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The Trouble With Mrs Montgomery Hurst
1841. Mr Montgomery Hurst of Radcliffe Park is getting married. To the great consternation of the county of Wickenshire, he is not marrying the daughter of an earl, but an impoverished widow with three children, whom nobody has ever heard of. Society is both appalled and intrigued.
Nobody is more curious than Mr Ashpoint, a wealthy local brewer, who had hoped Mr Hurst might choose his daughter, Amelia, as his bride. Only, Amelia has no interest in marrying Mr Hurst - or indeed in marrying at all.
Mr Hurst's marriage kicks off a series of events, as it becomes clear his business is everyone's but his own...
Nobody is more curious than Mr Ashpoint, a wealthy local brewer, who had hoped Mr Hurst might choose his daughter, Amelia, as his bride. Only, Amelia has no interest in marrying Mr Hurst - or indeed in marrying at all.
Mr Hurst's marriage kicks off a series of events, as it becomes clear his business is everyone's but his own...
480 pages, Paperback
First published July 18, 2024
70 people are currently reading
1648 people want to read
About the author
Katie Lumsden
3 books3,771 followersKatie Lumsden read Jane Eyre at the age of thirteen and never looked back. She spent her teenage years devouring nineteenth century literature, reading every Dickens, Brontë, Gaskell, Austen and Hardy novel she could find. She has a degree in English literature and history from the University of Durham and an MA in creative writing from Bath Spa University. Her short stories have been shortlisted for the London Short Story Prize and the Bridport Prize, and have been published in various literary magazines.
Katie's Youtube channel, Books and Things, has more than 29,000 subscribers. She lives in London and works as an editor.
Her debut novel, The Secrets of Hartwood Hall, was shortlisted for the HWA Debut Crown Award.
Katie's Youtube channel, Books and Things, has more than 29,000 subscribers. She lives in London and works as an editor.
Her debut novel, The Secrets of Hartwood Hall, was shortlisted for the HWA Debut Crown Award.
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August 8, 2024Listened to my own novel on audiobook. Surreal and glorious experience. Personally, I think *maybe* it’s quite good?
September 10, 2024
Jane Austen meets Charles Dickens meets Sarah Waters
Want to read
April 13, 2024A 320 page comedy of manners set in an imaginary rural village - complete with map? Yes, please!
Except, this book doesn't currently have a US publisher. So I was thrilled to find out that Blackwell's Bookshop ships to the US for free. I've preordered this book, which is something I never do, and even got it on sale a bit. Thanks, Blackwell's.
Here's some of the blurb:
"To the great consternation of Wickenshire, a community that thrives on gossip, the county's most eligible bachelor is about to marry not only an unknown stranger - but a widow with three children, odd manners and no ancestry to speak of. Society is appalled and intrigued.
Meanwhile, Amelia Ashpoint has no interest in marriage at all. But in this town, it is clear that nobody's business is their own. And while society has high expectations for Amelia, her heart is drawing her in a very different direction . . .
A love letter to Jane Austen and Elizabeth Gaskell, The Trouble with Mrs. Montgomery Hurst is a witty novel of manners and gossip, class and family, scandal and romance."
I've seen the covers, which are on Blackwell's site, too. And they are lovely. I'm so excited!
Except, this book doesn't currently have a US publisher. So I was thrilled to find out that Blackwell's Bookshop ships to the US for free. I've preordered this book, which is something I never do, and even got it on sale a bit. Thanks, Blackwell's.
Here's some of the blurb:
"To the great consternation of Wickenshire, a community that thrives on gossip, the county's most eligible bachelor is about to marry not only an unknown stranger - but a widow with three children, odd manners and no ancestry to speak of. Society is appalled and intrigued.
Meanwhile, Amelia Ashpoint has no interest in marriage at all. But in this town, it is clear that nobody's business is their own. And while society has high expectations for Amelia, her heart is drawing her in a very different direction . . .
A love letter to Jane Austen and Elizabeth Gaskell, The Trouble with Mrs. Montgomery Hurst is a witty novel of manners and gossip, class and family, scandal and romance."
I've seen the covers, which are on Blackwell's site, too. And they are lovely. I'm so excited!
July 18, 2024
Katie Lumsden’s debut novel, The Secrets of Hartwood Hall, was a love letter to the Victorian sensation novel and one of the best books I read last year. The Trouble with Mrs Montgomery Hurst is another fantastic historical novel, but this time she has turned her talents to a country house novel, reminiscent of Austen or Gaskell, and this will also be one of my top books of the year.
At the centre of this wonderful comedy of manners, is the Ashpoint family, who occupy a prominent position in the fictional county of Wickenshire due to their wealth rather than social status. Mr Ashpoint is a wealthy, widowed brewer with four children, two of which, Amelia and Diggory, are of marriageable age. Mr Ashpoint is most concerned with the marriage prospects of his daughter Amelia, who he hopes will marry the respectable Mr Hurst, from one of Wickenshire’s oldest, most established families, and thus establish the Ashpoints as a family of rank as well as fortune.
However, Amelia has declared she will never marry and harbours a secret desire to become a writer along with a romantic secret that no-one suspects. She is, therefore, quite delighted when Mr Hurst unexpectedly announces his engagement to a woman that no-one has heard of or met, and a widow with three children! Gossip abounds as the townsfolk try to find out everything they can about his bride-to-be and the most prominent families vie to be the first ones to call on the new Mrs. Hurst when she arrives. The new Mrs. Hurst, however, is rather closed and cautious when she arrives and would prefer to be left alone with her husband and children, which sets tongues wagging even more!
This book was highly enjoyable and for all of the reasons that I also love reading novelists such as Austen and Gaskell. Wonderful characters and several plot lines which kept me wanting one more chapter! The social commentary on marriage, gender and class was deftly woven throughout the book. The various families that make up the cast of characters are from different social classes. Some characters are from old, established upper class families - the landed gentry - who have rank and statues, but are no longer as wealthy as some of the families who come from working classes but have made a lot of money ‘in trade’. We follow numerous characters from different backgrounds and genders as they navigate the strict etiquette and societal beliefs in their search for marriage or love or both, making for engaging plot lines and allowing the author to explore various social barriers of the period, such as class, illegitimacy, gender and sexuality. The book also explores the plight of the poorer members of the community, particularly those at the mercy of unscrupulous landlords or working in service or factories.
Whilst there are serious themes within the book, they are explored with a light enough touch that the book was also a delightful, escapist read. Both humorous and engaging, it was a real page-turner which I could not put down towards the end. Highly recommended! Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and, if you couldn’t tell, I loved it!
At the centre of this wonderful comedy of manners, is the Ashpoint family, who occupy a prominent position in the fictional county of Wickenshire due to their wealth rather than social status. Mr Ashpoint is a wealthy, widowed brewer with four children, two of which, Amelia and Diggory, are of marriageable age. Mr Ashpoint is most concerned with the marriage prospects of his daughter Amelia, who he hopes will marry the respectable Mr Hurst, from one of Wickenshire’s oldest, most established families, and thus establish the Ashpoints as a family of rank as well as fortune.
However, Amelia has declared she will never marry and harbours a secret desire to become a writer along with a romantic secret that no-one suspects. She is, therefore, quite delighted when Mr Hurst unexpectedly announces his engagement to a woman that no-one has heard of or met, and a widow with three children! Gossip abounds as the townsfolk try to find out everything they can about his bride-to-be and the most prominent families vie to be the first ones to call on the new Mrs. Hurst when she arrives. The new Mrs. Hurst, however, is rather closed and cautious when she arrives and would prefer to be left alone with her husband and children, which sets tongues wagging even more!
This book was highly enjoyable and for all of the reasons that I also love reading novelists such as Austen and Gaskell. Wonderful characters and several plot lines which kept me wanting one more chapter! The social commentary on marriage, gender and class was deftly woven throughout the book. The various families that make up the cast of characters are from different social classes. Some characters are from old, established upper class families - the landed gentry - who have rank and statues, but are no longer as wealthy as some of the families who come from working classes but have made a lot of money ‘in trade’. We follow numerous characters from different backgrounds and genders as they navigate the strict etiquette and societal beliefs in their search for marriage or love or both, making for engaging plot lines and allowing the author to explore various social barriers of the period, such as class, illegitimacy, gender and sexuality. The book also explores the plight of the poorer members of the community, particularly those at the mercy of unscrupulous landlords or working in service or factories.
Whilst there are serious themes within the book, they are explored with a light enough touch that the book was also a delightful, escapist read. Both humorous and engaging, it was a real page-turner which I could not put down towards the end. Highly recommended! Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and, if you couldn’t tell, I loved it!
August 11, 2024
Oh boy, hate to be the first (?) person to leave a negative review, and on top of that for a book I was looking forward to reading. I've been watching Katie's channel for years and years, and had a good time with her debut novel last year, but her second unfortunately fell flat for me.
What started out as a pretty entertaining, character-driven story set in a gossip-mongering community in the early 1840s turned into a book where I was never sure why I should care about anyone or anything that was happening to them. For starters, we have almost ten different POVs, only two of which were from characters I liked. The writing did feel quite Victorian/Regency-esque, but I couldn't help being bored by the repetitive plot and drama. Sometimes, I got the impression that the dialogue would be better suited to a movie than a novel, because some scenes felt dissonant when it came to the description-dialogue ratio and the way both were written. Add to that the fact that I don't usually read these kinds of books and you can understand my frustration with this one.
What started out as a pretty entertaining, character-driven story set in a gossip-mongering community in the early 1840s turned into a book where I was never sure why I should care about anyone or anything that was happening to them. For starters, we have almost ten different POVs, only two of which were from characters I liked. The writing did feel quite Victorian/Regency-esque, but I couldn't help being bored by the repetitive plot and drama. Sometimes, I got the impression that the dialogue would be better suited to a movie than a novel, because some scenes felt dissonant when it came to the description-dialogue ratio and the way both were written. Add to that the fact that I don't usually read these kinds of books and you can understand my frustration with this one.
April 28, 2024
A thoroughly enjoyable read. Set in 1841 and following several families in Wickenshire, England. Reputations are gained and lost. Marriages are bargained for. Rumours are rife. The cast of characters is an eclectic but entertaining mix. I read it all in one sitting and could happily have read more.
June 5, 2024
Katie Lumsden has written a novel in the style of Jane Austen, but reworks the themes of female identity and belonging for a modern audience. I found some of the compromises reached to accommodate what was considered to be scandalous behaviour 200 years ago a little unlikely, but the ending works well and doesn’t rely on marriage to offer Amelia the prospect of personal fulfilment.
September 28, 2024
2.25 ~ this has really taken me by surprise how little I enjoyed it. The prose was easy to read and decently written… but dull.
It was fine but dull, being the motto of my reading experience.
This is more to my taste, but I wish the prose was more Victorian. It was just kinda formal in quite a basic historical romance sort of way. I want gorgeously rambling prose. But I understand that that was a expectation that only I may have had.
To me, it was very lifeless, the characters unengaging and plot, plotless. I assumed early on that it was maybe going to be a romance with Mrs Hurst and that would have been wayyyy better. (And the complexities of Amelia and her girlfriend Clara with that!! Ughhhh). (Like this was no queer enough for my liking. Commit to the bit girlie).
It all was very flat. As other reviewers have mentioned, good people were good, and bad people were bad. Only really Clara and maybe Felicia had some nuance. Apart from a few ideas here and there, nothing thematic or emotional interested me at all.
But, every single romance story line in this was not engaging to me. Characters didn’t interact enough and I feel like I was told a lot of things, rather than shown. Also, most of the plot were these romance storylines, and so it was very tiring to me.
(SPOILER) Also it ended with the “main” couple, Clara and Amelia, not ending up together, which is fine I suppose, but not interestingly enough written. The themes could have been pushed. I feel like I should have been devastated they didn’t end up together, and I wasn’t. (Just go watch A Portrait of a Lady on Fire).
When you comp your book to Austen, Gaskell, Trollope, it made me super excited. You’re never going to capture what they captured so well of course, but this wasn’t even a *scratch* of anything of theirs. Modern books do have many positives tho, none of which were utilised here (except from some queer rep!!)
ALSO, can we talk about the queerness in this book having no presence on the blurb or the exterior of the book?????? Personally, I think that’s a very odd marketing decision. Amelia, the mc, being queer is not a spoiler and is spelled out in early chapters, so why is that not mentioned in the blurb? I feel like lots of people who would pick this up would miss this?
The only thing I can say in the marketing’s defence is that Amelia’s romance isn’t that important. Tbf nothing feels important in this book but that’s beside the point. Even the books tag line and TITLE doesn’t really make much sense to me. Why why why??? Wasn’t the “trouble with Mrs M Hurst” Amelia falling for a married woman???? The tagline is “why did he choose [marry] her?” which sounds like Amelia saying, “why did he have to choose her?” Not what was actually released about the Hurst’s which was a bit underwhelming.
I think I should really stop reading anything by this author, clearly we just don’t suit! A real, real shame because I do see so much promise here. (And I occasionally watch her YT channel, and she clearly loves Victorian literature!!)
…
Honestly just go read Cranford, Wives & Daughters or watch Portrait of a Lady on Fire.
It was fine but dull, being the motto of my reading experience.
This is more to my taste, but I wish the prose was more Victorian. It was just kinda formal in quite a basic historical romance sort of way. I want gorgeously rambling prose. But I understand that that was a expectation that only I may have had.
To me, it was very lifeless, the characters unengaging and plot, plotless. I assumed early on that it was maybe going to be a romance with Mrs Hurst and that would have been wayyyy better. (And the complexities of Amelia and her girlfriend Clara with that!! Ughhhh). (Like this was no queer enough for my liking. Commit to the bit girlie).
It all was very flat. As other reviewers have mentioned, good people were good, and bad people were bad. Only really Clara and maybe Felicia had some nuance. Apart from a few ideas here and there, nothing thematic or emotional interested me at all.
But, every single romance story line in this was not engaging to me. Characters didn’t interact enough and I feel like I was told a lot of things, rather than shown. Also, most of the plot were these romance storylines, and so it was very tiring to me.
(SPOILER) Also it ended with the “main” couple, Clara and Amelia, not ending up together, which is fine I suppose, but not interestingly enough written. The themes could have been pushed. I feel like I should have been devastated they didn’t end up together, and I wasn’t. (Just go watch A Portrait of a Lady on Fire).
When you comp your book to Austen, Gaskell, Trollope, it made me super excited. You’re never going to capture what they captured so well of course, but this wasn’t even a *scratch* of anything of theirs. Modern books do have many positives tho, none of which were utilised here (except from some queer rep!!)
ALSO, can we talk about the queerness in this book having no presence on the blurb or the exterior of the book?????? Personally, I think that’s a very odd marketing decision. Amelia, the mc, being queer is not a spoiler and is spelled out in early chapters, so why is that not mentioned in the blurb? I feel like lots of people who would pick this up would miss this?
The only thing I can say in the marketing’s defence is that Amelia’s romance isn’t that important. Tbf nothing feels important in this book but that’s beside the point. Even the books tag line and TITLE doesn’t really make much sense to me. Why why why??? Wasn’t the “trouble with Mrs M Hurst” Amelia falling for a married woman???? The tagline is “why did he choose [marry] her?” which sounds like Amelia saying, “why did he have to choose her?” Not what was actually released about the Hurst’s which was a bit underwhelming.
I think I should really stop reading anything by this author, clearly we just don’t suit! A real, real shame because I do see so much promise here. (And I occasionally watch her YT channel, and she clearly loves Victorian literature!!)
…
Honestly just go read Cranford, Wives & Daughters or watch Portrait of a Lady on Fire.
August 1, 2024
Wonderful! A lovesong to Regency and Victorian literature. The mystery of Mrs Hurst's history provides the fulcrum of the plot, but really we delve into the lives of many inhabitants of Wickenshire.
Varied are their problems and hopes, but there are themes of class and social stigma throughout, especially the difference between the reality of people and the labels society might use for them.
These you will recognise from the books which influenced the novel, and it's really fun to pick out the little nods to Austen, Trollope, Gaskell, etc. I'm sure many passed me by too. The author's knowledge of not only the books of the time but also the actual history really comes across, it feels very authentic.
This was quite chunky, but it has short chapters and multiple compelling storylines so I absolutely zipped through it. I would love a true Victorian chunkster of 800-1000 pages next, please!
Varied are their problems and hopes, but there are themes of class and social stigma throughout, especially the difference between the reality of people and the labels society might use for them.
These you will recognise from the books which influenced the novel, and it's really fun to pick out the little nods to Austen, Trollope, Gaskell, etc. I'm sure many passed me by too. The author's knowledge of not only the books of the time but also the actual history really comes across, it feels very authentic.
This was quite chunky, but it has short chapters and multiple compelling storylines so I absolutely zipped through it. I would love a true Victorian chunkster of 800-1000 pages next, please!
August 24, 2024
The county towns of Wickenshire are all astir with the news that Mr. Montgomery Hurst is going to be married to an unknown stranger who is also a widow with three children! Who is she? Where does she come from? What is the mystery/secret that seems to be linked to them? is she even respectable?
Set in 1841, it is right at the start of the Victorian Era where society is changing. Industry has risen and people from lower classes have made lots of money in business so there is much social climbing. Many of the industrialists having more money than the aristocracy.
There are 4 main families in Wickenshire:
The Ashpoints - New money. Mr Ashpoint is a successful brewer. Very rich. Father of Diggory and Amelia (and others).
The Earl and Countess of Wickford - First family of the county. Parents of Salbridge and Lady Rose. Very respectable name, limited money.
Mr. and Mrs Elton - Squire and lady of Ludwell - parents of Augustus (MP living in London) and the beautiful and accomplished Felicia. very respectable family but again limited money.
The Hursts - Squire of Radcliffe and his new wife and her 3 children from a previous marriage
Also you have:
Sir Frederick Hammersmith - Baronet and squire. Has money and position. Single lives with his elderly mother.
Major Charles Alderton - a retired army major, independent means, rumoured to be illegitimate son of a duke.
also several other business and professional families.
It's a sort of comedy of manners about class, money, morality, gender norms, expectations, and lots of gossip. What is more important love, money or status?
I loved this book so much that I couldn't wait to finish it to find out what happens to all the characters. It was such a fun read with lots of emotions. I laughed and smiled a lot but also was irritated with some of the characters. They all felt real. I love Victorian literature and in particular those that involve communities with large amounts of characters. I love to see how everyone interact and whether they adhere to the social norms and morals of those times. I love when books look at what really is moral? What is good and bad? Who decides? This book gives off a feel of Jane Austen, Elizabeth Gaskell (2 of my favourite authors) and Anthony Trollope. (The first chapter reminded me of the dance at Meryton in Pride and Prejudice with all the gossip about newcomers and who would marry who), there was also a feel of Wives and daughters by Gaskell and only yesterday, I finished reading an Anthony Trollope book which I won't name as it led me to guess part of the secret in this book.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes Victorian literature and especially Gaskell, Austen and Trollope. Thank you to #netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy.
Set in 1841, it is right at the start of the Victorian Era where society is changing. Industry has risen and people from lower classes have made lots of money in business so there is much social climbing. Many of the industrialists having more money than the aristocracy.
There are 4 main families in Wickenshire:
The Ashpoints - New money. Mr Ashpoint is a successful brewer. Very rich. Father of Diggory and Amelia (and others).
The Earl and Countess of Wickford - First family of the county. Parents of Salbridge and Lady Rose. Very respectable name, limited money.
Mr. and Mrs Elton - Squire and lady of Ludwell - parents of Augustus (MP living in London) and the beautiful and accomplished Felicia. very respectable family but again limited money.
The Hursts - Squire of Radcliffe and his new wife and her 3 children from a previous marriage
Also you have:
Sir Frederick Hammersmith - Baronet and squire. Has money and position. Single lives with his elderly mother.
Major Charles Alderton - a retired army major, independent means, rumoured to be illegitimate son of a duke.
also several other business and professional families.
It's a sort of comedy of manners about class, money, morality, gender norms, expectations, and lots of gossip. What is more important love, money or status?
I loved this book so much that I couldn't wait to finish it to find out what happens to all the characters. It was such a fun read with lots of emotions. I laughed and smiled a lot but also was irritated with some of the characters. They all felt real. I love Victorian literature and in particular those that involve communities with large amounts of characters. I love to see how everyone interact and whether they adhere to the social norms and morals of those times. I love when books look at what really is moral? What is good and bad? Who decides? This book gives off a feel of Jane Austen, Elizabeth Gaskell (2 of my favourite authors) and Anthony Trollope. (The first chapter reminded me of the dance at Meryton in Pride and Prejudice with all the gossip about newcomers and who would marry who), there was also a feel of Wives and daughters by Gaskell and only yesterday, I finished reading an Anthony Trollope book which I won't name as it led me to guess part of the secret in this book.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes Victorian literature and especially Gaskell, Austen and Trollope. Thank you to #netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy.
May 28, 2024
With its witty writing, memorable characters, and meticulous plot, this is definitely a future classic.
July 22, 2024
In a small, close-knit community in 1841, the arrival of a newcomer can really cause a stir – and that’s what happens when Mr Montgomery Hurst brings his new wife home to Wickenshire. Mr Hurst was one of the county’s most eligible bachelors, so everyone is curious to see what sort of woman has tempted him to marry at last. The new Mrs Hurst, however – a widow in her thirties with three small children – is not what they are expecting. It seems to the people of Wickenshire that she is not quite respectable and gossip quickly begins to spread as they speculate about her past and her previous marriage.
One person who doesn’t care too much about the gossip is Amelia Ashpoint. Amelia’s father owns a brewery, making the Ashpoints one of the richest families in Wickenshire, yet they are still not regarded as equals by the older families whose wealth and titles have been passed down through the generations. At twenty-three, Amelia is expected to marry soon, but what she really wants is a career as a writer and the freedom to be with the person she truly loves. Meanwhile, Felicia Elton, ‘the great beauty of Wickenshire’, is also under pressure to find a rich husband. With her looks and accomplishments, it shouldn’t be a difficult task, but for some reason nobody seems interested in marrying Felicia and she’s beginning to think she’ll have to settle for the first man who asks.
In The Trouble with Mrs Montgomery Hurst, Katie Lumsden tells the stories of Amelia Ashpoint, Felicia Elton and the Hursts, as well as several of their other friends and neighbours, all of whom occupy different positions on the social ladder. At the top there’s the Earl and Countess of Wickford and their dissolute son, Lord Salbridge; lower down, the town families who have made their money through trade and industry; and lower still, people such as Mr Lonsdale, the foreman at the Ashpoint brewery, and Monsieur Brisset, Felicia’s piano teacher. With so many unwritten rules of society and boundaries that can’t be crossed, it seems that nobody in Wickenshire is free to live and love as they choose and it’s easy to see why someone who doesn’t conform, like Mrs Hurst, can become the subject of rumour and slander.
Although the book is set in the early 1840s, at the start of the Victorian era, it has the feel of a Regency novel and there’s an obvious Jane Austen influence in both the writing style and the plot. The worldbuilding is strengthened by the inclusion of a map at the beginning and a list of characters giving their age, address and occupation. It was all so immersive that I really didn’t want to have to leave Wickenshire behind when I reached the end of the book! Because it’s a modern novel, though, Lumsden is able to explore topics that an author like Austen couldn’t (or at least not so explicitly). For example, one of the main characters is a lesbian and her story really helped me to appreciate how difficult it must have been to have no romantic interest in men in a world where it seemed that a young woman’s whole purpose in life was to find a husband. However, her story didn’t go quite the way I had predicted – and neither did the stories of several of the other characters. Some got happy endings, some didn’t and others just had to make the best of things, which I found very realistic.
In case you can’t tell, I loved this book and I think I preferred it to Katie Lumsden’s previous one, The Secrets of Hartwood Hall, which borrows from the Brontës rather than Austen. I would like a sequel so we can catch up with the residents of Wickenshire again and see how they are getting on, but I suspect this is probably intended as a standalone. Either way, I’ll be looking out for whatever Katie Lumsden writes next.
One person who doesn’t care too much about the gossip is Amelia Ashpoint. Amelia’s father owns a brewery, making the Ashpoints one of the richest families in Wickenshire, yet they are still not regarded as equals by the older families whose wealth and titles have been passed down through the generations. At twenty-three, Amelia is expected to marry soon, but what she really wants is a career as a writer and the freedom to be with the person she truly loves. Meanwhile, Felicia Elton, ‘the great beauty of Wickenshire’, is also under pressure to find a rich husband. With her looks and accomplishments, it shouldn’t be a difficult task, but for some reason nobody seems interested in marrying Felicia and she’s beginning to think she’ll have to settle for the first man who asks.
In The Trouble with Mrs Montgomery Hurst, Katie Lumsden tells the stories of Amelia Ashpoint, Felicia Elton and the Hursts, as well as several of their other friends and neighbours, all of whom occupy different positions on the social ladder. At the top there’s the Earl and Countess of Wickford and their dissolute son, Lord Salbridge; lower down, the town families who have made their money through trade and industry; and lower still, people such as Mr Lonsdale, the foreman at the Ashpoint brewery, and Monsieur Brisset, Felicia’s piano teacher. With so many unwritten rules of society and boundaries that can’t be crossed, it seems that nobody in Wickenshire is free to live and love as they choose and it’s easy to see why someone who doesn’t conform, like Mrs Hurst, can become the subject of rumour and slander.
Although the book is set in the early 1840s, at the start of the Victorian era, it has the feel of a Regency novel and there’s an obvious Jane Austen influence in both the writing style and the plot. The worldbuilding is strengthened by the inclusion of a map at the beginning and a list of characters giving their age, address and occupation. It was all so immersive that I really didn’t want to have to leave Wickenshire behind when I reached the end of the book! Because it’s a modern novel, though, Lumsden is able to explore topics that an author like Austen couldn’t (or at least not so explicitly). For example, one of the main characters is a lesbian and her story really helped me to appreciate how difficult it must have been to have no romantic interest in men in a world where it seemed that a young woman’s whole purpose in life was to find a husband. However, her story didn’t go quite the way I had predicted – and neither did the stories of several of the other characters. Some got happy endings, some didn’t and others just had to make the best of things, which I found very realistic.
In case you can’t tell, I loved this book and I think I preferred it to Katie Lumsden’s previous one, The Secrets of Hartwood Hall, which borrows from the Brontës rather than Austen. I would like a sequel so we can catch up with the residents of Wickenshire again and see how they are getting on, but I suspect this is probably intended as a standalone. Either way, I’ll be looking out for whatever Katie Lumsden writes next.
April 12, 2025
9+ A very good book, that managed to make me feel some moistiness in my eyes at the end, which is quite a feat for a novel! Katie Lumsden is one booktuber who can really write. The prose here is clear, with a huge nineteenth-century influence of course, but most of all her characterization to me felt convincing and made the characters come alife. A others have noted there are some charicatures in here (like Mrs. Elton caring so much about 'society'), but this is a 'comedy of manners' and thus charicatures are to be expected. It is a novel for fans of Austen, I think. But with a modern sensibility (which makes sense - see what I did there?). Here for one is more eye for the lower classes in society and their lives, but also more exploration of daily lives (the dress shop, the book shop, the management of a brewery). Also there is a lot of attention paid to the pressure of performing according to the rules of 'society' and living in a 'class based'-world. And in this world of strict rules and expectations around marriage and relationships a lot of secrets are being kept. Because what if you love someone who's already married to another man or woman? Of what if you are on the LGBTQIA+-spectrum? This is a novel about secrets and the gossip that is addictive to some but that threatens to ruin people's reputations (and their lives). The people in the fictional location of Wickenshire all are bound together in a web of expectations and relationships and the arrival of Mrs. Montgomery Hurst threatens to upset the balance ...
I was fully involved in this novel, caring for the characters, and most of the ways the plot threads were resolved at the end felt believeable and if not happy, then at least fitting. I look forward to reading more by Katie Lumsden.
I was fully involved in this novel, caring for the characters, and most of the ways the plot threads were resolved at the end felt believeable and if not happy, then at least fitting. I look forward to reading more by Katie Lumsden.
August 31, 2025
I enjoyed this immensely. Set in the 1840’s English countryside, this reads like a modern take on Jane Austen meets Middlemarch. You get to know many people in the village of varying social status. Rumors, intrigue, and secrets abound. It ends with a wedding. No notes. I wouldn’t change a thing. Loved every minute of this reading experience.
February 7, 2025
I've been following Katie's booktube channel for years, so I was very much looking forward to reading Mrs Hurst after loving her first novel, The secrets of Hartwood Hall.
For all those like me who love Victorian small towns atmosphere, like Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell, or Trollope's Barchester series, this book is a jewel.
It starts as a comedy, with a ball coming up, possible marriage proposals and maybe even a scandal.
The story is told from different perspectives, even if we follow mostly Amelia. I loved the way the different characters were written, and the way their different plots went. Some well, some not so well.
From comedy, we delve deeper into the psychology of these people, we become more than spectators to what might happen to them and their destinies riveted me until the very end.
As I progressed, I became engrossed with these people and I rejoiced, shed a tear, laughed, hated, gasped.
Very highly recommended !
For all those like me who love Victorian small towns atmosphere, like Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell, or Trollope's Barchester series, this book is a jewel.
It starts as a comedy, with a ball coming up, possible marriage proposals and maybe even a scandal.
The story is told from different perspectives, even if we follow mostly Amelia. I loved the way the different characters were written, and the way their different plots went. Some well, some not so well.
From comedy, we delve deeper into the psychology of these people, we become more than spectators to what might happen to them and their destinies riveted me until the very end.
As I progressed, I became engrossed with these people and I rejoiced, shed a tear, laughed, hated, gasped.
Very highly recommended !
October 9, 2025
firstly, allow me to say to Clara because Amelia wouldn’t: good luck babe!!
now seriously, fine for the most part but what a depressing ending. I didn’t forget how Amelia assesses somewhere in the middle how alone she would be if she lost Clara and. well. and let’s not pretend the marriage to a man is actually the guaranteed safety Clara hopes it to be, lest we forget the literal titular character being driven to near suicide by a violent husband. so yeah I wasn’t much inclined to enjoy the happy heterosexual marriage at the end nor the brother finally deigning himself to actually spend more than a cursory thought on his sister‘s state of mind.
now seriously, fine for the most part but what a depressing ending. I didn’t forget how Amelia assesses somewhere in the middle how alone she would be if she lost Clara and. well. and let’s not pretend the marriage to a man is actually the guaranteed safety Clara hopes it to be, lest we forget the literal titular character being driven to near suicide by a violent husband. so yeah I wasn’t much inclined to enjoy the happy heterosexual marriage at the end nor the brother finally deigning himself to actually spend more than a cursory thought on his sister‘s state of mind.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2024
The county of Wickenshire is socially divided between County and Town. The minor nobility look down on the new money and the new money is unsure on how to proceed. Amelia's father is brewery owner, probably the richest man in the area, and he wants Amelia to marry well. Amelia doesn't want to marry, her love is completely different. Her brother Diggory is in love with Lady Rose, but he's been warned off by her brother, he's 'not suitable'. Then Mr Hurst turns up with a mysterious new bride, a older widow with children.
This is a pleasant enough comedy of manners which does a good job of playing homage to Austen and Gaskell, however it is a lot lighter in weight and a little more knowing. I couldn't really get the balance with the modern mores on display.
This is a pleasant enough comedy of manners which does a good job of playing homage to Austen and Gaskell, however it is a lot lighter in weight and a little more knowing. I couldn't really get the balance with the modern mores on display.
November 28, 2024
A Love Letter to Austen!
This book was the favourite book I read in 2024. I love the characters, the writing and the setting. Amelia is a character that seizes your heart, not because she is perfect but because of her humanity and imperfections. The changing of class and society was fascinating and felt realistic and well researched. There are so many memorable characters. Often with books, I will forget the characters and little parts of their personality but these ones shine through!
I'm gutted this didn't get to the Good Reads Choice as it's my favourite book and will recommend it to anyone who will listen :)
This book was the favourite book I read in 2024. I love the characters, the writing and the setting. Amelia is a character that seizes your heart, not because she is perfect but because of her humanity and imperfections. The changing of class and society was fascinating and felt realistic and well researched. There are so many memorable characters. Often with books, I will forget the characters and little parts of their personality but these ones shine through!
I'm gutted this didn't get to the Good Reads Choice as it's my favourite book and will recommend it to anyone who will listen :)
October 15, 2024
This isn’t a bad book but it’s a tad predictable but without the wit and style of Austen to help it through. It was hard to stop myself comparing the characters to which Austen or Gaskell character they had been based on. Having said all that it was an easy enjoyable-ish read which is what I need right now and what I expected. So not desperate but I wouldn’t be running around recommending it either.
July 16, 2024
Witty, fun, gossipy and addictive, The Trouble with Mrs Montgomery Hurst is a glorious Regency comedy of manners. Katie Lumsden’s sensational debut, The Secrets of Hartwood Hall, was one of my top reads of last year so I was excited to dive into her sophomore novel. I went into it blind, expecting another Victorian gothic mystery, and was pleasantly surprised by this piece of Victorian uplit.
Set in the fictional county of Wickenshire in 1841, this is a story of family, romance, society, gossip and scandal. It follows Amelia, the eldest daughter of the wealthy Ashpoint family. Amelia is not your average 19th century heroine and has vowed never to take a husband. Despite this, her father hopes to secure her marriage to Mr. Montgomery Hurst, but his hopes are quashed when Mr. Hurst announces his engagement at the first ball of the marriage season. The gossip fires are ablaze as all of Society wonders who his mystery bride-to-be could be. Tongues wag further when it is revealed that not only is the new Mrs. Hurst a stranger, but also a widow and mother of three young children. The scandal! How could a gentleman choose such an unsuitable bride? And what will become of Miss Ashpoint now?
Katie Lumsden has knocked it out of the park once again with this magnificent tale. She brings her fictional world to life in vivid technicolour with her exquisite period prose, cleverly choreographed plots and ebullient characters. I lost myself completely in this book, captivated by the people and their lives. It is lively and upbeat, but also touches on serious topics from that time such as sexuality, gender and illegitimacy. These are all handled sensitively but honestly, woven into the narrative seamlessly alongside the secrets, drama, romance and laughter. It gave me wholesome Bridgerton vibes and feels ripe for a sequel.
I was captivated by the book's cast of quirky, compelling characters. Its heroine, Amelia Ashpoint, is not your average 19th century heroine, and that is why I loved her so much. Spiky, headstrong and plain-speaking, she prefers reading books to dancing, doesn’t fit into the strict gender roles available to her, vows never to take a husband, and is struggling to find her place. But she is kind hearted, likeable, and so fun to read. The eponymous Mrs. Hurst was another fascinating character. Only we know very little about her and are given only breadcrumbs of information about her history and character, keeping us guessing what she might be hiding. I also really liked Diggory, Amelia’s older brother. There were also some great stuck up and unlikeable characters who added to the drama and authenticity.
So if you’re looking for a different kind of lighthearted and escapist read this summer, then look no further than this charming, elegant and sassy novel.
Set in the fictional county of Wickenshire in 1841, this is a story of family, romance, society, gossip and scandal. It follows Amelia, the eldest daughter of the wealthy Ashpoint family. Amelia is not your average 19th century heroine and has vowed never to take a husband. Despite this, her father hopes to secure her marriage to Mr. Montgomery Hurst, but his hopes are quashed when Mr. Hurst announces his engagement at the first ball of the marriage season. The gossip fires are ablaze as all of Society wonders who his mystery bride-to-be could be. Tongues wag further when it is revealed that not only is the new Mrs. Hurst a stranger, but also a widow and mother of three young children. The scandal! How could a gentleman choose such an unsuitable bride? And what will become of Miss Ashpoint now?
Katie Lumsden has knocked it out of the park once again with this magnificent tale. She brings her fictional world to life in vivid technicolour with her exquisite period prose, cleverly choreographed plots and ebullient characters. I lost myself completely in this book, captivated by the people and their lives. It is lively and upbeat, but also touches on serious topics from that time such as sexuality, gender and illegitimacy. These are all handled sensitively but honestly, woven into the narrative seamlessly alongside the secrets, drama, romance and laughter. It gave me wholesome Bridgerton vibes and feels ripe for a sequel.
I was captivated by the book's cast of quirky, compelling characters. Its heroine, Amelia Ashpoint, is not your average 19th century heroine, and that is why I loved her so much. Spiky, headstrong and plain-speaking, she prefers reading books to dancing, doesn’t fit into the strict gender roles available to her, vows never to take a husband, and is struggling to find her place. But she is kind hearted, likeable, and so fun to read. The eponymous Mrs. Hurst was another fascinating character. Only we know very little about her and are given only breadcrumbs of information about her history and character, keeping us guessing what she might be hiding. I also really liked Diggory, Amelia’s older brother. There were also some great stuck up and unlikeable characters who added to the drama and authenticity.
So if you’re looking for a different kind of lighthearted and escapist read this summer, then look no further than this charming, elegant and sassy novel.
August 8, 2024
Loved this book. Made my keep shelf!
November 25, 2024
This was so impressive and interesting and moving. I don’t have the words to describe everything I love about this book or how great an achievement it is.
June 27, 2025
perfect.
April 12, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. If you are a fan of Jane Austen or Anthony Trollope, then you will find a book to indulge you. I like the modern take on some of the storylines and even better that it is not all ‘Happily Ever After’.
August 24, 2024
An absolute joy - I never wanted it to end. Keeping everything crossed for more from Wickenshire in future!
October 6, 2024
An entertaining homage to the gossipy characters of Cranford and Jane Austen. Took me halfway through the story to keep track of all of the characters but once there, I was already invested in the town’s gossip.
August 2, 2024
Really three and a half. I enjoyed this novel set in 1841 and based around a variety of characters in the mould of Middlemarch/Cranford and most of Jane Austen`s novels. The language and even the chapter headings are spot on for a nineteenth century story. It is a warm, witty story about manners, etiquette and gossip with unexpected romantic attachments thrown in. A delight to read.
September 23, 2025
i really loved the book, i just wish there was a little MORE at the end!!
there are still some what-ifs and possibilities left in my head that i hoped would be resolved, nevertheless i devoured this book and could not put it down!
there are still some what-ifs and possibilities left in my head that i hoped would be resolved, nevertheless i devoured this book and could not put it down!
December 6, 2024
An incredibly dull book. The characters are so one-note. They are who they are when you first meet them and they do not change or prove you wrong later on. The book lacked complexity, and I think this is down to the sheer number of characters - there was no space to develop them. Yawn.
October 2, 2024
This is a well-structured, thorough work. It feels so much as Cranford from Elizabeth Gaskell (which I did not particularly love).
However, I am thankful for the audiobook, which is very well performed, as I do not think I could have finished the hard copy. Yes, it is entertaining and yet it lacks deepness. The characters were very predictable: the bad ones were annoyingly predictable and the good ones annoyingly good. At some point I just wanted to finish it and could not really care about the characters, it was plain, boring.
The book clearly describes the society and prejudices in England in the mid XIX century, and still, when associated to the characters they did not seem credible enough.
The title, though interesting, only shows one of the various stories depicted in the book, so this was also misleading.
However, I am thankful for the audiobook, which is very well performed, as I do not think I could have finished the hard copy. Yes, it is entertaining and yet it lacks deepness. The characters were very predictable: the bad ones were annoyingly predictable and the good ones annoyingly good. At some point I just wanted to finish it and could not really care about the characters, it was plain, boring.
The book clearly describes the society and prejudices in England in the mid XIX century, and still, when associated to the characters they did not seem credible enough.
The title, though interesting, only shows one of the various stories depicted in the book, so this was also misleading.
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