Diamond in the Rough (American Heiresses #2)

Title: Diamond in the Rough (American Heiresses #2)

Author: Jen Turano

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publishing Date: Sept 3, 2019

Publisher: Bethany House

Length: 349 Pages

About the Book:

When Miss Poppy Garrison accepts her grandmother’s offer of financial help for her family in exchange for Poppy joining the New York social season, she quickly realizes she is far less equipped to mingle with the New York Four Hundred than even she knew. As she becomes embroiled in one hilarious fiasco after another, becoming the diamond of the first water her grandmother longs her to be looks more impossible by the day.

Reginald Blackburn, second son of a duke, is in New York to help his cousin find an American heiress who can help save his family’s estate. But when his very proper British manners lead Poppy’s grandmother to request he teach etiquette to Poppy, he quickly finds himself in for much more than he bargained for.

And while they couldn’t be more opposite, Reginald and Poppy just might find they have more to teach each other than they ever could have expected.

My Review:

The past few books that my local book club has read together were tearjerkers, and so for this month I was given the request to find something that was more likely to make everyone laugh than cry. What better author to look to than Jen Turano?

What I love about Jen Turano’s writing is that humor isn’t only an added extra, but a main ingredient. Even when her characters find themselves in dire circumstances there’s always something that the reader ends up chuckling over by the time all is said and done. As someone who finds laughter to be one of the best medicines, I eat this up.

I adored the cast of characters in this read. Each one left their own unique fingerprint in a way that the story wouldn’t be the same without them. I liked that while it was Poppy’s goal to form the right relationships to please her grandmother and launch her into high society, friendship was more important than prestige. She saw others for who they were instead of what they could do for her. I really enjoyed seeing the different friendships develop for her and how they helped each other learn how to better navigate in the world they lived in. I particularly adored Murray’s character, and the personal growth he experienced throughout the novel. It was nice to see him come out of his shell and step out on his own with the help and encouragement of friends.  I liked that the romance between Poppy and Reginald wasn’t instantaneous but rather developed over time with friendship as their base.

One of my friends recently said that this read reminded her of Pride and Prejudice (by Jane Austen), but with more humor. I have to agree. It had an “Austen” feel to it but with more modern language to make it easier to read. And again, no one quite does humor the way Jen Turano does.

I adored this novel and found it to be the perfect little “pick me up” after a few heavier reads. With wonderful characters and laugh-out-loud humor, this is one you won’t want to miss!

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