The first thing to say is: I enjoyed this a lot more once I stopped expecting Regency Romance with two capital Rs. Yes, there is a romance, and yes, it’s a regency setting, but there are none of the usual hallmarks of the genre – including the fact that the romance isn’t even the main plot line. Once I stopped expecting Regency Romance, I enjoyed it infinitely more for what is was – an understated historical fiction about a young woman determined to make something of herself, finding her place in society.

The second thing to say is: THEY’RE COUSINS. That’s all I have to say on the matter. Now we can return to the main part of my review.

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What this book did brilliantly – which is so rare to find in any historical fiction, let alone regency books – is have a socially conscious, feminist heroine, who actually does something about it (Eloise Bridgerton could never). The bulk of the plot revolves around the two female leads, Patience and Mary, pursuing their own passions and finding a way to use their talents for change and financial independence respectively.

As lovely as the romance and the family reunion was (putting aside the fact that those are the same thing), the individual character journeys were what stood out for me with this one. It’s a bit more Persuasion than Sense and Sensibility, and it’s a better book for it.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free copy for review. All opinions are my own.