Reputation - by Lex Croucher (Paperback)

About the Book

"Bridgerton meets Gossip Girl with a dash of Jane Austen, in Reputation, a Regency-era historical romantic comedy with a deliciously feminist twist, from a hilarious new British voice, Lex Croucher. Abandoned by her parents, bookish and sheltered Georgiana Ellers is spending the summer with her stodgy aunt and uncle at their home in the English countryside. At a particularly dull party, she meets the enigmatic Frances Campbell, a wealthy member of the in-crowd who delights Georgiana with her disregard for so-called "polite society." Lonely and vulnerable, Georgiana quickly falls in with Frances and her wealthy, wild, and deeply improper friends, who introduce her to the upper echelons of Regency aristocracy, and a world of drunken debauchery, frivolous spending, and mysterious young men. One, in particular, stands out from the rest: Thomas Hawksley, who has a tendency to cross paths with Georgiana in her most embarrassing moments. Sparks fly, but Thomas seems unimpressed with the company she is keeping. And soon, Georgiana begins to wonder whether she'll ever feel like she fits in--or if the price of entry into Frances's gilded world will ultimately be higher than she is willing to pay. Set against a backdrop of lavish parties, handsome men on horseback--and in a time when one's reputation was everything--this edgy, hilarious romantic comedy explores sex, consent, belonging, and status through the eyes of an unforgettable heroine that Austen herself would have cheered for"--

Book Synopsis

Bridgerton meets Gossip Girl with a dash of Jane Austen, in Reputation, a Regency-era historical romantic comedy with a deliciously feminist twist, from a hilarious new British voice, Lex Croucher.

Abandoned by her parents, bookish and sheltered Georgiana Ellers is spending the summer with her stodgy aunt and uncle at their home in the English countryside. At a particularly dull party, she meets the enigmatic Frances Campbell, a wealthy member of the in-crowd who delights Georgiana with her disregard for so-called "polite society."

Lonely and vulnerable, Georgiana quickly falls in with Frances and her wealthy, wild, and deeply improper friends, who introduce her to the upper echelons of Regency aristocracy, and a world of drunken debauchery, frivolous spending, and mysterious young men. One, in particular, stands out from the rest: Thomas Hawksley, who has a tendency to cross paths with Georgiana in her most embarrassing moments. Sparks fly, but Thomas seems unimpressed with the company she is keeping. And soon, Georgiana begins to wonder whether she'll ever feel like she fits in--or if the price of entry into Frances's gilded world will ultimately be higher than she is willing to pay.

Set against a backdrop of lavish parties, handsome men on horseback--and in a time when one's reputation was everything--this edgy, hilarious romantic comedy explores sex, consent, belonging, and status through the eyes of an unforgettable heroine that Austen herself would have cheered for.

Review Quotes

"There's nothing prim or proper about Lex Croucher's dazzling debut novel, Reputation which is so boldly, audaciously modern in its portrayal of 19th-century mean-girl culture that I kept waiting for someone to inform the heroine that on Wednesdays, they wear pink...Filled with humor and charm, Reputation is not always an easy read, but it's a vivid and fascinating one. And it's definitely not quaint."
--BookPage, starred review

"Bridgerton fans need look no further"
--Library Journal

"Think of Bridgerton crossed with Sex Education and you have Reputation...reminding us that the process of coming of age really hasn't changed for centuries."
--Good Housekeeping (UK)

"Reputation is hilarious and compelling, with a truly fresh take on Regency romance. The effervescent wit and cleverness had me laughing aloud, and the heroine's journey really touched my heart. If you're looking for something with the spirit of Jane Austen and the style of modern feminism, this is the book for you! "
--India Holton, author of THE WISTERIA SOCIETY OF LADY SCOUNDRELS

"Reputation is the fresh, fiercely feminist, and utterly irreverent sendup of Jane Austen that I didn't know I needed. Lex Croucher is unafraid to poke fun at the romanticized ideal of the Regency, and the result is a novel that blends a loving-but-cheeky homage to the genre with biting social commentary and an exploration of class and gender roles. Hold on to your bonnets: this is not like any Regency novel you've ever read before."
--Martha Waters, author of To Have and to Hoax and To Love and to Loathe

"A witty historical romcom full of drunken debauchery."
--The Independent (UK)

"If Bridgerton and Fleabag gave birth to a book, this would be it."
--Red Magazine (UK)

"I had so much fun reading Reputation. It's a total blast."
--Louise O'Neill, author of Asking for It

"Reputation is razor sharp, funny and I was totally hooked from the start. Definitely one for you if you screamed at the trailer for the Gossip Girl reboot."
--Laura Kay, author of The Split

"A fierce, fresh, feminist Regency romcom that is brilliant on friendship and fitting in. It is funny, surprising and deliciously romantic, and the dialogue truly shimmers."
--Cressida McLaughlin, bestselling author

"The perfect blend of period drama decadence with Mean Girls drama. Reputation is everything I didn't know I wanted from a book; gossip, bonnets, breeches, and high debauchery with a feminist swing."
--Abigail Mann, author of The Sister Surprise

About the Author

Lex Croucher is the New York Times bestselling author of Reputation, Infamous, and the forthcoming YA novel, Gwen & Art Are Not in Love. Lex grew up in Surrey reading a lot of books and making friends with strangers on the internet, and now lives in London.