I received Book #2 in Goodman’s Ill-Mannered Ladies series from NetGalley, but I quickly realized this was a book I wanted to read properly, so I stopped and picked up the first book instead. I’m glad I did. These are definitely not stand-alone books as Book 2 follows directly from where Book 1 ends. I rarely read two books in a series back to back, but I enjoyed everything about these two. Now, I just have to wait for the next one.
The books are about two middle-aged sisters, Augusta and her twin Julia, in Regency England. The first book, The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies, begins with Gus and Julia attacking a man who’s threatened to ruin the reputation of their close friend. In their forties and well off the marriage market, no one is paying much attention to them, until they are asked to help rescue a friend’s sister from her abusive husband. That sets Gus and Julia off on a series of adventures involving an escaped convict, a Bow Street runner, and a horrific asylum. The adventures continue in Book 2, The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin, and I won’t tell you any more about the story except that you should read them in order.
These are perfect books for those who love Jane Austen, books about Regency England, and historical fiction with strong female characters. But these books aren’t quiet and slow like an Austen novel, and the covers are a bit misleading. Think Pride and Prejudice, if Elizabeth and Jane Bennett were gun-wielding vigilantes.
One thing I really enjoyed is the focus on the sisters’ relationship. They are very close but also quite different. Julia is more concerned about propriety and makes an effort to maintain their relationship with their insufferable brother. Gus is hot-tempered but also clever and courageous and will do anything for her sister. The two balance each other and keep each other from going to extremes. But they also hold each other back at times.
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" data-orig-size="300,465" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" data-image-title="Screenshot" data-orig-file="https://thebookstop.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ladies-road-guide.jpg" style="aspect-ratio:0.6624115922028635;width:261px;height:auto" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"Screenshot","created_timestamp":"1723508442","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"Screenshot","orientation":"1"}" width="300" data-medium-file="https://thebookstop.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ladies-road-guide.jpg?w=300" data-permalink="https://thebookstop.wordpress.com/screenshot/" alt="" height="465" srcset="https://thebookstop.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ladies-road-guide.jpg 300w, https://thebookstop.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ladies-road-guide.jpg?w=145&h;=225 145w" class="wp-image-21166" data-large-file="https://thebookstop.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ladies-road-guide.jpg?w=300" />ScreenshotGus and Julia have the advantages of independent money and high-society status, and I liked that Goodman explores in both books how many lack those protections – and how precarious those protections can be. Gus is fearless but that’s because she’s never faced any real threats. Sadly, her adventures show her a world that’s much uglier than she realized.
I don’t know what to compare these books to. I think they’d appeal to fans of Mimi Matthews and Evie Dunmore, but they are much more adventure and action than romance and history. Goodman reminds me of Anne Perry in the way she uncovers some of the darkest abuses of the time, but at the same time her books are full of humor and witty banter. It’s a fantastic combination of history, thriller, and romance – and the covers are gorgeous, especially the second one. I highly recommend both books and can’t wait for the sequel I hope is coming.
Note: I received an advance review copy of Book 2 in the series from NetGalley and publisher Berkley Press. This book published May 6, 2025.
