Thank you to @netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. I loved this debut novel by Sophie Irwin. I thought it was an interesting modern take on the traditional regency Austen stories. In Austen the women are expected to marry the richest of men, however, they prefer to marry for love. Here we have Kitty Talbot, the oldest of five sisters, who has the responsibility to marry a rich man or her four younger sisters are left destitute.

What I liked:
-The characters, I really enjoyed the strong, practical, and cunning Kitty. I loved how protective she was, yet she was flawed in her protectiveness.
-I loved the underlying plots within the plot it was very well done
-I loved Lord Radcliffe as the protective older brother and how he was able to slowly fall for the main character due to mutual understanding and admiration
- The banter and the going from one suitor to another was just a delight
-Dual POV is always a plus

What I did not like:
-Honestly my only complaint is that I felt the ending a bit rushed and romantically anticlimactic. I would have liked to have seen more feelings on the part of the two main characters.

But it wasn't enough to knock down a star this was a 5 star read for me. I look forward to more from this author.

A LADY’S GUIDE TO FORTUNE-HUNTING is a fabulously clever read. It takes everything you love about a historical novel and twists it a bit to bring to life the characters and world the author eloquently creates.

This debut novel has everything you would want in a Regency-era read and then some. Of course, there is the pomp and circumstance as well as a charmingly gruff bachelor, Radcliffe, matched only by the witty and bitingly smart woman, Kitty. There is even a slew of side characters that bring heart, humor, and at times duplicity into the mix. But what makes this story so good is the concept of having the leading lady be so honest about her pursuits and unabashedly hunting a man of means to save her family.

So many times in historical novels, the authors create characters that are looking for a match and yes, maybe have ulterior motives, but they are hidden under the guise of finding love. In this book, Kitty is not shy about what she needs. This candid look at her quest to grab herself a man of means is both refreshing and downright entertaining. Then you add in the chemistry between Radcliffe and Kitty. It is palpable, but neither wants to admit it. This push and pull will force Kitty to really look into herself and decide what she is truly willing to do for her family obligations.

Definitely for Bridgerton / Austen fans! I enjoyed Kitty as a more unconventional Regency protagonist and the other characters were charming. The immediate dislike between Kitty and Lord Radcliffe melts into affection at a natural pace. Honestly, I did not realize until the end that this was a debut from Sophie Irwin, it reads like a seasoned romance novelist. Highly recommended for all romance collections.

This book was a treat. I immediately bought in to Kitty mission to marry a rich man and save her family. I was cheering for her throughout her adventures and missteps, and was delighted with the conclusion. I loved the setting of a Season in London, and cackled at the descriptions of the snobby lords and ladies.

As a rule I'm not a romance reader. BUT I do love Austen and Bridgerton (the show not the books) and with Regency England as the backdrop this book starts with a solid 2 stars. The writing was good and it was a nice read to fill my seasonal tonn void.

This was joy to read - hands down a favorite, without question. The writing was beautiful, the dialogue witty, the plot utterly ridiculous in the way only a Regency Romance can be. It was everything I wanted and more! Add in a nice quick pacing and a hint at possibly future stories in this world, and I'm hooked!

This story follows Kitty as she navigates her entirely unexpected need for a quick engagement to a wealthy man. We hear the tale largely from Kitty's voice, with occasional and insightful looks into the minds of our other players. Kitty is all wits and schemes and, through little fault of her own, they all seem to work out! She meets her match in Mr. Radcliffe and the verbal sparring between the two is easily compared to the dry humor of Jane Austen. Irwin is an author I will absolutely have to keep an eye on - she certainly knows how to tell a story that felt original and yet comfortingly familiar.

**Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Viking for the eARC**

An entertaining confection with influences of Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen kept this reader reading. The initial section, prior to the central male protagonist's entrance, proved a bit slow to start. At times the dialogue and phrases were anachronistic, but with all of the older brother's swagger and sex appeal, coupled with the offbeat and tenacious heroine (a la Eliza Bennet), the sweep of the marriage plot maintained a good pace. Extra tension and a road adventure (something like Lydia Bennet) added spark in leading up to the traditional marital ending. A ball or two, sweeping skirts, and an upper-class London society add charm, while wagging fingers disapprove of a young woman's deliberate manuevers to marry up and save her family of sisters from poverty.

I was really excited to start this one, but it just didn’t grab me the way that I’d hoped. I was hoping for a true anti-heroine, a bit of a Caroline Bingley situation with someone very mercenary about marriage and possibly even a little bit of a villain — but instead we got a pragmatic, practical kind of heroine whose intentions are still solid gold and capital-R-relatable. Which is fine! Romance is full of them! But not the kind of bold reimagining the marketing promised.

This felt like a Jane Austen book with a protagonist that you immediately fall in love with. It's the 1800's and Kitty needs to save her family's home and her sisters from a life of poverty. She heads to London to stay with an aunt in an effort to enter high society and find a husband. This is a fun, clean book that is appropriate for teens as well.

Already one of my favorite books of 2022, A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting had me howling with laughter from beginning to end. For a book about a shameless fortune hunter, it has an awful lot of heart, and I was rooting for our heroine from page one. Despite accusations against her, she was never truly greedy — simply practical about her reality and extremely capable in her plotting. Watching her face off with the disapproving hero was also incredible, both because they were both in the right from their own perspectives and because they were so well matched in wit and will. In that way, it reminded me of the outrageous interactions between the leads in one of my favorites, Faro's Daughter. Then, too, there's a cast of supporting characters who could all carry a novel of their own, which adds such richness and hilarity to an already riotous book. I'll be rereading this again and again, and I can't wait to see what Irwin does next. My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Viking for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting by Sophie Irwin.

Kitty Talbot needs a husband and one that has a fortune. Typically I'd be the first to say wait a second...why is our main character not looking for LOVE! But there's a good reason Kitty is focused on the more practical side of what marriage sometimes was in Regency England and she won me over. I loved how much she was willing to do to keep her sisters together and while it could have come across as very mercenary, I empathized with Kitty and her situation and at that day and age, she didn't have many options. Besides, she is absolutely correct in asking why is it ok for men to marry for wealth and she would be looked down upon for doing the same thing.

Lord Radcliffe sees what Kitty is doing when he crosses paths with her in relation to his younger brother. When he sees what is happening, he is motivated to do whatever he can to "save" his brother from Kitty. What he doesn't count on is him developing feelings for Kitty...granted it takes a little while but they come to realize that there is more between them than the original animosity they originally had for each other.

If you are looking for a Regency Romance that will keep you turning the pages, I definitely recommend picking this one up. It has great characters and an engaging story and I can't wait to read more from Sophie Irwin in the future.

Sophie Irwin wins the day with her debut novel, A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting. This Regency novel is hilarious and full of romance and deception. There is enough action to keep one reading long into the night. Not to mention, the London setting is almost magical to this Yank.

Kitty Talbot is a spunky, sassy fortune hunter searching for a suitably wealthy husband to save her family. Kitty’s parents weren’t your typical English society family. Not only did they keep many secrets, but her father also left a load of debt upon his death. The Talbot sisters have only 12 weeks to find the money to keep their home. Thus, Kitty sets out on a whirlwind London season where she plans to snag a rich husband.

While walking through Hyde Park on a sunny afternoon, Kitty spots her mark. She makes contact, and the story spirals from there. Young Archie doesn’t know what hit him. He becomes smitten with Miss Kitty right away. Through lies, risk, and a large amount of luck, Kitty works her way into the Radcliffe family. Until the reclusive Lord Radcliffe receives word of a possible deception at foot. The Lord reluctantly goes home to put an end to this treachery, but what he finds is not at all what he expected.

I can’t recommend this novel enough. For any fan of the sarcasm of Bridgerton to the romance of Jane Austen, you will find it all and more in this book. I urge you all to take a weekend and splurge on this brilliant tome.

I was surprised by this book, and it ended up being an okay read. Kitty, our heroine, is on the hunt for a fortune and needs to marry for money immediately. She enters the season with a plan and a mission, knowing that she will need schemes in order to attract attention and woo a man with money. Enter Radcliffe, the man who sees right through Kitty's schemes.
Overall this book was okay. That's really the best word to describe it. It wasn't a "read in one night" type of book but it wasn't a drag to get through either. One thing that really surprised me was the lack of sex. I've been so used to reading open-door historicals that this really threw me.
I recommend this book to people who prefer no sex in their romances and like the general "enemies to lovers" theme. It wasn't a groundbreaking historical and didn't add anything new to the genre, but is an enjoyable read.
If you like your romances spicier, definitely skip this one.

I was lucky to receive A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting by Sophie Irwin from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review and opinion. This was such a great read, I had an absolute blast reading this book. I found myself laughing at multiple times throughout the book. I absolutely love the writing style by Sophie Irwin and can't wait to read more by her.

Couldn’t decide between 4 or 5 stars but I ate it up so 5 stars it is! What a cute, fun, clever, and clean story. Jane Austen would be proud.
Kitty needs a fortune to save her sisters from their deceased fathers debt. She comes up with a plan and finds a nice rich boy to marry but his lord brother gets in their way.

This was a fun romp! Not my usual type of book but it was definitely a fun read and very enjoyable! Strong woman!

Kitty Talbot is a refreshing heroine. The death of her parents leaves her in debt and in charge of her five sisters. She know she needs to go to London to find a husband. She is smart enough to have her honorary aunt giver her an introduction into society. She knows enough to not aim too high, a younger son will be good enough. When Lord Radcliffe thwarts her attempt to marry his younger brother, he puts her in a dire position and she expects him to help her find a husband. Kitty only has 8 weeks before she loses everything. It's a fun and fast paced story. All of the characters are interesting, and the plot is believable.

Sophie Irwin offers a fun Regency-era romance set in London during the Season, and a time when characters use the word whilst. Kitty Talbot needs money to pay off her family's debt and support her four sisters. Kitty sees the fastest way to getting the money is to find a wealthy husband. The novel takes readers on a pleasant romp through London's high society where strong female characters can faint on will, but know exactly what they want. Good read.

I couldn't get past the first chapter. Maybe would be a fun read for people who like period romance, but for a Jane Austen aficionado or purist, this was cringe-worthy. The language and attitudes of the characters were entirely modern and felt out of place in the Regency setting. The author's understanding of Regency society and norms seemed shaky at best.

This is one of those books that will either really work for you because you like Kitty or it will really not work for you because this doesn't read like most modern-written historical romances. This is very much a Regency romp with a lot of ridiculous-ness and a slow, slow build between the ultimate love interest and Kitty. For me, this book definitely worked for me, though I think it's because I went in having read Aarya's review and had that in mind. Kitty is just such an excellent character and I delighted in reading a book where the character who would so often be considered a villainess is the star of the show. Because, the truth is, most people who need to marry for money probably have good reason for that.