This delightful novel is the perfect mix of charming, sweet, historical romance! The characters are interesting and well developed and the story that ensues is adventurous as well as entertaining. The "revenge" vibes this book presents are the driving force along with the banter exchanged between the characters. The Regency time period is well suited for this story and also comes to life with well-written and planned details that really pull in the reader. I recommend this whether you have read anything by Ms. Howard or not because you are sure to be entertained and engaged almost immediately!

A great follow up by Joy Revolution—I can’t wait to see what else they have in store. Excellently written; I’m adding Howard’s adult novels to my historical romance list as we speak. That being said, I think she needs more practice with writing YA.

The pacing was off—it felt like the plot barely began until about 72% through. The premise was a bit flimsy to me—everyone knows revenge of this scale is stupid and it made me like Lyra less. I wish it would have been a bit smarter of a plan, although that’s more of a personal pet peeve because this does feel believably teenage. Some of the dialogue seemed a bit too modern, like it didn’t fit the tone or the sentence the same character had just said. The language and description were a bit dense for YA, but enjoyable, especially for teens who have already worked their way through the Bridgerton books. The ending wrapped quickly in a neat, saccharine little package, which wasn’t my ideal but enjoyable nonetheless. A great teen companion to Bridgerton.

This book was such a thrilling read! I loved the drama of the story, the scandal, the romance, the theatrics, all really made this book an enjoyable read.

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

My Review:

I received a digital ARC from the published in exchange for an honest review – thanks! And thanks to TBR and Beyond Tours for my place on this blog tour!

I was the teeniest bit skeptical about this book, only because I was not the biggest fan of the last Amalie Howard book I read, but I have to say Queen Bee blew me out of the water! It was funny and witty, filled with so much voice and the characters were everything. I couldn’t put it down!

I am a bit unsure where to begin my review, but I think I will start with the story’s structure. For most of the novel, we are treated to a dual timeline with alternating chapters. I was a bit worried by this at the beginning, but it worked quite well for this story. It helped to build to the climax of the plot very well, and unravelled the centre of the story at the perfect pace. It was very well done.

Howard describes this book as an anti-historical regency romp and I have to say I really enjoyed the way she subverted the genre on itself. Most regency romances I have read are overwhelmingly white and straight, but the England she created within Queen Bee was so much more interesting than any other I have read. It received a treatment similar to the Bridgerton show, but I would argue done much better within these pages. It was so refreshing to read a regency set histfic with such bold and well developed side diverse characters, who are not just there for the sake of diversity. I would honestly read a book about any of the romances of the side characters, so here’s hoping that we might get some of those in the future.

I must say, I do think this book could have been given a different title that really encompasses how mature this story is. Ela has such wonderful character development throughout the book. She grows so much, especially as we begin to learn more of her backstory. She was a wonderful MC and really was the heart of this book.

Fans of Bridgerton and really great historical fictions/romances should not hesitate to pick this book up. It will draw you in from the first page and have you hooked until the very end.

Queen Bee releases April 4th, 2023

Queen Bee by Amalie Howard was a regency read I wasn't expecting. It had the best favorite story lines. The main characters were adorable and sweet. Their banter was perfect and kept you entertained. While this was a little different from a historical romance, it still delivered with everything you would want. I honestly didn't realize this was a young adult read.

I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. It had all of my favorite story lines and tropes. I loved the main character, she was so iconic and such a sweetheart. The love interest wasn't toxic. I loved the banter between the characters. READ THIS BOOK ASAP.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the chance to read this amazing book!

Interesting concept for a regency romance. I enjoyed the drama of the main character trying to navigate and seek revenge on those who had wronged her in the past. The storyline between the main character and main love interest was entertaining and swoon-worthy. I thought the pacing was great through the book except it did seem to wrap up/move quickly at the end. I could have used a little slower timeline for the ending. Otherwise, very enjoyable- a good read for a rainy day!

Amalie's books always hook me! I get totally sucked into the world of dukes, marques, lords, duchesses, marquesses and ladies. The love stories are always fantastic and I just can't put them down. This was of course no exception. This is a story of a girl who lost everything and decides revenge is the best way forward. So many relatable topics in this book.

OVERALL:
When a girl that Ela used to thus was her best friend betrays her, and ruins her, and the friends she thought were true, don’t stand up for her, Ela is cast out, wallowing in hatred and anger in her new situation. However, she makes an unlikely friend, and who allows Ela resources to follow through with a plot to get back at Poppy (i.e. truly terrible person). Ela takes on a new name and persona and progresses the plot along. Unfortunately, she is the object of attention from Keston , whom she used to love, and then all the mixed feelings about what she is doing come out.

This book is why I do give books second chances. I started this book months ago, and could only make it about 25% through. I think I wasn’t in the right mindset or mood for this genre. So I picked it up again a few days ago and actually flew through to the end!

20 SECONDS “WHAT’S THIS ABOUT?”
Lady Ela must become Lyra to exact revenge on a childhood friend who ruined her, literally, estranging her from her father and leaving her penniless and unwanted. She comes to London to attend the season but then struggles when she starts to have conflicting feelings, about people who are just supposed to be pawns, including the boy, now man, who she used to love and may be starting to again.

MY FAVORITE PART:
Anything with Keston. He was sweet and mischievous at the same time and I LOVED it.

ARC provided by Netgalley and Random House.

Thank you PRHAudio and Joy Revolution Books for the complimentary audiobook & ebook!

I know I keep saying that I’m out of my YA era but… I LOVED this book. The cover? Perfection. It was billed as “Bridgerton meets Count of Monte Cristo” and I was really scared that I’d been duped, to be honest with you. But it really was a perfect blend of the two.

I listened to this mostly on audio, and absolutely loved the narrator. Something to keep in mind is that this is a dual timeline book, alternating chapters from the revenge plotline and several years before. For me, the audio was a little harder to keep track of this, especially when the main character was in the same location with the same characters - so you might want to read it with your eyes if that is something that could confuse you as well.

If you pick this one up - make sure to read the author’s note at the end!

Rating: 4.5 stars/5

Queen Bee truly encompasses the “Is it me? Am I the drama?” audio/meme and I love it. Ela/Lyra maybe is the drama (and maybe the villain a little bit too) but I’m here for the drama and it went down!! I love watching a good revenge plot go down, especially when there’s a little bit of questioning of love trying to throw off the main character a little bit and this is what Queen Bee is and it did it so well. This book was funny, witty, revengeful and amazing. Definitely one of my top reads of the year!

Need a Regency romance with a streak of revenge?

Look no further! Queen Bee is a bracing romance with a plot to overthrow a former friend turned enemy. Amalie Howard's bouncing back and forth from childhood to the present day makes for
wonderful story progression and plot development.

I picked this book based solely off of the description, and I’m so glad that I did. Amalie Howard has crafted a beautiful, low key spicy YA romance novel that will satisfy YA and adult readers alike.

Queen Bee is a clever, charming YA historical romance set in England in the Regency period.

Ela is a fifteen-year-old girl who is the daughter of an earl. Her beloved mother has died, and she lives with her father in the countryside. Her best friend is a local girl, and she also plays with the son and daughter of a duke who live nearby.

Ela is happy, kind and trusting, until one horrid day when she is betrayed by someone close to her. The lies that are told about her are believed by everyone, and, her reputation in ruins, she is banished to a distant boarding school for girls.

She gets through the tough days by planning her revenge on all who were involved in the actions that resulted in the loss of everything she had known.

When she is eighteen, she is given the opportunity to put her plans into motion. She vows to be ruthless and to not hesitate to ruin the lives of her targets.

This may sound a bit dark, but the book is not at all grim. It is, in fact, lighthearted and hopeful. The characters, with the exception of a villain or two, are likeable and entertaining. The dialogue is smart and sharp, and the romance is sweet and moving and as spicy as a Regency novel about eighteen-year-olds can get.

The author sneaks in some serious points about the role of women in that society and their lack of power and agency, mainly due to the inheritance laws of the time.

This cast of characters in this book is “entirely diverse”, as pointed out in the Author’s Note. The author calls this an “anti-historical novel” due to the fact that historical records inherently reflect the bias of the writers and may not accurately or entirely reflect the actual facts. Case in point, there were women of color in British high society.

But don’t let any of this dissuade you from reading this lovely, engaging novel. It absolutely can be enjoyed just for the story itself, and I recommend this book to anyone who is not allergic to a little romance.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, available now. My thanks to the author, Amalie Howard, to the publisher, Joy Revolution (an imprint of Random House Children’s Books) and to NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book.

#QueenBee #JoyRevolution #netgalley

If you're a fan of Bridgerton and a fan of Revenge like me, you will LOVE this book! It's a fun, diverse Regency YA book with some very fun revenge vibes.

After she is betrayed by her best friend and left with nothing, Lady Ela Dalvi is shipped off to a school in Cumbria for other troubled girls. As she adjusts to her new life, Ela has one thing her mind: getting revenge on her former best friend and taking away everything that was stolen from her. It takes three long years, but Ela returns to high society and sets her plan in motion. But when she reunites the boy she once loved, Ela starts to question what's most important to her. Will she finally get her revenge or rekindle the relationship with the boy she loves?

I think the structure of this book was so well done. We flash back to Ela in 1814 and Lyra (Ela's new identity in 1817). As Lyra's plan unfolds we get to see how what happened to drive her to this point.

I loved EVERYTHING about this book. You get all the fun of the Regency - the balls, the angst, etc mixed in with Ela plotting (aka Emily Thorne vibes). The side characters are also so fun and charming -- I hope we get more books in this world. I love Regency books and shows, but often want to see more diverse stories and this delivered exactly what I wanted.

If you're looking for a fresh, diverse Regency story, I highly recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

When she was fifteen-years-old, Lady Ela Davis’s life was ruined when her best friend, Poppy, spread a rumour about her. Ela’s father sent her away to a school, away from her friends and the boy she liked: Keston, Duke Ridley. Three years later, Ela returns to high society as the heiress Lyra Whitley. Her plan is to get revenge on Poppy by separating Poppy from her friends and removing her from her place at the top of society, while potentially claiming Duke Ridley for herself.

Queen Bee is Bridgerton meets The Count of Monte Cristo. I loved the revenge plot. Ela was wrongfully accused of something, which led to her being removed from high society. It always bothers me to see people wrongfully accused of something when you know they didn’t do it. Though this revenge plot could be perceived as bullying, with the way that Ela manipulated things to pin on Poppy, I think Poppy deserved it in the way she was constantly trying to tear other people down to raise her status in society.

Queen Bee is a fun story of vengeance.

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada for providing a copy of this book!

Content warnings: death of parent, addiction, bullying, drug addiction

At the beginning of the book we meet Lyra, who is being introduced into London Society as "the new girl." Unbeknownst to everyone but the reader and Lyra, she is not actually who she says she is. The first 2/3's of the book is told with alternating flashback's - to the girl she was, to the girl she is now. The flashbacks are utilized to give the reader insight into how the protagonist became who is currently and her motivations. As the title suggests someone is the queen bee and Lyra's goal is to take her down.

To me this book felt a little too YA for my taste. I know that this book is classified as a YA book but there are other YA books that I've read that didn't feel as YA to me. There were several times that I predicted what was going to happen, and much of the book didn't surprise me. Overall it was a cute and enjoyable read.

Do you ever stumble across a book that is pure delight? One that sneaks up on you and makes you fall in love with it? Because that was Queen Bee. It was a delightful, anti-historical* regency novel that was full of charm and wit, but also important and timely lessons.

I adored this novel for two reasons: the character's voice and the pacing. Both were extremely well done in this novel. Ela’s voice was immersive and spoke to her emotional past. It was easy to connect with her as a character because of her backstory. It is the familiar story of an ex-friend turned bully, and the way it drove Ela’s plot was predictable; but, what made her story shine was the way she rejected conforming to society and encouraged the young people around her to do the same. (Was it a stretch of Regency rules? Certainly. But it was refreshing all the same.) Ela’s overall arc and lessons learned were timely and paired well with the fast-paced plot.

As far as plotting goes, the novel was straightforward and predictable. While I was muddy on how Ela and Poppy’s comeuppance would play out, other sub-plots were easy to sus out. It was easy to see that Ela and Keston were endgame and that the revenge plot would fizzle out. Early on, I guessed the truth behind Poppy’s father and how that played into Ela’s father’s fate. It wasn’t the most inventive plot, but it made for an enjoyable mess of drama all the same.

If I had to write one critique, it’s about the colloquialisms in this novel. Yes, it is anti-historical in terms of its diversity and loosening of true Regency Era rules, but, for the most part, the language felt like a young adult historical novel. Until colloquialisms stumbled across the page. Using words and phrases—such as “bombshell” and ‘’tongue tango”—from modern vernacular immediately took me out of the story. Like most readers, I read stories to disappear into a different world for a time. So, coming across those modern sentiments was disappointing.

Otherwise, this was a delightful and easy read. If you’re a reader who can set aside historical inaccuracies and lose yourself in an entertaining, fun-loving plot, then this is the novel for you. I know I look forward to re-reading this novel when I’m in need of a pick-me-up!

Thank you to Joy Revolution and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

* NOTE: Amalie Howard defines anti-historical as placing a diverse cast of characters in a Regency setting. This book delivered based on that definition!

Thank you, NetGalley and TBR and Beyond Tours, for the chance to read and review Queen Bee by Amalie Howard.

Lady Ela Dalvi doesn't suffer the usual betrayal from her childhood best friend. Those betrayals are usually petty, blown up beyond recognition. You can look back and laugh at how stupid you were. Poppy does far more than that. She sets out to ruin Ela's reputation and, through that, her life. Years later, Ela is back for revenge on everyone involved. She has the money, the looks, the charm, and a plan. But sometimes love and friends can get in the way.

Queen Bee is a fun read; I left it with 3.5 stars! It's a super fun Count of Monte Christo retelling; honestly, we need more of those around! Amalie Howard is a good writer, and the book is fast-paced, with fun petty stuff being done to Poppy and enough drama at the end.

However, many things could have been cleaned up a bit more. This book is billed as YA Historical Romance, which generally falls under Regency Romance. The regency world tended to have a lot of rules, so I don't know if Ela, or even Poppy, could have gotten away with any of this. I understand that it's meant to be anti-historical. Still, even if it is anti-historical, the rules make things a bit more interesting. In addition, the representation, like that of Bridgerton, felt slightly token. There is more to Indian culture that could have been included, that wasn't just a longing for a sari.

Overall, I recommend the book, and it does seem to be doing well with other readers (it.s 4+ stars on Goodreads with 350+ reviews). It is YA, so I may be more critical of things than its intended audience, who should enjoy it! It is also Amalie Howard's debut novel, which means we should only see more and more from this author and even better things! As of now it's only been out 2 weeks!

"Queen Bee" is a less spicy "Bridgerton" with better scheming, more revenge plots, and "Much Ado About Nothing" vibes. A romantic adventure from start to finish.