A dash of Anastasia, a sprinkle of Lindbergh baby mystery, and a heap of Gilded Age glam—you’ve got Joanna Shupe’s latest romance, The Gilded Heiress. Our main characters, Leo and Josie, come together with very different goals but find themselves on the same path. Leo wants revenge on the Pendletons, the family he holds responsible for his own family’s downfall. Josie? She just wants a chance to sing on the biggest stages.
It just so happens Josie bears a striking resemblance to Mrs. Pendleton—and the enormous reward for the Pendletons' missing daughter could be exactly what Leo’s family needs. Cue the hustle: Leo convinces Josie to head to New York City to launch her singing career… all while secretly planning to swindle the Pendletons. But (you guessed it) things don’t quite go to plan—for Josie or Leo.
Joanna Shupe is known for her Gilded Age romances full of sharp, flawed heroes and bold, confident heroines, and Leo and Josie are no exception. The chemistry is immediate and intense—so naturally, they try to fight it. (Bless their hearts.) Without giving too much away, there are a few twists you won’t see coming. The story takes you on a wild and romantic ride through New York and Boston in 1878, with two leads you’ll root for—and maybe yell at a little—for their stubbornness.
Standouts? The side characters are witty and layered. The steam between Josie and Leo? Palpable. And when they finally get together? Electric. Add in some sharp dialogue and unexpected turns, and you’ve got yourself a satisfying journey to a well-earned happily ever after.
If you’re a fan of The Gilded Age TV series, or just love historical romances with grit, heart, and heat, Joanna Shupe is absolutely worth your TBR. The Gilded Heiress hits shelves (and earbuds) on August 26, 2025 in e-book, paperback, and audiobook formats. Add it to your list—you’re in for a good one.
Thank you NetGalley, Avon, Harper Voyager and Joanna Shupe for the opportunity to read/review the ARC of this title.

I love Joanna Shupe books and the Anastasia movie so I was really looking forward to this one, but it didn't quite hit for me.

The plot was solid, the characters were fun and enjoyable, I liked the side characters even. However, I think writing it in dual-POV first-person knocked off a whole star for me. It just didn't work to hop between Josie & Leo's perspectives, it took a lot of the tension out of the story and made their miscommunications more frustrating as a reader.

Also - Leo, my guy, even if you're trying to prove to the woman you love that you aren't using her, you gotta take that reward money for your family. Five sisters and he hands that check back? Couldn't be me.

Joanna Shupe delivers a seductive Anastasia-inspired tale full of ambition, betrayal, and Gilded Age glamour. The Gilded Heiress follows Josie Smith, a street singer with a mysterious past, and Leo Hardy, the con man who sees her as the key to revenge—and redemption.

What begins as a scheme quickly turns into something deeper. Josie is sharp, spirited, and determined to chase her dreams. Leo is morally gray, emotionally messy, and completely undone by her. Their chemistry simmers, their banter sparkles, and the emotional stakes rise with every page.

With rich historical detail, high society scandal, and a romance full of yearning and slow-burning trust, The Gilded Heiress is a swoony, spicy standout that proves sometimes love is the biggest con of all.

As someone who loves historical romance, spicy reads, The Gilded Age, and Anastasia, I very much enjoyed this!

Thank you so much to Joanna Shupe, Avon and Harper Voyager for the eARC!

New York City - 19th Century

The richest family in the United States, the Pendletons, are living a tragedy. In 1880, their baby daughter was kidnapped, but no ransom ever happened, and the family only dreams of seeing her again.

Josie Smith has grown up in an orphanage in Boston. She's always wondered about who would leave their infant daughter, and never return. But she is not one to despair. On her own, and with no other future, Josie earns money by singing on street corners, her voice attracting anyone passing. Her dream is to tour the world as a singer.

Leo Hardy earns his money on the streets, too. But pickpocketing and scamming people isn't exactly a safe, or honorable job. He needs to feed his mother and five siblings, though, and he'll do anything he can for them. Years ago, his father was a gardener for the Pendletons in New York City, but after their daughter was taken, they laid off their staff, and that left Leo's father with no choice but to move home to Boston. While on one of his haunts to find easy pickings, Leo hears a girl with a magical voice singing on a street corner. As he approaches her, he sees a striking resemblance to Mrs. Pendleton, and Leo thinks he sees a way out of his problems.

With a little help from a local actress, Leo and Josie travel to New York City to meet with someone who can set Josie up with work. The two avoid the attraction they have for each other, both determined to accomplish their common goal. But it soon becomes apparent that Leo has his own version of what he wants to do.

Is Josie the missing heiress? Or is Leo just hoping to fool the Pendletons into thinking she is?

THE GILDED HEIRESS is an intriguing story.

For everyone emotionally distraught still by the movie Anastasia, this one is for you.

Josie is a singer, raised in an orphanage, and now out on her own except for her best friend Pippa. Leo is a con artist with a grudge against the wealthy Pendletons. When the two cross paths, Leo sees an opportunity to gain the money and the revenge that he's wanted in one fell swoop. He and Josie travel to New York, with Josie believing that Leo will act as her manager for her singing career, when in reality, Leo will be presenting her in front of the Pendletons so that he can collect the reward money. As one can imagine, feelings ensue and Leo is forced to grapple with what matters more: love or revenge/money.

I really liked Leo, he's very Dimitri-like but with a harder edge to him and more charisma to boot. I just wish Josie rose to that same level and had as much depth. This feels much more like Leo's story and Josie's relentless belief in all things good was a little too saccharine for me. Shupe's writing, however, is still great and I'd be more than happy to read more stories in this world, especially if they revolve around Leo's family or Pippa.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

In 1880 a baby was stolen from the wealthiest family in America. Though no ransom was ever demanded, the Pendelton family never gave up hope . . . and their reward became the stuff of legend.

After being raised in a children’s asylum, Josie Smith ends up on the streets and quickly learns how to take care of herself. Her singing voice draws crowds on every corner, and she’ll stop at nothing to become famous and travel the world, loved and adored by all. Maybe then she won’t think about the family who gave her away as an infant.

Leo Hardy isn’t afraid to use his charm and wits to make a fast buck, especially with a mother and five siblings to support. When he stumbles upon a beautiful young woman singing on the street, Leo notices her striking resemblance to the infamous missing baby’s mother, Mrs. Thomas Pendelton. The Hardys lost everything thanks to the Pendeltons, and once Leo sees Josie, he seizes the opportunity to settle the score. All he needs to do is pull off the biggest swindle of his career.

As the two are catapulted into Knickerbocker High Society, they grow closer to their goal, as well as to each other. But secrets can only stay hidden for so long. Soon the truth unfolds, and both Josie and Leo must separate what’s real from what’s just gilding.

I usually am a fan of Joanna Shupe's books but this one was just ok for me. It's a retelling of Anastasia, which is a movie I adore, and yet the book falls flat on a few fronts. Our FMC, Josie, is a bit of a blank slate character. Outside of her desire to sing on Broadway there isn't much else to her character. She's a bit underbaked. The MMC, Leo, is a much more developed character with true motivations, internal conflict, and a personality. It very much feels like his book rather than a two hander POV romance. I also struggle with any books where the reader knows more than the characters. We're aware of Leo's deception the entire time and it makes Josie seem impossibly naive and silly for a girl who grew up orphaned. I kept reading for the plot and to see how the mystery surrounding Josie's disappearance would unfold but I was not particularly invested in the HEA for these two.

I really enjoyed this book. The setting is perfect, and while it is certainly an Anastasia retelling, I loved the slight Phantom of the Opera and Lindbergh baby vibes. A sassy FMC, a rakish MMC, banter, yearning, spice, a criminal cold case, confidence men, Gilded Age upper crusts. I enjoyed it all. Being a retelling of a popular story, it didn't pull any surprises, but that didn't detract from its charm. A fun, solid, heartwarming read. Thank you to NetGalley for choosing me as an ARC reader for this book!

I would like to thank Net Galley and Avon for the opportunity to read this as an ARC. I thought this was a good idea for a story- a gilded Age twist on Anastasia. I still think it is a good idea, I just do not think that this is necessarily a good book. I gave it a 3 stars because of the idea and the character development, and many people may like it, I did not, and that just may be me. The Pendeltons are rich and have a daughter, Josephine. Josephine is stolen when she is 2 years old and never found. The gardener is blamed , but there is no real evidence, so he is fired. He can't get a job, dies and his son is left to take care of his family. The son, Leo, is a con man. He sees a woman singing on the street in Boston and thinks she looks like Mrs Pendelton. He decides to convince the Pendeltons that this woman, Josie, is their daughter, and collect the reward the family had offered.Josie was left at an orphanage when she was 2. She stayed there until she was old enough to leave and now is trying to make a living as a singer. So this is the plot, and it is long winded and meanders. Also, the blurb says spicy, but there is a lot of sex. There is a fairly graphic threesome in a brothel in the second chapter. I am not sure I needed all of this , the storyline should have been enough for the book.

Joanna Shupe continues to bring her A-game to historical romance! The Gilded Heiress takes inspiration from Anastasia and the disappearance of the Lindbergh baby, but in classic romance fashion, makes it super sexy. Josie & Leo have crackling chemistry and tension and can't keep their hands to themselves, and why would they want to?! Can't wait to put these two lovebirds in the hands of readers this fall.

I honestly thought I would enjoy this book nudge mire than I actually did.

It almost became a DNF but because I like the author I continued reading. There are other readers who like this novel, unfortunately I’m not one of them.

I appreciate the copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley

Due to intimate content I canning give a full review. Characters are good but I didn’t finish due to content so can’t give a full review on plot

Great rendition of Anastasia. I wish I didn’t love the movie so much, because all I did was compare the book to it. There were a lot of differences in both the stories but the overall plot was very similar. Leo was a great love interest and had great backstory. I liked that he was a conman with a good heart at the end of the day. Josie, was more a of spitfire, she was ok, the story was unique with her as the main character but she felt kind of wishy washy at points. Some of the plot did not really connect for me, but I did like the story overall. I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.75 stars!!

listen, all i needed to know to read this book was that it was a spicy anastasia retelling... and it was not a disappointment! i loved the unique spin it took on the story & honestly i'm SUCH a fan of josie & leo like they are so good for each other !!!!

historical romance x spicy anastasia x con artist x yearning = a VERY good book!!!!

thank you avon books for the arc! this is my honest review

I’m a huge Joanna Shupe fan but I just think this book wasn’t for me. The Anastasia retelling could in theory work, I just felt like there were parts of the story that were more irritating than endearing. I also didn’t love the age gap.

With the new season of The Gilded Age now on air, I'm so glad I came across The Gilded Heiress. Think of the beloved animated film Anastasia, the banter of the characters and chemistry is like Jack and Rose from the Titanic, and the glamour and old time shine of My Fair Lady. Joanna Shupe provides intrigue, romance, and mystery with The Gilded Heiress. Quite operatic and makes for a great read (I truly hope this is a series and not a standalone).

Set in Boston and New York Josie and Leo are on a winding journey one of revenge, the fluidity of wealth, the wealthy families of Fifth Avenue. I didn’t realize the age gap of the characters until the end of the book and that was…interesting but in this case the chemistry between the two was overpowering (move the carriage from the Bridgerton to the side and let’s talk about the sleigh scene).

Overall, this was my first Joanna Shupe book and now I need to go through her backlog. The timing of this book along with television series like The Buccaneers and The Gilded Age is perfect and I truly hope we get more.

My thanks to Avon for the digital arc!

Until I read the author’s note I wasn’t thinking this was an Anastasia retelling which of course now I see.

I loved the set up of a baby stolen from the wealthiest family in the US and the orphan Josie climbing a path to become a singing star. Budding swindler Leo Hardy is the intriguing and charming hero who has a vendetta and a mission which are both secrets to keep while he seizes an opportunity with Josie to get what he truly wants. But when the secrets start to unfold, the hero and heroine both have to decide who they really are and what matters most. There’s nothing like a flawed hero and a fierce heroine to turn pages but the mystery here is the star as I was desperate to get to the reveal.

Thanks to #netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyage for an advanced reading copy.

If you're drawn to Anastasia-inspired stories and love a good historical romance with glimmers of grit, glam, and identity-swapping secrets, Joanna Shupe’s The Gilded Heriess is a fun, fast-paced read set in the Gilded Age of New York. With a plot centered around a long-lost heiress, a revenge scheme, and a simmering slow burn, this book is both a nod to the animated classic and a reimagining tailored for romance readers.

Josie Smith, a street-savvy singer raised in an orphanage, wants stardom and freedom more than anything—until she crosses paths with Leo Hardy, a charming con man with revenge on his mind and a plan to pass Josie off as the missing Pendelton heiress. As the two fake their way into society and show business, sparks fly... sort of.

This book absolutely nails the Anastasia setup and builds an intriguing stage with potential for twists, tension, and scandal. However, the execution didn’t fully meet those expectations. For starters, Leo's early scenes—especially his casual trysts with multiple women before meeting Josie—felt like a misstep for a romantic lead. Unlike Dimitri from the animated Anastasia, who was laser-focused on Anya from the start, Leo’s early actions were a turn-off that made it harder to root for the romance that followed.

While Leo and Josie have chemistry, the tension between them wasn’t quite as electric as it could’ve been. I wanted more longing glances, loaded silences, near-confessions—the sort of romantic buildup that defines the Anastasia dynamic. Their relationship was serviceable but lacked that swoony spark to make the ending really land.

Stylistically, there were moments where the language didn’t quite suit the 1880s, especially the attempts at Boston accents and modern-sounding dialogue. I also had trouble fully immersing myself in the time period; the glamour and glitter of the Gilded Age felt hinted at rather than richly developed. There were glimpses of it but I wanted more of those vibrant, era-specific details.

Plot-wise, the story is fairly predictable. While that’s not always a bad thing, I expected a bigger twist near the end. The foreshadowing left little to surprise me, and when the big reveal came, it didn’t pack much punch. A little more chaos or emotional upheaval would’ve elevated the payoff.

That said, The Gilded Heiress is still an enjoyable read, particularly for those looking for light historical romance with a nostalgic concept. Josie is a strong, likable heroine, and the found-family angle woven into her story is touching. While this wasn’t a standout for me, I can see it being a cozy favorite for readers who enjoy rags-to-riches tales, mild intrigue, and a dash of spice.

Thank you for the ARC.

Thank you netgalley for the opportunity of this arc.

I saw Anastasia retelling and knew I needed to read it. The story wasn’t a difficult read but there were part that just didn’t connect for me. The main thing was I didn’t get the two main characters relationship. It wasn’t the age gap for me but more like other than attraction I didn’t see why they would want to be together. They didn’t get a long much and as someone who is big into details it wasn’t believable that they should end up together for me. I love stories that take place in history and the tension and banter that comes with certain standards of that time period. So I was still enjoying aspects like that of the book but I just couldn’t justify more stars.

I found this book to be a very predictable love story set in 1800s America about a scam artist and his mark. The characters were somewhat two dimensional and the plot was a little too obvious. Even reading the plot synopsis you could probably predict what will happen. But if you just want an easy read with a happy ending, then this might be a good book for you. Overall, I found it to be enjoyable but it wasn’t something I stayed up late to read.