I normally live historical romance but this one just didn't do it for me. I was bored. I didn't care for the storyline.
3 stars
Many thanks to Net Galley and Tantor Audio for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

Manic Pixie Dream Earl is a fun and adventurous historical romance. It kicks off with the meeting between poet Edward "Effie" and he's editor Julianna. The latter believes Effie to be a woman is throughly surprised when encountering a handsome earl. So trouble and romance ensues. I really enjoyed the found family and the warm humor in the book. The romance was sweet and I liked how headstrong Julianna was. It's dual POV which I think serves the story right. I liked that Julianna was a working woman and there was no fuss about it. Moreover I applaud the lqbtq representation and that the author chose to drop some unnecessary drama. Do read if you like tropes such as;
Friends to lovers
Mistaken identities
Forced proximity
Found family
Cinnamon roll MMC
LGBTQ rep
Regency romance
Humor

1.5 stars ⭐️✨

Overall, I felt like this book had a lot of potential since the plot sounded really nice. However, it was just difficult to keep track of the audiobook because I kept getting the characters confused even from the start.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the audiobook arc.

This was my first audiobook ever and it shouldn’t have been. Being set in England, it was hard to follow and understand and was slow…..I did enjoy the funny parts and the character banter however I’m not sure I would have loved it more if it was not audio

This is outside my typical genre and I enjoyed stepping outside my comfort zone and trying something new. I don't think it will be something I will regularly reach for but I enjoyed Jenny's writing style and ability to captive me with the story and draw me in to her characters and keep me engaged with the story development.

I had so much fun listening to this audiobook!
They felt so real it was scary!
I hope to read more from the author (soon, please).
And I hope that the author and the narrator can work together again.

I enjoyed the zippy banter in this novel and the unique characters and the historical setting. It's a fun premise where pen pals fall in love without the knowledge that they are actually male and female, not female to female and the surprise is sweet. It's a enjoyable novel with some definitely spicy love scenes. I listened to the audio version and the narrator was great. Recommended for fun. 3.5 Stars
Many thanks to Net Galley and Tantor Audio | Tantor Media for a chance to listen/read an ARC version of this book.

On this year's earl's trip, the boys are in Brighton, and Effie admits not only has he been secretly writing for a woman's magazine for sometime, but he's fallen in love with his editor. Her name is Juliana, and she believes Effie is a woman named Euphemia. When Juliana decides to take a holiday Brighton, the two finally meet and Effie's secrets are revealed. As they begin to know each other as their true selves, they have to figure out if there's a path forward for two people with such different lives.

This was a fun read. Nothing crazy but easy to follow. Very mid level for me personally, but sometimes you need that, ya know? Listened to this on a plane and it was the perfect way to read this book. Thanks for letting me listen

Bridgerton with a twist! I am obsessed with the narrator; I felt like I was on the ton. Loved the MMC - he was funny and relatable. Effie, the FMC, was a bit immature at times, but won me over. I can't wait to read/listen to more from this author, 4.5 stars!

This book was so much fun. It was a great follow-up to book 1 and the narrator did a great job. I'm excited for book 3 and to get another chance to be in this fun and accepting universe that the author created.

Jenny Holliday has delivered yet another fun Earls trip that was an easy read.

Effie, our hero, is just so sweet. He's kind, been through a lot of childhood trauma, a little effeminate, a romantic poet and in love with his editor who he has never met.

Juliana out plucky heroine, is stubborn until the very last end, until she realizes what really matters to her. She loved Effie but is really a bit of a coward to see her love through all the way.

A meeting during the Earls trip brings Effie and Juliana face to face. As they spend time together, the magic that they had in their correspondence grows into something big, too big, which has them retreating.

Effies earl cohorts are amazing. Cannot wait to read book 3 of this series.

The narration was well done and kept the book flowing.

#ManicPixieDreamEarl

This was a delight! I really enjoyed the friendship between the main character and his found family. I was initially concerned I wouldn’t like the miscommunication between the fmc assuming the mmc was female during their early correspondence, but when she recognized him as her penpal immediately upon seeing him in public I was ALL IN.
Effie was such a fun character. He is so easy to enjoy and I enjoyed Julianna’s character as a comparison to his flights of fancy.
This is a great summer read for anyone who enjoys light hearted regency era novels with a bit of spice.
I thought the narrator was great!
Many thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy for my pleasure to review.

A nice fresh twist on the regency romance, the main characters strive to break gender norms in the wonderful sequel to ‘Earls Trip’. Miss Julianna Evans, a self proclaimed spinster has chosen a life without marriage in order to further her career as a magazine editor. Edward or Effie is a regular writer for her magazine and the two strike up a fast friendship. One day Julianna decides she will set off for the coast to try and meet her dear friend Effie. Little does she know that Effie is actually a man, and not any man but a viscount.

Went in with no prior experience with the characters. I guess the title intrigued me. The main character has wealth, good friends, and a passion for writing. He spends his time on “boys” trips but has never fallen in love with a woman before. It turns out that the newspaper editor he has been corresponding with is a strong, determined, independent woman who assumed he was a woman. When they finally meet she teaches him about what he has been missing and then he has to do some soul searching to figure out what he really wants from life.

The plot involves a group of friends who are Earls that go on a yearly trip together. Effie is such a fun character, a little chaotic but sensible all the same. Juliana is his editor, from the working class and 10 years older. She thinks Effie is a woman and Effie thinks he is in love. When they meet in person their connection is instant and the same as their letters. They were adorable together, such a fun read.

4/5 Stars | The Sad Earl (Viscount, whatever) Club™ 🥀🎩

What I liked:
The friendship in this series is a shining example of how found family can thrive in historical romance. Jenny Holiday continues to write male characters who are not only emotionally intelligent but mutually respectful of one another’s partners, which feels like a revelation in this genre. I was particularly fond of the emotional depth in Earl’s Trip, and while this had a slightly different flavor, it still delivered some unexpected poignancy. The softness! The yearning! The quiet support! Bless these men and their feelings. Also REALLY loved the narrator on this one!

What I didn't like:
This one fell into a trap that I usually only see in second-chance romance, even though it wasn't one. It focused a little too heavily on why things wouldn’t work, and not showing us quite enough of why they would. I wanted more moments of connection, more glimpses into the foundation of their love beyond their obstacles. And Effie’s family issues? That resolution felt less like healing and more like slapping a decorative pillow on a broken chair. Not a total miss, but not as deeply felt as I hoped.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for an audio copy of this book.

Thank you RBmedia and NetGalley for the eALC of this book.

It was delightful, a burst of color and flavor and zest! A GREAT BEACH READ! Fun, zippy, uplifting, sweet, charming; just a bright sunshine sort of RomCom. The blurb on Goodreads starts with the description "Ted Lasso meets Bridgerton" and that description captures the vibe of this book well! If the title speaks to you, you'll dig it! It's effervescent!

One thing that I love is a wacky, off-the-wall historical romance. I LOVED the first book in this series, Earl’s Trip, last year, and have been very intrigued about the continuation of the series, especially with a title like that, and I’m happy to report that I was not disappointed! This story was so unique and hilarious and so much fun. Effie and Juliana were great characters and their friends-to-lovers journey definitely had some unexpected twists but I loved them and their development. I think the focus on male friendships in this series is so good and something I hope we see more of in this genre. I absolutely recommend this if you’re looking for a fun and historical romance!

I adored the first book in this series, Earls Trip, and by its description, Manic Pixie Dream Earl should have been a slam dunk winner for me. And it was objectively fine - solid plot, compelling characters, fantastic well-cast narration - but subjectively it just missed the mark for me. Maybe it was a matter of slower pacing, maybe it was the overly-effeminate hero, maybe it was just not the right book at the time, but there was just something missing for me. I think this author is solid and that this book will find its audience, and if you enjoy modernized historical romance with feisty characters, definitely give this one a try!

Thank you to Tantor Audio for gifting me with an ALC to review. All opinions are my own.