And the best part about the book? The growth of James and Kitty’s relationship feels entirely realistic, entirely natural, and there’s no third act break up. Yes, there is angst, yes, there are miscommunications, but it’s all dealt with well. It feels like one of those relationships where each character respects the other, knows the other well enough to know what the other feels they have to do. I’m not explaining this at all well, but just now I love it. I love it so much. This was a genuinely fun and lighthearted read that I absolutely loved! Kitty was a likeable and incredibly intriguing protagonist-she’s smart, pragmatic and rather mercenary in her goal to catch herself a wealthy husband which I found refreshing among the dozens of Regency romances that’ve cropped up in the wake of Bridgerton’s success. I adored this book - the start is a little slow, but it has all the elements of a really special historical romance. I eagerly await the author's next book! She meets a suitable family with a young son who could solve all her problems so Kitty goes all out to ensnare this rather naïve young aristocrat, unfortunately his elder brother Lord Radcliffe is on to Kitty and determined to stop her. The interaction and dialogue between the two is sparkling, witty but also honest, Radcliffe will help Kitty in her task as long as she leaves his brother alone. This leads to all manner of humour, dramatic and romantic episodes. When her parents die and leave Kitty Talbot in charge of her four younger sisters and all of her father's debts, the smart young lady reasons that the only way that she can support her family's future is by marrying someone wealthy. In fact, she is just on the verge of sealing the deal with her fiance 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.

A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin - Waterstones A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin - Waterstones

In the beginning I was put off by Kitty's character a great deal. However, as you read and discover more about her, you begin to see who she is and all the things that make her so wonderful. The same can be said about Lord Radcliffe. Irwin's debut is a delicious historical romcom in the vein of Martha Waters and Bridgerton without the smooching.” The MM Agency is a dedicated and passionate literary agency with a global outlook, specialising in launching debut writers, international rights and book to screen adaptations.Sophie Irwin’s debut novel is charming and I honestly could not put it down! It engaged me completely for an entire evening, immersed in Regency era London. Kitty Talbot needs a fortune. Or rather, she needs a husband who has a fortune. This is 1818 after all, and only men have the privilege of seeking their own riches. Kitty is acerbic, pulls no punches, knows what she wants and she wants a husband so that she can save her family home and ensure that her younger sisters are taken care of.

A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting - HarperCollins Publishers UK

Enlisting the help of an old friend of her deceased mother Kitty travels to London for the season to hunt for a rich husband. She may appear a hard hearted manipulator and schemer but she is doing this for her sisters, prepared to sacrifice marrying for love for their sakes. 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. Then we meet Kitty's love interest - add in an elder brother and Kitty's plans do not play out the way she expects them to.

Featured Reviews

Kitty enters in to London society with only one goal in mind – to find a rich husband. She’s not looking for romance, her love for her sisters is what drives her and she’s quite prepared to sacrifice herself to a loveless match to keep a roof over their heads. The only one to see through her plans is the worldly Lord Radcliffe and he is determined to thwart her at any cost, especially when it comes to his own brother falling for her charms.

A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting - Publishers Weekly A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting - Publishers Weekly

I enjoyed reading Sophie's whimsical story on a lazy afternoon while recovering from COVID. Very much in the style of Austen, I read it in one sitting. How much of it is realistic, I have no idea but I thoroughly enjoyed the escapism and indulgence of it. I loved the enemies to lovers trope, it's one of my favourites and one that was executed tremendously by Irwin. I loved the chemistry between the characters and how much their relationship developed over time. A couple of weeks ago I had The Terrible Cold That Isn't Covid and found it hard to concentrate or settle on what I wanted to read and it was in this unpromising frame of mind that I started A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting. For the first chapter I thought maybe I had made a mistake, it felt a little overwritten and self consciously Heyerish and I almost put it aside. Thank goodness I didn't because this charming regency romp was exactly what I needed and I raced through it. A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting" is the tale of the Talbot sisters, who are left with a cottage and little else apart from debts when their parents die. Kitty, the oldest, sees it as her role to save the girls from homelessness and destitution. Her plan involves launching herself into London Society to snag herself a rich husband. She takes one of younger sisters with her and they enlist the help of their "aunt" Dorothy, their late mother's best friend. A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting' has been featured on Caboodle as a Caboodle Firsts. Thank you for working with us on this!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.

Home - Ladys Guide

Or rather, she needs a husband who has a fortune. This is 1818 after all, and only men have the privilege of seeking their own riches. I requested A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting on a whim and ended up with probably what will be one of my favourite reads of 2021, and definitely what is one of my new favourites full stop. It’s more on the romcom side of things than a full on romance, lighthearted for the most part, and with a cast of characters you’ll love. Can Kitty secure a fortune and save her sisters from poverty? There is not a day to lose and no one – not even a lord – will stand in her way… As the daughter of a librarian Jen's love of books started from a very early age. Her reading obsession continued throughout her teenage years when she studied both English Language and English Literature at college.I loved this witty Regency romance, which had the period detail of a Georgette Heyer mixed with the modern freshness of Bridgerton. Yes, you can probably guess the direction it is going in, but isn't that always the case with a romance? The journey to get there is entertaining and I was sad to finish the book and say goodbye to the characters. honestly, this is one of the best romances I’ve read so far this year and regency romance/rom-com fans are bound to enjoy it! If you loved the Julia Quinn Bridgerton series or Georgette Heyer, this is definitely the book for you! Can Kitty secure a fortune and save her sisters from poverty? There’s no time to lose and no one—not even a Lord—will stand in her way… When Kitty's parents pass away and leave her with 4 sisters and a mountain of debt, she must do everything in her power to make sure her and her sisters survive.