A lively, spirited read for fans of Regency-era fiction.
In 1819 London, a debutante pushes the boundaries of the ton, forging her own path and helping the less fortunate.
Lady Zenobia “Zia” Osborn is bored with society’s expectations. She’s clever and nurtures a dream of becoming a composer. Zia and her friends, who call themselves the Lady Knights, play Robin Hood, taking from the wealthy (specifically, her brother’s friends) to give to the needy (namely, the children at a local orphanage). Enter Zia’s older brother’s dear friend Rafi Nasser, a keenly observant playboy who discovers Zia’s illicit adventures but agrees to keep her secret. Over time, their bond grows. Will Rafi’s silence be enough—or will Zia eventually be forced to face the consequences of her daring, rebellious actions? Howard brings Zia and her world vividly to life. Readers meet a sparky, bold, determined protagonist who is far more progressive than is permitted by the society she’s obliged to live in and who is willing to push the limits imposed on her to achieve her goals. This stand-alone companion to 2023’s Queen Bee, which will appeal to fans of Bridgerton, explores identity and feminism while walking the line between historical accuracy and a modern, subversive spin on the early 19th century. The multiracial cast includes biracial Zia (who has a white father and a dark-skinned mother from Trinidad and Tobago) and Rafi, who has Persian heritage.
A lively, spirited read for fans of Regency-era fiction. (dramatis personae, author’s note) (Historical romance. 13-18)Pub Date: April 1, 2025
ISBN: 9780593705063
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Joy Revolution
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2025
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind.
In this companion novel to 2013’s If He Had Been With Me, three characters tell their sides of the story.
Finn’s narrative starts three days before his death. He explores the progress of his unrequited love for best friend Autumn up until the day he finally expresses his feelings. Finn’s story ends with his tragic death, which leaves his close friends devastated, unmoored, and uncertain how to go on. Jack’s section follows, offering a heartbreaking look at what it’s like to live with grief. Jack works to overcome the anger he feels toward Sylvie, the girlfriend Finn was breaking up with when he died, and Autumn, the girl he was preparing to build his life around (but whom Jack believed wasn’t good enough for Finn). But when Jack sees how Autumn’s grief matches his own, it changes their understanding of one another. Autumn’s chapters trace her life without Finn as readers follow her struggles with mental health and balancing love and loss. Those who have read the earlier book will better connect with and feel for these characters, particularly since they’ll have a more well-rounded impression of Finn. The pain and anger is well written, and the novel highlights the most troublesome aspects of young adulthood: overconfidence sprinkled with heavy insecurities, fear-fueled decisions, bad communication, and brash judgments. Characters are cued white.
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind. (author’s note, content warning) (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781728276229
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
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