Manic Pixie Dream Earl is an interesting combination of modern concepts and traditionally historical backstories. I enjoyed this book a lot but I think I might be hesitant to recommend it to someone who doesn't read both contemporary and historical romance. Effie's struggles with his identity feel very modern as do the themes of found family and the concept of a manic pixie dream girl (or earl). Julianna the heroine is not the typical heroine for a historical romance. She doesn't want to get married and has a job though her struggles are very rooted in the limitations of her time.

On the other hand, Effie's backstory of having an abusive father is about the most common backstory for a historical romance hero. The descriptions of abuse are somewhat graphic and I think might be jarring to a mostly contemporary reader who was expecting a romcom. I truly think this book blends a romcom with a historical romance in a really interesting way but I think it is best understood with the context of both genres.

I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed it!

The narrator was great but my attention kept slipping. Book one was SO fun and balanced heavier topics really well with some absurd scenarios and dynamic main characters. Book two, however, was slower and unfocused with main characters who were just too nice. There wasn’t a lot of plot happening between the MCs and I think that’s very reflected by the cover. Literally WHO are the main characters on that cover?? Is this a romance cover?? Because I just really think the couple should be easily distinguishable by a prospective reader.

Overall, it was cute and sometimes pulled at my heartstrings, but I was bored for a lot of it. It also felt like I’ve kinda read it before?? I will tune in for book three in hopes more do the charm from book one is back.

I received an ALC from the publisher. All opinions are honest and my own.

One of the things I love best about Holiday is how, with every series, she tries something different: setting, character, country, and I enjoy reading what she does with it. What doesn’t change is her commitment to the genre’s coeur (pun intended 😉 ) themes: transformation is possible; love, findable; and, life can be fulfilling, filled with love, friendship, and more often than not, found family. This is as true of my recent fave, Canadian Boyfriend, as it is of this Regency romance series. Boy, is Regency romance tired after Bridgerton…and this isn’t. I enjoyed Manic Pixie Dream Earl even more than the series first, Earls Trip. To the publisher’s blurb to give us the what-all before further commentary:

When not writing, poet Edward Astley, Viscount Featherfinch, spends his time fending off the young ladies of the ton—and some of its young men—and avoiding his cruel father. As heir to the earldom, Edward knows he must marry someday. Alas, he is already hopelessly in love with someone. Hopeless because not only is Miss Julianna Evans not a member of the aristocracy, she is employed. She is a magazine editor—the only one to publish his work. Also, in all their years of increasingly personal correspondence, they’ve never met.

Also, she thinks he’s a woman. Named Euphemia.

Julianna is baffled. How can her soul mate not want to meet? Could it be that Euphemia is not the simple country girl she claims to be? Perhaps she’s wealthy. After all, she’s never cashed any of the bank drafts Julianna has sent. Perhaps Euphemia simply doesn’t want rank to come between them. Well, no more. Having extracted the details of a trip Euphemia is planning, Julianna squanders her meager savings and surprises her at the scene.

He is very, very surprised. As is she.

Now the two will have to decide what is true, what is not, and whether the truest thing of all—love—just might be worth an earldom . . .

If there is one criticism reviewers may lob at Manic Pixie Dream Earl, it’s that it’s ahistorical, which most would deem “wallpaper”. I think there’s a difference. “Wallpaper” is negative criticism: it points to a romance author who’s writing a contemporary rom-com with the appearance of historical “content”, minimal, slap-dash research, as a means of attracting an audience. Tried and true, but ho-hum. Holiday’s “choice,” ahistorical, at least for this reviewer, is purposeful because it serves a message she wishes to convey and, in this case again, with this particular novel, a playfulness with the “manic pixie dream girl” image and a nice ironic gender-reversal. Holiday brings everything we’d, that is, romance readers, like to believe about the world, at least those of us who lean left, liberal, and to loose proprieties. And her characters, who embody this message, are sympathetic, likeable, and humbly idealized.

In this case, I especially loved hero “Effie” (hence, Julianna’s confusion over her writer’s gender), but Effie’s subterfuge is because he’s in service to social expectations and proprieties. How Effie frees himself, though with a bit of deus ex machina, makes for the best part of the novel. In a way, we’ve read these scenes before: in romance’s good-girl heroines obedient to familial and social expectations and striving to fulfil them with good cheer and warm-heartedly. Effie remains affectionate to his friends, loving and respectful to Julianna, but divests himself of social and familial constraints to fashion a life which suits his calling, purpose, and temperament. In this journey, accompanied by his wonderful “earl” friends, Archie and Simon, Effie falls in love with Julianna, isn’t hesitant to love and commit to her, and takes an inner journey to his father’s cruelty and abuse, which makes for the crux of what has made him who he is, his father’s opposite, while still obedient to his father’s wishes. Effie’s inner and outer journeys see our hero make decisions about how he wants to live his life and why he’ll no longer comply with anything that hinders his self-integrity…

Even Julianna. Which is where Holiday locates the romance’s conflict: Julianna’s dedication to her magazine, which she puts above all else and has for many years. Leaving her, at 38, purposeful, determined, but…well, lonely. Which she isn’t willing to admit until she and Effie become lovers (not such a spoiler, given this is a romance). While Effie’s journey is the more fully developped of the two, (does this weaken the novel? not sure?), Julianna’s way to love and commitment have an easier road to pound: unlike Effie’s childhood, she had her father’s love and support, which is why she misses him so much and attaches herself, to the detriment of all other relationships, to his magazine. Holiday’s end result is a lovely HEA, where characters grow and the genre’s “coeur” themes are served: love, fulfilment, supportive family, found in this case, commitment, fun!, affection, banter, and friendship are to be had.

A final word about the narration, which I enjoyed more than usual. I often tolerate narration because I’m curious about the author’s romance. In this case, I genuinely enjoyed Harry Frost’s voice. It was, well, charming, and his execution of the two protagonists, as well as the friend group, was never over-wrought. More importantly, I didn’t even notice I was listening to a love scene, normally the cringiest part of a romance audiobook. This is what makes an audiobook a listening pleasure: good writing, Holiday’s, and a charming, understated narration, especially important for a romance novel. I hope there’s an “earls trip” for Simon and his to-be-revealed lady love (given he was “caught” reading Persuasion by Archie and Effie, this bodes well) and Simon’s story is also Frost-narrated.

I normally live historical romance but this one just didn't do it for me. I was bored. I didn't care for the storyline.
3 stars
Many thanks to Net Galley and Tantor Audio for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

Manic Pixie Dream Earl is a fun and adventurous historical romance. It kicks off with the meeting between poet Edward "Effie" and he's editor Julianna. The latter believes Effie to be a woman is throughly surprised when encountering a handsome earl. So trouble and romance ensues. I really enjoyed the found family and the warm humor in the book. The romance was sweet and I liked how headstrong Julianna was. It's dual POV which I think serves the story right. I liked that Julianna was a working woman and there was no fuss about it. Moreover I applaud the lqbtq representation and that the author chose to drop some unnecessary drama. Do read if you like tropes such as;
Friends to lovers
Mistaken identities
Forced proximity
Found family
Cinnamon roll MMC
LGBTQ rep
Regency romance
Humor

1.5 stars ⭐️✨

Overall, I felt like this book had a lot of potential since the plot sounded really nice. However, it was just difficult to keep track of the audiobook because I kept getting the characters confused even from the start.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the audiobook arc.

This was my first audiobook ever and it shouldn’t have been. Being set in England, it was hard to follow and understand and was slow…..I did enjoy the funny parts and the character banter however I’m not sure I would have loved it more if it was not audio

This is outside my typical genre and I enjoyed stepping outside my comfort zone and trying something new. I don't think it will be something I will regularly reach for but I enjoyed Jenny's writing style and ability to captive me with the story and draw me in to her characters and keep me engaged with the story development.

I had so much fun listening to this audiobook!
They felt so real it was scary!
I hope to read more from the author (soon, please).
And I hope that the author and the narrator can work together again.

I enjoyed the zippy banter in this novel and the unique characters and the historical setting. It's a fun premise where pen pals fall in love without the knowledge that they are actually male and female, not female to female and the surprise is sweet. It's a enjoyable novel with some definitely spicy love scenes. I listened to the audio version and the narrator was great. Recommended for fun. 3.5 Stars
Many thanks to Net Galley and Tantor Audio | Tantor Media for a chance to listen/read an ARC version of this book.

On this year's earl's trip, the boys are in Brighton, and Effie admits not only has he been secretly writing for a woman's magazine for sometime, but he's fallen in love with his editor. Her name is Juliana, and she believes Effie is a woman named Euphemia. When Juliana decides to take a holiday Brighton, the two finally meet and Effie's secrets are revealed. As they begin to know each other as their true selves, they have to figure out if there's a path forward for two people with such different lives.

This was a fun read. Nothing crazy but easy to follow. Very mid level for me personally, but sometimes you need that, ya know? Listened to this on a plane and it was the perfect way to read this book. Thanks for letting me listen

Bridgerton with a twist! I am obsessed with the narrator; I felt like I was on the ton. Loved the MMC - he was funny and relatable. Effie, the FMC, was a bit immature at times, but won me over. I can't wait to read/listen to more from this author, 4.5 stars!

This book was so much fun. It was a great follow-up to book 1 and the narrator did a great job. I'm excited for book 3 and to get another chance to be in this fun and accepting universe that the author created.

Jenny Holliday has delivered yet another fun Earls trip that was an easy read.

Effie, our hero, is just so sweet. He's kind, been through a lot of childhood trauma, a little effeminate, a romantic poet and in love with his editor who he has never met.

Juliana out plucky heroine, is stubborn until the very last end, until she realizes what really matters to her. She loved Effie but is really a bit of a coward to see her love through all the way.

A meeting during the Earls trip brings Effie and Juliana face to face. As they spend time together, the magic that they had in their correspondence grows into something big, too big, which has them retreating.

Effies earl cohorts are amazing. Cannot wait to read book 3 of this series.

The narration was well done and kept the book flowing.

#ManicPixieDreamEarl

This was a delight! I really enjoyed the friendship between the main character and his found family. I was initially concerned I wouldn’t like the miscommunication between the fmc assuming the mmc was female during their early correspondence, but when she recognized him as her penpal immediately upon seeing him in public I was ALL IN.
Effie was such a fun character. He is so easy to enjoy and I enjoyed Julianna’s character as a comparison to his flights of fancy.
This is a great summer read for anyone who enjoys light hearted regency era novels with a bit of spice.
I thought the narrator was great!
Many thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy for my pleasure to review.

A nice fresh twist on the regency romance, the main characters strive to break gender norms in the wonderful sequel to ‘Earls Trip’. Miss Julianna Evans, a self proclaimed spinster has chosen a life without marriage in order to further her career as a magazine editor. Edward or Effie is a regular writer for her magazine and the two strike up a fast friendship. One day Julianna decides she will set off for the coast to try and meet her dear friend Effie. Little does she know that Effie is actually a man, and not any man but a viscount.

Went in with no prior experience with the characters. I guess the title intrigued me. The main character has wealth, good friends, and a passion for writing. He spends his time on “boys” trips but has never fallen in love with a woman before. It turns out that the newspaper editor he has been corresponding with is a strong, determined, independent woman who assumed he was a woman. When they finally meet she teaches him about what he has been missing and then he has to do some soul searching to figure out what he really wants from life.

The plot involves a group of friends who are Earls that go on a yearly trip together. Effie is such a fun character, a little chaotic but sensible all the same. Juliana is his editor, from the working class and 10 years older. She thinks Effie is a woman and Effie thinks he is in love. When they meet in person their connection is instant and the same as their letters. They were adorable together, such a fun read.

4/5 Stars | The Sad Earl (Viscount, whatever) Club™ 🥀🎩

What I liked:
The friendship in this series is a shining example of how found family can thrive in historical romance. Jenny Holiday continues to write male characters who are not only emotionally intelligent but mutually respectful of one another’s partners, which feels like a revelation in this genre. I was particularly fond of the emotional depth in Earl’s Trip, and while this had a slightly different flavor, it still delivered some unexpected poignancy. The softness! The yearning! The quiet support! Bless these men and their feelings. Also REALLY loved the narrator on this one!

What I didn't like:
This one fell into a trap that I usually only see in second-chance romance, even though it wasn't one. It focused a little too heavily on why things wouldn’t work, and not showing us quite enough of why they would. I wanted more moments of connection, more glimpses into the foundation of their love beyond their obstacles. And Effie’s family issues? That resolution felt less like healing and more like slapping a decorative pillow on a broken chair. Not a total miss, but not as deeply felt as I hoped.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for an audio copy of this book.