A caveat to start: Taming of the Shrew is my favorite Shakespeare comedy, and 10 Things I Hate About You is one of my all-time favorite movies. If anything, I was predisposed to love this homage, but there was always a chance of having my expectations too high.

It did not disappoint. I adored Evangeline as a FMC. Her independent nature, wit, intelligence, and resilience was so well written and demonstrated throughout the book. It was easy to appreciate how her personality was forged through mistreatment by the ton, but it was clear that the treatment only honed her strength. She was always willing to go for what she wanted, wasn't afraid to speak her mind, and provided a reprieve from regency customs and expectations.

And Gage...holy moly. He was such a fantastic match and I felt like he could not have been more perfect than if he was pulled from my own brain. Strong and independent, but never intimidated by Evangeline's own strength and wit. His lie of omission was obviously necessary to the story, but also done in a way that it was as defensable as it could be. I thought it was a really well crafted backstory that made you understand how the couple could recover from the third-act breakup you knew was coming. 

This is a perfect homage for any fan of Taming of the Shrew or 10 Things, or for anyone looking to dip their toe into a regency romance.