A review by charlottereadshistory
The Ladies Rewrite the Rules by Suzanne Allain

hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I was looking forward to reading this book as I’d read and enjoyed Mr Malcom’s List, also by Allain. The story follows Diana Boyle, a wealthy young widow who is enraged to find herself listed in a directory of rich eligible women. Diana decides to take matters into her own hands with the help of other women who also made the Bachelor’s Directory. 

The book was a fun and charming closed door Regency romance. I liked that it was set outside of the inner circle of the Ton, and I enjoyed the themes of supportive friendship and found family, as well as lots of jabs at the patriarchal shackles that constricted women and men of the period. 

I enjoyed the enemy to lovers trope of the main characters and the turnaround of character of the worrisome love interest is believable and wholesome. The second chance romance of another of the characters is also very sweet. 

I read this in between other books that were much heavier going and it was light, swoony and good fun.