Queen Bee is a YA Regency revenge romance. The story is about a young girl who was betrayed by her best friend when she was fifteen and now, three years later, is headed to London for revenge. I enjoyed the story’s suspense, wondering how Lyra was ruined in the past, how she would take revenge and how it would all turn out.

The book opens with eighteen year old Lyra preparing for her come out at a ball at Almack’s Assembly Rooms. She is planning her revenge on the reigning queen and king of society. She was born a daughter of a peer but her position, influence and power were taken from her when she was fifteen and betrayed by her scheming best friend. She is returning in disguise, with her brown hair dyed black and much more beautiful and mature than when she was fifteen and short with wild hair. She wished she could be coming out under her real name, Lady Ela Dalvi, but instead she has become Lyra Whitley, a mysterious heiress. Her target is Poppy Landers, who was her best friend three years ago and set Ela up to be ruined. Her plan is to become part of Poppy’s inner circle of friends, charm Poppy’s suitors away, and then ruin her reputation the way Poppy had ruined Lyra’s. She also felt betrayed by Lord Keston Osborn, the Marquess of Ridley, who was her friend but abandoned her when she needed him, believing Poppy’s schemes. He is now nineteen and very handsome and popular.

The timeline moves back and forth between flashbacks from three years ago when she was fifteen to when she is eighteen and goes to London as Lyra.  Three years ago, Poppy’s father worked for Ela’s father, the Earl of Harwick, as his solicitor. Ela sees her father struggle financially while Poppy’s family gets wealthier. Poppy spends a lot of time at Ela’s home, and is even there when Ela’s mother passes away from a wasting disease. Ela is excited when Keston’s family moves in to the estate next door to Ela’s. Keston, his sister Zia and Ela become friends and spend time with each other. It was fun to watch their chess games. Ela avoids Poppy because she is afraid if Poppy meets Keston that he will fall for her because she is so pretty and popular and that he won’t have time for Ela. But when Poppy finds out that Ela and Keston have become friends without her, she becomes jealous and nasty. There is a wonderful scene with Ela, Keston and Zia at the fair and they dance around the maypole, but soon after, events unfold that have Ela ruined and banished to the Hinley Seminary for girls in Cumbria, northwest England. There she befriends Lady Felicity Whitley who goes by the name ‘Church’. Ela helps Church through a very difficult time and in return, Church, who is a wealthy heiress, gives Ela funds to go to London. She mentors Ela sharing her wisdom about the London Season and her revenge plan and sends Lady Birdie with her as a companion.

The story shows Lyra at balls, musicals and dinners and the descriptions of the decorations, dances, dresses and pastries were beautiful. The characters stole my heart like Lyra, her new friend Rosalie and Keston and his pack of young gentleman friends. Poppy continued to be nasty and it was wonderful to root for Lyra and her friends and to watch the romance develop between Lyra and Keston. Lyra begins to wonder if vengeance is what she really wants.

The author included facts about the regency period throughout the story which is nice for readers that are new to it, for example,  how the Regency period got its name, what the season is, and the rules of Almack’s. There is some modern language used in the story like, ‘she’s going down’ or ‘what’s a girl got to do to get some lemonade’ but this story is for young adults so maybe this is to appeal to them? In the author’s notes, Queen Bee is referred to as an anti-historical because the book is full of diverse characters. Joy Revolution is a new imprint of Penguin committed to publishing YA romance novels with persons of color written by authors of color.

I found the story highly entertaining and enjoyed the themes of forgiveness and what it means to be a good friend. I recommend Queen Bee, especially to readers who like a good revenge story.