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Rules of the Heart
Rules of the Heart by Janice Hadlow is a beautifully evocative historical novel about the perils of an all-consuming love affair. From the author of The Other Bennet Sister.
I could never understand a medium in love, I must love with my whole heart and soul, my whole existence, know no happiness or misery but from the object of my passion . . .
England, 1794. Now in her thirties, Lady Henrietta Bessborough is no stranger to the affections of a younger man. For married women of the Ton, a young lover is encouraged, provided you know how to play the don’t embarrass your husband, maintain complete discretion at all times and, most importantly, never fall in love.
So when Henrietta meets Lord Granville – brilliantly handsome, rich, twelve years younger than her – he appears the perfect candidate for an affair. Until she falls uncontrollably under his spell.
As she’s plunged into an all-consuming passion, all the wisdom and sophistication Henrietta thought she had deserts her. And, with their relationship drawing the attention of wider society, each anxious but besotted step she takes leads her further into scandal and ruin . . .
I could never understand a medium in love, I must love with my whole heart and soul, my whole existence, know no happiness or misery but from the object of my passion . . .
England, 1794. Now in her thirties, Lady Henrietta Bessborough is no stranger to the affections of a younger man. For married women of the Ton, a young lover is encouraged, provided you know how to play the don’t embarrass your husband, maintain complete discretion at all times and, most importantly, never fall in love.
So when Henrietta meets Lord Granville – brilliantly handsome, rich, twelve years younger than her – he appears the perfect candidate for an affair. Until she falls uncontrollably under his spell.
As she’s plunged into an all-consuming passion, all the wisdom and sophistication Henrietta thought she had deserts her. And, with their relationship drawing the attention of wider society, each anxious but besotted step she takes leads her further into scandal and ruin . . .
480 pages, Hardcover
First published January 20, 2026
54 people are currently reading
11589 people want to read
About the author
Janice Hadlow
4 books406 followersJanice Hadlow has worked at the BBC for 28 years, including more than 10 years as a top executive. She was educated at comprehensive school in Swanley, in north Kent, and graduated with a BA in history from King’s College London. She currently lives in Bath. A Royal Experiment is her first book.
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August 26, 2025
This historical novel, Rules of the Heart, weaves one woman’s quest for true love - based on her own letters - while bringing to light the lesser-known story of Henrietta “Harriet” Bessborough, sister of Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire.
Set in England, the story begins in 1794 when Lady Harriet Besssborough recounts her love affair with Lord Granville, twelve years her junior.
Harriet knew the rules of engagement - she had seen what happened to women who played their hand badly. She understood the steps she was supposed to take to stay within those rules, but she let her emotions lead her. She told herself she simply wanted to know Lord Granville better, to see if his character was as appealing as his looks. Her marriage had left her feeling lonely, needy and always craving affection. Once she truly came to know Lord Granville better, she saw in him an answer to her own wishes and desires – an answer that propelled her into their affair.
Born into privilege, Harriet was the subject of much speculation about whom she should marry, as was her sister Georgiana. At nineteen, Harriet accepted the hand of Lord Bessborough, cousin to the Duke of Devonshire – Georgiana’s husband. The match meant the sisters could remain close. Harriet saw other marriages survive on such slender foundation, but she soon discovered that behind her husband’s shyness lay a deep and frightening rage. She had never witnessed such anger before.
This drove her even closer to her sister, following Georgiana’s every step, and eventually, in the footsteps of many other miserable women trapped in loveless marriages, Harriet embarked on a series of affairs.
Once, she came close to divorce; another time, she faced a serious illness – an ordeal that made her vow never to go astray again. Her sickness prompted her to reflect on her life. During her convalescence, she noticed changes in her husband, making her question her past decisions. She was honest with herself, not looking for excuses for her wayward actions.
But life soon tested her resolve. When she met a man who turned her world upside down, she found herself struggling once more to keep her word. She told herself he would be nothing more than an entertaining diversion - one she could control.
The protagonist’s complexities and emotions are vividly drawn. Harriet is clever, yet flawed. Her relationship with her sister begins close, but a gap forms as Georgiana develops new friendships and fails to offer Harriet the same support during challenging times. Harriet’s self-proclaimed romantic nature is passionately expressed in her quest for true love, which remains the central focus of the story.
Written in evocative prose and richly detailed, Rules of the Heart beautifully explores the human search for happiness and the shifting nature of emotions. The novel vividly portrays Harriet’s frankness, and skillfully blends her triumphs and struggles. It feels authentic and deeply human, giving a center stage to a fascinating woman who was an exceptional letter writer, yet has remained largely unknown until now.
Review originally posted at mysteryandsuspense.com
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Set in England, the story begins in 1794 when Lady Harriet Besssborough recounts her love affair with Lord Granville, twelve years her junior.
Harriet knew the rules of engagement - she had seen what happened to women who played their hand badly. She understood the steps she was supposed to take to stay within those rules, but she let her emotions lead her. She told herself she simply wanted to know Lord Granville better, to see if his character was as appealing as his looks. Her marriage had left her feeling lonely, needy and always craving affection. Once she truly came to know Lord Granville better, she saw in him an answer to her own wishes and desires – an answer that propelled her into their affair.
Born into privilege, Harriet was the subject of much speculation about whom she should marry, as was her sister Georgiana. At nineteen, Harriet accepted the hand of Lord Bessborough, cousin to the Duke of Devonshire – Georgiana’s husband. The match meant the sisters could remain close. Harriet saw other marriages survive on such slender foundation, but she soon discovered that behind her husband’s shyness lay a deep and frightening rage. She had never witnessed such anger before.
This drove her even closer to her sister, following Georgiana’s every step, and eventually, in the footsteps of many other miserable women trapped in loveless marriages, Harriet embarked on a series of affairs.
Once, she came close to divorce; another time, she faced a serious illness – an ordeal that made her vow never to go astray again. Her sickness prompted her to reflect on her life. During her convalescence, she noticed changes in her husband, making her question her past decisions. She was honest with herself, not looking for excuses for her wayward actions.
But life soon tested her resolve. When she met a man who turned her world upside down, she found herself struggling once more to keep her word. She told herself he would be nothing more than an entertaining diversion - one she could control.
The protagonist’s complexities and emotions are vividly drawn. Harriet is clever, yet flawed. Her relationship with her sister begins close, but a gap forms as Georgiana develops new friendships and fails to offer Harriet the same support during challenging times. Harriet’s self-proclaimed romantic nature is passionately expressed in her quest for true love, which remains the central focus of the story.
Written in evocative prose and richly detailed, Rules of the Heart beautifully explores the human search for happiness and the shifting nature of emotions. The novel vividly portrays Harriet’s frankness, and skillfully blends her triumphs and struggles. It feels authentic and deeply human, giving a center stage to a fascinating woman who was an exceptional letter writer, yet has remained largely unknown until now.
Review originally posted at mysteryandsuspense.com
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 26, 2026
"Rules of the Heart by Janice Hadlow is a beautifully evocative historical novel about the perils of an all-consuming love affair. From the author of The Other Bennet Sister."
It is 1794 and Lady Harriet Bessborough is in her early thirties and married to a man she was introduced to at only nineteen. Lord B is cruel and abusive. This marriage was socially expected and kept her close to her sister Georgiana who is a duchess. While in Italy to be in a better climate for her health, she falls for Lord Granville who is twelve years who Junior. Many ladies in the ton are involved in affairs but you need to be smart and discreet about it. This sounds horrible but was part of the culture in this social class in eighteenth century England. Lady B has longed for true love and ends up getting drawn into a passionate affair that could spell scandal and ruin for her if she can't reign in her feelings and actions.
Rules of the Heart is based on a true story and was extensively researched by Janice Hadlow for accuracy. Although I am not a fan of extramarital affairs, I found this book fascinating and reminiscent of Jane Austen. The characters are richly drawn and the impact of societal expectations and class influences behavior. The prose is beautiful and accurate for the regency era. Fans of regency romance, Jane Austen and historical fiction will enjoy this. Although it covers an affair, it is not a spicy novel.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Henry Holt and Company, and Janice Hadlow for an advance reader's copy. All opinions are my own.
It is 1794 and Lady Harriet Bessborough is in her early thirties and married to a man she was introduced to at only nineteen. Lord B is cruel and abusive. This marriage was socially expected and kept her close to her sister Georgiana who is a duchess. While in Italy to be in a better climate for her health, she falls for Lord Granville who is twelve years who Junior. Many ladies in the ton are involved in affairs but you need to be smart and discreet about it. This sounds horrible but was part of the culture in this social class in eighteenth century England. Lady B has longed for true love and ends up getting drawn into a passionate affair that could spell scandal and ruin for her if she can't reign in her feelings and actions.
Rules of the Heart is based on a true story and was extensively researched by Janice Hadlow for accuracy. Although I am not a fan of extramarital affairs, I found this book fascinating and reminiscent of Jane Austen. The characters are richly drawn and the impact of societal expectations and class influences behavior. The prose is beautiful and accurate for the regency era. Fans of regency romance, Jane Austen and historical fiction will enjoy this. Although it covers an affair, it is not a spicy novel.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Henry Holt and Company, and Janice Hadlow for an advance reader's copy. All opinions are my own.
September 12, 2025
490 arduous pages of a woman mostly bemoaning her own decisions, while making the same mistakes over and over.
August 25, 2025
I was very kindly given an e-ARC of this book via Netgalley and Pan Macmillan.
2.75/5 stars.
Considering 'The Other Miss Bennet' is one of my favourite books that I've read in 2025, I was eagerly anticipating Janice Hadlow's second novel. I will admit that I went into it a little bit blind. The synopsis is suitably vague, but in a nutshell, it explores the affair between Lady Harriet Bessborough and a younger man, Lord Granville. Which seems to be ample fodder for a novel, one has to admit. 'Rules of the Heart', however, is something of a misfire.
It feels like a stretch to call this a novel, because what it really is is a docu-drama in prose. Hadlow does have a background as a historian and in this instance, it's to the book's detriment. The author takes such a completely detached approach to its central topic that on several occasions, I had to remind myself that I was reading a novel, not a work of non-fiction. I also believe one of this book's key downfalls is that Harriet and Granville - who are real people - are rather dull. The book dedicates itself to fictionalising real events, so you feel endlessly trapped in narrative deja vu, watching the same things happen over and over again while the central couple barely get any time together. When they do, it all feels rather clinical and detached. Moreover, Hadlow's need to end almost every chapter with a vague cliff-hanger about oncoming horrors grated on me endlessly.
As a protagonist, Harriet was rather passive. The novel is written in first person and I found her girlish and silly. It all comes across as though she's telling us her life story. For a woman who is in her thirties and forties through the book, it was like reading the thoughts of a teenage girl for all the wailing and waning she did. Barely driving the action - barely leaving the house! Her husband is also just conveniently not there and their affair is an open secret, so the stakes are insanely low. Her entire life and thoughts are completely ruled by two rather unimpressive men, despite the fact that she clearly has a brain. A quote from the Dowager Countess of Grantham comes to mind...
This is a biography masquerading as a novel. I suggest trying Hadlow's first book over this one, it's a much stronger offering.
"Rules of the Heart" is available now.
2.75/5 stars.
Considering 'The Other Miss Bennet' is one of my favourite books that I've read in 2025, I was eagerly anticipating Janice Hadlow's second novel. I will admit that I went into it a little bit blind. The synopsis is suitably vague, but in a nutshell, it explores the affair between Lady Harriet Bessborough and a younger man, Lord Granville. Which seems to be ample fodder for a novel, one has to admit. 'Rules of the Heart', however, is something of a misfire.
It feels like a stretch to call this a novel, because what it really is is a docu-drama in prose. Hadlow does have a background as a historian and in this instance, it's to the book's detriment. The author takes such a completely detached approach to its central topic that on several occasions, I had to remind myself that I was reading a novel, not a work of non-fiction. I also believe one of this book's key downfalls is that Harriet and Granville - who are real people - are rather dull. The book dedicates itself to fictionalising real events, so you feel endlessly trapped in narrative deja vu, watching the same things happen over and over again while the central couple barely get any time together. When they do, it all feels rather clinical and detached. Moreover, Hadlow's need to end almost every chapter with a vague cliff-hanger about oncoming horrors grated on me endlessly.
As a protagonist, Harriet was rather passive. The novel is written in first person and I found her girlish and silly. It all comes across as though she's telling us her life story. For a woman who is in her thirties and forties through the book, it was like reading the thoughts of a teenage girl for all the wailing and waning she did. Barely driving the action - barely leaving the house! Her husband is also just conveniently not there and their affair is an open secret, so the stakes are insanely low. Her entire life and thoughts are completely ruled by two rather unimpressive men, despite the fact that she clearly has a brain. A quote from the Dowager Countess of Grantham comes to mind...
This is a biography masquerading as a novel. I suggest trying Hadlow's first book over this one, it's a much stronger offering.
"Rules of the Heart" is available now.
December 20, 2025
The book was great till about 3 quarters in, when it became quite repetitive: a pregnancy, a depression, a rival, start over. And Granville is not at his best. I almost stopped reading.
The ending redeems it slightly, but the novel should have been shorter.
The ending redeems it slightly, but the novel should have been shorter.
July 10, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy. I wanted to read this book because I love a historical novel based on the lives of individuals who lived in the past. Years ago, I read a biography about Henrietta Ponsonby, Countess of Bessborough, so I was familiar with the events of her life. Harriet was an intelligent, well-read woman, well liked because of her kind, gentle manner. She was the younger sister of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, who was the society darling of the Georgian age. Georgiana and Harriet had a close relationship and, in their youth, they were actively involved in politics. Harriet was trapped in an unhappy marriage, which resulted in her conducting a secret relationship with Granville Leveson-Gower. I found it fascinating to read a fictional account of her affair with Leveson-Gower. The story, written in the first person, made Henrietta (called Harriet), 'come alive' in my mind. The descriptions of Harriet's emotions and motives helped make sense of an affair that went on for seventeen years and produced two illegitimate children. During the reading of Rules of the Heart, I researched the people in Harriet's life because I wanted to see what they looked like and to find out more about their lives. I would highly recommend this novel by Janice Hadlow. The book is beautifully written and engaging.
September 7, 2025
This author’s other book, The Other Bennet Sister, was one of my favorite books this year and when I saw this book on NetGalley I couldn’t request it fast enough! I started reading it and got more and more frustrated with the repetitive events, the slow pace, the absolutely bland protagonist who refuses to take responsibility for her actions, and tries and fails over and over again to justify adultery. This one wasn’t for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
January 27, 2026
I was given an advanced audiobook copy of this title by Macmillan audio and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
“…an old friend used to tell me that I was in love with ruin, and I wonder now whether he was right. I think I was seduced by that feeling that sometimes comes upon you when you walk very close to the edge of a cliff. When you look down into the sea below, with the waves crashing upon jagged rocks, you know you should step away to safety—but another voice in your head urges you to throw yourself into the void, and nothing feels more seductive in that moment than to comply.”
In this gorgeously-written, historical novel set in the late 1700s, Lady Harriet Bessborough finds herself in a young and unhappy marriage to a man who is unkind and abusive. In an era where dalliances on the side were rather common for ladies as well as men, she allows her longing for true love and connection to lead her elsewhere. When Lord B, her husband, discovers her infidelity, he exerts his power over her and threatens divorce and ruin should she stray again. She plays the dutiful wife and focuses her energies on her own family until a trip for improved health in Italy forces her to cross paths with Lord Granville, a gorgeous man 12 years her junior, who happens to give her far more than a dose of idle flattery. Their heat and passion for one another that must necessarily be stifled and hidden sets the frustrated emotional tone for the vast majority of the book.
The beauty and elevated romance of the language used by author, Janice Hadlow, is definitely the star of this show. I was stunned that a modern author could so eloquently and convincingly evoke the language of a far more elegant time.
“Love makes fools of us all”
What I found maddening, however, was how difficult it was to empathize with most of the characters—though I adored Sally. Harriet, in particular, is very much the author of her own tragedies. She is prepared to sacrifice her pride to keep Lord Granville in her life and clings to him with such desperation that he is also prevented from progressing in his own. She creates her own despair and depression through poor decisions, and we ruminate on this for nearly half of the book. Indeed, this love affair, soothing and fulfilling as it may sometimes be, becomes the very “defining experience of her life.”
In spite of the negative and often depressing tone of the story, I couldn’t put it down. The language was spellbinding and evocative, and I am an absolute sucker for a historical novel that plunges me fully into another time and place. Readers who love historical and literary novels with stunning prose will likely enjoy this one. I would give it a solid 4.5 stars. 5 stars to the fantastic audiobook narrator!
“…an old friend used to tell me that I was in love with ruin, and I wonder now whether he was right. I think I was seduced by that feeling that sometimes comes upon you when you walk very close to the edge of a cliff. When you look down into the sea below, with the waves crashing upon jagged rocks, you know you should step away to safety—but another voice in your head urges you to throw yourself into the void, and nothing feels more seductive in that moment than to comply.”
In this gorgeously-written, historical novel set in the late 1700s, Lady Harriet Bessborough finds herself in a young and unhappy marriage to a man who is unkind and abusive. In an era where dalliances on the side were rather common for ladies as well as men, she allows her longing for true love and connection to lead her elsewhere. When Lord B, her husband, discovers her infidelity, he exerts his power over her and threatens divorce and ruin should she stray again. She plays the dutiful wife and focuses her energies on her own family until a trip for improved health in Italy forces her to cross paths with Lord Granville, a gorgeous man 12 years her junior, who happens to give her far more than a dose of idle flattery. Their heat and passion for one another that must necessarily be stifled and hidden sets the frustrated emotional tone for the vast majority of the book.
The beauty and elevated romance of the language used by author, Janice Hadlow, is definitely the star of this show. I was stunned that a modern author could so eloquently and convincingly evoke the language of a far more elegant time.
“Love makes fools of us all”
What I found maddening, however, was how difficult it was to empathize with most of the characters—though I adored Sally. Harriet, in particular, is very much the author of her own tragedies. She is prepared to sacrifice her pride to keep Lord Granville in her life and clings to him with such desperation that he is also prevented from progressing in his own. She creates her own despair and depression through poor decisions, and we ruminate on this for nearly half of the book. Indeed, this love affair, soothing and fulfilling as it may sometimes be, becomes the very “defining experience of her life.”
In spite of the negative and often depressing tone of the story, I couldn’t put it down. The language was spellbinding and evocative, and I am an absolute sucker for a historical novel that plunges me fully into another time and place. Readers who love historical and literary novels with stunning prose will likely enjoy this one. I would give it a solid 4.5 stars. 5 stars to the fantastic audiobook narrator!
September 7, 2025
This book tells the story of Lady Harriet Bessborough, who was unhappily married to Lord Bessborough. Despite bearing him four children, he was abusive and would berate her publicly and behind closed doors. It was safe to say that she lived in fear of her husband, especially when he was drunk.
Trapped in a loveless marriage, in 1794, when she was 33 years old whilst recuperating in Naples, she met Lord Granville Leveson Gower. He was terribly handsome and twelve years her junior.
Harriet tried to resist the temptation of an affair with Lord Granville, but he relentlessly pursued her.
This was the beginning of an exciting, but also sad journey for Harriet…
I really felt for her as I was reading this book. She felt powerless in her marriage, and she was her husband’s possession. She knew that if she left Lord Bessborough, he would keep their children, and that was something she would never give up. Despite an unhappy marriage, she resolutely loved her children.
Harriet deeply loved Granville, probably more than he loved her. She had the wisdom of an older person, and she knew that the affair would never last.
This book is a portrayal of what life for women was like back in the 18th century. At times, I was angry at Harriet (but more so at Granville), and then I felt deep sadness for her precarious situation.
I definitely recommend it.
Trapped in a loveless marriage, in 1794, when she was 33 years old whilst recuperating in Naples, she met Lord Granville Leveson Gower. He was terribly handsome and twelve years her junior.
Harriet tried to resist the temptation of an affair with Lord Granville, but he relentlessly pursued her.
This was the beginning of an exciting, but also sad journey for Harriet…
I really felt for her as I was reading this book. She felt powerless in her marriage, and she was her husband’s possession. She knew that if she left Lord Bessborough, he would keep their children, and that was something she would never give up. Despite an unhappy marriage, she resolutely loved her children.
Harriet deeply loved Granville, probably more than he loved her. She had the wisdom of an older person, and she knew that the affair would never last.
This book is a portrayal of what life for women was like back in the 18th century. At times, I was angry at Harriet (but more so at Granville), and then I felt deep sadness for her precarious situation.
I definitely recommend it.
January 25, 2026
Having loved Janice Hadlow's other work, both fiction and nonfiction, I was thrilled to be given an ARC of her newest release. That it was set during the Georgian/Regency period and featured real historical figures just sweetened the offer. This novel was well-written and well-researched, and honestly, I would expect nothing less from Hadlow. This just wasn't the story for me. I think I have reached the age where I have no patience for toxic love stories, especially where the main character acknowledges that she ignored a variety of red flags because of her irresistible passion. I am happy that the lesser-known figure of Harriet Bessborough is now being told, but it wasn't one that I really enjoyed. If this type of love story doesn't bother you, then I would definitely recommend it.
January 21, 2026
This is my first SIX STAR read. This book consumed me. I listened on audio (Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher) which was such a lovely experience. The rabbit hole this sent me down once I learned THAT THESE ARE REAL PEOPLE. Sorry for yelling but this was so beautiful written and clearly researched. I know this is a fictionalized version but the affair itself was very real. Brava to the author. I can't wait to read more of your work. Signed, your newest, biggest fan!
October 22, 2025
Nearly a clean read following an adulterous affair and nothing more than a sad pull of destruction in a woman's life.
July 21, 2025
Thank you so much to Pan Macmillan & NetGalley for the e-arc!
3.25!
I wanted to shake Harriet so much while reading this.
It's truly a sad story, stepping away from my need to shake her and realise how sad her situation was , and many women back then, who were married to men who didn't feel anything back, just to secure a future, etc to give up their own desires, dreams, their feelings, but when Harriet would keep going on about wanting to be around/with Lord Granville, it got too much at one point. But again this is a Lady who is finally feeling that fleeting excitement and love in her life that was missing.
Written really well but just one P.O.V of her during this affair did get grating at times, it would have been interesting to see others.
3.25!
I wanted to shake Harriet so much while reading this.
It's truly a sad story, stepping away from my need to shake her and realise how sad her situation was , and many women back then, who were married to men who didn't feel anything back, just to secure a future, etc to give up their own desires, dreams, their feelings, but when Harriet would keep going on about wanting to be around/with Lord Granville, it got too much at one point. But again this is a Lady who is finally feeling that fleeting excitement and love in her life that was missing.
Written really well but just one P.O.V of her during this affair did get grating at times, it would have been interesting to see others.
August 4, 2025
Really disappointing, have loved previous novels by this author, but found the heroine vacuous and not at all engaging. Didn’t get on with this book at all.
February 2, 2026
Henrietta "Harriet" Ponsonby, Countess of Bessborough, embarked on one of the great love affairs of the Georgian era, when she met Lord Granville Leveson-Gower, a young aristocrat twelve years her junior. Rules of the Heart is a memoir-style historic fiction novelization of the emotional turmoil Harriet experienced over their seventeen year love affair.
This was a fascinating, emotional, sad, and reflective novel. Janice Hadlow meticulously researched by reading the letters Harriet wrote over the years, and credits her directness in writing as a way to get to know her as a person. The novel is framed by the later years of Harriet's life, but the story itself starts in 1794, prior to meeting Lord Granville. I was at turns enraptured by her emotions and shocked at her experiences as she threw caution and better sense to the wind. Her own marriage was tumultuous, and we get really interesting insight into several Georgian aristocratic marriages and affairs. I was drawn to the medical explanations at various points - for a woman who was purportedly in poor health much of her life, Harriet recovers from an array of health ordeals, including several later-in-life pregnancies.
I don't often read memoirs, and even in a fictionalized version, I often find myself claustrophobic in the head of one person for so many pages. That said, if you tend to like memoirs, this has all the attributes of a dramatic celebrity memoir from the Georgian era. While beautiful and reflective, this is long, so I stretched out listening to the audiobook over a full week, rather than listening all at once. The narration by Kristin Atherton is pleasant and feels personal, as if we truly are inside of Harriet's head the whole time. There were some times I wish I'd had a print copy too, though, as I felt I could have read a little faster, instead of extending some of the more difficult depressive streaks Harriet experiences.
Thank you to MacMillan Audio for an ALC. Rules of the Heart is out 1/20/2026.
This was a fascinating, emotional, sad, and reflective novel. Janice Hadlow meticulously researched by reading the letters Harriet wrote over the years, and credits her directness in writing as a way to get to know her as a person. The novel is framed by the later years of Harriet's life, but the story itself starts in 1794, prior to meeting Lord Granville. I was at turns enraptured by her emotions and shocked at her experiences as she threw caution and better sense to the wind. Her own marriage was tumultuous, and we get really interesting insight into several Georgian aristocratic marriages and affairs. I was drawn to the medical explanations at various points - for a woman who was purportedly in poor health much of her life, Harriet recovers from an array of health ordeals, including several later-in-life pregnancies.
I don't often read memoirs, and even in a fictionalized version, I often find myself claustrophobic in the head of one person for so many pages. That said, if you tend to like memoirs, this has all the attributes of a dramatic celebrity memoir from the Georgian era. While beautiful and reflective, this is long, so I stretched out listening to the audiobook over a full week, rather than listening all at once. The narration by Kristin Atherton is pleasant and feels personal, as if we truly are inside of Harriet's head the whole time. There were some times I wish I'd had a print copy too, though, as I felt I could have read a little faster, instead of extending some of the more difficult depressive streaks Harriet experiences.
Thank you to MacMillan Audio for an ALC. Rules of the Heart is out 1/20/2026.
February 7, 2026
Based on a true story, Lady Harriet B tells the story of her 17-year affair with Lord Granville. Her husband is cruel and boring and she is unable to resist young Granville's pressure campaign despite her misgivings. She spends the next 15 hours bemoaning how passionately she loves him, how he doesn't love her enough in return, how she is endangering her marriage and access to her own children, how she keeps making terrible choices because of said passion, how tormented she is by not being able to live openly with Granville while also refusing to get a divorce and marry him, and finally the ordeal of having to give him up to another woman when he inevitably wants to marry. Good grief, lady, so many emotions about so many things you have control over! Her husband's initial shortcomings recede so far into the distance that the only possible explanation for all these emotional contortions is that Granville must be devastating in bed - I guess? Or that they really see each other so seldom that they manage to remain in a state of infatuation long past when rational thought should take over. Beyond the inexplicability of it all, the story is quite long and becomes a bit repetitive after the majority of her dilemmas are established.
I did like the narrator; she did a good job of conveying Harriet's mental turmoil and has a nice British accent (that's as nuanced as my American ears get).
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!
I did like the narrator; she did a good job of conveying Harriet's mental turmoil and has a nice British accent (that's as nuanced as my American ears get).
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!
November 1, 2025
A novel based on the life of Lady Henrietta Bessborough.
Lady Henrietta has it all, but her marriage has failed to offer love.
Then she meets Lord Granville, 12 years her junior, should she take the risk of family scandal and her own ruin.
A richly layered historical novel delving into the themes of love and duty.
The inner conflict of Lady Henrietta, makes it a thoughtful and engaging read, more than just a romance.
Perfect for fans of regency romance and historical fiction
Thanks #janicehadlow @panmacmillan & @netgalley for the engaging read
Lady Henrietta has it all, but her marriage has failed to offer love.
Then she meets Lord Granville, 12 years her junior, should she take the risk of family scandal and her own ruin.
A richly layered historical novel delving into the themes of love and duty.
The inner conflict of Lady Henrietta, makes it a thoughtful and engaging read, more than just a romance.
Perfect for fans of regency romance and historical fiction
Thanks #janicehadlow @panmacmillan & @netgalley for the engaging read
November 28, 2025
The story of all consuming love between a married woman and a younger man.
It's 1794
in Great Briton Lady Harriet Bessborough has had a few love liaisons, but when she met Lord Grandville she falls in love with him. As the years go by, she has a daughter and a son by him.
The Children are raised by a cousin. It is hard for her to let go of this situation.
When Lord Grandville finds a young wife Harriet's children are welcome into their blended family.
Harriet's love for Lord Grandville is with her until she dies November 11, 1821.
I want to thank Henry Holt Publications for sending me this book
It's 1794
in Great Briton Lady Harriet Bessborough has had a few love liaisons, but when she met Lord Grandville she falls in love with him. As the years go by, she has a daughter and a son by him.
The Children are raised by a cousin. It is hard for her to let go of this situation.
When Lord Grandville finds a young wife Harriet's children are welcome into their blended family.
Harriet's love for Lord Grandville is with her until she dies November 11, 1821.
I want to thank Henry Holt Publications for sending me this book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
November 2, 2025if you want to read about a weepy, depressed girl who listens to sad indie pop and is depressed and sorrowful (no judgement) but want to feel slightly more sophisticated and want it set in 1700s (again no judgement), the this is thr book for you!
she's just so weepy and enjoys being a Sad Girl(TM) too much for me to enjoy it, but it is an aesthetic i suppose. some people enjoy being depressed and main character thrives in it.
she's just so weepy and enjoys being a Sad Girl(TM) too much for me to enjoy it, but it is an aesthetic i suppose. some people enjoy being depressed and main character thrives in it.
did-not-finish
October 6, 2025DNF @ 30%
As a big fan of THE OTHER BENNET SISTER I really gave this one a chance, but for a book titled RULES OF THE HEART I couldn't find the hearts of any of the characters in it.
I will try her next book and do eagerly await THE OTHER BENNET SISTER tv series!
As a big fan of THE OTHER BENNET SISTER I really gave this one a chance, but for a book titled RULES OF THE HEART I couldn't find the hearts of any of the characters in it.
I will try her next book and do eagerly await THE OTHER BENNET SISTER tv series!
July 30, 2025
If you have watched the Keira Knightley film "The Duchess" and enjoyed it, then this book will be for you. This is not focussed on the infamous Duchess of Devonshire but her sister Harriet. Historical fiction fans will like that this is based on the true story of the love affair between Lady Bessborough and Lord Granville,
I obviously knew all about the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire but nothing about her sister. Its nice to have a book that is based around the not so famous sister. Being interwoven slightly with the life of Georgiana there are incidents that I knew about but reading them from another lens was interesting. Georgiana is a peripheral character for parts of the book and not the main focus. The main focus of the book is the longstanding affair Harriet has with Lord Granville, it is interesting to see the parallels between her and her sister's famous affair with Mr Grey.
Narrated by Harriet, the book clearly provides clarity on her motivations and feelings, This is not a criticism of the writing, and also I am most certainly looking at this with a 21st century viewpoint, but my lord I find her frustrating. Its clear that Harriet is a clever woman but her whole life is dominated by a man that clearly has faults. There were times within the book that I just wanted to shake her to gain more self respect; I honestly didn't understand the attraction to Granville, He's described as handsome but in terms of character he didn't seem to bring much to the table.
Sometimes it felt like the prose was very dense and could have been broken up slightly more. However, what I did appreciate with Hadlow's writing is that I was engaged reading the book despite not liking the main characters and compared to other books I've read there isn't much in terms of 'things that happen'. The book spans 17 years and most of it is describing Harriet's life and feelings, which I remained engaged with the entire book. For a lesser writer I think that this could have become a tedious story but Hadlow manages to keep the pace of the narration moving forward that prevents tedium to set in.
I obviously knew all about the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire but nothing about her sister. Its nice to have a book that is based around the not so famous sister. Being interwoven slightly with the life of Georgiana there are incidents that I knew about but reading them from another lens was interesting. Georgiana is a peripheral character for parts of the book and not the main focus. The main focus of the book is the longstanding affair Harriet has with Lord Granville, it is interesting to see the parallels between her and her sister's famous affair with Mr Grey.
Narrated by Harriet, the book clearly provides clarity on her motivations and feelings, This is not a criticism of the writing, and also I am most certainly looking at this with a 21st century viewpoint, but my lord I find her frustrating. Its clear that Harriet is a clever woman but her whole life is dominated by a man that clearly has faults. There were times within the book that I just wanted to shake her to gain more self respect; I honestly didn't understand the attraction to Granville, He's described as handsome but in terms of character he didn't seem to bring much to the table.
Sometimes it felt like the prose was very dense and could have been broken up slightly more. However, what I did appreciate with Hadlow's writing is that I was engaged reading the book despite not liking the main characters and compared to other books I've read there isn't much in terms of 'things that happen'. The book spans 17 years and most of it is describing Harriet's life and feelings, which I remained engaged with the entire book. For a lesser writer I think that this could have become a tedious story but Hadlow manages to keep the pace of the narration moving forward that prevents tedium to set in.
September 16, 2025
Gruelling. Perhaps only worth reading if you’re interested in the historical authenticity of the story. DO NOT expect the usual tropes and structure and HEA from books that are similarly marketed.
January 1, 2026
I was really looking forward to this book, only the second historical fiction by this author, after The Other Bennet Sister, which I really liked (and currently being made into a TV series). This new book looked so promising, but I was sadly disappointed. Nowhere near as good as the previous book, IMO.
It’s a fictional reimagining of a true story of real historical people, a genre which I have enjoyed in the past. I already knew the basic storyline of the forbidden romance, and the book apparently did stick fairly closely to the facts. But sadly, the style of the book and the writing did not engage me. Somehow the author managed to make two fascinating historical characters into a whiny, overly introspective woman and a kind of unknowable, not very likeable man. Hmmm.
The characters were from the very highest level of the English aristocracy and politics around the turn of the eighteenth-nineteenth centuries. They belonged to the infamous ‘Devonshire House set’. Harriet Lady Bessborough (nee Spencer), the FMC, was an ancestor of Princess Diana, and I’ve always pictured her as a little like the maturer Princess Diana. Glamorous, beautiful, fascinating, charming, charismatic, but somewhat vulnerable in her unhappy marriage.
At age 33, Harriet was (incompatibly) married, with 4 young children. Whilst staying in Naples, she first met Lord Granville, aged 21, and not long out of university. There was an immediate mutual attraction. Granville was a stunningly handsome young man, tall with thick black curly hair and vividly blue eyes. He was considered in his day to be as beautiful-looking as Hadrian’s ill-fated young lover Antinous, of whom there is a famous bust. Granville was highly intelligent, charming, and mature for his age. (What could go wrong???)
This first part of the book is done well, with their first meeting feeling real and powerful. But unfortunately for me the book went downhill from this point, and it never really recovered the feels and emotions of those poignant early scenes where the older Harriet is remembering the lost days of her past.
Harriet and Granville had a long affair (about 17 years) and had children together, even though Harriet never left her husband. Eventually the lovers parted. Apparently they still loved each other, but decided it was better to split so that Granville could marry and have legitimate children.
Granville, by then a mature man in his 30s, married Harriet’s niece. (I know, right?!!) But apparently it turned out to be a very happy marriage, and they also raised Granville’s two surviving children by Lady Bessborough along with their own children.
Sadly, despite the incredible real story and the amazing source material, this book didn’t really work for me. It was very long and many times felt repetitive. It was all completely told from Harriet’s POV, so everything is seen through her eyes. It was hard to get to understand Granville’s character, as he is only seen through comments from Harriet. Despite her great love for him, he is not conveyed in a sympathetic or terribly interesting manner. He comes across as somewhat weak and even dull. In real life he was a politician, diplomat and ambassador, so you could assume he was probably more interesting and powerful than the way he seems in this book.
A lot of the book seemed to dwell way too much on Harriet’s guilt and misery over her situation. Married to an unpredictable man she didn’t love, deeply in love with a much younger man, trying to keep her affair and her forbidden pregnancies secret, wondering what their future would be etc etc. Of course she must have frequently felt such emotions, but for this reader, it overwhelmed her story too much, without enough balance conveying the wonder and poignancy of her great love affair. The love affair felt underwhelming, which it cannot have been in the least. So it was a disappointing read. Too much rehashing of the difficulties and negatives, and not enough deep or engrossing feeling of love coming across.
So overall, sadly, not a great read for me, and I couldn't give more than 3 stars.
It’s a fictional reimagining of a true story of real historical people, a genre which I have enjoyed in the past. I already knew the basic storyline of the forbidden romance, and the book apparently did stick fairly closely to the facts. But sadly, the style of the book and the writing did not engage me. Somehow the author managed to make two fascinating historical characters into a whiny, overly introspective woman and a kind of unknowable, not very likeable man. Hmmm.
The characters were from the very highest level of the English aristocracy and politics around the turn of the eighteenth-nineteenth centuries. They belonged to the infamous ‘Devonshire House set’. Harriet Lady Bessborough (nee Spencer), the FMC, was an ancestor of Princess Diana, and I’ve always pictured her as a little like the maturer Princess Diana. Glamorous, beautiful, fascinating, charming, charismatic, but somewhat vulnerable in her unhappy marriage.
At age 33, Harriet was (incompatibly) married, with 4 young children. Whilst staying in Naples, she first met Lord Granville, aged 21, and not long out of university. There was an immediate mutual attraction. Granville was a stunningly handsome young man, tall with thick black curly hair and vividly blue eyes. He was considered in his day to be as beautiful-looking as Hadrian’s ill-fated young lover Antinous, of whom there is a famous bust. Granville was highly intelligent, charming, and mature for his age. (What could go wrong???)
This first part of the book is done well, with their first meeting feeling real and powerful. But unfortunately for me the book went downhill from this point, and it never really recovered the feels and emotions of those poignant early scenes where the older Harriet is remembering the lost days of her past.
Harriet and Granville had a long affair (about 17 years) and had children together, even though Harriet never left her husband. Eventually the lovers parted. Apparently they still loved each other, but decided it was better to split so that Granville could marry and have legitimate children.
Granville, by then a mature man in his 30s, married Harriet’s niece. (I know, right?!!) But apparently it turned out to be a very happy marriage, and they also raised Granville’s two surviving children by Lady Bessborough along with their own children.
Sadly, despite the incredible real story and the amazing source material, this book didn’t really work for me. It was very long and many times felt repetitive. It was all completely told from Harriet’s POV, so everything is seen through her eyes. It was hard to get to understand Granville’s character, as he is only seen through comments from Harriet. Despite her great love for him, he is not conveyed in a sympathetic or terribly interesting manner. He comes across as somewhat weak and even dull. In real life he was a politician, diplomat and ambassador, so you could assume he was probably more interesting and powerful than the way he seems in this book.
A lot of the book seemed to dwell way too much on Harriet’s guilt and misery over her situation. Married to an unpredictable man she didn’t love, deeply in love with a much younger man, trying to keep her affair and her forbidden pregnancies secret, wondering what their future would be etc etc. Of course she must have frequently felt such emotions, but for this reader, it overwhelmed her story too much, without enough balance conveying the wonder and poignancy of her great love affair. The love affair felt underwhelming, which it cannot have been in the least. So it was a disappointing read. Too much rehashing of the difficulties and negatives, and not enough deep or engrossing feeling of love coming across.
So overall, sadly, not a great read for me, and I couldn't give more than 3 stars.
January 21, 2026
3.5
Under the power of that love, I gave up everything I once thought valuable–loyalty, honor, pride, and dignity; all domestic happiness, even my own self-respect. from Rules of the Heart
For the most romantic of readers, this historical fiction novel based on real people will be a heartbreaker. For others, it will be an over long complaint of a woman’s fear of being forgotten by her much younger lover.
It took me several attempts to get into this novel. The idea of an all-encompassing passion does not truly appeal to me. Still, I did pick it up again and finally found myself in its flow.
What is most interesting to me the novel recalled early 18th c novels, such as Richardson’s Pamela with its hundred of pages of a young servant girl’s rebuff of her master’s endeavors to have his way with her, finally ending in marriage. Of course, that book was subtitled ‘Virtue Rewarded,’ but Rules of the Heart has quite a different story! Inspired by the real life Harriet Bessborough and her lover of seventeen years, Hadley imagines Harriet’s side of the affair.
It was a time when women of rank married for security, not love, and if their husband were not satisfactory partners, they took lovers. There was a steady stream of batchelors waiting their turn for a married woman’s favors.
Harriet married her sister’s husband’s cousin so they could remain close to each other. Neither marriage was happy. Both woman flirted and took lovers. And both husbands threatened divorce and separation from their children. So, Harriet committed to fidelity. But at thirty-three she was still attractive and was pursued by Lord Grandville, just twenty-one, handsome, and a second son without money.
Harriet rebuffed him until she couldn’t resist any longer. She warns him, should she give her affection and love, it would be for forever. Grandville was happy to claim it.
Of course, complications arise. They have to hide their relationship, they are separated, she bears children in secret and hides them away. Harriet agonizes constantly, fearful she will lose him, while being inflexible that she won’t run away with him.
Harriet has also pushed Grandville to find a wife and establish a legal family. But when he pursues that road, she is cast into tearful fear of his loss.
So it goes. One wants to smack her upside the head for making her own bed and crying about it.
Hadlow’s research into Harriet, reading her detailed correspondence, inspired this novelised portrait, so I am afraid that the real woman is quite captured in this story.
Note: Harriet’s unstable daughter Carolyn married the future Prime Minister Melbourne and had a scandalous affair with Lord Byron—and ended badly.
In the end, I was happy to have read the book as an interesting insight into the historical period and characters.
Thanks to the publisher for a free book.
Under the power of that love, I gave up everything I once thought valuable–loyalty, honor, pride, and dignity; all domestic happiness, even my own self-respect. from Rules of the Heart
For the most romantic of readers, this historical fiction novel based on real people will be a heartbreaker. For others, it will be an over long complaint of a woman’s fear of being forgotten by her much younger lover.
It took me several attempts to get into this novel. The idea of an all-encompassing passion does not truly appeal to me. Still, I did pick it up again and finally found myself in its flow.
What is most interesting to me the novel recalled early 18th c novels, such as Richardson’s Pamela with its hundred of pages of a young servant girl’s rebuff of her master’s endeavors to have his way with her, finally ending in marriage. Of course, that book was subtitled ‘Virtue Rewarded,’ but Rules of the Heart has quite a different story! Inspired by the real life Harriet Bessborough and her lover of seventeen years, Hadley imagines Harriet’s side of the affair.
It was a time when women of rank married for security, not love, and if their husband were not satisfactory partners, they took lovers. There was a steady stream of batchelors waiting their turn for a married woman’s favors.
Harriet married her sister’s husband’s cousin so they could remain close to each other. Neither marriage was happy. Both woman flirted and took lovers. And both husbands threatened divorce and separation from their children. So, Harriet committed to fidelity. But at thirty-three she was still attractive and was pursued by Lord Grandville, just twenty-one, handsome, and a second son without money.
Harriet rebuffed him until she couldn’t resist any longer. She warns him, should she give her affection and love, it would be for forever. Grandville was happy to claim it.
Of course, complications arise. They have to hide their relationship, they are separated, she bears children in secret and hides them away. Harriet agonizes constantly, fearful she will lose him, while being inflexible that she won’t run away with him.
Harriet has also pushed Grandville to find a wife and establish a legal family. But when he pursues that road, she is cast into tearful fear of his loss.
So it goes. One wants to smack her upside the head for making her own bed and crying about it.
Hadlow’s research into Harriet, reading her detailed correspondence, inspired this novelised portrait, so I am afraid that the real woman is quite captured in this story.
Note: Harriet’s unstable daughter Carolyn married the future Prime Minister Melbourne and had a scandalous affair with Lord Byron—and ended badly.
In the end, I was happy to have read the book as an interesting insight into the historical period and characters.
Thanks to the publisher for a free book.
August 5, 2025
I do love a Janice Hadlow story and this is no exception.
Here we have the story of Harriet. It is 1794 and she is unhappily married to Lord Bessborough so she can be near her dear sister, Georgiana. Lord Bessborough is a cold and unkind man, beating Harriet when he is angry about something she has seemingly done that has displeased him. With Lord B she has a glittering social life but she is missing the one thing that she craves above all else: True love. In an effort to find this love, Harriet embarks on a number of affairs leading Lord B to threaten her with divorce.
Divorce would mean being separated from her dear children and would bring about her social ruin. However, Georgiana and her husband, Lord Devonshire, step in and make it clear they would side with Harriet. Lord B backs down but warns Harriet that her behaviour won't be tolerated and, should he get wind of another affair, he will not be prevented from seeking a divorce in future.
However, Harriet falls ill and accompanies her sister Georgiana to France, Switzerland and finally Italy, to recover and recuperate. It is here that Harriet meets and falls hard for the dashing and handsome Granville Leveson-Gower. Granville is 12 years her junior and has had a number of wild affairs himself. It is clear that Granville is attracted to Harriet and pursues her aggressively, dismissing her worries about the age gap and what would happen should her husband find out. Harriet is helpless in the face of Granville's pursuit and they embark on a passionate affair...but can they survive it?
This is a beautifully told, richly detailed story based on true events. Hadlow is an accomplished writer that puts me very much in mind of Jane Austen. The characters are richly drawn and real. At times I wanted to shake Harriet for being so silly, and at others I wanted to cry with her as I felt her pain and fears. This is a well researched book as I spent some time reading up about the characters to see how accurate it was and I was very impressed by how small events had been covered to give this historical accuracy.
Regency women were treated as currency and people rarely married for love, instead being married into families for political or financial gain. Ultimately this is a story of double standards. Where the married women are condemned for having affairs, the men that they have affairs with are excused their behaviour. It is very hard to understand this with our 21st Century views as some of the behaviour I just couldn't understand - notably the marrying of cousins, which I just found strange.
If you are a fan of historical fiction then you will love this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review,
Here we have the story of Harriet. It is 1794 and she is unhappily married to Lord Bessborough so she can be near her dear sister, Georgiana. Lord Bessborough is a cold and unkind man, beating Harriet when he is angry about something she has seemingly done that has displeased him. With Lord B she has a glittering social life but she is missing the one thing that she craves above all else: True love. In an effort to find this love, Harriet embarks on a number of affairs leading Lord B to threaten her with divorce.
Divorce would mean being separated from her dear children and would bring about her social ruin. However, Georgiana and her husband, Lord Devonshire, step in and make it clear they would side with Harriet. Lord B backs down but warns Harriet that her behaviour won't be tolerated and, should he get wind of another affair, he will not be prevented from seeking a divorce in future.
However, Harriet falls ill and accompanies her sister Georgiana to France, Switzerland and finally Italy, to recover and recuperate. It is here that Harriet meets and falls hard for the dashing and handsome Granville Leveson-Gower. Granville is 12 years her junior and has had a number of wild affairs himself. It is clear that Granville is attracted to Harriet and pursues her aggressively, dismissing her worries about the age gap and what would happen should her husband find out. Harriet is helpless in the face of Granville's pursuit and they embark on a passionate affair...but can they survive it?
This is a beautifully told, richly detailed story based on true events. Hadlow is an accomplished writer that puts me very much in mind of Jane Austen. The characters are richly drawn and real. At times I wanted to shake Harriet for being so silly, and at others I wanted to cry with her as I felt her pain and fears. This is a well researched book as I spent some time reading up about the characters to see how accurate it was and I was very impressed by how small events had been covered to give this historical accuracy.
Regency women were treated as currency and people rarely married for love, instead being married into families for political or financial gain. Ultimately this is a story of double standards. Where the married women are condemned for having affairs, the men that they have affairs with are excused their behaviour. It is very hard to understand this with our 21st Century views as some of the behaviour I just couldn't understand - notably the marrying of cousins, which I just found strange.
If you are a fan of historical fiction then you will love this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review,
February 10, 2026
"Once you let a man like that into your heart, there's no going back. It can only ever end in disaster. And the worst of it is-- after all the suffering your folly has brought upon you and everyone you care for-- despite everything, you'll still love him--and will continue to do so, long, long after he has stopped loving you." ~Janice Hadlow
This was an interesting escape into 18th century England centered around the life of Harriet Bessborough, the younger, lesser known sister of Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire. Like her sister, Harriet was pushed into a loveless, abusive marriage which led to her looking for happiness elsewhere. She found romance with Lord Granville, twelve years her junior. Perhaps like me you are not drawn to novels of infidelity, but I knew this author would handle the subject delicately, and indeed there are no explicit scenes. The author's research on Harriet, Granville, and their contemporaries shines through. As you read, you truly feel as though you know these characters. Though I felt for Harriet's sad marital situation, I couldn't continue my sympathy once she embarked on her affair with Granville. There could be no true fidelity between them and there were sad consequences that hurt others, as is always the case. I liked Harriet, but at the same time, I was so frustrated with her. Perhaps the author wants us to feel that way to appreciate what a complicated web Harriet created for herself. What I appreciated in this story was the depth of research and how meeting Harriet helped fill in historical connections, such as the fact that Harriet's daughter became Caroline Lamb, who scandalously was involved with Lord Byron. Political figures of the day were divided on abolition and fighting France. And then there is the connection to modern day royalty in that Harriet is the 4x great aunt of Princess Diana. And the novel definitely looks at societal expectations and the hypocrisy of how those standards did not equally apply to men and women. History will forewarn you that there is no happy ending here for Harriet, but if you are a history lover you'll be fascinated by her story.
This was an interesting escape into 18th century England centered around the life of Harriet Bessborough, the younger, lesser known sister of Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire. Like her sister, Harriet was pushed into a loveless, abusive marriage which led to her looking for happiness elsewhere. She found romance with Lord Granville, twelve years her junior. Perhaps like me you are not drawn to novels of infidelity, but I knew this author would handle the subject delicately, and indeed there are no explicit scenes. The author's research on Harriet, Granville, and their contemporaries shines through. As you read, you truly feel as though you know these characters. Though I felt for Harriet's sad marital situation, I couldn't continue my sympathy once she embarked on her affair with Granville. There could be no true fidelity between them and there were sad consequences that hurt others, as is always the case. I liked Harriet, but at the same time, I was so frustrated with her. Perhaps the author wants us to feel that way to appreciate what a complicated web Harriet created for herself. What I appreciated in this story was the depth of research and how meeting Harriet helped fill in historical connections, such as the fact that Harriet's daughter became Caroline Lamb, who scandalously was involved with Lord Byron. Political figures of the day were divided on abolition and fighting France. And then there is the connection to modern day royalty in that Harriet is the 4x great aunt of Princess Diana. And the novel definitely looks at societal expectations and the hypocrisy of how those standards did not equally apply to men and women. History will forewarn you that there is no happy ending here for Harriet, but if you are a history lover you'll be fascinated by her story.
February 11, 2026
Thank you to Henry Holt for the gifted copy 💛📚
Rules of the Heart is a richly researched, emotionally obsessive historical novel about what happens when a society built on appearances collides with a love that refuses to stay “proper.” Set in 1790s England, it follows Lady Henrietta, a woman who understands the rules of discreet affairs, until she breaks the only one that truly matters: she falls in love.
Hadlow’s writing leans into period detail and social texture, and the result often feels immersive, like stepping into a drawing room where every smile is measured and every rumor is currency. The tone is more elegiac and psychological than swoony, less escapist romance and more slow-motion unraveling.
• Regency-era atmosphere, manners, and social consequence
• A heroine whose inner life is the main event
• Love as fixation, not fantasy
• A relationship shaped by power, reputation, and class
• Strong “based on real people” vibe, in the best and toughest ways
Where this book shines is in its portrait of a woman who is intelligent and self-aware, yet still vulnerable to the humiliations of longing. Henrietta’s emotions are vivid, sometimes painfully so. You can feel the tug-of-war between what she knows and what she wants, and the way love becomes a kind of private weather system, swallowing everything else.
That said, this is not a brisk, plotty read. It’s long, and at times the emotional beats can feel repetitive, with the same cycle of hope, doubt, and fallout returning in slightly different clothes. If you prefer your historical fiction tightly paced, this may drag. If you like character-driven stories where the tension is internal and social, it will land better.
• Beautifully detailed, sometimes heavy
• More “docu-drama in prose” than romantic escapism
• Low-spice, high-emotional consequence
• Best for readers who enjoy slow burn, spiral narratives, and messy humanity
If you want a glossy, triumphant romance, this is not that. If you want a serious, intimate look at the perils of devotion, especially when devotion becomes consuming, Rules of the Heart is a fascinating, often haunting ride 🕯️💔
Rules of the Heart is a richly researched, emotionally obsessive historical novel about what happens when a society built on appearances collides with a love that refuses to stay “proper.” Set in 1790s England, it follows Lady Henrietta, a woman who understands the rules of discreet affairs, until she breaks the only one that truly matters: she falls in love.
Hadlow’s writing leans into period detail and social texture, and the result often feels immersive, like stepping into a drawing room where every smile is measured and every rumor is currency. The tone is more elegiac and psychological than swoony, less escapist romance and more slow-motion unraveling.
• Regency-era atmosphere, manners, and social consequence
• A heroine whose inner life is the main event
• Love as fixation, not fantasy
• A relationship shaped by power, reputation, and class
• Strong “based on real people” vibe, in the best and toughest ways
Where this book shines is in its portrait of a woman who is intelligent and self-aware, yet still vulnerable to the humiliations of longing. Henrietta’s emotions are vivid, sometimes painfully so. You can feel the tug-of-war between what she knows and what she wants, and the way love becomes a kind of private weather system, swallowing everything else.
That said, this is not a brisk, plotty read. It’s long, and at times the emotional beats can feel repetitive, with the same cycle of hope, doubt, and fallout returning in slightly different clothes. If you prefer your historical fiction tightly paced, this may drag. If you like character-driven stories where the tension is internal and social, it will land better.
• Beautifully detailed, sometimes heavy
• More “docu-drama in prose” than romantic escapism
• Low-spice, high-emotional consequence
• Best for readers who enjoy slow burn, spiral narratives, and messy humanity
If you want a glossy, triumphant romance, this is not that. If you want a serious, intimate look at the perils of devotion, especially when devotion becomes consuming, Rules of the Heart is a fascinating, often haunting ride 🕯️💔
December 4, 2025
I requested and received an eARC of
Rules of the Heart
by Janice Hadlow via NetGalley. Lady Harriet Bessborough is no stranger to the affections of a man who isn't her husband. Like many married women of the Ton, she has had a dalliance or two, guiding a younger lover in the art of love. The rules are simple: don't embarrass your husband and maintain complete discretion. But when she meets Lord Granville, a handsome man that is twelve years her junior, she falls completely under his spell. It isn't long before society takes notice of the pair's all-consuming passion.
I was really drawn in by the opening of this novel. It’s clear from the beginning that Harriet’s affair with Lord Granville has had a profound impact on her life. I think Hadlow excels at capturing a sense of longing and heartbreak that made me what to discover what had unfolded between the lovers. There’s plenty of angst in Rules of the Heart, but it’s always written in a way that makes sense to the story. I love the humanity that Hadlow imbues Harriet with. Like the real woman, she isn’t a perfect heroine. She has her own prejudices and moral failings, but she’s deeply human and someone that you can seem glimmers of your own insecurities in. And it’s hard to judge her when we’ve all been fools in love at some point or another!
Another element of this story that I love is the curiosity that it stoked in me as a reader. I was familiar with Harriet’s sister, largely due to the Keira Knightly film The Duchess, but it made me dig deeper into Harriet’s family and circle. It was quite fascinating and only added to the appeal of the story. This is a great book to take your time with. It really allows you to develop an intimate relationship with Harriet and it is clear that the author holds an affection for her inspiration. The story really snuck up on me and before I knew it I was very invested in Harriet’s happiness. Rules of the Heart was an engaging and emotional read that asks us if what we’re willing to sacrifice for love.
I was really drawn in by the opening of this novel. It’s clear from the beginning that Harriet’s affair with Lord Granville has had a profound impact on her life. I think Hadlow excels at capturing a sense of longing and heartbreak that made me what to discover what had unfolded between the lovers. There’s plenty of angst in Rules of the Heart, but it’s always written in a way that makes sense to the story. I love the humanity that Hadlow imbues Harriet with. Like the real woman, she isn’t a perfect heroine. She has her own prejudices and moral failings, but she’s deeply human and someone that you can seem glimmers of your own insecurities in. And it’s hard to judge her when we’ve all been fools in love at some point or another!
Another element of this story that I love is the curiosity that it stoked in me as a reader. I was familiar with Harriet’s sister, largely due to the Keira Knightly film The Duchess, but it made me dig deeper into Harriet’s family and circle. It was quite fascinating and only added to the appeal of the story. This is a great book to take your time with. It really allows you to develop an intimate relationship with Harriet and it is clear that the author holds an affection for her inspiration. The story really snuck up on me and before I knew it I was very invested in Harriet’s happiness. Rules of the Heart was an engaging and emotional read that asks us if what we’re willing to sacrifice for love.
July 31, 2025
Unhappily married to an overbearing and insecure man, is it any wonder that Harriet, Lady Bessborough is in search of a passionate love affair, the like of which she has never known. Her reputation has narrowly survived a number of ill-advised dalliances before she becomes embroiled in a torrid love affair with Lord Granville, a man she truly cares for. Snatched rendezvous are all that they can hope for and the pages of the novel are filled with Harriet’s intensity of feeling - her all-consuming longing, severe angst and, at times when they are apart, abject melancholy. She lives for her next opportunity to be with Granville while doing her utmost to avoid besmirching her character and bringing scandal and ruin upon herself and her family.
In this work of historical fiction, Janice Hadlow has brought Lady Bessborough and her close circle to life. A circle which included her sister, Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. This allowed parts of the narrative to unfold at Chatsworth House and Hardwick Hall – settings which enhanced my enjoyment of the novel as they are places I’ve visited. Lady Bessborough’s support of the Whigs in opposition to Granville’s Tory leanings in the decades around the turn of the 19th century added an interesting political dimension to this romance novel as did the disquietude stemming from the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars.
Rules of the Heart is an accomplished historical romance novel which deals with the realities faced by upper class women of the Regency period who had affairs and reflects upon the double standards that society applied to men versus women in these circumstances. Although I never felt that I connected with the portrayal of Lady Bessborough or indeed any of the historical figures represented, I thought that the novel’s pacing was perfect and found the historical context fascinating.
Thank you to Mantle and NetGalley for sharing this eARC with me in exchange for an honest review.
In this work of historical fiction, Janice Hadlow has brought Lady Bessborough and her close circle to life. A circle which included her sister, Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. This allowed parts of the narrative to unfold at Chatsworth House and Hardwick Hall – settings which enhanced my enjoyment of the novel as they are places I’ve visited. Lady Bessborough’s support of the Whigs in opposition to Granville’s Tory leanings in the decades around the turn of the 19th century added an interesting political dimension to this romance novel as did the disquietude stemming from the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars.
Rules of the Heart is an accomplished historical romance novel which deals with the realities faced by upper class women of the Regency period who had affairs and reflects upon the double standards that society applied to men versus women in these circumstances. Although I never felt that I connected with the portrayal of Lady Bessborough or indeed any of the historical figures represented, I thought that the novel’s pacing was perfect and found the historical context fascinating.
Thank you to Mantle and NetGalley for sharing this eARC with me in exchange for an honest review.
September 9, 2025
Readers who want to look at history through the eyes of real women will uncover a hidden portrait of sad secrets and stolen love in Rules of the Heart.
Lady Henrietta (Harriett) Bessborough has followed the expected pattern for ladies of her set in 1794. Unhappily married to a man who has just transitioned from days of violent distemper to passivity at the gambling tables, she has also indulged in discretionary, socially ignored affairs. The key, it seems is to keep them brief, unattached, and avoid bringing shame to your existing family.
But when she meets Lord Granville, trim, blue-eyed, 12 years younger, and fixated on winning her attentions, she begins to falter in her resolve.
This book is written in first person, as Harriett opens a box of her secret letters from her former lover, and reflects on the choices and scars their romantic entanglement left on her life.
After The Other Bennett Sister became one of my favorite books of 2024, I was thrilled to hear of a new novel from Janice Hadlow! I hadn’t read any marketing material for the book until requesting the ARC on Netgalley, and I was excited to go in with no preconceived notions.
This was a difficult read. The writing is still excellent. It’s a slow-paced, reflective and sad read. The subject matter made it a tense read for me. The beginning attraction between Harriett and Granville is like watching a train wreck about to happen, especially with the cost of such affairs in the time period falling unjustly on the women.
All this to say, after reading the Afterword and Author’s Note I felt suddenly grateful for the window into this real person’s life.
Hadlow is a genius at presenting historical or literary figures (as in The Other Bennett Sister) in flesh and bone, carrying uncanny spirit and relatable emotion.
✨Thank you to Henry Holt & Company for the Advance Reader Copy of the January 20, 2026 publication.
Lady Henrietta (Harriett) Bessborough has followed the expected pattern for ladies of her set in 1794. Unhappily married to a man who has just transitioned from days of violent distemper to passivity at the gambling tables, she has also indulged in discretionary, socially ignored affairs. The key, it seems is to keep them brief, unattached, and avoid bringing shame to your existing family.
But when she meets Lord Granville, trim, blue-eyed, 12 years younger, and fixated on winning her attentions, she begins to falter in her resolve.
This book is written in first person, as Harriett opens a box of her secret letters from her former lover, and reflects on the choices and scars their romantic entanglement left on her life.
After The Other Bennett Sister became one of my favorite books of 2024, I was thrilled to hear of a new novel from Janice Hadlow! I hadn’t read any marketing material for the book until requesting the ARC on Netgalley, and I was excited to go in with no preconceived notions.
This was a difficult read. The writing is still excellent. It’s a slow-paced, reflective and sad read. The subject matter made it a tense read for me. The beginning attraction between Harriett and Granville is like watching a train wreck about to happen, especially with the cost of such affairs in the time period falling unjustly on the women.
All this to say, after reading the Afterword and Author’s Note I felt suddenly grateful for the window into this real person’s life.
Hadlow is a genius at presenting historical or literary figures (as in The Other Bennett Sister) in flesh and bone, carrying uncanny spirit and relatable emotion.
✨Thank you to Henry Holt & Company for the Advance Reader Copy of the January 20, 2026 publication.
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