A review by miraya_e
A Lady's Guide to Scandal by Sophie Irwin

4.0

“It is just for me. But that does not make it any less worthwhile.”

Eliza married the Earl of Somerset at the urging of her family and ten long years later, she’s a widower, free of her unhappy marriage. Having shrunk into herself over the years, Eliza is resigned to events happening to her, further exacerbating the helplessness she felt in her marriage. When her late husband leaves her an unexpected fortune, she dares to make her own choices. This brings the new Earl of Somerset into her life, and leaves Eliza wondering if she has a second chance with her first love…

“She could not avoid the truth any longer. It was time to cease allowing events to merely occur to her, and to commence at acting for herself.” 

I enjoyed this author’s first book, so naturally I had to get my hands on this one! Eliza starts off as a shell of herself, relying on her family to guide her as she accustoms herself to widowhood. I loved her cousin Margaret! She was cheeky and exactly what Eliza needed. I loved their beautiful friendship. Eliza’s development over the course of the book was pleasing! I dislike helpless characters, so I was happy to see her finding her own agency as she rediscovered the things she loves. I wasn’t prepared for a love triangle, and usually that’s enough to put me off of a book, but it worked in this case! If you loved Persuasion but Wentworth wasn’t quite the hero for you, you should pick this one up!