This was not at all what I expected but also have never read a historical novel like this. There was a rowdy group of 20 year olds out drinking and doing drugs and staying up all hours of the night. This is definitely not a new thing but they are privileged and can do what they want. This was steeped in Austen, Gossip Girl, Mean Girls, that cliquey mean spirited best of the best time of their life. But they are all on the verge of being out of control. One of the main ladies is bi and just passing it off as fun when her friend is not having any of that. The mistakes made going to parties, being impaired, no supervision despite being with trusted friends there is always a risk. So if you have triggers for sexual assault and rape be aware. It was done well as the mc was fighting for justice and as with those times was being dragged but luckily the guy she was crushing on was on her side. Their little notes were adorable. I refuse to believe that everyone back then had perfect manners and didn’t have sarcasm or some snarkiness and some partner to think they were cute for it.
3.75

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for giving me access to the advanced copy of this book to read.

I actually enjoyed this one much more than I was expecting ! I listened on audio and the narration was amazing. It felt very much like Bridgerton, more than just because it's the same narrator. As the synopsis mentions, this is like a Bridgerton and Gossip Girl cross, and I could not agree more. It had the regal factor of Bridgerton, but the gossip and lies and deceit from Gossip Girl. Only giving this a 3 star because it just didn't do much for me other than entertain me. I wasn't invested in the story until close to the end, but I did still enjoy overall.

I heard this was Mean Girls crossed with Bridgerton so I was excited to read it but it didn’t live up to either of the comparisons. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for review

I loved the hilarious debut by Lex Croucher, Reputation. Fans of Gossip Girl/Mean Girls and breaking the mold of regency romances will adore this one.

Georgiana has moved into society to now live with her aunt and uncle. At a latest party, she meets Frances and is swept into society trends. But will she care more about her reputation or staying true to herself?

What sets Reputation apart is its witty and humorous tone. The book is full of laugh-out-loud moments and clever pop culture references that keep the story fresh and engaging. Croucher's writing is sharp and witty, and her Regency-era twist on the classic romcom formula is a welcome breath of fresh air. This book explores race, class, sexuality, and gender in the Regency era in a way that most romances do not.

Reputation is a thoroughly enjoyable read that will leave you entertained and satisfied. It's a perfect blend of humor, romance, and Regency-era charm that will appeal to a wide range of readers. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun and lighthearted read. It's not going to change your life, but it's a fun ride.

Despite being sold as an update of Jane Austen, I couldn't get into this book at all, I finished it but it wasn't for me.

3.5
While it took me a bit to get into this one, the second half was definitely much more entertaining. While I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it, it was certainly a fun way to pass time.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I read this book because I had seen it hailed as a mix between Bridgerton and Gossip Girl- both of which I enjoy. I didn't hate reading it but it sometimes felt a bit overly long (like there were parts that could have been cut without detracting from the story). It erred a bit too much on the side of Gossip Girl - and it was very unrealistic for the time. I don't require realism in my stories but this was definitely not realistic for the time. Georgiana definitely was relatable in her own way- but she was way too accepting of what others handed to her or suggested to her. It makes sense in terms of the plot but I found myself wanting to yell at her to not be so stupid.

The concept of a historical romance based on Mean Girls should have been my first hint that it would not be up my ally.
The bullying and abusive friendships were super cringy and made me uncomfortable. Not my cup of tea.

The writing style was interesting and fresh, and was me interested in trying Lex’s next book to see if a different set of tropes will land better for me.

I started this book and found that I really could not connect with it. I feel like it may have been one of those “right book wrong time” situations where it wasn’t what I needed, but I chose to put it down. Therefore, I cannot give a true star rating.

Not bad but not a favorite. Truly I think it was more about my personal preferences with this book and the style of writing.

This book got an automatic 1-star deduction as a result of its blurb. I was drawn in by this:

Bridgerton meets Gossip Girl with a dash of Jane Austen, in Reputation, a Regency-era historical romantic comedy with a deliciously feminist twist, from a hilarious new British voice, Lex Croucher.
St. Martin's Press

Reader, I was bamboozled. Under no circumstances would I qualify this book as a romantic comedy or even moderately hilarious. That is in very large part to its second and third act conflict. Sexual assault of one character, the attempted assault of the main character, and the physical assault of said main character in the last ten percent? Not exactly lighthearted fare.

In any case, this book features bookish and sheltered Georgiana Ellers in a fish-out-of-water narrative. Sent by her neglectful parents to spend the summer with her uptight aunt and uncle, Georgiana feels that she is doomed to waste away her days in dull company, until she meets Frances Campbell, the Season's It-girl, and is whisked into the social whirl of the haut ton.

From there, Reputation becomes less "Bridgerton meets Gossip Girl" and more "Pride and Prejudice meets The Great Gatsby." Georgiana's desperation to stay in the in-crowd is almost painful to read, especially as the thrill of adventure slowly turns to dread. Frances and her friends quickly show their true colors. Though Croucher gives them significant backstories that inform their vindictive carelessness, I spent a lot of time wishing that Georgiana would wise up sooner rather than later.

As for the romance part of Reputation, it felt almost like an afterthought. Thomas Hawksley, the love interest, is off page much of the story. His main function seems to be a Mr. Darcy stand-in with a tragic backstory to explain his starchiness and make him a paragon amongst his friend group. As a result, the romance doesn't pick up until the final third, with a very sweet epistolary episode.

All in all, this was an engaging read, even if it wasn't what was promised by the blurb. I suggest this for readers who don't mind a Regency young adult narrative that reads like a CW drama. The characters were very well-rounded and there was more diversity than I would have expected. Nuanced depictions of race, gender, and sexuality in Regency England were a pleasant surprise.

If you loved Bridgerton the show, but felt the books were a bit dull, then Reputation is for you! Funny and fun, this is a delightful romp through regency England. Georgiana's life goes for a spin when she meets Frances, and she'll learn if one's reputations really is everything.

I think the thing I loved most about Reputation by Lex Croucher is that at many times, it is pure hilarity. I can't even remember the last time I laughed during a book so much, and I have to say Croucher clearly knows how to write my kind of humor. But this is more than a funny story as it has plenty of substance as well, and if I didn't know this was a debut, I would NEVER have known by reading it. The author mentions in the acknowledgments that she thought it was important to give different communities in Britain's history a place in this book and I think she succeeded. I loved that there is a queer spin to the novel, and I don't know if that's what I would have expected just looking at the cover. While it did make me laugh almost nonstop, it was not really a "light" read per se, and Croucher also touches on slave trade as well as other deeper topics that I wasn't expecting either. There is some romance of course but this is just so much more than that and I can't just call this a straight-up romance or rom-com.

Georgiana is the only viewpoint in the story, and I had really mixed feelings about her. I know why the blurb mentions the movie Mean Girls now, because some of these characters, Georgiana included, have a definite mean streak. It was interesting to see how she evolves during the story though, and by the end, I was happy that she came to her senses. She had a sad life, and I can understand some of her choices to an extent, but I always love when characters grow in a book as opposed to staying stagnant and not learning anything. I would be remiss not to also mention how lovely the audiobook for Reputation is, and I adored listening to Bessie Carter narrate. If you prefer to listen to books, I would definitely recommend the audio of this one, and I think it also hit me a bit differently because of it. It’s really hard to explain exactly what you’re going to get if you pick this up, but I enjoyed the theme of young women finding their place in society and with each other, and if you are even remotely interested in what I’ve motioned I think it is worth a read!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Unfortunately this book missed the mark for me. I wasn't able to finish it because I wasn't grabbed by the plot or the characters. (I stopped reading within the first quarter of the book.)

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC

I went into this book with really high hopes that it would be similar to the tv show Bridgerton. It definitely reminded me a lot of the show as it takes place around the same time period. When I first started reading the book I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy it because I wasn't getting much out of the first few chapters. After continuing the book it actually made me laugh a couple times and I got really attached to Georgiana our main character. Fair warning that sexual assault does play a part in the book as well as a hint of domestic abuse.

This book was such fun! Gossip Girl meets Jane Austen -- what a great combination! I cannot wait to read more from this author in the future!

3.5 stars

At first I wasn't really interested, it just didn't grab me but as the story went on and I was absorbed in the regency era I really enjoyed it my time with it. I do love the drama and would a continuation of the story.

Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for an e-arc for a honest review.

I read 30% of this book and decided not to finish. I was bored and not intrigued by any of the characters enough to continue