The Great Misfortune of Stella Sedgwick by S. Isabelle

As a child, my introduction to “grown-up” books came from my sister’s Harlequin romance novels—specifically those filled with lace gloves, drawing rooms, and corsets. Yet as much as I came to adore the genre, I always wondered: Where are the Black girls in these stories? Where was the Black heroine with the wit, the ambition, the drama, and the happy ending?

Well, S. Isabelle heard my cry! The Great Misfortune of Stella Sedgwick delivers exactly that. It’s a smart, sweet, and socially conscious YA historical romance that finally puts a young Black woman front and center—not just as a guest in the genre, but as its rightful leading lady.

Set in 1868 London, the story follows 18-year-old Stella Sedgwick: an orphan, a writer, and a girl who is so done with society telling her what to do. When she inherits a grand estate from her mother’s former employer, it should be a moment of triumph—but instead, there’s a catch: to claim it, she has to marry.

Now, Stella is not here for that. She wants freedom, not a husband. She wants to write, not to be written about. And so, she secretly takes over her late mother’s “Fiona Flippant” advice column, yet still has to navigate the gossip, suitors, and hidden agendas of London’s society–all while trying not to fall (again) for her childhood crush, Nathaniel Fitzroy.

What shines in this novel is how effortlessly it brings race and identity into the historical romance space. While other period dramas (ahem, Bridgerton) often lean into colorblind casting without addressing context, this novel acknowledges that being a Black girl in 1868 meant something. It shaped your options, your dangers, and how people saw you—and that’s all present here and woven in without weighing down the romantic tone.

Stella herself is a compelling heroine: witty, observant, deeply principled, and yes, sometimes a little extra with her judgments. But that complexity is refreshing. She’s not perfect—she’s opinionated, critical, and sometimes slow to admit when she’s wrong—but it’s those rough edges that make her feel real.

The supporting characters also bring life to the story. Stella’s cousin, Olivia, is graceful and emotionally layered, quietly trying to navigate her place in a society that sees her biracial background as palatable but never quite equal. Nathaniel is charming and patient, and the emotional payoff between him and Stella feels earned—even if the journey follows a familiar roadmap.

While I enjoyed the story as a whole, there were a few plotlines that felt underdeveloped. There’s a lot of build-up around Stella’s dream of being a writer, yet when she finally gets the opportunity to work as Fiona Flippant, we only see her publish one column. I thought the writing aspect would be a more active subplot once introduced, and while the idea of her dual identity was fun, the execution didn’t quite meet expectations.

The romantic elements of the story offered sweet moments, but it followed very predictable beats: the love triangle, a questionable engagement, the misunderstanding, and the reconciliation. None of it was bad, but if you’ve read a few historical romances, you’ll spot the plot turns before they happen.

Lastly, while Stella’s boldness is a strength, her judgmental nature was off-putting at times. She was quick to make assumptions and didn’t always extend the grace to others that she wanted for herself. That’s part of her arc, of course, but it may wear on some readers.

Overall, The Great Misfortune of Stella Sedgwick is a long-overdue addition to the historical romance shelf—a book that says Black girls deserve ballrooms, estates, and happily-ever-afters, too.

S. Isabelle brings freshness to familiar tropes and offers a heroine who knows what she wants, even if she doesn’t always know how to get there. The story has charm, heart, and perspective, making it a worthwhile read.

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Book Review: The Great Misfortune of Stella Sedgwick by S. Isabelle