Title: Rules for RuinAuthor: Mimi Matthews
Series: The Crinoline Academy #1
Pages: 400
Publication Date: May 20, 2025
Publisher: Berkley
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Historical
Synopsis:
On the outskirts of London sits a seemingly innocuous institution with a secretive aim—train young women to distract, disrupt, and discredit the patriarchy. Outraged by a powerful politician’s systematic attack on women’s rights, the Academy summons its brightest—and most bitter—pupil to infiltrate the odious man’s inner circle. A deal is struck: bring down the viscount, and Miss Euphemia Flite will finally earn her freedom.
But betting shop owner Gabriel Royce has other plans. The viscount is the perfect pawn to insulate Gabriel’s underworld empire from government interference. He’s not about to let some crinoline-clad miss destroy his carefully constructed enterprise—no matter how captivating he finds her threats.
From the rookeries of St. Giles to the ballrooms of Mayfair, Euphemia and Gabriel engage in a battle of wits and wills that’s complicated by a blossoming desire. Soon Euphemia realizes it’s not the broken promises to her Academy sisters she should fear. . . . It’s the danger to her heart.
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I had so much fun reading Rules for Ruin and thought it was a great start to Mimi Matthews’ new historical romance series. It’s got a little bit of everything I love—clever heroines, layered characters, secret missions, mystery and danger, and a swoon-worthy, slow-burn love story. I was completely pulled in by the premise of a women’s academy secretly training young ladies to take down corrupt men in power. Ummm, yes, please! lol
Effie is a fantastic main character. She’s sharp, determined, and fully committed to her cause, even when the mission gets complicated. I loved how confident and intelligent she was, and also how much depth there was beneath the surface. And the way she navigates her growing feelings for Gabriel while trying to keep her focus was fantastic.
Speaking of Gabriel… what a great love interest! Charming but morally complicated, Gabriel is rough around the edges in all the right ways. I loved how his relationship with Effie felt like a constant game of mental chess, but with major emotional stakes. Every time they bantered, I was grinning at the tension between them. (The dialogue throughout the book is excellent.) Their dynamic is full of tension and sparks, and even though the romance is closed-door, it still feels intense, sexy, and emotionally charged.
The world-building was another highlight for me. The book brings Victorian London to life, and I appreciated how Matthews worked in themes like women’s rights, class inequality, and patriarchal power without ever making it feel preachy. Everything felt naturally woven into the story—Effie’s mission, her personal beliefs, even the way she uses fashion as both protection and protest.
Overall, I thought this was a strong start to what looks like a really promising series, and I’m already looking forward to reading the next book. Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
- secret identity
- touch her and die
- dual POV
- rivals to lovers
USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews writes both historical nonfiction and award-winning Victorian romances, including The Siren of Sussex, a 2023 RUSA Reading List shortlist pick for Best Romance; Fair as a Star, a Library Journal Best Romance of 2020; Gentleman Jim, a Kirkus Best Book of 2020; and The Work of Art, winner of the 2020 HOLT Medallion and a 2021 Daphne du Maurier Award nominee. Her novels have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus, and Shelf Awareness, and her articles have been featured on the Victorian Web, the Journal of Victorian Culture, and in syndication at BUST Magazine.
In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with her family, which includes an Andalusian dressage horse, a miniature poodle, a Sheltie, and two Siamese cats.
Ahh I’m so happy you enjoyed this one! I’m even more excited for it’s release now, great review Julie 🙂
Thanks, Becky! I hope you like it if you get a chance to read it! 🙂