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thewanderingword 's review for:
A Lady's Guide to Scoundrels & Gentlemen
by Arden Conroy
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you’re looking for a novel that delivers the Bridgerton vibes—balls, scandal, and dashing gentlemen aplenty—then A Lady's Guide to Scoundrels and Gentlemen certainly delivers. It’s a charming, compelling read with an entertaining romance at its heart.
But while the story sweeps you along with its charm, it has its stumbles. For one, the nods (or similarities) to Bridgerton are hard to ignore. The pacing is another mixed bag. The story dives right in and moves at a clip, which keeps it engaging, but at times, it rushes through moments that deserve more weight or development. Then, just when you’re caught up in the whirlwind, you hit a stretch of unnecessary detail that reads more like a historical footnote than a novel. For me, this book alternated between too fast and too dry and never quite found its rhythm.
But what truly pulls you out of the story is the language. A Regency novel with modern phrasing can work—but here, it feels unintentional and jarring. Not to mention there were enough typos that it was noticeable.
That said, if you can overlook its Bridgerton déjà vu and occasional missteps, this book is still enjoyable. It has its fun moments, its swoony scenes, and enough drama to keep the pages turning. The characters are very fun. Definitely a light read - and I'm sure the author is setting up for other characters' romances - which I look forward to reading.
But while the story sweeps you along with its charm, it has its stumbles. For one, the nods (or similarities) to Bridgerton are hard to ignore. The pacing is another mixed bag. The story dives right in and moves at a clip, which keeps it engaging, but at times, it rushes through moments that deserve more weight or development. Then, just when you’re caught up in the whirlwind, you hit a stretch of unnecessary detail that reads more like a historical footnote than a novel. For me, this book alternated between too fast and too dry and never quite found its rhythm.
But what truly pulls you out of the story is the language. A Regency novel with modern phrasing can work—but here, it feels unintentional and jarring. Not to mention there were enough typos that it was noticeable.
That said, if you can overlook its Bridgerton déjà vu and occasional missteps, this book is still enjoyable. It has its fun moments, its swoony scenes, and enough drama to keep the pages turning. The characters are very fun. Definitely a light read - and I'm sure the author is setting up for other characters' romances - which I look forward to reading.