This book is an ode to the both/and concept, and a beautiful take on gender fluidity and place within one’s family. Every queer person would benefit from a friend like Claire, who encourages Pip to be fully themself on their own terms. One thing I was confused about, and maybe I missed the reason, but Claire seems to have a personal vendetta against the upper class. Apart from that, I appreciated the maturity and feistiness of her character. It was a bit of a slow start for me, but the dialogue and heat kept me reading. If English villages, royalty, and identity questioning (whether gender or otherwise) are your cup of tea, then this novel will be right up your alley. This book is part of a series. I haven’t read the other two books, but this one made me curious about them.

Short Summary: Born a noblewoman, Pip struggles with identity on many levels. Instead of facing problems head on, Pip runs….and literally crashes into Claire’s fence. Claire is an artist, recently settled in the little village of Amberwick. She has a history with picking the “wrong” partner, and knows a player when she sees one, or so she thinks. The two set clear rules and good intentions for a bit of fun, but Claire’s demand for honesty brings them closer than either of them could have imagined.

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

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