Julia would prefer spending her time riding her horse or losing herself in a novel, but she is once again forced to endure another season of husband hunting in Victorian London. She (and her dowry) have become the objective of Captain Jasper Blunt, who is known as a military hero with a ruthless streak, and is the father of a household of illegitimate children. Jasper needs an heiress and a mother for his children, Julia needs freedom to be her own person. However, shared empathy and passions may allow these two more than a simple marriage of convenience.

Easily read as a standalone, I preferred this book to the first in the series. The slowly developing attraction between the two main characters felt believable and beautiful, with a touch of a Beauty and the Beast retelling. In the previous book, the group of friends made the novel so enjoyable, but in this one I devoured the love story. Captain Blunt makes a wonderful morally grey hero, and Julia is a superb leading lady - she is intelligent, kind, and insightful. My only complaint is that it felt a little long, however I never grew bored while reading, or felt that any part of the novel was unnecessary!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, Austenprose PR, and the author for my advance copy. Additionally, thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book!

The Belle of Belgrave Square is the second novel in Mimi Matthews‘ Belles of London series. In this book, we get to know Julia Wychwood and Captain Jasper Blunt.

It all begins when the two meet in Rotten Row. Julia feels confident on her horse until she sees Captain Blunt headed her way. Julia is anxious in most social situations but meeting Captain Blunt is particularly anxiety-inducing because when she was first introduced to him, she kind of ran away from him. It happens to the best of us, Julia.

This meeting goes a lot better but she still feels like she made a fool of herself. Little does she know that Captain Blunt wants to make her his wife. He is looking for someone who comes with a large dowry and someone who will be able to handle his children.

But while his intentions, at first, may be mercenary, that quickly changes the more he gets to know Julia. They meet multiple times at parties and the bookstore and he learns more about her sweetness and her passion.

Unfortunately, He also learns more about her parents. Julia’s parents demand she stay close to home so she can take care of them. And if Julia even has a sniffle, they call the doctor who performs dangerous treatments on her.

Continued on Culturess

Thank you to Netgalley, Berkley Books, and Ms. Matthews for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

Wow, I really liked this. Somehow I missed Ms. Matthews’ first book but this, the Belle of Belgrave Square, was a delight. A modern-day version of the penny dreadfuls, if you will, but with eminently better EVERYTHING. Lots of twists: illness, secret identities, secrets, gothic (haunted?) mansions, elopements, clandestine rescues, you name it: all the “exciting” bits were there, but balanced with genuinely wonderful characterization, actual romance, communication (HOORAY!), a healthy dose of charm, and a plot that kept me hooked. Not to mention Cossack. (I wish we’d seen MORE Cossack. I also wish that Julia had gotten her long-desired pet. Oh well.)

If I had any quibble I would say that, as this seems to be book #2 in a series about a quartet of friends, I wish we’d seen more interaction from said friends, especially in the beginning when Julia felt so terribly isolated. However, on the whole this was absolutely my cup of tea, and I’m happy to round up. I think it goes without saying that I’ll be looking up book #1 and I will happily await book #3. More horses please!

⭐⭐ ⭐⭐1/2

I loved this so much. I loved the first as well but I had reservations about it - not so here. Everything about this story was historical romance perfection. I had a smile on my face the entire time I was reading.

The romance was swoony, the characters beautifully written, the struggles and misunderstandings relatable, and the closed-door romance a big plus for me. I also really loved the use of the Bluebeard story - and the way the expectations arising from that were flipped. It was also really well-written - I had no problems at all with the writing like I often do with romances.

The plot felt familiar to me but I think this was a combination of having read the preview at the end of the previous book and also that it just hits every historical romance beat to perfection. This makes it somewhat predictable but isn't that one of the main selling points of romances? I like that they're cozy and predictable and follow a familiar pattern. I also am a huge fan of almost all of the tropes used in this book so that probably contributed as well.

The children were adorable in their wildness and reluctance to open up, and also in the sweet way they responded to Julia. Captain Blunt was broody and cold for a reason and as he opened up and showed his true self I couldn't help but love him. I was SO happy to see Julia learn to stand up for herself and believe in herself and her worth. I also really appreciated seeing her anxiety - I really felt for her because I, too, have extreme anxiety and would generally prefer to be reading a book. Every part of this novel just made me so happy, I was reluctant to put it down and wanted the story to go on forever.

I highly recommend this.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing an e-arc for review.

This is a companion book to last year's the Siren of Sussex which was one of my favorite books of the year! I was thrilled and honored to be invited back to join Belle's blog tour!
This book follows the "bookworm" of the 4 friends introduced in book one but you don't have to read Siren to read (and love) Julia's story! And love it I did! I read it in one sitting, staying up way later than I should have to finish it. I adore Julia and Jasper's love story and I related to Julia in more way than one (socially anxious reader? 100% me)!
What I especially liked about Belle in Belgrave Square was how honest it was. Even though it was a bit fairytale-esque with the romance it did discuss how difficult it was for Victorian Women to make their own choices. Every single aspect of their lives was controlled. It makes a refreshing change to have a Victorian main character who is shown to have real anxiety and how it would have been dealt with back then. While reading it I couldn't help but notice how far society has come in accepting mental illness and how far we still have to go when it comes to equality.

How have I not read Mimi Matthews before? The Belle of Belgrave Square is a delightful Victorian romance. It is an imaginative Beauty and Beast retailing firmly set in the reality of 1862 England. I love the nods to other books and references to other writers. I read easily as a stand alone but it is the second book in the Belles of London series.

Julia is young and has two years on the marriage mart. She is an heiress but has no title. She loathes being the center of attention and is happiest in the corner reading a book or out on her morning rides. Captain Jasper Blunt is a battle scarred war hero. He is in search of a wife with a dowry that can save his crumbling estate. Julia has caught his eye. But there there are many obstacles to a match most importantly her parents who feel it is her duty to care for them.

This book takes twists and turns I didn’t see coming. I learned about things from blood letting to marriage law. More importantly I saw a romantic grand gesture in the middle of the book and I love that he is the first to express his feelings. This is a couple that talks honestly (except, you know, for the big secret) with no silly miscommunications. They set their own rules for their marriage. I love that her character finds her own strength and has ability to rescue herself more than once.

I will be on the look out for the next in the series. The book contains kissing and intimacy is closed door. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've been wanting to try a Mimi Mathews book for some time now, and what better book to start with than one with a bookish, introvert heroine who hates the London social season? This type of heroine is a weakness of mine, so I jumped at the chance to read an advanced copy. Now that I've read it I can say that despite the mid range rating, I really enjoyed the author's writing style. While there were some things about that plot that didn't work from a technical standpoint (and emotional on my end) the series as a whole still has potential for me. I've already added the next book and plan to continue when it comes out sometime in January.

Julia Wynchwood comes from a wealthy family and lives a life of privilege among the higher echelon of society. From the outside looking in, anyone would say that she has the world at her fingertips. However, for Julia, the endless social activities she is forced to attend is like pure torture for the shy "bluestocking." Her discomfort is so great that she frequently fakes illness to get out of events, even knowing that her parents will call their doctor who treats her with the archaic method of bleeding. How this "treatment" was ever believed to be beneficial boggles the mind. It's also quite sad to think about all of the people who needlessly died at the hands of trusted physicians because of the practice.

Julia is a dreamer with romantic sensibilities. She wants to be swept off her feet by the sensational novels she reads. Unfortunately, she hasn't met anyone in London that could measure up to the dark and brooding heroes like Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights. Except, perhaps, for the forbidding Captain Blunt. His scarred, harsh countenance is enough to make most outgoing hesitant to approach him, but his scandalous past makes people downright fear him. While his war hero status gives him a veneer of respect, everyone secretly whispers about the illegitimate children that he keeps in his own dilapidated, gothic home Goldfinch Hall. The rumored cruel treatment of his men during the war is a whole other topic for people to cast their judgement upon. Julia does feel nervous around the man when she comes into contact with him, but all of the things that should have her running in the opposite direction seem to draw her in. She romanticizes the dark reputation he has and (a bit naively) paints him as completely misunderstood.

In a way she is right about him as all is not what it appears to be. He does have a softer, caring side that comes out when they are alone in each other's presence. Jasper is not the cruel man that he is rumored to be, but he's not being honest with her either. Yes, he is completely upfront about looking for an advantageous marriage in order to save his newly inherited, crumbling home. However, he is hiding a HUGE secret that he intends to just keep from her forever. He tells her that she can never ask questions about his parents or past. Obviously, that didn't sit right with me at all. Jasper makes his intentions clear from the start: he would like to court her because he is in desperate need of her dowry. You can't fault his direct approach-Julia certainly appreciates the lack of false romantic overtures. While she is a romantic, she knows that she doesn't inspire passionate feelings from men. She's as socially awkward as can be, and has very little self-confidence. It just felt very wrong for him to draw her into a life-long commitment under false pretenses regarding his past. She commits herself to him in order to escape a home life where she doesn't feel safe, yet his big secret has very real implications on her that she is completely unaware of.

This book is over 400 pages which doesn't have to be a bad thing necessarily, but it did feel that way. The first half of the book dragged for me a little and it took me a few days to truly get captured by the story. It wasn't boring per se, but there wasn't anything happening that made me feel emotionally connected to the characters. It was a bit surprising because I do love shy bookworms, but Julia was a bit extreme with her social anxiety and lack of confidence. It allowed her parents to walk all over her horribly, even to the point of abuse I would say. If I'm being completely honest, I wanted her to have a little more backbone when her pathetic father insulted and controlled her. I did see quite a transformation though, so she made me come around.

Jasper's internal dialogue and yearning for Julia's affection in the second half was really sweet. I enjoyed reading his secret, romantic feelings. The two of them got to know one another at a more intimate level after their marriage and I really enjoyed reading as that connection formed. Of course, Jasper's big secret is a ticking time bomb and it has the expected explosion on their fragile relationship when it comes out. I can't say that he didn't deserve the heartache from that, but one good thing to come out of it was Julia taking charge of her own life. I fully respected the assertive way she stood up to her parents and resolved the big conflict. She really came into who she was as a woman and found her self worth.

Overall, I like the concept of this series as well as the author's voice. I thought Jasper and Julia's Beauty and the Beast vibes were a nice touch. Some people are classifying this as a retelling, but this was more of a faint impression rather than a retelling in my opinion. The third installment in this series has me eager with anticipation. Lady Anne's story has a lot of potential based on her short appearances here. She's bold, opinionated, and a force to be reckoned with. Her story was teased a little bit-it will be an enemies to lovers trope with Mr. Hartford, her childhood nemesis. I'm looking forward to seeing how their HEA comes about soon!

4.5, rounded up. There are a couple of eye-rolling communication mishaps, but otherwise I loved this book. Both Jasper and Julia are solid characters with relatable flaws, but the most striking aspect is how unique they are. Sure, Julia has social anxiety and could have easily slid into "wallflower" stereotypes, but for most of the book she develops a strong sense of self and agency that makes her a more compelling heroine. Jasper is probably most responsibly for my high rating; the respect he grants Julia--even as he mumbles to her that she can never know his secrets and his forbidden, locked study--made me cheer, as does his care for his kids. (Plus, I do love a Grumpy Strongman who is secretly Very Nice Strongman.)

Grab this for a strong historical romance with some genuinely surprising twists.

The plot doesn’t seem too out of the norm for a historical romance. What is different is the depth built into the back story and life of both our hero and heroine. From Julia’s awareness of wrongdoing by her parents making all of their male servants to go by the name Jenkins so that they wouldn’t have to remember names to Capt. James Blunt’s “heroic” efforts actually being horrific in the Crimea. These kinds of details makes you feel like you’re reading a historical fiction novel instead of a historical romance. This is one of the reasons why Mimi Matthews has quickly become a favorite author in this genre. She creates the scenery and through details makes that scene real.

I enjoyed the building romance between Jasper and Julia. Despite a small bit of feeling like Julia was a woman in jeopardy, she didn’t wait for a man to dig her out of a situation, she came up with her own plan and instituted it. For a shy woman she got things done. Jasper was also a contradiction. His exterior and manner were gruff but he very intently listened to Julia, knew who she was as a person, and became her biggest champion- despite having children out of wedlock and a violent past. VERY interesting characters make for a great novel, regardless of a been-there done-that plot.

If you love reading historical novels and are enjoying the new style of realism in these novels, please pick up a Mimi Matthews novel. She pays attention to what is relevant now and fills her historical novels with realism that engage the reader and make them think along with allowing them to fall in love with the characters and buy into their own love story. The Belle of Belgrave Square was a solid romance that delivered on it’s promise and can be read as a stand-alone novel, but I’d start with The Siren of Sussex the first novel in the series. It is fabulous and will set you up for ‘Belle’ and the wonderful journey these characters will take you through in their realistic historical London.

There are so many things I liked about this book, SO MANY, it will be really hard to sum-up (I’m sorry in advance!)

Julia was so relatable to me, I loved her so much. The anxiety she had around people was so well depicted and that definitely made me feel understood. Escaping reality through books is also something I would relate too (but I guess all of you on here relate as well, don’t you? haha!). Also, if I’m being honest, the first thing that caught my attention with this book was the horse on the cover. I have a profound love for horses because my mom did love them and shared that love with me. The smell of horses feels like a hug to me cause it'sl like I’m close to my mom once again. You could tell through this book how much the heroine loved her horse and how it brought her a comforting feeling to be with him and really eased her anxiety which I thought was so wonderful. I really enjoyed seeing Julia getting stronger and stronger and start to fight for herself and the ones she cared about. Her evolution was really heartwarming.

Jasper was also a perfect character. Even more than perfect. Dreamy. This man, oof, he was always acting so thoughtfully, being really a knight in shining armor. I fell for him instantly and he just kept getting better and better with every page. Let me just tell you my favourite quote of his cause oh gosh how I loved it : "When I rescue you, Miss Wychwood, you’ll know it." Yep, I love him.

This story was full of sweet moments, fairytale vibes, and a little bit of mystery. This read filled my heart with happiness and left me smiling. It was honestly one of the most romantic read ever (and I read romance all the time haha) there was something special about that story, an amazing plot, lots of great interactions and emotional moments. You know that scene in Pride & Prejudice with the hand, it was that sort of vibes and to me it’s more precious than anything.

I was happy to see how the historical facts from this book were well researched and accurate. In another life I would have probably enjoyed being an historian considering how I’m always watching documentaries on every random historical event/person, so the fact that I learned some new stuff in this book made me really happy.

A huge thank you to Netgalley, Berkley Publishing and the author for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

A Mimi Matthews book is always cause for celebration — and The Belle of Belgrave Square (Book 2 in Belles of London) is no exception. A beyond shy heroine and a dour captain enter into a marriage of convenience that takes them into the wilds of Yorkshire from the ballrooms of London. She gets to read and ride; he gets her money. As deals go, not a bad one. Of course, it's always more complicated, and it's the journey from deal to devotion that makes this novel such a treat. It's an exploration of how friendship can turn to love, even with the complications of children, an abusive family and each partner's particular baggage. Mimi Matthews has a way of creating characters that feel like our friends; we have all struggled to reach our potential, whether entrapped by crippling anxiety or a difficult childhood. We all need help to become our best selves, and Julia and Jasper do that for each other, and in the process build a family and find true love. This is a worthy successor to The Siren of Sussex and shaping up to be one of Mimi's best series. And that's saying a lot!

The Belle of Belgrave Square is the second book in the Belles of London series by Mimi Matthews. This is a delightful regency romance with references to fairytales, including Beauty and Beast, Sleeping Beauty, Bluebeard’s wife, a sweet touch of mythology and some sweet resemblances with the Bridgerton series. The Belle of Belgrave Square is a swoon-smile- feel so good historical romance that filled my heart with pure happiness.

I absolutely adore this novel! It’s an enchanting spin on a bit of a Beauty & the Beast situation with a little influence from another favorite classic, The Blue Castle (L. M. Montgomery). Matthews is a master at combining tropes and charms and spinning a story uniquely stamped with her style. This one shines with its marriage of convenience setup, a Victorian setting, the only-one-bed trope, a bit of flair from the aforementioned classics, three impish children, and character cameos from earlier books.

Julia and Jasper are a new favorite fictional couple of mine. Their romance is equal parts tender, swoony, and steadfast. Their journey to each other is not an idealized fairytale, though Julia’s bookish habits set off events for him to sweep her off her feet. Seeing her find agency, encouragement, and belonging with Jasper, and them both finding footing with his children, are things I particularly enjoyed.

Which brings me to Jasper. #swoon He’s a brooding, serious hero who is a romantic at heart and HE. FALLS. FIRST. He blushes and shows unflinching patience when it comes to romancing Julia. His backstory coming to light proves him all the more worthy of admiration for his integrity and of Julia’s affection. This is, perhaps, the most tender romance Matthews has written, skilfully balanced with a hint of sensuality that makes the reader swoon at the simple detail of a touch or endearment between Julia and Jasper.

I appreciate the slight unconventionaliity of this storycin its genre, especially the way the characters seek to give little weight to society’s opinions. In subtle ways, the issue of a female’s role and limited ability to make independent choices are a part of the story. So, too, are bigger themes of loyalty, honesty, and justice.

Content note for my usual blog audience: this is a general market romance with a few era-fitting mild expletives and a closed door romance.

Thank you to the publisher for the advance ebook copy. I purchased the paperback for my shelves. This is my honest review.

Wow, I didn't expect the amazing and lovely story I read when I picked up this book! I adored the inspiration from The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery and Beauty and the Beast. Julia and Jasper do have some time to develop the beginnings of friendship amid the turmoil of society events and Julia's household of invalid/hypochondriacs, which provided a foundation to their relationship when secrets begin seeping out to damage their trust. I loved that they also had the stirrings of attraction from the beginning which helped their friendship naturally transition to romance as they grew to know the core of each other's goodness over time and learn how well-matched they are in personality. The author skillfully inferred how intimate relations in their marriage drew them closer together as an expression of love, while still keeping details vague enough to not cross the borderline of comfort for her readers who prefer clean romance. I didn't expect some of the reveals when I began the book, but with very light foreshadowing I was able to anticipate them as I read and it created such a wonderful reading experience, looking forward to Julia's discovery of the mysteries of her husband. Julia's own growth as an anxious wallflower to a confident woman with a greater perspective of the world is a major theme of the book, and I loved her full character arc. The supporting characters of friends, family, and servants create a vibrant world of subtle influences on Julia especially, and it was interesting to see how three dimensional the author could made even her minor characters. Overall, a favorite read of the year and highly recommended!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

The Belle of Belgrave Square by Mimi Matthews
This was the perfect Victorian era, gothic inspired romance to begin fall reading. From the hidden identities and daring rescues to the sweet moments as well, everything about this novel was so enchanting. I was engaged every minute as to what would occur next, yet comforted by the familiarity of two falling in love. Our heroine, Julia, will be relatable to many readers as an introverted bookworm with hopeless romantic dreams. It was truly beautiful watching her love story with the mysterious yet kind Captain Blunt. Here are some of my favorite parts:
- an unexpected meeting in a book shop
- the rescue scene!
- the children at Goldfinch Hall
- Julia finding her strength to eventually save herself
+ so much more that made this sweeping romance so immersive and delightful! Fans of Northanger Abbey, Beauty and The Beast, and The Blue Castle- do not miss out on The Belle of Belgrave Square.

An enchanting Victorian romance with secrets, hints of mythology and fairytales, and a flair for gothic tropes. The Belle of Belgrave Square is sure to sweep you off your feet! I simply loved it.

Julia Wychwood is a book-loving heiress with social anxiety. She just wants to live a quiet life where she can ride her horse and read her books- definitely not a party-going gal who likes to be in the spotlight.

Captain Jasper Blunt is a hero returned from the Crimean War in search of a wife, preferably an heiress whose dowry can pay for much needed repairs to his estate. But his war record and generally dour, scarred demeanor makes Julia literally run away from him when he’s introduced to her. But after several swoony moments and conversations together, they eventually become friends.

Where The Siren of Sussex focused a lot on the fashion aspect of the period, Belle really dug into the history of sensational novels, publishing, and the general opinion on women reading novels. It’s well-researched, with all kinds of history sprinkled in. Again, it felt so authentic even with the dramatic flair!

I definitely recommend this one if you love Beauty and the Beast retellings, books with anxiety rep, heroes creating swoony moments, and bookish heroines who learn to love themselves and advocate for their needs!

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

If you know Matthews's books, you know she's cornered the market on closed-door historical romance with tons of references and homage to Victorian literature. The Belle of Belgrave Square is another masterful entry in this vein: Julia is a retiring heiress with crippling social anxiety; Jasper is a hero of the Crimean War who's looking for a rich wife.

The book explores identity, nature vs. nurture, and the beneficial effects of fiction through the slow burn of Jasper's courtship of Julia. It's also got all the hallmarks of classic gothic romance: a scarred, inscrutable hero; a crumbling manor house with a forbidden tower; prenuptial conditions that seem reasonable at first but that soon turn into sources of friction in an otherwise-comfortable marriage.

If you like your historical romance on the sweeter side but with a gothic, this is a perfect one to pick up!

Some spoilers: The way Matthews handles Jasper's hidden identity is really superb. This trope can be handled either by attempting to leave the secret identity a secret to the reader or by having the character agonize about it at every turn. Here, the reader is treated as an intelligent person. While the secret identity itself is easily discovered, more details are seeded through the text until the ultimate reveal. Just really great execution!

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

I have been absolutely charmed by the Belles of London series by Mimi Matthews. I loved the first and I am continuously blown away by the second. Mimi Matthews has such a lovely voice that is easily accessible, quickly draws the reader in, and keeps the reader intrigued to the last page. This novel feels fresh and new, the machinations and beats are unique to the first and draws on gothic inspiration (which Matthews is no stranger to). This novel feels carefully and gentle crafted with respect and understanding of the gothic classics genre. Matthews builds and interesting plot with wonderful and dimensional characters and leaves the reader with a cozy gothic romance perfect for the fall season.

Julia is a hopeless romantic with crippling social anxiety which makes transversing the London ballrooms an uneasy task. Julia finds confidence while riding her horse and joy and freedom in her novels. From the moment the notorious Captain Jasper sets his sights on her, Julia is intrigued while cautious unsure of exactly what she could truly offer him. Jasper needs a wealthy wife to help him restore his run down estate and raise his three illegitimate children. Rumors and secrets around Jasper's past and estate not only spark Julia's imagination but also provide a bit of hesitancy until she decides that she must take her own future into her hands and she proposes a marriage of convenience.

I absolutely adored this novel. I loved Julia as our heroine, she is quietly strong, extremely intelligent and thoughtful and has an open and loving heart. Jasper is not all that he seems and rumors are made to be ignored, he is caring and kind and once he sets his eyes on Julia, no one else will do. I love that in this novel the hero is the first to fall, he is quietly intrigued by Julia, he finds her irresistible, and he pursues her with care and consent. I love that he always respects her boundaries, while also being readily available to her when and if she needs his support. I love that Jasper sees that Julia is strong and capable. I love that these two build a friendship and respect for each other and that they slowly build their trust in each other which means they can work through their secrets calmly and give each other space when it is needed. Mimi Matthews has a way of building a soft kind of chemistry that is comforting and heartwarming. Matthews does not write her romances explicitly but I am still able to experience a sweet romance that has a nice depth of respect and a gentle love that is believable.

I love that Matthews is able to build a cozy gothic romance in this novel. The gothic elements are gentle and balanced in this realistic feeling historical romance. I definitely feel like Mimi Matthews respects and enjoys the gothic genre and she uses it to influence this romance is a beautiful way while giving it plot points that mimic gothic beats but keeping the tone in line with a modern style of historical romance.

I highly recommend this novel, and now is the perfect season to read it in. Mimi Matthews is definitely an author to check out and I am so looking forward to the continuation of this series. If you have not picked up the first novel in this series I also highly recommend it, and while this is a series, each novel is a standalone and can easily be read as such.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.

I love this book and this series so much. I'm always a fan of books about books, and finding that within historical romance was such a lovely surprise. Julia may be suffering from excessive novel reading (oh no!). There were so many great quotes about books and reading. I loved seeing Julia and Jasper bond over the shared interest.

Beyond all of the really fun parts, this story has such depth. Julia has anxiety, which is not well understood or tolerated at the time. And Jasper has many struggles after serving in the army. The two of them are such a great fit for each other.

And without giving away spoilers, I will just say that the ending was even better than I expected.

4.5 stars rounded up

In this lovely book with inspiration drawn from Beauty and the Beast, the socially anxious Julia Wychwood decides to run away with the darkly mysterious fortune hunter Captain Blunt. He needs her money, she needs to not be under her selfish parents' control anymore. And Julia thinks as long as she has her books and her horse, and no longer has to deal with London Society, she can handle everything else. But even the wildest gothic novel might not prepare her for the secrets her new husband is hiding.

I loved the first book in Mimi Matthews' new series, The Siren of Sussex (okay, I love all Matthews's books but I really loved Siren). Now I have to say I think The Belle of Belgrave Square is my new favorite Mimi Matthews book of all time. Julia is the kind of heroine you don't see much of, but always wonder about: the quiet woman who has social anxiety in a London Season literally designed to put marriageable women in the spotlight, thus being Hell on Earth to those women who can't stand being in the spotlight but still need to be married. How do they manage the Season? Julia manages by riding her horse whenever possible and drawing strength from her few dear friends the rest of the time. But here, her friends are away and she has to face social events by herself. She's kind and caring and an unapologetic novel reader- not just of Dickens and Wilkie Collins but of the penny dreadfuls and gothic horrors and romances. The books that newspaper reviews call tripe and her parents and doctor think are harmful to young ladies. But she has an unexpected ally in Captain Jasper Blunt: a man who reads novels, rides horses, sees her when others see only her money, and has a reputation for incredible cruelty on the battlefield. His secrets have secrets and you spend much of the book trying to figure out what his truths will be. It was really great to be kept guessing. Every time I thought I had the answer, Matthews would come up with something else to make me question if I had all the secrets, right up until the big reveal at the end. What was never in doubt was that Jasper wanted Julia, and not just for her money. Their scenes together, even before their marriage, are filled with a tenderness and sweetness that was wonderful. Watching them come together was like watching a dance- steps closer together and further apart but knowing in the end they were going to be a perfect match, their strengths and weaknesses a perfect fit when they worked together.

I loved watching both Julia and Jasper grow in confidence, and watching the love grow between them was beautiful. Gorgeously written and full of emotion, a book I never wanted to put down, The Belle of Belgrave Square may be Mimi Matthews' best book yet!


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review