I was provided with an eARC of this book in exchange for a fair review.

I am a big fan of regency era romance, and this brought the diversity of Bridgerton the show, amplified it, and added in the intrigue of the Luxe series. I really enjoyed how the author started us off with a dual timeline, showing us how Ela/Lyra got to where she is now after suffering loss and betrayal. She is (justifiably in my mind) out for revenge, and she goes about it wonderfully.

I will definitely revisit this book again and again and can tell I am about to embark on a regency spiral!

If you liked the Bridgerton TV show with a mix of how Mean Girls would have been in the 1800s this is a must read for you!

Thank you JoyRevolution and Amalie Howard for this ARC!

First off the diversity is on point! It is so important that everyone get representation which is what JoyRev focuses on! Plus the note about diversity and queers represented in high society, it was so good!

Now to the book! It was a really gripping read! I normally don't love historical fiction but this was pretty much the opposite? More like anti historical fiction which is what I saw someone else refer to it as and that is so true! The characters are funny and scandalous. Add in the need for revenge and kinda second chance romance and you have this book!

It was so good, I will buying a copy when it is printed so I can enjoy it again!

Queen Bee was a lot of fun to read. Ela/Lyra, our female main character, is out for revenge on her former best friend who truly wronged her in some of the most despicable ways. I think Ela/Lyra is a very sympathetic and likable character. It's easy for readers to understand her motivations and feel anger at what was done to her. At the same time, I thought her character growth was a really important part of her story. The lessons she learns are important and relatable for anyone who has been betrayed. Plus, I like a heroine who has independent thoughts and doesn't conform so easily to society's unrealistic expectations.

The side characters were quite well written. I do wish we got a little more background and depth on a few of them, but I did still enjoy the parts they played in this story. Our main love interest (Kes) comes off overly confident and full of himself at times, but he really is an adorable character. His little sister (Zia) is my favourite supporting character; She's so charming, witty, and honest. Oh my gosh, Poppy (the ex-best friend/antagonist) is such a pain. I liked that she was unsympathetic and needed to be put in her place, because honestly some people just don't change and don't deserve our time.

This is my first Amalie Howard book, and I really enjoyed a few things about the author's writing style: The banter between characters was excellent, the plot was very entertaining, and the chapters flowed smoothly. This book's chapters alternate between past and present, and I actually enjoyed reading about the events and characters this way.

I took a star off because things are tied up a little too conveniently after the big reveal, certain characters lack depth, and there are some cheesy moments.

Overall, I think this is a solid young adult regency-era book. I liked the characters and exciting plot, and I appreciated the balance between hilarious situations and deeper moments.

I absolutely loved this book! You have historical settings and diversity you also get romance and revenge. The “anti-historical” angle, where we get a more diverse cast of characters from different backgrounds and cultures experiences was a real highlight of the book for me. this was so enjoyable to read, I highly recommend it.

I really liked this one! I hadn't realized it was by the same author as Always Be My Duchess, but upon realizing that, it makes sense. I loved Duchess, and I loved this one as well.

Anyone who's followed me for a substantial amount of time knows I love scheming characters. The more morally grey, the better. So saying I loved Ela is an understatement. I was all for her revenge plan. Watching it all play out was so much fun, and I loved how her morals didn't completely ruin it. She was a fun character, and I really enjoyed her perspective.

I also really liked her relationship with Kes. Using the flashbacks to preface their attraction was smart, it kept it from feeling too insta-lovey. They were adorable together both in the past and the present, and I'm sad we didn't get more of them. I want an epilogue!

All in all, this one was a super fun romp through the regency era. A healthy dosing of scandal and schemes, this was so enjoyable to read.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

This book is scandalous, stimulating, smart, revengeful, tempting, shocking! Even better than Bridgerton series!

With the quotes of Italian diplomat Niccolo Machiavelli, it’s a brilliant revenge story of an innocent girl who lost everything in her life, facing the betrayal of her best friend and the boy who stole her heart!

Her reputation is tarnished! Her family is gone! She is penniless! She’s nobody! Poor Lady Ela Dalvi is sent to Cumbria at the age of 15 because her slanderous comment that ruined her reputation! When she is away, she forms Machiavellian plot for revenge but for succeeding her plan she has to kill Ela. She has to reborn from her ashes to turn into enigmatic heiress, luminous Lyra Whitley to infiltrate London’s elites, befriending Poppy and her close circle, doing everything she can to tarnish her reputation and take away her happiness just like she did to her!

There’s only one person stands between her success or avenging plan and her heartbreak : the eligible bachelor Lord Keston Osborn, the Marques of Ridley, heir to the Duke of Heritege. He was the same boy she played when the wooden swords in the woods, losing at the chess game and listening his nonstop gloating, racing across the pond on their estate, sharing blueberry ice cream. He was her childhood friend, her first love and the biggest heartbreak. She has to seduce him to accomplish her revenge plan but her unresolved feelings can threaten everything she’s scheming for years.

Could she be able to make people pay for their mistakes or could she be big person to let things go and take another chance for happiness?

This book is MUST READ! I highly absolutely extremely recommend it! Lyra/ Ela is my favorite kind of avenging angel! And Church is the fascinating supporting character! I truly loved her so much!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s / Joy Revolution for sharing this incredible reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

Amalie Howard can do no wrong!
I normally don't read young adult books anymore but once I saw Amalie Howard wrote a Monte Cristo inspired one, I had to give it a try.
This is a gender reversed The Tale of Monte Cristo. I found it to be very clever and think the gender reversal of the characters worked really well.
The characters are fun to read about and are well developed.
Writing was fabulous as always!
Plus look at that stunning cover!
Queen Bee was a enjoyable read and I would definitely recommend it.

I haven't read anything by Amalie Howard before, but I'm so glad I started with her YA. This was described as Bridgerton x Count of Monte Cristo. I haven't read either but... I LOVED THIS! This was so sweet and addicting to read. This was cleverly written and charming with a splendid POC cast of characters!

I’m not generally a fan of alternating timelines or second chance romances, but I loved it here. There was also good pacing and I rooted for the characters. Never did I question Ela's motives since you understand and empathize exactly WHY she is doing everything. I am pleased how Ela achieved her goals and the big reveal at the end was well executed too.

The relationship was very cute and Keston was a likable hero. Their romance was engaging and not once did I think their love story wasn't believable. I'm definitely looking forward to getting a physical copy or audiobook because I definitely see myself re-reading this. This would also make for a great movie and NEEDS to be adapted asap.

Thank you so much to the publisher for an eARC via NetGalley.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own." Thank you Netgalley..

Reading Queen Bee I didn't know what to except. I thought it waa just Okay. I'm looking forward to reading more
Amalie Howard books. 3 Stars 🌟🌟🌟


Happy Reading
Lisa📚

This was a really fun, kind of teen soap-y, escapist read for me – similar to something like American Royals, Gossip Girl or the like (dramatic, a bit over the top, indulgent). The story itself is billed as an “anti-historical Regency-era romp that’s Bridgerton meets The Count of Monte Cristo”, which definitely fits the vibe of this read and 100% made me want to try it.

While the story is set in the Regency-era, I will warn historical romance fans that it reads more as a contemporary book set in a historical era. The story was one that gave me the same feel as the show Gossip Girl with some good Revenge undertones as well. If you’re a Taylor Swift fan (which I am), prepare for some Reputation era / revenge songs to be on repeat in your head. I couldn’t help but associate it with songs like “Look What You Made Me Do” and “Vigilante S**t” while reading.

The “anti-historical” angle, where we got a more diverse cast of characters from different backgrounds and experiences was really lovely and something that I enjoyed seeing in the setting. This was a fast paced read, and one that I read in a day – as mentioned I got some strong GG, Revenge type vibes and so it felt like a fun, escape as you were pulled into the whirlwind of Ela’s quest for revenge. I enjoyed the cast of characters, the slow unwinding of what happened and was obviously rooting for Ela / Lyra the whole time. I wanted her to get her HEA (and her revenge too).

An enjoyable YA take on the classic Count of Monte Cristo in the Regency-era – thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for the opportunity to read an early copy!

I really loved this concept and it was written really well, I was invested from the description. It did what I was hoping for and I loved the time-period that was used. The characters were interesting and were well written. I enjoyed getting to read this and I'm glad I got to read this from Amalie Howard.

“I know, but ladies change their minds all the time during the season. There’s always something exciting happening, isn’t there? Though, I just came from the most ghastly soiree.” She sat in the seat with the second place setting. “Is this for me? I’m starving. I don’t know how a full-grown woman is expected to survive on tiny sandwiches made for dolls.” I didn’t hide my delight."

I had never heard the term "anti-historical fiction" before reading this book, but it might be my new favorite genre?? This book had all the fluffy goodness of classic historical romance, but with the added bonus of actual diversity and cultural representation in the cast of characters. I wasn't even really thinking about how I usually have to choose between those two when picking out a book, but I sincerely hope that more authors follow along this path. The plot of this book was good, although the prose was guilty of the saccharine simplicity that can often be found in YA novels, but the anti-historical setting is what really boosted this book from 4 stars to a full 5/5 ⭐️.

Best of the book: In addition to getting both historical settings and diversity, you also get romance and revenge. Truly the best of both worlds.
Worst of the book: Ugh, even in an alternate history cured of its white-washing, the patriarchy still absolutely sucks.

#TriggerWarning #ContentWarning This book deals with parental death, both before and during the timeline(s) of the book itself.

HONORED to read this title, and absolutely loved the introduction to Joy Revolution from Nicola + David, I am so thrilled about the opportunities this publishing house will bring to authors of color, and I am very excited to be a proud supporter, and that I was able to read and review QUEEN BEE early. I read many books early but I squealed at this approval and could not WAIT to read another amazing historical fiction title from Howard the approval coming on the SAME day I met her in person at Apollycon made it extra special to me before I started page one.

As the foreword mentions, this book starts off at a pace that leaves you hungry for me, I tore through the pages greedy to see where the book was going. After having read her recent adult release, I could not wait to read this young adult release from Amalie Howard & let me tell you, I was simply stunned at how well written the present tense and flashback scenes were written, I couldn’t get over how clear each age was in emotion and the charming characters. Perfectly crafted like the game of chess, I adored reading how each piece of the story moved along, fueled by Lady Ela's desire for revenge.

Somehow she perfectly captures snark swoonworthy romance and I need all the books ever written by Amalie Howard, forever.

"Goodness, why can't I think of any stories with happy couples in history?" "Ours will be," he said -- I mean seriously, LOVE.

"We don't get do-overs, Lord Ridley. We only get do better."

For fans of historical romance, you're sure to be delighted with this tale of second-chance romance and the effects of the mistakes and opportunities of our youth as we grow up. I myself wish I was as determined as lady Ela sometimes, this was an absolute joy to read and the characters will steal your heart. I KNEW I would be all about the titles releasing from Joy Revolution, but consider me SOLD, can't wait to see more from this amazing publishing house and the authors writing for them.

4.5 starts rounded up for Queen Bee! This book was described as a cross between The Count of Monte Cristo (one of my all time favorites) and the Bridgerton series, and it did not disappoint!

I love seeing diversity in regency era novels and shows now. There are also queer characters, though they did feel thrown in using supporting characters with no real exploration. I was still happy to see them though!

The story follows Ela/Lady Whitley, seeking revenge for wrongs that were done to her by her ex best friend Poppy a few years before and the boy who was supposedly her best friend, Lord Kesson. All does not go according to plan as she makes friends and begins to fall in love while she’s there.


The plot and characters were exciting and well thought out, and the book kept me on my toes. I got through it in two days, wanting to know more. I did feel a few characters like Poppy and Church could have been expanded upon, but I still enjoyed what they brought to the story. The scene where all was revealed (trying not to give spoilers), also left me wanting more. Dialogue to drive home Ela’s growth as a person or understanding Poppy better would have been great. But these are small details to a phenomenal book with good pacing, an interesting plot, and a bit of romance. I can’t wait to read some of the author’s other works!

I received an ARC for this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun regency romance. I love that the main characters had a long history before the start of this book, and we get to see glimpses of that history in flashbacks. No insta-love here, a trope that I am not a fan of at all. I'm not sure how much of a YA audience there is for regency romances, but I hope this book finds its audience because it was an enjoyable read.

Have you paid attention to the new imprint @joyrevbooks led by @nicolayoon and @davidoftheyoon?

If you haven't, you are missing out.
It is committed to publishing YA romance novels starring people of color and written by people of color. I, for one, plan on reading each book.

Their first release, out in April 2023, is this swoon-worthy regency romp that had me hooked from the first page.
Thank you @penguinrandomhouse for the preview ARC.

With a fresh new take on the revenge romance plot, shifting between two different ages, a gutsy main character, and a fully fleshed-out romance, this is what every YA romance book should read like.
Page-turning, heart-gathering, epic fun.

While April is far away, you can pre-order it now. I would not wait, you are going to want to read this one right away. Nothing too salacious so good for all ages of romance lovers.

Thank you Netgalley for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

First off, I loved this book! It was a teen girl version of the Count of Monte Cristo in the London area. Lady Ela was a great protagonist and the author did an amazing job making me feel for her and her need for revenge against her childhood friends. The story alternates between two timelines: the timeline leading up to and the actual incident that resulted in Lady Ela being ruined, and when she returns to society under an assumed name to take the London season by storm and destroy Poppy!

What was refreshing about the twists and turns is that the things that occur are in fact intentional. There was no misunderstandings or miscommunications. The people in the book made the active choice to go the path they did with relatively the all the information. That's pretty rare and that their are real consequences and repercussions for a variety of people involved (in the past as well as in the present timeline). It was great and I highly recommend it; I will definitely read more of Ms. Howard in the future!

I enjoyed the diversity of characters in this Regency Era YA romance, and the little added mystery kept me turning the pages. A fun read. This will be a great book to recommend to readers who love Bridgerton or other Regency/period drama. No language or mature scenes, for those librarians who might be wondering.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!! Queen Bee was good across the board. I found myself suffering from secondhand embarrassment often, though. I think I give a good deal of grace when it comes to reading YA because I lower my cringe alarm but this book... it was setting it off for sure. There are a lot of cringeworthy moments. It's very Bridgerton-esque of the diversity present in the regency era but more teenage-friendly than the Netflix show is, so it scratches that itch while altering itself to cater to a teenage audience. For that, I have to give Queen Bee props.

I loved this book so much. It gave exactly how it was supposed to give and I'm so here for the Regency romance it's not even funny. I was so invested in the main couple and the side characters also gave in the best way. It felt so Bridgerton but also in a league of its own. The diverse cast of characters was so amazing and all of them were so well developed. One of the most powerful parts for me is the way that all of the characters, especially Ela and Keston, fought these difficult inner battles that only made them stronger and better. I adored the themes of standing up for yourself and advocating for yourself. And the lessons about forgiveness? Oh my goodness absolutely slayed. Please please read this book when it comes out!