A Genleman's Gentleman follows Christopher, a trans earl in the regency era of London. Christopher has closed himself off from nearly everything and everyone, prefering to protect his peace and live alone on his estate in the countryside. But, when his solicitors bring a line in his father's will to his attention: that he will have to marry before his 25 birthday if he wishes to keep his title and fortune. Now tasked with spending the season in London, Christopher must hire a valet to keep up appearances. Enter: James Harding. James is unlike anything Christopher expected and the two start to form a tentative bond, which eventually develops into a friendship, and maybe, subsequently an ill-advised crush. But, can Christopher trust James enough to let him into his ultimate confidence?

I loved this story with my whole heart. It was well-written, campy, and so much fun. Christopher was a hilarious narrator, and I enjoyed being in his head so much, even when he was being daft. And JAMES. The best love interest of all time. I was so happy that he and Christopher found each other. Such a lovely, fun regency romance with great representation!

I saw trans Regency romance and immediately added this to my TBR and I have no regrets. When they said slow burn romance here, they absolutely meant it so anyone coming to this for "spice" will likely be left disappointed. However, if you want a nuanced look at trans identities with a deeply relatable lonely protagonist, this is absolutely the book for you. Lord Christopher Eden needs to find a wife by the end of the Season in order to inherit, which is a problem for him because he'd much rather live by himself in his country estate. And also because he's gay and trans. His plan is to enter a marriage of convenience but doing that means going to London for the Season, which means he needs a valet. Enter James Harding. While the plot follows a lot of tried and true historical romance beats, what shines to me is the characterization. The book is entirely in Christopher's point of view and he is such a well developed character. He is anxious and incredibly kind and I loved his development throughout the story. I have enjoyed some of TJ Alexander's books in the past, and I love this pivot from contemporary to historical, especially in a time where it seems like publishers aren't buying historicals to the extent they were in the past.

Am I glad I read it? I am! This T4T Regency romance featuring two men of "unique construction" was a soft delight that was highly enjoyable for this seasoned historical romance reader and that will also work really well for newer readers of the subgenre. I really enjoyed the dash of humor injected into the otherwise quite restrained story through Christopher's perspective. To that end, the limited third person POV works really nicely for this story; the introspective tone highlights the loneliness Christopher feels in the isolated life he constructed to protect his secret. It was lovely to watch the tight fist of his life slowly unclench to welcome in the support and acceptance of people he loves, both new and old.

It's got several beloved tropes of Regency histroms—inheritance plot; elopement to Gretna Green; marriage of convenience—and I enjoyed how Alexander played around with those through a trans lens. Most notably, I was pleasantly surprised by how Alexander upended my expectations for how the inheritance plot would resolve and what that says about trying to live a life that suits your needs and desires within institutions (here, marriage & primogeniture) that don't.

A GENTLEMAN'S GENTLEMAN evoked feelings akin to a hot bath at the end of a long day—relaxing, warm, tender—more so than any kind of chest-clutching emotional achiness. And that's not a bad thing at all, which is why I'll be perfectly pleased to read more historical romance from Alexander.

Very slow burn, ultimately quite low heat, slow build relationship.

Rating: 👍🏻 (liked)

Thank you to Vintage (Knopf) and Netgalley for the advance copy of this title!

4.5 stars

I enjoyed this book a lot. The banter and slow burn was so well done. I loved Christopher and Harding. The characters were so dimensional and I loved their scenes together. The side characters were so unique and funny. I usually don’t love a slowburn but this one was amazing. I love the trans representation and how that fit into the story.

*Thank you netgalley and Vintage publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I must confess I don't normally read historical romances. I rarely read romances at all. But this one called to me for some reason. Perhaps it was the mystery behind Harding's history, perhaps it was the depth of Christopher's emotions, I'm not sure. But I really enjoyed this one and I look forward to seeing what else TJ Alexander writes.

I would have enjoyed this book more as a novella than full length novel. I didn't feel any tension or heat or really even attraction between the MCs outside of Christopher saying he found Hardley handsome. This seemed more of a coming of age type story than romance to me.

Wonderful addition to queer historical romances, with identities that are less explored. While the ending may have some readers wishing for a 'happier' ending, it matches the time and bucks the 'requirement' that all romances meet the current definition of happily-ever after.

I loved this. Just hands down loved it, so much so that after I finished A Gentleman's Gentleman I ran out and asked my local bookstore to order me a copy so I could have it on my shelves. TJ Alexander has brought everything I have always loved about the historical romance subgenre to this wonderfully queer, joyful novel, and I couldn't be more delighted.

More queer/trans historicals please!! This was cute and fun. I loved the slow burn romance and then was kicking my feet when they finally expressed their feelings for each other. I hope TJ Alexander writes more historicals.

Typically, by the time I'm halfway through a book set in this era, I'm annoyed with all the formalities and gowns and balls and such. Because Christopher spends most of his time trying to avoid society stuff, he's already my favorite. He spends his time with the cook and butler until he learns he has to find a wife by his next birthday. This means he has to hire a valet and travel to London for the season.

I enjoyed Christopher's observations and humor. The side characters are also terrific. The Gretna Green scene took me by surprise and made me laugh out loud. The end is full of sweet and vulnerable moments. I really want an epilogue to the epilogue to find out what happened next. This was just a wonderful story and I guess I can't say I don't like *all* historical fiction because I really liked this one a lot.

Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Vintage and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. I am required by law to disclose this.

#AGentlemansGentleman #NetGalley.

"The world is wide and full of grace, I promise you."

🥹🥹🥹

I loved this. The entire time I was thinking "oh, what if-" and then the "if" in question happened and I was GIDDY.

Christopher and James were such wonderfully soft characters. This was a slowwww burn but I ate up the tension and yearning that radiated between these two. And the entire cast of side characters were so delightful.


T.J., Please, I'd like 3 more queer Hist Roms just like this! 😁🩷 (Verbena Montrose needs a hot wife, I BEG 🙏🏻)

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy*

TJ Alexander is one of my favourite authors, and this is another banger! Definitely not my favourite (it's the only 4-star I've given to their books), but damn it was still so good!

I loved this T4T regency romance. I love queer historical romances, but make it trans? I'M IN LOVE!

I loved this book!
Lord Eden is an earl, and his father's qill requires that he get married, and fast. But as a "man of unusual make", how will he find a bride? Enter Harding, his handsome new valet, who is determined to help him find his happy ending.

This book has it all: a gorgeous cover, lovely prose, achingly lovely pining, and a perfect ending. The twists kept me guessing and the pacing isn't too fast or slow. I found this to be the perfect mix of Cat Sebastian style queer historical joy wtih Alexander's own immaculate wit, humor, and expertise.

Lord Christopher Eden has hidden himself away from the prying eyes of the ton for years. Part of this separation from society was aided by his long time abroad and schooling in America. Christopher considers himself to be a ‘man of unusual make’ because he hasn’t always been the heir. Christopher’s secret enables him to fashion the life he feels necessary, assuming the heir mantle when his entire family dies, leaving the lordship unoccupied. He maintains his own wardrobe and avoids any unnecessary servants, having only Cook and the butler to keep house. Christopher would love to continue in this manner, however, the entailment of his estate requires that he marry prior to his next birthday.

In order to enter London society to find a wife he knows he will never satisfy, Christopher consents to hire a valet. James Harding is highly recommended, and a handsome, perfect fit for the role. Unfortunately, Christopher struggles to behave in accordance with the ton’s expectations. He initially seeks a match with a suitable woman who’s heartbroken over the unwillingness of her father to accept the suit of her love match, a man of some name, but little wealth. The more Christopher endeavors to find some merit in assisting the young woman, the more his egalitarian nature rears up–causing some bigger issues that risk any match being made. This thoroughly frustrates James, who wants to see Christopher’s fortunes settled, as well as those of other members of society with whom he’s had connections.

Part of Christopher’s struggle encompasses his attraction to, and fear of, James. This valet could wreck his life, should he discover the secrets of Christopher’s true origins. However, it seems James is even more an ally than Christopher could have imagined.

This is a delightful look into the high society of Regency England, with a transgender twist that results in layers of deception that rival the usual big secrets of the genre. I really enjoyed seeing Christopher learn about himself, and find himself, through the course of the story. Any reader who digs “hidden histories” will like this one, because it’s so fraught with struggle–that in some ways is wholly unnecessary. Christopher’s desire for a true partner is poignant, and I liked that James was able to make life easier for Christopher, in this regard. I also loved how the two men found a compromise in terms of making their futures secure and happy with one another. The end was a delightful curveball that really underscored the challenges of transgender people in history, while affirming happiness and living one’s truth. Highly recommend!

4.5 stars

I'm obsessed. This is such a clever, funny book. I gasped. I clutched my pearls. Totally and completely devastated that the author only has a backlog of contemporary romance, because I'd love nothing more than to read more regency from them. So it goes.

What an interesting book! I don't always read the synopsis of the ARCs I received, and I was pleasantly surprised with the twists and turns in this book.

Christopher is the Earl of Eden in this story, and from the beginning, he asserts that he has a secret. When he hires a valet to have a "proper" season in London, his secrets slowly start unraveling.

As the reader, it was fairly easy to guess what all the secrets are, but I was still eager to see how everything would get resolved. The story takes place in a Regency-like England, but the secrets, issues, and emotions are all very relevant today, which makes it so much more poignant.

The story was well-paced, the language flowed well without being overly flowery or anachronistic, and the ending was sweet. It really is a sweet story and will stay in my head for quite a while.

As many of my friends already know by now, I'm not much of a romance reader, but I enjoyed reading this one so much. It's a light, beautiful read and feels like a warm soothing salve on chilly days. The narrative follows the story of Lord Christopher Eden who is described as 'notoriously eccentric', and James Harding - the distractingly handsome and rigidly traditional valet. Thank you to Vintage for my ARC!

Beautiful storytelling with a mix of chaotic emotions and the backdrop of the London season.
There are a lot of obstacles for our two protagonists, including Christopher's impending nuptials. If that wasn't enough to convince you to read it, this would- it's a slow burn Regency/Historical Romance with a beautifully crafted LGBTQIA+ representation; tastefully handled.

An unlikely fragile friendship and the dilemma it comes along with it.
No one theme overpowers the other, and the narrative flows and flies by as you read the book. The book is witty, authentic, and a delight to read.

This book was absolutely wonderful and I had a great time reading it. It was such a warm and lovely romance, and it was a great feel good book

I think something I've learned about myself recently is that while I'm not necessarily a historical fiction girlie, I AM a queer historical fiction girlie and this gave me everything I needed

This is a beautiful book about gender, loneliness, and building your destiny with an unfortunate title and a proofreader who can't distinguish "compliment" and "complement."

In turns, it's everything I expect from Alexander: witty, genderful, and kind. But the romance is barely there. I want to say this book might qualify as aromantic rep, but I'm not sure it's sufficiently in the text. The last 10% felt a bit rushed and muddled relative to the earlier excellent plot and character work. Truly, all the characters shine. They serve the novel's broader allegorical purpose (and are just fun!), so it's a real shame that a lot of the plot and character kind of fizzle out toward the end.

I think this book could have been so much more had it leaned into its more gothic tones and its aromantic subtext. The ghosts, trauma, PTSD balanced with carriage races and particular horses were delightful. Feels like a very queer and gender-y book got neutered by a hesitant publisher tbh.