CANR
WORK TITLE: The Wrong Lady Meets Lord Right
WORK NOTES:
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WEBSITE: http://suzanneallain.com/
CITY: Tallahassee
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COUNTRY: United States
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RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born in Tallahassee, FL; married Jonathan Allain.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer. Worked in IT.
WRITINGS
Mr. Malcolm’s List was adapted by Allain as the screenplay for the 2022 film directed by Emma Holly Jones and released by Universal Pictures.
SIDELIGHTS
[open new]Suzanne Allain is an American author known for Regency-era romantic comedies, especially one she successfully adapted as a feature film. With Tallahassee, Florida, her hometown, she became a fan of Jane Austen at age twelve. She wrote her first novel, a historical romance of seventy handwritten pages, while in the seventh grade; the eighth grader who volunteered to be her agent failed to secure a publishing deal. She temporarily moved to New York City at age twenty-two and married her on-again boyfriend and best friend the following year. Later in her twenties, while recovering from a car accident, she took the opportunity to draft a fresh novel manuscript. She was working in information technology when she landed a contract to provide a Regency-set romantic comedy to a small press. She quit her day job to focus on writing and revising, and her debut novel, Incognito, was published in 2001.
Although that novel garnered little fanfare, Allain at once wrote another, Mr. Malcolm’s List. When she ultimately published it through the same press, admiring readers suggested it would make a great movie. Unfamiliar with the screenplay medium, Allain researched techniques for telling story through dialogue and read around 100 screenplays with craft in mind. She then wrote an adaptation, became a semifinalist in an Amazon screenplay contest, and earned a score of 9 when she posted it on The Black List, a scouting source for filmmakers, putting her in the top 2 percent of entrants. Soon she was contacted by producers; the success of Hamilton inspired her to advocate for a mixed-race cast; and the film Mr. Malcolm’s List was released in 2022. Meanwhile a book deal brought the mainstream publication of the novel as well as a companion effort.
In 1818 London, Mr. Jeremy Malcolm is being particular in his hunt for the perfect wife, to the chagrin of rejected ladies such as Julia Thistlewaite. When Julia learns that Jeremy has an actual list of requirements concerning relatives, conversational acumen, and the like, Julia aims to torpedo his conceit by inviting a friend, vicar’s daughter Selina Dalton, to embody them all, capture his affection—and dash his hopes by announcing he fails to meet her own list of requirements. When an agreeable introduction leads to a party at a country estate, Selina has second thoughts about the deception—as does Jeremy, when he finds out about it.
Reviewing Mr. Malcolm’s List for Booklist, Stacey Hayman remarked that in aptly “focusing on a few well-developed characters” and their relationships Allain gets the reader “emotionally engaged” in this “smart love story.” Hayman appreciated the “cheeky look” at the Regency era’s gendered relations and emphasis on personal wealth and family background. A Publishers Weekly reviewer affirmed that the characters are “witty and appealing, … the sizzle between Jeremy and Selina is convincing,” and “this effervescent love story is a charmer.”
The plot of Miss Lattimore’s Letter is set in motion when twenty-eight-year-old Sophie Lattimore happens to overhear a rendezvous between paramours. Seeing an avenue for action, she writes to the woman’s betrothed to point him in a different direction, and a pair of weddings later, her role is revealed and she becomes the matchmaker of the moment. As couples face tests, Sophie herself is obliged to choose between the charming gentleman who jilted her but has come back around and the quiet knight, Sir Edmund Winslow, who has started her wondering. As indicated by echoing elements, this novel was partly inspired by Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. A Publishers Weekly reviewer praised the “sustained romantic tension” in Miss Lattimore’s Letter. In Booklist Hayman admired how “realistically varied motivations and small social deceptions build a sense of intrigue” and proclaimed that readers will finish the book “with a satisfied smile.”
The Ladies Rewrite the Rules, Allain’s next novel, finds shy Diana Boyle, who married an older cousin to avoid impoverishment, widowed at twenty-five—and surprised to be visited by two random gentleman toting a bachelors’ guide to wealthy widows and spinsters. Indignant, she visits the author, handsome Maxwell Dean, to upbraid him and proceeds to contact ladies in the directory to warn them. She makes acquaintances and moreover joins an effort by the women to take matters into their own hands, throwing a ball and declaring their own rules of engagement. The romantic intrigues of older widow Lady Gordon and of Lady Regina, faulted for a youthful indiscretion, develop alongside Diana and the repentant Max’s. Library Journal reviewer Eve Stano found “enjoyable fun” in the “power-play dynamics” between Diana and Max, while a Publishers Weekly reviewer suggested that the novel’s “true strength lies in the friendship between the bold heroines.” A Kirkus Reviews writer hailed The Ladies Rewrite the Rules as a “fun, lighthearted Regency romp about changing society from the inside.”
More romantic twists come in The Wrong Lady Meets Lord Right, in which Issie and her cousin Bella are rather relieved at the death of Issie’s strict mother, Lady Strickland. Yet Issie is less than excited to be ushered to London at the behest of a near-sighted aunt to participate in the social season—and so convinces Bella to take her place. In doing so Bella crosses paths with the dashing Lord Brooke, while Issie’s heart palpitations lead to a heart-racing encounter with young Dr. Jordan. In a Library Journal review, Bridgette Whitt declared that Allain “does a wonderful job of crafting characters with heart and strength.” A Kirkus Reviews writer praised The Wrong Lady Meets Lord Right as a “flirty and cozy romance that’s heavy on laughs,” and a Publishers Weekly reviewer affirmed that between the “fun romantic tension,” plot that “moves at a steady clip,” and “multifaceted heroines … Regency fans will be riveted.”[close new]
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, August 1, 2020, Stacey Hayman, review of Mr. Malcolm’s List, p. 35; August, 2021, Stacey Hayman, review of Miss Lattimore’s Letter, p. 36.
Kirkus Reviews, November 1, 2023, review of The Ladies Rewrite the Rules; November 15, 2024, review of The Wrong Lady Meets Lord Right.
Library Journal, October, 2023, Eve Stano, review of The Ladies Rewrite the Rules, p. 113; October, 2024, Bridgette Whitt, review of The Wrong Lady Meets Lord Right, p. 102.
Publishers Weekly, May 4, 2020, review of Mr. Malcolm’s List, p. 45; June 14, 2021, review of Miss Lattimore’s Letter, p. 59; October 23, 2023, review of The Ladies Rewrite the Rules, p. 32; October 14, 2024, review of The Wrong Lady Meets Lord Right, p. 76.
ONLINE
JeanBookNerd, https://www.jeanbooknerd.com/ (July 1, 2020), “Suzanne Allain Interview—Mr. Malcolm’s List.”
Suzanne Allain website, https://suzanneallain.com (March 13, 2025).
Tallahassee Democrat, https://www.tallahassee.com/ (July 7, 2022), Marina Brown, “‘Mr. Malcolm’s List’: Tallahassee Screenwriter Has Hit with New ‘Bridgerton’-Style Movie.”
Writer’s Digest, https://www.writersdigest.com/ (January 8, 2024), Robert Lee Brewer, “Suzanne Allain: Procrastination Causes Writer’s Block.”
Screenwriter & Novelist
Suzanne Allain
Suzanne adapted her novel Mr. Malcolm’s List into a screenplay and it was made into a movie starring Freida Pinto, Theo James, Sope Dirisu, Zawe Ashton and Oliver Jackson Cohen.
Her most recent novel, The Wrong Lady Meets Lord Right, released December 3, 2024 and is available to order at the links below.
If you’d like an autographed copy of any of Suzanne’s books, please contact Midtown Reader, an indie bookstore in her hometown.
Suzanne Allain
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Genres: Historical Romance
New and upcoming books
December 2024
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The Wrong Lady Meets Lord Right
Novels
Incognito (2001)
Mr. Malcolm's List (2009)
The Celebrated Pedestrian (2012)
Miss Lattimore's Letter (2021)
The Ladies Rewrite the Rules (2024)
The Wrong Lady Meets Lord Right (2024)
Collections
What Kind of Princess Are You? (poems) (2014)
Suzanne Allain Interview - Mr. Malcolm's List
5:30 AM JBN, Jean Book Nerd, Mr. Malcolm's List, Suzanne Allain Author Interview 15 comments
Photo Credit: Jonathan Allain 2019
Suzanne Allain is a screenwriter who lived in New York and Beijing before returning to her hometown of Tallahassee, Florida, where she lives with her husband. She makes frequent visits to Los Angeles for work, but one of her most memorable trips was to London to see her script MR. MALCOLM’S LIST: OVERTURE being filmed.
What inspired you to pen your first novel?
I wrote my very first novel in seventh grade, a historical romance of around 70 hand-written pages. An eighth-grader read it and offered to be my agent, so I know it must have been good. (Though unfortunately she ended up having very few connections in the publishing world.) I tried again when I was laid up from a car accident in my twenties and that novel, INCOGNITO, was eventually published in 2001.
Tell us your latest news.
It was recently announced that Sam Heughan (OUTLANDER) and Constance Wu (CRAZY RICH ASIANS) are attached to star in a film based on my book Mr. Malcolm’s List!
Who or what has influenced your writing, and in what way?
Jane Austen and P.G. Wodehouse. Jane Austen introduced me to a world that I knew I wanted to spend more time in, a world of wit and humor and romance. And P.G. Wodehouse is one of the most hilarious writers I’ve ever read. He plays with the English language in such a fun way, and his characters are just so quirky and quintessentially British.
What do you hope for readers to be thinking when they read your novel?
One person said she had a smile on her face the entire time she was reading it. That’s exactly what I want: To give readers a fun escape from the real world.
In your new book; MR. MALCOLM'S LIST, can you tell my Book Nerd community a little about it.
It's a historical romantic comedy of manners. Here’s a two sentence summary:
The most eligible bachelor of 1818 London, the Honorable Jeremy Malcolm, has a list of requirements for a bride. When a young woman arrives in town and begins meeting every qualification Mr. Malcolm isn’t sure whether he’s found the perfect woman, or the perfect hoax.
What part of Jeremy and Selina did you enjoy writing the most?
Their conversations. I always enjoy writing dialogue and they had a few fun exchanges.
What was the single worst distraction that kept you from writing this book?
It’s been so long I can’t remember. There were far fewer distractions when I wrote Mr. Malcolm’s List, because I don’t think Instagram and Twitter had been invented yet. (I wrote it in late 2001 early 2002.) I’m having a much more difficult time with my current work-in-progress, and it’s definitely social media and my news feed that keep sucking me in.
What’s the most ridiculous fact you know?
I know a lot of old English idioms that I use in conversation thinking that they’re currently in use, and my husband gives me a puzzled look and tells me: “That is not a real expression!” So then I google it and find it is a real expression, but from a previous century.
If you could introduce one of your characters to any character from another book, who would it be and why?
I would introduce Julia Thistlewaite to Emma Woodhouse from Jane Austen’s Emma. They’re both so controlling and think they know everything. It would be interesting to see which one ended up dominating the other.
TEN REASONS TO READ MR. MALCOLM'S LIST
1. It takes place in 1818, which was a far better year than 2020.
2. You would like to know the correct way to address the younger son of an earl.
3. You need a break from twitter.
4. You need something to tweet about.
5. You don’t want to get on a plane (or a time machine) but you would like to travel to 19th century England.
6. You’d like a romance that you, your daughter, and grandmother can all read without blushing.
7. There’s ballroom dancing.
8. And horse-drawn carriages.
9. The cover’s gorgeous.
10. It’s guaranteed to make you giggle.
What according to you is your most treasured possession?
Wow, I don’t know. Possibly my engagement ring? I honestly don’t care too much about material possessions.
Best date you've ever had?
I was living in New York City and my boyfriend and I had broken up, but we said if we ever started dating again we would just get married because we were already best friends. I was sick one weekend and he brought me some chicken soup and the next day we ended up going to a restaurant in the West Village and then walked and talked and sat on a stoop in Soho and people watched. On our subway ride home I turned to him and said: “Was that a date?” and he said it was. Then I asked: “Does that mean we’re getting married?” and he said yes. Later he formally proposed, we got married about 6 months after that, and we just celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary.
If you could go back in time to one point in your life, where would you go?
Probably to the time I moved to New York City when I was 22, the year before I got married. That was a pretty amazing time and I wouldn’t mind re-living it.
If you wrote a journal entry today, what would it say?
Worked on an interview for Jean of Jean Book Nerd.
What is one unique thing are you afraid of?
I’m afraid of sounding stupid on social media, so I delete far more tweets/posts than I actually send.
'Mr. Malcolm's List': Tallahassee screenwriter has hit with new 'Bridgerton'-style movie
Marina BrownSpecial to the Tallahassee Democrat
The red carpet moment finally arrived for Tallahassee author — and now screenwriter — Suzanne Allain.
Standing in a sophisticated blue velvet cocktail dress in front of cameras at the Director’s Guild of America Theater in New York City on July 1 was the culmination of 20 years of shepherding her novel from “barely read” to the big screen.
Fresh from the New York premiere of the film "Mr. Malcolm’s List," Allain shared with the Tallahassee Democrat that her current success hadn’t come quickly, but that her persistence and patience had found the way to open doors.
Regency-era film:Here's why fans of period rom-com movies should put 'Mr. Malcolm's List' on their list
A contest win leads to a contract
An amateur writer who loved Jane Austen since she was 12, Allain received a contract from a small press in 2000 to write what she loves, a Regency-era romantic comedy.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Allain quit her IT job and devoted herself to the craft of writing. "Mr. Malcolm’s List" was published a year later, but like many small press books, “it didn’t go anywhere,” she says.
Even so, reader comments that the novel would “make a great film” stuck in her mind. Of course, that would entail a screenplay. And nine years later, Allain set out to write one.
“I had never even seen a screenplay,” she says.
Tallahassee writer Suzanne Allain is interviewed on the red carpet at the New York premiere of "Mr. Malcolm's List."
Tallahassee on screen:
Screenplay success:Tallahassee author Suzanne Allain takes 'Mr. Malcolm's List' from novel to movie
New novel:Tallahassee author Suzanne Allain talks about new Regency romance novel
Tallahassee actor:'An old fresh face': With 'Crawdads,' Tallahassee actor Bill Kelly lands big-time movie
A lover of research, Allain began to read about how to adapt a book into pure dialogue and still carry a story forward. She obtained copies of “maybe 100 screenplays,” learning as she went. Two years later she had her adaptation and decided to test the waters.
Amazon had an online contest for screenplays. With her first self-taught effort at a script, Allain became a semifinalist.
Catching a director's interest
But it wasn’t until almost three years later in 2014 that she put the screenplay up for a read on The Black List, a source for producers and directors to scout for unproduced scripts of merit. Only 2% of the entries get a score of “8” or above. Allain’s got a “9.”
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She began to get calls from Amazon executives, as well as agents and managers who know how to unlock the film industry’s maze of pre-production unopened doors.
It was about this time that the film’s eventual director, Emma Holly Jones, became interested. She saw a Black List-sponsored “table read” of real actors performing the words Allain had written.
Suzanne Allain and her husband, Jonathan Allain, at the opening of "Mr. Malcolm's List" July 1, 2022.
Jones had just seen the musical "Hamilton" and was interested in the idea of a mixed-race cast. She began pitching the project to producers and funders.
Four years later, in 2018, the multi-national digital media and entertainment company Refinery 29, which gears its content toward an audience of young women, funded a 10-minute short of "Mr. Malcolm’s List," as a proof of concept that there was indeed a successful full-length movie pulsing in Allain’s script.
More novels on the way
By 2020, two decades after her first published book, Allain’s screenplay was in the hands of Bleecker Street Studio, cast with a diverse group of actors and on its way to the really, really big screen.
Not only was “Malcolm” to become a movie, but Penguin/Random House purchased it and re-released the novel with wide distribution.
It also bought a second Regency romantic comedy Allain had penned, "Miss Latimore’s Letter," —which is in bookstores now — and has her under contract for an additional two novels. One of those, "Bliss," a psychological thriller, will be out this fall.
Tallahassee writer Suzanne Allain answers questions on the red carpet at the premiere of "Mr. Malcolm's List."
A grand premiere
Allain was flown to New York City by the studio for the film's premiere. She invited 16 guests including her husband, father, sister, agent and editor.
“I had seen the full movie on my laptop,” she says, “But seeing it so big on that screen… it was indescribable.”
During the New York trip, she was interviewed on the Today Show and saw her film’s period costumes featured in a window display in Saks Fifth Avenue.
Freida Pinto stars as Selina Dalton and Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù stars as Mr. Malcolm in director Emma Holly Jones’ "Mr. Malcolm's List," a Bleecker Street release.
She says even though she wore a blue velvet dress borrowed from her sister for the big event, she says she could “get used to having my hair and makeup done by a pro.”
But while movie industry perks are nice — she certainly enjoyed being on set in Ireland and in New York for the premiere — Allain still says Tallahassee is home.
Tallahassee’s AMC Theater even presented a special screening of "Mr. Malcolm’s List" for Allain's family and friends.
And besides, she says, she’s got work to do, dialogue to write and “characters who need to be listened to.”
"Mr. Malcolm’s List" is showing at AMC Tallahassee 20, Regal Governor’s Square and CMX Tallahassee.
Contact Marina Brown at mcdb100@comcast.net.
Suzanne Allain: Procrastination Causes Writer’s Block
Bestselling author Suzanne Allain discusses the process of writing her new Regency-era romance novel, The Ladies Rewrite the Rules.
Robert Lee BrewerJan 8, 2024
Suzanne Allain is a screenwriter who lived in New York and Beijing before returning to her hometown of Tallahassee, Florida, where she lives with her husband. Follow her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Suzanne Allain
Suzanne Allain
Jonathan Allain
In this post Suzanne discusses the process of writing her new Regency-era romance novel, The Ladies Rewrite the Rules, her advice for other writers, and more!
Name: Suzanne Allain
Literary agent: Stefanie Lieberman at Janklow & Nesbit
Book title: The Ladies Rewrite the Rules
Publisher: Berkley
Release date: January 9, 2024
Genre/category: Regency Romance
Previous titles: Mr. Malcolm’s List, Miss Lattimore’s Letter
Elevator pitch: When Diana Boyle discovers that she’s been listed in a directory of rich single women she contacts the other ladies and together they decide to turn the tables on the men. If the men want to marry a fortune, they’re going to have to work for it!
The Ladies Rewrite the Rules | Suzanne Allain
Bookshop | Amazon
[WD uses affiliate links.]
What prompted you to write this book?
I love Jane Austen and romantic comedies, and when I stumbled across an actual Batchelor’s Directory published by a “younger son” in 1742, I knew instantly that it was the perfect premise for my next historical rom-com.
How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?
Berkley published my previous two Regency-era romantic comedies, and I wanted to pitch them this new idea, so I wrote a synopsis and the first three chapters and my agent submitted them in January 2022. My editor liked the proposal, and we signed a contract for this novel and a second one. The writing process went a little slower than usual because a movie based on one of my previous books, Mr. Malcolm’s List, was released in the summer of 2022, and promotional duties for that kept me quite busy. I finished the first draft of The Ladies Rewrite the Rules in September 2022.
My initial idea for the book didn’t change, but the title did. I had tentatively called it Mr. Dean’s Directory, playing off the nomenclature of my previous two books (Mr. Malcolm’s List and Miss Lattimore’s Letter). But my editor asked me to come up with a few other title options, so I submitted a list and the Berkley editorial team chose The Ladies Rewrite the Rules. And I’m so glad we made that change! I much prefer this title over the original one.
Suzanne Allain: Procrastination Causes Writer’s Block
Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?
I was surprised by how beautiful the cover turned out! My editor and her team kindly ask for my input on book covers, and so I usually send them a document that contains descriptions of the main characters, suggested scenes from the book, settings and costumes, etc. But this cover totally surpassed even my (extremely high) expectations.
Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?
No surprises necessarily, but I learned that it’s not good to procrastinate, because that actually causes writer’s block. Every day you spend not writing makes it exponentially more difficult to get back into a creative frame of mind and to re-enter the world of your story and characters. So don’t take long breaks from your novel, but even if you can only write for an hour a day it’s better to do that then to wait until you have lengthier periods to write.
What do you hope readers will get out of your book?
Joy, giggles, and a heartwarming escape to Jane Austen’s England.
If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?
Always do research. It lends authenticity, interest, and depth to your writing. And occasionally it could even lead to your next book idea.
Allain, Suzanne THE WRONG LADY MEETS LORD RIGHT Berkley (Fiction None) $19.00 12, 10 ISBN: 9780593549667
A young woman makes the mistake of falling in love with a charming earl while posing as her noble cousin.
When Lady Strickland dies unexpectedly, few people are more relieved than the awful woman's daughter, Lady Isabelle, and niece-by-marriage, Arabella. Free from her taunts and abuse, both women are ready to take control of their lives. Isabelle wants to spend her days reading, but her great-aunt insists she continue with her coming-out as soon as her year of mourning is over, and Bella talks her into heading for London. Isabelle worries that with her poor health, there's no way she'll survive the season, and when she realizes that great-aunt Lucretia is severely nearsighted, she comes up with a plan to have Bella take her place for the season. Bella reluctantly agrees, not having the heart to throw her cousin into another overwhelming situation after her mother's death. Bella has a sense of wonder and excitement as she makes her debut in society, knowing that her lack of standing would otherwise have prevented her from having these experiences. She barrels headlong into the London ton with unabashed curiosity, often landing in wild, quirky scenarios. The charming Lord Brooke, an eligible earl, is interested in courting Bella, thinking she's her wealthier and more appropriate cousin. Bella's struggle with her secret as she falls in love with a man above her station provides the bulk of the tension in the book, which is sweet without being twee. Once the story moves past the initial whiplash of the opening, in which Lady Strickland dies within two sentences and readers have to untangle who's related to whom, it blossoms into a lively romance featuring charming banter, a heartwarming bond between the two young women, and various Regency shenanigans. Isabelle and Arabella's neglectful and abusive upbringing is mentioned, as is Isabelle's panic disorder, but these are touched upon rather lightly, and the tone very much stays centered in the realm of bubbly and airy.
A flirty and cozy romance that's heavy on laughs and light on angst.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Allain, Suzanne: THE WRONG LADY MEETS LORD RIGHT." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Nov. 2024. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A815560442/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=b14afb36. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
The Wrong Lady Meets Lord Right
Suzanne Allain. Berkley, $19 trade paper (272p) ISBN 978-0-593-54966-7
Love blooms amid deception in this delightful Regency rom-com from Allain (Mr. Malcolm's List). After the death of Lady Strickland, mother to Lady Isabelle "Issie" Strickland and aunt to Arabella "Bella" Grant, the cousins enjoy a peaceful life at Fenborough Hall, free from the difficult woman's rules. But their idyll comes to an end when Issie's great aunt, the very nearsighted Lady Dutton, demands that the pair come to London for the social season. Bookworm Issie is terrified of being presented to the queen, so she asks Bella to pretend to be her. Bella reluctantly agrees, and literally bumps into the very eligible Lord Brooke right before her presentation, igniting their mutual attraction--though Brooke believes Bella is Issie. Meanwhile, the cousins arrange for Issie to see a doctor about her heart palpitations--and Issie's shocked to find young Dr. Jordan so deeply attractive. Both women embark on new romances, but as their time in London comes to an end, their futures are complicated by arrangements Lady Dutton has made for them without their consent. Allain keeps things G-rated, but still manages to generate some fun romantic tension, and the plot moves at a steady clip while taking the time to fully develop its multifaceted heroines. Regency fans will be riveted. (Dec.)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 PWxyz, LLC
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"The Wrong Lady Meets Lord Right." Publishers Weekly, vol. 271, no. 39, 14 Oct. 2024, p. 76. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A812940802/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=c153c5df. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
Allain, Suzanne. The Wrong Lady Meets Lord Right. Berkley. Dec. 2024. 272p. ISBN 9780593549667. pap. $19. HISTORICAL ROMANCE
When Arabella Grant was very young, she went to live with her cousin Lady Isabelle, whom Arabella loves dearly. However, Arabella's severe aunt always treated both girls dreadfully, so upon the aunt's passing, the girls were relieved to finally have some freedom. Unfortunately, Issie has a great-aunt who is forcing her to have a season in London, which requires Arabella to accompany her. Issie is sickly and in no shape to handle the rigors of a London season, so she convinces Arabella to take her place once she realizes her aunt cannot tell them apart. Arabella is uncertain at first but quickly begins to enjoy attending the high-society dances and outings, where she catches the attention of the striking Lord Brooke. Arabella suddenly finds herself trying to protect her heart while wrapped up in her cousin's scheme. Allain (The Ladies Rewrite the Rules) does a wonderful job of crafting characters with heart and strength of character, and the strong sisterly love between the cousins resonates throughout the story. VERDICT Highly recommended for fans of historical romances, this is a quick, fun read, featuring clever characters.--Bridgette Whitt
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Whitt, Bridgette. "Allain, Suzanne. The Wrong Lady Meets Lord Right." Library Journal, vol. 149, no. 10, Oct. 2024, p. 102. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A813629163/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=fbd7b1be. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
Allain, Suzanne THE LADIES REWRITE THE RULES Berkley (Fiction None) $17.00 1, 9 ISBN: 978-0-593-54964-3
When a group of women discovers their names on a published list of eligible ladies, they join forces to wield it to their advantage.
As a widow still expected to be in mourning after the death of her much older husband, Diana Boyle has little desire to entertain a new courtship, so when suitors begin knocking on her door, her suspicions are instantly aroused. Shortly after she politely sends them on their way, she discovers the reason the men have been calling on her: She's been included in a printed directory of wealthy women who are eligible for marriage, complete with names, addresses, and estimated fortunes. When Diana confronts the man who published this list, she's more than a little surprised, and not just because he happens to be a handsome bachelor himself. Maxwell Dean had no malicious intentions in printing up the directory. From his perspective, he was merely providing assistance to second sons trying to make auspicious matches. The directory's existence proves to be both a blessing and a curse for Diana. When she invites the other women in it to a meeting, they agree that they'll use it to figure out which men are worthy of their time and which are just fortune hunters, playing by their own rules instead of those established by men. However, Diana and Max have now been set on a collision course, and while Diana might not have envisioned herself getting married again before she found out about the directory, now she wonders if she's actually uncovered something much more meaningful: her perfect match. Allain's novel prioritizes friendship as much as romance, and although Allain doesn't sufficiently develop every aspect of the story, it has the benefit of more than one blossoming relationship to follow, including a second-chance love story that's just as charming as the main couple's.
A fun, lighthearted Regency romp about changing society from the inside.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Allain, Suzanne: THE LADIES REWRITE THE RULES." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Nov. 2023. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A770738985/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=fbc4a09e. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
The Ladies Rewrite the Rules
Suzanne Allain. Berkley, $17 trade paper (272p) ISBN 978-0-593-54964-3
A shy widow, a grande dame, and a disgraced heiress join forces to turn the tables on fortune-hunting men in this innovative Regency from Allain (Mr. Malcolm's List). Diana Boyle married a much older cousin to save herself from penury. Now a widow at 25, she's surprised to learn she has been included in a bachelor's guide to Britain's wealthy widows and spinsters. Infuriared, she calls on its author, the surprisingly attractive Maxwell Dean, who is abashed by her anger, bur intrigued by her beauty. Determined to expose the men who would exploit these women, Diana writes to as many others listed in the directory as she can find, including Lady Regina Townsend, who was rejected by society after a youthful indiscretion, and Lady Gordon, a gracious older woman still mourning her husband. The women decide to lead on the fortune hunters before rejecting them--but along the way, they must avoid falling for their suitors. The ensuing trio of romances are sweet, but Allain's style is slightly stilted, making for some oddly wooden emotional beats. The novel's true strength lies in the friendship between the bold heroines. These fetching women will appeal to fans of Mimi Matthews and Julie Klassen. Agent: Stefanie Lieberman, Janklow & Nesbit Assoc. (Jan.)
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"The Ladies Rewrite the Rules." Publishers Weekly, vol. 270, no. 43, 23 Oct. 2023, p. 32. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A772537165/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=658a35e1. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
Allain, Suzanne. The Ladies Rewrite the Rules. Berkley. Jan. 2024.272p. ISBN 9780593549643. pap. $17. HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Widow Diana Boyle is tolerating her dour sister-in-law's company when two unknown gentlemen come calling. Diana's butler confiscates what they are carrying, a fortune-hunting directory for impoverished bachelors that lists Diana along with other wealthy spinsters and widows. Diana confronts the author of the directory, Maxwell Dean, berating him for his creation, and then warns other women in the directory to be on their guard. Many of those women meet and decide to hold a ball, embracing their single status and financial leverage over eligible men--and they refuse to play by high society's rules of conduct for proper, demure women and instead make their own rules. Meanwhile, Max is horrified to find that his directory is being used with less than honorable intentions by supposed gentlemen and tries to right his wrong while winning over Diana. VERDICT Allain's (Miss Lattimore's Letter) Regency romance engagingly features wronged women who empower each other to take control of their love lives. The power-play dynamics between Diana and Max offer enjoyable fun.--Eve Stano
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Stano, Eve. "The Ladies Rewrite the Rules." Library Journal, vol. 148, no. 10, Oct. 2023, p. 113. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A767644978/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=8f53d101. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
Miss Lattimore's Letter. By Suzanne Allain. Aug. 2021. 272p. Jove, paper, $16 (9780593197424); e-book, $9.99 (9780593197431).
Six years ago, after the death of her father, Sophronia Lattimore was taken in by her aunt and uncle. Now, at 28, Sophie has become her younger cousin's trusty chaperone. Stepping outside for fresh air during a society dance, Sophie accidentally overhears a private conversation and, with the best of intentions, writes a letter that changes everything. From wallflower to sought-after adviser, Sophie feels ready to be a full-fledged matchmaker, but is she? With only a handful of characters, Allain follows her delightful Mr. Malcolms List (2020) with another Regency-era tale rich in relationships that grow and change naturally while remaining appropriate for the setting. Realistically varied motivations and small social deceptions build a sense of intrigue, and tender interactions generate a deeper sense of connectedness and hope. Sophie's natural curiosity leads to additional interesting background information on a variety of topics. Fans of Pride and Prejudice will recognize elements honoring the original and nod with approval, and every reader will finish the book with a satisfied smile. A solid suggestion for Austen lovers and admirers of Georgette Heyer and Julia Quinn.--Stacey Hayman
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 American Library Association
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Hayman, Stacey. "Miss Lattimore's Letter." Booklist, vol. 117, no. 22, Aug. 2021, p. 36. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A689976748/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=c4c9b850. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
Suzanne Allain. Berkley, $16 trade paper (272p) ISBN 978-0-593-19742-4
Indecision and miscommunication strain the relationships in Allain's lackluster sophomore Regency rom-com (after Mr. Malcolm's List). After 28-year-old Sophronia "Sophie" Lattimore overhears an intimate conversation between star-crossed lovers Priscilla Hammond and Charles Beswick, she pens an anonymous letter to suggest to Ptiscilla's betrothed, Lord Fitzwater, that he'd be better matched with the infatuated Lucy Barrett instead. After both couples get engaged, Sophie's cousin Cecilia reveals Sophie as the architect of the couplings, and she is suddenly beset with the romantic woes of everyone she knows. Bur when Charles and Priscilla's marriage begins to fray, Sophie regrets her position as matchmaker. In truth, she's no expert in love, having been jilted by her own suitor a decade earlier. Now that gentleman, the charming Frederick Maitland, is back in-her life, leaving Sophie struggling to choose between her old passion for him and her growing connection with the thoughtful, reserved Sir Edmund Winslow, whom she's enjoying getting to know, but who may be too far above her station to consider marriage. Sophie, Priscilla, and Cecilia all vehemently doubt their own desires and decisions, which will leave readers unsure of the longevity of their happy endings. Only the sustained romantic tension enlivens this otherwise dull Regency. Agent: Stefanie Lieberman, Janklow &Nesbit Assoc. (Aug.)
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"Miss Lattimore's Letter." Publishers Weekly, vol. 268, no. 24, 14 June 2021, pp. 59+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A666017251/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=ed7fe8da. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
Mr. Malcolm's List. By Suzanne Allain. Aug. 2020. 256p. Berkley, paper, $16 (9780593197400).
In 1818, Miss Selina Dalton was a lady's companion before heading to London at the invitation of her school friend, Miss Julia Thistlewaite, but Julia has ulterior motives. Julia wants Selina's help in exposing Mr. Jeremy Malcolm to public ridicule after she failed to meet his list of requirements for a suitable wife. Selina isn't one to scheme, and maybe Mr. Malcolm is actually nice, and maybe this comedy of errors could turn into a happy ending for everyone. By focusing on a few well-developed characters, screenwriter and debut romance writer Allain makes it easy for readers to become emotionally engaged in the progress of these friendships and budding romantic relationships. She also provides a cheeky look at the different expectations placed on men versus women during the Regency Era, revealing the limitations society accords individuals in terms of their family connections and personal wealth and education. Both general fiction readers and romance fans looking for a story that will transport them to another time and place, seeking new fictional friends, or hoping to watch characters grow more self-aware and compassionate will revel in this smart love story. --Stacey Hayman
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 American Library Association
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Hayman, Stacey. "Mr. Malcolm's List." Booklist, vol. 116, no. 22, 1 Aug. 2020, p. 35. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A633841899/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=eeb31165. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
Mr. Malcolm's List
Suzanne Allain. Berkley, $16 trade paper
(256p) ISBN 978-0-593-19740-0
Allain (The Celebrated Pedestrian) delights with a Regency rom-com about the perils of finding a spouse based on the requirements of a list. The Hon. Jeremy Malcolm, second son of the Earl of Kilbourne, has a list of qualities he's looking for in a wife, among them "has genteel relations" and "converses in a sensible fashion." When spurned Julia Thistlewaite learns of this list, she assumes it's the reason Jeremy rejected her and plots her revenge. Julia invites her friend Selina Dalton, a vicar's daughter, to London, planning to tailor her to Jeremy's list, attract his attention, and then reject him for failing to meet the qualifications of her own list. Selina initially goes along with Julia's prank, knowing it's her only chance to experience London society and taking Julia's word that Jeremy deserves to be brought down a peg. But upon meeting and clicking with Jeremy, Selina starts to have doubts. Jeremy invites Selena and Julia to a house party at his country estate and the pair grows even closer. But when Jeremy learns of Selina and Julia's prank, his anger and disdain for Selina halts their courtship. Allain's characters are witty and appealing, and the sizzle between Jeremy and Selina is convincing. This effervescent love story is a charmer. Agent: Stefanie Lieberman, Janklow & Nesbit Assoc. (July)
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"Mr. Malcolm's List." Publishers Weekly, vol. 267, no. 18, 4 May 2020, p. 45. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A624294016/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=46fb8636. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.