Book review of Beautiful Things: Deluxe Limited Edition by Emily Rath.
Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for my gifted ARC. And thank you, Emily Rath, for wrecking my entire weekend plans because I couldn’t put this book down.

This book is what happens when Regency romance drinks two glasses of wine, rolls its eyes at social norms, and says, “Actually, I’d like all three, thanks.” Beautiful Things is unapologetically modern, delightfully indulgent, and so good it had me giggling, blushing, and muttering, “Ma’am, you cannot say that in 1813!” But she did. And I loved every second.

We meet Rosalie Harrow, a twenty-two-year-old penniless woman in Regency England who is this close to becoming a governess or marrying someone she hates for survival. A true feminist icon of the early 1800s, Rosalie decides she’d rather risk mysterious invitations from sketchy duchesses than settle for a life of pouring tea and biting her tongue. When she receives said mysterious invite to Alcott Hall, she assumes she’s about to meet a kindly old lady. Instead? She walks straight into the Regency version of The Bachelor.

Let’s be clear: Rosalie wants no part of this mess. She’s surrounded by desperate noblewomen clinging to fainting couches and dignity, all vying for a duke who (thankfully) is not the love interest—because he’s a walking red flag with a title. Rosalie, naturally, becomes the unexpected favorite of three (yes, three) very different and very dreamy men: Lieutenant Tom “Tragic Backstory” Renley, Lord James “Responsible and Brooding” Corbin, and Mr. Burke, aka “Grumpy Bastard with Hidden Depths.” She says she doesn’t want a husband, but if the vibes get any hotter, we’re going to need a chaperone—and a fan.

This is a slow burn romance. And by slow, I mean glacial. Think longing stares across candlelit rooms, conversations charged with repressed feelings, and so much sexual tension I swear I heard the wallpaper in Alcott Hall crack. But the payoff? Whew. Let’s just say once these people start touching, they don’t stop touching. And Rath does not disappoint. The steam sneaks up on you like a scandal behind a hedge maze.

Rosalie is hands-down one of my favorite heroines in recent memory. She’s clever, stubborn, emotionally intelligent, and allergic to nonsense. She’s also painfully relatable—trying to maintain her independence while falling for three different men who all somehow understand her better than she understands herself. And instead of spiraling into “but who will I choose?” nonsense, Rosalie basically says, “Why not keep all three?” Which is… fair. Very fair.

Each of the love interests brings something unique: James is the moral compass who’s probably dying of repressed feelings. Renley is the charming soldier trying not to fall for Rosalie while absolutely falling for her. And Burke? Burke is the chaos raccoon of my heart. Every scene with him was like biting into a chocolate with an unknown filling—sometimes sweet, sometimes sharp, always addictive.

The writing? Impeccably cozy. It’s witty without trying too hard, romantic without being saccharine, and funny in that sly, under-the-breath kind of way. One line had me cackling into my tea: “You are a woman who sets fire to the air around her. And still, I am breathing.” Like sir? You good? Because I am not.

Now let’s talk cliffhangers. This book ends on one. Not a gentle, thoughtful “maybe I’ll check in with them again someday” kind of ending. No. It’s a throw-your-Kindle-across-the-room, frantically-Google-the-release-date-of-book-two kind of situation. And yes, I am suffering. But I’m also excited, because His Grace, The Duke is coming, and if it doesn’t ruin me emotionally, I’ll be shocked.

And while I read the eBook, I must mention that the physical Deluxe Edition sounds like a love letter to book nerds. Stenciled edges, full-color interior covers, designed chapter headers—if you’re a collector, go ahead and preorder it now. You’ll want it on your shelf just so you can say “Oh that? Yeah, that’s the one where she falls in love with three men at once and it actually makes sense.”

This isn’t your mother’s Regency romance. This is the version where the heroine is messy, the men communicate (mostly), and nobody gets punished for wanting more than one great love. Beautiful Things is smart, subversive, and steamy in all the right ways. I went in expecting manners and maybe a polite kiss. What I got was a polyamorous slow-burn with emotional depth, spice, and a heroine who deserves the world—and then some.

So cozy up with some tea, grab your comfiest blanket, and prepare to be wooed by not one, not two, but three swoony men in cravats. Just don’t blame me when you yell at the last page. You’ve been warned.

Genre: Romance / Women’s Fiction
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

This was such a fun and refreshing read. It had ALL the angst that Emily Rath has perfected. The why choose dynamic is executed so well, and the twists?Completely unexpected. I found myself gasping more than once. How could you leave us like that, Ms. Rath?!?

I honestly can’t think of another book or series that blends a regency-inspired setting with the why choose trope this seamlessly. It’s original, gripping, and extremely entertaining. I’m invested, and I cannot wait to see Rosalie rise and wreak havoc in the next installment. Looking directly at you, Dowager and Marianne…

Thank you to Kensington Publishing and Hambright PR for the E-ARC of this book!

I did not see a cliffhanger coming on this one! Just when the story was really heating up, BAM! To be continued. I suppose the fact that I was disappointed it was ending is a good thing considering I'm invested in knowing what happens next. I think the three suitors that have caught Rosalies eye and heart were well drawn out. The glaring difference in class will continue to be intriguing as the series moves forward.
I was delighted with the spice level of this one. It wasn't over the top and didn't overshadow the plot.
I did expect a big more scandal and betrayal, but I think that is where this book is leading up to.

Read if you like headstrong MFC's, why choose, and spice.

I think fans of Bridgerton and Pride and Prejudice will love this book.

Pride and Prejudice meets Bridgerton 💥❤️‍🔥 This book had me hooked from page one. I knew going in that this was a regency why choose and while it seems impossible to be as scorching hot as it is – Emily Rath mastered it to perfection. I could not put this book down and I’m gonna keep on reading…
And just as Rosalie - I could not choose just one. Fortunately we all don’t have to.

I was provided and eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

It's regency, it's reverse harem, it's the steamy, angsty slow burn

If you love Bridgerton and want a sprinkle more self-possessed women, dukes who aren't the most honorable after all, steamy tension and high-stakes trysts, Beautiful Things might be up your alley.

A fun spin on the normal why choose I’ve read from
Emily! The regency setting with the slowest burn but still having the why choose element was fun!

Emily Rath is here for a good time, not a serious historical time, and if you go into this knowing and expecting that i anticipate that you'll have a great time reading this. While some historical romances take the historical setting seriously, ensuring all decorum and societal expectations are woven into the conflicts of the story, Rath brings a modern lens to a historical setting, allowing the British aristocracy and layers of clothing to play as ambience as opposed to grounded historical reality. This worked for me because I wasn't expecting a 'why choose' historical to be more history than romp and so allowed myself to get carried away by Rosalie's adventure. IMPORTANT NOTE though: this is a SERIES, and so the end of this book does not give the reader the HEA they may go in hoping for, and instead lands on a rather abrupt cliffhanger with no one being particularly happy about their current situation(Hello Kensington, please do let me know when the next book is available for requesting!). One of the things I enjoyed about this was that Rath writes the 3 male suitors with clear distinctions and for the most part I understand what draws Rosalie to each of them individually (I'm not convinced about James yet - but I anticipate that will be a big part of book 2 based on where we left off) and while I do have a favorite (i'm a sucker for a brooding hero generally) I can understand why Rosalie has a hard time choosing, and what a relief she doesn't have to!

This is such a great start to the series - I'm looking forward to continuing!

I liked the FMC - she's smart and has clear ideas of what she wants/doesn't want. That said, I really hate when lust overtakes everything else, especially for a character who knows better and has already expounded on why it's a bad idea.

I thought the author used the supporting cast (the other ladies) well, and also showed why servants were so vital, both in the running of the household and for gossip.

The plot made sense and the characters acted accordingly.
Multiple POVs, split between the FMC and MMCs.
Definitely a different take on historical (Regency) fiction, with they why choose element.

Thank you to Kensington Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

𝖇𝖊𝖆𝖚𝖙𝖎𝖋𝖚𝖑 𝖙𝖍𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖘 𝖇𝖞 𝖊𝖒𝖎𝖑𝖞 𝖗𝖆𝖙𝖍

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you @hambrightpr for inviting me to read this lovely book. 📖☕️

Take Bridgerton and make it hella spicy with why choose? You know what hell ya. 🥵💅🏼

I didn’t know what to expect going into this book, but I ate up every word and page. I hate comparing books but I loved Bridgerton, it’s what actually brought me back into reading as an adult. And Beautiful Things is the perfect example on how my tastes have changed since. 🤌🏼

Rosalie was the perfect FMC, she was not going to back down on herself. And was not going to conform to the whims of society. The men were scrumdiddlyumptious too, though I will say Burke is my favorite atm. 🤭

Read if you love:

🌷Regency Romance
🌷Why Choose - Multiple Suitors
🌷Slow Burn
🌷Court Drama
🌷Headstrong FMC
🌷Historical Romance

“𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙚,”
“𝘕𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘬𝘦.”

And even though I have a few arcs to read I’m immediately jumping into book two because that cliffhanger was intense. And I need immediate answers and solutions. 😂🤣

The clever flirtatious Rosalie finds herself in a bit of a pickle with three men in this Regency Romance that has a bit of spice. It's an entertaining one that skews a bit from the genre and know that there is more modern language than in the classic ones. That said, it's a fun romp of a summer read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I’m no stranger to regency romance and this was incredibly well written. Add to it that it is a why choose and it was perfection.

I loved all of these characters so much. I often find I love the male main characters and at best like the FMC. This was not the case with Rosalie. I loved her just as much as the guys.

She was such an amazingly strong but kind woman who knew exactly what she wanted and she wasn’t willing to compromise or be made to feel shame for it.

I love all of the guys but Burke has such a special place on my heart. Against societies expectations he has found a family who loves him and supports him and in return he is incredibly loyal. But he is always cognizant of his birth and it holds him back from achieving his full potential. However he holds nothing back when it comes to his feeling for Rosalie and I love him so much for it.

I love the friendship the guys have and how glad they are to have Tom home with them. Watching him relearn to flirt with Rosalie was so much fun. But watching him struggle with his insecurities and pining for his first love made me want to strangle him.

James was the most relatable to me. Rosalie was right when she called him Atlas. He is shouldering the weight of his family’s responsibilities while trying to corral his wastrel of a brother and it shows in how much he tried to control everything including denying his attraction to Rosalie.

The banter, tension, and spice was everything I could have hoped for. This book was a bit of a slow burn while the foundation for all of the relationships is being built but it quickly takes off in the next book.

Beautiful Things is a refreshing twist on Regency romance with a delicious modern edge. I wasn’t expecting a reverse harem set in the early 1800s, but Emily Rath makes it work with great dialogue, romantic tension, and a FMC who knows exactly what she wants (even if she’s still figuring out how to get it).

Rosalie is a fabulous main character. She's clever, independent, and genuinely easy to root for. Watching her navigate the tangled web of high society, social expectations, and three very different (and very swoony) love interests kept me turning the pages.

That said, some of the modern language and behavior occasionally pulled me out of the historical setting. There’s also a cliffhanger ending, which I don’t mind, but definitely wasn’t expecting in a Regency romance!

Still, the tension, chemistry, and relationships made this a quick and fun read. If you’re a fan of why-choose romance and don’t mind some historical liberties, Beautiful Things is a unique and spicy treat. I can’t wait to see what happens in book two!

If you're a fan of Bridgerton but have thought hey, this could use some more peppers on the heat level- this is the book for you. It's a slower burn to start, because regency romance and all that, so there will be saucy glances and some light touches... but trust when I say the spice will get you. I mean, it's reverse harem so... you know. 3 men are better than 1 and all that. So fun. So very messy. I loved every second. The ending was DRAMA and I can't wait to see how it all plays out in book 2!

You completely had me at reverse harem regency romance! Parts of this were really fun and enjoyable and anytime there's a marriage mart i'm entertained. I didn't expect this to be a continuous series so I kind of expected a little more action for such a long book. I found 2 of the love interests to be a little hard to differentiate but I liked the FMC and i'm interested to continue the series and see what all these men get up to!

Thank you to Kensington Books, NetGalley and Hambright PR for the ARC <3

This Regency romance was such a fun surprise! It’s definitely not the kind of Regency I grew up reading, this one is a spicy, why choose romance, and I absolutely loved it.

Set during a house party, the story follows a heroine who is a breath of fresh air. She’s smart, independent, and unafraid to go after what she wants. The chemistry between her and her three love interests was electric, truly off the charts. The spice level was hot but it’s a slow burn. the romantic tension and playful tone of the story is so well done.

It also sets up the next book perfectly, and I’m already excited to see what happens next.

If you enjoy historical romance but want something bold, fresh, and full of heat, I highly recommend picking this one up.

Thank you to Kensington and Hambright PR for the ARC!

This was a fun read. If you are a fan of Bridgerton, and love messy relationships, I think you would enjoy this. At the beginning so the story I was Team Burke, and by the end not so much. I loved what James did for Rosalie at the end. I need to read the next book to see what happens when all that drama blows up at the end!

I LOVED this!
Perfection in every way.
Different from the previous books I’ve read from Emily but in a great way! Amazing for fans of Emily, and historical romances alike. I’m not usually one to pick a historical romance as a top read, but this tops the list for me!

Ok so a why-choose historical romance - I mean it's the first of its kind (for me). Let me say - this probably isn't my normal cup of tea, but if Emily Rath is writing it, I'm going to read it. This slow burn was so good, and the forbidden romance kept it exciting. I just wish the passion/chemistry was a bit...more, but I'm excited to read the next one!

📖 / 3⭐️

Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinions! All opinions are my own. #BeautifulThingsDeluxeLimitedEdition #NetGalley

A headstrong woman, three very tempting suitors, and one country house party where expectations are meant to be defied. When Rosalie Harrow arrives at Alcott Hall, she thinks she’s there to meet a dowager duchess - not be swept into a whirlwind of matchmaking, mystery, and desire. With no fortune and even less interest in society’s rules, Rosalie is determined to stay out of the marriage games. But the glittering chaos of the house party has other plans. Between a brooding war hero, a charming second son, and a maddeningly irresistible guest, she soon finds herself entangled in far more than she bargained for. A sharp, sexy and utterly addictive historical romance where independence is power and falling in love is anything but proper.

At twenty-two, Rosalie Harrow faces a bleak future, which is to marry rich or work as a governess. But when she’s unexpectedly invited to a house party at Alcott Hall, she’s swept into a whirlwind of matchmaking schemes and a mystery tied to her late mother. Determined to avoid the marriage trap, Rosalie instead finds herself entangled with three very different gentlemen: Lord James, the brother of a duke; Lieutenant Renly and the tempestuous Mr Burke, the illegitimate son of a duke, who irks Rosalie. With the Michaelmas ball looming and pressure mounting, Rosalie must decide what freedom really means and whether love might be worth the risk.
Rosalie is a headstrong and engaging heroine, and her interactions with the three suitors, each compelling in his own way, make for an entertaining read. The witty dialogue and rich historical setting add charm and depth to the story. I must admit to being disappointed by the way the other female characters were portrayed. Rather than exploring potential friendships between the women, the narrative leans heavily into rivalry and competition for male attention. This did tend to undermine the story. I did find that there was plenty of romantic tension between the characters, but I was a bit frustrated by the cliffhanger ending.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.