A Trans regency romance.
Christopher one of the main characters having secrets, while also not being your typical Earl where he rather stay in the remote countryside rather than the busy socialite areas. It is a slow burn, and slow in general, but this is partly due to the tormoral and wanting to do the right things, and actually cares about others.
I did enjoy this.
The narration was really good and did enjoy the little secret reveals throughout.

Many thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK Audio, and the author for the ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

T.J. Alexander never misses—they always get it right, just right! Ever since I read Chef's Kiss, I have been a fan! This one is for the trans joy, that too, in a time period where we have a lot of transphobes and TERFs claiming trans folk didn't exist. It literally is a slow-burn historical romance that feels like a warm hand on your shoulder during hard times. (Another slow burn—what are the odds?)

Set during the London Season, this novel follows Lord Christopher Eden—a sharp, elegant, and utterly compelling protagonist who’s under pressure to secure a wife before his 25th birthday or risk losing his inheritance. But Christopher is not just any eligible bachelor, and he has absolutely no interest in finding a wife whatsoever.

After the tragic death of his family, he took on the mantle of Lord Eden, leaving behind his childhood and stepping into a role that carries both privilege and danger. He’s a trans man, determined to live quietly and on his own terms—something that’s proven easier to manage without a valet. But how can he be an eligible bachelor, and that too, a lord of his station on his way to find a wife, if he doesn't have a valet? And so enters James Harding: infuriatingly handsome, highly competent, and more than a little intriguing—and everything Christopher feels he is not.

What follows is a gorgeously written, exquisitely slow-burn romance with a side of class tension, found family, and aching vulnerability. Christopher’s internal world is beautifully rendered, and his connection with Harding grows with such care and tenderness. I loved their dynamic—the push and pull, the longing, the almosts—it’s all just pitch-perfect. The best part was how Christopher did have confidants, like Etienne, the French tailor and might I say best friend, who provides one of the few safe spaces for Christopher to fully be himself and accept his body and identity as is. Their friendship was a quiet highlight, especially their heartfelt conversations around masculinity, queerness, and identity.

Also, not to mention, there was more than enough drama and even a chase 👀

The way the whole story came together at the end was perfection, with Christopher finally letting James in, letting him become his raison d'être. I would like to take this chance to petition for a book 2!! Please, pretty please?

I am going to take this chance to say: Trans rights are HUMAN rights, and no one can freely be themselves until all of us can; no one is free until everyone is free!! Anyone who disagrees, k baiii, there's the door!

Charming, witty, and full of historical romance sparkle 🎩💘. The Earl Meets His Match is a delightful Regency romance with clever banter, swoony moments, and loveable characters. TJ Alexander’s writing blends humour and heart perfectly, while the audiobook narration brings the story to life with flair. I adored the opposites-attract chemistry and playful twists. A must-listen for fans of period romance with a modern edge.

I found this book absolutely charming! A bit of a slow burn romance and simply delightful! This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but it certainly will not be the last.

Thank you to NetGalley, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

New author, new story
When I discovered this audio book on Netgalley, I believed that I hadn’t heard of the author before. Only after finishing it, I discovered that some others of their books have crossed my past, though mostly unnoticed and unread. Therefore, I am glad that I stumbled upon this one and decided to give it a chance simply for the fact that I love to support queer representation and love when those stories are set in historical times. This book specifically adds to the repertoire of stories to demonstrate that queer people have always been there.

A somewhat different gentleman
Christopher is the only one last of his wealthy family but won’t be able to access all the accompanying fortune much longer, if he doesn’t marry until his 25th birthday. We learn early on that he doesn’t believe in a marriage based on love (for himself) and, furthermore, requires a wife who cherishes discretion. What this discretion is needed for remains a secret for the biggest part of the book. Someone who nonetheless threatens his feeling of safety is his new manservant who seems persistent on dressing him as his job description demands for. On the other hand, this new companion grows quickly closer to Christopher.

Sub- and main plot
On his search for an adequate wife, we experience wonderful and hilarious moments. The book felt rather slow paced, but some scenes certainly drew me in more and I wanted to stay in them forever, bathing in the tension between our main characters. That Christopher is not the only character with secrets also adds to the complexity of the story, revealing more and more layers and presenting diverse stories. Although the book starts with the search for a working business transaction (marriage), it is a love story after all—and that in more than one regard. At times connections and decisions seemed a bit rushed to me, but—for fiction’s sake—I won’t take offense in it. I was also not the biggest fan of the slight supernatural implications, although they eventually led to revealing backstories that were moving and explained those trauma-induced beliefs of ghosts.

In conclusion,
This book offers a whole lot of smaller and bigger revelations that kept me on my toes. I enjoyed the growing trust and relationship between our main characters but also loved their engagement with other characters. The pacing was, for my taste, not perfectly balanced and there was a lot of info drop before the big final decisions, but this book certainly entertains and moves its readers.

Wonderfully warm, smile-inducing and heartfelt tale of finding yourself and facing the world while being your true self. I loved it so much. Narration was brilliant, too. Would highly, highly recommend and will definitely check out more TJ Alexander's books!

This book is about a trans man who is put in a position that he must marry or lose his title and inheritance. I think the representation in this book is important and the story itself was cute.

If you are looking for a historical romance with queer/trans characters then this might be the book for you. However, I know as a queer person myself that we’re often left having to ask for books where being queer isn’t the plot. I prefer book that have a plot AND queer characters over books where the characters being queer is the plot. The book falls into the latter.

I always struggle to rate review these books fairly because on one hand I think any positive representation of a very underrepresented group is worthwhile but on the other hand I can say that if this book were about cis straight characters there wouldn’t be much to the story at all. The main tension in the book surrounds the main characters desire to keep their origin story a secret but there was very little actual tension surrounding this. Almost everything to do with this subject had already been resolved before the book started. The main character had already worked out the logistics of how to assume a position as a man in society, had already worked out how to keep this secret through privacy and seclusion, had already found a tailor he could trust to provide him with clothing and keep his secret, had already worked out a new lab of how he would secure a marriage in his unusual circumstances.

The two main characters have a very slight and short lived miscommunication that ultimately results in plot progression but not really any actual character growth.

We were introduced to side characters in a way that would make you think they were going to hold more significance to the story but ultimately their story just dead ends and is just vaguely mentioned at the end of the book.

This book is not bad and if you’re dying to get your hands on a gay trans masc historical fiction your options are likely pretty limited so I would recommend it for that reason but if you are truly looking for a groundbreaking masterpiece in queer literature… I don’t think this book will be for you.

The narrator was FANTASTIC and I will be checking to see what other works they’ve done.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me an opportunity to read an arc copy of this audiobook so that I could give my opinions on this book.

A wholesome regency caper complete with hidden pasts, found families and a broken trellis. The Earl Meets His Match reads as a love letter to regency fiction while making each element feel fresh and well applied. All the characters were loveable and carried the story well - my only criticism is I would have liked to spend more time with some of the side characters. As a cis reader, I thought the historical transgender rep was excellent both from an enjoyability point and as a way of exploring trans lives in this period.

The audio narration was perfect. All of the voices came across distinct and plausible. I listened to this in one day with great enjoyment.

If I could give 6 stars I would!

This is hands down my favourite romance I read this year (so far).
This was so witty and funny and just overall swoonsorthy.
Christopher is a lovely protagonist, he’s not much of a nobleman at all, but prefers to live a quiet country life and enjoys his meals with his man servant and his cook on one table.
But to secure his inheritance he must marry within the season though, so a visit to London is inevitable.
To show a perfect picture of an Earl to the outside world Christopher has to hire a valet. Nobody ordered said valet to be this strikingly beautiful and stoic though or have his wide shoulders and save Christopher’s life several times in a row. Ohh the yearning!
Christopher has a secret that can never come out though, so keeping his distance is his highest priority…or can it?

I loved Christopher with all my heart and I was kicking my feet reading about these two! Christopher’s thoughts and the dialogue was utterly hilarious at times and I shipped them so hard.
I loved the little mystery about both of their pasts and the little heist involving their friends, the plot was absolutely gripping and I loved every second of it.

This book has a refreshingly queer cast and I love to see it so much in historical romance. Queer and trans people have always and will always exist and stories like this give me so much hope. While it was the worst time possible to be queer and/or trans these people still existed and lived their happy lives in secret.

I loved the ending of this, while Christopher grew up really privileged he definitely knew it and showed up for all of his friends.

This was such a stunningly heartwarming read. I love a good historical romance, but this was one of the best ones I have read in a while. Alongside the tense, slow-burn romance, there was twisty action and tender moments, which made this book such an amazing read. I fell in love with all the characters, and the trans rep was so interesting and uplifting, really helping to add an extra layer of depth. There isn’t a moment I would criticise in this book; there was plenty of interesting events throughout the book, and the ending was perfectly satisfying and uplifting.

(Version with collapsible spoilers available on my blog)

A Gentleman’s Gentleman (or The Earl Meets His Match as it’s titled in the UK) is one of those books that, from chapter one, I knew would be a 5 star read. This achingly slow burn romance is the cure I needed as news in the UK was enveloped by the announcement of the new Supreme Court ruling. For people looking for a remedy for heartache in a damn good book, you’re in the right place: TJ Alexander has the panacea you’ve been searching for.

First off, our main character Lord Christopher Eden, is a triumph. Witty, well-dressed, and wanting of a wife (well…needing, not so much wanting) Christopher is not so unlike the other men his age. Except that he isn’t the first Lord Christopher Eden of his generation; after his family died, Christopher shed his petticoats and took up the role of the man of the house. In short, he’s trans. Because of this, he has kept the world at arms length, never taking on a valet and operating his household on a skeleton staff. But if he’s to be seen in society as a completely unremarkable gentleman at the London Season, he’ll need to make allowances.

An allowance in the shape of James Harding, the most aggravatingly handsome valet around.

Ah yes, one more thing about the elusive Lord Eden: he’d absolutely love James Harding’s tongue down his throat.

This is my perfect kind of story – the stakes are high, but not desperately so. Christopher is in need of a wife before his 25th birthday in a few months if he’s to keep his inheritance, but there’s no looming death on the horizon. Surrounded by his loyal staff – and treacherously good-looking Harding – you spend the book urging Christopher to take the leap of faith and trust someone with his secrets. But it’s also easy to see why he shies away from it.

Luckily, he has master tailor Etienne in London as his confidant – at least in the matter of his “unusual make”. One of the things I loved about this book was their friendship, particularly when they discuss how Christopher worries he will be seen as less masculine if he reveals that he is gay as well as trans. Etienne, bless his soul, is an absolute gem of a character and I would listen to him tell me about fabrics all day – though the narrator’s French accent was questionable at best.

But if Christopher is to succeed in his plans, he’ll need to be honest with more than just Etienne. He’ll need to be honest with Harding.

Overall, this book just gave me so much hope at a time when I really needed it. As I said, it’s painfully slow burn, but the payoff is magnificent and so worth hanging on for. I’d adore a sequel to this, and have word from the author themself that one could definitely be a reality if there’s enough interest from the publishing house (Harper Collins UK I am on my knees begging you).

“Christopher had lived. He lived still. The very fact that he breathed was a miracle. He had not survived merely to suffer; he was certain of that now. For the first time in his life, he was certain.”

As I said on Bluesky, I’m not saying this book is a cure-all for the damage being done to trans people all over the world right now. I’m not saying it will make it stop hurting, but it gave me time and space and trans joy when I desperately needed it. This book is a beautiful story of life after survival, of authenticity and refusing to give up the person you have worked so hard to become. For all the other trans and non-binary people out there who need to hear it, in Harding’s words, “the fact of your existence is a miracle”. Don’t you dare forget that.

I was so excited to be approved for the audiobook review copy and I think Harrison Knights did a great job with the voices and story. The story itself is very sweet and easy reading/listening, but I don't think it'll stay with me.

It goes without saying that the representation will mean a lot to many people and I think it was handled really well. I don't know how believable it is given this is a period regency story, but I could empathise with Christopher’s struggles and think that this book will be important to a lot of readers.

I found the plot fell flat for me about midway through - I didn't feel much chemistry between the MC and love interest and the other drama felt disconnected and like filler. The relationships between characters weren't established enough for me to care much about what happened to them.

Overall, it's a very cute M/M trans romance, but not one that I think I'll remember.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK Audio for the audio review copy.

Absolutely adored this. I loved the characters and their development, their banter was brilliantly done, the rep was handled fantastically and the plot was great with a touching ending.

The narrator was the perfect match for this too. I've been recommending this to everyone who will listen! Going to now read the author's backlist!

It was an enjoyable book to listen to. It was nice to listen to a book that’s different to what I would normally read. Would recommend this book to the booktok community who are also big bridgerton fans

Thank you to the author publisher and netgalley for this book

This was an absolute delight to listen to, I found it refreshing and a change to the usual period samesex dramas.

Christopher is careful to ensure nobody knows his secret. He lives at Eden Abbey, with limited staff and never ventures far, but now he has to find a wife to fulfil his father's will....

To help prepare for Christopher's trip to London, he's forced to hire a valet, and that's when James Harding comes into his life and the adventures begin.

A really enjoyable update to the period novel that takes issues that we knew existed in Regency England but are never usually addressed or mentioned.

You'll find no real surprises around Christopher and his life, but you will find a well written and delightful read (listen)

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK audio for the advance copy.

This is a cute regency romance story that had likeable characters and a funny main character.
Although it’s set in the regency era we’re not left with a lot of exposition and filler. The introduction of the characters who play a part in the story are introduced quickly.

I enjoyed the narrator and found they portrayed everyone well.

If you don’t want a book that’s just ‘spice’ and is a romance then I would suggest this story.

New favorite book alert!! 🚨

This was utterly delightful, funny and so, so tender. My goodness. The initial meeting between Christopher and his tailor, Etienne, had me grinning and feeling all lovey-dovey because of how gentle they were with each other (platonically, just to be clear, which made it all the more wonderful, imo). And then, of course, there's Harding. *swoons* I can't praise Harrison Knights enough; he did such an incredible job with the narration and struck the right balance between gravity and humor in delivering Christopher and Harding's exchanges. Impeccable comedic timing. *chef's kiss*
It's the first book by T.J. Alexander that I've read but it definitely won't be the last. That said, I've already gone back and re-listened to it because it's just SO GOOD, y'all. It's a warm hug, it's beautiful, nuanced, captivating.
CHRISTOPHER EDEN, the man that you are. I was rooting for these wonderful men the whole way through. Everyone go read--or better yet, listen--to this incredible story!

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK Audio for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first book from this author so you can imagine I had zero expectations when It comes to the plot, the prose or the pacing of the story. Now that I’ve gone on this journey tho I can altogether say that this was more amusing than I expected it to be.

There was this dry humor underneath it all that taking the full picture of the story should probably not work but it did. I was pleasantly suprised by how involved I felt with the characters and their different dynamics. How no matter who was on page, I was completely taken— wanting to know more about each character that was mentioned to make up this particular story.

The romance is a beautiful slow burn, full of tension, fondness and begrudging adoration with both characters communicating well enough despite having a lingering air of the unknown that and forbidden around them.

The plot had an edge of mystery that you would think should come off as predictable, but it didn’t. It is a beautiful tale of romance, freedom, loneliness despite having so many people around you (one of which I personally can relate too) it’s a story of hiding, quiet sorrow, mourning in different forms.
It’s a story of Trans joy, of how optimism has a way of freeing the mind from loneliness.

I listened to the audiobook provided to me by HapperCollins audio on NetGalley. The audiobook gave the right cozy vibes to accommodate the regency era. The voice of the narrators doing well to embody the high society that is the make up of an Earl properly. The pacing was altogether beautiful. Keeping me engaged and involved while I carried out a myriad of activities alongside listening.

I do wish we got more of an epilogue— I would’ve loved to see more romance in freedom from the characters or at least get more insight into Harding’s background but I’m also confident that’s just a me thing because the absence of more does not take away from the beauty of the prose already on page.

Thank you HapperCollins audio and NetGalley for the ALC.

One of the trickiest – and most fun – parts of any regency romance is seeing how the different tropes are used and subverted. Some of the twists in this book were a good laugh, and fun to read; others felt truly gratifying and earned the pay-off at the end.

That being said, this book does fall slightly into the trap of being too trope-tastic. We went on such a wild journey between the various hi-jinks of the characters that there weren’t quite enough moments to slow down and really connect with the emotional side of the story. The final few chapters, which did give us that more emotional story, were extremely enjoyable and satisfying – I just wish there’d been more of them!

As for the romance itself, I loved seeing their feelings for each other strengthen and develop. The whole book is from Christopher’s perspective, which means we get to throw our heads in our hands when he’s being absolutely clueless! It also meant that we got to know James through Christopher’s eyes, and we got that glorious moment where we can see very clearly something that Christopher is completely oblivious to.

This is a great addition to any queer regency romance shelf, and a timely reminder that trans people have always existed!

I received a free copy for an honest review.

I liked the story of how Lord Christopher Eden is not only forced out into society to find a wife. In order to secure a wife Christopher needs a valet. But as much as Mister James Harding might be helping Christopher, he's also a huge distraction.

As strange as it may sound, I enjoyed having Christopher's POV only. This way I found out about James' thoughts and feelings alongside Christopher and that made the slow burn romance much sweeter.