I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

“Readers were so quick to lap up the sorrows of moping governesses when that was only one side of the story.” (Finola Austin, Brontë’s Mistress, “Epilogue”)

This quote stood out to me as I was concluding my read of Brontë’s Mistress, as it speaks to who the audience will root for, in either a Brontë novel or anything else for that matter, especially when it comes to “the fairer sex.” The Brontë sisters themselves are looked on largely favorably due to their equal shares of genius and humility, meaning they were unconventional in “the right way, and they tended to award happy endings to characters who fit within their sphere of experience, perhaps in a similar way to how numerous heroines today area”not like other girls.”

And while Lydia has made some poor choices and by no means is a martyr whose experience compares to that of Jane Eyre, it is understandable that she has faced difficulties in her own way, due to having to prioritize society expectations, on top of those of her family (her mother-in-law in particular is a nightmare), not to mention the familial losses that have left her feeling bereft. While I didn’t like her treatment of Branwell and the way she later tried to shift the blame away from him, I could somewhat understand that it put her in a tough position. However, I also relished seeing her daughters defy her carefully made plans for them to follow her example in the marriage department, showing that they probably ended up much happier than she was in the long run, even if they sacrificed social standing and/or financial security.

This a wonderful alternate look at the alleged Brontë sex scandal, not to mention Mrs. Robinson, who I didn’t know much about prior, aside from what I heard in a few other Brontë books I’ve read. If you love historical fiction, especially those centering “unlikable” heroines, or anything Brontë-related, you’ll love this book.

Not much is known about Branwell Bronte, the brother of the famous author sisters, Charlotte, Emily and Anne. In this book, the author supposes an affair that could have happened with Lydia Robinson and Branwell and it’s ruinous consequences on all of their lives. Well-researched and imagined.

Bronte’s Mistress is another fine example of historical fiction. The author takes the story of the affair between Branwell Bronte and Lydia Robinson and fills in all the bits and pieces of how it might have happened.

It was all very scandalous at the time, the young Branwell was hired to be a tutor for Lydia’s son. Lydia was already a wife and mother of 5. When the affair was discovered by Robinson’s husband, Branwell was dismissed.

The author really did her research well and paints such a vivid picture of all the emotions involved. Lydia desperate for attention, Branwell a romantic like his sisters.

The novel really shows the status of women at the time and how trapped they could feel.

I would have enjoyed this book even if it wasn’t historical fiction, the seduction and tension practically lifts off the page and the writing is excellent. However, the fact that it is bringing to life actual events makes it even more compelling.

I received an ARC of the book.

This is a cracking debut!
This is a sparkling, passionate and beautifully written story full of emotion, scandal and off the page chemistry, Finola Austin has written a compelling and enchanting tale which is so beautifully entwined with the historical fact it flows together like two streams running together to create a river.
Hmm, that was rather profound for me!
I really liked how Finola Austin has written Lydia, in history it is always the woman’s fault and if an affair happens you can bet your last penny that it will be the women in the spotlight. The truth is that there are always two sides to the story and in an affair, there is always two persons involved both know what they are doing and yet it is always the woman who is to blame for any hurt caused, this is where Finola really shines she takes away that ingrained prejudice and we are left with a realistic and inspiring account of the women in the frame.
I have to say that Lydia didn’t completely appeal to me, I can’t put my finger on why, it’s that I was more on the side of the famous named character, no I just there was something there in Lydia’s character that didn’t entirely warm me to her as I normally would have, never the less and rather contradictory I did admire her and at times really feel for her and despite my reservations, I was fascinated by her story.
Lydia is a middle-aged woman whose marriage has turned into a lonely and I think at times wearisome existence, there is real unhappiness in the air around she is a complex and multi-layered creature with many masks that hide a multitude of emotions, there is sadness, bitterness and a roaring passion with no revenue to really set that passion free until she meets young Bramwell. Bramwell is exactly how I expected him to be, he is a volatile, erratic and plagued with many inner demons. Again Finola has handled his character with sensitivity and a raw realism that really brings this tortured soul to life.
Living in an era where society puts so much pressure on women to be perfect to be as they are supposed to be and when they are not they become the spotlight of vitriol and so much hurt. Finola Austin has done the most amazing job at giving Lydia a face, she has given her voice so we can learn her side of the whole saga.
It is clear as a bell that the author has put an immense amount of research into this, Finola’s passion for telling Lydia’s story really shines through, she is a hugely gifted author and I can’t wait to see what she gifts to us next.
This was a complimentary copy via the publisher, which I reviewed as apart of this blog tour.

I have been looking forward to this book all summer long. It has been on my radar since the spring and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it and start reading.

I absolutely love the Brontes and a book like this just sounded so incredible! Not to mention that cover is totally giving me all the heart eyes. What I was most excited for in this novel was that it would explore the story of the Bronte’s brother rather than the famous and talented sisters.

It screamed new and exciting for me and since this is the author’s debut novel, it was just begging to be read and loved by audiences.

Summary
This dazzling debut novel for fans of Mrs. Poe and Longbournexplores the scandalous historical love affair between Branwell Brontë and Lydia Robinson, giving voice to the woman who allegedly corrupted her son’s innocent tutor and brought down the entire Brontë family.

Yorkshire, 1843: Lydia Robinson—mistress of Thorp Green Hall—has lost her precious young daughter and her mother within the same year. She returns to her bleak home, grief-stricken and unmoored. With her teenage daughters rebelling, her testy mother-in-law scrutinizing her every move, and her marriage grown cold, Lydia is restless and yearning for something more.

All of that changes with the arrival of her son’s tutor, Branwell Brontë, brother of her daughters’ governess, Miss Anne Brontë and those other writerly sisters, Charlotte and Emily. Branwell has his own demons to contend with—including living up to the ideals of his intelligent family—but his presence is a breath of fresh air for Lydia. Handsome, passionate, and uninhibited by social conventions, he’s also twenty-five to her forty-three. A love of poetry, music, and theatre bring mistress and tutor together, and Branwell’s colorful tales of his sisters’ elaborate play-acting and made-up worlds form the backdrop for seduction.

But Lydia’s new taste of passion comes with consequences. As Branwell’s inner turmoil rises to the surface, his behavior grows erratic and dangerous, and whispers of their passionate relationship spout from her servants’ lips, reaching all three protective Brontë sisters. Soon, it falls on Lydia to save not just her reputation, but her way of life, before those clever girls reveal all her secrets in their novels. Unfortunately, she might be too late.

Meticulously researched and deliciously told, Brontë’s Mistress is a captivating reimagining of the scandalous affair that has divided Brontë enthusiasts for generations and an illuminating portrait of a courageous, sharp-witted woman who fights to emerge with her dignity intact. (summary from Goodreads)

Review
This book. This book. This book. It was so wonderful, and while I knew I would love it, I couldn’t believe how much depth and research this one had. Austin’s research shines in this novel. There are a ton of resources available for the Bronte sisters, but I would imagine that there must have been substantially less on their brother Branwell. I was so incredibly impressed with her research and how well she portrayed Branwell and Lydia.

This wasn’t just another Bronte story or retelling, but the influences are there for readers who like that sort of thing but for readers who want something modern, fresh, and different there is plenty to enjoy in this one too. For me, I didn’t know much at all about Branwell’s ‘ruin’ or his love affair with Lydia prior to reading this novel, but now that I am done, I want to know so much more.

I think the author really picked an intriguing subject matter for her first novel and I was impressed with her research of course but I found that I enjoyed the characters just as much. I wanted to keep reading to see how their relationship evolved and how things progressed between Branwell and Lydia. I was truly captivated and I couldn’t put this one down. I absolutely loved it.

This was a beautifully written novel with interesting content and rich in romance and history. I was completely hooked and couldn’t put it down. I was so happy that one of my most anticipated novels of the summer lived up to the hype. If you are a historical fiction fan, then this is a book you need on your shelf this summer. I loved it and have been gushing about it to all my friends! I can’t wait to see what Austin comes up with next.

Book Info and Rating
Hardcover, 320 pages
Published August 4th 2020 by Atria Books
ISBN 1982137231 (ISBN13: 9781982137236)
Free review copy provided by publisher, Atria, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.
Rating: 5 stars
Genre: historical fiction

In 1843 Yorkshire, there is a scandal brewing, and author Finola Austin uses that scandal as the basis for her debut novel, Bronte’s Mistress. Put down that People Magazine, and grab this delicious and scintillating novel!

Lydia Robinson represents women of her era well. She was raised to be a good wife and mother, but she finds that life running a household is unfulfilling. Her husband provides well financially, but when it comes to anything else, he is a bit of a bore. In other words, he is not the “new-age, sensitive guy” that Lydia wants.

When her daughters’ tutor, Anne Bronte, recommends her brother as a tutor for the Robinson’s son, Lydia’s life becomes more <i>enlightened</i>. Bronte’s Mistress has all the broody romance of a, well, Bronte novel with the addition of some modern-day woman wants and issues. Lydia is clearly portrayed as a woman with opinions and the burning passion for life as any 20th century cougar. However, she didn’t have the same breadth of choices as today’s women. Bramwell Bronte is a young man who is eager to please. He not only listens attentively to Lydia, but eagerly fulfills her every want and need. Bramwell is frequently portrayed as a drunk or mentally unstable, and in Ms. Austin’s book, his issues are realized as neediness, which later cause Lydia to reassess their relationship.

Beyond the affair, Bronte’s Mistress is an excellent examination of women’s lives in that era. As for Lydia, she relies on her wit and cunning to get by as her domestic situation changes. Neither she nor Bramwell are particularly endearing characters, but their story is compelling. Ms. Austin’s storytelling is enthralling and descriptive without being “Thomas-Hardingesque”.

Longtime fan of all things Brontës here 🙋🏻‍♀️so wow, what a peak into the reimagined scandalous affair between the trio’s brother, Branwell Brontë, and his employer’s wife, the much older Lydia Robinson, in Brontë’s Mistress.
⠀
Not an overall uplifting read 😐, but passionate...with very interesting insight into Victorian life. & What a insane amount of research from author @finola_austin

Love the development of a lesser known character, while still learning more about the lives of Charlotte, Emily, and Anne 💕📚

All fans of the Brontës know of the troubled secret affair between Branwell Brontë and his employer’s wife, Lydia Robinson. Lydia Robinson was almost fifteen years older than Branwell, and for a time, Branwell truly thought that Lydia Robinson was going to marry him after her husband’s death.
No one truly knows what went on between the two of them, or if there was an affair to begin with. Throughout all the years of speculation, Finola Austin’s novel Brontë’s Mistress reimagines just what might have taken place between Branwell and Lydia.
We meet Lydia Robinson, mother of four daughters (one deceased) and one son. She is unhappy and unfulfilled in her marriage. When Branwell Brontë, the new tutor for Lydia’s son arrives on the scene, Lydia cannot help but feel drawn to the passionate Branwell.
I don’t know if I was meant to feel sympathetic or completely revolted with Lydia’s actions. The novel is told through her point of view, and no matter how much I tried to feel empathy, I spent the entire novel feeling upset at her for mistreating everyone around her. Brontë’s Mistress wasn’t what I was expecting (and unfortunately, not in a good way). I was expecting to read about a captivating romance between Branwell and Lydia. Instead, the Brontës glide in and out of Lydia’s thoughts and life to the point where this is a novel about unhappy Lydia Robinson above everything else.
I also found some of the stylistic choices to be very strange. Austin’s characters sometimes quote well-known passages from the Brontë sisters’ novels and letters in everyday conversation. It felt odd instead of clever. It took me out of the story instead of allowing me to be completely immersed into it. When reading any novel, you need to suspend disbelief. By inserting quotes into the dialogue, the novel felt very unrealistic.
I enjoyed the idea of Brontë’s Mistress rather than the execution. I think this book would work better for someone who is not a huge fan of the Brontës. Someone who is largely unfamiliar with their works will not catch the quotes or the letdown that the Brontës do not feature largely in this book. I was also super confused with Lydia’s obsession with Charlotte. To me, it seemed completely out of character.

I really loved this story about Lydia Tobinson, who allegedly had an affair with Branwell Bronte. The Bronte siblings are so fascinating and this was such an interesting take on some of their lives from the perspective of someone who hired Anne and her brother. Lydia was such a fascinating woman. I can’t even imagine how hard it was to be a woman back then and she described her struggles and aspirations really well, Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

Love, love, love!! Finola Austin's debut novel, Bronte's Mistress, is AMAZING!! This is a story about Branwell Bronte and Lydia Robinson's passionate affair - and it is fascinating!!

Lydia is not a happy woman. She's suffered some losses, living with eyes watching her every move and a cold husband to boot. She's untethered and desires something more for herself. And then she meets Branwell Bronte; brother to writers, Anne, Charlotte, and Emily. He's going to tutor her son. He's young, handsome, creative,and lively. Lydia finds herself drawn to Branwell. Their relationship escalates from friendship to much more. And, soon the house is talking all about Branwell and Lydia. Uh oh. Knowing that she must do something quick to nix the rumors, Lydia finds out that she might just be too late. After all, writers must get their inspiration from somewhere and it may as well be from their own brother's love life.

What a book!! Austin has written an excellent story chock full of drama, romance, family, and friendship. It has heart, passion, and fascinating tidbits of truth. I just love reimaginings - they always add such depth and drama to a bit of history. In this case, we get some deliciousness in the form of a love affair and a family affair. It's just so much fun to read about the Bronte family and this scandal that their brother brought about. I enjoyed every minute with this book! I loved getting to know the characters and could not put down this book for anything. LOVED it to bits!!

In 1843 Yorkshire, Lydia Robinson is still reeling and depressed from the loss of both her mother and young daughter within the same year. Her marriage is unhappy and she craves excitement, romance and attention. Then Branwell Bronte, the brother of her daughter's governess, Anne Bronte, enters the picture. He has been hired to tutor her young son. He's much younger and exciting and impetuous. Together they bond over their love of poetry.

A passionate affair soon ensues that brings Lydia all the romance and attention she had been missing. But Branwell is troubled and his erratic behavior soon garners the attention of this three sisters, Charlotte, Emily and Anne. News of the affair is also spreading amongst the servants and Lydia soon realizes she must find a way to stop the gossip from reaching her husband and endangering her way of life. As Lydia plots and schemes to save herself, Bronte sinks deeper into misery and self-destruction.

I really enjoyed this book. Branwell has always been somewhat of a shadow figure in the Bronte history and it was interesting to read this fictionalized account of a true event and really see him take center stage. Both characters were exceedingly well developed. I really came to care for and sympathize with both of them. They are both broken people who find some comfort in each other for a brief time even though it eventually has tragic consequences. Austin's writing style is beautiful yet easy to read. I found myself zipping through the pages wanting to get to the end, yet not wanting it to end at the same time. This book is a must for anyone with an interest in the Bronte's. And I believe it will be equally enjoyable for those not acquainted with them and might introduce them to some great literature. I highly recoommend this historical fiction novel.

Lydia Robinson lost her daughter and mother within the same year and lives a bleak existence at Thorp Green Hall in Yorkshire. She hires Branwell Brontë, brother of her daughters’ governess, Miss Anne Brontë. Branwell is twenty-five to Lydia's forty-three and tries to live up to the expectations of his famous literary family. He is emotionally volatile and dangerous, and their relationship is soon gossiped about.

This novelization gives voice to the scandalous relationship between Lydia and Branwell in 1840's England. She's grieving for her daughter and mother, neither she's really supposed to talk about, and her husband has long since rebuffed a physical relationship with her. Anytime she expresses emotions or opinions to her husband, he wants to call the family doctor to examine her or prescribe something. Her children don't often confide in her, though she's distant and focused on her own desires. When she meets the young and passionate Branwell, she initially resists the attraction, but ultimately gives in when her husband assumes she already was having an affair. He drinks heavily and is more enamored with the idea of her, just as she's nearly giddy from feeling wanted. It's not a good combination, and their lives eventually go downhill. It's not due to the relationship, exactly, but outside circumstances that neither can control.

I didn't know much about Branwell prior to reading this book. There's a helpful afterward outline what is actually known in history as well as what's simply conjecture for this novel. I love seeing how the fiction blends in with the facts.

Branwell's famous sisters are a shadow over him, and his dangerous nature is that of alcoholism. He doesn't care who catches him with Lydia, what their reputations will be, his writing, or even the job he was hired to do. She comes under fire as the corrupting influence because she's older than him, though life does offer her few choices. She knows that it's a question of marrying well or being forced to be a governess and that marrying well comes with its own restrictions. Lydia doesn't make very good choices, to be honest, and often cares little about others' feelings, especially in the beginning. When reality isn't the same as how she imagined life to be, she has very little to fall back on, which is sad. I understand why she made the choices that she did, which is a credit to Finola's writing. It's sympathetic within the text without giving approval, and really shows the morality and viewpoints of the time. Those are always the best features of historical fiction.

This will come down as one of my favorite historical fiction novels that I have read this year - to be honest probably ever. I gave this amazing historical novel all the stars it deserved and more. I enjoyed every page of this book and I just could not devour this fast enough, only to reread it again and again.

Brontë's Mistress is a debut novel by Fiona Austin that is flawlessly written and meticulously researched historical fiction about the alleged affair between Branwell Bronte - the lesser known Bronte, and his employer's wife, Lydia Robinson. Branwell was employed by the Robinsons as a tutor to their young son Ned, and came highly recommended by his sister Anne Brontë, the governess for the Robinsons' daughters, Lydia, Bessy and Mary.

What I find amazing about the story is the gender role reversal where in this time period of early 1840's, portrays the woman as the temptress and the man the victim. This affair between Lydia, who was forty-three and Branwell twenty-five was known to have brought the Brontë family down to its demise with premature deaths for all the Brontë siblings.

Lydia is a strong woman who has suffered significant loss. First though the death of their youngest daughter Georgina, and most recently her mother who has succumbed to illness, and a lifeless and dispassionate marriage to an older husband. Lydia is a complex character and certainly a woman ahead of her time full of passion and restless discontent.

Austin beautifully delivered through the use of language and dialogue, a novel that transported me right in the middle of the Victorian countryside into the lives of the Robinsons and the Brontë's that I never want to leave. In true style, the story touched on the themes of women's struggles of being trapped, lacking choices and with passion just bubbling beneath the surface. I enjoyed reading Lydia's story, and reading her story in her point of view was a wonderful perspective - her thoughts and feminist point of view was refreshing.

This was a story that needed to be told, and I am glad Finola Austin took this to task, and delivered with nothing short than utmost reverence to this story.

In the end, I was compelled to reread again not wanting to leave the characters Austin dazzingly portrayed in these pages. I highly recommend this book.

I have a Bronte obsession. My senior year of high school, my English research paper was on Charlotte Bronte. I read every Bronte novel and many biographies including the first famous biography about Charlotte Bronte by novelist Elizabeth Gaskell. I also watched every version of every movie I could get my hands on at the time. It was intriguing to be immersed in their world. I’ve reread their novels over the years and get something different out of them each time. I still love Jane Eyre, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve felt bad that Anne Bronte has been neglected by history. Her novel, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, was revolutionary.

The Bronte sisters’ only brother, Branwell, has always loomed large in their story. Their great hope was that he would be the famous artist of their family. But he couldn’t hold a job down and alcohol, drugs and women interested him more than his art. Shocking accusations in the original Gaskell biography state that when Branwell was a tutor for the Robinson family, his older employer, Mrs. Robinson, seduced him, tossed him aside, and was the downfall of the entire Bronte family. Anne was the governess for the family and resigned abruptly. Who was Lydia Robinson and what is her story?

Author Finola Austin fills in the gaps and tells Lydia Robinson’s story. Lydia loved her husband and together they had five children. After the death of their youngest beloved daughter, the spark has left their marriage. Lydia tries to get it back, but her husband is distant and cold. Her mother-in-law controls various aspects of the family and Lydia feels like she is trapped in her own home. After Mr. Bronte arrives as her son’s new tutor, Lydia feels like someone is finally noticing and loving her after all. As their affair steams forward, how can Lydia return to her normal life? What will happen to her marriage and her children?

I loved the look at the life of a Victorian woman and how even though you had slightly more freedom if you were married, there were still so many restrictions. Lydia was not able to feel passion, express her true feelings, or even pick where her family summered. I didn’t feel in the novel that Lydia loved Branwell at all. It seemed more that Lydia liked the feeling of being able to give in to her passions and control their relationship. Lydia liked how Branwell thought she was special and gifted. Branwell seemed to love her, or at least obsess about her, but his alcoholism and seeming mental health problems made it so their relationship could never work.

I enjoyed the author’s note at the end of the novel that went into detail about how the novel was put together, information that was used, what was left out, and what happened to all of the main characters.

I find it interesting that Gaskell chose to frame Lydia Robinson as the seducer of Branwell and the downfall of the entire Bronte family. They all had their illnesses, but couldn’t the downfall have been caused by Branwell himself? Anne was governess to the family for five years before the affair and she was left without a job. Branwell already had a reputation for women, alcohol, and drugs before he worked for the Robinson’s and a spotty record on actually being able to hold down a job. But instead of blaming Branwell, it must be the older woman tempting him. It is interesting to contemplate. I also find it fascinating that this Mrs. Robinson was the inspiration for Mrs. Robinson of The Graduate and subsequent song fame.


Favorite Quotes:
“Imagination is the only passport required for entry there.”

“Waiting is all there is. That’s all I’ve had, and I can’t – I won’t – have it anymore.”

Overall, Bronte’s Mistress is a fascinating look into the life of a privileged Victorian woman who is yearning to break free from all of her trappings.

Book Source: Review Copy from Atria Books for being a part of the Blog Tour. Thank-you!

Many people are familiar with the books of sisters Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë, but Brontë’s Mistress focuses on their lesser known brother, Branwell, and the affair he is believed to have had with an older married woman, Lydia Robinson.
Author Finola Austin’s debut novel weaves historical facts with fabricated yet plausible details, as she transports readers back in time to England in the mid-19th century when the affair supposedly took place. Branwell Brontë was an undistinguished painter and poet who battled alcoholism and had trouble staying employed. He went to live with the youngest of his sisters, Anne, who served as a governess for the Robinson children, and he became the tutor for their only son, Ned. It was then that an affair between Lydia and Branwell is alleged to have taken place.
A biography of Charlotte written by her friend Elizabeth Gaskell painted Lydia as the scheming villain who began the speculated torrid affair and then crushed her younger lover Branwell’s heart and, in turn, sped up his passing. Austin’s new book is told in first person from the viewpoint of Lydia, not excusing her but showing the depression and inner turmoil she may have faced and which could have propelled her toward a relationship with Branwell.
Austin’s book is a fascinating read, and the depth of research she undertook before writing it is readily apparent in her vivid portrayal of the Victorian Era and its historical figures, places, and events. It is a complex rollercoaster ride that kept me reading late into the night.
I recommend this book to those who love historical fiction, especially readers who enjoy the works of the Brontë sisters. I received an advance copy through NetGalley, but the opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.

The character of Lydia Robinson hovers around the edges of many historical discussions of the Brontes. Branwell Bronte was the only brother of the gifted authors, Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Bronte, and was a disappointment to his family. He was thought to be a heavy drinker and unable to keep a job long enough to support his sisters. Anne worked as a governess for the Robinson family and arranged for Branwell to be the tutor for the young boy in that family. Lydia Robinson was the mother of Branwell’s young student and is purported to have an affair with Branwell. As an avid reader of the Brontes, I was intrigued to read about Branwell’s life beyond his sisters. Bronte’s Mistress is a sympathetic telling of Lydia Robinson’s story.

At the opening of the novel, Lydia is starved for affection. She is reeling from the deaths of her mother and youngest child, is in a loveless marriage, and feels disconnected from her other three children. Like most women at the time, she has little control over of her life. She lives only in her relationships to her husband, children, and extended family. She has little to keep her occupied so when Branwell Bronte joins the household, she is intrigued by the passionate young man. They fall into a tawdry affair that brings some excitement to Lydia’s life. Unfortunately, the affair does not remain a secret.

Finola Austin has brought Lydia Robinson to life as a deeply flawed and unhappy woman. I found myself routing for her to find a way to overcome her situation and find some happiness in life. This debut novel was well researched and adeptly brings the plight of women 1840’s to life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing a review copy of the novel.

1843. Mrs Lydia Robinson is returning to her home, Thorp Green Hall, after the funeral of her mother. But what is there for her, as a seemingly passionate Victorian wife in now a cold marriage. But on her arrival she finds that her husband has employed Branwell Bronte as tutor to their son.
I don't believe that you can like Lydia, but maybe understand her and her position, the constraints that ladies of the time lived by. This is Lydia's story from her point of view.
A well-written and interesting historical story.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Brontë’s Mistress tells the story of Branwell Brontë and his love affair with Lydia Robinson. If you’re a fan of the Brontë sisters you might already know something about this alleged affair that their brother had. The book is told from Lydia’s perspective as a woman in a disappointing and stifling marriage (which from what I understand, was commonplace at the time). Lydia is the Mistress of Throp Green (a fancy estate in England) and Anne Brontë is her daughters’ governess. Her husband decides that their son should be taught by someone else and so Branwell joins the staff as tutor. Branwell is described as a hottieeee and idk if he really was because those 1800s photos are wild lol. But they end up in an affair that rocks everyone’s lives. Such an interesting story with of course, some steaminess...what book about an affair doesn’t have some steaminess! If you’ve read Agnes Grey or Jane Eyre you’ll notice some things!

I had mixed feelings jumping into Finola Austin’s Bronte’s Mistress. I love that the story takes its inspiration from a lesser-known chapter of Bronte history, but I was not convinced a novel centered on an alleged affair would work for me. I was hesitant, but I was curious, and the latter ultimately won out. I drown my nerves in my coffee cup, set the radio to Simon and Garfunkle, and jumped on in.

The truth of the affair between Mrs. Lydia Robinson and Branwell Bronte is shrouded in mystery, but the most common variations of the story imply it was the lady who brought the young man to ruin. Austin feels otherwise, and I was grateful for that. It takes two to tango after all, and I do not think possession of a Y-chromosome and a revered surname merits denial of that fact.

For the record, I was not particularly fond of any cast member, but life is full of challenging people. At the end of the day, I think Austin captured something real her character, something that played to the complexities of unhappy unions, the burden of unrealistic expectations, and the tragic realities of a society that did not allow women their own agency.

Having said that, I was drawn to what Lydia represents on a larger scale. At forty-three, she is older than most historical heroines. Her maturity allowed Austin to play with a unique perspective, and I liked the dynamic brought the narrative. I am younger than Lydia and living in the modern age, but one doesn’t have to look farther than the supermarket tabloids to see how women of a certain age are pushed to the periphery. Social invisibility is a relevant concept, and I admired Austin for tackling it as she did.

Bronte’s Mistress was a little slow for my tastes, but I do not regret the time I spent with it and would have no trouble recommending it to Bronte enthusiasts or fans of biographic fiction.

This is a fantastic novel, one which I intend to read again because the characters are all so complex and yet at the same time endearing. Lydia Robinsin, a slightly vain fading beauty is living a very frustrating, lonely and empty life with a marriage gone very cold.. Along with her three girls' governess, Anne Bronte, her husband recommends that her brother Branwell come along as their son Ned's tutor. Little by little a love afffair emerges between Lydia and Branwell that begins with promise but doesn't end well as his demons and drinking begin to destroy the love between them. The servants beging to notice the affair and it finally comes to the ears of her husband Edmund. As his health begins to fail, he asks her not to marry him after he is dead and that is the furthest thing at the time from her mind. When Edmund does die she marries her old love that she was too young to marry earlier but their union is not quit happy either and so she settles for the sad life of a miid-Victorian, intelligent woman who can never be her true self and therefore shock the society in which she is semi-imprisoned. Thanks to Net Galley and Ms. Austin and Atria books for giving me the pleasure of reading this work of art.