How to Be a Wallflower

ByEloisa James

Release Date: 2022-03-29
Genre: Historical Romance

Score: 4.5

4.5

From 295 Ratings

Description

From New York Times bestseller Eloisa James, a new Regency-set novel in which a heiress with the goal of being a wallflower engages a rugged American in a scorchingly sensual, witty wager that tests whether clothing does indeed make the man—or the wallflower! A perfect companion story to Eloisa's My American Duchess.

Miss Cleopatra Lewis is about to be launched in society by her aristocratic grandfather. But since she has no intention of marrying, she visits a costume emporium specifically to order unflattering dresses guaranteed to put off any prospective suitors.

Powerful and charismatic Jacob Astor Addison is in London, acquiring businesses to add to his theatrical holdings in America—as well as buying an emerald for a young lady back in Boston. He’s furious when a she-devil masquerading as an English lady steals Quimby’s Costume Emporium from under his nose.

Jake strikes a devil’s bargain, offering to design her “wallflower wardrobe” and giving Cleo the chance to design his. Cleo can’t resist the fun of clothing the rough-hewn American in feathers and flowers. And somehow in the middle of their lively competition, Jake becomes her closest friend.

It isn’t until Cleo becomes the toast of all society that Jake realizes she’s stolen his fiercely guarded heart. But unlike the noblemen at her feet, he doesn’t belong in her refined and cultured world.

Caught between the demands of honor and desire, Jake would give up everything to be with the woman he loves—if she’ll have him!

Cleo's unconventional background and Jake's American roots cause a stir in the rigid social hierarchy of Regency England.

Reviews

Kippers and love
5
By FebruaryAquarius
Cleo Lewis’s goal is to be a wallflower. She walks into Quimby’s for WF-esque dresses and finds out that the proprietor has to move to America because of a stipulation in a contract. Being in business herself, Cleo realizes that the unsigned contract allows her to become the savior of Quimby’s.

Jake Astor Addison cannot deny the talent he sees in Martha Quimby and offers her more than Cleo did to ensure she becomes a part of his investments back home. He goes as far as moving into Cleo’s hotel to convince her to give Quimby’s up.

I love the wager the enemies cook up because it meant they can make each other look a fright. However, the wager allows as much close proximity between the two who keep having to set boundaries denying their desire for each other.

I love how kippers play a role in this book. It is unexpected and hilarious. Who knew kippers would create a connection, allowing a friendship and romance to bloom.

If you love reading about independent women and men who know the value of letting go for something more valuable, then you will enjoy this book.

I stopped a couple of times during my read to appreciate and just be in awe of EJ’s writing, so if you are a fan or seeking a new author to read, you will not be disappointed.

Thank you to Net Galley, Avon, and Harper Voyager US for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.
Fun read! Great start to a new series!
4
By meh1310
Another great read by Eloisa James! Cleo and Jake are an adorable pair from the beginning. If you love stories that feature strong, independent women and big, cinnamon roll heroes, this one is for you! I have read so many HRs with an American woman who heads to England to find husbands but has read none that feature rugged American men who find love in England until this one. Also, she does a great job setting up possible storylines for great secondary characters in the book without distracting from the main characters, Cleo and Jake. Great read! I can’t wait for the second installment in November!
How to be a Wallflower
5
By 777sails
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it.

I adored this charming book. It is the new of a new series that I can't wait to read more of. This is written in my favorite dual POV format. Getting that glimpse into the characters' thoughts really help me to better understand the characters.

Jake comes to England looking to buy a few businesses that he will bring back to America. One of those businesses is a clothing emporium, Quimby's. Quimby's will clothe the theaters that he inherited from his father in style. Jake is a big brute of a man who would never be mistaken for an English autocrat. He goes to the emporium to discuss the contract with the Martha Quimby to discover that a Miss Cleopatra Lewis stole the business right out in front of him!

It was never Cleo's intention to purchase the business but she couldn't stand for the women to be upset. They had just found out that the business was to leave England for America and they didn't want to go. Both Cleo and Jake come to an arrangement to see who would actually be able to make the purchase. Jake is the typical alpha male. He wants the emporium but he wants Cleo even more! Cleo has some troubling issues stemming from her mother's behavior while growing up and even though she is drawn to the American, she wants to be a wallflower to be able to avoid marriage.

These two are a delight to read. I love reading historical romances as there are usually a few words that I have to look up to see the definition. This was no exception. Learning should never stop.

This read had a few sexy scenes but the author does a wonderful job of not going over the top in the details.

I hope Yazmin gets a story but I don't know if it would be in this series as I can't really see her as a wallflower!
Good but could of been better!
4
By Stanhop3234
3.5*
I wanted them totally love this book but it fell a bit short. I had to push myself to continue to read the book through the first 1/3 of it. I just couldn’t get in to the characters. Then Jake started to shine and that brought out Cleo’s true personality and I was hooked. I really like when it’s the hero who sets out to convince the heroine that they belong together. The secondary characters are really good and I’m assuming that that Yasmin’s book is next? I hope so, she is such a spitfire!