3.5 stars
I received an ARC from the publisher and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I find myself a bit at a loss with how to rate Reputation, especially after waiting on it for months (thanks to it being shared by some international friends who read it when it came out in the UK). On the one hand, I liked it, but on the other, I feel very mixed about it.
I feel this is another book that suffers from the identity crisis romance and adjacent works are dealing with in publishing, with everything being shoehorned into romcom branding. And with it being pitched as some mix of Mean Girls, Gossip Girl, Jane Austen, and Bridgerton, I feel they had the right idea, but that sets up different expectations for everyone, depending on their familiarity with these properties. For example, it clearly has more similarities with Bridgerton the show, focusing more on many messy character relationships, as opposed to being primarily a romance.
One thing I do appreciate that it shares is the diversity, although it strikes more of a balance between being somewhat grounded in the realities of the times, yet also having self-awareness to balance those with sensitivity and care for the modern reader.
I also did for the most part find Georgiana a relatable lead. She begins the story pretty naive, but finds herself introduced to the more bawdy side of high society (which was indeed a thing in Regency times, contrary to what some “purists” who learned their history from Heyer novels believe!) I didn’t blame her for being entranced, but also felt for her when she was in over her head.
Most of the other characters are pretty vapid and self-centered, but I feel like that represents what Croucher was going for in painting high society as “fast” and “shallow.” It feels at times like you could insert the actors from Mean Girls into certain roles, even though I don’t know if these characters had enough endearing traits to compensate for the negative ones, the way the Mean Girls clique does.
I definitely wish I had been warned about some of the darker topics going in, however, as they impacted my reading experience. I did think the sexual assault was generally well handled, but I would still have appreciated a heads-up for that in particular.
The romance felt…just ok for me. This book is categorized as simply “Romance” on NetGalley, so despite the blurb that centered on Georgiana, I expected it to at least be somewhat memorable as a subplot. But…no. They exchange letters, have a few interactions. I can’t even remember his name.
In spite of these issues, I did enjoy this book. I will say that going in with the right expectations might mitigate some of the issues I had. Keep in mind that this isn’t a capital R-Romance, but more of a “romantic comedy” in the style of Mean Girls where the romance is a subplot. Also, I’ve since noted that Croucher has posted CWs on her website, so check those out if you need to.

This book blew me away! I was unable to but it down. Perfect, dazzlingly, very well written. The details the author described throughout the book was so amazing. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

This book had so much potential! The author leans heavily on the mean girl trope and never quite recovers. I disliked all the characters and felt there was no real redemption at the end for any of them. Skip.

It was the cover for this book that initially drew me in. I’ve never been a fan of Regency romances and Jane Austen has never appealed to me. Except Croucher’s version of the time period was very appealing. The naughty stunts and shenanigans were much more exciting than the boring classic versions. I wanted more of Thomas too.
The scene in the rain and in the graveyard were my two favorites.
Georgiana made a lot of rash stupid mistakes, I cringed during most of her scenes, but eventually her rational side prevailed.

Gossip Girl meets Pride and Prejudice? YES, PLEASE! Lower class Georgianna is thrust into the elite circle of regency society, and it might just be her downfall.

This bitchy, riotous take on the Regency era had me gasping with shock and flipping the pages at the speed of light. I would love to see this story adapted to the big (or small) screen.

Truly have no words for how much I loved this book. It combines so many things that should work but Croucher makes them all blend together perfectly. Reputation is a mix of Jane Austen, Mean Girls, Bridgerton, and a little bit of Fleabag. A trigger warning for sexual assault.

The story follows Georgianna who comes from a middle class family and moves in with her aunt and uncle for the summer. At a party Georgianna first meets Frances who will change her summer and introduce her to a world she didn't know existed. She meets Frances's friends Jane and Cecily and their male acquaintances well as Thomas who she feels an immediate connection to.

I loved Georgianna so much as a main character. She is not perfect but what I love is how she owns up to her mistakes and is honestly just figuring herself out. Frances is one of the most fascinating characters I have read in a book. She is the Regina in this group of friends but like Regina, there is more to her beyond the surface. All the other characters also all feel so real.

I loved how this book felt both modern and like it could have been from Jane Austen times. Croucher adds a lot of elements that are more prevalent today like the Me Too movement, more open sexuality, and women standing up for themselves. All of these issues felt completely in place in this story and added to what made this such an engaging and unique book.This book is also very very funny and clearly relishes in its nods to Jane Austen and breaking what would have been traditional.

Overall I could not recommend more.
*Thanks to St Martins and NetGalley for an early copy for my honest review.

petty petty petty... this book was not an enjoyable one for me. None of the characters were likable and the entire premise was gossip girl meets Downton Abbey, which sounds nice but just didn't work this time.

I guess I will firstly take the moment to thank Netgalley for allowing me an ebook in repsonse for my honest review. I will also take this moment to express the "triggers" I came across during my reading experience.

1. Bad crowds 2.Bad friends 3. Rich people problems 4. partying minors 5. broken friendships 6. rape 7. fake friends 8. temporary home 9. love 10. big scandal 11. Drinking

SO at the very start of this story you meet Georgiana on a ledge who in turns meets Frances with a flask. Frances is a dark skinned young woman who comes from money and lots of it, her father happens to be Lord Campbell a very well respected gentleman upon the upper class. So you would think i
his daughter is prim and proper but thats not the case. Georgiana and Frances end up sharing a flask full of cognac on a ledge then disappear together into a room and get into the party hosts closet and tries on her clothes and role plays, until Frances' mother finds her and sends Georgiana on her way.

The Burtons' are Georgiana's aunt and uncle who are NOT rich or upper class, who took her into their home and care for her only temporarily tho. Georgiana is secretl;y poor, but Frances is under the impression she's just like her so in turn decides to call upon her and introduce her to the bad seed group as everyone in town refers to the group. The group is made up of Frances, Johnathan, Cecily, and Christopher. One other important factor about Georgiana is her love for a good library and a good book.This is how I relate to the character.

Just saying at the end there's a big scandal.. The book is a slow burn up until chapter 20 then it really kicks it up 10 notches. Definitely a must read if you can hold on long enough.

I hate to say it but I did not get on with this book. I think that it is entirely my fault though. I love Jane Austen's works which is what made me want to read this book. I went into it with her writing on my mind which is entirely unfair to this author and this book. That being said the description that I read for this book said it was like Jane Austen meets Gossip Girl which I suppose would be very exciting for some except I know nothing about Gossip Girl. I gather the clickiness, alcohol, meanness, drugs, and partying all fall into the Gossip Girl realm. I am not a fan of reading about such things so that really took away from the enjoyment of the read for me. At one point I actually wanted to DNF the book but felt bad about that so I kept reading. There were a few parts in the story in which I did enjoy. Those parts in the story had to do with the letters being exchanged between two characters and toward the end about 90% through.

The main female character frustrated me so much she was too eager to please and fit in no matter the expense to herself or others around her. I did not enjoy the company that she kept throughout the book as I found them to be mean and miserable characters not only to each other but themselves as well. I did however enjoy reading about Betty and Thomas and their relationship with the main character Georgiana. I do not want to say to much about them though or the parts of the story that I liked because I do not wish to ruin the story for others wanting to read it. I will say though if you like kind of period era type reads with partying then chances are you will enjoy this book.
Trigger Warnings:
grief
alcohol
drugs
violence/pressuring woman

I want to thank NetGalley and the author for this advance reader copy.

I got such a kick out of this book. I expected drama, scandal, and parties, but I got DRAMA, heavy topics (done well), and debauchery! I loved it far more than I expected.

Georgiana is a 20-year-old, regular lady, who gets dumped off at her aunt's and uncle's place because her parents need some fresh sea air. At her very first party, she meets Frances, a higher-ranking-socially young woman, who immediately makes her feel like she is living an exciting life. Frances adopts her into her friend group, who all enjoy drinking, drugs, parties, and being just generally somewhat offensive. Georgiana goes to parties, gets plastered, and keeps running into the brooding Thomas Hawksley (who I mentally have cast as Nikesh Patel), whom her friends say is a boring stick-in-the-mud. But Georgiana doesn't agree with them, and over time, cracks begin to show in the friend group, scandals erupt, and Georgiana has to make some decisions on how and with who her time should be spent.

If you love Mean Girls, Bridgerton, and Jane Austen, then I highly recommend this book. Hawksley is a fantastic love interest with a golden heart, and Betty Walters, a friend that Georgiana reluctantly makes, is a sweet cinnamon roll that deserves the world. Georgiana isn't necessarily the most likeable, which I think makes her all the more relatable. We have an excellent Victorian villain in Frances, BIG AUNT ENERGY from Georgiana's aunt, and so. much. thick. drama. that you could swim in it. It was a wild ride, and one I didn't want to end.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC,

4.25 stars

This one was a fun mix of (loosely) historical romantic fiction combined with some interesting anachronisms (largely in some speech patterns and phrases). The description of this story as a blend of Gossip Girl and Bridgerton with touches of Jane Austen also fits. The characters and plot were dramatic and relevant, if a bit predictable at times, but they were enjoyable, and it was clear that the writer was trying to appeal to contemporary audiences with some of her choices. Overall, I did like this one, and I’ll keep an eye out for similar work from this writer in the future.

REPUTATION
by Lex Croucher
St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin
Pub Date: Apr 5

What a wild Regency romance! And such fun!

Georgiana Ellers lives with her staid aunt and uncle after her parents abandon her. Once quiet and bookish herself, she finds life changes radically when she meets free-spirited Frances Campbell, a member of a rich clique who abhors polite society.

Frances' world includes drunken parties with handsome men -- activities that certainly sully reputations valued most highly in rigid Regency times. So much so that Georgiana wonders if her involvement isn't a mistake, especially after meeting Thomas Hawksley, who seems to catch her at the worst moments.

How can the two true? I won't share details but know that if you adore lively histfic romcoms with flawed but compelling characters, REPUTATION is for you. Highly recommended!

Thanks to the author, St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

#Reputation #lexcroucher #NetGalley
StMartinsPressStMartinsGriffin

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this advance listener copy and advance reader copy.

Description from NetGalley:
Abandoned by her parents, bookish and sheltered Georgiana Ellers is spending the summer with her stodgy aunt and uncle at their home in the English countryside. At a particularly dull party, she meets the enigmatic Frances Campbell, a wealthy member of the in-crowd who delights Georgiana with her disregard for so-called “polite society.”
Lonely and vulnerable, Georgiana quickly falls in with Frances and her wealthy, wild, and deeply improper friends, who introduce her to the upper echelons of Regency aristocracy, and a world of drunken debauchery, frivolous spending, and mysterious young men. One, in particular, stands out from the rest: Thomas Hawksley, who has a tendency to cross paths with Georgiana in her most embarrassing moments. Sparks fly, but Thomas seems unimpressed with the company she is keeping. And soon, Georgiana begins to wonder whether she’ll ever feel like she fits in––or if the price of entry into Frances’s gilded world will ultimately be higher than she is willing to pay.
Set against a backdrop of lavish parties, handsome men on horseback––and in a time when one’s reputation was everything––this edgy, hilarious romantic comedy explores sex, consent, belonging, and status through the eyes of an unforgettable heroine that Austen herself would have cheered for.
Having both the ebook and audio for this was delightful. It was very immersive and great to hear the accents. The narrator did a great job. The plot is definitely the “grass isn’t always greener” and a finding out who you are kind of story. I loved Georgiana and felt for how uncomfortable she felt in the fancy/rich world, “polite society.” I also felt for the others because of what society would expect out of them.
If you are a Pride and Prejudice fan, then I highly recommend this book, both written and audio.
Overall: 4/5

Thank you for an advance copy of Reputation.

Star Rating: 3 stars
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance
Pub Date: April 4, 2022

This book was an interesting combination of Jane Austen, Gossip Girl, Gilmore Girls, and maybe even a little bit of Heathers thrown in for fun. This is a coming of age tale, and the main character, Georgina, learns the ups and down of navigating the "in crowd."

Overall, I liked this book okay. It was a (sometimes) fun read that had a lot of dark moments (drug abuse, alcohol abuse, rape, etc) that I wasn't expecting. I was actually a bit surprised at the darkness of the book's tone from start to finish (hence the reason it made me think of Heathers, for some reason). The main character does a lot of growing in the story and of course, a lot of falling in love (believing her feelings are unrequited).

That being said, the story felt forced at times, and I think the book was trying to do too much in one story. I do think, though, that I might re-read this one when I am in more of a mindset to read in on the off chance I missed the value of the book, especially given the high Goodreads ratings. For me at this moment, the book just didn't do it for me, though. It was good, not great, and I felt like the story was a bit chaotic at times.

This is a witty regency era historical influenced highly by today’s standard of Mean Girls. If you haven’t dipped your toes in historical fiction/romance yet and want to see what it is all about this is the perfect book to get you started, and hooked!

Ordinary Georgiana has recently moved to a new town and is staying with her aunt and uncle, who might be slightly dull. While at an equally dull dinner party she makes the acquaintance of Frances who is a high society young woman with old money. Georgiana soon finds herself the newest member of an exclusive group of young adults who prioritize parties over all else.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I liked the characters and felt that the interactions they had were perfectly regal and fitting for the time period; while still introducing themes that we see today. However, I felt the author tried to include too many pressing issues into one book. There were a few plot ideas that were brought up that weren’t necessary and then were never spoke of again. Overall I enjoyed my reading experience and would read from this author again.

Gossip Girl and Mean Girls meet Pride & Prejudice in Reputation by Lex Croucher, out April 5.
Georgiana Ellers is taken in by her boring aunt and uncle after being pushed aside and forgotten by her parents. At a stuffy party, Georgiana meets Frances Campbell, an upper-class young woman who takes Georgiana under her wing, inviting her into the world of lawless socialite society. Georgiana, or George, as her new friends call her, realizes that these people may just have the appearance of class, and maybe aren’t as happy as they appear.

This book had me hooked. I was wondering what the characters were doing while I wasn’t reading. I was simultaneously rooting for Georgiana and wishing for her demise. She was likable while doing terrible things with terrible people. The author lifted a few iconic Mean Girls quotes, which I loved. This book also had strong Dickinson vibes and even had a background Emily/Sue dynamic going on.

I would definitely recommend this book to fans of any of the aforementioned shows/movies. Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for this advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

OMG, could this book have been any more fun!? It's like Mean Girls set in regency-era England. (Jane Austen is SPINNING in her grave!)
Reputation is the story of Georgiana Ellers, a young lady who is sent to stay with her aunt and uncle, the Burtons, while her parents decide to travel and basically leave her behind. She meets Frances Campbell, a wealthy member of the in-crowd and quickly falls in w/ her crew. They seem to live a life that Georgiana has only dared dream about. However, as rich and fun as these friends are, they're definitely improper and the price of high society may be much more than Georgiana is ready to pay...

*Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for an e-arc of this novel.*

This book was a nice and easy read. Good writing style. My biggest struggle with this book is that it took more than half before the heroine had really any interaction with the hero. The romance was possibly not even the biggest plot of the book, which wasn't what I wanted from a romance. I will say it picked up a lot in the second half, and though I was worried at the 50% point, it did pay off to a satisfying conclusion. Book was interesting, just would have preferred maybe a shorter build up in the non-romance plotline.

When I first say this book being released it immediately went into my wish list, so thank you to net galley for letting me read this.

Let’s get right into…

The beginning of the book took me a lot to get through. Georgiana was impossible to like when she was with her new high society friends. She’s a young girl in the recency era testing life and her reputation, makes sense to rebel, but she was just unnecessarily mean sometimes.

Once you get past the endless parties (which set the foundation of the book) the character growth and self discovery was a great delight! The ending was my favourite part, it gave a conclusion to everything you needed and a prelude to exactly what you wanted.

The best way to describe this book is Mean Girls Meets Recency!

Why, why, why was this book set in the Regency period? It in no way followed any of the periods societal rules and in fact was laughable in that these unmarried women were running around and partying like it was 1999 or 2020s or even the 1960s. I could not find a reason for picking this time-period other than the shades of Emma, Pride & Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility sprinkled throughout the book. Did I mention that the Regency period is one of my favorite genres? You probably think I’m a purist. I’m not at all but this drove me nuts while trying to read this book. I did enjoy parts of this book, but the mean girl vileness got old really quick (even though they were acting out from extremely poor parenting). Why didn’t she pick something like the 1950s? Where the rules were still pretty stiff, but things like the parties would be more believable. Based on other reviews, I believe my opinion will not be appreciated, but hopefully it will be helpful to someone. Now, I loved Thomas and Georgiana (when she woke up) and those letters to each other were the best part of the book. The book was well written and I believe dealt with rape and the aftermath well. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing a copy of the book for an honest review.