I recieved a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
There were parts of this book that I liked but there were also some weak points that brings this down in my mind. The biggest one being that a tighter edit and shorter book would have made this stronger. This is a low stakes book where the only real obstacle is that neither wants to marry. There is insta lust but unlike most books this is made up for by the fact that that Bram and Wilhelmina actually do spend a lot of time and really do get to know one another.
Bram was an orphan and doesn't know who his parents are but the other boys did become his family and know he is working as a barrister.
Wilhelmina wants to be an astronomer and move to the country with her aunt in 6 months when she recieves her inheritance.
When her father shows up married (to a woman younger than Wilhelmina) they insist on marrying her off. They intend to do this by having Bram fake an interest in her to convince other men to also be interested even though he is just an orphan barrister which didn't make a whole lot of sense to me.
The parts about the debates were weak and annoying and the parts that should have been cut out.
Bram's friends were fun as well.
3.5 stars.

Her Lessons in Persuasion was a fun and sweet read that was fake-dating forward with plenty of delightful background characters in addition to a strong central couple.

United in their desire to never marry, Wilhelmina and Bram are, as far as they're concerned, a good pair for a fake dating scheme that will hopefully get Wilhelmina's new stepmother (more on her in a bit) off her back and give Bram a chance to shake hands with the people who might be able to help make him a judge. But obviously, these things never go to plan, and it's not long before both of them realize that there might be more feelings involved than they planned for. Watching their love grow was definitely the best part of this book, and Wilhelmina and Bram's exchanges were all great, ranging from teasing to tender. I really enjoyed Wilhelmina's love of astronomy, and the fact that it informed multiple parts of her plotline. And I equally loved Bram's desire for justice AND willingness to support Wilhelmina's dreams, even before romance was a guaranteed outcome.

The supporting cast was also fab, with Bram's friends and Wilhelmina's aunt particularly standing out. I can't wait to see each of the School for Scoundrel's boys get their own love story, because the snippets we got of them here were so much fun. They were meddling and loving of Bram in equal turns - a true brotherhood.

The main thing that bothered me about this book though, was Alethea, Wilhelmina's much-younger stepmother. I expected there to be a reason why she was 19 - an ick factor, a gold-digging plot, literally anything - but there never was. She was basically just a little annoying and uncomfortably young, the latter of which really didn't add anything to the story. I could have done without that particular facet of the story, since it ended up largely being a distraction from the far better central romance.

All in all, though, an enjoyable read and a great start to a new series!

4/5

For when you're vibing with... Fake dating, nerds in love, baby boy baby boy, and VIRGIN HEROES!!!

Wilhelmina is not particularly interested in finding a husband. At twenty-four, she's largely given up on it, instead compiling a list of the men she would not be interested in marrying (this list does include Ivan the Terrible, it is quite funny). Her new stepmother (19) has other ideas, instead insisting that Wilhelmina hits the town and looks for a man, which is why barrister Bram Townsend seems so convenient. He and Wilhelmina did share a pretty great kiss that time she accidentally fell on him, and he is up for a fake courtship...

Megan Frampton's books are great to read in the midst of an angsty period of your life, or between overwhelmingly heavy books. They're light, they're breezy, and they have enough story and romance to make you feel like you're investing in something, versus just moving your eyes across the page in order to pass the time. Her Lessons in Persuasion is no different. To me, this is the kind of book you could call a historical romcom and actually mean it.

Quick Takes:
--Both the hero and the heroine are virgins in this one, which I fucking loved. Bram may not know what he's doing, but he's researched it! Thoroughly! And he will apply that research! Frampton writes good sex, and I could've stood to see a bit more of it, but I do appreciate the virgin-on-virgin action here.

--Bram's backstory is actually pretty great, and an excellent setup for a series, bravo. I'll be interested to see a cluster of heroes who don't come from extreme privilege--Bram being a self-made hero and a complete nerd could've been hard to pull off, as I think we have this idea of the working class hero as like.... the rough and tumble, Derek Craven type. But she pulled it off really well here.

--I actually loved Alethea, Wilhelmina's young, excessively girly stepmother. At parts, I will say that I worried about Wilhelmina verging into Not Like Other Girls territory, but Frampton held her back. I mean, it's also a bit different when the girly girl you're not a fan of is boinking your dad. I can allow for some issues there.

--I appreciated the interclass conflict being present but not overwrought. It's a fact of life that neither Wilhelmina nor Bram seem particularly shocked by, and it makes sense to me that these two characters, both of which don't necessarily adhere to the stereotypes of their respective classes, would find each other.

--Supportive male friendships! A hero who's in a book club and DEFENDS HIS OPINIONS STRONGLY!!!

Is this fluffier than what I would typically opt for? Probably, yes. But it's very satisfying, very romantic, and just kind of... a lovely break from the constant dramarama of life and fiction.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Her Lessons in Persuasion is the first book in the new School for Scoundrels series by Megan Frampton. Wilhelmina is approaching spinsterhood and counting down the days (only six months left!) before she can claim her inheritance and move with her aunt to the countryside. She's passionate about astronomy and doesn't want to be controlled by a husband. One night after sneaking out to observe the stars she falls, quite literally, into a meet cute with Bram, an orphaned barrister. The scene where they meet had me cackling. It was unique to any other meeting in a historical. Mina's much younger stepmother is trying to push her into a match. They agree to enter into a fake relationship until the six months is up and she can claim her inheritance.

Bram grew up in a home for destitute boys and made some lifelong friends along the way. The school was aptly nicknamed, The School for Scoundrels. Bram worked hard to make something of himself and become a successful barrister. He and his three best friends since childhood meet up to discuss books and give each other advice. Frampton really excelled at creating all the secondary characters. Bram's friends had great personalities. I am so excited to read their stories. The house staff and even Dipper (Mina's dog) were excellent additions. It was a thoroughly entertaining read. These characters just felt like they were made for each other.

Tropes included: virgin hero, virgin heroine, bachelor auction, bluestocking heroine, class difference, bookish hero, fake relationship, reverse grumpy sunshine, dominant heroine

Thank you to Megan Frampton, NetGalley, and Avon Harper Voyager for a copy of this eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

2.5 stars

I don't think I have ever gone on such a journey with a book and unfortunately, I don't mean that in a great way.

For me, the first half of this book was absolutely chef's kiss! We had great banter, found family, inventive conflicts, and sizzling tension. I loved the fact that the hero had a book club with all of his friends with every man had such distinct and fun personalities. We had such a great setup for this romance (and for later installments of the series).

Then we reached the 50% mark.

I don't know what happened, but the second half of this book felt absolutely nothing like the first. We got the same internal conflict for both characters just being repeated over and over again, a lengthy plotline about a debate that began in a fun way and then was driven into the ground, and virtually no character development. The only thing that really stood out to me in the latter half of the book was the one sex scene; everything else, I was just trying to push through to the end.

Considering that the first half was easily a 5 star and the second half veered towards a 1, I'm ultimately going to have to go right down the middle on this one with a 2.5. I'm still interested to read the next installment of this series because I really love the set-up with our group of scoundrels, but this one just really fumbled the bag for me.


Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Mina does not plan on marrying, she just wants to be allowed to pursue her interest in astronomy. Bram does not plan on marrying as he is too busy furthering his career as a barrister. When they meet and realize they have feelings for each other, they debate whether they should do anything about them. I look forward to reading the next book in this series. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for my honest review.

An enjoyable read with sympathetic and entertaining main characters. I enjoyed Wilhelmina's voice and particularly enjoyed when she talked to her dog. Bram was strong but funny and completely in love which was great fun. I'm looking forward to reading the the rest of the series in the future.

This is such a fun and refreshing historical romance. It follows Wilhelmina, an amateur astrologer with an aversion to marriage, and Bram, a barrister asked to fake a relationship with Wilhelmina in order to attract potential suitors. Bram is a career-driven man with a love of reading. He never expected to be distracted by a woman, but when he meets Wilhelmina, his life is irrevocably changed. As the pair navigates a fake courtship, they find they have many things in common, and their feelings for each other grow, But they both have to decide if marriage is in their future.

I love Wilhelmina and Bram. They both have interesting backstories, and their romance is fantastic. Bram (love him!) really sees and understands Wilhelmina in a way that no one else does. With a new stepmother (She’s the worst. She’s younger than Wilhelmina, which she points out all of the time! Ugh! And she’s pretty vapid and hurtful at times.) pressuring her to marry, Wilhelmina is frustrated. She has goals that don’t revolve around being someone’s wife, and she does not abide by the rules of society. She challenges the status quo, and she fights for what she wants. I think Bram loves this about her. She’s so different from the typical society woman, and she intrigues him as no other woman ever has. He’s so career-focused, and he feels he has no time for women. But that all changes when he meets Wilhelmina.

Wilhelmina and Bram challenge each other, and their banter is fantastic. And their first meeting is so awkward and comical! It definitely sets the tone for the story. Whether they are debating, discussing literature or astronomy, or arguing, their connection is palpable. They make each other think and grow and change and experience new things. For example, Wilhelmina, who doesn’t like change, has never been to the opera, but she ends up going with Bram. The wonder and delight Wilhelmina feels when she goes are so lovely, and the wonder Bram feels when watching her experience new things is just as charming. These two were made for each other.

Both Bram and Wilhelmina are virgins, and the attraction and sexual excitement that they feel are new to both of them. They explore these feelings and new experiences together, which I liked. I don’t read a lot of historical romances where the man is as inexperienced as the woman, and it was refreshing. It was also awkward at times and very sweet. Plus, Bram falls first, and I adore romances with this trope. The way he goes about trying to convince her that they belong together is swoon-tastic.

And Bram’s best friends/brothers are the best. They’re hilarious together, and you can tell they’re really close. They’re the type of friends that will help you no matter what, no questions asked. I think it’s great that these men found each other when they were all boys and alone in the world. They are more brothers than friends, and I’m super excited that each will be the focus of future books in the series. They remind me of Alexa Aston’s Second Sons of London – swoon-worthy and unique men with hearts of gold.

I also love that they have discussions about books and reading, and they often talk about their love of reading, albeit in very different genres. They have an interesting conversation about Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and they discuss astronomy books that Bram reads to learn more about Wilhelmina’s passion. Romances that include characters who love reading and learning make me so happy. There are also some strong messages about family expectations, gender inequality, the treatment of different social classes, and more.

I thought this was a great start to Megan Frampton’s new series. It has great characters, a swoon-worthy romance, an amazing found family, and more. I would definitely recommend it to historical romance readers, and I’m excited to continue the series. I can’t wait to see which of Bram’s friends will be the focus of the next book!

Special thanks to Avon Books for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

Lady Wilhelmina Bettesford would rather spend her time studying the stars than looking for a husband. But when her father unexpectedly brings home a wife younger than Wilhelmina, she finds herself thrust into society. Her new stepmother is sure that if the men of the ton see Wilhelmina on the arm of another man, they'll throw their cap at her as well, so she enlists the help of Bram Townsend, a barrister, to pretend to woo Wilhelmina. The only problem is the more time the pair spend together, the more they can't deny their growing attraction. Neither one entered this agreement intending to marry, but true love can be very persuasive.

I'll pick up any romance book if it has a fake dating trope, and I was so looking forward to this one. Sadly, it didn't work for me. I found the whole thing so boring. The writing felt repetitive and awkward, and I couldn't get invested in the plot. I did like our main characters, Wilhelmina and Bram, and thought they complemented one another nicely, but I wanted more from them. The relationship was a bit slower than I liked, and the payoff was slightly underwhelming. I did enjoy Bram's group of friends and will most likely pick up their books, but unfortunately, this one wasn't my favorite.

This book was very good with low angst and a super sweet romance. I really enjoyed Whilemina, she reminded me a lot of myself as I only like a handful of people, mostly family, my cat, and books. I loved that while she is pretty rigid in the things she assumes she won't like, like the opera or fiction books, when she has the opportunity to try them she lets herself realize she actually likes these things, I also loved Bram, he really sees and accepts Whilemina for who she is and even when he realizes he loves her, knowing how she feels about marriage he isn't going to try and talk her into it. If she decides to marry him it will be her choice with no outside influences. I thought their romance was super sweet and loved every time they were together. I thought they were very well-matched.

Lady Whilemina generally only likes her dog dipper, a handful of people, and astronomy. She has no plans to get married when she gets her inheritance in a few months she plans to go and live with her aunt in the country. It's too bad that fate had other plans when it place Bram in her path... or under her path when he comes across what he thinks is a woman about to jump off a bridge and pull her down.. on top of him... Of course, she didn't need rescuing and told him exactly that. All she wanted was to be a few feet closer to the sky to see the constellations better. Upon looking back, she might be able to see why he thought she was going to jump through so does ultimately forgive him. No names are exchanged and he drops her home both thinking they will never see each other again, but unable to stop thinking about their encounter.
When fate throws them together again at a bachelor auction where Whilemina'sstepmotherr wins Bram and sends him and Whilemina off to the opera. NOT so they might end up together, but so other men will see someone is interested and might want to court Whilemina... Neither one expects what a wonderful time they will both have, and that soon fate will bring them together again in a fake dating scheme set up by her father and stepmother, or that they could possibly not only like spending time together but ultimately end up falling in love.

I loved Aunt Fiona, I hope we see her again, and Bram's friends!... I can't wait to see who they are going to be matched with!

Lady Wilhelmina Bettesford is more interested in independence than finding a husband; however, this amateur astronomer's younger stepmother has different plans in mind: buying barrister Bram Townsend in a charity auction and suggesting a fake courtship to boost Wilhelmina's popularity.

This is the first book in the new School for Scoundrels series, which will focus on Bram and his group of friends who are all orphans that have made successes of themselves. Their comradery reminded me of Lenora Bell's Wallflowers vs Rogues, and the general plot of this book felt similar to Eva Leigh's How the Wallflower Was Won.

Auctioned plots are a favorite of mine, so I enjoyed the twist of Bram being purchased for charity. I thought these characters paired well together and I liked getting to see more of their personalities as the book developed. Bram was such a loyal and lovable beta hero, and I liked that Wilhelmina had strong opinions but was willing to admit when she didn't give things (like the opera or fiction novels) a fair chance. The end was a little over-the-top for me, but I was entertained enough by the rest of the book to round this one from 3.5 to 4 stars. (Also, bonus points for a non-Duke hero...refreshing!)

Tropes: Bluestocking, Virgin Hero, Auctioned/Gambled/Sold, Fake Relationship

Steam: 1

* I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

It was refreshing to read about about a barrister and a lady, which is a pairing that is much less common in historical romance. Lately it's been endless dukes. The hero is also a virgin, another rarity that gave some fresh material for the genre. I loved Wilhelmina's love for astronomy and how she wasn't afraid to go after what she wanted. Bram's group of friends from the boys' home he grew up were interesting and clearly invested in their friends' success. The friends had the best lines in the book, although having five friends was a little hard to keep track of when they were being addressed by their first names by Bram and their last names by everyone else

Wilhelmina has no interest in marrying, in fact she has made a list of all the men she will never marry. A few months from reaching her majority and being to access her money, Wilhelmina’s father remarries and her new step-mother becomes determined to marry her off. Bram and Wilhelmina’s paths keep crossing and the pair agree to a fake courtship to keep other men away from Wilhelmina. As the two spend more and more time together they end up falling for one another.

This is the first book in a new series from Megan Frampton, and I assume that the rest of the series is going to fallow Bram’s friends on their romantic endeavors. There were so many aspects of this book that really worked for me. I really liked Wilhelmina’s ambition and her list of men she would not marry (each man was given his own interstitial page between chapters) kept me highly amused. I also really liked Bram’s group of friends so I’m excited to see them again. There were other aspects of the book that didn’t work as well for me. I’ve grown weary of the fake dating trope and I didn’t find that it added much to the story. I did like Bram and Wilhelmina together but their slow-burn romance was a bit too slow for my tastes, but it worked for the story that was being told. Overall I enjoyed the book and found it to bee a quick, light read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lady Wilhelmina is more interested in studying the stars than searching for a husband. Six months from acquiring her inheritance and setting off on her own, she is shocked when her change-averse father, Lord Croyde comes home with a wife... five years younger than his daughter. Her father and new stepmother are now dead-set on finding her a very unwanted husband.

When Wilhelmina's stepmother bids on Bram Townsend, a handsome barrister, at a bachelor auction for her - it becomes clear that they have many things in common; an affinity for books, intellectual conversation and a strong desire to remain unwed. When Lord and Lady Croyde discover that being seen with Bram entices more men to be interested in Wilhelmina, they encourage Bram to pretend to court their daughter, so make her appear more appealing. But what happens when they realize that perhaps their commonalities include a mutual attraction they aren't as inclined to fight as they were at the beginning?

I truly found this book to be enjoyable. Wilhelmina is smart and while she has clearly inherited some of her father's dislike of change, she is a bold and fun heroine.
Bram is just an interesting hero, having grown up as an orphan with his band of friends. It's nice to see a group of men who are friends who aren't all rakes talking about the notches in their bedposts.
The interactions between Bram and Wilhelmina are my favorite. They are both stubborn and love to argue, which makes their conversations dynamic and fun to read.

I highly recommend this book if you like books with intelligent heroines and equally smart heroes.

This one felt wayyyy too long. I like historical romance, but this one was painful to read. The only semi-redeeming fact was the friend group

I love, love, love Her Lessons in Persuasion! I don't think there is a Megan Frampton book that I have not loved! Her Lessons in Persuasion continues Megan Frampton's streak of great female characters and great complimentary love interests. I loved Wilhelmina and Bram, both separately and together! Wilhelmina was a great, independent character, and I loved how Bram and his gravitas complemented her perfectly. The chemistry of the two characters was a great match. These two may be some of my favorite HR couples.
I also liked the secondary characters, which I was really surprised about! I love how Megan Frampton didn't continue the trope of terrible stepmother, which was sweet and made reading this book even more enjoyable. I love the kookiness, loyalty-- all the interesting traits of the characters. I think this is another one of Megan Frampton's traits, and I really enjoy it.
The title and the cover also contribute to how much I liked this book. Her Lessons in Persuasion is a wonderful book-- I really enjoyed reading it and highly recommend! I usually think the first in a new series is the hardest to pull off, and if that is true of this first book in a new series we as readers are really lucky because it holds great promise going into the rest of the series!
I received Her Lessons in Persuasion as an ARC from Netgalley and was asked for my honest opinion after reading. The readers are going to have fun reading this one. Loved it!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Annnd another historical romance that doesn't feel historical at all. I feel like the last several Recency romances I've picked up have basically been contemporary romances that use the time period like window dressing. Stories should feel connected to their setting and this just doesn't. This was a DNF for me about 20% of the way in.

These characters are so cute! It is so nice and different to have two nerds be so enduring together. Usually it’s just one half with a popular counterpart, but to have both the h/h be so cute and nerdy together is just wonderful! Their chemistry was hot. They had great banter. Such a sweet love story. I look forward to the rest of the book club’s stories. These men all sound amazing. The book club sounds like a group of people I would enjoy hanging out with in real life. I can’t wait for more time with them.



Thank you to Megan Frampton and the publisher for the arc via Netgalley.

THE REVIEW
Bram is an orphan who was raised in a local orphanage and eventually adopted by a wonderful couple who raised him. He grew up to be a successful barrister and very starchy and set in his ways. He has goals of becoming a judge and, if he were to marry, it would be to someone very quiet and proper who would not cause a disruption to his goals.

Wilhelmina Bettesfords mother died when she was young and recently her father came home with a new bride, who is five years younger than Mina. But all Mina wants is to make it six more months so she can gain her inheritance and move to the country with her aunt, spend her days studying astronomy and live without a spouse controlling her.

Mina and Bram chance a meeting when he believes she is about to jump off a bridge when she is simply trying to get a better view to star gaze. Then, they bump into each other again when her parents bid on Bram at a charity auction! After that night, neither of them can seem to stop thinking about the other and the passionate kiss!

After seeing Mina on the arm of a handsome man, other gentleman took notice and showed interest in Mina. So Alethea and her father, determined to see her married, ask Bram to pretend interest in her so that other men will continue to notice her. Mina is obviously outraged but Bram agrees so he can help her avoid the wanted affects of her parents plan. Their fake relationship has an unwanted effect though…they start to develop feelings for each other…feelings other than the lust they both admit to having for each other.

Bram and Mina are both very intelligent, interesting character and, honestly, we’re made for each other. Both scientific and honest, they made for some funny banter and conversations! I really liked Bram’s friends a lot and am curious to read their stories in the future. However, I wasn’t really embedded in the story…I thought it was adorable that they were both virgins and their first time was so cute! And funny! But I just didn’t feel much passion between them; it might have been because, as was their nature, everything was very calculated as only two scientists could do! Again, cute couple, fun fake relationship, but just wasn’t moved by the couple or their relationship.

TROPES
Historical Romance, Victorian Era, Tom Society, Beta/Cinnamon Roll Hero, Orphan Hero, Lawyer/Barrister Hero, Self-Made Hero, Starchy Hero, Virgin Hero, Aggressive Heroine, Bluestocking Heroine, Virgin Heroine, Independent Heroine, Scientist Heroine, Wallflower Heroine, Fake Relationship, Lost Heir, Class Difference, Uptown Girl, Auction, Three Star, Two Steam

Sexy and fun, a juicy fake romance novel - there are lots of fireworks between Bram and Wilhelmina ... and it is fun seeing the male character at a loss with how he feels for someone he loves but is not supposed to.
The two are very different - he is bookish and nerdy, while she is a partygoer and loves to dance whenever she can. I guess they say opposites attract.