Drama, drama, drama! This was right when it was described as Bridgerton meets Gossip Girl, Meets Jane Austen. I saw so many of my favorite heroes and heroines wrapped up in this book, (and so many villians too).
Georgiana was sent to live with her aunt and uncle by parents that didn't really want to be parents. While she is living with them, she becomes friendly with many of the high society kids her age. One thing is clear, they don't live like the rest of them and they can get away with almost anything.
George becomes fast friends with Frances, a mixed race girl that seemingly wants for nothing. When it becomes clear that underneath it all, these kids don't have EVERYTHING, some of them can handle it better than others. George just wants to be accepted. While she is in a lower class, she knows that Frances likes her for her and isn't worried about what others think. Until their friendship is tested and things start to come crashing down.
The one savior is the broody, Thomas Hawksley. He keeps George grounded and brings out the best in her.
There were a lot of hard subjects that were touched on in this book and I enjoyed the diveristy. This was real and raw and showed us things that Jane Austen wouldn't have. I felt for George because wanting to fit in is real and just when you think you have it all figured out, the rug could be pulled out from you. I really enjoyed the narrator, she really brought the story to life.
Thank you to MacMillian Audio, Lex Croucher and Netgalley for an early audio copy.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this advance listener copy and advance reader copy.

Description from NetGalley:
Abandoned by her parents, bookish and sheltered Georgiana Ellers is spending the summer with her stodgy aunt and uncle at their home in the English countryside. At a particularly dull party, she meets the enigmatic Frances Campbell, a wealthy member of the in-crowd who delights Georgiana with her disregard for so-called “polite society.”
Lonely and vulnerable, Georgiana quickly falls in with Frances and her wealthy, wild, and deeply improper friends, who introduce her to the upper echelons of Regency aristocracy, and a world of drunken debauchery, frivolous spending, and mysterious young men. One, in particular, stands out from the rest: 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.
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.
Having both the ebook and audio for this was delightful. It was very immersive and great to hear the accents. The narrator did a great job. The plot is definitely the “grass isn’t always greener” and a finding out who you are kind of story. I loved Georgiana and felt for how uncomfortable she felt in the fancy/rich world, “polite society.” I also felt for the others because of what society would expect out of them.
If you are a Pride and Prejudice fan, then I highly recommend this book, both written and audio.
Overall: 4/5

One of the tags that made this book capture my attention was, “Mean Girls meets Bridgerton”, and yeahhhhhh- spot on! At first glance, we have a Regency-era story about a young woman named Georgiana, trying to find friends and a match in society. Peel back the layers and we have a really diverse group of people all struggling with their own internal plights, whilst also trying to maintain and gain the best social standing possible. Basically my high school into college years, but with a corset. Georgiana falls in with the cool crowd and has to learn to be herself, tell her truth and stand up for herself against an abuser. The story is timely, and sweet. Georgiana finds her footing, falls in love, and protects her reputation.
Overall I would have loved a little more romance and smolder. I don’t need any Bridgerton library scenes, but you can’t give me Thomas (basically a Mr. Darcy or “The Duke”) and not fulfill my romantic whims 😭😅🤤 3.5 stars. A cute young adult read.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for my unbiased opinion!

Gossip Girl and Mean Girls meet Pride & Prejudice in Reputation by Lex Croucher, out April 5.
Georgiana Ellers is taken in by her boring aunt and uncle after being pushed aside and forgotten by her parents. At a stuffy party, Georgiana meets Frances Campbell, an upper-class young woman who takes Georgiana under her wing, inviting her into the world of lawless socialite society. Georgiana, or George, as her new friends call her, realizes that these people may just have the appearance of class, and maybe aren’t as happy as they appear.

This book had me hooked. I was wondering what the characters were doing while I wasn’t reading. I was simultaneously rooting for Georgiana and wishing for her demise. She was likable while doing terrible things with terrible people. The author lifted a few iconic Mean Girls quotes, which I loved. This book also had strong Dickinson vibes and even had a background Emily/Sue dynamic going on.

I would definitely recommend this book to fans of any of the aforementioned shows/movies. Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for this advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

OMG, could this book have been any more fun!? It's like Mean Girls set in regency-era England. (Jane Austen is SPINNING in her grave!)
Reputation is the story of Georgiana Ellers, a young lady who is sent to stay with her aunt and uncle, the Burtons, while her parents decide to travel and basically leave her behind. She meets Frances Campbell, a wealthy member of the in-crowd and quickly falls in w/ her crew. They seem to live a life that Georgiana has only dared dream about. However, as rich and fun as these friends are, they're definitely improper and the price of high society may be much more than Georgiana is ready to pay...

*Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for an e-arc of this novel.*

This book is set in one of my favorite time periods to read about. I love the Austen era and always enjoy being transported to that time. Our Heroine is Georgiana Ellers, she is relatable and has a wonderful sense of humor. Her inner dialogue is hilarious, and while I think that how she spoke was somewhat unrealistic for the time, I loved it all the same. We follow Georgiana through her rise in high society via her new friends, and her questionable decisions throughout. The story is enjoyable, I had to set aside my opinions about it being unrealistic for people, especially young women, to act the way that our characters do. After doing that I was able to enjoy it much more. The love interest, Mr. Hawksley is wonderful and I love him from the start. I found the characters likable, of course they had flaws but this story does provide a HEA. The narration for this book was PERFECT. I want to listen to more of the narrator's work because it made the story better, and did an amazing job. I would say ⅘ stars, very enjoyable!

I really loved this book and I hope he will write maybe continue as see how the other girls fare in finding love. I really loved how George had to figure out who were her true friends and who were not. Well written book and I can't wait to read more from this author.

Reputation by Lex Croucher is everything you want in a Regency era high society tale that would make Jane Austen proud! The tagline for this book was Mean Girls meets Jane Austin with a twist, it so lived up to the hype and then some.
Observing Georgiana splendid ascent on the social ladder, which regrettably had a few casualties along the way, was both glorious and sad. She was able to enter a world well beyond her appropriate standing to view what the higher society lives like. And I found that I saw the ending coming but was hoping in a perfect world where tragic events do not occur to good people. That she would realize just because you have loads of wealth doesn’t make you a respectable or decent human being. Poor George needs to lay off the spirits and open her pretty eyes to the world she has entered before its too late. But alas when the veil was lifted, sobering as it may be, it exposed her new world, making her realize that maybe Not All That Glitters is in Fact Gold…. William Shakespeare must not have been one of the books in her vast library she was reading. Sorry just had to poke some fun at poor George because at more times than I care to admit my heart ached for her. I found that when this story ended, I was a little melancholy, because I so loved being enveloped in this world sodden with Regency allure and elegance with just a hint of arrogance that makes it fun to observe. I truly adored the Edwardian flair with the hint of debauchery and angst, while still navigating a coming-of-age love story that proves no matter what era you grow up in we all experience struggles we must endure and overcome.

I want to thank St. Martin’s Press and Lex Croucher for sending me this Advance Readers’ Edition in exchange for my honest review, it was a pleasure to spend all my nights enveloped in your world.

I have such mixed feelings about this book.
On the one hand, it's brilliantly written. It's sharp and witty and incisive. The dialogue is snappy and fun. The observations are clever. Descriptions are crisp and imaginative. That's really what kept me listening to the audiobook.... I was absolutely enmeshed in the craft of the story.
However, I couldn't ignore my disappointment. This book was billed as a rom-com, shelved with the historical romance novels and given an illustrated cover (which is a definite nod towards rom-com in itself). I can't agree with the classification. Oh, there was definitely humor. But romance?
Yes, I'm one of those romance readers. I am a purist for the genre. And it's not like I have a laundry list of requirements... it's really rather simple. In order to be a romance there needs to be two vital components. You cannot have one and not the other and still be a romance novel. Those things are: a happily ever after and a romance between two main characters as a central plot.
It's fine if a book lacks one or both of those things. In fact, if this book had been labeled women's fiction or young adult (honestly, it read like young adult even though I think the characters were older? They acted like they were no more than 16 though), that would be more honest than labeling it a romance. This book is not a romance. Let me repeat that.
This. Book. Is. Not. A. Romance.
Many readers aren't as particular as I am. Many readers don't read romance novels exclusively. Some do and still like the fresh take that this book had on the Regency period. Look at the positive reviews this book has received. It's FINE to like this book. But I can't say that i do because I feel like I was sold a false bill of goods. I don't like the sensation of having the rug ripped out from under me. So that might have colored my opinion of this story more than a little bit.
I did love the diversity and the LGBTQ representation. I wish more actual historical romance novels included those themes and I have great hope that there will be more in the future. I did not, however, enjoy that the biracial, bisexual supporting character was the wild and uncouth bad influence upon the rest of more polite society. That felt a bit like a harmful trope to me. Disappointing. I also didn't like that the lesbian character was so desperately unpleasant to everyone around her except the woman she was in love with. Again, it felt like a harmful trope/stereotype.
At times, the story seemed to plod along. And it was difficult at times to root for any characters, especially the heroine. She felt very immature and easily led to me. Very weak moral character.
If you want a fresh look on a Regency era tale, this might be right up your alley. If, on the other hand, you want an actual historical romance, look elsewhere.

honestly, i found reputation to be quite merciless in its narrative. once you settle into the FANTASTIC banter and the glamour of it all, it begins to present the various harsh realities of the world while unable to offer easy answers to them. which may not work for some readers but i truly thought it a wonderful narrative choice.

this book delighted me, shocked me, made me laugh, made me angry, and above all made me want MORE. big thank you to netgalley for the ARC of the audiobook, i absolutely loved the narrator and fell completely in love with this book.

I listened to Reputation by author, Lex Croucher, as an e-ARC audiobook through @netgalley. I was excited to jump in because historical fiction is my absolute favorite genre and this was written within my favorite era.

So, first things first, Reputation is not your typical Regency-era historical fiction because there is a lot that is just simply not historically accurate. The main character, Georgiana Ellers, makes friends with the “cool kids” in town and they’re constantly off at unchaperoned parties, getting drunk, getting high among other things that wouldn’t be so openly done in high society. That isn’t to say that these things didn’t happen, they absolutely did, but they wouldn’t be so carte blanche.

Now, I don’t traditionally read reviews before I try a new book because I don’t want to be biased so I didn’t read any warnings to prepare me. However, once I was about a quarter of the way in I realized I didn’t care. I’m not a traditionalist so I learned to embrace the differentness of this book within a genre I love and know well. Once I did, I struggled to hit the pause button.

The will they, won’t they within the characters of this story was captivating and the Mr. Darcy/Lizzie-eque romance between Georgiana and Mr. Hawksley kept me wanting more.

I always judge an audiobook by my feelings a split second after the ending message begins. When Reputation ended I was sad; not because it was a bad book, but because I didn’t want it to end.

It’s not a traditional historical fiction piece and I think that is part of what makes this book brilliant.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

This audiobook is utterly delicious and has delightful narration; I finished it in two days. This is Gossip Girl meets Jane Austen with a pinch of Mean Girls.

Bessie Carter’s narration is spot on, and, dare I say, made me enjoy the novel even more? Her narration truly brought the story to life with distinct voices for each character. The dripping derision in Jane’s tone, the guilelessness of Cecily, the dry wit of Georgiana—all were *chef’s kiss* for me. I can picture it so clearly from the narration; I would love to see this adapted as a series or miniseries.

Good for fans of Bridgerton and Jane Austen fans who are looking to add a heavy dose of scandal to their Regency reading

Content Warnings: grief, sexual and physical assault, emotional child neglect, drug and alcohol use, alcoholism, prejudice and racism

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Reputation by Alex Croucher

SUMMARY: Bored, friendless, and ditched by her parents, Georgiana Ellers is thrilled when the rich and popular Frances Campbell takes her under her wing. Together with Frances’s super-rich friends, they embark on a summer of partying, debauchery, and antics the likes of which Georgiana has never seen.

The writing in this book was really strong, and the narration by Bessie Carter (Prudence Featherington of Bridgerton) was excellent. The characters were interesting and well-developed, and I really enjoyed the sexual and racial diversity represented—I mean, for the setting it was particularly impressive!

However, the story was definitely a dark one. It likens itself to Mean Girls, with clear allusions like: “Get in, Georgiana, we’re going shopping!” But in my mind, it’s more closely aligned with the unsettling drama of Euphoria. The whole time I was listening, I felt a visceral sense of unease about how the characters might wound one another next.

Part of my problem may have been the misdirection presented by the cover. The cartoony nature seemed to indicate a Regency romance, but I would describe it more as contemporary new adult drama set against a historical backdrop. Imagine instead the cover of the 2003 movie “thirteen” with a Jane Austen makeover.

Overall, it was an interesting book, but far from the one I expected. I feel like I need someone else to read so we can discuss!

This title is available April 5. Thanks to @netgalley @macmillan.audio and Lex Croucher for an ALC in exchange for an honest review!

⭐⭐⭐.5

A regency novel with a twist of Mean Girls, add in BIPOC characters and some humor. This is an entertaining book (that comes with trigger warnings) and I enjoyed listening to this one on audio.

3 stars, rounded up from 2.5 stars

When I started reading Reputation, I wasn’t sure at all if I was going to like it. I’ve seen descriptions calling it “Bridgerton meets Mean Girls”, and I suppose that’s fairly accurate. I was taken aback by what seemed to be anachronistic actions and phrases (was “cross-dressing” even a word back in the early 1800s?). However, the more I read (or listened!), the more I was drawn into the story, despite disliking virtually all the characters and thinking it would make more sense set in the modern era. Georgiana is the female main character and she really just wants to fit in with the “in crowd” of the day, all very rich (she’s middle class), and all very inclined to indulge in alcohol and drugs at unchaperoned parties. She will do most anything to fit in with the people she thinks are her new friends. She totally ignores and/or is rude to a young woman named Betty who is decidedly not in that crowd. I hated how Georgiana treated Betty for most of the book.

One of the main characters is a young woman of mixed heritage - her father is an English lord and her mother a Black woman from the West Indies. (There seems to be something rather amiss in that marriage but we never get details, which was frustrating.) Another main character is also of mixed heritage - English father and Indian (real India) mother. There is also one admittedly queer main character and a hint that a couple of others may also be.

This felt like a book aimed at the Young Adult market, albeit a rather dark story. There are several content warnings: alcohol abuse, drugs, rape (off-page), sexual assault (on-page).

I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient. The audiobook was wonderfully narrated by Bessie Carter.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook and to St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Not even a month after listening to this audiobook, and I couldn't even tell you in details what happened, that's how short my memory can be sometimes if I don't pay enough attention to what I'm listening to or if I'm doing too many things at the same time.

However, I did enjoy Reputation as it followed Georgina as she moves to a new town with her uncle and aunt where she will meet Frances, a popular and rich girl as well as Frances' friends. They'll introduce her to things she hasn't discovered yet.

Overall, I can see the mash-up between Mean Girls/Gossip Girl and historical stories. It made the book interesting even though it wasn't exactly what I expected.


(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)

Loved this book! It was a romp- gossip, wine, parties, scandal- all set in the regency. I'm a Betty stan!

I received the audiobook for this book from NetGalley for an honest review. Thank you again NetGalley so much for this opportunity!

I actually won the arc of this book off of goodreads late in 2021 and thought the idea of the book was interesting considering Jane Austin holds a special place in my heart. So when I saw that NetGalley had the audiobook for it I was hoping to hear it and I was and it was amazing!

Being that the person reading the story was an actress who played a role in Bridgerton was just the icing on the cake! She made the story really come to life! Her accent sounded so royal (yes I know it’s her naturally but I still love it) and really added a flair to it!

Hands down one of the best books I’ve read this year! What a fun, witty, hard hitting ode to Jane Austen’s regency era. A book about friendship, love, loss and coming of age. Lex Croucher has hit this one out of the park!
Audio book was narrated by Bess Carter of which she did an absolutely brilliant job at!
Many thanks to NetGalley and MacMillian audio for the audiobook.

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC of the audiobook for Reputation.

I have very mixed feelings about this one. Parts of it were hilarious, poignant, and just sweet. Other times, though, it got almost monotonous and the MC annoyingly obtuse.

Georgianna is a young [lower] middle class woman who is all but abandoned by her parents at her aunt’s house. She has all but resigned herself to a new life of solitude and boredom when she is ‘adopted’ by socialite party girl Francis. What follows is 3/4 of a book where George tries to keep up with Francis’ alcohol and drug consumption to her own detriment.

I generally appreciate when historical fiction maintains modern sensibilities. I’m glad the author included POC and queer characters, and addressed the issues that they (and the women) faced. I also appreciate a good Mean Girls reference (or several). However, it just got to be too. much. with the drinking/partying/self-destructive behavior. I should’ve expected when one of the comparisons was Gossip Girl- totally accurate, by the way.

I’m sure others will appreciate this much more than me!