The Governess Game by Tessa Dare is a Fun Time

Tessa Dare wrote the first ever historical romance I’ve read, and so I decided to try some of her other books. Somehow, instead of reading the first book in this series, The Duchess Deal (which I’m planning to read anyway), I stumbled into The Governess Game. I’m genuinely not sure what happened there, but I’m grateful nonetheless, because this book was a blast!

The spoiler-free TLDR: This was a fun book! It’s funny, charming, and well-written. Don’t expect historical accuracy and prep for anachronisms, but also a great time. It’s the classic rake falls for an innocent trope, but it’s done well, and there’s some astronomy, piracy, two morbid little girls and more. The Governess Game is a fantastic entry point to historical romance for anyone interested!

• My rating: 3.5 ⭐
• Heat level: 3 🌶️
• Standalone or series? It’s part two of a series of interconnected novels; can be read as a standalone, but some spoilers for part one. 
• Content warnings: Child neglect (not on page), death of a loved one (not on page), drinking. 
• Page Count: 385 pages on my e-reader.
• Read if: You want a silly goofy fun time.

Summary

The story opens with Alexandra, our heroine, browsing the bookstore with friends. Suddenly, a man runs into her, and this man is so handsome that she can’t speak. He leaves before she regains the ability, but for the next few months, he is all she thinks about. She dreams of him looking for her relentlessly, hoping he fell in love at first sight. 

And then one day she goes to this one house to set clocks (this is her job) and who opens the door but our handsome stranger! But he’s half naked, looks like he hasn’t slept at all, and has clearly converted what used to be respectable servants’ quarters into some kind of rakish den. Alexandra immediately realizes what kind of man he is, but he doesn’t seem to recognize her, and worse yet, he thinks she’s there to be the new governess. 

Long story short, after some refusals and swims in the Thames, she accepts the position. The girls are very hard to work with, but Alexandra is determined, and so is Chase to seduce her (or push her away, in alternate).

Thoughts & Feelings

So, first of all, what I said in the TLDR version is true — this book is enjoyable and fun! It’s like a Hallmark movie, but spicy, and so it’s also very comforting to read. 

I truly loved the two girls under Chase’s care and their morbid little doll funerals and dramatics every morning. These two were probably the best part of the book and they were so funny, especially when interacting with Chase. I almost wished there was a separate book just about Chase and the girls, or at least more focus on their relationship in this one. But alas. 

The real thing wasn’t so bad either. Just a little… bland? Is that the word? I’m not sure, to be honest.

The truth of it is that I didn’t care much about the romance one way or another. There didn’t really seem to be any reason for them not to give it a go, despite what the narrative said. His impending dukedom, the society, all of those social pressures of the time didn’t seem to exist for Chase and Alexandra (or any of their friends for that matter). The historical aspect seems more like set dressing rather than something that affects the plot and the relationship. 

They kiss in the Tower of London, take boat trips, enjoy their relationship pretty freely, and while that’s all fine, it also takes away some of the tension. It doesn’t help that, despite the time it’s set in, The Governess Game feels distinctly modern. It reads as if it wouldn’t be out of place as a contemporary, if that makes sense. 

And again — nothing wrong with that! As I said, it’s a perfect entry point, as I feel many Tessa Dare’s books are, to the world of historical romances. It’s just that I’ve read a few other books since and enjoyed them quite a bit more because of their setting rather than in spite of it. 

But overall, The Governess Game is a good time. It’s a perfect read for when you need a palette cleanser, something breezy and entertaining that’ll keep you glued to the page. You don’t need to read the previous book in the series, though obviously you’ll see spoilers for that one here.

So, give it a try if you’re curious, and let me know what you thought of it in the comments below!