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Fairfax Sisters #1
The Mismatch of the Season
Calling all Bridgerton and Jane Austen fans! You are cordially invited to fall in love with your favorite new Regency romance novel…‘I don’t pretend to know the details of your private life, Miss Fairfax, but you might do better to embrace the fortunate position into which you were born, rather than regret the one that only exists between the covers of a novel’
Miss Phoebe Fairfax dreams of being as free as her four brothers. When she discovers she is to be wed to a repugnant earl who is old enough to be her grandfather, she decides to embark on a real adventure…
Enter the insufferable – and insufferably gorgeous – Viscount Damerel.
A must-read for fans of Evie Dunmore, Martha Waters and Virginia Heath
Miss Phoebe Fairfax dreams of being as free as her four brothers. When she discovers she is to be wed to a repugnant earl who is old enough to be her grandfather, she decides to embark on a real adventure…
Enter the insufferable – and insufferably gorgeous – Viscount Damerel.
A must-read for fans of Evie Dunmore, Martha Waters and Virginia Heath
321 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 10, 2025
249 people are currently reading
1249 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Kenney
7 books61 followersI’m a firm believer in magic, and that ancient doorways to other worlds can still be found if we look hard enough. I’m also a hopeless scribbleaholic and, when left to my own devices, likes nothing better than to dream up new fantasy worlds in the back of a dog-eared notebook. Doctors say they're unlikely to find a cure any time soon.
In between scribbling, I love reading, running, attempting to play bluegrass and beach treasure-hunting with my small people (dreamers-in-training).
Somehow, I have an LLB (hons) degree, an APD in Public Relations and I’m an Accredited Practitioner with the CIPR. But I’m definitely happiest curled up against a rainy window, with my nose in a book!
I’m represented by Northbank Talent Management, and love chatting all things book-related at https://www.facebook.com/BookofFireMK Twitter: @mkenneypr and Instagram: @mich_kenneyauthor
Book of Fire is the first in a YAFantasy Trilogy published by HarperCollins HQ. City of Dust, Book 2, was published October 2018 (digital) and December 2018 (paperback), and Storm of Ash, the final instalment was published in December 2019 (Digital) and February 2020 (Paperback)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
January 12, 2025
If you love BOTH Pride and Prejudice the novel, and Pride and Prejudice the movie…I think you will be bewitched body and soul by The Mismatch of the Season. This Austen-esque regency takes a few liberties with the Era that end up feeling like a wink to modern Jane fans without distracting at all from a rich plot with a broody viscount and adventurous heroine-to-be. I sped through the last 75% and enjoyed the very satisfying conclusion. The characters are detailed, endearing and the relationship between the Fairfax sisters feels reminiscent of Little Women in the best way possible. I would call this a cozy historical romance, and I really hope this author continues in this genre!
December 31, 2024
My last ARC review of the year 🥹💕
The Mismatch of the Season is a clean historical romance that follows Phoebe as she attempts to have a last adventure before her marriage to a much older Earl. Alexander is the surly Viscount who always seems to be there to complicate her escapades.
This book was super fun and gave me the same feelings as watching an early 2000s regency movie. For me the romance was actually overshadowed by the family relationships (which I’m totally okay with because sisters before misters). The bond between the Phoebe and her sisters was hands down the best part of the book. However, the romance was still tension filled and delightful, as all historical romances should be (please stand six feet apart and yearn without touching thank you)!😌🫶🏻
There were a few issues with pacing and accuracy, but overall this was enjoyable and felt generally well researched. I wish that some of my favorite side characters got a bit more closure, but I’m a big fan of epilogues so I might be biased. Still had a great time so 4/5 ⭐️s!
Special thanks to One More Chapter and Harper Collins UK for the advance copy!
The Mismatch of the Season is a clean historical romance that follows Phoebe as she attempts to have a last adventure before her marriage to a much older Earl. Alexander is the surly Viscount who always seems to be there to complicate her escapades.
This book was super fun and gave me the same feelings as watching an early 2000s regency movie. For me the romance was actually overshadowed by the family relationships (which I’m totally okay with because sisters before misters). The bond between the Phoebe and her sisters was hands down the best part of the book. However, the romance was still tension filled and delightful, as all historical romances should be (please stand six feet apart and yearn without touching thank you)!😌🫶🏻
There were a few issues with pacing and accuracy, but overall this was enjoyable and felt generally well researched. I wish that some of my favorite side characters got a bit more closure, but I’m a big fan of epilogues so I might be biased. Still had a great time so 4/5 ⭐️s!
Special thanks to One More Chapter and Harper Collins UK for the advance copy!
January 10, 2025
What’s a girl to do 🤷♀️
What a whirlwind ride! Following the escapades of a young woman who wants to have freedom and not have to marry the purple onion Duke is anything but calm.
Her first attempt at freedom has Phoebe Fairfax fleeing her home dressed as a youth on the mail coach. At a dinner stop she unwittingly imbibes in the landlords “devils brew”, challenges a highway man to a duel and is injured and rescued by the noted Corinthian Viscount Damerel who mistakes her for a ‘bit of muslin’ as Phoebe so succinctly terms it.
Realising his mistake Damerel takes her back to her home and her dreadful older brother Thomas who is insisting she accept the betrothal pledge her father had made with the Earl of Cumberland just after she was born. It’s a matter of honor!
However their Aunt Harriet persuades Thomas to allow his sisters to go to Bath for the waters for Phoebe’s younger invalided sister, Josephine.
The visit doesn’t start well with Phoebe’s generous nature being maligned by a vicious young society thing who has an understanding taken at birth with the Viscount.
There’s drama, drugs, horses getting away, falling into rivers and a host of other mishaps that Phoebe gets blamed for. What a train wreck!
I absolutely loved this!
A One More Chapter invitation read via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
What a whirlwind ride! Following the escapades of a young woman who wants to have freedom and not have to marry the purple onion Duke is anything but calm.
Her first attempt at freedom has Phoebe Fairfax fleeing her home dressed as a youth on the mail coach. At a dinner stop she unwittingly imbibes in the landlords “devils brew”, challenges a highway man to a duel and is injured and rescued by the noted Corinthian Viscount Damerel who mistakes her for a ‘bit of muslin’ as Phoebe so succinctly terms it.
Realising his mistake Damerel takes her back to her home and her dreadful older brother Thomas who is insisting she accept the betrothal pledge her father had made with the Earl of Cumberland just after she was born. It’s a matter of honor!
However their Aunt Harriet persuades Thomas to allow his sisters to go to Bath for the waters for Phoebe’s younger invalided sister, Josephine.
The visit doesn’t start well with Phoebe’s generous nature being maligned by a vicious young society thing who has an understanding taken at birth with the Viscount.
There’s drama, drugs, horses getting away, falling into rivers and a host of other mishaps that Phoebe gets blamed for. What a train wreck!
I absolutely loved this!
A One More Chapter invitation read via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
February 2, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this story and this is my freely given opinion.
This is a new to me author and I would not mind seeing more from her. This is a historical romance set in the Regency era with a young woman seeking to live beyond the boundaries set by her family and Society.
Miss Phoebe Fairfax finds herself about to be arranged in a betrothal to an Earl older than her parents. But before that happens, she runs off seeking an adventure for herself. This leads her down the path to a series of misadventures and follies that are witnessed and disdained by others in society including the popular, handsome Alexander, Viscount Damerel, and the conniving Aurelia. But even as Phoebe frequently falls (literally and figuratively) into missteps and embarrassments and finds that maybe adventures are not as great as they are cracked up to be, her spirit and fortitude seems to win the heart of the grumpy, stoic, disdainful viscount.
This is a cute, low steam, rom-com, enemies to lovers historical romance. There were some issues with language and terminology for the era, such as too much of the use of "okay", and I am finding the mean-girl dynamic rivalry between Aurelia and Phoebe more believable and interesting than a romance between Damarel and Phoebe. But it was cute and I feel for Phoebe feeling trapped and wanting to grab some living for herself before facing decades of having her spirit stifled in a forced marriage.
3 stars out of 5
This is a new to me author and I would not mind seeing more from her. This is a historical romance set in the Regency era with a young woman seeking to live beyond the boundaries set by her family and Society.
Miss Phoebe Fairfax finds herself about to be arranged in a betrothal to an Earl older than her parents. But before that happens, she runs off seeking an adventure for herself. This leads her down the path to a series of misadventures and follies that are witnessed and disdained by others in society including the popular, handsome Alexander, Viscount Damerel, and the conniving Aurelia. But even as Phoebe frequently falls (literally and figuratively) into missteps and embarrassments and finds that maybe adventures are not as great as they are cracked up to be, her spirit and fortitude seems to win the heart of the grumpy, stoic, disdainful viscount.
This is a cute, low steam, rom-com, enemies to lovers historical romance. There were some issues with language and terminology for the era, such as too much of the use of "okay", and I am finding the mean-girl dynamic rivalry between Aurelia and Phoebe more believable and interesting than a romance between Damarel and Phoebe. But it was cute and I feel for Phoebe feeling trapped and wanting to grab some living for herself before facing decades of having her spirit stifled in a forced marriage.
3 stars out of 5
January 21, 2025
• A Mans World •
| time piece | regency romance | rake | bodice ripper | arranged marriage | strong willed FMC | dreamer | tension | angst | unique voice | man obsessed | third person | high society | steamy | slow burn | HEA |
Would I recommend? YES.
Was there spice? No, but there was so much tension.
This was my first regency romance. I have always wanted to give this sub-genre a try and I am so glad that I did because I loved every moment of this story.
It kept me on my toes and at the edge of my seat the entire time. I truly had so much fun reading this, even if, at times I didn’t fully understand the terms or references.
This story was a wild ride, with twists and turns. I was completely immersed from start to finish. A story full of tension, longing, and the endless dreams of a woman who just wants to be a heroine on a grand adventure.
I love a strong minded FMC, and Phoebe delivered. There were so many things to love about this story. The slow burn romance was so worth the wait. Although we don’t get spice in this book, what we did get was so delicious to witness.
Happy Reading, Friends xx
| time piece | regency romance | rake | bodice ripper | arranged marriage | strong willed FMC | dreamer | tension | angst | unique voice | man obsessed | third person | high society | steamy | slow burn | HEA |
Would I recommend? YES.
Was there spice? No, but there was so much tension.
This was my first regency romance. I have always wanted to give this sub-genre a try and I am so glad that I did because I loved every moment of this story.
It kept me on my toes and at the edge of my seat the entire time. I truly had so much fun reading this, even if, at times I didn’t fully understand the terms or references.
This story was a wild ride, with twists and turns. I was completely immersed from start to finish. A story full of tension, longing, and the endless dreams of a woman who just wants to be a heroine on a grand adventure.
I love a strong minded FMC, and Phoebe delivered. There were so many things to love about this story. The slow burn romance was so worth the wait. Although we don’t get spice in this book, what we did get was so delicious to witness.
Happy Reading, Friends xx
December 8, 2024
I so wanted to love this Regency romp, but the pacing was off and it lacked historical accuracy. I felt for Phoebe, destined by her father's will to marry an ancient earl, but felt the societal inequality between men and women was hammered home too much. Other histrom fans may indeed love it, but it was not for me.
April 13, 2025
Too many unlikeable characters for such a short book.
November 30, 2024
The premise of this book kept reminding me of a few paintings from the 1800s that depict sad, young brides standing next to old men, their grooms. There’s also a painting of a young woman in a wedding gown bookended by two sisters who are consoling her as she looks completely blank at the viewer. A younger sister is trying on her floral crown behind them.
This book fulfills the voice inside us as modern women when we look at these paintings and think “run!”
Phoebe’s father stipulated in his will that his daughter would marry the elderly Earl of Cumberland. Phoebe’s brother sees no reason to give her a season as Phoebe’s future has been determined. She is desperate for the freedom and adventure that her brothers have in the four months before the wedding. So she runs.
Phoebe’s first adventure is short-lived, but it does introduce her to Alexander, a Viscount who becomes her love interest and nemesis when Phoebe and her sisters are sent to Bath for a little bit of a social season with an aunt. Phoebe gets caught up in some wild escapades, mostly because of her friendship with another debutante who has been engaged to Alexander since birth.
In addition to this main plot about Phoebe’s adventuring, we have her three sisters, Alexander’s two siblings, a love interest for Alexander’s brother, and look at how asthma was being treated in this time.
There are times when Alexander seems like a Darcy character and his brother seems like Bingley. They are the grumpy/sunshine brothers. Phoebe and her closest sister Sophie definitely seem like Elizabeth and Jane Bennet.
There’s a big reveal towards the end about that father’s will and why he wanted his first born daughter to marry the Earl of Cumberland. It’s maddening and sadly realistic.
Overall, this was a romcom, but it dealt with some really heavy themes. It was a fun and interesting read.
This book fulfills the voice inside us as modern women when we look at these paintings and think “run!”
Phoebe’s father stipulated in his will that his daughter would marry the elderly Earl of Cumberland. Phoebe’s brother sees no reason to give her a season as Phoebe’s future has been determined. She is desperate for the freedom and adventure that her brothers have in the four months before the wedding. So she runs.
Phoebe’s first adventure is short-lived, but it does introduce her to Alexander, a Viscount who becomes her love interest and nemesis when Phoebe and her sisters are sent to Bath for a little bit of a social season with an aunt. Phoebe gets caught up in some wild escapades, mostly because of her friendship with another debutante who has been engaged to Alexander since birth.
In addition to this main plot about Phoebe’s adventuring, we have her three sisters, Alexander’s two siblings, a love interest for Alexander’s brother, and look at how asthma was being treated in this time.
There are times when Alexander seems like a Darcy character and his brother seems like Bingley. They are the grumpy/sunshine brothers. Phoebe and her closest sister Sophie definitely seem like Elizabeth and Jane Bennet.
There’s a big reveal towards the end about that father’s will and why he wanted his first born daughter to marry the Earl of Cumberland. It’s maddening and sadly realistic.
Overall, this was a romcom, but it dealt with some really heavy themes. It was a fun and interesting read.
December 1, 2024
I wanted to quit when a character reading Sense and Sensibility said how swoony Colonel Brandon was when he rescued Marianne and carried her in from the rain. JFC. That was in a movie not the book.
This was wild romp with little historical accuracy that struggled with pacing. Phoebe constantly thought about her situation. We know she wants male freedoms and an adventure but I was beaten over the head it.
I received an arc from NetGalley
This was wild romp with little historical accuracy that struggled with pacing. Phoebe constantly thought about her situation. We know she wants male freedoms and an adventure but I was beaten over the head it.
I received an arc from NetGalley
January 10, 2025
I am not much of a romance reader, but when I do choose to read one, I tend to sway towards a historical one. Particularly if it has that Regency Austenesque type feel to it.
Jane Austen is my all time favourite author and this is like a more modern version of her books. It has a Mr Darcy type love interest, a family of young sisters and a fantastic lead heroine in Phoebe Fairfax. It reminded me of Little Women too with the heartwarming relationship between the sisters, each with their own unique personality. This novel has such a great mix of themes to it that I love!
You join Phoebe on a journey of self discovery. She is a strong willed young woman who craves adventure like the heroines in her novels she reads and being so restricted in society frustrates her. She ends up getting in some very awkward situations that will make you cringe on her behalf!
I fell in love with the moody and dashing Viscount, I was literally swooning and kept picturing Colin Firth as Mr Darcy in my head. There is no spice, it is all about the eye contact and body language which again, gave me all the beautiful classic Austen vibes.
It is witty and compelling, with a fun and richly told plot full of drama and beautiful emotional scenes that brought me so much joy. That is the main thing I loved about this story - it made me smile! It was such a comfort read and an absolute delight from beginning to end. The writing is perfection, I don’t have any negatives to give it except I wish it was longer! It was just the book I needed to brighten up a gloomy January. It is a new favourite book of mine and it deserves all the stars! I could go on forever about it!
Jane Austen is my all time favourite author and this is like a more modern version of her books. It has a Mr Darcy type love interest, a family of young sisters and a fantastic lead heroine in Phoebe Fairfax. It reminded me of Little Women too with the heartwarming relationship between the sisters, each with their own unique personality. This novel has such a great mix of themes to it that I love!
You join Phoebe on a journey of self discovery. She is a strong willed young woman who craves adventure like the heroines in her novels she reads and being so restricted in society frustrates her. She ends up getting in some very awkward situations that will make you cringe on her behalf!
I fell in love with the moody and dashing Viscount, I was literally swooning and kept picturing Colin Firth as Mr Darcy in my head. There is no spice, it is all about the eye contact and body language which again, gave me all the beautiful classic Austen vibes.
It is witty and compelling, with a fun and richly told plot full of drama and beautiful emotional scenes that brought me so much joy. That is the main thing I loved about this story - it made me smile! It was such a comfort read and an absolute delight from beginning to end. The writing is perfection, I don’t have any negatives to give it except I wish it was longer! It was just the book I needed to brighten up a gloomy January. It is a new favourite book of mine and it deserves all the stars! I could go on forever about it!
August 23, 2025
2.5
The most unromantic romance book I think I’ve ever read
The most unromantic romance book I think I’ve ever read
December 12, 2024
Looking for a romantic Regency that take all your blues away? The Mismatch of the Season is an exemplary tale of a young woman, Phoebe Fairfax, who yearns to have adventures and be afforded the same freedoms as her brothers. However, her brother is fulfilling his late father's wishes to have Phoebe wed a revolting Earl who is old enough to be her father. Thus, Phoebe risks her life to have one last adventure, and ends up falling into the hands of the Viscount Damerel. As one can imagine, all sense and sensibility is lost.
Some compare this story to Bridgerton, but this is not as racy, and is in fact rather clean. Phoebe's misfortunes lead to further escapades and encounters with the steamy Viscount, eliciting much quarrelling, as attracted pairs do. She also, however, has three younger sisters she has to protect, so she has a choice to make; fix her woeful outcome in life or set up her sisters to have a chance at love and successful marriages.
This is an entertaining read that will conjure laughs and tears. It is refreshing to dive into a story without raucous sex scenes every once in a while, and The Mismatch of the Season delivers.
Thank you to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
Some compare this story to Bridgerton, but this is not as racy, and is in fact rather clean. Phoebe's misfortunes lead to further escapades and encounters with the steamy Viscount, eliciting much quarrelling, as attracted pairs do. She also, however, has three younger sisters she has to protect, so she has a choice to make; fix her woeful outcome in life or set up her sisters to have a chance at love and successful marriages.
This is an entertaining read that will conjure laughs and tears. It is refreshing to dive into a story without raucous sex scenes every once in a while, and The Mismatch of the Season delivers.
Thank you to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
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December 17, 2024A wonderful regency romp! I’m such a big fan of regency romance, and this book had everything I expect from the genre, plus a distinctly unshrinking heroine who just wants a little adventure before being married off to someone old enough to be her father. I loved her character - so many of her perspectives felt fresh and insightful that it brought novelty to a well-trodden genre.
October 5, 2025
tbh i wanted someone to shoot her brother and the fact he just basically got away with how awful he was to her throughout the whole book just didn’t feel satisfactory for me.
the romance in this was lacking big time but any glimpses we did get were fine, i don’t mind when romance is a subplot but it also has to be strong enough for me to actually believe it an unfortunately at times it just felt like it was forced a little. he kept popping up randomly out of the blue and i can only read that so many times before i get exhausted with it.
phoebe was also so hypocritical she berated and was quick to turn on alex for one little thing yet continued to try to come to Aurelias aid even when she was absolutely awful to her. tbh id have just left her to deal with herself.
the drama kept me intrigued though and that’s what ultimately made me finish it, there was so much going on in the family and outside of it that kept me curious.
the romance in this was lacking big time but any glimpses we did get were fine, i don’t mind when romance is a subplot but it also has to be strong enough for me to actually believe it an unfortunately at times it just felt like it was forced a little. he kept popping up randomly out of the blue and i can only read that so many times before i get exhausted with it.
phoebe was also so hypocritical she berated and was quick to turn on alex for one little thing yet continued to try to come to Aurelias aid even when she was absolutely awful to her. tbh id have just left her to deal with herself.
the drama kept me intrigued though and that’s what ultimately made me finish it, there was so much going on in the family and outside of it that kept me curious.
December 5, 2024
I understood where the FMC was coming from - the complete hypocrisy of the era that allowed men to get away with almost anything, saying boys will be boys, but young women forcibly held almost hostage by her family until she marries. So I get the longing for freedom and adventure. What didn’t work for me was the way the revelations were presented. It was very quick, very anticlimactic, and with little follow up. Thanks to One More Chapter/HarperCollins for the ARC.
February 25, 2025
ׂ╰┈➤ ★★★★☆ (3.5 ⭐️)
‘Tis the scandal of the season! Hold onto your bonnets…
‘𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 ... 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒈𝒖𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒆. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒍𝒆𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒏... 𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘, 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒏𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝒎𝒆, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 ... 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒕!’ 🙈❤️❤️
・❥・Enemies to Lovers
・❥・Forbidden Romance
・❥・Bridgerton/Jane Austen-esque
・❥・Female lead lookin for adventure
・❥・No Spice
・❥・Regency Romance
・❥・Feminist Themes
Despite this novel having a confusing start, I quite enjoyed this more than I thought. From start to finish, the FMC, Phoebe, was a strong character and I liked that she could actually stand up for herself and didn’t bend to the way society expected females to act. She was courageous, adventurous, stubborn, had a good heart and so much more. I loved the bond Phoebe had with her sisters. She was very protective.
There were some things that didn’t work for me which was the narrative it was written in. I don’t mind third person, but it got so confusing every now and then, to me it could’ve worked better in first person. Which is why on the romance side of things between the FMC and MMC, it also got a touch confusing when they were supposedly “intimate” with each other. The ending felt like it kind of dropped off. Don’t get me wrong it was a beautiful ending, but I felt there were things that were left unanswered. Like does Sophie ever find out about the captain? Does the viscount know about his brother? Just some small things for me… maybe it’ll get explained in Sophie’s story.
The glossary was good, but it would be great to have it at the beginning of the book 😅
Overall, it was great, so now I’m in the mood for more regency romance that aren’t bridgerton. Jane Austen, here I come. I want more from this author too!
𝐅𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐐𝐔𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐒 || ૮꒰ ˶• ༝ •˶꒱ა ♡ ||
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ ‘…𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘴, 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘣 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘪𝘱 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢—‘
'𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘣𝘦!' 𝘚𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘥, 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘑𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘢, 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘮 𝘴𝘶𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ ‘𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺, 𝘪𝘧 𝘸𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘸𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 male 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘪𝘴𝘮, 𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘦'𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳? 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘯'𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳,’ 𝘑𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦𝘥, 𝘵𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺, '𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘧𝘦𝘸 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘦𝘴, 𝘵𝘰𝘰... 𝘐 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘪𝘴𝘮 𝘪𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘵, 𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘳, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴, 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦!
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ '𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘐 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭'𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘶𝘦𝘭 𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘴𝘰 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩?' 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥. '𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺, 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘯?'
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ '𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥,' 𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥, 𝘳𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳, '𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵, 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘐 𝘥𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘵.'
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ …’𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘸. 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘵.'
'𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦?' 𝘚𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ ‘𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶,' 𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥.
'𝘖𝘩, 𝘺𝘦𝘴?' 𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥. '𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵? 𝘈𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘐'𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘦?'
'𝘖𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘺,' 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘥, 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨, '𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘐 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘴?’ (Damn!! 🙈)
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ '𝘐 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘋𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘭 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦,' 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥. '𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶... 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘶𝘦 𝘮𝘦, 𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘣𝘦? 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵…’
Big thanks to NetGalley, One More Chapter and HarperCollins UK for the ARC. Can’t wait to read more from this author!!
‘Tis the scandal of the season! Hold onto your bonnets…
‘𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 ... 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒈𝒖𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒆. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒍𝒆𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒏... 𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘, 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒏𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝒎𝒆, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 ... 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒕!’ 🙈❤️❤️
・❥・Enemies to Lovers
・❥・Forbidden Romance
・❥・Bridgerton/Jane Austen-esque
・❥・Female lead lookin for adventure
・❥・No Spice
・❥・Regency Romance
・❥・Feminist Themes
Despite this novel having a confusing start, I quite enjoyed this more than I thought. From start to finish, the FMC, Phoebe, was a strong character and I liked that she could actually stand up for herself and didn’t bend to the way society expected females to act. She was courageous, adventurous, stubborn, had a good heart and so much more. I loved the bond Phoebe had with her sisters. She was very protective.
There were some things that didn’t work for me which was the narrative it was written in. I don’t mind third person, but it got so confusing every now and then, to me it could’ve worked better in first person. Which is why on the romance side of things between the FMC and MMC, it also got a touch confusing when they were supposedly “intimate” with each other. The ending felt like it kind of dropped off. Don’t get me wrong it was a beautiful ending, but I felt there were things that were left unanswered. Like does Sophie ever find out about the captain? Does the viscount know about his brother? Just some small things for me… maybe it’ll get explained in Sophie’s story.
The glossary was good, but it would be great to have it at the beginning of the book 😅
Overall, it was great, so now I’m in the mood for more regency romance that aren’t bridgerton. Jane Austen, here I come. I want more from this author too!
𝐅𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐐𝐔𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐒 || ૮꒰ ˶• ༝ •˶꒱ა ♡ ||
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ ‘…𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘴, 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘣 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘪𝘱 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢—‘
'𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘣𝘦!' 𝘚𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘥, 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘑𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘢, 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘮 𝘴𝘶𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ ‘𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺, 𝘪𝘧 𝘸𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘸𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 male 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘪𝘴𝘮, 𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘦'𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳? 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘯'𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳,’ 𝘑𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦𝘥, 𝘵𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺, '𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘧𝘦𝘸 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘦𝘴, 𝘵𝘰𝘰... 𝘐 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘪𝘴𝘮 𝘪𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘵, 𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘳, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴, 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦!
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ '𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘐 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭'𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘶𝘦𝘭 𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘴𝘰 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩?' 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥. '𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺, 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘯?'
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ '𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥,' 𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥, 𝘳𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳, '𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵, 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘐 𝘥𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘵.'
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ …’𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘸. 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘵.'
'𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦?' 𝘚𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ ‘𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶,' 𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥.
'𝘖𝘩, 𝘺𝘦𝘴?' 𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥. '𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵? 𝘈𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘐'𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘦?'
'𝘖𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘺,' 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘥, 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨, '𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘐 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘴?’ (Damn!! 🙈)
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ '𝘐 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘋𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘭 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦,' 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥. '𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶... 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘶𝘦 𝘮𝘦, 𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘣𝘦? 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵…’
Big thanks to NetGalley, One More Chapter and HarperCollins UK for the ARC. Can’t wait to read more from this author!!
December 17, 2024
The Mismatch of the Season by Michelle Kenney was one that caught my eye because of the cover.
Phoebe Fairfax is our fmc and she longs to be free to do whatever she would choose to do in life but she knows that as a woman, she will never have that right - like her brothers do. What she didn't count on however was that her eldest brother would force her to marry an Earl old enough to be her grandfather just because it was supposedly her father's last wish. She hasn't even had a season. Because of that, she takes things into her own hands and decides to escape their country estate dressed as her brother and head to London. Unfortunately for Phoebe, she doesn't get too far before things take a turn and she finds herself on the wrong end of a sword wound.
To say that Viscount Damerel (Alexander) and Phoebe didn't hit things off well is probably an understatement. Not truly knowing who she was and assuming she was a random woman traveling, he did proposition her when she was in his home. He immediately takes her back home as he finds out who she is and who her eldest brother is so that does not ingratiate him with her. Add to that how judgemental he is about her actions every time they meet, she can't help but be offended by him. What Phoebe doesn't recognize is that his reactions aren't really him being judgemental as much as they are fear for the danger she continues to put herself in based on the situations the Viscount finds her. When he does disclose his feelings for her, she essentially tells him off and walks away due to that misunderstanding.
There is a lot more at play in this story than just the relationship between these two characters. There is the relationship Phoebe has with her sisters (which I loved), the underlying secret as to why Phoebe is betrothed to the Earl (which we find out Thomas knew and I am angry with him about it...he should have stood up for her more), Alexander's brother and his love interest, and then of course the mean girl of the story - Aurelia. I also thought it was interesting how much of a role the health of Phoebe's sister, Josephine, played in the book.
Overall this was a solid read. It was quick and easy to get into, the characters were interesting and I couldn't help but feel something for Phoebe locked in the situation she was with no way out due to the lack of support from her brother. I will say, if you're looking for any sort of spice, you won't find here...I don't even recall there being a kiss in this one. That said, it was still an enjoyable story. Consider picking this one up if you're looking for a clean historical romance.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
Phoebe Fairfax is our fmc and she longs to be free to do whatever she would choose to do in life but she knows that as a woman, she will never have that right - like her brothers do. What she didn't count on however was that her eldest brother would force her to marry an Earl old enough to be her grandfather just because it was supposedly her father's last wish. She hasn't even had a season. Because of that, she takes things into her own hands and decides to escape their country estate dressed as her brother and head to London. Unfortunately for Phoebe, she doesn't get too far before things take a turn and she finds herself on the wrong end of a sword wound.
To say that Viscount Damerel (Alexander) and Phoebe didn't hit things off well is probably an understatement. Not truly knowing who she was and assuming she was a random woman traveling, he did proposition her when she was in his home. He immediately takes her back home as he finds out who she is and who her eldest brother is so that does not ingratiate him with her. Add to that how judgemental he is about her actions every time they meet, she can't help but be offended by him. What Phoebe doesn't recognize is that his reactions aren't really him being judgemental as much as they are fear for the danger she continues to put herself in based on the situations the Viscount finds her. When he does disclose his feelings for her, she essentially tells him off and walks away due to that misunderstanding.
There is a lot more at play in this story than just the relationship between these two characters. There is the relationship Phoebe has with her sisters (which I loved), the underlying secret as to why Phoebe is betrothed to the Earl (which we find out Thomas knew and I am angry with him about it...he should have stood up for her more), Alexander's brother and his love interest, and then of course the mean girl of the story - Aurelia. I also thought it was interesting how much of a role the health of Phoebe's sister, Josephine, played in the book.
Overall this was a solid read. It was quick and easy to get into, the characters were interesting and I couldn't help but feel something for Phoebe locked in the situation she was with no way out due to the lack of support from her brother. I will say, if you're looking for any sort of spice, you won't find here...I don't even recall there being a kiss in this one. That said, it was still an enjoyable story. Consider picking this one up if you're looking for a clean historical romance.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 3, 2025
This Regency era romance was okay but overall disappointing. The premise sounded fun and the cover caught my eye, but I doubt this will be a memorable read for me. To be fair, I don't personally love the trope of messy FMC with a MMC who has to save her from herself and lecture her. I appreciated that the author was making a concerted effort to comment on women's limited freedoms in this era, but it was pretty heavy-handed and seemed contradictory when the FMC was saved by the MMC in every turn. It's a tough balancing act for modern authors to write historical romances without depressing repressive women narratives of the time while still writing historical romances. The mean girl antagonist of the story not being much more than The Mean Girl felt contradictory to the main theme of women making their own way and not giving her a redemption of some sort was a missed opportunity in my opinion. I didn't feel strongly for the FMC or MMC and preferred the FMC's sisters and MMC's brother. The FMC and MMC romance was fine and predictable, and they didn't much opportunity to develop their relationship beyond him saving the day and her being bitter about it.
The chapter epigraphs were helpful to signpost the timeline because it was hard to follow the plot with the uneven pacing. The prose itself was good, but some editing is necessary. Some of the overly repeated phrases (e.g. comparing FMC to an ox, calling everything 'droll') were very annoying to encounter constantly. The repetition was a major issue with this being single POV; if there was another POV, the repetition may not have been as obvious. The FMC's thoughts were very rambling and always circling back to the same conclusions and phrases. Every minor situation was revisited multiple times through the book in the thoughts of the FMC, even whole pieces of dialogue verbatim repeated for the FMC to obsess over.
I think the author has skill and a clear voice, and the core plot idea is good, but there were a few too many stumbling points for me. In any case, it'll be a quick and easy read for any historical romance reader.
Thank you, Harper Collins, for the arc!
The chapter epigraphs were helpful to signpost the timeline because it was hard to follow the plot with the uneven pacing. The prose itself was good, but some editing is necessary. Some of the overly repeated phrases (e.g. comparing FMC to an ox, calling everything 'droll') were very annoying to encounter constantly. The repetition was a major issue with this being single POV; if there was another POV, the repetition may not have been as obvious. The FMC's thoughts were very rambling and always circling back to the same conclusions and phrases. Every minor situation was revisited multiple times through the book in the thoughts of the FMC, even whole pieces of dialogue verbatim repeated for the FMC to obsess over.
I think the author has skill and a clear voice, and the core plot idea is good, but there were a few too many stumbling points for me. In any case, it'll be a quick and easy read for any historical romance reader.
Thank you, Harper Collins, for the arc!
December 6, 2024
This was a fun little Regency-era romance but I really am sick of every single historical book being marketed as "for fans of Bridgerton." Just a little pet-peeve of mine.
There is a lot of commentary about the double standard of the era, how men can do whatever they want but women are judged so harshly for doing the exact same thing (or less). But that's still very prevalent today too. Gross.
Our FMC has to marry an old man (typical and gross) and is obviously not into this idea.
I did think it was fun that each chapter header was a count down to the wedding but also had a funny little something else to it. A count down and something relevant to her personal life and inner struggles.
A very cutesy romance (not spicy - for those wondering).
I did find this to be very repetitive at times though. I am aware of the sexism and the double-standard, I don't need to be told that it exists in the exact same phrasing multiple times a chapter. That was a bit annoying to me. I like subtlety and lyrical writing when you're telling me about how garbage the world is.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
There is a lot of commentary about the double standard of the era, how men can do whatever they want but women are judged so harshly for doing the exact same thing (or less). But that's still very prevalent today too. Gross.
Our FMC has to marry an old man (typical and gross) and is obviously not into this idea.
I did think it was fun that each chapter header was a count down to the wedding but also had a funny little something else to it. A count down and something relevant to her personal life and inner struggles.
A very cutesy romance (not spicy - for those wondering).
I did find this to be very repetitive at times though. I am aware of the sexism and the double-standard, I don't need to be told that it exists in the exact same phrasing multiple times a chapter. That was a bit annoying to me. I like subtlety and lyrical writing when you're telling me about how garbage the world is.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
December 26, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for giving me access to this eARC.
We get to follow miss Phoebe Fairfax, who is about to be engaged to an older man due to her father’s dying wish. But Phoebe craves an adventure before her upcoming nuptials and she runs away, dressed as a man, to do just that.
But of course nothing turns out as one wishes it does.
I do have to say that sadly I was not a fan. The story felt all over the place, the characters were a tad boring and the love between the characters felt extremely rushed. Like when did you guys fall in love? After looking at each other?
It also was so difficult to read about a character that just ends up suffering so many misfortunes and embarrassments. I almost had to put the book down a few times and watch some TikTok’s before continuing so I didn’t get as much secondhand embarrassment…
I do believe people will like this book. It was just that I didn’t. And I wish I did because I LOVE regency romance books with all my heart.
We get to follow miss Phoebe Fairfax, who is about to be engaged to an older man due to her father’s dying wish. But Phoebe craves an adventure before her upcoming nuptials and she runs away, dressed as a man, to do just that.
But of course nothing turns out as one wishes it does.
I do have to say that sadly I was not a fan. The story felt all over the place, the characters were a tad boring and the love between the characters felt extremely rushed. Like when did you guys fall in love? After looking at each other?
It also was so difficult to read about a character that just ends up suffering so many misfortunes and embarrassments. I almost had to put the book down a few times and watch some TikTok’s before continuing so I didn’t get as much secondhand embarrassment…
I do believe people will like this book. It was just that I didn’t. And I wish I did because I LOVE regency romance books with all my heart.
December 7, 2024
Easily one of my favourite books of the year!
Enemies to lovers with a Bridgerton style twist
Phoebe is not your average heroine. She's not going to be married off to an old (albeit wealthy) earl. No, she's going to do everything in her power to avoid it. Instead of subscribing to the ideals of society and the wishes of her brother, she rebels at every turn, leading to some hilarious antics involving highwaymen, widows and famous actresses!
Her antics keep forcing her into the path of a very disagreeable viscount, seemingly determined to spoil her fun at every turn.
While he seems naughty and dismissive of her, as the story progresses, his admiration and love for her becomes apparent as he endeavours to protect her at every opportunity.
Funny, poignant, inspiring, and meticulously researched, it's a must read!
If you like Little Women, Bridgerton and Jane Austen, you will love this!
Loved every single page of this and couldn't put it down!
Enemies to lovers with a Bridgerton style twist
Phoebe is not your average heroine. She's not going to be married off to an old (albeit wealthy) earl. No, she's going to do everything in her power to avoid it. Instead of subscribing to the ideals of society and the wishes of her brother, she rebels at every turn, leading to some hilarious antics involving highwaymen, widows and famous actresses!
Her antics keep forcing her into the path of a very disagreeable viscount, seemingly determined to spoil her fun at every turn.
While he seems naughty and dismissive of her, as the story progresses, his admiration and love for her becomes apparent as he endeavours to protect her at every opportunity.
Funny, poignant, inspiring, and meticulously researched, it's a must read!
If you like Little Women, Bridgerton and Jane Austen, you will love this!
Loved every single page of this and couldn't put it down!
January 6, 2025
3.5 🌟
This was a fun palette cleanser, I wouldn't recommend it for its originality or historical accuracies but I liked it! The story follows our FMC, Phoebe Fairfax, whose hand has been promised to an elderly - onion-scented - earl in her father's will with the intent of securing the family's social standing. Phoebe has resigned herself to her fate for the sake of her sister's futures, but in her last three months of freedom she wants to experience an adventure similar to the heroines of the books she has read. The heroines in her books make adventuring look a lot easier though, because she encounters chaos at every turn, and even more infuriating than that is the viscount she keeps running into who makes his opinion of her very clear.
The romance is really more of a subplot in this one. It's a third-person POV but following Phoebe's thoughts, so while there are hints of yearning from Damerel, it's very one-dimensional and Phoebe doesn't match his intensity at all. It's more about the lengths one is willing to go to make life better for those they care about, even if it's at their own expense. I really liked the relationships between Phoebe and her sisters (very Little Women), Phoebe and her frenemy Aurelia (I sort of wish she'd been given a redemption arc) and Phoebe and the viscount's younger brother (can we please have a book for Elliot), but the chemistry between the actual main characters was lacking, and while I felt for Phoebe I didn't feel particularly connected to her.
**arc received from publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
This was a fun palette cleanser, I wouldn't recommend it for its originality or historical accuracies but I liked it! The story follows our FMC, Phoebe Fairfax, whose hand has been promised to an elderly - onion-scented - earl in her father's will with the intent of securing the family's social standing. Phoebe has resigned herself to her fate for the sake of her sister's futures, but in her last three months of freedom she wants to experience an adventure similar to the heroines of the books she has read. The heroines in her books make adventuring look a lot easier though, because she encounters chaos at every turn, and even more infuriating than that is the viscount she keeps running into who makes his opinion of her very clear.
The romance is really more of a subplot in this one. It's a third-person POV but following Phoebe's thoughts, so while there are hints of yearning from Damerel, it's very one-dimensional and Phoebe doesn't match his intensity at all. It's more about the lengths one is willing to go to make life better for those they care about, even if it's at their own expense. I really liked the relationships between Phoebe and her sisters (very Little Women), Phoebe and her frenemy Aurelia (I sort of wish she'd been given a redemption arc) and Phoebe and the viscount's younger brother (can we please have a book for Elliot), but the chemistry between the actual main characters was lacking, and while I felt for Phoebe I didn't feel particularly connected to her.
**arc received from publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
January 22, 2025
3⭐️
✨I have only read regency era romance when I read the Bridgerton books and this was so fun to read. I really liked the plot and storyline, however I do wish we had more scenes of the couple actually together and paced out a bit more but if you love Pride and Prejudice you will love this.
✨ The tension, angst and element of what is going to happen was amazing and I had so much fun reading this. Phoebe was such a chaotic fun character and you would be insane not to fall for the Viscount.
✨I really loved how much it focused on the family relationships and hope this becomes a series, I would love to get the other siblings books!!
✨I have only read regency era romance when I read the Bridgerton books and this was so fun to read. I really liked the plot and storyline, however I do wish we had more scenes of the couple actually together and paced out a bit more but if you love Pride and Prejudice you will love this.
✨ The tension, angst and element of what is going to happen was amazing and I had so much fun reading this. Phoebe was such a chaotic fun character and you would be insane not to fall for the Viscount.
✨I really loved how much it focused on the family relationships and hope this becomes a series, I would love to get the other siblings books!!
July 10, 2025
this is the first historical romance that i’ve read and i do not regret it!!! i genuinely could not put the book down, i was hooked! i laughed, i cried, i YEARNED, literally everything! this was messy in the best way possible. phoebe was continuously pissing off her brother and i was rooting for her every single time. whenever the earl was described, i actually gagged and felt so bad for phoebe. despite the descriptions, i couldn’t help but picture lord danbury from bridgerton’s queen charlotte everytime he was mentioned lol something i really enjoyed about this book was the relationship between the fairfax sisters! regardless of what was happening in their own lives, they always prioritized each other. this was a slow burn and i was just as frustrated as phoebe was.. i nearly fell to my knees in despair waiting for them to finally get together i started convincing myself that it wasn’t going to happen (spoiler alert: it did)! i’ll definitely be finishing this series, i’m so happy i picked it up!! <3
May 12, 2025
No kiss but the tension GIRL
April 8, 2025
Phoebe Fairfax is desperate to be the heroine of her own story and to have the same freedoms and opportunities as her four brothers, but instead her eldest brother has betrothed her to revolting old Earl based on the supposed 'last wishes' of her father. Phoebe will do anything to escape this fate, including disguise herself as boy as run away to London to find work on the stage. Phoebe's bold adventure is interrupted, however, by an inept highwayman and a dangerously attractive Viscount. And her adventures only get more wild and ridiculous from here.
A hilarious and thoroughly enjoyable romp that truly encapsulates the spirit of Georgette Heyer - I have already pre-ordered the next book from this author. Lots of fun!
A hilarious and thoroughly enjoyable romp that truly encapsulates the spirit of Georgette Heyer - I have already pre-ordered the next book from this author. Lots of fun!
April 2, 2025
I absolutely loved this - a fun pastiche of Jane Austen with a modern sensibility. I adored both main characters - Phoebe longs for adventure before an arranged society marriage and feels resentful about the freedom men have in comparison. She keeps getting thwarted by a Viscount, who is completely ‘lost’ with her. Great story, one I foresee reading again when you want something cheerful. Can’t wait for the next in the series.
March 18, 2025
This felt like a trope bucket of everything I would normally rave about, but something was off. I'm not even sure I know what. The pacing was strange and there were multiple times it just got going and then the chapter ended. I think I would've liked another 100 pages to flesh everyone out more and get some proper resolutions, as it felt like the side relationships I was invested in got sidelined.
Maybe I'm asking way too much from what amounts to frothy romance novel, but in my opinion, this genre matters and can do some amazing theme work when it wants to. As well as be funny, entertaining, and life changing. I don't think I'm wrong for expecting more from my favourite genre of book. I think it also suffered from being the first thing I read after finishing Evie Dunmore's League of Extraordinary Women series, which thoroughly explores the historical romance genre through the suffragette cause.
I needed more of a flavour for the main hero, particularly. I didn't like him at all throughout, and was even less convinced when I was supposed to be near the end. It has a similar hero to Devil's Cub by Georgette Heyer but I felt more convinced there, his anger equal to his passion. Here, he just felt like an annoyance who was there to make problems and put her down. He needed to show his truer colours far earlier for how short the book is (or feels, maybe). Just because you say something is true, doesn't mean it is, and him doing an about-face at the end, telling the heroine she can climb trees all she likes, just reads fake to me. That could've been tied back to a family social call at his estate and he could make a remark about how great they would be to climb, as she actually notes earlier. Better yet, he could've engaged in a game to the top and taken the fall when she gets in trouble for participating. You know, showing his joy in her adventurous nature, rather than just telling it and expecting me to believe it. I feel the same way about her brothers - give me a break, fellas.
Regardless, there were things I really liked about this book, e.g. the theme of what makes a heroine/to be heroic in an obviously restrictive time period. I liked the Captain and Dr. Kapoor, and the relationships between the sisters, and the Aunt actually having a complex personality and not just another cardboard cut out for plot purposes. I liked Phoebe herself too, and wanted more of her cross-dressing horse-riding chaos. The Sarah Siddons mention was great and would've liked if that had made a comeback too in whatever way - she mentioned she wanted to be in the theatre but never got to it throughout the plot. Again, this book should've been another 100 pages so all of these things could be circular and more fleshed out.
Maybe I'm asking way too much from what amounts to frothy romance novel, but in my opinion, this genre matters and can do some amazing theme work when it wants to. As well as be funny, entertaining, and life changing. I don't think I'm wrong for expecting more from my favourite genre of book. I think it also suffered from being the first thing I read after finishing Evie Dunmore's League of Extraordinary Women series, which thoroughly explores the historical romance genre through the suffragette cause.
I needed more of a flavour for the main hero, particularly. I didn't like him at all throughout, and was even less convinced when I was supposed to be near the end. It has a similar hero to Devil's Cub by Georgette Heyer but I felt more convinced there, his anger equal to his passion. Here, he just felt like an annoyance who was there to make problems and put her down. He needed to show his truer colours far earlier for how short the book is (or feels, maybe). Just because you say something is true, doesn't mean it is, and him doing an about-face at the end, telling the heroine she can climb trees all she likes, just reads fake to me. That could've been tied back to a family social call at his estate and he could make a remark about how great they would be to climb, as she actually notes earlier. Better yet, he could've engaged in a game to the top and taken the fall when she gets in trouble for participating. You know, showing his joy in her adventurous nature, rather than just telling it and expecting me to believe it. I feel the same way about her brothers - give me a break, fellas.
Regardless, there were things I really liked about this book, e.g. the theme of what makes a heroine/to be heroic in an obviously restrictive time period. I liked the Captain and Dr. Kapoor, and the relationships between the sisters, and the Aunt actually having a complex personality and not just another cardboard cut out for plot purposes. I liked Phoebe herself too, and wanted more of her cross-dressing horse-riding chaos. The Sarah Siddons mention was great and would've liked if that had made a comeback too in whatever way - she mentioned she wanted to be in the theatre but never got to it throughout the plot. Again, this book should've been another 100 pages so all of these things could be circular and more fleshed out.
April 2, 2025
The Mismatch of the Season is like a Regency-set comedy-of-errors, with the main character, Phoebe, falling from one escapade to the next in pursuit of adventure before her unwanted marriage to an old Earl. Phoebe has three months until the wedding, and the timer is ticking with every chapter. It has an authentic, formal style to the writing that fans of classic Regency romances might really enjoy, combined with a young, chaotic main character in a story that I've definitely never seen before. The romance is no-spice/non-explicit.
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.
January 2, 2025
My Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5
I had a really hard time with this one for a few reasons, both with the author's writing techniques, and with the characters and story itself.
Let me start with the author/story as this one is the hardest for me. The author definitely has a solid idea and a strong writing style. However, the repetition starts to wear on a reader after awhile. For example (and out of sheer curiosity), I wonder how many times the words "bourgeois" and "droll" appear as it seems to me as though they were definitely overused.
Also, I get it. The highway man was disappointing, and Phoebe wishes she had the same freedom as her brothers. It did not need to be repeated over and over again. In addition to these instances, I also grew tired of reading the same passages over and over again. Seriously, there were several times throughout the novel where Phoebe (granted in her own thoughts) not only recounted all of her unfortunate adventures up until that point, but also remembered things that had been said to her by the Viscount, word-for-word. And while I will admit these things could have worked if they were used sparingly, they weren't. In fact, during a moment near the end of the book when all of Phoebe's attention should have been on what was happening in the moment, she was too busy remembering word-for-word, nearly every encounter she had ever had with the Viscount.
To be fair, I think it was the author's intention with that to show just how over time the Viscount had come to fall in love with Phoebe and vice versa, however, I never bought into it. The Viscount (aka Alexander) is so hot and cold with Phoebe that I found myself rooting for his brother over him. Seriously, most of the time he's berating her for her (admittedly) stupid choices, then he's nice to her, then he pretends she doesn't exist. It gave me whiplash to be honest. I had started to like him a little bit during the garden scene, but that was quickly ruined by their very next meeting when he was once again yelling at her instead of listening to her.
Moving on to the characters, I really didn't like any of the main ones (except maybe Alexander's brother Elliot, and the other Fairfax girls). As I said previously Alex gave me whiplash with his hot and cold behavior towards Phoebe, and she was just so darn stupid at times that I almost wished she would be ruined. Honestly, how many times do her plans have to go awry before she starts to realize that she is the problem?
Her brother Thomas was absolutely insufferable, never once questioning why his father wanted Phoebe to marry a man old enough to be her grandfather (and the reason was dumb to the point I literally rolled my eyes). He just forced his will upon everyone, which made him an easily dislikeable tyrant. Aurelia however (the resident society mean girl), was probably the biggest let down character wise as there were moments when you got a glimpse of the person she could be if only she would find a way to let go of all that mean spiritedness. I kept hoping there would be some sort of redemption for her, although I am curious what she thinks of her new arrangements that we are told of at the end of the story. Is she still claiming to be playing the game, or does she now see what Phoebe was trying to tell her all along?
Despite the issues I had with this one, I feel like this author has a lot of potential to become one of my favorites, so I would read more from them in the future.
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
I had a really hard time with this one for a few reasons, both with the author's writing techniques, and with the characters and story itself.
Let me start with the author/story as this one is the hardest for me. The author definitely has a solid idea and a strong writing style. However, the repetition starts to wear on a reader after awhile. For example (and out of sheer curiosity), I wonder how many times the words "bourgeois" and "droll" appear as it seems to me as though they were definitely overused.
Also, I get it. The highway man was disappointing, and Phoebe wishes she had the same freedom as her brothers. It did not need to be repeated over and over again. In addition to these instances, I also grew tired of reading the same passages over and over again. Seriously, there were several times throughout the novel where Phoebe (granted in her own thoughts) not only recounted all of her unfortunate adventures up until that point, but also remembered things that had been said to her by the Viscount, word-for-word. And while I will admit these things could have worked if they were used sparingly, they weren't. In fact, during a moment near the end of the book when all of Phoebe's attention should have been on what was happening in the moment, she was too busy remembering word-for-word, nearly every encounter she had ever had with the Viscount.
To be fair, I think it was the author's intention with that to show just how over time the Viscount had come to fall in love with Phoebe and vice versa, however, I never bought into it. The Viscount (aka Alexander) is so hot and cold with Phoebe that I found myself rooting for his brother over him. Seriously, most of the time he's berating her for her (admittedly) stupid choices, then he's nice to her, then he pretends she doesn't exist. It gave me whiplash to be honest. I had started to like him a little bit during the garden scene, but that was quickly ruined by their very next meeting when he was once again yelling at her instead of listening to her.
Moving on to the characters, I really didn't like any of the main ones (except maybe Alexander's brother Elliot, and the other Fairfax girls). As I said previously Alex gave me whiplash with his hot and cold behavior towards Phoebe, and she was just so darn stupid at times that I almost wished she would be ruined. Honestly, how many times do her plans have to go awry before she starts to realize that she is the problem?
Her brother Thomas was absolutely insufferable, never once questioning why his father wanted Phoebe to marry a man old enough to be her grandfather (and the reason was dumb to the point I literally rolled my eyes). He just forced his will upon everyone, which made him an easily dislikeable tyrant. Aurelia however (the resident society mean girl), was probably the biggest let down character wise as there were moments when you got a glimpse of the person she could be if only she would find a way to let go of all that mean spiritedness. I kept hoping there would be some sort of redemption for her, although I am curious what she thinks of her new arrangements that we are told of at the end of the story. Is she still claiming to be playing the game, or does she now see what Phoebe was trying to tell her all along?
Despite the issues I had with this one, I feel like this author has a lot of potential to become one of my favorites, so I would read more from them in the future.
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
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