I really enjoyed this book! A great historical rendering of Julie of Saxe-Coburg. Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC!

The Rebel Romanov offers a fascinating history of Julie of Saxe-Coburg, a German princess who married Grand Duke Konstantin, the second son of Czar Paul I and grandson of Catherine the Great. Julie was also the aunt of both Queen Victoria (through her mother, the Duchess of Kent) and Prince Albert (through his father, Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha).

Helen Rappaport brings new life to a largely overlooked figure, presenting Julie as a woman who defied the rigid expectations of 19th-century royal life. Married at just 14, Julie endured an unhappy and controlling marriage, prompting her to seek independence in a world that allowed little room for female autonomy. The biography explores her personal struggles—including the births of two illegitimate children—and offers broader insight into the complexities of European dynastic politics and the limited agency available to royal women.

This is a thoroughly researched and compellingly told biography of a remarkable woman who refused to conform.

Thank you to Helen Rappaport, Tantor Audio, and NetGalley for the advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Learning about a new-to-me player in the Romanov empire was entertaining and informative. Julie's story is one that absolutely deserves a spotlight, if for nothing more than to create empathy for her situation. Her story of a loveless yet politically advantageous marriage is not new, nor will it every be. But what is refreshing, and maybe not explored enough at length, is her sheer bravery at contemplating and escaping her horrible life in the Russian royal court. At barely more than a teenager she manages to escape from under her despotic mother-in-law's thumb and tried to scratch some happiness out for herself.

I am so grateful to have read this book! A huge thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan for an ebook and Tantor Audio for an audiobook copy of this!

This was like a juicy gossipy insider's look to the all the royal courts in the late 1700s-1840s. I really loved how interconnected the story was with Queen Victoria's family, the Russian Romanovs, and the other courts.

This was a fascinating biography on the life of Julie Saxe-Coberg who became married to Konstantine, the grandson of Catherine the Great (through her son's Paul's line). While Konstantin abdicated his thrown to his younger brother Nicholas 1, Julie became known as the Empress who Russia could have had. Born to a financially failing royal like of Saxe-Coberg, Julie secures financial support through her marriage with Konstantin who sadly mistreated her so much to the point she fled within their early years of marraige (married in her teens). I was fascinating by the political moves from her mother Auguste and Catherine the Great and loved how Auguste secured advantageous marriages for nearly all of her children (Victoire- Queen Victoria's mother), her son Leopold (married Princess Charlotte), etc.

The audiobook read really easy and well and while there were a bunch of characters, the author did a good job at refreshing us who they were.

A fascinating look at history during this period and was the PERFECT context for reading War & Peace and those interested in the life and politics of the time. Especially loved the inside view of the Romanov courts! I really loved the footnotes as well as the journal entry passages that were shared. Having been to Riga Lativa it was fun to hear about the descriptions of the city from the late 1700s.

I was intrigued by the premise of this book and eager to learn more about Princess Juliane and her remarkable story. The historical details are clearly well-researched, and there’s no shortage of fascinating material about her life and the challenges she faced. However, I found the combination of the writing style and narration to be a bit dry for my taste. It was difficult to stay engaged, and I struggled to maintain momentum as I listened. While I didn’t finish the full audiobook, I did listen to a substantial portion and feel that this book will appeal most to readers who enjoy detailed, fact-focused biographies. Thank you to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this advance copy.

Very well researched I can’t even image how many sources the author read and went through getting information for this book.
It is also well written and interesting I have never heard of Julia, Royal history isn’t something I would normally read so it was hard to keep up at times.
I really enjoyed learning about Julia and her relationships and awful marriage.
Royals were and still looked up today but this really highlighted how marriages were more political and for making connections. Not for love, and woman couldn’t just leave.

As someone who studied all things Russian in university, I was instantly intrigued by The Rebel Romanov. Catherine the Great and her son Paul are often front and center in pop culture—especially with recent portrayals in shows like The Great and Catherine the Great—but Julie of Saxe-Coburg? Not nearly as well-known, despite her fascinating life. Enter Helen Rappaport’s latest, which shines a much-deserved spotlight on this complex and bold woman.

I received an advanced audiobook copy via NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, and narrator Jennifer Dixon did a fantastic job. She moved seamlessly between English, Russian, French, and German, making the story feel immersive and authentic.

While the early chapters focus more heavily on Catherine and Paul, and I found myself slightly distracted at first (a common issue for me with nonfiction), once Julie's story took center stage, I was fully engaged. Rappaport strikes a great balance between scholarly research and compelling storytelling—it never felt too dry or overly academic.

If you're interested in the Romanovs and want something a little off the beaten path, this is a great pick. It’s a poignant portrait of a woman who defied the constraints of royal life in pursuit of her own freedom. And as always, I support women’s rights—and more importantly, women’s wrongs.

As someone who has long been captivated by the history of the Romanovs, I was immediately drawn to The Rebel Romanov. This book delves into the life of Julia Romanov, a figure whose existence has often been overshadowed by the more prominent members of the Romanov family. Tragically, little is known about her life, and even more so about her final resting place, however, Helen Rappaport does an amazing job of piecing together the information that there is still available.

Despite the title suggesting rebellion, I didn’t find Julia to be the rebellious figure I expected. Instead, her story paints a portrait of a woman who endured an incredibly painful and difficult existence. Her life was filled with hardship, and the book poignantly highlights this lesser-known side of the Romanov legacy.

After finishing this book, I found myself reflecting on the many layers of the royal family’s history—one that often resembles the drama of a soap opera or a modern-day reality show, especially when considering the numerous illegitimate children and secretive affairs that emerge throughout the pages.

I would highly recommend The Rebel Romanov to anyone with an interest in royal history. It covers not just Julia’s story but also provides insight into the broader intrigues and mysteries of the royal families.

I'm a 90s child. Give me anything involving the Romanov's and I will eat it up.
I love reading all crumbs about Catherine the Great, always and seeing all the political connections of the 1800s throughout Eurasia
And history is always great because it reminds ones that no matter what, people have always been people