**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**

A School for Unusual Girls is the first book in the Stanje House series by Kathleen Baldwin. This book, and really all three books, were such a big surprise for me. I completely love them! In my post of Riders by Veronica Rossi, I spoke about about much I enjoy binge reading books one right after another, so I decided to do it again with the Stranje House series. And I freakin’ loved it!

A School for Unusual Girls is such a different, in the best way, novel! It is part historical fiction, party magic, and part secret spy school. I have never read another book quite like it. One of the coolest parts of the book, is that you don’t really know what direction it is going to go in. Everything is so mysterious. You learn more and more as secrets are reveals and parts of the plot unfold.

At the Stranje School, there are a group of five completely special and diverse girls. I loved learning about each of the girls. They are all so different, and I am sure we are going to learn more about each of them in turn as the books so on. Georgie is the last girl to arrive at the Stranje school and she has no idea what is in store for her. Georgie loves science and chemistry in particular. She is trying to come up with the formula for an invisible ink. Her parents send her away to a reform school to try and mold her into a proper young lady, but really they send her somewhere so much cooler. Georgie, and the other girls’ adventures are just beginning and I was a captive audience from the very first page until the last. I was riveted. I loved getting to know Tess, Sera, Georgie, Jane and Maya. They are all so different and cool in their own way, and I loved seeing them all work together.

And I haven’t even spoken about the love interest. The romance in A School for Unusual Girls was great. It was slow burn and molded seemlessly into the plot of the story. Sebastian is so swoon worthy. I loved seeing him work with Georgie on her ink, and the historical elements of the story were an awesome addition. The book takes place right after Napolean was exiled to Elba (which we all know didn’t work out so well.) I loved reading about the history aspects in the book, because I knew what actually happened. It was fun to see these side events fit into history. Overall, A School for Unusual Girls was a FANTASTIC start to the Stranje House series. I can already tell it is going to be a favorite of mine. I am loving book 2 and and going to read book 3 immediately after! Book 2- Exile for Dreamers is Tess’ story, which is awesome! I love the set up for this series. If you have not read A School for Unusual Girls, you need to!

This review was originally posted on Book Briefs