By Gabrielle Meyer

The Gilded Age meets My Fair Lady!

While I knew this book would be good, I was surprised at how much I loved it. I’m already starting 2026 out with a book I know will make my Top 10 at the end of the year!

Keira O’Day spends her days sewing shirtwaists in a tenement with her aunt, uncle, and cousins in Five Points. Nights are spent earning a few extra coins selling silk flowers outside the opera house. But one night, everything changes when she catches the eye of Maude Hill. Determined to elevate her status amongst New York City’s elite, Maude has concocted a scheme that will win the coveted approval of Mrs. Astor and her cohorts. She offers Keira the opportunity of a lifetime: leave the slums of Five Points and become Maude’s adopted daughter. In exchange, Keira will become a Diamond Princess and marry a member of the British nobility. What could go wrong?

Pros: I could not put this book down and, when I tried to be responsible and get to bed at a decent time, I was often too excited by the story to sleep. There were moments of laugh-out-loud humor, nailbiting forbidden romance, and an earth-shattering twist. I loved that the romantic storyline was not over-written and it also managed to dodge the usual cliches. The book wasn’t preachy, but had the theme of true identity and being a child of God woven throughout. For a romance book, it was actually pretty profound.

Another pro was how easy this book was to read. It was a bit shorter than some historical fiction books I’ve read recently, but it didn’t feel rushed. 

Cons: I’m upset because I have to wait for the next book in the series to be released.

(FYI: all of the books in this series can be read as a stand-alone. From what I’m gathering, a side character in one book will be the hero/heroine in the next.)

Bottom Line: If you are remotely interested in the Gilded Age (the show or the era), if you like historical romance, or if you’re a fan of My Fair Lady, you need to read this book!