This was easily (and quite unexpectedly) one of my favorite books I read this year. I am normally not drawn to historical romance/fiction, but the time period of this particular story piqued my interest. I am so, so glad I chose to stray from my usual genres for this absolute gem.

In college, I studied history and art history with a focus on medieval Spain. I am sure my interest in the cultural heritage of that time made this book all the more interesting to me, but I think it's presented in such a thoughtful and accessible way that anyone will find it extremely engaging. I could tell through every moment of the book that the story is lovingly researched and the characters empathetically crafted.

In addition to the incredibly-rendered setting, the plot was engaging and the characters were realistic and warm. It is rare that I stop to marvel at the prose of a book the way I did here; many of the passages I highlighted were just beautiful sentences that I wanted to come back to later.

Natasha Siegel has written a compelling romance that paints historical characters in an incredibly human light. She handles the histories of the sephardic diaspora and the LGBTQIA+ community with care and respect. I absolutely loved every moment of this book, and I can't recommend it highly enough!

This is a lovely, thoughtful second-chance romance between a young widow and a Jewish doctor, set amid the Great Fire of London. The characters are beautifully drawn, and the message of hope after grief is incredibly moving. Certain parts of the book were a little quiet for my personal taste, but it's very well done and well worth the read. Thank you for sending me an early copy!

Set in 17th Century London, this sumptuous historical romance tells the story of two star-crossed lovers drawn together under tumultuous circumstances.

Cecilia- a young, noble widow has recently lost her beloved husband to the bubonic plague. David- a Jewish doctor recently emigrated from Portugal hoping to live his life free from religious persecution for the first time is carrying the weight of his own past tragedies.

When David is called upon to treat Cecilia’s melancholy, they become close despite the chasm that their class and religious differences present. But their shared experience with loss provides a connection, and their fledgling but passionate love binds them together irrevocably. Although David is able to live openly as a Jewish person in 1665 London, it’s still not a safe place for foreigners or non-Christians, and they both know a shared future is impossible.

Before they can figure out if and how they can make a life together, the Great Fire of London breaks out- altering their paths and creating new ones from the ashes.

Narrated in alternating points of view, featuring characters diverse in religion and LGBTQ+ identity, this lyrically written and utterly romantic novel will appeal to readers of historical fiction, romance and epic love stories.

I really liked this book- it had a unique setting that played into the plot of the story, and it was nice to read from both main characters points of view. The book explores grief and loss, and how one can learn to go on with their life and even find happiness again. I will say that I thought the end of the book was a bit. Too drawn out- after the fire I felt they could have wrapped things up more quickly or even left David and Cynthia’s relationship unresolved. But overall I loved the character and enjoyed the book!

This review is made possible via an ARC through NetGalley.

The Phoenix Bride by Natasha Siegel is a seventeenth century historical love story around the time of the Great Fire of London. Cecilia is a Christian woman who is recently widowed and still grieving her husband while David is a Jewish doctor from Portugal grieving the recent loss of a friend.

David is understanding of Cecilia’s feelings and doesn’t shame her, drawing her attention when she’s in the midst of a deep, dark depression. David is a Bi/Pan man who is in love with his best friend when the story opens and is in the closet to everyone in his life. His regret for never telling Manuel, his friend, how he felt is palpable, mirroring the regret felt by Cecilia at the loss of her husband.

The book is not a romance, but it is a love story that reminds us that sometimes love can't move mountains when it comes to societal pressures but that doesn't mean a happy ending is impossible.

As a Bisexual reader, it was delightful to read a story where the MMC is Bi and the people who love him that he tells accept him.

I would recommend this to those looking for romantic historical fiction that takes place during the 1600s, those looking for more historical fiction depicting Jewish leads, and those looking for Bi MMCs. I would not recommend this to those looking for a straight romance.

I am going to say this book had a quiet beauty to it's storyline of two people each broken hearted by loss losing a beloved dear to their hearts and the sacrifice people sometimes make.

Thank you very much to author Natasha Seigel and NetGalley for a copy of this read

Thanks so much to the publisher, author and NetGalley for this eARC!

Natasha Siegel blew me away with this beautiful novel, filled with a sweeping landscape of characters recovering from grief and finding love in spite of societal prejudices tearing them apart.

It's incredible how much heart she was able to pack into a relatively short amount of space. In one chapter alone, she's able to describe the main character's first marriage in a way that truly takes the reader through a roller coaster of heartwarming wonder and heartbreak.

The pacing was excellent, and I felt like the resolution to the conflict was happy while still being true to the unfair challenges of these historical times.

Can't wait to read more by Siegel!

"The Phoenix Bride" by Natasha Siegel is a beautiful historical novel that weaves together the threads of love, resilience, and self-discovery. The novel follows the journey of Cecilia, a widow whose resilience is akin to the mythical phoenix rising from the ashes. Siegel's writing is rich and evocative and the characters are well-drawn, each with their own complexities and depth, making them relatable and endearing. Wonderful novel and I highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

After reading Solomon’s Crown last year, I was so ready for anything else Natasha Siegel decided to make. Solomon’s Crown blew me away and became one of my fave reads of the year.

Natasha is back with another story of forbidden love in a historical setting. When I began reading again a year and a half ago, I didn’t expect to be so invested in historical romances, but here we are.

My heart broke so much for Cecilia and David. Both dealing with a grief that is too big for them to bear. Love is such a beautiful and devastating thing. I wanted to hug them both tight and tell them they were allowed to be happy. I almost wanted to cry on my lunch break from how bleak it became at times. But then I also wanted to cry at the end. Natasha is such a master with the way she writes both hope and despair.

While romance is a huge theme of this book, it also goes into mental illness and religion. David is Jewish and has fled to London with his Father in order to practice freely. I appreciated seeing David struggle with his religion as well as with his sexuality in this story. We also see Cecelia struggle so much with her depression. I don’t think this is a normal thing in the 1600s, so it was so interesting seeing how it was dealt with.

While Cecilia and David were amazing characters, this story is also one where the side characters are just as great. Jan and Sam stole the show in some parts for me. Sam was a really friend. I was cheering him and Jan on the entire time.

I kept going back and forth on if anyone in this book was worth hating. I can say that things were said and done that made me angry and I felt like they would be unforgivable, but the time period gives me pause. At least the right people seemed to understand in the end.

This will obviously be one of my faves of the year and I’m so excited I got to experience it early. I will deff go buy it in March.

I am in love with this book. Such beautiful prose, weaving together interesting and complex characters in a riveting story. The setting of a great fire in London raises the stakes while grounding the fiction in reality. I wholly recommend this book.

Absolutely beautifully done book. Brilliant writing full of wonderful specifics and fantastic minor detail that really makes the story magic. The historical 1600's time frame was fascinating. I feel honestly lucky to have read this. Excellent work, author.

Forbidden love? Say no more!

The year is 1666. A grieving widow meets a grieving doctor who find a connection at the right time. This is a story filled with loss, hope, and healing. You will most likely cry - so get plenty of tissues!

The cover artwork is beautiful enough to have you pick up a copy alone, but this couple's story is well worth reading.

“Are you in distress?” he asks. A short, bitter laugh rises in my throat. It emerges before I can stop it. “Constantly.”
Cecelia, you’re a gem. Chefs kiss.

The chemistry between Cecelia and David in 'The Phoenix Bride' by Natasha Siegel, is palpable, and their love story in 1666 England was captivating. Cecelia's hilarious one-liners add a delightful charm to the narrative, showcasing her wit and resilience, making it a book I couldn’t put down. I read it over the course of 24 hours! Jan and Sam's characters were perfect and they brought an additional layer of greatness to the story, creating a well-rounded ensemble. Exploring prejudice, heartbreak, and tragedy adds depth, making love's triumph amidst the Great Fire truly unforgettable. A compelling historical romance with rich character dynamics.

I wasn’t personally a fan of the writing style (which was heavily expositional), and stopped after chapter 1 (6%). I am not familiar with the author’s first book, so I can’t say how it aligns.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.

<b>“Every moment of grief reminded me of losing you; every moment of joy reminded me of when we were together. You have become the moon and the water and everything between them. I can’t let go of you. I realize that now.”</b>

This was a beautiful book and I’m glad I stuck with it and despite it being different from what I normally read. The beginning is slow and the romance is very insta lovey but I really liked the historical fiction and the angst in the romance. For a book that takes place in the year 1666, the writing is very fresh and modern. This book takes place in London and Cecilia the fmc is widowed and going through immense grief that resulted in sickness. She gets a new doctor David (mmc) and they get to know each other more when he was her doctor. David is a Jewish immigrant in London from Portugal who is also grieving and navigating being openly Jewish after leaving Portugal because of persecution. There’s so much nuance in his story dealing with the generational Jewish trauma and living in a world that sees him and his family differently.

There’s this push and pull between the main characters as their relationship is forbidden because David is Jewish and other reasons. They have stolen moments, loss, friendships, angst and it all comes together in a such beautiful way. The writing was good, it’s not a long book but it’s fast paced and had some good prose/quotes. This is a good historical fiction and romance about life, joy and hope in the midst of injustice and darkness. Thank you Random House Ballantine for this arc for an honest review!

Rating: 4.5/5

A passionate tale of plague, fire, and forbidden love in seventeenth-century London from the acclaimed author of Solomon's Crown


I had tears in my eyes before the first chapter ended. Cecilia is a character you want to comfort, champion, and be a friend to. I love that.


1666. Cecilia Thorowgood is a widow before her marriage has really begun.
A plague has devastated the country and now Cecilia, having gone to her sister, is trapped. Living in London with her sister and her husband. More about him later.
She is obviously grieving, but her sister is having doctor after doctor giving her heaven knows what! The sister is desperate to have her well, so she can marry her off again. All behind her back of course.


But the desperation leads her to seek out Dr. David Mendes. An immigrant and a Jew. Nothing works, but then as David says, Nothing can cure grief. It takes as long as it takes.


Together they may begin to believe in love again. Maybe. Can they survive the prejudices of the town? And will they survive the horrible things coming their way?
A beautiful story of love, loss, grief, and hope.


Netgalley/ RHPG Ballentine Dell March 12,2024

Just like Solomon’s Crown, I absolutely adored this book. I find Natasha Siegel’s writing absolutely beautiful and immersive. I felt like it was in the 1600s. The romance was compelling and had me flying from page to page to find out what happened. Love this book!

This one keep me engaged from the first page until the end. The characters were fleshed out in such a way that I felt I knew them personally. Cecilia is a young bride who marries the love of her life only to lose him a short time later to the plague. David, a Jewish doctor who settles in London after escaping persecution in Portugal, loses his best friend, Manual, to the plague as well. The two meet when Cecelia falls into a state of depression that no doctor can cure. As a last hope Cecilia’s sister hires David who does what no other doctor did before him. He listens. Gradually Cecilia begins to feel better and a friendship blossoms. What results is a beautifully told story of loss, grief, forbidden love, hope, and healing. Highly recommended. Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for giving me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I adored this book. It was absolutely gorgeous. I always admire romances that are as much about healing and self love as they are about the relationship between two people. And - despite some liberties taken - the historical research that went into this book is very evident. The way that not only Judaism but queer identity and feminism was woven into the novel to really talk about ideas of belonging was so brilliantly done. So much of the book is about grief and yet it is a really beautiful hopeful story. I am incredibly lucky to have been given an ARC of it and I will be recommending it to everyone.

Tore through this book over the course of two nights. It’s a perfect escape and was a great antidote to a lot of the heavier reading I wanted a break from. Even though themes of grief and prejudice, it was full of hope and inherent goodness. I loved the time period, with the plague and the London fire in the background, along with the mention of medicinal herbs and Judaism. Thanks for the opportunity to read!