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June 1, 2025
In this novel set in 1868 England featuring Black protagonists, a young woman's desire for self-determination conflicts with societal constraints. At 18, orphan Stella Sedgwick is expected to find a position as a servant for a wealthy family. Her 17-year-old biracial cousin, Olivia Witherson, received a small inheritance from her white vicar father, but if Stella is to achieve her dream of becoming a writer, she'll need to make a smart marriage. When a letter arrives from her late mother's former employer, Thomas Fitzroy, summoning her to his home, she's confused. Stella's mother, who was enslaved in the West Indies and later abandoned by Stella's father, raised her daughter alongside Mr. Fitzroy's grandchildren at Kendall Manor. Stella hasn't heard from the family in the four years since her mother's death, so she's shocked to learn that she'll inherit the estate following terminally ill Mr. Fitzroy's death--but, given that only men can own property, the bequest requires her to marry. Stella wrestles with accepting this gift and its consequences--both matrimony and the reactions of Mr. Fitzroy's family. Stella's navigation of a society that is unwelcoming to non-white people is well written but would have benefited from more robust historical context. Still, the strong character development will help readers understand the complex choices each character faces. Strong pacing throughout culminates in a slightly lackluster ending. Romance enthusiasts will enjoy this work, although history buffs will be left wanting more details.(Historical romance. 13-18)
COPYRIGHT(2025) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Starred review from July 1, 2025
Grades 7-12 *Starred Review* Stella Sedgwick is content to live in the country with her aunt and cousin. She has no designs on entering the marriage market and would much prefer a life of independence. Being Black in Regency England is difficult enough without trying to find a rich suitor. Stella's plans are interrupted when her late mother's former employer leaves her his grand estate and �2,000 a year. What happens next is a season of balls, romance, and a society advice column reminiscent of Lady Whistledown's. Stella tells her story with humor and wit, whisking readers through the social season alongside her. Stella experiences many of the prejudices against Black people during the Regency era. While race does play a part in the story, it is Stella's personality, humor, and strong-mindedness that drive the story and will endear it to readers. Secondary characters range from mixed race to Black, white, and Asian descent. Multiple swoonworthy suitors will leave readers wondering if Stella will give up her plans for spinsterhood. Isabelle has created a Regency romance that will satisfy romance fans who are not quite ready for Bridgerton but hunger for the balls and gossip of high society. A first purchase for all young adult collections.
COPYRIGHT(2025) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
July 1, 2025
Gr 7-10-In this historical romance, Isabelle combines the playfulness of Bridgerton with the social jockeying of a Jane Austen novel. Stella Sedgwick, 18, lives on the outskirts of London in the 1860s. As a Black teenager, she has low expectations for making a good match in high society, but her fortunes may be on the rise as she has come into a sizable inheritance. Now, she and her cousin Olivia Witherson must navigate the tumultuous debutante scene, balancing their desires against the demands of family. This book nicely introduces concerns like race and class into an otherwise familiar romance template. Isabelle gives this story a playful edge with such details such as the Bridgerton-inspired Fiona Flippant gossip column, which Stella secretly manages following her mother's death. Parts of Stella's story are recognizable from other British romances, but she has her own style of banter that readers will no doubt enjoy. VERDICT A comfort read for anyone who is drawn to romances set in the Regency and Victorian eras.-Talea Anderson
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