Mimi Matthews’ Proper Victorian Romances

Mimi Matthews is on the short list of historical fiction authors writing today whose new books are always on my “must-buy” list.

USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews writes both historical nonfiction and award-winning Victorian romances. Her novels have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus, and Shelf Awareness, and her articles have been featured on the Victorian Web, the Journal of Victorian Culture, and in syndication at BUST Magazine. In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with her family, which includes a retired Andalusian dressage horse, a Sheltie, and two Siamese cats.

Mimi’s Short Biography

I was thrilled to be chosen for the launch team for Mimi’s newest book, Return to Satterthwaite Court (Somerset Stories #3), not least because it meant I got to read the new novel a full six weeks before the official launch on April 11.

I want to tell you why I love Mimi’s books so much, and why, as a fellow historical fiction author, I admire her work and her business model.

But mostly, I want to help you find a new book (or twenty) to love!

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10 Reasons to Love Mimi Matthews’ Historical Fiction

1. Mimi Matthews always gets me out of a reading rut.

It happens to even the most avid readers: we just can’t get into a new book. Maybe we’re bored with our reading, or we just can’t find the right book for that particular moment in time.

When this happens to me, I know to reach for a Mimi Matthews book. I know the story will suck me right in, and I’ll be back on my reading track before I know it.

It’s so important for readers to have a go-to author to depend on for moments like this. Mimi Matthews is one of mine. In fact, the only reason I haven’t read every single one is that I ration them for those moments when I need a story that will absorb me without containing anything too upsetting and will also give me a happy ending.

2. Mimi Matthews knows and respects the history.

You know it and I know it: some historical fiction out there just doesn’t feel right. Things are happening in the book that aren’t even plausible, characters feel like they were pulled out of the 21st century and plopped down whenever, only the villain has period-appropriate views, or the author has taken the most sensational (and usually most unlikely) interpretation of events and leaned hard into that.

Mimi Matthews has chosen to specialize in the 19th century, so she knows her era extremely well. One of the things I most admire about her books is how she handles the fact that her characters’ lives and fortunes are completely entwined with the British Empire. Mimi manages to call attention to some of the historical wrongs without making her characters either villains or unbelievably modern. That’s an art.

3. The history is secondary to the story.

A historical fiction author should always privilege the private lives and experiences of her characters, as Mimi Matthews does, over cramming in all the historical facts she can. The history is happening, but it enters the story as it affects the characters.

Think of how the history you’re living right now shows up in your own life. That’s how it should show up in the lives of the characters in historical fiction.

4. The romances are both healthy and believable.

This is so important–and it is really hard to do in historical fiction because, historically speaking, a lot of romances/marriages have been really toxic because they happened in a world that was (and remains) essentially unequal.

5. It’s fun to find the Easter eggs.

When I say Mimi Matthews knows her era, I mean she knows it inside and out. She’s familiar enough with the literature of her era that she can give her fellow lovers of 19th century literature little surprises.

My first Mimi Matthews novel was A Holiday By Gaslight, an homage to one of my favorite Victorian novels, Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South. It was so fun to find all the little references to an old favorite in a new favorite.

6. I know what to expect, but I still can’t put Mimi Matthews’ books down.

Mimi Matthews’ books are predictable in the best way. No matter how suspenseful the story, I know it’s headed toward a happy ending, or an HEA as they say in the romance biz (for Happily Ever After).

However, I also know to expect to be completely absorbed by a Mimi Matthews book from the moment I pick it up, so I make sure to start one when I have some solid reading time available.

7. They are great to recommend to lo-hi readers.

The concept of “hi-lo” readers has become familiar to teachers, librarians, authors, and publishers in recent years. It can be read a couple of different ways. Usually, it’s short for “high interest, low reading level,” but sometimes it’s read as “high grade level, low reading level.” These are books written specifically for students whose grade level is significantly higher than their reading level.

While less attention is paid to the opposite issue, students whose grade level is significantly lower than their higher reading level may also struggle to find books that suit their needs. In both professional and personal contexts, parents frequently ask me to recommend books for students (especially tween girls) with reading skills and interests far beyond their years.

While I obviously can’t speak for every parent, as a mom, I would feel comfortable giving Mimi Matthews’ books to tweens.

8. I love a good Gothic story.

Creepy old houses/castles/roads/ships/whatever are a favorite of mine. Not so much in real life, but in books. I’m not usually a horror fan, but I enjoy a little spinetingling. Some, though by no means all, of Mimi Matthews’ books contain Gothic elements.

9. The covers are gorgeous.

The cover of A Holiday By Gaslight is what first convinced me to give Mimi Matthews’ books a shot.

Say what you will about the Victorians, but they had some gorgeous clothes. Mimi Matthews knows how to take advantage of this, on both the inside and the outside of her books.

10. Pets, pets, pets!

Mimi Matthews loves and lives with animals. I know I can count on animal characters that are often as engaging as the human characters. They’re not just props, they’re involved in and (and frequently driving) the action.

As an animal lover myself, I love how the pets are part of the plot.

Bonus: I love supporting a hybrid author.

Many authors are turning toward hybrid careers, and I think it’s the way of the future. Hybrid authors are both self-published and traditionally published. It’s harder than ever to go through a traditional publisher, and options for self-publishing have exploded over the past few years.

There are pros and cons to both, which is why many great authors go hybrid. Mimi Matthews’ books are published through her company, Perfectly Proper Press, and by Berkley Romance.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mimi Matthews Books

Read the Complete Review of Return to Satterthwaite Court

Mimi Matthews’ newest Victorian romance, Return to Satterthwaite Court, releases April 11, 2023. Check out my review!

But for now–what questions do you have? Can I help you decide which book to read first?

Are you already a fan? If so, which book is your favorite?

Let me know in the comments.

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