Ended up DNF'ing at 30%. I'm sure a lot of people will enjoy it, but I couldn't get into it.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

Sol and Hannah are just *chef’s kiss*. I love Felicia Grossman’s unique perspective on Victorian England and it’s Jewish Community. The book is short and very well-paced and the ending is perfect with both characters unburdening themselves.

I really enjoyed the first book in Felicia Grossman's Once Upon the East End series, so was happy to see that the second book was out. It's a retelling of the Snow White story, but happily not the type that smacks you in the face with all the parallels. There's a lot of gender reversal from the fairy tale to this story, and there are other familiar romance tropes going on - grumpy/sunshine, slightly older woman, class differences. This is all told with a distinctly Jewish influence (both of the main characters are Jewish) and a look into Jewish society and their place in London during the late Georgian period (1832).
Hannah has resigned herself to running her late parents' pawn shop and trying to provide enough of a dowry for her younger sister to marry well. Sol was essentially raised by his brother and feels an obligation to do whatever he can to make sure his brother's plans for a marriage to the titled Gentile widow he loves succeed. When Hannah saves Sol's life in the seedy Whitechapel area, there's an instant attraction, but she's determined that it can go nowhere and discourages his advances. But this is a historical romance so we know how it will turn out - the question is always whether the reader will enjoy the journey. And I did enjoy this one - and learned a few things along the way. I'm interested to see where Felicia Grossman takes her readers next with this series.
Thanks to Netgalley and Forever/Grand Central Publishing for providing a digital copy for an unbiased review.

This was an interesting story about a pariah in the Jewish community and London who struggles to do well for her sister while falling in love with a Jewish man whose Gentile brother is trying to get rid of him. It's a Snow White-esque tale.

Thanks to Felicia Grossman, Forever, and NetGalley for this ARC! I’m a little late to reading but better than never. All opinions are my own!

Wake Me Most Wickedly was a fun gender bent Snow White reimagining, set in the Jewish community of London in the 1830s. Like the first in this series, it blended Judaism and Jewish culture into the romance which made it different from a lot of other historical romances. Hannah was also a non-traditional FMC for a historical romance, which I love to see. I’m excited to read the two other books in this series to come in 2025 and 2026!

*Possible spoilers below*

POV: dual third person

You can expect: opposites attract, forbidden relationship, age gap (she’s older), “just once”, grumpy (her)/sunshine (him), he falls first.

Rep: Jewish MCs

Spice: 2/5

CW: antisemitism

Snow White was never my favorite fairy tale growing up. But I loved Wake me most wickedly which is regency retelling that’s inspired by Snow white with a Jewish hero and heroine. I’m loving these Jewish romances set in time periods other than the Holocaust. And one’s that focus on Jewish joy instead of sorrow.

I absolutely loved the first book in the series but I unfortunately didn't love this one quite as much. I think the main characters were so interesting and their personal stories were so intriguing and fully fleshed out. However, I wish their romance was better and more interesting then it was. I will be reading more from this author in the future however as I love their romances.

Felicia Grossman continues to nail the fairytale vibes with her second book. Although who is rescuing who in this himbo golden retriever and black cat romance.

I enjoyed seeing the characters from the first book in this series living their life. The way they were seamlessly integrated into the plot makes me comfortable saying this book would also work as a standalone. For readers who like to bounce around.

So much fun seeing how a retelling of a classic story in a historical Jewish setting, from the evil queen to the dwarves and the poison apple! Looking forward to the next books in the series.

I discovered Felicia Grossman through an online book club reading books from a different series that is still a Jewish series. It was such a treat for me to find a Jewish historical fiction writer. I received this book from Netgalley, so I am reading it out of order. I do plan to read the first in the series.
I truly did not know where the author was going with this book. Our heroine Hannah was a pawnshop owner whose parents were arrested, so she was quite the outcast. Yet, when she saves the life of Solomon Weiss, he is immediately smitten with her. But he is the brother of a respectable banker brother, who has converted and is engaged to the sister of a Viscount.
In an author's note, Grossman explains some Jewish history that non-Jewish readers might not know.
Dicken's Fagin was purportedly based on an actual person but very misrepresented. One of my favorite authors, Georgette Heyer, has a wicked Jewish pawnbroker in my favorite book of hers, The Grand Sophy, and I always warn people when I recommend it. England has a long history of antisemitism and this series has sad examples.
The book played out in a surprising direction and had a very happy ending. I will look forward to the next in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the EARC. I now have a new author to follow.

Hannah has accepted that she will forever be shunned by the community she grew up in, but she's working hard to ensure that her sister has a dowry big enough to open doors for her. Not everything is always completely legal, but she's learned to stay safe and avoid danger. Sol is the youngest son of a family that's worked hard to regain their fortunes and he takes the responsibility of refilling their coffers and keeping a respectable facade seriously. They've both serious in their determination until they meet when Hannah rescues Sol in an alleyway and the undeniable connection makes both of them take risks that will put them in sight of dangerous men.

I really enjoyed this one. It's not often you get romance with Jewish leads, much less historical that's not during WWII, and I liked the way Grossman weaves the sad truths of how awfully they were treated along with the romance and other elements so that it's a big part of it but not the sole focus.

Both Hannah and Sol are super interesting characters and I liked spending time with them. The fact that the story goes beyond them and includes characters and situations apart from them makes the overall story feel more complete and enjoyable.
Overall, it's a very enjoyable romance with elements that make it a stand-out page-turner.

Delighted happy thanks to NetGalley and Forever for the exciting and romantic read!

I loved this book- absolutely enchanting! It's definitely my favorite so far in this series and from the author.

I loved the tension between Sol and Hannah, and this as a fairy tale retelling worked really well for me. I love the gender flipping, and I love Hannah being older than him. In general, I enjoy the romance being across economic brackets, it gives it that element of being forbidden and impractical. Both of them need money, and both of them lack the power to do a lot of what they want to do.

Hannah and Sol both have a lot of internalized guilt about things that are not their fault, or at least, they have less culpability for than they assume. Hannah puts her sister first to the point of self flagellation, and blames herself for her family's downfall. She thinks she cannot have her own family or a life of her own, so she lives for her sister's prospects. Tamar, her sister, rejects this framing and does want Hannah to have a good life, and knows she deserves love. I liked that their relationship is loving and understanding, though they are very different people. I love the journey of Hannah accepting that she can be loved and have a good life, if an imperfect one.

Sol, on the other hand, feels as if he is a burden to his brother, who raised him after their father died and took responsibility for their family's bank. I liked the contrast between Hannah as a world-weary type and Sol believing in happy endings. Sol is so sweet, while also being smart and a planner. I love a planner! I also love the resolution being a team effort, with other people who care about both protagonists resolving matters together. This book is an absolute gem, and I adored every minute reading it!

Wake me Most Wickedly is an enjoyable historical romance, and the next installment in the Once Upon the East End. I struggled to believe they were a couple as I liked them separately. The storyline was drawn out, taking effort to progress in the read.

Thank you, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) | Forever

I am a newbie to the romance genre and this was a bit too strong for me 🫣. I love that this book has a Jewish main character - I've not read a lot of books like that and I love the Snow White retelling. Since I'm new to the romance world, this is my first time reading Felicia Grossman, so I didn't know what I was getting myself into - the spice is strong and it starts right away, so this is definitely good for readers who like a lot of sexual content in their books.

Another book proving Grossmann is a skilled author and historical researcher! I loved the view into 1830’s Jewish London, and her descriptions of the infighting and different methods for dealing with anti-Semitism were both insightful and true to the characters.

My only issue with the story is that when the evildoer is revealed, the MC seems to take it all in stride. Shocked, yes, but the likely effects of the betrayal were really glossed over. If you can look aside from that, you’ll enjoy this book very much.

I got a review copy via Netgalley, opinions are my own

Thanks #NetGalley for the advanced copy of #WakeMeMostWickedly by Felicia Grossman in exchange for an honest review.

I am so glad I found Felicia Grossman's books! This is a fabulous series and I love the reverse fairy tale retellings. I've always wondered how you could effectively retell Snow White and Grossman did a great job doing just that. She writes so that you truly feel what the characters are going through. I loved the MCs in this book - they were real in that they had faults but wanted to do what was right. They were selfless in that they would do anything for their siblings but forget to take care of themselves sometimes and that made you want them to learn to take care of themselves as well as others. Looking forward to the next installment of this series.

The second story in the Once Upon the East End, by a new Author to me. Solomon Weiss and Hannah Moses meet when she saves his life. The story is we written and held my interest, a Jewish Regency Snow White retelling. This is a new Author to me. I found the story to be well worth reading. I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

Solomon Weiss is grateful to help his half-brother in his standing as a new Gentile. He promises to marry his brother's choice in a wife, until a woman of low standing saves his life. An older woman, Hannah Moses who sacrifices everything for her younger sister, lives on the edge of the law in her pawnshop. Meeting Sol is the one thing she could have for herself yet, denies she loves him. Unfortunately too many accidents are happening to Sol, or are they really accidents? Hannah suspects otherwise.
Descriptive sex. Physical abuse/violence.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

I am so disappointed because I loved MARRY ME BY MIDNIGHT and this one simply didn't have the same juice. The romance felt SO insta-love and that is simply not my preferred vibe. I like it when the narrative lets the protagonists have space to breathe and fall in love gradually over the course of a book. This book is the opposite of that. Plus, all the Capital D DANGER!!! storylines were so stressful and kinda unnecessary, tbh. Maybe the problem is that Snow White isn't my favorite fairytale.

I reccommend this book to fans of historical romance. Felicia Grossman's portrayal of Jewish FMC and MMC is groundbreaking, and long overdue to the world of historical romance.
I greatly enjoyed the very in depth historical descriptions of the Jewish community in this era. It was obvious that the authors researched this in depth and meticulously.
The author also avoided boring topes for a fresh new take on romance. I loved how the FMC rescued the MMC.
I would have preferred a lower heat level, however this is a personal preference.
Please publish more historical fiction by the same author! I would love to read non romance stories, or romance stories with a lower heat level, since the history is fascinating, and her characters are vividly drawn.

One comment: Please consider covers with a lower heat level in the next books in the series. I wanted to order a print copy of this book but was embarassed for family members (including my children) to see the cover. I feel the history and research and the community representation deserve a family friendly cover.