For my first Regency romance book, I’m just swooning right now. I loved this book so much!! I loved the story, the setting, the characters, the historical atmosphere, and the overall writing style. I really felt like I had been transported to London in the early 1800s. This book is so charming, funny, and wholesome. There is no foul language or spicy scenes, which I really appreciated. Sophie Irwin has proven that authors can write amusing, wildly entertaining romance stories without all the crassness. 

Many people have compared it to Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice. I’ve never read any Jane Austin books, though I want to, so I can’t comment on the writing style compared to those classic books, but I have seen some Jane Austin movies and TV series, and I can agree that it felt very much like Pride and Prejudice. There are a lot of nods to it in this book, and some other reviewers said there are quite a few Easter eggs in the story, which, of course, I didn’t pick up on, but if you’re a Jane Austin reader, then you’d probably enjoy those. 

The story is simple, but our characters and their motives and emotions are complex. There were some slow parts here and there, but for the most part, I really enjoyed reading about Kitty and James. I also appreciated how we don’t just get Kitty’s perspective but also James’ throughout the story. I know a lot of people would call this enemies to lovers, but I would say it’s more frenemies to lovers. The banter was so satisfying and fun. Kitty is sassy, witty, and beguiling. James is snarky, skeptical, and cynical, but he’s also very charming and sincere. Both characters want only the best for their younger siblings and ultimately, their families. 

This was my first time introduced to the London Season, which was a lot of fun, full of parties and balls, fancy gowns, and dances. I really enjoyed getting to know this time period and culture. However, I’ll admit that even though the writing is superb, it was also a bit exhausting to read at times, and I had to take a break.

This is a stand-alone book, but I wish it were the start of a series. I didn’t want it to end! I wanted to keep reading about what would happen next for Kitty and James, as well as the rest of the Talbot sisters. I will absolutely read another book by this author and continue reading Regency romance books. This was such a refreshing treat that I absolutely adored!!! I can’t recommend this enough. It would be perfect to read during the spring if you’re a seasonal reader because it takes place around the beginning of spring through the beginning of summer.