This book was such a wonderfully fresh take on regency romance. I would read anything from this author in the future and cannot wait for this to release into stores next year!

I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley #netgalley

An amazing cake on a historical romance. I love the feminist undertones. All of this feminists have been waiting for a book like this.

I received a free copy of this story from NetGalley for preview and this is my freely given review.
This is advertised as a being a melding of Mean Girls and Bridgerton and it really reads as advertised! As I was reading this, it did feel that it was as though it was Mean Girls set in Regency times.

The protagonist, Georgiana; George, is a young lady who sounds to be of a rather nondescript background, left with her aunt and uncle, the Burton's, while her parents take off for their health. They sound to be rather thoughtless and inconsiderate of their daughter, at the very least. George sounds to be quite lonely, and bored, and grown up in a rather protected manner, where she spent a lot of time reading to keep herself company, especially as her father was a headmaster of a school before giving that up for his wife's health. She is not only lonely and bored, but likely feels a bit lost and lacking an anchor, having been essentially left behind by her parents, and losing the home she knew.

She attends a reception with the Burton's, where she befriends Frances, an aristocratic girl, who seems very charismatic, and enticing to a lonely Georgiana. She falls into a friendship with Frances and her friends, a group of youthful aristocrats who spend their days partying, drinking, and trying various intoxicants, lead by Frances. Georgiana is strongly reminiscent of Lindsay Lohan's character in Mean Girl's, and Frances is the Rachel McAdam's character, the head of the Plastics. Georgiana is happy to be part of the group and as such lies to her aunt and uncle in order to participate in the group's gatherings.

Georgiana also befriends Thomas Hawksley, a young man labeled by the others as being dull and boring, but they are very attracted to each other, though he does seem to be put off by some of her new behaviours, including drinking, and her poor treatment of others, such as another girl, Betty Walters, introduced to her by Mrs. Burton. Betty is not popular, and looked down on by the Plastics, uh, Frances's group group of aristocratic bon vivants, but turns out to be a true friend in the end, as does Thomas.

There is some conflict and tragedy that forces Georgiana to come to grips with her innate belief in honesty, morality, and fortitude, and find out what true friends are and how they help each other, including her behaviour towards others.

This was a rather enjoyable read, but it was so reminiscent in so many parts of Mean Girls, that I could see in my mind's eye all the actors from the film acting their roles with era-appropriate language, and period clothing. Regardless, transplanting it to that time period was refreshing and I did enjoy some of the dialogue and the written messages between characters.

FYI - no one was run over by a carriage and ended up in a body brace or halo at the big ball in the end, in case you are wondering. But I do feel that urge to go and watch Mean Girls again...
This was a 3.0 out of 5 stars for me; enjoyable, but seemed too similar to the movie (... and I never read the book the movie was based on, so cannot say how similar the two written stories are).

Darker than expected, but not unpleasant. The cover could be a little more interesting, and the characters could have used a touch more supervision, it read a little like a caricature occasionally.

I loved this book! While the first third took a little while for me to read, the second two thirds flew by so fast. The modern twist on this era did not feel forced and I found myself intrigued by the depicted behavior because parties and this type of bad behavior is very rarely shown in regency era books. I wish there were more run ins with our heroes love interest earlier on in the book … but the wait was worth it! I finished this book on the beach - I highly recommend.

I received an ARC for this book and I’m so very glad I did because I would have been so heartbroken had I purchased this book, given how utterly disappointing it was for me.

Make no mistake, the writing was excellent and witty and interesting. I’m sure this book will be a favorite for many, but for me, the main character became so damn unlikeable it made the rest of the book a chore to read. I truly dreaded coming back and having to read Georgiana’s internal monologuing of how bored she was, I hated it even more when her wit and smarts were a vehicle for her cruelty and even worse, when she did it to fit in. Just a couple chapters in and I seriously disliked her. Which makes everything complicated when the whole story revolves around her. Truly it didn’t help that we never once were introduced to another point of view (a thing I enjoy about reading Regency novels is getting BOTH the hero and heroine’s pov) perhaps that would have ensured I enjoyed some of the story. Although this book was less about her love life and more about her obsession with Frances. I didn’t really like her either so i don’t think it would have helped after all. Alas it was all from Georgiana’s pov and I was sick of her.

Overall my heart wasn’t in it. I wasn’t rooting for any of these characters (except perhaps Betty Walters) and I quickly remembered that the only thing I liked about Mean Girls were the funny memes that came from it.

I don't give a damn 'bout my reputation! Living in the past, it's a new generation!
A girl can do what she wants to do and that's what I'm gonna do!
I think this smart, entertaining, unputdownable book deserved a powerful start with Joan Jett and Blackhearts’ Bad Reputation song’s opening lyrics!

Can you imagine what kind of intriguing concept the author presented to its readers:
Bridgerton with more Gossip Girl meets Mean Girls with Austen novel vibes is dreamy concept for a bookworm like me who easily relate with quirky heroines because once upon a time I was one of them who fantasize million ways to kick those mean, spoiled girls’ skinny arses!

Of course as soon as I read the blurb, I was sold! And at the first chapter when I read Georgina’s voracious interest about Viking funerals and the reaction she got from dear auntie and uncle she’s sent to live with, I thought that girl is my teenager self’s spirit animal! I was so sure, my love for this girl would grow at next chapters and I wasn’t wrong!

Georgina is unique, smart, quirky as hell but she lives inside the wrong body in the wrong place at the wrong time. She’s sheltered, voracious reader, having hard time to form proper relationships but thankfully or regretfully she meets enigmatic mean girl Frances Campbell who may be the key for Georgina to take her first steps to a secluded, special circle for being part of wheels of Regency Aristocracy.

Georgina is shell- shocked after her quick introduction to a new world filled debauchery, extreme spending, drinking and partying ( poor girl: she feels like she’s spending another ordinary weekend in Hollywood Hills! )

Then at her lowest point, she meets Thomas Hawksley, a quiet complex gentleman she coincidentally bumps into several more times under humiliating circumstances. But she thinks she has unrequited feelings as she realizes he’s acting reserved and unimpressed.

Bigger question of her was not about the rejection she feels. She still have issues to fit in the gilded world her friend Frances introduced her. If she cannot adjust in the rituals, the forms, the traditions and the rules she’s forced to obey, what will happen to her?

Definitely predicaments of a young woman’s self discovery journey is told with vivid, sarcastic and thought provoking tone that I truly enjoyed!

I couldn’t put it down and absolutely rooted for Georgina from the beginning. It was so satisfied to witness how the character evolved, changed and learned to stand for herself!

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / St. Martin’s Griffin for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

If you ever want to see what Mean Girls in the 1800s would look like, look no further. Reputation is here to clear that mystery right up! Honestly this is a harder review because this book is so different than I expected. It is described as Bridgerton meets Gossip Girls, so I tucked in ready for a light, sexy, dramatic rom com and instead got a sprawling tale of what Mean Girls would look like if it were written by Jane Austen. And to call Reputation a rom com definitely doesn’t come close to encompassing everything this book has. It follows Georgiana after she is left at her aunt and uncle’s and falls into the glamorous world of high society, and more specifically the world of Frances Campbell. This high society is captivating and so vivid. Georgiana had a lot of qualities that had me thinking about Jane Austen’s Emma. She is frustratingly naive at times while also being charming and endearing with such potential. Her journey is so beautiful and I just love her coming around to finding herself and fighting for what she wants. And these side characters! Frances is just the best Queen Bee of high society; if we’re talking Gossip Girls, she puts Blair to shame! She is so intricate and glamorous and mischievous, and her clique is full of such wonderful side characters too. With other characters like Thomas, the broody, quiet man with sharp, dry humor that catches Georgiana’s eye, and and the overly chatty and enthusiastic Better, I was so charmed by this book. I did wish at certain bits that Georgiana would see some of the Mean Girls antics for what they were, but watching her really come to her own self was so well done. There is romance in this book, but it, more than anything, is about Georgiana and her journey (the romance is just a great and superbly done bonus), and it tackles such deeper issues too. This feminist read is fun and funny, and these characters have such great chemistry, these parties are wild, and it all comes together in such a satisfying way. Such a unique regency read!

I hate it when authors use a time period as a setting and aesthetic without actually reckoning with the realities of the time period itself. It's difficult to commit to characters who, for all intents and purposes, are modern women riding the third wave of feminism but a few hundred years too early. It's just incongruous and pulls me right out of the story. The dialogue was interesting but ultimately not enough to save the book for me.

The Bridgerton fans will enjoy this! I figured there would be a sort of Hallmark-like misunderstanding that is quickly patched up at the end. I was surprised that it went a bit deeper than expected as far as the topic of abuse, etc. The relationships are interesting and there are some witty comments.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Regency Mean Girls? REGENCY MEAN GIRLS!

This book is fun, well-written, and DEEPLY charming. If you're looking for something with low stakes, this is the book for you. I was able to read this all in one sitting because the prose is good, the characters and their dynamics are great, and the plot is just so fun. Cannot recommend it enough.

A REGENCY MEAN GIRLS BOOK? HELL, YEAH. I loved reading about Georgiana Ellers and how she deals with the in-crowd.

I absolutely devoured this book!

Imagine Mean Girls meets Bridgerton… need I say more?

Georgiana is sent to live with her aunt & uncle on the outskirts of a summer town for London’s elite. Being used to a simple, intellectual life, Georgiana is surprised to be pulled into the high class socialite world when she is befriended be Frances Campbell. Frances and her friends are the exact opposite of proper. It’s not long before Georgiana begins to fall for Thomas Hawksley, who seems to stand out from the rest of the crowd. During her wild summer, Georgiana wonders if she can truly fit in and continue to masquerade in high society.

This romantic, historical comedy is everything. There is high paced drama throughout that makes it extremely hard to put down. The cast of characters are unique and there are equally as many likable characters as there are unlikeable ones. You get to see Georgiana develop from a meek character to an outspoken, independent one. There is scandal after scandal infused with humor. As you’re reading, you feel fully engulfed in English high society.

I can only hope to see more from this author! What an amazingly witty and un-put-downable novel!

Like Brigerton and Pride in Prejudice…I really enjoyed this updated period story. The characters were dynamic and the story captivating.