Reputation is a Regency-era historical romantic comedy from a hilarious new British voice, Lex Croucher. This book was described as Bridgerton meets Gossip Girl with a dash of Jane Austen, so naturally, I had to pick it up. I had high expectations for this book, and I was honestly disappointed. I would describe this book as edgier than expected, but not necessarily well-written. The dedication says it all. “For Jane Austen. Sorry, Jane.” Because any true regency lady would be completely shocked by the sordid behavior in Reputation.

Croucher’s next book should possibly be set in a more modern era, which would allow room for the heavy drinking, drug use and the women’s empowerment movement. There are just so many details that are wrong for a historical fiction. It is definitely one of the less realistic Regency fictions I have ever read. Croucher tries to make the story readable for modern audiences by attempting to tackle some big topics (TW: rape, SA), but unfortunately the characters come across as spoiled brats instead of empowered young women.

So don’t read this if you are a stickler for historical accuracy, because you won’t find it here. I appreciate what this book is trying to do for diversity, but there are some passages that are just plain bad and positively inaccurate for any century.

I can see where the work drew inspiration from Jane Austen’s works. The romance between Georgiana and Thomas give me a very Lizzy & Darcy vibe, but Georgiana is Darcy in this tale. And in the spirit of Emma, our MC is haughty, unimpressed by everyone, and borderline rude. I started to dislike her and her “friends” around chapter five. Georgiana does get a few set-downs through the novel, though they do little to humble her. “You’d do better to apply that mind of yours to the improvement of yourself and those around you, rather than letting your cleverness fester into cruelty.”

Reputation had me thinking of Mean Girls meets Bridgerton. Truly a nice, light period read. Georgiana is sent to love with her aunt and uncle when she meets Frances Campbell at a party. The two become good friends very quickly and Georgiana finds herself in all types of a situations that a young women in that era should most definitely NOT be in. All the while, she has her eyes on Thomas Hawksley, whom she always seems to stumble across when she's not exactly at her best.
I truly enjoyed the lightheartedness of this book and will have to look for more books by this author!
Thanks to Net Galley and St Martin's Press for this ARC.

I LOVED this book. The characters were all so great, the story line had me hooked from the very beginning.

I have mixed feelings about Reputation after finishing it. On the one hand, I am fully in support of reading things that make you a bit uncomfortable and are out of your comfort zone, but I can’t make up my mind on whether I liked the protagonist because she wasn’t a typical main character and was unreliable or if I was just extremely annoyed at her and her actions. I was really looking forward to this book and how it would be subverting the prim-and-proper view of society and its members that is portrayed most often in historical fiction, but I think it went too far the other way in that it was unrealistic in many ways and created plot holes because of it. The protagonist, Georgiana, did not have very much common sense, and for someone who had such limited life experience she was extremely judgey and impertinent about basically everything. She put herself into bad situations over and over again due to peer pressure and a want to belong, and her “friends” were continually making me angry.
I did enjoy how the novel resolved itself in the end in terms of friend relationships and how it clearly brought to light the dangers and issues with aristocratic society, but I think it could’ve been done in a better way. The slightly uncomfortable feeling I had while reading it could have been part of the point though, in order to emphasize how easy it is to slide into a lifestyle that is harmful and destructive and if that is the case then it was done very well. I had high expectations for this book, but I am conflicted on if it was executed well and I just personally didn’t enjoy the characters, or if it had structural problems.

Reputation is pitched as a Bridgerton meets Gossip girl with a dash of Jane Austen. This is a Regency-era historical romance 'with a twist of feminism'.

Georgiana is forced to move in with her boring aunt and uncle the Bartons when her mother becomes ill. But when George goes to a boring party with her boring aunt one day, she meets Miss Frances Campbell, the beautiful, charismatic, and free soul she has always wanted to be. Frances shows George a whole new world, in parties and riches. Frances shows her what friendship is and what it means to let go of what others consider 'polite company'
One day when George is attending a party she trips, only to be saved by the handsome Mr. Thomas Hawksley. which she then insults his wealth and way of living, but neither of them can deny the connection that has begun.

Reputation was a party, it was a fun time, there were definitely some hard things that were dealt with within the book. There was a slow burn romance, there were laughs and there were tears (not literally).

If the beginning of this book were just a little faster getting into the main story, I think I would have given this book a 4 stars, I did genuinely enjoy this book, and I'm not a party person.

If you love Bridgerton, Gossip girl, Mean girls, or any of the regency-era-themed romance books, you will probably love this book.

If you want to see my live opinions on this book please check out my vlog to come on 4/9/22
at filling the bookshelves on youtube.

TW: possible rape, domestic abuse, substance abuse,

I received my copy of this ebook through Netgalley.
All of my opinions are my own.
Thank you to Lex crouched and the Publisher for sending this to me.

Georgiana Ellers is staying with her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Burton because her mother is ill and her father has taken her to the coast for better air.

Georgiana is bored silly as her aunt and uncle spend their days inside and go to bed early. So, she is pleased when they are invited to a neighbor’s home for the evening. However, the place is so dark from a lack of candles, that she can only hide in a corner. Then, a young woman named Frances Campbell finds her and she shares her flask of cognac with Georgiana. Frances’s parents, Lord and Lady Campbell, are very wealthy. Her father is white and her mother is dark-skinned. Frances and Georgiana end up hiding away and laughing all evening until Frances’s mother finds them and orders her to leave with them.

At another party, Georgiana meets some of Frances’s friends who all seem to live life as they want and also indulge in lots of alcohol and smoking some substance. Georgiana indulges in the smoking and the next morning wishes she had not. She meets a handsome and wealthy man from India named Mr. Hawksley and is fascinated by him.

At yet another get-together she meets a shy young woman who is overweight and can’t seem to stop talking. The group ends up laughing at the poor girl, embarrassing her.

This book irritated me as I read more and more pages. First of all, I cannot imagine that any young girl in this time period could get away with the things this group did. It’s ridiculous to think that a reader would believe that. Frances is a brat with too much money. We see that today in current times. Are readers supposed to be impressed by her? Her followers are stupid and I did not find anything humorous about this book. I was hesitant to even request reading it and I wish I had gone with my first instinct. I do not recommend it at all.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Georgiana Ellers is chafing against her aunt’s strictures. Georgiana has been left with her relatives whilst her mother and father move into a new home by the sea so her mother’s health can improve. Georgiana is feeling abandoned, and bored. Then, she meets the very wealthy and Frances Campbell, and is happily drawn into the daring, fascinating, unconventional, biracial young woman’s orbit, and her equally unconventional and thrill-seeking, wealthy friends.

Georgiana is utterly captivated by Frances, and the bookish, quiet Georgiana cannot fathom why Frances likes her, but Georgiana is willing and up for anything Frances and her circle get up to, whether it’s drinking to excess, smoking, taking mind-altering substances, saying terrible things about other people, mistreating servants, experiencing thrilling and forbidden intimacies ….

Georgiana also encounters the, by contrast, seemingly dull Thomas Hawkesley at one of the same parties she and Frances attend. Georgiana is immediately attracted to Thomas, though he is much less taken with Frances and her circle of mean friends.

Georgiana is also somewhat uncomfortable with the group's uncaring and frequently nasty attitude towards everyone else. Georgiana is especially reticent to call them on their behaviour to those beneath them (i.e., lower on the economic class) as that would point out Georgiana's own strained financial situation. Another thing Geogiana must pretend she knows nothing about is how abusive Frances' father is to her Black mother.


I found Georgiana’s new experiences and her fascination with these young people deliberately flouting convention and behaving provocatively and recklessly to be somewhat dismal. She’s not got healthy relationships in her life at this point with which to compare with the mean group. Georgiana is uncritical of their actions, and just so happy to be included. This speaks to her parents’ years of neglect, and Georgiana's loneliness, and lack of social experience. Despite her aunt’s and uncle’s attempts to figuratively embrace their niece, her aunt’s adherence to the forms and structures of class leave Mrs. Burton little room to show her niece the real warmth and kindness she needs (till later, when it really counts). And Georgiana is smart, too well read, and too used to being in her own head to see her aunt and uncle trying to be kind.

Georgiana makes a lot of mistakes over the course of the book, but, thankfully, when things start falling apart, she takes stock of herself and takes real steps to repair the damage she creates over her summer of debauchery. One of the biggest mistakes, then later a rewarding change in her life is her developing friendship with Betty Walters. Though Georgiana is slow to appreciate Betty, I thought the young woman was a hoot. Betty’s nervous, nonstop babbling when she appears in any scene, though disgusting to the mean group, was actually observant and quite funny, and Betty proves to be a much more stalwart friend than the very troubled Frances, as Georgiana soon learns.

Though labelled as a romantic comedy, I really liked how author Lex Croucher dealt with a lot of heavier themes of abuse, rape, racism, the slave trade, gender inequality, the danger of being queer, and parental neglect. This was an unexpectedly enjoyable read, and I look forward to what Lex Croucher writes next.

Thank you to Netgalley and to St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.

If Fleabag and Bridgerton had a baby, it would most definitely be Reputation. What a fun read! Definitely one to add to your spring TBR!

Ever read Jane Austen and though you love the sugary sweetness of the love story, you know in the back of your mind no matter the era people have always found ways to have a little more risqué fun. Under the long skirts and bustles and corsets some gentleman and even ladies knew how to have a good time. This book is that version. And it was a treat!

Georgiana has been sent to live with her aunt and uncle because simply put, her parents are tired of parenting. Shes at the age where she's ready to court and look for a husband. Her aunt and uncle however are childless and don't seem to do much more than take long walks and work on their needlepoint. Worried shes going to never leave the house again, she meets Frances by chance at the most boring party she's ever attended. Frances is rich, beautiful, popular and everything Georgiana has always wanted to be. Pretty soon, Georgiana is pulled into her orbit. She has new friends and attends parties she never thought possible. She's also introduced to drinking and drugs and a whole bunch of other things that are exciting and foreign to her. While its all fun at first, Georgiana quickly realizes not everything that glitters is gold. Behind the money and facade of beauty, there's also a dark downside. She quickly learns who her real friends are, but most importantly, who she is as well. This is the perfect naughty Regency era read!

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martins Press, and Lex Croucher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Heat Factor: It gets pretty steamy, but not remotely with the romantic couple.
Character Chemistry: They end up kind of being a balm for the rest of the very difficult to like cast of characters
Plot: It’s an Emma/Mean Girls mashup, essentially. Georgiana is the impoverished new girl in town, who catches the interest of wild child Frances and her rich group of friends. On the periphery of the friend group, Georgiana meets Mr. Hawksley, who is actually a good person, etc.
Overall: I almost DNF’d it three times. I struggled with this one because it was good but it was really uncomfortable to read and if that makes me a goody-two-shoes nerd, then so be it.

So, I will say flat out that the book is well-written. Although there are a lot of characters swimming around in alcohol and drugs in this book, they are packed with so much personality and detail that it’s impossible not to be able to follow. The plot swells to the point of being almost unbearable in tension and bad decisions, then right when you think you can’t take it any longer Georgiana does something redeemable and you can hang on a little longer. But.

I’m not sure this book counts as a romance. To begin, Georgiana and Mr. Hawksley barely have any development between the two of them, and they certainly aren’t kindling things up for the majority of the book. In addition, most of the characters are not good people, and I wasn’t rooting for them. At all. Rooting for Georgiana was difficult, because she was a pretty horrendous person for almost the entire book. Also, this is touted as some kind of comedy–and I thought Mean Girls was funny, but I didn’t laugh once during this book at all. I was mainly a little ill and really, really stressed out.

Essentially, Georgiana is dumped at her Aunt’s house and is bored out of her mind when she meets Frances, ultra-wealthy and intensely full of life. Georgiana gets sucked into Frances’ orbit, where she meets a crew that Frances barely seems to like, and who she treats horribly, but they somehow continue to stick around. Georgiana is introduced to getting absolutely hammered and high at parties, and I think a lot of those parts are supposed to be funny? But almost every one of the parties is messed up in some way. She’s either getting harassed or the incredibly precarious position she’s in is clearly pointed out and she ignores it, there’s the aftermath of a rape scene, Georgiana is very nearly raped. So like, honestly? Before I read the publisher’s blurb I would have called the book “suspenseful” and “intense”. After I read it? I was honestly kind of grossed out. None of it is funny.

I labeled this as “smut adjacent” simply because although Georgiana’s relationship with Mr. Hawksley is a driving motivator for change and self-awareness, the focus of the story and most of the plot revolves around her relationship with Frances. And when their relationship fractures and Georgiana’s life is in shambles, Frances doesn’t seem to ever actually feel any remorse or learn any lessons. It’s lightly suggested she’s made a few marginally okay decisions in the interim? And I sincerely think the general message in the end is, Georgiana isn’t a total innocent here, they’re all hurting and have pretty good reasons to be miserable, reckless, drunks–so she’s able to find her happiness with good people in the end.. But when characters are this deeply flawed, I’m just so relieved they’ve reached some level of homeostasis and stopped hurling themselves head first into tragedy that I don’t care about the romance as much. And that’s why I don’t think this worked as a genre piece.

Now. If you’re interested in reading a book in one sitting and feeling really conflicted but utterly sucked into a book where the characters are all screaming with desperate personality and kind of dancing around drunkenly on a knife’s edge of fun/traumatic experiences, just rife with constant deception and hurtful comments, well. Here you are. I stayed up very, VERY late reading because I couldn’t put it down. And I don’t know what that really says about the book without the lens of a romance reviewer–because I can say with certainty that it will stick with me and that I keep thinking about it. And normally that’s what I’d consider a pretty interesting read. It was effective–but I can’t say that I enjoyed the experience very much.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

As soon as I heard this book was basically Regency-era Mean Girls, I was in. I couldn't wait for the toxic friendships and the bad behavior set in a time where girls were so tightly bound in how they were supposed to look and act. You do have to suspend your disbelief a bit, of course, if you are an avid historical fiction or HR reader, because our MCs absolutely flout the rules and get away with it to an extent which seems like it shouldn't be possible.

Our MC, Georgiana, just wanted to be wanted. She had parents who left her, boring, if sweet, relations that took her in. She wanted to be young and have fun, but mostly she wanted for the people around her to want to be with her and that was what made her easier to connect to than I thought she would be as the "Katy Heron" of this story.

It's a little dark, a lot sarcastic, and full of witty banter with a love story to bring it back around. It's a coming-of-age story which is always my favorite kind. We watch all of these people try to become adults while trying to feel important and autonomous. I think the great thing in the end is getting to see and know that they're all human, even the worst of them.

The rep is also great! The book is full of queer characters and characters of color.

I can't wait for more from Lex Croucher! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC!

Reputation by Lex Croucher has been hyped as “a classic romcom with a Regency-era twist, for fans of Mean Girls and/or Jane Austen,” the marketing for this book seem very pointed aimed at this book being the pick-me of Regency romance (she’s not like other girls!), but does it hold up?

Reputation is ambitious in trying to maintain those familiar notes and threads of a romance, while clearly trying to amp up the drama to soap opera levels. I’m not necessarily a fan of the “naive character gets caught up with rich friends and learns hard lessons” plot (unless it’s the pure wannabe-Gothic thrill of Northanger Abbey), but I did find myself charmed by moments of sensuality and swept up into the complex relationships between certain characters.

The audiobook is definitely worth checking out, and the narrator (Bessie Carter, known for her role as Prudence Featherington in Bridgerton) sounds like Lady Mary from Downton Abbey when she reads certain characters. It just adds a layer of snobbery to some of these characters.

The book (spoilers ahead)

Maybe I’m nitpicking, but I don’t think the apt comparison is Mean Girls. It feels like Emma, Northanger Abbey, Gossip Girl, Atonement and even some Vanity Fair mixed in. With a big splash of Gilmore Girls (the seasons when Rory goes off to be a shitshow with Logan). There’s high stakes society drama, there’s drinking, there’s bright young things pushing against the constraints of the upper class rules, there’s sex (and there’s non-consensual moments as well, FYI! Please check out the CWs on Goodreads before reading).

Even after reading it, I still don’t know how I feel about it. I don’t love it, that’s for sure though.

Georgiana Ellers, the middle class girl staying in town with her aunt and uncle (absentish parents really solidifies this Northanger Abbey vibe), makes fast friends with the wealthy Frances Campbell (think Isabelle Thorpe but actually popular). Georgiana is swept up into the rich kid circle, think Gossip Girl here, and she quickly learns she’s gotta tiptoe around feelings, because despite her lack of income making her soooo not a threat to these girls, they circle her like harpies, waiting to bite when she doesn’t follow all their little rules.

This gets intense and heavy in a way Mean Girls only hints at IMO. The drinking and drug use lean more toward the harshness of disenchanted teen dramas than pretty, pink commentaries. Much like Northanger, Georgiana is in very real, very severe danger in many ways.

There is a sapphic romance happening, but it’s not the main plot. I almost wish the main character had been one of the ladies in that romance, but here we are. We get other queer characters throughout and I hope if the author is writing more, we get to focus on more intriguing characters. There are also BIPOC characters in this story, but in terms of “good representation” well… that is up for debate. I really think I would have felt differently if they’d been the heroine or hero we followed as the POV character.

Ultimately I think this book tries to do a lot of things, while still staying in the lane of a traditionally Regency romance, but there’s just too much going on in terms of the writing. It felt like the author couldn’t decide what she wanted this book to be, who she wanted to be most interesting. I do think there were interesting relationships and identities to explore, but it felt like so much was crammed into the end that you could blink and miss some wrap-ups.

What you should drink with this: Rosé until you feel so hungover for the characters, then grab a coffee.

Who should read this: Fans of Gossip Girl, Atonement, and high drama. Rory Gilmore’s Logan years.

I could not put this one down! The mix of Regency Era England, Mean Girls, and Bridgerton combine to form an enjoyable and entertaining story. A solid mix of the nuances of female relationships and romance. The naïve main character was likable, even while making a series of mistakes throughout the story. The supporting characters were all well thought out and a broader range of people than is usually included in Regency novels. A highly recommended read!

I keep thinking this book leans more toward a YA book, except this book has more adult content. My view is young people going wild with drugs and alcohol with no adult supervision. Avoiding responsibility to the point I did not like many of the characters.
Georgiana has been abandoned by her parents to live with her aunt and uncle. Lonely and wanting to have friends and fun, she becomes a part of a fast crowd. She's attracted to the quiet Thomas Hawksley. As the group loses more control, George needs to change her ways to keep Thomas.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

This book is a very unusual Regency romance...its Gossip Girl meets Mean Girls.

Georgiana Ellers has moved to the countryside to live with her aunt and uncle after her parents moved to the seaside to help her mother’s health. Her parents basically abandoned her. Georgiana’s aunt and uncle are very good to her, but they live a boring life, and Georgiana becomes lonely and depressed. Until she meets vivacious Frances, daughter of Lord and Lady Campbell, and a fast friendship ensues. Georgiana is introduced to the wealthy friends of Frances and she becomes one of their circle of friends.

George is the Jenny Humphrey (Gossip Girl) or Kady Heron (Mean Girls) of the story.
Frances Campbell is the Regina George (Mean Girls) of it all, Frances is the daughter of Lord and Lady Campbell and seemingly the highest class of all the characters.
Cecily Dugray, Jane Woodley, Jonathan Smith – Frances’ entourage of friends she is rarely seen without.
Jeremiah Russell – Frances’ supposed boyfriend-soon-to-be-fiancé who is despicable.
Thomas Hawksley – A friend of Jeremiah’s who seems more reserved and stays away from the trouble everyone else seems to get into. Thomas is grieving and hurting, he's very broody, sensitive and he seems to turn up whenever George is drunk and bound to say or do something inappropriate.
Betty Walters – A young naïve but sweet girl who Mrs Burton thinks will be a great friend to George.

Thomas had a Anthony Bridgerton moment-he rode on a horse in the rain to save George. Their love story was adorable. Mrs Burton in the end was a badass and Betty was a true friend to George. George had some sort of epiphany in the end, that the lives of the upper class isn't all it’s cracked up to be, and the people she so desperately wants to be like, might just be the ones to pity after all.

This book is a quick read, with dry, witty humour that makes you not want to put it down.

Rep: Biracial (Indian) love interest; Biracial (Black) sapphic central character; lesbian and gay side characters.

Content warnings: Drinking; drug use; grief; domestic abuse; sexual assault; off-page rape; mentions of homophobia and racism.

When Georgiana Ellers goes to live with her aunt and uncle for the summer, she had no idea of the boredom that awaited her. She was hoping for a summer filled with parties and new friends, maybe even a little romance, or at least some new adventure. All the heroines of the novels she’d read, upon finding themselves in a new situation, immediately fell into a caper or a meet cute, which could only mean that they were in for days or even weeks of fascinating fun. When Georgiana moved in with Mr. and Mrs. Burton, she only found tedium.

When they were finally invited to a dinner party, Georgiana could hardly wait to get there, to find the excitement she’d been craving. Instead, she found plenty of party guests the age of her aunt and uncle who wandered through the dark house (the hostess was too cheap to buy enough candles) and talk about the garish color of the new curtain. Is it red? Is it purple? Either way, it’s ghastly, they said. It’s not until Georgiana mutters under her breath about their color choice that she realizes she’s not alone in her dark alcove. There is another young woman, about her age, and she shares those curtain sentiments. And just like that, Georgiana finds a friend.

Frances Campbell, daughter of Lord and Lady Campbell, takes Georgiana under her wing. She invites her to more events and introduces her to her group of friends. Georgiana meets Jane and Cecily, Jonathan and Christopher, and she finds out there is far more going on at their parties than what she reads about in her novels. The men and women spend time together unsupervised, alcohol flows quite freely, they smoke from a pipe that gets passed around, and they tell bawdy jokes that Georgiana’s aunt and uncle would definitely disapprove of. Georgiana wants to fit in, so she tries to hide her shock and drinks her wine. But when she gets a little tipsy, she finds herself talking to the one guy who had been sitting alone, quietly.

She’d found out that his name is Thomas Hawksley, and she finds out that she enjoys talking to him, even as she worries that she’s making a fool of herself in front of him. His hasty exit from the situation convinces her that he wasn’t interested, and yet she finds that she can’t stop thinking about him.

As the weeks of the summer go on, and the parties get even wilder, Georgiana starts to question what it is that she wants. She loves being friends with Frances, who brings the adventure and the excitement always. But there are some choices that she and her friends are making that are starting to make Georgiana uncomfortable, especially when she thinks of what Thomas must think of her. Basically Georgiana has to make a choice of what’s more important to her—her friendship with Frances or her good name?

Lex Croucher’s debut novel Reputation is Jane Austen with a modern twist. These characters live in Victorian England, but they could just as easily be transported to today’s London or even New York City. As these young women and men deal with issues such as class differences, binge drinking, LGBTQ+ identities, and social mores, they each have to decide how to live their lives to stay true to themselves. Any modern reader can relate to that.

I had a great time with Reputation. I thought it was smart and sassy, funny and thoughtful. It brought me back to reading Jane Austen for the first time, while bringing in lots of contemporary touches. I especially liked the character of Georgiana. She relies on her bookish knowledge but can adapt to changing circumstances with grace and poise. I think any fan of Austen would know what happens between the book’s heroine and the quiet moody boy brooding at the back of the party, but I loved the journey they took throughout the story. There were some lovely surprises that would make Jane herself smile, and I can’t think of a better book recommendation than that.

Egalleys for Reputation were provided by St. Martin’s Griffin through NetGalley, with many thanks.

Thank you to Netgalley and @stmartinspress for my eARC for Reputation. Reputation is described as Bridgerton meets Gossip Girl. Having never watched the latter, I can’t say if that’s true. But, this funny historical romantic comedy takes Jane Austen-esque characters and makes them decidedly more risqué. Including black and brown characters and modern feminist plot lines, the characters are taken down a road of debauchery and Mean Girls spirit before coming ‘round for redemption. I enjoyed this one a lot despite some major 🤨 raised eyebrow moments throughout. 😲

Pick this one up for a fun, quick read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5

Reputation is clever, quirky and definitely a fun time. Not your typical Regency, but a cute mix of Mean Girls/Gossip Girl/Bridgerton/Pride & Prejudice mixed in one.

I absolutely loved the rep (always love a Biracial character) but the main heroine just rubbed me the wrong way and it took away a little for me. Definitely only a personal preference though!

I'd heard this book described as a "Regency era Mean Girls" so I went into it with an open mind. In the end, I found this book a mediocre read and was overall disappointed. I love reading historicals, especially historical romance, because I enjoy immersing myself in the setting and era. I didn't get that out of this book. I also struggled to connect with the characters and didn't particularly care what happened to them at the end of the day. There are plenty of trigger warnings in this book, and at the end of the day I didn't find the story or characters compelling.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this ebook!

Bridgerton with the twist of Gossip Girl and Mean girl all combined in one. I couldn't put it down. If you haven't picked it up. Do so.