Having loved "A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting", I was anticipating another great Recency Romance-esque title from author Irwin. I found "A Lady's Guide to Scandal" quite the sluggish read. We are supposed to follow Eliza Balfour's transformation from 17-year-old prime and proper reluctant bride to a 27-year-old wealthy widowed Countess who now has the freedom and wealth to do as she pleases. There is one restriction upon her keeping that wealth however which she is at first quite willing to adhere to. It takes an acquaintance with the scandalous Lord and Lady Melville to make Eliza see that living is not just spending and attending boring parties with members of the ton but taking chances and speaking up for oneself even if it may cost her her fortune, lands and title. Predictable ending to a slow moving plot.

*4 stars*

I said it with her first book and I'll say it again with this one: Sophie Irwin feels like a modern day Jane Austen. Her historical romances are so well done it feels safe to say that with confidence.

This book was so fun! I loved seeing Eliza's growth throughout the whole book--everything about her personal journey felt genuine, not too rushed, and absolutely believable. I loved watching her learn and grow and come into her own strength. I also love, love, loved the relationships in this book--the romances, the familial relationships, the friendships. Everything was so steeped in sincerity and was so genuine and real.

Sophie Irwin really explores every type of love in this book and I enjoyed every single bit of it. Familial love and the duty tied to it is a strong theme in this book and the author doesn't shy away from showing how complicated that can be. She also explores female friendships (the established friendship between Eliza and Margaret gets a giant chef's kiss with me, but I also enjoyed seeing her new friendship with Lady Caroline). And, of course, this book has romantic relationships. A marriage of duty, first love, new love, and everything in between.

The only reason I deducted a star is that this book is a little slow plot-wise, but not too bad. And I also really wished it was spicier (but that's a personal preference!). And, finally, I kind of hate anything with any kind of love triangle--again, a personal preference. Without spoiling anything, I will say that everything was handled really well in this book!

Overall, if you like the historical romance genre in any capacity, you'll like this book.

I selected this title because I enjoyed Irwin's debut. It was a perfect blend of regency romance suitable for both Austen and Bridgerton aficionados. But, to my disappointment, A Lady's Guide to Scandal left me cold. Perhaps it is the sophomore novel syndrome, or perhaps I've begun reading it with too high expectations. My main criticism is that the pacing was sluggish and I found the protagonist Eliza childish and annoying. The love triangle was another weak point. Although the romantic tension between Eliza and Somerset was exciting and swoon-worthy, the love triangle felt coerced. Unfortunately, my interest dwindled around two-thirds into it. Nevertheless, mine is merely one opinion. Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this book in advance in exchange of an honest review.

If you like Jane Austen…four words designed to lure me into reading a book. Sophie Irwin’s second novel A Lady’s Guide to Scandal did not disappoint. Set in 1819 primarily in Bath, the novel features Eliza Somerset - Lady Somerset - recently widowed from an apparently loveless marriage. She finds herself unexpectedly inheriting both land and money from her late husband - with one clause - a big one - a morals clause. If the new Lord Somerset finds her behavior lacking in any way, the inheritance reverts to him. And by the way…the new Lord Somerset is the same Oliver she broke off with ten years earlier under the direction of her mother to marry her late husband.

I have read some books with the Jane Austen connection that I’ve found truly disappointing; happily, this one was delightful. I enjoyed the elevated vocabulary that evokes Austen to me. I nearly laughed out loud at the allusion to Fordyce’s Sermons to Young Women. I do love a good nod to Collins of Pride and Prejudice. While I am not a prude, this was very much rated G which - again, closely aligns with Austen. For the Austen readers who love a longing glance, and just a touch of the hand, Irwin has triumphed. And while Austen herself wasn’t a huge fan of Bath - Irwin brings the city to life in a way that does it great credit. The cast of characters from the Melvilles to the Winkworths is well developed and delightful - love them or dislike them heartily.

Also, Eliza and her cousin Margaret, are fully developed very dynamic protagonists for whom I could not help but cheer on their journey - to Bath, to independence, to love (real love, not the “arranged marriage” kind). Together they shock many of those around to find a house in Bath and to experience as much of freedom and friendship as Eliza’s mourning allows.

The modern overtones are a lovely reversal - a woman who has some means financially and an independent spirit is a nice change from Austen’s poor young lady wanting love, but needing a certain financial stability. While Eliza was still restrained largely by societal expectations, she and Margaret use their time in Bath to experience as much growth as society will allow. Margaret’s love interest - a woman - is a very modern addition.

As I switch from reading primarily YA to adult from reading for work to reading for pleasure or enlightenment, I am always seeking connections and things that speak to me. At first I thought - how can I relate to this one? What am I to learn? Shall I just be entertained - which is FINE in my new world. But then. I was able to witness 2 young ladies stretch beyond the barriers created by society and sort of reinforced by their desires to please. They explored hobbies and interests; Eliza learned to drive; they pursued relationships that would have terrified them even at the beginning of the novel. Perhaps as I approach a new stage in my own life, I need to consider their courage. I tend to do what is expected. I tend to avoid confrontation. I don’t stretch myself as I could. While I have had a fine life that has made me happy, I begin to wonder what it might feel like to pursue that which pleases me, simply because.

This was a fun book! It’s an easy read with likable characters. Great for fans of Bridgerton. It would be perfect for a vacation.

I have no issues with Irwin’s writing, the book itself is pretty solid and decent if you like this Persuasion, Bridgerton-esque era. However, I realized I do not. This isn’t my favorite book genre. I dislike that everyone is referred to by their last names and I had the hardest time keeping everyone straight and who’s related to whom. However, once the action gets going (in the last part of the book) that was interesting and exciting. I do wish that the FMC wasn’t so passive, but that fits with the era the book was written in.
I was given an ARC by NetGalley.

📚 “Are you sure he is handsome and not simply very tall? … I have often noticed the two are confused.”

👍 Historical fiction, Regency Romance (clean) This book was so cute! The love triangle was done very well and I was genuinely happy for the characters in the end. Melville was😍 Caroline/Margaret are the friends/family members we deserve to have in our lives. I admired the FMC for fighting for her freedom in a time where it simply was not DONE. And props to Miss Winkle coming in at the end for the save! Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin books for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Books for the eARC of this book. This was a quick, delightful read. I enjoyed Eliza’s character development and her banter with Melville. I am not usually a fan of the love triangle trope, but I feel Irwin wrote this one well. Overall, I recommend to readers who enjoy minimal spice regency/historical romance.

I was really excited to read this book because I had unexpectedly loved A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting. However, I was very disappointed. I did not like the main characters, and I could not root for the romance. The author wanted us to invest in the MC's change from being a pushover, but I felt like she went from not speaking for herself to not thinking for herself. The author got us invested in a romance, and then broke it at the point of a promised engagement, which felt so wrong. For the MC to switch to the other love interest, even after a betrayal by him as well, felt even worse. Did the MC end where she should have? Sure. However, she landed there by chance and lost this fan of hers along the way.

This book was an absolute blast to read! Extremely addicting, I could not put it down!

I came into this book expecting a lot of romance, but that’s not actually the main focus of our story. This book is mostly about Eliza, about a woman finding her voice and discovering herself after spending 10 years in an unhappy marriage.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read. I was taken aback by the love triangle and the fact that the book's pace is a little bit slow, but overall this was a lovely, light and clean read.

The fact that the story takes place in Bath makes it extremely special for me. Bath was my first solo trip and like Eliza it was where I could discover myself and achieve my independence. It's a place I hold very dear in my heart, so watching our heroine grow and find herself in this wonderful city gave me the feeling of having a real connection to her. 

I loved the writing style, it truly felt like a period piece, and for that I applaud the author.

this is not what i was expecting whatsoever. but seeing that, it did manage to surprise me and im sure if it was all quite positively

there’s a really interesting love triangle that i just don’t think i could get behind, but the side characters truly make this book and i had an enjoyable time reading it

Actual rating 3.75/5 Stars

Prim and proper Lady Somerset is known to follow duty over the whims of her heart amongst her peers. After learning that her late husband left a fortune to her, she suddenly finds herself in control of her future for once in her life.

Although, I did find the resolution to the story’s central conflict a bit lacking, this book is quite charming, laugh out loud funny, and Eliza’s character development was superb. I loved Caroline and Margaret as side characters for their frankness and how they challenged Eliza. This story is definitely for the historical romance lovers out there!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for a chance to read and review an advanced copy of this book!

Admittedly, I really did not like the first book in this series, but I had hopes the second would be better.

Alas, I was disappointed.

I will say that Sophie’s prose is quite nice and the dialogue feels very true to the time, however, like with the first book, I was bored to tears. I found the FMC to be so much of a doormat that it was unbelievable (I realize that was her arc, but it was extremely over the top, and especially at the beginning), and the love triangle did not work for me at all.

My biggest complaint with the first book was that I didn’t think the romance was earned, it felt like the main characters were simply two stick figures shoved together, and I feel the same way about this one. The payoff wasn’t enough for me to feel strongly about either love interest, and to be honest, I think it would have been much better served if it had either been a second chance romance ONLY or a wallflower/rake romance. It feels like Irwin tried to shoehorn tropes into the story that just didn’t feel genuine.

I definitely don’t think this author is for me.

I’ll be honest, I had a bit of a hard time getting into this book and had to force myself to keep going several times. This Bridgerton-esque story had potential and I thought for sure I would fall in love with it at the introduction of Melville’s character but I just wasn’t able to.

I love the character development of Eliza and Margaret but unfortunately that’s where the love stopped for me. I think strong fans of period dramas will enjoy this one, but a casual fan like me, may have a hard time getting into the story.

Sophie Irwin’s writing is magical! She kept her dialogue true to the era the story is set in, yet still managed to keep me engaged. This story has it all! Girl power, societal norms of the time, wealth, and of course, love! I so enjoyed Eliza’s character growth as the story progressed. I am going back and reading the first book in the series now! Thank you for the opportunity to read this before its release.

A Lady’s Guide to Scandal by Sophie Irwin

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley for review. My opinions are my own.

5/5 stars

I love, love, love this book! Thanks to a GI bug, I’ve had a lot of time at home and crushed this book in one afternoon.

Eliza becomes a widow at 27 and is subsequently reunited with an old flame, Somerset. Somerset, unfortunately, is the newest heir after Eliza’s much older husband passes away.

Never in charge of her own destiny and now with a fortune, Eliza heads to Bath with her cousin, Margaret. There, she makes new friends, including the enigmatic Melville and his sister, Caroline.

In Bath, Eliza begins to grow as a person. The question is… will she give up her new life for Somerset?

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!

I'm not much for historical romances but this one was rather easy to follow. I enjoyed it alot more than I thought I would. It was fast paced and steamy. Just how I like it! Would definitely recommend!

This book is incredibly enjoyable and I was captivated by Eliza’s story. Her journey of self-discovery was compelling and the interactions between herself and Somerset is full of heat and tension. It was amazing to follow her development into a woman she never knew she was capable of becoming. There were, however, some pacing issues and a love triangle which left more to be desired. But overall, I was very pleased with this novel and would highly recommend it to any fan of historical romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

I loved Sophie Irwin’s first book so I was really excited to get an early chance to read her second (unrelated) book. The story was a bit slow going in the beginning but it really picked up in the second half and I ultimately loved the very satisfying conclusion. I love a regency romance and this one did not disappoint. I loved witnessing the growth of Eliza, the main character and I enjoyed the side characters as well. I look forward to Sophie Irwin’s next book.

This book was incredibly enjoyable to me. I was surprised by how much I appreciated the pacing and indulgence getting to know the characters. I love how Eliza's character grew stronger and more confident as the story carried on, I saw a lot of myself in her. Would definitely recommend!