Review: The Trouble with Anna by Rachel Griffiths

*I received an advance reading copy of this book from Gallery Books in exchange for an honest review.

The Trouble with Anna

by Rachel Griffiths

March 4, 2025

Goodreads Summary:

A tart young woman and an arrogant lord collide in this flirty, sexy, and remarkably modern historical romance, perfect for fans of Bridgerton.

Anna didn’t intend to ride in a high-stakes horse race or start up a betting ring. She certainly didn’t mean to find herself in so many darkened corners with Lord Julian Ramsay, quarreling and kissing. But when her grandfather’s strange will stipulates that Anna must marry or she’ll be left broke, there’s nothing she won’t do to win her fight for independence. Even go head-to-head with Lord Ramsay, with her own heart as the prize.

Fans of the slow burn will devour this frenemies-to-lovers story perfect for fans of Sarah MacLean and Evie Dunmore.

Review

I cannot write this review without thanking Sarah at Gallery Books for introducing me to The Trouble with Anna! I absolutely adored this historical romance featuring a shy but independent and smart lady and an impossible-to-ignore gentleman.

I flew through The Trouble with Anna with its distinct writing and easy-to-love characters. Anna and Julian’s poor attempts at conveying their innermost thoughts resulted in some misunderstandings but their dramatics did not frustrate me (yay). While it took some time for them to get on the same page, their genuine emotions was always clear. Heartfelt confessions and grand gestures were nice touches~

All the characters in The Trouble with Anna had their own quirks. Anna did not falter when misfortune befell her. I applaud her for her quick-thinking and resilience. “Use my name for encouragement, but summon me personally if you require outright enthusiasm.” (arc, p.142) Julian’s gentle yet commanding and persistent nature made me swoon many times. His sister, Charlotte, was a riot! The things she said made me laugh cry.

Despite getting off on the wrong foot, Anna and Julian had chemistry. Their opposing personalities meant they clashed more often than not and they were oh so delicious~ Every verbal sparring added to the tension between them and I ate it all up. I l especially loved seeing Julian support Anna without interfering in her dealings.

The Trouble with Anna was such a delightful read I wish it was longer. Why did Anna and Julian’s story have to end?!? Can I please get a sequel centered Charlotte? I can already imagine all the shenanigans she’d bring to the pages ;)

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not affected in any way. Any quotes included in my review were taken from the copy I received.