Started off amazing but sadly lost its way along, so much so that it didn't seem like the same book at around the halfway mark. The lightness implied in the blurb and with which the story starts disappears along the way, and the blackmail plot just takes on too much of the spotlight, the romance itself felt a bit like an afterthought - just didn't see the romance and feelings and love develop amid all the upheavals and intrigue.
Also, Anya herself was a very hard to like character, always on her high horse, just being too much of everything possible to vex Damian - which would've been fun had the banter and lightness of the start carrying through, but with the too-many intrigue plot points, it just got tedious, sadly.
This author writes well, but this book could've done with a strong-armed editor to wrangle all the plot points in line to make it a romance more than over-the-top intrigue.

I have really been enjoying this series so far! Amita's writing just really appeals to me as a reader - the romance is strong, the banter is great, and I'm always left wanting more.

A funny and well plotted historical romance that made me smile and root for the characters
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Great follow up to Amita’s Unladylike Lessons, I really enjoyed the style of her writing and the representation of the Indian and Jamaican backgrounds of the characters. Bit slow at times but if you’re looking for a lighter regency read this would be great for you.

This book is the second in a series featuring the Marleigh sisters, and stars Anya - a talented sitar player in the royal court. When an unexpected guest inheritance with conditions forces her to contemplate marriage she is determined to find love and not settle for anything less.

I enjoyed the diverse cast and the immersive regency universe created by the author, and definitely got the Bridgerton vibes. However, I didn’t find the plot too gripping and ultimately had to push myself to continue reading. I hope other readers enjoy this more than me (and they must, because a third book is on the way!!)

I received an advance copy from the publisher for review consideration. Opinions my own.

"Unladylike Rules of Attraction" by Amita Murray is a delightful and witty romance that breaks all the conventional rules while charming its way into your heart. Murray’s writing is sharp and full of humor, with a protagonist who is refreshingly bold and unapologetically herself. The novel explores themes of love, independence, and societal expectations with a modern twist, making it a fun and engaging read. The chemistry between the characters is electric, and the unconventional romance unfolds in a way that is both satisfying and unexpected. "Unladylike Rules of Attraction" is a must-read for those who enjoy a clever, spirited love story that defies tradition.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free ARC in exchange for a review.

I don't have a ton to say about this one, to be honest. I enjoyed Anya as a main character, and her relationship with Trixie was sweet. Countess Budleigh's family was almost cartoonishly evil, but that didn't bother me too too much in a regency romance.

I struggled with the relationship between Anya and Damian. It moves incredibly fast, turning sexual after only talking about 3 times, and features my least favorite trope of miscommunication. 90% of the problems in their relationship would have been solved with a five minute conversation and explanation but both of them want the other to mind read, apparently. Obviously, it's a been difficult to wholeheartedly recommend a romance where the relationship wasn't well-developed.

The murder mystery plot was okay, but hard to follow at times, and didn't always make sense. I think the characters created were well-rounded and interesting, but the surrounding elements failed them.

3 stars from me!

I hadn't realised that this was a second book in a series so I am not sure what I have missed previously. However it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book of characters.

Anya is musician in Queen Charlotte's court, and has to rely on her favour with the queen to keep her head about water and survive. It comes as a total shock to her when Dowager Countess Budleigh leaves her a fortune as they weren't friends just mere acquaintances. But there is a catch, in order to inherit Anya must marry before her twenty fifth birthday or the money will go to the execute Lord Damien Ashton. In addition to this the Budleigh family feel like they have been cheated and set about getting the money for themselves. And are willing to go as far as murder to get their hands on the money.

I really enjoyed the regency setting and the characters. Anya especially is a warm, caring and enterprising young woman. Desire the fact that her station, race and sex are against her. She continues to thrive and help those around her. Damian is the perfect leading man and the chemistry between the two was palpable.

The writing style of the book was good and I ended up reading it in one sitting.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Didn’t realise was a sequel so haven’t read the first to know what to expect from this story or its author.
Another historical drama/romance for those who love them and has a nice cultural twist similar to Bridgerton S2.
Pacing felt off but was an enjoyable read, just feel like it could have been executed better.

Clearly aimed at the Bridgestone market, this started off well, but to me it sort of petered to a bit of a slow ending. I have come to the conclusion the tension was broken too soon and that’s the issue. So, prepare for some mild spoilers, when the protagonist is still in mild hatred with her obvious future husband, I don’t get why she flung herself into bed with him, especially when it’s set in a time period where this is not ok. A few searching glances and a gradual realisation of love may have been better. And then the resolution of the money plot at the end was somewhat ridiculous, as was the forgiving of the misunderstanding at the end, although I did quite like the honest appraisal of how people are always going to misunderstand each other, I’d say it was entertaining but didn’t stand up to scrutiny,

Unladylike Rules of Attraction is book two in the Regency romance series Marleigh Sisters by Amita Murray. Anya Marleigh is a court singer and sitar player who inherits a great fortune that comes as a shock to not only herself but also the family everyone assumed it would go to. The only catch is that to inherit, she must marry by the time she is twenty-five, or the money reverts to Damian Ashton, her trustee and a man whom very few trust. With only four months to find a suitor and marry, the ticking clock isn’t Anya’s only problem; Damian is both vexing and cold and oddly won’t stop plaguing her mind, and of course, the superior Budleigh’s are asking for the money that they believe should be rightly theirs, and everyone knows that desperate people will do desperate things. Will Anya come out of this unscathed? Will she crack Damian’s cold exterior? And will she lose the money that gave her hope for a different life?

Anya and Damian are both very similar, not only because of how stubborn they are but also because they have both had rocky childhoods that have meant they have worked very hard to make something of themselves that is entirely their own and, in doing so, have isolated themselves, with Anya hiding somewhere deep inside as to not be hurt and Damian closing off his feelings, even to himself, without realising it. This hard life has altered them both differently, though. Anya has become somewhat selfish as she has only ever had to think of herself; this meant she at times displayed some childish and naive behaviour, in my opinion, but as the book progressed, she noticed this behaviour and changed it, which I enjoyed. Anya also displayed protectiveness, something that is new for her of late because she hasn’t had anyone to protect other than herself. This trait made her brave and quick to act, and at times I couldn’t tell if it was idiocy or bravery, but she got the job done either way. I did feel the hollowness and the weight she carried because of her childhood, but I liked seeing her lighter moments when she could relax enough with her sister Lila and with Trixie, Jeremy, and Damian, too. I enjoyed how Amita Murray showed that Anya only felt truly herself when she played her music, as though it transcended her being, and when she wasn’t playing, she was back to feeling alone. I found it very beautiful. I also really enjoyed one of the lines in the book that showed how much of a ride-or-die Anya is; it made me laugh, but her trait of not wanting to try too much because she believes she’ll end up hurt dampened my love for her, as I was almost begging her not to shut down or give up, and she almost didn’t. She got the truth out but still didn’t want to try enough to fight for more, which was frustrating.

Damian, however, was altered differently; he unconscionably closed off his emotions, which made him aloof and often cold, but unlike Anya, he wasn’t alone, so he had someone to protect, care for, and keep going for, and that was his brother Jeremy. But this made him almost envious of the way his brother was able to be so connected to his emotions and so open with how he truly felt. Damian was very aware of the fact that he only cared for Jeremy, so much so that he didn’t think he could care for anyone else, and this made him slightly selfish as well, but he had a cocky confidence that made me smile, and the little back-and-forth banter he had with Anya, because she could be quick-witted, was very amusing. It was also enjoyable watching him realise what he desired, and as much as it scared him, he desired the way he felt when he was with Anya. But he could have easily lost it all if it wasn’t for Jeremy’s tough words and Anya’s brave acts.

I loved the side characters, Trixie, Lila, and Jeremy, that Amita Murray thankfully included in this book. I felt they livened it up and made the book much more enjoyable for me because they were both funny and honest, and they added to the emotion running between Anya and Damian. This book was like a growing period for both main characters, who could only be described as wounded and searching unconscionably for someone to make them feel whole. It was interesting watching them both analyse each other throughout the book and notice what the other desired and wanted, because at first, they were incredibly prejudiced, which immediately reminded me of Pride and Prejudice.

But unlike the classic, the miscommunication felt more vexing than saddening. I’m not a lover of miscommunication in general, but for romances, it seems to work; however, this time it did not work for me. Both main characters were going back and forth with their fretting minds, and it would have all simply been resolved if either had just asked a question and found out where they stood. This mulish behaviour of both main characters made me start to dislike them. Sadly, the miscommunication wasn’t the only aspect I disliked. The pace of the book left me feeling disjointed. There is so much going on with the plot that I loved when it was all action, but then the pace would slow for some unnecessary filler that I feel could have been easily summed up with a look or movement to express the emotion that character may be feeling, and there was also a fair amount of repetition. I also found this book somewhat predictable when it came to the revelations that occurred throughout the book, such as the murder mystery aspect, who was behind it all, and the reasons for it. Another was the spice; the tension was so built up that I expected so much more than I was given when it came to the scene, so I felt let down. And, finally, the ending. While I’m so happy there was a happy ending, I felt disappointed by how Budleigh’s issue was resolved and with what happened with the money, so I had to put the book down and take a deep breath before I could get that sweet HEA, and it was sweet. I’ll give Amita Murray that. I loved the symmetry from their first talk alone to the beginning of many more, and I loved how equally humorous and lovely their declarations of love turned out to be.

As much as I enjoyed the banter between Anya and Damian, the interactions between Anya and Trixie, and the sibling interactions for both main characters, all of these moments were too few and far between. And, unfortunately, there were a few things that slowed my reading speed and enjoyment of this book, enough to reduce my star rating. As stated above in more detail, I felt let down in certain areas of the book; these areas included but were not limited to the spice that was barely bell pepper worthy and the wrap-up of the plot outside of the romance. Therefore, I will be rating Unladylike Rules of Attraction Three out of Five stars. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the side characters, and because of that, I will be reading the previous book in this series because I loved what little I got of Lila, Anya’s sister, in this one.

I would recommend this to Regency romance readers but also to anyone who loves the tension that comes from wondering when the main characters will finally give in to their emotions and admit what they truly want, mixed with some humour, all the ups and downs of family, and of course, a HEA. If you love a murder mystery, you might want to give Unladylike Rules of Attraction a try as well, especially if you like a bit of an intriguing mystery in a romance. Despite this being book two in the Marleigh Sisters series, in my opinion, it works very well if you want to read it as a standalone, but I look forward to reading book one in the Marleigh Sisters series, Unladylike Lessons in Love.

I want to thank HarperCollins UK for allowing me the opportunity to ARC for Unladylike Rules of Attraction via Netgalley. As this is an ARC, the final released copy (releasing 23rd May 2024) may have been edited, and therefore the quotes I have used may no longer be in it. And because Amazon believes three stars is a bad rating, I will bump the rating of this book to four stars when I leave my review on that platform only.

This one was exciting and unique, I love historical romances and this one had all those antique aspects! It took me a while to read, around 3 weeks which is quite long for a book this length. Nothing was pulling me to read it and I found that the plot sort of branched off into something which wasn’t advertised. This wasn’t 100% a romance, it mainly focused on Anya getting money from the dowager, and the journey along with that. The tension with Anya and Damian was electric and I enjoyed them as a couple.

This book gave me Bridgerton vibes but with a murder mystery aspect. It was a good read, I enjoyed it! I liked the slow burn romance and the interactions with the side characters too. I read it as a standalone but would definitely go back and read the previous books in the series.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and Amita Murray for a copy of this book.

Although historical romance is not my go-to genre, I really enjoyed reading Unladylike Rules of Attraction. If you like historical romance, you will love this book.

This book had an interesting plot line that kept me hooked, but the pacing was a bit weird and uneven at times. While the story itself was engaging, I found myself wishing for a bit more romance and spice to add depth to the characters' relationships. Despite these issues, it's still worth a read for its unique and captivating narrative.

thank you NetGalley for this book!
in my opinion this book was very well written although there was not a lot of development between the two characters Anya and Lord Ashton and i struggled to be interested in the relationship they had .

This gave Bridgerton vibes - a modern take on a historical romance, with a splash of adventure!
I found this a quick enjoyable read, although the middle was a little slow for me.
Overall I enjoyed the story surrounding the Budleigh money and how Anya & Damiens relationship evolved.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC

2.5 ⭐️

Let's start with what I enjoyed about the book. I loved Anya and Trixies relationship. It was very sweet. Also very interesting to see what life is like in the queen's court.

I similarly enjoyed damians' relationship with his brother and the reconnection of the two sisters. The mystery aspect was good in the second half and kept its momentum for most of the book. Our main villain was excellent too, truly detestable.

I do wish we had gotten more backstory before just diving into the story. The man clearly said he didn't want to stand in her way, so why does she hate him so much?

I figured out the sadly deceased ladies' attempt at a romance plan early on in the book, so I did wonder if they had met before. Especially when the romance kicked in so early on in the story. The plot felt very disjointed until the murder mystery kicked in, and then it came together a little better. I actually thought maybe the ARC was formatted out of order at one point with the way it was jumping from on point to the next.

All in all, I enjoyed the book once the main plot kicked in, but I was lost in the beginning due to some pacing issues. I've tried to rate it fairly based on both halves so it's come out at 2.5 stars, sadly.

I received an advance review copy of this book, and this review represents my honest opinion. Thank you to netgalley, Amita Murray, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Unladylike Rules of Attraction is a delightful historical romance, with a rousing side plot of intrigue, murder and betrayal.

This was a 3.5 star read for me. I really admired the character development, sneaking plotting, witty banter and intrigue which I thought elevated this beyond the typical regency romance. I did find the pacing a bit slow and repetitive in some parts of the story.

I loved the portrayal of sibling relationships, both for Anya and Damian. The history of Anya and her family made in particular makes for an interesting dynamic with her sister, and I look forward to learning more in the next book. The diverse representation, and threads of more progressive values felt carefully developed and authentically nurtured.

I would recommend for anyone looking for a regency romance with a more contemporary feel, an easy and enjoyable read.

Thank you HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

The third season of Bridgerton left me in quite a reading slump and I couldn’t settle on anything to read until I started Unladylike Rules of Attraction, which kept me so engrossed that I read it in one sitting without even noticing it was the middle of the night by the time I finished it.

This is the second book in the Marleigh Sisters series which revolves around the three illegitimate daughters of an Earl and an Indian woman. After the death of their parents in India, the three sisters were brought to England to be raised by their evil stepmother and stepbrother and, when they grew up, they went their separate ways.

Now, Anya is a singer at the court of Queen Charlotte. She’s been left a huge inheritance by Dowager Countess Budleigh who preferred her to her own children. The only problem is that she will inherit the money only if she marries before her twenty-fifth birthday, which is only four months away. Until then, the money will remain in the hands of a trustee, lord Damian Ashton, a distant cousin raised in Jamaica, who came into title only after the sudden and mysterious deaths of his other relatives, and who will need to approve Anys’s choice of a husband. Anya is not short of suitors, but she and Damian don’t exactly get along, despite their attraction to each other. Also, the Budleigh family has no intention of standing by as someone else inherits the money that they feel should go to them and are determined to do anything, including accusations of murder, to get it.

I really like the characters of Anya and Damian. Both must deal with their own share of prejudice because of their origins and both have created their own fortune. Anya is clever and compassionate. She could use the inheritance to earn independence for herself and her protégée Trixie, but can she marry someone she is not remotely attracted to? And why does she keep thinking about Damian? Damian cares only about one person in his life, his brother Jeremy, but he intends to make sure that Anya gets what it’s hers.

Unladylike Rules of Attraction is a delightful and witty mix of romance and intrigue with a cast of fantastic characters and I am looking forward to the next book!