Welcome to Wickenshire a small gossipy county where everyone is in everyone else’s business but are too polite to talk about it directly. Amelia Ashpoint is three and twenty and pretty much on the shelf her loving father worries, and hopes the returning Mr Hurst might be the answer. Instead he has the absolute gaul to marry an age appropriate widow encumbered with three children! The scandal of it! Anyway this is a lovely gossipy novel that totally cribs from Austen and is like Cranford with more lesbians. I loved it, it was so nice and so soapy in the best possible way. I’d go back to Wickenshire anytime.

A gorgeous mix of Pride and Prejudice and Cranford, The Trouble with Mrs Montgomery Hurst is the scandalous tale of society in the regency era.

We follow the townsfolk and society of Wickenshire - a group of entirely respectable people living respectable lives. Drama ensues when the town's most eligable bachelor - Mr Hurst, rather promptly announces his engagement to a Mrs Roberts from London. Tongues start wagging and rumour spreads like wildfire. Who is the new Mrs Hurst? What happened to her previous husband? Who are these children?

Alongside this scandal, we have old families in financial crisis, tactical marriages, questionable relationships, predjudice and more! A definite read for the classics lover!

A thoroughly enjoyable read. Set in 1841 and following several families in Wickenshire, England. Reputations are gained and lost. Marriages are bargained for. Rumours are rife. The cast of characters is an eclectic but entertaining mix. I read it all in one sitting and could happily have read more.

I just reviewed The Trouble With Mrs Montgomery Hurst by Katie Lumsden. #TheTroubleWithMrsMontgomeryHurst #NetGalley

I wanted to read this so badly as it sounded like a jolly good Victorian romp but I’m afraid it fell a little flat.

I am a huge fan of the classics, especially Austen, and in this book there were a lot of Austen similarities in certain phrases or names used which was a bit off-putting.

The added gay leaning of this story also seemed out of place and ruined what could’ve been quite a good tale of early Victorian gentry and their foibles.

What a great read! Not exactly what I was expecting, but enjoyable nevertheless. Set in the 1840’s in rural England, this is an illuminating insight into the class divisions during the time when people of lower birth are starting to accumulate wealth through business endeavours, rather than inherited lands and titles. Many of the ruling classes are desperate to keep their aristocratic bloodlines “pure”, but many are also feeling the pinch of large estates eating capital. Some are cautiously accepting “new money” into Society, while others are appalled at the lowering of standards. It was certainly not a favourable time to be the marriageable daughter of a family with crumbling fortunes. Love certainly did not play the part in many decisions.
Highly recommend. Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Random House, and the author for the advance copy, it was a pleasure to read.

Anyone who is a fan of Jane Eyre should, in my opinion, read this novel. I couldn't put it down until the last page. It had such an excellent storyline. Highly recommended. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me a copy of the novel.

The county towns of Wickenshire are all astir with the news that Mr. Montgomery Hurst is going to be married to an unknown stranger who is also a widow with three children! Who is she? Where does she come from? What is the mystery/secret that seems to be linked to them? is she even respectable?

Set in 1841, it is right at the start of the Victorian Era where society is changing. Industry has risen and people from lower classes have made lots of money in business so there is much social climbing. Many of the industrialists having more money than the aristocracy.
There are 4 main families in Wickenshire:
The Ashpoints - New money. Mr Ashpoint is a successful brewer. Very rich. Father of Diggory and Amelia (and others).
The Earl and Countess of Wickford - First family of the county. Parents of Salbridge and Lady Rose. Very respectable name, limited money.
Mr. and Mrs Elton - Squire and lady of Ludwell - parents of Augustus (MP living in London) and the beautiful and accomplished Felicia. very respectable family but again limited money.
The Hursts - Squire of Radcliffe and his new wife and her 3 children from a previous marriage

Also you have:
Sir Frederick Hammersmith - Baronet and squire. Has money and position. Single lives with his elderly mother.
Major Charles Alderton - a retired army major, independent means, rumoured to be illegitimate son of a duke.
also several other business and professional families.

It's a sort of comedy of manners about class, money, morality, gender norms, expectations, and lots of gossip. What is more important love, money or status?

I loved this book so much that I couldn't wait to finish it to find out what happens to all the characters. It was such a fun read with lots of emotions. I laughed and smiled a lot but also was irritated with some of the characters. They all felt real. I love Victorian literature and in particular those that involve communities with large amounts of characters. I love to see how everyone interact and whether they adhere to the social norms and morals of those times. I love when books look at what really is moral? what is good and bad? who decides? This book gives off a feel of Jane Austen, Elizabeth Gaskell (2 of my favourite authors) and Anthony Trollope. (The first chapter reminded me of the dance at Meryton in Pride and Prejudice with all the gossip about newcomers and who would marry who), there was also a feel of Wives and daughters by Gaskell and only yesterday, I finished reading an Anthony Trollope book which I won't name as it led me to guess part of the secret in this book.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes Victorian literature and especially Gaskell, Austen and Trollope. Thank you to net galley for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy. Easy 5 stars.