A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting
Author: Sophie Irwin
Published by: Harper Collins
Pages: 368
Format: Hardback
My Rating: ★★★★
Published by: Harper Collins
Pages: 368
Format: Hardback
My Rating: ★★★★
Kitty Talbot needs a fortune.
She’s got just twelve weeks to find a rich husband and save her sisters – and she must use every ounce of cunning and ingenuity she possesses to climb London society if she is to succeed.
The only person she can’t fool is Lord Radcliffe, who sees straight through her plans and is determined to stop her at any cost.
There is not a day to lose and no one – not even a lord – will stand in her way…
She’s got just twelve weeks to find a rich husband and save her sisters – and she must use every ounce of cunning and ingenuity she possesses to climb London society if she is to succeed.
The only person she can’t fool is Lord Radcliffe, who sees straight through her plans and is determined to stop her at any cost.
There is not a day to lose and no one – not even a lord – will stand in her way…
My thoughts:
A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting is not really my usual kind of book, but I picked it up on a recommendation, and this was an absolute joy to read.
The opening sentence, “You’re not going to marry me?” sets the scene succinctly in a regency novel which you know is going to be about finding a husband. Obviously, the heroine’s attentions are going to have to be directed elsewhere. And because there is a pressing need for a wealthy husband due to a debt-ridden parent’s decease, this is going to be a difficult task.
When her parents die and leave Kitty Talbot in charge of her four younger sisters and all her father's debts, the smart young lady reasons that the only way to support her family's future is by marrying someone wealthy. In fact, she is just on the verge of sealing the deal with her fiancé of two years, but he has other plans. Not to be dissuaded, Kitty sets off for London with her aunt and sister, determined to infiltrate the higher echelons and bag herself a rich beau.
Admittedly, I picked this book up on impulse in September, shortly after the Jane Austen festival had taken place here in Bath. Irwin’s novel is undoubtedly a nod to Austen’s most famous work, ‘Pride and Prejudice’, and it felt like the perfect time to read a book of this type. There are many elements in common - including five sisters, the need to marry rich, and a proud titled gentleman who can’t stand the leading lady. However, it feels different enough to stand alone.
Sophie Irwin’s writing is funny, highly. addictive and full of fantastic characters. The romance is a slow burn, with the tension building between Kitty and Radcliffe through little moments which are gripping and enjoyable to read.
Twenty-year-old Kitty is very much the heart and soul of the story. While she is a Regency heroine, her behaviour doesn’t match up to the typical leads of this genre. She is unabashedly in the market for a rich groom and doesn’t stop at anything to ensure that she achieves her plan within the deadline. Her vivacity and her cunning are extremely well-balanced. At the same time, Kitty was a character who could have been so easy to hate because of her mercenary tendencies. But the way she is written shows her emotional and vulnerable side too. I loved her character.
The male lead usually gets ignored in this genre, but Lord Radcliffe holds his own very well. I liked the author’s decision to present scenes from his perspective also. It broke the monotony and revealed the pressures that the men of the ton faced. Radcliffe’s relationship with Kitty is charming and their strong love-hate connection is what elevates the story further.
I just didn't want this to end. It really is a genuinely fun and heart-filled romp, with a good grasp of the Recency conventions. I went in with zero expectations and was surprised by how much I enjoyed this. Reading this was a wonderful experience.
Overall reaction:
A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting is not really my usual kind of book, but I picked it up on a recommendation, and this was an absolute joy to read.
The opening sentence, “You’re not going to marry me?” sets the scene succinctly in a regency novel which you know is going to be about finding a husband. Obviously, the heroine’s attentions are going to have to be directed elsewhere. And because there is a pressing need for a wealthy husband due to a debt-ridden parent’s decease, this is going to be a difficult task.
When her parents die and leave Kitty Talbot in charge of her four younger sisters and all her father's debts, the smart young lady reasons that the only way to support her family's future is by marrying someone wealthy. In fact, she is just on the verge of sealing the deal with her fiancé of two years, but he has other plans. Not to be dissuaded, Kitty sets off for London with her aunt and sister, determined to infiltrate the higher echelons and bag herself a rich beau.
Admittedly, I picked this book up on impulse in September, shortly after the Jane Austen festival had taken place here in Bath. Irwin’s novel is undoubtedly a nod to Austen’s most famous work, ‘Pride and Prejudice’, and it felt like the perfect time to read a book of this type. There are many elements in common - including five sisters, the need to marry rich, and a proud titled gentleman who can’t stand the leading lady. However, it feels different enough to stand alone.
Sophie Irwin’s writing is funny, highly. addictive and full of fantastic characters. The romance is a slow burn, with the tension building between Kitty and Radcliffe through little moments which are gripping and enjoyable to read.
Twenty-year-old Kitty is very much the heart and soul of the story. While she is a Regency heroine, her behaviour doesn’t match up to the typical leads of this genre. She is unabashedly in the market for a rich groom and doesn’t stop at anything to ensure that she achieves her plan within the deadline. Her vivacity and her cunning are extremely well-balanced. At the same time, Kitty was a character who could have been so easy to hate because of her mercenary tendencies. But the way she is written shows her emotional and vulnerable side too. I loved her character.
The male lead usually gets ignored in this genre, but Lord Radcliffe holds his own very well. I liked the author’s decision to present scenes from his perspective also. It broke the monotony and revealed the pressures that the men of the ton faced. Radcliffe’s relationship with Kitty is charming and their strong love-hate connection is what elevates the story further.
I just didn't want this to end. It really is a genuinely fun and heart-filled romp, with a good grasp of the Recency conventions. I went in with zero expectations and was surprised by how much I enjoyed this. Reading this was a wonderful experience.
Overall reaction: