Her Lessons in Persuasion is the first book in a new series, School for Scoundrels, by Megan Framtpon. This has so many fun moments: fake relationship, grumpy heroine who is an astronomer, class difference (she’s a lady, he’s a working barrister), bookish hero (he even has a monthly meeting with his friends to discuss reads).

Wilhelmina is 24, determined not to marry, and counting down the days (six months!) until she can access her inheritance. In the mean time she would rather be left with her dog, her Aunt, her books (nonfiction of course because she’d rather read facts), her telescope, and astronomy. She has a bit of a reputation of being a grump, when one evening she meets the hero Bram. Bram is an ordinary man, he was raised as an orphan at the Devenaugh Home for Destitute Boys (or more famously known as the School for Scoundrels) and worked hard to become a barrister. He only has time for work and his friends, four fellow orphans he’s known since childhood. He and his friends have a monthly meeting where they discuss books and life. Bram meets Wilhelmina while coming home from work, there is a misunderstanding when he spots her on a bridge…he thinks she needs rescuing and steps in, but she was actually just trying to get a better look at the stars. After, he insists on escorting her home and she shocks even herself by kissing him when he leaves. They meet again at a bachelor-style auction where her new stepmother (who is just 5 years younger than her) bids on Bram to escort Wilhelmina to an opera. When that goes well, her father and stepmother ask Bram to fake court her since other gentlemen became interested in Wilhelmina after their opera outing.

I adored that the hero is bookish and even has a book club with his friends, I want to get to all of their books! Bram and Wilhelmina are both a bit quirky, both virgins, and just cute together. I thought it was refreshingly fun that her stepmother and father convince Bram to fake date/court her (instead of the hero or heroine setting it up). I liked seeing Bram and Wilhelmina realize they have so much in common and see their feelings for one another grow. For the last half there was a focus on her getting into a society and some mock debate exercises they do that I think dragged on for too much of the story, but otherwise this was just a sweet historical romance with low-angst and a bit of a slow burn.

3.5 stars/rounded up on GR. Thank you to the publisher (Avon Books) for an e-ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts in this review are my own. Her Lessons in Persuasion is out January 24, 2023.

A Fantastic start to the first in School for Scoundrels series and it does not disappoint. Her Lessons in Persuasion grabs you right from the start and takes you on a fun rollercoaster ride as Wilhelmina and Bram have sworn off marriage but seems as a web is woven in this who done it. Just when you think you know you find yourself changing your mind.
Amanda Carmack has with unforgettable characters that are well thought out and each and everyone comes across clearly as their individual personalities become more than just part of the tale, a clean romance, seances with one irate ghost , murder and mystery. With setting descriptions and action sequences are wonderfully vivid which brings this read together perfectly and will keep you reading to the end.

It’s the first book I’ve read by this author and looking forward to more good ones!

Megan Frampton will make you full on belly laugh, get a tear in your eye, go “awwww,” and you’ll enjoy every second.

Her Lessons in Persuasion introduces us to five amazing heroes, and you will fall in love with each one of them. The School for Scoundrels are orphans who bonded at the Devenaugh Home for Destitute Boys: Bram (our hero in this book), who is a barrister; and his four mysterious friends Theo, Fenton, Simeon, and Benedict (who are all amazing in their own way).

Megan Frampton has the singular honor of being probably the only author I have read who consistently crafts a hero and heroine who I identify with the majority of the time. But, as I have said before, she has a gift when it comes to crafting her main characters in a way where you can just totally understand what they’re thinking and feeling. You feel kinship to them throughout the entire story. She’s really the only author I’ve read who does this. Whenever I pick up one of her books, I KNOW that I will be rooting for the hero and heroine the entire time.

So this book is about Lady Wilhelmina and Bram, and what happens when two people who have no intention of ever getting married fall for each other (literally, lol). First of all, I love how this has turned one of the most well-used romance tropes on its head, social inequality—but in this case, she has the title and he’s a man of no name and dubious background. See, it doesn’t matter if he is a fierce advocate for justice, and a good, strong man. (And hotter than fire, whoo boy!) This just ain’t done. Plus, neither of them plans to marry . . . ever. She’s a strong, independent (well, as independent as she can be as an unwed 24-year old who cannot control her finances, and must follow society rules and do whatever her father tells her) woman of science, an astronomer. She’s also opinionated, intelligent, logical, and a bull-headed straight talker. But guess what? So is he! It’s a match made in . . . the stars (I couldn’t resist).

Without spoiling anything: the gist is, these two people who are absolutely perfect for each other (except she’s rich and titled and he’s a struggling barrister of illegitimate background) get to play a game—pretend to be courting so other men will be interested in her (which is an affront to all women, but especially Wilhelmina, let me tell you); you know it’s time to grab a big bucket of popcorn and take a seat!

This is a five-star read that will have you salivating for the rest of the Scoundrels’ saga. I am completely besotted with all five of the heroes in this series. But Bram, oh Bram is just perfect for Wilhelmina because he sees her. You start rooting for them from the first page.

I liked Her Lessons in Persuasion by Megan Frampton although I felt as if there have been way too many of the "rake gives lessons in love to a virgin" books of late. It's a good premise but I've honestly read 4 other books with it off the top of my head, and while Megan Frampton is excellent as always, I felt as if this was lacking in bite compared to some of her other books.

That being said, Frampton is an excellent writer so it’s a solid 3-star effort even though I doubt I’ll return to it since like I said, the premise is so overdone lately.

**Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC.

✨She ripped HIS bodice✨

Okay I think I’m glitching because this book cannot be real. Megan Frampton thought it was alright to just give us a hero in a book club, the BEST and most SUPPORTIVE group of Hero Material friends I’ve ever seen, and my favorite trope?????? And she simply thought I would just be OKAY AFTER READING IT????

I cannot get over just how adorable Bram was. PerSUADE me daddy. Seriously idk what I’m on but the fact that he was a barrister and just so sincere about everything destroyed my peace. He had a modest set of rooms and he was worried about them not being clean enough when he took Wilhelmina home and I just think that’s the cutest thing. Screw mansions and manors I just want a barrister with a modest set of rooms and an immodest cock.

This book was just so much fun. There wasn’t really a third act breakup and the book was definitely low angst. It was absolutely fluffy. The only thing possibly fluffier than the book is Bram. Wilhelmina was a little bit dominant in the bedroom and she’s exactly the interruption that Bram needed. Both characters in the book were virgins, and their first time was perfect. Bram had a little bit of a mouth on him??? It’s always the quiet ones 😌

Frampton has such a fun writing style and I really mesh with her sense of humor. The past few books I’ve read from her have all been winners and they’re all incredibly different. This book sets up the series so well and I really can’t be bothered to WAIT. I need them NOW. Which hero will be next??? My delicate sensibilities aren’t cut out for this.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶*/5

*I think I wanted one more scene at least.

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
While the summary seemed very appealing and witty the actual novel failed to deliver. The heroine seemed a bit loopy even though she is portrayed as a woman who loves science. The hero is also slow to romance her and the story drags a bit as we wait for the inevitable marriage pact. Just couldn't get into it. It lacked real passion.

* Received a copy for review.*
This book had a little bit of everything: 2 families with very specific legends; a grumpy science minded Duke, a bit of a scoundrel heroine, a missing family heirloom, an accidental pregnancy, a mystery, a second chance, & a bad guy hiding in plain sight.
I loved how convinced of the family legend Lucien is even though he is a man of science.
Meg is delightful. Her aunts are interesting.
This book is a really easy read with a lot going on.

Her Lessons in Persuasion is a very cute romance between Lady Wilhelmina and Bram, a barrister who is an orphan of unknown parentage. What struck me the most about the book that I really enjoyed was Wilhelmina's journey of discovering that opening herself up to new experiences widened her world and what she could expect from life. I'll admit that at first, I didn't really enjoy Wilhelmina because of how close minded she came across, but this is by design rather than as a fault and the more she opened herself up, the more I enjoyed her character.

I'll admit to not finding much distinction between Bram's friends, the only one that really stands out is Fenton, which makes me most interested in what his book will entail. The others were all charming, but not really distinguishable, and the mystery regarding who is the son of the benefactor of the orphanage is interesting. I'll place my bet now on it being Benedict. I also believe Benedict is being set up for a romance with Maude, who runs the orphanage now.

All in all, this was an interesting start to the series. It's high on cute, but low on heat.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Her Lessons in Persuasion starts promisingly, with an uptight and sexy barrister hero, and an unconventional lady heroine who is an amateur astronomer. They meet cute as she tries to stargaze off a bridge (cute enough that I didn't think she was TSTL, though it veered dangerously to that edge), and I settled in for an enjoyable read. Except, dear reader, I must confess that I found it...boring. Both Bram and Wilhemina were nice characters. Very nice. So nice that I didn't feel any real spark or conflict. And as it plodded along, several more pages in, and her astronomy had disappeared into the background (maybe it comes back, but I don't know). For others, this might hold much more spark than it did for me.

NetGalley generously provided an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

I received an ARC of "Her Lessons In Persuasion" written by the amazing Megan Frampton from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This is the first book in her new series A School for Scoundrels.
Bram Townsend, a barrister, aka Mr. Helpful is an honest honorable man, but an orphan who knows nothing about his parentage. Lady Wilhelmina Bettesford, aka Lady Luminous, is the daughter of the Earl of Croyde who has just returned with a wife five years younger than his own daughter. Willa's internal thinking is hilarious. Her daring confident nature is contagious. This is a delightful story about these two people who are completely opposed to the institution of marriage. I also absolutely loved the comraderie of the 5 friends from the orphanage who are the Scoundrels in the series. A great story!

5 Stars

"You make me see stars," she said softly. "And you carry me to them," he replied.

Fiesty astromer Lady Wilhelmina Bettesford does not want to marry nor care too much about society. She's content with her dog (Dipper), her aunt, non-fiction books, and the stars. That is until she meets... sexy barrister Bram Townsend who lives for his work and his gang of hot book club gentlemen. Together, Wilhelmina and Bram debate, not only with their brains but with their sizzling kisses too... this is the first installment of School for Scroundrels.

Wow! This was a fantastic read. I love how Wilhelmina and Bram are equal partners... and how smart Wilhelmina is and how "forward" Bram is for his time. They have amazing kissing and sex scenes. The steam level is pretty hot which I love. I really enjoyed this pair and look forward to the next book in the series (here's to looking at you Simeon! Yum!)

Thanks to Netgalley and it's publisher for a free copy of this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I couldn't get into this story. I kept trying. I stopped at 40% read. There just isn't anything happening. I liked Wilhelmina and Bram's characters but the story is slow moving. I'll wait for her next book.

5 🌟's!

📝 tropes: stem heroine (astronomer), bookish hero, reverse grumpy x sunshine, virgin hero/heroine, class diff, fake dating
🌶 spice: 2.5/5 (heroine is def dominant 🥵)
❌ CW: misogyny

stop bc why was this so good😃🤌🏽 this is my first read by megan frampton and will definitely not be the last bc holy shit you guys, this book was so fucking charming✨ and hilarious and romantic and AGHHSKJFHDK. i had SO MUCH FUN reading this entire novel from start to finish - the writing, characters and dialogue are all so incredibly witty and clever, i could not stop reading it!!

lady wilhelmina is "infamous for her nonconformity" and is an astronomer in a patriarchal world where apparently, that is ~not the vibes~ 🙄 our hero, mr. bram townsend, is a barrister (judge in modern day terms) and a full-time bookish man (he's a lover of fiction and is part of a book club with 4 of his friends .. more on this later). in order to get mina engaged, her step-mother appoints bram to fake court/date her in order to boost her popularity in Society. and of courseeeee, fake dating somehow turns into some real ~FEELINGS~ and we get some fun times in between 😈

to reiterate ONCE MORE, i absolutely fucking ADORED this book. firstly, the structure of it is magnificent. every chapter is followed by a section titled "Men I Do Not Wish To Marry" and it is just 🤌🏽 PEAK FUNNY. secondly, the characters in this book, which include our MC's as well as the side cast of Bram's hilarious friend group (THEY ARE PRECIOUS AND HILARIOUS AND I LOVE THEM) + Dipper (the doggo that is the best listener ever🥺) + Aunt Flora + house staff = supreme amounts of entertainment for us dear readers😩🥳 so many lines and scenes are highlighted in the book just me being "LOL" or "IM SCREAMING" and it's 🤌🏽

ugh, im just saying the same things ab how much this book is truly a charming read but i MEAN ITTTTT, it's so funny and fun and lovely so please do yourselves a favor and pre-order this book because you'll def want to read it when it comes out next year friends!!

MWAH CHEF'S KISS.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to the publishers Avon and Harper Voyager for the e-ARC via Netgalley. Releases January 24, 2023!*

A new book, a new series, from Megan Frampton! The School for Scoundrels series starts with Bram & Wilhelmina. Lady Wilhelmina arrives home from a night checking out the stars (and literally falling onto our hero) to the return of her father and SURPRISE a step mother, who is younger than her. Said stepmother (apparently desperate to rid herself of her step daughter) bids at an auction on the hero.

Bram, our hero, is an orphan raised by adopted parents, and is a successful barrister. Step mother arranges for hero to fake interest in heroine so she becomes more popular with men who would make suitable husbands. Bram finds this deplorable but agrees because “it’s the right thing to do.”

Both insist they’ll never marry, but of course…

Some things that really excited us, Bram (a feminist we think) and his buddies (🤞🤞🤞 our heroes in the next books in this series) have a book club ❤️ and they read books written by !!GASP!! women, and discuss them!! 😂😂

Bram is a virgin! And their joint exploration and discovery is so sweet and kind.

Plus Wilhelmina is an astronomer so there’s lots of romantic star gazing and star/universe references.

There’s a major twist (no spoilers we promise) that we wish had been explored further and we hope to see more like it as the series goes on.

I really enjoyed this charming and funny love story. The heroine, Wilhelmina, is the bluestocking daughter of an earl, who dreams of studying the stars. The hero, Bram, is a dedicated solicitor who seeks justice through the courts and seeks to rise above his illegitimate birth.

Mina and Bram have a meet cute that is followed by yet another meet cute, which leads to a faux courtship that manages to become very real. Watching both of them overcome their embedded ideas about marriage and class is lovely, and I loved Mina's list of men she won't marry, her relationship with her aunt and dog, and her interactions with her new (younger than Mina) step-mother.

I do think some of the secondary characters and details were not as fully fleshed out as I would like, and I would have liked a bit more steam. However, I will definitely look forward to reading the other books in the School for Scoundrels series, some of which appeared to be foreshadowed in this story.

4 stars. I thank NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book. This review reflects my honest opinion.

The chemistry between the characters was so fun. It was a sweet love story and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next edition.

Lady Wilhelmina Bettesford is a well-to-do, unmarried woman with aspirations to become a respected astronomer. She has seven months until her inheritance is available and then she plans to pursue a future on her terms.

Bram Townsend is an orphan who grew up in a home for the destitute, known as the School for Scoundrels. He worked hard to gain his position as a barrister and has ambitions to become a judge.

When a chance meeting between the two occurs, they can’t deny that they like each other quite a bit. Neither wish to become married but have figured out they may be able to help each other attain their goals. Can they remain friends or will they discover their ruse has worked a little too well?

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Charming and delightful read! Lady Wilhemina aspires to be an astronomer but society is not ready for that yet. One night while star gazing, she falls onto Bram, who is solicitor. Bram grew up in an orphanage with his other band of brothers. Wilhemina is determined not to marry and is awaiting her inheritance with seven months left to go. But her father arrives home with a new bride, five years younger than she! No the pressure is on to get Wilhemina married.

Her Lessons in Persuasion was such a charming and funny historical romance! The banter was perfection and I loved both main characters equally, which is rare for me!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for letting me read an e-arc for an holiness review. First of all, I can see this book being picked up by Shondaland. It’s such a cute, quirky regency book that features a witty female lead, Wilhelmina (Mina), and a charming male lead, Bram. Mina is a smart, independent, self proclaimed astrologist who’s trying to hold out on marriage until she inherits her mother’s fortune. Enter Bram, a bastard born barrister that has an amazing friend group he met as children. Mina’s stepmother sets up Bram and Mina in a fake courting situation to get suitors to offer their hands to her, while Bram and Mina start their journey to finding love with each other. Overall, this was a long read, full of witty banter and a lot of dialogue. Don’t let the cover mislead you, this book was not spicy other than one scene, but that was not crazy as well. I’d look forward to this book being made into a regency movie.

An astronomer heroine. A barrister hero. Supportive, meddling friends. A kindly aunt. And an adorable dog named Dipper. Her Lessons in Persuasion strikes the perfect balance between humor, banter, and romance. As an astronomy nerd and a historical romance lover, I adored Bram and Wilhelmina’s story from beginning to end!

This is the first book in the School for Scoundrels series. It follows the journey of five orphaned friends who grew up at a home for destitute boys. They became successful through hard work and the support of their respective foster parents. They even have a book club! These characters are all deserving of their own books. I am already looking forward to it.

Bram Townsend doesn’t have time for love. He is a barrister with a strong sense of justice. He chose his profession because he has a talent for arguing with people. I love Bram’s character even though his friends call him “a stuffy pedant.” Bram is not the typical historical romance hero and that appealed to me. He is neither titled nor a rake. Fyi, he is a virgin! The illegitimacy of his birth weighs heavily on him. Thus, he cannot afford to be improper.

Lady Wilhelmina Bettesford is a fabulous character. I adore wallflower/spinster/bluestocking heroines. Wilhelmina is smart, independent, and adamantly opposed to marriage. Wilhelmina’s “Men I Do Not Wish to Marry” list is hilarious. She’s ambitious, impetuous, and delightfully awkward. Wilhelmina loves her dog, her books, and astronomy. She just wants to stare up at the stars. Girl, same! I love her relationship with her aunt. They have plans to move in together once Wilhelmina receives her inheritance.

So, Wilhelmina’s stepmother concocts a ludicrous plan to increase Wilhelmina’s marriage prospects. The plan entails Bram to pretend he is interested in Wilhelmina. If one gentleman is interested in her, surely other ‘eligible’ gentleman would notice her? Poor Wilhelmina! Anyway, Bram agrees because he wants to buy Wilhelmina time, so she can decide what she wants to do. However, the more time they spend together, the more their feelings grow. There are also those stolen kisses! While Bram discovers Wilhelmina’s fierce determination, Wilhelmina learns that Bram is not a controlling man. I really like how their relationship develops from attraction to friendship to love. Bram truly sees Wilhelmina. One of my favorite parts was when Wilhelmina expresses her disdain for fiction, Bram not only persuades Wilhelmina to read fiction that she will enjoy, but he also begins to read astronomy books.

Her Lessons in Persuasion is a charming, wonderfully crafted story with endearing secondary characters and infused with Megan Frampton’s customary wit and humor. I loved the clever astronomy references throughout the book. Highly recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.