Watch out lovers of Regency Romance there is a new author on the scene and she has arrived with a bang!

“Cheers—to our monstrous families, and to the infinite number of far better parties we’re missing this very instant! May our friends wreak sensational havoc in our stead.”


Thus begins an intriguing story full of captivating characters and provocative encounters.

Reputation by Lex Croucher is a Regency Romantic Comedy story that is full of witty dialogue between characters who are often not all they first appear. When the main character, Georgiana Ellers, a woman normally of modest means is left to the care of her aunt and uncle finds herself bored and lonely “amidst a backdrop of wealthy aristocracy, she comes face to face with the reality of privilege and excess. This story is 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.” When Georgiana meets Frances Campbell during a dinner party she immediately is enthralled by Frances’ persona and her ability to liven up even the most loathsome dinner on earth. After their initial meeting Georgiana is certain she and Frances will be best of friends and she was eagerly awaiting their next meeting.

“The truth of the matter was that she would have swapped all the tea in England for another moment in Frances’s company. Georgiana had already replayed the events of their meeting over and over again in quiet moments, had even started inventing further conversations they might have, future meetings in which Georgiana impressed Frances with her wit and charm, confirming a lifelong friendship and setting in motion the many adventures they would undertake together. Frances would likely open the door to all manner of glamorous parties and enchanting outings, but more important, she would be Georgiana’s partner in crime. Her confidante. Her captain.”

As Georgiana and Frances become close friends, The curtain obscuring the reality of polite society is abruptly opened, revealing an entire new world to Georgiana who in turn is left pondering what sacrifices are worth being considered a member of the upper echelons.

Georgiana goes through a huge amount of growth throughout this story which highlights Lex Crouchers skill as an author. There is a lot of underlying themes and sometimes subtle explorations of decisions a person makes and the ripple of impact certain behaviors will have on each person involved. I found this book to be entertaining and appreciate how the author explores and reveals the mostly hidden realities of the upper crust or the so called “polite society”.

So because everyone knows “In all the books in which a heroine started over in a new town or village or castle, she had immediately stumbled upon a series of daring adventures, or got dramatically lost on the moors, or swooned into the arms of a passing (and very handsome) gentleman. We get to meet 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.”

I enjoyed this story and recommend to anyone who enjoys Regency stories with a flair! I will be looking for more Lex Croucher books in the future.

4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📚I received a review copy of this book from the publisher, St. Martin’s Press. This is my unbiased honest review.📚

This sadly wasn’t for me. I just didnt resallu enjoy it. But i want to thank the publishers for giving me the chance to review it.

Oh this was such a unique read! I loved it! It was filled with great characters and I enjoyed the humor as well as the drama. It was very entertaining. I loved the Jane Austen Mean Girls mix in this and how it all tied together. In addition, I liked the dash of historical fiction in it too.

This was an interesting take on a Regency romance, with people of color, illicit drugs, and general debauchery. One thing that pulled me out of the story was some of the modern language that was used. For example, a man who was sterile was said to be "shooting blanks".
Regency is not my favorite genre.. I do appreciate the effort to make it more diverse.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in return for an honest review.

Sadly although the synopsis of this novel sounded fun and timely (hello Bridgerton) it really wasn’t able to capture my attention over the first few chapters, although I wanted to push through, I found the writing to be a bit weak and really wasn’t able to connect to the overall premise.
This was sadly a pass for me, but hopefully others will enjoy it!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the chance to read/review this ARC!

I really enjoyed this book. It was definitely giving a Bridgerton vibe. More of a exaggerated and glamorous alternate universe regency era. I loved the inclusivity of the story and characters. Highly recommend this one!

Reputation follows Georgiana, a young woman who has just moved into her aunt and uncles house and is going to be spending the upcoming season with them. At the first party she meets that exuberant, Frances, who Georgiana because immediately fascinated by. France is everything Georgiana has never seen in a woman. She is loud, raunchy, fun, and absolutely inappropriate to those who view her in society, but she comes from a well off family and holds respect from her peers. Georgiana is swooped on Frances’ circle of boisterous friends and beings to party her way through the season. Along the way she meets the Thomas, an man who seems to be a bit of an outsider, but has the looks and the charms that Georgiana desires.

Many people say read this or that, but THIS is the book to read if you need a Bridgerton hangover remedy. Reputation is very much a regency era Mean Girls. The humor and the scandals are what this book is all about in a true Bridgerton fashion, I mean Lady Whistledown would simply pass away if she ever met Frances and her friend group.

While reading Reputation, I really didn’t know where the plot was going, but I sure did have a hell of a fun time reading this book. It was very quick witted and the humor was basically jumping off the page. Typically when a book identifies itself as humorous I will not go for it, but Reputation was the best possible exception. The writing was phenomenal and I cannot wait for the next book to come out!

First off, a Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin press for an e-copy of this book for and honest review.

now....let me tell you - I couldn’t put it down and absolutely enjoyed every moment of this book. The perfect mesh of both Bridgerton and Gossip Girl vibes for sure!. The character development was amazing! And nothing is better than a woman who learns to stand up for themself!I

Reputation by Lex Croucher is a regency Mean Girls. Listed as a romcom I found it more a coming of age story as Georgiana navigates a friendship with wealthy, charismatic, bisexual, biracial Frances that has her making poor decisions to be part of the in crowd.

There is romance more towards the end as reputations are on the line from too much debauchery partying, lies and schemes.

An entertaining read for fans of regency historical fiction and Gossip Girl antics with a tinge of romance

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via #netgalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book for an honest review!

I began this book before its release date, but just recently finished due to....life, I guess? But it was not at ALL what I expected!

Like most everyone else in the world, I am still reeling from the release of Bridgerton's second season on Netflix. I am also a life-long reader of historical fiction/historical romance/regency novels. They are my SHIT and I will read those books until the cows come home.

While Reputation included a bit of romance and the like, I was pleasantly surprised by the focus it gave to our female characters and their thoughts or struggles when it comes to confidence, love, friendship and navigating the social season. Georgina is one of my favorite leading ladies I've read about in while and I found her so funny and so relatable! She picked herself up after family tragedy and came into her own, showcasing self-discovery while delivering it all with sarcasm and wit. I genuinely love this book and will definitely be purchasing a physical copy to add to my collection!

This book defied my attempts to categorize it.

It is a comedy of manners, and an examination of the self-absorption and callousness of the Regency period's one percent.

It is a discourse on how not to behave. (Listen to the exhortations of your elders. Do not snort cocaine in the drawing room. Don't go into the hothouse with the rake.)

It is the Regency version of a guide to winning friends and influencing people.

This book reminded me why books are better companions than most people and why being a wallflower is more fun and more rewarding than being a mean girl.

Georgiana Ellers reminds me of Mary Elizabeth from Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen. She's the misfit of the group. She doesn't have the background or the social swagger to be a part of the spotlight. But she desperately, desperately wants it. Until she sees that it's cracked and broken. That there are no pedestals and the mean girls really are mean. Malicious in fact. And so unhappy they want everyone else to feel the same insecurity and misery.

This is not really a romance. It's more like the story of a girl finding herself in a field full of both immature idiots and dreams. It's about an intrepid girl finally realizing her own worth, and finding others that recognize it as well.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Reputation is the story of Georgiana, sent to live with her aunt and uncle when her parents relocate to the seaside. Georgiana is simply bored out of her mind, at least until she is welcomed into the wild world of Frances. Frances is very wealthy and relishes in breaking rules. As Georgiana struggles to maintain appearances with the group, she will need to decide how far she is willing to go and who she wants to be.

Reputation was laugh-out-loud hilarious. This is my favorite type of writing, with witty banter tucked into every line. This is a multicultural regency world with LGBTQ+ rep, with nods to Jane Austen and Emma. My favorite part of the story was when Georgiana was able to decide for herself who she wanted to be. I also loved getting to know Thomas and Betty! I can absolutely see Reputation being compared to Mean Girls, especially in regards to Frances. This was a fast-paced and hilarious regency rom-com. Reputation is available now. Thank you so much to Lex Croucher, St. Martin’s Griffin, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc

What a fabulously fun book! Reputation by Lex Croucher was everything I didn't know I needed. Witty, charming, yet serious at times, Croucher kept me engaged the whole time. From her entertaining dialogue to the diverse characters (thank you for this!!), Reputation is a debut not to be missed.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

I don't think this book was fro me. It was well written but I don't think it met the expectations I had or the premise with which they were promoting the book.

Georgiana has just retreated into the shadows of the very dull party she’s been dragged to by her equally dull aunt and uncle when she meets the enigmatic and wild Frances Campbell. Frances is everything Georgiana is not: popular, wealthy, and effortlessly cool, but for some reason Frances wants Georgiana as a friend. As two girls grow closer, Georgiana finds herself drawn deeper into a world of super wealthy teens, mysterious young men, and debaucherous parties. But the consequences and stakes seem to ratchet higher and higher with every party Georgiana attends, and before long she is questioning if this world she longs to be part of is worth the price of admission.

Oh wow, I loved this so much, historical inaccuracy be damned (in absolutely no Regency world would so much unchaperoned nonsense be going on, and that is just for starters). Georgiana is deeply relatable, even when she is unlikeable - a rare feat! - and Lex Crouther has managed to create a whole group of characters who are complex and multidimensional and feel like real teens. Despite its Regency setting, these are kids dealing with timeless issues: wanting to fit in, abandonment, cliques, unrequited love, grief and guilt, assault, consent and slut-shaming, and the ever present power dynamics of class, misogyny, and patriarchy. It does at times veer a little toward the preachy side, but I felt like that was earned, plot wise, so I didn’t mind. Highly recommended, especially for teens (or adults!) who love Bridgerton, but do note that it comes with serious CWs: heavy drug and alcohol use, sexual violence, parental abandonment, and sibling loss.

“I had resigned myself to the notion that life would pass me by—that there would be no great adventure, no close companions, no tales to tell. I would be nothing—nobody of importance to anybody in particular…Perhaps it’s unforgivable vanity, but now that I have had a glimpse of this world, I don’t know how I could retreat into my old life and be content.”

This book is like Mean Girls meets Regency England and will definitely fill your Bridgerton void.

There was something so expert about the way this story is told. The first half is so fun and frivolous, following Georgiana and her friends as they debauch around the English countryside, sneaking off at parties to drink entire bottles of wine and dabble in an array of drugs. And then, the narrative takes a turn as events unfold and relationships sour and what felt like a wild summer fantasy all become incredibly real and tense. While the first half was so fun, I struggled with the pacing at first. We travel from party to party and for a while it feels like much of the same, until you realize that Croucher has perfectly set the stage for the plot to thicken, with a ton of character development along the way.

The author captured so many things deftly. Class and privilege being one of the most prominent. Georgiana is well-off but miles away from the wealth of her newfound friend group and Croucher really got it, that universal desperation of wanting to fit in with the “right” friend group, only to realize that all the DIY fashion and faking-it-til-you-make-it was for what? The approval of people who will never really understand you, or take the time to try? It’s an incredibly relatable facet of young adulthood and growing up that was portrayed so well here.

And then there’s this cast of characters. They’re all so messy and flawed but for the most part likable. Frances was such an interesting and complex character because she’s intoxicating. As a reader, I was just as enamored with her as Georgiana was. But she’s also capable of such cruelty and self-centeredness that you almost want to write her off completely. She’s definitely reminiscent of Regina George. I also loooved our romantic lead. I’m a sucker for a quiet, broody cinnamon roll. I wanted just a tad more from the romance at the end, though. Not sure when I became someone who is personally offended by the lack of an epilogue but here we are.

Overall this was such a fun romp that also had so much emotional depth, snappy dialogue, and swoony romance.

I have to admit this is truly something akin to Mean Girls meets the younger side of Bridgerton. Georgiana (George) is basically forced to live with her aunt and uncle when her parents abandon her. At a not so exciting party, Georgiana meets Frances. She is the epitome of high life society with her wealth, wild entourage and drunken debauchery. Georgiana learns to love, fight for what is right and find what truly matters in this novel of personal growth and finding oneself.

Georgiana is everything I think most bookworms can see themselves as. Quirky, fumbling, eccentric little wallflowers just waiting for something to happen that excites us like our books do. She was so easily relatable and even at her almost worst, I found her endearing and thought provoking. Though the gravel conversation with her acquaintance did make me think about my own personal “meeting a new friend” weirdness. Like I said, utterly relatable even at an adult age.

Even though this may be regency, I did find a lot of the topics relevant to today. Sexual pressure, underage drinking, alcohol poisoning, abandonment and so much more resonated on a deeper level than I expected. Croucher did an excellent job weaving such relevancy into the narrative. It has many topics that were tastefully done that I think even the younger side of readers can find pause in.

The audio is narrated by Bessie Carter who plays Prudence Featherington in Bridgerton!! You have NO idea of awesome I think that is. Especially after binge watching that series as soon as it came out in one day. She is an excellent narrator in my opinion. I felt her emotional voice and overall disposition fit Georgiana perfectly. To be honest I ended up listening to the majority of this novel I enjoyed the audio so darn much. It’s perfectly paced, excellent tone and the type of regency tone you want to hear for a novel like this.

Thank you Macmillan audio and St. Martin’s Griffin for the gifted audio and digital copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts are my own.

Wow, I absolutely adored this book! This is the perfect combination of Mean Girls and Bridgerton - so it’s safe to say it was as fun as it was romantic! Georgina was such a great protagonist. She was flawed, but you were really able to see her growth throughout the story. Her inner dialogue was so funny because she was just so uninterested in finding a suitor and doing what was expected of a young woman of her age. The strong theme of friendship was apparent throughout the book, and I feel it was just as satisfying as seeing the romance unfold (which, the romantic love interest was absolutely swoon-worthy and I'm obsessed with him). The representation presented in this book was just icing on this already amazing cake - I could not recommend this book enough!

If you’re looking for a Bridgerton-esque romcom, then Reputation might just be for you! Definitely for fans of Gossip Girl and I even think Mean Girls, Repuatation is a regency era rom com all about who has the most money and the most pull.

I really did enjoy the time period and the humor at times but this book moved glacier slow for me which is why I gave it the lower rating but I also wanted to be fair since I’m just now starting to get into romcoms and this one just might not be for me!

Fans of Mean Girls and regency/historicals - rejoice. Because Reputation is the perfect crossover of those two ideas. Georgiana is abandoned by her parents and forced to live with an aunt and uncle. They are not particularly wealthy or high up in society and are frankly, boring. Georgiana needs to make friends, so when Lady Frances Campbell takes an interest in her - Georgiana will do anything to keep Frances' attention and regard. Even immoral, illegal, and possibly ruinous things that could take her down a very dark road. Add in a mysterious youn man and it's about to get interesting...

I want to start off this review with a trigger warning for SA and attempted SA. I didn't realize going in and got kind of slapped in the face by it so I wanted to make sure it is well known for anyone else picking up this book based on my review. Now, I found this book to be wildly entertaining - it is very much like Mean Girls if you picture Frances and Regina George and Georgiana as Cady. Add in some forbidden LGBTQ romance and drugs/alcohol/reckless behavior and you have Reputation.

I loved the romance portion of this book as Georgiana meets her man. She is clearly caught between him and Frances' group and wants to have both. She makes some really bad decisions but by the end is a great character. The ending and epilogue are very satisfying as well - but again, make sure to pay attention to triggers because it isn't something that I saw coming.

**Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review**