Reputation: ‘If Bridgerton and Fleabag had a book baby’ Sarra Manning, perfect for fans of 'Mean Girls'

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Abandoned by her parents, middle-class Georgiana Ellers has moved to a new town to live with her dreary aunt and uncle. At a particularly dull party, she meets the enigmatic Frances Campbell, a wealthy member of the in-crowd who lives a life Georgiana couldn’t have imagined in her wildest dreams. A big part of me wished I was in a book club so I could discuss the 'reading group suggestions' at the end. Through Frances and her friends Georgiana is introduced to a new world of wild parties, drunken debauchery, mysterious young men with strangely alluring hands, and the sparkling upper echelons of Regency society. It’s romantic!” Mrs. Burton had said generously as they were given the grand tour a few hours earlier, narrowly avoiding a headlong collision with a serving girl carrying a tray of diluted punch, who stepped deftly out of the way and was immediately swallowed into the shadows.

Georgiana Ellers – George is the protagonist and third-person POV from which we take in the story. She is the daughter of an ex-teacher and of the middle class, and when the story begins, she has just taken up residence with her aunt and uncle—Mr and Mrs Burton—after her parents moved to the seaside. George is the Jenny Humphreys ( Gossip Girl) or Kady Heron ( Mean Girls) of the story. Detective Inspector Andrew Eversham’s refusal to compromise his investigations nearly cost him his career, and he blames Katherine. When he discovers she’s the key witness in a new crime, he’s determined to prevent the beautiful widow from once again wreaking havoc on his case. Yet as Katherine proves surprisingly insightful and Andrew impresses Katherine with his lethal competency, both are forced to admit the fire between them is more flirtatious than furious. But to explore the passion between them, they’ll need to catch a killer . . . This was not how fresh starts began in stories—and Georgiana had read a lot of them. A fortnight ago, she had dragged a trunk twice her weight to her aunt and uncle’s house, full of the tomes she had been unable to part with from home. In all the books she’d read in which a heroine started over in a new town or village or castle, she had immediately stumbled upon a series of daring adventures, or got dramatically lost on the moors, or swooned into the arms of a passing (and very handsome) gentleman. With some laugh-out-loud moments, the novel leaves the reader wanting more. Will Emily be found out, who is the stranger in the pub wanting to know all of the gossip regarding Captain Edward's dismissal from the navy and what secret is Aster hiding?

8. Something Fabulous – Alexis J. Hall

We suspect a certain scribbling author and gossipmonger will have plenty to say about that. Bring on the Pall Mall scene and the Mallet of Death… (IYKYK). Some storylines also peter out into nothing, or felt overly gratuitous. We get a brief monologue from Frances about slaves and racism (she is described as mixed race), and one passing mention of Frances's mother being talked about in town while she gives money to the poor. But beyond this? Nothing. We also get hints of trouble at home for Frances, but again it's over in one scene. If as much care and thought had been put into these passages as they had for the many party scenes it might have had more of an emotional impact and feel less like an oversight. There was so much missed potential in Frances's mother. This is not the case for Lex Croucher's Reputation, which promises a fresh new take on the Regency romance. Georgiana Ellers has been sent to live with her aunt and uncle, abandoned in their dreary country home whilst her parents enjoy some fresh seaside air. Absolutely gagging for a hint of adventure, Georgiana is thrilled when she meets Frances Campbell, local socialite, and her circle of wealthy and wild friends. Frances takes Georgiana under her wing, drawing her into a world of drink, drugs and debauchery.

Frances Campbell– The Regina George ( Mean Girls) of it all, Frances is the daughter of Lord and Lady Campbell and seemingly the highest class of all the characters. George befriends Frances when they are both bored at a party and they hit it off immediately. Of course, I don’t want to say that mixed race bisexuals can’t or shouldn’t be messy (either in life or in fiction) but chaotic bisexual is kind of a … well … it’s a trope isn’t it? Although, I think in this case it’s balanced out by the fact it’s a diverse book in general—there’s multiple queer characters, and multiple POCs. Your mileage may vary here, but to me stereotypes about marginalised people tend to become problematic when that is the ONLY representation (either in a single text, or in the world at large) available. But there’s scope in a book like this to allow someone like Frances to exist without it necessarily being wider contemporary on mixed race people, bisexuals, or mixed race bisexuals. Your mileage may, of course, vary. I couldn’t put it down and absolutely rooted for Georgina from the beginning. It was so satisfied to witness how the character evolved, changed and learned to stand for herself! Before it was the best thing Netflix ever did, the Bridgerton world was first brought to life in Julia Quinn’s eight-book historical romance series, with each novel dedicated to a different Bridgerton child’s love story. With a canon as rich as that, we wager we’ll be in for at least eight drops of steamy Netflix seasons, if not more. Well, come along then,” said Mrs. Burton, eyeing her with the utmost suspicion. “Your uncle ate a funny grape and isn’t feeling at all himself. We’re going home.”

Thomas Hawksley– A friend of Jeremiah’s who seems more reserved and stays away from the trouble everyone else seems to get into. The sexual assault storyline was well handled and served to demonstrate the patriarchal society they were trapped in, which was even worse then than it is now. I loved Georgiana's aunt and uncle rallying around her and proving how much they love her, I LOVED Thomas and his father standing by her and I also really liked that Frances softened a bit after Georgiana saved her, but still remained perfectly Frances and quite mean. Georgiana Ellers is eager to find a society as exciting and glamorous as her favorite books, but her expectations are low. With neither money nor connections, her social opportunities are limited to what her aunt and uncle can provide, and their idea of excitement differs dramatically from hers. She is suffering through a dreadful party with bad lighting, worse punch and dismal company when in steps Frances Campbell. From that moment, nothing is ever dull again.

Bigger question of her was not about the rejection she feels. She still have issues to fit in the gilded world her friend Frances introduced her. If she cannot adjust in the rituals, the forms, the traditions and the rules she’s forced to obey, what will happen to her?

3. A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem – Manda Collins

However, you can’t just have an abuser BREAK GEORGIANA’S WHOLE ASS ARM and not go straight to the hangman’s front step. I’m sorry but I said what I said figure out how to get it done and do it! Having his reputation ruined doesn’t feel as good as cold hard revenge. I was not prepared for that scene and it was frankly alarming. This book does have some difficult topics in and some could be triggering but the author has handled them well. TW for sexual abuse, drugs and alcohol, abuse. The storyline throughout is so cute and I sobbed a lot. But in classic Lex style, I was laughing throughout! All of the other characters, particularly everyone that worked in the house just hold such a special place in my heart and I could give each an essay on why I love them so. With a focus on female friendships and self-identity, Reputation is a fun, touching and terrifically improper novel, perfect for fans of Austen and romcoms.