disclosure: we were sent the item mentioned for the purpose of review

In the later stages of last year, I won a review copy of The Game of Hearts by Felicity Day, and it finally reached the top of my ‘to read’ pile recently.  I can tell you, that if like me, you’re a fan of the Regency period then you are going to thoroughly enjoy this book.  Likewise, if it’s an era of British history that you’re unfamiliar with, it will prove to be a fascinating read.

The Game of Hearts is a fascinating historical non-fiction piece of work that uses diaries, letters, and newspaper articles from the time to give us an insight into the aristocracy during the Regency period of 1800 to 1820. We follow six prominent ladies of the ‘ton’ and their families as they navigate courtship, matchmaking, and matrimony.

The book brings to life the Julia Quinn Bridgerton series and the novels of Jane Austen with the true stories of the Georgian leading lights of society.  We learn about the scoundrels, and the elopements and that there were indeed a few actual love matches, during the period. It truly is a fascinating read. Of course, money plays its part so often, with doweries and inheritance, heirs and their spares and there’s also tragedy with those losing their lives during the Napoleonic War and through illnesses that would be survivable in the 21st century. I was totally absorbed from start to finish and was very grateful for the family tree that’s shown at the front of the book which shows the family connections between the main characters.

I’ve included an Amazon Affiliate link (I do earn from qualifying purchases) below in case you fancy reading The Game of Hearts for yourself.  You won’t be disappointed if you do!