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Review: The Good Fortune of Miss Robbins

The Good Fortune of Miss Robbins

I've seen The Good Fortune of Miss Robbins by Melanie Dickerson pop up here and there, so I was grateful to win it as part of the Early Reviewers Program from LibraryThing. Though this book didn't quite land for me, one of the benefits of being an early reader is getting to figure out which titles work for me and which don't. As a result, I hope that this review may be of benefit to others checking out this book as well.

Many thanks to Bethany House Publishers and LibraryThing for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Thoughts content is also posted on LibraryThing.

Book Synopsis

Governess Charlotte Robbins is hopelessly drawn to the mysterious Earl of Brookhaven despite their different stations. Just as she resigns to the impossibility of romance, she inherits a fortune and is thrust into London society. As secrets unfold, she's no longer certain if her newfound wealth is a blessing or threatens the love she's always longed for.

Source: Amazon

Book Thoughts

If I were to boil down this book's plot into one premise, it would be that it reads as a social experiment. Although it would be intriguing to discover how people would respond in such conditions, I did feel that this social experiment came across as more of a case study rather than a story that I could fully immerse myself in. Despite this, I could appreciate that Miss Charlotte Robbins is a lovely character who demonstrates a deep devotion to caring for others, exemplifying the Christian virtues of compassion and selflessness. In facing a change in circumstances, it is refreshing that she remains committed to her values and convictions; would that we could all pass the tests we encounter with such resolve and grace.

However, it is disappointing how this all comes about in that she should never have had to be tested in the first place, even if that wasn't the sole intention. I love reading Regency romance, but this one felt a little too schemed with assumptions and misunderstandings that were wholly avoidable due to an unwillingness to act when required and constant interference that only reinforced existing behaviours that readers would have already been aware of. The romance (or lack thereof) felt like it ran in circles with the main male character dragging his heels and not having that strong a reason to do so, prolonging the story even further. Along with a noticeable absence of his siblings in the second half, there were instances that took me out of the book while reading, which slightly dampened my experience with it.

Saying that, these challenges may not affect other readers, and in which case, the book is still enjoyable and page-turning as I was curious to see how things would finally come to pass. The compassion for children in need is admirable and the book succeeds in raising the plight of those who are defenseless without the resources in place to care for them. While we may not all be called to take on this particular cause, it's a reminder for Christians to love mercy and act justly while walking humbly with the Lord. Overall, if character-driven stories are your cup of tea, Miss Robbins is a pretty aspirational character to meet, especially if viewing her story through the lens of her interactions with the children rather than her romance and time in the marriage market.

Book Summary

  • Format of book: 📱
  • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5 (on LibraryThing)
  • Recommendation: 👍 (only if you want to read more about the plight of children than the romance itself)
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