A Gentleman’s Gentleman by TJ Alexander is charming and compelling as it creates a nuanced portrait of trans identity using dry wit and a slow-burn romance. Lord Christopher is an incredibly engaging character, using self deprecating humor that ultimately makes you love him as a character. I love that this is a trans character and I love the attraction from the beginning to Harding, even though Christopher doesn’t know how to handle that attraction.
I love the intrigue and the dilemma that Christopher deals with, that of having to get a wife but even more, I like that as a character, Christopher doesn’t want to bring harm to someone just to get a wife. As he puzzles through, with the help of Harding, just how to do so without harming anyone, he makes friends who are willing to support him and he slowly falls more for Harding. The true strength of the novel is how the friendship between Christopher and Harding is developed and slowly emerges into romance. While I won’t spoil the resolution of the story and how Christopher deals with having to marry, I will say the ending is beautiful and the resolution well thought out and executed.
If you like slow-burn romances, trans characters, charming and compelling characters, I highly recommend this novel. It is a very witty regency style romance that has humorous situations but also complex emotions. And while I won’t give away all the secrets, suffice to say that both characters are perfect for the other. This is a beautifully emotional romance.

This is my first TJ Alexander book. I love historical fiction so this was an instant request for me.
I enjoyed the story very much.
Christopher Eden, or Lord Eden as he is known, is a young man who lives a quiet life on his estate. He is blindsided by the discovery that his father's will requires he marry before his next birthday to keep his inheritance. This turns his whole existence upside down. He is, in his own words, "a man of unusual make" and thus far has eschewed many of the societal conventions of his time: the high society in London, the endless parties that allow the eligible young men and young ladies to interact, and the service of a personal valet. With his current predicament that all has to change.
He starts the process by engaging James, a very competent, circumspect and surprisingly attractive valet. But he does not have confidence to share his secrets or his private affairs with James, despite their growing friendship.

This is a very slow burn that progresses in a tender and caring manner. It had funny moments and heartfelt ones as well. Grief, self reliance, family dynamics, found friendship, being your authentic self all play a role in the story. The character arcs work well and the two MC were engaging and interesting.

I found the book a quick and pleasant read. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys romance, historical fiction, queer lit. I think this is an important book, particularly as anti trans rhetoric has been increasing in media. These stories matter. These characters matter. These stories must be told. TJ Alexander has approached the story and characters in such a deft, caring and respectful way.

I look forward to reading more books by this author and particularly historical fiction!

4.5 stars

This is a tough review because I ADORE TJ's work and there were parts of this story I really enjoyed, but overall this was sort of just mid. This was the slowest burn you didn't even realize was a burn. It was more like a whiff of possible smoke? A hot plate? The leads just didn't seem to have a real connection, and we don't even meet the love interest until a significant way into the book. They don't get together until the last like five percent? And at that point it felt rushed. But I did enjoy their antics together and felt that they established a good friendship by the end.

The world TJ created also felt very caricatured of the time. I appreciate the attempt to write in a new subset of the romance genre but I do not know that this is where TJ's talent lies.

However, the book was bingable which I always enjoy and I read it within two sittings. Furthermore TJ is the monarch of trans romance and specifically loved the T4T romance we received here. Their words are so important especially in the times we are in. Books like TJs are the benchmark example of how reading grows empathy. They write characters and stories you can't help but love and either get to see yourself in the stories or are exposed to an experience unlike your own and can learn so so much.

So while not my favorite, definitely still worth the read!

Absolutely magnificent! A slow burn that is so delightful and tender, I could hardly put it down to sleep! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

Thank you Netgalley and Vintage Books for access to the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. I ended up reading my physical ARC.
Those who know me know I'm not a big historical fiction person, even with romance involved. However, I loved Alexander's last book and knew that if there is any author who might be able to get me to enjoy historical fiction, it would be them. I'm happy to report that I was right.
There's a reason this book only took two days for me to finish. Alexander writes with wit and charm as usual, but also includes a diverse cast including the main character being an Earl who is a trans man (though of course the word trans didn't exist at the time). I feel in love with Christopher and how cautious he is right away. Because not only is he that, but he is funny and thoughtful, just such a beautiful human being. And all the side characters are so lovable and create such a lovely found family. The ending wasn't what I was expecting at all, but I am still very pleased with it. I don't know if any other historical romance will live up to this one for me, I'm afraid.

TJ Alexander’s A Gentleman’s Gentleman is a passion project done very well. I loved it so much.

Lord Christopher Eden is a “man of unusual make” who has built a quiet life for himself in the country that he loves. Unfortunately, his father’s will requires that he marry before his birthday in order to fully inherit the family estate. This means leaving going to London for the Season and trying to appear acceptable to society. This means he needs a valet, so he asks that his lawyers send him a suitable candidate. Enter James Harding, professional valet and stern man. James does not understand why Christopher won’t allow him to do his job and dress Lord Eden. James does his best to be respectful of Christopher’s boundaries and also be a good employee. He also has some thoughts about who Christopher might marry.

Christopher, Lord Eden, is the only point of view we get, and it is lovely to spend time in his head. It’s also a bit lonely. He has two servants who have known him since he was a baby, a school friend with whom he has corresponded, and one friend, his tailor in London, who knows his secret. Christopher lives with more ghosts than people. When James arrives, suddenly Christopher has a new person to talk to, and gradually a new friend. Of course, he falls in love with James, who is very serious, but also thoughtful and kind. Alexander gives us so many reasons to root for these two. This book has range from deep grief and despair to some sublime moments of ridiculousness. It would make an excellent tv series with its gorgeous costumes, sly wit, and emotional truths.

While I was reading, I thought some about the historical romances I read in the 1990s in which a young woman lives as a boy for reasons, sometimes as a servant, and falls in love with a man who thinks she is a boy. There are some nods to those gender and class tropes, and also a deeper meditation on gender and living as your authentic self. The moment of truth between Christopher and James is so full of love. I loved their friendship, and their romance felt like a reward.

When I read TJ Alexander’s debut, Chef’s Kiss, I felt like they were clumsy with some issues that deserved more care. In A Gentleman’s Gentleman, they treat all of their characters with care and respect. Right now, anti-trans messaging and anti-trans laws are being pushed hard by those in power. I would feel comfortable handing this book to anyone to remind them that the world is wide and full of grace.

I received this as an advance reader copy from Vintage and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

This book was a refreshing take on historical romance, with a much-needed queer perspective. The story follows Lord Christopher Eden, orphaned heir to a crumbling abbey, and James Harding, his attentive and overtly traditional new valet. The story evolves as a slow burn romance with deeply moving moments that highlight the quiet and tender moments of human connection, particularly poignant within the societal constraints of their time. TJ Alexander perfectly crafts characters that feel incredibly real, and watching these two men navigate their evolving relationship; Christopher's struggle with expectation, and James's slow, reluctant blossoming, felt both authentic and an echo of queer stories past and present. I also found Christopher's found family in his staff to be endearing. I love these historical, queer romances as they speak about the restrictions of hetero-patriarchal love and power structures that support it, cresting so many empty spaces where stories like this had the possibility of existence, bless my queer heart with all hope. It wasn't just about the "will they, won't they" tension (though, let’s be honest, that’s a delicious part of the charm). It was about witnessing the vulnerability that bloomed in the space between them, a space carved out against the rigid backdrop of Regency England. All the stars for a perfectly gay, downtown abbey-esque, cozy love story 💖

THIS WAS SO GOOD

So this book is hard to talk about without spoiling it, but if I had to pick one word to describe this book, it would be LOVELY. Seeing Christopher find an HEA that worked for him and James seemed impossible at times, but it was so heartwarming. In our currently political climate seeing these two get their HEA almost seems revolutionary.

It also has spots of humor and even a carriage chase which I love a bonkers moment and this was just the right amount of bonkers for this book.

My only minor (petty lol) critique is the fact that his name is JAMES HARDING aka two US president names took me out for a hot second.

I heard TJ Alexander on a podcast talk about the second book and I AM READY!!

Overall this was a great read and I read the second half so quickly because I did not want to put it down!!!!!

TW: death of family members (prior to novel), death of a loved one (on page)

If you are looking for a book to read this month for the Trans Rights readathon please add this to your list.
OMG! Christopher is the sweetest man and I just love everything about this book!

This is the third book that I have read by TJ Alexander and they are definitely on my must read list now. They write books about love in all its forms. How to tell you about this sweet love story without giving anything away.

Lord Christopher is reclusive and unusual since he doesn't keep many servants but he needs a valet for the season to find a wife. I love the transformation and friendship/relationship that strikes up when James arrives. There are so many secrets and trauma from the past. But they are so perfect for each other I got so giddy when he revealed his secret. That epilogue made me so happy!

I need more queer historical romances, I loved this!!!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨/5
Spice: 🌶️/5

What a perfect queer historical romance! Lots of pining and the perfect amount of silliness twisted in! I love that the end was about forging something new and that no one had to compromise.

And James Harding 👀 I, too, was lining for him.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

CW: death of a sibling; death (on page); grief; panic attacks; transphobia; deadnaming

Oh, the happy tears I cried while reading this book! In a time when trans rights are under attack, we need books like this that show and celebrate trans love and joy. And if anyone deserves a happily ever after, sailing off into the sunset together, it is Christopher and James.

A Gentleman’s Gentleman puts a unique spin on the classic historical romance trope of needing to marry to receive your inheritance. Christopher, the Earl of Eden, needs to marry by the time he is 25 or risk losing his title and inheritance. This poses a bigger challenge for Christopher than it would for others, as Christopher is a trans man. Love is out of the question, as he needs a wife who is fine being his wife in name only and would be content to let him continue to live his quiet life out in the country. Christopher decides it is time to hire a valet to act as a well-meaning gentleman looking for a wife this Season…even if he never intends for his valet to do valeting duties like dressing him. Enter James Harding, his very qualified (and attractive) new valet.

This story was exactly what I needed right now. It was so refreshing and managed to feel light and fun, even while exploring heavier topics such as grief, identity, and acceptance. While written in the third person, Christopher is the main focus as we only get his thoughts, feelings, and emotions. I usually prefer dual POVs in historical romance, but I think having a single POV worked perfectly for this story, as Harding’s POV would have revealed some things that were more fun to experience along with Christopher.

I loved Christopher’s voice. He’s such a great character to follow and get to know. He has suffered great tragedies in his life, losing his whole family and wrestling with the fact that he assumed his brother’s identity to live how he truly is. In many ways, he has isolated himself, as he lives in fear of his secret being exposed. There is a sadness and loneliness to him that you can feel. My heart ached for him at points, especially as he wrestles with his past and his PTSD and grieves over losing his brother. But I loved his resiliency. Despite everything he’s been through, Christopher still has such a positive outlook on life. I also love how freaking funny Christopher is! The way he reacts to his sudden and unexpected attraction to Harding had me giggling. His humor can be self-deprecating but in a fun way. And situations he ends up getting himself into (like the trellis incident) had me laughing out loud as they felt so real, and I loved how he tried to brush them off so casually.

Harding was a great foil to Christopher. There is so much we do not know about him at first as he’s a bit stoic and stiff, but there is a camaraderie between the two men. Even though Harding is baffled by the fact that Christopher hired him to be a valet but does not want him to do any valeting, Harding knows how to be there for Christopher in the ways Christopher needs. Plus, it helps that he’s strikingly handsome. I loved the level of trust that developed between the two men, as it helped set the basis for a great romance.

The romance in this book is the slowest of slow burns, but I felt like I flew through this book. That attraction is simmering just under the surface between James and Christopher (hello, that locked-in-armoire scene? A favorite microtrope of mine!). There are a lot of barriers that need to come down between the two men to be with each other. Trust is fundamental to their relationship as Christopher has a lot on the line if anyone finds out he was assigned female at birth, and Harding also has a lot to risk.. But I loved how the romance played out, as it was incredibly emotional, and the pining pays off so well in the end! It was so refreshing to see trans love celebrated. I was crying happy tears as these two characters literally sailed off into the sunset together to get their happily ever after.

I loved the secondary characters and plotlines that helped round out the story. I was very attached to Plinkton and Chef out in the country and Lady Belinda, Étienne, and Miss Montrose in London. They all played very different but important roles in Christopher and Harding’s story. Also, I did not expect a high-stakes carriage chase in the middle of this book, but it was so fun and unexpected (in many ways!).

This is my first book from T.J. Alexander, but I hope it won’t be my last! We need more LGBTQ historical romances, and this story was incredibly well done, so I hope they’ll write more historical romances in the future! In the meantime, I’ll add Alexander’s contemporary romances to my TBR to check out.

A Gentleman’s Gentleman is a sweet and joyful historical romance celebrating trans characters and love. This story captured my heart and soul, and I could not put it down. If you haven’t already, add it to your TBR today!

Thank you to Knopf/NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts, ideas, and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I'm typically not a huge fan of historical romances but I am a fan of TJ Alexander. Their romances have really changed the games these past few years for me. It's not one of my favorites of TJ because that spot is saved for the second chance romance of TJ's.

I agree with the other reviews that have said that it was a little slow in the sense that there was a little build up. However, there was a lot of talk about Christopher's trans-identity throughout the story. So, you get to see all the instances and different obstacles Christopher has to go through to hide his true identity. Also, how the Queer community has existed throughout history.

Since I can't continue without spoiling, I will end this review here, but this was such a good book especially for those that are always so adamant about this being such a "new" thing. The Queer community has been around since the beginning of time and they're not going anywhere. This book is so important for that.

Thanks to Atria for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review, as always, these words are my own.

Happy book birthday to TJ Alexander‘s A Gentleman’s Gentleman! This has been one of my most anticipated books this year, and it absolutely lived up to my expectations.

Set in Regency England, Lord Christopher Eden has been living a quiet, solitary life on his estate, but before his upcoming birthday, he’s required to marry in order to maintain his fortune and home. But he’s a “man of unusual make,” and not only does he not believe he can have love, he’s afraid of revealing his deepest secrets. He hires a valet, James Harding, to help him while in London searching for a wife to join his marriage of convenience. But as myriad events leave Christopher no closer to solving his conundrum, his growing feelings for Harding are proving harder to keep hidden.

Why I Chose This Book:
I love historical romances and have been eager to read more diversely within this genre. I was excited that this book portrays not only a romance between men, it’s also about a transgender man. This looked like it would be a wonderful novel.

What I Liked:
- EVERYTHING. But for more detail, read on.
- Portrayal of a trans man in Regency-era England and the lengths he goes to protect himself and his identity.
- Discussions around what it is to be a man. Being trans… but also being gay. Does he still “count” as a man? (Yes!)
- Slow burn romance. It takes a long time for Christopher’s crush to blossom into overt romance, but the buildup is so sweet.
- Christopher is so funny! He’s witty and droll and rarely keeps his thoughts to himself.
- James is so stoic and emo! He’s work-obsessed, reliable, and secretly tender-hearted. Aww.
- Horses!

Final Thoughts
From start to finish, I adored A Gentleman’s Gentleman. Christopher and Harding’s characters are so distinct and fun to read, and I loved the discussions around gender identity and sexuality. Grief and PTSD appear here as well, and I loved the little surprises that eventually came about. This is an extremely slow burn, but so worth it. I can’t wait to read more from TJ Alexander.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Set in Regency England, A Gentleman’s Gentleman by TJ Alexander follows Lord Christopher Eden. Notoriously eccentric and given to isolating himself from the ton, Christopher is in quite a bind - he has to get married before the end of the social scene in order to keep his title, inheritance, and estate. One of the reasons for Christopher’s isolation is the fact that he is trans. He’s also not attracted to women - meaning he must find a wife who is content with a loveless marriage and will keep his closely guarded secret. In order to appeal to the London social scene, Christopher hires a valet for the first time in his life. Typically a valet would be there to dress Christoper, but he can’t have that happen if he wants to keep his transness a secret. Enter James Harding, his new valet who is used to doing things the traditional way - not skirting the responsibility of dressing his master or joining his boss for meals. Despite their differences, the two form a close friendship and Christopher soon finds himself falling for James. But can he afford to pursue his feelings when his livelihood is on the line?

I ate this book up. I loved every minute of this tender, sweet love story. Christopher was such a fun character to follow and the wit and humor was wonderful. I actually laughed out loud at one scene. I thought the portrayal of a trans character was done with thought and care and felt authentic to the time period. One such moment was when Christopher’s tailor, who knows he’s trans, accepts him whole-heartedly and has become his close friend, makes him a sort of binder for his chest. I also thought Christopher’s self-doubt about if he can be both trans and attracted to men felt like a realistic concern one might have if they don’t grow up with examples of trans gay men.

I was in a terrible reading slump and this book reminded me why I love reading. We need more historical romances with trans characters and I’m so happy this one exists!

I love historical romance, especially when the usual relationship conventions are flipped all around. Lord Christopher Eden is a man content with a secluded life in the country. When he finds himself in need of a wife to keep his title, he makes plans for the London Season. Plans that include hiring an accomplished (and hot) valet, James Harding. The tension in this book was delectable. Plenty of not-so covert looks and “accidental” brushes. I live for it! This book featured important representation. A reminder that trans people have always existed even if you haven’t realized it. I recommend this book to historical romance fans who love a slow burn love story.

Only TJ Alexander could get me to read regency romance.

And I'm so glad I did.

Christopher has been given a deadline to marry, despite being a bit of a hermit at his crumbling estate in the country. In order to go to London for the season and find a suitable wife, he must hire a valet. Enter James Harding, beautiful but dour, and EXTREMELY SERIOUS about his valet duties. There's a lot of humor as they try and navigate their differing views of how the landed and the serving should behave, and every time Christopher scandalizes Hardin by simply being practical instead of elite is entertaining. Still, the men grow to respect each other, and eventually...to trust.

There's lots of regency era drama, scandal, and propriety, and despite the subgenre typical obsession with clothing, I was not thrown out of the story at all and was invested in Christopher finding happiness.

I laughed and I cried, and that's my typical experience reading a TJ Alexander book.

Ok so here's the thing. I really enjoyed this book. The setting was great, there's intrigue and secrecy, and lot's of Downton abbey type fun. I liked the side characters, especially Etienne, and the bit of action we get in the middle. But there was just something missing for me. Things moved a little too fast and seemed a little too easy. I think hearing things from James pov might have helped, because some of his behavior seemed so erratic to me. We hop around a lot in the timeline to avoid some more boring bits, but I feel like I missed a lot of the relationship development. I get that they love each other, but when did that happen and why? Cause Christopher is kind? Cause James is hot and attentive? I wanted more, but I did still enjoy it.

I really loved the premise of this book and I love the historian setting. I agree that the pace/ slow burn of the story is hard to grasp seeing as it’s urgent that the MC marries quickly. I thought that the MC’s were wonderfully written and I would definitely read another book from this author.

ARC provided by NetGalley and the publishers! Thank you so much for allowing me to read this early in exchange for an honest review!

The problem with star reviews is I feel like 3 stars is such an ambiguous rating. It could mean anything. I've rated plenty of books I disliked with three stars because I recognized they were well written from a technical level, but I've also rated plenty of books I liked with three stars because I recognized they were pretty flawed despite my general enjoyment. "A Gentleman's Gentleman" mostly falls in that second category.

I generally enjoyed this book. It has a lot of charm and has a lot that sets it apart from other historical romances, and even romance novels in general. Notably, this is a historical romance novel from the point of view of trans man. This isn't a spoiler, it's said up front-- Christopher is a "man of unusual make". I became very fond of that phrase as a transmasc myself. Trans characters are exceedingly rare to read about, especially as a main character in a romance. The love interest is also a trans man, although this isn't revealed until later. T4T romance isn't just rare in published fiction, it's borderline unheard of. This IS a spoiler, but also you can start putting together the pieces early on.

I think Christopher's existence as a closeted trans man attempting to hide his identity while retaining his comfort and fortune through marriage is the highlight of this story. He's a one of a kind character and it's such a joy to read about, even through his struggles. There have always been trans people and it's a shame that there aren't more historical books that feature us, especially ones that aren't tragedies.

The biggest thing that holds this book back, which is also the thing that leaks into every other aspect of this book and ultimately led me to give it a three star rating, is the pacing. It suffers from an excruciatingly slow pace, only to wrap up with a rushed a ending. I have it marked in my review notes that it only really picks up after the 40% mark, which is going to be enough to turn a lot of people off even if this concept is otherwise up their alley.

I struggle to call this a slowburn romance, but I don't feel like there was enough burning. Sure, there were scenes that had some sparks but ultimately there just wasn't enough development from a romantic angle. I think the romance itself is sweet for what it is and I appreciate its existence. I found the development of their friendship and Christopher slowly opening up to James very sweet, as he's barely had anybody like that before. There isn't really any passion to their romance, which unfortunately is something I really look for, especially in historical romances where the yearning and pining is half the deal. I need to FEEL it, and I just didn't. The pacing also doesn't linger long enough on James, leaving him feeling less fleshed out than Christopher.

Ultimately where I fall with "A Gentleman's Gentleman" is this: this is a perfectly readable M/M historical romance that breaks boundaries with a trans man as a hero, which I think is important to exist. It struggles with pacing that ultimately hurts the romance and will definitely impact the reading experience of readers who aren't able to push through the first 40%, and the ultimate payoff of the buildup is rather lackluster. Still, I'm glad to have read this book as a transmasc and I'm happy that books like this are being published.

3.75 stars rounded up, I really enjoyed this story, however it was a little too much of a slow burn and I wanted to see more of the two leads love story and passion. Despite that it was an engaging read and a clearly well researched trans historical romance.