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A review by softcalico
Reputation by Lex Croucher
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
TW: excessive drinking and SA
4 stars
Reputation is the result you get when you put Mean Girls in a Regency era setting. Georgiana's parents have left her to her aunt and uncle while they retire to the countryside. Unfortunately, Georgiana's aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Burton, are not the most exciting people. Georgiana seeks fun and eventually finds Frances. Frances is everything Georgiana wishes she could be and is quick to do whatever it takes to please her. All the while, Georgiana is trying to catch the eye of Mr. Thomas Hawksley, a Mysterious man who's just Different.
I think the author has done a great job illustrating what it is like to be desperate to fit in. Georgiana continues to step over her boundaries because she idolizes Frances. Over time, we can see Frances pushing that boundary farther and farther. Georgiana loses her sense of individuality among Frances and her friends, and for that reason I didn't see much of Georgiana's personality. There were times she could have spoken up, know she should have, but didn't because she was afraid of losing her place.
The romance was kind of on the backburner for a good portion of the story, but it has some shining moments. I believe the main focus of the book is the dynamic between Frances and Georgiana, so if you go into it hoping it's a romance, you may be disappointed.
My main gripe with this book is how out of character it is for Regency era events. Certainly there were events in this book that took place during this time, but it was treated like these were ordinary. The scandal of their actions did not have the stakes that a real Regency story would have. The rules of society were extremely strict and they seemed to be almost completely disregarded. I feel like this book could've done the same thing in a different setting, maybe the early 1900s.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I liked the humor and the pacing. It's a good length and I would recommend this book to new adult readers.
TW: excessive drinking and SA
4 stars
Reputation is the result you get when you put Mean Girls in a Regency era setting. Georgiana's parents have left her to her aunt and uncle while they retire to the countryside. Unfortunately, Georgiana's aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Burton, are not the most exciting people. Georgiana seeks fun and eventually finds Frances. Frances is everything Georgiana wishes she could be and is quick to do whatever it takes to please her. All the while, Georgiana is trying to catch the eye of Mr. Thomas Hawksley, a Mysterious man who's just Different.
I think the author has done a great job illustrating what it is like to be desperate to fit in. Georgiana continues to step over her boundaries because she idolizes Frances. Over time, we can see Frances pushing that boundary farther and farther. Georgiana loses her sense of individuality among Frances and her friends, and for that reason I didn't see much of Georgiana's personality. There were times she could have spoken up, know she should have, but didn't because she was afraid of losing her place.
The romance was kind of on the backburner for a good portion of the story, but it has some shining moments. I believe the main focus of the book is the dynamic between Frances and Georgiana, so if you go into it hoping it's a romance, you may be disappointed.
My main gripe with this book is how out of character it is for Regency era events. Certainly there were events in this book that took place during this time, but it was treated like these were ordinary. The scandal of their actions did not have the stakes that a real Regency story would have. The rules of society were extremely strict and they seemed to be almost completely disregarded. I feel like this book could've done the same thing in a different setting, maybe the early 1900s.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I liked the humor and the pacing. It's a good length and I would recommend this book to new adult readers.