Cressida’s a rock chick, living her life as she likes—and to hell with anyone who doesn’t like it. It’s about to be turned upside down, however, and there’s little she can do about it.
Losing his parents as a child, Jay’s had a difficult life—and despite his efforts he’s had difficulty keeping on the right side of the law. Change is in the air—but for the better, or the worse?
Hugo’s a privileged blue blood with a sense of entitlement. He’s not ready for the sudden challenge to his place in the world, or for who’s making it.
Justin’s getting married soon—or thinks he is. He doesn’t react well to an unplanned change.
There’s a reason Janine’s called ‘crazy’—but unforeseen circumstances show an unknown side of her.
Five people, getting on with life, unsuspecting of events soon to affect them. Can they meet the trials which lie ahead, and emerge unscathed?
I was born and grew up in North London, England, and engaged in various occupations, including dental nurse, laboratory assistant and shop assistant, before I married aged twenty and travelled the world following my husband’s career. I spent much time reading, a passion since childhood, and toyed with writing.
Eventually settled in the UK I took evening classes and gained ‘A’ levels in Psychology, Sociology and English before becoming a mature student and gaining Bachelor's and Master's degrees in English and Literature before training and working as a teacher. In 2016 we moved to the peace of rural Lincolnshire, and my sporadic writing activities became more permanent.
To date I've published fifteen books, beginning in May 2020 with 'Fairytales Don’t Come True,' my debut novel. Since then I've written and published four books of poetry: 'October Poems,' 'Thanksgiving Poems & Prose Pieces,' 'Poet-Pourri' and 'Social Climbing and Other Poems.' In January 2021 I published a sequel to 'Fairytales' entitled 'Degenerate, Regenerate,' and at the end of March 2021 I published a psychological suspense story, 'You Know What You Did,' and in June 2021 'All That We Are Heir To,' the third book in the 'Criminal Conversation; series. In November 2022 I published a sequel to 'You Know What You Did,' entitled 'What Else Did You Do?'. The work didn’t stop, as alongside this sequel I was writing a fourth book for the 'Criminal Conversation' series. Entitled 'Innocent, Guilty,' it was published in January 2023, and a fifth book, 'The Future of Our House' came out in June 2023. The sixth and final book, 'Uphill, Downhill, Over, Out' came out in August 2023. January 2025 saw a standalone novel about an arranged marriage, 'An Honourable Institution' and September of that year saw another psychological suspense, 'The Guilty Party'. Most recently, in February 2026 I published a Whodunnit, 'Fatal.' I've nothing ongoing at present, but watch this space.
In late 2021 I undertook some editorial training and freelance work as a sub-editor. I terminated that work in late 2022, but have my hands full with writing my own books and reviewing those of others.
In November 2023 I built my own website, with my own books, blog posts, my reviews of other authors' books and interviews with some of those authors. Why not check it out and maybe subscribe at https://booksthatmakeyouthink2.co.uk/
And of course there’s reading, something which I have loved since I was a child. I became a convert to eBooks and subscribed to the Kindle Unlimited programme, because although I love physical books, my bookcases are groaning under the weight and I don’t have room for any more. I review everything I read, since I became an author myself and realise the value of these in getting our work in front of as many eyes as possible; but it does mean that I have a large virtual To Be Read pile.
For other leisure activities I walk—or use a stepper at home, when the weather’s bad—play the recorder (badly), and listen to music of all types. I like a good meal with wine, whether out or at home, and spend most evenings binge-watching one series or another.
This was a super and unexpectedly thought-provoking read about arranged marriages at the highest tiers of British society. Though the author never draws a parallel, it reminded me of the arranged marriage between Diana Spencer and Prince Charles. And we all know how that turned out.
This story is fiction, of course. Cressida diFerraro’s family has loads of money but no royal title. Hugo deVere-FitzAllan has the title, but his family is broke. Their parents make a deal that Cressida and Hugo will marry and immediately produce an heir. Or else!
Cressida is a sexually prolific party girl living on her daddy’s dollar. Hugo is gay and about to marry his lover. I didn’t find either of them particularly likable, at least in the beginning, though I did feel pity for them. Both comply against their will, and things go downhill from there, especially since they can barely hide their dislike for each other. Secondary characters add dimension to the story, softening or hardening my first impressions of the MCs.
The almost non-existent relationship between Cressida and Hugo is a train wreck. It’s hard to look away or imagine how the story will end. That kept me turning pages like an addict. The ending has a great twist that I didn’t see coming at all and really enjoyed. Highly recommended to readers of contemporary British lit, stories about relationships, and family dysfunction.
Having read most of the books by this author, I couldn’t wait to get started on this, the latest novel and I wasn’t disappointed. Cressida Di Ferraro, portrayed as a typical rich bitch has no morals and little thought for others. From an extremely rich family, she’s been spoiled all her life and used to having what she wants, when she wants it – except love, and that’s been in very short supply. Then there’s Hugo DeVere-FitzAllan, a privileged, blue-blooded aristocrat who can probably trace his ancestors back to the Doomsday Book, but his family has fallen on hard times and must do something about it. With Hugo planning to marry Justin, the love of his life, and Cressida satisfying her needs with Jay, a male prostitute, with no strings attached, they are shocked when their parents hatch a plan that is equally distasteful to both. An Honourable Institution is an intriguing page-turner where the reader is witness to how circumstances change some of the characters forever. With a twist at the end which I, for one, did not see coming, I strongly recommend this book.
Love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage, according to the old song. Hugo might feel that way, but Cressida doesn’t. She’s far too busy partying as only a rich girl can, and enjoying casual hook-ups when someone takes her fancy. Both are living the life they want until the parents decide to get in the way with a very strange proposal that neither can wiggle out of. Making the best of a bad lot is probably their best option. Or is it? And sometimes friends can get in the way of the best laid plans. This is another book from Laura Lyndhurst that you won’t be able to put down until you’ve found out what happens to Hugo, Cressida, Justin, Jay, and Janine. Highly recommended.
Page-turner! When Father and Mother say jump you do it and that’s no different for Cressida DiFerrarro and Hugo DeVere-FitzAllan. Both enjoying the privileged life handed to them (even if some of it was somewhat lonely) but now all that’s about to end. There are plenty of characters to love or hate in this story as it takes you into the lives of Cressida, Jay, Hugo, Justin and Janine and how decisions that are made will have an impact on them forever. An Honourable Institution by Laura Lyndhurst is another page-turner, well-written and emotional story that had me gripped from the start to the end. Highly recommended!
Cressida is a rich, wild party girl type, whose relationships are strictly fun until she starts falling for one of the guys she pays for a good time. Hugo is also a rich man, heir to an estate. However, much to his mother, Giselle’s dismay he is gay and due to marry his partner. However the estate that Hugo is due to inherit is in debt. So in order to save it Giselle joins forces with Francesco, Cressida’s cold and absent father who is an astute Alan Sugar type businessman who owns practically half of London. Their plan is to get Cressida and Hugo to marry despite them not liking each other and have interests elsewhere. The marriage goes ahead and within time a child comes along, an heir to both the estate and Francesco’s business so the in laws are happy. However Cressida and Hugo’s feelings to each other do not thaw. In fact they worsen until a terrible tragedy occurs. This is an engaging and compelling read. The bleak and hopeless circumstances that Cressida and Hugo find themselves could garner some sympathy especially Cressida as Hugo turns into a spiteful, spoiled and arrogant person, a character that can be easily hated. The ending has a neat little twist to it and there is a nice little Easter egg about two thirds into the story that links this story to another series that the author has written.
I’m a huge fan of Mario Puzo’s The Godfather and of author Laura Lyndhurst. Her latest novel, An Honourable Institution, offers a compelling contemporary tale of an arranged marriage between two powerful UK families. Just like my complicated relationship with the Godfather’s Michael Corleone, I found myself drawn into the “can’t look away” train wreck marriage of Cressida diMarco diFerrarro.’ and Hugo Hugh deVere-FitzAllan.
The plot is tight and well-written, the dialog wickedly funny, the social observations wry and insightful, and the final plot twist a genuine surprise. This excellent novel had me turning pages late into the evening.
I loved this contemporary take on arranged marriage, family power dynamics, and the messes we human beings get ourselves into. Highly recommend!
An Honourable Institution by Laura Lyndhurst is an easy but substantial read at over 340 pages. Although an easy to read page turner, I felt overtones of Greek Tragedy as fate unfolds itself in front of our reluctant heros. There is also more than a passing nod to the Bards most famous of tragic romances. This really is a beautiful book. All that said, this is a contemporary tale of power, money, lust, love, and sexuality. An intriguing story, twisting to the end. I love it, highly recommended. Well done Ms Lyndhurst!
Laura Lyndhurst's An Honourable Institution is a sharp, multilayered examination of duty, privilege, and revolt in the glittering but suffocating world of Britain's upper class. At its center is Cressida, a free-spirited "rock chick" whose lifestyle clashes with her family's expectations. When her father arranges a marriage with Hugo deVere-FitzAllan, a blue-blooded aristocrat with a lengthy ancestry but shaky finances, Cressida is thrust into a world she despises. Neither she nor Hugo want the marriage, and both bring secrets and passions that threaten to destabilize the delicate arrangement.
Around them are others who are just as involved in changing fortunes: Jay, a guy trying to escape his difficult past; Justin, whose engagement is headed for disaster; and Janine, whose so-called "madness" conceals a stunning power. Their interweaving arcs shift the narrative away from a single marriage and toward a society grappling with change.
The novel is both engaging and thought-provoking. It echoes the sad history of aristocratic arrangements such as Diana Spencer and Prince Charles, but with a contemporary twist. Cressida and Hugo are not immediately sympathetic—they are arrogant, imperfect, and frequently unlikable but this makes their unraveling all the more compelling. The end effect is a story that feels like a slow-motion collision: terrible, captivating, and impossible to turn away from. The finale is a stunning twist that reframes the story and lasts long after the final page.
Highly recommended for fans of modern British fiction, family sagas, and stories that peel back the façade of riches to discover the real human costs beneath.
A gripping and compelling contemporary tale of an arranged marriage amongst the mega wealthy. When Cressida is forced by her billionaire father to marry the heir of a noble and ancient but impoverished family, she believes her life is over. Her father is deaf to her pleas, her mother-in-law-to-be is indifferent to the notion of love triumphing over duty, and Cressida has no choice but to comply or face poverty herself.
Her groom-to-be, the lacklustre Hugo, also does not want the marriage. With his tastes firmly set elsewhere, the thought of marriage to Cressida — or any woman — is anathema to him. Yet out of adversity, something good might come. Cressida finds the loose bonds to a friend from boarding school tighten as Janine steps up to the mark to aid her friend.
The tale twists and turns and, at times, descends into dark despair that has the reader turning the pages faster and faster to find out if there can be a happy ending for Cressida. In the beginning, I didn’t care much for Cressida. She seemed shallow and selfish, and, to be frank, I didn’t have much sympathy for her situation. But as the story progressed and the reader struggled alongside Cressida to survive, my compassion for her grew until I was rooting for a solution to her terrible situation.
The ending took me completely by surprise. It was not how I thought the plot would go and there were distinct shades of Romeo and Juliet in the final few chapters. Overall, a tightly woven tale with strong writing and memorable characters that will stir the readers emotions.
Is Denying Love Worth Sustaining a Privileged Lifestyle
Marriage for the purpose of merging one family's wealth with another's noble status rather than for the purpose of uniting a couple in love is not An Honourable Institution. Especially when a mutual desire for an heir inspired the arrangement between the father of the bride and the mother of the groom.
The demand each parent placed on their children, to partake in nuptials, unleashed painful emotions that spread to those with whom they have close connections. The compelling story evokes compassion for the bride whose haughtiness had been softened by finding love and frustration for the despicable groom whose haughtiness holds no bounds.
Laura Lyndhurst paints a visual portrayal of the lap of luxury enjoyed by central characters and of their sense of entitlement strengthened by an elite lifestyle.
I've loved everything this author has written, so I looked forward to this one and was not disappointed. A wedding completely devoid of love or commitment is at the center of it; both the bride and groom have been coerced into it, and it disrupts both their decadent lifestyles considerably. We follow them to the crumbling country estate, where the fresh air, the horses, and the ample room are actually good for some people, though not necessarily them. We can see echoes from her other books, but they are not wound in, or necessary to know what's going on; still, it makes us curious to read the next, knowing that we'll see more of at least a few of them. The characters are excellent and it's very well written.
I thoroughly enjoyed this tragedy by Laura Lyndhurst. Cressida, daughter of a rich Italian business man and, Hugo, son of a British noble family are forced together by thier parents for honourable although selfish reasons, money for one family and an hier to take over the family business for the other. An hier of name and wealth, much to the detriment of the poor souls who's job it is to supply said Child. Different in every way but both willing to do their part. Told from many points of view, this story was riveting. I loved how the characters stories were all connected. Another great read from Lyndhurst.
I loved this book and was immediately drawn into the story! Cressida is a rich girl, who enjoys a free and easy lifestyle. Her life, as well as the lives of Jay, Hugo, Justin and Janine, are explored throughout the story, which is written with empathy, honesty, and emotional depth along the way. I loved the different points of view, and the way it was possible to engage deeply with each character's mindset and interior experience. I'll definitely be reading more of this author's books in future!
Three upstanding people, all beginning with the letter J. As for the other central characters … well, they could all do with a huge kick up the backside … they’re pretty unlikeable … but so well written. A man of immense power, wealth, and despicable personality, meets a woman of title, debts, and centuries of (in)breeding. Both share a problem … that their wayward offspring are unfit to continue the family bloodline. So, what are they going to do? I’m not going to tell you … go and read it for yourself. I really enjoyed it!
I've read Laura's books before and enjoy her writing style, especially humor. I found the Cressida-Jay love relationship, intriguing; Cressida-Hugo pairing, infuriating; and their parents, repulsive.
While glued to the plot, I tried to decide who had the worst parent. By the action-packed ending, I made up my mind. No spoilers. Read this fascinating book and decide yourself.
Each and every well-written character in this novel is so very different, yet have been cleverly woven together to create a page-turner; from fast living, wealthy rock chick Cressida, to the loathsome, blue -blooded Hugo. As their lives are brought together, they are both turned into pawns in a game of aristocratic chess. The twists at the end were completely unexpected, but left the reader feeling that justice had been served. A great read!
A lovely read from Laura Lyndhurst, that like her other books is hard to put down. Set in the upper class of British society there’s money, lust and lots more on offer. The twist in the end wasn’t expected. Gripping read and recommended book.