This was a fun romp! Not my usual type of book but it was definitely a fun read and very enjoyable! Strong woman!

Kitty Talbot is a refreshing heroine. The death of her parents leaves her in debt and in charge of her five sisters. She know she needs to go to London to find a husband. She is smart enough to have her honorary aunt giver her an introduction into society. She knows enough to not aim too high, a younger son will be good enough. When Lord Radcliffe thwarts her attempt to marry his younger brother, he puts her in a dire position and she expects him to help her find a husband. Kitty only has 8 weeks before she loses everything. It's a fun and fast paced story. All of the characters are interesting, and the plot is believable.

Sophie Irwin offers a fun Regency-era romance set in London during the Season, and a time when characters use the word whilst. Kitty Talbot needs money to pay off her family's debt and support her four sisters. Kitty sees the fastest way to getting the money is to find a wealthy husband. The novel takes readers on a pleasant romp through London's high society where strong female characters can faint on will, but know exactly what they want. Good read.

I couldn't get past the first chapter. Maybe would be a fun read for people who like period romance, but for a Jane Austen aficionado or purist, this was cringe-worthy. The language and attitudes of the characters were entirely modern and felt out of place in the Regency setting. The author's understanding of Regency society and norms seemed shaky at best.

This is one of those books that will either really work for you because you like Kitty or it will really not work for you because this doesn't read like most modern-written historical romances. This is very much a Regency romp with a lot of ridiculous-ness and a slow, slow build between the ultimate love interest and Kitty. For me, this book definitely worked for me, though I think it's because I went in having read Aarya's review and had that in mind. Kitty is just such an excellent character and I delighted in reading a book where the character who would so often be considered a villainess is the star of the show. Because, the truth is, most people who need to marry for money probably have good reason for that.

A Regency period romance full of quirky characters. Kitty is desperate to find a rich husband so that she can keep her family home for her four sisters after their parents left them in serious debt. She tackles London society with a witty determination, making both friends and enemies along the way.

It had all the right ingredients to be an interesting story but the final product was a tad lackluster. I’m bummed, what can I say?

I couldn’t put this book down! It has everything that you want in a Regency romance: enemies to lovers, a funny and fearless leading lady, scandals, and drama! A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting has it all.

Kitty has four sisters and they have lost both their parents to illness. Their father accumulated a lot of debt when gambling and the girls risk losing their house. Kitty and her sister, Cecily, set off to London to stay with their Aunt Dorothy during the Season to secure a rich husband to pay their debts so they can keep their family home. But the girls’ family live in the country because their parents married for love instead of status and they must quickly learn the ins and outs of polite society.

They stumble upon Mr. de Lacy and his sister, and Kitty quickly thinks of a way to speak with them. As Mr. de Lacy and Kitty grow closer, Mr. de Lacy’s mother, Lady Radcliffe, suspects Kitty is a fortune hunter and calls upon her eldest son to return home to save their family from ruin. James Radcliffe sees Kitty for what she is and threatens to expose her unless she leaves their family alone, and Kitty devises a plan for Radcliffe to assist her in her efforts to pay her family’s debts.

Can Kitty defy the odds and get a wealthy bachelor to propose to her by the end of the Season? Or will she be able to marry for love? A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting is fun and perfect for someone searching for a feel good book similar to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

What an utterly charming read! I was first drawn to this book because of the gorgeous cover, and then I was thrilled to discover the story inside was equally delightful. The premise of this historical romance -- a recently orphaned older sister must marry a wealthy man to save her family from ruin -- immediately had me hooked. I couldn't wait to see what ploy she'd devise next in order to snare a husband! What followed was a series of capers that didn't necessarily do anything new in the genre but was the escape I needed. I would have loved just a bit more at the ending -- it wrapped up a little too quickly for me -- but have my fingers crossed that one of the sisters might get their own book. I think this would be perfect for fans of Georgette Heyer, Julianne Donaldson's Edenbrooke, or people who want something similar to the Bridgertons but with less steam. I So Enjoyed It.

All the twists and turns and full-fledged fun you want in a romance regency novel with the ending that you want and get. Though a wee bit predictable of a plot, the sharp turns make it that much more rewarding in the end.

Reminiscent of Georgette Heyer at her best with a decidedly modern taste.

This book is delightfully frothy perfection. It’s witty and full of charm. Kitty is a heroine that you both cheer for and occasionally chastise for her determination in chasing a fortune. Her antics make up the majority of the book and keep you fully entertained.

Although the interactions between her and Radcliffe are slowly built but worth the effort as they begin to form a connection. The wit, the banter, and the subplots with their array of characters are sheer perfection. It is a fun romp and an absolute delight that I only wish I could read again for the first time.

This is such a rare gem and it has singularly restored the lost art of regency romance. This is an incredible debut and I truly cannot wait for the next one. The best book I have read this year and the most fun in a long time. A must read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing House

I loved this! Ever since Netflix released Bridgerton, I've been down a regency romance spiral but lately, I've found it harder and harder to find a good novel. A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting had a fresh take on the enemies to lovers trope, banter that was enjoyable, and chemistry that was palpable. It reminded me of the novels that made me fall in love with the genre like the League of Extraordinary Women series, and Bridgerton!

Kitty Talbot has one goal: to find a rich husband so that she can pay off her late father's debts and take care of her four younger sisters. She makes her way to London with single-minded determination, ready to infiltrate London's high society and dupe one of the young gentlemen by any means necessary. But even armed with her cunning and charm, Lord Radcliffe sees right through her attempt to trap his younger brother into marriage.

An enemies to lovers tale ensues, and my favorite part about it was the slow burn. It was so slow, in fact, that it took most of the book for Kitty and Radcliffe to even begin to like each other. To Radcliffe, Kitty was a nuisance. And to Kitty, Radcliffe was a mere wealth of information. Respect for each other came before the romantic feelings, and that was in large part thanks to the witty banter the two shared. But that respect led to comfort, which led to trust, which ultimately led to deep love, and the journey was all the more exciting because of their growing chemistry.

The only let down here was the ending, which, for me, came too soon. So, not exactly a criticism. I guess I was just hoping they'd admit their feelings a bit sooner so that we could see more of the beginning of their relationship. I also felt the timing of everything that happened to finally bring them together was a bit *too* timely, which detracted from the otherwise realistic way their relationship ultimately developed.

All that said, this was still a book I'd recommend to other readers, especially those looking for a good Regency romance!

What a lovely debut! I am a sucker for historical romance and this one was excellent! It reminded me of an Austen novel, so I would definitely recommend for her fans. This one was sweet but had lots of humor and snarky banter.

Our main MC, Kitty, is young and vibrant but her large family has fallen on hard times (the Bennets anyone?). Desperate to save them, Kitty goes in search of an advantageous marriage and instead finds a broody gentleman set to get in the way of her goals.

I loved the story and the character development in this book. The conversations as well as the silly shenanigans the characters got up to. The whole book had me smiling and I couldn't put it down.

This romance is definitely for those that like a Pride ad Prejudice-type slow-burn! There is angst and frustrations and lots of feelings!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC!

An excellent portrayal of a period piece romance. This was a slow burn, clean romance that was so refreshing to read.  Purchasing a physical copy to add to my at home collection.

As the eldest of five sisters who are recently responsible for their deceased parent’s overwhelming debt, Kitty Talbot is determined to hunt down a fortune in the form of a rich husband. Kitty and her sister Cecily arrive in London for the season with their eyes on the prize, bearing in mind that in addition to searching out a rich husband, Kitty is on a time-constraint to get the job done quickly. Early on, Kitty meets the De Lacy family but must work under the shrewd eye of eldest De Lacy brother Lord Radcliffe, who is more than a little critical of potential fortune-hunters.

While a historical romance, this felt much more like a YA read, as each main character was coming of age and working through self-discovery. The book is filled with Jane Austen-like humor and characters with a delightful ending! The novel almost serves as an examination of the morality and logistics of the regency-era marriage market, also exploring the ramifications and survivor’s guilt of war. It was a fun, quick read, and would make for a perfect first delve into the historical romance genre!

Thank you to Netgalley, Penguin Random House’s Viking Press, and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book!

A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting is exactly what the description says it is: Kitty Talbot needs a fortune. Or rather, she needs a husband who has a fortune. Left with her father’s massive debts, she has only twelve weeks to save her family from ruin. Set in post-Napolean War England, near the end of the Regency Era when the ton reigned supreme as the ultimate judge of social standing and etiquette, country girl Miss Talbot must break into this elite world to find a husband whose fortune can pay-off large family debts and secure the financial future of her sisters.

Irwin writes a book which is straight-forward and does not hide its agenda, nor does it get bogged down minutia of a typical historical romance. That probably makes it a good entry level book for those who aren’t ready for or have the patience for the wordiness of Austen. Of course, that wordiness, the descriptive approach is what Austen lovers appreciate about her style. Modern readers who aren’t accustomed to lengthy descriptions will appreciate how direct Kitty is in a world where she doesn’t make the rules.

Kitty is a quick study and not concerned about love. Her approach is utterly pragmatic. The late Mr. Talbot was a gentleman, but broke with his family to marry outside of his social circle. He married for love. As a result, his family cut him off. He and his wife settled in the country, beyond the judging eyes of the ton, and had a good marriage—except for the gambling thing, a holdover from his single days in London. When he passes unexpectedly, he leaves behind enough debt that the girls will lose their home and any remaining pitiful social standing. Worse than penniless, Kitty sets out for London to change their circumstances.

Kitty sets her sights on the younger brother of Lord Radcliffe, a veteran of the Napoleonic Wars. Since returning home, he prefers a quiet life at his estate in the country to the hustle and bustle of life in town—especially during the social season. When Lord Radcliffe learns that his brother is in love and that the woman he intends to marry is decidedly beneath their family standing, he sets out for town to put the cabash on the whole affair.

What recommends this book most is the banter. Kitty can utterly hold her own against Lord Radcliffe. A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting is worth the read for the conversations, not the rapturous descriptions of people and places. No one is surprised when Radcliffe and Kitty fall for one another, the reader can figure that out from the get go. Even when Radcliffe is downright rude and offensive, Kitty remains undeterred from her goal. There is a bit of action at the end of the book which solidifies their attraction, but will they ultimately act on it? Kitty is still in need of a fortune and Radcliffe is still the protector of his family name.

The book reaches a satisfying ending, and I will read Irwin again for what I can only call historical romance-lite.

Rating: B+ Liked It A Lot

While we're all wrapped up in the Bridgerton frenzy, I don't typically find myself drawn to period romance novels and prefer more grit with my historical fiction. Irwin's novel proved me wrong from start to finish. Her relatable and realistic characters kept the text interesting as the plot slowed down, and the slow burn was completely worth it!

what a fun romp of a book!!!! i love anything involving london society - i eat it up! from the works of austen to more modern works like bridgerton. it was lovely seeing these characters make their way in a world of society set in its ways.

Sophie Irwin's debut regency era novel centers around a young woman, Kitty, who has just lost both of her parents. In order to provide for her younger sisters and get out from under debt collectors she heads into the city with the goal of quickly finding a wealthy husband. With only twelve weeks to accomplish this she finds an unlikely ally in Lord James Radcliffe. The two get to know each other all while trying to secretly find an eligible suitor. The banter between the two characters was the biggest draw in this novel. I am not a big fan of regency romance but I did enjoy reading this especially since the Irwin did a great job making the early 1800's London come to life.