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 compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters.
When star hockey player Alec Barczewski’s estranged childhood friend, Dani Collins, moves to town, they end up in a mutually beneficial fake-dating relationship that reignites old feelings.
Following her parents’ divorce, Dani and her mom move in with Dani’s hockey legend grandfather in Southview, Minnesota, where she spent a month every summer as a child and where her friendship with Alec grew. Between visits, the two were pen pals, but they eventually fell out of touch. Despite some tensions over their loss of friendship, the high school seniors reconnect. Desperate to get off Harvard’s waitlist, Dani needs another extracurricular activity, while Alec—whose reputation took a hit when a photo of him holding a bong appeared on social media—is eager to improve his tarnished image for NHL scouts. The pair strike a deal: They’ll fake date, making Alec look like a stable guy whose academically gifted girlfriend is related to hockey royalty, and in exchange, he’ll get Dani a team manager position that will catch the eye of Harvard’s admissions officers. Eventually, complicated feelings about their past, stressful family relationships, and their brewing romance boil over. Romance fans will love the deliciously tension-filled scenes between Alec and Dani, who are believable friends with heavy demands weighing on them. They feel like real teenagers, and readers will enjoy rooting for them as the well-paced story unfolds. Main characters present white.
A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 30, 2025
ISBN: 9781665921268
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2025
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