I really enjoyed this book, though it's more of a slow burn with some Jane Austen thrown in, than an enemies to lovers. You might be familiar with the characters from Kate Pembrooke's debut novel,, Not the Kind of Earl You Marry, and the continuation does not disappoint. You get to learn more about Serena and Charles and how their past has impacted their current situations. The reader can appreciate the characters growth and it leaves me anxious to read the next novel!

4.5 stars
Lady Serena Wynter is a leader of the Wednesday Afternoon Social Club, fiercely independent, smart and the daughter of an earl.
Her friend Charles Townsend a Mr., gentleman to the extreme, working hard to prove his worth and earn his place.
Both harbor secrets that if known could ruin each of them. Will they give into their feelings, overcome the truths they both hide and let love win?
I liked Serena’s strength and that she is not your typical heroine. She constantly challenges Charles who struggles to let go of his past.
A very sweet HEA romance. Just lacking a little steam for me but otherwise an enjoyable story.

This book does a lot of things we like: a decent, kindhearted hero and an independent, appealing heroine work together to help right Society's wrongs. For some reason, we just didn't connect with their story. It could be the inclusion of a lovable young street urchin, possibly the unspecified women's club Serena is a part of, or the extraneous storylines that seemed to deserve their own books (the duchess's courtship, their widowed friend), but we just didn't love it.

We enjoyed the first in the series (Not the Kind of Earl You Marry) and will be looking out for the next one in the series.

Thank you Forever Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book via eARC.
CW: Loss of child (miscarriage)

This book is enchanting. After reading the first one, Not the Kind of Earl You Marry, I knew I had to try to get this one! It lives up to the first book. Actually, I think it might surpass the first book in my opinion. This book follows Serena and Charles (characters we met in the first book) as they navigate their feelings for each other and the secrets that keep them apart. It's a fairly low angst, slow burn, mutual pining historical romance. It takes place in 1818, but has the crisp tones of modern feminism that make it such a great read. (At this point I read it the first time in one sitting and have gone back to read significant parts of it again... I received this book 4 days ago.)

What I Loved:

Serena is headstrong, knows her worth, and isn't afraid of what others think of her. She's fully rounded out with faults, charm, ambitions, and personality to really make you root for her. She's unorthodox for the time period she's in, but she's so determined that it feels right when you read it. Her rationality for hiding her secrets is understandable. Ah! I just love her. Would want to be her friend.

Charles is perfection. His strong duty to what is right and wrong is commendable. His pining for Serena is *chef's kiss* amazing. All of the things that he does for Serena throughout the novel make him so endearing. He has so much love and too many personal skeletons that make me love him. Also that's another amazing part to him is that his reasoning for not pursuing Serena actually makes sense and is reasonable. Love that! They're actually apart because consequential reasons, which is more than a lot of other books can say.

My favorite part of Pembrooke's books are her secondary characters. I mean her main characters are fabulous, but her ability to craft fully dimensional secondary characters without taking away from the focus of the plot is really unmatched. I want to know their struggles and interests just as much as the main characters. They aren't cartoonish. This is the reason I will ALWAYS be picking up Pembrooke's writings!

Things I was Meh On:

For as forward as most of this book is I kinda expected more steam. This is clearly not an actual plot/writing issue, more of a surprise with the characters. Like I know that Charles has more morals than the pope, but come on man, it's 1818, live a little ;).

Long story short, I think anyone who likes historical romance, especially with non-asshole male leads, feminist female leads, and enough pining to make the HEA the best should read this book. Say You'll Be My Lady is just so sweet and enjoyable. I cannot wait for Pembrooke to write a million more books because I will be reading them all. (Also I 100% will be buying a physical copy of this book when it comes out because I need it in my personal library.) If you're on the fence of this book, don't be. Just pick it up when you can and enjoy!