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.

I fell in love with the character in the first chapter when she threatened to hit an overzealous man with a stick.

It was a fun read, with some fantastic spice and a delicious slow-burn. I didn't realise this had been previously published and was quite happy to find the next book available.

I requested this book initially because of the cover and the beautiful sprayed edges. I don't think I would have picked it up with the original covers.

Thank you for the opporunity NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Before I begin, I want to say this: I rarely leave negative reviews. If you’ve been with me a while, you know how deeply I respect the writing craft and the creative vulnerability it takes to birth a book into the world. That said, I made a promise when I began this venture to be honest, (even when it’s uncomfortable), and that means calling it like I see it. And this one? This one was hard, not because it wasn’t steamy or engaging in moments, but because of the misleading setup that left me feeling disappointed, confused, and honestly a little duped.

Let’s start at the top. The publisher’s synopsis tells us this is a “slow burn, very sexy, definitely not your mother’s historical romance.” Sounds intriguing enough. But right from the first chapter, it’s clear that “slow burn” is a very generous stretch. We are thrown almost immediately into situations and interactions that are not only overtly sexual, but downright raunchy, without the buildup or emotional depth that defines a true slow burn.

Then comes the author’s note.

And this, dearest gentle reader, is where things start to truly unravel...

Rath opens by acknowledging that lovers of Austen or fans of Bridgerton might be picking this up with high hopes. She promises prolonged eye contact, hand touches, and that infamous Darcy hand flex. She calls this a “Regency-era polyamorous romance,” and then states that "this story is first and foremost a Regency Romance." Even going so far as to claim that the multiple suitors in this story would be "Austen approved."

With all due respect... No.

If Jane Austen ever caught wind of this book, I think she’d be much more inclined to ghostwrite a scathing rebuttal than give it her blessing. This is not a Regency romance. It is not historical fiction. It’s not even close to Bridgerton. Which, by the way, takes plenty of historical liberties, but still manages to stay emotionally and thematically true to the era it reflects. This? This was fanfic flavored smut in a hastily borrowed waistcoat.

We open on Rosalie, a brash, beautiful, and wildly modern FMC who jumps out of a broken carriage, walks alone into an inn, punches a drunk in the face, and rides off on horseback with a stranger who, while she’s in front of him on the saddle, internally comments on her backside consistently rubbing against his... groin. Again, within the first chapter. So much for a slow burn.

Rosalie ends up under the patronage of the duchess who was friends with her late mother. She’s brought in as a sort of undercover social spy, tasked with observing eligible ladies at a house party to help the duchess choose a fitting bride for her son, the Duke. The setup could have worked. But the execution feels more like a fantasy harem romance playing historical dress up.

The men are written like current day “book boyfriends”, tattooed, broody, hypersexual, all emotionally available in ways that simply would not have existed in that time period. One character even has tattoos, revealed in an oddly placed scene that felt like pure BookTok bait. In a pirate romance or supernatural fantasy? Love it. But in a novel claiming to be “Regency approved”? It lands with a deafening thud.

There’s also a moment where Lady Olivia, one of the noblewomen, and potential bride to the duke, openly belittles and humiliates a man (an officer no less) in public, at a dinner... Again, not something any woman of aristocracy in the Regency era would ever get away with. Social order, propriety, reputation, these weren’t just ideas; they were law. The stakes for women in this era were life altering, and this book tosses that reality right out the window entirely.

And It’s not the sex that’s the problem. It’s the context. Polyamory? Fine. Smut? Please, go for it. But don’t wrap it in a ribbon marked “Regency” and invoke the spirits of Austen and Winston Graham to sell it.

That’s what breaks reader trust. That’s what hurts. I didn’t race to pick this book up looking for a pearl clutching Austen homage, just to leave with a reverse harem ménage à trois in period cosplay.

If this had been labeled correctly, as a historical fantasy or spicy alt Regency romance, I’d still probably raise an eyebrow at the execution, but at least I’d know what I was walking into. The marketing, the author’s note, and the genre classification all send the wrong signals, and the result is a breach of reader expectation that’s hard to forgive.

Final Rating: 2 ⭐
Spice Rating: 2.5 - 3🌶️ (That's speaks volumes in itself)

One star for the bold, if historically inaccurate, FMC whose confidence might appeal to modern romantasy fans. One star for the potential this book could have had if marketed as a fantasy historical fusion.

But ultimately, this was a bait and switch.

Don’t sell me Darcy and deliver Duke DTF...

As always, this review is mine and mine alone. I don’t believe in tearing down authors, and I hope this is taken in the spirit it’s given: not as an attack, but as a devout Austen fan and dedicated avid reader’s honest reaction to a story that just didn’t deliver what it promised.

We read. We feel. We don’t hate. But we do tell the truth.

🫶🏼 - Ali

Where has this book been my entire life? Miss Rath had it hidden, or I was just simply dumb enough not to find it before, and boy did I devour this spicy piece of Regency goodness.

At twenty-two, Rosalie Harrow is unmarried and near-destitute. She has only two choices: snag a wealthy gentleman, or take work as a governess. Neither option appeals to headstrong Rosalie, who sees both futures as a kind of cage.

When Rosalie gets an invitation to Alcott Hall, she believes she’s only there to meet the dowager Duchess, her late mother’s mysterious childhood friend. But as soon as she arrives, she’s thrust into the middle of a house party full of eligible high-society ladies, all competing to win the hand of the (conveniently single) Duke. Hilarity ensues as Rosalie dodges the Duke’s attention and weathers the judgment of the other guests, all while trying to unravel the mystery of her invitation.

And then there’s the gentlemen…

The more Rosalie tries to avoid the high-society husband hunt, the more she finds herself charmed by three very different men. There’s Lord James, the Duke’s younger brother, who is the true Duke in all but name. Lieutenant Renley, recently returned from the West Indies and begrudgingly searching for a wife of his own. And the tempestuous Mr. Burke, who irks Rosalie to no end.

The clock ticks down the days until the Michaelmas ball, when the Duke is set to announce his choice of bride. Marriage is a trap, and Rosalie will not be easily snared, but that doesn’t mean she can’t enjoy the chase while it lasts.

This is the type of book you need in between heavier reads. The story will palate cleanse you and keep you entertained from start to finish.

Thank you to Kensington Publishing, Emily Rath, and NetGalley for sending me this book and completely messing with my TBR... because now I need the rest, immediately.

DNF. I did not realize this was a reverse haram style book and those are not for me. The book should be more clearly advertised as such because I did not get that impression when I applied for the book.

This was my first why choose Romance, Rosalie receives an invitation to Alcott Hall, she believes she’s there to meet the Duchess of Norland, the a childhood friend of her late mother. Instead, Rosalie is finds in middle of a house party of eligible high society. Rosalie is not a push over which makes this book a great read as you follow her journey. This book is set in the Regency Era is great for this Reverse Harem book. The characters are unique and interesting for the time period with the twist! The cliffhanger will get you and you will want the 2nd book.

Emily’s regency series was something different for me as I usually don’t tent to like these types (apart from Bridgerton) It took me a while to get into the 3rd person also not my usual go to but once I got in I was impressed with this story!

We meet Rosalie who is down on her luck and straight out of options it would seem. After receiving a personal invitation to meet with the Dowager at Alcott Hall she begins her journey. Obviously there are some great interactions along the way.

When Rosalie arrives at Alcott hall to a party disguised as a matchmaking event for the Duke, she realises she is way out of her depth especially when the society lady decide she is less than worthy but none the less competition and an enemy. As usual there is great banter and character and relationship building that keeps you hooked along the way.

Thankfully this Duke is not one of Rosalie’s love interests but this lucky lady does seem to be receiving the interest of 3 handsome bachelors.first we meet Mr Burke, the son of a steward raised alongside James and is a charming gentlemen. Then we have Lord James Corbin, younger brother of the Duke and lastly we have Lieutenant Tom Renley, the standout in the likeable department looking for a wife and harbouring a broken heart.

I love how Emily brings the story to life and you can really feel what the characters are going through. This being the first in the series I am onto the next to continue the series and I can’t wait to get stuck into the good stuff.

This book was a harder read for me with the regency theme and the 3rd person story telling. Being one of Emily’s earlier works I can appreciate how far she’s come but couldn’t be a diehard fan if I didn’t give the last of her books I havnt read a go and I was not disappointed at all!

25%
Man, Rosalie is taking her position like a champ. I couldn't imagine being in her shoes right now 🥲
I really appreciate the world building. It has been quite nice, everythings been laid out beautifully, not overwhelming.
"You will owe me a favour, redeemable by me at a time and place of my choosing" already kicking my feet ngl.

50%
The slow burn in this book is burning hot 🥵
Everything has picked up during this 1/4 of the book. Every character so far has been very intriguing, and I definitely hope I get to hear more of everyone's story.
"Perhaps on his way through Finchley he'd stop at Doctor Rivers' and have himself checked for tumors or head injury" because God forbid he like a girl 🤣
"Cabbage Rose" OMG NO

75%
EMILY I AM CLUTCHING MY PEARLS AT EXACTLY 74%🫣🥵🫠
There is a lot of symbolism in this book, I think my absolute favourite one is the twin flames between Rose and James.
"He dropped down a step and held out his candle. The New flame flickered into life, expanding the circle of light around them. He watched the twin flames dance in her eyes."

100%
Okay.. a lot to unpack here.
"Eyes on me" yes sir 🫡
"No, I am speaking." YES GIRL, leave no crumbs behind.
The hint of "touch her and die" vibes from Burke 🫠

And THAT ENDING?! WHAT!! How can we just leave it at that cliff hanger?! I am not okay?