A review by agrippinaes
A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin

5.0

This is just a very good book; the writing sparkles, it’s very witty and flows very well, making for an enjoyable, smooth read. Sophie Irwin hasa lovely turn of phrase. Parts of the book made me laugh out loud, others made my chest ache. There are parts of this story that are deeply romantic, others sad, and it makes for a surprisingly tender and touching read through all of the humour. I barely noticed its length - I just skipped through it very easily.

Kitty was such a delight of a character. She was so funny and quick, her manipulations were a pleasure to see unfold. As a character she felt very real and very fleshed out, and I really rooted for her. She was a breath of fresh air to me, truly; the book embraced the sly side of her personality, acknowledging that whilst she was very capable and bold she was also, at times, her lack of kindness towards others, and how she had to work to improve that.

James was a good, solid, steady, sensible presence in contrast. I loved how he saw through her so easily. Their first meeting was so amusing - the way that he pointedly questions her in front of people was so funny. Their romance was good. The dynamic between them is very fun, their banter entertaining, and I particularly liked that they became friends and developed a respect and understanding for the other’s position. It felt like a good foundation for their eventual romantic feelings, which was very sweet. The yearning in this book worked very well; there were some lovely moments, such as the glove scene, or their kiss. There was a quiet need for each other’s company, a good level of trust and respect and understanding between them.

I also thought the subplots to this book worked well as an accompaniment to the rest of the book. They’re big parts of the story, actually, but it didn’t feel overcrowded, and I felt like the drama sat nicely alongside the romance. There was a good cast of side characters here, too, that made it very enjoyable.

I just really enjoyed it. This is more of a traditional historical romance; it’s in part a novel of manners, in my opinion, with a heavy focus on social etiquette and the differences in class. For my personal tastes, I probably would have liked a little bit more happening between the main couple, but I was so charmed by the book that ultimately it didn’t really matter to me. Kitty and James were a well-suited match and I loved how their romance unfolded. The writing of this book, though, is its biggest strength; it’s the kind of writing that made me feel a little bit jealous at how skillfully Sophie Irwin handled the plotting, the characterisation, the dialogue…just everything, really! It’s just a lovely book, and I cannot recommend it enough.

Content Notes: Hate-to-love, bargains/deals/wagers, class difference.

Warnings:
SpoilerDeath of a parent (in past), threat of violence, gambling addiction, references to war, PTSD, grief.


Other:
SpoilerNo on-page sex, OM drama
FMC courts various men and comes very close to becoming engaged to OM.
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