Book: Reputation by Lex Croucher
Read From: 18th August - 25th August 2021
Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary: Abandoned by her parents in favour of a sea view, middle class Georgiana Ellers has moved to a new town to live with her dreary aunt and uncle. At a particularly dull dinner party, she meets the enigmatic Frances Campbell, a wealthy socialite and enchanting member of the in-crowd. Through Frances and her friends, Georgiana is introduced to a new world or wild parties, drunken debauchery, mysterious young men and the sparkling upper echelons of Regency society. But high society isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and the price of entry might be more than Georgiana is willing to pay.
This was the first book club pick for the Anti Social Book Club - I really loved it and thought it was so well done. The language and setting were both extremely classic-esque (and I normally hate classics!) yet it read like a contemporary which made for such an interesting and unique reading experience.
I found Georgiana, the protagonist, to be really loveable and I thought that all of the side characters were also really well developed - Croucher did a fantastic job of creating their personalities and bringing them to life. Whilst some were not always the most likeable due to their air of superiority (cough cough Frances), this aided in the undertones of classism within the book which was just as alive in this time period as it shockingly is today. Much to think about. Cecily and Betty have my whole heart, they are the purest souls who deserve the world. I also really liked Jane and would have liked to see more of her, however she was a very quiet character and I think that was definitely reflected in the narrative. So I can definitely understand why there was less focus on her character.
There were a lot of aspects that felt modern but were kept appropriate to the societal attitudes and standards of the Regency period, which was yet another factor in bringing this book and its setting to life. From things like stolen kisses all the way up to pre-marital sex, it's eye opening to know that these things were once frowned upon, and to see how much society has changed. Another example is the subtle hints of a blossoming Sapphic relationship, as well as a brief discussion between characters outlining that one of the men in their friendship group is gay. These aspects of the story barely begin to scratch the surface which some may say is disappointing, but I feel is entirely appropriate given how this would fit the tone and historical setting of the novel and the attitudes during this period of time. However, you are definitely able to read between the lines and see that the developing relationship is 100% there!
Be sure to check the trigger warnings before going into this book - there are several so make sure to have a look for yourself but I will definitely flag up rape and sexual assault. Overall, this book was a delight to read and I am looking forward to the release of Croucher's next book which sounds like it will be written in a very similar style to Reputation, with more queerness! It goes without saying at this point that I would definitely recommend, and I can fully understand why so many people are hyping up this book at the moment.