A fun, humorous debut regency era romance which is right up my alley.

Kitty needs to save her family from ruin by finding a rich husband, so she has to throw herself into the London Season. Enter Lord Radcliffe.

A quick read with good banter and the good old regency vibes we all know and love.

Highly recommend!

I enjoyed this much more on a second read. The first time it didn't hit the spot - maybe I was too much in Georgette Heyer world to appreciate the Bridgerton.

I love being given the opportunity to update our school library which is a unique space for both senior students and staff to access high quality literature. This is definitely a must-buy. It kept me absolutely gripped from cover to cover and is exactly the kind of read that just flies off the shelves. It has exactly the right combination of credible characters and a compelling plot thatI just could not put down. This is a great read that I couldn't stop thinking about and it made for a hugely satisfying read. I'm definitely going to order a copy and think it will immediately become a popular addition to our fiction shelves. 10/10 would absolutely recommend.

A stunning debut full of wit, charm and plenty of swoon - it’s an addictively good historical fiction read that’s Bridgertonesque!

Irwin takes the reader on a delightful promenade around social status and matters of the heart as Kitty is launched into London high society. There’s dazzling balls aplenty and sparkling chemistry as she navigates this new territory. The skilful writing evokes the period wonderfully.

I adored Kitty and James. Kitty has much pressure on her shoulders in the wake of her parents’ passing. She is responsible for her four younger sisters and their situation is looking quite desperate with bleak prospects. Kitty will stop at nothing to provide a better future for her family and plans to secure a wealthy husband to assist. Aunt Dorothy takes them under her wing for an introduction to London Socierty and I loved how the story unfolded.

Lord James Radcliffe has his own demons he’s fighting and he wants to look out for his brother. James and Kitty made the perfect sparring partners; I thoroughly enjoyed their repartee, trying to trip the other up as they battle with words and challenge each other. They strike up a shaky alliance and it was a wonderful read seeing how that develops.

A highly enjoyable regency read that kept me eagerly turning the pages. It’s wonderfully written with an addictive plot and superb characters you become invested in. I’d recommend!

Loved this! Super easy read, amusing and a cute love story! Thought the characters were really well written and loved the banter between Kitty & Lord Radcliffe.

A wonderfully fun, light-hearted and cosy romp in Regency London. I loved the heroine and was invested from page one. Would recommend to fans of Jane Austen, Julia Quin and Georgette Heyer.

‘Any time I leave you alone for more than five minutes, you are in the midst of another unwise scheme.’

Well this book is just an utter delight. Fast paced, cheeky, a little tongue in cheek at times, oozing Bridgerton- style wit and verve, it was a irrestistable read!

‘I am not so different from these other ladies..they are lot better than me..I cannot help but want to reach for it.’

Kitty Talbot is sassy, channelling Eliza Bennet to the max, with Lord Radcliffe a cool mix of Darcy and The Duke. They had fabulous chemistry, I knew what was coming but it was so deliciously done and a joy to read!

‘We ought all to try to be a little kinder….I’m sure you could begin now, if you so wished.’

With the plot twisting backwards and forwards, I smiled with gentility at their witty parries, I gasped at the set downs, I laughed with glee at the sheer fun of it all, it really is pure Austentacious joy!

I’m so glad there is another book very soon upon us and annoyed with myself that this sat on my shelf for so long!

I loved this and will definitely be checking out Sophie Irwin's other books. It really fills a gap between Jane Austen and Bridgerton, with the exact right semi-historical tone combined with a modern-feeling love story that fits perfectly in the setting and the time period.

I really enjoyed this cute story!
It was engaging, amusing & perfect for the romantics!
I would happily read other books by this author.

My review:⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a charming story, with some a plucky young woman willing to do whatever she needs to do in order to save her younger sisters, and father, from the bailiffs who are due in 12 weeks.  Kitty needs to find a rich husband quickly, and then convince him to save her family.

Set in 1818, this is a glorious romp, with a strong female characters, and a story that was great! I really enjoyed it, and I'm looking forward to the sequel!

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to  HarperCollins.

📚 Book Review: A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin

I thoroughly enjoyed reading A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting, a charming and witty Regency-era romance. The protagonist, Kitty Talbot, is a strong and determined woman who refuses to let societal norms hold her back in her pursuit of financial security for herself and her family. The story is filled with clever schemes, unexpected twists, and a delightful romance that kept me hooked until the very end.

Irwin's writing is engaging and transports the reader to the glittering ballrooms and bustling streets of 19th century London. The characters are well-developed and have distinct personalities that make them feel like real people rather than mere caricatures.

Overall, I highly recommend A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting to anyone who enjoys historical romance novels. It is a delightful and entertaining read that will leave you feeling satisfied and charmed.

I am left feeling ambivalent about this book. There was a lot to like but something just didn't click for me.

What a fabulous, fun read! I could not put this down. It was just as I expected but so much better. Think Pride and Prejudice meets Bridgerton - what a delightful combination,

The ending of this book is fairly predictable, but the journey to it is so entertaining. I really enjoyed getting to know characters and it is impossible not to be rooting for Kitty all the way. She is far from passive and lives on her wits. Where I think this book is unique is the situation that Kitty and Lord Radcliffe find themselves in - it is mutually beneficial and I roared with laughter at times. There are so many surprises along the way; readers may be able to predict the outcome but not the acts and meddling of family and friends along the way.

Please can this be made into a TV series? It would work so well! I will definitely be reading the follow up titles to this - whatever next?!

Kitty Talbot has arrived in London for the season and she's on a mission - her parents have recently passed away, leaving Kitty and her sisters with a lot of debt. If Kitty doesn't manage to find a rich husband, the future prospects for her sisters are ruined and she's determined to provide them with what they need for success. When Kitty sets her eyes on Archie De Lacy, she doesn't realise she also has to contend with her brother, Lord Radcliffe who sees Kitty for exactly who she is and what she wants.

This was just a brilliant, enjoyable read that ended up thoroughly surprising me in many ways, and I was sooo gripped by the end as I waited for that P&P moment for the characters to finally touch, let alone kiss. This is a true slow burn book which is actually something I haven't found a lot in the historical/regency romance I have read before and I loved the mix up where it took about 70% through for the characters to actively stop hating each other and 99% done for anything to actually happen.

There is no spice in this book at all which I also found a bit refreshing as regency romance can tend to be a bit bodice busting but the chastity in this book felt more natural for the type of character we are following and who they are, and particularly what Kitty is trying to do - any kind of physical intimacy would have been way too dangerous for her to try.

I loved the pacing of this even though it was slower than other books in the genre I've read as well, and it's a real build-up of the novel and it really feels like it takes the characters a VERY long time to realise their feelings (like almost the last page). I would have liked a few more moments of sexual tension and chemistry between Kitty and Radcliffe just to make things even more exciting between the two.

This is also a novel in which I really missed an epilogue - I would have liked to have seen Kitty and Radcliffe in a few more years and maybe got a glimpse of what happened between Cecily and Montagu.

Absolutely loved this book!

The writing style was really good and I look forward to reading any other books from this author in the future :)

Kitty Talbot is in need of a rich husband and quickly. Her family's future depends on it.

The death of Kitty's parents leaves the family of five sisters in straitened circumstances. The only solution is for Kitty to find a man rich enough to buy off the debt attached to the family home in Dorset.

Once in London, Kitty and sister Cecily stay with their aunt Dorothy. It isn't long before Kitty becomes acquainted with Archie de Lacy. The young man is suitably enamoured but Archie's elder brother Lord Radcliffe intervenes, believing Kitty to be a fortune hunter.

Lord Radcliffe, however, has underestimated Kitty's resolve and the two begin a battle of wits and trade-offs as the Talbot sisters navigate the marriage market of London high society.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Kitty is modelled on Becky Sharp but has a touch of Elizabeth Bennet about her as well. She is resourceful and forthright and usually manages to land on her feet.

Lord Radcliffe is the Mr Darcy figure, haughty and distant to begin with but eventually recognising Kitty's worth.

Courtship in this time was extremely prescribed, with rich and eligible young women expected to marry a man of their family's choosing. Kitty, from a very different background, is able to see through the pretentiousness of the rich and (en)titled people she encounters and this gives us a refreshing perspective.

Sophie Irwin has written a charming and attractive Regency novel that would be ideal for lovers of Georgette Heyer and the Bridgerton books.

I received a free digital ARC of this book via HarperCollins UK, and am leaving my honest appraisal voluntarily.

I absolutely loved this book! The premise immediately hooked my interest and it was filled with twisty characters and such intense plot! I can't wait for the second book!

This book was a lot of fun! Kitty is such an attractive character, lively and fiesty, she knows what she wants but has quite a bit to deal with in order to get there. She has a lot of family responsibilities to cope with and must secure a suitable husband and rherefore the futures of all her sisters. Coping with the ins and outs of society takes bravery and skill, she pretty much learns as she goes. Lighthearted, witty, easy to read and fair skims along, I highly recommend for some historical funny romance!

I absolutely loved this book. It was very whimsical and was so funny throughout. This was so good that as soon as I finished it on here I went out and the bought the hard back version so I can read it as often as I want. Definitely cosy day, hot choc and this book. Happy days.

I adored this book. It was light, funny and entirely unexpected. It was so well written, I loved Irwin's style of writing. I love her use of the English language, her humour, her characterisations, her historical references. It was so entertaining that I really cannot wait to read more from this author. It was such a tonic after a busy day at work!