Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an advanced audio copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Reputation is a cross between Pride and Prejudice and Mean girls, with the conversations a la Gilmore girls. Georgiana has been sent off to her aunt and uncle after her parents have given up on her ever getting married and decide to move to the shore for the fresh air. Georgie is struggling with being abandoned and also whether or not she even wants to be married. Then one night at the boringest-party imaginable, she meets Francis-- an esteemed young lady who just happens to be the epitome of a mean girl. Georgie quickly becomes entranced by Francis and her friends and all the debauched things they introduce her to.

While the vibes of a regeancy era Mean Girls were fabulous and enjoyable, I felt like Frances got way too much of a pass in this story. She is absolutely despicable and our MC spent way too much time being like "but Frances is my best friend!" and I found myself eyerolling and thinking "girl, get out!!"
Easily the best part of this book was the romance with Mr. Hawkesly. They have the absolute best banter-- of course carried out through letters in this historical novel.

I appreciated the idea of the novel, and genuinely enjoyed the romance and some of the drama. I just think this title went on a little too long and maybe went a little too far in some places. I wanted to revel in the drama and not find myself rolling my eyes at how over-the-top some of it was.

The narrator for this title was fab-- I would definitely pick up other titles in the future without knowing anything about them except that the same narrator reads it.


TW: gaslighting, mean girls, drunkenness, death of a sibling (in the past), death of a parent (in the past), sexual assault, rape (off page), parental abandonment, severe peer pressure