It is a mismatch....

Phoebe was written as very immature and young. She does not want to marry an elderly earl.
She and Damerel (not the elderly earl, but a young viscount) start off as enemies, well, more bickering, than enemies.

2 stars

It’s readable.

This is a story that gets better several chapters in, but it never gets exactly ‘good.’ If you adore fanfiction tropes, this may be a worthwhile title for you, but it was a too contrived and twee for me.

Phoebe, our main character, is super skinny and petite despite eating a ton. She dreams of a future where women have equality of dress and employment, is not like other girls, and wants to be like a heroine in a novel. Therefore, the first four chapters of this story read like a parody of historical romance, especially as it accumulates several historical inaccuracies. Much later on, the narrative does (thankfully) acknowledge the utter absurdity of Phoebe’s ill-thought-out adventures, but not in a way that makes it seem like an intentional satire (like Northanger Abbey). Don’t come to this book for a tongue-in-cheek tone or lovingly pointing fun at historical romance tropes, come to this book for indulgent plot contrivances, overt sexual tension, and heavy rom-com vibes.

For me, the story just wasn’t fun enough to warrant the level of self-indulgence. Perhaps if it took itself less seriously, I’d have an easier time letting go of my critical thinking and just enjoy the ride.

What’s a girl to do 🤷‍♀️

What a whirlwind ride! Following the escapades of a young woman who wants to have freedom and not have to marry the purple onion Duke is anything but calm.
Her first attempt at freedom has Phoebe Fairfax fleeing her home dressed as a youth on the mail coach. At a dinner stop she unwittingly imbibes in the landlords “devils brew”, challenges a highway man to a duel and is injured and rescued by the noted Corinthian Viscount Damerel who mistakes her for a ‘bit of muslin’ as Phoebe so succinctly terms it.
Realising his mistake Damerel takes her back to her home and her dreadful older brother Thomas who is insisting she accept the betrothal pledge her father had made with the Earl of Cumberland just after she was born. It’s a matter of honor!
However their Aunt Harriet persuades Thomas to allow his sisters to go to Bath for the waters for Phoebe’s younger invalided sister, Josephine.
The visit doesn’t start well with Phoebe’s generous nature being maligned by a vicious young society thing who has an understanding taken at birth with the Viscount.
There’s drama, drugs, horses getting away, falling into rivers and a host of other mishaps that Phoebe gets blamed for. What a train wreck!
I absolutely loved this!

A One More Chapter invitation read via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

A very entertaining regency romp with echoes of pride and prejudice without being a direct retelling. I like Phoebe a lot, she’s very much a rebel ahead of her time which occasionally felt jarring in the story but just go with it. All the exploits she gets up to had me turning the pages to see what trouble she got into next.

I did have a few problems with the romance of the story. The beginning was amazing, the bickering and insulting each other was spot on. But then that level of insults never really changed nor did there interactions develop into a more rounded conversation so that you can she any development happen. So you end up with the realisation at the end kind of blindsiding you. Showing more of them together rather than fractured moments would have made me route for them more.

The ending also felt really rushed. There was this big action scene then suddenly the next chapter has a time jump to a lot of things being resolved of page. A lot of the book sets you up for a big revelation scene between the two characters, instead that’s all happened separately and you just have them getting their HEA then the end. Having grown attached to all the characters I wanted more pay off.

Overall I found this to be a very enjoyable read that I swept through in two sittings, the authors writing style really suited this romp. I just think a little finesse and a bigger ending would have raised this book from a fun romp to an unforgettable tale.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I don't typically read historical romance, but I made an exception for this, and I'm so glad I did!

Thank you for One more chapter and netgalley for the arc!

The main character Phoebe was adventurous and fun, wanting to have one more adventure before she is married to an earl in three months. So she pretends to be a man and takes a coach to London. Phoebe never reaches London, instead she ends up dueling a highway man and being rescued by the most annoying viscount.

Even though I'm not usually a fan of historical romance, this book was fun and witty and kept my interest really well. After a slow start, I couldn't put the book down. I adored Phoebe's sisters, especially Matilda, and all the adventures Phoebe ended up having were fun additions to the plot. The romance was bit more on the sidelines, but i didn't mind that, as all the other things that happened were also interesting.

Perfect for Bridgeton fans who want to read about lighthearted adventures with a little bit of romance.

A lady in want of an adventure and not to be forcefully married to a repugnant earl escapes into the night in disguise only to find herself in a heap of scandal with actors, highwaymen, and a very infuriating and insufferably gorgeous Viscount. Phoebe Fairfax has always dreamed about going on an adventure and being like the heroines in her favorite books... what she does not dream about is being forcefully married off to an old repugnant earl simply because her father had wished it on his dying bed and her brother doesn't want anything to do with her and would rather marry her off. As the wedding date gets closer Phoebe decides to escape into the night disguised as one of her brothers and make her own adventure. Too bad her adventure is cut short when she gets shot by the world's worst highwayman ever and then is taken in by an insufferable viscount who is as annoying as he is handsome. Phoebe will do anything to find a way out of the marriage... even if it means getting into more scandals and possibly a fake engagement or two. Yet at every turn, this infuriating viscount seems to thwart Phoebe's plans and she just might be a little in love with him... maybe! This was a historical romance... that just kind of felt flat. The romance wasn't ever really there and I didn't feel any chemistry at all. Phoebe just didn't really have me rooting for her despite how fun the beginning of the book was. I really wanted to like this more but I just got so bored while reading it. The romance never feels like it actually happens and then the book kind of just ends and it's a happy ending for sure... but I just wish there was more depth and fun in a story that revolves around a lady looking to go on an adventure and have mischief. This one wasn't for me, but if you are looking for a historical romance with extremely light romance then give this a go.

Release Date: January 10,2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter | One More Chapter for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

The Mismatch of the Season sees the headstrong Phoebe try for adventure before her upcoming wedding to a gross old man before meeting the Viscount what’s not to love.

Things I Enjoyed
-The Sisterly love
-The annoyance of the mmc at the fmc for all of her disasters
-The side characters

Things I didn’t Love

-It took me a while to get into the story (I haven’t read much regency romances but that will now be changing)
-I wanted Thomas to be properly punished or at least punched.

Thank you netgally for the chance to review.

I've seen quite a few reviews stating that this book is historically inaccurate but I absolutely cannot speak to that in any way - I'm normally not a historical romance reader and know next to nothing about regency romance.

This book is going to suffer being compared to Bridgerton - it's its own thing entirely, and what it is is a fun little story about Miss Phoebe Fairfax trying her hardest to gain some modicum of independence and respect and hoping desperately that she doesn't have to marry the (purple, onion-y) Earl.

In fact, I'm not even sure I'd classify this as a romance. This entire book seems more about the (mis)adventures of Phoebe and less about what little romance there is between her and the MMC. I'd wager that even if the end hadn't turned out how it did, in the final pages, Miss Phoebe Fairfax would have been just fine without anyone, thank you very much.

I guess that's where my rating comes in - this book is fun and adventurous and you really feel for Phoebe and her upcoming nuptials - but it doesn't feel like a romance, at heart.

Thank you to author, publisher, and Net Galley for the eARC.

3.5 🌟

This was a fun palette cleanser, I wouldn't recommend it for its originality or historical accuracies but I liked it! The story follows our FMC, Phoebe Fairfax, whose hand has been promised to an elderly - onion-scented - earl in her father's will with the intent of securing the family's social standing. Phoebe has resigned herself to her fate for the sake of her sister's futures, but in her last three months of freedom she wants to experience an adventure similar to the heroines of the books she has read. The heroines in her books make adventuring look a lot easier though, because she encounters chaos at every turn, and even more infuriating than that is the Viscount she keeps running into who makes his opinion of her very clear.

The romance is really more of a subplot in this one. It's a third-person POV but following Phoebe's thoughts, so while there are hints of yearning from Damerel, it's very one-dimensional and Phoebe doesn't match his intensity at all. It's more about the lengths one is willing to go to make life better for those they care about, even if it's at their own expense. I really liked the relationships between Phoebe and her sisters (very Little Women), Phoebe and her frenemy Aurelia (I sort of wish she'd been given a redemption arc) and Phoebe and the viscount's younger brother (can we please have a book for Elliot), but the chemistry between the actual main characters was lacking, and while I felt for Phoebe I didn't feel particularly connected to her.

2 ⭐️

Sadly this book wasn’t for me.

The cover and the description drew me into this book, but the execution just wasn’t what I wanted.

I found the fmc very immature so it was hard to read a book solely in her pov. I really enjoyed the mmc but we simply didn’t get enough of him in this book. Also they didn’t get together till the finally page?! And honestly felt a bit insta love to me they didn’t have many interactions at all.

I read this one almost straight through so it’s definitely engaging. I loved the adventurous spirit of Phoebe & the mishaps she gets herself into. Phoebe is betrothed to a friend of her father’s, the very old & repulsive Earl. She wants to have a little adventure before the wedding as she isn’t even allowed a season in town. She escapes, planning to spend 3 months in London, possibly as an actor. She’s dressed as one of her brothers for her escape when everything begins to go wrong. Waylaid by highwaymen & injured in the process, she wind up recuperating at the imperious Viscount of Damerel’s home. Hijinks ensue from there. This girl knows how to cause chaos. I liked a lot of the secondary characters- mean girl Aurelia, Captain Damerel, the charming younger brother of the Viscount, Phoebe’s younger sisters. My only complaint is there’s no spice. There was a hint of it early on, but then nothing happens. If Pride & Prejudice is the spice level you’re comfortable with, this may be the book for you. It’s very demure despite the madcap escapades. 4 stars because it kept me engaged all the way through.

3.5 stars
Miss Phoebe Fairfax dreams of being as free as her four brothers. When she discovers she is to be wed to an earl who is old enough to be her grandfather, she decides to embark on a real adventure. Enter the insufferable – and insufferably gorgeous – Viscount Alexander Damerel.
This is the first book I’ve read by the author & it was a fun rom-com. I liked both Alexander & Phoebe but whilst there was chemistry it didn’t sizzle. I found Phoebe very naïve at times, I could understand her feelings with an unsupportive brother. Poor Alexander seemed to put his foot in it every time he met Phoebe so they didn’t get off to a great start. An enjoyable romance with plenty of misunderstandings. Don’t expect any steam as I don’t think there’s even a kiss
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Mismatch of the Season by Michelle Kenney is a third person-POV romantic historical set in the Regency era. Phoebe Fairfax has the enviable position of being engaged to an earl—except said earl was her father’s friend and barely knows anything about Phoebe. When she runs away to start a new life, she meets viscount Damerel and challenges highwaymen before being dragged back to Bath. She has to try to find a way out of her engagement while she keeps coming into contact with Damerel.

I marked this as a romantic historical because while there is a romance subplot, I felt that the most important relationship was between Phoebe and her sort-of rival Aurelia, the fiancee of viscount Damerel. Aurelia is kind of like a Cressida from Bridgerton where she pushes Phoebe’s buttons and doesn’t have an issue making others feel bad, but Aurelia takes it a step further by constantly calling Phoebe out for her actions. I really appreciated Aurelia pointing out that Phoebe is neither the only nor the first feminist in their society and that just reading pamphlets doesn’t actually do that much.

There are references to Jane Austen, such as one of Phoebe’s sisters reading her books and the bookworm sister, and the Bridgerton TV show, such as Phoebe being one of eight children with three sisters and four brothers. Phoebe is between an Eloise and an Elizabeth and her relationship with Damerel is similar to Elizabeth and Darcy’s. For readers who love those elements and want them all combined into one book, this could be a lot of fun. Phoebe is more adventurous than Eloise and something of a daredevil so it’s not a perfect one-to-one.

I would recommend this to fans of Bridgerton and Jane Austen who love a more adventurous lead and Regency-set books where the focus is more on the relationships between other women rather than the romance

Phoebe dreams of adventure and freedom—two things that seem entirely out of reach as she faces the confines of an impending arranged marriage. Determined to rewrite her story, she aspires to be a hero of her own life, but what does true heroism entail? With time slipping away, Phoebe bravely steps into the unknown, carving out her own path. Yet, her journey is anything but smooth, fraught with unexpected roadblocks and tantalizing diversions. Packed with drama, romance, and suspense, this book offers everything you could hope for in a compelling read. Fans of Jane Austen will find themselves right at home with this enchanting tale of love, courage, and self-discovery.

This was so good! It was a mixture of Bridgerton meets clueless for this new classic! You will love the banter and the evolution of the romance.

Oh my, this was SUCH a fun read!!! Definitely Bridgerton-like and Austenesque (and actually reminded me of Little Women as well!), but still with so many twists and turns. I love Phoebe, she was definitely such a spunky delightful heroine. And her sisters---can we get some sequels please? The tone, style of writing was witty and captivating, I devoured The Mismatch of the Season in an afternoon.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the ARC.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

While I hoped to absolutely love this book, I, sadly, was not a huge fan.

I love the theory behind the book - having one last adventure before being forced to marry one of your father’s friends, however I started having doubts around the time they discussed the Earl’s “moist purple lips”. From there I just enjoyed it less and less. One part I did throughly enjoy, however, was the bond between the sisters. I think it may have been my favorite part of the whole book.

While it was entertaining to read, it was not a “must have” for myself.

If you love BOTH Pride and Prejudice the novel, and Pride and Prejudice the movie…I think you will be bewitched body and soul by The Mismatch of the Season. This Austen-esque regency takes a few liberties with the Era that end up feeling like a wink to modern Jane fans without distracting at all from a rich plot with a broody viscount and adventurous heroine-to-be. I sped through the last 75% and enjoyed the very satisfying conclusion. The characters are detailed, endearing and the relationship between the Fairfax sisters feels reminiscent of Little Women in the best way possible. I would call this a cozy historical romance, and I really hope this author continues in this genre! Grateful to Michelle Kenney, Harper Collin’s/One More Chapter for this early copy to review!

Sometimes you just need a really good historical romance and this was no exception. I loved the characters, I thought they had fantastic chemistry and as someone who's still kinda new when it comes to historical romance, this was sooo good and I will 100% be reading anything Kenney puts out.

This book wasn’t for me unfortunately. The plot and pacing are all over the place. The main characters lacked chemistry, and FMC had a tendency to repeat herself over and over again.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the opportunity to read this ARC.