I really enjoyed this regency romance. I do read a lot of romance, so was excited to try something in the Regency era, especially given we are still waiting on Bridgerton season 3, and this didn't disappoint.

This story is a pure delight. A sweet puff of cotton candy, light and delectable effused with colour. I absolutely loved the characters within, which makes me so excited for future Earl Trips and the shenanigans I know will occur. Archie & Clementine are the ideal dream couple. Bosom pals whose bond reignites the moment they reunite. It gives that perfect fairytale feel. The excitement of the rescue and the ensuing adventure was simply a joy. I keep using those terms, joy, delight but they are truly the pure embodiment of this story. The romance gives you all the butterfly feels. The family evolutions that sweet spot that tugged at the heart, whether the sisters bonding or Archie’s maternal struggles and understanding. There were so many spots where the story hit some buried emotion within myself, connecting me to the story whether through literal understanding or commiseration. This story is simply beautiful light fun.

Earl's Trip sounded like it was right up my alley. While I enjoyed some parts of it, this book was not for me. It was very repetitive and at times, quite boring. I wish there had been more talk of what happened during the day with the boys and the girls, not just between the two main characters at night.

Earl’s Trip by Jenny Holiday follows three best friends on their annual September holiday, which is interrupted by the Morgan sisters.

Will Archie and Clem get a happily ever after?

Archibald Fielding-Burton
Archibald, better known as Archie, is the Earl of Harcourt. He doesn’t always like the stuffiness that comes with his title. Hence, he loves these annual trips with his dear friends. Archie is the type of person who will protect the people he loves and do things with that person. I have to say that Archie is a great character, and I love how complex he is. In some parts, he was hilarious, and I loved every bit of it. Archie, though, is a bit dense regarding his feelings about a certain wild child.

Clementine Morgan
Clementine Morgan is Archie's childhood friend. They both lost contact with each other. The whole reason that Clementine opposes marriage is that she doesn’t want to be made into someone that she isn’t. See, Clem is a wild child. She would rather be outdoors in the country than in Town with the society people. Clem has then figured that she will forever be an old maid because there won’t be anyone that would want that. She loves her family a lot and loves animals as well. Archie will definitely have his hands full with this one.

Simon, Effie, and Olive
Archie’s friends are Simon and Effie. Simon is an Earl in his own right, even if the way that came about is sad, while Effie is currently just a Viscount and will eventually become an Earl. Simon is about trying to do a great job at his new title, even without formal training. Effie is an artist in a way that his parents will never get, and he tries to be interested in everything that goes on with someone of his title....except it doesn’t always work out. Olive is Clementine’s younger sister, and there is more to her than even Clementine thought there was.

I loved how these five characters embraced each other on their shared holiday and have become friends.

Five Stars
I am giving Earl’s Trip by Jenny Holiday five stars and recommending it to all the historical romantic comedy readers out there. I do have a warning, though, as a couple of scenes aren’t meant for young eyes. Besides that, I loved this book, and if it weren’t for the fact that I got sick, I would have finished it sooner.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Earl’s Trip by Jenny Holiday.

Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

"What happens on Earls Trip, stays on Earls Trip."

Thank you to Kensington Books & Netgalley for this eARC!

The cover and title initially sold me on this book, and I was so happy to find a great story inside!
This modern take on historical romance had me giggling & staying up late. From the get-go, I was reminded of The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels, which I absolutely loved! I was so excited to find a book that felt similar in voice and tone to that one.

I think where this book really shines is in its relationships, most especially in the friendships between the three Earls. They are such sweet, understanding, and supportive friends; I loved seeing them get into shenanigans together, as well as have tender heart-to-hearts. They really give found-family vibes, and I can’t wait for the rest of their stories!

I also thought the main characters had great chemistry. And the spice was done very well!
And the ending was so sweet— I was holding back tears! Well done.

My critiques are two-fold.
Firstly, the pacing felt a bit slow at times. I think its a combination of this being a heavily character-driven novel and that the beginning started with such an action-packed bang.
Secondly, I didn’t love that Archie had to give up his one hobby, espcially when it seemed to mean so much to him. I think there were different ways to resolve that particular plot-point that wouldn’t have felt as forced. It was still an admirable gesture on his part, but it left me feeling a little uneasy.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I had a great time with these characters and I loved getting to know them; I’ll definitely be continuing with the series. I was delighted to read that the next book will follow Effie! Also, the title, “Manic Pixie Dream Earl”, is hilarious.

What a cute story! I'm quite pleased with it. It was really sweet. The setting is charming. It has some modern takes, but it doesn't pretend otherwise, so it works with the flow of the story.

At its core, this is a story of friendship, of considering other people’s needs, and of what it means to care for our people as they really are. To know them. To consider their perspectives. To consider the various needs each one has. There’s a poetic beauty in this little story that I did not expect. I love that the characters are so very obviously different, but they love each other incredibly well - the whole lot of them. There’s an insightful, understanding tone to the whole thing. And, for those who care, there’s a vegetarian-friendly tone to the story.

I’m not familiar with Bridgerton (le gasp!), but it did have that wholesome Ted Lasso feel to it that I thoroughly enjoyed. Well. Wholesome to a point. I was almost caught off guard when we hit an open door moment. The course of actions fit the characters though. I did not have to suspend belief for all that transpired, which is perhaps a common objection that keeps me from engaging with many romcoms.

I understand there is to be a follow up next year. If many of the characters return and it has a similar tone, I would check it out. Archie’s perspective and consideration for others is part of what I loved about this, so it may not be the same. But maybe it'll be good in its own way. For now, I'm pleased with this little adventure.

3.5 stars rounded up! Such a solid start, and a tear jerking ending. The 2nd quarter of the book had me yawning a bit, but the rest of the book made up for it. Kind of a spicy basis for a regency book, but that doesn't even come into play until like 50% in so there's more storyline than what we get in the summary.

The author tries to make up for the unfortunate reality of the time by making Clementine a strong feminine character who has no aspirations to get married or have children. I know that this is the point of a romance to get them "together", BUT books that make a woman change her set life plans because she "finally met the right man" isn't my favorite. It reinforces the idea that men can disregard who we are and change us because they know best! That being said, that isn't the vibe of this book at all, but it's on the edge of that fine line. Luckily, Archibald is a gem of a man who really respects every boundary that that Clementine set -- so he's not changing her on purpose! Bare minimum now, but not for the time period -- he also doesn't consider women "ruined" if they've been with another man. Clementine is also Vegan and Archibald loves hunting so there's that difference between them too.

I saw some comparisons to The Hangover, to which I respectfully disagree. Much calmer than that besides the beginning! Still a similar idea though of a guys trip. All the bestie men on the trip have their own interesting relationships with their families. This book is mostly told from the POV of Archie which is cute!

There's an interesting sister relationship dynamic, but at the end of the day they're wholesome!

Just saying, that reptile probably died if it was raised in captivity since birth :,)

Content warning: parent with Alzheimer's -- part of the tear jerking ending. Enjoyed this.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute historical romance about 3 friends who go on an annual trip but have to detour this time to rescue an old friend and her sister from a rascal. They end up staying in a run down castle with the sisters after their rescue. They all become good friends and a romance blooms between 2 of the characters.

I'm not one to usually read books from a male protagonist POV. However, Earl's Trip was surprisingly delightful and a breath of fresh air. To be a period piece that includes positive male relationships with a level of openness we don't normally see from the male POV - it was very well done! I'm excited for the subsequent books in the series.

For the Bridgerton lovers - this is a must read!

Earl’s Trip is perfect for lovers of Bridgerton! This book perfectly filled the hole that’s been in my heart since I finished reading the Bridgerton series. I honestly really enjoyed everything about this book. I was a little worried at first because what I thought was going to be the main conflict wrapped up really early on, but the rest of the book unfolded in such a beautiful way that felt perfect. All of the main characters were very developed and I felt very invested in their friendship. I really enjoy dual POVs, especially in romance books because I like getting to be in each of the characters heads and this book definitely delivered. I loved the transparency with which the male friend group discussed their platonic love for each other. A lot of the ideas that the characters in the book felt very modern but I loved their inclusion nonetheless because they were still hypothetically realistic ideals that people in the regency era could have held.

I would definitely recommend this book to people who enjoy regency romances, friends to lovers, and found family! I can’t wait to read more of Jenny Holiday’s books! Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

This book was a pure, Regency-era delight! This storyline had a clever premise mixing a manly getaway, two unexpected female interlopers and all that could possibly occur during their foray in a borrowed crumbling castle. The book was a total hoot but at the same time managed to tug on my heartstrings. I not only adored Arch and Clementine, but the male friendships and the deeper sisterhood that comes from the trip.

There is so much sweetness (but also some spice, which I'm more of a closed-door kind of gal,...) The aha moment Arch realizes he is in love with Clementine! And vise-versa...there are so many deep, insightful moments, and how our couple gains clarification/advice from their inner circle...sweet sigh. I loved so much about this book (other than the sisters' father-boo hiss!)

I can hardly wait to see who the next book focuses on....

4.5 stars

I love a historical romance, the feeling of being transported back in time. It was well written. It was fun with the humour and light hearted. But I felt like something was missing for me. I am obsessed with the cover, definitely an eyecatcher.

Earls Trip was a perfectly fine book. If you’re a big fan of historical romances, I think you’ll enjoy it. I liked the friendship between the three men. Personally, I felt it was a little too slow, and the modern elements mixed in with the historical elements felt a little jarring. I will say I am OBSESSED with the cover; I think it’s so cute.

I love historical romances, but I will admit I was hesitant to try this one because the description sounded a bit cheesy. I was feeling better about the book when I started reading it, because it started fast and fun and seemed less cheesy than the description. The characters were unique and different from each other, which I thought was interesting and different. Unfortunately, I hit the middle of the book and found myself bored with the book. I was close to DNFing not because the story was bad, but because I just wasn't interested in picking it up. I did keep going, however, and it was a fine book.

I did like some of the more forward thinking themes being explored in a historical romance - such as women being "ruined" or vegetarianism. Unfortunately, I was hoping the vegetarianism would have played out a bit differently. The FL was a vegetarian and the ML was a hunter/meat lover. I would have understood him just giving up hunting, but the ML and vegetarianism felt a bit forced.

Overall, an okay book that I am sure others will enjoy, but just not my favorite. 3 stars.
Thank you #Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a huge fan of Georgette Heyer, the apex of Regency romance writers, and this is very entertaining but quite far from a Regency romance as there's some part which are a bit not historically correct.
The characters could be real as it was an age when some very innovative people lived (just think about Mary Shelley and her circle of friends in Geneva).
I had fun, liked the characters and I'm curious about the next instalment.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This was such good fun, and such an easy, enjoyable read! If you need a regency escape (and love the friends to lovers trope) with some modern humour thrown in (if the punny title didn't give it away), this is just what you need! Thanks to the publisher for an early copy.

Dear Jenny Holiday,

Earls Trip is the first historical of yours I’ve read; to date, all the other books I’ve read of yours have been contemporary. I’m a big fan of your contemporary novels. They’re auto-reads for me (or auto-listens, as the case may be), so I was keen to read Earls Trip.

Unfortunately, I didn’t connect with the story as much as I wanted to. I think maybe your historical voice doesn’t work as well for me as your contemporary one does. Or, perhaps it is that I kept hearing your contemporary voice in a historical novel and it didn’t fit. Something like that anyway.

There were parts of Earls Trip I enjoyed (more particularly in the last third of the story which I won’t go into here because spoilers) but overall it wasn’t a book which wowed me. It wasn’t bad; I just couldn’t get all that excited about it. Which is definitely not what I said about Canadian Boyfriend recently, for example.

Archie and his BFFs, Simon and Effie, are remarkably evolved for white, wealthy, male, historical nobility. They openly talk about love and (at least in this universe) Simon coins the term “found family”. Clementine and to a somewhat lesser extent, her sister, Olive, also felt more modern than the setting did. It’s certainly not unusual for modern sensibilities to be explored in historical romance; most recently I’ve read Sarah MacLean doing exactly that, quite successfully for me, in Bombshell and Knockout. But in Earls Trip I felt a kind of dissonance about it. On the other hand, all of the main characters are misfits of a sort and I do relate to that. There ought not be anything objectionable about a more emotionally soft and fluffy earl but for some reason I couldn’t get that to fit neatly in my head with the otherwise Corinthian pursuits Archie had (boxing, hunting, shooting, for instance), including his sexual experience and expertise. Archie was both very in touch with is feelings. His mother has dementia – perhaps Alzheimer’s although of course it was not called that – and almost never remembers him anymore and he is openly distraught by this and not remotely “stiff upper lippish”. He is very freely affectionate with his friends Simon and Effie), but he’s quite clueless about what he feels for Clem. Again, it seemed a bit incongruent to me.

As is usually the case, I didn’t refresh my memory on the blurb before I started reading. I was a little surprised by how quickly the initial scandal was resolved. The purpose of the scandal seemed to be more about getting the five young people together in an isolated location for a fortnight than that it was intended to be the central conflict. There is perhaps a question about whether it was entirely proper for the two sisters to be alone with three bachelors for two weeks but if it raised issues for anyone, nobody objected. Once the group arrived at the castle, the book started to settle out for me however. I enjoyed the renewed friendship and affection between Clem and Olive. I liked that Clem’s example challenged all of the group to consider forgoing meat at least sometimes but also how she did not berate others for being carnivorous. Given Archie’s love of hunting and eating the results of the hunt, the idea of a “meatless Monday” (my words not from the book) was particularly difficult for him but in the end he respected Clem’s vegetarianism (or perhaps veganism?) and Clem herself sufficiently to make significant change freely and with no whining.

The humour is sometimes fairly broad – for example there is a phallic topiary garden at the castle. Sometimes it worked for me, sometimes it didn’t.

I wanted to like Earls Trip more than I did. I feel bad that I couldn’t quite connect to it. But I found myself avoiding rather than wanting to make time to read and that is always telling. As I write this, the early Goodreads reviews are rating the book at 3.89 so I may be an outlier.

Grade: C+

Regards,
Kaetrin

I’m always hesitant when authors make the leap between contemporary and historical romance, Jenny Holiday’s contemporary voice blended well to the historical boys road trip story in her latest release, Earl’s Trip.

The Earl of Harcourt needs to get away and the annual Earl’s trip couldn’t have come any sooner … too bad he has to take a detour with his friends to help his wayward former friends and neighbours, Miss Clementine and Olive Morgan from their own adventurous folly!

Harcourt makes quick work of finding and rescuing the Miss Morgans, and it’s decided that their motley crew of three Earls and the two misses will continue on to the Earls trip and allow the scandal to dissipate on the ladies adventure.

Originally trying to segregate themselves from the ladies, the Earls attempt to continue their holiday as planned… But with Miss Clementine on his mind, Harcourt can’t stop thinking about the friendship and camaraderie they used to share and the sparks that have started since their reunion…

I’m not usually a big friends to lovers fan, but I really enjoyed how this one played out and the authentic progression of the lost friendship and connection transitioning into a love match.

A major element of the story was the friendship between the earls and the relationship between the sisters. I appreciated how it wasn’t just a romance. It was about friendships and the connections people have and that makes life better. It was fun to watch the sisters reunite and come back together from a minor estrangement and the Earls continued to gang together to support each other.

I’m excited to see where Jenny Holliday takes the series next as she continues with the Earls and I hope to see more trips and more shenanigans!

Earl’s Trip by Jenny Holiday is available now!

I think that the concept of the story is interesting, but, at least for me, it didn’t completely deliver. All in all, I liked the novel. Especially, I enjoyed the close friendship between the three male characters, Archie, Simon, and Effie, and their easy banter caused a lot of comedy. However, I think the pace was slow and I found it difficult to like the two female characters, the Morgan sisters, especially Clementine who was too arrogant and irritating for my taste.

At its heart, "Earl's Trip" is a celebration of seizing the moment, taking risks, and opening oneself up to the possibility of love. Holiday deftly explores themes of self-discovery, forgiveness, and the transformative power of connection, creating a narrative that is both heartwarming and uplifting. The book is a charming and enchanting read that left me with a smile on my face and a longing to pack my bags and set off on my own adventure. Jenny Holiday has crafted a masterpiece that is sure to captivate romance readers everywhere. Great for anyone in search of a feel-good story with plenty of heart and humor. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington Booksthrough NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you so much!