The Gilded Rose: A Novel

by Joanna Shupe

USA Today bestselling author Joanna Shupe returns with an angst-filled retelling of Beauty and the Beast, set against the excess and opulence of Gilded Age New York.

Love isn’t always a fairy tale.

Charming and popular, Orson Grey is the most sought-after bachelor in Manhattan. When Caroline pledges to spend her life with him, it feels like the beginning of a fairy tale.

The fairy tale quickly turns into a nightmare.

Behind closed doors, Orson is controlling and cruel. Trapped by laws that prevent women from leaving unhappy marriages, Caroline has no choice but to endure her husband’s behavior. Each day grows more intolerable, and her frustration and resentment mounts. Even her passion for rare books is stifled, leaving her isolated and lonely, a fading rose trapped under glass.

When Caroline is offered the opportunity to catalogue a private library, she seizes it like a lifeline. Exploring the literary treasures, she discovers a friend in the library’s owner, Zane Bishop—a brilliant, wealthy recluse who was disfigured in an explosion years ago.

Thoughtful and kind, Zane is everything Orson is not. As their trust builds, Zane realizes that Caroline’s pain runs much deeper than she lets on. He suffers with her, knowing precisely of Orson’s cruelty firsthand. Zane will stop at nothing to set Caroline free, even if it means risking everything.

The Gilded Rose is a story of resilience, passion, and the transformative power of love.



Tropes

Gilded Age

Fairy tale retelling

Friends to lovers

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical, Retellings, Audiobook, Fiction

1 pages, Audio CD

First published October 13, 2026

About the author

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USA Today bestselling author JOANNA SHUPE has always loved history, ever since she saw her first Schoolhouse Rock cartoon. Since 2015, her books have appeared on numerous yearly “best of” lists, including Publishers Weekly, The Washington Post, Kirkus Reviews, Kobo, and BookPage.

She currently lives in New Jersey with her two spirited daughters and a dashing husband.

Reviews

[Liana Gold · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

⭐️ 4.25 ⭐️ A beauty and the beast retelling set in the 19th century. The story features a heroine stuck in an horrible marriage, looking for an escape. When an opportunity presents itself, she eagerly takes it. Our heroine meets a very wealthy, reclusive but disfigured man at a social event. Their relationship later becomes the emotional core of this book.

I’ve read a few of Shupes novels to know the content she usually features and The Gilded Rose is much darker than her other novels. We have a heroine who is wed to a very bad man. He is not only financially and emotionally abusing her, he’s also forcing himself on her resulting in multiple physical injuries and bruises. Even as a married woman, she was never properly bedded and that broke me! As unpleasant and infuriating it was for me to read through certain depictions (not graphic), Shupe delicately handled the rawness of marital rape and abuse. Keep in mind that this is the early 19th century, the Gilded Age, a period where women had zero say, no rights and were subservients of society (particularly the man that they married). So the historical aspects of the story were well portrayed and used to drive the narrative forward. I will expand on this topic in my full review!

Overall I found this book extremely interesting and even informative. I learned a fact or two about marriage laws and why leaving/divorcing was very hard to do during this time period, but at the same time how fast the wheel was turning on women’s independence and rights. It certainly delivered on the promised emotional intensity and angst.






Many thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and the author, Joanna Shupe for an early ARC!

Many thanks to Harper Audio for an early ALC!
Narrators: Aaron Shedlock, Eva Kaminsky
Duration: 12 hours
Speed: 1.75-2.25x

Publication date: October 13, 2026

[Christine Garrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caroline is Belle from Beauty and the Beast if she had been wooed by the charismatic yet cruel Gaston, in this case, Orson Grey. Unfortunately, Orson embodies seemingly every vice that wealth, privilege, and social standing can enable.

Young and perhaps naive, Caroline believes her betrothed to be a handsome and honorable gentleman. However, once the wedding takes place, his carefully constructed facade crumbles. It becomes painfully clear that Orson values his new wife primarily for her beauty and her ability to produce equally beautiful children. What follows is a harrowing depiction of a woman trapped in a marriage from which the laws and social conventions of her time offer little hope of escape.

The novel explores disturbing subject matter, including domestic abuse, sexual assault, and marital rape. These elements are not merely obstacles to romance but stark reminders of how thoroughly women could be stripped of their autonomy. Caroline’s circumstances are particularly devastating because her husband’s cruelty is reinforced by a legal system that affords him extraordinary power over her life. One misjudgment of character has left her imprisoned in a relationship that becomes increasingly dangerous.

Her one small measure of freedom comes through organizing and assessing the library collection of Zane Bishop, a reclusive man physically scarred by a mysterious explosion at his former workplace. Although Zane has withdrawn from society, Caroline’s intelligence, beauty, and determination gradually draw him out of isolation. Their developing relationship offers a compelling contrast to her marriage, particularly in the ways affection, respect, and genuine concern differ from possession and control.

Readers who appreciate an intensely protective male main character willing to employ morally questionable methods against those who harm the woman he loves will find much to enjoy here. Zane is no conventional Prince Charming, and this is certainly no G-rated retelling of Beauty and the Beast. The romance is explicitly open-door, with considerable emotional intensity accompanying its physical intimacy. Beneath the passion lies a darker examination of the distinction between love that liberates and obsession that imprisons.

The audiobook performances by Aaron Shedlock and Eva Kaminsky are particularly well suited to the novel’s emotionally demanding material. Both narrators employ tone and inflection effectively to convey fear, vulnerability, anger, and desire. They are equally convincing during the intimate scenes and the more distressing confrontations, lending authenticity to the characters’ experiences without diminishing the gravity of the subject matter.

Ultimately, The Gilded Rose is a story of mistakes, betrayal, trauma, and the healing power of love. It examines toxic masculinity, the devastating consequences of patriarchal power, and the sacrifices two people are willing to make for one another. At its heart is the contrast between a man who believes marriage entitles him to ownership and another whose devotion challenges the very circumstances keeping the woman he loves captive.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for providing an advance listening copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Kelcey | felinebooktrovert ✨️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy Release Day!!

Definitely darker than I was expecting, but I read this in a day soooo.

The beginning is rough, no getting around that. We spend a decent amount of time with the marriage to Satan's butthole. Man is the not worth the dirt on people's shoes. So it was difficult to have to spend a lot of time with those situations.

But I enjoyed both of the main characters, and their interactions were very entertaining, though I also feel like the MMC was goner way too fast.

But overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend with the disclaimer you should review the trigger warnings first ❤️

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

[Jessica White · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is GREAT storytelling. This is the kind of book you begin reading and are hit with a WHOA, that got heavy really quickly, but know you need to keep reading because you trust the author and trust her purpose. So let me say that the prologue and other points of this book may be difficult for some readers. Marital trauma is a key plot point and it is very much on page. Skip the prologue, the second half of chapter 1, and Caroline’s perspective in chapter 6 if you have triggers.
As I mentioned, this storytelling hooked me and could not put it down. It’s a Beauty and the Beast retelling imagined in the Gilded Age of New York where our Belle (Caroline), has been hoodwinked by Gaston (Orson Grey) into believing hers will be a marriage of love. With the help from the fire-scarred Beast (Zane Bishop), Caroline will find an escape and possibly freedom from her brutal marriage. You will HATE Orson. His character is so irredeemable that it would be easy to see Zane as the white knight, swooping in to save Caroline (and believe me, he wants to), but Shupe carefully lays the ground for Caroline to make big decisions for herself and to have the autonomy to learn what it means to have her own voice when society and limited womens’ rights aim to stifle it.

As dark as this book is, it is also deeply sensual and fans of Finelli’s dirty talking mafiosos will be thrilled to see that voice liberated here. Despite the rocky sexual beginnings, The Gilded Rose is a book that amplifies female sexuality from the use of prophylactics (ladies, you can’t count on anyone except yourself) to a hero adamant about the pleasure of a woman being first and foremost. He relishes in giving pleasure to our heroine so much that he is barely able to restrain himself from setting up residence and making her nether regions a new zip code.

I devoured this book, reading it in a weekend. It’s not exactly the Joanna Shupe of yore; this has a grittier feel and is just as much an exploration on divorce law during 1898 as it is a love story. Yet the setting of New York in the Gilded Age brings out the extravagant opulence of the wealthy, the expectations of wives and husbands, and the constraints of marital law which romance readers will still gobble up. Thank you to Avon for my gifted copy. All thoughts and expressions are my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Please see the author’s note containing all CWs—I suggest you come into this with open eyes.

[Jenn (The Book Refuge) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a truly powerful story with gut punch after gut punch. Joanna Shupe spares no truths from the painful reality of a woman tricked into a possible life or death marriage situation by an absolute cad. It was truly chilling how a sweet, yet fairly clever woman like Caroline, who yes, was a little naive, but not stupid, could find herself bound to a man like Orson Grey. Once the vows are said, the facade of his charm and beautiful face are completely gone and he gets down to business.

The business of making babies off his wife. Whether she wants to or not. It's her duty after all.

Caroline, who as mentioned, is smart but a bit naive. Could not quite conceive of how the charming man she was wooed by could turn on a dime. And turn so rape-y before the ink is even dry on the marriage certificate. All her dreams of a quaint little life are gone as Orson hope to chain her to the bed (almost literally) and pump her full of children (this, very literally).

As Caroline looks for anyway out, in her case, the only hope being if Orson has a mistress, and she can catch him cheating. She runs into an enemy of Grey's: Zane Bishop. A man forced to be a recluse due to a disfigurement caused by an accident in the past. Caroline finds an ally and then a lover in him, eventually, as she seeks to escape her abusive husband.

There are many layers to Zane and I can't go into them all here, but he absolutely is our gruff but gentle beast in the shadows of this tale. He comes to obsess over and adore Caroline as she finds refuge in organizing his library (something his clever sister is able to set up) and he will stop at nothing to destroy Orson Grey. First because of sins from the past, but eventually for the sins Grey is presently pressing upon Caroline.

This really is a tragic tale frought with pain and far too much reality. Joanna Shupe is very clear in how she has this unfold that she wants the unfairness of the law to be shown. I do understand that and it is a stark reminder that all Historical Romance lovers must face when reading a story like this. That being said, I think following said laws did cause some of this story to suffer a bit because there were some more satisfying ways we could have ended this one. But I also like how she stuck to her guns.

Finally, in the same way that The Gilded Heiress did, this is a 1st Person Pov novel. I like this trend for some HRs to be 1st person, especially because I listen to a lot of them on audio, and the narration in 1st person is what I'm used to these days. But be aware, if that's not your favorite, it's the style here.

I did an immersive read with this one and the audio is Dual Narrated by Aaron Shedlock & Eva Kaminsky.

4 Stars
2 on the spice scale

CW: Marital R*PE on page, emotial abuse/gaslighting, no rights for women, physical violence, gore, murder, "cheating" technically

*Thank you to the Avon Audio & Harper Voyager and the author for an ARC & ALC of this title.*

[lost in epilogue | ཐི༏ཋྀ​​݁ ₊ ݁ . · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went through a major Joanna Shupe phase last year and loved her books, but unfortunately this one wasn’t for me.

I do give her credit for the clear effort of researching marriage rights and laws of the time, and for her tackling a sensitive topic. There is a lot of triggering occurrences on page though. While I had seen this was a darker romance of hers, I’ve been faked out a few times w books saying that which ended up not being very dark at all, but this was a bit much for my taste personally (please check tw’s).

I love the initial concept of a beauty and the beast retelling where Belle makes the mistake of marrying Gaston. However, I really didn’t like 1st person POV. It’s not my preferred in general but I especially didn’t like it for hisrom.

Also not a fan of dual POV usually, it tends to ruin the mystique of MMCs for me. I didn’t like how Zane’s “yearning” became very physical. I enjoy smut, but I need a real yearner where it comes from the soul! It felt like the emotional romancing got dropped too quickly.

Overall it was a very ambitious endeavor that she did some good work on, it just wasn’t for me.

An honest arc review <3

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Releases 10/13/26. 4.5/5.

Heat Index: 7/10

Another Joanna Shupe banger—and, like her books usually do, it packs quite a punch. Where it really stands out for me—similarly to The Duke Gets Even, which remains my favorite of her works and one of my favorite books of all time—is the way she skillfully entwines a beautiful love story and a sharp eye for politics and women's rights. Does it scare me a bit to see how the USA is reeling backwards toward the Gilded Age (and I'm not talking about the gorgeous clothes)? Absolutely. But it's necessary, and I hope it reaches some people who maybe aren't expecting that kind of message from a romance novel.

But the thing is—great romances have always been smart and savvy, reflecting our current world whether they're set in the 21st century, the 16th, or a fantasy setting. And The Gilded Rose is great. While you're aware from the jump that Caroline is in danger and suffering from abuse at the hands of her horrendous husband, Orson, she isn't a symbol. She's a full-hearted, well-developed heroine who goes through quite a journey. A lot of romance novels swing wildly between a super strong heroine or a sweet one. Caroline is allowed to be both, with her sweetness expressing her strength. Even when the world is absolutely horrible to her, she still shows compassion to those around her—especially Zane. She's perfect on the outside, but the ways in which society deems her "imperfect"—namely her love of an outcast, her lack of airs, and her value for things everyone else overlooks—are exactly what make her so lovable.

It kind of doesn't matter if she's lovable or not, though—something the book makes a point of. Because nobody should have to go through what she does. Won't lie: The scenes of domestic and sexual violence in this novel, though not gratuitous by any means, are at times hard to read. Joanna is very smart about how she depicts this; it's by no means the defining part of the story, but it makes an impact. And the thing is, Caroline isn't the only person victimized by Orson, or what Orson represents. Zane is too, by merit of not being the "right" class. He's further hurt by society because of their superficiality and alienation of him due to his scars. Which wouldn't exist if not for Orson!

Have to call out what I do not know but do suspect was a purposeful move... It's been a bit of a trend—not always seriously, but sometimes, yeah, kinda seriously—for people online to say that Rose (as in Titanic's Rose) should've chosen her abusive, rich, handsome fiance over poor, "you stay on the door while I freeze to death because I love you more than anything", artist Jack. (Who's also handsome, being played by Peak Leonardo and all.) Orson reminded me a lot of Cal. A big reason why Cal wanted to marry Rose was his obsession with appearance, which mirrors Orson's desire to be with Caroline and procreate with her to create the perfect kids. Cal was played by Billy ZANE (who, while playing a twat, does have the best line readings maybe in the history of cinema). Zane Bishop is the hero of this novel.

CHECK AND MATE.

And on another nerdery—please note that Orson's obsession with creating those perfect kids is definitely because he's into eugenics, much like Charles Lindbergh. Joanna Shupe's previous novel, The Gilded Heiress (excellent book) is based in part on the Lindbergh Baby case. IT'S ALL COMING TOGETHER.

Back to the romance. Zane is such a great hero. He will make every girl who ever had (or still has) confusing feelings about the Beast, pre-transformation-back-to-his-human-form, swoon. Yes, he's rich, yes he's amazing in bed, yes he'll do anything for Caroline, yes he believes women should have rights and shit. All that's great. But he's so... DORKY? In the best possible way. He lurks in the shadows watching her, only a little creepily. He gets aroused by her mere existence (and especially her indulgence in baked goods). He bolts out of every awkward situation with grumbled apologies, he does his best to flirt but he's kinda rusty and also flirting with a woman who has NO idea what that is. It's hilarious, charming, and completely adorable without making him seem like the Nice Guy romance heroes I've been so annoyed by lately.

Some of this does stem from legitimately terrible trauma. Zane is so wounded, and it goes far beyond the scars. Orson has robbed him of his identity and made him feel completely separate from society (which Shupe uses to an incredible effect when it comes to his development and grand gestures). As cliche as it is to say, Caroline really does wake him up. When he falls, he falls HARD. It's borderline pitiful, until it isn't because he's RAILING this woman.

But to be clear: There is a lot of hurt/comfort in this book. Physically, it's quite a slow burn, and it should be. Caroline needs time to heal. So does Zane, frankly. And he needs to gain her trust. She doesn't have any positive experiences surrounding sex. There's a perfect balance of tenderness and heat here. Also—Zane is so insanely turned on by this woman that by the time things start going, he is OVERWHELMED. It's both sexy and, again, kinda hysterical in the best possible way. I really love how much Shupe heroes love their heroines. It's incredibly satisfying to read. Their rough edges aren't sanded down. They just add to the satisfaction of them showing their feelings.

The only thing I could critique about this book is that the ending is a little abrupt, and I would've loved an epilogue. Nonetheless, it's still quite a satisfying crescendo. And frankly, these two go through so much to be together, I was kind of breathing a sigh of relief in the end. Which is good! I was invested.

The Gilded Rose is the Beauty and the Beast retelling you've been looking for, sliding in a message about equality—and specifically no-fault divorce—we all need. It's incredibly sweet, while maintaining a ton of sex appeal and intelligence. Joanna Shupe is just a cut above.

Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for giving me a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Maya · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

I don't know what it is about books where women find their strength after being broken down time and again but they get me EVERY TIME.

The Gilded Rose, is a historical romance (the first one I've read mind you) and it was magnificent!
Caroline's. new husband turns out to be pure EVIL and at a time where infidelity is the only way to get a divorce in NY she is trapped! So what does she do?! Finds solace in books (she is one of us) and starts working at Zane's - society's recluse - library.

NOW, THIS MAN! Oh he is down bad, but he deals with his own insecurities. The slow burn was delicious. I'm talking PAINFUL! (in the best way)

Amongst the romance and the plot my favorite parts of The Gilded Rose have to be the commentary about women's status in society, their worth, and what they mean in the eyes of men.
The writing was great, the prose were done just right and the story was compelling. I'm definitely going to pick up more historical romance!

[jenny reads a lot · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

This is exactly what I needed!

Perfectly enjoyable gilded age beauty and the beast reimagining.

Definitely darker themes so read with care!

Audio Narration: 4/5
Narrators: Aaron Shedlock & Eva Kaminsky
Length: 12 hours
Style: dual pov, dual narration
Thoughts: Solid performance. I really enjoyed the FMC’s narrator! her performance was nearly flawless and I’ll definitely keep an eye out for books narrated by her in the future. The MMC narrator’s performance was solid. The only issue I had was the pausing felt slightly exaggerated.

4.25⭐️| IG | TikTok |

Thank you Harper Audio, LibroFM, and Avon for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

[GigiReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

TENSION! STAKES! This is all my HR loving heart desires and Joanna Shupe delivered with this dark retelling of Beauty and the Beast.

What if Belle had married Gaston? It's as disastrous as I imagined but it makes for a dark, delicious forbidden love between beautiful Caroline and Zane the beastly reclusive zillionaire with the amazing library. About half of the story takes place while Caroline is married to her handsome but abusive husband ( there's no cheating ) so it's very much a slow burn which is usually a no go for me. But the tension and the lovely angsty feelings while waiting for them to finally get together and bang some headboards was *chef's kiss* . Needless to say, when they finally give in to their pants feelings, it is glorious. This author knows how to write a steamy scene and a MMC that loves to dine in parts south ( this book has one of my fave microtropes: he *arrives* from the excitement of finally getting to pleasure her) There were some heavier issues at play that were weaved perfectly through the story like the horrific marriage laws that made it impossible for women to leave abusive marriages. While first person dual POV will never be my favorite in HR, I was able to overlook that here because I was so invested in the MCs and the romance. Highly recommended for lovers of angsty, darker throwback HRs.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🔥🔥🔥/5

Tropes:
BatB
Forbidden Love
Close Proximity

I received a copy from Netgalley for review. All opinions are my own.

TW: domestic abuse, violence

[Kat | Tropes TBD · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Thanks to Avon and Harper and HarperAudio for providing me with this ebook and audiobook!

Thank goodness someone is still writing historical romance, thank you Joanna Shupe!!!

I've read and loved some of Shupe's other glided-age romances and really enjoyed them so I was very excited to get a chance to read this ARC. The Beauty and the Beast retelling aspect put me off a little but I ended up finding that very well. done. I definitely think if you are like me and have enjoyed Shupe's previous work, you will really like this.

In this book, we follow Caroline and Zane. Caroline is trapped in a terrible marriage. Definitely heed the trigger warnings included in this book, the violence we get on page is quite confronting. Caroline's husband Orson is definitely awful. I mostly felt like Shupe avoided turning him into a caricature, but at times he did feel a bit Gaston-like in his over-the-top self-obsession. That said, I did find this to be a fairly realistic portrayal of being trapped in a bad marriage at this time in history.

Zane is a great beast character. He has just the right balance of the gruffness and self-isolation of that character type while still obviously caring about Caroline and showing that affection in cleaver and fun ways. I found Zane to be genuinely charming, which is really all I want out of a love interest in a book. There were definitely moments where I was grinning while reading. There is also still humor in this book despite the serious set-up. There is one scene in the end involving Zane swimming in the ocean that I found particularly humorous.

Caroline is also an interesting character. She is basically someone that evaluates the value of books, which is how she gets involved with Zane, who obviously has a massive library. I didn't really understand the ins and outs of this job, and I'm not sure Shupe did either, given the relatively little detail we got about her day-to-day, but I don't think it really mattered. I liked that she had her own interests and job and that she fought to keep these things in her lives in the face of her abusive husband.

There was a great balance of plot and romantic connection. It kept me engaged through the whole book. My one complaint and the reason that this isn't a full 5-stars is that I felt the plot at the end jumped the shark a little bit. The level of drama escalated to a degree that felt disconnected from the rest of the book and that decreased the realism for me. That said, it was still a fun and dramatic plot to read and certainly made sure that I wasn't bored.

The narrators were both great in the audio. This is dual narrated so, two narrators. Both narrators managed to read the other characters lines without annoying me, which is all I really want in this style of narration. I find romance on audio to be a genre I generally like listening too and I thought it was well done here.

This book reminded me how much I enjoyed Shupe's writing and made me want to go back and read more of her work. As I started with, I'm so happy that some historical romance is still being written and published even though I know it's less popular at the moment.

[Christi · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. The Gilded Rose is a darker Gilded Age historical romance (check TW) and a beauty and the beast retelling! I’ve read everything from this author, she’s been a favorite for years, and while her previous HR release didn’t quite hit for me, this book so so did! This book is if Belle fell for Gaston’s love-bombing first and actually married him, only to realize that was a horrible mistake, and then she gets swept off her feet by the Beast.

The story kicks off with Caroline having had a short fairy tale of a courtship and exchanging vows with Orson Grey, only for him to immediately flip a switch and become a monster the minute they exchanged vows. He’s cruel, violent, and abusive and the first couple chapters are hard to read (def check TW, but know that this man is not the hero of the book). Just a couple months into her marriage, she meets Zane Bishop out in the garden of a party. Their meeting is brief but he tells her she never should have married her husband since he’s a cruel monster, and as the story continues we learn his own history is entangled with Orson’s. Zane’s sister plays matchmaker and gets Caroline a job of organizing the thousands of books in Zane’s library and that’s when the two really get to start spending time together.

The tension and yearning was soo good and will forever be why I shout about historical romances, the stakes and time just add to that delicious yearn! You root for Caroline to get away from her husband, I do wish he was handled with this author’s Mila Finelli penname but alas. lol It is a slow burn, a friends to lovers, she does remain married for half of the book but there is no cheating. I could have probably gone for longer slow burn and yearn, but I also do appreciate that this book does tie up pretty quickly as well. I flew through this one!

I received an ARC/ALC, all thoughts in this review are my own.


TW (provided by author at start of the book): graphic descriptions of domestic violence, including physical assault (on page), marital rape (on page), and emotional abuse with a controlling partner.

[Kelsey reviews•books · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

This “Beauty and the Beast” retelling was an interesting take on the classic (where the “Belle” character marries “Gaston” and he’s abusive). I feel like it worked well for the most part. (more below)

▹Format: 🎧Audiobook (Dual narration by Aaron Shedlock and Eva Kaminsky for HarperAudio Adult; narration rating: 4/5)
▹Publication Date: October 13, 2026
Thank you to HarperAudio Adult and NetGalley for the ALC. This review reflects my honest opinions.
─────────────────────────

○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○

– FMC: Caroline Gray. Description
– MMC: Zane Bishop. Description
– Location: NYC (during the Gilded Age: late 1800s, though I didn’t catch an exact year)
– POV: Dual first-person
– Spice: Several open-door spicy scenes (with audio I have a harder time keeping track, but I would say more than 3, less than 6)
– Tropes: historical romance, Beauty and the Beast retelling, FMC in an abusive marriage, reclusive MMC, disfigured MMC, grumpy x sunshine, slow burn, forced proximity
– Content warning: on-page marital rape (though not overly violent, the FMC doesn’t want it and her husband doesn’t listen to her pleas)
– Representation: bluestocking (a new term to me): a woman of the era that was educated and bookish and thus unfeminine and unmarriable

─────────────────────────

🎯 My Thoughts:

This is my first read by Joanna Shupe and I can see why she has such a passionate following. Her characters were well developed and I appreciated the balance of history to romance to plot.

I love a “Beauty and the Beast” retelling, and the twist this one takes was very interesting. This is exactly how I would imagine Belle’s life with Gaston going, and how the Beast would step in and right Gaston’s wrongs. I also liked that it was set in a different time period and location from the original so that it could stand apart and allow it to deviate without muddying the classic by trying to recreate something. I learned a lot about the Gilded Age and the frankly criminal divorce laws of the past.

While the writing itself is crisp and engaging, Joanna Shupe's underlying message is delivered with a heavy hand rather than subtle nuance. The author’s critique of the era’s patriarchal cruelty is spot-on. However, the narrative strips away all nuance by making the MMC an overcorrected ideal of a modern feminist man. Instead of a compelling dynamic where two complex characters balance each other, he feels engineered solely to serve the book's themes.

While this has dark themes and certainly uncomfortable scenes, I would not classify this as a dark romance. It doesn’t dig TOO deep into the darker themes, but they are on page and because of that, readers should exercise caution if they are triggered by domestic abuse or controlling men in books.

The audio production was clear and well balanced. Aaron Shedlock did a fantastic job as Zane. I did find Eva Kaminsky’s upward inflection at the end of several sentences created a rhythm that eventually grated on me. That said, her masculine voice for Zane’s character was very good, and I loved what these two brought to the many characters in this book.

Would I Recommend?: I am not a “go-to” person for historical romance recs, but I overall really enjoyed this and think others will too. I can’t speak to the historical accuracy, but it would be perfect for those that LIKE historical romance as a palette cleanser or are die-hard fans of this author.


─────────────────────────

⍟»This or That«⍟

Character Driven—————✧——————Plot Driven
Fast Burn———————✧————Slow Burn
Sweet————————✧———Spicy
Light/Fluffy———————✧————Heavy/Emotional



•♥Consider following me on Instagram @kelseyreviewsbooks for more visual content and bookish discussions.♥•

[Beth | Bookwyrm.Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you LibroFM and Harper Audio for the gifted audiobook, as well as Avon for the gifted eARC!

Content Warning: This book contains graphic and frequent on-page sexual assault, r*pe and domestic violence. Please check in with yourself before reading and always prioritize your mental health.

✦ 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 ✦
The Gilded Rose was a highly compelling historical romance that balanced the gritty corners of the past with the tender hope of a fairy tale.

I loved just how much this leaned into Beauty and the Beast, delivering on the grand romance that was to be expected, but still managing to remain grounded in historical reality. Instead of a linear journey where the naive heroine stumbles into a monster's lair, Shupe asks a far more terrifying question: What if Belle married Gaston first?

The dynamic between Orson and Caroline in the early chapters is terrifying, intense and in all honesty: hard to read. The author does not sugar coat just how evil this man is, and readers should definitely take note of the heavy content warnings before diving in. He represents the true monstrosity of the era: a handsome, charming “darling” of the elite who uses the law as a weapon of absolute control. He effectively violates, manipulates and isolates Caroline, completely robbing her of autonomy.

Meeting the deeply wounded and fiercely protective “Beast” Zane, felt like a complete relief, and I was immediately charmed by his quiet and gentle approach to their friendship. Their relationship slowly blossoms into a very tender romance built on a solid foundation of absolute safety. Zane never pushes Caroline, and follows her lead at all times. I loved that their communication was always completely open, bypassing the standard, frustrating misunderstandings so common within this genre. They were each so patient with each other, which led to a very rewarding (and very spicy) third act.

The ending did feel a little chaotic to me, when considering the measured, slow-burn of the middle chapters. I was left wishing for just a few more chapters in order to breathe and linger. But ultimately, I thought that this was a gripping, deeply romantic read, and I definitely recommend it.

✦ 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀 ✦
This was a duel-narration from Aaron Shedlock and Eva Kaminsky. Both actors did a fantastic job balancing the intense themes and emotional moments within this story. I loved Aaron’s ability to portray just how tortured Zane felt throughout, as he yearned so intensely for different circumstances. Eva did an excellent job keeping Caroline’s tone both timid and curious, portraying the sense of resilience and strength underneath all of her trauma. I loved the audio for this one and definitely recommend it!

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙚:
Reclaiming of Autonomy and Healing
Deformity vs Monstrosity
Escaped Heroine
Beauty and the Beast retelling
Emotional Intimacy
Hurt/Comfort
Gritty Fairytale Retelling
Tortured, Protective Hero

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[Jody Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beauty and the beast retelling puts the lore in the Gilded Age. Our story starts with the gift of a cursed rose, and we have to most Gaston-coded villain ever, giant and uncouth and "I've always been popular with the ladies." Our heroine is book obsessed, with a book obsessed father. Our beast ticks all the boxes, scarred and solitary with poor eyesight, living in a closed-off castle with an enormous library, staffed by meddling and matchmaking servants. Sidebar, I loved how Shupe never really describes Zane's injuries. We know they are horrific enough to make children cry, and he talks about lack of sensation on his face. I really think it is less "here is my one saber scar" of other retellings and more "absolute burn victim pre the reconstructive surgery era."

Shupe is a fantastically talented writer, who writes with emotion and humor. Her books are filled with supportive female friendships and side characters who keep the MMC grounded. She also writes with deep anger about the situation for women during this time period, with the lack of choices and body autonomy and unfair laws. I would compare her to peak Beverly Jenkins, where there is some edutainment happening, but it only serves to provide context and enhance a wonderful story.

Caroline is lovebombed by Orson with gifts and promises and poetry. They marry after six weeks and he immediately drops the mask. He is obsessed with eugenics and merging their attractiveness into children, and to that end insists on nightly abusive marital congress, against her will. She realizes she is linked for the rest of her life to a terrible man, with no out.

Shop is quite explicit driving home the point of the societal constraints that put women in a powerless and untenable position. Caroline is trapped in this marriage, without recourse. It is quite clear that Orson is within his rights to abuse her and SA as her husband. She is his possession, and as such has no possessions of her own. "Yes, my father was wealthy. Orson was also wealthy. But I hadn't a penny to my own name. The government saw to that with the rules surrounding married women and coverture." Having made this point, Shupe continues to drive it home throughout.

Caroline leaps at the chance to catalogue a library of rare books for charity "Alone. With books. I nearly giggled. It was like a dream. A wonderful, magical dream." The library belongs to reclusive tycoon Zane, who skittishly starts to connect with Caroline. Shupe does some great stuff here of their coming together and both thinking they are damaged goods (because of her terrible choices and trauma, and his terrible scarring).

I loved the work both of them put into the relationship. They are together out of context from society at one point, and use this setting to pursue each other, pushing forward, and refusing to accept withholding. The past trauma and specter of Orson is always present, but they do what they can to overcome. Caroline in particular has only associated intimacy with pain and coercion, and Zane makes a compelling case for the scalding hot nature of constraint and consent. She is always touching him, during intimacy but also small touches, casually given. He's been closed off and alone for years, she has been for months, but they can be together.

Which does make it frustrating for the reader when they constantly think the other deserves better with a future hypothetical partner than with the very real person who is gentle and loving and showing it everyday. But Zane is very limited in how much he's willing to partake of society because of his appearance. And Caroline can't trust herself after her horrific misjudgment with Orson. This an emotionally fraught situation and one that needed some breathing space, but take yes as an answer my friends!

Shupe loves to have the action build to a big finish in her book. In this instance, I did feel like a LOT happened in the last ten percent, and I wish there had been some breathing room for the HEA and plot resolution to land. This is 4.5 stars rounded up to five for me, mainly because of the rushed and packed last ten percent.

CW: Listen, Shupe is very explicit that the Orson stuff is rough. There is physical abuse and marital SA, it happens but isn't detailed on page, but watch your triggers. I thought she handled it well, where it lets the reader know how terrible Caroline's situation was, but didn't linger on the abuse. Ironically, the Harlequin Historical I read immediately after this thinking it would be a nice soft contrast also just threw in a years of marital SA in pursuit of an heir storyline (what are the odds) but of course in the olden days they didn't warn a reader.

Thank you to the publisher for an arc.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook review!!

I loved this so so hard!! Idk what you put in this but I was ADDICTED!!

The narrator’s absolutely blew me away! They were perfect for the characters! The different accents they did were so fun!

Love Caroline! She’s stuck in this impossible situation with the ickiest man alive and just trying to survive! I loved how much she loved books and the part that played in her story.

I loved her and Zane’s story and how Zane thought of himself as a monster unworthy of love but Caroline’s husband was the true monster. I loved seeing them fall for each other!!

This is a wonderful retelling I highly recommend it!! Please please please check trigger warnings!! And take them seriously!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for an ALC in exchange for an honest review! Thoughts and opinions are my own!!

[emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

i feel like there’s been a marked shift in joanna shupe’s works with this series. i’m not sure if it’s her own choice to evolve her style or if it’s a recommendation from a publisher/editor/etc but unfortunately it is not to my taste. the use of first person, the wildly broad age gaps (19 and 31 in this book!), the reliance on tropes and retellings instead of fully realized characters and relationships… idk! this one was better than the first book but not by much. it was also VERY heavy so definitely mind trigger warnings. full rtc

[Aaliyah · Rating 5 out of 5]

5☆!!!!

If you're a whore for Beauty and the Beast retellings like me, then you have to read this book!!!! This is a historical romance that takes place during the Gilded Age in New York. In the beginning, our heroine Caroline ends up getting love bombed by a man named Orson, and they marry just six weeks later. After the marriage, he becomes a completely different person, showing his true character and how little regard he has for her. In fact, he really only wants to be with her for status and so his offspring can be attractive. The book does deal with dark topics such as verbal, physical, and financial abuse, as well as marital rape. I believe it is crucial for these topics to be discussed since, in that era, divorces were rare and could only happen with evidence of infidelity.

Our heroine is an expert at evaluating books and determining their worth, so the hero's sister hires her to assess his extensive book collection. It is extremely hard to convince her husband to agree, but he allows her to go for only two hours a day. There, in the large mansion, she meets Zane Bishop, the scarred grumpy hero who never really leaves his house and is very touch-starved🫦. It takes a while for Zane to even show his face to Caroline because he is deeply insecure about his appearance, but even though he looks "beastly" on the outside, he has an absolute heart of gold.

They start off conversing as friends, but Zane falls hard and fast. When he discovers the atrocities of her marriage, he is filled with rage. He goes to the ends of the earth to protect her and help her get an annulment. He is so gentle with her and treats her like his equal!!! The longing from him was INTENSE; when they share intimacy for the first time, he 💦 in his pants while eating her out!!!!!! I seriously could not recommend this enough; my only complaint is that the ending was so abrupt. I would have appreciated an epilogue to see how the characters are doing. I adored their story, and now, every time I see strawberry macarons, I will think of them!!

Releases October 13th, 2026!! Thank you to Netgalley for the E-ARC!!!

[Meg · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

New York, 1898.
Caroline is swept off her feet by Orson Grey in a whirlwind romance of flattery and promises. The moment he whisks her to their honeymoon in Bar Harbor, everything changes. He's possessive (and not in a sexy way), manipulative, and abusive, obsessed with the idea of creating beautiful children. Caroline knows she's trapped, and with no money divorce won't be an option. She meets Zane, reclusive self-made millionaire, and his sister, who offers Caroline an opportunity to work in Zane's library. Zane is livid, but also strangely protective of this young woman who he cannot have and isn't allowed to know not only because she's married, but married to the man who is responsible for his horrible scars. That doesn't stop him from falling for Caroline, or doing everything in his power to protect her.

Pitched as "What if Belle married Gaston before she met the Beast" this goes very dark. Take the CWs seriously, as there is on page SA and abuse. I thought that Shupe treated this honestly and respectfully (working with her friend Adrianna Herrera, a therapist who specializes in trauma), but I think it will be *a lot* for some readers. Amazingly, Shupe spent time on her tour talking about and raising funds for places for women in abusive relationships local to each bookstore she visited.

I'm glad this has worked for a lot of readers, but it didn't really for me. The Gilded Rose is a book that works for me more in concept than execution. It's in first-person alternating POVs, which doesn't work for me in a historical romance. Being inside of someone's thoughts in this setting somehow drains the emotion from the page for me, and makes it feel less romantic. I understand why Shupe chose this perspective, since she's trying to bring in a new reader base from her mafia books and contemporary romance, but it doesn't click, even on audio for me. I will also always struggle with an age gap romance, especially one where the hero sees the heroine "perfect" or pure or sweet and young, but for me reads naive and young. (This excludes My Dirty Duke, which, for whatever reason, just clicked for me.) The dynamic between possessive Grey, from-a-distance obsessive Zane and a naive Caroline threw the book out of balance for me.

I do love that Shupe wanted to focus on divorce laws in the 19th century. They are fascinating and horrifying, but worth learning about how hard it was not so many generations ago to obtain a divorce. I find that the first person perspective gives me less insight into the way the laws really work, so again third person would have been more successful for me. I continue to love that Shupe researches extensively, and that her research is paired with steamy scenes.

Thank you to Avon for an eARC. The Gilded Rose is out 10/13/2026.

[Kalin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now this retelling. Hurt.
Beauty & the Beast retelling.
Belle marries Gaston.
Then he's a monster.
We need our girl to find her strength and voice again.
Parallels between animation and this are so good.
Love this, would recommend.
Audio is perfect 🎧

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

Addictive.

I love a good retelling; Beauty and the Beast has always been a favorite. Set in Manhattan during the Gilded Age, Caroline is a book lover who works alongside her father. When she is courted by Orson Grey, she is both flattered and surprised. He is one of the most sought-after bachelors and is incredibly charming. He says all the right things, charms her father, and Caroline willingly says yes. Everything changes after the “I Do’s,” and Caroline finds herself isolated and shocked by her controlling husband.

Zane Bishop is a wealthy recluse who was disfigured in an explosion years ago. He rarely goes out and has a large, disorganization library. When his sister hires Caroline to catalog the library and prepare to sell some books, Zane is outraged, even as he finds himself drawn to the young woman.

The tale that unfolded was addictive and shed light on some of the archaic laws regarding women and marriage. The history between Orson and Zane only made him despise the man more, even as I found myself completely smitten by Zane. There are some triggers regarding intimacy, violence, and control, so consider yourself warned. I will say Shupe handled them well.

I have seen this labeled a dark romance, but the darkness comes from Orson. The romance between Caroline and Zane was a slow-burn that built on trust and preserved the sanctity of marriage. You’ll swoon and desperately be turning the pages, hoping for a happily ever after.

If you love historical romance set during the Gilded Age with a delicious nod to Beauty and the Beast, you will want to add The Gilded Rose to your fall reading list.

This review originally published at Caffeinated Reviewer

[triviareads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5/5
Heat Level: 3.5/5
Pub Date: October 13th

My review:

JOANNA SHUPE IS BACK. This might be the perfect Beauty and the Beast retelling for 2026, because not only is it swoony and consent-forward, it also tackles the (horrifyingly) timely subject of no-fault divorce and answers the question "but what if Belle married Gaston first?" with chilling accuracy.

Caroline marries wealthy, popular Orson Grey, whose facade immediately drops after their wedding— he's abusive, controlling, and repeatedly assaults her— all of which is upheld legally as they are married, and it is not grounds for divorce in Gilded Age New York. Reading this, along with the gaslighting Orson engages in... you really feel yourself mentally flailing and chafing against the limitations of the plot by way of the time period, similar to say, if you've read the portion of Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale when Jervaulx is forcibly institutionalized— Shupe conveys a similar horror all too well.

BUT. Shortly into Caroline's marriage, she catches the eye of reclusive Wall Street tycoon Zane Bishop. Zane is instantly attracted to her, and is willing to do anything to anything to help her by kinda shady means but like, whatever, right? Caroline catalogs rare books with her dad, so being able to catalog Zane's collection is a DREAM, even if she has to engage in subturfuge to work, and the homeowner skitters around his own home like an oversized rat and refuses to show her his face.

I love how Shupe writes her self-made ex-gutter rat heroes because for the most part, they have no qualms about doing the dirty work it takes to get to the top and get their girl, but every so often they HATE THEMSELVES because they're so *unfit* to put their *filthy paws* on the more genteel heroine, and I appreciate that. Zane is a perfect beast-coded hero, beyond his scars, because he is obsessed with Caroline— getting his P.I. to follow her, bringing her macarons, sniffing her pillow, engaging in literal balls-crushing— even as he tries desperately to stay away from her. That tension is particularly well-done here because Caroline needs the time to heal and decide for herself that she wants Zane, and ultimately, SHE makes the first move.

The sex:

The sex is slow-burn, but the build-up in terms of both feelings and consent is VERY necessary for this story, and I will say, once they get started, they do NOT stop. Caroline makes the first moves, but Zane is READY to oblige her, and by oblige her, I do mean eating her out repeatedly— he's an Eater and a sniffer. Line up ladies.

The sex scenes build up to classic Shupe stuff— thorough, rough but tender, with some SOLID dirty talk. Caroline is also re-discovering her body with Zane, and my favorite of these discoveries might be Zane teaching her to masturbate... WHILE HE'S INSIDE HER. AMAZING.

Overall:

In a time of both retellings galore, and more grimly, politicians in the United States coming for no-fault divorce, Joanna Shupe has written something fabulous, swoony and romantic while also refusing to shy away from the darkness. I would HIGHLY recommend The Gilded Rose.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[tiana ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beauty and the Beast vibes, New York, and The Gilded Age! 🌹

Thank you so much to Avon, NetGalley and the author for the free ARC of this book. This is my honest, voluntary review.

This book will be published on October 13, 2026. 📖

📚

I love it whenever a story is inspired by or references Beauty & the Beast. While I was reading this book, the inspiration was evident in a positive way. It also reminded me slightly of the show The Buccaneers in terms of the time period and the discussion of women's rights - or lack thereof - within marriage.

I liked both character perspectives in the book: Caroline and Zane's. Certainly, do not take the content/trigger warnings lightly as some of these chapters can be difficult to read. I loved Caroline's character, her profession and love for books and anything book-related. Both her and Zane had a strong sense of determination and following their initial stage of unfamiliarity, they managed to cultivate communication, support, and reliance. I loved how comfortable they both became with one another, how they became each other's safe space. 🥹 Their relationship is a slow-burn and once it starts 'burning', it's trusting, healthy, and unquestionably passionate. This is particularly significant once you consider the overall picture of both of their lives. Experiences can, sometimes, be paralyzing and both characters demonstrate throughout the story tremendous strength and resilience. ❤️ Zane is a yearner and I LOVE yearners! Both his inner monologue and his spoken confessions are highlight-worthy. In fact, I noted so many passages on my kindle from these moments.

Outside the two main characters, the secondary characters are well-crafted and fleshed out. I had several favorites: Camilla, Gertrude, Fletcher, Branson, Caroline's father as they all added so much to the story and I loved their interactions with Caroline and Zane. 🥰

I enjoyed how social commentary was embedded in the story. Reading the author's note at the end highlighted even further why such stories are important. Women's rights in society and in marriage, especially during the Gilded Age, were practically non-existent. Reading about Caroline's journey and experiences was heartbreaking and it made me angry. Thinking about how 'invisible' women were to the eyes of the law and the world will never cease to upset me. This book showcased this well and, to me, it read realistically.

Although it didn't really affect my rating, I would've personally liked an epilogue. Not really a major issue, however I do enjoy reading epilogues and seeing what the couple is up to later on. Other than this, the ending itself worked well for the story and for me. 🫶

Overall, I truly enjoyed this book! Joanna Shupe is a new-to-me author; following this story, I'm ready to navigate her backlist of works and discover more books to love! ❤️

[SelinaW · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Beaty and the Beast fairytale retelling and it turns out it is almost a very literal reimagining, filled with exaggerated extremes.

Caroline, a young independent woman, an accomplished librarian historian, meets a charming Orson Gray. Orson is perfect in every way - handsome, rich, smooth. He sweeps her off her feet and they marry after a whirlwind courtship.

The very day of the wedding, Orson reveals himself as an Evil villain (capital letter intended as such is the over-exaggeration of his negative qualities over the course of the book). He is dismissive, physically and sexually abusive, cruel, list goes on. Caroline, who is now cut off from her world, family, career and abused in her home, is miserable, but what can she do? She is married and the law is against her.

Enter Zane Bishop, a scarred reclusive millionaire, whose house Caroline finds herself in, having surreptitiously accepted a book-related commission. Zane is very familiar with Orson’s brutality and as the book’s blurb informs us - Zane is everything Orson is not. And the author means it quite literally. The comparison between the two is so comically over exaggerated (Orson is incredibly evil, Zane is incredibly good and Caroline is incredibly helpless) as to make many paragraphs devoted to the differences cringe-worthy.

I really do appreciate the novel’s emphasis on women’s rights, lgbt inclusion and the thought that went into creating such vivid characters. The trouble is it felt as if I was reading the fairy tale indeed with an evil king, a princess under lock and key, and a young prince determined to save her. The dialogue and prose in general, unusually for this author, is strained too with over-explanations and very detailed descriptions of minutiae throughout.

The romance between the two MCs is another less than satisfying point. Zane dives head deep into lust and believing Caroline to be the only love of his life after not much more than a few conversations. In addition to other extremes, MCs are each over traumatized and Zane (a wealthy intelligent and yes, scarred, millionaire) believes there is not a single woman who could look at him without recoiling, so when Caroline does not recoil, he hands his heart over to her. Caroline thinks herself unable to trust men ever again. I felt that especially with all of these extremes present, a slow burn would have helped the story immensely. Instead we got a spontaneous combustion of feelings out of nowhere.

I listened to this on audio and generally enjoyed the narration. It was my first time listening to either Eva Kaminsky or Aaron Shedlock. Eva Kaminski has a wonderful range, but tends to finish all the sentences in FMC’s character as if they were a question. There is also a bit of a disconnect in narrators’ perception of side characters and therefore their rendition of it.

All in all a nice but altogether too literal story. Thanks to Harper Audio and NetGalley for this ALC.

[Athena &#x1f497; · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to spend some time thinking over how to rate this book and after MUCH consideration I think it’s fair to settle on a 2⭐️ rating.

I received a copy of the audiobook from Harper Audio Adult so I will be rating my overall experience on the writing style, character development, plot and ending as well as audio narration.

First let’s start with the concept of the story. I was so intrigued by the storyline - an abusive husband who looks like Prince Charming but is more beast than human and then the beastly looking man who ends up being the prince that rescues our protagonist. The opening prologue grabbed my attention immediately and I was instantly invested in the story. We first meet Caroline and her father who do a lot of business together in the book field. They have a very strong and healthy relationship which was nice to see for this era. Her father encourages her to take some time for herself and accept a date with the local heart-throb, Orson Gray. Orson love bombs Caroline and not long after they are running straight for the alter. This is where the writing starts to falter for me and kind of just goes downhill from there. Orson goes from “too good to be true” to “villain” literally within seconds of saying “I do”. From that moment on his character became an over-exaggerated stereotype. Everything about him, his dialogue and his actions felt overly forced and bordering on the side of cheesy. It would have been more impactful to see the relationship play out and allow the reader to experience the shift for themselves. Equally, I would have liked to see the relationship with Zane and Caroline play out but it was just as forced. Another issue I had was that there was zero chemistry between Zane and Caroline. The story lacked character development, descriptive writing, and much of it was telling rather than showing. I never really got a clear picture of what the characters looked like or the setting around them. It also felt like the author did a lot of telling us how horrible men are instead of letting the story show us life with the 1800’s patriarchy. I also found it odd that there was so much dialogue bashing men in general when the majority of men in the story deeply supported Caroline. Olson was the only crappy male in the entire story. It’s almost like the author lost sight of her purpose while writing this story. Instead of her energy being focused on telling the story her attention was centered around sharing generalizations based off of personal opinion. Some of them not even being at all factual. The way she portrayed hunters was wildly inaccurate and proof that she has spent zero time around that community. I do appreciate the author’s attempt to touch on the hardships that women of the 1800’s endured but unfortunately this story’s execution struggled to do so.

As for the audio, aside from the narrators lovely voices, it was like Aaron Shedlock and Eva Kaminsky were on two completely different wavelengths when envisioning the side characters… which again, goes to show that the author failed to give her readers a clear picture of the different characters. Aaron would read the lines for his butler, Fletcher and he would come off like a badass, ex-military guy with an eyepatch. Eva would read his lines and all of a sudden Fletcher has an Irish accent and sounds like a crippled, elderly man with a couple of screws loose. The drastic difference between the two narrator’s interpretation of all the characters was wild. Both narrators have proven themselves to be very talented voice actors so I do not believe this issue was due to lack of talent on their part but rather due to a lack of descriptive writing.

I’m sorry to say this one is a no for me. However, I am still extremely grateful for the opportunity and would like to thank Harper Audio Adult for the experience.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Gilded Rose is a breathtaking read. Easily one of my greatest historical romances I’ve had the immense pleasure of reading. I’m just stunned by it. Moved by it. And irrevocably in love with it. At the heart of this tale are two empowering journeys that collide and find mutual strength, resiliency, and a love so wholly earned and deserving of one another.

Caroline and Zane have all my respect, love, and inspiration. They have both gone through personal hells. Caroline thought she was marrying into a fairytale, instead she finds a husband who becomes cruel and abusive. He rips away her very agency, not even allowing her the work she so greatly enjoys. She becomes a shell of herself. Then we have Zane who already is a shell of himself. Who is very much like a Beast in a rundown castle, all he sees is a monster in the reflection, who has been betrayed and cast aside unjustly. Caroline is on the verge of losing her way, and Zane has already lost his. But perhaps things that are lost can be found again. Caroline and Zane find in each other strength. Caroline finds her voice and agency through the work Zane’s sister calls upon her in his estate, and Zane watches and learns of this woman he sees deserves so much better than the bad luck she’s been dealt. And so he aims to change it. He finds strength in purpose again. These are two characters going through such transformative journeys. Leaning upon one another allows for strength and confidence to build, it emboldens Caroline to forge a new path, no matter its cost, and it allows Zane purpose to set aside revenge to instead clear the way for Caroline. Not in effort to win her heart, but to simply set it free.

It was a gift to watch Zane and Caroline fall in love, but perhaps it was even more a gift to watch their friendship be born. Initially Zane is bitter at his space being encroached by the likes of Caroline, but the more he notices her, the more he comes to learn her, the more he falls head over heels in love with Caroline. It doesn’t take him long at all, but what I so appreciated is that fact he never expects a thing from her. He never looks to burden her with how he feels. In fact, he seeks emotional distance. He will do what it takes to keep her safe and ensure she has the life and happiness she deserves, but he does not include himself in that. He doesn’t feel owed in any way. He simply loves her quietly, a gift just for himself. There is not meant to be any emotional ties, so he keeps himself away. Except Caroline so gently chases. Not in a romantic way, but in true desire to be friends. She sees a man worthy of friendship and companionship, and will not let Zane run away from that. So she follows and seeks him out and finds safety, friendship, and a companionship she comes to realize means far more than she could have ever anticipated. Yes Zane is quietly in love but it’s still friendship that roots itself first. And the love that grows from it is all the more worthwhile and enduring.

Once love does bloom, there’s a bit of reversible change. Caroline becomes timid and Zane finds the boldness to show his love and earn Caroline’s full trust, and her choice as well. Caroline has already suffered a horrible marriage so she has her reservations about tying herself to any man, but I like how the narrative resolves this. And it’s all kept as Caroline’s choice, ensuring her agency is upheld to the very end. To which Zane embraces wholeheartedly.

Theirs is a well earned love story. Caroline and Zane see in one other their true self, they find safety and strength in one another. And they find an irreplaceable companionship that gives way to passion of both mind and body.

Beautiful, absolutely beautiful.

Thank you Avon and NetGalley for this complimentary eARC, I leave this honest review voluntarily.

[LavenderHazeReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read and review this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I very much enjoyed the concept of The Gilded Rose. I have always loved Beauty and the Beast as a fairy tale, but as with most fairy tales, there are plenty of problematic behaviors and situations that need to be addressed within the tales. Caroline marrying Orson felt genuine, especially in a historical romance where for women, the "right" marriage was not only an accomplishment but often a necessity. I think Shupe did well as depicting what we know today as love-bombing. It was heartbreaking to see the turn in the relationship knowing the limited options for escape available to Caroline. I also think it made the concept of "don't judge a book by it's cover" even more poignant to show the comparison of an outward "monster" to society versus a golden boy who was really a monster inside.

I did feel in some ways there was more telling than showing, which is a personal frustration I have as a writing style, and I did find Zane's love for Caroline grew a little faster than I would have liked. However, I very much enjoyed the story, the characters, and the concept and would definitely recommend to readers with trigger warnings in mind.

[Sam Corey · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

I listened to the book and had a lovely time!

It's Beauty & the Beast set in Gilded Age NYC! But Caroline (our Belle) originally marries Orson (Gaston) before meeting the mysterious Zane (Beast) and helping sort his library.

This is a darker story version than normal but also had many sweet and compassionate moments.

Everything happens quickly but I had a fun time listening to this retelling and if you are ok with the trigger warnings its an easy read!

[Nicole is Reading Fantasy]

I really was hoping to like this one more but unfortunately it didn’t work for me. I felt that, while the message of this story is very important, it was a bit heavy handed and too on the nose. I also found the romance to be insta-love, especially from the MMC, which made it hard for me to feel as though they had an authentic connection.

[Kate Meader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is it possible for a book to be both too sexy and too educational? Another absolute banger from Joanna Shupe, who knows how to perfectly combine history, romance, and sensuality into a compulsive page turner. This story is a Beauty and the Beast retelling with such a great premise: what if Gaston turned out to be the true beast of the tale? Shupe carefully weaves the strands here, and the result is very entertaining and incredibly satisfying. All we're missing is an epilogue worthy of this great romance.