I didn't realize this wasn't a new book, but written back in the 1920s. A reprint.

The dialogue between Mr. Beaumaris and Arabella is the best - they have such a fun relationship. They're each trying to play each other and in the end, ended up playing themselves. There is a whole lot of other situations going on in this book, but a lot of it seems like unnecessary words.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a digital, temporary ARC in return for my review.

Arabella Tallant, the daughter of an impoverished country parson, dreams of a new life in London. But her beauty and charm will only get her so far - and when Arabella embarks on her first London season armed with nothing but a benevolent godmother and her own notoriously short temper, she quickly runs afoul of Robert Beaumaris. He's the most eligible bachelor of the day, with a personality as strong and combative as hers - and Arabella cannot abide him thinking of her as just another pretty girl after his wealth. So she states that she’s a heiress to put Robert in his place but soon the whole ton believes she’s a heiress.
A delightful, witty & engrossing romance. The characters have lovely depth & I loved both Robert & Arabella. Arabella is charming & so innocent, Robert succumbs to her almost from the start. Add a chimney sweep, a mongrel to the mix & sit back for a very entertaining read
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

(3,5)

I had never read a book written by Georgette Heyre before and I'm truly excited to change that. Arabella was such a great and addictive read with incredibly fun characters to follow and get attached to.
If you love Pride and Prejudice, you might want to give this delightful regency romance a chance when this new edition is published in April!

Seeing Georgette Heyer's books republished is such a joy. These books have given so many hours of enjoyment and perhaps a new crowd will find these delightful books. The addition of Eloisa James' forward makes for a nice start to the reading experience.

Yes, it takes a little adjustment to get used to the writing style and Heyer's books aren't exactly fast reads, but they are addictive. The characters are so much fun, from the down-to-earth Arabella to the intriguing Mr. Beaumaris. As expected, when a dog is introduced during the story, the little fellow quickly becomes a scene-stealer. Heyer certain has some favorite vehicles for humor! There are some pretty serious moments when Arabella's brother gets caught up in gambling and winds up with significant debts he can't pay, but things do work out in the end, as you'd expect in a Heyer novel.

Absolutely charming.
I first learned of Georgette Heyer due to a recommendation from Lois McMaster Bujold, who likened my absolute favorite of her books (A Civil Campaign) to Heyer's The Grand Sophy. At the time, I did not realize that there was a precursor novel to Sophy's book.
Now, I am happy to say that I have rectified that oversight and find this work just as delightful as the other.
Sophy is a delightful and determined heroine, and her hero is absolutely wonderful. I adore especially his inner monologue. As well as his less internalized, but still one-sided conversations with his dog.

Highly recommended.

Arabella was an enjoyable Regency romance in the Pride and Prejudice vein. I found the opening a bit ponderous, but once Arabella began her journey to London things picked up and my attention was caught. She and Robert made a fun couple; although, actually some of my favourite interactions were between Robert and the dog, Ulysses! But overall, if you enjoy Regency romance, you can rarely go wrong with a Heyer novel, and Arabella is no exception to that rule. It gets 4 stars from me.

Arabella lies to the wealthy and bored Mr. Robert Beaumaris. She pretends to be an heiress after he goads her. He launches her into high society in retaliation. Along the way, they fall in love...

Lots of witty dialogue and totally charming. The characters are fun and sassy. Totally love it. Their first meeting was especially cute. Love the happy ending.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

This is my all time favorite Heyer.
The meet cute is one I will never forget-it’s hilarious and perfect!
Just go read it!!

You can see that Georgette Heyer is a fan of Jane Austen not just through her style, but a few aspects of Arabella mirrors Pride and Prejudice. It has the impoverish female lead, who has too many siblings but her family is too poor to afford a generous dowry. There is the prideful male lead, who tries to set up the heroine but falls in his own machinations.

I loved this book and will surely read this again

This book has been on my TBR list for awhile now (so many books, so little time) but I finally read it. I'm happy to say that I enjoyed it, too. I liked Arabella & Mr. Beaumaris the most; some parts reminded me a little of Pride & Prejudice. I kinda lost a little interest when the chapters focused on Bertram but I forgive those portions because the rest of it was cute. I liked the antics, the misunderstandings, and, of course, Ulysses:) I will definitely check out more of Georgette Heyer's books. I liked her style (even if I did have to look up some words in the dictionary), her humor, I love the Regency period, and I loved that it was "clean".