Sixteen Scandals by Sophie Jordan
My review
4/5 stars
This book was marketed as a "regency romp perfect for fans of Austen-esque flirtation and Shakespearean hijinks"; I'm not sure if a sentence has ever come closer to summing me up as a reader. Obviously, I had to explore.
Primrose was an instantly likeable character. Her relationship with her family was immediately real and relatable; I rooted for her from the first few pages. She was a good mix of courageous, stubborn, naive and youthful eagerness.
Jacob was a charming leading man, but I don't feel like I got enough time with him as a character to really get to know him. He felt like he was only there in relation to Primrose rather than as a character in his own right.
Their relationship was fun to read through as the book progressed, even if it did feel a little rushed. They had instant chemistry and the energy between them felt strong as a youthful first love unfolded.
The secondary characters were brilliantly written and felt fuller than they should given how little airtime they had as part of the story. Olympia was the perfect supportive best friend, the sisters were loyal through-and-through, and the mother was an absolute beast of a woman.
I particularly enjoyed the historically accurate portrayals of the events of the night, including a rather unsavoury description of bear-baiting, and the reality that Primrose had absolutely no power over her own life and was completely dependent on her parents' choices for her.
A solid read full of fun, energy and light. I easily read through this in two nights and would recommend to anyone who loves Regency and is looking for a quick, entertaining romp.
Book blurb
The youngest of four daughters, Primrose Ainsworth is used to getting lost in the shuffle. But when her parents decide to delay her debut into English society, Prim hatches a plan to go rogue on the night of her sixteenth birthday.
Donning a mask, Prim escapes to the infamous Vauxhall Gardens for one wild night. When her cover is nearly blown, a mysterious stranger intercedes, and Prim finds an unexpected partner in mischief . . . and romance. But when it’s revealed her new ally isn’t who he says he is, her one night of fun may last past dawn.
In this frothy regency romp perfect for fans of Austen-esque flirtation and Shakespearean hijinks, sometimes a little scandal can be a good thing.
More...
You can buy the book here now. It was published by Clarion.
For more on the author, you can head to her website, follow her on Instagram, or check out her Goodreads page.
