Sophie Irwin's latest novel, "A Lady's Guide to Scandal," is a delightful romp through Regency England. The story follows Eliza, the recently widowed Countess of Somerset, as she navigates newfound wealth and independence while trying to avoid scandal. Irwin's writing is witty and engaging, and her characters are relatable and endearing.

The plot of "A Lady's Guide to Scandal" is well-paced and full of surprises. From Eliza's unexpected inheritance to her growing attraction to a rakish gentleman, the story keeps readers on their toes. Irwin's attention to detail brings the setting to life, and her descriptions of the fashions, social customs, and political climate of the era are both informative and entertaining.

One of the strengths of this novel is its cast of characters. Eliza is a strong and intelligent heroine who is easy to root for, and her supporting cast is equally engaging. From her loyal and wise friend Lady Charlotte to the charming but unreliable Lord Ashford, each character is well-drawn and adds depth to the story.

The romance in "A Lady's Guide to Scandal" is a delightful slow burn. Eliza and Lord Ashford's attraction builds gradually, and their banter and chemistry are delightful. The romantic tension between them is perfectly balanced with the other elements of the story, making for a satisfying and well-rounded read.

Overall, "A Lady's Guide to Scandal" is a delightful historical romance that will appeal to fans of the genre and newcomers alike. Sophie Irwin's writing is engaging and witty, and her characters are both relatable and endearing. If you're looking for a charming and escapist read, this novel is not to be missed.

I expected this to be a little bit more scandalous than what is was. It was tamer but still very enjoyable. I do feel there was far too many side characters so it got a little confusing. I still rate it pretty high though because it was well written and a very cute romance. All in all, a very good read.

Having read the first in this series I was keen to read this, and it didn't disappoint. We have the same witty prose, sparkling dialogue and sprinkling of romance that you would expect. Eliza is recently widowed and stands to inherit a fortune, if she can only keep away from scandal.... set in Regency England this is a standalone book in the series for fans of Bridgerton and Jane Austen. Would be great for a book club read, fun to share with friends.

This was so good and I was impressed by how Eliza’s character developed from start to end. The dialogue was witty and hilarious, the points of tension had me on the edge of my seat, and I love most the deep friendship between Eliza and Margaret and how Margaret was not merely a side character whose purpose was to advance the plot. Eliza’s allyship makes her a likeable MC you want to root for.

I loved Sophie Irwin’s first novel, A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting, which I read last year and was looking forward to reading her new one. Despite the similar title, A Lady’s Guide to Scandal is not really a sequel as it features completely different characters, but both books are set in Regency England and I think if you enjoy one of them you’ll probably enjoy the other.

Eliza, Countess of Somerset, has just been widowed at the age of twenty-seven and has inherited her late husband’s fortune – on the condition that she avoids becoming the subject of any scandal. Eliza didn’t love her husband – the man she had really wanted to marry was his nephew, Oliver Courtenay, whom her parents dismissed as unsuitable ten years earlier – but she obediently dresses in black and prepares to observe the traditional period of mourning, living quietly in Bath with her cousin, Margaret. Of course, now that’s she financially independent for the first time in her life, the temptation to go out and enjoy herself is very strong…and grows even stronger with the arrival of the roguish poet Lord Melville and his equally unconventional sister.

As soon as the charismatic Melville appeared on the scene (a character who must surely be inspired by Lord Byron) I thought I knew how the rest of the novel would play out. However, it’s not long before Oliver Courtenay, who has now inherited his uncle’s title of Lord Somerset, also turns up in Bath. It’s clear that Eliza still has feelings for Oliver – maybe even still has hopes of the marriage that was denied them all those years earlier – so the story is not as predictable as it seemed to be at first. I knew which man I wanted Eliza to choose but there are enough twists and turns in the plot that I couldn’t be completely sure she would make the right choice.

Although I found Kitty Talbot in Fortune-Hunting more fun to read about, I did enjoy watching Eliza’s character develop throughout this book. When we first meet her at the reading of her husband’s will, she has spent her whole adult life trying to be a good wife and daughter and conforming to society’s expectations, but through her friendships with Melville and his sister Caroline, she begins to find the courage to make her own decisions and live her life the way she wants to live it. At the same time, her actions are still quite believable within the context of the Regency setting and she doesn’t feel too anachronistically modern. As well as the lively Melvilles, there are lots of strong and memorable secondary characters including Somerset’s awful relatives, who have their eye on Eliza’s fortune, and her cousin Margaret, who becomes involved in a secret romance of her own.

Like the first book, this is very reminiscent of Georgette Heyer’s novels and also has some similarities with the plot of Austen’s Persuasion. However, Irwin does have her own style and is not just imitating other authors. I’ll be looking out for her next book, whether it’s another Lady’s Guide or something else!

Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Publishing for granting me an advanced copy of this book!

As a newbie to Regency romance, I have yet to find an author who manages to combine beautiful writing with an engaging plotline and lovable characters. I am happy to say that Sophie Irwin has achieved all of this in 'A Lady's Guide to Scandal'. This novel tells the story of newly widowed Eliza and the unique financial position she has found herself in. With the help of her best friend and cousin, Magaret, Eliza navigates the freedom widowhood has brought her, in a new city where acquaintances new and old make unexpected impressions on Eliza.
With a few wonderfully unexpected plot twists and entertaining side characters, we follow Eliza's journey to finding herself and possibly her future.

If you love Bridgerton and reading exciting heartwarming historical romances, Sophie Irwin's newest release is definitely for you! I will definitely be reading anything else Irwin has published. A new auto buy author for me!

ARC Review and first time reading this author.
4/5 stars

First and foremost loved this book. It was a bit slow to start but once it got started I couldn’t put it down.

Eliza is the heroine in this story and what a triangle she has got herself in. Her and her cousin/best friend Margaret are up to all the antics they can and then of all things love comes into it. Eliza can either make a path with her past love or possibly take a turn for a new life with a new love.

The story to get there is eventful especially those hoping for Eliza’s downfall.
Definitely worth reading for the next turn.

Due to the slow burn at the start this was the only thing that didn’t allow me to give the full five stars.

Would definitely read this authors books again.

Overall an enjoyable read with well developed characters but for me I didn’t find the romance side of things believable and some of the directions this book went in made it not so enjoyable at times.

A Lady's Guide to Scandal is a historical romance novel by Sophie Irwin, the sequel to her 2022 novel A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting. The novel follows Eliza, the Dowager Countess of Somerset, who is newly widowed and inherits a fortune, but only if she can stay out of scandal. Eliza is determined to live her life on her own terms, and she soon finds herself embarking on a journey of self-discovery.

The novel is full of witty banter, charming characters, and a heartwarming romance. Eliza is a relatable and likable heroine, and she is surrounded by a cast of supporting characters who are both funny and endearing. The plot is well-paced and engaging, and the romance is slow-burn and satisfying.

A Lady's Guide to Scandal is a delightful read for fans of historical romance, coming-of-age stories, and witty humor. It is a fresh and original take on the Regency romance genre, and it is sure to leave readers feeling entertained and uplifted.

If you like Bridgerton you'll like this!

To keep her yearly payout, her older husband (marriage of convenience) had a clause in his will that she mustn't do anything to cause a scandal. But who and what determines what's unbefitting to a young woman?

A great tale of independence, away from her husband and parents' for the first time our heroine Eliza, takes of to Bath with her cousin to find out who she is and what she wants.

A great read and a second - but unrelated - book by Sophie Unwin.

If you like period drama with a modern twist, you'll like this.

This was an entertaining read. Eliza is now a widow after an unhappy marriage. I was glad to see Eliza’s character develop and become her own woman. I enjoyed the humour, particularly the remarks from Lord Melville. Melville just didn’t seem to care what he said. Most of the story takes place in Bath, a place I am very familiar with, which brought back happy memories. There is a romance or two, and some devious actions. There is, of course, the restrictions that some men liked to impose on women. The pace did slow a little about a third of the way in but the end more than made up for it. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I read Sophie Irwin’s first book around a year ago and I put it down and the first thing I did was google her to see if she’d already released a second. I was so excited for this book. And then I learned it was a love triangle, and I deflated. But when I saw it at a bookstore yesterday, I grabbed it to check out.

And today, I’ve finished that book. And what a book. I was laughing, smiling, and yes, at times, crying my way through it. Irwin’s cleverness, humor, and sense of romance shine through every interaction. As a reader who hates love triangles, let me say that this is a story more about a woman’s journey toward finding herself than anything else. And the romance wove into that story is so sweet and will have you laughing at yourself for swooning over a man saying that a Savoy pie is delicious.

Read this book, read her other book, both are absolutely gorgeous. And once you’re done, follow her and join me waiting with baited breath for her next to come out.

A Lady's Guide to Scandal is the first book that I have read by Sophie Irwin. It is the second in a series. It took me a little while to fully immerse myself in the story but once I did, I read as quickly as I could to see how it would end. I truly had no idea who the main character, Eliza, would end up with. One minute I hoped it would be option A, the next, option B. I think after a forced marriage there was no harm in Eliza having 2 men showing an interest in her. The twist that comes was definitely an eye-opener for me, a refreshing one. It isn't often that I read a book where I can't see exactly where it's going.

At the same time as Eliza's love life picking up, her cousin Margaret also has a romantic story to be told which I enjoyed.

I liked all of the characters, even the villainous ones! They all came together to make a book that I enjoyed reading.

A Lady’s Guide to Scandal is a delightful period novel with a few unexpected twists. Eliza’s storyline starts with her coming out of an unwanted and unloving marriage and into the strict etiquette that is expected for a widow. She also has to confirm to a morality clause. Eliza is lucky to have a good friend in Margaret and it is joyful to follow their friendship through the story. Both main men, Melville and Somerset provide for an interesting love rivalry.

This is a fun regency romance focusing on the main character Eliza who has recently become a widow.

There is a wonderful female friendship between Eliza and Margaret.

At the start of the book it felt like this was going to be a second chance romance between Eliza and the new Lord Somerset, but as the book carries on you realise that Eliza’s love interest is in fact Melville.

This was and extremely enjoyable book in the style of Bridgerton. I look forward to reading more of books by Sophie Irwin.

Eliza, Countess of Somerset, was widowed after the death of her husband at the tender age of 27. She married him at the insistence of her mother, although she actually loved another, so was not devastated. She finds out that she unexpectedly was left a fortune - on the strict understanding that she did not bring the family name into disrepute. Things naturally do not go smoothly.
Again this story begins out how difficult life could be for women during the Regency era, even for those in the aristocracy. Expected to behave with decorum, following official mourning for a year, Eliza begins to quietly enjoy her life, but this is thrown into disarray by the arrival of Lord Melville, a notorious rake, but one who brings her to life. I did struggle with the topic of her being involved with two men, one an old flame and the other new, but this is the whole point of the story. Having loved the first book by this author, A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting, it was really satisfying to find that I enjoyed this one as well and can recommend to anyone who enjoys Regency romance as I do.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

In my youth regency type novels were my passion, but not for many years, this one took me back to my days reading Jane Austin, Georgette Heyer etc and I really enjoyed being reacquainted, Sophie Irwin is a name that I will remember.
When Eliza was torn away, at the tender age of seventeen, from the man that she loved, to marry the much older Earl on Somerset, she accepted it with a heavy heart, she must do her duty by her family as her controlling mother so clearly pointed out.
When the Earl died ten long years later he, much to the dismay of his family, left Eliza a fortune but the fortune came with strings that Eliza would find hard not to sever.
This story follows Eliza from being a timid , shy girl to a woman with spirit, a woman that would be torn between two loves, a woman who would risk losing her fortune, a woman who would risk losing her reputation because of her love of painting and her love for a man with a dubious reputation.
Sophie Irwin has captured the time in my opinion, she has obviously researched her subject and it shows. A really enjoyable read.

I'm a recently convert to regency romance, head turned by a book to TV show series that launched me into this frippery filled world. And a Lady's guide to scandal only lured me further in.

Eliza is fantastic as she re-emerges into the world and navigates the mourning rituals and rules. A strong female character tied by strings of others making and it is a fun frolic to watch her break free. And she isn't the only strong female Margaret is the best friend we all need and Caro is the new friend we should all hope to lead us astray.
As for the men. Well yellow breeches on one and broad shoulders on the other serve us up some handsome love interests.

And Bath. Now I want to run off to Bath in a new gown and dance the night away. Or perhaps visit a London pleasure garden. The locations in this book are as interesting as the characters and painted in the brightest lights.

Grab this book for a spot of weekend time travel and ditch all your other responsibilities. Scandalous!

I love these books so much. The characters are just so sassy and real. Margaret was a treasure and I loved Melville's wit so much. Also this book stands alone from A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting and while I was sad none of the characters in that book appeared, it does mean that readers can pick up Scandal without having read Fortune Hunting!

There was something so refreshing about seeing a widow as a character in this book. While I don't read much Regency so I don't know what's the norm, most of the regency books I've read are young girls looking for a husband, so it was refreshing to see a widow with her own money and no need to rely on a man looking her way to save her family. Though of course we knew that romance was coming, it was nice to see someone living in this time who didn't necessarily need it.

I also really felt for Eliza. This was her second chance at love after having married for her family. It was her chance to actually have a love match and be with someone who didn't disparage her all the time. I was really invested in her journey.

If you haven't picked up one of these books yet, you definitely should. Even if you don't read regency or romance, these are just so refreshing to read!

I really enjoyed Sophie Irwin's debut novel A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting which I read last year. So I was excited to see she had penned a second novel and thrilled when Netgalley and HarperCollins UK provided me with an ARC to read and review.

Eliza has always been dutiful and obedient, to the point of forsaking the love of her life for a match with an Earl made for her by her family. Now she finds herself a wealthy widow with a large estate and generous income. However her fortune comes with the strings of a morality clause attached. So faking fatigue, Eliza decides to take a stay in Bath to take the waters with her cousin, Margaret. There she intends to live the life she desires while still following the rules appropriate to a respectful lady in mourning.

I found Irwin's writing style so easy to read. I was quickly immersed in the Regency period with it's beautiful gowns and extravagant balls. The characters are fun and witty and the plot glides along at a good pace. There is romance and a few surprises peppered throughout the story. The aspect I enjoyed most was Eliza's character growth from obedient daughter and wife to finding herself and doing what she finds pleasure in.

This is a delightful book which I would recommend to fans of Historical Fiction.