This was cute! I was excited to read this as soon as I saw the description. I love friends to lovers in historical romance, especially since it isn’t as common in that genre. Reading about how Ela fell for Keston in the first place then fell for him again was great. I also really liked her own character development and how she matured and grew. Some parts felt a bit unrealistic and/or too modern for the setting, but not enough so that it ruined things for me.

Overall I liked reading this and definitely will be reading more from Amalie Howard in the future.

The regency era brought me back to Bridgerton vibes and anyone who is a Bridgerton fan based on books or the Netflix show will definitely love this one! I would say this is a mix of mean girls as well as Bridgerton vibes but suitable for the YA community and I loved it!!! Getting revenge on a backstabbing friend AHAHAHAHHAHAha is satisfyingggg

I really enjoyed this book. It kept my interest and didn't have very many slow parts. I also liked the characters and thought they were written well. I'm starting to really like regency romances. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the arc in return for an honest review!

In this forward-thinking YA romance with Count of Monte Cristo and Mean Girls vibes, we follow Ela Dalvi on her quest for revenge that has been years in the making. Ela has reinvented herself after being betrayed by everyone she knew and loved and is now back to settle the score. Amalie Howard weaves a sensuous picture of the time, engaging all the reader's senses as we follow a strong woman who has carefully learned to play high society's games. It has witty dialogue and modern mores and leads the reader to examine just how similar we are to those who have gone before, and just how high is the cost of revenge.

Oh wow, I LOVED this book! I loved the idea of feminism and the subversive ideas about diversity, identity, and so many other things. It explores universal sentiments: love, betrayal, and revenge is a satisfying cycle to observe. And this particular micro-universe is not unsimilar to that of high school--we have the same cliques, the popular kids, the hormones...but the marriage market of the ton of England's Regency Era may be more similar to high school than we initially think. Indeed, some aspects of high school surpass age entirely and we experience them during all phases of life. The players hail from a diversity of backgrounds ethnically and even socioeconomically. The explanations of the period and the culture were helpful and subtle--it's easy to get that wrong and heavily over-explain, but it was gracefully done here. I found Ela the kind of woman I would love to be in many ways: beautiful, charming, intelligent, and adept in social rules and in always finding the right thing to say. In the end it's about power, agency, compassion, and being considerate, and contemplates the power of forgiveness and the choice we all have to forgive or to let bitterness destroy us from the inside. I think this book is going to be a winner!

This definitely gives me Bridgerton vibes solely because of the regency era. The romance was so sweet and I love a friends to enemies to lovers plot line. The vibes of this book was so entertaining and I just had the best time reading it. I like the characters and dual time line as well.

So so so so good! I was fully immersed in it and can’t seem to put it down. The build up and word building was one of the strong aspects of this book. Also I really liked the pace with which story unfolded and events occurred. The main characters are starkly superb, and I’m in awe of their strength and arc development. Definitely one of the bests I have read this year.

I received this from netgalley in exchange for a review.

I felt for Ely/Lyra this whole book. Having a backstabbing best friend who ruins everything in your life as a teenager and then wanting so badly to get revenge - who can’t relate, even if most teenagers now don’t have quite the stakes that Ely had. I knew something was going to mess up her revenge plan, and it happened so well - and Poppy (and her father) got what was coming to them, even as Ely learned that revenge was maybe not quite what she needed in her life, and was able to become who she wanted to be.

I really liked the cast of characters in this book - to be honest, I’d totally read a book about Zia and Kes’s band of boys each.

I saw someone else say this needs to be a movie or a show and I completely agree. I’d definitely watch it.

Queen Bee is Machiavellian regency fun full of manners, slander, and a plot for revenge. It's essentially Bridgerton meets Mean Girls, which makes it a light historical romp with a dash of modern sensibility.

This book gives "Ela can't come to the phone right now. Why? Because she's dead" vibes. So, in other words, it's an escapist respite!

Three years after her reputation is tarnished by her former best friend, Poppy (aka London's resident 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 retribution. This time, the odds will fall in her favor. This time, she'll land on top. She'll make sure of that. In fact, not only does she have plans to ruin Poppy's life, preventing her from making a good match in the marriage mart, but she also intends to break the heart of the boy who broke her's all those years ago...or so help her!

However, once Keston, the handsome and charming marquess, is within her orbit again, nothing goes according to plan. (Which, pssh--as if I'd want it any other way!)

Although I wished the revenge angle had been leaned into a little more, particularly at the beginning when Ela/Lyra was still smarting from the trauma of her past betrayals, this was an absorbing read. I flew right through it. I loved the diversity of the characters as well as the themes about the power of forgiveness and the representation of true friendship. The romance between Ela and Kes could have had more build-up or oomph, but it was still cute in that coy, you've-been-trampolining-on-my-heart-from-the-start YA way. It felt fitting for them as a pairing well as for the YA genre on the whole.

I liked it. Definitely worth a read. So if you're looking for a story full of scandal and schemes, but also one with a wholesome heart at its center, then this is the historical romance for you!

3.5 stars

Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's for the ARC in exchange for my review.

This was a delightful cupcake of a book, sweet, fluffy, and a little bit naughty (regency naughty, so mostly stolen kisses). .Perfect for fans of Austin, Bridgerton, and Gossip Girl alike, this book examines mean girls and the power of gossip. The cast is diverse in multiple ways and it brings life and richness to the story

After appreciating other Amalie Howard titles, this one was a disappointment. It felt like it was written for a YA audience, without being a YA book.

I really enjoyed this novel and think it's perfect for fans of Bridgerton. It was age-appropriate for teens and I will definitely order it for my classroom this spring. I loved the setting, the revenge, and the girl-boss aspect of the female MC.

My only disappointment was the way the romance built up between the MC's in the present day. There was a dual POV from four years prior and present day, The "childhood" romance had more build up and chemistry than the present-day rekindling of the romance. The ending was also a little abrupt. But other than that, I really loved this!!

I have always enjoyed Amalie Howard’s books but this was my first historical of hers and I adored it. Bridgerton meets The Obsession in this YA about a girl who was ruined by a lie and wants her revenge on the boy and girl who ruined her reputation. This book was so fun and I could read it over and over again.

The Count of Monte Cristo meets Bridgerton with a dash of Mean Girls? SIGN ME UP. I really enjoyed this book. I really loved Ela/Lyra and getting to see her grow as a person. She was a very well developed character. I also really loved Keston and Zia. They were absolute gems. Honestly, all the characters in the ton were enjoyable except Poppy who was the absolute WORST. Ughhhhh what an absolute miserable human being. I thought the romance with Lyra and Keston was developed really well. It wasn’t too fast, but not too slow. And very sweet. I loved how the books really hammered how unfair society was to women in that time period. Men were believed without question, but a lady did not have that same luxury. I also enjoyed the flashbacks of seeing what Poppy did to Ela and how she became Lyra. This was just such a fun book. Poppy reading Jonathan Swift instead of Lord Byron had me CACKLING. What a fun read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

I want to thank NetGalley, Random House Children’s Publishing, and the author Amalie Howard for the ARC of Queen Bee.

I had been in a reading slump for the past month and this book was perfect for launching me out of it! Since it has one of my favorite tropes, the vengeful woman, I’m perfect to review it.

3 years after Lady Ela Dalvi’s reputation is ruined by her “best friend” she comes back. Now she’s Heiress Lyre and she has a plan. Ruin her former best friends time at the ton’ and break her former love’s heart. Only things don’t go to plan.

While this book doesn’t include murder it has that little bit of female rage that I love. Ela’s story is everything I could ask for in a modern historical romance.

If you’re looking for a story about retribution, “diamonds of the season”, and a little bit of romance…then this is definitely the book for you!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

I am weirdly obsessed with Count of Monte Christo retellings, and this has just become one of my favourites. Lyra is an heiress experiencing her first Season when she catches the eye of Keston, son of a Duke. However, Lyra used to be Lady Ela, and her Season is actually a plot for revenge ...

Brilliant characters and a dramatic plot,this is a stellar read and one I will be recommending wholeheartedly!

Thank you to the publisher for providing a review copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

I don't usually read YA books (too much drama), but since this one is historic, I gave it a try.

It lives up to the claim of Count of Monte Cristo meets Bridgerton, but I have to point out that in The Count, Edmond returns after 14 years have gone buy, not just 3. So I had to really use my suspension of disbelief in this regard, that nobody recognized Ela after such a short period.

Ela/Lyra is set on revenge when she returns to the ton after her best friend backstabbed her and made her lose her reputation. She now has the money and the means to put her plan in motion, but it's not all straightforward.

The story is told from her POV only and I liked how she grows as the narrative progresses. It has a good resolution.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

this book really make me think of Taylor swift music. I liked the revenge but felt there could have been more done. The romance was cute but I liked the guy's sister a lot better. I gave this a solid four stars.

When I first began this book I wasn’t sure I would like it due to the fact that there seemed to be a modern spin on the regency period, something I really don’t usually like, even if I wished that things were better for POC and women back then. However, I absolutely LOVED this book especially after reading the author’s note at the end, I rarely give 5 ⭐️‘s to romance novels either, so this is huge for me!
Lady Ela Dalvi, a young spirited girl, in 1814, has a beautiful best friend Poppy, who is like a sister to her even though she is not of nobility. Unfortunately, when Ela meets and befriends her new neighbors the marquess Keston Ridley and his sister Zenobia, she decides to keep it to herself for fear of Poppy luring Keston away from her friendship. Poppy inevitability finds out and her jealousy rages leading up to a huge scandal which ends up getting Ela sent away. At the new school, Hinley Seminary, she meets new friends, new “family” and plots her revenge, setting it in motion 3 years later.
I loved Ela’s character. I felt for her. I wanted her to make Poppy suffer. I also loved Zenobia, her loyalty and friendship with Ela. I really liked Keston too and without giving too much away, was upset with hm for a bit, but also understood his position as well as his feelings. All the characters were very well written and although this was about getting revenge, it also wasn’t. This is what made me love this book. Everyone had flaws. No one was irredeemable, well, maybe one, but they chose to be. The story never dragged. It introduced great side characters one of which, Church, I adored. Ela learns what true friendship is because of Rosalin and some of her peers at her new school. She also learns the power of forgiveness which to me, one who loves revenge stories, is one of the best things about this book. I also loved the slow burn romance with Keston. I loved that there were no graphic scenes to illustrate their growing love for each other, but one you could really imagine and feel.
I would HIGHLY recommend this novel and I am so excited to read more of her books! I will definitely be looking out for this author. I am a new fan!

A big thank you to Net Galley and the author/publisher for allowing me to read this novel and give an honest review.

Anything historical romance is a draw for me but the moment I saw that this is a Count of Monte Cristo retelling...I just about died from excitement, and you will too. Trust me, if you're even the slightest fan of Bridgerton then you need to get your hands on this scintillating, spicy, revenge filled book!

Lady Ela Dalvi is dead....in order for Lyra Whitley to rise from the ashes of her falsely tarnished reputation and take her revenge on the people who took everything from her. The plan is simple: knock her two-faced former best friend off her evil throne of London popularity by leaving her friendless, but also breaking the heart of the only boy who'd ever saw her for herself.... that is until he betrayed their friendship and feelings when Ela needed him the most.

Make way London, there's a new Queen Bee in town and she's out for blood.

This was my first-time reading Amalie Howard, but I will sing her praises until this book hits shelves and even then, I will continue to do so for the end of my days. She just made me a fan for life. This was a book I didn't realize was missing from my life until I read the first page. Pre-Order QUEEN BEE right this very moment.

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

Another great historical romance from Amalie Howard! I adored Howard's The Princess Stakes when I read it last month, especially because of the wonderful South Asian representation, which made me so excited when I heard of the upcoming release of Queen Bee. This young adult historical romance was super fun and charming. There were so many aspects I enjoyed while reading this book: the themes of friendship, identity, love, found family, and more. I think the various character dynamics and character developments of this novel is what makes it stand out so much. Ela was a super unique character to follow--I definitely think some readers may see her as flawed, but it only made me admire her more. I loved her relationship with Church and her newly forming friendships with Rosalin, Zia, Rafi, Blake, and of course Keston. It's not as common for historical romances to feature both a main character of color and a love interest of color, so I'm so glad that this book was a POC x POC romance! Amalie Howard is definitely a new favorite author of mine after having read both of her historical romances with South Asian MCs, and I can't wait to read her upcoming works! I'd give this 4.5 stars rounded up.