We had pancake-night last Sunday. The kids argued about chocolate chips versus blueberries. Matthew pretended to flip a pancake and nearly launched it onto the ceiling. We laughed until Rebecca announced she preferred syrup like a proper aristocrat. I curled up afterward with A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting and felt the same kind of warm, chaotic comfort. That cozy, noisy family bubble was the perfect counterpoint to Sophie Irwin’s witty Regency world, and it reminded me how a good romance can feel like a warm blanket after a busy day.
Plot Summary
A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin follows Kitty Talbot, a sharp and determined heroine who enters the London Season to win a fortune and secure her sisters’ futures. Set in Regency England, the story charts Kitty’s clever social maneuvers, the constraints of class and money, and her gradual, fraught connection with a guarded hero. The novel blends sharp social comedy with slow-burn romance and enemies-to-lovers tension as Kitty navigates balls, whispering ton etiquette, and schemes large and small. The book reads like a modern, feminist take on classic marriage-plot stories—witty, character-driven, and rooted in the social mores of its setting.
Why I Love This Book
I love Kitty’s voice. She’s clever, practical, and very human. The humor landed for me again and again. Scenes that could have been merely “proper” are instead sharp and surprising. I think Sophie Irwin balances social satire with real feeling. The pacing felt right—witty banter, then a moment that made me pause. I also appreciated how the stakes are emotional as well as practical; Kitty’s schemes come from love for her sisters, not vanity. Reviews I read called it frothy and delightful, and I agree—there’s sweetness and bite in equal measure.
Who Will Like This Book
If you enjoy Regency romance, historical romance, or romcoms with a smart heroine, you’ll probably enjoy A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting. Fans of enemies-to-lovers, slow burn, and witty social comedy will find a lot to love. If you like books that feel like Georgette Heyer with a modern sensibility, this one fits that sweet spot. I’d also recommend it to readers who appreciate character growth and light moral complexity rather than dark, transgressive themes.
⚠️ Trigger warning: references to poverty and financial insecurity, mild verbal sniping, social judgment, and brief emotional conflict.
Tagged As
regency romance, historical romance, enemies-to-lovers, slow burn, witty heroine, social comedy, marriage plot, sisters, family duties, debut novel, cozy historical, lighthearted romantic comedy, HEA
Steam Level
The romance is sweet and restrained. Intimacy is implied rather than explicit. The book leans on emotional tension, witty dialogue, and social stakes instead of steamy scenes.
