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A review by maggiemay
Reputation by Lex Croucher
emotional
funny
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
5.0
Caroline Bingley wishes she could Mean Girl like this!!! Reputation is a stellar novel debut from Lex Croucher and I have to say, Lex absolutely nailed it. I have always loved the Regency era for historical fiction but I often find that many people try to copy the structure of Jane Austen without actually hitting the social commentary relevant to the time period Austen was writing within. But that critique of social norms is absolutely crucial to the stories that Jane was writing. Likewise, Lex has written a hilarious yet hard-hitting romp that feels relevant to me as a contemporary reader. Reputation flawlessly walks the line between bad girl energy and the confines of the time period's social hierarchy. Money, class, and social standing all play a major role in who "gets away" with doing what, and for whom a Reputation really matters. (Forgive my title drop.) Lex just pulls back the curtain a little bit more than Jane ever would, and focuses on a type of story that I really haven't gotten to see play out in this time period.
I found myself truly feeling for all the characters, even our leading Mean Girl herself. Because Georgiana is whisked into this high-scandal world with such intimacy and freedom, she is able to understand more of the motivations behind Frances & Co.'s choices later on. But because we understand the risks that come along with that world, I watched some of Georgiana's decisions play out with hand-wringing, nail-biting nervousness. While heavy at times, the harsher (much harsher) side of this high-class, rich, party world felt thoroughly in line with the tone and pace of the rest of the book. A thoroughly satisfying ending brought it back full circle: not too neatly tied off with a bow - but exactly what I could have hoped, for each of the characters I had come to care so much for.
Pick up this book as soon as you get the chance! It's a delight; I read it in less than 24 hours because I simply could not put it down! Bonus points for this book if you love fun letter-writing correspondence within a book because the letters back and forth are A+, one of my absolute favorite parts.
I found myself truly feeling for all the characters, even our leading Mean Girl herself. Because Georgiana is whisked into this high-scandal world with such intimacy and freedom, she is able to understand more of the motivations behind Frances & Co.'s choices later on. But because we understand the risks that come along with that world, I watched some of Georgiana's decisions play out with hand-wringing, nail-biting nervousness. While heavy at times, the harsher (much harsher) side of this high-class, rich, party world felt thoroughly in line with the tone and pace of the rest of the book. A thoroughly satisfying ending brought it back full circle: not too neatly tied off with a bow - but exactly what I could have hoped, for each of the characters I had come to care so much for.
Pick up this book as soon as you get the chance! It's a delight; I read it in less than 24 hours because I simply could not put it down! Bonus points for this book if you love fun letter-writing correspondence within a book because the letters back and forth are A+, one of my absolute favorite parts.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Alcohol, and Drug use
Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Death of parent, Death, and Racism