Member Reviews
Was not able to read the entirety of the book and cannot give an accurate or overall rating/review . As a librarian for a big library system, we most likely have a copy of this item. I will look forward to reading it in future since I am sure I will.
I don’t know what exactly I was expecting with this one but I think I enjoyed it. Darker than I thought but not necessarily a bad thing. Not realistic, but also not always a bad thing. I would say it was enjoyable overall but not a favorite.
First, I'd like to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to review this book with honesty.
Okay, I'm going to admit this - I kept having to start and stop this book multiple times. I don't know what it was but I struggled something terrible with the characters and just about found no attachment to any of them. That doesn't usually happen with me so I feel that's why I struggled so badly with this story but I can't say whether it was a 'me thing', a 'book thing' or a little bit in middle. Maybe I'll try something later on down the road from author though.
For the Bridgerton girlies! Entertaining overall but not extremely memorable. Overall it was a fun and wild ride of a book!
This was a bit too mean girls for me at times. I think I am just not into the gossip scene. The supporting characters were fun, but overall this just fell flat. I put it down at 25% and didn't pick it back up for quite some time. I did finally finish it up, but was completely underwhelmed.
Pitched as Bridgerton meets Gossip Girl (with a dash of Mean Girls) Reputation took me by surprise! I am a fan of Regency romance but I was not expecting this book to take the empowering stance that it did. It hooked me from the start and I couldn’t put it down until I saw the culmination of these character’s journeys.
There is much to be said for a well rounded ensemble cast, and author Lex Croucher managed to create a nuanced group to both root for and rage against. Georgiana Ellers was a striking main character. While she was oftentimes lost, vapid, and unsteady, she displayed incredible growth, realistic to a woman of her age and social standing. Her empathetic heart made her someone to rally behind even when she wasn’t being the best version of herself. Georgiana’s counterpart Frances Campbell garnered similar complexity. Frances portrayed herself as the “It” girl - reckless and flighty - fearful of facing her inner insecurities. The friendship between Georgiana and Frances was a seesaw of power, shifting between right and wrong - old and new.
This book delved into some heavy topics (TW: sexual assault & substance abuse) but I thought they were handled respectfully given the time period. With so much debauchery going on, I believe these scenes fit into the narrative, continuously upping the ante, while making room for important conversations.
As for the romantic sub plot, I wish we had gotten more scenes with Georgiana’s love interest Thomas because the banter between them flowed deliciously. Thomas was an incredibly likable character and the perfect person to hold the metaphorical mirror up to Georgiana so she could face her destructive tendencies. They each provided something the other was missing which made for a delightful partnership.
If you’re a fan of Jane Austen or feminist reclaiming’s, Reputation is sure to pique your interest. It was such a fresh take on the genre and made me excited to check out more of Croucher’s historical titles.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
A fun sweet read! Highly recommend.
Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my ARC.
Great book. I enjoyed Reading it. The characters and plot were interesting life like and easy to connect with.
I couldn’t get into this book when in print but finally did when in audiobook, the narrator was very good but Georgina was so frustrating, I understand she wanted to fit in but it got very hard to relate to her when she kept making selfish decisions and trying to get Frances approved, I really didn’t understand what Thomas so in her but their letter exchange was very cute and Betty was adorable.
I had high expectations for this book but it just fell flat for me. I had a hard time getting into the flow of the book and just didn’t capture my attention like I hoped it would.
"Reputation" by Lex Croucher is a delightful and witty contemporary YA novel that offers a fresh take on the classic theme of identity and the pressures of social media. The story follows Abi, a relatable and endearing protagonist who finds herself thrust into the spotlight after a chance encounter with a famous musician goes viral online.
Croucher's writing is engaging and filled with humor and heartfelt moments that will resonate with readers of all ages. Through Abi's journey, the novel explores important themes such as authenticity, friendship, and the impact of internet culture on our lives. The characters are well-developed and diverse, each with their own quirks and insecurities that add depth to the story. This book is a timely and thought-provoking read that offers a nuanced exploration of the complexities of fame and the ways in which our online personas can both shape and distort our sense of self. With its engaging plot and lovable characters, this novel is sure to leave a lasting impression.
I loved the premise of this book - but sadly I could not get into it. I just couldn't get past the personalities. It was a slow start that did not hold my attention.
This story was mostly entertaining and kept me engaged. It definitely felt like an homage to Mean Girls but also wasn’t super up front with that. I didn’t feel super attached to any of the characters, so I do wish someone had been a little more empathetic.
This was my first book by Lex Croucher and I thought it was so good. History meets Mean Girls. At times there were slow parts but it was very entertaining though, and better than I had anticipated.
Did not finish. I'm not always a fan of Regency romance but I took a chance, but unfortunately this book didn't work for me. I know fans of Regency romance will love it as it seemed fun.
I requested this while I was in my Bridgerton love phase. I wanted to immerse myself in all things regency. This missed the mark a little. While it was set in regency time, there was a modernness to the way the characters acted. I've read reviews that likened it to Mean Girls and it was definitely that. It was hard to like or root for many of the characters. While I'm happy I read this, I don't think this series is for me.
Bridgerton meets Gossip Girl? I'm sold! I read REPUTATION by Lex Croucher in two formats (audio and ebook), and I loved both equally! The narrator perfectly captured each character's unique voice in the audiobook version, and ebook was just as charming. A lovely feminist twist in the historical romance genre!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me a free eARC of this book to read in exchange for my review!
I had a really difficult time getting into this one. I did have to DNF it about 25% in. It was hard to keep my attention on. The writing style seemed more forced to fit with the time period, but didn't feel natural or flowing due to this.
This is a very interesting why a historical romance. We all know that teens can be gossipy and manipulative and mean to one another. It’s very interesting to see what we would consider high school drama set an a historical. Why a Romance period it was interesting to see the heroin, navigate everything and also reputation to a young adult matters at any time in history. This was an enjoyable book.