A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting by Sophie Irwin
Historical Romance
Published July 12th, 2022 by Pamela Dorman Books

Reviewed by Kate

A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting doesn’t break any new ground in the Regency romance genre, but it is a very enjoyable debut novel. 

Kitty Talbot’s parents are dead, and she, along with her four sisters, are left with a huge amount of debt. So off Kitty goes to London, with her sister Cecy in tow, to snag a wealthy husband before the family cottage is taken away. Right away she meets Archie de Lacy, the brother of one of Cecy’s school friends, and aims to convince him to marry her. She does not factor in his titled brother, Lord Radcliffe, who sees through her act and wants her to stay away from Archie. And I’m sure you can guess what happens from there.

To cover some aspects of the book that might turn some readers off: A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting is a slow burn. The main characters aren’t even on the page together until about 20% into the book. There are quite a few secondary characters and the narrative head hops frequently. 

However, if those things I listed above don’t turn you completely off, then I would recommend A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting. Kitty is an amazing female main character. She’s manipulative and forthright, and she cares about her family and would do anything for them to be safe. I really cannot understate how much I enjoyed Kitty as a character. She’s bright and clever and uses her smarts to get what she wants, and isn’t apologetic about it, and I loved it. Radcliffe is a complex male character who is battling his own demons and would rather be anywhere but London and putting up with the social scene, but he also cares for his family in his own way. The banter between the two is stellar and one of the highlights of the book. 

The book’s plot isn’t anything romance readers haven’t seen before. Unrepentant fortune hunter out for a rich gentleman manages to fall for the one person who knows what she’s up to? It’s not the most original storyline, but I still think it’s done well. The enemies to friends to lovers trope plays out nicely, and the antics at the end of the book by the respective siblings of Kitty and Radcliffe make for a fun way for the two to realize their entanglements with each other. 

A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting manages to feel both classic and fresh, and it was a very enjoyable read. I will definitely check out whatever Sophie Irwin writes next! 

Grade: B

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