I read Suzanne Allain’s debut novel Mr Malcolm’s List when it first came out and I just wasn’t a fan. Which made me so sad because by all accounts, this should have been a book for me to LOVE, but at the time I just wan’t loving it. But that isn’t to say that I wouldn’t enjoy other books by this author. I just didn’t love that particular book at that particular time. When her second book came out, Miss Lattimore’s Letter, I found that her writing had improved and I enjoyed this story quite a bit better than her debut.
When I saw this book was coming out, I decided to give it a read and see if her progress continues. When I started this one, I was on a full blown historical romance kick and I was eager to read something else set in Regency England. I knew from experience that Allain’s writing was less formal than some of the other historical romances I had read and I was excited to check this one out, plus I loved the premise of the story from the description and seeing other reviews out there made me excited to sit down with this one!
I did an early micro review of this book when I was just starting it back in October. I finished it in a couple of days (the book is on the shorter side even for a romance) and I am now excited to share my full review of this sweet romance with all of you readers out there. If you enjoy historical romances and are looking for something to satisfy your Bridgerton addiction, this would be a book you should add to your TBR!
Summary
From the author of Mr. Malcolm’s List comes a delightful romantic comedy set in Regency England about a widow who takes high society by storm.
Diana Boyle, a wealthy young widow, has no desire to ever marry again. Particularly not to someone who merely wants her for her fortune.
So when she discovers that she’s listed in a directory of rich, single women she is furious, and rightly so. She confronts Maxwell Dean, the man who published the Bachelor’s Directory , and is horrified to find he is far more attractive than his actions have led her to expect. However, Diana is unmoved by Max’s explanation that he authored the list to assist younger sons like himself who cannot afford to marry unless it’s to a woman of means.
She gathers the ladies in the directory together to inform them of its existence, so they may circumvent fortune hunters’ efforts to trick them into marriage. Though outraged, the women decide to embrace their unique position of power and reverse the usual gender roles by making the men dance to their tune. And together… the ladies rewrite the rules. (summary from Goodreads)
Review
One of the first things I will say about this book is that it runs more to the sweet side of romance rather than the spicy. So if you are looking for something that’s more hot under the corset, then this is probably not the book for you but there is still plenty to love. I was pleased to see that Allain’s writing has improved greatly from the first book I read and I found that her storytelling also improved. This book felt more natural and the story progressed appropriately even if it was on the shorter side. While the story did wrap up well and everything felt appropriately paced, I would have liked to have seen a little bit more ‘length’ to this one. I felt like I finished it too fast and would have liked to enjoy the world a little longer.
The ‘directory’ aspect of the book was also intriguing. It was a new way to spin the marriage market that is so prominent in other historical romances. There is always such an emphasis on ‘the season’ but with this book and “The Rich Ladies Registry or the Bachelor’s Directory”, I felt like it gave readers a new approach to finding love during this time period. Getting to know Diana and Max was also a treat. From the beginning I was invested in their stories and romance and I thought that Allain did a great job giving them a HEA that was appropriate and fitting. The other characters in the book were charming and fun to get to know but didn’t overshadow the principal characters in the romance.
I started off thinking this book would be a 5 star review. It had a lot to recommend itself and I loved the characters, humor, sweetness, premise, and overall tone of the story. As it went on though I still think it is worthy of a 5 star rating but I do think there were some things I would have liked to have seen more of, for example I would have liked to have seen a little more length to the book that would expand possibly on the characters just a bit more. But overall I felt like this was a charming read that kept my attention for a few days and allowed me to escape into a world of romance and HEA.
Book Info and Rating
Format 272 pages, Paperback
Expected publication January 9, 2024 by Berkley
ISBN 9780593549643 (ISBN10: 0593549643)
Free review copy provided by publisher in partnership with Austen Prose in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.
Rating: 5 stars
Genre: historical romance, romance, historical fiction
PRAISE FOR THE LADIES REWRITE THE RULES
- “Innovative…The novel’s true strength lies in the friendship between the bold heroines”— Publisher’s Weekly
- “A fun, light-hearted Regency romp about changing society from the inside.”— Kirkus Reviews
- “Joyful, warm and witty, this is a delight of a book.”— All About Romance
PURCHASE LINKS
AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | PUBLISHER | BOOKSHOP | BOOKBUB | GOODREADS
AUTHOR BIO
Suzanne Allain is a screenwriter who lived in New York and Beijing before returning to her hometown of Tallahassee, Florida, where she lives with her husband. Suzanne adapted her novel Mr. Malcolm’s List into a screenplay and it was made into a movie starring Freida Pinto, Theo James, Ṣọpẹ Dìrísù, and Zawe Ashton.
WEBSITE | X (Formerly Twitter) | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS
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