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Harcastle Inheritance #1
The Madness of Miss Grey
All of society believes former actress Helen Grey to be mad, but after a decade imprisoned in a crumbling Yorkshire asylum, she's managed to cling to sanity. When a new doctor arrives, she finally sees an opportunity for freedom, and she'll do anything to not let it slip between her fingers.
Dr. William Carter knows Miss Grey is using him, but he can't blame her. She's no madder than he is, yet she's spent years in this place. He'll help her escape, but they can't cross the line and give into temptation—no matter how much he would like.
Helen and Will need to work together if she's ever going to be free. It won't be easy, not when her mysterious benefactor is determined to keep her locked up and hidden from society forever. When Helen is entangled in her own trap and begins to fall for Will, too, she must fight not only for her liberty but for her right to love.
Dr. William Carter knows Miss Grey is using him, but he can't blame her. She's no madder than he is, yet she's spent years in this place. He'll help her escape, but they can't cross the line and give into temptation—no matter how much he would like.
Helen and Will need to work together if she's ever going to be free. It won't be easy, not when her mysterious benefactor is determined to keep her locked up and hidden from society forever. When Helen is entangled in her own trap and begins to fall for Will, too, she must fight not only for her liberty but for her right to love.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 17, 2019
64 people are currently reading
1025 people want to read
About the author
Julia Bennet
3 books124 followersJulia writes historical romance with passion, intrigue, dark humor and the occasional animal sidekick. A tea-sodden English woman, she’s the only girl in a house of boys and yearns for all things pink and fluffy. If she isn’t writing, she’s probably reading everything she can get her hands on, spending time with her boys or procrastinating on the internet.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
June 18, 2024
This book has been rereleased and is now available on KU!
Nymphomania! Hysteria! Lunacy! Oh my!
Set in a Victorian insane asylum for women, this was an original, dark and gothic romance. I really enjoyed this fast paced, well researched book. It had a historical Free Britney feel, and the injustices done to Miss Grey were frustrating and palpable.
I loved both characters in this and their complicated love story. Will was such a conscientious, beta hero and Helen was manipulative and free spirited and persecuted so badly.
The villains were villainous and intimate scenes emotional and sexy. It even had a hero dog.
This was a perfect listen for spooky season!
Thanks to Nenia for bringing this one to my attention! You were right!
Nymphomania! Hysteria! Lunacy! Oh my!
Set in a Victorian insane asylum for women, this was an original, dark and gothic romance. I really enjoyed this fast paced, well researched book. It had a historical Free Britney feel, and the injustices done to Miss Grey were frustrating and palpable.
I loved both characters in this and their complicated love story. Will was such a conscientious, beta hero and Helen was manipulative and free spirited and persecuted so badly.
The villains were villainous and intimate scenes emotional and sexy. It even had a hero dog.
This was a perfect listen for spooky season!
Thanks to Nenia for bringing this one to my attention! You were right!
June 13, 2019
Julia Bennet's debut novel offers much to romance readers interested in historical authenticity, and even though I did my early graduate studies in 19th century lit, I still learned interesting information here on constructions of "madness" as well as what goes on behind the curtains at asylums. Probably needless to say, this is a darker book than most historical romances, which is by no means a criticism. Women were disproportionately targeted for medical intervention for all sorts of reasons that today seem unthinkable, and mental health treatment bears virtually no resemblance to today's care.
Helen Grey has been forced to live in a rural asylum since a teen, primarily to get her out of the way of her aristocratic father who is unwilling to claim this offspring of a secret affair with a deceased stage actress. Diagnosed immediately as hysterical and promiscuous, Helen at times rises to the occasion and uses her diagnoses to her advantage to try to escape. At the start of the novel, she has managed to escape beyond the asylum walls, only to be spotted wandering in the woods by the new doctor, just arriving to take over her case. I had my usual queasiness in this scene and in a handful of early ones due to the power imbalance between Helen and Will. Not only has Helen been conditioned to think of herself as promiscuous and mad, but others have as well. To try to add a romance between patient and physician on top of this troubling dynamic seemed highly improbable. To Bennet's credit though, Helen's interactions with others, including her new doctor, reveal her to be intelligent and insightful about her situation, and her use of sarcasm particularly alerts us to her ability to see through the façade of the setting. Also, Will Carter is a new kind of doctor; he approaches mental health treatment with the innovative idea that people can be helped rather than stigmatized and contained. He’s open to possibilities other than what his superiors tell him, and he becomes open to listening closely to Helen.
The transition of Helen from patient in need of Will’s help to lover in need of his legal intervention is, however, a plot development I thought could have benefitted from additional scenes. Will gradually feels sympathy for Helen’s mistreatment, as he realizes she has attracted particularly harsh treatment from some of the attendants, but I still struggled to identify the narrative shift when Will accepts that Helen does not belong there. I wondered too if Helen is set up as a special case, and when the young doctor has an about-face over the entire institutionalization of patients. Will’s naivety about institutionalization struck me as a little improbable, but this could be a gap in my own education. Perhaps young doctors entering this field in the 19th century believed in many of these diagnoses and thought they were helping. I did not have enough of a sense of Will’s own background as a doctor to determine how much he should have realized about the inhumanity of medical treatments and what he hoped to accomplish by working with Helen.
While the descriptions of Helen’s interactions with staff and doctors are among the most interesting in this novel, the romance itself did not work as much for me as I would have liked, mostly because nearly all of it takes place within such a gloomy setting. As much as the author pushes for readers to be skeptical of the diagnoses and identities of people within the asylum, the institution itself still had enormous power to define everything in it. Helen is defined as a mental health patient and as a woman severely lacking in power for nearly the entire book, and as kind and well-meaning as Will is portrayed, he remains her doctor and protector to nearly the very end. That is a dynamic that hinders me from fully succumbing to the romance.
I’m still though intrigued by what this new author puts out next, as she has a better sense of history than the vast number of historical writers writing today.
Helen Grey has been forced to live in a rural asylum since a teen, primarily to get her out of the way of her aristocratic father who is unwilling to claim this offspring of a secret affair with a deceased stage actress. Diagnosed immediately as hysterical and promiscuous, Helen at times rises to the occasion and uses her diagnoses to her advantage to try to escape. At the start of the novel, she has managed to escape beyond the asylum walls, only to be spotted wandering in the woods by the new doctor, just arriving to take over her case. I had my usual queasiness in this scene and in a handful of early ones due to the power imbalance between Helen and Will. Not only has Helen been conditioned to think of herself as promiscuous and mad, but others have as well. To try to add a romance between patient and physician on top of this troubling dynamic seemed highly improbable. To Bennet's credit though, Helen's interactions with others, including her new doctor, reveal her to be intelligent and insightful about her situation, and her use of sarcasm particularly alerts us to her ability to see through the façade of the setting. Also, Will Carter is a new kind of doctor; he approaches mental health treatment with the innovative idea that people can be helped rather than stigmatized and contained. He’s open to possibilities other than what his superiors tell him, and he becomes open to listening closely to Helen.
The transition of Helen from patient in need of Will’s help to lover in need of his legal intervention is, however, a plot development I thought could have benefitted from additional scenes. Will gradually feels sympathy for Helen’s mistreatment, as he realizes she has attracted particularly harsh treatment from some of the attendants, but I still struggled to identify the narrative shift when Will accepts that Helen does not belong there. I wondered too if Helen is set up as a special case, and when the young doctor has an about-face over the entire institutionalization of patients. Will’s naivety about institutionalization struck me as a little improbable, but this could be a gap in my own education. Perhaps young doctors entering this field in the 19th century believed in many of these diagnoses and thought they were helping. I did not have enough of a sense of Will’s own background as a doctor to determine how much he should have realized about the inhumanity of medical treatments and what he hoped to accomplish by working with Helen.
While the descriptions of Helen’s interactions with staff and doctors are among the most interesting in this novel, the romance itself did not work as much for me as I would have liked, mostly because nearly all of it takes place within such a gloomy setting. As much as the author pushes for readers to be skeptical of the diagnoses and identities of people within the asylum, the institution itself still had enormous power to define everything in it. Helen is defined as a mental health patient and as a woman severely lacking in power for nearly the entire book, and as kind and well-meaning as Will is portrayed, he remains her doctor and protector to nearly the very end. That is a dynamic that hinders me from fully succumbing to the romance.
I’m still though intrigued by what this new author puts out next, as she has a better sense of history than the vast number of historical writers writing today.
June 15, 2019
(3.5 stars) What I like about this HR is that the story line is one that's much less used by HR authors, possibly because it's a bit dark, dreary, and somewhat of a downer. It deals with possible madness and the inept, incompetent, ignorant and often cruel treatment of those in mental institutions. I have read a few HRs in my lifetime dealing with this issue. Maire Claremont (aka Eva Devon) had a dark Victorian series 6 years or so ago, beginning with THE DARK LADY. And more recently, Mimi Matthews touched on the issue in her THE MATRIMONIAL ADVERTISEMENT. I've read other books also, but no authors or names come to mind at the moment.
This new book by Julia Bennet has good intentions, even if not always with completely satisfactory execution of the subject matter. Her writing, however, is better than average, the main characters, especially the hero, are interesting, and the romance believable, albeit a bit too insta-love for me. (But it must be said that the sexual intimacy was delayed in the story appropriately to the situation.)
What we have here as basic plot is a young woman who, at the age of 16 and after the death of her actress mother, is institutionalized by her father, a man she does not know and who was never married to her mother. It is assumed that he is rich or important and wants his little indiscretion hidden away from the public eye. So poor Helen Grey has now spent 10 years at Blackwell House, a private insane asylum in Yorkshire run by a Dr. Sterling, renowned psychiatrist. Dr. Sterling, paid generously to keep Helen at Blackwell, has diagnosed her with melancholia, hysteria, and nymphomania.
Her care at Blackwell ranged from benign neglect on the part of some to outright mistreatment and vile cruelty on the part of others, and no one was actually engaged in real treatment of the mental conditions of the patients locked away. Staff there seemed more interested in making sure the patients were kept locked up, not for their sake, but for the convenience of relatives who preferred them out of sight and out of mind.
But then the new doctor arrives. Dr. Will Carter is the son of the former housekeeper of the estate which now has a new owner and is used as the mental institution. The former owner, the late Sir Clifford, had been Will's benefactor, paying for his education. Now a doctor and "psychiater", Will is back in Yorkshire to work with the famous Dr. Sterling at Blackwell House.
Upon arrival, the first person Will meets up with is Helen Grey, as he and his dog Hector discover her attempting (once again) to escape. Helen is taken back, but Will soon discovers that all is not well at Blackwell. Is anyone there trying to help the patients' physical and mental problems or is this just a prison of sorts? And how can this Dr. Sterling be so indifferent to his patients?
So there you are. Most of the story takes place at Blackwell, where you will meet up with many characters, whether they be doctors (Sterling, Bell, Vaughn, and our Will Carter), the sadistic nurse Fletcher and her cruel "henchmen", the kindly cook and the maid, and a patient or two. There's not much complexity of the characters here. They are either good or not. And some of the bad ones are horrid.
When Will realizes that Helen is as sane as he is and is just being held there at the behest of a wealthy benefactor, he takes it upon himself to find out who this is, supposing it to be Helen's father. This, of course, he does knowing it will probably mean the end of his career, since it is apparent that Sterling and the benefactor have friends in high places.
But not to worry, my friends. There will be a happy ending. But, although happy endings are a must-have for me in HRs, this one came about too easily at the end. A new character shows up at perhaps the three-quarters mark who serves as a "deus ex machina" for everything to turn out fine.
I also had a question or two about the logistics of one major action Will takes to give Helen his protection, not sure if in actual fact he could have done what he did. However, one protective measure involving his dog Hector was charming and I enjoyed the budding relationship between Helen and Hector, one that got off to a rocky start at the beginning of the story.
So I have some nitpicks about the story but to mention them would be spoilers, I fear. One I can mention is that I found it hard to believe that Helen could have retained her sanity after 10 years at Blackwell, where she was subjected to what can only be described as emotional, mental and physical torture. I might have believed this to be possible if the length of her stay there had been shorter.
But, all things considered, the story was better than most new HRs I've read lately. So 4 stars in the hopes that this author will be encouraged to greater heights for Books 2 and 3, to be released at later dates. The tentative titles are THE RUIN OF EVANGELINE JONES and THE TALENTED MR. ELLIS.
This new book by Julia Bennet has good intentions, even if not always with completely satisfactory execution of the subject matter. Her writing, however, is better than average, the main characters, especially the hero, are interesting, and the romance believable, albeit a bit too insta-love for me. (But it must be said that the sexual intimacy was delayed in the story appropriately to the situation.)
What we have here as basic plot is a young woman who, at the age of 16 and after the death of her actress mother, is institutionalized by her father, a man she does not know and who was never married to her mother. It is assumed that he is rich or important and wants his little indiscretion hidden away from the public eye. So poor Helen Grey has now spent 10 years at Blackwell House, a private insane asylum in Yorkshire run by a Dr. Sterling, renowned psychiatrist. Dr. Sterling, paid generously to keep Helen at Blackwell, has diagnosed her with melancholia, hysteria, and nymphomania.
Her care at Blackwell ranged from benign neglect on the part of some to outright mistreatment and vile cruelty on the part of others, and no one was actually engaged in real treatment of the mental conditions of the patients locked away. Staff there seemed more interested in making sure the patients were kept locked up, not for their sake, but for the convenience of relatives who preferred them out of sight and out of mind.
But then the new doctor arrives. Dr. Will Carter is the son of the former housekeeper of the estate which now has a new owner and is used as the mental institution. The former owner, the late Sir Clifford, had been Will's benefactor, paying for his education. Now a doctor and "psychiater", Will is back in Yorkshire to work with the famous Dr. Sterling at Blackwell House.
Upon arrival, the first person Will meets up with is Helen Grey, as he and his dog Hector discover her attempting (once again) to escape. Helen is taken back, but Will soon discovers that all is not well at Blackwell. Is anyone there trying to help the patients' physical and mental problems or is this just a prison of sorts? And how can this Dr. Sterling be so indifferent to his patients?
So there you are. Most of the story takes place at Blackwell, where you will meet up with many characters, whether they be doctors (Sterling, Bell, Vaughn, and our Will Carter), the sadistic nurse Fletcher and her cruel "henchmen", the kindly cook and the maid, and a patient or two. There's not much complexity of the characters here. They are either good or not. And some of the bad ones are horrid.
When Will realizes that Helen is as sane as he is and is just being held there at the behest of a wealthy benefactor, he takes it upon himself to find out who this is, supposing it to be Helen's father. This, of course, he does knowing it will probably mean the end of his career, since it is apparent that Sterling and the benefactor have friends in high places.
But not to worry, my friends. There will be a happy ending. But, although happy endings are a must-have for me in HRs, this one came about too easily at the end. A new character shows up at perhaps the three-quarters mark who serves as a "deus ex machina" for everything to turn out fine.
I also had a question or two about the logistics of one major action Will takes to give Helen his protection, not sure if in actual fact he could have done what he did. However, one protective measure involving his dog Hector was charming and I enjoyed the budding relationship between Helen and Hector, one that got off to a rocky start at the beginning of the story.
So I have some nitpicks about the story but to mention them would be spoilers, I fear. One I can mention is that I found it hard to believe that Helen could have retained her sanity after 10 years at Blackwell, where she was subjected to what can only be described as emotional, mental and physical torture. I might have believed this to be possible if the length of her stay there had been shorter.
But, all things considered, the story was better than most new HRs I've read lately. So 4 stars in the hopes that this author will be encouraged to greater heights for Books 2 and 3, to be released at later dates. The tentative titles are THE RUIN OF EVANGELINE JONES and THE TALENTED MR. ELLIS.
June 29, 2019
This is an outstanding historical romance debut. The characters were believable, complex, unique (‘ugly,’ big, low-born rough hero/curvy, clever, unapologetic, sexually experienced heroine) with compelling personalities. The plot was riveting and paced perfectly, and the development of the main couple’s relationship was filled with sizzling sexual tension that just built and built until paroxysm of the mind! Heh. No sappy love-making either—it was mostly RAWR! and desperate! and rough, with small moments of tender appreciation.
World of mental health in the 1800s was not too much horror to bear, while still being realistic.
Highly recommended.
World of mental health in the 1800s was not too much horror to bear, while still being realistic.
Highly recommended.
November 24, 2020
Here's the deal with The Madness of Miss Grey: Helen Grey has been institutionalized in an asylum for over ten years. She's willing to do practically anything to get out. Luckily her new doctor, Will, believes she's not mad, and he wants to help her escape, too.
If you're going to write a romance where one member of the couple has total and complete power over the other (as Will does as Helen's doctor), you've got to do it right. We think Julia Bennet does, and if we had any issues with the book, they do not lie with the relationship. This is a major triumph and we applaud the author! That said, the book is pretty dark (as you might expect from the setting), and if you're not in the best headspace you might want to put this on your TBR list for when you're surrounded by friends and family.
Was this a well-written, affecting exploration of an incredibly difficult situation? Yes! Is it a love story? Also yes! Is it a feel-good read? ....Maybe not. But it's worth checking out for sure!
18-word summaries:
Laine: Helen's been locked up for over a decade and a hot doctor and an unknown brother save her.
Meg: I’d totally seduce the hulkingly hot new doctor (who doesn’t know he’s beautiful) to escape an insane asylum.
www.linktr.ee/plottrysts
If you're going to write a romance where one member of the couple has total and complete power over the other (as Will does as Helen's doctor), you've got to do it right. We think Julia Bennet does, and if we had any issues with the book, they do not lie with the relationship. This is a major triumph and we applaud the author! That said, the book is pretty dark (as you might expect from the setting), and if you're not in the best headspace you might want to put this on your TBR list for when you're surrounded by friends and family.
Was this a well-written, affecting exploration of an incredibly difficult situation? Yes! Is it a love story? Also yes! Is it a feel-good read? ....Maybe not. But it's worth checking out for sure!
18-word summaries:
Laine: Helen's been locked up for over a decade and a hot doctor and an unknown brother save her.
Meg: I’d totally seduce the hulkingly hot new doctor (who doesn’t know he’s beautiful) to escape an insane asylum.
www.linktr.ee/plottrysts
January 10, 2024
I really couldn't tell you how (or why) I even finished this. I was bored out of my mind.
I guess this novel has realism going for it, which is not at all what I am looking for in a novel.
But I hear this series has a re-release coming and a third novel (about the cousin or whatever) which is good. I'll give the author another chance because there is a big chance that I just hated the portrayal of a depressingly realistic doctor patient love story in a depressingly realistic historical asylum.
I guess this novel has realism going for it, which is not at all what I am looking for in a novel.
But I hear this series has a re-release coming and a third novel (about the cousin or whatever) which is good. I'll give the author another chance because there is a big chance that I just hated the portrayal of a depressingly realistic doctor patient love story in a depressingly realistic historical asylum.
November 21, 2021
There are some superficial comparisons I could make to Kerrigan Byrne's The Highlander (redheaded heroine escapes an asylum), but this one is much more quietly devastating.
Helen was sent to an asylum ten years prior by her father, who she knows next to nothing about. After her mother died and she fell into a state of grief, her father shipped her off on the pretext of "healing" her. When Dr. William Carter arrives at the asylum, Helen is desperate to escape, convinced that she'll eventually be killed by the healing methods of the hospital.
As they get closer and Will realizes that she's not mad at all, Helen confides that every mood or behavior she expresses is repackaged as a symptom. Thus, she's trapped: the hospital weaponizes her personality against her (feeling flirtatious? Must be nymphomania), and so she has to diminish herself in order to continue in her rather bleak existence.
It's pretty heavy, and what made it bearable to me was the unrelenting sweetness of William Carter. He's a gentle giant, a constant source of compassion and understanding, and the only person to really listen to Helen. He knows he has to get her out of the asylum for both of their sanity's sake, but when Helen's true parentage is revealed they discover that their difficult task has turned Herculean.
Now I'm caught up on Julia Bennet's books, and I am excited to see what she does next!
Helen was sent to an asylum ten years prior by her father, who she knows next to nothing about. After her mother died and she fell into a state of grief, her father shipped her off on the pretext of "healing" her. When Dr. William Carter arrives at the asylum, Helen is desperate to escape, convinced that she'll eventually be killed by the healing methods of the hospital.
As they get closer and Will realizes that she's not mad at all, Helen confides that every mood or behavior she expresses is repackaged as a symptom. Thus, she's trapped: the hospital weaponizes her personality against her (feeling flirtatious? Must be nymphomania), and so she has to diminish herself in order to continue in her rather bleak existence.
It's pretty heavy, and what made it bearable to me was the unrelenting sweetness of William Carter. He's a gentle giant, a constant source of compassion and understanding, and the only person to really listen to Helen. He knows he has to get her out of the asylum for both of their sanity's sake, but when Helen's true parentage is revealed they discover that their difficult task has turned Herculean.
Now I'm caught up on Julia Bennet's books, and I am excited to see what she does next!
April 24, 2024
I loved Julia Bennet’s third book, The Worst Woman in London, so I absolutely preordered this, her first book, when it was rereleased.
The Madness of Miss Grey just feels fresh. It’s not your run-of-the-mill historical romance setup: the FMC is an inmate at a private asylum, and the doctor who is sent to treat her is from working-class stock and is allegedly ugly. There’s a Nurse Ratched-style sadistic attendant, freezing rooms, ice water “treatments” and solitary confinement. At times, this story is incredibly dark, particularly when you think about the fact that Helen had absolutely no one on her side until Dr. Carter came. She had been there for a decade.
It also feels dark because, although we get Helen’s POV, Dr. Carter is never quite sure about her true feelings about him, nearly all the way to the end. And Bennet accomplishes this not through miscommunication but through deft writing and plotting.
I just really love her writing. It’s smart and different and her heroines are difficult and layered, which is my favorite kind of romance. Can’t wait to read the followup to this one.
I do think the pacing could have been better in the last quarter, so it’s a 4.25. But I really, really liked it.
The Madness of Miss Grey just feels fresh. It’s not your run-of-the-mill historical romance setup: the FMC is an inmate at a private asylum, and the doctor who is sent to treat her is from working-class stock and is allegedly ugly. There’s a Nurse Ratched-style sadistic attendant, freezing rooms, ice water “treatments” and solitary confinement. At times, this story is incredibly dark, particularly when you think about the fact that Helen had absolutely no one on her side until Dr. Carter came. She had been there for a decade.
It also feels dark because, although we get Helen’s POV, Dr. Carter is never quite sure about her true feelings about him, nearly all the way to the end. And Bennet accomplishes this not through miscommunication but through deft writing and plotting.
I just really love her writing. It’s smart and different and her heroines are difficult and layered, which is my favorite kind of romance. Can’t wait to read the followup to this one.
I do think the pacing could have been better in the last quarter, so it’s a 4.25. But I really, really liked it.
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June 7, 2023I don't know how to rate this because I didn't hate it, but stopped at 70% because I didn't care anymore.
I think the problem was, I didn't feel any chemistry between the two MCs. It felt off....hard to explain, but there wasn't any growth between them. It felt...lacking.
I think the problem was, I didn't feel any chemistry between the two MCs. It felt off....hard to explain, but there wasn't any growth between them. It felt...lacking.
November 18, 2024
The Madness of Miss Grey is the story about Helen, the daughter of an actress who grew up somewhat carefree and uninhibited with an acting troupe. However, when she was 16 years old, her mother died leaving her to the care of her respectable and wealthy father who promptly threw her into Blackwell insane asylum to avoid any scandal. She ends up being imprisoned for ten years.
Pretty grim, right?
I’ve actually read a few nonfiction books about this kind of thing. I remember reading about McLean Hospital in Massachusetts. This is the hospital that Susanna Kaysen was sent to in Girl Interrupted. McLean was a very expensive place with a long history. Wealthy people locked up their embarrassing family members in McLean for years. There was one wealthy gentleman who took up a whole floor and his name was to be forever kept a secret. It seems in the 19th century, all a husband needed to lock up his wife forever was one doctor’s signature. Even the woman’s family with a slew of other physicians would not be able to get her set free. It was ridiculously unfair. So this situation with Miss Grey was very true to life. I think that’s what drew me to the book.
In comes Doctor William Carter, the son of a housekeeper who was given a generous scholarship from the wealthy lord that his mother served. He’s somewhat boring and bland and not very handsome. Everybody tries to brow-beat him because he is not of noble birth. He is earnest in his job though and wants to truly help his patients. That alone makes him a hero. When he first meets Helen, he realizes her diagnosis is complexly inaccurate and he wants to help her. He also finds himself very attracted to her but does not allow himself to pursue her because it’s unethical.
I kind of wish the book had stayed that way. I say that because the sex scenes were really awkward and they just didn’t seem to fit. Dr. Carter is an honorable man, and I would preferred if this love story had ended with a kiss when Helen was no longer his patient. All the sex talk seemed really out of place.
Now I know that mental hospital treatments in those days were extreme, but there was one treatment in here that could have easily killed Helen. It was the ice water dunk. I believe the treatment was supposed to be less than a minute, but Helen gets held in the icy water for much longer. I remember reading that when the Titanic sank, most people died after just a few minutes in the water due to hypothermia. Even people who were rescued usually died a little later because hypothermia is so deadly.
This kind of surprised me because Blackwell is not Bedlam, where people could be chained to a wall and left to lay in their filth for months. No Blackwell is more like McLean with wealthy patients. Therefore they should be treating her better. After all, if she dies, they stop getting a paycheck.
Anyway, all in all, I enjoyed this love story. It’s very sweet and very well written. It also held my interest. That's hard to do. lol
Pretty grim, right?
I’ve actually read a few nonfiction books about this kind of thing. I remember reading about McLean Hospital in Massachusetts. This is the hospital that Susanna Kaysen was sent to in Girl Interrupted. McLean was a very expensive place with a long history. Wealthy people locked up their embarrassing family members in McLean for years. There was one wealthy gentleman who took up a whole floor and his name was to be forever kept a secret. It seems in the 19th century, all a husband needed to lock up his wife forever was one doctor’s signature. Even the woman’s family with a slew of other physicians would not be able to get her set free. It was ridiculously unfair. So this situation with Miss Grey was very true to life. I think that’s what drew me to the book.
In comes Doctor William Carter, the son of a housekeeper who was given a generous scholarship from the wealthy lord that his mother served. He’s somewhat boring and bland and not very handsome. Everybody tries to brow-beat him because he is not of noble birth. He is earnest in his job though and wants to truly help his patients. That alone makes him a hero. When he first meets Helen, he realizes her diagnosis is complexly inaccurate and he wants to help her. He also finds himself very attracted to her but does not allow himself to pursue her because it’s unethical.
I kind of wish the book had stayed that way. I say that because the sex scenes were really awkward and they just didn’t seem to fit. Dr. Carter is an honorable man, and I would preferred if this love story had ended with a kiss when Helen was no longer his patient. All the sex talk seemed really out of place.
Now I know that mental hospital treatments in those days were extreme, but there was one treatment in here that could have easily killed Helen. It was the ice water dunk. I believe the treatment was supposed to be less than a minute, but Helen gets held in the icy water for much longer. I remember reading that when the Titanic sank, most people died after just a few minutes in the water due to hypothermia. Even people who were rescued usually died a little later because hypothermia is so deadly.
This kind of surprised me because Blackwell is not Bedlam, where people could be chained to a wall and left to lay in their filth for months. No Blackwell is more like McLean with wealthy patients. Therefore they should be treating her better. After all, if she dies, they stop getting a paycheck.
Anyway, all in all, I enjoyed this love story. It’s very sweet and very well written. It also held my interest. That's hard to do. lol
September 29, 2023
This was an incredible refreshing way to start of 2023 reading.
Helen has been trapped in an insane asylum for 10 years since the age of 16 by a mysterious “benefactor”. She’s grown into adulthood being emotionally, mentally, and physically abused, and being gaslight into believing she’s hysterical and all sorts of nonsense. But she’s still manages to retain her sanity, though she’s become incredibly distrusting and manipulative as a result. But who can fucking blame her, her strength of mind is the only thing helping her survive (some reviews were like “I don’t think she would’ve stayed sane that long” and to that I say one you aren’t a mental expert so what do you know and 2, I don’t know maybe 🤷🏼♀️ but she’s very strong and a good actress so I think her chances of staying sane we’re high?).
But then Will comes! And Will is kind and actually a good doctor and he believes her and listens to her (though he too has his doubts). They grow to trust each other, and I appreciate the slow burn in terms of when they finally have sex.
I don’t think the complexity of the book comes from the story, but out of Will and Helen’s relationship and how they talk and learn to trust each other. Helen is used to manipulating people in order to protect herself, so her journey of learning to just trust will is really interesting. Will also has his doubts as a professional about her feelings for him, so he has to learn to trust that she actually likes him for him and isn’t just using him to escape. There’s also the issue with consent, as she is his patient and he is her doctor, and as he points out, there is automatically a power imbalance. It’s all handled and discussed very well, and was very interesting.
This is darker than other books I’ve read recently, which given the subject matter is unsurprising. Mental health care facilities are greatly lacking even today, so I can’t imagine what they were like in the Victorian era.
What I also liked about this is how the author doesn’t resort to the “strong female character” trope to get Helen’s strength across. I talk about this all the time, how I hate the “21st century character in a 19th century characters body” I find it pandering, limiting, etc. and this is a great example of a female character who is strong, interesting, fighting for her autonomy, but still feels like a woman of that era. She feels fleshed out and fully developed, and I wasn’t spoon-fed her character traits.
I’m excited to read the next book in this series, I’ve heard great things
Helen has been trapped in an insane asylum for 10 years since the age of 16 by a mysterious “benefactor”. She’s grown into adulthood being emotionally, mentally, and physically abused, and being gaslight into believing she’s hysterical and all sorts of nonsense. But she’s still manages to retain her sanity, though she’s become incredibly distrusting and manipulative as a result. But who can fucking blame her, her strength of mind is the only thing helping her survive (some reviews were like “I don’t think she would’ve stayed sane that long” and to that I say one you aren’t a mental expert so what do you know and 2, I don’t know maybe 🤷🏼♀️ but she’s very strong and a good actress so I think her chances of staying sane we’re high?).
But then Will comes! And Will is kind and actually a good doctor and he believes her and listens to her (though he too has his doubts). They grow to trust each other, and I appreciate the slow burn in terms of when they finally have sex.
I don’t think the complexity of the book comes from the story, but out of Will and Helen’s relationship and how they talk and learn to trust each other. Helen is used to manipulating people in order to protect herself, so her journey of learning to just trust will is really interesting. Will also has his doubts as a professional about her feelings for him, so he has to learn to trust that she actually likes him for him and isn’t just using him to escape. There’s also the issue with consent, as she is his patient and he is her doctor, and as he points out, there is automatically a power imbalance. It’s all handled and discussed very well, and was very interesting.
This is darker than other books I’ve read recently, which given the subject matter is unsurprising. Mental health care facilities are greatly lacking even today, so I can’t imagine what they were like in the Victorian era.
What I also liked about this is how the author doesn’t resort to the “strong female character” trope to get Helen’s strength across. I talk about this all the time, how I hate the “21st century character in a 19th century characters body” I find it pandering, limiting, etc. and this is a great example of a female character who is strong, interesting, fighting for her autonomy, but still feels like a woman of that era. She feels fleshed out and fully developed, and I wasn’t spoon-fed her character traits.
I’m excited to read the next book in this series, I’ve heard great things
today-is-not-that-day
August 20, 2023I'm having difficulty getting through this opening scene, and I believe I might struggle with this dynamic overall.
February 1, 2021
Wow, I loved this!!! If you’re sick of the feisty yet virginal bluestocking heroines and starchy boxing duke heroes of today’s historical romance offerings, then may I suggest this unconventional love story between a traumatized mental patient and her earnest doctor?? I’d also recommend this unusually strong 2019 debut for fans of Cecilia Grant or Meredith Duran, even if does suffer from some first book issues towards the end.
For the last 10 years since her mother’s death, 26-year-old Helen Grey has been confined in a private mental asylum, against her will. When 35-year-old interim doctor William Carter arrives and is quickly assigned to Helen’s care, she’s initially too distrustful and traumatized to open up. However, once she observes his highly principled and reform-minded approach, she seizes on the opportunity to campaign for her release or escape. Will is aware of her subtle manipulations for freedom yet finds himself beguiled regardless. The couple grows increasingly close, as they band together against the institution’s prejudiced administrator, her sadistic nurse attendant, and the mysterious benefactor who arranged for Helen’s incarceration.
There’s so much about this that went perfectly right for me.
Modern or new school historical romance often feels like it wears its feminism with all the subtlety of a bullhorn, but The Madness of Miss Grey weaves its message about systemic discrimination into the central romance in a way that feels totally organic to the story it’s telling. I never felt the feminism here was a lecture, reduced to “girl power” platitudes, or overburdened the narrative. I also loved that our hero and heroine weren’t titled and both MCs had a working class background, which wasn’t ever sensationalized or cartoonish. The atmospheric Gothic setting was a delight, as was the “heavier” subject matter since I prefer my romantic magic with a bit of darkness. Julia Bennet does a superb job maintaining conflict and sexual tension too.
I also definitely got that “my brain is being licked” feeling that only comes from love stories that press all my personal buttons.
Apparently, I’m absolute mush for traumatized scheming heroines who are in total possession of their sexual appeal and highly principled heroes who come to their rescue but secretly suffer from insecurity over their appearance. Give it to me! Put it straight in my veins!! Yeah, there will never be a time when I don’t completely over-identify with traumatized anti-heroines or swoon for the men who love them anyway. Julia Bennet allows her romantic leads to be messy, manipulative, or just plain unattractive and I honestly couldn’t be more grateful for her bold unconventionality in this regard. This empathetic approach to characterization was refreshing, with memorable pockets of writing where I saw myself reflected:
And, as much as I enjoyed the hell out of this debut, I realize it won’t be to everyone’s taste.
Helen and Will fall in love and have sex when they’re still in a doctor/patient relationship with a huge power differential. Scrolling through the Goodreads review of this book, I realize that’s not going to be for everyone and I get that. Romantic and sexual relationships between therapists and their patients, when the treatment is ongoing, is 100% wrong and it’s understandable if a reader doesn’t want to come across this type of taboo set-up in a fictional romance (student/teacher relationships often fall under this umbrella as well).
For me, I prefer to evaluate these things on a case-by-case basis and my reaction is usually based on whether or not the book is aware of its problematic element. For instance, is the ick factor something that the book is conscious of? If so, is the book trying to address it? I think this framing can work in a number of different ways, but I’m often more comfortable when a book either chooses to address an issue as problematic (i.e., age gap in mainstream published romance) or as purposefully forbidden/taboo (i.e., Daddy kink in erotic romance) within the narrative. In other words, I don’t want to read a book that presents something icky without doing the “work” of unpacking it. In The Madness of Miss Grey, the book seems aware of how potentially abusive a doctor/patient relationship could be and it struck me that the author overcame this issue with a confidently assertive heroine and an emotionally intelligent hero who is particularly sensitive to their ongoing power imbalance.
But I had some quibbles.
My biggest problem was a good one: I wish this had been deeper, richer, or longer. My paperback copy is under 300 pages and has large type, so I repeatedly caught myself longing for more of this story. It too often felt like a slimmed down indie published romance that segues from action to action to action, etc. I also think that, with a little more fullness, some of the story’s weaknesses would’ve been less visible and the romantic beats would’ve packed a more powerful punch. For instance, Will rescues Helen from danger four separate times. That’s a tad repetitive, but if we had had more story between each dramatic interruption of Helen’s torturous captivity, it might not have been as obvious…? I also agree with the reviews I’ve seen that point out that the romantic arc needed more attention after they had gotten together and meatier relationship building after could’ve helped with that.
Despite these issues, I’m going to give this book the full 5 stars because that rating reflects my reading enjoyment in the moment. I can’t wait to read the sequel to this book, The Ruin of Evangeline Jones, and see what Julia Bennet writes next!
For the last 10 years since her mother’s death, 26-year-old Helen Grey has been confined in a private mental asylum, against her will. When 35-year-old interim doctor William Carter arrives and is quickly assigned to Helen’s care, she’s initially too distrustful and traumatized to open up. However, once she observes his highly principled and reform-minded approach, she seizes on the opportunity to campaign for her release or escape. Will is aware of her subtle manipulations for freedom yet finds himself beguiled regardless. The couple grows increasingly close, as they band together against the institution’s prejudiced administrator, her sadistic nurse attendant, and the mysterious benefactor who arranged for Helen’s incarceration.
There’s so much about this that went perfectly right for me.
Modern or new school historical romance often feels like it wears its feminism with all the subtlety of a bullhorn, but The Madness of Miss Grey weaves its message about systemic discrimination into the central romance in a way that feels totally organic to the story it’s telling. I never felt the feminism here was a lecture, reduced to “girl power” platitudes, or overburdened the narrative. I also loved that our hero and heroine weren’t titled and both MCs had a working class background, which wasn’t ever sensationalized or cartoonish. The atmospheric Gothic setting was a delight, as was the “heavier” subject matter since I prefer my romantic magic with a bit of darkness. Julia Bennet does a superb job maintaining conflict and sexual tension too.
I also definitely got that “my brain is being licked” feeling that only comes from love stories that press all my personal buttons.
Apparently, I’m absolute mush for traumatized scheming heroines who are in total possession of their sexual appeal and highly principled heroes who come to their rescue but secretly suffer from insecurity over their appearance. Give it to me! Put it straight in my veins!! Yeah, there will never be a time when I don’t completely over-identify with traumatized anti-heroines or swoon for the men who love them anyway. Julia Bennet allows her romantic leads to be messy, manipulative, or just plain unattractive and I honestly couldn’t be more grateful for her bold unconventionality in this regard. This empathetic approach to characterization was refreshing, with memorable pockets of writing where I saw myself reflected:
“Years of scheming to avoid abuse had given her an overdeveloped sense of cunning, and she couldn’t erase that part of herself any more than she could make herself shorter.”
“How easily she’d fallen into her old habits of appeasement and manipulation. The moment she saw him, fear had frozen emotions, and she hadn’t cared how her words sounded to Will.”
“…and Will found that even in desperate circumstances, displays of extreme wealth could overwhelm him and make him feel gauche and vulgar.”
And, as much as I enjoyed the hell out of this debut, I realize it won’t be to everyone’s taste.
Helen and Will fall in love and have sex when they’re still in a doctor/patient relationship with a huge power differential. Scrolling through the Goodreads review of this book, I realize that’s not going to be for everyone and I get that. Romantic and sexual relationships between therapists and their patients, when the treatment is ongoing, is 100% wrong and it’s understandable if a reader doesn’t want to come across this type of taboo set-up in a fictional romance (student/teacher relationships often fall under this umbrella as well).
For me, I prefer to evaluate these things on a case-by-case basis and my reaction is usually based on whether or not the book is aware of its problematic element. For instance, is the ick factor something that the book is conscious of? If so, is the book trying to address it? I think this framing can work in a number of different ways, but I’m often more comfortable when a book either chooses to address an issue as problematic (i.e., age gap in mainstream published romance) or as purposefully forbidden/taboo (i.e., Daddy kink in erotic romance) within the narrative. In other words, I don’t want to read a book that presents something icky without doing the “work” of unpacking it. In The Madness of Miss Grey, the book seems aware of how potentially abusive a doctor/patient relationship could be and it struck me that the author overcame this issue with a confidently assertive heroine and an emotionally intelligent hero who is particularly sensitive to their ongoing power imbalance.
But I had some quibbles.
My biggest problem was a good one: I wish this had been deeper, richer, or longer. My paperback copy is under 300 pages and has large type, so I repeatedly caught myself longing for more of this story. It too often felt like a slimmed down indie published romance that segues from action to action to action, etc. I also think that, with a little more fullness, some of the story’s weaknesses would’ve been less visible and the romantic beats would’ve packed a more powerful punch. For instance, Will rescues Helen from danger four separate times. That’s a tad repetitive, but if we had had more story between each dramatic interruption of Helen’s torturous captivity, it might not have been as obvious…? I also agree with the reviews I’ve seen that point out that the romantic arc needed more attention after they had gotten together and meatier relationship building after could’ve helped with that.
Despite these issues, I’m going to give this book the full 5 stars because that rating reflects my reading enjoyment in the moment. I can’t wait to read the sequel to this book, The Ruin of Evangeline Jones, and see what Julia Bennet writes next!
March 18, 2024
Here's the deal with The Madness of Miss Grey: Helen Grey has been institutionalized in an asylum for over ten years. She's willing to do practically anything to get out. Luckily her new doctor, Will, believes she's not mad, and he wants to help her escape, too.
If you're going to write a romance where one member of the couple has total and complete power over the other (as Will does as Helen's doctor), you've got to do it right. We think Julia Bennet does, and if we had any issues with the book, they do not lie with the relationship. This is a major triumph and we applaud the author! That said, the book is pretty dark (as you might expect from the setting), and if you're not in the best headspace you might want to put this on your TBR list for when you're surrounded by friends and family.
Was this a well-written, affecting exploration of an incredibly difficult situation? Yes! Is it a love story? Also yes! Is it a feel-good read? ....Maybe not. But it's worth checking out for sure!
18-word summaries:
Laine: Helen's been locked up for over a decade and a hot doctor and an unknown brother save her.
Meg: I’d totally seduce the hulkingly hot new doctor (who doesn’t know he’s beautiful) to escape an insane asylum.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
If you're going to write a romance where one member of the couple has total and complete power over the other (as Will does as Helen's doctor), you've got to do it right. We think Julia Bennet does, and if we had any issues with the book, they do not lie with the relationship. This is a major triumph and we applaud the author! That said, the book is pretty dark (as you might expect from the setting), and if you're not in the best headspace you might want to put this on your TBR list for when you're surrounded by friends and family.
Was this a well-written, affecting exploration of an incredibly difficult situation? Yes! Is it a love story? Also yes! Is it a feel-good read? ....Maybe not. But it's worth checking out for sure!
18-word summaries:
Laine: Helen's been locked up for over a decade and a hot doctor and an unknown brother save her.
Meg: I’d totally seduce the hulkingly hot new doctor (who doesn’t know he’s beautiful) to escape an insane asylum.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
October 19, 2023
It's women and their wandering wombs that's the problem. For sure. And orgasms. Just sex in general. They should most definitely ban it.
I really like romances featuring average looking MCs, especially average MMCs. They do it for me. Big, kind of gruff, not handsome but solid. Those are my favorites. I'm so happy our Dr. Carter, Will, was this kind of man. It made him falling all the better. And while some may not like that he was our MFCs doctor (ethics and all), I like the fiction of a doctor and patient falling in love, especially when we know an imbalance of power is not really at play. They both went into their relationship knowing what each was about. Our MFCs only malady was that she was a bastard born child of an actress, her father was an asshole, and she was willing to do whatever she could to escape her imprisonment. Oh, and she had sex and liked it.
Anyway. If you are looking for a HR that's not your typical Lord and Lady fare, this would be worth the look. I could only find it on audio via Hoopla!
I really like romances featuring average looking MCs, especially average MMCs. They do it for me. Big, kind of gruff, not handsome but solid. Those are my favorites. I'm so happy our Dr. Carter, Will, was this kind of man. It made him falling all the better. And while some may not like that he was our MFCs doctor (ethics and all), I like the fiction of a doctor and patient falling in love, especially when we know an imbalance of power is not really at play. They both went into their relationship knowing what each was about. Our MFCs only malady was that she was a bastard born child of an actress, her father was an asshole, and she was willing to do whatever she could to escape her imprisonment. Oh, and she had sex and liked it.
Anyway. If you are looking for a HR that's not your typical Lord and Lady fare, this would be worth the look. I could only find it on audio via Hoopla!
April 16, 2024
The Madness of Miss Grey by Julia Bennet is the first book I've read by this author but it won't be the last. I enjoyed this one but it has an interesting premise that I've not seen in historical romance very often.
Miss Grey / Helen, has been in an insane asylum for ten years and while some are convinced she is right where she belongs because of some of her behaviors, she has managed to cling to her sanity and when she finds out a new doctor is scheduled to arrive, Helen sees this as an opportunity to trick him into helping her to escape.
William Carter is the new doctor and he's motivated to prove himself to his superior so he can stay. The asylum is close to his mother and he truly feels like he'll be able to make a difference. When he first meets Helen, he's not sure what to think but he quickly realizes Helen has been imprisoned for no good reason and he's determined to save her...he just doesn't' know how. As he begins to dig deeper into Helen's background and who her mysterious benefactor is, he starts to realize there's more to Helen's story than he realized. What he didn't count on was all his digging would prompt someone to make themself known and potentially
As Helen and William explore ways to get her free, they begin to feel more for each other than just doctor / patient feelings. While Helen doesn't really have any concerns about it, William does and I appreciate that about him. I also like the fact that he doesn't take advantage of the power balance. By the time they have moved into a relationship, he's not really acting as her doctor, he's only playing that card to protect her from others.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and will pick up more from Bennet in the future. I noticed this is listed as a series so I'll be curious to see what the next book is about.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy in exchange for the honest review.
Miss Grey / Helen, has been in an insane asylum for ten years and while some are convinced she is right where she belongs because of some of her behaviors, she has managed to cling to her sanity and when she finds out a new doctor is scheduled to arrive, Helen sees this as an opportunity to trick him into helping her to escape.
William Carter is the new doctor and he's motivated to prove himself to his superior so he can stay. The asylum is close to his mother and he truly feels like he'll be able to make a difference. When he first meets Helen, he's not sure what to think but he quickly realizes Helen has been imprisoned for no good reason and he's determined to save her...he just doesn't' know how. As he begins to dig deeper into Helen's background and who her mysterious benefactor is, he starts to realize there's more to Helen's story than he realized. What he didn't count on was all his digging would prompt someone to make themself known and potentially
As Helen and William explore ways to get her free, they begin to feel more for each other than just doctor / patient feelings. While Helen doesn't really have any concerns about it, William does and I appreciate that about him. I also like the fact that he doesn't take advantage of the power balance. By the time they have moved into a relationship, he's not really acting as her doctor, he's only playing that card to protect her from others.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and will pick up more from Bennet in the future. I noticed this is listed as a series so I'll be curious to see what the next book is about.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy in exchange for the honest review.
May 2, 2024
3.5 stars
This book is fairly interesting. The depiction of how a sane woman endures a decade—and the prospect of a lifetime—of being imprisoned in a private asylum because her father wants her existence kept secret is horrifying. Helen Grey is a complex character: dramatic and manipulative, intelligent and strong, but completely and hopelessly powerless.
Until a new doctor arrives at the clinic. Dr. Carter finds himself fascinated by, then attracted to, Helen, even though he doesn’t trust her and knows he should maintain a professional detachment. This is a tough challenge for an author: how do you balance burgeoning feelings between two people when one is an authority figure and the other is a victim of the system in which he works? I thought it was handled well in places and it made me uncomfortable in others.
But there were too many soap opera-ish elements to the book: the bizarre behavior of Dr. Sterling, how Dr. Sterling’s mandate from the duke actually came about and what its purpose was, the gothic duke, the sudden and too fortuitous appearance of the duke’s son and heir, the sudden and unexplained reappearance of Dr. Vaughn and unexplained kidnapping of Helen for no discernible purpose. There were too many loose ends for me to rate this book any higher.
This book is fairly interesting. The depiction of how a sane woman endures a decade—and the prospect of a lifetime—of being imprisoned in a private asylum because her father wants her existence kept secret is horrifying. Helen Grey is a complex character: dramatic and manipulative, intelligent and strong, but completely and hopelessly powerless.
Until a new doctor arrives at the clinic. Dr. Carter finds himself fascinated by, then attracted to, Helen, even though he doesn’t trust her and knows he should maintain a professional detachment. This is a tough challenge for an author: how do you balance burgeoning feelings between two people when one is an authority figure and the other is a victim of the system in which he works? I thought it was handled well in places and it made me uncomfortable in others.
But there were too many soap opera-ish elements to the book: the bizarre behavior of Dr. Sterling, how Dr. Sterling’s mandate from the duke actually came about and what its purpose was, the gothic duke, the sudden and too fortuitous appearance of the duke’s son and heir, the sudden and unexplained reappearance of Dr. Vaughn and unexplained kidnapping of Helen for no discernible purpose. There were too many loose ends for me to rate this book any higher.
November 13, 2025
I think Julia Bennet might be taking the biggest swings in historical romance today. I read her book The Worst Woman in London, which centers around a divorce where both partners are cheating, and now with The Madness of Miss Grey, I feel confident saying she is taking some of the biggest risks in the genre. Nothing about the setup to this book should work, and yet it was a great read.
Helen Grey has spent ten years locked in an asylum in Yorkshire with no idea why. After her mother died when she was just 15, she was visited by her father for the first time in her life. But soon, those visits stopped and she was packed off to the asylum with no idea who her father really is or why she's being forced to endure 1880s psychiatric “treatment.” Things are terrible in the asylum. Helen is abused by her personal attendant and Dr. Sterling, the chief doctor, firmly believes that Helen's illegitimate birth caused her hysteria. But things begin to change when Dr. William Carter arrives at the asylum.
Will was raised on the estate that now houses the asylum. His mother was the housekeeper, and the old master of the house took a shine to Will and paid for his education. Now he's back to learn from Dr. Sterling and advance his career in what he believes is a modern, private facility. However, what Will finds is anything but modern treatment. He's appalled by the conditions and practices, and even more disgusted by the fact that Helen is incarcerated when she's perfectly sane. He vows to help her get out, but with her father's hidden identity, Will's lowborn status, and Helen's decade of medical records, it's going to be a tough battle for her freedom.
As I said above, nothing about this book should work. Will is Helen's doctor. He has total control over her from the second he takes on her care. In today's genre, we almost never see guardian-ward romances because readers find the power dynamic to be icky. Here we have an asylum patient and her doctor. Their power differential could not be more stark.
But it works in this book because of how Julia Bennet approaches our main characters. We’re in dual third-person POV, so we spend time with both of them. On paper, Helen has zero power. She’s been in an asylum for ten years, she has no money, no connections, and she hasn't even been touched outside the barbaric treatments in years. But Helen has the ability to read a situation and figure out what she needs to do to get the desired outcome. From there, she’s able to manipulate others to limit the severity of the consequences to herself. And Helen knows that manipulation is not a great personality trait, but she also knows that it has kept her alive and sane for the last decade. Meanwhile, Will knows he is a good doctor, but he’s deeply self-conscious of his origins as the son of a housekeeper. He’s climbed into the middle class through his education but is so aware of how he is perceived that he veers into the worst kind of rigidity in Victorian England. Helen is also the more sexually experienced of the two and more willing to be open, which again flips the power dynamic in their scenes.
I read this book in November of 2025. It was a particularly difficult read knowing that our current government is looking for additional ways to roll back women’s bodily autonomy and economic rights. It is within my mother’s adult lifetime that women gained the right to an abortion, to use birth control, and to economically exist in the world outside a husband or male relative. Helen was locked away at the age of 16 for no reason other than her male guardian said so. That’s the reality women lived with until the middle of the 20th century, and we’re trending back that way. This book was a stark reminder of what can happen if we take our eye off the ball—and, more importantly, what good men like Will can do to stop it.
I don’t even know what to do with this book. It was so good, and I can’t wait to read the second book in this series. Five stars.
Helen Grey has spent ten years locked in an asylum in Yorkshire with no idea why. After her mother died when she was just 15, she was visited by her father for the first time in her life. But soon, those visits stopped and she was packed off to the asylum with no idea who her father really is or why she's being forced to endure 1880s psychiatric “treatment.” Things are terrible in the asylum. Helen is abused by her personal attendant and Dr. Sterling, the chief doctor, firmly believes that Helen's illegitimate birth caused her hysteria. But things begin to change when Dr. William Carter arrives at the asylum.
Will was raised on the estate that now houses the asylum. His mother was the housekeeper, and the old master of the house took a shine to Will and paid for his education. Now he's back to learn from Dr. Sterling and advance his career in what he believes is a modern, private facility. However, what Will finds is anything but modern treatment. He's appalled by the conditions and practices, and even more disgusted by the fact that Helen is incarcerated when she's perfectly sane. He vows to help her get out, but with her father's hidden identity, Will's lowborn status, and Helen's decade of medical records, it's going to be a tough battle for her freedom.
As I said above, nothing about this book should work. Will is Helen's doctor. He has total control over her from the second he takes on her care. In today's genre, we almost never see guardian-ward romances because readers find the power dynamic to be icky. Here we have an asylum patient and her doctor. Their power differential could not be more stark.
But it works in this book because of how Julia Bennet approaches our main characters. We’re in dual third-person POV, so we spend time with both of them. On paper, Helen has zero power. She’s been in an asylum for ten years, she has no money, no connections, and she hasn't even been touched outside the barbaric treatments in years. But Helen has the ability to read a situation and figure out what she needs to do to get the desired outcome. From there, she’s able to manipulate others to limit the severity of the consequences to herself. And Helen knows that manipulation is not a great personality trait, but she also knows that it has kept her alive and sane for the last decade. Meanwhile, Will knows he is a good doctor, but he’s deeply self-conscious of his origins as the son of a housekeeper. He’s climbed into the middle class through his education but is so aware of how he is perceived that he veers into the worst kind of rigidity in Victorian England. Helen is also the more sexually experienced of the two and more willing to be open, which again flips the power dynamic in their scenes.
I read this book in November of 2025. It was a particularly difficult read knowing that our current government is looking for additional ways to roll back women’s bodily autonomy and economic rights. It is within my mother’s adult lifetime that women gained the right to an abortion, to use birth control, and to economically exist in the world outside a husband or male relative. Helen was locked away at the age of 16 for no reason other than her male guardian said so. That’s the reality women lived with until the middle of the 20th century, and we’re trending back that way. This book was a stark reminder of what can happen if we take our eye off the ball—and, more importantly, what good men like Will can do to stop it.
I don’t even know what to do with this book. It was so good, and I can’t wait to read the second book in this series. Five stars.
October 30, 2023
I really liked this one! I’m so tired of historical romances that are all DUKES DUKES DUKES as the heroes so this being a romance between an insane asylum patient and her doctor was interesting!
March 26, 2024
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC of this book!
I don't really have much to say besides how utterly surprised I was while reading. I was expecting this pompous romance, but it was not that at all.
This was a gothic romance that had such cool subplots like mental health, feminine hysteria in the XIX century, unfair treatment of patients, and more. I truly enjoyed it.
The part that I loved the most was all the feminine illnesses that were shown. My university thesis had the use of hysteria as a form of control of female bodies as one of its main topics, so I had all these emotions and ideas fresh in my mind. This is why, while reading this novel, I had moments where I got angry and frustrated because the world has been so unfair to so many women, just like Julia Bennet showed us in her book.
Also, this was quite a short and fast-paced book, for which I'm thankful because the length was perfect. I read it super fast, and it kept me entertained.
One thing that I would've loved the book to have was more about the other patients in the asylum; I wanted to know more about them.
Finally, this was a great book, full of great commentaries about female bodies and minds that I think are extremely valuable.
I don't really have much to say besides how utterly surprised I was while reading. I was expecting this pompous romance, but it was not that at all.
This was a gothic romance that had such cool subplots like mental health, feminine hysteria in the XIX century, unfair treatment of patients, and more. I truly enjoyed it.
The part that I loved the most was all the feminine illnesses that were shown. My university thesis had the use of hysteria as a form of control of female bodies as one of its main topics, so I had all these emotions and ideas fresh in my mind. This is why, while reading this novel, I had moments where I got angry and frustrated because the world has been so unfair to so many women, just like Julia Bennet showed us in her book.
Also, this was quite a short and fast-paced book, for which I'm thankful because the length was perfect. I read it super fast, and it kept me entertained.
One thing that I would've loved the book to have was more about the other patients in the asylum; I wanted to know more about them.
Finally, this was a great book, full of great commentaries about female bodies and minds that I think are extremely valuable.
April 17, 2019
Excellent and a little different this historical romance has a dark undertone.
This book is not your average lighthearted regency romance, it is however, very well written, with a slightly unusual dark plot, compelling characters, and some nice touches which have stayed with me.
Helen Grey is 26, and has been locked up in an asylum in Yorkshire for 10 years. The illegitimate daughter of an actress and a mysterious aristocrat, she was abducted from London shortly after her mother died, and locked up at fifteen.
William Carter is the son of the former housekeeper of the Manor House which has become the asylum, and the latest doctor at the asylum. He is back at his former home, to hopefully get a recommendation by Dr Sterling who runs the asylum.
He encounters Helen in the woods, when his dog, Hector, a Great Dane, acosts her, as she is trying to escape. Mistreated by her evil nurse Fletcher, and deprived of all mental stimulation by Dr Sterling, to try and make her docile and unresisting, she is desperate to escape. She sees immediately that Dr Carter is attracted to her, and she starts to plot to get him to help her to escape.
Will, sees through this very quickly, and he also realises that she is not at all mad. He is also very attracted to her, how can he help her, and maintain his professional distance? How can he rescue her from a hidden enemy who insists she stays locked up? How can he keep her safe, when as the son of a commoner he has no connections or money to help her? How can Helen escape and be happy, does she care about Will or is she just using him?
I thought this was very well done. The developing relationship between the two felt realistic and tender. Will’s kindness and skill as a doctor apparent as he improved her treatments and care so she was not cruelly abused. The appalling treatment of people in asylums was described well, as was the huge sadness of Helen, who despite her resilience and determination to escape, had not been touched except in anger or lust for ten years. Their vulnerabilities were believable and well handled and the romance between them was really satisfying. I also liked the lighter touches like the relationship between Hector and Helen for example. The denouement of the villain was also very satisfying.
I look forward to reading more by Julia Bennet. I really found this an intelligent and absorbing read.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
This book is not your average lighthearted regency romance, it is however, very well written, with a slightly unusual dark plot, compelling characters, and some nice touches which have stayed with me.
Helen Grey is 26, and has been locked up in an asylum in Yorkshire for 10 years. The illegitimate daughter of an actress and a mysterious aristocrat, she was abducted from London shortly after her mother died, and locked up at fifteen.
William Carter is the son of the former housekeeper of the Manor House which has become the asylum, and the latest doctor at the asylum. He is back at his former home, to hopefully get a recommendation by Dr Sterling who runs the asylum.
He encounters Helen in the woods, when his dog, Hector, a Great Dane, acosts her, as she is trying to escape. Mistreated by her evil nurse Fletcher, and deprived of all mental stimulation by Dr Sterling, to try and make her docile and unresisting, she is desperate to escape. She sees immediately that Dr Carter is attracted to her, and she starts to plot to get him to help her to escape.
Will, sees through this very quickly, and he also realises that she is not at all mad. He is also very attracted to her, how can he help her, and maintain his professional distance? How can he rescue her from a hidden enemy who insists she stays locked up? How can he keep her safe, when as the son of a commoner he has no connections or money to help her? How can Helen escape and be happy, does she care about Will or is she just using him?
I thought this was very well done. The developing relationship between the two felt realistic and tender. Will’s kindness and skill as a doctor apparent as he improved her treatments and care so she was not cruelly abused. The appalling treatment of people in asylums was described well, as was the huge sadness of Helen, who despite her resilience and determination to escape, had not been touched except in anger or lust for ten years. Their vulnerabilities were believable and well handled and the romance between them was really satisfying. I also liked the lighter touches like the relationship between Hector and Helen for example. The denouement of the villain was also very satisfying.
I look forward to reading more by Julia Bennet. I really found this an intelligent and absorbing read.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
February 24, 2022
"Tra dieci anni non sarete qui."
"Non siate ingenuo, non andrò da nessuna parte."
"Non potete saperlo."
"Non mi lasceranno mai andare. E questo posto rende matti. Li partorisce come un mostro. E se non lo capite, siete uno stupido."
Per una strana coincidenza, di recente mi sono ritrovata a leggere vari libri incentrati sul tema delle ospiti femminili dei manicomi europei tra l'ottocento e il novecento: donne molto spesso rinchiuse (a vita) in quanto colpevoli di ribellione, atteggiamenti disinibiti e volgari, bollate come pazze, isteriche, ninfomani (ormai non c'era più la comoda soluzione di considerarle streghe e bruciarle direttamente sul rogo).
In realtà, nella stragrande maggioranza dei casi, erano donne assolutamente sane di mente ma non corrispondenti ai rigidi canoni sociali che le volevano mogli sottomesse e analfabete, oppure sempre sottomesse zitelle, per il caso in cui non avessero voluto immolarsi nel matrimonio, relegate in casa. Se qualcuna osava troppo, studiava, voleva alzare la voce, condurre affari da sola, avere un amante, ci pensavano parenti non comprensivi e medici conniventi a zittirle.
Helen Grey è una di queste giovani donne invisibili: rinchiusa all'età di 16 anni dal proprio padre nobile, desideroso di cancellare la macchia di avere avuto una figlia illegittima, lui, irreprensibile fustigatore dei costumi altrui.
Così Helen, nonostante si affanni a sottoporsi a visite e trattamenti, dopo dieci anni è ormai rassegnata a morire nella clinica del dottor Sterling, salvo tentare ogni tanto la fuga.
Ed è durante un tentativo che la conosce William Carter, nuovo dottore assunto nel manicomio.
Se Helen è considerata un esemplare corrotto perché bella e mordace (questa è a mio avviso una vera e propria licenza letteraria che si è concessa l'autrice, in quanto è dimostrato che la reclusione faceva perdere rapidamente il senno; infatti le altre ospiti sono ormai cadute nella demenza...), William non è il classico dottore fascinoso ed eroico. È, anzi, bruttino, vedovo, amareggiato dalla vita e frustrato dal fatto che le sue teorie mediche si scontrino con pregiudizi e ottusità: è consapevole dell'inutilità di cure crudeli e medievali e vorrebbe veramente aiutare i pazienti a guarire. Immaginatevi che tornado si potrà scatenare quando gli viene affidata la ragazza.
Un romanzo molto interessante e avvincente, soprattutto perché non cerca una trama facile, con ambienti eleganti e conversazioni frivole; il manicomio è tetro, aleggia la disperazione ed è raro trovare un raggio di luce. Neppure la storia d'amore è risolta in modo tradizionale; Helen è cresciuta con una madre attrice, neppure il lettore riesce davvero a fidarsi dei suoi sentimenti reali.
Mi è piaciuto molto, anche per questa sua originalità e questa bravura introspettiva dell'autrice.
Solamente il finale risulta un po' pasticciato e trascinato, ma è perdonabile in considerazione che si tratta di un'opera prima. Leggerò senz'altro il seguito.
"Non siate ingenuo, non andrò da nessuna parte."
"Non potete saperlo."
"Non mi lasceranno mai andare. E questo posto rende matti. Li partorisce come un mostro. E se non lo capite, siete uno stupido."
Per una strana coincidenza, di recente mi sono ritrovata a leggere vari libri incentrati sul tema delle ospiti femminili dei manicomi europei tra l'ottocento e il novecento: donne molto spesso rinchiuse (a vita) in quanto colpevoli di ribellione, atteggiamenti disinibiti e volgari, bollate come pazze, isteriche, ninfomani (ormai non c'era più la comoda soluzione di considerarle streghe e bruciarle direttamente sul rogo).
In realtà, nella stragrande maggioranza dei casi, erano donne assolutamente sane di mente ma non corrispondenti ai rigidi canoni sociali che le volevano mogli sottomesse e analfabete, oppure sempre sottomesse zitelle, per il caso in cui non avessero voluto immolarsi nel matrimonio, relegate in casa. Se qualcuna osava troppo, studiava, voleva alzare la voce, condurre affari da sola, avere un amante, ci pensavano parenti non comprensivi e medici conniventi a zittirle.
Helen Grey è una di queste giovani donne invisibili: rinchiusa all'età di 16 anni dal proprio padre nobile, desideroso di cancellare la macchia di avere avuto una figlia illegittima, lui, irreprensibile fustigatore dei costumi altrui.
Così Helen, nonostante si affanni a sottoporsi a visite e trattamenti, dopo dieci anni è ormai rassegnata a morire nella clinica del dottor Sterling, salvo tentare ogni tanto la fuga.
Ed è durante un tentativo che la conosce William Carter, nuovo dottore assunto nel manicomio.
Se Helen è considerata un esemplare corrotto perché bella e mordace (questa è a mio avviso una vera e propria licenza letteraria che si è concessa l'autrice, in quanto è dimostrato che la reclusione faceva perdere rapidamente il senno; infatti le altre ospiti sono ormai cadute nella demenza...), William non è il classico dottore fascinoso ed eroico. È, anzi, bruttino, vedovo, amareggiato dalla vita e frustrato dal fatto che le sue teorie mediche si scontrino con pregiudizi e ottusità: è consapevole dell'inutilità di cure crudeli e medievali e vorrebbe veramente aiutare i pazienti a guarire. Immaginatevi che tornado si potrà scatenare quando gli viene affidata la ragazza.
Un romanzo molto interessante e avvincente, soprattutto perché non cerca una trama facile, con ambienti eleganti e conversazioni frivole; il manicomio è tetro, aleggia la disperazione ed è raro trovare un raggio di luce. Neppure la storia d'amore è risolta in modo tradizionale; Helen è cresciuta con una madre attrice, neppure il lettore riesce davvero a fidarsi dei suoi sentimenti reali.
Mi è piaciuto molto, anche per questa sua originalità e questa bravura introspettiva dell'autrice.
Solamente il finale risulta un po' pasticciato e trascinato, ma è perdonabile in considerazione che si tratta di un'opera prima. Leggerò senz'altro il seguito.
November 1, 2024
The Madness of Miss Grey by Julia Bennet
.
Cover: 4/5
Story: 3/5
Steam: Did not track. At least three.
Ending: HEA
.
Stand Alone or Series: Stand Alone but a part of a series.
.
England, Victorian (1883)
Honor Bound Physician
Former Actress Patient
Mental Asylum
Friends to Lovers
Doctor/Patient
Illegitimate Heroine
Working Class Hero
Loyal Dog
Dark Historical Romance
Winter Setting
Danger & Peril
.
This one simply didn't do much for me. Bummer. Neat setup and setting, but the MCs never felt connected, and the whole thing felt rushed.
As for steam, a variety of explicit and non-explicit terms are used. Variety of scene lengths and actions. I didn't feel the chemistry.
.
Read as a digital copy.
Honest review left voluntarily.
.
Content Warning (may contain spoilers):
.
.
.
.
.
False commitment to mental health institution
Cruel and ab*sive treatment of mental health patients
Dr*gging- herbal
De*th of spouse
De*th of child
Dr*gging
Abd*ction
Unwanted s*xual advances
.
Cover: 4/5
Story: 3/5
Steam: Did not track. At least three.
Ending: HEA
.
Stand Alone or Series: Stand Alone but a part of a series.
.
England, Victorian (1883)
Honor Bound Physician
Former Actress Patient
Mental Asylum
Friends to Lovers
Doctor/Patient
Illegitimate Heroine
Working Class Hero
Loyal Dog
Dark Historical Romance
Winter Setting
Danger & Peril
.
This one simply didn't do much for me. Bummer. Neat setup and setting, but the MCs never felt connected, and the whole thing felt rushed.
As for steam, a variety of explicit and non-explicit terms are used. Variety of scene lengths and actions. I didn't feel the chemistry.
.
Read as a digital copy.
Honest review left voluntarily.
.
Content Warning (may contain spoilers):
.
.
.
.
.
False commitment to mental health institution
Cruel and ab*sive treatment of mental health patients
Dr*gging- herbal
De*th of spouse
De*th of child
Dr*gging
Abd*ction
Unwanted s*xual advances
Want to read
March 18, 2024Thank you Netgalley and Xpresso Book Tours for this arc.
Can’t wait to dig in 💙
Can’t wait to dig in 💙
May 17, 2024
3.5 stars. I wouldn’t necessarily classify this as a romance. It’s really more “crimes against Victorian women with a romance side plot and questionable power dynamics.” It is a good story, but, boy, do I need a light-hearted palate cleanser after this.
January 6, 2025
The best thing about this book was its concept, which involved a doctor and a psychiatric patient falling in love. It was a messy yet adorable idea that made the plot really interesting. Furthermore, the book had an outstanding representation of a plus-sized main character, which was done with great care and attention to detail.
The characters in the story were enjoyable to follow along with, and the development of their relationship was both heartwarming and believable. The female character was depicted as strong-willed and determined, while the male love interest was portrayed as gentle and caring, making for a perfect balance between the two. Overall, their dynamic was very fluffy and made sense for the story.
There were a little bit of pacing issues throughout the book though, this was especially apparent because this book is only 277 pages long. It was not too distracting from the story itself but did come up a few times through slow story progression.
Overall though this book proved to be an interesting and enjoyable book that follows a forbidden romance in a gothic and unstable setting. It proved to be very well-researched of the times and talked about the dark side of insane asylums for women in this time.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for a chance to read and review this book!
The characters in the story were enjoyable to follow along with, and the development of their relationship was both heartwarming and believable. The female character was depicted as strong-willed and determined, while the male love interest was portrayed as gentle and caring, making for a perfect balance between the two. Overall, their dynamic was very fluffy and made sense for the story.
There were a little bit of pacing issues throughout the book though, this was especially apparent because this book is only 277 pages long. It was not too distracting from the story itself but did come up a few times through slow story progression.
Overall though this book proved to be an interesting and enjoyable book that follows a forbidden romance in a gothic and unstable setting. It proved to be very well-researched of the times and talked about the dark side of insane asylums for women in this time.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for a chance to read and review this book!
April 19, 2024
●Madness of Miss Grey by Julia Bennet●
I feel like the blurb for this book oversold the actual book. I was so ready for a romantic yet gothic story filled with angst and yearning set in the 1800s, but it felt like all I got was a mediocre romance between Helen and her doctor Will built on lust and contradictions.
I admit the atmosphere of the book was dark and gothic, the descriptions and vibes of the asylum were frightening and I felt so bad for the patients and the mistreatment they received. I absolutely hated Sterling and Fletch, two people who work at the madhouse.
The chemistry between the characters felt non-existent. They had a relationship based on wanting to sleep together. It had so much potential to be a heart wrenching forbidden romance yet it just felt bland and built on nothing. Helen and Will did have a few cute moments and a little bit of banter, and I liked their shared bond with Will's dog Hector.
The plot was fairly straightforward, with a slow pacing but a few twists that made me keep reading. I didn't know how it was going to end, and I liked the sudden suspense at the end. However, the actual ending felt too quick? Like within the last chapter it all seems too wrapped up and conveniently happy. I'm not against it as I'm a massive fan of HEAs, but only when they're drawn out and believable.
3/5 🌟
I feel like the blurb for this book oversold the actual book. I was so ready for a romantic yet gothic story filled with angst and yearning set in the 1800s, but it felt like all I got was a mediocre romance between Helen and her doctor Will built on lust and contradictions.
I admit the atmosphere of the book was dark and gothic, the descriptions and vibes of the asylum were frightening and I felt so bad for the patients and the mistreatment they received. I absolutely hated Sterling and Fletch, two people who work at the madhouse.
The chemistry between the characters felt non-existent. They had a relationship based on wanting to sleep together. It had so much potential to be a heart wrenching forbidden romance yet it just felt bland and built on nothing. Helen and Will did have a few cute moments and a little bit of banter, and I liked their shared bond with Will's dog Hector.
The plot was fairly straightforward, with a slow pacing but a few twists that made me keep reading. I didn't know how it was going to end, and I liked the sudden suspense at the end. However, the actual ending felt too quick? Like within the last chapter it all seems too wrapped up and conveniently happy. I'm not against it as I'm a massive fan of HEAs, but only when they're drawn out and believable.
3/5 🌟
March 26, 2019
3.5 stars. It was pretty dark. Definitely not a typical historical.
July 20, 2019
I DNF'ed at 24%
I had a hard time connecting with the characters and could'nt seem to invest in the story or the progress of the love story, i just could'nt feel it.
I had a hard time connecting with the characters and could'nt seem to invest in the story or the progress of the love story, i just could'nt feel it.
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