Hats off to Erica Ridley for penning her first LGBT novel! It is wonderful that romance writers are diversifying into all the things. Erica did an outstanding job.

I really loved Tommy and her genderfluid- master-of-disguises-ness. Philipa was a smart and curvy girl and really I felt maybe was a bit on the asexual- demisexual spectrum. But the two really blended together into such a beautiful couple. Gah. All the gushing.

If you have read the Governess Gambit and The Duke Heist you are familiar with the Winchester's. They are a group of wild and diverse orphans that were adopted by their late parent Baron Vanderbean or Bean as they used to call him. Tommy kind of stole the show for me a bit in the Duke Heist with her ability to create and become such diverse characters. Tommy best falls under the nonbinary terminology as she (yes, she used she/her pronouns) neither felt truly female or male and sometimes felt best one way or neither. We also met Philipa in the last book as she was set to be betrothed to the Duke of Faircliffe, to whit Chloe (Tommy's sister) ended up marrying. (While this can absolutely be a stand-alone novel, you might miss some of the crossover significance and back story if you don't read The Duke Heist first.). When one of Philipa's best friends and book club members discovers her uncle not only stole a book cipher she created but is also passing it off as if he created it and was also greeting a title from the Prince Regent. As this is disclosed as a book club meeting the Winchester's (also members-ish of the book club) get tapped to help set rights to things. And it's wildly entertaining.

I really love the whole Winchester family. They are so eclectic and diverse in their talents, it just makes for a seriously fun read. Tommy has always stood out to me. I cannot gush enough about my love for her. She was so strong and had such a sense of self even though she was always acting like someone else. She never compromised on who she was or what she wanted. I also loved how open with herself and her family about her sexuality. It was, of course, scandalous but also quietly indulged in those times, as referenced by the private sapphic house parties. Her not so secret (in her family) crush on Philipa was supported and encouraged by her family. Philipa was smart and had a hidden mischievous streak that really was a wonderful complement to Tommy.

Perks is completely a slow-burn romance. As mentioned before, Philipa probably best fits on the demisexual spectrum (meaning she needs an emotional connection first before she can develop any sort of sexual desire) and thus the slow burn was absolutely necessary to fully develop the friendship and emotional connection. Tommy and Philipa really had to work through some issues and, again, they just were such a beautiful compliment to the other.

I honestly cannot say enough good things about Perks. Erica Ridley did such a wonderful job, I hope she continues with a few more queer romances. Maybe another Winchester? Maybe another series? IDK, I'm here for all of it. I am as always on board for more.

*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

When picking out queer romance I prefer sapphic, that's just my preference. When I found out one of my favorite historical romance authors was writing one I flipped, in a good way. I was so excited and it was well deserved. This was a great read. I loved the characters (especially Tommy) the situation they found themselves in was complicated with no clear conclusion in sight it seemed like a no win situation, but somehow Ridley did it. A sweet and spicy read.

I have to begin this review by saying I love the Wynchesters, and I was excited to return for the second installment of this series. I would describe them as The Umbrella Academy meets Regency romance. A rag-tag group of orphans coming together in the name of justice and secret missions.

Tommy Wynchester is known for her ability to pull off any disguise. She's been crushing on Philippa York for over a year and is thrilled at the opportunity to spend time with her as a Baron in pursuit of her hand. Tommy and Philippa's journey to love was so sweet, and just like the first book I loved every scene where the Wynchesters were together planning their next scheme. I can't wait for book #3!

So lovely!

I love love love seeing LGBTQ+ representation in the form of a historical fiction book! And this book was very well done in that aspect and just the love for the characters was awesome! This is the first one of the series that I red but I will be checking books by this author out soon!

Thank you to NetGalley and Read Forever Pub for the earc in return for an honest review.

The Wynchester are back and they are again teaching us what it means to be a family and what is love!

Thomasina Wynchester or Tommy to her friends, story and love interest was hinted at in the first book and seamlessly continued into this story.

Tommy is a person who is comfortable in all kinds of disguises, but the hardest one to be comfortable and accepted in is as herself, plain Tommy Winchester, former orphan who likes to wear breeches and loose shirts over dresses.

Miss Philippa York is a bluestocking heiress of polite society. She uses her position to preform good works through charities, but she knows her true purpose is to increase her family standing by marrying a peer.

A friendship and alliance soon blossoms into a romance as Tommy and Philippa learn what it means to be a family and find love and acceptance for their true selves.

This story just melted my heart! I loved that this relationship could only work if both parties could figure out what they truly wanted in life and who they wanted to be. Also, the Wynchester family and their unwavering support was a delight to see again. Can anything flap these Wynchesters?

This was a beautiful story of love and family that I could not get enough of!

The Perks of Loving a Wallflower by Erica Ridley was released October 25th, 2021.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Forever Grand Central Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#ThePerksofLovingaWallflower #EricaRidley #Netgalley #pinkcowlandreads

Erica Ridley’s THE PERKS OF LOVING A WALLFLOWER (Forever, 368 pp., paper, $8.99) takes an abstract historical reality — the way queer women have been erased from society and the historical record — and makes it the anchor for a plot full of mystery, high jinks and tender personal revelations.

One reason British polite society during the Regency period insisted upon formal introductions was that it was a world without photographs, without fingerprints, where virtually nobody carried identification. Your self was something other people had to vouch for — a real problem if you fell into a category that was criminalized or suppressed. How could one celebrate a fluid identity if the only acceptable choices were either/or?

From a fictional standpoint, though, this space leaves a lot of room for Ridley to stretch her wings, as silver-tongued orphan Tommy (Thomasina) Wynchester dons impeccable drag to court the bookish Philippa as the fictional Baron Vanderbean. There are truths that must be exposed and truths that must be shielded by disguises — because sometimes, to show someone who you really are is an act of trust and intimacy.

Erica Ridley has quickly become one of my new favorite historical romance authors. I'm hopelessly in love with her Wynchester family. I was over the moon excited about this book from the second I saw this gorgeous cover and my expectations for it were sky-high. I'm thrilled to say Tommy and Philippa exceeded every one of them.

I think this was my first romance featuring a non-binary character. (About time, right?) Tommy intrigued me during the first book with her "master of disguise" ways, so I was stoked to get her story in the second book. (Which, by the way, you could totally read as a standalone.) The pairing with Philippa was perfection. It's a truly slow burn with some fantastic pining and chemistry. And it's rather steamy, too! I was all in on these two.

From the romance to the cipher mystery to the found family aspects, I couldn't get enough of this book. It kept me guessing but also gave me all the warm fuzzies.

Delightfully Unconventional

Tommy has learned to be many people, but all she wants is to be loved for who she is. Will she get her wish?

Philippa is expected to marry a man with a title, and she wants to please her parents. However, that is not what her heart desires.

As two women work to solve a mystery, they find themselves falling in love. However, they live in a society, where two women in love would never be accepted in so-called polite society. Can these two bluestockings find a way to be together? I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to those who like unconventional stories, where love does not recognize gender or class.

This book was an excellent twist on the typical Historical Romance since it features a same-sex couple as the main characters. Both Tommy & Philippa are well-rounded, well-developed leads, and it's a pleasure to watch their relationship grow and change.

Aside from that, the story is your typical historical romance where the parents of one suitor do not approve of the other - which I think is brilliant. The rest of the Wynchester clan is featured prominently - each more delightful than the next.

I felt like the subject matter of this book was handled very well, without pandering or generalizations. It's definitely a must-read for any romance lover.

When I say I LOVED this book, I don't just mean that it was great for queer representation in the regency romance world, or that it was just a fun quick romance to read....though it does fill all of those facets.
I mean that I LOVED Tommy and Phillipa with my entire heart, I wish to only banter about equine reading preferences with potential suitors, and that I would love nothing more than to be a part of the Wynchester family schemes and heists. I already have a physical copy of this and the first book in the series on the way.

The Perks of Loving a Wallflower follows Phillipa, our favorite book-loving society woman in need of a husband, on her journey to navigate parental and societal expectations alongside her own hopes and dreams. All it takes is one Tommy Wynchester whose unrequited affections for Phillipa can only come to light while in disguise as a Baron. It's a classic set up for a regency romance but the reader receives sentimental pining, internal (and external) identity and sexual orientation dilemmas, witty banter for days, and a woman fighting to be a heroine in her own story. All I can say is: YOU NEED TO READ THIS. It is a perfect book and there is such potential for the rest of the Wynchester family series.

Enjoyed the interaction and growing relationship between both heroines. I received an arc of this book.

This book is a sequel to The Duke Heist and following one of the other Wynchester siblings, Tommy. I read The Duke Heist earlier this year and really liked both Tommy and Phillipa as characters, so when I found out that the next book was going to be a romance between the two of them, I was so excited.

This book met and then exceeded all of the expectations I had for it. I absolutely adored the romance, and this book warmed my heart in so many ways (just like Tommy warmed Phillipas cold dead heart). The development of their romance was lovely, and I was so happy seeing Phillipa finally get to experience true joy.

One aspect of this book I really loved is Tommy disguising herself as a man - I love the secret identity trope, and I also liked how the book used this to talk about how Tommy views her gender. Though it is a historical romance and the word non-binary is not used, it seems like that is how Tommy might describe herself if she had modern terminology - she says a couple times in the book that she feels neither male nor female.

The Wynchesters are such a wonderful family, and I love seeing a new person find happiness and a home with them each book. I can't wait to see what else this series does!

rating: 4.5/5

My heart grew two sizes reading this historical romance. Sure, there's still room for self-improvement, but honestly, what a feat. This sapphic love story originates in a reading circle presided over by one Miss Philippa York, bluestocking and illuminated manuscript enthusiast. Tommy first attends in one of her many disguises, the role of Great-Aunt Wynchester, an old woman who runs on inappropriate remarks and gin. Tommy pines for Philippa in secret for a year before her meddling siblings dare her to strike up a conversation. Wearing a different persona as Baron Vanderbean, she rakishly approaches Philippa in public. Once Tommy reveals her ruse, they strike a bargain, beginning a fake courtship to help Philippa attract a "real" suitor who will meet with her parents' approval and further their goals for the family. Unfortunately for the plan, but fortunately for Tommy and Philippa, there is a spark between them that can't be ignored.

There's some really exciting queer rep in this one. The sapphic goodness radiates from the cover, but there's more to it than that. The way Tommy talks about her gender, I think she would identify as gender-fluid and/or non-binary if that vocabulary was on the table for her. She and Philippa have several conversations about it as Philippa learns Tommy's preferences and gets to see the real her. In terms of Philippa, I think she's a lacy goddess of a curvy demi-sexual. Beyond the way social oppression kept her from coming to terms with her sexuality (Philippa is decidedly uninterested in men and what they have on offer), she also expresses that she never felt attraction before Tommy because she needed that feeling of safety and intimacy first. In the first part of the book, she assumes that experience isn't possible for her even though she wishes for it (see me get punched in the ace feels over here).

This series continues to be sweet, non-toxic (harder to come by than I would like), and witty in a combination that completely charms me. Expect more hijinks from the Wynchesters to boost your spirits and some pure-hearted goodness that make me want to hug every character. Thanks to Forever for the opportunity to read and review this book!

I received "The Perks of Loving A Wallflower" from Netgalley and voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Erica Ridley never fails to amaze me with her stories. I was a bit hesitant and skeptical at first about reading this story,  but that sentiment chaged very soon after beginning to read it.
Tommy Winchester and Miss Philippa York are both trying to help their friend Damaris prove she is the true person behind the discovery of a cipher. During this adventure,  Phillipa develops feelings for Tommy and doesn't understand herself what she should do to stay conformed with society's rules about love. This is a beautiful story about love choosing love, and loving someone for who they truly are.

I enjoyed this book! Tommy and Phillipa’s relationship was so pure. This f/nb duo really hit a sweet spot in this regency romance. I read this book as a stand-alone!

This book was an absolute delight! I loved watching Tommy and Philippa navigate their fake courtship to friendship relationship. I think realization of attraction on Phillipa’s part felt super realistic. Tommy trying to figure out how to help the girl she wants with all her problems when it was a struggle to even speak to her was really cute. I also really enjoyed the mystery/mission happening in the background of the story. It worked super well and had a good balance with the romance. Pining, meddling family, fake courting, and a dash of intrigue all await in this queer regency romance!

I really wanted to enjoy this book but I had a hard time getting into the storyline. I do not think this is a fault of the book or the author, but just a personal preference to how the story is told. I found the disguises and subterfuge confusing at times and had a hard time getting into the rhythm of the story. I do like the concept of the story and if I had not found the story hard to keep engaged with, I am sure I would have enjoyed it. I would read the author again and I do recommend the book. I believe it was just my distractions that were at fault and not the book. I really did like the switch up with gender and would like to see more stories in this area.

England 1817

Philippa York is a bluestocking, who loves to read and do charitable works. Her mother is determined she find a titled man to marry and will take all her privileges away if she fails to comply.

Thomasina 'Tommie' Winchester was an orphaned until Lord Vanderbean took in six orphans creating a family for them all. She is the master of disguises and fell in love with a wallflower over a year ago but has yet to act on it.

Challenged by her family to actually talk to Philippa, Tommie takes on the guise of Horace Vanderbean, the fictional heir of Lord Vanderbean. Being a Baron got her in the door but her wit and charm intrigue Philippa. She's willing to play the game with Tommy to help her find a titled lord to marry and to take down a lord trying to take credit for a woman's creation.

Tommy has loved her for over a year but watching these two work together, building a relationship and share passions, is sweet and heartwarming. The Winchesters embrace life and find fun, while helping the underdog.

Sweet and fun historical romance.

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even 4 stars. I had a lot of fun with this Regency romance. I first placed this in the F-F romance category that I have, but I was surprised and happy to find that that one of the love interests is non binary. Tommy is a kind of spy that revels in her disguises. She's comfortable with her male and female personas, but doesn't feel like she fits into either. Because it's Regency era London, she uses female pronouns. Her love interest, whom she might have been pining for since the first book, Phillipa York doesn't believe in love until she meets Tommy in one of her male disguises. They get up to some shenanigans and Phillipa learns that it is more important for people to like and love you for who you are than to constantly try to mold you into their idealized version of something.

I love Phillipa and Tommy. They are adorable, and I love their banter. It helps that both of them are whip smart in different things. Tommy herself is very charismatic, which is interesting for one who is a master of disguise - she inherits the character that she wants to be, but once one knows who she is under the costumes and makeup, it is hard to not just see her as Tommy. Phillipa's brain is a beautiful thing to watch, even as she is trying to logic herself out of liking Tommy/her male disguise. The humor is sweet and on point, especially Tommy's crush. That they get to work together on a caper is just the topping on this lovely cake.

What kind of dims some of the enjoyment for me is Phillipa's mother. She is the actual embodiment of the overbearing mother that only sees her daughter as a social springboard. She has almost no nuance to her character (like the fear of loosing money because of a darker past) to the point where she becomes a caricature. I get that Phillipa really needs to be pushed to realize that the Winchesters are actually a model family despite them being snubbed in polite society, but man, she can be a drag when she gets a lot of screen time. The other thing, which a couple of reviewers have pointed out, is that the cover art do not match Phillipa or Tommy at all. Phillipa is curvier, and I'd imagine Tommy with her shorter hair and possibly in trousers instead of the dress she has on. It is more annoying than anything, but the lack of accuracy is not great. I do know that authors don't have much to say on their cover arts, so this is more on Grand Central Publishing/ Forever than Ridley.

This is also part of a series that follows the Winchesters, but this is just a solid arc in and of itself that I didn't feel like I missed anything. However, if you liked this one, you can try the first book, The Duke Heist. Fans of Queer romance may like that one for more background on Tommy, but it focuses on the romance between beloved sister Chloe and the Duke of Faircliffe, Lawrence. There's also a novella that is the direct prequal to this book, The Rake Mistake that could flesh out Phillipa and Tommy's meeting more.

Overall, this is a sweet romance that is full of capers, hilarious banter, some decent sex scenes, and warm and fuzzy feelings all over. I liked this way more than expected, and think historical romance fans will find this to be delightful.

*I received this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Loved this book! So glad we got to see Tommy's story and actually read from their POV. I really enjoyed getting to see more of the Wynchesters and just how Phillipa fit in with them. Can't wait for more in this series!
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.