The "Mean Girls meets Bridgerton" description is apt, but Reputation is so much more than a Regency-era rom-com.

For starters, it's about friendship more than romance. The friendship between Georgiana (the bookish, sheltered main character) and Frances (a wealthy and popular but troubled young woman) starts as a mutually beneficial arrangement: Georgiana gets invited to parties, and Frances gets an admiring sidekick. Their bond develops real depth as Georgiana starts to see Frances's vulnerabilities, and as Georgiana forms her own social ties and Frances becomes needier the balance of power between them shifts. But as Frances struggles, her cruelty becomes more pronounced, and Georgiana's high-class friendships - and all her other relationships - are at the mercy of her charismatic and powerful frenemy.

Of course, there is also romance, with a Darcy-ish (but vulnerable) male lead. There is a cast of nuanced and entertaining side characters. There are characters of color and characters of varying sexual orientation. And there is a villain, who emerges as such only gradually and almost as an afterthought.

The narration has a snappy wit that rivals Austen's, while providing more interiority for its main character. Although I couldn't pinpoint any outright anachronisms, the sensibility of the story "feels" modern; this was initially strange, but I quickly grew to enjoy it - and everything else about this delightful story.

Has Jane Austen ever been sexier and hot than right now? With the huge hit series, Bridgerton, Netflix opened the door for a new generation of fans for Regency England and romance. Jane Austen is like the original rom-com writer and there is a reason many of her novels continue to be remade into modern stories or films. Like so many others, I adore Jane Austen—and I am always on the look out for new takes on the ‘Regency rom-com’ genre.

Enter this book. I was instantly drawn to this book and couldn’t pass on it. I loved the mash up description of Jane Austen meets Mean Girls and honestly—that’s exactly what this book is! I love regency England and I think with the popularity of Bridgerton I think a lot of younger readers and reads who ‘don’t read romance’ are looking for books to fill the giant Bridgerton hole in their hearts and this book will be a welcome distraction for many who are in this boat!

For me, I love romance. I read so much romance it’s not even funny, especially when I want something that’s a quick read and will leave me feeling happy. And books that are historical romance always get bonus points for me because I adore historical fiction and this book just sounded like a quick distraction that would leave me wondering if it was time for me to read some more Austen?

Summary
The hilarious debut novel from Lex Croucher. A classic romcom with a Regency-era twist, for fans of Mean Girls and/or Jane Austen.

Abandoned by her parents, middle-class Georgiana Ellers has moved to a new town to live with her dreary aunt and uncle. At a particularly dull party, she meets the enigmatic Frances Campbell, a wealthy member of the in-crowd who lives a life Georgiana couldn’t have imagined in her wildest dreams.

Lonely and vulnerable, Georgiana falls in with Frances and her unfathomably rich, deeply improper friends. Georgiana is introduced to a new world: drunken debauchery, mysterious young men with strangely arresting hands, and the upper echelons of Regency society.

But the price of entry to high society might just be higher than Georgiana is willing to pay … (summary from Goodreads)

Review
So when I said this book was Austen meets Mean Girls and I cannot drive that point home enough. It’s basically Mean Girls in Regency dress. In the early 2000s Mean Girls was the ‘IT MOVIE’. When it came out, I really enjoyed it though now when I watch it, it’s a little cringe-ish. Nevertheless, when I picked up this book I was fully ready for Mean Girls meets Regency England—cringe-ish or not! Going into this book, I think it’s important that readers be aware that there is a lot of modern language in this one. While yes it’s a Regency era book, there is a heavy dose of modern language and issues that we don’t see in many traditional ‘Regency era’ novels. I think y biggest hangup for this one was the genre labeling. On one hand yes it’s a historical fiction novel but it read more modern. Yes it has romance but I don’t know that I would actually classify this as a ‘rom-com’ as it really felt more about the women than romance and it had a much more serious storyline than comedy. And finally, is this adult fiction, I mean yes—-but for me this one read a little more YA than adult fiction and I think it’s because the characters felt a lot younger. YA is a tough genre sometimes. I love YA as much as the next person but when I picked this one up, I was expecting something a little different than what I actually read. It’s hard to define this one in any one specific genre. It’s certainly a mashup of a lot of different things.

So does it sound like I hated this book yet? Well that’s not the case! I mean, the cover and description promise a lot lighter of a plot than I actually read but it wasn’t a bad story. Purists of historical fiction/rom-coms will probably find more to criticize in this book but I think you have to go into this one with an open mind. It’s got a lot to offer readers especially in the main character Georgiana. She is impressionable and young and seeing her interact with the other characters really drives home just how impressionable she really is. I think some readers will identify with her insecurities and struggles to fit in. Even if you are an adult reader I think there is a lesson in Georgiana’s story that people will connect with.

The next natural question becomes—where do I rate this one then? This one was hard. In general I am more of a historical fiction purist. I like things to feel authentic and less modern. However there is an edginess to this one that I found exciting and appealing. The author did a great job constructing a story that had both fun elements to it and more serious topics that I think readers will enjoy so I think that has merit to it. I ended up going with 3 stars for this one. It was good and I liked it well enough to recommend to friends but I don’t know that I loved it in the way that I was expecting.

Book Info and Rating
Format: 336 pages, paperback

Published: April 5th 2022 by St Martin’s Press

ISBN: 9781250832832

Free review copy provided by publisher, St Martin’s Press, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.

Rating: 3 stars

Genre: historical fiction, Regency lit

This book was so much fun. I just loved being drawn into this story and these characters. I want more from this author as soon as possible.

Oh Georgina… what a story! A lovely girls parents can’t Be bothered with her and send her off to live with her aunt and uncle. She gets caught up in a high society crowd of so-called friends who are so spoiled and entitled they steer her in the wrong direction with booze drugs and parties way out of her league. Grab this one it’s a great read.

Ok, the first 3/4 of the book was a bit rich kids doing bad things but then it got me in the last quarter not gonna lie. I enjoyed the writing. Chuckled throughout. Appreciated the inclusion of multiracial characters in Regency England, because truthfully how could you not expect there to be interracial marriages at the height of the British Empire. Anyway, I was a bit bored with Georgiana and Frances’ friendship, I mean you could clearly see where it was going. But zing! Georgiana decides that will not be her story and goes beyond being “…nobody of importance to anybody in particular.”

LOVED loved loved this book.

The writing had me captivated from the start to finish, and I found myself reading it almost straight through one sitting. I look forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for access to the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

As a long-time Austen fan, I was so excited to read this debut from Lex Croucher. It did not disappoint - Reputation is a refreshing take on the Regency era that perfectly blends what you would expect from a classic text with a dash more debauchery and a lot of heart. Ultimately, this is a novel about coming into one’s own, and Croucher executes this so well.

I really appreciated the more diverse set of characters and the Croucher’s approach to tackling the realities of the era, as well as exploring topics around sex, sexuality, consent and drug abuse.

And the banter between Georgiana and Thomas? A+.

5⭐️

#netgalley #reputation

I rated this book 3.5 stars. I’m a big fan of Jane Austen and historical romance so I was very excited to read this book! I loved that this was a historical romance but with sex, drugs, and debauchery thrown in. I also really enjoyed reading about the relationship between Georgiana and Frances. I took some stars off because I found it to be a little over-dramatic and cheesy at times.
Overall it was a funny and quick read!

Thank you NetGalley for this ebook.
I enjoyed the read even though the start was a bit slow for me.
Although I wouldn’t catalog it as a rom-com, I enjoyed the complexity of the characters and the story development, specially because of the regency era which makes it a bit different and gives it an interesting twist.

So much to like in this book and a few things I didn't care for. It was good to see that the Regency period was not all sunshine and roses. People had their problems too, even, or maybe especially, in the higher classes. Drugs and alcohol were still a problem and people rejected anyone who was "the other." Racism existed, whether it be anti-Indian or anti-black. And people of privilege got away with murder, just as they do today. Some things, unfortunately, don't change. The main character, Georgiana, was young, naive and easily influenced by those around her who were, for the most part, Mean Girls! Writing was excellent with great witty passages, especially between Georgiana and Thomas, but some parts seemed overly dramatic. Read to the end and things, of course, worked out, but sometimes I wanted to shake Georgiana and other times, I wanted to comfort her. Guess that's a sign of good writing. As this was a debut novel, I expect great things from Lex Croucher in the future.

Thank you, Net Galley, for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Never had the chance to read genre by Lex Croucher, “Reputation” is a first for this reader. Where to begin. The story starts off a bit slow for me in the first couple of chapters but picks up pace around mid-chapter three. Georgiana Ellers. is a young woman who is sent to live with her aunt and uncle after her mother and father to some extent abandons her. and begins to become restless with the way her life is going and planned by them. She meets Frances Campbell, who is part of the wealthy ton and who along with her privileged friends draw Georgina into a dark area that expands her uncharacteristic behavior and indulgences. It is journey where she makes quite a few mistakes, takes risks and meets Thomas Hawsley, who is unimpressed with her and the individuals she surrounds herself with. He takes a fancy to Georgiana and sees something different in her, although she can’t see it herself.

Georgiana is at times a likeable character and there are moments in the story when she is not. Unfortunately, the path taken leaves her to consider whether her relationship with Thomas is worth more than the bigger price she will have to pay to fit into the aristocratic elite world she has now become accustomed all for the sake of friendship.

I almost put this story down but glad the pace picked up for me to finish. What I like…the author’s descriptive sceneries to give you a vivid picture of what was going on and the incorporation of African and Indian individuals going outside the norm of what we read in most HRs. What I did not like…the repetitiveness of the use of alcohol and too many unlikeable characters. In any case, the author did an okay job of pulling together this story although it had its quirks.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Ok. This! Book!!

Once I got a few chapters into it, I could not put it down. It was definitely a quick and enjoyable read. "Reputation" is a historical fiction romance novel - light on the historical. and gave serious mean girls vibes. That said, I had some issues with how Georgiana acted, but I think that's what made her growth so good (& worth it) by the end of the novel.
I really enjoyed the found family aspects of this novel, and the banter between Georgiana and her love interest (and his father omg - their's was my favorite friendship). Overall, I would highly recommend this book!

TW: This book also touches on topics like death, grief, and sexual assault.

I hate to give a bad review, especially when an author obviously tried so hard, but this was definitely not my cup of tea. This is no Regency novel. There is nothing in this book that even remotely resembles something Jane Austen would have written or read herself. The main character, Georgiana, is obnoxious and extremely dislikable. She is disrespectful and cruel to others and after the second chapter of the book, I could have cared less about her. I almost stopped reading at that point but wanted to give a fair review so pressed on. I then almost stopped once homosexuality was introduced into the plot with three of the main characters. One scene had two of the main female characters having sex together. While this probably occurred in the Regency period, it was illegal and much less common than the author would like the reader to believe. Which also brings me to one of the main complaints I have about this book. It is basically a modern day novel trying to ride on the coattails of Bridgerton. The language was modern, including the curse words, and the events that occurred were also modern day events. There is no way they would have occurred in Regency England. At times, it was even difficult to tell when the story was taking place. If you like well-written, historically accurate novels that are truly set in the Regency period, then this is not the book for you. I sincerely wish I had never read it.

I'm not sure about the book being Mean Girl-esque, but I can say I absolutely loved the book once we go towards the middle. The banter and dialogue between characters and the letters exchanged between Georgiana and Thomas were most excellent. The way the author described the crowds, parties and gardens made it so easy to picture the entire scene. I would definitely read more by Lex Croucher.

Reputation by Lexington Crouched is a spicy take on regency romance. With loads of scandalous behavior, debauchery and scheming. With some new century sensibilities such as the inclusion of an African and Indian characters that play more than passing roles, this book is reminiscent of the tight character plays and social commentary we find from the original genius, Jane Austen. As regency romances go, this one was both frothy and filled with the kind of lessons I love.

I knew that this story was going to be a bit twisted when I read the inscription "For Jane Austen. Sorry, Jane." Georgiana has been sent to her aunt and uncle's house by her parents, who have moved near the sea for her mothers health supposedly. She isn't an heiress and doesn't have fine clothes, so she is amazed when the local popular girl invites Georgiana into her circle of friends. The circle of friends turn out to be disillusioned and destructive youth who enjoy drink, drugs, and forbidden activities. Georgiana finds out over time that their friendship has too high a cost. She comes to value handsome serious Thomas and their romance blossoms.

"Reputation" by Lex Croucher

Not really a rom/com although there are some funny moments and dialogue between Thomas and Georgiana. This is the story of spoiled rich young adults who befriend a country miss. Drunken debauchery ensues.

The first third of the book dragged for me. The characters were hard to like and you can only read so many pages about drinking and playing chess. I did love the diversity of the characters. Once Georgiana and Thomas began interacting I felt more interest in the book. I especially liked the letters between the two.

Overall I enjoyed this book and would rate it 3.5 Stars.

I received an ARC of this story from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review of this book.

A clever, compelling debut from a strong new talent. Croucher's prose is often laugh-out-loud funny, with distinct character voices and a distinctly contemporary perspective. This isn't for historical fiction purists, but it's a wild, satisfying ride regardless of period accuracy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book!

This book was so entertaining! It has been called a Regency Mean Girls and I can agree with that but it is so much more. It is a discourse on class, race, friendship, family, found family, peer pressure., privilege, and patriarchy. It has conflict and romance and discourse about split infinitives.

The main character, Georgiana Ellers, is young woman of modest means who is languishing in the care of her aunt and uncle, as her parents seek a cure for her mother at the seaside. She is bored. She is lonely.

Into that boredom and loneliness and generalized ennui comes Frances Campbell, And her friends. A group of wealthy aristocrats who whisk Georgiana into their privileged world and their not so private excesses.

This is Georgiana's story; a character arc that rises and falls and shows such growth and development.

The language is lush, full of banter and repartee, the internal monologues from Georgiana incisive and at times laugh out loud funny. But there is a deep examination of what it means to be part of the "in crowd", what moral decisions are made--sometimes without deep thought--and how those reverberate, what it means to be a friend, what it takes to step back and understand the ramifications of behavior.

The story progresses with this arc in a slow and steady fashion--we see Georgiana's restlessness, the magnetic pull of Frances's set, the moments that set her on the path she takes in the book and the reckoning that comes at the end. It is subtle, the progression. I got caught up in the narrative but the story advances and pulls you deeper into the darkness that runs below the surface of this clique.

Georgiana makes mistakes. She takes risks. She indulges in behavior that is questionable, hurtful, intemperate. But she is relatable, especially in those moments when she is trying to find her place in this new world. There is vulnerability and emotional development that keeps the reader engaged in her story.

There are dark moments. There is violence, assault, drug and alcohol use but it is approached in a sensitive and nuanced manner. It is integral to the story line and handled well.

The gallery of side characters is varied and interesting. I would actually have been happy to read more about each of them but I understand that this is truly Georgiana's story.

It is so well written. The wonderful turns of phrase that are so spot on for Regency period books but also a freshness of modernity sprinkled in that makes this book even more engaging.

It pulls no punches. It goes there. And it does it very, very well.

Highly recommended.

This book was nothing like I'd expected it to be. I anticipated a light and funny Regency romance. While it was Regency and technically a romance I was missing any humor. Maybe it was there and just not to my taste, but I was honestly very surprised and honestly a little off-put by all the seemingly more modern attitudes and actions. I am decently familiar with Regency romances and the historical period in general but I am definitely not a historical expect of the period, but so many things in this book just seemed so outlandishly inappropriate for the time that I had a hard time getting into it. But maybe that is just me and my faulty memory? Another problem for me was the main character, Georgiana. I just didn't like her. At all. Anytime a moment was approaching where she could be a nice person or a jerk she almost always chose to be a jerk...until the very end of the story. I didn't understand how anyone could like her, let alone how a few short, drunken or drugged (or both) encounters would cause a sober young man to fall for her. It defied belief. And her parents, my goodness, her parents, They were absolutely ridiculous. It was hard for me to find anything to like at all in this book.