First off, thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC copy of this title!

I really enjoyed this read! It was a little bit predictable, but that didn't make it less enjoyable! I thought it gave off strong Bridgerton vibes, while still being wholesome enough for middle grade readers! Making the main character a woman of color in Vicitorian England is a bold and interesting move. Stella is a smart, sassy, and endearing main character, but she also feels very real. She isn't a perfect person, and that's refreshing. All-in-all a solid YA title which is going to be great for any reader who enjoys historical fiction, especially if you love a POC main character!

Also, the cover is GORGEOUS!!

Where do I begin? First of all, it wasn’t bad! I did enjoy it (even read it with my poor English accent). I loved it reminding me of Bridgerton. If you like historical fiction or Bridgerton, then this book is for you. I loved seeing all of the diverse characters and variety of wealth that they had (ofc it comes with its issues). I loved the suspense like with her mom and the scandals of high society. I loved seeing a dark skinned girl (like me) be loved on. Although I will say I’ve suspected Jane was trash all along. Olivia, Nate, Miss Tess were love able characters (Gwen as well). Aunt Eleanor gave that tough love we all know we need. Oh and I mustn’t forget how Stella was a writer and wanted her independence. Now onto the things I didn’t like…Stella’s attitude. Like I get it. Being a black girl (especially a dark skinned black girl)in society is hard. But did she have to be so insufferable? She had a side comment for everything was very much jaded and pessimistic about life and people and I suppose that was supposed to be the point of it all but like girl lighten up a little! I can’t put my finger on it but there were some plot holes as well which is why I can’t give it a true four. All in all, it was nice! I was hooked! Oh and shoutout to @harpercollins and @netgalley for sending this ARC. It comes out in July! I give it a 3.5/5

Coming off of my Evie Dunmore series read has really set my historical romance bar HIGH and Stella Stedwick managed to exceed it. When this book comes out, do yourself a favor and read it.

From the start, I absolutely adored Stella. You are going to love her. I am always so grateful for a non-white FMC in a period piece, especially when they deal with the ramifications of what it means to be non-white and female in a time period like this. The novel does a solid job of weaving in issues of race, class, and gender without losing its momentum, something I appreciate in Dunmore as well.

I did wish the romance had been a tiny bit more fleshed out—it had the potential for a really strong emotional payoff that didn’t quite land. But beggars cannot be choosers, and the book made up for this small quibble in spades.

What happens when a fortuitous bequest brings secrets, scrutiny and heartbreak, is it worth the turmoil? In the historical romance story, The Great Misfortune of Stella Sedgwick by S. Isabelle, our female protagonist must answer this very question. Living in Britain as an unequivocal woman of color, Stella leads a pleasant existence. She is by no means wealthy and at eighteen is deemed ready for marriage or (if she could choose freely) a career in the field of writing. When she is unexpectedly summoned to the home of her mother’s former employers, she is nothing short of astounded! For the years she spent with her mother in this household, she was treated as equal and even family. However, once her mother was separated from their employment, Stella never received any overtures from the family or her best friend Nathaniel. Imagine her surprise when the ailing head of the family informs her that he is leaving her property and funds, both of which would be better secured by marriage! This amazing turn of events places Stella into the heart of polite society where she receives a tepid welcome. However, Stella is soon wooed by a suitable party and allowed to walk in her mother’s footsteps as a columnist. Stella is a spirited and outspoken young lady, and I immensely enjoyed her humorous take on the world coupled with her determination to remain true to herself. The book is described as a YA and was vibrant with diverse characters with global challenges. As the romantic portion of the story developed, I was not sure concerning the direction Stella’s heart would take but I was gratified by the conclusion. In addition, the story had a compelling element of mystery and I was unsure of the identity of the “villain” until near the end of the story.
I received a digital ARC of this book from HarperCollins Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

S Isabelle first came on my radar with The Witchery books, which I loved mostly due to the dynamic young women characters she created. When I saw this book was coming out, I was so excited to have the opportunity to read more of her work.

The Great Misfortune of Stella Sedgwick did not disappoint. I immediately fell in love with the spunky, sassy, speaks-her-mind main character, Stella. All of the other characters were also well-written with full and complete personalities! They were all completely believable people! I loved how the author was able to create a plot that challenged racism and the patriarchy all within a historical fiction setting. Overall I really enjoyed immersing myself in this read!

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest rating and review.

Wow, wow, wow! I am absolutely smitten with this book. If you love Bridgerton , you will be more than happy with this book. I loved everything about Stella! Her strengthen, courage, vulnerability and fearlessness. It was such a breath of fresh air to have a black female lead that has a happy ending in this type of historical drama. This story also offers great supporting characters and just the right amount of romance. This will be one that I suggest over and over after it is released! Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for access to this wonderful ARC!

This was SO CUTE. I really enjoyed reading this, and loved reading about a non white pov in regency times. The author did a great job with historical details and making the characters enjoyable.

Bridgerton but make it YA. This book was cute, and I'm telling you, my younger self would have reread this book dozens of times during my Jane Austen hyper focus period. This was super cute.

My primary problems are that it is quite dialogue heavy, and light on scene setting. I also found the romances to be slightly underdeveloped, but they still had some very pretty and poetic lines. The grievances are not nearly enough to shelve this title. I'd still highly recommend!

The Great Misfortune of Stella Sedgwick reads like a YA Bridgerton novel. Stella Sedgwick is an aspiring writer in England who lives with her aunt and cousin. As a Black woman, Stella struggles to find her place in society, especially since she doesn't want what typical young women of her day want: a husband and children. Stella receives word of an impending inheritance, one that is attached to the condition of her being married, a condition she definitely doesn't want to fulfill. The story takes Stella back to her childhood home where she lived with the children of her mother's employer and directly into the center of London society. The book examines the struggles of being a woman in 19th century society and of being viewed as other because of her skin color. There is romance and intrigue as well. I definitely recommend this book for libraries where students are looking for Bridgerton-like stories.

This novel is everything: suspenseful romance, authentic historical female Black perspective, and a great heroine. Stella is caught between the mostly white wealthy world of the house in which she grew up and her Black family, trying to navigate wanting to be a writer with the pressure to “find a suitable suitor” and marry. She receives an inheritance that is contingent on her getting married and while she’s grateful for a gift that would allow her to live comfortably, she is less than interested in finding someone to wed. Supporting characters like her cousin Olivia and her childhood friend Nathanial are woven wonderfully into the narrative and Stella herself is a character to remember. This very entertaining tale (including a simmering romance!) is a fresh take on an era that usually centers white perspectives

A period romance that's appropriate for teens AND has diverse characters? Yes, please!

I've been really excited to see the emergence of more diverse historical romances over the last few years and while I'm sure some liberties were taken in regards to accuracy, I appreciated that S. Isabelle still dived into the discrimination someone like her FMC, Stella, might face.

Stella is a strong character who throughout the book retains her independence and her own goals. Still, she's written as a character with flaws, keeping her realistic. She sometimes says hurtful things and doesn't always think of the long term repercussions of her actions. Much like a real teenager.

While Stella is very much the main character, secondary characters are also fleshed out and we get a fairly clear picture of who they are as people which isn't always something that happens in a book. I could easily see a few of the characters getting their own follow up book.

I did find some of the plot lines a little predictable but I think that would be less of a problem for the YA audience this book is intended for. That being said, it's definitely worth a read even if you don't usually choose YA books.

All that's left is for me to go out and check out other books from this author!

I enjoyed reading this SO much! Stella is such an amazing character and seeing Victorian England through her eyes was an education that everyone should have. This is another one of those books that I flew through in one sitting. It's a quick read but immensely enjoyable.

I wasn't sure how the story would play out at the end, but was ultimately satisfied. It wrapped things up a bit too neatly for each character...yet I can't find it in me to care! I wanted the best for everyone and it's what they got.

Loved to see the small sapphic inclusion as well (I'm proud to say I guessed that from the moment she was introduced!)

Needless to say, I will be purchasing this when it is published in July to add to my collection as an early birthday present to myself!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarpersCollins Children's for the ARC of this book.

stella is a special character and i loved learning about society from her experience as a black woman. while i loved the fast pace of the book, the only thing that kept it from being a 5 for me was that i felt it needed a few more chapters/scenes between nathanial and stella as well as more content about her writing in order to really love the ending!

this is marketed as similar to bridgerton tv show, which i get because of the gossip column and diverse characters, but in bridgerton the show they don’t often talk about what it’s like to be black in society at that time, for example. the author tackles that here and i think it’s both necessary to the plot and necessary to the narrative to include that.

If you're a fan of historical romance with a modern twist, The Great Misfortune of Stella Sedgwick by S. Isabelle is a must-read! Set in 1860s England, this novel introduces us to Stella Sedgwick, a sharp-witted Black woman yearning for independence in a society that offers her little beyond marriage or servitude.

The Plot

At eighteen, Stella dreams of a writing career but finds herself constrained by societal expectations. Her life takes an unexpected turn when Thomas Fitzroy, her late mother's former employer, bequeaths her a grand estate. This inheritance thrusts Stella into the complexities of London high society, where she must navigate racial prejudices, familial expectations, and the intricacies of the marriage market. Reuniting with her childhood friend Nathaniel, now a charming yet enigmatic figure, Stella grapples with her desires for independence and the societal pressures to conform.

Why You'll Love It

Empowering Protagonist: Stella's journey from a "lost cause" to a woman embracing her identity and ambitions is both inspiring and relatable.

Rich Historical Setting: The novel vividly portrays 1860s London, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of a Black woman in high society.

Romantic Intrigue: The rekindled connection between Stella and Nathaniel adds depth and passion to the narrative.


Critical Acclaim

Described as "Bridgerton meets The Davenports," this standalone romance offers a fresh perspective on the genre. Readers have praised it for its wit, romance, and exploration of themes like racism, colorism, and classism.

Final Thoughts

S. Isabelle masterfully blends historical romance with contemporary themes, crafting a story that's both entertaining and thought-provoking. Stella Sedgwick's tale is one of resilience, love, and the pursuit of one's true self.

In The Great Misfortune of Stella Sedgwick, S. Isabelle presents a protagonist who knows herself against a setting that acts as an obstacle to her hopes and dreams. The plot is well-paced with clear stakes, but the resolution feels too simple and perfect to be realistic.
As a protagonist, Stella is clearly confident, intelligent, and self-aware. As a black young woman without a family or fortune, she rushes head-long into conflicts that matter, and she never shies away from the consequences of her actions.
The setting is lush and detailed and draws readers into the drama and pageantry of the period.
Well-plotted and well-paced, the story spins from minor conflict to minor conflict as the larger mystery of Stella’s unexpected inheritance and the requirements it demands builds. When Stella is faced with the life she never thought she wanted, she will have to decide whether she will close the doors to a possible happiness or take the chance and risk her heart. In the resolution, Isabelle ties up all the loose ends in a happily-ever-after conclusion, but the very happy ending seems simplistic and too good to be true.
Overall, this story is an enthralling trip into the past, and introduces a strong and confident heroine who would make a wonderful character for a series!

This was such a sweet and joyful read. I’m a fan of Bridgerton so this book caught my eye set in England in the 1800s as a black woman navigates society. I loved Stella’s witty, charming character. I also loved the surrounding storylines of all the characters in this book. The romance was appropriate for a YA novel and I really liked how the author showed the nuance of each character (even despicable Jane). The only things I didn’t love are the time jumps and the ending. The time jumps just weren’t needed. They didn’t add anything to the story, and the ending left me wanting more! I closed the book with lots of what if questions and thoughts about where Stella and Nate would go from here. Overall I enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it.

This book was one of the funniest, and sweetest reads I've read so far this year! I found Stella to be endearing and also reflective of her actions, which I appreciate in a young adult book. The romance was sweet, and not far flung by any means, it was believable, and I love the diversity that was included in the book because readers deserve to see themselves in historical romance no matter their age. Big fan of this and will be adding to an every growing list of books to purchase for the library.

This book was amazing! The writing was very easy to read and it was a very interesting! I would highly recommend reading this book!

"Contrary to appearences, I do not usually begin my mornings by shoving delivery boys to the ground." And so we are introduced to probably one of my favorite FMC characters of 2025, and it's only February.

Meet Stella Sedgwick, the plucky young and somewhat unwilling heiress who is thrust into London's society in 1868. She is headstrong, obstinate, kind, caring, and devoted to her family and her craft. I loved her journey as she grew from a girl to a young woman finding her own way. I loved that she stayed true to herself, even at the end of the book, she didn't sacrifice herself or her goals. She is surrounded by a loveable cast of characters who quickly steal our hearts with their passions and personalities.

While this is a delightful book and I will be preordering it, there are a couple of things that bothered me. First, it was difficult to tell the passage of time. At one point, things happen rather quickly, and then they happen rather slowly, but based on the context clue it was difficult for me to tell what was happening. Secondly, there were parts that felt a little rushed, too heavy on dialogue, and I wasn't able to understand who was talking.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more from this author.

I love historical fiction, and this was such a breath of fresh air. I loved that Stella refused to be confined by society's expectations and had such big dreams for herself. I especially loved watching her grow throughout the novel and realize that her dreams could change into something she never expected. The characters were fun, and it was a joy to get to know them through her. This was unlike many historical novels I've read, especially one featuring a season and potential love interests, and that's what makes it so great.