This is an emotionally rich and beautifully woven romance, and is a captivating story of two unlikely souls brought together by fate and bound by choices that challenge their hearts, values, and identities.
Solomon Weiss is not your typical hero chasing ambition—he’s a man driven by obligation, trying to repay a debt of loyalty to his half-brother. His pursuit of a respectable life seems set until the enigmatic and fiercely independent Hannah Moses enters the picture. A woman burdened by the sins of her family and surviving on the fringes of society, Hannah is as sharp as she is scarred. The chemistry between them crackles from the start, their connection equal parts tender and forbidden.
Sol’s quiet decency and internal conflict are deeply relatable, while Hannah’s struggle with self-worth and survival adds grit and vulnerability to her strength. Their romance is both slow-burn and intensely passionate, layered with mutual longing and the painful awareness of what society expects of them.
The plot is tightly paced, with secrets, betrayals, and moments of unexpected grace that keep the tension high. And when Hannah uncovers a betrayal close to Sol, the stakes rise not just for their relationship but for their understanding of trust and loyalty.
This is a story about love that defies the odds, about rewriting the stories we tell ourselves, and about the courage it takes to choose happiness—even when the world says you don't deserve it.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and am voluntarily leaving my review.

3.5 stars!
This book was definitely a step up from the previous in "spicy" content, but I don't think that really worked for me overall. Hannah, our FMC, is a social pariah in their Jewish community as her parents were caught fencing merchandise in their pawn shop and were charged. The community overall is very against any kind of stain on their overall image, which makes sense in historical context. Hannah has since taken over the shop and also takes on odd jobs after hours to make enough money for a good dowry for her sister Tamar. After saving him from robbery, our hero Solomon becomes obsessed with Hannah. Solomon has his own sibling issues though as his older brother is out to make a match with a gentile woman and can't afford any questions about his or his family's reputations. So both our main characters are hot for each other but are stuck trying to live their lives for their siblings and not themselves. At around the 40% mark we suddenly see why this is noted to be a Snow White retelling. Solomon loves apples, gets into a predicament, and is saved and rehabilitating with a group of small old ladies. It was really abrupt a change in the flow of the story. I wish it had been incorporated just a bit more in the first part of the story. I actually was having way more fun in the Snow White retelling section than in their earlier meet cutes and sexy times. What can I say? I love a bit of whimsy. The ending was a bit lackluster in how the villain was dealt with in my opinion, though I do understand why the punishment wasn't as hard as I felt it should be; just within the context of the community's desire to look respectable from the outside. Speaking of the community, I was kind of hoping for more envelopment in it like we had in the previous book. Though to be fair, that also makes sense that we wouldn't since Hannah is on the outskirts and Solomon is hidden for a few months and not allowed to fraternize. I just was hoping for some more. I also wanted some more from Hannah and Solomon's relationship than just that they were really attracted to each other and Solomon really respects her. We get some telling that they spent all night talking and getting to know each other and I would have liked to see at least some of that.
Overall, I find this series really interesting and fun. I am excited for the next book, which is supposed to be Beauty and the Beast retelling and I have a hunch who the couple may be.

I love Grossman! Her books are such a different side of historical and I am here for it.

If you stop publishing historical books... where are stories like this going to go? Are they lost? Do they not matter anymore? I disagree with all of these. Historical is the finest part of romance.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy! I just couldn't get in the mood for this one, but I do love this author!

I just adore this author and this wonderful historical fairytale vibe series! It’s just so sweet and perfect! I enjoyed the dynamic of the characters, the story, and all the Jewish add ins! I think it was such a swoony story! I can’t wait for the next one!

This was a fun spin on the Snow White story. The beginning was a little slow and repetitive for me, but I really liked the ending. I love that this series shows the Jewish experience during this time period, and doesn’t shy away from the antisemitism of the gentry. I would recommend this to readers who like an age gap where she’s older, a “down bad” MMC who falls first, and a less often done fairytale retelling!

The pining was SO good, like, the instalove and the hesitation and the slow-burn were written so well 🥲

The book balances romance and the differing social circumstances of the MCs (along with the prejudices they both face), and the resolution of everything was just >>>

TWs - personal as well as widespread antisemitism in the 1800s, sexual harassment and unwanted sexual contact faced by the FMC

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

Wake Me Most Wickedly is a delightful and steamy story. Solomon and Hannah are interesting characters and I quickly became invested in their love story. A fun story and a great time!

I put this one down. The premise was off and I just couldn't get into it. I marked it as "read" but with no goodreads star rating.

Felicia Grossman writes a unique retelling of Snow White set in London with Jewish representation. I love fairytale retellings. Pawnshop Owner Hannah saves Sol after being corned by men.

If you like stories where there is instant attraction, you’ll enjoy watching Sol become enamored with Hannah as their story unfolds.

I really enjoy Regency and Victorian set romances. If you enjoy fairytale retellings and historical romance, you may enjoy this one.

I really wanted to like this one, but I just didn't. I never quite understood the issues keeping Hannah and Solomon apart to be honest, which made the plot fall a little flat. I did appreciate the attention to family relationships, and thought the setting of the historical Jewish community was very interesting.

This title didn't work for me. It was probably my mood because it was well-written. It just didn't land completely for me.

I really enjoyed Wake Me Most Wickedly! It's so nice to read a historical romance with Jewish characters. I love the fairy tale inspirations and the gender flipped Snow White. Hannah and Sol are characters you just have to root for!

The first book in the ONCE UPON THE EAST END series, MARRY ME BY MIDNIGHT, is one of my favorite historical romances. I’ve been anxiously awaiting the next book in the series, WAKE ME MOST WICKEDLY, and Felicia Grossman did not disappoint me! The first book was a gender-swapped Cinderella retelling, and this book is a gender-swapped Snow White retelling. And I absolutely adore that it’s historical/Regency with Jewish representation!!

Things I love about this are that you don’t have to read the first book to read the second, but for fun Easter eggs and to get to know some characters, you should! Plus, it’s a good book! You learn a lot about Jewish culture in this time period. With this book, you learn about two social statuses: Hannah is from a lower Jewish society, and Sol is from an upper Jewish society.

I also love that we experience a range of emotions with the characters. There are dark moments, humorous ones, spicy ones, moments that warm your heart, and moments that have you cheering for your favorite character to succeed.

As long as Felicia Grossman keeps writing these couples that give me all the feels, I will keep reading the OONCE UPON THE EAST END series.

Thanks, Forever, for the arc!

Content warnings (per the author): This book contains attempted (nongraphic) sexual assault, nonconsensual sexual contact, depictions of emotional abuse, and discussion and depiction of antisemitic language and behavior.

While the premise drew me in, there were just wasn't enough character development by the time the two main's got together. As a Jewish woman, I'm so glad that there is representation, especially explaining the differences within the Jewish community. I hope the Felicia Grossman continues to give us that. Hannah and Solomon just weren't my favorite this time around and couldn't find myself super concerned with how they ended up together.

This is a great addition to Felicia Grossman's historical fairy tale twist series. Seeing historical stories with Jewish representation being offered on the shelves is great, and having a fairy tale twist to each story offers something familiar to readers who may not be as well-versed in Jewish traditions or history.

I tried so many times with this book but it wasn't clicking for me and that makes me sad. I can't quite put my finger on what the issue was.

Thank you Forever and NetGalley for the eARC of Wake Me Most Wickedly! All opinions in this review are my own.

When I first started reading this romance, I was a little worried about how religious it is. I don't typically like to read about religion in my romance, but it does connect to some of the situations that the characters find themselves in.

I did love Hannah and Sol! Both his endless pursuit of her and her denying her feelings for him at just about every turn. I am typically not a huge fan of the age gap trope but it really worked for these two characters!

Thank you to Forever and Netgalley for this advanced copy!

I have been loving this series from Grossman. It has been so wonderful to read a historical romance that centers Jews, where we aren't victims, just people living and loving.

Sol and Hannah are such a lovely couple. I feel like Sol was basically stuck inside for most of this book, which is unfortunate, but it set up so many encounters for them, climbing into windows, coming to save the other. I loved how Hannah's sister eventually put her foot down and showed her sister that she could live with her not for her. And Sol has always seemed like such a great guy, even in the other book.

I can't wait to read more books in this series!

If you are looking for a historical romance with a Jewish perspective this might be the perfect choice for you. I don’t know much about what the Jewish population in Victorian England looked like at the time, so I don’t know how to distinguish historical fact from fiction or how many liberties the author took (if any.) I personally am not the biggest fan of fairy tale retellings, but I know a lot of people are, so this is a twist on gender reversal Snow White. This was book 2 in the series and can be read as a stand alone.