Gifted digital copy from the publisher and NetGalley

Synopsis:

Astra Davies is a BRIGHT YOUNG THING suddenly orphaned in 1930 England when she discovers that there is no money and she has to either marry a wealthy fellow or earn a living when there are so many veterans of the First World War out of work.

My notes and review:

Though I really wanted to like the story, I am sorry to say that the book was not my cup of tea. I liked Raymond, who is a minor character. There were several minor characters, like the deputy headmistress and the nurse at Rosedale, whom I liked. Unfortunately, there were too many characters that I did not like. I had mixed feelings about Astra and Mr. Harris. I had mixed feelings about their friends and I was disappointed that they did not stand up to the bully until the very end of the book.

Content Warning: Bullying, Racism, Discrimination against Mentally Disabled, Smoking

Well written, with interesting charachters and a fun plot twist. An nice change from the normal damsel in distress plot of many books in the romance genre!

It's the early 1930's in England and as the world around her continues to show unrest, Astra Davies is thankful her life seems simple...until it's not. After her parents tragically pass in an automobile accident Astra is left to collect the shambles and put her life back together, only to find out a jumble of secrets; including that her father left her debt-ridden. Does Astra compromise herself and her beliefs and marry rich, or does she take life by the horns and try to make her own way? Of course, whichever choice she makes it isn't going to be an easy road.

I ended up giving this novel a 4 star rating. I thoroughly enjoy historical fictions set in this era! Astra's story was amazing and kept me interested from start to finish. What I thought was going to be a simple fiction with a bit of romance turned out to be much more! Mystery seemed to be there at every corner, as well as dealing with some taboo topics of the times (unhappy marriages, family members with physical and mental disabilities, infidelity). I was so thrilled that the center-stage of this story was Astra coming to terms with her losses, learning from her mistakes, strengthening her friendships, struggling with honesty in the face of being cast-out by those she loves, growing into a businesswoman, and becoming an all-around strong, independent woman. I was waiting for it to become all about the romance but it didn't! It was part of the sub-plot and other characters lives but was not the main point of Astra's which I really liked.

The story was fast-paced and came to a beautiful conclusion that I was so satisfied with. Some of the characters were a bit hard to handle as they seemed so shallow and vapid, but then again it may have been the era and what was expected of those types of people in that time. Was definitely a great read to get me out of the reading slump I was slipping into!

Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The story opens in 1930 after Astra’s parents die in a car accident. An only child, she soon discovers that her inheritance consists of her beloved family home, in need of refurbishment, and an investment in a failing rubber manufacturing company. Her friends and relatives assume her only option is to find herself a rich husband as soon as possible. Astra is having none of it. Protected from the harsh realities of life but her parents, she’s forced to grow up very fast. She’s determined to make her own way in the world and sets out to overcome the many obstacles in her way.
I couldn’t help but be reminded of Nancy Mitford and PG Wodehouse’s books as I met the cast of characters – batty old ladies, dim but likeable members of the aristocracy, toxic relatives, a poisonous rival, faithful servants and a perfect hero but the best character of all is Astra. A vulnerable and perfectly imperfect heroine, she battles through whatever life, or society, throws at her and comes through with her chin held high.
The story is amusing, serious and stirs the emotions, all at the same time. I did find it slightly disconcerting that, although the story is firmly placed in such a very English setting, some of the expressions and sentence construction was clearly American.
I found this story very enjoyable and will look for other books by this author.

I closed A Bright Young Thing by Brianne Moore yesterday and I thought to myself, wow.

Then I slept on it, did some chores around the house, fed everyone, and when I sat at my desk to write this review, wow was still the very first word that sprang to mind.

Thing is, I’m an experienced reader – no need for false modesty, I am – I’ve been devouring stories for decades, and by now I know almost every trick in the book when it comes to writers. It’s very hard to surprise me with a plot twist or to move me, okay?

Well, Brianne managed them both.

Cover: Clear and elegant, I like it.

Yay!

- The MC, Astra, is crafted in a beautiful way. Is she pampered and clueless at the very beginning? Yes. Does she make mistakes here and there? Yes. Is she a cardboard cut character? No. She has layers, she grows and changes throughout the whole story, and that’s what I’m after whenever I start a new book. Character growth. I also appreciate the fact that she’s proactive – forget the damsel in distress trope, this damsel saves herself. Yay!

- You know those misunderstandings, the ones often used to drive the plot forward? Well, while I understand the reasoning behind them, to me they’re just another trite plot device. Brianne must share my same view of things, because while there are some misunderstandings in ABYT, they get solved rather fast. I’m thinking Jeremy and Astra here *winks*

- The plot is interesting, and there are descriptions, but they’re used with precision and only when/if they’re relevant. The prose itself is excellent – I caught three wrong tenses and that was it – well paced and with a nice flow.

- What an interesting cast of characters! I struggled a bit at first to memorize all the names, but they have different personalities and they don’t just disappear in a nebulous background. Special mention goes to Lord Beckworth, Laura, Toby, and Millicent. Yes, Millicent too. Her closing scene is cool.

- ABYT is dialogue-driven, a trait I really appreciate.

Nay!

- This isn’t a real nay, per se. Call it a tiny ‘uh?’ moment if you will, something that left me puzzled for a hot second while reading, and it’s Joyce’s revelation. It came out of the blue and a bit too late in the game to be believable.

TL;DR

4,5 stars on GR, rounded up to 5, ABYT deserves it. Brianne, you did an excellent job here! Can’t wait to see what you have in store for us next 😀

Wonderful!
Set in England in the early 1930, Astra Davies is living up her life the best way she knows how! Suddenly the death of her parents puts her at an unknown she can’t keep the life she has been living with out that of a weathly husband, and she has her eye set on just one or learn to live for herself. Knowing that she can’t rely on anyone she see what she must do, it not an easy path but she is determined.

I love this book for this reason alone, a women must rely on herself in this world and this author did that, she has proven even back in the 1930 it was possible!

We meet our heroine, Astra, in the early 1930s just as she learns about the untimely death of her parents. After moving in with relations, she realises the precariousness of her finances but is given little advice other than ‘stop spending money’ and ‘marry well’. What follows is Astra’s quest to find her place in the world or, if she doesn’t like those options, to carve out a place for herself despite the obstacles in her path.

This is a really fun, easy read. There are some nice moments between Astra and the supporting characters, all of whom were engaging and likeable. There are enough twists to prevent it from feeling formulaic and it gave a good sense of the limitations in life for women of various social classes in the 1930s. There is a gentle humour throughout, and the conclusion is a satisfying one. I would certainly read more by this author.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the arc to review.

Set in England in 1931, A Bright Young Thing is beautifully written, smart, witty and sharp. This is one of my favourite eras to read about and I quickly fell in love with the upstairs/downstairs story. It is such fun to read about the class divisions and relationships between ladies and ladies' maids as well as amongst the aristocracy. Though some then are wealthy beyond description, people are people and experience difficulties and heartaches. We see some of that here along with blackmail, deception and secrets galore.

In her twenties and fiercely independent, Astra Davies is of the upper class but was part of one of the many of the great families which spiraled into debt. After her family members die she inherits debt and so is forced to live with her relatives. Thankfully her cousin Toby has always been her cheerleader. Many of her friends still have money and keeping up appearances is crucial. Astra has suffered great sorrow and marriage is not her goal so she uses her intelligence and enterprising spirit to survive. Her candor and sarcasm is too much for some men...but not all. We watch her navigate life, learn about finances, step on some toes and deal with the likes of conniving Lady Millicent.

The story is very engaging and easy to get lost in. I liked that it was not all roses but some thorns prickled, too. The historical details such as mannerisms, dialogue, clothing and food are lovely.

My sincere thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the privilege of reading the e-ARC of this enchanting book!

I received an e-ARC of this book on NetGalley from the publisher.

Astra Davies is a 1930s socialite and daughter of a gentleman. When her parents die suddenly in a car accident, she is left with mounting debts thanks to her father's poor investments and the family's home, which she cannot afford the upkeep.

Forced to move in with her mother's sister and her cousin, the lovable Toby, she keeps the secret of her poverty from her friends whilst her aunt encourages her to marry quickly to any gentleman that will have her.

Meanwhile, Astra, with the help of Toby, comb through documents uncovering hidden family secrets as Astra tries to find her place in this new world while embroiled in a fight with Lady Millicent, the older sister of her best friend, regarding the affections of Jeremy, the Earl of Dunreaven.

I appreciated that Astra refused to marry the first rich gentleman that would have her, and she is very upfront with Jeremy that she is not looking to be his wife, not to lead him on even though they both hold a deep affection for each other. The ending was very joyful for me - when Astra finally decides to let her friends in on her struggles - they rally around her. Also, she ultimately convinces Jeremy that he needs to adopt her "can-do" attitude. If he wants to remain the steward of his family's lands rather than sell up and be rid of them, he too will need to adopt her entrepreneurial spirit.

This is the first book I read by this author. It has a slow start but little by little it catches you in the search for secrets, rumors and blackmail.
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Astra loses her parents and with them all the fortune and her home . Determined not to marry a husband like the other young women in society, she begins to look for ways to help and support herself.
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I liked that she is a strong character that grows through the book. It was a very entertaining read.
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Thanks to Netgalley and Alcove press for give me a copy in exchange for my honest review.

While a bit gossipy and drama/chatter-filled for my normal taste, I still enjoyed this story following Astra Davies. She was able to build up a life for herself in the 1930s. Overall a fun little read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

Round up to 3.5 stars

A Bright Young Thing is the story of Astra Davies' a young woman who is living in the 1930's. She is a pampered and spoiled girl who's life is turned upside down after the death of her parents. After finding out that her family left her with a mountain of debt, she must decide which path to take. Will she marry for money or make her own path in the world?

The premise of this story sounded very interesting, as I really enjoy books set in the Depression era, however, the first half of the book was a bit of a struggle. It felt very sluggish to me and was a bit of a challenge to get excited about. While I did enjoy some of the characters, others felt extremely shallow with the non stop partying and wealthy lifestyles.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC copy in exchange for my review and honest opinions.

I had trouble getting into this book. The characters feel a little flat and I felt as though the book needed to show and not tell. It also felt like the plot was largely dialogue driven. Most of the characters spoke with the same kind of voice so it was sometimes hard to remember who was even talking.

Astra's story arc from empty-headed girl to determined, purposeful woman was really good fun. Although the title and cover had more of a 20s vibe, the story was set in the early 30s, and the themes of the struggles caused by the Great Depression were lightly touched upon throughout. Astra's friendship group was full of likeable characters, and even the 'baddies' were shown some sympathy (although I was never fully clear what prompted Millicent's horrible behaviour.

This was a quick and entertaining read which transports us fully into 1930s English high society and reaches a satisfying conclusion.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I enjoyed this book or the most part, my only issue was that it was hard to connect with the characters. But, once I was able to it was much more enjoyable.

This was an interesting book in the last third. It slogged a bit to get there. I kept wondering why these interesting parts weren't spread through out! Some of the dialogue was choppy but overall a good read of the Gilded Age.

I received this novel as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a pleasurable read about a young woman who is determined to make her own way and defy the expectations and restrictions of society. The romance is believable and characters complex.

This is definitely a crossover between Gossip Girl and Downtown Abby ! Yes, that's possible... It's a clever story showing how little men respected a woman and how back at that time we were nothing but a 'thing' used only for procreate, take care of the house and organize parties. But the main character and all other strong secondary female characters showed with determination how equally strong we can be. This is a novel for fans of Bringing Down the Duke, with complex strong women fighting for their rights and respect, while also organizing parties and gossiping, and taking care of a house. Because nothing better than a woman to multi-tasking, right? Great book, I loved it.

As 1930 draws to a close, England’s financial markets are in flux; banks collapsing and a great deal of money lost on poor investments. Astra Davies, whose parents were recently killed in a car accident, finds herself suddenly dealing this situation when the family lawyer informs her that her inheritance is gone and that she must either sell up or rent out her home. Alone and desperate she moves in with a society aunt and cousin, hoping to gather her thoughts. Scanning through her parent’s papers, she finds anomalies in her mother’s accounts such as regular, large payments to ‘Rosedale’. She confronts her aunt about these payments, but is shut down in no uncertain terms and told to leave the matter be. When she uncovers her father’s diary, family secrets she had no idea about come to light and she is saddened by her parent’s lack of trust in her, keeping her in a sheltered bubble her whole life. The meeting with Jeremy Harris, Lord Duneaven, looks fortuitous, but Astra must look to her own future, which looks dire. Her discovery of the meaning of Rosedale gives her life new responsibilities which she takes very seriously. Meanwhile her best friend’s sister has her eye on Jeremy as a suitor and begins a campaign of slander against Astra. In no time, Astra’s name in society is tainted with vicious lies. Even her aunt deserts her.
This is a well-written romance novel about the importance of, not just true love, but of friendship and trust within that framework. It speculates about the secrets we keep and whether they are more harmful for having been withheld. Astra’s lifelong friends provide her the foundation to put her life back together. The character arc between the two protagonists is strong as they mature in their affection for each other and the conversational banter is witty and fun. I particularly like cousin Toby!

The beginning and the middle was a slow read for me but towards the end of the book was captured my attention and wanted me to never want the book too end. Astra is a gal of our times and doesn’t want to stick to the traditions/rules that society sets on her. Despite a scandal, she survived and overcomes obstacles thrown at her. A good book overall and would recommend it.