4/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book!

The Madness of Miss Gray follows Helen Gray, a sane l woman who’s been wrongfully stuck in an asylum for nearly half her life. When a new doctor, William Carter, shows up, Miss Gray finally sees her way to escape. However, things become complicated when both Carter and Miss Gray grow genuine affections for each other.

Funnily enough, I recently took a Victorian lit class. While I absolutely loathed the class, I was excited to find out that this book had a Victorian/Gothic setting. I think it quite helped set the dismal mood for the asylum and Helen’s story.

Besides that, I thought this was such a good historical romance. The main love interest, Dr. Carter, was written so well, and I was rooting for him the entire time. I thought Helen’s story was perfectly tragic and was handled with grace. My only issue with this book was that it was a bit slow in the beginning. However, about a quarter of the way through it started to pick up quickly, so it wasn’t super hard to get into.

I also do wish some of the elements of Dr. Carter’s backstory were explored more, like his relationship with Sir Clifford. However, these little details didn’t take away from the parts of each characters backstories that were considered as they fell in love. I was on my toes until the very end, and overall, this was such a delightful read. Definitely recommend if you’re into make love interests who are sensitive, hopeless romantics, but will also fight relentlessly for those they love. Apparently this is book one of a series, and I’m excited to see where Bennet takes this. Will definitely be picking up book two!

In this emotional and vibrant novel, readers travel to an asylum in Yorkshire where the still-sane Helen Grey has lived for the last decade. Her life is a boring monotony of treatments and mistreatment, but when a new doctor, William Carter, arrives, Helen sees an opportunity for escape (if she can seduce William). Feelings are complicated, however, and her own emotions and some unrevealed secrets conspire to keep Helen at the asylum unless she can convince Will to help her get out. This is a fun, occasionally racy historical fiction novel, and Helen is a fascinating protagonist. Not fully aware of her family and her background, she learns about her history as the readers do, and Helen’s personality and inner monologue are particularly entertaining to follow. Will, on the other hand, presents a fascinating contrast to the lively, risk-taking Helen with his staidness and level headed practicality, but together they complement each other’s strengths. Set in a dreary part of Yorkshire, the setting’s isolation adds to the hopelessness of Helen’s situation and her inability to escape the asylum, and it contrasts with the vibrancy of Bennet’s characters and their emotions in her latest novel, a fun, enjoyable, historical fiction read.

I had mixed feelings reading this book, although I found the setting, along with the plot of a doctor + patient (who clearly didn't need to be there) was super interesting, the novel itself didn't really capture me. I think there was a little lack of character building to make it work better. This ended up making the book a little dull for me, but I think it had a lot of potential. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review!

Mixed feelings. The gothic part intrigued me as well as the concept. I had expectations, which I think was decently given in the first 40% of the story. I think my problem is that the potential this novel had and it just didn't come to that point.

The characters were also not that developed. I would say they were plain and nothing really intriguing. The romance and chemistry also felt disappointing for me. I couldn't feel the chemistry at all.

I just hoped that the plot and the gothic parts were much utilised, which technically weren't.

The best thing about this book was its concept, which involved a doctor and a psychiatric patient falling in love. It was a messy yet adorable idea that made the plot really interesting. Furthermore, the book had an outstanding representation of a plus-sized main character, which was done with great care and attention to detail.

The characters in the story were enjoyable to follow along with, and the development of their relationship was both heartwarming and believable. The female character was depicted as strong-willed and determined, while the male love interest was portrayed as gentle and caring, making for a perfect balance between the two. Overall, their dynamic was very fluffy and made sense for the story.

There were a little bit of pacing issues throughout the book though, this was especially apparent because this book is only 277 pages long. It was not too distracting from the story itself but did come up a few times through slow story progression.

Overall though this book proved to be an interesting and enjoyable book that follows a forbidden romance in a gothic and unstable setting. It proved to be very well-researched of the times and talked about the dark side of insane asylums for women in this time.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for a chance to read and review this book!

This type of book is usually catnip to me, Victorian/gothic/asylum/strong female MC.

However this one just fell a bit flat for me. The MC’s Helen and Will were decent, and there definitely was some chemistry there. I just found the plot to be quite boring. Not much happening, and quite repetitive.

This one was just ok for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this book to read and review.

The Madness of Miss Grey by Julia Bennet is a unique historical romance that throws you headfirst into the dark and unsettling world of a Victorian insane asylum. The story centers on Helen Grey, a former actress labeled “mad” and confined for ten years. With the arrival of a new doctor, Dr. William Carter, she sees a chance at freedom. The novel explores themes of societal expectations, sanity versus madness, and the fight for autonomy.

Helen is a strong and intelligent protagonist, clinging to her sanity despite her circumstances. Dr. Carter is a refreshing change from the typical domineering hero. He’s empathetic and recognizes Helen’s lucidity. Theirs is a complex relationship that develops over time.

The setting of Blackwell House, while fictional, shows the author did her research regarding asylums of the Victorian era. The asylum is depicted with a chilling authenticity, highlighting the barbaric treatments women faced for defying societal norms. The historical details add depth to the story,

Keep in mind, there are several aspects of emotional and physical torture throughout this story. Also, if you are looking for a lighthearted romance novel, this probably is not for you. The romance between Helen and Will has a slow burn at first, but then goes all in very quickly, and to some may seem ridiculously fast. The sex scenes, while they definitely bring the steam, are not overly explicit, so if you’re used to erotica, this may disappoint in that aspect.

Overall, The Madness of Miss Grey is a captivating read for those who enjoy historical romance with a darker edge. The unique premise, well-developed characters, and exploration of social issues make it a standout. If you’re looking for a story that will stay with you long after you finish the last page, this is a strong recommendation.

Set in a Victorian insane asylum, this gothic romance is dark and atmospheric.
With a sweet and naive hero, his fiercely protective dog, and a feisty heroine, The Madness of Miss Grey was an interesting take on gothic romance, applying a modern lens to historical medical practices. It was refreshing to read a darker romance where the love interest isn’t really the villain and instead has a strong moral compass and wishes only the best for people.
While it is definitely intentional, I felt incredibly uncomfortable reading about formalised assault and mistreatment of women by powerful men.
Trigger warnings would be hugely beneficial for this book as it can be quite confronting at times, especially as a reader who has experienced medical mistreatment.

I would like to thank netgalley and the author for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This was as interesting and unique as the worst women in London. I'm looking forward to more books by the author.

Thank you Xpresso Book Tours for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

"The Madness of Miss Grey" written by Julia Bennet is an enthralling historical romance that explores all sorts of dark themes, and some light ones: the resilience of the human spirit.
Helen Grey has been confined to an asylum for the last ten years of her life, and this story follows her as she fights for freedom and redemption.

Helen has an interesting dynamic with her new doctor, Will. Tons of tension and complexity, which the offers navigates with skill. Even with the power imbalance between the two, I thought the romance felt authentic. There's a ton of twists and turns to keep you guessing in this; a must-read for those who love a dark historical romance!

The Madness of Miss Grey is set in a mental asylum located in an old manor in Yorkshire. Helen Grey has been imprisoned and manhandled for years, trying to convince her doctors of her sanity and making futile escape attempts. The arrival of the new psychiatrist, William Carter, may create the opening that Miss Grey needs to break out of the asylum. Helen quickly adopts the ‘Damsel in distress’ act and, overlooking the rugged harshness of Will’s looks, she tries to beguile him. Little does she know, Will is a man of principles and a dedicated observant doctor, who right away sees through her manipulative ploys, but also realizes that something is rotten in the state of Blackwell. It is evident that Miss Grey is not mentally ill, but rather kept locked up at the behest of a mysterious benefactor. For Doctor Carter, this is unacceptable and he feels compelled to rectify the situation. They grow closer and start sharing personal details - he is starved for intimacy and she is starved for compassion. When it becomes apparent that freeing Helen won’t be straightforward, Will has to ask himself if he’s willing to jeopardize his career to help her. Meanwhile, Helen must confront the nature of her feelings for him before it's too late.

As someone who doesn’t read a lot of romances, but loves Jane Austen’s books and the Victorian-era setting, I have to say it was very entertaining. The author has been attentive to keeping descriptions and dialogues historically accurate, though I sometimes stumbled over overly elaborate phrases. I appreciate that the narrative changed to reflect the characters of Will and Helen. Honestly, the steamy romance scenes come up fairly late in the plot, and prior to that, the story serves as a great testament to the exaggerated demonization of women at times of overdiagnosis of Hysteria in the Victorian era. I became attached to the main characters and found them captivatingly nuanced.

Furthermore, the exploration of societal norms and expectations towards women added depth to the story. The elements of incompetent asylum system, psychiatrists defying logic and uncivilised, cruel mistreatments resonated deeply with me, elevating the novel beyond mere romance. Overall, "The Madness of Miss Grey" provided not only an engaging romantic tale but also a thought-provoking commentary on society's treatment of those deemed different.

Thank you Xpresso Book Tours for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I liked the idea of a story about a woman who doesn't accept her lot in life, but I found the romance to almost diminish the power in the female protagonist coming into herself and escaping her circumstances. I liked the idea of her using the male love interest to help herself escape, but the romance felt out of place to me.

I found the diction to not match the era the book was written in. The plot seemed fairly predictable to me, but the narrative of the female protagonist enjoying sex in spite of it being seen as a problem by the society and institution in this book was a point of interest for me.

Thank you netgally for the chance to review this book.

This is the book of the year for me so far. Exceptionally plotted, emotionally devastating and then emotionally satisfying, chewy, delightsome...I am obsessed with the world Julia Bennet has created and the romance at the heart of it is sweeping in scope and feeling.

I cannot recommend this book enough!

as a lover of historical romance, i thought i had made my way through every sort of scenario possible - that is until i read The Madness of Miss Grey. The character development and slow burn was absolutely an experience. I fear I may be in a reading slump after this one!

The Madness of Miss Grey by Julia Bennet is the first book I've read by this author but it won't be the last. I enjoyed this one but it has an interesting premise that I've not seen in historical romance very often.

Miss Grey / Helen, has been in an insane asylum for ten years and while some are convinced she is right where she belongs because of some of her behaviors, she has managed to cling to her sanity and when she finds out a new doctor is scheduled to arrive, Helen sees this as an opportunity to trick him into helping her to escape.

William Carter is the new doctor and he's motivated to prove himself to his superior so he can stay. The asylum is close to his mother and he truly feels like he'll be able to make a difference. When he first meets Helen, he's not sure what to think but he quickly realizes Helen has been imprisoned for no good reason and he's determined to save her...he just doesn't' know how. As he begins to dig deeper into Helen's background and who her mysterious benefactor is, he starts to realize there's more to Helen's story than he realized. What he didn't count on was all his digging would prompt someone to make themself known and potentially

As Helen and William explore ways to get her free, they begin to feel more for each other than just doctor / patient feelings. While Helen doesn't really have any concerns about it, William does and I appreciate that about him. I also like the fact that he doesn't take advantage of the power balance. By the time they have moved into a relationship, he's not really acting as her doctor, he's only playing that card to protect her from others.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and will pick up more from Bennet in the future. I noticed this is listed as a series so I'll be curious to see what the next book is about.

The Madness of Miss Grey is book #1 in the Hardcastle Inheritance series. I really enjoyed the story of Helen Grey and William Carter. She's the asylum patient and he is the new doctor, but we soon find out that there is more to the story. If you enjoy gothic romance, then you will enjoy The Madness of Miss Grey.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital review copy.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this before the release date! I absolutely loved this one! It’s dark gothic, but also kind of Victorian romance. It was fast paced. It is set in a psychological asylum for women. Miss Grey does not need to be there and isn’t sure why no one will let her leave. A new doctor comes on board who she is sure she can seduce into helping her. This was frustrating and exciting and they of course fall in love. This would be a great spooky season read.

I throughly enjoyed this book. I thought it was very new and refreshing from other regency books I have read. The cover and title is what initially brought me in but the story kept me hooked.

Beautiful beautiful story with prose to die for. I found myself in love with these characters from page one and I didn’t want to leave the confines on this book.

This story follows Helen, an asylum resident and denounced crazy person who may not be mad at all. Quickly into the book, we meet our very sweet very gentlemanly MMC, William. William is determined to get Helen released after releasing the reason she is here is much of a reason at all.

This book made me fall in love with historical romance and was a great book to dip my toe into.

This book sounded really really good, however.. it just wasn't. It was extremely boring, I wanted to DNF it but I already made so much progress waiting for it to get better that I forced myself to finish it. I think I could have been better if they focused some more on the mistreatment of Miss Grey while in the asylum's care but there was so much build up to the romance between her and a new doctor, that seemed to be all the story was about. I also found the
"spicey" scenes to be forced and super cringey. The first time they're intimate she tells him to wait and he proceeds to go anyways, lasting all of 2 seconds and then turning his back on her when he's done leaving her disappointed and wondering what happened. If that's not the cringiest "love" scene then I don't know what else is. Although this book wasn’t for me, I’m sure there are others out there who would enjoy it.