A Lady for All Seasons: A Novel

Verbena Montrose is under orders to find a husband. Her family fortune is dwindling, and her mother believes that Verbena hasn't been trying hard enough to snare a good match. She has no interest in any of the eligible gentlemen, so she convinces her dear friend Etienne to enter a marriage of convenience so that they will be free to pursue affairs of their choosing. Flora Witcombe, a poetess of some success and friend of Lord Byron's, catches Verbena's eye as someone who could be a dear friend - or perhaps more. Another suitor, William Forsyth, has his heart set on Verbena. He's a failed novelist, fifth son, and wholly inappropriate in her mother's eyes for Verbena...not the least of all because he's also Flora. William is desperate to gain Verbena's attention, Flora is a trusted confidant, and time is running out before Verbena weds Etienne. TJ Alexander has a wonderful voice for historical romance. Originally making their mark in contemporary, they bring a beautiful perspective to queer historicals, with introspective characters and quiet plots that focus on societal norms. That's not to say there isn't humor - in fact, A Lady for All Seasons has plenty of moments that made me chuckle and smile. The cast of characters leaned a little too big overall, with a few more names than we needed to keep track of for such a character based story, so I confused characters early in the book. Once that settled though, I really enjoyed the flow of the romance. Queer historical romance…

I've been waiting for this story since I finished A Gentleman's Gentleman and it did not disappoint!! It's messy in an interesting and dramatic way and also so very lovely and sweet. I love the way Alexander continuously writes about gender in a time where people like to pretend trans people of all persuasions did not exist. I love that there are moments of levity juxtaposed with very complex situations and I just loved the whole story from start to finish

4.5/5 It’s hard knowing where to start when there’s so many things I loved and enjoyed about this story. The first is irony. Verbana wields gossip as the weapon it is and yet gossip is what threatens her friend that is the catalyst for the story. The longing was top notch. It’s a slow burn and the longing for one another that Verbana, Flora, and William experienced increased the tension. I kept wanting something to give and each time the story seemed to remind me that there was still more to tell before we got there. The stakes also felt high. It was easy to get lost in the story but the heart of what was at stake was always there. The threat to Étienne, Flora’s untenable situation, and the cost of eventual heartbreak. This is a story with queer MC and side characters. Verbena doesn’t have much experience with platonic or romantic feelings so she when she starts to develop feelings for Flora she mistakes it for platonic and needs help from Étienne sorting through it. William is also Flora and has had time to live a public life as both. I enjoyed that they were able to explore themselves mostly without fear of others finding out. The infamous Lord Byron plays a secondary role. I don’t normally like when real historical figures are in a story. It sometimes feels over the top or exaggerated, more like a gimmick. So I was hesitant at first when Lord Byron appeared but he slowly won me over as a secondary character. His notoriety as a poet and rakish reputation blended in…

Set against the backdrop of 1820s high society, “A Lady For All Seasons” is a refreshing, high-stakes exploration of what it takes to find love when your identity is considered a scandal by the ton. After her father is bilked of his fortune, the quick-witted Verbena Montrose enters a marriage of convenience with Étienne Charbonneau, a man seeking to hide his own “Achillean tendencies.” The arrangement seems perfect until Verbena falls for the mysterious poetess Flora Witcombe—who is actually the pseudonym and alternate identity of William Forsyth. The way the narrative intertwines Verbena/Flora and Étienne/Miles creates a tense, “will-they-won’t-they” atmosphere where the stakes are social ruin or true freedom. The exploration of William/Flora’s gender identity (and the eventual emergence of Willa) adds a layer of depth rarely seen in traditional Regency tropes. It raises poignant questions about whether they are trans, a crossdresser, or genderfluid/two-spirit—a “Victorian Hannah Montana” with much higher stakes. The resolution provides the ultimate queer “Happily Ever After,” rejecting the rigid rules of London for a life of authenticity. “A Lady For All Seasons” is a busy, twisty, and deeply emotional story that balances the sharp bite of society gossip with the softness of self-discovery. While the shifting names and identities (William/Flora/Willa) can be dizzying, they reflect the beautiful complexity of the characters’ lives.

Ugh I loved it! I cannot believe I waited so long to pick this up. I love Verbena's tenacity. The way she used everything at her disposal to get what she needed was so impressive. And I love Willa. I've never seen a bigender/gender queer person in a historical novel, and the way she was able to inhabit the masculine and feminine, and eventually pull them together, was so beautiful. I wanted to smack Verbena for trying to lie to Flora about William or Miles, but I understood what she was trying to do. There are some bits that get annoyingly repetitive and the ending is outrageously convenient, but it just made me smile. To be reminded that our efforts to blend in can also be used to create the life we truly want. To be seen and accepted for who you are. To dream. It almost brings me to tears. I would have loved a little more from Willa's perspective, but I can totally see myself reading this again.