patelyne 's review for:

Something in the Heir by Suzanne Enoch

5.0

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

---

This book is damned delightful - fun and sweet, and exactly what I was in the mood for (surprising because I haven’t been reading much historical fiction lately!)

The book starts with the setup of what is the longest running fake relationship situation I’ve ever read 

Emmie is about to lose her home. Her parents are moving on and her grandfather - who controls the estate she was raised on - has a placed a couple stipulations on who gets the house. One being that the first relative to marry will get the house. 

She’s exceptionally fond of Will, a dear friend.  And, if one feels pressured to find themselves married in a hurry, who better than a someone like that to attach yourself too?And since Will was a such good friend - and one who possibly secretly harbored more than a little love for her - he wasn’t about to *not* go along with her scheme. 

Fast forward 8 years, and they’ve settled into a …not quite cold, but cordial relationship. A parternship, really. 

But all that’s about to change. There was a second stipulation to them getting the estate, they were supposed to have a child in the first 5 years. And now the grandfather is throwing himself a party, where they are meant to bring the children they never did have. They’re going to need to work together to find not just one child, but two that fit the descriptions that Emmie has been secretly feeding her family in letters over the years. 

The fun starts when they plan to borrow a couple kids to play their children. All the hijinks you’d expect trying to teach a couple street wise orphans used to fending for themselves how to appear as quiet and well trained society children. Add in Will feeling things he used to, and Emmie some things she didn’t let herself the first time. The relationship is looking less fake all the time - and it “only” took 8 YEARS - They have some quality banter, but of a cautious sort. Of course as they’re (finally) getting closer to each other they’re getting closer to the children too. And those kids - I loved them, and especially enjoyed their interactions with the house staff.

This one has a lot of heart and a wonderfully satisfying ending!

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the arc!