WITTY IN PINK, by Erica George, Entangled: Teen, Aug. 6, 2024, Paperback, $12.99 (young adult, ages 14 and up)
Two enemies join forces to secure their futures in Witty in Pink, a YA Regency romance by Erica George.
Keep your friends close. Keep your nemesis closer.
After nearly five years of avoiding him, Briggs Goswick may have appeared at my feet on horseback like a handsome white knight but, in fact, he is a certified man-child.
Briggs may be many things―a society darling (annoying), attractive (so unfair), and heir to an elite family (helpful)―but after humiliating me at a ball several years ago, he is primarily my archnemesis.
His presence has made this summer go from bad to…complicated. I have the weight of saving my family’s name and finances solely on my shoulders, while I endure an endless parade of dreary balls and insufferable suitors to make a favorable match. But I have another idea―a business venture―to save my family. All I need are investors.
And as for Briggs? He’s hiding a secret as well: he’s flat broke.
Now the person I loathe the most in this world is just as trapped as I am―both penniless and our households depending on us to save them. And I think I know how. All I have to do is play nice with the very devil I’ve sworn to hate…
His society connections can boost me from near obscurity to help me win over investors for my business. And perhaps I can help him woo an aloof heiress with deep pockets. It’s a long shot. It might even work…but do I want it to? —Synopsis provided by Entangled: Teen
Regency romances are a popular genre in part because they stem from a love Jane Austen and because they bridge the gap between YA and adult fiction. Witty in Pink is one such book.
Told through dual perspectives, the story focuses on Briggs and Blythe. The two have known each other since childhood when Briggs would pull pranks and mercilessly tease Blythe.
Fast-forward a few years and Blythe is fully grown and, with a little effort, fully capable of landing herself a well-to-do husband. And that’s exactly what her parents need her to do. Their finances depend upon it. But Blythe has other plans — a business that could save everything.
Briggs’ future also depends on making money. A lot of money. He needs to marry someone with a sizable dowry if he’s going to save his family’s estate. He’s got just the girl in mind, and he needs Blythe’s help wooing her. In exchange, Briggs will introduce Blythe to all the influential families in the county — people who may be willing to invest in a new venture.
The problem.
There’s much more than animosity brewing beneath the surface.
As with most Regency romances, the basic outcome of Witty in Pink is fairly predictable. The fun, however comes in the details. And there are a bunch of fun twists along the way.
Though author Erica George’s settings are cinematic, it’s the banter she’s created between Briggs and Blythe that really takes the book over the top. It’s what moves the story forward and adds emphasis in all the right places.
Witty in Pink is a slow-burning romance (aka clean) that focuses on the relationship and building attraction. There’s a slightly steamy part, but it’s pretty tame. George’s prose has a more modern feel to it and some situations reflect more modern tastes, but it’s still a lot of fun. This fast-moving novel will appeal to older teen, new adult and adult readers alike.
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