Privilege is, of course, another unavoidable theme here and the way the book explores it also felt considered, particularly the various intersectionalities of class, race, gender and sexuality. For example, there’s a lovely line near the end where Georgiana notes that it must be the romantic for Jonathan (who is openly gay amongst his friends) to be living a life of secret meetings and secrets, to which he responses “It doesn’t feel quite so poetic when it’s all you can ever have. I’m afraid it’s not some fairy-tale story where all the pain is worth it in the end. You just get the delightful part with all the pain.” OOF. Ultimately there’s something quite merciless about Reputation: its young protagonists have the all the mingled ignorance and clarity of youth, that swaggering resistance to both bullshit and introspection, and the narrative is similarly unflinching. Refusing to offer easy answers when it comes to the inequities that shape and control us. I’m just like … wow. Why are you writing a historical novel? You can set a comedy of manners in 2021, you know, which allows for heavy drink and drug use and the women’s freedom of movement. I mean, I still don’t like the drink and drug use and its portrayal as Cool and Edgy, and nor do I have much interest in stories about assholes who learn to be slightly better people. But it could be done. That way, you don’t have to consider that Georgiana’s parents and relatives would be very concerned about her marriage, as she clearly isn’t intended to go out and work for a living as if she were one rung lower on the social ladder. The idea that her parents wouldn’t give a shit is astonishingly ahistorical. Georgiana has one job prospect, one line in her CV, and she’s doing the career equivalent of getting facial tattoos while pursuing a job in retail. and when it comes to love . . . you know. the heart wants what it wants. and the heart is also terminally stupid. a dangerous combination.” They’re plum,” Georgiana muttered to herself, reaching for her drink as the latest group of soft-furnishings experts ambled away out of earshot.

The writing style was great too. The author did a superb job of embodying the language of this time, while keeping it fresh. Some storylines also peter out into nothing, or felt overly gratuitous. We get a brief monologue from Frances about slaves and racism (she is described as mixed race), and one passing mention of Frances's mother being talked about in town while she gives money to the poor. But beyond this? Nothing. We also get hints of trouble at home for Frances, but again it's over in one scene. If as much care and thought had been put into these passages as they had for the many party scenes it might have had more of an emotional impact and feel less like an oversight. There was so much missed potential in Frances's mother. Like, it’s such a perfectly observed middle-aged thing to say to an impatient teenager at a party that is boring her. I loved it so much that it has entered our lexicon at chez Hall to describe any task one wishes to get out of: “I’m sorry I can’t do the washing up right now. Your uncle ate a funny grape and isn’t feeling at all himself.” Abandoned by her parents, bookish and sheltered Georgiana Ellers is spending the summer with her stodgy aunt and uncle at their home in the English countryside. At a particularly dull party, she meets the enigmatic Frances Campbell, a wealthy member of the in-crowd who delights Georgiana with her disregard for so-called "polite society." The hilarious debut novel from Lex Croucher. A classic romcom with a Regency-era twist, for fans of Mean Girls and/or Jane Austen.

8. Something Fabulous – Alexis J. Hall

As I’ve written this review, I’ve started to question whether 3.5 stars is an accurate rating, because I certainly have more complaints than compliments. However, the final six chapters are truly such a highlight that I just wish the rest of the book had been worth it.

Sebastian is in love with brilliant, beautiful Grace, but their bargain is complete, and she desires another. Yet when he’s faced with losing her forever, Sebastian will do whatever it takes to tell her the truth, even if it means risking his own future-and his heart. 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. 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." This is not the case for Lex Croucher's Reputation, which promises a fresh new take on the Regency romance. Georgiana Ellers has been sent to live with her aunt and uncle, abandoned in their dreary country home whilst her parents enjoy some fresh seaside air. Absolutely gagging for a hint of adventure, Georgiana is thrilled when she meets Frances Campbell, local socialite, and her circle of wealthy and wild friends. Frances takes Georgiana under her wing, drawing her into a world of drink, drugs and debauchery. Perhaps Georgiana could tell, and still keep some piece of herself intact. Even if she was labelled a harlot, a liar – even if half the county took his side – perhaps it was worth it to sow the seed of doubt; perhaps ladies would keep their distance, parents think twice about leaving their daughters in [his] company.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 Ellers is eager to find a society as exciting and glamorous as her favorite books, but her expectations are low. With neither money nor connections, her social opportunities are limited to what her aunt and uncle can provide, and their idea of excitement differs dramatically from hers. She is suffering through a dreadful party with bad lighting, worse punch and dismal company when in steps Frances Campbell. From that moment, nothing is ever dull again.

A big part of me wished I was in a book club so I could discuss the 'reading group suggestions' at the end. Not to say that this is a state-of-society novel, as it's very much a character study, and a character and relationship driven story. The reader is simply made aware of the society around Georgiana, and her role in it as both as both a helpless cog and an active agent. We watch Georgiana develop for both better and worse, and the development of her various relationships as she becomes entrenched within the Polite Society (which is in reality, very unpolite) to which she so aspires. The book is clearly riding the tails of the Netflix adaptation of ‘Bridgerton’. This is fortunate, because only people whose only reference point for the Regency era of England is the Netflix adaptation of ‘Bridgerton’ would find this satisfying as a historical novel. In ‘Pride and Prejudice’ – and hell yes I’m going to invoke the shade of Jane Austen, because who else are all these pretenders trying to be if not Jane Austen, or at least the Austen of Colin Firth period dramas? – Mr Collins is considered unforgivably impertinent for saying ‘what’s up’ to the nephew of his employer simply because they haven���t been formally introduced. Mr Darcy considers the wider Bennet bloodline to be low-bred and crass because they do things like ‘approach him in conversation’. This very issue of manners comes up in his proposal – you know, the legendary one where he’s rejected for being too proud and forms one half of the famous title? There’s nothing prim or proper about Lex Croucher’s dazzling debut novel, Reputation which is so boldly, audaciously modern in its portrayal of 19th-century mean-girl culture that I kept waiting for someone to inform the heroine that on Wednesdays, they wear pink...Filled with humor and charm, Reputation is not always an easy read, but it’s a vivid and fascinating one. And it’s definitely not quaint."Os alvitres eram múltiplos e poderiam prolongar-se pela noite dentro pois só a luz solar poderia providenciar a resposta certa…