This is a smooth and easy read historical romance novel about the Talbot sisters and their need for money. The oldest sister, Kitty sets out to get some by way of attracting a rich suitor in the London court scene.
This was an enjoyable enough read, but it felt a bit bland to me, and it didn’t really ‘grab’ me at any point.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review

A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting is a lovely, easy read. The future of the Talbot sisters is all down to the eldest sister Kitty finding a rich husband to save their home and so Kitty heads to London to take on the new season.
A must read for fans of Bridgerton and other period dramas.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting

A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting is a light and easy to read tale from the regency era. Kitty Talbot has twelve weeks to find and marry a rich husband in order to save herself and her four younger sisters from penury. She sets about the task with panache, engineering an introduction into London high society and making her way through the season with great vivacity and more than a few close shaves. She is assisted, with great reluctance, by the dashing Lord Radcliffe who is more than a match for her wit and stubbornness. There are touches of Austen, plenty of Vanity Fair and of course, Bridgerton. All the characters were likeable and the although the denouement is clear from the beginning, the journey along the way is great fun. I look forward to more from Sophie Irwin.

I so nearly pre-ordered a special edition of this, and I’m gutted that I didn’t because I really loved it!

Historical Fiction is probably my favourite genre, but only when the female characters feel independent and challenge the social norms. And nobody can deny that Kitty does just that. She’s pragmatic. She knows that there are conventions that as a woman she won’t be able to break. But she works with what she can do. And she’s not afraid to speak her mind. I love her sass and her independence. She’s such a great character!

And adored the banter between Kitty and Lord Radcliffe. It has a fresh, modern take just teetering on the edge of era appropriate (which is the sweet spot for me!).

As a romance, it’s definitely a slow burn. No Brigerton-esque sex scenes here. For me the tension was perfect, and the pay-off was brilliant.

If you’re a fan of the wit and characters or Jane Austen, with a slightly more modern lens as seen on Anya Taylor-Joy’s Emma adaptation or Netflix’s Brigerton then this is for you! I had so much fun with it, and can’t wait to see more from Sophie Irwin.

A filler for those who are missing a new Bridgerton novel. It is alight read with some amusing moments. Great for summer reading!

Thank you so much Sophie Irwin for writing a smut free Historical romance. Your voice is needed in these trying times.

This was such a delightful and witty book. The protagonist is awesome. Not a boring moment anywhere. Not awfully accurate, historically speaking but who needs historical accuracy in a fun book?

My main complaint, for which I couldn't rate it higher is that more interaction/ development between the protagonist and the love interest were sorely needed.

Advertising this book in relation to Bridgerton is both a blessing and a curse for this book.

A blessing because this, and I'd imagine it was the same for many people, is what grabbed my attention.

A curse however because the only thing I could think of when I was reading it was how similar it was to Season 2 of Bridgerton.

In this book, we follow two sisters to the London ton with the aim of finding a rich man to marry. One of their parents was not of high birth so this is a secret they try to hide. They get hosted by a wealthy "widow" and introduced to the ton. The older sister, Kitty, who is looking for a match is stubborn, witty, and outspoken and ends up in witty battles with Lord Radcliffe who is just as stubborn, and they eventually fall in love. Sound familiar?

I feel bad for the author because I'm sure they put a lot of effort into this story and their characters. If I hadn't seen Bridgerton I most definitely would've ranked it higher than 3🌟 and thought it was a groundbreaking story. However when something such as Bridgerton becomes as big as it does, everything similar is compared to it.

Despite my criticism above, I really did enjoy the characters and the slow descent into romance. Strong female characters are always a win for me, especially if they're set in a time when women were supposed to be seen and not heard.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest, independent review.

Kitty Talbot needs money. Kitty and her sisters have just twelve weeks until they are made homeless. So Kitty does what everyone woman does in 1818: launches herself into London society to find a husband with a fortune.

Unfortunately, although there is a lot of hype around this book, I really struggled with it. The plot just moved along without any real action or excitement, and I found the characters very one-dimensional. I found the setting not very atmospheric, which didn't really help in holding my interest.

It just didn't wow me, maybe my expectations were too high, but those who love historical fiction more may love it and find the appeal.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for approving me for an ARC of this book.

With her family home at stake and Kitty being the only one capable of saving it she sets to work. Off to London she goes to find herself a rich husband. Being of a lower class Kitty knows this will not be a mean feet but she has a trick or two up her sleeve to help her on her way.

You have to admire the determination and creative ways Kitty plans to secure herself a husband, I’m not sure that I would be so quick thinking, if I was in that position. Kitty she remained loyal even if that meant jeopardising her own happiness, her sisters and her mission were at the forefront at all times. Some might even say she was a little blinkered especially where her sister Cecily was concerned.

When Lord Radcliffe intercepts her plans the banter and events that follow prove to be entertaining and delightful. Whilst Radcliffe appeared quite harsh and cold at the beginning it doesn’t take long for Kitty’s charm to work her magic and we soon find ourselves hoping for a romance between these two.

This regency novel brought to life 1818 London. The vivid descriptions the culture and class were all illuminating. Oh how I wish I could be a fly on the wall in those times!

How could I give this incredible debut anything less than 5 stars. One word sprang to mind when I was reading this book. Charming. Utterly and delightfully charming. I couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear and found pure pleasure in Kitty’s tactful ways. It was fun and engaging, the perfect escapist read to devour on a rainy day!

A fabulously witty take on a Regency romance, with a relatable and practical heroine.

Due to tragedy and setbacks in her future plans, Kitty needs money to support herself and her sisters, and who holds the money in Regency England? - why the men of course! So Kitty sets out to get herself one of those, a man with money.

What I absolutely loved about this book is that Kitty is completely understandable, she is not pushed into marrying money by a social-climbing obsessed parent, she is not being sold off for property, or selling herself for property, she is not frivolous or a spendthrift, her need for money is entirely realistic, practical, with consideration for her dependents - her sisters, and relatable to most women for centuries. I was really struck with how different a heroine she was, and how she was never mercenary about her husband-hunting, despite her need, she remains a kind, compassionate, and therefore utterly understandable and relatable main character. She never rises to any accusations of gold-digging, but the facts speak for themselves - men created a world where women had no property or independence, but still managed to resent any female who then presumed to pursue them for a share of that property and support.

The book is so well written, light-hearted and funny, without making light of Kitty's situation, the time constraints she was under meant that the plot moved quickly, and the sense of urgency really adds to the stakes.

The main male character is not a stuffy wealthy type or a ridiculous alpha male either. He is aloof at first, not for aloofness' sake, but with good reason, and with sense and wit of his own, which meant that I could actually believe in him, both as a character, and as a potential match for Kitty. I love the fact that there is no contrived conflict either, relationships develop between characters as they find things they have in common, and that is true of side characters as well.

This is a great novel for an escape, a laugh, and is a perfect choice for getting out of a reading slump.

I rated it a very high four stars - borderline 5, so have rounded up because I will be re-reading this, and will definitely look out for more from Sophie Irwin - love her style!

Set in Englands regency era this book is a delight.

If you like to read a nice romantic story without too much sexual detail this is for you!

Kitty’s character is fierce, quick off the mark and very loyal to her family. You know that she puts on a hard front but deep down she needs someone to support her more than financial.

It’s a good read that with keep your heart full!

Very enjoyable regency romance with a feisty heroine and dashing hero. Great characters and storyline

I really enjoyed this book. It is such good fun, and brilliantly written.
The characters have depth, I cared about them and the story of Kitty, while fun, also had spark. She is witty and cunning, refusing to be a victim of circumstance. The story has real substance.
I’ll definitely be reading more from this author and ordered myself a special edition of this book, as I need it on my bookshelf!

Absolutely amazing book and story. I loved it and could not put it down. Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in return for a review.

A lightweight, entertaining nod to Bridgerton, without the clever plotting and intrigue. A romantic fiction, as sweet as afternoon tea, served in the salons of Regency London. Nothing original or memorable, but well enough written.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this title.

This book really was fun with a capital F! If you love Jane Austen or Bridgerton then this is a book you’ll love. It has that clever ability to be frothy and witty, while actually bringing up some important issues, especially about the woman’s role in Regency society. It takes a look at class and what is really expected of those in the very highest society, or the ‘ton’ as they are dubbed here - I’ll be honest and say I’ve watched two whole series of Bridgerton and wondered what that word meant, now I’ve finally looked it up! It rackets along at a fantastic pace, with glorious balls and luxurious fashions one minute, then adventurous rescues the next. Our heroine is Kitty Talbot, eldest of five girls who live in the Dorset countryside. As the book opens Kitty is responsible for her sisters, since both of their parents have died. Mr and Mrs Talbot were ostracised from high society before the girls were even born and the family have lived a relatively quiet life. Unfortunately, Mr Talbot had kept a taste for the gaming tables and while his debt grew he also turned to drink. On their death Kitty was left in charge of four sisters, a badly trained dog, a leaking roof and a threat from the debt collectors that payment must be made soon. Luckily, four years ago Kitty secured a proposal of marriage from Mr Linfield, a local squire with a reasonable fortune. Horrifyingly though, a few months before their debt is due, Mr Linfield withdraws his offer of marriage, leaving Kitty solely responsible for her sister’s home and their future. There is only one solution; Kitty needs a fortune and she needs it fast. So, she pawns the last of their mother’s jewellery for costs and decides that she and her sister Cecily will visit their Aunt Dorothy in London where they may be able to gain introductions into society. The season has begun and every eligible bachelor with a fortune will be in attendance. Can Kitty find her fortune before her time runs out, or the secrets about their parent’s departure from London are made known?

As with Austen, there are serious issues and themes underneath the glamour and witty repartee. There’s an absolute honesty in what Kitty is trying to do, both with her family and herself, if not with her potential suitor. She soul searches about whether she can live with the decision to marry purely for financial protection, but when she thinks of her sisters she finds she can live with it quite comfortably. She knows each of them so well, that she can imagine their future needs - the one who wants to learn, the one who needs to marry for love and the one who might never marry. She’s happy as long as her sacrifice means they can have what they need and I found that an admirable quality. Yet, polite society and certainly those of the ‘ton’ find this deceitful and vulgar. The author is highlighting the double-standard here, it’s only Kitty’s gender and class that make her actions vulgar. Men in high society can pick the most eligible woman based on her looks, her age, her child-bearing possibilities and even her fortune, should his be lacking. Should a society gentleman, even a Duke, chooses a young woman of a lower class to him then his actions are accepted. There may be gossip, but whether it’s for love, lust, money or breeding ability no one truly cares as long as she is of good character and virtue. Kitty is simply doing the same, there’s a commodity she needs and marriage is her only means of achieving it. In the ballrooms and salons of London, all young women in the act of finding a match are sparing with the truth. They are making the best of their looks, inventing accomplishments and laughing at awful jokes. They make themselves less: less intelligent, less witty, less feisty. They have to flatter, make the man seem superior in all these things. So, why is Kitty’s plan any different? Her class is the deciding factor, breeding being all important for men of the peerage particularly, it is desirable to meet a woman of a similar class and not marry down. It is Kitty’s dishonesty about her class and lack of money that condemn her.

Once settled at her Aunt’s house, they ‘accidentally’ meet the de Lacey family, one of the most respected families here for the London season. It is the younger son Archie that Kitty thinks might be a suitable candidate and since Cecily went to school with his younger sister Amelia they have a connection. However, it’s with Archie’s elder brother that Kitty can be truly open and honest. James is now Lord Radcliffe after the death of his father but has spent most time at their country seat in Devon. He is in hiding, alongside fellow officer Captain Hinsley, with whom he shared the experience of fighting at Waterloo. He’s superior, intelligent and doesn’t suffer fools, but he’s also holding a lot of emotions in check and felt he wasn’t ready to be the head of his family. Once alerted to the possibility of an alliance between Archie and a young woman who appears to have no breeding or family fortune, he rides back to London determined to sever the connection. He and Kitty’s exchanges are probably the most honest and equal in the book, as well as making me laugh. He can see her ability to charm and once they’ve been honest with each other they seem to relax in each other’s company and Kitty grows in confidence. She makes it clear that no matter what he may see her as - a fortune hunter - her only other choice is to let the family home go and for the sisters to look for paid work that will separate them. I admired her honesty and her ability to see the objections to fortune hunters as hypocrisy. The whole London season is about making matches, sometimes for very similar reasons to Kitty’s own.

I thoroughly enjoyed the ups and downs of her mission and her determination to become an integral part of the season. The setting is beautifully described, especially the culture shock of a dirty and sooty London as compared to the country. I loved the image of higgledy-piggledy buildings that are bowed or look ‘haphazardly drawn as if by a child’. The detailed description of the latest fashions and how the girls have to craftily accessorise so they look like they’re wearing something new. Even so, Kitty is outed in the mind of Lady Radcliffe who notices a shoe with a wooden button that marks them out as from Cheapside. There are also other plot lines that feed into the central premise that work very well too: the story of Kitty and Cecily’s parents and why they were unwelcome in polite society; the identity of Aunt Dorothy and her reluctance to follow Kitty’s forays into high society; Kitty’s insistence that Cecy isn’t looking for a husband while her sister has her own plans; Archie’s discovery of gambling clubs and the predatory lords who frequent the clubs looking for young, inexperienced men who are about to come into their fortunes. I felt the author had the balance just right between humour and frivolity and the darker sides of the story. It gallops along at a jolly pace and it’s very easy to keep on reading into the night. The excitement peaks one evening as two very different rescue missions are undertaken; one to save a reputation and the other to save a fortune. These missions are taken at a breakneck pace and it’s impossible to put the book down once you’ve reached this point - you will simply have to keep reading to the end. The author has written a wonderfully satirical and deceptively light novel, with plenty of intrigue and some darker undertones. I enjoyed the Talbot sisters and wondered whether we’d be seeing more of them in the future, if so they’ll definitely be on my wishlist.

This was such a delightful romp through 19th century social circles!
We follow Kitty, a young woman who's just been unceremoniously dumped and needs a rich man like never before to save her family from losing their beloved home. Kitty decides to head to London for "the season" and bag herself a wealthy husband. After a rocky start, she finds herself a potential suitor, but his pompous brother seems determined to put an end to it. Will Kitty be able to win a proposal before the debt collectors come knocking? And, more importantly, will she be able to win true love?
I absolutely adored this jump back in time! I can't honestly say it seemed like a simpler time, but it definitely seems more fun than Tinder! The dances, the dinners, the chaperoned walks - what a delight! All envisioned beautifully by Sophie Irwin.
The characters are all fairly predictable archetypes, but that didn't bother me at all - I knew exactly the kind of romance I was going in for and Irwin didn't let me down. Kitty is tough and determined, with a clever streak to help her work her way into society's trickiest circles, whilst her love interests are the usual range: the cute but stupid puppydog, the dull dud who happens to be stinking rich, and the quick-witted Lord who rivals even Kitty's manipulation!
All in all, this modern-language Pride and Prejudice is entertaining and fast-paced. What more could you want when hunting fortune, romance or a great book?!

I wanted to love this book as I'm a regency romance fan and after finishing Bridgerton season 2 on TV, I needed another fix.

I did really enjoy reading it; the premise of the story was solid, the characters were well drawn and the regency setting was superb. The banter/sniping between Kitty and James was entertaining, and their relationship built up nicely to reach a satisfying conclusion.

For me personally it felt like there was something missing, and having reflected on it, I think it was the heat and passion (restrained or otherwise) usually present in these types of novels. I've read a lot of Julia Quinn, Tessa Dare and Sarah MacLean books and they are skilled at creating heat and sizzle between the characters that really ramps up the tension, so I think I went into A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting with the same expectations. It may just be that the heat-level I prefer as a reader isn't a match this time.

Overall a great read, and I'd read something by Sophie Irwin again, it's just not a five star read for the reasons above.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

Kitty Talbot needs a fortune. An orphan with 4 younger sisters to support, the easiest way to gain a fortune is to marry into one. So Kitty embarks on a season in London to secure herself a wealthy husband.

I don’t read a lot of book like this and I was surprised by how chaste the romance was. It was a regency style romance so no nakedness or sex within the book. I enjoyed the slow build of the romance throughout the book.

I loved the characters, particularly the 2 main characters. I particularly loved Kitty’s snarky wit and humour. The writing was easy to read and absorbing.

I loved reading this and would definitely read more of this type of book! I didn’t miss the steam in this romance but if you’re someone who likes them hot, then this might not be for you!

AD - This copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Such fun!

I like the stark honesty that money was the lode stone to this transaction. A solid and gentle romance that was at once traditional and modern in it’s sensibilities!