What do you think?
Rate this book
The Proposition of the Season
Not yet published
Expected 6 Feb 26'How I love a story of sisters, and Michelle Kenney has conjured up four sparky modern-minded Fairfax girls. The dialogue is quick-fire, plot complex and satisfying, the men heroic and rich' Jane Dunn, Sunday Times bestselling author Perfect for Bridgerton and Jane Austen fans! Fall in love with your favourite new Regency series, with this third installment from the Fairfax family…
‘And you’ve come here today to read me a lecture in all my deplorable habits?’
‘No…’ she stalled, wracking her brain for inspiration and failing, ‘I’ve come here to ask you to marry me!’
After three disastrous seasons, bookish Josephine Fairfax believes that she is long past the age of finding her perfect fictional hero. But when her brother’s loathsome Monstrous Marriage Masterplan results in her youngest sister Matilda’s engagement to the vastly unsuitable Lord Huntingly, even she must draw the line.
Josephine may be the bluestocking sister, but she is still a Fairfax who will sacrifice anything for family, even proposing marriage to a man who may be the most dangerous gentleman in the ton…
Each book in the Fairfax Sisters series can be read as a standalone.
‘And you’ve come here today to read me a lecture in all my deplorable habits?’
‘No…’ she stalled, wracking her brain for inspiration and failing, ‘I’ve come here to ask you to marry me!’
After three disastrous seasons, bookish Josephine Fairfax believes that she is long past the age of finding her perfect fictional hero. But when her brother’s loathsome Monstrous Marriage Masterplan results in her youngest sister Matilda’s engagement to the vastly unsuitable Lord Huntingly, even she must draw the line.
Josephine may be the bluestocking sister, but she is still a Fairfax who will sacrifice anything for family, even proposing marriage to a man who may be the most dangerous gentleman in the ton…
Each book in the Fairfax Sisters series can be read as a standalone.
Audible Audio
Expected publication February 6, 2026
2 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 11, 2026
This was my favourite Fairfax regency romance from Michelle Kenney so far, with a not insignificant nod to the courtship of Jane Austen’s Elizabeth and Darcy.
Another fun and swift read, as Josephine steps up to protect her younger sister from the confines of a marriage contract. In doing so, she encounters a scandal that requires investigation and rises to the challenge. Her investigations are revealing in more than one way, not just uncovering truths about two gentlemen she’s grown close to, but also about her feelings towards them.
A delightfully lighthearted regency romp. Five stars from me, with thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK One More Chapter for the chance to read an ARC. The Proposition of the Season releases on 6 February.
Another fun and swift read, as Josephine steps up to protect her younger sister from the confines of a marriage contract. In doing so, she encounters a scandal that requires investigation and rises to the challenge. Her investigations are revealing in more than one way, not just uncovering truths about two gentlemen she’s grown close to, but also about her feelings towards them.
A delightfully lighthearted regency romp. Five stars from me, with thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK One More Chapter for the chance to read an ARC. The Proposition of the Season releases on 6 February.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
‘The Proposition Of The Season’ by Michelle Kenney - 2 out of 5 ⭐️
‘The Proposition of the Season’ promises a Regency romance perfect for fans of ‘Bridgerton’ and Jane Austen. While it is the third instalment in the Fairfax family series, it is also advertised as a standalone novel.
This was my first read by Michelle Kenney and not my usual genre, so I was excited to step into the world of Regency romance and experience the rare pleasure of following characters through ballroom parties, exquisite gowns, and tension-filled dances with unexpected lovers.
Although this story featured many of the expected setting elements I just mentioned, it didn’t capture the typical characteristic spark and allure that defines this genre.
Unfortunately, I found the pacing of this book to be slow, with majority of the narrative consisting of the main character’s inner thoughts. This repetitiveness caused the story to drag, as the focus remained on what the character was thinking rather than on the events unfolding. As I continued to read, I ended up skimming parts of the dialogue to get to sections that were more engaging and active in their storytelling.
I also wouldn’t recommend this as a standalone book, as many elements of the storyline rely on prior knowledge from the earlier books in the series. From the very first page, readers are met with an immense amount of detail and a narrative that jumps straight in, without the usual lead-in to ease them into the story. While there are occasional clarifications for certain scenes and conversations between characters, they feel insufficient and take away from the overall story. Personally, I think this book would work best as being advertised solely as part of the series, following the traditional reading order.
However, if you’ve read this series from the start or want to try a series set in the Regency genre, this could be the book for you!
Tropes and Themes:
- Regency genre
- Planned marriage
- Historical Romance
- Some aspects of mystery
*Thank you to NetGalley, Michelle Kenney, and Team OMC for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review*
‘The Proposition of the Season’ promises a Regency romance perfect for fans of ‘Bridgerton’ and Jane Austen. While it is the third instalment in the Fairfax family series, it is also advertised as a standalone novel.
This was my first read by Michelle Kenney and not my usual genre, so I was excited to step into the world of Regency romance and experience the rare pleasure of following characters through ballroom parties, exquisite gowns, and tension-filled dances with unexpected lovers.
Although this story featured many of the expected setting elements I just mentioned, it didn’t capture the typical characteristic spark and allure that defines this genre.
Unfortunately, I found the pacing of this book to be slow, with majority of the narrative consisting of the main character’s inner thoughts. This repetitiveness caused the story to drag, as the focus remained on what the character was thinking rather than on the events unfolding. As I continued to read, I ended up skimming parts of the dialogue to get to sections that were more engaging and active in their storytelling.
I also wouldn’t recommend this as a standalone book, as many elements of the storyline rely on prior knowledge from the earlier books in the series. From the very first page, readers are met with an immense amount of detail and a narrative that jumps straight in, without the usual lead-in to ease them into the story. While there are occasional clarifications for certain scenes and conversations between characters, they feel insufficient and take away from the overall story. Personally, I think this book would work best as being advertised solely as part of the series, following the traditional reading order.
However, if you’ve read this series from the start or want to try a series set in the Regency genre, this could be the book for you!
Tropes and Themes:
- Regency genre
- Planned marriage
- Historical Romance
- Some aspects of mystery
*Thank you to NetGalley, Michelle Kenney, and Team OMC for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review*
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an eARC from the publishers as part of preparing for a UKYASpotlight interview. It has not affected my opinions.
THE PROPOSITION OF THE SEASON is a Regency romance wrapped up in a mystery.
The centre of this tale is the mystery of what exactly caused this duel that caused Huntingly (the love interest) to flee the country - and what happened in Italy afterwards. Josephine is determined to discover who this man she's propositioned is, but with it happening so long ago - and almost everyone dead - she must track down the last remaining clues.
I enjoyed there being a mystery wrapped up in this romance. Josephine is the bookish sibling so her tale being as chaotic as her siblings' wouldn't have fit. Instead, her attention to detail gets to shine, as does her quieter determination.
I do feel, however, like this meant we didn't get quite as much interaction with Huntingly as I'd have expected in a romance. The pair have a few very charged encounters, but he has far less on-page time than I thought he would. I came to the end with the sense that this was only really the start of their relationship. They have found a meeting of minds, a solid bedrock for everything to develop from.
Of the three entries so far, this one is firmly in the new adult space. It does have crossover appeal with YA and adult readers, like THE MISMATCH OF THE SEASON and THE SCANDAL OF THE SEASON, however, it does feel slightly easier to place, age range wise. There has been a time jump since THE SCANDAL OF THE SEASON, meaning that we have an older heroine here (a spinster at the grand old age of twenty-two).
The next book is Mathilda's, and I am really looking forward to it. She is the most outspoken and chaotic sibling, and I can't wait to see the havoc she causes everyone as she enters the marriage mart.
THE PROPOSITION OF THE SEASON is a Regency romance wrapped up in a mystery.
The centre of this tale is the mystery of what exactly caused this duel that caused Huntingly (the love interest) to flee the country - and what happened in Italy afterwards. Josephine is determined to discover who this man she's propositioned is, but with it happening so long ago - and almost everyone dead - she must track down the last remaining clues.
I enjoyed there being a mystery wrapped up in this romance. Josephine is the bookish sibling so her tale being as chaotic as her siblings' wouldn't have fit. Instead, her attention to detail gets to shine, as does her quieter determination.
I do feel, however, like this meant we didn't get quite as much interaction with Huntingly as I'd have expected in a romance. The pair have a few very charged encounters, but he has far less on-page time than I thought he would. I came to the end with the sense that this was only really the start of their relationship. They have found a meeting of minds, a solid bedrock for everything to develop from.
Of the three entries so far, this one is firmly in the new adult space. It does have crossover appeal with YA and adult readers, like THE MISMATCH OF THE SEASON and THE SCANDAL OF THE SEASON, however, it does feel slightly easier to place, age range wise. There has been a time jump since THE SCANDAL OF THE SEASON, meaning that we have an older heroine here (a spinster at the grand old age of twenty-two).
The next book is Mathilda's, and I am really looking forward to it. She is the most outspoken and chaotic sibling, and I can't wait to see the havoc she causes everyone as she enters the marriage mart.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Proposition of the Season is the third book in The Fairfax Sisters series of regency romances, but they can be read as standalones. I read the first one in the series and have now read the third one, and while it's nice to see glimpses of the past couples and what they're up to now, you wouldn't miss any context for this book by reading this one first. Everything you need to know is summarised in this book.
I enjoyed the plot of The Proposition of the Season, which mainly focused on Josephine's investigation into the duel that ended with her new fiance fleeing abroad for years in disgrace. I thought the story was an interesting one, and a nice switch up from her sisters' stories in the previous books. It had a really strong start, with Josephine showing up unexpectedly to propose to Huntingly, taking her younger sister's place. They had great chemistry in that scene. However, there wasn't enough of Josephine and Lord Huntingly together in the rest of the book for me. When they were together in a scene, I really liked them as a couple but I wanted way more scenes of them together.
I'd recommend this as a fun, easy-to-read, no-spice regency romance. It has an interesting story and a great group of sisters at the heart of it. I wish there was more of the central couple together for this one though!
3.5, rounded up to 4
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.
I enjoyed the plot of The Proposition of the Season, which mainly focused on Josephine's investigation into the duel that ended with her new fiance fleeing abroad for years in disgrace. I thought the story was an interesting one, and a nice switch up from her sisters' stories in the previous books. It had a really strong start, with Josephine showing up unexpectedly to propose to Huntingly, taking her younger sister's place. They had great chemistry in that scene. However, there wasn't enough of Josephine and Lord Huntingly together in the rest of the book for me. When they were together in a scene, I really liked them as a couple but I wanted way more scenes of them together.
I'd recommend this as a fun, easy-to-read, no-spice regency romance. It has an interesting story and a great group of sisters at the heart of it. I wish there was more of the central couple together for this one though!
3.5, rounded up to 4
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I have LOVED every single one of the Fairfax sisters books and this one was no exception! This was a very different story to the other two, very dark and mysterious.
It's the turn of Josephine, the sensible, bookworm sister to find a match, and her brother is getting frustrated, as after three seasons, she still isn't married. So he's decided to write her off, and focus on wild, some might say feral Matilda, who has no intentions of getting married.
Josephine's still hoping the handsome Lord Dashton might make her an offer, even if he is a little self-obsessed, but when the reclusive Lord Huntingley returns to the UK, her world is turned upside down.
Rumours surround Huntingley, who has been ostracised from the ton, but fearless Josephine wants to know the truth.
And when her brother decides he'd make a good match for her marriage phobic sister, she decides there's only one thing to do. Propose to Huntingley and find out the truth behind the rumours.
This book is a rollercoaster, evoking classic Bronte and Austen works, and keeping the reader gripped until the last page.
Josephine is the smart, unflappable heroine who considers every word and movement as carefully as if she were playing a game of chess, and Huntingley is the perfect tall, dark, aloof anti hero.
Cannot wait to read again!
It's the turn of Josephine, the sensible, bookworm sister to find a match, and her brother is getting frustrated, as after three seasons, she still isn't married. So he's decided to write her off, and focus on wild, some might say feral Matilda, who has no intentions of getting married.
Josephine's still hoping the handsome Lord Dashton might make her an offer, even if he is a little self-obsessed, but when the reclusive Lord Huntingley returns to the UK, her world is turned upside down.
Rumours surround Huntingley, who has been ostracised from the ton, but fearless Josephine wants to know the truth.
And when her brother decides he'd make a good match for her marriage phobic sister, she decides there's only one thing to do. Propose to Huntingley and find out the truth behind the rumours.
This book is a rollercoaster, evoking classic Bronte and Austen works, and keeping the reader gripped until the last page.
Josephine is the smart, unflappable heroine who considers every word and movement as carefully as if she were playing a game of chess, and Huntingley is the perfect tall, dark, aloof anti hero.
Cannot wait to read again!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
5 stars
I haven't read any of the series but this didn't dim my enjoyment of this book. Josephine is a bluestocking content with writing to her diary (perfect hero). Her elder brother, Thomas has mostly given up with finding her a match and moves his sights onto her younger sister. Jo is unhappy at this because she hopes that her sister Mathlda will have a few more years of experimentation and finding her own character without restrictions. Thomas decides that the local returned bad boy will be a great match for Mathilda so Josephine does something out of character and proposes to him.
There's a mystery about why our hero got injured in a duel with his best friend and why he left for italy.
I thought this bit seemed a bit gothic and reminded me of Northanger Abbey where the heroine is convinced there are bad things happening.
Lord Huntingly comes across IMO a bit two dimensional and Josephine a bit flaky...sometimes keen on our hero and then both in a bad temper with each other...Luckily Josephone pieces it all together.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
I haven't read any of the series but this didn't dim my enjoyment of this book. Josephine is a bluestocking content with writing to her diary (perfect hero). Her elder brother, Thomas has mostly given up with finding her a match and moves his sights onto her younger sister. Jo is unhappy at this because she hopes that her sister Mathlda will have a few more years of experimentation and finding her own character without restrictions. Thomas decides that the local returned bad boy will be a great match for Mathilda so Josephine does something out of character and proposes to him.
There's a mystery about why our hero got injured in a duel with his best friend and why he left for italy.
I thought this bit seemed a bit gothic and reminded me of Northanger Abbey where the heroine is convinced there are bad things happening.
Lord Huntingly comes across IMO a bit two dimensional and Josephine a bit flaky...sometimes keen on our hero and then both in a bad temper with each other...Luckily Josephone pieces it all together.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
5 stars, pure escapism! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is the third in Michelle Kenney’s regency romance series and it’s bookish Josephine’s turn to find her match. This book can work as a standalone but I recommend reading the first two before this one to understand the family dynamics. Thomas Fairfax is no Anthony Bridgerton, he wants his sisters married off as soon as possible.
I did worry that I wouldn’t love this one as much as the first two as it had a slower start but after we first meet Huntingly, drunk at breakfast time but still somehow capable of charming Jo I was hooked. Alistair is my favourite of the sisters unconventional matches so far, I was thoroughly charmed by him.
I enjoyed the mystery at the centre of the plot surrounding Huntingly’s infamous duel and liked seeing a George Wickham level scoundrel unmasked. As always, Michelle Kenney writes the perfect banter for a polite distain to lovers romance.
This series is so much fun, I’m hoping for Matilda’s book already.
Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for the opportunity to read this ARC.
This is the third in Michelle Kenney’s regency romance series and it’s bookish Josephine’s turn to find her match. This book can work as a standalone but I recommend reading the first two before this one to understand the family dynamics. Thomas Fairfax is no Anthony Bridgerton, he wants his sisters married off as soon as possible.
I did worry that I wouldn’t love this one as much as the first two as it had a slower start but after we first meet Huntingly, drunk at breakfast time but still somehow capable of charming Jo I was hooked. Alistair is my favourite of the sisters unconventional matches so far, I was thoroughly charmed by him.
I enjoyed the mystery at the centre of the plot surrounding Huntingly’s infamous duel and liked seeing a George Wickham level scoundrel unmasked. As always, Michelle Kenney writes the perfect banter for a polite distain to lovers romance.
This series is so much fun, I’m hoping for Matilda’s book already.
Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is quite different from the other books in the series in that almost all of the thoughts belong to Josephine and none of Alistair’s thoughts are shared, keeping the reader in the dark about the mystery surrounding him. Though the story seemed to go rather slowly and there seemed to be a lot of storyline concern others than the hero, I understood after finishing the tale what the author was doing. I enjoyed it immensely as Josephine stepped out of her comfort zone and worked the puzzle that was the mystery. A rather sad situation, but the reveal was rather funny and the end was totally swoon worthy. I could never get a feel for Alistair as he wasn’t really in the story that much, but the parts he had were wonderfully written. The times they were together was fiery with painful banter and delicious….well, you need to read it to find out. I was glad to see Thomas get his due(finally) and hope he has a story as well. A good story and can’t wait for Matty’s story!
I received this story for free and these are my own views.
I received this story for free and these are my own views.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
I didn’t realize this was part of a series, it took me a little bit to figure out who the characters were and their relation to each other but then it flowed better for me. The author did a good job setting the scene and describing the nature of the FMC and how she used her natural curiosity and brains to uncover a mystery regarding the MMC.
It was cute and fast paced. One thing that took me out of the story was the abundant use of regency slang. There is a glossary at the end of the book, but when I am reading from an E-reader I don’t like jumping around to references. I just used context clues then kept going.
Overall, it was a cute regency romance with a touch of cozy mystery.
I’d recommend this to regency lovers, and even to readers who are looking to try out this genre.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
I didn’t realize this was part of a series, it took me a little bit to figure out who the characters were and their relation to each other but then it flowed better for me. The author did a good job setting the scene and describing the nature of the FMC and how she used her natural curiosity and brains to uncover a mystery regarding the MMC.
It was cute and fast paced. One thing that took me out of the story was the abundant use of regency slang. There is a glossary at the end of the book, but when I am reading from an E-reader I don’t like jumping around to references. I just used context clues then kept going.
Overall, it was a cute regency romance with a touch of cozy mystery.
I’d recommend this to regency lovers, and even to readers who are looking to try out this genre.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
December 19, 2025
3.5-4
I really enjoyed this book, but I do want to preface that I’d barely call it a romance. Based on the blurb, Jo propositioning Lord Huntingly for marriage, I expected him to play a much bigger role. He’s barely in the book, and while there are glimpses of romance, I never really felt it.
The story is much more about Jo questioning whether she made a mistake agreeing to marry him, especially after discovering he may have murdered someone. From there, it becomes more of a mystery, following Jo as she tries to uncover the truth while navigating daily life. I honestly had a great time on that journey. Jo is a fantastic character, and her siblings are so much fun.
That said… I genuinely couldn’t tell you much of anything about Lord Huntingly, which made the romance aspect fall a little flat for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this arc
I really enjoyed this book, but I do want to preface that I’d barely call it a romance. Based on the blurb, Jo propositioning Lord Huntingly for marriage, I expected him to play a much bigger role. He’s barely in the book, and while there are glimpses of romance, I never really felt it.
The story is much more about Jo questioning whether she made a mistake agreeing to marry him, especially after discovering he may have murdered someone. From there, it becomes more of a mystery, following Jo as she tries to uncover the truth while navigating daily life. I honestly had a great time on that journey. Jo is a fantastic character, and her siblings are so much fun.
That said… I genuinely couldn’t tell you much of anything about Lord Huntingly, which made the romance aspect fall a little flat for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this arc
January 10, 2026
3.75 ⭐️
As someone who doesn’t typically read historical romance, this was a nice change. I’ve not read the first two books in this series, but feel I didn’t miss many references, so I would say this could definitely be read as a standalone, although it is part of an interconnected series. I wouldn’t say the romance is the primary plot line in this book, it’s more a cosy mystery with a sweet romance subplot underpinning it. For this reason it took me a while to get into but once the story properly got going there was enough to keep me reading. Josephine is a strong FMC and I enjoyed her point of view, especially her dynamic with their family. I think the book would have benefitted from more interactions between Josephine and Alastair, but I still enjoyed it overall.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As someone who doesn’t typically read historical romance, this was a nice change. I’ve not read the first two books in this series, but feel I didn’t miss many references, so I would say this could definitely be read as a standalone, although it is part of an interconnected series. I wouldn’t say the romance is the primary plot line in this book, it’s more a cosy mystery with a sweet romance subplot underpinning it. For this reason it took me a while to get into but once the story properly got going there was enough to keep me reading. Josephine is a strong FMC and I enjoyed her point of view, especially her dynamic with their family. I think the book would have benefitted from more interactions between Josephine and Alastair, but I still enjoyed it overall.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 14, 2026
4.5 This was a quick, entertaining read. Josephine Fairfax is almost on the shelf after three unsuccessful seasons. She learns her older brother intends to marry her younger sister off to a possible villain. Her only recourse is to convince the villain to marry her instead. I loved Josephine & Alistair. She is smart & capable. He is brooding & secretive. There is a mystery element that was intriguing. My one complaint is that I wanted them to spend more time together. Their interactions were brief and infrequent. They had great chemistry & I wanted to see more of it. It was also nice to see how the other Fairfax family members were doing. We got to spend a decent amount of time with the various siblings. This may be favorite of the series so far. Thank you to Michelle Kenney, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for the advanced digital book.
December 8, 2025
A sweet cozy and mysterious story . Josephine has three seasons with no proposal and with her brother's plan to marry Matilda with Lord Huntingly she cannot stay still when there are rumors about the Lord that he is a murderer . When she is visiting her oldest sister which happen to live 5 miles away from Lord Huntingly she visit him and she tells him to marry her instead of her younger sister . Josephine is looking everywhere about the events of the death of George Pellham . Is Alistair the real reason that he died or is someone else that with his actions other people got hurt and suffer ?
I received this book from netgalley , the author and the publisher as an ARC . Thank you . All thoughts and opinions are my own .
I received this book from netgalley , the author and the publisher as an ARC . Thank you . All thoughts and opinions are my own .
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A few chapters in to "The Proposition of the Season", I thought that I could comfortably predict exactly where it was going. Heroine, Josephine confronts the mysterious gentleman all but promised to her sister at his residence and offers herself as tribute instead. It's a charming scene and from then on, time not spent with the central couple felt a loss. The mystery at the heart of the story was interesting and the family dynamics are obviously the linchpin of the whole series- they just weren't handsome enough to tempt me. I'm always looking for books to pass on to my teenage daughters and I think that they would love this series.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received this book as an arc book from Net Galley. I've never read the Bridgerton books but I've read Pride and Prejudice and let me just say that this book surpassed my expectations. I loved the mystery of getting to the truth of the MMCs past and how the FMC didn't give up. At some parts of the book I was annoyed by the FMC for constantly accusing the MMC of things she knew nothing about instead of bluntly asking him. I liked how the MMC was patient and was trying to get things situated for the FMC for their wedding. It was devastating when the FMC wanted the wedding canceled even thought she brought it upon herself and how she wanted to make him call it off. Needless to say, I loved this book and look forward to reading the next book of this series.
January 11, 2026
Josephine, my favourite Fairfax ❤️ This was a delightful change of pace from the more outlandish adventures Phoebe and Sophie found themselves on in the previous books, just more up my street personally ((though I do wish there was some loyalty to Phoebe and Sophie’s personalities, it’s hard to believe they’re the same people at all in this installment)). I wish we’d gotten to see more interaction between Josephine and Huntingly, the MMCs in this series have a tendency to feel a bit absent. The villain reveal was so fun, I hope they all band together to sort out Thomas next, who continues to be a thorn in everyone’s side for no specific reason, it seems.
*ARC received from the publisher via netgalley*
*ARC received from the publisher via netgalley*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3 stars and my thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the eARC.
I almost DNF'd through 20% in because I legitimately thought it was supposed to be a parody regency romance. The writing was a little ham-fisted, trying to make the reader believe in the setting. I know the FMC is a fan of Jane Austen and her stories, but I didn't expect an almost beat-for-beat Pride and Prejudice retelling.
But I think what shined best was the banter between Jo and Huntley. I liked that when they were together, the book was *better.* The inner monologue kept getting repetitive and the other characters became a bit too overwhelming, but the main couple was pretty great.
I don't think I'll be reading the other books in the series, but I'm glad I stuck this one out.
I almost DNF'd through 20% in because I legitimately thought it was supposed to be a parody regency romance. The writing was a little ham-fisted, trying to make the reader believe in the setting. I know the FMC is a fan of Jane Austen and her stories, but I didn't expect an almost beat-for-beat Pride and Prejudice retelling.
But I think what shined best was the banter between Jo and Huntley. I liked that when they were together, the book was *better.* The inner monologue kept getting repetitive and the other characters became a bit too overwhelming, but the main couple was pretty great.
I don't think I'll be reading the other books in the series, but I'm glad I stuck this one out.
December 22, 2025
It wasn't amongst my greatest ideas to star this book at midnight on a Sunday... But I have, and I also have read through it without a single care for the fact that my own duties await in the morning...
So yes, the book isn't hard to read at all, nor is it boring, tho it is, I'd say, the kind of story that has a modern vibe to it, not because it is innacurate or outstandishly framed to be appealing to us modern readers but rather because it is easy to see how certain things could truly be a today's issue (who doesn't have a sibling dying for them to move out to keep the house to himself).
Over all it is a nice book.
So yes, the book isn't hard to read at all, nor is it boring, tho it is, I'd say, the kind of story that has a modern vibe to it, not because it is innacurate or outstandishly framed to be appealing to us modern readers but rather because it is easy to see how certain things could truly be a today's issue (who doesn't have a sibling dying for them to move out to keep the house to himself).
Over all it is a nice book.
January 4, 2026
Thank you Netgalley for the Arc!
At times I found this book amusing and delightful but more often than not I felt like the story dragged and was a bit boring. It became less about the romance and more about a side plot, which did conclude rather nicely but I felt like the book could of been a bit longer to flesh out the main characters and overarching story a lot more as I could of easily been enraptured by the plot if everything was fleshed out! Overall I did enjoy this book though and loved the family relationships
At times I found this book amusing and delightful but more often than not I felt like the story dragged and was a bit boring. It became less about the romance and more about a side plot, which did conclude rather nicely but I felt like the book could of been a bit longer to flesh out the main characters and overarching story a lot more as I could of easily been enraptured by the plot if everything was fleshed out! Overall I did enjoy this book though and loved the family relationships
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was an easy read. A clean historical romance that skipped along nicely to its conclusion. The characters are fleshed out and develop through the plot although the complexity of the Fairfax family did make parts of the plot confusing, hence the drop of stars.
Thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for the ARC
Thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for the ARC
Want to read
December 9, 2025Book 3? Let’s go
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews