A Gentleman's Gentleman by TJ Alexander: Review

Welcome to my review of A Gentleman’s Gentleman by TJ Alexander! This was my first book by the author, and I absolutely loved it, so keep reading for my thoughts.

Cover of A Gentleman's Gentleman by TJ Alexander

Title: A Gentleman’s Gentleman
Author: TJ Alexander
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Vintage
Pub Date: 03/11/2025

Description

The notoriously eccentric Lord Christopher Eden is a “man of unusual make” and even more unusual habits: he prefers to live far from the prying eyes and ears of the ton, and would rather have the comfortable company of his childhood cook and his aged butler than the swarm of servants and hangers-on befitting a man of his station. But Christopher’s pleasant, if occasionally lonely life is upended when he receives word from his lawyers that, according to his late father’s will, he must find a wife by the end of the Season if he intends to keep his family’s fortune and the Eden estate. Christopher cannot imagine a worse fate: as he isn’t attracted to women, his chances of making a wife happy are slim. Furthermore, if his quest to marry has any hope of succeeding, he must move to London posthaste and acquire some more suitable staff.

Enter James Harding, Christopher’s new, distractingly handsome—if rigidly traditional—valet. After a rocky start, the two strike up a fragile friendship amid the throes of the London Season . . . a friendship that threatens to shatter under the looming shadow of Christopher’s impending nuptials—and the secrets both men are keeping. With its heady combination of dry wit, slow-burn romance, and a nuanced portrait of trans identity, A Gentleman’s Gentleman stands to transform the historical romance genre as we know it.

Review

I never grow tired of Regency romance, but this was such a fresh breath of air compared to the books I usually read in the genre that I need more. I had no idea how hilarious this book was going to be. When I say I was laughing so much, I mean giggling and kicking my feet at one in the morning. I never wanted to put the book down. I should also say I didn’t expect to cry, but some tears were definitely shed. So if you want a book that takes you on an emotional journey, this is the one.

The characters were a delight, especially Étienne, and I loved how particular Christopher and Harding were. Each was set in his ways but had to learn how to compromise with the other. The tension and secrets and connection between them was amazing, and I was practically vibrating with excitement reading their every interaction. This was also a real slow burn! When I say slow, I mean slowest to the nth degree. Exactly what I love to see, and it made it more delicious and satisfying when the romance finally happened.

One thing I really appreciated about the book besides the pining was its conversation around masculinity. Christopher experiences jealousy around what he perceives to be someone looking more masculine than him and also worries that his sexual attraction affects his manhood. Other characters had great insights on the topic to assuage his fears.

Overall, I highly recommend this book for those who love historical romances because it has all the hallmarks of the genre with a good twist that’ll warm your heart and give you inspiration to keep fighting for the life you want for yourself.

*Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.*

Author

TJ ALEXANDER is the author of Chef’s Kiss, Chef’s Choice, Second Chances in New Port Stephen, and Triple Sec. They received their MA in Writing & Publishing from Emerson College, and they live in New York City with their wife and various houseplants.