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Rules of the Heart
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Expected 20 Jan 26Rules 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
Expected publication January 20, 2026
26 people are currently reading
10131 people want to read
About the author
Janice Hadlow
4 books388 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
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.
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.
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 12, 2025
490 arduous pages of a woman mostly bemoaning her own decisions, while making the same mistakes over and over.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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,
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.
November 7, 2025
3.5 actual stars.
Based on the true life story of Harriet Ponsonby Countess of Bessborough, a woman in an unhappy marriage who falls in love with a younger man 12 years her junior.
Set in England, 1794, beautiful Harriet, a leading lady of aristocratic society has everything, wealth, children and a beautiful home, but she is deeply unhappy in her marriage because she has never had the one thing she has always longed for, and that is to experience deep true love. Though her children bring her immense joy her marriage has suffered infidelities both by herself and the Duke as well. But a man's infidelities are easily accepted and almost expected in this era. But Harriet's husband is now ever watchful and mistrustful of the men who seem to flirt openly with his wife and is often reminded that her children could be taken from her if he discovers more infidelities. Trying her hardest to focus on her marriage Harriet is resigned to remain faithful in her loveless marriage, until one day she meets the dashing and handsome Lord Granville. All at once Granville is smitten and pursues Harriet fervently until they end up in an all consuming love affair that will carry on for decades ultimately ending when Granville marries her niece.
It was a well written book and descriptive of the era, but Harriet was reckless and she lacked any moral compass where Granville was concerned. Time and time again she and Granville always ended up in bed with promises to stop their affair with Harriet becoming pregnant by him 3 times. Granville certainly was not blameless. While he attempted to woo other women and was openly searching for a suitable wife to finally settle down with he continually ran back to Harriet. There was so much infidelity among the aristocrats, they were practically hopping in and out of bed with one another. Also society was not fair to women, the men could have mistresses but the women were not easily forgiven, scandalized and punished by having their children taken away a fact Harriet knew all too well since her sister Georgiana, the Duchess of Devonshire experienced the separation of her children and exiled due to her indiscretions. While I did not feel much empathy for Harriet, it was sad that she finally had the chance to find true love but in the end she could not have it forever.
Big thank you to author Janice Hadlow and Macmillan Publishers for offering this book to me in exchange for an honest review
Based on the true life story of Harriet Ponsonby Countess of Bessborough, a woman in an unhappy marriage who falls in love with a younger man 12 years her junior.
Set in England, 1794, beautiful Harriet, a leading lady of aristocratic society has everything, wealth, children and a beautiful home, but she is deeply unhappy in her marriage because she has never had the one thing she has always longed for, and that is to experience deep true love. Though her children bring her immense joy her marriage has suffered infidelities both by herself and the Duke as well. But a man's infidelities are easily accepted and almost expected in this era. But Harriet's husband is now ever watchful and mistrustful of the men who seem to flirt openly with his wife and is often reminded that her children could be taken from her if he discovers more infidelities. Trying her hardest to focus on her marriage Harriet is resigned to remain faithful in her loveless marriage, until one day she meets the dashing and handsome Lord Granville. All at once Granville is smitten and pursues Harriet fervently until they end up in an all consuming love affair that will carry on for decades ultimately ending when Granville marries her niece.
It was a well written book and descriptive of the era, but Harriet was reckless and she lacked any moral compass where Granville was concerned. Time and time again she and Granville always ended up in bed with promises to stop their affair with Harriet becoming pregnant by him 3 times. Granville certainly was not blameless. While he attempted to woo other women and was openly searching for a suitable wife to finally settle down with he continually ran back to Harriet. There was so much infidelity among the aristocrats, they were practically hopping in and out of bed with one another. Also society was not fair to women, the men could have mistresses but the women were not easily forgiven, scandalized and punished by having their children taken away a fact Harriet knew all too well since her sister Georgiana, the Duchess of Devonshire experienced the separation of her children and exiled due to her indiscretions. While I did not feel much empathy for Harriet, it was sad that she finally had the chance to find true love but in the end she could not have it forever.
Big thank you to author Janice Hadlow and Macmillan Publishers for offering this book to me in exchange for an honest review
July 16, 2025
Rules of the Heart is Janice Hadlow’s second novel, off the back of her 2020 Austen-inspired hit ‘The Other Bennett Sister’.
In her new novel, Hadlow turns her attention to another in-depth look at character, relationships and love, but this time based on a real-life personality from Georgian England, that of Henrietta (Harriet) Ponsonby, Countess of Bessborough. She was the younger sister of the famed socialite and darling of the Ton, Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire (whose portrait I have hanging on my wall!).
As was well known for the time, marriages amongst the aristocracy were usually for pragmatic and financial reasons than for love, and both Harriet and Georgiana were not happily married. Harriet’s husband, ‘Lord B’ was especially physically abusive and scandalised society with his terrifying rages at her.
Harriet had several affairs throughout her marriage and this story centres around her most enduring and life-changing love affair with Lord Granville, 1st Earl Granville. The story is full of the conflicting emotions of passion and love, but also guilt and shame – not to mention anxiety, due to the extremely precarious situation Harriet consistently found herself, risking her financial security, her relationship with her children and even her life on several occasions.
Hadlow’s ability to flesh out the interiority of Harriet’s world is masterful – at one point I was so engrossed I wasn’t sure whether I was feeling my own feelings or Harriet’s. I was totally absorbed, and cried my eyes out at the end!
Thank you to @j_jadlow1950 and @panmacmillan for an advanced gifted copy for review. Rules of the Heart is out on the 21 August, preorder now!
In her new novel, Hadlow turns her attention to another in-depth look at character, relationships and love, but this time based on a real-life personality from Georgian England, that of Henrietta (Harriet) Ponsonby, Countess of Bessborough. She was the younger sister of the famed socialite and darling of the Ton, Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire (whose portrait I have hanging on my wall!).
As was well known for the time, marriages amongst the aristocracy were usually for pragmatic and financial reasons than for love, and both Harriet and Georgiana were not happily married. Harriet’s husband, ‘Lord B’ was especially physically abusive and scandalised society with his terrifying rages at her.
Harriet had several affairs throughout her marriage and this story centres around her most enduring and life-changing love affair with Lord Granville, 1st Earl Granville. The story is full of the conflicting emotions of passion and love, but also guilt and shame – not to mention anxiety, due to the extremely precarious situation Harriet consistently found herself, risking her financial security, her relationship with her children and even her life on several occasions.
Hadlow’s ability to flesh out the interiority of Harriet’s world is masterful – at one point I was so engrossed I wasn’t sure whether I was feeling my own feelings or Harriet’s. I was totally absorbed, and cried my eyes out at the end!
Thank you to @j_jadlow1950 and @panmacmillan for an advanced gifted copy for review. Rules of the Heart is out on the 21 August, preorder now!
August 15, 2025
With thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for an advance review copy.
Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, has been on my radar for years, long before I moved to Derbyshire with all its associations with her. So I was intrigued by the idea of this novelisation of her sister Lady Harriet Bessborough's life and specifically of her affair with the much younger Lord Granville. Sadly, the book's description did not live up to the reality.
The narration is in the first person, and Lady Harriet reveals herself to be an indecisive, immature woman who in her wishy-washiness risks destroying not only her own life and reputation but those of her close family. In her late 30s, having been a society wife in an admittedly loveless marriage for nearly 20 years (but most upper-class marriages were at the end of the 18th century), she is bowled over by a good-looking and persistent young man who flatters her into being ready to throw away her position, security and reputation for the sake of her hormonal instincts. Am I being harsh? I do have sympathy for the very real and powerful attraction she is in thrall to, but she is also a woman with agency to make choices. It is her abdication of this agency which irritated me so much - she dithers, and flip-flops, and says far too many things she doesn't mean, and illudes herself to the point where I just wanted to smack her. I did not finish the book I'm afraid - I just could not sympathise with her enough. If you think grand-gesture, all-consuming, hugely ill-advised love affairs are the ultimate in romance, you'll love this. Otherwise, I'd advise you to steer clear.
Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, has been on my radar for years, long before I moved to Derbyshire with all its associations with her. So I was intrigued by the idea of this novelisation of her sister Lady Harriet Bessborough's life and specifically of her affair with the much younger Lord Granville. Sadly, the book's description did not live up to the reality.
The narration is in the first person, and Lady Harriet reveals herself to be an indecisive, immature woman who in her wishy-washiness risks destroying not only her own life and reputation but those of her close family. In her late 30s, having been a society wife in an admittedly loveless marriage for nearly 20 years (but most upper-class marriages were at the end of the 18th century), she is bowled over by a good-looking and persistent young man who flatters her into being ready to throw away her position, security and reputation for the sake of her hormonal instincts. Am I being harsh? I do have sympathy for the very real and powerful attraction she is in thrall to, but she is also a woman with agency to make choices. It is her abdication of this agency which irritated me so much - she dithers, and flip-flops, and says far too many things she doesn't mean, and illudes herself to the point where I just wanted to smack her. I did not finish the book I'm afraid - I just could not sympathise with her enough. If you think grand-gesture, all-consuming, hugely ill-advised love affairs are the ultimate in romance, you'll love this. Otherwise, I'd advise you to steer clear.
July 24, 2025
A novel set in an era the 1700's, a period of masculine dominance in society, where women had to defer to their husband's wishes or be disgraced with divorce. A story about a lady, Harriet, who married not for love but for a safe comfortable life, however her husband was not so kind initially and she had numerous "affairs", giving her husband great distress and he felt emasculated, so he gave her the ultimatum of divorce of compliance. She chose compliance for her children's sake. However, she did begin a very passionate affair with a 22year old (she was 35) this lasted for many years, he wanted to marry her, but she knew that her age would come between them eventually, though Harriet was certain that this was true love for her and Granville certainly returned the sentiment. The affair ended when her lover, Granville, decided he wanted a family life and to settle down. All the heartache and deception is cleverly described by the author and I could understand the passion and heartache attached to such a liaison. During the 17yr affair Harriet had two illegitimate children with Granville, he eventually took the children into his family and care, and was distraught when he heard of Harriet's death, another sign of how deeply he had loved her.
Initially I thought this novel a little shallow, but as the pages turned one got caught up in the life of the times and how ladies had to conduct themselves at the time. An interesting look back in time and how times have changed!
Initially I thought this novel a little shallow, but as the pages turned one got caught up in the life of the times and how ladies had to conduct themselves at the time. An interesting look back in time and how times have changed!
July 19, 2025
3.75
This is a heartbreaking piece of historical fiction about a torrid & scandalous love affair that both dominates & ruins the life of an aristocratic woman in 18th century England.
Based on the real person, Harriet Bessborough who was sister of the infamous Georgina, Duchess of Devonshire this story is a really raw and honest account of her affair with Lord Granville and the fallout of it. I felt the author really brought the regency period to life with extraordinary detail and I enjoyed the scandals, secret assignations, balls and parties. I also thought she conveyed the struggle for women in this period too-always longing for what they really want but always having to compromise on their desires & to behave within the parameters of societal expectations. And always at the behest of men. It made me quite angry in parts.
I struggled a bit with the 1 POV as…I didn’t love Harriet. I found her constant need for Lord Granville exasperating and the sheer amount of inner angst she went through was too much for me. They were both complete red flags but I appreciate the raw honesty of this style was needed to be truthful to what an affair can do to people.
Also, Harriet was close to some fascinating people and political intrigue-I would have loved to see more of that in there too.
3.75. A good regency story with scandal and angst.
This is a heartbreaking piece of historical fiction about a torrid & scandalous love affair that both dominates & ruins the life of an aristocratic woman in 18th century England.
Based on the real person, Harriet Bessborough who was sister of the infamous Georgina, Duchess of Devonshire this story is a really raw and honest account of her affair with Lord Granville and the fallout of it. I felt the author really brought the regency period to life with extraordinary detail and I enjoyed the scandals, secret assignations, balls and parties. I also thought she conveyed the struggle for women in this period too-always longing for what they really want but always having to compromise on their desires & to behave within the parameters of societal expectations. And always at the behest of men. It made me quite angry in parts.
I struggled a bit with the 1 POV as…I didn’t love Harriet. I found her constant need for Lord Granville exasperating and the sheer amount of inner angst she went through was too much for me. They were both complete red flags but I appreciate the raw honesty of this style was needed to be truthful to what an affair can do to people.
Also, Harriet was close to some fascinating people and political intrigue-I would have loved to see more of that in there too.
3.75. A good regency story with scandal and angst.
December 20, 2025
Rules of the Heart by Janice Hadlow
Henry Holt & Company — Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.
Janice Hadlow’s Rules of the Heart is not your average historical romance, unless your idea of romance involves long letters, emotional whiplash, and an illicit affair with a younger man who spends half the novel ghosting you across continents. But let’s not pretend we’re not here for the drama.
Set in 1794, Rules of the Heart follows Lady Harriet Bessborough—a real historical figure and sister to the more famous Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire—as she reflects on her scandalous, decades-long love affair with Lord Granville Leveson-Gower, who is not only young, handsome, and aristocratic, but also alarmingly good at giving women just enough affection to ruin their lives. Harriet, already in her thirties and saddled with an abusive, emotionally vacant husband, has seen a thing or two. She knows the rules: married women can have affairs, but don’t embarrass your husband, be very discreet, and for God’s sake, don’t fall in love. Naturally, she breaks every one.
What begins as a flirtation escalates into a love affair that consumes her life, her reputation, her health, and—spoiler—her dignity. This isn’t a bodice-ripper; it’s a slow burn of emotional self-destruction written in reflective prose, dripping with self-awareness and regret. Think of it as the Wuthering Heights of real-life romantic obsession, only with more illegitimate children and slightly fewer ghosts.
The novel is told in first person, years after the fact, as Harriet looks back at the wreckage of her younger self’s decisions. It’s painful, poetic, and yes, occasionally infuriating. Harriet is not always likable. She’s often frustrating, irrational, and painfully dependent on a man who repeatedly proves he is incapable of being the savior she wants him to be. And yet, Hadlow doesn’t ask us to approve of her. She asks us to understand her. And that’s the novel’s strength.
Harriet is a woman born into a world that punishes desire and rewards conformity—as long as you’re a man. Her husband cheats with impunity. She cheats and risks losing her children. The double standard is baked into the wallpaper. Her affair with Granville isn’t just about sex or love; it’s a desperate search for autonomy, for recognition, for something that feels like being seen. When Granville eventually marries someone younger, more appropriate, and horrifyingly, her niece, it isn’t just betrayal. It’s the final, bitter confirmation that a woman like Harriet can be loved—but only in the shadows.
Hadlow’s writing is elegant without being fussy. She paints the late 18th century in vivid strokes—ballrooms, carriages, gilt-framed parlors—and fills it with the emotional claustrophobia of a woman who can’t move without scandal breathing down her neck. The details are rich and clearly the product of meticulous research, but the book never feels like a history lesson. Instead, it reads like a confession, a long, lonely voice echoing from the past.
This is a story about love, but it’s also about self-deception, societal cruelty, and the brutal truth that not all romances are meant to end in happiness. Sometimes, love just burns through your life, leaving letters, rumors, and unanswered questions behind.
One line that sums up the entire book: “When I love at all, it is with my whole soul—my heart must be torn to pieces before it can forget or resign the objects of its affections.” If that sounds romantic to you, congratulations—you’re the target audience. If it sounds like the diary entry of a woman spiraling into romantic chaos, well… you’re also right.
What frustrated me most—intentionally so, I think—is how Harriet’s world punishes her for breaking the rules, but never challenges the rules themselves. Men like Granville get to move on, marry well, and maintain their reputations. Women like Harriet lose everything. The emotional toll of this imbalance is the novel’s heartbeat, and it pulses through every page.
But let’s talk pacing. Rules of the Heart is not a brisk read. It’s long, nearly 500 pages, and often slow. The emotional beats are repetitive by design—because obsession is repetitive. Harriet tells herself she’ll walk away. Then she doesn’t. Then she tries again. Then she doesn’t. Some readers will lose patience. Others will recognize the pattern as painfully human. I did both.
Ultimately, Rules of the Heart is not a feel-good romance. It’s a gorgeously written, emotionally honest autopsy of love gone wrong. Harriet Bessborough isn’t a heroine in the traditional sense. She’s a cautionary tale, a rebel, a fool, and a woman who wanted too much in a world that gave her too little.
But somehow, through all her messy, misguided choices, I cared. I cared enough to stay with her until the final page, even when I wanted to scream into my teacup. That, in itself, is a triumph.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
#RulesOfTheHeart #JaniceHadlow #HistoricalFiction #RegencyRomance #NetGalleyARC #BookReview #FeministFiction #LadyHarrietBessborough #GeorgianDrama #WomenInHistory #MessyHeroines #LoveAndLoss #RealLifeRomance #HistoricalRomanceReview #Bookstagram #EmotionalReads #HistoricalWomen #BasedOnTrueStory #RulesWereMeantToBeBroken #ReadersOfInstagram
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Henry Holt & Company — Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.
Janice Hadlow’s Rules of the Heart is not your average historical romance, unless your idea of romance involves long letters, emotional whiplash, and an illicit affair with a younger man who spends half the novel ghosting you across continents. But let’s not pretend we’re not here for the drama.
Set in 1794, Rules of the Heart follows Lady Harriet Bessborough—a real historical figure and sister to the more famous Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire—as she reflects on her scandalous, decades-long love affair with Lord Granville Leveson-Gower, who is not only young, handsome, and aristocratic, but also alarmingly good at giving women just enough affection to ruin their lives. Harriet, already in her thirties and saddled with an abusive, emotionally vacant husband, has seen a thing or two. She knows the rules: married women can have affairs, but don’t embarrass your husband, be very discreet, and for God’s sake, don’t fall in love. Naturally, she breaks every one.
What begins as a flirtation escalates into a love affair that consumes her life, her reputation, her health, and—spoiler—her dignity. This isn’t a bodice-ripper; it’s a slow burn of emotional self-destruction written in reflective prose, dripping with self-awareness and regret. Think of it as the Wuthering Heights of real-life romantic obsession, only with more illegitimate children and slightly fewer ghosts.
The novel is told in first person, years after the fact, as Harriet looks back at the wreckage of her younger self’s decisions. It’s painful, poetic, and yes, occasionally infuriating. Harriet is not always likable. She’s often frustrating, irrational, and painfully dependent on a man who repeatedly proves he is incapable of being the savior she wants him to be. And yet, Hadlow doesn’t ask us to approve of her. She asks us to understand her. And that’s the novel’s strength.
Harriet is a woman born into a world that punishes desire and rewards conformity—as long as you’re a man. Her husband cheats with impunity. She cheats and risks losing her children. The double standard is baked into the wallpaper. Her affair with Granville isn’t just about sex or love; it’s a desperate search for autonomy, for recognition, for something that feels like being seen. When Granville eventually marries someone younger, more appropriate, and horrifyingly, her niece, it isn’t just betrayal. It’s the final, bitter confirmation that a woman like Harriet can be loved—but only in the shadows.
Hadlow’s writing is elegant without being fussy. She paints the late 18th century in vivid strokes—ballrooms, carriages, gilt-framed parlors—and fills it with the emotional claustrophobia of a woman who can’t move without scandal breathing down her neck. The details are rich and clearly the product of meticulous research, but the book never feels like a history lesson. Instead, it reads like a confession, a long, lonely voice echoing from the past.
This is a story about love, but it’s also about self-deception, societal cruelty, and the brutal truth that not all romances are meant to end in happiness. Sometimes, love just burns through your life, leaving letters, rumors, and unanswered questions behind.
One line that sums up the entire book: “When I love at all, it is with my whole soul—my heart must be torn to pieces before it can forget or resign the objects of its affections.” If that sounds romantic to you, congratulations—you’re the target audience. If it sounds like the diary entry of a woman spiraling into romantic chaos, well… you’re also right.
What frustrated me most—intentionally so, I think—is how Harriet’s world punishes her for breaking the rules, but never challenges the rules themselves. Men like Granville get to move on, marry well, and maintain their reputations. Women like Harriet lose everything. The emotional toll of this imbalance is the novel’s heartbeat, and it pulses through every page.
But let’s talk pacing. Rules of the Heart is not a brisk read. It’s long, nearly 500 pages, and often slow. The emotional beats are repetitive by design—because obsession is repetitive. Harriet tells herself she’ll walk away. Then she doesn’t. Then she tries again. Then she doesn’t. Some readers will lose patience. Others will recognize the pattern as painfully human. I did both.
Ultimately, Rules of the Heart is not a feel-good romance. It’s a gorgeously written, emotionally honest autopsy of love gone wrong. Harriet Bessborough isn’t a heroine in the traditional sense. She’s a cautionary tale, a rebel, a fool, and a woman who wanted too much in a world that gave her too little.
But somehow, through all her messy, misguided choices, I cared. I cared enough to stay with her until the final page, even when I wanted to scream into my teacup. That, in itself, is a triumph.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
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August 2, 2025
Thank you PanMacmillian and NetGalley for this ARC in return for an honest review.
Oh Harriet, what a life she led! The sister of the infamous Duchess (see the Keira Knightley film), Harriet has some interesting similarities as well as heartbreaks. I was rooting for her even though she frustrated me and awful lot. Her true love was a romance of both joy and suffering and I really felt for her. And yet what could she do? A woman of her station has remarkably little freedom which makes it all the more maddening. And the men in this book! Eugh.
I found the story of her life fascinating but I do wish it had been a bit more about her biography rather than just the romance - the parts towards the end and epilogue were really interesting. I had hoped for a more intimate telling but there was so much of just that: telling rather than showing. However it's written in a way that's supposed to be letters, so it makes sense but it's not a format I've always been fond of as it leaves me feeling detached to characters.
I appreciated the short chapter lengths and I'm left feeling fascinated about this woman, her family and society in Georgian/Regency England that is a bit more scandalous than what we are led to believe.
Oh Harriet, what a life she led! The sister of the infamous Duchess (see the Keira Knightley film), Harriet has some interesting similarities as well as heartbreaks. I was rooting for her even though she frustrated me and awful lot. Her true love was a romance of both joy and suffering and I really felt for her. And yet what could she do? A woman of her station has remarkably little freedom which makes it all the more maddening. And the men in this book! Eugh.
I found the story of her life fascinating but I do wish it had been a bit more about her biography rather than just the romance - the parts towards the end and epilogue were really interesting. I had hoped for a more intimate telling but there was so much of just that: telling rather than showing. However it's written in a way that's supposed to be letters, so it makes sense but it's not a format I've always been fond of as it leaves me feeling detached to characters.
I appreciated the short chapter lengths and I'm left feeling fascinated about this woman, her family and society in Georgian/Regency England that is a bit more scandalous than what we are led to believe.
August 19, 2025
(ARC - out 01/20/26 via Henry Holt & Co) Lady Harriet Bessborough is trapped in an abusive marriage, never having her needs meet, desperate to feel desire and love. She begins an affair with a younger man, Lord Granville, whose motives are more selfish than she realizes. She quickly descends into an all-consuming passion with Granville, to the detriment of every other part of her life. I loved the set-up to this and I’m always down for an exploration of the rigid structural systems of the regency period that forced women into roles they were unfit to maintain. I also am a big fan of yearning, which I thought this novel would have more of. However, the characterization of Harriet was frustrating to me. She’s our only narrator and her obsession with Lord Granville becomes grating. There was a lot of repetition and I found myself feeling frustrated with Harriet, even though she was in horrendous circumstances. I do think if historical fiction, specifically fiction set during the regency period, is a genre you enjoy, you’ll like your time with this. And I’m always here for an examination of societal expectations on women in a period when their rights were limited and the husband had full control over his wife.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
England, 1794. Now in her thirties, Lady Harriet Bessborough, already the veteran of several liaisons, finds herself pursued by a much younger man. This isn’t unusual in her circle, where married women often take younger lovers. No one minds much, provided they follow the rules of the game: Don’t embarrass your husband, maintain complete discretion at all times, and never ever make the mistake of falling in love.
So when Harriet meets Lord Granville—brilliantly handsome, insistently ardent, and twelve years younger than her—she’s confident she can manage their affair. Until she finds herself falling uncontrollably under his spell.
This story was compelling and a bit of a train wreck but not in a bad way. Harriet is so conflicted between duty and desire and neither she nor Granville come off as very likeable. But what was a woman to do in the 18th century when they were married off young to men they didn't love or respect? I didn't realize until I read the author's note that this was based on a true story developed from actual letters between Harriet and Granville. So, what would you do if you were caught in her dilemma? Makes for an interesting book club discussion!
Thank you to Henry Holt & Company and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
So when Harriet meets Lord Granville—brilliantly handsome, insistently ardent, and twelve years younger than her—she’s confident she can manage their affair. Until she finds herself falling uncontrollably under his spell.
This story was compelling and a bit of a train wreck but not in a bad way. Harriet is so conflicted between duty and desire and neither she nor Granville come off as very likeable. But what was a woman to do in the 18th century when they were married off young to men they didn't love or respect? I didn't realize until I read the author's note that this was based on a true story developed from actual letters between Harriet and Granville. So, what would you do if you were caught in her dilemma? Makes for an interesting book club discussion!
Thank you to Henry Holt & Company and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
November 3, 2025
This historical fiction novel is told by Harriet Bessborough, who lived in Regency England in the late 18th century into the early 19th century when class-consciousness was extremely important. She was unhappily married to "Lord B," whose violent temper in their early marriage was eventually mitigated by his love of gambling. Harriet in her 30s had already had three romantic affairs when she met Lord Granville, 12 years her junior. Apparently, it was not uncommon for younger men to focus their attentions on older married women. They soon become a passionate involvement. This affair produces two living children and one stillbirth, in addition to the four older siblings she has with Lord B. One wonders if birth control was not available.
Harriet continues to see Granville despite her promises to her husband. She is utterly obsessed with him and manages trysts with him whenever possible, refusing to leave her husband because of social repercussions. Her thoughts are recorded later in life as she reads letters saved from their relationship kept in a secret place.
It is often difficult to read Harriet's long giddy, sometimes heartsick ramblings about Granville. This relationship took priority over her children and certainly with her husband. This is an interesting view into the politics and social mores of that period in history. Thanks to LibraryThing and the publisher for this ARC.
Harriet continues to see Granville despite her promises to her husband. She is utterly obsessed with him and manages trysts with him whenever possible, refusing to leave her husband because of social repercussions. Her thoughts are recorded later in life as she reads letters saved from their relationship kept in a secret place.
It is often difficult to read Harriet's long giddy, sometimes heartsick ramblings about Granville. This relationship took priority over her children and certainly with her husband. This is an interesting view into the politics and social mores of that period in history. Thanks to LibraryThing and the publisher for this ARC.
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