"With a genderfluid protagonist and 21st-century twist, this spirited debut pays homage to the British classics while joyfully centering an LGBTQ+ point of view, perfect for fans of Emily M. Danforth.

Orphaned young and raised with chilly indifference at an all-boys boarding school, Brontë Ellis has grown up stifled by rigid rules and social "norms," forbidden from expressing his gender identity. His beloved novels and period films lend an escape, until a position as a live-in tutor provides him with a chance to leave St. Mary's behind.

Greenwood Manor is the kind of elegant country house Bron has only read about, and amid lavish parties and cricket matches, the Edwards family welcomes him into the household with true warmth. Mr. Edwards and the young Ada, Bron's pupil, accept without question that Bron's gender presentation is not traditionally masculine. Only Darcy, the eldest son, seems uncomfortable with Bron - the two of them couldn't be more opposite.

When a tragic fire blazes through the estate's idyllic peace, Bron begins to sense dark secrets smoldering beneath Greenwood Manor's surface. Channeling the heroines of his cherished paperbacks, he begins to sift through the wreckage. Soon, he's not sure what to believe, especially with his increasing attraction to Darcy clouding his vision.

Drawing energy and inspiration from Charlotte Brontë, Jane Austen, E.M. Forster, and more while bowing to popular fiction such as Plain Bad Heroines, The Manor House Governess is destined to become a modern classic."

I mean a Bronte and a house fire? I have to read this!

This book is by far one of those books that will stay with me. It was my first with a non-binary leading character and it just felt so right. The story is one where you can’t help but turn the pages. The setting brings you into those classic novels like Jane Eyre. But the queer representation is what gets you staying. It is also refreshing. Somehow I felt comforted in the pages.

3* This book is a little surreal and left me with mixed feelings.

I would describe it as a kind of modern gothic novel, with a huge english mansion, a fire, plenty of old family secrets, hidden passages and feelings.
Sometimes I had an hard time coming to terms with the fact that the characters were using modern tecnology, because it all felt kind of set in past times.
It''s definetly intriguing, what I didn't like was mostly Darcy behavior.

Thanks Netgalley for providing this book as an Arc in exchange of an honest review.

I could not stay engaged with this book. I really wanted to love it--it was a collection of topics that interest me and the gothic feel should have been my thing. I just didn't like any of the characters, including--unfortunately--the protagonist. The dialogue was stilted. I wish Castle had had a better editor. There's an idea here, the germ of something, but for me, it just didn't hit the mark.

I’m sure this is a wonderful book, but yet again, I cannot get halfway through the digital kindle format. I will have to wait until it is released to the public to fully enjoy this one. I really wish Alcove Press would be more accessible when providing ARC’s to their readers.

Wanted to love this so bad but this novel suffered from an identity crisis. The modern vs. Old fashioned aesthetic could work when done well but in this book, it just weirdly felt like a slap in your face every time something like a selfie was mentioned. Because the way these characters talk to each other makes it seem like they’re stuck in the past which doesn’t make sense in a novel set in this time period.
Also, the non-binary stuff was too much on the nose for me. Maybe this works for someone who’s never heard of the concept or who has no idea what it means but repeatedly having ‘I don’t feel like a man or woman’ explained to you gets tiring very fast.
Idk, I just didn’t vibe with the way this was written. I’d still read the next novel of this author mainly because I hope that they’ll evolve in their writing. I’m always up for supporting queer indie authors.

Overall a great Jane Eyre retelling.
I loved Bron and the queerness that was brought to the characters and plot.
Something with the dialogue felt out of place like it’s a modern story but the dialogue felt very old.
And after about 30% I started losing some interest.
It felt long but I did like how it all tied together and the end was great.

So I think if you are a fan of Jane Eyre you should read it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove press for an eARC.

I found this book to be really engaging and I loved the premise. I'm a sucker for Jane Eyre type stories so this story was right up my alley. I am looking forward to reading other books by the author.

I tried so hard to love this book, I found the setting interesting and the main character compelling but I could just not stay engaged. This could be a distinctly “me” problem, I find gothic novels hit or miss. I could see fans of the genere who were open to contemporary additions enjoying this book.

3.5 stars.

This was a really interesting modern spin on a gothic novel. Bron as a character had all the tragic backstory needed for a gothic hero(ine) and it was clear how he used books and fictional characters (most importantly Jane Eyre) to process life around him. Bron's inability to differentiate between reality and fiction, and his romanticized view of the world, reminded me a lot of Catherine Morland in Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen.

This book centered around identity, how you express it and how it (and yourself) is perceived by society. The discussion around the queer experience of having to define your sexuality and in a heteronormative world throughout the book was interesting. Bron was a fascinating character who, while sure of himself and his gender expression and never feeling comfortable unless he was free to do so, he also shied away from being seen by others. The book is about fitting in to survive but also the need to be true to yourself to survive, aka the ultimate queer experience.

I did not feel that the romance between Bron and Darcy was necessary, and I never really felt any kind of connection between them. I feel that the book and the story would have been so much more interesting if Bron and Darcy were able to create a relationship not built on romantic attraction. The hot and cold from Darcy was annoying, and their “relationship” never held any sustenance except lust (but then barely that). The relationship felt forced and did not fit with the flow of the story.

I am an absolute sucker for a found family story, even more so if you throw in queer romance. This book is charming, following Orphaned Bron Ellis from TA in his former boarding school to his new position as a Governess in a large English Manor House. The characters were for the most part messily realistic and while I've never heard Gen Z's use old English turns of phrase, is really suits this Jane Eyre obsessed hero. All in all it was a great read.

The Manor House Governess follows MC Bron as he travels to Cambridge to take up a post as tutor to a young girl in a large house. Bron has a deep love of Brontë and Austen novels, particularly Jane Eyre, and can't help but see the parallels between himself and Jane, leaving school and traveling to a new place to teach a young girl, with the hope of a little freedom along the way. Bron takes quickly to Ada, his charge, and a little less quickly to her older brother Darcy (!).
To start, the prose is lovely. It's well-paced and not overly complicated or too spare. The characters, each of them, are brazenly imperfect. It's wonderful and messy in a way that rings true. These characters can't make simple judgments of one another, as they're caught (to varying degrees) in conflicting feeling, layered motivations, and self-recrimination. Again and again, through these charmingly flawed characters, we are brought to the parable of the prodigal son. This is not only a direct reference to Darcy's arc, but a larger theme of remaking, growth, and forgiveness.
For anyone who loves a character-driven novel, for anyone who loves the Brontë sisters and Jane Austen as much as Bron does, this is well worth your time. And for what it's worth, there are some Rebecca vibes in there as well.

This book has an engaging mystery, quirky characters, and an interesting portrayal of a gender-fluid character. While I personally was not a huge fan of the narrative style (it often felt disjointed, unable to decide if it was gothic or contemporary comedic, and not in a way that felt natural but instead in a way that was jarring), I do think this book has potential and will find its audience. The representation alone is great, and I hope to see more books with gender fluid protagonists in the future!

there are several reasons i didn’t enjoy this, chiefly the corny and self-contradictory treatment of queerness & non-binary expression (going on about how one can dress as they like & then having the same character make assumptions on sexuality based on clothing).

the tone of the novel is incredibly off as well. the experience of reading a book that is written in the style of victorian novels yet occasionally drops into stylistic choices that are very much 21st-century is absolutely jarring & threw me off completely. the feeling of reading is honestly comparable to the netflix adaptation of persuasion - so much potential, such poor delivery.

I did not like this book but I am not inclined to post a review publically. I read maybe 100 pages and could not bring myself to finish it. I am queer and nonbinary and I have no idea who this book is written for, but I don't think it is other queer people. It reads like an entry-level Tumblr post about gender nonconformity or a newly out high schooler's short story. Weak atmosphere, exhausting and repetitive explanations of queerness (anyone who elects to read this book already knows homophobia is bad), and a romance that inspired only mild discomfort.

CA Castle's captivating novel, The Manor House Governess, immerses readers in a world brimming with opulence, enigma, and clandestine affairs. Delving into a realm of orphans and enigmatic secrets, where past love intertwines with future romance, this book delivers an exquisite narrative. At the heart of the story is our queer protagonist, Bron, a devoted admirer of all things Bronte, whose life undergoes a dramatic transformation as he leaves behind the solitude of his boarding school existence and enters the time-worn estate situated within the venerable city of Cambridge. In this new chapter of his life, Bron assumes the role of tutor and companion to the precocious Ada Edwards. As he becomes part of the Edwards family, Bron encounters a warm reception from everyone except one individual: Darcy Edwards, the enigmatic and captivating older brother of his ward. Amidst extravagant soirées, spirited cricket matches, unforeseen conflagrations, and serendipitous encounters, Bron finds himself entangled in situations reminiscent of those experienced by the heroines in his cherished period dramas. To navigate this intricate web of events, he must discern fact from fiction and disentangle the past from the present in order to uncover the truth.

Castle expertly juxtaposes the old with the new, masterfully crafting a contemporary tale imbued with the essence of Charlotte Bronte's gothic masterpiece. The evocative setting of Cambridge serves as a perfect backdrop for this interplay of elements. Castle's approach to incorporating parallels with Jane Eyre into the plot is executed with finesse, offering readers an authentic sense of the mystery and allure that permeate Bronte's original work. Throughout the novel, numerous character names and personalities pay homage to Eyre and other well-known literary works from the Regency and Victorian eras, with the most overt nod being Darcy Edwards, a fusion of Fitzwilliam Darcy and Edward Rochester. While these allusions may be conspicuous, they add an amusing touch to the story and do not detract from its overall brilliance.

The Manor House Governess stands as an enthralling homage to Jane Eyre, skillfully blending a queer narrative, modern gothic romance, and an abiding love for the Bronte sisters. It is a novel that will captivate fans of queer literature, admirers of the Bronte legacy, and enthusiasts of the gothic genre alike.

I didn’t like this one. The pacing was so slow. I just didn’t really find myself caring. I do love the cover though.

<blockquote>"I do not find myself in the way of dancing enough to warrant a disliking to it. But what I can admit to is the unlikelihood of dancing again anytime soon, or ever again for that matter."</blockquote>

This is a contemporary novel. I am expected to believe that a modern person talks like this. I have some doubts. But...I might have been able to stomach that, but not everyone sounds like they fell out of an Austen novel. Some also recite <i>Introduction to Queerness</i> leaflets (Shouldn't everyone be able to wear whatever they want, no matter if it matches their perceived gender or not? - Yes, it is true, everyone should wear whatever they want). I mean, I agree, but just because I agree doesn't mean that I don't recognize when the author is standing on the most blatant soapbox. Oh, and sometimes the characters talk like a lecturer in a film studies 101 class. Because the author has an MA in films studies and wants you to know that.

That all makes a very dull reading experience. I didn't feel like I was reading about characters, just mouthpieces telling me what the author wants me to know. And the book really lost me when Darcy tells Bron (the MC) that he's gay, and Bron's reaction is utter disbelief because Darcy wears suits and isn't flamboyant at all. And it really is framed that way. I could have accepted some version of "Darcy has it easier than me, a non-binary person who is perceived masculine and likes feminine clothes, and we have nothing in common" (I would not have agreed with that statement, but would have understood that Bron feels that way). But that's not the argument. Bron really just goes "nah, he can't be gay while wearing a suit"

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a review copy.

This has to be the oddest Jane Eyre retelling ever. I appreciate what the author is doing here. A gender questioning individual takes a job as a governess to a young girl and moves to a different part of the UK. It's current/modern and it has interesting themes in addition to the underlying Jane Eyre tale.

A wonderful 2slgbtqia+ retelling of the classic Jane Eyre. This book discussed what it is like to be non binary while growing up in the school system. It also discussed the pressures to conform to what society expects of gender and what that looks like from the lens of a non binary person. This was a fun read and I would recommend it for anyone who loves Jane Eyre!