Truly spectacular! Emily Rath does it again! I know this is a re-release, but this book has always been one of my favorites, and it didn't disappoint!

In a world of dukes and debutantes, a young woman dared to want more than a diamond ring. She wanted freedom. She wanted passion. She wanted everything. At Alcott Hall, three very different men offer her their hearts: a brooding sailor with poetry in his soul, a charming rogue born on the wrong side of the blanket, and a scandalous duke who’s anything but proper. But what if she doesn't want to choose just one? This book is a Regency romance unlike any other—lush, sensual, and brimming with longing. Emily Rath weaves a story where desire isn’t a sin, love defies convention, and the heroine writes her own ending.This is only the beginning. Book one of two.

This book is beautiful 🤩 bridgerton but more. And better. And hotter. And spicyyy. Highly recommend.
Emily rath writes beautifully and the humor is top notch.

If you love Bridgerton vibes with even more spicy times, Beautiful Things is the book for you! All of the characters are complex and the settings are fantastic. I laughed out loud at George and his shenanigans so many times. One of the things I love so much about Emily's books is the genuine sweetness of the stories. While the spice is definitely spicing, the heart of the story is learning to love your true self and finding the family who will love and accept you for who you are. It's always so beautiful and lovely. I'm excited to get my hands on this special edition for my collection!

I’ve never really been a fan of historical romance, but when I saw that Rath’s self-published books were going through a reprint, I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity.
I enjoyed the novel immensely. It was fun to immerse myself in a time period I didn’t know much about. I enjoyed the strong female characters, some who followed the rules of society and some who did not. The relationships the characters had with each other (platonic, familial, or romantic) were well thought out and added to the story in every way. I look forward to reading the second.

Bridgerton x Jane Austen regency era vibes meets Emily Rath’s RH romance = a 10/10 good time! Love the characters, loved the plotting. It’s kinda fast burn, kinda slow burn but in the best way.

Having never read regency romances— this was a fun introduction. I feel like Rath’s work continues to grow in complexity and the stories are compelling and these characters were compelling and engaging.

It was a really great easy read for summer! I enjoyed the storyline

At the center of the story is a romance that feels both inevitable and hard-earned. Rath’s writing is lyrical yet grounded, painting vivid emotional landscapes without sacrificing plot momentum. The characters are deeply human—flawed, healing, and searching—and it’s impossible not to root for them. Their growth, both individually and together, is one of the most beautiful aspects of the novel.


I enjoyed that it tackled some hard subjects in a meaningful way

Throughly enjoyed Rosalie, Burke, James and Renley’s story. Can’t wait to read more. I love Emily Rath’s writing and highly recommend all her stories. It’s the first historical of hers I’ve read and I really enjoyed it.

This was genuinely a good read! I'm not really into the insta-love plot, but the characters themselves were intriguing enough for it to be okay. It really makes me want to read the next book!

(ARC for Deluxe Limited Edition)

Did you watch season 3 of Bridgerton and wish there was a whole subplot about Benedict’s throuple? Did you wish it was more than a throuple? Do I have a book for you.

Rosalie is a penniless orphan summoned to the dowager Duchess of Norlands estate. Enroute she meets the dashing Burke, a friend of the royal family, Tom, a beautiful navy lieutenant, and eventually, Lord James, the second son of the duchess. The duchess reveals her plans for Rosalie which do NOT include a lovers tryst with multiple men… but alas gentle reader… a slow burn ensues.

For those nervous about a “why choose” romance, this is light on the spice until the end, unlike Emily Raths more popular Pucking Around series (🥵🥵🥵). Beautiful Things is fun, and also… kinda long. Also unfortunately you’ll have to read the second book to know if Rosalie really has to choose (spoiler alert: it’s a why choose romance, she doesn’t choose).

I'm not usually a fan of the 'why choose' trope in books but i honestly enjoyed this quite a bit.
I liked the MMC's and their interactions with the FMC, however the insta love that was present took me out of the story a little.
I am interested in continuing this series and seeing how it plays out. hopefully the men kiss in the other books

Historical romance
Why choose
Bridgerton Vibes
Spicy

Regency era why choose. The spice was spicing for sure. Took me a little to get into as it is different “time frame” then I usually read but I enjoyed the bridgerton feel to it. This was a good read. Would recommend to a why choose reader. If your into historical romance the why choose may be new to you but this was done well.

Beautiful Things is the first title in the Second Sons series written by Emily Rath.

Originally released in 2022, release with a new cover in July 2025.

What to expect:
*Historical romance
*Why-choose relationship
*Jane Austen meets Bridgerton

After the death of her mother, Rosalie finds herself being taken in by her mother’s long ago best friend. This said “best friend” is a horrid woman that deserves nothing but evil, wicked things.

With that being said, the FMC does find herself meeting three young men that are immediately taken with her brashness and willingness to not immediately fall in love with them. For a why choose novel, this first book was pretty tame. It isn’t till the very end of the book when we get to the spice of the story.

No real OM drama, a bit of OW drama but no cheating. Just jealously from OW that can’t have the main MMC’s because they are all in love with the FMC, even if one of them is refusing to admit it. The book does end on a cliffhanger.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Format: NetGalley ebook
Genre: Historical, Romance
Overall score:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level:🌶️🌶️🌶️
Characters: Rosalie (FMC) & James, Burke, and Tom (MMC’s)

Self-published in 2022, this first book in the Second Sons duology is being republished by Kensington as a deluxe edition. It's a Regencey era 'Why Choose," so basically, a polyamorous Bridgerton. Penniless 22 year old Rosalie is invited to Alcott Hall for a multi-week party by an old friend of her mother's, the Dowager Duchess. There are too many eligible high society ladies for the reader to keep track of, all desperately trying to convince the Duke to marry them. Rosalie soon catches the eye of Lord James, the duke’s younger brother, Lieutenant Renley, recently returned from the West Indies, and friend of the family Mr. Burke. There's plenty of drama between the numerous characters. The FMC has a modern outlook on life and feminism, but much of the Regency era worldview and structure is present in the book. The romance is slow burn: think heated glances and lingering touches on the arm, though it does get spicy towards the end. The book ends on a cliffhanger and continues in the second and final book which is scheduled for re-release this fall. Dr. Rath has a large fan base from her popular Jacksonville Rays series - those of which enjoy historical romances will find much to appreciate in this reimagining of the Regency era.

Beautiful Things surprised me. I don’t usually wander into the regency romance aisle, but Rath’s prose is undeniably magnetic—lush, immersive, and emotionally charged. It took me a minute to get into the rhythm of the setting and style, but once I did, I found myself hooked by the slow-burn tension and complex character dynamics.

The chemistry sizzles, the stakes rise, and just when I thought I’d earned my happily ever after… BAM. Cliffhanger. No warning, no mercy.

It left me both impressed and mildly betrayed—because I cared enough to need the next book, and that’s no small feat.

If you’re into longing glances, aching hearts, and beautifully broken characters, this one might steal your sleep. Just brace yourself for an ending that doesn’t quite feel like one.

Bridgerton goes Why Choose and I am here for it. Beautifully written and deliciously tawdry - Rosalie finds herself at Alcott Hall after the death of her mother at the request of her mothers friend, the Dowager Duchess, and finds herself in the middle of a courting season for the ages. Rosalie, however, has no interest in being married off to anyone and winds up drawing the attention of three male callers OH THE DRAMA. Honestly - I'd pick all three of them too, they each bring something wonderfully different to the table and, well, who doesn't want three alpha males in Regency England saying ""Yeah, okay, let's do the thing!""
With all the underhandedness one expects in the Ton, there are backstabbing society ladies, secrets, gossiping footmen and maids, and so much drama that I just couldn't put this down. Classic Emily Rath, classic Regency Romance with a why-choose twist. 5 Stars, medium spice, and foaming at the MOUTH to dig into His Grace, The Duke.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington books for the arc of this book. Beautiful Things is the first book in the Second Sons series by Emily Rath. This book is a historical/regency romance which I am not normally not a giant fan of this genre. I decided to give this book a try since i have loved all the other books I have read by this author. This book had characters that drew me and let me wanting to know more about their backstories. This book has some spice but not as much as the authors hockey series. I did read this book in one day and am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

The characters feel super real—messy, vulnerable, and easy to relate to. I was totally rooting for them the whole time and loved seeing their connection grow into something meaningful. This book made me feel all the emotions—pain, hope, love, and happiness. Honestly, I didn’t think this would be my kind of book, but it definitely was.

Emily Rath’s writing is really down-to-earth and heartfelt without being too dramatic. You can tell she truly cares about her characters and their story. I finished feeling so full and satisfied, like I’d been on an emotional journey with them. I can’t wait to read more from Emily, and I’m definitely on the hunt to find this book in Australia so I can add it to my bookshelf!

✨✨3.75✨✨
That was a weird and wild ride. Imagine you sweep into town during a season of Bridgerton and just decide you want to keep Anthony, Benedict, and Colin for yourself and they are like yeah ok seems fair but with some other drama and a cliffhanger. Honestly though my favorite character is George the Duke he 100% reminded me of Peter from the show The Great who is one of my all time favorite TV characters so picturing him in that part actually had me laughing at some points.