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Cotillion
624 pages
A sparkling, laugh-out-loud Regency romp that gleefully subverts the bad-boy trope in favor of radical kindness.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like attending the most entertaining, mildly chaotic ball of the London season, armed with a glass of champagne and an impeccable vantage point. It is a masterclass in effervescent drawing-room comedy, moving at a brisk, theatrical pace as a tangled web of fake engagements and social maneuvering unfolds. The prose is crisp and delightfully saturated with Regency slang, carrying rapid-fire banter that is as sharp as it is affectionate. Beneath the farcical hijinks and wry humor lies a surprisingly tender emotional core, gently dismantling the allure of the brooding rake to celebrate the quiet, steadfast virtues of a genuinely kind partner. It is an absolute delight for anyone who loves sparkling dialogue, cozy historical atmospheres, and the deeply satisfying triumph of an unassuming hero.
- Mood
- effervescent
- cheerful
- cozy
- theatrical
- Tone
- wry
- sparkling
- affectionate
- farcical
- lighthearted
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- subversion of the rake trope · the triumph of kindness · social maneuvering · coming of age · fake dating
- The writing
- Crisp, elegant, and heavily peppered with authentic Regency slang, delivering rapid-fire banter with effortless comedic timing.
- The arc
- Moves from naive infatuation with a flashy ideal to a warm, deeply satisfying realization of the value of steadfast kindness.
- Who it's for
- Readers who delight in sparkling drawing-room comedies, gentle farce, and the ultimate triumph of the sweet, unassuming beta hero.
Content notes
- period-typical attitudes
About the book
The three great-nephews of irascible Mr. Matthew Penicuik know better than to ignore his summons, especially when it concerns the bestowal of his fortune. The wily old gentleman has hatched a freakish plan for his Country-bred stepdaughter's future: his fortune will by lovely Catherine Charing's dowry if she married one of his great-nephews. To spirited Kitty, the conditions of her guardian's will before she could inherit a tuppence were intolerable.
In spite of the unwelcome attentions of greedy suitors, who are scrambling for her hand, Kitty is not wholly averse, but only if the right cousin proposes. Unfortunately, Kitty during her secluded life pining, has set her heart on handsome and virile Jack Westruther, a confirmed rake. Jack, who is well aware of her attachment, however, made it quite clear that he would marry her only when he had sown his last wild oat and seems to have no inclination to marry her anytime soon. But Kitty has other ideas... and anxious to hasten matters she devises a plan. Kitty convinces modest and carefree cousin Frederick Standen to pose as her fiance, hoping thereby to make Jack jealous and to see a little more of the world than her isolated life on her great-uncle's estate has afforded her.
Her plan takes her to visit Freddy's family in London, where her kith and kin embroil her in their romantic troubles, sprinkling witty banter with Parisian phrases. Cousin Lord Foster Dolphinton has fallen for a merchant's daughter in conflict with his mother. Meanwhile, her French cousin, Camille, a professional gambler, try to win the heart of beautiful Olivia Broughty, in turn the object of cousin Jack's dishonorable intentions. Resourceful cousin Freddie turned out to be more of a man than Kitty anticipated. And when Kitty's generous heart leads to all sorts of unintended troubles, there is only one man who can rescue her from more than one dreadful fix and pick up the pieces of her plotting. Now, Kitty herself wonders who is really right for her....
Description from Open Library.
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