Another September. Another Earls' Trip. This time the three gentlemen are off to visit Brighton for a fortnight of being together, talking, sightseeing, maybe some sea bathing. Like the last Earls' Trip, things do not go completely according to plan, when Effie meets his pen pal Miss Juliana Evans.

Effie and Juliana have had a longstanding epistolary relationship. They both have feelings for each other. Yet, a happy ending for them doesn't seem to be possible, there seem to be too many insurmountable obstacles; starting with Effie's gender and not ending with an age gap.

It takes the protagonists some time to work out how a happily ever after might work. This process feels natural; they don't rush, they weigh the options, they seek the help of friends and family, they listen to their instincts.

I like the slower pace of the novel and the friendship between Simon, Effie and Archie, which turned into a found family that supports its members. Since the earls have already planned next year's Earls' Trip, I am looking forward to reading about how nerdy Simon is going to woo the woman of his dreams.

This one was not for me. I love the manic pixie dream girl trope, Ted Lasso, and Bridgerton however the mix was just not it.

On this year's earl's trip, the boys are in Brighton, and Effie admits not only has he been secretly writing for a woman's magazine for sometime, but he's fallen in love with his editor. Her name is Juliana, and she believes Effie is a woman named Euphemia. When Juliana decides to take a holiday Brighton, the two finally meet and Effie's secrets are revealed. As they begin to know each other as their true selves, they have to figure out if there's a path forward for two people with such different lives.

This series is fun and doesn't take itself too seriously - and when I'm in the mood for that, I really enjoy this! I thought this book had a lot of interesting things to say about class difference and sexuality. And we all know I love a queer historical!

Definitely one worth checking out if you like humor in your historical romances!

Absolutely adored this book! This is what I wanted Bridgerton to be: it's fun, cringy in the best way, the MMC is like a golden doodle come to life, and the FMC gives black cat energy, for good reason. The only drawback is that it has my least favourite trope: miscommunication. But I love the characters and the story so much that I quickly got over it, 4 stars!

*wonderful and swoony
*tender and funny
*the miscommunication isn’t my favorite, but the *longing* in this, is perfection

After really enjoying the first *Earl’s Trip*, I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read an early copy of this, which was exactly what I needed after feeling mostly *meh* - this just made me smile. Historical romance - there’s only so much difference to be had, but Ms Holiday manages to infuse hers with what Jane Austen might refer to as “…fresh life and vigour” and as a result I completely adored this 🙂

Recommended!



Thank you to Kensington and NetGalley for the DRC

Thank you to Hambright PR for the free book.

3.5 stars.

Manic Pixie Dream Earl was relatively light and humorous, despite some of the deeper issues and themes.

Effie is eccentric and flamboyant. The disappointing son of an Earl who owns a macaw, wears bold colors, and moonlights as a poet and writer for a womens’ magazine…under the pseudonym of a woman. And he’s been writing letters to the editor, Julianna…who he falls in love with. Without her knowing he’s both a member of the nobility and a man.

Frankly…Effie must be protected at all costs. He’s loving, adoring, loyal; he’s such a sweet friend and lover and I just want to shield his heart and give him all the hugs.

Julianna is not as likable. She’s 10 years older than him and extremely cynical. I don’t blame her, it’s hard to be a woman in a man-dominated world back then, but she almost feels like a caricature of a feminist. And I do blame her for their third-act breakup, she really needed to do more grovel and apologizing to Effie. He deserved more.

Overall, it was still a fun read, and I found myself laughing at multiple times. I just wished for a little bit more.

If Jane Austen and Ted Lasso had a Regency lovechild, it would 100% be Manic Pixie Dream Earl—and honestly, I would swaddle that book baby in lace and read it a bedtime story. Effie is the Manic Pixie Dream Earl we never knew we needed: demisexual-coded, emotionally complex, and secretly penning heartfelt columns for a women’s magazine under the pseudonym Euphemia. Because why not toss a little Victorian gender confusion into your anonymous love letter arc?

Juliana Evans, the confident editor who publishes Euphemia’s work, is a standout heroine in her own right. She’s self-assured, whip-smart, and not here for nonsense—unless it arrives in the form of eloquent, anonymous letters that stir something deep. Their chemistry? Pure ink-stained yearning.

The book is packed with everything I love: mistaken identities, epistolary romance, found family feels, and a Regency setting that balances swoony softness with deeper emotional threads. The friendship between Effie, Simon, and Archie is tighter than a corset on ball night. These guys are the Regency equivalent of Ted Lasso’s Diamond Dogs.

Narrator Harry Frost deserves all the tea and applause for giving each character a distinct voice—I could practically hear Effie’s poetic eye-rolls. And while I adored the story, I docked a star because I craved just a bit more swoon in the final act. Still, it’s a warm, witty, and utterly charming read that blends queerness, class, gender roles, and mental health themes with care and nuance. Regency romance with heart, hijinks, and a quill dipped in soul.

Thank you to Jenny Holiday, Tantor Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. On Sale May 27th, 2025

I loved this book! I’ve previously read the first book in this series, but this could also be read as a stand-alone. Both of these books revolve around three male best friends and their adventures on their annual “Earls Trip”. I loved the camaraderie between these three men, and their unwavering support of each other, even though they were so different from each other.

This story revolves around Effie (Edward), and his love interest Julianna. Effie does not identify with the typical definition of masculinity from that time but his friends love him for his individuality, and Julianna does not seem to care either - she feels the same about him regardless of his gender (both when she thought he was a “she” and after she found out he was a “he”).

As in the first book, I loved the closeness that these three best friends share - they are open with each other and don’t judge, and watch out for each other. Overall, this was a great book and I’m looking forward to the next book(s) in this series and what happens next with their group of friends! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this free advanced copy - this is my honest and voluntary review.

Jenny Holliday has delivered yet another fun Earls trip that was an easy read.

Effie, our hero, is just so sweet. He's kind, been through a lot of childhood trauma, a little effeminate, a romantic poet and in love with his editor who he has never met.

Juliana out plucky heroine, is stubborn until the very last end, until she realizes what really matters to her. She loved Effie but is really a bit of a coward to see her love through all the way.

A meeting during the Earls trip brings Effie and Juliana face to face. As they spend time together, the magic that they had in their correspondence grows into something big, too big, which has them retreating.

Effies earl cohorts are amazing. Cannot wait to read book 3 of this series.

The narration was well done and kept the book flowing.

#ManicPixieDreamEarl

I absolutely adored Manic Pixie Dream Earl! I loved the first book in the series so much that I actually bought this one upon release—and then was thrilled to get approved on NetGalley a couple of weeks later.

Jenny Holiday once again delivers a smart, heartwarming romance that balances humor and emotional depth perfectly. I was particularly impressed with how the central conflict unfolded. Rather than relying on the expected reveal of a secret identity or deception (which would have felt easy and predictable), the tension grew naturally from the characters’ interactions and their emotional baggage. It made the resolution so much more satisfying and true to who they are as people.

The chemistry between the leads sparkled, and the epistolary connection carried real emotional weight without feeling gimmicky. This book made me laugh, ache, and swoon—all the things I want in a romance.

Holiday is quickly becoming one of my must-read historical authors, and I can’t wait to see what comes next in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the approval, even if it was after release! I’m so happy to have had the chance to read and review this gem

time of dnf: 36%

I weirdly expected to like this more than I liked Earl’s Trip (which was honestly not much) and I did enjoy way more aspects of the first 25% of this book, especially the queer rep + more of the dynamic between Effie and his friends but as I was doing so, I realized it was simply building upon something I already didnt really care for

idk why but I also felt like effie’s eccentricity was weirdly boring like I enjoyed some aspects of his dynamic with his father but ultimately, it didnt really give me a solid grasp on why I personally should like him and ditto for Juliana who I liked but equally not enough to be enthralled by their romance (which already felt a little neutered by the narrative?)

Like personally I found that the idea of female Effie kinda hit way harder at times and then I found myself feeling a little bad for Julianna losing her (in a way) and it didnt help that I didnt really feel connected to Effie (but I’m supposed to follow Julianna doing so) just felt disjointed in a way that wasn’t fun to read

I did struggle to decide to dnf this because I hated that all the one-star reviews were so blatantly bi-phobic and odd but ultimately I can’t give it more than that either I fear…but I actually have issue with the narrative as opposed to those weirdos

ultimately I do worry that Jenny Holiday’s writing might just not be for me despite how much I enjoy the setting + light-historical romance vibe

thank you so much to netgalley and kensington publishing for this arc to review!

A hauntingly beautiful exploration of grief, healing, and the price of forgetting.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up The Poppy Fields. The premise felt so ambitious—grief therapy via a coma-like state?—but from the very first chapter, Nikki Erlick pulls readers into an emotional, surreal, and powerful journey. She invites us to confront one of life’s most universal yet personal experiences: loss.

But instead of focusing solely on the pain, she offers a quiet, strange hope in the form of found friendship, reflection, and the power of choice.

This is one of the most emotionally resonant books I have read this year. I found myself tearing up more than once, especially in moments where the quiet resilience of the characters really shone through!

Absolutely everything we live about Jenny Holiday! With a wink at Shakespeare! These characters will absolutely live rent-free in my head all summer.

This historical romance series features a group of male friends who are more like family to each other who partake in a yearly trip to escape their lady and family problems.

This year the boys are hitting Brighton when they have a surprise addition to the ensemble and Viscount Featherfinch’s - Effie to his friends- literary correspondent and editor, Miss Julianna Evans. This should be a fun addition, except Effie has hidden his male identity to Julianna in order to be part of her female magazine!

But lucky for Effie she takes in stride and they have just as much in common on paper as they do in person… well, except for their great class differences and her unwillingness to ever marry.

But that’s what romance is for and these two are so adorable together! Effie and Juliana, along with the friend group are all fun and vibrant characters that really bounce off the page with their dynamic dialogue.

I enjoyed this second book of the series even more than the first! I’m excited to see what the “Earls” get up to next year on their next adventure!

Edward “Effie” Astley is a poet, a viscount, and painfully in love with his pen pal—Julianna Evans, a women’s magazine editor who knows him only as “Euphemia.” She thinks Effie is a fellow working-class woman, not a titled man avoiding marriage. Meanwhile, Julianna is tired of wondering why her friend won’t meet in person, so she shows up at the boys’ annual vacation and... well, let’s just say the reveal does not go how you might expect.
What makes this book stand out is how it handles tropes with heart and originality. Instead of dragging out the gender reveal for drama, it happens early—and the story shifts focus to real, nuanced challenges. There's an age gap (she’s 38, he’s 28), a class difference, and a lot of emotional unpacking. Their chemistry is soft, cerebral, and rooted in mutual respect—no insta-lust here.
Effie is demisexual, Julianna is bisexual, and their identities are treated with care and clarity. Their romance unfolds with honesty and quiet intimacy, even amid all the chaos of mistaken identity, social rules, and seaside shenanigans.
Also? The bromance between the three earls is strong. It’s giving found family vibes with a solid dose of Regency hijinks. The audiobook (narrated by Harry Frost) adds an extra layer of charm.
Fresh, funny, and refreshingly modern—this is historical romance done right.

᪥ Friends-to-lovers
᪥ Mistaken Identity
᪥ Cinnamon Roll Hero
᪥ Cross-Class Romance
᪥ Age Gap
᪥ Bisexuality
᪥ Dual POV

Gosh, I enjoy this series so much. Maybe it's the novelty of a bromance not rooted in sports or familial connection...whatever it is, it's refreshing!

Effie is our lover boy, our softie, our titular manic pixie dream earl. I enjoy him, but I don't relate to him. Whereas our FMC Julianna and her wall of steel around her heart made complete sense to me.

The "subterfuge" is just the most fun to read. Both characters are at their best when Effie brings out Julianna's playfulness.

The spice was made novel by the MMC being the inexperienced partner for a change. We love a man who asks for directions.

I thought both of them finding deeper relationships with their families was lovely. And of course, the declaration at the end just makes your heart swell, as a good romance should always do.

However, this book could have been MUCH shorter. I do understand Effie being an artist makes him prone to introspection, but I really preferred this character's interactions with others than his internal monologue. Also, the whole bit about their dreams did not connect with me.

After reading Earls Trip, I was looking forward to Effie's story. Effie was such a unique, quirky character, I couldn't wait to learn more about him and his mysterious love.

Manic Pixie Dream Earl didn't disappoint. Effie and Jules were such a charming pair. Julianna was the perfect addition to the Earls and girls.

*Thank you Netgalley, Kensington, and Tantor for the ARC & ALC.

This is outside my typical genre and I enjoyed stepping outside my comfort zone and trying something new. I don't think it will be something I will regularly reach for but I enjoyed Jenny's writing style and ability to captive me with the story and draw me in to her characters and keep me engaged with the story development.

Book Review
Manic Pixie Dream Earl by Jenny Holiday

What Its Got
✅ virgin romance
✅ fluid sexuality / 2SLGBTQIA+
✅ regency romance
✅ workplace romance
✅ age gap
✅ child abuse (past description)
✅ a macaw Named Leander
✅ found family and friendships
✅ aristocrats vs working people
✅ artistry and creatives

Characters
Effie /Edward - poet, artist, enamoured with his editor, in line to become Earl, self declared disappointment to his father
Julianna- spinster, independent woman with a career and no intention to be yoked into marriage

Thougjts
📕 Liked the first instalment more
📕 Curious anout Miss Brown and Simon’s story ( feel this is where the story goes next)
📕 I found it difficult to immerse myself in the story, almost DNF’d, yes it was predictable and yes the author delves into more complex relationships and societal norms and pressures of the time period but something felt missing…
📕 I didnt Care about Julianna, or her relationship with Effie, I cared more about Effie as a person and his own personal growth journey


Thank you to the publisher and @netgalley for my digital ARC in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own.