Reputation: ‘If Bridgerton and Fleabag had a book baby’ Sarra Manning, perfect for fans of 'Mean Girls'

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The storyline throughout is so cute and I sobbed a lot. But in classic Lex style, I was laughing throughout! All of the other characters, particularly everyone that worked in the house just hold such a special place in my heart and I could give each an essay on why I love them so. I really enjoyed my time with this story, the only reason I couldn't quite give it 5 stars was that I would have liked the relationship between Emily and Captain Edwards to have been fleshed out just a tiny bit more. They barely had any interactions up to the 50% mark — and I do understand that that time was spent establishing Emily's relationship with Grace and Aster (their dynamic btw, 10/10) — I just felt that that caused the romantic aspect of the story to fall a tiny bit flat. the queer rep was so well done. both the mc and the li are bi, and despite the time period it’s not seen as a big deal amongst the main cast. their is also side gay and trans characters!

I loved this arc for Georgiana. Even in my age and infirmity, it felt very relatable to me, although I think there will be some readers inclined to condemn her for her vanity (in wanting so desperately to run with the cool kids) and the MANY mistakes she makes over the course of his book. Personally, I would find that a bit unfair: she’s young and immature, and she acts like it, but she also learns. And, actually, I think one of the strengths of its book is its willingness to let its characters be both flawed, and nuanced in those flaws. Cecily, for example, is the Karen of the group: she is far from wise, and the most obviously kind of Frances’s clique. Except there’s an emotional carelessness to her that renders both her kindness and cruelty slightly arbitrary. For example, Frances observes: “Poor Ces is just too foolish to realize she’s hurting your feelings. I don’t think anyone has ever managed to hurt her, so she can’t empathize. She seems to float through life […] It’s charming […] but extremely aggravating when you’re collateral damage.” I thought this was a wonderful observation of a character type that is so often rendered comedically one-note. It was always his father’s hope that Valentine would marry Miss Arabella Tarleton. But, unfortunately, too many novels at an impressionable age have caused her to grow up…romantic. So romantic that a marriage of convenience will not do and after Valentine’s proposal she flees into the night determined never to set eyes on him again. Fairmont House also has a staff who prefer to go by their forenames, they like to gossip and drink in the local ale house.Frances is so sparkling, so vibrant and lively and witty and daring, that readers will be forgiven for thinking that she’s Georgiana’s love interest. Certainly, Georgiana is instantly smitten. Croucher understands the fierce, passionate crushes girls have on their friends—the yearning to be in another person’s orbit, to have them think of you as clever and charming. Romantic attachment makes the heart beat faster, but friendships burrow deeper under the skin; you feel them all the way to your bones. And that’s ordinary friendship. Frances is anything but ordinary. In addition to the giddy pleasure of her company, she exposes Georgiana to a world of fantastic wealth, endless indulgence and absolute debauchery. It’s fun, it’s dizzying, it’s literally intoxicating—and it’s very, very dangerous. Clearly, in Mrs. Burton’s eyes, the process of becoming properly “settled” required a period of boredom and loneliness so excruciating that it rendered its subject broken in spirit, and therefore far less likely to rebel against the usual rituals of the house. There were only so many times a person could read the local advertisements, or arrange hundreds of embroidery needles by size, or discuss upcoming meals for three people as if they were feeding the five thousand. The morning when a neighbor’s horse had escaped and circled the garden, incoherent with freedom, was such a bright spot of excitement that she clung to the memory of it for days afterward. There’s no should when it comes to what we feel. There aren’t scientific laws when it comes to the human heart.”

Then at her lowest point, she meets Thomas Hawksley, a quiet complex gentleman she coincidentally bumps into several more times under humiliating circumstances. But she thinks she has unrequited feelings as she realizes he’s acting reserved and unimpressed. Georgiana had begged her aunt rather doggedly for some form of social outing, and she supposed this party was her penance. She had been hiding in her alcove for almost an hour, wishing she’d had the presence of mind to bring a book. From here, she was perfectly placed to observe the comings and goings of guests as they shuffled from dining room to drawing room, and to eavesdrop on them in passing. Unfortunately, their hosts, the Gadforths, seemed to only know men and women above the age of five-and-forty without a shred of personality between them. Georgiana had eavesdropped on the exact same conversation twice, between two entirely different groups of people, about whether the drapes in the dining room were red or purple, and which constituted the more garish choice. All involved on both occasions were in agreement that either would be unseemly, but that as it was too dark to settle the matter presently, they’d revisit the subject at a later and more convenient date. and when it comes to love . . . you know. the heart wants what it wants. and the heart is also terminally stupid. a dangerous combination.” And what about others?! Relatives, friends acquaintances… — who would be affected and in which way?! Until that fine day graces us with its presence, we’ve rounded up the best Bridgerton-esque books to fill the Shondaland-shaped hole in our lives.Emily's charges - sisters - rebellious Aster and kind-hearted, pleaser Grace keep Emily on her toes - particularly Aster and never mind their father - Captain Edwards - who Emily initially mistakes for a stable hand. She passed Georgiana a small flask, which Georgiana accepted and brought to her lips without question in a sort of daze, spluttering as something much stronger than punch burned in her throat.

It’s romantic!” Mrs. Burton had said generously as they were given the grand tour a few hours earlier, narrowly avoiding a headlong collision with a serving girl carrying a tray of diluted punch, who stepped deftly out of the way and was immediately swallowed into the shadows. This book takes a great new look at historical romance that is inclusive, exciting but also romantic. I loved how Georgiana’s character unfolded and developed and how her aunt and uncles characters did too. I really enjoyed the romance too, it was really well written and played out well. The gentlemen in question was very respectable and a modern take on the Mr Darcy and Aaron Samuels. Georgiana gets swept up in the extravagant and debauched lifestyle of Frances and her wealthy friends. And, of course, there’s the brooding, Mr. Hawksley, who is always in the right place at the right time to catch Georgiana whenever she stumbles over her own two feet. A fierce, fresh, feminist Regency romcom that is brilliant on friendship and fitting in. It is funny, surprising and deliciously romantic, and the dialogue truly shimmers."

Well… in its own peculiar way it’s a portrait of an era, but… it also makes fun of an epoch where women started as daughters to end up wives, mothers and…period!… Twenty-two-year-old aspiring writer Edith (“Eddie”) Miller and her best friend Rose have always done everything together―from climbing trees and sneaking bottles of wine, to extensive kissing practice. But Rose has started talking about marriage, and Eddie is horrified. Why can’t they continue as they always have? Detective Inspector Andrew Eversham’s refusal to compromise his investigations nearly cost him his career, and he blames Katherine. When he discovers she’s the key witness in a new crime, he’s determined to prevent the beautiful widow from once again wreaking havoc on his case. Yet as Katherine proves surprisingly insightful and Andrew impresses Katherine with his lethal competency, both are forced to admit the fire between them is more flirtatious than furious. But to explore the passion between them, they’ll need to catch a killer . . .