
Member Reviews

This book tore me apart, ripped me to shreds and LEFT ME THERE BECAUSE IT WAS A CLIFF HANGER. In all seriousness though I didn’t know there was going to be a second book and I am equally thrilled and devastated.
I truly have no idea how Emily pulled off writing a why choose romance in the regency era. Like genuinely didn’t know how it was possible. When I requested the book, I was crossing my fingers that I would get it because I was genuinely so intrigued.
I genuinely could not tell you which of the three men were my favorite because each one of them was completely perfect on their own. And together? Even better. NGL, I thought my heart was going to break at the end, and I cannot wait to read the second book!

This is my first Emily Rath book & I need the next one to know what happens!!! I didn’t know I needed a Why Choose Regency era book but apparently I did. Great writing. Lots of drama. Slow burn!!! I can't wait to read another novel by Emily Rath! Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this e-arc!

Not for me. I decided I do not like this time period for books and I also don’t like the POV. I think for people who like this time period, they’ll really like it though!

3.75 🌟, did enjoy the writing style from this author. And overall the book was really enjoyable. It did take a little bit to get into the book though but overall really enjoyed it

I'll admit, the writing here kept me engaged. I would even go as far as saying that I was entertained.
But nearly 500 pages later, and I still have yet to puzzle out what qualities Rosalie possesses that makes her so alluring to the point of ensnaring a harem of bachelors when she has no definable or developed personality to speak of. And don't get me started on the fact that 2/3 of the men who are part of the harem either insinuate that she's a whore, or boldly call her one to her face. Not the sort of men I'd want participant to my harem, personally, but I suppose that's all well and good for our FMC. Eyeroll.

What a pleasant surprise! If a slow burn, RH, and smutty Bridgerton vibes sounds like a good time to you, then pull up a chair and prepare to be charmed. This was a fun time 🤭🫶🏻❤️

Regency polyamorous romance. Such a pretty cover! It's light, it's fun, it's hot. If you are into regency romance and you are a fan of Bridgerton, this might be something you need to add to your list.
Light spoilers alert 🚨
Our main character Rosalie is beautiful, smart and charismatic, but she is poor so she is not a wife material. BUT! Three gorgeous men are all in love with her. What are the chances of finding three perfect men somewhere in the countryside and they all want you that much that they don't mind sharing? None. 😁 So this is basically a fantasy book.
As I said, it is fun. The author knows how to write romance and the humour is great, but I am not a fan of why choose trope. I want them to choose. And though the author claims everyone is happy with what they have, it is not true at all.
Rosalie wants her freedom more than anything. She doesn't want marriage, but wants Burke, Tom and James. 🦢🌺"A lady can never have too many beautiful things." 🌺🦢 It would be fine, if she wasn't mad and hurt every time they flirted with someone else. You don't want to belong? Then you don't get to own. 🤷🏻♀️ Everyone needs to adapt, only Rosalie gets to be whatever she wants. 🙄 And she is not happy. Everything falls apart towards the end. The cliffhanger promises that the story will be continued in the book two. But do I want to read it? Probably not.
I recommend Beautiful Things to you if you want this kind of story. As someone who is not a fan of regency era and why choose trope, this book is not ment for me, and I still had fun reading it.

A fun & deliciously flirty regency tale, which had me drawn in from its opening pages! I thoroughly enjoyed this book; the female main character was bold & the little feminist in me enjoyed seeing her go against societal norms & expectations. The men… well if dashingly handsome with a side of rakishness is up your alley then this book is definitely for you. Think Bridgerton with more impropriety ;)
But a little warning to those with more decorum than I, this read is fairly spicy!

This book takes slow burn to the next level. The slow burn was oh so good it had me on edge the entire time. And when they finally got together it was electric. The banter between oh the characters also had me giggling like a school girl!

Enjoyed reading this one! This book was such a lovely surprise! It’s one of those reads that pulls you in and makes you feel all the emotions. The characters are so well written, they feel real, flawed, and genuinely easy to connect with.
The romance? Slow-burn perfection. The writing? So easy to get lost in. Emily Rath really knows how to blend heartfelt moments with just the right amount of tension and warmth.

If you tried to cross Bridgerton with a why choose relationship dynamic, and you added the tension of Pride & Prejudice, you would be on your way to describing Beautiful Things. It has all the elements of a regency romance, the socio-political tanglings of (not so) polite society, pining, stolen glances, stolen kisses, in a beautifully written setting.
Where Beautiful Things is better is that our fmc Rosalie does not want to feel tied by the trappings of traditional marriage despite her circumstance. She has multiple love interests, and I am here for it!
As always, Emily Rath's writing is superb, and she somehow transports you to be standing in the room to watch all of the drama unfold. I have been forced to now read the sequel His Grace, The Duke, because that ending had me begging for submission. A cliffhanger by any other name would still be just as frustrating.

Received as an ARC.
🩷 Historical romance
🦢 Summer house party
🩷 Why choose
🦢 Three best friends and the lady who comes between them
🩷 An angry swan
Beautiful Things by Emily Rath is, well……beautifully written. The setting is rich, and the romance is everything a historical fiction lover could hope for. Unfortunately for me, I realised somewhere between the corset tightened tension and the longing glances across candlelit parlors that this just might not be my genre.
This was my first foray into historical romance, and while I can appreciate the elegance and effort, it didn’t quite hit the spot. The pacing felt a bit slower than I’m used to, and I found myself missing the spark I usually look for in a romance. But, and this is important, it’s clear that this book was made with love and for readers who do adore the genre. I have no doubt historical romance fans will fall over themselves to devour every swoony, star-crossed moment.
So while it wasn’t entirely for me, I can still recognise that Beautiful Things is a quality read. And honestly, I’d recommend it to anyone who lives for grand estates, longing letters, and the kind of slow burn romance that smolders through pages.

I loved this book. This book follows Rosalie Harrow. She has 2 choices either marry a wealthy man or take work as a governess. She doesn’t want either option. When she gets an invitation to Alcott Hall. Where she is thrown into a house party of eligible high society ladies all who want to win over the single Duke. She meets the gentleman while there. The dukes younger brother Lord James, Lieutenant Renley and Mr. Burke. This is a why choose romance. I really enjoyed the storyline. I love how strong headed Rosalie is. I loved watching all 3 men interact with her. This book does end on a cliffhanger. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
Favorite Quote:““All women live their lives in a cage, sir. It is our blessing and our curse. A blessing when men fill the cage with comforts and sweets and place the cage with a goodly view of the outside world…a curse when we are left beating our wings against the bars, isolated and alone…with no way out.”

5/5 ⭐️ 2/5 🌶️
I’ve never read a regency book before this, but because of how much I loved Whiskey and Sin by Emily I knew I had to read all of her other books.
This book pleasantly surprised me and I was hooked from the beginning. I’m not a huge slow burn fan, but this didn’t even feel like a slow burn and I read the book quickly because I couldn’t put down. The angst, wit and banter made my soul happy. We didn’t know what was going to be said next and I loved it.
Rosalie is this bad a$& lady that refuses to marry just because that’s the societies norm. We find out her reasons and it makes total sense why she doesn’t want to be caged especially by marriage. I love how she tells the men exactly what she means and what she wants out of their relationship. I love an honest FMC.
The men are just heart throbs. My favorite is Burke, but Tom and James have special places on my heart as well and I can’t wait to see how spicy the story gets in the next book and to see their story develop.
The cliffhanger has me downloading His Grace, the Duke right now and jumping in. I honestly loved this book and I’d you love angst, why choose and regency you should totally check it out!

Amazing characters with a ton of depth, this was emotional and powerful, and a truly beautiful story, was captivated from the start I love this authors writing, it felt a little dense at times and the pace was a bit sluggish but it's a character driven story that I ultimately enjoyed!

This book was what I would call a mis-pack historical romance. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it (which is good because she is a long one!), and will be continuing the series, but I wouldn't call it a great read.
I really enjoyed:
* The why-choose aspect-love triangles/quadrilaterals are silly, a girl should get to keep all the hot suitors they desire.
* House party setting-one of my favorite tropes in historicals, the opportunity for hijinks is endless
* The slow-burn- I am not usually a fan, but here it works
* The lack of HEA-rarely does a series leave in a genuine cliff-hanger, but Rath went for it. We shall see if it pays off, but I liked it.
What left me cold:
*We get it, she is not like all the other vapid girls, she doesnt know she is pretty, all other women are awful and she is witty perfection. Great.
* She is also so independent and knows not of the ways of men, but also flirts non-stop and falls for every pretty face and tragic backstory that rolls by-look, this main character is not my favorite.
* The men are a trio of archetypes who will all abandon all facets of their character for one hot lady in an unconventional polycule.
* So far, no "sword crossing," this is going to be hard to sustain if 75% of the group are not attracted to each other. We have broken down all historical social structure here, so why not go for it.
I suspect this series will be like how I read ACOTR, it is not great and I don't enjoy the characters, but somehow I will read all the dictionary-length tomes and have a blast doing it.

I absolutely loved this. Who knew Why Choose Regency-era romance was a genre?
This was such a well-developed story, and I loved getting to know Rosalie and her men. Though she could definitely be stubborn and set in her ways, I liked Rosalie as a lead character, and her resistance to marriage and need to be self-sufficient was laid out very realistically. I thought the story was well-paced, and appreciated the slow burn, tension, and realistic build-up of all the relationships.
The complexities of Rosalie's relationship with the dowager duchess, trying to navigate society as a penniless woman with no connections, as well as the extra level of risk (both legally and socially) surrounding the nature of their relationships was a really compelling take on Why Choose romances, which can definitely risk being repetitive and predictable.

Beautiful Things by Emily Rath is a beautifully written romance that blends emotional depth with sizzling chemistry. From the first chapter, Rath pulls you into a world full of complex characters, raw vulnerability, and slow-burn tension that’s both captivating and heartfelt.
The standout here is the character development—both leads are richly layered, with past wounds and personal growth that feel authentic and compelling. Their relationship unfolds with the perfect balance of tenderness and tension, and the romance is satisfyingly steamy without sacrificing emotional resonance.
What holds it back from a full five stars? A few pacing issues in the second act and some secondary plot threads that could have used more attention. Still, these are minor quibbles in an otherwise immersive and beautifully crafted story.
Rath proves she knows how to write romance that hits both the heart and the heat. Beautiful Things is the kind of book that lingers after the final page—a testament to its emotional weight and lyrical prose.

I 2njoyed this book. I was glad the warning was there that it was a very slow burn. Obviously I read as an ebook so I didn't get the benefit of see the beauty of the deluxe edition. I loved the characters and look forward to how they make their relationships work in the rest of the series.

3.5⭐️
This is my first Emily Rath book & I need the next one to know what happens!!! Book 2 has a lot of potential.
I didn’t know I needed a Why Choose Regency era book but apparently I did.
Great writing. Lots of drama. Slow burn!!! Why have one, if you can have three. Period.