I haven’t been into historical romances but I really enjoyed this book! It was different for me and a first of Emily Rath; and won’t be my last! The romance is good, it’s forbidden and I throughly enjoyed it!!!

Love love love this book. If you like historical romance and multiple partners, this book (the whole series, really) is for you. I would 100% recommend this book!

Beautiful Things is a wonderful historical romance that gives a Jane Austin vibe but with spice and characters that love unconventionally despite societal norms. I mean when faced with not one but three handsome interested men, why should a girl have to choose. Then add in a Duke who is the bane of everyone’s existence, a house party with a gaggle of women seeking to marry said Duke, and some rather machiavellian matriarchal manipulations. This is Beautiful Things in a nutshell – a slow burn, why choose, historical romance featuring a strong and smart heroine who has seen some things and 3 second sons: the viscount, the naval officer, and their best friend.

I really loved Rosalie as a character. She has common sense, humility, and is bold and honest. She is also at her heart afraid of the cage that marriage represents and pragmatic about a woman’s place in society. She is also not afraid or ashamed to be different. She was such an easy character to love. Viscount James Corbin, the duke’s younger brother, is a bit of an enigma, but a loyal friend and he works hard to ensure the success of the state. Lieutenant Renley was a delightful surprise – a gentleman who has seen the world, has worked hard to make his place, and a man who had his heart broken. And lastly there’s Mr. Burke (no first name), who was adopted by the Dowager Duchess. He is of questionable birth and a bit angry at the world. He isn’t afraid to step out of convention. I loved how similar he and Rosalie were in that and how hot their chemistry burned. This story leaves us with our 4 lovers all at an impasse, one I can’t wait to see where things go from here.

What a FUN read! Slow burn, why choose, regency era, and some great men to read about! Just a fun read all around, I really enjoyed it!

Well this how you make a unique and spicy Regency romance. I absolutely loved this one. The heroine, her suitors, the spice!!! I had such a great tike reading this one. If you love super spicy and unconventional historical romances, then try this one.

Two genres I never expected to find blended together was a why choose, regency era romance. Don't ask me why I thought this way, because after reading Beautiful Things, it totally works and works WELL. Regency romance was really my introduction into the world of romance, and as such it will always hold a place in my heart. Enter in 3 dashing gents who spice up a debutantes world and she doesn't have to pick just one?! Excuse my adult heart! I loved everything about this, the pacing and vibes were amazing and I loved every single character. The ending has my heart absolutely needing book 2, I can't wait to continue this series!

💗Beautiful Things💗
By Emily Rath

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- Review posted to Amazon, IG, Goodreads, BookBub, TheStoryGraph, and B&N (pending) on 8/13/25

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There’s something to be said for a story that has you a giddy, squealy mess from start to finish, and book one of Emily Rath’s cheeky and hilarious why choose regency series is a freaking treat. It’s been a minute since I’ve dabbled in the regency era but if the cartoony hearts floating over my head are any indication, I have a feeling I’m going to be camped out here for a bit! 🤭🥰

One of Emily’s many strengths in her writing is how she tackles character development. Not only are the characters incredibly loveable, dynamic, and so very intriguing, but they’re also imperfect, struggling under the weight of expectations. You can imagine the yummy tension those conditions might bring about 😏

Rosalie Harrow is a goddess among peasants, don’t let her station have you thinking otherwise. The way she combats the expectations of a woman of that period as she lives her life unapologetically, with zero reservations had me fist pumping the air on several occasions. And in discovering what she truly desires, she also learns those dreams won’t come easy. Good thing she’s bold, tenacious, and headstrong. My kind of gal, foooor sure!

Wonderful cast of characters aside, the plot of this story sunk its claws in me right away. There’s humor and witty banter, rich and angsty yearning, romantic and forbidden encounters, life changing family secrets, GAH! Utterly infectious, this one! Never have I ever been more thankful for a series, rather than a standalone, because I am obsessed! Bring on book two 💃

Why you’ll love Beautiful Things
💗 Regency Romance
💗 Multi POV
💗 Why Choose
💗 Forced Proximity
💗 Delicious Slow Burn
💗 Class Difference
💗 Found Family

Thanks so so much to the Kensington Publishing team and Hambright PR for sharing a physical and ebook copy. These are my honest thoughts 🖤

Wow - absolutely loved this one and will be recommending for the foreseeable future. A too read of 2025!

Beautiful Things is Regency meets Why Choose—and it works. Entertaining from the very first page, with a fierce heroine, multiple swoony men, sharp banter, slow-burn spice, and Bridgerton vibes. The story unfolds at a measured pace, building into a slow-burn, spicy reverse harem. That ending… I was gasping. This was fun, a little wild, and totally addictive.

I enjoyed this historical romance, though the actions of the main character were somewhat anachronistic. It took a minute for the action to start, but once the plot picked up, I enjoyed the story.

I love a regency romance, although I've also loved some of Emily's other contemporary books.
The cliffhanger on this book, I'm not over it yet! I loved getting to know Rosalie and the MMCs. This book definitely made me feel lots and I can't wait for the next one!

Thank you so much Emily Rath, NetGalley & Hambright PR for this amazing ARC opportunity!!

Beautiful Things was absolutely spectacular!

I mean, regency romance? Bridgerton vibes? Why choose?!?! I could not sign up fast enough to read this one!

Let me just say, it did not disappoint! Not one freaking bit!

I loved Rosalie’s character! Her rising from the ashes of, what could only be described as literal hell, was nothing short of inspirational! This girl knows what she wants and what she doesn’t and she does not care who knows it! Her headstrong qualities were what I utterly adored about her!

Burke, Tom, & James were each unique in their own way! Their stories were heartbreaking and sometimes infuriating! But I loved each of them and enjoyed watching their growth throughout the story! Not to mention swooned over their infatuation with our one and only Rosalie!!

This first book left us on quick the cliff! Just dangling us over the edge! So needless to say I am grasping at the air and absolutely cannot wait for Emily Rath to save me with the next book!

If you love all of the above tropes as much as i do, please do yourself a favor and run to read this one!!!

Beautiful Things - Emily Rath

4/5⭐️

📚📚📚
This was totally a book out of my normal but by an author I really love so I thought why not step outside the comfort zone. I am so glad I did because luckily Emily’s writing made me completely love this regency romance! Very not normal for me! This took me about it 2-3 sittings to get through and totally giggled my way through. Why choose is one of my favorite tropes and thats what really grabbed my eye… Man did I love these men!! I really adored Rolasie as our FMC and I truly can’t wait for book two now!

📚📚📚
If you like to read:
- Why choose
- Regency romance
- Headstrong Heroine
- Kisses in the rain
- Secret stairwells
- Charming sailor
- House party
- Hot oil massage
- Only one horse
- The og storage closet scene
- Dashing rake
- Family secrets
- Swoons piano duets
- Stressed viscount
… You should definitely check this out

A regency era story with a messy romance plot! Rosalie is 22 and needs to either find work or find a wealthy man. She receives an invite to an event where she thinks she’ll be meeting a friend of her late mother’s but she finds herself in the middle of a party where everyone is after the hand of the duke. She finds herself interested in not one, not two, but three different men.

This story had me cracking up! I really enjoy regency era and forget that until I read one that is done right. I did feel this book was too long, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it! The banter is so funny, the longing was great. I love that they finally touch shoulders at some point and it’s so scandalous! Such a fun time.

Thank you so much to Hambright PR and Emily Rath for providing this free ARC. This is my honest review!

This story was a mix of heartache, love, and learning to trust again. This isn’t my usual reads but I truly loved it & I couldn’t put it down! I loved the plot as well as the characters. This is a why choose regency romance with three very distinct men, all focused on Rosalie. With vigor and wit, Rosalie continues the slowest of burns through the pages of this very unique novel. If you like the show Bridgerton you need to read this book immediately!

ARC Review - Beautiful Things
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

❤️‍🔥“I’ve waited twenty-seven years to find one single person who could hold my attention the way you do, love,” he replied. “I’m a patient man. It will make it all the sweeter when you set aside this ludicrous notion of restraint. We are inevitable.” - Mr Burke❤️‍🔥

This was my first Emily Rath read (though she’s been sitting on my TBR for a hot minute), and wow—she may have just sold me on regency romance! Beautiful Things is like a delicious mash-up of reverse harem and slow-burn goodness, all wrapped in court politics and high-society scheming.

Rosalie was such a fun, headstrong heroine to follow—dodging matchmaking attempts, navigating snide rivals, and somehow collecting the attention of three very different, very charming men along the way. The banter was spot-on, the romantic tension was chef’s kiss, and the mystery around her invitation to Alcott Hall kept me turning pages.

I fell hard for this cast of characters and the intricate little webs of loyalty, attraction, and rivalry between them. If the next book is anything like this one, I’m all in.

Thank you to @emilyrathauthor and @hambright_pr for sending me an ARC to review!

I’m not usually one for regency romance, but I did enjoy Emily Rath’s hockey series. Her characters are witty, emotionally layered, and full of that delicious tension between sharp banter and raw vulnerability—so I figured I’d give this one a shot.
This book had the same kind of entertainment value as modern remakes of old classics: a little vintage flair with a bold streak of contemporary edge. Was it historically accurate? Sort of. But let’s be honest—no one’s cracking open a reverse harem for textbook precision. That didn’t bother me.
What did surprise me was the substance. I expected more smut, given Rath’s usual style, but the story leaned deeper into character and plot. I appreciated that shift. That said, I did notice some continuity issues with the FMC, and unlike other reviewers, I struggled to keep track of the sprawling cast. George was insufferable—but intentionally so. The Duke(George) acting like the court jester, which is classic Emily Rath: flipping the standards on their heads and making it work.
I did not realize this book would end on a cliffhanger—and I hated how things wrapped up for the main characters. George, again, is a d!ck. My biggest gripe is that for all the story we got, I still feel like I’m missing key pieces. I’ve got a cloud of unanswered questions hovering over me. But if Rath was channeling Bridgerton, as she hinted in her author’s note, then mission accomplished. Because now I’m sitting here, impatiently waiting for Second Sons #2. My saving grace? Emily Rath will almost certainly be faster than Netflix at delivering the next binge-worthy installment. So I rounded up to 4 stars.

Emily Rath does it again! Beautiful Things started the story of Rosalie where you learn about being your own person and not allowing others to control you. This story was a mix of heartache, love, and learning to trust again.

Beautiful Things by Emily Rath is a sultry, character-driven FMMM reverse harem set in a lush Regency-era summer estate. If you're into slow burns, longing glances, and three best friends falling hard for the same mysterious woman...this one delivers.
Rosalie Harrow arrives at Alcott Hall without fortune, title, or explanation-and immediately stirs curiosity (and desire) in Tom, Burke, and James. Each man offers something different: Tom is the dreamy naval officer with a soft heart, Burke is the flirtatious schemer with a wicked tongue, and James is the tightly wound viscount whose repressed feelings practically steam off the page.
Rosalie doesn't have to choose-and thank God, because the tension between all four is where the magic happens.
You'll enjoy this if you love:
A decadent summer house party
I Sultry piano duets
• Brooding in stairwells
An angry swan
The OG storage closet
Three best friends...and the lady who comes between
them
While the middle dragged a bit and the plot sometimes wandered, the dynamic relationships and steamy payoff made it worth the wait.

Wow, this was an awesome slow burn, why choose romance. An absolute page turner! This isn’t my usual reads but I truly loved it & I couldn’t put it down! I loved the plot as well as the characters. I adored Rosalie & all 3 men! I’m not sure I could choose just 1! This was so well written, thought out & flowed together so nicely! Emily, truly knows how to write a good why choose romance & she’ll keep you engaged till the last page! I was here for it! I loved the dual POV & the spice in this book! This gives off Bridgerton vibes but why have 1 man.. when you can have 3! But I need book 2 like yesterday!! I need more!

ᒪOᐯEᗪ:
🤍 Headstrong Heroine
🩷 Why Choose
🤍 Regency Romance
🩷 Bridgerton Vibes but BETTER!
🤍 3 Handsome Men

This is a MUST read…Don’t walk, run!

Easy 5 ⭐️ from me!!