The Last Lady B by Eloisa James

Tracy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: May 12, 2026

Lady Genevieve “Evie” Hughes, becomes the fourth wife of the much older Lord Burnsby to secure her younger sister’s future. They marry and she moves to her new home in the Scottish Highlands, a remote and possibly haunted abbey, populated with eccentric characters, including an outspoken aunt, a socially exiled stepdaughter, and her husband’s long-standing mistress. Amid the abbey’s wintry halls and ghostly rumors, Evie finds herself unexpectedly drawn to Sir Godric Everly, a sharp-witted solicitor who openly dislikes her husband. As secrets unravel and the shadows of the past close in, Evie must navigate a web of deceit, multiple wills, and a mysterious death that leaves her widowed and free to choose her own path—though matters of the heart and reputation prove just as complicated as the spectral mysteries.

In a social media post, author Elosia James promised that this book was something new and different, and she didn’t lie, this book was nothing like her previous books. This was a quirky, entertaining romance that balances humor, intrigue, and a dash of macabre. While the first-person perspective gives Evie’s voice a fresh, curious edge, I personally found the narrative style difficult to connect with—it often limited my emotional engagement, especially with Godric, whose inner thoughts remain somewhat obscure. The slow burn romance was a bit frustrating for me, as the main characters didn’t come together until very late in the story. I also want to note that the blurb is somewhat deceptive: although it suggests Evie is widowed early on, she is not actually widowed until late in the book, which significantly shapes the pacing and development of the plot. However, I did appreciate that there was no actual adultery on Evie’s part, which made it easier for me to enjoy her journey toward self-discovery. The secondary characters add a sense of found family, and the gothic elements are more playful than chilling. Though the pacing felt uneven with major plot developments occurring late—the book’s charm lies in its witty dialogue, eccentric characters, and the heroine’s growth. Overall, this was a lighter, character-driven historical romance with a twist of mystery and a touch of absurdity which made for an engaging read, but I definitely didn’t care for the first-person narrative style and I don’t think I would read the book again.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *