The Wallflower List by Jess Michaels
About an Earl #1

An author that never lets me down ~ Great beginning to the series ~ Can’t wait for book two!

What I liked:
* Lady Marianne: quiet, unassuming, wallflower, crush on Sebastian, good friend, loving sister, caring, good listener, grows a lot in this story
* Sebastian: an earl, a rake, best friend to Marianne’s brother Finn, Marianne’s friend, had a difficult childhood, avoids emotional entanglements, grows a lot in this story
* Claudia: Marianne’s best friend, wallflower, dies too young, has dreams, leaves a life changing gift to Marianne
* Finn: Marianne’s older brother, an earl, kind, protective, good friend, caring, seems to have something on his mind, looking forward to his story in book two of this series
* The strong friendships: Marianne and Claudia, Finn and Sebastian, and Sebastian and Marianne
* The open communication between the characters
* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing
* That Marianne was no wilting flower but a bud waiting to open
* That Sebastian needed a key to unlock his emotions and found it in Marianne
* Claudia’s list and how it impacted both Marianne and Sebastian
* Knowing that Finn’s book is next
* Everything except…

What I didn’t like:
* Both main characters’ parents – it wouldn’t be easy growing up with them
* Thinking about how women were relegated to wallflower status and what that meant for their futures

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Definitely!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

Aww I just loved Marianne, she was just too wonderful. She was caring but not a push over which can be such a fine line for FMC. She has a crush one the one man who always seemed out of reach and ,in her opinion, see her as her brothers kid sister. She has worked hard to be a wallflower and has decided she doesn’t want to blend in anymore. Sebastian was lovely too kind, caring, the correct amount of jealous cause I LOVE that especially on paper. And her brother, I kind of wish we understood him a little more in the context of their relationship, but he was so good to Marianne. I’m smiling and I can’t seem to stop. This just gave me the warm and fuzzies while being very open door and hot. I can’t wait to read the next. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Lady Marianne has been a wallflower since her disastrous debut, but has always had Claudia to keep her company. When Claudia dies, she leaves Marianne her jewellery box and a hidden list of things her friend wanted to do in her life. Marianne begins to question her life and future and so she decides to attempt all of her friend’s bucket list and enlists Sebastian, the Earl of Ramsbury, to assist her. Sebastian has been best friends with Marianne’s brother for almost his entire life and has stood by his friend’s edict, to never be anything more than a friend to Marianne. However, her proposal makes him see her in another light. Soon their attraction has them rethinking their future.
This is a romance filled with some tension as Sebastian realises that his burgeoning romance with Marianne, posing a threat to his friendship with her brother, Finn. Their romance is sweet, as they have been friends for several years. I look forward to the next book in the series.
This book I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love Jess Michaels and the book didn’t disappoint for the most part. It’s got a lot of tropes— friends to lovers, wallflowers and rakes, bucket list, house party at the estate, and much more. It’s very sad at g beginning when Marianne’s best friend and fellow wallflower has just died. A surprise inheritance leads to what amounts to a modern day bucket list for Marianne. She of course gets her and her brother’s good friend Sebastian (a rake) to help with some of the items, like learning naughty words.

I am giving 4 stars as I felt Marianne’s character was a bit weak. I still related to her, but she didn’t feel real enough to me. Still cried buckets though. Thanks!

I received an ARC from the author/publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
The Wallflower List is the first in Jess Michaels’ new series, and I like the concept overall, even if it missed the mark somewhat in execution. I generally like the idea of a wallflower “going wild” with her rakish companion by her side (and in her bed), and this one has a special twist that the female lead, Marianne, is paying tribute to her friend, Claudia, who was a fellow wallflower, and had daring dreams she tragically died before she could fulfill. And in theory,
But I struggled to really become invested in the characters beyond their archetypes. I don’t go into a Jess Michaels book expecting a ton of emotional depth, but I at least expect the leads to make an impression, and both Marianne and Sebastian are very forgettable, essentially cardboard cutouts of what you’d expect from the wallflower and the rake. The sexual chemistry is there, but I didn’t feel any emotional bond, despite their prior acquaintance, and I know from other books that Michaels can build it in her characters, so it’s a disappointment to find it lacking here.
But for a short read, it’s serviceable, even though it did not rock my world. I’d still recommend it if you’re looking for a short, sexy historical romance.

When her best friend and fellow wallflower Lady Claudia dies unexpectedly, Lady Marianne is heartbroken, especially by the small showing at Claudia’s funeral. It sets her to thinking about her own life and when she finds a list of things Claudia wanted to do before she died, she at first shocked and then intrigued. Wanting to honor her friend and live the life her friend so clearly wanted, Marianne sets out to complete the list. And starts by having her maid alter one of her gowns to be more daring, thus accomplishing one of Claudia’s items “Wear Something Daring” and to her complete and utter surprise, this small change triggers a huge change in her life. For the first time she feel “seen” and even garners the attention of her brother’s best friend, Sebastian, the Earl of Ramsbury, a man she has long considered a friend, but one who clearly never saw her as a woman until that night. She asks his help in completing the list (without telling him of the list) and finally admits to herself that what she feels for Sebastian is much more than friendship but knows he will never want a wallflower like her. But that doesn’t mean she can’t enjoy the attention while she has it.

Sebastian, the Earl of Ramsbury has been friends with Phineas “Finn”, the Earl of Delacourt and his younger sister Marianne for as long as he can remember, they are two of the most important people in his life and he would never do anything to threaten those relationships. But he starts to see Marianne in a new light when she makes a splash at the Brighthollow ball and has to force himself to remember that he promised Finn that he would never seduce his sister. But some promises need to be broken and when he shares a forbidden kiss with Marianne, he is lost and might end up losing everyone he cares about if he can’t control his desire for the only woman he absolutely shouldn’t want.

I liked this book, but it wasn’t really the story I was hoping for, as Marianne turns out to be a sort of Regency era Pollyanna. She was a very nice character – maybe too nice and even with her “daringness” to complete Claudia’s list with things like: Fill my dance card, learn to play billiards, and go to a party uninvited. There was nothing really shocking (save the last item on the list) to my jaded mind. And as much as I love a good “Brother’s Best Friend” trope, this wasn’t quite that, since Sebastian was already legitimately good friends with her, so I think I had a hard time accepting that he never “saw” her until that ball. Anyway, it was a cute story with a bit of drama and some fairly steamy scenes, but I just felt like this could have been so much more than it was, that being said, I did enjoy the book and would happily recommend it. I am also looking forward to reading Finn’s story which is the next book in the series.

3.5 stars, rounded up

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

Lady Marianne has been a wallflower since her disastrous debut, but because since she always had a friend, Claudia, along the wall, she never minded much. But when Claudia dies and leaves her a beautiful jewellery box, and a hidden list of things her friend wanted to do in her life, so Marianne decides to try to complete her dear friend’s bucket list. Sebastian, Earl of Ramsbury, has been best friends with Marianne’s brother Finn for almost his entire life & Marianne’s the only woman he’s ever considered a true friend and not a conquest. But when she starts acting strangely, asking for his help with the most unexpected and shocking things, he begins to see her in a different light.
The start of a new series & it drew me in from the start. I loved both Sebastian & Marianne both were strong characters he was a rake & she a wallflower but as she began to complete Claudia’s bucket list she gained confidence & was suddenly noticed. I loved the dynamics of their relationship & how things changed as the chemistry between them sizzled. I also loved it that Finn & Marianne were close. The story was straight forward but the way the author delivered it made it an engrossing read
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

As a spinster wallflower, who do you secretly enlist to complete the bucket list your late best friend and fellow wallflower left you?
Your brother’s best friend childhood crush!
He likes you plenty, and it’s not like a renowned rake is ever going to choose you… or is it?

~ Marianne & Sebastian ~
She’s devastated over her best friend’s loss, and how little society seems to care. So when she finds a hidden list of things her friend had wanted to do before she died, she’s tempted to step outside of her comfort zone and do a few daring things. And why not try a few on a trusted family friend, a man she’s known and loved for as long as she remember?
He’s an earl living a life of leisure and pleasure when his best friend’s little sister - also his only female friend - starts acting different. Is it grief? Or is it something else? And why is she suddenly all grown up and invading his every single thought? He promised her brother he wouldn’t touch her a long time ago, but someone has to keep an eye on her...

Forbidden fruit never tasted so sweet!
This novel is different from what I’m used to by this author - the sweep me of my feet, swoonworthy, melt my heart kind of different. But, the steam remained as wickedly delicious as ever!
It’s a pretty straightforward cliché plot, but the execution makes all the difference! It’s naughty, playful and daring - as the list suggests - but there’s also a touching vulnerability, deep-rooted friendship, and the agony of choosing between what’s right and what the heart desires. It’s honour, protectiveness and the complete inability to stay away. There’s laughter and tears, a beautiful bond between siblings, just a hint of drama and tons of love!
It’s was a wonderful and entertaining read, and I’m eagerly looking forward to what’s next in this series!

When Lady Marianne’s friend dies, Marianne begins to question her life and her future. Sebastian, Earl of Ramsbury, has been best friends with Marianne’s brother for almost his entire life. He notices Marianne acting strangely and she begins asking for his help with the most unexpected and shocking things, leaving Sebastian to see her in a completely different light.

This is the first book in a new series, About an Earl. Wallflower Marianne is forever changed when her best friend passes away from illness, willing to her a jewelry box that contains a "bucket list" of things her friend wished she could have accomplished. She isn't quite sure what to do with it at first, until Sebastian inadvertently checks a few items from the list. Now Marianne is attracting attention and striving challenge herself, which leads to a kiss (and more, or course) with Sebastian. As always, the writing from Michaels is engaging and sexy...hard to put this one down, and can't wait for book two.

Tropes: Wallflower, Brother’s Best Friend, Friends to Lovers, Compromised

Steam:5

* I read an ARC and this is my honest review.

A friends to lovers, wallflower/rake historical romance that is passionate and entertaining. Marianne and Sebastian start a secret affair that brings them closer together, this story felt emotional, sensual and genuine. I look forward to reading more in this new About an Earl series.

This is a sweet story about a wallflower, Marianne, who spent a few seasons on the sidelines with her friend Lady Claudia. When Claudia dies young, Marianne finds a wallflower bucket list she had written during her illness and decides to try and tick off some of the items on the list herself. She enlists her brothers best friend Sebastian to help her (largely unbeknownst to him). Sebastian is a bit of a rascal but has always been her friend. He is the best friend of her elder brother Finn, and their friendship has one rule - that he keeps his mitts off Marianne... which begins to become increasingly difficult the more time he spends with Mari.

The characters in this book are well drawn and all have pain in their past. It's a fun story - a little bit reminiscent of Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake. So if you like that sort of story then you will like this one!

I'm definitely now looking out for Finn's story.

Received an ARC from Netgalley.

This would have been a solid 4 stars but unfortunately due to the lack of line editing (or more in depth line editing), I had to remove a star. I would definitely give this 4 stars if this gets line edited more thoroughly, though, because it really is an enjoyable read!

What I liked:

- Chapter 1 and 2 were such a sucker punch to my soul. After reading that lovely Prologue, Chapter 1 and 2 had me almost in tears. 😢

- Sebastian, oh Sebastian. I love you. 😍 CONSENT KING!

- Sebastian and Marianne's friendship! 🫶

- The sexual tension (and the spice) between Sebastian and Marianne. 🤤

- The tropes were FEASTING in this! Friends to lovers, brothers best friend/best friends sister, lessons, wallflower/rake, pining from both sides. And Jess made them ALL work together perfectly. 🔥

- Marianne and Finn's beautiful sibling relationship. Finn says some lovely words to his sister in this and I found that beautiful. I'm always a sucker for well written sibling relationships. 🩷

A few nitpicks:

- I've read Jess's works before but this one didn't sound like her voice at all. I actually kept double checking if this was written by her. The sentence structure and the "over writing" just didn't read like her usual stuff. Or maybe I'm misremembering what her usual writing is like, I don't know.

- There's many grammar and punctuation mistakes but being as this is an arc, I'm hoping this gets a final line edit before publication or at least get another line edit soon after publication.

- What happened to Marianne's gloves? Last I read, Sebastian still had them but Marianne never asked for them back and he never offered to return them to her, lol. This is driving me mad. 😅

Anyway, I can't wait for the next book! I already have an idea on who the next MFC is and I'm excited to find out if I'm right.

Note: I received a free copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this story and this is my freely given opinion.

This is the first book of a new series by Jess Michaels, a sad-sweet, bucket list, friends to lovers, childhood crush historical romance, and Jess Michaels always writes with a story that is more on the steamy/sensual side.

Lady Marianne is mourning the sudden death of her best friend, Claudia. They have been good friends and fellow wallflowers, since Marianne's disastrous debut. On her death, Claudia left Marianne a prized possession, a beautiful case, and hidden in that case, Marianne found a wish list written by Claudia when she was ill - a list of things she wished to accomplish in her life. Marianne, in honor of her friend, and also feeling the loss of opportunity for adventure for herself, as she sees herself becoming a forgotten spinster, makes the list her own, and vows to accomplish the things Claudia never got to achieve for herself.

Sebastian, the Earl of Ramsay is a popular rogue and rake, and best friends with Marianne and her brother since childhood. He has never seen Marianne as anything more than his good friend, and sister to his best friend. Marianne has hidden her deeper feelings for him, though her brother suspected, but Sebastian would go against his friend's edict against his turning his roving eye towards his sister. He values their friendship too much to harm it in such a way.

But he has notices that Marianne has been behaving oddly and it concerns him, and in his concern, he starts noticing Marianne more and as she becomes a greater part of his focus, he starts to notice feelings for her that did not seem to be there before. When he discovers her secret wish list, and feels forced to interfere, he finds himself becoming jealous of others taking notice of the formerly socially insignificant Marianne, and when he acts on his growing feelings, Marianne gives into her own hidden feelings, and they fall into a torrid, secret affair.

I always enjoy a friends to lovers trope, and there is the added element of tension here as Sebastian risks losing the friendships he values so much here, by engaging in the secret affair. But this is a bittersweet romance because of the death of Claudia opening the present day story and the sad note and sense of loss, mortality, and a life unlived that her death gives to the story throughout much of it. There is an HEA, but still with a bit of sadness because of that flavour note being added in the beginning. I hope there is a later epilogue where perhaps they name a daughter after Claudia in memory of her... actually, I will choose to believe that for my own sake.

4 stars out of 5

I absolutely loved this book. The character development by Jess Michaels was excellent. The FH, MaryAnne, lost her beat friend in the world, Claudia. They were both wallflowers who kept each other company, entertained each other and just made life easier. MaryAnne was devastated.
Claudia left MaryAnne her beautiful jewelry box. When MaryAnne receives it, she discovered a secret compartment which contains a list of all the things Claudia would do in life if she survived her illness. So MaryAnne decides to do them in memory of her
She uses her brother's best friend Sebastian to help her accomplish some of these things (of course he doesn't realize it).
MaryAnne has loved Sebastian since she was a little girl.
But he only sees her as his friends annoying little sister.
But this MaryAnne is different. He cannot figure out what has changed.
This is where Jess Michaels excels. The development of their relationship. The experiences they have, the conversations, secrets they share create a bond that you see forming. You feel the chemistry developing, changing as Sebastian starts to realize that MaryAnne is now a woman, who is desirable.
Of course there's always an obstacle. This obstacle is her brother, who has always warned Sebastian to stay away from his sister.
5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I want to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.

Interesting concept – not your own bucket list but someone else’s and that is your best friend who passed away. Don’t we all have a bucket list where we put outrageous and maybe unattainable items on it? Marianne was honoring her friend by following her friend’s list. I would have liked to see Claudia’s (the friend) life a little more and more background on Marianne and Sebastian. Jess is an amazing author. While this is not my favorite story, it is worth the read to become a part of the character’s lives for a little while.

5 stars

It's some time since I read this author and this story, IMO is like the earlier ones (Simply, Allbright sisters) that I used to adore. Marianne is a wallflower and on the death of her fellow wallflower, Claudia finds Claudia's list of things she would like to do. It's a trope that has been used before but it works. Marianne starts on the list with the aid of her brother's best friend, Sebastian and I think it dawns on her that what's keeping her back is her own mental attitude to the societal restrictions of the day. It doesn't hurt that she has her aunt Beulah (not an English name imo) example of what happens if she doesn't get herself motivated. The sex scenes are well described. I see that this is book 1 and it will be interesting to see what Marianne's brother has been getting up to in book 2?

I recommend this story.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Tropes: friends to lovers; MC's haunted by their pasts
Steam level: 3
First in a series.

This is a bit of a "guilty pleasure" author for me. I was on the fence between 3 and 4 stars but ultimately nudged up due to the MC's and how much I was rooting for their HEA. Often in HR's there's some 2nd or 3rd act convoluted complication or misunderstanding that makes one or both MC's look rather TSTL or like a poor bargain, just to create angst. But that isn't the case here. MFC Marianne has led a quiet, mundane existence, in large part because of her late parents' awful behavior, but the passing of her best friend prompts her to break out of her shell. MMC Sebastian has been a "bad boy" to try to bury his own childhood demons. They have been friends for years, until they start to shake free of their roles and finally realize they're perfect for each other. At the heart of the steamy scenes is a refreshing sweetness. Marianne, especially, is charming and kind without being sugary or Mary Sue-ish.

Not that this is a perfect book. Sebastian's attraction to Marianne comes across as shallow at first. I wanted more of his introspection to focus on their pasts together and how she helped heal him emotionally when they were young, and less obsession with her clothes and hair. The pacing in the middle drags somewhat. Also, I wanted more backstory on Marianne's best friend's passing; it's abrupt and the secondary characters' reactions are too crass. Her brother and even Sebastian are indifferent to the point that it casts them in a negative light. In fact, Marianne's brother seems cold through most of the book, until suddenly near the end; I'm wondering if the next book will uncover the reason for the character inconsistency.

One last nitpick: the writing style isn't as refined as it could be. A smidge of editing would have helped the clunkier phrases.

Overall, though, if you're drawn in by the MC's, you'll enjoy this.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Jess Michaels for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Wallflower List coming out October 8, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I really love Regency romances. I thought the premise sounded really interesting. I love the idea that Marianne is an introvert who is stepping out for the first time and doing things that are outside her comfort zone. I loved that it was her friend who passed away who inspired her. I would’ve liked to see a little more background for Sebastian. I thought their relationship was really good, but it seemed like he was a little more mysterious. I would’ve liked to see more of why he was interested in her. It seemed a little sudden. But overall, I really enjoyed the story. I would definitely check out another book by this author.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Regency romance!

This is one of the best historical romances I've read all year. The character development is strong and the the storyline has all the feels. You can't help but be drawn into the lives of the main characters and their struggles to be seen.

Jess never disappoints! This story had me reeled in from the beginning. Marianne is content to be a wallflower until her world turns upside down. She decides she needs more and while getting more she decides she doesn't want to settle being a wallflower.