•reading an American based romance

And I freaking loved it!

One thing though - you know when for a couple days after reading a book you will ‘complain’ aka talk to anyone that will listen about a character or moment in a book that just made you frustrated??

Well this author did this to me with Maddie and some decisions she made 😂 Joanna did an amazing job at writing this scene that I got mad and realized that is a sign of an amazing writer to elicit that response from me.

Now off to purchase all of Joanna’s back log 👏🏻

Thank you Avon, Harper Collins, and Netgalley for an advanced copy for my sassy thoughts.

Shupe’s books are enjoyable, particularly the independence of the women and the depiction of the time period, usually the gilded age. This book is very unique in that the heroine is a semi-pro tennis player. The only downside is that her books, including this title, seem to be a bit formulaic: there’s always a cavalier decision made by the heroine in the last quarter of the book, and the hero reacts by falling in to martyrdom.

4.5 rounding up. The Gilded Age set in NYC and Newport, RI is a perfect setting for a historical romance. It is the American equivalent of stories with Dukes and Lords. After visiting the Newport cottages (mansions) twice I can imagine the houses, lawns for entertaining and the views from the Cliff Walk. This is a childhood friends to lover trope with the attraction being from the hero. Usually it is the other way around. The Newport party games were fun. Who wouldn't want a Tiffany necklace as a prize. And I haven't read such a competitive croquet match since The Bridgerton series.

Harrison Archer fled Newport and was disowned by his family on the night of Maddie's debut. Instead of becoming a wastrel he goes to work and starts amassing his own fortune. He returns three years later with plans to destroy his family. Maddie is on the verge of becoming engaged to the most eligible bachelor of the season, a Duke from England. When Harrison learns she is still single his plans include marrying her.

Both characters are strong and independent. Maddie is a competitive professional tennis player besides being an heiress. So much of the story is from Harrisons POV and he runs roughshod over Maddie. The core story takes place over a short time period and Maddie is trying to catch up to Harrison with her feelings and circumstances. But that is one of the plot points. I didn't love the ending and would have liked more interaction with the MC's. But I was satisfied with their HEA. I am very much looking forward to future romances for their entertaining friends (hopefully) Preston, Kit and Nellie. This is my first Joanna Shupe novel and I will definitely look for her other series and books.

Joanna Shupe’s new series The Fifth Avenue Rebels is off to a great start with The Heiress Hunt.

Harrison Archer has been in love with his childhood best friend Maddie for years. He has recently returned to NYC from Paris to destroy his family who exiled him and to marry Maddie. He is determined to get everything he has always wanted.

Madeline Webster is the belle of the ball in Gilded Age New York and Newport. She has achieved her dream of playing lawn tennis at a national tournament and is soon to be betrothed to an English duke. She thinks she has gained everything she ever thought she wanted, until Harrison shows up after a three year absence.

When one reads many romance books you begin to anticipate what will happen next while reading. This book had surprising story turns which kept it interesting.

I love Joanna Shupe. Her books are always such sexy fun and her knowledge of Gilded Age New York and now Newport is evident in all her books.

There are so many great characters from both Harrison’s friends and Maddie’s friends that Shupe has a multitude of options to choose from for the rest of this series. I greatly look forward to reading them.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really wish more books were written during the gilded age of New York. It really is lovely to be transported back to that time. Can you even imagine a Mansion in the heart of Manhattan with a tennis court and swimming pool? Or calling the cliff walk mansions in Newport "cottages." Both Harrison and Maddie are firmly entrenched in this world. Harrison's family is pretty much awful - after having the worst day of his life three years ago - where he heard Maddie tell her friends that she felt he was like a brother to her and then went home to find his father assaulting a maid, he was disinherited and left for Paris without another world. Since then he got a job and has been making his own way in the world with a lot of success. Maddie has continued on her life - focused on playing competitive tennis and recently on getting engaged to a Duke who is in America searching for an heiress.

I liked Maddie and Harrison - but they definitely had a bit of a Romeo and Juliet vibe about them. Harrison in particular clearly starts off caring much more for Maddie than she does for him. She has been his sole focus for a long time but she - by her own words - needs time to catch up with him. I think the book could have maybe switched out some of the end drama for more build up to the relationship with Harrison and Maddie. I didn't love the end drama - I understood it - but I'm not sure it showed a lot of growth for either character.

I did love that Maddie was a competitive athlete! That was so unique and something I wish we would see more of! Especially in such a non-traditional setting!

Overall - I did find my self more in love with some of the side characters than the main ones. I can't wait to see more - I am betting on a Nellie and the Duke as a pairing. Loved Loved Loved Nellie!

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

I give this one a firm 3.5 stars

I enjoyed this as a solid romance novel, though it may not be a stand out for the genre. I liked the friends to lovers trope, the setting (as a transplant to RI, Gilded Age Newport was a fun taste of “home”) and the steady, inevitable-ness of the happily ever after. The well-researched nods to historical events shows a commitment to accuracy that always makes this genre shine, the “mashers and hatpins” reference being A+ work!

That said, the book dragged a bit in places, featured a love triangle (not a personal favorite) and our intrepid hero isn't really great about treating the heroine as an autonomous person. I understand that that exact point is meant to be part of the relationship development, but it certainly made it feel like Maddie was just a checkbox on Harrison’s revenge checklist. The real interesting intrigue is clearly being had by side characters, so that does set up the series nicely.

Even though this wasn't a five star read for me, I still would like to read more in the series.

While the first entry in this new series didn't quite measure up to any of the books in her previous Uptown Girls trilogy, Joanna Shupe's books are always solidly enjoyable and the writing and Gilded Age setting here were up to her usual standard, so I would definitely still recommend even if it wouldn't be the first Shupe I'd suggest to new-to-her/the period/the genre readers. I'm looking forward to the next one! (I also have to confess that part of that is because I was much more interested in Nellie and Lockwood and whatever their deal was than Maddie and Harrison, so I'm hoping we'll get Nellie's book next.)

i hate to do this because I dropped everything to read this book and I was disappointed.

I hated that there was a love triangle, there was miscommunication and at parts it just felt like it was dragging on.

I want to read the rest of series but unfortunately this was a no go for me.

Harrison is back in Gilded Age New York for one reason: revenge. His family disowned him years ago, and now they're in serious financial trouble. Instead of rescuing them, he intends to take over their company and ruin them. But to make them think he's going to help, Harrison agrees to find an heiress to marry. He turns to his childhood best friend, Maddie, to arrange a house party and introduce him to eligible young ladies.

But--twist!--Harrison really wants to marry Maddie herself, if she'll have him. Years ago she unknowingly broke his heart, but he's willing to put in the work for a chance with her. Meanwhile, Maddie is torn between her almost-fiance (an actual English duke), and the boy who grew up into a very handsome and charming man. But she doesn't have any time to think about it, as she prepares for the women's national lawn tennis championship.

Shupe has set up some intriguing characters in this new series. I look forward to seeing who gets the next book.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review.

I need like a million more romances set in Rhode Island during the Gilded Age. I have been absolutely obsessed with the time period and location since I first went to Rhode Island as a seven year old and toured the mansions… I mean cottages. I know there are going to be people who write off the series entirely because it isn’t in England and isn’t Regency, and they are missing out on a great book and what will become a great series.

Friends to lovers is not one of my favorite tropes but when it’s done well I absolutely love it. I especially like it when it’s the hero who has been in love with the heroine since day one and not the other way around. I shouldn’t have to say this but I want it to be clear, Harrison is in no way a bitter incel who is mad about being friend-zoned his whole live. Joanna Shupe makes that very very clear.

Both Harrison and Maddie are very strong, fully formed characters. Maddie is a professional tennis player in addition to an heiress. Harrison was born into privilege, lost it, and literally worked to claw his way back into wealth. Bonus points for Harrison being named Harrison, which meant that I pictured a young Harrison Ford every time his name was mentioned.

I loved house party in Newport and all the games they played. It was just absurd enough to be delightful… and probably very accurate for the time period. Seriously, the prize for winning the egg hunt was a Tiffany necklace and bracelet set. I absolutely adore when rich people get bonkers competitive while playing croquet. Also, I need more books where they play sardines because it is the perfect excuse for the main couple to touch each other.

Mild spoiler ahead: One thing I absolutely adore about Joanna’s books are the epilogues. So many authors rely on the “babylogue” in order to show that their characters are still together and very much in love. Joanna doesn’t do that. She sticks to what would be realistic for her characters. She did it in The Prince of Broadway and she does it again here.

I am very excited for the rest of this series. I hope we get books involving Nellie, Kit, and Preston, as well as something for Lockwood.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I appreciate the opportunity to review this title and while I loved the author's style I am sad to say I couldn't enjoy this book.

I really wanted to love this book because I adored Maddie's character as well as the supporting characters Nellie, Preston and Kit. I really want to read their stories and the style of writing was engaging and moved along at a great pace. However, Harrison completely ruined this book for me. I rarely have read a hero I disliked so much in that I felt he really pushed the line of a woman's consent. His entire attitude for 98% of the book was he wanted Maddie and will do whatever it takes to get her. He doesn't care who he needs to run roughshod over including Maddie's own protests. He takes her physical attraction to him and their friendship as permission to compromise her despite her asking for time to figure out her feelings. What sort of man forces that and is happy with it? He makes minor references to feeling guilty about the scandal and how Maddie is snubbed after they are married but still doesn't regret his actions. He believes his feelings for her justifies his behavior. He thinks he can make her happy enough that it doesn't matter that he removed her choice in whether or not to have a relationship with him.

It also irked me that a friend of Maddie's makes a comment that she was one of the participants in the late night meeting with Harrison. A meeting that Harrison threatened Maddie into coming to otherwise risk him coming to her bedroom. It's like blaming Maddie for putting herself in a situation where a man was able to force her into being compromised. I felt it was very different from other books where the heroine gets carried away by her feelings for the hero and they are compromised together. In this case she specifically says no and needs more time to think things over.

There's more of his attitude about the whole situation that irked me and then his continued behavior even through the final grand gesture which was really just him perpetuating his belief that he could arrange Maddie's life without consulting her. I can only think of maybe one other book in which I felt a supposed hero was this bad in pushing the boundaries beyond what I found acceptable behavior. I'm hoping this is a one off because I really enjoyed the writing style and all the other characters.

Harrison and Maddie are childhood friends. Maddie is Harrison’s harbor from his often turbulent family.

Harrison flees on the night of Maddie’s debut. He returns three years later with a plan to marry her and ruin his family. He allows Maddie to think he needs to marry in order to regain his family’s good graces. She throws him a house party in Newport to meet eligible heiress. There are so many great side characters.

Maddie has to overcome some things she finds out as their relationship progresses as well as her own expectations on what makes a good relationship. Harrison also to learn to share what is going on.

Joanna Shupe’s writing is always phenomenal. There are so many swoon worthy moments in this book. What a great start to a new series.

I received an ARC for my honest review.

The Heiress Hunt is a fantastic start to a thrilling new series by Joanna Shupe.

Harrison Archer returns home to New York after being away for three years in Paris. His return is driven by revenge on his family. Not only did they banish him, they cut him off financially. Unbeknownst to his mother and brother, Archer is now financially stable, so much so, that he plots to buy out the family business right from under them. He plays the long game, which includes marrying a very rich heiress. Enter Maddie. Archer's childhood sweetheart. He enlists her help in finding a wife, but in reality all he wants is Maddie. The hunt is not so easy, especially for Maddie who is caught between a rock and a hard place. Not only is she expecting a proposal from an English Duke, she is also a competitive tennis player. Having Archer back in her life is very distracting, because all she does is think about him. The sparks between them is undeniable. And the chemistry sizzles right through the book.

Overall, great start to the series! I also enjoyed all the secondary characters. Especially Nellie and Kit. Hope to see them in the next book of the series!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jonanna Shupe is a fantastic romance writer. She crafts strong heroine's who know what they want. I loved Maddie!! The relationship between Maddie and Harrison was well developed and a pleasure to read. I am excited by this new series and can't wait to see what comes next.