How to Fake It in Society

How to Fake It in Society by K.J. Charles, 320 pages

The Comte de Valois de La Motte, son of the woman who purportedly stole an infamous necklace from Marie Antoinette, has run out of funds. But he does have a painting that may draw a high price from fans of the late French queen, and who better to buy it than Titus Pilcrow, a paint-maker who has recently found himself unexpectedly married and then widowed, the beneficiary of an elderly woman's need to marry and keep her noxious nephew from inheriting. Titus immediately takes to the Comte (Nico, as his friends call him), and asks him to help steer Titus through London's high society. Despite Nico's nefarious plans, he agrees and finds himself unwilling to con the man that he finds increasingly appealing. But as debts rise and unscrupulous loan sharks come calling, Nico must make some move — but will it destroy his burgeoning relationship with Titus?

This was a very engaging story, and I particularly loved all the details about color creation, artistic techniques and forgeries, and fashion. However, between those and the long con that was going on throughout the book, the romance got a bit lost in the shuffle. Still, a fun trip into a historical romantic tale.

This book will be published April 28, 2026.

Lady Tremaine

 Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser (2026), 352 pages

Mother's always know that sometimes hard choices need to be made for the future of your children. Sometimes those choices make you appear to be an evil Stepmother in the eyes of the very children you are protecting. This novel is a loose twist on Cinderella. It follows Etheldreda as she navigates surviving twice-widowhood in a crumbling house with little income, and three daughters who are coming of age. I don't want to give too much away, but it is a great look into single-parenthood, the resourcefulness of fake-it to you make-it(ish), and standing up for what is right while staying true to yourself. This is an imaginative take on the story and definitely worth a read.

Rules for Ruin

Rules for Ruin by Mimi Matthews, 400 pages

At the request of her patron, Effie Flite has returned to England following a few years as a lady's companion in Paris. As an orphan trained in the Crinoline Academy, Effie has the ability to blend in seamlessly in London's society while also holding her own in less savory situations (that's where the sharp hairpins and steel-pointed parasol come in handy), both of which will be needed in her next assignment: take down Lord Compton, a seemingly upstanding member of Parliament who holds enough sway to prevent the married women's property act from coming to a vote. Unfortunately, Effie's assignment has her at odds with formidable betting shop owner Gabriel Royce, who needs Compton's influence to help secure funding to rehabilitate the slums of St. Giles. Too bad that Effie and Gabriel can't deny the attraction between them.

This is an intriguing historical romance, with plenty of meaty historical elements and compelling side plots and backstories for the characters, making it an enjoyable read. (It's also somewhat inspired by Miss Havisham's story in Great Expectations, so no, you're not imagining that.) However, something about the way the romantic elements come together in the end feels a bit disingenuous to Effie's character, which keeps this from getting an enthusiastic recommendation from me.

Upon a Starlit Tide

Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods, 432 pages

As the youngest daughter of shipping magnate Jean-Baptiste Leon, Lucinde lives what many would consider a charmed life in a sprawling French estate, with tutors, invitations to fancy balls, and her father doting on her as his favorite child. However, Lucinde has always felt the call of the sea, and often sneaks out to swim in the cove and learn how to sail from an English smuggler. When she saves the son of another wealthy family after his ship crashes, Luce's life becomes much more complicated, spurred in part by the man's attentions to her and her sisters.

Set in the 1700s in Saint-Malo, France, this novel is the epitome of historical fantasy, effortlessly mixing elements of The Little Mermaid and Cinderella into a fairy tale all its own. The attention to historic detail was fantastic, but that didn't stop the magic system from being well-woven into the fabric of the world. An excellent story, and I look forward to reading more by Woods.

Cloud Atlas

 Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell, 509 pages.

This nested novel is complex and twisting, but I will do my best to summarize it concisely nonetheless. The novel begins with the Pacific voyage of Adam Ewing in 1850, where there is much philosophy on the nature of race and civilization, and where Ewing is treated by his new friend Dr. Henry Goose treats him for a mysterious parasite. The story then jumps to 1931, when  disinherited bisexual composer Robert Frobisher finds his journal in the house of the aging composer who he is working for (and being abused by) in an attempt to break into the musical world. Then in the 1970s reporter Louisa Rey finds Frobisher's letters in the possession of a man murdered for trying to warn the world about an unsafe nuclear reactor, a catastrophe it falls on her to stop. A novelization of Rey's adventures are sent to publisher Timothy Cavendish in more-or-less present day England, which he reads on the run from debtors before being inadvertently locked in an old folks home. The film adaptation of Cavendish's ordeal is illicitly watched by Sonmi-451, a clone in a far future Korea taken over entirely by corporate greed where she has the opportunity to discover herself as a person instead of property for the first time. A recorded interview with Sonmi after her arrest is found by a young man in a post-apocalyptic iron age Hawaii, who's culture reveres Sonmi as a goddess. All of these source materials are interrupted, so all of these stories go unfinished. That is until we reach young Zachry on Hawaii, whose adventures at the end of recorded history reach their conclusion, as the stories finally ripple back through the centuries and all reach their conclusions. 

I picked up this book pretty much immediately after watching the 2012 film by the Wachowskis because I thought it was such a fascinating experiment in structure that I felt like I needed to compare them immediately. And I was not disappointed. Just as I suspected, the film and the novel are different in a lot of ways, but both play masterfully with their structures, allowing format to reinforce themes. And I would say that this is a novel driven by themes more than any other element; I believe I will be thinking about the details for quite a long time. This is an intensely literary novel, but despite that it rarely feels slow or difficult. It is full of action, and the characters are all flawed and compelling. I am also extremely impressed by how well Mitchell captured each of the many genres he wrote in, the style and language shifted dramatically in each story, which I think went a long way towards making each character feel complete in their own story (even if the language shift after the apocalypse was a little hard to parse until I got used to it. Overall I think this book was a masterwork, and I would definitely recommend it to others.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

 The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab (2020) 448 Pages

A tale of a girl who makes a deal with a demon in order to essentially live forever, with the unfortunate caveat that nobody will remember her name once they walk away, turn around, etc. She traverses across continents, finding strategies and ways of keeping herself fed and sheltered. Eventually over the centuries she arrives in NYC in present day. She goes from loft to apartment of various lovers she returns to over and over again, always forgetting who she is in the morning. She is tired of living like this but refuses to give in to the Demon's whims. He has offered since the initial deal to end her suffering, but she is stubborn and will not give in. One day in NYC she is browsing a book store and takes a book, she usually reads them and returns as nobody remembers her after a couple minutes. However this time, she is caught by the store owner who kicks her out. She returns a couple weeks later to find that the owner STILL remembers her. This is shocking, impossible but makes her feel real again. She starts dating this person as they find a lot in common, and most of all he remembers her and can say her name. They eventually figure out its only possible because he ALSO made a deal with the demon...however he will only survive the year. His deal allows every single person who he interacts with to view him as they want...whether it be the perfect son, a perfect lover, a perfect friend. He can do no wrong and gets his way with whatever he does.

This was quite a whirlwind of a book! I could not put it down. I will say I preferred the historical travels in the past, across Europe and France more than the modern-day inclusions. Overall, I loved it!

The Lights of Prague

The Lights of Prague by Nicole Jarvis, 413 pages

Domek Myska is a lamplighter in 19th Century Prague. Every night, he walks the streets to, yes, light the gas streetlamps, but also to fight the monsters that prey upon unwitting people every night. And by "monster" I'm being quite literal — he hunts the vampiric pijavice, as well as poltergeists, ghosts, and all manner of supernatural evil. One night during a battle, he comes into possession of a powerful will-o'-the-wisp that has somehow been trapped and forced into servitude for a pijavice. While he doesn't know how or why, Domek does know that no good can come of this combination, and is determined to figure it out. Meanwhile, the clever, beautiful, and mysterious widow Lady Ora Fischerova keeps popping up in his life. There's something special about her, no doubt, but Domek can't quite put his finger on it.

For a debut novel, this was so good!! The world-building, the complex characters and relationships, the descriptions of the creatures...all of it was spot on. I don't know if Jarvis plans to return to Ora and Domek's Prague in future books, but I know I certainly wouldn't complain. That said, I'm pretty sure I'll read whatever she comes up with next. This was fantastic.

The Hellion's Waltz

The Hellion's Waltz by Olivia Waite, 258 pages

Last year, the Roseingrave family's reputation and finances were dragged through the mud by a swindler who took advantage of Mr. Roseingrave's piano-building prowess and eldest daughter Sophie's talents at the piano. Fleeing London, they've now settled in Carrisford, where they hope to rebuild in an upstanding town. But when Sophie meets beguiling silk weaver Maddie Crewe, she's convinced that Maddie is up to something untoward. As it happens, she is. Maddie and the other weavers of Carrisford are determined to run their own con on an unscrupulous businessman who is driving them into the poorhouse. However, Sophie's meddling — and Maddie's burgeoning feelings for her — may stand in the way of both the Roseingrave family's rebuilding and Maddie's swindle.

This is a sweet love story between the two young women, and one that, refreshingly, doesn't have an element of disapproval or shame from Sophie's family, and only the barest hint from society at large. While that makes the story particularly sweet, it also takes it a bit out of the historical context. An enjoyable, if not particularly substantive, historical romance.

The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry

The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry by C.M. Waggoner, 371 pages

Delly Wells is a scrappy firewitch from the bad side of town, weeks behind on the rent for her sad little apartment, and constantly hunting down her drug-addled mother. She's getting pretty desperate when she answers an ad seeking magically-abled women to escort a posh bride to her fiance's castle, figuring that she can handle traveling for some cash. But the trip introduces more complications to Delly's life, including the hunt for a murderer, busting a drug cartel, and the growing affection between Delly and her new wealthy friend Winn.

In this inventive novel, Waggoner has created a complex set of characters dealing with some complex problems, and she manages it all magnificently. Delly's struggles and personal growth, the romance between her and Winn, the commentary on the cycles of addiction...it's all so well done and so captivating! And it's funny! Highly recommend this wonderful mix of romance, adventure, mystery, and fantasy.

A Curious Beginning, by Deanna Raybourn

A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn, 368 p.
The first in a series, A Curious Beginning introduces us to the enjoyably mouthy and delightfully eccentric natural scientist Veronica Speedwell. Orphaned at a young age, she was raised by her two aunts. As we meet her, both of her aunts have died, and Veronica is preparing for the life of spectacular worldwide travels of which she has dreamed, snaring rare butterflies and handsome suitors in all corners of the world. Abruptly, however, she is thrown into a mystery that may reveal the secrets of her parentage. As an opinionated, educated woman ahead of her time, she scandalizes and delights her friends and enemies alike.
I enjoyed the quick pace of this book, and the sharp dialogue between Veronica and her companions. The historical setting is well realized, and I even learned a new vocabulary word or two - Veronica being an accomplished lepidopterist, or butterfly collector. With plenty of mysteries still left to explore, I look forward to seeing Veronica on her next adventure.

Life at the Dakota

Life at the Dakota: New York's Most Unusual Address  241 pp.

This book was published back in 1979 so it is far from being up to date in the tale of the famous/infamous Dakota apartment house on Central Park West. It includes the history of the building from the beginning when that part of town was a lesser location than the more prestigious East Side of Manhattan. There are anecdotes about the residents who lived their over the years, the famous and not so famous. There is much about the management and mismanagement of the building over the years and the battle to turn it into a cooperative apartment. The author was less than complimentary about some of the famous residents including John Lennon and Yoko Ono. I wonder if his attitude would be different had he written the book after Lennon's murder outside the building in 1980. All in all, this is a so-so book.

The Trouble with Being a Duke.../Sophie Barnes

The Trouble with Being a Duke at the Kingsborough Ball by Sophie Barnes; historical romance; 384 pages

I'm going to preface this rather ranty blog post with the caveat that I don't real a lot of category romances.  Other genres (like YA, fantasy, or science fiction) with strong romantic elements?  I'm there.  But genre romances have never really appealed to me, and this book is a good example of why (more on that in a minute).  Still, when I needed a book to read and saw this sitting on the library sale rack, I thought maybe I should give the genre another try (or at least broaden my reading horizons a little). 

The plot is cute, if predictable:  Isabella, the poor daughter of a tradesman, has always dreamed about attending the lavish masked balls held by the Duke of Kingsborough.  So when she finds a beautiful gown in her attic, she sees it as a perfect opportunity to fulfill her dream, and maybe even sneak in a dance with the new duke before she settles down into a boring life of marriage to a man she doesn't love.  Of course, that one dance with the duke turns into love-at-first-sight, and soon the duke is scouring the countryside to find the mysterious woman from the ball; and even after he finds her, he has to convince her to marry him, and win over her mother, who harbors a deep and unexplained hatred for the nobility. 

Most of the book is enjoyable enough, but the last 50 pages had me seething in anger [spoilers]:   Isabella's mother is revealed to be the long lost daughter of a marquess, meaning Izzie herself is nobility after all, and therefore able to marry the duke.  Isabella's mother ran away after her own father arranged to have his daughter "compromised" so she would be forced to marry the man of his choosing.  What made me see red is that Izzie's grandfather arranging his own daughter's rape just sort of gets swept under the rug, and everyone moves on, pretending it never happened.  In fact, Izzie arranges a meeting between her mother and grandfather so they can reconcile before her engagement is announced.  AND THEY DO.  Because clearly THAT'S the most important thing here?  To give credit to Barnes, the main couple is great, and all of this may be correct for the period, but if I wanted period correctness, I would read historical fiction.  I'm reading romance to feel all warm and fuzzy, not to be morally squicked out by creepy old men selling their daughters' virtue off to the highest bidder without her consent. 

This is far from the first genre romance I've read where issues of consent are poorly addressed/handled, if they're addressed at all, so I find myself thinking this is just part of the genre.  That said, I'm open to suggestions for other romances that I can actually make it through without screaming. 

Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick

Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick, 272 pages
2014 Printz Award Winner

In 2073, Eric, a journalist, heads to a small Scandinavian island to write a story about its inhabitants. The residents of Blessed Island never die, but no children are born. The island is also home to a rare orchid, rumored to be a fountain of youth of sorts, yet the islanders seemingly have no desire to exploit this for their own gain. There he meets Merle, and finds himself immediately in love. But he can't shake the feeling of déjà vu, that this has all happened to him before. And it's not until the final moment that he realizes that it has happened before, but maybe not always in the same way or with the same faces.

Midwinterblood is a bit hard to describe, but that doesn't make it any less wonderful. Seven stories, all entertwined, tell the story of Eric and Merle, starting in 2073 and going back through the centuries. Each story contains certain elements: two people named Eric and Merle, the orchid in some form, a hare, a sacrifice (and more I'm probably missing). Collectively, it's a story of a love that endures, but it's not a romance, like you might expect from a young adult novel. And I think that what I love most about it is that it's about this love. It's a quiet book, yet each story is so effused with that love, that when you get to the last story and really get to the heart of why Eric and Merle have endured for so long, you feel sad for what could have been for them, yet happy for what was. Like many other Printz winners, this is one to recommend to anyone you know who doesn't think young adult books are any good, as well as the ones who do.

(Read as part of YALSA's Hub Reading Challenge)