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The Gilded Heiress
From USA Today bestselling author Joanna Shupe comes a spicy Anastasia story full of secrets and betrayal, set among the glittering streets of New York City's Gilded Age.
In 1880 a baby was stolen from the wealthiest family in America. Though no ransom was ever demanded, the Pendelton family never gave up hope . . . and their reward became the stuff of legend.
After being raised in a children’s asylum, Josie Smith ends up on the streets and quickly learns how to take care of herself. Her singing voice draws crowds on every corner, and she’ll stop at nothing to become famous and travel the world, loved and adored by all. Maybe then she won’t think about the family who gave her away as an infant.
Leo Hardy isn’t afraid to use his charm and wits to make a fast buck, especially with a mother and five siblings to support. When he stumbles upon a beautiful young woman singing on the street, Leo notices her striking resemblance to the infamous missing baby’s mother, Mrs. Thomas Pendelton. The Hardys lost everything thanks to the Pendeltons, and once Leo sees Josie, he seizes the opportunity to settle the score. All he needs to do is pull off the biggest swindle of his career.
As the two are catapulted into Knickerbocker High Society, they grow closer to their goal, as well as to each other. But secrets can only stay hidden for so long. Soon the truth unfolds, and both Josie and Leo must separate what’s real from what’s just gilding.
In 1880 a baby was stolen from the wealthiest family in America. Though no ransom was ever demanded, the Pendelton family never gave up hope . . . and their reward became the stuff of legend.
After being raised in a children’s asylum, Josie Smith ends up on the streets and quickly learns how to take care of herself. Her singing voice draws crowds on every corner, and she’ll stop at nothing to become famous and travel the world, loved and adored by all. Maybe then she won’t think about the family who gave her away as an infant.
Leo Hardy isn’t afraid to use his charm and wits to make a fast buck, especially with a mother and five siblings to support. When he stumbles upon a beautiful young woman singing on the street, Leo notices her striking resemblance to the infamous missing baby’s mother, Mrs. Thomas Pendelton. The Hardys lost everything thanks to the Pendeltons, and once Leo sees Josie, he seizes the opportunity to settle the score. All he needs to do is pull off the biggest swindle of his career.
As the two are catapulted into Knickerbocker High Society, they grow closer to their goal, as well as to each other. But secrets can only stay hidden for so long. Soon the truth unfolds, and both Josie and Leo must separate what’s real from what’s just gilding.
352 pages, Paperback
First published August 26, 2025
120 people are currently reading
23844 people want to read
About the author
Joanna Shupe
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http://www.joannashupe.com/newsletter/
USA Today bestselling author JOANNA SHUPE has always loved history, ever since she saw her first Schoolhouse Rock cartoon. Since 2015, her books have appeared on numerous yearly “best of” lists, including Publishers Weekly, The Washington Post, Kirkus Reviews, Kobo, and BookPage.
She currently lives in New Jersey with her two spirited daughters and a dashing husband.
http://www.joannashupe.com/newsletter/
USA Today bestselling author JOANNA SHUPE has always loved history, ever since she saw her first Schoolhouse Rock cartoon. Since 2015, her books have appeared on numerous yearly “best of” lists, including Publishers Weekly, The Washington Post, Kirkus Reviews, Kobo, and BookPage.
She currently lives in New Jersey with her two spirited daughters and a dashing husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 409 reviews
August 3, 2025
3.25 / 5 Stars
This is pitched as a spicy retelling of Anastasia set in New York City’s Gilded Age. Because of this description, I had some high expectations that just were not met. But I also felt that the story telling and world building didn’t hit the nail on the head either.
A quick synopsis of the plot: Leo Hardy is a con man and a hustler (known as confidence men in that day). He sees Josie Smith singing on a street corner and realizes that she resembles his father’s previous employers, the Pendeltons, an exceptionally rich family who unceremoniously fired his father years ago, leading his father to drink excessively and pass away. Now, Leo is the sole provider for his mother and five sisters and he sees a perfect con with Josie: get the Pendeltons to believe Josie is their long, lost daughter, who was stolen from them 18 years ago, so that he will get a hefty reward and revenge on them for what they did to his father. But he doesn’t tell Josie and instead acts as her manager trying to get her on Broadway. As he prepares Josie for a singing career to get her in front of the Pendeltons, Leo and Josie start to fall for each other, complicating his plan and their future.
This plot is truly an Anastasia retelling, but I had expected Anastasia vibes, emotions, and energy. I wanted yearning, slow burn, dislike to like, tension growing as their hands barely touched until we got to those spicy scenes. Instead I got something closer to insta-lust. Maybe it was unfair of me to expect it to be so close to the original emotional core of Anastasia but that is what I wanted and didn’t get.
So okay, fine, we get insta-lust and a fast burn instead, but it was written with childish undertones. For example, every time Leo goes somewhere without Josie, she wonders if she is with another woman. To that I say “ma’am, how are there enough hours in the day for him to be acting as your manager and to be constantly boning other women?” But fine, she is 20 years old, I will let it pass. Leo is 26/27, so he is a grown man who technically has a fully developed brain, so he gets less of a pass for his horny immaturity. There was a scene where Josie is learning to be a “lady” so she is "practicing her serving skills on him” by serving him tea and he thinks “haha - serving” and starts to get hard. Sir, is this one big “that’s what she said joke” to you? And they are constantly talking about how handsome or beautiful the other is which is fine but can’t Leo talk more about how talented he thinks Josie is (we are told she is a very, very good singer) or can’t Josie be impressed by how caring Leo is for his family? We get small hints of that but mostly it just feels like two hot people who were in each other’s vicinity so it was inevitable that they’d have sex.
The story was also written very matter-of-factly, which I really enjoy in other novels, but here, it made it harder to imagine the Gilded Age. For example, we get a passage that reads “I liked her hair, the way it was swept up in a soft bouffant with curls. Gibson Girls, they called the ladies who styled their hair in such a fashion. And her dress was fancy, probably expensive.” Ok, got it, simple enough but tell me more about her dress, please! What does it look like so I can understand what that meant for that time period. And tell me more about the Gibson Girls (which I learned about on my own time thanks to Google). It just felt like a missed opportunity to stick to facts instead of using metaphors, similes, and lush descriptions that could help build the setting and atmosphere so that we could truly understand what the heck the Gilded Age was.
I think there are people who will definitely enough this book and I think there is so much potential with this plot and setting, but it just didn’t hit for me. However, you might like this book if you like:
💰 Anastasia retelling set in the Gilded Age
🎼 Con artist MMC x aspiring singer and performer FMC
💰 Insta-lust
🎼 Revenge, secrets, and lies
💰 “Good girl” and “use me” spice scenes
🎼 Redemption arc for morally grey MMC
Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for providing the eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: August 26, 2025
_________________________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: This is being pitched as a spicy version of Anastasia and I loooooove that. Did I have a crush on Dimitri from the Anastasia movie? Of course. Do I still listen to whole soundtrack? Most definitely.
This is pitched as a spicy retelling of Anastasia set in New York City’s Gilded Age. Because of this description, I had some high expectations that just were not met. But I also felt that the story telling and world building didn’t hit the nail on the head either.
A quick synopsis of the plot: Leo Hardy is a con man and a hustler (known as confidence men in that day). He sees Josie Smith singing on a street corner and realizes that she resembles his father’s previous employers, the Pendeltons, an exceptionally rich family who unceremoniously fired his father years ago, leading his father to drink excessively and pass away. Now, Leo is the sole provider for his mother and five sisters and he sees a perfect con with Josie: get the Pendeltons to believe Josie is their long, lost daughter, who was stolen from them 18 years ago, so that he will get a hefty reward and revenge on them for what they did to his father. But he doesn’t tell Josie and instead acts as her manager trying to get her on Broadway. As he prepares Josie for a singing career to get her in front of the Pendeltons, Leo and Josie start to fall for each other, complicating his plan and their future.
This plot is truly an Anastasia retelling, but I had expected Anastasia vibes, emotions, and energy. I wanted yearning, slow burn, dislike to like, tension growing as their hands barely touched until we got to those spicy scenes. Instead I got something closer to insta-lust. Maybe it was unfair of me to expect it to be so close to the original emotional core of Anastasia but that is what I wanted and didn’t get.
So okay, fine, we get insta-lust and a fast burn instead, but it was written with childish undertones. For example, every time Leo goes somewhere without Josie, she wonders if she is with another woman. To that I say “ma’am, how are there enough hours in the day for him to be acting as your manager and to be constantly boning other women?” But fine, she is 20 years old, I will let it pass. Leo is 26/27, so he is a grown man who technically has a fully developed brain, so he gets less of a pass for his horny immaturity. There was a scene where Josie is learning to be a “lady” so she is "practicing her serving skills on him” by serving him tea and he thinks “haha - serving” and starts to get hard. Sir, is this one big “that’s what she said joke” to you? And they are constantly talking about how handsome or beautiful the other is which is fine but can’t Leo talk more about how talented he thinks Josie is (we are told she is a very, very good singer) or can’t Josie be impressed by how caring Leo is for his family? We get small hints of that but mostly it just feels like two hot people who were in each other’s vicinity so it was inevitable that they’d have sex.
The story was also written very matter-of-factly, which I really enjoy in other novels, but here, it made it harder to imagine the Gilded Age. For example, we get a passage that reads “I liked her hair, the way it was swept up in a soft bouffant with curls. Gibson Girls, they called the ladies who styled their hair in such a fashion. And her dress was fancy, probably expensive.” Ok, got it, simple enough but tell me more about her dress, please! What does it look like so I can understand what that meant for that time period. And tell me more about the Gibson Girls (which I learned about on my own time thanks to Google). It just felt like a missed opportunity to stick to facts instead of using metaphors, similes, and lush descriptions that could help build the setting and atmosphere so that we could truly understand what the heck the Gilded Age was.
I think there are people who will definitely enough this book and I think there is so much potential with this plot and setting, but it just didn’t hit for me. However, you might like this book if you like:
💰 Anastasia retelling set in the Gilded Age
🎼 Con artist MMC x aspiring singer and performer FMC
💰 Insta-lust
🎼 Revenge, secrets, and lies
💰 “Good girl” and “use me” spice scenes
🎼 Redemption arc for morally grey MMC
Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for providing the eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: August 26, 2025
_________________________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: This is being pitched as a spicy version of Anastasia and I loooooove that. Did I have a crush on Dimitri from the Anastasia movie? Of course. Do I still listen to whole soundtrack? Most definitely.
July 6, 2025
as an anastasia girl how am i not supposed to love this like r u kidding me
August 21, 2025
This book was such a good time! I absolutely ate up the relationship between Leo and Josie: a morally gray, secretive con man and a woman who always speaks her mind because she refuses to lie; it was the perfect pairing. Their chemistry was palpable, but there was also depth to their characters and the connection they shared, which made them complement one another so well. As someone who really enjoys dual POVs, I thought this one was really well done!
Since it’s an Anastasia retelling, the story is fairly predictable, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the journey.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
Since it’s an Anastasia retelling, the story is fairly predictable, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the journey.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
April 11, 2025
hate to be the bearer of bad news. Mega DNF
Look you can tell me that the guy is friends with the gals at the brothel but I don't need a detailed threesome in chapter two. I also don't like the age gap- she's 18 and he's 28 (I know, histrom, but we're not dealing in nobility here where I have to get over it). Additionally, I got a really bad vibe from him and the predatory way he interacted with her, emphasized by the way she was so much younger and he used her dream of singing to get her to do whatever he wanted. Maybe you'll feel differently and find this romantic and adventurous, but I found it creepy and uncomfortable.
Look you can tell me that the guy is friends with the gals at the brothel but I don't need a detailed threesome in chapter two. I also don't like the age gap- she's 18 and he's 28 (I know, histrom, but we're not dealing in nobility here where I have to get over it). Additionally, I got a really bad vibe from him and the predatory way he interacted with her, emphasized by the way she was so much younger and he used her dream of singing to get her to do whatever he wanted. Maybe you'll feel differently and find this romantic and adventurous, but I found it creepy and uncomfortable.
August 29, 2025
A pleasant and enjoyable re-imagining of Anastasia, set in Gilded-Age New York in the 1880's. This is a time period that Joanna Shupe shines. I was hooked right away and I couldn't wait to see how it all unfolded!
However, it did end up unfolding EXACTLY as I thought it would. There wasn't anything surprising or compelling after we got about 40% in. It played out to the letter as you might expect. Which sometimes can work for me, but it led to me just feeling impatient and like it was too drawn out.
I was unsure how I felt about the dual 1st person POVs, as it made this feel more like Shupe's alter ego pen name was writing it. But I did enjoy the narrators, so I eventually settled into it.
Overall, I want Shupe to keep writing Historical Romance SO badly. I think she brings so much to the table. I just don't think this re-imaging worked for me.
3.5 Stars
2 on the spice scale
However, it did end up unfolding EXACTLY as I thought it would. There wasn't anything surprising or compelling after we got about 40% in. It played out to the letter as you might expect. Which sometimes can work for me, but it led to me just feeling impatient and like it was too drawn out.
I was unsure how I felt about the dual 1st person POVs, as it made this feel more like Shupe's alter ego pen name was writing it. But I did enjoy the narrators, so I eventually settled into it.
Overall, I want Shupe to keep writing Historical Romance SO badly. I think she brings so much to the table. I just don't think this re-imaging worked for me.
3.5 Stars
2 on the spice scale
August 17, 2025
⭐️ 3.75 ⭐️ The Gilded Age, marked by industrialization and wealth disparities, is probably one of my favorite time periods of American history. I was instantly interested in Joanna Shupes’ book just because of the time period but even more curious about how the glittering backdrop of wealth, power and socialization would be portrayed. Knowing that romance was a big part of it, I was even more drawn to it. Who doesn’t like a spicy retelling with a touch of history, fiction and fantasy?
Beginning with a bang, we are thrown into an Anastasia retelling where I found myself taken by surprise with how scandalous & salacious it started off. The writing started off choppy but the storytelling improved as the story unfolded. Shupe incorporated a lot of social elements of Gilded Age—such as wealth, power and socialization status. I enjoyed a lot of romance aspects of this book but I felt that it started off very insta-lusty, almost too fixated on the sexualization aspect of the romance and very fast paced. What’s the rush? I wanted for the love story to develop a little more naturally than simply be based on attraction and a need to scratch the itch. I wanted more of a regal take on a historical romance.
I truly enjoyed the characters in The Gilded Heiress. Leo, our conman, had a lot of depth to his character. On one side he was the ultimate Casanova with his perfectly good looks and sweet charm—always scheming, always on the lookout for himself. Underneath the bad boy facade, he’s a family man who deeply cares about his sisters and his mother’s wellbeing. He grows into a likable character and by the end I enjoyed the redemption arc. Josie on the other is a feisty firecracker. She’s incredibly street smart, talented (she’s a singer) and holds good values. She’s quite naïveté but when she meets Leo, she grows more confident, more sharp. He elevated her in all ways possible. I loved them together.
I think with a few touch ups here and there, the story could have been a perfect 4.5-5 star read! Their push and pull was undeniably sexy.
Favorite quotes:
* “Men don’t turn over new leaves, they just find pots with fresh dirt to ruin”
* “You don’t want a man that’s all puddle, shallow and small. You want an ocean, deep and infinite. A man who will love you without limits”
* “He was like an itch under my skin that I couldn’t scratch”
* “My thoughts were a tangled mess when it came to this woman. I wanted to protect her and ravish her and use her all the same time.”
Thanks to NetGalley & Avon and Harper Voyager for this early eARC!
Publication date: August 26, 2025
Beginning with a bang, we are thrown into an Anastasia retelling where I found myself taken by surprise with how scandalous & salacious it started off. The writing started off choppy but the storytelling improved as the story unfolded. Shupe incorporated a lot of social elements of Gilded Age—such as wealth, power and socialization status. I enjoyed a lot of romance aspects of this book but I felt that it started off very insta-lusty, almost too fixated on the sexualization aspect of the romance and very fast paced. What’s the rush? I wanted for the love story to develop a little more naturally than simply be based on attraction and a need to scratch the itch. I wanted more of a regal take on a historical romance.
I truly enjoyed the characters in The Gilded Heiress. Leo, our conman, had a lot of depth to his character. On one side he was the ultimate Casanova with his perfectly good looks and sweet charm—always scheming, always on the lookout for himself. Underneath the bad boy facade, he’s a family man who deeply cares about his sisters and his mother’s wellbeing. He grows into a likable character and by the end I enjoyed the redemption arc. Josie on the other is a feisty firecracker. She’s incredibly street smart, talented (she’s a singer) and holds good values. She’s quite naïveté but when she meets Leo, she grows more confident, more sharp. He elevated her in all ways possible. I loved them together.
I think with a few touch ups here and there, the story could have been a perfect 4.5-5 star read! Their push and pull was undeniably sexy.
Favorite quotes:
* “Men don’t turn over new leaves, they just find pots with fresh dirt to ruin”
* “You don’t want a man that’s all puddle, shallow and small. You want an ocean, deep and infinite. A man who will love you without limits”
* “He was like an itch under my skin that I couldn’t scratch”
* “My thoughts were a tangled mess when it came to this woman. I wanted to protect her and ravish her and use her all the same time.”
Thanks to NetGalley & Avon and Harper Voyager for this early eARC!
Publication date: August 26, 2025
August 9, 2025
4.5/5.
Heat Index: 6.5/5.
—Anastasia (the movie) but make it Gilded Age
—the bright lights of Broadwaaaay
—diamond in the rough/mentor
The Basics:
When con artist Leo Hardy finds orphan Josie singing on the streets, he comes up with his boldest scam yet: He'll pass Josie off as the Pendelton Baby, stolen from a wealthy family years ago and never returned. Not only can he collect the reward money—he'll also get his long-desired revenge against the Pendeltons for ruining his father (and by extension, Leo's own life). But the more time Leo spends with his ingenue, the harder it becomes for him to commit to the bit...
The Review:
Anastasia (1997) is a longtime favorite movie of mine, and in retrospect, Dimitri was for sure an early crush (and Dimitri and Anya were a formative couple). So when one of my favorite authors announced an Anastasia-inspired book, I was thrilled. And to be very clear, this owes MUCH more to the animated movie, and perhaps the Ingrid Bergman movie that in turn inspired aspects of the animated movie, versus the history of Anastasia. To me, that means it has a lot to live up to. Fortunately, Shupe does a great job—not that I ever doubted her.
While I really enjoyed our heroine, Josie, this is a more hero-forward book, and that's not a bad thing. Leo Hardy charmed me from the jump. He's a con artist, he's a smooth talker, he's got a truly tragic past that gives him something of a "secret little boy lost" heart. But it never feels like any of that is used to handwave what he's doing. I'd say this is overall a less angsty book on the Shupe Scale, but she really relishes in the conflict of Leo falling for Josie, feeling so much guilt over the fact that she's a pawn in his game, and building toward the inevitable emotional fallout of her finding out.
Possibly my favorite part of the animated Anastasia is the moment when Anya finds out that Dimitri has been running a con, and he's trying to desperately explain himself, and she's backing him into a corner, all "YOU LIED TO ME!" before backhanding him, essentially. It's very "I was half a virgin when I met you" but an animated children's film, and it is delicious.
All I can say is... this book follows through on the sense of betrayal. The punches? They are not at all pulled. And I! Was! About it!
For all that Leo is who got my heart here, you totally see why he's obsessed with Josie. She's not quite an innocent, but she does have a naivete that comes off as fresh and sweet. I really appreciated, too, that Shupe portrayed an ingenue type in a historical who's not actually a virgin. I feel, often, that romance—maybe especially historical romance—portrays women who aren't virgins as automatically vastly experienced and jaded. That's not Josie. Sure, she's had sex, and she's experienced enough as an orphan to have some degree of street smarts, but she's not a Woman of the World. Which, again, adds to the guilt as Leo leads her into this scheme.
(And does that set you up for a grovel? I mean. You tell me.)
Shupe really dives into the glitz of the Gilded Age stage here, because Josie thinks she's just on her way to be a staaar. You get a bit of real history here, the world feels completely tangible, and there's that sense of being swept away that a really good historical provides. Because Joanna Shupe writes a great historical, dude. She knows what she's doing.
Now, elephant in the room—yes, there's a dual first person POV here. Which is very unusual for historicals. It's not the first time Shupe has done this. She's written a couple of indie historical novellas with this angle, The Gangster's Prize and The Scandal of Rose, both of which I'd highly recommend. She writes fabulous mafia romances under the name Mila Finelli, all with this perspective. Personally? It really worked for me. I think that a lot of this was because Leo in particular thinks in this very slick way that brings the character further to life. I love her third person books, but she's really skillful with first person as well, and here it added a bit of freshness that fit the story.
The Sex:
While very hot, this is a little more of a slow burn than some of Shupe's other books, and as a result, there isn't quite as much sex on the page as her usual. But what we do get is excellent, explicit, and looooong. You don't get a carriagebang, but you might get a sleighbang.
And there's also a lot of humor derived from the fact that Leo is clearly panting after Josie, while she remains blissfully ignorant. Several times throughout this story, people are like "DO. NOT. FUCK. THAT. GIRL." and he's like "oh my god why do people keep telling me that" and it's because he's basically licking his chops whenever they're together. In front of people. I LIVED.
The Conclusion:
So glad to read a new historical from Joanna Shupe, and as per usual, it's great. This is an author who knows her craft, who knows how to knock a historical romance out of the park, and who's also trying new things. Trying new things is what people in this subgenre are going to have to do in an increasingly difficult market. That's just the reality. And I think that if you haven't read a historical romance before? This would be a great starting place.
Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Heat Index: 6.5/5.
—Anastasia (the movie) but make it Gilded Age
—the bright lights of Broadwaaaay
—diamond in the rough/mentor
The Basics:
When con artist Leo Hardy finds orphan Josie singing on the streets, he comes up with his boldest scam yet: He'll pass Josie off as the Pendelton Baby, stolen from a wealthy family years ago and never returned. Not only can he collect the reward money—he'll also get his long-desired revenge against the Pendeltons for ruining his father (and by extension, Leo's own life). But the more time Leo spends with his ingenue, the harder it becomes for him to commit to the bit...
The Review:
Anastasia (1997) is a longtime favorite movie of mine, and in retrospect, Dimitri was for sure an early crush (and Dimitri and Anya were a formative couple). So when one of my favorite authors announced an Anastasia-inspired book, I was thrilled. And to be very clear, this owes MUCH more to the animated movie, and perhaps the Ingrid Bergman movie that in turn inspired aspects of the animated movie, versus the history of Anastasia. To me, that means it has a lot to live up to. Fortunately, Shupe does a great job—not that I ever doubted her.
While I really enjoyed our heroine, Josie, this is a more hero-forward book, and that's not a bad thing. Leo Hardy charmed me from the jump. He's a con artist, he's a smooth talker, he's got a truly tragic past that gives him something of a "secret little boy lost" heart. But it never feels like any of that is used to handwave what he's doing. I'd say this is overall a less angsty book on the Shupe Scale, but she really relishes in the conflict of Leo falling for Josie, feeling so much guilt over the fact that she's a pawn in his game, and building toward the inevitable emotional fallout of her finding out.
Possibly my favorite part of the animated Anastasia is the moment when Anya finds out that Dimitri has been running a con, and he's trying to desperately explain himself, and she's backing him into a corner, all "YOU LIED TO ME!" before backhanding him, essentially. It's very "I was half a virgin when I met you" but an animated children's film, and it is delicious.
All I can say is... this book follows through on the sense of betrayal. The punches? They are not at all pulled. And I! Was! About it!
For all that Leo is who got my heart here, you totally see why he's obsessed with Josie. She's not quite an innocent, but she does have a naivete that comes off as fresh and sweet. I really appreciated, too, that Shupe portrayed an ingenue type in a historical who's not actually a virgin. I feel, often, that romance—maybe especially historical romance—portrays women who aren't virgins as automatically vastly experienced and jaded. That's not Josie. Sure, she's had sex, and she's experienced enough as an orphan to have some degree of street smarts, but she's not a Woman of the World. Which, again, adds to the guilt as Leo leads her into this scheme.
(And does that set you up for a grovel? I mean. You tell me.)
Shupe really dives into the glitz of the Gilded Age stage here, because Josie thinks she's just on her way to be a staaar. You get a bit of real history here, the world feels completely tangible, and there's that sense of being swept away that a really good historical provides. Because Joanna Shupe writes a great historical, dude. She knows what she's doing.
Now, elephant in the room—yes, there's a dual first person POV here. Which is very unusual for historicals. It's not the first time Shupe has done this. She's written a couple of indie historical novellas with this angle, The Gangster's Prize and The Scandal of Rose, both of which I'd highly recommend. She writes fabulous mafia romances under the name Mila Finelli, all with this perspective. Personally? It really worked for me. I think that a lot of this was because Leo in particular thinks in this very slick way that brings the character further to life. I love her third person books, but she's really skillful with first person as well, and here it added a bit of freshness that fit the story.
The Sex:
While very hot, this is a little more of a slow burn than some of Shupe's other books, and as a result, there isn't quite as much sex on the page as her usual. But what we do get is excellent, explicit, and looooong. You don't get a carriagebang, but you might get a sleighbang.
And there's also a lot of humor derived from the fact that Leo is clearly panting after Josie, while she remains blissfully ignorant. Several times throughout this story, people are like "DO. NOT. FUCK. THAT. GIRL." and he's like "oh my god why do people keep telling me that" and it's because he's basically licking his chops whenever they're together. In front of people. I LIVED.
The Conclusion:
So glad to read a new historical from Joanna Shupe, and as per usual, it's great. This is an author who knows her craft, who knows how to knock a historical romance out of the park, and who's also trying new things. Trying new things is what people in this subgenre are going to have to do in an increasingly difficult market. That's just the reality. And I think that if you haven't read a historical romance before? This would be a great starting place.
Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 5, 2025
The main action of this book opens with a (literal) bang, as Leo hides in a working girl sandwich from the police after him for a con. That's right, the hero of this book is "a bit gray morally, true, but not a bad person." Leo has been hustling to keep his family together since the death of his father years earlier. One day he comes across Josie busking on the street, and decides based on a passing resemblance to the mother of the kidnapped baby of the family who fired his father unceremoniously, to turn her over and collect the reward, thus getting revenge on the family for past wrongs and getting rich. Flawless plan. This is an Anastasia retelling, with a hefty dollop of The Proposition stirred in.
What Leo didn't count on was Josie. He thought she would be an easily-manipulated mark, instead she's fierce and intelligent and demands parity and honesty from him. And there's also the problem that "she saw every part of me, even the parts I kept hidden just for myself." Josie was reared in an orphanage, and is scraping by with her heart sister Pippa, determined to be a singing star. Leo presents himself as a person who can help, and signs on as her manager.
Of course as her dreams get closer (everyone who hears her sing is flabbergasted, and the producer she signs with in NY is highly effective) so do she and Leo. He is the kind of handsome that makes ladies stare at the tearoom, their kisses are electric in a way neither has ever experienced. She is constantly being warned off him by the people who know best that he can't be trusted. "A man like Leo is not on our side, honey. He's on his side. Never forget it." His attraction is apparent to everyone with eyes to see, that he's "head over heels for her," that he stares at her "like she's your free lunch and ladybird all in one." And character after character warns him, "I will say this: do not [marital congress] her." Oop.
Leo's pov in this book is a delight. The self-justification he employs to stay on the revenge path long after he catches feelings for Josie, the constant calculations of what to say and how to say it, the framing of everything as a con. You could fast forward him 130 years and he would slot in nicely as a Mila Finelli MMC. "Gone was the smooth-talking charmer, the handsome man-about-town. In his place was a dangerous ruffian, a man who wasn't afraid to slice off the tip of an ear here and there."
Josie is an optimist, who has overcome her childhood in the orphanage by refusing to "dwell on the past and prefer to keep moving forward." She's definitely rough around the edges, and also kind and sincere, asking people's names and building relationships (she's constantly making "a new friend," an orphanage trait, no doubt). She is scrupulously truthful herself, and has told Leo she does not tolerate liars. So when his plot gets exposed, she realizes she can't believe the truth of any of it, and it's up to him to make it right.
This book has so many interesting things to say about personas and lies, and where that line is drawn. If "the world is based on deceit" then how does someone who only tells the truth get by? Is every aspect of a relationship built on a lie false? We see characters who do what they need to do to get by, without a wink of moral quandary, and other characters have a moral reckoning on page, or meet kindness with kindness. Some are mired in the past, like Leo and Mrs. Pendleton, who wants to smooth over the missing 18 years as if they never happened, and some roll with whatever the present brings, making adjustments for a new reality.
This has a different feel from other Shupe books, in part because it is first person past, like her recent independently published historical novellas, or the Mila Finelli books. It makes for a fast moving romp, but a different feel from her other historicals for sure. Shupe writes with her usual skill, emotional heft and scalding heat, as well as humor and turns of phrase that make reading a pleasure. We believe in their physical and emotional connections, and that the stakes get raised from untold riches of the reward to love and partnership, even though Leo desperately needs money to keep his family together and his sisters safe.
Is this going to be part of a series? We have Pippa, as well as all of Leo's many sisters as fertile ground. In the meantime we have the dual themes: "Quiet. Women are talking." and "Never leave a friend behind."
What Leo didn't count on was Josie. He thought she would be an easily-manipulated mark, instead she's fierce and intelligent and demands parity and honesty from him. And there's also the problem that "she saw every part of me, even the parts I kept hidden just for myself." Josie was reared in an orphanage, and is scraping by with her heart sister Pippa, determined to be a singing star. Leo presents himself as a person who can help, and signs on as her manager.
Of course as her dreams get closer (everyone who hears her sing is flabbergasted, and the producer she signs with in NY is highly effective) so do she and Leo. He is the kind of handsome that makes ladies stare at the tearoom, their kisses are electric in a way neither has ever experienced. She is constantly being warned off him by the people who know best that he can't be trusted. "A man like Leo is not on our side, honey. He's on his side. Never forget it." His attraction is apparent to everyone with eyes to see, that he's "head over heels for her," that he stares at her "like she's your free lunch and ladybird all in one." And character after character warns him, "I will say this: do not [marital congress] her." Oop.
Leo's pov in this book is a delight. The self-justification he employs to stay on the revenge path long after he catches feelings for Josie, the constant calculations of what to say and how to say it, the framing of everything as a con. You could fast forward him 130 years and he would slot in nicely as a Mila Finelli MMC. "Gone was the smooth-talking charmer, the handsome man-about-town. In his place was a dangerous ruffian, a man who wasn't afraid to slice off the tip of an ear here and there."
Josie is an optimist, who has overcome her childhood in the orphanage by refusing to "dwell on the past and prefer to keep moving forward." She's definitely rough around the edges, and also kind and sincere, asking people's names and building relationships (she's constantly making "a new friend," an orphanage trait, no doubt). She is scrupulously truthful herself, and has told Leo she does not tolerate liars. So when his plot gets exposed, she realizes she can't believe the truth of any of it, and it's up to him to make it right.
This book has so many interesting things to say about personas and lies, and where that line is drawn. If "the world is based on deceit" then how does someone who only tells the truth get by? Is every aspect of a relationship built on a lie false? We see characters who do what they need to do to get by, without a wink of moral quandary, and other characters have a moral reckoning on page, or meet kindness with kindness. Some are mired in the past, like Leo and Mrs. Pendleton, who wants to smooth over the missing 18 years as if they never happened, and some roll with whatever the present brings, making adjustments for a new reality.
This has a different feel from other Shupe books, in part because it is first person past, like her recent independently published historical novellas, or the Mila Finelli books. It makes for a fast moving romp, but a different feel from her other historicals for sure. Shupe writes with her usual skill, emotional heft and scalding heat, as well as humor and turns of phrase that make reading a pleasure. We believe in their physical and emotional connections, and that the stakes get raised from untold riches of the reward to love and partnership, even though Leo desperately needs money to keep his family together and his sisters safe.
Is this going to be part of a series? We have Pippa, as well as all of Leo's many sisters as fertile ground. In the meantime we have the dual themes: "Quiet. Women are talking." and "Never leave a friend behind."
August 26, 2025
I enjoy Joanna Shupe and absolutely love her informative newsletters, so if you aren’t a subscriber, I highly recommend it, especially if you like to see how our history remains relevant to today’s headlines.
Our tale begins in Boston, where we meet Leo Hardy, the son of the former gardener to the wealthiest family in New York City; the Pendeltons. When their baby went missing after an enormous party, Leo’s father was fired without reference and the family moved to Boston. His father drank himself to death, and now Leo looks after his mom and siblings. He’s a hustler, and when he sees a young woman (Josie Smith) singing in the street who has an uncanny resemblance to Mrs. Pendelton, an idea forms in his head to pass her off as the missing heir and collect the reward. The tale that unfolds takes us to New York City, where Leo poses as her manager on Broadway, and plots his revenge. Poor Josie has no idea what he is up to, and nothing goes according to plan…
I loved Josie, who hasn’t had an easy life and has big dreams. Leo is holding a grudge, and rightly so. A dismissal without a reference was a death sentence during this period for those in service, and his family circumstances were forever changed. Aside from that and his hustling, Leo isn’t a bad guy, and as they spend time together, Josie and Leo develop feelings for each other. Unfortunately, Leo’s old associations catch up with him, causing a rift in the new romantic relationship. Their feelings felt genuine, and Leo worked hard to redeem himself even as Josie’s circumstances changed. Shupe had me caught up in the tale from both of their perspectives, and I desperately wanted a happily ever after.
I will tell you I closed the book well satisfied and recommend the story to those who love historical romance and loose retellings. A little mystery and a steamy, heartfelt romance await you in the Gilded Heiress. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Our tale begins in Boston, where we meet Leo Hardy, the son of the former gardener to the wealthiest family in New York City; the Pendeltons. When their baby went missing after an enormous party, Leo’s father was fired without reference and the family moved to Boston. His father drank himself to death, and now Leo looks after his mom and siblings. He’s a hustler, and when he sees a young woman (Josie Smith) singing in the street who has an uncanny resemblance to Mrs. Pendelton, an idea forms in his head to pass her off as the missing heir and collect the reward. The tale that unfolds takes us to New York City, where Leo poses as her manager on Broadway, and plots his revenge. Poor Josie has no idea what he is up to, and nothing goes according to plan…
I loved Josie, who hasn’t had an easy life and has big dreams. Leo is holding a grudge, and rightly so. A dismissal without a reference was a death sentence during this period for those in service, and his family circumstances were forever changed. Aside from that and his hustling, Leo isn’t a bad guy, and as they spend time together, Josie and Leo develop feelings for each other. Unfortunately, Leo’s old associations catch up with him, causing a rift in the new romantic relationship. Their feelings felt genuine, and Leo worked hard to redeem himself even as Josie’s circumstances changed. Shupe had me caught up in the tale from both of their perspectives, and I desperately wanted a happily ever after.
I will tell you I closed the book well satisfied and recommend the story to those who love historical romance and loose retellings. A little mystery and a steamy, heartfelt romance await you in the Gilded Heiress. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
July 17, 2025
I enjoyed this spicy retelling of Anastasia, set against the glittering backdrop of the Gilded Age in Boston and New York. The setting was richly drawn adding a layer of charm to the overall story. One thing I especially appreciated was the inclusion of real historical figures. Lotta Crabtree was a standout, and it was cool to see her woven into the narrative.
Josie as the FMC was fantastic with her quirky and determined attitude, and guided by a strong moral compass. She always wanted to do the right thing and that made it easy to root for her. Leo dashes into her life and shakes everything up. The tension and yearning between the two of them was *chef's kiss*!
If you're looking for a historical romance retelling with spice from Chapter 2, a morally gray MMC, and a little bit of mystery, then this might be it for you!
Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing an ARC for my honest review.
Josie as the FMC was fantastic with her quirky and determined attitude, and guided by a strong moral compass. She always wanted to do the right thing and that made it easy to root for her. Leo dashes into her life and shakes everything up. The tension and yearning between the two of them was *chef's kiss*!
If you're looking for a historical romance retelling with spice from Chapter 2, a morally gray MMC, and a little bit of mystery, then this might be it for you!
Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing an ARC for my honest review.
August 4, 2025
This is an entertaining, well-written, fast paced, historical fiction romance novel. It has a likable, talented female protagonist, an engaging, morally gray male protagonist who exhibits many admirable traits, a bit of mystery, wit, a touch of humor, a heartwarming, sizzling romance, and a satisfying conclusion. Many thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager, NetGalley, and Ms. Shupe, from whom I received an advanced reader copy of this delightful novel. This is my honest opinion.
August 1, 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 stars)
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️½ (2.5/5 chili peppers)
Huge thanks to Joanna Shupe, the publisher (Avon and Harper Voyager), and NetGalley for the opportunity to read The Gilded Heiress as an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
Let me start by admitting this: I grew up completely obsessed with the movie Anastasia. I had the songs memorized, crushed hard on animated Dmitri, and wore out my VHS. So when I read that The Gilded Heiress was a spicy adult retelling with nods to Anastasia, I didn’t just want it—I needed it immediately.
Our heroine Josie is an absolute firecracker. Much like Anya, she’s bold, sharp-tongued, and unapologetically herself. A gifted singer with dreams of stardom, she’s determined to make it to the Broadway stage on her own terms. Enter Leo—the charming grifter with a heart of gold (and serious Dmitri energy). He spots Josie as his golden ticket: if he can get her in front of New York’s elite, he might just get his revenge on the powerful men who wronged his family.
Yes, Leo is a liar, a thief, and a bit of a rake—but he’s also deeply loyal, a devoted son and brother, and somehow impossible not to love. His chemistry with Josie absolutely sizzles off the page, and their banter made me grin like a fool.
The entire time I read this, I was squealing with nostalgia. Shupe delivers a delightful blend of heat, heart, and historical flair. While it stands alone beautifully, The Gilded Heiress reads like a love letter to grown-up girls who once dreamed of being Russian princesses. And while Goodreads may have it hovering around 3.6, I’m here to say: this book deserves better.
If you're a fan of strong heroines, reformed rogues, and historical romance with flair (and steam!), you’ll want to move this to the top of your TBR. Joanna Shupe, I’m officially a fan.
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️½ (2.5/5 chili peppers)
Huge thanks to Joanna Shupe, the publisher (Avon and Harper Voyager), and NetGalley for the opportunity to read The Gilded Heiress as an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
Let me start by admitting this: I grew up completely obsessed with the movie Anastasia. I had the songs memorized, crushed hard on animated Dmitri, and wore out my VHS. So when I read that The Gilded Heiress was a spicy adult retelling with nods to Anastasia, I didn’t just want it—I needed it immediately.
Our heroine Josie is an absolute firecracker. Much like Anya, she’s bold, sharp-tongued, and unapologetically herself. A gifted singer with dreams of stardom, she’s determined to make it to the Broadway stage on her own terms. Enter Leo—the charming grifter with a heart of gold (and serious Dmitri energy). He spots Josie as his golden ticket: if he can get her in front of New York’s elite, he might just get his revenge on the powerful men who wronged his family.
Yes, Leo is a liar, a thief, and a bit of a rake—but he’s also deeply loyal, a devoted son and brother, and somehow impossible not to love. His chemistry with Josie absolutely sizzles off the page, and their banter made me grin like a fool.
The entire time I read this, I was squealing with nostalgia. Shupe delivers a delightful blend of heat, heart, and historical flair. While it stands alone beautifully, The Gilded Heiress reads like a love letter to grown-up girls who once dreamed of being Russian princesses. And while Goodreads may have it hovering around 3.6, I’m here to say: this book deserves better.
If you're a fan of strong heroines, reformed rogues, and historical romance with flair (and steam!), you’ll want to move this to the top of your TBR. Joanna Shupe, I’m officially a fan.
Currently reading
August 10, 2025👑‧₊˚ pre-read┆tysm to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the chance to read this eARC!
February 12, 2025
Josie Smith has been having to fend for herself since she was an infant. Left at a children's asylum when she was 2, she hasn't known the love of any family in her life. She dreams of making it big as a singer some day and she can count on no one but herself to make it.
Leo Hardy is a confidence man he knows how to get around and make some quick money while he's at it. Being the sole provider for his mother and sisters since his father died young, Leo finds inventive (hint not so legal) ways to make his earning. When he catches sight of Josie Smith he immediately thinks of a scam that will make them both rich. A baby was stolen years ago from the Pendleton's years ago, yet they've never given up trying to find her. Josie looks strikingly like Lady Pendelton and this is where Leo gets creative. He's going to try his best to have them intervene and make it look like Josie is their long lost daughter - in return he collects the reward! Except the more Leo and Josie spend time together the harder it is to separate their feelings from one another. Can Leo still pull of the heist without hurting Josie?
The Gilded Heiress is an Anastasia retelling and I feel like Joanna Shupe did a good job as a retelling with putting her own spin on things. At times Leo was a really difficult character to like, but I think that was the intention - to let us see how he operates and gets by. Both Josie and Leo's lives weren't easy and I like that we are shown the struggles they go through.
I couldn't stop reading the book once I started. I will say the last quarter or so lost me a bit - because there was so much going on. While it is a spicy book - I feel it was tamer than some of Joanna Shupe's other books.
Overall, I enjoyed this spicy Anastasia retelling.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
Leo Hardy is a confidence man he knows how to get around and make some quick money while he's at it. Being the sole provider for his mother and sisters since his father died young, Leo finds inventive (hint not so legal) ways to make his earning. When he catches sight of Josie Smith he immediately thinks of a scam that will make them both rich. A baby was stolen years ago from the Pendleton's years ago, yet they've never given up trying to find her. Josie looks strikingly like Lady Pendelton and this is where Leo gets creative. He's going to try his best to have them intervene and make it look like Josie is their long lost daughter - in return he collects the reward! Except the more Leo and Josie spend time together the harder it is to separate their feelings from one another. Can Leo still pull of the heist without hurting Josie?
The Gilded Heiress is an Anastasia retelling and I feel like Joanna Shupe did a good job as a retelling with putting her own spin on things. At times Leo was a really difficult character to like, but I think that was the intention - to let us see how he operates and gets by. Both Josie and Leo's lives weren't easy and I like that we are shown the struggles they go through.
I couldn't stop reading the book once I started. I will say the last quarter or so lost me a bit - because there was so much going on. While it is a spicy book - I feel it was tamer than some of Joanna Shupe's other books.
Overall, I enjoyed this spicy Anastasia retelling.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
June 4, 2025
This book is not good. It’s an Anastasia retelling which I thought would be fun but I found myself trapped in this particular trope that I just think doesn’t work for me. It’s the Flynn Rider, thief overall bad guy but OH NOW that he’s in love none of those crimes matter and we all good, trope. I don’t like it. Y’all. These bad men are bad men and you can’t sell me on magical love reforming them.
Leo is a confidence man and out for revenge against the Pendleton family after they fired his dad and ruined his life. Josie sings on street corners and can take care of herself and doesn’t need anyone! Josie really wants me to believe that she’s smart and self sufficient and not a moron but falls for Leo so it’s not really checking all the boxes for me. When she and Leo get together I’m more annoyed than anything. WHY JOSIE, WHY! Be smarter than this?! Leo is a legit liar and con artist and is using her.
See? The Flynn Rider thing is an issue and these heroes aren’t very redeemable to me. Cause if you don’t have trust you don’t have anything.
And the HEA here should have Leo go to prison for his crimes.
And I just couldn’t stand the last 30% of the book. It was so rushed and I was rolling my eyes at Leo basically the entire time.
lol.
I’m so angsty about the most random things.
Arc received by the publisher.
Leo is a confidence man and out for revenge against the Pendleton family after they fired his dad and ruined his life. Josie sings on street corners and can take care of herself and doesn’t need anyone! Josie really wants me to believe that she’s smart and self sufficient and not a moron but falls for Leo so it’s not really checking all the boxes for me. When she and Leo get together I’m more annoyed than anything. WHY JOSIE, WHY! Be smarter than this?! Leo is a legit liar and con artist and is using her.
See? The Flynn Rider thing is an issue and these heroes aren’t very redeemable to me. Cause if you don’t have trust you don’t have anything.
And the HEA here should have Leo go to prison for his crimes.
And I just couldn’t stand the last 30% of the book. It was so rushed and I was rolling my eyes at Leo basically the entire time.
lol.
I’m so angsty about the most random things.
Arc received by the publisher.
August 10, 2025
Boston, 1896.
Leo is a confidence man, looking for his next mark in order to help his family make ends meet. When he hears Josie Smith singing on a corner in Boston, he's struck by two things: her talent, and how similar she looks to his father's former employer whose daughter went missing two decades ago. An idea pops into his head: maybe he'll pass off Josie as the missing heiress and collect the reward money. Leo convinces Josie that he'll be her manager, and she should give Broadway a shot, so they travel to New York together. There, he'll need to convince her that he isn't in it for just himself, that she has the talent to make it big, and maybe figure out how to convince her she could be the missing heiress.
Historical romance readers beware: this is dual first person perspective. On the one hand, that makes the audiobook (narrated by Eva Kaminsky and Aaron Shedlock) interesting and engaging. On the other hand, it makes it feel more like a contemporary. While this may seem counter-intuitive, being inside of the main characters' heads takes away the emotional punch I know I can get from reading a Shupe. I find this POV challenging and limited, but I know it will appeal to many contemporary/mafia readers.
This is an Anastasia retelling, which works well in the Gilded Age setting. It's easy to imagine a kidnapped heiress, reward money, corrupt police, and a twenty-year unsolved case that crosses New York and Boston. A con-man MMC is also the perfect fit for both the story and the era. To me, the most interesting parts of the story happen in Boston, where we get a glimpse into working class neighborhoods and their saloons and brothels.
I'm disappointed in this only because for me Joanna Shupe is at her best when she's most political, and this shies away from the politics that could drive a story with working class main characters. This book is going to be a big hit for readers who love first person dual perspective and dual narration audiobooks, fans of retellings (Anastasia in particular), and a modern feel to a historical.
Thank you to Avon for an eARC and Harper Audio for an ALC. The Gilded Heiress is out 8/26/25.
Leo is a confidence man, looking for his next mark in order to help his family make ends meet. When he hears Josie Smith singing on a corner in Boston, he's struck by two things: her talent, and how similar she looks to his father's former employer whose daughter went missing two decades ago. An idea pops into his head: maybe he'll pass off Josie as the missing heiress and collect the reward money. Leo convinces Josie that he'll be her manager, and she should give Broadway a shot, so they travel to New York together. There, he'll need to convince her that he isn't in it for just himself, that she has the talent to make it big, and maybe figure out how to convince her she could be the missing heiress.
Historical romance readers beware: this is dual first person perspective. On the one hand, that makes the audiobook (narrated by Eva Kaminsky and Aaron Shedlock) interesting and engaging. On the other hand, it makes it feel more like a contemporary. While this may seem counter-intuitive, being inside of the main characters' heads takes away the emotional punch I know I can get from reading a Shupe. I find this POV challenging and limited, but I know it will appeal to many contemporary/mafia readers.
This is an Anastasia retelling, which works well in the Gilded Age setting. It's easy to imagine a kidnapped heiress, reward money, corrupt police, and a twenty-year unsolved case that crosses New York and Boston. A con-man MMC is also the perfect fit for both the story and the era. To me, the most interesting parts of the story happen in Boston, where we get a glimpse into working class neighborhoods and their saloons and brothels.
I'm disappointed in this only because for me Joanna Shupe is at her best when she's most political, and this shies away from the politics that could drive a story with working class main characters. This book is going to be a big hit for readers who love first person dual perspective and dual narration audiobooks, fans of retellings (Anastasia in particular), and a modern feel to a historical.
Thank you to Avon for an eARC and Harper Audio for an ALC. The Gilded Heiress is out 8/26/25.
August 29, 2025
4 stars. A delightful loosely-based Anastasia retelling. It’s fun and steamy with a swoony, redeeming hero. 🎧
July 9, 2025
Maybe 3.5 stars?
First of all HISTORICAL ROMANCE IN FIRST PERSON POV IS WEIRD AND I DON'T LIKE IT
Once I got past that (I clearly didn't) I enjoyed this one! It's classic Shupe in so many ways and it's a testament to how much I like her ability to create characters and write a story that I was able to enjoy myself.
I will say I read half of this on a plane and the other half later that night when I couldn't sleep which impacted the reading experience (not sure in a positive or negative way yet).
*thanks to the publisher for the gifted eARC; all thoughts are my own*
First of all HISTORICAL ROMANCE IN FIRST PERSON POV IS WEIRD AND I DON'T LIKE IT
Once I got past that (I clearly didn't) I enjoyed this one! It's classic Shupe in so many ways and it's a testament to how much I like her ability to create characters and write a story that I was able to enjoy myself.
I will say I read half of this on a plane and the other half later that night when I couldn't sleep which impacted the reading experience (not sure in a positive or negative way yet).
*thanks to the publisher for the gifted eARC; all thoughts are my own*
August 12, 2025
3.5 stars. The Gilded Heiress is a Gilded Age historical romance from Joanna Shupe with Anastasia retelling vibes. I read every book this author writes and always have a good time with her gilded age romances.
“Some things are worth more than money.”
“Like what?”
“Like you.”
Josephine Pendleton is kidnapped from her wealthy parents when she’s just 2-years old. Now 16-ish years later, conman Leo Hardy finds Josie, a young street singer, who he’s willing to pass off as the lost Pendleton baby! Josie was raised in an orphanage and doesn’t know anything about her past. He’s convinced Josie has enough of a resemblance to the Pendleton family and he could get the reward money from finding her. He decides to help her with her signing career too. The Pendletons are a wealthy family he sees as responsible for his family’s dire situation: his father was their gardener before getting fired years ago, he then turned to drinking and died, and Leo has been responsible for his 5 sisters and mother since, always seeking a chance to get revenge on the Pendletons.
I liked Josie, I liked the Pendletons and their story, I wasn’t as invested in the romance or Leo as a character in the first half. He kinda gave me the ick a few times but I’m glad I kept going because I liked Josie’s character arc and her journey. The last half of the story was a lot stronger than the first half for me and I liked how it all came together. While not a favorite from this author for me, I think this was a solid new release if you’re intrigued by an Anastasia retelling historical romance.
I received an audio ALC and loved the audiobook narrators, they brought the characters to life! All thoughts in this review are my own.
“Some things are worth more than money.”
“Like what?”
“Like you.”
Josephine Pendleton is kidnapped from her wealthy parents when she’s just 2-years old. Now 16-ish years later, conman Leo Hardy finds Josie, a young street singer, who he’s willing to pass off as the lost Pendleton baby! Josie was raised in an orphanage and doesn’t know anything about her past. He’s convinced Josie has enough of a resemblance to the Pendleton family and he could get the reward money from finding her. He decides to help her with her signing career too. The Pendletons are a wealthy family he sees as responsible for his family’s dire situation: his father was their gardener before getting fired years ago, he then turned to drinking and died, and Leo has been responsible for his 5 sisters and mother since, always seeking a chance to get revenge on the Pendletons.
I liked Josie, I liked the Pendletons and their story, I wasn’t as invested in the romance or Leo as a character in the first half. He kinda gave me the ick a few times but I’m glad I kept going because I liked Josie’s character arc and her journey. The last half of the story was a lot stronger than the first half for me and I liked how it all came together. While not a favorite from this author for me, I think this was a solid new release if you’re intrigued by an Anastasia retelling historical romance.
I received an audio ALC and loved the audiobook narrators, they brought the characters to life! All thoughts in this review are my own.
September 1, 2025
2.5 Stars
2.5 chili’s
The Gilded Heiress is an Anastasia retelling set in the gilded age of New York.
Josephine was kidnapped from her rich parents, and they never found out what really happened to their daughter. Leo sees her singing on the street and realizes she looks exactly like the mother of the missing daughter. He was forced to be a con man in order to provide for his mother and sisters after his father drank himself to death. He wants revenge for what that family did to his father, plus the reward money so he cons Josie to go to New York with him so he can make her a famous singer. Of course, things get complicated as they start to fall for each other.
I am so very disappointed by this one, and I feel bad rating it so low. I love Joanna Shupe, and this was one of my most anticipated romances of the year. Unfortunately, this book just failed, and it took me forever to get through it. This did not feel like a Joanna Shupe book. I don’t know why Joanna decided to start writing in 1st person POV and changed her whole writing style. It felt too modern and like she was trying to get a different type of reader who may be used to contemporary. This didn’t work for me, and she should have kept with the usual 3rd person POV for historical romance.
My other issue was the romance itself. Leo and Josie had absolutely no chemistry or connection. I could not even get why they wanted to be together. Most of the time, they were just sexualizing each other. I needed more longing, slight touches, and romance.
Josie also annoyed me with how black and white she viewed his past as a thief and conman. Leo did what he had to in order to support his family, and she judged him harshly.
I want Joanna to go back to how she used to write historical romance. This just had a lot of issues.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing the ARC.
2.5 chili’s
The Gilded Heiress is an Anastasia retelling set in the gilded age of New York.
Josephine was kidnapped from her rich parents, and they never found out what really happened to their daughter. Leo sees her singing on the street and realizes she looks exactly like the mother of the missing daughter. He was forced to be a con man in order to provide for his mother and sisters after his father drank himself to death. He wants revenge for what that family did to his father, plus the reward money so he cons Josie to go to New York with him so he can make her a famous singer. Of course, things get complicated as they start to fall for each other.
I am so very disappointed by this one, and I feel bad rating it so low. I love Joanna Shupe, and this was one of my most anticipated romances of the year. Unfortunately, this book just failed, and it took me forever to get through it. This did not feel like a Joanna Shupe book. I don’t know why Joanna decided to start writing in 1st person POV and changed her whole writing style. It felt too modern and like she was trying to get a different type of reader who may be used to contemporary. This didn’t work for me, and she should have kept with the usual 3rd person POV for historical romance.
My other issue was the romance itself. Leo and Josie had absolutely no chemistry or connection. I could not even get why they wanted to be together. Most of the time, they were just sexualizing each other. I needed more longing, slight touches, and romance.
Josie also annoyed me with how black and white she viewed his past as a thief and conman. Leo did what he had to in order to support his family, and she judged him harshly.
I want Joanna to go back to how she used to write historical romance. This just had a lot of issues.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing the ARC.
August 10, 2025
Read to 40% and then skipped to 75% and read to the end -- 2.5 stars
I have loved everything that I've read from Joanna, so I didn't even really look into this one. I will start off by saying I am not familiar with the Anastasia story, so maybe that's where it fell for me?
I liked Josie or Leo well enough. They're both ambitious and apparently gorgeous, but I didn't really see the connection between them, especially as the relationship grows.
Plot wise, I was bored. I wasn't invested in Josie's singing or Leo schemes or even the "is she/isn't she" mystery. The first person POV really threw me and I just couldn't settle into either of the character's heads.
Overall, something kept me reading, but I'm not sure what it was.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
I have loved everything that I've read from Joanna, so I didn't even really look into this one. I will start off by saying I am not familiar with the Anastasia story, so maybe that's where it fell for me?
I liked Josie or Leo well enough. They're both ambitious and apparently gorgeous, but I didn't really see the connection between them, especially as the relationship grows.
Plot wise, I was bored. I wasn't invested in Josie's singing or Leo schemes or even the "is she/isn't she" mystery. The first person POV really threw me and I just couldn't settle into either of the character's heads.
Overall, something kept me reading, but I'm not sure what it was.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
June 29, 2025
With the new season of The Gilded Age now on air, I'm so glad I came across The Gilded Heiress. Think of the beloved animated film Anastasia, the banter of the characters and chemistry is like Jack and Rose from the Titanic, and the glamour and old time shine of My Fair Lady. Joanna Shupe provides intrigue, romance, and mystery with The Gilded Heiress. Quite operatic and makes for a great read (I truly hope this is a series and not a standalone).
Set in Boston and New York Josie and Leo are on a winding journey one of revenge, the fluidity of wealth, the wealthy families of Fifth Avenue. I didn’t realize the age gap of the characters until the end of the book and that was…interesting but in this case the chemistry between the two was overpowering (move the carriage from the Bridgerton to the side and let’s talk about the sleigh scene).
Overall, this was my first Joanna Shupe book and now I need to go through her backlog. The timing of this book along with television series like The Buccaneers and The Gilded Age is perfect and I truly hope we get more.
My thanks to Avon for the digital arc!
Set in Boston and New York Josie and Leo are on a winding journey one of revenge, the fluidity of wealth, the wealthy families of Fifth Avenue. I didn’t realize the age gap of the characters until the end of the book and that was…interesting but in this case the chemistry between the two was overpowering (move the carriage from the Bridgerton to the side and let’s talk about the sleigh scene).
Overall, this was my first Joanna Shupe book and now I need to go through her backlog. The timing of this book along with television series like The Buccaneers and The Gilded Age is perfect and I truly hope we get more.
My thanks to Avon for the digital arc!
June 29, 2025
4.5 stars!!
listen, all i needed to know to read this book was that it was a spicy anastasia retelling... and it was not a disappointment! i loved the unique spin it took on the story & honestly i'm SUCH a fan of josie & leo like they are so good for each other !!!!
historical romance x spicy anastasia x con artist x yearning = a VERY good book!!!!
thank you avon books for the arc! this is my honest review
listen, all i needed to know to read this book was that it was a spicy anastasia retelling... and it was not a disappointment! i loved the unique spin it took on the story & honestly i'm SUCH a fan of josie & leo like they are so good for each other !!!!
historical romance x spicy anastasia x con artist x yearning = a VERY good book!!!!
thank you avon books for the arc! this is my honest review
Want to read
December 31, 2024"A spicy Anastasia story full of secrets and betrayal, set among the glittering streets of New York City's Gilded Age."
July 18, 2025
There are a couple of things I learned about my reading preferences in the course of reading this book.
First: I do really like romances inspired by Anastasia and I really need to look and see if more exist.
Second: I have no issues with reading 1st person past tense POV in a contemporary romance but I found it really jarring in a historical romance. I am accustomed to 3rd person in a historical romance and weirdly, reading this in a 1st person POV kept taking me out of the story.
While that alone would not make me rate this book 2 stars, there are other things in this book that did not work for me. I thought the character development was really lacking and I couldn't get enough of a sense of either character to really explain to me how or why they fell in love with the other. I do think the MMC had more of a character arc than the FMC who seemed to only exist in service of the MMC.
In true Shupe fashion, the sex scenes were hot (she's one of the rare trad pubbed histrom authors whose sex scenes are always delightfully filthy) but the overall romance felt really shortchanged and lacking to me.
ARC from publisher, review is all mine.
First: I do really like romances inspired by Anastasia and I really need to look and see if more exist.
Second: I have no issues with reading 1st person past tense POV in a contemporary romance but I found it really jarring in a historical romance. I am accustomed to 3rd person in a historical romance and weirdly, reading this in a 1st person POV kept taking me out of the story.
While that alone would not make me rate this book 2 stars, there are other things in this book that did not work for me. I thought the character development was really lacking and I couldn't get enough of a sense of either character to really explain to me how or why they fell in love with the other. I do think the MMC had more of a character arc than the FMC who seemed to only exist in service of the MMC.
In true Shupe fashion, the sex scenes were hot (she's one of the rare trad pubbed histrom authors whose sex scenes are always delightfully filthy) but the overall romance felt really shortchanged and lacking to me.
ARC from publisher, review is all mine.
August 20, 2025
Joanna Shupe is back in the Gilded Age with The Gilded Heiress, inspired by the 1997 animated classic Anastasia. As someone who grew up singing along with that movie, I was instantly intrigued—and I’m happy to say this book delivers. Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for the complimentary early copy.
Leo Hardy is a con man in 1890s Boston, supporting his mother and five sisters after his father’s death left him the sole provider. When he spots a young woman singing on a street corner, he realizes she could pass for the long-missing Pendleton heiress, kidnapped from her Fifth Avenue nursery years earlier. Leo’s father once worked for the Pendletons and was dismissed under suspicion of involvement, leaving Leo hungry for revenge—and the reward still on offer. He approaches the singer, Josie Smith, under the guise of managing her career while secretly planning to present her as the lost daughter. Orphaned young and raised in a Boston asylum, Josie has no family and few prospects, so she agrees, hoping New York will give her the chance to make her name on the stage.
This story gave me almost everything I wanted from a retelling of Anastasia. Leo is a richer, more developed take on Dmitri. He’s so focused on getting revenge and righting the wrongs of the past that he hasn’t considered what comes next. Josie, on the other hand, has spent her entire life refusing to look back, keeping her eyes forward so she can build something for herself. I loved the contrast between their worldviews and thought it created excellent natural conflict.
My favorite part of the book was the vivid look at the world of 1890s Broadway and opera. As a singer who has performed a lot of music from this era, I appreciated how Shupe showed just how closely the two worlds overlapped at the time. Broadway was largely vaudeville acts and musicals we would now consider operetta, and singers used the same vocal technique as in opera because they performed without amplification. The main difference was simply singing in the vernacular. I loved that this detail was included, along with a glimpse into the production side of things.
My only issue was the narration style. The book is written in dual first-person POV, which isn’t typical for historical romance. It threw me off at first since the genre usually leans third person, but I know many readers won’t mind.
Overall, this was a gorgeous retelling that captured the magic of Anastasia while standing on its own as a rich, emotional historical romance.
Leo Hardy is a con man in 1890s Boston, supporting his mother and five sisters after his father’s death left him the sole provider. When he spots a young woman singing on a street corner, he realizes she could pass for the long-missing Pendleton heiress, kidnapped from her Fifth Avenue nursery years earlier. Leo’s father once worked for the Pendletons and was dismissed under suspicion of involvement, leaving Leo hungry for revenge—and the reward still on offer. He approaches the singer, Josie Smith, under the guise of managing her career while secretly planning to present her as the lost daughter. Orphaned young and raised in a Boston asylum, Josie has no family and few prospects, so she agrees, hoping New York will give her the chance to make her name on the stage.
This story gave me almost everything I wanted from a retelling of Anastasia. Leo is a richer, more developed take on Dmitri. He’s so focused on getting revenge and righting the wrongs of the past that he hasn’t considered what comes next. Josie, on the other hand, has spent her entire life refusing to look back, keeping her eyes forward so she can build something for herself. I loved the contrast between their worldviews and thought it created excellent natural conflict.
My favorite part of the book was the vivid look at the world of 1890s Broadway and opera. As a singer who has performed a lot of music from this era, I appreciated how Shupe showed just how closely the two worlds overlapped at the time. Broadway was largely vaudeville acts and musicals we would now consider operetta, and singers used the same vocal technique as in opera because they performed without amplification. The main difference was simply singing in the vernacular. I loved that this detail was included, along with a glimpse into the production side of things.
My only issue was the narration style. The book is written in dual first-person POV, which isn’t typical for historical romance. It threw me off at first since the genre usually leans third person, but I know many readers won’t mind.
Overall, this was a gorgeous retelling that captured the magic of Anastasia while standing on its own as a rich, emotional historical romance.
September 1, 2025
The Guilded Heiress
4.2⭐️ and 2.5🌶️
🖤Guilded age 1880-1890’s Anastasia Retelling set in New York
🖤Morally Grey MMC
🖤Spunky, feisty and lovable FMC
🖤 Lies, deception, or painful truths 👀
(I absolutely loved this read, it was exactly as advertised- a retelling of the childhood classic story of Anastasia adapted into the Guilded age of New York City. A morally grey conman and an adorably bubbly but spunky and feisty woman wanting to perform on the big stage come together- and well, you’ll have to read it to know more!
I truly felt I travelled back in time and I was experiencing a story in that time period which was really fun.
I will say, this story was predictable and was very comforting in that way. I did enjoy some of the silly little moments the MMC and FMC get themselves into- very entertaining.
Thank you to Joanna Shupe, Avon and Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book!
4.2⭐️ and 2.5🌶️
🖤Guilded age 1880-1890’s Anastasia Retelling set in New York
🖤Morally Grey MMC
🖤Spunky, feisty and lovable FMC
🖤 Lies, deception, or painful truths 👀
(I absolutely loved this read, it was exactly as advertised- a retelling of the childhood classic story of Anastasia adapted into the Guilded age of New York City. A morally grey conman and an adorably bubbly but spunky and feisty woman wanting to perform on the big stage come together- and well, you’ll have to read it to know more!
I truly felt I travelled back in time and I was experiencing a story in that time period which was really fun.
I will say, this story was predictable and was very comforting in that way. I did enjoy some of the silly little moments the MMC and FMC get themselves into- very entertaining.
Thank you to Joanna Shupe, Avon and Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book!
August 25, 2025
A fast-paced Anastasia retelling set during the Gilded Age in New York City, The Gilded Heiress is an entertaining, though mostly predictable, read.
Due to its short length, the book was far more burn (spice), not enough yearn (romance). I wish we had more time to fall in love with the characters and more time to watch the characters fall in love with each other. I enjoyed Josie and Leo for the most part, but I never fully connected with them.
That being said, I still had a good time overall. If you're looking for a quick, easy-read this might be for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Due to its short length, the book was far more burn (spice), not enough yearn (romance). I wish we had more time to fall in love with the characters and more time to watch the characters fall in love with each other. I enjoyed Josie and Leo for the most part, but I never fully connected with them.
That being said, I still had a good time overall. If you're looking for a quick, easy-read this might be for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
August 23, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The Gilded Heiress A Novel by Joanna Shupe and narrated by Eva Kaminsky; Aaron Shedlock was my first Joanna Shupe read. Eva Kaminsky and Aaron Shedlock made this a very easy listen. The plot was simple and easy to follow. The romance was medium on the spicy scale. Leo is a dirty talker, if you like that.
Four stars instead of five because Josie is 90% street smart but has moments of being dimwitted that are incongruous with the rest of her character.
The Gilded Heiress A Novel by Joanna Shupe and narrated by Eva Kaminsky; Aaron Shedlock was my first Joanna Shupe read. Eva Kaminsky and Aaron Shedlock made this a very easy listen. The plot was simple and easy to follow. The romance was medium on the spicy scale. Leo is a dirty talker, if you like that.
Four stars instead of five because Josie is 90% street smart but has moments of being dimwitted that are incongruous with the rest of her character.
May 26, 2025
rating — 2.5 out of 5 stars.
i’m actually devastated about this. please don’t text.
i read and loved joanna shupe’s fifth avenue rebels series, and i also love the movie anastasia, so needless to say this was a highly anticipated release for me! unfortunately, things started going wrong as soon as i opened the book. the fifth avenue rebels series (and i assume all of her other books?) are written in third person, which i’m used to and i prefer – this book, however, was written in first person. i know that a lot of people enjoy first person POV, but i really preferred her writing style when she was writing third person POV! the internal monologues felt kind of modern to me, and it was taking me out of the story a lot. that, and leo’s thoughts (especially early on) spent so much time objectifying josie that it really put me off of him. i do think that she did a decent job of having him grow & develop over the course of the book, but it’s hard to make a character fully forgivable when the start feels so tainted.
i liked the end of the book more than the beginning – i was glad to see that josie held her ground and didn’t immediately forgive leo for his transgressions. but ultimately, i was not fully won over by the course of their relationship, and i wish that leo hadn’t been quite as much of a sleazy asshole in the beginning. other readers might be more forgiving, but there is zero mercy for men in my house! josie, baby, call me instead.
thank you to netgalley & the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
i’m actually devastated about this. please don’t text.
i read and loved joanna shupe’s fifth avenue rebels series, and i also love the movie anastasia, so needless to say this was a highly anticipated release for me! unfortunately, things started going wrong as soon as i opened the book. the fifth avenue rebels series (and i assume all of her other books?) are written in third person, which i’m used to and i prefer – this book, however, was written in first person. i know that a lot of people enjoy first person POV, but i really preferred her writing style when she was writing third person POV! the internal monologues felt kind of modern to me, and it was taking me out of the story a lot. that, and leo’s thoughts (especially early on) spent so much time objectifying josie that it really put me off of him. i do think that she did a decent job of having him grow & develop over the course of the book, but it’s hard to make a character fully forgivable when the start feels so tainted.
i liked the end of the book more than the beginning – i was glad to see that josie held her ground and didn’t immediately forgive leo for his transgressions. but ultimately, i was not fully won over by the course of their relationship, and i wish that leo hadn’t been quite as much of a sleazy asshole in the beginning. other readers might be more forgiving, but there is zero mercy for men in my house! josie, baby, call me instead.
thank you to netgalley & the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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