Thank you very much to the publisher for inviting me to read this early!

I found this very charming and an interesting breath of fresh air that I apparently didn't know I needed/wanted. I'm very partial to queer historical romances and have enjoyed most of the ones I've read the last few years but this one (without giving any spoilers) hit a few different beats that I personally haven't come across in this niche, though I don't doubt that they exist!

Even though I really enjoyed the way that the story resolved in the end, I felt that the pacing getting there was a little off. The climax (heh) of the romantic plotline didn't happen until probably 85-90% and that felt REALLY late to me! Especially considering it felt like not a ton happened before that other than the yearning and the pining and the longing of it all. I still liked it in the end but I think that some parts of the story could probably have been moved up some or moved around.

The story also had some crazy emotional beats but that could have just been me being sensitive. I ugly cried in public is what I'm saying.

This was a delight from start to finish. Christopher, an earl , is faced with having to get married by his 25th birthday or lose his titles and estates. Problem is, Christopher can’t find a wife because he is keeping a secret - he was assigned female at birth. Christopher is a trans man living in a world that doesn’t understand him and in his mission to get married he has to hire a valet for appearances when he goes to London to look for a wife. He meets Harding and he is immediately interested in him. I loved this so much. It’s a perfect regency romance that doesn’t get too spicy to where it feels out of place. There are fun twists and turns I didn’t see coming. There’s a fun supporting cast and a really important look at living a life in secret. I cannot wait to read Alexander’s other work after this.

Small Business BookTok ARC Reviews: “A Gentleman's Gentleman” by TJ Alexander

Note: This ARC was given to me for free by the author and I am reviewing this book voluntarily.

It’s the Season in Regency high society, and Lord Christopher Eden finds himself in a stressful predicament—he must secure a wife to fulfill his late father’s wishes and maintain the family fortune. When Christopher’s longtime caretaker retires, a new valet, the charming James Harding, arrives at the estate. Together, they devise courting strategies for the upcoming balls of the Season. However, Christopher soon realizes that his careful planning and calculated efforts may lead him to more than he ever bargained for when it comes to matters of the heart.
From the author that brought you the “Chef’s Kiss” Duology and “Triple Sec”, Emerson College Alumni TJ Alexander delivers in the first installment in their first ever Regency Romance series! This novel is unique in its world-building it centers on a Regency hero of Trans representation, inviting the readers to ask the question; What was it like for someone who was Trans to navigate identity, medical care, and relationships during the Victorian Era at a time there was little knowledge or accommodations provided for Trans communities? Christopher as a character acted as a fleshed-out response to this concept as he battles with anxiety about not being loved and appreciated for his identity before he slowly starts to shows a progression in self love and embrace his self worth with help from Harding! The narrative and message behind it is truly a perfect balance of ingenious and heart-felt, and you can check out this “Red, White, & Royal Blue” and “Bridgerton” inspired novel when it hits online shelves on March 11, 2025!

Rating: 4/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Meter: 3/5🌶🌶🌶

- Tropes to Expect: Regency Romance, Duke x Valet, Forced Proximity, Regency Balls & Courting Hijinx, Slow Burn Romance, Secret Identities, TMTM Romance, Forbidden Romance, Enemies-to-Lovers, Self-Healing, Found Family, and Opposites Attract.
- Trigger Warnings: Mentions of Death of Family Members, Death of an Adopted Parental Guardian Figure, Accidental Drowning (Historical), Relationship Anxiety/Angst, Discussions of Forced Societal Pressures, Discussions of Trauma & Survivor’s Guilt, and Brief Dead Naming.

I was a little nervous starting this book because there seem to be a lot of Regency romance books popping up everywhere with varying degrees of success. My reservations turned out to be unfounded. This book was fun and refreshing, and I zipped through it with ease. I especially loved the banter between Christopher and James. They were so well written and fun to read it felt like I was hanging out with some friends having a lively chat. The story also kept me on my toes. Whenever I felt like I knew where the story was headed, it would completely veer off in a different way and it kept me guessing. The best thing about this book of course is the trans representation. It was worked into the plot in a meaningful way without it being negative or exploitative. Honestly, this book was super cute and super refreshing. I will recommend this one to all my romance readers.

A lovely queer romance that got distracted by a couple subplots and thus lessened the impact of the romance. I enjoyed the lead up to Christopher finding Harding attractive and distracting. Then they go to London and get pulled aside by several side quests. Once the pair gets to London to find Christopher a wife, things just fall apart. The romance fizzled for me, as Christopher gets embroiled in London intrigue briefly before gettin pulled back home again. I think it’s the introduction of unnecessary plot lines and the pacing just killed the romance for me. I’m happy to see more queer historical romance out there and really enjoyed the characters and their histories. But, in the end, I just didn’t feel the romance for what it could have been. 3.5 stars.

A Gentleman’s Gentleman is a STUNNER of a romance novel! It’s the story of the reclusive Earl of Eden, better known as Christopher, and James Harding, the valet Christopher hires when he learns that the terms of his father’s will require that he marry and thus endure a London season. Both MCs are trans men dealing with the wonderful, and sometimes lonely, realities of their identities. Their meet cute is simultaneously hilarious, endearing, and evidence of the work both men have done to maintain their true selves.

In the country, we learn about Christopher’s crucial friendships and our MCs have a little time to become friends too. Also, it's a bit gothic! There is even a ghost. And, let me tell you I love when a HistRom makes me start jumping to wild conclusions about a potential mystery like I’m watching Law & Order. In London, we meet Christopher’s honest and kind friend (and tailor), Bee (who’s impact on the story is monumental and a stunning example of Christopher and James’ generosity), and a delightful red head who promises excitement to come. Plus there is even a race to the border.

The story is told entirely from Christopher’s POV yet I never felt like I was missing James’ perspective. It’s clear that Christopher is the energetic sunshine to James’ serious grump while somehow also the introvert to his extrovert. Once they happily reveal themselves and their feelings, Christopher and James have a conversation about being trans and the existence of trans people that I immediately reread and highlighted. It's romantic, honest, happy, and accurate.

And then we get to the conflict, to keep his title and fortune, Christopher must wed. And while I trusted Alexander not to make either MC live not as themselves, I was still joyfully blown away by how these two got their HEA. It's a perfect “f*ck the aristocracy, I’m in love” book!

I think where Alexander really shows off is acknowledging the trials (and pain) of their characters while letting them be funny and have joy. I cannot wait to see what else they do in HistRom. Scroll for some favorite quotes and some truly magnificent art. (I flipped the James art because I loved the idea of Christopher looking up at him.)

Thanks to the publisher and Alexander for this arc.

In Regency England, Christopher Winthrop, the Lord of Eden and last surviving member of his family, prefers privacy, solitude, and the company of his very limited staff. But when he receives a letter from his family's solicitors informing him that, per his late father’s will, he must marry before his next birthday—or lose his title, inheritance, and estate—his quiet life is upended. Forced to enter the London social season, he reluctantly hires a valet to assist him. That valet, James Harding, is a mysterious yet dashingly handsome man who proves to be not only highly competent but also an unexpected source of companionship. As the season unfolds, Christopher and James form a bond that could be friendship… or something more. But will James stay when he learns the truth about Christopher?

As a huge fan of all things Regency (including Bridgerton), I was already familiar with terms like the ton, but I tried to keep comparisons to a minimum. What really stood out to me was how the book explored queer love in an era where it was taboo and dangerous. It was fascinating to see how someone in the queer or trans community might have navigated society—without even having the words we use today. Christopher was confident, quirky, and full of witty dialogue, but never in a way that felt forced. Sometimes period pieces overdo the humor, pulling you out of the story, but this one struck the right balance. Plus, there were a few twists I definitely didn’t see coming!

Thank you to NetGalley and Vintage for this ARC!

#AGentlemansGentleman

Within a few pages of reading A Gentleman’s Gentleman, I knew I had picked up something really special.

A Gentleman’s Gentleman is about Christopher, a reclusive trans man living in Regency-era England. According to the directions of his father’s will, he is expected to find a wife if he wants to keep his title and sprawling estate. When the lonely and eccentric Lord hires James, a new valet, to help him manage the upcoming Season, the two men are set on a course that profoundly changes their lives.

All the characters in this, both main and supporting, are fantastic. Christopher is unbelievably delightful: so funny and charming. He is dealing with a lot of loss, loneliness, guilt, and stress. Still, he’s enduring and doing his best despite his hardships. James is a little mysterious to us at first. He’s a proper gentleman who takes his job and etiquette very seriously, but there are enough glimpses of his personality to make him instantly likable. There is also a cast of memorable side characters that I really enjoyed.

The romance between Christopher and James is a true and very satisfying slow burn. Christopher’s upcoming marriage and other plots sometimes take center stage, so their relationship is allowed to build slowly and organically.

Christopher’s need for a wife is the most active plot, but side-plots arise that add a lot of heart and emotion to the story. All the various threads are balanced well, and everything comes together beautifully in ways that surprised and delighted me.

I’d been looking forward to reading this book for months, and it was completely worth the wait. I highly recommend this for all fans of queer books, especially those that need more joyous and hopeful trans stories. This is a perfect comfort read with a beautiful and inspiring message.

Whew. What a book! Historical romance. Queer love. A happy story. A funny story. This book had it all.

Christopher Winterthorpe, Earl of Eden, finds himself mired in that lovely little legal trope—in order to fulfill the terms of his dead father’s will and keep his estate and fortune, he must marry by his upcoming birthday. Christopher is a self-proclaimed “country mouse” (for reasons that become clear early in the book) but sets his sights on spending the season in London to find himself a wife that would be happy to marry him for security, not love, but she also must be able to keep his secret. He prepares for this by hiring a valet—James Harding—to assist him while he hobnobs with the rest of the ton in his search for a suitable wife. Sparks fly, as they say!

The remainder of the book has its highs, lows, and everything in between. I found myself laughing out loud at the Lady Belinda bedroom scene only to be later gutted by the departure of one character who had remained steadfast to Christopher and his secret. There are plenty of twists and turns in this book that all lead back to Christopher and James’s happily ever after.

In the end it was a nice reminder that trans people exist, have existed, will always exist, and deserve happiness.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

I received an e-ARC and am giving my honest review!

“Gentleman’s Gentleman” by TJ Alexander exceeded any and all expectations I went into this with. Dysphoria has been something I have struggled with excessively recently. The way the world is has only continued to make it worse and worse. Life isn’t kind enough to allow me to forget about my dysphoria, but this novel allowed me a reprieve.

Christopher was a very intriguing character. A somewhat unknown background with lots of unanswered questions, although we quickly learn that he is carrying a pretty large secret: he is a transgender man. In the time this story took place, it was essentially unheard of, and this fact limited Christopher in regards to relationships, both platonic and romantic. His valet being unable to dress him, any romantic prospects having to be most trusted and really just for show. It opened my eyes to how trans people had to live in this time, details I had never even considered. While Christopher seemed to be a simple shut-in with strange practices in regards to how he treated his staff, though he was anything but.

James’ character was so endearing to me. The way he showed familiarity to Christopher that allowed him to feel annoyances. I don’t know if that makes sense, but James’ actions allowed Christopher to let his emotions show. I truly adored Christopher’s POV, showing his feelings towards James, positive and negative. The yearning was so prominent and sweet it completely swept me into the narrative.

I completely loved this book, I’ve re-read it already once now because I was so enthralled.

Oh my goodness, what a refreshing take on Regency romance! I'm a huge fan of TJ Alexander's contemporary romance, so it was delightful to read their fun and humorous writing style but *make it historical*. A Gentleman's Gentleman is exciting, funny, and insightful, and I LOVED all of the twists. And gosh, I was so curious about how TJ was going to incorporate a trans MMC into the time period - it's masterfully done. HIGHLY recommend this book, I had such a good time. And it's definitely one to get on your TBR if you are planning to participate in the Trans Rights Readathon too!

I absolutely loved Christopher from the beginning. While he's extremely cautious about who he interacts with due to the secret about himself that he must keep, he still manages to be a kind, loyal friend, always thinking about others no matter their social status. A Gentleman's Gentleman has found family is SPADES as Christopher has no living family members, but he keeps those he trusts very close. It takes him a LONG time to take his new valet, James Harding, into his inner circle, but the chemistry between the two characters is present immediately. Be prepared for an understandably slow burn though my friends - it's worth the wait! There's plenty of adventure and social scheming along the way, and I literally couldn't put the story down.

If you are looking for low angst queer historical romance with low stakes, a fun plot, and excellent trans rep, THIS is the book. Quite possibly my favorite read yet from TJ Alexander, and I'd honestly love more from this time period from them! I'm extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to read this one early and to have received a gifted copy of this book, I will absolutely cherish it.

I was incredibly excited for this book, as I’m always on board for more queer historical romance. But it’s very obvious that TJ Alexander didn’t do a lick of research, as their basic plot falls apart within the first chapter. The previous titleholder CANNOT put stipulations on the heir to marry before a certain age, or he’ll be stripped of his title. There are very few reasons he could be disinherited, all of which are rather extreme. I hate to be the “historical accuracy police,” especially on a queer book, but there’s literally a post from a fellow author of queer historicals (KJ Charles) that goes into this and more! Just disappointing.

📚🏳️‍⚧️New Book Review🏳️‍⚧️📚

It has been a while! Winter time is when I take a break and curl up shamelessly on the couch, reading all the wonderful, smutty romantasy series that exist out there.

However, those who know me understand I am also a HUGE Bridgerton/Regency stan. When I was recently given the privilege of receiving an advanced reading copy of the new TRANSGENDER centric Regency romance about to hit bookstore shelves, I couldn't possibly pass that up.

A Gentleman's Gentleman by best-selling queer author @tjalexandernyc really hits the spot like a good cuppa ☕️. Regency tales are subconsciously ladened with white supremacy and the misogyny of marriage obsessed times. And much like the fantasy of Bridgerton, this book allows us to break away from the dark reality of the age into the magic of modern-day fiction.

Lord Christopher, "a man of unique make," and the sole heir of the Eden Estate, has lived with a secret all his life. He lives a solo bachelor lifestyle in a crumbling abbey, with the same two household staff from childhood.

This book gives an accurate portrayal of the utter shame, isolation, and loneliness trans individuals can feel in life. Locked not only inside of our rooms but fixated on other peoples' and society's expectations for us (like finding a wife before his 25th birthday in order to keep his title).

In preparation to enter the Ton of London and find a suitable candidate for marriage, Lord Eden had to hire his first ever valet (for appearances sake). Enter the young, incredibly handsome, experienced valet, James Harding.

Together, Christopher and James embark on a fiery, flirtacious journey of trust, companionship, and self-discovery. Navigating the specific challenges life hands out to those who are deemed "othered."

We all have our secrets 🤫

This book is released on March 11th! Don't hesitate to snatch up a copy, and don't ever stop reading! 📚

#agentlemansgentleman#bookrelease #regency
#romance#translivesmatter
#t4t #politics #bookgram #book#bookshelf #bookreview #queer #queerbooks

I don't usually read historical fiction / romance but TJ Alexander blew all of my expectations out of the water. This is definitely their funniest book yet! It was full of shenanigans and chaos, which made it such a fun read. It took me a couple chapters to get into the historical reading mindset but once I was there, I was SAT. I binge read this book in less than 24 hours!

Thank you to Vintage Books, NetGalley, and TJ Alexander for sending me an early copy!

A beautiful historical romance that would appeal to fans of Bridgerton and Maurice! A great read for both YA and adult readers!

This was written very well! A limited 3rd person reader POV allowed for a wonderful narrative and was so enthralling. Lgbt+ regency is a huge draw for me, and this was done so perfectly that I just had to keep reading!
The plot, the characters, and the writing all melded so well together! Although I would have liked to see more of the relationship, the slow burn was done well so I can't really complain!

TJ has done it again.

She regarded him closely. “I thought you didn’t believe in love.” “Of course I believe in it. I just don’t think I can wear it, what with my complexion.”

I would like one of those buttons that you press to unleash catchphrases but they are all things Christopher says in the book.

This is a marvelous book filled with lovable characters in a Bridgerton-esque world. The scenarios that the dashing Christopher and Harding find themselves in are engaging and worthy of staying up just another hour to finish their latest escapade.

i am in my historical fiction gay romance arc with this book ! this was so steamy and romantic. i had a lot of fun with his one.

Pub date March 2025
Read 2/26/25

To start, look at this gorgeous cover art. Christopher Lord Eden talks about his clothes, his cravats, the pastel colors he wears. This image is perfect for how he describes his style.

Set in England 1819. Single POV from Lord Eden. He’s a young lord, living isolated in the English countryside with only a few servants. He keeps himself to himself, but seems very lonely. But, he’s recently been told by his solicitors that his fathers will stipulated he must marry by age 25 or lose his lordship and estate. He’s 24, so only has a few months to find a wife.

Now Christopher has to go to London and socialize and meet a lady to marry. He really does not want to marry. At this point, in Christopher’s inner monologue, the reader knows he has #reasons, but not exactly what they are. We just know he’s an “usual man.” But as reader we can kind of guess what’s going on.

Part of going to London, Christopher has to act like a regular Lord, so he needs a valet to work for him. He figures this is about the bare minimum he can get by with. He hires James Harding, a very proper, stern valet. But, this is just for show Harding, you aren’t actually going to dress Lord Eden, no way. Because Lord Eden has Secrets.

These two slowly build a working relationship and Harding really wants to do a good job for his boss, and can see he’s a pretty lonely, sweet and kind person.

There’s a bit of drama and fun while in London. Christopher starts to trust Harding a bit more while he looks for a wife that will be ok with a marriage of convenience only.

I don’t want to spoil the HEA or how it works out. This is a sweet slow burn and I was rooting for these sad boys to find happiness together in a world that would not be kind to them.

Downside, I didn’t get to know Harding very well. It definitely needed to be single POV but we miss out on his thoughts. I could make the connections as a Romance reader, but I was left wondering if these 2 are together because of proximity and because they are both SO NICE.

Content warnings: death of family members (off page), death of a mentor (on page), bad dad (secondary character). No one is outed and no on page queer phobia (no one is rude or nasty to the main character).

I’m a huge fan of TJ Alexander so I was really excited to read a trans historical romance from them. I loved it! It’s bumped up to second favorite in my personal ranking of their books. The slow burn of the romance was excellent, the plot and side characters were entertaining, great book!

This plays with a very familiar set-up in historical romance - titled main character must marry by a specific birthday to secure inheritance - and beautifully subverts our expectations at each turn. Alexander's prose is so compelling and sharp and they have such a subtle humor I love (particularly in inner monologue). I really enjoyed the use of limited third person POV, because with only Christopher's perspective, we can really feel both his loneliness and his drive to survive to the best of his abilities. It also allows for some really enjoyable plot twists - one or two that are so obvious even our side characters have to poke fun at Christopher for not seeing them earlier (love a meta moment). I would caution readers that this is a slow, slow, SLOW burn, but it builds into a really fitting and lovely HEA.