Audiobook review: Manic Pixie Dream Earl by Jenny Holiday
Edward Astley, Viscount Featherfinch, known to his friends as Effie, has a secret. He’s been writing poems and answering a married woman’s advice column for a small magazine edited by Miss Julianna Evans. They have become close friends via letters, and Effie has fallen in love. However, Julianna thinks Effie is a woman. When a problem with the printing press gives Julianna an unexpected week off, she decides to travel to Brighton to find her long-time friend who is on holiday.
Manic Pixie Dream Earl is the second unusual historical in Holiday’s Earls Trip series. Effie, Archie, and Simon take an annual trip for a fortnight every September. It’s a chance to reconnect and unwind. Their friendship is unique and special because the men are open and honest with themselves and each other. They have a rare friendship, even by today’s standards. They share fears and joys; they rely on one another for advice and support. I adore how close they are. I love when Effie confides in his friends his desires for Julianna and seeks advice on how to “do the act,” as he is a virgin. There is no shame, no teasing, only an honest and direct conversation.
Both Julianna and Effie are unique individuals who have unconventional views of the world. Julianne has a fear of marriage because she doesn’t want to be tied to a man. Yet at the same time, she recognizes her own pain that Effie cannot marry her and will eventually marry another because of his title. Meanwhile, he wants Julianna, but would never suggest marriage knowing her absolute opposition to the institution. But in all else, they let down their guard and embrace an honest connection and sharing of oneself.
Julianna and Effie’s romance is about finding your other half, although neither is incomplete without, it’s just they fit so well together. Effie is unapologetically himself. He’s a poet, a painter, a dreamer. He is fanciful, and he loves with his whole self. I love how he loves to make Julianna happy, but won’t allow himself to live a life less than he deserves. He holds true to himself without being dramatic or ostentatious when he realizes he must let go of Julianna. He’s never cruel, which I adore.
Narration: The story is shared in the alternating third person POVs of Julianna and Effie. Frost narrates both POVs in a proper British upper class accent. He slightly alters his cadence and tone for each character’s dialogue. He adjusts the dialogue based on gender, age, and socio-economic background. Overall, his voice is pleasant and soothing, although he successfully adds urgency and emotion when called for.
Manic Pixie Dream Earl is such a wonderful, emotional ride about two special people finding unexpected love.
My Ratings
Story: B+
Narration: B+
Jen
About the Book:
When not writing, poet Edward Astley, Viscount Featherfinch, spends his time fending off the young ladies of the ton—and some of its young men—and avoiding his cruel father. As heir to the earldom, Edward knows he must marry someday. Alas, he is already hopelessly in love with someone. Hopeless because not only is Miss Julianna Evans not a member of the aristocracy, she is employed. She is a magazine editor—the only one to publish his work. Also, in all their years of increasingly personal correspondence, they’ve never met.
Also, she thinks he’s a woman. Named Euphemia.
Julianna is baffled. How can her soul mate not want to meet? Could it be that Euphemia is not the simple country girl she claims to be? Perhaps she’s wealthy. After all, she’s never cashed any of the bank drafts Julianna has sent. Perhaps Euphemia simply doesn’t want rank to come between them. Well, no more. Having extracted the details of a trip Euphemia is planning, Julianna squanders her meager savings and surprises her at the scene.
He is very, very surprised. As is she.
Author: Jenny Holiday
Narrator: Harry Frost
Series: Earls Trip #2
Genre: Historical Romance
Audiobook Release Date: May 27, 2025
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Length: 11 hrs and 16 mins
Source: publisher
Audio Speed: 1.35x