Thank you so much to Joanna Shupe and NetGalley for this audio ARC.

This Anastasia retelling was a fun and quick read. If you are a reader that enjoys insta-lust, a morally gray man turned good in order to be the man she deserves, this book is for you.

Although marketed as historical romance, taking place during the Gilded Age. I think that the author could have better immersed us into that time period.

The voice actors did a great job portraying their characters!

This was a fun storyline, with some spice 3.5/5 ⭐

I’m not normally a historical girly but I actually enjoyed this. My only issue was the constant con because throughout the book they could have been a great couple but it hurt me that he was going to hurt her in the end. My only other complaint was the way she found out hated Leo and never wanted to talk to him again but then continued to chase after him afterwards. Overall, it was a good read. My only other complaint was with the audiobook. I’m not sure what the exact issue was but with the audiobook I was given the chapters were completely off by at least 2 chapters. I was a little nervous toward the end because I only had one audio chapter left but I was behind two chapters. Hopefully when it’s released this isn’t an issue they have. Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for giving me the audiobook and Kindle version to read!

Adventurous and sexy, I had the best time with this book! Set in Boston and New York in the Gilded Age, this is a perfect retelling of Anastasia in my opinion. The key elements are there but with a fun twist that had me invested in the characters the whole time.

Josie is a sweet and fun FMC. I love her attitude and wit. With Leo being such a charming MMC, im glad that she wasnt too innocent and could have some give and take with him. I love when a morally grey mmc is a softie for the fmc, and that is exactly what happens with these two.

To me, this read a bit more modern than other historical romances. It's not very history heavy other than the time period and I do not say that as a bad thing. I really think contemporary romance readers will find themselves enjoying this one as it is romance heavy with a fun plot. Even romantasy readers can have a fun time with this one.

I LOVED the audiobook. The narrators do a fantastic job, their voices are soooo smooth and easy to listen to. I could speed it up or listen slower and enjoyed it. Highly recommend this on audio!!!!

Thank you so much to HaperAudio Adult for the ALC through Netgalley!!

An Anastasia retelling set during the gilded age of America is just a great idea all around. I feel like the amount of spice (too much) didn’t match up with the time period, and the relationship could have used more depth and time to feel believable, but otherwise a fun and cute read.

Thank you, Netgalley, Harper Voyager, and Avon for this ARC. Opinions are my own.

What a fantastic story! Retelling of Anastasia in the gilded age. I listened to the audio on this book, and the narrators did a phenomenal job! It was very entertaining that you felt like you were right there in the story with them. Josie grew up in an orphanage with her best friend Pippa, wanting to be a famous singer. Leo con artists wants to pass her off for lost heiress but falls in love instead. The lies, twists, found family, and love are the best. I absolutely recommend reading or listening to this book when it comes out!

**The Gilded Heiress** by Joanna Shupe (narrated by Eva Kaminski and Aaron Shedlock; published by Harper Audio)

The premise of *The Gilded Heiress* drew me in immediately. Set in 1880, it revolves around Leo Hardy, a charming swindler responsible for supporting his mother and five sisters after his father’s death. When a reward is offered for a missing heiress, Leo sees his opportunity—even though he isn’t convinced Josie Smith, a street‑corner singer raised in an orphanage with no memory of her past, is truly the lost daughter. It’s a compelling setup—rich in historical drama with an *Anastasia*‑inspired twist.

While the premise intrigued me, the execution of the central romance fell short of expectations. The emotional connection between Leo and Josie felt underdeveloped, and their chemistry lacked the depth needed to be believable. Many moments had clear potential but needed more narrative weight and character nuance to resonate fully.

That said, the audiobook narration was exceptional. Kaminski and Shedlock brought vibrant life and emotion to the story, enhancing an otherwise uneven romance. Their performances elevated the material and made the listening experience stand out.

Overall, I’d give it 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 for the narrators’ outstanding delivery and the story’s inherent charm. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for the ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Unfortunately I'll be DNFing about 20% into. I did not realize this was a spicy book and it's thrown in your face within the second chapter. The premise sounded interesting and definitely like a historical romance with a twist, but I could deal without the spice. The writing also was not that great and was dragging early on.

Do I love a scoundrel? Yes.
Do I love an adult Anastasia retelling? Also yes.
Did I want this book to be higher heat? Alas, yes.

This book opens with a bang (where better to hide than in a brothel with a lady sitting on your face?!) and then did not proceed to be as hot. Readers who don't like to see one of the MCs in bed with others during the story be warned. It does happen before they meet tho.

But overall this was fun, if a tad clearly laid out for the reader. And I did quite enjoy the fairy tale ending to a fairy tale story!

The book flew by as I read via audio, and I thoroughly enjoyed the dual POV by dual narrators Eva Kaminsky and Aaron Shedlock. If this becomes a series I am ready and willing!

Dual narration - Eva Kaminsky & Aaron Shedlock

This was a great listen. I really enjoyed it. I like the witty writing.

A fun Anastasia retelling. The narration was fantastic performed.
The old times setting was intriguing for me. I enjoyed the writing. The author has a great style of development a story.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook before the release!

I honestly was took aback by this book as I usually love and read high-fantasy or dark and gothic books. This was definitely in a different genre but I feel like it was a great suprise. I feel like the character building was fantastic as well as the plot that kept my attention. It was a very sweet book and would highly recommend!

Since this was an audiobook I'd love to note that the narrators did fantastic with their accents and different voices for characters.

I'd already had the chance to read a digital ARC of this book, so I went into the audio book familiar with the world, the characters, and the story. Both narrators did a wonderful job bringing these characters to life, especially the MMC. The slightly gritty quality of his voice perfectly captures how smart, sly, and charming Leo is.

If you loved Anastasia growing up specifically because you loved the friends to lovers romance between a long lost heiress and a charming con man, you'll love this book.

3.75
Josie has lived all her life longing for a family after growing up in an asylum. She seeks to make a name for herself as a singer and it looks like she's found her ticket to success when she meets Leo, a handsome young man who offers to be her manager. What she doesn't know is that Leo is actually a conman hoping to swindle the wealthy Pendleton family into thinking she is their long lost daughter and claiming the reward for himself. But what they both don't know might just be the biggest shock of all.

I enjoyed the forbidden romance that blossoms between Josie and Leo, but I found the mystery to be far too easily solved. A lot of things just fall into place and the ending felt especially rushed. I like that we get two different narrators for the two different POVs but the female narrators voice fluctuated so much that I had to constantly adjust the volume. Maybe best as an eBook or physical book.