Madeleine Roux’s next season in Regency England follows a rebellious writer and the man who risks everything to publish her.
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Love retellings and Much Ado is one of my favorite Shakespeare plays. This takes place in the country at a house party. It does follow the original story points but is very unique to this time period. Love that Margaret (our Beatrice) is an author trying to get her book published and the man she’s talked with thinks it’s absurd until he reads a random page of hers. So much drama, expectations and notes passed around.

*Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy of this eARC; the review is my own.*

I found this book to be thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining, but don’t mistake that for a promise that it is without at least a temporary heartbreak. True to the title, it is a little bit reminiscent of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing (which is my very favorite of his works), though it doesn't feel like a simple rehash of the whole plot. In fact, the main characters recognize and remark upon the similarities themselves. This could have come off as somewhat cheesy, but it was done in a very natural, realistic way.

Although they're not exact reincarnates of Benedick and Beatrice, Margaret (22) and Bridger (27) have a very similar rapport. They don't bicker quite as much, but the animosity is definitely there because of a previous interaction regarding Margaret's book. I couldn't help but root for them from the beginning and applaud Ann's efforts and determination to throw them together as much as possible. I really liked them as individual characters and as a team once they got to that point. Honestly, they were adorable and so perfectly matched. I loved the close relationship between Margaret and her sisters, as well. Violet and Winny were quite hilarious and supportive of their sister, and I cannot imagine the relationship between the three of them souring like it did for their aunts.

My only complaint about this book (and I realize not everyone will agree with me) was the jump into physical intimacy between Margaret and Bridger. To me, it didn't feel true to either of their characters (or the general tone of the rest of the book), and it felt rushed for the sake of including those scenes. The same consequences could easily have been brought about just from the two of them sharing a room/bed without anything more than a kiss occurring. Look at the trouble that ensued from the Ann-look-alike kissing a man on the balcony.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and will likely take a look at other work by this author.

How it ends: (view spoiler)

Note: A little mild swearing, one f word (felt out of place). Two open-door sex scenes (easily skipped).

Well - I truly wanted to love this book, but it just fell short for me. The historical romance, the regency-era timeline all are ones that I generally enjoy. The writing style itself was really hard to read - I felt like there was a lot missing between the blurb of the book and the actual plot-line. There was little emphasis on the writing career and publishing aspect of books, and a lot of emphasis on jealousy and a really annoying back-and-forth about if the MMC is an jerk or not.

The descriptions of the characters identity also really turned my stomach - I know the timing of the book (it was the 1800's afterall) had some play in that, but why write an Indian character in such a vile way? There's no reason to state that she's ugly, and that she's oh, so jealous of her white cousins because they are in fact, white. It was just really not pleasant to read, and some of the descriptors were really sickening - ie: she appeared like a bunny nibbling clover - say what!?

The misogyny in this book was atrocious - again, I tried to allow for the fact that this book was written depicting an 1800's timeline but it still was just too much.

I did enjoy the element of the family dramatics - I thought that added a very interesting side plot that was amusing. I also loved all of the quotes at the beginning of the chapters and the descriptions of the locations were truly wonderfully done and well written. I could easily picture the hill overlooking Tetherly, and the marsh! It was nice.

All in all, I truly appreciate this arc and thank NetGalley and RandomHouse/Dell publishing!

Margaret is desperate to get her book published so she can keep writing but also to save her family and herself from a business transaction loveless marriage if her aunts have their way. Bridger is having a bad day thanks to his brother when Margaret brings her book in and presents himself as a class A jerk. Luckily for them, they are both at a friend's wedding, giving them both a second chance. There's lots of mystery and scandal solving going on, and lots of jealous people, but a friendship forms leading to more. There were some parts I didn't like, but overall, it was a good read.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell and NetGalley for providing an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

3 stars

This is a regency-era drama with odes to Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. Margaret is a woman aspiring to be a published writer, one with energy and thoughts abounding. Bridger is a publisher in London, one with a haunted past. Despite getting off on the wrong foot, they find themselves drawn together, over and over.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t finish this book - simply because I kept forgetting about it. It was okay. There is a large cast of characters who could be colorful, there are “mysteries” that could draw the reader in, but the writing just didn’t capture me. So often, even when action was occurring, it was obvious what the impetus was and what the outcome would be. It’s a difficult task to link your writing to things as iconic as Shakespeare and Austen, when your readers might have expectations and ideas about your work already. Of course, this particular novel twisted that somewhat, as it is not a retelling, per se. (Much Ado exists in the world of Much Ado About Margaret.)

There just wasn’t a grab for me. I wasn’t particularly invested in any of the characters, or curious about their choices. It seems like a decent novel, just not the one for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the editors for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Much Ado About Nothing
By Madeleine Roux

Regency England was taken by storm with this novel. A bored and aspiring writer in regency England has written the go to novel of the century – the only glitch is that she is living in regency England with no hope of getting published! In a time when women were more inclined to make menus and raise babies than write a novel, it will take more than luck to see her dreams come to reality.
A funny, often adventurous reading, this book highlights how women were made to step aside and let a man take care of them and how many fought the constraints of society and dared to step out on their own. No matter the cost. Well written the storyline brings home the struggle women had to endure to breakthrough societal norms into the unknown. The prejudices they were handed and the shame of daring to defy the norm. This book has it all and should immediately be in your lap and open.
It’s a book that will entertain you on every level while keeping you turning the pages . This is one book that you will read more than once, a book that you will be glad you purchased and possibly a book to pass down through the generations. It does not disappoint and I highly recommend you put in on your to be read bookshelf immediately. If you liked Bridgeton, you will love this book. #muchadoaboutmargaret #Netgalley

After some initial challenges getting into this book, it became more and more engaging as I got into it. I love how this enemies to lovers story is more than skin deep and includes all sorts of secondary stories like how the second son is the more responsible one, how we find out why the first son is a drunken rake. The ending with Regina’s sponsorship seemed kind of abrupt and I didn’t love her inclusion in general, I was content hating her but then I had to love her. Interesting story overall. I’d read more from this author.

The premise of this sounded fun, but I feel like the author got too caught up in the complexities of writing historical fiction. The tropes felt tired and the writing over-complicated itself to the point of being annoying.

Also, on the subject of annoying, our love interest was actually the worst. He has a fairly low opinion of women as a whole and while I do believe people can change and that growth happens, I struggle to believe that he would flip his opinion so quickly.

I just felt tired and uninspired by this book, probably because it was tired and uninspired. I do think some people will like this, unfortunately I am not one of said people.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Much Ado About Margaret by Madeleine Roux is a book I picked up because of the cover...I can't lie. I saw it and requested it and I loved it.

Margaret Arden is our fmc and she's not your normal demure and dainty girl. She would rather be someone passionate and daring like the characters she writes in her novels. Her goal is to become published and her worst fear is that she'll only amount to what society expects of her so when she sees an opportunity to get her novel in front of a publisher, she takes it. What she doesn't expect is a brutal rejection that makes her question everything she's thought about her goals. But when her cousin's glamourous wedding gives her another chance, she's determined to make the most of it.

Captain Bridger Dryden is starting over after years of fighting for his country. He's now home and struggling with his past but as a partner at Dockarty and Dryden publishing, he can turn to his love of books as a bit of a relief from everything. When he goes to the wedding of his best friend and comes across loose pages of an amazing book, Bridger knows he needs to publish it. But when he finds out that the author is none other than Margaret Arden, the same person he brutally rejected in the past, he is determined to figure out how to gain her trust and win her over.

In the midst of all of this, there's something wrong with Bridger's brother and he's created a bit of a scandal for the wedding party which Margaret and Bridger are determined to help resolve. As the wedding is descending into chaos and things are getting out of control, Margaret and Bridger are learning who the other really is and the chemistry between the two is undeniable. The question is whether they can overcome their past, decide what they want their futures to be, and determine if that future means they can be together despite all the obstacles they have in front of them.

I truly enjoyed this book. It was a little slow in parts but I urge you to not let that deter you from picking up and finishing this book. I thought Roux did a great job of developing these characters and telling their stories.

This story is about a rebellious writer and a man willing to publish her. Kinda. There is a lot more to it than just that.

The sparks fly between our leading lady and man. They have the passion, but can it lead to something lasting?

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC.

I couldn’t get into this one. I typically love historical romance, so I don’t know if I’m getting over it or if this one just didn’t nail it for me. Childish characters, basic/almost nonexistent plot, and inconsistent writing left me wondering what this book was even about. Half the story isn’t even about the two main characters. It wasn’t enjoyable for me.

2/5 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell publishing for sending this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Margaret wants nothing more than to have her book published. She, her mother, and two sisters are impoverished and rely on the benevolence of a judgmental aunt. The income from book sales will free her family. When she doesn't hear back from the publisher, Bridger, she assumes something went wrong and the sisters scheme to have him invited to their aunt's party. That evening, Maggie nervously brings her manuscript and speaks to him. He humiliates her and ridicules her novel even though he's only read the first few pages. Fast forward two months and they are at the same wedding house party. Maggie's cousin and Bridger's best friend are the same person. When the wind strews her loose manuscript pages out an upstairs window, Bridger suddenly loves the pages he's reading. I liked Maggie, trying to be a writer at a time when it was disparaged by her family and society. Bridger, on the other hand, was rude, had an uncontrollable temper she had to tiptoe around, PTSD, a cruel father, and a psychotic alcoholic brother. Oh, and he cruelly cut off his fiancé during the war so that she would end their relationship because his father didn't approve. The mistaken identity drama after the wedding was odd. I felt like the wedding couple must have been in a previous book but weren't. Even the conclusion relied on Bridger's ex-girlfriend money. You can do better than him Maggie.

I ended up DNFing this book. It had a lot of promise and gave me slight vibes of Persuasion by Jane Austen. However, it was not well written.

This was such a cute romance that drew me in right away! I loved the FMC and the women supporting women throughout this book!

It's important to acknowledge that I have previous experience with this author before, and that experience was quite negative. With that said, my initial reading Roux's work involved a science fiction horror titled Salvaged. I received a "Read Now" offer via email, and the book was advertised as a historical romance with mystery elements, which sounds like something I would enjoy. I also gravitated toward the title, an obvious allusion to Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing.

The beginning of this narrative held promise. I appreciated Margaret's passion for writing and the struggle she faces as she attempts to become a published author in Regency England. I also liked the nods to Much Ado About Nothing through the narrative structuring of this story. However, the character development for our protagonists and surrounding cast is surface level, and the actions/reactions from these characters are childish or executed in a way that makes it hard to believe this might occur during the Regency era. This criticism comes from someone who is far from an expert in social etiquette and practices from this time period. The drama (and trauma) involving Bridger and his brother was summarized more often than not, and attempts at pulling heartstrings was not natural. I am most disappointed by the climactic moment where the two villains are revealed, and the aftermath that includes a character telling others just how loud the leading couple's sex was.

I will not be recommending this book to others, and I will not be trying this author for a third time.

Actual Rating: 2.o stars
Pub Date: 22 October 2024
Reading Format: ebook

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for an E-ARC copy in exchange for this honest review!

2.5 Stars

Author Madeleine Roux captures the Regency era in a mix of classic and modern sensibilities. Her premise is enjoyable. The book is fast-paced, and you care about the characters, though there could have been more growth.

Set in Regency England, Much Ado About Margaret starts out feeling very much like a sweet, slow burn romance. Things change about two-thirds of the way through, that changes. That’s when a very, very steamy scene comes into play. And this scene seems to come out of nowhere. It doesn’t really fit with what comes before. If it wasn’t so jarring, the scene wouldn’t have bothered me. But as it is, I felt like I was suddenly reading another book.

Not everyone will have a problem with this. However, I recommend it as a library read to see if it’s a good fit prior to purchasing.

Much Ado About Margaret by Madeleine Roux
This one is set in Regency England where publishing female writers is still scandalous. Women are expected to be shelved as idyllic domestic servants to be seen and not heard or read.
Margaret Arden resides in Mosely Cottage with her sisters and mother after her father’s passsing. They are reminded daily this is purely as an result of her aunt’s kindness and generosity, and they are expected to uphold certain social requirements to uphold the family’s reputation.
Maragrret has dreams as a writer and struggles to comply with her current position in life. When she attends her cousin’s elaborate wedding, she collides with scandal, notoriety and love.
Margaret loses the pages of her manuscript at the wedding when they suspiciously fall victim to an open window and a breeze. Bridger Dryden is profoundly taken with the pages that he encounters and is determined to publish it. He has a burden to gain her trust and deal with the earth shattering chemistry between them as neither family finds the other as a suitable match.
This was a good story, a bit of a slow burn in the beginning. I loved the chemistry and banter between Margaret and Bridger. There was a good blend of characters and development of plot and characters. It went from clean to saucy in record time the last 1/4 of the book.
The story was entertaining, creative and enjoyable. It was not what I expected but still has a lot going for it. The excessive family drama and back story with the extended family detracted from the plot in my opinion.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Dell Publishing for the opportunity to review an ARC of this book.
Overall I would give it 3.5/5⭐️

First, a thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Madeleine Roux (author) for the opportunity to read Much Ado About Margaret.

This delightful regency romcom takes on some of problems many early women authors faced, especially in England. Not only men, but many women I of the Regency's period felt women writing was just not normal. This concept was addressed accurately by Roux. However, much of the novel was a little too pat and the conclusion somewhat abrupt. I had hoped for more development of the main characters. Lots of promise, unfortunately it just fell apart for me. The story, however, is still delightful and while I did love Ann’s character, I was disappointed in Darrow and Margaret’s characters. I would still recommend the story if the Regency period is new to the reader or you like a Regency romcom. Rating is 3.5

As always, all opinions in this review are mine and mine alone. Again, thank you.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book so much that I bought a physical copy of it so that I could read it again!

This book was a letdown. I was expecting a sweet Regency-era romance. Instead, I got a modern fiction read full of clever writing mixed with mediocre writing and a spicy love scene. This was my least favorite romance read this year!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!