This was a nice fast read played out in from 1929 to early 1930’s in Europe and US. If you like a historical touch to a sapphic romance this can be something for you.

Clara coming from a rather humble background gets a chance to travel in Europe with Aunt Matilda, she relies on handouts from snobby relatives like Matilda. When on a boat trip she meets Addie that is the stewardess. On the boat Clara finds out that she has inherited a lot of money from her grandfather instead of her cousin Harry that tarnished the family name. Aunt Matilda not happy, but she cannot do anything about it. Addie is on the prowl for a new female suitor after her love Eva died. Her initial approach fails, and she starts to look at Clara and even more so when she finds out she has inherited money, then the seduction is in play. They are soon very much involved.

Clara leaves with Addie travel back to US and moves in with her in Boston and they live happily. Addie is convinced that Clara will soon tire of her, and Clara does not tell Addie she loves her. Thus, their whole relationship does not feel that stable, but they are in fact loving each other very much. One day Clara finds out that Addie did not approach her until she knew she had money and has lied about that as well as her background. She breaks up with Addie, throws her out and moves back home where she purchases a house where she can live comfortably with her inherited money.

Addie tries to survive in any way she can but since the depression years she finds no way out in the end besides trying to contact Clara for help. Clara does not trust Addie, but she helps her a bit despite this. From then on Addie’s mission is to do everything in her power to earn back Clara’s trust and love while she tries to build a life for herself. Will they find their HEA in the end?

I received a free ARC via NetGalley and leave a review voluntarily.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the eARC of this book!

*This review will contain spoilers*

The Unexpected Heiress is a historical sapphic romance featuring a trope I haven't read a lot of but makes me kick my feet thinking about it: sultry seductive con woman falls for her naive, gullible mark.

Clara (our unexpected heiress) starts the novel very unsure of herself, deliberately making herself smaller in the presence of others and absolutely starving for even a hint of kindness. Addie, on the other hand, presents as very worldly, being a stewardess on small ship that travels from England to France, and has been seducing wealthy women to try and create a comfortable life for herself. When Addie finds out about Clara's very sudden inheritance, she decides to pursue Clara and try to become her "companion."

The truth does eventually come out, and I'm not usually someone who likes my main couple to split up, but in this instance, I felt like the break was super important for them to actually have a happy ending. Clara and Addie's initial relationship was based on lies - while Addie grew to love Clara, that's definitely not why she entered into the relationship in the first place. Seeing their relationship fall apart, but then later seeing them slowly come back together, was incredibly sweet, and had me rooting for them!! I loved to see all the character growth, from Clara fully coming into her own and finding her confidence, to Addie realizing how important honesty is in relationships.

I do wish we'd gotten to see a bit more of what Clara was choosing to do with her life once Addie was gone, rather than there just being a time skip, but that's a really minor complaint.

If you like historical, queer romance, you definitely won't be disappointed by this one.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
Set against a Gatsby-esque backdrop, The Unexpected Heiress follows Clara Cooper, a young closeted lesbian who starts crushing on Addie Barnes, one of the hostesses on her cruise abroad. Addie Barnes finds Clara’s puppy love endearing but doesn’t take her seriously, at least not until she learns that Clara recently inherited her grandfather’s wealth. She befriends and seduces Clara, thus beginning the long, dramatic saga of their relationship. How long can Addie keep her true intentions secret? And how can she stop herself from falling for Clara’s talents and kindness?

There are no real villains in The Unexpected Heiress, unless you count headache-inducing misunderstandings. Though Clara and Addie must keep their relationship secret, the only real force keeping them apart is themselves. Their love and chemistry are palpable, but their insecurities, pasts, and lies drive seemingly never-ending wedges between them. I wanted to lock them both in a room and force them to just talk to each other. My favorite toxic lesbians.

There are few supporting characters in the novel, giving readers plenty of time to focus on Clara and Addie’s relationship. None of the side characters were relevant enough to justify more screen time, but there was one woman in the first half of the novel I wished I’d gotten to learn more about. I wished we could have also learned more about Addie’s past relationships, Clara’s brothers, and the grandfather who gave her all the wealth in the first place.

I enjoyed our main pair. Clara started off insecure and clumsy, but readers get to watch her blossom into a secure woman. Addie, who had always been charming, had her own struggles. With one previous lover dead and the rest having given up on her, she’s hesitant to let herself love again.

Though the book is set in 1920s America, readers are given a more lighthearted approach to a sapphic love story—it’s about queer love and joy, not suffering. There are only a few comments about off-screen homophobia. Some might find this unrealistic, but I enjoy that kind of narrative. I don’t always want to read about hate crimes. Sometimes I just want them to cuddle and be happy and drink tea, dammit.

Overall, The Unexpected Heiress was a fun—if sometimes frustrating—love story about two very different women fighting their own demons to come together. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys sapphic romances, 1920s history, or Gatsby-level yearning.

thank you netgalley and bold strokes books for the arc!
it's been so long since i read a sapphic book and this was pretty enjoyable. it took me a few chapters to get used to the writing (3rd person is not my preference) and distinguish the two leads, but i read this quickly. the angst and spice was good. there was some conflict but it didn't anger me, i could really see the intentional character growth. the second half was better than the first half.

Clara Copper is traveling with her unkind Aunt Matilda. Her aunt constantly reminds Clara of her lack of money, her need to marry since she is already twenty- five, and her overall shortcomings in life. So when Clara meets Adeline Barnes aboard a boat, she is instantly smitten. Clara becomes aware that Addie is having a summer fling with Miss Windemere, who is a very wealthy woman. But Addie is left high and dry when Miss Windemere gets off on the next stop and won't be taking Addie with her. Addie comes up with a plan to make Clara fall for her. Perhaps Clara can help Addie find a better job or take her with her as a companion when the trip ends.
Clara does fall for Addie, and eventually, Addie does too. Their love story slowly progresses, and their love grows. But too many secrets on Addie's part ruin the life they had started to build. Loved this sapphic love story, how they had to hide their love and the trials they face due to secrets and misunderstandings.
Thank you, Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books, Inc. for this ARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

I'm so sorry but I had to DNF this book. I'm super picky about the type of writing that I like and this book actually did meet those expectations! Unfortunatly, the plot and pacing did not keep my interest. However, I do think I'd like to give other titles by this author a try!

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC :)

Two girls meet on a European river boat, their intentions for each other not really aligning at the beginning.

Clara Cooper is used to being overlooked or worse, bullied, when she experiences a little attention from Addie, she finds herself falling quickly. Being the recipient of an inheritance changes her financial situation for the better, but does her companion love her for who she is or what she has?

Addie Barnes has faced a lot of rejection and loss in her life. Everyone she has ever loved, leaves her. She has learned to look out for herself and herself only, no matter the cost. She feels something for Clara, but can’t figure out if it’s pity or something else. When the perfect opportunity to obtain security falls into her lap, she runs with it. Slowly but surely, she figures out what it is she really feels for Clara but a slip up, makes it all come crashing down. She finds herself alone once again.

I loved Clara and Addie, they were such flawed characters from beginning to end but, each at their own time, wanted to be better. Even when they mess up, one can trace back their mistakes to their traumas. I was rooting for them, separately and together, the entire time. The angst was, for lack of a better word, delicious. It was so well written that I felt the pressure of the deception in my chest.

In summary, I really loved the book. I saw the character growth throughout and it was wonderfully written with a good pace. An instant favorite that I will definitely re-read.

Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for providing me with an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This premise had so much promise! Two women meet on a European river cruise, one with ulterior motives, and their love story, falling out, and reconnecting.

However…. the writing was about 80% telling and maybe 20% showing, which made it hard to ever feel truly present in the story. It read like an inexperienced author leaning on a repetitive “and then she did this, and then she felt this…” style, which left the pacing choppy. We’d go long stretches with that kind of narration before finally getting an actual fleshed-out scene.

Because so much of the story was told rather than shown, the emotional beats and character arcs felt surface level. The third act climax felt especially unearned with the stakes suddenly so much higher after we yada yada’d our way there.
I would have ready 3 separate books of their story! The river cruise love story, their life together in Boston, and the time skip to reconnecting. Squishing it all in one fast paced book isn’t my cup of tea.

I hate to rate it low because I wanted to like it but in the end, I couldn’t get invested. I was never really inside the characters’ worlds and felt like I was just being told about them from a distance.

There were some nice moments in this book. The change we see in Addie from being a cynical manipulator to someone who actually cares is great. I would however liked to have seen more detail and depth. When Clara comes out from being an innocent there needs more explanation. As soon as someone shows affection she realises she is attracted to women. Where did that come from? What formative experiences helped her into that journey? Her family too were very expecting. I’d have thought attitudes in 1929 would be more or less universally conservative but her brothers and parents did not seem to bat an eyelid.

Clara has zero interest in getting married, but with no financial means or skills, it feels like her only option. On a cruise with her aunt, Clara meets Addie, a beautiful stewardess that catches her eye. Addie is no stranger to struggle and uses her beauty and charm to make do. When Addie discovers that Clara has unexpectedly received an inheritance, well, she sees a meal ticket. With Clara already being smitten, it just makes things easier for Addie, so she’ll flutter her lashes here and wink a few times over there. Hook, line, and sinker. She'll just bid her time with Clara and then be on her merry way. The only thing Addie doesn’t count on is falling for the woman.


A historical sapphic romance about two young women who found love during the Great Depression Era. Clara and Addie were opposites in many ways and I thought it made them a unique match. Their journey wasn’t a smooth drive because there was a bump here and a pothole over there, which made it realistic. In the beginning, I was not a fan of Addie, but over time, as I learned more of her background, I sympathized with her.


I was pleased with the character development from both sides and proud that one of them was able to come out of her shell. The hardship, poverty, and challenges faced during the Great Depression were depicted well. It always breaks my heart to read about what it was like for the queer community back then and this was no exception. Overall, it’s worth reading this historical romance, and I wasn’t able to put it down until the very end.

Stifled artist Clara and pragmatic stewardess Addie fall for each other on the ship where Addie works. Their relationship deepens amid the hardships of the Great Depression, but secrets and class differences threaten to tear them apart.

What a lovely novel! Clara and Addie are both likable and relatable, and I couldn’t help routing for them to be together despite the obstacles they faced. Filled with sweet longing, it’s an enjoyable and satisfying read.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This was such a satisfying read. I flew through it in one sitting and honestly didn’t want it to end. Set during the Great Depression, it follows Clara, a quiet artist who unexpectedly inherits a fortune, and Addie, a sharp, street-smart woman who’s used to surviving on charm and strategy. Their relationship starts off rocky—Addie’s intentions aren’t exactly pure—but watching them grow together was one of the best parts of the book.

I really appreciated how the story didn’t rely on insta-love or dramatic third-act twists. Instead, the tension and emotional growth felt natural, especially as both women slowly let their guards down. Clara’s transformation from a shy wallflower to a confident, independent woman was especially well done. And Addie? She’s flawed, no question, but her arc is compelling and believable.

The historical setting was immersive without being overwhelming. I liked the glimpses into queer life during that time—how people navigated relationships under the guise of companionship, and the subtle nods to the underground scene. It added depth without bogging down the story.

If I had one critique, it’s that I wish the book had been longer. There were moments where time jumped ahead and I wanted to linger a bit more with the characters. But for a short novel, it packed in a lot—romance, personal growth, and a strong sense of place.

Overall, this is a lovely, fast-paced sapphic historical romance with two compelling leads and a satisfying emotional journey. Definitely recommend if you’re looking for something heartfelt and character-driven.

Amazing book loved the characters and plot. I couldn't stop reading I stayed up all night. I loved the book so much thank you for the arc.

This is a beautiful written sapphic historiacal fiction that took place during the great depression. It well written and I enjoyed getting to know the characters. It fast paced but covers alot. I recommend.

Thanks NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books.

In the 1920s, when Clara accompanies her aunt on a river cruise in France, they meet Addie, one of the ship's staff. Addie has always lived by her wits, pairing up with rich women as their companions and more recently living with a wealthy lover who died, leaving Addie without an inheritance. While Clara's disagreeable aunt is wealthy, Clara is not, until she unexpectedly receives the bulk of her grandfather's estate and is instantly rich. She and Addie then become lovers and return to Boston. But the secrets Addie is keeping from Clara turn out to be her undoing.

This was a somewhat engaging read, especially the second half after a little bit of a middle lull. Both MCs undergo arcs of change, especially Clara who begins as a shy wallflower and ends up taking charge of her life.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

A special thank you to Net Galley, Bold Strokes Books and Cassidy Crane for this ARC! I am happy to share my honest review.

The Unexpected Heiress was truly a delight to read. A rather short but definitely sweet wlw historical romance set during the depression. I haven’t yet read anything by Cassidy Crane and must say, this book has made me a fan. I will absolutely seek out more from her! I enjoyed every page and was glued to the book until its completion.

In The Unexpected Heiress we meet Addie and Clara who were quite different and likely wouldn't have come together in any other circumstance than by which they have. Clara is lucky enough to have found herself the recipient of a rather sizable inheritance and Addie…well is kind of an opportunist. Addie has spent her life scraping by and doesn’t have much in the way of a morale compass. In fact, she really just sees Clara as a “meal ticket” of sorts and it is only by happenstance or perhaps fate that she falls in love with Clara.

Clara has always desired more from life than what is expected of a young woman in this time period. That is to be absolved within the confines of marriage to a man, have children and disappear. She’s having none of it. When the fates smile upon her in the form of a very sizable fortune she inherits, she feels the shackles of societal expectation removed. She finally feels free! Upon meeting, it appeared to me that Addie had the worst of intentions. She just really wanted to sponge off of Clara and use her to live the easy life she’d always hoped for. To be honest, I wasn’t a fan of Addie’s right away. I’m not one for using people or any of the other unscrupulous behavior we see from Addie. But she turns it around for me. I had to remind myself of the time period and of the little to no options for women back then. Although, there are still a great many unscrupulous folks today with no excuses and there is still quite the disparity in true equality for women but I digress. Without divulging too much detail, the ladies become entangled in one another and the true journey begins.

The book moves fast which is to be expected at around 200 pages or so. We are transported to a time in history where life was difficult for everyone but especially women and most definitely for queer people.. This is something that I feel in many ways is still the case but again, I digress. In any event, the author does a pretty good job of showing this and not just telling us. The ladies take a journey of self discovery and growth. I do feel that both Clara and Addie show true growth of character and find the people they were always meant to be within themselves. Their connection is believable and pure. It was really a joy to watch them fall in love. I found myself really bummed when I finished this book, which, for me, is a tell-tale sign that I really liked it. I definitely recommend this lovely quick read to anyone who enjoys a sweet, feisty wlw historical fiction tale!

I do love historical romances, and this one wasn't an exception. My only real issue was that there just wasn't enough of the book.

I enjoyed the characters, especially Addie who wasn't always a very likable person. She was a young woman who was used to fending for herself, no matter what, and it was nice to see her grow. Clara had some good growth, too, moving away from being a naive woman with no self-confidence to an independent artist. I mean, inheriting a cool half million will help with that, of course.

What I meant by there wasn't enough book is that weeks and months would go in book time that could have been filled with how our ladies were growing and experiencing life. Those were some of the things I wanted to know about. The book is less than 200 pages but absolutely could have been longer to give us a better connection to both women.

Overall, I really did enjoy The Unexpected Heiress and recommend it for a nice, light read.

Thanks to BSB and NetGalley for the ebook.

The Unexpected Heiress is a historical sapphic romance set in the Great Depression era. It kicks off prior to the Great Depression, with the main characters meeting on a cruise ship. One's an unexpected heiress, the other is an opportunistic professional companion.

I love flawed characters, and Addie is a perfectly flawed main character. The type I love to hate, but still end up rooting for. As readers, we are right beside her, learning about her insecurities, watching her open herself to Clara. And constantly being frustrated by her need to hide remain manipulative and vigilant in order to protect herself.

For a short, fast-paced read, The Unexpected Heiress covered a whole lot of ground. I was pleasantly surprised that the author even managed to squeeze in a short but necessary third-act breakup, which allowed us to experience Clara's growth. Glad she wasn't left as a window-dressing love interest.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for a copy of the ARC!

The Unexpected Heiress is a beautifully written sapphic historical romance that completely drew me in, and I didn’t want to put it down. The story unfolds with such vivid detail that I felt like I was traveling through Europe alongside Clara, experiencing both the wonder of her journey and the weight of the Depression's impact on those around her. I also really appreciated the thoughtful portrayal of the challenges queer people faced during such a turbulent era.

Addie’s personal growth was a standout for me. Her actions, shaped by years of survival and devastating loss, felt deeply human and complex. Despite the deception, her love for Clara shines through in every moment. Clara’s transformation is just as compelling; watching her evolve from a quiet, hesitant girl into a confident, generous woman was genuinely rewarding.

Overall, the Unexpected Heiress is a beautifully crafted sapphic historical romance that immerses readers in a vivid journey. The novel thoughtfully portrays the struggles of queer individuals during a turbulent time and features compelling character development. Addie’s emotional complexity and growth, shaped by loss and survival, pair powerfully with Clara’s evolution from a timid girl to a confident, philanthropic woman. A heartfelt and moving story that’s hard to put down.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read the ARC.

A sapphic love story that takes place during the Great Depression/flapper era? It did not disappoint. I’m not sure if it was because I read it so fast, but it seemed fast paced, even though it takes place over a year in time.

It was interesting to see how queer people lived during that time and how they could “get away” with having their lovers live with them under the impression that one is a “companion” . We see a little bit of the underground scene and I think it would’ve been cool to expand on that.

I love historial romances and The Unexpected Heiress delivered. It’s hard to imagine a happy ending during that time period, but there is one!