Can old-fashioned courtship survive in today’s dating world?
When Emma Love’s mother retires, it is time for her to take the reins of the family dating agency and build on its success. And she has a fresh new idea: to host a Jane Austen-style Regency Season of glamourous events where potential lovers can actually take the time to get to know each other in person, with no apps in between.
As the round of glamourous social events begins, we meet some of Emma’s new clients, and see her matchmaking skills in action.
Annie, who has a romantic soul but believes she lost her chance at love a long time ago; recently divorced Jane, who is not quite ready to see what her new love life might look like, and wild child Lydia, who is more interested in hooking up than finding her Mr Darcy.
All is going swimmingly but as the Season unfolds, there is a fly in Emma’s ointment – the irritating Mr Knight, with his casual attitude and gentle cynicism. Why is she allowing him to ruffle her calm, ordered life and why can’t she stop thinking about him? She has no intention of becoming romantically involved herself, of course; she is far too sensible to take a chance on love – isn’t she?
A Season for Love by Ally Sinclair Review
Bridgerton meets Gossip Girl – Sass, Sexy and Incredibly Funny
These are strange times we live in. The last few years have been particularly challenging for the singletons out there, with pandemics and lockdowns forcing us to look at the world of dating a little differently, but let’s not pretend that it was just a simple virus that changed out love habits. Since the explosion of technology, the way we ‘find love’ in todays modern world has almost become more about algorithms than true connection. So, with the reset button on humanity all but pressed, is it time we reassess how we approach love?
We watch movies where real life humans fall in love with other real life humans in traditional circumstances, we devour them, binge watch romantic movies and covet our perfect ‘Christmas love story’, but how many of us actually find love the same way?
We inhale books where protagonists ‘meet cute’ in a bar, or even over the board room table at work – but in our own lives we seem to date by swiping left or right on apps. We keep our phones held an inch from our nose and judge attraction via filtered images rather than relying on those once coveted rose tinted glasses and butterfly connections. What on earth has happened to us? Where did courtship go? When did we lose the romance?
With regency romance seeing somewhat of a resurgence (thank you Bridgerton!), maybe we are starting to crave that human connection again. But let’s face it, we all know that as much as we dream someone might take our dance card, ask permission and sweep us round a ballroom before announcing their undying love, it’s not the world we live in. So, where on earth do we even start?
In A Season for Love, Ally Sinclair embraces the desire for a regency style romance and flips it with a perfectly crafted modern twist. A fun take on Jane Austen’s Emma with all the feels of Bridgerton and a sprinkling of the modern dating complications of Gossip Girl.
When it comes time for Emma to take over her mothers matchmaking business, she is determined to take her dating agency into the new modern world. A twenty-first century twist on the regency courtship ‘season’ paves the way for a fresh and exciting take on dating.
Emma plans an eight-week event over the summer, where, among others, she helps three friends (Annie, Jane and Lydia) navigate the season in the hopes of finding true love. Of course, Emma has no intention of finding love herself, she’s far too busy, but will the universe take any notice of her reluctance? Or will she find herself thrown together with someone who might just change her life?
With a wide and diverse cast list, this book expertly weaves multiple aspects of love together, exploring everything from romantic to platonic and even important friendships reflecting the true diversity of dating in this complicated and messy modern world.
If this doesn’t have a Hollywood movie made, or even a Netflix adaptation, the world will be a poorer place for it. It’s exactly what us RomCom fanatics have been screaming out for. In the mean time, if you are a sucker for a true RomCom, one that leaves you with all the feels and a smile on your face, this little gem is an absolute must for your TBR pile, and as a brucey bonus, it seems this debut novel may just be the first of a series yet to come – I am more than a little intrigued to read more.
If you would like to know more about Ally Sinclair, you can find her on Facebook: Ally Sinclair Author or Twitter: @MsAllySinclair
