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Just for the Season

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For fans of Lisa Kleypas and Sarah MacLean, Rachel Griffiths’s latest historical romance is a sexy, laugh-out-loud romp that’s The Bachelorette set in Regency England with shades of Bridgerton.

Lady Charlotte Louisa Aveton knows all of London’s rules, and better yet, knows how to break them. But when she takes it too far and stumbles into a serious scandal, she knows only one thing will save her—marriage, as soon as possible.

With only one summer to pick a husband, Charlotte invites all of England’s most eligible bachelors to an extravagant summer retreat at a country manor house. There’s a brooding artist, a wickedly handsome Russian prince, and one of the richest men in all of Europe...so why do her eyes keep sliding over to the Duke of Warrick, the only man who’s ever come close to breaking her heart?

Does Charlotte’s summer of suitors have any room for second chances?

320 pages, Paperback

First published July 7, 2026

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About the author

Rachel Griffiths

2 books158 followers
Rachel Griffiths was most recently an editorial director at Scholastic, where she published more than twenty New York Times bestsellers. As you might guess from a book full of high-stakes horse races and romantic midnight rides, she spent much of her childhood in the saddle and knows from painful experience how it feels to take a fall at twenty-five miles per hour.

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5 stars
215 (34%)
4 stars
264 (41%)
3 stars
126 (19%)
2 stars
24 (3%)
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2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 249 reviews
Profile Image for Robin.
666 reviews5,002 followers
March 10, 2026
SHES THE ARTIST NOT THE MUSE!!!

Here for everyone meddling and scheming for these two idiots to get together!!

A summer countryside romp for a scandal mired Lady and the rake dragged headlong into her marriage hunt mark the start of this unmissable historical romance. Rachel Griffiths’s Just for the Season is out to prove that all the best historical romances are second chance and include plenty of tension filled carriage rides and incessant quarrels. Two former correspondents, now mostly strangers, avoid the past at a house retreat where one of them is the coveted potential bride, and the other a reluctant grumbling duke refusing to admit he still cares. Returning with grace, wit, headstrong women, and a constantly frustrated man, Just for the Season sees Griffiths cement a signature style, one that impresses the importance of angst and the tried and true only one carriage trope. Charlotte and Wolfgang are perfectly suited, both in temperament and their tendency to avoid the proverbial elephant in the room: feelings (derogatory). But meddlesome family, highwaymen, and of all things embroidery soon make them impossible to ignore. Just for the Season had me earnestly hanging onto every interaction and failed suitor hoping these two would dig up their shared past and confess to wanting every season after. Griffiths’s second novel is a real triumph, not just a love letter to the best trope around, but to creative pursuits and the driven, passionate women willing to succeed by any means necessary.

thank you to the author for providing me with an advance copy. full review to come

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Profile Image for Becky (romantic_pursuing_feels).
1,383 reviews1,912 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
August 2, 2026
Note: Some of my goodreads shelves can be spoilers

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑 (the last one is longer)
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes, it’s so witty and delightful
Perspective: third person from both the hero and heroine (I think there’s a few scenes from Charlotte’s grandmother’s Pov too?)
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: pretty much immediately – he’s following her a couple pages in, first interactions are around pg 20
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, 5 months later
Format: voluntarily read a physical advanced reader copy from the author (Thank you ever so much!!!!)
Why I chose this book: I LOVED Griffiths debut and want to read all her books
Mains: Wolfgang Robert Latham (Duke of Warrick) and Lady Charlotte Louisa Aveton – This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
(Descriptions found at end of my review)

Should I read in order?
You could – you will get to know Charlotte a bit and the mains from book 1 have some page time here – but overall I think this one is quite readable alone.

Basic plot:
This is the summer Charlotte must find a husband – but the Duke of Warrick is the only one off limits, even though he’s the one making her heart race...

Give this a try if you want:
- historical romance – Regency – 1818
- Duke hero
- soldier / war hero
- brother’s best friend
- he’s in charge of keeping her safe during her brother’s absence
- she loves fashion / fashion business owner
- lots of close proximity at a house party
- masquerade (shorter scene at the beginning)
- some epistolary remembrances
- a bit of opposites attract – she is more boisterous and sassy and he is more stoic
- second chance-ish – there was the start of a spark before a misunderstanding ruined it all
- medium steam with a slower burn – 3ish full scenes

Ages:
- I didn’t catch them! I felt like maybe both mid 20s?

First line:
Lady Charlotte Louisa Aveton knew all the rules, and better yet, she knew how to break them.

My thoughts:
I was so excited to see Griffith’s next book coming out! But also….scared? I had loved The Trouble with Anna so much. I was worried this just wouldn’t compare. And I actually put Charlotte and Warrick off for awhile because I figured hoping for 2 adorable, witty gut wrenchingly delicious novels in a row was just asking for too much…

But, OH, did Ms. Griffith’s deliver! I just gobbled this novel up – every single part of this book was so delightful to me. The side characters are so bright and fun – with Charlotte’s granny being a true diabolical hoot. The tension and longing between Charlotte and Warrick - oh it tugged on my heart so bad. He was a sad boy for Charlotte deep down and I ate up every single minute of that. There is a...misunderstanding element that happened that I just adore in romance when it turns into angsty turmoil like it did here. I loved it so much – their entire journey was making my heart pitter patter in the best way.

I also loved that Charlotte loved fashion and her career in textiles. That was a true delight to read and one I wish I had more of in my romances. The way Charlotte would design her outfit for the purpose of her day and mood...and the way Warrick would smolder at her from across the room with his heavy-lidded eyes, observing every flounce, every ribbon, naming every outfit. My gawd the man had it so bad and I was so here for it. 🥹

I just loved every part of this book. Like usually at least some parts in books are you know...fill ins. Details you don’t really care about. Or conversations or side characters I feel like are taking me away from the main show. But this one, every single scene was just so good. The entire book grabbed me, start to finish.

It took a bit to get to a review because I stuck sticky notes in for reflection and this book was a rainbow smorgasbord when I finished. But taking the time to relive my favorite lines, quotes and scenes from this book was an extra delight. This will absolutely be a reread for me.

Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 2
Average rating from me: 5 stars
Favorite book: I think this one!

Quotes are in the comments because I hit my character limit!

Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.


Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:


Extra stuff like what my review breakdown means, where to find me, and book clubs
Profile Image for Tara.
239 reviews3 followers
July 7, 2026
4.5

Thank you so much to S&S for sending me a copy of this to review!

This was so good!!! The chemistry between Charlotte and Wolfgang was amazing, i loved their banter and the plot line overall
Profile Image for Courtney Pityer.
1,183 reviews71 followers
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
June 29, 2026
This is my first time reading a book by Rachel and I am super thankful that it was a book that had all these pleasant Bridgerton vibes! Overall if you are someone who enjoys a good second chance romance story that has some comedy weaved into it then you should really consider reading this book!

We are introduced to Charlotte who has always disregard the rules for London Society. But with a recent scandal and her mother's financial issues she just has the Summer to find herself a husband. Things start to get really complicated when a past love Wolfgang suddenly comes back. Could he possibly be the one to help Charlotte or did that ship sail a long time ago?
Profile Image for MillennialMomReading.
220 reviews192 followers
July 13, 2026
This is so good I finished it in a day, and I need to start seeing it all over bookish socials. Historical romance never disappoints me-despite being a mood reader, I know it’s a genre I can always go back to when I’m not sure what I’m feeling up to reading. This is an especially good historical romance! Wolfgang and Charlotte have such a fun and real push-pull and the forced proximity of the Clare estate as the home for Charlotte’s tour de suitors was so well done. Every single Bridgerton fan needs to pick this up ASAP, but even if you’re into romance but not sure about Histrom, I think you’ll love it. I plan to go back and read the first interconnected novel next (you don’t need to know anything about it to read this one), and I want to see more on each and every side character as well as the prince come across my reader ASAP.
Profile Image for Jen.
413 reviews50 followers
July 4, 2026
10/10, this was such a treat. I’ve said it for months and I’ll say it again: everyone needs to stop sleeping on historical romance.

This was giving the absolute PERFECT mix of yearning, wit, and just aching tension and banter and chemistry.

I adored the undercurrent of female empowerment; the incredible matriarch in the dowager (a more meddlesome, do no wrong grandmother there never was), the perfect cast of side characters and ill-begotten suitors.

But really, Charlotte and Wolfgang are the heart of this story and they are utterly perfect. Just, absolutely adorable, obsessed with each other but reluctant to admit it, idiots in love who see the other oh so deeply and perfectly.

Absolutely adored this, and will read anything else Rachel writes!
Profile Image for brewdy_reader.
323 reviews50 followers
July 11, 2026
Thank you to the author for the gifted copy of this book.

There is only one carriage! 😂🙌🏽

A playful lighter hearted edition of Bridgerton’s regency era romance, with a very slow burn and some spice, forget propriety!

Lady Charlotte is independent feisty young lady who acts out by embroidering frogs 🐸 and other fun jokes to punk her family and friends. However she still has societal expectations, including needing to find a husband ASAP.

Enter Wolfgang, aka Duke of Warrick and her brother’s best friend. And also the one who got away. Except now he’s been appointed by her brother as her chaperone while he’s out of town.

As suitors begin to court, we all know what’s going to happen. None of them had a chance. It’s just a matter of how we are going to get there.

I was rooting for these two even though they are both obstinate avoiders of tough conversations!

▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||။‌‌‌‌‌|• 🎧 Shakira Shute made this easy listening to on audio - I was able to turn this on and do a bunch of chores while the time passed!

https://www.instagram.com/p/DafvGdmFGdy/
Profile Image for Bbecca_marie.
1,832 reviews61 followers
August 6, 2026
Just for the Season 💐 ✨Review✨ thank you so much @rachel.griffiths.writes for this incredible gift!!!

Just for the Season
by Rachel Griffiths

Lady Charlotte Louisa Aveton knows all of London’s rules, and better yet, knows how to break them. But when she takes it too far and stumbles into a serious scandal, she knows only one thing will save her—marriage, as soon as possible.

With only one summer to pick a husband, Charlotte invites all of England’s most eligible bachelors to an extravagant summer house party. There’s a brooding artist, a wickedly handsome Russian prince, and one of the wealthiest men in all of Europe...so why do her eyes keep sliding over to the Duke of Warrick, the man who once came dangerously close to breaking her heart?

My thoughts 💭:

This was my first Regency romance, and I absolutely devoured it! If this is what the genre has to offer, then consider me officially converted because Rachel Griffiths is now an auto buy author for me. This story had the perfect amount of wit, charm, and swoon. Charlotte and the Duke were everything. The letters between them had me kicking my feet, while the yearning and unresolved tension were so well done. But that one carriage with your brother’s best friend had me overheating. Sure it’s a slow burn but dammit was it hot, and I think i was drooling at some point. But I have to say that I loved watching Charlotte navigate the expectations placed on her while still holding onto her sharp wit and fearlessness. The chemistry between the characters was undeniable all while I was desperate for them to finally admit what was right in front of them. This was an easy five star read for me and has convinced me I need far more Regency romances on my shelves!

What to expect 👇🏽
💞Second chance romance
💐Brother's best friend
❤️‍🔥He falls first and harder
🐎Only one carriage
🧲Forced Proximity
😩Yearning
👑Regency era

Happy reading 📖 💐💞
Profile Image for Meg.
2,251 reviews100 followers
July 12, 2026
When Lady Charlotte discovers her mother is in debt, she decides she's going to try to help. Unfortunately, she creates a bit more of a scandal than she intends, and the Queen has thrown her support behind Charlotte, but ha also ordered her to marry to keep the scandal under wraps. The solution: Lady Charlotte's grandmother hosts a series of guests at the country estate, all of whom can vie for Charlotte's hand. Meanwhile, Wolfgang, Duke of Warrick and friend of Charlotte's brother Julian, is overseeing the proceedings while not admitting to himself that he should be courting Charlotte instead.

Just for the Season is a solid sophomore novel from Rachel Griffiths. It felt better written and better plotted than her debut (which I enjoyed quite a lot!), but the romance itself and our main characters didn't work quite as well for me. This can often be the case while I'm reading historical romances - I can enjoy the novel, but sometimes it's a matter of the characters not shining for me the same way they may work for others. Charlotte and Wolfgang start to fall in love as correspondents, but an overheard comment pushes them apart. While this is believable in the Regency Era, I wish we had a little more emotional backstory, to make their present storyline romance work for me. Charlotte is a fun character to read, and I tend to enjoy a spunky business savvy heroine, but I needed a little more tension with Charlotte and Wolfgang.

I had fun reading Just for the Season, and it's nice have fresh feeling historical romances on the market that clearly come from historical romance roots. I'll even forgive the Bridgerton-version of the Queen here, because I'm really interested to see what Rachel Griffiths can continue to do. She's not a new favorite [yet] but she's definitely an author to keep your eyes on as she starts to develop her voice and her characters.

Thank you to Gallery Books for an eARC. Just for the Season is out 7/7/2026.
Profile Image for Ceanray.
147 reviews
July 5, 2026
a delightful smash! Rachel Griffiths is among the most exciting new voices in HR and if her publisher, publicist etc know what they’re doing they’ll cross-market her to CR. Griffiths has a distinct authorial voice and a knack for creating a standout supporting cast.

My only gripes were that I felt this book took awhile to find its rhythm relative to the Trouble with Anna, and that while I am obviously a feminist myself I think Charlotte’s actions were sufficiently feminist to stand on their own without being repeatedly over explained.

Despite that I absolutely loved this book and it was so worth the year’s wait to get Charlotte’s story. Can’t wait to read the next instalment (Lysander?)
Profile Image for Ellie.
206 reviews1 follower
July 20, 2026
This was such a fun story (it gave regency era The Bachelor vibes). The characters were all such great additions to the cast and Charlotte and Wolfgang were perfect main characters. They had great history, great tension, and a great journey. This was so sweet and funny and I really enjoyed reading it!
Profile Image for Jaime Arkin.
1,512 reviews1,374 followers
July 11, 2026


I devoured this one in a weekend. Rachel Griffiths nails the second-chance romance trope - the history between these two adds so much weight to every scene.

The banter is genuinely the highlight. These two spar with each other in a way that had me grinning on nearly every page, quick, sharp, and never forced. It gives major Bridgerton energy: the same blend of period charm, wit, and slow-burn tension that makes those books so addictive.

And the hero? Broody in all the right ways. He’s guarded without being frustratingly closed-off, and watching his walls come down over the course of the book was so satisfying.

If you love second-chance romance with crackling dialogue and a hero who broods with purpose, this one’s worth picking up.
Profile Image for Nikki (awallflowerreads).
389 reviews30 followers
May 13, 2026
I’ve long anticipated Charlotte and Wolfgang’s story, especially after the nuggets we were dropped about the two in The Trouble with Anna. Their chemistry is electric from the first moment they’re together, and despite the fact that they love to argue, they also can’t help their ever-present attraction. One of Rachel’s strengths as a writer is in thrusting the reader into the story, so I’m ten chapters in before I look up for breath. Her fast-paced and witty dialogue immediately immerses you into the story, and I could not put it down. She must have seriously put crack in these pages!

The special kind of torture our boy Wofgang goes through with his best friend out of town, when he’s forced to field Charlotte’s many requests for a suitor. It makes him grumbly in the best kind of way, and prickles his jealousy (like it needed to be pricked)! Add in his grief and layered feelings about his brother’s death and his subsequent title. He feels like a fully fleshed-out character in a way that complements Charlotte so well. She’s a force, and needs an equal force to match her strength (and compassion).

An absolute romp of a time, I fell so hard for Charlotte and Wolfgang!! This one really blends the comedy and romance perfectly, with such witty dialogue and situations that kept me giggling. The side characters are all a delight, and I hope we see more of the Marby family. Grams is always and forever a main character in my heart, and I’m so glad we got to see Charlotte and her bond in this one. While this could have just been the Charlotte show, and I would have been happy, Wolfgang was such a swoony hero with a heart of gold. His own grief and struggle to fill the role of his elder brother were both heartbreaking and brought such depth to this hot slab of muscle. The way he sees the true Charlotte, and wants to cherish her while watching her thrive, is exactly what I’m looking for in my heroes. His unwavering support and love for her were always present, even when the two were arguing.

This one absolutely lived up to the hype in my mind, and I could live in Rachel’s fun-fueled world forever! While The Trouble with Anna was an outstanding debut, this second novel packs a powerful punch and further cements this author in the genre. I can’t wait to see what else she brings us!

5/5
Thank you to the author for an ARC of this book!

Second chance, epistolary elements, war hero Duke, she’s armed with fashion, business owner FMC, bachelorette vibes, summer house party, brother's best friend, stern meets brat dynamics, she loves to drive him crazy
Profile Image for Kimberly.
1,510 reviews50 followers
Read
July 22, 2026
Every now and then, a historical romance reminds me why I keep reaching for the genre, and Rachel Griffiths’ Just for the Season did exactly that. Thank you to Gallery Books for the gifted copy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“You were always the one I measured everyone else against.”

I picked this one up thinking it would be an easy evening read, but before long I was completely wrapped up in Charlotte and Wolfgang’s story. I kept saying I’d stop after one more chapter, and somehow that never happened.

Charlotte was the heart of this book for me. She’s thoughtful, independent, and knows her own value. I appreciated that she didn’t let old memories erase old disappointments. She expected honesty, not excuses, and I respected every decision she made along the way.

Wolfgang had to earn my trust, just like he had to earn Charlotte’s. I actually liked that he wasn’t written as a flawless hero. He makes mistakes, carries regrets, and slowly realizes that wanting another chance isn’t enough. He has to prove he’s worthy of one. That made their relationship feel believable from beginning to end.

What really stayed with me, though, were the quieter moments. A simple conversation, a shared memory, or a glance across the room often carried more emotion than the biggest romantic scenes. Those little moments gave the story so much heart and made the romance feel genuine.

The supporting characters added warmth without taking attention away from the main couple, and the Regency setting created a wonderful backdrop without ever slowing the story. Everything felt balanced, allowing the characters and their journey to remain the focus.

By the final chapters, I wasn’t wondering whether Charlotte and Wolfgang would find their way back to each other. I was hoping they would, because the story had completely convinced me they deserved that chance. I closed the book smiling and wishing I had just one more chapter with them.

If you’re looking for a historical romance filled with second chances, brother’s best friend, forced proximity, emotional growth, and a romance that unfolds at just the right pace, I think you’ll really enjoy this one.

📚 Genre: Historical Romance / Regency Romance

☕ Drink Pairing: A lavender Earl Grey latte with warm shortbread cookies.

What’s your favorite kind of historical romance—second chances, enemies to lovers, or friends to lovers?

#JustForTheSeason #RachelGriffiths #HistoricalRomance #BookReview #Bookstagram
Profile Image for Jessica White.
566 reviews56 followers
July 7, 2026
Rachel Griffiths knows how to write my favorite kind of hero. You know the kind. The pouty, broody male who eases his wretchedness over a woman by decimating peppermints repeatedly in his mouth. The kind who keenly observes everything about a heroine so much so that he starts naming her different ensembles and moods in his head. The kind who can’t think straight when he spies an ounce of her skin and likens her body to tactile senses like the slide of silk and ripe bursting blackberries. Well lucky me because that’s exactly the type of hero Wolfgang, the Duke of Warrick is every time he encounters Lady Charlotte Aveton. Their chemistry and banter is toe curlingly good and boy do they know how to torment each other.

Charlotte has quite a few problems she must solve namely taking on her mother’s debt, dealing with the queen issuing a “marriage or else” edict, and getting her woman-owned and run silk mill up and running. A roadtrip to her Grandmother’s country estate where she may audition suitors that can help solve her problems just might be the thing to cure her ails. If only it weren’t for one dashingly broad and handsome brother’s best-friend that’s been tasked with overseeing Charlotte’s care where her grandmother’s chaperoning may be a bit lacking. It especially doesn’t help that there’s been unresolved history between Charlotte and Wolfgang simmering beneath the surface of every interaction.

This book has comedy, chemistry, and so much joy. You get the sense that Charlotte is a girl’s girl and that even her grandmother evokes a playful youthfulness in her meddling at shipping Charlotte and Wolfgang together. Meanwhile Wolfgang is in Charlotte’s ear about her suitors regardless of her wanting him there and perhaps she can listen to him and also toy with him at the same time. This book is also full of somewhat modern sensibilities, even though it is a historical (Charlotte’s grandmother turning a blind eye at her being chaperoned, women being able to own unentailed property, Charlotte’s freedom sexually to name a few) and I think it will be extremely appealing to the modern reader. Why permit yourself to be ruined when you can ruin the wrongdoers in society? Come for the revolving door of suitors, stay for the “nonsense” and the Desperate Man™️. Thank you to Gallery Books for my early copy. All opinions are my own.

Bits and Bobs:
-dead frog embroidery
-a jewelry artist, a Russian Prince, and a rakish Marquess
-there’s only one carriage
-🍒
-a wild goose chase, but with a dog
Profile Image for Tasha.
252 reviews21 followers
July 28, 2026
"When we are not honest with ourselves, it is easy to stray from who we want to be."

This one gave me major Bridgerton vibes, and I was here for it! If you love strong-willed heroines, longing glances, and delicious romantic tension, this is definitely one to add to your TBR.

Lady Charlotte is an absolute powerhouse FMC who's determined to make her own way in society instead of following the rules laid out for her. I loved her confidence, wit, and determination... she reminded me so much of Eloise Bridgerton.

Then there's Wolfgang, the Duke of Warrick... who happens to be her brother's best friend. While her brother is away, Wolfgang is tasked with being Charlotte's chaperone, but these two have plenty of history, unresolved feelings, and enough miscommunication to keep the tension simmering all book long. As suitors begin lining up to court Charlotte, it is pretty obvious that none of them ever stood a chance... it was just a matter of how these two would eventually find their way back to each other.

I truly had so much fun with this friends-turned-frenemies-turned-lovers, slow-burn, second-chance romance. The chemistry was undeniable, the banter kept me smiling, and the historical setting had me wishing it was tea time.

The audiobook was an absolute delight! Shakira Shute narrated this story expertly, bringing every character to life with warmth, emotion, and personality. Her performance made the romance and tension even more engaging, and I highly recommend picking up the audiobook, or even better, immersive reading with both the book and audio.

"Break the rules with me Wolfgang, give me everything tonight."
Profile Image for Kamryn.
154 reviews17 followers
July 6, 2026
I LOVED THIS ONE!!!

Oh my gosh! This is my first ever second chance historical romance and I ate it up! I was also giggling and kicking my feet the whole way through. So much wit, banter, and of course yearning!

I really loved our FMC Charlotte. She was so funny, smart, and I found myself smiling while reading because she felt like my friend in a way. Her chemistry with our MMC Wolfgang was undeniable. I loved them together as much as they loved to argue ;)

This honestly has to be my favorite historical romance I’ve ever read! I seriously found myself laughing while reading, highly recommend!

💗 second chance
🦋 brothers best friend
🖋️ historical romance
💫 Bachelorette vibes
🩵 only one carriage
🌷 dual POV
Profile Image for Inaaa_Sayshi.
409 reviews2 followers
July 16, 2026
This reminds me so much of the other bennet sister + bridgerton s2 vibes and i enjoyed this so much! The tension and yearning was everything that a regency era book needed 😭

Charlotte and Wolfgang are so cute together and we love a grumpy x sunshine trope ❤️
Profile Image for Chayla Wolfberg.
Author 1 book25 followers
August 9, 2026
This is one of my favorite books I’ve read all year!! A delightful, hilarious historical with the kind of longing and chemistry that makes me feral
Profile Image for Jacqueline Firkins.
Author 6 books421 followers
August 9, 2026
A jaunty Regency romance in which an outspoken heiress commanded by the queen to find a husband by the end of the season invites a series of eligible suitors to her country estate, only to be saddled by the supervisory eye of her brother’s friend, the taciturn duke who ghosted her years earlier and who’s been struggling with his feelings ever since. The set-up provides plenty of opportunities for the two to spar and spark as he simmers with jealousy and desire, and as she baits him with witty teasing and a delightful talent for embroidering hidden insults into handkerchiefs for him. The history between the two lays a rich groundwork for big feelings early on, even as the pair avoids confronting what drove them apart years ago. With the help of a deliciously meddling grandmother and an attraction too strong to resist, eventually, the two can’t help but collide. I loved that the heroine co-owned and managed a textile mill, and my fashion-history-loving heart delighted in the descriptions of the jacquard loom, the embroidery, and the feather motif in the damask. We also get lots of other fun details about clothes, an exploration of the power of artistic expression, and several fabulous barbs about gender dynamics that still hit close to the mark in today’s society. It’s a fun, flirty, smart, sexy read, with an independent, modern-minded heroine, a noble hero wracked from the start by love and lust, a fabulous cast of supporting characters, and an empowering celebration of not just pushing back against the rules, but of overturning them completely, especially when love is on the line.
Profile Image for Aaliyah.
163 reviews6 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
April 17, 2026
4.5☆

This was a wonderfully angsty and romantic time!!! Who doesn't love a SOAKING WET Regency man in a billowy white shirt🤭🤭???? We get love letters and the only one-carriage trope with a sleepy chaperone, hehehe, along with an interfering grandmother eagerly wishing for them to realize their feelings!!
The heroine, Charlotte, is a determined woman, and she aspires to run her own business and embrace life completely! I LOVEDDDD how she wouldn't allow men to behave disgustingly or misogynistically in her presence, even to the extent of threatening violence, LMAOOO!
The hero, Wolfgang, admired everything about our heroine and wanted to give her the world!!! This is a second chance romance, so after he overhears something that Charlotte says, he believes she doesn't want him anymore. He decides to stop corresponding with her, but this man wants her desperately!!! He remembers every little detail about her, and when suitors vie for her attention, he becomes sick with jealousy, and it had me SQUEALING!!!! He truly could not even be in her proximity without losing his mind, and when he sees tears come from her eyes, he can't breathe without making sure she's okay.
If you're interested in a story about a self-assured and intelligent woman who makes a duke long for her for THREE WHOLE YEARS, then please pick this up ; you will absolutely adore it!!

Releases July 7th, 2026 🫖🌸 Thank you to Rachel and Netgalley for the E-ARC!!!
Profile Image for Ashley.
631 reviews91 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
June 17, 2026
Thank you to Gallery Books for providing me with a gifted physical copy of Just for the Season. All opinions are my own.

Just for the Season hit all of my favorite regency romance feels! The pining, tension, and spice between Charlotte and Wolfgang was kick your feet perfection. They do, of course, have some miscommunication going on, but it works to drive all of the aspects of their relationship.

Charlotte was a strong FMC and I loved her fun spirit and desire to trump the ideals of regency society, but the issues with her mother definitely made her feel relatable. There are also some great side characters and I hope there will be future books featuring some of them as couples!!

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
* Regency Romance
* Scandal & Society
* Second Chance
* Family Conflict
* Brother’s Best Friend

𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥: 🌶️.5

If you are a fan of Bridgerton and historical romantic fiction with characters finding their own HEA despite societal expectations then I would highly recommend Just for the Season.
Profile Image for Madeleine Berges.
388 reviews19 followers
July 7, 2026
Thank you to Gallery Books for the #gifted copy :)

Title: Just for the Season
Author: Rachel Griffiths
Publication Date; July 7, 2026
Format: combo!

This was a delight!!! I hear everyone in the St. Louis bookish community raves about historical romance, and to be honest. I haven't read that much of the romance subgenre.

Boy, am I missing out!!! This was so so so fun.. Lady Charlotte. I adored her. She is a delight and kept us on our toes for sure!!!! Fun, smart, and flirty was such a winning combo. :)

Wofffffyyyy. yes, I loved him.

The yearning.

The banter.

The whole cast of characters.

Yes, I need to go back and read Anna's book now!!
Profile Image for Jillian.
273 reviews3 followers
August 10, 2026
This one is going in the “not for me” box. Powered through for bookclub, but I remember why I DNF The Trouble with Anna. It felt like I was reading a modern rom-com in regency cosplay. Excellent writing, but the vibe was not it, for me.
98 reviews3 followers
August 7, 2026
I loveee a starchy Duke who’s actually a softie and has been pining for the FMC for years!
Profile Image for Andrea.
1,361 reviews20 followers
July 27, 2026
Historical romance is not normally my thing, but this was delightful. There was a great wit and writing, and I adored the real romance that was brewing amidst the parade of suitors that brought the humor and plot twists throughout. Thanks to the publisher for sending this recent release my way.
Profile Image for Onceuponabooktalk.
193 reviews9 followers
July 27, 2026
Absolutely delightful! Loved Charlotte, an FMC who loves defying society rules, loved Gran, who was such a sly schemer, and loved Wolfgang who was down so bad for mischievous Charlotte and only wished to support her unorthodox dreams.
Profile Image for Isa Newbury | reading_isa.
701 reviews10 followers
July 8, 2026
**Thank you to Gallery Books & NetGalley for the e•ARC; all opinions are my own.**

5 ⭐️
2.5 🌶

OMG. Just for the Season was absolutely amazing! I had so much fun reading this one- Charlotte, the FMC, is full of life and literally bounces off the page. The yearning from the MMC, Wolfgang, was palpable, and I kept kicking my feet and giggling. If you're looking for a summer romance of the historical variety, look no further!

All of the secondary characters were also amusing- I especially liked Charlotte's grandmother, Lady Alice, and all her scheming ways. I will definitely be on the lookout for more books from Rachel Griffiths and I will be picking up book 1 shortly!!

☆forced proximity
☆second chances
☆scandal
☆historical romance
☆YEARNING
☆Darcy-esque MMC
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