Hannah saves Sol unexpectedly. The second time they meet, she warns him off and disappears. But, he can't let her go. The temptation of forbidden fruit is too much, and he seeks her out. So goes the cat and mouse game they play, until there are feelings. She refuses to believe it, because it doesn't fit with her plans, and she must work to get her sister married, denying herself anything. Sol won't give up, and he's in danger. Only one person can find him, but Hannah continues to reject any idea of a future for them, willing to sacrifice any chance at love because of circumstances...

This is a wonderful reverse Snow White retelling, complete with Jewish representation--perfect story for historical romance readers.

Wake Me Most Wickedly
by Felicia Grossman

Setting:
London 1832

Characters:
Solomon Weiss
Hannah Moses
Tamar Moses
Isabelle
Aaron
Gertrude

Tropes:
Class Difference
Snow White and Huntsman retelling
Reverse age gap 32 26
Jewish Historical Romance

Goodreads:
🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

Spice:
🌶. 5

Review:
I enjoyed this story a little more than the first in the series. It did have more romance, and the romance was more central to the plot then I felt book one was. The genderswap snow white retelling was fresh, and fun. I enjoyed both Hannah and Solomon as characters, I was sad that society still looked down on Hannah even in the epilogue. She didn't mind but I did lol. I really enjoyed reading all the Jewish history in the authors notes at the end of the novel. It was eye opening. I look forward to book 3.

Felicia Grossman has become one of my automatic-buy authors. I’m not always wild about fairytale retellings but I love Grossman’s fresh spins. I just loved Sol and Hannah together.

Delicious Jewish historical romance, part fairytale retelling, part eye opening story of life on the seedy side of London.
Solomon ‘Sol’ is working with his half-brother, who stepped in to raise him, as he pursues a respectable (read: gentile) wife.
Hannah is haunted by her parent’s crimes and deaths and is working to take care of her younger sister.

You'll get a HEA but its a sometimes fun, sometimes spicy, sometimes harrowing ride to get there!

Wake Me Most Wickedly was such a fun read!
Even though historical romance is not my typical genre I really enjoyed this book.

The story had a refreshing twist of gender norms in this time period, which I highly enjoyed.
Really enjoyed this fairytale retelling ( Snow White, but flipped!)

I enjoyed Grossman’s first Once Upon the East End romance, Marry Me By Midnight. It was original and historically rich, with Jewish Regency characters, a fairy tale retelling, and an adorably innocent, inept hero, heiress heroine, and a twisting and playing with the fairy tale’s traditional male-female roles. And yet, despite this promise, Marry Me By Midnight was a muddle, a writer not in control of her material. Not so with Wake Me Most Wickedly and its virtuoso romance writing. The Jewish history, so important to Grossman, is better integrated, making for a smoother, flowing narrative; the romance, front and centre and moving forward to the HEA. The fairy tale retelling, Snow White in this case, a thing of wit and beauty. A romance writer in full control of her material: emotionally rich, clever, and heart-wrenchingly moving. To orient us, some help from the publisher’s blurb:

…this clever reimagining of Snow White, where a handsome businessman will do anything to win the heart of the only woman he cannot have.

Solomon Weiss has little interest in power, but to repay the half-brother who raised him, he pursues money, influence, and now—a respectable wife. That is, until outcast Hannah Moses saves his life, and Sol finds himself helplessly drawn to the beautiful pawnshop owner.

Forever tainted by her parents’ crimes, Hannah sees only a villain when she looks in the mirror—no one a prince would choose. To survive, she must care for herself, even if that means illegally hunting down whatever her clients wish. So, no matter how fair or charming she finds Sol, he belongs to a world far too distant from her own.

Only neither can resist their desires, and each meeting weakens Hannah’s resolve to stay away. But when Hannah discovers a shocking betrayal in Sol’s inner circle, can she convince him to trust her? Or will fear and doubt poison their love for good?

Themes of family love, obligation, and protection are key to Grossman’s romance ethos. These are beautifully, clearly evident in Wake Me Most Wickedly. This focus and clarity serve Grossman well in her second “East End” romance. She combines family loyalty and sibling love in her protagonists; lines are clearly drawn and the stakes clear-cut to the reader. Solomon’s dedication to making sure his older half-brother achieves everything he desires: a gentile wife and the restoration of the family fortune. It’s the least Sol can do because Frederick brought him up when their father and Sol’s mother died. Hannah, in turn, will do anything and everything to ensure her younger sister, Tamar, has the dowry and good name that will buy her a respectable marriage and restore her place in the community. As for herself, Hannah blames herself for leading their family into a life of crime and causing their parents’ loss. She’ll survive as long as Tamar is safe and happy. Sol and Hannah are witty, funny, and tough: they do not lie on fainting couches and bemoan their self-sacrifices. Not only do they sacrifice for their siblings, they do it with good humour. This makes the reader love them dearly, or at least this reader did. No one deserves happiness more than Sol and Hannah.

I have to take a moment to digress about Tamar because I loved her. Firstly, she’s a Jane Austen reader and that she’s reading Sense and Sensibility while verbally sparring with sister Hannah, it’s priceless. Secondly, she’s as tough as Hannah, though less self-abnegating. And in a culminating scene when Hannah cannot and will not see what she deserves, Sol and a happy life, Tamar sets her straight, bluntly, kindly, and articulately. (Please, Ms Grossman, let’s have Tamar’s romance.) Tamar isn’t the sole fairy godmother to this flipped fairy tale. Whatever obstacles are in Sol and Hannah’s way to the HEA, they are internal, dedication to family over desire, and also due to society’s censures and judgements. But, there are friends, like Marry Me By Midnight‘s hero and heroine, as well as Grossman’s hilariously rendered “seven dwarves” to help Sol and Hannah on their way.

More than anything there is Sol: funny, flamboyantly dressed Sol, with his outlandish jackets and broad chest, who insists and coaxes Hannah into being with him, who is determined to fulfil his brother’s wishes and still make a life with Hannah. Alas, ole bro Frederick is more hindrance than fairy godfather, but I dare not spoil further.

In the end, no matter the external obstacles, there’s fun to be had in Wake Me Most Wickedly because Grossman riffs delightfully with Snow White, gender-flipping roles again and playing with the fairy tale’s narrative elements. She also toys with the idea of knights and damsels by having Hannah rescue Sol when he’s attacked by thieves and cads one night. It’s a heck of a meet-cute. And Snow White, let’s say it isn’t Hannah. The poisoned apple? A clever, clever twist. Wake Me Most Wickedly is simply great; the HEA comes about a tad hastily, but this is a minor quibble. Miss Austen agrees, deeming Grossman’s latest evidence of “a mind lively and at ease,” Emma.

Felicia Grossman’s Wake Me Most Wickedly is published by Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and released on April 9. I received an e-galley from Forever via Netgalley, which doesn’t impede the free expression of my opinion. For the record, it’s expressed without the aid of AI.

I ended up DNF-ing the book at 35%. I enjoyed the Jewish rep in this book immensely, particularly learning about Jewish life in England during Regency times. As a fan of the period, it felt great to finally be able to imagine myself in it. However, the writing did not work for me. Everything felt contrived and over the top. The allusions to Hannah’s past were overdone so instead of building suspense they left me annoyed especially since they continued even after we learned what had happened and they became completely unnecessary. And in my opinion, the Yiddish came across as too modern making a more jarring contrast to the otherwise period appropriate dialogue. Just to be clear, I didn’t think that using Yiddish was inappropriate, I just felt that the phrases (at least how I understood them) were ones more likely to be used by a modern person rather than a Regency era person.

This series is unusual in two ways. First, it is set in the Jewish community in London, which is unusual for historicals. Second, each book is a fairytale retelling where the man has the heroine's role. Wake Me Most Wickedly is Snow White.

I thought Felicia Grossman's insights into the treatment of Jewish individuals in Victorian London were really interesting to read about. I think the idea she explores that minorities have much higher standards of behavior applies to a lot of groups.

I enjoyed getting to know Sol and Hannah. I found Hannah's history interesting though I didn't fully understand what happened in her past. I also didn't fully see the attraction between Sol and Hannah beyond the physical. I think Hannah needed someone to see beyond her reputation, but I would have liked to see them become friends more.

I recommend this one if the premise sounds intriguing! I am unsure if I will read more of the series. While I have found it an interesting series I just haven't been invested enough in either relationship to want to dive back into this world.

🌶️🌶️ - This one is a bit spicier than the first one. There are some open door scenes, however, the plot focuses more on the obstacles to the relationship than the spice.

Felicia Grossman is quickly becoming a favorite for me in historical romances and this series inspired by classic fairytales has really hit the mark for me!

Anytime we have a down on her luck FMC that’s trying to protect herself and those she loves, I need there to be an emotional unraveling + support from the MMC. Grossman knocked it out of the park. Our MCs are people you can’t help but root for and even in that moment when you think “there’s no way this can have an HEA”, Grossman still leaves you feeling as if they *have* to be together. I was biting my nails, essentially.


Another wonderful story from FG and a phenomenal Jewish historical love story that historical romance has long needed.

Wake Me Most Wickedly by Felicia Grossman
Once Upon the East End series #2. Historical romance, own voice, Jewish. Can be read as a stand-alone. One character from the prior book is a minor secondary character in this story.
Solomon Weiss feels he owes a debt and support to his older brother Frederick. After all, Frederick was only a teen himself when he was forced to care for Solomon. Now they are both adults, Frederick is an influential man and intends to marry soon. He’s asked Solomon to be on his best behavior and focus on the bank work and perhaps do an errand or two for him. Of course Solomon will do whatever his brother asks.
One night, Solomon is cornered by a couple of rough men in an unsafe neighborhood and Hannah Moses comes to his rescue. She runs a pawnshop and deals with small, mostly legal items like button and ribbons. Sol has seen her slip a small amount of money to one man that she refused to buy anything from just so he could get a bowl of soup. Sol is charmed and attracted to Hannah and the feeling is mutual. But she’s not at all what Frederick has in mind for Solomon.

Not your average historical romance. Hannah is poor and takes jobs that may not be exactly legal. She doesn’t see herself as worthy of love and she’s past the age of impressionable. Solomon is drawn to Hannah and can’t seem to stay away. He isn’t willing to leave his yarmulke or prayers behind, nor can he leave Hannah behind even though a pawn shop isn’t considered acceptable by his brother.
Adventurous and steamy. Solomon is way nicer to his brother than he needed to be.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

What can I say about this book? Read it! End of review. (Just kidding.)

Felicia Grossman has written another wonderful fairytale retelling, gender-swapped and featuring the Jewish community of London in the early 1830s. This time the story is a twisted Snow White retelling!

Hannah Moses works very hard in her pawnbroker shop, trying to make enough money for a decent dowry for her younger sister. Her parents are gone - either they are dead or transported to Australia as criminals. She does what she has to do to survive, and it’s not always pretty - or legal. Solomon Weiss is the younger brother of a Jewish banking family; his older half-brother Frederick raised him, similarly to Hannah’s situation, with both their parents dead. But that’s about where the similarity ends. Frederick has distanced himself from the local Jewish community, and is trying to endear himself to the gentile gentry ("the Ton"). He has set his sights on marrying Lady Drucilla, a young widow and the sister of a viscount. Solomon’s Jewishness annoys him, but Sol idolizes him for having raised him.

Hannah and Solomon come from two different parts of the same “world” and their meeting is by chance. Their relationship is something that just “can’t” happen. And yet it does.

I loved all the references to Judaism and Jewish practices, as well as all the fairytale references. Be aware: there is a lot of spice in this story!

It was a delight to be back in the world I first encountered in Grossman’s Marry Me By Midnight. (If you haven’t read that one, check it out too! But it's not necessary to the enjoyment of this one.)

I read an advance copy so I don’t know if there’s a glossary in the book (there wasn’t one in my copy), but it would be helpful for the various Yiddish words and expressions (and a couple of Ladino ones too!). I knew some of them and figured out the others from the context, so many readers will probably be able to do the same - but it would still be helpful, as I wound up looking up one or two words online as I was reading.

Don’t miss the Author’s Note at the end, where she outlines the history of antisemitism in the English-speaking world. She also, in her acknowledgments, gives a shout out to the two fabulous cover models! I’m not sure I’ve seen that before.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

A historical romance, regency, “retelling” (I use this word loosely), genderbent, Jewish, Snow White. Wow that’s a mouthful.

I requested this book for a few reasons. 1. I’m a sucker for fairytale retellings. 2. Especially if they’re genderbent. 3 I like to diversify my reads and support marginalized authors. 4. I like historical fiction.

But all that being said, this is not a book I would typically read, and I don’t feel qualified to truly say if it’s a “bad” book, as people who do typically read this genre/style may absolutely love it.

I was highly disappointed at how long it took for the story to resemble Snow White. The only early indication was the mention of a collection of mirrors, which really weren’t necessary at all except as a Snow White call out. They played no real part in the story. Then the things that finally made it feel more like Snow White were rushed.

I also had a hard time following the story. This may have been me being uninterested and zoning out, or it may have been the progression of the story not making sense, I really couldn’t tell you.

The word “oy” was highly overused, and the choice of “poison” just feels very historically off. It definitely could have been better. Then when Sol goes to confront his would be murderer, he still feels as though a congratulations is in order? It was difficult to take seriously.

Overall, while I hope it find its audience, Wake Me Most wickedly is not for me.

Wake Me Most Wickedly, the second in Felicia Grossman’s gender-flipped fairy tale retelling, but make it a Jewish histrom series, is a darker story than the first, Marry Me by Midnight, which was a gender-flipped Cinderella. It makes sense, Cinderella was forced into a life of servitude by her step mother, but Snow White’s step-mother* tried to kill her repeatedly. Between the repeated attacks on Solomon’s life and Hannah’s life lived on the edge of danger, this was a tense read. I liked it.

Solomon Weiss is one of Isabelle Lira’s rejected suitors, but his consolation prizes are a job with Lira and Berab Securities, the friendship of Isabelle and Aaron Ellenberg, and the role of Disney Princess in his own romance. Solomon’s romantic interest is Hannah Moses who is the opposite of everything he ought to be looking for in a wife – criminal record, shady business, poor, and a woman with a bad reputation in the Jewish and gentile communities of London.

They first meet when Hannah saves Solomon from a robbery and beating. And then again at synagogue. When he finally learns her name, he is promptly warned against her. The barely tolerated Jewish community in London of 1836 wants nothing to do with a young woman who seems to confirm the negative stereotypes of Jews. Despite the frequent warnings, his older brother’s desire to assimilate with the gentiles, and Hannah’s own desire to provide a better life for her younger sister, Solomon and Hannah can’t stay away from each other. The external barriers to their happily ever after seem insurmountable, and I was very anxious about how they were going to survive, much less together. Still Solomon and Hannah were delightfully stubborn and determined.

Tangent: Sometimes I end up reading very different books with a similar element at the same time. While I was reading Wake Me Most Wickedly, I was also reading a contemporary Black romance, Out of Office by A.H. Cunningham. Both books explicitly explore the idea of assimilation into a dominant white Christian culture. Both books, in their own way look at the external pressure to assimilate and the price paid in erasure of culture and history.

*No step-mothers were wicked in these books. No promises for the not yet released third book, but frankly I would be surprised to see a wicked step-mother there. Justice for step-mothers!

I received this as an advance reader copy from Forever Grand Publishing and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

I love new takes on historical romance and Felicia Grossman nails this every time. Not only does she play on classic fairytales, but she also has a mainly Jewish cast of characters. I loved the Snow White vibes I got from this one with it swapped as Hannah was the huntress and Solomon was the prince. I know I already mentioned Judaism, but I love how prominent it is in the book. There's talk of going to shul, holidays, traditions, and Yiddish sprinkled in too. I also enjoyed being back in this setting and seeing cameos from Isabelle and Aaron. This series feels so fresh and exciting. The spice was fantastic and I was rooting for Sol and Hannah from the first time they met. I'm so excited to read more from Felicia and hopefully more in this series as well! Thank you to Forever for the e-ARC to read and review!

Hanna has been degrading herself most of her life. Then she meets Sol and her whole life changes! She helps him and he helps her to see a new life! Nice love story.

"Wake Me Most Wickedly" by Felicia Grossman is a twisted retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, set in historical England. While I enjoyed the story and characters, particularly Solomon and Hannah, their relationship felt rushed, in a historical romance book when most are a very slow burn. The circumstances of their interactions sometimes strained believability, and Solomon's wavering commitment added some confusion. However, I appreciated the clever references to Snow White and the insights into Jewish life in England during that period. Overall, while not as captivating as the first book in the series, "Wake Me Most Wickedly" offers an engaging read with intriguing characters and a unique twist on a classic tale.

Very grateful to the publisher for this copy, opinions are my own.

Absolutely loved it! I love how the author puts the Jewish representation right up front and center. Hannah was a great character and I loved the romance. When does the third book come out?? Jk

Wake Me Most Wickedly is the second book in the Once Upon the East End series by Felicia Grossman. It is a gender flipped take on Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, with Sol Weiss from book one as the MMC.

I enjoyed Wake Me Most Wickedly, but not as much as book one, Marry Me By Midnight. I liked Sol and Hannah, the pawn shop owner FMC, but their relationship bordered on instalove for me. The circumstances of many of their times together verged on unbelievable (for me) at times. Also Sol’s flipping back and forth on whether he wanted to pursue Hannah was a bit disjointed. We would get his POV and his decision to stay away but then when it switched to Hannah’s POV, he showed up. When and why did he change his mind?

I thought the references to Snow White throughout the story were clever. The elderly rescuers were a great addition. I learned more about Jewish life in England at that time, which I appreciated. One reason I like historical romances is because of the things I learn about history.

Overall, it is an enjoyable book with a really affecting author’s note at the end. I am looking forward to book three.

Thank you to Forever, NetGalley, and the author for the advance reader copy. All opinions are solely my own.

Love the Jewish representation and the age gap. I still off on the back and forth, but I have remember that this was in the 1800s so the reminder is constant. I love the "betting" that was delicious wicked of them for sure.

4.5/5 stars

Wake Me Most Wickedly is a Snow White retelling/historical/Regency Jewish romance. It is the second book in the Once Upon the East End series.

Even though historical romance is not my typical genre I really enjoyed this book. The Snow White retelling aspect was clever. And the Jewish rep was so good. I also really enjoyed getting to see characters from Marry Me By Midnight.

This series is set in 1830s London and focuses on Jewish characters. It is a gender bent Jewish Snow White retelling where Snow White is a Jewish male banker (Solomon Weiss).

The heroine is 32 year old Hannah Moses. She runs a pawn shop and does what she needs to do to survive (dealing with criminals) in order to make money for her sister's dowry.

The hero is 26 year old Solomon Weiss, who we met in Marry Me By Midnight. Sol's brother Frederick is featured in this book too. Frederick is distancing himself from Jewish culture and wanting Sol to be on his best behavior.

Isabelle and Aaron made this book so much better for me (the main characters from book one). Knowing a few of the characters and the world made it much easier for me to feel connected to the story.

It was so fun having Hannah be a bit older than Sol. I liked that she didn't have an easy life. This book was so sexy. But in such a fun way! I really enjoyed this retelling and cannot wait to see what the author has in store for her next book.