booksaremytherapy 's review for:

Manic Pixie Dream Earl by Jenny Holiday

4.0

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Edward “Effie” Astley is a poet, a viscount, and painfully in love with his pen pal—Julianna Evans, a women’s magazine editor who knows him only as “Euphemia.” She thinks Effie is a fellow working-class woman, not a titled man avoiding marriage. Meanwhile, Julianna is tired of wondering why her friend won’t meet in person, so she shows up at the boys’ annual vacation and... well, let’s just say the reveal does not go how you might expect.

What makes this book stand out is how it handles tropes with heart and originality. Instead of dragging out the gender reveal for drama, it happens early—and the story shifts focus to real, nuanced challenges. There's an age gap (she’s 38, he’s 28), a class difference, and a lot of emotional unpacking. Their chemistry is soft, cerebral, and rooted in mutual respect—no insta-lust here.

Effie is demisexual, Julianna is bisexual, and their identities are treated with care and clarity. Their romance unfolds with honesty and quiet intimacy, even amid all the chaos of mistaken identity, social rules, and seaside shenanigans.

Also? The bromance between the three earls is strong. It’s giving found family vibes with a solid dose of Regency hijinks. The audiobook (narrated by Harry Frost) adds an extra layer of charm.

Fresh, funny, and refreshingly modern—this is historical romance done right.

᪥ Friends-to-lovers

᪥ Mistaken Identity

᪥ Cinnamon Roll Hero

᪥ Cross-Class Romance

᪥ Age Gap

᪥ Bisexuality

᪥ Dual POV