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A Novel Affair: A Regency Romance
Not yet published
Expected 11 Aug 26London, 1815.
Leela Choudhury refuses to be silent.
From a hidden alley in Nightingale Court, she runs The Nightingale, an underground bookshop that trades in forbidden texts, political pamphlets, and stories society insists women should never read. When a scandalous serialized romance known as The Pirate's Promise ignites demand across Mayfield, Leela suspects its anonymous female author is not who she claims to be.
She's right.
Viscount Sebastian Toussaint-wealthy aristocrat, favorite of the Crown, and the last man Leela ever expected to trust-is the mind behind the novel that has women whispering, dreaming, and daring to want more. Bound together by secrecy and a shared love of literature, Leela helps Sebastian discreetly distribute his work chapter by chapter, even as the Crown and a powerful bookseller close in.
As censorship tightens and reputations unravel, Leela and Sebastian must decide whether stories can truly change the world, and whether love can survive when everything else is at risk.
In a society determined to control women's voices, one book may prove impossible to silence.
Leela Choudhury refuses to be silent.
From a hidden alley in Nightingale Court, she runs The Nightingale, an underground bookshop that trades in forbidden texts, political pamphlets, and stories society insists women should never read. When a scandalous serialized romance known as The Pirate's Promise ignites demand across Mayfield, Leela suspects its anonymous female author is not who she claims to be.
She's right.
Viscount Sebastian Toussaint-wealthy aristocrat, favorite of the Crown, and the last man Leela ever expected to trust-is the mind behind the novel that has women whispering, dreaming, and daring to want more. Bound together by secrecy and a shared love of literature, Leela helps Sebastian discreetly distribute his work chapter by chapter, even as the Crown and a powerful bookseller close in.
As censorship tightens and reputations unravel, Leela and Sebastian must decide whether stories can truly change the world, and whether love can survive when everything else is at risk.
In a society determined to control women's voices, one book may prove impossible to silence.
- GenresRomanceHistorical
276 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 11, 2026
About the author
Zijari Singh
1 book1 followerZijari Singh was born and raised in Ludhiana, Punjab. She holds a degree in Computer Science from Washington State University. Zijari writes South Asian–centered and BIPOC fiction, with a strong focus on representation and cultural identity. She currently resides in Spokane, Washington, with her partner and their dog, Max. When she isn’t writing, Zijari enjoys long hikes, road trips, and camping.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 2, 2026
2.25 stars ⭐️
I really wanted to love this. I’m a big Bridgerton fan, I love a regency romance, and the intrinsic feminist tone of the story really spoke to me from the blurb. The forbidden bookstore element of it, our FMC being an Indian immigrant and our MMC learning to be a true ally were perfect additions. Unfortunately, I didn’t quite connect with the writing because it felt stilted and repetitive to me, struggled with the pacing as it couldn’t quite keep my attention and the story-in-story aspect is super interesting… but kind of distracted from the actual narrative. Our characters were having very detailed editing debates, and then we’d switch to a chapter of the story they were writing, before starting a whole new day. I get what the author was trying to do, but it unfortunately just didn’t work for me.
It feels like liberties were taken with the ‘rules’ of the time; like in Bridgerton, people of colour have positions of power and racism doesn’t really play a role there (until like, at the 95% mark) yet a little romance novel written by a woman is enough for the crown to start up a witchhunt? And as the romance between our MC’s develops, propriety doesn’t even seem to play a big role anymore, even when there’s blatant cases of not-so-covert impropriety… even though that seems to be the reason The Pirate’s Promise is regarded as contraband. It honestly just felt very inconsistent and confusing, as those initial ‘rules’ or bending thereof were never explained. The severe tone in which this story started felt jarring and out-of-place to me, and I think a little extra time setting up this author’s version of regency era London would have taken care of that.
The same kind of happened with the history between the MC’s. It’s said there has been some type of discourse, but we only ever get vague details throughout the entire book. They very clearly start off as strong dislike to reluctant allies, but because the history between them is unclear and quite frankly, there’s barely any chemistry to speak of during this stage, the transition to potential lovers didn’t feel genuine to me. It was a whole lot of tell rather than show and I wanted more yearning yet the pacing dictated a pretty quick get-together after slugging through about 3/4ths of the book. It was honestly a shame because there were definitely moments in there that I felt the tension between Leela and Sebastian and I enjoyed their banter, but it just didn’t reach the potential that was there. The spice was… fine? But so abrupt for the time period, and all stacked together so quickly without much breathing room in between that it kind of put me off.
The epilogue, although not a traditional romance epilogue is beautifully poetic. Overall, there’s a lot to love when it comes to the bones of the story and I’m sure other people will love it for exactly those reasons, but I guess I’m saying it’s just not what I had expected. The general tone is a lot more serious than the cover or blurb might suggest. I don’t want to get into any specific spoilers and I will say the copy I received to review had a disclaimer saying it was still due for another round of editing, so I’m hopeful the story will reach its’ full potential by the time it gets published!
Thank you, NetGalley and Olive Press for the ARC!
I really wanted to love this. I’m a big Bridgerton fan, I love a regency romance, and the intrinsic feminist tone of the story really spoke to me from the blurb. The forbidden bookstore element of it, our FMC being an Indian immigrant and our MMC learning to be a true ally were perfect additions. Unfortunately, I didn’t quite connect with the writing because it felt stilted and repetitive to me, struggled with the pacing as it couldn’t quite keep my attention and the story-in-story aspect is super interesting… but kind of distracted from the actual narrative. Our characters were having very detailed editing debates, and then we’d switch to a chapter of the story they were writing, before starting a whole new day. I get what the author was trying to do, but it unfortunately just didn’t work for me.
It feels like liberties were taken with the ‘rules’ of the time; like in Bridgerton, people of colour have positions of power and racism doesn’t really play a role there (until like, at the 95% mark) yet a little romance novel written by a woman is enough for the crown to start up a witchhunt? And as the romance between our MC’s develops, propriety doesn’t even seem to play a big role anymore, even when there’s blatant cases of not-so-covert impropriety… even though that seems to be the reason The Pirate’s Promise is regarded as contraband. It honestly just felt very inconsistent and confusing, as those initial ‘rules’ or bending thereof were never explained. The severe tone in which this story started felt jarring and out-of-place to me, and I think a little extra time setting up this author’s version of regency era London would have taken care of that.
The same kind of happened with the history between the MC’s. It’s said there has been some type of discourse, but we only ever get vague details throughout the entire book. They very clearly start off as strong dislike to reluctant allies, but because the history between them is unclear and quite frankly, there’s barely any chemistry to speak of during this stage, the transition to potential lovers didn’t feel genuine to me. It was a whole lot of tell rather than show and I wanted more yearning yet the pacing dictated a pretty quick get-together after slugging through about 3/4ths of the book. It was honestly a shame because there were definitely moments in there that I felt the tension between Leela and Sebastian and I enjoyed their banter, but it just didn’t reach the potential that was there. The spice was… fine? But so abrupt for the time period, and all stacked together so quickly without much breathing room in between that it kind of put me off.
The epilogue, although not a traditional romance epilogue is beautifully poetic. Overall, there’s a lot to love when it comes to the bones of the story and I’m sure other people will love it for exactly those reasons, but I guess I’m saying it’s just not what I had expected. The general tone is a lot more serious than the cover or blurb might suggest. I don’t want to get into any specific spoilers and I will say the copy I received to review had a disclaimer saying it was still due for another round of editing, so I’m hopeful the story will reach its’ full potential by the time it gets published!
Thank you, NetGalley and Olive Press for the ARC!
March 27, 2026
“They read to escape a society and its rules that were written by men for men. They want to know that somewhere, even in fiction, a woman is doing the very thing they have only dared to imagine.”
In a society ran by men, our FMC Leela creates a safe space for women to explore their own ideals through literature. We also have our MMC Viscount Sebastian, a nobleman who is bound to the intricacies of high society, but he has a secret that would turn his world upside down (eeeek, the DRAMA 😍).
You can instantly feel the connection between Leela and Sebastian the moment they lay eyes on each other. The yearning and RESPECT thats illustrated through these pages was so beautifully written.
I really enjoyed this spin on a regency era novel. Zijari not only gave us the romance and passion, but also highlighted the importance of a women’s mind and how sometimes you have to be bold and daring to make a difference.
4.5⭐️
In a society ran by men, our FMC Leela creates a safe space for women to explore their own ideals through literature. We also have our MMC Viscount Sebastian, a nobleman who is bound to the intricacies of high society, but he has a secret that would turn his world upside down (eeeek, the DRAMA 😍).
You can instantly feel the connection between Leela and Sebastian the moment they lay eyes on each other. The yearning and RESPECT thats illustrated through these pages was so beautifully written.
I really enjoyed this spin on a regency era novel. Zijari not only gave us the romance and passion, but also highlighted the importance of a women’s mind and how sometimes you have to be bold and daring to make a difference.
4.5⭐️
March 8, 2026
A beautiful story about two protagonists who share a past and are both determined to make women’s voices heard. For Sebastian, this means writing stories that captivate and stir the imagination of female readers. For Leela, it means sharing forbidden writings and ensuring that Sebastian truly represents women’s thoughts and desires.
Their story is fascinating, not only in their professional collaboration but also in their more personal lives. Watching them navigate secrecy, literature, and their growing connection makes the story even more compelling.
Sebastian is a true green flag! Exactly the kind of man many women would have loved to know in the 1800s. And Leela is an inspiring woman who sees the future in a remarkable and innovative way. Her courage and determination make her an unforgettable character.
Their story is fascinating, not only in their professional collaboration but also in their more personal lives. Watching them navigate secrecy, literature, and their growing connection makes the story even more compelling.
Sebastian is a true green flag! Exactly the kind of man many women would have loved to know in the 1800s. And Leela is an inspiring woman who sees the future in a remarkable and innovative way. Her courage and determination make her an unforgettable character.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was so much fun!
I think it caught me in a bad time, because even though it's bingeworthy, it took me a bit longer to read it. What can I say - real life didn't want me to enjoy myself too much.
Depending on how much the reader wants to invest in this book, it can be viewed as an immensely entertaining book, or as a lesson for equality, autonomy, and freedom of expression, not only in speech, but also in bed.
The book transports us into a time where the only responsibilities of a woman is to find a man and those of a man - to find an obedient and respectful woman of good statue.
But in a hidden alley, there is a bookshop of forbidden books - the kind that teach women to want and demand more. And when a scandalous book starts being published, more and more women dare to think and believe that they deserve more than they ever thought they could wish for and are currently offered.
After the continuation of the book despite the Crown's ban, it is not happy and nothing can stop its pursuit of punishment of the author for the resistance.
The two main characters Sebastian and Leela - one responsible for writing the book and the other for distributing it, get entangled together not only in this disobedient act, but also in their feelings towards each other.
They can't stop even when the stakes get higher. But can they deceive the Crown and stay unscathed?
Leela and Sebastian are great characters, passionate about their chase of freedom. Freedom from titles and obligations and freedom of speech and choice.
Their banter is charming and fun, and full of chemistry. Their defiance is strong and their willingness to risk everything just so that they can keep the spark in the women's hearts is admirable.
The plot is daring and brings so many social injustices to light. It plants a seed of hope for a better tomorrow, just like for today's restricted women's right. Even with a lot of progress in some way, women are still fighting for their full autonomy, respect and equality. So even if the book is set in the past, it can still be topical today.
I loved the respect shown in this book, not only by the characters, but by the author as well. It was apparent that she is a strong advocate for women and defiant in her own right by writing this story and sharing it with the world.
This is a 4.5 star read for me and the only thing that keeps me giving it full 5 stars, is the fast resolution of the problem in the end.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Zijari Singh and Olive Press Publishing for this ARC!
I think it caught me in a bad time, because even though it's bingeworthy, it took me a bit longer to read it. What can I say - real life didn't want me to enjoy myself too much.
Depending on how much the reader wants to invest in this book, it can be viewed as an immensely entertaining book, or as a lesson for equality, autonomy, and freedom of expression, not only in speech, but also in bed.
The book transports us into a time where the only responsibilities of a woman is to find a man and those of a man - to find an obedient and respectful woman of good statue.
But in a hidden alley, there is a bookshop of forbidden books - the kind that teach women to want and demand more. And when a scandalous book starts being published, more and more women dare to think and believe that they deserve more than they ever thought they could wish for and are currently offered.
After the continuation of the book despite the Crown's ban, it is not happy and nothing can stop its pursuit of punishment of the author for the resistance.
The two main characters Sebastian and Leela - one responsible for writing the book and the other for distributing it, get entangled together not only in this disobedient act, but also in their feelings towards each other.
They can't stop even when the stakes get higher. But can they deceive the Crown and stay unscathed?
Leela and Sebastian are great characters, passionate about their chase of freedom. Freedom from titles and obligations and freedom of speech and choice.
Their banter is charming and fun, and full of chemistry. Their defiance is strong and their willingness to risk everything just so that they can keep the spark in the women's hearts is admirable.
The plot is daring and brings so many social injustices to light. It plants a seed of hope for a better tomorrow, just like for today's restricted women's right. Even with a lot of progress in some way, women are still fighting for their full autonomy, respect and equality. So even if the book is set in the past, it can still be topical today.
I loved the respect shown in this book, not only by the characters, but by the author as well. It was apparent that she is a strong advocate for women and defiant in her own right by writing this story and sharing it with the world.
This is a 4.5 star read for me and the only thing that keeps me giving it full 5 stars, is the fast resolution of the problem in the end.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Zijari Singh and Olive Press Publishing for this ARC!
May 8, 2026
A regency romance with South Asian representation that highlights the suppression of women of this era. A book entirely focused on revolution sparked through literature that dares to defy a world that demands silence from women. Thanks so much for the arc NetGalley and Victory Editing!
”This place - The Nightingale - was ours. Our sanctuary, our rebellion, our world apart.”
Leela runs the Nightingale; a safe place for women to convene, read and speak freely their opinions. A new literature comes to light - The Pirates Promise - that ignites the women of the ton, and the Nightingale wishes to publish it. The only issue is the anonymity of the author.
Sebastian lives by discipline and containment. He wears a mask that a man of his station must that works for the Crown. His act of rebellion is writing the Pirates Promise; writing a man who can act and risk it all. When he discovers how society have reacted, he reluctantly gives his true identity to the Nightingale. But unbeknownst to him, it is run by none other than his muse - Leela. They agree to keep it professional, but as the story and real life starts to blend, the line they agreed to not cross seems worth the risk.
”Then we proceed. And we will see if two enemies can create something worth the risk.”
I really wanted to love this as the concept sounded amazing. But I found it tough to connect to the characters. We never uncovered their history, just small tidbits that were enough to connect the dots but lacked emotional impact. The conclusion seemed rushed and a little underwhelming that I wish there had been more uproar. Propriety was a big deal in this era but I felt this was looked over in priority of focusing on the sexual chemistry and chapters of the Pirates Promise. It just felt like something was missing for me with them in the romantic sense.
Captain Lucien was not just a pirate, not just a hero… he was the man I wished I could be, daring and decisive, reckless in pursuit of what matters.
However, I loved the monologue of Sebastian during his battle for sensibility versus his desires. Thought it became repetitive, I appreciated the scenes highlighting women’s suppression that left me feeling so much rage but also grateful for the time that I live in now. The epilogue with the time jump to their ancestors was OUTSTANDING. All in all, wasn’t for me but if you’re looking for a light regency era read then I recommend!
Women were still writing their freedom. And they always would.
”This place - The Nightingale - was ours. Our sanctuary, our rebellion, our world apart.”
Leela runs the Nightingale; a safe place for women to convene, read and speak freely their opinions. A new literature comes to light - The Pirates Promise - that ignites the women of the ton, and the Nightingale wishes to publish it. The only issue is the anonymity of the author.
Sebastian lives by discipline and containment. He wears a mask that a man of his station must that works for the Crown. His act of rebellion is writing the Pirates Promise; writing a man who can act and risk it all. When he discovers how society have reacted, he reluctantly gives his true identity to the Nightingale. But unbeknownst to him, it is run by none other than his muse - Leela. They agree to keep it professional, but as the story and real life starts to blend, the line they agreed to not cross seems worth the risk.
”Then we proceed. And we will see if two enemies can create something worth the risk.”
I really wanted to love this as the concept sounded amazing. But I found it tough to connect to the characters. We never uncovered their history, just small tidbits that were enough to connect the dots but lacked emotional impact. The conclusion seemed rushed and a little underwhelming that I wish there had been more uproar. Propriety was a big deal in this era but I felt this was looked over in priority of focusing on the sexual chemistry and chapters of the Pirates Promise. It just felt like something was missing for me with them in the romantic sense.
Captain Lucien was not just a pirate, not just a hero… he was the man I wished I could be, daring and decisive, reckless in pursuit of what matters.
However, I loved the monologue of Sebastian during his battle for sensibility versus his desires. Thought it became repetitive, I appreciated the scenes highlighting women’s suppression that left me feeling so much rage but also grateful for the time that I live in now. The epilogue with the time jump to their ancestors was OUTSTANDING. All in all, wasn’t for me but if you’re looking for a light regency era read then I recommend!
Women were still writing their freedom. And they always would.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
If you’re a fan of Bridgerton (the Netflix TV show), you are going to devour Zijari Singh’s A Novel Affair. This novel is a delicious mix of romance, intrigue, and unapologetic feminism set in a historical period that feels fresh and vibrant to the Regency era.
The heroine, Leela, is a powerhouse. She runs an underground bookstore called The Nightingale, filled with banned books, political pamphlets, and PLENTY of smut. In a society that tells women what they should read and how they should behave, Leela boldly defies the rules—creating a welcoming, inclusive space where women can explore their desires and claim their autonomy. I adored her strength, wit, and rebellious spirit the most.
Opposite her is the enigmatic Viscount Sebastian Toussaint, bound by his father’s expectations and the rigid rules of high society. But Sebastian harbors a delicious secret: he is the author of The Pirate’s Promise, an erotic novel about a pirate and a free-spirited lady who mirrors his deepest desires. The layers of this story are incredible—Sebastian confesses that his pirate, Captain Lucian, reflects himself and his desire to live freely as Lucian does, and we later discover that Lady Evelina, the heroine of the pirate story, is inspired by Leela. The parallels are uncanny and utterly compelling, especially for anyone who loves the craft of storytelling.
Their dynamic is electric. After a previous conflict caused by a meddlesome antagonist, Leela and Sebastian can barely stand each other, but when the town of Mayfield tries to unmask the author of The Pirate’s Promise, they must work together to protect the book, themselves, and the freedom it represents. Danger, desire, and tension pulse through EVERY chapter.
One of my favorite parts was the epilogue—beautifully written and deeply satisfying. Beyond romance and intrigue, the book celebrates women’s autonomy, independence, and the right to enjoy whatever they please, including smut. It’s a bold, joyful love letter to women and the freedom to claim their own lives.
And can we talk about the carriage scene? I never realized how obsessed I am with Regency characters getting…creative on four wheels. MY KINDLE OVERHEATED.
Thank you to Olive Press Publishing and Zijari Singh for this ARC. A Novel Affair is witty, steamy, empowering, and utterly unputdownable.
The heroine, Leela, is a powerhouse. She runs an underground bookstore called The Nightingale, filled with banned books, political pamphlets, and PLENTY of smut. In a society that tells women what they should read and how they should behave, Leela boldly defies the rules—creating a welcoming, inclusive space where women can explore their desires and claim their autonomy. I adored her strength, wit, and rebellious spirit the most.
Opposite her is the enigmatic Viscount Sebastian Toussaint, bound by his father’s expectations and the rigid rules of high society. But Sebastian harbors a delicious secret: he is the author of The Pirate’s Promise, an erotic novel about a pirate and a free-spirited lady who mirrors his deepest desires. The layers of this story are incredible—Sebastian confesses that his pirate, Captain Lucian, reflects himself and his desire to live freely as Lucian does, and we later discover that Lady Evelina, the heroine of the pirate story, is inspired by Leela. The parallels are uncanny and utterly compelling, especially for anyone who loves the craft of storytelling.
Their dynamic is electric. After a previous conflict caused by a meddlesome antagonist, Leela and Sebastian can barely stand each other, but when the town of Mayfield tries to unmask the author of The Pirate’s Promise, they must work together to protect the book, themselves, and the freedom it represents. Danger, desire, and tension pulse through EVERY chapter.
One of my favorite parts was the epilogue—beautifully written and deeply satisfying. Beyond romance and intrigue, the book celebrates women’s autonomy, independence, and the right to enjoy whatever they please, including smut. It’s a bold, joyful love letter to women and the freedom to claim their own lives.
And can we talk about the carriage scene? I never realized how obsessed I am with Regency characters getting…creative on four wheels. MY KINDLE OVERHEATED.
Thank you to Olive Press Publishing and Zijari Singh for this ARC. A Novel Affair is witty, steamy, empowering, and utterly unputdownable.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
✧˖°. ⤷ thank you to netgalley, Olive Press, and Zijari Singh for the ARC. honest thoughts as always, from me to you ♡
☁️ author: Zijari Singh
☁️ genre: historical fiction / historical romance
☁️ mood: atmospheric / literary / dreamy / bittersweet
🌙 Mini Synopsis:
London, 1815. Leela Choudhury runs a hidden underground bookshop trading in forbidden texts and stories society insists women should never read. When a scandalous serialized romance sweeps through Mayfield, she discovers its anonymous author is the last person she expected ��� a wealthy viscount with secrets of his own. Bound together by literature and rebellion, Leela and Sebastian distribute his work chapter by chapter, even as the Crown closes in and everything they've built threatens to unravel.
🍃 thoughts
✧ the atmosphere and writing in this book are genuinely stunning. the world of the Nightingale feels so immersive and real, and the regency era setting is rendered with such care and detail that it draws immediate comparisons to Bridgerton, in the best way. the prose is beautiful and every scene set within that hidden bookshop crackled with life and possibility
✧the full-circle generational ending, with Lucian, Isabelle and their activist great-granddaughter Evelina all named after characters and aliases from Sebastian's novel, was a genuinely perfect and moving touch. the epilogue also landed beautifully
✧ where it lost me was in the stakes or rather, the lack of them. the rebellion and censorship storyline had so much potential to be tense and dangerous, but the characters faced very little consequence for their actions. everything felt almost too convenient, like the story kept gesturing at danger without ever truly delivering it. I wanted to feel the risk of what they were doing, and without that, the second half lost its grip on me.
🌸 favorite things
♡ the Nightingale, the atmosphere, the forbidden texts, the quiet thrill of stories being passed hand to hand in secret
♡ the book-within-a-book chapters. genuinely my favorite parts of the whole novel
♡ the generational epilogue — Evelina as their activist great-granddaughter felt like the most perfect full-circle ending 🖤
✧ verdict from my little reading nook → ★★★☆☆
☁️ author: Zijari Singh
☁️ genre: historical fiction / historical romance
☁️ mood: atmospheric / literary / dreamy / bittersweet
🌙 Mini Synopsis:
London, 1815. Leela Choudhury runs a hidden underground bookshop trading in forbidden texts and stories society insists women should never read. When a scandalous serialized romance sweeps through Mayfield, she discovers its anonymous author is the last person she expected ��� a wealthy viscount with secrets of his own. Bound together by literature and rebellion, Leela and Sebastian distribute his work chapter by chapter, even as the Crown closes in and everything they've built threatens to unravel.
🍃 thoughts
✧ the atmosphere and writing in this book are genuinely stunning. the world of the Nightingale feels so immersive and real, and the regency era setting is rendered with such care and detail that it draws immediate comparisons to Bridgerton, in the best way. the prose is beautiful and every scene set within that hidden bookshop crackled with life and possibility
✧the full-circle generational ending, with Lucian, Isabelle and their activist great-granddaughter Evelina all named after characters and aliases from Sebastian's novel, was a genuinely perfect and moving touch. the epilogue also landed beautifully
✧ where it lost me was in the stakes or rather, the lack of them. the rebellion and censorship storyline had so much potential to be tense and dangerous, but the characters faced very little consequence for their actions. everything felt almost too convenient, like the story kept gesturing at danger without ever truly delivering it. I wanted to feel the risk of what they were doing, and without that, the second half lost its grip on me.
🌸 favorite things
♡ the Nightingale, the atmosphere, the forbidden texts, the quiet thrill of stories being passed hand to hand in secret
♡ the book-within-a-book chapters. genuinely my favorite parts of the whole novel
♡ the generational epilogue — Evelina as their activist great-granddaughter felt like the most perfect full-circle ending 🖤
✧ verdict from my little reading nook → ★★★☆☆
May 9, 2026
Thank you to net galley for giving me an Arc copy
Kindle read 📚- Spoilers ahead!! You have been warned
Rating- 4✨
Spice- 3🌶️
What can I say, this is the book that has taken me out of a 2 month long reading slump!!
If you love Bridgeton or anything that is set in that kind of era, with rebellion, love and never ending tension. This book is for you!
At first I felt the chapters were too long, as I am someone that prefers shorter chapters. However as I got more into the book I realised the longer chapters were needed to get the characters prospective shown.
The feeling of longing, loving, wanting and wanting to change society during that time (1815) was something that was shown throughout this book.
There is spice in this book. But from the tension that both the male and female characters displayed throughout this book, was definitely tension felt and could tarnish their reputations 🤭
If this author is to write another book, I will definitely be reading!
It is only missing half a star due to how I felt in the first half of this book, that the chapters felt too long and I found it a bit hard to get into (only because it is set in 1815 England and some of the language used took some time to get used to). I also wish we got more of just the main FMC and MMC after they announced their relationship. I wanted to see them growing together, maybe even just sniplets of how they where after the he denounced his position as vicount. I understand that the great grand daughter did explain a bit. However, i really wish there was more of just them.
But over all this is a book I have never really read and if you are looking for something that is set in a different time and want to read a story that is filled with tension, love, a hint of rebellion and a side of spice (not until super late into the book), this is for you!
These are just a couple of the quotes I highlighted but I love this book!
Chapter 3- “Because men lie better when they believe themselves virtuous”
Chapter 3- “Because when men imagine women’s freedom, it is still imagination. When women claim it, it becomes instruction.”
Chapter 6- “Freedom is not the absence of consequence, I had written. It is the decision to face it unflinching.”
Chapter 9- “ women do not read to be rescued. They read to escape a society and its rules that were written by men for men. They want to know that somewhere, even in fiction, a woman is doing the very thing they have only dared to imagine.”
Kindle read 📚- Spoilers ahead!! You have been warned
Rating- 4✨
Spice- 3🌶️
What can I say, this is the book that has taken me out of a 2 month long reading slump!!
If you love Bridgeton or anything that is set in that kind of era, with rebellion, love and never ending tension. This book is for you!
At first I felt the chapters were too long, as I am someone that prefers shorter chapters. However as I got more into the book I realised the longer chapters were needed to get the characters prospective shown.
The feeling of longing, loving, wanting and wanting to change society during that time (1815) was something that was shown throughout this book.
There is spice in this book. But from the tension that both the male and female characters displayed throughout this book, was definitely tension felt and could tarnish their reputations 🤭
If this author is to write another book, I will definitely be reading!
It is only missing half a star due to how I felt in the first half of this book, that the chapters felt too long and I found it a bit hard to get into (only because it is set in 1815 England and some of the language used took some time to get used to). I also wish we got more of just the main FMC and MMC after they announced their relationship. I wanted to see them growing together, maybe even just sniplets of how they where after the he denounced his position as vicount. I understand that the great grand daughter did explain a bit. However, i really wish there was more of just them.
But over all this is a book I have never really read and if you are looking for something that is set in a different time and want to read a story that is filled with tension, love, a hint of rebellion and a side of spice (not until super late into the book), this is for you!
These are just a couple of the quotes I highlighted but I love this book!
Chapter 3- “Because men lie better when they believe themselves virtuous”
Chapter 3- “Because when men imagine women’s freedom, it is still imagination. When women claim it, it becomes instruction.”
Chapter 6- “Freedom is not the absence of consequence, I had written. It is the decision to face it unflinching.”
Chapter 9- “ women do not read to be rescued. They read to escape a society and its rules that were written by men for men. They want to know that somewhere, even in fiction, a woman is doing the very thing they have only dared to imagine.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 stars)
I absolutely loved A Novel Affair! The concept of the Nightingale, a place where women could freely read whatever they wished in such a restrictive era, was beautiful and empowering, and it hooked me right from the start.
Sebastian had me invested immediately, and finding out about his history with Leela made their dynamic even more compelling. I loved the tension, the banter, and especially the way they worked together and brought out feelings in each other. Their chemistry felt natural and engaging, and I really enjoyed how Leela brought insight to The Pirates Promise chapters while Sebastian transformed the ideas into something powerful and beautiful through his way with words and his writing.
The premise was so unique, a scandalous story published under a woman’s name, written by a man, with a lady he is infatuated with (who doesn’t like him at first due to past events) as the publisher through her secret reading society. Even better, the story becomes Sebastian’s way of expressing his feelings for Leela, which added so much emotional depth.
The “book within the book” chapters were a highlight for me, and I found myself really looking forward to them. I also loved the generational ending, Lucian, Isabelle, and then Evelina all being named after characters in the book or the alias of Sebastian and Evelina being their activist great-granddaughter felt like the perfect full-circle moment.
Despite being set in a historical period with serious challenges for women, the themes felt very relevant to today and were genuinely empowering.
A couple of small things, there were a few minor typos, and I would have loved more background on some side characters like Sebastian’s sister and Leela’s friend who I thought were the same person for a lot of the book.
Overall, I completely devoured this book. Sebastian’s love, his declarations, and his actions for Leela were just wow. Huge thanks to the author and NetGalley for the ARC!
I absolutely loved A Novel Affair! The concept of the Nightingale, a place where women could freely read whatever they wished in such a restrictive era, was beautiful and empowering, and it hooked me right from the start.
Sebastian had me invested immediately, and finding out about his history with Leela made their dynamic even more compelling. I loved the tension, the banter, and especially the way they worked together and brought out feelings in each other. Their chemistry felt natural and engaging, and I really enjoyed how Leela brought insight to The Pirates Promise chapters while Sebastian transformed the ideas into something powerful and beautiful through his way with words and his writing.
The premise was so unique, a scandalous story published under a woman’s name, written by a man, with a lady he is infatuated with (who doesn’t like him at first due to past events) as the publisher through her secret reading society. Even better, the story becomes Sebastian’s way of expressing his feelings for Leela, which added so much emotional depth.
The “book within the book” chapters were a highlight for me, and I found myself really looking forward to them. I also loved the generational ending, Lucian, Isabelle, and then Evelina all being named after characters in the book or the alias of Sebastian and Evelina being their activist great-granddaughter felt like the perfect full-circle moment.
Despite being set in a historical period with serious challenges for women, the themes felt very relevant to today and were genuinely empowering.
A couple of small things, there were a few minor typos, and I would have loved more background on some side characters like Sebastian’s sister and Leela’s friend who I thought were the same person for a lot of the book.
Overall, I completely devoured this book. Sebastian’s love, his declarations, and his actions for Leela were just wow. Huge thanks to the author and NetGalley for the ARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Received advanced copy from NetGallery.
A Novel Affair is the debut novel of author Zijari Singh. The book centralizes around Leela Choudhury, owner of an underground bookstore called The Nightingale. It is more than just a bookshop, but a place where there are no boundaries. It is a place where knowledge is shared in order to educate those (primarily women) to speak out against societal atrocities and have a voice. When a release of a new, somewhat scandalous novel, The Pirate's Promise by an anonymous author, experiences high demand, Leela finds herself surrounded by controversies and face to face with her past.
Readers are then introduced to Viscount Sebastian Toussaint, the author of the book and the face from Leela’s past. Leela and Sebastian are re-united, destined to change the world through literature. In the course of all this, sparks re-ignite between Leela and Sebastian, and as a result find themselves in the center of societal scrutiny.
The book, to me, is a blend of Bridgerton, Cinderella and the Mistress of Spices. And, while the book was a bit slow for me in some parts ( in some cases a lack of character development especially for me around Leela), I did feel like I was transported back to early 19th century London. I envision the bookstore down an alley in London. One can imagine as they step out of a carriage, the small shop that is lit only by candlelight. Entering the shop, a bell rings and Leela, draped in a yellow sari, greets you.
My favorite part of the book, sadly, was the epilogue, where we learn more of the story of Leela and Sebastian and their mission to change the world. I would love a book just on their story OR starting with it.
I read an advanced copy of this book so I am eager to see what the final book will be. Thank you NetGallery and Zijari Singh for giving me early access to this book. I do think it’s a story to be told!
A Novel Affair is the debut novel of author Zijari Singh. The book centralizes around Leela Choudhury, owner of an underground bookstore called The Nightingale. It is more than just a bookshop, but a place where there are no boundaries. It is a place where knowledge is shared in order to educate those (primarily women) to speak out against societal atrocities and have a voice. When a release of a new, somewhat scandalous novel, The Pirate's Promise by an anonymous author, experiences high demand, Leela finds herself surrounded by controversies and face to face with her past.
Readers are then introduced to Viscount Sebastian Toussaint, the author of the book and the face from Leela’s past. Leela and Sebastian are re-united, destined to change the world through literature. In the course of all this, sparks re-ignite between Leela and Sebastian, and as a result find themselves in the center of societal scrutiny.
The book, to me, is a blend of Bridgerton, Cinderella and the Mistress of Spices. And, while the book was a bit slow for me in some parts ( in some cases a lack of character development especially for me around Leela), I did feel like I was transported back to early 19th century London. I envision the bookstore down an alley in London. One can imagine as they step out of a carriage, the small shop that is lit only by candlelight. Entering the shop, a bell rings and Leela, draped in a yellow sari, greets you.
My favorite part of the book, sadly, was the epilogue, where we learn more of the story of Leela and Sebastian and their mission to change the world. I would love a book just on their story OR starting with it.
I read an advanced copy of this book so I am eager to see what the final book will be. Thank you NetGallery and Zijari Singh for giving me early access to this book. I do think it’s a story to be told!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thanks To Olivepresspublishing & Zijari Singh for this ARC! 6 Star from me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Novel Affair by Zijari Signh would be seriously enjoyable for people who enjoy Bridgerton (the programme on netflix).. the book is for you if you love feminism with a mix of romance, spice & intrigue, set in a Historical time period (1815) set in London in the UK!! (Im LOVING all the UK set books lately btw!)
"In a society determined to control women's voices, one book may prove impossible to silence"
The FMC Leela is the owner of an underground bookstore that contains banned books (yes please). The MMC Sebastian is the author behind the latest pirate smut. They are enemies, forced to work together for the sake of good 'Cliterature'.
This book had me in its clutches by page 2!!! "The Nightingale was not a schoolroom, nor a parlour, nor a salon of polite intrigue. It was a sanctuary. Here, women could read without judgment, think without reprimand, and, occasionally, dream. My eyes swept the room, noting the friendship and laughter over great literature." Like yes please?! I need this in the real world lol.
I really enjoyed the depth and vividness of the world around the characters, Zijari doesn't hold back on the details!! The one aspect i surprisingly REALLY enjoyed was that it was a story being told INSIDE a story. The main characters begin writing the rest of a pirate story 'The Pirate's Promise' inside this story, I seriously adore how authors brains work. Just how did Zijari even imagine this idea into creation!! Love it!
*spoilers ahead* The turning point for me was when their emotions for each other started bleeding into The Pirate's Promise as they were writing each chapters just ugh omg, loved it. The urges, the angst, the desire. It was super intense!!!!
Congratulations on a 6 star rating from me, on a book that totally is not something I usually read!
A Novel Affair by Zijari Signh would be seriously enjoyable for people who enjoy Bridgerton (the programme on netflix).. the book is for you if you love feminism with a mix of romance, spice & intrigue, set in a Historical time period (1815) set in London in the UK!! (Im LOVING all the UK set books lately btw!)
"In a society determined to control women's voices, one book may prove impossible to silence"
The FMC Leela is the owner of an underground bookstore that contains banned books (yes please). The MMC Sebastian is the author behind the latest pirate smut. They are enemies, forced to work together for the sake of good 'Cliterature'.
This book had me in its clutches by page 2!!! "The Nightingale was not a schoolroom, nor a parlour, nor a salon of polite intrigue. It was a sanctuary. Here, women could read without judgment, think without reprimand, and, occasionally, dream. My eyes swept the room, noting the friendship and laughter over great literature." Like yes please?! I need this in the real world lol.
I really enjoyed the depth and vividness of the world around the characters, Zijari doesn't hold back on the details!! The one aspect i surprisingly REALLY enjoyed was that it was a story being told INSIDE a story. The main characters begin writing the rest of a pirate story 'The Pirate's Promise' inside this story, I seriously adore how authors brains work. Just how did Zijari even imagine this idea into creation!! Love it!
*spoilers ahead* The turning point for me was when their emotions for each other started bleeding into The Pirate's Promise as they were writing each chapters just ugh omg, loved it. The urges, the angst, the desire. It was super intense!!!!
Congratulations on a 6 star rating from me, on a book that totally is not something I usually read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book started off really great, with the intrigue of the scandalous book and the hints of potential romance between Leela and Sebastian. In particular, I really loved the fact that we find out that the two characters have a shared history that they have to reckon with over the course of their partnership regarding Isabelle Duvall. However, I felt that it fell flat around halfway, if not even earlier than that. I think, for me, what I kept waiting for was for the two characters to properly acknowledge whatever had happened between them and to actually talk through their problems and their feelings. Instead, we get vague references to their history without really understanding the details and scenes of them acting on their feelings without ever really talking them through. We had a lot of great moments of tension and banter between the two characters and then actions to showcase their feelings, but nothing of substance because, for there to be substance, there has to be understanding. I think, also, that the stakes felt so high regarding The Pirate's Promise book, but then that changed so quickly. There were no real consequences for what happened on that front, despite the secrecy that surrounded it all. Holt and the Earl were meant to be villains and antagonists, but they lost steam very quickly. It was great to see the women of the ton rally around something, but the conflict was hardly a blip on the book's radar. The "conflict" came at around 90% of the book and was dealt with not even a chapter later, I think. The middle was a little of a slog, and then the end wrapped up too quickly.
I will say, though, I loved the concept of the epilogue -- a really great full circle feeling and moment. I just wish we had gotten to see a bit more of Leela and Sebastian actually in a relationship.
--------------
Thank you to Netgalley and Olive Press for the ARC!
I will say, though, I loved the concept of the epilogue -- a really great full circle feeling and moment. I just wish we had gotten to see a bit more of Leela and Sebastian actually in a relationship.
--------------
Thank you to Netgalley and Olive Press for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC!
I knew I would like this book since there are many similar elements to Bridgerton. The regency era environment is very well written. Overall the writing style too is incredibly pretty and very atmospheric. Everything feels real and so immersive here with the Nightingale. Our characters, Leela and Sebastian have great chemistry and are written in such a way that you can feel the romance through the page. There is no aspect of it being forced at all, and the enemies to lovers plot line is so enticing.
As much as I wanted to love this, especially with the strong female characters and the idea of women taking their own paths especially in a time where that was forbidden, I couldn't completely fall into the story. Even with these great ideas, the plot fell flat for me. It was interesting, yes, but everything was so convenient and it felt like the stakes were mentioned but I never actually got to see the stakes of their rebellion. It seemed like our rebellious and revolutionary characters didn't really have any challenge bringing their ideas to light and that there was going to be no real consequence. Because of that, everything just felt like it was all going to work out no matter what consequences were mentioned but never actually faced. This put a real damper on my reading experience because I wanted to love this so bad, since everything else was so incredibly good. I do wish we had seen more of our side characters. They are given a decent amount of screen time in the first half but it seems as though they are forgotten by the second half of the book.
Overall, it was a good read, but a little disapointing because I know it had the potential to be a new favorite.
I knew I would like this book since there are many similar elements to Bridgerton. The regency era environment is very well written. Overall the writing style too is incredibly pretty and very atmospheric. Everything feels real and so immersive here with the Nightingale. Our characters, Leela and Sebastian have great chemistry and are written in such a way that you can feel the romance through the page. There is no aspect of it being forced at all, and the enemies to lovers plot line is so enticing.
As much as I wanted to love this, especially with the strong female characters and the idea of women taking their own paths especially in a time where that was forbidden, I couldn't completely fall into the story. Even with these great ideas, the plot fell flat for me. It was interesting, yes, but everything was so convenient and it felt like the stakes were mentioned but I never actually got to see the stakes of their rebellion. It seemed like our rebellious and revolutionary characters didn't really have any challenge bringing their ideas to light and that there was going to be no real consequence. Because of that, everything just felt like it was all going to work out no matter what consequences were mentioned but never actually faced. This put a real damper on my reading experience because I wanted to love this so bad, since everything else was so incredibly good. I do wish we had seen more of our side characters. They are given a decent amount of screen time in the first half but it seems as though they are forgotten by the second half of the book.
Overall, it was a good read, but a little disapointing because I know it had the potential to be a new favorite.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A REBELLION OF THE HEART... I’M ACTUALLY DEVOTED TO THIS STORY 🕯️♟️📖
I don’t think i’ll ever recover from the residue this book left on my soul. London, 1815 has never felt so visceral. imagine a society designed to silence women, but in the shadows, there’s a hidden bookshop trading in forbidden texts... i was hooked from the first page. 🛐
Leela Choudhury is the ultimate blueprint for a badass FMC. she refuses to be silent, running an underground bookshop and risking everything for the sake of literature and freedom. she is bold, daring, and so incredibly sharp. and then we have Viscount Sebastian Toussaint... a wealthy aristocrat who is actually the secret mind behind a scandalous novel?? the irony is just exquisite. 🤌💚
the yearning and RESPECT between Leela and Sebastian was so beautifully written. it’s not just about the romance—it’s the way they become partners in defiance. their banter is charming, full of chemistry, and honestly, i was giggling and kicking my legs at their tension. 🫂🤎 seeing them risk it all against the Crown’s ban was pure cinematic gold. 🎞️
this isn't just your typical regency era novel; it’s a spin that highlights the importance of a woman’s voice and the chase for freedom. it made me feel so many things—i was swooning, stressed, and completely empowered all at once. 😭🔥
if u love forbidden tropes, found family vibes, and a romance built on intellectual respect, u NEED to add this to your TBR immediately. it’s officially one of my favorites. 🥂🌒
a huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC! all opinions are visceral and completely my own. 🤍
I don’t think i’ll ever recover from the residue this book left on my soul. London, 1815 has never felt so visceral. imagine a society designed to silence women, but in the shadows, there’s a hidden bookshop trading in forbidden texts... i was hooked from the first page. 🛐
Leela Choudhury is the ultimate blueprint for a badass FMC. she refuses to be silent, running an underground bookshop and risking everything for the sake of literature and freedom. she is bold, daring, and so incredibly sharp. and then we have Viscount Sebastian Toussaint... a wealthy aristocrat who is actually the secret mind behind a scandalous novel?? the irony is just exquisite. 🤌💚
the yearning and RESPECT between Leela and Sebastian was so beautifully written. it’s not just about the romance—it’s the way they become partners in defiance. their banter is charming, full of chemistry, and honestly, i was giggling and kicking my legs at their tension. 🫂🤎 seeing them risk it all against the Crown’s ban was pure cinematic gold. 🎞️
this isn't just your typical regency era novel; it’s a spin that highlights the importance of a woman’s voice and the chase for freedom. it made me feel so many things—i was swooning, stressed, and completely empowered all at once. 😭🔥
if u love forbidden tropes, found family vibes, and a romance built on intellectual respect, u NEED to add this to your TBR immediately. it’s officially one of my favorites. 🥂🌒
a huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC! all opinions are visceral and completely my own. 🤍
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I see what this book tried to say and I think that the idea is brilliant, but the execution was just not it.
The writing is very telly, and feels repetitive. The first chapter almost made me DNF it immediately, since it just goes on and on about the repression of women. Don‘t get me wrong, I‘m a passionate equal opportunities officer at my faculty. I fully support this topic.
I really get it, women weren't allowed a lot in the time, but we don't need 10 pages about it. This could have been shortened by 70% and it wouldn't have influenced the story at all. It felt more like an essay and less like a book.
The writing is just too much. The descriptions are too purple prosy, the writing style just doesn't serve the story at all.
The dialogues feel overly dramatic, even if we didn't get any introduction to the characters' history.
The idea of this novel is great, and that is why the execution is to cry about.
The world building is inconsistent. I didn’t understand the social rules. It seems like a regency /victorian era, but a lot of details weren’t correct.
The romance: the overall dramatic interaction, as if the characters already established some relationship in three books and are now academically philosophising about it. But wait.. this is the first book. Their interaction felt disconnected and as if they are in a theatre play with overly dramatic language. It didn’t feel genuine.
I struggled with this ARC for 23 days, since I really liked the overall topic and the idea, but after 3 weeks I had to admit to myself that I am not enjoying it, so I DNFed it at 50%.
Thank you Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC!
The writing is very telly, and feels repetitive. The first chapter almost made me DNF it immediately, since it just goes on and on about the repression of women. Don‘t get me wrong, I‘m a passionate equal opportunities officer at my faculty. I fully support this topic.
I really get it, women weren't allowed a lot in the time, but we don't need 10 pages about it. This could have been shortened by 70% and it wouldn't have influenced the story at all. It felt more like an essay and less like a book.
The writing is just too much. The descriptions are too purple prosy, the writing style just doesn't serve the story at all.
The dialogues feel overly dramatic, even if we didn't get any introduction to the characters' history.
The idea of this novel is great, and that is why the execution is to cry about.
The world building is inconsistent. I didn’t understand the social rules. It seems like a regency /victorian era, but a lot of details weren’t correct.
The romance: the overall dramatic interaction, as if the characters already established some relationship in three books and are now academically philosophising about it. But wait.. this is the first book. Their interaction felt disconnected and as if they are in a theatre play with overly dramatic language. It didn’t feel genuine.
I struggled with this ARC for 23 days, since I really liked the overall topic and the idea, but after 3 weeks I had to admit to myself that I am not enjoying it, so I DNFed it at 50%.
Thank you Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I want to extend a big thank you to Oliver Press Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC! I was really hoping to enjoy it more than I ultimately did.
The premise is definitely intriguing! An underground bookshop, forbidden texts, and a secret male author writing romance that inspires women to seek more, there's so much potential here. The themes about the power of the written word to ignite something bigger are compelling.
That said, I found the execution a bit challenging. The writing style feels like it’s trying hard to sound intellectual, which can come across as stiff or even a bit condescending at times. It feels more like a performance of intelligence than an authentic expression. This vibe also affected the characters; Leela and Sebastian both have a somewhat lecturing tone, making it tough to connect with them as real people rather than just symbols of ideas.
As a result, the romance didn’t quite hit the mark for me. Their time together mainly revolves around the book project, which could create a lovely slow-burn dynamic, but the rigidity of the writing makes it hard for those feelings to really land. I kept hoping to feel a spark, but it just never clicked for me.
That being said, as a debut, it’s not without merit. The ambition shines through, and the historical setting adds an engaging atmosphere. I wish the prose felt a bit more relaxed to help pull me in.
The premise is definitely intriguing! An underground bookshop, forbidden texts, and a secret male author writing romance that inspires women to seek more, there's so much potential here. The themes about the power of the written word to ignite something bigger are compelling.
That said, I found the execution a bit challenging. The writing style feels like it’s trying hard to sound intellectual, which can come across as stiff or even a bit condescending at times. It feels more like a performance of intelligence than an authentic expression. This vibe also affected the characters; Leela and Sebastian both have a somewhat lecturing tone, making it tough to connect with them as real people rather than just symbols of ideas.
As a result, the romance didn’t quite hit the mark for me. Their time together mainly revolves around the book project, which could create a lovely slow-burn dynamic, but the rigidity of the writing makes it hard for those feelings to really land. I kept hoping to feel a spark, but it just never clicked for me.
That being said, as a debut, it’s not without merit. The ambition shines through, and the historical setting adds an engaging atmosphere. I wish the prose felt a bit more relaxed to help pull me in.
April 19, 2026
3.75/5
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.
My thoughts about this book are conflicted.
I love the prose, the language is rich and colourful. Every description is lush and calls upon all the senses, in the best way possible. There are moments were the book feels almost poetic.
Leela and Sebastian, the main characters, have amazing, witty banter. The yearning between them was exquisitely done. There was definitely an element of slow burn that I really appreciated.
This novel has dual POV and offers detailed insight in both the characters their inner world. This was well executed. Both POV's have a distinct voice.
The reason why my feelings are conflicted is the last third of the book. The first part has an almost dreamlike feeling to it and then all of a sudden everything goes very fast. The resolution at the end (no spoilers) felt very rushed and rather convenient.
I also feel that I would have liked to know more about the side characters.
My conclusion: first 2/3 amazing vibes, last 1/3 felt rushed.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.
My thoughts about this book are conflicted.
I love the prose, the language is rich and colourful. Every description is lush and calls upon all the senses, in the best way possible. There are moments were the book feels almost poetic.
Leela and Sebastian, the main characters, have amazing, witty banter. The yearning between them was exquisitely done. There was definitely an element of slow burn that I really appreciated.
This novel has dual POV and offers detailed insight in both the characters their inner world. This was well executed. Both POV's have a distinct voice.
The reason why my feelings are conflicted is the last third of the book. The first part has an almost dreamlike feeling to it and then all of a sudden everything goes very fast. The resolution at the end (no spoilers) felt very rushed and rather convenient.
I also feel that I would have liked to know more about the side characters.
My conclusion: first 2/3 amazing vibes, last 1/3 felt rushed.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was gifted by Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
Leela and Sebastian find themselves forced to work together, though reluctantly, to help publish pamphlets that incite the ladies of the ton to question their reality and angers the gentlemen. As the crown tries to hunt the people responsible for writing and publishing these documents, Leela and Sebastian race against time and their feelings for each other.
This reads like Bridgerton fan fiction and a love letter to smut. I wanted it to be better than it was. I loved the idea of the story-- The Nightingale as a place where women gathered and resistance through writing. Leela and Sebastian were flat. Everything wrapped up too perfectly and quickly. I like young adult but this felt too under developed to be adult fiction but too sexy for young adults...
Leela and Sebastian find themselves forced to work together, though reluctantly, to help publish pamphlets that incite the ladies of the ton to question their reality and angers the gentlemen. As the crown tries to hunt the people responsible for writing and publishing these documents, Leela and Sebastian race against time and their feelings for each other.
This reads like Bridgerton fan fiction and a love letter to smut. I wanted it to be better than it was. I loved the idea of the story-- The Nightingale as a place where women gathered and resistance through writing. Leela and Sebastian were flat. Everything wrapped up too perfectly and quickly. I like young adult but this felt too under developed to be adult fiction but too sexy for young adults...
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was definitely a flatter historical romance for me. (I do find them to be really hit or miss for me.)
I just wanted more from this.
The characters had a cute relationship, but I really struggled to care for them. The best way I can describe it is that they were deep with each other, but not enough for the audience. They cared about each other, but I wasn't given enough reason to care about them or why they cared about each other. It was weird. I just wanted more oomph.
They also felt a little 0 to 100 at a point. You have to show me a build up of tension for that kind of moment to make sense.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
I just wanted more from this.
The characters had a cute relationship, but I really struggled to care for them. The best way I can describe it is that they were deep with each other, but not enough for the audience. They cared about each other, but I wasn't given enough reason to care about them or why they cared about each other. It was weird. I just wanted more oomph.
They also felt a little 0 to 100 at a point. You have to show me a build up of tension for that kind of moment to make sense.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was a very good women empowerment book . I love that Leela was willing to give up everything to make sure the women had books to read and to make sure that they knew that they could be more than what the world gave them . Sebastian finally stepping forward to say that he was the secret writer is giving Bridgeton and I love that . Overall it was a really good empowering book .Thank you netgallery for letting me review this book early.
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