Rules for Ruin by Mimi Matthews is gothic romance perfection—moody, broody, and wildly romantic in that slow-burn, secret-past, haunted-hero kind of way. If you love a love story wrapped in shadows with just the right amount of yearning and wit, this book delivers hard.

The banter crackles, the tension simmers, and the vibes? Think windswept moors, hidden pain, and stolen glances that say everything. Mimi Matthews gives us intelligent heroines, tortured men, and a romance that feels like fate with a dash of defiance.

Basically: come for the mystery, stay for the swoon.

This was a really fun read! It was a great mix of historical and magical. I liked the characters as well. I hadn't heard of Mimi Matthews but now I'm definitely interested in checking out what else she writes!

Wow! It’s going to be difficult to encapsulate just how amazing Rules for Ruin is. Mimi Matthews’ created another winning Victorian series set in the gritty rookery of St. Giles & the upper echelons of Society. Filled with intriguing mystery, a pulse-pounding rivals to more, closed door romance, cat & mouse games that kept me eagerly turning the pages, & a Great Expectations like twist, this sparkling debut of the Crinoline Academy series is an absolute must read!

Euphemia “Effie” Flite’s been summoned back to the Crinoline Academy from Paris. Her unique mission is to infiltrate high Society & bring down the powerful politician Lord Compton, who destroyed one woman’s life & threatens to thwart Parliamentary bills empowering all English women. If she succeeds, she’ll finally get the freedom & independence she’s longed for. But, standing in her way is worthy opponent Gabriel Royce, an influential betting shop owner whose own goals involve Lord Compton.

Despite the explosive chemistry between them, Gabriel’s not about to let a beautiful woman get in his way of improving the Rookery & insulating his lucrative business. Finding Effie at every turn, he does his best to keep one step ahead. But, despite their best efforts, the passion between them can’t be denied & both must choose between sacrificing their missions or joining forces.

I adored Effie & Gabriel! Their relationship from the beginning sizzles with delicious witty banter & a passionate undercurrent. I loved seeing their relationship transform from rivals to more. I loved the depth of their characters. In addition to bringing down Lord Compton, Effie’s searching for her mother & in the process discovers herself.

For all of Gabriel’s dangerous vibes, he’s got a heart of gold & I loved how he looked out for Effie. He’s pulled himself up from the depths & willing to do what he can to improve lives even if his methods are questionable.

The mystery was filled with twists & turns with many surprises along the way. I adored Franc, Effie’s small but fierce poodle, & Gabriel’s & Effie’s friends too. Can’t wait for Nell’s & Miles’ story.

Highest of recommendations! I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher with no expectation of a review. All opinions are completely my own & voluntarily provided.

1864

Euphemia (Effie) Flite has returned to Miss Corvus’s Benevolent Academy for the Betterment of Young Ladies now to be known as The Crinoline Academy. She had lived there when she was younger and has now been summoned back by Miss Corvus. Effie had come to the Academy as a very young child from the slums of St. Giles. Recently, she has been a companion to Madame Dalhousie in Paris. She returns dressed in total black and bringing her little black poodle, Franc. Effie sees that Miss Corvus appears to be quite ill and although the woman appears cold and aloof, she can’t help but worry about her. Miss Corvus is sending Effie to London to live with a lady who will sponsor her entry into society. She is to meet Lord Compton a politician who opposes a bill being considered that would allow women to keep what they earned during a marriage and it is feared that other lords will follow him in opposing it as well. Effie is to do her best to ruin the man. If Effie succeeds, she will no longer be beholden to Miss Corvus for taking her in as a child.

Effie attends a soiree given by Compton and his wife. Gabriel Royce came from the slums and now runs the area doing what he can to improve conditions for people living there. He has proof that Compton has committed fraud and can bring him down should he choose. He comes to the soiree uninvited and insists that Compton introduce him to his guests. When Gabriel meets Effie, he is quite taken with her cool mannerisms and wants to get to know her better.

Effie wants to find her mother who was named Grace. Going into the slums by herself to ask questions, Gabriel see her and worries that she could be accosted. He promises to help her find her mother.

As Effie’s determination to find out more about Compton takes her into tricky and scary situations, I found myself sitting on the edge of the seat. Gabriel’s plans to clean up St. Giles become more well-known, he too shows what a hero he is. This book is simply very powerful in proving how strong women are and how hard they fought for their rights. A fantastic story by a favorite author. I cannot wait to read upcoming books in this new series. This book is not to be missed. Enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Rules for Ruin is an intriguing, empowering & fascinating historical romance set around a remarkable heroine trained at a girl’s school in tactics of self defense & subterfuge for protection & the fight of women’s rights during Victorian England.

This was an exciting & epic start to this incredible new series, which I cannot wait to keep reading.

Rules for Ruin is great for those looking to read…
🩷 Historical Romance
🩷 Feminist Rage
🩷 Morally Grey Hero
🩷 Clever & Badass Heroine
🩷 Rivals
🩷 Witty & Well Researched

I was fascinated by the author’s note about the behind the book included, which showcased the inspiration as well as the incredible research that went into this story. I love learning & this clearly demonstrates how well-researched this book was & it is evident when reading because it is enthralling & grasps your attention.

Whilst this is historical, this felt perfectly apt for the present. I highly recommend checking out Rules for Ruin.

Massive thanks to NetGalley & Berkley Publishing for the gifted copy, which I voluntarily read & reviewed.

I adored Gabriel and Effie's story! It was so much fun to watch these two together and I can't wait to see what happens in the rest of the series!

Rules for Ruin is a bold and refreshingly edgy historical romance, perfect for readers who love smart heroines, morally gray heroes, and a plot with real stakes. Effie’s mission to stop a powerful lord from crushing a women’s rights bill brings her into the orbit of Gabriel Royce—a roguish underworld figure who’s as dangerous as he is compelling. Their enemies-to-lovers dynamic had fantastic chemistry, and the emotional depth gave the story real heart. I appreciated the well-researched historical context and the feminist undertones woven throughout. An excellent start to a new series!
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rules for Ruin introduces readers to a new Victorian story world to love — and an epic rivals-to-lovers romance full of intrigue. Effie Flite and Gabriel Royce pleasantly defy societal and genre expectations as their story advances from a shadowed meet-cute to advantageous social connections, one swoony balcony scene, and banter-filled sparring, all with Dickensian flair. An emotional found family thread weaves through the story, as does a historical perspective of gender roles and limitations still quite relatable today.

This is the first romance of Mimi Matthews’ that wholeheartedly embraces the rivals-to-lovers trope, putting the leads at cross purposes. It allows for some fantastic tension and witty subterfuge, with all of the intricacies Matthews does well. Gabriel is a formidable, self-labeled mercenary of a hero, well-matched with the fierce and fully capable heroine. Effie employs her unconventional upbringing, which is a delight to see in the atmospheric Victorian setting. This also draws in Gabriel, who is instantly aware of and enamored with her intelligence. (And we all love a hero in love with the heroine’s mind!)

If you enjoy stories with gothic vibes, formidable heroines, darling canine companions, and heroes who only show their vulnerability to their soulmate-heroines, I recommend Rules for Ruin as your next read. Personally, I’m very excited to see what unfolds with the characters central to book two and the further depths they will reveal about the Crinoline Academy.

<i>Content note: mild, era-appropriate language; closed door (kisses only) romance.

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary review copy. This is my honest review.</i>

If you’re craving a historical romance that feels truly authentic yet totally engaging, Rules for Ruin is it! This is my first Mimi Matthew’s read, and y'all she is great at delivering rich historical detail with page-turning plots. Can't believe this is just my first read of hers!

Set during the early days of women’s suffrage, the story follows Effie, an orphan trained to challenge the rules of society. She’s clever, bold, and determined—not afraid to go toe-to-toe with Gabriel, a man shaped by hardship and driven by his own goals. Their chemistry is fun to follow as each are trying to win. Real historical events are woven seamlessly into the story, adding depth without slowing it down.

This was a page turner and look forward to book 2! Thank you to Mimi Matthews, NetGalley and Berkley for the e-ARC!

Read if you like
+ Historical drama
+ Slow-burn romance
+ Revenge, secrets & swoony heroes
+ Smart, fierce heroine

4.5 stars - This was so much fun! I've loved previous series from Mimi Matthews, and was so excited to start this one. I absolutely adored the relationship between Effie and Gabriel - the enemies to lovers vibes, the top-tier banter, and the tension and connection they had with each was beautiful.

I loved how strong willed Effie was, and watching her come to terms with her past and let go of the resentment she was living with was heartbreaking but so good to see. Gabriel falling for Effie was honestly the best; him realizing that she was so much more than he originally thought, how he changed for the better, and how he ended up fully besotted with her warmed my heart.

Overall, absolutely loved this and can't wait for more from this series! Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for the free book - all opinions are my own!

Rules for Ruin by Mimi Matthews 💚
The Crinoline Academy, Book 1
Interconnected Standalone

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Adult • Historical Romance
ARC Review
400 Pages
🗓️ May 20

💚enemies to lovers
🩷secret identity
💚secret mission
🩷slow burn
💚morally gray MMC

📌”My father says that lectures of this sort are a poison to women. He warns most strenuously against them.”
“Naturally, he does. That is how gentlemen remain in power, by making us fear the very thing that will set us free.”
“Lectures by r*dical bluestockings?”
“Knowledge. It’s ignorance that’s the poison, Miss Compton. This... well. I very much hope this will be the cure.”

📌”Say you’ll be mine. I’m already yours. I have been since the night we met.”

A thrilling, captivating, romantic piece of historical literature that had me hooked since that obscured “not so meet cute” in the enemy’s library. My goodness, this was SO GOOD. I’m obsessed with Effie, Royce, crinolines and french dogs named Franc.

I also want to ride a hot air balloon now. Joking, I really don’t. But I do want to see them take flight. I bet it’s gorgeous. What I do want is to read every single thing ever written by Mimi Matthews. And I also very much NEED Nell’s story. I screamed when I saw who the next couple would be.

There’s something special about historical romances with feminist FMCs, who fall in love with their convictions and with our MMCs.

"She'd been honing her skills, toying with the very gentlemen who sought to heartlessly toy with her. It had been no great feat. Quite the opposite, the male sex made it all too easy. They insisted on underestimating women. On believing young ladies were prey, rather than predator."

"She might have known he'd be trouble. The interesting men always were"

"All he knew was that she'd been a bright, dazzling light in his dark world. Not a remote, beautiful creature to put on a pedestal, but an equal. A second self. If he wanted her, he was going to have to win her.
And he wanted her like mad."

Gabriel and Effie were EVERYTHING. This book - it's themes, characters and dynamics - were perfection. I loved it. I loved how Mimi hit that balance of both confidence and vulnerability with them. Both Gabriel and Effie had a certain level of boldness and security in who they were, without desiring to compromise or conform to society, yet both had a deep need to be fully seen, accepted and loved - to find where they DID belong. I loved how they recognized each other, like seeing like, even as they played their games.

These characters were so delightfully grey! Street urchins who had risen above their circumstances, wolves in sheep's clothing fighting for justice, but definitely with some questionable methods. I loved their dance around each other. How their suspicions and desire unfolded into honesty, respect and tenderness. This was passionate and swoony with LOADS of tension and intrigue!

And the underlying theme of the academy was brilliant. Cast off girls, raised and equipped by a wronged woman, educated to be fierce and intelligent in order to take their power back. So many brilliant and timely themes set in a time when women had even less power. It was a fabulously unique yet believable premise laying groundwork for more stories that I cannot wait to read. There is a reason Mimi Matthews is a favorite!

Rules for Ruin by Mimi Matthews delivered a delightful historical romance filled with banter and intrigue. If you like enemies to lovers, witty banter, feminist themes, strong heroines and morally gray heroes, you’ll want to grab this one!

meet Miss Euphemia Flite with her dog, Luc, as she stands at the gates of the Academy outside of London. It seems after five years in Paris; she has been summoned home to the orphanage by Miss Corvus for an assignment. I was immediately drawn to Euphemia, “Effie,” to her friends, and excited to see her take on the assignment. She has been tasked with infiltrating the ton and finding the dirt needed to take down a politician who strongly opposes women’s rights.

Gabriel Royce pulled himself up from the rookeries of St. Giles and owns a betting shop. While he dabbles in morally gray areas, he also cares deeply for the people in the Rookery and hopes to gain backing to improve life there. He too needs something from the politician and is determined to keep Effie from getting in the way.

Fans of historical fiction, strong female leads, enemies-to-lovers tropes, and sharp dialogue should definitely add Rules for Ruin to their reading list. I loved both Gabriel and Effie. The back and forth, mutual respect and chemistry left me smiling. The author offered points of view from both, enabling me to draw closer to them. Their cat-and-mouse game was perfection.

The history of the Academy, Miss Corvus’s past and even that of Effie’s added to the story and the cause. I devoured their story, hoping for a happily ever after, and closed the book while grinning. Ms. Matthews reminded me why I love historical romance. I look forward to reading The Marriage Method, the next story in the Crinoline Academy series.

I have loved everything I’ve read by Mimi Matthews (heck, I would probably love reading her grocery list if she published it!), and her latest novel, Rules for Ruin, is no exception!

After being raised at the Academy, Effie Flite has been working as a lady's companion, until she’s called back by her old headmistress for an important job - take down a corrupt viscount who is intent on attacking women’s rights. Do this job, and Effie will earn a modest living, able to be independent. But the viscount is the perfect pawn for betting shop owner Gabriel Royce to use to expand his empire. The two butt heads in a battle of wits and wills, but with their attraction growing, will they give up their goals for love?

Once again, I was completely swept up by Matthews’ romance. The will they/won’t they aspect of Effie and Gabriel’s relationship kept me completely engaged. I also loved the idea of like calling to like, and how, from their very first meeting, they both recognized a similar soul. While Effie is looking for means to her independence and Gabriel is searching for a way to better the lives of the people of St. Giles, they both have come from similar backgrounds and are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their goals - even if that puts them in direct opposition.

A hallmark of Matthews’s writing is how tenderly she treats her characters as they undergo their journeys of self-acceptance and understanding, and Effie and Gabriel are no exception. Effie’s journey to understand how she ended up at the Academy is not easy, and it was sweet to see how, despite himself, Gabriel can’t help but help her. I loved watching these two try to outplay each other, only getting closer and closer each time.

I love everything I’ve read by Mimi Matthews, but Rules for Ruin might be my favorite! If you love enemies-to-lovers with fun banter and lots of heart, check out Rules for Ruin. And the best news is, it’s out today! Thank you to Berkley for the ARC!

Mimi Matthews delivers another really great historical romance. This time with the theme of women’s rights. Although I got the feeling that Effie was more interested in her freedom at first, but as the story moved forward you could feel her shift to believing that what she was fighting for was in fact what was best for her. Her attraction to Gabriel was immediate and their conflict gave a really great tug and pull of both their developing feelings but also where they stood in the fight for womens rights. Gabriel had his own interests he wanted to protect, but it ended up being the love of a good woman that won him over in the end.

This author has always shown us different sides of London society and this novel was no different. Although Effie was passing herself off as a lady, she had a mysterious background that was a sub-plot and gave insight into her actions. She and Gabriel ended up having a lot in common which drew them together as well. With the addition of a truly reprehensible bad guy to add more conflict to an already great story this one you shouldn’t miss reading.

Rules for Ruin is Mimi Matthew at her absolute best!

Euphemia “Effie" Flite has been summoned back from Paris and tasked with infiltrating high society with the goal of bringing down Lord Compton. However, Gabriel Royce has a vested interest in making sure Lord Compton stays in his position of power. This clash of interests between our two lead characters sets up the perfect love story and we get to follow along as they navigate that.

Gabriel was an interesting, morally grey character. I felt like he was a good, solid historical romance MMC and I’m always a big fan of a self made hero! I like how he was convinced he wouldn’t be an acceptable suitor for Effie but when he starts to get to know her more he realises that isn’t the case. Effie was also a great character. She experienced a lot of growth over the course of the book. Everything we learn about Miss Corvus and The Crinoline Academy is from her POV so of course it will be a bit biased and it was great to follow along as she realised not everything she believed was true.

I really loved the relationship development in this book. Right from the beginning, there are a lot of parallels between Effie and Gabriel which resulted in some really good storytelling. It helped me to connect to the characters but also helped the characters to connect with each other. I loved how Effie and Gabriel were not willing to put their goals aside for the sake of their blossoming relationship. Like all Mimi Matthews books, this is closed door. However, I really didn’t notice the lack of an intimate scene. Mimi has a great talent for building up chemistry and tension without it taking place in the bedroom.

As always, Mimi’s writing is pure quality. You can tell every word was thoughtfully considered. Every description is vivid without being too long or clunky. Her research and knowledge of the time period really shines through. It’s a joy to read!

I want to say a huge thank you to Mimi and Berkley for the ARC of Rules for Ruin and for accepting me part of the launch team! 💜

edited 20/05/25 for clarity and word count reduction (for cross positing on instagram).

Wonderful and thoughtful

I loved all of Mimi Matthews books but this has got to be my favourite. Romance, characters, plot, Victorian trivia, and serious themes. Our heroine is the graduate of a unique school for orphans which includes atypical subjects such as how to hide needed objects by attaching them to the metal cage worn beneath their skirt called a crinoline. It covers a lot of themes, the entitled upper classes of British society, the clearing of the slums, the difficulty of living when not born in the upper class. I could not put it down. Very appropriate that it is released the day after the Victoria Day Holiday!

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time limited e-arc via netgalley with no obligation. This review is optional and my own opinion.

Rules for Ruin is book 1 in Mimi Matthews’ new Crinoline Academy series. For those readers who have enjoyed some of her other series, such as the Belles of London or the Somerset Stories, this new series will not disappoint. Effie Flite is an orphan who was raised in Miss Corvus’s Benevolent Academy for the Betterment of Young Ladies, where she was trained and educated from the age of 5. After having worked as a companion in Paris, she is summoned by Miss Corvus back to London to bring about the downfall of corrupt Lord Compton. However, Effie soon discovers that her goals are in opposition to those of Gabriel Royce, who needs Lord Compton’s influence to improve the living conditions in a poor section of London known as the Rookery.

Mimi Matthews writes with her usual sensitivity and thoughtfulness. Her characters are well drawn, and the plot lines are logical. That said, I was surprised by one of the most romantic endings I’ve ever read. The Crinoline Academy series is a winner!

I've to this point never been let down by Mimi Mathews and this one was no exception!

I feel like this one has a fun fresh spin, but still very clearly her style. 

Effie is determined to earn her freedom, all she has to do is bring down a viscount by infiltrating his inner circle, befriending his daughter, and bring down the broken system that's suppressing womens rights.

At her first dinner party Effie runs into a solemn, grumpy, Gabriel Royce. He wants to protect his partnership with a particularly slimy politician to keep eyes off his betting shop. But once he starts to uncover their similarities, he finds himself drawn to helping uncover the truth of where Effie came from, and is bound to protect her.

There were so many interesting aspects in this one, some of which were based on true events which was cool! And I love the way Mimi writes bad guys too, they are so beleiveably bad with out the story feeling overly dark.

Overall it's a little bit mystery, with an unafraid fmc, secret society, proective mmc, some seriosuly swoony scenes I wish I could include here but I can't, bc that would be rude! But most importanly Gabriel Royce, earns all of the heart eyes 😍

Thank you to @berkleypub and @netgalley for my gifted audiobook!

Happy release day to one of my most anticipated books this year, Rules for Ruin by Mimi Matthews. This is the seventh book of hers that I’ve read, and dare I say, possibly my favorite yet!

The first of her new Crinoline Academy series, Rules for Ruin introduces Effie Flite, a woman raised at an orphanage and now sent on a daring mission to secure her independence. She must find irrefutable evidence of the wrongdoing a powerful man once committed, thereby not only ruining him, but also paving the way to passing an important law that would benefit married women. But Effie comes up against Gabriel, a man intent on reforming the slums through any means possible.

Compared to previous Mimi Matthews books I’ve read, this one leans more into daring and subterfuge, while also retaining all the key components that mark her works.

What I Liked:
- Guileful exploits. Effie may parade herself like a well-bred young women during the London season, but she’s actually quite sly, resourceful, and fearless. She’ll sneak into libraries, pick pockets, send secret messages, and fight off a man with ease, should the needs arise. When she first meets Gabriel, a betting shop owner using blackmail to reform the slums he grew up in, she’s found someone all too similar to her. Similar enough to repel… or to attract?
- Their chemistry is excellent! I have to say, I loved watching these conniving people work with and against each other as the novel progressed. Effie and Gabriel are so well matched and sparks fly every time they are in a scene together. They are now among my favorite couples of all the romances I’ve read.
- A biracial main character. Effie is often questioned on her heritage. Is she half Spanish? Half Italian? While she doesn’t know her own parentage, she’s on a mission to find out. I shan’t reveal it here, but suffice to say that she’s biracial. Happily for her, she doesn’t face overt racism, and if anything, seems to draw positive attention for her striking looks. I’m always happy to see more diversity in historical romances and liked learning about Effie’s past (even if much of it is rather tragic).
- Shining a light on the working class and poverty… and galvanizing policy reform to help the poor. I always appreciate books that show lower classes instead of just rich, titled characters. Gabriel not only comes from the slums, he’s passionate about helping the people there through housing and improved cleanliness. Uphill battle though it is, I applaud his efforts!
- Women’s rights. Effie’s purpose is a reform to the married women’s property act and gaining rights for married women. This is a subject I’ve read about in several historical romances (especially those by Evie Dunmore), and as ever, I appreciate learning more about this and seeing characters push for positive change. There is also much here about fighting back against pompous men stealing from women, keeping women ignorant, and forcing women to need men. Down with the patriarchy! I love what Miss Corvus has done for her girls and Effie’s strength.
- Subverting societal norms. Speaking of Effie’s strength, she is always ready to go against the grain and use rules of the day to her advantage. One of her favorite tricks is dressing as a widow to gain more mobility about town. She also uses women’s fashion of the time—the crinoline—to hide any manner of items used for snooping and stealing. Clever, indeed!
- Franc. A perfect poodle; I want a Franc of my own!

Final Thoughts
Rules for Ruin offers up all that I’ve come to love about Mimi Matthews’s books, from progressive characters and fights for women’s rights, to a love of animals, to the lush descriptions on every page. I fell in love with Effie and Gabriel (and Franc!) and enjoyed every second of this novel. This may be my favorite Mimi Matthews book so far, and I can’t wait to read the next installment in the Crinoline Academy series. Luckily, it’s only six months away: The Marriage Method, starring Nell Trewlove and Miles Quincey, will be out on November 25, 2025.