About the Book:
Title: The Ladies Rewrite the Rules
Author: Suzanne Allen
Page Length: 272
Publication Date: Jan. 9, 2024
Publisher: Berkley
Synopsis: 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.
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My Review:
The Ladies Rewrite the Rules is such a fun and charming historical romance. I loved the vibrant characters, witty dialogue, and swoon-worthy love stories.
Diana is a compassionate and kind protagonist, and I loved her story. With her newfound freedom, Diana finally begins to experience life, and when she connects with the other women who are in the same directory she’s in, Diana really begins to flourish.
The Ladies of the Registry. What a fun group to be a part of! All of these women, each of whom is mentioned in Maxwell’s directory of wealthy, eligible women, are harshly judged for things that were mostly out of their control. I love this group of women and what they stand for. The Ladies of the Registry, as they’ve named themselves, are bucking societal norms and turning negative experiences into positive ones, which empowers them. It’s interesting to see where their stories lead as they forge together and take control of their situations in ways that defy what’s expected of women at the time.
The friendship between Diana and Regina is another highlight of the book. These friends develop such a wonderful bond, and the way that they wholly accept and support each other is something desperately needed in both of their lives. There are some great messages here about sisterhood, found families, starting over, and owning one’s life. I also really like how the story was resolved and that we get to see the motivations and remorse of some of the antagonists.
But my favorite part of the story is the romances. Yes, romances! There are several in the story, each unique and swoon-worthy in their own right. The main love story is an enemies-to-lovers, and there are also a couple of second-chance romances that are delightful! Diana and a well are wonderful together, and his growth throughout the story, as he realizes the ramifications of the book he penned, is remarkable. I really like how the author sheds light on so many different perspectives and motivations, some of which are innocent and others that are more unsavory, behind them. It makes you see the situations in different ways.
I thought this was a charming historical romance, and I’m thankful to Berkley and Austenprose PR for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
Rating:
Favorite Lines:
“All of us had said or done things we later regret. That does not mean it should be held against us for the rest of our lives.”
Having been trapped in a gilded cage, even a short flight was better than never once being allowed to spread one’s wings.
It is an indisputable fact that when a person no longer seeks acceptance, they immediately become irresistable.
About the Author:
Suzanne Allain is a screenwriter who lived in New York and Beijing before returning to her hometown of Tallahassee, Florida, where she lives with her husband. Suzanne adapted her novel Mr. Malcolm’s List into a screenplay and it was made into a movie starring Freida Pinto, Theo James, Ṣọpẹ Dìrísù, and Zawe Ashton.
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I am definitely adding this one to my tbr! I read her other books.
It’s a good one! I have a feeling you’ll enjoy it!
Ooh, this one is going straight on my TBR! I love that cover and we get romances, plural!? I’m in 😍 I also love romances that have strong profound friendship groups and this one sounds fantastic. Great review!
Thanks, Dini! It was really good. Definitely worth checking out when you’re in the mood for a clean historical romance.