Move aside Bridgerton, there's a new favorite regency in town. LOVED Queen Bee, Amalie Howard has knocked it out of the park with her YA debut. This book is witty, saucy, scandalous, and the exact right amount of revenge to keep you on your toes. Amalie Howard wrote thoughtful, dimensional characters and a swoon-worthy leading man that any debutante of marriageable age would be lucky to have. Perfect for fans of Bridgerton, Gossip Girl, and Mean Girls. Can't wait to see what the author writes next!

First, the confused observation: I don’t much understand the title of this book. I mean, I loved it and I’m so glad I received the e-ARC from NetGalley. But I don’t understand why it’s Queen Bee.

Anyway, otherwise, this is a great read. I adore the multicultural nature of the cast of characters, the settings, the intrigue, the FUN of this story!!! It’s just a wonderful example of regency romance that is perfectly suited to the YA audience. Well done! 💜📚

This book was SO MUCH FUN, oh my gosh. I haven't read any regency romance books before, so this was a bit out of my usual reading comfort zone. I'm so happy I requested this ARC. It was enjoyable from start to finish! The characters were all fantastic and funny and they felt like real people with things motivating their choices and feelings. The main character Lyra/Ela was 10/10. She's sassy, smart, and so motivated by her revenge plans it's inspiring. I want to be just like her when I grow up. And the love interest!!! I love Kes. I would be distracted by him too ngl.

Literally the only thing I disliked about this book was that Ela was only gone for 3 years before coming back, and the only difference in her appearance was that she went through puberty and grew out/dyed her hair? I dunno, I've recognized childhood friends that I haven't seen in nearly 10 years before, so that just felt too unrealistic to me. Buuuuuut I enjoyed the rest of it so much that that was a very small issue.

Anyway, thank you to Joy Revolution and NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC of Queen Bee. I highly recommend picking up this book when it is officially released.

For fans of Bridgerton and Gossip Girl:

Three years after her reputation is tarnished by her former best friend, Poppy (London's version of Regina George), Ela comes waltzing into ton with a new name (Lyra) and a fake backstory (she's a rich heiress with no title), hell-bent on revenge (it's giving "Lyra can't come to the phone right now, she's dead" energy). This time, the odds will fall in her favor. This time, she'll land on top. Not only is plotting to ruin Poppy's reputation, but she also wants a heartbreak for a heartbreak from the boy who turned on her so easily all those years ago.

However, once Keston, the charming marquess, is in the picture again, nothing goes according to plan. Big Chuck and Blair vibes here. And a mountain of clever chess references.

This is my first read by Amalie Howard, but I'm so glad I started with her YA. It's fun, it's easy, it's clever, the representation well needed, and I highly recommend it.

I’m not usually a fan of alternating timelines, but I think it is done well here. The pacing is good, the characters are relatable and likable. It's a friends to lovers to enemies to lovers/second-chance romance hybrid. You never really question Ela's motives because her agony is well-explored and Poppy is just so stinking unlikable lol. The moral at the end is appropriate is not expected. The romance was engaging and developed quite realistically given the circumstances. I'm definitely looking forward to getting a physical copy. If Bridgerton wanted to go further than just the romances of the 8 siblings, Shonda Rhimes might consider obtaining the rights to this.

THIS WAS THE REGENCY ROMANCE OF MY DREAMS! As a brown girl, I loved this book and saw sooo much of myself in Ela. I loved Amalie Howard's twist on the brown girl glow up, and every chapter of this book had me equal parts confused and intrigued. Not only is this a historical romance, it's also a mystery waiting to be unfolded. This book had LAYERS. It was giving ONION. It was also surprisingly touching and I found myself tearing up at unexpected moments. What an INCREDIBLE read that was so much more than how it's marketing as a Kate and Anthony dupe.

Bridgerton meets The Count of Monte Cristo in this story about a girl who was betrayed by her friend and now has come back with a new identity and a plan for revenge against her ex best friend and the boy who shunned her. Lady Ela Dalvi had it all: a wealthy life, a great best friend, and a boy who she loved... until her best friend Poppy betrayed her for said boy and then Ela’s life was completely ruined: she was sent away in disgrace and her reputation was left in tatters. Three years later, eighteen year old Ela has a desire for revenge and with the help of some amazing friends and a wealthy guardian she takes on a new identity and returns to infiltrate the inner circle of her ex best friend, destroy her, get her revenge, and break the heart of the boy who broke hers. Yet from the moment Ela runs into said boy she is smitten all over again, she can’t help but forget all the things he did to her, how he shunned her, believed lies about her, and left her to her ruination. She finds herself playing a dangerous game of emotions, toeing the line between what is real and what is fake, as she seeks revenge while rekindling the feelings for the boy she loved. Her lies will catch up to her and she’ll have to figure out if she’s willing to risk it all. This definitely had a similar feeling to the Count of Monte Cristo ( movie version) rather than the classic book, Ela and Kes ( the boy who is the romantic interest) just didn’t work for me. i was rooting for her the entire time to move on and get over the guy. Seriously she was stewing in her anger and revenge for three years and just one look at the guy and suddenly she is smitten all over again and fixed on his lips the entire book, it was disheartening to say the least. I liked most of the book, I just did not like the second chance romance between Ela and Kes, it just didn’t feel like it worked, and I was really hoping for more for Ela. Overall, it was an okay read that definitely was fun at some moments but bogged down by the romance for me, but definitely give it a go if you like regency young adult stories with a dash of revenge and second chance romance.

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Children's, Joy Revolution for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

This is an inclusive Bridgerton x Gossip Girl. Definitely YA so there’s none of the 🔥 of some of the other historical romances I read. While entertaining, it’s about 50 pages too long. I read YA on occasion but I don’t think I’m the ideal audience for this - it would be a fun read for a teen.

This is YA novel published by the new Joy Revolution Imprint, which focuses on romances featuring characters (and authors) of color. The story is perfectly described as part Bridgerton and part Count of Monte Cristo. I also saw some Mean Girls and David Copperfield in it. It is told in first person POV by Ela/Lyra – a young woman plotting revenge on her former best friend, whose betrayal cost Ela everything. The story moves between past and present to build the backstory as we watch Lyra plot her revenge. I loved the chapter headings quoting Machiavelli.

I thought the story of how Ela became Lyra was a little too convenient and I found it hard to believe that no one who knew her before recognized her. But in spite of that, this was a fun story with a good message for teens – revenge never feels a good as you think it will.

I received an ARC from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

If you’re looking for a book that is a cross between Bridgerton and Revenge look no further. Also the slow burn was *chef’s kiss* magical. Queen Bee is an excellent story about Regency England and what happens when someone betrays you. I really enjoyed this book. It took me a while to get into it so don’t be quick to abandon it! I’ve got my fingers crossed for a second book!

Amalie Howard literally does no wrong. Ever since I read The Beast of Beswick, I always come back to her writing because it's just the best!! And this book was no different. I picked it up because of the cover–I mean, look at it–but I stayed for the story.

A strong, independent heroine whose thoughts were her own and she was just such a likable character. Ela's the kind of girl all YA readers should grow up reading about! Kes is such a typical GUY, but you can't help but love him and all the side characters too! They're just a bunch you want to root for.

With amazing characters and dialogue, Howard delivers a YA regency-era book that will suck you in and never make you want to leave!!

a brilliant regency romance novel with loveable characters and swoony-worthy romance!

my only disappointed i wished there was more atmosphere vibes since this is especially a historical fiction.

perfect for bridgeton fans!

*I received this book as an ARC from Random House Children's/ Joy Revolution and #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so very much for allowing me to read and review!*

If you like Bridgerton/Downton Abbey character development and banter, you will love this book! This is a great revenge story about a young girl that lost everything and decided to get her revenge on the societal elite and her backstabbing former best friend. I love the alternating chapter flashback stylistic writing, especially for this story. I would love to listen to an audiobook version of this story, or a Netflix movie adaptation would be a fun watch. I don't often read YA novels, but the storyline of this one was very captivating and I could not put it down.

*thank you to the lovely Author ,to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC*

Absolutely superb and brilliant. Loved it. Will definitely buy a copy and would recommend it to anyone in need of great writing and amazing characters. Amalie never disappoints.

thank you again for an early copy it is greatly appreciated.

This book was absolutely amazing. I have nothing bad to say about it.

I loved the love story and the "redemption" story in it as well. This was so much more than just a normal young adult romance book. There was growth in the main character that we got to see along the way and it was executed perfectly.

Overall, this was a great book and I think everyone should read it.

This was a really fun read! I enjoyed the characters and the overall aesthetic was very pleasing. I loved the banter between the characters and Kes our little arrogant love interest. I loved Ela’s development over the course of the book and I think it was a very mature sort of trajectory. She was a fun character to follow.

Overall, great read!

"Queen Bee" is just...decent. What's most important to recommend here is that this is a "unhistorical romance," meaning that BIPOC characters take the lead, when those roles were traditionally held by white people (a la "Hamilton").

This is a courageous, natural new direction for YA historicals. Historical romance is not an accurate representation of actual history; sure, maybe some of these romances could have existed in reality, but the likelihood is low to non-existent. No dukes were ever really willing to marry kitchen maids or bluestockings. If the genre itself relies upon being "unhistorical," then there's no reason that BIPOC can't be the wealthy, aristocratic heroes and heroines.

The story itself is unobtrusive, neither wickedly bad nor exceedingly readable. I've read some of Howard's adult historical romances, and they're about the same- well-written, well-researched, just not particularly exciting. While this may not have been the story for me, I can definitely see some students absolutely loving this book, and finally getting to see themselves as the romantic hero of their own story. And honestly, that's well worth the price of a hardcover book for me.

I cannot wait for this book to be released! I enjoyed the short chapters, it helped move the story along nicely. I also really loved the flashbacks to young Ela. This story was everything and more. I loved that we got to see Ela create new friends and make amends with old friend's. I usually don't enjoy stories where the whole thing is surrounded by miscommunication or a big lie, but I LOVE how Amalie Howard tied it all together in the end. I loved every moment in this book, except for anything that included Poppy of course. this was such an enjoyable read and I cannot wait to get my hands on the physical copy when it comes out!

My expectations were set for a regency novel reminiscent of The Count of Monte Cristo (one of my favorites). So I was disappointed when it resembled neither.

I could appreciate what I think was referred to as an anti-historical approach, taking the typical and changing a lens; in this case, though it was early 1800s British society, making it a melting pot of distinct races and cultures. But it wasn’t just inserting a bunch of different cultures into the regency British mold (one would have been enough), it was ignoring most of the time period’s strict societal rules and decorum. The language and attitudes were thoroughly modern day. Which has me wondering, why did we even bother with a historical setting? You could still have ball gowns and titles in a modern day story.

SPOILERS

I had major issues with plot points- solicitor manages to get away with bleeding several peers dry without anyone catching on? A peer allowing his daughter to socialize with his solicitor’s child. A neighborhood boy claims to have ruined a peer’s (14 yo) daughter without consequences. Ela and poppy strolling around town without chaperones. I could go on and on.

And then, there were the characters and relationships, most of which felt very shallow. Our MCs catch feelings at 14 and 16 after what I think was a couple of months? Which would be fine if they didn’t act like they had been lifelong friends who grew up together. They bonded over sword fights and her denying he was anything like his father. When he quickly betrays her, she swears revenge, but struggles when she meets him again 3 years later because he’s just so attractive. So we spend the rest of the book being treated to fixations on his pillowy lips etc.

I should also mention we have a couple of LGBT couples, who honestly felt like they were there just to fill a diversity quota. And it seemed to me that they were more sexualized than the others. I’m a conservative Christian, and I felt bad that they were reduced to that.

And seriously, how did -no one- recognize her after only 3 years. I can't imagine height, hair dye and a lack of acne would do it for those who knew her intimately.

The authors note at the end was really interesting (though I believe her examples were outliers, not commonplace, and even if they were, they were like 50 and 70 years after this story took place. A lot can change in 50-70 years, obviously) and she seemed to care a lot about research, historical accuracy, and intentional characters. Based on the author’s note alone, I wanted to like it. But it just lacked substance on every front.

I cannot honestly recommend it and, based on this book, I probably would not read another by this author.

Three years ago Lady Ela Davi was betrayed by her best friend and consequently sent away from her home and family with her reputation in ruins.

Now, Ela has transformed her look, dress, and manner with plans to infiltrate the season posing as one of the London elite. Ela is focused on taking her revenge, but when confronted with the boy from her past with whom she fell in love, she begins to question what it is revenge will bring her.

I was pulled into this story really easily. I liked that Amalie Howard had alternating chapters with the past and present. It kind of has this slow build as readers catch up with what is happening in the present, but also are building up the understanding of the betrayal and what that meant to a young Ela.

I did have a little bit of a hard time believing that the people she's trying to take her revenge upon would not recognize her. I mean it had only been three years and while a lot of growing and changing can happen on the cusp of childhood going toward adulthood, I still feel like Ela would have been recognizable. Then again, maybe it's something where if you believe the story enough yourself you kind of influence others to believe the story as well. And I will grant that Ela did change her hair and she grew taller and changed her wardrobe and she's in a different environment than the one these people had previously seen her. So yes, I can see how it could happen, but for me personally, there were quite a few times I had to remind myself to go with the story.

I did like how much the narrative tackles revenge and forgiveness. As we see Ela go down this path of revenge where she takes no prisoners, she's using new friends to gain a one-up on those who wronged her, you just want her to find a feeling of peace. When the story cuts to the past and we see how Ela was wronged it's easy to again get caught up in Ela's need for justice, but at what cost to the future? Amalie Howard puts everything together so satisfyingly and cleverly. I enjoyed Ela's journey and growth seeing her realize her worth without the influence of others. Highly recommended read.

Umm, an anti-historical regency era YA romance?? SIGN ME UP! I loved all of these characters and all of the drama.

It goes back and forth between when Lady Ela was betrayed by her "best friend", Poppy, and when she changes into Lyra, a mysterious heiress who is in town for the season, and is set on getting her revenge. Her plan is to take down Poppy and Keston but Ela did not expect certain feelings to come back when she saw Keston.

Yes, some parts are a little hard to believe, but I still really enjoyed the story. The romance was cute and it gave me major Bridgerton vibes. I love a good revenge story!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s and Joy Revolution for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion and review.