Happy book birthday to TJ Alexander‘s A Gentleman’s Gentleman! This has been one of my most anticipated books this year, and it absolutely lived up to my expectations.

Set in Regency England, Lord Christopher Eden has been living a quiet, solitary life on his estate, but before his upcoming birthday, he’s required to marry in order to maintain his fortune and home. But he’s a “man of unusual make,” and not only does he not believe he can have love, he’s afraid of revealing his deepest secrets. He hires a valet, James Harding, to help him while in London searching for a wife to join his marriage of convenience. But as myriad events leave Christopher no closer to solving his conundrum, his growing feelings for Harding are proving harder to keep hidden.

Why I Chose This Book:
I love historical romances and have been eager to read more diversely within this genre. I was excited that this book portrays not only a romance between men, it’s also about a transgender man. This looked like it would be a wonderful novel.

What I Liked:
- EVERYTHING. But for more detail, read on.
- Portrayal of a trans man in Regency-era England and the lengths he goes to protect himself and his identity.
- Discussions around what it is to be a man. Being trans… but also being gay. Does he still “count” as a man? (Yes!)
- Slow burn romance. It takes a long time for Christopher’s crush to blossom into overt romance, but the buildup is so sweet.
- Christopher is so funny! He’s witty and droll and rarely keeps his thoughts to himself.
- James is so stoic and emo! He’s work-obsessed, reliable, and secretly tender-hearted. Aww.
- Horses!

Final Thoughts
From start to finish, I adored A Gentleman’s Gentleman. Christopher and Harding’s characters are so distinct and fun to read, and I loved the discussions around gender identity and sexuality. Grief and PTSD appear here as well, and I loved the little surprises that eventually came about. This is an extremely slow burn, but so worth it. I can’t wait to read more from TJ Alexander.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Set in Regency England, A Gentleman’s Gentleman by TJ Alexander follows Lord Christopher Eden. Notoriously eccentric and given to isolating himself from the ton, Christopher is in quite a bind - he has to get married before the end of the social scene in order to keep his title, inheritance, and estate. One of the reasons for Christopher’s isolation is the fact that he is trans. He’s also not attracted to women - meaning he must find a wife who is content with a loveless marriage and will keep his closely guarded secret. In order to appeal to the London social scene, Christopher hires a valet for the first time in his life. Typically a valet would be there to dress Christoper, but he can’t have that happen if he wants to keep his transness a secret. Enter James Harding, his new valet who is used to doing things the traditional way - not skirting the responsibility of dressing his master or joining his boss for meals. Despite their differences, the two form a close friendship and Christopher soon finds himself falling for James. But can he afford to pursue his feelings when his livelihood is on the line?

I ate this book up. I loved every minute of this tender, sweet love story. Christopher was such a fun character to follow and the wit and humor was wonderful. I actually laughed out loud at one scene. I thought the portrayal of a trans character was done with thought and care and felt authentic to the time period. One such moment was when Christopher’s tailor, who knows he’s trans, accepts him whole-heartedly and has become his close friend, makes him a sort of binder for his chest. I also thought Christopher’s self-doubt about if he can be both trans and attracted to men felt like a realistic concern one might have if they don’t grow up with examples of trans gay men.

I was in a terrible reading slump and this book reminded me why I love reading. We need more historical romances with trans characters and I’m so happy this one exists!

I love historical romance, especially when the usual relationship conventions are flipped all around. Lord Christopher Eden is a man content with a secluded life in the country. When he finds himself in need of a wife to keep his title, he makes plans for the London Season. Plans that include hiring an accomplished (and hot) valet, James Harding. The tension in this book was delectable. Plenty of not-so covert looks and “accidental” brushes. I live for it! This book featured important representation. A reminder that trans people have always existed even if you haven’t realized it. I recommend this book to historical romance fans who love a slow burn love story.

Only TJ Alexander could get me to read regency romance.

And I'm so glad I did.

Christopher has been given a deadline to marry, despite being a bit of a hermit at his crumbling estate in the country. In order to go to London for the season and find a suitable wife, he must hire a valet. Enter James Harding, beautiful but dour, and EXTREMELY SERIOUS about his valet duties. There's a lot of humor as they try and navigate their differing views of how the landed and the serving should behave, and every time Christopher scandalizes Hardin by simply being practical instead of elite is entertaining. Still, the men grow to respect each other, and eventually...to trust.

There's lots of regency era drama, scandal, and propriety, and despite the subgenre typical obsession with clothing, I was not thrown out of the story at all and was invested in Christopher finding happiness.

I laughed and I cried, and that's my typical experience reading a TJ Alexander book.

Ok so here's the thing. I really enjoyed this book. The setting was great, there's intrigue and secrecy, and lot's of Downton abbey type fun. I liked the side characters, especially Etienne, and the bit of action we get in the middle. But there was just something missing for me. Things moved a little too fast and seemed a little too easy. I think hearing things from James pov might have helped, because some of his behavior seemed so erratic to me. We hop around a lot in the timeline to avoid some more boring bits, but I feel like I missed a lot of the relationship development. I get that they love each other, but when did that happen and why? Cause Christopher is kind? Cause James is hot and attentive? I wanted more, but I did still enjoy it.

I really loved the premise of this book and I love the historian setting. I agree that the pace/ slow burn of the story is hard to grasp seeing as it’s urgent that the MC marries quickly. I thought that the MC’s were wonderfully written and I would definitely read another book from this author.

ARC provided by NetGalley and the publishers! Thank you so much for allowing me to read this early in exchange for an honest review!

The problem with star reviews is I feel like 3 stars is such an ambiguous rating. It could mean anything. I've rated plenty of books I disliked with three stars because I recognized they were well written from a technical level, but I've also rated plenty of books I liked with three stars because I recognized they were pretty flawed despite my general enjoyment. "A Gentleman's Gentleman" mostly falls in that second category.

I generally enjoyed this book. It has a lot of charm and has a lot that sets it apart from other historical romances, and even romance novels in general. Notably, this is a historical romance novel from the point of view of trans man. This isn't a spoiler, it's said up front-- Christopher is a "man of unusual make". I became very fond of that phrase as a transmasc myself. Trans characters are exceedingly rare to read about, especially as a main character in a romance. The love interest is also a trans man, although this isn't revealed until later. T4T romance isn't just rare in published fiction, it's borderline unheard of. This IS a spoiler, but also you can start putting together the pieces early on.

I think Christopher's existence as a closeted trans man attempting to hide his identity while retaining his comfort and fortune through marriage is the highlight of this story. He's a one of a kind character and it's such a joy to read about, even through his struggles. There have always been trans people and it's a shame that there aren't more historical books that feature us, especially ones that aren't tragedies.

The biggest thing that holds this book back, which is also the thing that leaks into every other aspect of this book and ultimately led me to give it a three star rating, is the pacing. It suffers from an excruciatingly slow pace, only to wrap up with a rushed a ending. I have it marked in my review notes that it only really picks up after the 40% mark, which is going to be enough to turn a lot of people off even if this concept is otherwise up their alley.

I struggle to call this a slowburn romance, but I don't feel like there was enough burning. Sure, there were scenes that had some sparks but ultimately there just wasn't enough development from a romantic angle. I think the romance itself is sweet for what it is and I appreciate its existence. I found the development of their friendship and Christopher slowly opening up to James very sweet, as he's barely had anybody like that before. There isn't really any passion to their romance, which unfortunately is something I really look for, especially in historical romances where the yearning and pining is half the deal. I need to FEEL it, and I just didn't. The pacing also doesn't linger long enough on James, leaving him feeling less fleshed out than Christopher.

Ultimately where I fall with "A Gentleman's Gentleman" is this: this is a perfectly readable M/M historical romance that breaks boundaries with a trans man as a hero, which I think is important to exist. It struggles with pacing that ultimately hurts the romance and will definitely impact the reading experience of readers who aren't able to push through the first 40%, and the ultimate payoff of the buildup is rather lackluster. Still, I'm glad to have read this book as a transmasc and I'm happy that books like this are being published.

3.75 stars rounded up, I really enjoyed this story, however it was a little too much of a slow burn and I wanted to see more of the two leads love story and passion. Despite that it was an engaging read and a clearly well researched trans historical romance.

🦇 A Gentleman's Gentleman Book Review 🦇

❓ What's the last book that took you by surprise?

🦇 Lord Christopher Eden is a “man of unusual make” and even more unusual habits. Christopher’s pleasant, if occasionally lonely life is upended when he receives word that, according to his late father’s will, he must find a wife by the end of the season to keep his family’s fortune and the estate. Enter James Harding, Christopher’s new, distractingly handsome valet. The two strike up a fragile friendship that threatens to shatter under the looming shadow of Christopher’s impending nuptials—and the secrets both men are keeping. With its heady combination of dry wit, slow-burn romance, and a nuanced portrait of trans identity, A Gentleman’s Gentleman stands to transform the historical romance genre as we know it.

💜 If you read Triple Sec last year, you know that TJ Alexander has a way with words. A Gentleman's Gentleman is no exception. Let's break it down:

✨ Characters (4/5): The cast is rich and well-developed, each with unique voices that lift the characters off the page. I do wish we saw more bonding between Christopher and James, but the story relies on James' secretism until the end. Christoper's secret is revealed a little TOO early, but I'm glad the explanation isn't revealed until much later. We don't often enough consider the challenges the trans community of different eras must have faced, in everything from clothes to relationships (especially in such a judgemental, 'appearances are everything' focused society), so seeing Christopher's exploration of identity was absolutely stunning; a breathtaking execution by Alexander.

✨ Plot and Pacing (4/5): Once we arrive in London, the pacing falters a little for me. The story's secondary marriage plot causes a lag, but it has a purpose for the overall story arch, so its excusable.

✨ World-Building (3/5): The story could benefit from stronger descriptions. It's easy to fall for the vivid beauty and charm of Regency Era balls and London as a whole, but the majority of descriptions focused on James' handsome face (I don't entirely blame Christopher for it, either).

✨ Romance (3/5): This slow burn romance builds but doesn't clutch at the reader's throat; it's lacking tension. I adored the story's found family aspect but needed more from the interactions with those side characters to really feel invested. The primary romance doesn't pick up until the very, very end, so I wish we had the chance to linger there a little longer. However, it never feels forced, instead growing organically alongside Christopher's character development.

✨ Mystery/Suspense (4/5): The mystery is perhaps the story's biggest advantage. The big reveal provides such a relief to both characters; it's a beautiful moment. Ideal if you're looking for a low-stakes romance.

✨ Tone/Prose (4/5): Christopher's tone is consistent throughout the entire story. Adored the dry wit between Christopher and James. I do wish it was dual POV, but again, shrouding James in mystery helps push the story (and Christopher's anxiety) forward.

🦇 Recommended to fans of a Lady for a Duke, Red, White, and Royal Blue, and Bridgerton.

✨ The Vibes ✨
🎩 Regency Era / Historical Romance
🎩 Secrets, Mystery, and Action
🎩 Trans MC
🎩 Slow Burn
🎩 Found Family
🎩 Opposites Attract
🎩 Smut
🎩 First of a Series

🦇 Major thanks to the author and publisher for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. #AGentlemansGentleman

💬 Quotes
"I appreciate creatures who are wholly themselves."

There are no real men, I think. There are only the men who pursue their desires and those who ignore them.

"Why would you marry me if not for that?” “For the simple pleasure of waking up beside you in the morning, if you would allow it."

“Given up on poetry, have we?” “There are other arts.”

Trans man needs to marry if he's to keep his inheritance; reluctantly hires valet so as to make a good showing during the London Season; falls hard for valet; readers will figure out the valet's identity long before his employer does, but anyway romance ensues.

An appealing premise, but overall not successfully executed. There are sequences that can't seem to decide whether they're frightening/poignant or madcap (a nighttime carriage chase, for instance), and any number of bloopers in the departments of logistics, common sense, and historical accuracy. To believe in the story -- which I wanted very much to do! -- I needed solid ground under it. The solid ground just wasn't there.

- We seem to be in the immediate post-Regency period (the ad copy says "Regency," but there's a reference to the king, so ...?). I found myself wondering how Christopher manages to dress without a valet, since (wealthy) men's attire of the era was so closely fitted that they needed help to put it on and take it off again. (The problem of the clothes' tailoring does get solved, fortunately.) Kind of a minor point, but it was a bad omen.

- Christopher takes his stallion galloping in the countryside, and closes his eyes to feel "the wind in his face." WHOA NELLY, said I, and consulted a horsey friend, who gave me permission to quote her reply: "Is the rider in question trying to die? A horse is a very fast bundle of neuroses in a horrifyingly fragile sack. You don't put it on autopilot at full speed."

Alexander didn't know what they didn't know, and it didn't occur to them to wonder about it.

- As so often in historical novels with rich protagonists, the author's evidently uncomfortable with the era's rigid class distinctions, so erases them. Christopher eats in the kitchen with his two-person staff, which is fine with everyone. Yet he doesn't know his cook's "given name" (by which Alexander seems to mean her full name, not what would then have been called her Christian name), and later events make clear the economic gulf, as well as the isolation from family and friends that servants' lives usually entailed. You can't have it both ways -- the implausibly comfy familiarity with servants can't coexist with the realities of servants' lives.

- Christopher divests from the textile mills he inherits, having learned where cotton comes from. Fine as far as it goes, but what happened to the workers in those mills -- poor people not fairly implicated in the slave trade or in the savageries inflicted on enslaved people working cotton? The question's outside the novel's scope, yet the very mention of the textile mills brings it in. Alexander has taken one step, then failed to notice the step just ahead of it.

- Alexander falls into other problems that seem to arise from a desire to supply Christopher with modern sensibilities. He doesn't hunt and has banned hunting in his forests (which: right, that would have been "poaching" if anyone but him and his buddies did it), so we learn that there are lots of deer. Aww, I bet the farmers are thanking him for the crops they lose to those plentiful deer. And if you're going to be nice to the common people, let them hunt and thereby supplement their diets, eh?

- Speaking of money: [If the legitimacy of Christopher's inheritance depends on his marriage, how come he has the right to give away his London townhouse? It's also hard to believe that someone who's been rich and titled all his life would just walk away from his position and his money. Though, to be fair, someone who's only ever been rich is precisely the person who might believe that life in relative poverty will be peachy. (hide spoiler)] The thing is, I could have been induced to believe, if the author had thought through the issues and found ways to resolve them, whether with characterization or through plotting. I think longingly of KJ Charles.

Two and a half stars, rounded up for no special reason. Thanks to Vintage and NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a lovely read but a very slow burn. Th ending was too rushed for me and I would’ve liked the entire book to have moved a little faster.

So damn gorgeous.
What a delightful, wonderful tale of trans joy. I LOVED this book to absolute bits.
It made me laugh out loud, swoon a dozen times, cackle and sigh and even cry my eyes out. What a delightful gem this book is!
I feel like I need to read the rest of TJ Alexander's backlist because wow: they sure can write. This book had me feeling every single damn emotion on the planet.

Christopher was a fabulous protagonist. He's resilient, a survivor through and through, but despite the rough hand he's been dealt with, and despite his past, he never looses his smile, his kindness nor his joy. I adored being in his head. He's silly and gentle and kind: simply put, wonderful.

< Christopher had lived. He lived still. The very fact that he breathed was a miracle. He had not survived merely to suffer; he was certain of that now. For the first time in his life, he was certain. >

< "[...] Thank you, Harding, for finding me a suitable wife.” And for sticking your fingers in my mouth, went unsaid, though the sentiment was there. Christopher wished he could broach the subject, but it felt like one of those things that men shouldn’t speak of aloud. >

And James Harding! UGH. That man!!!!!! He made me SWOON. Stoic, quietly snarky, competent, protective Harding. No wonder Christopher fell for him almost immediately: I would have too. Those two together stole my freaking heart, and I literally spent the last few chapters simultaneously crying my eyes out and giggling like mad. And that final chapter! God, never have I read such a satisfying ending. It made me heart soar.
I loved the plot and I loved all the side characters to absolutele bits too.

I cannot recommend this book enough! It's out in precisely two days time, and I'll be recommending it so much you'll be sick of me. A forbidden valet/lord romance, a slowly unfolding romance, all the pining and (barely hidden) attraction, PLUS some really wonderful trans rep that the world sorely needs nowadays? I wholly, wholly recommend.
What a delightful, fabulous romance.

Also. I'd have given this book five stars just for this scene alone:
< “I only wanted you to be quiet.” “So quiet me now,” Christopher said, and was gratified to find two deft fingers entering his greedy mouth. He moaned around them. “Seems to only make you louder,” James said with more than a trace of humor, “not that I mind.” >
*passes out*

PS: I love the American title and cover (it's very dreamy and romantic!) but my personal favourite is the UK version. I think I need to buy myself a physical copy! SUCH a fabulous cover and title. So fitting too!

TWs/CWs: death of a sibling, death of parents, panic attack (on page), death (on page, side character), body and gender dysphoria and period-typical transphobia.

Many thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is my honest opinion.

TJ Alexander is a must-read author for me. I’m not usually a historical romance fan, but I was excited to pick this up. As soon as I received the ARC on netgalley, it went straight to the top of my TBR! A cute slow-burn romance with lovable characters and a happily ever after. 4/5 stars from me!

I’m not usually one for the classically-constructed spicy romance novel, but this is an exception. Christopher is a minor lord in England, must find a wife before his 26th birthday or risk losing his title, land, and money. But Christopher has a problem: he’s a gay trans man who has zero interest in having a wife or the life of the ton. As a part of this duty, he hires a valet, James, who helps Christopher enter polite London society. Fans of Downton Abbey and Bridgerton will like the queer take on this era. Two well-telegraphed on-page sex scenes are indeed spicy but can be skipped if need be. PS The taylor is my favorite character! CW: historical homophobia and transphobia

I adored this wonderful, queer, trans historical romance!

The fashion, the lovely supportive side characters, the humour, the sweet, shy, tentative romance, everything was perfection.

If you love historical romances and regency settings and lovely, layered characters, this is absolutely the book for you. I loved it so much.

a gentleman’s gentleman by t.j. alexander was such an unexpected delight.

lord christopher eden is a gloriously eccentric man who prefers to live as far away from the ton as possible & has no desire to take a wife, thank you very much. but when he gets word from his lawyers that he needs to find a wife by the end of the season if he wants to keep his title & estate. as a “man of unusual make” he cannot think of anything worse. if he has any chance of finding a wife of convenience, he must head to London and find some staff. and here comes james harding, christopher’s new (tall, dark, & handsome) valet. as the deadline grows closer for christopher to find a wife, so does their bond.

this was such a beautiful, heartfelt, and funny(!!) historical romance. christopher is ridiculous and such a perfectly awkward & charming regency hero. a gentleman’s gentleman is such a hilariously tender story. not only was it a great historical romance in its own right, it’s also such a great queer/trans story.

i highly HIGHLY recommend.

4.5 stars, releases march 11, 2025.

a massive thank you to vintage for giving me an earc for this book

I absolutely loved this! It just felt like a TJ Alexander book. You could hear their voice through the writing on each page. I also just kept getting surprised with every turn the story took and just continued to fall in the love with the story and characters. I can't wait for TJ to write more historical romance!

Always excited for more historical romance with trans characters! I absolutely love the characters that TJ Alexander creates, even if the stories they're in aren't quite as strong. The way Christopher's past is revealed to the reader suites the narrative, but at the same time is frustratingly slow. Parts of the story are introduced and resolved quickly, but they're important to the narrative. Maybe this should've been longer.

Thank you very much to the publisher for inviting me to read this early!

I found this very charming and an interesting breath of fresh air that I apparently didn't know I needed/wanted. I'm very partial to queer historical romances and have enjoyed most of the ones I've read the last few years but this one (without giving any spoilers) hit a few different beats that I personally haven't come across in this niche, though I don't doubt that they exist!

Even though I really enjoyed the way that the story resolved in the end, I felt that the pacing getting there was a little off. The climax (heh) of the romantic plotline didn't happen until probably 85-90% and that felt REALLY late to me! Especially considering it felt like not a ton happened before that other than the yearning and the pining and the longing of it all. I still liked it in the end but I think that some parts of the story could probably have been moved up some or moved around.

The story also had some crazy emotional beats but that could have just been me being sensitive. I ugly cried in public is what I'm saying.

This was a delight from start to finish. Christopher, an earl , is faced with having to get married by his 25th birthday or lose his titles and estates. Problem is, Christopher can’t find a wife because he is keeping a secret - he was assigned female at birth. Christopher is a trans man living in a world that doesn’t understand him and in his mission to get married he has to hire a valet for appearances when he goes to London to look for a wife. He meets Harding and he is immediately interested in him. I loved this so much. It’s a perfect regency romance that doesn’t get too spicy to where it feels out of place. There are fun twists and turns I didn’t see coming. There’s a fun supporting cast and a really important look at living a life in secret. I cannot wait to read Alexander’s other work after this.