I really tried to enjoy this book but unfortunately was not able to get into it. Thank you to Berkley Publishing for allowing me the opportunity to review this book

This book was such a joy to read! It was a fun and entertaining historical fantasy! I just couldn't put it down. It was a bit silly/unreal at times but that's what makes it so fun!

This is the first book in the Dangerous Damsels series. I was intrigued by the premise and requested an ARC through NetGalley. I was delighted with this story and found it very entertaining. This story was the perfect sort of madcap love story. I loved all of the characters. It is amazing what great dialogue and a wonderful supporting cast of characters can do for a book. I personally bought a copy of the book and the audiobook for myself. In addition I added it to my library's collection in a variety of formats. I know that this is going to be a community favorite.

I was provided a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review of the materials.

I have to say that the title and description of the book truly intrigued me. I was expecting more wit, but the story was a bit wild. For the first part of the book, I was a bit lost and did not really know what was happening. There are a ton of characters to keep track of and it felt like the plot was not moving forward.

I did enjoy the world of the lady pirates and their strict rules of etiquette. The cover and the description were a huge factor for me to want to read this book, but I couldn't connect with the characters or the pace of the story. I was expecting more of a historical romance book, but the story flirted with the fantasy genre, my least favorite genre. Cecelia had everything to be an iconic female character, but in the end it just did not work for me.

3.5

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels was a fun read. It started action-packed and stayed like that throughout the entire book. The side characters were my favorite part of the book. It had funny moments, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading it. My only issue with it was the two main characters. They felt very two-dimensional, and I did not believe they were in love. I am looking forward to reading the next book because the world is exciting, and I want to learn more about it.

This was such a fun book! I don't pick up historical fiction often (something I am trying to read more of this year) and this book makes me want to continue reading this genre. Cecilia is such a badass character! I am really looking forward to reading more in this series.

<i>The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels</i> is a rollicking, absurd book that I absolutely adore. I'm sure to come back to it whenever I need a laugh!
The juxtaposition of proper manners and house-flying pirate shenanigans makes for plenty of amusing situations. Cecelia was a delightful protagonist! I'm a bit disappointed she is the MC of the next book, just because I loved her so much.
The romance of the book was adorable. Usually, I'm skeptical of "instant love" – the book's main action takes place over about a week – but I was here for it for Cecelia and Ned.
I've already recommended <i>The Wisteria Society</i> to half a dozen people, and it's sure to be a staple in my recommendations from now on!

I just could not even get through three chapters of the book. I tell my patrons all the time, don't waste time on a book you cannot get into!

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton is a book unlike any other I've read. The book follows Cecilia Bassingwaite, Victorian lady and pirate, and Ned Lightbourne, her meant-to-be-assassin who has more than a few secrets he's hiding. There are flying houses, ghosts, and a hefty dose of petty thievery.

It really delivered on the laughs, and showed Holton as the kind of author unafraid to swing for the fences and make some bold choices in her craft. The positive is that this made this book a truly enjoyable read and a blast to read with friends (as I did) because it feels like a rollicking adventure poised to be made into a great movie. On the other hand, some of those choices and constant humor left less room for internal character monologue which made it feel as though I didn't know the hero or heroine as well as I would like to truly invest in their romance.

That said, I'm still eager to read more from Holton and see where she takes this series. The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels was a whimsical quippy romp packed with absurdist humor and literary references, and is sure to please readers looking for a light, funny, Regency adventure.

This is so not the type of book I would normally pick up, but I'm very glad I did.

I'm not usually huge on historical romances, but this one called to me because it felt so unique (Lady pirates! Magic houses! Assassins!) and because Bridgerton made me wonder if I really do secretly like historical romances after all.

Turns out, I think I do! I read a review that called this book a "romp," and that's absolutely the best word for it. It was also steamier than I expected (and even the steamy scenes were hilarious somehow).

Looking forward to reading the sequel!

This book was absolutely bonkers in the best way! I'm not sure what rock I was hiding under but I really thought this was a pure historical romance book and not a fantasy book. But I am not mad that it didn't turn out as I thought.

I will say that it took me a while to get my head into the way the story was narrated but once I was able to immerse myself I didn't look back. I'm not sure how to describe what goes on in this book. At-a-glance, this book is a romance, an adventure, and a tiny bit steampunk with a dash of the piratical all rolled into one hilarious romp! I don't want to say too much because I think this is one of those books that you want to go into a bit blind. I will say that this story is chock full of so many great things that I would have never of thought to put together! Pirates with flying houses! Scoundrels! Assassins! SO many shenanigans! Proper Victorian ladies! Enemies-to-lovers! A master of disguise! Complex family relationships! The literary references and subsequent roasting of said literature! So many book references! It was kind of amazing, to be honest.

I especially loved the flying houses and the weird camaraderie and competition found between members of the Wisteria Society! I had a difficult time at first keeping the characters straight. And I will admit I had a hard time relating to the heroine, Cecilia, at first but I grew to love her by the end of the book. I will say I loved Ned and his friend, Alex, from the moment they appeared on page.

This alternate version of England with magic and battle houses made me grin from ear to ear. I can't wait to read more books by this author! I am especially looking forward to the next book in this series which will star a certain Irish pirate!

I cannot begin to describe how much I loved this book. The characters, the story, the humor. It had it all. India Holton is now my new favorite author. So excited for anything else she writes in the future.

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton is a fun and witty story about a lady, who happens to be a thief. Cecelia Bassingwaite, is a member of a group of ladies that have tea and travel around England blackmailing and acquiring all kinds of treasures. Her aunt is protective and has her own act and life is good. Ned Lightbourne is an assassin who is hired by one of Cecilia’s victims and he is all set to commit his crime. Only problem is, the minute he sees her, he falls in love. He hesitates to do the job and his boss Captain Morvath is getting impatient. He thinks the job should be easy and can’t understand the delay. Can Cecelia outsmart Ned? Can Cecelia help her aunt and the lady’s society. Should Cecelia and Ned work together? I really enjoyed this story. The storyline was good and the characters were even better. They were flawed but human. There was hijinks at every turn. This was a four star read for me. I want to thank Netgalley & the author for my copy of this book for an honest review. It was a pleasure reading and reviewing this book.. i am looking forward to reading the next one..

I waited a while to read this one because I didn't want to wait on book 2. I went with the audio and can I just say that it is delightful, creative, original and a total blast! I can't wait to read more from India!

First, the cover of this book is gorgeous and it's what drew me to want to read it. However, I had a hard time following the plot and ultimately gave up. I will definitely recommend it to others, as it's a really cute book just wasn't the one for me!

India was a guest in the podcast. I really loved her take on paranormal meets historical romance. This was a fun escape.

Holton throws the reader into the world of the Wisteria Society for Lady Scoundrels with little explanation. In truth when I picked this book up I had to double check to make sure I had not opened a sequel with how little explanation there is at the outset of the book. Readers are sure to find the writing style endearing and a fun attempt at recreating Austen style prose. I would encourage those who like a more adventurous tone for their Romances to check this book out!

Refreshing, Hilarious, and Witty are all words that come to mind when I think of this book.

India Holton takes a classic story (pirates!) and puts a new refreshing twist on it (lady pirates in the victorian era) and the result is a laugh-out-loud story that is perfect for fans of Sarah J Maas, The Lady Janies series, and The Princess Bride..

Perfect amount of plot and romance to balance each other nicely. This story is perfect for fans of adventure and fans of romance. I couldn't get enough and I cannot wait to read more from this series in the future.

DNF at 25%. I just could not get into it. I see a lot of great reviews for this and bummed that I did not connect with it

To say that THE WISTERIA SOCIETY OF LADY SCOUNDRELS is unique is actually quite an understatement. This story of genteel tea drinking ladies explodes with fun and humor as we see beyond the façade of their proper behavior and etiquette. The ladies are thieves and trained in all kinds of weaponry, and proud to call themselves pirates. Their houses fly, sometimes not exactly how and where they are supposed to go. The main character in this story is nineteen year old Cecilia, who is eagerly waiting for her acceptance as a senior member of the society. Her hypochondriac guardian seems determined to keep Cecilia from being promoted in the society. When a man shows up at their door, warning that an assassin has been hired to kill Cecilia, she sends him away. The mysterious man assumes many roles in this story – he actually IS the hired assassin. He’s also been hired by Cecilia’s mad father to kidnap her. He’s also been hired by the queen to neutralize her. He’s also a dance instructor, and a captain, and a major… His most important role is that of being the man Cecilia falls in love with, and he with her. Cecilia, however, is determined that her future path lies with the society. When Cecilia’s father puts in motion his plan to take over the nation, all chaos breaks loose. If Cecilia and Ned, her mystery man, even survive, will they find a way to be together? THE WISTERIA SOCIETY OF LADY SCOUNDRELS takes off from page one and never lets up. The writing is so clever, with plenty of references to literature of the past. The humor sometimes slaps you right in the face, while at other times it just nibbles at your earlobe. Overall, it’s a wild ride, with a tender love story between a rake and a too-serious young lady. It’s full of action, fun, romance, and adventure, and has me still smiling a day after I read it.