When I first started to listen to The Formidable Miss Cassidy by Meihan Boey I wasn't sure what to expexct but I have to say I was really impressed with it, the story is about a ladies companion Miss Cassidy who arrives in Singapore to be a companion to teenager Sarah Jane Bendemeer who is the sole surviving daughter to Captain Bendemeer, but as the story unfolds you begin to realise there is more to Miss Cassidy than meets the eye, as she has a certain magic to her and she will protect her new famly to the best of her abilities.
This story has a charming innocence to it but with some magic and suspence thrown in, the characters are all lovely and the narrator Paula Masterton does an excellant job with the voices so each character is unique in its own right and easy to follow.
I hope there will be a sequel.

The Formidable Miss Cassidy by Meihan Boey is an enthralling blend of historical romance and suspense, packed with intrigue, charm, and a heroine you can’t help but root for. Miss Cassidy, a fiercely intelligent young woman whose wit and courage shines in a society that often underestimates her.
Meihan Boey’s storytelling is superb, creating a world that feels vivid and alive with historical detail alongside light-hearted historical fantasy. Miss Cassidy is an outstanding lead who is sharp, determined, and far from conventional. She navigates complex social structures with finesse, all while grappling with personal challenges and daring pursuits that make her feel both relatable and inspiring. The plot is expertly paced, balancing romance with a suspenseful mystery, and the narrative tension keeps you hooked until the final page.
The audiobook, narrated with warmth and nuance, brings Meihan Boey’s characters to life in a wonderfully immersive way. The narrator perfectly captures Miss Cassidy's unique blend of poise and defiance, along with the rich atmosphere of the setting. It's easy to get swept up in the story’s twists and the characters’ emotions, which are made all the more vivid through the narrator’s skilful portrayal.
Thank you to @Bolindaaudio and NetGalley for providing an Audio Listening Copy (ALC) of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. This is a delightful, captivating story for fans of historical romance and mystery, and an audiobook experience that adds depth to an already outstanding tale.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable historical fantasy almost entirely set in late C19 Singapore. The history of Singapore has been well researched, and the fantasy elements add to the plot in practical ways, rather than as add-on, optional extras. Characters are well-developed and believable, fantasy notwithstanding.

I listened to the audiobook which is brilliantly narrated by Paula Masterton, and am hoping that the sequel will also be produced as an audiobook, with the same narrator.

I really enjoyed this audiobook; the narrator was fantastic, bringing each character to life in a way that made them feel distinct and memorable. Miss Cassidy felt like an adult version of a magical Mary Poppins, adding a unique touch to the story. The author skillfully wove a narrative that matched perfectly with the audiobook.
The story was structured in chapters by episode so it was refreshing see this type of structure
As well I loved how deeply the characters grow in the chapters and I would definitely adore read more about this characters. Overall was a brilliant and entertaining opportunity to lisent this audiobook

Miss Cassidy is a distinctive character whose skillset ranges from supervising young females to solving urgent crisis of real life. Mr Kay's ever expanding family could do some help with strange events surrounding him & Miss Cassidy seems to be just the right choice.

This was a cozy little family story tied by threads of ghosts. I enjoyed the supernatural element that made the mundane muggle lives a bit more interesting. For the most part, I could imagine the story progressing in Jane Austen's timelines, though situated in Singapore. It would have been just another book I read had the twists towards the end not been so astonishing (without any spoilers). So if you give this a try, do stick till the end and you can have a good dessert 😉

1890s Singapore and MissCassidy takes up a new role as governess, English tutor and friend. Mr Kay asks her to teach and look after his twin daughters. Her duties will be varied and some will be dark and dangerous. But Miss Cassidy is a formidable woman.

Very well written and well narrated (I listened to the audiobook). Great characters, setting and plot twists. Often funny even at times of great peril. Can Miss Cassidy protect her charges from a blood thirsty demon? Read to find out.

Not what I expected at all, but this audio book was a delight. I love a historical novel and as The Formidable Miss Cassidy was set in Victorian Singapore, I thought I was on to a winner, I was, but not necesarily for the reasons I imagined. As well as well reseacrhed historical detail, we had supernatural suspence and fantasy thrown in. It was so well done I didn't have to suspend my disbelief for long.
The audio verion was exceptionally good. The accents, the characterisations, the pace and the dialogue led to an unexpectedly theatrical experience. I didn't want to stop listening.
I'd definately recommend this charming book to a wide audience. It is going into the stocking of a few people I know this Christmas.
As for me, I am looking forward to meeting Miss Cassidy again, and hope this becomes a series.

Miss Cassidy is hired to help a lonely teenage girl in Singapore, whose mother and siblings all succumbed to disease. Initially, Sarah-Jane almost ignores her, but eventually they start to get on well. Two years later Sarah-Jane and her father move and Miss Cassidy is hired by Mr Kay as an English teacher to his twin daughters.
Miss Cassidy is no ordinary governess, companion or teacher. She deals with mischievous and terrible beings, and protects those she cares for.
Pure escapism. Well read. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thank you for providing me with a copy of The Formidable Miss Cassidy. This was an excellent cozy read, perfect for this time of year when the weather is cooling down and it’s becoming more cloudy and rainy. I loved the mysterious aspect to this book and how we slowly get to know more about Miss Cassidy but at the same time without giving much away. I also loved that she follows a few different families and we get to meet a variety of characters, each with really distinct personalities who all jump off the page. The comedy throughout is also excellent but in a way that’s effortless and genuinely funny, not forcing the humour onto the page. This is a great option for someone looking for a cosier fantasy read but where the fantasy elements are more subtle and where there are more comedic aspects to the stories and characters - nothing overly serious.

4 stars.

Really enjoyed this one, I listened to this and the narrator was fantastic. I could listen on 3 x speed and still listen along fine. The accents were good to my untrained ear, she convinced me that each character had different nationalities.
I liked how the story unfolded, Miss Cassidy seemed like a Nanny McPhee/magical governess at first but we soon see that she's something else altogether.
The rich blend of cultures and mythology was very well done, if I didn't love to read; I'd wish it were a movie. I honestly could read about Miss Cassidy forever. The chapters felt episodic and it was easy to put down if you needed to but I read this in one sitting.
I wouldn't like to guess at Miss Cassidy's age but it was refreshing to have a book centered around an older character for once.
The setting of the book was very immersive and for most of the book I felt as though I was a fly on the wall.
Love to see more of Miss Cassidy or other books from the author, I'll be checking her out.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bolinda Audio for the opportunity to listen to this.

Miss Cassidy travels from Scotland to Singapore to be the governess to Sarah Jane Bendemeer, only surviving child of widowed Captain Bendemeer. It soon becomes apparent there is more for Miss Cassidy to do. For she is no ordinary governess and there are sinister supernatural beings threatening the Captain.

After helping the Bendemeers Miss Cassidy moves to the Kay family. Trouble follows her or rather she finds different demons at work, threatening Mr Kay and his family.

I had started to read this but I had stopped. I liked the idea for the story but I had felt like I’d walked in part way through, or missed a bit that explained who or what Miss Cassidy was and how she can see these other world beings. It wasn’t that I hadn’t been enjoying it but I felt on the back foot. I did find I preferred to listen to it on Audio and once I started it didn’t take long to finish.

I liked the setting of the book, in early 20th Century Singapore and later in the UK. It was easy to imagine the scene depicted, the streets and the houses where Miss Cassidy works as governess, and supernatural hunter.

There’s a nice gentle pace to the story without it dragging and a hint of romance between Miss Cassidy and Mr Kay, who finds her amusing.

I liked the idea of the different supernatural creatures she came across. I would have liked a bit more background about them, their history and legend, the stories they come from, though as the story progressed that did happen more.

Having only just started to read more fantasy type books I’m not familiar with historical fantasy but this one was a good introduction with a fair balance of reality and mystical.

After an unsure start, this was a fun way to spend a few hours listening time.

🌈 Historical mystery
🌈 Fantasy elements
🌈 Romantic elements

Miss Cassidy arrives in Singapore as a paid companion to a young lady. There's more to her than meets the eye. The indomitable Miss Cassidy has supernatural powers and a compassionate heart - and she is about to be put to the test in more ways than one.

While battling local magical beings who are trying to destroy those who she cares for, she also finds herself drawn to the persistent and attractive Mr Kay.

This is not really romance but the romantic subplot is very sweet. Mr Kay is a wonderful character.

I absolutely loved this story and how Miss Cassidy's adventures join together.

Singapore history and folklore is so interesting - it's a melting pot of cultures. The descriptions of food made me so hungry!

The only thing I wasn't completely taken with was Miss Cassidy's voice which seemed at times to be a bit too 'Mrs Doubtfire'. Miss Cassidy sounded older than her (apparent) 38 years of age and, at times, the voice didn't seem to match the dialogue. The other characters are read very well.

This book is award winning and I can understand why. I am very much looking forward to reading the next one.

I received an ARC of this audio book from Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Very, unusual book but I loved it!

Miss Cassidy a governess with echoes of both Mary Poppins and Miss Jean Brodie, travels to turn of 19th Century Singapore to teach Miss Sarah Jane Bendemeer. The Bendermeer family has been mostly wiped out due to illness and Miss Cassidy helps Sarah-Jane and her father deal with their grief and the mess left behind.

The narration of this Audiobook was OUTSTANDING, at first listen Miss Cassidy was reminding me a lot of Maggie Smith as Miss Jean Brodie and I did wonder if that would annoy me by end of book. I am happy to say it did not. There was a huge list of characters, each had their own voice. There were so many different accents too, Scottish, English, Irish, Indian, Chinese and Malay, they were all very distinct . Baffling how good Paula Masterton was at giving the characters life.

Aside from the narration the prose was excellent, there was a lot of humour in the book and the characters were very likeable . The author also conjured up images of late 19th century Singapore very well you can just imagine yourself immersed in this multicultural Island. A couple of loose ends were tied up a bit quickly at end is my only criticism of whole book.

I am not sure if I would have read this book, the super natural elements may have put me off but having listened to it I am quite sure I would have enjoyed it if I had, I am just as sure that Paula Masterton's excellent narration turned this from a solid 7 book to a 9 out of 10 highly enjoyable audio experience 😀. I look forward to hearing about Miss Cassidy's and Mr Kay's next adventure.

This was so cute! I love older main characters in books so this was so refreshing to read about. It felt like 3 stories within one, all following Mrs Cassidy and I did not expect her to end up a god! I hope we get an audiobook of the 2nd one as the narrator was great for this one!

This was the best audio book I have ever listened to. The story and narrator were absolutely brilliant and I was held gripped throughout. It wa a different genre for me but it was wonderfully written and so vivid.I really hope it does well when it is released - it certainly deserves to. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me access to an early copy of this audio book

Fun fiction audiobook. An interesting tale set in colonial Singapore of the 1890’s, with a bit of the local spiritual customs to add to the thrill. Miss Cassidy, a Mary Poppins for those with trouble with spirits and demons. No-one would expect it when she first arrives to be a companion to a young woman, but she seems ‘formidably’ prepared where they are concerned. Very perceptive too. Sarah Jane Bendemeer and her father are in much better hands than either could imagine. Thank you to Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for the audio ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

This is possibly the most genre confused book I have ever read! But...It works quite well.

A cross between a historical fiction novel - with the governess in 1800's Singapore, working for two families, a romance book - with the romances of quite a few characters worked through within the story or a supernatural or fantasy book - with allusions of her age, her knowledge of various mythical creatures and practices and her 'past'.

Miss Cassidy, who I found to be charming, insightful and dear rather than formidable, is written in such a way that I was often baffled at why she was doing what she was or thinking the thoughts she was. It wasn't read in a way that the reader was privy to the information at hand but rather it gets revealed at the end like a mystery novel.

I listened to an audio version and was very charmed by the narrators soft Scottish lilt. She spoke very well and had a wide range of accents and intonations for the characters.

All in all, quite an interesting read and it looks like there may be more in the series to look forward to.

Mt thanks to Netgalley, Bolinda Audio and Meihan Boey for an opportunity to read and give opinions on this ARC

Meihan Boey’s ‘The Formidable Miss Cassidy’ transports listeners to early twentieth-century Singapore, where we meet Miss Cassidy, a woman in her late thirties hired to serve as the “English” lady’s companion to 14-year-old Sarah Jane. The catch? Miss Cassidy is actually Scottish, not English, which makes her an amusing choice to explain English customs to her inquisitive charge and those around them. This twist of irony adds warmth and humour, as Miss Cassidy graciously navigates her role, with more than a few raised eyebrows at her considerable physical frame and stunning red hair.

The first half of the novel is a pleasant, insightful dive into a society in transition, especially in how it treats women. Boey’s research shines here – colonial Singapore comes vividly to life, with its sights, sounds, and social rules feeling as authentic as they are captivating. I enjoyed how the book explored changing attitudes toward women, especially in such a unique setting.

Then, without warning, the story takes a hard left into the supernatural. One moment, Miss Cassidy’s juggling afternoon tea and the expectations of polite society; the next, she’s suddenly attempting to catch evil entities! While I appreciate a genre shift when it’s done well, this one felt a bit abrupt – almost like we’d wandered into a different novel entirely. It’s a bold move, but despite a few subtle hints in the first half of the story, the two halves don’t quite mesh as well as they could.

Several subplots crop up as well, some of which add layers to the story while others seem to contribute characters without adding much to the climax. Combined with some dips in pace, these almost-disassociated plots made the novel feel a bit disjointed at times.

Thankfully, Paula Masterton’s narration is spot-on. She brings Miss Cassidy to life with warmth and personality, and her Scottish accent adds a lovely authenticity to the character. Her delivery kept me engaged, even when the story slowed, and added an extra layer of charm to the experience.

4⭐️

I had the audiobook of this delightful fantasy read by Paula Masterton who was excellent. She has a lovely gentle Scottish burr for Miss Cassidy.

Historical fiction with the setting in Singapore 1890’s, Miss Cassidy works as an English tutor for Mr Kay Wing Tong’s family, but there’s more to Miss Cassidy than being a companion or tutor.

It’s a lighter gentle enjoyable story, it’s lightly dusted with the fantasy brush so it doesn’t alienate non fantasy readers, but it might be too light for the genre enthusiasts. I enjoyed the storytelling and the insights into the life of the time. I didn’t find her character to be formidable, I found her quite charming.

It looks like it might be a series, so I’d be keen to listen to the next one.

If Mary Poppins met Supernatural!

Miss Cassidy is a governess for wealthy families, in 1890’s Singapore. When she is not teaching the children English during the day, she is ridding their houses of ghosts and other creatures during the night.

Really lovely wholesome story with a bit of action. I nice mix of genres.

The narrator for the book added personality to each of the characters and it was a very enjoyable listen.