I really wanted to like it, the premise is really good, a Cinderella retelling. I tried but but it just wasn't for me.

However, I did enjoy knowing more about the history of how Jewish people lived in those times. It was interesting and different

I so appreciate the Jewish representation in historical romance, something that we need much more of in the genre. However, this book is rather dry and focuses a lot on the minutiae of the characters' plans rather than the romance itself.

This was my first historical romance with a Jewish heroine that held a good deal of power. I really like how Isabelle knew her expectations about what she wanted her marriage to accomplish and how she roped Aaron into helping her. I liked the way they would sneak around to discussion the information that Aaron gathers on her potentials and how they would always end up off topic and flirting. It made for good banter and spicy moments. Isabelle never wanted to marry for love but after getting to know Aaron her mind was slowly swayed to the “what ifs” of romance. It was a cute romance with some good character development.

Thank you Forever pub and Netgalley for the gifted copy

I have loved all the books by Grossman and this fairy tale retelling is another fantastic steamy romance with amazing Jewish rep!

This was a great historical romance, that I would recommend to those who think it sounds good!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher

This was a good historical Cinderella retelling. It was a nice change to see Jewish characters in a historical romance.

This cute Cinderella retelling was exactly what I was looking for in a retelling. I love the Jewish sprinkled in giving deapth to the story

Marry Me by Midnight by Felicia Grossman is a charming cinderella-like historical tale full of romance, passion, and swoon worthy moments. This is the first book of the “Once Upon the East End Series” and she certainly started this series off with fervor making me anxious for the next book of the series! This story has wonderful world building, the characters are multifaceted and easy to connect with, and the writing is well-paced without any plot holes - all of this makes for a story that is easily read and enjoyed.

Once upon a time in London 1832 Isabelle Lira is forced to quickly find a spouse who is able to help save her family’s business and she relies on the help of Aaron Ellenberg her synagogues custodian to help screen potential suitors. Aaron does not have the right pedigree to be one of Isabelle’s suitors, even if he does long for a wife and children of his own, and even if the two of them find kindred spirits within each other - everyone knows the orphan doesn’t end up with the princess. Right?

I greatly enjoyed watching these two fall in love and of course it’s always a win when love conquers all!

Overall 4.5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨


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MARRY ME BY MIDNIGHT is one of my favorite historical romances. Felicity Grossman did an exceptional job with the Jewish representation, which isn’t often seen in romance books, and writing characters you fall in love with.

My favorite aspect of this book is the banter between Isabelle and Aaron. I could read a whole series of their banter. And when the banter turned flirty and steamy - it was the chef’s kiss!

This was a delightful read. It made me happy. I love seeing Jewish representation on the page, and I hope this means there is more to come. Plus, I loved it in a historical romance setting with two characters who work so well together! It’s a must-read for historical romance fans!

Thanks, Forever and Netgalley, for the gifted arc!

Content Warnings: antisemitism, grief, classism

This was a delightful genderbent Cinderella retelling, and I loved how enmeshed in the characters' Jewish community and culture it was.

I don't normally like historical romance, but I loved this one! Taking place in London in 1832, the female main character Isabella is an orphan in a time when women weren't allowed to legally make their own decisions. She has a deadline to marry, given by her father's business partners, in order to stay involved in the business. Enter Aaron, the poor caretaker of a prominent synagogue and recruited as a spy by Isabella to evaluate potential marriage partners. But the tension builds between them, and it is amazing! I loved these characters so much, I wanted to hug the book when I was done with it. The Jewish representation is so rich, not just with a Shabbat dinner but addresses the struggles they faced within larger London society.

This one definitely gets five stars from me, and I can't recommend it enough! Thank goodness the next one in the series “Wake Me Most Wickedly” comes out in April. Thank you to Forever Publishing for the advanced copy.

I was in a reading slumping and I thought reading a romance would get me out. It kind of did. I liked the Jewish representation and the retelling of Cinderella. The main characters were okay. The romance seemed to be overshadowed by the politics. I did learned a lot of the Jewish experience during the 19th Century England. I did dnf it, but I will try to get it another go when I'm fully in a romance mood.

I was looking forward to reading this book but the main characters weren't engaging at all. The premise was exciting but then the story just dragged. I thought Isabelle acted silly many a time, and the dialogue between her and Aaron wasn't interesting. Their relationship felt forced. It seemed as though Isabelle was pushing for the relationship but Aaron didn't seem as invested. I didn't like that he ended up doing whatever she wanted. Too beta for a hero.

Read to 50%. This was a fantastically crafted story from the perspective of integrating infrequently-covered communities in a historical romance setting. Unfortunately the combination of "will they won't they" and eventual closed-door activities made it not a winner for me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free advance copy.

4 Stars!

Marry Me Midnight is the first book in the Once Upon the East End historical romance series by Felicia Grossman.

Something I really like about the story is the representation. I haven’t read many historical romances in 1800s England with Jewish protagonists, and it’s clear a ton of research was put into creating a historically accurate piece. The story sheds light on a group that is quite unrepresented in historical romance. It was eye-opening to learn about the political and social discrimination and limitations Jewish people faced, which were even worse for women.

I also liked the reverse Cinderella elements of the story and the romance. Aaron is a delight. He’s so kind, and he has a gift with children and animals, but he doesn’t think he’s good enough. I just wanted to give him a big hug and a bunch of reassurance. Isabelle is great too, and their chemistry is fantastic. They have a bit of a forbidden romance since they come from very different social and economic circles, and there’s so much pining and angst and longing. And, whew, it gets a little steamy too!

Overall, I liked the story. It was a bit choppy at times, and it started off slow. But the second half of the story was faster-paced, the characters are well-developed, and the romance is swoon-worthy!

Special thanks to Forever Publishing for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

I enjoyed the Jewish representation and the Cinderella retelling but ultimately I didn’t feel the chemistry between the two main characters.

I was hoping I'd love this but found it was bogged down by the author trying to do too much rather than focusing on a couple of elements. It made it difficult to focus on the characters, their arcs, and their love story. However, I love the Jewish rep and am looking forward to seeing how Felicia Grossman develops as a writer.

Thank you, Netgalley, the author, and Forever for the gifted book! ❤️ #gifted. My review is comprised of my honest thoughts.

Read this book if you like: Dual POV, Cinderella retelling, Jewish representation

The setting was great. The Jewish representation in 1832 is very well done. The romance was tough for me. It dragged a lot. Honestly, it needed spicy scenes that it lacked. I did enjoy it but was a little let down.

I received this book complimentary from NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.

In this Cinderella-esque story, Isabelle must find a suitor who can save her family's business. Still, when she allies with Aaron, a worker at the synagogue, to ensure that her suitors don't have hidden alliances, she finds love there instead. This mixture of familial duties, forbidden love, and unexpected turns keeps you entertained to the very last page.

Sometimes when you’re reading a book, it’s just not the right time. You gotta put it down and hopefully the right time comes and you can pick it up and get the most out of it. I had that exact experience while reading this book. I was in a slump, and I just couldn’t make any headway in the book.

A while later I decided to grab myself the audiobook, because I needed to know how this reverse Cinderella story finds its HEA! And with the help of Justine Eyre’s expertise on historical romance narration, I flew through the book and totally got behind Lira and Aaron’s love story!

At the right time this book turned out to be a fun and twisty tale full of plenty of Cinderella imagery. A class difference romance with a strong female lead that learns that she can have it all, her family legacy and the love of her life!

I just love a unique historical romance and gross use of her Jewish heritage Regency, London, England highlights a section of the populous you don’t usually see in traditional HR. There are so many different stories and cultures to be represented during this time. And I’m really excited to see where Felicia Grossman goes with this and her characters with her next book in this series.

Thanks to forever romance for this review copy.