This book is a solid debut for the author. The characters were interesting and I enjoyed them. I can't wait to see more from the author.

I read the first few pages, but did not get any further. The narrator was a bit hard to follow and it was hard to tell if this book had a flowery writing style or was incomprehensible because the author tried to imitate Regency language but did so badly. I had high hopes based on the description, but could tell that the heroine was immediately going to be unlikeable, though I did not feel that way about Edmond Dantes (her inspiration).

TW: Parental death, addiction, abandonment, fat shaming, mentions of suicide

What a fun and romantic book! Queen Bee is most accurately described as a YA Bridgerton but with a bit of revenge thrown in. I couldn't put it down and read it in just one sitting!

LADY Ela Davli was betrayed three years ago by her supposed best friend Poppy. It wasn't just any little teenage betrayal, it was devastating and changed the course of her life forever. Everything was taken from her including the last days of her father's life. With the help of new friends Ela has reinvented herself and is on a mission to destroy Poppy and the boy she thought she loved who in a time of need left her without a helping hand.

I loved Ela/Lyra immediately! She was exceedingly strong, even when she was younger and naïve, she showed such courage and spunk. I also really loved her humor, she had me laughing out loud so many times! Keston was cute, but definitely kowtowed to his father at many inconvenient times...it was nice to see him grow up and stand up a bit more for himself. Their chemistry was fantastic, even as children they had that spark that peeked out in their competitive games with each other. Poppy was the ultimate villain, you could not hate another character more in all your life. She was so loathsome and foul, spitting lies upon lies about literally everyone and destroying lives! She definitely deserved what she got in the end and it was so satisfying.

The only real nitpick I have with this book is how it's supposed to believed that Poppy, Keston, nor Zia is supposed to recognize Ela after only three years. I understand people go through so much change at that age but really...not a like of tiny bit of recognition whatsoever? I was skeptical...my mind kept trying to make the break in past and present much wider than three years just to be more believable.

Also, although this book is entertaining and fun and romantic, there are some real issues here. Poppy's savior, Church goes through addiction withdrawals, Keston alludes to being depressed and having thoughts of suicide because of his father's expectations, and lets not forget this is a historical romance where classism and sexism are at the forefront. I really loved that Amalie Howard included such a diverse cast and as she explains in her Author's Notes, she deems this an "anti historical novel" because though history might've been written by the heteronormative white male (that's why we see most regencies with only white people) there were actually People of Color that made an impact in this era of history and she goes on to describe a few.

Overall this was a great book and I definitely recommend it to any Bridgerton fans (though this is YA so don't expect to be as spicy if that is a thing for you). I've read a few Amalie Howard books but this just might be my favorite so far, fantastic work! Thank you so much to Random House and Joy Revolution for providing me with an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a fun read! A likeable main character, and interesting side characters as well. In fact, the side characters are so well written that I would love to know more about them and their story.

The book isn't perfect, but overall, this is a great book and a great introduction to the author.

One girl’s jealousy and spite ruined Ela’s life and destroyed her future. Betrayed and alone, Ela had nothing left except the desire for vengeance. And who could blame her?

I liked Ela a lot, she had a sassy personality and she understood what was important. She tried to do the right thing (in her own way). But revenge is a road full of potholes, designed to drag you down and she learned that the hard way.

I liked how Ela’s compassion and integrity peeked out despite her need for vengeance. I liked the diversity of the characters a lot, especially in a historical setting. And let’s not forget the handsome boy determined to sway her resolve.

I did enjoy Ela’s scenes with Keston but he fell short of my expectations over his treatment of Ela. I wanted him to be stronger and also, the ending scenes were a tad anti-climactic. That said, this was my first book by Amalie Howard and her writing style is engaging with a smooth flow of words.

This book will definitely appeal to teens who are fans of Bridgerton. It's a diverse regency romance. However, I found the plot to be pretty basic and extremely predictable.

This book is for fans of Bridgerton and teen drama. Ela's initial motivation in the story is revenge, but that shifts as she starts prioritizing romance. The story evokes the regency period in a fresh way. It did feel a bit young to me as someone who reads a lot of books set in the regency period. However, I might not be in the core demographic age level for the story. It is well written and holds the reader's attention throughout.

Thanks to Random House and Netgalley for this advanced copy.

I've read a number of historials over the last year or so where the casts seem to be diverse to be diverse, something that has been gaining strength since Bridgerton premiered. Queen Bee is another one of those books and I worry that by continuing this trend (including people of color for the sake of including them but not acknowledgingly how they may be treated differently) we are doing more to "not see color" in our world.

But that's a heavy thing to put on a book. This book was fun at times (I do love a good final take down) and tiring at other parts (really, no one sees past her disguise?). Lyra is determined to get her life back but doesn't always seem to understand her own end game. Others are horrible, the hero is gorgeous but apparently a little dumb and everything is wrapped up nicely. Nothing life changing here, but a nice story to read if you love "romances" that are more about revenge.

This was an entertaining YA regency read, with great characters! Overall, I would definitely recommend!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

If you're a fan of the beloved Bridgerton series, then this book is an absolute must-read! It beautifully captures the essence of regency romance with its captivating blend of drama and heartfelt romance.

As a devoted enthusiast of regency romance novels, I found myself completely engrossed in the intricate web of emotions and captivating plotlines woven throughout this book. The author skillfully transports readers to a bygone era, where societal expectations, scandals, and forbidden love reign supreme.

A great story of friendship, betrayal and revenge - I loved the build up of the story as Ela created the perfect plan. The perfect romcom YA book for any older teens who want a fun summer read and to learn how to plot the perfect revenge.

If you like Bridgerton, I feel like it's impossible not to like this! I very much enjoy Bridgerton, so I adored this, but I could see where it may not be everyone's favorite! I think the regency romance space is quickly becoming filled with a lot of books, but I do think this one is special in its own right. It very much feels like a sweet YA romance, but it still has a lot of heart in its pages. It's a retelling of one of my favorite classics, but I like the modern kinda twist on it! Overall, I highly recommend!

I genuinely enjoyed this book. I read it while away on vacation and it was so easy to get through. And not because it was poorly written but Lyra's character was one that truly caught my interest. Her plot for revenge on her ex best friend Poppy made for a great storyline. Navigating through a new season in London, being put on display so that one may catch the eye of an important man from an important family.

From beginning to end I was captivated and would most definitely read a sequel as well as recommend this book to other readers who like a cute taste of romance in their YA,

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars

If you like Bridgerton, read this! I loved the drama and the romance, a must read for regency romance lovers!

After her best friend Poppy betrays her over a boy, Lady Ela is shipped to away with her reputation ruined. Now, years later she is all grown up... and angry. She decides to go under cover back to London society under the new name of Lyra to get revenge.

I did not think I was going to enjoy this as much as I did as I'm not the biggest fan of historical romances, but I ate this up. It was so much fun and I flew through it so quickly! I thought the alternating timeline between the past and the present was really interesting, and definitely helped the reader understand the WHY of Lyra's need for revenge. I loved the main character, Ela/Lyra she was both fierce, honest and loving. I think she went through a lot of character development as the story went on, which was explored well. I think the love interest, Keston, was annoying at times, but he definitely grew on me as I read more. I loved the banter between Kes and Lyra, especially when they were younger. I also really loved the side characters of Church and Zia! I think they brought so much light to the story and I want a spin off for Zia and a backstory for Church QUICK.

I will definitely be checking out more from this author!

This was a great and easy read. I am a sucker for a historical romance and loved the vibes throughout Queen Bee. While super predictable it was fun and entertaining throughout. Plenty of character growth and great regency tidbits that kept me enchanted!

When everything was stolen from you: your dignity, your friendship, your reputation, your first love, disgraced one's reputation - all from a singular person, what does a girl have to do? Take down that person, of course! At least, that’s what Ela Dalvi has to do and her target is none other than her former BFF, Poppy Landers!

Let us begin with stating it is a retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo. The plot and characters draw you in and you can’t help but get lost in the tons and that time period. A must read if you love witty quips, cliques, the Regency period in the early years of the 19th century, hidden agendas, betrayal, and let’s call it out, high school social dynamics. All of it was deliciously compelling! My favorite character was the Lady Zenobia.

What I love best is the author taking an old classic, revising and rebirthing with an inclusion of characters of color and LGBTQ characters, making it more relatable to the modern readers.

I read this one in two days which is almost unheard of for me in the past couple of years.

Queen Bee is what the author describes as an "anti-historical novel, mostly because it features an entirely diverse cast." The author describes herself as "biracial AAPI/ Caribbean -born woman who grew up in Trinidad and Tobago, went to college in Maine and Paris, France and has lived all over US" and she seems to draw from all of these experiences when crafting her story and characters.

This was really a fun one and I highly recommend it if you love historical romances like I do!

I don’t usually read YA but love Amalie Howard, and anything that can be described as “Machiavellian,” so I decided to give this book a try. So glad I did! While I thought it was a little unbelievable that a little hair dye and some confidence would make it so that someone’s past best friend and childhood playmates wouldn’t recognize them, I suspended disbelief and ended up really enjoying Ela’s story. I especially loved the inclusion of characters of color and LGBTQ characters. I finished this book quickly, as I was so engrossed!

I didn’t really enjoy the story wasn’t really holding my attention found it kind of boring actually!!! DNF’d at 48% special thanks to the author, joy revolution publishing, & netgalley for my advanced copy.