Eloisa James never disappoints. How to Be a Wallflower is yet another James success. The wager between Cleo and the American is laugh out loud funny as well as very romantic. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

This is a sweet romance. However it is too disjointed for me. Writing isn't as smooth as her novels. It's not bad, it just didn't really hold my interest.

With its atypical characters, zany humor, low conflict, and modern sensibility, How to Be a Wallflower would suit readers looking for light and fluffy books to escape to during these fraught times.

The book's main characters are two of the quirkiest leads in historical romance I've ever read. Cleo owns a company that makes commodes while Jake is an American businessman who renounced his illustrious family name in protest of his uncle's engagement in the opium trade. Their clash over the ownership of a costume emporium was both absurd and funny.

As per usual with Ms. James, expect plenty of Shakespeare and cheeky servants.

A completely charming and fun romantic regency romance with a friends to lovers trope. I adore regency romances. This was the first book of Eloisa James's books that I've read and it won't be the last one that I pick up.

Cleopatra is a business woman who knows her own mind and once she meets Addison, goes out of her way to get what she wants. Addison wanted nothing more than acquire a costume business to support his theatrical business in America. Cleopatra won't let him steal the best seamstress she's come across so buys out the business between them. The more interactions they have, the y discover they aren't so different and actually enjoy each other's company. Throw in a matchmaking grandfather and his best friend for comic relief, you have enjoyable read.

✨simp hero: *exists* me:*adds another book boyfriend to the ever-growing list*✨

Who told Eloisa James that she can write heartthrob heroes like this and get away with it?

This is my favorite read from Eloisa James so far. It has an understanding, simp hero, a badaass businesswoman heroine, a delicious wager, secret trysts, stolen glances, last night dates, and more 🤩

Tropes:
👨🏽‍💼 self-made, businessman hero (simp behavior comes free)
👩🏽‍💼 business woman heroine (commitment issues included)
😏 heroine ruins hero’s business deal
😫rivals-to-friends-to-lovers
😍 instalove
🔥slow burn
❤️‍🔥 PINING
🤩competency k*nk

I read this when I was going through a big reading slump and this helped so much. It is a simple, easy-to-get-through kinda read while still having a refreshing plot 😍🙌🏽

The chemistry between the two characters was amazing 🤩 While the hero falls for the heroine almost instantly and simps for her throughout the story, the slow burn stems from Cleo not wanting to get married and having her personal trauma.

I will say, my enjoyment rooted, not in the development of the relationship, but rather how wonderful the hero was and both characters' professional development. The heroine was pretty stubborn in her ways which lead to very little development in a romantic sense. Plus, the hero's affections towards the heroine were very instalovey which definitely had the potential to irk me. I believe the wonderful women on the PlotTrysts podcast noted how the hero was a little too understanding. Any issue or personal flaw the heroine had, the hero would instantly understand and accommodate without her having to develop much. I know these things would normally really annoy me, but, somehow with her magical writing, Eloisa James was able to play it off. Still, I would have liked to see more romantic development relationship wise and heroine wise.

That being said, both characters truly understood and appreciated one another, often having conversations with each other late into the night or consulting each other about business stuff 😍🥺

The chemistry infused dancing, the late night talks, the secret trysts, the competency k*nk, the understanding nature, everything about Jake made me want to absolutely MELT 🥴🥴 If you are looking for a new book boyfriend to make you blush and smile like a lunatic while reading, please pick this book up 🙏🏽🙏🏽 He truly just wants to spend the rest of his life building something with Cleo and I CAN’T GET ENOUGH 😩🙌🏽

This is the first in a new series about a group of women who, for their own reasons, decide to turn into wallflowers, only to find love along the way. I LOVE that idea! Eloisa James took a familiar trope and turned it on its head with this series.

I cannot wait for the next installments!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars | 🌶🌶 🌶/ 5 steam

Thank you to Avon, Netgalley, and Eloisa James for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion ❤️

I hate to only give two stars, because I usually love Eloisa James' books, but I just couldn't get into this one. I actually didn't finish it. I didn't feel the connection between the hero and heroine.

Read this book if you are looking for a fun historical romance. It was so much fun and so nice to read. I loved it a lot and would highly recommend to fans of the genre. New favourite author that I will be reading more from in the future. That cover is also very stunning. I am a fan of the purple dress. Book 2 can please come now so that I can read more.

Combine a hero and heroine who are both too smart for their own good, and sparks fly. I much prefer Eloisa James' Regency set novels to her Georgian era romances. Her writing gets crisper and funnier with time, and How to Be a Wallflower is pure enjoyment.

Miss Cleopatra “Cleo” Lewis, the owner of the very successful Lewis Commodes company, has reconciled with her estranged grandfather in order to fulfill her mother's dying wish.. When Cleo tells her dresser that she has agreed to participate in the season with her grandfather and plans to don the role of a wallflower since her own experience and her mother’s behavior has left her with no desire to marry, her dresser suggests that Cleo visit Quimby’s Emporium for her attire. Cleo meets American Jacob “Jake” Astor Addison thereand then proceeds to buy the Emporium out from under him. Jake is in London to visit his dearest friend, Merry the Duchess of Trent, and to convince Martha Quimby to relocate to the States and design costumes for his theaters – something he thought was a done deal until he is thwarted by Cleo. Jake had p lanned to return to America as soon as the deal was completed, a marry a very nice girl but that was before he met Cleo. Before their meeting Jake had planned to return to America and marry a very nice girl, Now nothing will stop him from winning her – not even a ridiculous agreement to pick each other’s wardrobes -- from Quimby's, modiste to the theater.

There are lots of fun happenings, and fun characters -- her grandfather's friend Byng for starters. And the fact that Cleo's company makes commodes, of all things! Yes, the ending is predictable, but what isn't is how supportive Jake is of Cleo. She's independent yet scarred from her mother's never-ending affairs before her death, giving her a very skewed view of romance. This is a great start to a new series.

This was my first Eloisa James book and wow did it not disappoint. A charming and fun romp with a sprinkle of friends to lovers, this is the perfect read for someone looking for something light and fluffy. I've only read a handful of American hero/English heroine romances so it was fun to jump back into it.

While formulaic as per usual, Eloisa James is still a good option for an interesting storyline and flawed yet relatable characters. She appears to be feeling the Bridgerton influence, but not giving up on her identity.

I struggled to finish this one, I thought Cleo was a bit annoying and the chemistry between she and Jake was lacking. No luster or something? I just could not enjoy it although I wanted to. :(

This was my first Eloise James novel and I'm so happy I read her! I love historical romance and I thought this was an interesting and intriguing setup. I need to read more of her work!

OMG Cleo and Jake! I absolutely loved this book, so much so that I will be keeping an eye out for a sale to purchase a Kindle copy. Eloisa James just never misses.

Brit Cleo, unusual Regency Era heroine, meets brute American Jake when she bests him in a business deal. Conversational sparks fly. Eventually one admits their desire for the other.. The other struggles to trust the longevity of a relationship based on their childhood. Finally an event happens that brings them together and just as it seems to be headed for happily ever after an unexpected obstacle appears. Will they unite for life or not? Throw in some 21st century concepts that seem out of place and you get the gist of this book. Fans of #EloisaJames will likely eat this up. Others may be less inclined to do so. Thank you #NetGalley.

Cute as title leads you to expect. Look for the wallflower to be anything but. Then there is the brash American. What can go wrong with each of their individual plans. Just everything.

This book was very enjoyable to read and a wonderful introduction. I will definitely read future books belonging to this series.

I really had a fun time with Jake and Cleo. Cleo buys/steals a business Quimby Emporium right under his nose and he is not too happy at first. Losing simply doesn't happen to him so he sets to change things. I loved his relentless pursuits of Cleo. They finally come to a compromise with designing each others wardrobe sewn by the emporium seamstress and wearing the outfits to events, parties etc all while trying/scheming to undo eachother. He falls for her and not afraid to express it. While she feels the same things for him, she is hesitant of commitment after witnessing her parents relationship. With all this going on you witness Jake trying to convince Cleo on giving their love a chance. It's a slow burn yet still quirky and sexy. Their HEA made me happy, and I highly recommend this book to Historical Romance readers.

3/5 Stars

** I received this as an E-ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review, Thank you!**

I felt very middle of the road while reading this book. While the writing was great ( as always), I found that I wasn't that invested in the romance between Jake and Cleo. I felt like there was a lack of passion and chemistry. I did really enjoy the characters overall and enjoyed Cleo a lot. Like I said there was just something lacking for me here. I would still recommend giving this a read as I still had a great time.

As usual, Eloisa James has written a completely enjoyable romance story. The characters and the story are engaging from beginning to end.