⭐ 4.25
🌶️ 1.5
🥵 Spicy chapters: 9, 10, 11
📚 Tropes/Themes: demisexual rep? Bi/pan MCs, epistolary, he falls first and harder, reverse age gap, right person wrong time,
👀 Dual POV 1st person
💔 Triggers: discussions of past CA, animal cruelty
🛍️ Available: Now

💬 This is the second book in the Earl's trip series, and it is technically a standalone, you could probably read it without reading the first one but I think you would do yourself a big disservice if you didn't read about Archie and Clementine first.

I really enjoyed this book, but it definitely put me through the emotional ringer. Like, I liked Archie a lot but I ADORE Effie and I really hate what Julianna does to him 😭😭 I mean, it's a romance, so you know it's an eta. And I am mostly happy with how things resolved but I don't know the way she treats him just made me so mad even if I understand it.

I really got pulled in and invested in this story, even to the point where I had to put it down and walk away because I was so frustrated but what was happening. I promise it's like the good kind of frustration- because the book is so engaging- but yeah, my poor little heart 🥺.

Definitely read this, definitely read the first book, and definitely have a box of tissues handy.

Ok I'm ready for Simon's book now, thx 🤣

this one wins for best title!! while some things bothered me (like one of the characters supposedly coining the term “found family”), i had a great time reading this joyful romp. i didn’t read the first one but now i want to!!

netgalley approved me for an earc after it was already published lol. so this review isn’t as in depth as most of my netgalley reviews, c’est la vie.

i received this arc after the publication date, but it was available when library holds werent. love jenny holiday.

2.75⭐️

The title, blurb and the beautiful cover were what made me decide to read this book.

Effie, Lord Featherfinch, has been corresponding with a magazine editor, Julianna. The only problem is that she thinks he is a woman.

Dream Earl is a classic spin on popular tropes such as reverse age gap, virgin hero, bi-awakening, mistaken identity and found family. The mistaken identity trope was resolved quickly, quicker than I expected.

I like the idea of a boys trip and the found family that Effie found in his friend, Simon and Archer.

I didn’t enjoy this as much as I thought I would. I was expecting more from the blurb. It was ‘bland’ and boring. I did not feel any spark between the main characters. There was something missing.

If you enjoy historical romance with modern tropes then you will enjoy this.

Well told story, I liked the approach to unconventional characters. It was funny and heartwarming. Really enjoyed the description of found family….i do hope the series will also include stories of other secondary characters. I really like Olive and would love to read her story…

4.75⭐️This was everything I adore in historical romance. Tender, charming, witty and oh so sweet. 🥰 I pretty much devoured it.

Having not read Earls Trip yet (something I will remedy now) I spent the first couple of chapters situating myself but it did not stop me from absolutely loving this. I was immediately charmed by Effie, Archie and Simon’s friendship and their found family vibe.

Julianna was a women ahead of her times. She and Effie fell in love over correspondence, they had never met, she thought he is a woman and yet they knew each other in a very fundamental way. I found their love story quite touching.

“If Effie had not known love, or desire, before, it was only because he was meant to know them here, now, inside this living painting.” ♥️

Thank You to NetGalley, Hambright PR and the author Jenny Holiday for the advanced reading copy, all my opinions are my own.

I adore books with men that are soft, instead of testosterone-fueled characters who think they are bigger and better and smarter than others. In this case Effie is kind and gentle, as opposed to his father who fits the description of lording over someone to say the least.

However, I was slightly miffed there were still some stereotypes in this book. Effie being a painter and poem, but not in the slightest interested in politics as opposed to Simon, the politician, who claims not to have an artistic bone in his body.

And yet, it was Simon who came up with the phrase of the three friends being 'a found family' and therefor it deserves a place on my being-good-enough shelf as people are not defined by their supportive (or lack of) family :)

Loved the Regency setting so much. Read something from that era after so long and felt good. Concept of penpals? Love it.
Loved Juliana, Effie and supporting characters so much. I haven't read the first one in the series but it stands as a good standalone.

The third act breakup was not it in my opinion. I don't like them that much, nonetheless, I enjoyed reading this book.

Tropes:
Friends to lovers
Regency setting
Found family
Mistaken Identity
Forced Proximity

4.5/5 I’ve been looking forward to this one since reading Earls Trip last year and it didn’t disappoint. The setup was fun with Effie and Julianna creating a friendship from their correspondence as writer and editor. Each letter received, another is sent increasing in frequency and emotional depth. They’ve never met in person though and Juliana is under the impression Effie is short for Euphemia and he’s never tried to correct her.

I enjoyed this misunderstanding and was glad that it doesn’t take the whole book to resolve but still created good tension. Letting the obstacles for a HEA center around a ten year age gap (she’s older), class difference, and Juliana’s strong stance on never marrying.

This one is again focused on found family and I loved the camaraderie between all the characters. The open and honest conversations reveal past and current hurts which helped show their emotional depth and complexities. I really loved Effie and Juliana and was so proud of Effie towards the end, I cried.

I’ve read a fair hand of books that are set in or visit Brighton so I was happy there were trips to the beach with sea bathing and bathing machines was featured. But I hadn’t heard about the Royal Pavilion before and liked getting to learn about it (and how did I not know about it!?!?).

The tone and themes of the story are more modern. It stayed true to the rules of succession and other societal expectations so I was game for it.

I only wished that there was a bit more of Effie and Juliana once reconciled. It’s a personal preference but I always want a glimpse of life to see how they fared down the road. There is an epilogue but is from Simon’s POV.

Manic Pixie Dream Earl is the second book in the Earls Trip series.

This could be read as a standalone.

There are three encounters, detailed yet shorter scenes.

I received an advance reader copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This book was an absolute delight from start to finish! Jenny Holiday strikes the perfect balance of wit, heart, and slow-burn romance in this beautifully written opposites-attract story.
Set in the charming world of British high society meets quirky Canadian chaos, Manic Pixie Dream Earl brings together a buttoned up, brooding aristocrat and a free-spirited whirlwind of a woman and the result is pure magic. Their chemistry is electric, their banter is sharp, and underneath all the humor is a deep, emotional core that completely sneaks up on you.
It's thoughtful, cozy, a little messy (in the best way), and just full of heart. If you love romantic comedies that make you laugh and feel all the feels, this one's for you.
This was my first Jenny Holiday book and it was hilarious and fun.
✨Think: Mr. Darcy meets a romcom heroine
with glitter in her veins.
Perfect for fans of Bridgeton with a modern twist.

Thank You Hambright PR + Netgallery for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. 💕📚☕️This book was an absolute delight from start to finish! Jenny Holiday strikes the perfect balance of wit, heart, and slow-burn romance in this beautifully written opposites-attract story.
Set in the charming world of British high society meets quirky Canadian chaos, Manic Pixie Dream Earl brings together a buttoned up, brooding aristocrat and a free-spirited whirlwind of a woman and the result is pure magic. Their chemistry is electric, their banter is sharp, and underneath all the humor is a deep, emotional core that completely sneaks up on you.
It's thoughtful, cozy, a little messy (in the best way), and just full of heart. If you love romantic comedies that make you laugh and feel all the feels, this one's for you.
This was my first Jenny Holiday book and it was hilarious and fun.
✨Think: Mr. Darcy meets a romcom heroine
with glitter in her veins.
Perfect for fans of Bridgeton with a modern twist.

Thank You Hambright PR + Netgallery for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. 💕📚☕️

This one was just ok for me. I enjoyed the first more than this, mostly because I connected with the characters better. I had a hard time understanding Effie in the first book, so it’s no surprised that his book didn’t do it for me. My biggest hurdle is that this book is way too modern for a “regency” era romance. I don’t mind when authors take a few liberties in order to advance the plot (for example, it would be unheard of for a member of the aristocracy to marry a commoner, yet that happens all the time in these books because we all love a Cinderella story and it’s just fiction). However, this book had so many modern aspects from the way the characters interacted with each other to their modern ideals about identity, duty, societal norms, etc. It basically made it so fictional that I couldn’t get into it and it changed the genre for me entirely. It was still an enjoyable read, but not my favorite.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When not writing, poet Edward Astley, Viscount Featherfinch, spends his time fending off suitors, avoiding his cruel father, and going on Earls trips with his two best friends who refer to him as Effie. Effie knows he must marry someday as he is heir to earldom. The problem with that though, is that he’s already in love with a woman named Julianna Evans. This love is a hopeless dream as Julianna is not a member of the aristocracy, she’s a magazine editor, she has vowed to never marry, and they’ve never met in person. Also, she thinks Effie is a woman named Euphemia.

Julianna is baffled that her best friend of years through their correspondents doesn’t want to meet in person. She fears it could be because Euphemia is wealthy as she’s never cashed the bank drafts Julianna has sent her for her submissions to the magazine. Perhaps Euphemia doesn’t want wealth and rank to come between them. Julianna decides enough is enough and is going to surprise Euphemia on a trip she planned.

Effie and Julianna are equally as shocked upon meeting. Now they must decide, what is true, and whether love and friendship is worth an earldom.

Manic Pixie Dream Earl is the second book in the Earls Trip standalone series and I loved it. I haven’t read the first book in the series but I absolutely want to now. I read Jenny Holiday’s book Canadian Boyfriend so I was sure I’d love this book as well and I was right. This book definitely gives off Bridgerton vibes and has a very strong found family trope which is a favorite of mine.

This book did a great job at character development and helping Effie and Julianna grow into who they can and should be as well as showing their friends to lovers journey in such a sweet way. It was so cute to see the intense connection that Effie and Julianna had long before they ever met in person and I felt like it was a big part of their romantic foundation.

Overall I absolutely loved this book and would easily recommend it to romance lovers and anyone who enjoyed Bridgerton. I would rate it 4/5 stars.

This was an enjoyable book! I got an ARC (Thank you Kensington publishing!) and decided I didn’t want to read the first book before I read this. I don’t regret it at all!

While I’m sure Archie and Clementine had a wonderful story, I really liked Effie and Jules’s story too.

Effie is a future Earl but is in love with a working woman, Julianna whom he has never met. They have corresponded over letters while working on Julianna’s magazine.

Julianna is the editor of a women’s magazine and has to fight many battles to keep her magazine looking the way she wants

Julianna is strictly opposed to marriage and wants only an affair. Effie meanwhile is in love with her.

Over the course of the book we see Effie being the perfect book boyfriend and tears down Jules’s walls slowly.


This was a cozy, heartwarming read and I can’t wait to read the other books in the series!

Effie is such a treasure! His commitment to wholly be himself is so endearing.

All the found family aspects I loved about Earl’s Trip are still alive and strong in this book. You’ll continue to adore the genuine and unshakable friendship of these 3 Earls.

But the vibe of this book is so different than the first book! - this book is all sugar while Earl’s Trip was a little more spice. And I thoroughly enjoyed the sweetness! I really liked Effie’s representation of someone who needs deep friendship first in order to experience desire. I think this is underrepresented in the romance genre and I thought it was handled so well in this book!

I just love this series. I can’t wait for Simon’s Story!

Viscount Featherfinch—known as Effie to his readers—is a poet secretly published in a ladies’ magazine. Through a series of letters, he begins a charming correspondence with Julianna, who has no idea he’s a titled gentleman. Their connection deepens, and when they finally meet in Brighton, the chemistry is undeniable. But class differences, hidden identities, and Julianna’s firm vow never to marry all threaten their fragile, blooming relationship.

I really enjoyed Earl’s Trip, so I was excited to dive into this one. The first half absolutely delivers: it’s sweet, engaging, and the supporting characters are endearing. Unfortunately, the second half loses momentum. The plot begins to meander, and the pacing feels stretched—this story could have wrapped up more tightly and still landed emotionally.

While I appreciated Effie’s uniqueness and the effort to show a different kind of aristocrat, his eccentricities at times felt more contrived than authentic. Still, the romance has heart, and fans of the series will enjoy returning to this world. With a bit of editing, this could have captured the sparkle of the first novel.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Book 2 in the author's Regency Era Earls Trip series is even more of a blast than the first one, starting with that fab title and cover that immediately grabbed me, as did the story featuring lovable poet Edward Astley, Viscount Featherfinch, who writes undercover for a woman's magazine and is secretly in love with its editor Julianna Evans. Fans of Bridgerton and Ted Lasso will adore it!

the cover of this book took me in straight away. its fab. the title of the book lends lots of intrigue too and makes you want to delve in to see where it takes it.
this is a historical romance with a quirky and clever set of twists. in all good in fun ways we are shattering the norms here but somehow they all still seem to fit perfectly. and takes skill!
are two main characters are pen pals who have never met. and Julianna thinks her pen pal is a woman. but when Julianna decides to suprise her friend on the bro trip she might be in for a surprise or two herself. this is just one of the compelling twists to the book but i dont want to spoil them as they are little "yay" to come across first time for yourself.
Jenny take the tropes and spins them, slashes them but also plays with them. she makes it work, she makes her characters work. she makes this story work. it doesn't feel like tick boxing but neither does it feel like a forced change of the "rules" and tropes. its felt natural and actually made me think on at just how stuck we can be or think we can be in orders of things. and this book proved without doubt that sometimes things are ok when they arent exactly within boxes we are used to. and in doing so we can see a new way that can be just as great. this book is that book and is definitely just as great to read.

I love these "boys" so much. They are supportive, snarky, and intuitive. And best friends. This year the Earls Trip heads to Brighton and Effie is his joyous, disorganized self as he hasn't packed yet when Simon and Archie swing by to pick him up. And Effie is keeping a secret. He is in love with a woman he's never met.

**Review of *Manic Pixie Dream Earl* by Jenny Holiday**
**Rating: 4.5 stars**
**Thank you to Hambright and Jenny Holiday for the complimentary ebook via NetGalley!**

It’s Earls Trip 1822! Edward Astley, Viscount Featherfinch—Effie to his friends—is off to Brighton with his usual crew for their annual boys’ trip. This year, they’ve sworn: absolutely no women. But of course, things don’t go as planned.

Effie is in a bit of a funk. He’s fallen for his editor, Julianna Evans, from the ladies’ magazine he writes for. The problems? They’ve never met, she’s ten years older, she’s a commoner—and she thinks Effie is a woman. Signing his letters with his nickname “Effie” led Julianna to assume “Euphemia,” and now he’s too deep to correct her. But when publishing chaos strikes and Julianna impulsively follows her dear pen pal to Brighton, she gets far more than she expected.

I’ve loved Jenny Holiday’s contemporary romances, but I wasn’t a fan of the first book in this series, so I was hesitant going into *Manic Pixie Dream Earl*. Thankfully, this installment completely won me over. Where the first book felt uneven in pacing, this one was consistently engaging and emotionally grounded.

One of my favorite aspects was the authentic tension created by the characters' class divide. Effie is part of the aristocracy (even if he wants nothing to do with his title), and Julianna is firmly upper working class. It’s 1822—there’s no real path for a woman like her to marry into the nobility, especially not a woman ten years older with a job and no savings. But Effie doesn’t want the life expected of him. Julianna’s realism and self-protective choices feel true to the time and her station, and Effie’s emotional journey makes their romance incredibly satisfying.

This is a capital-R Romance. Unlike the first book, this one centers the love story at every turn. The act three breakup is long—almost old-school in structure—but it works, because it’s deeply rooted in character and love. Both characters grow through their connection. Effie awakens to the life he truly wants; Julianna confronts her fears and assumptions.

Also worth noting: both main characters are queer. Julianna would likely identify as bisexual today, Effie as pansexual and possibly demisexual in a contemporary setting. This felt natural and well-integrated into the story.

*Manic Pixie Dream Earl* is heartfelt, charming, and rich with emotional depth. I’m thrilled to be back on board with this series and can’t wait for more.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

I really enjoy this author’s contemporary romances, but her historical romances leave much to be desired. While I enjoyed the concept of the plot and the relationship between the three men, I found myself struggling to finish this book.

The bromance between the three friends is far more compelling than the actual romance. I loved how supportive they were of each other. Their scenes together were some of my favorites. As far as the romance, I didn’t feel the chemistry between Effie and Jules. I also felt that Effie loved Jules more than Jules loved Effie.

It wasn’t a bad story and there were moments that I enjoyed, but I wasn’t moved by the romance. I’m definitely looking forward to Simon’s story and hope Olive gets one of her own.