Great romantic read with low drama. Fast paced novel with a great build world. Perfect read for an afternoon. Arc provided by Netgalley

This book drew me in and has kept me captivated for several dinner breaks. The book takes place in a private English asylum during the Victorian era. We meet the hero and heroine right away while she is trying to flee the asylum. She runs across the asylum’s new doctor, local boy made good who has come back to his home area in the hopes of increasing his reputation as a “psychiater” by working with a renowned physician. The author has done a fantastic job showing how Miss Grey, while she may be a little off, is definitely sane; she is not mad at all (though perhaps she should be after her treatment at this asylum). The new doctor, Will Carter, quickly realizes that the asylum is not the place of healing that he hoped it would be nor is the renowned doctor truly trying to help his patients. This puts Will in a difficult position because he is a man who believes that psychiatric problems can be treated and that patients should eventually be able to re-enter regular society.

The treatment that Miss Grey receives at the asylum is probably, unfortunately, realistic to what asylums were like two centuries ago. Patients were often not treated well, sometimes not even treated as humans, by staff and doctors. What doctors and nurses saw as treatment, we would see as inhumane torture today. This happens to Miss Grey, and we are shown it in vivid detail. The author did a good job explaining the state of psychiatry at the time, heavily influenced by Freud. So there is talk of hysteria, melancholia, and even nymphomania as mental diseases. In fact, Dr. Sterling, head of the asylum, has given these diagnoses to Miss Grey.

Because of his compassion and belief in the Hippocratic Oath, Dr. Carter wants to get Miss Grey away from the asylum. He is actually a strong believer in asylum reform, and he has dreams of being able to shut places like this asylum down. But he knows that there are bigger forces against him on all counts. Miss Grey has a mysterious benefactor; she is the natural daughter of a powerful, or at least wealthy, man who appears to want to keep his nasty little secret tucked away. Will knows that if he helps her, he may very well lose his hard-earned career.

The book did have some problems. Except for Will and Miss Grey, the other characters seemed two dimensional, either wholly good or wholly evil. As an RN myself who has dealt with psychiatric patients, I was appalled at Nurse Fletcher's treatment of Miss Grey. Dr. Sterling also ended up to be rather two dimensional; I think he had the potential to be quite an interesting character as both a man of science and business. Because of the doctor-patient relationship between Will and Miss Grey, I was really uncomfortable with the romantic aspect of this book. The first time Will described his attraction to her, it definitely gave me an icky feeling. The plot, after all that the two main characters had gone through, was resolved in a way that felt like a major plot device rather than the natural evolution of the story. If the author had hinted at this possibility, foreshadowed it a little bit, it would have seemed more believable; but even then, depending on how that would have been done, it might have seemed like a cheap trick. Let me talk briefly about the cover. The cover in no way reflects any aspect of the story. It looks like a generic vaguely historical romance cover. Miss Grey’s dress is not even Victorian, and she certainly did not wear clothes like that (or pearls!) in the asylum. I just really dislike it when a cover is clearly meant to just sell copies rather than reflect the book. A good cover does both.

All and all, despite the shortcomings, I found the book to be an interesting look into what life might have been like for a patient in a Victorian asylum, and I enjoyed watching the travails of both Will and Miss Grey.

I DNF'ed at 24%
I had a hard time connecting with the characters and could'nt seem to invest in the story or the progress of the love story, i just could'nt feel it.

When we first meet our hero and heroine, there is a distinct power imbalance between them. Miss Helen Grey, the titular heroine, is a patient at Blackwell, an old manor home converted to an asylum for 'insane' women of the late 19th century in Yorkshire, England. William Carter, our hero, is her doctor. The Madness of Miss Grey is part historical treatise on the treatment of women whose lives fall on the outside of social mores and part arranged marriage romance. It is at its strongest when dealing with the former, but the latter is worth your time as well.

I’m getting ahead of myself.

To explain why Helen is at Blackwell is a fairly significant spoiler, and so forgive me for some subtle obfuscation here. Why it is claimed she is at Blackwell is nymphomania (seriously) and hysteria (of course) and she is under the direct care of Dr. Sterling, who is a renowned voice in the field. We learn quickly, however, that he shouldn’t be.

Dr. William Carter is the son of the housekeeper of the house from before it was a hospital – a fact that is held over his head on several occasions by other characters. The villains in this tale are Victorian moralizers of the breed that threaten fire and brimstone for any and all sins – from promiscuity to poverty. Our Will, however, has two things going for him: he is both a good man and a smart one.

He fairly soon susses out that there is actually nothing wrong with Helen beyond depressive tendencies due to being held captive against her will and suffering from a particularly abusive nurse. Once he gives her some opportunities to display her personality and take control of her own surroundings, he sees sparks of life which her file claims have been extinguished. The bulk of the story is the process of Will discovering the true depths of manipulation and abuse present at the ‘hospital’ and figuring out a way to get Helen out of it. Oh, and there is the bit where he falls in love with her. Obviously.

Helen was raised by a single mother who was employed as an actress – shorthand for a trollop raised by a trollop as far as the hospital admin is concerned – and learned long ago that life is simply a series of tiny plays. If she can control the script, she can control her life. When we meet Helen she has two failed escape attempts behind her and immediately eyes Will up as the source for her third. His kindness and drive to treat her with both basic human dignity and love undoes many of her defenses and she finds herself loving him as well.

Like I said at the beginning, the story is strongest during the places where it’s dealing with the realities of Helen’s life and the various diagnoses and treatments given to women who weren’t married Anglo-Saxon Protestants in England at this time. I’m confident that nearly every patriarchal country had its own version of this – that women who didn’t toe the culturally normative line were diagnosed as ‘hysterical’ and that any woman who claimed to enjoy sexual intercourse was to be feared as the downfall of civilization. (I may have some strong feelings about those opinions.)

Where I loved it a bit less was the romance. While Bennett dealt deftly with the power imbalance through the use of both vulnerable confessions and a focus on consent, the moments from 'well, I can use him to plot my escape and then never see him again' to 'he is my one true love' felt a little rushed and angsty for my particular tastes. However, it was honestly just a few shades too quick and does not put me off recommending this work to any historical romance fan.

Overall, The Madness of Miss Grey is a unique work in our current Romancelandia landscape and one I think should be given attention.

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I so enjoyed the story. I liked the plot and how the story all flowed together. The romance was nicely developed. A+ in my book.

This was an interesting story and a bit drawn out. The heroine is locked in an institution and the new doctor discovers discrepancies in the way the hospital handles things. This would have been an excellent novella. It just seemed there to have a lot of filler and unnecessary silliness. It took me a few days to read it I did finish it it.

Helen has managed to stay sane in the asylum for 10 years. Will is a new Dr. and know that Helen doesn’t belong there. Will he help her escape and who wants her to stay in the asylum? I liked this historical read, the story is fast-paced and entertaining and the characters have plenty of depth. A good read.

I have voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this title given to me via NetGalley. This title was really enjoyable and really easy to get lost in. I can’t wait to read this authors future titles.

This book was so interesting. Not only because the majority of it takes place in an insane asylum, but because William takes the cases like a modern doctor.

Whereas Sterling, the head doctor in the asylum, was stuck in his ways where a woman, if they looked too long at something, was deemed unfit.

It really astonished me that that kind of thinking is still in place today. Helen didn’t let that stop her though. She knew her own mind and she wasn’t going to let anyone influence her. In fact, she was going to make sure that everybody knew that she didn’t belong in the asylum.

The romance between Will and Helen was slow burning and quiet. But boy did it burn strong. It was really sweet because he legitimately trusted her to know what she was doing and she trusted him to know when he wanted to help.

It was a super cute dynamic and I really want to go back and re-read this book.

This is not your typical historical romance and I loved it! The story is very strong and pulls you in immediately. Helen Grey and Will Carter are the two main characters who both have so much to offer each other. I could.not put this book down. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Loved this historical romance set in an asylum. It was a bit dark but not too much. Helen and Will had intelligent conversations that dealt with the treatments of the mentally ill during that time period. Will was an average man in looks and was lower class. He received an education in mental health courtesy of his mother's employer. Helen's relationship with her new found relative (shh no giving it away) was a favorite of mine due to their interactions. Overall this was a great book with just enough dark with the romance. Will be getting more by this author. (less)

The Madness of Miss Grey by Julia Bennet is the story of Helen Grey and Dr. William Carter.
Will start in life was the son of a housekeeper but after sponsorship was able to become a Dr. Now he is excited to be working with a Dr that he has admired at the Manor House Asylum. Helen is a illegitimate daughter of an actress and some aristocrat that she doesn't know. When her mother dies when she is around 15 years old, she is kidnapped and placed in the Manor Asylum. Now in their present day Helen is 26 years old and working her way to getting out of the Asylum. But someone is paying the Dr and Nurse to keep her there. When she attempts to run from the manor again she ends up meeting Will. Helen starts to think that he may be her way out but Will knows that she might be using him. But what Will does know is that she is a sane as he is and that someone is keeping her in there.
Totally different take on a historical romance...enjoyed it.

The Madness of Miss Grey by Julia Bennet is a Historical Romance.
This book is a heartbreaking read. Helen is the illegitimate child of a Duke and an actress. Upon the death of the actress Helen is placed in an insane asylum.
She's not actually insane but, suffers years of abuse at the hands of the employees anyway. She's saved when a new doctor comes on staff at the asylum and helps her to escape.

A touching love story between a doctor and his patient in a lunatic asylum. New to the Blackwell Asylum, Will Carter looks forward to working with the respected and reputable doctor who heads up this asylum. His aspirations to secure a long term post are quickly dashed as he loses his respect for this doctor, who seems to be extremely biased and old-fashioned in his treatment of his patients, particularly the illegitimate Miss Helen Grey who was incarcerated at the age of sixteen by her aristocratic father to keep her hidden away. Will quickly realizes that there is nothing wrong with Helen. He does his best to secure her release legitimately, by having her declared sane, but when this fails he has to resort to other means to secure her release. At first Helen sees Will as a means to get out of the asylum and intends to exploit him, but soon begins to admire and like him. A heartwarming story about a difficult relationship developing into love. Also a shocking reminder of how easy is was to have people, especially women, committed to an insane asylum and kept there for the rest of their lives, treated with abuse and little to no humanity. Thanks Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in return for this honest review

The Madness of Miss Grey
by Julia Bennet

WOW!! This was an amazing debut from this author and I was captivated by her writing. This was a well written romance it had plenty of mystery and intrigue. I loved the mystery to this story it kept me guessing and turning the pages. Helen Grey a young woman has been imprisoned in an asylum from the young age of fifteen but the catch is she’s no where near being insane, someone just wanted her out of the picture but for what reasons? Dr, William Carter is the son of the manor’s housekeeper, he’s in charge of the asylum under the tutelage of a renowned Dr. He realizes that Miss. Grey isn’t insane and finds himself falling for the young woman. What he can’t understand is why she’s been kept away. A really well written story that really is entertaining, intriguing with detail to the horrors of the asylum. I recieved a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my honest unbiased opinion.

Dr William Carter is a doctor in an insane asylum. The son of a housekeeper, he does not fit into society. The ton thinks that Miss Helen Grey, a former actress is insane. After being admitted to the asylum for ten years, she has barely held onto her sanity. When She meets Dr Carter who is new there, she hopes for a chance to prove she is sane and get out as she is as much prisoner as patient. He understands that she is sane and decides to help her escape. Although feelings are involved, they can't let them distract from what they must do. She has someone who is paying for her to be kept against her will. Love is the one thing that she must fight for as well as freedom. I loved Dr Carter, a good doctor who is down to earth and Helen who has a strength that is to be envied Great characters and a wonderful story. I loved it. I received this book from Net Galley and Entangled Publishing for a honest review. I voluntarily read this book.

Yorkshire 1882 "If I go back, they'll never let me go again." That was the thought of Helen Grey as she met Dr William Carter as she tried to escape the asylum. This story pulled me in right from the first page and did not let go until the end. Helen had been in the asylum for ten years since she was almost sixteen . Put there by someone who did not want her known and with no way to escape. She wasn't crazy, although at times with the way she was treated, it was almost hard not to be.
Will was the son of a former housekeeper for the home before it turned into an asylum. He had been able to train as a doctor and he hoped to get recommended by a staff physician, Dr. Sterling.
Thus the journey to helping Helen get out of the place. They are really attracted to each other, but she has been so mistreated it is hard to trust.
An almost gothic story (which I am a fan of!) that takes us down the path of how horrible the conditons of asylums where back in this time and how women were mistreated. Could Will help her and get her away or would it jeopardize his position?
Julia Bennet is a new author to me and I look forward to reading more by her and would recommend this story!

What an exquisite story of torment — the torment of doing the right thing and the torment of being right and unable to do anything about it. I read about the struggles and victories of the people in Julia Bennet’s story, The Madness of Miss Grey, with an aching heart. The sensitivity and strength of purpose that Bennet brings to the tale is at once elegant and harrowing, and the ultimate achievement of the happily ever after feels just as much a triumph for the characters as for the reader.

Helen had been loved as a child by her mother, but ten years of incarceration devoid of any warmth have destroyed her ability to love or to know when she is loved. She trusts no one — one betrayal after another have eroded her sense of self-worth and faith in mankind.

Will's struggles with insecurity about his looks and background dog his waking moments.

Thus you have two wounded people, one in love, one struggling to understand what love is, neither trusting that the other loves them, and neither believing that they are lovable.

If you are a reader of historical romance, this unusual and powerful story — by turns stark and tender — is a must addition to your home library.

https://frolic.media/the-heart-of-a-story-the-madness-of-miss-grey-by-julia-bennet/

An unconventional love story. Will and Helen are doctor and patient when they first meet. The author gives a lot of detail on the care of psychiatry patients in the late 19th century. There is is also interesting conversations about the hypocrisy of the way moral thinking was used to curb women in society. There is a lot of fun banter with the dog Hector and his antics with Helen. Will and Helen overcome great odds to get the dream they both desired.

This is my fair and honest review in return for this ARC. What a story!! awesome characters, well written and unfortunately what life was like in that time for anyone in a mental institution. Gripping tale