“A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting” is a regency romance like no other. The heroine, Kitty Talbot is the oldest of five sisters and needs to marry to pay off debts and rescue her siblings from poverty and separation. She is a formidable character who faces ruthless ton with wit, charm, and steely determination. It is a classic romance, full of humour and properly researched as well, but it is also a modern take on marriage market, role of women in the society and the constraints faced by them. Kitty is bold and not afraid to voice her opinions, but she is also calculating and manipulates unsuspecting men. She is playing by her rules, just like Becky Sharp, but she is modern version of Becky, and dare I say much nicer. The book is really well thought, and it has all the tropes of a good romance. A really good read for a hot summer afternoon.

I loved this debut! A delightfully fun story set in regency England. I adored Kitty – she is determined to secure a fortune, putting aside her own happiness so that her sisters can lead the lives they desire. She is intelligent, amusingly cunning, and utterly admirable. I loved her scandalous antics; nothing will stop her from finding a fortune.
For those Bridgerton fans – get this one on your TBR! It is wonderfully atmospheric: I was wrapped up in garden strolls, elegant balls, and dinner dances. Filed with drama, gossip and scandal, this is a charming escapism read.

Her parents married for love but Kitty Talbot has to be more pragmatic. The eldest of five sisters, she has three months to marry for money to pay off the family debts or they are all on the street. Kitty resolves to travel to London and partake in 'The Season' but her best efforts seem doomed to failure.
This is a very fluffy novel but it really hits the spot as a piece of short, fun entertainment. Yes, it is sub-Bridgerton and very influenced by Austen but that doesn't stop the action bouncing along. I read it in a couple of hours and loved it!

A really fun, humorous read. The language used struck me as very Bridgetonesque which was a plus. The characters are likeable and the ending is not as predictable as first thought. Our heroine is clever and resourceful with definite ambition! Highly recommended read - really enjoyable!

Thank you Netgalley

This whole book was a lot of fun. It had that lovely Pride and Predjuice/Bridgerton style crossover of misunderstandings, forthright heroines and society expectations. It doesn't push the boat out in terms of the kind of diversity that you get from Bridgerton, so I assume is more 'historically' accurate, but with a little uptick in the level of scandal going on.

Somehow, despite the influences on this story, and the sisters being nearly identical to the whole Bennet family, and a hypochondriac mother, it still felt fresh. Even better, the growing relationship between Kitty and Lord Radcliffe felt like one of equals - they both were sarcastic and proud, and both played an important role in rescuing each others' families. Similarly, Kitty was very likeable - she was determined and dogged in her need to find a fortune, but equally wasn't willing to fully deceive anyone about her situation.

A fun and frothy Regency-style romance - the poor family is scrambling back into society, the toffs are suitably snobby and there's a little bit of honest reputational scandal too. It didn't exactly push the boat out in terms of the story or storytelling, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. 3.5 stars!

This Historical novel is not only a journey back to the heady heights of 1818 London society but, for me, it was also a return to that earlier phase of my reading when I devoured any novel that hinted at a possible romantic lliason between two unlikely main characters.
In ‘A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting’ Sophie Irwin’s descriptive detail and her enticing ‘Will they? Won’t they?’ storyline makes this engaging and a must-read for lovers of classical hits like Pride and Prejudice.
The heroine, Kitty Talbot, is headstrong and determined which is just as well, if she is to have any hope of ensnaring a potential husband in order to save her family from downfall. Whilst there is that to be expected love-hate relationship, Irwin somehow manages to ensure her main character has just that little more daring, thereby keeping the modern reader’s interest.
This is certainly a book I would recommend for those who have read the classics so often and have spent many years wishing there were new similar delights to read.
Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

An entertaining and enjoyable light read, with a far more ingenious and forthright heroine than is often found in Regency era historical fiction.

Following the death of her father and spurned by her now former fiancé, Kitty, the eldest of five daughters, must make a good match in mere weeks to ensure her sisters will be taken care of. Enter the London season.

I liked that Kitty took her life into her own hands as much as possible, although she was obviously limited by the "corset" of society, laws and expectations regarding women. She fights against her own powerlessness and she does it all because of a deep love for her family, which felt very real.

I immensely enjoyed the humorous dialogue and verbal sparring that the genre has become so well known for and which we all delight in. There was a lot of judgement and dare I say, prejudice(!), on all sides. However, there was also real discussion of the reality of Kitty and her family's situation - the harsh, devastating future that could await them, and how women had very few options or opportunities in their world. Also, that perhaps only rich independent upper class men had the privilege to see it as 'fortune hunting.'

The characters were effected by events in the real historical world, such as the battle of Waterloo, and having difficulty returning to their previous lives after fighting wars. I thought this was a unique strength of the book as period romances often seem to exist in a vacuum.

I found it an enjoyable historical romance with varied and real characters, perfect for a sunny afternoon.

Favourite quotes:
- "Of course, on the battlefield, Radcliffe would have been free to shoot Miss Talbot, a not unappealing prospect."
- "Yes," she confessed. "I will always choose my sisters – I will choose their need more than my want every day."

This is a smooth and easy read historical romance novel about the Talbot sisters and their need for money. The oldest sister, Kitty sets out to get some by way of attracting a rich suitor in the London court scene.
This was an enjoyable enough read, but it felt a bit bland to me, and it didn’t really ‘grab’ me at any point.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review

A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting is a lovely, easy read. The future of the Talbot sisters is all down to the eldest sister Kitty finding a rich husband to save their home and so Kitty heads to London to take on the new season.
A must read for fans of Bridgerton and other period dramas.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting

A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting is a light and easy to read tale from the regency era. Kitty Talbot has twelve weeks to find and marry a rich husband in order to save herself and her four younger sisters from penury. She sets about the task with panache, engineering an introduction into London high society and making her way through the season with great vivacity and more than a few close shaves. She is assisted, with great reluctance, by the dashing Lord Radcliffe who is more than a match for her wit and stubbornness. There are touches of Austen, plenty of Vanity Fair and of course, Bridgerton. All the characters were likeable and the although the denouement is clear from the beginning, the journey along the way is great fun. I look forward to more from Sophie Irwin.

I so nearly pre-ordered a special edition of this, and I’m gutted that I didn’t because I really loved it!

Historical Fiction is probably my favourite genre, but only when the female characters feel independent and challenge the social norms. And nobody can deny that Kitty does just that. She’s pragmatic. She knows that there are conventions that as a woman she won’t be able to break. But she works with what she can do. And she’s not afraid to speak her mind. I love her sass and her independence. She’s such a great character!

And adored the banter between Kitty and Lord Radcliffe. It has a fresh, modern take just teetering on the edge of era appropriate (which is the sweet spot for me!).

As a romance, it’s definitely a slow burn. No Brigerton-esque sex scenes here. For me the tension was perfect, and the pay-off was brilliant.

If you’re a fan of the wit and characters or Jane Austen, with a slightly more modern lens as seen on Anya Taylor-Joy’s Emma adaptation or Netflix’s Brigerton then this is for you! I had so much fun with it, and can’t wait to see more from Sophie Irwin.

A filler for those who are missing a new Bridgerton novel. It is alight read with some amusing moments. Great for summer reading!

Thank you so much Sophie Irwin for writing a smut free Historical romance. Your voice is needed in these trying times.

This was such a delightful and witty book. The protagonist is awesome. Not a boring moment anywhere. Not awfully accurate, historically speaking but who needs historical accuracy in a fun book?

My main complaint, for which I couldn't rate it higher is that more interaction/ development between the protagonist and the love interest were sorely needed.

Advertising this book in relation to Bridgerton is both a blessing and a curse for this book.

A blessing because this, and I'd imagine it was the same for many people, is what grabbed my attention.

A curse however because the only thing I could think of when I was reading it was how similar it was to Season 2 of Bridgerton.

In this book, we follow two sisters to the London ton with the aim of finding a rich man to marry. One of their parents was not of high birth so this is a secret they try to hide. They get hosted by a wealthy "widow" and introduced to the ton. The older sister, Kitty, who is looking for a match is stubborn, witty, and outspoken and ends up in witty battles with Lord Radcliffe who is just as stubborn, and they eventually fall in love. Sound familiar?

I feel bad for the author because I'm sure they put a lot of effort into this story and their characters. If I hadn't seen Bridgerton I most definitely would've ranked it higher than 3🌟 and thought it was a groundbreaking story. However when something such as Bridgerton becomes as big as it does, everything similar is compared to it.

Despite my criticism above, I really did enjoy the characters and the slow descent into romance. Strong female characters are always a win for me, especially if they're set in a time when women were supposed to be seen and not heard.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest, independent review.

Kitty Talbot needs money. Kitty and her sisters have just twelve weeks until they are made homeless. So Kitty does what everyone woman does in 1818: launches herself into London society to find a husband with a fortune.

Unfortunately, although there is a lot of hype around this book, I really struggled with it. The plot just moved along without any real action or excitement, and I found the characters very one-dimensional. I found the setting not very atmospheric, which didn't really help in holding my interest.

It just didn't wow me, maybe my expectations were too high, but those who love historical fiction more may love it and find the appeal.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for approving me for an ARC of this book.

With her family home at stake and Kitty being the only one capable of saving it she sets to work. Off to London she goes to find herself a rich husband. Being of a lower class Kitty knows this will not be a mean feet but she has a trick or two up her sleeve to help her on her way.

You have to admire the determination and creative ways Kitty plans to secure herself a husband, I’m not sure that I would be so quick thinking, if I was in that position. Kitty she remained loyal even if that meant jeopardising her own happiness, her sisters and her mission were at the forefront at all times. Some might even say she was a little blinkered especially where her sister Cecily was concerned.

When Lord Radcliffe intercepts her plans the banter and events that follow prove to be entertaining and delightful. Whilst Radcliffe appeared quite harsh and cold at the beginning it doesn’t take long for Kitty’s charm to work her magic and we soon find ourselves hoping for a romance between these two.

This regency novel brought to life 1818 London. The vivid descriptions the culture and class were all illuminating. Oh how I wish I could be a fly on the wall in those times!

How could I give this incredible debut anything less than 5 stars. One word sprang to mind when I was reading this book. Charming. Utterly and delightfully charming. I couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear and found pure pleasure in Kitty’s tactful ways. It was fun and engaging, the perfect escapist read to devour on a rainy day!

A fabulously witty take on a Regency romance, with a relatable and practical heroine.

Due to tragedy and setbacks in her future plans, Kitty needs money to support herself and her sisters, and who holds the money in Regency England? - why the men of course! So Kitty sets out to get herself one of those, a man with money.

What I absolutely loved about this book is that Kitty is completely understandable, she is not pushed into marrying money by a social-climbing obsessed parent, she is not being sold off for property, or selling herself for property, she is not frivolous or a spendthrift, her need for money is entirely realistic, practical, with consideration for her dependents - her sisters, and relatable to most women for centuries. I was really struck with how different a heroine she was, and how she was never mercenary about her husband-hunting, despite her need, she remains a kind, compassionate, and therefore utterly understandable and relatable main character. She never rises to any accusations of gold-digging, but the facts speak for themselves - men created a world where women had no property or independence, but still managed to resent any female who then presumed to pursue them for a share of that property and support.

The book is so well written, light-hearted and funny, without making light of Kitty's situation, the time constraints she was under meant that the plot moved quickly, and the sense of urgency really adds to the stakes.

The main male character is not a stuffy wealthy type or a ridiculous alpha male either. He is aloof at first, not for aloofness' sake, but with good reason, and with sense and wit of his own, which meant that I could actually believe in him, both as a character, and as a potential match for Kitty. I love the fact that there is no contrived conflict either, relationships develop between characters as they find things they have in common, and that is true of side characters as well.

This is a great novel for an escape, a laugh, and is a perfect choice for getting out of a reading slump.

I rated it a very high four stars - borderline 5, so have rounded up because I will be re-reading this, and will definitely look out for more from Sophie Irwin - love her style!

Set in Englands regency era this book is a delight.

If you like to read a nice romantic story without too much sexual detail this is for you!

Kitty’s character is fierce, quick off the mark and very loyal to her family. You know that she puts on a hard front but deep down she needs someone to support her more than financial.

It’s a good read that with keep your heart full!

Very enjoyable regency romance with a feisty heroine and dashing hero. Great characters and storyline

I really enjoyed this book. It is such good fun, and brilliantly written.
The characters have depth, I cared about them and the story of Kitty, while fun, also had spark. She is witty and cunning, refusing to be a victim of circumstance. The story has real substance.
I’ll definitely be reading more from this author and ordered myself a special edition of this book, as I need it on my bookshelf!