Book Review: Henrietta by Sophie Irwin
If I had to choose an author to continue Georgette Heyer’s legacy, one of the first names to pop into my head would be Sophie Irwin. The author’s books, which include A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting and A Lady’s Guide to Scandal, share so many of the essential Heyer qualities: vivid historical detail, authentic dialogue, dramatic declarations, delightfully headstrong heroines and a sharp wit that feels effortless. All of these trademarks are on full display in Henrietta, a new authorised novel that’s certain to get the stamp of approval from Heyer fans old and new.
The titular Henrietta, or Hetty as she’s affectionately known to those closest to her, has been secretly in love with Arthur, Lord Allerton, since childhood. As a young woman with a considerable inherited fortune, she’s not short on suitors. But she’s only interested in one man, and she’s painfully aware that his feelings for her are platonic rather than romantic. When Arthur departs for the Peninsular War and his father passes away, Hetty steps up for the Allerton family. But even with her invaluable intervention, after three years away at war, Arthur returns to London to find everything changed. His finances are ruined, his family is in chaos, and sweet, shy Hetty is different too.
Sensing her last opportunity to claim her own happily-ever-after, Hetty sets herself a challenge: she has one summer to become the dazzling Diamond she’s always wished to be. All she wants is for Arthur to notice her as more than a sisterly companion but she gets more than she bargained for when he agrees to aid her in her mission. Blissfully unaware that he is, in fact, the dashing nobleman she covets, Arthur sets out to help Hetty achieve her dream, and in doing so, he begins to see the brilliant and intelligent woman behind the wallflower mask.
Taking place against a glittering Regency backdrop of ballrooms, theatres and grand London houses, Henrietta is a classic friends-to-lovers story filled with all the angst, yearning and high-emotional stakes that comes with the beloved trope. It’s the very definition of a slow burn romance, positioning the story firmly from Hetty’s perspective. We know right from the opening pages that she’s absolutely besotted with Arthur, and we also know that he’s oblivious to this fact, which leads to plenty of misunderstandings between the two. This would be unforgiveable in a modern day romance but in a historical comedy of manners, which revolves around very rigid behavioural codes and social customs for men and women, it plays out beautifully.
Arthur is less roguish than many of Heyer’s archetypal heroes but his self-assured and outgoing nature is the perfect foil for Hetty’s bashful and socially awkward disposition. Whilst the evolving relationship between the two is the early draw for this story, the more compelling aspect of Henrietta isn’t actually the romance at all. It’s Hetty’s evolution from wallflower to main character. With the help of a few friends, including Arthur’s spirited siblings and a mischievous marquis, Hetty flourishes with every passing chapter. It’s incredibly easy to root for a character who has no awareness of how charming they really are, and even if she doesn’t achieve her dream of winning Arthur’s heart, she achieves something much more important: the self-belief that she’s worthy of love and deserving of attention.
Full of the kind of near-miss scandals and upper crust intrigue that historical romance was built on, Henrietta is a witty and entertaining frolic through the 19th century London social season. Throw in a fake courtship, a family on the brink of financial disaster, a troublesome libertine and a foolish duel and this could very well have been written by the Queen of Regency Romance herself. The only let down is the slightly rushed final chapter, which barely gives readers time to enjoy what’s happened before it’s all over. But at least it closes on a funny note, which goes some way to alleviating the abruptness of the ending, and reminds readers why Sophie Irwin was such a good choice to continue Heyer’s stories. Let’s hope it’s the first of many official novels to come.
★★★★
Henrietta is published by Century on 13 August 2026
