I was so excited to receive an ARC of this book! Thank you @netgalley and Harper Collins Publishers!

Y’all… I am a sucker for anything Eloisa James. She is one of my favorite historical romance authors. She always has the right mixture of wit, humor, romance, and historical detail in her books. She does not disappoint with this one either!

I loved everything about this book! The MCs (Cleo and Jake) are so fun and cute… and so is their little wager. I love how both Cleo and Jake have businesses and are business savvy, and how that plays into them falling in love.
Gotta love Eloisa James for making yet another strong baddy female character! 💪🏼

Oh and their banter is so clever and fun! And let’s not forget the spice🌶…. That was on point too! 😂 The other characters in the book are fun too.. and I can’t wait to read Yasmin’s story.. bc that’s next right? Please.. 😂
The kippers… oh the kippers… with coffee 🤢😂 But hey.. if a man like Jake was bringing me some.. I wouldn’t complain 🤣
I can’t wait for the next one!!!

Charming enemies to marriage trope. Two unlikely people are thrown together and over a series of events learn they are better off together.

Eloisa is a great writer, and her characters are truly unique and come to life on the pages. I'm a fan and enjoyed this historical, charming and at times witty and laugh out loud funny.

Businesswoman Cleopatra Lewis has no interest in aristocratic society, but she’s prepared to endure one season since it was her mother’s dying wish. With her aging grandfather, a viscount, escorting her around society, Cleo plans to be a proper wallflower, so she visits a costumier with the intention of ordering unflattering gowns to discourage any would-be suitors.

Jacob Astor Addison is in London on business, working on expanding his interests in theaters back in America. He has a wife in mind back in Boston, a biddable, quiet lady to add to his orderly life, and he’s furious when a wily Englishwoman swoops in and buys Quimby’s Costume Emporium out from under him.

Jake and Cleo come to an unorthodox agreement: he’ll design Cleo’s new wardrobe and she’ll create his. Cleo can’t resist the opportunity to make the large American into a proper English dandy, but the competition somehow leads to a strong friendship between them. Jake quickly realizes his feelings go well beyond friendship. He doesn’t belong in Cleo’s cultured world, but that doesn’t lessen his determination to make a life with her, if she feels the same.

This was such an unexpectedly fun and humorous book. Sure, there were moments when Cleo’s hesitance and mistrust got a tiny bit frustrating and maybe slightly repetitive with her fears of marriage, but those fears were well-founded given her mother’s behavior and that’s about the only critique I can come up with for this book. I absolutely adored Jake. He was so uncouth and completely at odds with English high society and yet he somehow fit perfectly and was exactly what Cleo needed even before she realized it herself. I loved that Jake knew almost immediately that Cleo was the one for him and rather than hem and haw and fight his feelings, he went straight to work on his plan to woo her and earn her trust. The whole situation with Jake’s mother was incredibly dramatic but given that it was essentially the only bit of true angst in the whole story, and it didn’t last long, I didn’t mind. In fact, this whole situation allowed Jake to shine more as he efficiently put his mother in her place and continued to patiently give Cleo exactly what she needed in terms of reassurance. I can definitely relate to that insecurity and need to have feelings reaffirmed, so even if Cleo was a little over the top at times, it’s easy to excuse that and it didn’t get in the way of her charm and likability.

Jake may have struggled to produce flowery, romantic words, but he came up with the most thoughtful gifts and thanks to his steadfastness in his pursuit of Cleo, he will probably always be a favorite hero for me. I also appreciated Cleo’s determination to maintain her individual autonomy in marriage as I think this led to open conversations between these two and enabled each to grow comfortable being their true self around the other. Beyond my love for this couple, I was also thoroughly charmed by the secondary characters. Yasmin was a bit of a pill at times, but I still look forward to her book. However, my favorite interaction is perhaps that between Jake and Cleo’s grandfather. I was thoroughly charmed by the older man’s aide of Jake’s campaign for Cleo’s heart and those two had me laughing aloud as I read this. I was utterly charmed by this story and its light-heartedness was just what I needed to read right now. Plus, I do enjoy a hero who falls first and hard for his heroine, especially when his wooing methods are as unconventional as his heroine.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Eloisa James has yet again delivered a fun and lovely historical romance. British Cleopatra Lewis has beauty and wealth as well as a fine head for business. The last thing she wants is marriage. American Jacob Astor Addison has come to England to acquire businesses for his many endeavors in America. They meet at a costume emporium Jacob is trying to purchase - but Cleo steals it out right from under his nose! To ensure that the right person gets the emporium they agree to a competition: Jacob will design Cleo’s “wallflower” wardrobe while Cleo will dress Jacob as outrageously as possible. Over the process, the two become closer and closer but there are obstacles in the way…such as Jacob’s semi-betrothal, Cleo’s independence and London society. Can love conquer it all?

I already knew I would never be disappointed by James, but this twist was a fun one! This wasn’t all ladies and dukes, but rather an American and a businesswoman (yes, the granddaughter of a Viscount, but still!). I found myself genuinely laughing out loud and loving the side characters who truly made the story. Looking forward to the next in the series, and, as usual, James has done a wonderful job teasing who the leading characters will be.

Cleo is an unconventional woman for her time - she owns her own company (which sells toilets, no less), she spent years traveling around England with her theater-loving mother, and she is in London for her first Season, yet she has no desire to marry. Jake is an American businessman set on buying out and moving the best actors, costumers, and set designers he can find to move them to America and continue building his theater empire. He thinks he wants to marry a quiet, unassuming woman - until he meets Cleo in a battle over a costume emporium. She wants Quimby's to make her a wardrobe that will keep her in the hands-off wallflower territory as she navigates the Season alongside her estranged grandfather. He wants Quimby's to move to America. As they match wits and wills, they (of course) recognize a kindred spirit in the other and start to rethink what they want out of their futures.

I enjoyed Cleo and Jake's story, especially the fashion battles (Jake comes up with a plan to ruin Cleo's business plan for Quimby's that involves them letting the other plan their wardrobes, to be made by Quimby's - so many plans!) and the humor woven throughout the story. The passion between Cleo and Jake was excellent, if a little rushed, but the shame on Cleo's part because of her mother's past was a little tiring. I enjoyed the secondary characters quite a lot and would like to see more of them, especially Yasmin, Byng, and Lilford. The conflict in the book felt a little flat, though it was also refreshing to have characters be honest about their feelings for one another and talk through their problems. Overall a fun read with plenty of humor and steam. I look forward to more of the series!

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager as well as NetGalley for the opportunity to read How to Be a Wallflower early in exchange for an honest review!

Miss Cleopatra Lewis is about to be launched in society by her aristocratic grandfather. But since she has no intention of marrying, she visits a costume emporium specifically to order unflattering dresses guaranteed to put off any prospective suitors.
Powerful and charismatic Jacob Astor Addison is in London, acquiring businesses to add to his theatrical holdings in America—as well as buying an emerald for a young lady back in Boston. He’s furious when a she-devil masquerading as an English lady steals Quimby’s Costume Emporium from under his nose.
Jake strikes a devil’s bargain, offering to design her “wallflower wardrobe” and giving Cleo the chance to design his. Cleo can’t resist the fun of clothing the rough-hewn American in feathers and flowers. And somehow in the middle of their lively competition, Jake becomes her closest friend.
It isn’t until Cleo becomes the toast of all society that Jake realizes she’s stolen his fiercely guarded heart. But unlike the noblemen at her feet, he doesn’t belong in her refined and cultured world.
Caught between the demands of honor and desire, Jake would give up everything to be with the woman he loves—if she’ll have him!
Cleo and Jake make a perfect pair.
This story is a great read and I think that it entices you to read more books by Eloisa James.
This book is an incomparable story of love and respect.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

This was a really fun, rivals-to-lovers romance!

Rival investors for an English costume emporium, Cleo and Jacob are immediately at odds. He wants only the best outfitters to move to America, but Cleo wants to use the shop’s skills at making her a wallflower for the season. Cleo wins the emporium as the owner really doesn’t want to move to America and Jacob decides he will get it back, no matter the cost. However, the cost quickly ends up being his heart.

Upon a closer look, Jacob discovers an intelligent, witty, independent woman that he longs to call his own. His determination and patience is just what a woman like Cleo needs. Cleo decided long ago that she wouldn’t marry. One, she would lose the company that she inherited from her father, Lewis Commodes. She quite enjoys being a business owner, thank you very much, and won’t give it up. Two, she saw her mother run rampant over everyone to have many affairs - her husband, her daughter, and other wives included. As one would expect, this left a sour taste in Cleo’s mouth regarding marriage.

The romance starts as a delightful competition of sorts. Cleo plans to have Quimby's expand from theater costumes to dressing the merchant class who are looking to land titles, Jacob plans to counter her plan by commissioning a garish wardrobe for himself that will make people think twice about the styles. In the interest of fairness (and as a ploy to get her to spend more time with him) they agree to design each other's wardrobes.

One thing I really liked about this book was that the drama and conflict wasn’t what I expected. I swore up and down that I knew, exactly, what the conflict would be. As I approached the 80% mark, the place of almost all conflict in romance books, I was pleasantly surprised that I was wrong. Or at least, it was only a small part of the entire conflict.

An incredibly fun read where the hero falls first and pursues hard.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review! How to be a Wallflower was so fun! This book is pretty much love at first sight for me and the characters! James drops us so perfectly in the past and in their world! Great story telling and delectable steam!

I confess this one took me until the 40 percent point before I started really enjoying the story. Up to that point it seems like there are too many people to keep track of and the main two characters have a silly challenge they are taking seriously. Miss Cleopatra (Cleo) Lewis is an heiress and runs her fathers lucrative commode business. She has come to London after the passing of her mother to meet her grandfather Viscount Falconer and be introduced to society. She meets the large, brash American Jacob Astor Addison and they have a conflict over a wardrobe business.

Jake is instantly attracted to Cleo and sets about to woo her by joining her for breakfast, sending daily flowers and befriending her grandfather. I like that once he decides to marry her the business is no longer important and he makes plans to remain in England. Some of those things in other book would be drag out much longer. Cleo is fearful of marriage as she was betrothed once to someone who only wanted her inheritance and because of her mother's free loving ways. I like that Cleo and Jake spend time getting to know each other and enjoy just kissing. In fact it is a long time before it goes beyond that. When the angst moment comes it is almost a small bump in the road because Cleo realizes how much she knows and trusts her man.

This is the first in the new Would Be Wallflowers series but it ties in with the stand alone My American Duchess (2015). (Merry, the Duchess is an American and good friends with Jake.) The epilogue has me looking forward to the next book in the series. And one more shout out for the lovely cover that actually looks like the description of Cleo including the beautiful dress. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

✨Y’all know what Americans named Jake do to these delicate sensibilities✨

He loves her more than kippers and she loves him more than commodes. Can I make it any more obvious? (What’s obvious is that this book is classically Eloisa: charming, funny, a swift tug at the heartstrings.) I want to tuck this book in at night and make it pancakes and spontaneously bring it flowers and chocolate and whatever it desires. I want to embroider quotes on pillows and talk about it to strangers.

It’s soft touches and longing eyes and leans with hands against walls and breakfasts together and picnics for lunch and almost handjobs at the dinner table. He stands up for her when she enters the room and she doesn’t want to love him but she does. I read this book twice in order to adequately translate my 💗✨😌🤞💋😇💖🥰 feelings. I cried both times and I’ll cry again.

The angst was low but the pining was HIGH I’m holding ON for dear life. There was no villain, only wholesomely meddling side characters and so many moments that made me swoon so many times; I really should invest in a fainting couch. I highlighted this entire book. I cannot lie to you I literally highlighted this entire book. THE MAN JUST WANTS HER TOILETRIES NEXT TO HIS TOILETRIES OKAY.

The scope of the book is firmly focused on Cleo and Jake’s relationship. The pacing was also very lively and I was never bored. The two lived across the hall from each other at a hotel and they were on the page together a! lot! It also has a charming subplot of the costume shop. The two make a bet revolving around the costumes and it’s very fun and heartwarming. I would love though to have a fashion lookbook accompany this book because the fashion seems so interesting! But for the life of me I can’t picture any of the outfits.

✨

Jake “That Jaw” Addison is a delicious cup of coffee, golden marshmallow of a retriever puppy so in love he sees hearts wherever he walks. He’s an I’ll-kiss-you-on-the-forehead-and-nuzzle-your-nose-and-say-you’re-bewitching-and-then-eat-you-for-breakfast-because-you’re-my-most-important-meal-of-the-day-and-I-have-a-very-large-appetite kind of guy. He also fought a bear and won??? My rugged lumberjake. The moment when this man said “years later he would still remember how hard it was to leave her that day” I was absolutely destroyed. I was screaming, crying, throwing up. She was just going to dinner! Jake is so dramatic and I love that for him.

Simultaneously, Cleo is being WONDERFUL throughout the entire book. She’s the one who has reservations about their relationship because her mother was never faithful and she doesn’t want to hurt him. [Read: Really frustrated she wants to climb him like a tree but will that stop her from treating him like Redwood National Park?] It’s a bit of a role reversal because you normally see this type of character (a lot of the times it’s the hero) self destructing because they think they don’t deserve love.

However, here, Cleo was very open with Jake and they worked through their issues gorgeously and neither ran. He was clearly courting her and she was taking the time to truly contemplate the thought. She wanted to know irrevocably that she was his first choice and that she wasn’t going to hurt him. He gave her the space to have that comfort and confirmation. Cleo is confident and compelling and I loved reading her chapters. I loved watching her fall in love with Jake, on her own time.

✨

If instalove isn’t your thing, this may not be the book for you. BUT I implore you to give it a try because it’s actually a quite perfect execution of instalove (which I too am not a huge fan of). It is definitely instant love for Jake and me anyways. It basically went like this: Jake and Cleo meet and he’s trying to buy a theater costume shop that she just bought. His whole plan is to get her to sign the company over to him and then to go back to America to marry a nice cow-loving woman.

**Kinda spoilery but I really wanted to articulate just how well the plot/arc was constructed.** However, 30% through the book this man realizes a few things that normally take a main character about 70% to realize. It was SO refreshing. 1. That he will absolutely under no circumstances be marrying anyone but Cleo because stringing that plot line along would be VERY foolish. 2. That he will be moving to Britain because why wouldn’t he? Cleo loves Britain and he loves Cleo and that would be a VERY foolish thing to get in the way of their relationship. 3. He doesn’t want the costume shop anymore because that would be a VERY foolish thing to want anymore. 4. He will do anything in order to make her love him because he would be VERY foolish to walk away but he will do it RESPECTFULLY. He will be honest and open and reveal his “evil mastermind” plans to be fair and wear clothes fit for peacocks because she designed them and he will befriend her grandfather and enjoy it all. 5. He won’t be scared of his love, he will simply accept it and be an adult about his emotions and feelings and circumstances.

✨

To circle back, The lack of a horrible draining villain character was so so so lovely I can’t even begin to tell you how much I loved my time reading this book. This is a book you read if you want a warm hug and happy tears and to smile and to hold something close. She literally bewitched him body and soul and he walked through the meadow to get to her. Nothing was going to make him walk away like thoughts of he “doesn’t deserve her” or he “loves her too much” or he loves to leave and make that decision for her because “he just knows.”

He respects her and her opinions and her boundaries and understands that she needs time to accept herself and him and his love and he’s TOTALLY okay with that. He had biiiiig Joshua Templeman vibes of you’re-not-ready-for-us-yet-but-when-you-are-I’m-going-to-love-you-very-thoroughly-and-very-properly-and-very-very-creatively-on-very-many-surfaces-during-very-many-hours-of-the-day-and-nothing-is-going-to-make-me-give-you-up. This book is my historical Hating Game. I’m so happy right now. I’d say I could cry but I’ve already cried five times.

Much like the Hating Game, the steam wasn’t scorching here, but I was so in love with our cinnamon rolls I felt everything that was implied. There was enough to give this book three peppers but as you know, I’ll always want more. Older Eloisa books banged HARD so it is a bit sad to see her scale it back here. (The potential with that mirrored carriage ceiling 🥵) BUT that doesn’t change how much I love the book.

Overall, I absolutely cannot wait for book two. Book two can do anything and I’ll love it forever. It’s going to be beautiful and I’m going to cry and I’m going to be so happy about it. Lilford is definitely very proper but he’s got such an edge and sparkle in his eye and I can’t wait to see how he pairs with Yasmin. And that epilogue??? My GOD the way I cried when it flashed forward. I also hope Frederica gets her time to shine.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶/5

I’m a HUGE and early fan of Eloisa James, so it’s a bummer for me to say that this book was much more of a slog to get through than Eloisa’s books used to be(although her work over the last couple of years does seem to unfortunately trend this way).
Having said that, it was still far from terrible, and Eloisa James is a hugely talented writer of Historical Romance, and all of her books are a sure read for me.
The heroine of the story, Cleopatra, is sassy and likeable, but the hero—well, not so much. He’s kind of an ass, to be blunt. Jacob was difficult to like.
We still get our romance, adventure, and requisite HEA, however, and that special Eloisa James brand of Historical Romance Sparkle. Because of that, I’d give the book 3.5 stars if I could, but because of starring restrictions, I give it a firm 3 ⭐️‘s.

Sexy, competent entrepreneurs falling in love (after a little war) during the Regency period. Be still my heart.

Once we get past the initial set-up (points for creativity, negative points for it being a bit of a silly premise), we get to watch Cleo Lewis and Jacob Astor Addison fall in love over kippers, coffee, contracts, and costumes. Wit and chemistry abound in their exchanges. I have a particular love for romances like this one, where Jake has a moment of clarity well before Cleo does and realizes that she is his future. No panic, no histrionics, just calm acceptance and patient waiting for her to catch up. Given some complicated feelings about her parents and what she witnessed in their marriage, it's going to take her a while. It's rewarding to witness how they work past insecurities and scars together. And like so many of Eloisa James's books--especially those featuring fish out of water, as both Cleo and Jake are in London society--the plot is fun and delightfully outlandish at times.

I am so excited for this series after having read this first installment. (The would-be wallflower theme should just be quietly retired, though, as it was very early in this book. It really wasn't necessary.)

Eloisa James is a freaking historical romance wizard. Her main characters feel like modern humans plunked into the 1800s where they know the rules of society but give zero fucks about following them. I like societal rule breakers- rebels who want to bone!!!

Cleo is a renaissance woman in 1815 England- She is heiress who runs her family commode company. She’s literally and figuratively the SHIT!! Cleo is debuting in London society at the dying wish of her mom, but refuses to marry bc she will lose her wealth and company to her hubs. Enter bawdy, hunky American Jacob who doesn’t give a shit about the dumb English laws or societal norms bc Americans believe in two things- freedom and freedom. He immediately falls for Cleo and her gorgeous sass.

Cleo and Jake are magnetic. They burn with chemistry like two bunsen burners made out of magnets. They are just so hot for each other. James thrives at making her characters’ heat emit from the page and she does it all with a little eye wink.

This book is pure romance. If you are looking for a historical romance rife with drama and sick beds and ruined reputations, this isn’t it. But if you’re looking for seduction, heat, and falling in love, you’ve come to the right place! I truly enjoyed every moment of this book and can’t wait for more in the series!

Thanks @netgalley and @avonbooks for the ARC. This book drops March 29!

Smut- 3.25 stars
Romance- 5 stars
Story- 4.75 stars
Modern American swagger, but wearing a cravat- 10 stars

Eloisa James can do no wrong in my book. I loved the American male main character. I loved that the female.main character was a toilet heiress. This book was a delight.

A review for this book will be posted on What to Read Next Podcast March 25 episode "What to Read After Bridgerton"

Chef's kiss! Devoured this one. So many inside jokes and delightful motifs. The kippers! Some pumpkins!

I loved that the archetype of the rich, successful businessman is a woman in this book (although Jake, the love interest is also a wealthy business owner). Their good-natured rivalry was so wholesome and charming and surprisingly low-angst. I loved the attention to detail with the clothing and costumes, which is part of the rivalry.

The characters were loveable and although the third-act misunderstanding was a bit trite, it fit with the more light-hearted nature of the prose and I didn't mind at all.

DNF @ 66%
I wasn’t vibing with this one. The characterization felt off which left me not even rooting for the couple. And I couldn’t keep track of the name dropping of side characters. For a rivals-to-lovers it was pretty insta love.

**Warning, some SPOILERS ahead**
I have been a fan of Eloisa James for years, and this book is exactly why she is one of my favorite authors! The main characters are layered, with legitimate emotional struggles from their life experiences. Reading about how they have to work through those struggles to be able to have a healthy long term relationship is an amazing journey to go on!
Cleo’s experience growing up with a mother who flagrantly took lovers, and felt it was okay to share her experiences with her young daughter as if she were a friend, made her incredibly untrusting of her own desires and feelings for the opposite sex. I love when Eloisa writes these strong, independent women who don’t require a man to be happy or successful. Especially when they are matched with strong men, who enhance said females life rather than overtaking it. Couple that with combustible sexual chemistry and building tension, and you’ve got a book you can’t put down. I don’t think I’ve enjoyed a historical romance this much in at least a year, and considering how many books I read, that’s saying a lot. The only negative I really have about this book is it ended.

I'll pick up any book written by Eloisa James. Her Wilde's series was one of my first introductions to Historical Romance. How to Be a Wallflower was a delightful read. I enjoy the banter Ms. James writes between the hero and heroine and often has me giggling. She writes this story so beautifully transporting me to the fashions and workings of the costume emporium.

#netgalleyarc This was a nice, quick, weekend read. Many of these regency romance titles follow a plan, a formula, and this title continued that trend. Was it the best regency romance I’ve read? No. Was it the worst? No. A very middle ground and enjoyable book.

I love a book with a dare gone wrong! This adorable story highlights the story of Cleo and Jake as they both try to navigate a society they're uncomfortable with. The rich descriptions of the clothing are worth staying for even if the adoring grandfather and the scheming is not. I highly recommend this book, it was a great read!