The Ladies Rewrite the Rules by Suzanne Allain
Publication Date: January 9th 2024 by Berkley
Pages: 272
Source: Publisher
Rating: ★★★★
My
Thoughts:
Diana Boyle has discovered her name on a directory of rich, eligible
women for “second sons” or other men who need to marry a woman with money, and
she’s outraged! She was married at 18 to a man three times her age, so she and
her mother wouldn’t go homeless, and the union wasn’t a happy one. Diana is not
keen on marrying again. As a widow, why should she give over the wealth and independence
she now enjoys? Instead, she writes to the other women on the directory to let
them know so they wouldn’t be taken advantage of by fortune hunters.
However, the ladies decide to turn this directory around to
their advantage, by letting these men know that they will be deciding the rules
of courtship since they are the ones with the advantage. They were able to flout
some of the ridiculous rules, like sitting out all the dances if they refused
one man’s request.
The Ladies Rewrite the Rules was utterly charming! There
were two delightful romances. Both low on drama, which I appreciated. I enjoyed
seeing these women turn the tables on men and society where the advantages were
usually in the male’s favor and grab up some happiness!
4 Stars
Book Description:
From the author of Mr. Malcolm's List comes a delightful romantic comedy set in Regency England about a widow who takes high society by storm.
Diana Boyle, a wealthy young widow, has no desire to ever marry again. Particularly not to someone who merely wants her for her fortune.
So when she discovers that she’s listed in a directory of rich, single women she is furious, and rightly so. She confronts Maxwell Dean, the man who published the Bachelor’s Directory , and is horrified to find he is far more attractive than his actions have led her to expect. However, Diana is unmoved by Max’s explanation that he authored the list to assist younger sons like himself who cannot afford to marry unless it’s to a woman of means.
She gathers the ladies in the directory together to inform them of its existence, so they may circumvent fortune hunters’ efforts to trick them into marriage. Though outraged, the women decide to embrace their unique position of power and reverse the usual gender roles by making the men dance to their tune. And together… the ladies rewrite the rules.
That is a fun premise and extra points for going against the norm for that time
ReplyDeleteWell it does sound excellent. I don't read much historical romance.
ReplyDeleteAnne - Books of My Heart
This one does sound utterly charming. I'm always looking for books that'll make me smile. :D
ReplyDeleteI had a good time with this one, too. :)
ReplyDeleteSophia Rose
You go girls! I would want to read this one
ReplyDelete