I saw Evie Dunmore endorsing this book on instagram. I'm a huge Evie fan and trusted her with my life so of course I ran to request this on Netgalley, not before reading the description. This had all my favorite elements of a historical romance, The cover was pretty, it sounded modern but not in a gen-z way, but in a progressive, advanced manner, it promised feminism, marriage of convenience and banter. Safe to say, it should've been a 4-5 stars. Alas.... it was not. Too many exclamation marks, amateur dialogue, annoying and meek heroine, a hero who growls all the time and was kind of weak of will, succumbing to anything, I did not enjoy it much. I have read some great historical romance lately, A Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant, the latest, which was a masterpiece. Coming of of that and the mile high expectations, it did not live up to them. Maybe I should cut some slack because it's a debut book but so was A Lady Awakened. Lesson learned to not trust even your favorite authors.

If you follow this account you probably already know that historical romance is my main genre of choice. I always like trying out debut historical romances, and I had a lot of fun with this one. I also like to see publishers trying out new cover trends, and this one doesn't look like many I've read before! ⁠
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Rachel Griffiths brings some traditional HistRom elements to her debut. The Trouble with Anna hinges on some inheritance shenanigans. Lady Anna's grandfather has left her his fortune - but only upon her marriage to Julian, Lord Ramsay. Oh, and Julian is also named her guardian in the same will. And, in true bonkers historical romance fashion, Anna and Julian discover the terms of the will only after it goes into effect. Obviously this won't cause anyone any heartache!⁠
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It takes a little bit of time for the book to find its feet. For the first half, Julian is running hot and cold with Anna, from accusing her of being a manipulative fortune hunter to proposing marriage, and from a cold proposal out of duty to a determination to woo Anna into accepting him. Anna does acknowledge the hot and cold nature of their relationship on several occasions, which both helped me as a reader (because YES, girl, call him out!) but also made what was happening pretty obvious. The second half of the book picked up the pace, with a fun horse racing/ bookmaking plot and a really clever resolution to the conflict.⁠
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If you, like me, are always looking for another historical romance author to support , this is a strong debut from a publisher that doesn't have many HistRom authors in their stable.

Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Ms. Griffiths for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

This is definitely a Bridgerton-style historical romance. I.E., if you are looking for MC banter and modernish behavior this is the book. What I liked best about it is that while the MCs do COMMUNICATE to each other, they both bungle things so realistically and thoroughly that it could be any two fools in love. Julian, Earl Ramsay, is so determined not to lose control that he constantly sticks his foot in his mouth. Lady Anna Reston, on the other hand, has a tendency to assume the worst and to view the world through a lens of low self-esteem. The only arena in which she is self-assured and confident is her horses: she has run the stables and racing program with her grandfather practically her whole life.

As a girl who grew up horse-mad and has had a life-long love of the equine species I really enjoyed the care that the author took in making the stables/horses/racing elements very realistic. Loved the Darley Arabian reference - probably this would fly over the heads of many readers but as a horse person I was so excited! Anyways, back to the main characters: Julian and Anna were magic together when they could just get out of their own way, and I really enjoyed this. I LOVED Charlotte, Julian's sister, who stole the show on occasion. She's such a strong character that she'll need a VERY strong foil in her own book. (((((Could it be Warrick? as was hinted strongly?))))) And I have a feeling that we should expect more interference from Charlotte's mother.

Looking forward to more from Ms. Griffiths. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Trouble with Anna is everything I want in a historical romance. Witty characters. Excellent female friendships. A hero who's down bad. An independent heroine with a spine. French letters(!). A wonderfully melodramatic climax. And, finally, an epilogue that I adored (and I don't usually care about an epilogue one way or another)! Truly, what more could you want?
Where this book really shines is in the dialogue. The characters throw so many barbs at each other, and get along famously. Charlotte constantly had me giggling, and the Dowager was exactly the grandmotherly character I like to read. Anna and Julian had their ups and downs, but dealt with things in extremely human ways, making them feel grounded.
I enjoyed the writing so much, and I hope we may one day get a book about Charlotte.

Thank you to Gallery Books and Netgalley for the ARC.

Tomorrow is release day for The Trouble with Anna by Rachel Griffiths. Here are a few things that I loved about this total sparkler of a book:

* A+ banter
* I know this is labeled as a best friend’s brother romance, but it’s also a 2020s version of a guardian/ward romance full of consent, agency, and fighting feelings
* Multiple POVs (the two MCs, plus the MMC’s family members chiming in occasionally—it felt like a callback to older historicals in this way!)
* A perfect gift for horse girls turned historical romance readers (a stud farm inheritance on the line! high stake bets! “I don’t want a husband. I’d much rather have a really good horse.”)
* Fast paced, cracking plot
* Kissing fights
* That cover??!

I had a lot of fun reading this one and I’m looking forward to more books in this world.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to the publisher and the author of the book for providing me the ARC. Here is my review:

The blurb intrigued me, hinting at a headstrong, chaotic heroine, and I was eager to see what kind of drama Anna would bring. The frenemies-to-lovers trope and marriage of convenience are some of my favorite tropes.

It had been a while since I picked up a historical romance, so adjusting to the writing style and third-person POV took some time. The beginning was promising, and while it took a bit for me to get into the story, it did grab my attention. Anna has been handling the Chatham estate, the horse stables, and everything that comes with it. I loved her independent streak. However, that strong self always faded whenever Julian (the MMC) was in her vicinity, She had a crush on him, that left her tongue-tied whenever he was around - which I thought was cute.

However though, instead of growing into the confident woman I had hoped to see, she often got manipulated or pushed into things—especially by her best friend. Although her best friend isn't malicious, Anna's constant compliance felt like it made her a doormat.

Julian, on the other hand, remained a mystery. His constant push and pull felt jarring. He felt like a two-dimensional character till the end. His interactions with Anna lacked depth, and his feelings seemed inconsistent—one moment, he’s attracted to her, the next, he’s distant and brooding. His internal struggles were told rather than shown, making it hard to connect with him. At a few points in the story, it honestly felt to me that the hero didn't seem to be loving to the heroine at all, more like he was 'supposed' to be falling for her.

The romance is a slow burn. While I enjoyed their banter, their chemistry never fully developed for me. Halfway through the book, I felt disconnected from both main characters. However, some parts of the book were enjoyable - and hence it's more of 2.5 stars.

The Trouble with Anna is a modern take on historical romances, and I love the concept. Unfortunately, the characters aren't for me. I wish the author all the best!

An absolute delight! Give me a horse-racing heroine with a supportive man waving her banner any day of the week! There was a lot to love in this book - a cast of strong and outspoken women, the kind men learning best how to heal and support them (one striking man in particular), horses galore, and the perfect amount of steam! The book itself is unabashedly feminist, and I absolutely loved watching Julian try to keep up with the wily and free-spirited women around him. With a spry and insightful voice and an incredible eye for detail, Griffiths is definitely a historical romance writer to watch. I can't wait to read more from her!

“I don’t want a husband,” she said firmly. “I’d much rather have a really good horse.” When her grandfather’s will forces Anna to marry or lose her horse racing operation forever, she has to go to extreme lengths to prevent both from happening. However, her betrothed, Lord Julian Ramsay, is not quite what she expected, and she finds herself constantly arguing with him, that is, when they’re not kissing. As the stakes rise, Anna must decide how far she’s willing to go, with both her freedom and heart on the line.

Reading this book was like drinking a glass of champagne, sparkling fun all the way through. I found myself laughing along with Julian at some of Anna’s comebacks, and shaking my head at Charlotte’s antics. Anna and Julian are not-quite enemies, more just angry at their individual circumstances, and while miscommunication isn’t my favorite trope, the ending made it worth it. I’m anxiously awaiting Charlotte’s book next, and maybe even one about the Dowager?

Wow! What a ride!

The Trouble with Anna felt like such a fresh take on historical romance, and not just for its enticing hot pink cover. Rachel Griffiths’s writing style is contemporary, but does not feel out of place for a Regency romance. I enjoyed her shorter chapters which kept me reading. The plot had just enough events and actions to drive the story forward. There was no unnecessary wordiness or self-important filler. I don’t know how many times I found myself saying “just one more chapter,” and before I knew it, I was finished.

I’m not much of a horse girl myself. I think they’re a bit intimidating, but I loved this horse-obsessed heroine. She made me care about horses and racing. I was surprised to find myself slowing down during the riding scenes to make sure I absorbed all the details. It was clever how Anna’s character was a bit like a horse herself. Strong and fast, while also easily spooked by society and romance. The fact that Julian encouraged her passions, even as his potential Countess, was the icing on the cake.

Another unique point of this novel is the progression of the romance. Fairly early, Julian made me feel assured that they would find their happily ever after. I could just tell that Anna would be safe with him, despite his initial reactions. After anticipating a fluffy story of two people falling in love, my heart was seized and crushed by their struggles in the relationship. My eyes burned with tears during their reconciliations. How many times must this poor man propose? I let out a big sigh of relief when I realized they had overcome their challenges. My emotions could not handle anymore.

I loved that not all romantic and steamy scenes between them were these deeply passionate perfect moments. There was variety. It was so much more relatable and real to see an awkward moment between them. I think laughter or giggles during kisses makes me swoon just as much as a chin grab.

Griffith goes beyond a dual POV and I am here for it. A feisty dowager is always a favorite of mine, and Lady Charlotte is just as fun. I am thrilled that Charlotte will get a book, as well. I will need to sneak a peek at the synopsis to see if her beau is who I am hoping it is. I’m always thirsty for an “enormous” MMC.

If you enjoy a best friend’s brother romance with a take your clothes off and use my body heat for warmth scene, this is your book. I give it 4.5+ stars, but I’ll round it up to a 5 with a hope we will see more of Julian and Anna in book 2 of the series.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest review.

3.5 stars
I have to admit, I will almost always default to the male lead first when it comes to romance. I look at his qualities, care, and concern for others. The female lead will come after that unless he is a complete jerk.

With that said, the characters in this story fall into my normal sequence. Ramsay was definitely not looking for her but fell first, and showed care, and concern. He really wanted to support her and changed so much throughout the book. Even the nice bit of steam is a big plus.

Anna was developed to only care about horses, her property, and little else. So it is within reason that she can come off as strong-willed, defensive, and somewhat of a mess. She is a tomboy in the Regency era forced to marry to keep her property. She resists everything he does to help her.

I like the strong feisty women featured but they are also a mess. Bullying and rude behavior between them abound. I mean, who forces someone to cut their hair, wear specific clothing, and do things they are not comfortable with all for the sake of attracting others? I thought we were over that.

The Trouble with Anna is a progressive story within the time frame it is written. Ramsay deals with a lot from Anna and their conversation skills between each other stink.

There were many parts in this book that I did not care for, but overall Griffiths delivers a book that is unique. There are some love/hate qualities for Regency romance fans, but the story is entertaining and delivers a sweetheart of a male lead worth the read.

This is a debut historical romance novel by Rachel Griffiths, featuring an awkward, horse mad heroine named Anna, who finds herself in a pickle because her grandfather's will leaves her his home and stable only if she marries Earl Ramsey, who is the brother of her best friend Charlotte. Anna is wildly attracted to Julian, but also incredibly insecure and traumatized by her upbringing after the death of her beautiful mother, who was known for her affairs. Meanwhile Julian inherited his earldom young after the death of his drunken father, and had to rescue his estate after it was defrauded by a trusted steward. As a result he takes his responsibilities extremely seriously. This was a book I initially struggled through, particularly the first half. In part because there were several POVs in the novel, which is unusual for historical romance: Anna, Julian, Charlotte, and also the Dowager Countess. Also offputting was how quickly Julian decided to offer for Anna -- his sense of responsibility really hadn't also been established, and given his lack of interest in her didn't ring true. Then to have Anna constantly rebuff him and hear over and over how plain she was...as a reader, i had NO idea why Julian would be interested in her at all. She felt very much like a wet blanket, and Charlotte's vivacity didn't help matters--I wanted to read her story instead. Heck, I wanted to read the Dowager Countess's story instead! Luckily things did improve, to the point I overall recommend it. That said, this novel could have used a much thorough editing. It had weird lags and jumps in pacing, and a lot of it could have been tightened up. And in the climactic end scene where...

spoilers




Anna goes in a carriage to Julian, who has traveled to his estate, she somehow arrives WALKING IN A DOWNPOUR for him to find her whilst on horseback. WTF? Why is she walking? What happened to the carriage? Why doesn't he call off the wedding when he realizes he's marrying someone without brain cells?

Yeah, could have used an editor.

Still, there was so much promise. I was going to give it five stars, but typing out my spoiler, I can't, lol. Four stars it is.

An ARC was provided for me in exchange for an honest review by NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This book was so fun! A historical romance romp with a rebellious FMC and a exasperated MMC that reads more like a TV show than your usual romance book.

Lady Anna Reston's grandfather has died, and has left her his estate (complete with race horse breeding stables)... on the condition that she marries. Enter the Earl, the older brother of Lady Anna's best friend and the new guardian of her estate until she marries. He wants to do right by his new "ward". Anna wants her independence and to do right by her grandfather's estate. The two goals clash, leaving us with a he-falls-first historical romance with lots of ups and downs.

This reminded me of Bridgerton- the characters are more modern than historically accurate, the clothes pretty but not period appropriate, and the banter is top-notch. Putting aside anything I knew about this time period, I had so much fun reading this book. Anna was great, but my favorite character would be either the Dowager or Charlotte, Anna's best friend. I strongly suspect that we are going to get Charlotte's book next... and I can't wait!

Recommend for anyone who enjoyed Bridgerton and is looking to capture some of that energy before the next season!

When Lady Anna’s grandfather dies, she’s angry to learn she’ll only inherit his estate and horse farm if she marries Lord Julian Ramsay within six months or lose the everything to her awful cousin. Julian is equally angry but why can’t they stop kissing in darkened corners?

This was such a fun romp, I laughed so many times and loved the characters. Anna is a total horsey girl and a firecracker who wants her independence. She longs to be respected as a person in her own right who can run her own horse farm. I love how she schemed to fund her independence through a betting ring. Julian is cool and arrogant but that stems from having to be the responsible one after inheriting the earldom at 15. They’re perfect for each other as they challenge each other. Supporting characters - Julian’s equally spirited sister Charlotte and their grandmother, the Countess Dowager - were utter hoots. I cackled so many times with their plotting and scheming to shove Julian and Anna together.

The first third of the book did drag a bit and the humour and fun tone didn't come through as strongly as the rest. I also didn't understand why Julian proposed the first time given he was going to get out of being forced to marry Anna and wasn't attracted to her. Also, when Charlotte's mother tells Anna about Julian's past, Julian explains it a way too lightly without really Julian opening up, which was Anna's final issue with him. Everything felt a bit too rushed. Overall I really enjoyed this smart, funny and sexy romp and I hope we get to see Charlotte's story.

Thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read this. Unfortunately, I didn't really like it. The relationship between Anna and Julian was oddly blunt and ultimately a bit silly. Like, would he really become her guardian just because someone put it in their will, without his knowledge or legal consent? That doesn't seem correct. Lots of horse stuff, lots of random spitting that put me in mind of fussing 6th graders. Eh, just didn't like it.

3.5 stars. A lot of fun to be had in this book, but there were a few things that were not for me. I didn’t really mesh with the author’s writing style. Also, both MCs are very guarded — Anna would run at the first indication of conflict, and Julien would shut down and become cold. They do eventually work on this, however, but it was a bit of a struggle to cheer for them early on with these contrasting conflict styles. However! The story itself is very fun. When Anna isn’t being skittish, she’s a great, strong character. I absolutely loved the parts in the Dowager Countess’ POV — she was my favorite character. Caroline was also a great character as well.

Thanks so much to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the ARC!!