🦇 A Gentleman's Gentleman Book Review 🦇

❓ What's the last book that took you by surprise?

🦇 Lord Christopher Eden is a “man of unusual make” and even more unusual habits. Christopher’s pleasant, if occasionally lonely life is upended when he receives word that, according to his late father’s will, he must find a wife by the end of the season to keep his family’s fortune and the estate. Enter James Harding, Christopher’s new, distractingly handsome valet. The two strike up a fragile friendship that threatens to shatter under the looming shadow of Christopher’s impending nuptials—and the secrets both men are keeping. With its heady combination of dry wit, slow-burn romance, and a nuanced portrait of trans identity, A Gentleman’s Gentleman stands to transform the historical romance genre as we know it.

💜 If you read Triple Sec last year, you know that TJ Alexander has a way with words. A Gentleman's Gentleman is no exception. Let's break it down:

✨ Characters (4/5): The cast is rich and well-developed, each with unique voices that lift the characters off the page. I do wish we saw more bonding between Christopher and James, but the story relies on James' secretism until the end. Christoper's secret is revealed a little TOO early, but I'm glad the explanation isn't revealed until much later. We don't often enough consider the challenges the trans community of different eras must have faced, in everything from clothes to relationships (especially in such a judgemental, 'appearances are everything' focused society), so seeing Christopher's exploration of identity was absolutely stunning; a breathtaking execution by Alexander.

✨ Plot and Pacing (4/5): Once we arrive in London, the pacing falters a little for me. The story's secondary marriage plot causes a lag, but it has a purpose for the overall story arch, so its excusable.

✨ World-Building (3/5): The story could benefit from stronger descriptions. It's easy to fall for the vivid beauty and charm of Regency Era balls and London as a whole, but the majority of descriptions focused on James' handsome face (I don't entirely blame Christopher for it, either).

✨ Romance (3/5): This slow burn romance builds but doesn't clutch at the reader's throat; it's lacking tension. I adored the story's found family aspect but needed more from the interactions with those side characters to really feel invested. The primary romance doesn't pick up until the very, very end, so I wish we had the chance to linger there a little longer. However, it never feels forced, instead growing organically alongside Christopher's character development.

✨ Mystery/Suspense (4/5): The mystery is perhaps the story's biggest advantage. The big reveal provides such a relief to both characters; it's a beautiful moment. Ideal if you're looking for a low-stakes romance.

✨ Tone/Prose (4/5): Christopher's tone is consistent throughout the entire story. Adored the dry wit between Christopher and James. I do wish it was dual POV, but again, shrouding James in mystery helps push the story (and Christopher's anxiety) forward.

🦇 Recommended to fans of a Lady for a Duke, Red, White, and Royal Blue, and Bridgerton.

✨ The Vibes ✨
🎩 Regency Era / Historical Romance
🎩 Secrets, Mystery, and Action
🎩 Trans MC
🎩 Slow Burn
🎩 Found Family
🎩 Opposites Attract
🎩 Smut
🎩 First of a Series

🦇 Major thanks to the author and publisher for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. #AGentlemansGentleman

💬 Quotes
"I appreciate creatures who are wholly themselves."

There are no real men, I think. There are only the men who pursue their desires and those who ignore them.

"Why would you marry me if not for that?” “For the simple pleasure of waking up beside you in the morning, if you would allow it."

“Given up on poetry, have we?” “There are other arts.”

Trans man needs to marry if he's to keep his inheritance; reluctantly hires valet so as to make a good showing during the London Season; falls hard for valet; readers will figure out the valet's identity long before his employer does, but anyway romance ensues.

An appealing premise, but overall not successfully executed. There are sequences that can't seem to decide whether they're frightening/poignant or madcap (a nighttime carriage chase, for instance), and any number of bloopers in the departments of logistics, common sense, and historical accuracy. To believe in the story -- which I wanted very much to do! -- I needed solid ground under it. The solid ground just wasn't there.

- We seem to be in the immediate post-Regency period (the ad copy says "Regency," but there's a reference to the king, so ...?). I found myself wondering how Christopher manages to dress without a valet, since (wealthy) men's attire of the era was so closely fitted that they needed help to put it on and take it off again. (The problem of the clothes' tailoring does get solved, fortunately.) Kind of a minor point, but it was a bad omen.

- Christopher takes his stallion galloping in the countryside, and closes his eyes to feel "the wind in his face." WHOA NELLY, said I, and consulted a horsey friend, who gave me permission to quote her reply: "Is the rider in question trying to die? A horse is a very fast bundle of neuroses in a horrifyingly fragile sack. You don't put it on autopilot at full speed."

Alexander didn't know what they didn't know, and it didn't occur to them to wonder about it.

- As so often in historical novels with rich protagonists, the author's evidently uncomfortable with the era's rigid class distinctions, so erases them. Christopher eats in the kitchen with his two-person staff, which is fine with everyone. Yet he doesn't know his cook's "given name" (by which Alexander seems to mean her full name, not what would then have been called her Christian name), and later events make clear the economic gulf, as well as the isolation from family and friends that servants' lives usually entailed. You can't have it both ways -- the implausibly comfy familiarity with servants can't coexist with the realities of servants' lives.

- Christopher divests from the textile mills he inherits, having learned where cotton comes from. Fine as far as it goes, but what happened to the workers in those mills -- poor people not fairly implicated in the slave trade or in the savageries inflicted on enslaved people working cotton? The question's outside the novel's scope, yet the very mention of the textile mills brings it in. Alexander has taken one step, then failed to notice the step just ahead of it.

- Alexander falls into other problems that seem to arise from a desire to supply Christopher with modern sensibilities. He doesn't hunt and has banned hunting in his forests (which: right, that would have been "poaching" if anyone but him and his buddies did it), so we learn that there are lots of deer. Aww, I bet the farmers are thanking him for the crops they lose to those plentiful deer. And if you're going to be nice to the common people, let them hunt and thereby supplement their diets, eh?

- Speaking of money: [If the legitimacy of Christopher's inheritance depends on his marriage, how come he has the right to give away his London townhouse? It's also hard to believe that someone who's been rich and titled all his life would just walk away from his position and his money. Though, to be fair, someone who's only ever been rich is precisely the person who might believe that life in relative poverty will be peachy. (hide spoiler)] The thing is, I could have been induced to believe, if the author had thought through the issues and found ways to resolve them, whether with characterization or through plotting. I think longingly of KJ Charles.

Two and a half stars, rounded up for no special reason. Thanks to Vintage and NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a lovely read but a very slow burn. Th ending was too rushed for me and I would’ve liked the entire book to have moved a little faster.

So damn gorgeous.
What a delightful, wonderful tale of trans joy. I LOVED this book to absolute bits.
It made me laugh out loud, swoon a dozen times, cackle and sigh and even cry my eyes out. What a delightful gem this book is!
I feel like I need to read the rest of TJ Alexander's backlist because wow: they sure can write. This book had me feeling every single damn emotion on the planet.

Christopher was a fabulous protagonist. He's resilient, a survivor through and through, but despite the rough hand he's been dealt with, and despite his past, he never looses his smile, his kindness nor his joy. I adored being in his head. He's silly and gentle and kind: simply put, wonderful.

< Christopher had lived. He lived still. The very fact that he breathed was a miracle. He had not survived merely to suffer; he was certain of that now. For the first time in his life, he was certain. >

< "[...] Thank you, Harding, for finding me a suitable wife.” And for sticking your fingers in my mouth, went unsaid, though the sentiment was there. Christopher wished he could broach the subject, but it felt like one of those things that men shouldn’t speak of aloud. >

And James Harding! UGH. That man!!!!!! He made me SWOON. Stoic, quietly snarky, competent, protective Harding. No wonder Christopher fell for him almost immediately: I would have too. Those two together stole my freaking heart, and I literally spent the last few chapters simultaneously crying my eyes out and giggling like mad. And that final chapter! God, never have I read such a satisfying ending. It made me heart soar.
I loved the plot and I loved all the side characters to absolutele bits too.

I cannot recommend this book enough! It's out in precisely two days time, and I'll be recommending it so much you'll be sick of me. A forbidden valet/lord romance, a slowly unfolding romance, all the pining and (barely hidden) attraction, PLUS some really wonderful trans rep that the world sorely needs nowadays? I wholly, wholly recommend.
What a delightful, fabulous romance.

Also. I'd have given this book five stars just for this scene alone:
< “I only wanted you to be quiet.” “So quiet me now,” Christopher said, and was gratified to find two deft fingers entering his greedy mouth. He moaned around them. “Seems to only make you louder,” James said with more than a trace of humor, “not that I mind.” >
*passes out*

PS: I love the American title and cover (it's very dreamy and romantic!) but my personal favourite is the UK version. I think I need to buy myself a physical copy! SUCH a fabulous cover and title. So fitting too!

TWs/CWs: death of a sibling, death of parents, panic attack (on page), death (on page, side character), body and gender dysphoria and period-typical transphobia.

Many thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is my honest opinion.

TJ Alexander is a must-read author for me. I’m not usually a historical romance fan, but I was excited to pick this up. As soon as I received the ARC on netgalley, it went straight to the top of my TBR! A cute slow-burn romance with lovable characters and a happily ever after. 4/5 stars from me!

I’m not usually one for the classically-constructed spicy romance novel, but this is an exception. Christopher is a minor lord in England, must find a wife before his 26th birthday or risk losing his title, land, and money. But Christopher has a problem: he’s a gay trans man who has zero interest in having a wife or the life of the ton. As a part of this duty, he hires a valet, James, who helps Christopher enter polite London society. Fans of Downton Abbey and Bridgerton will like the queer take on this era. Two well-telegraphed on-page sex scenes are indeed spicy but can be skipped if need be. PS The taylor is my favorite character! CW: historical homophobia and transphobia

I adored this wonderful, queer, trans historical romance!

The fashion, the lovely supportive side characters, the humour, the sweet, shy, tentative romance, everything was perfection.

If you love historical romances and regency settings and lovely, layered characters, this is absolutely the book for you. I loved it so much.

a gentleman’s gentleman by t.j. alexander was such an unexpected delight.

lord christopher eden is a gloriously eccentric man who prefers to live as far away from the ton as possible & has no desire to take a wife, thank you very much. but when he gets word from his lawyers that he needs to find a wife by the end of the season if he wants to keep his title & estate. as a “man of unusual make” he cannot think of anything worse. if he has any chance of finding a wife of convenience, he must head to London and find some staff. and here comes james harding, christopher’s new (tall, dark, & handsome) valet. as the deadline grows closer for christopher to find a wife, so does their bond.

this was such a beautiful, heartfelt, and funny(!!) historical romance. christopher is ridiculous and such a perfectly awkward & charming regency hero. a gentleman’s gentleman is such a hilariously tender story. not only was it a great historical romance in its own right, it’s also such a great queer/trans story.

i highly HIGHLY recommend.

4.5 stars, releases march 11, 2025.

a massive thank you to vintage for giving me an earc for this book

I absolutely loved this! It just felt like a TJ Alexander book. You could hear their voice through the writing on each page. I also just kept getting surprised with every turn the story took and just continued to fall in the love with the story and characters. I can't wait for TJ to write more historical romance!

Always excited for more historical romance with trans characters! I absolutely love the characters that TJ Alexander creates, even if the stories they're in aren't quite as strong. The way Christopher's past is revealed to the reader suites the narrative, but at the same time is frustratingly slow. Parts of the story are introduced and resolved quickly, but they're important to the narrative. Maybe this should've been longer.

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.