This was a sweet romance set in the 1800's. The story is told by Louisa and James. It's their romance and the drama that comes with it. The story also deals with inequality and adultery. It was an interesting journey.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Emily Opal for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Gentlewoman Companion coming out August 14, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I really enjoy historical romance. I thought this was a sweet romance. However I have read a lot of books like this before. So I just thought it was a little dry for me. I would check out other books by the author.

I simply couldn’t put this book down. The main character had a depth that kept you wanting only the best for her. I can’t wait to continue reading this series.

A determined Louisa Thorpe seeks independence as a lady’s companion, vowing to avoid both her family’s marriage plans and love itself. However, her resolve falters when she meets her employer’s son, James Halverson, who is a newly titled lord. James having recently inherited his father’s title, and believes that he has no time for romance, with his duty in the House of Lords. Yet, Louisa’s sharp wit and spirit captivate him in ways he never expected. Their connection deepens, even as shadows from the past emerge. When James uncovers troubling truths about his late father, Louisa finds herself caught in the crossfire of suspicion and duty.
This is a heartfelt romance with many layers, with two people finding the courage to choose each other despite secrets and social pressures. I enjoyed the balance of the slow-burn attraction with deeper themes of trust, loyalty, and self-determination. The chemistry between Louisa and James is evident, growing through shared glances and sharp banter. I particularly enjoyed how Louisa’s strength didn’t come at the expense of her warmth. She is not portrayed as infallible, but as a woman trying to navigate her feelings against the rigid rules of society
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this book - I hadn't read any others in the series but this didn't matter. Louisa Thorpe is from Cornwall and has made a Great Error - eloping with someone to avoid a forced marriage, and picking a Very Bad Egg. She escapes and ends up as companion to the Dowager Duchess of Halverton. There she encounters James, the Earl - and they become friends. She's quite an original but held back by the memory and trauma of her youthful missteps. She and James get closer but will she be able to trust him fully with the weight of her past?

Lovely book - I recommend! Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

The writing style of this book is not for me. The structure isn’t what I expect. The prologue is a long backstory dump that doesn’t seem necessary, and the first chapter feels off. DNF.

This was an altogether enjoyable read! Emily Opal’s descriptive writing and attention to detail brought the setting and characters to life. Louisa was such a fun, relatable FMC, and I especially enjoyed her dynamic with Halverton—he was a standout character for me, and I found myself looking forward to every scene he was in.

One of my favorite aspects of this story was its honesty and how it wasn’t afraid to show that we are all capable of Great Midjudgment. It was refreshing to see a character wrestle with forgiving herself in the same way so many of us do. That element gave the book an emotional depth that lingered with me.

While I did find some of the dialogue jarring—switching between slang/dialect and proper English in a way that occasionally broke the flow—it didn’t overshadow how much I enjoyed the story overall. The premise was wonderful, the pacing kept me engaged, and the emotional resonance was strong.

A charming and heartfelt novel I’m glad to have read, and I look forward to seeing more from Emily Opal in the future.

Set in mid-18th century England, The Gentlewoman Companion follows Louisa, a spirited young woman navigating societal expectations, intellectual awakening, and unexpected romance. The novel is clearly well researched, incorporating political and literary elements that pull the reader into the era. I especially appreciated the choice to set the story outside the more familiar 19th century.

Louisa is a delight. Her vivaciousness and curiosity shine through, and she’s refreshingly imperfect. Her behaviour feels age-appropriate for a 17-year-old—passionate, impulsive, and still growing into her confidence. Too often, historical heroines are written with implausibly mature perspectives; Louisa’s arc felt authentic and endearing.

James, her romantic counterpart, is principled and intellectually curious. Their ideological compatibility adds depth to their chemistry, and their relationship—evolving from wary strangers to friends to lovers—is well paced and emotionally satisfying. Though is exact age is never revealed, the timeline of his studies could believably put him at 20 or 21.

Lady Halverton is another standout: her warmth, progressive values, and dedication to education make her a wonderful maternal figure. I loved how the author incorporated many works of feminist fiction and non-fiction, showing that women wishing to better their positions, and women's enjoyment of intellectual pursuits are far from modern concepts.

I was very moved by the unfairness of Louisa's plight and liked the unusual resolution of that challenge. It was novel, in keeping with her character, and following the general theme of bettering oneself.

One small critique: the setup for Louisa’s arrival at Lady Halverton’s household felt overly complex.

I haven't read the rest of this series by Emily Opal, but that in no way impeded my enjoyment or understanding of this story. I'm excited to adding the rest of her works to my list, especially The Gentlewoman Apprentice, which picks up where Companion left off, following one of its secondary characters.

The Gentlewoman Companion was so cute. Louisa and James were fun getting to know each other. I loved Louisa’s strength being willing to take control of her life. I love historical romances so this was fantastic. I recommend reading this To anyone who loves a sweet historical romance.

I'll happily admit when a cover is the reason I took a chance on the book, which was the case for this one. Lucky for me, the cover contained a lovely and heartwarming historical story.

The Gentlewoman Companion by Emily Opal is a tender and emotionally rich book in her Gentlewoman series. (Disclaimer: I have not read the other books.). The story follows the lives of strong, independent women who have each found their voice and purpose in a restrictive historical world. In this installment, secrets from the past emerge, testing the strength of the relationship.

Opal weaves a clean, character-driven romance with careful attention to emotional growth and historical detail. The writing is warm, thoughtful, and quietly powerful, with a blend of feminine resilience, soft wit, and gentle intimacy. The Gentlewoman Companion offers a satisfying, heartfelt read with an emotionally satisfying finale that honors the characters.

Note: I can't say if not reading the other series books first made a difference; I didn't have any issue following along.

I enjoyed the originality of this story, and the fact that this wasn’t a heroine who just sits in the corner and simpers, but who actually gets stuff done. I also appreciated that this was a clean read, so you can safely recommend to your young teenager sister, as well as your elderly grandmother, with both enjoying the storyline just as much as you did. My only criticism is that the ending felt a bit unfinished, however I noticed there is another book in the series featuring a character out of this book, so hope that characters from this book make appearances in the one also

The premise of this story is an interesting one. Unfortunately the main character lacks depth and flits from one thing to the next. The writing was very dramatic and over the top. There was so much happening at one time, on one page that it was hard to keep track of it all.

This is a well-written novel with a lot of heart. I adored James and Louisa as characters, even though Louisa’s fortunate circumstances despite her choices requires some suspension of disbelief given the setting (but that’s part of the fun of novels!). The book is rich with historical details and allusions to thinkers and issues of the era. In fact, the book was a lot more heartbreaking than I expected and spent a lot of time on the plight of children in poverty and on the oppression of women. It was also horrifying to see press gangs at work. I applaud Emily Opal (and Louisa and James!) for standing up for their views. I enjoyed this novel and will look forward to more in the future from Emily Opal. I give it 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing CoOp for the free eARC. I post this review with my honest opinions. This review is cross-posted to Goodreads and will be posted on Amazon and Instagram within one week of the book’s publication.

Content warnings: mentions of forced marriage; impoverished mother giving up her child and discussions of children who are in poverty and unhoused; implied abuse; mention of extramarital affairs and children born out of wedlock; kidnapping of an adult to be pressed into service for the Royal Navy; very brief kiss between consenting adults

you are taken into a really well built world by the author. a time where two people live their lives with the walls they've built for different but the same reasons. to stop being hurt. to prove themselves. and to prove they are ok on their own doing it their way. but this is after all protection and both their hearts might want more when they see in each other so many things they thought they'd lost and so many things they might yet be to find. but will they be able to get over what others see and what they see in themselves...and let love in?
i felt i truly got to know these characters. and get to know why they did the things they did. they were also really great characters in their own right but when they came together that connection was a joy to read too.
i liked how even in these times there was people so obviously wanting to be outside in society's 'musts' for themselves. Louisa wanted just that and so she gets herself a job as a companion instead.
however she lives under the constant fear of being exposed. but when she meets James the son she cant deny the chinks it makes in the walls she built, rules shes built for herself. how can she have run away from the wants of her family to wed, when she has this connection to someone? it would be like giving in, wouldn't it? but with time she starts to see it differently. she starts to understand this new feeling. new sense of herself.
but James is pulled in by her too. and this man has his fair share of protective layers to his own heart and life. hes got issues all of his own surrounding his father. and is there something about his new magnet that hes think shes hiding from them,him?
i really liked being in our pairs orbit for this book. a really enjoyable time was had,