Meet your new favorite heroine: Stella Sedgwick. She’s Jo March in Regency England. She’s Lady Whistledown in this Bridgertonish story for Young Adults. Her story is reminiscent of at least four of your favorite Jane Austen novels: Pride & Prejudice, Emma, Sense & Sensibility, and Mansfield Park. It’s the Davenports in Regency England. If any of these things spark your joy, you NEED to read this book.
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I know it sounds overwhelming; how can one book do so much without turning into a mess? But it does!!!! The only critique I have is the teeniest historical inaccuracies (which I’ll let pass as they help younger audiences grasp context more easily) (and they were seriously tiny). Everything else: plot, character development, writing, setting, message….all of it was phenomenally done.
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Honestly, my favorite part was the pacing. It felt like Little Woman or Jane Austen in that it took its time with the domestic scenes but every other chapter had something a little scandalous or exciting. I wasn’t bored for a single page.
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I also really appreciated the detail when it came to diversity in Regency England. Like Bridgerton on Netflix, the novel takes some liberties, but most of it is legitimately explained by real historical details that have been lost or suppressed. (Did you know Austen’s Mansfield Park references a noble family who ‘adopted’ a black daughter?)
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Lots fun, with fascinating plots and history, I think Stella’s story should be required reading- especially for Regency lit lovers.

*4.5 Stars*

I absolutely adored this one. I wasn't too sure what to expect when I started it but I got so enthralled in the story and I absolutely loved the main character. She was witty and smart and so funny. I loved being in her head and I just wanted more more more. The plot also kept me on my toes and I could not stop reading. That was just such a good story from start to finish. I really want to read more books by this author, especially if written in this world!

Thank you, to the publisher, for this eARC via Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion! This is the first novel that I’ve read from the author and I will be back. I think the author did a great job at developing the characters and overall moving the plot along. I would definitely recommend 3.75/5.

"The Great Misfortune of Stella Sedgwick" prove to be more than I expected. I absolutely loved the writing. I found Stella to be very witty and likeable. The way she stood up for herself was quite admirable. As a black woman myself I have had similar thoughts as Stella and definitely related to her. I am thankful that S. Isabelle has given us a historical read that inspires us to dream. I always thought that if time travel was invented I could not visit certain time periods because of the way my ancestors have been treated. Though Stella goes through discrimination and racism there is still plenty of hope going around. I will be on the look out for more books by S. Isabelle.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!

(3.5 stars)
Stella is something of a tornado unleashed on Victorian London Society, and while she faced numerous obstacles as a young woman of color, she was also incredibly spiky and hard-headed. Her friends and family called her on this many times, but it took a literal fever dream to make her start to see things clearly. This has been compared to Bridgerton, and there are definitely those vibes, especially the newspaper element. Stella's spikiness aside, the rest of the assorted cast of characters are colorful and intriguing in their own rights. (I actually liked all of the supporting cast better than Stella)

In 1860s England, Stella Sedgwick is not a part of the London society, however her late mother's former employer has left one of his estates to her. The only condition is that she be married. This is easier said than done, as Stella strives to follow her own heart and not that of society--in more ways than romance. The other part of the plot has Stella desiring to become a published writer, just like her mother was, but as most people now know, that is a hard career for young ladies of the time to get into.
This was a fresh, fun read! The romance was a little lacking, but Stella as a character was wonderful, and tackling sexism and racism during this time period added a lot to this story. Highly recommended for Jane Austen fans and readers high school age and up.

I've been reading this for a while, but I'm not even halfway through and already thinking it's not my cup of tea. Usually, I'm all about Regency-era books, but this one's pacing is dragging me down, and I just can't connect with the female lead.

I wasn’t expecting to love this as much as I did—YA isn’t always my go-to—but Stella Sedgwick completely won me over.

The romance is sweet and full of longing looks and gentle tension, but the heart of this book is Stella’s quiet resistance—her refusal to be anyone but herself. And without spoiling anything, I loved that the ending didn’t compromise her values just for the sake of romance.

This is for anyone who wants Black girls centered in soft, sweeping stories. It’s warm, fun, and full of heart. I closed the last page grinning.

The world needs more young adult historical fiction like this. Fun, feminist, socially aware and unflinching yet hopeful and lighthearted, The Great Misfortune of Stella Sedgwick is a read that I didn't want to put down. Stella is a headstrong mess of a teenager, with lofty aspirations and an indomitable spirit. She doesn't dream of marrying and running an estate, or bolstering her social standing, she dreams of writing, and being able to sustain herself by her own merit. A very interesting opportunity comes up, involving the household in which her mother used to serve, and Stella and her cousin head out to meet her past, and perhaps her future. Nothing ever comes for free, as we all know, and Stella realizes that high society is both more fun and more awful than she knew.

I could have read 100 more pages of this. I love the way that S. Isabelle writes, and how the story flows quickly and so entertainingly. Stella may not be immediately likeable for some, but she was a very enjoyable character to watch grow and change. I think this story had Austenian vibes, particularly with character growth and friendships, and that made it such a fun read.

In conclusion, loved it! Definitely recommend for those with a historical fiction/historical romance itch.

Thanks to Netgalley and Storytide for the e-ARC!

I didn't have time to read this one before it came out, but I love the author's previous work and I'm sure I'll love this, too!

"Bridgerton meets The Davenports in this wildly entertaining standalone romance, following a young Black woman trying to balance her independence with her future in 1860s London’s high society."
"Bridgerton" and lately "The Davenports" have been used too much to describe period pieces with loose ties to entice readers to engage with a story, with mixed results. This is the one of the rare occurrences where the tagline was accurate. I enjoyed this YA escape and would recommend it for a multigenerational reading group.

It's been a while since I’ve read a YA book, as it’s not a genre that typically engages me. However, The Great Misfortune of Stella Sedgwick took me by surprise in a pleasant way.

In this story, we follow Stella, who is suddenly on the verge of becoming an heiress. Of course, there are stipulations involved. For a young woman in the 1800s, those stipulations can be quite limiting—especially since she is a Black woman. Nonetheless, Stella has much bigger dreams. She wants to be more than just someone’s wife. What to do?

This author does an excellent job of blending humor, seriousness, and a heartfelt romance. Stella is witty, and as my grandma would say, she has a slick mouth! I appreciated how the author created a truly multidimensional character. Stella has grand visions for her life, and at eighteen, she works hard to turn those visions into reality. However, succumbing to societal pressures is an entirely different challenge.

I enjoyed her pairing with Nathaniel, her childhood friend. Nathaniel is biracial, and being born into a wealthy white family comes with its own set of microaggressions that he must learn to navigate.

The story is clever, and the explorations of friendship, family, and romance are well-crafted and thoughtfully presented in a way that engages readers. It was also good to see the author not slink away from the tough topics of racism, classism, and colorism. Smart conversations can derive from this story.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this read, and if you are a fan of YA historical romance or just YA in general, then I say add this one to your TBR.

*thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

This story has all the feels. It's romantic, sad, heartbreaking and hopeful in all the best ways. One of the near historical fiction books I've read in a long time.

I really enjoyed this novel. It definitely gave Bridgerton vibes, with the scandal sheet and alternate history. I appreciated the discussion of racism and that the author included micro aggressions that tend to get thrown around. I think it’s important, especially now, to acknowledge the way that Black people have been treated and the constant dog whistles they endure. I also really respected the inclusion of the history of enslaved people and how Stella struggled with accepting the manor. However, the ending felt like it had a lot going on and could have been narrowed down some. Overall, it felt like a modern Jane Austen novel, and I love Jane Austen. This was beautifully done. 4.5 ⭐️ rounded to 5

✨ Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
✨ Genre: YA, Historical Fiction, Romance

Thank you Netgalley and Storytide for the ARC of this book. That being said, all thoughts and opinions are my own!

While I might not be the target demographic for this book, I found myself absolutely loving the story, development of the characters, and S. Isabella’s writing. Even though it took me a bit to really get into the book, in part due to Stella’s attitude and behavior during the early stages of the book, once I started to see things develop, I started to enjoy the story, and the characters, a lot more.

One thing that I found myself concisely impressed with was how Isabella wrote Stella’s inner thoughts and struggles with herself, as well as how those struggles manifested in her relationships with others. The Great Misfortune of Stella Sedgwick had the social criticism on race, class, and gender that I was excited to see based on the author’s note. This truly was Bridgerton but better, and different enough that it was clear I was reading something new, not just a spin off written by a different author.

Even though I wasn’t the biggest fan of Stella in the beginning, to continue comparing this to Bridgerton, she reminds me a lot of Eloise in her stubbornness to reject social norms to the point it causes strain on her friendships, seeing her grow throughout the book was such a joy and I hope this becomes a staple for readers everywhere, YA or otherwise.

This was a fun and engaging YA historical novel that felt like a blend of Bridgerton (minus the spice) and Jane Austen's novels. Stella is a strong, inspiring heroine, and I especially enjoyed the vibrant cast of side characters. The story thoughtfully explores what it would mean to be a Person of Color in Regency England, weaving in social commentary while maintaining a joyful spirit. Some plot points could’ve used more development, but overall it was a fast, enjoyable read that I recommend!

The Great Misfortune of Stella Sedgwick is everything I wanted and more. This historical fiction had me giggling and swooning. While there's very much the romance and the swoons full of the gentlest brush of hands, it also examines the racism and prejudice against black women and the intricacies of security. For Stella, will she be able to secure a marriage to make inheritance easier? In this way, The Great Misfortune of Stella Sedwick also feels like it drifts into Little Women territory. What futures are available in this world of buttoned up laws, prejudice, and strict rules? Stella is very much trying to figure out how she can have a future she loves, and wants, while also being able to support herself.

this was so cute! I loved it and I definitely recommend! sorry this is short and im posting it after the pub date.

What an enchanting YA historical fiction this is! Stella finds herself having to navigate society life in mid-1800s London, much to her chagrin. She has no plans on marrying, and aims to support herself, which is a pretty unheard of in her time for any woman, let alone a Black female orphan. Stella is smart, bold, and at times brash, but she also has a good heart. I loved that the story really requires Stella to do a lot of self-reflection, and she definitely has a lot of character growth. I adored her relationships with her cousin and aunt, and the Fitzroy family she grew up with. The book explores all kinds of important topics like grief, racism, classism, sexism, and is thoughtfully and emotionally well done. Without giving too much away, Stella must navigate many aspects of growing up in a society that tries adamantly to keep her down. There's romance, friendship, mysteries, and many decisions to be made throughout the book, and I highly enjoyed them all.

Bottom Line: Adored Stella and her story, absolutely recommend!

This was a cute YA regency romance that is a mix between Bridgerton and The Davenports! Stella is a great FMC. She's so witty and wasn't afraid to clap back at people who deserved it! Although this was a light read, the realities of Stella living as a Black girl in 1860s England's high society were highlighted. The books discussed racism, colorism, and classism in a way that isn't focused too much on trauma. This is perfect if you like childhood friends to lovers trope!