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amreippl's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Rape
spaghettireads's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Thank you to Netgalley & St. Martin's Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is the sort of book that I did relatively enjoy while reading it, but when I think back to it, it really doesn't hold up. This book tries to cover a lot, and I think it doing so it falls short on covering big plot points meaningfully. It is advertised as being a queer and diverse regency era rom-com, however the diversity in the story really felt quite surface level. It doesn't feel like the author really looked into the experiences of BIPOC people in regency era to be able to write their experiences meaningfully in this book. The queer representation was better but still falls short in my opinion (one of the queer characters is probably the least developed in the whole friend group).
Not being an expert in the time period, this still really felt like there was no desire to make the world historically accurate at all. It just doesn't seem believable that there would be no consequences to the main characters' actions, especially regarding the amount of drug use and unsupervised outings. It felt like modern times basically just set in the English countryside wearing regency dresses and where the characters are on a social media break.
I don't want to get into spoilers, but I don't feel like the sexual assault plot was handled very well either. Again, it is very surface level and doesn't do justice to the severity of the topic.
I would not recommend this, there must be other fun historical romances that would be better.
This is the sort of book that I did relatively enjoy while reading it, but when I think back to it, it really doesn't hold up. This book tries to cover a lot, and I think it doing so it falls short on covering big plot points meaningfully. It is advertised as being a queer and diverse regency era rom-com, however the diversity in the story really felt quite surface level. It doesn't feel like the author really looked into the experiences of BIPOC people in regency era to be able to write their experiences meaningfully in this book. The queer representation was better but still falls short in my opinion (one of the queer characters is probably the least developed in the whole friend group).
Not being an expert in the time period, this still really felt like there was no desire to make the world historically accurate at all. It just doesn't seem believable that there would be no consequences to the main characters' actions, especially regarding the amount of drug use and unsupervised outings. It felt like modern times basically just set in the English countryside wearing regency dresses and where the characters are on a social media break.
I don't want to get into spoilers, but I don't feel like the sexual assault plot was handled very well either. Again, it is very surface level and doesn't do justice to the severity of the topic.
I would not recommend this, there must be other fun historical romances that would be better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape
mandysreadinglist's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Reputation is a Regency-era historical romantic comedy from a hilarious new British voice, Lex Croucher. This book was described as Bridgerton meets Gossip Girl with a dash of Jane Austen, so naturally, I had to pick it up. I had high expectations for this book, and I was honestly disappointed. I would describe this book as edgier than expected, but not necessarily well-written. The dedication says it all. “For Jane Austen. Sorry, Jane.” Because any true regency lady would be completely shocked by the sordid behavior in Reputation.
Croucher’s next book should possibly be set in a more modern era, which would allow room for the heavy drinking, drug use and the women’s empowerment movement. There are just so many details that are wrong for a historical fiction. It is definitely one of the less realistic Regency fictions I have ever read. Croucher tries to make the story readable for modern audiences by attempting to tackle some big topics (TW: rape, SA), but unfortunately the characters come across as spoiled brats instead of empowered young women.
So don’t read this if you are a stickler for historical accuracy, because you won’t find it here. I appreciate what this book is trying to do for diversity, but there are some passages that are just plain bad and positively inaccurate for any century.
I can see where the work drew inspiration from Jane Austen’s works. The romance between Georgiana and Thomas give me a very Lizzy & Darcy vibe, but Georgiana is Darcy in this tale. And in the spirit of Emma, our MC is haughty, unimpressed by everyone, and borderline rude. I started to dislike her and her “friends” around chapter five. Georgiana does get a few set-downs through the novel, though they do little to humble her. “You’d do better to apply that mind of yours to the improvement of yourself and those around you, rather than letting your cleverness fester into cruelty.” \
Croucher’s next book should possibly be set in a more modern era, which would allow room for the heavy drinking, drug use and the women’s empowerment movement. There are just so many details that are wrong for a historical fiction. It is definitely one of the less realistic Regency fictions I have ever read. Croucher tries to make the story readable for modern audiences by attempting to tackle some big topics (TW: rape, SA), but unfortunately the characters come across as spoiled brats instead of empowered young women.
So don’t read this if you are a stickler for historical accuracy, because you won’t find it here. I appreciate what this book is trying to do for diversity, but there are some passages that are just plain bad and positively inaccurate for any century.
I can see where the work drew inspiration from Jane Austen’s works. The romance between Georgiana and Thomas give me a very Lizzy & Darcy vibe, but Georgiana is Darcy in this tale. And in the spirit of Emma, our MC is haughty, unimpressed by everyone, and borderline rude. I started to dislike her and her “friends” around chapter five. Georgiana does get a few set-downs through the novel, though they do little to humble her. “You’d do better to apply that mind of yours to the improvement of yourself and those around you, rather than letting your cleverness fester into cruelty.” \
Read this stand-out review that sums it up best: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4133718427
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Alcohol
criticalbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Classism
dominmuenster's review against another edition
Foolishly didn't check trigger warnings on a book labeled as light hearted.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
tc_booksandmore's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use and Alcohol
Moderate: Cursing, Rape, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Emotional abuse, Racism, and Abandonment
midge_x's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Drug use, Sexism, Death of parent, and Abandonment
casc8a's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, and Alcohol
Moderate: Toxic friendship
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Sexual harassment
cozylifewithabby's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Reputation by Lex Croucher is a drama filled story set in the regency era. However, the number of scandals, the language, and the shear amount of debauchery is far removed from the literature of that era. It starts off slow and builds to utter chaos. Georgiana is a middle class girl whose parents' send her to live with her aunt and uncle. Though she starts off a lonely, good girl she soon meets a gang of privileged aristocrats and gets pulled into a life of parties and flirtations. Things go too far and she starts to lose sight of who she is as well as starts to get a reputation. Although it is said to be a romance, I would classify it as a coming of age drama light on romance and heavy on scandal. Georgiana does have a romance, but he is a classic good guy behind a brooding exterior, and she is the young heroine he needs to save from all manners of foolishness. Throughout the book though it isn't just the men who save the day, there are strong female characters who speak out for what is right. Unfortunately, we spend very little time with these characters and instead focus on the popular, posh people. This book also deals heavily with the aftermath of topics like sexual assault and ones Reputation. A good third of the book is focused on that. The author does have a content warning for this. Overall, I rated it 3.5 stars as it was enjoyable, unbearable (oh how stupidly these people act), and generally entertaining.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Drug abuse, Rape, Violence, and Alcohol
bookishalice's review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I really wasn't expecting to love this. I've never been a massive fan of regency period dramas or fictions but this was absolutely the exception!
It was funny, tense, dark and captivating all at the same time, which is a hard thing to achieve.
I loved that weaved through the story was an important modern commentary. It showed that life now is not too far removed from that of 100 years ago.
This book showed the importance of true friendship and how damaging toxi friendships can be.
It was funny, tense, dark and captivating all at the same time, which is a hard thing to achieve.
I loved that weaved through the story was an important modern commentary. It showed that life now is not too far removed from that of 100 years ago.
This book showed the importance of true friendship and how damaging toxi friendships can be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol