Super interesting read! Felt like a cross over of bridgerton and Bachelorette and I loved the ending! Will definitely be requesting this book for my bookclub when it’s available!

This book left me speechless! It reminded me so much of my favorite YA dystopias like OUABH and the Selection. This book combines elements of fiction and fantasy to create a world that is vibrant and new while still slightly familiar. This was such a fun book that instantly drew me in, especially in the last half. While I loved the plot and world, I hope there is more depth with the characters in the next book.

I really liked this tale! I thought the world was fascinating and the characters were well written. Ivy had great chemistry with Emmett. I didn't see the twist at the end coming! I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!

This book was such a fun and wild ride. Magic, royal drama, fae deals with creepy twists—what’s not to love? I really liked Ivy as a main character; she’s smart, determined, and easy to root for. The whole idea of people trading pieces of themselves for beauty or talent was super cool and kinda messed up in the best way. There’s a good amount of romantic tension, some solid plot twists, and just the right amount of drama. If you’re into fae stories with a bit of darkness and a lot of heart, definitely check this one out!!

The Rose Bargain is a promising start to a series that blends romance, magic, and political intrigue. While it may not break new ground in the genre, it offers an engaging and immersive experience for readers who enjoy tales of fae courts and forbidden love. With its compelling world-building and complex character dynamics, it sets the stage for an exciting continuation in the forthcoming sequel.

Rating: ★★★☆☆

4 stars
This book was a wild ride. Thankfully, my mom also read the ARC so I had someone to discuss with because that ending, what?! I went back to read our messages in order to refresh my memory and feel like this kind of sums it up. So here you go, my unfiltered thoughts right after finishing "The Rose Bargain".

Me: I finished the rose bargain last night and you were not wrong about the ending hahaha
Mom: It was just so abrupt
Me: I did like it but geez hahaha
Mom: I had no idea that (spoiler) was not as advertised 
Me: Some of that could have been saved for book 2 surely
Me: No me neither and I liked that twist but kind of wish they'd foreshadowed it more
Mom: Yes! Like about where (spoiler) was
Mom: I did like the (spoiler) they told us about that (spoiler) did of (spoiler)
Me: They should have ended it with her being (spoiler) at the (spoiler) and shit blowing up there
Mom: Yes!
Me: I also was like woah why are we having sex
Mom: I thought everyone throwing up was hilarious
Me: her urgency of being like I (spoiler) WE HAVE TO (spoiler) I HAVE TO (spoiler) WITH YOUR BROTHER had me very confused. 
Mom: yeah, smarter that they do it after she is (spoiler) and (spoiler) to (spoiler)
Me: and then she only (spoiler) for like 5 minutes. I thought for sure that would be a mid next book thing.
Mom: it should have been
Me: It did make me think that you'd really like the cruel prince books if you liked the dark fairy parts of this
Mom: "Dark fairy parts" ;)

The Rose Bargain is a thoughtful and emotionally rich story that weaves themes of sacrifice, love, and redemption into a modern-day fable. Jesse Garcia creates a mysterious atmosphere with elegant prose and symbolic depth, centering around a seemingly simple exchange that carries profound consequences. The characters are subtly drawn, yet their motivations and inner conflicts resonate powerfully. It’s a compact but impactful tale that lingers after the final page—a quiet reminder of what we give up and what we gain in the name of love.

Posted via Goodreads and Fable, scheduled post via Instagram goes live 04/19/25

4 stars!

Woah so uh... man where to start?

First I LOVED the idea for this and the way the author told it was phenomenal too. Historical England mixed with fae romantasy? Heck yeah!
Our main character had her flaws but you still rooted for her and the other girls in this fantasy version of The Selection mixed with Bridgerton fantasy.

Characters were complex, the story was great, and that plot twist at the end had me flipping pages and beyond shocked (maybe my favorite part!)

Romance wise... I was a little surprised at the spicy scene given that I thought this book was marketed as a young adult book?

I personally loved the romance between Emmett and Ivy, I loved the banter and connection they had and ended up laughing at so many scenes with them and rooting for them. Like I said though, there is a spicy scene. Now I don't mind spice (I sometimes really love a spicy read), but when I'm expecting a young adult read... just a heads up.

Very excited for book 2!!

Loved, loved, loved it. I was hooked from the blurb and didn't lose interest once. I thought the story was great, the characters were amazing. It was a super quick read for me. Will definitely read more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an arc for an exchange of an honest review.
This book is about what you want and what the price you are willing to pay for it. This is a YA book. For about 400 years England has been under the reign of a fae queen that happens to be immortal. She made a bargain on the field to gain her title. The fae queen will grant your wish, but comes with a serious cost. The fae queen has announced her son is going to look for a bride and there is a competition to win his heart. The human world and the fae world are different and humans are looked at different.
Ivy decides to compete to win his heart. There are ulterior motives among some characters in this book. This is a spoiler free review and will not go into more about that. Ivy has to learn who she can trust in this process as not everyone's motive is pure for Ivy winning.

The Rose Bargain
by Sasha Peyton Smith
Pub Date: Feb 04 2025

London, 1848—For four hundred years, England has been under the control of an immortal fae queen who tricked her way onto the throne. To maintain an illusion of benevolence, Queen Mor grants each of her subjects one opportunity to bargain for their deepest desire.

As Ivy Benton prepares to make her debut, she knows that not even a deal with the queen could fix what has gone wrong: Her family’s social standing is in shambles, her sister is a shadow of her former self, and Ivy’s marriage prospects are nonexistent. So when the queen announces a competition for Prince Bram’s hand, Ivy is the first to sign her name in blood. What a bargain can’t fix, a crown certainly could.

Ivy soon finds herself a surprising front-runner—with the help of an unexpected ally: Prince Bram’s brother, the rakish Prince Emmett, who promises to help Ivy win his brother’s heart…for a price. But as the season sweeps Ivy away, with glittering balls veiling the queen’s increasingly vicious trials, Ivy realizes there’s more at stake than just a wedding. Because all faerie bargains come with a cost, and Ivy may have discovered hers too late.

A great YA romantasy! Perfect for fans of bridgerton or the selection series based on the atmosphere of the book. Loved the POVs from some of the side characters. The ending was perfect for the set up of the next book. My only complaint was the one “smut” scene. It felt rushed and forced. It either needed to be executed better or just should have been a fade to black scene. The kiss scene was executed perfectly though!

First I would like to thank Netgalley for approving this arc for me to read and give an honest review back.

I was a bit nervous going into the book that it would not live up to the excitement I have had for the book, and it did quite the opposite. I thoroughly enjoyed the book way more than I had expected. I love the banter between the girls as they navigate the bargain they have made with their lives, the banter of the princes, and the main character with both love interests. The turn of events and twists in the story kept the thrill going of what might happen or not, and Sasha Peyton Smith living up to how she ended her other series, gave us the same shock with this one. Another book I will add to my list this year I have enjoyed and some more characters I have really loved.

Such a fun adventure with the most exciting group of girls. This story was such a beautiful and devastating ride and I am hopeful for more adventures from these girls and this world that collides so magically between proper society and fae royalty. The characters are strong and uniquely intriguing on their own but the dynamic they create together is magic. Each trait and every flaw built in layers unfolding as the story does, perfectly paced. The depth of which I felt for these girls was a treat I didn’t see coming but that changed this story to be one that’s stayed with me long after an ending I was both devastated from and delighted by. The world is impeccably fleshed out in details written skillfully and in a way that drowns you with their beauty. I loved the adventure, I loved Pig and I loved rooting for Ivy and Emmett. I cannot wait to read more from this talented author.

This book had me hooked from the first page! The way it blends historical fiction with fantasy is just next level. The premise is super intriguing, and it had me thinking — I’ve always felt like if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. This book definitely plays with that in a wild way.

Rose bargains are all about what a young lady in society is willing to sacrifice to improve her odds of landing a good match. London society is ruthless, where shinier hair, perfected pianoforte skills, or whatever else is deemed necessary to be considered "wife material" can make or break a woman’s prospects.

It all feels like the beginning of a cautionary tale for those who blindly sacrifice so much for so little in return. The idea of giving up pieces of yourself, your identity, or your values just to meet someone else's expectations or to fit into society’s narrow standards is a dangerous gamble. It’s a stark reminder of how easily one can lose sight of what truly matters when chasing after shallow goals.

But beyond that, the story explores themes of sisterly love, friendship, a complicated love triangle, challenges, and a jaw dropping twist that completely blew my mind.

It was such a thrilling ride, and I can’t wait to dive into the second part of this duology!

The Selection meets The Cruel Prince and I am HERE for it!! It was a bit slow to start but boy did it grab you and not let go the more you read! I loved the diversity of the characters and that most were fully fleshed out with their own motivations and backgrounds.

Also, who doesn’t love two brothers fighting for the same girl’s heart? *Swoon*

I did find a couple of the characters simply insufferable, but the rest of cast was so amazing that I could bear it.

Can’t wait for the sequel!!

3.45 ⭐️

The beginning of the story easily drew me in. It held my interest till around half way through the book. The writing style was easy to digest. It isn’t a type of story I’d look back to but I wouldn’t say I hated it either.

What kept me continuing on was how similar the relationship between Emmett and Ivy was to Eva and Jacks from ‘Once Upon a Broken Heart’, OUABH. I’ve been dying for a little piece of them again. The male leads had different motivations on why they pushed the female leads into certain situations but they were very similar nonetheless. Even the ending gave me Eva/Jacks vibes! I just wasn’t as fond of Emmett as I was with the Prince of Hearts.

Also, there’s not enough interaction between Ivy and Emmett to make me believe that they developed feelings for one another. The other POV’s were randomly placed which could have been replaced with other scenes to strengthen the main characters relationships. Though I did enjoy some of the POVs. Out of all the girls, I’ve grown to like Faith and Greer the most. They both had such rough upbringings but showed so much resiliency which I wouldn’t have gotten a chance to see without their POVs.

The trials weren’t’ that impressive or memorable. I didn’t care for these girly roles that each contestant had to play perfectly. Even though the characters were 18 and older, I felt like the story was more meant for 10-12 yr olds though the intimate scenes says otherwise.

I wish there was some world building. If a fae queen ruled in the human realm for 400 years, I’d expect some changes to society or the landscape that differ from what we know of Europe back then.

I look forward to the next book in the series. I hope that the otherworld will be explored more in of book 2!

Thank you Netgallery for an eARC in exchange for an honest review! :)

This was an absolutely phenomenal story that hooked me from the start, With elements of story remeniscent of The Selection ad The Cruel Prince, set in an alternate version of history with vibes similar to Bridgerton, this Upper YA story will absolutely enchant readers as they follow Ivy's journey as a suitor to the Fae Crown Prince, whiloe plotting with his brother to overturn a corrupt monarchy based on unfair and seemingly unbreakable Fairy Bargains.

The writing in this book was so confusing. Not because it was a complex world but it skipped around a ton. Each trial was so fast I didn’t even process what happened.
One second they are at the cottage, the next, she’s in the castle. Teleportation??

The transitions were not doing it. The was so little description of the space around them and so much more talking that you’d get lost when trying to imagine the scene.

Ivy was not an interesting mc and the love had no depth. Faith and Lydia probably had more potential!

Overall, did not love but the concepts were super fun and could’ve been something really interesting.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this e-ARC!

Once in a while I get a book that I just can’t put down and read in one day. This was that book for me! It was like The Bachelor meets Bridgerton meets a faerie tale. It was so much fun, and just a page turner!

I put the spoiler tag on here because I need to mention that the reveal of Bram being evil felt very parallel to Finn being evil in The Witch Haven. I was fooled both times, so I think I may just be naive and/or easily charmed by men pretending to be non-problematic. LOL

This felt fresh and unique. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is OK with the fantasy/YA genre.

Thank you to the publisher - I received a complimentary eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.