Ooh this was a delight. I instantly connected with Elfreda and fell for her passion and determination to reach her goals. And then in strolls (or lunges really) Georgie and I knew there would be a lot of fun trouble ahead. Despite what drove Georgie to return home, their ability to make anything and everything seem light and fun and nonchalant made this book such a breeze to read.  The banter between Elfreda and Georgie never let up, even in the most disastrous situations, and they way it led to longing and passion made this book feel cozy at all times. It was quite a slow burn, though being inside each character's heads made it feel less slow and honestly I appreciated how quickly they did share their attraction especially in this time when it could be so dangerous to do so. I love how safe they both felt, and how all the queer characters made it feel like a cozy, happy, safe place to be who they are. The sisters and thwarted suitor made for a lot of levity and there were plenty of laugh out loud moments. This book is both fun and tender.  I really loved all the historical notes and setting and even the discussion on why learning about the past is so important to Elfreda in the way she understands the present.

Note: I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by the author, which I LOVE because you could tell how much they cared for the characters and how much emotion surrounded even the most seemingly simple exchanges.

Thanks to the publisher for a free copy and free audiobook; my thoughts and review are my own.