Book Review: The Perks of Loving a Wallflower by Erica Ridley

The Perks of Loving a Wallflower by Erica Ridley
Length: 346 Pages
Genres: Historical Romance, LGBTQ, Sapphic Romance
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

My sister, who got an early copy of this when it first released, has been begging me to read this, and I finally acquiesced! She knew I love historical romance, and recently one of my favorite shows has been Gentleman Jack, which centers on the real-life love story between Anne Lister and Ann Walker during the 1830s, and I felt this would be similar to that. I'm so glad to have finally gotten to read this book, which comes with the rush and delight of tucking into a particularly sugary confection!

Thomasina "Tommy" Wynchester is a master of disguise who can play anywhere from a convincing foreign baron to a crotchety old woman to a footman, but her biggest dream is to be loved for the person beneath the makeup and wigs. For over a year, she has admired the bluestocking, Philippa York, and has secretly been attending her private reading circle. As a challenge set forth by her many adopted siblings, Tommy must talk to the object of her affection for a full twenty minutes. Luckily, she has the perfect disguise in the form of the fictitious heir to their adopted father, the new Baron Vanderbean.

Philippa is afraid there is something very, very wrong with her. Her parents have decreed that she most find a husband within the next season in the fear she will be forced from lifetime wallflower to lifetime spinster. But Philippa feels nothing for the men that suit her, not a racing heart, nor a fluttering in her stomach. She is no stranger to kissing, but it's always been more a chore than a pleasure. Yet somehow, this new Baron Vanderbean has piqued her interest, and even though it's not exactly love she feels, she feels...something.

When her mother decides the Baron will be a perfect stepping stone to an even better match, Philippa balks at the idea of having to string along a perfectly nice man. In a moment of privacy, however, she comes to find out that Baron Vanderbean is actually just Tommy Wynchester, a child from the streets brought up in a large and scandalous adopted family, and even more importantly, a woman. It seems perfect, especially now that Tommy is in on the ruse, and now Philippa won't have to feel guilty. But what happens when Philippa decides that she more than likes brash, brave but sensitive Tommy -- she loves her.

What I loved most about this book was that it wasn't just about the beautiful love story between Tommy and Philippa, but about the love and support of the Wynchester family, who welcomes Philippa into the fold, and goes out of their way to make sure Tommy gets some alone time with her. They are each unique in their own way, from Elizabeth who requires a cane to walk, with the secret her cane conceals a rapier which she is excellent with, to Jacob who is obsessed with animals, and has trained the calico Tiglet to be a "homing kitten". Another wonderful aspect was Philippa and Tommy's understanding of one another. Even if they have an argument, they resolved it quite quickly, and always talked it out, which is more than can be said for most romance protagonists!

If you're looking for something joyous, a little bit like Gentleman Jack but without all the heartrending, then this is the book you've after!