I was lucky to get this book from Netgalley as an ARC and it was such a delightful read! This regency romance has wonderful trans representation, handled with so much care. The story follows a trans man who is looking for a wife for inheritance purposes and hires a valet to keep up appearances. It is the slowest of burns, but the dynamic between Christopher and James was charming. The plot twists were predictable but still enjoyable, and the story overall had similar vibes to A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall.


It was sweet, satisfying, and left me smiling. Definitely worth a read if you are looking for a cozy, low stakes romance.

It is a truth that should be universally acknowledged that no one does trans/nb romances like TJ Alexander does. Granted their previous works that I've enjoyed were all contemporary romances, so I was a little nervous about the Regency premise. Perhaps because the author is NOT usually a Regency romance author, I am so happy they don't rely on the tropes that other Regency authors just project on trans stories. I am so relieved by how the author does what they do best, by busting all the tropes to do justice to the trans characters over servicing the period genre. Sure, some of the "big reveals" are not really surprising to anyone but sweet little MC Christopher. However, it's refreshing to see a POV where someone acknowledges and divests from their inherited wealth derived from colonial slavery, respects the power imbalance and not act on their desires towards an employee, and sacrifice the trappings of nobility instead of taking on "convenient" fake marriage options that would be forcing another person to make unthinkable sacrifices to their mental health. I'm so moved by the slow burn unfolding of this that really highlights the gentle care that these characters deserve in their journey towards each other. It's so precious, I could cry.

I absolutely adored this book. I devoured it in a matter of hours, and my only regret is that I will never again have the privilege of reading it for the first time.

I love gay historical romance, which, it turns out, is made all the more compelling when it's about trans characters. The repression, the yearning, the angst - this book has it all, and does it fantastically. I felt like it balanced tension and release very well - while there definitely were dramatic moments, they were not stressful to read, and overall I would say that it read as comfortably low-stakes, which was really exactly what I was looking for. It was wonderful in ways I am struggling to express, but really it comes down to this: if you are even the slightest bit interested, you should read this book. It will not disappoint you.

A delightful, low stakes T4T historical romance set in the early 19th century, I read ‘A Gentleman’s Gentleman’ in one day (by barely putting it down). The events are filtered through one character’s perspective, which makes the romance a bit difficult to build, but for me there was enough clear chemistry that it worked out well. Unlike most historical fiction about landed gentry, Lord Eden’s estate doesn’t seem to have anyone relying on the Lord for much except for the two aging servant side characters, and the (lonely) lord’s new valet, whom he doesn’t want to want. It has quite enough drama to be compelling and is a romantic, heartfelt novel. I for one really enjoy explorations of how LGBTQIA people lived and loved throughout history, and this was a good one.

Thank you to Vintage and NetGalley for the ARC.

I didn't know what to expect when I started this book. I was enthralled by the cover & brief description. I discovered a very charming story that I immediately fell in love with. Lord Christopher Eden is unlike any character I have encountered. He is larger than life from the moment you meet him to the end of the book. He is unusual but comfortable with his "unusual make" until he has to venture out into the world which could make his very comfortable existence very complicated to navigate. Enter his new valet, James Harding, whose job it is to make Lord Eden's life easier but ends up forcing Christopher to re-examine everything he thought he knew about himself. There is adventure & romance & humor & charm in this story that made me want to fall deeper into their world.

This was a beautiful character study of a trans character in the Regency period. It's thoughtful and hopeful, with quite a bit of humor, some charming romantic tropes, and many mysterious elements. I read a lot of queer romance and this is a unique contribution to the genre. Highly recommended.

I’m not usually a big historical romance fan, but this regency story had me hooked. Loved the dapper lead, Lord Eden, and loved the joyful trans representation throughout. It’s a very, very slow burn but the pining is 💯 and felt just right for these characters. I was delighted that some of my favorite parts were the subplots - midnight adventures! - and they were just as engaging as waiting to see if the romantic leads would finally figure out their messy, beautiful feelings.

Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

sad to say that this book just didn't do it for me. the pacing was really off with the romance. it really dragged on for the first 75% and then they were suddenly in love at the very end. the development was just unconvincing unfortunately.

christopher overall felt like a very underdeveloped character. i feel like a lot of his "tragic past" is told instead of shown/felt by him. it felt wholly disconnected from his character and motivations. honestly, i felt like james and his story was much more compelling.

i kind of came away from this book feeling like nothing of substance happened. i'm giving it two stars because i really enjoyed the beginning and setup, i think it had a lot of potential. i liked james a lot, i thought he was cute and enjoyed his presence in the story. the prose was pretty good too. unfortunately i was just deeply underwhelmed

A Gentleman’s Gentleman delivers a slow-burn romance with sharp humor and tender moments. TJ Alexander brings together unforgettable characters, queer joy, and just the right amount of drama to keep you hooked.

I adored this trans Regency romance between an Earl who was born a fraternal twin and, after a tragic accident, takes on his brother’s identity as a way to be his true self. Christopher hires a valet to help him find a wife in London society who will understand and keep his secret. Only his extremely capable valet James Harding has a secret of his own, which comes as a big surprise that I don't want to spoil here. But it was delightful and I loved the turn the book took. The ending is quite swoon-worthy and has a lovely epilogue!

This is a wonderful story that uses the language of the day versus the terms we use in today's modern day for gender identity and gender politics. It felt akin to Alexis Hall’s A Lady for a Duke, in that Christopher isn’t discovered so much as figures out a way to live his life happily as a man. But if you liked that trans Regency romance you’ll like this one to, and I hope more books like this are being written and published!

I also love the cover art. It’s using a gorgeous photograph of Zach Pinset of Pinsent Tailoring wearing his Regency attire. I recognized him right away!

••Thank you to Knopf / Vintage for the ARC••

I love historical romance, especially when it’s gay, but this was just okay for me. It has a very slow, kind of awkward start and I didn’t connect super well to the characters, though I did enjoy the trans aspect and the supporting characters.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this!
Oh my gosh, okay so I just finished watching a show based around a certain era and I was looking for something to read that would match that and this really did that for me!!
Where can do I begin, I really just want to praise this book because of its queer representation and its just a lovely read. It is a slow slow slow burn but I enjoyed it!
Overall 4 stars ⭐️

ARC provided by Netgalley. Thank you so much!

What an absolutely delightful book. I started this yesterday afternoon, stayed up WAY past my bedtime, and woke up refusing to start my day until I had finished the last few pages. Tender, funny, beautifully romantic, full of LONGING and GENDER and HIJINKS.

If you like historical romance, grumpy x grumpy, an absolute cinnamon roll of a trans MC who is part fop and part Stede Bonnet (courageous, strong, clever, an absolute gibbering ninny), well developed characters, a story of emotional vulnerability and growth from trauma, valet x master, idiot x idiot, and love despite all odds, you will love this book. I cannot wait to devour everything else by this author and have already been screaming about how wonderful this book is.

This was a very charming book! Slow burn romance, yet the writing felt pretty fast-paced and was a quick read for me. I loved the main character and enjoyed reading from his perspective. Not my favorite historical romance, but overall a cute and fun read.

A beautifully written trans romance with representation that felt authentic. The way the contrast between Christopher and James was presented; from their apperance and personality to the way they live their queer lives was well done and made the reveal and conclusion so much sweeter. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a unique romance with characters that feel real.

This was a beautifully done romance novel and enjoyed the use of the Regency elements to this. The characters had that feel that I was looking for and was engaged with what was happening to them. It uses the time-period perfectly and that romance element was realistic and enjoyable. TJ Alexander wrote this in a way that I was hoping for and glad I read this.

I did not expect regency trans rep to feel so Shakespearean, but it did and in a way that made for a truly enjoyable read. I enjoyed Christopher Eden as a PoV character, and his anxieties and flaws felt relatable and believable. I really enjoyed all of the characters, and found myself delighted by the turns it took in the end. I don't often sit down and read a book in one setting these days - but this one I finished in 24 hours, reading far later than I ought to have done. Not perfect, but deeply enjoyable.

A Gentleman's Gentleman is a wonderful trans regency romance by TJ Alexander. Christopher has isolated himself after a childhood of loss, but is now forced to find a wife to keep his title of Earl. He employs James Harding as a valet to help him be presentable to the ton, and the two quickly form a bond, but the two must learn to trust each other for past secrets to come to light. There are plenty of hijinks and fun side characters to keep the plot moving as the two men finally admit their true feelings. This was a lovely read and I enjoyed every minute. I wish the ending had been more drawn out, but that didn't take away from my overall enjoyment.
Thanks to Vintage and NetGalley for the ARC in trade for my honest review.

Christopher, the Earl of Eden, must marry before his 25th birthday, or he loses his estate, his title, and everything. He is the last surviving member of his family, his twin being lost at sea. He only keeps a butler and a cook on his estate. He doesn’t go to London if he can help it.


But, he doesn't want to lose everything, so he has his lawyers find him a valet, so he can go to London to find a wife. And so, he is set James Harding, who Chistopher gets the hots for, to put it bluntly. He has never felt this way about anyone. But he knows it can not be, because, in the modern vernacular, he is trans, and doesn’t want anyone to know.


I loved all the twists and turns of this story, some of which, like a Charles Dickens novel, were telegraphed in advance, while others, I had no idea until they hit me square in the face.


Well written story of painful lust, and feeling like the only one in the world like oneself. As the story unfolds and we see the fear Christopher faces with each turn, and how hard it is to be in London, at one of those parties where everyone is hunting for someone to marry.


All the stars. Really, it was that good. I raced through it.


Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review . This book is coming out the 11th of March 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers and the author for the eARC!!

I cannot accurately describe how much I adored this book!! I loved everything, from the setting to the characters! It was so good!

Christopher is an amazing protagonist, who just wants to live his days in peace in the countryside. His struggles with the world's perception and his need to keep himself hidden hit close to home and made him an incredibly compelling character. James was also so good as the second protagonist of the book. While we didn't get his point of view, he had much depth into him and I loved him for it!!

The secondary characters were also truly amazing!!! I loved Etienne and Belinda and Cook and everyone else! They made the story even more pleasing and I had so much fun!!

The writing was superb!! It was seamless and helped to integrate the reader in the story!!!

Having read some of the author's previous works, I was beyond happy to read this one. I laughed and cried so much during this story!! And also, the acceptance both Christopher and James were met with from their surroundings was so wholesome and good!!!