In a small, close-knit community in 1841, the arrival of a newcomer can really cause a stir – and that’s what happens when Mr Montgomery Hurst brings his new wife home to Wickenshire. Mr Hurst was one of the county’s most eligible bachelors, so everyone is curious to see what sort of woman has tempted him to marry at last. The new Mrs Hurst, however – a widow in her thirties with three small children – is not what they are expecting. It seems to the people of Wickenshire that she is not quite respectable and gossip quickly begins to spread as they speculate about her past and her previous marriage.

One person who doesn’t care too much about the gossip is Amelia Ashpoint. Amelia’s father owns a brewery, making the Ashpoints one of the richest families in Wickenshire, yet they are still not regarded as equals by the older families whose wealth and titles have been passed down through the generations. At twenty-three, Amelia is expected to marry soon, but what she really wants is a career as a writer and the freedom to be with the person she truly loves. Meanwhile, Felicia Elton, ‘the great beauty of Wickenshire’, is also under pressure to find a rich husband. With her looks and accomplishments, it shouldn’t be a difficult task, but for some reason nobody seems interested in marrying Felicia and she’s beginning to think she’ll have to settle for the first man who asks.

In The Trouble with Mrs Montgomery Hurst, Katie Lumsden tells the stories of Amelia Ashpoint, Felicia Elton and the Hursts, as well as several of their other friends and neighbours, all of whom occupy different positions on the social ladder. At the top there’s the Earl and Countess of Wickford and their dissolute son, Lord Salbridge; lower down, the town families who have made their money through trade and industry; and lower still, people such as Mr Lonsdale, the foreman at the Ashpoint brewery, and Monsieur Brisset, Felicia’s piano teacher. With so many unwritten rules of society and boundaries that can’t be crossed, it seems that nobody in Wickenshire is free to live and love as they choose and it’s easy to see why someone who doesn’t conform, like Mrs Hurst, can become the subject of rumour and slander.

Although the book is set in the early 1840s, at the start of the Victorian era, it has the feel of a Regency novel and there’s an obvious Jane Austen influence in both the writing style and the plot. The worldbuilding is strengthened by the inclusion of a map at the beginning and a list of characters giving their age, address and occupation. It was all so immersive that I really didn’t want to have to leave Wickenshire behind when I reached the end of the book! Because it’s a modern novel, though, Lumsden is able to explore topics that an author like Austen couldn’t (or at least not so explicitly). For example, one of the main characters is a lesbian and her story really helped me to appreciate how difficult it must have been to have no romantic interest in men in a world where it seemed that a young woman’s whole purpose in life was to find a husband. However, her story didn’t go quite the way I had predicted – and neither did the stories of several of the other characters. Some got happy endings, some didn’t and others just had to make the best of things, which I found very realistic.

In case you can’t tell, I loved this book and I think I preferred it to Katie Lumsden’s previous one, The Secrets of Hartwood Hall, which borrows from the Brontës rather than Austen. I would like a sequel so we can catch up with the residents of Wickenshire again and see how they are getting on, but I suspect this is probably intended as a standalone. Either way, I’ll be looking out for whatever Katie Lumsden writes next.

I really enjoyed this book. Modelled as an Austenesque regency comedy, I particularly enjoyed the different characters and aspects of life in a Shire town. Lots of characters, but easy to follow. Multiple strands combine to make interesting and engaging episodes throughout. Easy writing style makes you enjoy the characters and their escapades. I would happily think about these characters again, and wonder how I would have dealt with the variety of challenges they faced.

A strong contender for regency novel of the year for me - so far. My favourite genre! 4.5*

This is an excellent read. At its centre is a young woman heading for spinsterhood. She belongs to a family who made their money in trade and therefore never gained the social standing their achievements deserved. The book then weaves its way through village life, introducing characters and developing their story. In doing so the book unpacks some thoughtful issues, most notably the power of gossip and how it affects society. Then there is the problem of status and how the upper class look down on those who have to work despite their talents and integrity. And quite significantly the power of money and how some problems can be soothed by throwing some pounds at them. There is however more to the book than that making this a powerful exploration of personal and social life.

Katie Lumsden’s The Trouble with Mrs Montgomery Hurst is brimming with wit, charm, and social intrigue. Set in the summer of 1841, the novel captures the essence of Regency and Victorian-era manners and gossip.

Lumsden’s characters are vivid and intriguing. The novel’s rich descriptions transport readers to the lush settings of Wickenshire, evoking a desire to delve deeper into the historical backdrop. I armed myself with Google Images to really see what Lumsden had created. The range of personalities and convincing situations add depth to the narrative, making it a wholesome and meaningful read.

The novel’s engaging plot and well-drawn characters left me eager for more, hoping for follow-up books to continue their stories. This book is a must-read, promising a journey filled with heartbreak, hope, and the timeless dance of matchmaking and gossip.

I absolutely adored Katie’s debut novel (one of my favourite reads this year) so it was with huge excitement that I picked up her second book ‘The trouble with Mrs Montgomery Hurst’.

This book is set in Wickenshire, in 1841 and follows the loves and lives of the townsfolk there, both those who were born into riches and those who made their own fortune. The novel has a true Jane Austen vibe about it, which I loved and Katie’s writing is once again absolutely perfect for the period the story is set in. All the characters are wonderfully developed and Amelia Ashpoint provides us with some truly wonderful bookish moments I have to say. There are of course, as you would expect when I mentioned the Jane Austen vibe, love stories of all kinds, friendships, plenty of gossiping, matchmaking, obstacles to overcome, secrets to be uncovered and / or kept and the social expectations of that time period are beautifully woven into the book.

I devoured this book in just two days and highly recommend it to anyone who loves a historical fiction.

Katie Lumsden’s debut novel, The Secrets of Hartwood Hall, was a love letter to the Victorian sensation novel and one of the best books I read last year. The Trouble with Mrs Montgomery Hurst is another fantastic historical novel, but this time she has turned her talents to a country house novel, reminiscent of Austen or Gaskell, and this will also be one of my top books of the year.

At the centre of this wonderful comedy of manners, is the Ashpoint family, who occupy a prominent position in the fictional county of Wickenshire due to their wealth rather than social status. Mr Ashpoint is a wealthy, widowed brewer with four children, two of which, Amelia and Diggory, are of marriageable age. Mr Ashpoint is most concerned with the marriage prospects of his daughter Amelia, who he hopes will marry the respectable Mr Hurst, from one of Wickenshire’s oldest, most established families, and thus establish the Ashpoints as a family of rank as well as fortune.

However, Amelia has declared she will never marry and harbours a secret desire to become a writer along with a romantic secret that no-one suspects. She is, therefore, quite delighted when Mr Hurst unexpectedly announces his engagement to a woman that no-one has heard of or met, and a widow with three children! Gossip abounds as the townsfolk try to find out everything they can about his bride-to-be and the most prominent families vie to be the first ones to call on the new Mrs. Hurst when she arrives. The new Mrs. Hurst, however, is rather closed and cautious when she arrives and would prefer to be left alone with her husband and children, which sets tongues wagging even more!

This book was highly enjoyable and for all of the reasons that I also love reading novelists such as Austen and Gaskell. Wonderful characters and several plot lines which kept me wanting one more chapter! The social commentary on marriage, gender and class was deftly woven throughout the book. The various families that make up the cast of characters are from different social classes. Some characters are from old, established upper class families - the landed gentry - who have rank and statues, but are no longer as wealthy as some of the families who come from working classes but have made a lot of money ‘in trade’. We follow numerous characters from different backgrounds and genders as they navigate the strict etiquette and societal beliefs in their search for marriage or love or both, making for engaging plot lines and allowing the author to explore various social barriers of the period, such as class, illegitimacy, gender and sexuality. The book also explores the plight of the poorer members of the community, particularly those at the mercy of unscrupulous landlords or working in service or factories.

Whilst there are serious themes within the book, they are explored with a light enough touch that the book was also a delightful, escapist read. Both humorous and engaging, it was a real page-turner which I could not put down towards the end. Highly recommended! Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and, if you couldn’t tell, I loved it!

Katie Lumsden is an auto-buy author for me after reading The Secrets of Hartwood Hall and The Trouble with Mrs Montgomery Hurst didn't disappoint!

The plot follows Amelia, the eldest daughter of the wealthy Ashpoint family, as she navigates the tricky waters of the Regency-era marriage market. The novel really totally scratches that itch I have for Jane Austen-esque vibes and the hilarity of 'manners' in this society! I enjoyed the LGBTQ+ representation and how that was handled in such a realistic way given the time period as well.

I''d recommend to fans of Jane Austen and the more modern novels by Sophie Irwin!

This was a DNF for me. From the description I was hoping for a sort of Jane Austen/Elizabeth Gaskell type book, and it did start off somewhat promising with a ball and people in the right clothes for the era, but as soon as it got to the LGBT bit I lost interest. It quickly became too modern and not at all as was hinted in the description, so it was a DNF

A single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife...
But why would he choose her?

Katie Lumsden has written a brilliant take on marriage in the Victorian era, inspired in part by Jane Austen's work but with characters and situations that are all her own. This comedy of manners and gossip invites us to reflect on what is more important - money, status or remaining true to oneself - through the adventures of our main character Amelia and the other unmarried women of the town of Melford. The prose is beautiful and the diverse cast of characters is deftly handled. A recommended read for fans of Regency and Victorian fiction!

Thank you to Netgalley and Michael Joseph for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Katie Lumsden has written a novel in the style of Jane Austen, but reworks the themes of female identity and belonging for a modern audience. I found some of the compromises reached to accommodate what was considered to be scandalous behaviour 200 years ago a little unlikely, but the ending works well and doesn’t rely on marriage to offer Amelia the prospect of personal fulfilment.

Following Katie's first book: this doesn't disappoint.

Welcome to Wickenshire and the lives of several colourful characters and their families of the Victorian upper class. Mr Hurst, who is an eligible bachelor, (or so everyone thinks), would make a great husband for any young lady. Out of the blue, he announces that he is getting married in London, to a widower with three children! Gossip, scandal, families on the brink of financial ruin it's all going on in Wikenshire.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves historical fiction.

It's the summer of 1841 in Wickenshire. Amelia Ashpoint is 23 and a misfit. She's the eldest child in a wealthy family, but that wealth came from the family's brewery, which makes them tradespeople and not part of 'society.' Her father, still bereft at the loss of his wife, wants to see her married and is pushing for a union with Mr. Montgomery Hurst, which neither of them is interested in. Amelia has a different partner--a relationship that is illegal--and a vocation that she must keep secret. Her whole life goes against the gender roles that define how she is to behave. As for Montgomery Hurst, he announces that he is to marry very soon. Tongues begin to wag as people try to determine who on earth his wife-to-be is. There is much consternation when it turns out she is a widow with three children! Why would the wealthy and privileged Montgomery Hurst choose such a woman to be his wife? Gossip, eavesdropping, malicious rumors, and outrage ensue.

Amelia struggles to find a place for herself in a world where she doesn't fit in. Mrs. Montgomery Hurst struggles to keep a big secret. People with a high position but no money try to basically sell their daughter to get their debts paid off. Diggory, Amelia's brother, attempts to overcome class barriers and matures. Fortunes fall.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There are serious issues addressed, but in a very amusing way. I laughed out loud at times. Gender roles, social class (and how to define it), poverty, religion, and the masks we wear in public are all part of the story here. There are multiple story lines running through the book, but Lumsden beautifully weaves them together into a delightful narrative. I was eager to see what would happen to all of the characters. This book is a tribute to Jane Austen and Elizabeth Gaskelll, but with a modern twist. If you enjoy those authors, then I highly recommend this book to you!

The Trouble With Mrs Montgomery Hurst
by Katie Lumsden

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Romance, General fiction (Adult), Historical Fiction

I like to dip into the past sometimes, enjoy reading stories where life is so totally different to now. This was a fun read. But it was about Amelia Ashpoint and some of the other characters as much as Mrs Montgomery Hurst.
I loved the disparate cast of characters, from Amelia and her family, Clara and her dad, looked down on as not quite socially acceptable, ditto Major Charles Alderton. And of course there are others who through no fault of anything other than being born in the wrong social group were destined to remain there, and seen as upstarts if they dared to look upwards...
It has that lovely gentle feel of a historical book, and does that social layering so expertly. No money but right social class, that's fine, pots of money but born to a lower class, seen as upstarts, ideas above their station etc. Its the part of history ( and even now) that fascinates me.
The story flows gently, but its not just Mrs Hurst that's the focus, but many of the other characters who feature in different ways. The portrayals were very vivid, I could feel the snobbery and arrogance of some people, the desire to fit in of Clara, the gossipy twittering of others, it brought out a typical village hierarchy.
I loved that it was so multi layered, so may different things going on. That kept the story interesting, intriguing and so readable.

Stars: Four, good story with lots of multi layers which I always enjoy.

ARC supplied by netgalley and publishers

This is written as a light hearted gossipy book about a country community in the 19th century. Written from different points of view throughout it took me a while to get into it. It covers some really complex issues such as gay relationships, social taboos and class systems and it does it lightly but also realistically for that era. It wasn't the love story I thought it would be but it felt honest and there are love stories within. I also didn't particularly like the main female character Amelia but you get the sense of a 19 year old girl trying to find her place and facing the reality of the society she lives in. It was well written and I'd recommend it.

Welcome to Wickenshire a small gossipy county where everyone is in everyone else’s business but are too polite to talk about it directly. Amelia Ashpoint is three and twenty and pretty much on the shelf her loving father worries, and hopes the returning Mr Hurst might be the answer. Instead he has the absolute gaul to marry an age appropriate widow encumbered with three children! The scandal of it! Anyway this is a lovely gossipy novel that totally cribs from Austen and is like Cranford with more lesbians. I loved it, it was so nice and so soapy in the best possible way. I’d go back to Wickenshire anytime.

A gorgeous mix of Pride and Prejudice and Cranford, The Trouble with Mrs Montgomery Hurst is the scandalous tale of society in the regency era.

We follow the townsfolk and society of Wickenshire - a group of entirely respectable people living respectable lives. Drama ensues when the town's most eligable bachelor - Mr Hurst, rather promptly announces his engagement to a Mrs Roberts from London. Tongues start wagging and rumour spreads like wildfire. Who is the new Mrs Hurst? What happened to her previous husband? Who are these children?

Alongside this scandal, we have old families in financial crisis, tactical marriages, questionable relationships, predjudice and more! A definite read for the classics lover!

A thoroughly enjoyable read. Set in 1841 and following several families in Wickenshire, England. Reputations are gained and lost. Marriages are bargained for. Rumours are rife. The cast of characters is an eclectic but entertaining mix. I read it all in one sitting and could happily have read more.

I just reviewed The Trouble With Mrs Montgomery Hurst by Katie Lumsden. #TheTroubleWithMrsMontgomeryHurst #NetGalley

I wanted to read this so badly as it sounded like a jolly good Victorian romp but I’m afraid it fell a little flat.

I am a huge fan of the classics, especially Austen, and in this book there were a lot of Austen similarities in certain phrases or names used which was a bit off-putting.

The added gay leaning of this story also seemed out of place and ruined what could’ve been quite a good tale of early Victorian gentry and their foibles.

What a great read! Not exactly what I was expecting, but enjoyable nevertheless. Set in the 1840’s in rural England, this is an illuminating insight into the class divisions during the time when people of lower birth are starting to accumulate wealth through business endeavours, rather than inherited lands and titles. Many of the ruling classes are desperate to keep their aristocratic bloodlines “pure”, but many are also feeling the pinch of large estates eating capital. Some are cautiously accepting “new money” into Society, while others are appalled at the lowering of standards. It was certainly not a favourable time to be the marriageable daughter of a family with crumbling fortunes. Love certainly did not play the part in many decisions.
Highly recommend. Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Random House, and the author for the advance copy, it was a pleasure to read.

Anyone who is a fan of Jane Eyre should, in my opinion, read this novel. I couldn't put it down until the last page. It had such an excellent storyline. Highly recommended. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me a copy of the novel.