This is a re-released book by the author. While reading this book I noticed that it was solely based on a young Miss finding love and being married. Also, the father found that it was very imperative that said young miss to be married. The romance aspect of the book was sweet and charming. I noticed that the writing was from the early years of writing historical romance novels.
While that is brilliantly presented in the story I found that I was looking for more exciting entertainment from the book. Where’s the drama? Where’s the emotional connection with the characters surrounding a good plot? I needed something that made the book seem to come alive. The book really needed the engagement of a well written, phenomenal love story.
Until next time my fellow readers. Read on!

I was eager to read my first Georgette Heyer, after hearing from bookish friends about how influential she was in the romance genre so I jumped at the chance when I saw this was available to request. I've since come to realize how problematic Heyer was and how this book in particular was pretty antisemitic. I thought I would still give this a try, going in eyes wide open but I didn't find myself taken with it and decided to let it go.

The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer


I remember reading Georgette Heyer in high school and loving all of the books that my father passed on to me. I am not sure if I liked them because he suggested them or if it was because they swept me into romance and all I could think about then was boys, kissing them, and one day getting married. Since I had such fond memories of books by this author, I was eager to revisit this book. Once again, I found that a book I once loved was not as fun to read today.

I am not sure if my disenchantment had to do with the changes in writing style over the past half century+ since I read this book or if it was something else. I felt the book was not in tune with the era it was written about and it did not resonate with me – I had trouble getting into the story, didn’t find myself caring about any of the characters, or what was happening in their lives. I seemed more worried about the monkey, dog and parrot than the people and that gave me pause. I opted to skim a bit but not read it cover to cover because I decided that I would prefer to return to my memories of reading it long ago and how I felt then rather than read and not enjoy the story this time around. It may be a classic and worth reading but not worth reading right now for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for the ARC – This is my honest review.

2-3 Stars

I know this is a re release of a classic regency romance and that this author is well loved, but I found the first two chapters to be too tedious to actually continue with the story 🤷‍♀️

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review and giving me a chance to try a book by this author

I thought it was neat that Eloisa James did the forward for this one, but otherwise I found this to be really boring. I understand that Georgette Heyer is the reason for the genre, but I just really struggled through reading her works, this included.

Sophy comes to stay with her aunt and cousin in hopes of finding a husband. Her cousin, thoroughly exasperated by her attempts at “fixing” his family, is also motivated to find her a husband and get her out of his hair once and for all. Her schemes get them thrown together many times. and although he wouldn’t admit it, Charles subconsciously loves spending time with her.

I loved this one! Sophy is hilarious and to be honest I was a little weirded out about the whole cousin love situation that I saw unfolding but after a quick History 101 on Google, saw that this wasn’t actually weird in that time. I set aside my disgust and really enjoyed this novel!

Maybe it's too easy to compare Georgette Heyer books to Jane Austen books, but they all make me so happy in a similar way, so I'm putting them in the same bucket. This book and Arabella, re-released near the same time were my first introductions to Heyer, though I'd been hearing about her work for years, and I just love it. I think I loved this one just slightly more because I was so utterly charmed by Sophy. Historical fiction/romance/societal commentary at its absolute finest.

5 stars

I must have read this book in my youth but it's lovely to return to the erudite wit of Georgette Heyer. Sophy has been left at her aunt's by her diplomat father and she immediately starts to solve their problems. As one review said, Sophy is a very alpha character, used to kindly ensuring everyone is happy and fullfilled. I liked the way the hardened soldiers that were her friends understood her. I was a bit surprised that she should have ended up married to her first cousin but then aristocracy have always been a little odd. Eloisa James in her guise as a shakespearing scholar explained the original reference and the current editing that had taken place over the money lender passage and I agree it has been well done. Leaving the bones of the story without the original unneccessarily anti semetic over tones.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sophy Stanton-Lacy is not the usual young lady of regency days. She's spent her life travelling the world and she's quite the cosmopolitan woman full of unimaginable ideas for a woman. Which comes as quite a shock and surprise to her cousin, Charles, who is all that is right and proper. Sophy is sent to stay with her aunt Elizabeth in order to be presented to society while her father is off to South America. She turns the household upside down when she brings a gift of a monkey and goes off to buy her own horses. Charles is engaged to in a marriage of convenience with Eugenia Wraxton, a woman with a very narrow idea of fitting in with society. Charles' sister Cecilia, meanwhile, is head over heels with a most unsuitable poet. Brother Hubert has his own serious problems that seem to be unsurmountable. Sophy goes about helping her cousins resolve their situations. Iniitially Charles finds her a maddening creature, but he begins to see a bit of logic in her methods, even if he doesn't always like the way she goes about things. As usually happens, everything is sorted out and there's a happy ever after end.

Although I suppose this is considered a regency romance, I don't think of it as much of a romance. The relationship between Sophy and Charles is rather tenuous until the end and I never get the feeling there is much more than family affection on the part of Sophy. But the rest does lie firmly in the regency period and I like the madhouse that is Sophy and the way she sweeps in and adds a new dimension to life in the family.

Overall it's a very enjoyable book with a strong protagonist living amongst the narrow mores of regency England. She's anything but boring and she adds a splash of adventure to lives that have been otherwise pretty ordinary thus far.

I give this four stars. Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebook for giving me an advanced reader copy for free, I have provided this review voluntarily.

I GET IT NOW.

Not new to Regency romance, but a bit of a Heyer newbie, I knew this was a fan favorite, which only makes me come in with skepticism. How “grand” could Sophy really be? Bless my heart, I was not prepared. I have adored Arabella and Frederica, but mostly for the redemption and comeuppance of their heroes. I was not prepared for Miss Stanton-Lacy’s literal epicness and basically mind-blowing characterization. Not only is she the OG managing miss, she’s like a hoyden heroine blueprint. The embodiment of so many dazzling adjectives: determined, unaffected, perceptive, confident, lively, effortlessly unconventional, proudly indelicate, practical, bold, scheming, witty, capable *could go on* Reared across the continent accompanying her diplomat father, she blows into the beat-into-submission Rivenhall household as a bit of a practically perfectly shocking Mary Poppins with a pet monkey. And let’s not leave dear Charles out. I have adored Heyer’s frivolous, witty rakes but stick-in-the-mud, duty-burdened, driven to exasperated distraction, Mr. Rivenhall is officially my new favorite.

Be forewarned (since I skim blurbs, especially if it’s like “Whoa, so many names”, so I had no idea) in case it gives you irreperable ick: our couple are first cousins. He’s her dad’s sister’s son. You’re good if you can adjust to the societal context here where marrying cousins was totally fine or you can pretend he’s a distant relative ward of the family that inherited a fortune and turned into the functioning patriarch of said mess. The latter proved more effective for me. They’re just SO great together, that missing out because they call each other “cousin”, would be borderline shameful.

It’s actually futile to capture in a few lines because the romance progression is so fabulous, but here’s my favorite part of Sophy the Indomitable and Charles the Aggravated: they disarm each other at every turn. He cannot wait to foist her off and pities the fool who marries her, and she could not care less about his bluster. Opposites Attract 101, constantly surprising each other when they discover each other’s true character. Her well-meaning schemes and resulting monumental arguments just absolute fun. Again, the descent of the stoic, proper hero into completely losing it over “the most tiresome girl” wins it all for me.

No surprise, Heyer’s cast is remarkable and well-rounded with the “gotta love ‘em”absurd. The third act climaxes going off the rails with such a prodigious tangled web bonkers scenario very worthy of our grand Sophy. Why oh why do these stories end with eleventh-hour resolutions and then no epilogue? And yet, when it’s been so masterfully woven, the HEA is so certain we can end it at an violently exasperated kiss and know the Rivenhalls will carry on well indeed…as long as Sophy stays away from his horses.

Cannot fail to mention that, if Austen’s Emma is your idea of a swoony good time: whatreyoudoin, you simply must read this. Dare I say, Sophia Stanton-Lacy has surpassed Emma Woodhouse for me as this story takes the well-meaning fixer mentality heroine to charming chaotic heights.

Once again with these new editions, I appreciated Ms. James’s forward as I join the ranks of generations of Sophy-fans. And particularly the note on “literary repairs” as prejudicial aspects were removed from a previously problematic scene found in the original.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Content notes: brief mention of kissing only, Some time period cursing and frequent use of the Lord’s name in vain. Hero threatens with bodily harm in infuriated jest.

Sir Horace has asked his sister, Lady Elizabeth Ombersley, to care for his daughter, Lady Sophy Stanton-Lacy, age 20, and to introduce her to society. Sir Horace has been widowed for many years and worked on their continent in numerous jobs always taking Sophy with him. Now, he is off to Brazil and feels that Sophy needs to have a debut and, hopefully, find a husband.

While the family was expecting a meek and retiring young woman, Sophy turns out to be friendly and outgoing. The Ombersley is quite large with a number of children - one married, and some young children as well. Their son, the Honourable Charles Rivenhall, 26, has just inherited a vast sum of money from a great uncle and now finds himself taking on some of the debts of the household. He is engaged to a meek young woman. His sister, Cecelia, has a tendre for a young man who considers himself a poet but the family wants her to marry another young man with money.

This book is certainly enjoyable but it requires paying strict attention as the words of that timeframe are not ones usually used today. I admit that slowed me down somewhat, but I did learn some new 50 cent words! The humor comes through very well and Sophy turns out to be quite grand for sure.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Sophy Stanton-lacy is cosmopolitan. She drives and rides, and takes herself wherever she wishes. When her father is off to Brasil, Sir Horace Stanton-Lacy deposits Sophy with his sister Lady Ombersley in London, to have her find a husband. However, Sophy finds the household is disarray. Charles is set to marry the boring and straight laced Ms Wraxton. Cecelia is in love with a poet and has refused the amiable Lord Charlbury. And Hubert has a secret that will take all of Sophy's strength to solve.

Charles Ombersley is the saviour of his family. His father has run up many debts but when an uncle passes and leaves Charles his fortune, he sets about setting things right. This includes finding a proper wife, making sure Hubert is educated and getting Cecelia married off. But what he doesn't realise is that nobody is happy and things are not going as well as he hoped.

Sophy sets about rectifying the situation and what occurs is a delightfully funny and witty season in London. Will Charles marry the abominable Eugenia Wraxton? Will Cecelia find her true love and is it the poet or Lord Charlbury?

This might almost be my favourite Georgette Heyer book. I specifically like the May 2023 edition with the forward by Eloisa James as the antisemitic aspects have be carefully altered by Mary Bly. This book was so much fun! I so wish there were more strong and independent heroines such as Sophy in books. I really enjoyed this!

Big thanks to Netgalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca and Georgette Heyer (even though she has passed, she deserves credit).

I did not have the time to finish prior to publication date and not sure when I will be able to finish the book.
I have heard great things about Georgette Heyer's books, and I look forward to reading it in the near future.

Georgette Heyer was a brilliant author who wrote novels chock full of wit, humour and dazzling ingenuity. The Grand Sophy is about a young girl who goes about solving pickles and predicaments and also falls in love with Charles. Her spunky personality and antics are priceless. Heyer's novels are so easy to get lost in.

Historical Romance lovers ought to seek out Heyer's books and hold on tightly...they are treasures. I am not a fan of books with romance as the central theme and though these novels are in the romance genre, the romance is wholesome and sweet.

This was a reread for me...each time my brain finds a different perspective. I own nearly all the novels Heyer wrote which is a good thing as they will never get "repaired" as this one has (see notes in the back). Whilst anti-Semitism is atrocious, the difficult question of censorship arises.

My sincere thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this fabulous novel.

Never a dull moment with Georgette Heyer and The grand Sophy was no exception to the rule!

A captivating fictional journey through Regency England superbly plotted, full of delightful historical details, sparkling dialogues and blessed with a terrific cast of exquisitely drawn characters. This is pure escapism, witty, smart and very entertaining.

Ms Heyer was the best and her Regency romps are simply too addictive!

Highly recommended and to be enjoyed without any moderation whatsoever!

Many thanks to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for this fabulous ARC!

An incredible father with an incredible faith in his incredible daughter. Hilarious, witty tale. She has a talent for finding solutions to problems that she easily perceives. She has irrepressible good humour and cunning enough to outwit a manipulative woman. Enjoyable read about a smart, multi-skilled, caring woman who upends everything to settle into a better arrangement.

I received an ARC from Netgalley and leaving my review voluntarily.

The Grand Sophy is my first Georgette Heyer book and I am glad I decided to read this one. I loved Sophy, her wit, her smarts, and her caring nature. I really enjoyed her constant verbal battles with Charles and her getting everyone set to rights. The language was quite archaic, but that is to be expected since it was released in 1950. A thoroughly enjoyable romantic comedy! I appreciated the explanations of the changes made to make the book more palatable to modern audiences. 4-1/2 stars

I received an ARC for free, but give my honest opinion voluntarily.

This is one of my favourite books ever… I love Georgette Heyer…read all her regency romances years ago and reading The Grand Sophie again after all these years gave me such pleasure…I could probably quote it verbatim because of the number of times I’ve read it and her other books. She’s the original regency romance writer and they’re timeless …funny…the heroine is always smart and courageous…such a fun read!

I'm still not quite sure what to think of this book. It was a good read but probably not something I will read again.

I love Georgette Heyer books. It gave me a lot of pleasure to read her again. I don't recall reading this one. I loved the character of Sophy and how she fixed everyone's problems.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.