There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.

Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character.

But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.Īutumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart their mothers are still best friends. Regency fans will enjoy this comfortingly familiar feeling story of endearing young women chasing happy endings through a maze of societal rules.

Outings to Regency hot spots and balls are entertaining and include historical details for readers to enjoy. The heroes, for their parts, are kind and thoughtful, making them matches worthy of cheering on. The trio’s friendships with one another shine throughout the story their fights and loving interactions are true highlights. Heroes-and a scoundrel-are no match for the cousins, who, most importantly, have each other. Each one seeks happiness in a world that abounds in rules and regulations for women’s lives. Alternating third-person narration highlights the young people’s personal loves-Thalia’s for poetry, Kalli’s of home and hearth, Charis’ of the natural world-and their dreams for the future. Joining their cousin, Charis Elphinstone, who would rather be home studying birds and insects at Elphinstone manor in Oxfordshire, the trio embark on adventures and scandals with equal measure. It’s 1817, and hopes and expectations are running high as Thalia and Kalliope, the Aubrey sisters, head to London for their first season. A trio of teens experience love, loss, and laughter in this Regency coming-of-age story.

Rosalyn eves