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Accidental Brides #3
The Last Lady B
'My absolute favourite of all her books' JULIA QUINN, bestselling author of the Bridgerton series
A brand-new witty historical romance with a gothic twist from New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James
Lady B may have married Bluebeard; she may have fallen in love with a gorgeous, grumpy solicitor; she may have met a ghost and survived to tell the tale!
In the depths of winter, Lady Genevieve Hughes, her pet piglet, and her septuagenarian husband travel to a haunted abbey in the Scottish Highlands. Evie is excited to meet a ghost (perhaps one of her husband's three previous wives), but didn't expect the funny, quirky guests to become the friends she's never had. And she certainly didn't imagine meeting Sir Godric Everly, a sardonic, witty solicitor who loathes her husband.
Yet as secrets and lies turn Evie's world upside down, Sir Godric becomes the one person whom she can trust. When ghosts, multiple wills, and a shocking marriage certificate bring Lord Burnsby's past crashing into his present, Burnsby promptly dies, leaving Evie free to remarry . . . though as a virgin wife, now a virgin widow, she is more unnerved by the marriage bed than a spectral visit.
More importantly, she has to figure out whose identity is false; whose vows are dishonorable; whose truths could destroy her reputation - and where her heart belongs.
This thrilling stand-alone novel brings all the wit and sensuality you expect from an Eloisa James novel, together with a fast-paced plot set in the Scottish Highlands!
What to expect from The Last Lady B
👻 a gothic (haunted?) abbey
💓 major yearning
⛰️ Scottish highlands
💫 sparks flying
💘 forbidden love
🐖 a piglet
💕 happily ever after . . .
A brand-new witty historical romance with a gothic twist from New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James
Lady B may have married Bluebeard; she may have fallen in love with a gorgeous, grumpy solicitor; she may have met a ghost and survived to tell the tale!
In the depths of winter, Lady Genevieve Hughes, her pet piglet, and her septuagenarian husband travel to a haunted abbey in the Scottish Highlands. Evie is excited to meet a ghost (perhaps one of her husband's three previous wives), but didn't expect the funny, quirky guests to become the friends she's never had. And she certainly didn't imagine meeting Sir Godric Everly, a sardonic, witty solicitor who loathes her husband.
Yet as secrets and lies turn Evie's world upside down, Sir Godric becomes the one person whom she can trust. When ghosts, multiple wills, and a shocking marriage certificate bring Lord Burnsby's past crashing into his present, Burnsby promptly dies, leaving Evie free to remarry . . . though as a virgin wife, now a virgin widow, she is more unnerved by the marriage bed than a spectral visit.
More importantly, she has to figure out whose identity is false; whose vows are dishonorable; whose truths could destroy her reputation - and where her heart belongs.
This thrilling stand-alone novel brings all the wit and sensuality you expect from an Eloisa James novel, together with a fast-paced plot set in the Scottish Highlands!
What to expect from The Last Lady B
👻 a gothic (haunted?) abbey
💓 major yearning
⛰️ Scottish highlands
💫 sparks flying
💘 forbidden love
🐖 a piglet
💕 happily ever after . . .
Audible Audio
First published May 12, 2026
About the author
Eloisa James
108 books9,730 followersNew York Times bestselling author Eloisa James writes historical romances for HarperCollins Publishers. Her novels have been published to great acclaim. A reviewer from USA Today wrote of Eloisa's very first book that she "found herself devouring the book like a dieter with a Hershey bar"; later People Magazine raved that "romance writing does not get much better than this." Her novels have repeatedly received starred reviews from Publishers' Weekly and Library Journal and regularly appear on the best-seller lists.
After graduating from Harvard University, Eloisa got an M.Phil. from Oxford University, a Ph.D. from Yale and eventually became a Shakespeare professor, publishing an academic book with Oxford University Press. Currently she is an associate professor and head of the Creative Writing program at Fordham University in New York City. Her "double life" is a source of fascination to the media and her readers. In her professorial guise, she's written a New York Times op-ed defending romance, as well as articles published everywhere from women's magazines such as More to writers' journals such as the Romance Writers' Report.
Eloisa...on her double life:
When I'm not writing novels, I'm a Shakespeare professor. It's rather like having two lives. The other day I bought a delicious pink suit to tape a television segment on romance; I'll never wear that suit to teach in, nor even to give a paper at the Shakespeare Association of America conference. It's like being Superman, with power suits for both lives. Yet the literature professor in me certainly plays into my romances. The Taming of the Duke (April 2006) has obvious Shakespearean resonances, as do many of my novels. I often weave early modern poetry into my work; the same novel might contain bits of Catullus, Shakespeare and anonymous bawdy ballads from the 16th century.
When I rip off my power suit, whether it's academic or romantic, underneath is the rather tired, chocolate-stained sweatshirt of a mom. Just as I use Shakespeare in my romances, I almost always employ my experiences as a mother. When I wrote about a miscarriage in Midnight Pleasures, I used my own fears of premature birth; when the little girl in Fool For Love threw up and threw up, I described my own daughter, who had that unsavory habit for well over her first year of life.
So I'm a writer, a professor, a mother - and a wife. My husband Alessandro is Italian, born in Florence. We spend the lazy summer months with his mother and sister in Italy. It always strikes me as a huge irony that as a romance writer I find myself married to a knight, a cavaliere, as you say in Italian.
One more thing...I'm a friend. I have girlfriends who are writers and girlfriends who are Shakespeare professors. And I have girlfriends who are romance readers. In fact, we have something of a community going on my website. Please stop by and join the conversation on my readers' pages.
After graduating from Harvard University, Eloisa got an M.Phil. from Oxford University, a Ph.D. from Yale and eventually became a Shakespeare professor, publishing an academic book with Oxford University Press. Currently she is an associate professor and head of the Creative Writing program at Fordham University in New York City. Her "double life" is a source of fascination to the media and her readers. In her professorial guise, she's written a New York Times op-ed defending romance, as well as articles published everywhere from women's magazines such as More to writers' journals such as the Romance Writers' Report.
Eloisa...on her double life:
When I'm not writing novels, I'm a Shakespeare professor. It's rather like having two lives. The other day I bought a delicious pink suit to tape a television segment on romance; I'll never wear that suit to teach in, nor even to give a paper at the Shakespeare Association of America conference. It's like being Superman, with power suits for both lives. Yet the literature professor in me certainly plays into my romances. The Taming of the Duke (April 2006) has obvious Shakespearean resonances, as do many of my novels. I often weave early modern poetry into my work; the same novel might contain bits of Catullus, Shakespeare and anonymous bawdy ballads from the 16th century.
When I rip off my power suit, whether it's academic or romantic, underneath is the rather tired, chocolate-stained sweatshirt of a mom. Just as I use Shakespeare in my romances, I almost always employ my experiences as a mother. When I wrote about a miscarriage in Midnight Pleasures, I used my own fears of premature birth; when the little girl in Fool For Love threw up and threw up, I described my own daughter, who had that unsavory habit for well over her first year of life.
So I'm a writer, a professor, a mother - and a wife. My husband Alessandro is Italian, born in Florence. We spend the lazy summer months with his mother and sister in Italy. It always strikes me as a huge irony that as a romance writer I find myself married to a knight, a cavaliere, as you say in Italian.
One more thing...I'm a friend. I have girlfriends who are writers and girlfriends who are Shakespeare professors. And I have girlfriends who are romance readers. In fact, we have something of a community going on my website. Please stop by and join the conversation on my readers' pages.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 467 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I LOVE IT!!! This book is so delicious! Elosia James knows how to build a really hot, slow burn romance. And the humor? The humor is truly worthy of a Shakespeare farce or a Knives Out production. I don't get the gothic vibe, but the old Scottish castle in the Highlands with the ghosts and the eccentric relatives are all here. Let the games begin and don't forget your drinky-poo.
Genevive at twenty-five and after three unsuccessful seasons has now been married for seven months when she and her new husband travel to the Highlands of Scotland to celebrate his seventieth birthday and Christmas and meet his family. You read that right Lord Burnsby is seventy. Why, you may ask, would a beautiful young woman choose an elderly man for her husband? The answer is simply: Money. Genevive loves her younger sister and this is the only way to provide an adequate dowry for her. Oh, Evie is the fourth wife for Lord Burnsby. Apparently, they don't last long around him.
Upon arrival at the Abbey, Evie is presented with a truly eccentric cast of relations and others. Burnsby's son, Lance and his French Countess whom Burnsby refuses to acknowledge because, well, she's not white. Aunt Mima, who appears to have what we in the modern era call Alzheimer's. A wonderful, yet opinioned daughter, Ophelia. And Lance's best friend and Crown Solicitor, dour Sir Godric Everley. But the biggest surprise of all and a real game changer for Evie is her husband's loooong time mistress, flamboyant Opera singer Sophonisba Ainsworth.
Evie was raised to be the perfect Lady. Now she is presented with a situation where there are no rules on how to behave. Soooo Evie decides that all bets are off and this situation is not going to be tolerated, but she is stuck here with a ton of snow and no way out. She is fortunate when everyone else at the Abbey agrees with her and she is not alone in this untenable situation. With three dead wives, no one wants to see a fourth, especially Godric who has come to really care for Evie.
My thanks to the Publisher, and Author, for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
Genevive at twenty-five and after three unsuccessful seasons has now been married for seven months when she and her new husband travel to the Highlands of Scotland to celebrate his seventieth birthday and Christmas and meet his family. You read that right Lord Burnsby is seventy. Why, you may ask, would a beautiful young woman choose an elderly man for her husband? The answer is simply: Money. Genevive loves her younger sister and this is the only way to provide an adequate dowry for her. Oh, Evie is the fourth wife for Lord Burnsby. Apparently, they don't last long around him.
Upon arrival at the Abbey, Evie is presented with a truly eccentric cast of relations and others. Burnsby's son, Lance and his French Countess whom Burnsby refuses to acknowledge because, well, she's not white. Aunt Mima, who appears to have what we in the modern era call Alzheimer's. A wonderful, yet opinioned daughter, Ophelia. And Lance's best friend and Crown Solicitor, dour Sir Godric Everley. But the biggest surprise of all and a real game changer for Evie is her husband's loooong time mistress, flamboyant Opera singer Sophonisba Ainsworth.
Evie was raised to be the perfect Lady. Now she is presented with a situation where there are no rules on how to behave. Soooo Evie decides that all bets are off and this situation is not going to be tolerated, but she is stuck here with a ton of snow and no way out. She is fortunate when everyone else at the Abbey agrees with her and she is not alone in this untenable situation. With three dead wives, no one wants to see a fourth, especially Godric who has come to really care for Evie.
My thanks to the Publisher, and Author, for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
September 21, 2026
2.5 - 3 stars. This was a different kind of HR from Ms James, and I applaud her for stepping out to try a different style of book. And by the reviews, many clearly love the result, but sadly, I’m in the other camp. It just didn’t work for me, and (also by the reviews) I’m not alone. It looks like it’s a marmite book (English/Australian code for love it or hate it).
It’s set in about 1805, and told in first person from Evie the FMC’s POV, an unusual and bold choice for a HR novel written in the 2020s. I didn’t mind the wry comments and her personal insights into her actions. However overall I’m a traditionalist, and still feel more comfortable with third person voice in my HR reads. And being from Evie’s POV the whole time, it was a little difficult to get to know the MMC Godric, as we only saw him through her eyes. So he fell a little flat for me, a potentially interesting character who sadly felt a bit like a cardboard cutout we didn’t know well enough.
The story had some humour, and some gothic overtones with potential murders and mayhem in a spooky old Scottish abbey in the depths of a stormy winter. There was a resident madwoman, and the suggestion of ghosts as well. I admit, none of this is my fav, which I knew going in, and which probably explains my procrastination to begin this book which I purchased in May but read in September. Hmmm. Oh yes, and it has a pet piglet that Evie liked to cuddle. I mean, really? Many found it cute. I didn’t.
Evie is open about the fact that she married her elderly husband simply for the money. She was desperate to be able to provide a dowry for her loved younger sister, and so cold-bloodedly made a MOC, on agreement it would not be consummated. I didn’t love this, altho’ I respected Evie’s honesty about it all.
Things changed when the scene moves to the auld Scottish abbey, where Evie is shocked to discover that. From this point on, the feel of the story changes. Evie’s husband suddenly becomes the bad guy, and as the plot proceeds, he is shown in a worse and worse light. At the same time, Evie falls for Godric, a barrister staying at the abbey, who is also her husband’s foster son, and Godric falls right back for her.
I felt uncomfortable all the time with Evie and Godric’s growing love, when Evie’s husband, mean though he might be, was living right there in the same house. The author is careful to avoid any adultery, and Evie and Godric don’t go all the way until Evie is free, but it still felt murky and I didn’t like it as a plot device.
In fact, the plot grew disturbingly complicated. I guess it was meant to be amusing, but as old Queen Vicki might have said, I was not amused. There were confusing and contradictory revelations about various characters’ past actions, and who might have done what to whom or was related to whom. There were secret wills and crusty old marriage certificates, and frankly, I got a bit mixed up. I lost track of some of the secondary characters’ names and roles, although it probably wasn’t helped by the fact that I started to skim in the last quarter or so. Sigh……
Look, I love this author. I know she can really write, and I have fully enjoyed some of her past books. But I guess this kind of light, witty, gothic style of read just isn’t my jam (or did I say marmite?). So I rounded up to three stars, because, EJ! I believe there are going to be more books in this ‘gothic’ series, but I won’t be preordering. Many will love the whole series, I’m sure, just not moi. But while this style of book may not be my fav, I certainly won’t give up on this author and will be keeping an eye out to see where she goes next.
It’s set in about 1805, and told in first person from Evie the FMC’s POV, an unusual and bold choice for a HR novel written in the 2020s. I didn’t mind the wry comments and her personal insights into her actions. However overall I’m a traditionalist, and still feel more comfortable with third person voice in my HR reads. And being from Evie’s POV the whole time, it was a little difficult to get to know the MMC Godric, as we only saw him through her eyes. So he fell a little flat for me, a potentially interesting character who sadly felt a bit like a cardboard cutout we didn’t know well enough.
The story had some humour, and some gothic overtones with potential murders and mayhem in a spooky old Scottish abbey in the depths of a stormy winter. There was a resident madwoman, and the suggestion of ghosts as well. I admit, none of this is my fav, which I knew going in, and which probably explains my procrastination to begin this book which I purchased in May but read in September. Hmmm. Oh yes, and it has a pet piglet that Evie liked to cuddle. I mean, really? Many found it cute. I didn’t.
Evie is open about the fact that she married her elderly husband simply for the money. She was desperate to be able to provide a dowry for her loved younger sister, and so cold-bloodedly made a MOC, on agreement it would not be consummated. I didn’t love this, altho’ I respected Evie’s honesty about it all.
Things changed when the scene moves to the auld Scottish abbey, where Evie is shocked to discover that. From this point on, the feel of the story changes. Evie’s husband suddenly becomes the bad guy, and as the plot proceeds, he is shown in a worse and worse light. At the same time, Evie falls for Godric, a barrister staying at the abbey, who is also her husband’s foster son, and Godric falls right back for her.
I felt uncomfortable all the time with Evie and Godric’s growing love, when Evie’s husband, mean though he might be, was living right there in the same house. The author is careful to avoid any adultery, and Evie and Godric don’t go all the way until Evie is free, but it still felt murky and I didn’t like it as a plot device.
In fact, the plot grew disturbingly complicated. I guess it was meant to be amusing, but as old Queen Vicki might have said, I was not amused. There were confusing and contradictory revelations about various characters’ past actions, and who might have done what to whom or was related to whom. There were secret wills and crusty old marriage certificates, and frankly, I got a bit mixed up. I lost track of some of the secondary characters’ names and roles, although it probably wasn’t helped by the fact that I started to skim in the last quarter or so. Sigh……
Look, I love this author. I know she can really write, and I have fully enjoyed some of her past books. But I guess this kind of light, witty, gothic style of read just isn’t my jam (or did I say marmite?). So I rounded up to three stars, because, EJ! I believe there are going to be more books in this ‘gothic’ series, but I won’t be preordering. Many will love the whole series, I’m sure, just not moi. But while this style of book may not be my fav, I certainly won’t give up on this author and will be keeping an eye out to see where she goes next.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
DO NOT READ THE OFFICIAL BLURB BEFORE READING THE BOOK. While it isn't inaccurate, it feels like it refers to a different version of the book (in a different round of editing) and sets incorrect expectations about pacing.
1805. Lady Genevieve enters her marriage with septuagenarian Lord Burnsby with her eyes wide open: she's wife number four, but this will secure a dowry for her younger sister. Plus, who doesn't love moving to an abbey that may have a few ghosts? But the old abbey also comes with an elderly aunt who sputters nonsense, a stepdaughter disallowed from Society, and a former French opera singer/current mistress. With Christmas - and her Christmas-carol-loving husband's birthday - around the corner, Evie wants to establish her place in the abbey hierarchy, which is becoming increasingly unclear. Not to mention her stepson's irritating best friend is actually not irritating and really rather attractive.
The Last Lady B a really delightfully fun novel in Eloisa James's classic humorous style. It's written in first person, which is not generally my preference for a [historical] romance, but works well here for the limited perspective and bubbling curiosity of our heroine. First person perspective is an interesting way for the author to control the narrative, but often in a romance it means we are sorting through feelings and emotion alongside the main character. This may seem counterintuitive, but this often means I have a dampened emotional impact, especially if the narrator is a younger character. I say all of this because one of the things I love in general about Eloisa James's writing is her approach to writing craft as a Shakespearean professor tends towards fun, over the top, and insightful, rather than romantic and swoony. Her humor works really well in this first person limited perspective, and I don't miss any big emotional impact.
As a romance novel, The Last Lady B does have a different structure than readers may be used to, outside of its narrative perspective. Genevieve is married to Lord Burnsby, but it is very clear that he is not the romantic lead. As readers, this means we are shocked at the appearance of the mistress, but not appalled. Because we are in Evie's head, we also get to see her conflict as she starts to fall for Sir Godric Everly.
Thank you to Gallery Books for an eARC. The Last Lady B is out 5/12/2026.
1805. Lady Genevieve enters her marriage with septuagenarian Lord Burnsby with her eyes wide open: she's wife number four, but this will secure a dowry for her younger sister. Plus, who doesn't love moving to an abbey that may have a few ghosts? But the old abbey also comes with an elderly aunt who sputters nonsense, a stepdaughter disallowed from Society, and a former French opera singer/current mistress. With Christmas - and her Christmas-carol-loving husband's birthday - around the corner, Evie wants to establish her place in the abbey hierarchy, which is becoming increasingly unclear. Not to mention her stepson's irritating best friend is actually not irritating and really rather attractive.
The Last Lady B a really delightfully fun novel in Eloisa James's classic humorous style. It's written in first person, which is not generally my preference for a [historical] romance, but works well here for the limited perspective and bubbling curiosity of our heroine. First person perspective is an interesting way for the author to control the narrative, but often in a romance it means we are sorting through feelings and emotion alongside the main character. This may seem counterintuitive, but this often means I have a dampened emotional impact, especially if the narrator is a younger character. I say all of this because one of the things I love in general about Eloisa James's writing is her approach to writing craft as a Shakespearean professor tends towards fun, over the top, and insightful, rather than romantic and swoony. Her humor works really well in this first person limited perspective, and I don't miss any big emotional impact.
As a romance novel, The Last Lady B does have a different structure than readers may be used to, outside of its narrative perspective. Genevieve is married to Lord Burnsby, but it is very clear that he is not the romantic lead. As readers, this means we are shocked at the appearance of the mistress, but not appalled. Because we are in Evie's head, we also get to see her conflict as she starts to fall for Sir Godric Everly.
Thank you to Gallery Books for an eARC. The Last Lady B is out 5/12/2026.
May 16, 2026
The story itself probably isn’t as bad to be two stars, but I started this on audio and it was a total train wreck. The narrator gave the whole thing this overly quirky, almost comedic tone, and even though the book leans toward the lighter side of historical romance, it’s really not THAT funny. Once I switched to the text version, it became much more bearable.
But still not great.
I did like some elements of the book, like Genevieve’s interactions with other female characters, but overall the plot felt very slow and not very exciting, despite more than one plot twist. Lord Burnsby was too cartoonish for his terrible behavior to feel truly serious, which ended up making the book feel strangely insensitive to the very real problems depicted in this story. I don’t want to get into spoilers, but let me tell you that Genevieve’s situation for the majority of the book was very far from laughable. What really made me angry though is that the things the synopsis doesn’t explicitly reveal only start happening around the 70% mark. I know that’s more the synopsis’ fault than the book’s itself, but still… Last but not least, wasn’t particularly impressed by the romance. It’s a very slow burn, but it never felt especially convincing or believable to me.
Overall, I’m not sure whether this is the author’s usual style or more of an experiment, but either way, there are definitely other books in the genre I’d pick up instead.
But still not great.
I did like some elements of the book, like Genevieve’s interactions with other female characters, but overall the plot felt very slow and not very exciting, despite more than one plot twist. Lord Burnsby was too cartoonish for his terrible behavior to feel truly serious, which ended up making the book feel strangely insensitive to the very real problems depicted in this story. I don’t want to get into spoilers, but let me tell you that Genevieve’s situation for the majority of the book was very far from laughable. What really made me angry though is that the things the synopsis doesn’t explicitly reveal only start happening around the 70% mark. I know that’s more the synopsis’ fault than the book’s itself, but still… Last but not least, wasn’t particularly impressed by the romance. It’s a very slow burn, but it never felt especially convincing or believable to me.
Overall, I’m not sure whether this is the author’s usual style or more of an experiment, but either way, there are definitely other books in the genre I’d pick up instead.
October 26, 2025
Eloisa James is one of my favorite historical romance writers and this time there are ghosts! Genevieve’s (Evie’s) father has a title but very little money and after three seasons, she decides to marry an older man who can provide a dowry for her younger sister. She marries Burnsby, a seventy year old widower with three previous wives! He takes her and her pet piglet to his abbey in the Scottish Highlands in the middle of winter.
There is a group of quirky characters at the abbey, including a daughter, Ophelia, who is snarky and sweet, a son, Lance with his new bride (a lovely French Countess who Burnsby dislikes because of her race), Lance’s best friend, Sir Godric Everley, who has come to meet Lance’s new bride and Aunt Mimi who lives on apple tarts and has memory loss. There is another character that shows up that I can’t reveal but this person causes DRAMA! When someone tries to kill Evie, there are lots of suspects!
This is a lighthearted, gothic romance and other than a slow down in the third act, I really enjoyed it. At first, Godric thinks Evie is a gold digger until he gets to know her, and then he thinks she is loyal, loving and true. She is glad to have Godric as her ally to help protect her from danger. There are secret passageways, ghost sightings, romance and a mystery to solve! My full review is at Spoonerreads.com.
There is a group of quirky characters at the abbey, including a daughter, Ophelia, who is snarky and sweet, a son, Lance with his new bride (a lovely French Countess who Burnsby dislikes because of her race), Lance’s best friend, Sir Godric Everley, who has come to meet Lance’s new bride and Aunt Mimi who lives on apple tarts and has memory loss. There is another character that shows up that I can’t reveal but this person causes DRAMA! When someone tries to kill Evie, there are lots of suspects!
This is a lighthearted, gothic romance and other than a slow down in the third act, I really enjoyed it. At first, Godric thinks Evie is a gold digger until he gets to know her, and then he thinks she is loyal, loving and true. She is glad to have Godric as her ally to help protect her from danger. There are secret passageways, ghost sightings, romance and a mystery to solve! My full review is at Spoonerreads.com.
May 30, 2026
This was so…weird? Tonally all over the place and the love story felt icky and awkward. I liked the set up initially and then it just became an odd regency telenovela.
September 2, 2026
2.5/2.75 generous stars ⭐️⭐️💫
Like one reviewer said, “This is a weird Regency Telenovela.”
I don’t know if the character of Evie was suppose to be tongue-in-cheek with her thoughts and comments, but I got tired of being in her head at times.
There’s a lot to unpack in this plot and characters. It became ridiculous towards the end and I felt like the shocks weren’t really handled like they should have been.
I’m not sure if I’ll check out more books in this series. I think this one just about did me in! 😂🤣
Like one reviewer said, “This is a weird Regency Telenovela.”
I don’t know if the character of Evie was suppose to be tongue-in-cheek with her thoughts and comments, but I got tired of being in her head at times.
There’s a lot to unpack in this plot and characters. It became ridiculous towards the end and I felt like the shocks weren’t really handled like they should have been.
I’m not sure if I’ll check out more books in this series. I think this one just about did me in! 😂🤣
May 21, 2026
CW: threats of rape and attempted rape by FMC’s husband (not MMC). Discussion of previous rape of side character’s mother by FMC’s husband. Murder. Attempted murder. Child neglect/abuse. Emotional infidelity/cheating. Racism (in dialogue).
The first thing I can say about this book: I was not bored. I loved the irreverent FMC. The MMC was solid and devoted but didn’t have a personality. The story had so many plot twists, that I found myself checking my reading percentage multiple times wondering how the story could possibly continue. There were too many twists and too little romance for my taste.
******
Thoughts and spoilers below:
38% I don’t think I’m going to be comfortable with this courtship. I wonder how she’s going to resolve the adulterous emotional affair.
40% ugh, the threat wasn’t enough, we had to have the villainous husband show up to rape his wife (he doesn’t even get close- she has a poker).
60% a lot of contemplation of committing adultery up to this point. If I take a strictly intellectual view , Eloisa James is doing an excellent job showing how easily someone could justify their behavior. My guess is the FMC will make the moral choice and either the husband will be killed off or we will have to read about an annulment.
73% oh my gosh, we’re only at 73%. What else can possibly happen? We thought he was a bigamist , but he’s not. We thought his hidden daughter was illegitimate, but she isn’t. He is a rapist. His mistress thinks she’s married to him but he performed a scam marriage by only having one witness.
76% the old man died, but since we still have 24% to go, does that mean the wife is going to be accused of murder?
88% NOT MURDER! Reading of the will - But oh my God we’ve already been through this once. But now Aunt Mima is actually his first wife but had a stroke while in childbirth. Dead husband WAS a bigamist. Ophelia really is illegitimate. FMC was never legally married because first wife is still alive. How very Jane Eyre (which I should have predicted based on the madwoman in the attic reference earlier in the book).
90% she’s still afraid of sex are they ever actually going to consummate their marriage?
94% of course the madwoman is the murderer and attempted murderer. I haven’t read many gothic novels, but I’m guessing this plot fits the genre?
96% this was an underwhelming marriage consummation
The first thing I can say about this book: I was not bored. I loved the irreverent FMC. The MMC was solid and devoted but didn’t have a personality. The story had so many plot twists, that I found myself checking my reading percentage multiple times wondering how the story could possibly continue. There were too many twists and too little romance for my taste.
******
Thoughts and spoilers below:
38% I don’t think I’m going to be comfortable with this courtship. I wonder how she’s going to resolve the adulterous emotional affair.
40% ugh, the threat wasn’t enough, we had to have the villainous husband show up to rape his wife (he doesn’t even get close- she has a poker).
60% a lot of contemplation of committing adultery up to this point. If I take a strictly intellectual view , Eloisa James is doing an excellent job showing how easily someone could justify their behavior. My guess is the FMC will make the moral choice and either the husband will be killed off or we will have to read about an annulment.
73% oh my gosh, we’re only at 73%. What else can possibly happen? We thought he was a bigamist , but he’s not. We thought his hidden daughter was illegitimate, but she isn’t. He is a rapist. His mistress thinks she’s married to him but he performed a scam marriage by only having one witness.
76% the old man died, but since we still have 24% to go, does that mean the wife is going to be accused of murder?
88% NOT MURDER! Reading of the will - But oh my God we’ve already been through this once. But now Aunt Mima is actually his first wife but had a stroke while in childbirth. Dead husband WAS a bigamist. Ophelia really is illegitimate. FMC was never legally married because first wife is still alive. How very Jane Eyre (which I should have predicted based on the madwoman in the attic reference earlier in the book).
90% she’s still afraid of sex are they ever actually going to consummate their marriage?
94% of course the madwoman is the murderer and attempted murderer. I haven’t read many gothic novels, but I’m guessing this plot fits the genre?
96% this was an underwhelming marriage consummation
June 2, 2026
Collette's ancestry not a problem. Deliberately ignoring the fact that France and Britain were at WAR with each other at the times the book was set in, big problem. Acting like it was no big deal for the characters to travel back and forth between the two countries, even making it seem possible to purchase tickets to be ferried to the other country is bad. I double checked to make sure that this wasn't an alternative history book just to be sure. There was also no chance of a joint French and British company then either.
Wolves were driven to extinction in Scotland by the late 1700s, so no chance of being attacked by any at that time either.
Wolves were driven to extinction in Scotland by the late 1700s, so no chance of being attacked by any at that time either.
May 23, 2026
5 stars. The Last Lady B had everything I love in a historical romance — tension, mystery, emotional depth, and a romance that slowly pulls you in. Watching our heroine, Evie, navigate her complicated marriage to Burnsby while growing closer to our hero, Godric, made the emotional stakes feel so real. Their chemistry was filled with longing, sharp banter, and had that irresistible slow-burn tension that Eloisa James does so well.
But you know what really made this book stand out for me? It was the eerie Gothic atmosphere surrounding the abbey, + how they’re literally hearing whispers from the dead wives’ ghosts. It added such a haunting, mysterious layer to the story that made it impossible to stop reading. This was completely immersive from beginning to end. Fantastic! 💙 Pub. 5/12/26 📖🎧
But you know what really made this book stand out for me? It was the eerie Gothic atmosphere surrounding the abbey, + how they’re literally hearing whispers from the dead wives’ ghosts. It added such a haunting, mysterious layer to the story that made it impossible to stop reading. This was completely immersive from beginning to end. Fantastic! 💙 Pub. 5/12/26 📖🎧
June 10, 2026
I am utterly baffled by the blurb above. Blurbs should tease the plot and at most reveal events up to maybe the 25% mark. The “shocking marriage certificate” plot begins at the 66% mark and Burnsby dies at the 73% mark. Because I had read I kept waiting for things to happen and they just didn’t which made the book drag. On top of that it’s a convoluted meta-gothic novel based somewhat on Northanger Abbey and dickens. I also really struggled with the first person POV which was just a bit clunky in a historical. I really wish I liked this book more because I have a Julia Quinn special edition version coming later this year. I also cut my historical romance teeth on Eloisa James to have a few books of hers in a row that didn’t really work for me just makes me a bit sad.
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 17, 2026
Unfortunately incredibly boring and difficult to follow. The writing was a bit choppy for me.
May 17, 2026
I’ve already read this twice! Excellent fun in a haunted Abbey in Scotland
June 13, 2026
Eloisa James has done it again! I was nervous about this one since it's a departure from her usual, but I ended up absolutely loving this gothic spoof and tribute to Northanger Abbey! It's funny, unique, and I had the best time reading The Last Lady B!
November 24, 2025
Oh, goodness, this was just so much fun! It feels both a bit unusual for an Eloisa James book (at the moment I can't think of any that are single, first person POV) and also very much an Eloisa James book (such delightful characters! all the LOL moments! so many Shakespeare references!) So many twists and turns in the last third or so of the book--I can honestly say I didn't even suspect ANY of that to happen, but still found it all (mostly) believable :)
I was about to start to say who were my favorite characters, but truly it's all of them save Clifford and Sophonisba. Even poor Mima has a special place in my heart, no matter what she's done. Everyone in this book felt like honest to goodness real people (and pigs) who were sitting here with me as I read. I didn't want to put them down and leave their world. Maybe Ophelia could get a book...?
It took everything in me not to scream, "YES! NORTHANGER ABBEY RULES AND ELOISA JAMES AGREES!!!" when I read the author's note at the end. (I was at work, or I probably would have TBH) I 100% thought of Catherine Mooreland when I discovered Evie's love of gothic novels, and was not at all surprised to discover that Austen's novel was one of her many literary inspirations for this book. Adding Jane Austen's Bookshelf: A Rare Book Collector's Quest to Find the Women Writers Who Shaped a Legend and The Canterville Ghost to my TBR pile right now... <3
Rating: 5 stars / A
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
I was about to start to say who were my favorite characters, but truly it's all of them save Clifford and Sophonisba. Even poor Mima has a special place in my heart, no matter what she's done. Everyone in this book felt like honest to goodness real people (and pigs) who were sitting here with me as I read. I didn't want to put them down and leave their world. Maybe Ophelia could get a book...?
It took everything in me not to scream, "YES! NORTHANGER ABBEY RULES AND ELOISA JAMES AGREES!!!" when I read the author's note at the end. (I was at work, or I probably would have TBH) I 100% thought of Catherine Mooreland when I discovered Evie's love of gothic novels, and was not at all surprised to discover that Austen's novel was one of her many literary inspirations for this book. Adding Jane Austen's Bookshelf: A Rare Book Collector's Quest to Find the Women Writers Who Shaped a Legend and The Canterville Ghost to my TBR pile right now... <3
Rating: 5 stars / A
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
August 30, 2026
2.95 stars ⭐️
I saw someone else describe this as a regency telenovela and you know what? It tracks. This read like a weirdly dramatized historical fever dream with a hint of romance. It felt disjointed. The romance was iffy (especially at the end). The characters were actual caricatures. But it was also funny? And kinda wholesome, threats of murder etc notwithstanding? But that’s also kiiind of an issue because it like the serious issues mentioned are made light of a little? I dunno. The fourth wall was broken plenty of times which was an unexpected fun twist, but I’m not sure the writing style is for me. I felt mildly confused the entire time (which to be fair, I had a weird weekend so it could be me) and while I do love a telenovela, I think I prefer to watch rather than read those.
I saw someone else describe this as a regency telenovela and you know what? It tracks. This read like a weirdly dramatized historical fever dream with a hint of romance. It felt disjointed. The romance was iffy (especially at the end). The characters were actual caricatures. But it was also funny? And kinda wholesome, threats of murder etc notwithstanding? But that’s also kiiind of an issue because it like the serious issues mentioned are made light of a little? I dunno. The fourth wall was broken plenty of times which was an unexpected fun twist, but I’m not sure the writing style is for me. I felt mildly confused the entire time (which to be fair, I had a weird weekend so it could be me) and while I do love a telenovela, I think I prefer to watch rather than read those.
May 7, 2026
This one actually made me put down tomodachi life. I said I’d just read a chapter before picking up my switch but I ended up reading the last half of the book in one go.
Lady B delivered the humor and lovable female characters I expect from Eloisa James. It also offered something new with charming first person storytelling and twists upon twists. This isn’t one of those where the author just puts them in a dark old building and calls it gothic novel inspired. There’s a lot of demented stuff going on in the fringes, while still keeping me laughing.
Reading the book’s description sets a maybe unfair expectation in regards to the pacing of events (yes, That Event doesn’t happen for a long while) —but it didn’t bother me as much as just confused me a little.
Overall a really memorable story worthy of its pretty and eye catching cover. Creative and funny while still within the comforting expectations of the genre I love. My autobuying of Eloisa James novels lives on. 4.5 stars rounded up.
Lady B delivered the humor and lovable female characters I expect from Eloisa James. It also offered something new with charming first person storytelling and twists upon twists. This isn’t one of those where the author just puts them in a dark old building and calls it gothic novel inspired. There’s a lot of demented stuff going on in the fringes, while still keeping me laughing.
Reading the book’s description sets a maybe unfair expectation in regards to the pacing of events (yes, That Event doesn’t happen for a long while) —but it didn’t bother me as much as just confused me a little.
Overall a really memorable story worthy of its pretty and eye catching cover. Creative and funny while still within the comforting expectations of the genre I love. My autobuying of Eloisa James novels lives on. 4.5 stars rounded up.
August 12, 2026
⭐⭐⭐
This was my first Eloisa James book and unfortunately I found it very underwhelming. I did read other reviews where reviewers stated this was different than her previous books, so I am still going to give her other books a try. I didn't love the first person POV and was bored through most of it. I thought the blurb gave away too much, especially since most of what was mentioned happened in the last 3rd of the book. I was confused and constantly waiting for stuff to happen.
I am honestly late in writing my review and I can't remember much about what happened…
This was my first Eloisa James book and unfortunately I found it very underwhelming. I did read other reviews where reviewers stated this was different than her previous books, so I am still going to give her other books a try. I didn't love the first person POV and was bored through most of it. I thought the blurb gave away too much, especially since most of what was mentioned happened in the last 3rd of the book. I was confused and constantly waiting for stuff to happen.
I am honestly late in writing my review and I can't remember much about what happened…
June 3, 2026
This was fascinating, funny and tantilizing. I loved the tale of a young woman who decides on a marriage of convenience only to find the marriage was not so that. Journeying to her groom’s Scottish castle she finds ghosts, a wild young girl and so much more, including love!
Such fun!
Such fun!
Did Not Finish
May 2, 2026DNF at 56%. I love an Eloisa James book and I was very excited about this ARC. This desperately needs a trigger warning about child abuse, child neglect, attempted marital rape, and cheating. I know not all readers will need this, but I think the themes are there enough to warrant the tool for reader use.
Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
gave-it-a-shot
May 25, 2026What.
1. This is in first person? For some reason?
2. The heroine has actively decided to marry an older thrice-widowed lord in order to ensure her sister has a dowry and the money necessary for another season. But the characterization we're being given via the atrocious first-person perspective is....wanting.
3. The hero appears to be a displeased ass so far, and I don't have the patience for this shit right now.
1. This is in first person? For some reason?
2. The heroine has actively decided to marry an older thrice-widowed lord in order to ensure her sister has a dowry and the money necessary for another season. But the characterization we're being given via the atrocious first-person perspective is....wanting.
3. The hero appears to be a displeased ass so far, and I don't have the patience for this shit right now.
December 30, 2025
I loved this book, especially the gothic inspired setting. There is a perfect blend of humor, spice, and intrigue. You know you are reading something special when ghosts, a dark brooding hero, and a precious pet piglet are part of the mix that keeps you delightedly turning the pages. The plot is full of intriguing twists. There are some delicious descriptions of fashion and a wonderful cast of characters. While this isn’t a holiday book, much of it takes place during the Christmas season. I highly recommend this historical romance. I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
November 21, 2025
I'm not even sure where to start with this review. Wow! The amount of twists and turns in this book is unbelievable. The creativity and imagination that went into this book is impressive. Let me say I have loved every book I have read by Eloisa James, but I doubted this one a few times in the beginning. Her writing style was a bit different than some of her books I have read. The characters were well-written and the plot was intriguing.
I look forward to reading more books by this author.
I look forward to reading more books by this author.
March 8, 2026
Loved the characters in this one, and I consider myself to be a historical romance elitist.
Perfect if you love:
- BANTER
- Cheeky Quips
- FMCs with a BACKBONE (seriously, she CLAPS BACK)
- FMCs who hate men a little bit, but like, for reasons within reasonable justification
- Ghosts ????
- Equating one’s lover to a Christmas peacock
- Pet pigs
Perfect if you love:
- BANTER
- Cheeky Quips
- FMCs with a BACKBONE (seriously, she CLAPS BACK)
- FMCs who hate men a little bit, but like, for reasons within reasonable justification
- Ghosts ????
- Equating one’s lover to a Christmas peacock
- Pet pigs
September 18, 2026
Good lord this was wretched. I was warned and yet, I paid no heed. The description sounded fun, but I should have known from the cover (which looks like it was drawn by AI. Prompt: Regency era dressed lady but make her a super hero pose).
The story is boring, the characters are inconsistent. None of them have any chemistry. Except maybe Peony, the Pig.
Worst of all, for someone who is a professor of Shakespeare, her grasp of history is tenuous at best. The thing that bothered me most is the wolves that threaten the Abby, located in the Scottish Highlands. They add a touch of Gothic ‘atmosphere’ never mind that wolves had been virtually eradicated in Scotland by the late 1600’s to maybe the mid-1700’s and this book is set in the early 1800’s! It took me less than 5 min to find this information, could James not be bothered to write anything vaguely resembling historical fact?
Evie mentions learning to use the phrase “not give a fig” and says it’s American slang! Bullshit. It can be traced to Shakespeare for fuck’s sake! She’s supposed to be a goddamn Shakespearean expert!
Worst of all, everyone is crossing France Willy nilly WHEN ENGLAND AND FRANCE ARE ACTIVELY AT WAR!! in this timeframe.
Why she couldn’t set the book in a shifted era that would have fit the facts she wanted I don’t know.
I realized that this is escapism reading but those things bug. Looking back I’ve read some of her other stuff and been luke warm to meh on her books so this is a reminder to avoid her books in the future.
The story is boring, the characters are inconsistent. None of them have any chemistry. Except maybe Peony, the Pig.
Worst of all, for someone who is a professor of Shakespeare, her grasp of history is tenuous at best. The thing that bothered me most is the wolves that threaten the Abby, located in the Scottish Highlands. They add a touch of Gothic ‘atmosphere’ never mind that wolves had been virtually eradicated in Scotland by the late 1600’s to maybe the mid-1700’s and this book is set in the early 1800’s! It took me less than 5 min to find this information, could James not be bothered to write anything vaguely resembling historical fact?
Evie mentions learning to use the phrase “not give a fig” and says it’s American slang! Bullshit. It can be traced to Shakespeare for fuck’s sake! She’s supposed to be a goddamn Shakespearean expert!
Worst of all, everyone is crossing France Willy nilly WHEN ENGLAND AND FRANCE ARE ACTIVELY AT WAR!! in this timeframe.
Why she couldn’t set the book in a shifted era that would have fit the facts she wanted I don’t know.
I realized that this is escapism reading but those things bug. Looking back I’ve read some of her other stuff and been luke warm to meh on her books so this is a reminder to avoid her books in the future.
May 16, 2026
There's something amazing about when an author you've been reading for years releases a book and it feels new. Not just a new story, but a fresh update on their own writing. That is what I loved most about The Last Lady B. It was still everything I love about Eloisa James, but with a new twist. I loved the asides, many of which made me chuckle, and the cast of characters, who all contributed their personal flair to the overarching story. The Gothic/ghostly bits were fun and not overdone, and I really enjoyed the main character's journey of discovering the pitfalls of self sacrifice, no matter how well-intentioned. I'm looking forward to more books by James in this style.
September 19, 2026
I have a really lovely special edition of this and I’m so glad 😌
June 9, 2026
I had so much fun reading and listening to THE LAST LADY B!
The characters were the defining factor. I would have followed them anywhere they led me. They’re quirky and memorable. And I absolutely loved Lady B’s sass.
Don’t get me wrong, I also enjoyed the plot. And the setting. I mean, a possibly haunted abbey in the Scottish Highlands? I’ll say yes to that every single time!
Put all of this together with some of the wittiest writing I’ve read in a long time, and we have a winner, my friends!
I was fortunate to have both a print and audiobook copy. Mary Jane Wells is the audiobook narrator, and she delivered a perfect performance. I felt like she intimately understood our Lady B. I was fully immersed and invested throughout.
*Thanks to Kaye Publicity for the free print copy, and to Simon Audio for the free audiobook download!*
The characters were the defining factor. I would have followed them anywhere they led me. They’re quirky and memorable. And I absolutely loved Lady B’s sass.
Don’t get me wrong, I also enjoyed the plot. And the setting. I mean, a possibly haunted abbey in the Scottish Highlands? I’ll say yes to that every single time!
Put all of this together with some of the wittiest writing I’ve read in a long time, and we have a winner, my friends!
I was fortunate to have both a print and audiobook copy. Mary Jane Wells is the audiobook narrator, and she delivered a perfect performance. I felt like she intimately understood our Lady B. I was fully immersed and invested throughout.
*Thanks to Kaye Publicity for the free print copy, and to Simon Audio for the free audiobook download!*
May 19, 2026
That was a fun ride
May 24, 2026
2.5 stars
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