Overall consensus: absolute PERFECTION.

I think the comparison to My Lady Jane in the pitch of this book is spot on. Both books have a similar light, humorous tone with great young female leads. These books would definitely appeal to a similar audience in terms of age and, while both are historical fiction, they have more of an emphasis on the characters’ fun journeys and reactions to the world around them, making the historical element slightly easier to digest for a younger audience or one not used to a historical setting.
I really enjoyed following Prim as a main character. She was relatable in a way that other young female protagonists seen as ahead of their time in a historical era often aren’t - she wasn’t brash or bolshy, wasn’t particularly radical, and she didn’t have any remarkable abilities - she was just a normal young woman a bit fed up of being ignored who decides sheepishly to do something outlandish for her birthday, ultimately resulting in disaster. How much more relatable can it get…? She was self-deprecating, full of love and wonder and so critical of the world around her - I want to be her best friend.
The language, while admittedly over the top at times (I loved it though obvs), was so accessible and really propelled the story forward with great dialogue and beautiful descriptions of scenery through our protagonists’ naive eyes. The romance was gorgeous and joyful and so refreshingly consensual - this would be such a great introduction to the YA romance genre for younger readers, as it took a back seat to the overall narrative yet had a strong impact on the progression and intrigue of the novel. P.S. I need a sequel about Olympia and Aster right this minute please and thank you.

I would recommend this book to young readers aged 12-16, or anyone in need of all the (Drew Barrymore version of) A Cinderella Story feels. 5/5 perfection. Thank you so much to the publisher for this e-arc!