I loved almost everything about this wonderful story! It has great writing with humor and lively, clever banter. Stella is an interesting and plucky heroine who is allowed to make mistakes and experience growth. Black representation and joy are also strengths of this book.

The anachronistic phrases and creative liberties didn’t really bother me. I also didn’t mind too terribly much that the story is predictable and the characters seem familiar. What bothered me were the jokes in a book that’s being marketed for children. There are quite a few sexual innuendos, and a joke that a woman should cheat on her husband just because he’s boring* (I know society may have something of a double standard on this, but women rightly condemn men who use this reason to justify affairs).

I still loved the story overall. I did not want to put the book down! It’s a great read for new adults who enjoy historical romance, the childhood-friends-to-lovers trope, and representation of people of color. (Slight spoiler, but you can honestly see it coming from a mile away: there are also LGBTQ+ side characters.)

Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for the free eARC! I post this review with my honest opinions.

*Note: it is possible that this joke might be changed prior to the book's publication. I will wait to post this review on Goodreads, Amazon, and Instagram until closer to the book’s publication date.

loved this book! historical isn’t usually my favorite, but s. isabelle beings something simultaneously fresh and well-trodden to the genre. the romance is adorable, and the accessible writing— while sometimes, perhaps, anachronistic to the era— makes this an easy read and almost certainly more enjoyable for teens. definitely recommend for younger readers who want diverse, fun historicals like bridgerton but written by an actual poc.