This book was entertaining and very well written. I really liked the premise and also the way it was executed for the most part, but I did have some trouble connecting with the heroine, especially in the beginning. I definitely recommend this book though, it was silly and fun.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review. No other compensation was accepted, much to my relief, as I was fully prepared to offer a kidney or, perhaps, my first born. Neither Ms Irwin nor Penguin seemed particularly interested, though.

You see, I had picked up *A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting* on a whim from my library, and had been left in the blackest sort of book hangover until I was steered towards the ARC of *A Lady’s Guide to Scandal.* Like the hair of the dog, I was immediately relieved of my symptoms and have, in fact, fallen even deeper into adoration of this series as a result. Wish me luck on my recovery.

Irwin excels at crafting my favorite type of Regency - the type that draws you in by pieces, where the tension builds slowly and inexorably, and where the clench of a hand and a significant look leave you clutching at your chest like Susan Lucci. The type that had me audibly gasping when he offered his first name (it was midnight, okay? I get a little loopy when I’m sleep deprived).

And that was just the romance! There are essays I could write on the side characters. Our widow protagonist’s cousin, the spinster Margaret. She’s got charm and wit to spare, but her best feature is her unending loyalty to Eliza and her willingness to voice the hard truths Eliza needs to hear. The Melville’s! Each more charming than the other. Mr Fletcher! I’ve never laughed so hard at a character who only - as Eliza points out - ever speaks one of three lines.

The humor is superb, both dialogue and in-text. Eliza’s slow and tentative first steps towards independence, and her growing confidence and joy, are so gut-wrenchingly poignant. The Melville’s mixed ancestry is relevant and well-handled, informing their character, their choices, and their reception in society. The reader’s journey along with Eliza as her world expands is relatable, comedic, and, ultimately, so rewarding for both us and she.

This story honors and plays homage to great regencies - like, yes, *Persuasion*, and *Cotillion* and Heyer’s other works - but it is certainly not a retelling or a rehashing of any of those stories. Instead, it is a true Regency, but one that beautifully bridges the society we all love to read about and our modern sensibilities.

Brava, Ms Irwin, and thank you for the pleasure of reading this book. I will be purchasing a hard copy, I loved it so.

P.s. The one - one! - gripe I have with this book is the cover! They did the book so dirty with this sloppy cartoon nonsense, especially compared to the lovely toile-style cover of the first one. This cover is such a mismatch for the contents, I cannot believe that Irwin had any choice in the matter. I genuinely don’t even know who it’s trying to appeal to or what it’s trying to convey! Sorry, all. It needed to be said.

I was sold on this one from the very first line.

"A Lady's Guide to Scandal" tells the story of widowed Eliza finally getting a taste of freedom and discovering her true self. Eliza has lived her life by the standards of society and her peers but after the death of her husband, 20 years her senior and selected by her parents, Eliza starts to come out of her shell and live the life she's always wanted.

There are hints of "Persuasion" in this book which lead the reader thinking it will go one way, and then some pleasantly surprising twists that delighted me when the book swerved to a much more satisfying conclusion. I was a bit frustrated with our main character Eliza at times but my irritation with her was clearly intentional on the author's part and leads to our heroine's growth. I really liked the inclusion of the secondary romance though I did wish for some more traditional swoon worthy moments for the primary love story.

Ultimately I really enjoyed Eliza's story and found myself truly enamored with the supporting cast of characters. I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys retellings of Jane Austen or fans of Bridgerton read-a-likes that are more chaste.

I was a huge fan of Sophie Irwin’s first book and was so excited to receive an advanced copy of this one! This book gave me everything I love about a Jane Austen book along with everything I love about more recently written romances. There were twists and turns, loveable and realistically flawed main characters, and a quirky cast of individuals surrounding them. During the novel, 2 characters are discussing why classics rewritten so a modern audience can easily understand them is important. Eliza, our main character, says, “It is a skill to invite people in as you do.” I feel that is what Irwin has done with this novel. She had made a regency romance that feels like it could have been written by Jane Austen if she were alive today. I look forward to seeing what she continues you write in the future

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

Anyone who knows me at all knows that I adore Persuasion, and anyone who knows me at all is also confused by this. Anne Elliot is the least vivacious of Austen's heroines (especially compared to the 21st century's darling, Elizabeth Bennett) and the novel is evidently pre-feminist in a way that we can pretend Pride and Prejudice is not. While both of these qualities should undermine my enjoyment of Persuasion (and they do, to an extent), the novel is a masterclass in tension and longing and regret, and its capacity for emotive language is unparalleled in Austen's other works.

A Lady's Guide to Scandal begins with all the hallmarks of a Persuasion retelling - different enough to stand on its own yet similar enough to capture my interest as a die-hard fan of the original - but quickly sets itself apart. This is less a tale of tension, longing, and regret, and more a (welcome) 21st century take on the Persuasion premise, where a woman who has allowed her life to be commandeered by others has a reversal in fortune and seizes (in degrees) the opportunity to become a more interesting, self-sponsored version of herself.

While not wholly original (not that the book claims to be), and therefore not wholly surprising, this is a solid addition to the body of period romances. My gripes are more of the personal preference variety; e.g. I would have preferred a little less waffling between the two love interests and a little more groveling from one particular love interest, towards the end. The book also didn't hit its stride until the twenty-sixth chapter (a little late in the game for someone who might be planning to purchase it) and missed a number of earlier opportunities for emotional beats (an area Persuasion delivers in spades).

I received this ARC from NetGalley. I was a big fan of “A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting,” so I was so excited to read the next installment in this series. I read this without reading the synopsis first and I was so glad I did! This book had some twists and turns I didn’t see coming and kept me smiling all along the way! Regency England will never get old as the setting for romance, and ALGTS did not disappoint! Can’t wait for the next one!